Thursday is usually all Nelly Bellie but today it's all Nadia

Hello Nelly Belliers!

Happy Thursday everyone! So I returned to work this week. I am working full-time while going to school part-time, and I am pooped. It's always hard getting back into the swing of things, but on the other hand I am loving the human interaction. When I was in school full-time I mostly interacted with Nelly, and as you can probably guess we had very one-directional conversations. An extra bonus of my work situation is that my good friend Laura is working in the same building as me! I get to see her every lunch hour! Of all the buildings in the city and I end up getting a gig in the same one as my lovely Laura! The universe definitely wants us to spend more time together!

THURSDAY UPDATE

So as some of you might know I posted a very important blog yesterday (if you haven't read it click here). My friend's 2 year old daughter is very ill, and if you are Canada I urge you to register on the Canadian Blood Services' OneMatch stem cell and marrow network registry (click here to register now). 

It takes no time at all, and before you know it you'll get some cheek swabs in the mail, with a return envelope, you send it back, and voila, you are done. A grand total of about 5 minutes (including the online registration) is all it takes to possibly save a life! 

Also, if you aren't in Canada every country has its own registry, so just do a Google search to find out how to register in your country. 

I also would like to reiterate that if you aren't in the required age bracket, there are still so many things that you can do to help. 

Here are a few ideas. These apply to anyone who is going through a similar situation:

• Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, BlogLovin, Blogger, Pinterest, Instagram, a message board, a cork board at work, or any other way that you can reach other people;
• Encourage your friends, family, coworkers, etc, that are in the age bracket to register;
• Donate money to a registry in your country; 
• Phone, email, or visit a friend who is going through something similar and let them know that you are there for them. Ask them if there's anything you can do to help. Sometimes they just need to talk, and all you have to do is listen and give them lots of hugs;
• Offer to babysit, do chores, or run errands for your friend;
• Make your friend and their child a care package;
• Host a fundraiser, event, or drive in their honour;
• Think outside of the box!

There are so many things that you can do that truly makes a difference. So please help any way that you can. 

Nadia's case is a matter of life and death, so please take one minute to do something from list of above in her honour; every little bit counts!

I have to say that since I received Tara's answers to my questions about her daughter Nadia and what they are going through, it really has put things in perspective for me. My favourite saying (which I said during my interview for the job that I am working at) is "life is short", and then I like to add "grab life by the horns and pull" or "grab life by the balls" (the non-PG version). Life is short, that's the truth. We don't know how much time we have, so make every minute count, and when you are about to complain or think badly about some aspect of your life or day, remember what other people are going through. Most of us are extremely lucky, and at times we easily forget how lucky we are, including myself. 


This post is going to be short and sweet. My energy and my thoughts right now are focused on helping my friend and her beautiful daughter. I think sometimes putting a face to a story makes it that much more real, so here is my favourite photograph of Nadia. How can you look at her adorable face and not want to help?!

oxo NADIA oxo

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"Never underestimate the difference YOU can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help. This week reach to someone that might need a lift" ~ Pablo

Sunday Schmooze Savouries Sweets and Scrabble

Hello Nelly Belliers!

I hope you are all having a relaxing Sunday before returning to real life tomorrow. Sometimes Sunday's can be a bit gloomy, as Monday is not far behind, so I thought it would be fun to do a 'Sunday Schmooze Savouries Sweets and Scrabble' post.

Schmooze

I have noticed a few comments floating around the world of YouTube that are quite negative and nasty (not on my channel, but on YouTubers that I follow). Some are directed at the person making the videos, but some comments are directed at their partners, etc. 

I would just like to say that words said online can be just as hurtful and harmful as those said in person. So let's try to spread more love and kindness this year. 

I think we should all take a minute to think about our initial reaction to something, and really ask why something might be the way it is (this also pertains to the non-online world as well). For instance, just because someone chooses to blog and vlog it doesn't necessarily mean that their boyfriend or girlfriend, partner, etc wants to be on camera or included. My boyfriend hates being on camera but at times he has no choice depending on what I'm shooting, or at times he will be on camera here or there for me (he's the best).

I remember when my dad got a video camera (wayyyyyyyy wayyyyyy back, the really big clunker kind that took those huge tapes) and my mum would always say "don't point that thing at me". Now imagine that scenario but shared with the world.

So if you see someone who doesn't look too happy on a vlog, remember that they are an innocent bystander. They are being more than kind just being on the videos! Imagine if your partner was a dentist, and you had to go to work with them every day (ok that is my own personal nightmare).

Savouries

As some of you may know, I have a slight addiction to sausage rolls. My addiction started pretty much from the moment I entered the world, and when I was in school my mum would make me homemade sausage rolls to take for my lunch (yes I was spoilt, go mum!). My friends would try to 'trade' their food with me, but they had nothing that could come close to my little piggies in their blankets, so I always gobbled them up. 

Over the holidays I made sausage rolls twice. The first time I made them with store bought puff pastry, but I just can't eat that stuff any more. Not only is it not fair on the sausage, but it actually makes me sick (and my mum would be appalled). 

So for the second round I thought I would try Gordon Ramsey's Rough-puff Pastry recipe (click here to try it out). Let's face it, we all need a little Gordo in our life, and using his recipe gives you a good reason to swear in the kitchen. These little guys turned out great, but I have to say "holy butter batman". Now, I do have a sensitive stomach, but even Chris went in to a butter coma. If you make these I would definitely try to cut back on the butter (if possible, you might have to play around), or maybe you could substitute here or there for something else. Or if you make as is, then only eat two in one sitting. Is that even possible?

Once I find the perfect puff pastry recipe, I will share it with you (probably in vlog format). 
Until then, the search continues...

Sweets

Since today is the last day of the holidays, I thought it would be nice to make something different for breakfast (we have been eating Weetabix pretty much every morning up until today). 

Chris and I weren't very hungry this morning, so I ended up making us a brunch treat. I used to make Jamie Oliver's pancakes back in New Zealand all the time, and for some reason I forgot about them. Today I had a new twitter follower from kiwiland which triggered this delicious memory.

I highly recommend these pancakes. They are light, fluffy and ‘lovely jubbly’! I incorporated grated apple and small slices of apple into ours, but I have to say the flavour didn't stand out. I would recommend using blueberries, bananas, or my personal favourite raspberries! Jamie uses pears in his recipe, but they would definitely need to be the really tasty kind in order to stand out. Click here, you will never be the same again. :)

If you only have all purpose flour, do not fret. Here is an easy way to make your own self-raising flour (click here).

"All I ever wanted to do was to make food accessible to everyone; to show that you can make mistakes - I do all the time - but it doesn't matter." ~ Jamie Oliver

Scrabble

Today's word is Saponify.

v. - Become converted into soap by being hydrolized into an acid and alcohol as a result of being treated with an alkali

v. - Convert into soap by hydrolizing an ester into an acid and alcohol as a result of treating it with an alkali

Sunday Pics

 

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"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." ~ Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx