Choosing Hope For The Year Ahead...

Hello Honeys, 

Happy holidays everyone 💖  How are you today?  Staying warm I hope?  This has been a year, hasn't it?  In fact, looking at the world around us, and listening to the news, it's still very much "being a year."  

So much has happened in the past 12 months that I could never have imagined this time last year.  My biggest concern in the run up to the holidays of 2019 was having enough energy to get through another busy, busy Christmas in retail.  

Who could have seen the chaos and heartache caused by a worldwide pandemic, lock-downs and everything else that's happened as a fall out from covid19.  I've lost two lovely co-workers and the world is a much colder, darker place without their kindness, gentle natures and never-far-away smiles. 

This has been a frightening year dear ones. Everything has changed. Everyone is wearing masks and every day in the media there are constant updates on infection rates and the fear of mutations.  I keep telling myself that every TV channel and newspaper needs us to watch or read and they do this by competing with each other for our attention.  Unfortunately, right now, they appear to be competing by trying to scare us and I'm not ashamed to admit that it's working... 

Somewhere though, in the non frightened, trying-to-be-sensible part of my brain, I keep telling myself the world has faced so many adversities, that it's gotten through them all and that we'll get through this one too. 

I've decided to be hopeful for the year ahead and, do feel free to laugh, but the best way I knew to show this new optimism was to buy a diary (in actual fact I've ended up with two but more on that in another post) 😊  

It may only be a little A5 book of days but I intend to fill it with plans and dreams and hopes 💖  I had so many plans for this year that never happened because of this horrid virus, so this year I want to tick off some boxes on my to-do list.  Among my planned, and dearly hope to be completed, activities for the year ahead are the following:

1. To finally control the clutter in our home.  

To work on each room in turn, have a proper clear out and to then re-organise everything.  I know honeys, what have I been doing since March? Well, not coping terribly well, if I'm honest. 

2. Planning my future.  

I know.  Maybe I should have started with this one, huh?  I tried, it felt very... well.... selfish if I'm honest.  I know, I can't help it, honeys 😖  Well, anyway, early on during this current situation, I took the decision to stop taking my rheumatoid arthritis medication.  It works by deliberately preventing my immune system from working and, as you can imagine dear ones, that's not what you want during a pandemic. 

By mid September I was in so much pain I was forced to re-start them but I'm very worried that I've caused serious damage to my spine.  I can't have x rays done yet, because we're not having face to face consultations at the hospital clinic, but I'm in constant pain and have lost so much of my mobility that I not only can't walk any distance but I can't stand for any length of time either.  

I've finally been forced to admit that all of the doctors I've seen at the hospital these past few years have been right.  All of them who have each asked me at some point, in a (too) surprised tone, "are you still working?"  So, I might not be much use to my employers, in a very busy retail environment, but that doesn't mean I can't do something.  I just have to figure out exactly what that something is... 

3. Planning our garden.  

I had so many plans for our beloved garden this year honeys.  I wanted to put in some more lavender for our lovely visiting bees, another blueberry shrub for our feathered guests and to plan out a pretty little seating area near the back door.  Hubby will be helping and, thanks to my now almost constant spinal pain, doing most of the physical work too, bless him (love you sweetheart💖)  

4. Concentrating on improving my health.  

As I already said, the arthritis is winning dear ones, and I can't allow that.  I need to start from where I am and try to reclaim what I've lost.  With Hubby fully on board, I've already changed how we eat. We're trying a low carb diet with lots of yummy steamed vegetables making up rainbows on our plates 😊 

We use a menu board every weekend to plan out the dinners for the week ahead and I'm loving finding ways to adapt our favourite recipes to make them lower in carbs and much higher in vegetables.  We just bought a vibration plate, which I'm hoping will help my circulation and will (along with my yoga) help to get me back to where I need to be. 

On to the future...

These are my resolutions for the year ahead.  I'm not coping with the losses of this past year so well honeys, so I have to find a way to keep moving forward, no matter how difficult that is.   It really does feel to me as if this year has sped past so quickly.  It's almost gone now.  I find myself wishing I was dreaming because then I could wake up, go to work and tell my friends about my weird dream.   

I remember hearing once that if we knew what was in store for us, we'd never get out of bed.  I prefer to think that life has more good than bad in it and we just have to reach the good parts is all.  Things will get better, they always do. We just have to stay positive and fill our diaries with plans and dreams and yes, all of those hopes 💖   

What are your plans for the year ahead honeys?  Have you bought a new diary yet?  Let's make those plans for 2021 and then let's tick off those boxes as we make all of them happen 💖 If you'd like to download a menu board for meal planning you can find two downloadable printable menus here and,for planning ahead, you can find a cute little "to do" printable here.   

Why not either laminate them, or place them inside a glass frame and use an erasable marker to write on them?  Enjoy honeys 💖  Till next time dear ones, wishing you the best, brightest, happiest holidays ever, hugs always xx

Thoughts On My First Trip Out Into The World in 8 Months...

Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to recommend any products, just wanted to share my first trip outside since lock down x 

 Hi Honeys, 

Well, yesterday was an adventure! I was only out of the house for a little under an hour but it raised both my blood pressure (ended up with the worst headache) and anxiety levels, left me feeling completely drained and, to put it mildly, it knocked the stuffing out of me honeys 😨  

If you've ever read this blog before, you'll know I don't do "pity parties."  Nothing good has ever been achieved by sitting in a corner feeling sorry for yourself. I know, because in the past (until I learned better) I did it and determined to never, ever do it again.   

