{sneaks in}

hello... here I am!

I seem to have been missing in action since last Monday! I guess it was a busy week at work, squeezing in buying a new car {I hate car shopping but this time it was quite painless and I love the car!}

I couldn't even fit in my craft club {which is only one hour a month and I do get angry that I can't even manage a little hour a month to do something I want to do...an hour, pft!! It's tough but that could be a whole other blog post!}

On Friday we headed to Shetland. It was some trip! A 3 hour drive to Aberdeen {in the new car!} then a 12 hour ferry trip to Shetland...

It started to look dull just as we set sail
AEM Photography

nightfall
AEM Photography

The journey there was great, calm sea and the cabin wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be and we arrived in Shetland around 7.30am... I really wanted to visit Jarlshorf which was just a 20 min drive from Lerwick, so off we went... and the rain fell!  Jarlshorf is mostly outside and we decided not to visit as we'd all get drenched {sad face} so we headed to Sumburgh Head.  It was wild, there was no way littlest could even get out the car, she'd have been blown off the cliff. So I trooped up alone to take some photos of the sea birds and puffins. I didn't realise just how wet it was as the wind was cutting through me, I struggled to stay upright! But I was drenched... I regret getting so wet now as I didn't have another jacket to change into and spent the rest of the day with a t-shirt and cardigan on and my jeans soaked... my hair was dripping wet and had to be left to dry. I was so cold!

Puffins at Sumburgh Head, Shetland.
AEM Photography

The weather didn't pick up at all, it rained constantly. We drove to a few other areas on Shetland:  Toft, Lerwick and Scalloway but there wasn't much to do in the rain. We did visit Shetland Museum {and had chips, which I couldn't eat... should have known then I was unwell haha!}

dressing up box in Shetland Museum

the favourite hat

If the weather had been better our trip would have been amazing as the scenery, views and wildlife was gorgeous but we just couldn't appreciate it all in the rain, which is sad. 

The journey home was awful! I was feeling quite bad by the time we had to board the ferry, I just couldn't heat up. As soon as we got to the cabin I lay down covered in the duvets, a hour later I was sweating to the point I was ready to pass out. Was it a side effect of being soaked or had I caught a bug? Who knows... I spent the whole night feeling really awful and the crossing was terrible, so choppy! I woke up ill, which I think was due to some travel sickness thrown in for good measure. I didn't eat for over 24 hours and was sick on the way home. We had to cut our weekend short as we had planned to visit a Historic Scotland site on way home and had a nice lunch planned but we had to cancel all as I couldn't lift my own head up. A day of dozing on the sofa and sipping water seems to have cured me but I am left with not much appetite and a sore throat!

dreich
AEM Photography

I guess it was still an experience to visit Shetland and I do hope to return one day {now if only we could guarantee good weather}. I'm reading Raven Black just now for RRBookGroup {come on over and join in if you love reading} and funnily enough it's based in Shetland, so it was like a little mini research trip. But, if I was to sum up Shetland with one word, that word would be 'dreich'

Ps:  I'm hoping to be super organised and link up with Meal Planning Monday and Smitten Saturday before the end of the week... I can do it, right?!

Mmm {and a Tesco rant}

I'm sat here staring at my meal planning list that I scribbled earlier... I wrote it on orange paper with a red pen, I can't see a thing! So, I'll improvise, which should be fine as I've not long unpacked my shopping from my late night Tesco trip.

I wasn't happy at all with Tesco tonight {yes, I've scheduled this post}. I usually go to Carluke or Lanark Tesco but opted for Wishaw tonight {never again}.  I had a huge trolley filled with groceries {over £80 worth} and when I got to the check out there was no-one serving! I asked the girl at the self serve why and was told no-one was available and I had to self scan {WTF}. It was a nightmare, let's not mention my bad hand or the fact I've not to do heavy lifting due to stomach problem. I even had to shout, abruptly, to get the staff member's attention as she stood chatting to her friend at the other side. Not long after I had started scanning two check-outs opened up, I really wasn't pleased. By this time another girl had taken over manning the self serve and I asked her why there was no staff and she didn't know. I told her I wasn't happy and I wouldn't be back and she said.... nothing! I had lots of coupons to use and the self serve is a total ar5e for scanning coupons! Each one had to be authorised and I'm sure some didn't even scan!

