Puddle Jumper.

I was nineteen when I bought my first pair.

I just could not resist.

They were so shiny, pretty...and pink.

www.pinterest.com

Me and my 'gummies' were inseparable.

Indestructible.

Puddles became my bit*h.

Mud became my home-skillet.

And then they ripped.

Oh woe is me! I should have guessed considering I paid a mere $30 for them from K-Mart. But I was a student! I just did not have the dosh to get the good stuff. I do not even want to get into the denial which surfaced when I pulled my foot out one rainy, afternoon and it was drenched. Surely it has simply rained inside my gum-boot today? It was a pretty bad storm, the chances were...high?

It is never easy to say goodbye. 

Footprints were not only left in the mud, but on my heart. 

A year went past.

Gumboot'less.

Then came Christmas of 2011. 

Once again, wish-lists were written (well actually, Amazon wish-lists were complied and e-mailed. Ew.) and there was me, skimming the Hunter Wellington Boot website, reminiscing on the pair of pink loveliness what once was mine. Could anything replace the hole which had been left in my heart (or in my gumboots for that matter)? I mean, don't get me wrong, I thought about buying a new pair. Maybe jazzing it up with a pattern or two but the timing was just never right. 

When the earthquake of 2011 hit Christchurch and volunteers were called, I even skimmed out and bought myself a pair of $10 black gumboots. Ew.

Anywho, Christmas knocked on the door and a big, black box was wrapped up all nice and pretty for me. Oh boy, I knew what this was...

You guessed it.

A red pair of gumboots.

Red?

Okay, before you start blaming my parents (or 'Santa') for misjudging me so wrongly I should admit something. 

This year I would be turning twenty-one. What sane, 'take me seriously please' twenty-one year old traipsed around in pink gumboots? It was time to bid adieu to the childish antics of my youth and move onto something more serious - red gumboot kind of serious.

Something just was not right though. I didn't even take them out of the box. They just sat in my room for multiple weeks, exposed to flinches and all as I glanced at them every so often. 

'You need to have the right colour, Christine' says Mumma J

'Yeah, I know. I think I prefer the Cranberry over the Poppy Red' says Christine

Who was she kidding?

She didn't want the Cranberry. She wanted the PINK.

Of course she wanted the pink! 

Why wouldn't she want the pink?!

So she bought the pink.

'What do you think?' she asks the family.

'Well, they are very you!' they reply.

(I am going to stop talking about myself in third-person now, it's weird)

And the moral of this story?

Fu*k growing up.

When it rains, go jump in a bloody puddle.

Cooking With Friends.

Guilty Pleasure Confession : 

Safe to say that it is only the best show to have been created! 

Obsessed is an understatement. 

You know you have an attachment issue when you start referencing quotes to fit the situations of your everyday life. 

Yes, we do own the box-set.

Yes, I have watched every single episode...five times. 

Should I be ashamed? Never! 

Anyone who says they don't like Friends is a silly human being. What is there not to love? 

I will even go as far to admit that I did in fact purchase Season One of 'Joey,' hoping to hold onto what was left of the Friends era. Success or not, I love me some Friends!

Here comes to embarrassing part...

My devotion does not stop at the box set and Joey spin-off. Oh no, it doesn't stop there my friends!

Introducing:

Cooking With Friends.

Now, before you judge me - think about it.

It's a clever concept don't you think? The book is fantastic. It holds every recipe imaginable - from 'New York Urban Eats' to 'Holiday Cooking.' Who wouldn't want to eat the lasagna that Monica makes repeatedly throughout the series? Or the pizza which is often ordered?

The best one by far though is 'Phoebe's Fabulous Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies.'

Honestly, they are the best Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies that you will ever taste!

Seeing as it is currently Sunday, I decided to dust off the cookbook and crack into these cookies.

Recipe taken from 'Cooking With Friends'

Ingredients: 

12 tablespoons of unsalted butter (1 1/2 Sticks)

3/4 cup of firmly packed brown-sugar

2/3 cup of granulated sugar 

1 large egg

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats

1 1/4 cups of flour

3/4 teaspoon of baking powder

3/4 teaspoon of baking soda

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 cup of raisins

- Preheat over to 375

Cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth

Stir together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the batter until just combined. Stir in the raisins. 

