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 Catch-up - 21st July

Well last weeks sunday catch-up was a little different with the haul vlog (if you haven't seen it yet it is here) but this week I am back to my usually instagram led posts. So here is what I have been up to this last week. 

 1. Thursday was the hubby's 26th birthday and he decided he wanted to go to TGI Friday's for his birthday meal.

2. Jon enjoying his ribs!

3. I may never have told you all but I am a bit of a stamp geek, so this is my newest set of First Day Covers

4. And as a stamp geek I love mail!! So this is my latest letter from my penpal Annica and a Postcard

 Lots of food pictures as usual! These are 2 meals out!

1+2. Seignior Valentino's before the theatre - Garlic mushrooms and amazing salmon and tomato pasta

3+4. TGI's mixed starters and my sticky BBQ ribs 

 How cooked meals

1. Maggi's sticky BBQ chicken, with mash and garlic bread

2. Home made chilli

3. Lamb and Sweet Potato stew with Pasta

4. Pork Chops in Creamy Cider Sauce with potato and sweet potato mash

 I am still chugging along reading this little number, although it feels like I have been reading it forever. 700+ pages can be a little hard going, but I am enjoying it and really want to get to the end of it to find out what happened.

It has been so so hot in Wales recently and the poor little boy is struggling, so he has taken to sleeping and napping on the downstairs toilet and the bathroom floor where the tiles are a bit cooler.

Warning graphic image below which may gross you out!!!

Yes ladies if you have been following me on twitter (@daisydayz25) you will know I had a bit of an ordeal at the dentist this week. I went in for 2 scheduled root canals, one either side, but ended up having 1 root canal and 1 rather troublesome extraction. The picture is of the 2 pieces of root my dentist spent 30 minutes digging out of my gum/jaw! She had to cut the tooth into pieces and take them out separately because the roots were so deep. Put it this way it was very uncomfortable and my face is still aching almost a week on! Not a fun week really!

Links and Love for this week!

1. I have fallen in love with a blog called LiveLoveDIY and her amazing home! I will be using some of her techniques and design ideas when decorating our own home one day.

2. I'm a little bit in love with this ASOS Skirt! 

3. I have a new cookery blog with my mum - Eat Cook Review - that I would love for you all to check out, only 3 recipes so far though!

4. Our latest shoot is up on the website and it is really adorable, look for the Smash the Cake Gallery

5. You can see my latest article for The Bay Magazine here - all about shoes!! 

Sunday Catch-Up - 7th July

It's sunday!! Which means time for a sunday catch-up post! And I got a new iPhone 5 last week so I have been snapping away much better pictures than I was able to with my last phone, so expect lots more sunday catch-up posts with fun instagram pictures!

So here's what's been happening in my life according to instagram

 Spent a lot of my time at work in the bay, but luckily the weather has been great!

1. Almost cloudless blue skies over St Davids Hotel

2. The new Wetherspoons is almost complete - it's called The Mount Stuart

3. Cardiff Bay hosted its annual multi cultural Mela with lots of great food and craft stalls, and some great live performances

4. The water tower has been decorated ready for the summer festivals with lots of strawberries

 We spent the afternoon yesterday at the Aberavon Beach charity festival. Here is Pasha and my Sister, Briony chilling out in the sun

 1+2 outfits from the last few days

3+4 Jon trying on hats in Tesco, looking for one for the summer. Which do you think suits him best?

I got these super flowery summer wedges curtesy of Shoe Zone in the post this week, been styling them with my maxi dresses for the last few days, which you will see in an outfit post next week.

And the obligatory food pictures! This is one of the best things from living back home with the parents!

1. Mild lamb & Leek Curry

2. Chinese Turkey Noodles - you'll find the recipe below

3. Oh so Maggi Stick BBQ chicken with herb roasted potatoes and peas

4. Sausage and Potato Hot Pot

Haven't done any Links and Love for a while so here are this weeks:

1. The recipe for those Chinese Turkey Noodles above!

2. Cross-Jones Photography's website is finally sorted (just pictures of us to be added)

3. Really want to try this Models Own Beetlejuice nail varnish!

4. This apartment is possibly the most awesome and insane apartment ever

5. This is the most perfect dress!

I was also incredibly proud to be asked by Tesco Magazine Online to write an article for them on family tourist spots in Wales.

Don't forget my Bumper Beauty Giveaway

Sunday Catchup - 7th January

I haven't really taken a huge amount of photos this week so this will be a photo light version of my usual sunday catch-up. First I should let you all know that me and Jon are now on a diet as of January the 1st! I want to get back down to my old size 10-12 rather than my current 12-14. The weight has inched on since our wedding 2.5years ago and we are both determined to lose some weight this year. So we are trying the alternate day diet that Dr Michael Mosley did a documentary on last year. It means you eat normally, whatever you want, for 5 days and cut your calories to only 500 on 2 days. So we have started a little blog to track our progress - Less Waist More Taste. You can check it out if your interested in seeing what we will be eating everyday! And how our weight loss is going.

