Hocus Pocus Bun Recipe

Hocus Pocus Bun Recipe

Thursday, October 27, 2022

I was looking for easy snacks to make for spooky movie nights, in this, the best season ever-Spooky Season! I stumbled across something called Hocus Pocus Buns on Facebook so I went hunting for a recipe and I found a few which seemed to differ slightly, but the one I'm sharing here was the easiest, messiest, quickest, and the most fun sounding so I tried it, and OH.MY.GOD!! I found this recipe at Fork to Spoon and the lady behind Fork to Spoon may be my new favourite blog person. Please go check out her recipes, I'm going to work through all the yummy air fryer ones! 

Anyway, back to Hocus Pocus Buns...

You're going to need Marshmallows (I used the normal-sized pink and white ones), Cinnamon sugar, butter, and croissant dough (the jus-rol stuff works well although it comes pre-perforated which can cause some mess if you don't seal the properly). 

INGREDIENTS

1/2 Cup Melted Butter 

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon 

Croissant Dough

Marshmallows (8-12)

METHOD

Melt your butter in a bowl and set to side

Mix sugar and cinnamon together to make cinnamon sugar and set aside

Roll out dough and cut into 8-12 equal pieces-the Jus-Rol dough makes exactly 12 so if you use that you get more!

Once everything is prepared dip each marshmallow in melted butter then roll it in the cinnamon mixture and place it in the centre of your dough. Close up the dough any which way you can to ensure no gaps.

Brush all your wrapped marshmallows with more of the butter and then sprinkle with your leftover sugar,

Set your Air Fryer to 160° and a cooking time of 8 minutes. 

Line the air fryer tray with parchment paper or silicon fryer liners (if you have them they will keep your fryer cleaner in case of marshmallow leaks).

Place each bun in the fryer spaced apart to avoid sticking together. (The ninja dual fryer 9.5l fits 6 in each side-otherwise you may have to do two batches).

And that's it! They come out you place them on a tray or plate and you can dig in. Just remember hot marshmallows can be TOO hot so maybe wait more than the 30 seconds I did!

15 minutes and boom, perfect movie night snacks! I think maybe a Hocus Pocus marathon. 

Much Love

Aj x

What I've been listening to lately.

What I've been listening to lately.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

I have always been someone with one of those truly eclectic tastes in music. The kind of person that has playlists that swing wildly from bubblegum 90s pop to 60s rock, and back again through emo and classical-there is no common thread to any of it! However, I am also the kind of person who hyper-fixates on things sometimes and that is why for the last 6 years my most listened-to artist on Spotify has been Taylor Swift! In my defence, she has so many styles across 9 albums that she basically ticks all my favourite boxes. 

Our IVF Journey so Far | OCTOBER

Our IVF Journey so Far | OCTOBER

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

If you read my last post, Vogue's 73 Questions, you now know a little bit more about me, and if you REALLY read it you will know that we are finally at the top of the waiting list for IVF. 

Now I say finally like the whole process has taken forever but honestly, it's gone much quicker than I anticipated. I think you hear all these horror stories about people waiting for years and then Covid came along and slowed everything right down but when it comes down to it I think the time waited is totally relative. By that I mean we'd been trying to get pregnant for 7 years (on and off) when we were referred for fertility testing so in comparison, the year we've waited from referral to top of the list, feels like no time at all. 

I know some of you may be wondering why it took that long for us to go for fertility testing but honestly, we'd spent so long trying we'd decided to let nature just take its course- in the interest of protecting my mental health- the pressure of trying for a baby and it never, ever working is a lot and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It wasn't until I contacted my doctor in June 2020 about irregular periods and some other symptoms and she suggested I may be perimenopausal that we revisited the idea of children. My doctor suggested putting me on the pill to regulate my periods but of course that would have ended any hopes of conceiving- no matter how unlikely that was- and we just weren't ready for that, so instead she referred us to Aberdeen Fertility Clinic. 

What followed was tests and waiting, waiting and tests. Damian had to produce a "sample" for testing, and I had to have a transvaginal ultrasound to determine what, if anything, was causing our infertility. 

Let me tell you, you haven't ever felt as confused as I did when the doctor doing my procedure exclaimed "I'm just having a wee bit of trouble finding your ovary." followed moments later with "oh what you doing all the way up there?"!! Like, what?? Apparently, my polycystic little doodah was chilling somewhere up near my ribcage. I could go into a lot more detail about transvaginal ultrasounds and what to expect but I don't want this post to be too long so I'll probably save that for another day. 

