Happy One Month Ickle Blog!

I cannot believe that its only a month since I launched my brand new blog! I've had over 2300 hits, written 14 new posts and and have 'virtually' met lots of really interesting people. The Quirky Lifestyle Facebook page has a 100+ likes but clearly needs building up. I'm so very grateful for all the support I've received from my friends (and my lovely husband) and for all the experiences I've able to share here. Thank you for indulging me!. Following the demise of my much neglected travel, fashion and food blogs (I've deleted them!) , I am determined to keep this baby alive. I've imported all the old posts and am currently going through a tedious housekeeping process.

As with most things, I figured a list would help me focus. So, here is my little wish list of 10 things I'd like to do before my blog turns 1....

1. Ethical Fashion: In keeping with my passion for ethical and thrifty fashion, I'd like to start a feature on some of the best Charity Shops around. I'm already planning my Kensington run... 
2. Celebrity: A bit of celebrity is always good for inspiration and business. I'd like to interview someone famous I admire for the blog. Watch out Vivienne Westwood and Heston Blumenthal! ;)
3. Food Blogging: I've learnt quickly (deleted blogs saga)  that blogging is very much about networking. I'd love to attend a food bloggers event and connect with some more 'real' people who blog and in the process develop that network.
4. DIY: I'm all about upcylcing and recycling so I'd like write about at least five really interesting DIY projects. Design my own shoe or handbag perhaps?!
5. Ethical Investment: I'd love to find one iconic 'forever' fashion piece from a charity shop and blog about the 'how'.Can you hear me Coco?
6. Travel & Adventure:  I've not been travelling as much I'd like to lately. I gently remind myself that I do have family responsibilities, a full time job and mortgage. Nevertheless, I'd like to travel to and blog about at least three destinations I haven't been to before (either UK or overseas) in the next year.
7. Fashion Week: I *so* want to attend London Fashion Week! I need to figure out how to go about this as a baby blogger. No plans so far but watch this space...
8. Olfactory Indulgence:  I am a huge fan of perfume-especially the niche brands. I'd love to visit a perfumery workshop and blog about the experience. Oh how I'd *love* to visit Grasse !
9. Quirky Partying: Nothing like a bit of dress-up and partying. Even better if it is on a grand scale. I really fancy participating in a themed weekend, I'm thinking posh murder mystery evening...
10. Recognition: As this is a wish list for the next 12 months and I'd be putting a lot of heart, soul and energy into it,  maybe I need to think about some recognition. Sign up for a blog award perhaps!?

Have you got more ideas of what I should focus on over the next year? Would you like to join me on one of these adventures?  I'd love to hear from you! Happy birthday little blog! Ann x

DIY Sparkly Shoes: Almost 'Choos'

Lately, I've been obsessing over all things sparkly. I am certain that it is my sub-conscious reaction to the general lack of sunshine in this part of the world. Sparkly shoes are a bit of balancing act-a little bit that way and it may end up looking tacky.  And then, inspiration struck unexpectedly...

About five years ago, I bought a pair of beige textile courts from the M&S Outlet in Springfields. It cost me a fiver and I wore it lots. I was beginning to get bored of the pair and decided to give them a bit of a makeover. I tried using nail varnish on them but that turned out to be a big fail (see photo for proof!). I then bought some glitter glue, used a paint brush for the application and three coats later, ( with drying periods in between) I had the most glittery glamorous shoes ever!  The glitter glue cost me £1.99 and you can find them in most craft stores.

I don't often feel giddy about things but I cannot wait to wear my sparkly new shoes! In fact, I may just have been wearing them around the house (brushing my teeth in them :o) as they make me so happy. Don't you think they look a bit like these Jimmy Choos? ;) I'd love to hear your shoe makeover ideas too! Ann x

After: All sparkly and glam!

Before: And after the nail vanish disaster

The November Garden

Our allotment is a tip right now and the garden doesn't look that much better. The incessant rains and the short days (and hectic work schedules) have meant that we've not quite 'got there' in terms of autumn gardening. Hard frost has not arrived in the East yet so there is still time for a bit of garden TLC. So here are a list of things I'll be doing this Autumn.

Autumn Leaves: You need to rake those pesky leaves regularly. It is important, especially if you have leafy deciduous trees nearby which encourages the growth of moss and mushrooms and will eventually ruin your lawn. Use the leave for mulching your borders or as compost (leaf mould).

Seeds: This is a good time to continue collecting the last of your plant and flower seeds for planting later in spring. And, it saves a few pennies.  Always dry first and store in paper bags in a cold dark place. I love it when I'm able to re-grow plants from seed. My giant sunflowers were born this way and they are still beautiful!

Spring bulbs: Its not too late to plant some spring bulbs if you haven't already. My MIL bought us a bag of tulips that really need planting soon. Also, lift and store any gladioli bulbs or dahlias if you live in a particularly cold area.

Fruit Trees: This is the ideal time for planting, pruning and propagating fruit trees. Carol Klein's book on propagation has some great tips.Propagating fruit trees is also much cepaer than buying new ones.

Pruning:  Time to prune those raspberry and other fruit canes that have finished supplying the goods. Your autumn fruting raspberries may have another month to go.

Winter Vegetable Patch: If you've sown leeks, winter brassicas, celeriac etc., now is a good time to harvest. We also managed to get a rather late harvest of sweet corn and cucurbitas. Parsnips are meant to get tastier after the first frost so leave an excess of those in the ground. It is a good time to plant some garlic too. Also continue digging and preparing the ground for the winter. Check out Freecycle for free manure.


What have you been up to in the garden this month? Ann x

Little Black Dress (LBD) Recycled: Part 1

In keeping with the ethical fashion theme from my previous post, this post is about a well recycled Little Black Dress (LBD). I bought this dress a few years ago from the Cleethorpes Sunday market for something like a fiver. Its a Minuet Petite dress so what I paid was a tiny fraction of the actual price. Its a classic and I've dressed it up and down and it still works well. My shoes are JW Anderson Aldo Rise (at 70% off!) from the ASOS sale. My cuff is handmade and bought from the lady Michelle Lowe-Holder herself at London Fashion Weekend.  Have you got a dress that you constantly recycle? Ann x

Photography by Edward Chandler

Pushing Culinary Boundaries: Moong Masala Lasagna

 Do you have those days when there is nothing readily available to make a 'regular' meal and you really can't be bothered getting out of the house to shop? I tend to have more of those nearer the winter-I blame the cold dark evenings. I had one of those days last week and decided to improvise with whatever was available in the kitchen. I found pasta sheets, lentils, moong beans, rice paper, rice, flour, onions and the usual multitude of herbs and spices. It had been a while since I'd made lasagna and so decided to make some with moong. Definitely not 'regular' but Ed was willing to be party to the experiment. Here is what I did.

Ingredients:

8 pasta sheets

250g moong beans

1 large onion

1 tbsp garlic puree or 3 cloves of fresh garlic

1 tbsp ginger paste

1tsp chilli powder

1 tsp turmeric powder

2 tsp garam masala

3 tbsp olive oil

3 tbps tomato puree

Hard cheese 

Basil leaves or curry leaves depending on how Italian/Indianesque you want it to be

Salt to taste.

For the white sauce:

25g butter
25g flour
1 tsp ground pepper
1 tsp nutmeg
300ml milk

Method:

Moong Masala:

Soak the moong for 24 hours or at the minimum, overnight. Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves/basil. Add the salt, spices, garlic and ginger and fry for about 10 mins, until the onion is nicely browned. Add the tomato puree and moong, cover with water and cook for about 40 mins. The moong masala is ready when the moong beans have softened and 'melt in the mouth'.

White sauce:

Heat the butter in a saucepan and slowly add milk and flour, stirring constantly. Add pepper and continue the process until you achieve a thick sauce like consistency.

Lasagna:

Blanch the pasta sheets in boiling water with a pinch of salt. Only cook for about 10 mins, drain and set aside. Heat the oven to 180C. Grease the baking dish with butter, add a thin layer of moong masala and cover with pasta sheets. Add moong on top of this layer and continue until you are left with a pasta sheet covered top. Add white sauce and grate cheese on top. Let this cook in the oven for about 20-30 mins until top has browned. Serve with random accompaniments! 

Are you ready to experiment? Have you any random recipes to share? Ann x

Note: The moong masala recipe is a traditional South Indian recipe. The only difference is you would use curry leaves rather than basil.

In bed with Heston

I've had the day off work today and am recovering from a mildly traumatic visit to the dentist. With half my mouth anesthetized, I've had to take it easy. So instead of working on the allotment, I've decided to spend the afternoon in bed with one of my favourite books-The Fat Duck Cookbook by Heston Blumenthal. If you know me, you'll know of my penchant for experimenting with slightly bonkers recipes. I have great admiration for the much more bonkers experiments that Heston conducts and the book has often provided me with plenty of ideas and inspiration. It describes Heston's journey in discovering/developing what is now popularly known as molecular gastronomy. It also makes me want to pack my bags right now and go on a gastronomical road trip around France. The book is packed with lots of detailed information and the photography is absolutely brilliant. Whilst I've not quite got to the nitrous oxide pump stage, I'd love to try the mustard ice cream! Have you come across any bonkers recipes of late? Ann x

Pink and Thrifty

I've already declared my passion for thrifty and ethical fashion. This post contains some more tips on finding unexpected treasures. We've been de-cluttering recently. Besides the regular charity drop-offs, we've found car boots a great way of getting rid of 'stuff' and making a few pennies in the process. However, every so often, I do make a teeny weeny purchase at the car boots, like this gorgeous Gap jumper for 10p(!!). I  had to check twice to make sure I heard right. 

It is also worth mentioning that whilst I love bargains, I'm a great believer in quality over quantity. I often seek out better/designer brands on my treasure hunts as they often tend to last much longer. I'm hardly Anna Wintour's side-kick but I do observe how trends and designs trickle down from the designer domes to the watered down versions you find on the high street. So if you can invest in an original piece of quality design wear, if its something you love and at a bargain price, you certainly should. On my public sector wage, I mostly stick to charity shop finds or designer collaborations.

