Magpiesparkle

K

2010-03-16T17:15:00.004Z

Hello again, time seems to fly on pass doesn't it!

thank you for the lovely comments on my last post, i'm still trying to catch up with everyone but a getting there slowly! And thanks for the well wishes for my Mum, she has a CT scan tomorrow to see if the cancer is stable so we'll have our fingers crossed, every month without having the heavy treatments is a bonus!

I did some baking for Mother's Day, well made them on Saturday but used Sunday as a good excuse to lose myself in the kitchen for a few hours. We have bags of dried apricots just sitting idle so i made some gluten free apricot, honey and nut cookies to use up some of those and then seeing as we had a large bowl of plums too i opted for an upside down plum cake with plum compote on the side.

I have lots of things i'd like to make for Easter, including hot cross buns and cupcakes but they may or may not get made. I am awaiting a place in hospital at the moment, funding and red-tape takes it's time though, so if i am around i will give them a go, my family love hot cross buns so would like to attempt them for them! i would make simnel cake/muffins but my Mum isn't a big fan, any other Easter baking suggestions would be more than welcome though!

And so onto the point, letter K is ready to go- please remember you are more than welcome to join in with any of your K favourites!

Place/Country;

Kilimanjaro.

I think there is something inbuilt into human nature to want to explore and see the world and for me that also includes conquering the task of climbing a mountain, and this would clearly be the wrong one to start with but what a thing to aspire towards. It would be nice to think that one day i could be looking down at the world from the tranquillity and solitude that the summit provides. It's probably a good job i'll never get to attempt it as i don't think you'd get me down!

www.servicenation.org

Recipe;

Kadaifi kataifi me krema

Yep, that's a tongue twister isn't it!

Basically this is a Greek dessert that translates to shredded pastry with custard. It sounds easy right- well it's actually got a lot of processes involved! I know my Mum would adore this as would Dad come to that and so one day will try and make it for them, nice to keep in touch with the rest of Europe too!

Item to Own;

KitchenAid add-on's

Yep back to the kitchen again. My Mum had a kitchen aid for her 60th birthday, a beautiful red shiny one that proudly adorns our worktops. As it's turned out i've used it a lot more than Mum and feel as if it's my own! I'd love to have more accessories for it though, i have the standard beater, dough hook and whisk but would love the ice cream maker and the juicer attachments- or is that me being ultra lazy?!

www.beststuff.co.uk.

Saying;

"Keep your shirt on!"

Animal.

Koala.

I didn't write bear afterwards because they aren't in fact bears but marsupials- although i understand why they have become known as bears- their appearance for starters, looking so cuddly like a big grey teddy bear, and koala marsupial doesn't flow off the tongue! These little furries are nocturnal and spend most of their time asleep- my sort of life! Apparently it's because it takes so much energy to digest their diet that it's just more economical to sleep the time away!

www.theclimateprojectus.org

Flower;

King Proteus.

Just look at it. For me the structure, the alluring nature, the fact it looks too heavy to be able to show off it's bloom but it stands proud, at almost 2 m tall in fact- i totally love this flower, so architectural and yet still so soft, if i were a bee i'd be on there for life! Lucky South Africans have this as their national flower, and i'd be jealous but lucky me gets the daffodil so i shouldn't complain!

www.typesofflowers.org

So there we go, another letter done- feel free to join in if you want to, it's always nice to learn things about people.

xxx

J

2010-03-06T16:20:00.002Z

Oops, another long hiatus for me it would seem! Time just seems to get the better of me at times, Christmas was so hectic what with Mum having daily radiotherapy 20 miles away and all the family obligations and so on. Then January and Feb just sort of got lost in my own illness and the shocking weather we had- more snow than was cared for. And that sort of left me today realising how much i miss just being able to escape into the little blog that has been left all abandoned.

I'll continue my alphabet theme but i've also been baking- a lot actually, it's a sort of therapy for me, i don't get to eat any of the goods but it's more the baking that can help me at times so i don't mind, plus my family seem to be more than happy to sample things for me! So, if it interests anyone i shall post a collection of my latest offerings from the oven.

So, expect to see me popping up in your comment boxes again soon, and for alphabet letters to be back on the agenda once again. I'm hoping this blog will bring me back a little therapeutic relief too so here goes.

Country/Place to visit;

Japan.

And no, not just for the kitkats- although i have to admit it is a factor as i have been intrigued by the beautiful little boxes that i get sent form Japan with the mysterious and wonderful flavours! It is however for me, more for the geography- i think it looks absolutely spectacular, i can't say i'd be a big fan of Tokyo as i am a true country bumpkin but i'd love to ride the bullet train and visit the mountains, go snowboarding, walking around the historic temples and just witness for myself a totally different culture to my own.

www.magicaljapan.com

Recipe;

Jam!

Any variety would suit me, i love jam, always have, always will! I bought myself a jam thermometer before Christmas and would love to just spend a day surrounded by jars and labels and just create little bottles of sweet goodness and let the colours just shimmer through the thick glass. Imagine the scene from Baby boom with the apple sauce and you pretty much get in my head!

tasteoffrance.com

Saying;

"Jack of all trades, master of none"

Item;

Jewellery Tree

I want something so badly as my current display is getting really overcrowded- especially thanks to my amazing best friend who send me treats in the post- and when i saw this it sort of fits the bill. Ideally i would love to have an abstract piece made that would look like a tree growing from the floor up, flat at first but then the branches would grow outwards and become my hooks, i'd love them to have tiny led lights in too so at night the pieces could take on a life of their own.

www.amazon.com

Flower;

Jasmine.

Just for the simple purity alone this one wins for me, nature can produce the most elaborate and amazing things but sometimes it's simplest forms are the best. Add in the exotic fragrance and it just becomes mesmerising.

coolamazingfacts.blogspot.com

Animal;

Jaguar

It's no surprise it's another cat species for me. I was tempted by jellyfish because of the amazing nature of them but i can't resist the big cat. Fast and amazingly dexterous this big cat is one of the finest. To see one in the wild must just be exhilarating- if not a little scary, i just hope that they don't disappear for good, we lose too many animals on this earth, i don't want this to be another.

www.animalwebguide.com

So, J at last, is done.

I do hope everyone is well and doing ok- i have an awful lot of catching up to do but i shall look forward to catching up with you all and what has happened in your lives.

xxx

I

2009-12-02T15:02:00.002Z

I did it again didn't i- fell off the radar again! I'm sorry, i think (and i truly do think) i shall be back to posting regularly again now, i've had a combination of my illness being flared coupled with the fact it's absolutely blooming freezing, Christmas shopping and general lack of hours conspiring against me! But the shopping is almost done, i'm slowly getting accustomed to the bitter cold so i hope to be back everyday.

Oh and i did manage to get some baking done, i've made gluten free apricot and nut cookies (which went down very well), more raspberry and white chocolate cookies, coconut macaroons, jam thumbprints, a pear and frangipane tart and grapefruit cupcakes- those were the absolute hit, apparently they were incredibly light so i imagine i will be making those again.

Anyway, enough of the waffling, on with the show.

Place/Country to visit;

Iceland.

And yes ironic as it sounds after i've just complained about the cold i've wanted to go to Iceland since i was very young. It's places like Iceland that really help me feel connected to the planet- to nature i guess, just to see the way our world grew and evolved inspires me and i'd love to be able to go and just experience being in a place like that.

travel-to-iceland.com

Recipe;

Iced Buns.

Now i've been baking a lot for my family (therapeutic for me and yummy for them) and i'm glad to say i'm getting better and trying more complex things, in fact, i'm aiming to do the Portuguese Egg Tarts next as i was so kindly linked to the recipe and can't stop thinking about them. But sometimes, sometimes it's nice to just do something simple and do it well and for me, iced buns rock! It was my treat as a child to be given an iced bun once a week and i treasured every part of it, just plain icing atop a slightly sweet bun was just perfect.

housewareslives.net

Item;

Insomnia relief!

Yep, i am insomniac and have been for the last 3 years now! In honesty you do get used to it, you do adapt fairly quickly but there is nothing more appealing than getting into a lovely soft bed and closing your eyes and opening them 8 hours later without waking up once! I've done all the horrible meds they give you, the self-hypnosis, the alternative remedies- i think i am destined to be a night owl, it's just my luck i seem to be more awake when the world goes to sleep!

negotionaisdone.wordpress.com

Saying.

"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen".

Flower.

Iris.

This must be a family thing because they were my Grandfather's favourite, they are my Mother's favourite and they are one of my all time favourites. They look so delicate and elegant yet the foliage is dense and thick and strong, and i like that that you can have a strong base but a soft heart.

motls.blogspot.com

Animal;

Ibex.

Ever heard of an Ibex? I hadn't until a little while ago, and it's not likely i will ever see one in it's true habitat but still, they are incredible creatures in my eyes.

