My Baking Addiction: by Jamie, who self-certifies herself as someone who bakes too much. I love it!

The Environment Agency has a great blog, for scientifically minded people and those who are not so - always hot on subjects affecting the UK's environment and beyond.

A new find: A Cranky Flier. Brett, the blogger, writes regular posts sharing his three favourite links to travel news on the web - among other great content.

A dear friend and past colleague of mine writes a fab mental health blog. Take a look at WYSE THOUGHTS, and say hi to Paul.

Gray (with an 'a') Matter has some great stories, always something interesting to read and learn here. A recent favourite of mine was the post on beautiful metro stations you can find across the planet.

Huffington Post has a Good News blog - brings warm feelings from around the world.

Let me know if I've missed your favourite!

Lou x

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So, El Husbandio and I became dog owners in February. We'd been thinking about getting one for a while, and saw what seemed to be the perfect dog advertised on Gumtree. We collected her from a family in Swindon who'd (stupidly) bought her for Christmas and couldn't cope with a puppy's energy and costs after a month, so she's kind of a rescue - and we got so lucky!

Chumi (short for "Chumiko", which means "black conker" in Spanish) is a Collie, with a hint of Whippet hips and legs about her. She's now five months old and just gorgeous. She's slept through the night (I sound like a mother!) from the start, she could already sit and would poop outdoors, she's so friendly with other dogs and people, learning more every day.

I'm not going to just brag about our wonderful pup, here, though. There's a real, useful reason for this blog today. As it's Mental Health Awareness Week, I want to share how having a dog has improved my mental well-being. You may scoff, and people have scoffed, at the idea of how the presence of a dog has helped, but I'm a convert to the idea. It works.

I was a non-believer. I thought the benefits of a dog were limited to having company at home and perhaps more walking to boost your physical health. However, since Chumi came into our lives, I've discovered so much about how having a dog in the house can be beneficial to more than just your exercise regime.

Some of you may be aware that I've struggled with my mental health over the last two to three years. It's a long story, but the up-shot is that I'm definitely on the mend and slowly returning to my old self. Being able to realise that is an important and significant step.

I've tried several things to help me through anxiety, depression and a general emotional confusion: three forms of medication (one made sick, one I was petrified of, and the one I settled with, I'm starting to wean off - yay!), 121 counselling, CBT group classes, more exercise, reading up on mental health blogs, talking openly with friends and family, quitting booze, and trying to re-discover what made me more content and 'me' in the past.

Now, I know what you think I'm going to say. The dog was the key to it all. That's not true. I believe a mixture of all the things above helped me to re-stabilise and begin to function in a way that is normal for me again. However, I have a feeling that having a dog in my life has given more the final push to returning to good mental health.

The answer to solving the conundrum and debilitation of depression is not 'one size fits all', but I sure think a dog should be prescribed on the NHS! *tongue in cheek*

So how has becoming a dog owner assisted me on my recovery?

1. The obvious one is I'm getting more exercise. Exercise is a key part to recovery from mental illness. Chumi has a walk first thing from El Husbandio, then a longer walk when I'm back from work. We're out for a minimum of 40 mins at a time, and I often forget the time, enjoying the time out so much. I've been trying to lose a little weigh since November, and it's no coincidence that I'm my lightest (and have been for seven weeks now!) now we have a dog.
2. Linked to this, is the additional fresh air I'm getting on these walks. Always a good thing!
3. I've also realised, since walking Chumi, that dogs live in the moment; they're masters of Mindfulness, without even knowing it! Our walks together have helped me 'switch off' and she's helped me, in a weird way, to become more mindful and relaxed as a result.
4. Dogs lighten the mood. El Husbandio and I haven't had the easiest start to marriage, and Chumi allows us to make light-hearted or grumpy comments about situations to someone who won't challenge your gripes.
5. Chumi is a great distraction - for good and for bad! She needs attention, feeding, walking, and all the rest of it, which adds another element of routine and a distraction from things which might worry our little brains too much.
6. There's less pressure in the household. Bless him, El Husbandio is a neat freak, who can't relax if the dishes haven't been done. However, playing with the dog has seemingly become more important than household chores. Not in a bad way, we're far from living in squalor, but we're a little more relaxed about when things get done now. Yay!
7. I'm feeling the love - Chumi gives us unconditional love. She isn't a captive, she loves being with us and shows us every day by playing, 'dog smiling' and licking kisses all over our hands and faces. Naturally, she's a pack animal, and she loves being part of our small 'pack'. It's not just that we're the ones who feed her - other people give her treats, but it's us she comes home too, even when she escapes the harness! She's not a human substitute, however much I love her, but she's a great companion.
   
