DIY Winter Bird Seed Feeders

I can't stand to think of the little birds that hop around my garden going hungry in the upcoming colder months. Not many people these days put food out for the local wild life and I think it's really important more people think about doing this!

I have always put stale bread crumbs out in the garden and also apple chopped up that was past it's edible-ness (totally just made up a word there but I think it works) birds go crazy for it! Obviously my garden doesn't look like a tip, I just scatter them over the grass and its usually all gone the next day.

I was looking for a 'recipe' to make DIY bird seed feeders so that I can hang something pretty in the garden but will also be substantial for the birds in Winter as their food sources are substantially reduced. When Benjamin is a bit older to understand, I can't wait to make these with him and teach him the importance of doing so.

Following on from the other day's Christmas post, these will be perfect for any gardening enthusiast or in a gardening hamper. A couple in a cellophane with some twine to tie it together, et voila. They could even be wedding favours for nature lovers! That might sound far fetched but there is something appealing about a wedding favour that won't just go into landfill.

1) Measure out 400g bird seed.
2) Make up the 20g gelatine as per your packet instructions. For the powder version which I used, I made up 200ml hot water NOT boiling water. Never boiling. And added 20g of gelatine powder (2 x sachets), mixed until dissolved. If you choose to use the gelatine sheet, soak in 100ml hot water and leave to cool. Then pour this mixture into a saucepan containing 100ml water and heat until dissolved. I repeat do not boil!
3) Add gelatine mix to the bird seed and mix well. Leave until cooled.
4) Line a baking tray or pie dish or anything you have handy with tin foil or baking parchment. You may want to grease inside the assortment of cookie cutters but I didn't. Then place them on the tray.
5) Scoop the mixture into each cookie cutter and place a chopped piece of straw into each as this will be the hole to hang the feeder up.
6) Either freeze for 90 minutes, or leave in the fridge for a couple of hours or leave over night. I left mine in the fridge over night to make sure it was really set.
7) Loop pieces of string/twine/ribbon through the holes and then hang out for the birds to enjoy!

It is so simple and I hope you will enjoy the rewards. I picked up a 'Birds of Britain and Ireland' book from a car boot for 10p and I like to spot which species fly into our garden. Ben loves it when a bird starts pecking at the food we leave out and it is the beginning of a strong love for nature I hope.

I urge you to give this one a go!

Monday's TOP TIP - Don't Waste Apple

I recently got given 3 huge bags full of apples from my brother-in-law's* garden. After making a huge batch of classic apple chutney and a big apple crumble I still had mountains of apple left and it loomed over me every time I walked into my kitchen.

 

Tonight I decided to take hold! I filled a huge mixing bowl with water and squeezed the juice of one lemon into it.

 

I then cored, peeled and chopped all the apples into small chunks and left them to soak for about 5 minutes to prevent them from going brown.

 

Then I drained the apple and scooped them into containers and popped them in the freezer.

 

I now have apple to last me for the rest of my life by the looks of it. I'm thinking more apple crumbles, apple puree with cinnamon for Benjamin, maybe more chutney!

 

Another thing I do with apples that are past their best is I peel and core them and slice them into thin rings. I hook them onto a piece of bamboo in my airing cupboard and leave to dry out for 24 hours and then I have apple crisps.

If you don't fancy doing that then throw them out for the birds, they love them and need feeding in the cold months!

 

I do love the produce you get from the Autumn months and what you can make with it.

 

Do you have any non wasting apple tips?

Calculating Christmas

I have written a list of all the birthday and Christmas presents I need to buy between now and the end of January and then allocated either a £10, £15 or £20 or other rounded figure next to each person. I then totted up the amount it totals and we have a whopping £460 worth of gifts to buy! We haven't been over generous either in that amount so it is astonishing to see how much Christmas and birthdays can add up to.

Last year I made a lot of my presents. I made cushions and cookie ingredient jars, chutneys and jams but I don't think the recipients were that thrilled so I have given up on that idea this year.

I love hampers and the fact that they can be tailored to the person you are giving it too. Here are a few of my hamper ideas. You can go as extravagant or as thrifty as you like with each.

Fireside Film Night Hamper
Popcorn, DVD's, fluffy socks, hot chocolate set complete with marshmallows, perhaps a cheapish blanket from Ikea. Doritos and dip. Strawberry laces and sour snakes or other sweets. Fondue set.

