Fun Fitness Additions

Fitness has been a big part of my life over the last 2 years, and I genuinely cannot believe that it has been that long (2 years in June) since I decided to turn my lifestyle on it's head and make some big changes, that have not only stuck, but become a way of life.

My love of fitness has opened up so many other passions to me, one of which happens to be my admiration for gym kit. I very recently changed some furniture in my bedroom, and this meant taking all of my gym wear out and transferring it into a new chest of draws. It was only in this moment that I realised I owned more leggings and sports bras than I did anything else. 

When it comes to my sports wear I like to add a bit of fun to my wardrobe, the reasoning behind this is because for so long, everything I owned was Black. I felt that Black slimmed me down, and didn't draw attention to the parts of my body that I was uncomfortable about. Now it's a completely different story. The brighter, the bolder, the more out there... The better.

When I am looking to purchase a new item for my bulging gym wardrobe I look at the following aspects:

- Is it bright?

- Does it have a quirky saying/slogan?

- Can I personalise it?

For me I want something that is going to look good, and put a smile on my face each time I wear it. I especially love it if I can add a personal touch to it, like maybe throwing my name or Instagram name somewhere on the item. I recently got my hands on a new Tee from Spreadshirt, Spreadshirt have a variety of different T-Shirt designs from hen party's right through to training tee's!

Printing T-Shirts is the name of the game and they even have a online T-Shirt Designer so that you can design and personalise your very own creation by adding photo's and custom text. As I already had an idea of what I wanted I looked through the Women's Funny Gym collection and decided on a Black 'You Can't Squat With Us' tank top with Pink neon text. On the back I personalised it and picked a funky font that featured my name on the lower back.

The order process was simple and the product arrived within a week, and the finished tank top looked brilliant. I was so pleased with the end product and have been incorporating it into my work out attire for the last few weeks now. It has washed really well and I love the loose fit it provides.

I have been really impressed with my experience with Spreadshirt and I will definitely be using them again, you can personalise so much more than just T-Shirts on the site, and they have a whole range of gifts that you can add your own mark to, such as sweatshirts, hoodies and mugs!

Birthday Planning for a 5 Year Old

I have been so behind in getting everything I want to say about Leo over these last few months, and this is something that I will be changing. We have so much going on right now, and it is all definitely something that I want and will document, but that will have to wait for another post. For now though I want to focus on an exciting event that is taking place next month, Leo turns FIVE! 

Yes FIVE!

It's been Five years of firsts for both Leo and I, we have had some incredible moments, and we have had some equally trying moments, but when I look back at everything we have done, everything that we have achieved and everything that is yet to come, I feel an intense sense of pride. Leo has over come so many hurdles that have been lay in the path before him, and even when he has stumbled, he has always, always got back up on his feet again.

With Leo turning Five, I really want to give him an incredibly special day this year. This will be the first time I have ever thrown him a party, but with it being his first year of school and the first year he has really actually asked for a Birthday Party, I am determined to give that to him.

This year Leo's Birthday falls on a Monday, which means he will be at school. It will be hard not having him with me on that day, but what I plan on doing is organizing his party for Sunday the 26th June so that we get to celebrate as close to his actual big day as we can. In fact the more I think about it, the more I think that we will just celebrate his birthday a day earlier this year. There will be friends, yummy food and all of his friends. I will have all of his gifts ready for him to open and enjoy too. This way it means he gets to enjoy everything without having to wait until he get's home from school on the Monday. 

I am looking to book the local leisure centre's soft play area and get all of Leo's friends to come along for an afternoon of fun. I have never entertained so many children before, so this is going to be an occasion that really puts me to the test! Think party games and ample disposable supplies so that I can literally bag everything up and bin it at the end of the party! You see there was a method to not having the party at home!

Leo has set his heart on a Bowser Castle Cake, and as I look at the Pinterest inspiration I have been busy pinning, I can already envision myself having a melt down over the icing. That being said though, last year when Leo asked for a Mario Kart 8 cake, I spent hours the day before getting it all together for him, and when he laid eyes on it the next day, his reaction melted away all of the frustration I had in making it. In fact hearing the excitement flicker across his face and light up those sparkly eyes of his, I could have cried with pride. He was so pleased with that cake, that he didn't even care about presents. He thought the cake was his gift! 

