Spring Cleaning Detox

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Ladies and gentlemen.
 (gentlemen this is going to be diet talk, don't let me bore you, go watch the news or something.)


I bet you are wondering how my detoxing went so I figured I'd give you a long rambling update.  


I started The Juice Master's  3 Day Juice Detox which he outlines in his book, Keeping It Simple, which came free when I bought a juicer (This one, which I LOVE) after reading Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Diet.





I wanted to jump start my healthy eating program as outlined in the Crazy Sexy Diet with The Juice Master's 3 day detox, so I did that last week.  And let me tell you 3 days without food turned me into a cranky old monster. RARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!   BUT, Hallelujah! I did lose 5 pounds in 3 days!  Nick said this is not surprising considering there was NO food in my stomach.  Gah I hate it when he's right!  Unfortunately I don't think those 5 pounds are gone for good because I think I have already gained two of them back.  But whatever.  I'd like to tell you I reached "enLIGHTenment" like the juice master promised but that, my friends, would be a load of donkey kong.  Too bad, cuz I am usually searching for enlightenment.


So anyways yesterday Nick and I officially started The Crazy Sexy Diet (seriously the name is so embarrassing) Today I had to tell my boss I couldn't have the eclaire he was offering me because I'm on a Crazy Sexy Diet and then I winked at him.... (ok thats a lie I told him I was detoxing and considering he is a middle aged male he still thought this was funny and ridiculous)  Also Nick has told his colleagues that he is on the "Crazy Sexy Diet" which is also embarrassing for him.  Since he is a dude and all.  Good thing I taught him the phrase "no homo" which I learned from Chad Johnson's facebook followers.  So useful.  Thanks Chad for your contribution to society.  Too bad the use of the word homo is seriously offensive in England since they are very politically correct over here.  So if Nick really did say to his colleagues "I am on the Crazy Sexy Diet, no homo" he would probably get fired or at least scolded.  OK just wanted you to know I make up stories.  hope you see their comedic value.


So anyways the crazy sexy diet is no animal, no gluten, no dairy, no caffeine, no alcohol.  And LOTS of veggies!  And green juice (which is why I had to buy a juicer).  I'm also supposed to get exercise and meditate (whaaaaaaaaa?  yes it's a bit of new age hippy bologna) but I missed my bus to the gym this morning and went back to bed where my husband was spooning my dog, luckily they made a teensy bit of room for me.  sluts.  Yikes, ok I am ADD today, but I would just like to say that yesterday I had a bad headache and today I am sad.  For no reason.  Except I keep thinking I am homesick because summer is just around the corner and Britain pretty much has no summer, and I like my summers to be Wet, Hot, American and WILD.  And only the wet part is possible in Britain.  


Please let me know if you want to continue being updated on this Crazy Sexy business.  I have 19 more days...


Over and out.


Kelly Leigh

Want or Need?

I'm not sure whether this is airing my dirty laundry a lil too much, but one of the biggest fights Nick and I have regularly is on the issue of purchasing a car.  My little American self does not like walking.  Call me lazy if you will but when a 5 minute car ride turns into an hour walk, I really have no desire to get off my arse.  And I can honestly say that our lack of car is seriously holding us back from enjoying the beautiful English countryside.

So, even though my husband says we'll get a car, I'm not sure when, if ever, this is going to happen, so I have started contemplating the purchase of a bike.  The problem is, they are kind of pricey and I wonder whether I will actually use it or I whether I will be just as lazy as a pedaler as I am a walker.  Also, running errands with a bike doesn't seem that appealing because where do I put stuff?  Groceries?  Dry cleaning?  I can't figure it out.

Enter Madsen Cycles.  I first saw these cargo bikes on the lovely Kera's blog.  Even though I thought she was adorable carting her two little boys around in one, I didn't really see the potential for my childless self.



But I keep seeing them around the blogs these days, and so I went to their website to have a little gander.  And it hit me...



