MeetMySaturdayAtHOME

It has been an age since my last outfit post (I mean, just look at how much my hair has grown!), so I thought a visit to HOME, Manchester new creative hub, & the surrounding area was the perfect backdrop to my colourful Saturday outfit. A hybrid of Cornerhouse & the Library Theatre Company, we went to visit their latest (& first) art exhibition 'The heart is deceitful above all things', which was perfect for a quick Saturday afternoon injection of culture, before we headed to hunt down tea & cake. I won't give away too much (go & see it for yourself!), but keep your eyes open for the retro funfair temporary tattoo dispenser!

Khaki & Gold Sunglasses - TK Maxx, originally Balmain *what a find!*
Blue Suede Cropped Jacket - Mango (also in a gorgeous wine hue) *latest buy*
Grey Jersey Vest - Old
Lilac bag - Vintage
Floral Printed Cotton Culottes - Vintage
Black Leather & Wood Block Heel Sandals - Urban Outfitters

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MeetMyHappySundays

I love the weekend! You may have gathered this from my last post, however I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate Sundays in particular. At this very moment I am sitting in bed, having woken up naturally, looking out the window onto yellow-sprouted trees framing a bright blue sky, with not a cloud in sight. I am thinking about slipping into any old clothes so I can make the most of the fresh bright morning by popping to the shops for the Sunday paper & some fresh bread for brunch. And I'm thinking how I would like to make this a Sunday tradition...

Apart from this new tradition, baking always seems to creep into my weekend plans. If my friends pop round they always ask if there's cake (as there normally is!) so I bake a bunch of goodies from what I have in the house. This time I had an abundance of plums, softening fast & calling out to be smothered by cake & devoured by happy mouths. Good old BBC Good Food gave me a hand with this delightfully delicious Plum & Ginger Sponge recipe, or 'Gingery Plum Cake' as they call it! It is a winner in my eyes, moist (not a great word I know, but it sums it up!) with a perfect balance of sweet, spicy from the ginger & tart from the fresh plums. I just reduced the size of the tin a bit for a deeper sponge & didn't use quite as many plums on the surface area on top. I would love to try this again with some additional fruit, maybe raspberries as they suggest, nectarines or mango. Is mango good baked in a sponge? Let me know if you have tried it!

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MeetMyEvenings&Weekends

Now that I have a 9-5 job (as opposed to part-time haphazard hours juggled with freelance work on the side) I am learning to love & make the most of evenings & weekends. They may be a normality for many, however this is a luxury for me! Now that the clocks have sprung forward & its is lighter in the evenings helps dramatically in making the most of time. We have been treated (& teased) to a few sunny early evenings spent in the local beer gardens, however I'm still waiting for the temperature to raise its head a bit so we can full enjoy Spring!

My weekends so far have been so fun packed, full of breakfasts in bed, rummaging through a fabulous vintage fair, pub quizzes, experimenting with some new recipes & drinking my way through a Gin Festival...

Images:
My friend Clare & myself with the biggest smiles on our faces at The Gin Festival!
Empty pink grapefruit after breakfast in bed.
Homemade tomato & mushroom macaroni cheese with balsamic rocket salad.
Bright yellow daffodils in the park.

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MeetMyEasterTreats : Take2

Carrot cake is one of my favourite types of cake (& there is tough competition trust me!) so I don't know why it has taken me so long to try my hand at baking one. I actually made this one back in Winter (which officially wasn't even that long ago) but haven't really had a perfect time to share it. But with the Easter Bunny around this weekend I thought anything carrot flavoured fits in nicely with the theme, so give a warm welcome to my homemade carrot cake. Happy Easter!

I used this fabulous recipe originally from the Hummingbird Bakery, which I highly recommend as as even though it is a towering triple-layer cake (actually the biggest I have ever made!) the sponge was so light! I did decide to deviate slightly from the recipe however and not to cover the outside of my cake with the buttercream as I think there is enough sandwiching it all together, but feel free to experiment!

Recipe from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook, which you can also view here courtesy of Ocado.

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MeetMyEasterTreats

These are just too cute to eat (almost)...

Feeling in the Easter mood, yesterday I went on a baking spree & created the cutest Easter Bunny sandwich shortbreads. I was inspired by La receta de la felicidad's recipe, although mine turned out a little more rustic, but just as tasty (I imagine)... A few of the bunnies however didn't make it through the sandwiching process, however their missing ears & tails were put to good use as I improvised & created a chocolate bark (recipe below). Similar to rocky road - with chocolate, shortbread & marshmallows - you layer up the deliciousness & have an extra treat alongside the bunnies, which I think is a strike of genius...

My Double Chocolate Easter Bunny "Bark"

2 bars of dark chocolate

Any left over shortbread from the bunnies

Bunny Tails (secretly mini marshmallows!)

1 bar of milk chocolate

Melt the dark chocolate

Spread melted chocolate over a sheet of greaseproof baking paper

Top with broken bits of bunny (or if your bunnies remained in one piece, top with whatever you fancy!)

Top with bunny tails

Melt the milk chocolate

Drizzle over the top of the delicious bark

Leave to cool (if you can resist!) & dig in! 

Images:

Easter Bunny shortbread sandwich cookies - Inspired by La receta de la felicidad's recipe
3 Bunnies walking down the street
Pin Up Easter Bunny
My Double Chocolate Easter Bunny "Bark" (recipe above!) 
Colourful bunny tails


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MeetMyYearSoFar : PhotoDiary

Okay, I know I have been a tad AWOL, however my life has taken a turn for the crazy. From landing a new job (working 2 jobs in transition) to showing my designs in Leeds Rag Fashion Show, the year so far has whizzed by at a scary, yet exciting speed.

So, in order to help get back on the blogging track, I wanted to compile some unseen photo footage of 2015 so far. Yes, yes I know it is April (already!) however this is to help me as much as it is for you to be nosey, as I have seemed to lose track of lovely memories I have experienced...

Re-united with my longest friend Suzie at the Horniman Museum, London, looking very happy with our walrus & elephant cookie

Amazing artwork at the newly renovated Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester

My new design business cards

A rare "selfie" of me before my feature at Leeds Rag Fashion Show, wearing dress & earrings made by me

Peacock feather installation at The Whitworth

Snacktime consisting of apple slices with homemade nut butter & nutella

Homemade giant hobnob biscuit (the scale isn't shown here, but it was as big as a pizza!)

Springtime sunset from our balcony

The homemade giant hobnob biscuit covered in chocolate which I made for a friend's birthday (wish I could have kept it myself!

My go-to Hemsley+Hemsley cook book alongside butternut squash, kale & quinoa stew (recipe from Love & Lemons), then topped with cheddar & served with homemade beetroot hummus

Installation by Cornelia Parker at The Whitworth

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MeetMyNewFinds

A month or so ago I was in London doing a design internship with the on-trend fashion company Oh My Love. Based in East London, everyday I passed through Westfield shopping centre on my journey across the city. One evening when I wasn't rushing through I actually stopped for a spot of shopping only to discover the fun-loving eclectic shop Tiger. It is a shop of many things, from stationery to homewear to accessories, & is such a fun place (& so affordable!) to have a look around if you get the chance. On that occasion I had to refrain from buying the whole store as I was travelling to & from Manchester, however when I discovered one of their shops in Brighton I just couldn't resist. Their website showcases their range of products, however every shop stocks different variations, so that gives you an excuse to pop in every shop of theirs you see!

Pastel Metallic Panelled Socks - perfect for springtime shoes

'A piece of cake' memo block - useful & unique

I also have my eyes on these cheeky finds...

Fondue Set

Black & White Illustrated Mug

Heart-shaped Alarm Clock

Embroidered Jewellery Box

Foldable Cardboard stool (so cool!)

Cake stand

Grass Desk Tidy

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