All he has asked for this year is his party and his Bowser Castle Cake, so I will be pulling out all of the stops to make this all happen for him, and I will have to get creative in what I get for his main present this year, as he genuinely has not asked for anything.

I just want to give Leo a special day, a day that celebrates him. A day where there's no school, stress or anything like that. Just a day of smiles, laughter and love that celebrates Leo turning 5 years old.

A Fitness Update

It's been a while since I posted about my fitness, but it is still something that I am actively pursuing, and more importantly enjoying. The last few months I have turned everything I was doing on it's head, I seemed to plateau and my results went backwards instead of forwards, and I found that I was no longer enjoying what I was doing. I was disappointed in myself and realised that I needed to make some changes in order to regain the control over something that I was loving.

In hind sight I realise that I was over doing it, it's true what they say, there most certainly is the possibility of to much of a good thing. I found myself at the gym multiple times a day for the many different classes that were going on, I was enjoying them, but my back track seemed to continue. I kept ploughing forward almost trying to convince myself that more was better. 

I knew that something had to change.

I took absolutely everything back to basics, I thought about what worked for me and decided to revert back to the plan that I had been using and loving before I took things a little bit to far. I decided to listen to my body and re-gain the control that I had lost. 

I haven't been to the gym now in 2 weeks.

I have realised that I have everything that I need at home in order to get everything that I need to do done. I decided to restart Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guide from week 1 and really get my eating back on track. I am now 5 weeks into the guide and I am already starting to feel leaner again, and it couldn't come at a better time, because in just under 5 weeks time I am jetting off to the clear blue skies of Greece, and I honestly believe that it is because of this that I have finally pulled my finger out.

To think about just how much I have turned things on their head, you really have to look at how my habits have changed. I am the perfect example of an alarm snoozer. I am the least morning person you could meet, and I have been known to leave it until mere minutes before leaving the house in time to get Leo to school. However over these last few weeks I have been making the conscious effort to get up in the morning, get outside and do some high intensity training or getting my work out's done bright and early in the lounge. Of course I can't function before I have had some caffeine, but in the spirit of being healthier I have been enjoying some Mighty Matcha Green Tea!

For me getting the work outs done and dusted in the AM, really sets me up for the day ahead. I am up hours before Leo awakens, I can finish the work out and shower before I need to awaken my sleeping beauty and get him up, fed and off to school. 

I am doing all of my cardio in the great outdoors, which is proving to be a lovely way to burn those calories rather than staring at the cross trainer screen for an hour every other day. In fact I am doing so much more walking, that I am going to treat myself to a Sketchers Memory Foam Leisure Trainers! 

Now once that morning work out is done, that's me done for the rest of the day. No more hours spent in the gym, I am getting everything done, seeing results and im back to enjoying it again.

Enjoying what you are doing is ultimately the most important aspect in anything you apply yourself to. It keeps you moving forward and on target.

We have some news!

It's been a little quiet around here of late, but it's been a very busy few weeks. So much has been happening and I have been spending my time with that beautiful little man of mine. In fact we have some exciting news, and no...Before your mind races to 'She's pregnant!' I can rule that one out before the rumor mill really gets going. It is exciting though, Leo and I, in the next few weeks to months will be moving out of the family home... Just the two of us. 

It's been a long time coming, but it's actually becoming a reality. Day by day we edge ever closer to our new lives, and I am over the moon about all that is to come. Leo has always been my right hand and as we enter this next chapter of our lives, I know that we are going to become closer than ever. Of course as it's coming up to two years since we moved back into the family home (temporarily...) all of the furniture is in less than great condition, it basically means that we are starting all over again. 

Although we aren't completely set up just yet in terms of our perfect home, I am still using this valuable time to prepare everything that we will need. I am on the hunt for bargains and deals that are going to put us in a position to just move straight out when the perfect house pops up. It all seems to be happening so quickly right now, and slowly but surely I am ticking the essentials off the list. There is still so much that I need to purchase, but that's what sales are for! I have been loving the House of Fraser Sale over on Love The Sales, and it quite simply could not come at a better time!

