I am * (*see bottom of post) trying to embrace my 35 before 35 list. And number 15 is a top priority. I am a serial yo yo dieter, an all or nothing person at almost everything in life and food is no exception. If I set my mind to it I can charge through weeks of meal planning, Slimming World favourites and steadily see 2lbs a week drop off, sometimes 3. 

It's the mindset bit I have to shake myself into. 

I look back at these photos of my sister's wedding as my biggest motivation. We were both at our littlest, in one, no ok I lie, possibly two different stone brackets, but at our happiest. It doesn't always go hand in hand, but on that day, in that sunshine, in those dresses, our self confidence and self belief was at an all time high. I remember Rich putting his hand around my waist during the photographs and telling me how beautiful we looked, that we looked so comfortable in our own skins. I felt like the Princess next to the Beauty Queen.

Natty and I worked really hard before the wedding to eat better, exercise more and we spurred each other on, sending photos to each other over text messages of our feet on the bathroom scales, recording the numbers going down! 

January can be the best and worst of months to start a diet don't you think? We still have overdue Christmas catch ups with family, birthday weekends with friends and the celebrations for the new small blue one in our lives has meant this Auntie has been sipping Champagne, eating leftover festive chocolates and quite frankly having a lovely time!

So I think I might start on some random February date and get back on the Slimming World horse.

We always joke you can spot a fellow SW dieter around the supermarket because their trolleys are chock full of Müller Light yoghurts! I can remember losing weight after I had Sammy, I felt like I was turning into one of those yoghurts and when a new flavour came out it was the highlight of my red and green week!

So in preparation for D-day here's 7 ideas for breakfasts to start me on the straight and narrow away from the waffles and croissants and dreaded Frosties! Not quite SW free but still healthy. 

For me healthy food when you are actively dieting needs to look like a bowl of sunshine!

Let me know if you have any other great combination ideas too!

DAY ONE

• Raspberry and cranberry fat free yoghurt
• Sliced kiwi fruit
• Sliced strawberries with a dash of balsamic glaze
• Physalis
• Poppy seeds

DAY TWO

• Strawberry fat free yoghurt
• Sliced green grapes
• Sliced cherries
• Coconut granola
• Pomegranate seeds

DAY THREE

• Raspberry and cranberry fat free yoghurt
• Whole raspberries
• Pecan nuts
• Sliced mango
• Blueberries

DAY FOUR

• Banana fat free yoghurt
• Freeze dried raspberries
• Pistachio and dried apricot granola
• Sliced figs
• Sliced black grapes

DAY FIVE

• Lime fat free yoghurt
• Dried apricot
• Flaked almonds
• Quartered plums
• Passion fruit seeds
• Edible flowers

DAY SIX

• Toffee fat free yoghurt
• Craisins
• Pistachio nuts
• Mandarin segments
• Chocolate sprinkles

DAY SEVEN

• Strawberry fat free yoghurt
• Chocolate cereal
• Sliced white nectarine
• Fat free marshmallows
• Dried pear

Now I know day six and seven are a little naughtier but if you start on a Monday it is the weekend after all! Little treats help keep you on the right path.

So what else can you think of that could help me stick to a healthier start in the morning? Any hot breakfast ideas for winter brunches, I might try seven days of ideas for that next!

*trying means not trying very hard, but I am promising myself February will be different!

I have boys, they love brains and slugs and anything disgusting. They make potions in the garden, stirring mud, petals, leaves and shards of grass in little jars. But it turns out their girly pals love it all too! So here is a dastardly dish for your Halloween party that will delight all those little ghouls!

Super simple to make - who doesn't adore ready to roll pastry?!

Here's how to make your jammie brains...

All you need is shortcrust pastry (I bought mine but feel free to make it!), strawberry jam and a beaten egg to glaze.

It's so easy it's not worth writing a recipe for! These are tarts your children can make in minutes.

Take your pastry and roll it out on your kitchen work surface or chopping board.

Using a round pastry cutter, punch out your tart bases with a 3 inch diameter cutter.

Press your pastry circles into a baking tin and add a healthy dollop of jam for the blood. See I told you - disgusting!

Now you need to make your pastry brains.

You can choose to add a smaller circle of pastry using a slightly smaller cutter so your brain sits on top, or just add your edible cortex straight on top of the jammie centre.

Cut approximately 1cm thick strips of pastry. Roll them between your fingers like a rolling pin going back and forwards until you have made pastry sausages!

The longer the better, but beware of the pastry splitting. 

As you layer them onto your jam centre, curl the lengths of pastry slightly to get a more realistic brain shape.

Let the children join in, they don't have to be perfectly symmetrical, it's all part of the Halloween fun!

Add 2 smaller rolled strips down the centre of your brain, glaze with a beaten egg and bake in the oven for 12 -15 mins until golden brown and with bubbly jam pouring out of your tasty brains tarts. 

A total pastry indulgence!

What's not to love?! We are heading to my sister's for a Halloween party for 3 on Saturday. Just the boys and their little cousin Yasmin and we can't wait. 

What are you making for Halloween this year?

There's something magical about this time of year. It feels like in a flash the seasons have blasted straight from summer to winter and then back again. One minute the house is bathed in sunlight, the walls soaking up the sunshine and like a camel soaking up water for winter, the next the rain is lashing down and there's a distinctive chill in the air first thing in the morning, where you can just see a whisper of your breath.

The garden is changing colour too, the deep raspberries and cranberry colours withstanding the changing season whilst the delicate sweet pea pinks and fuchsia hydrangeas are all starting to fade and disappear for another year.

Today was back to the deep blue skies and the perfect excuse to actually take a moment to relish what Sundays were made for. Relaxing! I set up the swinging seat and just sat.

When I got the chance to get creative with Ocean Spray as part of their Just Refresh campaign I knew exactly what the boys and I would make. Inspired by the very same rich burgundy colours as the flowers in the garden I set about divising a recipe for summer and an easy entertaining idea to see us through to winter! I love that the garden is full of colour at this time of year, it makes my day so much brighter. Just like when I see the boys running across the garden, picking a flower for me with their blunt ended play scissors from the doctor's toy set. These little moments get you through the greyer autumnal days don't they?! Sometimes you need those colourful moments, not just when the sun is shining. Just how Ocean Spray does the same, adds a delightful, vibrant colour to everyday life all through the year with its refreshing taste.

I am all about ease and speed. Ideas that you can russell up that will wow your friends and family. 

Home made slush puppie sorbet

There's something about a slush puppie that takes me right back to my childhood, such a treat that would leave your tongue as pink as your drink. But I want to get more goodness into my boys and a last of the summer berries slushy was the perfect excuse. 

Ingredients

• Generous handful strawberries
• Generous handful blueberries
• Generous handful raspberries
• 100g granulated sugar
• 1 bottle 330ml Cranberry Classic Juice from Ocean Spray
• Edible petals to serve

Add all your ingredients to a blender and whizz until smooth. There's no need to boil your sugar beforehand just blend and go!

Once blended to a puree pour into a shallow dish that is suitable for the freezer. A lasagne dish is perfect for this recipe.

Set in the freezer for an hour then break up the mix with a fork, You could leave it to set completely more like a sorbet but I prefer the slushy type texture. Leave to set for another 3-4 hours.

Camembert, Bacon & Cranberry stuffed Yorkshire Puddings

Let it be said there's not much I can't stuff in a yorkshire pudding. They are the most versatile saviour to have in your freezer along side frozen puff pastry. No one can resist them, especially when you stuff them with the taste of Christmas. Ssh yes I know we have only just tipped into autumn but bear with me, they are worth it. 

So straightforward the children can take part, no stirring, no weighing and in 6-8 minutes you will hear oohs and aahs from everyone around the plate!

I wanted to make something sumptuous but simple. It takes seconds to stuff these bad boys and about as long to devour them!

Ingredients

• Frozen yorkshire puddings or make your own. But if you do you need to wait until the rise to fill them.
• Sliced camembert
• Red onion chutney
• Ocean Spray Craisins dried cranberries
• Crispy bacon 
• Rosemary to garnish

Fill your puddings with a hunk of camembert, a dollop of onion chutney, a sprinkle of craisins and a spattering of bacon. Pop a sprig of rosemary on the top for a splash of green and bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes in a hot oven 200 degrees, until the cheese is bubbly.

The cranberries will pop in your mouth like pockets of sweetness against the creamy smooth camembert. Make them to liven up your Sunday roast or save them for a Thanksgiving or Christmas idea. Watch with delight as everyone flights over the last one!

I love our dinner tables to be bursting with colour, with our brightly painted plates and rainbow hues. The boys respond to pops of red and green, like today, a Sunday pie, swede and carrot mash with broccoli cheese and childhood favourite peas. 

If you want to recreate these recipes or find inspiration for others head over to Ocean Spray. I love their spirit of resourcefulness and how you can substitute cranberry juice for so many other staples you may have in the fridge. I had no idea the company is a Co-Operative and is owned by over 700 cranberry farmers and 35 Florida grapefruit farmers. They've stayed true to the principle established in 1930. Now what would you make?

A cranberry cocktail or bake something stuffed with craisins! I'd love to know, what else should we try?

I'm working with BritMums and Ocean Spray highlighting the everyday moments of colour that give each of us a little lift, just like Ocean Spray adds colour to our day and delights us all year round. I have been compensated for my time. All editorial and opinions are my own. Visit Ocean Spray for more information.