Friday, July 31, 2015

Summer Fun ? Create A Compost Heap !!

Looking out for fun things to do this summer .. Well if like me there is no vacation on the cards because you're too poor :( but if you do happen to have a garden ( which unfortunately I don't have !!)  You could start a compost heap ! It is one of the easiest gardening projects you can undertake and the most important !

Composting is an environmentally conscious way to  create a natural fertilizer . Start with flat ground and a basic material like wood to fence the area in . Lay some hay at the bottom of the area , then fill it in with material like food scraps , cardboard , dryer lint and other perishables .  Egg shells , fruit and vegetables are acceptable ,  but it's best to avoid meat , bones because this will attract unwanted guests .

If you want to keep flies away from your new compost , use clipped grass to cover any rinds or shells .  And remember since Autumn will fast approach , not so long now , remember you can add leaves to your compost as well !

You could learn how to make  a compost heap by visiting the Eden Project .. well that is if you are in the UK . It is situated in Cornwall , nestled in a huge crater . It houses the largest rain-forest in captivity , stunning plants , exhibitions and summer concerts an exciting year round family events programme. Check them out and you could buy tickets online and even avail of 10 to 20 % discounts .

Thursday, July 30, 2015

The Maxi Dress .. Make Your Friday Chic :)

The Summer Maxi Dress is a big hit .. We all own a few . A plain green dress looks stylish with a belt . add a gold one for richness ,  or a plain black one to tone it down . Some Stylish open toe tan platform shoes goes very well with a long maxi dress giving you extra height. if you don't need the height some pretty flat sandals can look cute .   An arm-band ( gold caged cuff ) makes your wrist look less bare! An  evening purse , big enough to keep your phone , money and keys , and some really nice shades makes this outfit classy . A hat is optional for sun protection and personal style !
Listed below are all the prices and shops where all the above is available .. Happy shopping !

Soft surplice maxi / 30 dollars / wetseal.com
full tint round palm tree glasses / 9.99 dollars / tillys.com
Morley hat / 38 dollars / mooreseal.com
gold caged arm cuff / 9.99 dollars / lookbookcore.co
wide tan platform ankle strap / 25 pounds / newlook.com
Kalista embelished shoulder bag / 25 pounds / vestroyonline.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Tasty Homemade Guacamole Beats The Shop Mush :)

Guacamole is perhaps one of my favourite things . Avocados are very healthy and can be added to salads everyday but if you make this tasty guacamole and keep it in your fridge whenever you open a bag of Nachos or when you sit down to your main meal you can have this tasty dip ( homemade and healthy ) to tuck into !
This recipe is a bit spicy with a delightful kick and you will enjoy tucking into it , just anytime !

Ingredients
1 small red onion finely chopped
2 little green chillies finely chopped ( or 1 if you prefer )
2 teaspoons of salt
4 ripe Avocados
Juice of 1 to 2 limes
A handful of freshly chopped coriander

Put half the onion , half the chilli and the salt in a pestle and morter and grind into a rough paste .In a large bowl cut open the avacados , take out the stones scoop out the flesh and with a fork mash it up adding the lemon juice as you go .
Stir in your mash of onion and chillies along with the rest of your chilli lime juice and chopped coriander .
Season with black pepper and salt if you think it needs more . It's ready to serve and keeps a couple of days in the fridge ! Enjoy !
For a little extra something to mine I add a pinch of Cumin powder ..it's my secret ingredient for the guacamole !

Monday, July 27, 2015

Five Great Summer Reads ... Enjoy !!

Books are something alot of people enjoy .. it is an escape into another world , an inside into love , romance  , sci-fi , history , suspense whatever you find personally tickles your fancy , and you just need to be the first of your friends to read it !
So if you are off on holiday and going to spend hours baking on the beach or you're just home on vacation and you need some book recommendations to pass those hours , I have five interesting reads , you would find hard to put down !

