Lunch with Marco Pierre White … 

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Sometimes I have to pinch myself at some of the opportunities I’ve been given this year via my little blog.

I’ve appeared on local radio, attended some fabulous launches, had a makeover by one of Charlotte Tilburys top MUA and now I’ve got another goodie, and a first, to add to the list.

Can you imagine my surprise and delight when I received an email earlier in the week asking whether I would like to attend the new menu launch at Marcos New York Italian Restaurant in Sheffield and  wait for it … to meet Marco Pierre White in person.

I didn’t have to think about it for long!

So that’s where I tootled off too yesterday afternoon. I almost cancelled at the last-minute due to mums health taking a turn for the worse but even on her hospital sickbed she insisted that I didn’t cancel , that she’d be ‘ever so mad’ if I didn’t attend.

So not to disappoint her … and because I was really looking forward to it off I popped with my ‘ladies that lunch’ partner Sue as my plus one.

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Wagamama Summer tasting…

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My favourite type of invite normally involves food and drink, so when Wagamama in Meadowhall got in touch to see whether I’d like to give their new summer menu a whirl … I was like the cat that got the cream.

It also happens to be one of the Mr’s favourite eateries, so when I told him it was a plus one invitation and would he like to join me … we are like a couple of cats that had got the cream!

So off we popped earlier this week …

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What will your dash say …

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It’s been a funny old day…

Funerals make you reflective don’t they? They are beautiful , yet tremendously sad at the same time. We’ve been to say goodbye to one of my best friends mums today. It’s never easy but it was a lovely service . For me the Vicar summed it up perfectly – her words resonated. She said on your grave stone amongst other things will be engraved your date of birth – the day you departed  [for example 1928 – 2017] but oh what meaning that little dash holds. Make your dash as for-filled as possible.

She’s right isn’t she? That little dash represents your life. What will yours say? Continue reading →

Fathers Day Goodies … the edit

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I’m not one for celebrating ‘faddy’ days pushed on us by advertisers intent on making loads of wonga out of us  … you all know my thoughts on Valentines Day.  If you don’t … head over here

There are a couple of days I do enjoy celebrating those being Mothers & Fathers Day. If there’s anyone I want to celebrate and say thank-you too it would be to my parents … mainly for putting up with me for all these years!

Perfect timing its Fathers Day in a few weeks time so I thought today I’d do a gift guide for all those deserving dads out there.  I personally always find it hard to buy for men, don’t you? Hopefully something might catch your eye and inspire you.

Saying that if your dads anything like mine he’ll not even know it’s Fathers Day. He won’t expect anything and would be perfectly happy with just a card and a pint!

Some of these suggestions are cheap and cheerful and some are investment pieces . Something to suit every purse string.

I’m still a big advocate ‘home made with love’ … If all else fails bake a cake ! Show me a dad who doesn’t love his sweet stuff. 

So here goes: Continue reading →

Introducing … Izabel London

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“I fell for her in summer, my lovely summer girl,

From summer she is made, my lovely summer girl,

I’d love to spend a winter with my lovely summer girl,

But I’m never warm enough for my lovely summer girl,

It’s summer when she smiles, I’m laughing like a child,

It’s the summer of our lives; we’ll contain it for a while

She holds the heat, the breeze of summer in the circle of her hand…

I’d be happy with this summer if it’s all we ever had.” Maggie Stiefvater

* * * * * * * * 

Hasn’t it been a glorious week… and about blooming time I hear you all cry! I love it when the sun makes an appearance, it generally makes for a happier place.

Rather than grunt as people walk past you, they actually smile. Big toothy, happy with the world  smiles.

To be able to leave the house without your jacket on and feel the warmth on your skin rather than wetness and the cold is fabulous. Hello Vitamin D !!

To sit in the garden and have breakfast alfresco is maybe one of my favourite things to do.

Coffee alfresco

Cocktails alfresco … you get my drift!

The little things.

* * * * * * * * Continue reading →

Summer time feeling … at the Botanist

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We all know that food generally makes me extremely happy. To coin a phrase it makes me as happy as a pig in muck …

To coin another I ate like one [a happy pig in muck, that is]

So last night I was invited by the lovely guys at The Botanist in Leopold Square, Sheffield to try out their new summer menu.

My usual eating companion is the lovely Sue. [the naughty 60] However last night as he’s never been before I decided to treat my boyfriend. He is really particular about his food and quite vocal. The perfect critic. He’s also been working ridiculous hours so I thought it would be nice to get him away from it all for a few hours… and actually speak to me! Hello I’m here… [ method in my madness]

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Walking back to happiness featuring Transitions Optical Style Colours …

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Story of my life…

I receive a couple of pairs of glasses to trail featuring the new Transitions Optical lenses from the new Style Colours collection  and the sun decides that in my corner of the world – Sheffield – it’s going to go into hiding… for the foreseeable future!

Speaking of Sheffield it’s made me smile today,  or rather its people have. I can only speak from a Sheffielders point of view because that’s where I am, but ‘by heck’ we are a mighty friendly  [ if slightly odd at times] bunch.

I encounter all sorts of people as I walk around Damflask with our Mollie. Somebody really needs to record a sit-com.

All walks of life, all shapes and all sizes. Today we were greeted by either a big toothy smile , a nod of the head, a cheery ‘Morning‘ or a pat on the back; Mollie’s back … not mine obviously!

I’m not sure if my senses become heightened as I stroll around and take in the beauty that surrounds me, or whether I appreciate life a little more having seen what mums going through? Either way the birds seemingly sing louder up in the trees, I’m entranced by the way the water dances as the light hits it?

A group of old ladies walked past us earlier. They smelt like my late Grandma Betty – ‘Palma violet  mixed with Yardley’ , you know that lovely old lady smell. It smelt comforting, familiar, it took me aback and brought a tear to my eyes.

I miss my Grandma … Continue reading →

Introducing Smartbond at Regis Hairstylist … #frazzledtofabulous

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Does anybody else get nervous about going to the hairdressers , especially when it’s a new salon … for the first time?

It might sound extremely silly but I do and it’s down to a combination of things.

A bodged up colour and a terrible cut in the past. Several terrible cuts in fact [mainly involving my pesky carflick … it’s caused some trouble in its day!] and one horrendous colour. Boy that colour was bad! I’d have given Jimmy Cranky a run for his money.

Saying that when I got the opportunity to attend Regis Hairstylists at Meadowhall to trail the new Smartbond treatment earlier this week I didn’t have to think twice.

While I get nervous I also love, love, love a good pamper. Tell me somebody who doesn’t? A trip to the salon is relaxing; a good excuse to do absolutely nothing for an hour or so.

Zonk out – turn your brain off, sit back, drink copious amounts of coffee and read magazines to your hearts content while your stylist works their magic. Continue reading →