Midi Fashion.

I am a really girly girl. I love high heels. I love Cath Kidston. I love curling my hair and wearing sparkly earrings.

I also love dresses. Sometimes, I find it difficult to find something that is modest and still beautiful and not prudish. However, ASOS are filling that void quite nicely! Here are just a selection of their amazing dresses on their website at the minute:

Which one would you pick? I love them all!

Cooking à la Rosie.

Hello my lovely readers!
I hope you are having a lovely week, despite this bitter cold weather we are having!

I thought today I'd share a recipe with you. I take no claim in inventing the recipe (it's from the Tesco Real Food website) but I made it for tea this week, and the mister said that it tasted like Wagamamas! So it was a definite hit! And I think it will be a definite hit with you too, as it warms you through-and-through and tastes very luxurious (although it's a cinch to make!)

Click here for the recipe or read below:

Thai Red Chicken Curry:

Ingredients
1tbsp vegetable oil
500g (1lb 2oz) skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks
1 stalk fresh lemon grass, bashed with a rolling pin My local supermarket didn't have any, so I didn't use it! But my jar of Thai red curry paste contained lemon grass and coriander in it, so I think the flavours were still there!
2tsp fresh ginger, grated (or use ready-prepared)
400ml can reduced-fat coconut milk
1 chicken stock cube, dissolved in 150ml (¼ pint) hot water
2tbsp Thai red curry paste
1tbsp fish sauce or light soy sauce
2tbsp fresh coriander, chopped, plus extra to garnish

Method

1. Heat the oil in a wok or large frying pan and add the chicken. Cook the chicken until it's browned.
2. Add the onion and the garlic, and cook for a further two minutes.
3. Add the red pepper, ginger, coconut milk, chicken stock and red curry paste. Mix together.
4. Stir in the soy sauce.
5. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.
6. Serve with rice or noodles! 

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures of the end result as we were too busy tucking into our tea! However, I can verify that it looked exactly like the picture off the Tesco Real Food website! 

I hope you enjoy making this dish, it's really easy to do!

Tomorrow.

You know how just the other day I wrote this blog post on how much I love Kate Middleton?
Well, she's going to be in the North East tomorrow! (Prince William was supposed to be coming too, but unfortunately he's attending a funeral).

I am so excited! It has been announced that she will be at Newcastle Civic Centre at 10.30am tomorrow. I am definitely going to go to get a glimpse of her! Anyone going to be there too? If you are wanting to see her elsewhere, here is a link detailing the different places in the North East that she is visiting.
Hopefully, the Geordie nation will not embarrass itself and she will love us as much as we love Greggs and stotties (an awful lot!)

This weekend.

This weekend is a little bit different from most weekends. Most weekends I spend Saturday however I want and then on Sunday I go to my local church in Gateshead for 3 hours of church. After that I either go to my parents' or my parent-in-laws' house for a scrummy Sunday dinner.

(image © AMK Photography)

This weekend is General Conference. There is no 3 hours of church at Gateshead. Instead, I have the opportunity to listen to 8 hours worth of talks (broken up into four 2 hour chunks over Saturday and Sunday) from a prophet of God and inspired leaders.

I love church. I couldn't imagine doing anything better with my time this weekend.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend whatever you're doing!

Downton glamour.

I absolutely adore Downton Abbey. I can't wait for Mondays to roll round so I can catch-up with it online (and skip the adverts in between!) I love the gorgeous dresses the Crawley sisters wear and wish that I lived in that era. They are so elegant, poised and feminine. I tried to copy their gorgeous 1920's curls the other day - and it all looked rather good until I went outside and got drenched by the rain and my hair went totally frizzy!

Instead of showing you pictures of my frizzy post-curled hair - here are some gorgeous pictures that I love of the Downton Abbey cast!

Aren't those dresses to die for? I love the embellishments, sequins and floaty material! I must say, I loved Edith's wedding dress more than Mary's! Give me that fashion era over chinos and peplum tops any day! Roll on The Great Gatsby this Christmas when we can see more 1920's glitz and glamour! 

Do you watch Downton? What do you hope happens in this series? I hope Edith meets the man of her dreams!

Crispello.

There's been a big hoo-ha in chocolate world recently because Cadbury's are launching a new chocolate bar aimed at the female demographic.

Chocolate is just one of those things that can't be totally aimed at just one gender. Yes, we know Yorkie's are aimed at the male population - but it's not only males who eat it (and Cadbury knows this too!).
I think this is a clever campaign. It intrigues the women, but also the men. When we are told not to do something, we usually do it. As soon as we say "don't look over there because....." we immediately turn around to have a good nosy at whatever induced the conversation. By repeatedly advertising a chocolate bar at women, it makes us want to eat it to see what all the fuss is about - regardless of our sex.
Apparently, it's aimed at women as it's resealable - so we can eat one piece and that save the rest for later. Who has that much self control with chocolate? Not me! Especially since Crispello (that's the name of this new chocolate bar) only has 3 chunks.

