Courgetti?

So I had heard about courgetti for a while but always thought it would require yet another kitchen appliance to clutter our counter tops. I recently read on another blog however that the same effect can be gained with a julienne peeler, so off I trudged to Lakeland...my mum's fave store and thought I would give it a go.

The peeler itself is nothing remarkable and is very affordable £3.29 (available here) and cuts the veg into thin even strips. This is much the same effect as a spiralizer but at a fraction of the cost. The rest is then easy, lightly fry the courgette (and I also added carrot) in a dash of oil and some garlic. If you are making a traditional pasta dish it is even easier as you can also blanche the courgetti and simply add it to the sauce as you would traditional spaghetti.

We had our courgetti and carrotgetti(??) with salmon grills and it got a thumbs up all round. I was expecting Jake to start moaning about being hungry 20 minutes after dinner however this kept him full for the evening....result.

Have you tried using veg as a pasta/rice replacement? I would love to know your recipes below.

The Ultimate Summer Pud...Eton Mess

Eton Mess is honestly my fave summer pud. Light enough that there is ALWAYS room even after a hefty BBQ and it's so simple to make.

The meringue is always best home made, the shop bought nests are always powdery and never deliver the satisfyingly chewy centres that a good meringue should have.

Meringues are simple enough to make...you will need:

• 6 Egg Whites
• 300g Caster Sugar
• 1tsp Corn Starch
• 1tsp Vinegar

Meringue Method:

1. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until stiff enough that upturned they do not move. This is the signature move you see Mary Berry pull on Paul Hollywood every year in GBBO.  
2. Gently fold in the sugar a spoonful at a time trying not to knock the air from the mix. The corn starch and vinegar need to be mixed together in a cup then added to the mixture.
3. Spoon the mix onto a baking sheet, this can be in individual nests or as a large pavlova base that you will later crack. Bake the meringue for an hour at 150 degrees centigrade or Gas Mark 2.
4. Once baked remove from the baking sheet carefully and leave to cool.

To Assemble the Eton Mess, break a handful of meringue into each serving glass/bowl. Top with strawberries and blueberries and a dash of raspberry liquor such as Chambord. Cover with whipped vanilla double cream and mix. Use fresh mint or a strawberry couli drizzled atop as a garnish.

And there you have it, the ultimate summer desert. The meringue can be kept for upto two weeks in an airtight container...the struggle is knowing this, to not want to make this every night!!

Multitask Makeup Must Haves

We're staying on the theme of packing light this week and in terms of multitask products, these two are by far the ones I reach for the most and would ALWAYS make it into my travel makeup bag.

The All Occasions Palette - This great neutral offering from Soap and Glory is honestly my go to option if I know space is at a premium. The shadows are all heavily pigmented and have great colour payoff. I use the palest shade (top left) all over the lid, under my brow bone and lightly as a very light highlight if I am looking for a more dramatic evening look. 

The dusky pink shade (top right) is great as an every day neutral or can be layered under the shimmer shade (bottom right) for the evening. The taupe colour (bottom left) I use for my eyebrows, in the crease of the lid and even lightly as a contour in the hollows of my cheekbones as it has no red undertone. 

A great palette that offers a huge range of options for relatively little space. It is also more affordable that the equivalent MAC quad pricing in at only £11 from Boots.

The Summer Shimmer - MAC's Bare Study paint pot is another great multi task product. On its own for a subtle shimmer on the eye or layered under other products to prevent creasing and keep everything in it's place, this one is a keeper for sure. I also love using this champagne shimmer as a creme highlight on the tops of the cheekbones, under the brow bone, down the nose, in the sup id's bow and on the centre of the eye lid for a great bronzed look which with a tan is an unbeatable combination.

Of course other products with an honourable mention would include the Revlon Baby Stick (used in my 5 product face here) and maybe also something like Benefit's Hoola Bronzer (review here) which can also be used on the eye to create depth. 