Drop the dough by heaping tablespoons onto 2 large baking sheets (no need to grease them), leaving 2 inches between each ball of dough. Bake until cookies are golden brown, 12 - 15 minutes. Cool cookies on sheet for several minutes and then transfer them to a rack to cool further.

(Makes about 24 large cookies)

Do I even need to suggest how you enjoy them?!

Pop some Friends on the telly and eat away!

Burgers Baby!

After a long week, the last thing anybody wants to do is cook some complicated, messy, 'takes hours' kind of meal. 

Friday night dinners in our house have always included nachos and take-away pizza. The sort of meal that you can whip up in no-time and eat in-front of the T.V. Not a great way to enforce a healthy lifestyle but it makes our family happy and that's enough! 

Yesterday was no different. 

Introducing:

Christine's Home-made Hamburgers.

A little bit of gourmet mixed with  a dash of simplicity.

It took all of ten-minutes and made a certain twelve year old brother very happy!

Ingredients:

500 - 600 grams of lean steak mince

1/2 of a red onion, finely diced

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 small carrot, grated

1 Tbs of freshly chopped Oregano

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup of fresh bread-crumbs

1 Tbs of Ketchup

1 Tbs of BBQ Sauce

Dash of Worcestershire Sauce

Season with Salt and Pepper

Buns - Lightly buttered and toasted.

Mix all your ingredients together. Form into patties (makes about 6) and chuck them in the fridge for however long it takes you to clean-up the mess you have made in the process!

Heat a grill and slap those bad-boys on, turning over to perfection when suits.

Now, everyone likes their burgers a certain way. Some dollop on the ketchup, mustard, the works! Some like it plain, some add cheese. Personally, I am a bit of an oddball and like to do a bit of a ketchup/mayo concoction, adding a bit of sliced pickle to give it a bit of a zing!

I am chronic for falling in love with a particular food item at a restaurant and will forever attempt to recreate the magic at home. More times than less, it is a complete failure but you never know what you will come up with in the process! 

A burger for any Friday night craving!

Roses Are Red...

I am in love.

Crazy love.

Butterflies in your stomach kind of love.

The sort of love you wait your whole life for.

The sort of love your parents should worry about.

You can't see yourself without it.

You read about it.

You see it in movies.

Some of us have dreamt about it since we were a young, wee thing.

Some of us look away in disgust when we see such an attachment...

Maybe it is the nearing of Valentines day which just has me all jittery.

The constant exposure of love hearts and glitter which makes you think about all that is silly...

Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

Dear Wednesday...

Today I spent two hours locked away in a storage cupboard, sorting five-thousand charity wristbands into child and adult sized piles. 

Words to the Wise: Happiness can come in the simplest of forms.

Facing Winter.

Winter is by far one of my favorite seasons.

I love the cold, snow and that amazing feeling of being all rugged up when it is blowing a gail outside. 

Having lived near and far, I can safely say that I have experienced the extremes of seasonal change.

One thing I don't love about winter? 

The effect which it has on my skin.

Winter just seems to suck the life out of my skin. If you are anything like me, I am sure that you have read every single article ever written on how to combat the winter facial blues. Although I have not attempted the home-made facial masks yet, I reached a point where I was near bagging my face as I waited for summer to pop around again. 

That was until one blistery afternoon, I stumbled inside a health store and found my saviour. 

Evening Primrose Oil.

This is the brand I use. Fantastic.
www.lovelula.com

It's simple, fragrance free and lovely. It makes your skin feel plump and moisturized without that burning sensation of over-priced, over-advertised makeup products which promise perfect skin. For me, when it comes to skin-care, I have to step outside the consumer bubble. I dabble in the old-school stuff like Cetaphil and Eucerin. Not only is it affordable, but it's gentle and more effective than what you might think. I have spent the dollar bills on products which promise perfection only to be constantly let down. Evening Primrose Oil is just perfect for a sensitive wee soul like myself. 

Chuck it in the bath, throw it on your face or lather it on your body - any way you choose, you will honestly come out the other end with baby-soft skin. After doing a bit of Googling (I love a bit of Googling) I discovered that Primrose Oil is most often purchased in tablet form. If this is the case, why not snap that baby in half and apply it topically? I like to put it on twice a day, once before I apply my make-up and once before I fall into slumber. 

