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Sweet Potato & Stilton Quesadillas

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I always have a pack of tortilla wraps in the cupboard, I use them to make quick lunches for myself and Izzy loves to take them to school in her lunchbox with some ham, cheese and tomatoes to construct her own. I cut them into triangles and brush with garlic butter to make chips that are perfect for dipping and I also love to make Fajitas or Quesadillas.

What is a Quesadilla? 

A Quesadilla is a corn or wheat tortilla which is typically filled with cheese and other ingredients and grilled or fried.

The inspiration for this recipe came from The BBQ Book by DJ BBQ. His recipe is a little fancier and no doubt tastier ( I mean..smoked sweet potatoes! ) but this makes a really simple yet delicious lunch. You can omit the chilli if you aren’t a fan of a little heat but it does really enhance the dish.

You will need:

4 tortilla wraps

1 large sweet potato, baked or microwaved until soft

20g butter

100g stilton or any other blue cheese crumbled.

1 clove of garlic, diced finely

1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes or 1/2 fresh red chilli diced and deseeded

pinch of black pepper

pinch of sea salt

*This makes 2 Quesadillas.

Scoop the flesh from your sweet potatoes and place in a bowl, add your butter, salt, pepper, garlic and chilli flakes and mash well. Place one tortilla into a hot frying pan and add 1/2 of the mixture, sprinkle with half of the cheese and add a second tortilla to top. Leave to brown on one side before carefully flipping and browning the other side. Cut into slices like pizza. Repeat with your remaining wraps to make a second quesadilla.

Everybody Needs Me Time

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Me Time? Self Love? Self Care?

You may have spotted a lot of these phrases floating about lately and YES I am happy about it. I’m glad that we are finally starting to embrace how much we need to look after ourselves because if we don’t then how are we really be able to look after others? For the longest time I thought that wanting some time to myself, to be just me, not to be a friend, daughter, mum, partner or employee was selfish. Especially the mum bit, surely I should want to be a mum all day, every day right? And yes I am of course always a mum and I don’t want to change that but sometimes I don’t want to be in parent mode. I am not ashamed to admit that. I want NEED time to just be Becky. The 33yr old who still thinks she’s 25yrs old, the one who adores music and dancing around the house when nobody is watching, who often writes and speaks without really thinking too hard on it, who can get completely lost in a book and spends too much time in the bath and who has begun to realise the value of a day to herself. Wanting to be alone doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend time with the people in my life or that I don’t enjoy them being around. In fact having that time to myself makes me more tolerant, more patient and I enjoy time with others more afterwards.

I grew up in a large, noisy family. Noisy because there were so many of us. I shared a bedroom until in my late teens and I was never alone. I loved it and I wouldn’t change my childhood for anything but it is surely one of the reasons it has taken so long for me to comfortable in just my own company.

Me at the end of a recent spa day spent entirely alone, relaxed, refreshed and totally ready to get back to my responsibilities. Ignore the messy hair.

We all need it. And not just parents. Yes, as parents we certainly get less opportunity to indulge in me time but everybody needs it, parent or not. My friend who works ridiculous hours every day and then looks after her elderly parents, she needs me time. My friend who works so hard on his work goals that he probably finds it hard to switch off, he needs me time. Neither of them have children so why can’t they just have time for themselves whenever they want right? Because children aren’t the only commitment people have. Work, relationships,family and friends – they are all commitments. I feel a little uneasy when I see articles that heavily focus on the fact that parents are the only ones in need of a break, or that we are the only ones who really understand what tired means because it simply isn’t true.

I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self indulgent, caring for myself is an act of survival – Audre Lorde

We cannot nurture others from a dry well. we need to take care of our own needs first, then we can give from our surplus, our abundance – Jennifer Louden

I am more tired now than I was pre kids, that is a fact but that is not to say I am more tired than my friend who works 10 hour shifts 5 or 6 days a week. It is a different kind of tired, mainly as it’s constant but you can be tired without children and you can admit to that without having to explain it by saying well.. it was the baby you know.

But without a baby or toddler to use as an excuse what are you needing an escape from? Life. You need an escape from life. From the absolutely huge daily pressures we all have on us each and every day. Maybe you work in the coolest office and you have the best job that you love, you still need a break from it. Maybe you have an amazing relationship and you are deeply in love, you still need time apart. Time alone is what you need. Everybody needs time alone. To focus, to not think about anyone or anything else but you…and let me just reiterate – THAT is not selfish. It’s necessary in more ways than you can imagine.

