Olympics and Towie

Well, having not been excited at all about the Olympics I have been a bit of a geek with it all now.  I watched the whole of the opening ceremony (although had a little doze through the parts when all the different countries were making their entrance).  It was a very good tactic to put GB out last though as I actually stayed up.  I thought it was funny the story that came out about the Indian lady who lead their team in - no one knew who she was! Brilliant!  And although it was a bit Jimmy Saville-ish I loved the blingy gold on our jackets!

As for the opening ceremony, I thought it was spectacular.  A real British show, no American glitz or glam and it wasn't too weird or boring either (althought the NHS bit did drag a little!).  Although being a bit blonde I must say I was glad of the commentary as I'm not sure I would have understood the Industrial revolution bit if they hadn't explained it!! 

I loved the part when all the little petals were lit and rose up to make the Olympic flame and generally the whole thing made me feel quite patriotic.  I haven't read much of the commentary, but have heard some people say it was lefty crap - well you are always going to get people criticising - I thought it was great!

It was a bit cringey when Paul Mcartney started Hey Jude at the wrong bit but fair play he got back on track really well! I love the fact Dizzee Rascal played a bit part too.  He will definitely be featuring on the wedding playlist!

As for the Olympic events, I also thought I wouldn't be that bothered but have been loving the rowing, diving, swimming, equestrian and male gymnastics so bring on the athletics!!

Now dresses, you either love or hate the Towie girls and although they are over the top I actually really admire the way they always look so glam.  I've been doing a bit of research and have found a few good dress websites - and I think I have found my dress for the pre wedding night party!  It's a brand called Hybrid which is stocked on Sam Faiers website - yes her boutique Minnies is available online!  It's pretty good.  Hybrid dresses are also available on glamboutique.com and designerdesirables.com. 

A good friend pointed out to me that I shouldn't go for white or cream the night before the wedding as it might take away the wowness from my wedding dress the next day - great advice! So I thought I'd go for a really bright colour and decided yellow would be cool as I don't think I've worn a yellow dress before - so here it is - although I'm struggling to find somewhere that has it in my size at the mo.....

Being modelled by the lovely Sam, let's hope I can get hold of it.  I've also seen an ok one in River Island but not as nice however, it could be a back up!!

Update when I have been to Bluewater!

workingschoolmum xxx

PS We just won a silver in the equestrian I think woo hoo!

Kelly brook and travelling?

As I cannot afford Marchesa I had another thought re: my pre wedding outfit - if you've read Look or seen any recent press you may have seen Kelly Brook's New Look summer range. Now I am no Kelly Brook figure wise however, Amanda Holden was seen wearing her floral dress and I thought it looked lovely.

Although I don't think red is my colour and maybe it's not dressy enough for the pre wedding dinner? Hmm more searching. I've never worn a peplum style dress, for some reason I think they might actually make you look bigger?

A trip to Bluewater ensues....

As for travelling, I'm excited about the thought of another trip.  I haven't been for a few years, mainly due to 'settling down' having my daughter etc.  But I saw a charity advert to go trekking in the Himalayas and thought mmm is it possible with a young child?  If it was only for a week/10 days I think I could possibly handle it and Heidi is probably old enough....We would do it for charity and have some fund raising events.  Although having already been to Nepal, Thailand and Australia it got me thinking.  I wonder if there is a charity trek to South America as it is somewhere I've never been and would love to go....Guess where this is?

Research ensues.....

Workingschoolmum xx

Pre-wedding prep!

And that time has come again - the Summer holidays and the Summer blog.  Whether I keep it up daily as I did last year - who knows but I reckon I have a LOT to offload from my mind so here we go!
The pre wedding prep for many things has begun so I shall start with the body.

Things that I have started: Vibrating powerplate sessions. 

For those that don't know - you stand, jump, stretch or squat on a plate that vibrates loads of times per second to literally shake the fat off you!!  But you only need to do it in bursts of 30 minutes sessions! Genius! The lazy person's way to exercise - or I like to say the busy mum's way to exercise.  Who has time to go to the gym when you have a 2 year old to keep entertained?

'Excuse me could you look after Heidi for 2 hours while I go and sweat it out in the gym?'

I'd rather not use up my childcare vouchers for that!!

So far so good, the lady said I wouldn't feel achy or anything afterwards but I did, so I reckon that's got to mean it's working.  Session 2 on Wednesday - Cameron Diaz like toned arms here we come. Although is this too much?