Pamper Hamper
A basket full of luxury goodness. Body lotions, bath essences, face masks, eye mask, flannels, hair towel, slippers, robe, hair grips and hair band, body brush and exfoliating mit, bath bombs, soap, mini bottle of champagne or wine, lip balms, perfume, chocolate truffles.

Couple's Hamper
Choose a large basket or box and one half is dedicated to the male and the other is for the female. Each can have a pair of socks and some chocolate. The woman can have a nice candle and the male can have some lynx or similar. Small bottle of wine for the lady and bottle of beer/ale for the male. Mr and Mrs board game, each could have a nice scarf or pair of slippers, cufflinks and a bracelet.

Baking Hamper
Cupcake and muffin cases, icing, sprinkles, biscuit cutters, cake stand, pallet knives, flower presses, cake liners, madeleine tray, bundt tin, recipe book, recipe stand etc.

Family Night
Board games, sweets, pack of cards, domino's, uno, popcorn and crisps, DVD's, pizza vouchers.

Savoury Lover
Home made oat biscuits, crackers, home made chutney, selection of cheeses and small bottle of wine.

Green Fingers Hamper
Home made bird seed feeders, winter plant seeds, nice outdoor plant pot, mini bird house, birds of Britain book.

Ice Cream Sundae Kit - Idea from Pinterest
Check this out! Great idea for kids, or big kids! Filled with assorted sweet toppings and sprinkles, a variety of sauces and waffle cones.

The thing with hampers is you can tailor them to male or female. You can still have a male pamper hamper but full it with Gillette shaving products and lynx smellies. If you have a teenage boy you can do the Film Hamper but add lots of sweets and some funny DVD's and maybe a board game.

Also, it is very easy to overspend. Sometimes you think it might not look enough to be worthy of being called a hamper. Be careful. But what can make it look more enticing is the fact that you have gone to so much effort to source items specific to them. It's amazing what cellophane bags, cute labels and pretty ribbons can do to tease the eyes.

I have seen a lot of hampers on google images that look, quite frankly, naff. Try not to pad it out with whatever cheap tat you can find. If you have a smaller budget, invest in one or two items that will be worth while and add a couple of little extras. Leave room in the purse for a bit of nice packaging.

What do you think to hampers? Would you like to receive one?

My County. My Derbyshire.

I dream of living in an idyllic, rustic farm house with a brick built open fire with stacks of logs beside it. I dream of living in the rolling hills where long evening and weekend walks are waiting to be had. Wellies lined up in the hallway ready for adventures. An open plan kitchen with dining room attached, perfect for entertaining, allowing me to practise my hosting skills. I dream of a garden with chickens and little corners to hide in, luscious green and blooming flowers.

Basically I dream about most of the houses in Country Home and Interiors magazine! Wow I do love that magazine. I can't believe people actually live in the most perfect houses I could only imagine one day living in.

Whilst I only have a mid terrace 2 up 2 down house, I have put my own country spin on it. I believe wherever you live, you can make your home exactly what you like. We find places to go for breezy walks and we find places to have adventures.

I have mentioned before that I follow Deb who created Fabulous Places. A collation of all the lovely things to see and do in Derbyshire. However, it's not just everything, it's everything that is home made, hand picked and wholly desirable!

I really believe in supporting your local businesses and Fabulous Places ethos is totally that!

When I go for a coffee, I don't like to just visit a chain coffee shop, I like to visit something a bit different, a one off. Or if we go out for a meal (not just lately!) but if we do, I don't like to go to the chain restaurants, I like to try new up and coming eateries and see what they have to offer. Life is all about experiences and memories.

So true.

So here is a small list of the places I love in Derbyshire so that if you are from Derbyshire or are going to be visiting Derbyshire, you may think twice about where you go.

1) The Bottlekiln - West Hallam
Set in an old converted pottery house, The Bottlekiln offers homemade food and award winning coffee. Need I say more? It has a gift shop and 'The Potting Shed' attached to the cafe which is a gardeners delight. They also support local crafts people by selling local jewellery etc. A definite thumbs up from me!

2) Jack Rabbits Kitchen - Derby (opposite the Cathedral)
Well firstly, this is not on my list just because I work there. I used to visit on numerous occasions before I worked there and it was always my favourite. Try out the breakfasts and dinners made from locally sourced meat, dairy and vegetables in the cafe or see our sister shop next door but one and order dinners either for your tea or for parties/buffets. Homemade cakes made on site and also offering actual Bakewell tart!  When the sun is shining, a seat outside opposite the Cathedral is perfect. I love working there!

