One winner – over £585 worth of prizes!
This week sees two significant milestones in my life. First, my blog turned five years old! I can’t believe the time has gone by so quickly since I first started sharing recipe posts as a hobby (read: procrastination from university study!), to blogging, freelance writing and recipe development becoming my full time job.
Secondly, I turn 40 this week. As I type this I am in the final hours of my 30’s and, if I am to be honest, I’m approaching this birthday with a degree of reluctance. I don’t know why, but I am not keen on the whole idea of turning 40. I know I’ll wake up on my birthday and things won’t be any different than they were the day before, except I’ll be a little bit older, but still…. heading into my fifth decade makes me want to squeeze out a few little tears.
So! To celebrate these events, because they are definitely celebration-worthy, I have reached out to brands I have worked with over the last five years to offer you this…. The Mega Blog Birthday Giveaway!
To enter, simply scroll to the bottom and enter via Rafflecopter. You’ll have to leave a blog post comment to unlock the rest of the entry options. I’d love it if you left a comment to help cheer me up about this whole turning 40 thing. The more ridiculous the comment the better as I have a strange sense of humour. 🙂
PROWARE KITCHEN MINI PAN SET WITH MINI LADLE
I have been using the ProWare Kitchen Copper Tri-Ply pots and pans set in my kitchen since the summer of 2013 and I honestly, hand on heart, love this entire range to bits. The copper exterior of my set has aged beautifully over the years (I’ve never brought them back to their original shine, preferring the aged copper look), while the stainless steel cooking surfaces are still just as good quality as the day they arrived.
I’ve worked with many different pots and pans brands over the years and have noticed that over time that non-stick surfaces eventually flake off, handles loosen and fall off, or the pans warp (if you drop them!), but the ProWare range – impeccable, still, and they’ve been well used – daily! It’s well worth the investment.
ProWare have kindly offered one of their mini pan sets with a mini ladle worth £83 for this mega blog birthday giveaway. This includes their Copper Tri-Ply 9 cm Mini Pan £19; their Copper Tri-Ply 10 cm Mini Casserole £29; their Copper Tri-Ply 12 cm Mini Frying Pan £17 and their silver plated stainless steel Mini Ladle £16.
FINE ITALY – THE TUSCAN MENU
I have been on a culinary tour of Italy over these last few months, sampling the various menus from Fine Italy. I have been saving this one, the Tuscan Menu, for my 40th birthday celebrations. Each menu delivery comes with everything you need to prepare a complete four course meal for four people, with wine, without having to add any other ingredients. It’s packed into a fantastic wooden crate too, with the Fine Italy logo burned onto the outside.
Cooking instructions are very simple, meaning I can take the day off in my kitchen on my birthday and have my husband and children prepare a dinner of the finest regional specialities from the Tuscan region of Italy.
Fine Italy have very kindly offered one of my readers the chance to enjoy this menu too.
For the starter you will enjoy sun dried tomatoes and black olive pate on olive oil bruschetta along with pork salami cured in hemp leaves. For the first course, penne pasta with a spicy arrabbiata tomato sauce. For the second course, slow cooked Chianina beef; the best meat in Tuscany prepared to a traditional recipe. For dessert, almond biscotti and cherries in Fresia wine syrup. To serve throughout the meal, Tuscan wine: a classic Chianti Classico red. RRP £54.78
If a four course meal is too much you can now order a main with a dessert from only £3.49 per person. Visit their website to find out more.
GRANA PADANO CHEESE AND PROSCUITTO DI SAN DANIELE
Did you know that Grana Padano cheese was invented by Benedictine monks who wanted to find a way to preserve surplus milk? Dating back to 1100 AD its quality reputation quickly spread and it was served at both Renaissance banquets held by princes and dukes as well as being a main source of nourishment for people in rural areas.
Proscuitto di San Daniele is cured in San Daniele del Fruili where the sea breeze off the Adriatic meets the winds from the Alps, the morainic hills curb humidity and the Tagliamento river regulates the temperature. This results in the perfect microclimate to preserve the thigh meat of selected Italian pigs.
Using only sea salt and traditional techniques dating back for centuries, the result gives us a prosciutto
that is delicate to the taste and so soft to palate that it melts in the mouth. Its aroma grows more persistent as maturing progresses.
Both Grana Padano cheese and Proscuitto di San Daniele have been recognised by the European Union as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products since 1996, and they have kindly offered one of my readers the chance to win one of their taster gift boxes worth approximately £10.
PRENDIME BAR FROM AMEDEI TUSCANY
Amedei Tuscany, founded in 1990, was born from Tuscan-born Cecilia Tessieri’s vision and love of chocolate. Cecilia has embarked on a mission to make Italian chocolate the most exquisite chocolate possible. After a number of apprenticeships between France, Belgium and Germany and having always had a desire to find the world’s best cocoa beans and a continual search for perfection has resulted in her being the only woman in the world to hold the renowned title of Maitre Chocolatier, and producing the six-time winner of the Academy of Chocolate’s Golden Bean award.
Amedei chocolate has received cult-like status amongst chefs and chocolate aficionados, especially considering it is one of the only Italian chocolate companies to have control over the entire production line, from cocoa bean to the finished product. Amedei chocolate is not only delicious, it is pure and as healthy as chocolate can be. Cecilia has managed to eliminate the use of soy lecithin and conservatives.
Amedei is available online and at Fortnum & Mason, Liberty’s, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.
They have very kindly offered one of my readers the chance to win their Prendimé Bar – a 500 gram slab of chocolate the size of a computer keyboard – perfect for smashing into pieces and sharing at the dining table (or not!). RRP approximately £25.
MIRRIE DANCERS CHOCOLATE BOX
Mirrie Dancers is a new quality chocolatier based on our wild and remote Shetland Islands, run by my friend Dave Williams. Locally, the Northern Lights are known as the Mirrie Dancers and this chocolatier aims to capture their magic in the palm of your hand. A wide variety of delicious flavours are currently available, with more being added regularly.
For the Christmas season he’s come up with some rather fantastic chocolate ideas including some festive chocolate Christmas baubles, and then there’s his very popular ‘chorcas’, Belgian chocolate orcas. If you’re looking for a unique gift idea this Christmas season this would work perfectly.
Mirrie Dancers have very kindly offered a box of 12 northern lights-inspired chocolates worth £12 as a prize.
BarWise™ Bottle Opener Gift Set from Joesph Joesph
BarWise™ is a stylish range of innovative bar tools from Joesph Joesph that revolutionises the way you open bottles. The intuitive design of each product makes opening capped or corked bottles far easier than with conventional openers.
The easy-to-use design of their BarWise™ Corkscrew makes removing corks from bottles a doddle. Simply push the corkscrew down onto the neck of the bottle, grip the sides and wind the handle clockwise to drive the screw into the cork. Continue winding and the cork is removed effortlessly, without the need to lever or pull it out like a conventional corkscrew. It also features integrated twin foil cutters.
Their handy Magnetic Bottle Opener features a unique 360° stainless-steel opening edge that means you can prise off bottle caps from any angle. Once off, the magnetic head can hold up to 4 bottle caps at a time.
This BarWise™ Bottle Opener Gift Set from Joesph Joesph retails for £20.
DINNER AT PIZZA EXPRESS
I get invited to all sorts of fantastic events all over the UK, and even further abroad. Seriously, I was invited to an event in New York once! Unfortunately, living as remotely as I do transportation costs (and the time it takes) are prohibitively expensive so I have to regretfully decline nearly all of these invitations.
I recently received an invitation to taste test the new Christmas menu at my nearest Pizza Express. Unfortunately, said venue is 218.1 miles away, with most of those miles being open sea. So, Pizza Express have kindly offered for one of my readers to go in my place!
This Christmas, Pizza Express has well and truly mastered the art of indulgence. Their delicious Porchetta Natale Romana pizza boasts a succulent pulled, seasoned hog roast topping with a sage and onion rosemary herb stuffing while their Cauliflower Cheese and Cauliflower E Carne Cheese Romana pizza recipes put an unexpected twist on traditional winter comfort foods. For sweet toothed dough lovers, Snowball Dough Balls are by popular demand and to wash it all down, sample the sumptuous Mulled Sloe Gin.
Pizza Express have very kindly offered my readers to win a £50 voucher for their nearest Pizza Express restaurant, although by the time this giveaway ends their Christmas menu may be finished, but still… free pizza!
In the meantime, why don’t you play their #shakethetree game on messenger – you might win a prize!
5.7 LITRE CROCK POT
I use my Crock Pot, a lot. I find it’s the perfect kitchen appliance for slow cooking tougher cuts of meat, and especially those strange little flappy bits of Shetland lamb that somehow end up in my freezer every year (I buy a lamb for the freezer and that’s always the last bit to be cooked).
Crock Pot have very kindly offered one of their new 5.7 litre slow cookers as a prize to one of my readers. This new model has the lid attached so you don’t have to worry about condensation dripping onto your countertop when your meal is ready, it simply falls back into the bowl.
Their larger bowl is ideal for larger families with busy lifestyles – effortlessly feeding 5-6 people. Simply place all the ingredients in, select high or low and get on with your day. Your meal will be ready when you return and you can serve it straight from the slow cooker bowl! Win! RRP £35.99
CIRIO TOMATO GOODIE BAG
Hhrrrmm…. there appears to be a bit of an Italian theme going on here! I’ve been cooking with Cirio tomatoes now for quite some time. I confess, before I tasted the wide variety of tinned and jarred tomato products from Cirio I would only cook with the lower end supermarket range.
That was until I learned the difference that quality makes to home cooking, and I’m a firm Cirio convert now. My favourite? Their pomodorino cherry tomatoes. Heavenly!
Cirio have very kindly offered a goodie bag of their products for this mega giveaway including: 1 x tin Cirio chopped tomatoes; 1 tetra pack Cirio chopped tomatoes; 1 x jar of Cirio passata; 1 x tin Cirio peeled plum tomatoes; 1 x tin Cirio Filetti tomatoes; 1 x tin Cirio Datterini tomatoes; 1 x Cirio keyring; 1 x Cirio trolley disc; 1 x Cirio apron and 1 x Cirio shopper bag with an approximate value of £20.
REDMOND MULTICOOKER RMC-280E
This innovative product – the multicooker REDMOND RMC-280E – was introduced into the European market in 2014. This irreplaceable kitchen helpmate can save you time and money, replacing a whole range of kitchen appliances such as a stove, oven, slow cooker, steamer, bread maker, deep fryer, yoghurt maker and many others.
I’ve been working with one of their older models for a few years now (currently on a pre-Christmas offer for only £33!) and I’m really impressed with the versatility of the product, as well as the ease of storage. You can quite literally cook anything in these multicookers – the perfect kitchen appliances for smaller kitchens, or even for caravans.
This particular model comes equipped with 51 cooking programmes, time delay and keep warm functions, a five litre non stick ceramic bowl and a programmable choice of time and temperature settings from 35 – 175 C.
It also comes with a cookbook developed by Redmond chefs, with 100 delicious recipes from European cuisine. RRP £175
SoundPEATS True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth V4.2 Twins Stereo Sound Headset
I like to listen to music while I’m working or cooking away in my kitchen. Everyone puts on Marilyn Manson or System of a Down when they bake a cake, no? Over the years I’ve reviewed several SoundPeats products including some of their earlier wireless headphones and (my favourite) their portable P2 bluetooth speaker (£15.99). This speaker has come in handy outside of my kitchen recently as our car stereo has decided to randomly switch on and off, constantly, draining our car battery, so it’s had to be disconnected. Trips into town are now made musical through this speaker and my iPhone play list.
SoundPEATS have kindly offered one of their newest wireless bluetooth headsets as a prize to celebrate this month. The SoundPEATS True Wireless Earbuds Bluetooth V4.2 Twins Stereo Sound Headset means no more cables getting trapped in your clothes or on things while you move about, and the bluetooth technology ensures crystal clear sound and stable connectivity.
I haven’t yet tried these myself (my set are currently on their way), but given how impressed I’ve been with their other products I’m sure these won’t disappoint. I’m planning on giving them to my teenage son for his Christmas present as he seems to like to plug himself in when he does the washing up. RRP £59.99
CHOCOLATE GIFT BOXES
Escapade PR have offered to send out one of each of the Malteser Gift Boxes, Mars and Snickers Gift Boxes and an M&M’s Large Gift Box.
The Maltesers gift box contains: three bags of Maltesers, two Maltesers Treat Bags, four Maltesers Teasers Bars and a box of Maltesers. RRP £13 from Next.
The Mars and Snickers Gift Box contains: three Mars bars, three Mars Duo bars, three Snickers bars, three Snickers Duo bars and a Mars Funsize pack. RRP £13 from Next.
The M&M’s Large Gift Box contains: three bags of M&M’S Chocolate, a bag of M&M’S Crispy, two bags of M&M’S Peanut, an M&M Peanut Treat Bag, an M&M Chocolate Treat Bag and an M&M Crispy Pouch. RRP £13 from Next.
