The Summer Jean | Topshop

90s
I’m usually a high-waisted, ultra-skinny, black jean type of girl and I have been for years. Although my love for skinny jeans will never fade, despite what I’m told is in style or not, I recently wanted to find a good summer jean. Mainly because black skinny jeans in heat aren’t particularly comfortable and it feels like your legs are on fire. Cue, the Topshop Mom jean in light bleach. The Mom jean is still high-waisted and fitted but has a lot more room compared to a skinny jean. Think Monica from FRIENDS, that ass still looks good but you don’t have to worry about undoing your top button after a big meal. The light bleach denim is also great for summer and I’ve been living in these jeans as of late. I need to get my hands on another pair pronto.

Do you have a new summer staple?

~ Jade xx

May Flowers | OOTD

badbury clump

Leather Jacket ~ Zara
Grey tee ~ ASOS
Skirt ~ ASOS
Trainers ~ Nike

After all the rain in April comes green fields and the first of the summer blooms. Living in the countryside means theres lots of national trust parks around and this on called Badbury Wood is a short drive from my home town. In May its filled with bluebells and having made a recent ASOS order and getting a new camera lens a trip was necessary. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I’m not very good at casual style but the mixture of a laid back v-neck tee with a chiffon pleated skirt is a nice way to dress down a statement piece especially when paired with trainers and a leather jacket. For evening or an event this could easily be dressed up with some heals.


~ Jade xx

Gingerbread Biscuits | Sunday Bakes

baking
’Tis the season to be jolly and as mentioned in my Autumn favourites post I love gingerbread anything but the best form, is of course, gingerbread biscuits. This recipe is pretty straightforward and quick but does require time to cool the dough before baking. 

I N G R E D I E N T S :

75g light brown soft sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
1 tbsp black treacle
1 tbsp water
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 rounded tsp ground ginger
95g butter
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
225g plain flour sifted + extra if needed

1 tube of white writing icing to decorate (or any decorations of your choice)

M E T H O D :

1. Add the sugar, golden syrup, treacle, water, cinnamon and ginger to a saucepan on a low heat and leave to combine. 

2. Add the butter to the syrup mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until everything is mixed together and all of the butter has melted - make sure the mixture doesn’t burn or bubble.

3. Bring the saucepan off the heat heat and mix in the bicarbonate os soda and the plain sifted flour to the mixture until a dough forms - you may need to add some extra flour to the mixture if your dough is quite runny.

4. Leave the mixture to cool in the fridge for thirty minutes. 

5. Pre heat your oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas mark 4 and roll out the dough - make sure your surface and rolling pin are dusted with flour to prevent any sticking. Cut out your gingerbread and place onto a greaseproof baking tray. Place in the oven for 10 minutes or until brown - they will be soft when they first come out of the oven but will set as they cool so be careful not to overtake them!

6. Once your gingerbread have cooled decorate in any manner you wish. Voila, perfect gingerbread for the festive season. 

What’s your favourite festive treat?

- Jade xx

A 70s Autumn | Outfit of the Day

70s
Autumn is my favourite time of year, especially when it comes to fashion. I love autumn days when the sun is shining but there's still a chill in the air. This year I have found a love for coats and earthy tones, A-line skirts and 70s prints when it comes to putting together outfits. As I'm sure you can tell, Topshop and New Look have been my favourite places to find some great pieces this year.

What are your autumn fashion favourites?
- Lucy xx


What I'm wearing:
Trench coat ~ New Look
Scarf ~ New Look
Top ~ Topshop
Skirt ~ Topshop
Boots ~ New Look (similar here)
Bag ~ Rebecca Minkoff - Avery Crossbody (exact colour no longer available)

Favourite Things about Autumn & Outfit

autumn favourites
Autumn is my favourite time of the year, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who loves, and I mean loves, autumn. The leaves change colour, the nights draw in and the temperature drops - not to mention it means Christmas is just around the corner. Today I wanted to encapsulate the things I love about autumn in one post and share with you all.

Autumnal walks | I love walking during the autumn months, I love walking in general but during autumn it’s extra special. Its cool enough to wear a coat but your fingers aren’t falling off and you get to experience all the leaves changing colour. If you live in the countryside like me you’ll also probably see a large amount of wild animals - pheasants & deer being the main ones. The photos in this post were taken at Westonbirt Arboretum which isn't terribly far from where we live and is a day place to just be for a while whilst looking at how beautiful nature can be.

