30x30 choices (picture heavy post)

After quite a lot of putting it off, I finally got round to selecting my items for 30x30. Already I can tell that its going to be a challenge. I tried to put these pictures in some kind of logical order, but typically I then messed up the formatting so order has all gone to pot. Nevermind! Oh and please feel free to let me know what you think of my choice (good and bad please). I'm pretty aware that I'm not too good at mix and matching, so I'm hoping to nudge the boundaries of my comfort zone and learn something anyway.
               
By uploading my selection I’m hoping my second thoughts will be put to rest and I can just get on with things!
I’m prob going to hide some vest tops under things for warmth, but not counting them as they will be invisible. I hope I’m right in thinking that leggings worn as tights also don’t count. I don’t have much in the way of accessories, but I’ll be dredging up everything I do own to try to make these outfits a bit more interesting. Here’s to 30x30 starting Tuesday :) I even got the badge, wow I’m on FIRE!!!!!

Here's Kendi's 30x30 picks. (This is how it should be done)

Chicken pie, french style peas...



Chicken pie



serving up french style peas

yum

This evening was our weekly meal from Jamie's 30-Minute Meal collection. Tonight we tried 'Chicken pie, french style peas, sweet carrot smash, berries, shortbread and Chantilly cream'. Well bad start, we'd bought frozen berries and forgot to defrost them so dessert didn't happen :( . With regard the pie, see for yourself, it looks scrummy and tasted delicious! As I am adverse to fungi we left out the mushrooms, but the end result did not seem to miss them. The carrots were sadly disappointing, and had no taste at all, not even carrot... However the peas were divine! I will def do this at every available opportunity...

Finally having a sit down after attacking a mountain of ironing, which I thought I ought to tackle so tomorrow I can finally get round to sorting out my final 30 items. I can't help thinking the later I leave it, the worse choices I'll make in the mild panic that sets in. To add to the difficulty, it turns out I've got two evenings out planned (unusual) that need thinking about. Oh dear. Its going to be a learning curve....

Happy Saturday evening :)

FBFF: technology

This week's FBFF questions are all about technology and how we use them with our blogs.


1. What technology do you use in blogging? (computer, camera, video camera, tripod, etc...)
Well, firstly I use an Acer laptop. Its really easy to move, upload stuff too and means I can mess around on Blogger while sitting on the sofa with the telly on. Multitasking, that's clever isn't it? Camera, ah. Its silver and small, will have to check what it says on it (not very good with cameras, but its not an all singing all dancing one that's for sure.) My husband kindly got me a desktop tripod, which is slightly flimsy to say the least. The camera is a Samsung ES15 and is in fact black.

2. What computer and online technology do you use? (blogging system, photo storage, photo editing tools, etc..)
I joined Blogger in about July 2010, with really no idea about what blogging was at all. I found that even a computer dunce like me could use it, so I've stuck with it. Maybe one day I'll be able to make it look a bit better, who knows? Photo storage, errrr, no. Photo editing tools, no surprise here, I don't edit. Lol. I really need to get to grips with figuring all this clever stuff out, or at least delegating to someone who knows better!!!

3. What is your process for taking pictures?
With my mini tripod set up on the table, I try to see where its aimed, set the double pic timer, dash round and try to smile for when it goes off, then promptly misjudge when the second shot goes off. And repeat.... Now what would be a good idea is if my wonderful husband would take some pics of me with his special camera, lenses, tripod, big flash (and all his camera skill and know-how). In the mean time I'll continue to take very mediocre pictures of myself.

4. When it comes to backdrops for your photos what do you consider? Do you scout locations or shoot the same spot daily?
I started Blogging properly on January 1st, so I've only just started really. I just use a couple of spots at home as its so cold. Once this warm up a bit I would love to get some shots in the garden, but I can't imagine I'll venture beyond the drive. Not unless I'm already out and about and have the camera handy (and not too many people are around to make a pleb of myself in front of)

5. If you could splurge and get one new piece of equipment what would you be buying?
Well as my husband already has all the decent camera equipment, so if I was to have a somewhat massive splurge it would be for a mini photo studio, with a backdrop, those big flashing lights. Maybe one day.


Well at last its Friday! I'm so glad, its been what feels like a long week. Tomorrow is definitely a good day for picking my 30for30 outfits, after seeing Kendi's chosen items I now feel like my wardrobe is somewhat lacking in versatile pieces, but looking forward to the challenge nevertheless. Have a great weekend everyone.
Oh and before I forget, hello to my two shiny new followers and a big thank you for all the lovely comments everyone has left recently :)

Smart outfit and recipe

Finally had cause to look smart, so donned this black dress and clack jacket. Looked a bit sombre so teamed it with exciting tights and a purple snakeskin print belt. The sleeves on the jacket are too long for some reason, who was it designed to fit? Oh well. Wearing flats as wanted to be able to walk.

