Hope You are all well. As You might know We recently travelled to Alicante in South East Spain right on the Mediterranean Sea. It was Simply divine to experience a week in the Sunshine and soak up some of that Spanish lifestyle. The scenery, the tapas, the history, such a beautiful place to spend a weeks holidays in September or anytime really.

Back in May I booked Ryanair.com flights from Our local airport here in Mayo Irelandwestairport.com

I based the trip on where We could get flights from Knock. The fights were Tuesday to Tuesday which suited Me perfectly to take time off work. The sheer handiness of being able to travel to the airport in thirty minutes always wins Me over.

On the morning of Our flight We arrived early and flew through security. Of course I indulged in a little Airport shopping while My darling Husband had the obligatory “fry up” in the cafe. Although it was a very busy morning We took off on time and were on our way to Spain.

Three hours later We landed in Alicante where We jumped into a taxi and showed the driver Our hotel. This was very straightforward and We arrived at Hotelalbahia.com (a lovely hotel I would highly reccomend a stay here) twenty minutes later. Passing along by the marina overlooking that beautiful blue Mediterranean Sea with the golden sandy mountains as a backdrop. I could feel the heat from the Sun on My face. That warm breeze feels so lovely and it was good to soak in all the glorious vitamin D.

We spent the first few days wandering around the beautiful city. The tree lined esplanade (a tiled area) in the City centre is so beautiful to look at mesmerising even. We explored all the Spanish little squares in the old town. I would highly reccomend coming off the main tourist areas and checking out these places. The little Spanish bars off the beaten track have the most amazing tapas. Drinks are very reasonable in these places compared to the main thoroughfare. You will find great value as well as authenticity if You venture through the narrow cobbled streets of Alicante.

Velvet tapas bar was one of my favourite places to eat. I had this delicious duck and goats cheese with mango dressing for lunch one day. So good to sit in the Sunshine and enjoy such good food. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and it seems the tradition is groups of Friends Co workers etc gather to eat, drink, chat outside the restaurants. Such a beautiful practise I wish We had that here in Ireland.

We ate in Unik Asian Thai restaurant on two occasions. The food was so delicious and waiters great craic. It doesn’t look great on the outside but it’s beautiful inside and the food is amazing and so affordable. Around €35 all in for two courses and two drinks each.

We visited the Castillo de Santa Barbra a historical sites the mountain top which overlooks the port of Alicante. Steeped in history this is one sight not to miss. We took the lift up as it’s a pretty deep climb in 25 degree heat Us poor Irish souls couldn’t take the pressure. It’s €3 per person for the lift. Well worth it for the views.

Our hotel was at the very end of a beautiful promenade. It was such a treat to walk this every day and smell the sea air. We didn’t mind the walk every day as it’s important to keep active on holidays. Burn off some of the extra food and drinks. We also walked around the main shopping areas. There’s a huge Zara H&M , Bershka, Sephora, Jdsports to name but a

few.

Unfortunately Mr Dillon had to return home unexpectedly on the Saturday to attend a neighbours funeral. I chose to stay until the Tuesday morning. I sat by the pool at our hotel relaxing and reading enjoying the sunshine. The food and drinks at our hotel were very reasonable €12.50 special menu for three courses. Hotel staff we’re so kind and helpful. I felt perfectly safe there was a woman on My own for three days.

For My return home to Mayo the hotel staff organised a taxi to collect Me at 5am. They have a deal with the taxi company I paid €26 at hotel reception where they gave Me a voucher to give the Taxi driver.

I admit I was a little anxious about travelling to the airport alone but the hotel staff put my mind at ease. (I may have watched too many episodes of Criminal minds)

It was perfectly safe and I arrived at Alicante airport in good time for my flight back home to Knock.

Of course I got chatting in the que for the plane with some lovely People from Ballina and Swinford. Mayo folk always have to have the craic and banter when We meet abroad. I was chatting to two couples who have flown to Alicante from Knock numerous times and live the place.

Again Our flight got off in great time and We left Alicante around 6.50am. After some chats on the flight We landed back into Knock around 9am Irish time.

