Life | Spring Has Sprung!

Happy Spring my lovelies! I can definitely say my mood of recent has perked up and I can only determine its down to the lighter days and some good old vitamin D from the sun. I love Spring and would go as far as saying its my favourite season. Brings everyone out of the dull, cold miserable back end of winter.

So to celebrate the warmer weather, and the bank holidays (yey!) my family and I headed up to Durham to visit the in-laws for a quick Easter break. Its like a little retreat up there as my MIL lives right in the middle of the beautiful countryside and you can't help but relax.

Now we have Little C in tow we like to make an effort to head out and abouts whether we are at home or away and try new things. So while we were in Durham we headed to a local farm called Hill Hall Farm.

It was a fantastic place not just for the kiddies but for the adults too. We got to hold baby chicks that weren't even a week old, feed the sheep and their newborn lambs, the kids could take turns on the Donkeys and on the way back out we went for a cuddle with the bunny rabbits. As an added bonus the farm had an outdoor and indoor play area, just in case all that fresh air and excitement didn't tire the kids out. :) The prices were £7.95 for the adults and our baby got in free. A bit pricey I thought for a farm but I didn't realise how much there was to do. On a summers day you really could spend all day there, it was a tad nippy the day we went. Plus the staff were all lovely and would tell you all about the animals, we even got to see a baby lamb being born and learned about how the sheep can foster other lambs. It was superb.

Overall, it was a fantastic day out and we all came away feeling very spring-y!

I also got to head out and get some miles clocked in my walking shoes. Was great to get outdoors in the fresh air and burned a few calories too. Was very lucky to go walking with this view.....

Then we went on a easter egg hunt, more for Little C but we all joined in and had a lovely time. Good job I burned those caloies off as now we have a mountain of chocolate waiting to be eaten!

As my MIL is a professional nutritionist we discussed my current favourite topic 'Healthy Living' and I enjoyed a Gluten and Dairy free diet for the days I was there. I felt great and didn't complain about my usual aches and pains once while I was there. So refreshing to be treating my body with a it more care. I am going to be writing a post soon showing my food diary for the day and giving some tips so keep an eye out.

Also, my mum very kindly bought us some daffodils (she loves them) for the kitchen so we have a lovely bunch of bright yellow flowers to keep the springy-ness in our home too.

I hope you had a lovely Easter!

Where are your favourite places to take the kids in Spring?

Health | Dairy Free and Me

A few months ago I was reading Khloe Karadashians 'Strong Looks Better Naked' as I was really impressed with her transformation which has been done by having a complete health and fitness overhaul. Whatever people might think about the Kardashians I do think they work hard to stay current. Khloe took on her health adventure for personal reasons but has reeped the benefits. I was engrossed in her journey and feeling motivated myself one chapter caught my eye. Khloe spoke about going dairy free in her book and not only had it aided her weight loss but she felt better in herself. I was intrigued.I had played around in the past with going gluten free or sugar free along with a wealth of faddy diets but none of it stuck and resulted in me putting weight ON! So I would call myself highly knowledgeable in fads and what doesn't work. So with this in mind I didn't really consider going dairy free for very long.

Little did I know a few months on I would be a dairy free convert!

After reading the book I remained motivated but I am yet to make a green juice or set foot in a gym however there's time yet. It was after spending an afternoon with my mother in law (who happens to be a trained nutritionalist) who noticed how severe my eczema had got especially on my hands. They were painful, red and at times bleeding. Moisturiser was past working and I didn't want to go down the route of steriods off the doctor. My MIL mentioned cutting dairy out of my diet, not to lose weight but to calm my ezcema as dairy can be an irritant.

At this point I was willing to try anything as it was getting very painful and embarrassing. At first I changed my milk to Almond milk and was pleasantly surprised how nice it was. I cut out my butter and cheese next (I am yet to find a dairy free alternative I like but I have never been a butter fan). Within a week I noticed a massive difference in my ezcema. The redness and dryness had calmed right down. Within 2 weeks I noticed I didn't feel bloated or gassy anymore. I no longer felt like I had a head cold every morning, my sinuses seemed clearer. And as an added bonus I have lost 7lb in a month (I will add here that I have taken up walking once a week and tried to cut out the 'crap').

