Loose wallpaper?....Get stripping!!!!

....Not THAT kind of stripping you filthy animals! On watching the mundane yet strangely captivating daytime trash that is Loose Women I was horrified to spot the wallpaper on the background of the studio was the same that I had (foolishly now, come to think of it) spent £64 per roll on and had hung in my living room! Now, Im not opposed to daytime rubbish on the box, Loose Women is even number 2 (after This Morning of course) on my list of faves...however, I am 100 squillion per cent not prepared to share interior decor with the cackling, frumpy, moaning middle aged women on the show. I'm not sure If this blunder was my bad taste or the impeccable taste of the ITV's interior designers...(I'm going to go for the latter just to make myself feel better), Either way the Designers Guild luxury paper had to go.....The sooner the better!!

p.s I do realise this photo isn't focussing solely on the 'Loose' wallpaper....however, I forgot to take a before pic so this one will have to do...my bad!

  If you have never attempted to A, remove wallpaper or B, hang wallpaper then keep reading and I'll attempt to guide you through the process,
I (obviously) had to remove the black and dark purple paper that had been professionally put up a mere 12 months before so first things first I got a bucket of warm water and sponge and wet the paper and waited for it to soak in....Then, ingeniously I remembered that being the fashionista that I am (har har.) I own a clothes steamer...Perfect for delicates and even sheets, duvet covers and pillows that I thought would do the same job as a wallpaper steamer...(my logic being they both have the word 'steamer' in the title...Note: I'm not sure a food steamer would be as effective)
So in enters my £79 clothes steamer purchased from the one and only Argos and used lovingly on every item of my clothing....It heats up in a mere 30 seconds and steams anything I can get my hands on...(apparantly wallpaper inclusive!!) I found that holding against the 'old' paper for a few seconds it came away easily from the wall, The small areas that didn't come away instantly I proceeded to use a metal scraper tool (not toooo sure of it's official title) and that seemed to do the trick!!! (I can't get a picture up but it's the blue homepure clothes steamer...can be found at: www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0890887.htm )

Share|.Once switched on it takes 30secs to be raring to go (you all really should put one on your chrimbly lists!!!) Held against the old paper for a few seconds I found it came off very easily (a couple of bits that didn't I removed without a hint of a problem with a metal scraper tool...Not too sure of it's official title?!)

Once all of the 'Loose' wallpaper had been removed (As shown above) I then needed to prime the wall ready for the new paper to be hung (A very pretty Chinese-esque cherry blossom print from habitat at a much more reasonable £19.50 a roll) Now, you can buy 'primer' from D.I.Y shops but my dear 'ol mother (who is a dab hand at wallpaper doing) simply makes a very dilute wallpaper paste (like a thick water consistency if that makes sense??) and paints across the whole wall...Once this has dried it's time to get started,
  Unroll your chosen wallpaper and firstly put the straight edge to the ceiling...You will most likely need to be standing on a step ladder unless you are 8ft tall, then walking your hands down the paper (trying very hard not to move the paper) reach the bottom and with your fingers make an indentation across the length of the paper of where the skirting board starts/you want your paper to finish, note: the paper will almost definately be falling down from the top over your head but try not to let this distract you...
now take the paper to your pasting table and cut your 'measured' section roughly an inch lower than your mark of where the skirting starts (this is for any possible margin of errors), Now you need to make up your paste, I always use the loose (haha loose!) powder that you have to mix, follow the packet instructions and stir well until gloopy and generally wallpaper paste like, now turn your paper over and paste the entire back of the length of paper, you will have to do half the fold over then the other half as most walls are alot longer than pasting tables...don't worry about creasing the paper as once on the wall you can smooth out (obviously this is within reason so don't go stomping all over it) Once the paper is well pasted take back over to the wall and make sure you have it the correct way round (sounds pretty obvious doesn't it?....however I have made this mistake before and it's reeeeeaaaallllllyyy annoying to take it off and turn it around) and stick to the wall, Once you have the paper on the wall it is quite manouverable until the paste dries so push and manipulate into the desired position (e.g in a straight line up to the wall/ceiling) When satisfied with the positioning of the strip go over the whole strip with a clean, damp cloth to remove any air bubbles or paste that is on the front, Now cut any overlap you may have along the bottom with a sharp craft knife/pair of scissors. For the rest of the strips it's basically the same principle although you do have to match up any patterns that may be on the print...this can be quite frustrating as it feels as though you are 'wasting' lots of the paper... and to be honest...you are! (but theres nothing you can do about it-soz!)  Also be aware that if you are hanging a patterned paper you have to do the indentation/cutting thing at the top AND bottom as it will never simply fit where you cut the last strip (If it ever does please let me know and I'll give you a medal), If you are hanging a plain wallpaper then you won't have any of these problems (you will unfortunately though have a very boring room)...I've found that generally speaking a roll will do 3 strips but if you're not sure how much to buy they have a grid at the D.I.Y shop you can work out how much you need...I always guesstimate and end up either returning unused rolls or going to buy more...Again, highly annoying! Anyway, keep hanging the strips until you have either reached the end of your 'feature' wall or finished the room, Finish off by going over again any bits of paste on the front of the paper you may have missed with the clean, damp cloth.

