What I have loved this week! Week 7. #FridayFavourites

The weather here has been trying my patience. It has been rain, more rain and then just when you think it’s easing up, more rain! I’ve got a full-on moan brewing about that which I’ll save for tomorrow. Today I'm keeping things positive and as always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea to share the things that I have loved over the past week.

HBO Max!

It’s finally happening! HBO Max is coming to the UK next month and I feel like I’ve been waiting forever. I've been doing my research and it is being included in the TV package we already have through Sky at no extra cost and even better, on the same day, we’re getting Disney+ and Hayu content included too, alongside Netflix, all for the same price we’re paying now or that's what it sounds like at the moment. We'll be saving £14.99 a month as soon as I cancel my Disney+ subscription. The main reason I’m excited is for The Pitt. I’ve been reading about it and waiting and now I’ll actually be able to watch it. My TV watchlist is growing again and I’m happy about that!

Game of Thrones!

Before I found out HBO Max was being bundled in to our TV package, I had a mini panic. I thought that’s it, they'd remove Game of Thrones, put it on the HBO streaming service and I wouldn’t be able to rewatch it, so naturally, I did the only sensible thing. I started watching it again. Every single time I go back to it I forget just how good it is. Tyrion and Bronn will always be my favourites.

Lighter nights!

The days are stretching out a bit more. Earlier in the week, I noticed it wasn’t pitch black at 5pm. Even though the sky was grey and threatening more rain, it was still light. It makes such a difference to my mood and makes everything feel a bit more hopeful. It won't be long until I can get out into the garden to give it a tidy and get washing out drying on the line!

Uber Eats!

Uber Eats is still quite new to me. I think I’ve used it twice now and one of those times was last weekend. I don’t want it to become a regular thing because that could get dangerous for both my bank account and my waistline but as a treat, it was lovely. Ellie and I ordered McDonald’s and had it delivered. I even did a bit of girl maths to justify it. If I’d gone out to get it I would have spent £6 on bus fares. The delivery fee was just over £2 so technically, we saved money. That’s the story and I’m sticking to it!

Cool Runnings!

After watching so much of the Winter Olympics recently, I got the sudden urge to watch Cool Runnings so on Sunday afternoon I did. It is still such a good film. I realised about ten minutes in that I still knew it almost word for word. There’s something about those movies from years ago, there's no complicated plot, no dark twists, just a good story and characters you root for. Perfect Sunday afternoon viewing!

Being lucky with Audiobooks!

I’m currently on my 7th audiobook of the year and I feel like I’ve hit a good streak. Every single one so far has pulled me in from the start. I know that won’t always happen but at the moment I press play and I’m straight into the story. The only slight issue with the one I’m on at the moment is the narrator speaks so slowly with drawn-out words and long pauses. If I had to listen at normal speed I probably would have given up but thank goodness for the speed control. Double speed has saved it!

Plans for next week!

I love having something to look forward to and next week feels like it's going to be a good one. Stu is off work and Ellie is off college, so we’ve made some plans. There’s a mix of getting things done and doing fun stuff. Stu is painting the dining room white to freshen it up. We’ve got a shopping day planned, shelves to put up, and I’ve got a medical appointment to get sorted. We’re also planning lunch out at some point, which I’m already excited about. I need to dye Ellie’s hair too and Stu and I might sneak in a day out for just the two of us.

What have you loved over the last week?

A homemade Valentine’s Day meal for under £20!

Valentine’s Day is one of those days that sounds lovely in theory but it can be a bit much. Overpriced set menus, awkward tables too close together and food that looks nice but leaves you stopping for snacks on the way home. It isn't ideal so that's why I prefer to stay home, eat well and wear comfy clothes! Cooking at home feels more relaxed, more personal and you actually get to enjoy the evening instead of watching the clock and wondering how much the bill is going to be.

This meal is simple and feels like a treat without draining your bank account. It’s perfect for two, easy to scale up or down and you won’t be chained to the kitchen all night. Garlic mushrooms to start a proper hearty main of sausages and a dessert that looks impressive but is secretly easy!

Starter:

Garlic mushrooms with crusty bread which costs around £4 to £5.