3) The Apple Tree- Ockbrook
A lot smaller than I imagined but it actually adds to the overall  tea house experience. Homemade cakes and an array of trinkets and gifts, the owner ensures to source as many of the unique items from Britain. When I went I sourced a few presents and cards and I left feeling a very happy bunny!

4) Bluebells Dairy - Spondon
Everyone has heard of Bluebells Ice Cream. Nearly everywhere in Derby that sells ice cream sells Bluebells Dairy ice cream. Award winning homemade artisan ice cream made from their own cows milk. They are very creative with their range of ice creams and they services they offer. This year they had a huge sand pit created on a field in their farm, along with an outdoor ice cream cabin, swings and slides and an animal patch. Such a feel good place to take the kiddiwinks!

5) Fraiche - Saddler Gate Derby
Fraiche is actually the sister shop of The Bottlekiln and I only found this out recently. Saddler Gate is really up and coming with quirky one off shops and it is one of my favourite streets in Derby to have a meander around. Fraiche sells quirky gifts, cards, beauty products, children's items, stationary, jewellery and everything else you can think of! A girly delight! It's always my go to place for a nice card or a 'new baby' present. Slightly pricey but you are paying for quality and I don't mind investing in that.

6) Fresh Basil - Belper
A cafe and deli with something to please everyone! Cheese, sausages, bacon, olives, pate, cakes and more. I went for lunch but you have to get there early to avoid the busy spell. I urge you to try it. I visited my first time on a rainy afternoon, but the cosy cafe interior lured me in with people ooming and aahing over the deli counter.

If you, out there, reading this blog post think you may be my kindred spirit, I urge you to try these places.

Happy eating/browsing/seeing!

The Last Glimpse of Summer

A warm, glowing Sunday was unexpectedly presented to us yesterday throwing us into major confusion as I'm sure, like me, you were all beginning to settle down into winter hibernation.
It unnerved me. Do I switch off the heating? Is it acceptable to wear my flip flops again?

We decided to take hold of the situation and have a long walk at around 6pm. We found a conker tree and tried to knock some down but to Luke's dismay, they weren't ripe yet. We wandered through the wood and looked at the nature trail, whilst the sun was slowly setting.

There is something soothing about walking. Me and Luke chat about everything. Things we'd like to do, things upcoming in the future, where we see ourselves in 5 years time. Ben sits in his little push-a-long trike all happy and nosing at everything.

Before the walk, we devoured a bit of home made lemon and olive oil cake that I had made a day or so before. It well down extremely well with a cup of tea (coffee for me!)

However, waking up this morning and opening the curtains told a different story. Gloomy, damp and miserable is how I would describe today.
Looking at the news about the hostage situation in Nairobi is depressing too. I can't watch it too much on the news as it so surreal and whenever something happens like this, I imagine myself with my family in there being trapped and wonder how I'd cope.

By the way, I didn't plan to have a couple of days away from blogging it just sort of happened. I've been retiring to bed early and reading and then falling to sleep early but my batteries don't seem to want to fully recharge.

How did you spend yesterday's sunny Sunday?

Mustard Stuffed Chicken

This recipe requires minimal ingredients and minimal effort. It should be a staple family mid week meal.

I went to my local butchers to buy my meat this week and to see the price difference. I want to feel good about the food I eat and buying supermarket meat just doesn't appeal to me anymore. Although buying my meat from the butchers was fractionally more expensive, it was worth it for flavour and feel good factor.

Mustard Stuffed Chicken - Serves 4. Good Food recipe found online.

Ingredients
125g ball mozzarella, torn into small pieces
50g strong cheddar, grated
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
8 smoked streaky bacon rashers

Method
Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix the cheeses and mustard together. Cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast, then stuff with the mustard mixture. Wrap each stuffed chicken breast with 2 bacon rashers – not too tightly, but enough to hold the chicken together. Season, place on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 mins.

 



Trust me - butchers smokey bacon is well and truly worth the money! I served this with mash and veg. I know there is only 2 adults and a toddler in my family at the moment but it's hard to plan meals that are prepared to serve 4 so I usually just make it for 4 and it all usually gets eaten. Don't worry none of it goes to waste!

