End of the Bank Holiday

Unfortunately, the migraine persisted today so I took it easy. For breakfast I had my standard of porridge with an apple and a banana. Lunch was a beef & leek soup. I snacked on a slice of toast with peanut butter and strawberries of top (instead of strawberry jam as per usual). There was no exercise of the menu - booo :(

Responding to Skinny Late's comment here are some more Greece pictures! There are from the island of Sifnos, I was over there August 2007.


This is the bungalow we stayed at.


A nice little marina

This used to be my PC background for a while... You can see why!


I really miss Sifnos - cant wait till I'm back

xx

Wasted Sunday

It's grey and moody outside and actually inside too. The migraine is still here despite my 2hr nap this afternoon. I had a nice light lunch of a cheese & tomato quesadilla (as picture below x2), with sone tuna and peas.

Sorry no proper picture - I forgot!

Afterwards I had 2 of my homemade cookies, which only made me feel good temporarily.


I spend some time finishing this book I have been reading for weeks 'The Secret Scripture' - Has anyone read this? I found the story interesting but the writing was a bit hard to follow, the language confused me at times.

Washed down with a glass of apple & mango juice.

I am now lying on the couch watching:
Hahaha .... I love this show. I cry like a baby at pretty much each episode!

I called this post 'wasted' cause I feel I havent done anything productive today besides sleep and eat, and that was so not my intention! Im not that worried, cause tomorrow is a Bank Holiday in the UK so I get one more day off work - yay!

Cu at dinner
xx

Waking up to a migraine

Dont know if it was waking up so early (I had some errants to run) or being so tired when I went to sleep last night, but when I woke up at 8am I had this killing migraine above my right eyebrow. It was like someone was drilling a hole in my head... definately not the best way to wake up!

I got up and knew I had to take some painkillers, so I had a piece of wholewheat toast with peanut butter & strawberry jam plus a small glass of milk. Then I took some Panadol extra and I am now blogging away from my bed. My eyes feel very heavy, I think I may actually nap today.

Sorry for the moan. Here's a pretty picture from downtown Athens.


And one from the seaside!



Cya later x
Kiki

Saturday night lazy bum

I tried going for a run, but no dice. I mean I ran and everything, but I wasnt feeling it. I went half way my usual route and just turned back (walking!). I know - so disappointing. Sometimes you just arent in the mood.

After showering - again, I forgot to stretch... what's wrong with me?! Do you think it'll hurt tomorrow? - I made a quick pasta dinner. I sweat a small shallot, topped it with some canned plum tomatoes, added some canned mushroom and a grated carrot. Once that and my pasta (wholewheat spaghetti) were cooked, I added some grilled courgette in the mix. Topped with parmesana cheese (I know, bad but good!)

I love having meals in bowls!

When I was back home in Athens, 2 weeks ago, we had these a-ma-zing peaches in the house. My fave breakfast was a sliced peach dipped in Total Greek Yogurt (the full-fat kind, I've never been able to eat the lower fat ones), and a small slice of wholewheat bread with peanut butter and strawberry jam.


I dont know if it was the combination of fruit, yogurt and peanut butter or just the fact that is was at least 10oC hotter than the standar London temperature but that breakfast kept me full for 3-4hrs straight!


And I leave you with a picture of the sunset from my parents fave restaurant, in Floisvos Marina in Athens. Oh so good...


Kiki x

Oh joy. More packing

Just got back from my sister's place. It looks pretty much packed! This is my 2nd time packing this month and I'm really not loving it! At least her place is pretty much done and I wont have to pack for moving for a long long time.

For lunch we had chichen kebabs, chinese chichen thighs and BBQ brumsticks. I had about half of the chicken you see here, my baby leaf salad, and some carrots with reduced fat hummus.


Once I got home, I got two of my homemade chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk. Does anyone know how long you can keep cooking in the fridge? Mine contain no milk, but I have made them a few days ago... Anyone??


