Month: May 2014

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BritMums Brilliance In Blogging Award Shortlist 2014 – I’m On It

I am quite surprised to be nominated for the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Awards for 2014

BiBbigLogo2014a-600x600

Stage 1

I’ve been nominated in the Food category, so for whoever put me forward for it, I am very grateful indeed.  It’s lovely to think that someone made the effort to have us listed.  The shortlist consists of 16 bloggers out of the man who have been nominated. 11 were chosen by other bloggers, and 5 were chosen by the BritMums judges.

BritMums has about 4000ish bloggers as part of it’s continually growing network. I can’t remember how many there were when I started off, but it wasn’t a lot.  I’ve not been to a BritMums conference since 2011, so its been a long time since I’ve really met many other bloggers from the network.

Getting down to the 16 shortlisted bloggers in the food category is really nice and quite a surprise.  There are so many great blogs out there, that I’m quite shocked, in a lovely way.

Stage 2

The BIBS have now opened up for voters to choose which if their favourite blogs from each category will win the overall award for 2014.

I know most of you who read my blog do it by e-mail rather than coming directly to the blog online as I send out the whole post, so I know it would be a big ask to get you to log in online and give me a wee vote, but if any of you feel up to it, I’d be delighted.

Out of the 16 bloggers in each category, there will be 6 finalists in total.  4 will be chosen by blogger votes and 2 will be selected by the BritMums to go forward to the judging panel.

You can only vote once as the form has been designed to only allow one vote per person in each category.

Finalists will be announced on the 23rd May.

Voting is open now and the form will stay online until Friday 16th May.

Britmums Vote

 

Obviously, if you do decide to vote for your favourite bloggers, I’d be delighted if you included me as one of the votes in the food category, but even if you don’t vote for me, please do vote in the BiBs as each vote counts for whoever you vote for.

BritMums is hosting an award and party night at BritMums Live on 20th June, and the winners will be announced then.

The last thing I would say is that I wish all the shortlisted bloggers in their categories the best of luck.   Thank you to those who put me into the shortlist, I am very grateful for my lovely readers. x

VOTE FOR ME BiB 2014 FOOD

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Sponsored: Eating and Drinking in Edinburgh

Caesar Salad

Scottish food isn’t just about haggis and deep-fried Mars bars you know, although if you want to sample those delicacies they are of course readily available in Edinburgh.  But Edinburgh is actually a gourmet’s paradise, packed with fantastic restaurants from the humble-yet-delicious to the Michelin-starred. And of course when dinner is over, there’s always a tempting-looking bar or pub round the corner to have a nightcap in. If you’re planning a short break full of eating and drinking to your heart’s content in the Scottish capital, it’s a good thing it’s easy to find a Travelodge in Edinburgh, so you can use the money you save on the hotel to put towards your dining fund!

Fine Dining

If you want to push the boat out to impress that certain someone, you’ve come to the right place. TV’s Saturday Kitchen regular, the aptly named Tom Kitchin is Edinburgh’s best-known celebrity chef and his two restaurants The Kitchin and Castle Terrace consistently receive rave reviews. Michelin-starred Martin Wishart in Leith also has the accolades and the waiting list to match.

Romance

Edinburgh is full of hidden gems worth tracking down for a date night to remember. The Stockbridge Restaurant, Le Café St Honoré and Angels With Bagpipes will give you the full candlelit experience but when it comes to rolling out the red carpet romance-wise, The Witchery, with its wood paneling, sumptuous food and Castle-side location will give you an evening out you’ll never forget.

Pubs

Edinburgh is famous for its pubs and with good reason – they’re plentiful and for the most part friendly and welcoming. If you fancy a bit of a pub-crawl, the Grassmarket area is the traditional place to start – try The Beehive for your first pint. Rose Street, which runs parallel to the main shopping streets of Princes Street and George Street is another favourite drinking drag – handy if all that shopping brings on a bit of a thirst. The best thing about Edinburgh pubs is of course the Scottish licensing laws, which mean that most venues are open till at least midnight, sometimes later.

On The Go

Edinburgh is packed with fabulous cafes serving up cakes, coffees and more substantial fare. Glass & Thomson in the New Town is the perfect place to relax with a coffee and a slice of cake and Urban Angel on Hanover Street is where to head for a lazy brunch.