Finished Cushion

I have finished the cushion - yipee! I have said that this crafty cushion will go in my craft studio...which hasn't been built yet...but I'm hinting to Luke to do so ;) It's bright and funky and makes me happy to look at it. It only took me an hour and a half to make last night and I really got back into my sewing and realised how much I love it.

This morning has been very productive. Luke's brother gave me a bagful of apples which had fallen in his garden and so I decided to make classic apple chutney. A couple of years ago, I did an evening cookery course at Ecclesbourne School and the chutney recipe was the best I had ever tried.

Me and Benjamin wrapped up and had a brisk walk to the park, we nipped into the local Primary School to get a nursery application form and then returned home for lunch and Ben is now napping.

Time for a cup of coffee I reckon.

X

3 Year Anniversary

Today marks mine and Luke's 3 year anniversary. It's not a wedding anniversary but still it's important to me. We've come along way in 3 short years and he has stood by me every step of the way.
We haven't had a lot of money to celebrate so on the Sunday just gone, my mum had Ben over night and we just relaxed with a film and had a lie in (as Luke wasn't at work until Monday night) which was a real treat for us!

So tonight when Luke went to work I decided to do some sewing. I've lost my sewing mojo for a while and when I do fancy it, Ben comes over investigating my pins and scissors so I end up putting it all away. And when Ben is put to bed I usually just flop in front of the telly or read my book.
I've got drawers full of scraps of fabric and I have been needing to use up and I started making a bright and funky cushion with the front piece of fabric being covered in the most gorgeous sewing pattern.

Once it is finished it will be 18" and have a vibrant pink bobbly trim. Just looking at it cheers me up! (I know the ruler says 19" inches but that's because you add an inch on all round)
I've just about finished it but I think because of our small house, the sewing machine woke Ben up. And also Midwives came on the telly and it made me feel all broody so I had to watch that instead.
I will reveal the finished item tomorrow.

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Skin Care Regime

Following on from yesterday's fashion post I also want to share with you my skin care regime and offer some hints and tips.

I'm trying to choose skin care products which aren't full of parabens and sulfates as I don't want to infuse my skin with these nasty chemicals. Not heard of parabens before? They are a preservative used widely in cosmetics and research has shown a link between parabens and breast cancer. They are also linked with reproductive health and there is concerns about the prevalence of puberty in young girls. This research should be enough for you to avoid parabens at all cost!
Get into the habit of checking the ingredients of a product before you buy them. Anything that says paraben and starts with methyl-, butyl-, propyl- or ethyl- steer clear.

Another ingredient to watch out for is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and you will find this in a lot of personal care products you use. It is a foaming agent and you will find it in your tooth paste, shampoo's and facial cleansers.
It didn't start out life as being acceptable for human usage as it was used in heavy duty detergents but now we find it in so many of the products we use so close to our skin and it is a very common skin irritant. Prolonged use of products containing SLS can irritate the skin and even eventually cause hair loss and blurred vision.

I am now very careful of the products I buy for our bathroom and products we all need for our skin.

On a daily basis I use Liz Earle products. Liz Earle aren't 100% organic but they are eco-friendly and contain no hazardous chemicals. They range includes plant oils and botanics rather than synthetic ingredients. Their products are safe to use, they actually work for the skin and they have a low impact on the environment.
I have used Liz Earle for a while but in between I have flitted to a few other companies. I have tried 'The Green People' Moisturiser which contains 88% certified organic ingredients and the reviews are brilliant but unfortunately on my skin it just didn't do the job.
I use the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish which comes with the muslin cloth and your skin is left feeling silky smooth. Followed by the Instant Boost Skin Tonic and then the Moisturiser my daily routine is complete. I do this morning and night.

Why do you need to cleanse?
Cleansing in the morning removes any dead skin cells which have accrued over night and cleansing in the evening removes any environmental debris or grease to strip your skin back to the base. It also opens your skin pores.

Why do you need to tone?
Toning sweeps over the open pores and double cleanses by refining and cleaning any final embedded debris or cleanser. A good toner should be anti-inflammatory and leaves the skin squeaky clean.

Why should we Moisturise?
Moisturising is the final step in the route and it is needed to nourish and hydrate the skin. As Liz Earle's moisturiser contains naturally active ingredients it leaves my skin with a happy glow.

