Here Is The News #42 (#BEDM Day 6)

Blogland Brilliance

Shazza visited Skipton Waterway Festival (and I'm just a little bit jealous of her jammie dodger milkshake drink - at least I think it's a milkshake!)

Kerri's take on last month's photo an hour challenge is well, typically Kerri - very clever and very funny.

Zoe showed everyone how to make a quick and simple bird feeder.

I love Elise's sheep hat - I reckon Shaun would be chuffed to be immortalised that way!

Chloe visited York's Chocolate Story and got the chance to make her own chocolate lollies (plus her hot chocolate looks delicious!)

And possibly the best post of the week, Danielle's shots of Jemima Puddleduck and her brood - I mean, who can resist stunning shots of fluffy little ducklings?



Interesting Info

A very British story methinks - one man has morris-danced his way from London to Norwich, recreating a journey undertaken by Shakespeare's clown in 1600.

This circus couple had their marriage ceremony on high wires 80ft in the air above Wookey Hole Gorge. There's a short video of the ceremony which you should watch - it's lovely!

 

What's new with you?

(This post is day 6 of Rosalilium's Blog Every Day in May challenge - after sticking to the topics for the last couple of years, this year I'm going off piste)

Here Is The News #41

Blogland Brilliance

Emma managed to nab some Shauns in London - I'm counting down the days til they arrive in Bristol! (6th July if you're interested)

Rachael has the most beautiful magnolia tree in her front garden - she's a lucky lady!

If you want a challenge, head over to Elizabeth's blog to take part in her annual challenge - Blog Every Day in May (#BEDM). I took part in 2013 and 2014 and it's probably madness, but I've signed up for this year as well.

Danielle has some excellent advice about how to photograph your pet with Baker being a very obliging model in the shots.

Sarah popped over to Sidmouth in the sunshine and spotted a jellyfish - but more importantly, how gorgeous are her sandals?

Need some blogging inspiration? Jasmin has 30 ideas to get those creative juices flowing.

I'm sure we can all relate to Michelle's summary of how to write a blog post!

While Sarah's on maternity leave, Elise has guest posted and written all about the benefits of being crafty - all of them true!

And probably the most exciting blogging news of the week - go meet Spartacus Rooftops!



Food Porn

Lou's Sunday morning baked egg and potato hash looks delicious and easy to make.

And Clare made some very tasty-looking BBQ pulled pork and then turned the leftovers into cottage pie - genius!



Interesting Info

Standard Issue have it spot on with their article about IVF and the dignity Olympics - both hilarious and sadly, oh so true.



Blogs I've followed this week...

The Eagle and Other Things (thanks to Sunshine and Celandines)

 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #40

Bit of an epic round-up this time (due to missing a couple of weeks and all of you lot writing such fabulous posts!)



Blogland Brilliance

Sarah's put together an excellent list of ways to spend less on your food shop - all good common sense advice.

Kezzie's list of novelty clutch bag ideas is pure brilliance - I'd buy the lifebuoy one for sure!

Susie and her other half have bought a new home - very exciting!

Michelle managed to make the process of breaking in a new pair of pyjamas very funny indeed.

Sophie's list of free ways to get more exercise potentially could save you a lot of money - I've been giving the Blogilates videos a go recently and strangely, I'm quite enjoying them so far.

Chelsea's recipe book looks rather magical - if I was her supervisor at uni, I'd give her a First for sure.

I love learning new ideas and skills so Louise's post about the many ways to keep learning is a really interesting read.

Sophie's started a campaign to get us all to actually make use of our lunch times and not just eat al-desko each day. Join in using the hashtag #yourhour and let her know what you've got up to.

Kerri visited the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands to see all the tulips - somewhere I really want to visit at some point as before she passed away in 2009, it was one of my grandmother's favourite places and she used to go over every few years to see it.

Alexandra's post about body issues and body confidence will have you punching the air in happy agreement.

And Lucy had what looks like the most wonderful wedding in Cornwall - you can see the big day in her videos, here and here.



Food Porn

Sarah's White Chocolate Tiffin and The High Tea Cast's Salted Caramel Chocolate Torte both look mouth-wateringly delicious.

And Katy's Chorizo Chachouka looks like the perfect after work meal - quick, easy and tasty!