Bars

If you fancy making a real night of it, Edinburgh has a thriving bar scene. Also home to the most upmarket shops, George Street is a good place to sample Edinburgh at its most glamorous – try Tigerlily for a pre-dinner drink and you’ll see why. Or Rick’s on Frederick Street and The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street, both of which also do great food, and are perfect places to party with Edinburgh’s beautiful people.

Phew, after all that, you’ll be ready for a good night’s sleep before getting up to do it all again. Cheers!

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Win a Pentax WG-3 Digital Camera worth £250 + with Specsavers. Closes 31st May 2014

I’ve teamed up with Specsavers to launch a photography competition.  It’s to capture the special bond struck up by children with their friends, siblings or even their family pets from a young age.

The winner of the competition will scoop a Pentax WG-3 digital camera worth more than £250 and a free sight test and eyecare for the winning parent and child, so it’s a really good prize to win.   The Pentax WG-3 camera is a waterproof, coldproof, shockproof and crushproof digital camera and comes in orange.  I just wish I could enter myself.  I’d personally love this camera.

Specsavers Camera 650

Anyone who reads my blog can enter, and the competition is to celebrate the start of Specsavers ‘two free pairs’ promotion in-store at stores across Scotland, which will see children qualify for one pair of specs free from the NHS and a second free pair from Specsavers free of charge.

Specsavers was founded in 1984 by husband and wife team, Doug and Dame Mary Perkins, who pioneered the optical joint venture partnership model and also revolutionised the industry with their innovative concept of affordable, fashionable eyecare for everyone.

As my optician of choice, specsavers are the suppliers of my current face framing eyewear and contact lenses.  I find them good quality, reasonably priced and very friendly.

Dave Quigley, regional chair for Specsavers Scotland,says:  ‘To celebrate our fantastic new offer we’re celebrating that perfect pairing that makes our children so happy. We know that at a young age, friendships are vitally important, it’s that bond that we’re hoping to capture through our photography competition.’

Specsavers Logo 1

The two free pairs offer is available now and is valid for children up to the age of 16. Details and information on NHS sight tests are available in store or online at Specsavers Online.

The Competition:

Obviously I can’t enter, but I’ve included a picture of mine from when my youngest had only been with us for two days.  My boys are adopted and three whirlwinds arrived to upset my resident canine baby at the same time.

This picture of the baby with my spoiled young girl lab was the beginning of a long beautiful friendship.  She inched closer and closer and they stayed in that spot for almost an hour, sizing each other up.  They became instant friends and are still close now that she is nearly 14 and the wee boy in the picture almost 12.

Kids-1

To Enter:

Photos submitted to the competition can be taken by either a child or a relative, so long as they capture the child’s favoured pairing.

The competition will be judged by Specsavers.

I would like to post the winning entry on my blog, as would Specsavers, so please ensure you are happy for it to be published before sending it in.

Obviously I would like everyone who enters (or even those who don’t) to leave a comment and Tweet or Facebook about it, but it isn’t mandatory.  As it’s a photographic competition, you can enter by either:

  • Tell us your name and which part of the UK you are from in your entry so that we know for publishing the winner.
  • Send the photograph to specsavers@scottishmum.com OR
  • Writing a blog post and leaving the link in a comment on this post.

Add your entry to the linky below if you wish to share your fabulous photos.  I’ve added mine although it doesn’t count, to show you how it will look.


That’s it, easy peasy.  The competition will close on the 31st May 2014 at midnight.

As long as I get the photograph and a way to contact you, your entry counts.

Terms and Conditions:

  • Closing Date:  31st May 2014 at Midnight.
  • The Competition is open to UK Entrants only.
  • The Winning entry will be published on the Scottish Mum Blog and Specsavers Promotions.
  • 1 Winner will win a Pentax WG-3 digital camera worth more than £250 and a free sight test and eyecare for the winning parent and child.
  • The prize will be sent to you from Specsavers.
  • The Scottish Mum Blog is not responsible for your prize and cannot be held liable in any way for non delivery or non receipt at your end.
  • Winners will be notified within 7 days of giveaway end. If the winner does not respond within 7 days of being notified, a new winner will be drawn.
  • The winner will be chosen by Specsavers.
  • Scottish Mum Blog and Specsavers reserves the right to amend, add or withdraw this giveaway at any time.
  • Ensure you have consent for any persons included in your picture.  The Scottish Mum Blog and Specsavers are not liable in the event of publication or the submission of any images without explicit consent of the people included, and the responsible parent or guardian in the case of a minor.