Store Cupboard Tuna Salad

Hey Guys,

This is a great and easy dinner to prepare.  All ingredients are pretty much store cupboard essentials or easy to purchase foods.  I do my big shop in Aldi each week and nearly all ingredients can be bought there. Cheap, cheerful and so easy to prepare. It's a salad that my husband loves too and it actually fills him :)

The intense flavours of sun dried tomatoes and pesto can transform a tin of tuna into something really special.  You can make this 2 to 3 hours ahead- store in the fridge until ready to serve.

I make this every week and I hope you give it a go xx

Ingredients

4 tbsp chopped sun dried tomatoes

2 x 400g tins of mixed beans drained and rinsed

4 small spring onions, trimmed and sliced at an angle

120ml olive oil

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tbsp pesto

2 x 185g tins of tuna, drained and broken into chunks

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

In a bowl mix together all the ingredients apart from the tuna, then carefully stir in the tuna keeping it in chunks. Season with salt and pepper to taste then serve. Serve with nice crusty bread if you desire. This will feed 4 to 6 people and take about 5 minutes to prepare!

Thanks for reading! Do you have any great salad recipes? Love to hear x

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & Kerri X

Friday Fashion Fix

Hey Guys,

So I have three weddings coming up this year, so excited about each wedding! Fabulous couples, all are amazing close friends and family! With three weddings comes three outfits! I have some amazing Aisling Maher pieces that I plan on using again just changing my outfit/dress. Check out her website here;

 http://aislingmaher.com/products-page/classic-look/orla/

I adore my bespoke hats and collar designed by Aisling. I get so much wear out of my green embellished collar. I dress it up for occasion wear and down for casual. Can be worn to a wedding or to the cinema/dinner date with a skirt/jeans and polo neck. 

Aisling has an amazing shop in Adare in Co Limerick, which is about 5minutes from where I live. So lucky to have talented designers on your doorstep!

Check out some images of me in Aisling Maher pieces;

Unique head pieces by Aisling Maher

              

Me and my Georgia bump, hat and collar by Aisling Maher.

In love with this hat, such a statement!

Hat is so pretty love the neutral colour

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Thanks for reading,

Orla & KerriX

Laid Back Boho Style Dress

Hey Guys,

I have been loving Marks and Spencer's recently. I have picked up some gems in the sale online for myself, husband and the kids.

Today I am blogging about a fab laid back maxi dress that I ordered online. I have teamed it with thick black tights and my over the knee brown wedge boots to give it Boho feel. It will be perfect for summer too, just styled differently. A few details I like about it; the print is a fun floral vibrant print, the neck line is flattering, the sleeves are detailed with ties and the material is of good quality. 

I got it on sale reduced from 105e to 27.99e, which I was pretty happy with. 

Click here to check it out online;
V-Neck Floral Maxi Dress


Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.


Thanks for reading

Orla & Kerri @ Countryside Mumsie Blog

Lottie Doll Review

Hey Guys,

Today I am reviewing a beautiful Irish made, age appropriate doll. I came across this doll recently and also saw it briefly on The Late Late Toy Show. I want to talk about it because my girls loved playing with their Lottie Dolls, click here to check them out; http://www.lottie.com/  They enjoyed how adorable they are and also the attention to detail of each Lottie.  They have had hours of fun with their Lottie's. Farrah received the Light House Lottie Doll;  http://eu.lottie.com/products/lighthouse-keeper-lottie-doll. 

 Georgia received the Pirate Queen Lottie Doll; http://eu.lottie.com/products/pirate-queen-lottie-doll . The Lottie doll is designed and developed in Donegal.    IRISH MADE!!

Lottie is a positive doll, she is age appropriate, wears no make up, no jewellery, no high heels and does not have boobs.  She is designed for children aged 3-9 years.  Lottie loves to dress up in age appropriate clothes, no crop tops here.

As well as dressing up Lottie loves enjoying the outdoors. She likes getting muddy and enjoying life to the full, she sounds pretty much like my own ladies!! I love that Lottie Doll encourages girls to enjoy their childhood. The message behind the Lottie Doll is to be bold, be brave, be you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls captivated by Lottie

 

What I personally loved about the dolls due to the girls enjoyment of them was the accessories, Lottie's hair and the fact she can stand on her own two feet with shoes on.

I was impressed by the accessories each doll came with, the attention to detail was amazing.  The additional accessory packs are lovely also. My girls loved putting on Lottie's various outfits to how they imagined she was going to spend her day.

 

Georgia's Pirate Lottie accessory pack included a pirate chest of silver coins.  She adored this. Taking the money in and out and counting the money with Lottie.  The quality of the items was very good. I have to say I really enjoy playing with Lottie with the girls on the floor. I also love admiring the presentation box she comes in, its not packaging you throw away.  Lottie is put back in the colourful box with her bits and pieces after we have finished playing. She opens a door to hours of fun and imagination and we love our Lottie's.

Lottie's hair is soft and doesn't tangle and knot like other dolls. It remains soft and silky.  This is a change from our other dolls who's hair is gone matte from the girls playing with it.

Lottie can stand on her own two feet with shoes on.  This was great for Farrah and Georgia when they were doing role plays with their new Lottie dolls on the table or floor.