The bulbs are all starting to show themselves now in the garden. Just hope the rabbit doesn't spoil any more. Little devil has nibbled too many already.

and now for the pear sponge pudding recipe, especially for The White Cabbage

Pear Sponge Pudding
Ingredients:
100g caster sugar
100g butter, softened
2 eggs
60ml milk
150g plain flour
5g baking powder
about 5 or 6 medium pears (for lots of fruit in the pudding)

Method

• beat sugar and flour together until pale and fluffy
• beat in eggs (ideally one at a time)
• mix in milk
• sift in flour and baking powder and gently combine
• quickly peel and cube pears roughly and put into greased cooking bowl
• if batter is not runny enough add, more milk
• pour over pears and put in preheated oven at 180 degrees c, 160 if fan oven, 350 degrees f, gas mark 4 for about an hour. test by stabbing top with a knife, if it comes out sticky its not cooked, when cooked it will come out clean. 
• Enjoy!

You can also use apples or any other fruit. Makes 4 good servings :)

Today's outfit and a pear sponge pudding

Firstly, yes I know that I've worn this jacket so much this season its pretty much become part of my skin. It can't be helped, it makes everything so warm and cosy. This purple cowl neck jumper is very thin and might as well not be there for all its thermal value. Skinny jeans again (how did I manage before skinny jeans?) and super furry slippers. And that's this eve.

Made a yummy pear sponge pudding this evening which I then promptly was so excited to eat once it came out of the oven that I completely forgot to photo it. So this is a picture with a chunk missing.....yes I'm guilty! It was super tasty :)

Now watching Hot Fuzz on DVD. I love watching comedies, will post about this another day :)

Leopard trousers and glitter loss

This evening's attire. fresh from yesterday's leopard print tunic I brought these leopard print trousers out for a spin. Love them :) Matched with a check shirt and stripy belt. Enough patterns yet?
Had a rather bothersome incident with new purchases from ebay. I like to put new stuff through the wash before wearing it to make it smell 'normal' (that's not weird), so put a wash on and lo and behold one of the tops was glittery, now everything else is glittery too. Oh dear. The label said 'some glitter loss may occur'. It did not say 'WARNING: glitter will get everywhere and cover everything, do not even consider washing with everything else' .
Found out today that a generic hobnob contains 70 calories. I ate 4 with a cup of tea, how awful. Have put on weight since Christmas, how annoying. Must try to do better. Bought more fruit to fill up on instead of naughty treats.

Leopard print, heating and age

My favourite tunic :)

This is my favourite tunic top ever. I bought it on ebay (for virtually nothing as always) and have found it absolutely joyful to find in my wardrobe. I can rely on it. Its the only leopard print item of clothing I've ever owned and love it because its b&w instead of trad brown. The first time I wore it out I wore it as a dress with BRIGHT blue tights. Can you believe it? No-one told me I flashed my backside but I must have done loads of times. (To make things worse it was a mother's day meal with my parents, brother and both grandmother's at a semi posh hotel....eeeek. I teamed it with my favourite shoes, love love love.) So is strictly a top from now on! Wearing my oh-so-versatile mock pearl necklace, soft burgundy top and skinny fit jeans and cosy slippers here. Today's outfit had to be practical, I dusted, did laundry, washed the car by hand and resolved a heating malfunction.

Now today I have been in a RIGHT mood. I dislike heating wastage and this week I have twice been infuriated by the levels of oil some people are using this winter. Here in Norfolk (UK) its pretty chilly here. Fluctuating in winter between about 8 and -8 degrees C. Deal with it. Don't try to turn your house into a tropical paradise, its cold here, just deal with it. How about a vest, second vest, third vest, another jumper, an even bigger jumper maybe. But I am absolutely maddened when I realise how HOT people are trying to keep their houses. The environment is being drained, DRAINED of its natural resources. GIVE IT SOME RESPECT and stop wasting the last few dregs of what it has. RANT OVER.... for now.

So, also today been trawling ebay for some lovely bits and bobs for s/s if/when it finally arrives. Been watching 'Dancing on Ice' and feeling slightly saddened that I am beyond having a career as a pro ice skater... I'm 25 (really? omg...) but I look... sub 18. So age, is it how old you are or how old you look...? I'm always ID'd when buying alcohol :( Grrr.

