Happy Hallowe'en

Its officially Hallowe'en - I just prefer putting a " ' " in. I'm so tired right now I can't remember what they are called. 

It was a Durham University night out last night at the infamous Loveshack, a place I was yet to add to

Shrek, a.k.a. Tom Perkins

my clubbing portfolio till last night. Of course the theme was obvious. There were a lot of pumpkins, I was going to go as a pumpkin but the vest was very small - like the overweight hockey girl in school - you know what I mean. So instead I was a dead child (a zombie-esque-thing) - hopefully made obvious by the poor Winnie the Pooh rucksack I made into my clutch bag, whose ear was cut off and had several holes in it to look like it had been to hell and back. I can't put the photos up because they are scaring me. There was Shrek, sported by Tom who looked incredible in his ogre ears and green face and the shirt thing Shrek wears to go with it. He would shout at people "get out of my swamp!" if they were to pass through the group on the dance floor, then proceed to roar at them, brilliant. There was a Michael Jackson (Mark), well a dead MJ anyway (I'm guessing by the eye makeup) A champagne bottle (Greg), a clown (Andy), a fairy (Faye), a killer nurse (Kirsty), a skeleton (Sam), a cat (Rachel), a witch (Natalie) and several other crazily good costumes (boys in tutus was a weird observation I made - a popular choice). Sorry if I've forgotten your costume! 

There's a difference between Durham campus students and Queens campus students. Its official. I have done my own research. Both are Durham University, however the one further South (just outside Middlesborough) is the one which is looked down upon, even though this campus houses Accounting, Medicine and Psychology. hmm. Its official that the girls form Durham campus are slightly on the, shall we say, rude side. They just love annoying you, I thought my deathly stare through my sudocrem-ed face and black eyes would scare anyone but it just makes them more likely to stand on your foot another several times or push past you in the queue for the toilet or just be generally rude and bitchy. Ouch. I don't know about the boys, but boys from Durham campus need to man up and meet the girls from Queens campus and the girls from Durham just need to have lessons in appropriate behaviour. I'm sure there are a few exceptions. Interesting study. 

So back to All Hallows' Eve! did you know its a time (from 31st October to 2nd November) to remember the dead, hence the death costumes (tomorrow its All Saints' Day). I won't go into the different days or what they all symbolise, you are all capable of getting onto Wikipedia. But what is Hallowe'en without a few jokes! (I'm awful at jokes by the way, I find the most unfunny things hilarious)

what do you get when you cross Bambi with a ghost?

Bamboo! (hohoho)

why do ghosts like to ride in elevators?

It lifts their spirits (ooooh)

what's a vampire's favourite fruit?

A NECKtarine (ahh, haha)

ok, ok, last one. I'll make it good. 

I used to be a werewolf but I'm alright nOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWW

haha. 

No really, 

I am a werewolf 

November 17th - the next full moon. 

trick or treat! 

RHS x

p.s. it was a trick, I'm not really a werewolf, at least I don't think I am. 

p.s.s. I do however talk in my sleep - true say.
p.s.s.s. All of the views in this post are my own and are not those of Durham University - certainly not those at Durham campus. That's all x 

Fitness Freak

Ok, before you freak out at the amount of protein bars I have (this is half of what I bought) I always eat a protein bar after a workout and oh my I can see why boys have protein shakes. I would only advise you taking them if you want to build muscle, not if you're trying to lose weight (even the diet ones) because after working out for 4 days a week and having a protein bar before and after each workout I put on about 5 lbs. 

An average chicken breast is around 21g of protein, I've had protein bars with 35g of protein in them before - admitted it was like chewing grainy nougat and the flavours are never amazing (lets face it whey protein isn't that nice to eat, only to drink) but that much protein after a two hour workout is going to bulk up your muscle - you have to do some weight training (after your cardio!!) obviously it doesn't build muscle from fat - that would be incredible. 

So I raided Holland and Barrett (THE most expensive place to buy protein-  but these were all on offer so its all fine). They didn't have my favourite bar (PhD Women recover and tone) but these will work just as good and surprisingly the "diet" Protopure have the highest protein in them at 20g. Ruth's advice = take with water and eat before 30 minutes after your training. 

So onto the other little things in the picture. My Debenhams shop. Oh dear, they are going to hit record profits today after I just bought two items. This sports bra was £38 but it is so worth it. 10 years of running does no girls any good (speaking from no experience - none. Maybe some) but the more support = the better. It was only this much because its Shock Absorber and its the high intensity running one (sprinting/ long duration). Trust me they last forever and there is no bounce (I jumped up and down a bit in the changing room - lavely). 

