Just me?

Is any one else out there addicted to bran based cereals?

I found a new one and I'm in love!


I go through phases with cereals, opting for super healthy ones and then sugar coated, chocolate laden rubbish. Right now I'm in the healthy phase. I picked these up at the supermarket a couple fo weeks ago because of

1. The use of the word PREBIOTIC. I'm all for good tummy flora
2. The inordinate amount of fiber. 45% rda in 40g of cereal!
3. The huge amount of protein too.

Just look at that nutritional info! I'm two days into eating these and my tummy is happier. A little gassier while I balance it all out but much happier.

But seriously, what is with the taste of good, healthy cereal?

Bran flakes, taste like nothing. All bran, has the taste and texture of cardboard. Both of these cerals I like. But Cruscam has even less taste than these two divided by each other and the texture is more like a cardboard-polystyrene hybrid and I love it!

Yes, Cruscam, you are my new breakfast/snack/lazy dinner love. I think you are so great, you could even get me through progesterone induced pregnancy constipation. You ROCK!

- Disclaimer, no I'm not pregnant, but progesterone does funny enough things to my tummy during a normal cycle. I dread what it might do in pregnancy!

The Shape of my Weekend

Yesterday was a momentus occasion for me and two of my close friends. We all went to the cinema to watch a film in Italian for the first time!

It was fluff, trash, easy going and absolutely hilarious! We all loved the film and came out of the theatre feeling elated that we'd finally done it and understood everything almost perfectly. And as if that wasn't good enough, the spring weather had lasted into the evening and we were on cloud 9 pretty much the whole way to the Japanese restaurant where we met our other halves for a late dinner.

We did however make one small mistake...

We forgot that it was Carnevale this weekend, so the very place that we needed to be was also the most densely populated part of Milan.

Crowd navigation in Italy isn't easy at the best of times, this was insane!

It was pretty fun to get coriandoli in my shoes as we walked through the Piazza though.

After our giggly cinema experience, the crowd had let up enough for us to release our inner children.

We picked up props from the floor -absoLUTEly unheard of in Milano- and let loose. (I am throwing a gigantic armful of confetti into the air. If you look hard enough you can see ;)

Oh yes, there she is... my inner Mi (my name for myself as a child)

I do not envy the poor souls who had to clean up the remaning mess. At least it only happens once a year!

What shaped your weekend?

Sharing

On such a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning...

...how can I not stop to tickle these feet?

I love the way my other half wraps himself up in a cocoon with the duvet, yet has his little feet sticking out... about 90% of the time.

What little things make you smile in the morning?

A night alone

I could have spent tonight cleaning, I could have spent it organising my overflowing cupboard, I could have caught up on some well needed sleep... Instead I spent it like this:

Pizza Margherita, I'm feeling very full right now

Beer, because you have to have something fizzy with Pizza you know! (Plus, this only cost me 1.50Euro instead of 3.50. The guys at the pizzeria love me ;)

Internet and futurama.

The awesome little laptop desk thingy above is the best 15Euro I've spent in a loooong while. It makes using a laptop away from a desk so much comfier!

I have decided that I need a smartphone to be able to live my dream of posting more regularly. It is too difficult for me to get on the internet regularly right now. Maybe when spring comes and I am out of hibernation I'll be around more often?

I am willing the Spring to hurry up and greet us already!

Sunday's here again

Sunday is, unfortunately, my second least favourite day of the week. It is the last day of the weekend and I always find it hard to enjoy because I know that without a doubt it will wuickly leak into and then become Monday. Monday is my least favourite day of the week.

To try and help me feel positive about Sundays, I am going to remember all the amazing things about this week and try to keep today full of life!

• Did you know that I stopped smoking this week?! Of course you didn't, but it is true none the less. It was on my list of big things to do this year and I decided on a bit of a whim that I wasn't going to buy anymore cigarettes, ever again. And That was it... it's going superbly, though it has only been a few days. Wish me luck with staying off them.
• I had the flu (that's not the good part) but today I woke up feeling like an actual human being again! YAY! Of course, I over did it a little and am now paying with exhaustion, but it's nothing a nap won't solve.
• I got my shipment of amazon books this week and with time off work, I've been reading, reading, reading and learning too of course. I love having time to really read, especially when I can read in bed. It's so comforting and cosy, even if I am ill!
  
• I have been looking at lots of blogs and websites and collecting inspiration for wedding days. No, he hasn'r proposed yet, but we've been talking about it more and more and I figure I might as well get ahead on some of the ideas no? I am feeling very creative in all aspects of my life right now (despite being ill) and it's wonderful to feel so inspired
• The freezing cold seems to have snapped and we've had a wonderful weekend full of sun! Nothing is more cheering that sun after a long period of dark, cold, fog and grey. Hello Mr. Sun! :D

Here's to next week! *raises an imaginary glass*

Working on a Saturday

Wow, this sucks!

Actually, it's not that bad, hehe. It was so relaxing to get up and know I had to go to work, but two hours later than usual. I even got in a coffee before leaving the house, but it was decaf, so I don't know if it counts!

I've been thinking and writing and planning a lot lately. I have a lot to think and plan and write about. I want to dig out my 2011 aims for the year and see what I achieved and what I didn't.

While I'm at it, I'll let you in on my aims for 2012:

• Read at least 14 new books
• Save money (also known as stop frivolous spending)
• Don't ignore my emotions. Listen to them, hear them out and let them rest in peace.
  
• Learn Italian. For real.
  
• Be more organised on a day to day basis
• Keep our apartment clean and tidy (i.e. don't let it get to pigsty status)
• Keep losing weight (only 20-27lbs to go)
• Be healthier (mainly stop smoking) with exercise and food in mind.

I am sure there are more lurking in the back of my mind, as they surface I'll have to document them so they don't float away again.

Just a little fact for you... 2012, is in fact, the year of MARIA. 12 has been Maria's favourite number for around 20 years now and she is overjoyed to be able to finally reach this momentus year. So much so, in fact, that she intends to make all her wildest dreams come true... and then some ;)

Buzz, buzz, busy

Yep, I've been a busy little bunny today, cleaning, tidying, reorganising. I've got two rooms totally down and they were two of the worst to tackle. This week is going to be tough, I'm going back to work tomorrow but I'm determined to stay on top on everything, staying cool, sticking to my routine, not getting caught up in the usual b.s. that tends to engulf me if I'm not careful. I am also determined to keep up our healthier ways of cooking together, eating together and making sure we clean up before we go to bed.

Positive mental attitude.

2012 is going to be a big year, it is going to be my year, by the simple logic that 12 has always been my favourite number. After years of loyalty, I'd like to think that the number 12 has got my back... I guess we'll see how it pans out eh? ;)

Happy Monday to ALL :D