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The Instagram & Instagrammers I Love – December 2016

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I am a fan of Instagram in fact I may even have a bit of a full blown crush on it..in a teenage girl kind of way. It is the social media channel I enjoy the most and I have written about it a few times here on the blog. It seems to be the happiest form of social media, well it does mostly revolve around food and travel, at least the channels that I follow and I find it can relax and make me smile even on my grumpiest of days.

One of my favourite parts of Instagram as a blogger is the instant interaction. I will often post an image of a dish a little while before I re test and eventually share on the blog, it is a good indicator of what kind of recipes people want to see and well there is just something really heart warming about people liking the images of the food I make. More recently I’ve begun to enjoy Instagram stories, it’s fun to see the every day life of people I follow and not just the polished Instagram images that end up on their permanent feed. I guess it’s the nosy side of me, I like having messages from my followers about random parts of my day too. Some days when I am working solely from home it can be a lonely job, don’t get me wrong – I love it. I am more than comfortable with my own company and I  do so enjoy silence but when a message pops up to say someone likes my shoes or to ask where I got a candle from it’s quite nice.

Most of the images I share are of the food I am eating or the places I am wandering around but sometimes ( and more often lately ) you may even catch a selfie or two – and seriously I think I have the sweetest followers as I cannot tell you how much of a confidence boost my followers have given me. I will still never be a beauty or fashion blogger though.

As I’ve said most of the channels I follow are closely related to food and/or travel but not all, you may ( or may not ) be surprised to know that I am a real sucker for quotes and poetry – yes I know it’s cheesy but words alone are important to me. Some days it can feel as if my Instagram timeline really is tailored to me as I see Nutella images followed by a gorgeous sunset and ending up with the most positive, life affirming quote – yes I really am such a girl. And ok new algorithm ..you annoy me no end but I guess it’s working for me. There are some people whose Instagram feeds I will actively go look for if I notice I haven’t seen them online much, because sometimes when you follow more than a handful of people those you want to see the most can get lost  – go look for them! Throw some love on posts you have missed, I bet it puts a big smile on their face, I know I certainly get that happy buzz when someone has a liking spree on my page, especially if its a friend or someone I care about as I know they have taken the time to come and catch up. Maybe don’t like all of their images in one go though.. that could get creepy if it’s someone you don’t really know.

I thought it may be fun to share a handful of my favourite Instagrammers with you each month, it would be rude of me to keep them to myself right? They are no in particular order, I don’t play favourites! Some will be fellow food bloggers, others will be nature or travel Instagrammers and I may even toss in some lifestyle and fashion.

Before I do I will share one of own my favourite posts from this past month:

Let’s start off with my friend Sus from Rough Measures, a fellow food blogger from Bath. Sus is a plant based food blogger and her feed always feels wholesome but without feeling as if she is forcing her food choices on you. I am sure I get a little healthier just scrolling through her pics. I have been lucky enough to attend a few events and press trips with Sus and she is down to earth and full of fun too.

Next up is Helen from Coco Mama Style, Helen is one of the very first bloggers I started talking to online, maybe 4- 5 years ago, we quickly became buddies and she has been a firm supporter of the blog, she has also successfully made and enjoyed a few of my blog recipes which is always nice. Her Instagram is as effortlessly cool as she is, possibly the only fashion blogger I take advice from and she is absolutely stunning – in fact if I didn’t think she was awesome I wouldn’t like her all that much HA. She also has two stupidly cute girls, an amazing youtube channel and blog to boot and she managed to look so incredibly perfect and stylish on her wedding day I think she made the whole of Instagram swoon a bit:

Where have the last four weeks gone, @ford_photo?!!

A photo posted by HELEN CANNING FORD (@cocomamastyle) on

Vy Nguyen is an Instagrammer and blogger I followed earlier this year, her feed is a mish mash of food, travel and photography and I love the way she captures every day life. I recommend you go follow!

Another food blogger for you now, introducing Hannah from Domestic Gothesss. Her feed is guaranteed to make you drool, I can’t help but love all her photos. I mean I have thought about these mocha marshmallows far too many times over the past few weeks and I guess at some point I am going to be making them but all her recipes have that effect on you. A follow you won’t regret:

And finishing up with Kavita from Kavey Eats, she is a food and travel blogger, I am more than a little obsessed with her travel quote series which always make me nod along emphatically and I am stupidly jealous of the wonderful places she has been to. She is also pretty talented when it comes to pottery creation and I am the proud owner of one of her owls. Go let yourself get swept up in her life.

