Hey Everyone! I've seen this tag floating about the blogosphere lately and thought I would get involved! I love a bit of me-time, so here are my answers to the questions below!

What do you read or watch during me-time?

I usually read a book on my kindle or a magazine. My favourites are look and heat magazine! I love catching up on my favourite youtubers' videos too! Lately I've been loving watching the Saccone-Joly's and Zoella! 

What do you wear during me-time?

My PJ's of course! I love wearing the legging type PJ's as I find them the most comfy! I received some Ugg slippers for my christmas so I'm sure I will get plenty of wear out of them! As soon as I get home on a night I get my slippers on!

What are your me-time beauty products?

Anything from Lush! I've got a big box of bath bombs beside my bath which I like to keep stocked up! I received some bath things for Christmas so that will top the box up a bit! I'm also partial to a wee face mask from time to time! 

Current Favourite nail polish?

I have to admit, I don't really paint my nails that often! I constantly chip them then spend my day picking the polish off! If I do have anything on my nails, it has to be gel so I don't chip it! I do love Rimmel nail polishes though, and I have a little collection of them.

What do you eat or drink during me-time?

Hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream is a favourite of mine! I also love a little cider or disaronno on the rocks! To eat, I love chocolate (who doesn't) and I also love crisps! Sweet Chilli Sensations are my all time favourite! No healthy snacks in my house haha!

Current favourite candle?

Oh god, I don't even know where to begin with this one! I have a serious Yankee candle buying problem! I would have to say my all time favourite scent is Baby Powder! My other half bought me 5 of the wax tarts for christmas and I've just treated myself to the large jar! 

Do you ever have outdoor me-time?

Yeah, I love going for long walks in the countryside, either with or without company! My favourite place to go is up to the reservoir near my parents house! I spent a lot of my childhood there, walking with my family and it's really beautiful! 

Would you ever go and see a movie alone?

Probably not to be honest! I've never really had to as I've always managed to rope someone along with me. I see going to the cinema as a social thing where you can share popcorn and laugh together at the movie!

Anything else to add? What else do you like to do during me-time?

My favourite thing to do during me-time is put my favourite spotify playlist on, light some candles and get writing some blog posts! Or do some online shopping haha! 

Please feel free to copy and paste this tag to your blog! Let me know if you decide to do it. I'd love to read your answers! 

xxx

FoodieFriday: The Granary, Edinburgh

Aloha Everyone. Last Thursday I visited The Granary in Leith, Edinburgh! My other half and I went there to sample their Christmas menu, and on arrival were given a tasty glass of mulled wine! We had some canapés, which were like little tasters of the Christmas menu! They were all very tasty, so tasty in fact that we decided to book a table for our Uni christmas lunch!

After we had finished our mulled wine, we headed downstairs to the main restaurant to have dinner. They had some fabulous promotions on as it was midweek, so I got a raspberry mojito for only £3.95! 

For my main meal I had mac & cheese with garlic bread. It was absolutely delicious and only £7.95! I'd even go as far as saying it was the best mac & cheese I've had! 

And of course I had to get pudding (me and my sweet tooth!) I had tablet ice cream sundae which was also delicious! Tablet is my favourite sweet so combine it with ice cream and you have got a very happy Katie! 

Overall, I would highly recommend a visit to the Granary if you are ever in Edinburgh! It is in a beautiful setting, right on the shore and is very pretty inside! It is also very reasonably priced and the food is just delicious. I will definitely be making more than a few more visits here! 

xxx

A little slice of October

October was a pretty busy month! Here is a round-up of what I got up to! Unfortunately there's not many photos!  

1- October saw me finally getting a new toy! I went for the gold iPhone 6 and so far, I love it! 

2- In the middle of the month, we saw the amazing Billy Connolly live at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh. I cried with laughter from beginning to end! 

3- As usual, October was a very busy month for Uni work! Now to get working on the dissertation and December coursework! 

4- And the perfect end to a busy month! Our anniversary weekend. You can read more about that here

xxx

It's the most wonderful time of the year...The Christmas Tag!

Smudge modelling his Santa Coat!

Hello everyone! I saw this christmas tag over on MilkBubbleTea and I just had to get involved. Christmas is my favourite time of year and I look forward to it all year! Not just for the presents of course but It is the one time of year I get time off to spend with my family! 

If you want to get involved with this tag please feel free to copy this onto your page. I'd love to see your answers! 

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

Elf is always a good choice! And The Holiday. The Snowman is one I've always watched on Christmas Eve, ever since I was a little girl. It's always been a tradition in our family.

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas morning! I won't cave from pressure to open anything until Christmas morning haha! 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

When I was born, my dad bought my mum a magnum bottle of moet & chandon. One christmas when I was about 12, they decided to open it. They fell asleep on the sofa and I polished off the last of the bottle (mixed with orange juice of course!) It still gets laughed about every year.

4. Favourite festive food?

I love those little sausages wrapped in bacon! For some reason we never have them at any other time of year. I've been known to eat a whole tray to myself when I'm feeling a bit peckish after Christmas Dinner! 

5. Favourite Christmas gift ?

I had to think about this one! I've received so many lovely gifts over the years! Going back to my childhood, I think my favourite must be the year my parents bought me my first PC! It was a Gateway PC with windows 98! Haha! I had it for about 6 years. I used to sit up late adding all my CD's to windows media player and writing stories/playing on paint! 

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Cinnamon scented candles! My mum has always filled the house with them at christmas!

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Going round our family delivering presents mostly! Then we like to sit down with some nibbles and drinks and watch the Snowman! 

8. What tops your tree?

Gaga's angel! My gran had an angel handmade for me when I was born and she's still tops the tree! She's come with me after moving out of my parent's house too. 

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

Probably a kitten! I eventually got a cat when I was 13, not for christmas though! 

10. What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Everyone sitting down at the table to eat a delicious, home cooked meal! It's a time to reflect on how lucky we all are and to enjoy being in each other's company! 

I'm so excited for Christmas to come around again! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Anniversary Weekend Part 2 - Loch Lomond

So yesterday I posted about my trip to Knockderry Country House Hotel for my anniversary! After we checked out on Saturday, we drove a very short distance to see Loch Lomond and have a spot of lunch! We visited a small village called Luss, where we had a bite to eat in The Village Rest cafe. My other half had Steak Pie and Chips and I had Lentil Soup and crusty bread! The food was excellent which was evident from how busy the place was!
Here are some pictures from Saturday!

3rd Anniversary Weekend - Knockderry Country House Hotel

Hello lovelies!
So some of you may know that Friday 31st October was my partner and I's 3rd Anniversary! On Friday morning I received a card telling me to pack an overnight bag and get ready to leave at 1pm! I was so excited to see where he was taking me. And I was not disappointed!
We headed off towards the West of Scotland, eventually arriving at the stunning Knockderry Country House Hotel in Cove, near Loch Lomond.
I honestly couldn't fault the stay at all! It was just perfect. We had a beautiful room overlooking Loch Long, with a huge four poster bed!
Here are some photos from our stay!

How cute are these mugs?! I need to try track some down for myself! 

The other half had arranged for a bottle of prosecco to be in the room for our arrival! Yummy! 

Look at that stunning view. Even the murky Scottish weather can't spoil that view! 

This bath was so good, I had to go in it twice! Obviously the prosecco was enjoyed in the bath! 

Lovely Arran Aromatics products in the bathroom! 

Just look at that bed! It was like sleeping on a cloud! Best nights sleep I've ever had. 

Now of course, we ate in the hotel restaurant. The food was just to die for! 

Starter- Wood fired Pigeon Breast 

Main- Fillet Steak with Chunky Chips

Dessert- Meringue with Lemon Curd Ice Cream and Poached Apricots

I genuinely don't have a bad word to say about the meal. It was just out of this world. I am craving more meringue just looking at the picture! 

If you are in the West of Scotland and looking for a nice place to stay, I can't recommend Knockderry House enough! I will definitely be returning!

You can check out their accommodaton here

xx

100th Blog Post!! My favourite Posts from 2014

Woohoo! This is my 100th Blog Post!! 

What better way to celebrate than to do a little round-up of my favourite posts from 2014! 

1. Meet Smudge - My little fur baby means the world to me, so it was great to introduce him to my readers! 

2. Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made - My very special trip to New York in January. It was honestly the best trip of my life and has inspired me to do so much more travelling the world in the coming years! (Mexico is my next big trip in May 2015)

3. My Heroine - A tribute to my gran on her 91st birthday! What a woman! 

4. 10 Reasons Why Shelter Cats Are Best - I posted this exactly 10 years after we brought home Smudge! 

5. Banana and Pineapple Loaf - Still my favourite cake, and (kinda) healthy too! 

So thank you all for sticking around and reading my posts. You guys make it all worthwhile! Here's to the next 100 posts! :) 

xxx

MondayMunchies: Sweet Pepper Omelette

Hey Everyone! Today I have a tasty recipe for one of my favourite, easy meals! Monday nights are just the worst. You've hardly had any sleep the night before (is it just me who can't sleep on a Sunday night?!) and work has drained any energy you may have had! So this recipe will make your Monday much more relaxed, when you can't be bothered cooking! 

You will need:

3 Large Eggs, 

20g Cheddar (I use 1/2 fat cheddar) 

2 sweet peppers (or 1 normal pepper if you can't get your hands on the sweet ones) 

1tbsp of sunflower oil

Some salad as a side dish. 

Finely grate the cheddar, chop up your sweet peppers and whisk up your eggs (season with salt and pepper) 

Heat the oil in a frying pan, let the eggs cook for about 2-3 minutes, then add the cheese and peppers down one half of the pan (it makes it easier to fold I think)

I use a metal fish slice to get under one side of the omelette and fold over to make a semi circle! 

After letting it cook for another 2-3 minutes to let the cheese melt, serve with a yummy crispy salad! I like to drizzle some white wine vinegar and olive oil over mine to give it a little bit of flavour! I've found my favourite bagged salad is one from Asda called Italian style salad. It has a bit more flavour than your standard bagged salad! (I hate salad but I need to get my 5 a day somehow!)

So there you have it! Such an easy meal to make after a hard day at work! It can be made with almost anything as a filling too! Sometimes we have minted pea and feta cheese in ours too! 

Happy cooking!

xx

Weigh In Wednesday #2

Hey everyone. Just a very quick update on my weight loss progress this week.
So last week I was 12st 4lbs.
This week I am...12st 4lbs.
I suppose staying the same is better than gaining weight right?
I was fully expecting to not lose anything this week, as dieting has been affected by impending coursework deadlines! I've got a double hand in tomorrow, then it's mine and my other half's anniversary on Friday! I wonder what he's got up his sleeve this year?
xx

10 reasons why shelter cats are the best!

So, last Thursday marked 10 years since we brought home our beloved cat Smudge. We got him from a local rescue centre. He had been abandoned as a young cat and was living wild in the woods for 10 months! This made him a bit of a handful when he first joined our family! As you can see, he is now a massive fan of a warm lap! I can't believe the change I've seen in him in the last 10 years. I like to think that the love and care I've given him has made him the happiest cat around! 

So here are my top 10 reasons why, if you're thinking of getting a cat, you should adopt a shelter cat! 

1. Shelter cats are ready to go! The majority of shelters spay, neuter, litter train, de-flea and de-worm their cats before sending them off to their forever home.

2. The staff can help you pick the perfect companion. You get to see a wide variety of different cats and the staff have the knowledge to recommend one that will suit your home and lifestyle. 

3. It's perfect if you want an adult cat. My boy was 2 when we brought him home so he was already past the furniture destroying stage (much to my mum's delight). Older cats have just as much love to give and can be just as playful! 

4. It is a lot less expensive than buying from a breeder! My boy cost me a small donation of £35 to the shelter. He's repaid that to me in cuddles since! 

5. You are helping to support the shelter. The guys and girls in animal shelters do fabulous jobs looking after all the poor animals. I still donate cat food to Smudge's ex-home every christmas. 

6. You get to provide a happy and loving home for a cat who hasn't had a perfect start in life. Trust me, they repay that kindness! 

7. You'll feel better. Research shows that having a pet makes people happier and more upbeat. If that's not a great reason then I don't know what is! 

8. You are setting a positive example for others who might be thinking of getting a pet! 

9. They will love you for it! I'm still convinced Smudge remembers the day I chose him. He always comes to my lap first and runs through meowing at me when I come home. I'm the only one he behaves for too! 

10. And if you needed anymore reasons, you are saving a life! 

I may have come across as a bit of a crazy cat lady in that post (I am a little bit), but animal shelters are something I feel so passionately about. I will definitely be one of those women who adopts thousands of pets and lives on a huge farm so they can all run about haha! 

Hope you found this post helpful if you are looking to adopt a pet! 

xx

Weigh-in Wednesday!

Hello all! So I've booked a cheeky holiday to Mexico as a treat for my graduation next year, and I need to get a bikini body! I've been dieting for a few weeks now and I've lost 5lbs. I plan on documenting my weight loss journey here with my new feature post, Weigh-In Wednesday!
My diet consists of eating from healthy cookbooks, calorie counting and more exercise than normal! My goal is to lose 2 stone, putting me at a much healthier weight of 11 stone.
So drum roll please......
Last Wednesday I was 12st 7lbs.
This Wednesday I am 12st 4lbs
That is a loss of 3lbs!
Woohoo!!
Hopefully I can continue this into the week ahead!

Cinco De Mayo. Taco Pizza Recipe #BEDM

Hello everyone! As it is Cinco De Mayo today, I've got a little mexican themed post for everyone!
This is a little recipe that my auntie shared with me recently and I have to say it is one of my favourite things to make.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Mince (I used steak mince on this occassion)
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 tbsp water
• 8 small fajita sized flour tortillas
• cooking oil
• 1 cup shredded cheese (I used mozzarella on this occasion)
• Tomato Puree
• ¼ cup chopped onion
• 1 chopped pepper
• sour cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees
2. Brown beef in a pan until fully cooked. Drain off any grease.
3. Add taco seasoning, onion, pepper and water to beef and cook for a few minutes. Set aside.
4. Brush both sides of the tortillas with oil and place on a baking sheet.
5. Bake tortillas for 2 minutes at 180 degrees. Turn tortillas and bake for 2 more minutes.
6. Spread the prepared mince over the tortilla to be used as the base. Top each with one of the remaining tortillas. 
7. Spread tomato puree and grated cheese over the top tortilla
8. Place under the broiler until the cheese is melted.
9. Slice each pizza into 4 slices and top with a spoonful of sour cream to serve. Serves 4.

Yummmmmmy! I really enjoyed making (and eating) these! And they were so simple to make! 

Let me know if you attempt to make these! 

xx