Main:

Sticky Balsamic Sausage Traybake with Roast Potatoes which costs around £6.

Dessert:

Warm Chocolate Brownies with Ice Cream which costs around £4 to £5

That keeps the whole meal comfortably under £20, especially if you already have basics like oil, seasoning or honey in the cupboard.

Starter: Garlic Mushrooms with Crusty Bread!

This is one of those starters that instantly makes dinner feel special. You know the smell, the kind that has people wandering into the kitchen asking what’s that? What I love about this starter is that it is low fuss but still feels like a treat. You don’t need a dozen fancy ingredients or some Michelin-star technique, just mushrooms, garlic, butter and a bit of seasoning. The crispy, crusty bread is there for the dunking and soaking up all that buttery garlicky goodness.

You need:

300g chestnut mushrooms, sliced.

2 to 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped.

A knob of butter.

Salt and black pepper.

Optional: dried parsley or thyme.

1 Crusty baguette or similar

Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the butter. Let it melt and start to sizzle. Add the mushrooms and leave them alone for 3 to 4 minutes so they start to brown. Toss in the garlic and stir well. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until mushrooms are glossy and soft. Season with salt, pepper and a sprinkle of herbs if you like. Slice and lightly toast the bread. Serve warm with the mushrooms on top or on the side for dunking.

Main: Sticky Balsamic Sausage Traybake with Roast Potatoes!

Sausages are underrated for Valentine’s Day. They’re easy to cook, flavourful and when roasted with a sticky balsamic and honey glaze they suddenly feel fancy without any stress. The roast potatoes are essential, golden and crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They soak up a bit of the sausage glaze, making every bite delicious. The whole traybake approach is a win too. You throw everything in, let the oven do the work and by the time it’s done, your kitchen smells incredible and your plate is ready to go.

You need:

6 good quality pork sausages.

4 to 5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped.

2 tbsp olive oil.

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar.

1 tbsp honey.

Salt and black pepper.

Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Boil the potatoes in salted water for about 10 minutes until the edges are just tender. Drain, shake in the colander to rough up the edges (this helps them crisp up). Toss the potatoes in a roasting tin with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. Pop them in the oven for about 20 minutes to start roasting. Meanwhile, place the sausages in another roasting tray (or alongside the potatoes if your tray is big enough) and roast for 20 minutes. Mix the balsamic vinegar and honey together and pour over the sausages. Turn them so they’re coated, then roast for another 15 to 20 minutes until sticky and golden. Make sure the potatoes get a little turn halfway through so they roast evenly. Serve everything straight from the tray! Cosy, sticky and perfect!

Warm Chocolate Brownies with Ice Cream!

Brownies are one of those sweet treats that feel like a hug. Using ready made brownies keeps things simple but warming them in the oven gives them that gooey centre that makes them feel like a little luxury. Serving them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream adds the ultimate finishing touch. You can even add a few berries or a drizzle of chocolate sauce if you’re feeling extra fancy. Dessert is meant to feel special, and these brownies definitely are without any stress or mess.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be flashy to be lovely. A homemade meal, a relaxed atmosphere and food that actually fills you up beats a fancy restaurant every time.

What do you have planned for Valentine's Day?

The Wednesday Hodgepodge #42

I hope you are all having a good week. It's Wednesday, which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'?

This one’s easy, new pans! My dad recently gave us a set and I am properly tickled pink with them. Not just because they’re new but because they actually match. I was expecting my dad’s old, slightly battered ones that had seen a lot of meals but we ended up with these beauties. I don’t think I’ve ever owned matching pans before. When Stu and I got together 20 years ago, we did what everyone does and shoved our pan collections together. They were a random mix that did the job but looked like it had been gathered from several different households over several decades. Now, with matching pans, I feel so grown up and organised.

2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way?

Everything’s coming up roses feels right for me at the moment. Life isn’t perfect, it never is but at the moment it does feel like things are clicking into place. My ducks feel like they’re finally in a row, that phrase does make me chuckle, plans feel doable and things seem to be moving in the right direction without me having to push, shove or overthink every single step.

3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated?