8. I'm also sharing the love. As in Gary Demonte Chapman's 'Five Languages Of Love', one of the main ways I like to show love is by giving gifts. I'm always baking for friends and family, often sending fun post to those I love, and grabbing a little gift I come across for El Husbandio when I know he'd love it. Sharing the love with Chumi is easy and so gratifying. She takes about three minutes to suss out a new toy and then plays with it to death. She's happy, grateful, curious, and a pleasure to watch.
9. My social circles have widened, almost with immediate effect upon starting to walk Chumi in our local area. I have, I guess, one new friend I now walk with regularly, and new acquaintances I bump into (mostly known by the name of their dog, admittedly!), and it's so nice to be able to have those community links. We're thinking of taking Chumi to fly-ball classes, which again, will widen both her and our social circles.
   

Take a look at this website for more on how dogs can help with mental therapy. For a more hefty read, try this recent study on pet owners and increased levels of self-esteem. You may be surprised - I was sceptical, never having had a dog before, but I can't believe the difference Chumi has made to my mental health well-being. Just the fact I can reflect and notice the difference shows how far I've come in this short time.

As the author Julie Myerson puts it

"Most of all, when your confidence is at its lowest, when you feel battered – by life, death and (especially) other humans – a dog will shove her nose in your hand and tell you, with conviction and feeling, what a really good person you are."

And in such grim times as these, a little sunshine in a simple way is something we could all benefit from.

If you think you could benefit from a dog's company but can't commit, why not take a look at Borrow My Doggy? You can meet up with local owners who need extra walking for their pooch and get the benefits of having a dog without the long term commitments. Let me know how you get on!

Lou x

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3. A full cutlery drawer. This means the dishwasher (if I’m at my parents’ place) is empty – putting the clean stuff away is not a job I enjoy! – or the dishes have been done at home. Yay, thanks husband! We have a lot of cutlery, so we can go a while without washing it, but it’s nice to see a full complement of utensils. A happy kitchen!

4. Paying off bills. I hate having debt, so a clean credit card statement and no bills due is a good thing. Boring, but good in the long-run. 

5. Family parties – of all kinds, for all ages. Family has become more and more important to me over the last 5-10 years. We had 4 family members pass away between 2009 and 2013 and it’s no surprise that it’s brought one or two of our relatives closer to my immediate family. Some family relationships could of course be better (the clue is in the word ‘family’!), but family remains key. 

6. Pay day – never really lame, but I think I have more interesting things to spend it on, day by day. It's not a huge salary, but it beats getting £4.25 / hour as a 14 year old Saturday girl! I am always grateful to have a job, and one I enjoy at that, let alone one which allows me to live / travel / save. 

7. Keeping fit and controlling what I eat. I wasn’t a fan of PE at school and it took me a while to find my niche in sport (classes!) but now I love the feeling being fit and having a slimmer figure gives me. *** UPDATE I've lost 4kg since I wrote this originally! ***

8. Having friends who are old enough to be your (grand)parents – good mates don’t mind an age gap.

9. Reading (especially paperbacks!) – ebooks are not for me – I’ve read three and much prefer paperbacks. Reading has always been in my life and I’m loving the fact it’s an acceptable and longed for way to spend the evening among a lot of my peers. It wasn’t cool when I was a kid, but it sure is almost a treat now!

10. A full tank of petrol. My car almost feels more alive when it's wangled a fresh £40 out of me!

This weekend sees the opening of a dream of mine... my own (mini) bakery!!!

Every 3rd Sunday of the month I will be selling home baked cakes from my kitchen. The baking starts this weekend and I can't wait!

I've got a full Christmas themed menu (check out #bakemenu on Twitter) from iced Christmas cake to Brownie Santa Hats, so if you're in the Bristol area this weekend, be sure to stop by! The first 25 customers will receive a gift, and of course, there will be tasters!

280 Bakes
280 Broadlands Drive
Bristol
BS11 0PW

Join me 4-5pm every third Sunday (opens 20th December) and find what you want for tea!

280 Bakes is on Facebook and Twitter, so get in touch!

Lou x

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We've worked hard to make our house Christmas-y, El Husbandio and I. He is missing home (Costa Rica) and I'm missing home too (Swindon). Equally fun Christmases! Here's what we've created, hung and decorated this year.

