The Skeff Whiskey Tasting

So I've really been getting out these days...

It just took a gentle reminder that although I'm training hard for my Full Power Powerlifting Comp it doesn't mean I have to miss out on ultimate l's and b's with all the ITWBN bae's.

Just maybe not as smathery!

The Skeff had such an intimate evening set up with about 12 of us for the whiskey tasting so we really got all the attention we needed...because lets face it we're a needy bunch!

@galwayplayer flat out on snapchat

Home to 150 different whiskeys Amy and Kevin decided to give us an education about 4 whiskeys, we each had an envelope explaining what each was

•  Jameson Castmates: The Jameson Castmates release is a unique whiskey that has been made with the help of Cork’s Franciscan Well brewery. Barrels that had been previously used for Jameson whiskey were taken to  to use in the ageing of their full-bodied craft stout. Once used for beer maturation they were sent back to the distillery where Jameson whiskey that had already been aged was filled into them for a finishing period.
• Jameson Black Barrel is a triple distilled blend of rich pot still and grain whiskey that is matured in a mixture of sherry casks and bourbon barrels.  Black Barrel delivers the signature smoothness of Jameson Original, with enhanced spice, nutty notes, vanilla sweetness, and sherry.
• Powers 12 Year Old John Lane 
  The Powers John’s Lane Distillery was renowned for its Pot Still Irish whiskeys, bursting with flavour and character. Single Pot Still whiskey is unique to Ireland in general and to the Midleton Distillery, Co. Cork. Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, Pot Still whiskeys are characterised by full, complex flavours and a wonderful, creamy mouthfeel.
• Redbreast 12 Year Old
  On the nose, it’s a mature fruit bowl (pears, brown bananas, strawberries) vanilla and cloves. On the palate, it has a thick texture, floral and creamy with burnt ginger cake. Overall, it’s rich and complex but still easy-drinking.

 My Favorite definitely had to be the Jameson Caskmate- 

The only whiskey I've ever been partial to is an 'ol hot one..

but this I could feel myself sipping for leisure other than just trying to get rid of the flu!

Just when we thought the whiskey tasting was coming to a close out came the platters of food <3 

I could literally sit and eat those prawns all day!

We continued to have the lols- because why not! I love how even with our own area we were still part of the atmosphere in the rest of the bar

with Superfit Foodie, The Beauty Kemple and Dolorous

snapchat fun with @thebeautykemple 

All in all it was a chilled yet informative evening and I'll defo be back for food as while we were there the smell was actual God like!

Thanks to the ever talented Julia Dunin for  all the snaps and the Skeff for putting on such a wonderful spread.

Tears, Tantrums and not a Tiara in sight

So throwing it back to our first PT cardio session last week that I "thought" was hell- 

Yeah no- it was a false sense of "this is the worst it will be".

I should have known considering Max was training with us that this couldn't be as bad as it gets!

I've never sweat as much in my life- and my poor hair is having an awful time for itself having to be washed almost every day- Hey there first world problems!

Max with an absolute sh*t eating grin. 

I'm blending into his hoodie- and this was taken a good ten minutes after we'd finished training.
No amount of filtering can save me now.

This week consisted of 22,000kg lunges, 2 fml PT sessions, a blast of HIIT and 18,000kg worth of bench, military press and curls. 

Last week I complained about my legs falling off, this week trying to straighten out my arms was a nightmare.

Easter Monday was hectic at work so I couldn't make it into the gym.

I got my HIIT done that morning but not my lunges.

smokin' after squats and sprawls.

Tuesday was fairly nuts- HIIT in the morning, Mondays lunges had to be done at lunch

Chuffed with myself.

Then it was PT time.

Starting of with sled pushes and then sprawls and pull ups. Then we moved on very swiftly to assisted pull ups- where it was 20 pull ups, then 18, 16 and so on.

On 18 pull ups I wasn't feeling so fly- 9 done-up for ten and boom- this overwhelming feeling came over me- kicked Max square in the chest, ran into the door and puked my guts up- without thinking about it I ran back out and finished the last 8 and then onto 72 more altogether.

I've converted my brain to that of a powerlifter- losing brain cells by the second and being much too stubborn to give up.

By Thursday I was crying because I was so sore and just wanted to eat everything.

and by Friday it was time for my weigh in- 2 weeks ago I gave my Easter Egg to Max to give to me after the competition.

It's not just any 'ol egg. 

It's a Reeses Pieces FILLED egg from Candyland Galway

If I wasn't down in weight I was inhaling this in one go and calling it a day.

Hard work pays off however and all that sweat and abuse, strict eating and pain resulted in me being down after 4 weeks of staying the same and the Egg lives on to see another day.

whey-frickin-hey.

So I successfully had my first ever sober weekend out.

I've been so selfish and focused on myself and I've literally turned into a hermit- 

which is very strange to my social butterfly nature.