For a while now, I have been seeing two books around in the blog world - Veganomicon and Eat, Live & Be Vegan. I bought them a few days ago and I have been slowly reading through them. Even though, I am not a Vegan, I'm not even Vegetarian (even thought I toyed with the idea for a few years when I was 17), I wanted to expand my recipe database with some non-meat recipes. I have to say that so far ''Eat, Drive & Be a Vegan'' hasnt been that great. I mean it's good and all but it hasnt really struck a cord. However.... ''Veganomicon'' oh my god wow! I picked up so many great tips about grilling veggies and making different types of hummus!


Watch this space for some interpretations of these recipes (soon) to come!

I leave you with a view from my balcony last night. Yes it was raining (this IS london) and I managed to catch a rainbow with my camera!


Cute huh?

Cu at dinner x

Missed me?

Hey! Long time no blog huh? Alright, im back now! (Hurray!)

There have been a few major things happening lately hence the lack of posting. If you remember from last time, I was packing to move house. Well I did move! It was a great change, and a very good decision to be made. I am not a bit further away than Central London but soooo much closer to work! I have gotten back into (semi)healthy eating and yes running too!

Right lets start off with breakfast today. 2 tablespoons of Total Greek Yogurt, 1 small Golden Delicious Apple, a peach, 7-8 strawberries, 2 hard-boiled eggs.


I had planned to grab that banana too but I was too full! I am now packing it in my bag for a snack later! And yes, I did have that breakfast outside in my brand new balcony which I am totally in love with.... And yes, London *was* sunny at 10.30am!

Today Im off to NorthWest London to help my sister pack and move - Haha yes I guess it's moving season!!! My arms a bit sore from last night's workout (10' minute solution DVD - Target Toning for Beginners) so I'm hoping that packing, lifting, cleaning will be a great way to get un-sore!

Not sure what time I'll be back, probably late afternoonish, so I will not do a lunch post but a rather biggie dinner post.

So I leave you with pictures to explain what I have been doing for all the time I was away.

Enjoy!

Lentils, smoked salmon, rocket salad, and tzatziki, i.e. clearing out the fridge foods.


I packed. Loads. And again. And then some more. If I see a storage box any time soon, I may break down and cry!


I spend about a week in Athens... It was soooo good. This is the House of Parliament (used to be the Palace).


And this is one of the busy shopping streets (Ermou Street) in downtown Athens.


Of course, there was a bit of staying at work late... Booo damn deadlines!


And finally, 4 things you will find on my work desk at any time.
Lipbalm
Hand creme
Water
and some sort of snack

God I used to looove Larabars so so much - I actually got a colleague addicted, but lately I havent been able to have one. I probably had too much of them and went off the taste or something!

Does anyone else out there feel that they just go off certain foods at points in time?

Kiki x

Gone baby gone

I got home at 8:20pm tonight! Booo working late sucks huh?!

My day has gone pretty much like this:

Alarm goes off at 6.15. I snooze.
Goes again at 6.20. I snooze, but feeling awake now.
Goes again at 6.25, I'm thinking: Fine, I'll get up!
By the time that emergency 6.30am alarm went off, I was up.

I hit the lights switch to get some light in my room and actually be able to see around (curtains were closed, and of course it was rainy and cloudy outside).... no light comes on!!! After I played around with various plugs, switches and my main switch board, I succum and call EDF's fault's line. Oh yes! There is a fuse blown in the powerstation, pretty much everyone in my area has no power, they are aware of the fault and they are 'working on it'.... Great start huh?!

I have some breakfast (wholewheast bun roll with peanut butter + strawberry jam) and a glass of semi-skimmed milk and rely on day light to put on clothes and apply makeup - pray I dont look like a clown!


Work is relatively standard, people running around, the customer changing their minds every oh 5 minutes, people asking me the silliest of questions - my favourites being:

• Where can I sit today? (It's an open-plan office and seats are first-come, first-served) - Jeez, I dont know, why dont you try the empty seat?!
• Are we having the 1pm meeting? - Yes it's been going on for 3 months and we have it every-single-damn-day!!!
• Do you want that in writing? - No, I want you to sing it from the rooftops!!!

Ah the joys of working in IT!

Anyway, lunch was a delicious bacon and barley soup with their fantastic thyme bread. Usually I digest soup in about 1-2hrs but this held me full for about 3.5hrs! I was chuffed! I love how they have seeds next to the soups and you can add them to your cup!

Can you tell food makes me happy? Hehe

After working away for 3-3.5hrs, going to meetings, coming back, typing emails, talking to people, chatting with some colleagues, it was time for my 2nd lunch of the day. My gorgeous wrap with some cherry tomatoes! Oh it was good, I'm telling ya!


And of course around 5pm - just as I thought that hey, I may go home on time and pack some more, the *beep* hit the fan and I had to stay at work till 7.15!!! Boy, was I pissed off! I dont mind staying back when there is actual work to be done, but I cannot stand staying behind just to babysit 4 adults who cannot tie their shoe laces unless they get spe-ci-fic information and step-by-step instructions!

Came home at 8.20 (told you, it's a hour's worth of commute!! but not for long hehe!) and quickly showered, and prepared myself a tasty, light dinner of pasta salad, cucumber, avocado and pink salmon with a yogurt dressing... Yum yum!


Now it's only 10.30pm but I am feeling so beat, I think I will just dry my hair quickly - no straighten tonight booo! - pick my clothes for tomorrow and crash! This day has overstayed its welcome - and it's only Tuesday!!!

Apologies for the rant - hope you found it more funny that annoying! It's pretty much who I am though, I love a good rant!

Speak later
xx

PS. The nice EDF people did indeed fix the power issue and at least I didnt have to shower by candlelight!

PS2. I am still sore! Love you and hate you Pilates DVD!

I cant wait for the weekend to begin!

My abs are sore.
I cant feel be back on my legs.
I spend 2hrs packing last night and all I managed to pack was books, DVDs, and some more clothes.
My HUGE red suitcase is now full and there are still clothes left to pack!
The box that contains the DVDs and books is so heavy I can barely push is to the side let alone lift it...

Frustration!!!!

And of course, it's raining!

Happy Tuesday people!
x

Dizzy, my head is spinning

Morning!

You know how some days you wake up and even thought you are fully functional and awake for about 1-2hrs, afterwards you get kinda dizzy and sleepy again. I have major sleepiness now and I woke up a full 2.5hrs earlier!

What's wrong with me?!?

Yesterday's dinner was same as lunch only half in size as I shared a wrap with my sister, but I also ate some sister-made spanakopita (spinach and feta cheese pie).

For breakfast this morning I had semi-skimmed milk with some multigrain bread with peanut butter and jam -delish!

My sister tells me that the delivery people just dropped off the boxes to my place (she was house-sitting for me), so I guess I really do need to pack when I get home...

God, I hate packing! Hate is with a passion! :-D

Cya later xxx

PS. I got some soreness in my gluts and my upper abs - I should have know this was coming right?

Feeling the weekend end

It's only 4pm on a Sunday but I'm already feeling the weekend ending... booo so sad!

After lazying around for an hour or so after breakfast, I did some hoovering around my house (it desperately needed it!) and then poped in one of my fave exercise DVDs Pilates Perfect Body, part of the 10 Minute Solution range. These are pretty awesome as they are broken down into 5 segments of 10' so you can stop/start and modify them as you see fit. I did the whole thing - yay!!


I did it in this order:

• Bums & Thighs
• Belly
• Silhouette
• Arms
• Stretch

I find stretching out after excercise to be key to avoid sore muscles the next day. Although I'm pretty sure I will be beat tomorrow morning!!

Afterwards, I had my shower and made a great little wrap for myself using the following:

• Wholewheat tortilla
• Prawns (already cooked - ready to east)
• Spinach
• Total Greek Yogurt
• A drop of olive oil
• Salt, pepper

Also had a side of boiled broccoli and cauliflower.


It was yummy and very filling. I think wraps like this will become more of a staple in my diet. You can put in it pretty much whatever you want (I am thinking smoked salmon, tuna, chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, and more spinach - althought not all together!) and they are easy to carry to work for a tasty and healthy meal.

Now I'm just on my couch taking it easy before the muscle ache sets up! Im waiting for my sister to come over and spend the night here.

Cya later
xx

Cold tofu isn't good tofu

I was experimenting yesterday with posting from my iphone which it totally cool however I still havent mastered the 'art' of posting with pictures.... All in good time, I guess, I'll have another attempt later on!

I did manage to make my Suunto training watch work but turns out you need a POD to measure speed and distance... HOW ANNOYING! It was a very expensive present and something I wanted for so long so I am double disappointed about this... boooo :-(. Being as pissed off as I was, I didnt go for a run and opted for a night in front of TV instead - cause I'm cool like that! Watched Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging, which was cute even thought a bit too 'young' for me and then later my flatmate and I watched Monster In-Law, which was meh. Very average I would say.

During the first movie, I had a fantastic snack of a watermellon slice. It was so juicy and sweet... really fantastic! I still cant believe this was on sale in Whole Foods for 99p for half a (very heavy) watermellon. It tasted like summer!


My dinner was a baby leaf salad, some cherry tomatoes (I think they are hidden under the greenery), parmesan cheese and tofu. I tried out a new flavour - Cauldron salad toppers marinated in tomato and basil. The package said ready to eat but I really should have heated it up beforehand... Cold tofu isnt good tofu :-S


The meal wasnt all that, but that was probably my fault right? Hehe. Plus I felt bloated for hours aftewards - Maybe it was the cold tofu???

This morning I had 2 slices of the multigrain Whole Foods bread with peanut butter and strawberry jam and a glass of semi-skimmed milk. I cant believe I went 24 years without ever trying this combination!!! It's so awesome you have no idea - Well unless you have tried it and then you do have an idea! :-)

I leave you with a picture of my god-daughter, aka cutest kid ever! Hope her parents dont mind me posting this picture!

Cya later xxx

My first phone post

Ok I have just discovered that I can post from my iphone directly to
the blog. This is just a test so bare with me...

Sent from my iPhone

Saturday in Kensington

Hey all, How's your Saturdays going?

Mine so far, has been great!! My friend and I went to High Street Kensington for a light brunch. Instead of our usual 'Patisserie Valerie' we went to 'Le Pain Quotidien'. I have been hearing about this place from a few people and thought why not give it a shot?

I got the cappuccino and it was yummy! (I actually ordered another one later on, I luuuuve coffee)

The menu looked great and even though we were set for getting some eggs (there werent any on the menu), I ordered the beef carpaccio salad with asparagus, pine nuts and a pesto dressing.


Doesnt that look fab?

There was also a jar of praline spread around which we enjoyed with the fresh brown and baguette bread they brought along. My gosh that was good! So tasty and rich, I was like having desert!


The tables had the cutest salt and pepper shakers on them. These were actually on sale in the store.


What Saturday is complete without a trip to Whole Foods Market?! God how I love that store!! Wish I could shop there full-time, but it's a bit too pricey to be doing all your shopping there.


On the way to WFM, there was a girl on the street giving out vouchers. Even though I dont usually pick these up, I noticed they were for Whole Foods Market so I quickly snapped one. Guess what it was for?? Free freshly baked bread! What a fab Saturday treat! I picked up the wholegrain loaf and my friend picked up the walnut and blue cheese one. We shared them half and half so we can both enjoy both! The bakery guys even sliced them for us!


Thank you Whole Foods!

I went ahead and exchanged some of the pressies I got for my nameday last weekend. Some people take offense to that but I am a firm believer that it's better to change the presents and get something you want and will use, rather than keep some stuff in your closet that you'll never use, in order to spare people's feelings.

I got a great smart jacket from Kew (thanks Sis!) - that's where the cream cardi is from - and a great jumper from Gap! It's the softest thing, so cute! The scarf in the middle is from my flatmate - it's great huh?

My mom send me the Suunto training watch - I have wanted one of those for sooooo long! Thank u thank u thank u! Now all I gotta do is read the manual cause I cannot make it work yet!! :-)


As soon as I make it work, I am off for a run cause the weather is looking good in London town and we all know that that doesnt usually last - hehe! If the living room wasnt in such a state, I would pop in my Pilates DVD but there is no room to exercise in here for the time being. Plus it feels like a waste not to take advantage of the warm weather outside.

Cya later guys!

PS. My mom is travelling to Crete today for a 2-week vacation. While she's gone, I will be taking care of her blog Betty's Cuisine (scary thought!) so I will be doing some posts there too! I will keep you in the loop!

xx

A week's worth of recaps

Seeing as it's 22.15 here in London and I am living the dream by being in my PJs and seriously considering my bed as the best place to be right now ;-) I will make this post more about the photos and less about the blah blah! Hope you enjoy.

Picking up from where I left it last, on Saturday night I had my nameday dinner with a few friends. That had a sweet ending with a variety of desserts.


Oh they were so yummy!

On Sunday I made a traditional Greek meal of roasted chicken with orzo and tomato sauce. It turned out brilliant, really reminded me of my mom's cooking.


Tuesday night in the Docklands! I love how this photo combines everything that Canary Wharf is about. Tall buildings, the Reuters sign, people in suits drinking and loads of lovely views.


Early morning view from the West side of our floor.


This was my Friday lunch at work. Work's canteen has this self-service salad bar so today's choices were:

• Pasta salad with olives
• Lentil salad with carrots and celery
• Spinach
• Roasted veggies with cous cous
• Green beans
  
• (and a few other things I cant really remember)
• with a gorgeous pesto dressing. I love how sometime a dressing can just make a salad taste awesome.

And this was my Friday night dinner.

Well that and a couple of Crisprolls with peanut butter and strawberry jam (not pictured)


Both my flatmate and I are in the process of moving out of our current place, so our living room currently looks a little bit like this.


And finally what would London be without a bit of rush-hour tube traffic to keep up all ticking?!


Time for bed people! xxx

Friday bloody Friday

Late post but hey!
Friday was mad and insane at work - Why does everything have to go wrong around 3pm on Fridays?! Urgh it's so annoying. I had been fighting a pretty major headache all day anyway so the combination of pain and the stress really didnt work out for me. I didnt take any paracetamol as I would normally cause I try not to take too many pills when I can. Turns out that was a mistake! My headache didnt go till I slept around midnight.

But lets recap.
Friday

For breakfast I had a bowl of cereal with semi-skilled milk. As breakfast is around 7am, that usually doesnt take me till midday (lunch). I often have a little snack around 10.30 but on Friday I managed not to. Some people say it's better to have a snack and a smaller lunch and others believe that snacks are pretty much the devil. oh well... different courses for different horses as the Brits say.

My Lunch was as pictured: Chicken broth soup with a slice of bread and a salad. I only had about 3-4 bites of the salad and had the rest at 5pm.



Dinner was a hasty affair of already-marinated tofu on a bed of spinach, balsamic vinegar and parmesan - so delicious! I hardly ever eat tofu and that's only when I'm in a restaurant, but this was very very good and I intend to make it again asap! Was very quick too - it only needed about 5' in the grill and it was all set!



Dunno what's wrong with this picture. It just wont rotate! Sorry...

Watched the Sex and the City movie on Sky Comedy and then went straight to bed as I had a killer headache :-(


Saturday

God, 10hrs of sleep feel good!
My breakie was a wholewheat roll with some butter and strawberry jam washed down with 2 glasses of semi-skimmed milk (not pictured).



I quickly got ready and headed off to Richmond to celebrate a friend's birthday. Unfortunately our ideas for a BBQ were canned as the weather was rainy and crappy.

Richmond's pretty though!



Cu later xx