And the winner is...

For those of you that don't know Joanne Wheatley, she was the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2011. I have always been a fan of the show (not so much now, what with the Paul Hollywood scandal! *gasps*) and have always loved baking however I never bought any of the winners cook books or followed up on what they were doing.

For Easter this year, my mum surprised me with a copy of her first cook book 'A Passion for Baking'. I was a tad sceptical, after all I never usually stray from Nigella, Jamie O, Bill Granger or Nigel Slater but as soon as I read it I was hooked! The cook book is perfect for any family and offers a selection of recipes that you will actually want to make! Don't deny, we have all got a couple of cook books on the shelf that look pretty but just do not tantalise the taste buds! As soon as I tried a couple of her recipes I knew I was in love. Trust me, good food is the way to my heart.

Anyway, in my usual stalk-ish way I began following Joanne on facebook and noticed she was running a competition to win a copy of her second book 'Home Baking'. All you had to was make her Orange and Cranberry scones, take a picture of them in front of the cook book and post it on her facebook wall. Here is my entry.

There were around 33 other entries. The majority of people had really fancy displays and included props such as flowers and tea pots so I didn't think I stood a chance. However, she announced the winner and it was ME! Little old me. She said I had an even bake and a lovely golden top. Just goes to show simple is often better.

And here is my prize win. I am well and truly chuffed! It contains lots more fab recipes and even has a dinner time section with good wholesome meal ideas.

I really recommend you check out her facebook page here. She also has a blog too with handy tips. And no this is not a sponsored post. Believe me, I think I am only talking to myself at the moment!

Leave a comment, let me know I am not alone! What do you think of my scones?!

TTFN

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Holiday Fashion Inspiration

I'm going on holiday at the beginning of August and I am trying to find a few key pieces for my holiday wardrobe. I looked in my wardrobe last night and realised I haven't added anything new to my summer collection for a couple of years now however I have a few problems.

A) I am on a tight budget
B) I am not very good at 'styling' myself
C) I don't like a lot of the styles out there and
D) I have a slim(ish) figure but BIG boobs so I struggle to find anything to fit without creating 'The Shelf' effect. 'The Shelf' is where you where a top that is quite baggy and dangles over your boobs and drops down from there making you look wider than you actually are. Thus 'The Shelf' effect. I also am a size 8/10 everywhere but having bigger boobs means I have to go to a size 12 sometimes. I find in the shops there are either body con dresses/tops or big, baggy tops and nothing in between to flatter your figure.

Now I understand this is not a life or death situation but it is just frustrating because as girls we want to look the best we can, don't we? I am also not a huge fan of crop tops or bandau tops or dresses with bits cut out at the sides. I hate Aztec prints, Neon brights and tie dye prints which seem to be popular at the moment.

I know I am only 23 and this is making me sound older than I am but I like to look classy, feminine and pretty. I'm not good and never have been good at edgy or out of the box styles. So for this years new summer additions I was getting stuck.

For a while I have been perusing Pinterest for some ideas but as soon as I see something I like, the link doesn't show me where to buy it and if it does its from the USA with a huge shipping cost. I was starting to feel at a loss...until I discovered STYLE FRUITS.

Style Fruits is an amazing website which allows readers to log in and create almost mood boards but instead, fashion boards for particular occasions. You can search through party styles and casual styles, evening and business outfits. There are literally hundreds.
If you spot an outfit you like, you simply click on it and it provides you with where each item is from. For example, one fashion board can show you a dress, matching jacket, a bag, nail polish, accessories and shoes that you could wear together. 

It is great for people who, like me, find it hard putting a whole outfit together. Or people that are looking for something a bit different to what they usually where. It also offers garments at really reasonable prices. Sometimes outfits will be made up of sale items and it gives you a great insight into new online clothing retailers.

*This blog post was supposed to include pictures of items I liked however my sisters laptop is playing up too, so once I get my laptop back from the repair man I will add these in.*

Hopefully I have given you something new to explore and might come in handy when at loose ends when trying to find something new.

TTFN

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Book Worm

How many of you are big readers? Or how many people say they are but your current novel is actually sitting on the book shelf collecting dust?
To me, books are magical. Sounds corny doesn't it?! But they are. It allows the imagination to run wild and create stories/characters/settings in the mind. Books can inspire and educate you.  I love the feeling of a brand new book where the pages haven't been creased, the smell is so new and the journey inside is awaiting your attention. Equally, I love nothing more than grabbing a £1 book from a charity shop, one that has been read and loved and passed on for me to enjoy. I found a lovely quote on pinterest  (you can see my pinterest page here.)

'Books are the carriers of civilisation. They are the companions, teachers, magicians, bankers and treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print' - Barbara W. Tuchman

 

Don't get me wrong, I haven't always been a big reader. My mum got me into it after much persuasion and saying 'I haven't got time' or 'I get bored quick'. It only took one good book to get me hooked. And now I enjoy perusing my book case and wondering which book to read next. Me and my mum have actually set up a mini book club. So mini it only includes me and her!! Once a month we choose a book and we both read it and then chat about it.



