Sleep Challenge

People all over the world go to work in the day, relax in the evening and find it near impossible to manage to drop off at night.
Stress is a contributing factor of course, but for some it is simply very hard to fall into slumber.
Personally I haven't had a good sleep pattern for as long as I can remember. I tend to hit the pillow, snuggle up, get really comfy, take a few deep breaths and BAM, my brain turns on. I usually end up thinking about negative unnecessary things and toss and turn until I finally go to sleep..
Once I've fallen asleep I then wake up through the night, only for a few minutes but as most will know you're brain has to re-start REM etc and after waking up briefly about 10 times, you feel as tired in the morning as you did when you went to sleep.

(To look like this when you wake up make sure you have applied make up and straightened your hair before you go to bed and do not move!... she does look peaceful though!)

After some research I have found various pieces of advice and feel I should put them to practice. I will be doing a 7 day sleep challenge to determine if these tips work or (as Sheldon Cooper - Big Bang Theory would say) if it's a load of hokum.

What I shall be doing:

• Daily exercise to work off extra energy and built up frustration which typically keep people awake
• Eye mask - block out any light or distractions
• Lavender scents 
• Bath before bed
• Hot drink (caffeine free)
• Peaceful music

Any other suggestions will be gratefully excepted. I will be starting my mission on Monday 27th August. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Have a great weekend!

Frances :) x

Inspiration

At this time of life I am 'between' jobs. 

I must have applied for about 50 jobs so far and the only one I heard back from was a receptionist job at a hairdressers which had no chair...now I don't mean to sound fussy (the job was also commision based) but 8 or more hour shifts standing on one spot?

Well, putting it all together it just wasn't any improvement from my previous job.

Its at times like this that its a good idea to look for inspiration.

My inspiration file holds a place for my sister. Louise is almost 3 years older than me and has achieved so much. She is now 25 years old. This is what she has done:

•               Marketing degree

•               Learnt to drive

•               PA job (although she called it something different)

•               Marketing job

•               Bought house

and last but not least tomorrow she gets this creature: 

OOOh isn't it pretty! 

Not only does she work really hard but she is also a brownie leader and always volenteers to help others out.

So, a message for my wonderful sister:

when you finally run out of energy and have a temporary break down i WILL be here with copious amounts of tea, cup cakes, pina coladas and face packs. 

Lots of love

Who is your inspiration?

Frank x

Get smart, get fit!

Like most people, I have found losing weight is a lot easier when you have something to aim for!
Well lucky me, I am jetting off for a sun-set holiday in August.
I hope to lose a stone by the holiday and look nice a trim by the pool.

I plan to do a daily update of what I have done to push the weight-loss process a long.

Already I have begun doing 20 minutes a day on the exercise bike. Its best to go at a steady pace so you don't run out of all your energy straight away.
I also had the opportunity to walk about 2 miles the other day to a friends house and back home again. If you can think of any situation like going to town for some shopping and think you might be able to walk the distance, even just part way and get transport the rest of the way, do it! It feels great afterwards and you feel like you have achieved something.

I have begun doing yoga. I go to one class per week and try and do the exercises I can remember each day. Yoga really is relaxing and great for the body. You start to feel muscles stretching in places you never felt before.

Of course diet is important too. I try and drink a few glasses of water each day but I count tea and squash into my daily recommended amount too. Lets hope to see improvements soon. I shall keep you updated on my progress and maybe they'll be a before and after snap too.

Thanks for reading,

Frances x

The fruit kick!

So I decided its time to gage up the fruit factor and made some super duper smoothies!

Ingredients: strawberry low fat yoghurt,
Raspberries and blueberries.

Easy peasy!

And slurp :) its really nice chilled so keep yoghurt in the fridge for a while first. Over and out!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

To all the mothers here and gone, the grandmothers, aunts and sisters. It's takes a village to raise a child..so they say.
Well my mumma did it by herself and I recon she did a spiffing job if I do say so myself :)
Treat your mums well today and for the other 365 days of each year.

Lots of love xxx

Book Club

I have decided to start my own book club for young adults such as myself.
No one reads enough anymore; statistics for the amount people read has decreased quite dramatically. I wonder if this is because it would mean you're a book worm if you enjoy that kind of thing!
Well, whats wrong with drifting off into an imaginary world and breaking away from real life for a while each day?
I can't seem to find any local book clubs that are aimed for young adults or that aren't online. So I have taken it upon myself to start one of my own.
Its a great excuse for a meet up and natter and a good way to encourage reading.
The only struggle is to work out which books to read...I know what my favourites are and will people be able to afford one book a month?
I understand that people are busy too or have different levels of reading pace so we might not all finish the book but thats ok...taking part is what counts right?

If you have any suggestions to help me build my young adult book club or any books you suggest please let me know, that would be a great help :)

Frances x

 

Pick Pockets

As you may have read in my previous post, it would seem I was pick pocketed on Monday of the way home from work.
I had to go through the palaver of cancelling all cards and it was quite upsetting.
Well this morning I was shocked and surprised to receive a letter from the tottenham police station saying they had my property. Wow someone had handed it in! I've just got back from picking it up. All cards were there (mostly useless now). It had been thrown on the street and recovered by a patrol cop.
My card holder had somehow travelled from hackney-enfield-tottenham.
I'm very glad it's all okay but a bit creeped out that someone has had their mits on my stuff.
A word of advice, only take out cards that you need. Keep your train ticket/ oyster card separate from important cards and make sure you keep your valuables close to you and safe.

Good luck in the real world :)
Frances x