30 Day Snap - Day 30

The final photo!



 

 

The first sweet pea flowers of the year.

I wish you could smell these...beautiful.

 

Just had a call from Mr B before he boards his return flight from Belfast. He'll be home soon; day off tomorrow and then he flies out to Dublin. It's all go!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 29

I think it is my penchant for sweets like these that cause my teeth problems!

 

 

Not the sweets per se, but the fact that they contain nuts.

I am so lucky that I don't have nut allergies, 'cos that would be one hard item to give up.

(No pun intended!)

 My cop-out on these is that they are almonds and they are meant to be 'good' for you, aren't they?

Tho', probably not as good when they are enrobed in nougat! But it is honey nougat!

 

 

Just a shame it isn't a bottomless packet!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 28

 Homemade chili con carne and Jersey Royal potatoes.

 

Made from scratch and given the seal of approval by two cheeky cats!!

 



 

Realised I hadn't actually bought any chillies to put in it (!), so scooped out a few tiny dried ones from my pot of fancy sea salt! Tasted yummy.

 

When I was a student my bedsit had 2 gas rings and a grill, so 'mince' was made up into a variety of dishes. I swore I'd never do it again! But I wanted to get back into making meals from scratch and that I could freeze so, when I get stuck at not getting out and going shopping I had something decent to scoff. I think I'll get 4 portions out of what I made, so that's pretty good going.

 

I also want to get back into eating more pulses, so kidney beans was a good start.

 

There's a few spuddies left over so I'll probably sauté them tomorrow with a bit of bacon for brunch.

Sorted!

Z xx 

30 Day Snap - Day 27

Knuckleduster love!

30 Day Snap - Day 26

Sole-full salmon.

 

 

A 'catch-of-the-day' selection for six squid from TK Maxx.

 

Is there something 'fishy' going on here?

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 25

I am not a fan of fancy dress, but...

 

 

I had to take a quickie phone snap of this cutie strawberry outfit!

Fancy collar - check

Flower - check

Fab blobby, velvety fabric - check

Bubble hem - check

= perfect outfit!

 

So, after 10 days I finally got out of the house! Yippee! Almost straight to TK Maxx and a happy couple of hours just munging around. Bliss!

Z xx

 



30 Day Snap - Days 23 & 24 June

Oops! Missed one!

Day 23

 

 

Homemade apple chutney bought from the Village Fair, artfully presented tucked in one of the Giselle prop grape baskets.

 

Gratefully received gift for our mate, Paul, as a sort of new flat-warming present. (Along with a vintage 'The Archers' board game!).

Not sure which he was most pleased with!

 

***and***

 

Day 24

 

 

Dinner, courtesy of Tesco Delivery Service! (Yes, still haven't been out of the house...but at least toady I got dressed! And cooked myself dinner.)

Steak, potato croquettes and a mix of cabbage, broad and runner beans.

I am rubbish at cooking steak, but the veggies...cor, could've eaten a plateful of them on their own!

Yum!

Zxx



30 Day Snap - Day 22

Apple, orange, pineapple, cherry and grape.

 

 

Would one of those pairs on the top row count as one of my five a day?

 

 

30 Day Snap - Day 21

A dose of Clinique loveliness, girlies!
 

They have been doing a 'Flagship' Bonus Time, (until tomorrow). Available from a variety of 'flagship' stores as opposed to a singular (chain of ) store. This meant there was a choice of 4 stores in Birmingham but not a single one in Northampton!

Mr B got this from Boots for me as I could also get my points. There had been a 'mens special' as well, which actually finished last Sunday, but they had a couple left. So, as you have to buy one skincare item + one other item per gift, Mr B got 2 skin items for him and 2 lippy things for me. Result!

My freebies, in the rather chic make up bag were Take The Day Off For Lids, Lashes & Lips, Moisture Surge Face Spray Thirsty Skin Relief and All About Eyes, all3 of which I regularly use and love. There was also Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream and Deep Comfort Body Butter, which is lush. There is also, finally, Repairwear Laser FocusWrinkle & UV Damage Corrector, which I have used before, but not enough to give a review, other than to say it doesn't aggravate my skin.

The lippy on the left is my third Chubby Stick and is in Curviest Caramel and the other one is a new one to me, Vitamin C Lip Smoothie in Guava Good. I love both of them.

Should I get Mr B to do a review of his goodies too?

There is the Vintage Fair and Midsummer Garden Party tomorrow, which would be great to go to and no doubt, get to see my 'twinnie'. But having not been out all week, (or even out of my PJs), I'm am hoping a lot! But you never know!

Have a great weekend!
Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 20

This is actually a snap from Mr B at work!

Meet Crystal.

She is currently appearing in Giselle at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

 

She was the horse that Syeed road to his wedding in Eastenders.

 

If you enjoy larger than life stage personas, you may remember Peregrine, here and here, (The pony-in-a-lift post).

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 19

 On a dull day I tend to get to this time of night and go "Arrgh! Haven't taken a photo!"

I had decided this was what I wanted to snap yesterday.

I've not had this coffee maker for long, but yesterday was the first time I have ever made coffee this way.

It was very nice, very strong but not a lot of it!

One of my favourite coffees

I've always been a bit wary of percolating coffee as it is apparently really bad to use boiling water on coffee.

But I bought this 'cos it was Hello Kitty.

