missiecindz.com | Missie Cindz

I am a motivated and dynamic Designer, who relishes the complexities of the design world, deeply passionate about things making sense, especially in print and the web…you’ll usually find me CMYK’d and RGB’d wired up. Oh and did I mention I like all things food related too? ;)

A couple of months ago, I mentioned how I’d stumbled across Graze.com (http://bit.ly/gaNUgh). I decided to go back to them to order a “nibble” box, which at the small size, contains four items and costs £3.49 – your first box is generally free though – Tip: search for the voucher code online (or email to ask me and I’ll provide a code for you :)

These Graze boxes can be delivered to work, or whereever you like, and can either be snacked on throughout the week or eaten as lunch (I have mine in my drawer for when I have those ‘Snack Pangs!’) and can deliver your boxes as often as required from Monday to Saturday. I was able to go through what the possible contents would be (you can’t specify exactly what you get – which means it becomes a (nice) surprise and exclude the foods I didn’t like the sound of (I’m not a fan of certain seeds.)

My Graze box arrived today, sent via Royal Mail (arriving a day late – had selected to have this delivered yesterday). I tweeted Graze.com but no-one ever got back to me. However, upon opening the box, I was presented with a great visual display of the four selected foods (punnets of nibbles) – 7 fruit flapjack, honey nut almonds, olives and honey nut hazels.

There’s a personalised pamphlet with a run down of the contents, the box type (nibbles) and a note concerning recycling of the packaging (always good). Taking out the clear boxes of food reveals a nice touch of printed grass underneath – the culinary equivalent of astroturf. The grass actually backs a page of nutritional printed info, customised to the contents of your box. The olives tasted great and you also get a bamboo fork to eat it with too! (A little hanky is provided too for you to wipe your crumbs away :)

Their website is well designed and informative, answering any doubts that I had about their grazing products. I’ve got three more deliveries scheduled and all in all, I’m looking forward to them. Has anyone else tried these guys before and what was your experience?

Last year was when I first stumbled upon twitter and posted my first ‘Tweet’. Tweets are text-based posts of 140 characters or less displayed on the user”™s profile page. This enables users to update their current profile succinctly and quickly.

Six months later, everyday I wake up and the first thing I do is, I check my twitter (I don”™t have to feel sad or guilty, I know I’m not alone). One thing I want to say is twitter has been nothing but great! I”™ve learned so much from twitter and I can say that twitter has definitely allowed me to grow and connect with some super talented people! -  ranging from creative talents/designers/illustrators/programmers/directors; Sheffield foodie specialists, local producers through to even connecting deeper relationships with people on twitter through DM”™s and emails.

Tweetful learning
One thing I love about twitter is that it allows me to continue to learn (it’s something great about this resource) – I push myself to continue to learn because I ask! I”™ve been learning so much from great people.

@wpbeginner and @dutchoh1 teaches so many great things on my new interest for WordPress. @TheMightyPencil and @inkpixelspaper provides my daily dosage of inspiration. @dalem @dowsoncreative @thefoodnut @julia_design @irarmadilloboy have become fond regular tweeters of mine – cheers for the shout outs (especially you @irarmadilloboy :) and for the creative bonding tweets – you’re all real positive influences (@15percentkidney). For those who don’t know me, I’m also a girl who really enjoys her foods! (especially Sheffield Foods) – and I’ve been lucky to have been introduced to a heap of Sheffield Foodie delights: @eatsheffield @pjtaste @ourcowmolly @umptiousmuffins @cococatering @sheffieldhoney @teaboxonline @CatherinesChce @bakeitmix @busterscoffee). Finally, there’s @CheekySpouse too who’s my alike – a Graphic Designer by profession but a food blogger, amateur cooking lover :) oh and there’s @loveyourlarder (hi-five!)

Social media name games
The names are endless and I’m sorry to those I’ve not mentioned (this blog post would be far too long if I did and I assure you, you’re thought about). I know there will be people who’ll be saying “you can get this in real life too you know Cindy” – yes, you’re right but I look at twitter as a tool that helps me to connect with all these amazing people. I doubt if I wasn’t on twitter, I’d be able to stumble across and know about some of these amazing tweeters I”™m tweeting with today (even if it’s sharing a recipe, I’m happy with the connection we’ve established). I”™ve also even connected with a lot of them on linkedin (@howiehowe) and Facebook as well.

I look forward to stumbling across more and more interesting new Tweeters…and maybe, even people I hope to work (collaborate in someway) with in the near future too!?? keep up those colourful tweets.

Just who isn’t fond of the bakery section in Supermarkets?

I went to the Good Food Show at the NEC yesterday and to my delight I was swamped with a number of edible treats, samples of delicious liquors and mouldy type cheeses (I really did end up feeling like the size of a house by the end of the event) – but to my delight, one brand caught my eyes the most, this was ‘Genesis Crafty‘ – not only were their stall eye catching by their hand-drawn like illustrations (doodles) on their walls, running through into packaging and print materials but their customer service was top notch too! Thank you Mel :)

Their marketing campaign oozes with charm and personality. It’s the naïve visual appeal that makes it so special in the first place – showing that the Six Brothers Six Bakers are each personal, engaging and unique (watch their ‘Making of’ Movie – it kinda made me smile and I love the Baker who flips the pancake! hahaha – I had to watch this again!). Their design principles put in place work across the entire range to provide the required consistency but also allows for individual interpretation as they add more products to the range. Strong packaging taste (simple use of colours; good looking, personal & chunky choice of fonts blended with child-like illustrations – just won me over!), with great pricing strategies and you can really tell they’ve thought about their marketing communications – which I’m sure is still being further developed too.

Their extensive range of scones, rolls, sodas, potato bread, wheaten, and pancakes, based on traditional recipes and organic, natural ingredients were utterly scrummy – a plateful of buttered cherry scones offered to me, they were so smooth and rich in flavour – a proper melt in the mouth moment. Try their Double Butter & Sultana Scones (4) available from Tesco/Waitrose/Sainsbury’s, you won’t be disappointed. Let me know what you think too.

I stumbled across this fab (ever so stylish hairdressers yesterday). Thanks for my Hair Kandi Hair cut- the new salon (in Sheffield) is absolutely gorgeous, the staff were very friendly (but where was my cuppa of Yorkshire tea!?).

The illustration artwork (by this ever so talented Sheffielder, George Law) and little touches like the comfy waiting area with funky looking stools, all contribute to the welcoming feel of the salon. Unlike many others, I found Hair Kandi to actually deliver what it promises – I was delighted with the service and end result! (I went in for a trim, but ended up having 5″s off my locks! – a proper chop!!) – and it looks fab!

Thanks Claire – I can’t wait ’til my next appointment.