I am not 100% dairy free yet but I am getting there. This is not a fad but it is a lifestyle change that is making me feel better and healthier. I don't believe in cutting things out completely unecessarily so I would strongly recommend getting professional advice before cutting any food group out of your diet. Dairy can be hidden in many different ingredients but the big items I have changed. I do have friends who are dairy free (for medical reasons) and have been a great source of support but I have also check out Go Dairy Free, Pure Free From Blog and Jamie Oliver for recipes, tips and advice.

Are you Dairy Free? Please share your tips.

Life | Afternoon Gin's & One Too Many Cakes

First of all apologies for being MIA for the past few weeks. The good news is all is well so lets get to it. Instead of doing separate posts I thought I would do a round up of my recent days out and favourite places I have been.

Lazy Lounge, Leeds

I started off heading over to Leeds to meet my old uni pals for an afternoon tea with a difference. My friend had been bought an afternoon tea for 4 at the Lazy Lounge and invited me along. What I didn't know was that the Lazy Lounge is a Gin bar with a multitude of different Gin's to try, along with an odd cocktail or two which we enjoyed. The food was delish and considering they had to cater for 1 vegetarian and 2 dairy and gluten free customers (I was the none picky one who could try the whole platter yum) I thought they provided a great selection of sandwiches and desserts. Smiles all round.

The bar itself was very warming with barrel's and wooden table tops aligning the floor. The decor was perfect for their theme and I could have easily hid away from the rain in there all day long. Although I wasn't a massive fan of gin prior to this visit we got a gin cocktail in a tea pot with little tea cups and saucers which I thought was very cute and it was gorgeous. I'm not sure what the cocktail was called but I would be perfect so summer. So fresh and light. Upstairs in the bar there was a tasting session on which I thought was a great idea and something I would like to consider going to next time. I ended the day with a few glasses of fizz while we chatted and put the world to rights before heading back home. Perfect afternoon to catch up with friends, lovely food, tasty drinks and homely atmosphere. 

Pot of Cream Just for Little Old Me!!

Need any more excuse??

Cheeky game of Jenga and a Bellini next door @ Toast, Leeds

East Avenue Bakehouse, Liverpool

Next I headed over to Liverpool for my cousins baby shower that was being held at this little, quaint bakehouse. Again, we went for the afternoon tea but this time there was definitely less alcohol involved but we did each get a glass of champagne which I thought was a lovely touch.

The food here was absolutely amazing. I was excited as soon as I walked in as there was fresh bread and cakes out on the counter for sale and they smelt and looked gorgeous.

We all got pots of tea to share and the teapots, cups and saucers were super cute. None of them matched and added to the quaint factor. The milk also came in old fashioned mini milk bottles which I just wanted to pop in my bag and bring home but I didn't! 

As I have already said the food here was on another level. I was stuffed and couldn't finish my tray (you shared with your neighbour at the table) but the waitress came round with boxes so you could take home anything you wanted to which I thought was a nice touch. A word of advice the chocolate brownies are THE best I have ever eaten. A must buy if you go!

A lovely afternoon in a unique bakehouse and another great place to chat away to my family while celebrating a lovely occasion.

Really cute baby shower touches to my place setting.

Love Darcey Ru Bridal Boutique, Bolton

Last off was the launch of my sisters new Bridal Boutique in our hometown Bolton. She has worked so hard with her partner and BFF to bring this beautiful boutique to life and I couldn't be any prouder. The launch was a huge success and the dresses they have in store are out of this world. If only I needed another wedding dress.... hmm when can I renew my vows again? The night was topped off with glasses of champagne (or orange for us drivers), cake pops and cupcakes. It looked a heavenly mix of pink and whites with splashes of glitter, perfect setting to find your dream dress. So if you are looking for your perfect wedding dress, or need a dress or two for your bridesmaids and are in the North West area then I would highly recommend Love Darcey Ru. If only there was a boutique around like this when I was planning my wedding...

 Let me know if you've been or plan to go to any of these lovely places and I'm still looking for more blogs to read so get sending me your links.

