Tattoo Love

Another well timed addition to one of my blog features, I think. It's one that I have kept up for a while (well, a little while), and I enjoy sharing them with you. I think this tattoo is very cute, and not too imposing. I would love to get a tattoo, honestly I would. But I always get put off by huge ones incase I am ever looking for a job and someone gets the wrong impression of me because of them (not that all people with tattoos fit the stereotype, but it still exists.) Also I hear some places wont hire you if you have visible tattoos? So maybe I will have to get a tattoo that is discrete yet still expressive. Hmmm. 

Image from pinterest.

 I adore this tattoo. It's very cute, yet I guess you can always cover it up when needed by wearing boots or thick tights? 

What do you think? 

Yummy Homemade Lemonade +

I did promise that I would have a yummy recipe in store for you all, and I do. It may not be flash, but it is so simple and so delicious. You don't need many ingredients to make it either, just a few lemons (I used three), some water and some sugar. Simples.

Ingredients: 

3 Lemons, cut in half. 

3 Cups of Water

1 Cup of Sugar (I use either Caster or Granulated)

•  Firstly, I poured one cup of water into a saucepan and heated it with the cup of sugar until the sugar had dissolved completely. I used caster sugar in this instance as it dissolves much more quickly and easily than other types of sugar.
• Secondly I squeezed the lemons to get the juice using a juicer, until I finally got a full cup of lemon juice. The amount of lemons you have to use varies, so make sure you have enough!
• Mixing! Afterwards I mixed the other two cups of water with the lemon juice and the water and sugar mix in a glass jug.
• Leave to cool (I wanted to put it in the fridge but there was no room. I don't recommend ice cubes because then it dilutes it.) 

There you go, the perfect lemonade recipe. For my tastebuds, I don't find it too sharp or too sweet, but if you do it's easy enough to play around with the measurements. If you find it too sweet I recommend 3/4 of a cup of sugar. If it's too sharp add slightly more sugar and/or a 1/2 cup of water. So, what do you think of this recipe? Will you be trying it? This is the first time I've made it and I am impressed!

Hot Inspiration

It is so warm outside and I feel like I am melting. I just want to be by the sea again eating ice cream and drinking an ice cold pint of cider. Unfortunately I am off home today, after a lovely week and a bit in Devon. We were meant to go home tomorrow but decided that we'd rather not run on such a tight schedule. Also, the traffic will hopefully be better today.

I need some major cheering up though. I have to work on monday morning and I have a five hour car journey today even though I sometimes get a little car sick. On the plus side I do have more beautiful photos from my holiday to show you, and either tomorrow or saturday I have a little simple recipe I want to share with you.

I wish that I could be walking about in lace tees and shorts at the moment, but my legs are too bruised after bumping into things. Oops. 

 Photo from here
Oh so summery! How're you all keeping yourself cool during this heat?

What not to do

I am still on holiday and yesterday my boyfriend decided it would be a good idea for him and I to go in the jacuzzi together for a little while. I forgot to take my swimming costume with me, and thus was clad in his shorts and t-shirt, because otherwise I would blind people if I wore anything more skimpy and/or the alien life form I have decided I am harbouring in my belly would escape. I don't think that I have quite mastered the etiquette often seen being practised in the jacuzzi. Seriously, I am the most un serious person ever, and my actions had dire (well, not really) consequences.

Firstly, no one should view the jacuzzi as an opportunity to test swimming skills. Not only is it much smaller than a normal swimming pool, but if you do something that you know you're not meant to do and you hurt yourself, no one gives you any sympathy. 

The second point is slightly  more dubious, because at the time it seemed like a good idea to prevent against indecent exposure. But afterwards I'm not sure if it was. Since I was wearing my boyfriend's shorts and they are slightly baggier than my usual attire, I wore my knickers underneath the shorts. Obviously they got very wet from the water, and now I'm worrying that they might get destroyed from the chlorine. Especially considering that they were my most expensive non holey pair. So if there's a slight chance of chemical damage to your clothing, always wear the cheap stuff (or your partner's!)

Today I am off to catch the 10.03 train to Bristol, my old university city. What things have you done recently which later you have thought 'oops, I shouldn't have done that'?