So apart from dieting I have spent most of my week working. In the tourist board and on my online work. I've started a blog for that too - In Pursuit of an Online Income. I intend to do a little work online everyday in the hope of building myself a residual income and a few online clients I can work for, mainly to make my life a bit more flexible and give myself a little bit more freedom. I'm also working on getting my own online website for my work portfolio.

Ok so now I have gotten all the boring info out of the way, and updated you on my life, you can see it's all just been a lot of work for the last week or so. But on a better business note, today Jon and I are on a photo shoot job for a local band. Pictures will be up at some point in the week for you all to see.

Now finally a few pictures for you all - I was very lucky to receive an amazing parcel yesterday from Miki of Miki's Scrapbook.

How amazing is this tote bag! I am in love with it! Thank you lots Miki!

Links and Love - As I said I have just been writing lots this last week, so these are all writing related but there are a few fun posts I thought you might like to read.

1. Fancy Dress idea for an up coming party - Where's Wally Fancy Dress Costume

2. I'm getting a head start on the next holiday season - Valentines Day Foods and Valentines Day Crafts for Kids

3. I've been doing lots of slow cooker cooking again too

Garlic Chicken

Non-Spicy Chilli

4. You have to see this hilarious Twilight Video

5. I want this ring I found on Pintrest, it's so cute!

So that's me for this week! How have you been? Anyone been up to anything interesting? 

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Sunday Catchup - 9th December

Well I'm bringing you a pretty big bit of news about my life this week, after I told you a few weeks ago how we had to put down our little Alfie, I am now here to introduce the new little furbaby in our lives - Pasha (the name was not my idea!) an English Cocker Spaniel, who is quite possibly the most adorable thing ever. If you follow me on instagram or twitter you may have peeked a little picture of him already, if not here are a few to make you all go 'Awww!'

My Week on Instagram

 1. The Tardis landed in Cardiff Wales Millennium Centre

2+3. Baby Rhys came to visit

4. Got sent this beautiful, cozy scarf from Stitch-Mi-Lane - expect to see it in an upcoming outfit post!

 1. I bought this little jumper

2+3. Then wore it - a lot!

4. Also bought this little jumper too

 A catch-up wouldn't be right without some foodporn!

1. Steak and Ale casserole at Creme in Wales Millennium Centre

2. Boneless Banquet for One from KFC

3. Wagamama's Teriyaki Chicken, yum!

4. Carrot and Wallnut Muffin from the Green Room in the WMC

Cardiff actually had some beautiful weather recently, clear blue skies!

Links and Love

1. Got some more articles up on Hubpages. Lots of yummy recipes especially for the Crock Pot, find them all here, but here are a few pictures to make you hungry!

 Honey Sesame Chicken!

Teriyaki Chicken with noodles

2. If your still looking for great Christmas gifts check out the article I wrote on great home made gift ideas. Or if your after some decoration ideas check out my home made decorations and Christmas craft ideas for kids

3. My Christmas Article is out in The Bay Magazine - The Little ? Dress. Check out the full article on the site I promise there are some amazing party dresses on there!

  4. I've fallen in love with this necklace!

5. I bought myself one of these to craft with!! Very excited!!

Well that's almost all. Don't forget that today is the last day to enter my giveaway to win a super tasty Crabtree and Evelyn gift set, just check out the competition here for your chance to win.

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 - 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

Sunday Catch-up - 19th August

Having a little trouble with my whole work, life, writing, blogging balance at the moment so I'm very sorry for the lack of blog updates. I'm not gonna force them, just try to post when I have time. I'm sure I'll manage to get into a better balance soon and come back to blogging more frequently. 

But for now here is a sunday catch-up of the last 2/3 weeks of my life.

Food!!!
1. Dinner at Strada
2. Dinner in the Green Room at work
3. Frittata!
 4. Pie and mash

 1. Cake for mum's B'day - I cant claim to have made it
2. Jon enjoying his dinner in TGI Fridays
3. My dinner in TGI Fridays
4. Dinner in Juno Lounge

 I found Swap-Bot! It's dangerous!
1. Stuff I sent out last week
2. My delivery of pretty stuff from Johnny loves Rosie
3. Post from Alex Keller!
4. my first Swap-bot postcard

1. I won a bottle of Stoli on Twitter! hehe!

2. I did some fun shopping at Paperchase 

3&4. I started making ATC cards!

 Books, books and more books.
1. Finished Crossed by Ally Condie (and Room although I didn't take a picture)
2. Finished The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith
3. Started Snake Ropes by Jess Richards
4. All the other books I have from the library! Quite an epic pile!

We took a walk up the beacons for Jon to take some photos, these were my little phone pics. It was lovely until it rained! lol!

Links and Love

1. Been writing lots of Hubpages articles

2. Really wanting some of these animal book broaches from Etsy

3. Check out one of Jon's pictures from our Breacon trip

4. I've also taken up Smashbooking!

5. Oh and did I mention Swap-Bot my new addiction