The Week That Was...

Where I recap the last seven days Instagram-style...

The breakfast: Weetbix and banana – an oldie but man is it a goodie. Especially now that bananas are back in my price range...

The lunch: Tuna, veggies and brown rice. This one gets full marks for flavour and nutrition. 

 

 

 

The show: I've been going through seasons of Friday Night Lights faster than I go through underwear. 

 

The fitness: Walking at lunch time. Take an hour and feel the extra calorie burn. Just don't forget the deodorant. Think of your colleagues.

 

 

 

The fun stuff: Rekordelig – cider drinkers, memorize that name. This stuff is da bomb.

Stay Positive. It's Friday.

Positive Notes

Has this been the longest working week in history or what?

It definitely calls for a vodka tonic and maybe a visit to this awesome little Tumblr I discovered called Positive Notes which is jam-packed full of – you guessed it – positive notes!

Just the right amount of cute and corny – I dare you not to feel a little inspired.

Can These Ads Stop Childhood Obesity?

Almost one million children in Georgia are overweight or obese. One million.

The state has the second highest rate of obesity in the US. Something has to be done and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is hoping this campaign will go some way to opening the eyes of the 75% of parents who don't realise their children are overweight.

The ads are brutally honest – heartbreaking even – and they've come under fire for the way critics say they "shame" overweight kids. But with the health of one million children on the line, Georgia is past pussyfooting around.

What do you think?

No Gym? No Problem.

Working out a gym that's connected to your place of work is tres convenient. But when the office shuts down for the holidays? Well, the gym does, too. So for the last three weeks, in the infamous words of Jason Derulo, I've been ridin' solo. No treadmill. No bike. No weights. No trainer screaming in my ear.

So what's a girl to do after ten too many rumballs? I did the logical thing and hit up my current celeb crush Jessica Biel for some much-needed inspiration. This is what her personal trainer Josh Walsh suggests...

Choose five heartrate-boosting exercises, like squat jumps, sprints, stairs, walking lunges and jumping jacks, and perform each exercise for 30 seconds, with a 30-second break in between. Oh, and then repeat the entire circuit five times. The Justin Timberlake soundtrack is optional.

On The Couch: If You Hate Cricket And Tennis, Summer TV Sucks.

So here's your chance to invest in a box set and catch up on the shows you might have missed last year...

Cougar Town
Courteney Cox has finally found a new home on the small screen and it's as part of the loveable Cul-de-sac Crew on Cougar Town. While the first season was all about her scouring for younger men, in the much-improved second season, the show finds a new rythym and proves it's got chops as a quality sit-com. Jennifer Aniston's cameo is reason enough to give it a go.

Friday Night Lights
This show hasn't been a hit on our screens, but it developed a cult following in the US and it's not hard to see why. Following the lives of players in a small-town football team, this highly addictive drama will have you literally on your feet, cheering for a touchdown. Plus, all five seasons are now available on DVD, so there's plenty to keep you busy in the ratings off-season.

Sons Of Anarchy
If you thought Channel One was all sport, think again. It's home to some fine programs (the US version of The Killing is well worth a watch), but Sons Of Anarchy is one of the best. A little bit of crime, a little bit of action and a whole lot of drama, this series focuses on the lives of a close-knit motorcycle club.

Shameless
Watch the British version or watch the US version – either way, this series about a family living in a housing estate is comedy gold. And when you find you can't get enough? You'll be happy to hear there's seven seasons of the original UK version to enjoy.

On The Couch: Oh, Lordy!

While we wait for a small eternity for channel seven to bring back Downton Abbey (seriously, enough – just show it already!) I've been avoiding spoilers like the plague. But it's been quite a chore given just how freaking excited I am about the new season. So excited, in fact, I did a personality test to find out which Downton character I am. Try it, it's surprisingly fun.

I'm Lord Grantham by way.

 

 

This Year I Will...

Magnets, $12 @ HappyTownUSA

 
Read more, eat less, get organised, take up a new sport... It's that time of the year when we all make resolutions in an attempt to better our lives or better ourselves. Maybe you've already broken a few of the promises you made to yourself on January 1? That's okay, because the good news is, you've got another 350+ days to turn it around.

The best advice I ever got about New Year's Resolutions is this: break it down, keep it simple. Don't just say, "I need to visit my grandparents more" or "I want to start running". It's too broad and too vague. Instead, make it manageable – think about it not as a yearly resolution, but on a week-to-week basis. If you want to visit your grandparents, set aside one day a week and do it – make it a habit. If you want to start running, start with one morning a week, and go from there. It's only one morning a week – there's no room for excuses.

If you rush out of the starting blocks to fast, without thinking about how you're logistically going to maintain your resolution long-term, you'll get tired too fast and you'll fall off the wagon. And when the first day of 2013 rolls around, you'll be resolving all over again to achieve the exact same thing.

And if you're really serious about your resolutions – tell somebody. Having someone on board to help you might just be what you need to get you over the line on December 31.

It's 2012, Y'all!

Hey Look

I love the beginning of a new year. It's a chance to put the past behind you and start fresh. Yes, I know, it's corny – but I'm holding high hopes for the year ahead. And I hope you are, too.

Whether you're hoping to revamp your exercise routine or add a few new dishes to your diet, I hope you'll find at least a little inspiration here...