So, basically, I think by Cadbury's deliberately stating that this chocolate bar is aimed at women they are just bringing more advertising and media to the chocolate bar to help promote it. So, it's not really about what gender eats the chocolate bar: just that the chocolate bar gets attention, bought and eaten.

...and it seems that I have fallen for their ploy, by writing a blog post on this. Thereby drawing more attention to the Crispello. Also, I will most likely buy this; to see what all the fuss is about!

Listen.

Listen, and enjoy!

1. Gabrielle Aplin - Please Don't Say You Love Me.
I just discovered this song this morning and really like it. The lyrics are good and her voice is lovely and British.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxNYvk_0Onw

2. Nina Nesbitt - Boy
I really like the rhythmic style of this song. I think you will either love or hate this song, fortunately for me, I like it!
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8bMODpjy1M

3. Naya Rivera - Mine
This song is off Glee, but it's not cheesy - it's soulful and beautiful. I love the original, but dare I say, I love this one more? (Sorry T Swizzle!)
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESmo-nHhbcg

4. Sara Bareilles - Bright Lights and Cityscapes
You probably know by now that I love her voice, and her songs feature on these lists more times than any other artist. This song has a sad but haunting melody.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJycDeZqtdc

5. Taylor Swift - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.
This is so cheesy. The lyrics are pretty rubbish too. But, it's so catchy! I hear the chorus on the radio and it's stuck in my head for the rest of the day.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcMn_Eu-XTE

What do you think of all these tracks? Got a favourite?

Wantings # 1

My current wantings:

(1) - Petites Faux Fur Collar Coat from Miss Selfridge. £85.
I loved this coat as soon as I saw it. It even has a detachable fur trim incase you just want to wear it as a tweed jacket. It's fitted and lovely. I think it could be a good investment. It's brand-new stock, so I still have time to think about it before purchasing!

(2) - Embellished Pencil Skirt from Miss Selfridge. £65.
I had a field day in Miss Selfridge yesterday when I saw this beauty. Embellishments is a bang-on trend at the minute, and I love the amount of sequins covering this gorgeous skirt. My only concern is that it might look a bit gothic on me? Especially since I have long dark brown hair? What do you think? I don't know whether I'd prefer to spend my money on something glittery-great-gatsby style instead!

(3) Nude Envelope Clutch Bag from Dorothy Perkins. £20 (but on a special offer of £18 at the moment).
I love this luxurious bag that is glam enough for a night out but also looks so simple and stylish. It even comes with a chain incase you want to wear it across body. Really I think it's a winner. However, will that lovely shiny surface come into a clash with my car keys and end up looking second-hand on it's first outing? Maybe.

(4) Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Flirt Alert. £14.
I got this bargain off eBay for only £6 (plus £1.50 P&P) instead of the RRP of £14. Apparently it's the official colour this season for Forever Crazy! Woop. Just waiting for this bad-boy to arrive! I've never been so excited to win an auction bid on eBay!

(5) Old Street Wall Clock from Next. £45.
This clock is beautiful. It has a 1920's style feel to it, but in a modern and intriguing way. I really want this for my kitchen, especially since I can't read 24hr clocks or clocks with no numbers very well! What would you say: too pricey or an investment?

My style idol.

I know Kate Middleton (Princess Kate) has been getting a lot of press recently (and not for something she would actually like to be known for). As a massive Kate fan, I want to rave about her a bit. I love her fashion sense. I want to wear everything she wears. When I got engaged last year, my amazing friend photoshopped  mine and the (then) fiancé's head onto an image of Will and Kate. I even went as far as to get the husband and I to dress up as the royal couple for a birthday bash last year. See figure 1.

Figure 1.

And, I got married in the same year as her. No biggy....
So, anyways, I love Kate Middleton. And I would love to own these dressses:

Okay, I could just keep posting pictures of her amazing outfits, but if you love Kate's wardrobe as much as I do, then click here to see InStyle's collection of Kate's 100 Most Memorable Outfits.

Standing ovation.

John Lewis adverts are always great. Remember this one last year I shared with you at Christmas?
Well, here is the newest ad from John Lewis and I love it!

I think it's just so elegant and I love the modern/old cross over. It also shows that relationships are the same throughout the decades.

What do you think of the advert?

Cambridge.

The cambridge satchel is a bang-on fashion trend at the minute. But it's not just the usual tan colour that everyone is sporting: think pastel, think bold, think neon. The timeless satchel has had a 21st century upgrade!