My question is: What is the optimum age people want to look? 'Older' women want to be rejuvenated, but to what age????

Floaty print dress and Smoky Haddock Corn Chowder, Spiced Tiger Prawns...



Floaty dress




Buckled boots



Rainbow salad, dressing and matzo crackers

Chowder and prawns

Actually put some clothes on today, hurrah! I love this dress, its got an almost digital print, which at a distance looks like a block colour. Its girlie and floaty and on inspecting the pictures I took, I've realised its probably best over leggings and not to be worn on its own in summer, shorter than I first thought! I am still layering everything up, so I've got a soft black top on with black leggings underneath. These buckled boots have been an absolute delight to wear. I bought them from Internacionale 18 months ago and have loved wearing them. They are really comfortable, which is fab.

So I went into town today and had a look around the charity shops. Nothing of interest was found unfortunately, but I do like a good look just in case. Saw some gorgeous boots in a boutique window and I went in for a closer look. (First time I'd ever been in). Unfortunately they weren't the leather beauties I thought they might be so I left empty handed, shame. In an unusual moment I decided to go into New Look. Now I've had a long running affinity with New Look, but in the last couple of years I've avoided it mainly because our local shop is quite narrow and to browse is quite awkward especially if there is anyone else in the store. I came out with a pretty maxi dress for £4, which at that price I felt I had to have it. Its lovely and I've never had a maxi dress before. (As my husband pointed out "your wedding dress was quite long", understatement, it had a six foot train....)

Back on track with cooking. Tonight we tackled Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meal of 'Smoky haddock corn chowder, spiced tiger prawns, rainbow salad, raspberry and elderflower slushie'. Except we couldn't get tiger prawns so we had king prawns instead. I've always been almost phobic about prawns, and today I TOUCHED, PEELED  and ATE one. OMG, I think my mother may pass I should I tell her! After all that it turns out  I don't like them anyway! Hate to say I told you so.... So even my husband didn't like these prawns tho he likes un-Jamied prawns. The salad dressing was a bit heavy with chilli, garlic and tarragon so overpowered things far too much for our liking. The salad on its own was lovely and refreshing, carrot, courgette and beetroot. The chowder was just perfect, the matzo crackers were great with it. Never eaten a chowder before and this was absolutely delicious. We had smoked cod instead of haddock (incidentally it was in our freezer, thanks to Hugh we won't be buying cod, haddock or tuna in the foreseeable). There was some sweetcorn and potato, stock and herbs. Yum yum yum.
Raspberry slushie? Hmmmm more ice than any other flavours. I would have preferred to just eat the raspberries on their own.

Now chilling out with a nice glass of white wine. Hope your Saturday went well too x

FBFF and no outfit again

This is my first Friend Friday post, the questions are HARD! Here goes:

1. Most readers and fellow fashion bloggers value authenticity in the blogs they read. How would you describe blog/blogger authenticity?
I like to see some honesty, frank opinions, good debate and a bit of critical analysis. Its good to hear when a blogger goes against the flow, speaks out and makes itself heard. I like self criticim. Readers don't expect each blogger to be right all the time. Lets keep things realistic. 

2. When it comes to your blog how to you infuse it with that true/ authentic feeling?
I try to be honest about myself. If I have a bad look, I'll say so. I want to tell it how it is. If readers laugh at me then at least i've entertained them if not impressed them!

3. Have you stopped following a blog in the last three months? What made you lose interest?
Well I haven't been using blogger for long, so i've not 'stopped' following any blogs yet. I could well imagine that I might stop following a blog where the blogger starts to get an over-inflated sense of self importance. I don't like people showing off.
4. We can't communicate effectively on our blogs, something we don't live in real life... what are some ways you try to live an authentic life?
How can I answer this? My life is busy, complex, full of love.... I only wear nice clothes evenings and weekends. I keep things very day to day and mundane. Sounds sad I know, but I like to enjoy the basics, not get cross about being weighed down with chores. You have to eat, fact, so I'm trying to enjoy cooking, as opposed to getting frustrated with it. You have to wear clothes, fact, so I try to feel good about how I'm dressed. I don't pretend my life is full of bigger and better things than it is.
5. Give a shout-out... Which bloggers do you think are truly genuine and why?
Haute Pink Pretty, A Daisy Chain Dream, Cute and Little, Elle Enchanted  Sorry, I'm so bad at links, I hope these work, but I'm following them all. They are my favourites.

Thats all for today :) Happy Friday everyone, I'm so glad its the weekend!

Bad outfit!

