Top 10 Strictly Dances

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As it's the Strictly Final tonight, I thought I'd share my Top 10 dances from the previous 10 series. It's pretty difficult to select just 10 and especially order them, but I think these are mine:

(Note: I do not own the copyright of any of these photos, they're just downloaded from the web :))

1. Jill Halfpenny & Darren Bennett - Jive

Strictly Finalists 2013

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So it's the Strictly Come Dancing Final tomorrow. Am I excited? To give an honest answer, not really. For those who don't know, Strictly is a UK TV show featuring celebrities dancing with professionals who compete for a sparkly trophey, and I've been watching it since the very first series, tuning in every Saturday and Sunday evening. This season though, I haven't been as enthralled by it all. Don't get me wrong I still absolutely love the costumes, music and atmosphere, the contestants do seem very sweet and it would be fantastic to see it live. Although I am no expert in dancing, I feel that the judges have been extremely generous with their scoring from too early on, and from the list of celebrities this year, nobody really stood out for me. 

Gift Bow Tutorial || Life as a Petite

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Why not add a personal touch to your Christmas gifts this year? Here's a quick tutorial on how to make these cute bows. As seen from my Instagram photo you can also decorate your room etc with them :)

☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ 

Check out some of my other Christmassy tutorials:

☆ Magical Lucky Star (Wrapping Paper) ☆

☆ Christmas Star Ornament ☆

☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ ☃ ❉ 

A Variety of Textures

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It's the weekend! This post is kind of long over due as I've been a bit busy lately. But a few weeks back, J and I had a meal at Texture in Marble Arch, and it was amazing!! Not only was the meal absolutely delicious, but everyone was extremely friendly. I also love the decor of the restaurant, very spacious and filled with natural light. 

We ordered the set menu which for what you got was quite a fantastic deal. Not only did you get 3 courses, but also a few extra treats too. 

For an appetiser we were given some iced cauliflower - although the idea was strange, it was surprisingly very tasty, different but still tasty. There was also warm bread (nothing better than warm bread) and also a variety of crackers. 

So below are just a few pictures that I took. At first I was dubious about taking photos, so I wasn't able to take photos of the extra appetisers at the start. But then several people took out their cameras so I thought it was okay! 

If you're looking for a restaurant with great food, service and style, I definitely recommend Texture, and will definitely be visiting again. 

Anniversary Outfit Idea

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This week thought I'd share with you a little anniversary outfit idea. I was hoping for a simple yet chic look.  Of course this can be worn whenever too J

Dress - Sheinside or Chicwish

Bag - Forever 21

Shoes - Primark (I know!!)

(Both my accessories were gifts)

Earrings - Goldsmiths

Bracelet - Agnes B

And here is what it all looks like: 

It may look as though the dress is a little bit long/big - it was even though it was an XS. So I had to have a little help from a few safety pins, nevertheless, I think the length is actually quite nice for a meal out and I absolutely adore it!! :)

Anyway I hope you guys liked this post. Take care everyone and speak soon!

☺

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Other Outfit Inspirations:

DIY Gift Ideas #2: Wrap Bracelet Tutorial (His & Hers)

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Learn to make a simple wrap bracelet! You can make them for friends, yourself or even your other half!  Like the Chevron Bracelet (or Anklet) Tutorial I'm extremely sorry if this is really simple or self explanatory! 

Possible Tools:

• Embroidery floss (or equivalent)

• Ruler with Inches 

• Scissors

• Clipboard/Sellotape/Heavy Item

• Glue

Measurements I used:

• Five 70 inched strands or Ten 35 Inched strands

Let's get started!

My moisturiser collection

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It's nearing the time of year where we treat ourselves to a little pampering. Moisturisers definitely leave you feeling sooo much more nourished during the cold dry seasons. I'm quite a moisturiser addict, so I thought I'd share the ones I have/use:) However before I start, I would like to mention my all time  favourite moisturiser, the Nivea Visage Oil Free Moisturising Fluid, with Vitamin E, witch hazel and allantoin. It's not only quick and easy to apply, but it is really light, absorbs extremely quickly and doesn't leave an oily finish. BUT Nivea has stopped making them!!:( 

Nivea please bring it back!

 Anyway whining aside, here goes :)

DIY Wrapping Paper Magical Lucky Stars Tutorial (***Make a wish***)

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Here's a simple tutorial on how to make the lucky magical stars featured in my Coffee Jar Anniversary Gift Idea post. Please do let me know if this doesn't make sense, as I'll be more than happy to re-explain it. But also I apologise in advance once more if this is self-explanatory again. 

It's the little things #2 (Beauty of Nature)

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I hope you're all having a lovely week - it's nearly the weekend soon! This week seems to have flown by! Although I'm in agony at the moment - did fitness training yesterday. First time in years, and I'm feeling it today...can't walk up or down the stairs without complaining haha - yes I'm a wimp;p But overall, I must admit it was really good :) 

Anyway, I absolutely love taking pictures of flowers. Just in awe of how beautiful they are. And although I don't think pictures can do them justice, at least you'll always have that beauty captured :) Sometimes it's easy to forget how beautiful the world is around us, so I thought I'd share some photos with you :)

Anyway I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week. 

Take care and speak soon!

First Bubble Tea experience!

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I hope you're all having a wonderful week. I'm feeling a little injured because I was very bad and forgot to warm up properly before playing sport (I know...really bad and stupid, and my fault entirely :() ... 

