Summer! Come back!

I'm cold.

I've been cold all day.

I hate being cold. It's distracting.

What has happened? We were having lovely weather. For Britain this was a top drawer summer. People were going around without cardigans on. Even I was going around without a cardigan. I even risked a few days without taking a jacket out with me!

And then, all of a sudden there's the remnants of a hurricane swirling over the ocean and summer is kaput. Now I am highly aware that moaning because it's a bit chilly while referencing the fact that some people have just experienced a hurricane is petty and not really justifiable. But this is my corner of the internet and I want to mourn summer.

I knew when we were all complaining in the office about how hot it was (we have no air-con, a building site across the road which means a lot of dust if we open the windows and radiators which were still on) that we were jinxing it. I tried so hard not to make a big deal of it but it was annoying being stuck in a muggy office all day. The hardest part was trying to find an office appropriate outfit that would still be cool. I mostly felt sorry for the men though. At least as a woman I can wear sandals to work. I would never go as far as the flip flop but then again, I don't like to wear flip flops anyway. Men have to wear proper shoes in the work place. It's unfair for them.

I got the weekend just gone all wrong too. Saturday was lovely so of course I had inside plans. And Sunday absolutely threw it down. So of course, I had outdoor plans. Fortunately I have a very sexy raincoat. Okay it's an oversized camouflage number that I could actually use as a tent but boy is it waterproof. So who cares if it looks a bit daft? I don't. And you know what goes really well with an oversized camouflage raincoat? Pink and yellow spotty wellies that I borrowed from a friend. Oh yes. I was the height of classy, coordinated outfits.

 

But, it was amazing to have dry feet. I haven't had a pair of properly waterproof shoes for years. I had a pair of winter boots but I've worn those to the very brink of death, and even they weren't all that waterproof in a proper downpour. I was so impressed by having dry feet that today I went out and bought my very own pair of wellies. In a much more understated green. Farmer chic I'm calling them. A total bargain at only £12 from Primark. It's going to to take a lot of self restraint not to go back and buy them in burgundy as they will go very nicely with my winter coat.

 

I won't sit here and pretend that a tiny little bit of me isn't looking forward to autumn. Crisp mornings, kicking up leaves, snuggly jumpers and hot chocolates under blankets. Oh, and I've got a gorgeous cakey blanket thing that I just love wearing more than anything else I own.

But don't run away yet summer. There's still a few weeks of August left and therefore still a few weeks of what should be lovely and sunshiney in my view. Come back out and play summer, we miss you.

 

Love Charlotte x

Personal Bake Off

Hello!

 

By pure coincidence I had scheduled a baking day today around at the Surrogates. It just so happened that it was the same week of the bake off.

 

I'm sure they won't mind me announcing this on the internet but none of us could enter the bake off. We are haphazard. We don't have the right size tins. We ignore how many chocolate chips to put in a cake mix. I'm sorry but 25g was not going to be enough chocolate chips. That recipe was stingy. There is no point in having a stingy cake. No.

 

The day started out with attempting to make Mickey Mouse waffles.

Waffles are hard.

First thing, waffle irons are heavy and I have weedy little arms.

Second thing, we had no idea how much batter to use or how long it was going to take. They're meant to take about 5 minutes in total, flipping half way. It took about half an hour! How you're supposed to make 12 of these things (the amount the recipe stated) with just one waffle iron was beyond us. We had one each and we had to give up after just 3 each.

They did actually work out okay though though and I am taking the leftover batter home to attempt to make some more.

 

The next thing on the agenda was fruity chocolate sponge.

I say the next thing on the agenda, Rose (Little Sis Surrogate) had to take charge of this while me and Marie (Big Sis Surrogate) dealt with the waffles.

 

This was the recipe that did not have enough chocolate chips in it. It was also the recipe where we realised we definitely didn't have the right sized tins.

Now... If we just ignore the fact that it got a little bit stuck in the tin (we got it out eventually) this was very successful! It was soooo tasty. But seriously, it was the extra chocolate chips that made it.

We had to teamwork to get the next one together. ROCKY ROAD!

Pretty darn easy. Broken up biscuits and buttery syrup-ness + marshmallows and cherries I'm melted chocolate. Oh... And the remaining few chocolate chips because there's no point in wasting those now is there?

