In our house, when you say that you're going to do dinner from something in the freezer that usually means fish fingers, or possibly chicken nuggets, served with oven chips and (frozen) peas. Now, in my opinion there's nothing wrong with a dinner like that, but it's not the kind of thing that you want to serve up every night of the week. It was my mum who really enlightened me when it comes to cooking with frozen ingredients. She's always had things like frozen mashed potatoes in her freezer, which she swears by using when making cottage pie and similar. It was when she started living on ... read more
How to shop in charity shops
As I think I've mentioned before, back in December I took on the new role as the thrifty correspondent on the West Herts Drivetime show on local station Radio Verulum. On the first Monday of each month I talk to host Danny Smith about a variety of thrifty topics and it seemed like they would be ideal subjects for a series of thrifty vlogs on You Tube so here goes. I'm kicking off with my tips for how to shop in charity shops and come away with some bargains. Let me know what you think and what your top charity shop shopping tips are. ... read more
Special Edition Weetabix Strawberry for Comic Relief
It seems to be all about breakfast here on Being Mrs C at the moment as we're busy trying out this wonderful special edition Weetabix Strawberry this week. As part of Weetabix's partnership with Red Nose Day they have launched this special Strawberry Flavour Weetabix with 5p per pack being donated to Comic Relief. And if that wasn't enough, everyone who tries Weetabix Strawberry also has the chance to win one of many "nosetastic" experiences as part of the Weetabix Red Nose Day promotion. There are nine different experiences that you could win one of and these could be as cool as flying ... read more
Baby & Child Foot Health
One of Master C's favourite books at the moment is Topsy and Tim's New Shoes. In it, as the title suggests, the twins go off to buy some new shoes with their mum, and Topsy decides that she wants a pair of pink party shoes rather than the sensible pair her mum wants her to buy. Even with the sales assistant explaining why it is important to have shoes that fit well and don't crush all your toes together it's a hard sell to get Topsy to agree. It's a scenario that I'm sure many mothers of girls have, and I know I've certainly been there with Little Miss C before. It is so, so important to ... read more
The Road to Nab End – William Woodruff
My reading seems to have slowed down a bit this year - possibly because I'm just always so tired that sleep has become the chosen option once I get into bed at night. I am still loving historical books though and The Road to Nab End is a great example. Rather than fiction though, this is actually an autobiography of historian William Woodruff and his early life in Blackburn, Lancashire. There seem to be so many books about people growing up in the East End of London (or at least I seem to have read a lot set there of late) that it was actually really refreshing to read about what life was ... read more
Big Red Breakfast featuring Baked Eggs on Salsa
Breakfast - the most important meal of the day. Everyone knows this saying don't they, and whilst not everyone agrees with it breakfast is a meal that is certainly never skipped in this house. I don't know about you, but I find we're all just hungry in the morning and certainly the kids and I are pretty grumpy if we don't eat pretty soon after getting up! To me having a good breakfast inside you before starting the day is hugely important and that's why I'm pleased to support Warburtons and The BHF, who have teamed up to help to educate the nation on the importance of maintaining a healthy ... read more
Inspired by Knickers Models Own
If you follow me on Facebook (click here if you aren't and don't want to miss out!) then you'll probably have seen me sharing posts by the wonderful Knickers Model's Own. In memory of her late mother, Caroline is challenging herself to wear a new outfit a day based only on things she can buy in a Cancer Research UK shop. She's doing amazingly well and has also attracted a lot of media attention in doing so. Inspired by her I've been shopping myself in the charity shops of St Albans... ... read more
Introducing Glitterbelle
In so many ways Little Miss C is such a girly girl - a huge fan of princesses, pink and anything sparkly. It's funny in a way as I'm not sure I can remember having that sort of phase myself, but it's what really seems to make her happy right now. She was therefore delighted when the latest review book from Parragon turned up - Glitterbelle The Sparkliest Princess Ever! Glitterbelle lives in a palace at the top of a hill with her Mum, The Queen, and her Dad, The King. She's not exactly a fan of a typical fairy tale princess life though and Glitterbelle much prefers to whizz round on her ... read more
Years of stitches
I'm trying so so hard in 2015 not to start new craft projects without finishing off ones that are already in progress. I have to admit to being one of those crafters who starts lots of things with great enthusiasm, but struggles to actually finish them. Hopefully this year will be different and I'm trying to start as I mean to go on. This blog provides a great record of projects that I've started over the years, but it can also be a bit scary when I then look back and realise just how long they have been going on for! LMC rocks the hoodie look! Back in March 2012 my ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Learnabout… Coin Collecting
Is it possible for there to be a hobby that makes stamp collecting look sexy? If so then coin collecting probably fits the bill. I kind of understand stamp collecting - all the different pictures, shapes and sizes, plus the old fashioned romantic idea of letters bearing these stamps travelling round the world in the days before email. But, to me, coin collecting just seems somewhat dull in comparison. The Ladybird Coin Collecting book was first published in 1976 and therefore covered British coins up to the then new decimal currency. As well as detailing lots of British coins up to ... read more