Moving Onwards and Upwards

Apparently moving house makes me suck even more at updating my blog *face-palm* Anyways, lovely new house has been moved in to, and majority of unpacking has been completed (it's always those little odds that never seem to have a home, that slow me down) 

Since my last post, I've had some exciting news. As of September, I shall be a student again! I have been accepted by UKC to study Architecture. This will not only mean re-training for my career, but it will build upon my original Interior Design degree and refresh my design skills. To say I'm massively excited is a HUGE understatement!!! 

Had a lovely wander around town at lunchtime with Alix, seeking out bargains in the summer sun. Loads of places have dwindling summer sales, but bargains are still there to be had! La Senza have all of their bras on Buy One Get One Free, including the sale items, meaning you can pick up two bras for only £5! New Look has some amazing shorts for less than £10, and Dorothy Perkins yet again tempted me with sale shoes. Picked up a pair of leopard print ballet pumps for only £10! So cute and hella comfortable!!! 

Once I get settled into the new place, I promise more craft-y activities shall occur, and be documented on here. In the meantime, if you have any tips, please feel free to message me either on Facebook, or at nsparkes84@googlemail.com

Brownies, brownies everywhere!!!!

It's become very apparent to me that I am awful at updating a blog. However, this time I seem to have more time on my hands, so am giving it another go. 


Since posting, I have taken up crochet and cross-stitch. I love both, although crochet is incredibly difficult until an amazing person *cough Bug cough* helps you with it. 


To kick off the new start, I am going to share with you guys my much loved Brownies recipe. I normally take these down to the Sunday Social at Lady Luck every month, and they go down a treat! 


Ingredients


100g butter (and extra for greasing)
100g dark chocolate
175g caster sugar
75g light brown sugar
2 eggs
100g plain flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons cocoa powder


Method


1. Heat oven to 180 degrees (this is what I use for a fan oven, go to 200 degree for a standard oven) Put the butter, dark chocolate, caster sugar and light brown sugar into a saucepan and heat gently until all is smooth. 


2. Take off heat and add the eggs. Sieve in flour, baking powder and cocoa powder, and mix until mixture is smooth.


3. Put mixture into a greased baking tin (I tend to use a standard round silicone tin, from Poundland), and bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out of the mixture clean. 


4. Allow to cool and cut into slices. 


With this recipe, you can also experiment with different flavours and textures. Once all of the mixture is together, add 50g of your chosen ingredient, for example, which chocolate chips, mixed crushed nuts, etc. It's great for parties, and general get-togethers. 

Pictured above is a freshly baked batch of double-chocolate brownie, ready to be cut and sold.


Hopefully you all enjoy the brownies. I shall be updating soon with more tips and recipes. Also, if there's anything you would like to share on the blog, please email me at nsparkes84@googlemail.com, so I can share your tips and ideas with readers


-x-

Bargain Hunting

Am realising that I'm not so good at this updating my blog lark (note to self: update more often!)

I seem to spend days off seeing people, rather than being creative at the moment. And whilst I want to branch out into projects of an evening, work leaves me incredibly shattered, and I have no idea where the evenings go. Kinda sucks, but I guess I just need to work on the balance of it all.

Yesterday I met up with a couple of beautiful ladies, in the forms of Si and Jame. Both had bubbies with them, so there were plenty of cuddles to go with the gossiping.

After returning home, I had something of a special moment, where I managed to confuse grams of butter, for ounces of butter, and ranted about not having enough to make cakes to take to The Lady Luck. This happens when I'm not in the best of moods, have something of a migraine coming on, and have consumed 4 bottles of Brothers strawberry cider over the course of an afternoon. So, this morning, I realised my mistake, and set about making more Millionaire's Cupcakes to sell.

I've started adding chocolate coins to the tops of the cakes to give them some height, and to hopefully make the students go "ooh, shiney!" and buy them. They seem to be going well so far, fingers crossed the success continues and grows.

Finally, we're having another massive sale at work. Whilst sorting through sale items over the past couple of weeks, I came across a couple of funky retro-esque finds.

I have a huge thing for cherries (stating a fact, in case you couldn't tell from the blog title, tattoo, cherries on many many things I own) I love the fact that this necklace has the twist of the googly eyes.