Now, sitting in front of a beautiful canvas and meditating (even when you're completely unaware, until a lovely person tells you, that's what you've been doing) can be life changing.  You can find out what I mean here, honeys x

So, what happened yesterday then, Rosie, and what have you found out? I hear you ask 😊  This is quite a long post, so it might be worth while fetching a cuppa (and maybe a cookie or two🍪) I'll meet you back here after the page break, see you in a mo...

Blogtober Day 31: Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?

 Hi Honeys, 

Well, we did it! It's the last day of Blogtober for another year.  I'm always sad to reach the end, 31 posts in 31 days really is a challenge, but it's a fun challenge.  It sweeps the cobwebs out of my head and this year it's (nearly) managed to distract me from what's going on with this dreadful virus.  

On to today's post then, where do I see myself in 5 years time. That's one of those dreadful questions they used to ask in job interviews years ago, but with all of the uncertainty in the world right now, it might be quite apt.

Of course none of us really knows where life will take us, not really.  "The best laid plans o' mice and men..." to quote our national bard, Robert Burns himself.  I've certainly never really felt as if I was in the drivers seat, more that I was being buffeted along by a series of random happenings.

It's not that I haven't ever had plans, it's just that I always seem to have set them aside because there are other things to do and I rarely seem to get back to them.  Maybe I'm just not at all great at achieving things?  OK, I think I'll address the question from a different angle then and share where I'd love for  Hubby, Jade and I to be in five years?     

In a perfect world, Hubby, Jade and I would be living on the south coast, somewhere by the sea. We'd live in a perfect little bungalow.  Moving there would be the last time we ever moved house because we'd love it so much. 

We'd have a little garden, smaller than we have now but still big enough for Hubby to build leaf piles in the autumn with Jade and for me to have my much loved roses.  There would be a little conservatory looking out onto the garden where we'd all sit in the evenings, Hubby & I reading and Jade having a nap.  Like now, we'd have an apple tree, because I love gathering the apples in every year and making apple crumbles and apple turnovers. 

I know it's not the most exciting dream ever, honeys, but it makes me smile 😊  I've pictured our perfect little bungalow so many times I can almost walk around in it, in my mind's eye anyway 💗  Over to you, honeys. Where would you like to be in five years? 

Till next time dear ones, wishing you happiness, hugs and all good things, stay warm and safe everybody, hugs xx

Blogtober Day 30 : 7 Easy Ways We Can All Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

Disclaimer:  I haven't been paid to recommend any products or stores, I'm just sharing what we've learned so far on our journey to a more sustainable life, hugs x

 Hi Honeys,

How are you today? All well I hope and staying warm. It's downright chilly today so our furbaby Jade and I are settled on the sofa, one of my favourite Cary Grant movies is on TV right now (Penny Serenade) and we're not moving, you can't make us 😊  

It's the nearly last day of this year's Blogtober honeys, how did this month go by so fast? Actually, this whole year has been a blur really.  I'm just praying for this awful virus to disappear and for the world to be normal again.  

Our recent experience with really obscenely excessive packaging has had me thinking and looking a little closer at how we live and trying to find any little tweaks that might make (even a little) difference.  We really do try our best to avoid being wasteful.  

Earlier this week I shared six actually very delicious ways to use stale bread and ripe bananas and today I thought we'd look at seven tiny changes we can all make to lower the impact we're having on the world around us.  

This turned into quite a long (although I hope interesting) post honeys so it might be good if you go fetch a cuppa (and maybe a cookie or two?) and I'll meet you back here in a few minutes?  See you after the page break...

Blogtober Day 29: Halloween Fairy Cakes And A Frighteningly Fun Free Printable 🎃

 Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to promote any products or stores, just hoping to share some Halloween fun x 

Hi Honeys,  

How are you today?  All well I hope and looking forward to Halloween, even if it does seem to have had the fun drained from it...  

No trick or treating this year, because of this horrible virus. The advice is different depending where you live in the UK, but here in Scotland going door to door is "not advised."  You can read the advice in the press here honeys.  

This will be the first year in over 20 years that we haven't made up treat bags for our visiting trick or treaters. This time last year we were surrounded by boxes of sweets, toys, balloons and even little bottles of Halloween bubbles, with Hubby and I each filling bags as we do every year.  It's the most fun, it's one of our traditions and we spend ages choosing things for the wee ones bags.  

It can't be helped with this virus situation though, so on Saturday night Hubby and I will make some popcorn & snacks and watch the Charlie Brown Halloween special and maybe choose a few other favourite Halloween themed dvds.  

It'll be fun, because when Hubby, Jade and I all watch dvds it's like an episode of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 at times 😊   We pretty much talk all through the movie, which we'll have seen a million times anyway, and laugh our heads off 😄 if you haven't seen MST3000 (surely not!)  you can see a trailer here) Like I said, it'll be fun but it won't be the same without tiny ghouls and ghosts visiting and the fun of making up all of those treat bags.  

We might have a laugh in the kitchen and do some baking 😊 We still have Halloween supplies left from a couple of years ago.  I had bought two packs of tiny Halloween themed fairy cake cases and toppers when they went on sale back then, then after Halloween they ended up in a clearance bin so I bought some more and even though we've used lots of them we still have a few left. Maybe another couple of Halloweens and I'll have to buy more 😊 Do you remember me posting about them honeys?

The "silhouette" candelabra is still pretty fabulous and gets brought out every year 😊 I found it in Asda (Walmart) along with the rectangular paper serving plates and those adorable little webbed fairy cake cases with the matching "spider wearing a party hat" toppers I was just talking about. The goblet came from Poundland.