As you get older you lose chunks of your identity. You become mum, dad, girlfriend,boyfriend, wife, husband, employee, boss and more. You start to forget parts of who you are. I wish I had realised this sooner. One day a year or so ago I randomly ended up with a day alone and I felt lost. I didn’t know what to do with myself, I struggled to remember how I liked to spend time by myself and then it struck me that I hadn’t really spent a significant chunk of time ( more than a few hours ) completely alone in years. Now I can spend a day alone and feel like it was time well spent, I feel restored, and although as a mum I do still feel slightly guilty for saying that I love being alone, I feel far less so than if you had asked me last year. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

I think it’s very healthy to be alone. You need to know how to be alone – Oscar Wilde

In fact I even considered a solo cinema trip last week, not because I don’t have anyone to go with as luckily I have a whole group of people who love films as much as I do in my life but because I fancied seeing a film that maybe not everyone would have and just wanted to do it on the spur of the moment. I didn’t end up going but I think I will at some point, I used to feel sorry for people alone in the cinema but now I see that they just wanted to see that film, maybe nobody else did or maybe just maybe they wanted that time.

Me time always brings images to my head of a long bubble bath with a book but really it is no longer that to me, I do that when the girls are in bed at night anyway – that is part of my routine. For me, me time is not at home, not where I constantly feel I should be at my desk or cooking or cleaning. I enjoy bouts of travelling alone, a long walk around the park, time at a spa, or out for food or coffee alone – and that is something that used to scare me.

Photo credit: Kari Shea

Eating alone? Well that’s just weird isn’t it? Nope. It is wonderful. Perks include not having to share your cake and spending as long as you want nursing that cup of coffee. I mean I don’t want to do it everyday, I love company, thrive on it actually but I also like silence and you know what? I am finally understanding that my own company is pretty good and I like being with myself. During that time I come up with recipe ideas, thoughts for blog posts, I plan trips in my head or just think about how one day I am so going to cook with Jamie Oliver. I don’t use that time to consciously work but often it breaks open that creative thinking mode which is so hard to force. Is it also a real cliche to say that at the grand old age of 33 I feel I am still finding out who I am and what I want to do with my life? I’m the only person who can figure that out and time just by myself helps with important choices that I make.

Do you take time for yourself?

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Indoor & Outdoor Cinema Fun With BenQ GS1 Projector

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You know that time you went camping and though to yourself..hmmm wouldn’t an outdoor cinema screen be good right about now?

Ok so maybe you have never thought that but can I tell you something you should, you should think that. BenQ released their first outdoor cinema projector last year and we have been testing it out ever since. We love it. We have had a BenQ projector at home for a few years after buying one for indoor use and this new GS1 model can be used for both indoor and outdoor screenings.

I’ve watched Game Of Thrones on it – so much more impressive on a big screen, mushy romantic comedies and so many animated movies with the girls. It has Netflix and Kodi already installed so you can start watching films as soon as you connect to your Wifi without worrying about cables and hdmi plugs. When outdoors and away from wifi you can connect it to media player or hard drive and watch any previously stored or downloaded films and shows. The first time we used it outdoors was on an early Autumn day last year, the girls had been a little trying that day shall we say and I felt like I was constantly looking for ways to entertain them. I got a heap of blankets, some bean bags, popcorn and I set up the screen – they were so excited and I had at least an hour of peace.

Typically the British weather has meant that since then we have only managed to use it inside but the girls have loved turning their bedroom into a cinema or having film festivals in the lounge. They have been introduced to classics like ET and anime films from Studio Ghibli as well as the obvious Frozen and Troll films on repeat. We have a portable screen to take outside and one which pulls down from the ceiling in our lounge also.

  • Note – the screen can get filled completely, if you don’t have a 3 and 5yr old who like to constantly move the projector that is.

Let me tell you a bit more about the projector:

Ideally suited for people who are campervanner’s (is that a word?), as it means they can watch TV on a larger screen – most camper van screens are about 24 inches, whilst the GSI can project 60 inches from a distance of just 1 metre. So you pop it on your dining table, fire it up in 3 seconds and relax on the bed or chairs watching a film or you could project it straight onto the back of your van. It’s also great for camping, project onto the side of your tent or use the pop up screen that you can purchase alongside it.

Here are some of the best points about the family friendly outdoor projector:


DROP PROOF

If children are running around playing games or an adult trips, even if it’s accidentally knocked onto the floor, the GS1with its case is Drop proof, which means it will even survive a fall of 60cm.

IPX1 SPLASH PROOF

Perhaps you’ve put the GS1 on the camping table ready for the movie to begin. What if a drink gets spilt? There’s no need to worry because GS1’s rubberised case is also IPX1 Splash Proof.

