This day I love.......: Britmums

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I remember Britmums Live last year. I was incredibly excited and spent most of the train journey bouncing. This year was different, it felt different. No longer one of the newbies and yet I felt new. I felt like a fake, that I should not be going and I would not belong. The fact that for the past 10 months I have not been as active on social media as I would have liked or given my blog as much attention as it deserved began to play tricks with my mind. Accompanied with the guilt of having not read or commented on as many blogs as I used to, was and still is eating away at me. I knew somewhere at some point in the event I would trip up and say something and would be given a response or look of don't you read my blog.

I was so lucky to be travelling to Britmums this year with my friend Lisa from Hollybobbs. We talked things through and I realised that this needed to be the new start [or the kick start] I was looking for and so desperately needed. We went to the hotel first and then proceeded to walk the 5 minutes to the venue.

I met Mummy Barrow, T, and her other half [for some reason I really want to write Mr T but I know that is not right] in the queue and everything seemed to disappear. All those feelings of not belonging just went. I began to relax and to look at the event as a new beginning.

It was really lovely to see people again. Lovely to have met in person Hannah from aNewaddition and to catch up with Claire Ninjakillercat who I fell like it is an eternity since we last saw each other. I apologised to many about not joining in with Linkys, I will get there I promise. I congratulated the winners of the BIBs and it was so lovely to see some of the amazing blogs I have read for so long win awards. I did put my foot in it with WallyMummy, I hope she forgives me?

I do have a couple of Thank you I need to make

I want to say a huge thank you to Nadine, for helping me stick to my principal. Also for taking part in mission Sand Bucket

I wanted to thank the Highland Spring Country team for letting me have a chat and a picnic.

To James and the team at Butlins for not only having chocolate but for also entertaining the idea of chocolate Jenga!

To all the sponsors, brands and the team at Britmums thank you once again for such an amazing two days. I have learnt a lot

Finally thank you to everyone I spoke to and all my blogging friends, especially Lisa. I know I haven't been around much but that is all about the change. You made me feel welcome and helped me to find my belief and passion again. I left Britmums having learnt a lot, laughed a lot and with a whole new outlook. I felt on top of the world

This Day I love Britmums Live 2014

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'Mummy whats for dinner tonight?' a question I am asked often by my eldest and if I gave her the choice she would have sausages, beans or spaghetti hoops all the time. When one of these is not her answer then she answers with Scooby doo pasta please. My pasta is in the shape of Scooby doo characters, as it encourages her to eat her dinner and she likes to talk about the different shapes.

I like to cook quick, simple but healthy food on an evening, as I have often had a hard day at work. I was sent 2 Schwartz 2 in 1 packets to try. They looked ever so simple to do, only contained a few ingredients and would be ready quickly. The first we tried was the Mediterranean Chicken Pasta and Cheesy Crumb Topping. The ingredients needed, other than the packet are:

1 tbs oil
450g (1lb) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced
1 yellow pepper, chopped
150ml (5fl oz) water
400g tin chopped tomatoes
200g (7oz) pasta, cooked and drained
75g (3oz) Cheddar cheese, grated

Directions

1. Pre-heat grill to a medium-high heat.

2. Heat oil and fry chicken for 6-7 minutes, until browned. Add pepper and cook for a further 2 minutes.

3. Mix Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Recipe Mix with water and add to the pan with the tomatoes. Bring to a simmer, then stir in the pasta and heat through for 1-2 mins.

4. Transfer to a baking dish and sprinkle with the Garlic & Herb Crumb Topping, then the cheese.

5. Place under the grill for 4-5 mins until golden

[I have copied these straight from the packet]

The finished result smelled fantastic and it was ever so easy to make

I guess the most important part though is how it tasted and did the girls like it?

My girls really enjoyed it and even asked for more. I think I will be stocking up on Schwartz 2 in 1 as they are so quick and simple to make and taste fantastic, I even kept some for lunch the next day!

