Weekend #16

This weekend was spent in London so naturally we made the most of it with lots of sight seeing and getting out and about. We had the weather for it and who knows how much longer it will last...

On Saturday we planned to spend most of the day at Portobello Market. Because this would require lots of energy, we filled ourselves up on these. When we got there, we did the whole thing, from right at the top by Notting Hill Gate, all the way down to Kensington. There were sooo many lovely things that I would have loved to have filled not just one, but many houses with but alas, I do not have the room for any of them! Perhaps I'll take a trip back when I have my own place ;)

In the evening, we took ourselves for the early bird menu at Charlotte's Bistro, a really lovely little restaurant in Chiswick. This places boasts a great menu and if you are happy to eat before 7.30, you can get it for their early dinner prices - £26.95 for 3 courses and an aperitif. I would have taken some snaps but it was quite a small place and not too busy that early so felt a bit concious! I had a scrummy partridge salad to start, Cornish gurnard for the main and earl grey and fig crème caramel for dessert. J had venison tartare to start, slow cooked pork belly for main and the cheese selection to follow. After stuffing our faces, we rolled home for some movies and bed time.

Sunday we popped off to J's parents for some lovely home cooked Sunday lunch. A little taste of fresh air and home life, in the midst of London madness is always appreciated. After gorging ourselves again, we headed back to London, chilled out and then it was time for J to head back to Southampton and me to fall swiftly asleep - all that food tired me out!

The song that I have been listening to a lot recently is Ellie Goulding's new one, Anything Could Happen. I really enjoy this song and it is great to have her back making music again after she has been away for a while.

E x

Weekend #15

...is with an ooey, gooey, calorific but delicious, breakfast. Let's just say that I have no idea, nor do I want to know, how many calories, saturated fat or other artery clogging factors this stack of wonder has but it sure tasted good - and we all know that calories don't count at the weekend.

Let me introduce to you, bacon cakes...

Smothered in maple syrup, with a sneaky rasher of crispy streaky bacon nestled in the middle, these are to die for. Enjoy best by sprinkling on fresh berries, covering in maple syrups and pouring yourself a glass of cold orange juice.

I wish I could lay claim to this scrummy delight, but all thanks has to go to the culinary genius that is, Rose from The Londoner. Her blog is full of the tastiest dinners and treats that you could ever dream of. The full recipe for bacon cakes can be found here.

Rose's recipe calls for mixed berries but you could always add any sort of fruit you fancy. If you are feeling very glutenous, there is always room for whipped cream. Personally, I think the sharp and juiciness of the berries was the perfect counterbalance for the bacon and syrup.

E x

Weekend #14

This weekend has been a very quiet one, with a couple of very self indulgent and relaxing lie-ins, lots of yummy food and general chilling out. In between all of the relaxing, it has been one for crossing all the 't's and dotting all the 'i's, catching up on boring life admin, car insurance, backing up files etc. - thrilling!

We also had a couple of housemate birthdays so the house has been filled with lots of cake and laughter which has been nice. We were paid a little visit by my housemate's boyfriend's pooch, Austin (see top right for lots of snaps of him, or Instagram!) who I absolutely fell in love with. Lots of cuddling and tennis ball throwing ensued. 

On the Saturday, my housemate did my nails with Shellac, which was a pampering treat. She has the kit to do it at home, saving on lots of pennies and is actually very easy to do and not to expensive to set yourself up with. I love it so far and can't stop touching it!

Soundtrack to this weekend definitely has to be this song, One Day/Reckoning Song by Asaf Avidan and is the Wankelmut Remix (mouthful of an introduction!). This was another track I heard on the radio when driving around and thought it was super catchy, couldn't stop humming it and had to track it down. I hope anyone who listens to it enjoys it as much as I do, it's a toe tapper!

E x

All Saints Jacket Love

All Saints is one of those shops that I always glanced at the window but just walked on by. I wasn't too sure what sort of style it really sold and just assumed it was either out of my price range or just not up my street. I think I had connotations of it being a brand for 'lads' with those horrid deep v t shirts and men who take themselves a bit too seriously, with girls who are too skinny on their arms. Since moving offices, I now walk past an All Saints shop every day and thought I would give it the benefit of the doubt and check it out. 

I eat my words, the stuff is lovely, luxury feeling and individually stylish. It is a little on the pricey side and probably nothing that I will be able to afford for a while, but hey, a girl can browse :) It is kinda biker-esque but very feminine at the same time. There is also not much nylon in sight - always a plus, lots of natural wools and cotton fibres.

One thing that massively stood out to me in the shop was their gorgeous range of leather jackets. They were so soft and expensive feeling. I have been considering a leather jacket purchase for ages but always held back. I love the look of them but was unsure if I would be able to pull it off so have loved from afar - until now. When I spied this beauty, it was love, I felt like a long term relationship of lust had begun.

This is my favourite jacket from the collection and something I would LOVE to get my hands on one day.

The Belvedere Leather Jacket and comes in at a not-too-pricey (for leather) £250

For now, I'll keep dreaming. Perhaps I'll put in a few pre-Christmas hints too...muahaha.

E x