food | Kate Reilly James

Dec 30 2016

Less Resolution More Revolution

I can’t quite remember from who or where I’ve stolen that title but it’s a belter isn’t it?

2017 is all about making waves for me, causing a personal revolution and generally saying yes to whatever comes my way so I’m ditching the unrealistic resolutions and looking at them as fun goals instead!

I’ve thought long and hard and come up with a compact list that is realistic yet challenging. It might look fairly basic to you but I’m the type who derives immense joy from ticking off lists.

(I’ll admit to writing some tasks on my list when I’ve already done them to give myself a bit of a boost, I know, I’m weird).

So anyway, 2016 was pretty damn awesome for me, so I’m going to have to go some to up the ante.

Here we go…..

Travel Inspiration – Kasbah Ruins, Morocco

1 – Spend at least 30 days out of the country and visit two places/cities/countries I’ve never been to before. Morocco is currently top of my list followed by the lost city of Petra, Jordan. Eeeeek, excited!

Hair and Style goals – Linda Rodin and pooch, Winky.

2 – Right this one is huge (for me). I’m going to stop dying my hair. Oh god I’ve said it. It’s no secret that I’m destined to be a silver fox, and despite a 5-month-long failed attempt earlier this year, I’m gonna give it another go.

Thank you to the lovely lady on reception at Radio City for encouraging me to embrace the grey! Much respect, and you look bloody fabulous x

Goodbye Chicken Fried Rice, it was good while it lasted. I love you x

3 – I’m on a roll now! I’m also giving up take-away. Not all crappy food, (I really love pic n mix), just actual take away. No Just Eat, no Deliveroo and no deliciously gooey and chocolatey fabulousness from TreatyPie. I must prepare and cook actual food….for a whole year.

Repeat After Me: I Do Not Need To Check My Phone Every Five Minutes…..

4 – Technology goal. No switching my phone on until 9am (kids in safely in school and nursery etc) and off again at 8pm EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. Yep.

Oh Hi pretty food that wont give me diabetes!

5 – Try Sushi! Utterly ridiculous that I’ve made it to the ripe old age of 34 and I’ve been too scared to try sushi! January for sure this one!

Problem Booking Taxi: No available cars in your area…..til 2018…..unlucky

6 – Last one. No taxi’s. I need to learn to manage my time so that I don’t have to last minute.com all the time and ring a Delta. Plus I’m hardly Rockefeller so think of all the savings! Could pay for one of my trips, girl with a plan.

So that’s it. 365 days of cute bite-size, cute food, foreign adventures, silver hair, healthy meal prep, Instagram posts (between the hours of 9 and 8 only) and generally improving life as I know it.

Doesn’t matter how you do it, resolutions, goals whatever, be happy and make 2017 count.

Happy New Year

Tagged 2016, 2017, adventure, food, Goals, grey hair, Hair Trends, Happiness, Healthy Eating, inspiration, life, Life Goals, Morocco, New Year, New Years Eve, News, Resolutions, Smile, Sushi, technology, Time Management, travel

Jun 27 2016

Spare Parts

This weekend I sat in a caravan in North Wales writing about a Barrow in Furness engineering company. This my friends is the future of journalism.

I’ve officially finished 6 months of NCTJ exams and studies and submitted my e-portfolio for marking. In the same week I’ve weathered the EU referendum storm, submitted 12 months worth of personal documents to HMRC who seem to think there is someone else living in my house who claims tax credits and met with Carole, my business mentor, who is hopefully going to help me set up as a freelance journalist.

It’s safe to say I’ve been under a bit of pressure the last few months which may go some way to explain the weekly bouts of sickness I’ve been experiencing. I’m not pregnant, just thought I’d make that abundantly clear. But low and behold, mid Sunday roast yesterday, the mystery illness made an unwelcome return and I’ve been living in the bathroom ever since.

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Despite the crippling stomach pain and inconvenience of living in the bathroom two days a week, the worst thing to come of this situation is my deteriorating relationship with food. I swing wildly from small amounts of granola and ‘safe’ food, to absolutely nothing, to a boneless box from KFC…..and a tango. I’m getting to the point where I’m too scared to eat. During my last week of exams I ate just over 2000 calories in three days because I couldn’t afford to get sick, no where near enough sustenance for a busy mum of three.

I made the HUGE mistake of googling my symptoms around 2am when I got bored of courting the bathroom tiles. Stomach cancer, ulcerative colitis and acute pancreatitis and a tearful call to NHS direct later………..and it looks like my gallbladder is broken. Which isn’t so bad because it turns out you don’t need one!

Awaiting a scan at the moment to see what my options are.

On the positive side I’ve lost almost a stone and my work productivity rate is through the roof. Silver linings eh?

Tagged barrow in furness, eating, food, gastro, health, journalism, relationship, stress, surgery, wales, WRITING

Feb 27 2016

A Mother’s Day Extravaganza

Fresh from a stint in the boxing ring raising funds for the James Bulger Memorial Trust, charity Ambassador Kirsty Lucas shows no signs of stopping as she puts the finishing touches to a Mother’s Day fashion extravaganza.

Kingdom nightclub, Harrington Street, will play host to ‘It’s a Liverpool Thing’, a jam packed evening of home-grown talent to raise much needed funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Fundraiser Flyer

Kirsty, who recently lost her Nan to cancer decided to organise the event as a tribute.

She said:” I thought it was a good idea to turn a negative into a positive.

“The Mother’s Day event will be a lovely evening out for all those glam mum’s in the city as well as helping to raise money for Macmillan, who were so supportive to me and my family.

“Cancer touches everyone and we’d like to give something back.”

The entertainment line-up is full to the brim with fashion shows from Liverpool designers such as Jake Nuttall and Erica Wildflower spring collections and live music from The Ambition, Red and Merseyrail Sound Station winner, Lewis Maxwell.

A pop-up store from Harvey Nicholls will be offering free mini treatments on the night alongside prize-draw raffles and a delicious buffet courtesy of Munchies catering.

Kirsty, of Liverpool based cake sculpters, Ps, Don’t Forget the Cake, is determined to stage yet another successful fundraising event following on from a night of amateur boxing at Fusion, Fleet Street, last Friday.

She said:” Cancer touches everyone, not only families but also friends and the wider community and this fundraiser is our way of giving something back.”

Why not treat your mum to something different this Mother’s Day, indulge in a little glamour and help raise funds for Macmillan, tickets are available on the door at Kingdom, priced at £5.

The event starts at 5pm and is strictly over 18’s only.

Tagged cocktails, entertainment, Erica Wildflower, fashion, food, Fundraiser, Harrington Street, Jake Nuttall, Kingdom, Kirsty Lucas, Lewis Maxwell, liverpool, Macmillan, Merseyrail Sound Station, Mother's Day, Mothering Sunday, music, Red, The Ambition

Kate Reilly James

Journalist, Writer, Artist

Tag Archives: food