A new year, a new me....blah blah blah

Well in true first timer style my foray into blogging didn't last longer than a couple of posts.  And perhaps predictably enough, I have returned with good intentions in the New Year to continue with this pointless blog giving an unwanted insight into my non-eventful life.

So what have I tried new in the last 2 months since I updated my blog? In a word - nothing.  I don't think I have done anything at all of note since November.  Let me double check my diary. Nope nothing.  But fear not, I am back to make 2013 the 'Year of the Fad' starting now.

I guess the most obvious one to go for would be to start 2013 on a healthy eating kick.  I guess I am not too bad compared to some, but I am really trying to cleanse myself out a bit.  In fact I am drinking a Pukka detox tea as I write this (half price in Sainsbury's - instantly attractive to a fad dieter such as myself).  I have definitely increased my fruit and veg intake markedly (it makes up most of my diet currently), ditched the milk (thats a lie, I can't resist a latte on the weekends but I was drinking up to 2 a day before Christmas), ditched the meat (especially red meat, I don't know if I will ever touch the stuff again actually.  Really doesn't agree with me.....) and am tempted, but scared, to try myself on the green smoothies.  I know they are fantastic for me, but the thought of drinking one makes me dry heave in my mouth a little.  On the plus side it would give me reason to head out and purchase a blender, which is always an attractive prospect to a money burner such as myself.

I just purchased on Amazon a book called 'Honestly Healthy' - a recipe book dedicated to vegetarian recipes using alkaline vegetables to balance out the pH of the body.  Victoria Beckham is a fan so it must be good, right?  Perhaps my nutritionist friend will have something to say on the matter when she reads this blog post, but I have to say there are some pretty yummy recipes in the book.  I purchased it on my kindle as I didn't have the patience to wait for the book to arrive but now I have it I can tell you my dinner for tomorrow will either be Tomato and Mushroom Dahl or Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew.  I probably won't make it till I have someone to make it for but there is a recipe for an amazingly rich looking Raw Chocolate Mousse - its vegan actually and a major component in it is in fact avocado.  It would be wrong not to give it a try!

Exercise wise I am not doing too great, I still ice skate once a week but haven't really been on my bike due to the snow.  I am supposed to be racing my brother at a 10K race in May to decide which one of us is better.  I have already proven I am better than him academically so sport is the only thing left to challenge on.  It is my dream to do a sub 50 minute 10K. It's possible I think if I was to pull my finger out and begin.  But it's soooo cold and the pavements are dangerously slippy at the moment.  My boyfriend will drag me out over the weekend to do a little run, should Heathrow not screw me over again this weekend, and hopefully I will find my inner Paula Radcliffe (minus the pissing on the street).

The only other thing I really got into over Christmas was tv programme 'The Middle'.  Sue Heck is an absolute hero with her never give up attitude. I just purchased the DVDs on Amazon and unfortunately I do have to wait for them to arrive.  But as soon as they do, I am prepping myself a green smoothie and spending a day on the sofa watching the shit out of those DVDS.  I will leave you now with an inspirational Sue Heck photo to remind you to stay optimistic and never stop trying at something till you make it!

A busy week of first timing!

So, my second blog post has been a bit later than I first expected.  But only because I have been such a busy bee over the last week.  Trying new things, but also sticking with the familiar because sometimes that can be pretty fucking awesome too.

So, this week I mostly decided I wanted to work on broadening my horizons a bit and bettering myself as a person.  For some, that might involve doing charity work.  It does for me sometimes (I give a monthly direct debit to Cancer Research UK and last month I did a charity run - honest!) but this week I wanted to better myself by taking an interest in classic literature and doing yoga.  So thats exactly what I did, kind of. I spent a lot of last Tuesday procrastinating at work researching the different kinds of yoga (who knew there were so many?) I even got as far as emailing a teacher to find out if ashtanga yoga was suitable for me.  I should tell you my reasons for wanting to do yoga.  Basically I want to chill the fuck out, and I want to be able to do the spilts (and other bendy shit).  So yoga would be ideal. However, I chickened out from going to the class at the last minute as I couldn't get a friend to go with me.  Pathetic I know, but that's me! I did buy a book on yoga though and have been doing it a little at home.  Working on breathing techniques and suchlike.  Not sure whether I feel a difference, but I wasn't as terrified my plane was going to crash like usual yesterday so maybe it is...