Friday started out as a work event at the launch of the amazing Caroline Downey's new company Carried Away PR&events and off I toddled to work in the radio but popped into An Pucan and Seven after work- and actually enjoyed my sober self til 3 bells!

Rocking it out with my sparkling water that full on had the placebo effect.

I was buzzing about the place, 

Same on Saturday night- although I didn't last as long- half 12!

I think I've been so strict with my diet lately that I completely forgot I can still actually talk to people and it was nice to actually do something with my weekend and not ruin myself!

Do not mistake me for never wanting to go out on the lash again- quite the opposite, but it was fun to know I don't actually need to drink to step outside the door of the house.

I know I'm having a right ol whinge here and you might be wondering why am I showing you sweaty god awful pictures? Telling you I projectile vommited? that I'm in so much pain it hurts to sleep? That I'm throwing tantrums and this isn't even a pageant!??

Is this not going to turn you off the gym you say?

I hope not.

Yes this is tough but after a rest day yesterday I actually feel the finest.

The pain and crying is temporary. 

(Well the cryings not, I love a good cry!)

This last 3 months has flown, and I'm into the final 4 weeks and everything's starting to take shape.

Off I toddle now for a strength test and I'm a little bit scared.

I keep forgetting that along with prepping for this shoot I also have The IDFPA Full Power powerlifting comp the following week.

So wish me luck this week as I launch into twice a day training sessions, while on my quest for abs and keeping my strength up for Full Power.

And trying to be a little bit bearable for my loved ones !!

Galway Fashion Trail

Being a born and bred Galweigian I know we love a good festival- I grew up on them- we've got The Food Festival, Arts festival, we've had the Volvo Ocean Race, we've even got a quilt festival for christ sake, and that's just the tip of the ice berg. We're also  home to my absolute favorite time of year-

The Galway Races. 

While all completely different, they all share the same theme-

Fashion.

Galway Fashion week is a must for any Galway festival goer and fashionista in general- as the gals and guys from ITWBN well know.

The Irish Fashion Innovation awards were my first look at the week- 3rd year in a row and as per usual they didn't disappoint 

To end the week long event was the Bloggers Breakfast and Galway Fashion Trail.

Having met the guys from Colm Quinn BMW previously, I knew the morning would be great fun.

Breakfast at a car dealership and then they'd drop us back into town to start The Fashion Trail...

 I won't lie I was skeptical as to how it was all going to work- 

It.was.Frickin.awesome.

Bloggers. Breakfast. Bubbles. BMW

does it get any better?

yes it does!

My partner in crime The Beauty Kemple was on hand to act like a toddler with me from the get go!

not exactly what I had in mind when I asked could I have a Mini

After wreaking havoc for a good hour we then proceeded to jump into the biggest fanciest car I've ever been in (or seen) 

and wreak the lovely Eanna's head for the trip to town.

Tunes blaring, myself, Yummy Mummy,Saibh Egan and The Beauty Kemple treating the 7 series like a taxi to town.....at 10 am!!!!!

 #sunroofselfie

Brows on fleek! 

At this point the day was only getting started 

The day was split into shops and paired with Milliners.

 Don’t call me Dear – Galway Milliners

 Willow – Natasha Heaslip

Choice – Caithriona King

 Kilkenny – Andrea Tighe

PIA – Vivianne Martin

 Treasure Chest – Suzie Mahony

 Gosh Shoes – Galway Hat Shop

Colette Latchford – Brid O’Driscoll

Some reeeeaaaaallllyyyyyyy pretty pieces throughout the day but here are my Top 3 Favs

Don't call me Dear- The Style Studio would never be a  place I would normally think to shop for occasion wear. But this was so beautiful I'll definitely be back for a gawk.

This isn't a look I'd usually go for but this Pink tulle skirt just kind of stole my heart.

First time in Willow too and it's such a cutsie little shop with inspirational quotes all over the walls and fab casual and formal wear.

And this!! 

I've never been disappointed by Pia and they certainly put on a show for us but this Pretty Pia Pink dress just stole the show for me!

a few of us snuck off to Garavans bar for a taste of Irish Coffee.

Garavans is tucked right in the middle of shop st and is where I learned how to be a Gin snob AND where to appreciate whiskey- they know their shiz.

yummy mummy, myself and The beauty kemple 

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of the Galway Now Team , everything was thought of and it made it an exciting day for everyone involved!

While the team finished up in the skeff I had to scoot off...for a nap because I was so pooped!

The Galway Food Festival kicked off today and I'm looking forward to hanging with all my ITWBN chums on Easter Sunday as we head for a Whiskey Talk and Taste in the Skeff, 

and I'm just going to leave you with my favorite snap of the day- 

Thank you Saibh for introducing me to the Queen of fashion Mary from The Treasure Chest

Toodles!