Layering | I love a coat, I have a slight obsession with good quality, tailored coats - the one in these photos is from Jack Wills - and I always get excited when the temperature begins to fall because it means I can dig out all of my outerwear. The cooler weather is also a great excuse to wear every jumper you own, dust off the thick socks and of course, the tartan scarf.

Berry hues | As somebody you wears a uniform of monochrome autumn is great as it means I can introduce my berry, rust and brown shades into my wardrobe which I can’t get away with during the warmer months. I can also start to wear my berry and vampy lip colours again - above I’m wearing Charlotte Tilbury’s Bond Girl.

Lazy days | When the rain is pelting against the windows and you have no reason to leave the house I love to wrap myself up in my incredibly fluffy dressing gown and my pjs and do a whole lot of nothing. During summer you feel like you’re wasting the day - carpe diem and all that - but during autumn and winter there is no guilt, at all.

Gingerbread scented/flavoured things | Candles, cakes, biscuits, room sprays, coffee, I don’t care what it is but if it’s gingerbread, I’ll have it all, please.

Christmas songs | I’m not ashamed to say that I start to get excited for Christmas as soon as September comes around. I’m a big kid at heart, and the Christmas songs get cracked out as soon as I can get away with it. My top three favourites are: Fairytale of New York - The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl (the most anti-Christmas song which perfectly sums up my family), Have yourself a merry little Christmas - Frank Sinatra (I could listen to Frank all day, every day quite easily), Stop the cavalry - Jona Lewie (this is also my mums favourite Christmas song so inherently is one of mine).

What are you favourite things about autumn?
- Jade xx

What I’m wearing above:
Coat ~ Jack Wills (no longer sold)
Scarf ~ Topshop (old, similar here)
Jeans ~ Topshop
Watch ~ Daniel Wellington
Wellingtons ~ Hunter

Paris | 2015

eiffel tower
Paris is a city that I’ve always wanted to go to. Despite it being only a two hour train journey away I had never been to France before let alone its capital. Back in June Lucy and I took the trip for four days and long overdue, this is our travel diary.

On our first day in Paris we arrived late afternoon after spending two and a half hours on the Eurostar from London - much to Lucy’s annoyance as she couldn’t get comfortable to sleep on the train, a true first world problem. After checking into the hotel and freshening up we decided to wonder down to the Eiffel Tower to get dinner. I had never been to Paris before, or France for that matter, so was very excited to see the tall standing building. 
We stopped off for dinner at a small cafe/restaurant with a view of the tower on our way back to the metro - side note: the cheapest way to get around Paris is via the Metro, if you’re used to the Underground, like me, it can still take some getting used to though despite it being a similar deal mainly due to the lines not having directional points like the Underground. This quaint spot wasn’t the most luxurious place to eat in Paris however the food was nice, the service was friendly and if you’re more interested in the tourist side of Paris opposed to living the high life, its perfect and budget friendly, which its hard to find a budget anything in such an expensive city.

Brownies | Sunday Bakes

baking
Chocolate brownies are a staple recipe that everyone has, or should have, down to perfection. Today I thought I’d share my perfect recipe for the best bitter, sweet, gooey brownies. 

I N G R E D I E N T S :

225g dark chocolate
110g butter
35g cocoa powder
3 eggs
150g light brown sugar

M E T H O D :

1. Preheat oven 180ºC/350ºF/Gas 4 and prepare your tin. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a bowl over a pan of boiling water. 

2. Once the chocolate and butter have fully melted sift in the cocoa powder and leave to the side to cool. Whilst the mixture is cooling whisk the eggs until frothy before adding the sugar and whisking further until the mixture is thick and mouse-like.

3. Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture once the mixture is cool. Use a metal spoon to fold the mixture as this helps to add more air to avoid a stodgy mixture. 

4. If you wish to you could add 100g of walnuts, cherries, chocolate chips or whatever else you like to your brownie mixture at this point, personally though I like just plain brownies though.

