Friday Round-Up

(human furniture - think these would look great in my living room!)

Here marks the end of another busy week, including my mention in The Toronto Star, which was very exciting for me.  The weekend looks to be sunny and warm here in Toronto - some garden maintenance and painting is in store for me.  Hope you enjoyed the blog this week - also don't forget to enter the Alyson Schafer competition, which closes at the end of today.

Here are some fun articles from this weeks news:

This might be the funniest or funkiest treadmill workout I have seen.

Jamie Oliver has constantly slagged off Mickey Dees for years (much to my delight) but now it appears he has had a change of heart!

So much information out there on what we are supposed to eat and which diets are the best, its just confusing. Check out this article that busts some of those dieting myths.

Double-down to a bunless chicken sarnie at KFC - puke!!! no thanks, even though this is in aid of the Food Bank.

This is a fascinating story of a hermit from India who has survived for 70 years without food and water! Totally amazing all doctors and military officials.  I don't know how he does it, I can hardly survive 20 mins without a cuppa!

Pepsico are getting in on the obesity soapbox, claiming that if we all just exercised then we would get fat.  In a bid to raise sales to $30 million of the 'good for you foods'. Some of the comments to this article are interesting.

Happy reading, have a great weekend and see you next week.

Happy St Georges Day

Today is the National Day of England - St Georges Day!

Who was St George? St. George is the patron saint of England. His emblem, a red cross on a white background, is the flag of England, and part of the British flag. St George's emblem was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century. The king's soldiers wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.

Like England, every country in the UK has its own patron saint who in times of great peril is called upon to help save the country from its enemies.


Here are some other interesting articles from the weeks news;


As usual I continue to be inspired by people climbing big high things - but this guy really is Potty!!
Coming back to Toronto has also brought me back to my dreaded allergies, which are fairly new to me, I never suffered from them in the UK (different trees maybe?) But don't these invisible enemies looks cool?

I need some new trainers for the gym, these are quite fancy don't you think!

I love to cook, but I won't be able to buy this book. While drinking this coffee - YUK! I don't think so.

And finally, talk about the adverse effects of using gym equipment, the most notorious gangster in Australia has been found dead, beaten to death my a piece of an exercise bike.


Have a good weekend folks, and raise a beer to celebrate my country's national day.

Alive and Kicking

I have had a terrible week, my whole house was laid out flat with Norwalk virus, which is pretty brutal and high contagious. We have all woke up today feeling tons better and ready to take on the world again!  Hope you have enjoyed the blog this week and if you haven't already make sure you enter the competition for 3 Urban Warrior classes and a tank, courtesy of Urbanfitt valued at $105.  And as a bonus everybody who enters will automatically receive a $15 Gift Certificate for Urbanfitt - Thanks Jane Clapp!!


I have a busy weekend planned which includes packing for our upcoming trip to the UK, we leave on Wednesday and I am very excited about it.  Hope you all have a great weekend, and please enjoy some extras from this weeks web.


Its all about the smell, apparently your man is not going to be interested in you unless you smell good!!


I bet this smells good though - we have been invited to my friends for dinner on Saturday evening and think I will make this caramelized onion and lentil dip, it looks delicious!  


Do you have a saggy bum? HA HA not me, I have the opposite! but if you desire a bot like Jennifer Lopez maybe this new contraption could be the answer? looks a bit uncomfortable to me!


Don't forget to look in the right-hand column of this blog, where I will be posting my free-printable-workouts each Thursday.


And lastly a friend of mine from the UK has discovered a fantastic exercise programme.
- First take a Weetabix and then an Aero bar,
- next sprinkle the Aero bar over the Weetabix
and VOILA!! There you havie it.......AEROBIX!! 
(thanks for that Dotty)

Have a great one! 

(image from /www.phrases.org.uk)

Spring has Sprung - and Friday is here!

(image from www.beaconhillpark.ca)

I have had a pretty hectic, but fun week with the kids off school for March Break.  The weather here in Toronto has been averaging 15 degrees,  so our days together have been very enjoyable.  We have spent most of the time outside riding our bikes, playing tennis and  ball-hockey and today going on a big hike in Caledon, Ontario.  Its great to see the kids running freely and unrestricted - not complaining about walking, this is how kids should enjoy activity.  Has spring has sprung in your part of the world?

I have had a deliberately quiet week away from the computer to enjoy March Break, but have still pulled together a few snippets for you to enjoy from the weeks news.

I have had a pretty flat week exercise and food wise. I broke Lent!! ARRRGHHHH - totally by accident I stuffed a huge piece of banana-bread down my throat and realised too late - and that has just sent me on a spiral of bad-eating habits!! I need to pull myself together quickly - and reading inspiring stories often helps.  This story of a blind man who is attempting to complete a triathlon in truly inspirational.

And there is a good chance I will check here for some new food ideas to get me back on track.  And just one day after Pepsi announced it was cutting sugary drinks from schools around the world, Kraft Foods, the largest food maker in N.America says it plans to cut sodium by 10% from its products over the next 2 years. Every little helps I suppose!

