Yorkshire blog : Little Blonde Life

This week I would like to feature the blog Little Blonde Life. It features food, music, fashion and beauty, trips out, product reviews and general musings on life. I challenge anyone to read this blog and not fall in love with Sammie's fun and bubbly view of life. She shares beauty and fashion picks and her daily song playlist.

So here's a bit about Sammie and her blog...

Brief description of yourself and your blog.

My blog is a lifestyle/personal blog, I started my blog as a diary and although I've been working on it for 6 months now it's still my little piece of pride and joy and never finished. I love blogging as it encourages me to do more things and explore new places, as well as introduces me to new places through other blogs. 

How long have you been blogging and why did you start?

I started my blog in January 2013 as a diary for myself. It quickly grew when I discovered more about the world of blogging. 

Favourite place in Yorkshire?

It's a typical one I suppose but I love a good day out by the seaside and love Scarborough. I would say sitting on the top of the cliffs is one of my all time favourite places. 

Favourite place to eat out in Yorkshire?

A new place to Leeds but it has to be Reds True BBQ what recently opened in the city centre. 

Favourite Yorkshire recipe?

My Nana's Rhubarb crumble (top secret of course) 

Do you have any hidden gems in Yorkshire?

It's definitely not a hidden secret but it is a gem so I will have to say Bettys Tea Room. 

Favourite Yorkshire celeb?

It's no secret to anyone I'm a massive fan of a certain boy band and with the majority of the band been from Yorkshire I'm going to say Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik (One Direction). Am I aloud 2?

Favourite Yorkshire saying/slang?

T' e.g. I'm of t shop. (Not really a slang word but it would sound weird pronouncing it any other way)

Please pop by and give Sammie's blog a visit. She's a lover of food. I love her newest posts reviewing places to eat out. Plenty of puddings. A girl after my own heart!

If you would like to be featured on the Yorkshire bloggers blog, please visit the join section and email through your answers to the questions. 

Opening of Handpicked Hall, Leeds.

A few days ago there was a new addition to the Leeds retail scene. Not a big name, or a shiny new mall. Quite the opposite.

Handpicked Hall is home to hundreds of independent retailers, giving them a chance to sell in a city centre at a tiny fraction of the cost (and risk) of setting up on their own.

The shop is in Grand Arcade, Vicar Lane, which even regular Leeds shoppers may well never have passed, unless you frequent the city’s Grand Theatre.

It has to be said it’s not the most glamorous part of town; it has more than its fair share of boarded up shops, despite being just steps from the bustling Headrow.

But the enthusiasm on the eve of the hall’s opening more than made up for any of that.

Most of the sellers I spoke to at the preview evening said it was their first foray into face-to-face selling, having started online. They’re planning to sell there one or two days a week, with most hoping trade will be healthy and that it will make sense for them to be there more often.

As retail units in Leeds go, it’s a pretty big space – 15,000 sq ft - double fronted and spread over two floors. There are four ‘zones’: food and drink, fashion and accessories, art and craft, and vintage.

Because of its size, it seemed a little sparse at the preview night but I understand the Hall will be home to more than 300 sellers.

> Born to Thread

> Louby Lashes Handmade

> There’s also food. This man’s hummus was divine.

> Cali’s Handmade Candle Co. I came away with the Madagascan Honeyed Vanilla and it fills my home with the scent of holidays.

> Njoy Crystal Jewellery

> Gillian Cordingley Ceramics

> Daisy Bakes

Like an idiot, I completely missed the fact there was an upstairs when I was there. That means I missed Our Handmade Collective and Love Me Sew. Plus, the upper floor looks like this. Like I said, I’m an idiot.

(via)

There aren’t many (any?) shops in Leeds city centre that can offer such an overhead view.

It’s fitting: Handpicked Hall is an innovative, ‘blue-sky thinking’ approach to retail; while the entrepreneurs, just starting out, are reaching for the stars and dreaming of where their business may take them.

Handpicked Hall launched last year, first opening in Ripon, then in Skipton earlier this year.

Director Anthony Blackburn said the Leeds opening means they are providing a home for more than 500 Yorkshire retailers.

“I think our success is down to the fact that we’ve made high street trading easily accessible and affordable for so many new businesses,” he said. “We also ‘hand pick’ all of our retailers to ensure we get the right high quality products and passionate people.

“The best part of my job is meeting great people with amazing talent and passion for their products, seeing how thrilled they are to be ‘hand picked’ and giving them the chance to realise their dream of having their own business.

“The space is amazing. To get the opportunity to work with such a beautiful Victorian property and bring it back to life with an eclectic mix of quality independent retailers is so exciting for everyone involved.”

Prices start at £10 a day and you can apply here.

The Hall will be open Wednesdays to Saturdays 11am-6pm and Sundays 11am-4pm.

I hope it will be a success and I’ll certainly be popping in when I’m in Leeds. Will you? Maybe you have been already? What do you think to the ‘Handpicked’ ethos?

 - Angel in the North

FORGE arts and crafts fair.

We went to FORGE arts and craft fair in Sheffield this weekend, organised by Hallam Roses W.I., and brought to my attention by fellow Yorkshire blogger Emma from Oh Gosh blog. They were raising funds for their W.I. and Roundabout charity. There was plenty to see and it was great to support all the local talent. Unfortunately, we didn't get to stay long, as my little baby boy decided to have a little bit of a meltdown. I still managed to find some nice items to take home and grab some cake, as my husband frantically rocked and attempted to soothe my son.

There was such an array of baking that I struggled to decide what to buy. It all looked so delicious. We opted for some lovely moist chocolate cake, some flapjack and some white chocolate and Tobelerone brownie. I must admit I had a little nibble of the flapjack on the ride home, as I couldn't wait, but the rest was devoured with a nice cuppa when I got home. I thought it was only fair to give my hubby half a taste of them. All of the baked goods were so scrummy!

I got this adorable sock monkey (from the Ginger Zoo), a cute panda origami card (from Terrible Lizard) and a deep repair hair mask. (from Lovely cosmetics) The sock monkey and card are for my sister-in-law, but I got the hair mask for me. It has left my hair luxuriously smooth and silky. I cannot tell you how much I love the smell too, as it reminds me of going to the perfumery in Grasse, France, as a little girl. I'm going to investigate some of the other businesses, which I didn't get chance to peruse. A full list of stallholders is available here.

Well done to all involved for putting on such a lovely event!

Rebecca - My Pretty Yorkshire Life.

Weekend What's On

Here's a quick rundown of some of the events happening in Yorkshire this weekend...

Bradford's City Park is going to be hosting the World Curry Festival starting tomorrow. With many restaurants, stalls and stages, there should be plenty to see and do. Chefs will be performing demonstrations. There will be a street food market including a spice souk, many restaurants, musicians, dancers, cookery demonstrations, crafts, fresh produce, Indian teas, children’s activities, growers market, and fashion and beauty from the east. Chefs from Bradford College will be headed Learn to Cook Curry classes. It opens 12 noon till 10 p.m Friday & Saturday and 12 noon till 7 p.m. on Sunday. For further details please visit their website.

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On Sunday 23rd June, at Workstation, Sheffield, there will be a contemporary art, design and craft fair. The fair has been organised by Hallam Roses W.I to raise money for Roundabout and their W.I. I hear their baking is legendary and urge anyone in the area to join them. The fair is on from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. For further details please visit their website.

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On Saturday 22nd June, there is an indoor free music festival spread across many venues throughout Barnsley. It features a lot of local talent. All venues are within walking distance. For further details please visit their website.

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Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade is a held on 22nd June and is created by local people but also welcomes participation of visitors. There are workshops held in the weeks preceding the festival to make costumes and carryable art. THE theme this year myths, mysteries and mayhem.  The parade culminates in a pageant with musuc, movement and giant puppets followed by local bands, dance groups and local food. For further details please visit their website.

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The Haworth Festival runs from the 21st until 30th June. It features music, art, comedy, singing workshop, ZOMBIE RUN?! and much more. They do a ticket for all the events at £18. For further details please visit their website.

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What do you have planned for the weekend?

I'm hoping for a sneaky picnic if the weather isn't too bad. Maybe a rainy day picnic? I'll also be attending FORGE festival on Sunday and if I haven't pushed my luck with the hubby a little trip to the Curry Festival. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Happy Birthday to the National Media Museum

I fully understand that I must be beginning to sound like a stuck record when it comes to my constant babbling recently about the National Media Museum - but it is a really important time at the minute to talk about this place. Not only because of the current threat of closure, but because this weekend marks the 30th birthday of this wonderful institution!

As well as the bloggers event the museum put on a couple of weeks ago, I've spent the last couple of Saturdays down there. Last weeks visit was part of a semi-organised turn out to show support for the museum in wake of the recent revelations about what proposed budget cuts might mean for its future.




There was a grand turn out, but we didn't want our visit to be all doom and gloom so we had a run round the rest of the facilities to see what was on offer.
We had arrived just in time for one of the talks on the Cottingely Fairies photographs - if you don't know this story, in 1917 two young girls took photographs of fairies at the bottom of their garden. These photographs managed to convince many at the time, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, that fairies were real. The photographs are beautiful and have long since been one of my favourite things at the museum, but having them presented to us along with the story by the brilliant Museum Explainer really brought the story to life for the little ones who left the talk convinced of the existence of the fairies.

We had arrived just in time for one of the talks on the Cottingely Fairies photographs - if you don't know this story, in 1917 two young girls took photographs of fairies at the bottom of their garden. These photographs managed to convince many at the time, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, that fairies were real. The photographs are beautiful and have long since been one of my favourite things at the museum, but having them presented to us along with the story by the brilliant Museum Explainer really brought the story to life for the little ones who left the talk convinced of the existence of the fairies.




There was also an animation workship where the kids could have a go at making their own short film. They do these regularly and always go down a treat. As well as these extra activities, we spent a few hours with the museums more permanent attractions - mirror fun in the Magic Factory (I'd love one of those fun-house, make-you-tall-and-thin mirrors at home!), hanging out in a green-screen Moshi Monster land, reading the news - we didn't go the games lounge as we can never get Harry out of there!




We had a wonderful day, as we always do down there, and it just served as a great reminder of what we would be missing if the museum were to close.
But as I said, I've been the last couple of Saturdays, which meant I was once again down there yesterday. To celebrate being open 30 years, the museum were offering free cake - you know how those words are like music to my ears so of course I had to bob down again!

Before my free cake though, I bought some - yup, double cake! We'd decided to get down there early to catch a film (yet another reason why the museum shouldn't close) and I needed some 'breakfast' from the fine array of baked good available at the newly refurbished cafe.

But as I said, I've been the last couple of Saturdays, which meant I was once again down there yesterday. To celebrate being open 30 years, the museum were offering free cake - you know how those words are like music to my ears so of course I had to bob down again!
Before my free cake though, I bought some - yup, double cake! We'd decided to get down there early to catch a film (yet another reason why the museum shouldn't close) and I needed some 'breakfast' from the fine array of baked good available at the newly refurbished cafe.

Before my free cake though, I bought some - yup, double cake! We'd decided to get down there early to catch a film (yet another reason why the museum shouldn't close) and I needed some 'breakfast' from the fine array of baked good available at the newly refurbished cafe.



Seriously, if you are ever in the neighbourhood, even if you don't fancy any of the exhibits - you should definitely call in cake at least - they're brilliant!
After 'Much Ado About Nothing' we wandered back to the foyer to see the presentation of a birthday card, signed by supporters of the museum and were treated to a few more speeches about how necessary the place is to the community . . . and then more cake!

After 'Much Ado About Nothing' we wandered back to the foyer to see the presentation of a birthday card, signed by supporters of the museum and were treated to a few more speeches about how necessary the place is to the community . . . and then more cake!



I'm trying to not get too preachy on the importance of museums, or get too involved in the way the museum links to other important Bradford institutions and how it would affect them if it closed, and I'm trying really hard to not rant at the mythical North/South divide which means it's ok to axe one of our museums because we presumably don't deserve or understand 'culture' in the North and everything good in the country should be in London where it 'belongs'. I'm trying to do those things, but it appears I'm rambling instead so I shall wrap this up with the point I am trying to make:
The National Media Museum is important - it's important to me, to my children. It's important to Bradford, and to the North. If it closes I'll be devastated both on a personal level and for all the people that it will affect either directly (the dedicated staff who will lose their jobs, for instance) or indirectly (the children of Bradford who will not grow up with this place as their second home, like it was for me). All I can do is hope and ramble on about it - so, if you haven't already, it would mean the world to me if you could sign this petition in support of the museum - here.

If you are ever in Bradford the place is well worth a visit - you should have a look around now, while you can!
The National Media Museum is important - it's important to me, to my children. It's important to Bradford, and to the North. If it closes I'll be devastated both on a personal level and for all the people that it will affect either directly (the dedicated staff who will lose their jobs, for instance) or indirectly (the children of Bradford who will not grow up with this place as their second home, like it was for me). All I can do is hope and ramble on about it - so, if you haven't already, it would mean the world to me if you could sign this petition in support of the museum - here. 

If you are ever in Bradford the place is well worth a visit - you should have a look around now, while you can!

Kel - Kel Loves...

Yorkshire blog : YPhotography

With the Yorkshire Bloggers Photography Competition in full swing, I thought I would feature a Yorkshire Bloggers site that can inspire us all to take better photos of Yorkshire. The blog is called YPhotography and features some stunning photographs. 

Lund's Tower : Sutton Pepper (YPhotography)

Here's a little bit about the author and member of Yorkshire Bloggers Keith Nuttall and his wonderful blog.

Brief description of yourself and your blog.

I am actually a Lancastrian, but don't hold that against me. I have lived  in Yorkshire since 1987, which I think qualifies me for some sort of medal. I am an engineer, with suppressed artistic tendencies which manifest themselves as music or photography.

How long have you been blogging and why did you start?

I started this blog in 2008 as a way to showcase my photographs in a personal form, but I have recently realised that I have always enjoyed writing in small doses, and the blog is a good way to get this out in educational and satirical ways.

Favourite place in Yorkshire?

My favourite places for photography are in North Yorkshire, for the landscape, history and character. If I had to narrow it down, it would have to be Wensleydale or Swaledale, but it's too difficult to decide. I like Harrogate, Knaresborough and York too.

Favourite place to eat out in Yorkshire?

My current favourite eatery is probably Yo Yo in Shipley, or, if I crave curry, the Aagrah. I prefer to try new places though, if possible.

Favourite Yorkshire recipe?

I don't use recipes. I like to go 'off-piste' when I cook, which is a double-edged sword. My daughter has turned into a great chef, which means  that I've had to 'up my game' a lot.

Do you have any hidden gems in Yorkshire?

How about Goit Stock waterfall in Cullingworth? Or Heptonstall, near Hebden Bridge? Or How Stean Gorge, or Troller's Gill?  ... not particularly well-hidden, but places I only discovered relatively recently.

Favourite Yorkshire celeb?

How about Alan Bennett? I used to share a house with his nephew. Also, I think Michael Palin, Vic Reeves and Julian Barratt are hilarious.

Favourite Yorkshire saying/slang?

I seem to assimilate colloquialisms easily, and can never remember where I  pick them up. Yorkshire has some pretty good ones. I used to work for a guy in Leeds who was full of them. I always remember "craftier than a cart-load of monkeys", and "a face like a bulldog chewing a wasp".

Leeds Corn Exchange (YPhotography)

I think you would agree that Keith has a great talent and is currently working on a book to showcase his amazing photography. As well as his photography, there are also articles giving helpful tips and technical advice. Please visit his site here and show your support. 

(YPhotography)

If you would like to be featured on the Yorkshire bloggers blog, please visit the join section and email through your answers to the questions. 

Photography competition.

Now we all know that Yorkshire is the most beautiful county! So here is your chance to share those magnificent photos of glorious Yorkshire. As well as photos of Yorkshire landmarks, it would be great for your photos to really give a feel for the sights and sounds of the county. The competition will run until August 31st to give you all chance to make the most of the summer and get out there snapping. The photography section will be updated with your entries as they come in.  Photos will be featured on the website with credit and links to the photographer. With a prize for the winner, can you really think of a reason not to get involved? Please email yorkshirebloggers@hotmail.com with your entries. (Open to UK residents only)

Coffee Duran, Leeds.

I find that most articles about eating out tend to focus on big evening meals or more expensive places, and when you go on a shopping trip to a city and want to find somewhere good for a drink and a quick bite it can be difficult. Obviously chains like Starbucks and Nero are in every city but I find myself continually underwhelmed by them, and rather annoyed that I've spent so much.

So I want to share with you one of my favourite places in Leeds City Centre. My boyfriend and I came across it completely by accident when we were looking for somewhere to eat after we moved into our new flat, and have fallen in love with it. We are regulars and have a chat with the owner every time we go in, but don't worry he'll be extremely friendly to all customers new or not.

Coffee Duran is on York Street in Leeds centre across from the bus station and, although it looks completely underwhelming, the food here is phenomenal and extremely cheap! If you're just nipping in for a quick bite - as we usually do - I suggest the homemade burger. It's always fresh, perfectly cooked and the paprika seasoned chips are to die for. Although if you're wanting something a bit lighter there's a whole selection of Mediterranean food available for you as well as the old English favourites.

I'm not one that usually rants and raves about how great somewhere is (in fact I'm usually the opposite) but this is my favourite place in town, and I'm pretty sure the pictures speak for themselves. You should give it a go. 

Hannah - Possibly Vintage

Leeds Food Festival

So this weekend was the Leeds Food Festival. I had been looking forward to this for a few weeks been a secret fatty and all. Other then the festival been super busy it was a really nice day out and the sun made a welcomed appearance. My pictures don't really do the event any justice but the festival which fills millennium square in Leeds hosts stalls from local restaurants, local farmers and a few cheeky beer/cider stalls. 

Saturday night I discovered I actually love olives. (I practically ate an entire jar at a BBQ) When I saw the stand selling all kinds of olives I was rather pleased and treated myself to some fetta cheese stuffed olives, delicious. 

I loved the cute camper van selling ice-cream 

 My favourite stand of the day. A nice refreshing glass of pimms on a hot sunny day. Blissful. 

 There was a different smell of freshly cooked food around every corner. 

 There was live cookery demonstrations throughout the day what most people enjoyed with a beer, cider or home-made lemonade.

 No food festival could be complete without a cupcake stand.

Have you been to the food festival?

How was your weekend?

Sammie

www.littleblondelife.com

Sammie -  Little Blonde Life