5. Transfer your mix to your prepared tin and place in the oven to cook for 20 minutes turning the tin around halfway through for an even bake. Leave to cool before cutting into bitesize pieces.


~ Jade xx

Blueberry muffins | Sunday Bakes

baking
Blueberry muffins are my favourite kind of muffins, some people like chocolate, double chocolate or even triple chocolate, some like lemon and poppy seed but I’m a sucker for the traditional blueberry muffin. Mainly because they feel a little healthier than the chocolate alternatives. I’ve tried many muffin recipes over the years but this is my favourite as it creates the best light and delicious muffins I’ve every tasted.

I N G R E D I E N T S :

110g Plain flour
110g Butter
65g Caster sugar
2 Eggs
1½tsp Baking powder
125g Blueberries - fresh, frozen or from a can if you want the juices to run into the cake
Pinch nutmeg

M E T H O D :

1. Preheat your oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas 6. Cream together the butter and sugar, slowly add in the eggs and mix for three minutes. 

2. Add the flour, baking powder and nutmeg to the mixture and combine. Fold in half of the blueberries to the mixture leaving some for decoration on top. 

3. Leave the mixture to chill in the fridge for at least an hour. 

4. Place a spoonful of the mixture into each muffin case filling each to just over half way. Stud each muffin with the left over blueberries. 

5. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden on top. Leave to cool for 10 minutes before removing from the muffin tin.


~ Jade xx

Rocky Road | Sunday Bakes

baking
Rocky road is a great recipe for any novice bakers out there or anyone who doesn’t venture into the kitchen very often. It doesn’t involve any actual baking so is quick and easy but more importantly, nigh-on impossible to mess up. It’s a great treat to add to lunchbox’s or picnic’s and any small human will be thanking you dearly for making it.

I N G R E D I E N T S :

350g Dark or plain chocolate
150g Salted butter
4tbsp Golden syrup
250g Cookies or biscuits (honeycomb would be great also)
150g Mini marshmallows
Anything else you would like to add - nuts, raisins, glacé cherries etc

M E T H O D :

1. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a bain-marie (glass bowl over a saucepan of boiling water without the water touching the bowl), stirring constantly to be sure the chocolate doesn’t burn.

2. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the golden syrup. Break up the cookies into small pieces by placing in a freezer bag or tea towel and bashing with a rolling pin (or put them in a food processor and 'pulse' a few times). 

3. Add the cookies and marshmallows as well as any extras to the chocolate mix. Pour the mixture into a square, lined tin and push the mixture into the tin until it covers evenly.

4. Leave the mixture to chill in the fridge for at least four hours, but preferably overnight, to set. Remove from tin once chilled, cut into pieces and enjoy.


~ Jade xx

Tips for planning a trip away

holiday
Summer is on the horizon, and with that many of us will be jetting away on holiday whether it be to the beach for a week, a city trip or a long weekend escape. Either way planning a trip can be stressful especially if you have never been where you going before so I’ve put together some tips that I’ve found helpful whilst booking my trips away.

Set a Budget | To prevent overspending set a budget. It doesn’t matter how big or how small that budget is but making sure you stay within your means will prevent you wracking up a large credit card bill and you can also easily track what you’re spending.

Research the Area | If you’re visiting somewhere you’ve been to many times before or are familiar with this step can probably be skipped - unless you want to discover somewhere new which you may have missed before. But if you’re visiting somewhere new it pays to do some research about where you’re going. What the big tourist attractions, where are the best restaurants, is their public transport or do you need to get taxis, where is your hotel or where your staying in relation to all of this. It can be quite easy to get whisked away in the excitement of visiting somewhere new that you miss a lot of what is going on and come away having only seen a quarter of what you could’ve seen and done.

Look Around | This is helpful in terms of saving money but also finding exactly what you want. Don’t just book the first hotel you find, or the first flights etc. Not only could you save yourself money that way but you may find a better hotel that may be closer to what you’re doing, offer more etc.

Read Reviews | Reviews are your best friend. Want to know what the staff is like at a hotel? Read reviews. Want to know whether a tourist attraction is worth it? Read reviews. Want to know what restaurants are the best? Read reviews.