Here are a few of my must haves:

Amalfi coast set of 3 scented reed diffusers £15.00 (Was £30.00) *Bottom Right*

Lucia jacquard super king duvet cover £88.00 (Was £110.00) *Top Right*

Mocha faux fur throw £84.00 (Was £120.00) *Top Centre*

Nova Rim Side Plate Set Of 4 £24.00 (Was £48.00) *Middle Centre*

Regatta set of 3 tea towels £9.80 (Was £14.00) *Middle Left*

Arthur Price Grecian Box Of 4 Stainless Steel Serving Spoons £27.70 (Was £36.00) *Bottom Centre*

Speaking of great deals, if you are in the market for some new kitchen pieces or gadgets, make sure to check Aldi out on Thursday 5th May! Aldi's Special Buys are bringing in some great items from leading names, that are going to be snapped up as quickly as they come in.

Russel Hobbs is a house hold name and from the 5th May for a limited time, you can purchase the Grind and Brew Coffee machine for a fantastic £69.99! I have to admit that I do have my eyes on this, and may just have to purchase it and hold onto it until we move out. Alongside this they have the Russel Hobbs Canterbury Toaster (£14,99) and Kettle (£14.99) that will spruce up the kitchen work tops.

One of the products that I really like the look of is the BWT 2.7 Litre Mineral Water Jug (£12.99). I am always buying bottled water, but with this useful kitchen gadget I will simply be able to fill it up and store it in the fridge.

Along side these great products you will find:

Russel Hobbs Digital Microwave - £44.99
3 Piece Ceramic Coated Pan Set - £19.99
20cm Ceramic Coated Frying Pan - £12.99

These are just a selection of my favourite items, there is so much more coming in. I will most definitely be popping along to Aldi next month to purely stock up on house essentials.

Remember... 'Once it's gone, it's gone!'

I do love a bargain, but I do also enjoy the finer things in life, so a sale is the perfect opportunity for me to stock up on a few of the essentials I want to see around my home. I have some big plans over the coming months for sorting out our future home, so you can expect to see me sharing some good deals along the way. 

Right now I am just feeling so incredibly positive about the future, and I know this excitement is only going to continue to grow as we prepare for our new lives in our new home. 

Pizza Express Review - Worcester

Pizza Express has been a family favourite for many years, and today that remains as true as it ever was. When it comes to eating out it's often hard to please the entire family, Leo will always demand his need for pizza, where as I want the option to be able to eat a healthier meal, and Luke who is pretty easy going will change up what he wants on a day to day basis. I guess the hardest part out of all of that, is for me, trying to find that healthier option on a menu that is going to make everyone else happy too.

Yesterday (Saturday 26th March 2016) my little family visited the Worcester branch as guests of Pizza Express for their #PizzaExpressFamily campaign. This is for us is our local establishment, and having eaten there on a number of occasions before, I knew that we were going to be well looked after. 

We arrived with rumbles in our tummies and were more than ready to feast our eyes upon the menu. We were greeted warmly and shown to our table which was prepared and waiting our arrival. The team gave us all the time we needed to make our drinks order, and as we had got carried away chatting they were very patient with us. I ordered a Cappucino as I felt like I needed a small caffeine fix before anything else, and decided to try their new Watermelon Chill, which was incredibly refreshing.

As always it was service with a smile, and they all made conversation with Leo which was just lovely. Of course Leo loved this too and before long he had stolen my camera and was snapping away at the service team. They asked Leo what his plans were for after lunch and Leo told them all about how we were going to be taking a trip to the cinema to watch Disney's Zootropolis!

Leo had already found the selection of colouring material that had been prepared for him, and he decided to start writing his name for us all to admire. Our drinks were with us quickly and as we had pretty much instantly decided what we were going to eat, they took our food order right then and there.

Luke and I decided to share the Classic Italian Antipasto and Leo had the Dough Balls. I haven't had an Antipasto before, but after hearing such amazing things I decided that it was a must, and boy was I not disappointed. I couldn't believe my eyes when a huge plate of Italian meats and accompaniments arrived on our table.  That big plate was shared between myself and Luke, and every bite was just incredible. I don't often eat bread, but whatever this bread on the platter was, it was so moreish that I couldn't stop eating it! If you are heading to Pizza Express soon, Luke and I highly recommend the Antipasto!

Leo demolished his dough balls and actually helped us finish off some of the Antipasto in the end. It was nice to see him actually trying some new things for once, because he can be so fussy at times, and that in it's self is so frustrating. In the past Leo has refused to eat the Dough Balls which has meant that I have eaten them all, but on this occasion my little man did not waste one single bite (Aside from the salad...)

