Tara's Busy Kitchen (and other stories)

Food, recipes and my life

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4th May 2015 480 × 640 IMG_1794

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taraskitchen75

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Put a smile on your face and the faces of many others by shopping small this Saturday. It’s #smallbusinesssaturday everybody so get out and spend a few pounds in the not so big stores. The stores in your towns and city which are the beating heart of your community. Pounds spent in smaller, independently owned shops instantly make an impact. I have found that you always get great service mostly because you deal directly with the shop owner. Don’t forget that shopping small is more than heading to your local store. There are businesses that offer a service like @willow_wellbeing and her aromatherapy massage and reflexology or @ombexeter who offer a skill like learning to bake delicious breads and pastries. (They do vouchers btw 😉) If you find yourself out shopping for your Christmas gifts today you will find that most stores will gift wrap free of charge for you which is a win win wouldn’t you say? That’s an evening back that you would have spent Christmas wrapping that you could spend down at your local pub!! Once again putting money back into your community. #cheers 🍻
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#smallbusiness #chocolate #independent #independentbusiness #womeninbusiness #saturday #weekend #weekendvibes #christmas #christmasshopping #shopsmall #tarasbusykitchen #localbusiness #community #communityspirit #mypassion #friends #giftwrapping #elfontheshelf #highstreet photo credit @angel.wade 💗 and @chloeuptonstudio 💗 (Contains businesses that I have worked with over the years blogging. I have never been paid to post for them but have received gifts by way of thanks.)

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Lunching done right. .
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Truffles ✔️
Beetroot✔️
Cheese✔️
Greens✔️
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Doesn’t it look good? I miss girlie lunches with a cheeky glass of something cold and dry. I need to get some dates in my diary. Anyone free?💚💗💛
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#newyorkcity #eataly #eatallthefood #girlswhoeat #newyorkfood #newyork #lunch #lunchdate #italian #holiday #holidays #vacation #italianfood #food #foodie #tarasbusykitchenontour #thepineapplethief #sistersquad #usa #girls #downtown

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Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I have never really been one to get caught up in the hype when it comes to Christmas. I tend to leave things to the last minute when it comes to decorating and celebrating. The only thing I start early is my mince pie consumption! 🤣 🥧😂 I believe that it shouldn’t be about how much we spend and what we get but about spending time with the people that are important to us. That’s why I will be gifting items that I have made, have found in secondhand and vintage stores or are made locally and sustainably by talented artisans purchased in independent stores. I don’t know about you but I would much rather open a present that someone had spent time making or searching for in a secondhand shop. Time = Love 💜
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How do you feel about Christmas? Are your decorations up? Have you just started buying gifts or are you done, dusted and wrapped? 🎁
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This is little old me doing a bit of Christmas reconnaissance through the spectacular Christmas window display at @ngngdesign 🎄
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#christmas #christmastree #wreath #shopping #vintage #secondhandfirst #homemadegifts #giving #artofgiving #throughthewindow #winter #presents #giftideas #gift #sharethelove #peaceandlove #greenery #sharethelove #special #exeter #moments #timeislove

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This time last week I was lunching in style at @osteriadellapace in and amongst the food lovers dream of @eatalydowntown - My sister and I had a delicious lunch of octopus carpaccio, pappardelle with mushrooms and truffle and a chicory and beetroot salad. Seriously great food and service with a seriously good view over downtown New York. Not a bad last meal to have in NYC! .
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#eataly #eatalynyc #eatnewyork #newyork #newyorkcity #foodie #italian #italianfood #fresh #tripofalifetime #vacation #citybreak #holiday #lastmeal #visitnewyork #timeoutnewyork #downtownnewyork #tarasbusykitchenontour #tarasbusykitchen #momentsofmine #mylife #family

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True words today of all days.. it’s freezing! 🥶 I recommend a hot chocolate and Strictly on catch up! .
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#hygge #cosy #wrapup #momentslikethese #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorkstyle #sweaterweather #hyggelife #newyorkminute #holiday #sunday #momentsofmine #darlingmovement #darlingweekend #hotchocolate #vacationmode #weekendmood #weekendgetaway #tarasbusykitchen #wintersun

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Who said it was #blackfriday ? Not here chum! 💗🧡💜
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#mynewyork #timeoutnewyork #newyork #groundzero #worldtradecentre #prettycitynewyork #vintage #vintageclothing #secondhand #borrowed #autumnalvibes #newyorker #newyorkmodel #newyorklife #newyorkexplored #visitnewyork #momentsofmine #darlingweekend #weekending #vacation #holiday #newyorkstyle #newyorkststeofmind #brooklyn #secondhandfirst

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It’s Black Friday; you can’t have missed it! How about we make Black Friday #indiefriday ? If we all purchased something from a local, independent shop today (and beyond) it would boost the local economy and make lots of very hard working people extremely happy. Who’s with me? 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️
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Here’s a few, not all of the independent establishments I have visited or shopped with online and at various pop-ups throughout the year that I love and hope you will love and support too. They are all tagged! (No, I am not getting paid to sponsor these businesses by the way. I just love them all for their uniqueness.) .
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Exeter and the surrounding area has a wealth of gorgeous independent business owners that make this city what it is. These people and many, many more are the heart and soul of our towns, villages and cities. Whilst you are out and about shopping today stop in for great service and something a little bit different. They may not be able to compete with the bigger names on the high street in terms of discounts but you will feel a hell of a lot better for shopping with them. Trust me. 🧡
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#inexeter #indieexeter #blackfriday #independent #independentbusiness #shoplocal #highstreet #tarasbusykitchenpresents #devon #curated #consiousshopping #giveback #doingmybit #artist #artisan #jewellery #motherandbaby #gifting #giftideas #christmas #christmasshopping

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Happy Thanksgiving to my friends across the pond. @natashaljeffery I hope you are having a great time with your dad visiting and @paigekmoore_ I hope you find time to spend with your loved ones. I wish I could have experienced just a few more days in the big city so I could have been part of the celebrations. I love the way New York is embracing autumn with so many festive stoop displays. Makes me think I should up my decorating game. #stoopenvy .
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#thanksgiving #happythanksgivng #happyholidays #newyorkstateofmind #newyorklife #newyork #newyorker #chelsea #manhattan #pumpkin #autumn #holiday #vacation #weekend #momentsofmine #momentslikethese #mylife #tarasbusykitchen #tarasbusykitchenontour #america #colours #festive #family #friends #visitnewyork #timeoutnewyork

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It’s been a week since I boarded my flight to New York. Where has that time gone? Since arriving home Tuesday lunch time I have hit the ground running with work and it almost feels like I was there weeks ago. As I had to make my way home for my students ballet exams I missed out on experiencing a real American family thanksgiving, so to all my chums across the pond I wish you health and happiness today. .
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Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge on the sunniest of Saturdays as a mega Sex And The City fan back in the day made me feel strangely emotional. Do you remember In the first movie when Steve and Miranda meet halfway to show each other how much they wanted their marriage to work.. Well, that’s all I could think about. I know it’s not reality but watching the movie again a few weeks ago I was in floods of tears and that story made a real impact on me as i walked across with @estellashardlow . I guess the amazing skyline views might have helped too! 🏙
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#newyork #newyorkcity #newyorker #newyorknewyork #newyorkfashion #newyorklife #skyline #cityscape #brooklyn #brooklynbridge #sexandthecity #emotion #thrifting #momentsofmine #darlingweekend #thatsdarling #autumn #nofilter #view #blogger #foodie #tarasbusykitchen #tarasbusykitchenontour #thanksgiving

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© Tara Smith 2018