MM...Roasted Parsnips...and Country Living Spring fair

Well I said I would blog again soon!

I just made some roasted veg/butternut soup and thought I would roast some parsnips with honey just to eating as a snack straight away as the soup is for tomorrow's dinner...and all I can say is YUMMY! why wouldn't you do this everything you cook anything in the oven! they are sooo good...ok, maybe the honey isn't the healthiest thing for my teeth (just had some fillings last week) but still, it's mostly healthy...isn't it one of my 5 a day! Well I ate a whole bowl and now I want more...but I haven't got any parsnips left to cook...boo! they are a bargain at the moment too, 60p for a bag of around 5 or 6 at that large chain supermarket I shall not name...bargain for something sooo delicious!

Anyways...I want to write about a few things as well as my yummy honey parsnips...

I must let you all know that I went to the Country Living Spring fair last thurs in London, at the Business Design centre, Islington, with my mum for a 'girly day'. I managed to waggle some free tickets as I want to exhibit with them in Spring 2012, and definately for christmas 2012, so wanted to see what the deal was and if it was right for my target market for my jewellery etc..

It was really lovely, I have to say that most of the fair was shabby chic homewares/accessories and scarves! and generally aimed at I guess the Country Living mag readers so, Ladies that lunch (middle aged well dressed ladies with lovely taste such as my mum). And so I did spend alot of the time trying to check if my mum REALLY needed another spotty teatowel, wicker basket or lace scarf but she did manage to get some lovely gifts and a really nice hat which was little more than she wanted to pay but was handmade and the colour was perfect too, made by BOO (Peak and Brim) Hats, Leicestershire, and it folds away, as it's cotton with strong stitching that keeps it's shape, so perfect for dressing up smart with a flower brooch or casual for the beach etc.

I would say that it's well worth a visit and if you book in advance I think the fair is only around £8 to Country Living readers, and we went by train which could have been only around £15 each if we haven't had a few problems with strikes etc!

I am still trying to decide whether the fair is right for my jewellery, the target market is definately right, but whether ladies really wanted to buy jewellery there is another thing...I think in the Spring (March) it seems to be more a time when you get your home pretty and lovely for summer etc (spring clean etc!). I would say most of the customers were buying homewares or scarves! maybe I need to start making scarves!! They were sooo popular and there were alot of stalls selling them too! But as my mum said, they are nice to add a bit of colour without having to change your whole outfit and as a side note, also disguise any middle aged tummies..which is handy too.

Thanks to Jules at Country Living for the tickets, we really enjoyed it and I will definitely be looking to exhibit for Christmas 2012, as I think 2011 is full for jewellery...boo hoo! I find the jewellery is definitely a good christmas gift so will probably lean towards that.

On another random note - I notice the other day (via a foodie email I get) that there are these new fad things called CAKE POPS! google them..they are very cute and such a great idea..

If have yet to try them, but if they are as good as they look, they should be amazing...the original Cake Pop website, does all different animals, colours, designs to suit every taste and party theme...

So if anyone is wanting to treat me, please feel free! or if you have tried them, then please comment or mesg me as to what they are like!
I also noticed similar at Millies Cookies and in Starbucks (or was it Costa Coffee?) the other day, so they must have stolen their idea as they weren't branded, but more their own take on them, looking exactly alike tho!! cheeky...

I am going to be posting some more blogs about various things like other handmade people that make lovely things and also of course food ideas and things that I enjoy to do in life etc, so watch this space for more ramblings...

Bye for now..x