Every other day I also use the Liz Earle Gentle Skin Exfoliator. The jojoba beads gently exfoliate my skin and buff away dead skin cells and purifies the skin. It's good to do this if you suffer from congested skin.

Twice a week I use Temple Spa's Purification Skin Mask.
A twice weekly skin mask should flush out the pores and have deep cleansing properties. It is best used in a steamy bathroom environment as the steam helps the skin absorb the mask and is most effective when left on for 10-15 minutes. This allows you much needed peace and gives you a mini spa experience in your own home. I highly recommend it!

The reason I know the importance of each step of the skin care routine is because I had a brief stint as a Temple Spa representative. Temple Spa are another great company who's philosophy is based on botanical and naturally active ingredients. I love each and every one of their products too but Liz Earle for me just has the winning post.

I am working on a collection of DIY homemade face masks etc and once they have been tried and tested I will post and let you know.

So the moral of my post is think twice about what you are putting into/onto your body!

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Finding the Balance

I have said before that no matter how many financial struggles you may have, find a way to have a good hair cut even if it is every 3-4 months. Try to keep a classic hair style which doesn't need regular colouring and styling.
You can still dress well on a budget and it may mean buying a top every month to build up your wardrobe or buying a couple of items in the summer sale for next year. Or putting aside a couple of pounds a month so you can buy that classic winter coat or boots in September. It can make you feel down what with money worries so don't let yourself go just because you can't afford it.
As a woman it is important to make the best of yourself and this will in turn boost self confidence. This doesn't necessarily mean spending hundreds of pounds each month.
Here are a few tips. Some are from 'The Thrift Book' by India Knight (AMAZING BOOK if you do not own...go out and buy) and some are my own.

1. STEER CLEAR OF CHEAP CLOTHES - Avoid Primark like the plague. Whilst an £8 dress might be really cheap at the time, an £8 bobbly, thread bear, shrunken dress a month later might not seem so cheap. Unfortunately, the clothes in Primark are not made to last and when you could put that £8 towards a dress from Topshop, Dorothy Perkins or GAP which generally do last, it doesn't make sense.
2. FIND THE BALANCE - When I was working in Finance before I had Benjamin I was on quite a hefty salary. I'm not saying that to brag but I'm saying it to explain that the only places I shopped at were Reiss or Karen Millen. It didn't make sense because I didn't appreciate what I was buying. At the end of the day a grey slouchy t-shirt would be just as nice from H&M that would cost half of that from French Connection. A grey t-shirt is a grey t-shirt. Don't pay more if you don't have to.
3. BUY KEY PIECES - If you bought a couple of key pieces, which were classy and would stand the test of time such as a pair of Levi jeans or a little black dress or a pair of leather boots, then they will pull your outfit together. For example, I can just wear a pair of jeans, pumps and plain t-shirt but if I wear my Modalu Pippa England brown handbag - The whole outfit looks a lot more expensive than it is.
4. LESS IS MORE - Following all the fashions may seem good at the time but fashion is just that, it will go as soon as it came. Aztec prints, neons, florals are all great but remember being classy in muted colours and prints will be timeless.
5. LOOK AFTER YOUR CLOTHES - Dry clean your favourite coat every year, remember to sew that button back on that cardigan, debobble your cosy winter jumper or replace that zip. Ironing well and hanging them up will ensure they look their best and will extend their life. Use an unscented deodorant instead of those aggressive fragranced ones that literally stain and eat away at the underarm of your tops.
6. INVEST IN YOUR LINGERIE - A well fitting bra will do wonders. Not only will it aid your posture but it will make every top look even better on you. And you can't go wrong with M&S knickers. 3 for £10. They feel silky smooth against the skin unlike those nasty synthetic, scratchy pants you get elsewhere.
7. CHARITY SHOPS/CAR BOOTS - I have found some of my favourite items at car boots and in charity shops. Even if you don't like buying clothes from them you can always find scarves and accessories. You can find some designer gems!

No matter how many children you have, how many jobs you have or how busy your weeks are, remember you are still you and you still need to invest in yourself. Obviously I'm not promoting extensive materialism and consumerism but its all about FINDING THE BALANCE.
As said by COCO CHANEL - A girl should be two things. Classy and Fabulous!

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Terrible Two's

 

 

Today has been exhausting. This entire week has been exhausting in fact. Benjamin has been testing me with his terrible two's (even though he isn't actually two yet) and it is wearing me out. Sometimes it is easy to get angry and worked up so I have told myself that this is a normal stage and just to not let it get to me.
The thing is, there are so many things I want to be doing and I can't get at them! I want to write, I want to finish sewing the stack of unfinished projects on my dining table, I want to read books, I want to plan and research Christmas ideas and I want to organise my clothes and have a (spring) Autumn clean. That is the most frustrating thing when you are bursting with eagerness to be crafty and creative and cannot release those feelings.
'Get on with it when he is in bed!' I hear you say. But instead, my motivation fails me as I slump on the sofa and watch some nonsense on telly or scroll aimlessly through Pinterest at things I am never going to make/own/do.
As I felt particularly fragile this morning after Ben had decorated our cream walls in blue wax crayon, mum came to the rescue and took us out for a bite to eat. Only for Ben to cause havoc and for us to leave early. We retreated home and as Ben played with his new spinning top momentarily, I turned to baking a chocolatey treat to inject me with much needed energy.
I feel the bottom image is appropriate as it is my favourite cushion I have made so far and looking at it makes me feel cheery. I know I can sew and my time will come again when I am able to do all of the above list and more. But for now, my attention is for Benjamin and keeping him occupied.

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Latest Library Books

 

Here are a selection of my latest Library Book which I had ordered in for me. This was after seeing my friends business, Potlatch, on facebook as she was making a different salad each day for a week. Suzanne opened Potlatch, a catering service and she can supply for any occasion. Her food photography is mouth watering and the dishes she makes tease those taste buds.

I therefore decided to order a couple of books she used from my local library. This was so I could check them out before I purchase them. They aren't the cheapest of cook books on amazon so it would be a shame to pay all that money for it to be a complete waste. I really recommend this library feature! I simply log in to my online library account, search hundreds and thousands of books, select a few and request they be sent to my local library at a cost of 20p per book. The library then call you once they have arrived and it usually only takes a couple of days. Money well spent in my opinion.

The first book is Harry Eastwood - A Salad for all Seasons. A wonderful book and a wonderful author who has a couple of other books called The Skinny French Kitchen (love this idea) and Red Velvet Chocolate Heartache. Initially, you think salads = boring and unfulfilling however Harry's concoctions are truly enticing and I promise you that she will convert you into a salad lover!

The second book, Leon by Kay Plunkett-Hogge and John Vincent is a whirlwind of retro excitement in paper form. The format is much like that of the old fashioned cook books but the ideas are so fresh, alternative and exciting. I have wanted to visit one of their restaurants for a while and this cook book has reinforced this want tremendously!

Finally, Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi. I have heard so many good reviews about this book. It is a vegetarian cook book and there are some extremely unusual ideas thrown in there. They do look tantalising but I am not sure they would be suitable for family meals and the recipe's require numerous ingredients, some of which I would not know where to source. This is definitely not for frugal families! Therefore, I would not be interested in buying this book.

I hope this post has encourged you to pick out a few different cook books and to try them before you buy them! You can always hire them from your library, scan a couple of the pages that you like and return them.

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Garden Centre Antics

 

As Luke is on night's this week and didn't start until Monday night, it meant that we had most of Monday together. And because I had been at work Friday, Saturday and Sunday it was nice to not have to worry about anything.
We decided to have a wander round our local garden centre in Little Eaton and get some inspiration. I know Summer is mostly over but it's nice to see the winter plants and they also have a Green and Brown store who supply local and seasonal produce and they also supply artisan foods from smaller producers. It's my heaven basically.
I bought a Leek for last night's Mary Berry Leek, Mushroom and Chicken Pie and we used leftover chicken from our Sunday dinner. I bought a lemon to zest into tonight's dinner or Prawn Linguine. I bought a lime to add to my Friday's slow cooker fruity curry. Luke sneakily added in some white choc chip biscuits for an afternoon treat and just as we were near the check out I spotted the luxurious hot chocolate! Well it is Autumn after all!
On the way home we drove into Starbucks where I bought a takeout Hazelnut Latte, then we retreated back home in this gloomy dark weather to relax for a while.

You will also notice I bought some bird seed, which I have an exciting plan for. (It's exciting to me okay!) and I can't wait to share with you my crafty delights.