As per always the breeze nearly took the legs off Me when I stepped out of the plane. Luckily I was dressed for the occasion (once bitten) I always think when I feel that blast of fresh air on the runway at Knock “It’s good to be home”

I had only hand luggage so I flew through and Mr Dillon was waiting for Me outside. We were back in Castlebar to go for breakfast in Cafe Rua by 11am. All in all not a bad mornings work.

As far as I am aware flights to Alicante from Knock are finished for the Winter months but for anyone looking for a break next year I would highly reccomend. Spain is very reasonable for eating drinking, socialising etc

Breakfast buffet

This was a very reasonable holiday with flights for both of us costing €250

Our hotel for seven nights including breakfast came in at €514

Taxis to and from the airport €48

€812 all in for a week in the sun.

You couldn’t complain about prices like that.

To fly from Knock and be in Spain in three hours is just fantastic. I’m looking forward to Our next trip already.

Hope you enjoyed this post and please give it a share.

Thanks for reading

Love Maria

Xx

The post Alicante, a Spanish getaway. appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

Hope You are all well, it’s hard to believe August is drawing to a close and it’s nearly back to school time.

A lot of People chat about consistency, it’s a word I regularly see hash-tagged on Instagram. I was recently chatting to a Friend of mine Who is trying to get Himself back to healthy habits after a break due to injury. Something He mentioned planted the idea for this post.

He complimented Me on my consistency and it really made Me think about How I have managed to “stay consistent” long term. I thought maybe I would write a post with some of My tips and hopefully it might help others. I often hear stories in the salon of struggles in staying motivated to live a healthy lifestyle.

The thing about consistency is it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s about maintaining healthy habits as often as You possibly can. Allowing for a little indulgence but knowing when to stop, having self disciple while still enjoying Yourself.

Self awareness plays a huge role in living a healthy lifestyle. Being in tune with Your emotional wellbeing and recognition of emotional responses in relation to comfort eating is key. Knowing the emotional triggers of what makes you feel uneasy/bad/sad/uncomfortable. We all can have tendencies to reach for junk food when We are exhausted from work or stressed or feeling under threat or fearful. Even just the anxiety of a busy or testing day at work can leave us craving wine, crisps, chocolate etc etc

Over time our minds have built an association with that typical “couch potato” situation. We have been conditioned by what We have seen online or on TV that this is how to relax. You know the social media posts about opening a bottle of wine at the end of a long day and calling the take away. When actually the reality of this is it is just as relaxing to unwind with a delicious home cooked meal. A hot bath or shower and clean pyjamas can be equally as relaxing.

I’m not saying We should never drink wine, as I love a glass myself with good food on an occasion. I’m simply pointing out that it may not be helpful to our long term goals if it becomes a regular habit. Anyone looking to make a serious lasting lifestyle change really needs to focus hard on their daily habits and behaviours as these are the building blocks for long term success.

Balance

This word is hash tagged out of the park. Look up the definition of balance and You will find it means “an even distribution of Weight, ensuring an upright and steady position”

To remain balanced is to tick along nicely, cruising at a steady pace. No swaying into either extreme.

Keeping Myself on an even keel throughout the week really helps Me. I know this is really old school but routine works. I like to try and eat balanced meals at similar times throughout the day. This is great trick to feel full. What you want is to be satisfied but not stuffed. Equally by the time the next meal rolls around You should feel hungry but not starving.

After nearly five years into this journey I find avoiding either extreme and trying to stay steady works for Me. Of course there will be times when the scale tips either direction that’s just life.

One extreme will bring a direct sway to the other. Example a severe strict diet will usually be followed in quick succession by an all out binge. It’s only human nature, hunger will always breed greed. Knowing Your full switch and mentally acknowledging it can really help. This takes practice but it’s worth developing this skill as it has served Me very well these past few years.

When it comes to exercise, building up the regular habit is key. Exercise will make You feel good. Start small 20-30 mins is plenty starting off.

Make a decision and a promise to Yourself to exercise 3-4 times a week whichever is realistic and manageable for You.

Write it in Your diary either in your phone or on paper and stick to it.

You are doing this for You, nobody else. Make Yourself a priority.

