Day Zero Project: Race for Life Part 1

    Well I am full of all kinds of emotions right now I really can't explain it. My wonderful Great Aunt passed away yesterday after battling pancreatic cancer. It's times like these I wish I didn't live so far away from my family as I currently feel like I'm not giving the right amount of support to anyone and I have no idea what I should be doing or saying - words in these circumstances have never been my strong point but I guess that's the same for most people.
    It has got me re evaluating things though. And got my mind refocused on my Day Zero Project. I am currently on a mission to lose the bulge and I had a fantastic first 5 weeks however the last 5 have not gone so smoothly with me turning back to the comfort food and losing my motivation for exercise. But I REALLY want to run walk the Race for Life next year. It is such a fantastic cause. I won't just be running in memory of my auntie but also for people for whom the battle continues such as David and the millions of other people who are affected by cancer everyday. Keep your eye out for my sponsorship form and help keep my weight loss going by giving your encouragement on here and on our Facebook Page. There are so many things you can do to support Cancer Research UK. Charity pots in supermarkets, support your local charity shop or why not Run the Race for life yourself?

Countdown to.......Wedding (But struggling!)

    
      I'm struggling, struggling, struggling. This junk food addiction of mine is starting to take over my life again I can tell you. I did so well losing a stone in my first 5 weeks but 4 weeks after this I have not done so well. My weight losses seem to have dwindled to just half to 1lb a week. So in 4 weeks I've lost 2 1/2 lbs and my 'Club 10' (2 stone 1lb) award has gone from being in time for my mums birthday to the 19th December!! A Whole month wasted because a) I am eating all the wrong things again several times a week and b) I have lost my Favourite Rosemary Conley DVD (Well technically Charlie lost it) and i just don't seem to enjoy anything quite as much!
     So I'm mildly stressed. My wedding dress (yup I have had it made rather early I know) will be ready in 2 weeks. I have purposely got it smaller to spur me on. It's a 16 where as I am a 22 at the moment but I'm regretting it because I don't think I'm going to get the weight off in time. I hope I do because it's not just the wedding It's being a mum that Charlie will be proud rather than ashamed to call me his mum in front of his friend (I hope it NEVER comes to that).
     So this week I need to plan ahead I think. Takeaway night is Tuesday night as the not so better half plays pool with his friend so tomorrow is sorted but I need to do some form of exercising to counteract the effects a bit.

The gorgeous Mummy from @LoveintheNest

     Any suggestions of Toddler friendly exercise and idea's to keep me away from the chocolate are very welcome!

Messy Play Day: The key to Toddler Happiness?

<center><a <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>=" http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">littlecharlieandus</span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span>.com/"><<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://s918.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span>.com/albums/ad27/<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">chasingsunshine</span>_photos/?action=view&%3Bcurrent=MessyPlayDayBlogBadge2.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>" target="_blank" /><<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://i918.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span>.com/albums/ad27/<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">chasingsunshine</span>_photos/MessyPlayDayBlogBadge2.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>" border="0" alt="<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Photobucket</span>" /></a></center>   Charlie is now 22 months old. Someone came to my house today to pick something up and brought along their baby who could crawl but not walk. I grabbed him trying to prevent him trying to pull himself on my hot oven.
I lifted him away and automatically put him on his feet for some reason expecting him to walk off! Which of course he didn't he fell on his bum!
    I am so much into the toddler parenting roll now that I have forgotten what to do with a baby who cannot do things that I now take for granted with Charlie like him understanding to pass me something or take off his own trousers ready for his bath. But it has got me wondering some things. Like whether we do enough toddler activities. We joined a mummy and baby playgroup two weeks ago. They are free to play with water and sand and smash 'hills' made out of jelly with a plastic fork and no one gets into trouble for making a mess. Charlie loves it.
     Today Charlie is with his grandparents who have lots of homegrown apples to use up and are using them to make pie's and cakes. I have just received on my facebook page several pictures of my little boy covered head to toe in flour but the smile on his face says it all.
     Messy play is obviously Charlie's thing. And we simply do not do enough of it at home! I never involve him with cooking because I'm always paranoid he'll hurt himself- or me!
   So I am making a vow that from now on we will have a Messy Play Day a week. I will also make sure to involve him more in things like baking and cooking rather than leaving him in the living room playing by himself. It's time I let go a little bit me thinks.

Whether you have a Messy Play Day once a week or Once a Month please feel free to join in our messy play day fun and pop the badge above in your blog post. I can't wait to see what everyone's ideas are for Messy Play!

Making Apple Pie with Nanna

Well. I can't say I have actually had that much time for me this week. Since Charlie and I started going to a mummy and toddler playgroup ready for starting proper playgroup next year we actually seem to be doing a bit more. however I did have the pleasure of ordering my wedding dress the other Day!
I am so excited but also nervous. i have ordered it in quite a few sizes smaller and have to lose a minimum of 10 inches of my stomach before next July which is a daunting task.
I think my Time for Mummy this week will be me doing my fitness DVD tonight and tomorrow night when Charlie is in bed! Im am now into my 3rd 'Bad Week' after losing 1 stone in 5 weeks i am really struggling to keep motivated and think of Ideas for food and keeping it all fun. Feel free to pass on your tips if you have any.

Winners of 'Wedding on a Budget' Comp....(and apology)

Finally the announcement of the winners eh?

Firstly I must apologise I have had alot going on in my life recently and have been rather neglectful of the blog! Including forgetting about this competition! I am so so sorry to you all and hoping things will calm down soon and we'll all be able to get into the swing of things again!

Well thank you to those of you who gave your hints and tips they were all fab! Our wedding is now booked and we're slowly getting everything sorted but treading carefully so's not to go over our budget (which isn't quite as modest as £500 but that's another story for another time.)

So the winners my partner and I have chosen are:  Jenna Keller, EmmysMummy, Tyler and NikkiMoore84.

Please can you contact me using the contact us tab above. Your prizes will be dispatched on Monday!

I apoligies again for the delay and hope that you all continue reading and joining in with competitions. xx