Not your average breakfast @The HighField

May 5, 2016July 2, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ Leave a comment

The minute you step through their door you are embraced by The High Field’s warm and friendly atmosphere.

This modern gastropub situated in Edgbaston is a mere 5 minutes away from Birmingham city centre and known for serving brasserie dishes and top quality pub food. I’ve eaten here a few times recently and always left feeling the same – relaxed and well looked after. On this occasion we decided to join them for Jazz and Breakfast. Self explanatory – eat breakfast whilst listening to jazz!

The bar is the first thing you see on entering and it’s the heart and soul of this establishment. Well stocked and ready for action; it has a great atmosphere, not too noisy but there’s definitely a good vibe about the place. With a choice of seating areas it’s also the perfect place to relax with a coffee or sample a cocktail or two.

The restaurant’s split into two parts – one has an area that’s bright, light and perfect for soaking up some Vitamin D whilst having a bite to eat. There’s also outside seating but I’ll save that ’til the warmer weather!

Just around the corner is the main restaurant – with a mixture of seating, tables and chairs and booths. It’s not too crowded but well spaced and can cater for large groups and children too.

We escaped the hustle and bustle of the previous week by leisurely sipping Bucks Fizz and listening to Keli and Jay who eased us slowly into the weekend with some jazz. It was a lovely way to relax whilst contemplating the breakfast menu.

There was plenty to choose from, but Hubby finally settled for the devilled beans and poached eggs on toasted sourdough – with added mushrooms and sausage. He said it was lovely – and he certainly ate every morsel!

I was slightly more awkward as I wanted something I had sampled on a previous occasion – BBQ brisket and sweet potato hash with a fried egg. Despite it not being on the menu, Head chef Ian went above and beyond and rustled one up for me.

It was magnificent.

In fact the whole morning was divine. It was that fabulous combination of good food, attentive staff and the right atmosphere that you wish you could bottle and take home. Some places just seem to get it so right – and The High Field has…and then some. It has you looking forward to your next visit before you’ve even said “Bye” to the pig!

So tell me, what’s your favourite way to start the weekend?

The High Field

22 Highfield Road

Edgbaston

B15 3DP

This was my first ever review – let me know in the comments below if you have any suggestions of other places or events you think I should check out!

This meal was not complimentary and I did not receive any reward for this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own and all photographs were taken by me unless otherwise stated.

April challenge: a photo a day

May 3, 2016May 2, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ Leave a comment

So, continuing with the ‘let’s see what new things we can try our hand at’ theme, this month I decided to try my hand at a photo a day challenge.

This lovely little number came courtesy of Fat mum slim (find her on Instagram fatmumslim #fmsphotoaday)

I’ve only recently fallen back in love with my camera after having an off/on relationship for a couple of years! This photo of challenge was a great way to make me think about my photographs rather than be snap happy as I usually am!

I will confess – I didn’t complete the challenge. I had a couple of days where I couldn’t find time to do it and I found it difficult to take photographs on the weekend of my brother’s anniversary. But hey ho! I’m not going to feel too guilty as I thoroughly enjoyed the shots I did do (focus on the positives).

Here are some of my favourites…

I am always going to sneak in a few flowers here and there…

I also enjoyed documenting a few days out…

IMG_20160405_113114 — The big family breakfast meet up

…and indulgently sharing some of my favourites…

IMG_20160406_164300 — This reminder to ‘let it go’

It’s hard not to compare your photographs to others – and some were absolutely amazing, let me tell you. But there is opportunity for learning in everything, so I focused on the positives and vowed to keep practising.

Moving forward is better than standing still.

I also learned that prompts are open to interpretation and feel that we can relate this to our lives. How you see things may not be how others see them and that’s okay. The world needs your story – so be you and tell your story your way.

Keep going, continually moving forward and you will keep improving.

The busyness barometer

April 21, 2016July 2, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 3 Comments

How are you?

Ask anyone how they are these days and “Busy!” is likely to be the standard answer.

Expectations from work, home and ourselves are increasing along with our stress levels. It’s almost like a badge of honour – if you’re not busy there’s something wrong. Multi tasking – the skill of doing more than one thing at the same time has almost become a national sport. But is it a skill, is it helpful or productive?

Yes sometimes – I like to to fold the washing whilst watching tv or wash up whilst cooking tea. The quicker I do the boring chores the better!

But other times not so much.

How often have you made telephone calls whilst eating lunch or updated your Facebook page whilst talking to your kids? Is this because we are genuinely busy or more because we feel the pressure of always needing to be seen to be busy?

I’m beginning to think it’s ‘de valuing‘ what we spend time doing. I wonder how valued your kids felt when they realised they didn’t have your undivided attention? How valuable did you see time spent eating your lunch when you realised you’d eaten it but not actually tasted any of it because you were so distracted?

Have you ever tidied up and then can’t remember where you have placed things? Lately this has happened to me a lot! I have misplaced things, forgotten where I’ve put stuff and generally felt I’m spending more and more time trying to get organised. I know I’m being less productive because my mind is jumping from one job to another. I think it’s because I’m in “I’m so busy” mode and can’t find a way out!

Our lives are so busy as we struggle to fit everything in and our minds are so busy we forget stuff, compromise our standards and rarely feel the satisfaction for a job well done.

I wonder, how long do you think we can keep this up for?

If our heads are as full as our calendars, where is the time for spontaneous acts of fun, enjoying the feeling of satisfaction after a productive day, self care, rest and relaxation?

I need white space in my calendar – it’s where my best ideas are formed, it’s the place I recharge my battery, it’s where I remember stuff!

