Shed to Wed - more food than diet this week...

This week my attempts at diet and exercise have been futile owing to the giant Postcard from New York project that has been happening at Miss Bush HQ. However at Weight Watchers weigh in a magnificent 2 and a half pounds were lost. Whether this is due to atrophying muscle from not having run for a week or my nerves been stretched to pinging point I don't know. I will accept this weight loss as a pat on the back for 18 hour working days.

Stats

Week 7 Stats

Bust 441/2"
Waist 361/4
Hips 411/4
Weighing in at 12 stone 12and a half pounds

Week 8 Stats

About the same - the scales say about 12st 10lbs the measurements are the same more or less. I have run, trained but am tired and sleep deprived with a spin cycle for a brain.

Week 9

Official weigh in at 12st 10lbs so 2.5 pounds lost 'officially'

Person or persons that have  been feeding me unbelievably calorie free (not) lovely yummy food include :-

Ayca from Naughty but Yummy. Ayca saved my bacon with masses of cupcakes provided at a moments notice. Ayca, pronounced aitcha,  is the most bubbly wedding enthusiast I have come across. An extemely gifted cake maker she also created the cute New York themed cookies for the goody bags. I can report that the cupcakes in lemon and vanilla were indeed 'yummy'. No idea what the biscuits were like as they were all snaffled before I had time to try one. I can only take this as whole hearted approval. Naughty but Yummy, given more than two days notice can provide all sorts of tempting tiny gorgeousness. The mini cheesecakes take some beating. Are we beginning to see why I am not naturally slim...

Further temptation came from Creative Candi . Lovely Sarah spent more time on her knees with hygiene gloves than I have ever seen anyone do- short of birth or a Brazilian. I know it's one of those wedding services that you think you don't need. Or you can do it yourself - then people think that about running a wedding dress shop. The key skill that Miss Bush's partners have for an event like the Postcard from New York is that they are genius in their niche. They must be glamorous but make their skill look effortless. As a bride you really don't want a sweaty-faced panicker providing a service for you. You want discreet professionalism. All the Creative Candi's labels were custom made to match our mood boards, the sweets were arranged with a precision that would drive me mad. Even the spoons and sweetie bags were on message. It was so beautiful that guests were reticent to tuck in. That soon faded with the green light to load up their striped swag bags - the same way your guests would find this fun. All I can say is that is a good job that there were no chocolate mice or Jazzles or the diet story woould be very different...

Not on show but stashed in the Miss Bush Chapel was the crew food. One of The Lovely Marshy's oldest friends Kim runs a cafe in Woking and provided the kind of food that you can wolf down. Haylees Lunchbox provided sarnies, samosas, bits of stuff in breadcrumbs, wraps, sausages... It was heavenly and vanished as the teams of models, make up artists, hairdressers, dressers, seamstresses worked all day to get the fashion show perfect and inspiring. There were also New York cabbies, DJs and assorted helpers milling all day... an army marching on it's very slender and well toned stomach.

And what of the demon drink? I had first made the acquainance of Tom from Shaken and Stirred at the launch of Parallel Venues Fetcham Park and as a new girl to event planning I was really impressed with how the bar was run and the utter drinkabilty of the cocktails - I consider myself a keen amateur. The weather angels were definitely watching over us - although Shaken and Stirred were prepared for bad weather we had glorious sunshine on the 23rd March. Their alfesco bar was perfect - and Stressfree Hire added last minute outdoor lighting.

All that remains for me to find for my next event is wedding caterers that would like to promote themselves to brides and the media. In the interim there is Waitrose terribly efficient canape service. They were also good enough to add an emergency dozen bottles of Prosecco to my order - I knew we'd need fuel for the after-party.

All photos by the very fabulous Juliet McKee

Shed to Wed

Miss Bush is holding an in store event tomorrow - a massive, giant, alien invader of a do that is creeping like bindweed and overwhelming every other activity whether domestic or work related.

One of the most or least appealing aspects of my personality, depending what one is hoping for, is that  a project will receive my full attention . If  I do a project I compete, I take part fully, my mind is utterly engaged. My family are pointing at open, empty fridges and enquiring as the the exact location of their pants - whilst I am wondering whether Wiz Khalifa's Parental Advisory sticker lyrics are suitable for Mother of the Bride ears and whether kd lang and Elvis are bridal style icons.

Link

This is my brain at this very second....

So the diet? Well I missed Weight Watchers due to model fittings. My amazing team of models are genetically blessed. I feel I am committing a crime against the sisterhood, further promoting the beauty myth and the cult of youth but they are just so lovely. Even at their age I never had the bodies they do.

Interestingly though the odd breakout, a slight pound in weight added beyond their friend traumatises them as much as three stone and a face full of crow's feet. Again lovely girls of all ages and sizes enjoy and marvel at the body you have. I think, just as  babies are small and cute, doe eyed, long limbed teenagers look good in clothes. Plus - as an added benefit - they love to dress up and will work for Topshop vouchers.

So the Stats???

Week 7 Stats
Bust 441/2"
Waist 361/4
Hips 411/4
Weighing in at 12 stone 12and a half pounds

Week 8 Stats

About the same - the scales say about 12st 10lbs the measurements are the same more or less. I have run, trained but am tired and sleep deprived with a spin cycle for a brain.

Next week the focus is back, the clocks change. Light mornings and evenings are going to melt away the excuses for not running daily and I shall intimidate the kids off the the Send Municipal tennis courts. The work/life balance will be addressed if not achieved!

Shed to Wed Diet Thusday

Last week's blog post was cathartic, I had a reached a low point in body self-esteem, writing about it made me see it for exactly that. I also had to de-publish it as Annabel from Love My Dress read it and wanted to use it on her blog this week. Not entirely sure what her readership is - but its in the tens of thousands so at once I am rather chuffed she liked the piece but it is still akin to walking Gok's 'Look Good Naked' shopping centre catwalk. "Here comes Emma in her pants revealing her stats and fears."

This week my running looks more like running rather than staggering around  looking like a wheezy ex goth in search of an inhaler. I have also reached sticker success at Weight Watchers. For the perpetually slim this means you get a silver 7 sticker every time you lose half a stone. I have my first sticker and am a pound away from my 5% goal.

My own personal goal was to lose half a stone by 'proposal day.' My mother, the often charming, sometimes cantankerous, other half of the Miss Bush shareholders texted the lovely Marshy on the morning of February 29th - " are you in hiding?" Lessons to be learnt here - There is a fine line between your Mum liking your partner and actively lusting after him herself. I worry Senior Bush wanders into the latter category.

The answer is -  I didn't propose. Part of me indignant that I should have to, part of me wants to be surprised. At about five to midnight I said to Marshy - "you've nearly escaped..." He did reply, what he said was lovely and private. I am very much still on the Shed to Wed trail!

Picture swiped from Debenhams

With my diminishing waistline comes a new hair do. My style inspiration - Rooney Mara. I know, we could have been separated at birth!

Picture swiped from http://www.elleuk.com/beauty/news/oscars-red-carpet-make-up

Here are the numbers

Starting Stats

Bust 47"
Waist 40"
Hips 43"
Weighing in at 13 stone 6lbs

Week 5 Stats

Bust 441/2"
Waist 361/2
Hips 411/2
Weighing in at 12 stone 12lbs (ie I lost 1 1/2 lbs)

Total Weight Loss 8lbs

Onwards and downwards...