National Tortilla Chip Day - February 24th

The blog regeneration is happening... I'm changing course slightly and will be featured items from UK and European Etsy shops. I'll be using the 'national day' concept for sourcing items and will throw in some favourites too, if you have a 'theme' you'd like covering, let me know!

So, today (24th Feb) is National Tortilla Chip Day... but we call them 'Nachos' in the UK. Here's some Tortilla (Nacho) themed items from Etsy!

Funny Valentine's Card from Loteria Design

Vintage Handpainted plate from My Mimosa Vintage

Tapas 8" print from Juanjez

Retro Cotton Spool Brooches

It's been a while since I last blogged and it's time to get back on the horse, as they say.

Here's the newest additions to our Etsy store - wooden retro cotton spool brooches! These would be the perfect stocking filler for a seamstress or someone just setting out with a sewing business.

Each little brooch is approx 1.5" tall and are only £5 each. There's just one of each design available, so if you were considering buying one, I'd be quick!

Win a Rabbit Brooch!

A little competition for you to win a bunny rabbit brooch!

Just follow the instructions below to enter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

March Of The Elephants!

Elephants are cute! Fact! Especially the babies!

Here's a picture to prove it...

And if you head over to my Etsy shop, you'll find some cute elephant brooches too!

Flower Elephant Brooch

Geometric Elephant Brooch

More designs will be available soon...

Weekly Weigh-In 2

Time for my weekly weigh-in, not too bad this week, only lost 1lb, but I struggled at Zumba on Thursday and hardly moved over the weekend (I'm blaming my period for this and the extra water content below).

Weight Loss: 11st 5lbs
Body Fat: 34.8%
Bone Density: 4.6lbs
Water Content: 48.1%
Muscle Mass: 37.1%

Body Fat is still going down so that's good :)

Anyway, more Zumba talk, I've done 7 classes now and picking up the routines again. No longer look like an unco-ordinated mess, just a sweaty mess instead. Put lots of effort in tonight, my arms and stomach muscles already ache, so getting up and walking Ellie is going to be fun in the morning!

I'll just leave you with a picture of the lovely Venia, my Zumba instructor (look at that toned stomach! And toned everything else!)

Weekly Weigh-In 1

As some of you may know, I made a commitment to go to Zumba 3 times a week, so I can back into shape. You can read about it and my new scales here. 

After one particularly gruelling session last week, I could hardly move, my stomach muscles ached all day on Wednesday. Not helped by the face that I took Ellie doggy walking across the fields that evening (Wednesday - my night of from Zumba), my legs felt like lead weights and it was a struggle to get home!

I also pledged to publish my weigh-in figures every Monday, so here  goes...

Weight: 11st 6lbs 
Body Fat: 35.6% 
Bone Density: 4.6lbs 
Water: 47.5% 
Muscle Mass: 37.2%

I've lost 2lbs! Body fat is also marginally down and muscle mass is up! I think the more muscle you have the higher natural metabolism you have and your figure looks more streamlined as muscle opposed to fat. (Not that I can tell any different yet).

My food intake hasn't been all that good last week... I need to cut down on the snacking! I get particular peckish around 4pm and crave chocolate. Need to find something yummy to have then that isn't chocolate!

Pop by next week to see if I can keep the weight loss up!

Shop Of The Week!

I belong to a couple of Teams on Etsy which run a Shop Of The Week feature... I'm going to combine all shops of the week in to a weekly blog post from now on! Give me a nudge if I forget! I get distracted easily!

First up, Fiona from www.etsy.com/shop/Bellecardsandgifts, she makes beautiful vintage inspired, shabby chic gifts and decorations! Today, I'll show you her new Olde Sweet Shoppe Trinket Box:

You can read more about Fiona here.

Second featured shop is Susan from Dottie Designs! Susan makes beautiful guest books and photo albums! I love this album for recording your child's first memories (it's available in blue too).

If you are looking for a unique wedding guest book, I highly recommend taking a look around this shop!