My Top 10 Mints

Everton Mints

Mint Imperials

Mint Toffee

Murray Mints

Humbugs

Butter Mints

Spearmint Chews

Mint Creams

Glacier Mints

Polo Mints

My Top 10 Chocolate Cakes

Triple Chocolate sponge cake

Hot chocolate fudge cake

Chocolate cheesecake

Chocolate brownies

Chocolate buttermilk cake

Death by Chocolate

Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge Cake

Malteser Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Mud Cake

Black Magic Chocolate Cake

My Top 10 Winter Cocktails

• Cherry Bourbon Hot Chocolate
• Hot Cocoa Martini
• Mulled Wine
• Irish Coffee with Baileys
• Baileys Hot Chocolate
• Gaelic Coffee with Whisky
• Brandy Coffee
• Mulled Cider
• Whisky Hot Toddy
• Hot Buttered Cider

My Top 10 Stir Fry

• Chicken Noodle Stir Fry
• Hot and Spicy Vegetable Stir Fry
• Edamame Stir Fry
• Lemon Chicken Stir Fry
• Oriental Vegetable Stir Fry
• Sweet and Sour Quorn Stir Fry
• Thai Chicken Stir Fry
• Mushroom Stir Fry
• Szechuan Stir Fry
• Beef in Black Bean Stir Fry

My Top 10 Mexican Food

• Tacos
• Quesadillas
• Burritos
• Enchiladas
• Frijoles
• Churros
• Tostadas
• Taquitos
• Chilli
• Guacamole & Salsa

My Top 10 Pies

• Cheese & Onion Pie
• Chicken & Mushroom Pie
• Meat & Potato Pie
• Cottage Pie
• Chicken Balti Pie
• Spinach and Cheese Filo Pie
• Satay Chicken Pie
• Chilli Pot Pie
• Mexican beef and bean Pie
• Leek, Cheese and Potato Pie

My Top 10 Fast Food

• Quarter pounder with cheese
• Chicken nuggets
• Zinger burger
• Sausage and egg mcmuffin
• Donner kebab
• Cheese and onion pastie
• Sausage roll
• Fish and chips
• Popcorn chicken
• Chicken burrito

My Top 10 Pasta Dishes

Lasagne

Carbonara

Ravioli

Spaghetti Bolognese

Cannelloni Fiorentina

Pasta bake

Baked spaghetti pie

4 cheese stuffed pasta shells

Spaghetti and meatballs

Rigatoni con Zuccini Pesto

My Top 10 Spirits

• Johnny Walker Black Label Whisky - Scottish
• Courvoisier VSOP Brandy
• Southern Comfort
• Jack Daniels
• Jim Beam Red Stag
• Baileys
• Tia Maria
• Vodka
• Cherry Brandy
• Tequila

My Top 10 Beers

• Peroni
• San Miguel
• Stella 4%
• Becks Vier
• Kronenburg
• Samuel Adams
• Cobra
• Sol
• Budweiser
• Carling

My Top 10 Soups

• Broccoli & Stilton
• Potato & Leek
• Cream of Tomato
• Carrot & Coriander
• Sweet Potato & Carrot
• Mexican Chilli Bean
• Country Vegetable
• Spicy Lentil Soup
• French Onion
• Cream of Mushroom

My Top 10 Burgers

• Cheeseburger
• Chilliburger
• Southern Fried Chicken Burger
• New York Deli Burger
• Smokey Barbeque Burger
• Blue Cheese Burger
• Mexican Burger
• Cajun Chicken Burger
• Italian Beef Burger
• Peppered Beef Burger

My Top 10 Cereal Bars

Cadbury Brunch Bar Chocolate Chip

Kellogg's Nutrigrain Breakfast Bakes Chocolate Chip

Kellogg's Special K Bar Hazelnut & Almond Bar

Nak'd Bar Cashew Cookie

Alpen Light Jaffa Cake Bar

Belvita Breakfast Biscuit Crunchy Chocolate Chip

Mr Kipling Orange & Cranberry Oat Bar

Go Ahead Fruit Bakes Strawberry

Kellogg's Rice Crispies Squares Rocky Road

Tracker Chocolate Chip Bar

My Top 10 Bagels

Red Onion and Chive

Cinnamon and Raisin

Sesame seed

Poppy seed

Garlic

Plain and simple

Onion

Cheese

Jalapeno red pepper

Wholewheat

My Top 10 Cookies

• Double Choc Chip
• Brownie
• Dark Choc
• Hazelnut and Choc
• White Choc
• Milk Choc
• White Choc & Raspberry
• Oatmeal & Raisin
• Dark Choc and Nut
• Orange Milk Choc

My Top 10 Wines

• Pinot Grigio
• Chardonnay
• Pinot Noir
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Prosecco
• Merlot
• Moscato
• Chablis
• Zinfandel
• Shiraz

My Top 10 Rice

• Basmati
• Long Grain 
• Risotto
• Wholegrain
• Brown Basmati
• Pilau
• Jasmine
• Long grain wild
• Sushi
• Cauliflower

My Top 10 Tapas

Patatas Bravas

Croquetas

Pinchito

Nachos con carne

Pincho Tortillas Espanola

Pincho de pollo marinado

Brusqueta

Pincho de solomillo marinado

Tapa de queso

Papas arrugadas con mojo

My Top 10 Yoghurts

• Finest Fudge 
• Strawberry & Cream
• Finest Lemon Curd
• Greek Yoghurt with Honey
• Toffee Milk Chocolate
• Deluxe Mint
• Champagne
• Creamy Cherry
• Orange with Dark Chocolate
• Banana and Custard