So, my other method of self improvement.  Reading more literature of the classic book variety.  I do enjoy to read, my favourite type of literature is fashion mags, close second celebrity gossip magazines.  I read each Harry Potter book within 3 days of when it first went on sale. It can definitely be said I am the kind of person to judge a book by its cover, and I was always ok with that.  But when you get these posts on Facebook and suchlike asking which of the top 100 classic books I have read I could probably count the number I have on one (or no) hands.  It's a bit embarassing really.  So I went a bit mad on Amazon buying a few (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre).  I also bought a copy of the Bell Jar, not sure it's a classic but the angry chick in '10 things I hate about you' was reading it so it's probably no Twilight.  To fill me in till those came I bought 'The Scarlet Letter'.  I did enjoy the film 'Easy A' after all so I was guaranteed to like it, right?  I actually am really enjoying it.  Who knew classics were a good read?!

So inbetween all this I managed to get my hair done - I am the gingerest I have ever been in my life.  I also found the time to go on a hot tub holiday in the Scottish Highlands.  Private hot tub/sauna/remote location/excellent company/board games/alcohol.  My liver took a beating but man was it good.  Third time we have done it, definitely a bit of a tradition now.  Can't wait to do it again next year!

Anyway, it's getting late and I need to be up at 5am to go to a conference and pretend to be a professional scientist tomorrow so I leave you for tonight with just one of my favourite things this week.  Zara leggings.  They're like hot thermal spanx! So thick they're almost like trousers which is great news if your top is a little short and your vag falls out.  Result!

Introductions

So I guess my first post kind of covers itself, seeing as I am new to blogging.  I have been thinking about blogging for a long time, although I have always considered myself far too boring to be worth reading about.  I still think this is the case, but I have a bit of time on my hands now I have finally finished my PhD (something else new I have done this week) and I thought it was time to give it a try even if its only those I force to that end up reading it. 

The other issue I have needed to face is what someone such as myself, without any kind of passion/talent/enthusiam for a particular subject could blog about that people would (possibly) want to read?  My speciality is making catalysts that don't work for the reactions for which they are designed.  That's not something I feel most people want to hear about.  Then suddenly this idea hit me - Diary of a First Timer.

As a person I would definitely describe my key qualities as impatient/excitable/faddy/childlike/want to be good at everything/want what everyone else has.  I have also been lucky enough to come into the company of a fun and diverse group of people through my boyfriend who are into trying new things (we have a first timers 'club') which has introduced me to things I would never have considered trying (firewalking, anyone?).  This in turn has led me to try more hobbies/sports/beauty regimes/diets/products than I care to remember.  After a summer of Olympics, I was a member of a swimming club with my own Olympic dreams (didnt last), Dancing on Ice has persuaded me to take on Ice skating lessons (still persevering, actually).  Twitter - love the idea, I want to be the queen of witty tweets unfortunately I just cannot find the time between my other faddy hobbies and first time events to make the most of it.

But this brings me to my blog plans.  To share with you the latest trends (fads) and hobbies that I have come across, those which I have tried, those which I have stuck with and those which are just plain god damn ridiculous. So enjoy my blog and I leave you now, as first timers need their sleep, with a couple of pictures of things I am seriously coveting at the minute.

Bag £10 Primark.  Like the one in Zara, but 20% of the price.  Going to buy it in black too.

Watch £100 or so, Fossil.  (thanks Trev) Kinda manly but I love it.