Fitness Friday: Training Gloves

Fitness Friday time! Today I'm reviewing some fitness gloves from House Of Fraser,* which I have added to my fitness workout gear. However, first it's time for my little disclaimer:

My Fitness Friday posts will include workout tips, favourite exercises and wishlists. I must make it clear that I am not a fitness professional, nor do I have any qualifications. These are simply what works for me and what I do myself in the gym. However, I do work in a leisure centre, so I am friends with many gym instructors, personal trainers and my brother studies Sports Science at university - and most of these tips are from them! I hope you enjoy joining my fitness journey and sharing your own tips too.

I was kindly asked by House of Fraser to choose an item from their fitness range and I was instantly drawn to these Lorna Jane training gloves.* My brother is very dismissive of the use of gloves in the gym but I think they are useful for exercises such as deadlifts and pull ups. I think many women can struggle with their grip whilst working out and if a piece of equipment allows you to even mentally be able to lift more, it is worth using. I love the appearance of the gloves with the pink details and slogans 'will power' and 'girl power.' I must admit that I love going to the gym and heading straight to the weights area rather than the cardio machines and these gloves make me feel pretty badass. They are also very comfortable and fit, well, like a glove!

However, the main reason I chose these gloves is as a result of my New Year's Resolution to complete an obstacle course race. A few months ago I attended an obstacle course session at Fortitude Fitness - a one mile obstacle course and bootcamp session just outside of Cambridge. It was great fun and I was on such a high after somehow managing to complete monkey bars, parallel bars and wall climbs. However I was defeated by the 8 foot rope climb, which resulted in some nasty rope burns and shredded skin! Therefore, although I enjoyed the experience, I have been nervous about heading back and injuring myself again. These gloves give me the confidence to attack the obstacle course again, whilst protecting my hands.

Do you use fitness gloves? Do you have any tips for obstacle racing?

Jess

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Beer52: Beer Subscription Box

Subscription boxes have become all the rage recently; you can buy monthly beauty boxes, food boxes and now the subscription world have moved to alcohol. Yes, that's right, you can now sign up to have a box of 8 beers delivered to your house every month. Beer 52* pride themselves on delivering exclusive beer brewed at microbreweries and I was lucky enough to receive a box to try out for myself (although my Dad was very happy to help me out!) I will briefly go through the beers I received in a little bit of detail; if you're interested in beer, keep reading for a discount code!

The India Pale Ale from the Loose Cannon Brewery was a straw golden colour, which tasted hoppy and malty with a sweet fruity flavour. Loose Cannon promised a floral flavour which we couldn't really taste but it was a tasty beer nonetheless. Next we tried the Dubbel from the Savour Brewery. This was a dark beer with hints of sweetness and a chocolate and toffee finish. It was a stronger beer at 7% and we enjoyed the fruity and luxurious taste

The Hardknott Azimuth was a very citrusy beer, with a golden colour. It both smelt and tasted of orange and I enjoyed the zesty taste. Next we tried what was probably both of our's favourite beer of the bunch: the Valente's Double Espresso from the Black Wolf Brewery. It was a very dark beer with a strong coffee and caramel smell. It had a wonderful creamy coffee taste and the combination of coffee and beer was sure to be a winner!

Our next beer was the Killer Cat Circus IPA from Malmesbury Brewery, which came out orange and slightly cloudy. It smelt very strongly of vanilla and tasted fruity and mildly hoppy - although not as strongly of tropical fruit as the brewery suggested. The Friday's pale ale by Septum brewery was also a golden orange colour. It has a citrus peach scent, which I always enjoy, and a floral hoppy taste.

The final two beers were also citrusy; the first being the Broadway Blonde California Pale from London Fields Brewery. It was dark golden with a slight citrus/lime aroma. The taste was fresh and crisp, with no particular notes, but very pleasant. Finally we finished the box with the Bleddyn Crafterd Ale from the Celtic Experience Brewery. It smelt delicious and very strongly of pink grapefruit and had a sweet taste, with a slight grapefruit tang. 

All in all, my Dad and I thoroughly enjoyed the box. It was a great way to try some unusual beers; even my Dad hadn't tried any of the beers before. As I mentioned, the Valente's Double Espresso beer was our favourite and it was exciting to discover something new. The subscription box is £24 a month, but you can also buy 'rolling contracts' which make the boxes even cheaper - for example, a 'quarterly' subscription provides 3 months of beers for £69, which works out as £23 a box instead. The boxes work out as about £3 a beer, which is good value for such interesting beers which can't be found in the supermarket.

Even better - you can get your first box for even less if you use the discount code JESS10 for £10 off!
Have you tried any unusual subscription boxes, such as Beer 52? Let me know what you thought!

Jess

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Fitness Friday: Why It Doesn't Matter That I Suck At Ballet

Hello! It's time for another Fitness Friday, where I talk about all things fitness. I wanted to start with a fun ballet-inspired workout, then talk a little about my recent return to ballet:

(Workout found on Move Nourish Believe)

I think this workout is really fun. It uses some simple ballet moves to inspire a workout which works on your thighs, Over time, it's a good way to increase flexibility and toning and will bring something a little different to your daily workout. I know that I'm prone to forgetting to stretch after workouts, which I always regret the following day (damn you DOMS!) This is a good way to include some ballet in your routine in place of ballet lessons.