Lottie Doll has captivated my children.  They play with them indoors and outdoors.  Lottie fits in perfectly to everyday life.  Lottie has provided many hours of fun, play and laughter.

There are currently 12 dolls in the range, one more fabulous than the other.  I am looking forward to adding to our collection.

 

 

 

Retailer Information;

 

In Ireland; Lottie is available online at www.lottie.com (EU Store) Amazon,and toysandGames.ie. Lottie is available in store at Debenhams,  Hamleys Dundrum,

Art N’ Hobby Liffey Valley, Crafty Kids and independent toy stores.

Lottie doll retails at €19.95. Accessory sets and outfit sets retail at €9.95

Disclaimer: The Lottie dolls were sent to me for an honest review.  I was not paid and all views are my own.

Does your child have a Lottie Doll?  Have you joined the Club Lottie?? http://lott.ie/Club_Lottie_Signup We would love to hear?

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.


Thanks for reading
Orla & Kerri Xx

 

So I'm back running, and I don't mean after the kids....

In December I joined my local villages women's run club.  I had been told about the club and been invited numerous times over the last six months but I had found an excuse each night not to get into the car and go.  

Since my second child was born I just couldn't find the time to return to running.  I had been attending strength and conditioning classes directly after work two days a week but the numbers dwindled for the classes and then disappointingly the classes ceased. 

 Before having children I had gone for a run at least 3 times a week and played other sports on top of that each week like tennis or tag rugby. With two children, finding the time to keep fit is hard, there is always batch cooking, ironing and the laundry basket to be attacked!  Another reason I wasn't joining the run club was lack of self esteem, even though I used to be a runner, since having my babies I felt as if I had lost some of my fitness confidence, what if I couldn't keep up!? 



So I convinced two of my neighbours who also have young babies to start, we all gave it a shot.  We completed a 4k the first Monday night, I felt great.  We came back on the Wednesday and did just over the 5k and I really enjoyed it.  The ladies are all really nice, we chat and run, its all very easy and I wonder what was I ever worried about. 

 The bad weather and dark nights were a killer in December and they are the same in January but once you are out there running you don't even notice, honestly!!  Most of the ladies have young children so the 8.00pm start time suits families and bedtime.


Look for your local run club,  I would highly recommend joining.  It is a great way of getting fit for free, making friends in the community and it's nice to see mums motivating mums.

Definitely a new years resolution I plan on keeping!!

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.

Are you in a run club? How do other mums keep fit? I'd love to hear Xx

Thanks for reading

Orla & Kerri Xx

A Few Days Break In Cork

Over Christmas we decided to get away for a small break. We booked two days away in Cork in two different hotels. We had a ball! We stayed in The Midleton Park Hotel the first night. This was on New Years Eve. This hotel is very family friendly. We all really enjoyed the heated pool, we used it twice, the day we arrived and the next morning before check out. The pool being heated is a lovely bonus, but the baby pool and outdoor hot tub were great too. On New Years Eve we met up with the other Countryside Mumsie Kerri, her fiancé Brian and their little man Sean for dinner in the hotel bar.  The staff were very good and accommodating with the children, lovely food and we all felt very welcome.

After dinner we went to the play zone with the children.  They could have stayed here much longer but bedtime was approaching and wind down had to start at some stage.

The next day we took off for Blarney.  We were booked to stay at The Blarney Woollen Mills Hotel. I had always passed this hotel but had never stopped so I was really looking forward to checking it out.  Now we usually always book hotels that have a swimming pool when going away with the girls for the entertainment value, but because Blarney Castle was a stone throw from the hotel we knew the girls would be kept busy. I adored this hotel. The large cafe/restaurant attached is lovely. We had our buffet and cooked breakfast here, the eggs benedict won't be forgotten. I loved browsing in the Woollen Mills shop next door to hotel. It had a fabulous array of Irish products and designs. I was in awe at the children's clothes, but after hitting the Next sale over the Christmas holidays my husband had to draw a line somewhere.

Check out the kids fashion;

Later that evening we ate at the bar, Denis had duck and I had salmon and it didn't disappoint. The girls liked the kids menu and the staff were very accommodating getting warm milk for Georgia. We were all happy!🍼 After dinner we went to the hotel lobby for a drink. The lobby is exquisite, decor is really tasteful with impressive modern artwork. The lobby was still decorated for Christmas which we loved.  The lobby can be experienced for vintage afternoon tea daily.  The next morning before checkout we walked to The Blarney Castle from the hotel. We climbed all the steps to the top and kissed the Blarney Stone.  The girls were abit disappointed they didn't meet the height restrictions to kiss the stone. I'd say Farrah would have given it a go if we held her by the ankles but they told her to come back when she's 8😀 The girls loved the castle and it's different rooms like the dungeon. They enjoyed walking around the grounds blowing their 'Frozen' bubbles. After climbing all the steps to the top of the castle, Georgia was really tired. She took a nap on my back in the Ergo baby carrier while I enjoyed walking the grounds with Farrah and Denis.

It was a nice getaway, it's just so easy when hotels are family friendly.  Next get away is Killarney!Do you know any family friendly hotels in Ireland? We would love to hear?

Don't forget you can keep up to date with Countryside Mumsie on our social media accounts facebook and instagram.


Thanks for reading

Orla & Kerrixx