Badness aside however, I had my first bubble tea experience! As a lot of people had been going on about it, and as I would always get a shocked reaction whenever I said that I'd never had one, I thought it best to check what all the hype was about.  Sooo we went to the one nearest at the time, which was Soho. 

In all honesty, I was a bit dubious when I saw the shop from the outside, as all I saw was test tubes which seemed quite dusty. It kind of reminded me of the room Harry ended up in when he said 'diagonally' in Harry Potter. But then again I had never heard of Bubbleology (I know I know, where have I been;p) and didn't realise that that was the actual shop. Anyway we went in and I must say, it looked really awesome. The Bubbleologists were all in lab coats - test tubes were bubbling, and fumes were everywhere. 

The first drinks I saw were these colourfully clear ones, which I was really drawn to (found out they were Fruit Teas after haha), but wasn't too keen on the pearls (which is stupid of me as that's the whole point of bubble tea...oh dear haha). Anyway in the end, I just went for a safe plain Assam.

After taking a sip or two, and having some pearls, in all honesty, I wasn't wowed by it (I know I must be crazy as everyone loves them!). I think it was the hype over them that set my expectations really high, and I didn't realise the pearls would be squidgey haha. But the overall experience was good. I think, however, it was more so that I found the little writings around the shop really interesting and funny.

Maybe if I chose another flavour I'd change my mind...we'll see. Have any of you guys had bubble tea? If so, which one do you like or would recommend? :)

Anyway take care everyone and speak soon :)

Delicious and Healthy Courgette Soup Recipe

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I hope everyone's weekend has been relaxing :) 

Soooo as mentioned in last week's post I have been craving soup, following from the Leek & Potato, I have made another one this weekend, Courgette & Pea! Soups definitely are a great and yummy way to get your daily vegetable intake. So I'd thought I'd share a recipe J and I did. 

Ingredients Used:

1 large onion, chopped

2-3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

4 large courgettes, sliced

400g of peas

650ml of vegetable stock (3 stock cubes)

Olive oil

125ml crème fraiche

Mint

Salt and pepper 

Utensils Used:

Chopping board

Knife

Large saucepan

Handheld blender - other forms can be used, I just found this saves more washing

Disclaimer: there are many different ways to make this soup, this is just our interpretation - the types of ingredients, amount as well as chronological steps taken. So some of the ingredients such as onions, garlic, mint etc can be skipped - it totally depends on your preference.

Method:

1. Add a small amount of olive oil to a large saucepan, and gently fry the onions and garlic for around 2 minutes.

2. Add courgettes, mix ingredients, and sweat for 5-10 minutes, until they begin to turn as if barbecued. 

3. Add stock and bring to the boil

4. Add the peas and mint.  Gently simmer until all the ingredients are soft

5. Take off heat. Using hand blender, blend until smooth yet thick

6. Add crème fresh, salt and pepper to taste

 

7. And voila, your yummy home-made soup is ready!

I hope that was useful :) Take care and happy cooking!

It's the little things #1

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I thought I'd share with you all an absolutely adorable photo I found on my phone. It's the little things in life can really make a difference to your day.  For example, this morning, whilst I was walking along, this lovely old man smiled and said good morning. 

If you guys have any little things, feel free to post :)

Tiny London Adventure: first cocktail and lobster experience!

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I hope you're all having a wonderful wonderful weekend! Thought I'd share with you all a little of what I got up to. 

A little crazy, but for the whole week I was craving for some Leek & Potato soup. So as it was also feeling a little chilly, but mainly because my mouth was watering like crazy from just thinking about it (haha) and because J makes delicious soups, we decided to make some for dinner. 

We were having a late lunch and drinks later, so decided to make it for dinner - in my opinion, an extremely yummy thing to come home to :) 

(May make courgette and pea soup some time next week..hmmm).

Anyway, for lunch we went to this restaurant that did burgers and lobsters for £20! London prices are insane, but I thought for London and seafood, £20 was pretty good, especially as it was only a once-in-a-while treat :) It was my first time having lobster, and it was really tasty, a bit fiddly but tasty. If you were afraid of getting your clothes messy, you could even have a bib! I didn't wear one, as I thought I'd look silly :p

After lunch we went up the One New Change to take a look at London. The weather had warmed up, the sun was out, and London looked gorgeous. 

Apparently, when One New Change was being built, Prince Charles disapproved of the construction and tried to intervene. I suppose when you're situated right next to the imposing St Paul's Cathedral, any modern building will look quite out of place, and possibly an eye-sore. But I thought the way the windows reflected the Cathedral looked rather pretty. 

It was really lovely walking around St Paul's Churchyard, although I was rather confused by the newly painted blue tree trunks...if anyone could tell me why I would be very interested! haha.

We then headed off to try my very first cocktail! The view was absolutely gorgeous. When I saw the Gherkin though, 'The Apprentice' theme tune kept playing in my head...sad I know haha. 

J had a simple beer and I had a mango and passionfruit mix. It was actually quite nice. As I'd never had anything more than a little sip of alcohol, the sudden strength of alcohol was quite a shock, but don't worry, I was very sensible and sipped it very very slowly so wasn't drunk or tipsy :)

It was lovely to see the sun set in the backdrop. Also thank god the fire was nearby, as it did turn a little chilly. So, overall it was a really wonderful day, and great first experience! But what I was looking forward to most was the soup! And I have to say, it was absolutely perfect, and I can't wait to have some more hehe :) Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone, and take care!