More to come in a few weeks, but tell me who are your favourite Igers? I always need good accounts to follow and drool over so leave your recommendations in the comments please!

Skinny Doesn’t Mean Healthy

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I thought I would get this post out today before we all start making drastic resolutions and joining the gym.

I attended a party last week where I bumped into someone that I hadn’t seen in maybe two years, she stopped me and said wow what have you been doing? You look so skinny and fit. Which was nice of her, it was meant as a compliment although skinny has never been an aim of mine.

Firstly I should say, I am not skinny. I am not overweight but I am not skinny. I have however lost a fair amount of weight in the past two years. Over two stone in fact ( 30lbs or 13kg ). Nearly 3.5 stone in the three years since Chloe arrived. That is a lot for someone who is just 5ft 5 inches tall. I was never really someone you would look at and call heavily overweight..at least I don’t think so. I had two babies within 2.5 years and after my second was born I was unwell and she was also unwell for quite some time. I was not really thinking about being the ideal body shape and previously when I was stressed or worried I would just eat the wrong food. Last October ( 2015 ) I was still calling any extra pounds my post baby weight, but she was nearly 2 years old. I took action at that point. I followed a popular and more importantly healthy weight loss plan which saw me drop to my goal weight within 7 months. At that point I stopped the rigid diet plan and just ate less and what I did eat was then lower fat and sugar. Simple right?

No, it’s tricky this weight loss business. Because you get to your goal weight yet you are still losing it, you get full halfway through a meal and find you can’t finish it. You can have a tub of chocolate open in the office and feel no desire to go and dive in.

I lost my appetite for food. I LOVE food. LOVE..LOVE..LOVE food. Yet my appetite has dwindled and it may sound a little silly but it can get me down.
Before I could be under the utmost stress yet I would still want a hearty meal, now I plan what to eat, cook delicious food and then eat a meagre portion. Or I go out for brunch and have a plate of 5 fluffy American pancakes with syrup in front of me..and struggle to get past the first one. Annoying.

I do realise that some of you will be reading this and thinking hmmmph I wish I had that problem. I probably would have thought the same reading this a year ago.

I mean, I am in the desired dress size but am I healthy?

No. And to be honest I think my happy weight where I feel most comfortable with how I look is about 6-7lbs more than I weigh right now. I like having some curves so if I gain the famous Christmas 7 I wouldn’t even moan.

I’m not healthy, not healthy enough by any stretch. There are lots of days I don’t eat enough and not deliberately, I just get caught up with work and life, I don’t get enough exercise and I don’t drink enough liquid that isn’t caffeinated or fizzy.

And so this is what I am changing. Or adapting if you will, because I will still be drinking coffee and coke and have days where I just want to lie under a blanket with Netflix.

Yes, my resolution (if you can call it that when you have already begun before New Years) is to eat more and look after myself. I am determined to get my appetite back and I am starting to see more and more that exercise and mental well being is the best way to do that so those areas are my focus.

I have said before that when I walk I feel better, about everything. I clear my head, I get that all important me time and I will normally arrive home hungry. Looking after your mind is probably one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Exercise drives the feel good hormones to your brain, when you are in shape you feel better about yourself and that is aside from the obvious physical health benefits it gives you.

I am looking forward to the evenings getting lighter and a little warmer again, this photo was taken on one of my walks in September, just watching the sunset over the estuary behind my home.

 

In my house there are no good and bad foods. It really is just about moderation and trying to eat more freshly cooked meals than popping in a store-bought pizza. That doesn’t mean I don’t have convenience foods in my freezer, life is busy after all. I will be trying to eat a proper breakfast more often but I think I will still always be a brunch girl, I do know that on the days I eat well in the morning I am more likely to  continue throughout the day. It is easy after dieting to get into the habit of thinking you only need to eat when hungry because otherwise why bother? But food is fuel, without it you get cold quickly, tired more easily and your brain is not as sharp as it could be. Also food is awesome. Anyone remember that quote made by Kate Moss? Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. Has she never eaten french toast with crispy bacon or a thick Nutella hot chocolate? Clearly not.