Et Voila!! a MUCH better (albeit slightly girly for the home of rugby boys) result!!! It really is quite easy to do the whole wallpaper thing and this sounds so 'therapy speak' but it's also highly rewarding to look at your newly revamped room and think to yourself 'I did that!'
try it and see!

Px

Merry Merry Marvellous Mince Pie Monday....

I do realise it's actually Tuesday but Monday worked so much better for the title...sorry if anyone's offended by that....
Chrimbly is precisely 18 sleeps away....WOOOPEEEEEEE!!!!!...the countdown is well and truely underway judging by the mound of presents I have still to wrap (next year I'm deffo scrooging christmas off!!) and cards that I have to A, make, and B, write....I know, I know-I'm a fool.
  So what on God's earth can get you in a more christmassy mood than listening to christmas classics whilst sampling the festive periods finest delights???....mince pies and mulled wine-yes purrrleeease!
I love pies at the best of times but a warm, sweet christmas pie tops any other every single day of the week-and washed down by warmed, spicy red wine...HEAVEN. (mulled wine recipe is coming up..)
homemade mince pies are easy peasy to make, take nay time at all...AND leave the most scrumptious smell in your kitchen-even if you don't like the pie itself (nutter) it's worth doing just for the scent it leaves behind!

For 12 mince pies you will need:

350g Plain flour
Pinch/sprinkle of table salt
225g cold unsalted butter (cut into little chunks)
1 egg
cold water
1 jar of mincemeat
icing sugar/edible glitter (the edible glitter is definately a non-negotiable ingredient!)

Firstly, Preheat your oven to 200 and lightly butter a 12 hole cupcake tin (note: this butter is extra to what is stated in the ingredients part)...then put the flour,butter and salt together in a bowl and rub together with your fingers until its like breadcrumbs....Or sand....Or fine soil...Or.....Flour, butter and salt that has been rubbed together for about 4 minutes?!
Then add the egg and mix in to the mixture with a cold metal spatula (or knife) and when mixed in sloooooowwwwwllllly add the cold water a teeny bit at a time and mix whilst your doing it...When the mixture starts binding together be very careful not to add too much water as if it goes sticky its rubbish and wont work...When the mixture is dough like, wrap in clingfilm and put in the fridge for 15-30mins or (like I do) put in the freezer for 10-15 (I'm so impatient!...New years resolution to stop being!)
Once 'chilled' take out of the fridge/freezer, sprinkle a little flour onto your surface and roll out 3/4 of the dough, I usually use a rolling pin for every other pastry, however, this seems better for some reason to use your hands..your call..
Now cut out 12 circles either with a cookie cutter or a knife and gently press into the buttered cupcake tin, Next spoon in the mincemeat mixture (you can make it but I always have used the shop bought variety) Be careful not to overfill as when cooking the mincemeat will bubble up, Then use the rest of the dough and roll/pummel out to the same thickness and cut out stars and hearts (I suppose circles would work too if your more of a 'conservative' mince pie goer...Just make sure you put a couple of tiny holes in the top if the lid covers the whole pie or else you will have molten mincemeat explode in your mouth...doesn't sound too festive to me!) Finally, place your stars/hearts/circles on the top of the pies and sprinkle a little sugar on the top and pop into the oven for 20mins, When ready take out and use a spatula or spoon to take out of the cupcake tray as soon as you can, If they cool in the tray they literally are welded in and its humanly impossible to get them out...It's VERY upsetting when this happens :(
  To finish off sprinkle icing sugar from a height over all of the pies whilst singing a christmas song ( 'We're walking in the air' from The Snowman is always a winner) then use the edible glitter to decorate accordingly :)

