Thursday, 5 May 2016

About Time

WOW - it's been nearly a year since my last post, how crazy is that?! The funniest part is that I wrote about how I had just got a new job so wouldn't be able to post anything other than recipes/food posts. Well, that didn't turn out so well because commuting to and from that grad job left me so frazzled and devoid of any kind of energy that cooking anything at all became a serious challenge! So here I am, 11 months (ish) later, re-opening with a post that's pretty different to any of the others. 

I've been thinking a lot recently about time (probably because I have too much time on my hands at the moment to think about these things). In the modern world we are so caught up in the whirlwind of life that every day seems to rush by, insignificant and quickly forgotten or mixed up in a blurred memory of events. I also find myself constantly coming back to the idea of growing old, which at 21 may be a bit morbid but as I find myself surrounded by people (read: adults) who are suddenly a lot younger than me and yet still able to drink alcohol legally, I can't help but think about the future and where my life is headed now that I can no longer blame my failures on being a teenager or a student. This may be in part due to my impending teacher training course looming on the horizon; doubts about whether I will ever be respected because I have a "baby face". It might also be because I have moved back in with my parents and I have essentially - and willingly - regressed to my late teenage years...other than the fact that I now have a car that I paid for with my own money, and 3-4 years worth of adult issues/experiences accumulated since I left home. 

Isn't time a funny thing? As I type I can hear the persistent tick of my watch across the room, cutting through the quiet of night time and counting the seconds I should really be asleep instead of writing. And yet I am also acutely aware that time is something which humans have made up - but I'm not nearly enough of a scientist to go any further with that one. People are always telling us to "Take the time to...", insert "meditate in the mornings", "eat a healthy breakfast", "call your loved ones" here. Taking time. To take something. How do you take time? At this point many of you will decide I've officially lost it and stop reading. My literary friends may also worry that taking that final year module in Thomas Hardy could have ruined me for life. But stay with me. 

There is a hell of a lot of pressure on our generation (read: my generation) to fill our time with social media-worthy pursuits, taking pictures almost every day to somehow prove that we're filling our time wisely, whether that's with exercising, boozing, eating...the list is endless. Doing sweet nothing has become impossible. Having a PJ day? "Watching Harry Potter 😆 #duvetday #intheonesie" - if you don't tweet/snapchat/instagram a picture of your jammies in front of baby Emma Watson or sassy Goblet of Fire Harry then no one will KNOW that you're having a day of movie-watching bliss. Maybe what we really need is time away from our phones/tablets/laptops. 

Because we're constantly filling our time this way, even when we're not 'busy', I often feel like the days are slipping through my fingers. On the other hand, I am always waiting. Waiting for something groundbreaking to happen that changes my life (being offered a book contract, winning the Euromillions, you know the deal). Waiting to be able to travel the world. Waiting for that guy to choose me. And when I look at it that way, I want time to move faster. I could happily wish the months away for all the good stuff to happen to me quicker. But what I, and maybe you also, often forget is that with the good stuff comes the bad stuff. Getting older is bloody hard. It's stressful. There's car insurance, bills, TAXES, and the ever-present worry that Donald Trump will become President and I will never buy my own house (two un-related but equally troubling things). 

So here's my solution. I'm just going to accept that time is passing at its own pace, and even though humans may have invented time, we also can't make it go any faster or slower. As I always have - since I watched the movie About Time, thanks Richard Curtis - I will make the most of every day, but not just so that I can get a good Instagram post out of it: so that I can look back at the slight existential crisis I had at 21 and laugh at how brilliant everything was back then, before I had 2 screaming kids, a crippling mortgage and wrinkles. 

Sunday, 28 June 2015

My Daily Skincare Routine



So many bloggers do 'my daily routine' posts and I'm joining the hoards so...sorry for being generic! Summer is a really important time to look after your skin and I have a few great products that I wanted to share with you. Click on the photos to read more/purchase!
I'm starting a new job so unfortunately won't be blogging as much, especially about beauty and fashion, so I thought I'd do one last post that isn't a recipe!

Face Soap and Clarity™
Soap & Glory Face Soap and Clarity
I use this every morning in the shower (except when I'm too tired to function), and it really does wake me up and set my skin up for the day. It's got little pink beads which gently exfoliate and vitamin C in it which is always good, and makes your face feel super clean, like a shot of energy. It smells really fresh and soapy too, which I think works well in the morning because you don't want anything with a strong fragrance when you've just crawled out of bed. I recommended it to my housemate and now she uses it too!

skin prep scrub
Dermalogica Skin Prep Scrub
This is a pretty pricey product (check out that alliteration, spot the English graduate) but it is worth every penny - I've got a small tube that I've had for maybe 2 years and it's not running out any time soon. I use it once or twice a week and it does exactly what it promises, leaving your skin smooth and glowing. I usually moisturise after using this because it's actually designed to make your skin absorb moisturiser better. What more could you want from a face scrub? Honestly, invest in this. It doesn't have an artificial smell or colour and feels so natural and full of good stuff.

