I love the oscars, I know its not totally *rock & roll* to say that in these more serious, subdued times. But its exactly this, that makes the oscars such an escapist pleasure.
I am not really bothered who gets to take home an award really though, its just the dresses…and oh what dresses….
Michelle Williams, in Louis Vuitton got my best dressed vote ( followed closely by Penelope Cruz, channelling Elizabeth Taylor ) .
From the colour of the beautifully cut frothy fabric to the freshness of her pretty face, she just blew me away! What’s your fave?
Since Christmas I have had this plan that I would post lots more here.
I have always had far more idea’s than I have ever got time to write about, my Ipad is crammed full lots of notes and links. Often its a bit of an old jumble, like my head ; )
I have one of those annoying personalities where if I find something interesting I have to go and “discover ” it, fully. It could be a person ( the girl crush diaries) or a whole host of other things, its like being a magpie. My brain just wont let me stop until I’ve discovered everything, my dad was the same.
We aways used to joke that he would make people collections. He was always into somebody or something, from Eva Peron to Buzz Aldrin . It was great for school projects, because pretty much anything we had a topic on, my dad would have a book about. I guess im just the same.
I think I kinda fall in love with things for a while, only problem is, I get bored and then I’m off again onto something else. I’m the same with everything, lots of unfinished things in our house ( including housework ). It can make life a little chaotic that’s for sure!
Anyway, this week my health ( or rather lack of ) has meant that starring at this computer screen has been a huge no no. So no posts…. But I couldn’t miss the Friday addition, its what I Love after all. Hopefully next week I will be well enough for a huge run off of post, so watch out for the ickle blog attack! Even if nobody reads, at least my brain ( & Ipad ) will get a spring clean!
Oh and also, I have had a little news on my health this week, off to hospital again next, so I will keep you posted on how it all goes. Hopefully a new season of wellness is on its way? I really do hope so!
Anyway, This Friday I’m in love HAS to start with my fave fashion crush Mary Katrantzou and her London fashion week colection. WOW! I loved it all, the lady is a genius, she actually performs trompe l’oeil on the female form. My favourite, was the red type writter dress. I would so love to own it, just to hang it on my wall! She is an artist. What’s your favourite ?
Second up is this DIY Elbow patch tutorial from Honestly WTF, I just think its so cute! Really want to try felting and this seems like a very easy project to have a go at ….
Last up is a classic example of my over excitable brain, Teen Ellie gave me a song to listen too in the week and I feel in love with it, and the artist. I’ve heard ( and tweeted) about her stuff before, but for some reason, I just couldn’t turn her off this week. Mostly this song, love it, love her! she’s captivating and this video kind of reminds me of what’s going on in my head most of the time ; ) See you soon X ….
Oh the little lambs a’ leaping, the snow drops a’ peeping … Yeah all that lovely stuff, but more importantly , at least to me ( sorry sheep ) is new spring make up !
I love all the pretty pallets and the way the new lighter tones can totally lift your mood, even if it is still freezing outside .
If it’s bright and fresh in my make up bag, theres always hope for the sunshine.
So here are my round up of the best. And also a look in my make up bag, just in case your curious like
First up is Anna Sui’s new spring collection…whoops I may have just accidentally drooled on my iPad ….Seriously dreamy and all infused with the scent of tea rose.
Second up , the best looks from New York Fashion Week, I love the over flushed cheeks and the neon pink/orange lips…to.die.for. Get more over at Harpers Bazaar
Next up is a tutorial for the sweetest spring faces from pixiwoo, she’s so clever at making things look easy, but I can vouch for this one especially . I tried it with a Urban Decay pallet and my stilla lip- cheek tint and it really worked. Drab to fab in around ten minutes flat.
Lastly , and I must admit this is a slightly tenuous spring link ( but I just HAD to include it) is this brilliant marbling nail tutorial from Hey Nice Nails .
I SO want to try it with some pretty spring pastels …
And now for make up bag… If it were a fashionista it would be a high street meets designer kinda girl . I do love to dream through pages of makeup blogs and stores, but equally ( almost) I love a trip to boots. I think my stash kind of reflects that
Stila water proof liquid eye-liner
Rimmel wake me up foundation
Urban Decay Eye Pallet
Stila Illuminating Powder
Jemma Kid Make-Up School Glow all Over, in iced gold
Stila Convertible colour for cheeks & lips, in Petunia
Carmex Cherry Lip Balm
Miss Sporty Liqiud Concealer
Stila Brighten & Correct Concealer
Miss Sporty Nail Polish, Bright Tangerine
And now I really want to know what’s in yours!
