Pages

Posted on: Sunday 25 May 2014

Getting back my mojo

 photo gettingstronger_zps591a4a1c.jpg

Today marks the first Sunday in almost six months that I have had a reason to try and sleep early. Tomorrow I start my first day at work! It's actually going to be training for the first three weeks so I'm guessing it will be intensive and full of new information to learn. I'm excited but also nervous as I feel like I haven't really used much brain power in a long while and quite honestly my motivation has been low. I've become quite lazy.

Change is coming though and I invite it into my home with open arms. Come and give me a hug!

My yoga practice is improving too. Every day I feel a little stronger - I can go a little further and hold a pose for longer. I'm getting back my mojo!

Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Saturday 24 May 2014

Slowly Drifting [into summer]

 photo IMG_0742_zpsd9d926a8.jpg

 photo IMG_0736_zps4926cb6b.jpg

 photo IMG_0755_zps52c36d9e.jpg

 photo IMG_0741_zpsa27ba61d.jpg


The daisies had bloomed and spread across the entire field. 
The grass was drying up, yellow patches here and there. 
The day was grey, but my heart was filled with warmth. 
And these are the days that I'll forever cherish. 




Photos taken at Ta'Qali National Park - Malta




Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Friday 23 May 2014

Day 8 of the 30 Day Yoga Challenge

Just completed day 8 and I have a few spare minutes to write about the practice!

Firstly, I really enjoyed today. Not sure if it's because I've been feeling a little stressed since last night or just because I really needed to stretch but I felt a fraction stronger. Today the focus was on back flexibility and the last pose was the wheel. I didn't manage to get into the full pose - I'm simply not strong enough but I did at least balance on my head for a few seconds before it all got too much. I can't wait to be able to do the wheel properly. In primary school my friends and I would spend our lunch breaks on the field doing wheels and hand stands and cartwheels...it was all so easy then! I would love to have even just a glimmer of that brightness I had when I was nine or ten years old.

In another 30 days I'll try again ;) 

Xx


Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Thursday 22 May 2014

I got the job! And other ramblings.

 photo IMG_0734_zpsfd67778f.jpg

I had been refreshing my emails every hour hoping for an answer about the job I applied for. About thirty minutes after my last post I got the answer I was looking for! *does a little boogie*

My break from the working world is officially over and on Monday I'll start to use my pea brain again :) It took me less than two weeks since arriving back in Malta to land myself a job. In England my CV wasn't given the time of day which makes me realise just how dire the job situation is in the UK. I spoke to a lady last week who told me that it took her granddaughter nearly two years to get a job over there. As sad as I am that my story couldn't continue with Lloyd over there (and I'm only sad about that because it means I can't be with him), I'm so happy to be in Malta and feeling more myself again. I felt so useless over there, like I wasn't good enough for anything except washing dishes. 

Now that I'm employed I want to start offering my help to a voluntary group...most likely devoting my time to an animal sanctuary here. My only problem is that the sanctuaries that appear to need the most help are quite far away and I don't drive. There is the sanctuary in Floriana which is closest by and where I feel I could fully commit to getting to regularly...so we'll see. I just want to help them all but I know that I have to start from somewhere...and be realistic about my limitations.

It's time to move forward! :)


Follow on Bloglovin

Everything happens for a reason

It's Thursday already! How did that happen? It feels like only yesterday that I was nervously heading off to my first interview in four years to talk myself up in the most modest way possible...contradiction much?

I think that the interview went well but as I said to my friend, you never know until you know and up until now I don't know a lot. I can only hope that my best was good enough but if I'm not the one they're looking for then so be it :) Everything happens for a reason.

Fitness wise I haven't been very good if I'm honest. I've been feeling a little under the weather and I think it may be because I haven't been drinking enough water. I have been lacking in the protein department a little too so I need to make a valid effort to get myself back on track.

My yoga practice has been coming along slowly but surely and I've lost a kilo since last week bringing me to 67.3kg! Progress, yay :)

Currently:
 
Reading: The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanagihara

Watching: The Following

On my mind: FairTrade

Listening: No one band in particular

Missing: Lloyd

Feeling: Positive that all the pieces will come together soon.

 photo Everythinghappensforareason_zps61e46bdb.jpg



Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Sunday 18 May 2014

Don't give up lovelies


Phew! Day 4 just completed and it was tough! The challenge today focuses on working your abs, mine of which have apparently gone into hibernation. I'm still feeling the aches of Fridays run which doesn't help but I'm committing myself to this challenge which means not missing a day.

