OOTD: Smart and Simple

It's been a while since I shared an OOTD isn't it? Now that the builders on my roof are out of the way and we've had a spot of nice weather, I've got some snaps to share with you. I've been quite naughty with shopping this month so I've got plenty to show you over the next few weeks! Here's today's look:

Top: H&M. Skirt: H&M. Boots: Primark. Necklace: Accessorize. Earrings: New Look

This look is smart and simple; a great fitting pencil skirt from H&M, paired with a crop top which I picked up in store last week. I've been hunting for some plain crop tops to wear with my many high-waisted skirts (I'm not ready to completely bare my stomach just yet!) but everything I saw was either too oversized or too tight on the arms. Then I found this version in H&M. When I realised they were just £3.99 I popped a couple of colours in my basket and will definitely be going back for more!

During my H&M haul, I also fell for this jacket. I was surprised when I picked it up by its weight and for just £29.99 I couldn't resist - in fact, I had picked up this month's Glamour earlier in the day which included a 25% off voucher for H&M making this jacket a bargain at just £22.50. Not bad for such a good quality and well lined jacket! I'm having a bit of a monochrome moment currently - normally that's my Mum's style but I'm being converted to a more classic pieces as thoughts of a 'real' job beckons after graduation; scary stuff!

However, I couldn't resist adding a quirky touch with this daisy necklace from Accessorize. Daisy prints are rife throughout stores this Spring and I'm having to resist filling my entire wardrobe with the stuff! I added my favourite New Look earrings and a slick of Revlon ColourBurst Matte Balm in Elusive. It's a lovely subtle pink and perfect for Spring - keep an eye out for my review!

Jess

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Accessorize Concealer Kit

Today I wanted to share with you a beauty bargain I came across last week. I've never tried Accessorize's makeup before but when I spotted their entire range with 50% off in Superdrug I couldn't resist this concealer kit:

I love the floral packaging of the concealer kit, a pretty and girly design as you'd expect from Accessorize, and the slimline box is perfect to slip into your handbag. The bright pink elastic even ensures that it stays shut once in there! The kit includes 4 concealer creams in various shades - two shades of nude, one yellow based shade and a pink shade too which could be used as a cream blusher. In the centre, there is also a pressed powder. The case has a small mirror but unfortunately doesn't include a brush - I've been carrying my Real Techniques Detailer brush in my handbag for any touch-ups, which I bought as part of the Core Collection Kit from Amazon.

I really like the layout of this little set, and although the colours are obviously a general 'one shade fits all,' the different sections ensures that these can be blended to create more flexible shades. The set is probably a little too dark for very pale ladies, but I find that it covers up my dark under-eye circles very well. I particularly like the yellow section as a great dupe for Benefit's Lemon Aid, as it reduces redness and provides a smooth base on my eyelids for the nude concealers. All in all, it's a cute and useful addition to my makeup bag which is sure to get a lot of use - especially as my tired eyes will only be getting worse as my dissertation deadline looms!

This Accessorize concealer set unfortunately isn't available at Superdrug online but check out the stand in your local Superdrug if you want to bag a bargain at £2.50. However I actually think this kit is worth the full RRP of £5 regardless - it's still a great purse-friendly buy for such a handy little kit. Have you tried Accessorize's makeup range?

Jess

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Great-Grandma's Easy Scones Recipe

The other night, I attempted to bake some scones with a Mary Berry recipe. It was disastrous - the far too sticky mixture spread into giant cookies and although they were bearable once covered in jam and cream, I was very disappointed. My Mum came to the rescue and shared her Grandma's recipe. It proved that sometimes when it comes to baking, family tradition really is best, and today I wanted to share it with you too:

To make 6 fruit scones you will need:

8oz self-raising flour 

2oz butter

2 tbsp sugar

Handful raisins

1 egg

Milk (if needed)

1. Preheat your oven to 220 degrees and grease a baking tray.

2. Add your flour, sugar and butter to a bowl and rub together with your hands until the mixture is fine and breadcrumb-like.

3. Add a handful of raisins to the mixture. If you wan't to break with tradition, why not try chocolate chips or cranberries?

4. Beat one egg and add to the mixture until fully combined. If the mixture is still a little floury, add some milk.

5. I make my scones without a cutter - simply grab a handful, shape into a ball and flatten onto the tray. Your scones should be about 1 inch high and handled as little as possible. 

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned.

7. Serve with jam, cream and a cup of tea!

As you can see the recipe is unbelievably easy and (I dare say) foolproof. It has the added bonus of being lactose free as you can always add some more egg rather than milk if the mixture needs some more liquid. They are the perfect easy bake for an afternoon tea or treat with a pot of tea, and really quick to make too. Sometimes, the oldies are the goodies!

I ate mine with raspberry jam and double cream on top - Cornwall style. I accompanied it with some tea from my Whittards' teapot and adorable Alice in Wonderland mug I won thanks to my healthy Tea Overnight Oats recipe. Delicious!

Let me know if you try my Great-Grandma's recipe! What do you think?

Jess

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Bloggers Tea Party at The Botanist

Last week I attended what was probably my favourite blog event yet - a tea party at The Botanist. I had already discovered The Botanist a few weeks ago and reviewed their excellent cocktails. At the time I commented that I hoped to try the food soon, so I was overjoyed when an invite for tea, food and cocktails dropped into my inbox! It was a fantastic evening, so prepare for a very photo heavy post!

