Hello, my name is James and I run Daddy Space I have written a post about what makes film nights so special to us. I hope you enjoy reading, I would love to know what you think so leave a comment for me to see. 

The DVD aisle full with hundreds of titles, some of which you have on the shelf at home, some which you have seen and accidentally but intentionally on purpose lost, and some which you have never seen before. Possibly my favourite aisle in Tesco closely followed but the man section of car bits. The kids also love coming down here and choosing DVD's, instead of letting them randomly have a film whenever we like to specifically have film nights.



We as a family often have film nights we really enjoy them and get so much out of having some quality family time. We often find ourselves rushing around so much that you can often forget how important it can be to all sit down together and just be. When is the last time you all just stopped doing everything and sat down together and concentrated on one thing as a family?

Having film night allows you to do this and gives you all something to concentrate on without distraction. When we have our film nights we specifically choose a new DVD get some snacks in specially and choose a nice drink each. It can be nice to bring a duvet down for everyone to sit under whilst the film is one this makes everything nice a cosy.

With the film chosen the snacks in bowls and drinks with straws in its time to go often the first thing to happen is one of the kids knocks the bowl over! We just clean the most of the mess then we worry about the crumbs later so the emphasis is on the time spent together.



Having had a film night it leads to conversation involving the whole family during the next day or so with talk about what happened and the kids playing out the scene. It really is our number one way to spend family time together and  would urge you all to try it out if you don't already.

What was the last DVD you watched together ?

* a guest post

Illumi is a food company specialising in "Free From" food. Their nutritionists and chefs work together to create delicious food that is perfect for those with allergies and dietary conditions such as Coeliac disease and I.B.S. and those that feel their diet benefits from avoiding certain foods, specifically their food is nut, gluten and milk free.

Personally, I try to avoid milk, cream, onions and garlic where possible so I was interested in giving this a try. I don't have any allergies luckily so I do eat these foods but I find my digestion much better if I avoid them. It's not nice to have to take a tablet if I am eating a creamy dessert, and speaking to friends of mine I know I am not an isolated case.

Illumi food is 'proper' food - no diet foods here but they have a keen eye on nutrition and flavour and don't use unnecessary oils and fats. The food is delivered in pouches and packets, they say they gently steam their pouches to keep the flavours and the moisture in.



I tried the Boost Energy diet. The Boost energy diet is designed to offer you an easy to follow gluten free one-week meal plan. It's a flexible plan so you can switch a food you don't like for another one from their large range.

Recommendations on the plan are:-

• That you eat regular meals, three meals and up to three snacks each day (all provided).
• That you always eat breakfast and try not to eat your evening meal too late or close to bedtime.
• You vary what you are eating and add fruit and veg so you are getting your 5 portions a day and 3 portions of dairy.

So here are my thoughts on some of the dishes.

The gluten free porridge was lovely, not as powdery as my normal porridge as the oats were quite large and it wasn't milled but a very acceptable porridge. I made it with water and added soya milk and honey to taste. I had this most days and it certainly kept me full until lunchtime.  For a snack throughout the week I had the oatcakes. I enjoy these anyway although some people may think they are bland, I like them, and there is also the benefits of oats being great for your heart health. 


The lunches were really tasty in general. The Tom Yum soup had a real depth of flavour, you could taste the coconut, galangal, lemongrass flavours and it tasted creamy - no mean feat when you realise there is no cream in it.

Another lunch dish I enjoyed was the pea soup with mint and pancetta. This soup was thick and delicious but wasn't too smooth. I don't like smooth soups and normally I wouldn't pick pea soup but I honestly really thought this was yummy. To add some crunch I made my own croutons out of wholemeal bread lightly fried in olive oil.

Hello I'm Helen and I blog at Beautiful Things (www.allthebeautifulthings.co.uk) I'm guest posting for Mellissa while she enjoys some R&R. 

Recently I bought a slow cooker and I love it! I was thinking of what my new favourite winter recipe is. This cidered pork recipe is utterly delicious and is very easy to make. Let me know if you make it and what you think?




