What, no Meal Planning?

This week's we are on holiday to Lanzarote and eating all inclusive... there may not be enough space to contain all we eat in a blog post.

Hope you're all having a great day and if you want to link up with Mrs M just click the image above and see what's on everyone's plates.

*schedule post

Smitten {Matcha Style}

Can I just say... we're going on our haw-lee-days tomorrow morning! Just a little excited! OK, now I've got that out my system.. I'm linking up with Glasgow Mummy for Smitten Saturday, pop on over and join in!

The lovely people at teapigs sent me some Matcha Tea to sample for their #MatchaMay. When it arrived it looked very much not like tea... it was a green powder!  But an information booklet and note were provided and it explained the process for producing it AND the health benefits so I was looking forward to trying it!

There's lots of ways to serve your Matcha Tea but I opted for simply adding hot water and whisking until smooth. It was a dark green in colour and had a much stronger smell than normal green tea but it was really nice!! I don't think it's the type of tea were after a hard days work you'd rush home and make a cup to relax...I think for me it's more of drinking a cup with a main meal or early morning knowing the health benefits.

teapigs Match Tea

I am a huge fan of teapigs and I love their green tea with mint. I am considering buying some Matcha Tea as I imagine it will help me focus as I have such a busy lifestyle. It is quite expensive but when you break it down per cup it's not so bad. You can even add the powder to baking / cooking!! Take a look at the links and see how amazing this tea sounds! I still have some of my sample left, which I'll keep to kick off my healthy eating once I return from my {all inclusive} holiday in the sun {have I mentioned that yet?}

So there you have it.... I'm Smitten with teapigs, such a cool brand! If you pop over to www.teapigs.co.uk and use the code BLOGGERS12 you can get 15% off, you can also sign up for their newsletter!

Don't forget to check out Glasgow Mummy page and link up and tell us what you're Smitten with.

Out {of office}

It's been such a busy week at work and at home and I am ever so pleased it's Friday... double pleased that I could turn on my Out of Office at work...

Monday started off at 5.30am when the littlest's black out blind slipped off the window {I'm not moaning in the slightest about the beautiful sunlight that was streaming in}... so that was a long day.

Tuesday I had a Quarterly Property Management in Edinburgh which had taken a whole lot of preparation but we picked up some Krispy Kreme on the way and arrived to bacon rolls for breakfast and pizza at lunch time... turned out a good meeting after all.  Another long day after travelling back and forth to Glasgow then to Edinburgh then back to Glasgow then picking up my girls then back home {I stay somewhere between Glasgow and Edinburgh}

Wednesday after work this happened... some lovely sunshine!

The girl loves to chalk

...and bubbles

...and smiles

Thursday was the start of the interview process for recruiting an assistant for me, does anyone enjoy interviews or interviewing? Previously I would have answered No to that but it really was a good day. We've chosen our short listed candidates and the one to one interviews will take place early May.  Really looking forward to the successful person starting!

Today... that last day of work before annual leave when you have so much to do and you have meetings most of the day. That resulted in me not leaving my desk until near 6pm but my out of office is active and we've now packed our suitcases... Yes we're off on holiday on Sunday morning, just a short 5 day break in the sun... ah... and relax!

I'm hoping to schedule some posts for during the week, if I have time. I always go internet free when on holiday abroad... so that it really is a holiday.  

So, until I return have a lovely week!

A x

{late} Meal Planning

It must be bed time right?

What a busy day.  We were woken up at 5.30am with the littlest thinking it was wake up time... the black out blind had slipped off the window! Someone (who I am married too) hadn't secured it properly.... so when the sun came up baby woke!  She came into our bed and I expected her to drop off back to sleep but no... she did lay down and play with teddies for about an hour but I obviously was also awake from the crack of dawn.  The rest of the day is a blur, a morning shift at work, rush home to make lunch, write shopping list then back out to pick up middle child, rush to shops and back home to make dinner... I've not long sat down and my eyes are heavy!

My meal plan for this week is total rubbish but in my defence we are using up (or trying to) what's in the fridge / freezer as we go on holiday next week... so here it is:

Monday: homemade herb wedges and chilli and pasta bake (chicken and fries for fussy boy child)

Tuesday: stew, sausage and veg casserole with mashed turip

Wednesday: still to decide

Thursday: spaghetti meatballs (for Hubber, Baby and I), BLT baguettes (for older kiddos)

Friday: chicken and fries (middle child), fish and chips (fussy boy child), pizza pasta (for Hubber, Baby and I)

Saturday: something with chicken in slow cooker

Sunday: HOLIDAY (big kiddos home alone, I can imagine their menu next week will be trying out each take away place)

Don't forget to link up with Mrs M and showcase your meal plan (It's sure got to be better than mine)

I am and have been {smitten}

It's been a terrible few days as we have been 'smitten' with the dreaded Norovius!  I won't dwell on that subject though as we're on the mend, thankfully (as long I don't do too much too quickly!)

