Well, as I have written before, I was lucky enough to trial Jenny Craig for a 12-week period. I have recently reached the six-week mark and have managed to lose 6 kilos in 6 weeks!
What is even better is the way in which my body has changed! I have 5 cm from my waist, 4 cm from my hips (wow!) and have had further losses across my body. It means that I have gone from a size 16-18 to a size 14. A real size 14 at that - today I am wearing a pair of Just Jeans size 14 jeans, AND THEY FIT!!!!!
I still have six weeks to go. I have really liked most of the food, but there are a few meals that I haven't liked, but my consultant can make changes to the menu to accommodate my tastes.
What I am planning to do is make a picture diary of my meals for next week so I can show the world the types of food that I am eating. Fingers crossed for another 6 kilos in the next 6 weeks!
Friday, 4 July 2014
Friday, 30 May 2014
Jenny Craig here I come!
It is quite common to see competitions come up on Facebook, and I love to enter them and dream about the wonderful prizes. But recently I had the amazing luck to be chosen as the winner of a competition being run by mumcentral.com.au in which I won 12 weeks of Jenny Craig support and food, and a 12 week gym membership through Goodlife Gyms.
What an amazing opportunity to get my weight under control and to put myself and my health first. I have been doing the Jenny Craig program now for almost two weeks. The food is great, and it mostly doesn't feel like diet food at all. The menu is varied, and you can easily swap a meal (in consultation with your Jenny Craig support person) if you want.For an example of the types of food that I am eating, take today for instance. I had pancakes for breakfast, which I topped with cooked apple and cinnamon, choc-chip biscuits for morning tea, a super-yummy falafel salad for lunch, fruit for afternoon tea and I will enjoy fish & chips for dinner! The Jenny Craig menu can be found here if you are interested in having a peek at what they have to offer.
But I guess that the reason for doing the program is to make a difference on my weight - so how are things going I hear you ask? Well in the first week I was amazed to lose 2.5 kilos!!! I weigh in on Monday so I will hopefully have another loss this week, although I don't expect such a big loss this week.
A big thank you to Belinda from Mumcentral.com.au for choosing me for this wonderful prize, and I am looking forward to seeing where this program takes me. I will also be updating pictures of some of the yummy things that I am eating on the program.
Monday, 12 May 2014
Saving Money on Groceries
I am not sure if anyone has a copy of the $21 Challenge book - but if you are a family on a budget I can highly recommend it. See $21 Challenge Link for info on how to buy the book.
The idea is that by using what you have in the fridge, pantry & freezer, you should be able to occasionally do a shop quite cheaply, which not only reduces food waste but saves you a bit of cash. I used their strategy this week when we only had $100 in our everyday account (don't worry - we had money in savings but I refuse to dip into this unless necessary) and we still had a few days until pay day.
By using what we had already, we only spent $75 on groceries for our family for the week, including buying cat/dog food and batteries.
Our menu this week looks like this:
Sun - Pizza (using leftover ingredients - just needed some chorizo sausage from the deli counter - $2)
Mon - Stirfry with noodles - found some steak for $4.50, already had noodles, broccoli, carrot, onion
Tue - Spag Bol - just needed mince - It was $7 but this will make two meals as I will freeze half of the cooked meat mixture - just needed spaghetti (69cents) as we already had tinned tomato & mixed herbs.
Wed - Chicken drumsticks & home-made fried rice (had all ingredients in freezer/pantry)
Thurs - Hubby is out so the kids will have frozen fish fillets, pasta/sauce packet mix & frozen veg (already had this), I will have a frozen dinner ($4).
Fri - Takeaway - Budget $30 - We allow this once per fortnight - to tell the truth I am not the biggest fan of takeaway but I would say that the family aren't the biggest fans of budgeting either so I give in an allow a treat!
Sat - Either pizza again as we will catch up with friends or crumbed chicken - have all ingredients in fridge/pantry
Note: We make our own pizza bases - they are ridiculously cheap and much tastier - I will plan to post a recipe in the future as they are quite easy.
Baking - Jam drop biscuits (using up the bits of jam in a few jars in the fridge) & Chewy Choc slice. I will post the recipes later in the week - both were made using ingredients that I already had.
Lunches will be sandwiches or leftovers, as for example fried rice is perfect for leftover lunch. Breakfasts consist of whatever cereal we had already or toast. We also bought fruit for the children's snacks.
Whilst this does not occur every week, I try to do this about once ever 4-6 weeks. It helps us use up what we have already and helps to teach the kids that sometimes you have to make do with what you already have. If you haven't yet seen the $21 Challenge book then have a look at the website (there are a few chapters that you can sample for free) or perhaps see if the book is available at your library. What have you got to lose?