They look like goats crossed with deer but it's how they live that is just so amazing. Imagine the rugged cliffs on the edge on the dead sea- baron and scorched, well the Ibex lives on the very top of these cliffs, they nurture their young up there as they have no predators that can reach them. Yet they of course, just like all animals, need to feed and drink and so, they abseil down what i can only refer to as the sheerest and most unstable of cliff faces ever to get to the river bed below to drink and to the trees that they climb in to graze. And if that wasn't enough the parents instill in their young from a really early age that survival for them depends on agility so when the foxes patrol the river basin the young scrabble back up to a place where no other creature could stand. And i was so thrilled when on Life on BBC a few weeks back they managed to capture all of this on film, i was just speechless to see it in action!

treknature.com.

So there we go I is done, and i promise to be here much more often in the run up to Christmas and to be commenting with you lovely people a lot more.

xxx

H

2009-11-09T12:46:00.003Z

Oops- another week has just flown past me- but have no fear H is finally here (and yes i know how terribly cheesy that line is but it is freeing cold here and my brain hasn't defrosted yet!).

Hope everyone has a had a good week, holiday season is well and truly descending now, a recent trip to the garden centre left me feeling as though i'd entered Christmas on speed as it was very overwhelming, but then again the build-up is always magical and i am still a big kid inside! Oh and i've been baking, rather a lot of late eek- i don't know if i should do an intermission post on what i've made or not? Oh and if anyone knows of any yummy gluten free cookie/cake bars/muffin recipes i would be most grateful!

Anyway, on with the show.

Place/Country;

Hawaii.

Well how could it not be? Look at that picture- just, wow. I'd love to climb the rocks and just sit on the top of paradise. The wildlife, the weather, the attitude and kindness of the people there has attracted me from a very young age. However, i'm not a beach person, i can't do the old sunbathing for hours and i don't like to swim so it's always seemed an odd destination to go to but i think that the place you visit and remember is the place you dream and make come true- you don't have to go to a tropical island and only see the beach.

go-travel-blog.com

Recipe.

Hummingbird Cake.

Oh. My.

I found out about this miracle of a cake a few months ago, thinking i would look for some variations on carrot cake recipes. And then one day i was watching Neighbours (guilty pleasure) and they had it on there. Imagine all the comfort and delight from carrot cake but with the addition of sates and pineapple making it super moist and irresistible! Yes Please!!!

Item;

Hatstand.

Odd, maybe? Do i wear hats? No. Does that actually matter? No. I live in the past most of the time in my head, probably why i studied a degree in history and i am a firm believer in keeping the past alive but allowing it to adapt and move on. I would not use my hatstand for hats, coats or the like but i would dress it up with my scarves and long beaded necklaces, i would string ribbon around the hooks at the top and use pegs to hand cards and letters from my treasured friends.

furnitureinfashion.net

Saying;

"Home is where the heart is."

Flower;

Heather.

I have tried, and tried and tried to grow heather but we don't have the right acid balance in the soil here. But it doesn't take away my love for it. It seems quite a prickly intimidating plant but it couldn't be further from the truth. Soft and aromatic and just absolute luxury, this is one hardy princess in the flower world.

electricscotland.com

Animal;

Hedgehog.

Hehe, i got so excited looking for pictures of my favourite little autumn critter. I'm so lucky in that having a secluded garden means we often see little families of hedgehog's throughout the year and have many sites in the garden where they go for hibernation. Please always check your leaf piles before you use them as bonfires for the little prickly beings, and don't feed them bread and milk- the best thing is just tinned dog food and if you happen to come across one that is injured or looks ill please ring the RSPCA, they will have numbers for your local hedgehog sanctuaries.

howyoucanhelpsnufflelodge.com

xxx

G

2009-10-29T15:59:00.002Z

Ooh seems as though i'm on a role this afternoon, so here we go, g is up and ready to go. And thank you to everyone who reads and comments, it's lovely to see the comments and how people relate to the posts- feel free to get as involved as you like with the posts.

Place/Country

;

Galapagos Islands.

I am inspired by these islands, the nature they contain and the secrets locked within them. I love how humans are the visitors, not the keepers of the rocks. And i'd love to get the chance to see them in my own eyes, see what Darwin saw and perhaps feel as he did when he embarked upon his journey there. But part of me also thinks that it is a private world and perhaps it should stay that way, we all need our secrets, even the earth.

travelwizard.com

Recipe;

Gingerbread House.

Hehe! How much fun can you have with this? The aroma of the gingerbread baking will make your soul dance around with sheer delight, the warming perfume always seems to bring me to life and removes troubles at once. And once baked and cool you can decorate to your hearts content. and seeing as i (shock horror) have a sweet tooth mine would be adorned with the prettiest candies and sugars you can find, all there to twinkle and glimmer in their own special ways.

caring.com

Item;

Gray's Anatomy.

Not the TV series (although it is very good and one of my favourites) but my very own copy of Gray's Anatomy. I know it will seem odd, most people don't have a anatomy book to browse through but my hunger, my absolute passion for knowledge on the subject is only intensifiying as i grow older. I'm from a medical family and , as letter D denoted, medicine is my dream. And so to own my own copy, to be able to study in depth the mechanics of the body would be the best present anyone could get me.

drawinblack.com

Saying;

"Good things come to those who wait".

Flower;

Geranium.

Our garden is always stocked full of geraniums, my window box with it's red and pink jewels is still flowering, despite the change in weather and everyday i open my curtains they bring me joy. My absolute favourites though are the wild species, they seem so delicate but are hardy and strong and the little blue flowers can be nestled in the undergrowth, only showing themselves to those who walk on past them, mini secrets to be unearthed.

wildnatureimages.com

Animal;

Giraffe.

I'd love to know what giraffes think of the world, do they think they are giants and everyone else small or do they feel out of place with their long necks rising high above the canopy? They are beautiful, whatever they think, and i wouldn't like them to think they are the odd ones out, and you know what, i'm the odd one out always and sometimes i feel like i stand out like they do but they should be proud they stand out for their sheer elegance and beauty.

whateverthingsare.wordpress.com.

xxx

F (finally!)

2009-10-29T14:00:00.002Z

I'm so behind, grr! I am so annoyed as yesterday i thought i was being really good and catching up and wrote out some posts and then blogger decided that it wouldn't post any of them and lost the lot. Not a happy bunny, but well they say try and try again so i will.

Anyway, this is my F post, and then i hope to get on with G, H and I at some point, although i know there is no rush but i'm having fun with the posts!

Place/Country to visit;

Finland.

Clearly my love for Nordic lands continues! I'm someone who loves the sun and that's all great but after a few hours, maybe days i get really tired of being hot all the time! Good job i live where i do as we hardly ever have the sun, but Finland in the fall and winter just looks absolutely divine to me. Somedays there is nothing better than bundling up in winter woolies, scarves, mittens and silly hats, shiny wellies and a good friend and just going for walks where every time you giggle you see your breath in the fresh clean air and the noise beneath your feet just crackles with delight on the fallen leafs. Couple that with spectacular scenery and that makes me a happy person.

goscandianvia.com

Recipe;

Frangipane.

This is going to seem very odd. Especially when i say how much i hate almonds! But as a youngster having Bakewell Tart was always something i looked forward to because of the frangipane layer. Warm and soft and dribbled in jam, just yum.

goodfood.com

Item;

Fig tree.

Have you ever seen an old fig tree? One that has grown into the most beautiful and contorted shapes, the branches spiralled and twisted in it's own pretty way, no two the like? It's leaves hang low and fruit dangle down like jewels from a crown.

thegreatblogofketo.com

Saying;

"Follow your dreams".

Flower;

Fressia.

This one was easy for me. When i was growing up i used to love the idea that when everyone went to sleep at night the garden would come alive. I used to love the thought that from the closed flower buds would come fairies that would be free to live and dance in the moonlight. Of course, as you get older the magic diminishes and all thoughts becomes fantasy and wild innocence of youth but i still look at Fressias and think, what a lovely home the buds would make to delicate little fairies.

Animal;

Frog.

Yes i know it's not actually an animal in the correct sense of the term but i love them! I love their sense of being, the way they just seem to be, reagrdless of the decade, the century a frog is a frog is a frog. And to me the tree frog is one of my absolute favourites. A female tree frog climbs the equivalent of 3 Empire State buildings in a day to nurture her young in their tiny nurseries in bromiliads high up in the forest canopy. She gets no praise but to me she is a heroine.

animal-world.com

So there we go, f is finally done, took a while i know! I hope to get up to speed with the next few letters so expect a few posts in quick succession!

xxx

E

2009-10-26T18:21:00.002Z

Oh dear, where did yesterday go- i shall post E here and then move straight onto F- apologies it may be short i am so tired matchsticks are required to hold up my heavy eyelids!

Place to visit;

Eden Project.

I love the design and the ethics of this place. Part of me worries as they have a butterfly house and i'm scared of moths and knowing my luck i'd stumble into the moth exhibit!

