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