Courtesy of Pinterest

My two favourite books are 'The Shell Seekers' by Rosamunde Pilcher. This is a lovely, floaty book with such a feel good factor. It will make you reflect on what makes you happy.

The second is 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Housseini. He is one of my favourite authors and his ability at story telling is incredible. This story will stay with you long after you put it down. I am currently reading his latest novel 'And the Mountains Echoed' which is proving to be just as good.

 

 

The thing is books are so accessible to everyone now. Make use of your local library as they are free! Scour your local charity shops/eBay/carboot stalls. If you are a gadget lover why not use an e-reader if you can afford it? I personally would love an e-reader but it's not a priority to buy right now and I still love turning actual pages of an actual book! Half of the problem that people don't read anymore is because people are addicted to gadgets and social networks, which don't require imagination whatsoever!

 

What are your favourite books? What are you currently reading?

 

TTFN

 

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Summer Days

Apologies for the delay in this post. It wasn't my intention but my laptop has died and gone to the repair man. So here I am borrowing my sisters laptop whilst she is on holiday.

I am loving this sunshine but this heat is too much. It is too much for my boy too. We are both fair skinned with strawberry blonde (ok ginger) hair so we have to keep topped up with sun lotion. I don't like it when there isn't one part of the house to escape to for a bit of cool air. I'm just hot and sticky and clammy and every job requires heaps of motivation.

Over the past few days we got the badminton set and paddling pool out at my parents.

Indulged in a BBQ a day. Big juicy beef tomato's, buttery corn on the cob, stone baked baguette, local butchers meat (all courtesy of my parents). We have had so much fun.

I now want to show you a few simple craft projects I've been doing. A Hobbycraft store has finally opened in Derby and it was the opening day today. The first item I was on the hunt for was washi tape after reading Cherry Menlove's blog post on JAM JAR LANTERNS http://www.cherrymenlove.com/crafts-how-tos/2013/02/jam-jar-lanterns-not-just-for-summer.html 
I absolutely love reading Cherry's blog and I am sure you will too. It inspires you to make the most of your home and life.
The jam jar lanterns are so cheap using jars from jam, pickles, chutney and anything else you can think of. All you need is a couple of rolls of washi tape and a tea light and some wire.

I completely forgot to buy some wire as I was in awe looking at everything in the new shop but here is the start of my jam jar lantern. Too be honest it looks just as nice sitting on the table.
If you are after a wider variety of washi tape I have also seen a lot on eBay. The tape I bought was £2 for something like 20 meters. Bargain!

The second inexpensive craft project I was doing was painting some cardboard letters for Ben's room. The letters were 99p each and I used some left over paint from his chest of drawers. The brush I used was a bit naff so you'll see on the close ups it wasn't as neat as I expected.

I then used some miniature buttons which were about £3 which I thought was quite expensive but they were an irresistible finishing touch. I put three on each letter. They make a really nice and cheap decorative touch to his room that I am in the progress of doing up.

Other ideas would be to paint the words 'relax' or 'soak' for the bathroom and 'cake' or 'eat' for the kitchen.

Hope you guys are enjoying the sunshine too!

TTFN

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Shopping Dilemma

For the past two weeks I have been on a mission to not spend any money on unecessary purchases. All I have been allowing myself is to buy the essentials such as food and petrol. I also allow £10 for miscellanious items such as car parking fees, one coffee out (I still have a life!), an ingredient I may have forgot etc.

I have changed my shopping routine from spending £65 a week at Morrisons to doing a bulk shop at Aldi at the start of the month, which can total up to £100 and then 3 smaller shops for fresh items for about £20-£25. The difference being that instead of spending £260 at Morrisons in one month, I will hopefully end up spending a maximum of £175 at Aldi.

Although Aldi don't have everything you always need on your shopping list, what they do have is always good quality and far cheaper than anywhere else. The toileteries and baby products are especially great value.

I have really tried everything to get my shopping bill down whilst still eating healthy but with the soaring costs of fresh fruit and veg it is getting impossible to do. I have tried using the offers available such as Sainsbury's 'Get £15 off your first only order over £60' but without seeing things in front of you I sometimes forgot things. And once you have got your total to a nice rounded figure you then have to add on an expensive delivery charge. I have also used Morrisons occassional 4 week offer where for the first 3 weeks of the month you collect a ticket when you spend over £35 and on the 4th week you get £10 off your shopping bill if it is over £35.

I have also tried buying my meat from the butchers, my veg from the green grocers and dry goods from the supermarket but when you have a little one it made for a very long day, faffing about and didn't end up much cheaper than doing it all in one place to start with.

Sally Bee 'Speedy Creamy Tomatoes and Chicken' and home made fruit smoothie.