The starters were cleared away and within a few minutes our main courses arrived. Leo had decided on the Piccolo menu, which meant he was in for a 3 course treat! Leo followed his Dough Balls up with an American Pizza (Pepperoni), 

I had set my heart on the new Leggera Superfood Salad, it ticked absolutely every box for me and I even got to add grilled chicken to the meal which just sealed the deal. The salad along is under 500 calories, and is a mix of green lentils, black rice, edamame beans, red quinoa, chickpeas, cranberries, pumpkin seeds and kale, all mixed up in a tasty vinaigrette on a bed of mixed leaves, rocket, cucumber, roasted red and yellow peppers, red onion and finished with fresh parsely and light house dressing. 

Fancy a takeaway right now? Here are some Pizza Hut Voucher Codes!

Luke ordered the Margherita Bufala which was a pizza with torn Buffalo mozzarella and tomato. All of our food came out together and I was once again blown away by the generous portions that were provided. I could not get over the size of my superfood salad, and after eating such a big starter I knew that I was going to be taking some of it home with me (and I did, I ended up finishing it off for my dinner later that night!).

They very kindly took the remainder of my food away and put it into a takeaway box so that I could take it away with me. While they were doing that for us, they kindly brought us the dessert menu, and I have to admit that I wasn't going to indulge in pudding, but after seeing the Raspberry Sorbet, I couldn't resist. So while Leo enjoyed his Brownie, Luke and I shared the sorbet, which was so tasty.

All 3 of us enjoyed a fabulous meal, from the food, right down to the service we received. Everyone was welcoming, accommodating and the food was just fantastic. You cans see the chefs busily preparing orders in the open kitchen, and I took Leo over for a closer look, and he was fascinated by it all. The chef even looked over and waved at Leo as we stood and watched, and that again just highlighted how friendly everyone was, which for a 4 year old just made his entire visit!

Keep an eye on the #PizzaExpressFamily hashtag as everyone who is taking part in the campaign are sharing their personal experiences! Not to mention that on Thursday 31st March from 2:00pm - 3:30pm we are hosting a Twitter Party with some pretty great prizes up for grabs, even the chance to win a family meal for your own family!

Tune in with @lovelyleosmummy!

A massive thank you to Pizza Express for looking after us and sending us away with full bellies! We had a great time and can't wait to visit again soon!

If your suddenly in the mood for pizza here is a Papa Johns Promo Code for you.

Disclaimer: We were guests of Pizza Express as part of the #PizzaExpressFamily campaign. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Netflix #LilStreamTeam

Today I am handing the reigns over to Leo, my Four year old because this month Netflix wanted to hear directly from my little man to give me a little blogging break! This month was home to two very special days, Mother's Day and of course International Women's Day, so what better way to give Mummy's of the household a break than to hand the blogging reigns over to the kids?

Leo has been ill this week with a nasty viral infection, and was actually off school Monday and Tuesday but when he asked me if he could go to the park I decided it was time to send him right on back to school on the Wednesday... Figures right? He still wasn't 100% but if he was well enough to want to go to the park, he was more than well enough to go to school! 

Flash forward to yesterday where school called me up to go and collect him and insisted that I keep him home until at least Monday, only for him to make a miraculous recovery today, so yesterday while he was still feeling worse for wear, we decided to record a little video for my budding little vlogger to hopefully take his mind off things and make him feel a little better.

It is safe to say that this week has consisted mainly of watching Netflix, so I have taken the opportunity to find out what my #lilstreamteam member has been enjoying recently... Bare in mind that he hasn't been 100% but he still wanted to help record this vlog for you all.

I present my little man Leo...

I am excited to tell you that the lovely Charlotte from Berice Baby and I are hosting a monthly linky for you all to join up with us and tell us what you are LOVING on Netflix. This will be a fun way to discover new shows and films to watch, because lets face it we all have those withdrawals when we reach the end of our favourite shows, and with Easter creeping up on us, we will want to keep ourselves hooked up with the latest and greatest Netflix shows!

I have just watched the new trailer for the Netflix Original Series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt! That is set to be a must watch on my agenda!

The linky will run on a monthly basis, so make sure to share your favourite watches from the month with us!

You can link up below, and we cannot wait to see what you have been enjoying recently!

This post is in association with the #NetflixStreamTeam, all thoughts and opinions expressed are completely honest and our own.

