after pregnancy weight loss tips | Blogmas 20 12 14

after pregnancy weight loss tips

Good morning and hello Blogmas day 20! Whether the fact that its only five days until Christmas makes you excited or strikes fear into your heart, sit down and I shall tell you what I got up to today!  We stayed last night in Manchester so this morning we were up bright and early (well Baba was awake, so we all were). 

Now, before we go any further, I had two celebrity spots from the hotel. And who doesnt love a celebrity spot? The first was Nick Hewer (from The Apprentice and Countdown).  He came out of the lift as we were waiting for it. And what did I do? Yes thats right, I had a lovely conversation with him about how I loved his work and thought he was very funny.  Errr, no that didnt actually happen at all.  I stood there, mouth wide open, with one finger pointed.  Like an idiot.  No offence to Nick, but its not like it was the Queen or Bradgelina.  We then got to the reception and guess who was there? Duncan Bannatyne from Dragons Den. So, I pitched him my blogging business plan and we had a lovely chat. No, no that did not happen either. My mouth dropped open and my husband had to shut it for me. Oh the shame. 

I would love to know your opinion on this topic.  What do you do when you see a famous person? Do you smile? Do you say hi? Do you stare at them and think I know that face? Many, many years ago my dad once asked a guy in a car park if he used to work with him, he was actually a famous F1 driver! Comments below please for the most famous person youve seen and what you do in the presence of a celebrity.  If you are interested mine is Princess Anne (sorry Nick and Duncan) and she shook my hand (I was 10 at the time). 

You will be pleased to hear I saw no more celebrities and on we headed to Manchester Museum.  This museum is free to enter and such a fabulous place to visit with children. 

Our favourite section by far was the Nature Discovery section which has been specially designed for the under fives. It was like entering an enchanted wood.  Everything was at Babas eye level and she even had her own binoculars and magnifying glass to find all of the creatures on a little trail.  

The dinosaur and large animal skeletons were amazing and we stood in awe feeling very, very small.

Normally Baba loves the animal section of museums, but I have to say, she was a little frightened by some of the animals on display.  The predators certainly looked like predators instead of extras from the Lion King.  

Whilst older children would love this section, Baba is two and a half, and I think she is at the stage where her little imagination starts to get carried away.  We quickly walked through the carnivores, told her they were all smiling (!) and distracted her with this gorgeous display of paper birds. 

What makes this museum pretty unique is it has a vivarium and it is dedicated to conserving amphibians and reptiles.  We wandered around trying to spot the worlds most poisonous frog and snakes and lizards. How beautiful is this chameleon who I fell in love with? 

We had such a lovely time, and this little gem is well worth a visit if you are in the Manchester area. On the way home Baba fell fast asleep, probably dreaming of alot of teeth and lizards!  

Thank you so much for reading and please be sure to come back tomorrow for some fun in the snow.  Yes, the snow! And see those lovely links to your right? Click any to stay up to date with all Laura Evelyn Bee goings on (including awkward celebrity spots!).

See you in the morning, 





Do you find information about after pregnancy weight loss tips are you looking for? If not, below may help you find more information about the after pregnancy weight loss tips. Thank you for visiting, have a great day.

post pregnancy weight loss tips | Blogmas 19 12 14

post pregnancy weight loss tips

Hello there and welcome to Blogmas day 19! Last night me and my husband had a (very) long overdue date night in Manchester. We had spent the day in Manchester with Baba, and my sister, who lives in Manchester, very kindly offered to babysit so we could go out for food and a few cocktails (or four!).  Fancy coming along? Well then lets go!! I wore this gorgeous gold Topshop shift dress that my sister lent me (I know, shes a very good sister to have!).  

After attempting to tuck Baba up into bed, who then exclaimed she couldnt possibly sleep, we left my sister with instructions that if all else failed to let Baba watch a bit of Peppa Pig. We made a very speedy exit and headed to Artisan. First drink of the night was the most delicious raspberry and vanilla Martini.  Delicious.

Now normally this is the point in my blog where I say I forgot to take any pictures of the food.  But, as my plate was served and I wielded my pizza cutter like a cave woman, my husband reminded me to take a snap. Sorry its a bit dark, I was trying to look inconspicuous so didnt use the flash! I had the pulled pork, roasted apple, sage, grand padano and rocket pizza. 

And my husband had the pork ribs with kimchee. 

I feel my photos really dont do it justice.  I am not sure what other bloggers do? Do you just flash away at the table?!  However, regardless of my photography, take my word for it that our plates returned to the kitchen immaculately clean. 

I adore the toilets at Artisan, which is a bit of an odd thing to say, and even more weirdly, I took some photos.  I know, I know! I wont use the flash at the table, but I snap away happily in the toilets!!! Artisan have an entire lounge that you enter just before the ladies toilets. Its called the Bitchin Lounge and it is adorned with the most gorgeous mirrors, comfy chairs and chaise lounges.  If only the walls could talk in here!!

The toilets themselves are a work of art too.  You know when you just walk in and think, wow, I wish this was my bathroom?!? Or maybe thats just me.  I took a snap for you anyway as I was the only one in there!  

                                   

Artisan also have a photo booth. I dragged my husband in for some pics of us together.  We never seem to have pictures of just the two of us, and I love how you get the photos there and then.  A lovely memento from our night is now pinned to our fridge. 

So, onto pudding, and I think this says alot about me.  It was devoured before a photo was even thought of.  So heres the empty plate, and what was on it was a hot chocolate fondant which was delicious! 

By the time we had finished our meal it was 9.30pm and we just couldnt return to the hotel after only 2 hours!! My sister had text and said that she had persuaded Baba to go to sleep with milk and cookies so we took that as sign we should sample a few more beverages! We headed to Australasias Grand Pacific bar. I had a pineapple and coconut mojito (definitely recommend this if you like sweet drinks).  My husband had a smokey old fashioned which is a bourbon based drink. They give you the drink with smoke cascading from it which you then pour into your glass. I tried to capture the smoke spilling over the glass like a laboratory experiment! 

Cheers!

After sampling a few more cocktails, (it would be rude not to), we wandered in the rain huddled arm in arm under our umbrella, saying, how we always say, that we should definitely do this more often. 

Do you find information about post pregnancy weight loss tips are you looking for? If not, below may help you find more information about the post pregnancy weight loss tips. Thank you for visiting, have a great day.

post pregnancy weight loss uk | Blogmas 17 12 14

post pregnancy weight loss uk

Todays post was meant to be a very different post indeed.  But I guess, sometimes, or maybe alot of the time, things really dont go the way you had hoped or planned, and you have to just go with it. Todays original post was going to be about me doing something for someone else. An act of kindness that might make me nervous, a bit sick and take me completely out of my comfort zone, but at the same time would make a difference to someone, somewhere.  I decided I was going to donate blood. 

And heres the thing.  Once this idea had popped into my head last week, after finding my local donation session and time, it was all I could think about. I was so so nervous! And it was still a week away! The night I had decided what I was going to do, I couldnt sleep! I told myself to get a grip, and I tried to concentrate on that end feeling of satisfaction (and maybe relief), when I had actually given blood. And did you know that donating blood can save up to three lives? Wow. What better Christmas present to give. 

This morning, I felt sick.  You know that nervous feeling? Butterflies in the stomach?  That was me times 10. They tell you to make sure you are hydrated before the donation, so I drank a gallon of juice at lunch. I had even given up a chocolate baileys the night before so my blood would be in tip-top condition!! It took me ages to get ready too.  I wanted something that was warm, but was also cool in case I got faint.  It also had to have easy access to my veins. You could say maybe white wasnt the best colour, but I had every faith in the nurses that the blood would be kept to where it was supposed to be! I opted for a mistletoe jumper (may as well look festive!)

and a very comfortable cotton bunny t-shirt underneath. I am willing to bet no-one else has an outfit of the day for a blood donation!!! 

Me and my husband argued as we parked the car (so far so good), as he was adamant he could park outside the venue, when in actual fact you couldnt (like Id already told him).  After re-parking the car, we entered the donation centre.  Eeek! This was it. Or not.  At the desk the nurse informed me they were too busy to take my blood as the session was already full.  I think I looked liked I was going to cry (which is probably a bit odd when someone tells you you cant give blood). But you know when you psyche yourself up for something so much, then all your thoughts and plans go right out the window.  I envied the people having their blood taken!!! My husband stopped me from pulling someone off the donation couch and we quickly exited (OK, not quite, but I am not over-exaggerating my disappointment!). Even Baba was disappointed as after a whole 10 minutes of conversation about what mummy was doing, she only remembered the bit about biscuits, and she couldnt wait to donate!  

And I guess, I could take that as a sign that its not meant to be. That maybe I should forget donation.  I mean, its easy enough to do. I havent done it for the last 32 years, so what difference will another few years make.  But I guess thats the thing isnt it? Thats why the blood service needs blood.  Because people are too busy, too nervous, too scared to do it.  But with you, blog readers as my witnesses, I am going to go again and make my donation in January.  This time, I will make an appointment so I cant be turned away.  I will share with you my nervousness, my fears, and I will tell you what it is exactly like, in the hope, that maybe if just one other person reads this and goes and donates too, then that will just be unbelievable.  

And that concludes todays blog.  My lovely husband took me and Baba out for a brownie hot chocolate and babycino to cheer me up (after I had ran to the toilet - wish I hadnt drank quite so much juice!!). And as soon as I got home I put on my comfy festive pjs. (Dont pretend you dont love them!!). :-) 

I am now off to have that chocolate baileys that I skipped on last night. But I would love to know your thoughts on blood donation. Have you ever donated? Would you do it? Could I inspire you with my story? Comments below please, and part two of this story to come in January 2015! 

Thank you for reading and see you tomorrow for Blogmas day 18!  

Do you find information about post pregnancy weight loss uk are you looking for? If not, below may help you find more information about the post pregnancy weight loss uk. Thank you for visiting, have a great day.