Foodie finds

Hi All,

So I'm meant to be on a bit of a health kick at the moment... but fear not, today's blog is not going to be all about various health foods or counting calories.  Luckily, my health kick is a Sunday to Thursday only thing!!

Instead, I want to share with you a few of my latest foodie finds, as all you think about when you are cutting down is food.

I felt I ought to kick off with one of my Favourite breakfast cereals of all time... Lucky Charms!! I was devastated when they stopped selling them in England and used to beg any friend or relative who was going to America to bring me a box back.  However, with the introduction of an American section at our local Tesco, I am pleased to announce their return.  At £5 a box they aren't cheap, but a lot less than at the American import sweet shops that have been popping up lately,



Awesome sugary cereally goodness in a box



My next wonderful find is again an import.  A few years ago, myself and a friend had a fun filled and eventful 3 week trip to China where we met a lot of lovely and interesting people.  We ended up invited over to the UNESCO city of Suzhou by a girl we met in Shanghai whilst asking for directions!  Whilst there, she took us to a cafe for lunch where we ate pork soup dumplings.  These little Dim Sum style dumplings differ to normal Chinese dumplings as they come with a small filling of soup that surrounds the meat.   I loved them and have searched for them on every Chinese restaurant menu I have been to, but to no avail.
I finally found them last weekend whilst helping my flatmate look for edamame beans in a Chinese supermarket.  I was so excited I bought a couple of packs, a new bamboo steamer to steam them in and of course I needed chopsticks to eat them with!

Ive had them a couple of times but still cant eat them without the soup pouring out!



This weekend has also been no exception when it comes to gorging myself, but when you have been treated to afternoon tea as a gift, you can hardly say no!  This weekend myself and a friend had a spa day and afternoon tea.  We used the spa and facilities at Virgin active to have a relaxing morning of massages, sauna, Jacuzzis and steaming and followed it up with a lovely afternoon tea at Radisson Blu hotel.  We were treated to a selection of sandwiches, mini cakes and pastries, tea and scones with lashings of clotted cream and jam. 

Mmmm, I could get used to this way of life!

 Now, I must sign off this post as Mikey has said he will treat me to my tea at our local... Well, I need to make the most of my weekend off from calorie counting he he!  

xx

New year, new me!

Hi bloggers,

So I've decided to start 2013 as I mean to go on (hopefully!!), in an organised, clutter free and positive manner.

The first step on this journey was to declutter the house (with the help of my housemate), we have so much stuff in the house it looked like a scene from one of those 'help im a hoarder' style shows!

Whilst sorting out my wardrobe I decided to recycle my old clothes and have now got a lovely selection of materials, buttons and badges for my crafting projects...

This was my personal favourite, a little strawberry button...



So Cute

The next step on my 2013 improvement journey is a list of resolutions...                        
 

Mikey bought me this lovely Rob Ryan notebook. I love Rob Ryans work with all its thoughtful and inspiring messages.   So what more fitting use for it than to write down my New years resolutions and things to be thankful for at the end of 2012. 

 

Since its all written down in ink I will be able look back at the end of the year to see if I have achieved the things I have set out to do.

Watch this space xxx

A reflection on 2012

Happy new year everyone,

This may be a little bit of a self indulgent post but just wanted to reflect upon the good things of 2012 before it becomes a distant memory...

Firstly it was the year of five weddings...  Liz and dave

Pri and Del

Lindsey and Sean

Lindsey and Mike



Chip and Goof

Two births....

Amelie

Milo



and thankfully no funerals :)

Me and mikey reached the landmark that is one whole year together!!!


    Then we had dinner club does Marbs...

...and met James Jordan of Strictly Come Dancing fame!

Had a wonderful holiday doing a European city hop firstly in Paris...


sampling snails for the first time,

then on to Amsterdam...


now one of my favourite cities in the world, we spent a lovely few days cycling round on our Dutchie vintage style bikes (I called mine Princess Beatrice!),

we then went to Bruges...


ate chocolate and drank lots of Belgian beer and finally took an overnight train through to Copenhagen. It was a fabulous 10 days of my life.


Enjoyed our patriotic summer with the jubilee and Olympics/Paralympics, in fact I became totally obssessed with the olympics and thought I wouldnt be able to cope without it on the TV.  I was lucky enough to get tickets to go and see the Paralympics too.  I was totally in awe of the Olyimpic Park and all the fantastically gifted atheletes.








It was our year of starting the good life...


Unfortunately, in true Good life style most of our veggies got eaten by slugs :(




I turned 30!!  however, that did mean that I got a wonderful gift... Bobby my new Bobbin Birdie bike.


Isnt she beautiful!!


and I had a lovely birthday party in the park that involved a game of rounders and giant jenga.


My third and final holiday of the year was spent in fabulous company at a friends house in the south of France lots of pool time and beer pong... bliss.


Another highlight of the year and not one to be overlooked, (as you all probably know by now im a massive fan of Harry Potter), my trip to Warner Bros. Harry Potter studio tour with my sister!!



All in all I have had a fabulous year with brilliant friends and family and have lots to look back on and be thankful for and this blog is my thank you.



Heres hoping 2013 will be as much fun x x