Calcot Manor The Perfect Day Body Scrub
I recently picked this up in the supermarket because I got a bit sunburnt a few weeks ago, and the sunburn inevitably turned into very peely skin! I've now got completely addicted to this body scrub and use it every day in the morning. It's got a refreshing citrusy scent and gets rid of all those dead skin cells to make you all glowy. Really good for summer skin and for those of you who fake tan, I reckon this would be good for prepping as well. You can use it on wet skin or, if you want a more intense scrub, to dry skin and then rinse it off in the shower.

Dove Silk Glow Body Wash 250ml
Dove Silk Glow Body Wash
I got this purely because it was on offer, rather than my usual Original Source shower gel, but I really love it. It's probably the first body wash I've had that doesn't make me instantly reach for the moisturiser post-shower, because it feels like it is literally seeping into your skin and leaves it feeling soft and nourished. They aren't lying on the description! I like that it doesn't smell of anything in particular too, just a comforting soapy smell. I don't know to what extent it's making my skin glow but it's definitely making it softer. Go Dove for sticking to simple ideas and doing it well.

100ml pump starter kit
Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser
My mum is responsible for getting me into Liz Earle products, and I now can't go to bed without using this cleanser in the evening. It gets my makeup off, even waterproof mascara, and has banished any spots from my face; my skin is just generally in much better condition. Using a hot cloth is so relaxing as well, which is why I only use it at night rather than twice a day - in the morning I don't usually have time and it would also make me want to go back to sleep! I also use the Gentle Face Exfoliator a few times a week afterwards for some extra cleansing, especially when I've been in London (the air is literally dirty there I swear).

Regenerating Night Cream
Nivea Daily Essentials Regenerating Night Cream
I don't use this every night because it really does sit on your skin, so I only use it when I feel like my skin needs serious moisturisation while I'm sleeping, or to prepare for a long day wearing makeup. My skin isn't very dry in general but this is really good for when it needs a bit of TLC. Definitely worth having if you have dry skin but it's also just really good for every day hydration and it has Vitamin E, which is supposedly really good for your skin. 

So that's it! I hope you enjoyed a small insight into what I'm putting on my face on a regular basis. Feedback is welcome as always! 

Monday, 4 May 2015

Jammy Blueberry Cupcakes


Continuing on the blueberry theme! I can't get enough of those little blue superfruits at the moment, so here's another recipe that I made up last night using blueberry preserve! I will stop soon, promise. (Then it will be raspberries...just joking. Or am I?)
I'm still using the Bonne Maman Wild Blueberry Preserve for my recipes - it has whole berries in it which makes it taste pretty authentic but I think fresh berries would create a much tangier/fruitier taste, where preserve tastes mostly of sugar! But despite that, these little cupcakes are a mouthful of joy, great with a cup of tea or for a breakfast on the go. They're like a blueberry muffin but smaller!

This recipe makes 6 cupcakes, double the quantities if you'd like a batch of 12.
You could use normal paper cupcake cases but I used a square of greaseproof paper for that rustic look.

Ingredients
6 tbsp self-raising flour
4 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp butter
1 large egg
1.5 tbsp milk
about 5 tsp blueberry preserve


Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/160 for fan assisted ovens/Gas Mark 4.
Grease your cupcake tray with oil.

  1. Spoon the flour and sugar into a bowl and mix. I ran out of caster sugar so I used demerera, which I think actually makes it more breakfast muffin-y and golden!
  2. Add the butter (softened/room temp) and the egg (beaten) and beat well. Add in the milk and keep beating the mixture until it is a smooth, creamy consistency. Then add in 2 generous teaspoons of blueberry preserve and stir it in until the mixture is a grey-blue-lilac colour! Put your preserve back in the fridge to cool down.
  3. If you're using greaseproof paper instead of cupcake cases, cut 6 squares that fit your cupcake tray and grease the non-shiny side of each with oil. Put the squares, shiny side down, into the cupcake tray by pressing them down and folding any bits that need to be folded for them to fit the tray. Remember it doesn't have to look perfect because we're being rustic!
  4. Put a dessert spoon of cake mixture into each case and poke it a bit to make sure it reaches the edges of the case. 
  5. Drop about half a teaspoon of (fridge temperature) blueberry preserve into the centre of each case. This will create the jammy middle! 
  6. Top each jammy centre with about half a dessert spoon of cake mix until you've used it all up and make sure the preserve is completely covered. Do not stir the mix inside the cases because then the jammy centre won't work!
  7. Put your lovely cupcakes in the oven. Mine took about 30 mins but all ovens are different, so cook them for 15-20 mins and then check every 5 mins until they're golden on top.
  8. Leave them to cool a little on a wire rack or a plate and then enjoy! They're very tasty when they're still warm.

