Visited Aldi for the Baby Event / Special Buys

Hey Guys,

So Aldi had their first day today of their Special Buys/ Baby Event.  I have always picked up some great baby bits in Aldi, I think their nappies and wipes are brilliant.  

Here is what I got for the girls today.

As we do alot of Arts & Crafts at home I thought I would get great use out of the PVC tablecloth.  It is at a great price at 4.99e.  It comes in 3 different / cute patterns. We tried it out with some painting this evening, good quality. A must for any home with small kiddies.

Check it out here;

 The pattern I chose below.  Good for my two year old's vocabulary too, she enjoyed naming out all the things she saw!

On the table;

The drinking beakers at 3.49e are handy and don't spill or leak, we checked! A few colours to pick from. Have grips on them to help small hands.

I go swimming with the girls at least 2/3 times a week. We are all members in our local hotel/leisure facility so it's a great activity/option to have to keep us busy and avoid the dreaded cabin fever. As my youngest still wears nappies that means we go through a lot of swim nappies. I spotted these washable swim nappies that keep in all accidents due to the elasticated sides. At 5.99e they are worth trying out, especially as summer is coming which means holidays, beach trips and playing in the paddle pool in the garden. The design is cute with unicorns, there was also a boy design option. Various sizes available.

Pick up these nappy sacks, they are much better than the Tesco ones! 1.39e

Did anyone else head to Aldi today? Love to hear what you picked up. There was some great things there. If you were pregnant it would be a good place to start shopping. Here is the link to everything they have in the Special Buy/Baby Event; 

https://www.aldi.ie/en/specialbuys/thur-21-apr/

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

Invested in some porcelain cookware, check out my first recipe...

Hey Guys,

So recently I decided to invest in some really good porcelain cookware from a brand called Revol.  Check out their website here;

 http://revol-porcelaine.fr/en/materials/from-white-porcelain/

It is of very high quality and due to this has great performance, dinners I have tried so far taste great when cooked in them.  The modern design and colours used by Revol appealed to me as I felt they fitted well with the modern style kitchen that I have.

The first recipe that I tried out in my new Revol Tagine was 'Moroccan Lamb with Sweet Potato and Raisins'. Recipe below. If you don't have a Tagine a normal casserole dish is perfect to use. Give this a go, fabulous dish to indulge in on a Sunday!

Here is the new cookware;

Ingredients

1/4 cup of Olive oil
700g diced lamb
3 red onions, 1 sliced and 2 chopped
2 garlic cloves crushed
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1 cinnamon stick
1 Bay Leaf
A Can of Tomatoes 
375g or two small sweet potatoes into 3cm chunks
4 tbsp Raisins
4 tbsp chopped Dates
500ml of Chicken Stock
Sea Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Bunch of Chopped Coriander 


Method

1. Coat the bottom of the dish with olive oil.  Spread the sliced red onion on the base of the Tagine. 

2. In a bowl, combine the lamb, spices, remaining red onion, chopped coriander, garlic and remaining olive oil, mix well. Season this with salt and pepper. Pile into the middle of the Tagine.

3. Arrange sweet potato in the dish.

4. Pour in your can of tomatoes and stock and sprinkle over fruit (Dates and Raisins)

5. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer for 3 hours or until the lamb is tender.

Then serve, we used pittas and Greek yogurt. Cous Cous would also go very well with this.

It was just Yum!! :-)
Give it a go!

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

Electric Car, See How I Am Getting On??

Hey Guys,

Today I am blogging about my new car.  These days I wholely commute without fossil fuels!! I am very proud to be able to say that!! I recently purchased a Nissan Leaf which is a 100% Electric Car. 

This car in term of performance is brilliant.  It is surprisingly quick.  Acceleration between 0km/h and roughly 100km/m.  The Leafs power train is comprised of 48 laminated compact lithium ion batteries and a motor that can churn out C02.  Therefore sits in the lowest tax band at just 120 euro a year.  

 Electric cars have no gears so getting used to an automatic and getting to 120km/h was a pretty surreal experience for me at the start, I've gotten used to it all too easily now!!

I am now a tech expert due to the Leaf.  It starts up with the touch of one button. The key can be in your handbag, saves me time finding them in my work/gym or changing bag!  The car will also lock if the key is in close proximity, unreal! I was forever spending five minutes trying to find the keys at the end of my bag! In the car is a display that informs you how far you can go on the map before you need to recharge your car, it will inform you of your battery level also. I have an App on my phone that allows me to turn on the heated seats, heated steering wheel, A/C and heating from my bed! No more freezing cars in the morning.  No more getting the kettle out to defrost the windscreen! Love it!

I like the interior of the Leaf. It is comfortable and we can easily fit a four person family, buggy and shopping.  I love the futuristic exterior look of this car, I am delighted I got it in White, I personally think it is very stylish.  The car is very quite when A/C is turned off.

