The Purple Pumpkin Blog

Retail Therapy - What I (We!) Plan on Buying [Pre-Trip Report]

2013-05-21T19:09:00.000+01:00

Back on our first trip, we ended up buying an extra 2, or was it 3?! cases to bring all our goodies back to the UK. This time, lesson learned - pack even lighter, put a case in a case and that negates that expense!

We had been given a list of "wants" from family and friends, a lot were American treats that you can't buy here, or if you can, cost a stupid amount of money!

This is our haul from last time around...not all for us, I'd like it to be noted!

I'm sure we'll end up doing exactly the same again...but I know that some things I'll be bringing back for sure are boxes of Shake 'n' Bake - we didn't bring back enough last time and loved them! We also loved the biscuits and gravy mixes we bought (McCormicks I think it was), so they'll be on the list, as well as the hoard of candies, cookies and all the rest

I too plan on doing some cake decorating shopping out there - I didn't get around to it last time, and want to stock up on cupcake sprinkles! I also plan on buying party bits - plates, napkins, that sort of thing, as the Americans have so much more choice than us.

We always buy fridge magnets when we go on a trip or out for the day - it's about the only souvenir I will allow in the house lol. This is our fridge after last time...

...I'm sure we'll be buying all new ones! I also plan to add to my pin collection that I started in 2011

Another thing I want to buy, and it's rather silly and I hope it's still there, but is a create your own Mr. Potato Head...you could fill up a bucket with different accessories - awesome! I might have to buy 2 one for me and one for my niece...along with a ton of other stuff - she's getting spoiled rotten on our return!

We are not that big on clothes shopping - not fussed about brands etc, so that sort of thing isn't on our list. *shock horror*

One thing I am big on is Halloween...

...one suitcase for that stuff...(and I'm not kidding! )

And, it would be rude not to add to our Disney ornament collection

Oh, and I MUST buy one of these...

And that's pretty much it...best get to work and start saving up more pennies (ahem, fifties! ) so I can buy all of my wish list!

Behind the Curtain [Project 365:2013 - Day 141]

2013-05-21T18:06:00.001+01:00

Behind the Curtain, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

My purple dressing gown...not curtains :P

Earl of Sandwich - Downtown Disney [Review]

2013-05-21T16:51:00.000+01:00

Dining Date: 17th August, 2011

After a morning of some serious Disney shopping in Downtown Disney we were all feeling a bit peckish, and made a beeline for the nearby Earl of Sandwich...

Lunch at The Ardleigh & Dragon Thai Pub [Review]

2013-05-20T18:24:00.001+01:00

Hubs was off on Friday and we went out for lunch with my sister to The Ardleigh & Dragon Thai pub in Hornchurch, Essex. It's our third visit there and the food was just as good as before and we tried a few new things too which is always good when going out!

We got a few starters to share...

Crispy vegetable spring rolls with sweet chili dipping sauce on the side. Crunchy and hot and full of flavour. Sometimes I find veggie spring rolls to be bland, these were far from it.

Broken [Project 365:2013 - Day 140]

2013-05-20T17:51:00.001+01:00

Broken, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

Out on my daily walk and I took a photo of this portion of the mosaic mural that's on the side of my local library.

Bombs Up In My Face [Project 365:2013 - Day 139]

2013-05-19T20:23:00.001+01:00

Bombs Up In My Face, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

I've got several items of purple coloured clothes. This is one of my favourite tops - it's got lots of sequins and beads around the neckline.

Orange & Yellow 40th Birthday Party Ideas

2013-05-19T13:21:00.002+01:00

My sister and I have started our own party planning business...Perfect Party Planning. Last night we styled an orange and yellow themed 40th birthday party and here is a snap shot of all the elements. I'll be blogging about it here and over at our website too!

Tuck Shop [Project 365:2013 - Day 138]

2013-05-19T11:30:00.001+01:00

Tuck Shop, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

Styled and set up a party for one of my good friend's 40th birthday yesterday. Her colours were orange and yellow, so no purple to be seen for today's photo I'm afraid.

I set up a tuck shop full of retro sweets which went down a storm at the party!

Dragon Food [Project 365:2013 - Day 137]

2013-05-19T11:29:00.001+01:00

Dragon Food, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

After a very stressful week with work, hubby treated me to a lunch at the local Thai pub/restaurant, The Ardleigh & Dragon. We've been a few times before and the food is always so good! A review will follow very soon.

And since I'm incorporating purple in all photos during May, the flower is a kinda purpley-pinky colour right?!

Sunday Sounds

2013-05-19T10:48:00.003+01:00

This song started it all for me when it comes to Savage Garden and Darren Hayes ♥ I kept hearing it in the car and the lyrics just spoke to me.

The song is 'Crash and Burn' - it is one of my favourite songs, with things going on in my life that I haven't spoken about on my blog, it is a very apt song for this moment in time.

Virtual Shopping - Day #3

2013-05-18T14:41:00.001+01:00

Not every one loves Crocs - they're not the most prettiest of shoes are they? But hot daaaaamn, they are so comfortable! I really love this purple tie-dye top from Yours - have to make sure I go and buy it!

Florida Outfit #3 by mrspurplepumpkin

IHOP - Hwy 192, Orlando [Review]

2013-05-17T16:58:00.000+01:00

Dining Date: 17th August, 2011

First port of call today was IHOP for breakfast.

Granted [Project 365:2013 - Day 136]

2013-05-16T19:10:00.001+01:00

Granted, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Things right now are tough. I'm going to be back to "proper blogging" as soon as the storm calms again. Thanks for hanging in there with me xx

Keep Calm [Project 365:2013 - Day 135]

2013-05-15T18:52:00.001+01:00

Keep Calm, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

My purple kettle today...

Purple Rain [Project 365:2013 - Day 134]

2013-05-15T11:47:00.001+01:00

Purple Rain, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

One of my necklaces is the subject of today (well, yesterday's) photo.

Zambia Smokehouse, Busch Gardens, Tampa [Review]

2013-05-14T16:45:00.000+01:00

Dining Date: 15th August, 2011

Whilst at Busch Gardens, after getting soaked through on a ride, but luckily drying out in the Florida sunshine, we made our way to Zambia Smokehouse for lunch.

Virtual Shopping - Day 2!

2013-05-13T20:53:00.002+01:00

Another possible holiday outfit...I just LOVE this dress from Yours!

Florida Outfit #2 by mrspurplepumpkin

Purple Haze [Project 365:2013 - Day 133]

2013-05-13T18:22:00.001+01:00

Purple Haze, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

Went on a walk this afternoon, in between short showers of rain. These flowers (are they lilacs?) seem to be very popular in my neighbourhood!

Be Seated [Project 365:2013 - Day 132]

2013-05-12T19:38:00.001+01:00

Be Seated, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

They're chairs, they're purple, they're in my sister's dining room.

Virtual Shopping! Clothes for Florida!

2013-05-12T16:50:00.000+01:00

I've just discovered Polyvore - a place where you can compile your own outfits - clothes, shoes, accessories...and then put them in a collage and then share them!

I'm starting to look around for clothes for our holiday to Orlando, and to help me decide what I should buy, I'm going to do some virtual shopping!

Here is outfit number 1. I lived in cropped leggings and sleeveless tops last time and plan to the the same this year - the clothes are comfy and cool - a must for walking around theme parks all day in the Florida heat and humidity!

Florida Outfit #1 by mrspurplepumpkin on Polyvore

6 weeks till Brit Mums Live!

2013-05-12T12:52:00.002+01:00

I'm attending my first blogging conference in just 6 weeks time! I'm so excited, yet so nervous! I've been shortlisted for an award and would love to get through to the finals (but not expecting to!), either way, I can't wait to attend the award ceremony - how much fun is that going to be?!

Yesterday [Project 365:2013 - Day 131]

2013-05-12T11:41:00.001+01:00

Yesterday, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

With one thing and another, I didn't take a photo for day 131...I hate missing a day, but luckily, I'd actually taken a few different purple shots the day before so I was able to use one of those. Not the best, I know, but I'd rather something, than nothing!

Sunday Sounds - Queen

2013-05-12T10:00:00.000+01:00

I didn't post a Sunday Sounds post last week, so this week, it's 2 for the price of 1!

This week, I'm posting two of my favourite songs from Queen - they are legendary and I remember hearing them play on the radio often when I was younger...I'm just gutted I'll never have the opportunity of seeing them play live in a huge stadium since Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991 :(

First up... Don't Stop Me Now...I had this played at my 21st birthday celebrations, so it will always take me back to that event when I hear it!

The next track is Radio Ga Ga, such a great beat, and a song I remember my dad having on 7" vinyl!

Fantasy [Project 365:2013 - Day 130]

2013-05-10T20:32:00.001+01:00

Fantasy, a photo by Mrs Pumpkin on Flickr.

Whilst this flower looked purple in real life, on taking a photo, not so much, so some colour amping up went on ^_^

Super Easy Chicken Pie

2013-05-10T17:47:00.000+01:00

A looooong time ago now - back when my niece was born I helped out the new parents (sis and bro-in-law) by batch cooking them food for a week or so to store in their freezer. I knew with a new baby in the house, the last thing they'd be thinking about is cooking, so I thought it a nice gift from us to do this for them. I had a day in the kitchen cooking up a storm, and I really had meant to start batch cooking more often, but nope, not done it yet!

Among other dishes, I made this super easy chicken pie...one went into the oven the day I made it, the other, cooled, frozen and then later defrosted and cooked through for another meal. I made one for us too and can say, not only was it super easy to make, but it was super tasty - I love a pie!

It's hard to say how much this pie would feed, since I just split it up into several smaller dishes - just tweak the quantities to suit your family.

Super Easy Chicken Pie

Ingredients

1 cooked chicken, shredded
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
sliced mushrooms
canned or fresh vegetables - I used peas, carrots and green beans
ready rolled puff or shortcrust pastry
beaten egg or milk to brush on the pastry

Method

In a bowl, mix together the chicken and vegetables and pour over the soup. As it's condensed it is very thick and makes a great sauce. I didn't feel that extra seasoning was necessary.
Divide the mixture between ovenproof dishes (or in one big dish if you prefer, in which case, to save washing up, just ditch mixing the filling together in a bowl!)
Lay the pastry over the top and brush with a little beaten egg or milk - if you are cooking straight away.
Cook in a 180-200C oven until piping hot and the pastry is golden.
If you are freezing this, allow to cool and cover before placing in the freezer. Defrost overnight before cooking as above.

It's not a very big board at the moment, but I do from time to time pin to my Kitchen Tips Board

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