by Mollie Millington | Sep 18, 2020 | family, product review
On the home page of my website is my mission statement that I want to teach clients to balance work, life, fitness, food and fun. This is something I work on too so I thought I would share a bit of my regular life in today’s post rather than the fitness side.
At the end of August, I shared in an Instagram post I would be going alcohol free in September and October to help my marathon training and to hopefully reduce excess calories. In order to make it achievable (hurray for SMART goals), I gave myself two times when I could drink within that timespan. The first was my 10th wedding anniversary in September and the other was my husband’s 40th birthday in October. Being British, drinking is a big part of his culture (not to say it isn’t in America, but I do think we tend to favour eating over drinking in most celebrations). I would always choose dessert over a drink anyways so I didn’t think the challenge would be too hard. Although I am discovering the late summer weather is making it quite tough to stick to my word!
James and I were married on a Friday afternoon in Upstate New York in 2010. Our 10th anniversary was a Thursday night in early September. I had run home from work and James had gone on a bike ride with some friends that afternoon. We didn’t do presents or cards that morning because I am usually headed out the door by the time James is getting up. For the last 10 years (much to James’ chagrin), we have been inspired by the anniversary themes when choosing gifts. I told him this is the last year we have to do presents. We have learned that these forced gifts don’t always work out. Here are a few examples:
1st anniversary is traditionally paper– James tried to purchase a Liberty voucher for me because it was my new favourite shop in London. Unfortunately their vouchers were coins! I did end up with a lovely necklace though.
6th anniversary is iron- James and I are both avid readers and apparently not very creative. We order the same iron bookmark from the same Etsy shop with slightly different inscriptions. The ironic part is that neither of us ever use them because they are too bulky and heavy.
Tenth anniversary is tin and this was so tricky! Most of the gifts I could find were lovey-dovey tin signs covered in hearts, which is not our style at all. Another popular option seemed to be tins of mints or tea, which was a little under my budget. We tend to be practical so when James suggested he get me something not made of tin, I was a little relieved! It definitely took some of the pressure off.
What did we end up giving each other? I got James:
Personalized tin enamel mugs for camping. These I found on Not on The High Street. There was one flaw I noticed then I opened them up. James has always been Mr. Millington and then became Dr. Millington in 2007. It felt a little silly to have his establishment date of 2010 but when paired with mine, it looks cute. To make these mugs more accessible for camping and hiking, I added on carbineers to clip to rucksacks or picnic blankets.
Custom framed artwork from Etsy. What did couples do before Etsy? To keep with the theme of 10 and the fact that James loves maps, I chose a mountain landscape from the DreamSeizeCherish Etsy shop with different destinations we have travelled together over the years. It was easy to order, and when placed in a wooden frame (I could not find a tin one!) it will look great on our wall. To make it more personalized, I changed the lovey example quote to one from Winnie the Pooh (Tao of Pooh is one of James’ favourite books).
Personalized champagne bottle.* This got the best reaction from James of them all. He is incredibly hard to buy for because he is practical, picky with clothes, and can really get himself anything that he really wants. When Say it With Champers reached out to me, I thought this would be a fabulous idea. At the time, we weren’t exactly sure how we would be celebrating so I figured it would be a nice treat with dinner if we ate at home or if we went away for the weekend (and we could use our tin mugs!). The bottle quickly arrived after I approved the design proof. The bottle was inserted into an inflated bottle case and then in a cardboard box. It fit perfectly so I just put a bow on the box rather than waste wrapping paper (we like to be environmentally friendly when possible). With a large clumsy puppy tearing around, I didn’t want to risk the bottle breaking if I put it in a gift bag.
As soon as James opened it, he laughed. I had sent a selection of photos of the two of us and Say it With Champers were quick to respond and advise which would look best on the bottle. Apparently they made the right choice! Because of the personalized labels, there wasn’t much space on the label to learn about the champagne itself. The label indicated it was Brut so we knew it would be dry rather than sweet. According to Say it With Champers website, their champagne is either sourced from Philizot & Fils or produced by their own family in Festigny, both in Champagne regions of France. I think we Philizot & Fils and we loved the taste, easily finishing bottle with our dinner that evening. The empty bottle is now placed prominently on our dining room shelf.
James got me:
A ginormous bouquet of flowers. It is quite rare that I receive cut flowers. James feels they are not sustainable and therefore prefers to gift potted plants. On our recent camping trip, we bought a very nice (small) vase and I think he had hoped to put these flowers in the vase. James admits he “might have gotten carried away” when we realized all of our vases (we have three) are small. Even after cutting the flowers down, they ended up going in the dog toy storage container. The lilies are still blooming and looking fresh. Flowers are something I tend to go to for self care so it has been lovely having them around the house. Luckily, Maple has only knocked them over once.
Vouchers for driving lessons. During lockdown, I struggled to take my inflatable stand up paddleboard to the Royal Docks. The kit is very heavy and I technically wasn’t supposed to be on the Tube. Also, I think James would appreciate a back up driver when we are trips and he wants to head to the pub. I am a mediocre driver in the US, where the roads are wide and straight. I dread to think hope I will do on London’s streets. Stay tuned as I am sure I will share my adventures on Instagram.
A car shaped cookie cutter. He tried to get some tin in there. We are fairly certain it is not tin though. You may not know that I love to bake (yes, I don’t just eat raw cookie dough). I have a fairly large collection of cookie cutters and would make them more often if I had a large table or counter to roll the dough out on. As a Christmas tradition, we always make a variety of cookies, including cut outs.
If you ask me, I think we ended our anniversary gift giving on a high note with this year’s gifts. I don’t want to say we are settled into married life, but we know each other well enough to get practical gifts (our flat is too small for more crap) but can still surprise each other too. I put a lot of time and effort into this last anniversary gift and now need to start over for his 40th birthday next month. A personalized bottle of champagne might be a good start.
Come back next week to read about our active staycation in Oxfordshire where Mollie’s Motel and Diner was our base.
We look so young!
Thanks to Say it With Champers for the complimentary bottle. All opinions are honest and our own.
by Mollie Millington | Apr 30, 2020 | community, family, happiness, holistic, mental health, self care
We started lockdown (due to coronavirus) in the UK on 30 March 2020. The rules are you can only leave your home once a day to exercise; dogs can be walked once a day; you can travel to work if you are unable to complete your job from home; if you leave your home you must keep two meters away from others. Like many other countries and cities, the rules are not black and white, leaving some room for interpretation (such as, how long can I exercise for), but overall you are meant to stay home and not socialize with others. We are very fortunate to have a garden and be able to work mostly from home (I have to go in every other week and can cycle there). Maple has also been a nice distraction, but lockdown has made socialising her a bit complicated too. We are doing the best we can when out on walks (she loves watching people walk by) and hope she doesn’t turn out weird.
Between working, worrying, and puppying, my days have been pretty intense and varied. I haven’t quite managed to set up a proper routine yet. I thought I would share a few things I have learned on lockdown, along with how I am coping. Perhaps you can resonate with some, or can you add to the list?
Gratitude
As I mentioned above, I am very grateful that my husband and I are still both employed full time and also have a garden space to enjoy. We are still allowed to go outside and visit shops without seeking government permission. That is a big relief. I am grateful that so far, my family has been healthy and we have been communicating more often that usual. I am grateful to have Maple to keep us distracted from the scary stuff going on outside our front door. She is a good cuddler too.
Patience
Both the puppy and the virus are helping me with this one. Maple is a puppy and needs time to learn and explore. She tends to sit and stare unexpectedly on our walks. I try to let her do so as she is observing the world as it goes by. When I go for a run, I need to take it easy to allow for social distancing, waiting for traffic so I can stay 2 meters apart from pedestrians, and to not be frustrated with my lack of structured training. We have also learned patience waiting for deliveries, booking grocery delivery slots, and how in general, things are working a little bit differently out in the world. In this day and age, Amazon Prime and internet downloads have gotten us so used to instant gratification. We are learning to live at a slower pace now.
Acceptance
The serenity prayer is something I have embraced for a long time. Not because I am recovering, but because it is a good reminder that I should not waste energy trying to control things that I cannot. I tend to have high standards and expect everyone to have the same values that I do. I am reminded that this is not the case on a daily basis, especially in lockdown.
The thing I am having the most trouble accepting is the amount of gloves, masks, and cleaning wipes I see in my local park and on the sidewalks of my street. People can be so selfish and it is really disappointing (deep breaths).
Here is a link to a printable PDF should you want to hang the image in your home.
