Breaking Bad

I am slightly addicted. 

Breaking Bad has burst into my life in an explosion of Jesse meth goodness. I began watching it last week after finally getting Netflix, and am already on Season 3 Episode 2. I've barely had time to brush my teeth. And I dreamt about it last night. (I was a drug dealer.) How many does that work out as per day? I don't even want to think about it. 

Like many people I've been avoiding social network sites and Breaking Bad related status' like I'm avoiding catching a horrific disease, so if anyone spoils the ending for me, I will be very very cross. 

What I really wanted to say on this post was that I have seen the most AMAZING nail art courtesy of Blondes Love Cupcakes. Just look at it! Even if you don't watch it, you have to admit it's prettyyy darn good. 

I really want to try them out, and finish making my clock, and make shepherd's pie tonight, but I realistically don't think any of that's going to happen. Ohhhhh.

x

I Nearly Made Salted Caramel Brownies: The Recipe

I mentioned before in my 10 Things I Hate About Me post that anything I try to bake goes wrong, and just to confirm this, I managed to spectacularly mess up chocolate brownies this week. The proof is in the pudding. (Or picture... see below). 

I've been a fan of salted caramel since the day I first laid eyes and mouth on it, and it is definitely having it's moment. Everywhere you look, people are shoving dipping and spreading salted caramel on EVERYTHING. So... I decided to inject some salted goodness into a batch of brownies. Now I can usually make a mean brownie. Honest. But not this time. Firstly I had to improvise with the ingredients as I didn't have enough sugar (I know, I know, rookie mistake) and then I decided to have several phone calls whilst attempting to make the caramel, as I have no patience at all when it comes to baking or cooking. One pots and fridge cakes are really my bag. (Rookie mistake #2.) CONCENTRATE ON YOUR CARAMEL. 

The idea was to alternate brownie mix with salted caramel, but my caramel got carried away and leaked all over, under and around the brownie mix, before turning to some sort of hideous rock caramel once back in the oven. Waa.

The result was dry brownie with a teeth breaking centre surprise. Ohhh. I really am going to try this one again though, as it should be SO GOOD. I also want to attempt banana bread or banana muffins this weekend, so any help or advice on either or all subjects would be much appreciated. I've posted the recipe below for you to try and hopefully have more success with.

Mary Berry's got nothing to be worried about quite just yet...

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You will need:

• 180g plain flour
• 3 tblsp cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 300g dark chocolate 65-75% cocoa solids
• 150g unsalted butter
• 220g light brown sugar
• 150g caster sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• For the salted caramel filling:

• 150g granulated sugar
• 125ml double cream
• 10g salted butter, softened
• Pinch of sea salt
• For the method, click here: Food Network.co.uk

Oop North

This weekend I made the lovely pilgrimage back up north to my home town. I don't think you ever quite appreciate home until you move away. In a nutshell, the weekend was mainly made up of food and a minor ginger-based disaster, but it was flipping lovely, as ever.

It all kicked off with this. There is nothing quite like Northern chip shop gravy.

Mumma and Dadda Shaw have invested in a Tassimo coffee maker, which makes the prettiest layered coffees. You're meant to mix it, but that just spoils the pretty. It was munched with a cranberry and orange cupcake, and then followed by a salted caramel cupcake. Amazing. I'm going to try and nab the recipe and post it on here...

Everytime I go home I see myself turning into my Mum a little bit more. This weekend was definitely no exception...

About 15 minutes from where I live is Thaymars - the place for the best ice cream. You may have heard of them... keep your eyes peeled for their ice creamy goodness as they sell it quite largely now. From the days of a tiny tea room at the back of their house, they've transformed into this. This weekend was the turn of banana and toffee. Beauuutiful. 

Mumma Shaw makes a mean yorkshire pud. Apparently  it's all down to the not-so-secret ingredient of sparkling water...

And now to the minor disaster. During a trip to Meadowhall (think Sheffield's version of Westfield/Trafford Centre) I had the marvellous idea of going auburn! Oh Hey Tone inspired this, and I went for Feria shade 74 in Mango. This was the result...

I'm still not quite over it, and neither is my hair. Mumma Shaw with all her wisdom suggested I wear a hat the following day.

x

Tartan! Who's With Me?

Who decides that something's going to be a trend?! Whoever it is, I want to salute them. I also want to be that person. What would I make the next big thing? I did used to love my lime green combat trousers with tassels on the side (think Hear'Say era.) Maybe they should make a comeback.

Back on track... tartan to me used to mean a scarf that loitered in the cupboard under the stairs, and the skirts the posh girls at the local private school used to wear, but that is NO MORE. Tartan is now super cool. 

I was working quite a bit last week at London Fashion Week, and noticed more checked items than I could shake a fashion stick at. Even double tartan was making an appearance! Usually I'm sceptical about trends, but I flipping love this. There's something so wintry and old school about tartan, and you all know I'm a sucker for log fires and winter warmers. I've had my eye on a tartan skater dress from New Look but it's already out of size 8, so I've decided to put a collection of the best high street tartan bits just on the off chance that you'd like to join me in my tartan loving.

Check it out! Har.

x

1. ASOS - £28 

2. New Look – £22.99 

3. ASOS – £40 

4. Miss Selfridge - £32 

5. Boohoo - £25 

6. Topshop - £30

7. Boohoo - £15 

8.  New Look - £17.99 

9. Miss Selfridge – £79 

10. Urban Outfitters – £40

London Fashion Week with New Look and The Muse.TV

Fashion Week fever has hit London once again, and Friday saw the return of New Look and The Muse TV's refuel room. I've had the pleasure of working on this for the second time now, and Friday's event was somehow even bigger and better than February's. The fashion blogging world descended on the Waldrof Hilton for a day of massages, manicures, makeup and fizz.

Crussh juice bars provided THE best smoothies (who knew cactus could taste so good?!), the guys from BoothStar provided photobooth fun,  and thanks to the incredible teams at Elemis, iBrows etc, MLA and the wonderful Miss Merx for all their beautiful beautifying.

Ok so technically I was working, but this meant I also got to go across and have a good old nose at what was going on at actual fashion world.  There were some incredible outfits as well as some eyebrow raising outfits, and Susie Bubble, Kate Nash and that presenter woman that I really can't remember the name of, were all milling about in the pap-central soggy grounds of Somerset House.

Me and my Primark boots may have been a teenie bit out of place there, but hey.

Here's the day in pictures...

x

Filming at Somerset House...

The rather lovely Bela from Bela a La Mode having a cheeky Elemis massage...

Slightly over-excited by my origami achievements...

Soundtrack by DJ Hot Breath...

September Wishlist (And THOSE Primark Boots)

I was going to call this post: Tiger, Topshop and TRF and get some alliteration going on, but then I realised my creative genius would be ruined by the 'P' in Primark. You can't have everything, and these Primark boots really do need including in the title.

I've been on the hunt for a new pair of Autumn boots, and as you might have seen on August's wishlist, I had my eye on a rather lovely pair of Topshop beauties. That was, until, I stumbled across their twins in Primark. For a bargain at £18, they almost, almost-if-you-don't-look-too-closely look like a Topshop pair. If you do look closely, you can see they're glued together and a slightly dubious upper material, but for £18, I aint complaining. Plus, they are SO comfy.

But anyway... onto what's on my wishlist this month. Tiger features prettyyy heavily. I'm on a one-woman mission to get this shop turned into an online one.

1. I've been using my current Zara work bag since October 1st 2012, so I think it's most definitely time I invested in a new one...

Zara (TRF) - £29.99

2. These are so lovely, and being from Zara they should definitely withstand some of the Autumn weather. Hopefully maybe.

Zara (TRF) - £25.99

3. Oh Tiger! This rather fabulous design is on a whole set of table wear. 

Tiger - £2 each

4. Floral tea knitwear. Need I say more?!

Tiger - £5

5. Apparently this is a 'hello poem' snood, although I don't think it reads 'hello' on it...does it?! Oh I don't know. But it's lovely Autumnal colours.

Topshop - £18

6. This is just lovely, and very very brilliant. Plus it's only £10. I told you Tiger was good.

Tiger - £10

7. I'm very into my oversized pieces this Autunm as they're great for huddling into and hiding food babies. I'm thinking of maybe getting the larger size in this and trying to wear it as a tshirt-dress...

Topshop - £20

Matilda The Musical

Why oh why didn't my parents send me to theatre school? Ok there's probably many reasons; the biggest being my total and utter inability to sing a note, and another being I was more interested in being a checkout girl or a sailor than a child star, but that's not the point.

I'm blithering on about this because I went to see Matilda the musical this weekend, and was in total awe (and slight envy) of the incredible talent of the young cast. And yes, I do realise that that makes me jealous of five year olds. I've been lucky to see quite a few musicals, but have never seen such a strong cast of unbelievably enthusiastic and energetic children as I did in Matilda.

Another show stealer was Alex Gaumond who played the part of the Miss Trunchbull. He brought enough character and humour to entertain both adults and children, and his performances in The Hammer and in the gym scene were two of the best in the show.

I'm always blown way by set designs in theatre and the fluidity and ingenuity that goes into the changes, and Matilda was definitely no exception. Watch out for School Song as a perfect example. So. Good.

My only slight teenie criticisms are that I found When I Grow Up and Quiet to be the only catchy songs, (but maybe that's not necessarily a bad thing as it avoids annoying humming), and things just seemed to just get a little bit slow when they were in Miss Honey's house. They're only minor things though, and as a whole it comes with my definite recommendation. You don't need to take a child either like when you want to go and see a Disney movie, it's totally acceptable to go in adult form only, promise.

If anyone's been to see it, I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts.

My children are definitely getting sent to theatre school...

x

10 Things I Hate About Me

Harsh title, but  it's in reference to the 10 Things I Hate About You film, so don't panic. I love myself really.

I was thinking the other day about job interviews, and the random questions people get asked. I think I could deal with telling someone who I'd like at my fantasy dinner party, or who I'd save first from a burning building, but if it came to talking about my weaknesses or bad habits I think I'd crumble. Not because I can't think of any but because I I'd almost definitely get on a role and bore them all into piteous tears.

So then I figured it was best to write them all down on here and get them out of my system. As you will see, there are A LOT of things I do that annoy myself:

1. I can't watch a television programme or film on my own.
AND IT'S REALLY ANNOYING. I'll fidget, I'll pause it to make a cup of tea, I'll check my instagram, I'll think about what someone else would make of it. I rewind bits, I fast foward bits, I go out and check my sunflower and miss bits. JUST SIT STILL. 

2. I can't bake something without a part of it going wrong.
Always. Something will burn or my icing will be too runny or I'll not have enough self raising flour. It always comes right in the end though. The cupcakes for the Wedding of the Year went from lemon flavoured edible flower decorated beauties, to vanilla flavoured with homemade chocolate buttons to vanilla flavoured with dubious icing and blueberries from the fridge. All in a day.

3. I can never decide what to order in restaurants.
Does anyone else have this problem? I've taught myself to try and find the restaurant's online menu before I go so I don't turn into some bumbling bumbler when the waitress comes. The amount of times I've asked a waitress or waiter to pick for me is frankly a bit silly. I need to become a fussy eater.

4. I frown in my sleep.
I'll go to the toilet in the middle of the night and through bleary eyes see frown marks deeply entrenched inbetween my eyebrows!! They must be at least 2cm deep. I then have to go back to bed consciously smiling. What do I dream about?! Probably restaurant menus...

5. I make up numbers and facts.
Tell me a fact or show me a statistic and I will exaggerate or get it completely wrong in the retelling. I can't help it, sorry. They always sound more impressive when I tell them though. 

6. I talk to myself.
This is why I need a boyfriend, or at least a dog.

7. The smallest and oddest things make me emotional.I cried the other day over cooking a piece of salmon. I cried yesterday about Christmas. Imagine what I'm like when I pass a homeless person or newborn baby. 

8. I always think there's so much I need to do and see with my life.
Maybe this shouldn't annoy me quite so much. But then maybe I should stop more often and appreciate what I do have, and have done.

9. I will try and give you the answer you want to hear.
What should you have for lunch? An easy question to answer for some, but not for me. What does this person want me to say? Can I see in their eyes that they fancy a BLT? Or are they asking me because they want someone to give them permission to have a Burger King. Or is it a double bluff, and infact they're asking me on a sushi date with them?

10. I cannot refuse a pudding.

Now I'm prepared. I can strongly declare to future employers that my only worst habit is doing too much work.

x

Embracing Autumn

HOW IS IT SEPTEMBER?! No, really. How? Answers on a postcard please. (Remember the days of that?!)

August has been a great month for me - I've got to explore London a bit more, seen a lot of my wonderful family, attended the wedding of the year, and got to take ET home. Here's a few of the highlights through the medium of Instgram.  (My new favourite motto: Slap a filter on it.)

 

The resemblance is uncanny.