All these recommendations are new titles available in stores right now or in the first week of August . So make sure you get your hands on the one you most like the sound off !!

"Blueprints " by Barbara Delinsky ... Is about a woman Caroline MacAfee who a day after her 56 th Birthday is told she is too old to be the face of her family based home construction show "Gut It "! And who will be replacing her ? Her 29 year old daughter Jamie . The resulting fallout happens when these two women need each other more than ever . Will they be able to mend their broken relationship ?

"Eight Hundred Grapes " by Laura Dave ..It's a story about love , marriage and family . Just a week before her wedding , Georgia finds out her fiance was hiding a secret , one that would change everything . She flees to her childhood home , the family vineyard ,where she discovers that her fiance wasn't the only one with secrets !

Alice Hoffman ..You know you will get a good story from her , she is the author of "The Marriage Of Opposites " so sit back and enjoy this novel as she transports you to the 19th century St. Thomas to follow the  story of Rachel Manzano Pomie-Petit , the mother of famous painter Camille Pissarro . Get ready for a setting to die for , a passionate woman who'll inspire you to take the rest of the summer by storm , and a love story to get carried away in .. Absolutely wonderful !!

"Hugo & Rose " by Bridget Foley .. In this novel Rose is a married woman who has dreams of the same man every night .. Harmless , right ? That is , until she meets him in real  life .  Hugo & Rose is a surrealist dark fairy tale that will make you think about the nature of soulmates .

If your looking for a nice addictive thriller , writer Sophie Hannah"s character Nicki Clements in the book "Woman with a Secret " ( yeah and guess what , ? Nicki has a secret ! )  Skilled suspense writer Hannah will sweep you into Nicki's  world and you won't want to get out until you've reached the last page ! Good luck to anyone trying to pry this book away from your hands !!

Hope you give one of them a read if not all !! Enjoy and happy reading from a cold windy , rainy England ..No sign of summer yet , typical  !  Keep smiling xx

Love & Peace




Sunday, July 26, 2015

Sunday Casual Style :)

Sunday Casual style .. Denim Shorts an off shouldered floral cool blouse . Tan combat Boots a fringed hand bag and a chic bracelet-charm watch .
All items and prices are listed below where they can be bought online .
Happy shopping and a very Happy Sunday !

Petite Laura aztec frayed denim shorts / 16 dollars / boohoo.com
Parisian navy floral print cold shoulder top / 6 pounds / newlook.com
Zalora triple tour Charm watch / 8.99 AUD / theiconic.com.au
brown bamboo lace-up combat boots / 40 dollars / charlotterusse.com
fringe tiered crossbody bag / 36 dollars / jcpenny.com

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Friday Style .. High Waisted Jeans !

Blue denim jeans are common place , these blue high waisted skinny jeans are a royal blue and very eye catching  as it's not your regular blue jeans .  Invest in a pair and turn heads wherever you go !!
A loose white chiffon blouse is the perfect match to skinny jeans not tight and constricting . So you are in balance . Some nice white rose studs and a brown floppy hat . Nice big Nude shades and shoes that are sandal wedges , so made for 100% comfort .
You will look like a million dollars if you are putting this on Friday :) Follow me for style ideas and all my latest blogs .

Some prices and where you could get this online , or if these shops are near you ,check it out . Happy shopping if you want to own an outfit like this !
Navy High Waisted Supersoft Jeans / 23 pounds / Newlook.com
Chiffon Blouse / 25 pounds / hm.com
Tan felt floppy hat / 20 dollars / dorothyperkins.com
nude statement glasses / 30 dollars / eloquii.com
rose flower stud earrings / 12 pounds / amazon.co.uk
white buckle wedge / 31 dollars / romwe.com

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Cointreau - The Bitter Sweet Liqueur .. 3 Recipe Ideas For Cocktails . Happy Summer !!