Doggy Delights

Pete and Betty were very lucky pups over Easter as their human, Michelle bought them a Barks and Bunnies gift box!

And great minds think alike as Danielle also bought Baker a box - watch the video, he's certainly one excited woofy!

Rusty adopted a gorgeous rescue mutt called Rolo.

And if you do have a four legged friend, Emma is running a Pooch Package gift swap for all those lucky hounds.



Creative Craftiness

How gorgeous is Char's sailor girl dress? (and made out of Asda bedding no less!)

Kezzie made this fab card for a friend using a deer template and an old map - so simple yet so effective!

I love, love, love this handbag storage idea from H & Sammy - a brilliant way to show off what you've got.

Jen's taking part in the 100 Days of Making Project (which sounds loads of fun, I just don't have the time at the mo myself) and if you do have the time, she's even compiled a list of 100 ideas to start you off.

While Sarah's awaiting the arrival of her little one, Janet wrote an excellent guest post about how to get more real mail through your letterbox and if you want to put those ideas into place right away, head over to Jess' blog, Dear Wildflower to join her newly formed Letter Writing Club.



General Election Goodness

Everyone's on the voting bandwagon at the moment (with good reason of course) - Standard Issue, Jenny from Sunny Sweet Pea, The High Tea Cast, Jennie from Sailboat, Anna from Angel in the North and Alexandra from Those Words She Wrote all wrote about the importance of voting.

Alice also gave an interesting insight into voting rights around the world and throughout history.

And Lizzie is collaborating with UpRising as an ambassador for the My Vote, My Voice campaign with excellent posts about registering (although the deadline was Monday so if you haven't done it, you've missed out!) and why you should vote.



Blogs I've followed over the last three weeks...

Charity Shop Chic (thanks to Can't Swing a Cat)

Zusterschap

 

What's new with you? Found anything interesting over the last few weeks? Tell me all!

Here Is The News #39

Blogland Brilliance

Lots of creativity this week as Rachael stitched herself and her other half into a frame; Laura handmade an Aztec print cami top and Amy finished an actual pair of knitted socks plus is getting on swimmingly with her sky blanket.

Over on Kerri's blog you can meet the new man in her life, Sir Pork Chop.

I'm clearly a bit behind the times as I don't know who Leslie Knope is but I certainly do recognise Harrie's list of annoying clothes problems!

Char is running a Blogger Book Swap if you fancy joining in.

How gorgeous does Kezzie look in her cupcakes dress? Pretty amazing I think.

And Becky summed up perfectly why you should go and make your mark on the 7th May (and seriously, please please do go and vote, even if it's just to go and draw a picture or write rude words on your ballot paper (or even submit a blank one) - all of which still counts as a vote in the government's eyes. If you don't go and vote, as far as the Election is concerned, you've just agreed with whoever gets in - which may or may not be a good thing depending on who wins! You can check out all the different policies over at the excellent Vote for Policies site and take their survey to see who you should vote for. Anyway, lecture over).



Food Porn

Jo's Banoffee Loaf Cake looks pretty tasty (and fairly straightforward).

And Miss Pond's Vanilla and Chocolate Cheesecake recipe looks like a winner for Easter Sunday!



Interesting Info

This thank you letter from a passenger to a pilot is just lovely.

And I take it you all know about Google Maps Pacman? No? Just head on over to Google Maps, search for anywhere you like (ideally somewhere with lots of streets), click on the Pacman box in the bottom left hand corner and then be prepared to waste several hours of your life :-) (from what I can tell on t'internet, it may have been launched for April Fool's Day but it actually does exist and looks like Google will be keeping it active for the foreseeable future!)



Blogs I've followed this week...

Starsinherbelly

Ruby Ruby Slippers

Cocktails and Daydreams (thanks to a post from Elise)

 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #38

Blogland Brilliance

The showbird and the magician's relationship seems to be going from strength to strength (and well done to them I say!).

 

Lauren is coming to the end of her first year at uni. I started uni back in 2001 but I recognised an awful lot on this list of things she has learnt in year 1 - it seems things haven't changed much in 14 years!

 

The third instalment in Annie's Icelandic adventure sees her do the famous Golden Circle tour.

