Christmas 2022 has been another fantastic one and it is safe to say once again I have been spoilt. This year though gifts seem to have in themes of either practical, football or gaming with a few random gifts thrown into the mix. 2022 has been all about football and fitness and a fair few of my gifts resemble the year I have just had whilst others are just the perfect addition which are going to help me relax or even achieve goals I have set myself for 2023. So here is what I received for Christmas 2022...

Liam got me some lovely new jewellery for Christmas too, I am really picky when it comes to jewellery and he knows that so rather getting the Spider-Man to go on my charm bracelet he made it into a necklace for me which I plan on wearing a lot and he also got me the matching earrings which I absolutely love and have worn a few times already. If you have read the blog for a while you will know I love Spider-Man so this really is the perfect jewellery for me. 

My nephew also got me a few necklaces as he seems to like the one feather one I have been wearing to death in 2022. I love the jewellery from the River Island men's department as it works so well with my style and lasts for a long time. He got me this smaller chain with a wing on it and also this thicker one with a nice little pennant on it, this one is a double chain something which I aren't used to however, I am really looking forward to styling this.

 Liam also got me a couple of games I have wanted for a while now, both on the PS5 too so I am looking forward to sitting down and playing these, gaming really hasn't gone to plan in 2022 but I am determined to get gaming a whole lot more in 2023 and fingers crossed these 2 games will help me get back into it. Sonic is a game I have been looking forward to since it was first announced and Lego Star Wars is going to be a game me and Liam actually sit and play together which I can't wait for as we never usually play anything together. 

When it comes to these Moschino perfumes I don't know how many times I have gone to buy a bottle in a bigger size but either backed out of it due to not knowing which scent I actually want or due to the cost of it. My parents got me this miniature set though with all 3 in so I can now see which one I prefer before biting the bullet and buying a big bottle. My auntie and uncle also got me this little fragrance from Marks & Spencer, this smells like a Tom Ford scent and I think I am going to absolutely love it.

A goal of mine in 2023 is to make better choices when it comes to the products I use and the impact they have on the environment which I am sure you will see me post about on social media over the course of the year as I make those changes. My mum personalised me this soap dish and did a matching one for Liam and included a bar of soap for each of us, mine being my favourite Lynx scent. This is only a small change but it is a small step in the right direction and is something we can progress on over the course of the year.

My parents restocked me with another bottle of my favourite hairspray, this has been a lifesaver as my hair has been growing out. I definitely need to find something more environmentally friendly than this but for now it is doing the job for me. My grandparents also got me a few bath bombs which smell gorgeous and I can't wait to use them. My auntie & uncle also got me a clay face mask and a gaming face mask, it has been a while since I have used a face mask but I am looking forward to using these alongside the Nightmare before Christmas ones the my parents got me.

Is it Christmas if you don't get chocolate? Especially chocolate coins? Alongside my chocolate coins my auntie & uncle got me a dairy free selection box where as my parents opted to go for the Tony's chocolate which I fell in love with even more in 2022. My auntie and uncle also got me a bottle of wine which is meant to taste just like the Whispering Angel wine which is one of my favourites.

I love a good candle and I have got a new one to add to my little collection, my auntie and uncle love getting me the Jo Malone dupes and they just make the house smell absolutely gorgeous. This is quite a big candle so it is going to last a long time and I can't wait to get burning it, maybe it will be a games room candle. 

I have got a couple of pen pots too, one for my desk at home and one for my desk at work. My mum said she got me these as Sorted seems to be something I say to her a lot and to be honest this is definitely going to be pride of place on my desk at home as I am sick of losing my pens when I sit down to sort content, sometimes I think I spend more time searching for my pen than actually use it.

Stitch is still my favourite Disney character and I have now got a great set of Stitch cookie cutters, I am trying to spend more time in the kitchen in 2023 so now I have the perfect excuse to make cookies. My parents got me and my sister a Crimpit each too and I am so looking forward to using it, you can't beat a good toastie and this is going to make having them much easier as I can use it to make them in the air fryer or toaster. My parents also got me this personalised football themed apron, I am a super messy cook so this is definitely going to come in handy for me as I do spend more time in the kitchen.

My nephew also got me a personalised pair of best auntie socks but possibly the best gift is this picture he made at nursery and framed for me. I have a huge phobia of birds so he took great delight in saying this was just for me, this picture is frightening but of course I love it as he made it, now just to find a home for it.

Socks, socks and more socks, these will certainly last me a while and I have a nice mix. I absolutely love these Nike ones in such crazy colours and I think I might save these for summer as with shorts I think these would look great. I also love these white and grey Van's ones too as they are great quality and will last me for a while. Then I have plenty of pairs of Xbox ones which mean I can have my love of gaming with me daily.

Me and Liam started going to golf in 2022 so my auntie and uncle have got me my own golf towel which will be great as I always get told off for not wiping the club before putting it back. I also have my own golf glove too which I am looking forward to wearing as I always hit better shots when wearing a glove.

The parents have really got on board with my fitness journey in 2022 and I think it is safe to say these gifts are going to help me when it comes to aiming for my 2023 goals. These ice towels are going to be perfect for summer and cooling me down after workouts in the warm weather as I am usually a mess after these, they will definitely be put to good use. I love a good 1/4 zip top and this Spyder one is going to be perfect for boxing or outdoor workouts whilst it is still cold. I have gone through countless bags of these bath salts throughout 2022 so this 2kg bag is probably going to last me two minutes after football and boxing as it really does help with muscle aches.

These trainer cleaning wipes are going to come in very handy as I am determined to keep my trainers looking fresh as much as possible in 2023 as they are something I pride myself on and they help make or break my outfit. Theses shoe deodorizers are going to come in super handy for my football boots too as with me wearing them a lot more they can start to smell but these should help keep those smells at bay.

Now onto the football gifts which there are plenty of this year. My sister got me this Bradford City chopping board however, I have been given specific instructions not to use it as a chopping board as it is too nice. My sister also got me this brilliant wooden football on a stand and it is safe to say I am going to be moving some things around in my office to make sure this is pride of place as it looks absolutely fantastic. My parents got me another Lioness coaster to go alongside my Leah Williamson and they got me the perfect addition with it being one of my favourites Beth Mead, I also got a new key-ring in the same style of the coasters and I am now going to have a Lucy Bronze attached to my keys which I definitely can't complain about. 

As I just said Beth Mead is currently one of my favourite footballers and I don't see that changing anytime soon so when I saw she was releasing a book I asked my parents for it straight away and in the end I received a signed copy of the book which I really can't wait to sit down and read. My grandparents also got me Christine Sinclair's book which I really can't wait to read as Sinclair is by far one of the greatest women's footballers around and I can't wait to hear more about her time so far in the game. I have plenty of reading to tackle so let's hope I can get through it easily.

I am really focusing on getting in shape these days and that is something that I am continuing for 2023 however, I have been struggling for a bag when it comes to fitting everything in for boxing. My grandparents got me this Man Utd bag and I think it is safe to say this is going to be perfect for me as it is huge and has separate sections so I shouldn't end up with anything missing. I am sure it will be used for football too though as it is Manchester United after all.

To say how much I love football I have never owned a Subbuteo game up until now. My parents have really supported my love for women's football this Christmas and they got me this Lioness version of the classic football game. I had seen this on Facebook ads a fair few times and it looks great so I am really looking forward to playing this with Liam, it is so good finally being able to buy Lioness merchandise. 

Liam got me my first Arsenal shirt to add to my growing collection of football shirts and he picked the perfect name to go on the back of it by opting for Williamson, another of my current favourite players. It is funny really because in previous years I have said I would never own an Arsenal shirt however, now the majority of the team make up my favourite players so I had to have a few of the shirts in my collection and what better way to start than with Williamson who is Arsenal through and through, he even got me the WSL badge on the shirt which is always a nice addition to the shirt.

I have wanted some new boots for a while now and my parents surprised me with a pair of Nike Phantom Elites which are top of the range and if I can't play well and score in these then there is something seriously wrong. I have had my eyes on these boots for a while now as they are what the likes of Jordan Nobbs and Georgia Stanway and with Nobbs being my overall favourite player I was going to end up with them one way or another. I really can't wait to get back on the pitch in the new year and wear these as they are just so good.

So there you go that is everything I got for Christmas 2022 I have definitely been spoilt and it is safe to say with those new football boots I can't wait for getting back on the pitch in the new year. I am really looking forward to some cosy nights gaming & reading too as I need to learn to balance my time much better and have some more relaxed nights in 2023. 

What did you receive for Christmas 2022?

I can't believe we are already at the end of 2022, it doesn't feel like two minutes ago it was just starting and here we are wrapping up the year and counting down to the start of 2023. To be honest 2022 has been a bit of a crazy year with some lows but a lot of highs, I have taken my weight loss journey a lot more serious and I had the best summer of my life watching history be made in the women's football which you all know I am super passionate about. So here is what made the cut for my overall favourites of 2022...

Fashion

Trying new things 

Lifestyle

Home

The spare room office

Health & fitness

We are finally getting the garage converted into a gym, this is something I have wanted for a while now as the house is currently covered in workout equipment, we have a weights bench in the living room, weights in the hallway and a spin bike in the dining room, it really has taken over. I just want a space where everything is already set up and I can just walk in do my workout and leave without having to worry about dragging equipment around with me. Having the gym is definitely going to be beneficial for me on my fitness and weight loss journey but more importantly it should also allow me to get some more equipment to level up my workouts and see even more progress. There are plenty of pieces of equipment I would love to purchase for the home gym but here are the items I will be prioritizing... 

Heavier weights 

I have a set of weights at the moment that go up to 25kg however, as I am progressing on my journey I know that I am going to be progressing past this weight limit in the future so it would be great to be one step ahead and have those heavier weights ready to smash straight on with rather than having to stay at a lower weight whilst awaiting delivery. I am tempted to get some better ones this time around too rather than just the basic Argos ones we currently have. 

Pull up bar

I don't know why but since we said we were going to turn the garage into a gym I have said I would love to fasten a pull up bar onto the wall. Granted I can't do a pull up and never have been able to but that is one of the end goals of my journey, to be able to complete a set of pull ups, my strength massively needs improving on my upper body and this would be a brilliant addition plus buying one doesn't need to break the bank either as they are pretty reasonably priced. 

Flat weights bench 

We have recently purchased an incline and decline weights bench but I am really hoping we have the space and budget to add a flat weights bench into our home gym set up. This just gives us another option as the current bench doesn't lie completely flat meaning this new flat bench would be perfect for things such as bench pressing. It just gives me a chance to switch up my exercises a little bit more. 

Yoga mat 

I really don't know why I don't have a yoga mat yet as you can get one that is a good thickness for a pretty reasonable price, maybe it is because I don't fancy another item just dotted around the house that has put me off purchasing one so far. This is definitely going to be one of my first purchases though so that I can work on stretching, abs and mobility comfortably rather than just feeling the hard ground underneath me, which is something that I hate especially when I am having to do an exercise with my bad knee on the hard ground. This item is definitely a number 1 purchase as that stretching and mobility has been neglected for too long.

TRX trainer 

I have seen a few people on YouTube using the TRX trainers and to be honest at first I wasn't too bothered about wanting one but the more I watched the more the want has grown. This piece of equipment would be a great addition for any bodyweight exercises I want to add to my routine as the trainer is a great resistance workout for your core and mobility (something I am really trying to work on). The best part is I could use this in the gym or I could take it out and about with me even if I went away as it is super portable, there would really be no excuses for not getting workouts in wherever I am if I had this. 

Medicine ball

We use the medicine ball a fair bit at boxing and I am honestly starting to enjoy using it, whereas before I would actively try avoid it. I have done a bit of searching already and have noticed you can get them pretty cheap from most places so I think I might get a 5kg one to start with and see how it goes however, we all know what I am like no doubt as things progress I am going to end up with a variety of medicine balls in a variety sizes. I think the purchase would definitely be worth while though as I can imagine Liam would end up using a medicine ball in a workout too.

Treadmill

Here we go the big wish list item and the one that honestly made me want to convert the garage in the first place. I have wanted a treadmill for the longest time as I have wanted to get into running and this would give me a good starting point alongside providing me somewhere safe to run on those dark nights where it might also be icy. A treadmill would also help me get my steps in when the weather is really bad outside meaning my activity levels would stay high all year round rather than dropping off. I am really hoping one would also help me improve my stamina and overall fitness levels for football too now I am back playing. This is definitely going to be the most expensive purchase for the home gym but I think it is going to be the most used and overall the most beneficial for my journey. 

I am really looking forward to getting this home gym up and running, I have even started putting a bit of money to one side so that I can purchase the items on this list as quickly as possible so I can get cracking straight on with achieving the goals and really make the most of the new space once it is completed. 