WONDERFUL ALMONDS & PISTACHIOS
In the San Joaquin Valley in California, the warm days and cool nights work in harmony with the region’s naturally rich soils to create perfect growing conditions for the perfect snack — nuts that are heart-healthy and a good source of fiber, loved by consumers around the globe.
Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds is the world’s largest grower and processor of almonds and pistachios; in tandem with their Grower Partners, they farm 125,000 sunny acres that deliver 450 million pounds of nuts.
Their speciality crops are grown, processed and marketed under one entity: Wonderful Pistachios & Almonds, ensuring the finest quality every step of the way — from their trees to our hearts.
They have offered two packets of almonds and two packets of pistachios as part of this giveaway prize. Approximate value: £8.
MEGA BLOG BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY
To celebrate my blog (and my own!) birthdays, all of the above clients have offered to provide giveaway prizes for a total prize value of over £585! Prizes include: a ProWare Kitchen Mini Pan Set + Mini Ladle RRP £83; the Tuscan menu from Fine Italy RRP £54.78; a Grana Padano and Proscuitto di San Daniele gift box worth £10; a box of Mirrie Dancers chocolates worth £13; a BarWise™ Bottle Opener Gift Set from Joesph Joesph RRP £20; a £50 voucher for Pizza Express; a 5.7 litre Crock Pot worth £35.99; a Cirio Goody Bag worth £20; a Redmond Multicooker worth £175; a pair of SoundPEATS headphones worth £59.99 and a snack goodie bag from Escapade PR worth approximately £10 Edit: this has been upgraded to three chocolate gift boxes and four packets of Wonderful Almonds & Pistachios worth £47. EDIT 2 – Amedei Tuscany are also giving away one of their Prendime Bars worth £25!
Simply fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter!
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win the Mega Blog Birthday Giveaway worth over £585 enter using the Rafflecopter form below. Come back and tweet about the giveaway every day for more chances to win!
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This giveaway is open to UK entries only. Entrants must be age 18 or over. The winner will need to respond within 30 days of being contacted; failure to do this may result in another winner being selected.
The prizes are offered and provided by each of the individual companies listed above. The prize is to win the Mega Blog Birthday Giveaway worth over £585. There is no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable.
There is no entry fee and no purchase is necessary to enter this giveaway.
The promoter (Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary) reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.
Entry into our giveaways will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If you need some help using Rafflecopter, here’s a quick clip to show you how. Rafflecopter will pick the winner at random from all the entries received. I will be verifying entries. Any automated entries or those who have claimed they have made the mandatory blog post comment and really haven’t will be disqualified. It’s mandatory! Please make sure your comment is eight words or longer or Google views it as spam and this negatively affects my spam score. All entries with comments fewer than the mandatory 8 words will be disqualified and deleted.
Closing date is midnight (that’s 00:00 hours, 12 am on Sunday night/Monday morning) on Monday 2 January 2017 (GMT). The winner will be announced shortly afterwards.
SHARING WITH SOME BLOGGING LINKIES
Dream & Sparkle by Sparkles at Midnight
Disclosure: this is not a paid post, although Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary has received review items from all of the above companies over the course of the last five years.
Dennis Bowman
The Proware Kitchen Mini Pan Set with Mini Ladle sounds like the perfect kitchen companion! The idea of having a set specifically designed for small servings is both adorable and practical. I can already envision whipping up delightful single-serve dishes with this set – a kitchen investment that promises both efficiency and charm!
Rebecca MacBain
Happy birthday!!!
katrina cristofoli
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.. MAKE MY BIRTHDAY FOR ME
YAY.. WOULD LOVE TO WIN FOR ONCE. XXXXXX
Joanne Exley
Happy Birthday
Remember 40 is the new 18
Zoe Dickinson
Congratulations on coming this far! Such a great blog that I will continue to read for as long as you continue to post! 🙂
Dawn Andrews
Happy birthday.
Tina L-D
Happy Birthday and congratulations on the blog, always enjoy it
Andrea Goodheart
I turn 55 in two days and yet I still remember when 39 became 40 and it did feel a big deal! Nevertheless, I could still wear a bikini, get up off the floor without making a groaning noise and make it through the night without needing to get up to go for a wee so if you can still do all these things I suggest you just continue to enjoy being 40! 😉
Leanne Bell
Happy Birthday
Live,
Love,
Laugh
& Learn!!! Best wishes x
Mandy S
Well time to put away the face creams as your eyesight starts going and glasses only make your wrinkles look bigger…from someone who has turned 50 but feels like and wishes was 40 again. Best wishes x
Wendy Tolhurst
Happy Birthday – if the average woman lives to 84 years, you are not even halfway there yet, so you can’t even be considered middle aged! Also, with all the recent media coverage about people in their forties and fifties being at risk of either insufficient exercise, being overweight or drinking too much, you still have time to make sure you don’t become a statistic!!!
SUSAN L HALL
When i was in my 40’s i thought it was all doom and gloom as all i ever seemed to attend was Funerals i thought OMG is this the way my life is going to be from now on? Now ive started my 50’s it has all changed round again as this year ive already got 5 weddings to attend ( including my son’s) and friends children have babies on the way so may get invited to Christenings. Goes to Show Life gets better with age Have a wonderful New year and Birthday
Mark Turner
Just remember that life begins at 40
Jayne K
You’re not forty – you’re £39.95 plus postage & packing 😉
Louise Whittaker
I turned 40 in October and love it! My 20’s I was a workaholic, 30’s had my kids and bought my house, now I’m a chilled out young lady 🙂 middle aged is another 20 years away in my opinion
Donna Sadler
They do say Life begins at 40! I believe all us ladies are like fine wines…we improve with age! Ive always followed what my gran told me: Plenty and 20, Dirty at 30, Naughty at 40, Nifty at 50, be thankful when you get to 60 lol. Im 38 this year, roll on the naughty 40s! lol
Ruth Llewellyn
Happy birthday to you and happy new year 🙂
Natasha Whitehead
Amazing prize. Happy New Year.
Tasha Hamilton and
Happy birthday and all the best in 2017
katrina adams
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday dear Mega Food, Happy Birthday to you.
Diane Duggan
There’s a lot to be said for being 40 – no acne, more confidence, less likely to get pregnant.
Keeley Shaw
Happy 40th birthday. I hear 40 is the new 20! Well my tablet is so slow I’ll be 60 by the time I’ve finished writing this. Have a good one and live life to the full. x
Leanne Perrett
happy birthday and happy 40th i was 40 a few months back myself and when i was young that scared me getting to 40 but today i feel the same as i did 2 years ago except now im a little rounder than before and a little grayer 🙂
Michelle Sykes
Smile, everything goes South from now on – but with a smile life is amazing
SAMANTHA SCHOFIELD
OH MY CONGRATULATIONS AND I HOPE IT IS THE BEST YET.
SORRY ITS SIMPLE
Teresa Sheldon
Happy Birthday sweetie love reading your blog I’ve tried and like many of your recipes and remember your not 40 your 18 with 22 years of Fabulous experience
Here’s to the next wonderful 40, by which time your chair will have more controls than your car
alison clark
No wise words but I do hope that you don’t have a complete melt down like I did when I turned 30! – 40 is the year after next and I don’t think that will bother me at all .
jen lloyd
Happy Birthday… they say life begins at 40 so embrace it and have fun!
Rachel B
Happy BIrthday! Age is just a number….
Fiona jk42
Happy birthday. I remember my 40s as being great, I was still (relatively) fit, healthy and had loads of energy. Enjoy your 40s and have lots of fun.
olivia kirby
Happy Birthday! I’m 40 in 27 days! I’m hoping it’ll be my best year yet!
Leeanne Clifford
It might sound incredibly clichéd but things really do click into place in your forties!
I feel less bothered by what others think now and I have become a better person because of it.
Happy birthday and embrace your forties. I’m 42 now and love it!
Xx
Carol Emmett
Well, life expectancy has gone up so in reality you are probably turning 30. And if life expectancy keeps increasing then you may never reach 40 – it will just keep hovering in front of you.
Lorna-Jane Holland
Happy Birthday! I’m afraid I can’t comment on life in a fourth decade as I’m still a fair way off reaching that milestone, but I always think that it’s important to live life to the full, no matter what your age. Happy New Year!
Danielle pooley
Happy birthday!! I hope you get truly spoiled 🙂
Sarah Rowland
iv heard the 4th decade is one of the best! im just new into the 3rd decade and enjoying what iv got so far….life is good and all the best for 2017 xx
Lynne O'Connor
Congratulations and Happy Birthday. 40 is a great age, if a distant memory for me. You’ll find you no longer spend time preoccupied by what others think and can just get on with life
Claudia Carroll
I am headed for my 40th in 2017 too so you’re not alone. I just hope to enjoy the time I have with the people I love!
Claire Jones
Happy Birthday! Loving the blog and 40 is just a number
Alisa Moore
Someone told me recently ‘Age doesn’t matter unless you’re a cheese’!
Lauren Old
Happy birthday and keep up the fantastic work you do on your blog! 🙂
Samantha Parkes
Congratulations and happy new year. Wishing you every success in 2017 with your amazing blog.
Wendy Guy
Smile, relax and enjoy.
Sheri Darby
Happy Birthday – you know that 40 is the new 20 don’t you!!!!
Jacqueline Mclean
Happy New Year x
Cal at Family Makes
Happy birthday. Your 40’s are the best decade – still young enough to do most things, but wiser and with more confidence and love!
Kyomi Johnson
Congratulations and happy birthday to you and a very happy new year
tamalyn roberts
happy birthday xx
denise s
being 40 is great , you have experience wiseness ,learnt from mistakes and feel confident about yourself. engoy this decade, do fun things
DENISE W
It’s not as bad as starting your sixth! Happy birthday being forty is great children are almost grown up and nearly off your hands ( they never are I lied there would’t have any other way ) your older enough to know better now and not get into scrapes ( I lied there too, it all seemed a good idea at the time) Embrace being 40 its lots of fun its time for a little me time enjoy, life does’t have to change because of a number Happy Birthday!
Gemma Holland
As we get older contentment increases. Have a great birthday!
katherine s
Happy birthday!! I hope you have a wonderful year!
Collette Mackey
Happy birthday at least you’re not fifty lol
Joanna Ford
Happy New Year
Jen Dawson
Fabulous blog! just stumbled across you today for the first time 🙂 I read your story and for one stranger to another, i’m really proud of you! I know that might sound weird but having the courage to even get online and share recipes as a hobby takes confidence, but to then develop it as you have and make it a career you love is fantastic! it’s inspiring to read and i’m looking forward to delving into your website more 🙂
Good luck for the future in developing your dream further and be proud of all you’ve achieved!
Jen x
Mel Evans
Wow, what a brilliant giveaway. Happy Birthday, age ain’t nothing but a number!
Jamie Millard
happy birthday!
Eileen Tingle
Helen Keller — ‘I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet’
Remember this in all your dealings and you won’t go far wrong – Happy birthday x
Paula Phillips
I’ll try a joke –
What’s the difference between a snow man and a snow woman – snow balls.
Emma Schofield
Exactly what I will be next birthday so you are not alone lol. I’m having a massive kids party to rebel having a bouncy castle and all sorts x
Sheila Reeves
40 is a breeze, found it easier than turning 39 – and just look what you have done in the last five years – your 40’s will be brilliant!!
Angela Paull
A big birthday is an extra special excuse for a celebration. I share with you my favourite food based joke for the occasion. What do you call an ape with whipped egg whites on his head? A Meeang-Utan
Jo Farnsworth
Happy birthday!! Hope you have a great time and thanks for the chance with a great giveaway!
Rose Elise
Many congratulations! And here’s a joke for the smile: What did the Stilton say to the Cheddar? Tell me something cheesy because I’m feeling blue!
Weeeell… it’s not FUNNY but I hope you smiled wryly at its ridiculousness!
Natalie White
Congratulations on being 5ish!
I think you should celebrate with 5 cookies and 5 glasses of wine 🙂
Sarah Chappell
I love being in my 40s best time ever
Rachelle Morgan
Happy birthday for this week, 40 is the new 30 they say
Yvonne Wilkinson
40 is good. it’s the age when you start to not worry what other people thin
Valerie Seal
If you thought being a teenager was tough, try being a parent of one!
Happy Birthday!
sallyanne rose
best decade – enjoy x
Annette Oliver
You’re not even middle aged yet
Margaret Lee-Roberts
One day you will look back and wish you were 40!
Ellen Stafford
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday. Hope you have an amazing time and thanks for the fabtastic blog.