Also found this set of earrings at the bottom of a basket. Yes, one of the bows is missing, but the whole pack itself only cost £1.00, so can't really complain. Am looking forward to matching these with outfits and wearing them many many times.



September Sunday Social at the Lady Luck

Today was the monthly Sunday Social at The Lady Luck pub in Canterbury. Unfortunately I had to work today, but the lovely Miss Flick agreed to sell cakes for me. Yesterday ended up being a loooooong day due to working then baking in the evening, but is totally worth it. The cakes came out looking pretty great, and even though it was one of the quieter socials, it was still an enjoyable evening.

 

There were 4 flavours sold this month - Reese's Cupcakes, Lemon Delight, Strawberry Daiquiri and Millionaire's Cupcakes, as well as the added extra of chocolate brownies.

The table next to us were selling clothes. The girl who runs it goes to boot fairs and charity shops to hunt down vintage clothing to sell on. She had an amazing collection of clothes and accessories on offer, and left Flick with the below vintage postcard for her pin-up embroidery.

Also, at the Social, there was a tombola stall. I immediately fell in love with a classic cookbook that they had as one of the prizes. As it didn't go as part of the tombola, Emma let me have it. It's soooooo amazing!!! Is one of those cookbooks that has everything in it, and the best thing is, it has an old book smell and feel to it. I LOVE IT! I can't wait to make something using one of the classic recipes.

And finally, what better way to celebrate a long hard day at work than with cider, cake, and fantastic company! Amazing evening had, thank you Flick!

Pinch, Punch, First of the Month....

Today is the start of a brand new month. For many, it's a brand new start, heading off to new school years, college, university, etc. etc. It's weird to think that I was preparing to head off to university at this time 9 years ago! Seems like such a long time ago now!

One of my old housemates gave me a Gil Elvgren calendar this past Christmas. Gil Elvgren is my favourite pin-up artists, and is one of the most famous and recognisable. I'm actually planning on my next tattoo to be based on his artistic style.

Elvgren (March 1914 - February 1980) was a classical American illustrator, a master of portraying the All-American ideal feminine, but he wasn't limited to the calendar pin-up industry. He was strongly influenced by "pretty girl" illustrators such as Charles Dana Gibson, Andrew Loomis, and Howard Chandler Christy.
In 1937, Gil began painting calendar girls for Louis F Dow, one of America's leading publishing companies, during which time he created around 60 artworks. Around 1944, Gil was approached by Brown and Bigelow, a firm that still dominates the field producing calendars and advertising specialties. He was associated with Brown and Bigelow from 1945 to 1972.

The pin-up for September 2011 is Smoke Screen.

Each month also has a smaller pin-up picture for just above the month layout. This month is Wish You Were Near.

I love this calendar so much (and I also have the matching diary....me, obsessed, never! Haha!) On the first of every month, I plan on posting which pin-up paintings are featured. For me, Elvgren's painting capture everything a woman should stand for. Fact is, women should be able to be beautiful and sexy, whilst being smart at the same time!

Belated Birthday Meal for Bug

Tonight we held a belated birthday meal for Bug, seen above with her partner Matt. My housemate Alix made spaghetti bolognase, whilst I made chocolate brownie with ice-cream for afterwards. There was lots of happy chatting, alcohol and good food, so an awesome night all round :)



Also, I came up with a new cupcake flavour today to be sold at the Sunday Social this weekend.

The cupcake is called Reeses Cupcake, made of chocolate cake with crunchy peanut butter in the middle. On top is chocolate frosting, with a piece of Reeses Cup on top. They went down well this evening, fingers crossed they do so on Sunday as well :)

Hello! *waves*

I was recommended the Blue Feather Style blog by a friend http://bluefeatherstyle.blogspot.com/
and have been really inspired by Alex and her post. 

So, it got me to thinking. I can be incredibly creative, but never seem to have the time or energy to do so. This needs to change!
Now I've moved house, and gotten everything set up, such as the sewing table, the baking stuff for Schweet Cupcakes, and various other creative outlets, I'm determined to get back on track with things. I'm hoping that by doing this blog, it'll make me actually do some of these things, complete some on-going projects, and maybe even inspire other people.