February in the park

First of all- HURRAH! I've reached 100 followers and this is my 200th post. It's only taken 6 years.

Secondly- I've changed my blog title! It's more relevant to me and my life. I don't even own that much from Topshop anymore.

In January, I posted some pictures in the snow, taken in the park by my flat. I also claimed that I would repeat this activity once a month! HAHA. I did actually get some photos during the 3rd weekend of February so the photos were taken at the same point in the month but I'm only just getting round to posting them.

Actually they were taken over two days. They are not in the exact same position as the snow ones which I'm disappointed about! I'm looking forward to putting them all together at the end of the year and seeing how my clothes/hair/the park have changed.




Coat: New Look, Bag: River Island, Dress: Topshop, Tights: Marks and Spencer, Boots: Marks and Spencer



I wear this coat for school usually, I'm not sure it is that flattering really, but it is warm and comfortable. The day was rather gloomy as you can see, but it cheered up the next day...

So we took another photo!

Mac: H&M, Bag: New Look, Dress: Sugarhill Boutique, Tights: Marks and Spencer, Pumps: Marks and Spencer

A much more cheerful outfit- I was feeling optimistic about spring being around the corner. HAHAHA as if. We've had two quite nice days and now apparently there will be more snow. It's so predictable but I just can't wait to go out without tights.

February in food

This is an exciting week..I'm starting to look round schools in preparation for applying for jobs. The application process for teaching seems to be rather odd. You look around a school to see if it's right for you but at the same time they are eyeing you up too. Then you apply, then you are actually in the application system.. it's not what I'm used to!

So here we are in March and it is time for February in food! I have quite a lot to share this month

Marks and Spencer Valentines Dine In





Edd and I don't really celebrate Valentines in a big way, but the M&S deal just has to be done. Starter, main, side, dessert, cava and chocolates for two for £20- good stuff! We had 'bistro style' scotch eggs, chilli and lime seabass, tomato and mozzarella bake and billionaires shortcake. Yum yum. The seabass wasn't very chilli-ish but it was a nice piece of fish.








Sticky toffee salted caramel cupcakes




Oh my goodness. These are the tastiest cupcakes I have ever made! You can find the recipe here at Good to Know. I used Marks and Spencer's salted caramel sauce in the buttercream. It was very tasty in pancakes too!

Do you like the cheesy stand? I picked it up in the Debenhams sale, mainly for blog photos I must be honest!






Honey and Mustard chicken




I found this recipe on pinterest. Yum yum yum. Basically, chicken strips soaked in egg, honey and mustard and then covered in crushed cornflakes believe it or not. Next time I will use breadcrumbs instead, but the honey and mustard made the chicken beautifully moist and tender. This meal features a lot of mozzarella also.  It was the start of half term and I felt like treating myself.

February Empties!

Hi all! It's a lovely sunny day today and I'm delighted to have reached the end of my second block! It didn't go as well as the first one but that seems to be pretty common across the course. It's now assignment writing and job hunting time.

I've been meaning to do a post like this for ages and I have finally got around to it. I'm no beauty blogger but I enjoy reading other people's empties posts. It's also been useful to remind myself what I liked/didn't like.


Rituals Wai Wang exfoliating body scrub




This was a sample in a magazine and it lasted me absolutely ages. I love it- the best exfoliator I have ever used. The scent is fresh and light, and the product itself exfoliates really well but washes off easily. I've got about three more body scrubs in my drawer waiting to be used but next time I need to purchase one it will be this. Just looked at the website here and the 70ml (the size I had) is only £5 which is an absolute bargain! Thumbs up.

Boots Very Cherry face mask




This was in a gift set that I got in the Boots sale after Christmas. It smelled lovely and I do enjoy having a nice face mask on in the bath, but I'm not sure how effective it really is or whether it did anything to my skin. I don't think I would repurchase, I will stick to the montagne jeunesse rose face mask.
Thumbs down.

Garnier Fresh Essentials face wipes




What can I say about face wipes really? They did the trick and were on special offer. I hear that face wipes are bad for your skin so I have been trying to wash my make up away rather than wipe. But these were a perfectly good buy and I would purchase again for after nights out or holidays or whatever.
Thumbs up.


Jane Ireldale Glow Time BB Cream




This came in a Joliebox a couple of months ago. I really wanted to like it because I've liked everything else from this brand. But it was far too oily and left an odd sheen on my face. Plus, being a sample, it was the wrong shade anyway. I will stick to the Maybelline BB cream!
Thumbs down.

Revlon ColourStay liquid liner (brown)




This isn't quite empty, but it was on its last legs. The brush has got old and I couldn't get it to draw a fine enough line and it was becoming too frustrating. However when I first purchased it around 6 months ago I loved it! I don't think I would repurchase because I have gotten used to using a brush rather than a foamy tip like this one has. But it did me well for a while, so..
Thumbs up.

Benefit Porefessional




Now this one is tricky to write about. Everyone seems to LOVE IT. I didn't really see that it changed anything and it's something ridiculous like £22. I got this in Glamour magazine and was very excited, and then very disappointed. Perhaps I'm doing it wrong.
Thumbs down.

Nivea Pure&Natural Night Cream





I sent off for some samples of these when I was entering a competition (didn't win). I thought this cream was quite good actually, I expected it to be too greasy for me but it was not. Moisturising but also kept my skin matte. Very nice for the winter. Apparently it contains argan oil. I may well buy a pot next time I need night cream.
Thumbs up.

Well that was interesting! Happy March everyone.

January in Food

This month I have tried to make something nice once a week at least.