LOW HEAT

Unlike other projectors, the GS1 emits low heat making it safe enough for inquisitive children to touch without hurting their hands.
The family friendly GS1 is the only outdoor camping gear you need for entertaining. These design features give parents additional peace of mind so you can relax and enjoy time together.

What I thought:

Its tiny. Like actually tiny. Just about the size of my palm and yet it does everything the normal projectors do and more besides. Space in the car is always limited on a camping trip. I was also amazed at the quality of the image when used in ambient light – there are various settings for different scenarios. It is just as good quality, if not better than my original full size projector. I at first thought it was fiddly to use, but no that is just me being a technophobe and I quickly sorted it out without having to delve into the instruction manual. I like that I know it doesn’t overheat so I don’t worry about the girls touching it and that I can charge it fully and then forget about having leads strewn across the room. I’ve recommended it to so many people and I already have plans for a Pizza, Prosecco and girlie movie night in the garden as soon as the weather gets a little warmer.

  • I was gifted this projector as part of a press trip with BenQ last year.

You Showed Me What Love Is

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I’ve just come back from a day spent with you and the girls. I caught myself today, noticing things more and reflecting on it. I should do this more often. I watched their beaming faces as they looked up at you and how affectionate you are with them and vice versa. I sat and listened to you telling me family news, sharing your stresses and you in turn listening to and lightening mine. I never have to think about how I talk to you, I know I can say anything. Sometimes I even give you half sentences, you still understand what I’m saying. That’s what comes from a life long conversation I guess.

I’m often told I’m like you. It’s a huge compliment, because you are amazing. You are by far the most generous, open hearted person I know. You taught me one of the most important things that you could. You taught me how to love. To love freely, without questioning, without always expecting it in return, to care for others and above all else to be kind. I always have my heart wide open and often that can cause hurt but overall it’s a good thing I think. I grew up trying to be like you and if I am one tenth ( do you see what I did there? ) of the person you are then I am proud.


photo credit: Jeremy Bishop

That’s not to say we haven’t had our problems, our frictions. During my most sensitive and hormonal teenage years you had some slight ( I am being polite here mam ) mood swings for a while prior to having a major operation and well I think I may have caused you more than a few moments of worry and stress at that time. We would rub each other up the wrong way, that’s the best way to describe it I think, although the spats never lasted long and you would usually find a note of apology on your pillow at night. I wasn’t an overly rebellious teenager when compared to the average teen but in comparison to my older and younger sisters, I seemed like the wild child. I know that in the years since then I’ve made life decisions that you don’t always agree with and possibly I’ll continue to but you have supported me through each and every one.

I may be an adult now, 33 years old in fact but I worry as much about losing you as I did when I was 13. In fact more so now, well we drove each other nuts when I was 13 didn’t we?

Friends of mine have lost parents, both recently and when in their teens and I know that I am lucky. To have both you and Dad, as such a big everyday part of my life still. To have had you with me when the girls were born and to have had your unfailing support in the difficult years since. I will never forget the day when as I just began to get to grips with the surprising news that I was to become a mum for the first time I heard two words that I would never be prepared for – it’s cancer. Cancer rocked our family in a real sense for the first time that day, we had lost grandparents to cancer but it had always seemed like something that only happened to older people or those with unhealthy lifestyles. It made me realise you are not infallible, that our family whilst lucky in so many ways is not untouchable. That being the very best person doesn’t stop the worst things from happening to you. It hardened me a little, but you know I am so soft that wasn’t too much of a problem. Three months and two operations later you stood with me, holding my hand while I gave birth and just a few weeks later you started radiotherapy treatmnent in that same hospital. How clever was Izzy to arrive early so that you could be there for me as you wanted?

You’ve showed me how to be a mother and in turn you have become my friend as well. Rarely will a day pass where we don’t talk or message especially now that you have embraced modern technology and learned how to WhatsApp. I depend on you, we all do. You are the family rock. Daddy too of course, but well this is about you.. he will get his turn. I am constantly in awe of how you handle the responsibility of such a large family, there is never a moment where you would even think of saying you don’t have time for any one of us. I struggle for a way to thank you for always, always being there.

I know you know you are appreciated, I try to show you in every way I can. But you can’t possibly know how much. You are the mother, friend and woman that I strive to be. And at the end of my life if the only thing people can say about me is that she was so like her mother, that will be enough.

I planned to keep this to share on Mothering Sunday but one thing I am learning as I get older is that if you have something to say to someone then you say it right there and then, albeit on a public blog post. And as today you finally figured out how to read my blog via your phone I figured it was the perfect time.

Thank you for teaching me how to be a mother.