*All comments are my own and the places I ate at have more on the menu, this was just a snapshot of our visit*
Please note this post was written a few weeks prior to my Dairy Free diet changes.

Life | My Pinterest Obsession

Over the last year I have become somewhat obsessed with Pinterest. A friend got me into it who was planning her wedding and had designed an online 'Monica' file of all the things she liked. Which was a lot! Although I wasn't planning my wedding, that happened a few years ago now, I was moving house and wanted some inspiration on interior design and making our new house a home.

That interest has developed into an obsession of the site and I now have folders on travel, photography, mummy stuff, blogging and event planning to name a few. I have got so many ideas and inspiration, I have found new bloggers and websites that I now use daily. Plus it has been a really good learning tool for me. I love make up but I am no make up artist. I needed to work on my application and technique and Pinterest has helped me do that. It has also given me an interest in nail art, something I haven't considered doing before but I am currently researching courses so I can turn this interest into a hobby, and who knows a potential career!

Here are a few examples of my folders... feel free to follow me on @Back2blonde1

Have you got Pinterest? Send me your links in the comments below. 

Life | Let's Go 2016

Let's Go 2016.

I don't really like doing new years resolutions as I never seem to stick to them and then feel pressured to make better resolutions the year after just to make up for my fail the year before. So this year i'm not going to label it but I do have a few things I would like to do, places to see etc.

Some of which I thought I would share with you here:-

1) Read more books.

Hardly a statement stopper but I do want to read more. I have always been an avid reader but since I had my daughter I have found myself short on time when it comes to reading, that and I would have rather slept following many sleepless nights with the baby! However now the baby is sleeping better I have picked my hobby back up. I am normally a fiction chick-lit fan but I have recently been interested in motivation, better yourself books. This is where the Carrie Loves.... Book Club will come in. I will be reviewing my new books every few weeks so I can share with you some of my favourites.

2) Take more photos.

Photography is another hobby of mine and I love to take snaps all the time. Sometimes life gets in the way and you stop taking pictures of the special moments. I aim to take a photo every day this year and get some of my photos framed.

3) Go somewhere new.

I really do want to visit somewhere new this year. Now we have our little girl we like to go on days out, family walks etc. We often visit the same places so I want to make the effort of trying new places this year and make a trip somewhere I haven't been before... hopefully Dublin (fingers crossed!).

4) Work on my health.

Every year I promise myself that the next fad diet will be THE one. Well it never is and I end up miserable so this year I'm not messing about with fads. Healthy eating, walking/running and trying new exercise classes are on the agenda.

5) Trying new recipes.

Following on from the healthy eating I want to learn to cook new dishes. I don't hide the fact that i'm not the best cook. In all honesty my husband is a dab hand in the kitchen, especially when he makes his own curry from scratch. Gorgeous! But I want to start cooking more for my family and I. Getting us to try new vegetables, meats, fish and sauces. Keep it exciting!

6) Create my new office.

We moved into a new home a few months ago and my husband and I have agreed to change one of the spare rooms into a make shift office/spare bedroom. I can't wait to decorate and I am glued to Pinterest at the moment getting ideas. It's going to be my blogging space so I want it light, fun but relaxing so I can get my spotify playlists on the go while I work.

7) Take 5!

I got this idea off Lorraine Kelly's morning programme on ITV. One of my fav authors, Giovanna Fletcher, has been doing a special on how important it is to Take 5 for yourself. It's so easy to get caught up in a busy lifestyle of work, children, husband, cooking, cleaning the list goes on. And often when we do get to stop and relax its slumped in front of the tv. Nothing wrong with that but is it really YOU time? I aim to try some new exercise classes, go walking with a friend of mine and to take more baths with my gorgeous Lush products and a glass of red wine! Yummy!

8) Make more of an effort...