The power of napping
Maple still doesn’t sleep through the night. After a few weeks of letting her cry and spending an hour coaxing her back to sleep, we now set an alarm to wake her up to use the loo at midnight and 3am. She then wakes up at 5:15am for breakfast. Sometimes I sleep from 7-9am and it is glorious. (I am grateful for a flexible working schedule!)
Many people have shared with me that they are finding it hard to sleep or the quality of the sleep they are getting isn’t as good as it used to be. Self-compassion key here. Your sympathetic nervous system is on overload. Being constantly on edge may not be something you are aware of, but this could be why you are finding it hard to sleep. Take a nap if you want to. Stay in bed longer if you need to.
Service
With no many things out of my control, I have been blessed to channel some energy in to supporting others in my local community. We posted a note through the houses on my street, letting folks know we are here to help if they need it due to self-isolation or illness. I was pleasantly surprised to have several responses from others willing to help and we now have a Whatsapp group. Two elderly neighbors let me know they are self-isolating, so I text them once a week to check in.
I have also been doing my best to support small business and my friends who work for the NHS. Hustle Bakes will post brownies to you or a friend. Dook of Edinburgh make luxury handmade soaps which are the perfect treat for you or a friend who washes their hands a lot. We are also trying to visit the local shops near us more for fruit and veg, rather than the big chains. I even paid my hairdresser ahead of time so that she can pay her bills. She works out of her home as a freelancer and cannot see clients right now.
Charity
Along with supporting small businesses, we have been donating to various fundraisers and charities to help the NHS, the art foundations offering special programming on the television and internet, and those organizations that offer support to vulnerable people and animals. Don’t get me wrong, we are not donating a lot, but if everyone donated a few quid here and there, it would add up (just look at Captain Tom Moore!).
Communication
Working from home while my team is on site, alongside working from home while my husband does the same has really helped me learn to communicate more effective in several modalities. At home, I still choose my battles if something is bothering me but I am not waiting as long to address it. Usually, I am not a confrontational person and James and I tend to be very independent. However, we are now spending a lot of time together, are sometimes frustrated about the puppy and neither of us have slept the night through in six weeks (due to the dog).
The things I miss
With my injuries, I haven’t been at track much this year, but I do miss my Advent Running family and going to parkrun on Saturday mornings with James (he always beats me). I also miss seeing my blogger friends at fitness events in London, going to Function360 for my physiotherapy check ups (I am going to schedule a virtual appointment soon), and hitting the gym before work. Of course, travelling is something that was a big part of our lives before Covid-19 and I am not sure when we will be able to start that up again. James misses going to the pub. Each to their own, I guess.
As this pandemic continues, I am sure we will continue to learn more about ourselves and others. If your lockdown rules are starting to lift, I would love to hear how it makes you feel and if there is anything from lockdown you will continue with or if you plan on returning to life as you previously knew it. Leave a comment below and let me know.
by thinkmarsh | May 11, 2018 | family, product review, ski
I’ll admit I am pretty lucky to have spent many weekends at a local ski resort in Western New York with one chair lift. My dad was on ski patrol which meant we were able to afford as much time on the slopes as homework and extracurricular activities would allow. When I moved to Boston for university, it was so hard not being able to easily access good skiing. I always had my skis with me just in case there was a bus trip to Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire. The mountains of New England were nothing like the glacial hills of New York and much farther away. Eventually, I made it out west to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and British Columbia. As I travelled more, I soon came to realise that my skis and ability were better suited to icy slopes rather than knee deep powder. I just haven’t learned how to ski in fresh pow yet! When we lived in Michigan, we got season tickets to Caberfae Peaks, which was nearly a two hour drive on snowy roads in my Subaru. But once we got there, I was overcome with general ennui. Sure there were several chair lifts, but the runs were short compared to the Rocky Mountains. I didn’t care which slope we skied down as they were all nearly the same and over in a swift second.
Since moving to England, I have once again been jonesing for some snow. When we get a centimetre of snowfall in London, the city shuts down. I have heard there is skiing up in Scotland but I haven’t made it up there yet. Our good friends have a chalet near Verbier, Switzerland which we have been lucky enough to visit three times over the years. Many of the gang are school teachers or university lecturers which makes coordinating holiday dates tough. In addition, many children have now joined our tribe which meant we had to rent an additional chalet this year.