 

Possibly the easiest thing we did though was chocolate truffles. We did two kinds, just milk chocolate and ones with orange flavouring too. They were messy but really good fun to do. I'm already thinking about what other flavours I could do and ways to bag them up nicely to give away as presents!

 

And finally, the funniest one was Orange Jelly Cheesecake. Imagine a cheesecake. Mmm. Now imagine a thin layer of orange jelly on top. Mmmm. Now imagine trying to put twice as much jelly as you're supposed to on in a time that is the wrong size.

Less mmmm... More hmmmmm?

It's still pretty mmmmmm though! Maybe next time we should make it in individual ramekins?

 

Not only did we make all that amazing-ness... they provided PIZZA!

I love you Surrogates. I had the best time.

Don't hate me for saying we're not quite up to Bake Off standard yet.

 

Love Charlotte xx

 

Product Review!

Hello!

 

I'm doing something I've not done before. A product review! I do enjoy reading these on other people's blogs so I thought I'd give it a go myself!

What is the product you say?

It's Soap and Glory: Heel Genius!

Now, I love the warmer weather but I do find that summer takes its toll on my little toes.

The endless days of sandals and no socks, while delightful, leave me with blisters on the balls of my feet and dry skin that is just downright uncomfortable.

 

I am terrible at looking after myself and all that pampering doo-lally. I have to really see results from a product to want to use it and to remember to use it regularly. I can't say for definite but I really think this could be one of them!

 

First of all, the packaging. Who doesn't love a bit of Soap and Glory packaging! Especially when it says things like this on it:

 

Okay, now onto the nitty gritty. I admit, for me, it has a slightly odd smell. Not unpleasant, just a little different. It's not minty or fruity like you might expect. I would have to describe it as quite a clean smell. Which is no bad thing.

And the texture isn't what I was expecting either. It's almost quite dry, not like a usual cream, but not crazy thick like a mask. It rubs in really easily and doesn't leave a greasy residue. This is going to sound silly but it feels like it has left a protective layer. But not in a greasy-not-rubbed-in kind of way!

 

The tube instructs you to slap it on your feet before bed, pop some socks on and let it do it's work while you dream of all the sandals you're going to buy. I can't sleep in socks so I skipped this step but it still worked a treat.

After one over night application I was amazed!

While not 100% cured (that would've involved a lot of skin cell regeneration) my skin felt much smoother and a lot happier.

I've used it for three nights now, and honestly, it's a bit like having new feet!

 

And (top quality bonus for those of us trying to be thrifty) it's only £5.50 a tube. Some people out there are thinking that is dirt cheap. While others are thinking that seems a tad pricey. I probably fall into the latter category but it's a decent sized tube, you don't have to use much and it works. Surely it's better to spend a bit on a product that does the job than on one that doesn't?

 

If it means more days like this, them I'm a happy bunny.

If you've enjoyed this post, or have any recommendations for products to make summer a bit more enjoyable then please let me know!

 

Toodle Pip, Charlotte x

 

 

Escaping

The world is a busy place.

 

I might have mentioned before that I am a commuter.

I get a busy train. Walk through a busy train station. Spend 8+ hours in a busy office. Walk back to the busy train station through a busy city centre. Get on an even busier train home.

My weekdays are crowded, loud and hectic. Is it any wonder that sometimes I just want to get off the ride? You might be in the same situation and if you are, I feel your pain. (Unless you thrive on this sort of environment - good for you).

 

Sometimes you just need to escape. I know I do. But you can't just suddenly get up and say:

"Enough is enough! I'm going on holiday. See you in two weeks!"

Well you could... But you'd get sacked. And I don't know about you but I'm really keen on not getting sacked. Even if I do want to escape sometimes.

So what do you do instead? I don't know really but here's some things I think might help.

1. Nature sounds: I stole this top tip from this lovely lady. If I feel overwhelmed by the commute, I pop my earphones in and try to pretend I'm at the seaside or in a forest.
2. Music: Again, stolen as above, but nonetheless useful. Find a song that you find relaxing and listen to it. I find singing along very helpful but this isn't always possible if you're in a crowded place and don't want to look slightly mad.
3. Take a break. I don't smoke, but people who do go out for a cheeky smoke break. So why can't I have a break too? Make a tea, heck make a round! Or, just say you're popping it the loo. No one needs to know you're not actually desperate for a pee! It's 5 minutes way from your desk and that stupid phone that won't stop ringing.
4. Lunch: I used to work through my lunch break when we got busy. Now we're always busy I make sure I take my 30 minutes every single day. And I make sure I leave the office, even if it's raining.
5. Find water: I appreciate this might not be possible for everyone but I find water hugely relaxing and I am fortunate to work just about within sensible walking distance of the river. By just about I mean 10 minutes there and 10 minutes back leaving a 10 minute sit down in the middle. For me, this is totally worth it.