This is quite an important one for me this year. I really want to make more of an effort to see our family and friends. Sounds so simple and something I should be doing already right. Well it is but sometimes I just feel like time gets away with me. I work a lot and so does my husband so in our down time we like to spend it with our daughter, sorting the new house out, getting jobs done, doing the big shop and before you know it it's Monday again! Plus I do struggle with anxiety and sometimes prefer to stay home in my 'comfort zone'. However, there are no excuses when it comes to time with the people we love so I am making more of an effort to say yes and go out for lunches, call for a brew or two or even head over to Leeds to see my old uni pals for a Gin and Afternoon Tea day (more to follow on that in a few weeks ;-)). Also, on this point, for the people who aren't close to home we like to Skype/Facetime a lot as its the next best thing.

So that's my to do in 2016 list. I could go on but these are enough to be getting on with for now.

What are your plans for 2016?

Life | Tea Leaves, Macaroons & Mad Hatters

So this week my husband and I took a little date day trip into Manchester to treat ourselves to some afternoon tea. Very la-de-dar! I had been looking for somewhere new to go as our aim is to have one day out a month (yes, we are working parents so we'll take our one day and enjoy every minute!)  to somewhere totally new and different, rather than just the local pub for pie and chips! Plus we are taking it in turns to arrange the day, January was my month so afternoon tea was a given.

I found this cute little tea room in Manchester called 'Richmond Tea Rooms'. I had seen a few friends had been previous and then I spotted that Michelle Keegan had shared a pic on her instagram showing off the delicious cakes and that sold it to me. Proper girl crush over Keegs!

So off we went for our late lunch and it was amazing. The tea room has a Mad Hatters tea party theme running throughout the restaurant, from the front steps to the 1920's style tea bar. I thought it was fantastic. We got sat at a quaint little 2-seater table and went straight to the Afternoon Tea menu. I won't go into the fine details of every item on the menu but it all looked delish. I went for the Richmond Afternoon Tea, which even came with a cheeky glass of fizz. Perfect start to lunch i'd say. ;-)

We also had a pot of tea each with our own choice of tea (loose tea leaves I'll have you know!!!), which came with cute china cups and saucers, a tea strainer and a mini jug of milk. Put it this way, it isn't a place I would take our toddler. Just imagine the china plates and tea everywhere!

Then followed a few tasty sandwich fingers, a mixture of fillings, a savoury item (something cheesy), a few miniature cakes which were tasty little pieces of heaven. And then to finish of the lunch we delved into these mah-oosive scones with clotted cream and jam. How I didn't roll out of the place I do not know.

Overall, a really lovely afternoon out to somewhere we wouldn't normally have gone. Would highly recommend it to my family and friends.

We finished the day off in one of our favourite bars in Manchester, The Alchemist. They make the most delicious cocktails, many I still have to try. However, I settled for a mocktail today and had their strawberry colada. Beautiful and so yummy!

Now I'm looking forward to see where we end up next month...

Do you go on 'Date Days' with your other half? Any recommendations for Manchester?

Book of the Month | Run Fat B!tch Run

Book of the Month - January 2016
Run Fat B!tch Run - Ruth Field

Well, what can I say. WHAT A BOOK! I was a bit dubious at first. A little bit blunt normally for me but I loved it. To start at the beginning I got introduced to Ruth Field and her books through a friends blog post about her. After reading how motivated the books made my friend I instantly ordered this book off Amazon, not one for wanting to wait around and all that.

If you have read my previous post about wanting to get back into running, through the help of the NHS app 'Couch to 5km' (well recommended if anyone is interested) I thought that this book might provide me with the additional eumph I needed. It worked.

As the title suggests it is a book based on getting you running. Whether you are a beginner, straggler or a running veteran who needs an added boost it covers all bases.

Ruth aka The Grit Doctor talks about your 'inner bitch', you know that little voice in the back of your head telling you that the last doughnut you had was not a good idea and the zumba classed you missed means your a lazy bum, yea that's the one. Well its all about getting you, and your I.B. (Inner Bitch) geared up to get your trainers on and get you out the door burning calories. Don't get me wrong the book isn't every slimmers bible, its a motivation tool for all prospective runners. It explains about how running benefits your health, not just your dress size but your emotions, skin, sleep, mood, mentality, vision. How we all tend to come up with every excuse under the sun not to run even though its 1, free, 2. quick to learn and 3. totally independent to you. There's no gym membership that you can't really afford, strict grueling plan or embarrassment to it.