The capris (I hate that word), the 3/4 running lycra from X:PG By Jenni Falconer, I have a pair of Adidas capris (3/4s) so I decided to try on the Adidas lycra they had in Debenhams - from no bounce in the sports bra to everything wobbles and jiggles in the lycra. I was shocked at how unsupportive the Adidas ones were (considering how good my other pair are) and when you're running you don't know who is going to be behind you! so I tried these one and they fit like a glove, are so thick they give extra support and they are breathable. So now someone can be on the bikes behind me in the gym won't think a 60 year old saggy lady is running in front of them - delightful! 

Stay trimmed, tight and toned 

RHS x 

p.s. eat protein - lots of it

p.s.s. sorry to the boys for my explicit descriptions. 

Broody?

I'll just set the scene. 

I'm going out tonight. In precisely an hour, I have just painted my nails (hence the brief pause in getting ready to write this whilst my nails dry), I have gone through approximately 16 different outfits, almost cried to Natalie that, despite going to the gym for 2 hours this evening I still feel like I'm the size of the biggest Indian elephant. Why? no idea (a 3 egg omelette after the gym has clearly made me bloated, need some Activia), I'm listening to Motown (yes, really!) and I have already had two double vodkas (in no way do I endorse binge drinking). But, and its a big but - my hair is silky soft, nevertheless pinned up high in rollers atm, but for that reason I am a very happy lady. Its silky soft because Boots have a 3 for 2 offer on baby products. 

Yes, baby products. If you are over the age of 13 and you haven't yet used baby products out of your baby years, who are you? I'm not talking nappy rash cream (although who doesn't use that famous cream for spots? - see, you do use baby products!) or teething pain gel I'm talking Johnson and Johnson (aka Johnsons') baby oil, baby shampoo, baby conditioner (YES THEY NOW DO CONDITIONER - woop), baby lotion... the list goes on. Its on offer, there is no excuse. 

So I bought some - to be precise: "Johnsons' baby shampoo/ relaxing/ with lavender extract" and "Johnsons' baby conditioner/ no more tangles/ with Camomile" - also "Little Me sensitive body cream" which is "oh so gentle" aw with "Pear, Mallow (YES AS IN MARSH) & Organic Aloe Vera" - is it just me or are babies spoiled? babies are spoiled. These kind of products are for me! 

So I've now used my baby products 3 times and I thought it was definitely worth writing a post about - my hair will barely stay in a clip it is that soft it just annoyingly falls out - it literally feels like your stroking the fluffiest, softest cat - or like a duck feather has fallen out of your pillow and is tickling your nose - that kind of soft - I kid you not. It has made my hair so easy to work it and smells like... lavender and camomile for some odd reason. mmm and my skin does smell a bit like a marshmallow but who is complaining?!

Johnsons' baby stuff - surprisingly amazingly beautiful and there is definitely no more tears


I'm now seeing double,
RHS x

Warm Fuzzy

I am really spoiling you tonight. Like really, don't get used to this. Another short sweet, warm fuzzy. I found this the other day. Derek Redmond, Barcelona 1992. Literally THE worse injury any sprinter can get (an instant pulled hamstring) - I feel your pain D (well, not really this has never happened to my but my soleus has popped whilst sprinting and ow...). Even Linford Christie said he wouldn't have done what this guy managed!


So anyway, just watch this clip - and try not to cry

Sometimes you gotta pick your self up and finish, just to say that you didn't give up. 

(Fill in with your own motivational, inspirational line)

Aw. 

Stay warm. 

RHS x 

The Week Edit #2

A day late, but nevertheless still a visual masterpiece (or not so this week, its been a quieter week) for you to enjoy. 

1. The Great British Bake Off final is upon us (unfortunately I have to miss it with 40 others to attend a meeting but this is the beauty of BBC iPlayer, I might even stream it from the meeting, is that really sad?). So this is me and Natalie (Natalie in the confused animal attire) watching some sort of cones be made by the looks of things. Very cosy indeed. 

2. Always so nice to hear from the 'rents my mother finds it necessary to send a long letter everytime she has to send something up (or just to be "old fashioned and really cute") so my father felt the need to do the same when he sent up a letter but instead of a long letter about how Lady Gaga is or who they're playing golf with it was just a big smiley face with "Love from Daddy x" on it - that was plenty. Aw. 

3. I will never tire of a good old packed lunch "bait" to some weird northerners! Its been a busy day (11am-6pm) so obviously lunch was a necessary, I had peanut butter and banana sandwiches followed by... well everything you can see in the picture. An apple a day keeps the Dr away! And that Purdey's keeps cropping up doesn't it. Apparently it smells like "vitamin everescent" which can't be a bad thing! It has medicinal properties!