The dog, the blue color, the flowers.  I need this bike.  I would take Heidi deep into the countryside and then we would go exploring, sans vehicle.  How cute would we look?  Hey, I could even put my husband in the back - he never learned to ride a bike (sad childhood I know!).  I might cycle him along to a new restaurant since the only one we ever go to is the one within walking distance.  Talk about a date.  Do you think it would be for or against man code to have your woman drive you around in the bucket of a bike?  And I could go grocery shopping without having to pay for a cab.  And I could make it to rowing practice without having to find a ride.  Oh the joy of being self reliant!

Do you want one too?  Madsen Cycles is having a contest where you can win one by linking back to their site.  I wasn't going to tell you because I wanted to up my chances of winning, but I feel too guilty.  Damn you, conscious.

Update: I just read the contest rules again, you have to be in America to win.  Bullocks.

How 'bout those New Year's Resolutions?

It's already February - time is a-tick-tocking away!  Jeez this month has gone by pretty fast.  Just wanted to recap to remind myself of those pesky resolutions I made.

New Year's Resolutions

1. Get experience for vet school
• Bah, this hasn't happened yet.  I spoke to the vet about getting experience when I took Heidi in for her shots.  She wasn't willing to help me but gave me some leads which turned out to be dead ends.  Also she was Italian so didn't know much  anything about vet school in England.  Maybe I should put this on hold until we move up to Sheffield??? 
2. Do more and stop thinking about doing more
• I've been really good about doing things this month.  I guess a fire's been lit under my ass with needing to get this house in order to rent.  So much DIY has been done and I'm pleased with how this resolution has gone.
3. Be proactive about establishing myself in London
• Hmm... I don't know if this is really relevant anymore.  Must remember to establish myself well in Sheffield as soon as we move.
4. Be active and healthy and quit yo-yo dieting
• This hasn't happened at all.  The more I do things around the house the less time I spend cooking, which means more eating garbage.  I also really need to start running again, it's just SO cold!  (ugh ok I know just call me Whiny McWhinestein)
5. Make a really good new English friend
• This is also a no go.  I hope when I establish myself in Sheffield it will be easier to meet people than it has been in London.  There are no potential friends at the moment, but I'm spending so much time doing stuff in the house there hasn't been any opportunity for meeting people.  We're going to start taking Heidi to puppy school soon so maybe we can meet people there.

How are your new year's resolutions coming?

The Green Monster

Nick and I are on a bit of a health kick lately.  He's been pretty stressed about his trip to Tunisia, Algeria, and Morroco so he's been feeling a bit rundown.  Therefore, being the supportive wife I am I came up with a lets get healthy plan.  This plan included a trip to Holland & Barret's, which is a really great health store in England.  They sell lots of vitamins you've probably never heard of but upon entering the shop you'll feel like you most certainly need to be taking.

We walked out of the store with urban wheatgrass which is supposed to detox and energize, and ground flaxseed, which is full of omega 3,6, and 9 which is good for the brain and can be difficult to come by in a vegetarian diet.  We also got lots of pills, naturally.

Then I found this website, Green Monster Movement, which has tons of recipes for this so called "Green Monster" basically a miracle smoothie containing spinach which will make you energetic, your hair grow, and your skin look fabulous. Sounded promising.

So this morning we made our first green monsters.  We used the "Virgin Green Monster" recipe for our first time - it seemed appropriate.

Here's what we did:

We put 4 cups of spinach into a blender.

Then we added two packets of urban wheat grass and two tablespoons ground flaxseed.

Then 2 bananas.

Then about a cup and a half of milk, and we hit GO!... Then Nick tried to pour it into glasses...

Clearly, that went well.

And here was our final result.  Honestly, not bad at all.  Definitely won't satisfy your smoothie king fix, but probably way healthier.  Now I just can't decide whether to declare myself a mean green fighting machine ala teenage mutant ninja turtles, or just a dirty hippy.  Let me know what you think.