A few inexpensive but bloomin' lovely plants bought from the always enjoyable Cruson, a charming little greengrocers in Camberwell. £6 for a slice of Spring. Can't be bad.
Thursday, 6 March 2014
Monday, 3 March 2014
Liebster Award
So in the last few weeks I've been nominated for a Liebster blog award by both Siobhan and Katie. Cheers guys! Essentially the idea of the Liebster award is to highlight some fellow bloggers and get to know a bit more about them. The Liebster award seems to have been really doing the rounds lately, and I think most of the bloggers I know have already received at least one nomination, so I've decided not to pass any questions forward this time... Hope nobody minds!
First off, Siobhan's questions...
1. How would you describe yourself in five words?
Easily-tickled, (rather) lazy, silly and sometimes-short-tempered lover-of-cats (that’s five words, right?)
Easily-tickled, (rather) lazy, silly and sometimes-short-tempered lover-of-cats (that’s five words, right?)
2. Do you have any resolutions or goals for 2014, and if so,
how are you getting on?
This year I set myself some goals which I went public with in this post. I’d say I’m doing pretty well on these so far! I’m also working on some more specific personal goals around developing my career this year, but they’re just for me :)
This year I set myself some goals which I went public with in this post. I’d say I’m doing pretty well on these so far! I’m also working on some more specific personal goals around developing my career this year, but they’re just for me :)
3. What is your proudest achievement so far?
A tough one. Isn’t it strange how hard it is to talk about your own achievements? I suppose I was pretty proud of doing well in my MA, which I did part-time in the evenings and weekends alongside part-time work. Getting an award from the department for my dissertation did make me feel pretty chuffed. Okay, that's enough of that.
A tough one. Isn’t it strange how hard it is to talk about your own achievements? I suppose I was pretty proud of doing well in my MA, which I did part-time in the evenings and weekends alongside part-time work. Getting an award from the department for my dissertation did make me feel pretty chuffed. Okay, that's enough of that.
4. It's Desert Island Discs time... what five albums or
songs would you take with you, and why?
Oh, that is just too hard! I don’t think I could pick specific albums, but I reckon I’d need something from Daft Punk, Rilo Kiley, Belle and Sebastian, Elton John and Fleetwood Mac, to cover all moods.
Oh, that is just too hard! I don’t think I could pick specific albums, but I reckon I’d need something from Daft Punk, Rilo Kiley, Belle and Sebastian, Elton John and Fleetwood Mac, to cover all moods.
5. When you were 15, what did you want to do with your life
and how does that differ with where you are today?
I think at 15 I probably thought I wanted to work in publishing. I’ve always loved words and literature, and at the time I was a complete bookworm. I actually had a go, temping in a publishing house for a few months and almost doing an MA in Publishing, but found it just wasn’t for me. I've realised that what you think a job entails when you’re 15 (or 18, or 25…), and what it actually is, can be very different.
I think at 15 I probably thought I wanted to work in publishing. I’ve always loved words and literature, and at the time I was a complete bookworm. I actually had a go, temping in a publishing house for a few months and almost doing an MA in Publishing, but found it just wasn’t for me. I've realised that what you think a job entails when you’re 15 (or 18, or 25…), and what it actually is, can be very different.
6. If you could snap your fingers and be in any profession,
at any level, what would it be?
Tricky! Linked to the question above, there are probably lots of professions I think I’d like working in, but whether this matches up with the reality is another story! So I’d have to say that I’d like to be doing what I am now (Widening Participation), but perhaps at a slightly more senior level and with more opportunity to work directly with young people. I really like the idea of supporting uni students to be mentors to secondary school kids, for example.
Tricky! Linked to the question above, there are probably lots of professions I think I’d like working in, but whether this matches up with the reality is another story! So I’d have to say that I’d like to be doing what I am now (Widening Participation), but perhaps at a slightly more senior level and with more opportunity to work directly with young people. I really like the idea of supporting uni students to be mentors to secondary school kids, for example.
7. When was the last time you learnt something new? What new
things do you want to learn this year?