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Sally Bee Pea and Courgette Soup

Today, with my BARGAIN POUNDSHOP purchase of the Sally Bee recipe book (see my previous post here), I made her Pea and Courgette Soup. I wish I could add smells to my blog posts because if you could get a whiff of my kitchen not too long ago it was deeeelicous.

As I have mentioned previously, every week I try to make a batch of freezable soups. This is to stop me having sandwhiches for my lunch and to add some extra veg into my daily intake. I also like to have something ready and available if I'm busy or need to get somewhere and therefore I can just defrost and reheat my soups!

The reason I chose this soup was because recently my mother-in-law (ok, well technically she isn't yet but I say it so Luke will get the hint *winks*) had a bundle of courgettes she was given by a friend and then distributed them to us so I was flicking through Sally's book and found the perfect recipe!

Here is my (well, not mine but Sally's Recipe)

Ingredients - Serves 6

• Dash of Olive Oil
• 4 small Courgettes
• 1 small Onion
• 900ml Chicken Stock
• 225g Fresh or Frozen Peas (I used frozen)
• Fresh Basil torn
• Black Pepper 

1) Heat the olive oil in a pan and add the courgettes and onion. Saute for 10 mins until the vegetables start to soften.

 

2) Pour in the stock, then bring to the boil, lower the heat and simmer, covered, for 15 mins.

 

 

3) Add the peas to the soup and simmer for a further 5 mins.
 

 
4) Blend the Soup and stir in the basil and black pepper.
 

Finished!

I then split my soup between freezable pots, labelled them and popped them in the freezer.

 

This is such a good recipe if you grow your own courgette's and have a few to use up. It virtually costs nothing if, like me, you have a few onions lying around and grow basil on your windowsill. 6 days lunch for around £1.50 for me as all I had to buy were the peas. 25p a portion! I love being frugal.

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A quick bit of DIY

Our bathroom is rather small and needed a bit of a pick me up. It needed something doing to it which was not too drastic but would have a good effect.

We decided to give the room a fresh lick of paint in Dulux Natural Calico, I bought a new bath mat which was discounted in the M&S homewear event and then Luke came up with a great way to freshen up the bath side panel.

I don't have a before picture but our bath side panel was falling to pieces and looked...well...quite disgusting if I am honest. So Luke suggested adding tongue and groove.

We ripped out the old side panel and bought a couple of packs of tongue and groove which came to just under £15. Luke fitted them in and we painted them white but you can lime wash them too.

There we have it. A brand new side panel for just under £15. It now feels like we have a new bathroom and it has that 'shabby chic' effect.

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Bloomin' Lovely!

Interesting fact. The name 'Orchid' comes from the Ancient Greek and literally means 'testicle' due to the shape of the root.

Despite this fact, my orchid makes me smile every morning I walk into my bathroom. I certainly do not contemplate digging it out of the pot nor imagine what the root looks like...

A Lazy Sunday

What do Sunday's mean to you? To me they mean:

• Visiting family
• Film after film
• Good, naughty food
• Comfy clothes
• Walks
• Lazy lie ins
• Reading books/newspapers/magazines
• Copious amounts of tea and coffee
• Utter relaxation

The best things in life are FREE*!
*the food and tea and coffee we already have in the house so it's sort of free

Cosy Socks

Galaxy and Coffee

Kitchen Wish List

Since moving into our first home, I've realised their are a few kitchen appliances I need which would make my life a lot easier. However, some of them are quite costly and I believe they will be staying on my wish list for quite some time. Ahh to dream.

Anyway here goes:

1) Morphy Richards 3 tier steamer - Amazon £26.90

This is not exactly a new appliance I need, mine has literally just died on me but to be fair, it was second hand when it was passed on to me. I love steaming my veg as it retains all of the goodness that boiling just destroys. And it tastes far nicer too.

2) Magimix 1.8L Blender - £159.95 

As I am really into my soup making and I am just starting to get into juicing (post to follow) I really need a good processor. My grandma very generously donated me her hand blender, which is still standing the test of time but I just need something that will not get chunks stuck in the blades all the time. The reviews on this item are fantastic - as much as I would love a Vitamix I don't quite fancy spending upwards of £400. This seems the best next thing. Want!

