Why I love candles (And not just in winter!)

There’s something about the warm glow of a candle that feels like a little hug for your soul. It’s easy to see why candles are often associated with the winter months, the long, dark nights and the comforting scents of cinnamon, pine and vanilla fit perfectly with cosy blankets and hot chocolate but for me candles are a year round love affair.

My family are not massive lovers of candles so when they are out I make the most of it and light them when I can. The only one that they will allow to burn when they are home are the gingerbread one's and that's only in the run up to Christmas. They are such spoil sports. I think candles should be burned all year around, they deserve a permanent spot on the shelf, no matter what the season!

One of the best things about candles is their ability to match the mood of any time of year. In spring I’ll reach for fresh, floral scents like peony or lily of the valley. They make me think of blossoming gardens and new beginnings. Summer, bring on the tropical vibes! Coconut, mango and even those candles that smell like a fruity cocktail transport me straight to a sunny beach even if I’m sitting in my armchair. I even have a Halloween candle which smells like dark berries.

As autumn rolls around the earthy, spicy scents creep back into my rotation. Think pumpkin spice or anything that smells like a crisp walk through the woods. And then winter, of course, is peak candle season but you already knew that. The beauty is no matter the season, there’s a scent to match. Candles are like a playlist for your nose!

Life can be hectic but lighting a candle feels like an instant pause button. It’s such a small act but can change the mood of a room in seconds. Whether I'm having a moment just to sit down, having a bath or watching TV a lit candle makes everything feel just a little more special. It’s not just about the scent, there’s something hypnotic about watching the flame dance. It really seems to calm me if I am feeling anxious.

In my home I also have candles which I don't light. Some are just too pretty. I was sent some to review years ago which still have a place on my shelf. Yes, I could burn them and clean the jars out but that seems like so much effort. hehehe

We all deserve a little treat now and then. Candles are one of those small luxuries that feel indulgent without breaking the bank. Sure, there are some high end candles out there with eye watering price tags but I’ve found some absolute gems at the supermarket that smell divine and the joy of picking out a new candle? It’s like a little treasure hunt. 

What about you? Are candles a seasonal indulgence or an all year thing in your home? 

Our weekly meal plan! 17th - 23rd March! #MealPlanningMonday

Apparently sharing my meal plans and talking about food means that I have food issues? What an odd thing to say but someone commented saying that on my meal plan last week. (It wasn't the first comment from this particular person, just the first one that I chose to publish). I was always taught that if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all but I feel like I need to say this. If you don't like what I post and share simply don't read, no one is forcing you to and rude and hurtful comments will not be published. People are strange and that's all I'm going to say about that.

Last weeks meal plan mostly went to plan. I am blaming Stu for messing things up. hehehe He had a few days holiday from work to use up before April and had Friday and Saturday off from work. He told me weeks ago he booked the time off but didn't remind me until Tuesday. He suggested getting a takeaway on Thursday evening and I wasn't going to say no, we had the leftovers on Friday. Past me must have known Stu was off work this weekend as I had booked the Gousto Box to be delivered on Sunday so that meant we didn't have the Honey & Mustard Glazed Sausage Baguettes until then.

I made the Yorkshire Puddings to go with the roast chicken dinner during the week and they were an improvement on last time, not as risen as I would like but we're getting there but our favourite thing were the black pudding sausages! Sausages with black pudding in, what's not to love.

I have a few things on this week which will keep me busy and I am determined to start planting some seeds. The weather is set to improve towards the end of the week, hooray and I looking forward to getting back out in the garden! We had some really crazy weather last week. One minute it was like a spring day the next it was grey and wet, then we'd have some more sunshine then some hailstones and sleet just for fun. 

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Toad in the Hole, mashed potato and veg. I'm cheating and using the Aunt Bessie pre-made one's that I just need to pop in the oven.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - Sri Lankan-Style Pork Patties With Sweet Potato Fries.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Mushroom Wellington With Onion Gravy And Mash. We love this meal and have had it before. 

