Monday, 31 August 2015

From a curtain...to a skirt

My mum was planning to change the curtains in our hallway, I really liked the fabric so asked if I could have them. I had a really cute skirt pattern which I adapted slightly as I wanted it a little bit more more flared. 

From this...

...to this

I am really happy with how my skirt turned out, it didn't take me very long to make and the zip went in perfectly. I get a bit embarrassed telling people I have made it but I am so flattered that I have received lots of compliments. 

Sunday, 30 August 2015

Cornish Break

I have just had a few days away in Cornwall, I have family that live there and my boyfriend has never been so thought it would be fun to spend a few days there.

As a child I have spent many family holidays in Cornwall and it usually started and ended with a 6 hour train journey. On this occasion we decided to fly. It was the best decision, we were only in the air for forty minutes but it was a nice easy journey. 

On our first full day we decided to take on the camel trail and do the 5.9 mile journey from Wadebridge to Padstow. The journey there wasn't too bad as it was dry and the picturesque scenery made it a lot easier. 

We chained up our bikes and went for a walk around  Padstow.


We found a mini golf course and decided to have a game. Out all of the crazy golf games we have played (which is quite a few) I don't think I have EVER won. On this occasion I did and I'm not sure if I will let Marcus forget it.  

Here's the card with my WINNING score on, I'm 'Rorsy' as that's what Marcus' little cousin calls me.

I took this on the way back with my trusty selfie stick.We were about halfway through the 5.9 mile journey back and had got absolutely drenched so I think a five minute rest was allowed. 

After the bike ride I had a well earned chocolate brownie...mmmmm!

Had an amazing breakfast the next day, smoked salmon with scrambled egg and toast. Oh and a camomile tea.

We went to a strawberry farm where there were animals and a playground. My cousin has 2 year old twins so it was perfect for them. They went on a big slide and a digger then they spotted some little tractors that went round a track when you put a pound in them. I sat on with one twin and they absolutely loved it. We then got ice creams, I went for the rocky road one which was really nice.

In the evening we went for a lovely meal to prematurely celebrate my mum and dad's 25th wedding anniversary with my family from Cornwall. I had a lovely evening and ate far too much. 

We had a lovely time away especially getting to spend time with these little cuties. 

Thursday, 20 August 2015

Embarrassing Photos

Thought I would post some pictures from a time I shopped at Tammy Girl and the 915 range at Newlook. I'm not sure who told me I looked cool but it was safe to say I liked to take a risk with my choice of clothing. I couldn't have owned a mirror!
I also had a tendency to tuck my hair behind my awkwardly sticky out ears. 

I look very unimpressed in this photo however I used to absolutely adore this coat. It was pure white with a fur trim and it had a hood. 

I'm not sure how old I was here, I had blonde highlights when I was about 12 which have grown out on this photo to the now on trend ombré look. Check out my overly plucked eyebrows, got to love the game 'let's make my eyebrows into the thinnest line possible'. Why did I do this! I did love this Tammy Girl top.

I seem very proud of this outfit at the time. I used to love these cords and this belt which I think I had got free with a skirt. 

I can't believe I am putting this one on. I am very critical of anyone wearing double denim and here I am wearing it myself. I loved a good middle parting apparently, the top is horrendous you can see my tummy and again my hair is tucked behind my ears...why?

I think this is my coolest outfit, I remember loving it too. There was a definite military trend going on. I think this whole outfit was from 915 in Newlook. Nice pose! 

Wednesday, 19 August 2015

Floral Cupcake Recipe

I made these cupcakes for my boyfriend's nan's birthday. I didn't have a piping bag to pipe the butter cream icing on but apart from that I think these cupcakes are really cute and they taste good too! Here is how I made them.



Ingredients
  • 110g  Butter or Margerine at room temperature
  • 110g Caster Sugar
  • 2 Large free-range Eggs, Lightly Beaten
  • 1 Tea Spoon Vanilla Extract
  • 110g Self raising Flour
  • 1-2 Tbsp Milk
For the Butter cream icing
  • 140g Softened Butter
  • 280g Icing Sugar
  • 1-2 Tablespoon Milk
  • A few drops of food colouring

Method

- Preheat the oven to 180C and line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases. I went for girly pink polka dot ones. 

Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale. Beat in the eggs a little at a time and stir in the vanilla extract.

Fold in the flour using a wooden spoon, adding a little milk until the mixture is of a dropping consistency. Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until they are half full.

Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden-brown on top. Remove them from the tin and put them on a wire rack to let them cool down (or put them by a window like I did.)

For the butter cream icing beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half the icing sugar and beat until smooth.

Then add the remaining icing sugar with one tablespoon of the milk until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Add the food colouring and mix until well combined. I went for bright pink. 

