Wellbeing

Nathalia Melo – Expert of the month

August 10, 2017

I started David Lloyd gym when I was pregnant with our third boy. I figured the money I would save on not drinking  prosecco for nine months would be better spent on something I would use and love!!

I have had gym memberships in the past but this was a big move for me and one I am so glad I made.

Due to hyperemesies (read about my experience with it in this post) and a number of other pregnancy complications I had to stall my membership for a few months.

When I was seven months pregnant walking with an established waddle I returned to David Lloyd and Nathalia was one of the many smiling faces I met on my morning visits. She and her bump (now called Nico featured in the image below) were on the cross trainer. We exchanged words and pleasantries about our pregnancies and that was that.

I was blissfully unaware at this stage about what a star Nathalia is in the fitness world and how close all the gym girls would become. We have a great little network now and I am so excited to have Nat on here. Continue Reading…

Wellbeing

Coffee scrub – recipe, benefits + make up.

July 31, 2017

You would be forgiven for thinking I have gone all beauty based on here. This post is more a response to the many e mails and private messages asking about my skin routine.

To be honest these enquiries baffle me as I don’t view my skin as anything special and I am pretty basic when it comes to make up or, in fact, cleanliness!! Continue Reading…

Travel

35 activities for NI kids this Summer

July 19, 2017

Hello July! How is your Summer kicking off?

We had the most glorious two weeks in Donegal. I ate, drank, worked out (a little!) and spent days on end with my three boys and husband. No flight to rush for or bags to pack suited to airport scales. A simple trip where you bung everything (including the dog!) into the boot of the car and off you go.

Half of the beach at Narin came home in our car but we all left happy and refreshed.

Find my print of Narin beach here on my online shop. Also the print of the two boys in the header can be found here.

Now that I am back to work and the baby is back in day care I have the two big boys around my feet and had to get creative about where to put their bounding energy for a few days.

I imagine some of you were prepared and booked ahead of time but sadly I am the mother who runs ragged on a Monday morning five minutes before the School bell scrapping money from the back of the sofa for dinner money. So there was no way I was going to be organised enough to get Summer activities in place before mid July!! Continue Reading…

Wellbeing

Kettle bell + band workout – Mike McComish

July 1, 2017

 

Having worked out a few times at David Lloyd with Mike it has reminded me, once again, that small significant movements in personal fitness can make all the difference when wanting to get results.

In case you are new to the site head over here to read all about Mike. The blogpost includes his back ground as a professional rugby player as well as his love for family time and all about his personal training.

The resistant band routine above is all about making deliberate moves and executing them well. No fancy jumping around just straight forward movements performed well.

I have added in another workout below with kettle bells that Mike showed me and we did after the band session. It was such a hit on my instagram and I know you will love it too. Continue Reading…

Wellbeing

Expert of the month – Mike McComish

June 10, 2017

I played hockey (briefly) in School with Mike’s sister Kerry but I had never met Mike until his wife Rebecca and I got chatting at the School gates and over on Instagram.

Many of you will recognise him from his days as a professional rugby player. He has a wealth of knowledge because of his background in fitness and I trust him when he gives advice on nutrition and workouts.

As I say so much on the blog, I enjoy meeting professionals in the field of sport and wellbeing because they have an insight into a world I only know a glimpse of. I love to learn and you can learn a great deal about moving forward in your own fitness journey after reading what Mike has to say.   Continue Reading…

Travel, Wellbeing

36 hours in Alicante, Spain. Aer Lingus

June 5, 2017

If you spend more than five minutes on my blog you will know that travel is a huge part of what makes me tick, that along with my family life, prosecco,  coffee, fake tan and box sets.

When you break down my happy places into little parts they will, when put back together, resemble a puzzle packed with stories about experiences which have shaped my life and my career.

So, when the chance to add to my travelling experiences came along I was delighted to be spending some time in Alicante Spain. Continue Reading…

Food

Forerro Rocher protein ball recipe – Stephanie Noble

May 22, 2017

Stephanie and I have memberships at David Lloyd and we love to train together.

I think it stems from a similar interest in workouts that are based on fun and often high intensity. See more on my instagram.

We are both in a postpartum frame of mind so gaining a positive attitude towards our bodies is at the centre of our training.

This is good when we workout together for encouragement and accountability.

Over the course of the past few months we have pushed and challenged each other in sharing our circuits with one another (as well as sharing our soundtracks!) Such a fun friend to have!

Stephanie makes us gym girls her protein banana bread and post workout bites from time to time which is so generous and just delightful to have with coffee, especially for me, when I finish my work upstairs in the cafe at David lloyd. Continue Reading…

Words

For the love of (Belfast) art

May 5, 2017

I often get asked “Ah, so you blog about art?” which I know would make most sense, I am an artist after all. However it didn’t come naturally for me to blog about other people’s art or art theories two years ago.

What came naturally and still does feel right in this space is leading you into my own day to day life which inevitably fits with my theme of “placing importance on the everyday”. Fitness , food, family, wellbeing and life stories are the main leads in my daily life.

Last night I had the absolute joy of attending Belfast late night art. Have you visited art in Belfast recently? I mean , more than just the Ulster museum. Saying that I adored the exhibit which showed my MFA tutor Willie Doherty’s film included in The new past exhibition.

The first Thursday in every month the art galleries in Belfast open their doors for anyone to visit and see the latest exhibits.

Can I take a second to tell you that I have had three babies, two house moves and a whole lot of breast milk on my tops over the past eight years. For me, to be able to actively leave my house with the intention of going to an art event, UNACCOMPANIED , is a really big deal. Continue Reading…

Wellbeing

Spotlight of the month – Ian McKeown

May 2, 2017

I have been hunting Ian and his expertise down since the blog started over two years ago!

Ian and I played hockey for the same University and when I met my husband a few years after Uni it turned out he also knew Ian from playing Ulster U21 hockey together. Continue Reading…