ELLEN DARLINGTON
Happy Birthday. 40 is the new 20 – more confidence more wisdom! Congratulations on your 4th decade of your blog
Here’s to the next four decades
Chirag Patel
happy birthday it’s only a number and your as young as you feel
Lucy Carter
Happy Birthday, they say 40 is the new 30!
samantha buntain
Happy 4th Decade and Happy New Year 🙂
Gillian York
Happy birthday and a Happy New Year
Nat thomason
This comp mad me smile what wonderful tasty prizes I would share with all the family
sandy ralph
happy birthday, its true life does begins at 40. well I have found this to be true, it seems that confidence comes out big time, and you have more time for yourself and your husband as the kids are growing up and more independent
Beryl drake
Congratulations on being 40 , you have reached the age of experience
Alix boswell
Happy belated Birthday, 40 is the new 30!
samantha currie
love the blog
Gillian McClelland
Life begins at 40. You can seize the day and make of life whatever you desire, reach for the stars. life is for living
David Hides
great blog, happy 2017
Debbie Preston
40 is only a number. Enjoy your life and have fun
Ian Campbell
The world’s an oyster, a mine of possibility, think about that when you next make some tea!
Rebecca Howells (@PeanutHog)
Happy Birthday – enjoy your celebrations. You are only as old as you feel.
Tracey Jane Harman
Happy Birthday to you and it would be a fantastic one for me too if I was lucky enough to win this totally amazing Prize ,,And no worries at 40 you’re still a spring chicken , me on the other hand not so much its not the age that’s doing it though its the fact I’m about to turn 49 and have 9 grandchildren !
sharon
I am 47 and I am still waiting for life to begin ! I have a passion for food like your self and feel that I not only have to eat food I see but dream food also !! Have fun and enjoy life.
Jenny Jones
Happy Birthday and happy New Year! The funny thing about age is that the more you think about it, the older you feel.
christine westlake
Remember life does not begin till you reach 40!!
lia sturman
40 is the new 30 🙂
Susan Jackson
40 is just 18 with 22 years more experience, Happy Birthday
Allan Fullarton
Your blog is fantastic – happy birthday.
Amanda Gregory
Happy personal birthday and happy birthday to you for the blog. What a fab achievement. You’ve got lots of great fans, which is so well deserved. That’s something to be very proud of as you turn 40. Congratulations. Thanks for the lovely giveaway too.
Emma Fox
You’re not alone – I begin my 40th decade soon too 🙂
Rebecca Powell
Congratulations on your 40th birthday!! I love your blog
Julie Camm
Just enjoy, you have more confidence in yourself in your forties, and your best friends by now will be mostly long-term who you can laugh with, moan and have a rant about things with occasionally, but mainly have fun with and together with them you never feel like you’ve hit forty, in fact you feel like you’ve never grown up!
L P Mulligan
Lt life now truly begin!
Sheena Read
Your blog is fantastic
Sheila Hodgson
May the force be with you at FORTY
Emma
Happy birthday. They say that Life begins at 40! Enjoy it.
Emma
Life begins at 40!
Jane Skarratt
The older you get the more you can say what you think
adrian price
FORTY ITS THE NEW 30
Elizabeth Harbron
You learn something new every day so the older you get the better!
Joanne Hutchings
Happy returns! Just remember life begins at 40 and it’s the perfect opportunity to look back on all you’ve achieved and all the good things still to come.
Helen Metcalfe
I dreaded turning 40 and made sure we were are on holiday when it happened to soften the blow. I woke up on my birthday and guess what? I didnt feel any different. Its really painless!!
Martina Alban
I love reading your blog , you are my inspiration in many things
Oksana Fitzgerald
Happy birthday!!!! May all your wishes come true
Ailsasheldon
Have low expectations and keep moving forward!
Lucy Chester
Happy birthday to you, I am finishing mine and have to say they have been great and I have enjoyed them all and come and join me on the journey, you will not regret it
Jackie Osborne
The older you get the faster times goes by. You only have one life so go for it, live life to the full. Your life is what you make it.
Rachael O'Brien
I felt this way turning 30 ! Now I’m 34 I feel wiser and ready for 40’s your still young ! Plus it’s only a number . In my head I’m still 15! Would love to win this year is all about spoiling myself and being as happy as possible this will definitely help ! Xx
Petra Hora
Amazing news.
Petra Hora
Perfect news!
Rebecca roberts
Happy birthday happy new year and happy blogging keep up the fantastic work
Katie Thomas
You’re only as old as the person you feel 🙂
Julie Edwards
Happy birthday!!! Life DOES begin at 40!!!
Jackie Roberts
Oh and happy 5th birthday too
Jackie Roberts
Happy Birthday and take solace in the fact you have the waist of a teenager!
Tina Holmes
Congrats, I love your blog! Your pictures are amazing!
Steven Montgomery
Things only get better 😉
claire little
you’ll rock it 🙂
Andrea Johnson
I’ve just turned 40 too and was dreading it, it’s not so bad, it’s now my excuse to drink decent wine while I (very selectively) pretend to be a grown up! Happy birthday 🙂
Su Brett
Birthdays are just natures way of telling us to eat more cake – Happy Birthday!
steph lovatt
Happy Birthday!! Naughty Forties is the new twenties
Patricia Avery
Happy birthday to you and your blog 🙂
karen Howden
Keep Smiling you are only as old as you feel
Samantha Fernley
Hopefully 40 isn’t that bad as I’ll be on that bus shortly too. Happy Birthday xx
Nancy Bradford
The fact that you are going to be closer to 40 than 50 for five whole years should make you smile.
Rachel King
I turned 40 earlier this year – but it’s ok, my husband is still older than me!
Dawn Hull
Lots of people say that life begins at 40 and it is true!!! Happy birthday and best wishes for 2017!
Stev Rigby
The older you get the more fun you become because you care less about what people think of you!
Lisa Wilkinson
It’ll be easier from now on – the first 40 years of childhood are the hardest
Jenn Gillies
You’re halfway there!!! LOL! As one who is halfway through my 4th decade… I am not sure how that thought makes me feel… the jury is still out. 🙂
madeline connolly
happy birthday
EJ Dunn
Age is just a number!
Anita hargreaves
Watching Dawn French on bbc4 she is just as vital and attractive. Happy Birthday x
Scott
Happy bday!
Hazel Rea
Congratulations on five years of blogging and here’s to many more! Forty is just a number – just think of yourself as a 20 year old with 20 years experience which will let you make the next decade the best.
raj awasti
I wouldn’t worry about hitting 40…
Life begins at 50 now 🙂
Peter barnes
I am celebrating my 40th on 4th Jan. Embrace it, I’m looking forward to giving a few new things a try this year and making the most of it. Have a great birthday !!
Tracey Ryder
Have a happy birthday and live life to the full
Clare H
Happy Birthday! age is just a number!
Clare H
age is just a number! Happy Birthday!
Danielle Mc
Happy birthday!! I have to say that when you turn 40 it must suddenly make you even better looking. It was my Fiance’s 40th in June and I must say……… Ding Dong!!! Sending magical 40th birthday vibes!!!
Rachel Butler
I hope you’ve had a wonderful birthday and embraced everything wonderful in life! Because you know what? Decade Schmecade! Number Schmumber! Age Schmage! It means nothing! And as they say….you’re only as old as the lover you feel! xo
Erica Price
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your 4th decade adventures.
kathy cakebread
Happy birthday – fab comp 🙂
Mandi Davison
Look on the Bright side…you only turn 40 once……Have a great 2017 🙂
Mark Fridlington
Just think of Nigella Lawson, who has gone past her 4th decade, as an inspiration. (I hope that makes you smile).
Aaron Milne
As i’m just into my 5 th decade rest assured youll always be younger than me !
Kat Allinson
Happy birthday and huge congratulations on 5 years of your blog <3
Sarah Lee
Happy Birthday and Congratulations on 5 years of blogging. x
Georgina Jacobs
Welcome to a great decade!
Anthea Holloway
Congratulations and many happy returns. I think the forties are very happy years!
Kerry Kilmister
Life begins at 40 or so I hear! Happy Birthday and happy blog anniversary xxx
suzi moore
40 you are just a spring chicken my love, i wish i could be 40 again, happy birthday x
Gemma Aktekin
Happy Fortylicious Birthday!
Birthdays are good for your health, a recent study has proven that people who have more birthdays live longer 🙂
Helen T
Life begins at 40! Enjoy 🙂
Gwyn Sharps
Wow! How amazing! Have a wonderful 40th! xxx
Sarah Wilson
Happy Birthday! Keep up the hard work, you’re doing a fab job! 🙂
Suzanne Roberts
Happy birthday, remember;
Youth is a gift of nature
but
Age is a work of art.
Hope you have a wonderful year ahead.
jo byworth
Happy birthday and it is true what they say, life really does begin at 40
Gloria Hartley
Happy Birthday! Hope you get all you desire and wish for. This is fist time i have seen your blog and have to say it is great, well done keep it up in 2017 i will definitely be returning.
Michelle Flaxton
Just think of all those happy times and funny moments you made with family and friends in those years and you’ve only got more to make and remember with age
katie w
Penblwydd Happus – remember life has just began treasure every moment, laugh as much as possible as these times we make
Gisela Barrington
This is my first visit to your site and I am impressed with your cooking skills and your amazing connections in the world of food. Being 40 means being bang in the middle of your life! With your talents there is nothing to be afraid of…..you will always survive!
JOANNE ROXBURGH
Happy Birthday 🙂
Jo McPherson
Happy Birthday ! Your 40’s are great, enjoy them !
hanene nasr
Great prize. Fingers crossed
Anna Lord
40 is the new 30, embrace it and be grateful for everything you have including your great talent as a much loved blogger. Happy Birthday beautiful lady,
Sarah Norgrove
How many archaeologists does does it take to change a lightbulb ?
A: Three. One to change it and two to argue about how old the old one is
Anni Ezmerelda Large
Happy Birthday! I love your recipes. They inspire me to get creative in the kitchen. 🙂
Jenna Dick
You asked for something to make you smile (or groan in despair)…What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.
Sue Harrison
4th.. you’re a spring chicken ! 🙂
James Holyland
As Queen said nothing really matters!
Tiff Jordan
You’ll be fine turning 40- it’s really not so bad, happy birthday. If anything it gives you confidence to completely be yourself so I hope you’ll be happy and carefree x
Leila Benhamida
Happy Birthday! 40 years of wisdom. You are AMAZING!
David Powell
Happy Birthday – There is nothing to fear of birthdays, even as you get older.
clare davies
Happy 40th to you! i recently turned 30 and after being in denial it wasnt so bad! after all its just a number! have a fab time 🙂 x
Em S
40 is fabulous, enjoy the big birthday
Gilla Abrahams
Congratulations. Have a lovely birthday and look forward to having a very happy New Year and new decade.
sian hallewell
Getting older means getting wiser , more patient, more understanding, more compassionate. Whats not to like.
Dorogi Eva
Happy birthday! My partner was 52 in December and I would share the prize with him. He deserves it
lisa tebbutt
happy birthday
Dale Dow
Happy Birthday! My Mums life started at 40!!
Ali Thorpe
If you’re turning 40,
You can be quite naughty,
And a little haughty.
Give me that big torte …eeeeee :/
Ellie Jones
Happy Birthday and remember as the song goes it can only get better ☺ lots of love xxxx
Hannah Smith
Happy birthday! You were one of the first blogs I read. Good luck for 2017, I’m completely rebranding so it should be a fun year.
@smeethsaysfashn on twitter (for now)
Pam Francis Gregory
Many Happy returns – here’s to the next 4 decaes!
Alison
Happy birthday. It could be worse, I entered my fifth decade this year eeek
Isabell Whitenstall
Happy Birthday. I think you are still a bairn. 40 is no age at all, well it seems no age to me when I am knocking on 72. Forget the number and have fun.
Claire Tucker
life is just beginning…you get a whole new sense of humour
Margaret Nokling
Happy Birthday. Remember its not the years that count but what you put into them!
Jill Fairbanks
Smile it could be a lot worse in 2 years I will entering my 50th ! Happy birthday
claire fawkner
Happy Happy Birthday! Hope you have a fabulous time!
JULIE WARD
50 is the new 40 I’m told so you have another 10 years to go. I’m still young in my head and I’m 60 and still stupid
Susan Hoggett
Happy Birthday, you’re very talented and make alot of people happy following your wonderful blog, keep it up and all the best for 2017!!
Samantha R
Happy birthday!! Here’s to another 40 years of happiness, health and love. 🙂
CAROL PATRICK
Age really is just a number, it’s health & happiness that are most important in life
Karen Harrison
Celebrate your 40’s – you’re older, wiser, smarter and more body confident than you were in your 20’s – and you no longer care what people think!
Allan Wilson
It’s not down hill from 40 !!!
kate m jones
First of all…..Happy Birthday 🙂 They do say that life begins at 40 so wipe that tear away and start the next part of your great adventure with a smile on your face and love in your heart 🙂
Hannah Carroll
Happy birthday! I hope you have a fantastic day, and are truly spoilt, and don’t forget, 40 is the new 20! 🙂 xx
Anthea Larkins
40 is just a number, you are as old as you feel.