 

If I ever visit Belgium, I'll be using Kerri's list of things in a Belgian town in a sort of tick-box ‘I Spy book' way.

 

Holly's got some good ideas for bloggers all about creating original content.

 

Janet perfectly exemplified the rose-tinted gloss that the majority of us put on our blogs and social media, reminding us all that it's not like that all the time.

 

And Anna's post about mental health is spot on, talking is most definitely good!

 

Food and DIY Porn

Amy knitted a fabulous Doctor Who scarf for her other half (even if she did feel like throwing it out the window a few times)

 

Toni's fabric shelves look pretty darn cool (and deceptively simple to make).

 

Sarah's pulled pork pasta recipe looks delicious!

 

And just look at Sophie's crème egg rocky road! I’ve tried making those clichéd crème egg brownies but can never get them looking right so I reckon this would do nicely instead!

 

Interesting Info

I loved Garbage as a teenager so Standard Issue's nostalgia-filled Shirley Manson fest brought it all back.

 

Emma Cossey from The High Tea Cast (and the Freelance Lifestyle) wrote all about how to be a dick on Twitter (and {whispers} I think I may be guilty of one or two of them, oops).

 

And fair play to this lady from Turkey, finishing off her degree 64 years after she started!

Blogs I've followed this week...

Purse Full of Pennies

 

Chloe Likes to Talk

 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #37

Blogland Brilliance

El's rant about restaurants serving food on trays, slabs and other silly items is spot on.

How pretty does Samantha look in her beautiful bridesmaid's dress?

Anna created an excellent set of painted talons for Red Nose Day last week - she has far more patience than me!

Eleanor's ideal world would be such a lovely idea (especially the three day weekend).

Sophie's list of things life's too short to do (or not do) is brilliant. I love the one about not saving things for best - something I'm guilty of far too often.

If I ever go on holiday to Detroit, I'm using Rachael as a reference guide on what to do and where to go.

Sarah's post about making your own luck is all common sense, but also all things we often forget to do.

Anna's Chocolate Cookie Dough Truffles look delicious and very easy to make.

Elise's mum made her possibly the coolest knitted hat ever - it's Shaun the Sheep!

Anyone who references the fabulous show that is My Mad Fat Diary and manages to write a brilliantly helpful post gets a high five from me.

And Annie went to Iceland on holiday and took lots of pictures (here and here) - making me yearn to go back and visit!


Exciting Events

Photo an Hour this Saturday! Just take a pic on the hour every hour and either post them on Instagram and/or Twitter or save them up for a later blog post. The hashtag is a simple and easy #photoanhour and I'll be uploading mine to Instagram.


Interesting Info

Neighbours is 30 years old and Standard Issue shares one woman's journey through Ramsay Street.

The BBC looked at the dreams and drawings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

An excellent list of hints and tips for using PicMonkey.

And an egg mayo sandwich delayed a unicyclist's 18,000 mile charity world tour - only in Somerset!

 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #36

Blogland Brilliance

How cute is this 1950's style DIY dachshund doorstop?

Erin put together 40 brilliant book-inspired crafty ideas for World Book Day.

And to celebrate the day itself, Kezzie became a musketeer! (the Dogtanian theme tune now needs to be running through your head on repeat)

 

I love this post by Cecila about the bitchy resting face, it really struck a chord. Andrew's most common question to me is "what's the matter now?" when it's usually absolutely nothing, just that apparently I look like something's wrong.

 

Siobhan's snippets of married life post is just brilliant and oh so true as well.

 

Kerri's passive aggressive rage is fabulously funny and very accurate (as always) plus her shots of the Botanical Gardens are pretty great too.

 

And Michelle has a rather snazzy new haircut!

Food Porn

Harriet's chocolate and raspberry brownies look delicious.

 

And if you're of the canine persuasion, Sarah's doggy birthday cake would be perfect.

 

Interesting Info

I do like this article by Standard Issue about grammar, some very sensible points and I bet you'll laugh at the Cameron Diaz bit.

Royal Mail's new stamps celebrate some of Britain's most beautiful bridges.

 

Free organisational planners anyone?

 

Dog Love

Sarah's pooch, Dixie celebrated his second birthday.

Anna shared how Pepper is getting on after 5 months.

 

Michelle mused about her love for her four legged friends.

And happy days, Dudley is back!