I think I learn new things related to my job all the time, but it’s probably been a while since I set about learning something outside of work. I suppose since I got my first DSLR last year I’ve slowly been learning how to use the manual settings, and how to make the most of a shot. Still a long way to go though! Oh, and over the last few months I’ve been learning to make sourdough bread which is both frustrating and delicious at the same time.
I think I learn new things related to my job all the time, but it’s probably been a while since I set about learning something outside of work. I suppose since I got my first DSLR last year I’ve slowly been learning how to use the manual settings, and how to make the most of a shot. Still a long way to go though! Oh, and over the last few months I’ve been learning to make sourdough bread which is both frustrating and delicious at the same time.
8. What are you most grateful for at this moment in time?
Being in a cosy home while the wind and rain thrashes around outside.
Being in a cosy home while the wind and rain thrashes around outside.
9. What three things would you most like to achieve in 2014?
1) Get off my arse 2) Save like a demon 3) Have some super good fun times.
... and Katie's questions!
1) Get off my arse 2) Save like a demon 3) Have some super good fun times.
... and Katie's questions!
1. Why did you start your blog?
I knew a couple of people that had blogs, and reading those got me into the whole blogging world - I never knew how much great, free content there was all over the web being put together by tons of talented people. It struck me as a fun creative outlet that was easy to get started in, so I thought I'd have a go myself!
I knew a couple of people that had blogs, and reading those got me into the whole blogging world - I never knew how much great, free content there was all over the web being put together by tons of talented people. It struck me as a fun creative outlet that was easy to get started in, so I thought I'd have a go myself!
2. What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?
Boxsets. All the boxsets.
Boxsets. All the boxsets.
3. What book do you remember most fondly from childhood?
Probably Catcher in the Rye, which I first read as a young teenager and have ready many times since. Just the right length for reading in a single (long) sitting, if you are a book-obsessed child with nothing better to do! Also I had a massive crush on Holden Caulfied.
Probably Catcher in the Rye, which I first read as a young teenager and have ready many times since. Just the right length for reading in a single (long) sitting, if you are a book-obsessed child with nothing better to do! Also I had a massive crush on Holden Caulfied.
4. What are the top countries on your bucket list of places
to visit?
Oh dear, this list is SO LONG. I’d love to do Costa Rica and Panama in the same trip. I’ve never seen anything of the States so I’d love to do a coast to coast trip, maybe on the rails. Japan looks like a flippin amazing place to visit. Croatia looks lovely and we’re thinking about taking a holiday there this year so that’ll be one off the list! There are MANY others, but I’ll stop there.
Oh dear, this list is SO LONG. I’d love to do Costa Rica and Panama in the same trip. I’ve never seen anything of the States so I’d love to do a coast to coast trip, maybe on the rails. Japan looks like a flippin amazing place to visit. Croatia looks lovely and we’re thinking about taking a holiday there this year so that’ll be one off the list! There are MANY others, but I’ll stop there.
5. What do you think 80 year old you would like to see you
do before you get there?
Build something that I'm proud of.
Build something that I'm proud of.
6. What are your go-to favourite magazines or blogs?
Stylist – better than most paid-for mags. Oh Comely is great. I like Mollie Makes but didn’t renew my subscription as I never get round to making any of the projects! There are so many brilliant blogs out there I couldn’t list just a few, but you can find a list of some of my faves on my about me page.
Stylist – better than most paid-for mags. Oh Comely is great. I like Mollie Makes but didn’t renew my subscription as I never get round to making any of the projects! There are so many brilliant blogs out there I couldn’t list just a few, but you can find a list of some of my faves on my about me page.
7. What has been your biggest adventure?
Hmmm… tricky! Moving to London just over four years ago was a pretty big adventure I guess – I didn’t really know anyone in the city other than my two housemates, and I didn’t have a job lined up! Luckily the housemate that I didn’t know too well before living together turned out to be a real BFF and we’ve had some great adventures since. Moving in with the boyf in October last year was a pretty big adventure too… I let you know how that one turns out ;)
Hmmm… tricky! Moving to London just over four years ago was a pretty big adventure I guess – I didn’t really know anyone in the city other than my two housemates, and I didn’t have a job lined up! Luckily the housemate that I didn’t know too well before living together turned out to be a real BFF and we’ve had some great adventures since. Moving in with the boyf in October last year was a pretty big adventure too… I let you know how that one turns out ;)
8. Would you rather have arms for legs or legs for arms?
Arms for legs, because I favour eating over walking.