Movies, Meals & Muddling Through Life – February 2017

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Are you a curious (nosey) person? I am, a little anyway. I like to read posts from bloggers where they tell me what they have been eating and watching and reading. For lots of reasons, firstly it gives me more of an insight into them as a person and secondly because it gives me ideas, be it for meal inspirations or new books to read and films to watch. So I thought I would post a monthly update with what I’ve been enjoying or in some cases not enjoying from films, TV shows or new food products I have discovered, as well as a brief update with what is going on in my life.

I’ve included links where relevant, not because I have been asked to or compensated for it but for ease of reference for you.

What have I been watching?

I don’t always find the time to watch TV shows or films as much as I would like, but I do try to as it relaxes me, especially when I have a lot on my mind. I love the cinema and would love to go more regularly, films have always been a bit of a passion of mine and I love a good movie date.

Photo credit: Lloyd Dirks

In the cinema:

I’ve been to the cinema four times since Christmas…that’s a lot for me. I’ve seen Sing  – an animated movie about a singing competition, slightly cheesy and annoying in parts but mostly heartwarming and the girls loved it. I’ve seen La La Land twice, once with my oldest school buddy and once with my sisters and I enjoyed it the first time but fell in love with it on the second trip,  it is such a different film to anything else I’ve seen and I am a long time Gosling fan. Lastly I saw Lego Batman which I really didn’t expect to like but I ended up enjoying it and both girls are now committed Batman fans.

At home:

I’ve watched a few films and some Netflix shows. I watched The Light Between Oceans  which although it is a beautifully made film, I cannot really recommend it as I found it desperately sad and as a parent quite brutal to watch. I finally watched The Girl On The Train after reading the book a year or two ago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also watched Gone Girl, another book that I read some time ago, as with the book I found it hard to empathise with any of the characters as none of them are very likeable but I enjoyed it anyway. I watched The Hundred Foot Journey which is a perfect film for foodies and I LOVED it. Finally I watched The Lake House – I first watched this film about 10 years ago when it first came out and although it is fairly soppy and totally impossible I enjoyed it the second time around also, it’s a story of life and love and about how the small decisions we make in life have huge consequences.

Aside from films I have watched a few shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime. A few friends recommended Mad Men and I am now nearly onto the third series and slightly addicted to the show..the clothes, the characters and my own love/hate feelings for Don Draper. I have also been watching some comedy shows on Netflix, I can recommend Louis CK, I was introduced to these shows by a friend and I am so glad I was as he is utterly hilarious in such a dry way. I began watching Santa Clarita  Diet before realising I didn’t have the stomach for it. Documentary wise I have recently watched Abstract: The Art Of Design which I found fascinating as well as some older episodes of Planet Earth which if you haven’t made the time to watch then you need to.  I am planning to watch the David Brent Life On The Road movie this week which I have spotted is now on Amazon Prime and I’m ready to delve into Chefs Table season 3 …oooh and just spotted Fresh Prince is now on Netflix…could probably make some time for that!

Photo credit: Jens Kreuter

What have I been reading?

At my regular office job I am on a computer and/or phone for 8 hours a day and then on my lunch break I found I was answering blog emails or drafting blog posts before coming home, making/eating dinner with the girls and after their bedtime going back to work on the computer – I was getting some serious screen time headaches. Now on my lunch break I try to read or walk instead and I have been enjoying breezing through books the way I used to when I had less obligations. I have read Andy Cope, The Art Of Being Brilliant which is a great read and fairly inspiring and I am now reading Messy – How To Be Creative & Resilient In A Tidy Minded World, Tim Harford, I will let you know what I think next month. Fiction wise I have read One Day, David Nicholls – I saw this film quite a few years ago and I wasn’t overly impressed with it but I enjoyed the book, it’s sad and hard to read in parts but ultimately tells the beautiful story of two friends and their 20 year friendship/romance based on a meeting they have on the same day each day no matter where they were, it is a real story with real issues and I recommend it. I have also been enjoying magazines again, in particular Simple Things and Blogosphere.

What am I listening to?

I am having a bit of a John Legend love in at the moment, after watching La La Land and not realising until he appeared on screen that he was in it I have fallen for his dulcet tones once more. Start A Fire is on the La La Land soundtrack and is my song of the moment, even the girls know the lyrics with Izzy questioning me about it at bedtime last week – one line goes like this: I don’t know what your name is but I like it – try explaining that to a five year old.

What have I been eating and drinking?

Lots. I have managed to mostly kick start my appetite again with a lot of exercise and more sleep. Highlights from this month include natas from Nata & Co in Cardiff:

I had absolutely incredible Baked Salsify from Quo Vadis in Soho and a surprisingly delicious meal at Ask Italian – surprising because I never get my hopes up when it comes to chain restaurants but the battered courgette fries were out of this world.