The Cambridge Satchel Company have a range of gorgeous satchels. They range from about £70-£105 in price, so don't suit everyone's price range. However, I've found some lovely satchels from high street stores that will fit this fashion trend perfectly (and at a price that doesn't break the bank!)

H&M have lovely satchels in for £19.99. Online they only have black/tan colours, but instore I have seen neon pinks and yellows!

New Look have this showstopper satchel for £44.99 by Steve Madden.

Topshop have lots of satchels to choose from, whether it's a neon whipstitch satchel for £50 or metallic snake skin satchels for £28.

Warehouse have 'mini clean satchels' in delicious leathery brown colours. It has an across the body strap as well as a short strap so you can change your look. It costs £34.

Another great place to look for a satchel is eBay. They have a range of different colours and prices, so you are bound to find something to suit you!

I'm lucky as I have a lovely vintage satchel I got from my mum's next-door neighbour. But, I think that for this season, it is definitely worth investing in a bright, bold and beautiful satchel to carry all your everyday essentials. I think I might go for a bright postbox-red or an electric blue! If you see either of those satchel colours when you're out and about, let me know!

Alphabet.

I can't get over how much I love these cotton tote bags/purses from Alphabet Bags.
They have so much choice, and are quite reasonably priced for a nice treat!
I love the typography and the simplistic style of the products. I always love to have a cotton tote, and I am definitely going to purchase one - when I decide which one to get!

So much choice! My heart could explode with tote-love.
Also, I love the wedding collection totes they do. I am devastated I didn't know about them sooner, otherwise I would have definitely had them at my wedding. Look how delicious they are! (I love using the word delicious in a wider context!)

I only discovered Alphabet Bags yesterday, can you see how much of a fan I am already?
I want it all!
They also do canvas purses, which are a big season trend at the minute, with letters of the alphabet on.
So, naturally I'll choose R.

Thank you Alphabet Bags for jazzing up the tote bag in a classy, bang-on-trend way.
Your converted fan,
Rosie.

The high street.

This morning I read an article on The Drum about 'can social media save the high street?'. I thought it was a pretty interesting question to ask, considering more and more high streets and town centres are dying a rapid death, and more and more people take to online shopping.

I think the reasons for this shift in shopping style were highlighted in the article when it said that there are not as many stay-at-home mums and people generally work longer hours now and don't have time to walk around the shops, or the town centre shops are not even open when they finish work! Also, mostly you can find what you want cheaper online, and you have the zero-hassle of trying to transport bought goods home - especially if you use public transport.

But what is to be done?

I think that generally, people want their high street to be a great place to shop and eat. There seems to be a shift in values where people want to make their area more of a community and encourage local produce and small to medium businesses rather than the national chains, but this is hard to do because of their domination in the market place and their ease of use.

So what can I do to help?
I can visit my local high street to buy my groceries instead of going to the ASDA supermarket. I can buy from small local businesses and then promote them through word of mouth/social media.

Sometimes I think our grandparents got it right. When everybody in the street knew each other. You could talk with your butcher about how the family was doing and buy your bread fresh from a bakery. It may seem a simpler way of life, but maybe it was a better way of life.

Under a rock.

Well, if you haven't been living under a rock for the past week, you would know that there is a huge, new Kripsy Kreme store at the Metrocentre in Gateshead.

The husband and I attempted to go for a mini-date on Friday night (the day after it opened). I knew it was a bad idea from the start, and I was right. There was a queue of people weaving their way out of the store just to get a glimpse and bite of a delicious doughnut. The drive-thru was as equally packed with cars and we decided that it wasn't our night for Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

So, we went back on a Tuesday morning and had doughnuts for breakfast (DON'T JUDGE US!). They were delicious. The hotlight was also on so we got free glazed doughnuts to nibble on while we waited in the much smaller queue. I was shocked by the 'panic' buying approach people had to the doughnuts, with some people buying multiple dozen-boxes of doughnuts as if they were here for one day only and it was an emergency! Another lady and her friend bought 24 doughnuts each, and then sat down in a booth with a tray filled with doughnuts, where they took a few bites of each doughnut and then just left the rest. Greedy!

Anyway, I come the bearer of great news. Krispy Kreme have officially announced that they are opening a KK Sunderland branch on the 23rd October in the Bridges Shopping Centre and a KK Durham on the 30th October on Silver Street! So you don't have to flock to the Metrocentre to get your hands on doughnuts. It looks like Krispy Kreme are here to stay! Long live Krispy Kreme!

Sweet treats: eggless cookie dough

If you're anything like me, then you love eating cookie dough!
My mum finds it appalling. I think my sister does too. I don't think they like the whole raw eggs thing.
Anyway, I was baking a batch of cookies yesterday, using an eggless recipe, and I thought...this is perfect for cookie dough eating as it has no raw eggs in! Now everyone can enjoy cookie dough!