Read Travel Blogs | Just like beauty blogs are the place to go for beauty advice, travel blogs are the place to go for travel advice. With reviews of everything from restaurants to hotels and everything in-between often with condensed posts based around one city or place showing all the best bits. They are also excellent at recommending places that are off the beaten track and not recommended in guide books.

Make a List | List everything you want to do whilst your away, from day trips to tourist attractions to restaurants. This makes is easier for you to plot down what you want to do whilst you’re away, don’t make a concrete itinerary though as this will take away your ability to truly enjoy the trip as you’ll be more focussed on how much time you have where and how to get to the next thing you want to do.

Do you have any tips for planning a mini break or holiday?

~ Jade xx

Custard Tarts | Sunday Bakes

baking

Custard tarts have been my favourite pastry since I can remember. My grandmother would always buy me custard tarts for a Friday afternoon when I would visit and recently I came across a recipe for them. They’d never been something I thought of making myself beforehand but they’re super easy, and super tasty. 

I N G R E D I E N T S :

165g Plain flour
25g Ground almonds
120g Unsalted butter, chilled and diced
55g Caster sugar
1 Medium egg

For the custard filling:

700ml Whole milk
7 Medium egg yolks, room temperature
90g Caster sugar
Freshly grated nutmeg

M E T H O D :

1. To make the pastry mix the flour and ground almonds together in a bowl. Add the butter and rub together until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. 

2. Stir in the sugar and break in the egg. Work the mixture together with your fingers until it forms a soft dough.

3. Tip the dough out onto a floured surface. Form into a ball, wrap in cling film and leave to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

4. Whilst the dough is chilling, make the custard filling. Gently heat the whole milk in a medium sized saucepan until just below boiling. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until pale and creamy. 

5. Pour the milk onto the egg mixture in a steady stream stirring constantly. Pour the mixture into a jug with a good pouring lip. Preheat your oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas 6.

6. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to a 5mm thickness. Using a cutter 11cm in diameter to cut out discs until you have 12. Gently press each disc into a muffin tin to line evenly, the pastry should come slightly above the tin. 

7. Carefully pour the custard filling into the pastry cases. Sprinkle the centre of each tart with a pinch of nutmeg.

8. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 200ºC/400ºF/Gas 6, then bake for further 10 minutes at 180ºC/350ºF/Gas 4. The tarts are done when the custard filling has a slight dome but is still a bit wobbly. 

9. Leave the tarts to cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes before carefully removing them.


~ Jade xx

Bagels | Sunday Bakes

bagels
Who doesn’t like bagels? Whether they’re toasted for breakfast or stuffed with tuna for lunch, they're great. I had a go at baking some recently and although they take a bit of time to do they aren’t difficult at all. This recipe makes 12 and they’re great for freezing so you can always have freshly, homemade bagels on hand.

I N G R E D I E N T S :

300ml Warm water
7g Dried yeast
500g Strong white bread flour
2tbsp Honey
1tbsp Salt
1 Egg white
1 Egg

Handful of chives

M E T H O D :

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Combine the flour, salt, honey and yeast water in a bowel and then knead for 5-10 minutes until a soft dough is formed - I used a dough hook and an electric mixer but you can do it by hand also. Leave the kneaded dough to prove for an hour in a warm place under a cloth.

2. Add the flavourings to your dough. You can leave them plain or add chives - like I did - seeds, cinnamon sugar, anything you want to. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and create a round bagel shape about 2cm deep. If you struggle to form the circular shapes then you can roll out the dough and use cutters like I did, this also makes the bagels more uniform in shape.

3. Place the bagels on a baking tray. If you formed the circular discs, cut out a hole in the middle of each bagel using a cutter. Leave the bagels to prove again for 30-45 minutes.

4. Heat a large pan of boiling water and preheat your oven to 180ºC. Boil the bagels two at a time for 1 minute on each side, dry them off on a tea towel before returning to the baking sheet.

5. Brush the bagels with a beaten egg and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool and then serve how you like - my favourite way is toasted with cream cheese and cracked pepper.
~ Jade xx

Photography information

Canon 600D with 18-55mm lens, Canon 24mm lens or Sigma 70-300mm lens. Canon EOS M with 18-55mm lens or Canon 24mm lens. Any edited photos are edited using Photoshop CS6. Picture source is given for any photo used that is not directly ours.