I'm linking up with Glasgow Mummy's Smitten Saturday  (who's also had some sickness in her house this week, but what a lovely post again from her and well done to her little boy... I'll be starting the same task soon with my littlest)

This Saturday I am smitten with all things handmade!  At Christmas time I joined in with #bloggersecretsanta and I received a gorgeous necklace from Sweet Trash (@ahjuicyfruit on Twitter), I was over the moon with my gift, it was perfect for me... my obvious love for apples and I love scrabble!  Every single time I wear it someone asks about it and I get loads of compliments!  I love it!  Sweet Trash has an etsy shop right now I am totally loving the clouds and anchors available, so cute!

One of my #PostCircle friends send me this adorable apple broach... she is in the process of setting up her etsy shop, which will be found here:  Tilly Teacups I cannot wait until the shop opens to see some more cute designs.

I also received these gorgeous craft fish from another #PostCircle friend... now I wonder if she has an online shop...

Some of my favourite shops on etsy are:

Miss Beatrix  I adore the feather buttons, I think I'll be ordering them today as I notice there is only one set left! ...and I just bought them! Woo!

Claireabellemakes I've just found this shop via a link on Twitter and I love the Cath Kidston ring!

The Dusty Attic Shop I adore the cute ladybug.

Do you love handmade?  Do you have an etsy / online shop.. please let me know so I can check it out!

I hope you join in with Smitten Saturday and don't forget to check out Glasgow Mummy's post too

Exciting Times

There has been a lot going on today, all very exciting.

First there's the small matter of this www.anneeapple.com a lovely surprise from my Husband!  I have wanted the domain for a very long time but it's just recently become available and now it's mine.

As if that wasn't enough exciting news for the one day, I woke up to read this very lovely blog post by Miss Beatrix.

You'll all know {unless you've been on your holidays for over a month} that I joined up with Miss Beatrix's #PostCircle and I am loving being part of it. I've had some gorgeous mail and little gifts sent through the post, there is something wonderful about snail mail. I've been on the hunt for some stationery and it was / is a hard task to find something that I liked, if you've ever looked online for stationery you'll understand what I mean. I even scoured local shops for some nice writing paper and envelopes and no joy! So I made my own!

I started off designing some envelopes which ended up rather complicated and fiddly so I scrapped that and focused on some writing paper designs. A few late nights and about 30 designs later I am kicking off my range with 'Tea Time', 'Yelo' and 'Grey Heart' {I might change the names as I develop the range}. I've also designed some lettergrams.  I love lettergrams, I used to buy these from the post office when I was little and I wrote to my pen friend in Australia, they were so convenient to use especially when I was writing abroad. I just knew I had to design some lettergrams as to me they are a symbol of snail mail.

I'm in the process of setting up my etsy shop  {you can come over just now and follow me there so you don't miss out on the launch} and I plan to offer sets of writing paper, personalised writing paper and also lettergrams. I have lots of other little things swimming about in my head too and I have also now mastered the envelope making {with a totally new design}, so there could be some handmade envelopes available too!

To celebrate the launch of my new etsy shop there will be a giveaway on my blog, right now I'm in the process of designing and organising the goodies for the giveaway.  I'm off on my jollidays next weekend {some lovely time in the sunshine} so when I come back it will be all systems go!

You can follow this blog using the link on the right {via bloglovin or you can follow by google connect or email} so that you don't miss out.  I'm also on Twitter and Facebook come over and say hello!

Thank you to you lovely people who are already supporting me and encouraging my new venture and a big thank you to Miss Beatrix for her lovely blog post and most importantly for setting up #PostCircle as without it none of this would be possible and let's not forget all the new friends I have made recently... hello to you all!

Ax

Let's eat! {Meal Planning Monday}

It's Meal Planning Monday again and I'm linking up with Mrs M (click the image to join in too).

Last week was quite a busy week and it's weeks like that I'm glad I spend the time on Sunday meal planning, writing a shopping list and shopping. Meals in our house can be quite a task to organise, there's 5 of us... 1 quite fussy and 1 a bit fussier than the quite fussy one, so trying to please everyone is a challenge!  

There's probably only a handful of meals that we all eat together and sometimes I can be cooking 3 different meals (after a full days work). But meal planning is definitely helping that mind numbing task (of deciding each day what to cook for dinner) as I can schedule the meals we can all eat when we're all at home. AND we will be saving money too as I am planning meals around what we've got left in the fridge / freezer too.

So without further ado, here's this week's meal plan:

Monday - BLT baguettes

Tuesday - Cottage Pie (from freezer, homemade from a few weeks ago)

Wednesday - Sausage, mash (or fries), beans 

Thursday - Take away 

Friday - not sure yet...

Saturday - Steak Pie (for kiddos as we're out for dinner)

Sunday - Slow cooker meal... not decided which one yet, might try something new

There you have it, hope you link up as reading other people's meal plans can often inspire new dishes to try out the following week.

Enjoy your day!

Smitten Saturday {Mia Tui}

I'm joining Glasgow Mummy for Smitten Saturday (you can click the button above to visit her lovely blog and find out more), basically each Saturday I'll feature one thing that I'm loving right now... food, brand, beauty product, activity, someone... anything really, sounds like fun right?

Right now I'm smitten with my new Mia Tui Minnie Amelie bag, isn't she lovely?

I found Mia Tui on Twitter when a friend recommended (I'm a bit of a bag lady) and I was instantly intrigued, how could a bag that looked so good hold everything... and I mean everything from laptop, iPad, Kobo, make-up, nappies (and other baby things) oh and much much more. 

Inside there are lots of different pockets and 2 drink holders, a pocket that my notepad fits into and also the clear plastic pouch (which is included with the bag) which holds my hand gel, hand cream, eye drops, (lady things), pain killers.  There's also a large pocket at the other side that a clutch bag fits in... YES a clutch bag, a matching clutch bag that also comes with the bag!!  In this I store my purse and other things that I'd normally take out when I am baby free.  This is such a great addition as when I want to nip out at lunch time (when at work), I can just grab the clutch bag and there's no need for taking out the big bag!  Perfect!  The bag and the clutch both have shoulder straps (clutch has a wrist strap too) so they are very handy indeed! I don't think I've mentioned that the bag, inside and out is waterproof... so if you had a drink in the holder and it happened to leak then everything else would be safe!

The bag comes in so many beautiful colours, it was so hard to choose! I do love purple and this colour 'aubergine' is lush!  When I bought the bag there was an amazing offer on... you got a FREE Lottie with each purchase!  How great is that!!  My Lottie is black and it's so soft.  A great bag for throwing crossover your body, it has a big compartment with a mobile phone pocket and groovy elastic to attach your keys too (the Minnie Amelie has this too!!), it also has a smaller compartment at the front too.

So if you're after a new bag, you must check out Mia Tui first, there's bound to be a bag to suit your needs.  The Minnie Amelie is perfect for me, the busy working Mamma.  If you have any questions at all just contact Charlotte on Twitter or Email.. I had lots of questions as I think I couldn't believe everything would fit in and Charlotte offered the most amazing customer service!

And... a little treat if you fancy a bag then put in the code FRIENDS and you'll get 10% off!

So there you have it, my first Smitten Saturday post... don't forget to link up with Glasgow Mummy if you want to join in x

Lampshade making {with Cath Kidston}

Tada... I made a lampshade!

I signed up for the Lampshade Making event at the Glasgow Cath Kidston store and was lucky enough to get a ticket (£15 per person). Those of you who know me will know I absolutely adore Cath Kidston style, so I was really looking forward to this event.  

Another plus; I have been looking for new lampshades for my bedroom for so long but never found anything that was just right and if I can't find it... I make it!

I arrived at the store a bit early but was happy to window shop... the window display of HUGE clocks is amazing (some of you may know I have a clock obsession too.. I'm beginning to sound a little weird)... the lovely staff let us in early and we had a wander around... (I'm sure I drooled a little, hope no-one noticed).

We were shown to the fabric section and told to choose our fabric... Waaaaaaaaa choose?! I wanted them all.... after much 'humming and hawing' I opted for the Blue English Rose as it matches my bedroom colour scheme really well... I had planned on something not too floral.. but I really think the floral patterns are iconic of Cath Kidston.

I found a place at a table with three other lovely ladies, everyone was so nice and the staff made us all feel very welcome. There was endless supplies of cake, juices and sparkly wine! We were all given a lampshade kit (which you can buy from here) and the staff showed us in stages how to make. We worked in pairs as some of the stages were quite fiddly.. team work! As you can see from the photo above the end results are brilliant and you can see why I had such a hard choice choosing my fabric, they are all lush!

My lampshade is up already and I love it! I now plan on making two shades for my bedside lamps and to update my window dressing in the same fabric... although I just looked online at the Cath Kidston website and that fabric isn't listed! I wonder if it's now discontinued? I know the store has a huge roll, so hoping that no-one buys it all before Saturday, I'll be back in to buy some more!

If you're interested in events at your local Cath Kidston store then sign up for their Email Club I know I'll be looking out for more events and signing up so let me know if you do too!

I had a great time tonight and I met some really lovely people.

What are you crafting right now?

{Liebster Award}

I've been tagged by the lovely Glasgow Mummy to take part in a meme.

The rules are: you share 11 facts about yourself,  answer 11 questions that have been asked (in my case by Glasgow Mummy), ask 11 questions and then tag 11 other bloggers to participate... simple!

So here goes...

11 facts

1. I chopped a finger off 9 weeks before my wedding (in 2006), after two lots of surgery they saved all but the top inch.
2. I used to be a ballet dancer.
3. My Husband is 10 years younger than me.
4. I have a sleep disorder.
5. I have some hours towards my pilot licence, I love flying.
6. I love gardening (have only had a garden for 7 years).
7. I love stationery when I was younger I saved all my pocket money to spend in John Menzies and had a novelty eraser collection.
8. I'm waiting on an appointment with a surgeon to repair a paraumbilical hernia which I got when I was quite ill with cold / flu and had an awful cough for 5 weeks.
9. I find it hard to say NO, especially to my kids.
10. I love cycling (but haven't had any free time to cycle since my littlest arrived).
11. I'm a Graphic Designer and Photographer (although I don't have much time for photography just now)


11 questions for me (from Glasgow Mummy)

1. Have you ever been pulled over by the traffic police?

No, thankfully!

2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

North of Scotland, I don't know exactly where but it's so beautiful. The great outdoors, gorgeous beaches. There is something so wonderful about our countryside. Wherever I stayed it would have to be remote, I love the peace and quiet.

3. What is your favourite flavour of crisps?

Worcester sauce.

4. What's the last movie you watched?

Argo.  I loved it!

5. What is your favourite thing to wear?

I really hate all my clothes, every single thing!  I don't know what styles suit my (weird) shape... so I guess the answer to this is my UGG boots as I can just throw them on and they are so comfy and cosy.

6. What does your last text message say?

It was from my friend Kelly, giving me directions to her Mum's house as I was dropping off a personalised print order.

7. What were you doing at 12 noon yesterday?

I was at my desk at work.

8. What is your most treasured memory?

I have three.   The moment each of my children were born.

9. What do you think is the single best decision you've made in your life so far?

I'm not sure I've made it yet.

10. Do you have a pet?

No, I'm not a pet person at all probably due to not having any time in my busy lifestyle... but if I get that remote house in the countryside in the North of Scotland, I'll get a sheepdog and call him Shep.

11. What is on your bedside table?

My bedside lamp, my spare reading glasses, a glass of water, my Kobo and a craft magazine.


11 questions from me 

1. Where was your last holiday?
2. Who was your last email from?
3. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
4. Who do you admire and why?
5. What is your favourite 'guilt' food?
6. What is the best book you've ever read?
7. Who is your best friend?
8. What's your all time favourite song?
9. What's your favourite blog to read and why?
10. What's the one thing in your life that, if you died because of it, people who know you well would just shrug and say "Well, I'm not surprised"?
11. If you could have a super power for one day, what would it be?

11 (lovely) bloggers

1. Miss Dotty
2. Transatlantic Blonde
3. Blog of a Mom
4. Miss Beatrix
5. Twinkly Mummy
6. At Home with Mrs M
7. The Dusty Attic
8. Hollybobbs
9. Little Blog of Horrors
10. Being Little
11. What Would Edna Say

So there you have it, over to you...

It's Monday {again}

So, let's meal plan!

Monday - Sausage, mash and beans

Tuesday - Chicken fajitas

Wednesday - Curry, rice and wraps

Thursday - Gammon steak, pineapple and beans

Friday - Lasagne and garlic bread

Saturday - Sweet and sour chicken

Sunday - Roast dinner

What's on your plate this week?  Link up with Mrs M, click the image below.

Birthday Girl and MPM {meal planning monday}

It's my big girl's 19th Birthday today... Happy Birthday Zoey!  I love her so...makes me proud each day!

MPM {meal planning monday}

Last weeks meal planning went to pot!  Our oven broke (element blew) so we had three nights of take away!  I'm totally take away'd out now (for a while)..

This week looks like this:

Monday - Zoey chose a Carvery Meal for her Birthday dinner.. sadly the place we chose wasn't very nice, so we'll have to arrange another Birthday meal out!

Tuesday - Pizza (I'm working late then have some de-cluttering planned in wardrobe so a quick dinner required)

Wednesday - Mince, Mash, York Puds and Veg last minute change (as I'm getting sick of this meal)  Breaded Chicken Steaks and fried rice

Thursday - Just me, littlest and biggest - Cheeseburgers and Fries

Friday - Baked Potatoes and Salad

Saturday - Chilli Nachos

Sunday - Fish (not decided which type yet), Potatoes and Veg

What's on your menu this week?  Link up with Mrs M by clicking the icon below.