August Favourites

Getting to the end of summer is normally a cause of sadness, but since I love Autumn and I cannot wait to get back in to jumpers I'm glad August is over! Having said all that it has been a particularly good summer and in some ways I will be sad to leave another one behind.

But enough of that - let's crack on with the faves.

Books

I have two time travel books that I have loved this month. Apparently I went searching for this genre for a while! First up is 'The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August' by Claire North. If you love history,suspense and humour then this is the book for you. Working on the idea that there are those among us who can repeat their lives over and over with butterfly effect consequences it is interesting to see the characters develop.

 The second is 'Life after Life' by Kate Atkinson. This novel has been cleverly written so even though you are going over the same life again and again there is always a slight change, making sure you don't get bored. It is also set over WWII which is my favourite period to read about anyway!

The Day We Disappeared by Lucy Robinson- I have read a lot of books over my life. Recently it is very difficult to surprise me in novels, I can see what a plot is going, which is why I am including this book in my favourites. Because although I picked it up as a bit of fluff reading two things happened when I read it. 1) I thought I had guessed the plot twist and then it hit me and I was surprised! 2) I read this book in one day. I got home from work and I read it all the way to the end, ignoring the last episode of Glee in favour of this book. That says a lot.

 

The Martian by Andy Weir - Now I read this book last year but thought it might not appeal to all so decided not to include it in my favourites, however with the release of the film I thought I should mention that you should all read the book too! It was a lot funnier than I thought it would be, you almost need to think 'Castaway' on Mars. I am super looking forward to the film but if you do get a chance to read this book, do!

Music

I have been loving summer music with several new favourites that you might like to lend an ear to.

Hungry (Nikias Ibach Remix) - Dotan just makes me want to get up and dance and sway and it makes me wish I'd gone on holiday and played this driving along a coastline.

Listen here!

Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis is what I like to call 'a good walk to work' song. It's a little bit silly and a lotta bit catchy.

Listen here! 

Unfinished Symphony - The Six is another one of those catchy, dancey songs that I love so much. This one has been around a while but I haven't done a favourites in ages so it has been saved up!

Listen here!

We Ride - Missy Higgins. I found this song through a good old shazam on a youtube video I was watching of someone's world trip. It just provoked all sorts of emotions in me and although I normally try to avoid the slower songs because they make me sad when I only want to be happy, I don't mind with this song.

Fashion

I am quite disappointed with the fashion world right now - if there is one style I really could do without it is 70's fashion. All those browns and suede and yeah I'm not really a fan. I do however need a dress for graduation next month so I've bought the following to try (both Dorothy Perkins):

 Blush Pencil Dress - Was £38 Now £26

Lavender 50's Lace Dress - Was £75 Now £30

Home

I'm including this little beauty in here rather than in 'Books' as the books I write about tend to lean more to the fiction side. This however has taken pride of place in my house where all can see and I LOVE IT. I first found Anna Maes Mac and Cheese a couple of years ago at Glastonbury and I have been an addict ever since. Now I can actually make it their way on my own. With over 50 recipes this is one recipe book that makes me hella happy!

Beauty

I already have another one of these Bourjois lippies and I love it so much I've gone back for more. I love that it goes on like a lipgloss before settling into a matte lipstick. I find it to be quite pigmented, giving a strong colour and it wears for several hours before you need to reapply. I've gone for no 12 - Velvet this time around and I love it.

I am not a big make-up wearer. As I'm sure I've said before when I can remember my 'face' normally consists of eyeliner, mascara and some lippie. If I'm feeling really adventurous maybe some eye shadow. But I went and picked up some new bits from Boots the other day and that included a new mascara which has to be one of the best I've owned. It makes my eyelashes look so long and as it's from the 'Seventeen' brand you don't have to break the bank to buy it. Mine is in the colour Brown Black which has a slightly subtler look than just Black.

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer!

C x

Recipe - Coconut Macaroons

I love coconut and I love condensed milk so this recipe might just be one of my favourites. Crisp on the outside and chewy in the middle these macaroons are quick to make and keep for while (if they last that long!)

Ingredients

400g sweetened shredded coconut
200ml condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs whites
120g milk chocolate

Method to the Madness

Preheat the oven to 160°C. Line two trays with baking paper.

In a medium bowl, mix together the shredded coconut, condensed milk and vanilla extract.

Separate the yolks and whites carefully!

  
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

Fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.

Using two spoons, form heaped tablespoons of the mixture into mounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart.

Bake for about 25 minutes, until the tops are lightly golden and the bottoms and edges are deeply golden.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave, stopping and stirring every 30 second intervals so it doesn't burn. Dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the chocolate and return upside down to the trays.

Place the macaroons in the refrigerator for 30 minutes so the chocolate to sets then eat the whole lot with a cup of tea.

C x

10 Things I Have Learnt From Being Newly Engaged

Urgh guys I am so awful! I haven't blogged in three weeks and I feel so bad about it. My only excuse is that I've been having a bit of a holiday and doing lots of wedding planning or wedmin as I can't help but call it!

Now I know for a fact that quite a few of you are not going to care that much about the few wedding posts that will be popping up over the next year but for those of you that do - think about how much fun it'll be to take this journey with me!

So I'm starting off with one which I'm sure some people can relate to or will be able to in the future!

10 Things I Have Learnt From Being Newly Engaged

1. Weddings cost A LOT more than I thought. I mean I knew they cost a lot but I thought people were just doing it wrong and I could do it cheaper. I was wrong.

2. You get through a fair bit of champagne which is quite alright by me. People give you bottles of the stuff!

3. If you are even the slightest bit organised and aware of what you want people will call you a Bridezilla. They will then continue to bemoan long engagements in the same breath.

4. Cutting down a guest list from 200+ to 100 is really, really hard and sometimes you just have to be ruthless.

5. Stamps are pricey when buying in bulk.

6. Excel spreadsheets are a lifesaver.

7. Try and book your venue as soon as you can. The magazines say a year before but it depends when/where you want to get married. Some places we looked at were booked until 2018!

8. Pinterest is everything.

9. Getting used to saying fiance is tricky. I think I sound like I'm bragging.

10. If, like me, you love being centre of attention being newly engaged is the best thing ever. You get to talk about yourself and people have to seem interested.

I mean mostly it's just pretty great and I don't think I have stopped smiling for six weeks.

C x