Recipe;

Egg Custard Tart.

Simply because this is my Mum's all time favourite thing to eat and i'd love to make her a fresh one instead of a shop bought one!

bakingbites.com

Item;

Electric Guitar.

Nope can't play, wouldn't know where to start but oh my i'd love to have one and learn.

onlybestguitars.com

Saying;

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Flower;

Euphorbia.

We have stunning ones in our garden and while i was growing up i used to see them as some sort of alien, like loads of little eyes all looking at you- but not in a creepy way, in a sort of lovable curious way!

fireflyforest.com

Animal;

Elephant.

How could people would to hunt these archaic gods of the past? I adore them and there funny noises and long noses. But i do find it hard to look at any pictures of them without bursting into tears. The recollection of the episode of Planet Earth with the baby elephant- i can't even write about it i get so emotional. And i accept nature is what nature is but i still feel so many emotions.

africapoint.net.

xxx

D

2009-10-24T20:15:00.002+01:00

Day 4.

Oh yes, i hadn't forgotten, just hadn't a chance to write until now. And i thought it rather apt as i'm watching Strictly Come Dancing (get the D link there, yep simple things simple minds was written for me) to compile my list for the day. So get comfy, and i'll begin.

Recipe;

Doughnuts.

Now I have no idea why some people spell it with the 'h', others without, but i go for with. Anyway, in honour of my beautiful friend i would love to make vegan doughnuts and sprinkle them with sprinkles and prettiness. I think having the opportunity to make them means more than the actual eating of them.

vegancupcakes.wordpress

Place;

Denmark.

I've got a really romantic notion of Nordic countries, there's something about them that just pulls me in, like the smell of gingerbread cooking at Christmas or the tinkle of the ice cream van as it drives by. The wide open fields, the creaking of the sails as the windmills pass their weight round and round, the beautiful architecture that is simple yet alluring and well quaint. I love the fact it inspired writers like Hans Christian Anderson and i would love to go and just sit and be there, be inspired too.

nordicco.com

Item;

Degree.

Oh this is a complicated one- bear with me. I do actually have a degree- i have the letters after my name that spending three years in Uni has left me with- i am in fact a BA Hons and have a degree in history. But it isn't what i want. I'm not proud of the letters because i don't feel them in my heart. I don't feel proud, nor achieved nor accomplished as they may as well be abc after my name, i feel i've let everyone down by doing a degree just because i had passion for the subject, but when i discovered that my passion was not what the Uni wanted, that we didn't click, i should have done the brave thing and left. And i should've left because i have always wanted more than anything to get a degree in something else. It's something i dream of, i wake up wanting it, wake up wishing for it but it's not possible, for me, not now and sadly probably never. But if i could, if i could make it happen, i would have the same letters as my Dad, i would have a degree in medicine. I would be a Dr.

sweetiesblog.com

Saying;

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket".

Flower;

Daffodil.

Yes i am very predictable- it is my nations flower but i do love it- especially the double bud variety and the pale lemon colour. I'm not so keen on the orange ones but there is something so very special when i see a daffodil. It sort of reminds me how lucky i am, how i'm lucky to live where i live and know the people i do.

weddingpaperdivas.wordpress.com

Animal;

Dolphin.

Yes i live in the UK but we do have dolphins here, apparently! I've been very lucky in my life to stay in some amazing places where the first sight in the morning were wild dolphin jumping and performing their acrobatic stunts in the water just beyond the glass. There were some nights i was lucky to be alone as the sun was setting and the glass like surface of the water would slowly start to ripple. First i'd see a fin, then maybe a tail, and then i felt so honoured as they lived in front of me- i felt accepted, that they thought of me as no threat. I am always humbled by their intelligence, their drive for life, for fun, for family but also for commitment to each other.

adoptadolphin.co.uk

Hope everyone has had a delightful day- yes i know, dreadfully cheesy and i shall stop now before my fingers tap out anymore dreary jokes.

Damn...

xxx

C

2009-10-23T14:28:00.005+01:00

Day 3.

Oh and that of course means we move onto C. I have to admit this is doing me good, partly as i get an excuse to write but also as i can slightly use the old brain cells and get my alphabet in order- trust me, i may have a degree but i still have to say the alphabet over and over in my mind!

Recipe;

Caramel Apples.

Oh.My.

I mean just, wow. how much fun must it be to make these, and they look so ornate and beautiful. I don't think i've eaten one since i was very, very young and having porcelain teeth doesn't really make it very possible but still, i'd love to spend time making them!

dessertcomesfirst.com

Place to visit;

Canada.

When my Grandad was widowed he was in his late 70's, and he decided to get his first ever passport and leave the UK. And off he went, to Canada. I admired him so much for going there, somewhere he'd read about, seen on TV and he did it. I don't think i'll follow him exactly by white water rafting but i'd love to see what he saw on a trip that meant so much to him.

holidays2canada.co.uk

Item;

Cello.

When i first picked up the bow at age 7 i felt so free. There was just something, hmm how do i describe it, i just felt connected to the gorgeous curves and the beautiful veneer. I played until i was 16 but i was hopeless! I passed some exams and the like but i couldn't get to grips with reading music- i was fine if i marked it in my own code but hopeless if not given a chance to decorate the music in my own way! Yet i do miss it. I miss sitting in my room in the late afternoon, with the rain hitting my window and me and it just making our own soundtrack.

hertzmusic.eu

Saying;

"Cool as a cucumber".

Flower;

Crocus.

I am very fortunate to live in a very old house with a very large and mature garden. One of the central elements is a horse chestnut tree that must be 300 years old. Under the canopy of this tree every winter little jewels emerge, you wouldn't think they would but up they come, often in frozen/snowy grounds revealing their petite and beautiful blooms.

nybg.com

Animal;

Cats.

I did wonder if putting down cats would be too obvious but hell, i love them and have always had them in my life. I adore their independence yet loyalty and their absolute willingness to show empathy and compassion. I'd be lost without mine.

This is Tilly- my sister's Maine Coon, adorable and soft but with a wicked personality, she's one of a kind! I buy her toys all the time becuase she is a total intellect and i love for her to be stimulated as much as possible.

This is my boy. His name is Boris and you will often find him perched next to me on his favourite cushion. He has this odd obsession with anything blue, won't sleep on any other colour blanket etc! He had an awful start in life, was discarded in a plastic bag as a kitten on marshland- luckily he fought his way out, the rest of the litter weren't so fortunate, and he made his way to us. We've had him now for 7 years and he truly is a big soft teddy bear.

And this is our other old man, Roy. He's been with us for nearly a year now but he is in fact my sister's boyfriends cat. When they moved in together Tilly wasn't keen on sharing her home so he came to us. And what a character, he is a little old man in cat form. Like Boris Roy was mistreated as a kitten, kicked and thrown around and so was a little wary, he was also homeless for a while so we were worried he would try and escape from us. But he found his feet here very quickly, settled in and is part of the family. We reckon he's about 15 now but still keeps Boris on his toes!

xxx

B

2009-10-22T13:34:00.002+01:00

Day 2.

And yep, that means one thing, letter B is ready to go. And thanks to the lovely lenevermore for the suggestion of adding some pictures. I agree it will help lift the post. So here goes, enjoy.

Recipe:

Baked Alaska.

I don't know if it's something i'd like to eat per say but i have always marvelled at just how creative it must have been when the first cook encased ice cream in meringue to find it still protected after cooking. I 'd love to give it a go, see people's expressions when you produce the silky, crispy meringue with it's secret lurking inside!

findmyrecipes.com

Item;

Ballet Shoes.

And i mean the original, professional sort, not the fashion sort (although i do love those) but oh my goodness i'd love a pair of the professional sort. I am no dancer, far, far from it but i adore the skill, the passion, the romance and the total simplicity in the complexity that ballet provides.

theartwarestore.com

Place to visit;

Barcelona.

I've been lucky enough to go to Spain a few times but never to Barcelona. I'd love to go to see the architecture, i have a weird eye fir buildings, i just get blown away by the smallest details, sometimes the biggest picture doesn't blow me away but the little things, the cornices, flag poles, doorways, floor tiles- wow.

veggieplaces.com

Saying;

"Be Prepared".

Flower;

Bird of Paradise.

Nature is the best artist there is. I don't think you could design a more architectural and beautiful flower then she.

cairochronicles.com

Animal;

Badgers.

I know they have a bad reputation and are blamed for a lot of strife and are called violent but i don't care. I love them. Their colourings, their habits, the family unit. Sadly i live in a rural area where badgers are blamed for cattle TB and are due to be culled- something that is being fought and so far, the badgers are winning!

xxx

New direction

2009-10-21T14:44:00.002+01:00

So i was thinking last night (as i often do in the middle of the night) how this blog needs some sort of direction. I mean i truly do love to write but i like to know what i'm writing for, if that makes sense. And so, the most random of ideas came to mind. did you ever play that game when you were young, the alphabet game- you take a letter then have to name a boy's name, a girl's name, a flower, an animal etc. Well it got me thinking, that whilst i'm still unsure of the direction in which to write, for the next 26 days i'm going to play my very own version of the alphabet game.

Each day will have a new letter (obviously) but the categories will be the same. It gives me a chance to write about things and go form there i guess. And it may not be thoroughly entertaining but writing is a form of escapism that i value too much to let my blog go again.

So, the categories that will be featured in the 26 posts are;
Country/place i'd like to visit;
Item i'd like to own;
Recipe i'd like to bake;
Favourite saying;
Favourite flower;
Favourite vegetable.

So here goes, who knows what the next 26 days are going to uncover, if you want to join in then lease feel free to do so, the best thing about life is learning about others.

***

A.

Country/Place;

Alaska.

Oh my days for as long as i can remember i've wanted to go to Alaska. I've been to the USA many times and have travelled all over but Alaska is one place i'm yet to explore. The beautiful scenery, the absolutely spectacular nature and the peace, the beautiful peace of a place so untarnished by the drive for absolute modernity. I'd love to just walk along routes with a camera and a friend and jut soak up everything it has to offer.

Item:

Abstract art;

I#m no art expert- far from it, in fact most things that seem to be well acclaimed just don't do it for me. I know there are some masterpieces and i can appreciate the skill involved in them but they don't speak to me. So i am forever on the lookout for artwork/wall art that is not only individual but that displays a message to me and maybe only me.

Recipe:

Apple snow.

This is something my Dad's Mum used to bake for him when he was growing up. Sadly never got to know my Ganny but y Dad has talked about this recipe with such fondness that i would love to give it a go. It's not a recipe i can find easily though so i'm going to have to go through Granny's old recipe file to see if i can find it!

Saying:

" A bird in the hand i worth two in the bush".

Flower:

This is hard as i love so any, but i'm probably going to go for Allium. I love the globe purple spheres that seem so heavy but are oh so light that just wave around on the green stalks.

Animal:

Albatross.

Even though it's a big thing you don't hardly ever see, the habits of this bird are just fascinating. Did you know they mate for life but spend month apart flying across the oceans, yet they know exactly whom their spouse is and where they will be when they do meet back up. I'm a sucker for things like that!

So there we have it, A is done, probably bored most of the readers silly but there we go, look out for B tomorrow!

xxx

Handmade goodies

2009-10-18T16:50:00.002+01:00

Happy Sunday one and all. Hope you're all having a nice and relaxing weekend. The weather here is just grey- hasn't changed all day, i even had the fire on for a while to help banish the cold- brr.

Anyway, i needed something to do and as my family are out visiting relatives i thought it would be an opportune time to take over the kitchen and bake. I had planned on a glazed apple cake but i found less butter in the fridge that i had thought so decided that the rapidly ripening banana's in the fruit bowl should be used up and the result, a banana and walnut tea loaf (that i had to save from the jaws of my cat!)

And as this is a sort of handmade post i thought i'd share my latest embroidery, it's a solar system pattern, slightly adapted but nevertheless a hugely wonderful pattern from theflossbox on etsy- check her out if you love to sew her patterns are inspired. It is a present for my sister's boyfriend for Christmas, he teaches physics so i thought it rather apt!

And seeing as it's Sunday it means i know have the joy of the F1 race in Brazil. Yep, i adore F1, have done for nearly 17 years now, i know for a lot of people they think it must be very boring to watch cars go round and round and round but for me i thrive on the tactical elements, and Brazil is shaping up to be one hell of a race.

So happy Sunday whatever you are getting up to,

xxx

Return

2009-10-16T18:42:00.002+01:00

I've had an epic dose of bloggers block- i just haven't been able to find the words to make a decent post! However, i miss this lovely place and now that the crispness of autumn is upon us i feel more motivated to get back into the swing of things.

Even though it's been so long i've not done anything remotely exciting (shock horror), my sister turned 28, i turned 26- that entailed an awful lot of baking, i had a ball making some cupcakes for my sister with my wonderful aunt! I may post pictures although get scarily embarrassed!

And seeing that i've been away for so long and that i don't really know how to reintegrate i thought i would do a tag that the lovely Daisy has supplied.

Where's your cell phone: On the arm of my sofa next to me.

Your hair: In desperate need of a brush.

Your Mother: Fighting the biggest battle with grace.

Your Father: Dependable and my rock.

Favourite Food: Broccoli.

Dream last night: Oh trust me, you don't want to know!

Favourite Drink: Ribena light.

What room are you in?: The breakfast room.

Hobby: I flit between lots and nothing.

Fear: Moths!!!

Where were you last night?: Snuggled up in bed.

Something that you aren't?: Employed.

Muffins: Summer berries with a whole strawberry in the centre.

Wish List Item: Wall art.

Where did you grow up?: Same village i still live in.

What are you wearing?: Pink hoodie, dark denim baggy jeans and socks.

Your Pets: Boris and Roy my wonderful cats.

Friends: Few but amazing.

Something you're not wearing: Make-up.

Favourite Store: Handycandy.

Favourite Colour: Purple.

Last time you laughed: When my cat leapt at the shut window thinking it was open-oops!

Your best friend: Laura.

Place you go to over and over: Um i don't go anywhere, does my bed count?

Person who emails you regularly: Laura.

Favourite place to eat: Vegan cafe.

So there we have it, i apologise for my absence, i will get around as many blogs as i can to catch up with you all.

xxx

Random musings

2009-08-09T23:51:00.003+01:00

Oh little blog- i have a million things i could write about but nothing that comes to mind, does that make sense, probably not but then life rarely does.

I've not been up to much worth commenting on, I've tried my hand at quilting and have made a tea cosy- inspired by my latest post of finds, and an ice cream sundae cushion cover. It's sort of therapeutic to take old fabric and bring them back to life again. Yet i'm feeling very self-conscious over my 'makes' mainly because i have the world's most creative and talented family and i've always been the odd one out! They can draw and paint, sew, craft- do everything basically and do it amazingly. My 'craft' as a young one was always poetry, i seemed to like to make patterns with words and yet as i got older i became embarrassed by that. And that's something that often makes me ponder.

If life is about living who deems what is embarrassing or not? Yet i feel driven to not be myself because i feel like an oddball, like life is the square hole and I'm a round peg. It's very hard to explain i guess, i just sort of feel like i don't quite fit in with what life is supposed to be.

I've been waiting for years to find that something that makes me 'me', something that sort of connects me to the world and it always alludes me. I don't even feel like this blog is truly me because i don't want to write about me- it's nice to post about things i like and so on and it does help me 'live' dreams that would never be 'lived' but i often want to just write- write thoughts, feelings, just let things out but i don't, mainly because i think i fear loneliness online even though I'm used to loneliness in real life. I want to be able to post and be the person of my dreams but how can i when she doesn't exist, and is life supposed to be lived with a constant illusion of life?

Who knows, maybe one day the real me will appear, maybe not, and i guess that uncertainty is what makes life...

xxx

Time for tea

2009-08-02T13:30:00.004+01:00

For some reason today i've been drawn to tea cosy's. Now this is odd on multiple accounts, mainly because i don't drink tea (except for the odd cup of peppermint) and haven't done since i was 5, so that's 20 years now! Yet i have lovely childhood memories, sitting around on a Sunday with cakes and the teapot, i used to love to keep my hands warm inside the tea cosy when the tea was all drunk. There's just something magical for me in the padded thickness, the warmth and the pattern on them that takes me back to weekends of my youth. Even in high summer (and my goodness isn't this current one a let down) the teapot would always come out- cakes were always handmade, the creation of love from the heart of our home.

So here is my tribute to the humble tea cozy, thanks for the memories.

These are my favourite type- padded bundles of loveliness, and who could resist this cute little guy- www.theblackrabbit.co.uk

I'd love to be able to make designs like this, perhaps one day i shall brush up my embroidery skills and give it a go- teaescapades.com

I have the most amazing love for bees. They get a bad press and i absolutely adore the little things. Mainly because the humble bumble bee is not supposed to fly, nature didn't design it to fly- but you know what, the bee wanted too and so it fought against the constraints and it learnt how to fly regardless- that is something that means a lot to me.
secondhandshopper.com

I love the vintage appeal of this one, it covers the vintage/modern crossover so well and the colours are just gorgeous.

www.notonthehighstreet.com

I have to admit i fancy having a go at making this one, the pattern is very kindly available on this knitter's personal blog and i have oodles of sirdar wool that could be put to good use!

lollipopknits.com

Being Welsh i had to get a sheep in here somewhere and this little lovely caught my eye,

kenanaknits.com

I'm always so impressed by hand knitted creations- i know how long it takes me to make a rose and this one is covered in them!

And strawberries and summer go hand in hand!

Both this and the one above are from laughinghens.com

Back to the style of my youth- i love applique, my sister is taking it up and is amazing at it, i don't think i have the required imagination so shall have to rely on her and others instead!

www.thehippyshopper.com

More chickens, i can't help but love their simple form and cute faces!

heartgalleryblog.com

This is one of my absolute favourites, and the proceeds of this one go the Eve appeal (my charity for July) making it extra special.

This design is so fresh and quirky, i absolutely love it!

belladia.com

And i now have a feeling that a post on bees and chickens may follow, what is it they say about simple things, simple minds...

xxx

More cakes!

2009-07-26T14:44:00.004+01:00

So, this is not the world's prettiest cake- that much i grant you but if ever there is a time where you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover then it is this cake.

It may look like a heavy, sunken sponge but looks are deceiving! This in face is one of the lightest, moistest (is that a word lol) cakes and so easy to make it's almost criminal! The top and bottom of the cake is made from almond flavoured sponge- beautiful and fragrant but not too strong but the best part is the middle. For nestled away in the middle of this cake is a layer of sliced apples. As the cake cooks the moisture from the apples seeps into the sponge and the apples cook slowly and happily. The result- a delicious light sponge with a moist, apply centre that is just divine. It's best to serve it warm with icing sugar on the top and goes great with custard, ice cream or just on it's own. You can of course eat it cold for an equally delicious treat.

And if you don't have apples then don't worry- we have made this using pears instead for a really lovely cake- just make sure the pears are fairly ripe as they take longer to cook than the apples if too hard.

Mmmm, yummy!

xxx

Ready, steady, bake

2009-07-25T13:00:00.004+01:00

Having had a hard few weeks, it was really lovely yesterday to spend a few hours with my wonderful sister in the kitchen baking. We may not be the typical best friend sisters but our bond is silently invincible. We aren't big fans of the sitting down talking feelings and we both have very different lives- hers unhindered mine, very much hindered yet we do both share the love for cooking.

So, the 2 of us spent yesterday afternoon baking cupcakes and decorating them. Mum said it was like having children in the house again- we are 25 and 27 but if it brings laughter and love then we don't care.

Recipe:

187.5g butter

187.5g self-raising flour

187.5g Caster sugar

3 eggs

1.5 tsps vanilla essence

3 tbsp milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 180c- if you don;'t have a fan oven then 190c is probably better.

Cream the butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon in a large bowl until pale and fluffy.

Beat the eggs and add slowly to the creamed mix until all combined, then add the vanilla.

Sift half the flour into the mix and fold together.

Then add the milk and the remaining flour and mix gently but thoroughly.

Spoon the mix into paper cases and bake for around 15-17 minutes.

This mix makes 21 cakes.

To Decorate;

the cakes in the centre (only 4 shown here) are decorated with buttercream. to make you need,

150g softened butter

250g Icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2tsp hot water

Any colouring you like or none if you prefer.

Simply beat the butter and sugar together with an electric mixer, add the vanilla and the water until smooth and creamy and we find it's best when you can create nice peaks that stand alone in the bowl.

Top with edible sugar decorations.

The other cakes here are iced with, what can only be described as a very 'unique' blend of icing sugars and royal icing and water that i coloured pink and yellow (my sister's favourite colours).

Basically just mix up the icing sugar with warm, not hot, water until you get the consistency you desire- i wanted quite a thick topping so the cakes were well covered and once cold the icing would be set hard.

Unleash your inner child and decorate!

So thank you to my sister, i had a lovely time, and now the baking bug has hit my Dad and I are going to make an apple cake this afternoon.

xxx

Cult of celebrity-ism's

2009-07-21T15:25:00.002+01:00

So i have been trying to decide whether or not to post about this. I've gone back and forth so many times i was making myself dizzy. But during a rather restless night's sleep last night i decided that if i can't write about things that are on my mind on my blog then where can i. So, this may seem very off track for my normal style but there you go- i said i was scattered brained!

Ok, so when i was in University my housemates and I relied on celebrity magazines as a cheap and reliable source of entertainment. We could all name whose who, the break-up's, the make-up's, the babies, the weddings, the divorces etc you get the picture- if it was celebrity gossip we knew it. And so the trend continued and whilst working a long day in hospital i would long for my 3pm break and a chance to read and escape the sometimes overwhelming monotony in a magazine.

Then something happened. Hitting my 20's changed the desire i had and now, at the grand old age of 25 i don't actually remember when i last picked up one of the magazines. I have no clue who is who anymore, i can't name most of the faces in the magazine and nor do i care whose fallen out with whom.

So how can i explain this shift, well that's just it, i don't know whether it happens to everyone or me alone but i actually think of the cult of celebrity as something that is much more than cheap headlines and quick stories. I read MarieCalire, Vogue, Lifescape etc now because to me the fashion designers, the life changers, the hidden faces- those are the celebrity to me. Perhaps people are right when they say there is a scale of celebrities- from A class to z-what's their name class. But why would you want the whole world to know your intimate life details- why splash everything all over the glossy pages- money? Well of course money makes the world goes round and yes it's lovely to have some but making a career by living life in the spotlight just so you can drive a fancy car or live in a huge house- is it really worth sacrificing happiness, friends, trust and overall sanity for?

But yet perhaps there is more to it. Perhaps they are mainly filling the voyeuristic need embedded somewhere in all humans. You know that inner compulsion in you that when you pass an accident in the car you want to peer over and see what happened. The urge to know every little detail about celebrities, probably because we would consider it anti-social to delve into the private lives of family, friends, colleagues etc. So are these magazines just a way for us, society, to serve our own needs without being anti-social?

I'm not going to go into whether or not these magazines inspire people negatively, or positively- this is more about the cult of the so-called celebrity. I consider great actors/actresses, singers, bands, artists, writers, chefs- all celebrity but they don't have to be in the public limelight for me to think that of them. Dedication to their craft, love of their skill, passion for what they do and an eagerness never to stop. To me a celebrity is someone to whom if you took away the money, the glitz and the paparazzi would still do their trade because they love it.

In some ways i pity the people whose lives are lived out for the world to read. I worry about the future for them, the prospects for their families, their health but i also know that no-one s forcing them into this mould. I don't care if celebrity 'x' is on a diet or celebrity 'y' is getting divorced when celebrity 'd' is pregnant with celebrity '?' baby. I simply don't care- walk round your locality- you will find many dieters, divorcee's, pregnancies- why aren't they splashed all over the media? Because we know it isn't normal to be normal and we get on with it.

Perhaps reading about the escapades of celebrity life this way takes us to another world, leaves our drama behind, let's us enter an almost real-life soap opera. But why not lose yourself in a book, or an article that challenges your mind and thinking?

If someone had said to me 4 years ago i wouldn't be reading these magazines i'd have laughed, but escaping your own problems by trying to focus on absurd celebrity one's ultimately got me nowhere.

So yeah, a rant that ultimately made no sense apart from in my head most probably but yeah, i needed to say it.

Said.

xxx

Noticeboard to art...

2009-07-13T13:42:00.004+01:00

So today i went out (yep hold the shock of surprise!) for the first time in a week. It looked lovely, blue skies etc but i wasn't chancing it, jeans, vest and oversized boyfriend shirt did me nicely- well and shoes of course. It was nice, quite warm in the sun but lots of black clouds everywhere. Anyway, i digress, i went out as i had an appointment and it seems that they double booked the slot so i had to wait for 40 minutes, and in that 40 minutes all i had to stare at was an overcrowded noticeboard with half faded out of date info. So, it got me thinking, all the lovely things that paper could be used for instead and well, here is my tribute to paper art.

I love this bouquet, don't quite know where i'd put it though! treehugger.com

All the beauty and none of the mess, love these, stylishfinds.com

These two just make me smile, i love the Japanese dolls but the little artwork is so gorgeous, sanfran67.com

I almost want to dip these in acrylic so they would be easier to clean, then string them together as wall art! ourfunds.com

These would make the most adorable hanging ceiling art, ourfunlive.com

At first glance i didn't even see the message in this, i just adored the flowers!

This and the one above are from impactlabs.com, so talented!

I love the impact of this one, although droopy flowers always make me feel sad. dkdesignstudio.com

This must have taken some much patience, but well worth it, this and the next one are examples of Jen Starks work.

Don't you just love how it looks like the leaves have just shed? dkdesigns

This is my favourite, i adore anatomy (yep that makes me slightly odd i know) and i am in awe of the talent and time this would have taken, i'd love to own it! dkdesigns

I am about to order these from etsy, i plan on gathering them together into a garland, they are made from a French map of Paris, the designer has many different beautiful collections so i highly suggest checking her out bluepearls on etsy.

And some colour to end with, from amysolavy.com, i reckon these would be good for a child's room or to embellish crafts with.

