Brit Chick Runs

YO!

Wanna here something awesome?

It’s 10pm on a Saturday night, and I’m working on my dissertation.

Ok, so that’s not that awesome at all….

…but the fact that I am *this* close to finishing it is! I have just the teeniest little bits to prune and neaten and trim, and then BAM – my final EVER lab report for psychology, my degree, and my uni career will be DONE! FOREVER!

That, my lovelies, is good news.

Sooo I shan’t blog tonight, so I can get it finished before I go to bed

I hope you’re having faboosh weekends and all, and I verrrry much hope y’all enjoyed the royal wedding. This time next year, it’ll be me walking up that aisle, with Prince Harry waiting for me at the end. You mark my words. It’ll happen.

xo

I had a realisation today.

A big one!

A monumental one!

One that will forever change my health!

No, I didn’t suddenly realise smoking is super.

Nor have I suddenly decided to do a Morgan Spurlock, and SuperSize my diet.

My realisation was far, far bigger….

…Remember about 3 weeks ago, I decided to quit Diet Pepsi? I felt I was getting too addicted to it, with not a day going by without a bottle. I knew (and still do) how friggin’ awful it is for my body, but oh heck – it tasted good!

Well, today, I was with my mum at the store, and I could feel myself falling asleep on the spot.

(source) That picture has nothing to do with my being at the store – but I thought it was cute, and it’s what you get if you google ‘falling asleep on the spot’!

I looked up – and there was a bottle of Diet Pepsi, staring me right between the eyes. I debated – should I get some, to wake me up? I was tired…and I caved! I bought the bottle.

BUT, my dears, here’s the realisation part -

As I was drinking it, it was nowhere NEAR as good as I remembered! In fact, it tasted kinda funky, and it gave me a headache. I had no desire to finish it, and I have no desire to ever buy some again.

Guys – the habit is officially KICKED!

BOO yah! Take THAT, stinky fizzyfuzz!

I think I just needed to try it once more, to see what I *wasn’t* missing.

Aaah how my teeth and bones will thank me in years to come : )

—

Here are some other realisations of the day:

- When in doubt – have carrot cake pancakes.

They make the world a better place.

- Scrap the last sentence – another realisation of today was that carrot cake pancakes make the world a better place, but Montezuma’s chocolate makes the world THE BEST place!

An ingredients list as short as my thumb? It is LOVE! Shame about the price…

*nom nom nom* as some folk say. I don’t even know what *nom nom nom* means..it reminds me of a noise Homer Simpson would make :/

- Realisation #4 – hummus is better when accompanied by Grape Nuts and almonds and seedy toast: fact.

- Realisation #5 – all vegetables are better baked or blended:

Ketchup kale crisps : )

Parsnip, leek and carrot soup – with GORILLA MUNCH! It’s been a while since you saw those yellow balls hasn’t it!? TWSS.

- Realisation #6 – never discriminate against something on looks alone:

Ugly food is good food, in my book.

- Realisation #7 – It’s time to crack on with the 30 Day Challenge!

Day 8 – how you hope your future will be like.

Hmmmm…..

Job security [in a job I enjoy]. A nice apartment – not massive, but open plan and modern. Money security (I don’t need to win the lottery, I just don’t want to be digging 2p coins out of the sofa so I can afford to eat….). An animal or two – ideally, an Alsation / Huskey type dog, that will be super obedient and come for runs with me : ) and possibly a cat or ten (I DO want to be That Crazy Cat Lady, after all : p). I’ll be a proud multiple-marathoner. I’ll be happy and content. I’ll live in America <—- That last one is soo unlikely to come true, but it is my all time BIGGEST hope in the entire world! Le sigh.

Oh – and I’d hope I’d be married to Channing Tatum.

(source)

That would be my dream future…maybe marriage to him will be my ticket to the States!? Aaah!

Dream big!

Question: ‘Fess up people – who is watching the Royal Wedding tomorrow!?

(source)

I think coverage starts here at about 8am – when I’d usually be out for a run….TBH, I’m not that fussed. I LOVE Kate (or Catherine, as she’ll now be known – apparently Kate isn’t ‘royal’ enough :/), but I’m a Harry girl. When he gets married *coughtomecough*, THAT is a wedding I’ll watch!

(source)

He is so cool.

OH – AH – and if you’re feeling a little bored tomorrow – check this video out!

click click click, right here

The girl in it is awesomeness personified.