Next time you walk past a health store, why not pop on in and find some other natural beauty goodies? I am committed to this venture, so I shall keep you posted with what other marvelous things I might uncover!

Working Girl.

We have a problem.

Today, I spent four hours traipsing through the mall and came out completely empty-handed.

Normally, this would not be an issue but when you have a plan to follow, actual reasons to run around like a mad-woman only to come nowhere near success - disappointment seems to bitch slap you. 

What was it I was searching for you wonder?

Work Wear.

A blank fashion canvas.

All sense of style has the potential to be fully eliminated when dressing for work. For years I galavanted around in a school uniform. A uniform which not only looked like a sailor suit, but came down to my ankles. Finally, upon graduation I was liberated.

  Free from conformity.

  Free from hours spent in-front of the mirror as I attempted to ooze style from the latest hair-trends. 

Earrings? No.

 Makeup? No.

 Necklace? No.

It reached a point where you would see your class-mates out on the streets and barely recognize them due to their lack of school regulatory dress. 

It was a dark time for me. A black cloud painted over fashion. I can't go back there, please don't let me go back there. I don't want to wear pin-stripe black pants and frilly white blouses. Nobody can trap me in that box! Who cares if my ideas surrounding what is fashionable in the work-place are derived from 'Devil Wears Prada.' A working girls sense of style should act as a statement. Now, nobody is saying that such a statement can not be made on a budget. There are plenty of choices out there. One of my favorites has to be Zara. 

www.zara.com

Zara does a great basics range at affordable costs. I am on the hunt for a simple, black dress or an 'LBD' as the fashionistas like to call it. Dress up, dress down. It's a staple item which every girl should have in the wardrobe. Why don't I? Because I am too bloody fussy, that's why! 

I do have some lingering questions though...

How much colour is too much colour?

How much sparkle is too much sparkle?

Knitwear.

It is winter.

And, when winter comes knocking at your door - so do the winter fashion trends.

This year I have decided that it is acceptable to take summer clothes and jazz them up with some warm, winter lovin'.

Some may cringe, some may look away in disgust but when you have little money, sacrifices just have to be made people!

Think shorts and tights.

Who is with me on this one?!

Any-who, what I am currently crushing on at the moment is knitwear. 

Love, LOVE me some chunky knit!

A few months ago, a friend taught me the art of knitting. A tad overly ambitious, I marched straight up to the local department store and bought myself the biggest ball of pink wool you could ever imagine. To this day, I have made eight scarves and counting. Would I like to attempt some other knitting creations? A beanie? Some gloves? Yes. Yes, I would however I was only blessed with limited craft skills and I am still reeling on the fact that I can knit in the first place! Until my world of knitting is further expanded, I will stick myself in the safe zone and leave it to the professionals. 

www.refinery29.com

www.richesforrags.com

www.imgfave.com

Want to know a secret? The true key to happiness is a good pair of socks. Honestly, if you can add your own spark of versatility to a good pair of socks, the fashion world will open up to you like you wouldn't believe. 

www.pinterest.com

Sometimes wearing the old boots and jeans combo just doesn't do it for you.

www.pinterest.com

Get some thick, knee-high socks or heck, kick it old school and buy some leg-warmers! Not only are your toes going to be nice and toasty (i despise cold feet) but your also going to be rockin' a pretty nifty look. Why stop at boots? Have a love for an old pair of Converse or Keds (my personal favorite)? Buy a simple pair of thick, woolen socks and you have yourself a warm, winter combo. 

I don't profess to be a fashion Queen. Some might be cringing at this mere suggestion, however if you value the warmth of your feet on a cold winters day - it is something you should consider!

Short and Sweet.

New York City 
 www.pinterest.com

Sometimes day-dreaming about where life is going to take you is the best way to spend an afternoon. 

Happy Friday!

Current Obsession: Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights.

I love a bit of cooking. For my birthday I was presented with possibly the best cookbook ever. 

www.amazon.com

We are swimming in cookbooks in our household. Each categorized according to which country they were purchased in. From American Icon, Martha Stewart to New Zealand Cookery Queen, Jo Segar - we got it all. We try to be adventurous, we really do but when you live in a house full of men who adore a simple slab of meat, it's hard to venture into the unknown. My new cooking bible however, will teach us different. 