Next - eating healthily - aren't we always trying to do that? But seriously, apparently if you eat every 2-3 hours it speeds up your metabolism.  You might feel more hungry but as long as you do more exercise, you burn off the calories more efficiently.  Food diary for today (maybe if I write it down I will feel compelled not to eat anything bad) - bowl of cranberry wheat cereal, cup of tea, hummus and oatcakes - so far so good - although shopping is being delivered at 2pm - it could go down hill from there.

Another thing I've started: 70 sit ups a night - granted I've only done it for one night so far but.....

Onto things that I need to do for the wedding:

Sort out printing the table plan - this is going to be annoying and tricky I think??

Buy the bridesmaids' shoes - we have chosen them - but I know as soon as I buy them they will go in the sale so I'm trying to hold out!!

Wear my lovely wedding shoes round the house to stretch them!

Find a dress for the pre wedding party hmmmm any ideas.  This Marchesa would be great but is essentially a wedding dress and is also far too pricey!

I'll have to try and find a high street alternative.

Make the place cards - this is boring and involves glueing, sticking and cutting.  Come on, it's the summer holidays - I do enough of that at school!

Try a hydrodermie facial - this involves electric rollers on your face but apparently that's a good thing.  I'd quite like to try it.

Exfoliate - I've read it's meant to make your skin super smooth - I'm going to try it and see if it makes a difference - as well as continue to use Dove Summer Glow slow tan - yes it really is as good as it says on the tin.

Phew - I'm sure there is so much more to do but I'll shut up now and leave with a picture of my hen do.

Thought for the day: Is it everyone's dream to have a massive country house with loads of cats, dogs and children? Because that's mine ; )

Workingschoolmum xx

Blogging while teaching - yeah right! BABY BOOM!

Don't get me wrong, there is actually time in the day when I could blog while I'm teaching full time but the fact is I am thoroughly nackered at this time! This normally 9pm having picked Heidi up on the way home from work, fed her, bathed her put her to bed and had dinner.  When I do sit down at 9pm I am actually ready for bed! So having thought I might be able to blog once a week, frankly the weekends could be better spent so twice in a half term is all I have managed!! Although doesn't mean I haven't still been mentally blogging about my life in my head constantly!!!

As for the BABY BOOM I guess it is not strictly true - but 3 babies were born on Friday that I know which is pretty amazing - so congrats to those lovely lucky mums and dads. I was thinking the other day about a well known cliche of how your children 'bring you so much joy' every day.  It sounds mega cheesy but I was actually thinking how much joy Heidi brings to our lives just by being her!! I also can't believe she is nearly two years old.  She has been in our lives for two whole years!! And yes another cliche - time really does go so fast.  here iss a very cute pic of baby Harper - Heidi hates having hair clips, she just pulls them out!!

Really enjoyed a lovely local wedding last weekend.  The bride looked lovely in a sleek, slinky dress and we celebrated at The Trafalgar in Greenwich in their ballroom upstairs which was gorgeous.  I chose to wear a nautical style dress from a Beckenham boutique and treated myself to some new KG shoes. 

Surprisingly comfortable despite the high chunky 5 inch heel although my Scholl foot pads cut off the circulation to my toes!  Great evening with my uni girls.  Got some good photos but unfortunately none of me and my man: (

As for school, the work has been piled on us in this first half term...
To name a few:
Performance management observations in week 4,
Pupil progress meetings and new assessment grids and targets in week 5,
Planning scrutiny in week 6,
Assessment week for the children next week and I decided to do an art celebration day for the whole school in amongst all of this!  Obviously the art day was a huge organisational nightmare as I mixed up the children into mixed year groups - cue chaos in the main hall.  But the final result of group art pieces was amazing and I truly believe the children loved being creative and workng together on their projects.  Now the question is where am I going to display the lovely artwork?? Its huge!!  Here is my group's effort of Monet's garden - if you are not a teacher you probably won't appreciate it.
One more week until half term and I actually don't have any plans - a good thing and a bad thing, it goes quicker if you don't do anything!

To do list for home at the moment is to sell the car - we have been debating this for the past 2 years, a Mini really is not compatible with a toddler but unfortunately we can't afford a BMW X5 or VW Toureg : ( which is what we'd like.  I didn't want to sell my precious mini for it to be replaced by a boring Vauxhall Astra but unfortunately that's what's gonna happen! Needs must -we need a 4 door car....

Also need a new front door quoted £700 great, just in time for Christmas - great!