I used to do ballet when I was very small, probably like many girls, but it unfortunately fell by the wayside as I couldn't balance this with gymnastics, swimming, music lessons and school (yes, I was one of those children!) I always enjoyed it and a few months ago, after drunkenly reminiscing about all my childhood hobbies and skills, I emailed my local ballet school and signed up to adult lessons.

Sometimes, drunken decisions actually pay off! I really enjoy ballet and it's a great way to work on my flexibility and balance. However, in reality I have no idea how good or bad I am - the hall in which I learn has no mirrors so I can't see myself. In some ways this is irritating because I have no idea if I'm doing anything right or not. Yet, in another way, it is totally liberating. I don't worry about whether I am 'any good' or not so I simply do my best and can't see what this looks like.

Perhaps ballet lessons needn't be so deep! Yet it does show that sport is about more than simply the physical; getting out of your comfort zone and not worrying about whether you are 'good enough' is certainly an attitude I am trying to work on this year. I'm sure most of you will have seen the 'This Girl Can' adverts from Sport England which reflect the importance to give exercise a go, regardless of what you might look like. Getting involved in sport can be liberating, exciting and make a huge difference to confidence - you just need to discover what kind of exercise you enjoy.

What will you be trying this year to get out of your fitness comfort zone? Are there any exercises which you love but are frankly terrible at?

Jess

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Bloggers' Holiday with Sykes Cottages

Another Bloggers' Holiday! I've been very lucky to have spent the last few months travelling to various exciting places across the UK and a few months ago I headed to a little village called Osmotherley, just outside Northallerton in North Yorkshire. I can't believe that's it's now been a few months - it's about time I told you all about it! I just can't resist Yorkshire at the moment - there's no wonder that people still think that I live up North! I spent the weekend with some of my favourite bloggers in a fantastic cottage and had a thoroughly enjoyable few days:

We stayed at Cote Ghyll Cottage thanks to Sykes Cottages and it was a beautiful building. Downstairs, we had a kitchen and dining table, shower room, living room and even a games room. Upstairs, there were four bedrooms, which slept the 8 of us in total, and another bathroom with a separate toilet. The cottage was impeccable, very spacious and certainly in a rural location. It might have been a little too rural for my fellow city-bloggers (a sheep in the road caused some terror from Sammie) and I must admit the poor WiFi was frustrating, but I loved the quaint Osmotherley town. However I'm happy I didn't have to drive to it as I must say that it was a horrible route to get to this Yorkshire village.

As a result, the weekend was slightly affected by the fact that we were all anticipating that complicated drive home but we still managed to have a wonderful time. The village of Osmotherley was small but still housed three pubs, which all served food. The larger town of Nortallerton wasn't far and we managed to spend an afternoon there - obviously making some time to visit Bettys for some fat rascals and cakes!

Sykes Cottages are my go-to for UK cottage breaks. In October, I had also travelled to Yorkshire with my family to stay in a Sykes Cottage for the week and we found them to be affordable, well located and importantly dog friendly. They're certainly worth checking out if you're looking for a relaxing weekend away in the UK. However, I personally can't wait for my next 'blogger trip' which is a little more exotic - a city break to New York! Do you have any posts about New York? I'd love to read them!

Jess

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The Alchemist, Trinity Leeds

Ready for some more amazing pictures of food? Prepare to be hungry (and thirsty) because I'm excited to share the details of my latest restaurant review: The Alchemist. I'm sure some of you will have already heard of this fantastic bar, known for its mad professor style cocktails, but have you tried the food? I was lucky enough to be able review both their food and drinks menus last week and it did not disappoint:

We began with some drinks (of course) whilst we waited for our table - a delay caused due to me taking the wrong train, not the fault of the staff. In fact they were extremely accommodating when I phoned up in a fluster from a train headed to Edinburgh not Leeds, and calmly booked me a later table without any hassle. I decided to settle my nerves with the intriguingly named 'Colour Changing One' whilst my dining buddy opted for the White Chocolate Raspberry Martini. My cocktail was tangy and apple-y whilst the martini was a wonderful alcoholic dessert to start our meal with!

We opted for some edaname beans whilst we decided on our courses. I was intrigued to try this 'superfood' and once we were told how to eat them, I dug right in. They were a perfectly salty way to whet your appetite for the dishes ahead, which we started with a sharing platter. This comprised of chicken wings, nachos, chicken pot stickers and some beer battered prawns with a selection of dips. It was a great way to try a variety of the menu and I was generally very impressed. The beer battered prawns were a particular standout, which were crispy on the outside yet not chewy on the inside. I also really enjoyed the chicken wings, which, although very salty, were also spicy with chilli and just what I wanted!