Happy Monday,

xxx

Ribbons for Eve

2009-07-12T17:26:00.005+01:00

Thanks to everyone for the lovely comments on my last post, hope you're all having a good weekend. The sun has actually come out today and according to my sources (aka parents) it's quite pleasant outside, mind you we had enough rain in the last 2 days for the next few months so it's about time summer showed it's head again!

I don't know what sort of mood this post will take, you may have gathered by now that i am a bit of a scatter brain- can easily flip from one subject to the next in a blissful state of unawareness. However, i do know what i want to start with so here goes.

Basically i am someone who very much supports charitable causes- every month i donate to Oxfam, i've ran races for Cancer Research UK, i've got an adopted Manatee (her name is Betsy and i even visited her in Florida!!!), a humpback Whale somewhere in the Boston area called Star although she frequently disappears and a dolphin in Scotland called Sundance. I truly believe that sometimes helping a charity can seem to be a burden or even 'unfashionable' and in fact i think sometimes smaller charities get brushed away because the media doesn't hype them up or because their cause isn't something that can be cured with money. So, i thought that every once in a while i would showcase a charity on my blog that means a lot to me, help spread the word and maybe introduce people to new ones they aren't aware of.

Today's choice is The Eve Appeal. This charity is one that i feel deserves more time in the spotlight as it's purpose is awareness of gynaecological cancers. It is shocking when you consider that just 35% of those afflicted with a Gynae cancer survive and the charity is working feverishly to raise funds to turn that statistic around. The charity offers advice and support on signs, symptoms and how to cope with the diagnosis of gynae cancer. It also has lots of ways in which you can help the charity- the key even of the year being every March when they have their 'Make time for TEA event'- basically you get to have tea and cake with whoever you want and chat and laugh and have a nice time and just pay a small contribution to the charity- simple! I will defiantly be having a tea party next March- even if it is just by myself, and i have ordered myself a turquoise ribbon to show my support. There are so many gorgeous products linked back to the Eve Appeal, if you google the Eve Appeal you will see many handmade unique items, including a teacosy that is just stunning.You can also buy miniature teapots and teacups, from Boots so keep your eyes peeled. And if you do wear ribbons, turquoise is the colour.

So that's my charity for today, perhaps i'll make this a weekly thing, if you support any charities do let me know and i would love to showcase them here, charity begins at home right!

Okay, now i was about to post a whole load of pics- everything from verandas to post offices, pearls to lamps but blogger won't let me upload, rah i don't know why it keeps telling me it has an error- so sort yourself out blogger! Hopefully it will be resolved soon, i hate posting just words!

Hope you all have a good Sunday and a good start to your week,

xxx

Finds...

2009-07-10T13:01:00.007+01:00

With lots on my mind but now words to really know how to express them i decided it's best to go for a picture post for this Friday- a variety of interiors, fashion, scenes, anything really that has caught my eye over the last week.

Sometimes i think normality is shunned as being overrated- i wouldn't mind having it for a while!

This jewellery tree just longs to be mine and adorned with all the beautiful pieces of jewellery i have, many thanks to the wonder that is Daisy.

Both this and the bed above from www.vivaterraobject.com

These two dresses are both by Ruby Rocks, i simply adore the first one, perhaps too much....

Argh the kitkats, i need not say anything else.

I'm in love with dress dummies, wire or solid i just find them so, argh I can't find the words, beautiful maybe?

This bedroom is just so stunning, the bed, the floor, the colour on the walls, simply blissful.

www.pippajamesoninteriors.com

Ah wall art- you may be seeing a lot of these from me as i'm currently revamping my bedroom and am desperate to find something to embellish my walls with.

Yep i've found a hoodie that describes me in 3 words- joy.

I love him- simply as.

All 3 of these are from plainlazy.com

I love these dolls, especially her as she incorporates yellow and turquoise- my favourite colours, check out the whole range at zombukisshop via etsy.

From the same shop as the above doll, i adore this designer!

I warned you about the wall art! this one is from fabulousmess.com

This instantly caught my eye, a beautifully unique piece by fruitsaladvintage, i just adore the form.

If i had my way this is what my room would be like- nothing but a bed and books- bliss. www.housetohome.com

This is amazing wall art, found on flickr it's called strawberry shortcake and is all handmade felted goods, it's at the top of my list currently!

I just want this room!!!

www.curblystudio.com

I found this online in a sale, £5- i didn't buy them but i wish i did, now i'm too scared to go back in case they've gone! Shoes by Quiz.

Fashion alert all vegan or ethical shoppers- this beauty caught my eye just last night, unfortunately i don't have the funds nor the social life to do it justice but i just love it, especially the colour and knowing it's vegan and fashionable to boot- hurrah for the collection by espe.

And this is my final favourite of the week. The print, the colour, the size, the shape- yes i'm pretty much in love with this piece by Amy Kathryn- if you haven't checked her bags out before then you really should- they are vegan friendly too, hurrah!

xxx

Thank You...

2009-07-08T19:09:00.003+01:00

I know this will not reach the actual people involved and i will never know who or where they are but i want to say thank you.

Thank you to anyone who has ever given blood.

Thank you to those people who have made it possible for my Mum to get transfusions today when she needed them without having to wait.

Thank you for going through the pain and the waiting and the filling in of the questionnaires (I've seen them, i know!) and for drinking the tea and eating the free cookie.

I've lived in a medical family my entire life, we talk the talk and walk the walk as they say- but we are all having to face things we all know of but never knew.

So if any of you have ever given blood you have my hugest thanks and if i could give you all a hug and a present and just tell you in person how much it means i would.

Thank you.

xxx

Era

2009-07-07T18:28:00.005+01:00

I am a massive fan of being unique- yep i may be Welsh but i am not a sheep! And so my style always is described as being in the wrong era. In fact many think i was born in the wrong era, i should have been a 1920's girl and not a 1980's one! My love for picnics seems to prove this apparently as does my lust for long walks in the country, old ice cream parlours with soda fountains and chocolate in paper. I could live without TV, radio etc, give me a journal and a pen and i'll stay occupied. I think that in some ways my barriers in my life have allowed me to really have to rely on myself for reasons to keep going and to find beauty in whatever i can.

Oxfam online £9.99

And this is my current dream,

xxx

What IS fashion?

2009-07-05T16:04:00.003+01:00

In order to fiend off massive boredom and irritability (not a good combination i tell you) i have been window shopping online. I have noticed two things over the last 48 hours of said window shopping, (obviously with breaks in between for sleeping and munching on rich tea biscuits and chocolate ginger) 1) I am way to fixated on foreign candy, 2) that fashion is unique to the individual.

The 1st point is easy to explain. It all started with my quest to find as many types of KitKat as i could- little did i know when i started the hunt that i would be taken worldwide and be amazed by the massive amounts of kitkats they have in Japan! It's probably a good job we have limited varieties in the UK as my dentist would testify to the strength of my sweet-tooth. However, from kitkats grew the search for cadbury's bars and then skittles to m&m's and so the hours slipped away. One day i shall do a post dedicated to these lovelies, perhaps one day i shall treat myself to them but for now i shall leave them be as i don't think it is a good idea to keep looking at them, drooling on the keyboard of my laptop is not attractive!

The 2nd point, it's very hard to explain really. I don't own, nor have i ever owned any major Designers pieces, that goes for clothes, shoes, bags etc. Now i have nothing against those who do but they don't signify the be all and end all of fashion to me. Having window shopped on SO many sites of late i get so incredibly annoyed when i see a beautiful model looking so uncomfortable or unnatural in a dress- sometimes things just don't work on people YET in real life, i can't decide if it's better to wear something that you feel confident in or to wear something you think looks the part. For me it's always been a matter of putting together what i have. I have never been fashionable, nor will i ever be, i've been dubbed the family hippie magpie for my somewhat eccentric outfits and yet there is a part of me that always holds back- more out of the respect of other people's eyes than for me own. But what is fashion, is fashion dictated by the masses or does it come from within?

Yep i'm in a pondering mood so i shall leave you with some pics from my latest hunt.

xxx

And annoyingly blogger keeps crashing on me so i'll have to put up more pics when i can!

Few of my favourite things...

2009-06-29T18:38:00.005+01:00

I have stolen this tag from the beauty that is Daisy, a fashion Goddess no less!

Currently am recovering from almost melting whilst out in my car this afternoon, i love him to pieces but no air con in a heatwave is a nightmare!!!

1.Colour: Hmm hard one, probably yellow.

2.Dessert: Apple and raisin strudel.

3.Smell: Warm bread.

4. Flower: Orchids and freesias.

5. Animal: Cats (i have two) and that incorporates tigers and leopards too although do have a huge soft spot for Tapia's.

6.Month: July, just because it signifies summer has arrived.