Fumo




Edd and I went to an 'Italian tapas' restaurant in the Christmas holidays. It was amazing, basically all the Italian food you can think of in little portions. We had six between us, including salad, bread, prawns etc etc but the highlight was the king scallops. They looked so exciting that I had to snap a picture on my phone, and they were delicious too- I'm not usually one for scallops either!
The restaurant was very nice, but they were obviously going for a 'glam celebrity' vibe which isn't really my scene. I think a lot of footballers go there. A couple came in and wanted our table and were trying to get the waiter to move us! They even got the manager out! The staff didn't move us of course but I was very annoyed with the cheek of the man.

Jamie Oliver's crunchy garlic chicken





This was really nice and easy to make. I found the recipe on pinterest ages ago and only got round to making it at the start of January. It's basically crackers, garlic and lemon whizzed up together to make a yummy coating. I used goats cheese flavour crackers and they added a lovely creamy taste. The photo is rubbish because I'd had a couple of glasses of wine and wanted to eat it quickly! Looks like I overcooked the chips as well.


Bodega



We also had lunch at a South American restaurant. I had a three cheese burrito and sweet potato fries and this yummy cocktail.

Mini cheesecakes



Yep, these are actually mini cheesecakes, what a cute idea. They're also really easy to make. The recipe said to use strawberries, but the ones in Morrisons looked a bit naff so I used raspberries instead. I recommend trying this recipe!




Well I cannot believe it is February already- only two weeks til half term as well! This block is taking it out of me a bit. Last week went quite well, but this week hasn't been incredibly successful. I've been tired and full of cold and don't seem to have any enthusiasm or energy. Everyone says this block is the hardest. Perhaps this has been the worst week and it will be better next week!

Shoes

Due to the snow I have spent the week in boots. Very nice, Marks and Spencers western-ish ankle boots. Which I have since discovered have NO GRIP and I have fallen over twice and grazed my knee like a child. I've refused to get my clio out and drive so I have been using the train instead, which is rather civilised aside from the walk from the station to my placement school.

I'm on the first week of a five week block a
nd I'm looking forward to getting settled in. This school is rather more laid back than my previous placement- I've been getting in earlier than my mentor which makes me look pleasingly keen! I'm finding year two harder to teach than year five. I keep forgetting that half of them can't do things like read or sharpen a pencil. They are lovely though and the things they say make me laugh. I overheard a conversation yesterday about how God and Santa are the same person. To a 6 year old I suppose this would make sense!

Anyway I was talking about shoes. The thawing of the snow means I can potentially wear shoes that aren't boots. Hurrah! Perhaps in the future I should invest in a variety of boots so I don't get bored.

But pumps are much more fun to buy. Here's some I have my eye on.

Marks and Spencers £25

Topshop £28

ASOS £28

And just to be extravagent...

French Sole £95

Obligatory snow post

Today's song: The La's- There She Goes



Hat: Topshop, Scarf: H&M, Coat: Dorothy Perkins, Tights: H&M, Boots: M&S, Bag: Christmas present from friend, Gloves: Muji

Edd and I braved the snow today and headed into town. My bargain M&S boots kept me surprisingly steady and I didn't slip once!



These photos are taken in the park I live next to! This one is taken from the balcony.





Behind me, you can see some building work going on, they're building a load of new flats. I thought it would be fun to take a picture at least once a month in this same spot to see how the park, the building and my style changes throughout the year. Let's see how long that one lasts!

In town, we had lunch at Bodega and it was very nice indeed. A sneaky lunchtime cocktail made with grape brandy..!  four cheese buritto and sweet potato fries. YUM.

Also I went for a bra fitting at M&S which I was weirdly nervous about. The woman who measured me was REALLY short so I felt like a bit of a giant stood in my bra and tights. I now know my bra size (naturally I was wearing the wrong size) and also the STYLE I should be wearing. Well I had no idea that one was better than the other, but apparently I should wear 'balcony' but can also wear 'plunge'. I bought myself a sports bra so now I have no excuse not to exercise...!

I hope the snow is not causing too much disruption for you all. I was lucky enough to have Friday off, but I'm a bit worried about getting to school on Monday!

Success!

Today's song: Mumford and Sons- I Will Wait

As you may know, I am training to be a teacher. There are various things you have to do throughout the course including Numeracy and Literacy tests. I wasn't worried about Literacy- it was spelling and comprehension and I passed it a couple of weeks ago. However, the Numeracy test has a mental section which is super tricky. Every time I did a practice test I failed!
Well I took the test on Saturday and passed! I don't know how, I was convinced I'd failed. However I managed it, I did it so that's all that matters. I had tears in my eyes I was so relieved.
 I'd already booked a table at Pizza Express for the evening as I felt I might need cheering up and my Mum had given me a voucher for Christmas. Well! I didn't need cheering up after all but I did need to celebrate!

 Oh- and I thought I'd get myself a new dress too.

ANOTHER BLACK DRESS WITH LACE DETAIL. I already own too many items matching this description.



Dress: Miss Selfridge, Tights: M&S, Shoes: Topshop, Necklace: Last year's secret santa gift from Sophie

But not one with a lovely Edwardian-style high neck or a dipped hem! That's what I told myself.




Bag: Oasis

I quite like my hair here though I was worried it looked messy at the time.

Pizza Express was yummy. I tried their new polenta chips, just to see what they were like and they are a new favourite! Crunchy, warm and fragrant.

Afterwards we went to super new 'Mexican street food' place Chilacas in Brindley Place. We went there for lunch a couple of weeks ago (I had nachos and Edd had tacos) and noticed they did teapot cocktails. So we had a vodka, apple and cranberry cocktail teapot and very nice it was too. It is quite a lot like being in some cool bar on holiday.





The photos are in my flat- we have fairy lights on the wall!