Afternoon Tea by the Sea

We returned to The Salty Dog in Bangor on Saturday to try their afternoon tea selection. Priced at £10 per person, with the option to add a glass of prosecco for £4, it's surprisingly filling. We enjoyed our's just before 4pm and didn't need to eat for the rest of the day.

To begin we had tiny, little posh sandwiches. BLT, smoked salmon and egg, really tasty. 

Next we had a selection of scones including cherry and raisin. The cherry jam that comes with your tea is perfect with either the butter or cream on offer.

The final top tier was something very special though. The chocolate shots are unreal, I've never tasted anything like them. The home made macaroons are perfect and beautifully light. I wasn't overly keen on the walnut cake cubes, but we also had a little plate of carrot cake that was light as air which made up for that.

If you'd like to visit The Salty Dog, afternoon tea is served seven days a week between 11am and 4pm.

The Salty Dog Facebook Page has a competition running this week to win a meal for two at their 'Fish Supper' night this Thursday. They also have a Game Night and a Gin Tasting Night coming up, with full details on their FB Page. They will be matching gins to various courses of the meal, and serving special gin based cocktails. We went to the 'Snout to Trotter' tasting night and it was quite an experience!

Maybe his Real Name is Doctor Marten Who?

Doctor Who loves his Doc Martens. He's worn versions of the British boot in various regenerations, and his assistants are keen on the versatile, hard-wearing but fashionable brand too. 

The blog The Fashion of Doctor Who should be a terrific bookmark if you love the costumes on the show. It can help you locate pieces you see the characters wearing on screen.

On Thursday I'll be at the VIP opening of the new Doctor Marten shop in Belfast, so I'll keep my eyes pealed for the TARDIS. If I meet him I'll ask him does he own a pair of these- TARDIS Ugg slippers.

WWE Construct & Destroy Building Sets

These WWE Stackdown construction sets (let's just say it, Lego, isn't it?) are perfectly priced to stockpile for birthday presents for class friends' this year. Smyths' Toys have the sets in their mix and match, two for £15 range, which is even better than their £9.99 RRP.

Michael is almost seven and a Lego novice, but found the set easy to build by himself with the instructions at hand. He's never caught the wrestling on tv, but it still caught his imagination. So much so that when I flicked through the Christmas toy catalogue this morning, I found he has each of the other sets circled heavily in black Biro! 

We were disappointed however that the snake doesn't 'leap' out of the cage at the wrestler, like it seems to suggest on the packaging. Still, a thumbs up for this toy.

Here are the other options. 

Autumn Grub at M&S

As the leaves turn orange we find ourselves craving Sunday dinner comfort food, warm pies and stews, sweet, golden crumbles. This September however has given us some peculiarly mild weather, so you can still enjoy cool, fresh salads packed with autumnal colour schemes in the range at Marks & Spencer.

Set your table on fire with these brightly coloured, crisp side salads two for £3 : Spanish Style Chicken lunch £3.80

The reds and oranges continue in the meal deal salads, three items for £3.50

But Sunday lunch is Sunday lunch and with big, hunks of lamb, pulled pork, beef and chicken you can quickly cook up for the whole family for as little as £6.50 for your meat : How delicious does sour cherry & almond crumble pudding sound? Serve hot with a big scoop of vanilla icecream £3.00

Lastly some sweet treats from my little M&S autumn haul. Pecan & Maple cookies which will be a delight with big, builders' mugs of tea £2.00 : Millionaire's Crunch Cereal. Like Cocopops for kids £2.60 : Huge family size Cinder Toffee yoghurt £1.75 There was also a cinnamon and apple variety which I'm going to try next time.

And here is the lamb all cooked up in 40 minutes.

Heatons Have Pink Leopard Skin Boots for Kids and I Need Them

Pretty please go up to a size 4 in these boots, Heatons Stores, because I need them for my winter wardrobe!

Heatons have gone for traditional autumnal colours in their home range. Foxes and owls and stags all over the show. Always a good thing.

The clothing in Heatons is well priced, and is my go-to place for good fitting, well washing cardigans. 

Also have my eye on their fair weather men's hoodie.

Scotland-themed Cakes for the Scots to Celebrate or Commiserate With Tomorrow.

The first one is my favourite.

Civil partnership cake.

Bagpipes by Essence Cakes.

Scotland is peppered with Castles, ruins and history.

Your basic flag. Probably the hardest one I should attempt.

Cheer up, love. Your dress is made of cake.

Love the cupcakes made to be grass.

Bottom-baring kilt

Nessie

Scottish terrier aka Scotty Dogs

A thistle, good enough to eat.

Irn an Irn Bru cake by Adventures in Cakes.

And finishing with my second favourite.

Remember the Excitement of Getting Paper Post as a Kid? Give the Gift of Surprise to Your Kids for £1.99 with Sticker Club

My son loves this, really, really loves this. He's used to parcels arriving for me daily crammed with things to review for you guys on here. It's always ten times more exciting when it's a toy or children's magazine to test out. But now with The Sticker Club, for a subscription of £1.99 a week, he gets his own post in a bright yellow envelope, addressed just for him. 

There are different subscriptions to pick, and you can gift them to send to a niece, nephew or grandchild at their own address. Each envelope comes with nine sheets of diffent stickers, usually three of each artist's distinctive style. Super for decorating books, bikes, whatever! 

Is Your Little One the Next Tiger or Rory?

Jessica Martin aged 16 from Greenisland launches the Irish Golf Expo’s ‘Cash back to Clubs’ initiative. Organisers of the Expo, which takes place on 20th and 21September st at the Kings Hall Complex, will donate £1 from every ticket purchased by a golf club member in Northern Ireland to the corresponding club’s Juvenile section.

Ireland’s only interactive golf experience, Irish Golf Expo will feature a variety of exhibitors showcasing the latest in golf equipment, fashion and gadgets from the leading global brands in the game including Taylormade and Bridgestone Golf. The family-friendly event will also have demonstrations and free golf lessons from PGA professionals as well as an indoor driving range with custom fitting and club testing, on-site golf superstore and much more.

For tickets visit www.irishgolfexpo.com and follow the Irish Golf Expo on Facebook at facebook.com/IrishGolfExpo or twitter @IrishGolfExpo #loveirishgolf.