What is your go to all in one product?

The Must Have Miniatures

There are some products for which travel sized miniatures were invented. Personally whenever I travel I try to only take small sizes of my products so that I can either leave the empty bottle at the end of my stay or at least know that it won't take up too much valuable suitcase space.

I haven't included everything here, just the ones I think are the most convenient to have a travel size of. I would also include a shampoo and conditioner but I don't currently have a mini version so would be likely to just decant some of my regular products into small bottles like the ones available from Boots.

First off, a travel sized moisturiser. It doesn't matter if you are going on a sun holiday or a snow holiday, you will need moisturiser equally in both. I personally like to take a small tub of something very nourishing rather than a large bottle of something thinner. I find this size of Soap and Glory's The Righteous Butter will last me a week of post shower slathers and can even be tucked into the beach bag for a hand cream on the go.

Secondly, travel size Bioderma. Reviewed here, it goes without saying that you will want something that will rid you of makeup and temporarily make up the gap of a proper skincare routine. No one has room to be hoiking a 500ml bottle around in their luggage, this 100ml bottle will last a good couple of holiday/weekends away.

I also LOVE that Clinique give out miniatures in their Bonus Time promotions. I got this 15ml sample of my regular moisturiser last year and it is great for taking away without trying to squeeze in the 125ml bottle with pump (reviewed here). Glamour magazine is giving away a free gift with purchase of this for July, so worth a peruse of your local supermarket for either this, a mascara sample or a miniature chubby stick.

Deodorant....everyone needs it particularly on holiday. Sure and other Unilever brands have started producing smaller compressed versions of their products. Great for avoiding the large bottles without the fear of running out mid holiday.

Shower Gel is one of those things that normally come free in hotel rooms. With my sensitive skin however I always find it to be a good idea to take a small version of my current shower gel as no one wants an allergic reaction on holiday...it's not fun *voice of experience*

A small dry shampoo will be enough to get you through the week when you need to add some volume to lack lustre hair (too much chlorine/sun) or you just CBA to wash your hair before an early flight on the way home. 

And then finally, a body scrub. This one is the amazing smelling grapefruit one from The Bodyshop. If you have fake tanned in holiday preparation to avoid looking like a moo min by the pool on the first day (yes thats me) then this one is a must. Cholrine or sea water will wear this off quicker than usual and unfortunately not evenly. A scrub helps even everything up and *hopefully* ease you into a seamless transition from fake bake to sun kissed.

Where are you off on your travels this summer? 

The Weekend Round-up

So this weekend has been a bit of a different one. Amongst all of the football we have had a full house. Jake's family came to stay for the weekend so here are just a few snaps from along the way. The first picture above is of the last cupcake (recipe here) which I had without the tiniest bit of remorse after tidying the house for our visitors. I am going to do a 'preparing for guests checklist' tomorrow as this time of year it seems like if your not travelling yourself people are travelling to see you!

On Saturday we all went to Henley in Arden for a bit of a wonder and most importantly an Ice Cream. Ever since we moved to the midlands people have been telling us that we must try it, and let me assure you the long queue was worth the wait! Honeycomb ice cream is a winner!

We then spent the rest of the afternoon in a pub garden, ironically named 'The Secret Garden' which was very well signposted! There were giant wooden toadstools and the pimms was flowing. We definitely got our 5 a day from the drinks.

Saturday night we went out for dinner at Chimichangos which is a mexican restaurant nearby. They also served truly HUGE cocktails which despite the picture above, Amy managed this lush gin and melon concotion solo! Yes it might have been a fairly boozy weekend. I stuck to Sangria which sadly was better than my main which I had to send back. An hour and a half late and not too warm? I came home and had a bowl of shreddies instead.

And then Sunday, after the family had gone home I popped into town to do a bit of shopping and picked up this cute keyring from Cath Kidston. It is an engagement gift for our friends Chris and Donya as they have a brilliant airedale called Brian and I could not resist picking this up for them.