…..Fastest Recap of My Day!

Becozz, my lovelies, it’s 9.51pm as I start writing this, and I am dead. on. my. feet. Or on my ass, as I’m sitting down – but I’m sure you get the gist! So, without further adieu, I bring to you [I do love some rhyming in my rhythms]:

- A blaring alarm at stupid o’clock, after 5hours sleep. That was 10hours sleep too little, IMHO.

- Eat daily brazil nut / stumble into living room / do Level 2 Jillian.

—> feel 10 x more energised!

- Put some slap on (no mascara – I left it on from the day before..I’m so badass), down a faux-iced black coffee, walk dog down the drive to relieve herself, wave at Chika. Do a happy dance as Chika canters down the field towards me, with a neigh. Tis the little things : ) Give Chika a kiss and a hug.

- Get in car -> drive the loooooong commute to uni. Eat breakfast on the way.

- Arrive at uni.

- Scrap that. Arrive at WAITROSE first – bathroom stop (bladder of a small child : p) Oh – and I think I’ve emptied them of their kabocha stash now too – I nabbed 2 more today. This squirrel must stash her nuts….or somethin’.

- THEN arrive at uni. Buy 2nd coffee of the day – all of this done before I’d have even started my workout on a normal day….good gosh.

- Have a revision lecture – for once, it was actually really useful! The lecturer was super happy because she just got back from her honeymoon (cue 50 ladies going ‘awwwwwwwhhhhhhh!’)

- Finish lecture. Drive the looooooooooong commute back home. Eat Trek bar from Mouldy Bar Stash:

- Eat an apple – I hardly managed to finish it….

….see?

- Put on trainers and uncool clothes, stretch, Garmin-up, head down drive. Hug and kiss Chika again, as a reward for – yes, again – cantering down the field neighing to me.

- Run an AWESOME 5k!

- 8.11

- 8.07

- 7.27

Last .1 -7.01

Total: 24.26

PAIN FREE. *insert goofy grin here*

- Feel like the biggest bestest BEAST of a runner of all time. MAJOR happy dance. MAJOR MAJOR!

- Down 1/2 c. soya milk.

- Study.

- Rescue a baby rabbit from Carter’s evil clutches:

Where’s it gone…?

- Study.

- Feed Chika broccoli stalks:

Clean Eating Chelsey – THAT is why I don’t eat broccoli stalks! Chika enjoys them far more

- Study.

- Break for lunch.

Dirty broccoli…I roasted the whole head of it (Hannah and my mum ate 3/4)

My lunch? Repeat.

Curry veggies (roasted veg, with curry powder on, Simplez!)

Mini orange in the background, and WTF a cat hair!!??? They are EVERYWHERE. Man I hate cats sometimes.

Jumbo rolled oats, hummus, nooch.

Almonds. And another apple I attempted to finish….

…. : p

- Swoon at Greg James on the radio:

(source)

- Eat chocolate.

- Go for a revision walk.

- Study.

- Revision walk.

- Dog walk.

- Study.

- Snack.

- Study.

- Dinner — total 100% repeat of yesterday : p

Note the date on my tofu – my BIRTHDAY! wahahahaha : D

- Study.

- Discover a black bean brownie in the freezer – dessert sorted!

- Study.

- Take dog out.

- Blog. – 10.30pm now. Crikey :/

- Collapse into bed and prepare for the next day…..

Holymajorohmyness, I am tired!

But not too tired that I can’t give a maHOOSIVE shout out to Jess – who is ENGAGED!!!!!! Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Oh – and 30 Day Challenge:

I genuinely do not have the energy left to do the challenge today….tomorrow it will be!

Question: What time did you get up this morning?

Thank you for all your lovely comments on yesterday’s post! I was half expecting some hatemail when I woke up this morning, so it was quite the relief! You’re all rock stars : )

I’m not sure what the best bit about today was.

It sure wasn’t the blaring alarm, at stupid o’clock this morning. And it DEFINITELY wasn’t the hour commute to uni, made somewhat longer by a traffic jam (at nothing?? Seriously, HOW does that happen?? GAH!).

The best bit might have been the fact I ate one of my all-time favourite Clif bars:

Espessals considering said Clif bar was past its’ use-by:

[I told you Operation Eat Mouldy Bars was coming along well!]

