Remember Your Dream

So, as of today, we've now had half of 2015. How fast did that go?

I don't really "do" new year's resolutions, I'm more of a "1st September new pencil case" kinda girl, so I can't do a revision of how I'm getting on with the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the year. But I can look back over the past 6 months with a view to seeing if I want to change anything in my life so that I'm can get closer to my dreams by the end of 2015.

It's easy to get swept up in day to day life, caught up everyday minutiae. When you've had a tough day and all you want is a big glass of Chablis and half a pint of Haagen Dazs, it's hard to remember that you want to lose a few pounds. When you've got a million and one things on your to-do list you can easily forget that this year was going to be the year that you finally learn Italian.

Luck: Are you making enough of it?

Mr. Forcella and I recently had a conversation about "Luck". He said that until he had his health scare two years ago he had always considered himself to be a lucky person. I, on the other hand, said that I felt that the only really lucky thing which had ever happened to me was meeting him. I always thought that the good stuff happened to other people, leaving me feeling a little sorry for myself.

Well, what a load of crap - of course I'm lucky. I am unbelievably lucky.

Asparagus & Halloumi Salad

Following the success of my Roast Veg Bruschetta recipe a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd share another of my quick & easy but super tasty dishes with you.

My Asparagus & Halloumi Salad is the perfect way to use all of the delicious asparagus that is currently in season and best of all, when served with a glass of chilled white wine, makes you feel as if you're on holiday.

This is a great vegetarian dish but the halloumi cheese has quite a meaty texture which should satisfy most carnivores!

Bella Forcella Christmas is here!!!

As there's only 6 months to go I have the proud pleasure of introducing to you my new blog: Bella Forcella Christmas!!!

As you well know, Christmas doesn't just happen. No, it takes months of planning, preparation and organisation. Christmas also isn't just a "holiday", it's a feeling - a state of mind, there's a reason why it's called "Christmas Spirit" (and I don't mean Bailey's).

Bella Forcella Christmas will be with you all the way to December 25th inspiring (and calming...) you with innovative decorations, thoughtful gift ideas and practical organisational advice.

You can expect the usual Bella Forcella approach to all things Christmas - lots of cocktails, yummy food, fun outings and plenty of shopping.

From beauty to entertaining and from gifting to decorating, it'll be all wrapped up in a stylish bow over at Bella Forcella Christmas.

Jump over to Bella Forcella Christmas now for the very first post and don't forget to follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and of course, Pinterest!

Point Grey - The Perfect Weekend

Sounding very much like the name of a Bond movie, Point Grey is in actual fact a large cottage in Welburn (near York) owned by my friends Karen and Caroline.

Point Grey - a holiday home, not a Bond movie

You may remember the amazing wedding I went to last year where the brides had created a teepee village in their back garden (Teepee Love). Well, they have now finished converting the house into a luxurious holiday home, which sleeps up to 10 adults in 5 double bedrooms, and invited myself, Mr. Forcella and a few of our other friends up for the weekend to give it a trial run.

Holiday Edit: Cape Verde

9 years ago I had never heard of Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa. Fast forward to 2015 and I have just returned from my 4th holiday there. Mr. Forcella and I love it so much there - the people, the climate, the hospitality - that we have spent 7 of our holiday weeks on the islands since 2012.

I Am 2!!

Two years ago today at 10.39pm I published my first ever Bella Forcella blog post.

I had been wanting to start my own lifestyle blog for nearly a year before I actually gathered together the courage to create my "Blogger" account. I was looking for a creative outlet and as I had always wanted to be a writer, a blog seemed the perfect place to explore further my love of beauty, food and interiors.

I genuinely love writing this blog - I get such a buzz as I create my posts and I hope that you enjoy reading them. I'm so excited about the possibilities of where I can take Bella Forcella and how I can grow it.

Roast Veg Bruschetta

I really like yummy food and I really like to cook, however I don't always have the time or energy to spend ages putting together a tasty meal.

So, what the solution? A list of quick and easy but largely healthy meals that I nearly always have the ingredients in my fridge / cupboard for and will get me and my husband and our guests if we have any fed in the minimum amount of time with the minimum amount of fuss.

Last night we wanted to do a supper for our friends who looked after our house whilst we were on holiday, but because we've just got back I didn't really want to get into cooking an elaborate dish. Enter - Roast Veg Bruschetta.