You can advance to the fancier workouts in time once You are ready. Take one day at a time. No harsh diets no severe boot camps. Slow and steady wins the race always keep that in mind. This new lifestyle has to continue for the rest of Your days. It needs to be realistic and enjoyable.

Negative self talk is the worst culprit for failure, those little chats and tales We tell ourselves can be lethal. We are fiercely critical in the way We speak to Ourselves. This is simply a bad habit that can be corrected in time. It needs to be acknowledged, addressed and called out. Just stop. Every time You hear Yourself saying ” I can’t” “it’s too hard” ” Il start Monday” Cut that shit out asap You wouldn’t entertain it from a bully. Don’t do it to Yourself.

I’ll leave You with my favourite quote of all time. It’s one to remember. We have to keep working and trying to achieve our goals. Slow and steady in a way that’s manageable so We can allow for some treats along the way.

I hope You enjoyed this post and it is helpful in some way.

Thanks for reading and please share.

Love Maria

The post Staying Consistent appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

I’m back with another recipe today. This Chicken Fajita Bowl with nachos is delicious and so easy. Perfect for Summer evenings. 

Enjoy and please share 

Love Maria 

Xx

Recipe serves 4 

Ingredients 

Mixed salad

1lb Chicken mince 

Red & green pepper 

Chopped onion 

Jalepenos 

Fajita seasoning 

4 medium wraps 

Greek yogurt 

Salsa 

Grated cheese 

Garlic, tomato purée, Worcester sauce 

Chilli powder & paprika 

Frylight 

Method 
Fry off the chicken mince & add Fajita seasoning. 

Add veg and once the Chicken is cooked add the garlic, tomato purée & a dash of Worcester sauce. Leave to simmer for 5-10 mins on a very low heat. 

To make the nachos. 

Chop wraps into small triangles. Line a baking sheet & spray with frylight. Shake chilli powder & paprika on top. Bake for 10 mins. 

To assemble 

Top the mixed salad with the chicken fajita mix. Add nachos to the side. Top with cheese, salsa, Greek yogurt & jalepenos. 

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I’m sharing my protein oats or proats (protein porridge) secrets tonight. It’s a recipe I often get asked about. It’s actually not really my recipe it was given to me by my online Coach Georgia. Georgiasfitlife.com For anyone interested in  getting help with their fitness or nutrition goals. This recipe is on my plan I have this as a dessert or a night time treat. It’s great for satisfying my sweet tooth. 

Egg whites can be purchased from Kettericks butchers Castlebar for Your convienance. You’ll find them beside the Turkey Burgers. 

Enjoy and let me know if you make it. 

Maria xx

Instagram mrsdillons_diary

Ingredients 

 1 cup Porridge oats 

Water or almond milk 

1/2 cup Egg whites 

1/2 scoop Whey protein 

Frozen berries 

Dark chocolate 

My protein flavour drops / sweetener (optional)

Cinnamon or cocoa powder (optional)

Method 

Cook the porridge on the hob in a saucepan. 

Whisk the eggwhites & protein powder in nutribullet or by hand until foamy. (With sweetener drops, cocoa or cinnamon if desired) 

Take the porridge off the heat and add the egg white whey mix stirring well to blend. Return to the heat for a moment & keep stirring until cooked through. 

Transfer to a bowl top with berries and dark chocolate or whatever toppings you wish. 

The post  Protein Porridge recipe  appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

I’m back with a yummy recipe today. I made a  veggie version of this on good Friday and it was divine. Today I used Turkey in it to keep to my protein goals. It’s lovely with or without meat. I used quark a low fat soft cheese to make the sauce it’s high in protein low in fat. Quark makes a lovely creamy sauce. I hope You enjoy this recipe kindly give it a share if You can.

(The meat & sauce can be served with rice or potatoes instead of a bake. It’s very versatile) adapt it as you like. 

Thanks as always 

Love 

Maria 

Ingredients 

250g quark 

300g diced Turkey / Chicken (optional) 

Breadcrumbs (slimbo in the nutribullet) 

Oxo cube in half cup of hot water 

Frylight 

Chopped veg (mushroom onion peppers spinach)

Steamed Broccoli

Garlic orageno, pepper sea salt. 

