In the true spirit of do it yourself at home fitness, I printed out the PDFs and put them in plastic pocket books (I think that’s the technical name for them).  None of this iPad training business for me.  It hurts my eyes to look at screens so early in the morning.

And the pom poms?  They’re my toddler safe circuit counters.  As I draw that first gasp of air after finishing a circuit, I reach into a jar for a pom pom and when I see ten on the table, I know my work is done.

I am not familiar at all with Michelle Bridge’s programmes so I can’t compare Neila’s site to Michelle’s.  There is a donation button on Neila’s site which I’ve clicked given the amount I’ve downloaded from her.

Have you tried a Neila workout?  How about Michelle’s 12WBT?  How’s your progress been?

Toddler SSG has been fighting cabin fever with some energetic interpretive dance to his favourite Wiggles’ tunes.  We do a mean ‘Rock-a-Bye Your Bear’ together.

I’ve been repurposing my favourite OPI red (Big Apple Red, of course) and labelling all manner of things which Sharpies can’t.  Like toddler Crocs and new mugs for the work kitchen.

In other news from the beauty world, it was three for the price of two Maybelline day at Priceline today.  I got talking to a fellow customer at my local store and she converted me to Maybelline’s 2 step lip colour, Super Stay 24 Hour 2 Step Lipcolor ($22.95 each).

The lip colour is applied in your standard brush manner.  The colour is easy to work with and though you need a couple of coats of the lighter shades (020 Continuous Coral) for an even finish, it doesn’t cake unevenly.  It does take a little while to dry completely though, a couple of minutes.

Excuse the bandaid.  It’s been a trying day in the kitchen.

The gloss finish is in stick form which is much easier to work with than Rimmel’s version.  Look, no colour transfer from the lip colour!  No complaints from me, so far.  Great range of colours and a surprisingly rich looking finish on the lip.  No colour transfer onto mugs and no colour bleed around the lips after several hours’ wear.  My lips also feel as if they’ve just got lipstick on rather than that mask like feel of other long lasting lip colour products.  But the biggest plus of all?  You can sneak a cheeky coat of your own lip balm over the top if you’re out during the day without the proper gloss coat.

Well done, Maybelline!  And at not too steep a price too.

Of course there were hot drinks to be had after a morning of successful shopping and in Toddler SSG’s case, upward climbing through a spiral slide.  It’s amazing how children co-operate with minimal injury and tears when spiral slides are involved.  Everyone somehow gets to where they want to go no matter how dangerous it looks to parents.

And then it was home for some day off batch cooking.  Today’s recipe was this highly recommended Chicken, Vegetable and Pasta Soup from bestrecipes.  Chicken soup being Jewish penicillin and all.

It’s always a good feeling when everything fits into your saucepan.  I like how this chicken soup featured bacon and leek along with my favourite soup vegetables – carrot and celery.

Because chicken thighs were used, the meat ended up being on the chewy and tender side rather than the soft shredded meat you get with a chicken breast based soup.  Stirring in that Parmesan definitely adds a little something to the taste.  I didn’t add the spinach that the recipe called for but added extra celery instead.

And that’s about it from cabin fever HQ.  Fingers crossed we’re all free to fly the coop tomorrow!

Take care and the vitamins, remember your vitamins or the Jewish penicillin!