My Top 10 Pizza

• Mighty Meaty
• Hot & Spicy Beef
• Pepperoni
• Sweet Chilli Chicken
• BBQ Chicken
• Cajun Chicken
• Chilli Beef
• Loaded Cheese
• Chicken Piri Piri
• Cheese & Tomato

My Top 10 Pancakes

• Mascarpone & Lemon topping
• Golden Syrup & sugar topping
• Banoffee topping
• Vanilla Ice cream & Nutella topping
• Strawberries & Cream topping
• Thick natural yoghurt & blueberries topping
• Millionaire shortbread topping
• Marmalade & Dark chocolate (think Jaffa Cakes) topping
• Banana and Peanut Butter topping
• Hot chocolate fudge topping

My Top 10 Quality Street

• Caramel Swirl
• The Purple One
• Milk choc block
• Orange cream
• Strawberry delight
• Toffee deluxe
• Orange chocolate crunch
• The green triangle
• Toffee finger
• Vanilla fudge

My Top 10 Spicy Food

Dynamite Hot Stagg Chilli

Chicken gyoza

Chicken Tikka Massalla

Chicken Katsu Curry

Firecracker chicken

Hot and spicy pizza

Garlic chilli chicken

Chinese chicken curry

Mexican cajun enchilada

Jamaican jerk chicken

My Top 10 Cheese Dishes

• Cheese and onion quiches
• Broccoli and Stilton soup
• Fried Brie with cranberry sauce
• Cheese board
• Cheese Muffins
• Three cheese ravioli
• Cheese and tomato pasta bake
• Cheese omelette
• Cheese feast pizza
• Cheesy nachos

My Top 10 Chutneys

So for a bit of fun, I have decided to start compiling my Top 10's. So here is the first (feel free to disagree :) ) 

Tomato Chutney

Caramelised Onion Chutney

Lime & Chilli Chutney

Mango Chutney

Pepper & Paprika Chutney 

Fig Chutney

Mango, Apricot & Coriander Chutney

Sweet Tomato, Piri Piri & Chilli Chutney

Plum Chutney

Hot Gooseberry Chutney

My Top 10 Breads

• White tiger bloomer
• Crusty white split tin
• Giraffe bread
• Multi grain batch
• Poppy topped bloomer
• Focaccia with pesto and mozzarella
• Sundried tomato bread
• Cheesy garlic bread
• Garlic and parsley flat bread
• Nut and raisin roll

My Top 10 Crackers

• Jacobs Cream Crackers
• McVities Cheddar Cheese Crackers
• Hovis crackers
• Digestive biscuit
• Cornish wafer
• Water biscuit
• Tuc biscuits
• Ritz crackers
• Granary wheat squares
• Salt and cracked black pepper crackers

My Top 10 Cheese Spread

• Philadelphia - full fat original
• Laughing Cow
• Primula
• Dairylea
• Applewood spreadable
• Seriously Strong Cheddar spreadable
• Philadelphia - Light Chives
• Boursin - Pepper
• Philadelphia - Garlic and Herb
• Boursin Garlic and Herb

I would have put Sunpat cheese spread, but alas its no more :( 

My Top 10 Nuts

• Cashew Nuts
• Peanuts
• Brazil Nuts
• Almonds
• Macadamia Nuts
• Walnuts
• Hazelnuts
• Pistachio Nuts
• Pecans
• Cacao Nuts

My Top 10 Cottage Cheese

• Natural cottage cheese
• Onion and chive cottage cheese
• Pineapple cottage cheese
• Sweet Chilli
• Black Pepper
• Garlic and herb
• Sundried tomato
• Worcestershire sauce
• Ham & Pineapple
• Spicy Mexican

My Top 10 Cinema Nibbles

• Popcorn
• Pick n mix
• Nachos
• Doughnuts
• Hot Dog
• Crisps
• Maltesers
• Haribo
• Cheese Twists
• Ice cream

My Top 10 Mousse

• Chocolate mousse
• Lemon mousse
• Butterscotch mousse
• Coconut mousse
• Strawberry cheesecake mousse
• Coffee mousse
• White chocolate mousse
• Raspberry mousse
• Lemon Cheesecake mousse
• Chocolate peppermint mousse

My Top 10 Sausages

• British Pork and Sweet Chilli Sandwiches
• Cumberland Sausages
• Cider & Apple Pork Sausages
• Aberdeen Angus Beef Sausages
• Quorn Sausages
• Hot Dog Sausages
• Beef & Cracked Black Pepper Sausages
• Sausage wrapped in bacon (pigs in blanket)
• Chorizo Style Pork Sausages
• Thick Pork Sausages Lincolnshire

My Top 10 Chicken Dishes

• Chicken Kiev 
• Piri Piri Chicken
• Red Thai Chicken Curry
• Satay Chicken
• Sweet & Sour Chicken
• Chicken Tikka Massalla
• Cajun Chicken
• Lemon Chicken
• Chicken in White Wine Sauce
• Chicken Breast Burger

My Top 10 Dips

Houmous

Tzatziki

Salsa

Sour Cream

Guacamole

Pesto

Yoghurt and Cucumber

Onion and Garlic

Cheese and Chive

Creamy sweet Chilli

My Top 10 Milkshake

• Toblerone chocolate milkshake
• Oreo biscuit milkshake
• Dairy Milk milkshake
• Cadbury creme egg milkshake
• Lindt milkshake
• Chocolate orange milkshake
• Snickers milkshake
• Nutella milkshake
• Eton Mess milkshake
• Galaxy milkshake

