Sunday Catch-Up - 12th January 2014

Well I was planning to write a Sunday Catch-Up post like I usually do, but in all honesty when I started looking at my instagram and iPhone pictures to put the post together, I realised I had nothing interesting to show you, lol! Literally my entire weeks pictures are of food for my Weight Loss Wednesday Posts. My weight loss goal has taken over my thoughts a little! So as there is no point posting food pictures here, when I will be posting them on Wednesday anyway, I thought I would do a bit of a bumper Links and Love instead! So here is what I have been looking at and loving online this week: I've been a little bit obsessed with house renovation and inspiration blogs lately, usually I'm just on Design Sponge and Apartment Therapy but thanks to them I found two new awesome blogs - My Scandinavian Home and Little Green Notebook - I'm in love! And thanks to all the housey obsession I have fallen very hard for Eames Paris Chairs! And the Rocking Chair version! I want them!

I'm currently reading 3 books (well listening to 1). Nacropolis by Jeet Thayil which was shortlisted for the Man Booker in 2012, With My Body by Nikki Gemmell and Count to Ten by Karen Rose.

I've been working on some Valentines Day Craft Articles:

Valentines DIY for the Home

Valentines Cards for Kids

Valentines Food Ideas

Valentines Day Crafts for Kids

Valentines Day Fashion Crafts I went to see this in the Millennium Centre - it was awesome! So funny!!

I've been working with a great scientist, Doctor and Writer called Darja Wagner to edit her book on Fertility for over 40's which you can find here. Even if your not over 40 but you need some help with fertility issues this book is brilliant!, I've learnt lots about womens health I never even knew before!
So that's all folks! Hope everyones week has gone well, tomorrow will be a Monday Manicure post so remember to swing by!

Sunday Catchup - 18th November

Gosh another week has gone by, which ultimately brings us 1 week closer to Christmas! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Are you one of the super organised (like me!) or are you a last minute shopper? Luckily I'm an organised girl and am pretty much sorted, just gotta wrap everything and write and post the cards really. 

As it's sunday it's time for a quick catchup post. Again not been great on the old instagram this week but I have a few shots for you, so here is my week via instagram!

Even my food isn't exciting this week sorry

Thursdays food offer in the Green Room at the WMC was sausage roll, beans and chips! I felt like a kid eating this - although I would never have actually eaten this as a child! And would never make it for dinner myself, but for £2.75 it seemed like a good plan!

We went to Red Hot Buffet, the foods not amazing but it's decent for the price. Click the link for my honest review and pictures of what I ate there!

Christmas has properly arrived in Cardiff Bay - the Bay Christmas tree is up and the WMC have pretty trees everywhere!

What we have been watching!

A bit of Dolly and Burt Reynolds, such a ridiculous film but I love it. And some Gavin and Stacy!

 DISPICABLE ME!!! 'It's so fluffy!!!!'
Need I say more - if you haven't seen it you should, I swear its meant for adults!

 Started another Stephen Kings book, Firstarter this time. It's kinda huge so may take me a little while.

 We went to pick up my gift to Jon for Christmas in Bristol and stopped for petrol on the way back, love the name of this service station!

 And been sorting xmas gifts for family and friends! Cookie Mix in a jar!

Links and Love
1. I wrote some reviews! This time for Can Zaman and Zio Pin restaurants in Cardiff, both are great check out my review and pictures!

2. Jon reviewed his amazing anti theft camera bag - Lowepro Flipside 400. Check it out if your into your photography, looking for a great camera bag for yourself or as a gift, or if your into travelling.

3. Beef Stew Recipe! It is insanely yummy for the winter.

4. I did a guest post this week over on the Makeup Pixie. My top key items for this winter, go check it out if you haven't yet!
5. Now they have show jumper for horses and obstacle course time trials for dogs, but what about Bunnies! Check this event out it is too cute, pity mine would just look at it stupid and probably run the other way!

If you love writing informative articles or want to start building yourself a published portfolio and don't know where to start take a look at Hubpages. Easy to sign up to and build articles in your own account. Plus earn a little along the way. It's so simple honest and it's a great community of creative people. Earning money online isn't get rich quick but you'll enjoy doing it along the way.

That's all from me this week folks.

