Thursday's Thoughts

Hi Lovelies,

Today I was thinking to my myself... about thinking (as you do!). I am always thinking, I say thinking, but in most cases I mean talking. Ok, I like to talk, and as you can imagine not everyone around me appreciates that. So today, I thought it would be nice to write some of them down. I think it's great to reflect once in a while. To take a moment to think what is actually happening around you, remembering all the wonderful ways you have spent your week and anything new you have learnt (usually with me, it's some random, meaningless fact I have learnt that seizes to amaze me days later). I love the idea that in a few years time I can look back and see how things were and how I have changed. A lot like when I was at primary school keeping a secret diary with the cute little padlocks! I remember I always used to loose my key and resort to opening it with a paperclip! Thank god I discovered blogging... So here's what's been going on in my little head...

"I've been peeling bananas wrong my whole life" - Right so that's about as random as it gets. But today I discovered something incredible. I have always peeled bananas from the root (if that makes sense). I know bananas grow from tree's, but I'm talking about the end you snap off from the rest of the bunch.  But no, it's the other end, and OH MY LORD it is so much easier. Monkey's have been doing this ever since monkey's decided eating bananas would be the monkey like thing to do. Yes I am aware this will save me about 3 seconds of my life, but the simple things in life impress me.

"The best mussels I have ever tasted" - So on Tuesday night me and my boyfriend had "officially" been together 6 months, which you may think isn't a long time, but it feels so much more and it feels so so good! *smiley face* He took me to a restaurant called The Millhouse for dinner and it was beautiful, I hadn't been before and trying out new places to eat is one of my favouritist thing to do. Oh my the mussels were out of this world. I feel like I should say, "they're not just mussels, they are Thai infused mussels" like the M&S adverts (cringe!). Days later i'd be sat at my desk at work thinking about eating the starter all over again. The food was gorgeous and I can't wait to go back and try both their sunday dinners and afternoon tea. We had a lovely night and right now i've reached a very happy point in my life! Everything's seems right :):):)

"I may have a mayonnaise problem" - When your own mother has to talk to you about the amount of mayonnaise you're consuming, you take it pretty personnally. I am a sucker for condiments, I love a good chip dunk! But it's not just the chips, now I am finding myself having a spoonful of mayonnaise at every dinner time like it's the norm! I am typing this feeling pretty discussed at myself, so I just this moment took a second to google mayonnaise.  Ok, so there is 94 calories in 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise (sometimes I even have two), thats like the equivalent of a chocolate bar?! But why does a side of mayonnaise feel so much more innocent?! Time to cut out the condiments!

"Spring has sprung"- After work I no longer have to feel the way to my car to unlock my car door, THERE IS LIGHT! and yes, I am not lucky enough to own a remote car key(yet)! For the last couple of days the sun has been shining through the windows at work, reminding me of the dreaded days spent indoors during Summer. Working while I desperately wanted to catch some rays outside, while enjoying a nice cold ice cream! Luckily enough the ice-cream man learnt to stop right outside my office so that I could sneak out for one! Unfortunately he came most days and unfortunately I am easily persuaded to eat yummy food over anything healthy! I just can't wait for all the exciting things Spring andSsummer brings!! BBQ's, brighter nights, picnics, sandals, the beach and ice cold drinks! It makes me feel all giddy inside! I just love the thought of walking out the house without a hat, coat and scarf!

"The downside to youtube and blogging" - I spend a lot of my down time reading blogs and watching youtube videos, in fact I would go as far as saying I watch more youtube video's than I do TV nowadays! I mainly watch beauty, fashion and lifestyle videos! It's a great way to gain inspiration and to to get a valued opinion on products you are thinking of splurging out on! BUT the massive downfall, every time I read a blog or watch a video I want to buy everything they're talking about and in every single colour. My wish list of beauty products increases by the day!

So those are a few of my going's on and thought of mine. Now all I can think is that... it's Friday tomorrow (horaaaay!), another weekend, another Breaking Bad marathon and another offer number 3 from our takeaway menu! Most importantly I AM GOING TO SEE MICHAEL BUBLE LIVE ON SUNDAY, I cannot contain my excitement!! Oh, and I have a three day weekend come to think of it!

Love from 

L

xo

STATEMENT COAT

Today I jumped out of my comfort zone by a mile! Usually tight fitting clothing around my tummy area is not my thing! But I thought to myself, I can't wear leggings forever... 

Normally i'd wear this skirt with a loose fitted top, but today I went for a crop top, bold neon necklace, completed with my leopard print coat.

This coat is perfect for smartening up any outfit, I instantly feel more presentable and "put together".