A Bridget Jones Moment

This holiday I must have eaten more in a day than what I usually eat in a week. I guess that overeating is always a problem when you are surrounded by beautiful foods and generally being less active than usual. Although, it seems to have had an adverse effect on my confidence. I suddenly catch a glimpse of my ever growing belly in the mirror and envisage that in the near future some alien life form is going to crawl out of my belly button. The evenings are worse, especially the changing from nice flattering clothes into pajamas where the waistband feels that little bit tighter. I will wrestle with my leggings under the covers/with the lights turned off, much to my boyfriend's disturbance. I can relate to Bridget Jones so much in the Edge of Reason, particularly this scene.

'Sarah, what are you doing?'
Me: 'I'm getting changed.'
Him 'Why are you doing it under the covers?'
'I don't want you to see my wobbly bits.'

Of course, he doesn't notice/care/just wants to go to sleep, and my confidence is ever so slightly restored. But anyway, enough of my holiday belly woes. I promised you pictures from my trip to Ashburton and in particular the vintage shops and that is what I am going to give you. I hope you enjoy - although does anyone else get a bit freaked out looking at the animal head? The jewellery and soap - yes it's soap and not cheese are so lovely though. Oh and the gorgeous vintage lace dress is beautiful, the shop owner was so lovely about me taking photos too, even offering to take the dress outside to get better lighting.

I hope that you had a lovely weekend, what did you all get up to?

♥

My favourite + Vintage

Today I awoke early and walked around a place called Ashburton in Devon with my boyfriend's mother. We explored vintage shops with old clocks and lamps hanging from the walls and sitting on tables. We looked at some lovely unique necklaces and some chunky bracelets of deep emerald and sapphire. We bought some fresh home made cakes from the bakery, which we were enticed into by the smell of freshly baked bread and sweet sticky buns. Everything was a bit olden day ish, there was a fresh bakery, a butcher and a fish mongers without a tesco or a topshop in sight. A flag banner zig zagged from house to house, the cobbled streets were made out of uneven stones and the small pastel coloured houses were quaint but still had a sense of grandeur about them. This lovely little village, nestled between the rugged hills made me feel a certain sense of calm, but also got me thinking of all things vintage, especially vintage dresses. I could just imaging myself cycling through Ashburton in a huge straw hat and a lovely dress, bliss. Pictures of the village to come, of course.

Image from Motel Vintage Shoot. What do you wish to wear on warm sunny days?

Ten things I love thursday

 

1 - Vintage Dresses

2 - Ice Cream

3 - Red Lipstick

4 - Laura Marling

5 - Flag Banners

6 - Acoustic Music

7 - Homemade Tea Cosies.

8 - Homemade Cupcakes. 

9 - A Nice Cup Of Tea.

10 - English Coastal Towns.

I wanted to post the 'ten things I love' type of posts for ages. But I've never gotten around to it due partly to lack of inspiration and partly due to lack of time. So this is my first attempt at it, and I think it went pretty well. These are things that I am currently loving, and currently loving to eat. Nothing beats some home made cupcakes, and nothing beats relaxing in an english coastal town with a cool ice cream in your hand, maybe listening to some acoustic music; - Laura Marling, anyone? Maybe all that's left is to kick back in my vintage dress and red lipstick and start crafting some flag banners & tea cosies. 

What are you currently loving?

  

My holiday so far

Has been just lovely. It's been mainly a mixture of eating good food, drinking good wine and sleeping well, with the occasional walk by the sea front and outing on the row boat. The row boats are surprisingly fun. I was terrified that we were going to capsize at one point but we managed not to. I've not been online too much mainly because the internet connection is not the best. It has also rendered me unable to respond to comments until we have gotten it sorted (as I am currently using a dongle, which means I cannot sign in to make comments, or post them because where it says 'comment as' the box is blank, meaning I am unable to press send). I promise I will respond to comments as soon as the internet is sorted, but I'm just leaving this note so that you'll understand why I've not replied as quickly as what I usually do. Rest assured, I've eaten fudge, cornish pasties, ice cream, Devonshire cream and everything else which hails from the south west. We actually went to a village fayre on sunday, which was lovely because it sold all local produce. We came back laden with bags full of apple cider, cakes and gingerbread men.

Here are a few pictures of my trip so far, the ones over the water are mainly of the view from the house. A few are of Teignmouth though. I seem to have developed a bit of an obsession photographing boats and converting them into polaroids. I think it gives them an atmospheric look which is not so much achieved when they are just normal shots. I also think the shots are fitting, considering that where we are seems to be situated next to a fishing village, and thus there are lots of fishing boats dotted about, along with the occasional fisherman or oyster catcher.

What was the best holiday that you have ever been on?

