My sugar coated life...

Cookie Dough Birthday Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 17:00:00 +0000

My eldest son turned 15 this week and as the son of a cake maker, he normally comes to me with a whole host of weird and wonderful cake requests.

But now he's a teenager, all of that has changed.

Gone are the novelty character cakes featuring Thomas the Tank Engine or Transformers and in are the chocolate coated drip cakes. My son has the biggest sweet tooth of any kid I know and can devour cookie dough like it's going out of fashion...

So this year he requested a 'chocolatey' cake. And that was the end of his specification. So I decided to pick out his favourite things and add them into one big cake...

I used this Dairy Free Chocolate Cake recipe for the cake base and then crushed up some oreos, added them the to a basic buttercream recipe (250g Unsalted Butter to 500g Icing Sugar plus a splash of milk and Vanilla Extract). I then drizzled the top with a milk chocolate ganache before topping it with these cookies and balls of cookie dough! The cookie dough does contain raw egg but I trust where my eggs are from and my teen loves raw cookie dough so who am I to argue?

The cake went down a storm and was demolished by the end of the week - the toppings didn't last as long with everyone picking off the cookie dough by the end of the evening.

I really enjoy making these drip cakes as they can be personalised according to the recipients favourite chocolate - my other half had a similar cake for his 40th earlier this year which was topped with Dairy Milk and let's just say that cake didn't last very long after him and his friends got involved...!

Budapest in a weekend!

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 14:39:00 +0000

It's been 12yrs since I boarded an airplane but after getting my passport renewed earlier this year, I've been desperate to fly away and get international stamps on my passport pages.

My partner is a fan of F1 and he travels to as many races as he can within Europe but I've never been to a race, or even watched it on TV! So when he decided to book us a weekend away to Budapest, I jumped at the chance of a new experience.

I've not really travelled within Europe but Budapest is only 2.5hrs by plane so we got to make the most of a long weekend as we didn't spend hours in the air.

On the first day we discovered an amazing little place for breakfast called The London Coffee Society, we had a massive breakfast for about £5 each which set us up well for a day of exploring!

We decided that Budapest was too spread out to discover by walking only so we bought a 'hop on, hop off' ticket which got us access to the buses and boats and it proved to be excellent value as we even got a shuttle bus up to the Castle included in the price! The Castle and the Fisherman's Bastion were highlights of my trip as they were beautiful buildings which offered gorgeous views over Budapest. We visited on a lovely summers day so the views were extensive.

On day 2, we decided to sample some local produce and found a croissant bakery called Freyja The Croissant Story. It was quite a trendy bakery but the croissants were the best I've ever tasted! We opted for White Chocolate/Pistachio and Banana flavours and they were very reasonably priced with sweet and savoury flavour options. The seating is very basic and modern so next time I'd get croissants to takeaway and go eat them somewhere along the river with a lovely view.

Our final day was spent at the F1 and whilst it was a trek to get there, the organisation of shuttle buses etc was very well laid out so you couldn't go wrong. We decided to use local transport as it was quicker but on the way home the local trains were so packed that we couldn't get on but we'd met some friends along the way and managed to order a taxi to collect us instead so it was all OK in the end!

The F1 was amazing! The fans were all lovely and the facilities at the Budapest circuit really surprised me as there were loads of food options, kids areas, stalls, hundreds of portaloos, drink stations etc. We found a space on a high hill and watched the entire race up close and personal. After it was done, we got onto the track to take photos and I gathered up some of the rubber from the tires for my youngest son who is a mega fan.

I can't wait to attend another race and I'd definitely return to Budapest. It's the perfect destination for a city break and it won't break the bank with cheap flight options and local food being very reasonably priced.

Discovering the Peak District

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 15:27:00 +0000

Despite living only about 45mins away from the Peak District, I've never really explored it except to visit Chastworth House and walk around Bakewell for a few hours after delivering a wedding cake there years ago...

So when my other half suggested going away for a weekend to celebrate his 40th birthday, I booked us an Airbnb at a lovely little place in Grindleford and kept it as a surprise until we arrived!

And boy was he surprised...

Stoke Farm was absolutely stunning and we were recommended a 6 mile walk which took us through Grindleford, up to Higgir Tor and through Longshaw Estate. We had stunning weather throughout our stay and everyone we encountered was so helpful in suggesting places to eat and walk - we even stumbled upon a gorgeous Tea Room in Eyam and sampled the best Hot Chocolate I have ever had!

The moral of the story is that you really can't go wrong anywhere in the Peaks and we've already decided to find more Airbnb's to try in that area as the lure of escaping for an adults only weekend away is just too darn easy!