 

My favourite item though is still the silicone muffin mould, it came from Poundland too, you'll probably still find it there (or in Dollar Store) the cakes always turn out perfectly and I think they look pretty awesome dusted in icing sugar...

Of course, if we do end up baking I'm sure Hubby will want to use the Doctor Who moulds again too 💖 We'll end up eating muffins for days 😊

Those fairy cakes really are adorable though, with the spiders in their party hats 😊  They make me smile every time I see them 😊  You'd never believe I used to have such a fear of them, would you? Spiders that is.  I once woke up,  opening my eyes just in time to see one run off my face and across my pillow away from me... I woke the house up (and the neighbours lol) Now if I see one, I wish him a good day and be extra careful not to step on him.  It costs nothing to be kind 💗

Speaking of fairy cakes, I thought I'd share a printable I made a few years ago, it's just a basic sponge mixture but it still makes me smile, so I thought I'd share, in the hope that it makes you smile too 💖 

A Frighteningly Fun Free Printable 🎃

If you'd like to download a copy, you can find it here.  Set your printer to "print to fit" and it should print in A4.  Enjoy x 

Maybe next year this awful virus will be gone and the world can go back to normal. I'm praying for that to happen honeys. Don't let it spoil your Halloween honeys. Trick or treating might be out, but there's always fun you can have at home.  Plan a movie night, make snacks, everybody dress up anyway! Whatever you're doing, have fun 😊 

Till next time dear ones, stay warm and safe, hugs always xx

Blogtober Day 28: 6 Delicious Ways To Use Those Ripe Bananas 🍌

 Hi Honeys 

Following on from yesterday's post, with delicious ways to use our leftover stale bread, I thought we'd have a look at another much wasted,but super healthy ingredient in our kitchens, the simple banana 🍌     

There are so many fabulous ways to use bananas and the riper they are the better!  Here then, are six of my favourite ways to use up those ripe bananas, including one kitchen experiment that turned into the perfect treat for Hubby's birthday 💖

Why don't you go grab a cuppa then honeys, I will too and I'll meet you back here in a few minutes when I'll share all, see you after the page break...

Blogtober Day 27: 6 awesome ways to use that (almost) stale bread...

 Hi Honeys, 

Because of the stranger-than-strange year we've all had this year, and of course because of the lock down where we all spent far more time than we would normally in our homes, we all seem to have had an awakening of sorts.  It's focused the mind, allowed us all the time to pause and think.  

We're all clearing out our clutter, organising our homes (still trying, it's an uphill struggle) and focusing on our budgets in order to try to be a little more frugal in how we live.   

Waste not, want not was a way of life for the generations before ours and this seems like a very good time to bring that mindset back.  There is so much waste around us honeys and if we just put a little thought into it, we could all save money in stretched household budgets, save precious resources and maybe even save the planet too 😍 

For today's post I thought I'd share six ways to use up that stale bread in the kitchen, those last few slices still lurking in the bread bin that no one wants to eat because it's not soft and fluffy anymore.  Six good ways to make something wonderful with it, you'll never want to throw stale bread away again 💖

Now, when I say "almost stale" I suppose I actually do mean stale, sort of... You know how it is honeys, if the bread wasn't bought/baked that day and as soft and squishy as a marshmallow,  some family members would rather open a new loaf than use those last couple of slices.   

Not to worry though, there are so many ways to avoid wasting that not-quite-so-appealing-anymore-but-not-mouldy bread.  Here are six of my favourites...     

6 Ways to use that (almost) stale bread...

1. Breadcrumbs: 

Why buy breadcrumbs when you can make your own, making good use of those last few slices of bread left over at the same time?  The uses for your lovely breadcrumbs will depend on how you've prepared them, whether they are fresh or dried breadcrumbs. 

Fresh breadcrumbs: These are made by simply tearing your bread into smaller pieces (small enough to fit into a blender) and blitzing them for a few seconds at a time (using the pulse setting.)  

Uses: Fresh breadcrumbs are softer than dried and will absorb moisture, so they're great to use to thicken and add bulk to sauces and soups, stirring a little through at a time until your sauce, soup (or stew) is the consistency you want.  They can also be used as a way to bind your ingredients together, such as when making meatballs or hamburger patties. 

Dried breadcrumbs:  I've heard of others making their dried breadcrumbs in the oven but I've always used our toaster.  I lightly toast the bread and then, as before, tear into pieces small enough to fit into the blender and then process until small enough.  I always make dried breadcrumbs much smaller than fresh if they're to be used as a coating.   

Uses: As a coating (dip item into flour, then egg and then coat with the dried breadcrumbs before cooking) perfect for chicken fillets, fish, homemade potato croquettes or scotch eggs. Try mixing some of your dried breadcrumbs with some grated cheese and sprinkling over the top of oven cooked macaroni and cheese for a yummy topping that adds a little crunch.  

Storing your breadcrumbs:  Both fresh and dried breadcrumbs can be stored in an airtight container or clip seal bag in the fridge (for 2 weeks to a month) and in the freezer (for up to three months.) 

             

2. Croutons:

Croutons are a lovely "extra" that can turn homemade soup into a real comfort food 💖 They're so easy to make too honeys that they almost make themselves. 

Homemade croutons:

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180C (or 160C if using a fan oven or gas mark 4) 

2. Cut your stale bread slices into small squares, add them to a bowl and sprinkle over a little olive oil and mix to make sure the bread pieces are coated.  

