2011: The Highlights

I thought I'd let pictures do most of the talking - I've had a fantastic year and am very excited about 2012 and the new challenges and opportunities it's going to bring.

Fascinator making with The Thrifty Stitcher in January, winning these FitFlop mukluks in February (I never win anything!), and adding to my Elvgren collection in March.

A day trip to Le Touquet in April, getting caught up in Kate fever in May, and taking part in my first 30 for 30 Challenge in June

Seeing Prince at the Hop Farm Festival in July, spending a month in the US for our belated honeymoon in August, and visiting Goodwood Revival in September.

Dressing up for Halloween in October, completing my second 30 for 30 Challenge in November and family time at Winchester Christmas market in December.

This year I've also ticked off some personal goals, including going back to college part-time to complete a professional qualification, doing an 855 ft sky jump in Las Vegas and volunteering to help job seekers in Central London (I was pleased to hear recently that a few are now in employment).

However, none of that compares to what my husband has done this year.  Peter, has been writing a song a week in 2011 and is nearly across the finish line.  With only two more songs to go (which will be posted by midnight tonight) he's already surpassed his fundraising target for the year.  I'm so unbelievably proud of him and really want to get him a few more quid in that pot for Parkinsons UK.

Please click on this link to donate.  I would really appreciate it.

You can see/hear all of Peter's songs here.  But if you don't want to trawl through then here's one of my favourites for you to listen to while you donate. ;)

How about you?  Is there anything you're particularly proud of achieving in 2011, or looking forward to doing in 2012?

Christmas Haul

I was extremely spoilt this year as you can see and there was definitely a wintry theme to my Christmas List. I had two Christmases this year as my family and I exchanged gifts the week before Christmas, and Peter and I spent Christmas in Hartlepool with his parents and brother.  It was very relaxing but I don't think I stopped eating from Christmas Eve until yesterday when we got back to London.


So, on the gifts.  After suffering through last winter with a Primark puffa jacket and my Joules wellies (with three pairs of socks on), I'll be taking the cold in my stride now with this Berghaus down jacket and North Face snow boots. My husband also bought me some UGG ear muffs which are amazing! I also got a good make up haul - Benefit, Nars and Dermalogica featuring heavily this year.

I think my favourite present is probably my Kindle. It was a surprise present so that was all the more exciting. I can see it being an expensive habit as I've already bought a few books and gone through one since Christmas Day. It's so convenient and although I'll still read 'proper' books at home, this will prevent me from having to commute with books that give me back ache - I'm looking at you 'The Crimson Petal And The White'.

What goodies did Santa bring you this year? Did you get everything you asked for, or some surprises?

Meanwhile, this is a selection of gifts (in some cases, similar to the gifts) I bought for other people in my family.

Gifts for others by vintagehuntress featuring a brown bag

Floral Noir

TopShop floral print dress, £46; Zara floral blouse, $50; Marc by Marc Jacobs wide leg pants, $652; Floral print shorts, £45; Jane Norman floral print skirt, £9.60; Cath Kidston black tote, £65

I love my florals and luckily for me there seems to be an abundance of them on the High St. I particularly love the shorts, I can see them teamed with opaque tights, ankle boots and a silk shirt.

Weekend Wear

 

Also featuring Hot Rod Red Lipstick by Rockalily

This is my ideal weekend outfit.  A snuggly cape, cute heels, statement necklace and a splash of colour on my nails and lips.

Incidentally, I picked these heels up in the Banana Republic sale a few days ago at 50% off!

Beauty Review: Benefit - They're Real

WARNING: If you don't like pictures of eyes look away now...


I'd heard that the new Benefit mascara was good (it was actually Beth at BJonesStyle proclaiming it was the best mascara she'd ever used that piqued my interest), but I had no idea it was this good.  Before switching to They're Real I was using a useless Max Factor mascara which I hated from the first use (but because I don't like to waste money I stuck with it).  I was so pleased when it finally ran out and I could buy a new one.

Before - no mascara (or basically what they looked like with that awful Max Factor mascara).

After - Hello lashes!  I'm very happy with the result.

