Conwy Castle, Wales

Fennel soup

Guest bed

I hope everyone has a safe and chocolate filled Halloween!  For the first time ever Squidge was dressed in the “English” way. In the US we dress up as anything we like. Bags of M&M’s, bottles of Jack Daniel’s, princesses etc… In England it’s always always a spooky theme– witches, pumpkins, vampires, bats, mummy’s and that sort of thing.  Last year someone made Squidge feel bad for not being on “theme” so this year she really wanted to be a witch. I was going to go with a literary witch and have her go as Winnie the Witch but I ran out of time so she’s a Tesco’s witch. A cutie patootie either way!

Now onto the competition! I’m really really excited about this one as I firmly believe in it’s message. Kellogg’s are big supports of breakfast. I know, I know that’s such a surprise. A breakfast cereal company believes we should all eat breakfast. It’s easy to be cynical but in this case they’re putting their money where there mouths are and support breakfast clubs all over the country.  With government cut backs companies are having to step in and luckily for us Kellogg’s is a company with a great sense of corporate responsibility.  I was invited to a spa day for some pampering but before we got to the fun bits they talked to us about some new research they had done since the last time we met. You see, this is why I love Kellogg’s. After meeting with us last year they realized tht their data was a bit old and wondered if anything had changed. So they got together with a university to find out what was going on now with children and breakfast and what they’re eating. I think it’s fair to say most of us their were shocked. Not only with the data suggesting that kids aren’t eating but also what they’re eating, 25% of kids buying crisps, chocolate and burgers on the way to school.  The Daily Mail had an article where they mention the Kellogg’s research stating that girls are skipping breakfast all together as a way to stay slim. Now we all know that doesn’t work. It’s important that we all teach our children that eating breakfast is important. If you want to know more about how Kellogg’s is involved with breakfast clubs just check out their website. If you want to start a breakfast club you can apply for funding through Kellogg’s. I would wait to do that though… until after the competition!

So the details…

COMPETTION

Kellogg will be giving you the chance to win a year supply of breakfast cereal (approx 100 boxes) for your school.  In order to be in with a chance to win this, all you have to do is watch this video (what are breakfast clubs link) leave me a comment below telling me what the name of the little boy with hiccups was.

I will pick the winner by random number generator on Monday 7 November

Terms and Conditions:

• Competition is open to residents of the UK and NI only
• Prize is non-refundable and no cash alternative is available

• This competition will run from the 31 October to the 7th November 2011
• The winner will be chosen at random and announced on this page on 8th November 2011

At the end of every season I print out all the photos I’ve processed.  This is not to say that I print out all the photos I take as I take much more than I process.  I shoot in RAW so I usually crop a bit, adjust white balance or exposure– anything really that needs doing.  I’m pretty light handed w/ Photoshop.  Actually I can’t remember the last time I used Photoshop.  I usually do any adjustments in Lightroom.  I was looking through my photographs from this past Spring (yes, I’m a little late in my printing) when I was contacted by someone from Canvas Dezign.

I don’t usually reply to requests to review products because it’s usually for something I wouldn’t buy or that aren’t relevant to my life.  If it’s something I wouldn’t buy/not interested in then I don’t want it for free in exchange for a review.  Does that make sense? But when this email popped into my in box it peaked my interest as I’d been wanting to order a canvas print for a long time.  I had a quick look at their site and I liked what I saw and read.  I liked that they buy British canvases, hire local workers and try to keep things as green as possible.  I also liked that they’re Northern!  I replied to the email and I eagerly chose a photo to print.  This was not an easy task as I have so many I love.  I finally decided on one and I received the canvas today.

OH EMM GEE!!  When I opened the (very well packed) package I almost cried. It’s stunning!  I can not believe the quality! Especially when you factor in the price.  It looks like I dropped some serious cash but in fact it was just a little more than £50!  It’s also HUGE  30in x 20in.  I can’t wait to finish decorating the front room, it’s going to look fab in there!  I’m also planning ordering a series of 4 6x6 canvas prints of Squidge’s trip to the PYO farm last summer.  So if like me you’ve wanted to print some photos on canvas give these guys a look.  The website is really easy to navigate.  I didn’t once get hung up uploading my file.  They have a pretty extensive FAQ section so if you have any questions I’m sure you’d find the answer there!

For full disclosure Canvas Dezign offered me a canvas of my choice but the opinions expressed here are my own.

Random photos from Friday…

Single yellow rose growing amongst our climbing RED roses… weird.

I know I’m a big old tease! I haven’t really done anything.  I’m still working on Squidge’s room.  We’re wallpapering tomorrow then I’m moving her back in.  Floors still  need to be finished but that’s an as and when project.

I’ve been eating a lot of these…

They’re the yummiest. juiciest, sweetest peaches I have ever tasted. The greengrocer called them donut peaches.  I call them  nom noms!

I promise I’ll blog more this next week.  I just have a hard time blogging without new photographs and the weather has been so crappy and rainy I  haven’t felt like taking photographs.  Considering it doesn’t look like it’s going to ever stop raining I better get off my behind and blog. So watch this space.

Oh and Squidge has been doing a lot of this…