So, Tesco... I'd be keen to hear your comment?!

Monday: BBQ chicken pasta bake with garlic bread slices

Tuesday: Chicken Fajitas {we got a new grill / pannini toaster, so I'll be toasting my fajita wraps}

Wednesday: Goat's cheese quiche with filled pasta and sundried tomato sauce {we didn't have this last week we had a sundried tomato one then}

Thursday: Feta, olive and carmalised onion pastry tart

Friday: We're off to Shetland and back on Sunday evening!


Why don't you join in this week? Do you plan your meals or just decide on that day (I'd love to do that!).  Click the link above to join in with MrsM

{smitten saturday}

Sometimes you just have to look around you to find treasures...

We moved here {the little village of Morningside} 3 and a half years ago, since then the estate has grown so much!{the estate that was built in the middle of lovely coutryside, eventhough I stay in it I would have been devastated if I'd lived in the village and then two new estates came along... but at the time I was far too excited about a new home to realise!}

I've been pretty stressed lately, hospital appointment, pending op for stomach repair, new proposals at work that will change my job role and hours {this is good and exciting but stressful to organise with childcare}... I really miss just getting up and going out walking for hours, we {littlest and I} do go out walking quite a lot but it's usually to the post box and that takes around 45 mins {walking at toddler pace - 5 mins for adult pace}... sometimes you just need to clear your head and take in some fresh air! 

It had just down-poured but the sky looked brighter so I got on my walking shoes {how I miss wearing these} and littlest happily sat in her pram {bribed with a bag of skips} and off we went on our adventure...

there are loads of horses in the village

long roads, some of them winding

I'm sure the horses don't like skips anyway

miles of buttercups

cycling down this road is the best EVER!
{yeah, I miss cycling too}

nearly home.. skips done

Our walk was around 3 miles and we took around 2 hours, we walked slowly and took in all the sights, sounds and smells. We saw: horses, shetland ponies, geese, ducks, sheep, cows, chickens, cockerels and a vole {yay! #TeamVole #PostCircle}. It's a great walk which I used to do daily either on foot of pedal power!

So there you have it, I'm smitten with Morningside! What are you smitten with? Link up with Glasgow Mummy and tell us...

Pre-op assessment

I should be in bed,

But I'm filled with dread,

I have a pre-op assess in the morning...

They'll poke and prod,

I'll smile and nod,

I have a pre-op assess in the morning...

They might take blood,

I'll cry like a fud,

I have a pre-op assess in the morning...

I'll need a treat,

Probably something sweet

For after my pre-op assess in the morning...

MPM {so soon!}

I probably say it every week {or at least I do in my own head} but how can it be Monday already?

I had a moment on Saturday... I was tired {are you sick of hearing me say that? I'm sick of saying it} and hungry and the thought of cooking or eating was a chore in itself. But off to Tesco I went and I filled the trolley with lots of prepared vegetables, some ready meal curry, two dine for £10 deal {which looks lush} and some other prepared things. I had to check myself a few times that night to see if I had come out in a rash.

Now, I don't think there is anything at all wrong with buying these types of meals but I always do homemade and it just feels so strange just popping things in the oven. I've only had one prepared meal so I'll pass judgement on the rest until next week.

This week looks like:

Monday: we ate out at Wagamamas

Tuesday: Tesco - two dine for £10 meal - horseradish mash, chicken and choritzo main, chocolate and caramel melt in the middle dessert

Wednesday: roasted veg with goats cheese quiche

Thursday: breaded chicken and sweet potato {roasted or mash}

Friday: panninis with various fillings {I fancy brie, cranberry and ham}

Saturday: pasta dish

Sunday: tbc

What's on your menu... inspire me!  You can link up with Mrs M too, just click the button / photo above.

it's what she says

It's nearly Monday already and I've been awake since 5.45am, who knows I may even be woken at 5.45am again tomorrow {I hope not}. I think I can say I've probably not enjoyed today, I did have moments of fun but mostly I've been too tired to function.