Grated cheese 

Method 

Fry off the onions, peppers Turkey in frylight add some garlic, pepper oregano. Add the mushrooms and stir well. Add in the stock and leave on a low heat to simmer for 5 mins. 

Remove from heat and slowly add the quark while stirring until it forms into a sauce consistency. 

(At this point You can serve it with whatever carb source You wish)

To make the bake. Line a baking dish with steamed broccoli. Top with the creamy turkey sauce. Add a handful of spinach. Top with the cheese and finish off with the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle a tiny bit of cheese on top and seasalt. 

Bake for 10-15 mins until golden. 
This amount makes three portions. I made 1 bake and kept two aside for tomorrow to have with potatoes or rice. 

The post Cheesey Breadcrumb Bake appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

Just a quick little recipe for today. Here’s a handy one for some healthy nachos. You can add whatever toppings you like. This is a veggie version but would work with minced beef either. Homemade guacamole would also be fab. I had to make this fit my plan so had to leave out the Avocados on this occasion. This is a great treat for a movie night while still keeping it healthy. 
Enjoy 

Love 

Maria 

Xx

Ingredients 

1 wrap 

Frylight

Paprika 

Chilli powder 

Sea salt 

Toppings 

Cucumber, spinach tomatoes onions finely chopped. 

Balsamic vinegar 

Quark (low fat high protein soft cheese) 

Jalepenos 

Cheddar cheese 

Fresh coriander (optional)

Doritos brand Salsa. (Any salsa but this one has very low macros) 

Method 

Line a baking tray & spray with frylight 

Chop the wrap into triangles & spray with frylight. Coat with paprika chilli powder & seas salt. 

Bake for 5-7 mins until crispy & golden keep an eye on them as will burn easily. 

Arrange on plate as top with cheddar return to oven for 2 mins until melted. 

Mix the salad with balsamic vinegar & arrange on top of the nachos. Top with jalepenos, quark, salsa & coriander. 

The post Healthy Nachos (V) appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

I’m back with a post today that might help some of You. I often get messages from Ladies asking for help after a big blowout. I thought this was appropriate for today. I’m just back from a fantastic hen weekend in Bristol. Three days and nights of drinking, eating, laughing etc etc. We had a fantastic time and that’s what life is all about. Making memories with good friends and having fun. I don’t feel one bit guilty for a second of it. I enjoyed every bite of food and every drink. We all have hens, weddings , parties etc that’s life and it’s there to be enjoyed.

However, it’s Monday now and time to refocus and get back to my healthy habits. Exhaustion and dehydration are making me feel sluggish and demotivated. Tackling these issues one at a time and ticking them off the list helps me. I don’t jump straight back into it the first day. I ease myself in with a “transition day ” first. This usually works for me. I think it’s important to get the body and the mind in sync first. Getting into the right headspace is just as important as food prep, workouts etc etc. If the mind is not right, the body won’t perform. 

I’ve put togeather a few of my top tips and tricks that I use to steer myself back to normality. I hope You enjoy them and find them helpful. Please share the link with anyone who might like this post. 

Thank You for reading 

Love 

Maria xxx

• Let go of the guilt, You had fun with Your besties. Move on enjoy looking at the photos and don’t worry about the indulgence. Life is for living. 
• Do a healthy food shop, Your body needs good nutrition ASAP to help recuperate. Plan a family meal like a roast chicken dinner or a beef casserole. Something hearty and warming is the kind of comfort food that will help bring You round. I know it’s tempting but junk food won’t help You at this stage. 

• Make enough food for tomorrow as well. Food prep sorted. Being organised will make You feel calm and in control. 
• Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate if You find it hard to drink water, try herbal teas or sparkling water with lime is very refreshing. 
• Get some fresh air, go for a walk If You are feeling too delicate for the gym. Put on those headphones and listen to some good music. A good blast of fresh air will clear Your head and help You to sleep. 
• Chill for the evening, watch a movie or read a book for the evening. There’s no point pushing Yourself too much on the first day. You will be much better at handling tomorrow if You get enough rest today. 
• Relax. A hot bath always helps me to destress after all the running and racing. Light a few candles and add some Epsom salts to the bath. A long soak before bed will send you off to a deep sleep. 
• Go back to Your plan tomorrow. You will feel calm and ready. Don’t deprive Yourself to make up for the weekend. Just carry on as normal with good nutrition and training. Eat well to fuel those workouts and You will be back on track in no time. 