Mr B brought a TV programme to my notice, 'Bitchin' Kitchen' with Nadia G and to say I am hooked is an understatement!

photo taken from her website here

(I luuurrrrrvvve those shoes!)

But on one of her programmes she was making a proper café mocha and used a perc. So, in homage to her, I dusted mine off and plonked it on the stove.

Didn't wear heels tho'!

Alla prossima!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 18

Renny-Penny-Pants and friend.

RPP is on the left, just in case you were wondering!

 

Daughter of Tabby, seen here.

 

Ooo, I love my furry purry friends.

Z xx



30 Day Snap - Day 17

30 Day Snap - Day 16

The 'alternative' village boat race.

30 Day Snap - Day 15

Homemade cakes from the village fete.

Oh yes!

Separate post to follow.

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 14

 

Umm, watching Big Brother and realised I hadn't taken a photo today. So, a picture of my camera could be deemed quite appropriate.

 

I really didn't think you'd want to see my 2 lots of washing or my drainer full of washing up.

 I did pate on toast as a late lunch, and, as with my dinner, ate it before I thought about photographing it!

 

So, my camera and ratty nail varnish it is then!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 13

My Tabby-babes.

 

Did anyone else watch  the programme on BBC2 tonight, Beyond The Catflap?

 

We, too, have an 'interloper', who comes in and eats our cats food! Cheeky so-and-so! I have started to keep the expensive cat kibbles in the bedroom in the hope that it will put him/her off. It doesn't! S/he will come in and our two will just stay curled up on the bed. Hopeless!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 12 (edited)

Yummy mummys doing 'strollercise' in the background

A lovely cappuccino in the park after yet another visit to the dentist!

 

Woo, I'm getting some 'tooth bling'; this is the third time in 5 years that this particular tooth has needed to be seen to, so have been advised to go for a gold crown.

I thought that people with gold teeth had them for the fancy effect, (if I thought about it all), but, no, it is because gold is stronger than ceramic.

You lives and learns!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 11

A combination of  6 photos today, you lucky things!
 

 

 

Planted up the last of my poor old sweet pea seedlings. I think they'll be relieved.

 

Transplanted half a dozen sweetcorn plants, (never grown these before) and about a about a dozen French green beans.

 

I also transplanted my courgette plants. I'm reminded of another 'bloggy photo thing' way back in 2010(!)...the August Break. There were a lot of courgette photos! It's lovely to look back at them and think that that is all to come.

 

Ooo, Summer!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 10

 

My birthday pressie to me!

 

A Vivienne Westwood necklace.

Lush!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 9

Again, not 'quite' a photo. A scan of a very special photo with a rather special cover.

 



 

Today would have been my parents' 60th Wedding Anniversary.

 

Much missed.

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 8

 

 

A bit of a cheat...haven't actually taken any photos today, but did find an SD Card that I didn't know I had.

Does that count?

30 Day Snap - Day 7

30 Day Snap - Day 6

 

Hot Buns? Large Bloomer?

What can I say?

Zxx

30 Day Snap - Day 5

It made me laugh each time I have opened the cupboard door to get my coffee out...there was
'Reg Holdsworth' peering back at me.
 

He was a character from Coronation Street a few years ago, played by Ken Morley.

When Mr B was on tour in Manchester there used to be a brilliant second hand place call The Ginnel Gallery and they had the same boat bar for sale as we owned. Then, one day, we were having a coffee in their café, he came in and bought it!

If ever you've ever seen the Celebrity Come Dine With Me with him in, there are couple of fleeting glances of it.

Anyway, Mr Holdsworth has been removed and used to hold a cup of tea for Mr B, who was sent home from work as he was ill.

If anyone wants to buy a boat bar ours is for sale!

Zxx

30 Day Snap - Day 4

 

Toes and Kenkohs.

 

Ah, my beloved Kenkohs...I've had them longer than I've known Mr B and that's a long time! Made in Japan and bought from a Japanese store in South Kensington waaaaaay back in the 80s. The little nodules massage the soles of your feet and are meant to do you good! When you first wear them you are advised to only keep them on about 20 minutes; if you can bear it that long. They can take a bit of getting used to.

 

The nail varnish is quite old too! Maybelline New York Colorama (no 'U') in shade 22, (I think, it's more-or-less rubbed off!), but the name is Jellybean.

Love it!

 



 

The espadrilles are brand spanking new though!

By Merona, from Target, Mr B brought these back from the States for me. Yes, they were on 'The List'.

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 3

 

How to eke out a small chunk o' cheese and a couple of skanky scallions from the salad drawer!

 

 

Toast some granary bread, grate the cheese, chop up the onion, cut in 2, (diagonally, of course!) and enjoy!

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day 2

 

One of my favourite all-time cakes, the Marlborough bun.

Must have a go at making these one day. I've never tried making yeast-based cakey-things, but if I can manage bread, I guess I can make these too!

 

Anyone have a recipe they can recommend?

Z xx

30 Day Snap - Day1

Found this single Iris in the front garden as I waved off Mr B on his journey to Brum.

 

 

It seems bizarre that we live slap bang between London, 'The Capital City' and Birmingham, known as 'The Second City', but if you need to start work at 8 o'clock on a Sunday morning in Birmingham then you need to travel up and stay overnight as it is impossible to get there by train in time!

 

Daft, or what?

Z xx