Catch up

Hi all, I've been a little slack on the the blogging front as of late with no real excuses except that not a lot of exciting stuff has been happening lately!

I am back into uni full swing and the time is going by sloooooowly. I am currently in a long distance relationship with my boyfriend who lives in our home town which is over 500kms away from where I am at uni so time is always a factor for me.

This term has been rough for me so far. Its nearly been two weeks since I last saw my BF and we have another two weeks before we see each other again and it is killing me! We Skype and talk on the phone all the time but its just not the same. We are both committed to doing what we have to do this year to work towards our careers (he is in his final year of an apprenticeship and I am in my final year of uni) but it doesn't replace the fact that it is super hard.

So this past week, following my whirlwind trip to Filex, I have been more motivated than ever to get in shape and I have to admit, I am loving the motivation. I worked out six times last week and felt amazing for it!

This was after my first workout back - not too bad since I hadn't been working out in weeks!

While I was at Filex I finally got a heart rate monitor/calorie counting watch that I have been wanting for ages! I used it for the first time for my first workout back last Monday and I am in love. I love knowing how hard I have worked in a work out and try and beat it each time I go back to the gym.

The best I did last week was burn 536 calories in one workout! I was stoked! I tried so hard to beat it yesterday at my workout but for some reason I just couldn't get there with only burning 451 calories. I'll get there eventually!!

I have been trying to stay super motivated and even managed to convince myself NOT to go to the movies on Saturday afternoon because I knew I wouldn't be able to resist the yummy popcorn (its one of my biggest weaknesses!) So I got out of the house and went for a walk! I figure that some exercise is better than none! I was still pleased with the amount of calories burnt on this brisk walk and didn't get any 'after indulging' guilt that I would have felt if I had gone to the movies.

I tracked my walk using the Lorna Jane iPhone app - its probably not 100% accurate but gives me a good idea of how hard I worked.

Its no secret that I am a HUGE fan of instagram and I am constantly finding new accounts to follow for motivation and awesome food inspiration and I attempted my own version of what quite a few foodie peeps are calling the 'parfait'. It was such a yummy breakfast and a nice take on the usual oats that I have been eating every morning for the past week.

Please excuse the blurry iPhone quality!

I made this using whole oats, almond milk, 2 tablespoons of natural yogurt and some frozen blueberries. Super yummy! Try it if you need a refresh on your ordinary morning oats!

That was pretty much my week! Lots of working out but feeling great! I'm determined to continue to work out most days this week with Saturday being the start of my new netball season with a new team! I'm super excited!

What are your goals for this week?

XO

A whirlwind

OMG, last week was a total whirlwind for me. Technically I was on uni "holidays", but there was no holidaying happening for me. I worked full time the entire two weeks break! I can't complain because I got to do some pretty cool stuff while I was working.

At the end of last week I flew in to Sydney to spend some time helping out the lovely ladies that I am interning for at the hottest women's workout wear website Stylerunner! If you are a follower of all things healthy and fitness related, you will know that last weekend was the Australian Fitness and Health Expo (Filex) at the Exhibition centre in the city.

Stylerunner was launching their first ever stand at the event and I went along to help. It was such an amazing experience! I had never been to Filex before so it was definitely overwhelming at first. SOOOO many people came, way more than I had expected! Plus there was so much to see!

Some famous peeps made their way out also including the ah-mazing Michelle Bridges (from the Biggest Loser Australia) and she came and visited our stand and bought some workout wear! I was so star-struck! She was less than a metre away from me and turned to me while holding these Luca Hugh tights and said "These are hot!" It was the coolest thing ever, I swear!!

The gorgeous Stylerunner cofounders Sali and Julie with Michelle Bridges.
(Image courtesy of Stylerunner's Facebook page)

Anyhow, it was a huge four days. I flew in on Thursday and flew back to the Riverina on the Sunday night totally exhausted but more motivated to get in shape than ever before!!

I also got to meet Lindy Olsen (she was super nice!) and Geoff Huegill popped in to our stand to say hi to our Stylerunner Cofounders.

I felt so lucky to be apart of it all.

How has your week been so far? I am back into uni full swing this week with an assignment due on Friday! I hope you are well, wherever you may be!