I feel like a 25 year old, instead I have a 50 something year old asleep next to me!!!!
tarbs gill
Happy birthday! Welcome to my world! 🙂
Mary Baldwin
Happy Birthday and blogiversary. Age is just a number – remember to love yourself and care or yourself so others will as well. Do what I say and reply 21 with a big smile when anyone asks your age – very rarely do people probe any further; they’re not that brave!
anastasia jones
Happy Birthday, and well done keep up the good work xxx
Wendy Smith
Happy Birthday and remember you’re only one day older than you were yesterday
Angela Macdonald
Happy 40th birthday! Life truly does begin again at 40! 🙂
Sarah Rees
Happy birthday – its not so bad. I turned 40 last year and it just made me want to live life more 🙂
Olly Cator
Wow, my mouth was literacy a gasp as I perused this post. Many congrats on the blog and it’s ace presentation.
janine atkin
happy birthday! and what an amazing giveaway!
Cheryl Sutton
A massive happy birthday! , Its my birthday in feb so this would be a fantastic gift to receive, thank you for the chance
Virginia
Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great time.
Jason Tolliss
Happy birthday, hope you have a great one and here’s to the next four decades
claire stewart
Happy Birthday always remember you are beautiful
michelle speight
remmeber there are wheely good zimmer frames for you haha
angela sandhu
Happy Birthday!
Naila Mo
Congratulation, have a wonderful birthday. Your Blog is amazing, keep up the great work
Nicola Battensby
Enjoy life for the moment; age is but a number
Suzanne Sendell
Age Is just a number,just because we’re all getting older doesn’t mean we have to take things easy,lifes to short to worry about our age
Enjoy everyday as we will never get that time again
Happy Birthday, go for It girl xx
Stephanie
Happy Birthday! Remember Life begins at 40 🙂
Christine Caple
I hope you had a fantastic birthday, you are still young!
Rebecca Smith
big happy birthday!!! enjoy your day and look back and remember all that you’ve achieved and you’ll see how fabulous you are xxxx
julia linsley
Creativity Food and Love are all you need
cathyj
enjoy life
greig spencer
age is but a number, you will be fine xxx
Maxine G
Happy happy birthday and wishing you all the best for 2017!
carole n
happy birthday to you – just enjoy the day and forget about numbers
Gwen Biviano
Many Happy Returns x
Brenda Melaniphy
Try to make sure you live your life in such a way that when time machines are invented, you can proudly turn around and say ‘I have no need to go back in time because I have truly lived my life in the best possible way’. Happy 40th birthday!!
Kathryn Hipkin
Just think – acne and teenage angst are gone forever! Yummy food lives on! Happy Birthday!
Ann Skamarauskas
welcome to your extremely late 30’s 🙂
Mark Fletcher
40 is great- you have the resources to do all the stuff you couldnt at 20 and the wisdom to know better but do them anyway because hey youre not 50 yet!!
Rebecca MacBain
Happy new year
Paula T
I had a big birthday this year and was mortified about joining a new number.
It’s not so bad at all and was worth a if the fuss and champagne 🙂 Happy Birthday xx
Tracey S Anderson
Hip hip hooray it’s your birthday … Keep smiling 😀 x x
Carole Paton
Forty was fantastic but fifty is absolutely fabulous! The last 10/11 years have been the bet and most adventurous of my life. Scream ‘Bring It On!’ at the top of your lungs and eenjoy every minute!
Claudia
Happy Birthday and thank you for running such a great blog
Matthew Warman
Happy Birthday! 40 is the new 30 so no need to panic! Enjoy!
Ella Swinbank
It’s not good, but it’s better than the alternative – death. So Happy Birthday and remember you’re as young as you feel so live life to the full and enjoy the journey! I’m in my 50’s, trust me 40’s are fine…
Jo Carroll
Happy 40th…you’re still a pup 😉 My only advice is to stay away from long rafflecopters…they eat up precious xmas celebration and birthday party time…hehe!
Clifford Sherwood
Smile and the world smiles with you
Lydia Graham
I remember when I was 40, what a long time ago it seems. Hope you had a lovely birthday
John Tingay
You’re not forty – more like a pair of twenty-year olds!
Q. How do you confuse someone over forty?
A. Aubergine
Danielle Graves
Happy birthday lovely, don’t worry about your age, think of yourself as a fine whisky – only getting more fabulous with age
Rose P
If you think approaching forty is bad wait till you reach 60 ,life starts to dawdle then
lynn neal
Happy Birthday! Celebrate with a conga around your neighbourhood and get as many people to join in as you can and then post a picture on your blog!
Clara Bee
A big happy happy birthday to you!
Ruth Wollerton
Happy Birthday – i wish you lots of FIZZ, bubbles and presents big and small; so you have the best birthday of ALL.
Katy C Johnston
What delicious looking treats and a lovely blog! x
LondonREC
Happy birthday – hope your family spoils you!
Sylvia Paul
Happy birthday! Hoping your 40s will feel incredibly new and exciting like your 20s — only doubly so!
Jodie Cook
Have a fantastic birthday! Hope you have an amazing day!
Julie Wilson
Embrace and enjoy it. It’s been my best decade so far. I hope that it is for you too.
lyla
Happy Birthday, just think it’s still another 10 years before you can go on Saga holidays, 20 years before you get a free bus pass and 25 years before you can get a free TV licence!
Laura Pritchard
I have a sister 10 years younger than me so she is a constant reminder of how much more confident I get with age (she is 25 & I am 35) – when I see her I realise how much I prefer being me at any age!
Beth Bowdler
You are as old as you feel. I am 62 and feel as though I am still in my twenties!
Alex Cuckson
Best things about turning 40……
1) You suddenly realise that you can wear what you want and when you want, and not really care what anybody thinks. I.e. Want to dress like a fairy, wings and all? Do it! People will think you’re eccentric and ‘funky’ for your age.
2) You will no longer feel obliged to go to anything, just because your mates do for fear of missing out. Equally, you won’t fear booking to get onto a workshop or whatever on your own because you have confidence to do it alone! Yay to stuffing a dead rat, making hats etc.
3) You can still act your shoe size!
Happy birthday!
steven phillips
Happy Birthday and what a great blog its now on my blog reading list
Heather Cain
40 is the new 30 – just start a brand new state of mind – “I don’t care what people think of me – I know I am the best at what I do”. Wear what you want to wear – don’t be pigeon-holed into a certain look. And just be HAPPY – enjoy every day- laugh every day – often at yourself specially if you forget something as this will happen more often lol. Talk to yourself too – it helps believe me lol.
jenna rothen
happy birthday hope you have a great day.
Jenna G
Happy Birthday! New Follower here and your photography is incredible! Congratulations on 5 years of blogging that is quite an achievement!
xxx
KAREN HALL
Age doesn’t matter just lobe and live life to the full xx
Frances H
Plus sides to getting older – 1. Cheaper car insurance, 2. Hang on I’m still thinking … there must be something else. Sod it! It must be my age. Let’s focus on the car insurance eh?
Rajee Pandi
Happy Birthday Elizabeth You have done great work. I love to read your beautiful content not easy to find other blogs
Lesley Bain
Who is 40? You meant 21 right? Happy Birthday 😉 x
Inga Andersen
You know what they say, life begins at forty. Don’t believe ’em though lol it began years before then! HAve a Happy Birthday 🙂
izzy smith
congrats, thanks for the fab giveaway xxx
Jane
I’m 2.5 years off that one as well, it’s a number and think of the wealth of experience that you can still help people who are slightly younger than you. Stay young.
Susan Smith
Congratulations hope 2017 is another good year for you, keep up your wonderful work
C Kennedy
Happy birthday! And huge congratulations to you, you’ve done such an amazing job with the blog
Catherine Joyce
Happy Birthday – it does get better once you reach 40, things that used to matter are not important anymore!
Kristyn Harris
Life begins at 40! Hope you have a great birthday and a fantastic year!
Angela Wilcox
Happy birthday. Turning 40 is nothing to worry about, I turned 40 myself a couple of months ago and I’m determined it will be my best decade yet
Kathryn MacKinnon Cook
You’re only as old as the man you feel ;-)…..
Deborah Mackenzie
Happy birthday! 40 is the best year as you now have a licence to do as you want! It is when life really begins and you can start to put yourself first more and so I say do something really memorable anddo something you have always wanted to do!
Kev C
Congratulations, here’s to the next 3 decades!!
Catherine
I hope you have had a great birthday! and what a fab giveaway!
Rachel @ Coffee, Cake, Kids
Have a good one – remember life begins at 40!
michelle o'neill
Have a fantastic birthday.My 40s have been the best time!
Rachel Chico
Happy birthday,only 11 months till my turn
Rachel Colclough
Happy Birthday. Just after turning 40 I decided to take up martial arts something prior to my 40s I never had any interest in. Love it and hope to promote to 1st degree black belt in 2017.
Barbara Handley
Happy Birthday.
Q: What did one candle say to the other?
A: “Don’t birthdays burn you up?” !!
Victoria Prince
Happy belated birthday to both you and your blog! I’m trying to think of something vaguely witty but I’m too exhausted to think, so I’m sorry about that!
I do, however, always look forward to reading your blog 🙂 and I hope you continue to write for many more years!
Susan Ellins
Happy birthday
Loma Wood
It gets better! Really and truly – I am 67 and I don’t care what anyone else thinks or says and I am super happy!
Michaela Hannah
Happy birthday and Happy Christmas! Best wishes for the New Year
Caroline Huby
Happy birthday to you!! Life begins at 40 🙂
Elizabeth Gaskell
Forty is nothing to worry about. I’m 58 and looking 60 square in th eye. If it’s one thing I’ve learned age is just a number, and forty is the new 25! Embrace it and enjoy it.
Mike W
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, may all your dreams come true.
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)
Happy Birthday! Always remember that age brings the wisdom to know what you like – and the strength to not put up with what you don’t! x
Kate Grogan
Hapy Belated Birthday – 40 isn’t that bad is it?!
Kate Kathurima
HAppy Birthday now go out and celebrate like you 18 again
Kathleen
Wow just been loooking at the REDMOND MULTICOOKER RMC-280E it looks awesome
Teresa
Happy Birthday Christmas Baby! I loved my 30’s – those were my best looking years, good hair, good skin, best career years too. In my 40’s I have home with the kiddos – getting squishy! ☺
antony machin
we dont get older we get wiser
mainy
Celebrate and enjoy, live life to the full and act outrageously whenever possible!
Mainy
Jess Mary
Happy Birthday Elizabeth! Keep up the good work in everything you do! Your blog is amazing and always an inspiration for me 🙂 xx
Solange
Age is just a state of mind. Happy Birthday.
allison mary
Well, when I was turning 40 i was worried life would be downhill from then onwards, however it proved to be the beginning of the best years of my life. Happy birthday! Allison.
Emily Clark
ITSSSSSSSSSS CHRISTMAAAAAAAAAAASSS! Well, it is! Have a wonderful birthday and a lovely Christmas!
Allyson McLeod
Have a fantastic birthday. I was 40 last year and although some old hag told me it was all downhill from now (miserable old biddy!), I disagree. Age is only a number and you are only as old as you feel. I went off to Australia for a 3 week holiday on my own to celebrate my 40th birthday and it was the best holiday ever. Treat yourself!
Graeme
40 – you young whippersnapper.
Katherine McDonald
Happy Birthday!
Colin Bragg
Quote from Bob Hope – “You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake”
Kathleen
Oh my that crock pot looks wonderful. I would use it for my chilli con carni. I can almost smell the awesome smell of the tomato meat garlic and chilli if I close my eyes….yummy perfect for these cold winters days.
georgina s
happy birthday
Monica Gilbert
For me, my 30s were much better than my 20s. As I approach 40, I’m expecting much to be the same.
Nicki Simpson
This will cheer you up……a joke that my 4 year old received in a cracker and she keeps telling it over and over….and over (usually getting it wrong)
Why are ghosts such bad liars?
You can see right through them!!!!
HAHAHA
paula cheadle
congrats on your birthday, i’ve been that and done it, I treated as just another birthday but told everybody I was 39 + 1, the next year it was 39 + 2 and so on until I got to 45 then I just could not be bothered any more
Rebecca Nisbet
ohhhh!! happy birthday to you!!
Sparklett21
Happy Birthday, only two years until you can have your second 21st!! I high,y recommend it Merry Christmas
Katie Harmer
Happy 40th birthday, let there be many more! Well done you 🙂
Jayne Townson
Wishing you a very Happy birthday! Don’t forget age is just a number, you’re an amazing person, it’s how you feel inside the matters most. Many thanks for the amazing giveaway. I love reading your blog and enjoy your many lovely photos, good luck for the future.
gemma middleton
Happy Birthday – life begins at 40!!!
Laura Corrall
Happy 40th birthday to you! As well have happy 5th blog birthday too. Looking forward to many more happy years reading your blog. So much inspiration.
Nicole
Happiest Birthday and to delicious nibbles! Cheers!
kerry white
Happy birthday to you and your blog. Really interestinf.
Fiona P
40 is the new 25!
dina
Happy birthday!
Isabella
Happy Birthday! I hope you had a lovely celebration, lots of treats and lots of bubbly!
