“Your Birthday Is A Special Time To Celebrate The Gift Of 'You' To The World.”

Hello all!

As some of you will know, it was my birthday a couple of weeks ago and I was absolutely spoilt rotten, so I wanted to show you a few of the lovely things I got. 

I woke up to breakfast in bed, which was gorgeous and so thoughtful... and then went downstairs to find an actual pyramid of presents! Along with a bottle bag for good measure (and anything in a bottle is certainly good measure!) 

 

 I had a chilled out day where we went for a picnic and saw friends. Then in the evening we went out for a slap-up (I do hate that phrase!) meal, again with my nearest and dearest. Two of my best friends got me a box full of gorgeous stuff (pics will be at the bottom) and my auntie and uncle got me some lovely jewellery.

 We had a great meal, I ended up taking half of it home with me... even though me and Sarah couldn't resist getting dessert, which was a snickerbockerglory. Kinda like a peanut butter sundae! Nommmm.

When I got home, a cute giant cupcake was waiting for me off my mum and dad, and a mysterious envelope which, when I opened it, was a voucher for a weekend away in a Manor House including Spa, Facial and Massage! It was so sweet of them, especially after how much I'd already got!

The Jacquard throw is what I bought with some of my birthday money because I love being cosy and snuggly - it's absolutely huge!

I also do a lot of writing so the Paperchase notebook was perfect, it's much bigger than most other I have. 

The photo in the middle of the three is what my absolutely beautiful girls from uni got me. We went out for a meal just after my birthday and they surprised me with a huge bag of stuff! There's a Floozie make up bag set, a scented candle, some lip glosses, a spa set and some earrings from Topshop that I'd been gazing longingly at for weeks. It was so thoughtful of them and I nearly cried into my TGI Fridays!

 

 I am a self-proclaimed geek and I do love things to do with the Universe. It's going to sound SO sad but I just love looking at the pictures of how big the galaxy is, it sometimes really puts things in perspective knowing there's so much more out there than my problems!

 This is our hotel we stayed in...

 

 Apparently, King Henry VIII used to stay there! So I was hoping for some creepy, haunting activity... but unfortunately I was left disappointed! Although there was this big old chest that, when we opened it, had a picture of a demon in... So chances are, we've unleashed some curse on the place for the next visitors!

 

Finally, these are the presents from my besties! There were some gorgeous Teal earrings (my favourite colour), a lovely scarf, other jewellery including some adorable teapot earrings, a cupcake keyring and a teacup with a Soy candle in it!

It's like all the things I love in one box!

 

So there's my birthday in a post! I hope I haven't bored you!

Thanks so much to everyone who sent birthday messages, and also thanks and big love to everyone who's gifts have appeared in this post! 

Will post about my Vintage Venture soon!

Lots of Love, Taz x

One Of The Very Nicest Things About Life is The Way We Must Regularly Stop Whatever It Is We Are Doing And Devote Our Attention To Eating.

Hi guys!

I’ve got a few things ready to type up and post in the (I hope) not too distant future. There’s a birthday post featuring some of the beautiful presents I got, and another which I’m going to refer to as a “vintage venture” which I went on last week. So they should be up within the next week.

However, after the excitement of the jubilee… and the mass of cakes I ate in celebration of it (God bless you ma’am!) I’ve decided to type up one of my favourite recipes. If you hate the sound of it, don’t make it… I think it’s simple enough :)

And if you do make it, let me know how it goes!

I am unashamedly obsessed with The Hairy Bikers.
(Many believe this is because my father is hairy... and a biker.)
Anyway, my dad got their cookbook from a friend and because he is a self-proclaimed masterchef of the world he, naturally, believed it would be of no use to him and passed it down to his curinarily-challenged daughter! (for the slow kid at the back - that's me!)

I love their recipes because they're easy to follow, they don't use ponsey ingredients (Nigella, I love you, but no-one has oak-dried baby porcini mushrooms or cave-aged truffle pesto in their cupboard!) and they eat REAL food, these guys are not cooking for diet-dwellers!
One recipe I adore is Key Lime Pie so I thought I would share it with you all - ENJOY!

Ingredients

For the base

· 175g/6oz digestive biscuits

· 80g/3oz butter

· 50g/2oz caster sugar

For the filling

· 3 large free-range eggs, separated

· 2 limes, finely grated zest

· 125ml/4½fl oz lime juice

· 210ml/7½fl oz condensed milk

· 80g/3oz caster sugar

· ½ tsp vanilla extract

· pinch salt

To serve

· whipped cream

Preparation method

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.

For the pastry base, finely crush the biscuits by placing into a plastic bag and bashing with a rolling pin (alternatively, pulse to crumbs using a food processor). Transfer to a mixing bowl.

Melt the butter in a saucepan, then pour over the biscuit crumbs. Add the sugar, then mix well to combine. Evenly spread the biscuit mixture in a 23cm/9in pie case, making sure to cover the sides of the tin as well. Level off any excess biscuit mixture.

For the filling, whisk the egg yolks in a bowl until pale and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the lime zest, lime juice and condensed milk until smooth and creamy, then mix into the egg yolk mixture. Pour the mixture into the pie case.