After she'd had a good root about in my uterus, and surrounding area, the doctor and I headed through to have a wee chat about what it means to have Polycystic ovaries (not to be confused with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and why that means that whilst I will have more eggs, post hormone stimulation, than the average person they might not be as good quality as the 10 a non-polycystic ovary would produce. In my case, I have 42 follicles that will be stimulated during hormone treatment which COULD mean 42 matured eggs may be harvested when I have my extraction procedure. This sounds INCREDIBLE but there is always the fact that 10 great eggs are better than 42 average eggs to worry about. 

Anyway, after this wee chat, we were officially added to the waiting list and that was 3 months ago, and now we're at the top! 

Being at the top, at this point, means that we have started doing our coursework (which is basically watching lots of videos about the process and the procedures that will be carried out) and filling in our consent forms. Once we've finished a HEAP of modules online we have an appointment to electronically sign everything off with our doctor and then the most important wait begins-but this one should only be 3-4 weeks!! Which means all being well. and all timings being as noted we could begin hormone treatment in early December. Honestly, pray for me, the thought of Disneyland with extra hormones is hilarious to me 😂

So, that's where we are right now. And I'll no doubt be back to fill you in on all the wonderful things that happen once the hormones start...did I mention that the needle they, apparently, use to extract my eggs is inserted through the vaginal wall? No? Well, now you know! 

Much Love 

AJ xx

 

Vogue's 73 Questions

Vogue's 73 Questions

Thursday, October 14, 2021

The day is Wednesday 13th of October 2021 and we are about to step back in time, to an era when blogging was just a hobby, TikTok was Vine, Love Island was still just z-list celebrities hooking up with each other, and reality tv stars appeared in Heat magazine, not the White House. It was a simpler time-especially in the world of blogging where blog posts were either beauty tutorials, reviews, brain dumps, or get to know me lists...which is my really subtle way of introducing you to Vogue's 73 Questions to get to know me! 

I bloody love a good get to know me and when I read Jenny in Neverland's post I just had to have it.

Let's dive in then to 73 questions that you didn't ask but I'm going to answer anyway!

1. What is your usual Starbucks order? 

I don't drink Starbucks ever but occassionaly I have a Peach Iced Tea from Costa.

2. What does your workstation look like right now? 

Right now I'm on the couch with my laptop on a cushion, my notebook to my right, and my dog asleep on my legs. My actual desk looks like Typo exploded on it-notebooks and pens everywhere. 

3. All-time favourite food? TW [Eating Disorder]

Roast beef I guess. I eat chicken most days, but I don't really like food and if I didn't have to eat it I probably wouldn't.  I live with an eating disorder called Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder which you can read all about by clicking here >>> ARFID

4. Favourite Author?

Oh gosh. I'm not sure I have a favourite. I have a few that I will buy anything and everything they write-like Brigid Kemmerer, Kristin Cast, Alex Kava, Josephine Angelin, Karen M. McManus, and I really loved Namina Forna's debut.

5. What do you think of open relationships?

I have no opinion on how people, who aren't in a relationship with me, conduct their own relationships. Monogamy isn't for everyone though and that's just fine with me. 

6. Favourite Video Game

Jak & Daxter, or Ratchet & Clank

7. Guilty pleasure treat

I don't feel guilty about treating myself. Life is fucking hard and we should grab things that make us happy as often as we can. 

8. Favourite Film

The Shawshank Redemption. But also Dirty Dancing because it makes me happy. 

9. Favourite Book

Wuthering Heights

10. Twitter or Instagram

Ooh Sophie's choice!! Twitter, probably. Ask me again tomorrow. 

11. Desktop or Laptop

Laptop

12. Best advice you ever received?

Holding onto hate for someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. The other person is not affected by your emotions after the fact, you are the only person experiencing them. 

13. What project are you working on right now?

Hahaha um. I am writing a novel, trying out gardening, trying to keep this blog updated, decorating my flat, I have a junk journal/life journal for my future child, I'm 2/3s of the way through a double-sided jigsaw puzzle, decorating for Halloween, AND perhaps most importantly...about to undertake IVF!

14. Favourite colour

Blue, and purple. But only certain shades of both. Oh and teal. 

