Chicken stew Recipe

Hey everyone :) 

So I would like to share with you my yummy home made chicken stew. This recipe is so easy and takes just under an hour till its ready. It's perfect for the whole family. My little one Lucy absolutely loves this stew and its full of pure goodness. So definitely some peace of mind that she eats it for me :) The best thing about this meal is you can add as much veg as you want and of as much of what you want to it. I love to add potatoes,  carrots, broccoli, parsnip, onion. garlic cloves, frozen mixed veg, Brussels sprouts (even though I hate these they are full of iron and you can't taste it when the soup/stew is all liquidized) and spinach. Today however i didn't have some of those items so the recipe I am going to share is the one i made today but remember you can add whatever veg you like :) It went down a treat with all the family! Oh and if you have ever attended slimming world or weight-watchers, etc., this meal is completely syn free, there is absolutely no fat in it and is completely wholesome and delicious. 

Recipe

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts diced

3 carrots

2 parsnips

4 potatoes

broccoli

cauliflower

1 onion

swede

2 garlic cloves 

2 veg stock cubes

2 chicken stock cubes

1 litre of boiling water

salt.

pepper

mixed herbs

turmeric

garlic salt

Method

1. So pop your chicken breasts in a pot and cover with cold water add some salt and let it come to boil till it is completely cooked. 
2. While you are waiting on your chicken to cook, peel wash and chop your veg and boil the kettle for your stock. 
3. When you are satisfied that the chicken is cooked, add all your veg to the pot of chicken. using a glass measuring jug or plastic which ever you prefer, put the 4 stock cubes in to the jug and add a litre of boiling water, stir the stock cubes until they have all dissolved in to the water. add the stock to the veg. when the stock is added then you can add the potatoes.
4. Now you can add your herbs, mixed herbs, turmeric, salt, pepper, garlic cloves, garlic salt (and whatever other herbs you wish to add)
5. Let the stew come to the boil, then reduce heat and cover and let it simmer for a while
6. When the veg is soft you can then liquidize the soup/stew and leave it to continue to simmer over a low heat for another few minutes
7. Now your soup is made you can serve it however you may wish. I had mine with a Slimbo (I'm trying to be extra good :) )  

Recipe in pictures: 

                

 Step 3

And there you have it. Simple hearty chicken soup/stew for all the family :) 

Enjoy :)

Thank you all for reading :)

Lots of Love

Gráinne 

xxx

Review: stella & dot trunk party

Hi guys :)

So as some of you may know I attended my first trunk party for Stella & Dot last Saturday night. For those who don't know what a trunk party is, basically it is the best excuse for a personal shopping experience in somebody's house where you can relax with a glass of wine be surrounded by friends, family, etc., and shop, it doesn't get much better than that right? So Stella & Dot are very popular for these trunk parties as their beautiful unique jewelry and accessories are not  sold in stores so therefore, they have fully trained independent stylists who host the parties and do the selling for them. Its a very unique way of selling and buying and the experience in itself is just brilliant.

So this trunk party I attended was held by my lovely neighbor Tracey who was extremely welcoming and very hospitable. She ensured everyone who wanted one had a drink and provided beautiful food and nibbles throughout the course of the night. Our stylist Stella and Dot host was a lovely lady from Banagher, Co Offaly named Anne Lyons Byrne. Anne was so informative, welcoming and answered any questions we had. She had set up a beautiful display of a selection of Stella & Dot jewelry, scarves, handbags, purses, make up bags, you name it it was there. It was a fantastic opportunity to experience this stunning hand crafted jewelry and accessories. we could hold, feel, try on anything we liked. There was no pressure put on us to buy anything at all and it was so laid back and lovely you could just look and shop at your own leisure. Anne stayed for approx 3 hours and I have to say she was a fantastic host. I would definitely recommend her to anyone interested in holding one of these trunk parties as she was very friendly, down to earth, chatty, informative and confident in her work. There were also Stella & Dot books we could look through too to see further pieces of this stunning range. Near the end of the night we put in our orders of what we would like and paid there and then it takes about 4-5 days for your delivery and it is delivered by UPS straight to your door so there is no work involved for the customer at all. It is a fantastic set up and hassle free. 

Who are Stella & Dot?

So Stella & Dot are an American (San Francisco) based company. It was founded by a lady named Jessica Herrin, who was looking for something to balance work life with home life so she came up with this fabulous idea to give women the opportunity to be a parent as well as an independent working woman who could work around her children and set up a career for themselves. Another lady named Blythe then got on board with her and now they are both extremely successful business women who have opened many career opportunities to many women around the globe. They have been recognized and celebrated by New York designers and have featured in Gossip Girl and Lucky Magazine as well as appearing on the wrists and necklines of today's hottest celebrities. 

Their stunning range of jewelry is all hand crafted and the detail in these pieces are absolutely exquisite. They are so unique and eye-catching. They vary in prices, some can be quite expensive but are so worth it if you need something for a very formal event such as a wedding, dinner, dance, etc. they are one of a kind and you can guarantee that you will turn heads wearing these fabulous pieces. They do all sorts from rings to earrings, from cuffs to statement necklaces. The quality of this jewelry is like no other. some of the jewelry can also be customized to how you wish to wear it. 

 

Pictured is the stunning Casablanca Pendant Necklace, it can be adjusted and customized to your liking. 18.5" worn short and adjustable to 28". priced at 98Euro. 

Stella and Dot also do some beautiful unique amazing quality hand bags purses and scarves. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be worn for all occasions. They are such good quality and guaranteed to last you forever. you can have some for casual day time or use the same bag for a dressed up day time. they are just stunning. The scarves are beautiful and can be worn again for day time or night time. They are fabulous. They also do these beautiful charm necklaces, they are so sweet. you buy the chain separate, choose the length you want they come in 3 different sizes, 16" for 22euro, 30" for 36Euro and open link 30" for 49euro. There are a wide range of charms to choose from to suit your personality. You can get lockets, birth stones, name initials, Celtic designs and more. The charms all vary in price starting from about 18euro. I loved these I thought they were such a great gift idea and if you have one your loved ones could then buy you some for occasions such as birthdays, Christmas,etc. 

 Charm necklaces. So many charms to choose from 

 Beautiful Arabesque                                                   stunning Deco Cocktail ring
Cocktail ring 29Euro                                                   39Euro

 Beautiful gold Becker                                                  Renegade Cluster Bracelet
 cuff. 79Euro                                                                 54Euro
   

Their jewelry also comes in silver, gold and rose gold so you have plenty of styles, colours and ranges to choose from. They are definitely worth to have a look and a purchase. They are items that will last you a lifetime. If you would be interested in hosting  a Stella & Dot trunk party or purchasing online checkout their website at www.stelladot.com This is also the lovely stylist Anne Lyons Byrne's direct website www.stelladot.eu/AnneLyonsByrne or you can contact Anne on her mobile  086 8116191 for any questions or queries you may have.

Hope you enjoyed this post and thank you all for reading.

Lots of Love Gráinne 

xxx

https://www.facebook.com/tresbelle15

Review- Babyliss Secret Hair Curler

Hi guys so today I am reviewing the famous Babyliss curler "curl secret". Keep reading to see my results from using this curler and also learn how to use it :) Enjoy xxx

If you are looking for a quick way to curl your hair in less than 20 minutes without the hassle of twisting and pulling your hair and also burning your fingers or the side of your face in the process of doing so, well then this is the curler for you!! My first impressions when i opened this curler was "my god" its very futuristic looking and a little bit intimidating but its very pretty purple so that makes up for everything haha! It's light in weight so your arm/hand doesn't get tired while it curls your hair. It comes with a nice little bag to pack it away in, a heat resistant cover and instructions. If you're anything like me i never have patience to read instructions so i literally just started using it and it was so easy. it can be a little bit tricky at first, getting to hold it right and making sure you put the hair in the correct place but its only trial and error!  So my boyfriend actually got this for me in Boots in Athlone for christmas (i know, i was spoilt rotten this christmas!!!) and he paid 159.99 euro for it :/ and i think a week later it was reduced to like 149.99... but sssh i didn't tell him :P However i think it may be back up to full price again in Boots but it is 154.99 in Argos and you can also buy it for only 129.99 at www.SamMcCauley.com so it seems to vary in price a lot so definitely shop around. I have to say though if i was to buy this myself i would pay full price for it! I think its the best thing since sliced bread. This is coming from  a girl who has used GHD, a curling wand, a trésemme hair straightener/curler, curling tongs, you name it I have tried them and none of them compare to this!! It just makes life that little bit easier if you want to go out and curl your hair it can be done in less than 20 minutes, that's a huge deal in a woman's life right?

So how it works. You need to ensure that there is absolutely no products in your hair not even dry shampoo or anything so if you tend to suffer from greasy hair then wash it before you use it but if not then I would suggest washing it the night before you're going to curl it as I feel I get better results for curling the day after i wash it. So turn the curler on by sliding the on/off switch to the left, there are 2 settings one for hot and one for very hot (i'm not great at technical terms) so I slide my one to the very hot setting as I get better results with this one as my hair is quite thick and long, if you have thin hair I would probably suggest using the hot setting. There is also 3 timer settings on it with an audio beep indicator for different curl effects. Now be warned ladies if you wear hair extensions i would suggest NOT to use this curler as you may never see your beautiful extensions again!!! So after you have decided what setting you want and what heat you would like separate your hair (as shown below ) taking a section of your hair place it in to the curl chamber, close and hold it, the hair will be sucked in the the curl chamber, wait for 4 quick beeps and then release the curler. you will get a curl like the bottom picture. So just keep doing what you do all over your hair let the curler do all the work and enjoy having beautiful free flowing curls with long lasting effects. I also find that i prefer the curls the next day, they stay in so well even overnight and are even nicer the next day :)

On/off switch. Heat setting                       Seperate your hair                                   get a section of hair

place it in the curl chamber     voila curly hair !!  

                                                   result: started at 8.54 and was finished by9.05  

So that's pretty much all there is to it! I would highly recommend this to anybody who loves having curly hair without the hardship and effort! Its an amazing curler! Babyliss have done me proud on this one :) So thank you all for reading guys! Hope you enjoyed the post. Let me know if any of ye have this already or are going to get it. Until next time xxxx

Lots of Love

Gráinne

xxxx

https://www.facebook.com/tresbelle15

)

Occasion Cards - Made by Lisa Coffey

Hello everyone :)

So today I am going to share these beautiful hand crafted cards made by Lisa Coffey from Occasion Cards. Based in Balbriggan, North Dublin, Lisa sells her beautiful handcrafted and personalized cards for every occasion. Each card is hand made using the best quality materials. All cards are made from Lisa's home In Dublin and are sent within 1-2 working days from your order.

Each card has its own unique design and personal message on the front and can come with or without  a little message inside. Each card can be made specifically to your own preference. The cards are very luxurious and professionally made there is so much detail in them that catches your eye with every glance. There is a lot of hard work and time put in to creating these stunning cards and Lisa is very meticulous and talented in her work, which you can see from the pictures below.

beautiful handcrafted Gran hat box decoupage Embossed card 3.50

Each card comes with its own perfectly coordinating colour and size envelope and is sealed in a plastic cellophane pocket and each card is stamped with occasion cards logo on the back..

"Beautiful "will you be my bridesmaid" with plain worded insert only 3.50e

There are Lots of designs to choose from some of which  including Tatty Bear, Forever Friends, Winnie the pooh and so much more. The majority of Occasion Cards are priced at 3 euro, these are blank inside or have a simple greeting stamped. You can also get a full insert double page with wording for 1 euro extra or a plain worded insert for .50 cent extra (see bridesmaids card above). If you would like to include a name personalized on the front of the card you can do so for an extra .50 cent or if you would like canvas letters they are only 1 euro extra. (see Tatty Bear Canvas name card below).

. "Forever Friends" engagement card, with insert wording is only 4euro

]

Beautiful Daughter Tiny Tatty Teddy Embossed Car with canvas name only 4 euro (below)

Get your personalized handcrafted cards today just in time for Valentines day too :) you can contact Lisa at occasioncards@yahoo.ie and she is also on Facebook at Occasion Cards

. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004281108039

Hope you all enjoyed!! Thank you for reading xxxxx

Lots of Love

Gráinne

xxxx

Chocolate Box Jewellery by Angela Burns

Hello everyone :) hope you're all enjoying my blog so far!

So this time I want to share with you, amazing hand made jewelry by Angela Burns. Angela is based in Rhode Co.Offaly Ireland. Taking a step in to her shop is like travelling back to Victorian times as I was blown away by her display of 100's of fabulous unique. vintage handmade jewelry. The jewelry is handmade by Angela herself and as you can see from the pictures below this lady is extremely talented and meticulous in her work. 

Large Victorian Lockets priced at just 25euro each

One of Angela's beautiful jewellery displays 

.some beautiful bridal jewelry, old pearls, cameos and glass in Victorian style settings

Angela's Vintage style jewelry is made with genuine vintage glass and cameos and can be bought for the perfect gift for every occasion. There is no doubt that there is something suited for everybody no matter what your taste may be. There are lots of different designs, styles and colours to choose from. Her jewelry includes earrings, necklaces, rings, broaches, lockets, bracelets and more. she has some beautiful matching sets to choose from. They are all very reasonably priced too. Angela also holds competitions on her Facebook page and recently i won a pair myself  and I was absolutely delighted, for one thing i never ever win anything but also because I am a huge fan of Angela's work and well i am quite in love with her stunning jewelry. Your purchased jewelry also comes packaged in a beautiful little gift bag with a beautiful business card. Its so tastefully and professionally presented.

the beautiful earrings i won 

Stunning yellow Moonstone matching bracelet and ring set. Ring 15e. Bracelet 20e

You can also purchase gift cards from Chocolate Box Jewelers and again even the gift cards are so beautifully presented with a vintage style and beautiful floral and butterfly pattern..

If you could like to contact Angela from Chocolate Box Jewellers to make an appointment to view this fabulous range of vintage antique jewllery or for any queries you can do so via facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chocolate-Box-Jewellery-by-Angela-Burns.

Thank you all for reading

lots of love

Gráinne

https://www.facebook.com/tresbelle15