Cornish Souvenir

 

 

Vintage Dress - homemade £21

Bag - Dolce and Gabbanna - Borrowed from my Mum

Shoes - Dune sample - £15

Wooden Bracelet -Vintage gift from Mum
Wedgewood Necklace - Grandmothers

Last weekend I finally stepped out in my beautiful cornish dress. My souvenir from my last trip to Cornwall, a slightly more unusual memento from the standard bags full of fudge (and will last longer). Although this doesn't mean I abandoned the fudge, its tradition after all. I spotted this dress on a venture in to a town called Wadebridge. We initially went in search of wrapping paper, for my brothers birthday but as we were parking I spotted a big banner in the car park, with two words that always get me excited. Vintage and clothing. We tracked down the shop which was actually a charity shop with a good size vintage section. I couldn't resist trying on this dress as it reminds me of the type of dresses my mum used to make and wear back in the 70's. I should have known that after trying it on there was no going back. This dress was definitely coming home with me. 

Emma Xx 

Thankful crazy cat lady Thursday

Tuesday was exactly four years to the day that my mum and I went to pick up little Pixie, my tabby tortie, tiger cat. I remember the day well, probably because good days weren't really happening at all for me that year. I remember watching breakfast at tiffanys, while she was fast asleep on my lap on her first day with us. I was so happy. I believe it's true to say, that day was a turning point in my mental state after not long being diagnosed with ME. I'd spent the last 9 months in a living hell with my hopes and dreams in pieces at my feet. I was a heart broken mess. Some might think it silly, but this tiny ball of fur slowly helped me to pick up the pieces. She became my shadow, meowing in distress if I left her alone, before long we became almost inseparable. I'm so thankful for the company and her love, especially in times when I can't bare to be around other humans as they're just too draining. I love my cat Alfie just as much, he's a wise old thing with the ability to look deep inside you with his big eyes. He is a sensitive soul, and I'm sure he knows when I'm upset, there's been many a time that he's come to comfort me. Alfie looks after himself though, and isn't indoors as much as Pixie. I think it was the dependency that Pixie has for me, that helped me to get to where I am today. I don't know where I would be without them both. So to them, my two beauties, I am truely thankful.

Emma Xx

Granola Recipe

 

Being faced with a bowl of coco pops or even worse, shreddies, all soggy from a sea of milk had always been a dread of mine. I've never been a ceriel fan, infact in my early teens I went through a time of having fresh ravioli for breakfast. Pretty odd I know! In more recent years I've become more normal in my breakfast habits and have even learnt to like porridge and have often started my day with a slice of buttered brown toast topped with extra sea salt for my low blood pressure. Since starting the clean eating I wanted to find something that will have an added boost rather than just toast, or oats, which are so good for you in their own right, but I wanted a super breakfast and this granola makes for a super breakfast. Packed with protein, magnesium, vitamin b6, thiamin, phosphorus, zinc, copper, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids,vitamin a, vitamin k, calcium, potassium.

Not only is it going to give your body the nutrition it really needs without all the added gunk and heaps of tablespoons of refined sugar which is useless for your body, this granola is damn tasty and so easy to make.

I like having mine with bananas and blueberries for even more magnesium, fibre and vitamin c. 

Ingredients 

250g Waitrose Nuts and raisins

180g gluten free oats

150g gluten free rice and buckwheat oats 

50g Pumpkin seeds

50g Pine nuts

3 tablespoons Flaxseed

3 tablespoons Honey (+ extra for drizzling over)

2 tablespoons Maple syrup 

50g Smooth peanut butter

25g Tahini 

25g Almond butter

Ok so there's a lot of ingredients, but you can take out and add whatever you would like to suit your taste. When I first started making this I didn't use tahini or almond butter but I really like them and the tahini gives it a more nutty flavour and is so good for you. If you like your Granola sweeter add more honey and Maple syrup to taste. 

Start by putting the dried fruit aside to be added when the granola is cooked. Simply add all the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl. In a small pan gently heat up the maple syrup, nut butters and honey until they are combined. Then add to the dry ingredients and mix well. Tip the mix out on to a pre lined baking tray and bake until golden. You need to keep an eye on it and mix now and then. I sometimes add more honey at this stage too. You're looking for a golden brown which should take around 20 minutes at 160 for fan Oven or gass mark 4. When the granola is ready, let it cool before adding the dried fruit and storing in a airtight container.

Enjoy!

Emma Xx

Thankful Thursday

I've been looking forward to this very Thursday for about a month now, ever since I signed up to weekly art classes at my local adult learning centre. I've been before for a few terms, but not to art classes for a while now as I couldn't manage them and photography.  This term I swapped the two hours of photography for two of drawing and painting. Although I was a bit apprehensive about how well I would manage today, I'm pretty exhausted from a trip to Bath earlier this week. It went well though, we set up and sketched our own still life drawings of lemons and limes with the aim of adding water drops. It's not my favourite kind of art but it's good practice and also so nice to get lost in drawing again.

As I mentioned I went to bath on Monday. It's been a very long time since my mum and I visited the beautiful city and we've been talking about going for ages. It was a big thing for me to do, and I had to push myself a lot even with the few hours meditation and rest at the b&b and I really needed a wheelchair on Tuesday, but I just about managed. I'm so glad we went though,  we had so much fun which outweighs the struggles that go with a trip like this and chronic illness. I've got so many photos to share in another post. 

It's been a pretty busy week for me,  I'm so thankful that I've managed as well as I have and that I don't feel as bad as I could! Still, I'm hoping for a quieter week next week to regain some energy.