We were greeted by a beautifully set out table, full of floral ceramics. We began with a cup of tea - I chose the Turkish Chunky Apple, an excellent choice thanks to its clean and refreshing taste - before moving onto some bubbly. The atmosphere was fantastic, and surprisingly busy for 6pm on a Wednesday; this is firm favourite for after-work drinks among the inhabitants of Leeds.

After we had quenched our thirst, it was time to try some food - the part I was most excited about. We began with some delicious starters:

We were treated to a selection of starters, and I was blown away by the presentation. We began with the houmous board, served in a cabbage leaf with crudites and flatbread. I loved the seeds and nuts on top to add some crunch to the houmous. 

We were also treated to some salt and pepper onion petals with sour cream. These were a beautiful twist on pub onion rings, and although some of the bloggers felt they couldn't eat them all, I devoured them! I love onion rings and this version was light, tasty and the sour cream dip balanced them perfectly. 

Finally, the stand-out starter for me was the chicken liver and rum pate. Served in an adorable miniature plantpot, accompanied by a wheelbarrow of plum and apple chutney, I was stunned by the presentation and may have let out a squeal of excitement! The pate itself was gorgeous, although I would recommend asking for extra bread, as we used up every last crumb!

I had to restrain myself from demolishing the entire starters because I knew we had another course to come - the deli board:

The deli board is a wonderful idea - you can choose 4 items from the menu, which are then presented on a wooden board with some flatbread. I chose the home-dried tomatoes, cured Parma ham, pork pie and piccalilli, and the Somerset brie. I cheekily swapped half of the cheese with Kel from Adventures in Tea and Cake so I could also try some of Shorrock's 2 year-aged Lancashire. I am so glad I did because this was one of my favourite parts of the board - it was seriously strong, and a half-portion was the perfect amount for me. I wasn't disappointed by any of my choices - the tomatoes were succulent, the ham was finely sliced and not too fatty and the almost tart piccalilli complemented the generously sized portion of pork pie. 

I love 'picky food' and deli boards are one of my favourite things to order. The Botanist version certainly impressed - the mix and match option is unique and ensures that you get exactly what you want, and the portion size was just right. For just £9.25 I also thought it was great value for a tasty lunch or after-work snack between two. 

Stuffed full of delicious food, we were then treated to some of The Botanist's signature cocktails and live music. I personally found the music slightly too loud when trying to hold a conversation, but the cocktails more than compensated for this! I tried an English Mojito, which was fresh and bursting full of flavour as I had been expecting, having tried cocktails at The Botanist before. I then tasted the Peach and Basil Margarita, which certainly packed a tequila punch! Although the cocktails are pricier than my normal student budget, I'd definitely recommend them as you really get your value for money thanks to their strength, taste and exciting flavour combinations. Why not check out the menu for yourself?

I'd thoroughly recommend The Botanist for some delicious food and wonderful cocktails. It's real Leeds gem and I look forward to returning very soon.

Jess

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A Deliciously Evil Roast: Evil Eye, York

York is one of those cities which never gets boring. It is overflowing with amazing things to see and do, and I have accumulated quite a bucket list during my three years here. Evil Eye Lounge is known as allegedly Johnny Depp's favourite English pub, which he discovered whilst filming for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.Whether this is true or not, Evil Eye is known as the place to go for an excellent cocktail, huge portions of Thai food and finally, their 'Evil Roast.' Last Sunday, I got the chance to tick this off my list with my housemates and couldn't wait to share some photos with you all:

It's making me hungry just looking at it! It may not be the prettiest plate in the world, but for me that's not what a great Sunday Roast is all about; it should be honest, simple and, most importantly, massive! Evil Eye's offering certainly lives up to these expectations - and this is the 'normal' size, if you really want a challenge, you can opt for the 'Monster' portion.
Evil Eye offer a variety of meat options, including beef, chicken, pork, lamb and nut roast for the vegetarians. I chose the pork and thoroughly enjoyed the extremely crispy crackling which came with it. I loved the creamy mash and red cabbage, along with the massive Yorkshire pudding which was covered in plenty of gravy. The meat was moist and tasty, and a particular highlight was the stuffing, which was a far more interesting Thai-inspired version than your standard sage and onion. The portion was just right for me (and I love my food, especially my roasts) so I would recommend the normal sized portion for almost everyone. Overall, it was an extremely tasty plate of food, especially washed down with a couple of cocktails:

Since Evil Eye is after all predominantly a bar, we couldn't resist a few cheeky drinks to wash down our meal. My housemate chose the Evil Smoothie, which added a kick of vodka and baileys to a chocolate and banana ice cream smoothie. I opted for the Evil Spring Punch; a light and refreshing combination of vodka, chambord and prosecco, topped with raspberries. Both were the perfect balance of 'naughty but nice' and show just how varied the cocktails are.

The roast is available from midday until 4pm on Sundays, but I'd recommend getting there early as once it's gone, it's gone - and you don't want to miss out!

I've still got plenty of meals to try before I graduate, including Evil Eye's non-roast Thai menu. Other restaurants on my 'must-eat list' include Ambiente Tapas and York Cocoa House. Where is your favourite place to eat in York? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Jess

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