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 .

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

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 !

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 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

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

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 :)