15. Did you get good grades at school?

Yup. I was very into school (except for a little while there in 3rd year/year 10) and did really well. 

16. Dream Job

I don't dream of labour. BUT if I do have to work for a living for the rest of my life *yawn* I would want to be either a librarian or the proprietor of an esoteric bookshop/knick-knack store that smells always of incense, and sells "special" brownies (once it's legalised of course). 

17. Played any sports?

I played football when I was younger, I love basketball-I love beating men at hoops challenges more. I tried golf once because it was my dad's favourite. I did not like it, but I do remember how to hold a club (it's weird what sticks) and in my head, I think I would be great at tennis but then I remember all the energy it requires and give it a miss. 

18. Do you have a degree.

Yeah, a hard-earned degree that I obtained in the worst year of my life. In my 4th year at Uni I was planning a wedding, working full time in a different town to the one I studied in, lost my son, and then lost my gran. It was tough but my friends and family, and Robert Gordon's Univerity counselling department got me through it. 

19. What song is the most played on your Spotify?

the 1 by Taylor Swift. In fact, my entire Top 30 most played songs are by Taylor Swift with only 2 exceptions for Ellie Goulding and Olivia Rodrigo.

20. What is your favourite type of blog post to do?

Probably ones like this. Or really anything that actually feels personal to me. Something that only I could've written. 

21. What do you like to collect?

Books. Lots and lots of books. Also notebooks, and giraffe things, and Sleeping Beauty/Maleficent ornaments, and Doctor Who Funko Pops (but only certain types). 

22. Describe yourself in three words

Floopy, weird, and tired

23. If you were a rapper what would your name be?

Haha 😂. Something stupid like Lil Gaia or Lady Hecate 

24. Who was the last person you DMd?

The group chat with my girls Zita and Lisa

25. What's top of your wishlist right now?

Like my actual life wishlist or my amazon wishlist? Um my life wishlist, a baby. My amazon wishlist, either this ridiculously expensive rechargeable salt and pepper grinder (it's in a pale pink colour and would go great in my half-finished kitchen) or this 70s inspired dress of dreams!

 

26. Hogwarts House?

Please, for the love of God, please read another book.

27. How many tattoos do you have?

None

28. What are you most grateful for this year?

So many things. My family, my friends, having a roof over my head. 

29. What's the best thing to happen to you this month? 

We made it to the top of the waiting list for IVF!

30. What's the best thing to happen to you today?

Painkillers. I'm off sick from work and this morning I woke up with a sore back which only got worse as the day went on so yeah, painkillers!

31. What's the best thing ever?

BOOKS

32. Favourite season?

All of them. They all have something I love. When it comes down to it, Autumn is my favourite time of year, but Spring is my favourite for weather and ya know new beginnings at such. 

33. Favourite holiday?

Samhain/Halloween

34. Which fictional character do you relate to?

April Ludgate from Parks & Recreation

35. Do you like surprises?

Small ones yes, big ones no.

36. What's the biggest surprise you ever got?

Fibromyalgia

37. What's a surprise that made you cry?

Fibromyalgia

38. Best surprise you've given someone?

I think that's relative to the people who received them. I did once purchase tickets to We Will Rock You for Damian and gave them to him in the form of a poem made up of Queen songs. 

39. Do you like muffins?

I suppose. They aren't my go-to but if they are the only option I'll grab one. 

40. Do you cook often?

I'm starting to cook more often. I used to not cook at all but I'm finding it really fun lately so I've been trying some stuff out in the kitchen.

41. Favourite dessert.

Chip Happens by Ben & Jerry's but seeing as that's limited edition it would have to be Brownies with Vanilla pod ice cream. Ooh or bread and butter pudding. 

42. Dessert you don't like.

Anything that is predominantly fruit and claims to be a dessert.

43. Cake or Pie.

Cake but honestly neither.

44. Least favourite food.

As mentioned in question 3 I don't really like food so, most of them. 

45. Favourite condiment.

Yuck, no thanks!

46. It's 4am on a Saturday night what would you eat?

4am!! Why on earth am I awake at 4am? Nah, if I'm out, and drunk, and hungry I'm either heading to Mcdonald's for nugs or grabbing chips and gravy from the chippy. 

47. If you could teach a college class what would it be called?

Sabrina, Charmed, and What Popular Culture Does and Does not get Right about Witches in the 21st Century. 