Cinnamon Roast Peaches With Vanilla Yoghurt

Warm Winter Vegetable Salad

Not only is Miss Dahl a stunning human-being, her compilation of recipes seems beyond scrumptious! Now, I have not actually attempted anything yet but I can tell you that the baked apple (watch out dearest father!) is right up there on the list of must haves. The book is organized per season, filled with delicious fish recipes, soups, salads and more! It really is worth the investment if you love a bit of wholesome cooking. You really can't go wrong with this one!

www.google.com/images

I will make sure to keep you posted on how my 'voluptuous delights' turn out!

My Friend Tiffany.

I love to talk.

I love to talk, and I love to tell people what I think.

With such an attribute comes some (very) well thought-out ideas concerning every-day life scenarios which I thoroughly enjoy sharing with people, willing or not. 

Walk with me on this one...

Today is my twenty-first birthday. Ever so conveniently, my celebratory lunch spot happened to be located down the road from one of my favorite places to dream - Tiffany and Co. As I walked down the white-carpeted isles and gazed longingly as (what my mother calls) 'inspiration for a good job, or a good marriage in the future' I started to ponder on the concept of 'engagement.' I have previously confessed my love for pearls, but what about those who love diamonds? My lord, you can get diamonds in every shape, colour and cut imaginable. This is when I started to think. What happens if the supposed love of your life plops down on one knee and opens that little, itty, bitty box you have dreamt about since you were a little, itty, bitty girl and boom...

It is the most hideous thing you have ever seen in your life.

Who cares about love, marriage and children. You are going to have to carry that thing around on your hand for the rest of your life! I know I might sound some-what obnoxious, but is this not a legitimate worry? What happens if the ring which has been passed down for hundreds of years is a cluster of ugly surrounded by hideousness? Oh the worries of my life!

This is where my theory comes into play. If your so-called 'soulmate' thinks that you would actually adore a cluster of ugly surrounded by hideousness, honey, you need to think twice. It starts with the ring, then follows Christmas, Birthdays and Anniversaries. Before you know it, you will be swimming in tragic toe-socks, a matching mustard colored scarf, hat and glove set and a diamonte encrusted Iphone case inscribed with 'You Will Always Be My Baby-Boo.' Trust me, I am saving you from a lifetime of awkward smiles and teeth-clenched embarrassment. 

www.tiffanyandco.com

Okay, so I might be going to a bit of an extreme here (and ooze a wee bit of cynicism.) I mean, it is the thought that counts. Surely, if you love your man enough, the ring is a small sacrifice to pay for a lifetime of happiness. This is what we have jewelry catalogues and fridge magnets for, yes? 

www.tiffanyandco.com

See, this is what happens when you start growing up. This is what turning twenty-one has done to me! Maybe it was the constant exposure of Valentines Day goodies or the sudden realization that such worries are going to start hitting me once I find the man of my dreams at a much, much later stage of my twenties (don't worry Mom and Dad.) Legitimate or not, I think I am on to something. All I am saying is that marriage is not a decision made on a whim, and by no circumstance should the choice of a ring, or any jewelry item, be on that matter! 

Sometimes you just need to vent to avoid the nightmares. Until that moment comes, rest assured, I shall go back to worrying about fake-tan dramas and how I am planning on making my first million - the worries a normal twenty-one year old should have!

On another note, edging away from my previous rant - today is my birthday! I have had such an amazing day. Mumma J and I took our annual celebratory train ride out to London where we indulged in champagne, Nobu sushi, Fortnum and Mason and Carnaby Street boutiques. Capped off with a pink cake covered in glitter sugar and a gorgeous bundle of goodies - to say I was spoiled rotten is an understatement! Thank-you ever so much to all those who shared their birthday wishes :-)

The Countdown Begins!

SO, I might have told a slight white lie.

I am not actually twenty-one.

In-fact, I turn twenty-one tomorrow. 

