2015 = Fresh, Fit and Fabulous...

Ok, so I know everyone's aim right now is to get to the gym and kick off the year as a new improved versions of themselves, however we really do mean it!! US London Mice HAVE to mean business with just eight weeks until a Dubai trip to shift those indulgent Christmas pounds! With our break booked, we have the inspiration in place - now we just need to keep motivation up, calories down and gym training constant...no mean feat eh!?!

With the mornings and evenings still freezing cold and pitch black, the only way through is to make it every bit as enjoyable as we can and here's how we propose to do it...!

1. Dress to impress...

Admittedly unless you look like this...

...it's always going to be pretty difficult to look good with a day's make-up melting down your face and sweat patches growing by the second, however if we're going to kill ourselves by treadmill, we will look good doing it!! 

The go to place to kit yourself out? Net-a-Sporter. They have the very best Sport section which pretty much covers anything you desire from gym wear to Yoga, Sailing to Tennis...you name it they have it covered!! 

However for now I think we'll stick to gym wear only, see below for our current lust list...

Bodyism Printed Sports Bra, £50...

 

Adidas Originals and Mary Katrantzou Sweatshirt, £145...

 

 

Nike Vintage Cotton Joggers, £35...

 

 

Printed Reflective Nike Jersey Leggings, £90...

 

 

Bodyism Daisy Contour Sport Bra, £55...

 

 

Adidas Originals and Mary Katrantzou Track Jacket, £160...

 

Nike Zoom Fit Agility Mesh Sneakers, £100...

2. Spinning is out, Spiralizing is IN!

HK mouse posted about this craze last year and it's been top of my shopping list ever since. However, what with all the Christmas bustle, acquiring the kit somehow totally slipped my mind, until we ripped open our very own Spiralizer on Christmas Day!

With our tummies constantly rumbling after getting far too used to snacks every 15 minutes over the festive period, all we're craving at London Towers is comforting roast potatoes, cheese and pasta! So here's hoping our new spiralizer will quickly trick us into thinking courgettes are big steaming bowls of spaghetti!!! 

They look convincing enough to me...

I'm planning to get experimental this week so watch this space for some inspiralization my friends, however if you need help before then The Londoner has a beauty for you right here... 

*WARNING* if you're watching the calories DO NOT look!!

3. Be a Sunday sinner!

In the hope of transforming my body into a temple of health, I'm not going to kid myself into thinking I can cut everything enjoyable out! Therefore I've decided to follow all the rules Monday to Saturday (as much as humanly possible) and have Sunday as my cheat day! 

I'm not planning anything crazy but if I've been craving chocolate all week this is when I will allow it, but no binging! 

Other than that I will be busy sipping hot water and lemon, green juices, bathing in epsom salts, body brushing, munching on kale and drowning myself with all the water I'm drinking! WOW the fun I have ahead...!!

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Phew! What a week!

This week as well as a whirl of unpacking, bouts of holiday blues and a hefty dose of belated Birthday celebrations, two of us Mice have started brand new jobs. Cue a back to school-esque urge to stock our brand new desks with shiny stationery, and kit ourselves out with fresh work uniforms. All we can say is that those first pay cheques better hurry up and hit our accounts VERY soon.

When we haven't been eyeing up new staplers or getting into the office keen bean early to put apples on our bosses' desks, this week the Mice have mostly been... 

Spiralizing absolutely anything and everything in sight. For anyone totally baffled by what the hell I'm talking about, let me introduce you to this life-altering, kitchen marvel - blog buds, meet the spiralizer...

Looks like a cross between a giant pencil sharpener and an instrument of torture, but it's actually your key to creating healthy, low-carb noodles. Grab yourself a courgette (or let's call it a zucchini), a carrot or a sweet potato, spike it in your spiralizer, crank the handle and hey presto - you've got a bowl of zoodles, coodles or umm... poodles. Possibly not the chicest addition to your cooking artillery but who cares about appearances when with the flick of a wrist, you can produce a whole heap of these bad boys...

All sounding good on paper but no idea what on earth you'd pair with your zoodles? Let me introduce the authority on all things spiral, Inspiralize - a blog completely dedicated to bringing you delicious recipes that you can whip up using your new piece of kitchen kit. 

Ok, so you may be rolling your eyes and scoffing at me right now, but with a bowl of zoodles coming in at just 21 calories and less than 4g of carbs compared to a bowl of spaghetti at a whopping 346 calories and 64g of carbs, the spiral logic starts to stack up. Snap up your very own spiralizer (just £30 on Amazon) give spiral slurping a whirl and I'll bet you'll be going round the twist for it by this time next week...

Nailing it with the latest soft gel mani brand that's landed at my fav HK pampering haven, the Loft by the Nail Library. Hot off the boat from Japan is an alternative to Shellac or OPI Gel Colour Nail Labo's Presto Bambina.

I'm now on my second set of Bambinas after I swapped my first set of holiday party nails for a more new job appropriate pale pink this week. While these gels aren't vastly different in terms of durability or shine to any other gels I've had before, the thing I'm loving about the Bambina range is the colours. Ranging from palest pastels (including a lavender-hued white that I'm definitely trying next time) to the brightest neons - see for reference my holiday mani below - the entire colour spectrum is catered for.

If you're looking for a weekend pick me up, what could be better than a snuggling into one of the Loft's comfy leather recliners with a stack of magazines, a glassy of something sparkling and a glossy set of rainbow bright nails?!

The Loft by the Nail Library
Level 2, 26 Cochrane Street,
Central.
+852 2618 8623

Adding some Rad to the weekend's beaching with a Sunday session at new Hong Kong beachside hot spot, Mavericks.

Set on a shady stretch of Pui O Beach in Lantau, Mavericks is the latest venture from Chef Austin (of Brickhouse, Roundhouse, Boomshack & Salon Number 10 fame...). The open-fronted space is decorated with graffiti and surfboards, blasts out sunny beats and serves up a whole host of killer cocktails and laidback comfort food (think - hot dogs, burgers, fish & chips and sliders).  

After hiking round to Pui O from Mui Wo ferry terminal (a fairly hilly 9km amble) we arrived at Mavericks hot and in need of hydration and sustenance. Nothing a few coronas, a couple of bottles of rosé and a round of wonton nachos couldn't sort out.

The ideal spot for whiling away a lazy weekend afternoon and feasting on a devilishly delicious chocolate chip cookie ice-cream sandwich (or six)...

Mavericks

Pui O Beach

Hong Kong

+852 5402 4154

Listening to Lily on a loop. We know we're late to the party on this one, but we've just discovered the latest Lily Allen album - Sheezuz - and it's ace! If you haven't already, download it now and make it this weekend's soundtrack.

iPod loaded with Lily? Great! So, this weekend's one rule?

Have a fab one!

x

The Mice