3. Add pepper and rock or sea salt (kosher salt for our American cousins) to taste. The slightly larger grains of rock/sea/kosher salt make the croutons special I think.  If you'd like to, you can also add a little garlic or dried basil from your spice rail too for extra yum 😋 

4. When the bread pieces are coated, place them on a baking sheet and (carefully, that oven will be hot) place them into the oven for 8-10 minutes until golden and crunchy.  

5. When cooled, sprinkle over soups, add to salads or mix some through your (cooked) scrambled eggs as a replacement for toast.  They make a delicious snack too 😋 

Storing your croutons:

As with your homemade dried bread crumbs, store in an air tight container or a clip seal (air tight) bag in the fridge (for two to four weeks) or in the freezer (for up to three months.)     

3. Pizza bases:

A great way to use the last couple of slices of going stale bread is to use them as pizza bases 😋  

1. Grill (broil) one side (use the grill on your cooker instead of a toaster honeys.)  

2. Drain a can of chopped or plum tomatoes and put them into your blender, add a little Italian herbs from your spice rail and blend until smooth.  

You don't want your tomato topping to be "runny" that's why it's important to drain the canned tomatoes honeys.  If you'd like to you can add around a tablespoon of tomato paste too (my favourite tomato paste from our local supermarket has garlic through it too.)   

3. Spoon your tomato topping onto the untoasted side of your bread slices, be generous and spread it up to the edges of the bread. 

4. Finish with a generous topping of grated cheese and place under a warm grill until the cheese is bubbling and starting to look a little golden 😋

5. Share with loved ones and await their compliments 💕  Enjoy your pizza 😋  

4. French toast:

Who doesn't love french toast honeys 😊  There are so many different ways to make french toast so I'll share mine, loved since childhood, when I always thought it was such a treat, and adored just as much now 💗 

1. Fetch a bowl and into it crack 2-3 large eggs (this will coat approximately 4 slices of bread, enough to share with a loved one.) Beat the eggs until combined. 

2. Place a slice of bread into the bowl and coat both sides in the egg (I use a fork to do this, I can't do "icky hands")  

3. Add the egg coated bread to a warmed skillet or frying pan and cook each slice until egg coating is cooked.   

4. Serve and enjoy. Bonus points if there is any egg left in your bowl and you toss it into the frying pan to make a fluffy mini omelette to place between your slices of french toast 😋 

I've seen recipes online where all kinds of fresh fruit is added as a topping to french toast or syrup is poured over the top? That kind of thing (while it looks pretty) just never happened in this wee lassie's Scottish kitchen, either as a child or as a cook myself.  

It's probably lovely but nope, not in my kitchen 😊 Now, lovely fresh berries or diced fruit on the side, in a pretty bowl, absolutely! I adore fruit, but not over my lovely french toast😋   

5. Bread & Butter Pudding: 

Another treat honeys, and a great way to avoid wasting bread that's a wee bit past it's best 💖

1. Pre-heat your oven to 180C (or 160c for fan ovens and gas number 4) 

2. grease an oven proof dish.

3. Cut the crusts off 4-6 slices of bread. Butter one side of the bread slices. Cut the buttered bread into halves or quarters and begin layering them in the ovenproof dish, butter side up. 

Each layer of bread slices should be topped with a sprinkle of sugar.  Plain granulated sugar will do honeys but I like to use demerara sugar to make it a real treat.  If using plain granulated sugar, why not add a teaspoon of cinnamon and mix it through the sugar?  

In additions to the sugar add a handful of sultanas to each layer of buttered bread slices.  Make sure you finish with a layer of bread.  Set your dish to one side. 

4.  In a bowl, add 400ml milk to two eggs and whisk together.  Pour over the layered bread slices in your ovenproof bowl and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes to let the mixture soak through all of the bread.  

5 Carefully place the oven dish on the middle shelf of your pre-heated oven and allow it to bake until set and the top is a lovely golden colour (approx 35-45 minutes depending, check the middle is set)   

 6. Enjoy 😋 Bread and butter pudding is another dish that every cook makes differently, the trick is to tweak it until the recipe it's all yours honeys 💖 Check Pinterest for lots more ideas on how to make it dear ones 💖

6. Toasties:

Oh my, I haven't had a cheese & onion toastie (my favourite) in so, so long! OK, To the kitchen honeys! To that cabinet where we all store our seldom used gadgets and thingumybobs to retrieve the toastie machine 😊 

The toastie machine, with its two hotplates designed to seal two slices of bread together, locking their delicious filling inside, while making the resulting golden brown "toastie" appear to be made up of two joined triangles, is an absolutely perfect way to use up stale bread 😋   

To make toasties, bread is buttered on one side, which is then placed on the hotplates, butter side down, the filling is added and the top slice of bread is added, again butter side facing the hotplate.  The lid is closed and after around 5 minutes, there are two yummy toasties ready to be enjoyed 😋  

Fillings: 

Everyone has their own favourite fillings for their toasties honeys, mine will forever be cheese (Scottish cheddar of course) & onion 😋  Raiding the pantry can produce interesting toasties, canned baked beans, macaroni cheese and even spaghetti bolognaise are all popular choices to fill up toasties.  Hubby's favourite is slices of corned beef (I just asked him 😊)

There we have it, six awesome ways to use up that stale bread so that it doesn't go to waste.  What's your favourite way to avoid waste in the kitchen honeys? Why not share in the comments below? 

Till next time dear ones, stay warm and safe everyone, hugs always xx

Photo Fun: Blogtober Day 26: Can This Fun App Guess Your Age?

Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to promote or support this app and I have no connection with it's makers.  I just stumbled on it while surfing one afternoon and it's such fun I thought I'd share x 

Hi Honeys,
How are you today? I hope everyone is well and managing to stay warm in this chilly weather 💗 Just a short post today dear ones, I've been battling a headache most of this afternoon and while it's eased a little, it's left me feeling very drained.   

Well, the clocks went back in the wee small hours of yesterday, so we're officially now into winter.  I know it's supposed to be autumn, the back garden is now buried (again!) under leaves after all, but the chill in the air leaves no doubt at all that there's been a sharp change. 

We've skipped autumn altogether I think honeys, and jumped right smack into winter.  This means the re-appearance of winter bedding. We always change from lovely, crisp, percale cotton to equally lovely, warm and fluffy brushed cotton or flannelette as it's always been known here.  Add a hot water bottle and some fluffy bed socks for my feet and just you try getting me back out again 😊 

There are changes in the kitchen too honeys. Salads are replaced with warming hotpots and casseroles.  In the living room, our furbaby Jade and I are often to be found snuggling on the sofa under a huge sherpa throw watching TV or Jade will nap while I work on my laptop. 

This whole year has been practice for winter in our house.  Lots of snuggling on sofas watching movies or box sets and trying to find ways to stay occupied while having to stay home. 

Which brings us to the topic for today's post honeys...  

I stumbled across a fun app that tries to guess your age from a photo and thought I'd share it with you.  I actually don't have many photos of myself to try out this app with (I've always been happier on the other side of the camera) but I tried with what I have and it made me smile by claiming I was far younger (even in my most recent photo, taken around 4 years ago) than I actually am 😊  

If you'd like to try the app yourself honeys, you can find it here.  Have fun 💖 

Till next time dear ones, stay warm and safe in the chilly weather, hugs always xx

Blogtober Day 25: Rosie's Cheese & Onion Potato Bakes 😋

 Hi Honeys,

Another chilly, rainy day so I thought I'd share something that will (hopefully) make you smile 😊

Do you like to experiment in the kitchen?  I do, I love it 😍  It's just as well that my dear Hubby has such a lovely nature because he never knows what he'll end up with for dinner, bless him 💖

We're a huge fan of very (really, very) fluffy mashed potato around here and if it also involves cheese, that's just a bonus 😊  If you love the fluffiest, cheesiest mashed potato, have a wee look here honeys 💗

Back to today's post though, it's been a favourite for a while now but it did actually start off  as yet another, slightly different, version of fluffy mash for dinner.  I thought, one afternoon, wouldn't it be great, since I'm using mozzarella cheese instead of our usual Scottish Cheddar (best cheese in the world, ask any Scot 😊) wouldn't it be fun to bake it somehow, so that lovely mozzarella melts and goes all lovely and gooey and yummy 😋 

Eaten warm, they're perfect with homemade potato wedges or, as we had here, a lovely crispy salad 😋

Why not go grab a cuppa honeys, I will too and I'll meet you back here in a few mins to share all.  See you after the page break...

Blogtober Day 24: About those healthy eating plates...

 Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to promote any products or stores, just wanted to share x  

Hi Honeys, 

Welcome to day twenty four of Blogtober. Can you believe we're about to move into the last week of Blogtober for 2020, and of course the last week of October.  Where has time gone?   As if that's not enough, the clocks change over tonight too! An extra hour to fill honeys, how are you going to fill it?

Hubby's going to help me declutter the master bedroom tomorrow, then we're (that's Hubby really, because pain in my spine won't let me stand for too long right now, thank you sweetheart x) going to shampoo the carpet.  Of course our furbaby Jade and I will help, we'll both be sitting on the bed offering encouragement, like "Honey, you missed a bit..." 😊

On to today's post then.  Have you heard about those healthy eating plates?  They've been all over the internet for some time now and, having diabetes, I was curious about them.  

When I first became aware of them I went looking online and they were expensive dear ones.  I just couldn't bring myself to pay around £18 for a plate.  Not in this lifetime.  There are so many other places for our money to go, to go splurge on a (albeit cleverly designed) dinner plate. 

Then a while ago, I spotted one of these healthy eating plates among a shopping haul video on YouTube (I'm sorry, I can't remember whose video it was, I'm so sorry, I would link back if I knew, it was quite a while ago) 

Well, they never appeared in our branch of Poundland (lots of items from hauls don't actually, it's not a great branch, mostly I think because it's a small store and shares the space with Pep & Co) but then Hubby was doing our grocery shop (thank you sweetheart x) and spotted this plate and (knowing I'd been looking for one) brought one home for me ...   

It really is lovely, isn't it honeys?  I like the design, it's so bright and would be a marvellous reminder to eat a healthy, balanced diet.  It's perfect for anyone trying to be mindful of their diet except for one thing.  It's huge. Honestly, it's bigger than our largest dinner plate, from a beautiful dinner service we were given as a wedding gift. 

I actually measured it, and from side to side across, it measures 10 ½ inches (or 27cm) and would hold more food than I could ever eat, I'm sure.  So, lovely though it is, my search continues for an equally gorgeous plate honeys. 

I do think it's lovely, but would just prefer it to be smaller is all.  In case you'd like to try one of these healthy eating plates, Hubby found it in B&M and it cost £2.  It's great quality actually, being ceramic and very heavy.       

Over to you dear ones, have you tried these healthy eating plates?  If so, what are your thoughts on them?  Till next time, stay warm and safe everyone, hugs always xx

Blogtober Day 23: First 15 Songs On My MP3 Player On Shuffle

Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to promote or recommend any music tracks or artists, just thought this might be fun, and it really was 😊  

Hi Honeys,

For today's Blogtober post I thought I'd re-do a previous, fun challenge from Blogtember (in 2016) and set my MP3 player to shuffle and see what appears 😊 If you'd like to see what tracks appeared last time, you can find the post here.  