 

 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #35

 

Blogland Brilliance

Sophie's come up with a lovely list of ideas to make someone else's day (I particularly wish I'd done more of number 3).

Siobhan took part in a behind the scenes day at Oxfam Online, somewhere I've bought several things from before (my wedding dress was even from an Oxfam Bridal Boutique).

Zoe wrote a fascinating alternative London bucket list - the Rivoli Ballroom looks amazing!

And Jasmin Charlotte did one of the things from Zoe's list - the Aldwych tube station tour.

Charlotte discussed the changing atmosphere of charity shops with some interesting and very accurate observations.

Janet's picture shelf is really pretty (and she clearly has good taste as we have the same bed as them!)

Sarah's 5 things you need to do before you're 30 is an excellent list and all very good common sense.

Kerri visited a China Light Festival in Antwerp Zoo which (if you take out the wee incident) is both beautiful yet also strangely bizarre.

And Jen launched a new Make Do and Mend-able directory which you can visit over here and then spend several hours browsing through all the resources and archives.



Food Porn

Michelle's (or rather, Mr Michelle's) popeye breakfast.

Sophie's Chocolate Honeycomb Muffins - they use Crunchies!


 

Interesting Info

10 things you can do with the Twitter search box - I only knew a couple of these but I can imagine how they'd all be useful.


 

Blogs I've followed this week...

 

The Cornish Life

Savvy Annie (thanks to Can't Swing A Cat)

And thanks to Tartanmouth:

Dear Baker

Hepburn's Pixie Crop

Holly in your Pocket


 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #34

 

Blogland Brilliance

Janet's done her own excellent version of '10 things I'm already good at' - I particularly like 2, 3 and 9.

Danielle's shots of her pooch, Baker are stunning - he is one gorgeous woof!

Kezzie's explained all about the chazzer-crawl (which should definitely be an actual phrase) and shared some of the excellent bits and pieces she picked up along the way.

It's Betty's time of the month over on Michelle's blog and as always, she manages to create a proper laugh-out-loud tale from what must have actually been a very frustrating time!

Sarah's post about how smugness and happiness are not the same thing is well worth a read (listen to her, she speaks the truth) and her post about how to involve the other parent during pregnancy is brilliantly written with lots of excellent tips (and I hope one day, I'll be able to make use of them).

I do like this DIY jewellery hanger which Emma created, although I think I'd need to make a few of them for my necklace collection.

Jen discovered a very old sketchbook belonging to her great uncle, prompting her to delve deeper into doing a spot of family history research.

Rachael wrote all about the things you shouldn't assume your blog followers do, excellent advice and certainly the first item on her list (about Bloglovin) annoys me too!

I could do with Becky's advice about how to write an excellent book review as for someone who's training to be a librarian, I really am pants at writing good reviews.

After Jen's post about her time in New York, we all need to start a campaign to get 'photomentary' into the dictionary!

How cute is Elise's Cornish dormouse tea cosy?

Kerri's take on a 'favourites' post is simply brilliant, it's very Kerri and I was certainly nodding along to all the questions about how to do one.

And if you'd like a crafty Instagram challenge, Kate is running a #makeitmarch one. Lots of prompts and a chance to showcase your craftiness!

 

Interesting Info

Nice to see that librarian is one of the most desirable jobs in the UK!

An interesting take on disability over on the BBC the other day, telling the story of a woman bringing up her children (one with Down's, one without) without the non-Down's child knowing the other is any different. You don't really think about it but of course, it does make sense as children just see the other person and nothing else.



Food Porn

Cecilia's Coffee and Banana Cake looks delicious - I'm not a fan of coffee the drink but strangely I do like coffee the flavour.

Gwen's Hot Chocolate recipe includes cayenne pepper which I've never actually thought about including before.

Clare's Mars Bar Brownies are just oozing chocolate in her pics!

And after reading Kerri's attempt at Apricot Chicken, I'm quite intrigued to try it myself!
 

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

 

Violet Post

Hello Deborah

By Catstello

Into Mind

Oh! Hello

Hannah Sundae

 

What's new with you?
 

Here Is The News #33

 

Blogland Brilliance (far too many fabulous posts this week, you lot all need to stop writing such good stuff!)

