Grown-up Goth

Hi everyone,

 

Just a quick post today - thought I'd show you my outfit of the day.

 

Since I turned 30 back in February I've realised I'm a lot more relaxed about my style. I'm not so bothered anymore about 'standing out from the crowd' or trying to be too individual. Much as I love and admire my blogging friends who continue to push sartorial boundaries whatever their age, shape or size, I've found that when it comes to my style it's not so much about what I wear, but how I wear it and my confidence in it that gives me my own sense of style.

 

When I was younger I was a goth and although I may have evolved past some of the 'dodgier' elements of this particular uniform (I tend not to wear fetish gear in public anymore...) I still find myself adding little gothic touches to many of my outfits, today's is a case in point.

 

Necklace - a present from a friend

Jumper - Golddigga

Skirt - Primark

Wedge trainers - Primark

 

I like to think that this outfit is sleek, grown-up goth meets sports-luxe, but then I may just be bandying names about....

 

I know everyone and their dog has a pair of these trainers but I had been lusting after the Ash ones for months and my budget will never stretch that far!! The Primark knock offs are super comfy and a fraction of the price.

 

Happy hump day bloggers!!

 

Lx

 

 

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'Hair of the dog hike'

It was my father's 60th birthday bash on Saturday night, about 70 people came to help him celebrate this momentous occasion including old friends and family I'd not seen in a while. We drank, we danced, we all had a lovely catch up. All in all it was a great evening and my father was pleased as punch that everyone enjoyed themselves so much.

The following morning was spent nursing our sore heads in front of Sunday Brunch and procrastinating over doing the housework.

I knew what was needed, a country walk to the pub for a little 'hair of the dog'. We had a 45 minute cleaning frenzy and once the flat was spick and span we pulled on our trainers, grabbed the Sunday paper and headed out into the fresh Spring sunshine.

We left our sleepy village behind and trekked through the woods

Our goal was The Royal Standard of England at Forty Green, a decent 40 minute walk from our village with a couple of hills thrown in to challenge us!

The Royal Standard is one of my favourite local pubs and at over 900 years old is known as the oldest freehouse in England. It has an absolutely fascinating history, and the food & drink is always fantastic.

 I love the way the menu is written.

We both ordered roast dinners accompanied by pints of cider and relaxed with the papers while we waited for our feasts to arrive.

My glasses are incredibly wonky, really I need a new pair.

The food arrived!!

I had decided on roast beef, whilst 'Mister Whatlisawrote' went for the roast belly of pork.

Nothing like a big hearty helping of meat & veggies in a cosy pub after a long walk. It's one of the reasons I love England so much.

After all the exercise we'd done getting to the pub we thought we deserved pudding too.

I had sticky toffee pudding.

'Mister Whatlisawrote' had the apple crumble.

The pub layout is very higgledy-piggledy, with lots of different rooms, alcoves and snug corners with fireplaces - exactly what you'd expect from a building that's barely been touched for 900 odd years.

After a very satisfying lunch and plenty of time to relax and pour over the paper we headed on home just as dusk was approaching. 

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Did you all have nice weekends in the Spring sunshine?

Lx

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'Easter-gram'

Hi everyone,

I'm really sorry that I haven't posted in my blog or commented in any of yours for ages. Work took over again for a little while and I have been super busy.

But I'm BACK!! And with a sexy new blog layout. And a follow me on Bloglovin' button! So when the GFC blog reader finally closes you can now all read my blog via Bloglovin' instead.

So I'm copping out and doing a 'look at what I've been up to lately' post which is mostly centered around my Easter antics, although I'm also treating you to a recipe too! Don't say I never do anything for you ;-)

On Easter Thursday I dressed up as a bunny in the office....

And a mouse at home....

I went for tea with my Aunt

And had some girly 'me' time.

I baked an Easter cake to make over to my Mum and Dad's on Good Friday

And had cuddles with Bertie, who is growing really big now! 

 On Easter Saturday we popped to a food festival in Great Missenden. By far the best bit of this was a visit to 'Le Rac Shack' for a filthy alternative to the usual festival fayre of venison burgers etc (not that I'm not partial to those too!).....

It's exactly what it say's on the tin.....

I didn't need to be told twice!

We wandered around the rest of the festival and spent a small fortune on delicious goodies to take home with us.

Liquid nitrogen ice cream?!

We then walked to Great Missenden High Street which hold a special place in my heart due to our family connection to an incredibly renowned author.

The estate agents in this picture used to be a hardware store owned by my Nanny and Grandad, the petrol pumps I am posing between were originally green and framed what was the goods entrance to the store.

These petrol pumps are very famous because they featured in Roald Dahl's book 'The BFG' (one of my favourites as a child!).

My Grandad used to play pool with Roald Dahl in a local pub in Great Missenden, my Mother played with his daughter Ophelia when they were children and when she was older worked in the hair salon on the high street that Roald Dahl's first wife - the actress Patricia Neal - had her hair done in, sometimes by my Mum!

Unfortunately I never met the great man himself, although he did sign a couple of books for me which I treasured until they were destroyed in a house fire that happened when I was 16. I'm still saddened by it to this day as they were incredibly valuable to me.

I used to work in the hardware store every Saturday as a teenager and my Nanny used to send me across the road to Drews the bakery for cream cakes at elevenses, one of the many perks of the job!

The high street has changed a lot in the last few years, the Roald Dahl museum now sits pride of place...

And several boutique shops have sprung up with lots of lovely things to look at!

Even the church bookshop has moved with the times.

And now for the recipe I promised you. I made these for Easter but I think they're perfectly naughty anytime of year.

Cadbury's Creme Egg Brownies!!

You will need:

185g unsalted butter 

185g best dark chocolate 

85g plain flour 

40g cocoa powder 

3 large eggs 

275g golden caster sugar (i used regular caster sugar)

6 Cadbury’s Crème eggs cut in half.

Preheat the oven to 160C and grease a 20 cm square baking tin. 

Melt the butter and dark chocolate together either in the microwave or in a bowl over boiling water.

Break 3 large eggs into a large bowl and tip in 275g caster sugar. With an electric mixer on maximum speed, whisk the eggs and sugar until they look thick and creamy, like a milk shake. This can take 3-8 minutes. You will know it's ready when the mixture becomes really pale and about double its original volume.

Pour the cooled chocolate mixture over the eggy mousse, and then gently fold together.

Hold a sieve over the bowl of eggy chocolate mixture and sift the cocoa and flour mixture, shaking the sieve from side to side, to cover the top evenly. Gently fold in to the mixture.

Pour into the baking tin and cook for 15 minutes (I did 18) then take out of the over and gently press the cadburys crème egg halves into the mix, spacing them apart evenly. Put back in the over for another 5-10 minutes (I did 8).

And then EAT THEM ALLLLLLL.

Let me know if any of you decide to make these.

I'll post again soon.

Lx

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