April: Meals, Miles, Books and Looks

The weather has been a real mixture this month with some gorgeous hot days, a few rainy days and the odd chilly night.  When I made the bed the other day I thought it might be about time to put the electric blanket on and add a light duvet  under the comforter.  I failed to check the electric blanket when I put it on the bed and it was on the whole day - my cat Lazuli spent the whole day on the bed lying stretched out on his back with the biggest smile on his face, I don't think I've ever seen him as happy!

Meals:

I think the changeable weather is reflected in my meals of this month.

Lentil and Vegetable Soup: I had a real craving for some hearty vege soup.  I grew up with my Mum and Dads versions of this soup so I don't make it from a recipe and I never measure anything.  The ingredients I use are:
* red lentils
* 2 stock cubes
* 4 diced or sliced carrots
* 2 grated carrots
* 4 - 6 diced potatoes
* 1 diced turnip or swede
* 2 diced or sliced onions
* a lot of salt and pepper

and I added in some soya bacon flavour pieces because I had some to use up.  My parents always made this recipe with a ham bone so the bacos make it more nostalgic for me.

Chilli Cheese on Toast: I had sourdough toast with chilli cheese melted on top and served with hot chips and baked beans.

Duxelle Fettuccine: Duxelle stirred through the cooked fettuccine and then topped with sliced and sautéed green beans and portobello mushrooms.  This was an amazingly quick and tasty meal.

Tomato and Avocado on Sourdough Toast: I had this for lunch but it could also be a nice breakfast meal.

I also indulged in some very tasty treats this month!  My scales tell me I have over indulged, but I love this time of year!

Kane and I biked to the pub and had a sneaky wee Guinness.

We took a trip to Safka, the continental shop and bought lots of wonderful things including the Marabou chocolate and Glögg mulled wine concentrate pictured.

I've been enjoying a few cups of spiced apple cider drink whilst watching the leaves fall from my trees.  Side note, my cat Azzy loves to chase the leaves that fall onto the raised deck.

I saw these Lays Cucumber Flavour crisps at the Chinese supermarket and was curious - they are quite nice and I'll certainly have them again. 

Another strange crisp flavour was the Cinnamon & Sugar Pringles I picked up and the North American supermarket. I tried to save them for winter but I caved in and ate them this month and they were quite nice.  I'll get them again if they still have them.

Miles: 19.9km

Ha! That's the same mileage as last month.  I've been doing a couch to 5k program which I've been blogging about here > C25K and I hit a bit of a blip with some hip/glute pain that I've been in physio for.  I've been doing yoga, hip and glute stretches and strengthening exercises so I'm hoping to make this sort of pain and injury a thing of the past!

Books:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver



//Image from Goodreads

I managed to get another copy of this book so I could finish reading it.  It ended up being a pretty quick read and I enjoyed it.  I didn't realise that it was the first in a series so it doesn't have quite the satisfactory ending a more stand alone tale would have but it was enough of an ending that I'm not in any hurry to continue with this series .

The Death Cure by James Dashner



//Image from Goodreads

I enjoyed the first two books in the series and this was a very action packed conclusion to series.  I've seen the movie of the first book, the Maze Runner and unlike Divergent, I'm pretty keen to see the movie versions of the Scorch Trials and the Death Cure.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon - I don't know why I'm still listening to this audio book its such a chore.

Double Knit Murders by Maggie Sefton - I haven't got passed the first few chapters but I have renewed it from the library so I have to finish it in May.

Looks:

I'm really terrible at this section!

Earlier this month we went to the Counting Crows gig, I dug out my German army shirt that I used to wear a lot back in the day :)  Of course I didn't take any outfit pictures!

We also went for short hike in the Waitakeres, and I got a chance to try out my new Buff.

And when I remembered I needed to get a picture for the blog, I got a shot of my red gilet I got from Gap last December, its finally the right time of year to wear it and I wear it all the time!

I did make a bunch of new purchases this month though.

Ice skating has started back so I went to Lululemon (I might have an addiction!) to get a couple of outfits.

I bought a pair of brushed Wunderunder pants that feel amazing.  I tried them out at ice skating and they were really great and I didn't feel cold at all.  The pants were a bit too long for me and bunched up in my skates but Lululemon has a free hemming service so I've taken my pants back into the store and I'll get them back in a week.

I also got 2 of the Cabin Yogi jumpers which I tried out one of them at ice skating and the other lounging around the house and they are becoming firm favourites.

And I haven't worn the run swiftly half zip yet.

I have been wearing my new Sketchers though.  I bought them for going back and forward yoga and ice skating, but I've been wearing them all the time lately!