Anybody who knows me, knows how I like a good curry, but worryingly some spices imported from India may contain lead that is harmful to children.

This is my big year for turning 40 and I was discussing with friends recently how turning 40 in this day and age, is so different to when our parents were 40 - we all seem younger, more vibrant and confident with our lives.  But what is the future of 40?

Hope you all enjoy your weekend -  see you Monday!

Tis' Friday Again.....

(image from marmite.co.uk)

I love pulling together some of the interesting and fun articles from the weeks news.

Which is healthier, being Fat and Fit, or being Thin and Unfit?

This exercise is going in my next routine - it looks awesome!!!

I don't have a TV but wish I did so I could tune into Jamie Oliver trying to change the eating habits of the unhealthiest city in the US.  He did it for the children with school dinners, can he do it here?

You are either in the Love It or Hate It camp (or maybe in the 'what the hell is it? camp) I LOVE IT - yes I am talking about Marmite.  The wholesome jar of sticky gunky healthy loveliness!  And the marketing team over at Marmite keep coming up with some really cool products (last year I bought a Vivian Westwood designed Marmite t-shirt).  Check out some of their cool stuff, I especially like their oven gloves.

Stick with your friends and you will live longer!  And chose your food wisely, here are 5 foods to help you lose belly fat!

And finally, sorry to do this to you fellas, but women fake it, YES WE DO!!!! 
The truth hurts, so get over it because its for your own benefit.


enjoy the weekend and see you next week where you should stay tuned for another FABBY GIVEAWAY!!!

the best of the week

So here are my favourite articles from the weeks news, hopefully you will find something fun within!

(image from dailymail.co.uk)

Most swimsuits these days are based on the 1950's standard 'hour-glass' figure which researchers believe was a product of the rationing years. Speedo have done their research and found that only 19% of women these days fit that shape, 49% of us falling into the 'bottom-heavy' category. M & S have listened to the results and have produced 3 new swimsuit that fit these new categories.

Before putting on your running-shoes, think carefully about the surface you are running on, it maybe be doing you more harm than good.

Picking the names of my two boys was really hard work, but at least I didn't chose any of these Terry Bull names!

And just before you shun the treadmill as a dying fad - how about you consider using the new Anti-Gravity treadmill engineered by NASA.

and just for fun, did you know that most peoples ear lobes are in line with their nipples!

Ok thats me signing off for the weekend, have a good one folks

The weeks round-up: would you like roast tarantulas with that?

(image from www.financialpost.com)

How has your week been? I have been pretty busy juggling my graphic design work, looking after the kids and working-out, of course.  But it hasn't stopped me collecting a few gems for you to enjoy, so put the kettle on, grab a cuppa and read on.......

The tarantula header-line is not a joke, enjoy the World's most outrageous guest requests from hotels.

I have had some nice emails this week from people telling me how this blog is inspiring them to lead more healthier, active lives.  That was one of the main purposes of this blog, so that makes me happy!! Another inspiration at the moment must be the Olympics!! I just love the energy and excitement.  One of my readers, Cheryl found this link to be an inspiration for her and I can see why.

But it appears that not everybody is impressed with the Olympics!!  Moving on from speed sports on ice, how about speed-plating-dating?  is this just another fitness trend I wonder?  Meanwhile, the American College of Sports Medicine has released its survey of the Predicted 2010 Fitness Trends.

A fan of the Biggest Loser? Looks like Jillian Michaels has found herself in a spot of trouble.

And finally some food for thought - an interesting article about the diet from the rationing years of WW2 - it seems some basics principles from that time should still hold true today.

Right off to make my boys some good old-fashioned rice pud for dinner! Have a great weekend 

Something for the weekend Sir?

(image from www.cartoonstock.com)

I wonder did that expression really start in a barbers shop? Still it makes me chuckle.

Here are a few interesting snippets for you to enjoy!!

Lack of sleep really does make us fat!

Check out these fun apps for your iPhone. (I wish I had one!!)

Ever hang out with people who claim to have food allergies, but have never been tested? Its apparently quite common for people to exaggerate their food intolerances and may be causing their bodies more harm than good.

Remember Brian Jacks from Superstars?  Then you will  love this video from the 70's. I feel like we have come full-circle with our exercises and when you see these guys pumping out the dips and squat thrusts you will see why. Remember that Brian Jacks was an Olympian, but that pretty much was forgotten because he was so famous from this show.

I wonder if Brian Jacks would be able to do Flying Squirrel push-ups?  (I tried them yesterday to show off to the kids and ended up re-breaking my nearly healed toe!!)

Calm in a can: Red Bull meet Slow Cow.  (I'll stick with beer thanks!)

When I was a kid my Mam bought me a blood orange and it freaked me out!  I thought she had killed the orange and was making me eat it raw!  (yes I know thats crazy!)

I do these in the gym and they add an extra kick to your push-up!

Pistol Squats - are pretty intense at the best of time, you won't believe what this guy is doing. DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME :)

OK FOLKS SIGNING OFF THE WEEKEND - HAVE A GOOD ONE!!