{hate me now}... is it the sunshine? I don't do well in the heat. I can't remember when the last dull day was. I remember most of last week it being so hot in the office, even reaching 32 degrees at one point {wish I had aircon}. I've been so hot that I've been uncomfortable and my feet, my poor feet, are aching... my tummy is sore {operation soon} and I want to sleep for somewhere around 3 weeks solid.

I have lots to do and no time to do it. But, I've just read this blog post over on The Startup Wife and it makes sense, it all makes sense. I think I'm going to read that post every day.

Here's to a good week and fingers crossed one that's not so stressful and so busy! {I can only wish}

{grey} sunny days

The sun has got his hat on... hip hip hip hooray! Isn't it wonderful when the sun shines?

It's been non-stop in anneeapple land since the weekend. Monday was picnic in the park with my friend and our little girls - it was a great day! Tuesday and Wednesday saw full days in the office and then the nights filled with painting the living room... grey!! Two shades of grey {no, not 50}, but still keeping my feature wall 'roasted red'!

Today I was off {waiting on my new flooring being delivered} and the sun shone yet again... we spent just about all of the day in the garden and once littlest went to bed {and I had returned from book group} we had dinner alfresco.

Tiger rolls with italian meats, feta, olives,
salad and mayo {and a cheeky Cidre}

I've had such lovely happy mail this week, I've got 5 letters {so far} to reply too, that's my weekend evenings sorted! Yay!

Here's to the sun staying around for a little bit longer, wouldn't it be nice to have a real Summer?

RR book group

I've had lots of chat lately about what I'm reading and about the book club I go to... The book club is called Ruth's Readers and is hosted by Newmains Library. We meet every four weeks on a Thursday evening from 6-7pm. We're not a serious reading group at all, we read lots of different genres and most of the time I'm lucky to finish the chosen book as I'm so busy. But that's OK, we read what we can {although just about everyone else finishes their book}, thankfully no-one seems to mind that I'm the slacker... it's a lovely bunch of people and I always look forward to meeting up with everyone.

A few of my online friends had recently mentioned they'd love to be part of a book group too... cue light bulb moment... and RR Book Group has been born!

Everyone is welcome to come on over and Like / Join in. On 6th June {the night of my book club meet} I'll announce what our new book is and if you join in great! 4 weeks later we can all find our way to the Facebook Page and have an informal chat about what we thought about it. In between times we can use the page to chat about where we are in the book, ask questions.. anything.

Hope to see you there!

Ps... the book we're reading just now is Jo Brand 'Look Back in Hunger' {I've only read 28 pages so far, no chance I'll finish it... I don't like autobiographies}

{sunny} Monday

I'm hoping it's sunny {as I'm scheduling this post as I am out picnicking in the park - if it's sunny}...

What a glorious weekend! A busy day on Saturday shopping with the littlest and my wee Sister... hours of walking, my legs still haven't recovered from. A busy day on Sunday, every last bit of laundry washed and dried {although basket is half full from bedtime routines}, lots of playing in the garden, lunch at the garden table, ballet4babies class, more playing in the garden before bed... a long lie tomorrow would be just perfect, but sadly no - I've got a few more weeks to wait until it's my long lie day!

Food... yes food... last week's meal planning went great until I forgot to defrost the meat for Sunday's slow cooker stew. So that meant a take-away of a healthy chicken kebab {there's salad in it you know!}. This week's meals look like this:

Monday - spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread

Tuesday - lasanage {leftovers from last week's that I froze} and fries / salad

Wednesday - pizza and salad

Thursday - subway style rolls with various fillings

Friday - stew and york puddings

Saturday - sausage, mash and beans

Sunday - slow cooker curry and nan bread

What's on your menu this week? Don't forget to link up with Mrs M...