This is where I have started trying to go to at lunchtime. It feels like a world away and really let's me clear my head ready to tackle the afternoon without cracking up.

 

It is so important to take time out to look after yourself. Nothing is worth feeling horrible about. I am the worst at doing this but I am trying to retrain myself. Take those five minutes, you've earned them so thousand times over.

 

Love Charlotte x

 

 

Store Cupboard Pasta Salad

 

Good Morning!

I can't believe we're already half way through May! It only feels like two minutes ago that I was trying to think of all the different lunches to eat in April.

One of my favourite lunches to make is really easy. Pasta salad. The best bit is the basic thing is all store cupboard ingredients. Of course you can jazz it up by adding fresh stuff but you can whip up a pretty darn tasty lunch in mere minutes with the help of a few jars.

You will need:

• Cold cooked pasta (deliberately cooking too much when you make your spag bol is a great tip)!
• A jar of pesto (I'm using red because that's what was open, but the traditional green basil pesto is delicious)!

Other things you may want to use:

• A jar of chargrilled peppers
• A jar of sundried tomatoes
• Fresh cherry tomatoes
• A pepper
• Herbs (basil and chives are really good)
• Spinach (or other salad leaves)
• Spring onions
• Cheese
• Maybe a meat?
• Anything else you like!

 

The Ingredients

I've gone for a very red themed pasta this time round. Because I'm using red pesto I haven't used the sundried tomatoes but if I was using green pesto I totally would!

Oh, and yes, that is my incredibly old iPod charging up there.

 

Chuck in the ingredients!

First, stir a generous spoonful of the pesto into your cold pasta.

Then chuck in everything else! It's really that easy.

Chop everything up into nice bite-sized pieces. I recommend doing this with the cherry toms too. I know they look prettier whole but trying to spear a cherry tomato with a fork is quite tricky!

The last thing to go in should be any herbs and salad you want to include as you don't want to bruise them by stiring them round too much. I've gone for chives and because of this I haven't used any onion. That would be a bit overwhelming!

As you can see, my chives are almost flowering. If the flowers had been open I would have definitely thrown a few of those in. Not only do they look super pretty in a salad, they are scrummy!

 

All that is left to do is eat it!

It is great as a packed lunch to take to work and also would make a lovely addition to a picnic or possibly as a buffet option at one of the many summer BBQs I'm sure we'll all be hosting this summer here in bonny Britain (I jest of course... We'll maybe manage one BBQ which will be conducted under an umbrella)!

 

I'd love to know about any other simple lunch recipes. I'm always on the lookout for faff-free foods.

 

Pip pip, Charlotte xx

 

Summer time...

It only takes a hint of sunshine to make Britain go crazy. Today has been the first properly lovely day in ages and people were out in shorts and t-shirts and sandals.

Photos of beer gardens are popping up all over twitter.

My boy was probably attempting to catch skin cancer by sitting out in the back garden.

Even I got into the spirit walking home without my jacket. (I am almost always cold).

There was one crazy girl though, walking through town though in a full on parka with the furry lined hood up at lunch time. There's always one.

 

The only downside to the sunny weather is not being able to enjoy it to the full. Today I watched the sunny weather from my desk while day dreaming about picnics and trips to the beach. Imagining going to a theme park and purposefully going on the water rides to cool down. Thinking about star gazing and not having to be totally freezing. Planning the perfect BBQ. Just because I am trapped inside doesn't mean I can't plan how I would spend my time in the sun if only I were free.

Yesterday, I bought a maxi dress. I also bought suncream because it was on offer and when you're as pale a me you need to stock up on factor 50 when it's on a good deal. I am also on the look out for a straw hat. Because you know, those are cool right?

The weatherman tells me this nice warm spell is meant to last over the weekend. Make the most of it because I can only conclude that, by doing the above shopping, I have jinxed summer and we will all have to put up with rain and probably snow flurries. I can only apologise.

Toodle pip, Charlotte xx