Thursday, July 26, 2012

Sunshine, Smiles, Shorts and Suppers!

What a fantastic start to the summer holidays, the sun hasn't stopped shining since the weekend and we have made the very most of every second, it has been brilliant.  Riggy came home for her brief visit on Thursday and we had a fabulous night catching up, she then had to disappear for bridesmaid duties which was a bummer, but our evening was superb.  Last Saturday we relented and allowed our little girl to have her ears pierced and to say that she is over the moon is an understatement.  As soon as they were done her whole demeanour changed, she stood straighter and couldn't stop admiring herself in every mirror and shop window possible!  She even phoned Steve straight away to tell him of her bravery, was so cute.  That night we dropped the kids with their granny and went off to Matthew and Olivia's beautiful wedding reception in the Village Hall for an evening of fun and merriment.  They had the most amazing cheese wedding cake - it was divine and such a great idea (and Liv brought me round some left overs love her!) it was such a super evening and the bride and groom looked gorgeous, top night - despite Matt R getting epically drunk, leaving me to assist with the tunes, disaster averted thanks to quick thinking ;)

The delish Cheese Cake


Sunday we went to say bye to Rigs, collected kids and granny and headed over to Bluebells for lunch to celebrate hubs' 42nd birthday in style, we had a perfect meal, as ever and then headed back to Amy and David's for BBQ in the evening. 

On Monday Saf and I took the kids over to Stoke Park to the paddling pool but it was so crowded that we only managed a couple of hours before coming home, Kids loved it but it was packed and I kept losing sight of Z in the mass of small children. Kev and I then took our two to the Royal Oak on our bikes and got the kids supper in the sunshine.  I had the nicest compliment paid to me whilst I was there, I was chatting to the bar manager as I ordered some more wine and he commented that he didn't know what my name was (we go in there quite a bit!) I told him and he said, "Ah we all call you 'The Nice Lady' here!" What a lovely thing to say! 

Oh I almost forgot, it was our 11th wedding anniversary on Friday 20th but sadly I was vomiting all evening so didn't get to make our yummy supper, so instead we celebrated on Monday eve with Veal Marsala (similar to my chicken Marsala but I included a little cream) which was divine, a really lovely evening.

Veal Marsala with jacket potato, tenderstem broccoli and fine beans;





Thursday, July 19, 2012

Hot sweet and sour chicken

This type of food is my fav, quick cooked chicken, nice and tender and tasty - don't overcook it or it will be tough and horrid.

500g finely chopped chicken breast
5 chopped shallots
2 cloves of chopped garlic
1inch long chunk grated fresh ginger
1Tbsp sesame oil
3Tbsp soy sauce
1Tsp white wine vinegar
1tbsp of chicken stock
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 chopped fresh red or green chilli
1Tbsp honey
1/4 tsp sea salt
Iceberg lettuce for wraps

Fry off in large frying pan shallots, ginger,chilli & garlic. Mix all wet ingredients in a bowl. Add chicken to frying pan, fry for a minute then add wet mixture. Stir in and fry till chicken cooked through (this literally is a couple of mins) Serve in lettuce wraps and with steamed basmati if you are allowing carbs!

I saw this today, if you did this 5 times a day that is a quick 500 cal loss!  Am going to add this to my workout plan, ramping it up for bikini body in 3 weeks woohoo

Pinned Image

A perfect LND

That would be little navy dress!  I know, I am still not supposed to be shopping BUT I had £100 worth of HoF vouchers smouldering away in my handbag - they were birthday pressies and have been there since June!! So, under the guise of finding a dress for Olivia and Matt's wedding as well as wanting to be able to wear it time and time again, I nipped in to Guildford with my Mum and found this little beauty - the 9th dress I tried on;

It is Michael by Michael Kors and is just fabulous, at £97 from £200 I love it even more, and it didn't cost me a penny! 



 Sadly I shall be in flats for the wedding but it will look lovely with heels and will be a great winter option too.  The picture doesn't really do it justice, I shall try take a pic of my wedding outfit so that you get a better idea.  I might have also bought a gorgeous comptoir des cotonniers tee and a second navy (but with a yellow block) shift from Jaeger, BUT I might not keep the Jaeger dress - I can't find it online but if I do keep it I will post, it is beautiful, but admittedly I don't need 2 navy shifts!

From the back



In other news, my sister is home tonight and I cannot wait, it is going to be so lovely to have her home, even for a short while, house is ready, supper sorted, I am just doing nibbly bits, these yummy Jalapeno Poppers included - just need her now..























Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The One Crutch Wonder

Well thank goodness for that - my cast is off!  I have to admit I have been awake since 4am worrying about the damn thing and praying that I had healed sufficiently for it to be removed, I barked at everyone this morning, even my Mum who had driven over to help me out, major guilt there..  Anyway I got to the hospital and the consultant told me that I had done well and that I still have a sprained ankle and a fractured little toe but that as long as I take care and use my crutch then I should be OK!  I am so so relieved, I can't express it.  These past 9 days have been horrible, I will never take mobility for granted ever again, and I am humbled by those who face physical challenges indefinately.   The smallest things were just so difficult and I felt trapped by my own inability, extremely hard, and that was only 9 days, I do have a lot to be incredibly thankful for.  Need to watch my step from here on in, literally!

Last night was the school summer concert, it is always a great evening, a huge gaggle of us get together with picnics, have a few drinks and cheer on our talented and hardworking little ones as the perform on the stage.  Teya did 3 songs, one with the whole school, one with her class and 1 with choir as well as a dance group routine, she did so well to learn it all and performed wonderfully, I was so proud of her.  I am now debating getting her ears pierced, she is desperate but I am just not sure whether she is still too young, I was 13 when I had mine done and kids get so much so young these days.. but she has worked so hard this year and has ended year 3 with a super report, so I am very tempted to do it as her end of term treat. 

Saturday, July 14, 2012

James Martin, my bed and latest lusts!

So, my 'good' leg is now agony from being the main support structure for the rest of my body, deep joy, so painful in fact that I didn't get up until 11am this morning, so grateful to the hub for getting up and sorting the kids out for me, he is even getting better at putting outfits together based on my descriptions. At least I got to spend the morning with James Martin, I do love a bit of Saturday kitchen and I hardly ever get to watch it! Typical that it is now finished for the summer, although we do get best bits throughout the holidays, that's a bonus.

So, most of the day doing not much leads me to the magical world of Internet shopping, and although I did buy a much needed pair of black ballet pumps, I have had to put the Tory Birch plans to one side for now, too many demands on the ££ and these Sam Endleman beauties were only £35 from Brandalley - mind you I have to wait until the 2nd week in August for them..Sam Edelman SS Black Snakeskin Jewelled Pumps

I have also put these bits on my lust list; This DIVINE All Saints Walker leather jacket, will I ever take the plunge and buy a decent leather jacket?



These Sam Endleman wedges and a DVF bikini that I can't seem to copy correctly!  Also spoke to my sis this morning, can't wait to see her, she comes home for Emily and Barney's wedding at the weekend, yippee! I won't get to spend that much time with her sadly as she has duties but she is coming straight here from Heathrow on Thursday eve and I plan a big welcome home supper and lots of fizz to celebrate.  On the subject of weddings our friends Olivia and & Matt also get married on Saturday, please please keep your fingers crossed that I am off my crutches by then, otherwise my outfit choices are seriously limited!  To be honest I haven't even really thought about what I am going to wear, it isn't the full day - just the evening and it is isn't mega formal - and I don't really have anything suitable!  Happily I have bought their wedding present though, Mr & Mrs Mugs courtesy of Emma Bridgewater, I have these and they are really cute, if rather twee, and a couple of polka dot bits from their list too.  Now it is just gifts for the teachers that I need to sort, I cannot believe that the end of term has come around so quickly.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The BEST Carbonara Recipe EVER!

Time for a smiley post, and this carbonara recipe definitely makes me feel a lot sunnier!  This is a 'proper' Italian carbonara (no cream, please) and is truly truly easy.  Takes a little prep - mainly grating the Parmesan so I would definitely recommend an electric grater, but it is delish, and well worth the effort.  The recipe below serves 4 but if you half it exactly it works perfectly for 2.

1tbsp olive oil
250g pancetta/ smoked bacon chopped up small
50g butter (I use salted)
150ml dry white wine
4 whole eggs
2 egg yolks
100g grated Parmesan cheese
plus extra for serving 400g Spaghetti
Salt and pepper to season

Warm the oil in large frying pan and fry the pancetta/bacon until golden. Add the butter then the wine and simmer for a few minutes.


In a bowl beat the whole eggs with the egg yolks and add the parmesan.  Season but go easy on the salt!

Cook and drain the spaghetti, return to the saucepan, add the pancetta mixture and mix to evenly coat then stir in the eggs and cheese mixture.  The heat from the spaghetti will cook the egg.  Serve with warm foccacia and green salad and add extra Parmesan and black pepper.  Enjoy!  Let me know if you make this and what you think :)









Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I am now at the stage where most of the rest of my body hurts, but not my fractured foot! Crutches kill, oh yes, they do.  My hands and shoulders are really sore from supporting myself and my abs are going to be so impressive (with any luck!) when I get off these things!  It really is such hard work, and yes granted I probably shouldn't be on the crutches as much as I am but keeping still for me is so damn hard.  I hopped over to family lunch at school today and I have made a spag bol as Teya has a playdate tonight, I know, I am mad - BUT happily the Hubs re arranged his work so has stayed at home today and helped me out.  What a juggle!

