Over The Knee Boots: Trendy or Tarty?

Over the knee boots are a tough item to style. I can't ever quite shake the 'Pretty Woman' vibe but they also look so damn stylish on other people, I love the trend and it doesn't look like it's going away any time soon. Today I decided to style them in possibly the hardest way - with a fur coat:

Top: Primark. Skirt: Tesco. Boots: H&M. Coat: Primark.

A fur coat and over the knee boots was always going to be a risky combo. I tried to keep the style retro with an A-line skirt in a fun 60s style print. I picked up this skirt in my local Tesco, which was a total bargain. It's such a flattering cut as it's not too short and gives the illusion of a smaller waist. I adore the geometic pattern and the colours match with so much of my wardrobe, meaning it has quickly become a favourite in my wardrobe.

Today I paired it with a sparkly metallic turtleneck from Primark. Turtlenecks are one of my favourite winter staples and this metallic version adds a bit of interest - even though it's not Christmas anymore, I still love adding a bit of sparkle! Another one of my Primark favourites is of course this stunning fur coat. I always get compliments whenever I wear it and it's just so cosy! 

Finally, I have to talk about these over the knee boots. I haven't quite managed to pull off the heeled long boot trend so I was so happy to discover this flat pair. However, I do wish they were a little longer to completely cover my knees - and I only have short legs! They feel casual and comfortable to wear but I must admit that over the knee boots are a trend which you need to be confident to pull off. Working on my confidence is a constant process for me, so wearing an outfit like this may seem like a small thing but for me, this outfit is a great way to express myself, feel more confident and go about my day feeling fabulous!

What do you think of my outfit? How do you style over the knee boots?

Jess

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Olive Focaccia Recipe

Olives are a divisive food; you either love them or hate them. I used to hate olives but I now love them. In fact, I remember a turning point in my teenage years when I suddenly liked olives and felt like I had become an adult! So when I was challenged by Olive It so create an olive-based recipe, I was excited to get creative in the kitchen. I love tapas so I decided to use the olives to create an Olive Focaccia, accompanied by Spanish meats and cheese.

You will need:
1 lb strong white bread flour
1 sachet dried yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
3 tbsp olive oil (and some to drizzle over dough)
300ml warm water
1/2 tin or 100g green olives (chopped)
1/2 tin or 100g black olives (chopped)

1. Preheat oven at 200C. Add flour and salt to a large mixing bowl. Then add sugar, yeast and olive oil. Add warm water and mix to a dough.

2. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Rise for 45 minutes.

3. Add the chopped olives to the dough and knead in until distributed throughout.

4. Place into baking tray and spread to fill the tin. I used a 22 x 28cm tray, with a depth of 5cm. Make finger indentations in the top of the dough.

5. Pour olive oil over the top of the dough. Leave to rise for 15 minutes.

6. Bake at 200C for 30 minutes until golden.

I was really pleased with how this recipe turned out; the great quality olive oil added a delicious crust and the chunks of olives were delicious throughout the focaccia. If you love olives, I would recommend using a can, or 200g, of both the green and black olives as you can see that the olives are quite sparse in my version. Although I was initially unsure about the idea of tinned olives, the olives from Olive It! were really tasty, plump and fresh. Accompanied by some Spanish chorizo, Iberian ham and Manchego cheese and, of course, olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip, we were treated to a perfect tapas picnic. 

Are you an olive fan? I'd love to hear if you try my recipe!

*I was sent a Spanish hamper of food by Olive It to help create this recipe*

Jess

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LEGO To The Moves!

Lego has emotional memories for me. My Mum used to teach at a local middle school (ages 9 to 13 for anyone who doesn't live in Suffolk) and she often used toys from our childhood to work with her pupils. One summer, our middle school was burnt down and although nobody was hurt, my Lego melted in the blaze. Ever since, my brother and I have mourned the loss of our precious childhood Lego and whenever I see Lego, I can't help but think of the story. Now, at the age of 23, I finally have some more Lego and everything is awesome:

You might have heard of a little film which has been fairly popular this Christmas... yes, I'm talking about Star Wars. Talented Talkers kindly sent me a Cineworld voucher so I could see the film and if you haven't managed to go yet, you really should! It's brilliant, whether you are a die-hard Star Wars fan, an admirer of JJ Abrams' directing or simply love a blockbuster and want to see what all the fuss is about. 

I also was able to choose some Star Wars Lego* from George at Asda's Lego range. I was really impressed with the prices and range of different sets, from Star Wars to Marvel Avengers, My brother and I quickly assembled the sets and the joy of building your own Lego never really leaves you - you really can never be too old! We were impressed with how much Lego has improved over the last decade, particularly the firing power of the tiny Lego guns. 

However, this Lego isn't just about reminiscing about my childhood. It's going to be used by my Mum for a more important purpose; Lego Therapy. My Mum works as a specialist teacher with ASD children (otherwise known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder) in mainstream schools and Lego Therapy is a vital technique to aid social interaction in a structured way. This Star Wars Lego is going to be perfect, particularly for her pupils who are fans of the Star Wars franchise - although I still plan on playing with it myself in the school holidays!

Have you seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens? Do you have any Lego memories?

Jess

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