XO

A little ruffle

Yesterday amidst 'trying' to get some uni work done/ relax/ spend time with my BF, I managed to finish (and salvage) a scarf that I have been knitting for quite some time!

I posted about the 'Little Ruffle' scarf way back here and yesterday I completed it!

I didn't think I would get this scarf done as I had accidentally broken some of the yarn off when I was attempting to un-do some of the knitting that I had already done because I wasn't happy with it (big mistake!)

When the yarn broke, I threw the project into the 'I'll never get this finished' pile even though I am in love with the yarn and the colour and I really wanted it to be done.

Last week, my mum and I were sorting through my yarn stash and I found it again and having looked at it with fresh eyes, it didn't seem so ruined after all! I confided in my 'knitting guru' friend and she told me how to finish it. I was so excited, I got my needles fired up and got it done last night.

Its a good thing I didn't give up on this baby because I love it, even with its ruffle imperfections and a few boo-boos here and there. Its snuggly, soft and beautiful. I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can officially wear it.

I have a few knitting and crochet 'WIP's (work in progress) that I need to get to since sorting my stash. I find knitting and crochet so therapeutic and right now my life is so hectic and at times overwhelming that I need a bit of therapy here and there.

I'm off to try and do some uni homework now, wish me luck!!

Inspiration

I am loving all things stationery at the moment as I happen to be working towards designing some items for a line of personalised stationery!

I am really excited about this project even though it stems from a uni assignment. I have some great ideas and I just hope I can translate what ideas I have in my head into the finish products!

I have been trawling through Pinterest for some inspiration. Here are some cute designs I have found.

Source: somuchforsinners.tumblr.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: shop.fellowfellow.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Ellie on Pinterest

Do you use meal planners or recipe cards at home? Since I love to cook and collect a stack of recipe's, I am really keen to design some recipe cards! All of these are so cute! I can't wait to get started.

More to come soon :)

x

I like boots

Do you feel the chill in the air? Yes! Its winter time and the weather is finally reflecting the season! (Funny that!)

Last weekend it got a little chilly at my boyfriends birthday BBQ so I jumped at the chance to drag out my favourite high leather boots. They were a little tight and needed a good oil to soften them up from how harsh the summer heat had been but once they were on my feet, they were great!

I purchased these boots way back here and consider them a real investment. They are a forever purchase so I didn't mind spending the money. They've already gotten me through a few seasons and I'm predicting quite a few more!

My go-to for great quality, leather boots is always RM Williams. I know, that's very country of me, but they honestly do make great quality boots, and my faithful beloveds are also made by RM Williams.

I am lusting over their latest boots in the Autumn/Winter 2013 catalogue called the 'Lapstone' women's boots. The combo of suede and leather is so yummy, I really want these in my wardrobe!! Being black, they would go with everything!!!

Unfortunately I need to save a little harder before I can lash out and nab these up. They retail at $700!

There's no place like home

A belated happy Easter to all of my bloggy friends out there! I have had a big, busy weekend! I just got back to Wagga to finish off the remainder of the week at uni before heading home again on Friday (seems silly but that's the way the holidays fall for us!).

I spent the weekend with my family and boyfriend. On Sunday and Monday I spent my time on our family property breathing in some sanity with that fresh country air. Of course we got some work done too and as tiring as it can be, it feels so good to do some farm work. There is nothing in the world like it!

We mustered up some of our gorgeous cows and calves to move them into another paddock with more water from the creek. Unfortunately things are getting increasingly dry on our property despite some rain about a month a go. We are having to shift our cattle around to release pressure on the bore pumping water to the paddocks for the stock to drink. The joys of the dry season!!

As always, it was a family affair with my Mum, Dad, my older sister Kate and her boyfriend James pitching in to get the work done on Monday.

I always feel good after spending time on our property. It may not be every ones cup of tea but I love it. I feel refreshed and grounded again. All of the dramas of normal everyday life seem to become non-existent and I can hide away from the 'real world' for a short time out in the bush. 

The best part about it all is spending the time with my family. There is something beautiful about working together working towards something like the family farm.

I am a country girl at heart, no doubt about it. I have travelled roughly 1400kms this past weekend and am feeling a little wrecked but can't wait to get this week done and dusted to get back home for some holiday time. 

I hope your weekend was a beautiful one spent with loved ones too.