Saturday, 2 May 2015

Chocolate and Blueberry Pancake Stack


We all love pancakes. I've seen a lot of amazing recipes recently for super healthy, gluten-free, wholewheat pancakes, and I seriously want to try them, but right now I only have my usual store cupboard ingredients, so I made the (fairly) unhealthy version. Sorry clean eating people! Maybe cook these on your cheat day. To be fair, even this recipe is far healthier than buying pre-made cakes, sweets or even pre-made pancakes because you can control exactly what goes in them and there are no nasty additives!

This recipe makes about 8 american-style (small and thick rather than thin like crepes) pancakes.
NOTE: no fancy equipment needed for this! I whisked it with a fork because I couldn't be bothered to find a whisk.

Ingredients
2 free range eggs
half a cup of self-raising flour
half a cup to a cup of milk (I used semi-skimmed)
pinch salt
1 tbsp sugar (I used demerera)
2 tbsp wild blueberry preserve
2 tbsp Nutella

  1. Crack your eggs into a mixing bowl or glass jug. I would strongly recommend using a jug to save on washing up! Whisk them until the whites and yolks are combined. 
  2. Add the flour bit by bit, whisking as you go, until you have a thick cake-batter consistency that's quite difficult to whisk.
  3. Now add your milk bit by bit until the mixture is runny but still reasonably thick. It should be a pale colour like normal pancake batter. Make sure it's mixed really well and stop when little air bubbles appear in the mixture when you let it rest for a few seconds. Add in a pinch of salt and the sugar and mix.
  4. Heat up a frying pan on the stove on a medium-low heat. I don't use oil because it's a non-stick pan and it would just make the batter spread out more which is not what we want for this type of pancake!
  5. Pour a small puddle of batter into the middle of the pan. Don't be tempted to swirl it around like you would with a crepe. It will spread out a little by itself as it cooks.
  6. When bubbles have appeared, flip it with a spatula. You should see this...
  7. It won't take long for the other side to cook, so keep checking it. Once it looks like this, it's ready...
  8. Slide your pancake onto your serving plate and pour in your next one. While you're waiting for the bubbles, spread your first pancake with a thin layer of nutella. It should spread really easily while the pancake is still hot. Then add the next one when it's ready and repeat until you have a yummy stack! Try not to eat them as you go along...
  9. Once you've done your last pancake, don't put nutella on the top, but instead heat up the blueberry preserve in a small pan over a low heat. I used Bonne Maman Wild Blueberry Preserve, which I found is far, far too sweet to go on toast but I plan to use it for baking and it goes amazingly with pancakes. Keep stirring it over a low heat until it starts to go runny and hot. Just before it starts to bubble, pour it over the top of your pancakes and encourage it to dribble down the sides. Now they're ready to gobble! 

Enjoy!

Holiday Haul


You know when you're going on holiday and you use it as an excuse to buy a load of new clothes? Well I'm jetting off to Rome this week, so I hit the high street and picked up some absolute beauties which I thought I'd share with you. 




Jacket, H&M
H&M is a high street saviour, some of their clothes are seriously elegant and people always ask me where they're from. This cream, beige and black leather jacket is my new favourite thing! It's so chic and will be perfect for slightly chillier weather when it's not cold enough for a coat. I love the different textures and chunky gold zips.



Playsuit, H&M
Playsuits are the easiest thing to wear when it's hot and a simple black, strapless option is almost as foolproof as a LBD when paired with a golden tan. I love the criss-cross back on this one!




Playsuit, New Look
I love New Look for pretty dresses and tops, and this playsuit really stood out. This shade of blue screams Summer and the deep V back with a neck tie makes it more interesting. It's a lovely light crepe material so very cool for wandering the hot city streets.



Skirt, Topshop
I snapped up this nautical-style skirt in the sale! It's made in quite a thick material, which I like in skirts at the moment because it's a bit more grown up and structured than flippy jersey skirts. Cream and black or navy stripes always remind me of the sea so it's perfect for coastal escapes in the UK or abroad. Get it before they all sell out!


L'Oreal Sublime Bronze Express Pro Self-Tanning Dry Mist
I picked this up from Boots because my legs are currently about as white as it gets due to my very pale complexion! I haven't tried it yet but I am a strong believer in fake tanning before you go on holiday so that you don't feel you have to bake in the sun to get a tan to match all your holiday clothes, especially if you're at the beach. Remember that tanning, as nice as it looks, is damaging your skin! Which is why I bought...