The post Getting back to Healthy Lifestyle after a heavy weekend of indulgence. appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

I made this simple Thai curry over on my snapchat (mrspdilly2b) it was easy to make and so tasty. I got 3 portions out of it so You can adjust the measurements if Your cooking for the whole family. It’s an easy one as it cooks quickly. It also feels like a takeaway so great for a Sunday evening.

Hope you enjoy it and please share with anyone who might enjoy it.

Thanks as always

Love Maria

Ingredients

Chicken fillets chopped

Selection of finely chopped veg I used courgette, green pepper, red onion, celery, green beans.

Spoon of coconut oil to cook in, 1 tablespoon of desicated coconut.

Herbs & Spices Coriander, ginger, chilli, garlic, lemongrass.

Jalepenos & chilli flakes (optional) these will make it very hot leave them out if u prefer mild curry.

Glenisk natural Greek Yogurt 3 tablespoons

100mls of water.

1 tablespoon of cashew butter

Basmati rice boiled.

Method

Place the chopped chicken in a bowl. Put all the herbs and spices into a blender with 100mls water and the Glenisk yogurt. Blitz into a runny sauce and pour over the chicken. Leave to marinade. You can leave this over night if You wish.

Next fry off all the veg in the coconut oil once they are cooked to your liking turn down the heat to a low setting.

Slowly add the yogurt and chicken mix to the pan stirring well. Cover and check every few minutes so it dosent stick to the pan. Once the chicken is cooked through add 1 tablespoon of cashew nut butter and stir well.

Serve with Basmati rice and top with fresh coriander and mango chutney.

The post Delicious Thai Curry appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

I’m back with a Fakeaway this evening. I’ve had a lot of messages from You all in regard to the weekends. It seems to be a real struggle for everyone to stay on track. I’m going to do a full post on this with a few tips that I find helpful. We all need somthing to look forward to at the end of the week. Fakeaways are a godsend   For me. This weekend I made this delicious curry. It was my Cheatmeal, for this week. We all need a Cheatmeal once a week I’m a great believer in it. However I would always choose a quality Cheatmeal. Opt for a nutrient dense version of Your favourite treat. Use up those cheat allowance or Yums wisely.  Always make a wise decision and fuel Your body with good wholesome food. The flavour and fresh taste of this curry is  simply divine.All clean natural ingredients. Try it out and let me know what You think.

Curry night sorted

Makes 5 portions

Thanks for reading and please share,

Love Maria xx

Ingredients

Drizzle of rapeseed oil and a teaspoon of real butter

3/4 chicken fillets chopped

1 red onion

1 pepper

5 fresh tomatoes

5/6 mushrooms (all veg chopped)

100mls of Alpro coconut milk

200g of Greek Yogurt (I used Liberte)

2/3 tablespoons of Madras curry powder

Chilli, lemongrass, ginger, garlic. (I used the purée, ones they are so handy, but You could use fresh either)

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

30g of sultanas

30g of ground almonds to thicken.

Coriander (I used the frozen one from Aldi, but fresh would be even better)

Method

Place the chicken, madras powder, yogurt cinnamon and coconut milk in a bowl and mix. Leave to marinade for 10 mins. (While Your chopping the veg)

Add the oil and butter to a hot pan and fry off the onion and pepper for 2 mins.

Add in the chicken and marinade cover and leave for a few minutes.

Stir and add in the tomatoes and coriander and stir well.

Next add the 30g of sultanas & the mushrooms.

Cover and turn down the heat leave to simmer for 8-10 mins. Stirring occasionally.

Add the 30g ground almonds to thicken the sauce.

Stir well, it’s ready now turn off the heat and leave to stand for 2/3 mins.

