Quote

Quote via marieclaire.nl

Sometimes I have issues to stay focused. When that happens I am losing track of my dreams and hopes; things that I want to come true (I have a few but don't have the guts to make them true right now). I get myself back on track by reading quotes that make me realize that there always is a second chance. What do you do to stay focussed?

The Jean Paul Gaultier Expo

Last week I visited the Jean Paul Gaultier exposition in Rotterdam. I felt blessed to see all those garments. But I must tell you I am a lot less liberal-minded as I think I am. The pieces are beautiful to see but way to peculiarly for my taste (but It was haute couture so I guess that is the meaning of it all). But JPG knew what to do with fabrics. That's for sure!

An apple a day..

Meet my favorite perfume. It always brings me in a happy mode and gives me confidence when I need it. The fresh smell always reminds of those early summer mornings when the grass is wet and the air smells like a newly mowed lawn. 

If there are a pair of boots I would dream of, these would definitely be it. I would really like to add these to my wardrobe! I'll keep on dreaming (and search for a good pair of knock offs)..

Diabetic Diaries.. Part II

Once again, it's in the middle of the night. I just ate two slices of bread with chocolate spread, a couple of biscuits (I lost count) and drank a whole bottle of energy drink. A low bloodglucoselevel. If you didn't know better you would think I'd have midnight cravings.

A couple of hours later (it's now 04.15 am) I am awake again. Apparently I ate too much (I already thought so when I pushed another biscuit into my mouth) because now my bloodglucoselevel is skyrocketing. No biggie, I'll inject myself with some insulin and I will be ready to go back to sleep (again).

The next morning I can't get out of my bed. My eyes won't open and I have a headache like I have been drinking alcohol all night. Oh joy, my bloodglucoselevel dropped to a stunning 12.4 (for those of you who aren't busy figuring out the world of diabetes, this is still a high level). Lucky for me I am still fulfilled from my breakfast at 1am so I'll just have a smoothie (I secretly hope that my smoothie evens out the amount of calories I took this morning).

Why is it that my body screams 'Food! Food! Food!' and I just can't resist? I want to say no but when I say 'No' my mouth is already open and I put something in my mouth before I can say the oooo in No. It was a good cookie though.

Flowers

Flowers! Shot by myself :-)

Don't you just love flowers in your house? They bring so much happiness into your home. This picture brings me in a good mood every time I look at it. I hope it does the same thing to you too!

No squats, no glory

I follow a lot of people on Instagram; photographers, celebrities (does Snooki count as a celebrity?!), fashion bloggers and health bloggers. On of those people (okay okay, it was Khloe Kardashian) posted a picture of a 30 day squat challenge. Being my curious self, I accepted the challenge (bring it Khloe!)...

Day 1
Okay Khloe, here we go. According to the plan I have to do 50 squats today. Well, that's doable. Maybe this routine won't cost me much energy after all. 50 quats later I my butt feels a little sore but that's it. Piece of cake! The next two days I have to build it up with 5 more squats every day. No biggie.

Day 9
I build it up to do 100 squats today. 100 squats! Yesterday was a rest-day and I only had to do 80 the day before. A little scared but I am up for a challenge so work that ass! 100 squats later; I feel my legs (they are actually more toned since I started this routine), my butt and my calves. But it's all worth it.

Day 18
Gosh, what a girl needs to do before she can walk on the beach (just kidding)! Today I have to do 155 squats. It's starting to feel more and more ridiculous; I mean, who does 155 squats without stopping? Well, I did.

Day 24
Rest-day! Yesterday I did 190 squats. After 80 squats I feel my body saying ' Oh no, not again!'. My heart is pounding after 100 squats and I feel my legs after 120 squats. Rarely my butt thinks this exercise is so much fun because I won't feel any myalgia in my butt (maybe it's because I have a job where I sit most of the time?!).

Day 30
Oh-my-god, I just did 250 squats. Two-hundred-fifty-squats. I am exhausted, yet excited. I finished the challenge. My butt looks insane (insanely good!) and my legs are toned. I never saw them this toned. So I am guessing this is a good routine to get a better butt in a month. But now I have a problem: I leave for Curacao in three weeks! How am I going to contain this butt? I guess I will do 100 squats or so every other day. That sounds reasonable right? Right?

p.s. No I didn't take a picture of my butt.. Really. I didn't.

Want to follow me on Instagram? My account is @Ireneweekly! See you there!

New in: Shoes!

I found this great pair of sky-high heels at River Island (you can order them here) and I immediately fell in love with them. I love those days when you can walk out the door wearing just jeans, t-shirt, a killer pair of heels and sunglasses. These are definitely a good addition to my wardrobe. Can't wait for the summer to begin!

Weekly Running

My motto!

When you read my blog more than once you'll know I am busy building up my condition. Because I hadn't any. Like zero. I must tell you the truth; my condition depends on my bloodglucoselevel. When that level isn't good, my running won't be good.

But last Sunday I felt like I could run a marathon so I asked the BF to go with me. I think it is always better to run with someone because then I'll hold on longer. So we started to run, and run, and run, and run. Before I knew it I ran 1,5 kilometers without walking! Now I know that doesn't sound like a long distance but when you consider that I couldn't run for 3 minutes without walking I think 1,5 kilometers is a good job!

I think doing all those NTC  exercises is really starting to pay off. It is really exhausting but liberating at the same time. Finally I am in the position where I see my body changing. It feels like a 100% transformation from the girl who didn't like to do any exhausting thing to the girl who gets grumpy when she doesn't do a thing.

It's funny how things go. I was that girl on the couch with in one hand a bag of chips and in the other a glass of Diet Coke (because of my Diabetes), I'd go to the gym once a week and that was it. Literally. So depressing. But now I am that girl everyone gets annoyed about; running, exercises, tennis, cycling. I'd like to do everything in one day! I don't know where all this energy comes from but it sure feels good :-)

I love... Dove

A big shout out to Dove. God, they are doing such a great job. Besides making great products (I love their CreamOil products) they are also holding a mirror in front of you. Instead of promoting that you can be a better you, they prove you that you are beautiful. They say that you are ok and you have to believe in yourself. They make such good advertisements and I love the message they are spreading. Please see this video, it literally made me cry a little. Thank you Dove for this great video!