Because we rarely go skiing and have a small flat, my skis ended up in the shed for a few years. A week before we were due to go to Verbier this February, we pulled them out to find the skis were rusty and the bag covered in mould (God, how I loathe British weather!). My skis were a graduation gift for uni, so they are pretty old anyways but I was simply devastated to see them in that state. Luckily, I knew Decathlon had a ski shop so I quickly booked them in for a wax, sharpen and tune up. We also took my husband’s snowboard in for a wax (although his board is stored under the bed and was in much better shape).
The process was pretty simple. We called the Decathlon workshop, which also cares for bikes, and booked in our kit. I think they have limited ski/snowboard staff or did that week because it was a few days before we needed to drop off our kit. Due to our schedules, we asked if we could drop the kit off early and they said it wasn’t a problem. I picked the skis and board up a day before we were due to travel and they were transformed. I felt such relief. I also picked up a new ski bag while I was at the shop. My old one was plain black canvas (also wet and gross) but the Decathlon one is a bright blue, has a light waterproof lining and wheels on one end. It was so much easier to travel with. I always stuff my ski gear around for skis for protection and will with this bag too as there isn’t much padding.
 |
| Ready to board |
I thought this trip to Verbier would be the end of my skiing days for 2018, but I was wrong. Snozone is an indoor snowsport facility with three locations in the UK- Milton Keynes and Castleford both have artificial snow, while Skizone in Basingstoke and Castleford have a revolving astroturf carpet. A few weekends ago, they had a big event for their SOS (Summer of Snow). The day I went to Milton Keynes, it was over 20 degrees C outside. After walking 30 minutes from the train station to the facility, being indoors was a nice treat. Snozone Milton Keynes has equipment hire, a soft play zone for the kids, café and bar, large lounge with televisions, and of course, lots of real snow!
 |
| Cafe at Snozone Milton Keynes |
My visit started off with 45 minutes of sledging (or sledding as we call it in America). The group meets at the appointed time and are escorted to the bottom of the sledging slope by a member of the Snozone team. All kids under 12 must wear helmets and are available to anyone else who wants to wear one. I was the lone adult as it was families who had booked in. The sledge is a one-seater with a stick you put between your legs, like a horn on a horseback riding saddle. You have to walk up the hillw(hich is half of the indoor slope) and then use your hands to steer the sledge right or left. To brake, you have to dig your heels into the snow. I wasn’t keen on this because snow kept going up my snow pants and I wanted to keep my socks dry for skiing later in the day. I know for next time though to bring a change of leggings and socks. I can’t remember the last time I went sledging, so it was a lot of fun to let loose for a bit and enjoy the snow.
 |
| At the top of the slope |
My next activity was skiing. I was given a one hour timeslot with my slope pass, which included equipment hire, for just £30. The slope pass prices vary depending on day of the week, school holidays, and how long a session you want. Currently, an eight hour weekend adult pass is £37.49. For £10 more, you can hire ski clothes such as a ski jacket or snow pants. I was amazed at how affordable this is compared to ski resorts in Switzerland or USA. There are memberships available too if you live nearby and think you’d like to get practice in over the summer. My husband has been threatening to learn to ski for years and I am tempted to learn to snowboard. Taking lessons at Snozone seems much more economical that hiring kit, paying for lessons, and also purchasing a lift ticket in Switzerland. Plus, if we didn’t like it as much as we thought we would, we could just go home. Or sledging.
 |
| Always wear a helmet |
The memberships offer additional discounts too slope off of slope sessions, café and shop purchases, children’s parties, private lessons, and tune ups in their ski shop. Crystal Ski has a desk in the Milton Keynes location where you can book a ski holiday and receive additional benefits as a member too. I could see Snozone as an alternative stag, or hen-do for people who want something fun but doesn’t break the bank. The other thing that I think is pretty cool about Snozone is that they offer Disability Snowsports training. Anyone with a sensory, cognitive, or physical impairment can come learn to ski or snowboard. Their aim is to make snowsports inclusive and accessible for all. That is something I can 100% get behind.
If you are used to the Rocky Mountains or Alps, Snozone will probably seem a bit small to you. There is really only one run, but there are jumps and slide rails on which you can gain confidence for your tricks. Or, as I suggested above, you can learn a new snowsport for your next holiday. Everything you need, including lockers and showers, are available to you at the Milton Keynes location. If you have a free day, I recommend checking it out. I think I am going to organize a fitness blogger meet up there this summer because that group is always up to try something new. Snowsports are a great fitness activity, burning lots of calories and working your core and cardiovascular system too.