Not a great look

No post yesterday, I meant to do an outfit post, but after arriving home pretty worn out I showered and got straight into pj's. Pictures not appropriate!

My blog is not all about good looks...
Today I'm dressed badly, ill thought out.... I love this wooly dress, but I know its a bit big for me, but it was size small, so I thought it would fit. Nevermind. The top underneath should have been a black one, but I couldn't find one, so grabbed the green one, and hence it looks all wrong. But good news, I'm warm! Considering signing up to Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge, but I'm so disorganised and forgetful that I'm likely to mess up and I like to take things I participate in seriously.

No cooking of note been undertaken :( but got plans for a good meal Saturday.

My blog is not just about the good stuff! Its not pretty but its at least just me, so its real. Thats all for today. x

Embracing the chunky knits

Embracing the chunky knits

the chunkier the better and *sparkly* too

fluffy slippers are always in, don't you know?!

Its cooled off again, so I'm layering up with more items. I love this chunky knit top, and yes I know its probably added half a stone to my upper half, but its warm.
Hello to Sadie, my newest follower, and thank you everyone for so many lovely comments :)

Its shopping this eve, so hopefully will stock our shelves with lovely ingredients for this week.  

TK Maxx trip in favourite shoes and Mustard Chicken

My favourite shoes :)

Today's outfit

Delicious meal

Dauphinoise potatoes

Mustard chicken with leeks and sauce

Tuck in!

Headed to beloved TK Maxx today so opted for favourite shoes and skinny jeans. As it turned out I found two beautiful hats to buy (yay!) will be able to bring them out once spring really hits. Tried on plenty of shoes and boots but sadly nothing actually fitted quite perfectly. Maybe it was for the best.

Had intended to bake cherry cakes this afternoon but that didn't materialise. Team effort of me and my wonderful husband produced a delicious meal. It was Jamies Oliver's 30 minute meal (obviously took over an hour) of "Mustard Chicken, Quick Dauphinoise, Greens and Black forest affogato".
Anyhow, the results are above. Absolutley delicious :) Well the main was anyway, but the dessert was something I don't want to repeat, it was strong coffee, sharp cherries, small blocks of nasty chocoloate, grainy biscuit and melting ice cream. So barring the dessert, we'll tweak it and do it again, but our way.

Joined Hugh's fish fight, I feel so moral :) .

I think next post I make I may adjust the layout somewhat. I'm thinking three headings each with their own pics and text. Fashion, Food and Foliage. Hoping to get back out and busy in the garden soon. The bulbs are nosing their way through. I realise that gardening is not to everyone's taste so everyone reading my blog will be able to skip to the subject of their interest. I could write three blogs, but I'm so dire at organising myself I don't think I could manage more than one.

So weekend has been fruitful :) .
Hope you can say the same for yours. x

Today's outfit and latest home cooking

Sensibly wearing coat, hat and scarf

 Today has seen quite a lot packed into it. First we visited the butchers for some highly moral locally sourced meat. Mince for today and chicken for tomorrow.

Anyway headed to the coast for bracing wander round the shops and down to the beach (Strictly no walking on the beach in these boots...) So was sensibly wrapped up in all necessary accessories and wool coat then whipped it all off for outfit pics. Have I lost the plot? It was indeed blowing a gale, tho southerly, so not freezing. A high of twelve degrees, just cannot complain! As it was indeed so overcast and windy there were not many other people at all to watch me freezing like a wally for outfit pics, lucky. This dress makes me feel so grown up, not sure why, maybe its the length. New tights, super clever staywarm/keepcool kind. They worked too surprisingly!

 Apologies for all the pics being out of the correct order, I uploaded, then meddled and can't fix it :( rubbish.

So to the cooking. I like to make big batches and freeze in meal sized packs. So tonights meal was lasagne (with enough leftover for \monday's meal). I made enough bolognese for two more meals of spag bol to freeze and two meals worth of chilli. I do love eating fresh food but during the week it either eat something I made and froze or ready meals. I know our food is much better health wise and far tastier so that the route I try to go. I do have to wear an aprron everytime I start cooking. I'm so careless it saves my clothes from certain damage. 
Final pic of lasagne looks a bit odd because it developed a big burnt cheese bubble on top which I nipped off, and the home meade wedges are the handywork of my wonderful husband.
Thats all for today. Oh and got my classic Saturday evening glass of white wine. Happy weekend! :)

Lastly, hello to my lovely new followers and thank you to everyone who has left any comments, all much appreciated :)

On the left its Chilli, on the right its bolognese



No cooking should be undertaken without an apron!



Lasagne

Home-made wedges





Braving it!

Brrrrrr!