48. Best animated film

Frozen 2

49. What has a person done to impress you?

I think the thing that has impressed me most in life from a guy (as the question originally asked but that's heteronormative so I changed it) is stability. D brought me stability in the most turbulent time of my life, he brought me consistent love, passion, friendship, and understanding. He took me from single party girl to wife so quickly even I was surprised, so yeah. The most impressive thing a guy has ever done for me is love me, bones and all. 

50. Best thing to do on a first date

Talk to each other! 

51. Worst thing to do on a first date

Anything where you can't talk to each other.

52. Funniest pick up line

Pick up lines are objectively terrible but I do love the one where you smash an ice cube and then say "now that the ice is broken blah blah blah" 😂

53. Best comic book character

Either Wanda Maximoff for reasons, OR Death from Sandman

54. Three things that are always in your bag.

Inhaler, painkillers, and a book

55. Favourite drink

Alcoholic: Champagne     Non-Alcoholic: Dr Pepper

56. If you could play any historical character who would it be?

Hedy Lamarr

57. Kittens or Puppies?

Puppies but also I love kittens

58. Favourite Sushi Roll

I don't like sushi. I ate it once years ago and was really ill afterwards so never again. 

59. Favourite lipstick.

I know so many of you are going to roll your eyes at this but the genuine answer is Kylie Cosmetics in either Candy K or Holly Berry

60. Favourite foundation

I don't really wear foundation, I prefer something lightweight like a BB cream but my go-to is Primark's PS My Perfect Colour Perfect Finish in ivory or sand.

61. Blow dry or air dry?

Both. Blow-dry on hair dye days and air dry every other time. 

62. Who is your fashion icon?

Anybody who is unapologetically themselves. I love Lucy Hale, Florence Given, Stevie Nicks, Cher, Zendaya, Kate Bush, Jane Fonda, Margaux Hemingway and Marianne Faithfull. It's all very classic cool, 70s silhouettes, boho glam around here.

63. Favourite Disney character.

Aurora

64. What are you doing tomorrow? 

I have an appointment with Occupational Health, and I plan on having a nice bath and doing some reading. 

65. What is a movie that made you laugh the hardest?

I don't watch a lot of specifically funny movies but I did laugh a lot during Shrek so I guess Shrek 🤷

66. What is a movie that made you cry?

I cry at adverts, it is not hard to make me cry. The LAST movie I cried at was Just Like Heaven

67. If you could sing a duet with someone who would it be?

Without blowing my own trumpet too much I'd have to sing a duet with someone whose songs I am capable of signing so I'm gonna say Cher. 

68. If your life was a song what would it be called?

Bet you Never Thought You'd Get This Far!

69. What is your favourite animal?

Giraffe

70. Who is your favourite illustrator?

I have no idea. Apart from Quentin Blake I don't think I could name an illustrator, and that is terrible. Sorry.

71. Who is a person you want to have coffee with?

I don't drink coffee but if we were to take that figuratively it would be my girl Zita. She's my favourite person to spend time with that I'm not married to. 

72. What is one country you would love to visit?

Japan! Especially Tokyo Disney,DisneySea, and the traditional old town of Takayama.

73. and finally, What is the best way to decompress?

A long, hot bath. A good book, a bath bomb, some calming incense, a candle, my Reading playlist on Spotify playing on the bathroom speaker, and just 30-40 minutes completely by myself. 

Goodreads Reading Challenge Progress

Goodreads Reading Challenge Progress

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Do you know what sucks? Chronic illness sucks, it is the thief of joy, the barrier to progression, and the jester that mocks you when you make plans. I have lists and lists of things I want to do from the small- organise my bathroom cupboards- to the large- Tokyo Disney- and chronic illness always has a way of coming between me and my goals. The thing my chronic illness stops me from doing most though is THIS! Blogging seems so simple to those who don't do it but it takes so much energy from those of us who have little. 

So, I've sat down in front of this laptop a number of times over the last few months with the intention of writing something, anything, and then haven't. Sitting at my desk hurts my back, sitting on the couch hurts my legs, brain fog steals the words on their journey from my brain to my clicky little fingers-and inevitably I give up and just go back to reading or watching TV. But today I am easing myself back in with something easy-it's just a list it shouldn't be too taxing, right? Let's hope not!

