Stuff making me smile from Feb-March! (Things I love #7)

I am so late in posting this.. :(

 1. I love my new varsity jacket from H & M.  It makes me think of Kevin in the Wonder Years. I always remember when he puts his jacket around Winnie when they are in the woods and he kisses her :)

Via andthereyouhadit on tumblr

2. A few weeks ago my best bud took me to the cinema to see Hitchcock as she had free tickets! We went on Valentine's and were practically the only people in the cinema.  Awesome times! All the couples had gone to see Moulin Rouge, hahaha!  I know the critics slated it but I thought Anthony Hopkins did a good job. I was fascinated by all the 50's outfits and cars though!

Via http://www.bfi.org.uk

Via joblo.com

 Via http://icydk.com

3. Lemon and Ginger tea by Twinings- I've been drinking lots of this recently as I can't seem to beat the winter (Spring??) colds!

Via tesco.com

4. Roller disco- some friends and I went out in Swindon to a roller disco! I was slightly apprehensive as I hadn't rollered since I was about 12! However, I only fell once and loved skating around with my friends to old songs, great fun!!! :)

 5. I watched Annie Hall for the first time recently (on DVD).  I really liked it, very funny in places and I like that style of filming.   Lovely :)  One of my favourite parts is when they are people-watching in the park.

Via stepsmustbegentle at Tumblr

I thought Diane Keaton's outfits were really stylish and fun.  Apparently, they were mostly her own`clothes and the stylist didn't approve but Woody Allen loved Keaton's style so told the stylist to let Keaton wear whatever she wanted, clever man!

Via jezebel.com 

Via fashioninfilms.com

6. Music-wise, I've been listening to the album Babel by Mumford and Sons a lot.  This is a live performance of 'Ghosts we knew'. I know, big surprise, me listening to Mumford (!)

7. Have heard Nina Nesbitt recently on the radio.  Really beautiful voice, she reminds me of Amy Macdonald.

  

She did a cover of 1975's 'Chocolate' on Radio 1's live lounge in the past few weeks too, sounded great  :)

Peebreeks xxx

Valentine's Day- yay or nay??

I hate Valentine's Day in a lot of ways. I am not a bitter single, I'm a romantic and I think being in love is awesome and I am happy for so many of my coupled-up friends, but 14th Feb is so over-marketed and consumerist, it's just ridiculous. People are pressured into buying or doing something on this one day out of the whole year.

 However, I do agree with the sentiment.  I think it's really important to tell or show someone how much they mean to you. I don't think any of us know how long we've got and think that we should be grateful for the important things in life.  Despite this, I personally can't see the appeal of sitting in a restaurant with loads of other couples doing exactly the same thing, ruining any intimacy or uniqueness. To be honest, I would rather have a surprise on another day, doing something different/ spontaneous, that has far more meaning for you as a couple.  I don't mean that to sound unappreciative but I just don't think that making some generic gesture on a date that has been etched in your brain by marketing campaigns bombarding you for the past few weeks, makes you particularly amazing or unique.

Do something for you as a couple, whether it's staying in watching your fave films/listening to music, one of you cooking for the other, going somewhere that means something to you, whatever.  I think homemade cards are very sweet and thoughtful but flowers, chocolates,teddies, balloons, Valentine's meals etc are all so contrived and boring.  I dislike red roses, I think they are very naff and tacky.  I think that Valentine's is so try-hard that actually, you don't have a great time. 

I think there's a lot to be said for imperfections; I think some of the best, funniest and most memorable times in life are when things haven't gone as planned and I think that the over-organisation of Valentine's Day squashes any room for adventure. 
E.g.  You receive a card/ flowers, you go for a meal with every other couple in the universe, you wear the red/black satin/lace underwear. Yawn! 

 By all means, if this appeals to you then ignore my ranting and be happy, but personally, it doesn't float my boat. 

DISCLAIMER: I'm not judging anyone, merely expressing my thoughts and opinion, yours may very well be completely different! :)  I'm also not putting myself above all this, don't get me wrong, in the past I have gone for meals etc... 
This isn't just my single brain talking, even when part of a couple I have felt like this and know many couples who share my views on Valentine's Day.

What happened to spontaneity and imagination and the simple things?

Make your cards/presents, hide thoughtful presents,choose another day, surprise them!!

Ultimately, I think it has to be from the heart, not because you're expected to/have to but because you are genuinely happy to be with your partner.

Am I asking for too much??
  
Peebreeks xxx

Smiling Sunday! (Things I love #6)

Such a lovely week- gig, birthday, meal, party... Lots of things making me smile.....

 Last Saturday, I organised and hosted a charity music event at a local venue which went really well, great music from local musicians and we raised around £250 for local charity PAC- Positive Action on Cancer.  I had a brilliant night, played my first ever solo set on guitar and was so overwhelmed by the amount of support for the event.  Thank you to everyone who came, or supported me xxxx

This morning's fry up with my best friend- Perfection! So yummy for a Sunday brekkie :)

This scene from Lost in Translation, one of my favourite films. The music is Lost in Kyoto by Air. Picture quality not brilliant :(  Via gangasensei

Wagamama has been my favourite restaurant for a while now and I was lucky enough to go this week- I had the veggie gyoza and delicious veggie Pad Thai. Yummmmm...

New quick dry nail varnish from Marks and Spencer-  shade is 'Granite'.  
Not tested on animals, BUAV approved :)

Amazing unicorn cushion which my best friend made for me :)

Lovely rose scented candle from Marks and Spencer- really glowy and pretty.   BUAV approved :)

Managed to get these old ordnance survey maps in an antique shop for a quid each.  I went to uni in Aberystwyth and would love to attempt to make some map candles.

Beautiful flowers from my family :)

The new H & M ad featuring David Beckham.  Enough said really... :) Via worldspotlights Hope you have all had a great week.  Peebreeks xxx

New Year's Day walk

My family braved the cold weather and went for a walk out at Stourhead Gardens, near Mere in Wiltshire.  A family favourite, walked here many times but I still love it!

Love looking up through the trees:)

This archway leads to my favourite part of  Stourhead; The Grotto. As a child, I think I thought it was a bit magical!

Really dark inside, but you can peep out over the lake!

Sounds strange but I love the texture of the walls inside the Grotto :)

Awesome reflections on a clear day

Oops!

Hungover with my beehive from the night before! lol!

Swans shamelessly posing!

I still haven't seen it but lots of scenes in the Keira Knightley version of 'Pride and Prejudice' were filmed at Stourhead.

 Sorry some photos are a bit dark :(

Do you have favourite places to go for walks?

Peebreeks xxx

New Year's Eve Pies!

This is the recipe for the pies I made for a New's Years Eve dinner party that I went to.  They are vegetarian but you could add meat if you like.  I adapted the recipe from this recipe from BBC Good Food: squash and mushroom pot pies

Started off with some lovely root veg and mushrooms, didn't actually use the red onion, so ignore that!!

Chop carrots and onion

Peel and chop butternut squash and add to the pan, chop parsnips.

I love chestnut mushrooms :)

Add 200ml vegetable stock to the pan and bring to the boil.

Add 4 tblsp of crème fraîche, I also added some peas and sweetcorn. 

Roll out sheet of puff pastry, place pie mix in pie dish, cover with circle shape of puff pastry. Shape edges with fingers.

Use end of a teaspoon to make a hole in the centre. Brush pie with egg or milk to brown.

The pies are pretty much cooked, ready for reheating at the party!

Taking some last photos of me in my house in 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

 Peebreeks xxx

Mulled wine/cider recipe

A few people asked how I made the mulled cider and wine that we had at my party last weekend. 

Unfortunately I forgot to take photos :(   

I adapted the recipe from Jamie Oliver, see Jamie's mulled wine

Take 2 large saucepans and use ladles to serve.
I used approx 200g sugar, 2 star anise, about 9 whole cloves, a cinnamon stick, peel, juice and segments from about 4 clementines, peel from 1 lemon, then added the wine/cider enough to cover sugar and juice mix.  

Then I added a sprinkle of ground cinnamon and some grated nutmeg.

Then add the rest of the wine/ cider. 

(I used 1.5 litres of wine and 2 litres of cider to start then made more up later because it was in demand!!)

   
I sliced some apple and orange for decoration and added a sprinkle of ground ginger to the cider only.   I'm not usually a cider fan cos of the fizz, but I really liked the mulled cider, spicy and sweet, yummmm :)

I just used Thatchers cider as I knew some of my friends drink Thatchers and it's cheap for 2 litre bottles!

 Got lots of compliments and there was hardly any left, so I think it went down well!! 

Hope you find this recipe useful :)

Peebreeks xx