Badminton horse trails with Guide Dogs

I have just started as a Volunteer for the charity ‘Guide Dogs’. I first started to be interested in guide dogs this year at a Burn’s night event they had organised. It was there I realised what a fantastic charity it was and the massive help they are to so many in the UK. As a fundraiser you get to attend local events to help with fundraising, as well as organising your own events, it’s a great opportunity to meet a variety of people and do something great for others in your spare time. This weekend I was lucky enough to go to Badminton Horse Trials with the guide dogs. It was a really great day, here's a little sneak peek...

When we weren’t fundraising – lunch time – we took a look around at what Badminton had to offer, they had so many great stalls and of course a food hall. I may have grabbed a treat or two to keep me going J We were so lucky to have such a great turnout of Guide dog employees and volunteers, I’m really happy that one of my best friends got me into the organisation, plus did I mention I got to spend the day with more than 10 puppies and retired guide dogs <3

If you want to know more about fundraising, sponsoring a guide dog, puppy walking or interested in applying for a guide dog check out their website… http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/

April Favourites

I picked up some really great bits & bobs in April I couldn't resist sharing:)

Gosh ' Brow defining gel'

I have tried numerous products on my eyebrows, pencils, shadows, liquids and none I have been truly happy with, they have always just 'done the job'. I picked this up and I was intrigued as I hadn't seen anything like this for your eyebrows. It looks like a mascara, and acts in a similar way you just simply comb the brush through your brows. It obviously doesn't colour in your brow, but it enhances the natural hair on your brows and holds them in place! You could always top it up with a pencil or shadow but I personally find this is enough and love how it is making my eyebrows look - highly recommend!

Stripe crazy - Pull and bear & Primark

I have always loved navy, but I have gone a bit navy & stripe crazy this month. I purchased two great items, one being a top from Pull & Bear, its a casual slouchy t-shirt with the most lovely soft material, I love the stripes and the colour and think it will be great paired with some shorts in the summer. I also popped into Primark and couldn't resist this striped smock dress, it was only £5 and I can imagine it being really comfy with some boots on a summer evening.

Annie Sloan Old Ochre

I love to up-cycle and re use or re invent old furniture, I have fallen in love with Annie Sloan paint and picked up Old Ochre the other day for a trunk I am going to use as a coffee table! The neutral cream colour is perfect and the application so simple! For a small or big project it is so worth the price AND the paint last ages!

Mary Berry kitchen collection

I am yet to purchase any of this, but I had to mention how fabulous it is! I came across it in Sainsbury's and I wanted to buy the whole lot. The collection includes mugs, cake forks, chalk boards and cake tins as well as her new book. The collection is in a beautiful cream & blue and has her signature geese print on many of the items. I will definitely be purchasing something in the next month!

Mason jar 

I really love the idea of having a smoothie or beverage in the summer in a mason jar, but I have never got around to buying one. That was until I stumbled upon a selection of them in Tesco! They are plastic which is really handy as they are not heavy and you don't risk breaking them, but it also comes with a lid attached and accompanying straw! I only brought one but I am so tempted to go back for more! I think they will be great for BBQs and parties over the summer.

:)

Up-cycle Annie Sloan fun

Up-cycling is not only a great way to re-vamp or change your home; it is also a great hobby. I was lucky enough this month to receive two pieces of new furniture handed down from family members. I was given a lovely old wooden trunk/ottoman, which I am going to use as a coffee table and I was also given a small nest of tables, naturally I had to up-cycle them J  I have fallen in love with Annie Sloan paint, it is so easy to use and also leaves a great finish on furniture with virtually no preparation to the wood. I have used Annie Sloan for both pieces, Old Ochre for the coffee table – Old Ochre is a cream/grey colour it’s really neutral and great for living or dining rooms. I chose Annie Sloan Louis Blue for the corner tables; this is a very calm, pastel blue.

Coffee table/Ottoman

Personally, I find with furniture if you paint the whole item it can be a bit over the top, you lose the natural authenticity of the wood and your ‘one off’ piece can look a bit common. I learnt this the hard way, so now I just stick to just painting the base or legs of an item and sand down the natural wood in areas I want to keep unpainted . I think this leaves a really nice finish to the furniture as well as keeping some of the original character from the piece.

( I am yet to sand down the top, but I think its going to look great when its finished)

Small Nest tables

I love having a bit of colour with smaller items, I think they can look really pretty and original, I am yet to experiment with bold colours, so Louis Blue was perfect for now. I would really like to experiment with some of the brighter colours on chairs and book cases and think this is a great way to brighten up a room.

( I love the tone of Louis Blue)

Step by step guide

. Get your chosen paint, paintbrush and dust sheet

. Place your furniture on top of the dust sheet making sure you have covered all areas of the floor as you don’t want paint getting somewhere you don’t want it

. Paint  the base, give a double coat if necessary and leave to dry

. Sand the top of the coffee table, it doesn't have to look perfect, but use a sander if you can as it saves so much time

. Sand some of the edges for a shabby look

.  Use Annie Sloan Clear wax to finish

Unfortunately, I haven't sanded the top of the trunk yet so it is unfinished - British weather is to blame:(

Annie Sloan paint tips

. The paint dries really quickly so don’t  worry about precision too much, double coat it for a finished look

. You don’t need to sand your wood first, this is one of my favourite things about Annie Sloan, the paint is so flawless the wood needs virtually no preparation before you start painting

. Mix and match with different colours you might be surprised

. Grab a tester pot and test colours on smaller items first

. Use the Annie Sloan wax to finish off your pieces as this will keep it in good condition

What up-cycling projects have you been doing?