I am way behind (see above about chronic illness being the thief of joy) on my reading challenge this year BUT I am exactly halfway through which is an achievement in itself so let's have a look at the 25 books I've read so far in 2021:

1. Influence by Sara Shepard (3*)
2. Secrets of the Starcrossed-Once and Future Queen book 1 by Clara O'Connor (4*)
3. The Curse of the Celts- Once and Future Queen book 2 by Clara O'Connor (4*)
4. Legend of the Lakes- Once and Future Queen book 3 by Clara O'Connor (4*)
5. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (5*)
6. Little Scratch by Rebecca Watson (4*)
7. The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed (4*)
8. The End of Men by Christina Sweeney Baird (4*)
9. A Vow so Bold and Deadly-Cursebreakers book 3 by Brigid Kemmerer (4*)
10. Mirrorland by Carole Johnstone (4*)
11. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (4*)
12. When I Was Ten by Fiona Cummins (5*)
13. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by Voldemort (no rating-reread)
14. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Voldemort (no rating-reread)
15. Good Girls Die First by Kathryn Foxfield (4*)
16. The Guest List by Lucy Foley (4*)
17. Perimenopause Power by Maisie Hill (3*)
18. The Mother Fault by Kate Mildenhall (2*)
19. All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue (5*)
20. House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (5*)
21. The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James (4*)
22. Dog Rose Dirt by Jen Williams (5*)
23. Found- House of Night Other World book 4 by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast (3*)
24. As Good as Dead- A Good Girl's Guide to Murder book 3 by Holly Jackson (4*)
25. Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer (5*)

There is was a 26th book but I did not finish it because the world is depressing enough without having my escapism be riddled with baby loss, spousal abuse, rape, and xenophobia, among other things.

My Favourite Book of the Year (so far)

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Spooky, mind-bending, terrifying magical realism. Beautifully written, torn from the mind of someone a little twisted (this is the highest compliment), and just thoroughly engaging. 5 stars would 100% recommend. 

My Least Favourite Book of the Year (so far)

The Mother Fault by Kate Mildenhall

I'm just going to share here what I wrote in my review on NetGalley.

I just don't get this book. At first, I was like "Yes! Dystopian world- so close to reality-sign me right up" but then nothing really happens!

The Department are shady but also so secondary to the story you can be forgiven for forgetting all about them for a large chunk of the story. Characters who are apparently so pivotal are left by the wayside with no follow-up. The big reveal happens over a page and a half and then we go back to nothing.  There is no conclusion to the story which makes it feel like the whole book is just a prequel, but there is nothing to suggest that it's the first in a series.

The writing is lovely, flashbacks are a nice touch, the honest examples of motherhood are welcome but that's it there is no cohesion between these good things and the actual story as a whole-it's just meh! 

I put The Mother Fault down at 96% and it took me another 3 days to pick it up again to finish. 

Now enough waffling on from me it's back to my books! I'm currently reading The Search Party by Simon Lelic (which if you look at the list above is surprising for the sole reason that it is written by a man!! I know I shock even myself sometimes). 

Hope you're all having a wonderful day, and if you are reading I hope it's a good one! 

Much Love

AJ 

The One Where It's All Our Fault...Apparently

The One Where It's All Our Fault...Apparently

Friday, May 28, 2021

For the last wee while I've been seeing this post be shared over and over again on Facebook and last night I just snapped and what follows came flying out of me as a 3am Facebook post-then I realised it was a bit long for a status update so you can have it here instead. This isn't even the first time I've written a post in response to a meme, maybe I need to relax haha. You can read the first one here. 

Gimme strength folks! We didn’t invent this shit? The generation that this post is having a go at grew up whilst all this new stuff was being invented and trotted out as “the next big thing”! We were fucking children when the pop bottle man stopped coming, we were kids when the tattie mannie disappeared, we were fucking kids, not corporate faceless megalomaniacs hellbent on leaching all the nutrients from the earth and turning it into fucking plastic bags that seem to mutate and split and grow when they come into contact with each other (seriously I clear out our bag corner weekly and then I look back and there’s fucking more of the bastard things EVEN THOUGH I DO ALL MY SHOPPING WITH CANVAS!

Now, don't get me wrong here the generation before us is always gonna get blamed for something. When I was growing up we blamed our parent's generation for blowing a bajillion holes in the ozone layer (seriously you did not NEED that much hairspray to look that bad)!