I have never been overly confident in how I look, in fact there aren’t many women who truly are. We are constantly faced with images of perfection, skin which seems to glow without a blemish, hair with a sheen that is almost unreal and bodies which look tight and taut from every angle. We all look at Instagram or other social media channels and think oh I wish I looked like that, I wish I had that smile, those legs. But it isn’t real. The images aren’t snapshots posted without a care, they are heavily filtered or photoshopped in many cases, or they are models who have to work ridiculously hard to look that good – because that is their job. Their face or body is what brings in their wage. We can’t all be like that, nor should we try too hard to emulate it. I will never have long legs because I am a fairly petite thing, that doesn’t mean I can’t have toned, slim and strong legs if I try, I can hate my stomach which has been through the pregnancy and birth of two children or I can take care of it. I can moisturise it to reduce scarring and exercise to make it firmer if I choose to. I can focus on hating my eyes which look tired because I don’t get enough sleep or I can embrace my thick, shiny hair which lots of my friends envy, my skin which is clear and soft or my lips which a make up artist told me are the absolute perfect shape ( who knew? ) that everyone tries to pencil in.

I am learning that self love is important. Life is too short to be constantly criticising yourself – too many people will do that for you, be YOUR biggest fan.

It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself and make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary – Mandy Hale

This isn’t news to me, I know how important it is to love yourself. I don’t work on it enough but I plan to. I have started posting more selfies on Instagram, this quite often goes against all of my natural instincts as I pick up on every flaw in every shot but I know that at some point in the future I will look back and think hey I looked alright. I am trying to instil some of the confidence I seem to have lost these past few years. Be proud of who I am and part of that is being happy with how I look. Confidence is beauty in itself after all.

I am just starting on a combined exercise plan of yoga, walking and strength exercises such as squats, I figure my early 30’s are the ideal time to get that flexible and supple body I have aimed for and seemed to have let slip aside since having the girls. I am not joining a new gym, or wanting to lose more weight or even become fixated with staying at this weight. I actually don’t want to think about that side of it. I want to be toned and fit and I want to feel and look healthy. I want to eat well and fall asleep ( and stay asleep for more than 4 hours at a time). Is it vain to admit that also I just want a good butt? Well I said it. I had just started to get fitter and have improved stamina when I had a minor operation in earlier November and had to rest up for 6 weeks, so I have only now really started back with it and wow it’s difficult after a break. Having a period of forced rest or ill health does make you realise just how important it is to take care of yourself. After all if you don’t then it is one thing you cannot blame on someone else, it’s all on you to make the changes or take the steps to improve.

A little bit of a long ramble I know but I have just seen so many social media posts over the last few days from people talking about starting extreme diets or life changes that it seemed an appropriate time to share my thoughts.

Maybe you are feeling sluggish, full of Christmas chocolates and heavy meals but don’t panic and cut all of those very enjoyable calories from your life. Move more, eat a little less or a little better and just take care of you.

I hope you have all had a fabulous festive break with your families and friends. Happy New Year.

Just One Day

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Remember a few days ago when I was said I was taking a blog break? Technically I still am. However you do find as a writer ( I have only recently accepted it is totally ok to call myself that..if I don’t use the word totally too much ) that words will sometimes just come to you. Often it will be on the subject matter that you don’t need to write about but the words still come and you find you just have to get them out.

I have drafted more blog posts this week than I have in the past month. You will see more content here in January, that’s for sure.

Most people start a blog as a hobby as I did nearly 5 years ago, because they like the idea of it or they want somewhere to pour their thoughts. If you continue with it and it becomes a job as well as a hobby then it is fairly inevitable that at some point you will get a day or a week or a month where you just can’t write. The words feel forced. The content is boring, to you if nobody else. Nobody loves their job every day. Everyone has a bad day at work every now and then. I know that in my other job, my office job, I have days like that most week. It’s rare that I feel like that about the blog but when I do, I take a step back. Obviously I finish up any commitments I have but I take a step back, I breathe, I refocus.

And sure enough when the pressure was removed I wanted to write again. I’m still taking a break, I’ll be back soon enough I am sure but I had to just spill out some thoughts I have had this week, as next week they will no longer be relevant.

I went Christmas shopping today along with probably 90% of the population of Wales. I saw people, stressed and clamouring for the last decent turkey and the biggest boxes of chocolates they could find. I saw myself, already sure of having enough gifts for the girls yet still looking and wondering how could I make it even more special.

How to make Christmas more special for a 3 and 5 year old? Two girls who have people who love them, a warm , safe and comfortable home, food to eat and a pile of gifts just waiting to be opened on Christmas Day. Really?

I could wrap their gifts in kitchen foil and give them beans on toast for their Christmas lunch and it would still be special. Who are we all actually trying to please?