Or in fact, just anything that’s got you in love ( or obsessing over ) this week .
Katie over at katieandthekids.co.uk had this fab idea to have a “Friday I’m in Love” link up, she’s clearly a genius that girl!
I’d so love you all to join in, so heres the plan, Friday I’m In Love posts are for things that are making you happy right now. it can be anything you have been loving, desiring, crushing , coveting over the past week.
Anything… from NY fashion week, to vintage tea cups on Etsy, to recipes on your fave foodie blogs , to fun pinterest finds, to your trusty make up bag and its contents,
It can be just one beautiful thing, or a list of lovelies with a theme, like mine.
Then add the badge so others can join in too. If you tweet put the #FridayImInLove hash tag in along with your blog tweet.
That way I can find you. And it would be great if you do post, that you comment on at least one other post too. That way it’s more fun and conversational. We all get to see what beautiful things are out there.
I’m really looking forward to all your gorgeous finds. Its always my favourite time of the week for posting I never have writers block for Friday I’m In Love posts!
Anyway, I’ll stop gushing now before you all leave in slushy loved up terror ….
Here’s the lovely linky button to add to your posts :
NOTE : As its new this week, you don’t need to only posts on Friday (today) , we will leave it open for the entire week . Although all subsequent posts will be on Friday’s , just to make sense
Ps…sorry stinky linky badge thingy (above) appears not to be working, just for this week, ( i’m such a pro ;P) if you post, just leave a mention and your blog URL in comments and i will come on over and say HI! Xxx
I have been thinking about cooking Jay something for Valentines for a while. We always have a nice dinner together. But breakfast, as a norm is a very rushed coffee, kiss, goodbye affair. So I thought it would be nice to make the extra effort. At least once a year!
Anyway I have been thinking something sweet, and I came up with this idea of using my leftover caramel choc banana bread from lasts recipe post. It’s really easy to whip up a batch in advance, if you haven’t made it yet.
I watched ( the under rated, brilliant ) Sophie Gregson do something a little similar with Christmas pudding, but she just fried it in butter. I wanted to add the element of french toasting to make it a little lighter and more “breakfasty”.
It worked out lovely. Kind of banana – donut- like, but also with the strawberries and creme fraiche it was fresh, light, sweet, and delicious.
It’s the work of of minutes too , and well worth it! … Also, if you don’t make the banana bread, you could still make using chocolate brioche instead, so no excuses…
You know your Mr ( or mrs) * (almost) Perfect * deserves it! *wink.
Chocolate Caramel Banana Bread French Toast, with Strawberry Compote
A good dash of lime juice ( mine is from a bottle, but you could freshly squeeze
Half a lime if you prefer)
a little splash of water
First cut 3/4 ‘ s of the strawberries into 4 ( in half if their teeny tiny) .
Add to a pan on a medium heat with the sugar, lime and water.
Cook for several minutes until the strawberries begin to soften, and release their juices. Take off heat .
While that’s happening, prepare the French toast.
Slice the banana bread into fairly big chunks and then cut into heart shapes with a cookie cutter ( this is not essential, if you don’t have a cookie cutter, just slice into triangles ) .
Next break the egg into a bowl and beat up with the milk, sugar and vanilla.
Dip the bread carefully on all sides ( including the top and bottom) into the egg mix.
Put a couple of good lumps of butter into the pan, and once it’s melted and starts to bubble place in the bread.
Brown on both sides.
While that’s browning, cut up the remaining few strawberries, the contrast between cooked and not cooked strawberries is really nice.
Place the made toast hearts on a plate, tumble on the cooked strawberries and a few none cooked. Dust with icing sugar and place a good blob of creme fraiche on the side.
Happy Valentines x x x
I am entering this recipe into lovely EnglishMum’s Made With Love Bake Off find out more HERE
So its Friday again ( how’d that happen?!?..) anyway, love is in the air! and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so this Friday I’m In Love post is dedicated to well, love!
I’ve found some pictures that will make you fall in LOVE …or at least go awwww a bit, and some perfect tunes too, come see! ….