Do you know how to ski or snowboard? Did you take lessons when you were little or are you a natural in the snow?
Thanks to Decathlon for coming to my rescue by offering complimentary ski shop service and providing my new ski bag with such short notice. All views and opinions are own. Even though I am a member of the Decathlon Blogger’s Community, I can honestly say I love their affordable kit and ethos of #sportforall.
Thanks for Snozone for the complimentary visit to their Milton Keynes slope. All opinions and wipe outs are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | May 11, 2018 | family, product review, ski
I’ll admit I am pretty lucky to have spent many weekends at a local ski resort in Western New York with one chair lift. My dad was on ski patrol which meant we were able to afford as much time on the slopes as homework and extracurricular activities would allow. When I moved to Boston for university, it was so hard not being able to easily access good skiing. I always had my skis with me just in case there was a bus trip to Maine, Vermont or New Hampshire. The mountains of New England were nothing like the glacial hills of New York and much farther away. Eventually, I made it out west to Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and British Columbia. As I travelled more, I soon came to realise that my skis and ability were better suited to icy slopes rather than knee deep powder. I just haven’t learned how to ski in fresh pow yet! When we lived in Michigan, we got season tickets to Caberfae Peaks, which was nearly a two hour drive on snowy roads in my Subaru. But once we got there, I was overcome with general ennui. Sure there were several chair lifts, but the runs were short compared to the Rocky Mountains. I didn’t care which slope we skied down as they were all nearly the same and over in a swift second.
Since moving to England, I have once again been jonesing for some snow. When we get a centimetre of snowfall in London, the city shuts down. I have heard there is skiing up in Scotland but I haven’t made it up there yet. Our good friends have a chalet near Verbier, Switzerland which we have been lucky enough to visit three times over the years. Many of the gang are school teachers or university lecturers which makes coordinating holiday dates tough. In addition, many children have now joined our tribe which meant we had to rent an additional chalet this year.
Because we rarely go skiing and have a small flat, my skis ended up in the shed for a few years. A week before we were due to go to Verbier this February, we pulled them out to find the skis were rusty and the bag covered in mould (God, how I loathe British weather!). My skis were a graduation gift for uni, so they are pretty old anyways but I was simply devastated to see them in that state. Luckily, I knew Decathlon had a ski shop so I quickly booked them in for a wax, sharpen and tune up. We also took my husband’s snowboard in for a wax (although his board is stored under the bed and was in much better shape).
The process was pretty simple. We called the Decathlon workshop, which also cares for bikes, and booked in our kit. I think they have limited ski/snowboard staff or did that week because it was a few days before we needed to drop off our kit. Due to our schedules, we asked if we could drop the kit off early and they said it wasn’t a problem. I picked the skis and board up a day before we were due to travel and they were transformed. I felt such relief. I also picked up a new ski bag while I was at the shop. My old one was plain black canvas (also wet and gross) but the Decathlon one is a bright blue, has a light waterproof lining and wheels on one end. It was so much easier to travel with. I always stuff my ski gear around for skis for protection and will with this bag too as there isn’t much padding.
|
| Ready to board |
I thought this trip to Verbier would be the end of my skiing days for 2018, but I was wrong. Snozone is an indoor snowsport facility with three locations in the UK- Milton Keynes and Castleford both have artificial snow, while Skizone in Basingstoke and Castleford have a revolving astroturf carpet. A few weekends ago, they had a big event for their SOS (Summer of Snow). The day I went to Milton Keynes, it was over 20 degrees C outside. After walking 30 minutes from the train station to the facility, being indoors was a nice treat. Snozone Milton Keynes has equipment hire, a soft play zone for the kids, café and bar, large lounge with televisions, and of course, lots of real snow!
|
| Cafe at Snozone Milton Keynes |
My visit started off with 45 minutes of sledging (or sledding as we call it in America). The group meets at the appointed time and are escorted to the bottom of the sledging slope by a member of the Snozone team. All kids under 12 must wear helmets and are available to anyone else who wants to wear one. I was the lone adult as it was families who had booked in. The sledge is a one-seater with a stick you put between your legs, like a horn on a horseback riding saddle. You have to walk up the hillw(hich is half of the indoor slope) and then use your hands to steer the sledge right or left. To brake, you have to dig your heels into the snow. I wasn’t keen on this because snow kept going up my snow pants and I wanted to keep my socks dry for skiing later in the day. I know for next time though to bring a change of leggings and socks. I can’t remember the last time I went sledging, so it was a lot of fun to let loose for a bit and enjoy the snow.