Do we need 5 different relishes, umpteen varieties of cheese and every kind of chocolate covered treat under the sun to enjoy that one day? We really don’t. I mean…Christmas is most definitely centred around food and drink and there will be lots of it enjoyed by my family alone I am sure but the trollies I saw stacked high today did make me wonder.

Because it really is just one day. JUST one day. I managed to get talking to an elderly lady outside a large local supermarket who said this to me:

People in there ..they just don’t realise..it’s one day. The stores re open on December 26th. It is just one day.

She’s right. Don’t get me wrong, it is an important day and I have food in my fridge to last a week if necessary..who knows we could get snow? We all know the world stops in the UK if we get a dusting of snow. But let’s not go too crazy.

Don’t panic if you can’t find the exact brand of treats that you buy every year or the most elaborate decorations or favours for your festive table, tradition doesn’t have to focus on things like that.

Zoom in instead on your family and your friends. If you are with people who love you in a warm place with food in your belly, be mindful of how lucky you are. I admit that I don’t always think about how lucky I am when it comes to my family and friends, it is easy to forget that during hard times and stressful situations. This year has also seen me become more aware of how much of a lottery it is in this world in terms of where you are born, for most of us in the UK we have been untouched by the atrocities that many parts of the world has seen this year- it’s good to take a minute occasionally and dwell on that.

On a final note, remember to reach out to those you know you may be struggling with this season for whatever reason big or small – it is a tough time for so many people. Wherever you may be think about the ones you care about and if you can send them a message or call then do so. It may be just what they need at that very moment.

Merry Christmas.

Photo credit Jez Timms.

Win A Family Stay At The Hilton London Metropole

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I know the year isn’t over yet but I am starting to take stock. Don’t we all start to do that? I hope it isn’t just me.

By taking stock I mean thinking on the year that has gone by, what I have achieved, what I haven’t ..trying not to put too much emphasis on the what I haven’t part. I can’t pretend to be happy with every single aspect of my life within the past 12 months and I would be surprised if any of us could genuinely say that but one thing I am really proud of is the growth of this blog. From a place to leave my rambling thoughts and hastily thrown recipes with dark, blurry images it has now become a job as well as a hobby. Brands value my work enough to commission me to create recipes and take photographs for them and rather spectacular hotels invite me to come and stay – sometimes when a particularly interesting work opportunity comes in I have to stop and think.. did they really mean to email me?? Surely not.

I am well aware that I would not have these opportunities or this blog at this point in time if it were not for you, my very lovely readers. Some days I am genuinely astonished by the warmth and support which you all surround me with. I don’t say thank you enough but really THANK YOU.

And so onto the reason for this post. One of my favourite reviews of this year was a really fun stay at The Hilton London Metropole in September with my sisters. You can read my review here. It is an absolute gorgeous hotel and it was such a luxurious, enjoyable break. So when I decided to run a competition as a thank you to my readers, it was an easy decision to ask the Hilton to be involved.

Now tell me.. how many of you would like to stay at one of the nicest hotels in London and enjoy a luxurious break with breakfast for up to 2 adults and 2 children?

I am quite sure this will appeal to a few of you.

Here are a few photos from my recent stay:

hilton london metropole

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hilton-breakfast

cherry brandy cocktail

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afternoon tea hilton london metropole

Just to whet your appetite.

To enter, please use the easy rafflecopter form below. Winner will be chosen on Boxing Day 2016. Good luck to all of you, I cannot wait to see who wins!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Maple Whisky Sour Cocktail

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Party season is upon us and what would a party be without a cocktail..or three? Get practising your mixing skills ready to impress your guests.

This Maple Whisky Sour Cocktail is really simple to make, its refreshing yet pretty strong and has a lovely smoky maple flavour. I have never really been a fan of Whisky, I blame my manager at work who made every member of staff drink shots of Southern Comfort at my first staff party..it put me off for about 16 years. Like Gin it seems to be fairly trendy right now, no longer does it just seem like the kind of drink that older men drink neat over ice. You can use it in a number of cocktails or even to cook your ham.

A Whisky sour is typically a combination of simple syrup, whisky and lemon juice, I have created my own twist here by using Maple Syrup in place of simple syrup and lime juice in place of the lemon and it really works.

Maple Whisky Sour Cocktail

You will need:

2 oz Whisky
1.5oz Maple Syrup
2 oz Lime Juice
Ice

  • Optional – top up with sparkling water.
  • Traditional whisky sours often include 1 egg white, feel free to add if required.

In a cocktail shaker, mix your whisky, syrup and lime juice along with some ice. Strain and pour over fresh ice in a short glass.

 

maple whisky sour img_8721

 

 

Love The Angel – The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny Review

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Earlier this week I spent some time at The Angel Hotel in Abergavenny with a group of bloggers and journalists. We were invited to sample the festive afternoon tea, a Swiss fondue party at the Apres Ski Bar, lunch at the stunning Chapel and soak up all that Abergavenny and the local area has to offer.

The Angel Hotel is a former coaching inn built way back in 1829, located in the historic market town of Abergavenny. It has been completely transformed in the years since into the modern yet true to its roots property you will find today. There are 34 guest rooms, the Oak Room restaurant, Foxhunter bar and The Wedgewood Room where the high tea is served daily. The hotel is a member of the highly prestigious UK Tea Guild, only nine hotels outside of London have achieved this.

the-angel twizy

My room was just beautiful. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about it. Everything has been so carefully considered, the pillows are like fluffy clouds, the cushions stylish and all  of the finishing touches such as the lamp, toiletries and alarm clock just fit in perfectly. And there was a bath…if you read any of my hotel reviews you will know I do love a bath.

This was my bed, all that space..just for me! The sofa looks onto a large flat screen TV on the wall and I can imagine it would be just lovely to cosy up and watch a film there.

my-room

bathroom bathroom

This was the table set up for our afternoon tea, it was so impressively festive. I loved the crockery, the atmosphere and well the afternoon tea was just sublime.

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The price of the High Tea is £27.80 per person and it’s served every day of the week in The Wedgewood room (Festive twists available in December only).
I am generally more of a savoury than sweet person and the savoury options on the afternoon tea were out of this world. My favourite was the Beef & mushroom choux buns and from the sweets it was the custard slice, closely followed by the scones which were easily the best scones I have tried. The festive sandwich was also a highlight with super tender turkey, stuffing and cranberry.

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Just take a look at those scones – aren’t they just a thing of beauty??

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I want to revisit the hotel and spend time in every cosy corner, I want to curl up on that sofa with an epic romantic novel and a mug of hot chocolate.

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This was the view out of my bedroom window, overlooking the pretty street of shops and restaurants in Abergavenny centre. Yes there is a crane slightly marring the view currently but the Welsh countryside is still a wonder to behold.

view

Later that evening we spent some time in the Apres Ski bar which is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with traditional Swiss fondue each Thursday ( booking essential ) We were in for a treat with the Swiss fondue party, it was so much fun. Hats off to the kitchen team at The Angel, every morsel of food was just a delight. My photos of the food are shockingly poor as it was dimly lit and atmospheric – could also be a result of the mulled wine and prosecco. We also took part in a mannequin challenge which was pretty fun, you can view that here. The bar is stocked with German beers, mulled wine and festive cocktails as well as hot drinks and warm, hearty snacks.

apres-ski

The next morning, after a superb breakfast the group headed to the Brecon beacons for a hike with Drover Holidays – sadly I couldn’t go as I have had a minor operation recently and I am still recovering. I instead took a more leisurely stroll to Abergavenny castle situated right by the hotel. I was pretty much alone the entire time and it was idyllic. The scenery, the quiet and even the cold, crisp air. I can’t tell you how much I have begun to appreciate walking alone this year, it clears my mind and also it means I force myself to get out into the fresh air after hours of the day spent sat at my desk on the computer.

castle

A rare selfie.

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At lunchtime I met up with the group once more for an outstanding lunch at The Chapel. Situated in the heart of Abergavenny it combines an art gallery, shop and cafe/restaurant and is a sister property of The Angel.  It serves entirely fresh and mostly seasonal food, made to order in the open kitchen. It was the kind of vibrant and buzzing place which really makes eating a pleasure and I will be sure to return. It also serves the best coffee I have ever had and even just the process of it being made was mesmerising.

the-art-shop artshop

It is clear to see why The Angel was awarded ‘Hotel Of The Year’ for Wales in the annual AA hospitality awards. My stay was faultless and one aspect which is hard to force in a hotel is the attitude and personality of the staff but they have managed it. Every person we dealt with was incredibly warm and helpful – it makes a visit so much more pleasurable.

Thanks to The Angel Hotel, The Chapel, Drovers Holidays and A Marr Associates for a truly fantastic stay.

Check out what fellow blogger Sus from Rough Measures thought of the stay.