Cointreau - The French Orange Liqueur is a unique ,outstanding liqueur made from Oranges and is warming and refreshing , bitter yet sweet and is a must have liqueur for some really popular cocktails like the margarita and the cosmopolitan !

We have all tried this popular drink and we love it .. Here are three different recipes to drink your Cointreau in a Cocktail .. It's absolutely delicious and very satisfying in the summer heat !

The Classic Cointreau Fizz
Fill a glass with ice . Add 50 ml of Cointreau and the juice of half a lime .  Now top off with sparkling water . Garnish with wedges of lime and enjoy !

Cointreau Fizz with Cucumber and Basil .
3  small slices of cucumber diced and 4 fresh basil leaves add them in a cocktail shaker with 50 ml of Cointreau 1/2 a freshly squeezed juice of a lime and fill with ice . Now shake it vigorously for 2 mins . Strain into a glass over ice and top off with 100 ml of sparkling water . Garnish with a basil leaf and enjoy .

Cointreau Fizz with Strawberry and Mint
In a shaker mix 4 sliced strawberries with 3 fresh mint leaves . Add 50 ml of Cointreau and the juice of half a freshly squeezed lime , top with ice and shake vigorously for 2 mins . Strain the mix into a glass over ice add 100 ml of sparkling water , garnish with a mint leaf and serve chilled ... Cheers !! Enjoy :)
 

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Red ... For Mid-Week Blues :)

Red is a bright cheerful colour and immediately draws all eyes to you ! It's royal , dressy and always makes the wearer look sexy . I love the colour red . It suits most skin tones and looks glamorous and no matter what your hair colour , red will set you apart from the crowd .

To go with the pretty red dress ( it's simple .. no boobs on display but yet looks sexy and fun !)
some really high heels in a shiny gold peep toe stiletto !
A red belt with a bow optional  !
A nice gold bangle simple and delicate for the wrist  , but a lot of nice little rings for all your fingers to draw attention to your hands . A nice little change from look at me earrings or alot of bracelets !

It's a simple yet glamorous statement to your Wednesday - mid-week blues :)

Like , Share and follow me :)  Thanks xxx

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Stylish Everyday Wear !!

Everyday Stylish wear !!
A denim short pant in summer beats the heat like nothing else. A cool floral top some feather earrings very hip and fashionable .
A black hat shades your face from the hot sun rays ( No need to walk with an umbrella ;)
Some tan block heels keeping your toes on display and allowing them to finally get some sunshine after all those months in socks and boots !
A nice heavy big chunky bangle on your wrist sets the whole outfit apart .
Ripped jeans if you are not a fan of letting your thighs be on display .. it's a safe and comfortable option .

Keep stylish this whole summer with tips from me :)

Happy Summer and Keep Smiling xx

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Turquoise And Black ..Summer Style !

For your stylish summer , this turquoise and black outfit is a superb colour combination to look so smart, if you are out shopping for the day and want to bump into your favourite celebrity or you just want to go out for a quiet meal in the evening and a date night with your beau !

The denim short pant keeps it casual and young no matter what your age ! The kimono is trendy at the moment and a nice cover up to a simple black vest . I love the hat and shades if it's sunny or to just protect your eyes from the glare and keep you safe while driving.
The ankle boots are a real statement piece and def. adds to any lack of height !
A nice simple tortoise necklace shouts sophistication and simplicity no big jewelry or it could look cheap and tacky !

See if you could carry out this look .. Go for it , especially the ankle boots . I see so many girls dressed nicely with a pair of sneakers on :( You all are not five and a day out shopping is not to be confused with gym footwear and sweaty workout time  ;)

Do follow me for my daily blog posts ... thanks Sabrina xx

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Lovely Summer Shoes !!

A Selection of my favourite summer footwear !

An on trend summer ankle boot in black  . Pair them with some funky leggings and a plain black t/shirt .

The red and green evening stilettos would look gorgeous with a nice strappy dress or a short skirt and top !