What I intend to do is to quickly type the "shuffled" song picks down as they play, and to then go back and hopefully find links so that you can share too.  Each link should open into a new window, so won't take you away from the post (hopefully, technology doesn't always seem to like me for some reason lol) 

 

OK, switched on, shuffle and let's see what appears then honeys... 

1. Northern Lights by Renaissance (1978)

I was in my very early teens when this song was in the charts and, you know how sometimes a song can be so linked to a memory that when you hear it, well you could be right back living that remembered moment all over again?  this song, odd though it sounds, takes me back to a very rainy afternoon and I'd been tidying my room when this song came on the radio. I can remember happily singing along, loved it then and love it now 😊  You can watch Renaissance performing this awesome song on Top of the Pops in 1978 here honeys. Love it, love it, love it💙  

2. Way Beyond The Blue by Eva Cassidy (2000) 

I first heard this beautifully haunting song when I watched a Jason Isaacs movie (I'm a Potter fan after all) called Sweetwater (2013) and loved the song so much I searched for it online and ordered the album, called Time After Time it's included in by Eva Cassidy.  The movie was released in the UK under the title Sweet Vengeance. 

This is such a beautiful performance by a very talented singer. She died far too soon, she was only thirty three, and didn't live to see her albums and a posthumously released single all top the UK charts.  I can't find a recording of Ms Cassidy's version of this song anywhere on line to share with you honeys, I'm so sorry, the best I've been able to find is a small 30 second long sample at Amazon which you can find here. 

I did find this fabulous version though, performed by the Gospel and Soul Workshop in Norwich, which uses Ms Cassidy's arrangement of the song.  Enjoy, dear ones 💖

3.  Britney Spears - Circus (2008) 

I'm sure you've heard and remember this song, but in case you don't you can watch the video on YouTube here.  Go on, try to not tap your feet, it's a very tap-your-foot-along-to-the-beat type of song I think.  

I hadn't ever seen the video until I went searching for an online recording of the song to link to for this post honeys and, I have to confess that it did shock me a wee bit.  Yes, I'll go sit in the corner now, I know, I'm old 😊  It's a beautifully shot video, very colourful and full of energy but all I kept thinking was that Britney would catch a cold if she didn't put her thermal vest on 😊  I was raised by my sweet Grammy honeys, and she would have been wrapping a thermal vest to pop into the mail to Ms Spears  before the video had finished playing💖  I was once yelled at because (on a baking hot summers day) I'd loosened the top button of my school blouse! The cheek of me 😊 I'm really not a prude, but thanks to my sweet Grammy, I do still own thermal vests though 😊 

 

4. I Should Have known Better by The Beatles (1964)

I have lots of Beatles tracks on my MP3 player honeys so it was more than likely the shuffle would pick up at least one track, and now that I've heard it, I need to go fetch the dvd of the movie to watch 💖  You know I keep saying (too often, apparently, lol) that I was born too late? I really was (only just, but still...) I love, love love The Beatles 😊  

I have a canvas hanging in our kitchen, it was a gift from Hubby (thank you sweetheart x) and every day it makes me smile 😊   

I still haven't ever used those gorgeous little silicone coasters, designed to be copies of vinyl 45s (do you remember them?) and it's safe to say I could never bring myself to rest a hot cuppa on them... 

This track, I should Have known Better, was taken from the album "A Hard Day's Night" You can read about it at The Beatle's Bible website and at Wikipedia too.  You can also watch the train scene (where it's played in the movie "A Hard Day's Night") on YouTube.  Enjoy honeys 💖  

5. If I Ruled The World by Tony Bennett (1965)

I do love this song honeys.  I also have the version sung by Harry Secombe (my favourite) on my MP3 player but Mr Bennett's version was picked by shuffle 😊 It's a fabulous song and the lyrics are just beautiful💖  

This version of the song appeared on an album by Mr Bennett called "Songs For The jet Set" you can read about it here and can listen to the track on YouTube here. 

6. American Pie by Don McLean (1972)

How much of a classic is this honeys?  Just from reading the title, you probably already have it playing in your head 💖 You can watch Mr McLean play it live here, it was filmed in the BBC Newsnight studio, in 1972. Wonderful!   

7. My Blue Tears by Dolly Parton (2001)

I adore Ms Parton's music, and a year or two ago I bought a three disc collection. I was happily surprised to find, among all of her more familiar hits, a couple of songs I hadn't heard before, including this one. 

It's such a sweet song, originally from an album called Little Sparrow, and instantly became a firm favourite 💖 You can hear it here honeys. 

 

8. Unforgettable by Dinah Washington (1961)

Forever and a day this will be a favourite, the song and also the singer 💖  Such a voice! Again I have a few of Ms Washington's albums on my MP3 so it was likely that at least one of her tracks would appear too.  You can listen here honeys.  