Any tips?

Fun summer in the UK

I honestly believe you can have just as much fun in the UK as you can abroad, minus the expectation of sun and a golden tan. If you don't have time or the budget to go abroad this year, why not explore the UK? 

Go Glamping or Camping

Pitching a tent up in a field can honestly be so much fun. I would say weather dependent so maybe camping should be more of a last minute decision, but you will not regret it. If you have never been before, take someone with experience and enjoy. Camp fires, sleeping bags, and the seaside:) Take a big group of friends or family, or even just an intimate stay with you and your partner! If roughing it isn't for you Glamping is becoming very popular, a lot of bigger campsites now have Tipis, ready made tents etc to cater to all your needs.

Book a ' Sun Holiday'

The Sun newspaper do this deal twice a year, you collect tokens from your newspaper and once you have collected enough you are entitled to a £9.99 holiday. The system works all online now, so you can choose your weekend, caravan, lodge, holiday home and destination. The prices do usually go above £9.99 however, it is still such a great deal and it gives you the chance to explore some great seaside areas on a budget.

Visit a big city

Why not have a few days visiting a big city. Be a tourist somewhere you have never been before, or re visit some of your favourite quaint cafes and eateries in one of your favourite places. Use buses, trains, city bikes and explore:) I'm definitely going to try and visit London this summer!

Festivals

Festivals have become so popular recently so you really can take your pick of the local or big festivals available in the UK. Take wellies just in case the British weather doesn't hold out:)

What plans do you have this summer?

My top five healthy meal swaps

Cereal

I am such a big fan of cereal so swapping all the naughty cereals for a healthy option in the morning was really hard for me. I realised it was all about portion size and eating something that was going to keep me full in till lunch.

I've been really enjoying porridge, I buy the sachets and have been experimenting with the different flavours as well as adding my own fruit and nuts. Its great because I can easily manage my portion control and its super tasty!

Weetabix and fruit is also another favourite of mine at the moment, I have always loved Weetabix and it definitely gives me loads of energy in the morning! I top it with some of my favourite fruits, its so great and refreshing for the morning and also really quick to make!

Lunch options

I have been mixing up my lunch options to try and cut out unneeded fats and sugars but also feel full! I have been experimenting with home - made soups which I have found really filling, also if i'm fancying something lighter Crisp bread with Dairylea and cucumber!

SNACK time

I don't know about you but for me there's always that time of day when you feel like you need to grab something naughty, sugar, chocolate or savoury. My enemy is chocolate, so instead of grabbing a small bar, or some sweets I have been trading them in for cereal bars or a yogurt. Some cereal bars can be quite high in sugar, but if it keeps the chocolate at bay I'm happy! Muller have some really great yogurt options at the moment which are great for a treat after dinner, my favourite is Muller Light strawberry cheesecake :) 

Eating out

It can be really hard to eat out and eat healthy. There are so many temptations around, especially with the massive increase in restaurants and takeaways being right on our doorstep. I recently went to Las Iguanas, I enjoyed a delicious meal and kept reasonably healthy. I usually begrudge buying a salad when i'm out for food but this mango, pecan and goats cheese salad was so tasty. I had some bread and olives as a side along with some re-fried beans and I didn't feel cheated at all. Avoid the places you know you will be tempted to eat bad, but don't forget to have a treat every now and again.

Go Vege

I was a vegetarian for about  four years when I was younger so I already really enjoy vegetarian food. Try swapping meat in your meals for Quorn and see the difference. Its not only lower in fat but full of protein and can be frozen to stay fresh! I swap meat for a Vege alternative as often as I can and find this really helps with keeping fit and healthy!

(Halloumi Burger)

What do you do to keep fit & healthy?

What healthy swaps have you made to your lifestyle?

:)

Tasty Prawn Bhuna

You will need

Fresh or Pre-Cooked Prawns

1 Tsp Cumin

2 Tsp Coriander

1 Tsp Mustard

1/2 Tsp Chili

3 Tbsp oil

1 Onion

1 Tsp ginger

2 Garlic cloves

100g tomato/ Passata

Salt to taste

Heat oil in a pan, add Onions, Ginger and Garlic, stir and fry for 4-5 minutes until golden brown

Add Cumin, Coriander, Mustard, Chili and stir in

Add Passata or Tomatoes to make a thick paste

Add your prawns, if you don't like prawns try adding chicken or lamb

Finally, add 125mls of boiled water and simmer for up to 60 mins. If necessary, add vegetable stock to thicken

Serve with rice and enjoy

:)

Home Ideas Scrapbook

After making a photo scrapbook, which I really enjoyed, I decided to take Scrap-booking to the next level and scrapbook my home ideas. Although I already do this on Pinterest, I thought it would be great to have a visual right in front of me for inspiration. I already collect every shop magazine going so I thought why not do something useful with them!?

I picked up loads of home magazines, George Home, John Lewis, M & S, Next home and collaborated all the ideas I liked. I ripped all sorts of things out that I liked and stuck them all onto a A3 piece of card. I collaborated everything from colour schemes to pillows I liked and have found this so helpful when buying new things as I can vision the finished look of the rooms.

I now have a wedding scrapbook, photo scrapbook and home scrapbook!

:)