The idea is that by using what you have in the fridge, pantry & freezer, you should be able to occasionally do a shop quite cheaply, which not only reduces food waste but saves you a bit of cash. I used their strategy this week when we only had $100 in our everyday account (don't worry - we had money in savings but I refuse to dip into this unless necessary) and we still had a few days until pay day.By using what we had already, we only spent $75 on groceries for our family for the week, including buying cat/dog food and batteries.
Our menu this week looks like this:
Sun - Pizza (using leftover ingredients - just needed some chorizo sausage from the deli counter - $2)
Mon - Stirfry with noodles - found some steak for $4.50, already had noodles, broccoli, carrot, onion
Tue - Spag Bol - just needed mince - It was $7 but this will make two meals as I will freeze half of the cooked meat mixture - just needed spaghetti (69cents) as we already had tinned tomato & mixed herbs.
Wed - Chicken drumsticks & home-made fried rice (had all ingredients in freezer/pantry)
Thurs - Hubby is out so the kids will have frozen fish fillets, pasta/sauce packet mix & frozen veg (already had this), I will have a frozen dinner ($4).
Fri - Takeaway - Budget $30 - We allow this once per fortnight - to tell the truth I am not the biggest fan of takeaway but I would say that the family aren't the biggest fans of budgeting either so I give in an allow a treat!
Sat - Either pizza again as we will catch up with friends or crumbed chicken - have all ingredients in fridge/pantry
Note: We make our own pizza bases - they are ridiculously cheap and much tastier - I will plan to post a recipe in the future as they are quite easy.
Baking - Jam drop biscuits (using up the bits of jam in a few jars in the fridge) & Chewy Choc slice. I will post the recipes later in the week - both were made using ingredients that I already had.
Lunches will be sandwiches or leftovers, as for example fried rice is perfect for leftover lunch. Breakfasts consist of whatever cereal we had already or toast. We also bought fruit for the children's snacks.
Whilst this does not occur every week, I try to do this about once ever 4-6 weeks. It helps us use up what we have already and helps to teach the kids that sometimes you have to make do with what you already have. If you haven't yet seen the $21 Challenge book then have a look at the website (there are a few chapters that you can sample for free) or perhaps see if the book is available at your library. What have you got to lose?
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Lust Have it - March 2014 box
Well as some background, I have had a Lusthaveit.com.au beauty box subscription for the past year. When I started the boxes were $15 including delivery, and at this time I purchased a 12-month subscription which from memory made the boxes approximately $13 per month. I have enjoyed receiving the boxes, and I have to admit that during this time I haven't had to purchase a single moisturiser and have only needed a few make-up purchases to top-up what I received in the boxes. Back when I started receiving the "boxes", the items actually came in a very handy cosmetic bag, and then they have changed to boxes which have undergone a few design changes over the past year.
However, I understand that Lusthaveit are changing packaging again, but I was a little under-whelmed to receive my latest beauty "box" in a plastic bag, particularity as they now charge $20 per box. I have taken a photo of the packaging (items are in the bubble-wrap)...
So here are the items which I received - I was very happy with most of the pack, especially that with the Bloom concealer kit.
What I received was:
1. Klara Kiss Proof Lips - Deluxe Sample Size (Full size RRP $29.00).
I was quite interested in this product as according to the Lusthaveit blurb, it consists of 100% pigment, giving 24 hour matte lips that don't smudge, fade or bleed. The colour that I received was "06", which although it looks like a medium shade of red/pink, it is a lot darker when applied. It is indeed very pigmented, which means that you have to be extra careful when applying it. I found it a little hard to apply evenly and neatly, however found better results when using it following the application of lip-liner. As a life-time wearer of lipgloss, I have recently been trying to wear red lipstick more often, so I can see myself using this sample a lot in the next few weeks.
2. Bloom - Secret Weapon Concealer Kit - Full Size (RRP $20).
I was thrilled to get this sample - I received the medium/dark shade but would have preferred the medium/light shade if this exists. I have found in the past that shades that are dark can be used for contouring, and I know that I would still be able to easily use the yellow shade (for under-eyes) and the illuminiser. The kit consists of six concealer shades and a handy applicator brush. There is a slide-out plastic card which not only protects the products but provides instructions on how to use it. Overall an excellent sample which I look forward to trialling.
3. Orly - Nail Lacquer - Deluxe Sample Size (Full size RRP $18.95).
Cute bottle, but the colour that I received (Velvet Rope) is a glittery-purple colour which I cannot see anyone aged over 20 using. Sorry - not for me! This will most likely be used at halloween or by my children.
4. Aveda - Intensive Hydrating Masque - Sample size 7ml (Full size RRP $79.95 for 150ml)
According to the blurb this mask hydrates and cools skin, soothing dry and stressed skin. It is made with aloe, kelp, lavender and rosewater. The mask is clear and gel-like with very little scent. There were no instructions on how to use it, but I guess that it would be washed off after use? The sample is enough for one or two masks if used sparingly.
