Christmas starts here!

So on Monday I dressed Harry on a very cute Christmas jumper and set off to London Bridge to my first networking event in the past couple of years.

I was looking forward to meeting other bloggers and starting to build bridges. It was an event sponsored by Morrisons, where they show cased their Christmas range - so I was also looking forward to eating some mince pies and to getting myself into Christmas mode.

Of course I was late, as usual - which is silly since I live in east London and it didn't take me that long at all getting there - and by the time I arrived people were already having a nice hot drink and chatting away.

Now, I don't know what sort of stupid idea was it that made me believe I'd be able to take Harry to an event like that and still talk to anyone else. From the second I let him off his pram the lill guy was running up and down the room, like a lion cub that has just been set free on the wild.

See, in general he is a real good boy but he is also real active and will run back and forth until he is knackered - and that's exactly what happened, for a whole hour he would run from one side of the room to another completely oblivious to the great tips from Executive Chef of Product Development at Morrisons chef Neil Nugent was giving us all.

Yes, I was the crazy mum with the ultra active little boy wearing a Santa hat. Which is one of the reasons why all the photos I have of him look like this

     


It's a shame I could not interact with people properly - I did however managed to nod and say sorry for all the running around  - but between keeping an eye out for the little runner and sampling some of the gorgeous Christmas desserts they had laid out for us, I at least, managed to note a few of Nugent's cooking tips.

My favorite one was about NOT boiling potatoes when making mash or roast potatoes. We call it part-boiling but really we should cook it in hot water for about 10 minutes until its fluffy but not let it boil. check!

He also said that we should not cover the Turkey with foils as that will steam it and, in turn, over cook it. Neil also recommended lard as a suitable replacement to butter to make your Turkey a dairy free dish.

I didn't managed to try that much of the food either - there was a lot on offer and lill guy had gingerbread biscuits and chocolate panettone and all sorts of sugary treats we don't usually give to him - but I did have a bite of Hot Chocolate Fudge Crown which not only will look great as part of the Christmas table but it was delicious, moist and rich. I also love the look of Roonie The reindeer Cake.

the happiest Gingerbread Man I've ever seeing

I might buy this one a decoration this year, isn't it beautiful?

             

Morrisons has over 700 items on their Christmas Menu and - I think  it's safe to day - one of the best Mince Pies in town!...in fact I'm having one right now with a cup of tea, you know...to help me remembering everything that happened on Monday!

All in all it was a great event and such a lovely way to kick start the festive season, hopefully next time I actually talk to people. Well done and thank you BritMums for putting this together and Morrisons for your great Christmas selection this year!...and the delicious goodies bag :)

After all that dessert eating and a two hours kip on his way home, a quick stop for a little healthy bite to eat, after all, it isn't Christmas just yet!

Not so Silent Sunday

We had a busy few days this week, which isn't unusual on this time of the year. With me working Thursday to Sunday there isn't much time left to enjoy family life together but that is only for a few weeks and come Christmas I'll finally be able to take some much needed time off work.

Of course having a ultra active toddler at home is "holidays mummy but not as you know it". still, not having to commute or rush around to get chores done is already a good break.

Until then I'll try to enjoy myself, family and friends the best I can.

Today I meet a very dear friend for some child-free catch up accompanied by cheese and wine, not a bad end to a work week is it?

Tomorrow we start the week networking with other bloggers at the Christmas Networking event put together by BritMums. I have been looking forward to what will be my first blog related event in two year.

It seemed hard at first, the thought of taking Harry with me but then BritMums started nice buzz on Twitter and helped me realized I wont be the only one trying to look after a toddler between a chat and a canape.

So here is to the start of a lovely week and the count down to Christmas - 1 month to go!!!!!

I'll be back

So I don't even know when was it that I last published a post.

Things have been up in the air in our little family, with me preparing to go back to work, sorting out childcare and planning Harry's birthday - all at the same time.
I have been working from home since February and that very much took over all my free time, hence the reason why the blog had to be put to the one side for a while.

Last Thursday I went back to work from my office desk (more on that later) and am now I'm hoping to finally get this blog in gear.

I know it is May - almost June - but with the above in mind, I have made a few "Blogging Resolutions", it's nothing more than a list of things I want to achieve within the next months and the next year. Nothing fancy, just the basics:

On the next few months I'm hoping to improve my audience as well as our presence on social media. So this is my plan of action:

- do the classic Give Away.

 - I had a good idea - so I think - for a blog-hop so create and spread the word about my blog-hop.

- create a Facebook page

- be more proactive with Google+

- get the hang of/improve participation on Twitter and Pinterest.

- improve participation/visits/comments to other blogs - a little confession here; I keep on reading other people's blogs but don't always stop to share my thoughts, that's not right!

For the next year, I'm hoping to meet more bloggers, I just find fascinating how supportive this community is and love the idea of meeting other bloggers to share experiences in person as well as online. For that I'm hoping to go to one of the big blogging events, such as BritMums live. Unfortunately it isn't possible for me to go this year so I thought I might as well make an assertive effort to get more involved with the blogging community before next year's convension- of course while keeping my fingers crossed that will be a 2014 edition!

My aim really is to work with brands, which is what I used to do when contributing to a friend's blog until I got pregnant. Should all the above work, I will then move on to using a blog platform that allows me to work our layout and tools on a more flexible way.

Well, that's my pledge done, not to make it happen!

Libester Award

This award is given to bloggers with less than 200 followers who deserve acknowledgement and encouragement to keep on blogging.

This is long overdue but I was nominated by the very sweet Glitzy Gleam from One Busy Mum , thank you so much for the award!

The rules are simple:

1. List 11 facts about yourself. 

2. Answer the 11 questions given to you. 

3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award. 

4. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.  

5. Choose 5 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate. 

6. Go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award.

11 Facts about myself:

1. I am the youngest of 10 siblings. 

2. I used to hate London when I first moved here but now I don't find it so bad.

3. I've always said i wouldn't raise a child in London and even though that is now happening I still hope we can move somewhere more family friendly sometime soon.

4. I enjoy cooking and love baking

5. I'm addicted to collecting recipes online.

6. Even though I enjoy working I have done it since I was about 13 years old so if I had enough money to stay home and enjoy life looking after my little boy I wouldn't go back to work anytime soon.

7. I am 34 and still don't have a driving license, in fact I don't know how to drive.

8. I spent 4 months in Oklahoma in 2004 and that was the most amazing summer.

9. I miss Brazil, my family and friends but deep inside I now doubt that I will ever move back there again.

10. I struggle trusting people and at the moment the idea of having to sort out childcare for Harry is driving me insane. 

11. I love writing and in some level I actually believe I'm good at it. 

11Questions from One Busy Mum

1, What is your Favorite food?

Hard to say but I could have ice-cream anytime of the day :-) 

2, What do you do to relax?

These days I just watch tv but dancing have been my first option for most of my life.

3,What do you enjoy most about blogging?

I find is a great way to empty my mind, sometimes I need to tell people what i feel/think even if I don't know if someone will read. 

4,Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

That question have always troubled me but the truth is I'm not sure! Hopefully not in London working with something I'm passionate abut and raising my little family with loads of love.

5, Do you prefer sweet or savory foods?

trick question. I love food! Probably savory followed by sweet (I know, bad!)

6, What would be your ideal holiday destination?

being brazilian going back home is always great but really if i can enjoy peace of mind, nice weather, great views and local culinary that makes it a great holiday. Oh water is really important as well so either seaside or somewhere with lakes and waterfalls. 

7, What is your favorite colour?

I'm on my purple phase, being through a red phase during teen years and it still in my heart.

8, What is your best childhood memory?

A few of them but a very magical one was being sneaky trying to catch Santa on Christmas eve. I can't remember much as i was about 5 or 6 at the time but i remember trying to sneak a peak and then running through the house as it sounded like he was outside the window. Over a decade later I   remember doing the same to my nieces, switching the house lights on and off and playing bell sounds as they ran through the rooms trying to see which window was that Santa left the flat from. 

9, What is your favorite movie?

Another tricky one but there are films that I can watch anytime of any day and Monsters Inc is one of them. 

10, What is your biggest achievement so far?

Making the move; almost 7 years ago I decided to drop off University and come to London to live with my other half. It was a big struggle in the beginning, specially as I arrived here in the beginning of autumn and had to face the British weather. Coming from a large family I found particularly challenging leaving everyone behind. Starting over was not fun as I left my degree and all my professional experience behind to work at the restaurant floor but only an year later I was back in the office working with customer services. My life here isn't perfect, I will always miss my family and friends and we don't swim in money but somehow I managed to adapt once again and make London my home.

11, What item can't you live without?

Hand cream, just impossible! 

11 questions for the nominated bloggers 

1. What got you into blogging?

2. If you could chose to live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

3. Tell us one thing you love about yourself.

4. What makes you smile on a grey Monday morning?

5. What is your favorite song/band?

6. Beer, wine or cocktails?

7. Kindle or paperback and why?

8. Are you a cat or dog person? You are allow to be a bunny or even a spiders person for that matter, just tell us what is your favorite pet and why!

9. What is your favorite tv series?
10. Gym, outdoor or home workout/activity and why?
11. How hard was it for you to come up with 11 questions for this post????

Leopard Print Mommy
Diary of The Dad
Real Housewife of Suffolk
Domesstique

They Grow So Quick
PS: with all the followers tools that are out there I had a hard time telling how many followers certain blogs had but I hope I'm not making a faux pas here :-D