MCM Birmingham Comic Con

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 15:11:00 +0000

This year was the first time I visited the MCM Comic Con in Birmingham and I'm so glad that I did as it turned out to be a great family day out!

It was quite a last minute decision to attend but I decided to take my 8yr old as we usually go to Em-Con so he's getting used to these events and what they entail.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by lots of amazing Cos players with stalls as far as the eye could see. The guest line up for the day wasn't as impressive and there wasn't anyone that really interested me, but the scale of the show made up for that as we spend many hours just wondering around the stalls and playing in the game zone so the lack of guests didn't effect our enjoyment at all.
The one thing that made this show stand apart for me was the family feel to it. There were kids everywhere and so much was there to entertain them so their parents could also have a fun day without dragging around bored kids. We didn't even get to touch the Comic section so we'll make a beeline for that next year.
Kids under 10yrs old go free with a paying adult and we used our family and friends railcard to get there so the day was very reasonably priced. We did spend a fair bit on the stalls, but the day was gifted to me by my other half so I got to enjoy everything without counting the pennies.

We'll definitely be visiting again next year as every geekdom was catered for, from Manga to Doctor Who and Nintendo - there literally was something for everyone!

Levelling up to 40

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 14:57:00 +0000

After months of planning, countless meals out, celebrating with family & friends and travelling to Wales - I finally hit the 40 milestone that I had been dreading for so long. I say dreading, I guess that's an overstatement but I felt a lot of pressure to make the day AMAZING and I knew nothing I could do would love up to the momentous occasion.

I was wrong.

A few months before the big day, I started to toy with the idea of getting away for the weekend to do something crazy and a bit memorable. I wanted to mark the day and so I looked into finding a little getaway for us to celebrate in our own company. I've been wanting to walk up Snowdon for years, so we decided to try and find somewhere local so we could head up the mountain to celebrate. We found the most gorgeous little place in Bala, but on route there we started to hear weather reports about snow and flooding and when we arrived the owner confirmed that Snowdon wasn't going to be advisable on my birthday...

So instead we headed to Anglesey Beach and had a hilarious time walking up and down the beach whilst 50mph gales whipped sand into our eyes and soaked us through! It was the most fun I've had in ages and my family and friends gave me lovely cards and gifts to open and even made me a cake which was a total surprise. We finished the day with a beautiful dinner in the local town of Bala and even made it half way up Snowdon a day later on the Snowdon Mountain Railway so all was not lost.
Due to heavy snow, we couldn't see much when we reached Clogwyn Station, about 3/4 of the way up Snowdon, but we managed to get some photos (and eat some birthday brownies) before we our hands turned blue and we escaped back onto the train!

Massive thanks to my gorgeous and awesome partner Greg who went out of his way to make my weekend totally unforgettable. The moral of the story is don't dread your big milestone birthdays - be grateful that you're still here to celebrate and enjoy every minute. I won't forget out weekend in Bala in a hurry!

Weekending in the Yorkshire Dales

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 12:04:00 +0000

You know that point you get to in a week when you think "I just need a break!" well I hit that point last week and thankfully was saved by an impromptu trip to the Yorkshire Dales. I've never been to the Dales before but I knew I wanted a bit of seclusion and plenty of fresh air. Spoiler - Embsay delivered on both fronts.

We stayed in a little cottage style Airbnb, The Rabbit Hole, which was genuinely the most gorgeous place I've stayed. We didn't use the car for the entire weekend and instead walked and trekked our way around Embsay and Skipton sampling a fantastic local walk and all the delights that Skipton has to offer.

We were recommended a walk up Embsay Crags but there was a lot of snow and ice on the ground so I wasn't overly keen when we got near the peak, but my other half duly obliged and kept me talking on our descent to take my mind off the height!

We climbed 1800ft to reach the peak and all I can say is, wow. It was a good 5mile circular walk from our place and we've already said we're heading back in the Summer to do it again. It wasn't the easiest walk, but the views made it worth it.

In Skipton, we stumbled across a little pub called the Woolly Sheep Inn and we were astounded by the amazing food! I had a chicken breast with chorizo fricasse and Greg opted for the pork belly - safe to say we demolished our food and finished it with hot chocolates and coffee to warm up before the walk back.

I really enjoyed our mini break to the Dales and I would love to go back and see some of the waterfalls that we didn't get to this time, there are loads of gorgeous Airbnb places in that vicinity and we're already looking at another place in Snowdonia for next month sooo....adventure awaits!

RED January - Active Every Day

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 13:14:00 +0000

This January, I have signed up for RED January. A month long challenge to keep active every day and support the charity Mind at the same time.