  • My stay and all food and drinks were complimentary for the purpose of this post.

Gifts For Everyone – Christmas 2016 Gift Guide

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For The Grown Ups:

Lumie – I am an enormous fan of the Lumie range. I have been using one of their body clocks for a few years now and I find it really helps with waking up naturally. I have recently started using their SAD desk lamp at my desk at home and it definitely makes a difference to how I feel when I wake, I really love the Autumn – Winter months but I miss the sunlight and so this is the perfect addition to my work space.

If you want a combination of the two then the Zest body clock is ideal, it acts as a lamp and clock and is small enough to fit in even the smallest of bedrooms or desk.

The GS1 projector from BenQ should please all gadget lovers, it is a gift suitable for the whole family.

 

I don’t wear a lot of jewellery, I never have really although I do like it. I tend to opt for simpler pieces when I do and these bracelets from Sailbrace are just gorgeous, I wear it with everything and am currently thinking I need to get it in different colours. They are reasonably priced from £15 – £19 and you can save 15% by using this discount code – munchiesandmunchkins. It would make a nice gift for two close friends or couples in  long distance relationships as the idea behind it is anchoring yourself to something special.

Whilst we are still on the subject of jewellery then you MUST have seen the Jord wooden watches over on Instagram lately, they seem to be the watch of the season. They are stylish and a little different and if you want to win one you can click this link so go try your luck. This .. is perfect for Dads, sons, brothers, boyfriends and husbands or just a treat to yourself!

 

Braun have some styling products perfect for anyone who like to take care of their beards, including this beard trimmer.

Gillette as always have a range of grooming products which would make ideal stocking fillers. Including this Proshield chill:

I have always liked 7th Heaven face masks and now I am a fan of the pampering pedicures kits they have brought out. Great for stockings or as a small gift for any teenage girls you need to buy for.

X Dream Power Charger – I firmly believe you can never have enough power chargers, this compact charger also doubles as a speaker so great for beach holidays or just for charging your phone whilst blasting out iTunes in your kitchen as you cook and dance. It’s not just me who does that right???

The Bluebeards Revenge company have a really cool selection of male grooming products, from the Big Blue Bar Of Soap for Blokes to beard oils and eau de toilette gift sets.

For the women ( or actually for anyone.. not just women..although don’t try and steal mine ) Nelsons have a gorgeous bath & massage oil which includes arnica – great if you manage to bruise like an over excited toddler like me. They also have a vast range of body creams and my latest fave is their Pure Rosehip oil.

Weird Fish always have really funky products which would make lovely gifts, I am currently in love with this Clearwater Yarn Tassel Hat in Fir Green

Foodie bits:

Every year I like to have a new cookbook, despite having no room for them in my house. I choose wisely these days as I cannot bear to throw books away. This newly released book – The British Table from Colman Andrews is a perfect gift for any foodie. It focuses on the traditional cooking of England, Scotland and Wales and has a wealth of tradition and historical information amongst the recipes. I can’t wait to try out the recipes in the new year.

Caprera foods have such a wide and varied selection of products available from a collection of independent producers, I was recently sent some chocolate from The Chocolate Tree to try out. I was seriously impressed. This coconut milk chocolate is both dairy and refined sugar free but was probably one of the nicest I have tried.

Carluccios have an online shop ( as well as a chain of successful restaurants ) where you can buy authentic Italian products such as clementine pieces dipped in chocolate or these totally incredible Baci de dama biscuits:

Under Fine Wraps have a hamper to suit everyone on their site, this beer and treats hamper ( or Manper as it’s called ) would be great for the fussy men in your life – you know the ones who are always impossible to buy for!

 

For the kids:

If you have a Justin Fletcher fan in your house, and lets be honest if you have children between 2-7 you probably do then this Justin’s House playset would make a perfect gift:

My girls haven’t asked for anything big this year but they do really want a pair of bunk beds so at the moment I am hunting for the right beds for them..how exactly do I explain how Santa got that down the chimney? They will get toys too of course but I am taking advantage of them not making huge requests and opting for small, fun gifts instead.

 

*Some products in this guide were gifted for the purpose of this feature.

Cosy In Copenhagen Hilton

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In October as the leaves hit that wondrous golden, crispy stage and the days were chilly yet not obscenely cold I visited Denmark for the very first time. The home of Hygge is so incredibly inviting that I walked around with a huge smile on my face for the entire duration of my stay. Copenhagen was my destination for this first visit and it captured my heart a little. Copenhagen Hilton hosted me for this trip and what a gorgeous stay it was.