What did I like?

Yes, its the kick up the bum I needed and yes its blunt, to the point and in your face. But its everything your I.B. has been telling you, you just chose to ignore it and ate that extra cream egg (oopps). It made me laugh (you need to have a sense of humour) but there were some serious parts that you really need to take away with you and work on. It was also really interesting as Ruth recalls stories from her family and friends who took up running and the effect it had on them. She develops a step by step plan for you to follow if you choose (I have stuck to my Couch to 5k plan) and talks about food in general but doesn't over analyse every last avocado or pasta recipe.

Overall, I loved this book (can you tell...). As motivation books go its Grade A and I have already purchased her next book, Get Your Sh*T Together! I may still be a beginner to running but with the help of this book its given my I.B. a louder voice making me get up off the couch and get my trainers on when normally I would have slumped down for the night and watched Greys Anatomy. Which there is no harm in and The Grit Doctor applauds you for having a life doing what you enjoy but what she does not applaud is laziness, excuses and a lack of willpower. I beg you to read this if like me you need a kick to get you back into exercise and want something that will work for life. No fads, No tricks, just you... running!

Have you read the book yet? What were your thoughts?

Life | 5 Ways To Start Your Day.

It is a well known fact that I am not a morning person. I am the queen of excuses… its too dark, too cold , I haven’t slept enough, I don’t want to… the excuses roll on and on. However, I am trying to get better at it. After all I have a toddler who wakes me at 6am and I work, so there’s no signs of a lie in any time soon.

So after having a gander on Instagram to search for health and fitness motivation I came across a few ways to start your day right. Start as you mean to go on and all that…

So here is my ‘Get up and Go’ Top 5…

1.       Get Fresh…. Jump out of bed with as much gusto as you can manage and get in that shower. Treat yourself to a new zingy shower gel and super fresh face wash and zap yourself awake with the aromas! I am like a lazy sloth making my way to the shower in a morning but after a bit of lemon and lime freshness I turn into a wide awake go-get-it type of annoying-ness.

2.       Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate…. How many books and magazines are telling you that drinking water first thing gets your metabolism going and wakes up your digestive system. Well it does. So do it. I have been trying to stick to this since the start of the year and I must admit a tall glass of ice cold water first thing did nothing but make me a bit queasy. However, I have stuck to it (by sipping it rather than gulping it down in one go) and it does wake me up just enough….till my coffee arrives.

3.       Move and Shake… Who exercises in the morning, hands up? I am guilty of not being a morning exercise person, I prefer to wait till before my dinner once the baby is in bed and I am free to go about my exercise business. Mainly either running, walking or my beloved Davina DVD. If you can though, get moving first thing. Your metabolism is already getting fired up from your water so give it a helping hand. Whether you head outdoors for a quick blitz before your shower or you run up and down the stairs, whatever you choose. Just get a moving. I dance around the room with my toddler listening to the radio and that’s my attempt at waking us both up!

4.       You are what you eat…. You have been hydrated and you’ve moved your feet a bit,  now its time to eat! I never used to be a breakfast person I am afraid to say and it did me more harm than good, by fainting… a lot. Now though I cant leave the house without at least a bowl of cereal. I am not one of these who eats ‘like at king’ at breakfast time but I think it is so important to get your body fuelled ready for the day. So whether you choose to go for a bowl of All Bran (I’m on slimming world alright!) or a cheeky ‘healthy’ fry up. Make sure your body has the right fuel to get going and keep you going.

5.       This is my favourite… Music Motivation. I am a huge music lover and rely on it a lot to motivate me. Whether that’s first thing in the morning to wake me up or to get me out of the door with my trainers on ready for my run. Get yourself a morning playlist to play while you get ready or while your on your commute and you’ll be starting the day with a smile on your face. Here’s a glimpse at mine:-

Pharrell – Happy

Beyonce – Love on Top

Bobby McFerrin’s - Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Bruno Mars - The LAZY Song

Beyonce - Run The World (Girls) 

Corinne Bailey Rae - Put your records on

What are your Top Morning Tips?