Enjoying The Last Days Of Summer Whatever The Weather*

When you're a child the days seem to drag, weeks seem like months and summers seem to go on forever. When you're an adult though the weeks and months tend to blur into one, and your life seems to be flying by at a million miles an hour. It hard to believe it, but this weekend is the last bank holiday for most us in the UK, till Christmas. What a scary thought, and with the children going to back school soon, and college and university starting up again, for many of us this weekend probably signifies the unofficial end of summer 2017.

Unusually for the UK, the bank holiday weather forecast doesn't actually look that bad, especially if you live in the south of England, but come on lets be realistic, in this green and pleasant land of ours we're never far away from a shower of rain. Although we've had the odd nice day, by and large this summer has been a bit of a washout. I'm still praying that we're going to get the Indian summer that the newspapers keep promising us, but in the meantime we need to use a bit of that British resolve and make the best of it. So this bank holiday weekend, put your latest DIY project on the back burner, crank up DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince and Summertime, on a waterproof speaker like the Panasonic Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker and enjoy the long weekend, and the last days of summer, whatever the weather.

Unlike most people in the UK I'm not the biggest fan of barbecues but if the weather's decent a bit of al fresco eating is the way to go, so get outside and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. Get the music blasting, chill down some bottles and cans, and some soft drinks, or maybe even make up some jugs of Pimms or cocktails if you're feeling fancy. and then prepare enough food to feed the 5000.

Pop some potatoes wrapped in foil in the barbecue coals, then make or buy some nice salads, breads and accompaniments, and then fill your barbecue with enough sausages, burgers, chicken, and chops to feed the entire street.

In order to host a good barbecue though don't forget to provide a few vegetarian option for both vegetarians and people who are trying to stave off the meat sweats. As a vegetarian I've been to barbecues before and the only thing that I've been able to eat is the salad - not ideal. Thankfully there are loads of barbecue friendly, veggie options available including steaks, burgers and sausages, just cook them indoors or make a foil parcel on your barbecue to keep them away from those meat juices.

If you want to be a bit fancy though and really impress your guest then why not treat them to a veggie kebab or two. Kebabs always look so impressive but they are so easy to make, stick some things on skewers, add some sort of marinade and then pop them onto the grill. The possibilities are endless but why not try adapting my Lentil, Roasted Vegetable And Halloumi Salad recipe. Serve the lentil and rocket mixture on the side, and pop chunks of pepper, courgette, and halloumi on to some skewers, and then brush with olive oil, lemon zest and thyme leaves and then grill until the cheese has browned slightly, and the veggies are charred - simples and a bit more exciting than a burnt sausage!

Let's be honest though, as I've just said when does the British weather ever cooperate. The weather forecast promised fine weather so you plan for a barbecue or a picnic and then what happens? well the heavens open and all of your plans go out of the window! So what do you do? well like with all things you should have contingency plans, so if it rains, bring that picnic or that barbecue indoors.

Put on some summer themed tunes, and light some candles to set the scene, then if you can, move your furniture to sides of the room, and spread out either a paper table cloth or a picnic blanket on the floor. Get some cushions to sit on and some cozy throws to wrap yourself in, and then bring out some cactus, flamingo, or pineapple themed napkins, straws, glasses and paper plates, and bring out a board game or two, and before you know it you'll have forgotten all about the rain

It goes without saying that whatever your were going to cook outdoors, you can cook inside on the oven or grill, but why not impress your guests and be a little bit more experimental with you indoor picnic fare. Have a little look online at sites like BBC Food and you'll be sure to find lots and lots of summery recipes. to take both your indoor or your outdoor picnic to the next level (I'm loving the sound of the Ploughman's Cheese And Pickle Tart!). At the end of the day who cares if it's raining, with the right setting, music, food, drink and company, does it really matter that summer is nearly over?

Although I'm not planning either a big get together, a picnic or a barbecue this weekend I'm definitely going to have a good time regardless of the weather, and I'm going to take some time out to listen to some good tunes and enjoy some good food. Do you have any big plans for the bank holiday weekend? Let me know in the comments x

*Sponsored Post

August And Out

Well believe it on not it's the 1st of September today where is the year going too!!! so it's time to recap Augusts failings or successes.

Firstly the spending diet - a disaster is how I am going to sum it up - I have no willpower whatsoever and September isn't going to be any better I certainly can't deny myself holiday spends so I will resume the diet in October when I really will need to knuckle down in advance of Christmas :(

Anyways as to trimming my stash - I have finished a few products tho this month again virtually no make up though which is a bit of a negative

OPI Avoplex High Intensity Hand Cream
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
Nair Raspberry Hair Removal Cream
The Body Shop Cranberry Bubble Bath
AVON Skin So Soft Targeted Firming Treatment
Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover
Trind Hand Repair
Tend Skin
OPI Nail Envy
Boots Botanics Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes
Ojon Revitalising Mist
Dove Anti Perspirant Spray
Models Prefer Mascara
Veet In Shower Hair Removal Cream
Korres Basil Lemon Shower Gel
Jelly Belly Blueberry Bath Salts
GUAM Anti-Cellulite Mud
Boots Natural Collection Ocean Deep Bath Essence
AVON Skin So Soft Satin Glow Firming Body Moisturiser
The Body Shop Shea Body Scrub
Avon Bronze Sun Protection UVB6
Steve Whatley's Zhuzh Tan Accelerator
Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover

23 Items :) I will still be doing this in September btu I will only be counting full size products as I will probably be finishing a lot of sample and travel sizes while I am on my holidays

I am going to be doing another few posts today including some new purchases and of course my giveaway launch which will go live later this evening - don't forget to keep checking back - Oh and if you like new blogs and giveaways don't forget to check out Sarah at Malacious - I Heart Cosmetics who is hosting a very generous blog giveaway on her fab new blog

Ears, Photos, Nasty Letters and Hummus !!!!

I don't think I ever have a week which doesn't involve some sort of drama.

All my plans for last week pretty much disappeared. I felt yucky pretty much all week... By Saturday I felt bleurghhhhhhh forcing me to cancel my opticians appointment and to cancel my trip to the Newcastle / Wigan game (Sorry Again Dawn!) Typical the game in the game I miss Newcastle win their first home game since February! (Which reminds me good luck at West Ham Nobby we will miss you x)

Anyways I had a doctors appointment for today anyways and it only turns out I have an ear infection!!!!!!! Cue the nice pic of me with cotton wool and ear drops in which I have decided to treat you all too - fan bleedin tastic!!

It always seems to be the way when your feeling yucky things go wrong and you end up having to rush round and do things you never expected too and this week has been no different. My new passport photos were rejected because I was wearing glasses!!!! so I had to shell out £3.50 to get another set done - fingers crossed my new set are OK - I am rapidly running out of time!!!! Then today I got a rubbishy letter from the bank cue more running around and stress! Least said about this the better really but its all sorted now!!!

On a positive note I got some super dooper Yankee candles this week, in Jasmine, Baby Powder, Sheer Gardenia, and Pineapple Citrus - I love my smelly candles! Also made some lovely hummus today too which is yummy so very pleased about that! I also found out that my mate Helen (of Prospero the bear fame) is definitely coming up this month so that is something to look forward too!

Plans for the rest of the week plenty of rest, card making and making my mums birthday meal on Friday :) - I am also taking the kitties for their injections, planning on doing some ebay listing, some blogging and maybe a bit of light yoga, hmmm - I think though I will take each day as it comes my life never seems to go as planned

Happy Easter !

Happy Easter Everyone!

Not only a bank holiday but also legitimate reason to stuff our faces with as much chocolate as we can! Hurrah!