I also have a couple of Nat King Cole albums on my MP3, so, just as with the Tony Bennett version of If I Ruled the World, it could just as easily have been his version of this classic song chosen by "shuffle." Both versions are just marvellous and genuinely make my heart smile 💗

9. Happy Together by The Turtles (1967) 

OK, try listening to this song without tapping your feet or even swaying and singing along 😄  The Turtles are an American band and if I'd been about 10 years older than the toddler I was at the time, like the Beatles, I'd have been saving my pocket money to buy their records 😊 This is such a joyful wee song 💖 

10. Suddenly by Olivia Newton John & Cliff Richard (1980) 

Anyone else old enough to remember the movie Xanadu? If you're not, watch this trailer and see it when you can because it's fabulous and you'll love it 😊  

This song is from the so-good-there-isn't-even-a-word-invented-for-how-beyond-good-it-is Xanadu soundtrack album that features the music of ELO 💖  The album includes so many great songs, including of course this track, Suddenly, but also has I'm Alive,  All Over The World, and of course the title track Xanadu and so many more.  Now I want to go upstairs and fetch the dvd! Maybe a double bill with A Hard Day's Night...

11. I Wanna Be Your Man by Chaka Demus & Pliers (1992) 

I'm so happy this shuffle included a song from one of my happy albums! Chaka Demus and Pliers are a Jamaican reggae duo and I swear this whole album is made up of sunshine and happiness and has saved many a day from being unbearable for me over the years 😊   

This track, which you can hear here, is fabulous but the whole album is awesome.  I defy anybody to sit still and not be tapping their feet or getting up and dancing to their cover of Twist and shout.  Then of course there is She Don't Like Nobody, Murder She Wrote, and Tease Me.   Honestly, the whole album is amazing, I adore it.  The album is titled "Tease Me" but was also released under the title of "All She Wrote" too.  I recommend it absolutely honeys, it's my cure for a not-so-good day and I love it 😍💖 

12. Rockin' Years by Dolly Parton & Ricky Van Shelton (1991) 

This is another beautiful song I hadn't heard until I bought that compilation album by Ms Parton, you can see the official video here and it's just the most perfect song for anniversaries I think 💕  

It's a duet with Ricky Van Shelton and appeared on Ms Parton's album called Eagle When She Flies. Such a lovely song 💕💖 

13. Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf (1977) 

Is there anyone who was around in the 70s who didn't buy this album?  We've still got it on vinyl, on CD, we have a dvd too of Meatloaf's greatest hits called Hits out of Hell. There are very few songs that have become as legendary as Bat Out of Hell has ★  It's beyond words 💗  Go on, give your ears a treat and listen here honeys 😍  It's the official video too. 

OK, even though my little "shuffle" didn't pick it (I have so much Meatloaf on there, why didn't it?) I can't not add a link to the video for "I Would Do Anything For Love" because it makes me cry.  Every. Single. Time 😍💗

14. Mickey by Toni Basil (1981)

Again, anyone of a certain age will, for sure, remember the song Mickey, will think of cheerleaders and then smile, tap your feet, and sing along 😊  Have a look at this, and I dare you not to be smiling and singing along 😊  

Next time my arthritis is playing up and I start feeling sorry for myself, I'm going to watch this video and give myself a right telling off.  This is the marvellous Ms Basil, at age 74! Dancing like you wouldn't believe! Bravo, you wonderful lady, you're an inspiration 💖

This awesome compilation video showcases Ms Basil's work as an actor, dancer and a choreographer in the 1960s.  She's been in show business for over 50 years, and there's a lot more to the incredibly talented Ms Basil than Mickey and a cheerleader sweater 💖 

15. I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye (1968)

Is it possible for anyone to not adore this song?  It's timeless and wonderful and I love it so much honeys 💖  I was going to add a link to a video on YouTube for you but then I remembered the version that appeared online around a year ago with everything stripped away except Mr Gaye's fabulous vocals.  It's... well, they're going to have to find a whole new word for wonderful because it's that and then a whole lot more 💗 

It makes my heart skip just listening to it, why not go listen honeys, there is an article at Esquire magazine which has the video showing this perfect version embedded on the page.  If you'd rather watch it on YouTube it's here honeys.  It gives me chills. Now this is what talent looks like 🌟

What a wonderful song to end on.  I actually didn't want to stop 😊 What kinds of music do you love to listen to? Did any of the songs on my shuffle list have you tapping your feet or singing along? Were any of them among your favourites too?   

Till next time dear ones, stay warm and safe, hugs always xx

Blogtober Day 22: How I de-stress and find my calm, and how you can too.

Disclaimer:  This is not medical advice in any way.  If you have problems dealing with stress or sometimes feel overwhelmed (like I do) please consult your doctor or medical professional.    

Hi Honeys, 

What's the first thing that jumps into your mind when I say the word meditate?  

As my health (and mobility) have worsened these past few years, I've tried to embrace the concept of self care.  The care and maintenance of this fleshy shell I walk around in hasn't ever been a priority to me, I'm ashamed to say.  Life has always been too full, too busy, and for every minute in the day I always had three minutes worth of stuff to do. 

Even now, when I have more time to myself,self care doesn't come easily to me. There is a part of my mind that considers it so selfish to think only of myself, even when it's related to my health.  I'm sure a very smart person somewhere could go into the psychological side of why that is but I'm not that smart so I won't be the one making any sense of it all 😖 

Back to meditating.  Do you meditate honeys?  Maybe, like me, you do and don't even know it! I should explain...

I was told (to my great surprise) around a year or so ago that what I do to find calm, to avoid panic attacks, is actually a form of meditation.  I honestly had no idea, I only knew that it worked and had even helped me get through a CT scan at the hospital. 

I'll start from the beginning, will I honeys?  Before I do, why don't you fetch a cuppa, and maybe a cookie or two, and I'll meet you back here after the page break? 