The number '21' has been my lucky number since I can remember. I distinctly recall informing my kindergarten 'crew' that I would be living alone, married and all grown up by the time I turned twenty-one. I also recall telling them that I would live in a castle and be a princess, so i might have been a bit of a dreamer but the foundation was there! 

I am not discouraged in the slightest by the fact that my dreams didn't fold out in-front of me like I hoped they would oh so long ago. Married? I was always an ambitious child. Not only am I far away from the thought of wedlock, let alone meeting my husband-to-be, I am still living at home, attending University and not 'grown-up' in the least. Okay, so I might be classified as an adult in all major areas of the globe come midnight, but what is it to be an adult anyway? Must i relinquish my love for puddle jumping in my bright, pink Hunter wellington boots? The immature giggle at all that is inappropriate? If so, I will stay the way I am please. 

Bring on the responsibility. I don't expect being an adult to be a breeze. Just like I don't expect life, no matter how old you are, to be a breeze. Life is windy. Windy, rainy, sunny, snowy...a bloody weather extravaganza if you ask me! I make no promises that I shall wake up tomorrow and be filled with a sudden sense of maturity. Please don't tell me that being an 'adult' is going to be boring. I hate boring. I despise boring. Twenty-one or not, my life is going to be far from boring. I shall make mistakes, complain, laugh and chuck a tantrum once in a while. Growing up is over-rated. Remember when you were young and couldn't wait to hit double-digits? Yikes! I can remember getting rather upset with my dad as he annually informed me that he would like to place bricks on my head to stop me from growing. Joke was on me though! Welcome to the life of the shortest of four, despite being the second oldest. 

And so it begins.

The belief that age is 'simply a number.'

21 with the heart of a child. 

Perfect way to be, don't you think?

Picture Pearl-fect!

They say diamonds are a girls best friend. 

What about pearls?

 Whether you are placing them on your little girl or around your own neck, pearls are simply timeless. Throughout history, pearls have been fashioned by all those who define beauty. From Grace Kelly to Audrey Hepburn, the symbol of a simple pearl has glittered into one of class and elegance.

Presidential Pearls - Jackie O'Nassis
www.pinterest.com

Picture Perfect Pearls - Audrey Hepburn
www.pinterest.com

Plain yet Pretty Pearls - Grace Kelly
www.pinterest.com

Having a 'blah' day?

Smack those pink lips together and chuck on your pearls!

Wear them with a simple black dress.

Wear them with track-pants.

Pearls just seem to go with everything. 

With the rise of the 'alternative' fashion scene, my fingers and toes stayed crossed that the reputation of pearls stays to signify what it is to be a lady. 

My love for pearls started from a young age. We all have memories of hiding ourselves in our mother's closets. I was one who tended to stick my nose in the jewelry box. Placed next to classic scents such as Channel No 5. and Shalimar, my mom had a gorgeous collection of jewelry. Filled with timeless pieces (which she still dazzles in today), pearls have always been an ever-present item in her individual sense of style. To say 'like mother, like daughter' would be an understatement. The woman dresses in crazy kaftans and purple palazzo pants - and i adore it. Matched with my current love for leopard print, the two of us are an unstoppable duo!

Notice the pink bow!

Who is your fashion inspiration?

Has your mom influenced your fashion loves?

Sunday.

Sunday.

You either hate it or you love it. 

Last week, i hated it.

This week, we are on better terms.

I am a strong believer that Sunday is a day of rest. A day to do absolutely nothing and feel a-okay about it. Besides attempting to remove a very stubborn patch of pink nail-polish (which was spilt on my bright, white carpet) little to nothing was achieved on my behalf today. All except one beautiful thing.

Apple Upside Down Sponge Cake. 

With my darling father (who despises baked apple) away for the week, it was the perfect time to sneak this baby into the menu. I have been searching for the perfect recipe for yonks, trawling through the internet hoping that I would come on to a winner. I suddenly decided, to hell with recipes! So, I present to you my first ever impromptu baking creation!

I have dabbled in a bit of baking in the past. I tend to stick with my 'go-to' recipes. Your run-of-the-mill brownie and chocolate-chip cookie. Simple, yet delicious. It's all we are ever looking for isn't it? 

A few of my baking endeavors.

Want to walk on the wild side with me? 

Want to open the oven one to many times to make sure that what you have mixed together will actually bake?