My niece’s generation blames my ilk for the prevalence of side parts, skinny jeans, and the overbearing naffness of the live laugh love aesthetic-whilst the media blame us for deforestation, human rights violations (because apparently, all we eat is avocado and somehow that funds human trafficking), killing the mortgage market (because we spent all our money on avocados), killing the diamond industry (oh dear, how sad, nevermind) and a load of other old shite 🤷🏼‍♀️.

And I’m sure my parents' generation probably blame their parents' generation for some other shit-but dickheads like John here are gonna come and blame an entire generation of people for killing his way of life when they were children when the transition happened. GTFOH!

Or maybe this rant is all an elaborate ruse and a whole legion of 9-10 year olds stood up one day and collectively told their parents “well actually mummy/daddy I think we should switch to plastic for everything, and don’t be ghastly I demand a cheap holiday to Tenerife instead of Skegness this year (for what it’s worth my favourite childhood memories are from the Norfolk broads-I can go to the Caribbean for the same price now-and that opens up a whole other story about shit British summers, global warming, overpricing etc) fuck off the greengrocer let’s go to the big Tesco you can drive to and don’t have to speak to other people at”!

Don’t blame people for shit they had no control over! Lay the blame at the door of big businesses who are actually the problem-they produce the most pollution, they create the most landfill, they pump the most chemicals into the atmosphere and then they slap “biodegradable/eco-friendly” on their packaging, clap themselves on the back and then blame you for not doing enough! But if you just can't help yourself and you must, must lay the blame on a generation different to your own, may I recommend not using the generation that is actively trying to bring back all those things you miss so much?

Milk deliveries? Yep we brought that back. Canvas/Linen bags? Yup us again. Recycling, paper bags, zero waste refill stores, banning single-use plastics, staycations, charity shop clothing, reduce-reuse-recycle...all being brought back and championed by the generation being so scathingly attacked in the previous post. 

Oh and don't even get me started on the irony of the original post where it laments an imaginarily wasteful generation and then uses their recycled mirror as some sort of thinly veiled insult! 

Anyway thanks for allowing me the rant, now I'm off to clean out and recycle some old candle jars to store my bamboo cotton buds, and reusable wipes- oh yeah, we brought the flannel back too! 

Much Love

Aj 

GIFTED | The Perfect Father's Day Gift?

GIFTED | The Perfect Father's Day Gift?

Monday, May 25, 2020

Question Time: Is there anything out there we can't personalise? Want personalised gift boxes? No worries. Want your face on a cake, a diamond painting, or a giant balloon? That we can do! I literally cannot think of a single gift we could buy that cannot be personalised in some way, but do you know what didn't enter my mind until I first saw it and subsequently had to have it? Personalised socks with my DOG'S face on them! 

I can't be the only dog mama that misses my dog when I'm at work? Petting other people's dogs (pre-corona) was the highlight of my day at work- because if you can't be with your own dog you might as well play with other people's right!? It is for this reason and this reason alone that when the team at Printsfield said: "we'll put your dog's face on some socks for you if you like?" I literally jumped at the offer.

What I've Been Binge Watching Lately

What I've Been Binge Watching Lately

Saturday, May 23, 2020

Okay, so we're all "Bored in the house, In the house bored" right??  I've been on annual leave for what feels like a month at this point and until then this lockdown situation hadn't really affected me (as I was still going to work as normal) but having three weeks off allowed to me to fully give in to the little devil on my shoulder shouting "BINGE WATCH ALL THE THINGS!" 

5 Things Keeping Me Sane During Lockdown

5 Things Keeping Me Sane During Lockdown

Friday, May 22, 2020

[Some links in this post are affiliate links-which means I may earn a small % of money if you buy something via one of my links-for more info on affiliate links please see my disclaimer page]

What a strange new normal we seem to have found ourselves in! I feel like I'm one of the lucky ones during all this because I am an essential worker-which means my daily routine hasn't changed as drastically as many of yours! 

However with that being said my anxiety has taken a huge battering ram to my wellbeing, and I have found myself constantly on edge, or full-on snot crying and hyperventilating. Because I know I am not alone in these feelings I thought it would be nice to share a wee lost of the things that I have been doing in an attempt to distract my overthinking brain. 