Crop Top: Topshop

Tube Skirt: Topshop

Coat: Topshop

Boots: H&M

Necklace: New Look

Nails: Tanya Burr "Peaches and Cream"

Yes... I am big lover of Topshop! 

(Store cards are very naughty things!!!)

I hope you enjoyed my first OOTD & had a lovely weekend, 

Love, L 

xo

LADIES WHO LUNCH

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with my oldest friend, Chelsey. It's not often we find time to hang out and catch up, as now we're all grown up we have to work a lot *sigh* Chel works nights and I work days, so its a tricky task scheduling each other in! But one thing for sure, when we do catch up, it's always somewhere tasty. We both love our food a lot! (a lot being a massive understatement!!)

We decided on a little place called The Shed, somewhere we both havant eaten before, described as a Quirky mix of vintage, contemporary and reclaimed. Totally up my street!!

For a few years now we've exchanged Valentines card, always bought from Paper chase because they sell the cutest cards ever, in my opinion. I swear one of these days we'll buy the same card for each other! I gave her some of the shortbread hearts I made (shown in my previous blog post) and Chelsey bought me two Malteaster Bunnies (I'm not too sure how Valentines related they are but she knows they are my absolute fave!) and a white chocolate Thornton's lolly. That reminds me I definitely need to stock up on the Malteaster Bunnies before Easter is over, this way I can eat them all throughout the year, until christmas when they bring out the Reindeer versions! (eeeeeeek!)

The first thing I notice when we arrived at The Shed was the array of different seating and furniture arrangements. I love a good choice of seating!

We sat down in what i'd describe as a church like bench to order our lunch. I'll be the first to admit I am thee slowest person known to man at deciding on what food to order, everything on the menu seems to excite me. As they were no longer serving food from the breakfast menu I couldn't go with my usual option of bacon and maple syrup pancakes! Since when were pancakes a breakfast only option?! I could eat them all day, every day! Now it was a whole new story, back to the menu... 

(This is my hurry up and decide what to eat before Chelsey disowns me face!)

  After a couple more times reading the menu I decided on the Mediterranean Platter! This way I got to try a few bits and bobs! This consisted of Smoked Chorizo and Sun-blush tomatoes wrapped in Serrano ham, a cherry tomato, mozzarella pearl & Fresh mint salad. Warm Goats Cheese drizzled with Honey and cracked black pepper served with balsamic dressed leaves and warm bread! (Wow, that's a mouthful in itself)

I love how our food was served on little baking trays and how Chelsey's chips were presented in a little plant pot! So adorable!

There were so many interesting decor to look at I could hardly contain my excitement! From the wall made of 2 pence coins to the knives and folks held together with wooden pegs! The Shed theme was definitely a winner for me!

I can definitely see this being my new place to lunch. I certainly can't wait to go back for breakfast and check out the pancakes I had my heart set on & of course the rest of the breakfast menu!

Speak to you soon
Love L x 

Valentine's Day Shortbread Hearts

Well Valentines Day is around the corner, and what's a better way to show someone how much you love them, than cute little love heart yumminess?!  At Valentines I don't think you need to spend a fortune to show someone how much they mean to you, I think making or baking something is so much more personnel and thoughtful. Also Valentines Day isn't all about having a partner but it's too show your friends and family how much you love them too!

This weekend I turned into some "domestic goddess" making homemade soup and baking these delicious shortbread biscuits covered in white (pink) chocolate. So here's how I made them...

To start with, you will need the following ingredients...

For the shortbread:

225 g Salted Butter (softened)

100 g Caster Sugar

250 g Plain Flour

For the decoration:

1 x Large white chocolate bar

3 drops of pink food colouring

Writing Icing

Pink sprinkles

Hundreds & Thousands 

Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees celsius and lightly grease two baking trays. Mix the butter and sugar together until the mixture is smooth. Now keep adding small amounts of the flour into the mixture until you have used all the flour and you have formed a soft dough.

Place the dough on a floured surface and roll out using a rolling pin. The dough should be approximately 1/2 cm thick. You may have to add more flour to your dough at this point if your mixture is still sticking to the surface. (I had to do this several times).

Now cut out the dough using your heart shaped cutter. Then gently place them on your prepared baking tray. Finally bake for approximately 10 minutes.

Now for the coating. Break your bar of chocolate into small chunks, place into a dish and melt in the microwave until you have smooth running chocolate with no lumps or bumps. Mix three drops of food colouring into the melted chocolate and leave to cool. 

Here is the fun part... decorate your shortbread however you like!!! For the small love hearts I dunked them into the chocolate and for the larger ones I smeared it on, using the back of a table spoon (I tried dunking the big ones but they broke... and unfortunately I had to eat them! oooopsy!) I then sprinkled on the decorations, positioned them on a plate and left them in the fridge to set. Then wolaaah, DONE!