                          

Enjoy!!!
Px

note: Molten mince pie filling REALLY hurts the roof of your mouth so please try and wait at least 10 mintues before sampling...
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Big Love for 'Grand Amour'.....

Now, I did say to myself when starting this blog I would not bore everyone with my frankly sickeningly lovey dovey, head over heels in loveness with my husband (to be), BUT......when said husband to be arrived home for the weekend he had in tow a little gift for me, As soon as I spied the bag I knew I was in for a treat for this exclusive perfumery is among one of my favourite things in the world (along with Cath Kidston, Cupcakes, Kittens and Christmas...oh and Starbucks)
Annick Goutal is a Parisian gem that has found its way across the channel and into the likes of Libertys and even has it's own boutiques in Belgium (Avenue Louise) and London  (Motcomb street in Belgravia and on Mount street..ooh la la indeed!) The brand also does a skincare and bath and body range...not something I've been lucky enough to try but as soon as I get my mitts on some I will most definitely be telling you what I think, If its anything like the fragrances then it will be all ticks and gold stars!!
 I have previously purchased 'Petite Cherie' from Annick Goutal...mainly for the utterly divine bottle it comes in, think frosted pale green glass with amazingly shiny gold lid (I do believe in a previous life I was a magpie) the bonus being that the fragrance was one of the nicest in the land- Fresh, Romantic and stays on for hours, Many compliments have been received when wearing 'Petite Cherie'...'Little darling' is the translation...And that indeed is exactly what it is!
 Ok....Slightly side tracked there...This blog post isn't about Petite Cherie...No, It's about the one and only 'Grand Amour' different in almost every way to the latter, Sensual,  Subtle, Warming and when you are wearing Grand Amour the world seems like a sexier place (zero harm in that!) ...the bottle is like something out of Disney's Snow White and the seven dwarfs and excitingly comes with an atomizer that makes you feel like a 1920's starlet when spritzing it the air and sashaying through...Yes, this perfume actually makes you do that!
 At £100 it is rather expensive...However, As the fragrance is so strong you only need the smallest of squirts and it does (like Petite Cherie) Last for hours, (Also the bottle won me over before I'd even sniffed it) Boys, listen up....this is the perfect gift for your girlfriend/wife/lover and will get you mahoosive brownie points if you present this treat from such an exclusive 'only those in the know' boutique...but take note...might be slightly weird for you to get for mum/sister or worse sister in law :s
I love love love it. What a lucky, lucky lady I am :)

P.s If you can't get yourself to one of the stores you can purchase from the website: www.annickgoutal.com

Px

Sesame Street themed Scrumptiousness!!!

Well, I saw a version (a very professional one) on some website and COULD NOT RESIST trying to make them myself! My all time favourite cupcake recipe is the one and only red velvet with cream cheese frosting so I used the same recipe but of course added a few extra's to make this Sesame street inspired case of scrumptious fun!
you will need: (to make 12 cupcakes)

12 cupcake cases and a cupcake tray (obviously)
150g caster sugar
60g unsalted butter (room temp)
1 egg
150g plain flour
120ml buttermilk (I NEVER buy buttermilk I simply add a dash of lemon juice to regular milk and wait 5mins for it to curdle slightly...it's exactly the same so don't waste your money)
A large glug of vanilla extract
15-25g of cocoa powder (depending on how big your glug of vanilla extract is)
A large squirt of red food colouring
Pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
Dash of white wine vinegar (yes...really!)