AD | Feeding my Family for Under £5.50

AD | Feeding my Family for Under £5.50

Saturday, February 22, 2020

If you know me at all and you're reading that title and thinking something is very very wrong! I am self-admittedly NOT a cook. The kitchen is not my domain, unless we're talking about baking which is a horse of a different colour of course. I am the furthest thing from a foodie it is possible to be so I tend to just stay out of the kitchen altogether and leave it to Damian, who LOVES his food. So trust me I get it that you might be thinking "there is absolutely no way AJ is cooking actual food" and honestly you'd be right! I am categorically not being the chef in this scenario-I have however set Damian a challenge, which is to cook a healthy dinner for four (or a meal that he can cook and freeze to cover at least four meals) for less than £5.50-using Schwartz Recipe Mixes!

Better Read than Dead

Better Read than Dead

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

*this post contains affiliate links. These are links that generate income for me when readers use them to purchase the items. For more information about affiliate links please see my sponsorship page. 

I think it's safe to say that I have been neglecting my online life somewhat in recent months, but for all the right reasons! Last year I set myself the challenge of reading 50 books (with the Goodreads Reading Challenge) and I don't like to lose, even against myself, so I put the laptop and the phone away and picked up book after book, and I bloody smashed it! I actually ended up reading 56 books last year, and I discovered so many favourite new world's, new characters, and wonderful new authors. On the flip side I also DNFd a couple of books for the first time ever, I always used to believe I had to finish a book, give it a chance, but it's a book, it doesn't know if you've finished it! I am no longer wasting my time on books that aren't for me when there are millions of books out there that I could be reading instead. With all that said I thought it would be nice to do a wee round-up of some of the books that stood out to me from the long list of books I read or attempted to read last year. 

WELCOME TO THE 2019 BETTER READ THAN DEAD AWARDS

[AD] Happy Feeding with Hills Science Plan Dog Food

[AD] Happy Feeding with Hills Science Plan Dog Food

Thursday, December 05, 2019

*This post contains gifted content-I was also paid for my honest review* 

Meet Lando-the cutest, clingiest, fussiest Patterdoodle in the land.

Are You the Spice Girl's BEST FAN EVER? [Sponsored]

Are You the Spice Girl's BEST FAN EVER? [Sponsored]

Monday, June 03, 2019

I'm seeing the Spice Girls this week! The actual bloody Spice Girls! Can you imagine how freaking excited I am? 

I was 9 years old when the Spice Girls burst on to the scene-all mouthy, and loud, and screaming about Girl Power. I was in awe of these amazing women-much like the rest of the world-and instantly knew that I wanted to be one of them. You could say I turned into a superfan overnight. 

Not content with just listening to their music, I had to have ALL the memorabilia, I even went as far as to subscribe to the Stage newspaper (real fans know why) to see if I could get the same opportunity they did. 

During the countdown to this Saturday's gig I have been feeling very nostalgic for those early years of Spice, and it got me thinking about all the things the ultimate Spice Girls fan owned during their heyday, so here is my list of the top 5 things every Spice Girls #BestFanEver absolutely had to have:

Perfectly Fudgy Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Perfectly Fudgy Chocolate Brownies Recipe

Monday, May 27, 2019

I don't know if you know this about me but I am an awful, awful chef! I cannot cook, I'm terrible with gauging timings, I can't eat much so I can't taste the food to see if it needs seasoning, and I don't have the patience required if I'm quite honest. My favourite (and most embarrassing) story about me trying to cook, involves me phoning Damian-while he was away in Newcastle- to ask how to turn our oven on! We'd lived in the flat for two months at this point *insert shameful dog eyes here*!

Photo by Calum Lewis @ Unsplash

Bitesize Travel Review | Madrid

Bitesize Travel Review | Madrid

Sunday, January 13, 2019

I've never really wanted to be a travel blogger, but I do LOVE to travel! Damian and I are lucky enough to get to go to some beautiful places so I thought I would do some simple, bitesize posts about the places we visit. First up our whistlestop trip to Madrid in October 2018. This trip was organised just so I could see two of my favourite pieces of art which both happen to be in Madrid.

Flights: Aberdeen to Heathrow (British Airways)-----Heathrow to Madrid (Iberia)
             Madrid to Heathrow (Iberia)-----Heathrow to Aberdeen (British Airways)
             £324* return for 2 people

Your Song

Your Song

Saturday, September 29, 2018

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Never Meet your Heroes

Never Meet your Heroes

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

You know that saying "never meet your heroes" the one that is supposed to show you that we are all human and we all have flaws and that placing people on pedestals can only end in disappointment? I think we need to update it for 2018.