What is one item you would definitely have in your home gym? 

2022 has been a bit of an up and down year for me as it has held illness, an operation and just an absolutely chaotic lifestyle for the most part, I feel like I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked on my weight loss journey as the scales haven't moved too much however, looking back on the year I have changed so much and it isn't just the number on the scale I should be looking at the year and the progress I have made has actually been made off the scales and it has benefited me in so many different ways off the scale which I am really happy about as is it means plenty of impact has been made on my life for the better and overall I am just a much better version of me than I was last year. So here are some of the benefits I have gained from the changes I have made on my fitness & weight loss journey this year...

Much more confident

Now I have to say I believe this is the biggest benefit I have gained throughout the year. As the year has progressed I have just grown in confidence and I have seen the changes in myself month by month. This has led to me being more confident in front of the camera & having a lot of pictures taken even ones on my own. I have put myself forward into situations I would usually avoid too, one of those being queuing at Wembley for a pic with Katie Zelem the Man Utd Women's captain, a year ago I wouldn't have dared do that but 2022 me was over the moon to do it. the confidence has led to me having more pics taken for the blog too and again I can only see these getting better and better in 2023 as my confidence grows more and more.

Gone back to playing football & made friends

I have said previously that I never thought I would be back playing football and to be honest I still can't believe it. Being back playing though has done me the world of good and I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't made the progress on my weight loss & fitness journey that I have done so far. Being back playing is the best feeling after so long and it has led to me actually having friends, something which I never thought would happen as for so long I have just enjoyed my own company. Having a great team and group of new found friends has been brilliant and training & game days are becoming my favourite days of the week. 

Gone places on my own 

Back in 2021 I wouldn't go to boxing sessions without my sister however, 2022 Lucy really doesn't mind going on her own now and working with different people on those weeks has been fantastic. Going places on my own is something I am really getting used to and I no longer feel like all eyes are on me for going alone. In 2023 I am hoping to do a lot more on my own alongside meeting up with friends I have made online, I will really be putting this new found confidence to the test.

Trying different clothing styles

For so many years I have stuck to the same sort of clothing, usually dark and plain as I didn't want to draw attention to myself. however, throughout 2022 I have been pushing myself to try new styles and I am loving it. I spent summer in shorts and bright t-shirts or printed shirts and as for the rest of the year I have just been mixing things up as much as possible and I am loving it. It has really been a step out of my comfort zone and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do in terms of my style in 2023. 

Feel so much healthier & have more energy

I know I said at the start of the post I haven't made as much progress due to illness but at the same time I am feeling much healthier than in previous years. I have been ill however, I haven't been as ill as I have been in previous years and I am honestly putting this down to me being much more active & eating much better. I think as things continue to head in the right direction I will end up feeling much healthier in 2023 too. I also feel like I have a lot more energy than previous and I am looking forward to that continuing to grow.

Done different activities

I have stepped out of my comfort zone in terms of the activities I have done throughout the year too I have been to play gyms with the nephew and actually gone on the equipment with him, we have been to inflatable fun zones and I have even been trampolining. These are all things I would have previously avoided but I have braved them, not worried about my weight impacting the day and I have actually loved every second of doing these things. I even confidently got into a swimming pool in a swimming costume on holiday without worrying how I looked and had hours of fun. It is funny just how much you can do when you stop worrying about your weight & how you will look doing it.

I am actually going into 2023 really looking forward to the year ahead rather than dreading what is to come like years previous. I really do believe if I take this progress into the new year and continue to build what I am doing and gain some consistency that I could really see some big benefits and have a big push towards my end goal in 2023. I am 100% ready to see what 2023 has in store for me and to see just what I can do to make some huge steps in my fitness and weight loss journey. Could it be the year I smash all those goals I set for myself?

November has been yet another great month in terms of life overall, granted it has been another extremely busy month. There has once again been loads going on and to be honest I have been very lucky if I have been having 2 nights a week where I have had the chance to go straight home from work and either relax or work on the blogs but I can't complain as those busy nights have certainly been worth it and it is safe to say 2022 has been a great year and November has just added to it being so good. As always I have managed to discover some new favourite things throughout the month as well as rediscovering old one, so here are the favourites that made the cut this time around...

Fashion

Lifestyle

Home

Health & fitness

 So here is how November looked on the scales...