Over 30,000 people sign up for RED every year and in previous years the focus has been on running every day, but my work/life schedule meant that I couldn't commit to doing a run every day and I didn't want to fall at the first hurdle! Undoubtedly, this challenge is a great way to refocus you after Christmas, and I've seen the positive impact it's had on friends each year so I've been keen to get involved.

This year however, the focus has changed to 'keeping active every day' so I've signed up and started yesterday on New Years Day with a walk around my local estate with my boys. We only walked about 1.5miles, but it was nice to have family time for all of us away from screens and devices.

Tonight I've organised a local run with my running group and for the rest of the week I'll either do a walk or exercise at home. I also start my half marathon training plan in January, so doing a variety of exercises will help me get ready for that event in May.

I'm really excited about 2019 as I turn 40 this year and I've set myself a few goals already which are linked to my physical and mental health so I'll be sharing those on the blog soon!

For now, I'm taking baby steps and starting with getting RED in January to start my 2019 with a bang.

Chatsworth at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 13:25:00 +0000

This year, I had the pleasure of taking my family to the Chatsworth House Christmas Market. I had visited the house last year over the festive period, but attending the market this year made me realise how much I missed last time I visited!

The market is filled with festive stalls and sheltered areas are dotted around where you can sit and eat your lunch and where live bands/singer play Christmas songs throughout the day. This gave the market such a community feel with some folk stopping to join in with a sing song!

Each year, the house is decorated in a different theme and this year way 'fairy tales'. I didn't think the boys would enjoy the house, but they loved walking through and seeing all the decorations in each room.

We ate sooo much, we ran around the playground (which was virtually empty due to a light rain drizzle) and we got lost in the maze.

I can't think of a better way to kick off our Christmas festivities! One word of warning though, whilst the market is free to visit, it cost £20 to park so we spotted lots of people parking off grounds and walking in. You also need to book tickets to visit the house and we pre-booked online - I'd advise doing this in advance as there were few tickets left on the day and you don't want to miss out seeing the house in all it's glory!

Holidaying in Kent!

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 15:18:00 +0000

Last Christmas, I was lucky enough to WIN a stay in a luxury lodge with Hoseasons. Yes people, those 'like/share' competitions on Facebook do work! And last week, we finally got around to getting away to our new home for a week...

Our Luxury Lodge was situated at a place called Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat, about 10mins from Canterbury and situated perfectly for a week of exploring throughout Kent. 6 of us squashed into a 7-seater car and set off on a 4hr car journey to get there where we we greeted with the loveliest accommodation that I've ever stayed in with my family! (We're more used to squishing into a tiny caravan or family room at a hotel...).

There were no family facilities at the Lodge as its pitched as a 'relaxation retreat' but with beaches all around us - it didn't matter. Even our hot doughnuts on the Beach in Margate were feeling the love for this holiday!

We spent the week exploring the towns of Canterbury, Margate, Ramsgate, Whitstable and Herne Bay and we had more beach time than I thought my kids would tolerate - but the water was so warm that it was difficult to get my youngest son out of the sea each day so sandwiches and ice creams were our staple diet throughout each day.

Each evening we'd retire back and have a family meal or BBQ on the decking and as the kids were tired out by 9pm, we got plenty of adult time to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset or stargaze. We even got to view Mars which was visible to the naked eye for the first time in 35yrs!

It really was the most idyllic week and I was loathe to leave to luxury surroundings but I'd definitely recommend a visit if you need a getaway - we weren't short on space, even with 6 of us so the lodge is definitely worth the price!

Chocolate Course at Studio Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 15:34:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, me and my work colleagues attended a Chocolate Workshop hosted by the lovely Ellie from Studio Chocolate. Now, we work in a bakery all day long so working with chocolate made a lovely change for us all!

Ellie's workshop studio is lovely and we were greeted by her and her Dad who started by offering us Prosecco and other lovely drinks from a very extensive menu. We were also adorned with lovely aprons and a chocolate tasting board for us all to sample so we can understand more about the different types of chocolate we'd be using.

We'd booked the workshop to find out a bit more about tempering and using chocolate moulds and we weren't disappointed! We made flavoured ganache and filled our own chocolates, we each took home a box of 12 AND we got to make one of Ellie's infamous Hot Chocolate bombs which were incredible!

Ellie also showed us some of the chocolates she makes and sells in her shop in Nottingham and I have to say I was wowed by the colours and finish on them all. Her flavour combinations are delicious and I'd highly recommend her workshop to anyone wanting to know more about chocolate.

Em-Con 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 21 May 2018 05:08:00 +0000

2018 was the 3rd year running that I attended Em-Con in Nottingham - a geek filled con held at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham.