I had one of the nicest coffees I have tried at a Turkish coffee house/chocolatiers in Piccadilly:

And at home I created this Double chocolate & irish cream milkshake which was indecently tasty:

Food Products I love right now:

I discovered these ganache pots in Aldi last week and oh my word.. I love anything salted caramel but these are pretty special. Not sure if it’s a permanent product line or one of the random products that pop up instore but if you see them ..BUY them. The ceramic ramekins they come in are reusable and pretty cool too.

You may have noticed on Instagram that I love Lakrids by Johan Bulow, they are a Danish brand of liquorice and they are just incredibly good. I have never really been a fan of traditional liquorice and I am still not likely to just go and buy any other types but this brand is something else. My favourites are the salted caramel but I like all of the ones I have tried and I have also experimented with their liquorice powders and syrups.

And what else has been happening?

Well I thought it had been a quiet month or so but really when I look back I achieved a fair amount. I finally hit my 4000 followers target on Instagram and that has since grown by another 300. I have been featured three times on the front page of The Daily Meal website, including being chosen as their Blogger Spotlight which you can see here. I also took over their Instagram account for a week which was lots of fun. I wouldn’t have imagined a year ago that I would be featured on one of the top food websites in the world at any point so that has been nice!

I had my tattoo! I went to Physical Graffitti in Cardiff for my tattoo which was designed and tattoed by Chris Hatton, it was super painful but he made me really relaxed and I love the end result. You can check it out on my Instagram page.

I feel like I have completely recovered from my op that I had in November and my fitness levels are so much better, I actually just yesterday received a letter to advise me that all of my tests that were done during the operation had given satisfactory results so I don’t need to return, nearly 3 months seems a long time to wait for results but I almost forgot about it with all I have had going on, yet it was still a relief to read it. I’ve spent lots of times with the girls, on cinema trips and with my mum exploring Swansea. They are at a fun age, entertaining to spend time with and so loving. Life is stressful and chaotic, there are always things out of my control which I wish I could change but I have to remember that I am lucky in who I have in my life and especially these two smiling faces.

I had a cocktail and nibbles night at my house with my sisters, mum and sister in laws, I like entertaining at home as you can completely chill out and you don’t need to wear heels! You can find the recipe for my Rose Gin cocktail here.

I travelled to London last month for a really interesting evening spent celebrating the new book The British Table from Colman Andrews at Quo Vadis, a private members club in Soho, it was a small, intimate affair which could have been intimidating and I realised just how far I have grown in confidence levels this last year and my belief in myself as a food writer. It was a nice realisation. It was also nice to visit London again as it’s been a few months since my last trip.

I almost forgot to tell you that I now have a YouTube channel which you can find here. This past month has seen me post my first two food videos over on Facebook to a great response and it’s something I am learning more about and enjoying more and more.

What’s next?

Coming up I have some exciting press trips potentially planned out as well as new collaborations on and off the blog. I have one of my best friends hen weekends coming up and we will be enjoying a spa and cocktails break which is desperately needed.  I have a lot planned for the blog this next month including another food video and five new recipes as well as some new brand collaborations.

Double Chocolate & Irish Cream Malted Milkshake – Panasonic Experience Fresh

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A lot of my recipes are inspired by dishes or drinks I have tried at some point and not been able to get out of my head. This particular one is very loosely based on a thick chocolate malted milkshake I enjoyed in London some time ago. I love the taste of malted milk powder when added to hot chocolate or milkshake ( I typically use Horlicks or a supermarket branded version), it adds a depth of flavour and seems to enhance the chocolate. The addition of Irish cream was just to make this more of a grown up drink and ..well I love Irish cream.

It also gave me a chance to play about with my new Panasonic blender, you may remember I am trialling a few of the Panasonic products this year as part of their ambassador scheme and really enjoying getting to grips with new gadgets.

The MX-ZX1800SXC Blender and Food Processor from Panasonic is one of the latest line of cool, modern products that look effortlessly stylish on your worktop. It is a really simple product to use with one touch buttons and a dial that is easy to adjust to the correct speed setting allowing maximum control. I think every kitchen needs a high powdered blender, whether you just want something to make easy soups or smoothies or maybe you like to grind your own coffee beans and spices. This blender really does have a multitude of uses and you may find you can remove one or two other gadgets from your kitchen and replace with this versatile product.

I’ve used it to make nut butters, homemade nutella and a roasted red pepper hummus which I will share with you soon:

It’s also a whizz at crushing ice for cocktails but today I’m sharing this milkshake creation.