7. Beverage: Blackcurrant slush puppies (it's the child in me).

8. Shoes: My absolutely, totally amazing, never want to take them off Sugar morigami boots!

9. Snacks: Carrots and granola and anything in the form of a sweet!

10. Songs: Ooh too many, 'Use Somebody' by Kings of Leon and anything by Madeliene Peroyoux right now.

11. Book: I'm not a huge reader, but i have just read A Million tiny Pieces- so moving and honest.

12. Fruit: All of them, everything and anything but especially nectarines, oh and melon oh and...

13. Hairstyle: Had them all, now have a pixie that i adore although it needs a trim.

14. Pieces of Clothing: Scarves, can't be far from one or i'll hyperventilate!

15. Stores to Shop: Anywhere with a sale!

16. Season: Autumn, i love it when the leaves start to change.

17. Hobbies: Hmm, knitting, blogging- i don't really have many proper ones.

18. Things to collect: Ok, this may surprise, i collect lava lamps (mathmos ones) and windchimes, currently have 25 hanging in my room!

19. Movies: Big Fish, Apollo 13 and Philadelphia.

20. Restaurant: Don't go to any so i guess my kitchen!!!

Well that was a nice way to spend some time, tag yourself if you want to join in!

Hope everyone in the UK is coping well in the heat, look after your pets, and your relatives, especially if their elderly and neighbours and so on, nothing like a cool drink from a kind heart when your struggling to cope!

xxx

Hampers

2009-06-25T16:18:00.009+01:00

For some reason today the idea of being sent a hamper in the post just feels so romantic and so i have been on a quest looking around at hampers. Problem is they all have things in them i don't like or they cost the earth! I've gathered a selection though just in case my future husband (who needs to be romantic by the way) should ever happen to stumble across this blog he can get some inspiration!!!

http://www.interflora.co.uk/

http://www.interflora.co.uk/

http://www.foodieboxes.co.uk/

http://www.foodieboxes.co.uk/

http://www.interflora.co.uk/

http://www.ripegifts.co.uk/

It's veggie friendly too!

http://www.giftingdirect.com/

http://www.eden4flowers.co.uk/

http://www.regencyhampers.co.uk/

http://www.johnlewis.co.uk/

http://www.harrods.com/

http://www.johnlewis.co.uk/

http://www.1st4hampers.com/

http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/

http://www.1st4hampers.com/

http://www.hampergifts.co.uk/

as above

http://www.1st4hampers.com/

http://www.bettysbypost.co.uk/

http://www.hampergifts.com/

xxx

Kindness of strangers...

2009-06-24T15:55:00.002+01:00

Where have the last few days (ahem week) gone???

Well the sun is trying to return to my little corner of Wales, not quite here fully, still a lot of clouds but well on it's way to actual summer weather. Still can't be persuaded to part form my tights as of yet though, goosebumps and pale legs aren't a good look!

So, i have been internet browsing (as i often do) and have come across something that i just adore the thought of http://www.igotanenvelope.com/ Basically you leave an envelope with your name and address and a stamp on in a public place, you attach a note the artist has written and basically wait for it to be sent back to you with whatever goodies the person who found it has to give you. Can you imagine how amazing it must be to get something back from a total stranger- there is nothing as magical as the kindness of strangers sometimes! If only more people knew of this though, i doubt anyone would know what to do with my envelope, probably throw it in the bin!!! Please take a look though, on the site you get to see what people have been sent back, it's so different and unique and a piece of living art!

Also, and slightly more bizarre but then yep i am the sort of girl who loves bizarre (am currently wearing a dress that is way too big held together by safety pins and heart brooches) this site also made me laugh. Now i found it funny because my family are in the medical profession and (not that this is funny at all but relevant) my Mum is currently fighting breast cancer and so we all know how foul our local hospitals food is, well now patients around the world can share their hospital meals with one another, some are truly grotesque but others look amazing!!! http://hospitalfood.tumblr.com/

Oh and if you live in the UK and are a fan of Innocent smoothies then make certain you grab a copy of the Telegraph on Friday and nip into Tesco for your free smoothie- now that's a great one to your 5 a day!!!

Happy Wednesday one and all,

xxx

Yummy parcels

2009-06-17T18:53:00.004+01:00

My Dad has a double treat on Sunday as his birthday and Father's Day fall on the same day, so his birthday presents are the more expensive ones, CD's, DVD's etc but for father's Day i am spoiling his sweet tooth with the most amazing jar of licorice! When i saw it on handycandy.com i thought it looked good but having seen it in the flesh, oh my word i was overwhelmed with excitement!

Now all i have to do is figure out how not to let myself open it before Sunday!!!

xxx

Shoe help!!!

2009-06-15T14:09:00.002+01:00

Ok so i'm in need of some help!

I have terrible feet, seriously as much as i love, and i mean this i do love the gladiator sandals there is no way i could pull them off, plus i think i would feel a little 'exposed' in them so i am trying to find some shoes that do reflect the fact that it is summer! Granted i would wear my morigami boots all year round because they are like mini hugs for your legs but i am starting to get some odd looks now the sun is coming out. So what do you think of the following shoes, i know there aren't loads here but i'm still looking, these though are something i can't decide on, it's nothing like i've worn before but i don't know there is something about them???

Oh and the hat, i would love to be able to wear one of these, i think they look awesome on the right people but on me, well let's not go there!!!

(these and previous ones are by RocketDog)

(Sugar organic vegan friendly shoes)

xxx

Sundreamer...

2009-06-14T16:41:00.004+01:00

Ah the sun has returned, well it came back yesterday but i didn't want to jinx it but it's back, blue skies all around!

It's almost the summer solstice, the nights are definitely lighter now, in fact it isn't even dark at 10pm these days. It's so nice to wake up in the morning and just hear birds singing and i am so lucky to live in a beautiful and secluded place so have very sheer curtains and this morning the sun just broke through them like it was meant just for me.

I realise i've posted mainly pictures that i find when i'm online window shopping, truth is i'm not very good at writing and my thoughts aren't exactly inspiring! However, there seems no point to a blog if all i do is recreate what's already been done.

I don't want to be a dweller though, it's enough to say i have barriers to my dreams, but if i stop the dreams, if i give up on them then life would be very dark indeed so i need this blog, i need to let my dreams live on somehow.

All today i've been dreaming of being outdoors in the sunshine, you know when your skin feels alive, when the warm air caresses your neck and a smile broadens your face, for no other reason than you just feel good? Where every now and again a gentle breeze will come and just tickle the hairs on the back of your neck and soothes your skin.

I'd love to be outside planting things. I've never been one for just laying in the sun, in fact i'm properly the most awkward of sunbathers you will ever see! through history of many holidays i am still to find a position where i don't get numb arms, i can still read without either having my face in the book or it lifted so faraway that i need my glasses (glasses and sun do not go well with me- panda eyes was written for me!) and i burn like a lobster so if i don't move and reapply cream all the time i'm as red as a kitkat wrapper and as melted as the chocolate inside! So yes, if outdoors i love to have things to occupy me and the garden, well it's hard to describe really, if you've ever grown something from seed you'll understand, being so close to something so simple yet mysteriously complex and knowing you had a tiny part in it is just, well it's lovely.

I'm also thinking of the week ahead and next week it isn't just father's Day but it's my Dad's Birthday on the same day! So he get's double the presents which is great and all but what i would love to do for him is bake him a cake. In fact i'd love to bake him an entire tea- cookies, muffins, the cake, scones the lot. It's been so long, but i think it's like riding a bike, once learnt never forgotten and one day i hope it will come back to me again but for now i just have to satisfy my inner cook by adoring what everyone else cooks online and all the glorious images of their creativity- it's almost as good as making it myself plus i don't have the washing up to face!

And my final dream for now, driving in my most beloved car, i've had him for 8 years now, i adore him. He may not be the fastest, or have air con but there is nothing nicer sometimes than driving around just me, singing to my cd's, seeing the world living and moving on, knowing that it is still moving, still rotating even though sometimes it feels static. that independence is priceless.

So yeah, i know i don't have many followers or readers of this blog but to those who do i appreciate it so much, the fact you read means so much to me and when i get comments it literally makes my day. I will post pictures when i find ones that i adore and now the sun is out there will no doubt be many but at times there will be written posts like these, just because well for no reason really other than if you can't share your dreams somewhere then what good are they...

xxx

Rain rain go away...

2009-06-07T16:37:00.004+01:00

Ok, so we had a week of glorious weather and now we've had 2 days of solid rain (although today the sun is trying to break free from the clouds) so i tried to find some things to keep out the rain that aren't too heavy in the still warm air- harder than i thought!

Can't say this is exactly the fashion statement or if i'd even manage to put it on without poking my eyes out or getting my hair caught in the spokes but i wonder if anyone would!

(www.metro.co.uk)

Now there can't be anyone whose been caught out- you know what i mean, you've dressed for summer, beautiful shoes included, the sun was shining but then, as soon as get far enough from home down comes the rain- maybe we all should have these in our bags to protect our shoes!

(shuella's at thisnext.com)

If wearing a mac is a must then perhaps these see through jewelled ones could be the solution?