I consider myself to be a Sci-Fi loving geek with a particular interest in Doctor Who but the fact is, I love any Sci-Fi themed content and I'm happy to report that my boys seem to be following in my path as they love attending the con too!

Em-Con really has gone from strength to strength and after the disastrous first event (the venue was over booked and we didn't even get entry on the day...) they really have pulled off a great event which gets better year on year. 2018 was the best year yet, although there was a distinct lack of Doctors this year - but we had some great assistants so I'm not complaining!

My youngest son was obsessed with the themed Lego and he scoured every stand for just the right characters. I also had my first ever official photo shoot this year with Emma Caulfield (aka Anya from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) so that was a clear highlight for me.

The price of the event is perfect and we got a family ticket for £25 which was well worth it. We saw so many famous guests up close and we spent quite a bit of time just admiring the Cosplayers who really do take the event up a notch.

I can't wait for the 2019 event and of course, I always have a Tardis selfie with the boys so this will become a staple in our family album now!

Happy Dough Lucky - Review

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Wed, 16 May 2018 13:34:00 +0000

I have heard nothing but great reviews about Happy Dough Lucky - a new pizza pop up located in the centre of Nottingham opposite Annie's Burger Shack.

As a follower of their page, I can see that they advise booking a table but we were in the area about 1pm on a Saturday afternoon so we decided to pop in and take our chances. Luckily we were the first customers of the day so we chose a nice big table for our group of 6. The restaurant has a lovely feel to it and the tables were nice and spacious which was a great start!

We were quickly followed in by 2 other customers but we took our time to make our food choices and we actually ended up ordering a cross section of the menu as everyone had spotted something different to try.

It was only after taking our order did we realise that there was only one member of staff taking food orders, preparing drinks, making the food and serving customers. Whilst we weren't in an immediate hurry, we pencilled in 1.5hrs to eat as we had afternoon plans later that day.

The member of staff who served us was lovely but disappointingly the food took way over an hour to make its way to our table. Now, I am not adverse to waiting for quality fresh food but the only reason for the wait was the lack of staff. Its disappointing that there wasn't someone else around to help out (maybe it was unavoidable?) but at least an acknowledgement from staff that there would be a delay would have allowed us to make alternative arrangements.

But I digress! When the food arrived it was EXCELLENT. The pizza was fresh and delicious and a very decent size. We also sampled a number of the sides (Garlic Dough Balls, Katsu Chicken strips, sweet potato fries) and they were all cooked beautifully and tasted fab. Unfortunately, one member of our group had to leave without eating, but we had her food boxed up as a takeaway instead.

I actually revisited the restaurant a few days later (in the evening this time) and had a very different experience as our food arrived promptly and tasted even better than my first visit! We also got the chance to meet one of the co-owners who was lovely and chatted with us about his new venue when their lease comes to a finish at the present location.

I would definitely recommend a visit but I'd probably go in the evening. I suspect our wait was a one off as all the reviews are very positive, but I like to give honest reviews and this was just my experience on this occasion.

We didn't have time to sample the dessert menu but later on that evening we did head to Doughnotts for doughnuts in the sunshine and we weren't disappointed...

Cocktails in Nottingham

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 11:05:00 +0000

Cocktails have never really been my 'thing' when it comes to drinking. Don't get me wrong, I can fully appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making a great cocktail but they're usually waaaaay too strong for me - or so expensive that I rule them out due to budget constraints!

But recently I've had a flurry of nights out where cocktails have been the primary option and I'm slowly coming around to enjoying a well made cocktail. Which is lucky really as Nottingham has some of the best cocktail bars in the UK!

One of the newest venues on the scene is Alchemist. Based in the centre of Nottingham, it is a gorgeous venue for food and cocktails and it has a very extensive drinks menu that will keep you busy! They also offer some delicious non-alcoholic versions of their drinks and my guest that night was driving and fancied one of the alcoholic cocktails, so they duly made it alcohol free on request. I had the Screwball and they had the Solero - both were utterly delicious and very reasonably priced considering the work that went into making them!

A few weeks later I went back to the Alchemist to sample the food menu for my birthday and even though I had wine, they made it extra special for me...

Another venue which I have visited more often (the tapas are fab!) is Revolucion de Cuba situated on Queen Street opposite the Post Office. We visited here for a birthday celebration and the cocktails were BOGOF so of course we had to indulge! They were all very nice and presented in a fab array of glasses but we went on a Saturday night and the wait time for drinks meant we were standing around for a long time waiting and some drinks even arrived after we'd started eating!