3) Stand Mixer - Andrew James - £79.00

Obviously if I had all the money in the world I'd buy a Kitchen Aid tomorrow. No, wait, I'd order it online right now! But this Andrew James stand mixer has better reviews than Kitchen Aid on Amazon and is an awful lot cheaper. I love making cakes and I have my sturdy £5 hand mixer from the ASDA Basics range, however this is my wish list we are talking about. I also want to make more bread and so I would use the hook feature to knead.

4) I know this isn't exactly an appliance and should probably be on a Dining Room wish list but hey! Confetti Tumbler - Anthropologie - £8

 

 

I love the Anthropologie website - I think I could possibly buy everything if I could. Never been to a shop but their kitchen/dining items are to die for and I would make a very nice home of these glasses. And just because I have dropped almost all of my glasses doesn't mean I would do the same to these beauties!

 

There we have it. There is only 4 items on my wish list because I am not greedy...or am I?! Ooo I enjoyed doing this wish list.

 

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Calverton Carboot

How early did the darkness creep upon us this evening? I'm sure it won't be long before we are putting those clocks back a notch. I have just taken a few pictures of my carboot bargains and the lighting was abysmal so please excuse the poor quality.

It was a midweek carboot in Calverton, it has only been running 5 weeks so I wasn't sure what to expect. However, we arrived and it was bustling, there were queues to the entrance and the stalls were set back as far as I could see in this huge strawberry field. Obviously the strawberries weren't there anymore, darn it.

Me and my mum began our search and I began to feel disheartened as there was initially a lot of tat. What with Benjamin playing up, the sun beating down on us resulting in (mild) perspiration and lugging the pram up and down the strawberry field (not the easiest of terrain) I couldn't be bothered to look that much. I don't know about you and I don't want to sound snobbish but I tend to look at the sellers before I actually purchase something, I like to know the item has come from a well looked after home and not just bought and sold on by some dodgy trader.

Eventually, near the back of the carboot we found a couple of gems. The first was a grandma who was selling a lot of her grandchildren's items and they were in pristine condition, clearly not used often. She had the table and two chairs. It was perfect and just what I've been looking at getting for Ben's upcoming second birthday. We were going to be paying £25-£30 for the set I'd seen and I bartered this down to £7 which I was very happy to pay. My mum also bought a Lindam Bed Rail, which was in all its original packaging for £6.

The next stall was a mum and daughter and the daughter was around my age having a clear out of her wardrobe and everything was 50p. I bought the above top which is from Topshop. It's a short sleeved knit with floral pattern all over but I thought it would be perfect for the Autumn season with a pair of black jeans and pumps. I also bought a pair of white Mango shorts, planning ahead for next Summer, and a burnt orange dress. Sounds horrid and my camera would not take a picture which would do it justice but it will also be perfect for Autumn. And for 50p each!?
I'm hoping to go again in a couple of weeks. On my carboot wish list I want:

• DVD's - Pixar Cars/UP/Despicable Me/Sex and the City Box Set - Is this wishful thinking?
• Kitchen Items - large casserole dishes with lids, ramekins etc
• Toys for Ben
• A bedside lamp for Ben

I then visited my grandad, came home and hoovered the house, cleaned the bathroom, made a batch of soup, did the ironing and then made this bad boy of a dinner. I served it with mustard mash. Recipe here.

Now I realise it looks like I have soaked them in oil but there is also balsamic vinegar and honey in there too. I'm not that unhealthy I promise. From this picture it also looks like I need to clean my oven door. Oops.

Now I feel I deserve to flop in bed as I have 3 days of work ahead of me. Yes, 3 whole days, how will I cope?! Before I start work tomorrow morning I am going to be preparing a chili in the slow cooker which I can come home to after 6pm and enjoy. Mmmm...

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Don't Ever Tell Me...

...That you can't make a simple healthy dish for next to nothing!

Introducing the most simple, tastiest, fresh Italian Tomato and Basil Pasta Sauce.

This recipe is enough to serve me Luke and Ben so I would double it if you have a larger family.

1 tin of chopped tomato's - 38p
2 to 3 garlic cloves (depending on your preference) - free as I already have a bulb
huge amounts of pepper, and salt to your taste - free as I already have
Basil (optional) but I grow it on my windowsill - free

Add all the ingredients to a saucepan and heat gently for about 10 minutes and then blend.

That's it! Simple. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

I serve it with wholegrain pasta and a Morrison's Savers Garlic Bread which I believe it about 37p.

Ciao

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