Here's the recipe:
(It's pretty huge, so I'd advise you share this out...or just half the amount!)

3oz light brown sugar
4oz margarine
6oz self-raising flour
2tbsp milk
2tbsp golden syrup
a packet of chocolate drops (optional)

All you do is cream the sugar and margarine together, then add everything else and whisk it up!

And, if you don't want to eat the mixture (why wouldn't you!?!?) then this makes about 14 cookies in the oven at 180°C for 8-10 minutes, which are delicious!

(source)

This recipe was taken from allrecipes.co.uk - source.

A return to reading.

The title of this blog post does represent me a little bit. After trawling through text books and journal articles from anything about wh-movement to translations of Old English texts, it's nice to finally have graduated from university and have the leisure and pleasure to read anything I want.

Anyway, the title of this blog post actually represents this. I found this blog/picture collection the other day and immediately fell in love with it. It's such a tender moment capturing someone unawares reading a book, it seems like a little bit of their personality is hidden in each secretive shot. Also, since I've recently just returned from my holiday in New York, I feel like if I look hard enough, maybe I'll be in one of these shots!

Some of my recent reads:
Divergent - apparently it's the new teen book. It's set in a dystopian Chicago and has a Hunger Games style to it. Honestly, I didn't like it. Yes, I was hooked and read the whole thing so the pace was good, but I figured out the entire storyline before it happened (and trust me, I'm not usually one of those people!) and I just thought all the characters were undeveloped and so was the world in which they lived. The book frustrated me, it could have been so good, and I feel like if the writer had just redrafted it a few more times, it could have been amazing. I won't be reading the rest of the trilogy.

The Beautiful and the Damned - loved it! I love F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing style so much. It just oozes charm, sophistication and so much depth. The whole storyline is not too complicated yet the character relationships and situations are so true and poignant.

The Portrait of a Lady - to be honest, I'm trawling through this one. It's so slow. The writing is elegant and graceful, but dear me, the pace is slow. I think I've gotten used to faster-paced novels and have felt the gentle thud of this one as a bit of a shock. Never mind, I'll persevere.

Any book recommendations for me?

Musical memories.

I recently had my iTunes on shuffle, and my ears heard some definite blasts from the past! It got me thinking about music, and how certain music makes you think of certain occasions, whether it's the CD you received for Christmas or a song that you used to have on repeat all the time.
So here are my five musical memories:

1. The Call - Regina Spektor.
A song that played when a dear best friend moved far, far away.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY0QcSQf_mc

2. Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
A song that me and my sister loved as teenagers.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvOrLLKSuzw

3.Me & You - Diana Vickers
A song that reminds me of a lazy summer.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpE1dLi915c

4. Sing For Me (Acoustic) - Yellowcard
A song played on my wedding day.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC0SavZptSo

5. Out Of My League - Stephen Speaks
A song that reminds me of girly sleepovers.
link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L15skJeT8bY

What are your musical memories?
Do any certain songs remind you of me?

Like sunbeams.

I want this to be me.
I want to have bright sunbeams shining from my face.
I want people to know that I am a good person inside and out.
I want to always look lovely.

Therefore,
I will compliment people more.
I will try to smile more. (I have the tendency to have a natural moody-pout expression going on when I'm walking).
I will listen to others.
I won't gossip. I will turn any negative gossip into positive gossip. (I think gossip can be positive if you are talking about lovely attributes of another person).
I will value other people's opinions.
I will be happy.

The thief of joy.

Let us love ourselves. For we are all we have got. Our life can only be lived by us and we choose in which direction it will go. Don't waste time comparing yourself to others. You are unique and special, just the way you are. Emulate good characteristics you see in others around you, but never be jealous of their life. As Dr Suess said, "today you are you, that's truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you".

Hardly comical.

I'm no science expert. My science-related expertise ends at A-level Biology, and most of my interests are now to do within the field of Linguistics.

Therefore, I appreciated the recent news story of CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research who have just announced that they have discovered a new sub-atomic particle more for the font choice than for the scientific discovery (although I do appreciate that a little bit, and sometimes wish my brain could understand it all a bit better).

Comic Sans is now trending on twitter, with many users discussing their distaste at the Comic Sans font that was used to display and present such a important discovery, as it is a font that children aged between 6-12 years love. Is it professional? No. It's not even cool.

Why did they do this? When in doubt, you use Times New Roman, everyone knows this!
I doubt it was a clever way of drawing more attention to them from font-lovers!
But anyways, what is done is done. And may CERN remember next time to use a font that won't cause readers and writers to weep into their pillows at night, and text box fill colours that don't offend the eyeballs.

Really, this is all in jest. They've just discovered something they have been searching for since 1964. So I'll give them some slack.