But most recently I have discovered a bar called Lost Property based in Hockley. It really is hidden away and I never knew it existed until my guest showed me how to get in! It has a bar in the caves, but this was full the night we went so we chose to sit upstairs. The bar is deceivingly big and we found a nice table tucked away to peruse the menu and make our choices. I loved the old skool addition of Cherry B wine and Babycham as a chaser to some of the drinks and whilst they were delicious, they were definitely a bit pricier. The price didn't bother me at all though as the venue was superb and you definitely felt more hidden away which was lovely for a cosy night out! In fact, we're already planning our next visit!

Joining a running group

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 05:30:00 +0000

2 years ago I took my first steps into the unknown world of running - and I haven't looked back since! I started my journey by downloading the NHS C25K app and dutifully listening to the running instructions whilst panting my way around a little lake behind my house. I couldn't even conceive of the idea of running on the road WHERE I'D BE SEEN. Nope, I was happy enough in my own little world where no-one but the occasional dog walker would see me in my lycra loveliness.

But then my friend told me about a women's only running group called Notts Women Runners. They cover all of Notts and they run various beginners and improvers courses for women of allllll abilities. They were starting a Beginners course near me and although no one I knew wanted to join me, I plucked up the courage to attend on my own and see what it was all about.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made! I went on to meet women who have now become good friends. I've cried with them, been injured with them and done some crazy runs for prosecco but the most important thing I've learnt? It's not about your speed, it's about being happy within yourself and enjoying the run. Whatever your pace and skill. The support we get from within the group is staggering and it's not often you'll see a running group in Nottingham without a Purple t-shirt amongst them!

I still do like the occasional run on my own to clear my head, but I'd be lost without my running group. So much so in fact that I've recently become a Committee Member for NWR in charge of Social Media!

It's cliched to say but I never thought I'd ever be able to run, so if I can do it - anyone can! I still have days where I think "What on earth am I doing to myself??" as I reach for the deep heat, but running has helped me improve my mental and physical health and find my happy place.

But don't be fooled when they saying running is an inexpensive sport! On top of spending waaay too much on trainers, leggings etc I've recently discovered these amazing Hygge headbands and I feel a new addiction coming on...

Beginners Bike Maintenance Course

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 09:09:00 +0000

My name is Liana and I am a new found cycling enthusiast. Until recently I hadn't even sat on a bike in over 25yrs, and then I was given a mountain bike and I haven't looked back since!

I started with a very basic mountain bike (which weighed a tonne!) and then last August I invested in a Liv Bliss 2 bike which has become my pride and joy. It's lightweight and has really chunky tyres so I can get through trails nice and easy. I do a lot of miles on the road around my town but I love to get out on the trails at Sherwood and Cannock Chase, so this bike is perfect.

The only thing missing from my new found passion was any bike maintenance skills AT ALL. I didn't even know how to fix a puncture or change a tyre and as a single Mum of 2 boys, these skills seem pretty integral! So off I set in search of someone who could teach me more..

I found an Not for Profit organisation called Nottingham Bikeworks who are based in the centre of Nottingham. They run loads of courses and I found one which was a Beginners Bike Maintenance especially for women. It covered all the basics about getting to know your bike and it was a day long course with an excellent (and patient!) teacher and a fab homemade lunch. The course is priced at a very reasonable £30 and was worth every penny.

I met some lovely ladies on the day and we learnt so much together. We swapped stories of how we got into cycling and exchanged information about local riding groups - people came from every part of Nottinghamshire to attend so there really was a mixed group of people with various skills and backgrounds.

We learnt how to fix a puncture, how to change your inner tube, how to check your bike for basic problems, changing brake cables, adjusting gears, maintaining you bike to keep it in working order and which are the essentials tools to keep in your portable toolkit.

The workshop is lovely and spacious and all the staff were lovely. I really can't recommend this course enough and attending gave me such a feeling of independence, I was almost wishing for a puncture on my 6 mile journey home so I could prove to myself I could fix it!

There is a further Intermediate Bike Maintenance Course which I'm looking into booking soon. Unfortunately I had my bike stolen last week so I'm waiting for a replacement which I can take with me and practice my new skills on!

Crepes and Doughnuts in Nottingham

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 05:30:00 +0000

I've heard nothing but amazing things about Aubreys Creperie in Nottingham city centre. It's tucked up in West End Arcade (off Long Row) in Nottingham and whilst I've visited a few times, it's always been super busy with no seats available so it's taken me a while to sample their food.

But I'm so glad I finally managed to get a table for 2 one Sunday afternoon, we were off to see The Greatest Showman at Cineworld and we needed a light meal to stave off the pick n mix cravings throughout the film...

The Creperie is tiny, but perfectly formed. It has a real Parisien feel to it and all the crepes are made to order with a host of sweet and savoury options. They cater for special diets too so everyone can find something on the menu!

I chose the Chorizo Galette and it was absolutely perfect! Definitely the best crepe I've ever eaten and probably one of the nicest meals I've had in a while. I had a Peppermint tea and my guest had a Spiced Apple Tea which smelt divine.

I longingly looked at the Sweet Crepes but my Galette filled me to the brim so I'll have to save that for my next visit.

Our next stop was Doughnotts. We decided against traditional cinema sweets and treated ourselves to a selection of doughnuts to feast on during the film. I won't lie when I say I saw people looking enviously as my doughnut filled bag as we took our seats!

I had the Snickers doughnut and it was sooo good! I have quite a sweet tooth but whilst the toppings were sweet, this complimented really well with the doughnut itself so it didn't feel like a sugar overload.

I've loved Doughnotts since they started up and it's great to see them opening new branches around the East Midlands. Now everyone gets to sample their doughnutty goodness and that can only be a good thing!

Oh and The Greatest Showman was EPIC! I haven't stopped listening to the soundtrack and we're going to an open air screening of the film in May so I apologise now for any loud singing that might interrupt your viewing...

Extreme Running!

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 05:40:00 +0000

Running at night is hard enough as it is, we have to light up like a Christmas Tree to be seen on the road and most trail routes are off limits after dark. I absolutely LOVE running trails so this has been hard for me over the Winter months as most of my running is done after work.

So when an opportunity arose for me to take part in an organised Night Run through Sherwood Forest, I jumped at the chance! I absolutely love Sherwood Forest and their Park Run is one of my favourites. The route was slightly longer, at 7km, and followed mostly main paths through the forest.

The run had already been postponed once due to snow but as the new date approached, once again snow and ice warnings were in place...

Luckily the run still went ahead and we braved the -2c temperatures and driving through the snow to reach our destination. The organisers did a great job of getting us all ready and out of 400 registered attendees, over 220 made it to the start line on the night.

It was my first time running with my new chest light and I highly recommend it! I can't wear head lights as I find them really uncomfortable but this chest light was perfect and I barely noticed I was wearing it. It has 3 light functions and will fit most sizes.

This run was by far my favourite run of the year and we all finished with a smile on our faces! It took quite a while to warm up after the run but I can now say I've run in a blizzard so that's another one ticked off the bucket list!

I'm looking forward to booking more night runs later this year, I don't enjoy running in really hot weather so the idea of night runs in the Summer really appeal to me and luckily there are lots being organised in the East Midlands so we have lots of options to choose from!

Geocaching for beginners!

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:00:00 +0000

This past weekend was glorious in the UK - the sun was out and for the first time in months and months, we didn't require hats and gloves to have an outdoor adventure!

I've heard lots of people mention 'Geocaching' before but I didn't really understand what it was or how to get involved. I downloaded the app and got the gist but then I forgot about it and it laid undiscovered on my phone, until someone recently revived my interest...

A few of us were out walking around a local country park and my youngest started talking about finding treasure which reminded me about the app! I swiftly loaded up the Geocache locator which uses GPS to find your location and locate any local geocaches near you. Bingo - there were 2 within a mile of us!

Off we ventured in search of our treasure, we found 2 Geocaches on our journey and they both had handy hints which we used to find their exact location. I didn't bring a pen with me to log our find in each Geocaches log book but I'll remember that for next time!

Each container had a variety of odds and ends in them from marbles to toy cars and they were both hidden well to protect them from the elements.

We had sooooo much fun Geocaching and we ended up walking over 6miles over a few hours as the time passed so quickly! I'd normally expect moaning within minutes of a long walk but they were banished today in search of hidden precious finds.

I'd definitely recommend this activity if you have kids, I know lots of adults do it too but it was a lovely way for me to get the kids out and about for a long afternoon. We also discovered so much more of our local country park then we would normally see - we have lots of trips planned this year and I can't wait to get my Geocaching app loaded up for each new location!

3 things you're gonna love!

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 11:29:00 +0000

Ahhhhh, Summer. My favourite time of the year, not only because of the lovely weather but also because we get to turn off the early alarm and avoid the dreaded school run...

There are lots of things I'm loving at the moment and this edition is packed full of cake, clothes and food so basically my top 3 favourite things ever.

I'd love to have a bit more time off over the Summer, and we're eagerly counting down to a week in Cornwall, but in the meantime it's work, work work for me and sheesh - have I had a busy few months! Many of you will know I work full time but I still make cakes from my home business and this is just a little taster of what has come out of my kitchen recently... (I think the Kinder egg is one of my faves!)