Is Sarah having a boy or a girl? Only time will tell but in the meantime, it seems like there's lots of different methods for having a jolly good go!

Jane's hosting an excellent giveaway with a chance to win tickets to the Knitting and Stitching show in London next month.

One quick way to make yourself feel better is to read The High Tea Cast's list of things which prove you're winning at life, a list guaranteed to make you feel good about yourself.

I love the sound of Elise's Aqua Spinning class (and at the magnificent Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh!), I hope they start doing them somewhere down south so I can give that a go in the future.

Toni's opened her very own shop on Etsy with lots of incredibly cute designs in stock.

How gorgeous does Angela look with her new hairstyle? Bea-uti-ful!

Danielle's photos from her day in the life post are brilliant (Danielle, you'll have to join in with photo an hour one month!)

More stunning photos can be found over on Kerri's post all about the local botanical gardens in Autumn - the colours are gorgeous!

Emma had a lovely sunny day out on the beach at Bridlington (and how big is that piece of fish?)

I love this cloud cushion Janet made for her #DIcraft swap. It's a shame it has to be sent away but I have no doubt her swap partner will absolutely love it.

Emma-Hope's written an excellent post all about organ donation, something which I signed up for last year.

Kezzie went to a swing dance weekend (and looks pretty darn cool in her flapper dress!) but also managed to find time to write an incredibly useful post about things to think about when you feel disheartened about blogging.

Chloe's post written by her other half, Simon is brilliant. He's perfectly captured what it's like living with a blogger, I showed it to Andrew and he found himself nodding along with pretty much every word.

Michelle had a little birthday last week (happy birthday lady!) and shared 31 little life lessons. She also had a little makeover (well, the blog did anyway, a gorgeous gal like Michelle doesn't need one) and spruced things up a bit.

And Sophie's been a bit awol recently but when you realise why, you can't help but laugh! She also managed to bag herself a promotion during her break - well done lady!

 

Food Porn

Hannah's Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake Brownies look delicious (anything with cheesecake and chocolate is a winner really).

Elizabeth's Gran's Super Simple Treacle Sponge looks tasty and dead easy to make.

And Josie is celebrating National Chip Week, which sounds like one celebratory week I could definitely get behind.


 

Exciting Events

It's February's photo an hour challenge this Saturday. I'll be posting on Instagram all day long and I know Jane will be too. Last month there were 15 lovely ladies snapping away on the Saturday or the Sunday and it'd be fab to get to over 20 people joining in by the end of the year. If you've never done one before, just take a pic every hour and it really doesn't matter how dull you think you day is, it certainly won't be boring to us bunch of nosy parkers. See you on Saturday? ;-)

 

Interesting Info

Fair play to South West Trains last weekend - they gave their passengers a romantic send-off!

Game theory is something our students get taught where I work but I wouldn't have been able to tell you much about it so this article from the BBC was quite interesting to read. A little bit of probability, a little bit of strategy and a little bit of haggling methinks.

And great minds think alike with this one - Danielle also spotted this excellent story about the first model with Down's Syndrome to grace the stage at New York Fashion Week.
 

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

The Wardrobe Angel
 

What's new with you?

Here Is The News #32

 

Blogland Brilliance (lots of it this week!)

Both Jane and Amy wrote about their love for libraries to celebrate National Libraries Day last Saturday.

If you'd like a quick and easy Valentine's craft, Freya May has put together a DIY banner tutorial.

Danielle's first ever competition ended last week with some excellent entries and one very worthy winner - it's definitely worth checking out how inventive the pictures were!

This post by Siobhan about rootlessness, accents and your home is really interesting - where do you feel as if you're from?

For an early taste of summer (and even an ice cream!) pop over to Emma's blog so see St Ives in glorious sunshine.

Sarah's put together an excellent list of tips and advice for anyone moving home, in fact all the ideas I would've suggested are already there!

This list of modern remakes for musicals from The High Tea Cast is excellent - I particularly like Oliver, Rent and Moulin Rouge.

If you want even more fab links, check out Elise's post rounding up the best of blogland in January.

How crafty is Kezzie? She put together a brilliant package of handmade goodies for her swap partner, Janet.

And Char is holding a cheap and cheerful #spreadtheloveswap - sign up by Saturday 14th to send and receive a little package filled with love.