In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed from the bowl. Gradually fold in the sugar, vanilla extract and salt, then whisk again until stiff peaks form. Spoon the meringue mixture over the filling in the pie case, using a fork to form the meringue into peaks.

Bake the pie in the oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the meringue is golden-brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Place into the fridge to chill completely before serving.

To serve, cut slices of the key lime pie and serve with a few spoonfuls of whipped cream.

Hope some of you will give it a try and tell me if you like/love/hate it!

Will try and get those other posts up within the week but going away tomorrow on a birthday surprise trip!
(Will also post about that too!)

Until then, take care.

Lots of love, Taz x

Fresh, Fun, Cutting Edge Designs That Can't Be Found On The High Street

Hi guys.

I can't say how sorry I am that I haven't posted in so long! I'm the worst blogger in the world! But I will try to make it up to you from now on.

A while back I bought a few items from Punky Pins. They're an online company who do all kinds of wonderful stuff specialising in kitsch, handmade and personalised jewellery.

Anyone who watched The Voice a couple of weeks back, Ruth Brown was adorned in their amazing creations.

I buy from them regularly and am always impressed with their quality and just LOVE the items they offer. 

Here's what I got this time round...

I love this Sugar Skull Ring, it's adjustable so one size fits all! The colours really are as striking as they look in the photo and it goes with just about everything.

The Sausage Dog 2 Finger Ring. How can anyone not love this?! It's so cute and also comes in Maroon or Brown as well as this Black.

Love & Hate Hearts Brooches.

Mini Mix Tape Necklace. Again, this is available in a whole range of colours.

Pop Art Banana Earrings. Available in 7 different colours.

Always Tattoo Necklace. This is my favourite item. I love all the tattoo design stuff, but the colours and details in this one are so nice! Anyone who knows me knows I am completely obsessed with Ed Hardy stuff, so this is really my kinda thing.

And finally, my personalised necklace. I adore this! They have so many different styles to choose from and they'll put any name on there for you. Ideal as a piece of statement jewellery, or get a friend's name put on there as a gift? 

You can even get Twitter ones with your @ name on there, so when that cute boy is checking you out but you're both too shy to make the first move, he'll have all the appropriate details to chat you up online later!

So that's what I got and I already have my eye on something else. Sadly, I can't justify another necklace at the moment, especially after buying this lot! But I'll show you it off the website...

Isn't it THE BEST?! 

Even better, the little stars in there move around... 

My biggest worry is that it will sell out.

HELP ME GUYS! 

Should I just buy it to avoid disappointment? Or be really good and save my money?!

 Anyway, wanted to share this beautiful stuff with you, and hopefully encourage you to go check it out yourself (but if you all go on and sell out my snowglobe necklace, there will be hell on! Haha!)

Lots of Love, Taz x

Let Them Eat Cake.

Hello my lovelys!

I haven't posted in a while because I haven't had much to say! But I wanted to tell you all about some of the lovely things I've been upto and share some photos.

Firstly, when I went for my weekend in Durham I bought these adorable little postcards for two of my friends which I've been wanting to show you for ages but I only gave them out on friday! (I am a terrible person) They are soooo cute and were perfectly apt for the friends in question.

They were from Paperchase and I also got one for my mum saying "I Love You So Much I Could Squish You!" haha. So sweet!

This post follows a theme about the same friends really because one of my 'things' is afternoon tea... I just LOVE it, it's so quaint and very English (I'm carrying forth the Ladies Who Luncheon flag for us Brits!) so my friends got us a voucher for Champagne Afternoon Tea at Mount Oswald Manor Hotel and Golf Club for Christmas! It was super kind of them and really thoughtful.

Also last week, me and Nix went for a day out in Stokesley. The market was on and the sun was out so it was gorgeous! We went to Chapters Bistro for lunch and would totally recommend it, it was amazing value for money, then did a bit of shopping, looked through the market and then headed to the Deli On The Green for some tea and cake!

I had Polenta shortbread which I'd never even heard of before, but it was delicious! So chewy and yum! And Nix got a pot of tea the size of her head! haha!

They also offer a great range of deli produce too. I got my mum some almond, cherry and linseed crackers along with some oak smoked wensleydale and nix got some haloumi. It also sells loads of chocolates and organic produce as well as chutneys, vinagrettes, and booze.

If you live locally then totally check these places out!

Until next time, take care.

Lots of love, Taz x

Whoever Said Money Can't Buy Happiness Simply Didn't Know Where To Go Shopping.

Hi All!

I've had loads of views on my last post about This Means War so thank you all for that!

Decided to post a purchases... post (too many p's!) of some of the lovely things I've been naughtily spending all my money on! First thing is this lunchbox... 

I am fully aware that I am about 15 years too old for a lunchbox but it was just TOO cute to leave in the shop! Naturally I'm not carrying my lunch round in it (that would be weird, right?) so it's currently holding a large majority of my nail varnishes!

However! I did use it for its 'sort of' intended use the other weekend in Durham because I filled it with treats for in the hotel room, like a box of malteasers and some lindor, nommy nom ;)

The next thing I wanna show you is my gorgeous new shoes!

Okay, so I've had them since Christmas, but now you get to see them!

I actually adore them! And they're not horrendously uncomfortable which isn't always a necessity but is a huge bonus! They were a really reasonable price (I won't tell you how reasonable...) and were the only pair left in the whole shop. I especially love the leopard print inside, even though no-one sees it but me when I take them off! The pictures don't show it that well but they have about a 4" heel and maybe 1.5" platform so they give me a lot of height but don't kill my feet!

If anyone wants to hunt a pair down, they're Love Label :)

I've also been splurging on smaller things like my pink skull shamballa bracelet, some Calvin Klein lipstick (in Cosmopolitan - a gorgeous corally pink) and 'another' candle from my favourite candle shop in Hutton-le-Hole - Moorwax Candles. 

He makes them all in the workshop and you can go in and make requests. I once wanted a specific colour candle but in a shape that he didn't make them in, but as soon as he found out what I was after, he told me to go back a week later and lo and behold he'd made some just for me! This French Cedar one smells beautiful! There are loads of varieties of the tinned candles and they all smell divine, I got my mum a few as presents and always grab a cheeky one for myself!

Okay, finally there's some Limoncello Baba, which we got from Lewis & Cooper in Northallerton. They're so strong they'll put hairs on your chest! 

I also decided to throw caution to the wind and abandon my femininity at the weekend to watch the Rugby with my dad. I thought I'd better get into the spirit of things and glug some cider... but found this spiced orange ginger beer in the back of the fridge instead and it was LUSH! Needless to say, the swearing and blokiness soon faded back to swooning girlish giggling when all the extremely hot men in extremely tight shorts ran out onto the pitch (I'm sure rugby players didn't used to look like that...) but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Obviously.

Lastly, since I'm obsessed with Starbucks, I treated myself to a half price gift set from the leftover Christmas stock. I didn't realise until I got it home and filled it with House Blend that it was actually the size of my head! 

But it's perfect for snuggling on the sofa with a fur throw and a massive brew!

Well, that's it, a few of the things I've bought.

I hope I haven't bored you to death! And if I have, well it's your own fault, you could've left at any point ;)

Until next time my loves, take care!

Lots of Love, Taz x

Don't Choose The Better Man, Choose The Man Who Makes You A Better Woman.

So last week I went to see This Means War at the cinema.

To be honest I went to see it for one reason and one reason alone...

And needless to say, it didn't disappoint.

The story is about two best friends, who happen to be CIA agents, who fall for the same girl.

She doesn't know they're friends and goes about dating both of them, not knowing the other is seeing almost everything that happens and trying to counteract it. It stars Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy and Chelsea Handler.

There isn't so much as far as story goes (it's no Inception) but I still found it thoroughly entertaining.

It's got a great mix of action and rom-com which I don't think is a base very well covered recently (in my opinion, I could be miles from the truth!). 

The stunts are great and there are a few one liners that had me giggling for hours afterwards, but that could be my simple mind! 

It was actually really nice to see Tom Hardy in something a bit less intense than the stuff he usually does. He's a fantastic actor and always takes me in but it was good for him to show he can do the more lighthearted, less tortured characters as well as the psychopaths he can so easily portray!

I won't give anything away but she does choose one guy in the end! (I did wonder how they were going to swing it) but *semi-spoiler-alert* it is all happy endings by the credits... kinda!

If you've got a free afternoon and you like an all-round entertaining mix of action, romance and comedy, go and see this. And if not, go see it for this...

Lots of Love, Taz x

If The Power Of The World Were Put Into One Scale, And The Love Of My Mother In The Other, The Whole World Would Kick The Beam.

Hi all. 

I spent the back end of last week in Durham on a girly weekend that my mum organised to surprise me! She's the absolute best and I had a fantastic time. 

On Sunday we got to our hotel (an amazing gothic town house) and unpacked, then grabbed a taxi into the city. We wandered round a bit to see what there was, I got some gorgeous pictures of the river & castle, and did a bit of shopping (I got a new denim jacket) then in the evening we had the meal of our lives at Cafe Rouge, it really was delicious.

On Monday we went to the castle and cathedral. The castle is actually part of Durham Uni and their halls of residence. I can't imagine being able to call a castle my home! Super jealous! The cathedral is stunning. I'd only ever seen the outside before and that was at 4 in the morning on a spontaneous late night (early morning) roadtrip with some Uni friends. Even if you're not religious the architecture is just amazing and it did take my breath away for moment :)

We did a little more culture vulturing before heading back and the weather was gorgeous! 

I hope you've had the sun where you are. 

Unfortunately I returned home after only 3hrs sleep to a presentation the very next morning and a case study of the BBC the day after but now they're out the way I'm feeling much more relaxed! 

I think we're heading back to Durham in a couple of weeks because my gorgeous best friends got us a champagne afternoon tea at Mount Oswald Manor so will be living the high life yet again. 

I hope you're all having a lovely week and I'll post again soon.

Lots of Love, Taz x