My Top 10 Sandwiches

• Cheese Ploughmans
• Egg and Cress
• Cheese and Onion
• Chicken Salad
• Roast Chicken
• Chicken Tikka
• Turkey Rashers
• Barbeque Chicken
• Cheese Salad and Pickle
• Pineapple and Cottage Cheese

My Top 10 Sweet Muffins

• Blueberry muffin
• Chocolate chip muffin
• Banana muffin
• Baileys and chocolate muffin
• Strawberry muffin
• Cranberry and orange muffin
• Cinnamon muffin
• Lemon curd muffin
• Raspberry and white chocolate muffin
• Chocolate caramel muffin

My Top 10 Jelly

• Blackcurrant
• Raspberry glitter jelly
• Strawberry 
• Orange
• Black Cherry
• Lemon and Lime
• Pineapple
• Apple
• Cranberry and Raspberry
• Mango and Passionfruit

My Top 10 Curries

• Chicken Tikka Massala
• Chicken Balti
• Chicken Bhuna
• Chicken Korma
• Chicken Rogan Josh
• Chicken Dupiaza
• Chicken Jalfrezi
• Chicken Desi Handi
• Chicken Biryani
• Chicken Pasanda

My Top 10 Pate

• Brussels pate - smooth
• Brussels pate with garlic
• Duck and Port pate
• Chicken Liver pate
• Chickpea, tomato and basil pate
• Mushroom and garlic pate
• Wild Boar pate
• Venison pate
• Venison Liver with Penderyn Whisky pate
• Pork & chicken with Penderyn Whisky & green peppercorns

My Top 10 Cakes

• Cheesecake (mainly New York style)
• Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Chocolate Fudge Cake
• Cherry Bakewell
• Eton Mess
• Walnut Buttercream Cake
• Coffee Cake
• Battenburg Cake
• Victoria Sponge with Jam and Buttercream Filling
• Chocolate Gateaux

My Top 10 Buffet Foods

Cheese and onion quiche

Sausage rolls

Potato salad

Pizza slices

Potato Wedges

Chicken goujons

Garlic bread

Cheesy coleslaw

Pasta salad

Crisps and dips

My Top 10 Thorntons Individual Chocolates

• Champagne Truffles
• Orange Crisp
• Turkish Delight
• Coffee Cream
• Strawberry Dream
• Brazil Nut
• Chocolate mousse
• Salted caramel praline
• Sicilian Lemon Mousse
• Raspberry Smoothie

Top 10 Ridiculously Awful Creatures that Bite Movies

I have a slight tendency towards the truly awful films that are out there if they happen to in some way include any of the following creatures:

• sharks
• octopus
• piranha
• spiders
• crocodiles   
• snakes

If it bites, I will watch it. I can't help it - I blame growing up in the Jaws era!

So here are my Top 10 truly awful Creatures that bite films:

• Malibu Shark Attack
• Piranha
• Shark Night
• Anaconda
• Sharknado
• Arachnoquake
• Snakes on a Plane
• Sand Sharks
• Mega Piranha
• Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus

My Top 10 Biscuits

• Milk Chocolate Digestive
• Golden Crunch Creams
• Chocolate Chip Cookies Chunky
• Jammy Dodgers with cream
• Custard Creams
• Jaffa Cakes
• Dark Chocolate Ginger Crunch
• Chocolate HobNob
• All Butter Shortbread
• Chocolate Malted Milk

My Top 10 Fizzy Drinks

• Cherry Coke
• Pepsi Max
• Pink Lemonade
• Dandelion and Burdock
• Ginger Beer
• Lucozade
• Fanta Orange
• Dr Pepper
• Cream Soda
• 7UP

My Top 10 Eggs

Soft Scrambled

Poached

Soft Boiled

Hard Boiled

Fried - Sunny Side up

Pickled 

Deviled

Baked

Curried

Hard scrambled

Milestone albums and music influences

In my opinion, there are albums and singles that are pop fluff and fun but really, after a month or two, just fade away only to be remembered on the occasional Now compilation or a retro playlist on your phone. Probably created or downloaded an age ago, and forgotten until you press shuffle. 

But then there are those songs, those albums, those bands which last, which resonate, the opening bars of which take you somewhere. A holiday, a first date, a gig, of someone or something or just a feeling. Something that lasts, that influences - the game changers. 

We all know there are those all time greats - U2, The Beatles, Oasis, The Rolling Stones etc... Without dispute the gods of rock and roll. There are bands though, who will never make the Halls of Fame, but for us individually have some meaning, some way of anchoring us, or harboring that emotion they evoked at the time. 

My Top 10 Songs for Squats

• Jason Derulo and Snoop Dogg - Wiggle
• Destiny's Child - Bootylicious
• Flo Rida - Low
• Snoop Dogg - Drop it Like its Hot
• Meghan Trainor - All About That Bass
• Sisqo - Thong Song
• Groove Armada - I See You Baby (Shaking that Ass)
• Nicki Minaj - Anaconda
• En Vogue - Free Your Mind
• Missy Elliot - Work It

My Top 10 Birthday Cakes for kids

• Caterpillar cake
• Hedgehog cake
• Rainbow layer cake
• Unicorn cake
• Football cake
• Ladybird cake
• Butterfly cake
• Giant cupcake
• Number cake
• Doggy cake

My Top 10 Jacket Spud Toppings

• Cheese and Onion
• Veggie Curry
• Cheese and Beans
• Chick Pea Dahl
• Chilli Con Carne
• Sour Cream and Salsa
• Feta, garlic and olives
• Sausage and Cheese
• BBQ Chicken
• Cottage cheese and spring onion