What have you been up to this weekend? Let me know in the comments below.

Something Different...Album Review: Ed Sheeran X

Normally our monday edition is a bake, this week however I thought I would do something different. Worry not the bake will come, but of now lets talk music! 

I have now had this album just over a week and honestly it is such a good listen. On first play I thought a lot of it was too 'downbeat' compared to sing however as you get into it it becomes evident that its not downbeat at all, rather just low key!

A good mix of catchy pop tunes and fantastic acoustic guitar rifts will keep most people on their toes. I personally think there are a few songs that having listened to a few times honestly already sound timeless. Below are my faves.

Top 5 Tracks

Track 4: Don't

Full of attitude with a great hip hop sound, this is one is an easy listen and the chorus will get stuck in your head. The lyrics are great and a quick google makes them all the more interesting?? *Ellie Goulding, I'm judging you!!*

Track 9: Runaway

Great jazz style vocals kick this one off with a catchy verse structure and very hummable chorus. Perfect for listening to in the garden, pimms out and BBQ on. On deeper inspection however this is a wonderfully written deep and meaningful song...oh how does Ed do it every time?

Track 2: I'm a Mess

This one is a little slower however still has great attitude and an almost raw feeling bridge and chorus. A great love song that is not cheesy in the slightest.

Track 7: Bloodstream

A chilled version of a song that seems soulful without even trying. Serious subject matter dealt with in a unique way. This one will grow on you (and you'll be humming the chorus without knowing where it came from).

Track 3: Nina

And finally, this autobiographical reflection on his teenage years and girlfriend this is delicate in it's honesty without putting on the rose tinted glasses. A refreshing reminder of reality without being at all depressing. Another catchy chorus, he's a talented lad is Ed.

So all in all a great listen, refreshingly different from his first album but will undoubtable be played a similar amount. Have you got a favourite track? Let me know below.

Summer Ice Cream Nails

I guess it may be a summer cliché but I have been LOVING pastel nails recently. I am far too fair to pull off pastels any other time of year, so now I have the teeniest bit of a tan, it's my time! I am currently rocking Essie's Mint Candy Apple (top right) on my toes and I have had so many compliements on it already. Last summer I had by toes Shellac'd in a very similar colour and it really does liven up even the most boring black sandals.

I have also been loving another Essie polish, Fiji on my fingers. There is something so simple about this polish with its baby pink hue that commands respect as a daily go to. For days when coral is not the one or as a work polish this one is great. Doesn't chip easily and goes super shiny with a decent top coat. Winner.

The two Ciaté polishes I got in my Advent Mini Mani Calendar back in December and at the time I didn't think I would get much wear out of them....I simply needed to wait until it warmed up a bit! The lavender colours varnish is called Sugar Plum and again looks smashing with a bit of tan (fake or otherwise). I haven't tried this one yet on my toes but it is next on my list when I remove the Mint Candy Apple. 

The baby blue colour from Ciaté is called Ferris Wheel is like no others I have in my collection. I am typically attracted to periwinkle blue shade but this one is a true pastel. Almost a duck egg hue (and in fact very similar to many of my kitchen accessories) this one would be great as an alternative to Fiji as it is pale enough to go unnoticed on a day to day basis but the colour really shoes through in natural sunlight...perfect in a summer polish.

Essie polishes are available from Boots and Online for £7.99 each (Mint Candy Apple & Fiji).

Ciaté polishes are available from Selfridges and Online for £9 (Sugar Plum & Ferris Wheel).

The Summer Fragrance Edit

You may notice a distinct lack of photos for today's post...this is mainly due to the fact that perfume bottles are a bitch to photograph being all shiny, metallic and glass. The sentiment is here all the same however.

So personally I know that I will wear my fragrance according to season. Spring and summer are full of light florals with perhaps a slight musky undertone. My winter fragrances are slightly heavier and I never seem to deviate from this pattern. I would however love to know your go to summer scent as I am always looking for new ones to try out.