It's all the little things. Like my family doing things without me having to ask, being thanked for everyday stuff I usually do, being listened to properly, someone making me a cup of tea without me having to ask, being included, kept in the loop and not feeling like an afterthought, a proper hug, funny videos sent to me which means someone thought of me and someone taking an interest in my interests.

4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day?

I like fresh flowers, give me a simple bunch of daffodils and I am happy! My favourite ever flowers I received were the rainbow roses from Stu. They were a total surprise. When we lived in the North East, there was a little stall in the middle of Newcastle selling flowers and they always had the rainbow ones and I always said I would get some on the way home but after a day shopping with the kids getting flowers was the last thing on my mind. Stu remembered this and bought me some one Valentine's Day.

We are planning to get a meal from M&S. A starter, main, side, dessert and drink for £25. Stu is going to do the cooking and our Valentine's Day will be spent shopping for DIY supplies. We're painting the dining room next week.

5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love.

Love is not about how many days, months or years you’ve been together. Love is about how much you love each other every single day. - Unknown

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Last week I said I wasn't too bothered about watching much of the Winter Olympics but here I am a little obsessed with it. I keep putting the TV on and then getting suckered into watching the heats of various sports and then of course have to watch right up until the final of that event.

Share Our Lives: Binge worthy shows!

It's that time of the month again to share some of my life and join in with the other Share Our Lives bloggers. This month the prompt is: Binge Worthy Shows!

Binge worthy shows are the main reason my armchair has permanent imprints in the shape of my backside. lol There’s something so comforting about getting lost in a series, ignoring the world outside and telling yourself you’ll just watch one more episode which somehow turns into an entire season. I could write a list of the best TV shows to binge watch and I know I have mentioned plenty in the past but I am going to go with something different and share what makes a TV show binge worthy to me!

Getting hooked from the start!

If the first episode doesn’t grab me within the first half hour the chances of me turning off are high. Life is too short to watch TV shows which don't have me hooked from the beginning! I need to be invested from the opening scene, whether it’s a mystery that immediately has me questioning things, a dramatic twist that makes me gasp or a character that I instantly love or love to hate! Some of my best binge watching memories are from shows that had me completely hooked in the first episode. I remember the first time I watched Breaking Bad, I was glued to the screen within minutes trying to figure out what would happen next.

Characters I actually care about!

A show can have the most stunning scenes or the cleverest plot twists but if the characters don’t make me feel something, I’m done. I need to feel love, hate, pity, amusement, just something! If I don’t care whether they live or die, I’m not sticking around for six seasons. Take Gilmore Girls. I can rewatch episodes over and over because the characters feel like real people. You grow with them, cheer them on, get frustrated with them and by the end of a show you feel like you know them!

Cliffhangers that torment me!

I have a love hate relationship with cliffhangers. I love them because they make it impossible to stop watching but I hate them because they can ruin a good night’s sleep. Nothing makes me press next episode faster than an "Oh no they didn’t" moment at the end of an episode. Season 6 of The Walking Dead had a huge cliffhanger which had me shouting at the TV and I was so annoyed that I had to wait for months to see who lived and died.

Pacing that makes me forget time exists!

Some shows drag and make every episode feel like a chore but binge worthy shows know how to pace themselves. I remember watching Stranger Things for the first time. Each episode felt like it was packed with energy, mystery and just enough going on to keep me interested. By the end of the first season, I realised I hadn’t done anything else that entire weekend but I didn’t even mind. That’s the magic of good pacing: time disappears and all that matters is the story unfolding in front of you.

A world I want to live in!

Sometimes it’s about escapism. It could be the glamour of Manhattan in Sex and the City, the fantasy world of Game of Thrones or the comforting charm of a small town cafe in Gilmore Girls. I want a place I can get lost in, if only for a few hours. It's not just entertainment, it’s a little escape from real life. I can laugh, cry, gasp and cheer without leaving my sofa.

What makes a show binge worthy to you?

I am linking up with:

Adrienne from Mom Life with Adrienne.

Dara from Not In Jersey.

Jen from Show me & Sweet tea.

Joanne from Slices of Life.