The white jelly shoes are fun and can be worn at any time day or night with jeans or shorts or a nice summer day dress .

The Gladiator sandals in black are flat and can be used if you have a lot of walking or sightseeing to do on holiday . They are fun and can be paired with almost anything . Long skirts and flats go nicely together .

The wedge sandal is gorgeous and in spite of how high it is , it feels pretty comfortable to  wear , on a day out shopping . It makes legs appear longer and a big hit with shorter petite girls !

These shoes can be found in different styles at almost all high street stores like Zara , Primark to name some .

Whats your favourite shoe , this summer ? Which one are you killing everyday ? Would love to hear your comment and a photo of your favourite shoes .

Have an awesome day and keep smiling :)

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Six Gorgeous Bags ... I Love Them :)

Hand Bags , What would we women do without them ?
We need them to carry around our army of belongings , most of which we hardly need or use everyday . But we always need to have it in our bag Agendas ,  make-up , a deo or a little perfume , chewing gum , mouth fresheners , wallet , a camera , your phone , keys yeah it goes on . So for all this stuff we need some eye catching bags .

I've put together six of my currant favourite looking bags all really affordable on the net . Check them out and maybe you would love to be the proud owner of one of them .

The first the beautiful brown leather tasseled , animal print cross-body . It is available for 69 pounds from www.phiverivers.com

The second top row is the woman's Bow black cross-body handbag from Target for only 22 dollars and available online as well .

The third is the gorgeous Deep pink Danna Winged Tote Carvela Kurt Geiger handbag for 69 dollars . A really bargain as it's so pretty .

Bottom row the beautiful peach tasseled Roxy Frills and Thrills bag my favourite is 24 dollars and available from Roxy.com

Second the Black diamond chain bag is 16 dollars from rom we
Ideal for a date night :)

Last of all is the gorgeous brown bag , a very in colour this year . It's from Shein ( sheinside) Yellow brown vintage buckle PU shoulder bag for only 12 pounds from shein.com
A real bargain and I love it !!

I hope you love my bag selection and do share and follow me ... thanks xx

Monday, July 13, 2015

Ordinary Cake Mix to Taste Like A Cake Bought From A Bakery ? Here's How ...

Do you want your ordinary cake mix from a packet taste like you bought it from a bakery ?
I simply do it all the time .. buy a cake mix packet from the supermarket and turn it into a super tasting high quality cake !

Follow these easy steps and your cake could taste delicious too !

Read the directions on the cake mix.
Add one more egg ( or even two for an even richer taste .)
Replace the oil with melted butter and double the amount !!
Replace the water with an equal amount of milk .
Mix and bake according to instructions on packet .
I always add broken pieces of chocolate to the cake mix


as well :) The End Result ... it is so delicious .. the cake is gone in ten minutes :)

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Summer Style .. An Evening Look !

Summer Style : Evenings out ... A pretty Floral dress in white and blue , sleeveless . A denim jacket to ward off the cool evening breeze . A floral headband and some stylish flat blue pumps . A white clutch bag and some hanging diamond earrings not too flashy but making an expensive statement .

                      


Friday, July 10, 2015

Product Recommendation : Anti- Spot Roll-On !!

Product Recommendation :

L'Oreal Garnier Pure and Active Roll-On
Anti-Spot

Getting a Spot is annoying , bothersome and unattractive . We all get spots , from the time we are teenagers to sometimes even later in life . When we are older we are prone to getting spots , at times of stress or if a girl is about to get her period , it is highly likely a huge spot is going to show up !! Women are not the only ones getting spots though , boys are just as likely to suffer spots as the female gender !
I had alot of spots as a teenager and I do still get the odd one now .
I have used alot of anti spot treatments and I didn't find them very effective until I started using this product . It is absolutely amazing and within 24 hrs your spot won't be painful anymore , visibly smaller and in two days it's guaranteed to disappear leaving no scar or sign of it .

