Sunday 31 January 2010

SOLD OUT...





Just a quick update to let you know that all of the places for my 12th March 2010 'How To Decorate' Workshops have SOLD. If you were hoping to book but haven't thus far then there are still places available on 8th May, 6th August and 30th October 2010 - I hope to see you then for a day of decorating fun in my lovely hometown of Bangalow. Just head to the website www.shannonfricke.com/Workshop.html for all of the details...

Monday Happy Monday...



What better way is there to kick off the new week than a pic filled with overtones of celebration and joy...
Happy Monday Everyone... I hope the week is a good one for you all.
sx

p.s And a big welcome to MUROBOND this Monday - who have come on board as a sponsor. If you don't know Murobond paints then you're in for a treat. Their colour charts are sublime - particularly those developed with The Society Inc's Sibella Court. Welcome Murobond. I hope you enjoy your stay...

This pic is by Amy Neunsinger - the photographer whose beautiful work appears in Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic books. Simply stunning work...

eyebrows styles 2011&2012

eyebrows styles
eyebrows styles
eyebrows styles
eyebrows styles
eyebrows styles

Eyebrows styles through years pictures



1920s


1930s


1940s


1950s


1960s


1970s


1980s


1990s

31.01 Giveaway and Recipe

I'm really excited to announce that I've teamed up with fab discount code site www.DiscountCoder.com to giveaway a £25 Topshop voucher to one lucky winner.

The rules are simple:

1. Giveaway is open to UK readers only (sorry my international loves, I'll be running more giveaways soon!)

2. To be entered just leave a comment on this post, with a way for me to get in touch with you if you win (e-mail address or blog link)

3. The giveaway will close in one week, at midday, Sunday 7th February. The winner will be picked using a random number generator.


Good luck!
Be sure to check out DiscountCoder for money off your online shopping at stores like La Senza, Wallis and Very.co.uk to name just a few.

~ ~ ~

And, as requested here is a treat for everyone...the recipe for the Lemon Madeira Cake (which has proved to be a huge hit here)
If you don't want to eat the entire cake at once, please note it can be kept in the freezer for up to three months and thawed as required.

150 g (5 oz) butter or margarine
150 g (5 oz) caster sugar
3 medium eggs, lightly whisked
225 g (8 oz) Be-Ro Self Raising Flour (any self raising flour is fine)
few drops lemon essence (I subbed this for the zest of one large lemon)
thin slices citron peel (optional)


1 Heat oven to 180ºC, 350ºF, Gas Mark 4. Grease an 18 cm (7 inch) cake tin.
2 Cream fat and sugar, beat in lightly whisked eggs with a little flour.
3 Add essence, then fold in the remaining flour.
4 Bake for about 1¼ hours. Place peel on top after half an hour in the oven if using this.

I found because I baked mine in a shallow tray, it only took 35 mins to be cooked to perfection, so please be aware of this when attempting this!
The cupcakes took around 15 minutes, but depending on size could take anything from 10 minutes upwards.

Have fun and enjoy

xxx

Saturday 30 January 2010

A Shabby Chic Kind of Sunday...





Oh, I do love Rachel Ashwell and her Shabby Chic kind of life...
It's so real, so natural and oh, so, so pretty!
I find that looking at Rachel's books is an opportunity to access the girly side of life - that which is pretty, playful and pink! I particularly love her latest book - Shabby Chic Interiors - My Rooms, Treasures and Trinkets and have spent this weekend absorbed in it's lovely pages... Have you seen it? It showcases her new home - complete with outdoor barn - and the home's of some of her gorgeously, creative friends. Like that of Amy Neunsinger - the talented gal behind the pics you see in all of Rachel's books. Amy's home is a lovely link between clean lines and Shabby Chic prettiness and is just the kind of place that I could see myself living in. Here's some pics from the book to inspire you on Sunday...

Friday 29 January 2010

I Can't Help Myself...