Why be moody when you can shake yo booty!

So last week was the final week of my strength cycle before my big strip with Le Cardio!

I was excited- I had a great week- I had a heap of fun swanning around the town in Colm Quinn BMW's for the Galway Now Fashion trail with all my ITWBN pals,

myself and The Beauty Kemple getting a sunroof selfie

One of my very best friends rocked home from Canada....for a flying visit

Classic Tub

Little Miss Scotland came for a visit....and I went Blonde

And then to top it all off on March 18th I pulled 130kg FOUR TIMES of 1 block pull.

Chuffed.with.myself.

So last Monday I was V excited- I get to start training with the absolute Bae that is Ieva!

Now Ieva and Max had a bit of a bet going- and if Ieva won it meant Max had to do our first cardio session with us- now not to sound cocky or anything but having come from being a cardio bunny into powerlifting only a meer 5 months ago I really felt like I had the upper hand. 

So I proceeded to taunt Max all weekend alongside Ieva- I was genuinely excited

  

Literally half way thru the very first round of hell I waned to eat my words and vom!

It was boxing, ropes. tyre flips, kettle bell swings and snap kicks considering the only cardio I've been at for the last 5 months is running out of money this was easily the worst day of my life.

snapchat @foxylaura1

Until Tuesday.

 Off I popped up to The Big Smoke, not really paying attention to what Max had in store in my programme- y'know when you kind of go "Oh I've to do 30.000kg in squats" but it doesn't actually register that you have to lift THIRTY THOUSAND KG.

I broke it down whatever way I want so I chose 35kg 860 times.

Still didn't click. 

I managed to convince my Bf to get involved....

When I realized I had just done 430 squats and was only halfway I actually thought I would die,

But being stubborn really paid off because I couldn't stand the fact B would beat me at my own programme!

I am in Pain.

Moving onto Wednesday it was a blast of HIIT- more squats

and then today was 1000 rep challenge 

Squats, pull ups, thrusters and knee to stands

all with weights.

But tomorrow is PT with Max again and I'm terrified

Pray for Fox.

Although I'm in the worst pain of my life, it dawned on me that we only have 5 weeks to our shoot so it'll be worth it!

plus.

I think my booty is already making the necessary gains.

photo compliments of the certified creep @galwayplayer on snapchat.

5 weeks out from the shoot and 6 weeks out from full power this is gonna be tough as flip.

I'd be bare faced lying if I said I was looking forward to it- I'm not.

I am however all about the l's and b's ahead AND the end result!

#firstworldprobs

Lift like a girl- I think this madness is working

So I've been getting increasingly frustrated and angry lately. 

Getting used to the lack of shit food.

Not drinking.

Not being rich yet.

And not having a total Hot bod.

I was starting to feel like fuck it I don't care.

(i'm hardly dramatic)

That was until I woke up and bodaboom bodabing- are those little baby abs creeping in to say a little hello????

I did say LITTLE. But I was pretty chuffed with it. 'til I ate a fricking omelette and they seemed to just fudge off home again. 

And then I noticed my skin has cleared up loads, no eczema, I don't look like I'm storing food in my hamster cheeks-aka less bloat and my eyes seem a little sparklier!

So I'm into my last 2 weeks of strength cycle before the big strip, which I'd rather not think too much about right now. En ce moment I'm doing very little movement, apart from lifting sthuff....cardio.....

unless........

But another Powerlifting term was thrown at me - Wilkes.

Basically there's a formula that takes into consideration your

Gender

Height

Age 

Lift

and calculates it so that everyone can be measured against each other.

I googled it.

It's real life.

My squat went from 55 to 70 in the last month and I was so close to 50 on my bench HOWEVER being up since 430 that morning and testing at 6 that evening wasn't going to help. Doesn't change the number unfortunately.

Buuuut I'm not too far behind the boys. As in I'm about 3 points behind- Yay!

So in short- The Lift Like a Girl program is making me stronger than the boys!!

I out chef-ed myself then as a treat I made some chocolate protein pancakes smathered in Nutella and Peanut butter

And then we all got a lovely treat in Maximum Results, Max went about getting on board sponsors....so we now have 10% off Galway Tattoos and McGraths Butchers, 5 beans off Muscle Maintenance and my personal fav....20% off Million Dollar Secrets!!!!

Talk about looking after your clients!

Booked my hollibops to Malta this week too so another added incentive....because a photo shoot and a powerlifting competition wasn't enough,

I love pressure!

 if someone could find me these runners that would be awesome....

 snapchat me on foxylaura1

and lastly- so far I've really noticed not mindlessly eating the house over the weekends has been the hardest part but just consciously not eating the pick n mix has helped me loads!

Summers a comin guys!!!!!!!! 

and that's about the most inspirational quote you're gonna get from me 

Toodles