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2023 is the year I bring written blog articles to the public via the Bloomin Sweet Delights website, please bear with me as I learn along the way how to use WordPress and all the amazing tools, widgets and add ons to show case my long desired passion of writing to the interweb! I am determined to manage this all myself considering I have a University degree in Computers and originally learnt how to code in HTML with the CSS (cascading style sheets) back at the turn of the Millennium - it sure is easier now than 2 decades ago!
What do we Celebrate in Autumn and Why – 2023 Edition
In this 5 minute read (ok, maybe 10 minutes, why not grab a warm drink!), I explore the traditional autumn seasonal celebrations in the UK, adopting the Scandinavian practice of hygge and delve into some of the global traditions during the autumn months.
“Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.” – Emily Brontë.
Autumn is one of the seasons which is similar to Marmite, people seem to either love it or hate it. … … …
21st September 2023
Edible Gifts Catering to Specific Allergies, Diets & Religions
In this 5 minute read, I discuss the considerations a food business like mine need to make for specific dietary requirements. This includes allergies, diet groups such as diabetics or vegans and various religious groups. The UK takes food standards seriously and with the help of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, the Food Standards agency can maintain levels of food business expectations to minimise risk to public health.
As a food business, knowing how to cater for specific allergies and diets forms part of the requirements stipulated by Environmental Health and the Food Standards Agency in the UK. Food businesses now also have to adhere to the principles of Natasha’s Law that came into effect on 1st October 2021 … … …
31st July 2023
What Do We Celebrate in Summer and Why - 2023 Edition
“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight;” – William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Such a beautifully descriptive monologue which accurately portrays the variety of floral blooming that the warm summer sun brings out in Britain … … …
20th June 2023
5 Ways of Being Resourceful with Left Over Packaging
In this 5 minute read, I explain what can be done with the packaging and leftovers from one of my sweet bouquets once the edibles have gone! I’ve been a keen recycler, reuse warrior and waste reducer since I was a pre-teen. Here’s 5 ways to resourcefully repurpose what you can’t eat to avoid increasing landfill waste.
- 1. Recycle the confectionery wrappers
- 2. Reusing the wooden skewers
- 3. Is dry floral oasis recyclable?
- 4. Repurposing the ‘living vase’ box
- 5. A new life for the tissue paper, handmade bow and cellophane wrapper
… … …
25th May 2023
1920s Peaky Blinders Inspired Edible Gifts
In this 5 minute read, I’ll explain not only why I was inspired to make a confectionery collection back in 2018 after watching this award winning television show but why I spent so long researching 1920 sweets and chocolates in order for the products I made to be as authentic to the time period as possible.
How Did A TV Show Inspire Confectionery Products?
My family and friends are used to me getting a little obsessed with TV shows, movies and actors on occasion. As my maternal side of the family hail from the Midlands and grew up alongside the Warwick Racecourse, Peaky Blinders felt familiar and reminiscent of our family history somewhat. The only other fictitious screen work I relate to (based on familiar locations) is the TV show Keeping Up Appearances which was filmed in Coventry, Northampton and Leamington (where I attended college); and the film Killer Elite which travels to Oman (where I spent a large portion of my childhood) … … …
12th April 2023
What do we Celebrate in Spring and Why – 2023 Edition
In this 5 minute read, I’ll discuss the traditional seasonal celebrations in the UK, explore some of the global traditions and a couple of the more unusual things celebrated; as well as why.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold; when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” – Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.
This quote I love! It summarises the truth of the change from Winter to Spring. Perhaps it’s because in early March, certainly in the UK, we see the signs with the emergence of daffodils and crocus popping up through the grass; or tree branches looking decidedly fuller with tiny leaf buds. The sun becomes a warming lamp and we don’t have to scrunch into our coat collars quite so much, let alone wear full arctic garments like scarves, woolly hats and gloves. … … …
5th March 2023
How I started my Sweet Bouquet Side Hustle
In this 5 minute read, I’ll talk about my decision to do this side hustle and some of the legal loopholes and compliance issues I faced.
Bloomin’ Sweet Delights ‘officially’ started in February 2016 after 3 previous failed self-employed ventures and a loss of A LOT of money; one was Jeunesse Global trying to sell skincare & wellness products, the next was a franchise of Cheeki Monkeys for baby & children’s market events, the third being area content person for a website which is now known as Families Online. I particularly enjoyed the last one as it involved writing articles, I love words and relaying information. But none of these were generating any viable income. … … …