I'm especially proud of the wreath (a gift for a friend) and the Rudolph cake. My very own show stopper for my fancy baker sister

Enjoy!

​Lou x

Ugly sunsets - there are no such things. 

And I've Googled it.

​There's a photo saying 'I give up finding an ugly sunset'.

There's a song.

And there's an Adobe colour scheme. 

There's no actual sunsets which are ugly. 

And that's pretty un-ugly in itself. 

Lou x

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My sister's a cleaver old stick. She's the showstopping baker in our family. Mum is technical (having trained in food) and I'm firmly in the signature bake, a bit more experimental. We threw my dad a surprise retirement party earlier this year and my sister baked this bang on theme treasure. Dad was a pilot. 

The cake was a tripe sponge layered delight covered in chocolate icing and shortbread plane cookies. Well done sis!

Before you ask, the marzipan man was a throwback to my wedding party in February. It's a model of dad, helping to give me away. I still have to post a picture of that cake - it was epic!

Into bakes? Feeling hungry? Check out my less show stopping but equally tasty contribution to the party's cake display, inspired by the Great British Bake Off. 

Lou x

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No, there's no elephant seal meat inside these, you'll be glad to hear. I think they're hideous animals, violent, selfish creatures, and ugly at that - just like this pie! 

I had some shortcrust pastry to use up from my sweet potato pie baked for Halloween, so I lined four muffin tins with the leftovers. Then I finely sliced ham, dropped it into the bottom of the pie case, and covered it with scrambled egg mixture. They took about 30 minutes to bake at 180 degrees, and created some fantastically uneven (ugly!) elephant seal like pies. They tasted amazing, but they're not something I'd make for company!

Have you ever created something new and ugly, yet tasty?

Lou x

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I don't have any kids (yet), so I can't really trick or treat, but I'm a big fan of Halloween all the same. Here's how you Halloween with no one under 20 years old...

​After all the lead up, here's how my Halloween went down. Like a bat out of hell, if raced past, even with a bed time of 1.30am! We had soooo many trick or treaters - love it - the food was a success, and everyone got in the spirit/booze. Check it out!

Feeding Frenzy

I made 'dragon's blood' cocktail (sangria, essentially) and non-alcoholic bat's piss (a jug of lemonade) for the t-totals. 'Wink Murder' made an appearance once the food had been devoured. Halloween themed tunes were playing all night - just google 'devil' songs!

That's how you Halloween like an adult. 

Lou x

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Think of a Halloween colour. Orange? Black? I'm going to get you to think green this Halloween. 

How you make your Halloween more environmentally friendly, in other words. 

1. Don't use disposable cups. These are cute, but they're creating unnecessary waste. Try the same idea with cermaic reusable ones, if you're really keen on googley eyes. 

2. When lighting up creepy decorations, try using candles or LED lights - much more energy efficient than normal bulbs. Solar lights are even better, if you're decorating your garden. 

3. Don't make too much food if you're throwing a party. Go with the mantra 'eating is cheating' if you're on the booze! Be creative about the kind of food you can make to make a little go a long way and to reduce food waste. Check out my top foodie picks for Halloween!

4. If your sweet food doesn't get eaten, give them away as 'trick or treat' candy. 

5. Use up old scraps of material for costumes, or raid the local charity shop for ideas or outfits you can 'bloody-up'. 

6. Don't waste pumpkin! Use the soft flesh and seeds you've scooped out of your decorated pumpkin in a soup or pie, and roast the seeds in paprika and salt. Yum!

7. Try to use recycled paper while making decorations. Spooky spider webs and paper chains are perfect for this. 

8. Give your kids reusable containers for their trick or treat loot. 

9. Decorate your house with things you can use again next year. For example, hanging bats made of material, jam jar lanterns, window stickers... Come and have a look at some of my ideas for making your house a horror!

10. Use old tea towels or curtains to make beanbags for 'toss the pumpkin'. 

11. Dig out your old jam jars to use as lanterns or as 'witches brew' glasses for spooky themed drinks. 

12. Recycle your waste into a costume - just wait until you see what I've got planned! 

13. Host a costume swap party. We've all got a costume from the past we could give a new home. 

Statistic images borrowed from Edie.

Are you planning to reduce your environmental impact this Halloween? Let me know if you have any tips by commenting in the box below.
​
Lou x

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