|
| At the top of the slope |
My next activity was skiing. I was given a one hour timeslot with my slope pass, which included equipment hire, for just £30. The slope pass prices vary depending on day of the week, school holidays, and how long a session you want. Currently, an eight hour weekend adult pass is £37.49. For £10 more, you can hire ski clothes such as a ski jacket or snow pants. I was amazed at how affordable this is compared to ski resorts in Switzerland or USA. There are memberships available too if you live nearby and think you’d like to get practice in over the summer. My husband has been threatening to learn to ski for years and I am tempted to learn to snowboard. Taking lessons at Snozone seems much more economical that hiring kit, paying for lessons, and also purchasing a lift ticket in Switzerland. Plus, if we didn’t like it as much as we thought we would, we could just go home. Or sledging.
|
| Always wear a helmet |
The memberships offer additional discounts too slope off of slope sessions, café and shop purchases, children’s parties, private lessons, and tune ups in their ski shop. Crystal Ski has a desk in the Milton Keynes location where you can book a ski holiday and receive additional benefits as a member too. I could see Snozone as an alternative stag, or hen-do for people who want something fun but doesn’t break the bank. The other thing that I think is pretty cool about Snozone is that they offer Disability Snowsports training. Anyone with a sensory, cognitive, or physical impairment can come learn to ski or snowboard. Their aim is to make snowsports inclusive and accessible for all. That is something I can 100% get behind.
If you are used to the Rocky Mountains or Alps, Snozone will probably seem a bit small to you. There is really only one run, but there are jumps and slide rails on which you can gain confidence for your tricks. Or, as I suggested above, you can learn a new snowsport for your next holiday. Everything you need, including lockers and showers, are available to you at the Milton Keynes location. If you have a free day, I recommend checking it out. I think I am going to organize a fitness blogger meet up there this summer because that group is always up to try something new. Snowsports are a great fitness activity, burning lots of calories and working your core and cardiovascular system too.
Do you know how to ski or snowboard? Did you take lessons when you were little or are you a natural in the snow?
Thanks to Decathlon for coming to my rescue by offering complimentary ski shop service and providing my new ski bag with such short notice. All views and opinions are own. Even though I am a member of the Decathlon Blogger’s Community, I can honestly say I love their affordable kit and ethos of #sportforall.
Thanks for Snozone for the complimentary visit to their Milton Keynes slope. All opinions and wipe outs are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | Sep 13, 2017 | eating, exercise, family, outdoors, relax, running, self care
Of course, different strokes for different folks but I had an awesome weekend and think you should too. Here are my tips. Let me know which ones you try and how it goes.
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| Burgess Park fishing late |
- Be a parkrun tourist- Due to my next tip, I needed to be in Elephant and Castle mid-Saturday morning. I started looking at different parkruns and found Burgess Park run would be closest to where I needed to be. After a quick shout on Facebook, I had a few friends meeting me there. The bonus was that a few other friends from track happened to be there and it was perfect running weather (sunny, cool, with a slight breeze). The course is flat and pretty with a fishing lake, open lawns, and wildflower gardens. They even had orange pieces at the finish. I was #224 and pleased with my sub-30 time. After saying goodbye to everyone, I put my Osprey rucksack on and ran another 5K towards my marathon training.
- Attend an instructional weight lifting session- I was lucky enough to be invited by Vlique to attend a Girls Who Lift session at One2One fitness studio near Elephant and Castle. Although I am a certified personal trainer, I don’t have any clients right now nor do I belong to a gym. It was great to have Anna review proper technique of cleans, squats, dead lifts, and pull ups. An added bonus was that Sabine from My Life My Challenges was there too. I hadn’t seen her in ages so it was great to catch up.
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| Working on my clean but I am fatigued from running 10K |
- Hit up an activewear sale- Lululemon leggings are my gold standard in terms of quality and fit. However, they are also a big investment. Sabine knew about a sample sale, which we spent a lot of time and money at.
- Have a delicious milkshake with a good friend- Maple syrup, Jack Daniel’s and vanilla ice cream. Need I say more?