Or it might have been the re-discovery of Bear Granola nibbles:

[Eat Mouldy Bar Stash Challenge also includes 3 packets of Bear Granola, which I hoarded *andforgotaboutuntilyesterday*]

With added soya milk (um, holy YUM, why have I never done that before?! Oh – and anyone else pick out all the weird freeze-dried fruit bits? I HATE freeze dried fruit. hate hate hate.)

The best bit might have been the awesome FABULOSSO 5k / 3.1 mile run I did -

8.39

8.23

7.57

.1mile at 7.14

ONE HUNDRED PER CENT PAIN FREE FOLKS!

It might also have been the way I satisfied a tremendous, huuuge craving for broccoli:

Body wants iron, body gets iron.

Nothing better than a big plate of it, all curried up, right!?

The best bit of today – whilst we’re on a broccoli theme – might have been the fact that I ate two full heads of the stuff today:

Le sigh, Someone’s gotta do it!

Or the best bit might have been a bowl of stupendous oats:

Don’t ask why I have 3 cans of Libby’s Pumpkin lined up on my windowsill. They’ve been there months and I still don’t have an answer myself!

Steel cut, cooked with soya milk, wheat bran, sea salt, smoked paprika, curry powder, and 2 tbsp nooch. So friggin’ good.

I know another thing however, that certainly wasn’t a best bit:

The last of my Montezuma’s dark chocolate! That’s a sob story in itself :’ (

But back to the positives – the best bit of today might have been the 8month old frozen hummus I dug out of the freezer to go on board my tofu today:

[8months old...but I'm still live and kicking! No food poisoning......yet.......]

The best bit very, very nearly was the smoothie / pudding I made:

Frozen banana, soy milk, carob powder, xanthan gum. SO thick!

And extremely delicious!!

But no – none of those things were THE best bit. THE best bit was…let me give you a clue:

It’s green.

It’s orange.

It goes well with parsnip.

If you guessed THE LONG AWAITED RETURN OF KABOCHA SQUASH, you were right!!

Freshly bought from Waitrose today : )

I can ONLY buy kabocha from the Waitrose near uni – an hour away – so I’ve been without for over three weeks…guys, it was horrific! Ok, maybe that’s melodramatic – but boring old butternut just doesn’t compare. I am so SO happy I have my beloved kabocha back:

See? That photo is actually meant to portray happiness and joy – but it looks like the most tremendously fake smile ever! Gah. #facefail (by the by – heck oh man is it hard to take a photo of yourself! Crikey.)

I now cannot wait to wake up tomorrow so I can eat more of the stuff : D

I.

Am.

Obsessed.

——

30 Day Challenge!!

Day 8 – a moment you felt the most satisfied with your life.

Aaah that’s an easy one! 100% last summer, when I’d just completed my final 20 mile training run for my marathon.

The run went amazingly well…

I looked and felt super strong:

And was immensely proud of myself! I was pleased with my running, I had no uni stress to worry about, I had a volunteering job, I had a marathon and a trip to DC to look forward to, I wasn’t long back from the amazingness of the Healthy Living Summit so I was still feeling some of the glow, and life was just…good. I’m so hoping I can get back to that place this summer!

Question: What was the best bit of your day?

When you were you the most content with your life?

Herro cherubs!

I just want to address a touchy, vegan-y issue kinda quick:

Honey.

I’ve been getting some stick recently because I call myself a vegan, yet posted the other day that I ate honey. Soo I just wanted to straighten out some issues.

Firstly – the only honey I use (and ever will use) is some my Gran gave me. It’s not your traditional mass-produced squeezey honey from a bottle, because – although I know very, very little about honey production – I’m pretty sure anything that uses animals and is mass-produced might involve cruelty in some way (I’m using factory farms as a backdrop here), so I avoid it. My gran’s honey however, is super hard at room temp, pale in colour, and was given to her by her neighbour, who keeps bees. Said neighbour loves her bees, and is very kind to them. When my gran gave me the honey jar, it was like a present to show she understood my weird and freaky diet habits, and she was trying to be accepting, which I really appreciate. When I first got it, I was reluctant to use it because I was worried about the ethics – but, I thought about it a lot, and decided I would.

I think this short article that I read the other day is interesting. In particular, I felt the below paragraph is a parallel to how my gran’s neighbour keeps her bees:

Full disclosure: I’m not a vegan – just a vegetarian working his way up to it – but I do own two hives. I love my bees, pamper them, use no insecticides or other chemicals, and always leave them much more honey than they need. I know this isn’t the case with some commercial beekeepers, but for me, I consider being a part of their world a privilege. My hives are also free to come and go as they please – so if they ever swarm in search of greener pastures, so be it.