Social media is a wonderful tool, one that I genuinely enjoy using, it opens the world up way wider than I ever thought possible as a young girl who grew up with Encarta discs as my only "internet". It brings people together, and puts the world's knowledge at our fingertips, and even in our pockets-and it allows you a glimpse into the lives of your so called heroes. All of these things sound wonderful, until you realise that a person you have admired for years is not a person you could actually like in real life.

I could go on and on about the countless actors, bigwigs, and celebrities who for whatever reason have attracted admiration only to turn out to be the absolute worst kinds of people- in fact I'll mention the fact that I went to college and university chasing a dream based on the job of a man who turned out to not just be a dick, but also an actual, bona fide, (and later, convicted) sexual predator-it leaves a horrible taste in the mouth, and genuinely left me hating the idea of following in his footsteps. But this post isn't about the insidiousness of predatory men, or the systems that allow them to perpetuate their crimes. This is about following someone on twitter, and admiring their work, and being grateful to them only to find that you disagree so fundamentally on the things that mean the most to you.

Happiness

Happiness

Thursday, September 20, 2018

I've recently finished my annual rewatch of my all time favourite show "One Tree Hill" and I was reminded just how much I loved one of the quotes from the show. So, after flying through the final few episodes last night I suddenly I found myself lying awake at 3:30am making notes for this very post.

"So, I've been thinking about this whole being happy thing, and I feel like people get lost when they think of happiness as a destination...We're always thinking that someday we'll be happy; we'll get that car or that job or that person in our lives that'll fix everything. But happiness is a mood, and it's like a condition, not a destination. It's like being tired or hungry, it's not permanent. It comes and goes, and that's okay. And I feel like if people thought of it that way, they'd find happiness more often."- Julian Baker

Isn't that a wonderful way to think about things. Instead of thinking "If i get this job I'll be happy" just think "I felt happy this morning, and I felt happy after that interview". Take note of the moments as opposed to the things. Feel happy and feel sad, and feel hungry and tired and remember that happiness is a feeling not a somewhere or when.

The past month has been a hard one, I've not been able to work because I threw my back out, I've felt dejected, exhausted, a bit drowsy, I've not been able to do anything on my to do list (unless you count binge watching 00's TV shows), I've not had a huge amount of human interaction, and my laundry pile kept getting bigger and bigger which makes me feel anxious. It would be easy for me to say "I'll be happy when my back feels better, and I can go back to work" but then I took a minute and reminded myself of the quote and realised that I've felt sad, tired, moody, lonely, bitchy, poorly, and yes HAPPY!

Love/Hate

Love/Hate

Tuesday, May 01, 2018

Sail Away With Me is sitting at the feet of a boy that I stole
from a girl who shared my name.
In a flat with no carpets
but a strong smell of weed.

It's fresh baked cookies
and heavy petting in club corners.
It's the sticky touch of cheap vodka shots,
and the bitter taste of Lambert & Butler cigarettes.

Sail Away With Me he said,
into New Years break ups, and countless make ups.
It's skyscrapers, screaming matches
and backslides years after the dust settles.

Sail Away With Me is Love/Hate.

How to be Kinder in 2018

How to be Kinder in 2018

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

At the end of last year, I sat down and really evaluated what I wanted out of life, I took a look at the things that were making me happy, and those that weren’t, and decided that my focus going forward had to be to do things in service of making the happy things outweigh everything else.

With that in mind I decided to write goals for 2018 as opposed to resolutions. I wanted to have things that I could work at, things that I wouldn’t beat myself up about if I failed to keep them up. Resolutions have a certain amount of guilt attached to them (IMHO) in that nobody expects you to keep them, but society will always take pleasure in pointing it out when you don’t. I’ve had enough of feeling guilt, so I wasn’t about to put myself in the situation where I was heaping that guilt onto myself.

That is why the goals were born, and I think that is why now, in the 3^rd week of March, I am still maintaining a healthy relationship with them! I thought it would be nice to share what I’ve been doing this year whilst referring to them to see just how well I’m doing. Full disclosure: a couple of the items in this post were sent to me to try out, but I only accepted them because they fit with what I am trying to do with my life, and I would have written this post with or without them.

I was originally going to make this one post but honestly I have so much to say about each goal, that I'm going to have to break it down! So welcome to the first in a series of posts about how I'm achieving my 2018 goals, starting with goal number 1: