What I wore: I told you that no matter what you did I'd be by your side

So I went Jeans shopping yesterday. Even Michael knew it was a big deal! I have been on the look out for a long while now and my others are starting to show signs of wear (yeah almost a hole ha). So, as a form of procrastination, I decided it was time.

I went everywhere, DP, Topshop, New Look etc but decided on a pair from New Look. I know they usually wear out within a couple of months, but they're cheap as anything and usually always have a nice range of colours that fit well.

So here are my new bad boys;

Please excuse the mess and slippers ha

And this is my new nail varnish, Perlede Jade apparently. From Loreal Paris :)

The colour reminds me of the jelly baby that tastes like mint toothpaste, such a good one.

Busy busy bee

I was looking in the garden when I was home the other day, and I discovered the sweetest bee was stuck in a pot full of water! I wasn't sure if it was dead or not so I quickly scooped it out (with a utensil - I know not to touch it cause it's sting might be out). He was actually quite big and I sat with him for a while because my cat was skulking around and I didn't trust his greedy tummy!
Here's the little fella;

 as you can see it was a really sunny day - having taken A Level photography I refuse to put my camera on auto settings and so I had to adjust the F number and shutter speed quite frequently when the sun went behind the clouds etc

 I was sad that he took so long to dry off and get back to normal but definitely took advantage of the fact that he let me take photos for so long and so close to him

 I think he knew we were friends really.

Yes Zinc I can see you, you menace. 

What I wore: donations

So this is my new dress. No I have not been spending any money, Theana gave it to me! She said she didn't like it and she thought she'd check with me before she threw it out. I welcomed it with open arms! I said 'what don't you like?, she said 'the buttons.' I offered to change them for her, but she was not up for it. I examined the material and said we could make a top out of it, but then I tried it on and fell in love. I'm even wearing it on my first day back to work today.  

Ah, so lovely it hurts. 

The sleeves are meant to be long, past the elbow, but I prefer them this short. Makes it easier to wear cardigans too. Sorry about the cropped photos - uber messy room either side ha. 

I can almost guarantee I'm having a stressful day back at work, but I hope yours is going a lot better!

ohhh you guys made me eek!

For Michael's brothers birthday, his family went out for a fancy meal and I got invited too!
We went to a place called Zucca's on the Barbican, Plymouth which was very Italian. A range of starters were had including caesar salad, crispy squid (Michael and myself), beef carpaccio, salmon fishcakes and scallops on a chili jam with cauliflower puree. I didn't get a photo of my squid because I didn't want to see rude but it was served on this slate-plate with a fancy splodge of garlic mayonnaise.

For mains there were; scallop and bacon risotto, fillet steak, chorizo penne pasta, pizza, crab linguine and what I had - scallops with squid ink spaghetti. It was, amazing. The scallops were cooked to perfection, the spaghetti had an interesting but not overpowering flavour, and the capers were a lovely addition. I didn't get a snap at the beginning, but I did manage to get one before I passed it round for everyone to try.

For dessert, most people had doughnut sticks with honey, pine nuts and a chocolate dip. There was also limoncello and polenta cake and I had the orange and mascarpone tart with burnt sugar, pineapple and raspberries with pineapple ice cream and a biscuit. It was amazing.

I wouldn't have chosen any of my dishes differently and I had a really great time! I'd advise people to go there if they'd like to try new things and experiment.

HomeMade MeatBalls

I have never made my own meatballs before, but I read a recipe before I went to my sisters the other week and just wanted to try it out! I remembered it spot on for some reason, but google'd a recipe in case. Here's the basis we used;

For the meatballs

• 2 tablespoons of garlic powder
• 900g/2lb freshly minced beef
• 2 tbsp freshly chopped herbs, such as basil or oregano
• 2 free-range eggs, beaten
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tbsp olive oil
  2 slices of brown bread (soaked in milk)

For the tomato sauce

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 110g/4oz onion, sliced
  2 tablespoons of tomato puree
• 2 tablespoons of garlic powder and 1 tbsp of garlic puree
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 x 400g/14oz cans tomatoes

to make the meatballs just combine all the ingredients, I used my hands and just got messy!  I put them on a plate - not touching and rested them in the fridge for 10 minutes whilst I made the sauce. 

Next, onto the sauce. Fry off the onions, add the garlic powder.

Add the tomato's, tomato puree and garlic puree, season. Add the sugar if it's too sour - your choice though!

Leave to simmer and reduce

Start to fry off the meatballs - keep the heat low because you don't want to move them too much else they'll fall apart. 

Don't forget to put your pasta on! I usually do.

Check they're cooked through by cutting into the biggest one, then add the sauce if they're done.

Serve up and enjoy!

We also add cheese (pasta, cheese, meatball/sauce, cheese)

Have you ever made meatballs? I can't believe how easy it was to do! and pretty fast, this was all under an hour.

What I wore: Just call me Jack Sparrow

So this is the crop top I mentioned... I saw a scarf I really liked and decided I'd make a top out of it. as it was a square scarf it had to be a crop top but that's okay, I like to mix things up a bit ;)

Please 'scuse the pink leopard print, they're my jammies ha

pretty sparrows

It's lovely and I can't wait to go out and wear it, I'm thinking shorts or a high waisted skirt!

(as you can see my straighteners are skill broken :( )

On a side note- I am a big fruit tea fan, I like all kinds of things and I'm willing to try most of them if I haven't before, but I'm sat here with a Chai Latte and I just can't bear to take another sip. How do people drink these?!? Bleh, definitely off my list.

I was wrong

I've been browsing photos of people I know who graduated last year to decide if black was really the right colour with the gown. After some consideration black is not at the right colour, it looks very drab and bland, because the cloak itself is black. Black patterned is okay but white, is even nicer! But, it needs to have a V-neck collar or strapless. so here are some new considerations;

Lipsy

both asos

both boohoo

Not quite white but SO beautiful

Monsoon 

It's a lot harder to find white dresses so it's a good job I've still got a fair bit of time!

LBD 4 GRDTN

As my graduation is coming up this year, I've started looking for something appropriate to wear under my gown! I've viewed friends from previous years and decided that a simple black dress is the best option, so here are a couple that have made the shortlist;

1.

2.

3.

all the above are from ModCloth

4.

boohoo

5.

6.

7.

the above three are ASOS

8.

the above is next

9.

10.

these are both next

11.

Monsoon

12.

Coast

13.

14.

This one actually made my heart flutter!

15.

16.

above 4 are topshop

17.

Matalans

All dresses should link back to the original website, I tried my hardest! So which one is your favourite?

3, 12, 14 are mine!