This Little Corner

I'm Katie and this is my little corner of the web. I like crafty things, tech, gadgets, food, fitness and painting pretty nails. I enjoy drinking copious amounts of tea and Sunday morning bacon sandwiches. This blog is a collection of all those things...

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Weighed in with a 2lb loss even after burgers, ice cream, chocolate, dinner dates & lunch dates. Sticking to plan 90% of the time let's you indulge for the other 10%.

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What I've learnt since joining Slimming World.

You're allowed to eat. You're allowed to enjoy eating. You're allowed to enjoy eating foods you actually like eating. I've been on several hundred different diets. I've tried starving myself, I've tried shakes & I've tried killing myself in the gym. Never will I deny that working out is good for you, it can help both body & mind. However, unless you enjoy it then it really doesn't count. Thanks to a mix of strict rules & exercise I'd managed to shift about 2 stone after university but moving out on my own came with a new realm of comfort and I started to become a little squidgy around the edges again. A few months after meeting my boyfriend all of the treats & indulgence added up and I started to notice the pounds beginning to creep up around me. My boyfriend was fitness focused but I wasn't finding it very easy to find a balance between food & sweating. Spending 3 nights a week sweating in a kickboxing class wasn't easing the guilt of my expanding waist line (& my ass). With my boyfriend able to snack to his hearts content and still be dropping weight I started finding myself becoming more frustrated & unhappy. Moaning to my boyfriend every hour about my growing size wasn't helping solve the issue or helping my clothes fit. After spotting a Facebook status mentioning a friends new adventure on Slimming World I got curious. I sent her a message just to find out a little more, I'd always written off weight loss groups or plans. They always seem so confusing & cult like ... yes, I was being judgemental. However, my curiosity kept growing and I started searching for groups near by. I found one happening on a Monday so I could start a fresh week, I looked it up on Facebook & got a friendly vibe, I was all set! I text my boyfriend for a little encouragement & he was as sceptical about these groups as I was and i couldn't really blame him. I arrived at my first group on a Monday night at 8.30pm. I sat through the new members talk trying to absorb all of new food rules I'd now be following ... it was far too confusing! I then sat through group as every shared highs & lows of the week before finally standing on the scale .... 14 stone! It was time to turn things around, following that group my determination was stronger than ever. I followed my first week to the letter counting every syn & eating so many eggs (you slimming worlders know what I mean). Following that first Slimming World meeting my boyfriend has been my rock, he sticks with me despite all the syn counting & meal planning. His favourite saying is 'flexi syns', he helps keep the perfect balance. It has now been almost 4 months since I joined Slimming World & I have lost just under 2 & half stone. I have another stone & half to go until my target weight, I want to be at that point before December. I can honestly say that Slimming World, if you do it right, is a balanced & easy way of losing weight. You can genuinely stick to it for life and keep your weight steady. Just remember the golden rule of one third Speed and you'll be on your way. You don't have to rely on baked potatoes & pasta, have a search around and try cooking something new. You'll be surprised how much you'll start enjoying food even more without worrying once. I can now go out to dinner, go to a friends & eat three meals a day without skipping one of them and know that I will not have to worry about facing the scale.

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A birthday of nachos, pimms, ciders, pizza, jumping bowling, puddings & darling people! I have taken a two day breakfast from slimming world and syned away. It was incredible! Back on plan & ready to face the music. Bring on the scales! 💪

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Finally making use of my cosy little corner. Nails, tea & star trek ... who says I'm not cool!

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The backpack is on board. It must be adventure time!

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Tinkering with old cameras & seeing what makes them tick, mix that with coffee & a blanket, it makes a pretty damn good afternoon! 📷☕

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Easter treats! It's that short time of the year where mini eggs invade the shops and I can not resist them. Even better when they come on top of cake & cream ... easter is not a good time got a diet or training. So many tasty treats & my complete inability to resist them.

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SUNDAY FUNDAY: The hardest week of the year is over & I am celebrating by planning the next adventure while baking with my Momma. This Little Corner may be leaping off the Internet & onto its own little stall. Collecting ideas & making big plans ready for the next venture.

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With the craziest work week of the year is upon us we steal an hour in bed & drink tea.

Working stupid hours, missing all the kickboxing classes & not being able to make fun plans is wearing thin but it’s almost over! Just one more week and then we’ll see if all the hard work paid off.

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Why You Should Let Your Friends Give Up, Even If You Don't Want to

I'm what waiters, dinner party hosts and anyone who can't mind their own business might call a dietetic pain in the ass. In the last few years, I've become a prolific giver-upper of things, which can sort of make me difficult to cater for. It does not however, make me difficult to be around.

Please read this, please embrace this ... this girl speak the truth! 

Hallelujah!

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A weekend of breakfasting out with lovely people. Breakfast is one of the most tasty meals. Sundays breakfast was followed by a spot of shopping. I've added a gorgeous stool to my flat. Goodbye chunky office chair, hello adorable desk stool! I love home shopping & managed to resist buying this gorgeous plaque & about a dozen other items. If only weekends were a few days longer!

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An amazing weekend with Mr Thorp pretending to adult in swanky country houses.

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Days off are built on hot chocolates. #TaurusCrafts (at Taurus Crafts, Lydney Forest Of Dean)

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Dotty mani. #nailart #naildesign

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My holiday reads are ready & waiting.

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Knitting is a newly discovered love but wooly scarves are not. It only seemed natural that the two soon meet. 

Armed with two balls of wool, a set of size 11 needles and my mothers wise knowledge I began on my first scarf. Several weekends were spent at home tucked under a blanket knitting, though my friends may have mocked me they’ll soon be asking for their own scarf.

I have become just a little over enthusiastic with plans for a matching hat and maybe even some gloves. This could be the start of a new venture for Etsy.

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It is the first day of spring so it’s time for some brighter nails. A subtle dot of colour is good option for the office too, they already think i’m wacky enough. 

With a little more time on my hands it’s time for some new designs. The nails are on order and i’m already browsing new colours & accessories. I’m thinking of setting myself a challenge, 4 new designs a week between now and Summer. Make spring time will be productive!

A variation of this design is already available on my Etsy store, Neon Lights design.