This is a very indulgent, calorie laden treat. It would be ideal served in place of a dessert at an informal dinner party.

Double Chocolate & Irish Cream Malted Milkshake

You will need:

Per shake:

250ml whole milk

3 scoops of belgian chocolate ice cream

2 tsp cocoa powder

2 tsp malted drink powder

50ml Irish Cream

whipping cream & chocolate sauce ( to decorate )

Place all of your ingredients aside from your cream and sauce in a high powered blender and blitz until smooth. Serve immediately topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.

I’m linking this recipe up to We Should Cocoa from Tin & Thyme.

* As part of the blogger programme I am testing these products and compensated for my time.

Love Potion: Rose Gin Cocktail

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I was way behind everyone else when it came to enjoying Gin. It took me until the age of 32 to realise that it wasn’t the taste of Gin that I hated but the taste of tonic water. I tried my first Gin cocktail about a year ago, the first time I had tasted Gin without the dreaded tonic and I loved it. Since then I’ve enjoyed Gin on lots of occasions with this Elderflower based cocktail last year becoming a particular favourite.

I have been experimenting with rose flavours in bakes and chocolates this year. I made incredible truffles a few months ago and once I get a little bit of time to retest the recipe I will share them with you. This rose cocktail is so simple that it’s barely a recipe but it packs such a flavour punch. I hosted a cocktail party for my female family members last weekend and this drink was the hit of the night.

On a side note.. if I ever invite you over for a drink and just a few nibbles you will likely arrive to this and lots more besides.

I prepped the gin, cherries and rose water ran hour or so before my guests arrival but didn’t add the chilled lemonade until a minute or two before they arrived. It allowed the cherries to really start to absorb the rose gin flavour and everyone commented on how much of a kick they had! Quantities depend on how many people you are serving so I have given you the ingredients you need and a rough guide per glass but don’t be afraid to go stronger!

Love Potion: Rose Gin Cocktail

You will need:

A decent Gin, don’t go buying the cheapest brand you can find. Good quality makes a big difference

Rose water/extract – I used Nielsen Masseys rose water.

Cocktail cherries

Chilled lemonade

For each cocktail use 50ml gin, 1/2 tsp of rose water and 150ml chilled lemonade. As I stated above it works really well to combine your gin and rose extract along with your decorative cherries a little while before serving for a more intense flavour.

rose gin cocktail

 

The Instagram & Instagrammers I Love – February 2017

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It’s that time again, time to tell you all about my month on Instagram and the Instagrammers I am loving. What better day to share the love than the day before Valentine’s?


Photo credit Brigitte Tohm.

I have had a pretty good month on IG. My following is continuing to grow slowly, I have gained about 150 followers since last month. My most popular posts over the past four weeks are these three:

These sticky honey and rosemary carrots that I made in my air fryer were pretty popular with my followers. I think the vibrancy of the carrots caught peoples attention.

This pesto dauphinoise is one of my all time favourite recipes from the blog and it is always well received when I share it online:

Once again this shows that people love to see the real person behind the IG channel as this photo was my most popular post of the month, it was a fairly scary thing for me to share. I have always been very aware of my stretch marks, I try to hide them or conceal them where possible and although I have started to become more proud of my body in terms of how its becoming stronger and healthier I was still doing that. I know that for most women and a lot of men stretch marks are a very real issue. We lose weight whether its after pregnancy or just as part of a healthier lifestyle and we are left with scars as a result. It seems a little unfair, but it’s part of life and I’m just accepting that for the first time. I think people liked to see a photo that wasn’t filtered to offer a fake perfection and I had lots of positive comments.

I follow such a mixture of IG accounts but I am really starting to enjoy the more relaxed photos that are appearing, I like styled shots as much as anyone but I do like when someone whose life seems impossibly perfect also shares an image of real life scenes.

Now onto the important part of this post, who aren’t you following that you should be?

Let’s start with:

Jane from HungryCityHippy is a food and travel blogger who is passionate about all things sustainable and eco friendly. She is also based in Wales and is pretty lovely to boot. She posts images of all of the food she gets to try, mostly in Cardiff but also on her travels and she makes me hungry ALL the time.

Next up is Dominic from Belleau Kitchen, I have been a fan of his blog for quite a long time now and I love his Instagram channel. Recently he posted a complete how to on his IG stories showing how to make low knead bread..I was fairly fascinated by it all. He also shares a passion for thighs ( chicken that is ) and his bakes always look seriously impressive. Go follow.

A photo posted by Dominic (@belleaukitchen) on

More foodie love for you now with FelicitySpector – Felicity eats in ALL of the best places and then makes all of her followers extremely jealous in return. Take these brioche buns with chocolate ganache hot dogs as an example.. oh my.

Taking a step away from all the food with Fritha from tigerlillyquinn. Fritha is a multi award winning lifestyle blogger who shares images of her family life, as well as home style, fashion and lots more. She is so much cooler than I am and I love the outfits she puts together. Oh and her kids are ridiculously adorable.

Next is my friend and fellow blogger Helen and her lifestyle IG channel FussFreeLiving you may already know Helen from her other instagram for her food blog, Fuss Free Flavours but this channel is all about homestyle and I love it. Lately she has been posting lots of images which relate to the Pantone colour of the year which is greenery.

And finishing up with Karen from MiniTravellers, I met Karen on a press trip to Bavaria last year and we hit it off immediately. She has a gorgeous blog but she is definitely not a good influence when it comes to ordering cocktails…although we had such a fun night. Karen shares photos from trips she takes alone, with her husband and with her family. This shot is from an early morning trip around a small town in Bavaria which I managed to miss due to the late night cocktails but hey I got some extra time in the spa so I’m definitely not complaining.

Who are you loving on Instagram this month??

Skinny Doesn’t Mean Healthy Part Two: Self Love

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In December I wrote this post: Skinny Doesn’t Mean Healthy. I had a lot of messages and comments off the back of it and it struck a chord with lots of you.

I thought an update would be useful, two months on from when I told myself I would make changes.

So what has changed?

A lot..and nothing. I don’t have rock hard abs and I haven’t weighed myself so I don’t know if I’ve gained the weight I wanted to. But I can see differences clearly. My body feels stronger, more flexible, more able. I started attending a really high intensity circuit training class I hadn’t been to in years and the first week killed me..but since then I am coping with it, I can hold the plank position for longer, squat deeper and I can finally do a burpee without feeling like I will land flat on my face.

My appetite is back. I am eating much more as exercise has kickstarted my appetite, am I always eating the right things? No. Sometimes I have Oreos for breakfast, sometimes I eat oodles of veg and fruit and other times I realise nothing green has passed my lips all day. Balance. I eat well, most of the time. I switched back to real butter instead of low fat spread because life is too short to not enjoy real butter. I eat bacon when I want and Nutella in quantities I shouldn’t admit to but I don’t do it every day and I exercise. Every day I exercise in some form, I am not obsessed with fitness and workouts, I have never been that person but I know I feel better when I do it. In every way both physically and it’s just good for dealing with the stresses of life, so I do it, I walk or I do a light, unstructured work out at home, sometimes it is yoga or sit ups and squats, other times it’s just 30 minutes of dancing crazily with the girls.

My skin is more vibrant, not glowing exactly but I look healthier, I am sleeping more so my eye bags are slightly smaller and taking care of myself in ways I have neglected in such a long time. I find that when I lose weight or gain weight it shows first in my face, for me and for other people. As a teen I always wanted that oval shaped face that seemed to be the ideal but I have a rounded face which clearly shows when I lose a few pounds. I think I’ve gained some weight these past two months and it suits me better.

I have become far less worried about being perfect. I shared a photo on IG last month which showed clearly the stretch marks caused by two pregnancies and subsequent weight loss. I don’t like them. I never will but I care less about them now. This is my body. It has done a lot. Been through a lot. But I’m here, I’m fine, I’m healthy and yet I still don’t like parts of me but and this is the important part I love all of me. I remember thinking that to love yourself was vain, narcissistic even – I should point out that I don’t look in the mirror and think wow you look good. Ever. Ha. But I don’t look in the mirror every day and immediately begin to pick at flaws. My body is the only one I will get so I have to love it and take care of it, it’s not selfish.

self-love, noun:
regard for one’s own well-being and happiness.

You have to learn to love yourself. Have to. Self care and self love is important. I am very aware that I have two daughters growing up in a world which loves to punish women for not being perfect. Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl is a very real example of this, how many women the world over felt even more unsure about their own bodies after seeing Lady Gaga being torn apart online for non existent belly fat. How many women would love her body? Most of us I imagine, she is in fantastic shape and is an incredible performer yet waking on Monday morning the news was all about her body. Luckily she is a strong, fiery woman who seemed to take it all in her stride but everyone knows that the negativity would have affected her in some way. How unfair that we live in a time where we feel celebrities or anyone in the public eye has to be so absolutely air brushed perfect all the time.