Give this simple, delightful wee sponge cake a go!

Ingredients:

2 Bramley apples - peeled and chopped into thin slices.

1 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar

1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon (LOVE a bit of cinnamon!)

1/4 Teaspoon of All Spice

1/4 Teaspoon of Nutmeg

Sponge:

1/2 Cup of Sugar

125 Grams of Self-Raising Flour

100 Grams of Unsalted Butter

2 Eggs

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla.

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees. 

Prepare your baking pan with butter and baking paper, positioned at the bottom of the pan.

1. Place the peeled and chopped apples into a bowl. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg. Toss to combine. 

Arrange the apples in a cute little design at the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Get creative!

2. To make the sponge, weigh out sugar, self-raising flour and butter. Beat with electric mixed. Add eggs, one at a time. Whip to a light, fluffy consistency. Add the vanilla. 

3. Spread the sponge mixture over the apples. Pop it all into the oven and let it bake for 20 - 25 minutes. 

Might i suggest you indulge in this with a cup of tea?!

Cynthia.

With the intention to purchase your ever-so basic pair of blue jeans, I just couldn't walk past these gorgeous pants today.

www.zara.com

For me, true love comes in the shade of pink. 

 Whilst living in Christchurch, it is imperative that every student buy a bike. The place is literally as flat as a pancake and if you're on that dreadful student budget, a bicycle is the way to go.

It is time I introduce to you to the best thing of 2011, Cynthia. 

Forget helmet hair.

Forget biking in the rain.

Forget freezing your little hands off as you peddle to class.

Cynthia was every bike-owner's dream. 

I have a fantastic tendency to name anything which I regularly use.
Some raise an eyebrow to such an attribute but i look at it as a way to show appreciation for the things i have in my life.
There was Zippy the car of 2009, shortly followed with Barbara the scooter of 2010. What it is it going to be this year, you might be wondering? We shall have to wait and see! 

Duck Poop.

Upon picking up my little brother (who we shall forever to refer to as 'littlest C') he informed me that he was being teased at school. Why? Because the older kids overheard him asking his boisterous friend to imagine what it would be like to eat duck poop. Exactly. Why did he ask such a question? Because he wanted to make conversation and simply could not think of anything else to say. 

Littlest C takes after me in more ways than one. He loves to ask life's big questions, the type of questions which I seem to ponder over every day. 

How many best friends is too many best friends?

How many people have actually walked into poles? 

Do people get of sick of living in the same place all the time?

A bond like no other. 

I love the kid more than words can describe and i love the fact that our similarities cross a divide between that of a 'normal' human-being and that of the more interesting type. His current school debacle makes me think however, why on earth do the most ridonkulous things suddenly spring to mind when searching for immediate conversation? I am sure we all have our 'go-to' in this particular situation. Maybe you dabble in a bit of weather? Sports? Current events? It needs to be something safe. Something that, god forbid, if delved into past the initial ice-breaker, you have complete confidence in. I can't tell you how many conversations with potential male suitors have crashed and burned as i attempt to appear as if i know anything about rugby. When it comes to rugby, i am certain of one thing, and one thing only - the All Blacks are possibly the most attractive group of men ever bundled together. This fact gets me nowhere with the opposite sex unfortunately. 

I am happy to admit i do in-fact crack under the pressure just as littlest C did that fateful lunchtime. I am more than sure that a few 'Would you still like me if i ate leaves?' have been tossed around one or two times. Best not bring that one up when on a first date...

 Ah, the first date. Here is a situation where the pressure for conversation is greater than ever. Not only do you have to bare a few hours with this person, but the whole 'let's go out to get to know one another' deal forces you to scatter through your brain as you attempt to discard the things that the potential love of your life does not need to know. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way that elaborately explaining how exactly you will meet your future husband (story to follow in later post) is a dating no-no. Gosh, who wrote the rule book anyway?

I have decided that at the end of the day, if the lucky individual who is graced with my impromptu conversation raises an eyebrow, future soul-mate or not, they are not the one for me. 

I am certain that one day i will meet someone that will say yes. 

Yes, Christine, i would still like you if you ate leaves. 

Cup of Tea.

www.7beaches.tumblr.com

It's time to expose one of my dearly loved obsessions.