The First is from Brit fashion photographer Chris Craymer, I love it because its just so cute and a little bit Kooky too, Valentines should never be too serious, right? …
Second one is from photographer Rodney Smith, its just stunning! I like the drama, the colour and the way everything stops still for love! Great Message.
Third is Kate Moss and husband Jamie Hince, shot by Mario Testino for their Vogue Wedding piece last year. Love the idea of taking the picture in the limo, and the look on her face is divine! Pure Love and a dash of lustfulness .
Last Up is “Love In The Afternoon” : Lara Stone & Aaron Eckhart by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue US, February 2012. Just devine! and proving you don’t need to be 21 to be in love!
And now the tunes, I have been listening to this all day, its beautiful! and the words are perfect,
“So much I know, that things just don’t grow . If you don’t bless them with your patience. “ So so true!
This is Milly in the snow, see that look of determination on her face? Well that determination is driving me slightly crazy.
Nobody else got a look in whilst pimping up Mr Snow Man. Every time anyone tried to put anything on the poor fellow, milly would pull it out and replace it. Very carefully like, in her own way. And god help anyone who tried to *help*.
It is a similar situation with food, if you cut it wrong she won’t eat it, if its not the right shape she will want a new one. She butters and spreads her own marmite for toast, and she puts on her own clothes, mainly because she thinks she’s the only one who can do it right… she’s 3.
I am pretty confident that if she woke up one morning and discovered she was the only person left on the planet, she’d be dressed and fed within the hour. Something I can’t say about my son Jack, god love him. Who would just probably lie in his bed, until someone came to *rescue* him..he’s 11… I think its a boy thing.
Anyhow, back to the point, Milly was having one her *moments* the other day with the bananas. They were breaking every-time I opened one and also they were too bendy apparently .
We ended up with five peeled, and fawlorn looking bananas and one very annoyed Milly. I must add at this point, I know I should just make her eat the damn bananas. But I am a weak person, this is not what I want to spend my life arguing about. So, with a flash of inspiration I suggested we make banana bread. Milly LOVES to cook, and seeing as all the bananas were going to get mashed it really wouldn’t matter what shape they were. Not even to one very stubborn toddler. We bunged in some chocolate caramel cadbury buttons and jeez it was good, I mean really, really good. Give it a go and see, happy accidents and grumpy toddlers make the best banana bread, so it happens.
Chocolate Caramel Banana Bread-
4oz melted butter
3 large bananas
3 oz white caster sugar
3oz dark muscovado sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
4oz plain flour
3 oz of fine wholemeal flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
3 bags of cadbury caramel nibbles ( the caramel chocolate button ones )
No need for a mixer for this recipe. Yay! I get a bit sick of those baking shows where everything is done in a kitchen aid….partly because I don’t own one, but still.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mash the banana in a large bowl, I used a potato masher, which works a treat. Then with a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the both the flours , and stir. Lastly tumble the chocolate buttons. Pour mixture into a buttered 4×8 inch loaf pan. Or two small tins. Bake for 1 hour for the large or around 40 mins for the 2 small. Cool on a rack.
So this week Ive been feeling in a bit of a beauty slump. You know that feeling you get when you just look in the mirror first thing in the morning at your face and say, ” Jeez, really!?! ” .
Yep, that about covers it, but if I must eleberate further…
The patsy face, the dark circles and the 8 week old hair colour is not saying fresh faced and fancy to me right now. Its hard in deep dark Febuary I think, I always seem to loose my girlie mojo about now. Its not Christmas any more so its out with the glitz, but its not time for the bronzer yet either, if you know what I mean.
I think it must be much harder if your a man though, I mean at least I can rummage around in my make-up bag for a little concealer and eye-liner, men just have to deal with the *Jeez, Really?!?* face…. all day! ( well, at least where I live anyway, the Shire still frowns upon guyliner ) .
So in case I’m not alone in the February wilderness and you need a bit of beauty sunshine too, I’ve rounded up 5 of the best from this weeks reading for you, lets get our beauty on! *smiles*
I also got some lovely lip/cheek tint in Petunia too!
And I’m going to make these and pile em up! …. The fabulous Leather Ring Cuff Bracelet from I Spy DIY . com , so cute. They also remind me so much of my arm candy loving pal http://www.theonlinestylist.co.uk/
Yay!
That should do the trick until spring time, now bring on the rain! Wink*
(Ps.. for everybody waiting for the chocolate caramel banana bread recipe, its on its way next time I promise! )