Netflix: What We Loved in February

Netflix: What We Loved in February...

February has been a busy month on the Netflix front, and this is because I had missed the memo that Pretty Little Liars was back on our screens. The show breaks in season 6 after we finally discover who A is. I hadn't had to wait as long as some to find out, as I discovered the series on Netflix last year and binge watched it season after season until I was all caught up. 

Now Pretty Little Liars is back on our screens, it has picked up 5 years after the revelation and exposure of A (I won't expose who A is just in case you are currently watching the show!). The girls have moved on with their lives, but when they are called back to Rosewood to a hearing that will ultimately decide if A can be released into the world, they are asked to provide statements about how they would feel if this was to happen. With A being pretty close to home (just a small hint can't hurt!) their responses risk upsetting a friend.

With the girls all back in Rosewood, of course it isn't going to be plain sailing, and thank God it isn't because if it really was time for a 'Happy Ever After' then that would be the end of the show, and I for one don't want this to end anytime soon.

The low down without giving too much away is that A is released, but only for a short time before she is found dead. A has been murdered, and guess who quickly become suspects in the murder inquiry? You guessed it! The girls are forced to stay put in Rosewood until the case is resolved, and then it really comes to light how much life for them have changed over the last 5 years. They have jobs, fiances and lives that have gone on without each other. 

If you haven't sat and watched Pretty Little Liars before, I highly recommend this series. You will be on the very edge of your seat and wondering what will happen next. You won't want to turn it off.

90210 is a show I fell in love and watched a while ago, but I decided to re-watch the pilot episode again one evening, and somehow I have got sucked right back into the larger than life lives of Annie, Dixon, Naomi, Adriana and Silver. In fact I got so into it again, that I have just started watching season 2.

For those of you who have not watched or heard of this American series, it follows teenagers Annie and Dixon as they move from Kansas with their family to the wealthy zip code of Beverly Hills. They start school at West Beverly High and quickly meet people who help shape their lives over the next 5 seasons.

I first watched this thinking that I wouldn't enjoy it, as I do with most series in honesty. Of course after that first episode I was hook, line and sinker. Now that I am re-watching it, I am re-discovering story lines that I had completely forgotten. It's just like watching it for the very first time.

If there is one thing that YOU do watch in the wake of this post, it has to be Making a Murderer. I had heard so much about this series that is in fact a documentary following Steven Avery. Steven Avery was imprisoned for a crime he in fact did not commit. He was kept in prison for nearly 2 decades, and was finally exonerated. Avery filed suit against Manitowoc County and several individuals who had been involved with his arrest, and fabricating evidence to put him behind bars.

Shortly after his release, Avery was arrested again in connection with the murder of 25 year old photographer Teresa Halbach who unfortunately for Avery, was last seen on his property. The documentary follows Avery and his family on one of the most speculated cases ever un-veiled. It has certainly got people talking, and I can tell you know that when you watch it, you will be there shouting at the television.

I was sat watching this in the lounge back in January after I was held up following a sports injury, feeling pretty sorry for myself, and I was getting so drawn into it, when I saw that my own Mum had sat down, and she was even more into it than I was!

What's Leo watching?

Our morning routine is that Leo will wake up, toddle into my room and climb into bed. He picks up his Nintendo Wii U remote and will put Netflix on. He can do it all himself and doesn't need me to physically do anything. I'll wake up with my alarm to find him sat watching Horrid Henry, that is his all time favourite show right now.

Leo has his own kids Netflix profile on my account, and this means that all he needs to do is spot his name and associated image on the app so that he can find all of the kids content. This works perfectly for us and gives Leo a level of independence. I'm not worried that he will click the wrong account, he knows that he has his own, and we have never had a problem with him clicking on one of the other profiles and gaining access to content that isn't suitable. He knows exactly what to do, and enjoys having his own profile.

It does seem to mostly be Horrid Henry on his screen at the moment, but he loves The Adventure of Super Mario Bros, much to my horror. I have to say I am not a fan of this series, the music alone drives me to distraction, but Leo adores it. He uses Netflix for films too when he's in the mood and a huge contender for favourite has to be Planes,

In the next post I will talk about upcoming shows and series that I can't wait to watch! That will be live in the next week or so, so check back to hear about shows I am yet to watch, and the latest shows to Netflix!