{#BEDM} gadets!

I love my gadgets!! A lot make my life easier, such as a smart phones {yes, I have two}, iPad, laptop, android tablet, smart TV.. but having a think, my two most favourite gadget type things are...

CCTV

CCTV we have in littlest's room. We initially bought the camera to install outside our home but we tried it out inside to set it up and we've not put it outside yet. It is secured to the ceiling and can turn 360 degrees, can pan and tilt, has night vision and you take a snap shot or even record footage. It has sound and you can even talk through the camera! It has been fantastic to use, when littlest goes to bed we set up the iPad or tablet {you can also access via webpage, smart tv or any smart phone by downloading an app} and we know that she's still in bed, or when she's asleep or when she's climbing up to get a book... Big Brother is watching!!

Hive

The HIVE... have you got the Hive? It's brilliant! It's a Scottish / British Gas product and it connects to your WIFI router and you can control your heating system remotely from anywhere using your smart phone. Hopefully I'll explain this correctly as I tried to before to someone and they didn't get it...

Our heating system is modern as we stay in a new build. We have a thermostat in the living room and have a digital system that we could set temperatures for the house and if the temperature at home dropped below the pre-set then the heating would kick in. It was also programmed for set times of the day for different temperatures and it also controlled the hot water, set times when it would be on to heat the water.. blah blah.. does that make sense?

Well now with the Hive we still have all that but say we were all out working and the temperature in the house was set to 18 degrees but it was frozen outside and snowing and you wanted the house to be really warm for you coming home from work... no problem open the app, flick up the temperature setting and the heating kicks in, drive home and go inside to a warm and cosy house. I guess it's the same as if you're sat at home and your cold or warm so you need to actually get up off your chair and go change the temperature setting of the heating at the heating control unit {ours was in the Utility Room at back of house}... you can be even more lazy now and do it from your phone. 

Another great feature is the thermostat, it's portable! So you can take it off the wall and take with you to whatever room your in so it will then gauge the temperature from that room!  And the controls are on the thermostat too. It really is remarkable. Looking forward to zoning being introduced then I can control the temperature of each room separately. That will be a great tool and bound to save more money on utility bills.

What's your fav gadget?

A x

{#BEDM} passion project

My passion lies in design and creating. From a young age I was always drawing and making things, I'd save my pocket money up and go on a spending spree to John Menzies (like WH Smith) and buy tonnes of stationery. Now I'm just the same, and I buy tonnes of stationery!

You may {or may not} know that I have my own graphic design and photography company called AEM Photography and Design and when time permits I sell personalised prints {mostly from my Facebook page}, I always have an order or a project on the go to keep me sane.

Two of my best sellers and my favourites are...

personalised home print

This is the home print that I had displayed in the hallway whilst I was pregnant with the littlest now the McBump has been changed to her name. I have sold loads of these, great for a wedding gift or a new home gift and great for a family gift for a new baby.

baby bunting

The baby bunting prints are so cute, they have 3D bunting and can be personalised with date of birth, weight, time of birth and in any colour... this one pictured sits on top of my TV cabinet.

I'd not be able to retire on my earnings from my passion project or give up my full time job but it's a hobby that earns me some pocket money and I love creating.

A x

{#BEDM} Cinco De Mayo

It seems there's a lot of history behind 'Cinco De Mayo'...

Spanish for "fifth of May". It is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of Puebla).

It originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War, and today the date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. (Source Wikipedia)

Chilli Nachos

Today I'll be celebrating with a feast of Chilli Nachos for dinner, it is one of my favourite meals. Here's how I make mine:

Ingredients
lean minced beef
beef melting stock cube
onion
peppers
garlic
mixed herbs
tomato puree
mild chilli powder
worcester sauce
tin of kidney beans or mixed beans
tin of chopped tomatoes
a carton of passatta

Method
brown the minced beef with a little water, once brown drain off all excess liquid. Add garlic {2 cloves if fresh or a good sprinkling of dried garlic granules or some garlic puree}, mixed herbs and mild chilli powder {to taste}, mix to combine. Add the beef melting stock cube {love these, they are so tasty}, worcester sauce and tomato puree. mix to combine. Add onion and peppers {you can also add celery, mushrooms.. whatever you fancy}. Cook for a few minutes to combine all the flavours then add in the tin of chopped tomatoes, passatta and the beans.  Stir until all combined.