Orange Wellies {Smitten}

It may be Summer but I'm smitten with wellies... and not just any wellies but ORANGE wellies!

There is a story behind the orange wellies... When I was little I always wanted wellies but I wasn't allowed. My Mum insisted on Clarks leather boots. Obviously now I know how important good footwear is and I'm grateful that I had Clarks leather boots, but when you're little you want wellies... and I wanted orange ones.

It's a little joke in our family and every now and again I'll joke how my life is incomplete and I was deprived as I'd never had the orange wellies I wanted so much. Today I met my lovely wee Sister for a shopping trip to Livingston and SHE BOUGHT ME ORANGE WELLIES!!! Thanks Sis!

What are you smitten with this week? Come on over and link up with Glasgow Mummy, you know you want to!

Full on {Friday}

Can you believe it was Monday that I lost posted! Well it was Sunday actually as I scheduled my Meal Planning post, that was when I was was organised {last / this week}. 

It's been a busy full on week which has been filled with an abundance of happy mail, the new bureau also happened and I've spent many many an hour sat at it this week. My new assistant started and she is just amazing, lots of yummy food has been consumed too AND the Mount Killa-mon-ironing was conquered!

Here's some snippets of the fun filled week!

Monday was new bureau day

Some of the happy mail I received this week...

Some of the happy mail I sent out...

I designed and made some new dividers for my lovely new filofax

And I found Pantone notebooks (and other goodies) in TK Maxx at a bargain price, that was the find of the week as I was nearly buying a Pantone notebook online last week at £10! How cute are the Liberty Hello Kitty notecards?

I nearly forgot... I also won £25 Love to Shop vouchers on a Twitter Competition, you had to come up with a #foodstadia pun {combine food and sports stadiums}, you'll all know I'm not a sports person but I do love a good pun and my winning entry was 'Surf N Turf Moor Stadium'. So, I now I have £25 of vouchers to spend on my shopping trip tomorrow when littlest and I are meeting up with Aunty Knit Knit {my very talented little Sister}

What's your weekend plans?

Meal Planned {organised}

It's a Bank Holiday Monday - yay! Last week's meal planning went great up until Friday and I was busy  at work then had to go to my frame suppliers afterwards {had lots of orders in for my personalised prints} so when I got home I was too tired to think about cooking and everyone else was fed so I had toast. Saturday was a glorious day so we went to the park and got chips on the way home {result}.

This week looks like this:

Monday: lasagne and garlic bread

Tuesday: chilli (will make this on Monday as I'm busy bee on Tuesday)

Wednesday: freezer dinner (got lots to use up in there)

Thursday: brinner (just the kids as Hubber and I are out for dinner)

Friday: slow cooker curry and nan bread

Saturday: chicken chow mein

Sunday: stew, mash and yorkshire puddings

As per it's another busy week ahead in preparation for painting the living room next week and I still need to tackle that tower of ironing. I'm feeling a little more organised though as I have a new filofax {oh yeah.. and it's purple / ultra violet} AND... AND my new assistant starts on Tuesday {hurrah!}.

Remember to link up with Mrs M and tell us what's on your menu this week?

the {cloudy} holiday

Oops, I may be just a little late in chatting about our holiday...

We had been really {and I mean really} looking forward to our Spring holiday. Work / Life is pretty busy right now and we struggle to get time together. We booked a 5 day break to Lanzarote {as Lanzarote is hot all year round, right?}, we left on 28th April - flying from Edinburgh.

Our flight times were great {ahem.. more on that later} and so far the littlest has always been a great flyer and takes it all in her stride, long may that continue! When we arrived at Arrefice airport it was quite dull...Oh uh! It's not a huge island so the weather is usually the same all over. Sadly it stayed cloudy for the 5 days! We had around 20mins of sunshine the whole holiday as the pools are heated from the sun it was far too cold to swim {bummer!}

smiles in the only bit of sunshine we saw

The hotel {Los Zocos} was OK, the public areas and restaurants were very clean and tidy. Our room was a little basic though with no aircon {maybe I should be glad it wasn't scorching} but it was fine, I just like a little bit more comfort when on holiday. The entertainment for the littlest in the evening was really dire but it was out of season so I guess that's to be expected... she still had a great time though so that's all that matters.

It was quite an exhausting holiday, no lazing by the pool, no sunbathing and no swimming. We spent every day walking into town, finding play parks and strolling around the shops. We were looking forward to coming home by the time we reached the last day... then WHAM an 8 hour flight delay {I could have cried}, not only the huge delay but we were being flow into Glasgow which meant a coach transfer to Edinburgh. We had expected to be home for littlest bedtime routine {about 6pm} but instead we got home around 4am! I had been awake nearly 24 hours by the time we got home and I had 3 hours sleep before littlest woke up for the day... I'm perfectly justified to say 'I need another holiday'

smitten on a sunny day

A {very} rare sunny day and a very {very} rare day off together. I was going to be smitten with some delicious cakes from The Village Bakery in Kilncadzow but since buying them this morning I've been more smitten with the fun sunny day we had together.

the {giant} cakes!

sunny days

The plans for today was to tidy the garage but when we saw how glorious it was the garage was suddenly not important. We had a lazy day at home in the morning letting the littlest nap then we headed out for cake {obviously} and to the country park that's not to far from us. We played in the playpark but that was a bit too busy with kids for my liking {I'm not keen on busy places with kids going wild}, we then had a lovely walk and some ice-cream {smiles}...

oops wonder if he'll mind being on my blog?

The world seems such a nicer place when the sun shines. I hope you all have a lovely weekend, what are you smitten with today?

I'm linking up with Glasgow Mummy click here to join in too...

Hurrah {for Friday}

It really has been an exhausting week. It's one of those weeks were Husband and I don't see each other at all {due to our shift patterns}...

The week looked like this:

Monday - drop big girl off at work before I go to the office (a 30min detour from my usual drive to work). Work until 4pm, pick big girl up and rush home for 5pm as Husband leaves for work then (he's with littlest at home when I'm at work and vice versa). Once littlest is tucked up and we've eaten dinner I then work {I run my own Graphic Design business from home AEM Photography and Design}. Bed time around 1am.

Tuesday - up at 6am, drop big girl off at work, drop littlest off at Gran's then head into office for 9.15am. Work till 4.30pm then pick up littlest from Gran's. Pick up parcels that I had delivered to the depot, deliver some prints, head home for dinner. Working again till around 1am.

Wednesday - up at 6.30am, made homemade soup, wedges and lunch before heading off to work for 11am.  Rush home for 5pm as Husband is leaving for night shift again {with a pitt stop to drop off clothes to big girl}. No work tonight as my lovely friend popped round and we shared a bottle of wine {that's the first night in months that I've sat down for a whole evening, it was bliss}

Thursday - up at 6am, surgical appointment at 10am {I have a stomach repair op within 6 weeks.. great huh?}, work at the office then home for 5pm again {Husband working again} but with a stop off for some groceries... can you believe we're out of bread! I asked my Aunt to pop along and sit with littlest for an hour as it was the first night of a very new craft club {thank you Auntie}, before I headed out to craft club I quickly made littlest dinner and brushed my hair {hair really needs washed!}, home for 7pm. I caught up with all my post circle replies tonight.  Bed at 1.30am

Friday - thankfully! I've been up since 6.30am, have to get ready for work soon {with a pitt stop to drop off a gig ticket to big girl, which she forgot to take with her}. After a busy day at work I have to drive to my frame suppliers {at the other side of Glasgow} then home to make dinner then spend the night framing orders.

It's a 3-day weekend and I'd love to spend the weekend with nothing planned and just going with the flow but so far we have a garage to tidy {new flooring delivered next week so need to store it}, MIL birthday at weekend so need to visit, my Parent's have asked for some little things to be done so will visit them too, squeeze in a baby ballet class, then it's Monday before we know it and Husband is working.

