The Bake Off is back!

The Great British Bake Off started back last Wednesday and I am loving it!

We are big fans of it in work, so the day after the first episode, I brought in cake for my colleague who was celebrating her birthday. I was going to buy Madeira Cake as that is the first cake they baked on Bake Off but instead chose this divine Belgian Chocolate Cake. It tasted so good!!

I'm also reading Mary Berry's autobiography.  Mary is one of the judges on Bake Off and she has had a very interesting life.

Already I have spotted a few strong contenders on the show and even knew who was going to be sent home on the first week (Hipster Guy with hat who was very much style over substance).  I look forward to the rest of the season and hope we get another few laughs like we did on the first night when some poor contestants mousse filling didn't set and her cake turned out a right mess.  Poor lady - the look on her face was so pitiful.  It all turned out ok for her as she wasn't sent home so she lives to bake again!!

Do you watch The Great British Bake Off?  

Love Lime!!!

I adore Lime!!  It's fresh and zingy and makes you feel super clean. I got this shower gel in Boots the other day.  Oh wow, it's amazing!!  In the morning time, it wakes you up and sets you up for the day.  After a workout, it is refreshing and relaxing.  You need to buy it if you like lime!!!

The reason I adore lime is that it brings me back to great times in Key West where I have holidayed over the past few years.  One of the things I love is to light my Vanilla Lime Yankee Candle and relax and think of the good times in Key West Florida. Bliss!

Fitness Blender's 5 Day Workout Challenge to Burn Fat & Build Lea...

Our trip to California has crept up on us - it's only 4 weeks away and we still needed to book hotels and car.


We set about completing all of this yesterday evening and we have now got our holiday plans finalized.


We will be visiting Monterey and Santa Cruz and then heading back to San Francisco for a squash tournament.


With only 4 weeks to go until when I will be lying on a beach in a bikini I decided I'd better start back working out again so have started doing Fitness Blender again.  Boy they are tough but I sure feel good after I have finished each workout!  





I have taken some photos of me currently so will do a before & after blog post in 4 weeks.

Arty Starbucks Staff

My sister and I spent a little time in Starbuck Rathmines today.  We both had our laptops with us so we chatted and browsed (the connection was really bad so I gave up after awhile).  

When I went up to the counter for my Double Espresso Machiatto (strong and tasty) I saw all of these amazing looking cups.  I asked the server if they were new and he told me that a staff member had done them!! Wow, amazing!  He told me that she also did the illustrations on the chalkboard.  I was impressed - what a talent!

What I've been up to!

Having recently watched "Love and Mercy" the film of the life of Brian Wilson, I borrowed Pet Sounds from the Library.  It's an awesome album that certainly transports you away from Ireland takes you to possibly California or some other location.

 I'm also reading "Practice to deceive" by Ann Rule who sadly passed away recently.  I enjoy reading her true crime stories and it is remarkable to think that while she was writing and researching these books she was actually a good friend of Ted Bundy and yet she never realized he was a mass murderer!!

It's a Bank Holiday here in Ireland.  Yesterday I suggested to Ciaran we go off hill walking or some other activity.  It was a lovely day today so we set off about midday to Tibradden in the Dublin Mountains.

 We really enjoyed the walk - look at how amazing the scenery is. From the top there was such a fantastic view of Dublin City.

 At the top we had cheese & ham sandwiches then made our way back down.  We had a great day out - It really is the simple things that can give such pleasure!

Supervalu Food Academy featuring Koo Kee Cookie Mix

In my local Supervalu there is special section called the Food Academy.  It has ranges of specialist foods from local suppliers.

There is pate, rashers, desserts, sauces and lots more for sale as part of this innovation.

I've bought this flavoured butter before.  Irish butter is the best and these are the perfect size for slicing up and using on your steak.

These Rocky Road biscuits look so good.

The owner of Koo Kee cookie mix was selling her product (and giving samples) so after chatting with her for a little while I decided to buy the Oatmeal & Chocolate mix.

Here's the cookies that I made from the mix.  They are gluten free and were rather tasty!

Castlemartyr Resort

Two weeks ago we spent a little time in County Cork in Castlemartyr Resort.  It's a pet friendly hotel so we were able to bring Bones the dog which was beyond convenient as our dog minder was unable to mind him.  It made such a change to pack up the car in a relaxed manner and drive for 3 hours rather than rush to the airport at an ungodly hour to travel for a good few hours to get to a foreign destination.  A "Staycation" has a lot of positives, that's for sure.

 

 We were given a pet friendly room which had access to a small garden.  On the grounds is a great Coilte Forest with pathway the whole way through.  Here's a pic of Bones having a great time in the forest.

 On our first night we had a very pleasant meal in the Bell Tower Restaurant in the hotel.  

 

 

After dinner we took a walk around the grounds and got to say hello to the friendly horses in the paddock!

On other nights we ate in Sage and The FarmGate in Middleton (both meals were fabulous) and also Pat Shorts Pub in Castlemartyr.  I'll put photos up on my blog of those venues in a few days.