Blogtober Day 21: Two Of My Favourite Autumn Smiles 😊

Disclaimer: I haven't been paid to promote any products  😊  As someone who lives for Spring (and tolerates autumn and winter to get there) I just wanted to share a little smile that's only available at this time of year, one that I do look forward to 😊   

Hi Honeys, 

If you've read any of my posts you'll know that I'm not a great fan of this time of year.  Every year, for as long as I can remember, even as a child, I've wanted to sleep till spring comes back again.  I don't like the cold, dark, far-too-long, days and nights.  Nope, not for me, honeys. 

I live for spring, when the garden starts to wake up around me I always feel better, even my arthritis seems to ease a little.  Mostly, I live in dread of the approach of autumn and winter and start a count down to spring every year 😊  

There are, of course, smiles to be found at this time of year.  I just find them so much harder to find is all, but they do exist and it's important to acknowledge these smiles and be thankful for them 💗  

Forever first in my autumn smiles list is watching Hubby and our furbaby Jade from the kitchen window, clearing the garden of the fallen leaves 💖   

Hubby will spend the longest time gathering up the leaves into a huge pile, with our baby Jade following him around, picking up leaves around him to play with and occasionally dropping her tennis ball at his feet for him to throw for her.  We adore our baby and Hubby doesn't even mind that when he's built up a huge pile of leaves, that Jade runs into it 😊 He just smiles and tidies the leaves away when she's finished playing 💕

There is though, something only available at this time of year, something that's usually only added to most people's shop to decorate the tree with, but after the year that's just passed, maybe buying an extra pack of this yummy treat could be forgiven?  

Rosie, what are you waffling about? I hear you ask honeys 😃 Candy canes, dear ones.  Those lovely little holiday treats, and of course you could just go ahead and eat them, but why not make them into a proper treat? Why not do this...

If you have any candy canes on hand already honeys, why not grab one and head to the kitchen.  If you don't, I so wish I could pass one along to you through the internet💖  File this idea away till you have a few on hand dear ones, it really is a treat ☕  Off we go then to the kitchen to gather the following supplies...

Yummy, Minty Hot Chocolate 

1 large mug
Milk
Your favourite cocoa mix
and of course.... your candy cane :)
Optional extra: some lovely cream :) Freshly whipped cream is a real treat but a can of squeezy cream works too.

Directions:

1. Warm your milk until it's lovely and hot 
2. Carefully mix through your cocoa till it's all combined with the milk taking care not to burn yourself
3. Add your cream to the top if you want to (this is supposed to be a wee treat after all)
4. Pop your candy cane into your mug and take your lovely creamy hot chocolate to somewhere comfy and put your feet up. 
5. Relax and enjoy! The candy cane will melt quite quickly so use it to stir your hot chocolate and you'll be left with the most delicious, yummy minty hot chocolate :) 

Why not make lots of yummy hot chocolate, gather candy canes and share with loved ones? Children will love stirring their hot chocolate with a candy cane. Why not forget about the housework for a while honeys, make some yummy hot chocolate, some lovely memories and get to the housework later 😊 Enjoy 💖

Till next time dear ones, huggles always xxx

Blogtober Day 20: Gingerbread Cookies And A Fun & Spooky Recipe Printable 🎃

Hi Honeys,

How are you today?  Well, it's getting awfully close to the end of October (how did that happen so quickly?) so with Halloween approaching, it's time to make the most delicious gingerbread cookies ever 😍  These cookies are so good honeys!  I've shared this recipe before but because the cookies are so good and because they're so fun to make, I thought I'd share it again. 

They really are so easy to make, they taste amazing and the scent of gingerbread goes all through the house while baking them 😍  Take that, gingerbread candle....even though I do like that too, but nothing beats the smell of a delicious batch of gingerbread cookies baking happily away in the kitchen....   

To make the cookies in the photo (above) I used a ghost and a bat from a set of cookies cutters I had in my collection in the kitchen, but you'll find these cookie cutters everywhere honeys.   You don't even need cookie cutters at all.  You could have fun cutting cookies with whatever you have on hand in the kitchen.  I've used an egg cup to make perfect, round mini cookies before and they were adorable 😊 

Of course you don't have to wait for Halloween, or any other holiday, to have gingerbread cookies.  They're delicious any time of the year, the cookie dough is so easy to make and you can make up two or three batches at a time. These cookies really are so good that maybe you'll want to do this anyway 😋  Or, you could make up the cookie dough, bake a batch to enjoy and store the (uncooked) dough ready to bake as needed.   

To store extra cookie dough, roll it up tightly in cling film/plastic wrap and store in the fridge for 2-3 days or you can freeze the raw cookie dough for up to 3 months.  When you want to use it, remove from the freezer and place into the fridge to defrost overnight then roll out and bake as usual.

🎃Gruesome Gingerbread Cookies🎃    

 

A tip honeys, do you prefer your cookies to be slightly "chewy" or thinner and crispier?  To achieve either, simply adjust the thickness of your cookie dough when you roll it out.  The thicker the cookie, the chewier it will be, whereas a thinner cookie will be crispier.

Once baked, and allowed to cool, either have fun decorating with different colours of icing sugar or, as I did in the photo, sift icing sugar over the top.  Wee ones love helping to decorate cookies so they'll want to join in the fun.  When decorated, step back and await compliments and yum sounds from loved ones 💖

You can download and save or print an A4 version of this printable recipe here honeys.  If you're printing it, choose the option "print to fit " on your printers settings and you should have a lovely A4 copy.   

Are you a gingerbread cookie fan honeys?  These cookies would make a lovely hostess gift too, if visiting friends & family over the holidays.  Why not put them into a pretty gift box lined with some tissue paper?

Till next time dear ones, stay warm and safe everybody, hugs always xx