1. Clinique (Limited Edition) Happy in Bloom

This fruity and floral fragrance is lovely for every day. It has been released in it's limited edition form on and off for the past 8 years. I first picked it up in duty free on a summer holiday as a teenager and it is a scent I always go back to. It has average lasting power on the skin and is not overpowering if you end up sitting in the sun. Definitely one to have a sniff of when passing a Clinique counter, while you can. [£26.50 for 30ml, available on counters and online]

2. DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom

This is another oldie which I seem to bring out every summer. This fragrance has top notes of grapefruit and citrus which back onto a slightly woody scent. The bottle is cute in the shape of an apple like all the other DKNY Be Delicious fragrances which isn't the most practical for travelling, so not a holiday pack but great for the dressing table. The staying power of this one I don't find to be as good as the Clinique and it is fairly sweet for a citrus scent so may not be for everyone, particualry if you like musk based scents. [£34.99 for 30ml, available from Boots]

3. Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche

Personally I have always found the original Chance scent a little too heavy for me. I have a theory, that is blondes struggle to wear heavy scents. My mother is darker than I am and she pulls it off like a boss, on me? It's far too much. The Eau Fraiche version however is fabulous. It is much lighter with again a citrus undertone (noticing a theme??) which breaks through the musk just leaving the most subtle scent. This one has some serious staying power, but then being Chanel you would expect so. [£54 for 50ml, available on counters and online from Boots]

4. Ralph Lauren Romance

This is a scent that takes me back. First worn while I was at University it takes me back about 5 years. A lovely floral scent, much stronger than the others mentioned above. This one is not citrus based, instead a heady mix of flowers and amber which is surprisingly light and not at all cloying to wear. This scent is often packaged up in gift boxes around Christmas time and can be found on various offers which is a bonus. This bottle is 100ml and nearly empty *sob* but it is still hanging around my collection for days when I just need to feel 21 again. [£71.50 for 100ml, available from Boots]

5. Victor and Rolf Flowerbomb

And then finally this offering from Victor and Rolf is definitely a marmite scent for most people, myself included, and I swear I change my opinion on a day to day basis. I loved it in the shop, hated it when I got home, wore it for a bit and loved it, and now it is once again sitting a little unloved. This is the most musky based scent of the selection but it is countered with a lovely light floral fragrance which is why I bought it. It definitely feels sophisticated and *personally* I feel is more of a summer evening scent. Sat in the garden with a glass of prosecco...yes this one would fit the bill perfectly! [£48.33 for 50ml, available from department stores and John Lewis Online]

What would your top summer scent be? Let me know below

Bargain of the Summer? I Think So!

I love Wimbledon. I love how it always makes me feel ultra summery and I love watching Kim Sears look absolutely flawless at every single one of Andy Murray's matches. I loved Kim's Mulberry Willow that she toted throughout last years tournament, so much that I have had several thoughts about buying this years version in beautiful Ballet Pink (here). Unfortunately I have to save a little longer for that, but in the meanwhile I came across this beauty! 

My best friend and I were chatting on the phone last week about lack of affordable handbags that we actually like (we both have expensive taste) and she mentioned Accessorize. It is a shop I almost never frequent and often forget. Looking online while on the phone however we both saw this and when I mentioned that I had seen something I liked, Yannah knew this was the bag I was talking about.

A great summer nude blush pink colour and it looks far more stylish than its £32 price tag suggests. No it's not leather, but it does have a detachable long strap, it also has metal feet, is a decent size and no you won cry at the thought of putting it down on a bench in a beer garden.

Yes it borrows heavily from design elements of other designers, but all in all I am very pleased with my little find. I'm not expecting it to last more than the season however if I'm honest the worry I have with the Willow is that i'm not sure it won't be dated in another season anyway...and hey, I saved myself £1,578 and that's a result in my book!

