Drawing For Beginners - Week 1

Months ago I signed up for a Drawing for Beginners course at the local college - I had a non-mid-life mid-life crisis that I wasn't doing anything with my time. I felt like I needed to fill my evenings with something enjoyable and that I could gain some skills from. We had the first session the other night where we basically all had our own table and had an A3 sheet of paper and instructed to draw the plant in front of us of the bat.

The teacher then wandered the room as you were drawing giving helpful tips and explaining about shading light and dark. Erasing parts of the picture to create a highlight. 

Being a complete beginner I wasn't 100% sure what he was talking about but as I watched him demonstrate to others it became quite clear.

Below are my attempts at drawing a cactus and a potted plant. I felt like for a first attempt this could have gone worse:

I used to be obsessed with drawing when I was younger and would constantly be colouring or sketching. I'm hoping this course will reignite my love for it and teach me a few skills along the way.

Comment and let me know if you're a fam of drawing or if you have any hobbies that you are passionate about.

Barbecue Pork with Vegetables, Potatoes and Onion Gravy

Another quick and simple meal to make: Barbecue pork, boiled vegetables and potatoes in onion gravy.

Ingredients:

2 Pork Loin Steaks

1 Diced Carrot

4 Diced Baby potatoes

Some Diced Courgette

Onion Gravy

Spices:

Basil

Barbecue Spice

First you pan fry the Pork Steaks for 5 to 10 minutes till cooked fully through. At the same time boil your vegetables and potatoes until softened.

Then add the basil and barbecue spices on top of the Pork then flip over and sear - add spices on the opposite side and repeat for a couple of minutes. 

Then boil your water and stir in the ready made gravy mix (I used onion gravy granules) then pour on top and voilà your meal is done!

A quick and simple meal to make and above all highly tasty!

TV Shows for Autumn

With autumn here and winter fast approaching this means a lot of cosy nights in in front of the TV.

If you're stuck for something to watch or looking for a new show to get into here are my ten recommendations:

10. Desperate Housewives
One for the ladies Desperate Housewives follows the lives of four women living on Wysteria Lane following their friends sudden suicide. It shows the aftermath and continues on with the drama of each of their lives. There's scandal, comedy, baking, a murder of two and some fabulous outfits. What more could a girl need?

9. Grey's Anatomy
Follows the lives of interns at Seattle Grace hospital learning to practice medicine. I know more hospital dramas aren't they all the same? Honestly I was so pleasantly surprised with Grey's Anatomy the witty dialogue, loveable characters and the occasional crazy plot line. But as the acting is so good it makes the show. If you choose this one make sure you stock up on the tissues.

8. The Walking Dead
Follows a group of survivors after a zombie apocalypse. Rick Grimes wakes up in a hospital after a coma during the outbreak and goes out to find his family. If you're not a fan of gore this one is not for you. This show is brutal not even the main characters are safe! Tissues and maybe even a sick bucket may be needed if you have a weak stomach.

7. Awkward
One for the teenagers or early 20 year olds. Awkward follows unpopular Jenna Hamilton and her school life after an attempted 'suicide' bid. Shows the awkwardness of being a teenager in high school and the many awkward situations that the characters end up in. The clever and hilarious dialogue and likeable characters stop this show from being a cliché teenage programme.

6. The 100
One of the most recent ones I've started watching. Earth has become uninhabitable and man kind has had to live in space for the past 100 years. Now they are sending 100 prisoners down to earth to see if it is inhabitable again. Action packed and a different idea for a show. It's got all the typical character clichés but its very addictive.

5. Gossip Girl
Another girly one following the lives of Manhattan's elite and the mysterious Gossip Girl an online blogger who knows all their secrets and every move and posts about them frequently. This is the ultimate show for girls attractive guys, high end clothes and outfits to die for. Scandal and gossip this is one of my favourite shows!!

4. Castle
Follows author Richard Castle as he works on murder cases with the NYPD. It seems there are many shows out there that follow this plotline but what makes this one different is the wit and charm of the wonderful Nathan Fillion. A clever plotline and different stories each episode keep this series interesting.

3. Pretty Little Liars
The hit show that has everyone asking who is A? After the disappearance of their friend Alison. Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hannah are brought back together through messages from the mysterious A who happens to know all their dirty secrets. This show is gripping very cleverly written and keeps you guessing each season.

2. Supernatural
After the loss of their mother brothers Sam and Dean Winchester are raised as hunters saving peoples lives killing demons. While hunting the demon that killed their mother. Definitely on the horror side with an element of humour mixed in. A great show for the lovers of monsters and horror stories.

1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy Summers is a vampire slayer, the chosen one she alone can stop the vampires demons and forces of darkness. While also navigating high school and trying to have a life. This show has always been and still is my favourite TV show while being rather old now I still feel it is a classic it has everything you could want in a TV show!

