Monday, 14 October 2013

Cake Cake Cake

Evening peeps! 

I know it's been a while since I've done a post...woops. To be honest I haven't been feeling inspired...this may have something to do with the horrible winter weather and lack of monies (which means lack of new clothes) but am going to get back into it, fo def!

So I thought I'd do a little post about one of my favourite things...food...to be more specific, cake!

It was my cousin Dolly's 2nd birthday a few weeks ago, and we celebrated with a children's tea party; sandwiches, scones, cupcakes (and of course lots of wine...not so child friendly). 

Happy birthday Dols!

My favourite part of the day had to be these AMAZING cupcakes by Joanna Khabaz who runs her own baking business (see website here- Creative Baking). 

Just look how pretty they are!





...almost too pretty to eat...almost. 

The woman has got skillz in the kitchen!! My tastebuds were in heaven for the best part of the day...I probably had about 6 in total. Oh hey diabetes.

so haps
posing with a cupcake...as ya do

Basically, if you're ever throwing a party; christening, birthday, wedding...or just have cash to splash on some delicious, aesthetically pleasing treats, then Joanna is your woman! 

Must dash as the one and only Made in Chelsea is back on our television screens tonight...I can't contain my excitement.

xoxo  

Monday, 16 September 2013

Very Temporary Pink Hair! (& OOTD)

Helloooo there

I've decided to do a little post on wash in wash out pink hair dye! I contemplated dip dying my hair pink a while ago, but my fear of looking like some sort of old school punk/emo kid and not being able to do anything about it put me off the idea. Instead, I decided to try out a few different wash in wash out dyes over the past few weeks!

On Friday I popped to Topshop, and whilst queing, came across something quite remarkable. Topshop queue lines and I have a love/hate relationship. Love, because I love everything in their cleverly stacked isles...the cute little purses, colourful nail varnishes, frilly socks, sweets and 'skinny' popcorn. Hate, because they are made for girls like me with absolutely no will power and a love of anything pretty/yummy...and my poor bank card pays for it...bye bye monies.

So this is what I found and purchased in the queue on Friday: 


I decided to try it out for Carolines 21st birthday partaaay on Saturday. You literally draw it onto your hair. I did it when mine was damp as it says the colour comes out more when wet, and my hair is pretttty dark. 


My sister helped me out...and this was the result...




I found the chalk really really crumbly and messy. I wouldn't be surprised if more of it ended up on my bed, my rug and my floor than in my actual hair! 

A few weeks ago for Carnival, I used the below instant spray dye. I found that this one worked much better as it was so much easier to apply, and so much less effort and less messy. 


Just after applying it, it looked like this...



I was happy with the result, but it definitely faded throughout the night! 

Makeup

Nail gems on my eyes...and what?

Outfit of the Day

Recently I've become a bit obsessed with two girls and their blogs and YouTube channels: 

Zoella (who was lucky enough to interview ONE DIRECTION)
Tanya Burr (amazing, cute and down to earth makeup artist)

Not gonna lie, I saw this playsuit on Tanya and needed it in my life. I found it on the River Island website for £45.00 (I think it's now sold out as it's no longer on the website).


 I looove it. As well as being comfy, it makes a nice change from my standard shorter/skimpier outfit choices for a night out.








Shoes- Ebay


Necklace- Topshop
Clutch- Accessorize
Pearl Ring- Car Boot 


The pink hair was fun while it lasted, but I am happy to have my 'mars bar' dip dye back! (thanks Joely)

xoxo

Sunday, 15 September 2013

Mum's 50th Celebrations

My mum turned the big 5-0 on Monday, and there was no better way to celebrate than with friends, family, and a whole lot of food and booze. 

Me and ma siblings left shopping for her present to the day before... standard last minute panic. We got to Westfield for 10.30am, feeling proud that we'd got up, ready and out the door so early on a Sunday. Of course it slipped our minds that shops don't open till 12.00pm on lazy day Sunday. Major fail. So when the clock struck 12, we bolted like Usain to L.K Bennett, gathered a load of dresses which my auntie conveniently modelled for us (being 5 foot nothing like my mum), chose one, and went home. Bish bash bosh. 

Pub Lunch

To celebrate my mama in her old age, all the O'Connors gathered at a lovely pub called The Sun Inn just by Barnes pond. It was lovely to see everyone as we hadn't all been together since my aunties wedding aka wedding of the century at the beginning of August. It was one eventful day to say the least. Still yet to see the video footage...I dread it. But it was a beauuuutiful day with a capital B. 

What I Wore

The print on print trend is one of my favs at the mo...mainly because I have so many patterned clothes, and it gives me an excuse to mix and match them together! Just like I did on this occasion...





Top- Topshop
Skirt- Topshop
Cardigan- Primark
Boots- New Look
Sunglasses- Topshop
Necklace- Topshop

My mum was also rocking the print on print trend...like mother like daughter!


present tiiiime

What I Ate

The pub had its menu down to a T. Traditional, hearty, delicious food. 
To start, I went for the salt and pepper squid with lime mayonnaise. My mouth had an orgasm. 


and main had to be the roast beef...you can't beat a good Sunday roast!


Not gonna lie, the portion could've been a bit bigger, but I made up for it in desserts...

Salted caramel and chocolate tart with clotted cream <3
Sticky Toffee Pudding
My hips to the plate: 'I'll hold that pud for ya' 

I quite fancied the waiter, but after my aunties less than subtle attempts at setting us up, he revealed he was moving to Paris in a month. Better start polishing up on my French! 

More dessert....cakey cake cake 



My sister baked it especially. How could I say no?

Murano: Michelin Star Ting

On Monday (my mums actual birthday) we went to Murano, a Michelin star restaurant owned by Angela Hartnett (I'd never heard of her but apparently she was trained by good old Gordan Ramsay- my fave). This was my first time at a Michelin star restaurant, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The food was literally mouth wateringly tasty. Every bite tasted like a little piece of heaven. And the service was amazeeee- there was never an empty glass of wine/water/bread basket.

They also had 400 different wines to choose from- my uncle said he'd put money on them not having the wine my dad chose, and he was right...both wines my dad wanted they'd run out of! Unlucky Colin. 

sistaz selfie
Little & Large

My auntie got my mum a beautiful Michael Kors watch- now we match!




Pre-starter goodies

To start, I went for the 'grilled aubergine, romano peppers, tempura courgette flower, ricotta'. Basically, some fried, cheesy veg. It was tasty shit.


My dad, being his standard self, went for the most obscure thing on the menu- 'roasted sweetbreads, apple and shallots puree, toasted walnuts'. Sounds pretty harmless...until I was told that sweetbreads is the culinary name for animal organs. Heart, stomach, brain....yuck, yuck, yuck.

When I told him it sounded disgusting, he replied "disgusting is just a cultural term; its about what you're used to and what you're not". Colin's life lessons. 

not so sweetbread

For main, I got the 'baked potato gnocci, fontina, wild mushrooms, smoked speck' aka posh pasta with ham and mushrooms. I didn't understand most of the menu but it really didn't matter because my tastebuds were loving life.

potaaato gnocci
My uncle cracking jokes as per
My mums dessert...amazing!

Dessert was my favourite of the three by far- Chocolate souffle with raspberry sorbet. It was my first ever souffle...and it's safe to say that after this beautiful melt-in-the-mouth creamy goodness, it definitely won't be my last! 





Celebrations: A Success?

Well my mum certainly enjoyed herself, and so did my waistline. But hey, it was worth it.

xoxo