The skirt I'm wearing is Preen for Debenhams ( in the sale, thank you) and a favourite. My shoes are Zara (£1+ postage on eBay), my bag is a pre-loved Marc Jacobs and my cheeky flip-flop earrings are from FabIndia.

Have you got any tips to share on where to find a cool bargain? Ann x

Afternoon Walks and Ethical Fashion

Sunny days in the UK are to be treasured. More so as we head towards winter. Today was lovely and  sunny so hubby and I decided to go for a little walk near where we live. It was also great light to photograph/share some of my treasured ethical fashion buys. Ethical fashion may mean different things to different people. In essence it involves a sustainable attitude towards fashion related consumption. I'm a huge fan of charity shops, thrift stores and eBay. Recycled does not have to mean tired or grubby at all. I've made some great purchases at charity shops but two are my best buys are captured in the pictures below.

This red Morgan De Toi coat which retails at well over a £150 cost me only £6.50 at the Salvation Army!! I spent another tenner dry cleaning it but it is still lovely yet so cheap. The leather boots are Clarks and retail at nearly £100 and cost me £4.50 at Oxfam! I bought the coat just a few weeks ago but the boots have lasted me 5 years already, second-hand! The scarf is 100% silk, possibly vintage and cost a couple of quid.  So before you think of buying another fashion item (or anything else for that matter), why not check out your local charity shops first. Every little makes a difference and it makes indulging in fashion a lot less frivolous.  Ann x

P.S.: Watch this space for some more posts where I'll share some of my ethical fashion outfits

Photography by Edward Chandler

Engineering meets Gastronomy at the Wapping Project

I love visiting London. Its an inspiring place and home to the quirkiest of restaurants and boutiques. Ed and I enjoy exploring unusual eating places and the Wapping Project was on the list. I vaguely knew it was a decommissioned hydropower station of sorts but that was about it. What I saw was thoroughly was inspiring, especially when you've seen several un-glamorous versions of similar structures. Clearly, creative thinking and entrepreneurship can achieve the unexpected. The Founder and Director of Wapping, Jules Wright, was at Wapping and gave us some fascinating insights into the structure's past. It once enabled the operation of lifts, machinery in most of Central London and also provided back-up for the Tower Bridge. For more info check out the Wapping Project website.  Now I need to get my colleagues thinking on what defunct structures we can convert into cool projects. The food was top-notch and the ambiance and service could not be faulted either. As we got to Wapping after a long day at the Olympics, I'm dressed in more of day wear. Here I'm wearing an Americal Apparel tube dress and  £1 cheery necklace from a local charity shop. Ann x

Exciting!!!! H&M + Margiela Preview!

Don’t miss this major event H&M + Maison Martin Margiela in select H&M stores starting November 15

The Fashion Tube

I'm on the tube after a long day that hasn't ended. I'm looking around with fatigue induced inspiration. And I'm fascinated.
The country girl all orange, tweed and curly haired.
Her daughter with her grimy Converse Chucks yet happy fluorescent legs.
The Goth boy with his dark blazer and sarong. All long haired darkness and soul searching.
The seventy something lady of beautiful grey bob. She wore fashion-forward palazzo pants.
The creepy man with great tartan socks.
The Chinese girl with the skirt to inspire Alexander Wang.
Vintage fedora hats, giant cocktail rings, appliqué bags and rugged leather coats
They all possessed something quirky and beautiful.
Even if I'm talking about the superficial.

Bonfire Night Experiments

I love bonfire night for many reasons: fireworks displays (but not so much the noise), toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate, toffee apples, hearty food and good friends. Bonfire night (or Guy Fawkes night) in England marks the annual celebration of the failed gunpowder plot. In 1605, the plot by Guy Fawkes and fellow conspirators to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill James I was foiled. Most communities in the country celebrate this day with bonfires and fireworks. It now represents an integral part of English tradition and is often combined with Halloween parties. And, its probably one good reason to visit the UK in November! If you are interested in some of the associated history, check out my post on Lyveden New Bield 

We decided to get together with some friends and build a bonfire in our allotment. We had some old wood and willow branches that needed burning and the bonfire was a good excuse to get that sorted. The boys built the bonfire while us girls drank mulled wine. And of course we had to have some fireworks! As much as we enjoyed our own version of fireworks, we also got a free display of a much more impressive nearby fireworks display.  I also experimented with some Halloween style toffee apples and I'll share the recipe soon.

What did you do on bonfire night? Ann x

An Autumn Morning in Stamford

Visitors to the Britain very often focus on London leaving the rest of the country and its offerings unexplored. Britain has several charming historic towns and villages which are well worth a visit. Stamford in Lincolnshire is one such medieval town with some of the finest Georgian architecture in the country. It is only down the road from where we live and I happened to spend a morning there at a photography workshop. Here are some snapshots of a cold Autumn morning in Stamford. Also, I can now converse in aperture and depth-of-field speak with rest of world.