Ingredients

A little oil for frying
4 pork shoulder steaks cubed and fat removed
1 large leek sliced and washed
6oz of button mushrooms cut into halves
2 tablespoons of flour (plain or SR)
300 ml ( 1/2 pint) cider
300 ml ( 1/2 pint) chicken stock
2-3 large carrots sliced into chunks or batons
2 dessert apples cored, peeled and  sliced into chunks
sage ( 2-3 leaves) or a sprinkle of dried sage
any other herbs (optional - e.g. thyme, rosemary)
salt and pepper

Dumplings

150g (5 oz) self raising flour
75g (3 oz) vegetable suet
Chopped fresh or dried sage
Chopped fresh or dried thyme
Salt and Pepper
Cold Water

Method

Heat the oil in the pan and brown the pork all over.
Stir in the flour then gradually mix in the cider and the stock.
Add the leeks, apple, carrots, sage and any other herbs if used and salt and pepper.
Bring to the boil stirring until thickened.
Put the mixture into the slow cooker pot and cook on low for 6 hours.

Make the dumplings

Put the SR flour, suet, herbs and salt and pepper in a bowl.
Gradually stir in enough water for the mixture to come together and not be too sticky.
With clean hands take some mixture and roll into balls.
Make 6-8 dumplings.
After the pork has been cooking for 6 hours, take the lid off the slow cooker and stir the mixture.
Add the dumplings on the top of the mixture.
Put lid back on and cook for another hour.





Serve with fresh steamed vegetables and Yorkshire Puddings.

This is my entry into the Co-op winter warmer recipe competition .

What do you think of this slow cooker dish? Do you have a slow cooker? If so what recipes have you made?

Marisota is is one of the leading direct home shopping companies in the UK. They sell clothes for women size 12 and above, with a keen eye on fit and value they are specialists in this area. They also have a large range of bags and footwear too, from classic designs to the latest trends. Did you know they have been going since 1875 and that they were one of the first companies to use parcel post to send products direct to their customers?




This longline blouse with the monochrome floral print is bang on trend, and the panels on the side create a slimming effect. It is generously cut and skims all your problem areas. If you are in between sizes I would suggest you ordering the smaller size as it was a little too big for me.




I think this blouse is great for a smart daytime look with navy jeans, flat boots and a cross body bag, perhaps for a shopping trip or lunch with friends. I often find as I am short I have problems buying shorter trousers. Well Marisota have a section for petite ladies. The jeans I have picked above come in a 25 inch leg length, so they are perfect for me and the dark navy look is slimming and comfy in a stretch denim.

Lili Bou satin box clutch £26.95

You can't beat a homemade scotch egg. The type you buy in supermarkets are inevitably rubbish so why don't you have a go at making them. It is very simple to do, quick to make and you get a crispy delicious result. 

Serves 2, double up for a family of four.

Ingredients

2 eggs
4 good quality large sausages or sausage meat equivalent
2 tablespoons crushed cornflakes for coating (or you can use breadcrumbs)
oil for frying

Method

Boil the eggs for 10 mins, cool and shell.
Put two tablespoons of Cornflakes per egg into a plastic bag then crush until broken.
Skin the sausages.
Take two sausages per egg and make into a flat round on a floured plate.
Coat one egg in the sausage meat keeping the floured side outside.
Shape neatly.

Brush the coated eggs with beaten egg.
Toss in the cornflakes or breadcrumbs.
Reshape.
Fry gently in the oil for five minutes until browned.
Put into an oven at 190 c for 30 minutes or until hot through and cooked.



Drain on absorbent paper.
Enjoy hot or cold.

Quick Tips: These are easy to make in advance. Use cornflakes rather than breadcrumbs to save time. Boil the eggs in advance and set aside until ready to use. Once made up with the sausage meat but before frying, place in the fridge. This will help the scotch eggs firm up so they don't fall apart when cooking.

Serve with salad and a jacket potato or any way you wish!

This post is an entry for the #ShortcutEggsperts Linky Challenge sponsored by British Lion Eggs. 

• Wear a helmet - this protects your head if you fall off your bike or are involved in an accident.
• Wear sunglasses as these can help prevent any debris like dust or insects getting into your eyes as well as prevent any glare in the sun or snow.
• Wear bright reflective clothing as this can help you be seen in dark conditions. If motorists can see you then they are less likely to knock you off your bike. 
• Lights and reflectors are important to alert other road users to your presence.
• Padded gloves will make it more comfortable for you and give protection to your hands.

I love pretty jewellery, and Augustine Jewels is a brand new love of mine. All handmade in England, their beautiful, glamourous collections are perfect to be worn on a special occasion, or even every day.





The brand was created by designer Alexandra Morris Robson, born out of her desire to create exquisite jewellery and share her passion with others. After studying at the renowned Esmod School of Design in Paris she went on to attend Cambridge University and forged a successful career in Consumer Goods and Retail before launching Augustine Jewels in 2013.