I've been having to opt for the 'easier' method for these challenges because I'm finding it tough to find the strength to complete the more difficult options - side plank has never been easy for me! It will be interesting to revisit this challenge from the very beginning once I complete the full 30 days. Can't wait to see if there's a difference!






Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Saturday 17 May 2014

Day 3 of the 30 Day Yoga Challenge

 photo afterrun_zpsb0cca39e.jpg 

Yesterday I went running for the first time in months! I think I probably definitely pushed myself a bit too much too soon because today I am aching all over. Ouch, it hurts to cough. I did stretch afterwards too but clearly not well enough - oops. I managed 2km in 13 minutes which I'm OK with! My aim is to get to 5km (which I haven't quite managed before) and I've found a good plan to follow here so I'll officially start that programme on Monday.

Today has been pretty active. I walked to Valletta and traipsed the beautiful back streets. I swear that I always find something new every time I visit. I just love it there! Getting lost when you have all the time in the world is fun :) I then took the ferry over to Sliema and walked home happily with my goodie bag. Lucy our gorgeous Cavalier King Charles was keen to go out so I took her for a walk at sunset.

Day 3 of the Yoga Challenge was luckily not so tough which meant I was able to complete the short practice. Yay! Now it's time to let my body recover!


Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Friday 16 May 2014

Day 2 of the 30 Day Yoga Challenge

 photo IMG_0029_zps862aeb7e.jpg

I find that my workouts are best done in the morning. I have so much more energy and I've always been an early riser (well not as much these days, I've gotten used to lying in until 8:30am which may still be early for the mentally sane!).

I've just completed Day 2 of the 30 Day Yoga Challenge and I'm happy to report that I got through it although not with much grace. My downward dogs are very challenging and I couldn't hold them for the full length of time much less with one hand on the mat and one hand touching my opposite leg for a long time. I smiled and got through it. I took a rest when I needed to and got back up again. My intention is not to quit and I won't be :)

Great news which I forgot to mention! I have a job interview next Monday, I'm so excited and nervous. In February I had bought a pair of black tapered trousers for upcoming interviews and today I tried them on for the first time since then. All I can say is that I'm glad I decided not to go a size down or they would not be fitting me right now. It was quite disheartening that they were kind of loose when I bought them and now they're on the verge of being tight but it's my fault and I'll be feeling physically good in no time! 

Fingers crossed that I make a good impression at the interview.

Wishing you all an amazing day!




Follow on Bloglovin

Posted on: Thursday 15 May 2014

The Journey so Far

It's May 15th and I'm weighing in at 68.3kg. That's almost 11 stone.

That's shocking considering this time last year I was in the best shape I had ever been in. I strongly believe that beauty comes from the inside but I do also believe in being the best that you can possibly be and right now I'm not. 

My goal is to get down to 62kg through a mixture of yoga, running and a balanced diet. I CAN do this! 

Today was my first proper day back on the mat and although I loved it...it showed me just how backwards I am compared to last year. My flexibility is gone and my upper body strength has taken a running leap off of Dingli Cliffs (that's a Maltese reference right there). I'm not a complete noob when it comes to Yoga, guys. Last February I started practicing with an amazing instructor who is based over here in Malta and I loved it! I was going for 90 minute practices 2/3 times a week for about 6 months as well as running too. It felt great to be so fit and full of energy. Can't wait to get back to that.

For now just being present during my practice was a really awesome feeling. I was so aware of every movement that I took even if it was just by moving my head from looking at my mat to straight ahead.
 ♡
I have a couple of subscriptions with Yoga channels on Youtube. The first is DoYouYoga.com who have a 30 day yoga challenge which I started today and the second is Yoga With Adriene who is just the coolest chick! She really describes the poses in great detail not to mention having a personality which just makes you feel like you're real life buddies. 


Day 1 of the 30 Day Yoga Challenge




Follow on Bloglovin

 photo copyright.jpg