Sunday Catchup - 11th November

It's sunday again, which means another week has gone by - plus it makes us 1 week closer to Christmas! Yippee! Have you started your shopping yet? Or written the christmas cards? I'm almost done with my shopping and have gotten as far as buying my cards, so I am pretty organised this year. Plus to help get me in the Christmas mood I was lucky enough to be invited to the John Lewis Christmas Press Event in Cardiff last week. It is always a great event, and so beautiful. With lots of yummy cocktails and canapés. Here is one photo from the night but I will do a proper post on the event next week.

This was the Winter Wonderland setup at the John Lewis Event

And seeing as it is sunday here is a little catch up on my week. Not a lot of Instagram pictures as I keep forgetting at the moment, plus my phone camera is playing up! But here are a few for you to enjoy anyway.

 Food!

1.Breakfast at Cafe 37 - the liquid is maple syrup! Yum!

2. Chicken and Mushroom Pasta at ASK - blogger dinner after the John Lewis Event

3.Been making lots of soup thanks to my soup maker!

4. Stur fry dinner!

Below is what I have been reading this last week or so:

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo - finished this it is brilliant! Worth the read.

 Carrie by Stephen King - Been a fan of his films for years and when I found out about a Carrie remake (seriously! With Chloe Moretz and Julianne Moore - see the trailer here!) I thought I should really read the book, it was good but not scary like I expected it to be.

 City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare - The second book in The Mortal Instruments series, its kinda long and bulky but I am getting there with it.

This Dandelion and Burdock Pop is a huge flashback from my childhood. My grampa always used to buy it for me when I was younger!

Links and Love!

I've been doing lots of writing again this week so I figured I would share a few with you. Pictures too this time!

1. Some great recipes my mum had made. Slow Roasted Lamb Shanks with Mildly Spiced Yogurt Potatoes and Baked Alaska for Dessert

Slow Roasted Lamb Shanks in Red Wine Gravy

Mildly Spiced Yogurt Potatoes 

Baked Alaska

2. I finally reviewed my Cuisinart Soup Maker and Jon reviewed his new Lens, a Nikon 24-70 f2.8

3. Plus I wrote a few film reviews again - Coco Before Chanel, Surrogates and Prometheus

4. We went to see Taken 2, it was really quite good. Why not check out the trailer!

5. I meet a few new welsh bloggers this week, here are their blogs, please go check them out and say hi! Makeup Pixi3, What Laura Did and Forty Percent Fringe, Sixty Percent Face

If you fancy trying your hand at writing online articles and possibly making some money while you are at it then just click the link here, and have a nose around the site. It is simple to use, you write about anything you want (fashion and beauty included) and you make money through ad revenue and sales, simple!

Sunday Catchup - 14th October

First up don't forget to enter my Blog Birthday Giveaway or you'll miss out on the chance to win some designer sunglasses.

Well I haven't actually taken many images on Instagram recently but here is some mandatory food images from the past week or so

left-right top to bottom
1. Breakfast at Cafe 31
2. Falafel salad with butternut squash couscous and yogurt dressing
3. Chocolate Brownie Tarts
4. Sunday Dinner at The Crofts Pub
5. Mega veggie pasta (eat that a lot last few weeks)
6. Burger and sides at Ed's Diner

So some non-instagram photos of the rest of my week then

I won a Cuisinart Soup Maker on Twitter!! Mental I know, but super exciting. Wanna check out my first recipe from it - Chicken and Red Pepper Soup it was yummy and so blinking easy to make!

 It was our little Fi's 40th Birthday so we held a 'Tash Tastic 70's party for her!

 I had a girly night out with my ladies Jac (above) and Rachel (below). Cocktails all round!

Links and Love:

Lots of writing and articles for you this week

1. A little article and review I did of Coco Before Chanel starring Audrey Tautou, and Surrogates with Bruce Willis. Please check them out and tell me what you think.
2. I wrote a few gift lists (as Christmas is coming) that I know a few of you will be interested in: 50 Shade of Grey Gifts, Other Books for a Hunger Games Fan, Gifts for Book Worms and Brilliant Gifts for Bakers - I promise you they will give you lots of good ideas.
3. A wrote a slightly more serious piece on Household Budgeting and How to Save Money - helpful if you need to cut back ready for christmas.
4. My article for The Bay Magazine this month turned out awesome! Want some winter coat and boot ideas look no further, I found the cutest and hottest on the market!
5. And something fun for Halloween - Simple Halloween Crafting Ideas - and a great use for pumpkin flesh - DIY Natural Pumpkin Face Mask