Today I am loving...
From new favourite meal plans to my current read, here's what I am loving today.
On more than one occasion I have been reminded that people love hearing about other people. Is this true? I guess for me it certainly is; I love reading newsletters I have invariably signed up to over the years from writers all over the world, opening up little snapshots into their lives.
People are interesting aren’t they? Because they are probably doing things different to you. They will eat different foods, have new approaches on bed time routines and partake in hobbies you would never dream of doing. But that is what is so fascinating and makes us all a bit more…well, human.
With this in mind, I wanted to share with you a few things I am loving today (or indeed throughout January) in a way of providing a small snapshot into my life. Not that I am claiming it is very interesting but I am keen to build a strong relation with my readers over the next few months and perhaps this will be something you enjoy reading? I don’t know. Let me know.
A new recipe.
My son has come up with a plan to “spice up” our meal plans: every Saturday we will be transporting ourselves, from the comfort of the dining room table, around the world to different countries to sample the local cuisine.
Last Saturday we kicked things off with Spain. His choice. It meant I found myself Googling “Traditional Spanish Dishes”, sifting through the ones I just knew no-one would eat. Eventually I settled on Spanish Chicken and served it with a colourful rice bowl with a few veggies added.
It looked colourful and (I don’t mean to brag), the kids loved it! Win!
We set the table with napkins and candles and found some Spanish themed music via Spotify, to play gently in the background while we ate. Find the recipe I used here, it was just on the BBC GoodFood website which I find has come to my rescue on many a occasion. I took out the olives because none of us eat them, but we all enjoyed the added flavour form the chorizo. Make sure you cook this gently to really let the flavour from the oils come out.
Next week, we are heading off to Italy which will be an easy one with homemade pizzas… cin cin 🥂
A favourite read.
Just before Christmas, so technically not January sorry, I finished reading The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo. Over on Instagram stories I gave it a firm 10/10 as I adored this book. It helped it is mostly set in New York City, which coincidently is where I started reading it during our trip there in the beginning of December.
“a legendary film actress reflects on her relentless rise to the top and the risks she took, the loves she lost and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine.
Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?”
If you haven’t read it yet you can get a copy here.
My evening routine.
I wanted to share with you my newly revised morning routine, but thanks to a sleep fighting toddler, it hasn’t happened yet. There’s always tomorrow. So instead, here is what a winter evening routine looks like:
I’m not doing dry January so while I’m cooking the tea I start to plan where I will enjoy my well earned glass of wine that evening. Should I take it in the bath? Perhaps watch a film or order the food shop whilst relaxingly sipping on my favourite white wine.
But… it’s usually well after 8 o’clock by the time I finally get everyone to bed and asleep, so I hurry downstairs, open the laptop to finish off a piece of work that is 90% complete, sip my wine and fall asleep whilst making a to do list for the following day.
Perhaps once a week, I will have a hot chocolate and an early night because at the moment that sounds just as lovely as the glass of wine. And probably much more needed.
If I was being REALLY good, I would fit in a run on the treadmill but our garage is freezing at the moment so avoid that as best I can.
We did recently watch the Glass Onion on Netflix which I would recommend if you haven’t seen it yet. A real plot twisting, murder mystery with an all star cast.
On that note, I better go and start the tea and ponder over how this evenings routine will go.
Thank you as ever for reading; I hope you have a lovely evening, still in full hibernation mode, embracing this winter as best we can.
Beth x
Love this Beth! I am fascinated with routines and how people approach the juggle of it all. I often change ours up! Your Spanish evening sounds lovely! There was a tapas place we used to go to in Newcastle a lot... the food was really gorgeous and the chorizo out of this world! 🌍