5. Gatineau - Refreshing Melting Scrub - Deluxe Sample Size 15ml (Full size RRP $58 for 75ml)
I am interested how this scrub "melts" - it apparently exfoliates the skin and his hydrating. The scrub is used on wet or dry skin then washed away. I did try a small amount on my hand, and I didn't notice the scrubbing beads melting, but perhaps this will occur when my skin is wet first. A good size sample which I should be able to use 2 or 3 times.
6. Recoverlyte - Tropical Powder - 1 x Sachet (RRP $11.95 for 10 sachets).
Apparently this powder can be mixed with water to help enhance recovery after a late night (ie when we are terribly hung-over after too much bubbly). I will be interested to see if this helps next time we have a big night (which will be next weekend by the looks of things), but I doubt that my true and tested formula of a Sausage & Egg McMuffin and loads of coffee can be bettered!
Thoughts - for my last pack from Lusthaveit I was really impressed with the samples that they provided. I am not going to renew my subscription for now as I will be trialling Beautybox on a month-by-month basis. I have found it to be great value for money, and a great way of treating myself for a few dollars per week. I still think that the brand naming is off the mark - they had some cute boxes but I didn't feel that I could let my primary-school aged daughters use them as really don't think they need a brand named "lusthaveit" on their bookcases.
However, I understand that Lusthaveit are changing packaging again, but I was a little under-whelmed to receive my latest beauty "box" in a plastic bag, particularity as they now charge $20 per box. I have taken a photo of the packaging (items are in the bubble-wrap)...
So here are the items which I received - I was very happy with most of the pack, especially that with the Bloom concealer kit.
1. Klara Kiss Proof Lips - Deluxe Sample Size (Full size RRP $29.00).
I was quite interested in this product as according to the Lusthaveit blurb, it consists of 100% pigment, giving 24 hour matte lips that don't smudge, fade or bleed. The colour that I received was "06", which although it looks like a medium shade of red/pink, it is a lot darker when applied. It is indeed very pigmented, which means that you have to be extra careful when applying it. I found it a little hard to apply evenly and neatly, however found better results when using it following the application of lip-liner. As a life-time wearer of lipgloss, I have recently been trying to wear red lipstick more often, so I can see myself using this sample a lot in the next few weeks.
2. Bloom - Secret Weapon Concealer Kit - Full Size (RRP $20).
I was thrilled to get this sample - I received the medium/dark shade but would have preferred the medium/light shade if this exists. I have found in the past that shades that are dark can be used for contouring, and I know that I would still be able to easily use the yellow shade (for under-eyes) and the illuminiser. The kit consists of six concealer shades and a handy applicator brush. There is a slide-out plastic card which not only protects the products but provides instructions on how to use it. Overall an excellent sample which I look forward to trialling.
3. Orly - Nail Lacquer - Deluxe Sample Size (Full size RRP $18.95).
Cute bottle, but the colour that I received (Velvet Rope) is a glittery-purple colour which I cannot see anyone aged over 20 using. Sorry - not for me! This will most likely be used at halloween or by my children.
4. Aveda - Intensive Hydrating Masque - Sample size 7ml (Full size RRP $79.95 for 150ml)
According to the blurb this mask hydrates and cools skin, soothing dry and stressed skin. It is made with aloe, kelp, lavender and rosewater. The mask is clear and gel-like with very little scent. There were no instructions on how to use it, but I guess that it would be washed off after use? The sample is enough for one or two masks if used sparingly.
5. Gatineau - Refreshing Melting Scrub - Deluxe Sample Size 15ml (Full size RRP $58 for 75ml)
I am interested how this scrub "melts" - it apparently exfoliates the skin and his hydrating. The scrub is used on wet or dry skin then washed away. I did try a small amount on my hand, and I didn't notice the scrubbing beads melting, but perhaps this will occur when my skin is wet first. A good size sample which I should be able to use 2 or 3 times.
6. Recoverlyte - Tropical Powder - 1 x Sachet (RRP $11.95 for 10 sachets).
Apparently this powder can be mixed with water to help enhance recovery after a late night (ie when we are terribly hung-over after too much bubbly). I will be interested to see if this helps next time we have a big night (which will be next weekend by the looks of things), but I doubt that my true and tested formula of a Sausage & Egg McMuffin and loads of coffee can be bettered!
Thoughts - for my last pack from Lusthaveit I was really impressed with the samples that they provided. I am not going to renew my subscription for now as I will be trialling Beautybox on a month-by-month basis. I have found it to be great value for money, and a great way of treating myself for a few dollars per week. I still think that the brand naming is off the mark - they had some cute boxes but I didn't feel that I could let my primary-school aged daughters use them as really don't think they need a brand named "lusthaveit" on their bookcases.
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