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It’s the weekend….

Oh and the school holidays start!! Da da daaaaa!! It’s brilliant to have such a great start to the summer, with all this sun we have been down the beach most days after the boys have finished school. Living on the south coast of England is such a dream.

The World Cup kept us pretty occupied while it was on. Maybe football didn’t come home but I think the team did us proud! It was great to all get behind England and we loved it in our house. We had the lucky bunting up and had a great time watching so many matches. Being a mixed heritage household we had different teams to support but England were the most successful.

This weekend we are going to the Sorted in Dorset family festival in hamworthy Park which looks set to be a lot of fun. I remember going to that park when I was little as we had a beach hut there, so it’s going to be quite nostalgic too.

In the garden I’m going to have a good root around my plants. The success story there this week are my tomatoes.

With all of this lovely hot sun they are growing beautifully. Another week or so and they should start to ripen up to a rich red!

Not as lucky are my purple brussel sprouts. The delicate but deadly cabbage white butterfly managed to lay their eggs and the caterpillars 🐛 had a feeding frenzy before I could pick them all off.

That’s the thing with my version of organic gardening, I haven’t put anything other than water on the plants and deal with the bugs by picking them and putting them up the end of the garden. I still have my fingers crossed that my aim of have home grown brussel sprouts as part of my christmas dinner roast will actually happen.

All in all this weekend will be out in the fresh air as much as possible. A great start to the summer holidays.

What are your plans for the weekend or the summer break?

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More gardening stories can be seen here with my 5 steps to making a raised bed.

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Estarer Laptop Bag Review and Giveaway

Timing is key to most things and considering my laptop bag was falling apart at the seams the time was right now to look for a new one. My computer travels more miles than I can imagine. It comes to work every day, it will accompany me on business trips and it travels in continuous circles around my own house, from room to room, up and down the stairs being the faithful servant it is.

So, news flash! I have a new bag! Boy am I pleased with it, I’ve got that office chic feeling again. It’s great what a new bag will do for me.

Today I am not only telling you about this great bag from Estarer but I also have a Giveaway too! You can get your hands on a bag just like this by entering at the end of this post. First though let me tell you a bit more.

I have chosen the brown the version and it also comes in a plum colour. The bag is large and has space for just about everything. If you are a multi tasker then this will be just right. There’s even space for the odd nappy and baby wipe.

I like the short straps as I often get shoulder ache when I have a shoulder strap so this suits me a bit better. However for those of you who like the shoulder strap then there is one included.

The front on the bag has zips and compartments with easy access. If you use a note book jotter for those instant ideas such as blog post ideas or extra items for the never ending to do list then the jotter will be easily within reach using one of these outside pockets.

The bag is large enough for a 15 inch laptop and will also accommodate A4 folders alongside it.

Product Dimensions: 30 x 9 x 40 cm
Weight: 980 g

Overall view of the bag is that it is a good size for me, I will have to be careful not to overfill it or I will struggle with the weight. It is stylish and stands out from the normal run of the mill cases which I have looked at previously.

The Giveaway!

Estarer Womens Laptop Bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Mainy

Open to EU entries. All entries will be verified. Prize distributed by Estarer directly. Full t&c’s here.

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How hot? A beauty of a day out in Birmingham

I can’t let this boiling hot weather pass without mentioning it. It’s wonderful, tiring and totally surprising for us here in the U.K.

But what’s brilliant is that it fits in perfectly with us talking about the weather. Isn’t it what we are known for? Set a cuppa next to this little paragraph and we have an English photo opportunity.

I’m lucky enough to be sat here in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens writing this post today.

It’s stunning and I’m sat under the shade of a tree just taking it all in. I’ve travelled up from bournemouth for work and am lucky enough that the meeting was here!

It seems really popular with school trips and families having picnics and having a mooch around. Travelling with kids can be a challenge but so rewarding. I always have a great time with my mum and boys on holiday, Alcudia was fab and we got so much out of it.