I got a charge point installed at my house.  ESB did so free of charge.  I find the charging so easy. Just have to remember to charge it daily like my mobile phone. When I get home I must plug it in for the next day. I haven't forgotten yet or been caught out with no battery. Full charge at home is about 6 hours and this will give me average 140km.  If you charge the Leaf at a public 'Fast Charge' point it takes roughly 30 minutes for 80% battery.  There is a  'Fast Charge' point in Adare by the Heritage Centre. I park up and go for a coffee in The Good Room Cafe while my car charges free of charge!  No petrol costs anymore!  Seriously are you not on the way to test drive one already?  I love owning an Electric Car.  The Leaf genuinely fits in very well with my lifestyle. I am delighted I took the leap and purchased an Electric Car.

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

M&S 50%Sale, My Kidswear Picks

Hey Guys,

                                     

                                           

So M&S online are currently having a 50% sale. Here are my top picks for kids wear.  Certainly have a look, their kids clothes are fab, great quality and wash very well. I am a big fan!!

Girls

A Lovely Spring/Summer 3 piece set 

Click here to see; http://www.marksandspencer.ie/3-Piece-Top%2C-Shorts-Tights-Outfit-%281-7-Years%29/P22429097,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22429097_color=R4&start=

I find M&S fantastic for PJ's and dressing gowns. They have lots of lovely designs. They are always really comfortable for little ones.

This two pack set is now at a great price;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/2-Pack-Pure-Cotton-Assorted-Pyjamas/P22422516,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22422516_color=ZZ&start=




I love this Spring/Summer jacket for the young fashionista.

Check it out;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Faux-Suede-Fringe-Jacket-%285-14-Years%29/P22435490,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22435490_color=VS&start=

My last girl pick is a real kids wardrobe basic, both my girls have one and they are very handy for playground trips as the weather improves. This one is very pretty and comes with a fur hood for added warmth.

Click to see it;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Showerproof-Padded-Thermal-Gilet-%285-14-Years%29/P22390508,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22390508_color=XM&start=





Boys

This boy's gilet is at a great price @ 9.50e and is fur lined!

To purchase click; http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Showerproof-Padded-Hooded-Fleece-Lined-Gilet-%281-7-Years%29/P22390233,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22390233_color=F0&start=

I am back to dressing gowns now for boys, these are adorable!

For the Spider man fans;

http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Anti-Bobble-Spider-Man%E2%84%A2-Dressing-Gown-%282-12-Years%29/P22396252,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22396252_color=B0&start=

For the yeti monster fans;        

So adorable and super fluffy;
http://www.marksandspencer.ie/Anti-Bobble-Yeti-Hooded-Dressing-Gown-%281--8-Years%29/P22420466,en_IE,pd.html?dwvar_P22420466_color=T4&start=


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

Julia Donaldson Book Collection

Hey Guys,

As it is World Book Day I said I would share what we have been reading;


I recently purchased this great book collection from Julia Donaldson on Amazon. It is a brilliant collection and at a great price. I've seen one of these books at my local book shop for sale at 18e!! This collection is a steal!

Now most of you mum's will have certainly come across Julia Donaldson before, most likely through The Gruffalo. She has written many children's books. They are all so catchy! My girls can remember text very easily from her books due to the rhyming techniques she uses. The illustrations are fab too, your young reader will really love them. You know what? I love reading them out loud too! Main favourites in our house are The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Room on the Broom, A Squash and A Squeeze, George The Giant and Paper Dolls. I know, so many favourites!

You can also get the short film of some of these books, the BBC recently produced them. I have seen them and they are lovely, well worth a watch.



Here is the link to purchase the collection;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509801251


As an English teacher I see daily the importance of reading and getting children enthusiastic about books as early as possible. We don't go to bed without a story or two in our house, it's part of the bedtime routine.

Each of my girls have their own book shelf, they enjoy that they have their own books and respect them. We get great mileage out of books and even play bookshop regularly!

Let me know if you have this collection?
What is the favorite Donaldson book in your house?

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

Valentine's Day

Hey Guys,

We all love and deserve a nice treat every so often, any excuse really! Some things I love about Valentine's Day;




THE MEAL

This year we have booked dinner in 1826 on the Main Street of Adare in Co Limerick.   I am really looking forward to having dinner here with my husband to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Fabulous food in a great location.
THE FLOWERS

He always gets them and I always love receiving them, Roses.  Wouldn't be Valentines Day without them!

THE PERFUME

I adore Chanel No 5 always have , always will!

THE CARD

This year I bought my Valentine Card from LAINEY K. She just launched a new Valentine's Day collection and I fell in love with it. It is quirky, made in Ireland and will put a smile on anyone's face. Check out her Valentine range here; 

http://bit.ly/LAINEYKVALDAY

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

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