I know it's the weekend and al but I can't stop myself from indulging in a day of decorating research! What with the workshops coming up in a few weeks - I've spent the day rummaging through my office, my files, my drawers, my everything in search of inspirational decorating bits and bobs to include in the day. In fact, this morning I've been cutting up a mound of fabric into mood board size pieces for my workshop friends to experiment and play with. It's going to be fun! On my travels, I've come across my lovely Cloth Fabric samples - the ones designed by Julie Paterson with sustainability and beauty in mind - and this has lead me to their website... again! And look at the beauty that I found there. Don't you just love Cloth's muted tones and textured fabrics? They are earthly beauty, that's for sure - just the kind that I love....


Mad Max




Vest Primark, Trousers Topshop, Boots Boo Hoo, Necklace Warehouse,



I don't know if you have seen the film Mad Max but my outfit reminds me of this. It was set in the future and the outfits are all leather, studs and fur. I watched it years ago it was made in 1979 and is really a guys film starring Mel Gibson and Tina Turner also starred in one of them there was a few made. I decided to wear my hair up today and it you look closely you will see a tiny plait I got a few positive comments about it the pictures do not really show the detail very well.

29.01 finally

This week has dragged by at a snails pace, always the way when times are tougher. Still, I made it through and for that I am thankful.

Today's outfit consists of a forgotten about pair of tights and a combination of two of my favourite colours for spring. It's too cold for wearing outside of the house, but I'm going nowhere, so it doesn't really matter!

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I also got round to baking a Lemon Madeira cake, requested by my Mum, it may not be the prettiest cake I've ever made the even the scent of it that's currently working it's way around the house is more than making up for that!

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When it is fully cool I will trim the edges to make it neater I think.
There was enough mixture left over to trying out my silicon cupcake cases. I love these and need more! I only have four right now.

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The recipe came from our oldest cook book, which is one of my favourites! I expect lots of UK people have one of these lurking somewhere in their house.

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Let me know if you want the recipe!

Come Fly With Me....




Let's fly - let's fly away...
Yes, it's the weekend - that wonderful time of the week when you can escape the mundane and fly away for a while...
Hope you have a lovely weekend everyone...
See you next week.
sx

pic from Toast

Thursday 28 January 2010

Forgotten Image

Skirt worn as Dress Nicole Farhi, Cardigan Nicole Farhi, Leggings Topshop, Boots Topshop, Gloves New Look, Cuffs French Connection

I am having a day relaxing on the sofa catching up with Elle and Vogue and flicking through the trend reports. I will also be putting a DVD on my friend loaned me Coco Avant Chanel. Todays image is a work outfit that never got posted so I thought I would share with you. I love the detail on the back of this cardigan it is one of my favorite pieces that Nicole Farhi did for A/W08. Hope everyone is having a lovely day.

Wednesday 27 January 2010

hairstyles with bangs girls

hairstyles with bangs
hairstyles with bangs
hairstyles with bangs
hairstyles with bangs

hairstyles with bangs 2009 2010

hairstyles with bangs pictures girls
http://thesuperficial.com//bfm_gallery/2009/03/0309%20Megan%20Fox%20BAG%20Lunch/gallery_main/gallery_main-0309_megan_fox_baglunch_03.jpg

http://i.ivillage.com/BS/makeover_central/quick_fixes/BS_RoundFace_325.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHd10k7qPLom7ES7MMnsdSWzobzvYzeLejiZ0vmt8-b7tBUschLaN2fkiXuWfrjPd3bBcglx_i-NBtGUrSmrTXF7Kvq9ya3JPQQeRkNEm1JjyfdCdtl0eE4_SV8aUOjjbG6TPtopMtdfO/s400/long-hairstyle-3.jpg

27.01 keeping busy

Ok, I think I'm with it enough to resume blogging and commenting properly now. Thank you so much for the continued support and kind words. I appreciate each and every one.