So those are my top ten shows to watch in the winter which of these are your favourites and what would you choose to watch??

Flamingo Candles: The Melt Crowd: Box Deux

It's that time of the month again for Flamingo Candles 'The Melt Crowd' subscription box to be sent out! For those of you that do not know what 'The Melt Crowd' is it is a monthly subscription box from Flamingo Candles that sends you 8 different scented wax melts each month for the low cost of £10. (Note: if it's your first month you get sent a free wax burner.)

 

This month is my second month of subscribing and I have to say this still does not disappoint! I've been down with the flu bug that's been going round since last week so receiving this in the post cheered me up. It's also great that £2 from every box this month is being donated to the Pink Ribbon Foundation!

 

Without further ado the scents of this months wax melts are:

Bubblegum: I love anything that smells remotely sweet so this one was perfect.

Applecurrant Crumble: I'm not a fan of apple crumble food wise but the smell of this melt is almost good enough to eat! By far my favourite in this months box!

The special Pink Ribbon Scent Melt this one has a sweet floral-y smell to it. I can't pinpoint the exact scent but it will definitely make a room smell nice.

Nutmeg and Ginger: This is a very autumn scent definitely makes me think of fall. Spicy and rather pleasant.

Thunderstorm: One of the more earthy scents in the box can't say that I'm particularly a fan of this one. Will be one of the last I use.

Golden Woodlands: Again a very autumn-y vibe here and while I thought I would enjoy this one as I love the smell of the woods when out walking - I have to say not a big fan of this one either.

Pomegranate & White Fig: This one I thought I would not like but in fact it's very fresh and soapy and would be a nice scent to cover the room in. Very refreshing.

Cranberry, Orange & Cinnamon: You can never go wrong with fruit scents most are generically pleasing. This one is very sweet and the cinnamon gives it an added kick. Also reminds me of the run up to Christmas- cinnamon as a scent you can not go wrong.

 

Overall while I disliked two of the scent melts this month I feel this is outweighed by the fact that all the others were so so good! Plus I liked every scent in last months box (Review here ) so I really can't complain.

 

For those of you who have not subscribed to this yet I would highly recommend it - it's so different from the generic beauty subscription boxes. Any unwanted scents can be used as cute little gifts and these wax melts last for AGEEEESSSS. I've only managed to use one so far from last months box I started burning it as soon as it arrived and it's still going!? So I almost have 2 months worth of melts to use up. Crazy!?

 

If you subscribe to the melt crowd let me know what you think of this box? Or just let me know which from this months box would be your favourite!

The Importance of Libraries

I wanted to discuss a subject that I feel very passionate about this is Public Libraries and why they are important for the younger and older generation.

With more and more libraries being shut down due to budget cuts and governments trying to save money it would seem that a library is no longer considered an essential part of the community, even in primary schools a library is not a compulsory requirement.

Nowadays kids can just pull out their phone or tablet read an e-book or look up that piece of information needed for homework etc.

I feel this is a step in the wrong direction it takes away the excitement of getting your first library card going down to the library and getting to choose the books for yourself. Picking books that you like the look of rather than books that are what everyone else is reading.

I remember when I was younger I used to love going down to library with my nan and taking out as many books as possible. Not to mention the added extras held at a library the events one example being the summer reading challenge. When your young there's nothing more exciting than reading some books and getting a 'medal' for it. What could be a greater incentive to get children into reading?

What with the social media generation e-books are becoming increasingly popular what with the kindle tablets and the ease of use - one click and you've purchased a new book without leaving your sofa.
While this is highly convenient every child should experience a library the social aspects of interacting with other book lovers, the discovery of new stories and books that may not be found in the school library.

Libraries are very much a part of a community not just for children but for pensioners as well with selections of large print books. For these people the library could be their one trip out a week- take this away what are they going to do? They are not part of the tablet/eBook generation and may be unable to make it into town for example to buy books. There are even some services in libraries that send out books for the elderly as part of community care. Take this away you take away a part of their independence, their freedom.

If you have a public library near you use it or it will be lost, depriving many people of a wonderful underrated community service.

Simple Roasted Veg

One of the things I am most guilty of is not eating enough vegetables. The fact of the matter is I'm a lazy cook, especially with vegetables all the peeling and chopping.

Once past this point however roasting vegetables is a very tasty and simple (not to mention healthy) thing to cook on an evening.

What I put in my roasted veg:
- Carrots
- Parsnips
- Courgettes
- Red Peppers
- Potatoes
- Basil
- Vegetable Oil
- Cumin
- Sweet Chilli Sauce

Method:
Chop and peel your veg and potatoes then put in a tray or dish.

Pour oil over with basil, cumin and sweet chilli sauce.

Roast in the oven for 40 minutes up to an hour.

Then Voilà your veg is done and you can eat it with whatever meal you like.

What sort of herbs or spices do you like in your recipes?