It is on the pricey side Seven pounds forty-nine pence ( 7.49 ) but I would say it's money well spent . Invest in it and it definitely lasts a long time . It's a roll-on so apply it over the spot three times a day and it's good and 100% effective !


Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Doritos Roulette .. You Must Try It :)

Doritos don't we all just love a packet to munch down on !! Well these absolutely NEW Doritos available in the supermarkets now are so delicious .. but these are Doritos with a difference . They are not meant for you to try on your own . These are Roulette Doritos !! Have them in a group :)


These   are Tangy Cheese Flavour and delicious , but as all the hands go one by one one into the bag , suddenly somebody hits upon a very hot spicy Doritos !! That is the Game of Roulette , having normal Cheesy Doritos and suddenly somebody's mouth is going to be on fire , with a mega hot one !
I enjoyed these with the kids and it was so much fun ! As I love all things spicy it could have been hotter , but my children definitely found it HOT !
It's a must try for everybody. I enjoyed them and will be buying them more often :)
Have an awesome day and keep smiling :)

Love & Peace                                                                                                                                                    

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Fashionable Look For Summer !!

Fashion Blog :
A cool summer look and very easy to put together . It could have you looking like a movie star :)


An Aztec print blouse . Multi colours are very fashionable this summer .  Bootleg flared jeans for the summer daytime chic . A tasseled bag in brown suede . A simple string necklace . A white and gold belt to make the outfit and yourself look expensive . A nice brown suede broad rimmed hat to shade you from the hot summer sun . A pair of aviator sunglasses and nice wedge sandals to complete the look .

More summer fashion looks coming up, to inspire you , on my daily blog "selection of outfits " to help prepare you on latest trends and what would look good for you to wear  .

Keep smiling and have an awesome day :)

Love and Peace 
  

Monday, July 6, 2015

A Grilled Potato Salad .. My Favourite For The Summer :)

A grilled potato salad with a Mayo/Mustard dressing is so delicious for dinner on these warm summer days and very easy to put together . Your family will love it !

Ingredients


750 gms of small salad potatoes
3/4 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 small onion
6 strips of bacon
1/2 a cup of dill or a herb of your choice
3 spring onions
1/2 a cup of mayonnaise
1/4 cup of mustard
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Heat your grill and put your potatoes up to boil , 8 mins is enough you want a little bite to it before you put it under the grill .
Drain the potatoes toss them in 2 tablespoons  of vegetable oil put them under the grill so that they can brown and slightly char .
While the potatoes are grilling cut the onion and toss it in oil before slightly roasting them off also under the grill . Once they are done remove it from under the grill and allow the potatoes and onions to cool .
Next get the bacon strips done , also under the grill but keep turning them alot it can cook really quick and burn . Keep an eye on it ! When it is done remove it and chop it up .
In a large bowl combine the mayo , the mustard and the apple-cider vinegar and mix . Now  add the potatoes , onions and bacon and stir it through . Last of all add the dill or your herb of choice and the spring onions . Season with salt and pepper and chill or serve it slightly warm with a nice french baguette ! Enjoy :)

Friday, July 3, 2015

Dirty , Yellow , Rotten Teeth , British People Have .... And I Know The Reason WHY !!!