Luckily for us non celebrities real body images are becoming more widespread, especially on Instagram with hashtags such as #embracethesquish becoming hugely popular. Embrace the squish shows photos of women and men taken at flattering angles to show perfectly flat bellies and all the right curves alongside images taken in the same outfit on the same day but with different lighting or a different stance showing how their body really looks. It is powerful and so important for young, impressionable people to see that the images we see that look so darned perfect aren’t perfect. We all have that slight squish when we sit down or slump – well 95% of people I imagine, it is both natural and entirely healthy.

Here are a few ways you can practise self care/love:

  1. Stop striving to be somebody else’s idea of perfect. You cannot be perfect, nobody is. Try and accept this and just be the best you that you can be.
  2. Learn something new, growth is so important to how you feel about yourself. If you aren’t learning or growing then you are stuck in the same place. This can be as simple as reading a book in a different genre.
  3. Be proud of your achievements and celebrate them. Tell people when you have done well.
  4. Take time to just be, time which has nothing planned in it but it is your time.
  5. Follow your dreams, unfulfilled dreams lead to resentment both internally and to others.
  6. Say no when you don’t want to do something.
  7. If you want something then do it, I had a new tattoo last week which felt frivolous but I have wanted it for ages and immediately afterwards although in pain I was thrilled I had done it.
  8. If you are really unhappy with the way you look or feel for a genuine reason and not just the usual I wish I had bigger boobs, a smaller bum, bigger eyes. Then do something about it, most things such as hair colour/cut, weight loss can be achieved and will do wonders for your self confidence.
  9. Spend time with people who make you laugh.

Valentine’s Day 2017 Gift Guide

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Do you celebrate Valentine’s? I must admit I am not 100% sure of it as a holiday or the fuss that has begun to surround it over the years. As with many days such as Mothering Sunday and Halloween we seem to be going a little crazy for it now.  I am very much of the belief that if you love someone you tell them when you feel it and not to feel forced by it on that one day. However it is what it is and we, as a country seem to have fallen in love with Valentine’s and the act of giving gifts to show how we feel for people. So what do you get for someone when Christmas is barely out of the way? Is it a cliche to send a dozen roses or give a box of chocolates?  Maybe so ( although chocolate can never be a bad idea ) and at the inflated prices from florists at this time of year maybe it would be better to look at one of the ideas I’ve listed below instead for something a little different.

Do you remember back in your teens how the way you knew if your boyfriend or girlfriend was really into you was when they made you a mixed tape/CD? I have funny memories of random selections of songs on CDs which I almost wish I had kept, they would be funny to listen to 15 years later I’m sure. At least one of mine definitely included Puff Daddy I’ll be missing you..which really when you think of it is not the most romantic of songs but to a teenage brain perhaps it was. Electric Jukebox has 29 million songs on it, you plug it in to your TV and it turns into a virtual jukebox. Giving music to the one you love will never go out of style.

We are still riding the Gin craze wave here in the UK and this beautiful Blue Bottle Gin from Drinks21 would make a stylish gift for the Gin loving man or woman in your life. This one however.. is all mine

Watches2u.com have some fabulous savings on Krug Baümen watches at the moment, I have this beautiful Diamond and Rose Gold watch to add to my growing collection of arm pieces!

Philip Kingsley have some super sweet smelling hair products for those who love to take care of their tresses, I have a few of their elasticizers and the difference they can make to your hair is pretty amazing:

 

Whilst we are still on the hair subject, Rock & Ruddle have the coolest hair brushes made from natural Boar Bristles and it’s like having a blow dry when you use them. I have had one for a year or so now and I wouldn’t be without it.

Find Me A Gift have something for everyone, from the soppiest of romantics to the person who could totally be won over by the right cheese ( me ). My favourite pick from the site is this Godminster Heart To Heart Cheese:

But this Love Is light sign is pretty cute too, I am a sucker for hearts:

What says I love you more than a pair of bright red wellies? HA. Ok so its not a traditional gift but if you have a festival lover, countryside tramping partner  or someone who just hates to get their toes wet then these fun wellies from Bogs are perfect. I am a long time fan of Bogs footwear, the wellies I have had from them for the girls are the best they have used and they wore them until they just couldn’t fit in them anymore.

After a smaller yet still thoughtful gift? Know someone who runs on caffeine? This Coffee Mug from Hydroflask.com is simple, modern and attractive. It comes in a wide range of colours and keeps hot drinks hot for 6 hours or cold drinks cool for 24..so I can totally use it for my coffee right now and my Pimms in the summertime!

Mainline Menswear have an enormous selection of gift ideas for the fashion conscious man in your life. My favourites are these Adidas Original Gazelle trainers..and yes they are totally unisex..and by that I mean I have a pair and I wear them!

 

 

  • These products were gifted for the purpose of the feature.