Chilli Jam

Last Christmas I made Nigella's Chilli Jam to give as gifts, it went down so well that I have decided to make another batch for this year, here is the recipe I use.

I only use my cauldron for making a few things mostly Christmas Eve Ham in coke or if I am making a huge batch of something to freeze, but I am terrified of this boiling over resulting in me and the kitchen getting covered in boiling hot jam. There is no way the jam will bubble up enough to escape the cauldron it is huge. 

I have made 4 batches of this now and I always seem to get a lot for froth round the edges which I ether skim off or make a jar for His Lordship with the scummy bits in (he assures me it tastes fine it just isn't as pretty).

The recipe says to keep for 1 month before eating and will keep for a year unopened, but I'm never 100% confident with sterilising my jars so I normally put keep for 6 months on my jars. Now I just need to find away of getting the smell of vinegar out of the house, though on the plus side my sinuses are really clear now.

Konjac Sponge

I have been looking for something to quickly cleanse my face in the mornings as I am lazy, but if I am wearing make up I know it goes on much smoother if I have properly cleansed and exfoliated skin.

I use Liz Earle cleanse and polish in the evening and I am really happy with that but it is a bit of a faff for me in the morning with the boys to get ready too. So after seeing Strawberry Blondes review here a few months ago I decided to try the Konjac sponge out.

From there website

Konjac is reputed for its health giving properties & used by the Japanese for over 1500 years, having originally been used as a medicine in the sixth century

• 100% Natural Sponge
• Gentle exfoliation
• 100% Colouring Free
• 100% Additive Free
• 100% Biodegradable
• Naturally Sustainable
• Environmentally Safe

A naturally moisture rich plant fibre which is by nature alkaline, and thus balances the acidity of the skins impurities and oils.

I went for The pink clay version for tired and devitalized skin as my face starting to suffer with the change in seasons.

My first impressions are it is so very soft and left me with no redness at all after washing my face. It leaves your skin feeling really lovely after using it just with water. 

I love that is is a natural product, I will be using this in the morning then moisturising and applying make up if I can be bothered. I will use it for a month and see how I get on with it then do a follow up review.

Also I ordered form the website at midday and it arrived in the post the next day so brilliant service too.

Wardrobe revamp

So I have recently been reading a lot about minimising your wardrobe and have decided to have a major sort out of mine. I am ashamed to admit I have a wardrobe full of clothes that I never wear, I mostly live in jeans and basic jersey tops which I am not sure are entirely flattering.

I like the sound of project 333 (basically wearing only 33 items including coats, shoes and accessories for 3 months) so I might give it a go.  I really struggle with shoes, my feet are very wide and I have a real problem finding anything that fits and can cope with the amount of walking I do as I don't drive and the boys school is a good 40 minute walk there and back. I tend to wear out a pair of boots in about 5 months and trashed 3 pairs of flip flops this summer. Really my only choices for shoes are M&S and Evans and they do tend to be really frumptastic.

Now the weather is feeling more Autumnal I can finally put away my summer dresses and linen trousers and dig out my winter stuff.  So the first step for my new streamlined wardrobe is clearing out everything and giving it a really good clean and vacuum, I have also bought some new hangers.

So hopefully soon I will have a slightly more organised wardrobe and then I will decide if I am going to give project 333 a go. I am full of a cold at the moment so I will have to put it on hold for a few days.

Christmas Shopping

Only 81 days to go

I am one of those people that adores Christmas, but I always do my best to buy, make and wrap everyone’s presents before the 1^st December so I can really enjoy the run up to the big day without having to fight my way through the boiling hot shops with everyone else.

I love taking time to find or make gifts for people that I know they will enjoy, rather than mad dashes around boots 3 for 2 on Christmas eve and getting things for the sake of getting them. Though no matter how organised I am buying for the men in my life is always a nightmare.

I have a spreadsheet so I can keep up with what I have got for who (it is also helpful for seeing if I keep getting the same people the same things every year) .

We have a Christmas savings account which we pay into monthly, so if I see any bargains during the year I can get them and squirrel them away in my present cupboard. Then whatever is left in the account come December usually covers the food and drink so we don't have such a tight month January. We have had a savings account for Christmas for 4 years now and it really takes the pressure off covering the cost of it all.

I am getting all excited about it now.