Emma Xx

 

Betty Blythe Afternoon Tea

Afternoon tea just happens to be one of my favourite things, so when I found a tea room that has a 1920's themed party room, made especially for a vintage afternoon tea, filled with dressing up, vintage china and retro music, there was no question about where I wanted to go to meet my dear friend. I've not seen Caroline for over a year now, what with my illness and her very demanding university course it's taken us this long to find a date we can both stick to. Like with all good friends though, it felt like there hadn't been any time at all between seeing each other, so as soon as we arrived we got stuck in, trying on 20's style dresses and rummaging in the dressing up draws.   

Another reason why I wanted to go to Betty Blythes is for the gluten and dairy free afternoon tea option. Both Caroline and I have been cutting out gluten from our diets and I've also cut out lactose, so to be able to have afternoon tea that suits our dietary requirements made it even better and almost guilt free! If you like tea as much as I do, you will love this place. There's an extensive tea menu filled with old favourites and teas that I'd not heard of. 

 The waitresses were all so lovely and friendly, they offered to take photos of us, made sure we had enough tea in our pots and brought out amazing food. We enjoyed it all, from a selection of tasty sandwiches,  salmon on rye volovants, scones, a orange and chocolate cake, amazing chocolate brownies and a bag full of retro sweets, it's safe to say we were stuffed by the end of our session. 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging up the beaded 20's style frock I wore for tea and swapping it for my purple tea dress, (which by this point was no longer a perfect fit) made me feel our session had ended all too soon. I can't wait to go back, and caroline is already planning on having an afternoon tea party for her birthday there. 

Emma xx

Thankful Thursday

Last week I decided to skip my thankful Thursday post, not because I was being a massive unthankful grump, but because I was exhausted, forgot to start working on a post before Thursday and had no option but to rest on the day. This Thursday I'm slightly more with it, so here goes...

Primrose and I have been best friends for over 10 years now - seems crazy long! We used to roam London and oftern could be found at Brixton academy or music venues of the like. These days we're more likely found stuffing our faces with sushi, or more pacifically, pumpkin korokke which we both have an unhealthy addiction to. After not seeing each other for five weeks we finally got together on Saturday for a catch up and our beloved 'pumpkins'. I love how Prim doesn't get antsy about not being able to do all we used to do together, and how she understands my limitations. There's been so many times I've felt guilty because I've been unable to get out of the house to meet her but she's walked around two miles from her home in the rain to see me and never complains.

After seeing Prim I went down hill quiet a bit more than normal. I'm not really sure why, we only met up for a few hours, but that's the way it is with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. I spent the next few days not doing well at all, I missed out on the sun as I had to stay in my room with my blackout blinds down. Thankfully though, I woke up on Tuesday feeling a lot better, and I was able to have afternoon tea with my friend Caroline. We had so much fun and I can't wait to share the photos with you in my next post. Even though I battle this illness constantly, I'm so thankful for the days I can manage to put my face on, have fun with friends and generally feel more like a normal 23 year old. If there is such a thing as normal!

Emma Xx


Art work not my own and was found via Pinterest

Last Of The Summer Petals

Anemone Headband - Crown and Glory

Maxi Skirt - Topshop

Top - Topshop

shoes - Aldo

 As with most Fridays, I found myself in Shere, a pretty little village in the Surrey countryside, a perfect place to take some photos. This week I took full advantage of the warm September air by stepping out in one of my favourite floral head pieces from my Crown and Glory Glitterati box. I matched it with a beautiful Topshop skirt which is so fun to twirl around in and flows beautifully when you walk or in this skirts case, strut, down the street. - there really is no other way! I'll be sad to see this packed away for winter, although I am pretty excited to rediscover my autumn/winter haul.

Emma Xx

The Glitterati

This summer the lovely Sophie King, creator of crown and glory started a monthly subscription club -  The Glitterati. A box full of crown and glory hair accessories, delivered to your door, once a month for £20.  All the pieces are currently available from the website, one offs or not even hit the shop yet. I do love getting pretty things in the post, floral crowns and a bargain just so happen to be three of my favourite things, so I was so excited when I signed up. What's not to like? My lovely box arrived this morning and it really did feel like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one. Its a complete surprise as to what you will find in your box, a bit like a luck dip box but you will find over £50 worth of pretty things. And if that wasn't good enough, when it's your birthday month you will get an extra special box. Sophie has also created a private Facebook page for glitterati members, a place to share photos and to swap. Here's a sneaky look at what arrived today in my first box.

I can't wait to start wearing these beauties - until then Alfie has been modeling!

Emma Xx

New Season Outfit Wish List

What better way is there to spend the gloomy, first of September than snuggled up with a cup of jasmine green tea under a blanket? Add online shopping and it's a perfect way to waste away some time. Until now I've refused to see what's on offer online for autumn winter, but as the weather is so bad and well, it is September now,  I think it's time to see what I would like to add to my wardrobe this season. Today I've been seeing what Asos have to offer, and I do like what I've been seeing!

 Asos Dress £22,  Asos Boots £55, Dune Bag £59, Love Moschino Purse £100, Original Duckhead Umbrella £22


I've had my eye on this dress for a while and it's actually currently on sale (and in my shopping basket!). I think it would be a great addition for the coming seasons. I'm really liking tan colours at the moment and think these boots are so lovely. They're bold but understated at the same time. I wish I could purchase everything abovc! It's my birthday soon though dear friends and family reading...hint hint!


Emma Xx