The brand was named after the home and studio where her creations came to life. By staying true to her identity, Alexandra uses the finest quality materials, precious stones and near flawless diamonds to create her designs. Everything is handmade in England by some of the finest craftspeople in London. She uses purely 18ct gold, platinum and sterling silver which are all hallmarked Augustine Jewels.

Alexandra's inspiration comes from her extensive travels and the beautiful sights encountered along the way. Each collection represents a place, a discovery, or its beauty, and captures precious moments.
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Helen Mirren (Photo credit: annecentral)

Recently I have been feeling not as young as I used to feel. Although I go to Zumba I guess I could lose some weight. I have always had dark brown hair and I've noticed one grey hair appearing right at the front. I think I am lucky really, my mum was grey was she was 17.

My skin has always been a little oily, but now I am noticing the odd wrinkle around my eyes. laughter lines I prefer to call them though! I'm happy in my skin in general however when I get older I wouldn't rule out the odd treatment here and there. I think the secret with any treatment is to improve on the original. The craze for having plastic surgery to look like you have no expression is too extreme. 

We have many great role models now that embrace their age such as Helen Mirren, Germain Greer and Meryl Streep. These ladies look after themselves but acknowledge their age and experience in life. That's not to say they have or haven't had any treatments, I guess only they would know. But why not? If you feel you need a cosmetic treatment it should be up to you. 

It's important to go to a reputable clinic and allow them to guide you in the treatments available. Being a member of the Care Quality Commission shows they meet national standards. Some people go abroad for treatment, just be sure to check the aftercare and the standards of cleanliness. Whether you go for vaser liposuction İstanbul for a body shaping procedure or decide to have other treatment, read about the risks and read the patients reviews to be sure you make an informed decision. 

Wrinkle relaxants, laser treatments and laser skin resurfacing all have their place when carried out correctly to high standards. Other treatments like laser hair removal and tattoo removal can give you a new lease of life.

An example of laser skin resurfacing is below. In 2 to 4 treatments improvements are shown in a variety of areas including skin texture, pores, tones, elasticity, and pigment. I think this lady looks refreshed and rejuvenated, what do you think? 


It's inevitable getting old, and it comes to us all but would you ever have any treatments? I wouldn't say no, I think it depends on the individual situation. At the moment I'm happy but who knows what the future brings. One thing is for certain I don't want to look like Jacqui Stallone!

*Collaborative post

The London Jewellery School is a great organisation. Coming from a jewellery and teaching background I was delighted to find out recently that I have acquired part sponsorship from The London Jewellery School towards my visit to Brit Mums Live, the largest blogging conference in the UK. Consequently you will be seeing more posts about them in the near future. Today I am going to talk about a new venture of theirs.

Called Jewelry From Home, The London Jewellery School are bringing their jewellery making courses to people up and down the country. This is a great idea for those who are interested in making jewellery but don't live near London where they are based. The online video based courses are delivered by jewellery professionals in the comfort of your own home, and come with a lifetime access and downloadable course notes to support your learning. Information is also given on where to source the materials you need. 

Quintain's London Designer Outlet opens (Photo credit: EG Focus)

I do love shopping, I mean most women I know do, don't you? I also love London. Coming from a small town I crave the buzzing restaurant scene, culture and most importantly shopping. Did I mention I love shopping? 

I'm here today to tell my lovely readers about a great shopping emporium in London which specialises in designer clothing in the UK.

The London Designer outlet has a fantastic range of of 70 aspirational and high street brands, many with up to 70% off and a brilliant range of over 15 restaurant and cafes and even a Cineworld cinema complex for all the latest movies. All the shops and restaurants you need from Adidas to Zizzi are all here. If you or your children love 'cool' brands they have Superdry and Nike, and if you are after traditional quality brands they have M and S Outlet and Crabtree and Evelyn, something for all the family really.  One of my personal favourites at The London Designer Outlet, is the Body Shop, their coconut body butter reminds me of sunny days, holidays and fun! Their men's aftershave also smells divine and is well priced and their makeup range has some great lipglosses.

It is perfect if you live in and around Wembley or are visiting that area, perhaps Wembley Arena, and it is the only designer outlet centre within the M25 and easy reach of London and the South East. 

Just before Christmas, I was lucky enough to win a trip to Bluestone in West Wales. Bluestone is set in the Pembrokeshire national park with luxury accommodation set in the hills, and various activities which you can pay for. It is an all year "all-weather" attraction. Think of it similar to Centre Parcs.

There are different types of accommodation from lodges to cottages to studios, we were given Ramsey Lodge as our place to stay for the week.