I miss riding Baz already too, funny after not riding for so long and then being back in the saddle for a month and I love it so much.  Typical that this happens.  Gutting, but I do have another one of the lovely local stable girlies, Jade coming to ride him.  Jade rode in the field this morning and he went really well according to Mum so all is good there at least.  Fingers crossed that I am out of cast by this time next week.  Aside from the riding it is Liv and Matt's wedding next Saturday and what on earth will I wear if I am still in this?  Doesn't bear thinking about.  Mind you I have been keeping myself busy with all the various admin bits that I haven't been internet shopping, so that is another plus!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

There is absolutely nothing fun about crutches!

Oh god it could only happen to me!  After a lovely weekend spent with friends, girls night at mine on Saturday for drinks and catch up and then curry lunch at Saf and Ram's Sunday, I only had to go and fall down the stairs lifting Zach for his pre bed wee on Sunday night!  OMG the pain as I broke my fall with my foot was excruciating.. I like to think that I have a pretty high pain threshold so being reduced to tears with the pain was somewhat of a shock - not as much as a shock for me as for my poor little boy who was one minute sleeping soundly in his bed and the next awake on top of his crumpled Mummy!  Anyway, after I had bucked up I took 2 paracetamol and decided it would be fine after a night's sleep.. how wrong I was!  Monday morning started with my inability to walk and therefore a trip to Frimley Park A&E..  After a 2 hour wait I was sent to X ray and after a further half hour was told that I had fractured a bone in the top of my foot and would have to be in a cast and rest it for a week - a whole 9 days actually!!!! ARGHHHHHH!!! So, here I am, unable to weight bear on it and having to let everyone run around after me until next week.  I am OVER this already - seriously I am not someone who can sit still, ever, so this is going to be horrendous.  And I have to hope that it heals well in the nexty week, I absolutely cannot have a cast on for any longer than that, I will go out of my mind.  Not a happy bunny. 

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Always on the hunt for new ways in which to feed my troops, I have recently adapted a keema curry recipe that is quick and easy to make and is really tasty!  Great alternative to bolognaise or chilli, two firm favourites in this house.



  • 1 large chopped onion
  • 1 crushed garlic clove
  • 2 tbsp groundnut oil
  • 500g lean minced beef or lamb (not minced lamb fans here I must say)
  • 1 potato
  • 1 tsp each of ground coriander, cumin, chilli powder and turmeric
  • 1 1/2 tbsp of garam masala
  • 100ml beef stock
  • 400g can chopped tomatoes
  • 150g frozen peas
  • chopped fresh coriander
  • 1 red chilli, chopped (omit this if you are cooking for the kids!)
  • 1 tbsp plain flour

  • Fry 1 large chopped onion with 1 crushed garlic clove and the chopped chilli in 2 tbsp groundnut oil over a medium heat for 3 minutes or until softened.

    Tuesday, July 03, 2012

    I have found a type of shopping that I do not enjoy.  Sports Direct shopping. Shudder.  We had to buy Tey some trainers for school at the weekend, hers were far too small - so small that she finally admitted it, no mean feat there.  So, refusing to pay Clarks' prices, we took a deep breath and ventured in to Sports direct.  Wow what a horror - there were literally mountains of boxes of shoes and sportswear everywhere.  So, we headed for the back wall and after 10 minutes of arguing about which ones she could have (too pink/ clumpy/ boring - her - too expensive/ nasty/ masculine - Me!) we narrowed it down to 2 pairs, only to find that,once I had flagged down a prepubescent assistant, they were out of stock of both!  Naturally.  So, I set to in the trainer mountains, pulling out as many pairs of size 3 that were reasonably acceptable - and let her choose.  I am happy to report that she settled on a reasonable grey and white pair of tennis shoes, and they were in the sale at £7!  So, thankful for small mercies, you couldn't get me out of there quick enough.  I rather feel that those types of sports shops don't attract 'sports' personnel, but that is me simply judging by the amount of vastly elasticated waistbands...

    And I officially cannot be left home alone, with iPad, as I shop! Argh argh no I am on a ban!!!!! Yet still I shop, too easy you see.. I seem to have purchased a new iPad case and a beautiful candle.. Curses..  To be fair I am out of scented candles, downstairs, but all the same it is not a great excuse is it?  Oh, and my Zara shopper came and I LOVE it, it is a fantastic size and is going to be so useful and go with everything, I feel that cost per wear shall be negligible, very quickly.  So, that really is it now, I am over SS already and am looking forward to AW12, hell it is cold enough for autumn wear so why the hell not.   Off to do a bit of previewing ;)

    Pretty Candle

    DIPTYQUE Feuille de Lavande scented candle