- I tried to make a piping bag out of baking paper but it went horribly wrong, instead you should spoon the icing into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe the icing using a spiralling motion onto the cup cakes in a large swirl.

These are really easy to make and look really pretty, I also got some little flowers to decorate them. Enjoy :)



Thursday, 13 August 2015

Festival Essentials

Festival season is in full swing, after going a festival myself I thought I would compose a list of essentials you will definitely need to take with you. 

Wellies

I have gone for the predictable hunter welly but in an unpredictable colour. Any type off welly would be perfect you could even get a cheap pair and customise them.

Sleeping Bag

This one is from eBay, obviously it had to be a girly colour or print. It cost £14 and they do a tent in a matching print.


Toiletries

I think I would definitely take some wet wipes, deodorant, tissues, antibacterial gel and dry shampoo. They would be my essentials for basic hygiene. I would also take a few make up items but ones that could double up for example a lip stick that's also a blusher or a tinted moisturiser. 

Face paint 

I think this is a must, festivals are all about having fun and experimenting. It's the perfect excuse to splodge on some face paint...when else are you going to get the chance.

Sunglasses

I wouldn't take an expensive pair In case they got broke or lost. These ones were £1 from Primark but I think they look more expensive than that and it wouldn't matter if anything was to happen to them. I actually really like the style and colour of them. 

Floral headbands 

When it comes to floral head wear I feel like an expert being a modern day hippy and owning about 30 or more pieces. The bigger the better. This particular one was from Asos and cost £12. 

Fringe bag




You want something with a zip so your belongings are safe. I also feel like it's easier to lose things if you are trying to squeeze them into a small bag. This fringe bag from eBay is perfect and looks really cool too. It cost £8.

Apart from a phone or camera to take pictures, I think you are all set. Have fun!

Monday, 10 August 2015

Anniversary Meal

Yesterday my boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. On Saturday we spent the day in Liverpool and did some shopping and went to an art museum which was really cool. Last night we went for a lovely meal, I thought I would share my outfit and make up choices.

I went for quite subtle make-up. pink lips, pink cheeks and a smokey eye which you can't really see. I was pretty proud of it too. 

Here is a close up of my eyes and lips. You can see the three different shades on my eyes better. It isn't the most flattering shot.

This is what I wore, My dress was from Dorothy Perkins which was £15 in the sale, I have had it a little while so am not sure if it is still available. My shoes are from Newlook which were also in the sale for £13. The bag is my mums which was from Primark and the necklace was also Dorothy Perkins. I also took a white blazer with me in case it got cold which surprisingly it didn't.

This was my anniversary present, I am a huge fan of Frozen so was really happy to receive this Olaf mug. I'm going to drink everything from this from now on!

He got me this absolutely gorgeous card which is very me. I love it.

Sunday, 9 August 2015

Ukulele Playing

I am all about trying new things and I enjoy learning new things. I decided to learn to play the ukulele as I enjoy singing (even though I'm not that great and always get told to stop singing). My mum works at a school and brought this one home for me to try out before I go all out and buy my own.
I have started to learn Let it be by The Beatles and also I'm yours by Jason Miraz. I'll let you know how I get on. It is harder than I thought it would be but I am hopeful I will get the hang of it soon. 

Friday, 7 August 2015

July Favourites

I can't believe how fast July went, I feel like I blinked and it had gone. Here are a few things I enjoyed during July. I always love clothes and fashion but I especially loved it last month and enjoyed experimenting with different styles
The first reason I love this outfit is because it was ridiculously cheap. The top was £4 from Primark which they do in a variety of colours and the skirt worked out around £2 from Ebay. I just had to wait a while for it as it came from China. The second reason is I am in love with the skirt, I felt really pretty and elegant wearing it.

Bit of a random one but I love my vegetable plot. I decided I wanted to grow salad produce and vegetables. I grew some tomatoes last year and got the bug for it. It isn't that hard to maintain it just needs watering but it is so satisfying going to the garden and picking some carrots for tea. They taste so much fresher the those you get from the supermarket and quite sweet too. 



I got this cute pink crochet waistcoat from George at Asda. I can't remember the exact price but it was between £10 and £14. I love the fringing featured at the bottom and the detail just above the fringing.

I did these neon nails for Kendal Calling. I absolutely loved them and they were very festival appropriate.

I looked absolutely everywhere for the perfect pair of dungarees. After a couple of hours shopping with my mum, I found this pair in Dorothy Perkins for £28. I wish I could wear them all of the time.

I decided to start a happy jar a couple of months ago. It is filling up nicely and so satisfying putting a post it note in with a happy memory on. I can't wait to read them all back.