So, What's Cooking in the Pancake Art Studio this Summer?
/I mentioned Dan Lacey this evening & it occurred to me that I haven't blogged his work lately. I previously featured Dan regularly, so of you search on my site for him as key word you will see lots more kitsch portrait work, all adorned with pancakes & a twist of madness. You can also visit Dan Lacey on his own blog.
and hey! That's me!
Our Stay at The Bushmills Inn, Causeway Coast, Northern Ireland
/Holidaying 'at home' has become the done thing for families these days & we were lucky enough to be sent on a special mission by Tesco Magazine, to spend three days exploring Northern Ireland's North Coast.
Tesco Magazine are encouraging families all over the UK to hit the road and explore what's on their doorsteps in The Great Family Road Trip.
My tales of adventure will be on the Tesco blog very soon, but in the meantime I'd love to share with you some pictures of the hotel we called home that weekend.
The Bushmills Inn, situated a stone's throw from the world famous distillery of the same name, is a four star luxury home-from-home.
The two storey rooms offer everything you need, and more, with Nespresso Machines and complimentary Elemis toiletries. The staff even left a little Bushmills Inn teddy on my son's bed for him arriving, which pleased him no end. He carried it around all weekend.
The room was the height of luxury, with a shower room and dressing room downstairs, off the sitting area, and a separate bathroom with bath upstairs, and the double bed for us. This was super in the evenings as our tired out five year old could doze off in his bed on the ground floor, and we could sit and watch television without disturbing him, upstairs.
The hotel restaurant was outstanding, both for breakfast and our evening meal. The staff make you feel like royalty, and are knowledgable of the local area and attractions, useful as most of the other guests seemed to be those on golfing holidays. The Causeway Coast has a number of world famous golf courses, as well as world famous natural attractions such as the Giant's Causeway.
I would recommend a stay at The Bushmills Inn in a heartbeat. One of the best hotels I've ever stayed in on my travels. If you are visiting Northern Ireland from another land, make sure you look it up.
Snot the Zombie- My Son's New Best Friend
/I picked up my son from his friend's house this afternoon and told him I needed his help with a blog review today. I told him it was a zombie backpack. "I don't like zombies" he says. Home, and 30 minutes later he is literally kissing his new Wow Pack, Snot the Zombie. I think I'll have to have him pried out of it at bed time. He just loves it.
Wow Packs are the first 3D animated back packs and they launch in the UK in August in Smyths Toy Stores. The eyes roll & snot comes from the nose, which seems to be hilarious if you are five. The controls are on the straps and there's also a motion activated setting, so Snot can trick your friends, or Daddy.
Snot comes in green or blue, and there's also a Kitten which comes in purple & pink.
Like Wow Packs on Facebook or follow on Twitter to keep up to date with Wow Stuff. Check out the Wow Wanderers on Pinterest.
I'm 33 Tomorrow. It's Time I Got a Beauty Routine, with help from NSpa.
/I didn't start wearing makeup until I was well into my twenties, and I still haven't got into a beauty routine in my thirties. NSpa are affordable at-home spa products developed by the UK's number one day spa, Nirvana. They sent me a selection from their Bathing Rituals and Beauty Rituals range.
The products are numbered in order to use, which is handy for me as I'm never sure what's supposed to come first. I've been using the range every day for a week now, and the skin on my face felt different after the first day. My foundation was easier to apply, and because you layer the products you smell absolutely lovely (if I do say so myself) even before you use fragrance. The Bathing Ritual Foam is also great for shaving your legs, and the Dry Oil after showering is non-greasy and sinks in in seconds- I hate trying to put clothes on over greasy moisturised arms!
I'll be picking up some more products from the website, or in store in Asda. I look forward to trying their Haircare Rituals too.
Bathing Rituals
Beauty Rituals
Can You Make It Through This Post Without Your Mouth Watering?
/Raspberry and rhubarb wasn't a flavour combo I'd thought of before, but researching this blog post has me absolutely dying to try it. I love crumble, and the addition of raspberry gives it a summery spin.
For a quick, easy summertime recipe, try this raspberry rhubarb fruit crumble. It's light, refreshing, easy to put together, and is the perfect accompaniment to a lazy evening spent outdoors with friends. And you can enjoy it knowing that this recipe is as healthy as it is delicious. With an extremely low FODMAP (what is a low FODMAP diet?) it's great for people with dietary issues that might be bothered by heavier summertime deserts.
Either for a get together with friends or a simple night in with the family, this is one summertime desert you don't want to miss out on.
Ingredients:
3 large rhubarb stalks
1 handful of Raspberries
21 grams Oats
21 grams Quinoa or Rice Flakes
21 grams Coconut Thread
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
1 Teaspoon cinnamon
Maple Syrup
Method
1. Chop the rhubarb stalks into thin slices. Try to cut the slices as uniformly as possible, so the rhubarb will cook evenly.
2. Drop the rhubarb into a large pan, and add enough water to coat the bottom. Heat the water to a boil, and let the rhubarb cook at a hard boil for at least 10 minutes. It's hard to over-cook rhubarb, but very easy to under-cook it - so when in doubt, let it cook a little longer. When the rhubarb is done, thecolour should be uniform and the rhubarb chunks should easily fall apart when pierced with a knife.
3. Once the rhubarb is done, turn off the heat, but leave the pan over the hot eye. Add in your raspberries and stir thoroughly. Allow the mixture to sit for 10 to 20 minutes, until the raspberries have dissolved and the mixture has thickened slightly.
4. While the mixture cools, combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the coconut oil to the dry mix, and incorporate with your fingers. The mixture will take on a loose, crumbly consistency, like wet sand.
5. Spread the crumble mixture out on a sheet pan, and bake in a 350 degree oven for 5 minutes. Gently stir the mixture, and return to the oven for 5 more minutes, or until golden brown.
6. Taste the cooled fruit mixture. Add maple syrup until sweet enough for your taste.
7. Spoon some of the fruit mixture into a bowl. Top with a generous portion of the crumble topping, and serve immediately.
8. Enjoy!
If you think you may have a food intolerance or allergy be sure to check out YorkTest, food intolerance test experts.
Please Vote for TheWorldofKitsch.com in the Irish Blog Awards 2013
/There's only a few days left to nominate TheWorldofKitsch.com in the Irish Blog Awards, if you are a fan. The form is here and I'd scroll down to the Personal Blog and Lifestyle Blog categories, you can nominate me in as many categories as you want. You can nominate even if you live outside Ireland, and my email address for the form is kitschandink@me.com Thank you!
The Big Family School Year Diary. Sometimes a Pen & Paper Saves the Day. Plus: Free Organisational Print Outs.
/Mum's Office specialises in beautiful stationary for organising a busy life. I have been after something like this for about two years, and was planning on getting a Filofax type thing (remember all the beauty bloggers went mad for them about 3 years ago?!) but I never got round to it (ironically, disorganisation stopped me).
Mum's Office sent me their purple Big Family School Year Diary, which runs from August 2013 until August 2014. It simply must be designed by a mum, because it has all the room and sections you need, that other diaries lack.
It's always nice to receive products to review, but this is a real winner for me, and they've cleverly secured me as a customer for next year. This will be my bible for the next year. There's also enough room to organise my blogging, making lists of reviews I've to get on with.
Check out the site, and take advantage of their free print out organisation sheets, for all registered customers. You can't beat a good freebie.