Now because I wanted to give them as little gifts to my girlfriends, I decided to push the boat out and make them look all pretty and professional with cellophane bags and love heart ribbon. The bags I bought from lakeland (wow that shop is like baking heaven!) and the ribbons I bought from Paperchase! Recently I have found it so hard to resist buying all the sweet Valentines merchandise! Everything is so damn cute!

Well I hope you have enjoyed this post and you have the loveliest Valentines Day with whoever you may be spending it with!

Happy V Day,

Lots of Love

L x

"Take The Day Off" Cleansing Balm - By Clinique

For the last couple of months I have been using the Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm by Clinique. I thought it would be sinful of me not to write a review on this product as I haven't stopped rambling on about it to all my friends and family. I think they may have got the message now... Now it's your turn (mwahahahahaha)

I couldn't have named this product better myself "take the day off". I know this is going to sound very cliché but this product does exactly what it says on the tin. Yes, it is really that simple. It has to be my favourite concept to this product, I no longer have to use a separate product to remove my eye make-up (Horaaaay!). I can use this one product that does both the jobs for me! Perfect for those early morning rush's to work and sleepy nights before bed! I simply damp my face with a hot flannel,  rub the tiniest bit of product into my finger tips and gently rub all around my face in circles, then rinse with my flannel. 

When I use this product I feel as though it melts away the make-up from my face so comfortably without no real effort. Removing my eye make-up I apply the same pressure as I do the rest of my face, this is an absolute winner for me because I have found with other product I become more forceful when attempting to remove eye make-up. This is perfect as it doesn't leave my eyes feeling sore or irritated from vigorous rubbing. 

Another reason I love this product is that it leaves your skin feeling non greasy yet non drying! There is nothing worse than a cleanser that leaves your skin feeling tight or like your face is melting away! Take the day off leaves my face feeling clean, fresh and ready for the day!

As you can see from my tub I still have a lot of product left! I started using this cleanser just before Christmas and I am still not remotely close to hitting pan and we are now in February!! If this product is anything to go by I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of "Take The Day Off" range! I have high hopes!!

Here is an example of how little product I use to cleanse my face! 

For £21 I couldn't recommend this product enough!!

Please leave me a comment if you have used this cleanser and love it as much as I do or suggest any other cleansers you would recommend? :)

Love From L x

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Em's 20th Birthday | Dinner & Cocktails

On Wednesday night I had the most loveliest time with my girlfriends, celebrating Em's 20th Birthday! We spent the night in our hometown, Beverley, at a couple of our favourite places to dine and drink.

We started the night off at Em's house, we popped open a bottle of bubbly while Em opened up her birthday pressies! I got Em the M.A.C lipstick - Lady Danger! Describes her quite well I think (of course I'm joking) Note to self: Stop buying gifts you find hard to part with! It's not healthy!!!

Of course we had time for a few selfies before our taxi arrived! I love how me and Em looked co-ordinated with our Neon colour blazer and top, as we had no idea what each other were wearing!! I am absolutely loving my grey slouchy cardigan at the moment. I got this in the sales at Urban Outfitters, I find it goes with everything and I can just throw it on and it makes my outfit feel complete!

For Tea we ate out at Prezzo! I love this place, especially when I get 2 for 1(oooooow!)on my Taste Card. Yes I know what you are thinking... there were only three of us? We were very naughty and ordered an extra meal, pizza of course! Which kinda defeated the whole idea of going for the healthy option of a salad! Oh well.. free food is too hard to resist, right?!

Em wore her new lipstick I got her, looking beautiful as always!  And Em if you're reading this I know what you're thinking right now! "Why didn't you tell me there was a gap in my fringe?!" haha. Hey ho you can totally rock that gap!

What is a birthday without a cocktail?

After Tea we went to our most favourite place to drink, Lucia's. Us girlies absolutely love this place, it does the yummiest cocktails! But I have to say the best thing about this place is they give you cute little fleeced blankets on the back of your chairs! SO CUTE! 
I remember the first time I came here, it's like stepping into a different country, somewhere exotic! It has the feel of being abroad on holiday, and who doesn't want to feel like they're on holiday?! The decor is so pretty with little fairy lights and garlands!

Me, Em & Charlotte
Here we are enjoying a pitcher of 'Paradise in Yorkshire' ...exactly how I would describe Lucia's!
I couldn't resist getting all cosy in one of the sheep patterned blankets!
So Happy to be sharing Em's Birthday with her! She's one of my most dearest friends and I love her to pieces! Spending down time with my girlfriends is one of my most favourite things to do! It takes me away from all the little worries in life!

Love from L x