(www.topshopstyle.com)

This is an inflatable (yep inflatable- uses a pump though not our old lungs) which means no spokes to come loose to poke yourself with, no turning upside down and one twist of the handle and it's down! Just can't imagine standing in the street trying to pump it in a downpour!

(this.next.com bumperella)

Now i may be the only one but i do suffer from brolly rage- yes i have to count to 10, so nothing works as good as a hooded coat for me, i saw this and just loved the style.

(bluefly.com)

But if you do have to have an umbrella- then i'd go all out and have a button raining one!

(thisnext.com)

And this beauty can withstand 70 mph winds- very handy for where i live!

(shooppingblog.com)

Now i love this picture because at times i do love the rain, and one day i dream to be able to go out with a lovely friend and be as happy as they are!

(examiner.com)

These vintage ladies look very stern- bet they wouldn't blow inside out!

Again these two look so happy, welly boots are always fun, makes you feel young and carefree- and the patterned coat is cute too.

(www.landsend.com)

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are but if it isn't take heart, there are other things that can make the sun shine for you in your life.

xxx

Summer skies...

2009-06-04T15:58:00.004+01:00

So i was trying to decide a theme for today's post but i couldn't decide so, because i love the smell of coffee but have never tasted it some coffee art- because i love the look but hate the feel some felted purses and because i am absolutely in love with the maxi dress some of my favs- one day i shall summon the strength to wear one and not worry that at only 5ft4 i won't look like a child in a tablecloth!

i love quirky wall art, and this one caught my eye.
(digsdigs.com)

I have a jellyegg bear that i bought when i went to uni and he's always by my side and now i've seen they have new collections, i have a feeling this little fella may be joining him!
(jellyegg animals are available in lots of places, maybe you could give one a home too?)

(Craftedjulesjewlery.com)

I'm so in love with this fella, how cute is he! And how much fun would you have making him!

(Both pics from words4mind.com)

These are so cute and i bet you can't guess what they are made from! Go on, have a guess!

(alternativeoutfitters.com)

I love the way trends come round and round and i simply adore this almost 50's style yet still really current looking swimsuit by Hotel Bondi, i just adore it.

Speaking of adoring things, who would not love to have this dress, you can imagine slipping it on and just feeling amazing and special! And what's more, this is a genuine vintage one.

(vintagedresses.ie.com)

This is also a genuine vintage maxi dress, i can imagine this whilst sitting in a beautiful Japanese garden, drinking tea with the breeze flowing through your hair and your dress and just feeling totally alive.

I just think she looks absolutely stunning in this dress, and i find they do flatter people- they may be long and flowing but look at her, you cans till see how amazing she looks and it's so nice to see some feminine fashion back.

(jebbeh.wordpress.com)

The sun is still with us, obviously the forecasters got today wrong as it has been another stunning display of summer- everything always looks better when the sun shines.

xxx

The beat goes on...

2009-06-02T13:09:00.000+01:00

So as the sun is still shining but we are forecast to lose it i thought i would focus more on the dream of being outdoors with friends having picnics and fun.

I don't think this would look wonderful or indeed flattering but i love how people think outside the box and create things like this. Perhaps not practical but fun!

(ilikecool.com)

I love fruit, all fruit bring it on! And with these covers no nasty little insects will try and nibble them on my behalf!

(kitchencritic.com)

How cute is this! Don't you just hate it when there isn't anywhere flat to put down a glass, and it may just be me but i think i'd feel special and regal like having a spike just for my glass!

(kitchencritic.com)

I saw these shoes and feel in love with them, they are vegan too (major plus point in my eyes) but i could never wear them as anything higher than a mm in height and i topple over!

(inhabitat.com)

There's something about this dress, maybe the fabric, i know i love the corsage but i find it alluring- and very cool for the summer weather.

(W Magazine feature on fashion 09)

I love the length of this dress, floaty and feminine and just gorgeous- plus wherever it is i love the surroundings!

(myddnetwork.com)

This is a vegan outfit- i adore boyfriend style shirts and i love it teamed with these skinny jeans although not too convinced about the faded look but the sandals and sunglasses make it a stunner.

(Insider online)

I'm loving the floral print on this dress and the gorgeous sleeves!
(leonoralondon SS 09)

Again shoes by a vegan designer, still would love to dream of being able to pull these off but have hideous feet so best to keep my tootsies covered up.
(inhabitat.com)

A luscious vegan bag, i adore the shape and i can imagine i could get an awful lot of nothing in there!
(inhabitat.com)

This is a top by Stella McCartney and i have to say i don't quite see the hype it has online or in magazines- i imagine perhaps as a tunic it would like right on the right person but on me would look like a sack of spuds!

(W Magazine)

And now, you can't have a picnic with me without the following!

White chocolate jazzies- i'm salivating just looking at these!

Foamy mushrooms, surely these must count as one of your 5 a day- no, oh well?

Got to satisfy the sour note too!

As close to a animal that this veggie will ever eat!

(all sweetie pics from my fav online sweetie store- handycandy.com)

You can't have a picnic without a lovely blanket and it may as well be a lovely looking one, this one caught my eye straight away!
(general picnicfun.com)

The versatility of tofu is endless, this is a yummy recipe that you can find at messyvegetariancook.com and would be perfect for an outdoor feast- healthy and yummy all rolled into one!

Although this little fella makes tofu feel like it has feelings eek!

Cuteness personified, i can only dream to be as creative as the makers of this wonderful person, although i think she needs a friend as looks a little lonely.

(thelittlethings.com)

Because you can't have a picnic without a thermos, it doesn't have to be hot of course, personally i'd like iced peppermint tea- refreshing and crisp- i personally recommend teapigs- if you love tea you'll love teapigs selection of unusual blends!

(thermos from generalpicnicfun.com)

For the impromptu picnic, this gorgeous little eco kit has won my heart!

(kitchencritic.com)

The bumble bee means so much to me- did you know that nature designed it to bot be able to fly but it said it wanted to fly and it does, all things possible perhaps?

(chicvegan.com)

Can you believe this is all edible! Now that is a picnic basket i would love to have!

(thecakechic.com)

Cakes in miniature- all the pleasure, less of the guilt and fun for friends to share and nibble whilst chatting and letting the clouds pass them by- bliss.

(simplydeliciouscakes.com)

And just in case you feel the need to opt for healthier looking cakes so as to appease the guilt these watermelon cupcakes are just for you. I can imagine how refreshing they must be, in fact i'm starting to drool over these again!

(blisstree.com)

I hope you are all having the best start to June.

xxx

Sunshine lollipops and ...

2009-05-31T17:41:00.001+01:00

What a glorious day, it's one of those blue skies, sun out days that you dream could happen but rarely ever does, but indeed here it is!

Days like this have so many potentials for my dreams so i shall write but a few as hopefully the gorgeous days will last and so my dreams can live out on the blog.

Days like this make me want to wander around a meadow, in a beautiful floaty dress, a vintage picnic basket and a man by my side.

(Emma Bridgewater)

(Leadaccesories)

Days like this make me want to open my window so wide that all my windchimes sing in unison and no insects come in!

(from writenowisgood.typepad.com)

Days like this make me wish that ice cream sundaes in waffle cones had zero calories and didn't dribble down your fingers in the attempt to beat the sun in order to eat them.

Days like this make me want to go outside and hear the birds singing.

(aldenwicker.wordpress.com)

Hope your sun is shining on you and that you can fulfill some of your dreams today, no matter how big or small.

xxx

Tea parties

2009-05-30T17:43:00.000+01:00

Currently i am dreaming of tea parties in the sunshine with the very best of friends.
(even though i don't drink tea!)

Cupcakes and tissue paper to awaken the senses.

Badges of joy to lift even the darkest of moods.

(all courtesy of notonthehighstreet.com and if i won the lottery i'd buy nearly all the site)

I also dream of the day when i can wear the following gorgeous items from asos.com, now if only my bank manager granted special wishes for fashion buys!

xxx

Dream machine

2009-05-30T13:34:00.000+01:00

I have never been very good at starting things from scratch- in fact i am one of those people who will read a book from the back so that i can imagine the beginning from the end! But seeing that i don't quite have a time machine all figured out this shall have to be my rather awkward new start to this journey.

I am no-one of excitement, of wondrous words nor amazing thoughts- i am 25,a graduate, a vegetarian, a girl with magpie eyes who loves the sparkles in life but who has her problems. Problems though are something i don't wish to dwell on, for here i want to let my dreams live-i want them to at least come alive in screen if the can't in reality.

I truly believe that random acts of kindness make the world go round and sometimes i wonder if i was born into the wrong era as i sometimes long for the decades past and what seemed to be life but not as we know it.

So welcome to my world, to my dreams- you may see fashion, you will see my cats, you will be invaded by sparkles and i hope you can see how important it is to always have dreams and keep the sparkle in your life.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx