14.06.13 | FIVE FINDS FOR FRIDAY

1. EATING /// I made an adapted version of this Portobello mushroom burger this week & it was amazing. I've suddenly got a real thing for burgers and i'm loving it!!

2. SMILING /// I've been reading Alexis's lovely blog Something I Made for ages, so i can't believe I hadn't seen this beautiful love letter before. It's amazing, and I'm in awe. I tried to stamp gift tags one time for Christmas and I must have made about three before I gave up!

3. LOVING /// I've got a feeling I'm way behind the rest of the world when it comes to Fine Little Day. I'm going to need some serious restraint here! I'd love that wallpaper above, but my house is already in danger of becoming total monochrome so I'd better not. Oh, and there's the blog too - that's where I'm spending this evening...

4. SNOOPING /// I've got a bit of a thing for nosing at other peoples workspaces. I like seeing how different people make their space their own. In my dreams I'd have a big room full of inspirational pieces hung about with washi tape, piles of old magazines and scrap book upon scrap book of recipes yet to make.

5. READING /// Did you see the my morning routine series from Bon Appetit? I love it. I'm most like Shirley Manson I reckon which  of course makes the Britpop girl inside me very happy!

Have a good weekend friends!

Check out the whole FFFF series here.

12.06.13 | CHARRED CAULIFLOWER W/ TOMATOES & DILL

Remember me, the girl who doesn't really like cauliflower? 

Yoooou know, I'm that same girl who absolutely hates red kidney beans!!

Yeah that's me - Miss Fickle, but who cares when I'm ready to once again shout about cauliflower, because it turns out that actually it can be quite nice?

I've worked out the trick is to not cook it but instead just tease it a little bit with a some heat and then BAM hit it with shed loads of flavours.

CLEVER!

Buuut, who do you turn to when you want lots and lots of flavour?
Ottolenghi, right? Has to be.
I was actually looking through the window at his Notting Hill place a couple of months back at all the mountains of gorgeous salad creations and I'm still kicking myself for not getting a single morsel. I'll be brave next time, especially as i made this one at the weekend and it didn't kill me.
Winner right? A salad that won't kill you? Yeah, try telling that to my six year old.

Let's go!

11.06.13 | THE THRILLS - BIG SUR

Ah, summer.

07.06.13 | FIVE FINDS FOR FRIDAY

1. WISHING /// I would very much like to be the proud owner of this screen printed tote from SlideSideways etsy shop. Totes amaze (sorry, couldn't resist)

2. LOVING /// I love it when i stumble across a blog i've not seen before and Pinja Colada is no exception. I lost a good few hours last night reading whilst ooohing & aahhhing. Yep, Pinja satisfies my Scandi appetite effortlessly.

3. SHOPPING /// Do you ever visit Archies Boutique? You should, because it's full to the brim with gorgeous clobber for your small folk. I've currently got my eye on this fox tee for Indi.

4. INSPIRING /// Just look at how amazing Rita Konig's home is. Ok, so it's in Manhattan which is undoubtedly cool anyway, but wow. Just WOW.

5. EATING /// Well whaddya know, my curiosity finally got the better of me and I made and ate this peanut butter & gherkin sandwich. It was 100% the right thing to do because it is GOOD. Perfect and good. Go on, get on board the freaky sandwich train - it's fun!



past fridays...

// Five Finds For Friday (31.05.13)

// Five Finds For Friday (24.05.13)

05.06.13 | A LITTLE TASTE OF SUMMER

Finally, right?! 

Yes, the sun did indeed shine. I've got to hand it to Mother Nature as this time around, her timing was fantastic. Before we knew it we were sat on a beach, ice-creams in hand watching the birds fly & the waves lap.

Lazy days were filled with sunny walks, we lazed around making daisy caterpillars, we cooked bangers in the garden & the children played croquet (of sorts) on the lawn - how very civilised! 

C and I even scheduled in a couple of evenings out and one night we ate at Efes which is a tiny Turkish family run restaurant in the middle of Worthing. If you are ever that way, you should make a visit because the food is seriously good. Efes is a real hidden gem and I can't wait to go back later in the summer (I'm now also desperate to try & re-create some Turkish recipes at home!) The following night we grabbed a take-away and went to watch the sun set on the beach - bliss.

It was a lovely couple of days away, isn't it amazing what a little sunshine can do?

04.06.13 | GRAHAM COXON - BITTERSWEET BUNDLE OF MISERY

Ah Graham!

Indie girl 'til I die.

31.05.13 | FIVE FINDS FOR FRIDAY

1. EATING /// I found this spicy gazpacho recipe whilst hunting out summer eats this week. I am  really looking forward to re-creating at home as soon as the weather heats up.

2. INSPIRING /// If there was only one design blog in the world, I'd want it to be SF Girl by Bay. I love Victoria's finds and inspiring posts, and she lives in one of my favourite cities on earth! I fell in love with this Oaklands lost and found this week.

3. PINNING /// Here's a DIY that I am desperate to try at home. I pinned it forever ago but have still not got around to actually doing it (sound familiar?!) I swear one of this days I'm going to lock myself away for a whole week and dedicate it to pinterest DIY-ing. Ha! In my dreams...

4. WANTING /// Ferm Living - you have stolen my heart. I don't think that there is a single item on this website that I don't love. I've already bleated on & on about their half moon wallpaper which I'm hoping to have in our new bedroom. I'm tempted by these wall stickers for the girls too, oh and this for Dexter!

5. SMILING /// I loved this wedding talk from my friend Abi who is getting married in September :) So many beautiful ideas - those shoes! You can follow her wedding planning on pinterest here :)

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Five Finds For Friday /// 24th May 2013

29.05.13 | CAPE MALAY CHICKEN CURRY

Now this is a good one. 

This is one I could not wait to share.

This is one that deserves a high-five!

This is probably the end of me searching for the perfect curry because quite frankly, I'd be wasting my time. 

This curry has it all for me: it's sweet, it's sour, it's spicy, it's not creamy and although it is fiery, the heat doesn't linger around for ages after you've finished which i like. Served with some basmati and chopped coriander leaves, it was a so so good!

I'm not going to lie, the ingredients list is mammoth but I promise you it is so SO worth it and once you've made this, you'll want to do it again & again. I'm already trying to figure out when we can have it next and i think I'll try it with king prawns, y'know to make life interesting and all that. Tsk.

(This is spicy as that's how we like our curries but both Dexter and Florence found it a little too hot for them, so if kids are eating this then I'd reduce the dried chilli flakes by 1 tsp or omit altogether)

Lets go!

28.05.13 | KYLIE - SOME KIND OF BLISS

Some Kind of Bliss by Kylie

I love Kylie & this is my favourite track - helped somewhat by Dexter Fletcher in the promo ;)

27.05.13 | HOMEMADE TOMATO KETCHUP

A little while ago I was reading Bleubird and saw that she'd made some ketchup. In her post she was talking about the perfect burger which got me thinking about how much I miss a good old fashioned BURGER. 

Is it weird that I miss burgers but I don't miss fillet steak? Probably. 

So anyway, i set about finding a good turkey burger recipe that would satisfy my craving and whilst I was at it I had a go at making my own ketchup too which turned out to be really easy and so worth doing because the taste is miles away from shop bought stuff. 

I've made it three times so far, adapting & tweaking about six different recipe versions but this one is the one that I'm sticking with. It's a keeper and (boring reference about the British weather coming up) if we ever get the chance to BBQ again this year, then you will not go wrong if you serve this alongside those burnt bangers. 

C'mon! Lets make this thing! What do you mean it's 8am on Bank Holiday Morning and you're not in the mood for making condiments...

24.05.13 | FIVE FINDS FOR FRIDAY

1. EATING /// I fancy making this recipe I found on goop. I'm a massive lover of kale, and wow just look at how good it looks. I'm in the mood to get healthier for the summer we are all so desperately hoping for.

2. DISCOVERING /// I'm super happy to have found the blog Fox in the Pine. It's beautiful, right? Did you see the egg plant post yet? Ahh, i love it.

3. PINNING /// Check out this awesome idea via Freckled Nest. This is something i NEED to do. My calendar this month has had a minimum of four things (highlighted in different colours, naturally!) to do each day. And Dexter wonders why sometimes we leave his lunchbox on the dining room table...

4. WEARING /// I'd love these leggins for my girls from Theif & Bandit KIDS. All their stuff is adorable to be honest, but those leggings are my favourite & my best. I've been a big fan for so long, but i've never got around to actually purchasing. I think i should put that right!

5. READING /// I know i'm going to be a fan the beautiful blog Eat Drink Chic forever. Those photo's! Those colour pallets - I am in the midst of a major (like, MAJOR) blog crush!

* Welcome to the new calmer and prettier version of what was Friday i'm in love! 
It's partly because i'm spending less time on line at the moment so i'm not gathering so many links and it's partly because the blog is currently going through a little make-over (which you'll see more of over the next couple of weeks).

So, for now 'Five Finds For Friday' it is -  hope you like!

23.05.13 | BATH FASHION MUSEUM

Thanks to being the proud owner of a National Art Pass I get to go to lots of lovely places, this week being no exception as I met up with the lovely Fritha and Bonnie to take a visit to The Fashion Museum here in Bath.

I was especially excited about getting to see the current Dress of The Year (which is amazing!) but really the whole collection is beautiful &  I found learning how costume has evolved over time very interesting, especially when you spot themes popping up time and time again.
Reading about how certain designs came about or what inspired a fashion trend was thought-provoking to say the least - it even forced us to question our '90's fashion choices which were, erm... 'interesting' (consider this: my main fashion influence until about 1995 was Blossom!)

Looking at the Victorian dresses I was a bit shocked by how small the corsets were (ouch!) and equally amazed by how heavy the dresses were. Yes, you read that right we dressed up like the adults we are but sadly (totally on purpose) I didn't get any pics of me doing that ;) I did however take a few snaps of some of my favourite pieces.