I cook mine in a big pot and let it cook slowly for a few hours stirring every 20mins or so.  OR, you can toss it all in a slow cooker and leave it to cook all day whilst you're out.

{I don't season mine with salt until it's cooked then I decide if it needs salt or more chilli... we could all do with less salt in our life right? Plus the nachos are salty enough}

Serve
Serve over nachos, sprinkle with grated cheese and if you like add some salsa, guacamole and sour cream {or natural yoghurt}

Is it dinner time yet?

A x

{#BEDM} Star Wars Day...nah

Oh dare I say I am not a fan of Star Wars, although most likely only because I've never seen a Star Wars film... yeah, never! {go on, hit me with your light sabre}

So due to that fact {me being oblivious to Star Wars} I'm declaring the post about one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen... chic, iconic and an inspiration.

Audrey Hepburn - image source

Audrey Hepburn {would have been} 85 today. Not only beautiful and such a talented actress but fluent in 6 languages and her work with UNICEF... I tip my hat to you Audrey!

A x

{#BEDM} weekend morning routine

Today... my alarm sounded at 6.30am, I silently swore. I dragged myself out of bed and limped to the ensuite {I limp as my legs are not yet awake}. I'm not the type to read the daily newspaper on the loo, no way, I read my Facebook timeline, check Twitter then ponder over Instagram...

Marginally more awake, I then washed, brushed teeth then plonk two velcro rollers in my fringe {I really need a hair cut... tomorrow}. Then make up time, Picasso or Michaelangelo? You decide.. it's an intensive routine, I tell you.

I got dressed for work,  black M&S skater dress, green tights {yup green today} and heels {not too high, I'm getting old}.

Breakfast.. {always} a matcha green tea shot. Porridge with soya milk and dried fruit.

I made some lunch - tomato, tuna and feta salad.

Emptied dishwasher and left for work.

Ax

{#BEDM} five favourite posts

My five favourite posts are:

I'm a PostCircle Angel - I love being a part of PostCircle, I can say without doubt that I've made some lifelong friends being part of this great community.

{teapigs} matcha green tea - I love it! It has changed the way I feel and my health {for the better}! I a matcha shot daily. If you're feeling rundown then give it a go!

Home sweet home - I love my home, there really is no place like home... your own bed, your favourite cup / mug, lounging about... and relax.

Smitten Saturday - My village.  I love the walks, the animals you see each day... my little bit of heaven.

My Kiddos - I love them...


I hope you enjoyed my five favourite posts.

A x

{#BEDM} what's my blog all about?

it's me - anneeapple

Blog Ever Day in May {#BEDM} is back!  You may remember it's appearance in the age old year of 2013 with #BEDN! I am a very busy lady but I did really enjoy it last year, so I am happy to give it a go {okay, let's not notice that it's the 3rd of the month and I'm just jumping on the band wagon}....

My blog is about everything, anything and sometimes nothing. I've blogged in many places over the years, about many different subjects.

My first ever blog {although it might just have been an information page all those years about} was about the sleep disorder Narcolepsy and I had my own pages on the website for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Back then I also owned a website named Sleepy Scotland {also Narcolepsy / Sleep Disorder related... yes, I suffer from a sleep disorder}, which I've since released into cyber space, so I don't even know what the URL points to now.

Now-a-days my blog is simply a reflection of things going on in my everyday life, things I want to document and things that I think people may be interested in.

I do hope you enjoy some of my nonsense and do come back again.

A x