I managed to pack a lot into a fairly short stay with an indulgent stay at The Hilton Copenhagen as well as the most fun evening at the beautiful Tivoli Amusement park and gardens.

The Hilton at Copenhagen Airport is a stylish and modern hotel, 12 storeys high with rooms to suit all budgets. The first perk of staying here is that you can just casually stroll in via a walkway directly from the airport terminals, it makes ending your journey so much easier, but this is not your typical boring airport hotel. You see the usual Hilton attention to detail within the lobby and communal areas. The staff at the desk are friendly and courteous and check in is a breeze.

I stayed in an Executive room which allowed for use of the Executive Lounge for the duration of the stay. The lounge offers soft drinks, hot drinks and complimentary snacks throughout the day in an area which is just perfect for relaxation. At night there is a wide selection of alcoholic drinks to choose from also.

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The executive rooms are large and airy with a huge comfy bed, desk, tv and sofa as well as floor to ceiling windows. The bathroom is stocked with Peter Roth toiletries and houses a shower AND a bath – an essential in my opinion.

I may have spent a little more time than necessary lazing on this bed and looking out of the window on my last day.

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I was lucky enough to try the buffet dinner at the hotel on my first evening and as someone who is constantly disappointed by the quality of buffet food this was a pleasant surprise. All of the hot dishes I tried were excellent, particularly the veal and the pork. The bar staff also make a mean mojito! Breakfast at the hotel was  excellent with a varied selection of hot and cold foods on offer. Bonus points go to the Hilton for not only having a separate table of Gluten Free breads and pastries but also a separate toaster – I was really impressed, although I don’t have to avoid gluten, some of my family members do so I am always looking at the ways hotels and restaurants deal with it. The Hilton always make a huge effort in each one I have visited so this was not surprising but impressive none the less.

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Once in the city I tried my first Smørrebrød– that is the famous Danish open sandwich. It will not be my last! For those who need to know what is in the photo..its Rye Bread topped with avocado,  chicken mayo, the crispiest bacon and asparagus. AHH can I return just for another one?

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As the afternoon wore on sugar was needed, and I had the most delicious cinnamon pastry served with super creamy hot chocolate at The Andersen Bakery.

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Next up was exploring the scenic Nyhavn area of Copenhagen. It is such a buzzing and vibrant area of the city and I would love to spend more time there just watching the world go by.

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There is beautiful architecture everywhere you look, especially the government buildings which are particularly impressive.

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On my second day in Copenhagen I spent some time at Tivoli Gardens, I think this may be one of the best parts of my visit. They really went out all out with the Halloween and Autumnal decor and there must have been a thousand pumpkins strewn around, it was by far the prettiest theme park I have been to. Lots of different rides for all ages and the most enticing smells of freshly popped corn, mulled wine and candy floss followed you around. As darkness fell, the park lit up with thousands of lights ( very cosy or hyggeligt I should say ) and I could have spent hours sat looking out onto the water – if it hadn’t been so cold that is!

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Apologies for the quality of my photos, I managed to take the wrong lens for my camera and my current phone camera is a little sketchy!

I will be honest, I was a a little sad to leave this beautiful country.  I would highly recommend a visit to Copenhagen and a stay at the Hilton Copenhagen Airport, I certainly hope to return at some point, there is so much still I want to see and do.

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  • My stay at The Hilton was complimentary for the purpose of this post. Thank you to The Hilton Copenhagen and Tivoli Gardens for hosting me during my stay.

24 Hour Sous Vide Ham in Whisky, Lemon & Brown Sugar

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Before we start talking about my sous vide ham, let me tell you how much I love ham all year around but especially as we start to edge towards the festive season. Every year on Christmas Eve my mum baked a ham and I remember the smell of it wafting up the stairs as I lay in bed too excited to sleep. As I reached my teens I was allowed to sneak a little bit whilst my younger siblings were in bed and help with the Christmas preparations – which normally involved my mum panicking that one child’s pile of gifts was smaller than the others.

I have made ham in every way, baking, boiling, slow cooking and by my very favourite method – sous vide. When you cook any meat in a Sous Vide ( water bath ) you set a temperature, generally the recommended temperature for food safety and you only cook the meat to that temperature. If you cook a joint of meat by any other method you will always have to get the outer layer of the meat to a far higher temperature just to enable the centre to reach the minimum temp. This means your meat can often be dry or chewy or lacking flavour – or at worst, all three. Sous Vide meat is like butter in your mouth, ah if you haven’t tried it then you really need to. By vacuum packing the meat you ensure that all of the juices remain leading to moist and succulent meat and the best gravy or sauces you will ever make.

