Friday 2 August 2013

Holy Mole Guacamole




What can I say - homemade Guacamole - O.M.G!!! I made this a couple of weekends back and I have to say it was literally like all my favourite things in one bowl.  I was only planning to make a little bit to have for lunch but actually the recipe I used made a huge bowl full.  This meant I had it in the fridge all week and could keep helping myself for lunches and snacks as and when.  

The ingredients were so fresh and healthy and the best bit about it was that it wasn't all mushy like a shop bought guacamole.  Perfect with bread sticks, nachos, or rivita thins as a snack or cousous and chicken breast for dinner.

Here's how I made it:

4 avacados
1/2 red onion
1 lime juiced
handfull of fresh coriander
2 chopped tomatoes
sea salt
milled pepper
chilli flakes or bit of fresh chilli

  • Chop everything up
  • Put in one bowl
  • Use the back of a wooden spoon to mash down a bit
  • Stir everything together


It's as simple as that!










Thursday 1 August 2013

Lounging On The Farm


{1st August}

On Friday last week I finally made it to Lounge On The Farm for the first time.  LOTF is a local festival in Canterbury that was set up on a farm about 5 miles down the road from my parents house to showcase local bands, local food sellers, local comedians etc.  I have been thinking for years how I would like to go, but the dates never seemed to work out.

I went this year with Bean and we had such a brilliant day.  I bought my day ticket last minute on the Monday and it was £51 online, and was then waiting for me to collect at the gate.  The weekend ticket includes 3 days and camping and is only about £100 if you buy it early enough.  Definitely something I will be doing for next year.

Favourite things about LOTF were: Coco and the Butterfields - definitely check them out, The burrito stand for lunch - yummy, Free bright orange sunglasses with a pint of Oranjeboom, and spending the day sitting out on the grass chilling and chatting with bean.

I love the fact that when people are at festivals they wear the most bizarre outfits, but it's all part of the fun of it.  As it was such a hot day I brave shorts and wore my denim shorts WITH NO LEGGINGS!  I don't ever do this but in the morning I had a 'who cares what other people think' moment and donned my shorts and rocked up at LOTF with my legs out!

TOP TIP: prepare yourself for the day when heading out to a festival.

  • take a bag that isn't too big so that it doesn't weigh you down - however this means you need to be economical about what you take.
  • wear comfy shoes - think about the weather, if you do wear sandals be prepared for them to get ruined if it rains
  • prepare for sun - take a small SPF lotion and a hat
  • prepare for rain - take a wheelie bin liner that you can make into a poncho. You can then use this to sit on or put rubbish in at the end of the day
  • take a scarf or pashmina - you can tie this to the strap of your bag so it doesn't take up any room. It will provide warmth for when it gets cold later or you can use it to sit on instead of a rug.
  • Take a phone/camera.
  • Take cash as machines will charge a bomb and a lot of stalls won't take cards.










Wednesday 31 July 2013

Whitstable Wonders

Outside Sundae Sundae, Harbour Street

{31st July 2013}

This week Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall visited Whitstable.  Why am I never about to see the royals visiting Kent! Grrr!  The Queen was in my home town of Canterbury a few months back and I missed her as well.


Charles and Camilla were in Whitstable celebrating the start of the Oyster Festival this week and it was fun to see Prince Charles in the Metro earlier holding up a tiny t-shirt for Prince George with 'Whitstable Oyster Festival' written on the front! How cute!

I popped over to Whitstable on Friday last week when I had a day of holiday and spend the day with Bean wandering around the shops, eating ice cream and sitting on the quay.

We had lovely ice cream from Sundae Sundae, tried on some cute dresses in the The Whiting Post, and spend some time looking in Flory & Black.

I know I live in Brighton and it is cool, but nothing every seems quite a quaint and pretty as Whitstable.  I love the beach, the fish market, the yacht club, the cute shops, and bumping into people you know.

Maybe one day we will be lucky enough to live back over in Kent with Whitstable as my local seaside town again.

Inside Sundae
Beautiful clothes in The Whiting Post, Harbour Street
Cute display in Flory & Black, Harbour Street









Tuesday 30 July 2013

The Floral Effect


{30th July}

I think I have found a new love in life - nail transfers! Oh my word I love them.  They were so easy to apply, so simple to use and look brilliant.

I have tried foil nail wraps and gel overlays, neither of which were really that successful or easy to use. These nail transfers from Amazon were exactly what I was looking for.  They are just like the old transfer tattoos you used as a child.  They came as a sheet of 20 flowers that you can then arrange as you want.  I decided to use just one flower per nail but, in the image on Amazon, by the looks of it they have used a couple.

Here's how I created this look:

  • Paint nails with 2 layers of Essie's Figi.
  • Cut out the transfer from the piece of paper
  • Drop the transfer into water for about 20 seconds
  • Take out of the water with tweezers
  • Slide off the plastic layer and place transfer down on to the nail
  • Hold in place for a minute or two and you will find the other plastic sheet gradually peels off and leaves the transfer in place
  • Once the transfers are in place and look like they have stuck paint a layer of clear vanish over the top.
  • Ta Da! beautiful nails




Monday 29 July 2013

"If you have to question whether you need to, send one anyway"


{29th July}

Writing and sending letters and notes has seen a demise over the last decade with everyone now just sending a text or an email.  Do you get the same feeling when someone texts or emails as when someone sends you a letter or a card in the post?  I certainly don't.

Emails and texts, or a Tweet or a Facebook message, don't really require much thought or effort.  I guess maybe that's why receiving a letter or card in the post seems so much more special because you can appreciate how much effort that person has gone to.

I still believe that sending a Thank You note is imperative and that nothing really does say Thank You as well as a letter or card.  In my eyes texts, emails, Tweets and Facebook posts don't cut the mustard when it comes to Thank Yous.  

People now seem to be unsure when to send a Thank You.  Someone once said to me, if you are unsure of whether you need to send a Thank You card, and have to question whether it is needed, then send one anyway.  I can assure you that the recipient of the card will be so appreciative of the effort that has gone into it.

I think there isn't much nicer than having some beautiful stationery sets in the draw for such an occasion.  I bought these two new sets for £4.99 each in Home Sense that has recently opened in Brighton and have speedily send one on its way to our friends who played host to use over the weekend.