Thursday - Jacket potatoes with baked beans and cheese.

Friday - Fish, chips and mushy peas.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Crispy Chicken Katsu Curry Burritos.

Sunday - A roast dinner of some sort.

 What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 9th - 15th March! Week 11 of #Project365

I hope you are all having a good weekend so far. I am happy to say I am feeling much better after being full of cold this time last week. I have had an easy week and it was just what I needed to recover and feel refreshed.

We had a lovely day on Friday, Stu was off work and we all went to see my dad. It was the first time we've all been together since just after Christmas, we've seen my dad separately but not all descended on him at the same time. Yesterday I had a quiet day at home while Becky slept for work and Stu and Ellie went into town for a mooch around. The only plans we have for today is watch the football. It's Liverpool V Newcastle in the final of the Carabao Cup, of course we want Newcastle to win.

Now for a photo every day!

68/365 - 9th March

I put a new colour on my nails, hot pink! It was something to cheer me up and more spring like than all the dark colours that I usually go for.

69/365 - 10th March

Stu did some work in the garden which he wouldn't have managed without the wheelbarrow. The front and back garden are looking great now and are just waiting for me to do some planting which I am planning to start over the next few days.

70/365 - 11th March

I made Yorkshire Puddings to go with our roast dinner and spent a good while sitting in front of the oven hoping and wishing they would rise, they did a little but not as much as I wanted them to. I will keep trying.

71/365 - 12th March

Just a carrot cake muffin. Becky brought me one home after she had been to town. She knows how to treat me.

72/365 - 13th March

I haven't seen the drink Um Bongo for years, I am sure they stopped making it at one point. I saw it in the shop and had to get some. I asked my girls where they drink Um Bongo and they were so confused. Someone my age knows they drink it in the Congo. hehehe I have had the song stuck in my head for a couple of days now.

73/365 - 14th March

Our Council Tax bill has arrived and its not as bad as I thought it would be. It has only gone up by £6 a month and I feel quite lucky as after posting a pic of it on social media and people were saying they pay a lot more. We don't get any sort of discount and pay over 10 months. I feel quite lucky to live where I do.

74/365 - 15th March

This might be the biggest potato that I've ever seen. My dad was given a bag of potatoes from someone who works at a potato factory and shared some with me.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Easy! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

I started with a cold last Thursday evening and I had a few days of feeling rotten and sorry for myself. I was going to say it has been ages since I had a cold but my last one was only in November. That one didn't seem to bad as I was so busy with it being my birthday I wasn't going to let it ruin my plans but this one I had time to listen to my body and it was screaming to slow down so I did just that!

I did as little as possible over the weekend and by Monday I was feeling much better, still not 100% right but better. I have took things easy this week and I am grateful that I was able to. Not having plans has given me the opportunity to just potter around the house, catch up on some blogging and have some time for me.

There are certain things that I cook that I find easy to make: perfectly soft boiled eggs, pork crackling, poached eggs, Brussels sprouts that aren't soggy, lump free gravy and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside roast potatoes but one thing I struggle with is Yorkshire Puddings! 

I do not find them easy to make but during the week I had another go at making them, this time following Mary Berry's recipe and I didn't do a bad job. Half of them rose the other's were not so big but they still tasted amazing and were enjoyed by my family.

Last week I mentioned that Becky and I were waiting for some tickets for an event to go on sale, she is treating me for Mother's Day. Well, they went on sale and they were greatly overpriced for what they were. We would have been paying more for the tickets than we would for the hotel and breakfast for both of us which didn't seem right. Becky told me to have a look online and find something else, a show, afternoon tea, anything. It should have been easy but wasn't. I had to find something we both would like and something on a weekend when Becky is off work. I finally found something, mentioned it to Becky and she has went ahead and booked everything. It was only afterwards that we realised that it is on a weekend where we have plans. Oops. We can work around those plans but it's going to make a busy, tiring weekend.

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!