For the frosting & decoration:

300g sifted icing sugar
50g unsalted butter (still at room temp)
125-200g cream cheese (Depending on how creamy you like the frosting...I usually just whack a 200g tub full in..also I use Philadelphia but I'm presuming any cream cheese will do)
Squirt of blue food colouring
2 packets white chocolate buttons (1 would probably be enough but of course you end up eating afew as the obligotory 'cooks treat!')
12 oreo cookies
chocolate chips or chocolate icing in tube

OK, First things first set your oven to 200 and whilst its heating up whisk together the sugar and the butter, then add the egg and whisk until everything is all mixed in nicely, next pour in abit of the buttermilk and whisk, then abit of the flour and whisk (keep doing this until everything has been added) now in a seperate bowl mix the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and red food colouring together until its a paste like consistency...if its too dry add more of the wet stuff...if too wet...add more cocoa powder...simples! Once it's a paste add it to the other bowl of mixed ingredients and whisk until you get a smooth dark red cupcake mix, Now throw in the salt, then Bicarb of soda and finally add the vinegar and watch it fizzle, Whisk the last 3 ingredients into the mix until well blended (no-one wants a completely salty cupcake-urgh)
Now spoon the mixture into the cases and pop into the oven for about 20-25mins, I never time it properly...just keep checking them, If you think they might be done poke a (clean) knife or a skewer if you have any into a cupcake and if it comes out clean then they're ready, if it has mixture on it then they need a little longer...
Once done, take out of the oven and cool,
Whilst cooling mix/whisk together the icing sugar, butter and cream cheese until a smooth utterly delicious frosting (I know 'frosting' is a very American word but it really deserves a more extravagant name than boring 'icing') Finally add the blue food colouring and whisk, adding more food colouring if you wish until you have your desired Sesame street 'cookie monster' shade of blue,
Now using a sharp knife cut a small slit in the cooled cupcakes about a third of the way up and shove a cookie in there so half of it is still visable, now 'frost' your cupcake....you can use a piping bag with attachment if you wish..OR...like me, spoon the mixture into a sealable plastic sandwich bag and cut a small corner off, seal, then squeeze the frosting out...this saves on washing up (as when your done you just throw the sandwich bag away) and is also cheaper than buying the proper icing bags..nifty hey?!
 Finally, your cookie monster needs eyes, for each cupcake stick 2 white chocolate buttons in the rough eye position and either stick the chocolate chips on with abit of jam/honey/any sticky food based products you may have or if, like me , you prefer the easier option..just squirt abit of the already made chocolate icing on as eyeballs....
....ET VOILA!!!!!! your very own red velvet cookie monster! NOM NOM NOM!

note: if you just want a regular (but still fricking delicious red velvet) cupcake forget the blue food colouring, cookies and white chocolate buttons part of this recipe

Px

A little Monday treat...

After another gluttonous weekend away in Belgium filled of lazy-boning around, eating and drinking to excess (and some!) and absolutely ZERO attendance to the gym, needless to say Monday morning has arrived and I'm feeling rather lazy and ashamed of myself (although...I did have a GREAT weekend doing all of the above!) So all this in consideration I have decided that I plan to do the following this week:

1, Go to the gym everyday...(this most definately will have gone to pot by Wednesday-latest.)
2, Try not to eat heavily processed or calorie laden goodies...
3,Up at 7am if I'm working or not to fill my day productively....(Hmmmmm..yeah right)

note: This list was made on the Eurostar coming back to London. On arrival into our capital I happened to walk past Starbucks and to my sheer delight....YES!!! the Christmas cups are back!!!!
One Eggnog latte coming up! Weeeeeeeeee! (obviously this completely obliterates point 2 of my (frankly stupid) list!) Standing in line to order my cardboard cup of Christmas I noticed the stand of Starbucks branded products that only suckers would actually buy....Before I knew it I had convinced myself that I simply couldn't carry on my day to day life without one of these:

Starbucks thermos: £5.95

Yes, It's a thermos. As unattractive and un-sexy the word 'thermos' is it not only has the Starbucks christmas cup print around it (did somebody say the word sucker??) It will, In the long run actually save me money as I will fill it with my home-made coffee OR if that doesn't satisfy my addiction enough, when I order, say, another eggnog latte and hand them my thermos to fill, I get a 25p discount....So that means in precisely 23.8 coffees my thermos will have paid for itself!! All this aswell as reducing my (quite substantial) carbon footprint by not using the throwaway cups everytime! I'd recommend following suit!!!