 

 

Interesting Info

The BBC looked at the changing face of passport photos over the last 100 years.

Ever wondered how video and DVD rental stores keep going? (our local one seems to survive on penny sweets and courier collections)

This incredibly sweet teen with Down's Syndrome has become an internet sensation after recording a cover of the John Legend song, 'All of Me'.



Things to make you hungry...

Just look at Jo's chocolate chip banana bread!

Hannah made some cute cola cupcakes.

And Debs made chicken and potato soup with bacon for a date night challenge!

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

Sophie Cliff

Charity Shop Gold

Can't Swing a Cat

Everyday 30 (thanks to Using My Loaf)

Now That's Pretty (thanks to Oh! Leona)

Meg Siobhan (thanks to Underland to Wonderland)

 

What's new with you?
 

Here Is The News #31

 

Blogland Brilliance

Sarah's list of big fun things to do this year is just lovely - I think she's going to have a simply spiffing year (which I hope she'll tell us all about as and when she gets time).

Rachael and her other half visited the Great Train Show, full of model railways and trains. I showed this post to Andrew as he's got grand plans for a model railway in our house at some point.

Foodie posts this week come from Sophie who made her own (delicious-looking) Angel Cake slices and from Hannah who made these very nostalgic Parma Violet Cupcakes.

And you have to go and read Michelle's day out in London - she is just brilliant (and possibly a tad crazy to go with it).


 

Exciting Events

Saturday sees National Libraries Day with lots of events going on across the UK. You can even pop down to your local and share your library #shelfie with them on Twitter!

 

Interesting Info

This article about the UK's gas holders is quite interesting seeing as most of the are being pulled down. They were definitely a feature of my childhood, I remember seeing them in almost every big city we drove through and I'm glad to see there's a few that have been listed.

Something I stumbled upon this week was English Heritage's National Monuments Record site, specifically the Heritage Explorer bit. It's designed as a school resource for teachers but if you click the 'images by theme' section you can spend hours browsing all sorts of vintage photographs, completely with the history of each picture.

The BBC took a look at the railway lines in the UK living their life on the edge.

Pre-Google, if you wanted to find something out you nipped down your local library and asked your friendly librarian. New York Public Library kept a record of some of the more 'unusual' questions they were asked over the years...

And you can now play Ken Bruce's Popmaster quiz on t'internet - yay!

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

The What Now Blog

Make, Do and Spend

Jenny Purr

Tiny Grey Cat

Whisky and Woodsmoke (thanks to Fluffy Owl's Adventures)

And thanks to Elise's cracking round up this week...

Postcard Daydreams

The Perfect Hiding Place

Cecilia in the Rain

A Bit of an Enthusiast (which actually has a slightly longer title but you'll just have to pop over to see what that is!)
 

What's new with you?
 

Here Is The News #30

 

Blogland Brilliance

One I forgot to include last week, Sarah's been putting together these awesome photobooks for the last few years. I love this idea and it's something I'm fully intending on pilfering and doing myself.

If you're in or around the Cardiff area on 7th Feb, join Gemma and hundreds of other people for a mass 'read in' protest to try and save Cardiff's library service. If you're not in the area, visit your own local library anyway as 7th Feb happens to be National Libraries Day.

Annie had a brilliantly sunny weekend in Dorset (and I love the sound of the Hive Beach Café!)

Lou visited Edinburgh Zoo, somewhere I haven't been for almost 20 years but I'm dragging Andrew there this August for a trip to see the penguins and pandas.

How gorgeous is this picture of Michelle? (and despite what she says, I've met her and she is cool and sophisticated)

Leona wrote a very honest post all about her first smear test experience - something very important that all us ladies should make sure we have.

You can sign up for a free beginners online course in crochet with Kate - I have 'learn to crochet' on my 33 before 33 list so I'm doing this for sure.

And Danielle is hosting what must be the best giveaway ever - mainly because of how you have to enter! It'll certainly make you put your thinking caps on, I haven't done my entry yet as I'm still choosing what to do.


 

Food Porn

For a taste of summer how about Izzy's Strawberry, Lemon and Blood Orange Pancakes?

For snackage, try Rosie's Dark Chocolate-dipped Lemon Shortbread and Clare's Key Lime Meringue Brownies - both look delicious!