Rebecca Smith
Have a very happy birthday and I hope you get everything you wish for
Lynne
Embrace it, I have and I’m loving the new adventure. Such amazing prizes on offer, may I wish you a very happy birthday and more amazing years blogging x
Leigh
Have a great birthday
Jessica Howliston
Great giveaway!!
Don’t worry about turning 40, just remember they say life begins at 40! After all age is just a number and can’t determine how far we can dream or how much we achieve! Enjoy your birthday xx
Sharon Jackson
Age is just a number, your as young as you feel. Happy 40th Birthday, enjoy every moment life brings 🙂
chelsey Hollings
Happy Birthday 🙂
Karen
Happy birthday! Hope it’s a good one! I live your blog. It’s a great place to find food inspiration and always makes me hungry!
Peter Watson
You’re less than half way through your journey,a long way to go yet
James Devon
It only gets easier from now on!
Joyce McCormack
Embrace your 40s, have fun, keep blogging, enjoy your lovely family. Do as you always do grab opportunities as present themselves. Have a wonderful birthday Elizabeth.
Joyce McCormack
Happy birthday Elizabeth, eat well, keep fit enjoy your family and keep smiling. Embrace your life age is a state of mind. My OH went onto the doldrums on his 40th, however; he took his 50th in his stride. I love your blog and that giveaway is just to die for.
Jodie A Harvey
Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to youuuuuuuuu – have a fantastic day! relax and enjoy 🙂
Susannah Clayton
You are only as young as the one you hold….so I hope your partner is young!!!!
Carly Belsey
They say life begins at 40 so it’s only going to get better 🙂
Angela Kelly
Happy birthday! You should smile knowing that through your blog you spark the imaginations of countless people. I’m looking forward to my 40s because my 30s have definitely been better than my 20s, so the 40s should be great! Hopefully it’s the same for you too.
Polly
Happy birthday! I hope the next year of your life is full of days that create only happy memories xx
purpleshoes
Happy birthday! May this be the best year yet!
Maria P
Happy Birthday! 40 is the new 20 🙂 enjoy!
Nigel Rummey
I am in my 6th decade but still act like I am in my 3rd!
Keith Hunt
Don’t know it it’s genetics or remarkably good luck but you still look very young.
claire timbers
wow happy birthday!
Toni Pearson
I’m loving g life in my forties…..hope yours is as wonderful. X
jennifer mason
it could be worse…………………you could be 50 lol
Harline parkin
Has time passes us by and years pass never look back only fondly and always look ahead what’s to come
lynn savage
Four turtles were celebrating their 40th birthdays together, when they ran out of ice cream. They decided the oldest one, Fred, should go to the store and get more.
The rest of them waited for Fred to come back, but after a couple of days they started getting frustrated. The youngest one said, “Poor Fred. Ever since he turned 40 he’s really getting slow.”
A voice from behind the door said, “If you’re gonna start saying bad things about me behind my back, l’m not even going.”
claire woods
You’re only as old as you feel. I’m sure you don’t look your age. Age is only a number. Let me know how it is on the other side, as I’ll be joining you there next April! x
LESLEY BRADLEY
40 isn’t even remotely old! I’m 45 and loving it! Speaking generally of course, but people in their 40s have loads of energy, experience of life and confidence ( I’m not afraid to say No to people anymore!). I honestly prefer being in my 40s to my 30s! Have a wonderful birthday and welcome to a very special and exclusive club!
Sue Sproats
Nothing to fear from the big birthday! Enjoy your family and friends and soak up their love and friendship, Happy Birthday when it arrives xxx
Janet Sigley
Love this! Would love to win!
pete c
forget your age; it’s the experience behind it that makes you better as you mature!
Annabel Greaves
Have a great birthday – believe me things carry on just the same after you turn 40 xx
Adeline Sheradelia
A very happy birthday – and remember, life begins at 40! 🙂
Lynn Brown
Happy birthday I’m sending you a bunch of virtual flowers to make you smile . As they say this too will pass and it’s better than reachingthe next decade!
Marie Evans
Just remember life begins at 40, And you are a lot wiser now than you where 10yrs ago.
Rachael Mccadden
Happy Birthday
Beky Austerberry
May your 40’s be merry, successful and enjoyable.
Ellie Fletcher
Happy Birthday! Just discovered your blog via twitter and am really enjoying it x
Angie McDonald
Happy Birthday to you!
I hope you go on many more adventures and enjoy them wherever you head!
Andy Hayes
Happy Birthday young lady
Sarah R
Congratulations! I can absolutely guarantee that being 40 is the BEST fun ever!
Natalie Zimmer
I hear 40 is the new 20! 🙂 Don’t be sad; the best years are yet to come. I’m not far behind you! Happy Birthday
Kay Sherman
I can’t seem to see my comment so I’m sorry if I’m not commenting twice
40 big congratulations I’m 30 in may – can’t wait lol
Kate - gluten free alchemist
Woohoo! 40 and doing fantastically! You are inspiring, creative, determined and focussed…… great way to start your next chapter! And as one who has been there (the 40 bit that is…. not the inspiring,creative etc etc bit) and has this year entered decade 5, I promise the journey has really just begun.Continue to embrace life, cook great food and love well! HAPPY BIRTHDAY xx
Heather Morrison
Congratulations on turning 40. Fabulous AND forty! Great 5 years of blogging too. I’m relatively a new reader but love it xx
Carina
Have a fab one. It’s just a number , hopefully one which signals a great decade, you are old enough to know yourself a bit but young enough to get away with naughtiness. Enjoy it, savour the days and take some risks, it gets trickier once you hit the next decade 🙂 Health is all that matters, as I learnt at age 39, if you have that, you are sorted. Amazing giveaway.
Natasha Mairs
Happy birthday!! Fantastic giveaway, some really great prize here to win
Sue
What a fantastic array of prizes in your Giveaway. Well I suppose such a wonderful milestone birthday is worth celebrating.
I dreaded the big four oh, not as much as I dreaded the big five oh … and now I’m half way to the next one. You are but a youngster.
Anyway age is all in the mind, and I think your blog gives away nicely that you are indeed very young in mind and heart 🙂
Jorgelina
Congrats and happy birthday! Forty is nothing! I’m on my way to 42 and I still feel like I’m in my 30s! Onwards and upwards!
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
Wow, two amazing milestones, congratulations! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for around 4 years now and you really do an amazing job! Getting older just means you can get away with more mischief and eat more cake – so it can’t be a bad thing!
Kelly E Hirst
Happy Birthday! Remember it’s not about the years you are but what you have done with your years
sharon martin
Happy Birthday, just remember age is just a number. live, love & laugh
Emma Arkwright
40 is the new 30, or 21 if you’d rather x
Abhi
Happy birthday!
I’m not a fan of birthdays either, so a few years back I promised myself to partake in something every year that takes me out of my comfort zone or do/learn something new ever year. As I turn (hesitantly) older every year I’ve now got something to look back fondly back at, and generally live life with little regret.
If all else fails, have a tequila! (Or limoncello)
Pauline Armstrong
Have a great birthday believe me life gets better from here on in
Steve Dickinson
I started going grey and hair sprouted from my ears and nose, hope you have better luck ! lol
Robyn Clarke
The best is yet to come 😉
Happy Birthday.
Judith Allen
OOps, sorry, just managed to put at least one tweet in the wrong place in the widget today. Sorry!
Victoria Mylittlel
Happy Birthday! Remember its about how you feel inside and not the number! 🙂
Sarah Revill
Well done and happy birthday 😀
Ella L
Happy Birthday enjoy the day! do something fun and fivolous
Sam Swain
Happy birthday, at least you are not entering your 5th decade! 🙂
ksenia zywczuk
rose are red, violets are blue
40 is the new 30,
habby bday to you!
Graeme MacMillan
Happy Birthday !
Two quotes come to mind –
Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age. – Victor Hugo
and
Women are most fascinating between the ages of 35 and 40 after they have won a few races and know how to pace themselves. Since few women ever pass 40, maximum fascination can continue indefinitely. – Christian Dior
Mummy of Two + 1
Have a great birthday and enjoy being 40!
Rachael ashmore
Happy birthday. Would love to win this prize. Thanks for the chance
Sue Buckman
Have a fantastic birthday
Kathleen
The thought of you making a full Christmas dinner today makes my mouth water. It’s our wedding anniversary on the 21st December but Dave will be working and by the time he gets home washed and showered it’s going to be a tad late. So we went out last night and had a wee pre anniversary meal. I had my first full Christmas dinner of the season and loved it. Abreslutly delisious. I could gladly have the same dinner at least three times per week until new year. Nothing beats a Christmas dinner for me. Enjoy yours today x
Jane H Shaw
Do something you’ve never done before or do that one thing you always wanted to do. Remember age is just a number. Happy Birthday
sam macaree
happy birthday!
Kat
A very happy blog birthday! What an amazing giveaway! Thank you so much for sharing at #DreamandSparkle
Gemma Massey
Happy birthday hope you have a fabulous time xx
Rosie Thomas
Happy Birthday!!! Love your blog
Claire Toplis
Happy blog birthday to you x here is to many more blog birthday s
Claire Toplis
Happy blog birthday x
Derek Wilson
You’ll now be swapping your evening glass of wine for a warm milky drink and an early night. Enjoy!
david cavender
we must all ride on the road of life-i just wish the ride was a bit more smoother!
maria blythin
happy 20 20 lol x
Kathleen Hazell
Well . I thought I had already sent you a comment but I can’t find it so I will try again. Firstly mega massive congratulations on 5 years of blogging and an even bigger congratulations and celebrations at being so lucky that you’re only a mere 40 years old. You youngster you! Life begins at forty! Use every day wisely with no regrets and do the things you wished you’d done but never got around to found. Cherish every day with your beautiful family but keep a little bit of time to share with us too. You’re an awesome lady. God bless you and yours extra mega good xxx
Geeta Nosib
Happy birthday. God bless. Everything you said icompared with myself. It was my birthday yesterday but I am much older than you(65) I still got my teeth. The only thing is the creaking bones especially in the morning. I am sure you don’t have pain in situ in your body. Enjoy your birthday….40 is the new 20. Ha ha. Xxx
Sophie Ade
Happy 40th Birthday and happy 5th year of blogging. I really enjoy your blog.
Sue Thomas
Happy birthday. You are still younger than me x
Natalie Crossan
Happy happy birthday xxx
Mary Wilson
Naughty 40. Choose 3 things you have never done and go for it x
Helen Adams
A word of wisdom for you on your birthday: Smile while you’ve still got teeth! Happy Birthday!
James Harris
Enjoy the forties whilst you can as another decade will have whizzed past before you know it!
Di Coke
I did a cartwheel and a conga to celebrate my 40th birthday. You should do the same!!!
Iris W
Happy Birthday and Blogversary, I was a bit worried about turning 40 a couple of years ago, but it didn’t hurt at all.
hannah igoe
Happy Birthday, I love reading your posts so keep them up
angelina masih
Happy Birthday Stay Blessed xx
Sarah Brokenshire
Happy birthday! I love your blog! x
Gillian Holmes
You can now wear flat sensible shoes
Lorraine Benn
Have a great 40th Birthday, I passed that quite a few years ago, my next big birthday will be 60! Great giveaway prize you are doing. Hope you get some nice things for your birthday 🙂
Sharon H
Yours was the very first food blog that I followed and it remains one of my very favourite . I love everything about it and your recipes have never let me down.
Have a wonderful birthday and remember that 40 is the new 20 without all the self doubt and with all the knowledge, go forward and enjoy!!
Debbie Hoare
Happy birthday . . . naughty 40!
Tracey Woods
The best thing about being forty is that you are a whole ten years from being fifty.
Dawn Wilkinson
Happy Birthday
Francesca Mason
Happy Birthday! Hope you have an amazing 21st 😉
Zoey P
Happy birthday, it’s not all that bad . Love reading your blogs keep up your good work.
Ann-Marie D
Your life has barely begun…you have enough knowledge to make the most of the coming decade!
maureen findley
congratulations now time to celebrate with family and friends.
Claire Bayliss
Birthdays are a time to treat yourself, regardless of age (plus you can get away with eating cake for breakfast 😉 )
Janice
it doesn’t feel much different to 39
Mummy Fever
Happy 4th decade to you!
Emma hunt
Don’t worry. Norty forty is fabulous!
Kathryn Cox
A good excuse for a drink 🙂
Charlotte
It will just keep getting more fun. Remember when 30 was scary? I dont know about you, but the 30s were pretty fun for me 🙂 So looking forward to the 40s being even better!
Denise
Hope you have a lovely birthday, I turned 40 last year & felt just how you are as how can it really be 20 years ago that I was 20?! It must only have been 8 or 9 years ago at the most, surely?! Prosecco helps that’s the only advice I can offer you .
Diana
Happy Birthday! 40 is nothing! It’s a new 20! Smile, have fun and enjoy life! 😉 xx
Clare Fox
Happy Birthday. Hope the celebrations include processo and cake …. The two key ingredients to celebrate in style woo hoo
Brandi Puga
Oh my gosh now I am STARVING! #DreamandSparkle
Nellie France
Happy birthday! This is a seriously amazing prize, can’t believe it is going to one person!