Although the mascara isn't advertised as waterproof it's good in the rain and doesn't smudge - consequently it does take a bit longer to get it off with my usual cleansing routine (but then I don't use separate eye make up remover).  The brush as a round tip with a brush so you can get into the corners and really open up the eye.

Recipe: Snow-flecked Brownies

I had fun making brownies for a friends Christmas party on Saturday afternoon and thought I'd share the recipe and photos with you.  It's a Nigella recipe that I've adapted.

Break up the chocolate

 Add the butter

Mix the egs with the sugar...

...try not to feel too guilty!

Stir in the egg/sugar mix...

 

...and add the flour

Throw in some white chocolate pieces...

... or whatever else you fancy

Transfer to a brownie tin
 

Spread the mixture evenly

And, as Nigella says, apply to face!

Recipe 
175 g quality dark chocolate
175 g unsalted butter (room temp)
0.5 tablespoon vanilla essence
3 eggs
175 g sugar
110 g flour
pinch of salt
100g white chocolate (buttons or a block cut into chunks)

- Pre heat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4/350F
- Melt the butter and chocolate together, you can do this in the microwave of in a pan on a low heat
- Meanwhile, beat the sugar, eggs and vanilla together
- Once the choc and butter is melted and cooled, beat in the egg/sugar mixture, then add you flour (with the pinch of salt).
- Lastly, add the white chocolate and anything else you might want in there.  In this batch I experimented with honeycomb but it melted in the oven, I've used fudge and nuts before so whatever takes your fancy.
- Tip into a brownie pan and bung in the oven for 25 mins (maybe start checking at 20 mins).

You want the top to be dry but the middle to be gooey.  I use a toothpick or kebab stick to check the middle isn't too gooey, you want it to come out with mixture on it, but not completely under done.  (I hope that makes sense!).

Good things come to those...

You may recall me mentioning in my last eBay haul post that I was looking for a black leather skirt like Jennine from The Coveted.  Well I've finally found one that's as near as dammit to her beautiful leather skirt by Raoul, but without the £200 price tag!

Skirt: GAP via eBay, Top: Matalan, Boots: Office, Tights: Next, Necklace: Topshop

I got this one from eBay for £23 (incl P&P).  It's a GAP leather skirt which is really comfortable to wear and the perfect A line cut I was looking for.  I'm debating about the length as this was always going to be a problem (with me being 5ft3in) so I may end up taking it up slightly.  Either way, I have a feeling I'm going to be living in this through the autumn and winter.

Winchester Christmas Market

Here are some snaps from my trip to Winchester Christmas Market last Sunday.

 

It was freezing cold on Sunday so we wrapped up, ready for a walk around the Christmas market which is set up in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral.  It was really beautiful and there were various stalls selling everything from Christmas decorations to silver jewellery to handbags.  As you can imagine, I was in my element.

To top it off there was a vintage market in the high st which happens on the first Sunday of each month.  There were lots of lovely preloved clothes and vintage homeware.

It's the holiday season...

Jumper: H&M, Dress: ASOS, Boots: Office, Bag and Cuff: Accessorize

I went to a friend's for Christmas drinks at the weekend and decided to wear something a little colourful and festive.  The purple "skirt" is actually a dress I picked up from ASOS a few years ago and I thought it went well the sparkly knit jumper I picked up at H&M last week.  I've been wearing this with everything recently, it's so nice to just throw on.  I like the way it dressed down this dress but it dresses up jeans.  (Sorry for the poor quality pics, these are taken on my iPhone).

The Back Up Plan

I have discovered that I have a back up outfit for occasions like weddings, work do's and Christmas parties.  I bought this dress a few years ago from H&M.  I think it was £25 or thereabouts.

I like the tulip cut of the skirt and the fact that it's not too short, something even me at 5ft 3in struggles with as the high street makes hemlines on LBD's shorter and shorter!  Plus the neckline is flattering.  I tend to mix up the accessories each time I wear it.

The most recent outing was to a friends wedding, luckily the wedding was later in the day so I could get away with the black dress.  I dressed it up with a leopard print belt and matching heels.

Do you have a back up outfit?