Cutest cat ever?

This cat is just so funny - he is really enjoying his liquid catnip treat! Usually cats make that sound when they're fighting, but a lot of cats also mrowwwomnomnomnom when they're excited and eating something really yummy - that's the only time when my cat makes this noise - when he's eating a piece of ham!

So listen in and turn the volume way up for maximum fun effect! And thanks to CuteOverload for the cool link

http://cuteoverload.com/2012/04/12/more-catnip-more/

Food and Fashion and Fun

I've been trying - not very hard, admittedly - to get my OriginalShimmeringDesigns.blogspot.com blog up and running to feature all my recipes and crafty stuff.

However I've been extremely lax. Thank goodness therefore for Samantha Downes and her new EllaMag, where she has been kind enough to feature some of my baking recipes and photos.

Please check out her amazing website at http://ellamag.com/?p=573 and comment on my foodstuff!

Oh, and if you would also please kindly follow OriginalShimmeringDesigns too I promise to start uploading lots of photos of my craft creations and recipes for your delectation!

Crash and Burn

I am trying to lose a little weight before my friend's wedding in May. I don't need to lose a lot, but enough so that I can laugh and speak while wearing the bridesmaid's dress.

I say this because the dress was so very snug in the first fitting and I have put on a little since then and I actually got asked the other day if I would like a seat on the train.

This is flattering in some ways - it means that I am pretty skinny except on my boobs and belly, so I look pregnant rather than fat. However it is depressing for someone who knows that a few sit ups each day wouldn't be so bad, but for whom the very thought of any form of physical exercise has sent shudders down the spine.

It's not that I don't want to exercise... I do. I love swimming but have been unable to do so thanks to prolonged labyrinthitis. I've had David Bowie chasing me on Esher staircases for weeks now, while small dwarves chant: 'you remind me of a man' while I sleep. It's most distracting.

But the last time I got into proper gym routines I lost far too much weight and ended up dangerously close to snapping in the breeze.

Is there anything apart from jogging/weights that would help me tone up without dropping weight? My metabolism is crazy and will go overboard if I try something too strenuous.

Tips would be greatly appreciated!