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24 Hour Sous Vide Ham in Whisky, Lemon & Brown Sugar

You will need:

Smoked ham joint – mine was approximately 2kg

For the first marinade:

150ml whisky

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

125g brown sugar

5-10 cloves

good pinch of sea salt and black pepper

Final glaze:

100ml whisky

1/2 juices from Ham

200g brown sugar

good pinch of sea salt and black pepper

Add your marinade ingredients to a small saucepan and simmer until you have a sticky sauce. Allow to cool. Place your ham into a vacuum bag and pour over your glaze, use your hands to rub into the meat. Seal your bag and place into your Sous Vide, set to a temperature of 62C and leave for 24 hours.

After 24 hours remove from bag, retain juices. Pour half of the juices away and add the rest to a pan with the remaining final glaze ingredients and simmer until you have a thick and sticky glaze. Pour over your meat and pop into a very hot oven for 15 minutes – alternatively you could pop under a hot grill or use a blow torch as this stage is mostly for aesthetic reasons. Leave to rest and carve thinly.

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I served this to my family at a bonfire night party and I am really looking forward to making it again over the festive period. Ham is good for a few days after cooking so it is a really handy dish to make in preparation for a party or just to have with salads and potatoes in those filler days between Christmas and New Years!

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Next week I will be sharing a collection of ham recipes from myself and fellow food bloggers so keep an eye out for that!

Spreading Feel Goodness With Feel Good Drinks

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It is very nearly the season for goodwill and festive cheer and most of us will no doubt be attending get togethers with friends and family over the next few months. I started early this weekend with a party ..well a weekend break that my family have every year. It started about 12 years ago when my rather large family realised that we weren’t all going to be able to be together physically every Christmas, so we began a fake Christmas in November.

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Yes, we are a little strange. It started off fairly small in my eldest sisters home and since then a wave of babies and additional husbands and wives have meant we had to move into a larger space. We now stay at a collection of cottages in Llandovery together instead, we have a buffet party night and an actual Christmas dinner in a local restaurant followed by the usual family games and fun. The area we stay in is quiet and picturesque and invokes a festive, family feel from the moment you arrive..it is not so quiet once we arrive but luckily there is nobody else around for miles..

This year the party was full of noise and warmth as always, with the typical family teasing and everybody talking over one another. Feel Good drinks sent us a hamper of products to help us enjoy the party and they went down really well. The hamper included a selection of their drinks, a cocktail ( or mocktail ) making kit, some photo booth style props and a stack of cards on which friends and family could write down what they had felt good about in the last year. I liked the idea of writing down what you felt good about, its always nice to remember good times and sometimes especially if you having a difficult time this can be just what you need to remember there is always something good to think about. Whether its your last holiday or a job promotion or to go even simpler the smile on your childs face as they realise the Santa they were a little scared of that has just walked into the room is in fact.. Grandpa.

Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day

The photo booth props were popular with both my daughters and my nieces and nephews and it kept them busy for quite some time which is always a bonus. We also added some festive bits.. well it was fake Christmas Day after all…

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As with most parties, the food and drink is always the best part..well in my opinion anyway. This year we had enough food to feed a small army and a massive selection of drinks from Mulled Wine and Bucks Fizz to these delicious soft drinks from Feel Good. My favourite was the Cranberry, Lime and Water but the overall winner with everyone else was the Apple,Elderflower and Water.

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All Feel Good drinks are made from a pure blend of fruit and water which means you can ACTUALLY feel good about drinking them. So many soft drinks claim to be healthy or low in sugar but not many are completely natural as all of the Feel Good drinks are. Often at parties or events if you are drinking alcohol you can really feel you are missing out so these make the perfect addition to your gathering, whether you avoid alcohol, are driving or cannot drink due to a health reason it is nice and also considerate to your guests to have an option other than orange juice or cola.

Why not spread some feel goodness at your festive parties? Stockists include Sainsburys.

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Oh AND you can actually make cocktails with these too.. which possibly takes away from the healthy aspect but the Cranberry and Lime combined with Disaronno and ice is SO good.

*Thanks to Feel Good Drinks for inviting me to host my Feel Good party, I was compensated for my time.