- Go on a date with your partner- Sunday was our 7th wedding anniversary. We went to Luppolo in Wanstead as it is one of our favorites. We always order the same thing.
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| Goat’s cheese, red onions, olives pizza |
- Sleep in and then go for a run- Don’t set your alarm. When I woke up, I had a rough idea that I wanted to run another 10K. I added in a stop at Rinkoff Bakery for some crodoughs, I mean to add in a mile, too.
- Eat an outdoor brunch in Victoria Park- Yes, more eating. Are you seeing a theme yet? I met James and Oldland at a cafe for yummy food in the brisk air. The sun went behind the clouds but that didn’t matter as I ate a big plate of veg, egg, and halloumi while James had banana praline pancakes.
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| More eating! |
- Make your dog a cake- Not only was it our anniversary, it was also Oldand’s 3rd adoptiversary on Monday. I found a dog-friendly cake recipe online. After Oldland licked all the Greek yogurt icing off of the cake, he swallowed the cake in two bites.
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| Liking the plate |
- Watch Outlander- The 3rd series (“season” in America) started and I cannot wait to see how they adapted Voyager.
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| I was lucky to see Outlander on Thursday night as a sneak preview 🙂 |
If you have any suggestions on what I sure try this weekend, leave a comment below and let me know.
Thanks to Vlique for the complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
by Mollie Millington | Sep 13, 2017 | eating, exercise, family, outdoors, relax, running, self care
Of course, different strokes for different folks but I had an awesome weekend and think you should too. Here are my tips. Let me know which ones you try and how it goes.
|
| Burgess Park fishing late |
- Be a parkrun tourist- Due to my next tip, I needed to be in Elephant and Castle mid-Saturday morning. I started looking at different parkruns and found Burgess Park run would be closest to where I needed to be. After a quick shout on Facebook, I had a few friends meeting me there. The bonus was that a few other friends from track happened to be there and it was perfect running weather (sunny, cool, with a slight breeze). The course is flat and pretty with a fishing lake, open lawns, and wildflower gardens. They even had orange pieces at the finish. I was #224 and pleased with my sub-30 time. After saying goodbye to everyone, I put my Osprey rucksack on and ran another 5K towards my marathon training.
- Attend an instructional weight lifting session- I was lucky enough to be invited by Vlique to attend a Girls Who Lift session at One2One fitness studio near Elephant and Castle. Although I am a certified personal trainer, I don’t have any clients right now nor do I belong to a gym. It was great to have Anna review proper technique of cleans, squats, dead lifts, and pull ups. An added bonus was that Sabine from My Life My Challenges was there too. I hadn’t seen her in ages so it was great to catch up.
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| Working on my clean but I am fatigued from running 10K |
- Hit up an activewear sale- Lululemon leggings are my gold standard in terms of quality and fit. However, they are also a big investment. Sabine knew about a sample sale, which we spent a lot of time and money at.
- Have a delicious milkshake with a good friend- Maple syrup, Jack Daniel’s and vanilla ice cream. Need I say more?
- Go on a date with your partner- Sunday was our 7th wedding anniversary. We went to Luppolo in Wanstead as it is one of our favorites. We always order the same thing.
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| Goat’s cheese, red onions, olives pizza |
- Sleep in and then go for a run- Don’t set your alarm. When I woke up, I had a rough idea that I wanted to run another 10K. I added in a stop at Rinkoff Bakery for some crodoughs, I mean to add in a mile, too.
- Eat an outdoor brunch in Victoria Park- Yes, more eating. Are you seeing a theme yet? I met James and Oldland at a cafe for yummy food in the brisk air. The sun went behind the clouds but that didn’t matter as I ate a big plate of veg, egg, and halloumi while James had banana praline pancakes.
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| More eating! |
- Make your dog a cake- Not only was it our anniversary, it was also Oldand’s 3rd adoptiversary on Monday. I found a dog-friendly cake recipe online. After Oldland licked all the Greek yogurt icing off of the cake, he swallowed the cake in two bites.
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| Liking the plate |
- Watch Outlander- The 3rd series (“season” in America) started and I cannot wait to see how they adapted Voyager.
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| I was lucky to see Outlander on Thursday night as a sneak preview 🙂 |
If you have any suggestions on what I sure try this weekend, leave a comment below and let me know.
Thanks to Vlique for the complimentary experience. All opinions are honest and my own.
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