This post is an entry for BritMums ‘What’s for Dinner Tonight?’ sponsored by Schwartz. Find out more about the new 2in1 mixes here

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The girls were very hungry when I picked them up from nursery today, as a result I had two upset girls when we got home. This gave me the perfect opportunity to attempt the hungry to happy challenge from Britmums. I needed to create something quick and set about with my creative mind.

1. Pre heat the oven to 180 C

2. Whilst oven is pre heating, prepare vegetables

I used: 2 Large mushrooms chopped, 1 green and 1 red pepper chopped, 2 apples finely chopped, handful raisins and a tin of sweetcorn

By the time I had chopped all the veg the oven arrived at temperature, total prep time 2 minutes.

3. Place Richmond Mini Meatballs in oven for 8 minutes. [as per instructions on packet]
4. Whilst meatballs cooking in oven, cook mushrooms and peppers in one pan, and warm up raisins and apple in another pan.

5. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the apple and raisin pan.

6. Warm up sweetcorn [I did this in a bowl in microwave for 1.30 minutes]
7. Cook rice, I use Tilda Brown Basmati 2 minute microwave rice
8. Add rice to apple and raisin mixture and stir. Remove from heat

9. The veg and meatballs should now both be cooked.
10. Remove veg from heat and meatballs from oven.
11. Place rice mixture onto plate, in a flat circle shape to create a base
12. Place 3 meatballs into centre of plate in a line on top of rice
13. Place a mushroom slice either side of meatballs to create wings
14. Place 2 slices of pepper on to top meatball to create antenna
15. Fill in the 'wings' using sweetcorn

16. serve and enjoy

Total cooking and Prep time : 10 minutes

The girls soon went from hungry to happy with their butterfly meatballs. My eldest kept asking for more meatballs, she rarely asks for more. I know she enjoyed it. I also know my youngest enjoyed her dinner too because there was nothing left on the plate

Jasper also looked a little hungry but he soon went to happy once he had a Richmond mini meatball

The girls really enjoyed dinner and it was very hassle free to prepare I am rather glad they went to bed with full tummy and a smile on their face.

This day I love hungry to happy

This post is an entry for BritMums’ Hungry to Happy Challenge sponsored by Richmond Mini Meatballs

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A lot has changed in 30 years. 30 years describes my whole life, a lot has changed for me. In 1983 I was experiencing my first year of life, learning to walk, talk and all those amazing things my youngest daughter is currently doing now. This was me then

Unlike Special K, which for the first time in 30 years Kellogg's is updating with a new 3 grain [previously 2] recipe, I think I have updated quite a lot. I can now walk and talk although some times I don't make much sense. In 1983 I was learning the basics and since then have gone on to complete a Masters in Engineering. 30 years a whole life time.

Perhaps the only thing that has remained the same in those 30 years is my appetite. Yes I have always liked my food, in particular breakfast. I don't function without it. Should you ever meet my Dad he will gladly tell you the honey story to back this up. The thing is is I have a sweet tooth. Whilst I am health conscious, most of the time, I do love my sweet things.

Perhaps this was why previously I never really enjoyed the taste of Special K. Now when asked if I wanted to try the new recipe cereal I thought why not, I am open minded and happy to give it a go. The new recipe, as previously mentioned, is now 3 grains instead of 2. It contains rice, wheat and barley and is made with wholegrain. It provides a good source of fibre and 8 vitamins and minerals. I was somewhat surprised, as it tasted nice. I actually enjoyed it, me the person who has perhaps the sweetest tooth, cannot turn down cake and would eat chocolate at all meals, enjoyed a healthy cereal that can even help weight control.

This is great news for me as the other thing that's changed in 30 years is my body shape. At one point I could have worn the 'special K red swimsuit' probably in my early twenties, but after 2 children I am wanting to slim back down. I think I shall participant in the My special K challenge, as what I will gain when I loose, is my self confidence back. That confidence from my twenties when I thought I could have it all and do it all.

Yes a lot has changed for me in the last 30 years but by far the best is my two grains, my two little girls and who knows maybe one day, like special K I might even have 3?

This is my entry for the Britmums 'How I've Changed Linky Challenge'. If you want to read more entries in the #SpecialK30 Linky on Britmums click here.

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