My Top 10 Hot Chocolate

Mocha Hot Chocolate

Caramel Hot Chocolate

White Chocolate Hot Chocolate

Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

Rocky Road Hot Chocolate

Creamy Milk Chocolate Hot Chocolate

Chocolate Fudge Hot Chocolate

Belgian Chocolate Hot Chocolate

Dairy Milk Hot Chocolate

Butterscotch Hot Chocolate

My Top 10 Greek Food

• Dolmades - stuffed vine leaves
• Tzatziki dip
• Moussaka
• Feta Cheese
• Tiropites - cheese parcels
• Spicy lamb koftas
• Greek Salad
• Halloumi cheese fingers
• Red pepper, olive and feta frittata
• Meze

My Top 10 Chocolate Bars

• Dairy Milk (any flavour - love them all)
• Yorkie Bar (it is for girls!)
• Snickers
• Cadbury Caramel
• Galaxy
• Toblerone
• Lindt Lindor milk bar
• Milka - plain or prauline
• Kit Kat Chunky
• Mars Bar

My Top 10 Pick N Mix

• Flying Saucers
• Strawberry pencils
• Apple Bon Bons
• Jelly Beans
• Cola Cubes
• Rum Truffles
• Chocolate Brazils
• Clotted cream fudge
• Chocolate covered cinder toffee
• Snow Balls

My Top 10 Coffee Shop

• Mocha
• Caffe Latte
• Cappuccino
• Filter Coffee
• Americano
• White Chocolate Mocha
• Espresso
• Caramel Macchiato
• Ristretto
• Flavoured Latte

My Top 10 Savoury Muffins

• Feta cheese, onion and rosemary
• Welsh rarebit
• Cheese and Leek
• Carrot and courgette
• Spinach and cheese
• Courgette and pine nut
• Red onion, cheddar and bacon
• Spring onion, cheese and pancetta
• Carrot, spinach and cumin
• Sweet potato 

My All Time Favourite Foods

• Chicken Fried Rice & curry sauce
• Dynamite hot Chilli
• Gourmet burgers
• Mighty meat pizza
• Lasagne
• Stuffed vine leaves
• Houmous and crisps
• Chicken Tikka Massalla
• Homemade soup and tiger bread
• Spaghetti bolognese

My Top 10 Easter Eggs

• Hotel Chocolat - The Ostrich Egg
• Lindt Milk Chocolate Easter Egg
• Cadbury Dairy Milk Egg
• Yorkie Egg
• Terry's Chocolate Orange Egg
• Thornton's Classic Egg
• Malteser's Easter Egg
• Cadbury Mini Eggs Easter Egg
• Galaxy Easter Egg
• Cadbury Chocolate Buttons Easter Egg

My Top 10 Ice-Cream flavours

• Chocolate Chip
• Clotted Cream Vanilla
• Mint Choc Chip
• Strawberries and Cream
• Baileys
• Toffee
• White Choc Chunk
• Coffee Mocha
• Chocolate Brownie
• Rum and Raisin

My Top 10 Spices

Garlic

Chilli

Coriander

Cumin

Garam Masala

Paprika

Curry powder

Cayenne Pepper

Piri Piri

Mixed herbs

My Top 10 Whiskies

• Johnnie Walker - Black Label deluxe blend
• Glenfiddich single malt
• Jack Daniels Tennessee whisky
• Talisker single malt
• Johnnie Walker - Red Label blend
• Whyte and Mackay blend
• Grants Scotch Whisky
• Jameson Irish Whiskey
• Jim Beam bourbon
• Glen Moray single malt

Top 10 ridiculously awful creature movies

I have a slight tendency towards the truly awful films that are out there if they happen to in some way include any of the following creatures:

• sharks
• octopus
• piranha
• spiders
• crocodiles   
• snakes

If it bites, I will watch it. I can't help it - I blame growing up in the Jaws era!

So here are my Top 10 truly awful Creatures that bite films:

• Malibu Shark Attack
• Piranha
• Shark Night
• Anaconda
• Sharknado
• Arachnoquake
• Snakes on a Plane
• Sand Sharks
• Mega Piranha
• Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus

My Top 10 Birthday Cakes

• Triple Layer Chocolate cake
• Cookies and Cream cake
• Strawberry Sundae cake
• Parcel cake
• Giant cupcake
• Champagne cake
• Rose bouquet cake
• Kit Kat Cake
• Chocolate tiramisu cake
• Red wine chocolate cake

Reasons to Diet #35 - My Weddding!

My reason to stick to my diet number 35 is because of my wedding. Scheduled, but not yet booked I need to get to goal weight before I can even begin to think about my dress.

I have no idea what style I want as I have no idea if what is in my head will look right on my body, until said body is at the right weight. I don't know if my goal weight is going to be the right weight until I get there, and as I never quite manage it, its making it difficult to crack on with my wedding plans.

Now that is a big incentive and should be all the motivation I need this time!

Reasons to Diet #34 - Cheaper insurance and perks

Yes, I recently discovered that because I am with a life insurance company who value good health, if I get to target weight and maintain it, I will get a cheaper insurance.

Not only that, but you also get perks like free cinema tickets and discounts on healthy stuff. Fab. What more reason do I need!!

Reasons to Diet #33 - I want to stop thinking about my weight

My reason to diet #33 is simple - I want to stop thinking about my weight. At times, its all I can think about and it drives me mad! I want to just think about everything else and not have everything come back to thinking about what I weigh.

Its like this - I start to think about holidays and then - bang - my brain locks onto the issue over what I weigh now, what I want to weigh, how long I have from now until then to lose however much weight it is I need to lose. It would be so good to be at the end weight, and not have to go into planning mode over how many pounds I have to lose each week to reach the end weight.

I go shopping and I see something I like and then - boosh - I start thinking I need to lose x amount before I buy this or that. Or I go for a meal and I want a starter and then I have to stop, think about my weight and opt for low fat this, healthy that and I feel like its a grey cloud over me all the time.

So this is why I want to diet - to get to the point where my weight does not rule my conscious mind!

Reasons to Diet #32 - Be a Good Role Model

Number 32: 

My reason to diet #32 is that I want to be a good role model. My step daughter loves her food, but I want to be able to encourage her to be healthy and to exercise.

I feel a bit of a hypocrite if I am overweight and not in shape. Its tough being a step mum as you don't get the bond you get as a biological mum. I didn't give birth to her - she has her birth mum connection and that's great.

I have a different role to play, and being overweight is not a part of the role I want to play. So that is reason number 32 - for my girl.

Reasons to Diet #31 - Show off my piercing

Number 31:

Reason to Diet #31 is that I want to show off my belly piercing!! Yes, I finally got it done, so now I need the body to be able to show it off!!

I don't want it squished up and buried under clothes - I want it to sparkle in the sun.

Reasons to Diet #30 - I want to look good wet

Number 30:

Reasons to Diet #30 is that I want to look good wet.

Yep, no matter how much I can hold it in, patch it up and camouflage when it comes to getting in the water, all bets are off. I want to be able to get in that pool, dive in those waves, and come out looking good instead of coming out looking like I have narrowly avoided the harpoon!!

I want to be as glamourous soaking wet as when I am fully loaded with the war paint and spanx!!

Reasons to Diet #29 - I Want To Enjoy the Sunshine

Number 29:

Reason #29 to Diet is that I want to enjoy the sunshine not dread it.

It breaks down like this - the sun comes out, I panic. I have a desperate hunt through my wardrobe to find something I can be cool enough it whilst not looking like a hippo.

It gets on my nerves. I should be like "yay, sunshine, damn girl". Nope. It fills me full of fear.

This must change!

Reasons to Diet #28 - I want to be free to have a pint!

Number 28:

My next reason to diet - I want to be free to have a pint!!

Imagine its a lovely sunny day, and not being able to just go to the pub, sit in the beer garden and have a cold pint of lager. I used to do it a lot, but then I realised I was overweight and wanted to not be, so I stopped doing it to lose the weight.

The problem is that I spend most of damn summer trying to lose weight and I never get to have that pint!! So I want to stick to my diet, get to goal weight, and stay there.

Then I can have my pint in the sun!!

Reasons to Diet #27 - I will never get my ass in shape sitting on it!

Number 27:

Reason #27 to stick to the plan is simple - I will never get my ass in shape by sitting on it!!

What I am saying is that there is no point sitting around, bemoaning the fact that I am not at goal weight whilst spending my time sitting on my backside. If I want a banging body and to reach goal weight, I have to get up and move and work at it.

Sitting round, enjoying life is great, but it doesn't make for a bikini body!

Things to do in February

Things to do in February:

• Plant summer bulbs
• Enjoy seeing spring bulbs pushing through
• Cut back the garden
• Enjoy the snowdrops
• Clean your windows
• Get the curtains down and wash them
• Clean the skirtings
• Go for long walks in the countryside
• Go for a jog (now the snow is hopefully done)
• Clean your car
• Get your bike out and go for a ride
• Ramp up the gym sessions
• Start your 30 day squat challenge
• Treat yourself to a spa treatment
• Get your wellies on and go jump in some puddles
• Go watch a film at the cinema
• Plan your trips for the year
• Learn a new skill 
• Cook something new
• Lay off the carbs
• Celebrate Valentines Day
• Enjoy the nights getting lighter
• Declutter your loft or garage

My Top 10 Classics to Read

• Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
• The Catcher in the Rye - J.D Salinger
• The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
• The Hobbit - J.R.R Tolkien
• 1984 - George Orwell
• Pride and Prejudice - Jayne Austen
• Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
• Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky
• The Chronicles of Narnia - C.S Lewis
• Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Reasons to Diet #26 - Losing Weight feels Wonderful

Number 26:

Reason to diet number 26 is how wonderful it feels to lose weight. When you get on the scales, and it has dropped, its a good feeling.

When the pounds start to add up and become half stones it feels great. When you start to drop whole stones and look and feel better, its the best feeling ever.

I need to keep that in mind, as the reverse is also true. When you get on those scales and its gone up, it feels awful.

So, I need to remember how bad it feels when the scales go up and how wonderful it feels when my weight is coming down.

Reasons to Diet #25 - I want to be in control

Number 25:

Reason 25 for sticking to the diet is that I want to be in control and not my body. My mind needs to rule, not my hunger or cravings.

This is the problem - I get the strongest desire to eat crap and drink wine. Or a lovely cold beer and a burger, or crisps, or cheese or cake. Its never good stuff. I give in and then I enjoy it for a few minutes, and then within minutes, I am feeling fat and horrible, and the impact lasts for days.

I am tired of being ruled by cravings for fatty foods and I want to be in control. The longer I stick to the plan, the more I form new habits to replace the unhealthy ones and the better I feel mentally because then I am in the driving seat and in control.

My Top 10 Feel Good Songs

• Nina Simone - Feeling Good
• Pharell Williams - Happy
• Elbow - One Day Like This
• Ceelo Green - F**k You
• ELO - Mr Blue Sky
• U2 - Beautiful Day
• REM - Shiny Happy People
• The B52's - Love Shack
• Robbie Williams - Angels
• ACDC - Thunderstruck

Reasons to Diet #24 - I want to be proud of my body

Number 24: 

Reasons to stick to my diet #24 is that I want to be proud of my body. I am 40 something years old, and not once have I felt totally proud of how I look.

Don't get me wrong - sometimes I look ok and I scrub up well, but put me in a bikini or a pair of shorts and panic sets in. I resign myself to how I look thinking "when I reach goal weight" and then it never happens.

Not this time!!! This time, I am going to exercise, I am going to diet, I am going to reach goal and why? Because I want to be proud of my body.

10 ways to shake off your unhealthy habits

10 ways to shake off your unhealthy habits: Break your unhealthy habits starting today and lead a healthier lifestyle with these easy to follow tips from the UK mum blog Motherhood: The Real Deal

My Top 10 Songs for February

• Foo Fighters - February Stars
• Bobby Bare - February Snow
• Lou Reed - Xmas in February
• Lights - February Air
• Barbara Dickson - January, February
• Josh Groban - February Song
• The Dream - February Love
• Frankie Goes to Hollywood - One February Friday
• Bobby Troup - February Brings the Rain
• The Waifs - February

Reasons to Diet #23 - I want toned thighs

Number 23:

Reason to stick to my Diet #23 I want toned inner thighs My legs are toning up a bit, slowly. I am developing some good definition, but clearly, my inner thighs are not being worked in quite the same manner, as they are refusing to change.

My inner thighs are flabby and unsightly, and nothing - not squats, not Zumba, not running, seems to be making a difference. Losing weight will help of course. It won't tone them up, but it will remove some of the fat.

However, in order to accomplish this goal, I need to stick to my diet, every day, and stick to the exercise plan but also add some specialist moves to tone these bad boys up!!

So that is the reason - if I do not stick to it, I shall have flabby inner thighs forever!! Not having that!! :

My Top 10 Fudge

• Peanut Butter Fudge
• Chocolate Orange Fudge
• Creamy Chocolate Fudge
• Chocolate Fudge
• Toffee Fudge
• Vanilla Fudge
• Million Dollar Fudge
• Red Velvet Fudge
• All butter Fudge
• Salted Caramel Fudge

Reasons to Diet #22 - Fed up of being fed up

Number 22: 

This reason for sticking to my diet is because I am fed up of being fed up about my weight and my body. I go on a diet, lose a bit, go on holiday or to the wedding - whatever the event that prompted the weight loss.

I pile it on again, and it all starts all over again. I never maintain - I only ever lose or gain. The more fed up I get, the harder I try, but then when I get to the end of the path, I go overboard everytime. I put it on and I feel fed up. I eat what I want, but then I feel fed up when I am fat.

So, that's reason number 22 - I do not want to be fed up about this anymore. It is just ridiculous and it has to stop.

My Top 10 Old Fashioned Sweets

• Aniseed balls
• Humbugs
• Barley Sticks
• Butterscotch
• Chocolate limes
• Kola cubes
• Mint imperials
• Pear drops
• Sugared almonds
• Chocolate eclairs

My Top 10 Jacket Spud Fillings

• Cheese and Onion
• Veggie Curry
• Cheese and Beans
• Chick Pea Dahl
• Chilli Con Carne
• Sour Cream and Salsa
• Feta, garlic and olives
• Sausage and Cheese
• BBQ Chicken
• Cottage cheese and spring onion

My Top 10 Best Beaches

• Gran Canaria - Maspalomas
• Fuerteventura - Correlejo
• Mexico - Riviera Maya
• Brittany, France - La Baule
• Fiji - Natadola Beach
• Lanzarote - Playa Del Carmen
• Menorca - Arenal del Castell
• Zante - shipwreck beach - Navagio beach
• Mexico - Puerto Vallarta - Majahuitas beach
• California - Coronado Beach

My Top 10 Milk Tray

• Salted Caramel Charm
• Orange Truffle
• Strawberry Temptation
• Apple Crunch
• Fudge Duet
• Truffle Heart
• Perfect Praline
• Surprise Parcel
• Hazelnut Swirl
• Caramel Softy

Reasons to Diet #21 - I Want to go to Posh Restaurants

Number 21:

Reasons to diet 21 - I want to go to posh restaurants!!

What I mean is, that I want to get dressed up in glamorous clothes looking amazing and go out to posh restaurants. I do go out, to lovely places, but I always feel frumpy.

I end up overeating- starters, mains and puddings, washed down with wine. Calorific? Hell yes. Taste good? Damn right!!

The problem is the getting ready and how I feel about me. I want to look nice, to feel confident. I do not want to look like the person who orders everything on the menu!! I want to be that person that people look at eating a three course meal thinking where does she put it, rather than blimey she should rein it in a bit!!

So that is today's reason, so that one day, I will look like the person I want to be :)

My Top 10 Buffet Food

• Sausage rolls
• Quiche
• Chicken goujons
• Pasta salad
• Nachos and dips
• Crusty bread
• Cheese selection
• Cupcakes
• Potato skins
• Mini pizzas

My Top 10 Fruits

• Strawberries
• Banana
• Blueberries
• Watermelon
• Apples
• Grapes
• Cantaloupe Melon
• Cherries
• Raspberries
• Pineapple

My Top 10 Cheese

• Mature Cheddar
• Double Gloucester
• Wensleydale & Cranberry
• Feta
• Brie
• Blue Stilton
• Austrian Smoked Cheese
• Marmite Cheddar
• Creamy Lancashire
• Mexican spicy cheddar

My Top 10 Bread Loaves

• Crusty white bloomer
• Poppy seed bloomer
• Tiger loaf
• Tiger cheese bloomer
• Wholemeal seeded loaf
• Farmhouse white loaf
• Walnut loaf
• Multigrain farmhouse
• Granary loaf
• Rye bread loaf

Reasons to Diet #20 - Scales have not dropped

Number 20:

Today's first reason to stick to my diet is that the scales have not dropped much on recent weigh ins. It makes me really fed up. Sometimes, the weight staring back at me is so harsh, that it puts me in a bad mood for the day.

Sometimes it doesn't bother me what I weigh, as sometimes I can block it out. Then I weigh in and see it, and realise I have been kidding myself that I have been dieting, kind of half halfheartedly trying instead of really trying, but the scales do not lie.

When the scales have dropped, it feels great. When they haven't, for any reason - sometimes it just doesn't budge when I have really tried, its a horrible feeling. My reason to diet is that I want the scales to drop so that I can get that good feeling, instead of the scales not dropping and how that makes me feel. 

Reasons to Diet #19 - counting down to Holidays

Number 19:

This reason is simple. I am counting down until my next holiday. I have to make each day count!!

Some nights I could easily give in. The last thing in the world I want for my tea is diet measly portions. But I have to do it. Why? Because I want to be the best I can be when I get on that plane.

Ok, so miracles don't happen, but I can at least be unbloated and more streamlined than if I pig out at this point!!

Reasons to Diet #18 - I want rid of my muffin top!

Number 18:

Today's reason to stick to the diet is that I want rid of the muffin top!!

I am losing weight, I am sticking to the exercise and yet still, that unsightly bulge over my waistband when I sit down remains. I don't know how slim I will need to get to in order to get rid of this damned bit of flab, but I am determined.

So that is today's reason. No more muffins - either the food variety or the overhang!! :)

My Top 10 Dips

Houmous

Tzatziki

Salsa

Sour Cream

Guacamole

Pesto

Yoghurt and Cucumber

Onion and Garlic

Cheese and Chive

Creamy sweet Chilli

Reasons to Diet #17 - I want to drink wine!

Number 17:

Reason to diet number 17 - I want to have some wine!!

Yes, when I reach goal weight, or holiday, whichever comes first, I can finally have some wine!! But only, and I repeat, only, if I get under that stone mark!! I have to earn it.

So there is another reason. Bribery. Works a treat with me :)

My Top 10 Crisp Flavours

• Cheese & Onion
• Smoky Bacon 
• Flamin Hot
• Sweet Chilli
• Roast Chicken
• Mature Cheddar
• Sour Cream
• Black Pepper
• Steak
• Paprika

Reasons to Diet #16 - Toned Arms

Number 16:

Today's reason for sticking to my diet - I want toned arms.

Yep, I want rid of the bingo wings and the armpit fat. Even when I'm not that big - probably somewhere between a size 12 and a size 14 at my lowest, like a 13 if there was such a thing it still resists my efforts!!

However, I want my arms to be defined, to be toned, to get rid of these annoying flabby bits so that I look nice in dresses and am not worried about the hammy area at the top of my arms. I just need to get that bit lower in body fat, and that bit more muscular in the arms.

Diet alone won't shift this so I need to up the ante on the weight front. So that is reason number 16.

Reasons to Diet #15 - I am Not Getting any Younger

Number 15:

Today's reason to stick to the diet - I am not getting any younger!!

Right - its that old saying that as you get older, you generally thicken out, and gain a few pounds. Now, if this is the case, having entered my 40's, it sure is not going to get any easier battling against my body.

If age does slow the metabolism, all the more reason to lose the weight now, before biology starts to tick against me!!

So that is today's reason to motivate me, and as reasons go, this one seems to be pretty powerful!! :)

The Greatest Love Songs (in my humble opinion )

• Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
• John Legend - All of Me
• George Michael - I Can't Make you Love Me
• Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
• U2 - With or Without You
• Take That - Rule The World
• Robbie Williams - She's The One
• Adele - Make You Feel My Love
• Ed Sheeran - Shape of You
• Foreigner - I Want to Know What Love Is

Reasons to Diet #14 - I want to look good in lingerie

Number 14:

Today's reason to stick to the diet - I want to look good in lingerie.

Yes, its that female enjoyment of wearing beautiful underwear. The problem at the moment, is that my underwear is tending to be functional rather than beautiful. This must change.

I want to wear gorgeous lacy things, delicate items - not boulder holders!! So that is today's reason to stick to the diet. :)

Reasons to Diet #13 - Lazing on the sofa won't make me bikini ready

Number 13:
Another reason to stick to the diet - lying on the sofa won't make me bikini ready!! And yet I am having one of those days when that is all I want to do.

I just want to put my head in those cushions, lay back, still a film on and be done with it. But I can't. Well, I could, but then there would be no point when I am looking back on holiday in beating myself up and feeling fat. If I choose that option, I deserve to look crap on the beach.

So, reason number 13 is that lying on the sofa will not make me bikini ready. So that has to be a start to get me up and active today and stay away from the chocolates!! :)

What was the first song you remember loving?

My other half's daughter asked me what sort of music I liked when I was young. When I stopped sobbing (when i realised how many years)  I thought about it.

Here are my top 10 songs from when I was mainly in single digits:

• Summer Nights (yes from Grease!)
• NKOTB - The Right Stuff
• Karma Chameleon - Culture Club
• Every Breath She Takes - The Police
• Buffalo Stance - Neneh Cherry
• How Soon is Now - The Smiths
• Push It - Salt N Pepa
• Get into The Groove - Madonna
• The Boys of Summer - Don Henley
• True - Spandau Ballet

Actually not the most embarrassing list (bar the odd one in there!). It was quite fun thinking back to come up with my top 10. 

So what was the first song you really remember loving, and what is your top 10? 

Reasons to Diet #12 - Cheekbones

Number 12:

Reasons to stick to my diet and exercise plan number 12 is that I want to see my cheekbones again. I am very lucky to possess good bone structure - I have been told many times.

Many times that is, when you can actually see them, unlike now!! My face is the first place weight seems to go from when I lose it. Unfortunately, its also the first place that it goes back on, which is what I am rocking or sadly not, at the moment.

So, another reason is to rediscover them bones them bones them dry bones. Cheekbones that it is :)

Reasons to Diet #11 - Toned Pins

Number 11:

I have never been one of those women that throws on a pair of shorts in summer. At a push, I will don a pair on holiday where noone I know is likely to see me but I don't have the pins for shorty shorts.

I would love to have toned pins so that I can - so that's motivation to get the weight off, plus exercise and eat healthily = toned pins :)

Acts I want to see or wish I had seen

Acts I want to see / wish I had seen

Oasis (seen Liam solo)
Ellie Goulding
Rihanna
Beyonce
Adele
Maroon 5
Elton John - tickets booked!!
David Bowie
Kylie
Whitney

The Walking Dead - Words for Zombies

Today's little bit of the world of the Walking Dead is focusing on the words for the Zombies themselves. Some from the Walking Dead, and some from general zombie-isms - is that even a word?

So here we are then:

• Walkers
• Biters
• Walking Dead
• Living Dead
• Creeper
• Cold bodies
• Floaters
• Lame-brains
• Roamer
• Rotter
• Infected
• Reanimated
• Undead
• The Damned

Reasons to Diet #10 - I want a trim middle

Number 10:

As a woman, and turned 41, the area around my middle is a problem. Always has been if I'm brutally honest, but now it bugs me more than ever!!

So, my reason to diet and exercise is this - I want that middle trimmed down and not bulging over the top of my waistbands!!

Its also a reason to do a lot of abs. :)

St Maur liqueur and cocktails hamper worth £140

St Maur liqueur and cocktails hamper worth £140: St Maur is a hand-crafted premium elderflower liqueur from the Heart of England. A versatile, award-winning drink, it is perfect for both sipping and mixing.  A beautiful aperitif on its own and subl...

Top 10 Places I want to go

I've travelled a fair bit in my time, but there are still so many places I want to see and explore. (once the world gets better again) Here are my top 10:

• Paris, France
• Nova Scotia to see the Northern Lights
• Venice, Italy
• Hawaii
• The Bahamas
• Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns, Australia
• Maine, New England
• Monaco, France
• Croatia
• The Maldives

Reasons to Diet #9 - Reaching Goal Weight

Number 9:

I want to get under the stone mark. I am sick of almost reaching goal, then never quite getting under that stone mark!!!! I never actually reach the goal, as getting under one particular stone just never quite happens.

I have quite a bit of weight to lose, and I have done so many times before, but I always hit the same point and can never get below it.

So my reason to Diet Number 9 is to actually reach goal weight.

My Top Picks - Atmospheric Must Watch Films

• Wind River
• Old Boy
• No Country for Old Men
• Heat
• The Revenant
• Fargo
• One Hour Photo
• The Dressmaker
• The Remains of the Day
• The Bourne Identity
• The Big Lebowski
• O Brother Where Art Thou
• The Shawshank Redemption
• Insomnia
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
• Collateral
• Seven
• Gangs of New York
• The Grey
• The Edge
• The English Patient
• The Shining
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• Sunshine
• Unfaithful
• The End of the Affair
• The Hurt Locker

Reasons to Diet #8 - I Am Too Hot

Number 8 :

When I am overweight in the summer when its warm, it makes me feel even more hot and uncomfortable. I lose weight to go on holiday abroad, and it feels so good being able to wear bikini's, shorts and skirts.

Unfortunately, when I get home to the UK, I gain weight and then when it gets warm here, I am not able to wear my summer clothes. This is ridiculous. So I am changing the pattern this year and I am going to be slim for the summer here for once!!!

I want to be cool, and look cool, not hot and uncomfortable!!!

Top 10 Oscar Winning Films

I thought I would take a look back over previous Academy Award winning best films of all time.

Here are my top 10:

• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - 1975
• The Silence of the Lambs - 1991
• The Hurt Locker - 2009
• Million Dollar Baby - 2004
• The English Patient - 1996
• Argo - 2012
• American Beauty - 1999
• Braveheart - 1995
• A Beautiful Mind - 2001
• No Country for Old Men - 2007

You can see my movie reviews here. 

Three Degrees of Separation - how films are linked #1

Casino stars:

• Robert De Niro
• Joe Pesci

Home Alone

• Joe Pesci (De Niro was first choice apparently)
• Macaulay Culkin

My Girl

• Macaulay Culkin
• Anna Chlumsky

The Good Guy

• Anna Chlumsky
• Alexis Biedel

The Brass Teapot

• Alexis Biedel
• Juno Temple

The Other Boleyn Girl

• Juno Temple
• Natalie Portman

Heat

• Natalie Portman
• Robert De Niro

And I'm back to the start :) 

Reasons to Diet #7 - Mirror Issues

Number 7:

Ok so number 7 is a bit different. This reason is a bit of a phobia I seem to have developed. I have a real issue with facing the mirrors at the gym. When I am working certain exercises, I am supposed to check my technique in the mirror. Not me, no way, never!! I will face the other way, or if I have no choice, I will look anywhere but at that damn mirror!!

In general mirrors are becoming a problem. I used to love getting ready to go out whereas now its an ordeal. Finally squeezing into something to "make do" then facing the inevitable disappointment in my reflection is dismal to say the least.

So reason number 7 for sticking to my diet is to reach a weight where I am comfortable seeing myself in the mirror.