My eldest starts Secondary school in September and I'm actively trying to spend a bit more time with him before he goes off to 'big school'. We love going out for food and a film and we recently visited Cosmo in Nottingham. It was Fin's first time there and I downloaded a voucher from their Facebook page to feed him for just £1! Yes, you read that right!

The service was fab with the Manager telling Fin all about the different foods he could eat and he absolutely loved it. He's much braver than me when it comes to trying new things and I love his sense of adventure when it comes to food. We had a great night out and I'm definitely recommending their £1 nights to everyone I know who has kids.

Taking up running recently has not only done wonders for my health but I'm also seeing a real difference in my body shape. I've been stuck in a fashion rut for a long time now and after a friend recommend Lindy Bop to me, I've never looked back! They sell some stunning dresses for very reasonable prices and so far I've loved every purchase. I'm trying to dress for my shape a bit more now and I think dresses seem to suit me best.

I'm trying to get braver and order more shapely dresses and the top 2 here are definitely out of my comfort zone - but you know what? I love them! The kids have given them a thumbs up so they must be OK!

I hope I've encouraged you to a) eat some cake b) eat at Cosmo or c) go buy a dress. If you do any of these things then my work here is done.

Falling in love with Ashbourne

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:54:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I ran my first 5k... Donnnn't worry, this isn't another post about running but instead about the place I discovered on my travels.

I've never really explored much of Derbyshire, and this was the first time I've visited Ashbourne in particular. Ashbourne is a lovely little hilly town filled with retro looking storefronts and, on this occasion, also DRENCHED in swags of festive bunting.

I visited on the day of the annual Ashbourne Festival. The weather was kind to us so after our run, we ventured a little way into town and stumbled across a little cafe called the Artisan Cafe and Bottle Shop.

We were straight away greeted with a whole host of cakes so of course, I was in love. The cafe sells a mix of beers/ales/wines with a real emphasis on homegrown food and drink. I was lucky enough to meet one of the owners and she was so lovely and her passion for the business really shone through.

We sampled some beers and wine and as a post run treat I tried the Raspberry and Vanilla beer which was DELICIOUS (and very strong...!).

I was so impressed with the look and feel of the place, I wish they were on my doorstep! We had a 9yr old with us and he was offered free squash and as much fruit as he could which I was really impressed with as it meant we could have a drink and a natter whilst he was occupied with his freebies.

I can't wait to return one evening as I'd love to sample some of the foods on the menu, they don't serve hot food but the selection of local produce really made my mouth water and I hope this place thrives as it's so nice to see a local business start up with such a strong vision and passion to provide an excellent customer service.

Running with the family

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 16:05:00 +0000

A few months ago, I started the Couch to 5K challenge in a bid to get myself off the couch and into a more healthier lifestyle. Starting to run seemed like an mammoth task, but I got there in the end and a few weeks ago I participated in my first 5K run! The feeling of pride as I crossed that finish line was absolutely amazing and I've really been bitten by the running bug now.

I'd like to be able to run more, but being a single Mum and having 2 kids to look after for most of the week, makes it a bit tricky for me. I've found a place where I can run laps and leave the boys to play (always within my sight) but taking them out on their bikes isn't very practical as we're often stopping every 2 mins to tie a shoelace, or look at a dog... so it's a non starter really. I'm starting to hear groans when I mention joining me for a run so I've started looking at a new way to involve the boys.

Get them running with me.

Luckily for me, there are lots of local organised runs which are suitable for children and even if we're walking most of the route, it's still getting me out doing a 5k and giving us some family time together.

We've recently taken part in the Colour Run at Holme Pierrepont and the Subway 5k for Heart Research UK. The boys might have moaned at least part of the way around, but they really did feel accomplished as we crossed the finish line and collected our medals. Milo couldn't wait to take his to school and show his teacher!

Each of these events were very reasonably priced and I'd definitely recommend getting your kids involved as a family activity. You don't need to be able to run to take part, and they barely take up a few hours of your weekend. We always bring a picnic to these runs and everyone always leaves feeling a bit tired but knowing that we've had a great day out.

I do wish there was one main hub or website that I could use to search out these runs but I'm in a few running groups on Facebook and I find this is the best way to find out what's going on near you!

Glamping in Wales

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Mon, 11 Jul 2016 04:04:00 +0000

Earlier this year, my partner and I decided to book a weekend away from it all. Living in the East Midlands gave us lots of options for places to visit and we eventually settled on Wales. I've never been adverse to camping or roughing it on holiday so we looked towards treehouses, yurts etc in a bid to find something a bit romantic, but with an outdoorsy feel.

We eventually came across a little place called The Sleepout in Meifod and we knew it'd be perfect. Well my partner did, but I needed a bit more convincing! The idea of a compost loo and no electricity did worry me at first but looking through the gallery and seeing a reading nook soon brought me round.