Judith Allen
Happy Birthday to you and your blog, good luck for the next 40/5. And thank you for this amazing giveaway!
Kellan Morgan
If you intend to live forever, so far so good.
Lisa Williams
Congratulations 🙂 Also So so much Birthdayness to you 🙂
GLENDA HANKS
if you limit your age to your shoe size you can’t go wrong, even if we do stay in Europe. Happy Birthday.
StaceyD
Happy birthday ! Wish you double the blessings n triple the love and comfort in years to come
Caroline Hooper
When I turned 40 a few short years ago my youngest daughter said to me -‘ oh mummy you’re not old you only have a few wrinkles and two grey hairs!” it made me laugh so much that I forgot all about the number. I hope you have a lovely birthday! x
Sam Goodwin
Happy birthday! and happy blog birthday too! Thanks for sharing it with us xx
jennifer bolognesi
Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed
Caroline H
40s are great – no pressure to do anything just because it’s in fashion, so you can ignore daft clothes, hideous makeup trends and don’t need to know any celebrity or reality star!
Richard Middleton
Nice twist – most birthdays you celebrate by receiving presents
Angus
Couldn’t see a fire-alarm in the Birthday giveaway, I take it there will be no sparkler candles used from now on!!
Evelina
Happy Birthday! Hope you had fabulous time!
charlotte clavier
Happy Birthday. 40 is the new 30 (so they say) and once you’ve had a drink it doesn’t really matter anyway lol 🙂
Susan Elai Kelly Carter
Forty is the beginning of a whole new venture – old enough to have the knowledge of what’s best for you and when to quit, young enough to enjoy every moment.
Ellie Wood
I hope you had cake! every good birthday celebration requires cake
Jen Schofield
Happy birthday!
Roger Bufton
Happy Birthday. Who cares how old you are, It’s JUST another day to be HAPPY.
Richard Lawrence
Happy Birthday x
Clare Davis
Happy 40th – it’s a great birthday.
Katie Kingsbury
Happy birthday! With age comes wisdom – and birthday cake! 🙂
Caroline Clarke
Have a very happy birthday! Like fine wine, you’re only getting better each year. 🙂
Heather T
I’m nearly at my 50th decade & if I filled in that whole rafflecopter I’d neatly be at my 60th! It’s tooooo long
Elizabeth
Only one option, the first, is mandatory. All the rest are optional. 🙂
Tracey W
Happy birthday to both you and your blog!
Elizabeth
Thank you! Good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
marie powell
In your 40’s you learn that you can laugh, cough and pee at the same time … Happy Birthday xx
Elizabeth
Haha, I love it! 🙂 Multi-talented. Thank you and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Margaret Clarkson
Wishing you a very happy birthday. Remember what my cousin told me, when she reached 40 “I’ll always be 25 in my head”
Elizabeth
I still feel 16, it’s just that my body is no longer co-operating, lol! 🙂 Thank you and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Loubna Z
Happy Birthday, 40s the new 20s but much wiser and more beautiful, enjoy x
Elizabeth
Thank you, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Steph @ Mental Parentals
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope you have a fabulous time and have lots of treats 🙂 x
Elizabeth
Thank you! 🙂
Hassina Begum
Happy Birthday Elizabeth Queen of the kitchen diary
Elizabeth
Haha, thank you! 🙂
Hassina Begum
Happy Birthday
Elizabeth
Thanks! 🙂
Julie Scattergood
Happy 5th Blogaversary and Happy 40th.
Look at it this way ….
Being 40 means that you’ve experienced enough to know what you want and are still young enough to go after it.
I hope you acquire everything you pursue x
Elizabeth
Thank you, that’s a really good way to look at it. 🙂 Good luck with the giveaway!
james
love the blog as always
Elizabeth
Thanks James 🙂
james
love the blog as always, have a goodun
james
love the blog, have a goodun
alison fisher
40 is the new 20 don’t ya know!
Elizabeth
I have heard! So good to hear, lol! 🙂
Rachael Simmons
Always remember that one you turn 40 that means you’re twice as sexy as two twenty year olds! Happy Birthday 🙂
Elizabeth
Woohoo! Yay me! 🙂 Thank you, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Calyn Allum
It’s not that bad actually, I thought I’d feel really old at 40 but I still don’t feel grown up and I’m 4 years into it. You’re only as young as you want to feel so don’t even give it a second thought. Enjoy your day.
Elizabeth
I’m three days in and I seem to have survived so far (mostly with wine and not thinking about aging too much, lol!). Thank you for your comment, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Paul Wilson
2016 is nearly over – and we survived!
Elizabeth
We sure have! It’s been a heck of a year though…!
Claudia Wright
Happy birthday! Woooaaahh what a giveaway!
Elizabeth
Thank you, and I’m glad you like it! Good luck! 🙂
Sarah Mackay
Happy bithday and hope you get spoilt
Elizabeth
Thanks Sarah 🙂
Fiona Sanderson
I just found your blog and love it! I am a keen baker and am going to be baking the CHOCOLATE PISTACHIO CAKE very soon! Keep an eye on my instagram page as I always post my attempts 🙂 @happiness_and_honeyloops also I always struggle for new breakfast smoothie recipes and love the addition of chia seeds into your quick breakfast smoothy recipe! I have subscribed to your newsletter and am excited to see more! 😀
Happy Christmas and happy Birthday!!
Elizabeth
Aw thanks! Can’t wait to see your creation, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Tom D
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
We wish you a merry Christmas
And you smell like one too.
Elizabeth
Hahah, thanks 🙂 Good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Fiona B
Happy birthday!
Elizabeth
Thank you! 🙂
Gina Sherpa
Happy Birthday! Embrace it!
Elizabeth
Thank you, I am trying 🙂
Kayleigh Tanner
Happy birthday! I hope your fourth decade is your best yet 🙂
Elizabeth
Just realised recently (actually my grandmother pointed it out!) I’m actually entering my fifth decade – I’ve just finished my fourth. I feel really, really old now…! Thank you for your comment, and good luck with the giveaway!
wendy gordon
Happy Birthday, as someone in their mid-fifties be happy and enjoy your time. You appear to be doing something you love which is more than a lot of people.
Elizabeth
Thanks Wendy, I sure am and I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity. Thanks for your comment, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Debbie
40 who cares? You’re happy & you’re loved that’s all that matters x
Elizabeth
So very true 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Louise Allen
I don’t know how well this will work typed, rather than spoken, but it’s my favourite joke – so hope it makes you smile 🙂
What’s a pirate’s favourite letter?
(usual answer: R)
(spoken in a pirate’s voice) Ye may think it be R, but a pirate’s first love be the C!
Elizabeth
Haha, I love it! Thanks for making me smile, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Carol Gates
Happy Birthday. Remember you’re not old, you’re vintage xxx
Elizabeth
Haha, that’s a good way to look at it. 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Lorraine Tinsley
Happy birthday!! My daughter is 4 and I needed to know what colour scooter she wanted for Christmas so I told her Santa had rung me to ask, lol!!
Elizabeth
Great way to go about it! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Gemma Bailey
Eat, drink and be merry on your birthday!
Elizabeth
Thank you Gemma. 🙂
Simon LC
What a fantastic prize- something for all the family
Elizabeth
There sure is! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
glenn hutton
It is merely a number, i turned 50 this year but still have the brain of an 18 year old! 🙂 xxx
Elizabeth
Haha, good way to look at it. 🙂 I still feel 16, it’s just that my body has decided to not co-operate! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Simon Tutthill
Happy birthday life begins at 40
Elizabeth
So I’ve heard! 😀 Thank you!
Lee Ritson
40 is the new 20, enjoy it! 🙂
Elizabeth
Thank you! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Zoe C
Happy birthday, thanks for all the time you put into all your posts
Elizabeth
Aw thank you! 🙂
Amanda Hart
Life begins at 40!!
I had a great 40th birthday, open house all day and family and friends came to celebrate with me into the early hrs of the next day.
I also had a weekend away and simply enjoyed every part of it
Happy birthday x
Elizabeth
How wonderful! I had a quiet one, a meal at home with the family, but it was nice. 🙂
Gavin
40 is the new 20 (but with better taste).
Elizabeth
Haha, a great way to look at it! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Rebecca Sapsed
Happy birthday. Enjoy the big day!
Elizabeth
Thank you! 🙂
rena plumridge
happy birthday. Keep smiling 40 is Good!
Elizabeth
Thanks! 🙂
laura foulds
Have an amazing Blog Birthday!! what an incredible post and bundle to celebrate it. Love your blog!
Elizabeth
Thanks Laura 🙂 I wanted to do something really special to celebrate. Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
tim smith
Hi turning 40 is an opportunity and nothing at all to worry about. Bring it on!
Elizabeth
Thanks 🙂 I’m trying, lol! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Zenath
Happy 40th Birthday. I’ve been 40 for over a decade now, I recommend it!!!
Elizabeth
Thanks, that’s good to hear! 🙂
Tammy Westrup
Wow another decade! Happy birthday!
Elizabeth
Thank you! 🙂
Rachel
Happy Birthday lovely and please keep cooking, so many of your recipes have inspired me x
Elizabeth
Aw thanks for your lovely words! 🙂
Katie b
Happy birthday! Have a great day!
Elizabeth
Thank you Katie! 🙂
bella smyth
Have a great birthday and you are a great blogger and one i look forward too reading. its also my 40th birthday xmas day
Elizabeth
Aw thank you for your lovely comment, and Happy Birthday to you when it comes! I hope you’re doing something extra special to celebrate!
claire griffiths
happy birthday and great blog
Elizabeth
Thank you Claire 🙂
Nikki Hayes
Happy 40th Birthday and congratulations on your 5 year blog anniversary! I’m 47 and can safely say that your 40s are nothing to be afraid of – I’m happier and more confident than I’ve ever been. Remember age is just a number ;o)
Elizabeth
That’s really reassuring to hear, thank you! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Mary H
Happy birthday. Entering a new decade is exciting. I’m only 5 years behind you. Hope you’re enjoying getting older as much as I am. Congratulations on the blog too. Love your food and your photography btw.
Elizabeth
Aw thank you Mary! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
angela
Naughty 40 so you are allowed to do what makes you happy – happy birthday
Elizabeth
Woohoo! I like the sound of that. 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Cupcake R
Happy Birthday! What a great blog!
Elizabeth
Aw thank you! 🙂
Karen Whittaker
Happy birthday. The best is yet to come…..on the other hand you may still feel like a teenager, but now you will have to live with them too!!
Elizabeth
I hear you! It’s a whole new world, isn’t it! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Sandra Bald
You know you’re forty when you have a party and the neighbours don’t notice 😉
Elizabeth
Haha, so very true! 🙂
chantelle hazelden
Happy hPPY BIRTHDAY HERE’S TO MANY MORE!
Elizabeth
Thank you Chantelle 🙂
Kay Sherman
Happy birthday I hope this year is amazing for you x
Elizabeth
Thank you Kay! 🙂
Russell Turner
Birthday greetings. I’m joining the 60s club in February! What a fantastic Italian themed festive giveaway!
Elizabeth
It does seem to feature a lot of Italian products, doesn’t it! That wasn’t deliberate, but it’s rather nice. Happy Birthday when your big day comes around! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
A O'Neill
Happy birthday and welcome to the 40’s club! lol nothing changes really I still feel and act like in my twenties, it’s just a number!
Elizabeth
Thank you 🙂 You’re right, there’s still loads of fun left to have!
Kieran mott
Happy birthday! Thanks for the blog!
Elizabeth
Thanks Kieran! 🙂
Jade Hewlett
Happy Birthday and congratulations on five years of blogging. I have enjoyed reading it and look forward to more great blog content in the future.
Elizabeth
Thanks Jade! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Debbie Hoare
Celebrate it! 40 is the new 30!
Elizabeth
Will do! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Michelle Carlin
Happy Birthday!!! I was so scared of turning 40, that I remember being in full on panic mode, as the clock got nearer to midnight! Now, I look back and wonder what I was worrying about. I think being 40 made me feel more confident, more grown up somehow and generally just more comfortable in my own skin. Enjoy!!!!
Elizabeth
That was how I was feeling, but now that it’s gone and done it’s not so bad. 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
ABIGAIL HAMILTON
Wish there were links for the pinterest & youtube part of the entry as i can’t find them by copying & pasting :S
Elizabeth
My social media following buttons are all on the top right hand corner of my sidebar. I’d have to pay to upgrade Rafflecopter to add links to those options, and it’s rather expensive.