When I read that, I don’t see any cruelty involved. To me, veganism is not about never using animals for our benefit (heck – if that’s what I believed, I can wave goodbye to Chika, Carter, Kovac, the kittens, Michelle…I benefit from all of them!), but about avoiding cruelty to animals.

Commercial honey – I would avoid, because as I’ve stated and as the article states, there may be cruelty involved. But heck, if my gran wants to show her support for me and has found some honey from a cruel-free place, what’s wrong with using some? Maybe if I was more educated about honey I might change my opinion (after all, I know very little), but for now – that particular jar of honey seems like something I could use.

And regardless of the honey situation – I’m proud of my veganism! NO-ONE is a ‘perfect’ vegan. NO-ONE. It’s impossible to be! You know there are animal by-products in tyres, medicines, so many every day products we use and don’t realise. Every time I drive my car, I’m killing bugs as they hit my windscreen. All I can do is the best I can, and I’m proud of how far I’ve come. I’ve only been vegan since May kinda time last year, and I’ve come a long way. A few months back, I questioned bringing greek yogurt back into my diet. Two pots later, I’m done with it. I don’t want it anymore! I know too much about the dairy industry and mass production [in general] to go back to it. I’m still developing my ethics, and learning about who I am as a vegan, but I’m getting there. I’m proud of my journey though.

Phew!

Feels good to get that off my chest!!

You know what else feels good? An awesome breakfast after getting my metabolism boosted by Jillian of course!

Cereal, melon, maca powder, lucuma powder, frozen banana, soya milk….and probably something else which I’ve forgotten. I just throw everything in!

After breakfast, I have no idea what I did. I think it may have involved studying of some sort, but to be honest, my brain is so whacked out I can hardly remember my own name! I DO remember lunch, however!

I made it whilst half-watching the cross country highlights at Badminton Horse Trials. FYI – I love Badminton! I wish I could go watch one day..I’ve been to Burghley Horse Trails a few times, which was AWESOME (though I was there the year a rider died), but Badminton is like, the mothership of all eventing competitions! It has jumps like this:

(source)

(source)

Cool huh!?

Anyway – lunch! It involved this creepy stuff…

…more commonly known as fennel! It weirds me out cos it looks like spider legs. And I HATE spiders. Seriously. I panic and cry if big ones come near me! I think they have an agenda and really ARE out to get me.

I stir fried the fennel on its’ lonesome, and then plated it alongside: roasted squatternut bosh, roasted parsnip, roasted aubergine, and butter beans – mashed with nooch and curry powder and garlic and pepper:

Twas a meal for champions. Alongside, I had a Luna bar:

I’d forgotten that poor baby had been left in the car, and had subsequently melted, un-melted, and re-melted multiple times over the past few weeks! Oh, and its’ use-by was..er…over:

I inspected it very carefully for signs of ageing, mould, or disease, but it passed the test: healthy as can be! Operation Eat Bar Stash is still chugging along nicely. I plan to knock back a few more tomorrow as well. I WILL NOT let any go to waste!

Dinner was oats (shocking, I know), but I made a very very tasty dish alongside:

That would be a tomato (nothing fancy – just those cheap, boring, generic ones that don’t really taste of a whole lot), stir fried with aubergine, garlic, and fennel. When they were all cooked, I mixed in some mixed spice, pepper, thyme and rosemary. SO delicious!

I really do have to experiment more….

MMKK! I need to finish this post up quick so I can get ready for tomorrow – I have to go into DASTARDLY uni for a revision lecture, which sucks. BUT on the plus side, I can probably buy myself a coffee (my campus does the most awesome coffee, and I’m an addict now), AND a kabocha from my beloved Waitrose! Always think of the positives, right!?

——

30 Day Challenge Time!

I totes forgot yesterdee..oops

Day 7 – your zodiac sign and if you think it fits your personality.

Bah, I was dreading this question, cos I have nothing to say! All I know re zodiac signs is that I’m a gemini. I have NO idea what gemini gals are meant to be like – if they’re anything like me, they’ll be stressy and moody and hell to live with Can anyone enlighten me on if that’s true!? What zodiac sign are you?

Question: What’s your opinion on vegans and honey?