On the wedding front things have gone quiet, we have booked and paid the deposit and the next stage is sorting out how long everyone is coming out for and where they are staying...I'm kind of putting it off as I think it will be a bit tricky!  And of course I really want to book the flights but hey ho that will happen in it's own good time I suppose.
People keep asking me if I have tried on wedding dresses yet but I think it's a bit soon....I'm scared if I find THE ONE I'll either change dress size or I won't like it and I just think I'm a bit anxious about it.  But friends have recommended I start soon, as they take a while to be fitted etc....Maybe I'll book an appointment around Christmas??

Feeling very very busy but quite positive at the mo
Workingschoolmum x

First week back at School!

So it's Saturday morning 7.50am, that is my lie in!! Typically Heidi woke up at about 7am making lots of noise, I managed to ignore it until 7.30am went to get her up and by then she'd gone back to sleep! But of course now I'm wide awake (nackered but wide awake!).  I actually missed my daily blogging so thought I'm not going to have time over the weekend so might as well do it now!

First week back at school has been nackering. 
New pregnancies = 1
New engagements =  nil
New babies due = 2
Gossip so far = nil
But I'm sure that will change!

I've had a stress/dehydration headache most days and my 'to do' list is ridiculous especially as my memory stick was in a horrific accident so have lost a years work  - yes I know I should have backed it up - but who does that? The good news is I have an angelic class this year - some real characters but so well behaved.  No group of naughty chatty boys this year YAY!
I also have a student in my class which is great although does put that extra bit of pressure to make my lessons really good all the time (no sitting back and being a bit lazy sometimes).  It also makes me feel a bit of a fraud when I observe lessons as I don't really feel qualified to do that yet (but I'm assured by lovely friends and family that I am).  I also have lots more TA support this year so it seems like it's going to be a great year.
No hugely funny quotes from children yet but I'm sure there will be.  Just ridiculous excuses as to why they hadn't completed their holiday homework over the past 6 weeks!!!

A friend has recently had twins (congrats) and it got me thinking back to when Heidi was a new born and all the late night feeds sitting up at 4am watching the clock for 25 minutes while I burped her thinking I couldn't possibly put her down!!  Of course I look back with rose tinted glasses now but at the time I was sooo exhausted.  I cannot imagine doing it with two! A blessing though obviously.

With regards to my
36 lunges every other day,
no white carbs,
running every other day,
drinking more water,
coffee before a work out ALL FAILED!! have not got the energy to do anything when I get in but hopefully once I get into the routine that will change??

However, I have ACHIEVED 30 minutes more sleep a night!! Bedtime has been 9.30 every night this week.

To do list today actually involves a bit of socialising at a BBQ today but a tee total one as I'm putting Heidi to bed.  To do list tomorrow involves all those jobs for school you realise need doing when you start the new term and haven't done.....eeek

Favourite baby names: Heidi May obviously but famous ones I really like Honor Marie (Jessica Alba) also we thought about Meribelle for a girl!!

and as a homage to my friends twins who have gorgeous names here are the weird and wonderful famous twin names:
Max and Emme (J Lo - quite nice I think)
Mary Kate and Ashley (ok?)
Knox and Vivienne (Brad and Ange)
Phinneus and Hazel (Julia Roberts)
Eden and Savannah (Bree from Desperate Housewives)
Marian and Tabitha (SJP)

Workingschoolmum x

6 things that DON'T help you lose weight!

Well today is the first day I'm struggling to know what to write....perhaps this is because i's the first day Im hung over.  No -not a terrible Phoebe hangover - those that know me know that I wouldn't have even moved/opened my eyes if that was the case.  Had a lovely local night out in Beckenham last night but feeling a bit delicate this morning.
Thought I'd update on my healthy 6 Things progress from yesterday:

1. Drink more water - ACHIEVED - until after 5pm - was then replaced by alcohol!
2. Cut out white carbs and swap for veg - FAILED - I think this is actually impossible, had a plate of pasta while out with a good friend, I did ask if they had wholewheat but the waitress looked at me as if I was an alien (I guess we're not in L.A!).  Yes I could have chosen a salad but if I'm going out and paying for a meal I want to enjoy it!
3. Do 30 minutes of cardio a day - FAILED
4. Drink coffee before a work out - FAILED seeing as I didn't do a work out, does having an Irish coffee before marcing up to Patricks count?
5. Do 36 lunges every other day - ACHIEVED - and my butt hurts today YAY must be doing something then!
6. Sleep 30 more minutes a night - FAILED

2 out of 6 a pretty poor start but things can only get better. 