I'm finding that I'm mostly okay if I'm busy, so I haven't spent too much time at home lazing around like I normally would. Monday I finally caught up with a friend for coffee and yesterday Mum and I hit Bristol for some retail therapy.

We pretty much took shopping till we dropped seriously and were exhausted by the time we limped back home. Despite missing the bulk of the sales there were still a lot of bargains around, though I bought new season stock only, clothes wise...pieces that can be worn now and in to Spring/Summer when they arrive.

Today I am wearing a dress from Next that Mum decided she was treating me to. Next is somewhere I often overlook, but was suprised yesterday when I found myself coveting much of their s/s range.

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Also, a little while ago I wrote a post about www.wickedeliclingerie.co.uk and mentioned that they sent me a couple of pairs to review from their sexy hosiery selection.
I posted an outfit with the first pair last week, and today I am sporting the second, which means it is time for my thoughts.

I have found tights to be hit or miss in terms of quality, not always related to the amount I have paid for them. As you know I have quite a vast collection [in the region of 30 pairs at last count] with prices varying from 50p-£10.
Both pairs of tights from wickedelic rate up at the top quality wise, making them, in my opinion, worth the price on the website [£7 for the floral side pair and £10 for the back seam pair].
Often, with low denier tights I find they ladder almost as soon as I put them on, regardless of how careful I am. These didn’t, and are well made enough to make me think that they won’t any time soon.

The service from the website was excellent. The tights were with me within 48 hours of me making my choice and arrived well packaged in a discreet padded envelope.
Standard delivery costs £4, but is free when you spend £35 or more [which is easily done with me, where tights are involved].

It is quite hard to review something like tights, compared to makeup, food or drink so apologies if this doesn’t flow particularly well. I would like to thank Nick at wickedelic for giving me this opportunity and would urge you all to check out the website if you haven’t already done so…I’ve spied some new styles on there that are on my lust list.


Anyway,
I hope everyone is well, I promise to catch up with your blogs over the course of today and tomorrow, it's the perfect form of escapism for everything that is going on in my head.

There will also be another giveaway posted soon, so stay tuned for that.

xxx

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Black with a Hint

Jacket Thifted, Dress Day Birger, Hat New Look, Boots Boo Hoo, Skinny Scarf Thifted

I brought this jacket a while ago from a thift store and I have not worn it yet so I decided to wear it teamed with a mint green jersey dress for a contrast. I put a piece of cut off leopard print tights around the brim of my hat for some interest. I can't wait for pay day on Friday I have a few things that I have seen that I want to get. I really want a pair of floral print harem trousers I have seen a fab pair on ASOS, I really want the H&M ones but I dont think we will get them here in the UK :(. I also want a tan belt to go with my shorts that I have picked for my uniform I have seen a nice one in H&M. What will you be buying on pay day?

Monday 25 January 2010

Waiting for Spring




Jacket H&M, Boots New Look, Cuff French Connection, Ear Muffs Accessorize
I decided to try a dress with my flat lace up boots and it worked these boots also look cute with floral dresses a look that I will be doing next season. I just want to thank everyone for following and all the lovely comments xoxo

25.01 Winner

First of all, a heartfelt and sincere thank you for the kind words and thoughts left behind on yesterday's post. I was moved to tears by everyones kindness and understanding.

Secondly, thank you to everyone who entered and supported my giveaway! Sadly there can only be on winner, and that winner is:

MJ ... congratulations girl, I'll be in touch shortly!

Stay tuned for another giveaway starting tomorrow.

I'm hoping that by Wednesday I'll feel a bit more like getting dressed and wearing something more blogworthy.
Since Saturday I've donned a uniform of shorts and a jumper.

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It feels a little strange to be posting photos so soon, and yet I know life cannot go on hold.
I've done a lot of thinking and re-evaluating of my own situation and know that things must change.
And they will.

Hopefully this week, perhaps today I'll finally get enrolled on the media law course. I need to stop holding myself back.

Thank you again for the support and well wishes. You are all wonderful people who deserve nothing but the very best from life xxx