Jennifer Wlodyka
This would be amazing for my new kitchen we are saving up for
Elizabeth
OOh good luck with the renovations 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
maria hackett
hope this will make you laugh – my twin babies turned 1 last week, Twin one discover yesterday that she has a belly button too, not just Twin two. she was playing with it all day and she had this big grin on her face, made me laugh lol
Elizabeth
Haha, how utterly adorable! 🙂 Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Kim Styles
Have a great birthday and you are a great blogger -thank you for your blog and wonderful recipes
Elizabeth
Aw thank you Kim! 🙂
ABIGAIL HAMILTON
Happy 40th ! Beauty has no age & i assure you, 40’s isn’t bad at all. I’m 45 & feel better about myself than 30s….just shine ! : )
Elizabeth
That’s really reassuring to hear, thank you! 🙂
Jennifer Toal
40 is the new 30 it’s not that bad I’m there and loving it
Elizabeth
That’s really good to hear, thank you! 🙂
Becca Lily
Happy Birthday!! Enjoy each moment and dare to take on new adventures in this decade 🙂
Elizabeth
Thank you Becca, I will try! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Jules Eley
Happy Birthday I am not too far behind you 🙂 I think this is our chance to do so much more now… the world is finally ready for us 😉
Elizabeth
I like your way of thinking. 🙂 Thank you!
Heather lilac
What a fabulous giveaway, if I win I’d share with my grown up daughters. They say 60 is the new 40, so 49 must be the new 20 lol
Elizabeth
Aw that would be a really nice thing to do! Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the giveaway! 🙂
Alexander the Great of Lerwick
Bananafish. That is all.
Elizabeth
You’re odd, Gregor 😛
Caroline Hunter
I will be 55 on the 13th December! What always keeps me feeling ok about my age and how I look is seeing someone who is older than me looking fabulous and happy. It gives me hope that it’s going to be ok. Ps. Turning 40 isn’t so bad, you’re still a whippersnapper compared to me!!!
Elizabeth
That’s a really good way to look at it, Caroline. 🙂 Happy birthday when your big day comes around, I hope you’re doing something fantastic to celebrate!
Simon Tinsley
Don’t worry about getting older. It’s that time of year when Secret Santa rears its head.
Do I buy deodorant
For the office stinky?
He never takes a wash or bath
And his clothes are always filthy.
What if I get the boss again?
I remember last year’s Christmas bash
I’d bought him some nice aftershave
Which gave him quite a rash.
I think I’ll stick to chocolate
Unless I get Clare O’Heegan
I once wooed her with some posh milk chocs
Turned out she was a vegan.
Oh mercy me. Oh fiddlesticks!
Stuff this Christmas cheer
Secret Santa drives me crackers
I can’t wait ’til it’s New Year!
Elizabeth
Haha, thanks for that! 🙂
ElizM
congrats – age is all in the mind, it’s experience, maturity, wisdom
Elizabeth
Thank you 🙂 I guess that makes me about 16 then, lol! 🙂
Aaron Broad
Happy Birthday, hoping it’s a good one
Elizabeth
Thank you Aaron! It was a great day. 🙂
Lindsey Stuart
Oh WOW this is AMAAAAAZING!!!
Haaaaaaaappppyyyyy Blog Birthday! xx
Elizabeth
Thanks Lindsey, glad you like it! 😀
Richard Eldred Hawes
In my view the best is yet to come, enjoy your new decade
Elizabeth
That’s really good to hear, thank you 🙂
Glynis Soper
40? A mere beginner
Elizabeth
Haha, thank you 🙂
Jerry
A very merry unbirthday to you! Listening to heavy music while cooking is a must in every house hold. I find Dido doesnt produce the same result as Metallica.
Claire
Congratulations on both the anniversary and the 4 decades. Turning 40 is only trivial in retrospect- I definitely remember how major it felt at the time!
Susan
Very happy birthday wishes! I’m glad I contributed in a very small way to your bucket list trip down the Great Glen Way!
Mary
Yours is the only cookery blog I read. It’s always fun as well as informative.
Glad to hear you had a good birthday
Kirsty
Happy (belated) birthday! I don’t believe you are 40 – you don’t look it 🙂 hope you had a super day
Carole E
Turning 40 is like turning 30 only it takes a little bit longer to get over it . Happy birthday!
G Keegan
Hace a wonderful 40th birthday – what a fantastic giveaway!
G Keegan
Happy birthday – what an amazing giveaway!
Rachel Craig
Some say “Life Begins at Fourty”, So Enjoy, Have Fun, New Adventures etc. Happy Birthday!
Mia Clarke
Have a great birthday- its only a number its when you get to mine you cant remember it
kelly wheelhouse
Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a wonderful day 🙂
Gillian Drake
Wow so many entries here, I stand no chance! I was really worried about hitting 50 last year but I don’t feel any different! Keep up your fitness would be my advice, I did a 10 mile race (running) round Donnington race track to celebrate 51, now that is weird…ps your blog is great!
Emily Knight
Happy birthday and blog birthday! I’ve been following your blog for a while now, and love your food pics – they always make me so hungry!
Jan Beal
Like a good wine, you’ll get better with age
Christine Schneider
Happy 40th!
Kristy Brown
Ahh who’s counting!! Happy Birthday – a new decade equals extra cake!
Katy
wow, that is an incredibly ‘mega’ giveaway! Happy birthday to both you and your blog
Lynsey Buchanan
Happy Birthday
My moto is “Just because you are getting older, does not mean you have to get old”
barbara daniels
best wishes and congrats
hannah wood
Happy Birthday 🙂
christine taylor
Food is the one thing that always makes me smile x
melanie stirling
Happy birthday and thank you for your wonderful blog and fantastic competitions.
gemma brown
happy birthday 😀
Christopher Campbell
Your only halfway to old age 😉
Tony Metcalfe
Your age is just a number, carry on living!
Mark Barrett
Half the reason I’m posting this is to wish you a happy 40th birthday! The other half is because I want to win 🙂
Linda Slater
Embrace it I say, arrange loads of lovely treats and stretch out the birthday for a whole month!!
Lynsey Ellard
Happy Birthday – Hope you have a wonderful new decade! 😀
Kay Broomfield
I’m right there with you, as I turn 40 next April. I am doing everything I can to hold back the years, rather than growing older gracefully! Can we agree 40 is the new 20?
Rachel Stephenson
Happy Birthday, I shall me entering this club next too. Hope its been wonderful and continues to be a great Birthday week and weekend
Deborah Clarke
You’re only as old as the man that you feel…get a toyboy lol. Happy birthday.
Lillian Fisher
Happy Blog Birthday and Happy Birthday.
Statistics show that those who have the most birthdays live the longest!
Stella
Happy birthday to you and your blog. What a fab giveaway.
Abigail Cullen
Happy birthday – You have the wisdom now to achieve anything and you know what’s right.
TRACY JAMES
happy birthday hun…life begins at 40….lol….i couldnt think of anything else to make u smile,so heres my fav joke.whats green and stands in a corner…….a naughty frog…lol.x
Janet Birkin
Have a Very Happy 40th Birthday, Hope the day is good to you 🙂
Henry Little
Enjoy your special day, remember it is only a number, you are only as old as you feel!
rhiannon anderson
aw Happy Birthday!
Ness Gorton
7 years in & nothing major has changed, have fun & remember if they can’t prove you did it …………….. DENY everything!!
Ray Dodds
Happy 40th just turning a modern teenager all the best years to come
Liam Bishop
Happy Birthday! Life isn’t just a number and you’ve never too old for an adventure! Enjoy it!
Daniel Hobbs
Happy Birthday from a Kind Stranger
Helen Stratton
I hit my 4th decade last year and the best way to deal with it is to remember your still the same person. If you still feel 26 and want to behave that way, do not let anything stop you!!
clairejustine
Happy blog birthday and 40th birthday. welcome to the 40’s. I got here a few years ago, not to bad :):) Lovely blog and recipes.
Anna
congratulations on 5 years of your blog. And happy Birthday to you.
ROBERT MCINTOSH
It gets better – but always wait 5 minutes after waking before you look in a mirror!
Rhian Westbury
Congratulations on your blogaverisary and have an amazing birthday! x
Bernice Cockrell
HBTY….welcome to the naughty forties, it’s great to be 20 …….twice! Enjoy you day and keep blogging
Michael Clarke
It’s 50 you have to worry about,:) 40 is a breeze
clair downham
happy birthday your blog is super
Cathy
Happy birthday old bean! They say life begins at 40. Hold that close to your heart!
sarah rees
happy birthday! enjoy!
Jennifer Haden
Happy birthday! 40 is just the beginning of amazing things that will happen. Alot of people say the best years are after 40!
Christine Hall
Happy birthday I love reading your blogs
Sammie
I too wasn’t looking forward to turning 40 yet my forties have truly been fabulous. I have grown to have a confidence and more self belief and I really hope that is how it is for you. I’d say there’s real freedom in turning 40. Happy Birthday x
Barbara Knight
Look on the bright side, at least you’re not turning 50 as I did this year! Actually I find life gets even better with age.
Ruth Harwood
you’re not alone, I turn 40 this next year! I’m looking forward to it as it shows the experience in life I have and the friends i’ve accumulated over the years!!
Freya Knudsen
Happy birthday….and don’t worry you’re not 40, you’re 39.95 plus shipping and handling.
milli
Happy Birthday & enjoy every minute! 40 = 18 years old + 22 years of experience
Jane Willis
Happy birthday! There’s a lot to enjoy about your 40s – you’ve finished doing all your growing up but you’ve not started on your getting old (which, take my word for it, is no fun). Enjoy!
Joanne Beale
Happy Birthday for your 40th, have a great day
Michaela Hannah
Happy birthday, age is just a number!
Matt McAndrew
Unlucky mate. Lol.
Evette Gabriella Williams
Remember life really does begin at 40 so enjoy every moment x
Lindsay
Ah, this is a hard one. I hate cheesy sentiments and bland platitudes, but I’d have to say (as someone a year off my fourth decade) the best thing about getting older is not giving a f*ck. I’ve learned not to give a f*ck about so many things and it’s really liberating. When you get to this age you need to have learned how to stand up for yourself and stand up for others in the face of utter nonsense. I’ve done better and braver things in defense of women I did not know against men who were total nutbars in the last year than I’ve done in my entire life. And I’m proud of that.
So I think being older is about being brave and figuring out the things that matter. Sure, I wish I was thinner, fitter, better, on time, but I’ve realised I’m good at other things and I’m a good ally and also (for someone who won’t have children) a great auntie. Have a great 40th year and revel in your strengths, knowing that so much of what we worried about in our younger years is dross and noise and simply does not matter any more. Celebrate yourself. Be fierce. And don’t give a single f*ck. x
Tracey Hallmark
Life begins at 40 enjoy it, it’s a fab time go out there and enjoy it and have a great birthday!
Melanie Gardiner
It’s the end said the caterpillar – it’s the beginning said the butterfly
Linda Guest
Everything starts sliding south once you reach 40 so why fight it? Book your whole self a Holiday in the Bahamas to celebrate xx
Brad Start
4th decade……child, I’ve just gone into my 6th (and my wife says I’m still like an overgrown child). 🙂
kat lucas
Happy Birthday and knowing that it’s not the start of your 5th decade should make you happy 🙂
Ana De- Jesus
Wow! Congratulations on reaching half a decade with your blog that is incredible! And hope you have a lovely 40th hun!
Phil Morris
Happy Birthday. Great comp (as usual). Enjoy !
Jay
Happy birthday, I’m not long behind you so gotta hope 40’s isn’t as bad as they say…
Laura Todd
Life begins at 40…an oldie but a goodie 🙂
Emma Rawlinson
Life begins at 40! Old enough to have learnt from past mistakes, but young enough to still enjoy life 🙂
Alexandra
Happy birthday! Congrats and keep up the good work
Louise A
Oooo you lucky thing wish I was starting my 4th decade lol….
Rich Barker
With advances in technology and increased health improvements throughout your lifetime, you’re the equivalent of a teenager in the 17th Century 🙂
Alica
A very happy birthday to you! I am 43 now and life DOES begin at 40!! 🙂 xx
Michaela Smith
Happy 40th Birthday! The best is yet to come 🙂
Laura Tovey
Happy Birthday!! You may be another year wiser, but 40 is the new 30 so intact you’ve unaged 🙂
k dunn
happy birthday! 40 will be fab
joanna Butler-Savage
i hav grey hair where i really ought not to – I’m 39
Choclette
My forties were so much better than my 30s. Think how much you’ve done in the last year or two and how much more there is to do. Congratulations on 5 years of blogging. It’s a fantastic blog and a great achievement. Carry on the good work. And wow, what an amazing giveaway!
Richard Tyler
Have a lovely birthday, best wishes, smiles & laughter for next year! 🙂
Lyndsey O'Halloran
Wow, happy birthday. What a fab giveaway to celebrate with
leanne weir
Happy birthday! You know what they say about women who are 40……
Helen Moulden
Congratulations! The older the wiser as they say! 🙂
Jemma Taylor
Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary, happy birthday to you!
Kate@lovefromscotland
You seem a lot more accepting of 40 than I am. I’m like noooooooooooo not me! Happy Birthday!
