Roseanne Byford

Yesterday, me, Tim, my sister Sarah, her husband Dan and their little boy Noah took a trip to Norfolk to visit our Auntie Frances.

We always try and go to stay for a long weekend in the summer time but thought we would make use of the weekend and visit for the day.

We arrived just in time for lunch and boy it smelt delicious! We had a roast shoulder of lamb with all the trimmings. So tasty!

My Auntie also made a yummy butternut squash and sweet potato bake with cheese and other bits in it.
I’ve popped a link to a similar side dish in the blog so you can try this tasty combination!

http://diethood.com/cheesy-baked-butternut-squash-thanksgiving-side-dish-recipes/

A shoulder of lamb, a change of tablecloth and lots of laughs later and we were stuffed and ready to chilax!

Noah had a little play…

We were well and truly spoilt with the food that was prepared for us and we had this delicious concoction for dinner…

Shortcrust pastry topped with mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, peppers, basil and grated cheese, so yummy.

We had this with salad and other yummy bits.

After dinner we sat down for a game of 8 out of 10 cats. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the TV quiz show of the same name, hosted by Jimmy Carr, it’s a facts and opinion polls based quiz.

It was lots of fun and we were playing for ages before we realised it was gone 10 o clock and we needed to start heading home! As they say, time flies when your having fun.

It was a lovely day as usual and lovely to see Auntie Frances! I can’t wait for our next visit/stay for more fun and laughs.

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”– Jane Howard.

Until Next time,

Roseanne 🙂

88 days to go!

Whilst I am writing this there are exactly 88 days to go until the wedding, which is very scary! 

Last Tuesday evening the lovely Demi came round for my next make up trial. Check out Demi’s blog here:  http://www.demidoll.co.uk She’s super talented and so knowledgable about all things make up and beauty.

We had already tried out a few make up ideas at our last trial and since then I have invested in a few make up bits especially for the wedding. Take a look at my last wedding blog post to see what I got:  https://roseannegreen.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/wedding-update-no-7/

We started off by just having a chat about some ideas and then got stuck in!

  
Here are some pictures of my make up:
   
  
The foundation I’m wearing is by YSL and it’s their Touché Eclait foundation. On my cheeks I have YSLs kiss and blush in shade number 3. It’s a lovely pinky tone and looks great on my cheeks and my lips.

Eyeshadow!

 
(Again, apologies for the close ups!)

We played around with a few ideas for my eyeshadow and Demi tried a mix of lots of different colours and eyeshadow tones to create this look. One of the main pieces used was my Revolution eyeshadow pallet which are a bargin at £4, have a great selection of colours and are really pigmented.

I love the colours used here and the white in the corners looks lovely and teamed with a brown eyeliner they really bring my eyes to life. 

As well as purchasing some new make up I got myself this cute make up bag from Primark for £4. I love the pinky colour and tassle ♡

Now seems as good a time as any to really start taking care of my skin and my sister Sarah bought me some products from superdrugs Vitamin E range to try out.

I’ve always used moisturiser but now I cleanse and tone beforehand to make my skin extra soft and looked after.

I use the dual phase cleansing oil first and apply this all over my face with a cotton pad. I then spray on the refreshing toning mist and pat it into the skin. Lastly I apply my Olay moisturiser.

In this set I also have a gentle oatmeal exfoliator and leave on moisture mask. I use the exfoliator once or twice a week and the moisture mask when I want a little extra pampering for my skin.

I have bought a few new make up items recently for my eyebrows, which Im slowly realising can become a bit of an obsession once you start shaping them etc and I really like pinky tones for my lips and have found a couple that I am going to try out.

I might do a post about a few of the new items I’ve got once they’ve arrived!

That’s all for now…

Until next time

Roseanne 🙂

I was inspired by my sisters blog post

What makes a house a home?

Check out her blog post here:

https://sarahscornerblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/what-makes-a-house-a-home/

So, I thought I would share with you what makes my house (or should I say flat) home…

And I’ll finish on a picture of one of my favourite home purchases!

What I love most about my home is who I share it with ♡

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

So every Mother’s Day for the last few years we have celebrated by making mum homemade afternoon tea. I make the cakes, Sarah makes the sandwiches and Charlotte gets the scones, cream and Jam.

I thought I would do a blog post about the yummy cakes that I made and show you how they turned out.

Previous years ive made a large lemon drizzle cake, different flavoured cupcakes, a victoria sponge cake and more, this year I had a go at making a lemon drizzle tray bake, a rocky road tray bake and macaroons.

1. Lemon Drizzle Tray bake.

This was quite an easy cake mix to make as you basically mix two parts up and then mix it all together. It does include alot of squeezing lemons but the smell is divine.