The Melissa Winged Handbag: Available from Accessorize (here) who also accept student discount, taking this beauty down to £28.20

The Weekend Round-up

Last weekend's post seemed to go down quite well so I thought I would write another Sunday edition of what we got unto this weekend. Saturday was a fairly slow start, I cooked eggs for breakfast and the sight of this smiley one made me chuckle in my bleary eyed state.

We then had errands to run and Jake needed a haircut so we drove to our local town fairly early (11am) before the rest of the world woke up and all tried to get in the same car park...we've played that game before. Alone in John Lewis I perused the Chanel and Clinique counters and made a few cheeky purchases. I also picked up my FAVOURITE bargain find for the summer which I will review on Tuesday.

Home from a busy morning of battling with the masses it was time for a cup of tea and a shortbread. These chocolate chip cuties are from Sainsburys and are a great addition to your coffee table if you have guests, not to mention the adorable scottie dog. Saturday then descended into a typical rainy day of getting bits and pieces organised (I broke out my new accordion file (see Friday's post here).

Sunday was a much brighter day. Laundry out on the line, lunchtime supplies gathered we debated going to have a mooch around a local retail park at some home bits. As soon as we got in the carpark (or should I say queue for the car park!!) we decided that it was not worth the madness and instead we went for a drive in the countryside.

We ventured to a small village called Lapworth where we have half been looking at a house, and my gosh it's beautiful! We parked up and went for a long walk by the canal enjoying the sunshine and half looking for this house. In the end we gave up as we couldn't pin point it and watched as many of the narrow boats made their way through the locks.

A short walk in the other direction along the canal yield the holy ground of a Sunday walk...the Pub! We sat outside in the gorgeous pub garden, Jake had a Cornish Doonbar Ale (can take the man out for the west country...) and I had a lime and soda (living on the edge) and enjoyed the end of a beautiful afternoon. 

Getting out into the country is good for the soul and on the drive home we both felt more relaxed and at ease for the week ahead.

Whats your favourite sunday afternoon? I would love to know.

Summer Shoes Showdown

So the sun has finally decided to show its face for more than a single day *apologies in advance for jinxing it* which means its time to rethink summer footwear. It's time to bare those toes in some of this summer's offerings. A capsule shoe collection if you like with something for all occasions.

The Go-To Wedding Shoe [Similar available from Kurt Geiger]

A nude court shoe is a summer wedding essential. The concealed platform meals that these will be comfy all the way into the small hours and the colour will go with just about any summer dress. A great way to make your legs look longer and complete an elegant look. These are no longer on sale but KG and many other brands launch similar year on year.

The Smart Sandal [Available from Office, RRP £32]

A smart sandal is a great addition to your summer shoe line up. Smart enough that it can be dressed up and worn to work while still letting the air at your toes. These ones from office are great with a slightly elasticated back which make them super comfy all day. They also do the same sandal in black or champagne and I must say I have been tempted to get the full range.

The Rainy Day Shoe [Available from Superdry, RRP £20]

Lets face it, during our lovely English summer there will be many an occasion when open toed sandals are just not going to do the trick. Squelchy toes no longer with these boat shoes from Superdry. They will keep your toes dry, prevent wet flip flop slippage (can't be the only one to have stacked it in flip-flops in the rain?) and keep your outfits looking fresh. A great alternative to boring back ballet flats!

The Ultimate Flip Flop [Available from Havaianas, RRP £22]

And then last but by no means least, the flip flop. A summer staple and my every day footwear of choice. So comfy it doesn't feel like your wearing anything at all? That is the ticket! Havaianas have been around for years and although pricey really are the creme de la creme of flip flops. They will outlast any cheap nasties and are instantly comfy. This Luna style has an additional ankle strap which I think is great, it makes them easier to walk around a bust town in (people won't walk on the back of them) and means that you can also drive in them. Thumbs up all round.

What are your summer shoes of choice? I guess now the only challenge is to decide on a pedicure colour??!!