Tuesday 3 January 2017

Off to a Good Start

How was your New Year's Eve? We had a long walk with the dog and then I followed that with an equally long soak in a hot rose scented bath. My sister-in-law-to-be made bathsalts from all sorts of luscious ingredients including rose oil, as Christmas gifts this year. She packaged it up in beautiful jars and added these dinky little wooden scoops. That's pretty much my idea of a perfect present!


I then wrapped up in a cosy gown (okay, I own up, it was actually a fluffy rather ridiculous "lamb" onesie that one of my sons bought me a couple of years ago... but it was cosy!) and decided to take the advice everyone gives me... to slow down. I started a 1000 piece jigsaw that I found when I was clearing bedrooms for Christmas guests. I lasted ten minutes! Since then I wander by on my way to do something else and sometimes fit a few pieces together but it's not going to be the thing that makes me sit down. Maybe "Finish a 1000 piece jigsaw" should be on my 60 x 60 list.


We then went out to friends for a lovely meal and stayed up to see in the new year.  We took down the tree and decorations on New Year's Day. I like them up over the Christmas period but I'm really not a fan of them lingering into January. I'm ready for a fresh start. That includes food too... I no longer want the chocolate and biscuits and rich fayre, just lots of lovely fresh flavours and vegetables.


I subscribe to Good Food magazine which has a 7 day healthy eating plan this month. I'm not really a follower of diets but the recipes sounded so good I convinced the other half to join in too and so far we've been sticking to it. The raspberry coconut porridge was amazing and the stilton, pear and walnut on homemade soda bread was delicious too... in fact it has all been really tasty. It's so good I think we might stick to it for more than a week. There's a bit of effort to prepare the meals from scratch but nothing has been too hard... the website even provides a shopping list.


I was sold on the healthy aspect of it all and feel a week or more without any added sugar and masses of fresh vegetables can only be a good thing. And if we lose a few pounds too... then that's a bonus. I'll keep you updated! You can find the recipes here without having to buy the magazine.


And while I was feeling virtuous and full of energy I decided to clear out my wardrobe. You would not believe how long some of the clothes have been in there...over half my stuff has been cleared out ready for the charity shop, including so many pairs of shoes I'm ashamed to admit it...let's just say double figures! Heels that I will never totter on again, certainly not with this blimin' ankle. And above the clothes on the shelf more stuff that I really do not know why I kept, including a toy "paint ball" gun which I had obviously confiscated and hidden many years ago. I know, don't say anything... my "children" are aged between 24 and 34, but I'm sure they would still attack each other with paint balls given half a chance! It's now in the dustbin!


And this is my wardrobe today, which is so clear and tidy I keep having to go and have a peek because I can't quite believe it. I'm on a roll now... nothing is safe!

16 comments:

  1. That is a lovely gift - I dare not get into the bath any more for fear of not being to get out again! Those healthy recipes sound good too - just what we all need - and there is nothing like January for bringing on a good clear out.

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  2. awe that was a lovely gift! Glad the new year has got off to a great start for you!
    I'm 'spring' cleaning too but its a bit like your jigsaw, a little at a time! ;)

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  3. I'm halfway through a big clothes clearout but I also have to cater a social event on Epiphany for about 20, so I'm regarding Saturday as the start of New Year proper and getting back to a decent diet. Hopefully, there won't be too much Gallett des Rois left over once 20 hungry musicians have got at them!

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  4. What a gorgeous gift. Had to laugh that you only managed 10 minutes of the jigsaw! It's amazing what you find at the back of the wardrobe - I found my niece's birthday gift yesterday, which was last April. Perhaps it will do for this year.

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  5. I spent New Years Eve with friends playing games, Countdown and Pit, and I managed to win both of them, not that I'm really competitive!
    I'm impressed that your shoe count was only double figures, I suspect that mine may be in 3 figures, but I do wear most of them!
    Have a great 2017

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  6. Snap! I took the tree and decorations down on NY's day, and then had a little declutter. I've signed up to the Good Food link - I will pick a veggie recipe, buy the ingredients, and you can supervise the cooking.
    Walking, knitting and cookery lesson?

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  7. I love gifts which someone has put thought and effort into. Yours sounds delightful. Keep up the good work...with the puzzle and the tidying up. And Happy New Year!

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  8. Sounds like an excellent start to the new year. I used to love doing jigsaw but don't have the room to leave one out now. I used to find that once started it was hard to stop. I'm sorry your ankle is still being a nuisance. The new food regime sounds wonderful - keep it up!

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  9. It sounds like you're having a wonderful start to your new year Gina! In spite of the healthy eating, I'm looking forward to your cakes LOL. And staring very enviously at your sparkly new closet -- we're at the end of a bathroom renovation -- I can't wait to start cleaning when they're gone!

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  10. Gina, wasn't that bath salts gift thoughtful? It's a clever idea, but particularly for a busy lady like yourself.
    I like the sound of the recipes you've been trying out. I've seen that magazine at Barnes & Noble, and will have a longer look on my next visit. Or perhaps go to the website. It's fun to try some new tastes in a new year, along with the familiar favorites.
    Like an earlier commenter, I've not enough room for a jigsaw puzzle, but do like puzzles of all sorts.
    Your closet clear out sounds a bit similar to some of my ongoing projects. Little by little, I begin to see some results.
    Wishing you and yours a wonderful 2017! xo

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  11. After seeing your tidy new closet I realized that that is the perfect way to begin the new year. I will get started on that project as soon as I denude my Christmas tree.

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  12. You must be feeling very virtuous after all that decluttering! I need to start on my wardrobe as well, but I think I will put quite a few clothes in a 'big' bag for a year or so. I have lost about 13 kilos and a couple of dress sizes following some surgery I had in June. I feel wonderful and intend to keep the weight off...but I will keep my fallback clothing just in case I can't!
    Love your bath salts, but I am like Heather, if I ever managed to lie down in a bath, I would never manage to get out - not a good thought.

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  13. Sounds like a very promising start to the new year. I need to follow your example and clear out the wardrobes here which are stuffed to the gunnels. Maybe I should spend less time in the bath!

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  14. Oh I love a good clear out of things, I have to go back and have regular looks as well if I make a nice space somewhere. Well done on the New Year's eating. I always feel heaps better when I don't eat sugar.

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  15. Gosh you seem to have started 2017 like a woman on a mission! I like doing jigsaws but think yours looks too hard Gina. They do keep the mind occupied though so good luck with it. I must check out that porridge recipe as it sounds delicious. Keep going, you are on a roll!

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  16. Well done with the wardrobe - I'm facing the same task and you're an inspiration!

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