And three dinners I want to try - Gemma's Smoked Paprika and Red Onion Chicken, Debs' Creamy Chicken Pasta and Kerri's Hungarian Style Chicken (I didn't actually realise until I wrote this post that they're all chicken based!)

 

Interesting Info

The National Fish and Chip awards were announced the other day and here's a list of the winners (plus some battered fish porn). I'm off now to organise my holiday to the Shetland Isles...

This handy flowchart will tell you if you need to and also how to credit photos accurately.

The BBC looked at the Kodak Brownie camera and shared some vintage snaps that readers had sent in.

James Wallman's book, Stuffocation is on my 'to read' list so it was interesting to see him interviewed all about the hazards of having too much stuff.

How smart do you think you are? Here's 20 jokes that apparently only "very smart people" will get.
 

Blogs I've followed this week...

The Lost Girl's Playbook

Uncia and Tigris

And thanks to Elise's excellent blog round-ups:

Paperbagblog

Girl with a Duck Jumper

Bless the Weather
 

What's new with you?
 

Here Is The News #29

 

Blogland Brilliance

Beccy's put together two excellent posts in the form of lists - more things it's acceptable to do and the thoughts we all have whilst reading Facebook (or Faceache as it's more accurately described).

Rachel has some excellent tips for living with someone and I'd completely agree with her that it's all about compromise in the end.

Do you need a wardrobe declutter? SJ has five easy tips to help you on your way.

Jane wrote a letter to the brilliant author (and distant relative of mine - but that's another story), Shirley Hughes and actually received a proper reply back!

Food porn this week includes Michelle's Blackberry and Apple Crumble (a proper winter warmer if ever I saw one) and Laura's Toblerone Shortbread Cookies (I'm working on the other half to give me his bar so I can make them, so far though he's not playing ball).

Jenny knitted these adorable owl hats and she's even included her pattern (I keep wanting to say recipe for some inexplicable reason) so we can all have a go. Once I get to a wool shop, I'm making this my next project.

And finally, look at Chelsea's book proposal! Isn't it fabulous? She's going to ace her degree, I'm sure of it.


 

Exciting Events

The world's first ever National Readathon Day is taking place this Saturday with the hashtag #timetoread - basically just do what it says on the tin and curl up with a good book this weekend!
 

 

Interesting Info

One TV series I'd thoroughly recommend is Hinterland, a sort of crime noir set in and around Aberystwyth. The characters slip easily between English and Welsh (with English subtitles) and the storylines are pretty dramatic. The first series was shown buried late at night on BBC4 last year but they're repeating it from this Saturday on BBC2 Wales (which apparently you can get in the rest of the UK on Sky or Freesat channel 971. If you're like me and only have Freeview, there's always trusty old iPlayer). I do like Aberystwyth so I'm kind of biased but even so, it's definitely worth watching.

We visited Churchill's War Rooms just before Christmas so these old pictures are really interesting.

You've probably all seen (or heard about) the 'This Girl Can' campaign by now. I've spotted quite a few differing viewpoints - Siobhan loves it, Miss Smidge isn't quite so keen and some academics at my workplace have put together a rather controversial take on it. I can't make my mind up; on the one hand I think the general aim of it is fab; on the other hand there's lots of things they haven't really addressed in the advert (the age range of ladies featured, the negative connotations of the wording, far too much reliance on paid-for exercise (instead of being more active within everyday life), and the fact that it doesn't tell you how to overcome that fear of being judged). Personally it doesn't motivate me to get out there (yes, it may be okay to jiggle and sweat like a pig but it doesn't mean I want to) but if it encourages some people, then that's great.

If you're struggling to come up with blog post titles this title generator might give you some ideas (or just leave you wondering what on earth some of them are supposed to mean).

I'm not a huge fan of Hugh Grant but fair play to him for volunteering his time and working alongside a theatre company for people with learning disabilities.

And thanks to Rachael and Michelle, most of my office managed to waste 15 minutes of work time all working out what our penguin names would be - mine's Honkers von Peckington :-)

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

Beak Up Crafts

Suzie 81 Speaks

Those Words She Wrote

Fall For DIY

 

What's your penguin name? :-)
 

Here Is The News #28

 

 

Blogland Brilliance

Congratulations to Jenny and her boy who popped the question the other weekend - lovely news!