Although it is date night tonight, going for a nice meal in a pub called the Spread Eagle in Greenwich (that's a white carb fail right there!), then watching The Inbetweeners movie, cannot wait : )

Just wanted to update on Autumn fashion too.  Afeter moaning about the dark jumpers all over the high street having returned from 35 degree heat in Majorca, I'm actually quite keen to expand my Autumn wardrobe.   This is because it's been FREEZING since we got back from holiday.  So much so that I've got scarves out, skiing jumpers and I'm walking round the house wrapped up as if our heating has broken.  I cannot bring myself to turn the heating on until at least late October, so a trip to Primark is calling!!
As I've said before I wish I could afford netaporter or mywardobe but there we go.  High street stuff is good enough for me.

Although if you haven't checked out the OUTNET it is netaporter's discount site and there is 30% off TIBI at the moment which I quite like.  I'd love to get myself some heeled winter boots...

These Louboutins would do:

Or this new designer Cobra Society:

To do list today unfortunately involves school work: Literacy plans, finish sorting out my classroom, groupings etc.  I have a feeling the blogs are going to become more school jargon from now on uh oh!

Favourite of the day: Item of clothing  -well it has to be a good pair of boots, although I've recently realised how much jewellery can perk up an outfit.  Bangles, a long necklace and I still love a good pair of hoop earrings, verging on gypsy/trashy but I still love them!

Workingschool mum x

6 Things to help you lose weight

I know I am not overweight and I am pretty pleased that I am back to my original post baby size plus half a stone.  I am not so happy that all of that half a stone has been deposited round my glutimus maximus.  I read an article by Kimberley from Girls Aloud and she said 'isn't it weird how everyone's bodies are different and we lose weight from different places?'.  She said she loses weight from her tummy but gains it on her bum, this is exactly the same as me, a classic pear shape. 

But she said Nadine loses it from her legs and they get very skinny, as I'm sure we have seen pics in magazines. 

Anyway, I know I am in reasonably good shape but I would like to try and lose that half stone from my butt area, especially for the wedding next year.  I was doing a bit of interenet research i.e. wasting a few hours web surfing about how to lose a stone in a month - it's amazing what you come across - and found something that sounded fairly easy to maintain.
It was loosely based on the South Beach Diet - anything that get's me looking like a hottie off Miami beach has gotta be worth a look!
These are the six things it said you could do to slowly lose about 5 lbs in a month:
1. Drink more water
2. Cut out white carbs and try to swap for veg or wholesome ones
3. Do 30 minutes of cardio a day (this includes brisk walking)
4. Drink coffee an hour before a work out (not sure about this one)
5. Do 36 lunges every other day
6. Sleep 30 minutes more than you do normally per night.

Obviously the fat is not going to melt away but I thought I'd give it a go, and as another blog I read recently said, if you write it on your blog you have this strange compelling feeling that you must do it (bit like my to do lists - I have been mega proactive this hols, especially round the house.)

Now I also need to point out I was planning on starting this when we got back from holiday but unfortunately this is what I consumed morsel for morsel on Bank Holiday Monday:

A bacon sandwich from the cafe on white bread
Numerous cups of tea
A take away curry
that was literally it!

So I'll start Tuesday I thought....this is what I ate Tuesday:

2 crumpets (white carbs I think) with peanut butter,
a pork pie,
a slice of quiche ooops

Not pigging myself I know but I've noticed the stuff I do eat is pretty bad.  I figure I'll have to finish the white carbs in my house before I can stop eating them i.e. the crumpets and white bread!!

Wednesday was slightly better (apologies for not blogging yesterday Heidi refused to have a nap so I got virtually nothing done including my blog!).

I had 2 boiled eggs and 2 slices of ham but then met my mum for tea and completely forgot and had a large slice of ginger cake in Westerham mmmm
Then a homemade prawn curry for dinner - I should have skipped the rice ooops and it had potatoes in do they count as white carbs??
So if you read those 6 things and thought, yeah pretty easy like me, try it, it's not but I will persevere.

I did manage to drink more water, sleep more and do 30 minutes of cardio (I think marching down to Beckenham and running round the park after a 2 stone child counts, I got worn out anyway).

I'm also going to try and go running every other night when Dan gets in when I start school next week.

Ahhh school, first day in for me today to sort my classroom out amongst other things, I am very scared as I have not even looked at anything school related all holidays.
That also brings me onto workingschoolmum blogging when I'm back at school - I think to be realistic I'll say I will blog once a week, then if I'm able to do it more (probably if I feel like a rant) I will.

Favourite of the day: Topic at school - for me it's got to be English or literacy as we now call it.  I LOVED learning about it and I LOVE teaching it.

workingschoolmum x

PS PICKED UP THE SAVE THE DATES, now I just have to address envelopes and send them ; )