I couldn’t let this pass by without sharing the pictures with you. Hope you enjoy them:)

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Easy Bake Chocolate Florentines

These Easy Bake Chocolate Florentines biscuits are so delicious that I actually made two batches before I managed to get the pictures of the finished article because I forgot on the first night and by the next day they were nearly all gone!

If you have not had a Florentine before, then they are thin biscuits made with nuts and cherries and normally coated with chocolate on the flat underneath side. They are slightly crisp on the edges and then a fabulous chewy centre awaits!

I now coat half of the batch with chocolate and I leave half uncoated and I kid you not, they are both gorgeous.

The full recipe and directions are below and some handy photos here to reassure you of what it should look like at each stage.

Easy Bake Chocolate Florentines — The mixture as it should look just before baking.

It is best to temper the chocolate and I have written a quick reference post on how to do this the easy way if you are a home cook like me.

5 from 1 vote

Easy Bake Chocolate Florentines

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

These super elegant Florentines are a perfect easy bake which produce the most delicious crispy, chewy, mouth-watering biscuits.

Course: Sweet Treat

Servings: 24

Author: mainy - myrealfairy

Ingredients

50 g Butter
50 g Demerara sugar
50 g Golden syrup
50 g Plain flour
50 g Flaked almonds
25 g Glacé cherries
200 g Dark chocolate

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4.
Prepare your baking trays with parchment paper/grease proof paper for baking
Add the butter, sugar and the golden syrup to a small saucepan and heat gently until the butter has melted.
When this has melted down, remove from the heat and add the flour, glacé cherries and flaked almonds.
Mix well with a large wooden spoon.
Using a teaspoon, put one level teaspoon onto the baking tray and space 6 spoonfuls evenly over the baking tray. Space well as the mixture spreads during baking.
Bake for between 8 and 10 minutes, or until golden-brown. Let them cool on the baking trays before transferring to a cooling rack to cool down completely.
Melt the chocolate and temper using the method from my link. On the flat side of the florentine, spread a little melted chocolate until it is evenly covered. Wait 30 seconds and using a fork or the tip of the teaspoon, create a zig zag engraved effect in the chocolate.

Recipe Notes

Only use a teaspoon per biscuit as they spread more than you think!

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Valentines Gift Guide – Review and Giveaway

My Valentines Gift Guide series continues here with two products which have caught my eye. Firstly we have some beautiful hand cut and printed cards with which you can pen those love poems I’m sure you are all thinking about at the moment;) Secondly I have the great Australian teeth whitening system that will make those pearly whites of ours sparkle and look bright.

I also have my first post of my Valentines series here where you can win a set of provocative underwear! Have a look and with these posts we’ve got you covered.

Something Made

I love these hand cut and printed boxed cards by Something Made they are perfect for thank you letters, love letters and all manner of notes in between. Priced at £25 for a box of 10 they are affordable cards with an air of modern art to them.

They are the cards of the season!

They are single sided screen printed 350gsm coloured card folded to 120 x 120mm square. They come with envelopes and packed so well that they are great to send as gifts.

Ali and Rachel are London based and really easy to approach with your requirements. You can see more of their range over on their instagram page here

Giveaway…

I am so happy to be able to offer you the chance to win a box of 10 occasion cards (value £25) Enter in the rafflecopter giveaway below. Don’t forget you can come back each day for a number of the entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

White Glo

White Glo are Australia’s leading teeth whitening brand and the products are now available on UK high streets. They have a range of products from at home teeth whitening kits, toothpastes developed specifically for actors and models, as well as instant whitening strips, perfect to use before going on a Valentine’s date!

I remember paying hundreds of pounds a couple of years ago having my teeth whitened and am so surprised that now you can now get such a good service from buying online or at your high street shops. No more waiting for hours in a dentist chair while other people make you keep your mouth open for ages. This is for use in your own home with easy instructions.

These dissolving whitening strips are brilliant for a quick top up before a night out. Bright Nights, no gels or creams, just dissolving strips! Wonderful to lighten up to a shade a time.

There are lots of other products in the range and these two are my favourites.