I won some tickets for the Ideal Home Show too but right now I'm struggling to fit in time to wash my hair so I might not even be able to go... boo!

The next few weeks are little bit crazy too {aint every week?}... it's crazy that I might be looking forward to my operation so that I can rest up under Doctor's orders.  Oh yeah, I'm still working on my stationery designs for my etsy shop launch... it will be soon {sorry for the delay}

hello... sorry, you nodded off there.  I know this is a boring ole post but I feel better for getting it all down and the pity party can come to an end.

Have a great weekend everyone, I'll be jealous of all your chilling out! x

{write}

You may (or may not) know that one of my favourite hobbies is writing letters {and I do love receiving them too}, at my last count I have around 13 snailmail friends but probably write more often to 9 or 10...

I love to follow the stories on More Love Letters, it really is wonderful how a handwritten letter can cheer your day, knowing that someone has taken the time to think about what they want to write and to write and post it to you. It's a simple treasure that everyone can do.

Recently on More Love Letters a request was posted... here it is:

Via Founder Hannah, anyone looking to send love + encouragement during this difficult time in Oklahoma should please feel free to participate in this mission: 

Madison Hake, the president of the OU Campus Cursive chapter for The World Needs More Love Letters wrote last night: "As many of you know, a devastating tornado ripped through our community on May 20, 2013. Our community is stricken with grief, as a majority of the death count came from a local elementary school being leveled. If you would like to send letters, you can mail them to the address below and I will be sure they are passed out to community members. Anything and everything helps. Thank you all so much."

Letters can be mailed to:

Campus Cursive
Oklahoma University
616 West 6th Avenue
Bristow, OK, 74010

Please consider sharing a little love in a time of such devastation down in Oklahoma.

Can you spare a few minutes to write a letter of hope and encouragement to bring a little sunshine into someone's life in this time of such devastation?  I hope you can...

{meal} Planning

Oh dear, two blog posts on the same day.  To me it's a sin nearly as bad as a DJ playing the same song twice at any gig {Husband used to be a DJ, trust me it's a cardinal sin}. But... in my defence if you have read my previous post you'll see I'm catching up from the weekend as I was a social butterfly then!

I'm rushing with this week's meal planning and using up as much of the groceries I have at home, and I have a fridge full of veg {which is getting roasted tonight}, there might even be some soup made mid week if there's still lots left.

Monday - roasted veg pastry parcels with herb rice

Tuesday - spicy cheeseburgers

Wednesday - chicken kiev and cheesey potato wedges

Thursday - something quick 

Friday - twice baked potatoes, filling tbc

Saturday - lasagne

Sunday - will decide at the weekend

What are you dining on this week?  Remember to link up with Mrs M x

smitten {at last}

I'm late in joining the smitten party... but it's allowed as it's been a busy weekend with lots of social activity (which is rare!)...

The littlest had her first sleepover at Gran and Grandad's as Hubber and we went into Glasgow to celebrate our beautiful friend's 40th Birthday. We started off with a meal at Brown's {at George Square} then we headed to Alea Casino for party time! We had a great night!

I was organised and prepared... Usually on nights out I wear heels {I really don't do well in heels} and by the end of the night my feet ache and it really puts a damper on the evening. But this time as we walked from Glasgow Queen Street to our hotel {yeah, we stayed over!} I made a quick stop and bought these gorgeous little babies! Perfect for slipping into my clutch bag so I can change into when the heels make my feet ache!

smitten

I love them, like really love them. They are the comfiest pair of shoes I own. Each Summer I 'think' about buying these but then I don't {as I have so many shoes}. They remind me of my ballet days {yes I was once a ballet dancer}. I know for sure that these shoes are going to be a staple part of my wardrobe going forward.

The Birthday Girl and I

My Husband and I {he looks half asleep!}

On Sunday we had a family day out to celebrate my biggest's birthday {which was Thursday.. he was 22}.. I just love my kiddos and love seeing them together! {check out my Smitten post about my kiddos here}

precious

What are you smitten with this week? Remember to link up with Glasgow Mummy x