We obviously had to try another drink and this time we opted for a sharer; the intriguingly named Mad Hatter's Tea Party. In order to create this drink, we were brought an amazing contraption which boiled then condensed a variety of alcohol, which was then poured onto dry ice and served in adorable teacups. The result was an infusion of passion fruit and elderflower which not only delighted my eyes, but my tastebuds too.

Next it was time for the mains. My friend chose the jerk chicken and I decided upon the Thai Red Curry. I loved the presentation of the dishes and was pleasantly surprised with my main, having heard mixed reviews regarding food at The Alchemist. However, Living Ventures (who own The Alchemist, along with The Botanist, Gusto and Blackhouse) certainly take their customer feedback seriously and there appears to have been a marked effort to improve their standards as a result of some mediocre reviews. You certainly could tell - my curry was tasty, the right level of spice, and the coconut and lime rice paired with the curry perfectly. I enjoyed the freshness of the curry, which you can see by the huge variety of colour on the plate. We accompanied these dishes with two more cocktails - a Strawberry Cup for me, which tasted of strawberry laces, and a Dead Red Zombie for my friend; a strong, rummy and smokey drink.

Finally, it was time for some dessert. We both couldn't resist the Belgian waffles, with warm cinnamon, sugar and vanilla ice cream as a sweet end to our meal. You can't go wrong with waffles can you? My friend opted for the Bubble Bath, a typically Alchemist magical cocktail, and I chose a Lady Marmalade to accompany this dessert. I can't resist a fizzing and smoking cocktail and the Lady Marmalade lived up to my love for a show, and also tasted fantastic thanks to its alcoholic twist on Lady Grey tea.

Overall, I was very impressed with The Alchemist, as I have been with all of the Living Ventures restaurants. You can really tell that customer satisfaction and love of the produce they offer are at the heart of each and every restaurant, which results in a wonderful experience. If you want your night to go with a bang (literally), then The Alchemist is definitely the place to go, with a fantastic array of cocktails to suit everyone along with some great food. Why not check out the food and drinks menus for yourselves and pop along? Let me know what you think!

OOTD: Over the Knee

Today I wanted to share another OOTD with you all - featuring some over the knee boots and some sixties-influenced styling:

Dress: Primark. Top: Primark. Boots: Asos. Handbag: Sainsburys. Earrings: New Look.

I can't decide if I like this look. I love the idea of over the knee boots - they look fashionable and slick on other bloggers and have inspired many of my recent Pinterest style board pins. However, there is an undoubted risk of looking like I'm from Pretty Woman and I do feel rather self-conscious. These Asos boots are lovely thanks to their suede material but they have a higher heel than I was expecting, which means that they aren't as easy to casually wear as I had hoped. It's all in the attitude, I'm sure!

I decided the secret to wearing these over the knee boots was to add some sixties styling. I chose this shift dress from Primark, which I layered with a long sleeved striped top underneath for added warmth (although the benefit of over the knee boots is that you can also wear comfy warm socks underneath!) Since the shift dress isn't too fitted, I think it balances it out the boots. Finally, I added this handbag from Sainsbury's of all places. It's got plenty of pockets and fits my camera in nicely and the long strap makes it easy to throw on and go about my day.

What do you think of the trend for over the knee boots? What are your tips to make this look more versatile?

Jess

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2015 Resolutions

Resolutions have become so cliche in recent years and New Year's Resolutions are seen as unrealistic and a little cringey. I certainly agree that you don't need a new year to make changes to your life, but it's also as good a time as any! Blogging is a great way to make a permanent record of resolutions, so I thought I'd share a few things I want to do in 2015 with you:

Necklace: New Look

1. Complete my first obstacle race
I started vaguely training for this in 2014, but this year I want to actually complete an obstacle course race. I'm planning on completing both the Spartan Race and Tough Mudder this Summer. I'm also planning to enter the Great East Swim, as I've only ever swam an open water race once and would love to try it again. These races are going to be the main way to motivate my fitness routine and tackle that classic resolution of getting fit.

2. Ride a husky sled.
It's a slightly obscure one but I really want to go husky sledding! It looks like amazing fun, an unusual experience and I love dogs, so why not? I've recently discovered that you can actually go to a few places in the UK to do it, so although this option doesn't include snow, it means that this resolution is actually possible to do!

3. Stop biting my nails (finally).
This resolution happens every year but I haven't succeeded yet. I'm a terrible nail biter and it's an awful habit which I need to stop once and for all! Does anyone have any tips, except remedying my lack of willpower?

4. Read at least one book a month,
I love books, and as a Publishing student, I also want to work with them! However, during the course of studying, it's easy to let reading for pleasure fall by the wayside so I am aiming to read at least one book a month - that's only 12 books in the year, which is definitely possible. This month, I plan to finally read The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, which has been sat on my bookshelf for too long.

I have some more general resolutions, like improving my blog and getting a job in publishing, but I wanted to list specific and realistic resolutions to focus on, which rely on myself rather than my circumstances. I like to set myself goals and I'm excited to complete these in 2015.

Do you have any New Year's Resolutions?

Jess

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