It's not an exaggerated statement , because if you are honest with yourself and you see a British person , the first thing you tend to notice about them when they smile is their horrible teeth !!
It has got nothing to do with the people alone but a situation that is highly absurd here in England and  in reality exists , no where else in the world !
If you are wondering what the hell I'm talking about , it's pretty easy ,the situation lies at the door of the DENTISTS !!
If you think it's only got to do with sugary sweets , fizzy drinks and an unhealthy attitude to mouth hygiene you would be wrong . Yes it is a combination of all those things but tell me who from around the world does not have sugary sweets , fizzy pop etc ..
Okay so everybody should be brushing their teeth twice a day .. because just as you would wash your dirty dishes after a meal you would also do the same for your teeth .  After a night in bed it's healthy to wash your mouth to freshen up and have good breath . Secondly it's healthy to use a mouth wash and  floss if you can though I seldom do that .. God's honest truth :)
Now why am  I laying the BLAME at the DOOR of the DENTISTS , it's easy every person should be attending and have a regular dentist .  I always did when I lived for donkeys years in the Netherlands . As soon as I came here I didn't get one because ..my teeth are in good shape and I didn't feel I needed one as it's not covered by the NHS , like health & doctors where you would only be required to pay for your prescriptions at the pharmacy .
Here you would be required to pay for every trip to the dentist . So people in England who are extremely poor and badly off living hand to mouth , pay cheque to pay cheque and shamefully this country also boosts , having the higest number of millionaires living in LONDON . Yes extreme poverty and wealth blending together badly . So the majority of these people who cannot afford to entertain the thought of visiting a dentist when a more pressing bill needs to be paid .
Okay so paying a dentist , that is not the worst thing in the world because anywhere you go , if you visit a dentist you are going to get charged , Am I talking sense ?? Yes .. in the Netherlands it also costed money duh .. What is appalling about over here in England is you have to pay upfront in cash or with your pin-card or else you will not be attended too  !!
Now everywhere else in the world you get billed after your treatment is completed and the bill comes in the post and you pay it at the end of the month or you pay it off in two goes .
It seems like a very greedy , shady business run by dentists in the UK to only accept cash upfront or you are not going to be treated . Very Harsh !!
I am blogging about this subject because a friend of mine , has come down with severe tooth pain and is suffering all the dentists have refused treatment without cash upfront .. Very pathetic of these so called people , who are trying  to be in a profession that cares for peoples teeth . It seems to me like it is money making practice here and they are probably sliding half the cash into their own pockets  and not declaring it . Something needs to be done about this situation .
I personally went into a practice today to inquire if this cash upfront thing is really true , and the receptionist said yes , billing people is an old outdated practice . I told her OH Great , I am going to blog about this ..
So nobody's teeth here in England is important , cash in your money hungry dentists pockets is far more important .. he cant'wait to have your cash , and after the greedy bastard is paid you had better hope he does an efficient job on your teeth because he's just going to be laughing all the way to the bank , and your going to be a victim of his shoddy ways ,lol
Wonder no more about why all Brits are proud of their dirty yellow teeth ,  they have no other option !!

Love & Peace enjoy your weekend , just take good care of your own teeth at home , I do too . No bloody dentists for ME ! Keep smiling yellow teeth and all  ;)

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Ice-Cream In Five Minutes ?? Here's How ...

Happy Friday !! The heatwave is getting less intense and some thunder showers are threatening .. although it's still warm and positively glorious . The kids even had their school sports day today . Although why it's held on a Thursday , still brings me no answers !!
Should it not be just before the weekend like on a Friday so the kids can rest it out on Saturday morning after having an exhausting day today ! My son even did the mini marathon , my daughter the sack race the skipping race and the flats !! No they didn't  win any medals but they didn't come last either and they had a very enjoyable day . Tomorrow it's school again and two very tired children :(
So with all this warm weather ,I thought I'd blog on how to make ice-cream !! But NO this is not your standard method in making the stuff , this is a quick five minute method which is sure to excite you and your kids into try making it yourself !!
It is also an excellent way to use and teach someone about freezing points ,but it's also great if you are hungry and want to have some ice-cream , quick snap !
First put cream , sugar and vanilla in a plastic bag . Next put that bag into a bigger bag filled with ice and salt . Shake the bag vigorously for five minutes and hey presto !! Ice-cream :)
This works because the salt in the bag ,lowers the freezing point of the cream .
Thanks to the sandwich bag you don't have to worry about salty ice-cream ( unless that is what you want ! )
This is a great project to get your kids involved in ,  and show them how it's done !
Have an awesome day and keep smiling !!

Love & Peace