Beyond the Kitchen {1}

So, I thought I’d start a new series on the blog this week. Giving you a bit more of an insight into my life beyond the kitchen!

I’ll try and do these posts weekly, but sometimes I just spend the week writing and reading, so that would bore you all to tears! 😀

{Before I get started: Happy 4th of July to all of my American friends!}

This week I got my final degree results!

I’ve been feeling kind of numb about it all since we finished as my last few weeks were so bad. The staff, their attitude, how they spoke to us and treated us were just diabolical, so when we eventually finished (and then they got a screw up about a hand in sorted) I just wanted to forget about it and focus on doing what I love, developing and sharing recipes with you guys.

Anyway, I was happy with my results in the end; I got a 2.1, but I still feel more relieved than happy as now I know I never have to hear from them again.

I settled back into blogging so easily when Uni finished. The first couple of days I was a bit like “Shouldn’t I be doing something!?!?!” but it feels so good to be able to relax, actually read a book, have a clean house again and get back in the kitchen! I’ve been back blogging for a month now and I feel like I’ve never been away, I’m just loving it! 🙂

Here’s what else I’ve been up to:

I started a proper blog planner!

I have been looking to get myself organised for ages, but never seemed to get round to it. I used to just jot things down on scraps of paper or, even worse, try and remember it – not very successful! I’ve seen some beautiful blog planners, but they’re a little outside of my budget, so when I found this one from Home School Creations, I was super happy; I’d found a free printable planner which would enable me to write down all the goals and plans I have for this blog!

I also started playing Two Dots… I fear my life will never be the same again. So addictive, but so totally frustrating sometimes. Are any of you playing?

I decided Ryvita are only remotely edible covered in pickle.

However, Kallo Rice cakes are delicious on their own 🙂

There is a reason for all this plain, boring food. I’m currently on bed rest and undergoing tests to find out what is wrong with my tummy as I’ve had a hard, bloated tummy and a stabbing pain slightly higher up in my tum for 2 weeks now. I can’t eat much at all, and when I try to eat a normal sized meal, the pain gets so bad I’m almost bent double. I also feel drained and fall asleep a lot. Soooo… my health woes continue. I’m having blood tests etc. to try and get to the bottom of it. Until then, I have to eat little and often and try to keep things plain.

I am going to be gutted if it’s gluten intolerance or something similar 🙁 I am a massive bread and carb lover, chips, thick slices of bread, pasta – I love it all, I know there are alternatives to some things, but I imagine I’ll still find it incredibly hard to adjust.

That also means no coffee as the biggest thing for me at the moment is to try and rest my tummy. 🙁 I haven’t had coffee in almost a week and I’m still getting horrendous withdrawal headaches. I sure hope I can start drinking it again soon!

Anyone else had symptoms like this? Did you find out what it was?

Ignoring bed rest… This meant I couldn’t eat the resulting Strawberry Rolls I made from these ingredients…

Life sucks sometimes 🙁

However, all this time on bed rest has meant that I’ve been reading a lot! I love a good thriller and keep reading cop thrillers at the moment; they’re brilliant! I’m currently reading The DS Logan McRae books by Stuart MacBride. I’m on the last book Close To The Bone and am going to be so lost when I finish it!

Do you guys have any recommendations for what I could read next?

Here’s what I’ve been making this week:

{3 Ingredient} Healthy Vanilla Banana Milkshake