Piz Buin Tan & Protect Tan Accelerating Oil Spray
I only bought SPF15 suncream because it's not that hot in Rome at the moment so I only need light protection. I might use factor 30 on my face if it's particularly sunny, but I don't want to come back even paler than I was when I left, so if you're like me and like a natural glow while protecting your skin, there are loads of Tan Accelerating/Enhancing sun creams and oils out there. I got this Piz Buin Oil Spray at half price in Boots but there is a cheaper Garnier alternative if you miss out on the offer and don't want to splash out.


So that's it! I hope you enjoyed getting a sneaky peek into my latest purchases. I have a delicious new recipe post coming soon (one word: pancakes!) so do keep checking back.

Thursday, 30 April 2015

Caprese Couscous



With Summer coming I've been trying to eat healthily and create light, simple dishes full of lovely British veggies. This Italian-inspired couscous is a really tasty alternative to a green salad and it takes hardly any time to prepare, so great for a quick lunch. I have my own basil plant which you can find in any big supermarket (cheaper than buying bunches of it and far more flavoursome than the dried stuff) and you should always try to buy tomatoes grown in the UK! Unless you're reading from elsewhere in which case buy tomatoes grown in your own country/state where possible!

This recipe serves 1, multiply as necessary for more people. 
It would make a great side dish with pizza!
Prep & cooking time: 10 mins total

Ingredients

2-3 medium sized tomatoes or 6-8 cherry tomatoes
40g (about half a cup) pre-cooked couscous
4 pitted olives
8 mozzarella pearls
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3/4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 basil leaves
salt & pepper to season


  1. Pour your dry couscous into a pan and cover with just over the same quantity of boiling water. So if you used half a cup of couscous, you would need just over half a cup of water. Stir, cover with a lid and leave for 5 minutes.
  2. Slice up your tomatoes however you like, halve the olives.
  3. Once your couscous has absorbed all the water, fluff it up with a fork and then scrape it all into whatever you're eating out of, ie. a bowl or pasta dish.
  4. Add your chopped tomatoes and olives to the couscous and mix well so all the tomato juice mixes with the grains. Then add the mozzarella pearls and stir with your fork.
  5. Season with your balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Shred the basil leaves by tearing them into little pieces and throw them in. Stir well.


That's it! How simple was that?! Enjoy as a quick lunch, a side dish with Italian food or maybe even as a starter with a glass of wine before dinner. Let me know if you try it in the comments section below!

Sunday, 19 April 2015

Tickets to Book this Season

image from hullvibe.co.uk


Long time no see! My absence from the web has been mostly due to my university finals but I am done and I intend to blog way more regularly in the coming weeks so please keep checking back for new posts!
Student loans are coming in soon and I personally can't wait to snap up some tickets for theatre, film and music events in London. Here's my pick of the bunch.

  • The Polyphonic Spree in Camden, 3rd September
Hot off the press! The Polyphonic Spree will be performing at the Electric Ballroom in Camden at the beginning of September. If you haven't heard of the 20-strong band then you will probably have heard their songs (one used to be on the Sainsbury's advert!). It may seem a bit premature to be buying tickets but it's better to get them in advance than be disappointed, as I was when tickets to see Taylor Swift in Hyde Park sold out...sad times.
Get details here.


  • Joshua Radin supported by Cary Brothers at KOKO, 22nd April
If you're stuck for something to do on Wednesday and you're in London, get your butt to the amazing converted theatre that is KOKO for a night you won't forget. Joshua Radin's dulcet tones are a regular feature on the Scrubs soundtrack, or in fact on any of his best mate Zach Braff's movies. I saw him play at Manchester Academy about 6 years ago and he was phenomenal so don't miss it.
Tickets here.

  • The Play That Goes Wrong, Duchess Theatre, London
Winner of Best New Comedy at the Olivier Awards, this play is 'ridiculously funny' according to the Times and should be a real rib-tickler to cheer up your week. Loads of celebs have seen it so it must be good. Tickets start at just £20!
Get them here.

  • Bugsy Malone, Lyric Hammersmith, London
The jazzy songs of Bugsy have been some of my favourite to choreograph and work on in the past and now it's time for a West End revival! If you didn't know, this is a musical about gangsters played entirely by kids. It's a bit wacky but you just have to go with it, and this new production promises to be a treat.
More details here.

  • Cinderella, in cinemas now
I, shamefully, have yet to see this movie but I'm going this week! All my friends have assured me that this live-action version of the Disney classic is simply magical. Go with your friends and relive your childhood dreams of happily ever after.


  • The Age of Adaline, in cinemas from 8th May
Blake Lively is one of my idols and I am dying to see her new movie, which is about a woman who lives through the 20th century without ageing. I can't guarantee that it will be an amazing plot because I haven't seen it, but I can guarantee that the costumes showing all the different eras will be fabulous. See you there.
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