Party Pics from last weekend (and a rather gorgeous young man for you to see)

I had to re-think what I wore to the engagement party last weekend - this was the weather on the way to the venue.... Snow and freezing temperatures.

Never mind - the khaki leopard babes are snuggled back in their box ready for another outing. Did not want to spoil their loveliness in any way the first time they appeared.

Daughter and I... ready to go.  Woollen scarves as extra accessories.  I am wearing a sparkly sequin jacket (Zara) with another little bit of sparkle in a kind of light sweatshirt type top underneath - the lighter stripes have a bit of glitter.

Us at the party... Daughter kindly 'did' my makeup

Enjoying a glass of fizz... straight to my cheeks!  You can see the sparkle in the top a little more.

And finally, the pic I enticed you with....Daughter with a dear friend of ours...  (brother of the 'engagement girl')....Such a nice young man and he is going to be a 'regular' soon on a British soap opera - HOLBY CITY.

Have you been to any good parties recently... what did you wear?  Do you always reach for the same kind of outfit and what do you feel most comfortable in for an evening occasion?

Khaki Leopard Babies

I have been getting rid of things recently rather than buying more which has fitted in quite well with the concept of Frugal February.
Sorting out and chucking clothing and possessions etc. in order to make the mammoth task of packing a little easier.   However, when these gorgeous shoes flitted by my radar I could NOT resist.  I fell for them hook, line and sinker.  Guilty as charged.

They tick so many boxes :

• Leopardy pattern
• Khaki colourway
• Reasonable heel height
• Comfortable with a slightly cushioned insole ;-)
• Good value for money

I absolutely LOVE them....  (Oh, and if you are interested they are from ZARA and currently still on their website)

Happy weekend whatever you may be doing.  Myself and the "khaki 'pards" are off to a party together.

Very exciting.

Back again in UK

Well, I have been back for less than a week and the contrast in weather has been amazing...

When I flew from Melbourne the mercury topped at 38 degrees - too hot for me really...  Far too hot.
However, I did not bank on this when I returned to Wiltshire....  Do you know it actually snowed yesterday morning..?  It's meant to be Spring here.
Look :

Snow.. in March, who would have thought it?

Have to say the snow did not hang around long and just look at these gorgeous flowers I have seen out and about on my jogs/walks....

Beautiful aren't they...?  The first two pics are hellebores (Lenten or Winter roses I think they are also known as) and the last one some gorgeous snowdrops.

Daughter returns from university in a couple of days - can't wait to see her again although as this is her last year (my goodness it's all nearly over!) she will be hard at work during the Easter holidays and I will be on hand to wield the whip   gently encourage and keep her going with nutritious food etc. !

Oh, and talking of nutritious food this GORGEOUS man is back on TV tonight telling us all about how to make a good loaf of bread - looking forward to taking notes and staring into his beautiful blue eyes...

Mr Salt and Pepper tasty dish - Paul Hollywood

How is Spring shaping up where you are?  Or, if in 'my other hemisphere' any Autumn foraging going on?

La Dolce Vita

Well life is sweet in more ways than one for me at the moment.....
I have been in Melbourne for the last couple of weeks and for most of that time have been busy packing up the house as Mr NT and I are on the move. A little further out of Melbourne but still within easy reach of the city. And it has been good, very sweet in fact to be sharing time with Mr NT again.
Yesterday, though I took myself away from the bubble wrap and boxes and treated myself to a quick visit to MECCA COSMETICA in Camberwell. Oh how I love that place ....
And I splurged on a little treat - Nars Dolce Vita lipstick. A fabulous colour - maybe the holy grail at last. A pinky nude which doesn't wash me out and has that finished "looks natural but better than your lips" sort of look. I am impressed.
A couple of visuals for you....

Have a wonderful weekend! I am doing a garage sale tomorrow but will feel very glam with my new lippie on to face the buyers!!

Valentines. The aftermath...

So how did you all fare on Valentine's Day?

 I am firmly of the opinion that there are more or less two types of people - those who adore Valentine's Day and people who could really quite honestly do without it.  Mr NT and I have never really been ones to to rush out and spend lots of $$$ or £££ on gifts but we do usually exchange cards and I can't see anything wrong with a day which is committed to love... Suppose you could argue that every day should be dedicated to love however this is the real world and that doesn't always happen does it... ?
So, if there is a special day where we can take that extra time and let people in our lives (and specially that significant other) know that we really love them... well, that is IMHO, a Good Thing....

So, as I was saying, we don't usually exchange gifts so when a box arrived in the mail (around a week ago) I quickly tore it open - and spoilt the surprise....  Oh dear. 
Mr NT had sent me :

Delicious and wonderful body lotion by Byredo in their yummiest of yummy smells (my NBF - new best fragrance) which is, Gypsy Water... On their website the flowery blurb is as follows :

Gypsy Water is a glamorisation of the Romany lifestyle, based on a fascination for the myth. The scent of fresh soil, deep forests and campfires illustrates the dream of a free, colourful lifestyle close to nature.

Oh and for my birthday Mr NT gave me the Eau de Parfum... So now I am totally 'gypsy-fied' and can wander around wafting my imaginary gypsy petticoats and flouncy skirts.

The ingredients are as follows :

Top notes : Bergamot, lemon, pepper juniper berries

Middle : Incense, pine needles, orris

Base: Amber, vanilla, sandalwood


Doesn't that sound lovely to you?


Happy weekend to one and all and do tell if you received a gorgeous surprise or two for Valentine's Day....

Marmalade - my first attempt

How pretty are these colours ? Pink grapefruit and lemon into the pan - waiting for the sugar

The finished product - so quick and easy too

Fairly proud of myself as this is my first go at making marmalade - and I wonder why on earth I have never done it before in all of my 50+ years.  My parents are prolific and talented marmalade makers and do all sorts of special (proper grown up things!) like boiling the pips in a muslin bag in the marmalade. I wanted something far easier and so used an extremely easy recipe but "ooomphed" up the taste by using pink grapefruit.  This is the one that I followed:  It was listed as "Absolutely Foolproof Easy Marmalade" and I can assure you, it was.  As I did not have a huge pan (nor may I add many jars) I did reduced the recipe by a quarter.  So my combination was 4 fruits and 750gram of sugar and as I said earlier I used pink grapefruit (2) and lemons (2). Honestly, try it - am sure you will be delighted.

6 oranges (or any combination) or 6 grapefruits (or any combination) or 6 lemons (or any combination)
1 kg sugar
Directions:

1
Take the 6 citrus fruits and wash well, removing any blemishes.
2
Cut into quarters, and place in a food processor.
3
Chop until finely ground, skin and all.
4
For an optional extra add some crystallized ginger.
5
Boil with the 1 kilo of sugar, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, for 20 minutes.
6
It splatters, so be careful.
7
This quantity fills about 5 x 340 gram jars.
8
Do not double the ingredients, rather make two batches.
9
It never goes dark and lasts for up to 6 months in the refrigerator without the need to sterilize the bottles.

Pics from the Antiques Fair

This way to the Fair

 Sorry, a little late as ever...

The Antiques Fair was wonderful - it was so lovely to be up in the big smoke for an afternoon even though it really was bitingly cold.  Oh, and a damn London pigeon pooped on my new Marilyn Moore coat.
Apart from that it was joy all the way and fantastic to see my boys from FONTAINE.  I stayed with them for around 4 hours and it was just like old times (when I used to work for them when they had an antique shop in East Sussex).  Sold lots too!

Not so much of a recession where their gorgeous things are concerned.
Here are a few photographs from the the day...