Katherine Lawson
Here’s to 4 more decades as delicious as the previous 4 🙂
Holly Gibson
Happy birthday, you have achieved so much in your life, surround yourself by your achievements and take a moment to reflect 🙂
ValB
Hey I am 70 next month so you are a mere child to me – have done so much since i was 40 inc white water rafting, have visited so many different places, off to the Antarctic in 2017 – my advice is not to think how old you are but what opportunities there are to enjoy you next decades
Phil Darling
Happy Birthday – 40 is the new 30 – its fun all the way to 50
Jo Hutchinson
Happy birthday! and happy blog birthday
Why was the birthday cake as hard as a rock?
Because it was marble cake
Tracey Foster
Lots to celebrate 😀 We are happy to celebrate, with you too 😀
Matt Froggatt
Charge towards your 40’s! I’m looking forward to mine!
Alana Walker
You’re only as young as the man you feel! (or so they say!) Happy birthday and thank you for this wonderful giveaway!x
Malcolm Butterworth
Great prizes
Corinne Henson
Don’t panic it will be fine it’s just another exciting chapter 🙂
Denise Cross
Party, Party, Party …. or slippers and good box sets!!!!
Bob Clark
You probably haven’t reached the half way mark yet
Maggie Coates
Happy Birthday. Lets see if this joke will make you smile.
Q. What does Santa suffer from when he gets stuck in the chimney?
A. Claustrophobia.
Sarah Cooper
I love your blog. Congratulations on the 4th decade.
Carolin
Wow what an amazing giveaway. I wish I could enter x
Rebecca
40 is the closest to retirement you’ve ever been. 😉 Happy Birthday and thanks for a great giveaway!
Lucy Major
Happy birthday and congrats! Must be nice to know that you keep everyone entertained 🙂
Jim Kerr
Don’t worry about it, life gets better and diferent as you get older, its all an adventure.
Sam McKean
My 40’s have been my best decade yet, it brings confidence, wisdom and a wonderful sense of self. Embrace it. Many happy returns! x
Jenna Parrington
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOOOOOU! Have a fantastic day!
Emma Salter
Happy birthday. Hope you enjoy your day.
Martina Pichova
You and gold have so much in common. with each passing day you become more precious
Ally Webb
Embrace your birthday, it’s a lovely age, enjoy!
Helen Tovell
They say at 40 we enjoy life more as we care less about what others think.
Laura
Happy Birthday! Remember, all your favourite childhood things are coming back on trend and this time you have the maturity to not open the packets (!) so in 40 years time you can be the one cashing in on eBay with vintage boxed items!
Katie Skeoch
Happy birthday! A fourth decade is the party decade!
Ann Marie Gould
happy 40th birthday, they say life begins at 40 so throw on your glad rags and enjoy yourself! 🙂
Sarah Morris
Enjoy and celebrate both occasions, you have done a wonderful job on your blog. Hopefully we will see lots of ideas/suggestions and articles as to how to cope with the xmas cooking nightmare!!
Paul Reeves
People who say 40 is over the hill are liars, we are not even halfway up the ‘effin hill
Kim Neville
Happy Birthday Life begins at 40 now. Enjoy and keep up with your good work
Jilly
Happy 40th Elizabeth 🙂 & Happy Birthday to your fab blog too.
I started following your blog initially as I have a dream that my husband & I will move to Shetland, now that our children are all leaving home. Maybe we’ll get there but in the meantime I’m enjoying reading your blog immensely.
Incidentally, 40 was good – now 50 – that’s another story! xx
Susan Sargent
Happy Birthday,enjoy everyday as it comes
Vanessa Cox
Keep up the good work! you’re doing very well!
Jade Hewlett
Happy Birthday
Steven Scrase
Fret not, I am a few years ahead of you and can reliably inform that 50 is the new 40 and we’ve loads of time to act young still.
Clair Dukes
Happy birthday, I used to think my mums platform boots from the 70’s were amazing and now I have some in loft left from the 90’s oh my how does time fly!
Such a great blog.
Abby Hudson
Happy birthday! Hoping your 40s will feel incredibly new and exciting like your 20s — only doubly so!
A S,Edinburgh
May your future be as bright and happy as can be; you deserve every good thing. Happy Birthday!
Kelly Glen
Isn’t 40 the new 30 or so they say. Happy birthday.
Emma Codd
happy Birthday! It’s not as bad as you think, honest 🙂
Jackie ONeill
I am having a ball in my forties, so far the best decade of my life! Enjoy!
james wood
Time passes faster as you get older so enough your youth while you can.
Carolyn heyworth
Life does begin at 40
so make it a fab decade !!!
Yet Another Blogging Mummy
Happy Birthday. You’re only as old as you feel. And enjoy whatever tasty treats you’ve baked for the occasion
Julie Bellham
Happy Birthday. Every day is a gift. Enjoy this one!
sharon mead
I found that once I hit 40 I really stopped caring about what other people think, heaven help the world if I reach 80!
Hannah Ingham
Age is just a number! Though YOLO is overused, it is true, you only do live once!
Sarah sutherland
I want all of this! Especially the highland chocolate. Xx
sarah birkett
well at least you are not approaching your 5th decade. the 40’s are the best , its all down hill from here
Marc Chivers
Look at the positives – not long until you get your free bus pass!
Julie T
Happy Birthday to you! You are doing so well and 40, well it’s just a number. Having passed that several years ago I can say that there is so much more to come, you should be looking forward (not back). Put on your best glad rags and enjoy everything that presents itself to you – it all passes by even faster now! You don’t want to look back at 50 or 60 or 70 and say I wish I had…. Don’t put anything off, do it now, whilst you can. Life is for living and you only get one chance at it!
emily omara
woop woop congrats, lets hav a part-tay!
Jamielee Wells
Your blog is so good and informative
Justine Hughes
40 is the new 30!
jackie youel
Age is just a number and your only as old as you act 🙂 Happy Birthday x
emma walters
i’m catching up with you! i think you should be so proud of yourself, your blog is fantastic and you have achieved so much. you go backwards when you hit 4-0 anyway!
Janice
Enjoy your 40s, you still have the energy to do all the things you could do in your 30s but way more confidence to choose just what you want to do. You’ve already started on that journey with your freelance work, as your family get older and more independent I see a bright future for you as a travel and food blogger as your writing is excellent.
Tracy
Woman have better, stronger orgasms in their 40’s
Toby Sandison
Happy birthday!
Fiona K
Congratulations on reaching the best decade, life begins and enjoy it!
daniel baugh
if you’re planning on living past 80 then you are not even middle aged yet
Sandra Salter
They used say “Life begins at 40”. It’s so true. Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day
Emma
Happy 4th decade!! Hope you have a lovely day 🙂
Michael Rattray
I’m on my fifth decade.
Don’t dwell on being 40 just go on and enjoy life!
Angela Treadway
age doesnt mean a thing just enjoy x
Kim Carberry
Happy Birthday! I hope you have had a wonderful day x
amy bondoc
Happy birthday 🙂 once you hit 0 digits, you are supoosed to count backwards !
caroline walliss
It’s just a number and you’re only as old as you feel, thanks.x
Rebecca Williams
40’s is the new 20’s 🙂
Rachel Ray
Happy birthday!
I read women reach their sexual peak at 40 – there are worse birthdays to have!
Heather Haigh
Happy Blog-birthday and thanks for all the inspiration, information and jollification 🙂
Dawn Wilkinson
Looks 18
Feels 14
Acts 8
That makes you 40 !!
kev banham
Age is just a number it’s how young you feel inside
frances hopkins
Happy Birthday, its not that bad x
John Edwards
I wish that I was on my fourth decade. I can’t even remember when I was 40. The good news is that life gets even better so you have so much to look forward to. Have a great birthday
iain maciver
40 is the new 20 so you are only 20
KathVBtn
things have been getting better and better since I hit 40, you’re going to have a great time!
S Edwards
Enjoy it 🙂
Leah Wheatley
Happy Birthday!!!!!
Christine Dodd
40 is the new 30
Kerry Locke
Your half way through ….
Hilda Wright
40 was a biggie for me too, but I’m 45 now and I can honestly say that each decade my life has got better! Happy Birthday!
fozia Akhtar
Happy Birthday .xx
laura banks
happy birthday its just a number pick a new one
Anna
I’m in my fifth decade so you are a spring chicken to me! Believe me 40 is still young
Anthony Harrington
Happy Birthday!
Dean of Little Steps
Happy Blog Anniversary! And what a lovely give-away 🙂 I do love the look of that Tuscan menu, it’s just what my husband and I love 🙂
Tracey Peach
Happy Birthday Lovely, The 40’s are the best decade because you know who you are & what you want out of life 🙂 x
Janet Humphrey
Welcome to your 4th decade from one close to leaving it for her fifth.
Char Keddy
Happy Birthday!!Welcome to the fabulous forties hun, you’ll love it 🙂
Gail Oswald
Happy Birthday .
Angela Webster
I turn 40 next year and was feeling a bit miserable about it but then I read a chapter of Oprah Winfrey’s book ‘What I know for sure’ where she explained that she celebrates every single year she gets older because it’s a blessing denied to many. It certainly made me look at it in a whole new way. I’m going to celebrate it within an inch of it’s life ! Congrats on both your blogging birthday and turning 40.
Dee Dmonte
Happy Birthday – your scrummy food porn pics always cheers me up 🙂
Kavey
Definitely no cause to worry about turning 40. When I was a kid I remember the grown ups telling me that life begins at 40 and I thought they must be delusional but sitting here at 45 years old, I realise that I still enjoy life to the full and what’s more, I am far better at organising life to fit what Pete and I love most. At 40 you know who you are, who you are not, what you like and what you don’t, and who to love and who loves you back. What more can you need?
Jade Bremner
Happy Birthday for you and your blog. You should smile because you are helping people create lovely foods and smile at your achievements. Age is all but a number x
Chantelle Harris
40 means is now officially acceptable to chicken dance every day
Esma Blackwell
Age is just a number.It how you live your life which counts.Have a fab day
Sus // roughmeasures.com
A huge happy birthday for tomorrow, and to your blog too, what lovely milestones! this is an amazing giveaway!
Katie
Have a lovely birthday. Remember you’re beautiful and life begins at 40!
Yvonne Bradley
It’s only a number-my grandson thinks I’m too old to still be alive!
Kate Knight
You’ll be old enough to not worry and young enough to have fun
Anca
I hope you have a wonderful birthday. x
I understand what you are going through. I had my birthday last month and it seems 40s are getting to close (I’m 34). I was happy when I had my 30th birthday, but I’m not that on this one either.
William Gould
I can say without doubt that the 4th decade is by far and away the best one!!!
Gill
If you think 40 is bad just wait till you’re 60!!!
Peter Watson
With life expectancy rising,you are not even half way through your innings,as long as you treat your body as a temple,not, like me,as an amusement arcade.
Suzanne McCusker
Happy double birthday! Being 40 isn’t so bad, I was dreading it, but apart from one creaky knee, I don’t feel any different to how I did in my 20’s.
Holly Peterson
Wooo! You’re 5! (well, not you personally of course, that would be quite impressive!) what a lovely giveaway and blog you have here, here’s to another 5 years (and more after!)
x
Tania Atfield
Age means nothing it’s how you live that matters and loving lots of Prosecco helps too.
Nicola Hoare
Happy Birthday and Congratulations for 5 years of blogging! You’re blog is so beautiful and inspiring! 🙂
Mairi Black
Amazing! If only I could work pesky rafflecopter!
sandi green
Congratulations on turning 5 and happy birthday. 40 is nothing to fret about, infact I am finding my 40’s wonderful, people seem to take me more seriously, maybe because I care a lot less about what others think.
Tracy Nixon
Happy Birthday and well done on the success of your blog! I have been a follower for a number of years and been always been inspired by what you share! You deserve a gold medal for all you share! Thank you!
Fiona Cope
Congratulations on 5 years of your blog and of (almost) reaching 40 years of age Elizabeth! Your blog has gone from strength to strength and I can personally attest to the quality of your recipes! Happy Birthday for tomorrow! 40 isn’t that bad – I can remember it vaguely!
Chris Davies
You are capable of far more than you believe you are.
You make your own choices, you have the capacity to be exactly who you want to be.
Now it’s down to you.
SMK
Happy birthday. Don’t worry it is painless turning 40, especially as 40 is the new 20, apparently. x
Julian Onions
Happy Birthday Elizabeth B.Sc. You continue to go from strength to strength!
Andrew Petrie
I’ve been there – you just have to put a positive slant on it. I decided I was wise enough to avoid the mistakes I had made in the previous decade.
Sue Sproats
Oh my days, you are so lucky to be able to get your mitts on those Mirrie Dancer choccies! We often watch the northern lights on the web cam 3 from shetland,
Jacqueline Bates
Happy Birthday 🙂 I have been following your blogging adventures from Australia and more recently from Shetland where I live now. Thanks for the inspiration here’s to many more years.
Laura
Congratulations! And happy birthday to yourself too 🙂 I’ve followed you for most of those five years Nd loved every recipe. Your photography is beautiful and your posts about your adventures make me want to go on my own adventures. I hope you get lots of treats for your own birthday.