Thank You

In 2015 I (in no particular order):

Recorded some awesome radio with The Sodshow, including special editions from Bloom 2015 in the Phoenix Park. Also I was the Executive Producer for some live sessions from Bloom Fringe in The Powerscourt Townhouse Centre. Something I will always be proud of.

Was invited to do two live cookery demonstrations at Taste of Dublin by Glenisk.

Chaired two judging panels at the Irish Quality Food Awards 2015.

Spoke at a blogging event with We Teach Social on How To Stand Out From The Crowd.

Joined my friend Rory at a blogger’s table for TV3’s The Restaurant for an an episode that will be aired in the New Year (insert nervous titter here).

In August my weekly series of Shopping Tips made the leap from the blog to print media and I joined The Irish Independent Choice Magazine as a regular with the Smart Spender column.

Put some serious work into the allotment layout, grew great fruit and vegetables, reared 2 herds of pigs for the table with the syndicate, and enjoyed sharing what we grew and ate. I didn’t do this on my own I should add!

I was invited by The Irish Times to swap my budget supermarket ways and shop in M&S for a week, then write about it. An article which has generated loads of interest.

Contributed once again to the Lidl Ireland seasonal magazines with my product reviews.

Took my thrifty travel ways across two European countries with my family (more on that again in the New Year).

Continued to work with the great team in Flogas Ireland on the Flogastronomy blog.

There’s far more than that but these are some of my writing/blogging highlights. I’d be here all day if I started listing my family achievements!

Without your support by reading, sharing, and commenting I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish so much. The milestones of the past year seem so long ago now. It was only when I was going through my goals for 2016 that I realised how far I’d come.

The year ahead is filled with more uncertainty than usual for us. Just before Christmas my husband was put on protective notice as his job lost a major client. I’ll admit I’ve shed more than a few tears with sadness and worry over what is to come. This makes me all the more grateful to be able work with my own fantastic clients. I know that we are well prepared for whatever happens, more so than most, thanks to our experiences when I was made redundant 7 years ago now.

The plan for 2016 is not to survive, it’s to thrive, no matter what.

So that’s my word and motto for the year that approaches: THRIVE

I hope that you have had a Happy Christmas and that you have a peaceful New Year celebration.

Thank you.

Caitríona xxx