Month: November 2015

Happy holiday!

| Melanie Rowe

I’m halfway through my Mexican holiday with my husband and parents but am ashamed to say that I have been a little lazy in the exercise stakes. Too much rich food has made me sluggish and sleepy, and am still suffering with morning sickness at 15 weeks pregnant!

 

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Healthy side dish (on the side of an unhealthy steak?)

I’m completely addicted to Virgin Mary’s, and whilst zero alcohol and full of vegetable goodness, there is the addiction of salt and all that Worcester sauce!

 

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My fifth Virgin Mary that day

I have, however, started to sort out my portion sizes and got back into my daily yoga practice-a lot easy to do at 6am in 28 degree heat as opposed to the cold mornings of London! There are some poses I must avoid such as Navasana (Boat) pose, but most of my routine I have managed to modify.

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Wonky pregnant tree pose

Here’s hoping I keep it up!

 

 

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A New Hairstyle For Winter

| Melanie Rowe

A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling incredibly bored with my hair and had been keen to try Ombre for a while but was wary of the drying effects. I usually go to Rush in Camden, and my stylist had said to me for a long time to try it. Despite thinking that the bleach would completely ruin my long black hair. I was eventually convinced, and had the colour done.

Clearly unhappy with my head of straw.
Clearly unhappy with my head of straw.

Unfortunately, my hair was damaged so badly I had to wear it up. I felt that I had no option but to cut it off, and used the opportunity to try a new hair salon.

I’ve used Wahanda before and love their deals on beauty treatments around London. I found a great offer at Holborn based salon Concrete with 60% off a cut and style with the Creative Director. Fabrize cut my hair to a shoulder length bob, instantly transforming the condition. The salon uses lovely products by Davines, an Italian brand who create sustainable and natural hair products, which I plan to buy as they made my hair so soft!

Soft new hair!
Soft new hair!

I will definitely be back to Concrete-Fabrize has given me 30% off my next appointment if booked with him-something they offer for all new customers.

Getting sweaty at a prenatal class Frame style

| Melanie Rowe

I love Frame. For those of you who haven’t heard of it, Frame is a dance/fitness studio with locations including Shoreditch, Queens Park and recently opened (and my local) Kings Cross. Before becoming pregnant, I regularly attended ballet and Music Video classes at the Shoreditch studio. Now, at nearly 14 weeks, I’m only allowed (as advised by instructors) to take part in prenatal and Get Leggy classes.

Outside Frame Kings Cross
Outside Frame Kings Cross

Tonight’s Frame Bumps class was seriously hard, and I can thoroughly recommend it to non-pregnant people as well. We worked through a series of plies and lunges plus exercises with therabands and then a load of core work. I thought I was fit before this class but I was proven wrong!

A non-sweaty me in the studio before the class
A non-sweaty me in the studio before the class

Lisanne the instructor was encouraging with high energy that we all tried to match. Small muscles that are not worked in regular gym workouts were focused on making my arms incredibly shaky!

The waiting area inside Frame's Kings Cross venue
The waiting area inside Frame’s Kings Cross venue

I’m looking forward to Get Leggy with Susie on Monday morning, a mixture of ballet based moves and kickboxing to hopefully give me a bikini worthy bottom!

I love Frame for it’s quirky classes (80s Rave, Jane Fonda Tribute) and the passionate instructors. Frame is a breath of fresh air which, unlike some studios, don’t take themselves too seriously.