Here’s a link to the recipe on the BBC Good food website.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1892633/lemon-drizzle-traybake

2. Rocky Road Tray bake.

This is super yummy and only has a few steps to it.  I didn’t really follow a recipe exactly for this traybake (just using it to get quantities of butter and golden syrup) but I have included a link to a recipe below if you did want one to follow.

Here’s what I did:

1. Melted the butter and chocolate together in the microwave gradually. Make sure to check it at regular intervals and stir to avoid burning the chocolate. I used 2 bars of dark chocolate to 1 bar of milk chocolate.

2. Crush up the biscuits in a resealable bag using a rolling pin. Break into dust and large chunks for texture.

3. Pour the chocolate and biscuits into your traybake tin, mix together and then incorporate the raisins and mini marshmallows.

4. Make sure it’s all evenly mixed and coated in the chocolate and then pop it in the fridge to set.

Warning: This is very chocolaty, for those who like a milder chocolate taste use more milk chocolate.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/12412/rocky-road

3. Macaroons.

I wanted to have a practise of these to see if they are tricky, they are a little fiddly but not as bad as you’d think.

Here’s the recipe I followed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pink_macaroons_33096

I think they came out ok for a first attempt and my taste tester Tim enjoyed them…

What I learnt for next time:

○ Draw out circles on to the baking parchment that are the desired size of the macaroons to ensure that they are the size you want and as even as possible.

We also had scones (cheese & fruit) with cream and Jam, egg, ham and salmon & cream cheese finger sandwiches, sausage rolls and lots of tea!

Here are some pictures from our yummy Homemade Mother’s day afternoon tea!

Happy Mothers day!

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

Thursday 3rd March 2016.

Since its World book day today and we are a quarter of the way through the year I thought I would update you on how I’m getting on with my reading challenge.

I have read four books so far! Here are the books I’ve read:

1. A book I’ve previously read.

Harry Potter and the Philopshers Stone by J K Rowling.

When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him that apparently he’s the last to know. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord’s curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Leaving his unsympathetic aunt and uncle for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Harry stumbles upon a sinister mystery when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers, which could be valuable, dangerous – or both. An incredible adventure is about to begin!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00NPNQTWW/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?qid=1457047683&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=the+philosophers+stone

2. A book you’ve been meaning to read.

The Lake house by Helen Phifer.

Elderly Martha Beckett is a prisoner in her own home, and has been ever since her older brother disappeared at just nine years old. He went to hide in the cellar and never came back. And now Martha has sworn to protect anyone else from the evils lurking just below her floorboards. But whatever it is, has woken up – and is hungry again…

3. A book published this year.

The girls in the woods by Helen Phifer.

In an old album there is a beautiful Victorian photo that captures three young sisters, staring silently at one another. Only the trained eye can see the truth hiding in plain view. One of the sisters is already dead.

The faction – based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered – fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Prehaps beyond the fence she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves.
And once again Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature – and of herself – while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0007538022/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1457047979&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=allegiant&dpPl=1&dpID=51r9DZHOfxL&ref=plSrch

Continue reading →

So facebook reminded me that on this day (26th Feb) two years ago I announced that I was to become an Auntie for the first time!

I was so excited when I found out my twin sister was pregnant! I thought being an Auntie was going to be really good, I never realised just how awesome it was going to be and (unless you have your own children, which I dont) nothing prepares you for the love you feel towards that little person who isn’t even yours!

He makes me smile every time I see him and the way he smiles at me melts my heart ♡

We have lots of fun auntie and nephew times together (&fun with Uncle Tim too) here are some of my favourite pictures:

2016

I’m going to be an Auntie again this year! I can’t wait and I’m looking forward to Noahy being a lovely big brother, so cute.

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

My older sister Charlotte turned 30 in January so me and my twin sister Sarah planned a day of fun as her present. We did this during the half term holidays when we didn’t have work.

We started off our day by driving to Colchester for breakfast! Sarah had found a nice looking place called Bills. It was delicious!!

Me and Charlotte had the Bills breakfast. It came with white toast,  streaky bacon, fried eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms and sausages that tasted like they had chorizo in, they were so yummy. I added a hash brown to mine and Charlotte added beans.

Sarah had avocado on toast which she really enjoyed too. 

We shared a plate of buttermilk pancakes between us as they were the size of dinner plates and you got three in a serving. They were drizzled in maple syrup and adorned with fruit, easily the best pancakes I’ve had from a resturant.

After breakfast we made our way to Aqua springs spa, this is right next to the leisure centre. It’s such a great place as it’s got all the features of your usual spas, a nice cafe to grab a drink or snack and treatments to add on if you want! The upside being that it costs only £14 and you can stay as long as you like.

It was so relaxing just chilling in the Hydrotherapy spas and jacuzzi. They also have a steam room, salt inhalation room, and 3 different saunas ranging from mild to volcanic in heat.

We booked in to have our nails painted so at 1.30 Sarah and Charlotte had theirs done and at 2 pm I had mine done.

I love this colour, I just wish I could paint it on as neatly as they do!!

Once our nails had dried and we were feeling totally relaxed we got changed and made our way home.

Once we were back at Charlottes we prepared our homemade afternoon tea, our last treat of the day.

I made a lemon drizzle tray bake, here it is:

It was super delicious (if I do say so myself haha) I’ve put a link to the recipe below.

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1892633/lemon-drizzle-traybake

I brought some red velvet cupcakes and sweet and savoury scones to have with jam and clotted cream, yummy!

Sarah made some sandwiches to go with all the cake, we had some cheese and some egg.

And of course tea!

It was a really fun day, very relaxing with lots of yummy treats!

Happy 30th Birthday Charlotte!

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

So I recently blogged about our Valentine’s day meal that I made Slimming World friendly. It was really yummy and with a few select ingredients I didn’t feel like I was missing out either.

First course

Slimming World Tomato and basil soup.

I brought the tomato and basil soup from the Iceland frozen Slimming World range. It’s really yummy, super easy and syn free.

Second course

Slimming World lasagne with garlic bread.

I was really pleased at how well this came out.  Here’s what you’ll need:

(Serves 4)

X2 light Mozzarella balls
Light grated cheddar cheese
Tub of extra light philadelphia cheese
A splash of milk
Large plum tomatoes
X2 tins of chopped tomatoes
Garlic fry light
1 large white onion
1 red pepper
5 % lean mince
Basil
Salt & pepper
Lasagne sheets

Garlic bread
X2 wholemeal bread rolls
Butter
X2 Fresh garlic cloves
Parsley

Method

1. Soak lasagne sheets in boiling water.

2. Chop onions and fry in garlic frylight. Brown the mince.

3. Add the tins of chopped tomatoes and season with salt, pepper and herbs. Cook for 20 mins on a low heat.

4. Slice the large tomatoes and mozzarella.

5. Heat the philadelphia, milk, salt and pepper in a saucepan.

6. Once all components are cooked layer up the lasagne. First put some of the tomato and mince mix, then a layer of tomato slices, some mozzarella slices and the creamy sauce and top with pasta sheets.

7. Repeat.

8. Sprinkle with grated cheddar and bake in the oven until the cheese turns golden.

Garlic bread

1. Toast the bread lightly in the oven.

2. Whilst the bread is toasting melt some butter and garlic together in the microwave.

3. Take the garlic butter mix and smear over the bread. The heat will make the bread absorb the butter. Make sure you put plenty on.

4. Sprinkle with seasoning and parsley.

The philadelphia cheese can be counted as your HEX A allowance, the wholemeal roll for your HEX B allowance.

Dessert

GU chocolate soufflés

These are so delicious, a great treat and just enough to round off the meal nicely. They are exactly 15 syns which is your daily allowance.

I thought this was great because although it uses all your syns it’s a great dessert. The creamy philadelphia and mozzarella make the lasagne seem really indulgent, paired with the garlic bread and yummy chocolate dessert and you’ve got a delicious 3 course meal without going completely syn crazy.

So my top pointers:

☆Get the most out of your Healthy extras. Use them to make food and meals more indulgent! Make a meal you never would think you’d be able to eat on Slimming World.

☆Use your syns! Treat yourself, you won’t succeed by denying yourself what you want. If your having a special meal find a dessert that is 15 syns or less and enjoy it, if you go over a little bit it’s not going to be as bad as it could be and your still in control.

☆Sneak in lots of S foods. Recipes like lasagne and Bolognese are great for this, garlic, chilli, onion, tomatoes, pepper, mushrooms! S food-tastic!

I hope this has given you some inspiration! Happy eating.

Until next time,
Roseanne 🙂

This year will be mine and Tims 5th Valentine’s spent together, I can’t believe that next year we’ll be celebrating as husband and wife!

We decided to go to one of our favourite places together, the zoo, but not before we’d exchanged presents.

I got these for Tim from Sainsburys. He loves pizza & pasta so I thought these were right up his street and useful too. I also cooked us a delicious 3 course meal.

Tim got me some lovely flowers and he paid for our tickets to the zoo.

Here are some pictures of the zoo:

Marli (Tims adopted Warthog) even came out to see us this time.

Lunch stop! It was nice to warm up.

More animals…

After a few hours we made our way home to cook our yummy dinner. Tim’s always really supportive and he even suggested we made our Valentine’s meal Slimming World friendly to help me stay on track (only 2 weeks until my next dress fitting). Ill be doing a blog post all about the meal with recipes and top tips. Here’s what we had:

First course

Tomato and basil soup.

Second course

Lasagne and garlic bread.

Third course

GU chocolate soufflés.

Once we’d finished we snuggled down on the sofa to watch LOTR: The return of the king.

Happy Valentines day ♡

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