It's a shame because I have always cooked our healthy and wholesome meals from scratch. I always made my sons weaning dinners and fruit pots from scratch. And I always baked our sweet treats from scratch so I knew exactly what was going into most of the things we ate.  

Peanut Butter Muffins

I'm currently writing my shopping list for tomorrow's shopping trip after work. As a lot of people do now, I always check the cupboards, fridge and freezer drawers and use up what I have in stock and then make a menu plan from that.

So far I have:
Tuesday: Tuna Pasta Salad with garlic bread
Wednesday: Vegetable enchiladas

I will stick to my shopping list and not deter from it (fingers crossed!)

Sorry, it sounds like I am moaning and I'm only 4 posts in! Well yes I am moaning but I think I'm allowed to.

Do any of you have the same dilemma? Trying out different places to get the best deals?

TTFN

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Benjamin's Bedroom Inspiration

Hello everyone. (If you are even there?) I don't know about you but I am relishing in this cool evening haze. Don't get me wrong I have loved Mr Sunshine being out today, but there have been points where I think I have literally melted (e.g. when chasing after Benjamin) I also did a 4 hour shift at my part time job and man it was hot. I work at a lovely cafe/delicatessen called Jack Rabbits Kitchen in Derby and work 16 hours per week, which is just enough at the moment. You'll have to google it because it's THE place to go in Derby.

Once I got home from work it was decided we were sorting out Benjamin's room. He surprised us last week by deciding he no longer wanted to go in his cot but wanted to go in his single bed. And as we have a small 2 up 2 down house, there hasn't been a lot of space in his room for a while. So today it was decided that we were taking down his cot. It was a sad moment!! I don't want him to grow up.

Over the next few weeks we are looking to decorate his room and at the moment, I am collecting some inspiration for what I want to do. For those who are unaware, we currently don't have much disposable income at all so everything will be on the cheap. Let me show you a few things I have 'made' so far.

I haven't got a 'before' picture but these were a dark mahogany colour that my parents were throwing out. I loved the style of them so decided to sand it all down and me and the BF spent one night painting it in Delux Satinwood 'Mineral Mist' and added a few knew handles. Et voila - a new, one of a kind chest of drawers.

I also made some bunting out of my dads old work shirts he was throwing out. If you look at men's shirts some have really nice designs especially if you are working on boys craft projects. Add in some thread I already had and a metre and a half of white ribbon tape for under £1 and we have a cheap decorative addition. What do you think?

The single bed that Ben is sleeping in was free as someone the BF knows was chucking out. Admittedly, it isn't the nicest bed. It has very basic frame (no headboard) and a very retro, orange and brown floral mattress. But I tell you what, it is one of the comfiest bed's I have ever slept in!

I'll be doing a few more posts on this with the updates we make. I will show you some more inspiration and also my next project for his room - 2 x large floor cushions to create a reading/nap corner.

Have any of you made something from nothing?

TTFN

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A Gentleman's Sport

Wow, what a scorcher we are all having today! I am sure every single one of you are making sure you get out and absorb some of those scrumptious rays. Mmmm I can almost taste the Vitamin D!

What is wonderful about Mr Sunshine is that you can have a fun filled day out with the family at literally no cost at all. Picnics in the park, paddling pools in the garden, ice lollies and BBQ's (and if you're a big kid like me - WATER FIGHTS!) Everything is just happier when the sun is out, people seem jollier. Even just reading the news paper outside rather than slobbing on the sofa can boost your mood.

The BF is a keen cricket player and his home ground to me, is idyllic. A large open lushness of greenery backing onto the River Soar, in the quaint little village of Sutton Bonington. So today, me and Benjamin packed up his ball, some blankets, my book and a picnic and headed off to watch.

I just simply adore my picnic basket! I picked it up for £1 at a Car Boot in Willington. It was full of dirty old saucepans and had a horrible smelly lining. I promised myself I was going to reupholster it but never got round to it. It eventually got lost at the back of my wardrobe. Then, a couple of Christmas' ago, my mum gave me my newly reupholstered picnic basket full of new tupperware and complete with blanket. I was so chuffed with the result and now I use it whenever I can. So, my advice to all of you is that sometimes you need to see past the dirt and grottiness in something at a carboot/charity shop to see if a new lease of life can be brought to it.

I just filled it with crackers, cheese and pickled onions. A few bags of crisps, bananas and water and we were set to go! Everything we had already in our cupboards.

Not long after we arrived, baba fell asleep in his pram allowing me some much needed peace. I read quite a chunk out of Khaled Hosseini's new novel 'And the Mountains Echoed'. Do any of you know his work? He is such a breathtaking story teller and quite simply one of my favourite writers.

Although I do not understand cricket whatsoever (I always just nod along to the BF when he tells me about how he played) there is nothing better on a hot sunny day to relax in a little piece of heaven. That is, until...Benjamin awakes!

TTFN

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