Still being bested by a fiery crab....

So it turns out that after years of driving experience behind me, acquiring additional concentration and coordination sills, you can still suck at Sonic the Hedgehog.

In my attempt to re-live all things childish over the month I spent part of Sunday morning jumping, spinning and collecting rings through the original Sonic mega drive game (now on the updated PS3 console), which I have owned for the better part of 2 years but haven't really played that much.

I'm pleased to say I can still get though the "Green Hill Zone" without losing a life -by the fourth attempt. Learning to swerve potential roadkill, dodge potholes and crazy-ACT drivers while driving a car does not help dodge fire throwing crabs, jumping pirahna, and psycho 'bosses' on your quest to free the lovely rabbit and teddy-bear looking critters of the Sonic universe.

Still, there's something comforting about the old-school graphics,tinny-sound effects and little blue hedgehog who clearly suffers from ADHD:

In addition to working the Playstation buttons, I also embraced my inner 'tween' and jumped on the Bieber and One Direction bandwagons, watching with other 'Beliebers' as JB entertained the crowds at the Australia's Got Talent grand final and I was impressed with the kids' dance moves and the fact that unlike some more 'seasoned' performers - you listening Ms Spears? - didn't lip synch. 

Hubby wasn't too impressed I made him watch, but I didn't make him watch the follow-up where I searched for early "One Direction" footage from their time on X-Factor, unfamiliar with who they were, aside from the fluffy, squeal-inducing interviews the commercial stations were showing during their last visit here.

I don't know if I'm embracing my inner child too much, but I found them highly entertaining, though admittedly my favourite clip was of them performing a song that was around before many of their fans were even born...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnj_EjE490E

The answer is: alfredo sauce

I've discovered the solution to eating too much pizza: alfredo sauce.

I've really made a conscious effort to improve my eating habits this month, which must be working as I had to convince my father I was still actually eating after he greeted me with "how much weight have you bloody lost?"

But I digress. Everyone knows theres no such thing as too much pizza, which is problematic when you're trying to a) watch your portion sizes, and b) share pizza with four over excited children.

I've recently discovered spinach and feta pizza. Not because I've been living under a rock for the past decade, but because I have coeliacs disease and the pizza franchises are only just starting to discover the wonders of gluten free catering. Sometimes I'll have it with bacon, sometimes prawns, but this weekend I thought I'd go chicken and just for something different thought I'd forgego the usual tomato base and try alfredo.

Worked a treat!

I've also been making an effort to eat more slowly during lunch and dinner which is supposed to help my stomach realise it's full. The problem is I'm also one of those people who eat when they're bored and eating slowly makes me bored so....notice the problem??

I wonder if there's a sauce that'll fix that??

Of diets and daisy chains

I turn 30 in a little over a month and instead of meeting the end of my 20's with trepidation, I'm celebrating by embracing all that it means to be young, and attempting to leave some old habits behind.

Giving-up: Bad eating habits

It's taken me a few days to figure out exactly what I wanted to give up this month, but looking at my 'Vices' list I realised I never really 'gave up' dessert and 'soft-drink' was still hanging out there unchecked so I thought I could combine the two and make this the month I finally give-up all those bad eating habits I've picked up over the years.

What habits are those you may ask?

Well, let's start with the fact I can generally finish any size meal in less that ten minutes. Yep, whether it's a small salad, a king size meal from the local cafe or even a home-cooked curry, chances are my plate will be empty in 10-15 minutes. It's something I've only started to become conscious of since I've started going to business dinners. I justified it early on by telling myself that "of course I eat faster than the other attendees because they're the ones doing all of the talking" but slowly I've realised that no, I just eat fast.

I don't eat so fast that I get indigestion, but I'm still the one twiddling their thumbs at the table while others continue devouring their delicacies.

Then, there's portion size. It's not uncommon for me to cook something at home to the specifications of a recipe designed to serve 4 people, and for hubby and I to eat it all. True, he eats more of the dish than I do, but I think the time has come for me to either learn how to adjust recipes, or learn to love leftovers.

I also eat far too much sugar, have butter or margarine on breads and will usually reach for a bikkie or chocolate instead of fruit for my 3pm sugar hit.

So for the next four weeks I'm going to:

1) Take at least 20 minutes to eat my lunch & dinner

2) Stick to recommended portion sizes

3) Limit my 'desserts' (ice-cream, cake, biscuits and chocolate) to three serves per week

4) Throw out the butter and marg

5) Eat 3 serves of fruit per day

As it is now the 4th of July, I've already used my dessert quote for the week - eek!

Taking-up: Being a kid

Remember when you were little and you'd walk through a crowded shopping centre practicing your arabesques without  care in the world? or how you'd practice your bowling technique in full view of the Friday night raffle patrons?

No? Just me and my brother then.

Kids really do have it good. Some people spend so much time wanting to grow up they don't fully appreciate the care free nature of childhood. I mean, surely I'm not the only one who gets jealous when they see kids running butt-naked under a sprinkler or wearing  Cinderella costume to do the groceries.

I am? Really?

My mission this month is to re-embrace childhood, whether that be through throwing handstands against a wall, or learning something I never got to do as a kid.

I think I'll draw the line at the sprinkler though.....