4. Met this ugly thing after a run in which I bumped into some rather confused looking friends. I'm currently deciding my next fundraiser, I've done a 10k and a 5k for charity so I guess next is a half marathon? Maybe when I turn more insane. (Injury slowly getting better, now just to work on flexibility...) 

5. Queen Bee thats me - according to Miss Markey, I found it stuck on my door yesterday afternoon because we live in a place with the word "wasp" in it (if that doesn't give it away) and apparently I'm the "mother" of us all. So true, I'm always buying new cleaning products, know how the hoover works inside out, noticed our fire alarm was disabled (no longer is, phew) the list goes on...BTW: Natalie, Sarah, don't forget its cleaning day on Saturday and Sarah its your turn to take the bin out. Love you both xxx 

Have a good week! - Motown night on Thursday, Newcastle on Saturday, gonna be a big one!

Love

RHS x 

When 20 becomes 30 and 30 becomes 40

I'm nearly 20 (precisely 8 weeks today) which as I keep saying to people means I'll be nearly 30 which then means I'll be nearly 40 which by then I'll have minus two kids (the kids I would have had if I hadn't been climbing a career ladder) and I'll be happily single with a cat called Elliott (if its a boy or Felicity if its a girl- the names I would have called my children). 

So "nearly" meaning "almost" or "fairly close to" -  I know there is a decade between 20 and 30 and 30 and 40 (A in GCSE Maths, not many people can say that you know) however to me that will be the next milestone and ever since Jennifer Garner was in 13 going on 30 I never could wait to be 30 (flirty and thriving, say it with me!). Now however at the tender, ripening (no really, crows feet, expensive eye concealer, firming body lotion) age of 19 I am nearly (that word again) half way through my degree, which two mornings ago I questioned where a year has gone - seriously who do I write to about this. I hope its not RBS. 

So we lead onto another thing. RBS. I'm turning into my grandmother (she's 70, I'm 19 going on 70, it gets better doesn't it) and she always told me to have one bank, which I did till I was 14 and wanted a debit card (basically my portal to buying Topshop, or the 1/5095th I could afford, which was great because at 14 I was a tidy 6 and oh does Topshop love to serve the skinny, as we learn as we turn 16, 17, "oh my I'm curvy" 18, "time to become a 10" 19). I'm getting sidetracked; RBS want me to write in to close my bank account, in this day and age. As Natalie said "where is my owl". "write in" who do they think I am?! I'll write an email and write in a letter of complaint. 

Where was I? I'm currently having a conversation (Facebook Mail, who has time to meet and talk anymore?!) with someone (might be Mike) about how I don't go out much (its been 2 weeks of actual term and I have been out three times now I think that is me going slightly crazy and has lead to me assess my mental health however to most students that is a dismal effort and probably brands me with a 3rd class honours and leads to several forfeits). Who wants to go out anyway when you can read Charlotte Brontë or watch a Sarah Jessica Parker film and drink dandelion and burdock tea (with a hint of peppermint). Ok its official I am getting slightly boring but I want a good degree and a good CV and good skin when I'm 40 - you don't want to know what all the sugar in alcoholic drinks does to your skin, after all 40 is just around the corner - I'm halfway there! (nearly). Don't worry I'm going out on Thursday AND Saturday next week! (I'll be careful).

Anyway, this was my break from reading about how Japan have outdone the U.S. in manufacturing by keeping costs low etc and how Darwin has explained why we prefer to eat sugar and fat. 

I'll let you decide which is the most interesting

Rant over

RHS x

P.S. If anyone missed JD and Mike's heart to heart in Storytellers on Thursday please ask them to reenact it - it was beautiful.

Warm Fuzzy

Its Monday morning, I got woken up at 9am by someone ringing the buzzer, me thinking it was a parcel leaped out of bed and grabbed a coat, only to be asked if my silver Peugeot was blocking the alley way, what?! "no", *slams phone down*. Its raining, I wanted to go for a run but I chickened out - I'll only catch a chill.

So, I thought I would start a 'warm fuzzy' (name slightly stolen from Ricky! sorry!x), something that will cheer you up, and using Pavlov's classical conditioning you will see "warm fuzzy" when I repeat the post title with a.n.other fuzzy and you will instantly feel better and you will start to salivate at what you are about to see... maybe... this one doesn't involve food, but you get the picture.

So here it is - Michael McIntyre's impression of the Yorkshire (mainly Leeds) accent and other things Leeds, such as "the loop" - I was ROFL-ing.

With love
RHS x