Winter Hygge Hobbies

The weather has been suitably miserable since 2019 has started. If it’s not snow and ice it’s torrential rain and wind which RUINS all chances of taking outfit pictures (!!)

So instead I thought I’d embrace being indoors, wearing pyjamas all damn day and my hygge hobbies! If you don’t know what Hygge is, here is a definition, courtesy of the internet:

hygge

noun

"a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being"

Card Making

At the end of last year I was way behind with being organised for people’s birthdays and frantically ordering cards from well known pig and pigeon sites...So this year I decided to compile a list of card occasions and set to work using old card I had laying around my office. I was surprised at just how much card making bits I had! It’s also been incredibly therapeutic to get back into some gluing and sticking, colouring and drawing to create cards for friends and loved ones that are much more personal than a stock bought. And yes if you’re wondering, that is a pickle on the card I’m making in the photo.. It’s an in-joke between Chris and I and he loved that card so the joy of making it was well worth it! I’ve made a Valentines card and now I’m working on Mother’s Day and other birthday cards to have ready and waiting for upcoming occasions.

Knitting

If you’ve ever read one of my first blog posts, this blanket may look familiar... Seven years on I’ve decided this WILL be the year I finally finish it!! Knitting is the perfect winter hobby. Being surrounded by cosy yarn and the gentle click clacking of needles is music to my ears and I find it helps me unwind. If you’re someone who struggles to relax and sit still, knitting is for you. It’ll keep you away from your pesky phone but occupies your hands perfectly! I’ve found I’m so much more engaged in watching films, tv series and the like. Plus as relaxing as it is, I feel productive doing it so instead of scrolling, try knit one purl one!

Reading

For some of you reading this it may seem like such a simple and obvious choice but for those of us who reserve books for sunshine and sunbeds once or twice a year, you’ll understand! I find getting into reading quite a challenge but once I do I get totally hooked on a book and can’t put it down. Tucked under blankets with a hot chocolate and a good book is utter bliss and something I think many of us take for granted! I’ve been re-reading The Life Changing Magic of not giving a Sh*T by Sarah McKnight which leaves me snorting and giggling aloud- much to my husbands bewilderment but I’d love some recommendations for what to read next if anyone has any! It’s also made me think how much I’d like to go to a library this year. Libraries are FREE and a brilliant service yet it’s so under utilised!

Podcasts

I’ve written a whole post on my favourite winter podcasts which you can read here but I’ve been very much enjoying a cosy listen whilst knitting or card making as opposed to listening to music. There are so many brilliant ones out there and in some instances it’s like listening to friends’ chatter which is comforting on evenings when the husband is on night shift or I’m sick of watching tv.

I think overall these hobbies are an easy way to bring joy to your free time without blowing the bank and actually just enjoying being at home and cosy. Like the definition of Hygge states, they leave me with a feeling of contentment and well-being which is what a lot of us need this time of year. I think it’s also important to take time out from busy schedules and relish some relaxing me-time!

So that’s all I had to say on winter hobbies really! I’m hoping to do some actually craft posts later on in the year but I’m yet to find a craft that is exciting enough/blog post worthy enough to write about! In the meantime, what are your winter and/or hygge hobbies?

Dinner and drinks with the girls at The Green Man, Trumpington- AD (Gifted)

I’m back for the second time this week and with another foody post- hurrah! This Wednesday I had the pleasure of attending a media preview night at the newly refurbished pub The Green Man in Trumpington, Cambridge. With my three best friends in tow, I went along to check out the decor, try a cocktail or two and sample the delicious food on offer. 

*Spoiler alert* it was bloody amazing. 

Admittedly I had never been to The Green Man before, however one of my friends had and said the transformation was fantastic but even for a first time visit I thought the decor was spectacular. The dark navy and gold palette mixed with leafy green plants and quirky lighting was a feast for the eyes and made for an incredibly inviting setting to be in. 

We started our evening in the cosy bar area with a canapés and drinks. The canapés themselves were a bite size selection of what’s on the new menu and were just delicious! Three of us sampled the meat options and the vegetarian of the group sampled the vegan and veggie options available. As a vegetarian my friend remarked on the fact there were so many vegetarian and vegan options to choose from and they weren’t your bog standard or obligatory veggie options. Instead there were dishes such as deep fried brie in pank breadcrumbs with chutney, spiralised carrot salad, coconut tzatziki and flatbread and battered halloumi with twice cooked chunky chips. Now tell me that’s not a taste sensation for anyone let alone a vegetarian! 

For those of us with the meat canapés we feasted on seared scallops, roasted pork belly and crackling, beer-battered line-caught cod, lobster and Devon crab and fishcakes and duck. The canapés alone were sensational which made me even more excited for the three course meal ahead.

 

When it comes to drinks, you are seriously spoilt for choice. Everything sounded incredible! Alas I was designated driver but my friends happily obliged when trying out the cocktail menu. The Raspberry Mule was a huge hit, coming out in the cutest copper mug and consisted of aromatic Absolut Raspberri Vodka, ginger beer, a hint of lime and a handful of fresh raspberries. Another favourite was the Candy Floss Martini- A childhood favourite mixed with a very adult measure of smooth Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and is expertly finished with lime and warming ginger. If this sounds up your street then you’ll be pleased to know that Happy Hour is Monday through to Friday 12-7pm!

 
For our evening meal we were led into another inviting area of the large 17th Century pub. Again this room boasted tasteful decor and was a real treat to be dining in. 

There was so much choice for what to have from the seasonal menu and we spent a great deal of time pouring over the various options. In the end we chose the Chargrilled Lamb Koftas which came with goat’s curd, plum tomato, roasted red pepper, cucumber and mint salad, whilst two of us ordered the 7oz Fillet steak with Stilton tart and twice-cooked chunky chips: one with Peppercorn sauce and the other with Lobster and garlic butter. 

The vegetarian main meal chosen (which is also vegan) was the Plant-based burger served in a sesame seeded bun with coconut tzatziki, slow-roasted tomato sauce and salad. I chose the fillet steak because it just sounded so divine and the stilton tart that accompanied it was just gorgeous. The steak itself was cooked to perfection and overall was an absolute treat to eat. 

Admittedly by this point we were stuffed but when we saw the dessert menu, our second stomachs had other ideas...Three of us went in with a full size dessert but if that proves to be too much there is always the option of a mini dessert and hot drink which one of the ladies went for and said it was the perfect size. 

You can choose from a mini apple and blackberry crumble, a mini baked vanilla cheesecake or a mini Belgian chocolate brownie to accompany your hot drink. I also think this would be pretty perfect if you wanted to stop by for coffee and dessert instead of a full blown meal! 

For those of us that chose a full size dessert, we went in with a New York style baked vanilla cheese cake, a Belgian chocolate brownie with Bourbon vanilla icecream and then the big one... the Melting Chocolate & Peanut Bomb. 

This dessert sure puts on a show! Filled with sticky toffee pudding and peanut butter cream, this golden ball comes served beautifully and with a little jug of hot salted caramel sauce to pour over the top and reveal the melted wonder inside. I mean just look at it. I don’t think I need to say anymore than that! 

By the final course we really were incredibly full but what a wonderful evening we had. Overall I was blown away with how wonderful the evening was. 

We sampled and dined on incredible food, drank delicious drinks, took in the inviting space. The Green Man is an ideal location to celebrate any occasion and come the summer months the outdoor patio area will be perfect for alfresco dinner and drinks. Both me and the girls have vowed to go back very soon! 

I was invited along with to the preview night at The Green Man in Trumpington after its extensive refurbishment and received a complimentary three course meal for myself and three guests. I was under no obligation to write a review or promote the refurbishment but I enjoyed it so much I decided to do a blog post so that you guys could discover it and hopefully go and enjoy it too!

Valentine's Day at Turtle Bay- AD (Gifted)

It’s that time of year where we declare our undying love to our partners, boyfriends and girlfriends. Whether you buy a gift or go out for a swanky meal, it’s a great excuse to celebrate! 

When Queensgate Shopping Centre got in touch and asked me to review Turtle Bay for Valentine’s Day I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to try a classic Valentine’s meal with a Caribbean twist. 

If you have read some of my previous posts on Turtle Bay, you will know just how much I love the explosive Caribbean spices and flavours in every dish and this meal was no exception. But first- cocktails! 

Turtle Bay does a fantastic array of cocktails to suit everyone’s palette and with Happy Hour too, you can get 2 4 1 on cocktails! I let Chris choose my cocktail as there were so many amazing flavour combinations, I just couldn’t decide. He picked the Vanilla and Passion Fruit Mojito with Cockspur rum which tasted like a little dessert and was rather delicious! Being designated driver, Chris went for a Sky Juice- an alcohol free cocktail but was equally scrumptious and contained a frozen blend of pomegranate, pineapple, orange and lemon juices. 

As a Valentine’s setting, Turtle Bay is pretty perfect. The chilled Caribbean music playing under the twinkling fairy lights, teamed with delicious cocktails is difficult not to be romantic and to keep with the romantic theme, we opted for a sharing platter to start. We went in with all the spice- choosing the Just Jerk Platter and it sure did not disappoint! 

We were greeted by marinated jerk wings, glazed pork ribs, beef patty, jerk chicken flatbreads, sweet corn fritters and a super green salad. The flavour combinations were SO GOOD and the green salad was perfect for adding some freshness to the dish. Once again I found I was really rather taken with the sweetcorn fritters which were spicy and beautifully crispy whilst the jerk chicken wings were juicy, flavoursome and so tender they fell off the bone! 

With our main meals we both chose something we’ve never had from the menu. I went for the Jerk Salmon (which you can also order plain if you’re not a fan of spice) and Chris chose the One Pot Curry Goat. I must admit I was a little jealous of Chris’ choice as for a cold winters night it looked, smelt and tasted (I had to try it!) incredible and made for the perfect winter warmer! The rich and spicy goat dish comes with coconut rice ‘n’ peas, sweet plantain and to top it off, dumplings- perfect for dipping in the gorgeous curried sauces. 

My Jerk Salmon did not disappoint either. All the meats and fish at Turtle Bay are marinated for 24 hours in the signature jerk mix they use so you can rest assure your meat will taste amazing! I also upgraded my salad to the beach salad which included watermelon, pomegranate and mango. It was so refreshing and made a change from the traditional green salad for sure. 

Once again we felt suitably stuffed from eating two courses and as much as my second stomach wanted to order dessert, I resisted. For our cocktails, a sharing platter and two mains, the bill came in at the £50 mark which just goes to show you don’t have to blow the bank to celebrate Valentines plus you will get a really tasty and serious filling meal too! 

Whatever your budget or tastes, there is something for every couple on the menu and over the Valentine’s period there are 4 courses for £25.00 per person. Whether its a Caribbean sharing platter, a hot curry or your favourite West Indian pudding, Turtle Bay have got it all covered. They also have hand-selected cocktail and drinks pairings to complement each course and this is all available from 6th-17th February. Check out the Valentine’s Day Menu here.

All in all, both Chris and I are feeling the love for Turtle Bay. We had such a lovely date night and a brilliant time celebrating Valentine’s.

Have you booked your table yet? 

Our meal at Turtle Bay was paid for with vouchers gifted to me by Queensgate Shopping Centre in exchange for a blog post and review. My views are honest and my own.

Winter Podcast Favourites

Its been a while since I’ve done a roundup of my favourite podcasts to listen to. I love to discover new ones all the time so my favourites change on a regular basis. That's not to say that previous favourites are no longer loved- oh no! But I do find depending on what I’m up to, my mood and the time of year, i switch up my listening.

So without further ado, this is what I’m loving at the moment.

Speaking of Carrie 

Having been to New York in December and doing the Sex and The City Tour, I discovered that the tour guides Melissa Stokoski and Elyse Brandau do their very own podcast on the show called Speaking of Carrie! I was truly overjoyed to discover this and have been avidly listening to the back catalogue all through January. They dissect an episode each week with a guest and talk through the highs, the lows and the hilarious moments. If you’re a fellow SATC fan you will love this podcast and the hosts are hilarious to listen to. It’s a real pick me up show that’ll leave you feeling cheerful for sure.

Katie Piper’s Extraordinary People

If you’ve missed Katie since strictly or are generally looking for a great podcast, Katie Piper’s extraordinary people is a brilliant and inspiring listen. Each episode features a guest who talks about their astonishing experiences, facing adversity and how they’ve come through the other side. I come away from each instalment feeling inspired, albeit a little shocked at what some people have gone through in life but it goes to show that as human beings we are stronger than we perhaps realise at times. 

Locked up Abroad

Since discovery The Wonderland Murders (which I featured in my last roundup) and Dirty John from Wondery, I have been scrolling through their other podcasts and came across Locked Up Abroad. This podcast features real life accounts of how people have come to be imprisoned in foreign countries and their stories are told by none other than themselves! This podcast is jaw dropping and at points the stories sound almost unbelievable! It’ll have you on tenterhooks wondering whether they are going to make it and how they escape. Some people are falsely imprisoned and others admittedly are not but regardless if they’re guilty or not, their stories are jaw dropping, gritty and real. You will be hooked! 

On The Line with Estee LaLonde

I was really sad when I found out that Estee’s podcast The Heart of It wasn’t coming back but thankfully she is back with a brand new podcast called On The Line. I love the concept behind this podcast. For each episode there’s a caller on the line with a question relating to the topic Estee is discussing with her guest. The topics covered are those that us ladies out there would discuss on a girls night in. From contraception to sexuality and so much more- this podcast is like listening to your gal pals and no topic is off limits. Love! 

The Prosecco Sessions!

Of course as always I’m biased- I love my podcast and it’s had a revamp and switch up! If you’re subscribed on apple podcasts, Soundcloud or follow on Twitter, you may have noticed the cover art has changed. With that there’s also been a switch up with the hosts so rather than there being three regular hosts, it’s now me and a variety of different guests!

Season 3 of The Prosecco Sessions is going live Thursday 31st January!!!!! So you have ten whole weeks of brand new, uninterrupted listening ahead! I’ve worked really hard on this season; doing it all by myself but I’m really pleased with the end result! It’s taken a while to do but I’m sure you’ll love the topics and the guests I’ve got on to talk with! So stay tuned for that and be sure to subscribe, rate and review.

So that is what I’m listening to at present! If there’s any you think I’ll love or would recommend, pop a comment down below and share your fabulous podcast favourites.


Ciao!