Back on it

So April has been a slack month for me in terms of fitness, since the new year I try to workout 3/4 times a week (mix of gym, yoga and Pilates) but have only consciously worked out 8 times this whole month. Although I have played tennis and been on a few walks, that should really be referred to as hikes (which I haven't included). I decided that it was time to get back on it in May. I always think its best to break yourself in so reduced the amount of carbs I eat last week (the headache only lasted one day) and I dragged myself to the gym this morning. The class I wanted to go to was cancelled, so I reacquainted myself with the free weights and spent an hour dead lifting, squatting and shoulder pressing. It all sounds more intense than it is.

Although I hate to admit it I do like working out its a great stress reliever, and it makes me feel more confident in how I look. Over the next couple of months I'm going to focus on toning my stomach and my back and improving my fitness so that I can run a 10k - I'm also considering getting a bike, inspired by my friend who is always harping on about how much she loves riding. I'll keep you up to date on how it's going.

My Gymbox membership starts this week which should help to spur me on, looking forward to Ghetto Zumba on Wednesday.

I love ratchet tv and I can not lie

So I recently came back from a very chilled out break in the sun where I spent most of my time drinking cocktails on a lounger on the beach whilst watching ratchet tv shows on my iPad. it was sun, sea and shameless tv viewing, I totally over indulged in black women sitting on couches commenting on their behaviour over the last season of their 'reality' shows and it made me realise:

1. Scandal needs to stop it with the ridiculous mid season breaks - so annoying
2. Games of Thrones books although at times slightly overindulgent, how many books does it take to travel around Westoros, are preferred to the tv series. Controversial I know. You miss so much about the characters with all that is cut from the plot or totally changed.
3. The Following is still must watch tv - still not sure what will happen in series 2 and still saying 'I'm scared' when watching each episode.
4. My love of Love and Hip Hop ATL is slightly concerning I'm not sure it's healthy to be so excited by a trailer - although Kirk is so rude.
5. Deception is rubbish.
6. The Carrie Diaries is entertaining as long as you are not expecting it to be anything like Sex and the City.

You'll be pleased to know I haven't spent all of my time watching tv, I've also recently went to see the musical The Bodyguard - I didn't think it was that great, but if you're a Whitney fan worth seeing for the use of her additional backlist (not just the soundtrack) in the show. I also had a short break in Brighton and caught up with loads of my friends who all seem to be pregnant.

Do you have a baby 12 months and under?

Are you the parent of a baby who is 12 months or younger, or know someone who is? Would you be willing to answer questions relating to weaning if so please email me ncleighton@gmail.com.

Women we can celebrate

Love this piece highlighting some of Africa's female achievers and highlighting that there is much more to Africa and the role of women than what is projected in the media.

Africa's top women achievers - nominated by you | World news | guardian.co.uk

Duro Oluwo for JC Penney available in the UK

So I'm guessing you know that Duro Oluwo is the London based Nigerian designer who Michelle rocks. And you may know that Duro has recently paired up with JC Penney to design a collection. Well what I didn't know is for the flat fee of £15 or free if you spend a £100 JC Penney ships to the UK. Which means I can purchase this carry on suitcase, I'm slightly annoyed that I can get the umbrella but thinking I may have to ask for it to be shipped to friend living in the states.

Visit the Duro Oluwo website www.duroolowu.com and view the collection http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/jsp/browse/category.jsp?id=cat1002410004.

Are you the majority breadwinner in your household

I have just read the first chapter in 'Rocking your role'- the how to guide to success for female breadwinners by Jenny Garrett. Garrett uses her leadership and coaching expertise to provide guidance for women on accepting and being successful in their role as the main earner in their households. I've only read the first chapter so can't really comment on the book, but I have to say it's an interesting topic and one that's probably not discussed openly. Garrett mentions that some women feel angry as they have had to take on this responsibility or others relish being a success and bringing home the bacon.

When discussing this topic within my own circle of friends the majority have stated that they would prefer their significant other to be the main breadwinner. But stats from a survey conducted in 2010 indicate that 20% of the women in the UK are the chief breadwinner in their household. I'm sure as we are now in a triple dip recession  these numbers continue to grow. In my own personal fairy tale, I'd marry someone who was wealthy have babies and stay at home. I would like to work because it gave me something to do rather then having to pay the bills.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy my work but I also love my own free time and would prefer to work to pursue my own passions whilst being on hand to look after my children. I've been the person running around to pick up someone from nursery or after school club and hoping they don't get sick because I have a meeting or project I need to finish and if I'm honest it's not something I really want to do again. But if my husband wanted to stay at home and I went to work then so be it especially if that was the financially savvy thing to do. A colleague at work recently took 6 months paternity leave to look after his baby whilst his wife went back to work, making use of the ability to share maternity leave between the father and mother. Which I personally feel is wonderful.

Society needs to move with the times and if Rocking your role helps more women embrace their breadwinner status then I'm all for it. Some of the most revered women in the world were or are currently the chief breadwinners in their households, Michelle Obama before she became FOTUS was earning more than Barack and had been from the time they started dating and Oprah has been keeping Stedman for years.

If you like to find out more about Jenny Garrett and her book visit rockingyourrole.com

Things I like

The Following - are you watching this show (it airs on Sky Atlantic)? If not I strongly advise that you get with the programme (lol- I'm loving that)! No but honestly it's my favourite programme currently available to watch on British tv. Every week I think it can't get any better, that any new twists would be farcical; but no each week I'm drawn back in. My only fear is that it could go the way of Prison Break post series 1 - where you start to think 'come on now' and stop watching - well I did. The Following definitely has the Nadie says rubber stamp of approval.

Scandal - I haven't shared my Olivia Pope love with you all. But if I'm in on a Friday I make sure to catch up with the antics of Olivia Pope and Associates. I have been known to have panic attacks if I can't find a working stream! I'm rooting for Fitz and Olivia and the boiler cupboard moment was fire. More 4 I totally couldn't wait for the show to air here, so currently watching online and trying to figure out what I'll do when the series ends.

Daley - so not sure how I totally missed all of the Daley buzz. It's a year late but I'm seriously in love with everything but the song he did with Jessie J. To be honest I refuse to listen to it as I feel the same way about Jessie J as I do marmite.

Bruno Mars - Treasure. There is definitely more to Bruno than the songs he released from his first album. Treasure one of the songs from the second album will be added to my summer chilling in the park mix - when I get my new iPod or fix the old one.

The gym - so I needed to tone up. I'm not as young as I used to be which means that a week or two of salads isn't enough to resolve my crisp addiction and the resulting flab that they turn into. So just after Christmas I joined a new gym and have been going on average 2 or 3 times a week as well as going to yoga and Pilates classes at the yoga studio during my lunch break and to my surprise I actually like going. I feel much better when I've been; I'm looking more toned -if I do say so myself and I'm fitter RESULT.

Other things I like:

Valentino Exhibition at Somerset House think it's closing soon but if you like fashion then worth seeing.

Harrison's in Balham had a lovely dinner there last week with some girl pals. Everyone loved what they ate and it was reasonably priced.

Parmesan potatoes - tried these with a duck recipe I found on Tesco's website - yummy.

My new red boots.

Busuba Ethai - they need to introduce a loyalty scheme. I'm sure I'm due a free meal by now.