On arrival we were overwhelmed. The Sleepout is what we had hoped for, and more. The sun was shining and the owner Mike walked us around the site (which we had exclusive use of) to show us where everything was and how it worked. Within moments my other half was chopping wood to his hearts content, as I searched around the cabin to find lots of candle lanterns, books and fairy lights for our weekend adventure.

There is so much I could tell you about this place; how much we loved making homemade pizza in the pizza oven, how lovely it was to stargaze at night by the firepit, the amazing feeling of waking up each morning to THIS VIEW...

We absolutely fell in love with this little hideaway and it broke our hearts to leave on Monday morning. We can't wait to visit again and if you'd like to getaway from it all for a few days then I honestly can't recommend this place enough.

In brief:

The compost loo was fine! I have no idea what I was worrying about
The nearest charging point for phones was a short walk down the hill and really helped me turn off from civilisation for a bit as I couldn't wake up and check my phone straight away
Making homemade pizza is far more fun than I thought it'd be...
Welsh cakes are my new favourite breakfast item
Stargazing through binoculars at 11pm is actually quite romantic
Playing poker with your partner (and losing spectacularly) is not.

I think everyone needs a bit of time away from the usual hustle and bustle of life, you can take kids to The Sleepout but if you want to unwind and just enjoy some time away then I'd recommend going as adults only.

Actual bliss. The Sleepout is my new favourite place to just...be.

Review of Tortilla Nottingham

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Mexican style food is one of my favourite cuisines - tacos, tortillas, quesadillas, burritos I love em all! And luckily for me Nottingham has seen a few new Mexican restaurants open up recently.

Me and the boys were recently invited to try out one of these new additions to the Nottingham food scene - Tortilla in Victoria Centre. Situated alongside Millies Cookies (c'mon we all know where they are right?!). Tortilla is a chain restaurant specialising in Californian burritos and tacos.

My eldest also shares my love of Mexican food but upon entering and seeing the vast choice of food, I wasn't sure what he'd think! Luckily, we were in excellent hands and the amazing staff guided us through the process.

Tortilla is like Subway and Inferno in that you 'make' your own food so can really personalise it along the way. This is always a great option when you have kids as there's no picking through food trying to take bits out that they don't like. My eldest opted for mixed meat Tacos and my youngest and I went for a chicken Burrito. I could not believe the portion sizes - I thought they were excellent value for the delicious food we had.

The boys were invited behind the scenes to make their own food and I have to say the staff really were AMAZING with them, really friendly and knowledgeable about the food which was great as the boys were really curious about toppings etc.

Looking around, I realised that the restaurant was filled with customers of all ages so I didn't feel out of place taking kids inside. The setting is also quite comfy which can be missing from a lot of fast food places now as they strive to get you in and out in no time at all.

The food was delicious and I thought it was great value for money as a main meal. I only managed just over half my burrito and I was utterly stuffed. The boys loved their food and have asked to go back already - which says a lot as they can be fussy eaters...

Starting to run

noreply@blogger.com (Liana) — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:22:00 +0000

As a non-driver, I spend a LOT of my time on public transport. I take the tram to work everyday and as long as I have my Spotify or a book to entertain me then I'm a happy traveller!

And when I'm not tramming it to town, I walk everywhere. My children despair of this but the cost of having a car is outweighed by the fact I live so close to EVERYTHING so I have no incentive to drive anytime soon. Anyway, me and my Tesco delivery driver are practically on first name terms so it'd be rude to ruin our blossoming friendship.

But now I'm taking things a step further and have decided to take up running (And wow, that's a sentence I never thought I'd type...)

Inspired by many a friend who runs for fun (who knew people like this existed?!) and a superfit running obsessed boyfriend, I have started the Couch to 5k challenge with the aim of being able to run a 5k within the next 9wks. I'm nothing if not ambitious!

I've just invested in some new spangly Asic running trainers and am making full use of the Fitbit that my other half got me for my birthday so my mission is clear; 5k or bust.

As a plus size gal, I've always thought there's a stigma attached to seeing fat people running so my first outing was equal measure terror and nerves. Was I wearing the right clothes? Would I be able to run without collapsing? Are people going to laugh when they see me running? How red is my face gonna go?! But I needn't have worried, everyone I passed seemed oblivious to my efforts and not one person even cracked a smile when my face inevitably went a beetroot red...

So am I enjoying it so far? Well my knees certainly hurt less since I got my new trainers and I actually went out running in the rain the other night so I'm definitely enjoying the challenge. Even if my face doesn't quite tell that story...