24 June 2013

Moon at Midnight

Its 23:42 now, at 23:05 I was sat in my living room, with the need to stay up until midnight because I had to pay for a running gillet on Ebay - and I don't get paid until midnight :P

But on browsing blogs to kill time I was reminded of the 'Supermoon' currently in our skies. So I threw on some boots and a hat (I was also waiting for my hair to dry - it looks ludicrous) and headed out onto Great Pulteney street with my new camera to see what I could see. The streets were deserted and I found the moon hovering over the Rec and then on my way back it had just cleared the trees by the Holburne Museum.

Of course you get absolutely no sense of scale in these pics, but it was big and it was fun. Oh and some aren't even of the moon but just of Bath being lovely in the witching hours.












Good Night Moon XXX

16 June 2013

My 30th..

Well my darlings I'm not going to Las Vegas for my Birthday (As per goal 29.), but I couldn't care less, because instead, by way of converged plans and a discount offer for October trips: I'm going on a river cruise down the Amazon and then a few days in Miami.

We'll be flying to Lima, Peru. spending a day there (I'm tempted by a trip to see the nazca lines from here) then we fly to Iquitos to board the Queen Violet riverboat and experience the Amazon in style. With any luck we’ll spot sloths, toucans and pink dolphins! we'll visit the Pacaya–Samiria National Reserve, and see the jungle up close. I can hardly contain myself when I think about it, the animals - there are more species here than anywhere else in the world, the history, so amazing, I know whatever happens its going to be a trip to remember!






Then as our flight transfers via Miami on the journey home, well it would be rude to to explore some Art deco wonders and the Miami Keys! and its here I will see in my 30th Birthday, and I could not be more excited!!

We'll travel down the Florida keys to see Key West, go on a tour of the Art Deco sights and for my actual birthday: cocktails at The Raleigh, one of the finest Art Deco hotels to be found anywhere in the world.





xxx

13 June 2013

Goal No.7: Vintage

Remember Goal number 7, embrace vintage infatuation? well it was well and truly blossomed and yesterday I gave my first 'vintage hair' tutorial for a bunch a lovely girls.

I've now set up a facebook page www.facebook.com/StrawberryVintage and am getting business cards made: I have a wedding and a birthday party lined up for hairstyling. Its amazing, in just a day suddenly a whole new world of possibility has been opened up!

Explaining the chignon





XXX

My Travel wishlist for 2013/2014

Just so you know, and I know...that means it has to happen!

River cruise on the Amazon
Miami
Las Vegas
Hawaii
Yoga Retreat

I am so full of ideas and plans to escape - I can't wait to put some of these into action!
This also takes care of Goals 29+30







XXX

10 June 2013

Can't get no....


I've been having real trouble recently sleeping -which is very frustrating - I'm tired, exhausted often from exercise and yet am having real trouble sleeping at night -I'll usually go to bed around 11:00/12:00 but wont be able to drop off until 2 or 3 and then wake up again at 4. I've had the usual advice from people, mainly that I might drink too much coffee - I usually have 2 or 3 but none after 15:00 - so that's annoying, but its possible I'm just very sensitive to it (how lame of me)

I did a bit of googling today and have found some interesting tips
  • Take it easy on the caffeine. Either eliminate it or limit to morning only. The effects of caffeine last for 9 hours, so you do the math.
  • Have a bedtime ritual that is calming. You could read before bed, plan your day for tomorrow, write in your journal, meditate, listen to soothing music, or anything else that helps your mind to slow down.
  • Turn off the TV at least 30 minutes before bedtime. TV is a stimulant so establish a routine that helps you turn it off. You’ll fall asleep better.
  • Listen to your body. If you feel tired, go to bed. Don’t torture your self by not getting enough sleep.
  • Listen to your mind. If there is something on your mind before bed time, write about it in a notebook or talk to someone about it. Come up with solutions that you can work on tomorrow.
  • Build a habit of daily meditation. This will help increase the overall level of calm in your mind allowing you to get to sleep easier and stay asleep.
In a fit of desperation I also bought some Valerian root tablets from Holland & Barrett - I can't say I've noticed a difference but I thought some natural remedies might be useful so I also looked up some foods that might help:



1. Fish

Most fish—and especially salmon, halibut and tuna—boast vitamin B6, which is needed to make melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone triggered by darkness). This is interesting: I just had fish for dinner, and as I write this I do feel quite sleepy -maybe I should try to eat more fish....

2. Jasmine Rice

When healthy sleepers ate carbohydrate-rich suppers of veggies and tomato sauce over rice, they fell asleep significantly faster at bedtime if the meal included high-glycemic-index (GI) jasmine rice rather than lower-GI long-grain rice, in a study published in the American journal of clinical nutrition This one is not so good for my Paleo style so I'll keep it as a maybe.

3. Tart Cherry Juice

In a small study, melatonin-rich tart cherry juice was shown to aid sleep. When adults with chronic insomnia drank a cup of tart cherry juice twice a day they experienced some relief in the severity of their insomnia. Mmm ok, this one seems a bit weak, and I'm not so keen on cherry juice...

4. Yogurt

Dairy products like yogurt and milk boast healthy doses of calcium—and there’s research that suggests being calcium deficient may make it difficult to fall asleep

5. Whole Grains

Bulgur, barley and other whole grains are rick in magnesium—and consuming too little magnesium may make it harder to stay asleep, reported theJournal of Orthomolecular Medicine

6. Kale

Green leafy vegetables, such as including kale and collards, also boast healthy doses of calcium. 

7. Bananas

Bananas, well-known for being rich in potassium, are also a good source of vitamin B6.

8. Chickpeas

Another good source of vitamin B6 (I adore hummus so eating more chick peas should be easy!)
You can google this subject with all manner of results but vitamin B6 does seem to keep popping up, so I will also be sure not to forget to take my multivits which i admittedly often do.
So I shall update you on any progress and hope maybe a few of these ideas might be useful!
XXX

8 June 2013

Winning the War for Donut Day

I couldn't resist showing you a few pics of our fabulous jaunt to the American Museum to celebrate National donut day and a little wartime nostalgia - we picnicked, explored the gorgeous grounds, ate many a free donut, learnt to Lindy hop and finally, found ourselves some G.I's and a jeep to pose with. Well done my wartime belles!






xxx

7 June 2013

National Donut Day



Today, My friends, is national donut day! (as its a largely American tradition I'm spelling it the yank way, I'm culturally sensitive like that :P) and actually has a nicer origin than you might expect - not just a marketing creation of Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts!

National Donut Day started in 1938 as a fundraiser for Chicago’s Salvation Army, and now falls on the first Friday of June every year. The goal was to help the needy during the Great Depression, and to honour The Salvation Army 'Lassies' who had served donuts to soldiers during World War I and would continue to do so when American troops were sent to Europe to fight in World War II.

To celebrate the occasion many American donut stores offer free donuts.

For my own celebration, I'll be going to Baths own American Museum they are hosting a fun day tomorrow and I intend to dress up in my finest war era glam, enjoy the sunshine and festivities, enjoy a donut or two and think of the women who brightened the days of many a soldier with a little care, a smile and a sugary treat. Well done Girls.







XXX

3 June 2013

My day so far in bullet points


  • I bought a 2nd hand Ipod Touch online so I can track my running -it arrived today and I am now playing with it instead of doing any work ;) I've just downloaded Nike + and the tag line is 'Get more from your run than you ever thought possible' well good, that's just what I want!
  • I feel grateful to have a job I have this kind of freedom to dos about should I wish - yes I know that's not very up and coming or driven of me - but today I appreciate it :)
  • Its gloriously sunny in Bath today and I felt very jovial walking to the bus stop in the warm sunshine
  • Amongst our brainstormings for an adventure -me and Mary-annes' latest fancy is - The Amazon! OK it was her idea -but I fully support it. A cruise down the Amazon for 9 days on the Queen Violet Amazon riverboat.


  • I am now on my 5th of 6 essays for my 'veterinary care' course and on track for a Merit: its been tough keeping up with everything but I'm both glad I did it and glad its nearly over!
  • The Annual RSPCA meeting is tonight which will see me be voted in as an official trustee :)
  • After extreme faffing about and not knowing how to organise everyone for my birthday in October I have settled for a private dining room in the lovely Hall+Woodhouse in Bath - with a Vegas costume theme :) I'm also hoping to get to Vegas next year with Emma - my first and original Vegas buddy!
  • My ongoing search for a yoga retreat has found me enthralled with this Indian castle retreat in Rajasthan

XXX