Tweet to let others know about my Valentines Gift Guide 🙂 xClick To Tweet

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Luminous Fire Lanterns Giveaway

I love these lantern bags and at the end of last year I ran a giveaway which included these. I had so many comments that I have been waiting until after Christmas to be able to run another one just for my readers.

They are such fun and also a really cool gift.

There are 5 bags here to use. Place the lantern bags on a suitable surface and watch the lovely atmosphere they can create.

Create a sumptuously soft glow, place a tea light or two inside the bag. Weight down with a little gravel and decorate your outside space.

Enter in the rafflecopter giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to UK entrants only. See contacts page for full terms.

Good luck!

Keep bags well away from children and animals due to the risk of burning!

My illicit affair….

You’re on my mind so much of the time

But then that’s ok, I created you, you’re mine.

My eyes glaze over when people talk

as I drift my thoughts towards you…

It’s what happens now, it’s what you do.

For you are always here, silent in the background…

I won’t desert you though, you’re a new love I’ve found.

You know I have to be careful, not let you take over, make too much noise

I have my other loves , my family, my man, my boys

I see others online and for a moment I crave

But I come back to you, write some more and then press save

They flash at me and wink

Giving me tips on how to be, sometimes they make me think.

Myrealfairy post after post, never late…

I’ll take you out, care for you, write and create.

For now I’ll keep you half hidden in your own world wide kingdom

My beautiful blog…. myrealfairy.com

Give people a teaser and see what they think!Click To Tweet

If you like this then you much see my ode to him poem!

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10 Quiz Questions You Need To Know

10 Quiz Questions you must know! Test yourself with these 10 well known quiz questions that you will have on the tip of your tongue, but will you remember?

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I love going to our local quiz. It’s a great time that I get to spend with my family and friends. It taps into areas of my brain that sometimes don’t get an airing and are stuck on mum or work mode. I like the movies and tv or pot luck, my OH is good at maths and geography, my brother is a good all-rounder and my nephew is right on the button with modern music.

There are some great general knowledge questions that I always have on the tip of my tongue, really should know but can’t recall them. So, I thought I’d put them down in a quick fire 10 Quiz Questions you need to know post. Questions first and then answers below. Keep them for reference later on:)

Are you ready for the Questions?

1. What is the total number of dots on a dice?

2. What country has the smallest coastline?

3. What is Sir Elton Johns real name?

4. What is the largest state in the USA?

5. What is a baby spider called?

6. What is the chemical symbol for Gold?

7. What is the name of the large snake in Jungle Book?

8. How many minutes in a week? You have 30 seconds to work it out – set the timer!

9. If you were born on May 13th what star sign are you?

10. Is the capital city of Germany Berlin or Munich?

See Below for the answers

The Answers are…

1. As there are six faces on a die: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. These total 21

2. Monaco. It’s only around 3-4 kilometers

3. Reginald Kenneth Dwight

4. Alaska

5. Spiderling

6. Au

7. Kaa

8. 10080

9. Taurus

10. Berlin

How did you do? If you liked these then I think you’ll also enjoy my 10 Amazing Facts you never knew you didn’t know!

I’d love to hear your score today and also if you have any great quiz questions then please put them to me in the comments section!

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Fun and Fabulous Food in Alcudia

We have just come back from one of our best holidays yet! I went to Alcudia in Mallorca with my mum and the boys. It’s great because our local airport in Bournemouth is about 10 minutes away which makes travelling a breeze because we don’t have that long trek to the airport. We’ve been picking flights from here and sticking to the resorts which they fly to. In previous years we have loved going to Benalmadina which I have written about in the post 5 Fairy Facts on our hols . This year we really pushed the boat out and went all inclusive which was a first for us.

The flight was fab and I am not the best flyer. I’m OK on the outside but on the inside I am a bag of nerves and can’t wait until its over. I’ve done long hauls and it doesn’t make a jot of difference how long it is, I cant settle and certainly can’t sleep. It makes me so jealous when I see others just get on and snuggle down to have a nap. How does that happen! I wrote a poem out of shere nerves when I came back from Germany entitled My Ode to Him – My Other Half I think it’s easy to see that I was petrified and got all soppy!