Pack up your troubles

My boyfriend and I arrived in Devon yesterday afternoon after five hours of driving. Yesterday was spent relaxing by the water with a nice glass of wine. I went to bed quite early yesterday and consequently woke up just before 5am this morning. The views are wonderful, I am currently sitting in the living room which looks over the water just before the sea. It's so relaxing, and I have another thirteen days of this! Hopefully I'll get some photos of the view up soon.


I hope that you're all having a wonderful weekend, what were your plans?

♥

Fashion Inspiration

I've been recently feeling a bit uninspired when it comes to clothes and fashion. Mainly because I spend a good chunk of the day working, partly because I have to get up early; and partly because I don't think a lot about what I'm wearing for work. I just throw on a pencil skirt, tights and some sort of blouse and I am done, no thought required. I am going on holiday in a matter of days though, so I'm wanting to put a bit more thought into what i'm wearing, and get a little inspired.

So who to inspire me more than recently married fashionista Kate Moss. I probably post about her way too much but she dresses so fabulously and is one of my all time favourites. Plus I am pining for the waistcoat that she's wearing here, it looks sort of sparkly!

Who is your fashion inspiration?

Out and about

I really wanted to write another fashion related post today but my mind is drawing a blank. I think it's because I'm forcing myself to think of something related to fashion and because of that it's not happening. I really wanted to post today though, so here it is.

These are just random photos from when I was out and about with friends and just randomly during the weekends. The first few pictures are taken in a shop called 'Lomography' which is just off of Regent Street. I love the ceiling, it's basically a giant mosaic made out of photographs. The shop sells cool looking cameras. Don't ask me too much about what they do because I have no idea. I'm no photography expert but they do look nice.

Oh, and some other shop windows in the regent street area. I thought they were quite cool, I wish I could have taken more, but it was so hot when I was out as it was a few weeks ago, and I just wanted to get inside an air conditioned building with a nice cool drink.

Finally, I did manage to get a nice cool drink. What is your favourite thing to do in the summer on a hot day?

Delightful Shoes +

I am so tired after a weekend of doing absolutely nothing. Well, that's not entirely true. We ate, a lot. And we gave blood on saturday, which justifies the eating (I hope). Unfortunately my weekend wasn't worthy of any blog posts, but these shoes definitely deserve a post in their own right. Aren't they so gorgeous, and what do you think of the whole sock-and-shoe thing going on?

Yummm. Love those round glasses on the floor too, kind of reminds me of Harry Potter. Anyone going to see the new film when it comes out? I am getting quite excited for it, even if it means trying to find the nearest cinema in Devon, as I am off on holiday on saturday; good times!

How was your weekend?

Speaker's Corner

I'm so sorry that I've not posted in an entire week. I have been meaning to, but either I've been busy after work, or I am just too tired to concentrate properly, and I didn't want to post something short with no actual content. I'm still working through photos from when my friends visited a few weeks ago.

On the sunday we went to visit Speaker's Corner. It's based on the corner of Hyde Park, the nearest tube station I think is Marble Arch, because getting off at Hyde Park Corner means walking through Hyde Park itself.  Speaker's Corner though, is just a place where people gather to voice their opinions in the early afternoon, and others gather to listen. It's quite enjoyable if you like debate, otherwise it's just generally amusing to observe some of the cranky people who decide to voice their opinions to the masses.

This lady was very vocal. I forgot what about because I felt a bit uneasy watching her shout and people who disagreed with her. Not the way I thought someone should be like if they are attending a place to debate with people. If you're not open to debate, why voice your opinions at what is in most senses, a debating session? I did think her outfit was very cute though; and apparently she is there most sundays if you ever wanted to hear what she has to say.

This guy was one of the best I saw. I'm not sure if he's there every sunday, as I've been a few times before and he wasn't present, but if you go and he is there definitely give him a listen. Even if you disagree with him, you can be certain that if you ask him a question he'll respectfully address it. He's very intelligent and knows his subject well too; I think he is an astrophycisist.

The rest of the photos are just random debaters caught in the act of debating. As well as a photo of someone who was (I think) meditating.

And finally some of the posters which had been attached to the railings;

It was so interesting to observe how people debate, and to listen to everyone's views, even if I disagreed with them. Are you someone who lets your voice be heard, or are you someone who would rather spectate?

PS, I will respond to all comments from my previous post and this one tomorrow. I'm sorry I've been so rubbish with posting, I've just been so busy and generally when I'm not busy I am tired, so it's been frustrating finding time recently!