Arms for legs, because I favour eating over walking.
Answered any Liebster award questions lately? Share the link below! I love getting to know bloggers better.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Halloumi Souvlaki
As part of Westfield's We Are Dining Campaign, I was challenged to 'beat the chef at his own meal'. The campaign aims to highlight the number and variety of places to eat at Westfield, and features a bunch of offers, discounts, competitions and recipes. I had quite a hard time choosing which chef to try and 'beat' (Wahaca was definitely tempting, or Malaysian food from Penang!) but in the end we opted for dinner at The Real Greek.
My challenge: recreate the restaurant's halloumi souvlaki, a soft wrap filled with halloumi chunks, red onion and tomato, topped with tzatziki. The Real Greek's version was pretty tasty - pillowy, nicely chewy bread, salty halloumi, minty yoghurt. I'd eat it again, but... I thought I could make some adjustments that would make it even better :) |
| The Real Greek's version |
I thought about making the bread from scratch - a regular tortilla or naan bread really wouldn't replicate the flatbread used in The Real Greek's version. However, I think I managed to find a pretty fab ready-made option - Crosta & Mollica piada flatbreads - which I found in Waitrose. Oh, how happy I was to discover this bread! Just the right thickness, excellent texture... basically carb heaven. The other key ingredients - halloumi, tomatoes, read onion, yoghurt, mint - were all, as you might have guessed, easy to find. Then I decided to get a little creative with the rules of the challenge by adding in a little something extra to the wraps that I felt was missing from the original - salty, savoury Kalamata olives. Now we're talking!
Halloumi Souvlaki
(serves two)2 flatbreads
4 chunky slices of halloumi
1/2 red onion, finely sliced
4 good, ripe tomatoes, deseeded and finely sliced
3 heaped tbsp Greek style yoghurt
Handful fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
Handful of Kalamata olives, de-stoned* and roughly chopped
Pinch salt and black pepper
Pinch sweet paprika
Warm the flatbreads in an oven - around 180oC. In the meantime, fry the halloumi in a few tablespoons of vegetable oil over a medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides. Stir the mint into the yoghurt. Toss together the red onion and tomato with a small pinch of salt and pepper, and a generous pinch of sweet paprika. Throw in the olives. Assemble your wraps by placing two chunks of halloumi in each, spooning over the tomato/onion/olive mix and blobbing on the yoghurt. Roll up and enjoy.
*an easy way to de-stone an olive is to place one on a board and push down on it with your thumb - the stone squishes out.
 |
| The challenger |
The Verdict: well, I might be bias, but I'd say my souvlaki was the winner! I love creamy yoghurt and fresh mint so added plenty, and the olives added a bit of extra interest that I felt the original was missing. I'll definitely be making this Greek wrap again!
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
My Favourite (Free) Online Tools for Bloggers
Being a blogger needn't mean investing a lot of money in fancy software - my favourite blogging tools are actually available online, for free, plus they're straightforward to use. Handy, huh? Here's a run-down of my top picks...
[More: Photo Pin is a tool designed to make uploading Flickr CC to your blog simpler]
>> PicMonkey edit individual pictures and create collages, no download required
[More: 10 PicMonkey Tutorials]
>> Font Squirrel discover tons of neat and totally free fonts
[More: Fontifier lets you create a font from your own handwriting for $9]
>> Google Analytics learn more about your audience and how they interact with your blog
[More: 50 resources for getting the most out of Google Analytics]
>> Photobucket host images online (so you can create blog buttons - like those on the right)
[More: How to make a blog button using Photobucket]
>> Twuffer schedule tweets to make promoting your posts easier
[More: 9 ways Twitter makes you a better blogger]
What tools do you like to use for blogging? Any of your favourites not on my list?
photo by spinster cardigan, Flickr cc
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