Confucius said, “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – it’s a good mantra to live by don’t you think? I’d like to add “…and with all of your mind.”

In some Asian countries the word for heart is the same as the word for mind. Coincidence? I think not.

If you’ve read any of my previous stuff, I’m always banging on about slowing down and noticing stuff. If you want to read more on this subject try this post.

I’m challenging you to stop being so busy (or at least stop talking about how busy you are), start giving things your undivided attention, start to slow down.

Choose one thing today that you can do and give it your full attention. If your mind wanders, it’s okay. Let the thought pass by and bring your focus back to the job at hand without judgement – that’s mindfulness. Here’s a few easy ideas to try in your everyday routine…

~ eat a meal and truly taste every mouthful ~ go for a walk and really notice stuff ~ give someone your undivided attention ~ in the shower really focus on the water cleansing your body ~ take 5 minutes to just sit in silence ~ brush your teeth and really think about what you’re doing ~

So, let’s set ourselves apart from the crowd – let’s be fully present, mindful and do stuff whilst really thinking about what we’re doing. People will notice (because it’s different to what they’re doing) and you will feel happier and calmer – guaranteed.

Let’s be less busy.

A simple exercise to help in difficult times

April 19, 2016July 2, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 12 Comments

Years ago, I sat at a place called rock bottom and I didn’t know who I was.

I had lost all sense of the person I once was. I was numb for the longest time and wandered aimlessly through my day. I had been stripped bare – the person I once was no longer existed.

Thankfully after some time (the biggest healer), some counselling (difficult but necessary) and a lot of self love (the most important thing you can do for yourself), I started to rebuild a stronger, more authentic version of myself.

As part of this process I questioned everything I used to know or do. Every day I wondered, who I was and who I was going to become?

I knew I wasn’t the person I used to be – grief had literally changed every element of my life and I needed to find myself again.

So I started to write lists.

It was that simple.

In a (sometimes) desperate attempt to regain control and believe that I hadn’t lost my mind, I compiled list after list of things that I knew to be true; lists of my favourite things, how I wanted to look, my values, things that annoyed me, memories, things that made me smile and so on.

It seems so simple looking back – yet these exercises helped me rebuild the ‘new’ version of myself and these exercises helped me believe. Believe that I would survive the storm, that deep down I still knew myself even if it was a different version.

So, why do I share this with you?

Because I know I’m not the only person to have ever gone through this. But I went through it alone and I would have given anything for someone to have shared their story with me. If you can identify with what I’m saying, I want you to know you are not alone and I’m sharing my story with you. Even if these exercises aren’t what you need right now, I want you to believe in something.

Believe you can survive one more day.

Believe you will become strong again.

Believe you are still you deep down – even if you’re having trouble seeing it.

So ask yourself today “What do I believe in?”

Make a simple list of your beliefs, things that are true for you right now. Make it as personal as you like, short as you like, colourful as you like, about whatever you like.

Acknowledge what’s going on for you right now and reflect on what comes to the surface. It’s a starting point. And sometimes that’s enough.

All the answers you’ll ever need are waiting to be realised, waiting to be released.

I said that.

I still make lists, you can read about my love of lists here. But today, I can summarise where I’m at in one beautiful list.

I believe

in a thing called love ~ everything is an opportunity for learning ~ I am enough ~ eventually the sun will shine ~ you should unfriend unfriendliness ~ a kind word can change someone’s day ~ in being true to yourself ~ you need to love yourself first before you can love anyone else ~ being afraid can help you grow ~ you need to work on your self esteem every single day ~ I am going to make mistakes and that’s okay ~ life is to be enjoyed ~ sometimes you need to put yourself first ~ in a little extra effort ~ happiness is a choice ~ excitement should be pursued ~ you know more than you think you do ~ in the magic of a new day ~ inspiration is there to be found ~ life lessons are repeated until you learn them ~ tears are healing ~ you don’t need as many friends as you think you do ~ you should listen to your heart ~ in opportunities ~ I am strong enough ~ other people’s opinion of you is none of your business ~ authenticity is more attractive than perfection ~ gratitude is the key to everything ~

I believe these things with all my heart. They are true for me even if they’re not for you.

What do you believe in?

What is beauty?

April 14, 2016April 14, 2016 ~ Nicky M ~ 2 Comments

Define beauty.

The dictionary states it as something “…that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight:”

For me, beauty is more than pleasing, it’s something that takes my breath away. I feel beauty in a way I can’t always put into words. For me it’s overwhelming. It’s a sight so mesmerising that I can’t look away; a piece of music that brings tears to my eyes; an act of love that makes my insides tingle and my heart swell.

Here is a handful of things that I find truly beautiful…

~ genuine smiles ~ vintage crockery ~ spontaneous gift giving ~ laughter ~ wrapped presents, particularly homemade ones ~ a random text enquiringly after my wellbeing ~ a sunset on the beach ~ movie soundtracks ~ handmade chocolates ~ glass chandeliers ~ fields of wild flowers ~ handwritten notes ~ children’s paintings ~ proper hugs ~ the perfect quote ~

So I ask you, what would you put on your list?

If you’re in a place at the moment, where you feel it’s just too difficult to see anything beautiful – hang in there. Challenge yourself daily, to find one thing that you would call beautiful. It could be as simple as the mug you drink your morning coffee from, a bird flying across your garden or the sun shining through your window.

Beauty is as individual as we are.

What is your idea of beautiful? How can you incorporate more of this in your life?

Have a beautiful day , you beautiful creature.

xoxo