Back to this holiday or I’ll fixate on the flying! We got there…perfectly safe and sound of course. We had about an hour on the transfer coach from the airport while we did various drop offs for people at different hotels. I don’t know about you but I often do the ooohhs and aaahhs at others hotels. I either hope that mine is alot better as you emerge out of the bin filled alley that it’s located in – knowing that the picture in the brochure or online probably looked amazing – or think WOW as it stands majestic overlooking the best spot on the strip.

Luckily we were in for a treat and our hotel was every bit as beautiful as I had hoped. We had two apartments next to each other and the balconies were huge. However the actual view from our balcony was even better. Have a look…

Alcudia Mallorca Holiday — The view from our balcony.

When it came to unpacking I was in for a little surprise when I saw that my suncream had decided to leak everywhere. It was a real pain to get off everything and was the worst consistency I could of dreamt of. I wiped off everything that was inside but the bag was ruined.

The food was so good in our hotel. Look at this chocolate fountain, every child and most adults dream! Each night there was a different theme and along with staple favourites there were regional dishes on offer. The boys made the most of everything and ate and drank to their hearts content.

Alcudia Mallorca Holiday

I took so many pictures that my phone was crammed with dishes from each meal. It was all great quality and with the amount of on show cooking that was done you could see that nothing was left hanging around. I must of eaten more in the week than I normally eat in a month.

Alcudia Mallorca Holiday

My youngest came into me at 5 in the morning and said ‘mum mum, you have to see the sunrise outside!’ I got up a bit bleary eyed and this sight greeted me. I was taken back by how beautiful it was and by how it caught the attention of him. With a happy heart I went back to bed for a couple of hours and woke up when the sun was much higher up.

Alcudia Mallorca Holiday

The shows in the evening were very good and ranged from live bands to big productions of well know favourites such a Frozen. Something for everyone and a real family evening.

Alcudia Mallorca Holiday

For me, after a hard day sitting, walking and swimming in the sun, it was time to relax with a cocktail….well I was on holiday after all.

Alcudia Mallorca Holiday

Have you been over to the Alcudia region of Mallorca for a holiday? Where are you heading to this year? I’d love to know any holiday related stories.

Click to tweet to others so they can see the fun and fabulous food on our holsClick To Tweet

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10 Amazing Facts – you never knew you didn’t know!

I love facts and little bits of trivia, I also really love going to quiz nights if I can get a night off here and there. I only wish I had one of those whizzy minds that can retain all of the information I read or pick up. Some people have amazing brains that can just recall stuff so easily. I still put it down to mummy brain which is a huge cop-out as my youngest, little G is now 7!! So, without having to wait any further, here are 10 fun facts that I have put together from the millions out there. Fun is the word here so I don’t think we’ll be mastermind finalists at the end but hopefully there will be a smile or an “oh!” here and there:)

Number 1: The word ‘crisp’ starts at the back of your mouth and ends at the front… yep I can guess you’re trying it now..cool eh?

Number 2: In ancient egypt women were know to use ‘birthing bricks’ which they would squat on while in their final stages of labour.

Number 3: Adult feet have 250,000 sweat glands and can produce around half a pint of sweat a day. Eek!

Number 4: A sneeze travels at about 100 miles per hour.

Number 5: An Australian man put up New Zealand for sale on eBay in 2006. The bid had reached $3000 before it was taken down due to a violation of eBay’s policy.

Number 6: Chewing gum while you cut an onion will help keep you from crying…

Number 7: Gorillas burp when they are happy.

Number 8: As of September 2016 the population of the UK is 65,111,143, the USA is 324,118,787 and Australia is 24,198,500. If Facebook were a country then it would be the highest populated country in the world with over 1.6 billion active users per month.

Number 9: If you put your finger in your ear and scratch, it sounds just like Pac-Man.