I guarantee you'll be left with a huge smile after reading all about the adventures of Tonaaay the Magical Dressage Ponaaay (don't ask, just click over and take a gander). Plus it's Sophie's birthday tomorrow so if you fancy popping over to Twitter and wishing her a grand old day, I'm sure she'll be very happy!

Elise looks very swish in her new frock, one that's not just any old frock but one she's adapted to look even better than before (she has far more patience than me!)

This post about abortion by Janet is beautifully written and on a very important subject. Although it's not something which has ever affected me, I completely agree that (along with infertility and miscarriage) abortion is something we should never stigmatise another woman for.
 

 

 

Exciting Events

I'm late to the party with this one but over the winter the Eden Project hold a series of weekends where locals and people working in certain professions can get in for free. This weekend for example it's Cornish and Devonian teachers and teaching assistants, Plymouth City Council staff, Cornish and Devonian youth groups and volunteers and St Austell Brewery staff. I clearly don't fit into any of the groups listed (although I have family who do) but even so, what a fabulous idea!

Saturday is the very first photo an hour challenge for 2015. I'll be uploading my photos to Instagram all day using the hashtag #photoanhour, I know Jane will be joining in and hopefully lots of other people will too. If you've ever wanted to take part, why not give it a go this month? It really doesn't matter how boring you think you day is (I've taken pictures of paint before), it's usually interesting to other people and if nothing else, it'll give you content for a blog post next week. :-)


 

Interesting Info

 

I spotted this earlier in the week - a very useful social media image size cheat sheet for 2015 (bit of a mouthful of a title though).

 

Architecture, railways and history in this article about England's forgotten railway stations - all of which are right up our street.

 

How's this for a cool job? Doing the annual animal stocktake at Chester Zoo!

 

And it's been all over t'interweb already but a huge well done definitely needs to go to James Timpson for providing free dry cleaning to jobseekers.

 

 

 

Winter Warmer Food

 

Sophie's Brummie Bacon Cakes look delicious!

 

In Elizabeth's Sweet Potato Hash, we have potatoes, sausages and eggs - always a winning combination in our house.

 

And Sarah has plenty of advice on how to lighten up recipes without losing the flavour.

 

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

Tea, Cake and Make

The Small Desk

The Foodie Historian

 

What's new with you?
 

Here Is The News #27

 

 

Blogland Brilliance

I love Edinburgh so looking through Danielle's pictures really made me smile (and long for August to roll around when we're back up there).

Hands up if you know who Julian, Anne, Dick, George and Timmy the Dog are? Michelle and her pups joined the gang down on the Devon beaches.

Cat's post about the humble brag is excellent, reminding us that the amazing Instagram/Twitter/Blog life portrayed online by other people usually isn't quite so amazing in real life.

If you're looking for more ways to get creative in 2015, Cassy has 100 of them for you.

El over at A Thrifty Mrs has rounded up some of the best free printable calendars for 2015.

And Hazel had one of the best Christmas presents ever!
 

 

Interesting Info

I've been toying with the idea of buying no new clothes this year (by new, I mean high street, secondhand would still be okay). I seem to have rather a large amount of everything and even though most of my stuff is from charity shops anyway, it would be far better to use it all (or pass it to someone else) than just keep buying new things. George at Asda and Joe Browns are my downfall but so far, it's 7 days into January and I've resisted all the sale emails. Donna from Polkadot Pink is doing exactly that for 100 days - a High Street Ban - and I reckon I'd like to join her. I also love what Hazel did, analysing her clothes spending for 2014 and it really makes you think how much you've spent on things you haven't worn much or even at all. If you'd like to go the whole hog (a bit like Char is doing) and buy nothing new at all for a whole year, Jen's got a whole host of tips to help you on your way.

And you've all probably heard about Kai by now, but if you haven't click over to the Beeb to read all about the real life Paddington Bear (except he's a dog).



Delicious Food

For a winter warmer supper, how about Emma's Slow Cooked Beef Tagine and Cauli Mash?

This homemade hot chocolate from Annatha looks perfect for the January evenings!

 

Blogs I've followed this week...

Bethan Likes

Tartanmouth
 

What's new with you?