Tea.

On February 22nd, 2011- the earth beneath me shook. I couldn't tell you exactly what was going through my mind as I attempted to huddle beneath a desk in my very first history lecture of the year. I needed to get home, make sure that my flat (which was held up by paper) was still standing. The following hours were filled with confusion, terror, broken telephone lines and tea. 

It was instinctive. The power was out but our gas stove, oh the beautiful gas stove, that baby was still working a charm. As the ground continued to shake and rumble, our water boiled. The matching tumbler glasses were lined up, each containing a little bit of magic solitude. 

I don't know what it is about tea which has that ever-so calming effect. I am sure any Englishman could tell you about the glorious effects of a cup of tea. Whether you love a bit of fresh and fruity or a nice, soothing peppermint - tea has the ability to heal. I have experimented with my tea, not as much as i would like, but i have gone through a large variation only to fall on one brand which seems to ooze the magic qualities of a perfect brew.

Current Love:

http://www.teapigs.co.uk/

It's fresh, yummy and simply delightful. There are heaps of teas to choose from, one to suit every mood! From 'Popcorn' to 'Chilli Chai' i am sure absolutely anyone (even those who swear on the powers of a good cup of coffee) can find something that suits their need. 

Go on, give it a go. Don't have a cry, have a cuppa!

  

Glitter Me Pretty!

Glitter seems to be EVERYWHERE these days. 

www.flickr.com

Personally i love a bit of glitz and sparkle.

Images: www.saboskirt.com, www.pinterest.com, www.victoriafashion.tumblr.com

Beautiful Inspiration.

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, is in the street.
Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
- Coco Chanel

Adele.
Image: Google Images.

A simple pearl has the ability to define those who wear it.

A tattoo has the ability to define those who rock it.

A diamond ring has the ability to define those who love.

What Is In A Name?

I am sure the very first thing every blogger does is start off by thinking of a name. I felt like i was naming an unborn child. The stress, my god, was unbearable. This is it. This is the name it would be stuck with. What people would judge it by. Pressure? Yes! Oh and the names which were coming to my head! I am not afraid to admit that 'Little Miss Pearl-fect' sprung to mind one to many times. I was merely attempting to tap into my love for pearls, give me a break! 

I have been known for my inventive phrases and words. I convinced myself and others that 'toatz hilar' (abbreviation for 'totally hilarious) was going to fly off and it would be used by all. Although some might use it today, it never really took off like i dreamt it would. I have long wanted to work in advertising. Maybe slogan writing is not for me? Maybe it is? I suppose it all depends what you are willing to accept. Are you going to curve a smile on that face of yours when you see some witty, clever (and slightly cringe-worthy) spin on common known phrases OR are you going to raise an eyebrow in disgust? You choose. Personally i love the fact the life could be 'personalized' in such a way. I have tried countless times to submit words into 'Urban Dictionary,' later to be notified that my submission simply was not acceptable. Seriously? Has anyone seen the things people submit on that web-site? All i wanted was to lock in my new found 'it' or 'what?' word - 'Mahuddawhadda?' (Try saying that one, it's a blast.) Alas i failed. Who am i to need some literary justification to recognise the proper existence of a word? I should just write my own dictionary. Oh my, my poor future children will struggle to no end if i attempted to instill my own vocabulary upon them. I can imagine it now: a wild, little blonde-haired, princess-dress clad, tiara wearing, monkey-bar swinging loud-mouth attempting to convince her kindergarten teacher that she watched a 'toatz hilar' television show which was completely 'fabulouso'. Her best friend would be referred to as her 'home-skillet' and life's big, unanswerable questions would be met with a 'confuzzled' 'mahuddawhadda?' Dream child!

How did i settle on 'Lilly and Rose' you might ask? Basically, i love the name Lilly as, to me, it represents some sort of unconventional, free-spirit which i tend to see in myself a wee bit. Rose on the other hand, reminds me of an old lady who likes to trim flowers. It's a pairing of opposites which simply sounds delightful when said out-loud. Sadly, i put to rest the number of ways i could mash 'pearl' into the world 'perfect' and came to the conclusion that the name of your blog really does not matter. Like anything in life, it's the inside that counts.