If You are following Unislim I have Yummed this entire recipe at 5 Yums. I’m not 100%sure about the Alpro coconut milk yet I’m waiting to hear back if I need to yum it or not. I will make the changes if necessary.

I served this with 60g dry weight of basmati rice.

I also made a yogurt dip with Greek yogurt and a spoon of mint sauce.

The post Indian spiced Curry appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.

I’m back with another hotel review. My SnapChatters will know We had a midweek hotel break this week. Anyone would think I had a great life with going away again so soon. I wanted to take my son Lee away for a little break during his Easter holidays. Of course I was working all week as Easter is a busy time for us in the salon. Although I think We all felt a bit cheated this year with two long weekends so close. It all came together this year.

Anyway I was browsing online and found the Claregalway hotel had a few good deals on family rooms. I was looking for a hotel with a pool and kids club for Lee as it was his little treat for his Easter holidays. The Claregalway hotel was perfect. An hours drive from home, a very fresh and modern hotel with a fabulous leisure centre, perfect. I rang and booked a two night family package for Easter Monday night and the Tuesday. B & B with one dinner included for the three of us on the First night.  Mr Dillon came with us for the first night but as He was back to work on Tuesday morning myself and Lee had the second night in our own.  You can check their website for very affordable spring packages here.

Www.claregalwayhotel.ie
So Monday afternoon We headed off. We arrived to the hotel and checked in We were given vouchers for our evening meal. We got settled in our room and I headed off to the gym for an hour first and then headed for the jacuzzi while Lee checked out the pool.

 Afterwards We headed down for dinner. This was from the bar menu but was very tasty and delicious with a good selection to choose from. I went for ceaser salad to start while Mr Dillon had soup, both were yummy. We both had the beef stir fry for main course this was super tasty . We couldn’t resist the Ferraro rocher cheesecake for dessert. Yes it was as good as it looks. Divine. Lee went for Sausages and chips with vanilla ice cream for dessert. We had a couple of drinks too as nobody was driving ,before an early night.

We were up early for breakfast as Lee was going to the kids club at 9.30am. This was fantastic service and the staff in the leisure centre were absolutely lovely and great with the kids. There were evening options available as well with arts and crafts and a movie night, but We had our own plans. Lee had a great time at the morning swim camp. I got to go to the gym upstairs while He was at kids club. This was brilliant as I could keep up with my training plan while We were away. Core fitness is the name of the leisure centre at the Claregalway hotel. It’s a lovely gym bright and spacious and super clean with plenty of equipment. I really enjoyed doing my work outs there.

In the afternoon We headed into Galway Lee wanted to go to lifestyle sports. We stopped for a quick snack in 56 central. Always my favourite spot in Galway. I love the place and make it my business to go every time I’m in Galway. The coffee there is just gorgeous. We also met up with my friend Rena and her kids to go bowling in Oranmore. The kids loved it here although We were robbed by the end of it with all the slot machines. We were  all wrecked after a busy day and headed back to the hotel for about seven for another early night.

Another early start Wednesday morning yummy buffet style breakfast first. I was trying to be kinda healthy and make good choices. It was sausages and cereal for Lee, before kids club at 9.30 am. I used the hour in the gym followed by some relaxation in the Jaccuzi before check out. I had to go to work Wednesday afternoon so our fun was over until next time.

All in all We had a great time. I’d highly recommend this hotel for a break away with kids. It was perfect for what We wanted. Great location, very near Galway city and near the bowling alley and cinema in Oranmore. The pool kept Lee entertained for hours. The food was great, staff very friendly and helpful. Great gym,loads of parking. It’s very good value for money. We would definitely return to this hotel .Lee is looking forward to his summer holidays already as He can’t wait to go again. Special thanks to the pool staff for looking after him so well at kids club.

As always thank You for reading. Please share this post with anyone who may find it helpful.

Love Maria

Xx

Disclaimer this post was written based on our actual experience in this hotel. We were paying customers and really enjoyed our stay.

On our mini break

The post Easter break at Claregalway hotel.  appeared first on Mrs. Dillon's Diary.