I'm feeling almost saintly :)

Px

The perfect excuse to jump into bed as soon as you get home...

The clocks have gone back, The trees are bare, The woolies are most definately on due to the distinct nip in the air..(good rhyming skills non? ) Yes, Winter is creeping upon us. As depressing and grim it feels to be walking home from work in the pitch black, soaked and freezing whilst snivelling and sneezing all over the place from the latest bug someone has kindly shared,it's not all doom and gloom, NOT.AT.ALL. first and foremost it means christmas is soon...yipeeeee and whoooopdidooop! also...not AS exciting but still pretty special, yummy home-made chunky soups, hearty pies eaten with mustard mash, steak and chips overload washed down with a bottle (or two) of Rioja -are all firmly on the menu, enjoyed whilst snuggled up in comfy knits and oversized jumper dresses, However appealing all this may sound...some of you  (me included) may be dreaming of the following evening: hot bubble bath, pj's straight on, heating turned up then hibernate in bed watching dvd's...correct me if im wrong, but this classic Cath Kidston rose print eiderdown (or 'throw' if you prefer) would convince ANY doubters of the lazy, self indulgent evening over any others.

 Cath Kidston eiderdown: £110

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Scrummy seared Scallops....

Last night on watching Masterchef the professionals I found myself wanting to try to create something that is as visually exciting as it is scrumptious to eat as usually my meals are of a more, lets say 'rustic' appearance...the 'ol noggin started ticking away and I settled on a (posh sounding) starter that is quick and easy to make but would impress any partner/friend/date/parent/housemate ( you get the picture-it will impress ANYONE!!) whom you may be entertaining, I have given this scallop dish of dreams the official title of the following:
Seared Scallops with crispy Parma Ham on a bed of Pea and Mint puree....(sounds good hey?!)
The ingredients I used were as follows (based on cooking for 4 people, 3 of which were very hungry, rather large men):

* 12 Scallops ('without Roe' apparantly...not quite sure what 'Roe' is but they didn't have any on!)
*4 slices of Parma Ham
*A mug full of frozen peas (mine was a regular starbucks one)
*A heaped teaspoon of fresh garden mint (out of a jar...colemans i think)
*A dash of Anchovy sauce (sounds putrid but trust me, you can't taste it and it does add a certain 'depth'...without sounding too wanky about it)
*small amount of extra virgin olive oil
*salt and pepper
*dash of lemon juice

Firstly, Cook the peas (in a pan, boiling water to cover... and wait until the peas start swirling around like they're having a party..should be about 4mins), Whilst the peas are cooking brush the oil onto a griddle pan and put over the heat, when the griddle is super hot place the strips of Parma Ham on and watch them bubble up and start turning golden brown, Turn a couple of times to make sure the ham is getting nice and crispy both sides then put on a plate to one side (your peas will probably be done by now so drain and mash together with the mint and anchovy sauce) , Using the same pan throw in (or place gently if you so wish) all of the scallops and don't touch them for 2 minutes.... After 2 minutes turn them over and cook on the other side for a further minute and a half, Whilst the scallops are cooking if you want your pea and mint concoction to be properly pureed then either blitz in a food processor or squish through a sieve, After the scallops have cooked for a total of 3 1/2 minutes turn off the heat and squeeze the lemon juice over,
  ET VOILA!...All cooking done and now all you have to do is place nicely together on a plate, season with the salt and pepper and serve to your guest(s), I chose to do two 'posh smears' of the pea and mint puree with a little Parma Ham placed on each smear then the Scallops piled up in the middle on each plate, Then finished off with abit of watercress I had hanging around. It went down a treat!!!!!

Per plate this cost me just under £5, I hope you enjoy!!!

Px

the perfect gift for any party girl....

At first glance at this (i can only describe it as) bottle of joy, One would quite easily mistake it for a perfume bottle...WRONG! the contents are somewhat more exciting...500ml of blood orange flavoured vodka with 22ct edible gold flakes...WOWZUZ! In my opinion the perfect present for any girly girl, party girl or pretty bottle fiend you may know, As much as the bottle itself is a talking point  I think the gold flakes make this a real treat for magpies like myself! I have yet to sample the contents...however, i'm thinking an orange and cinnamon infused vodka cocktail for a perfect addition to a christmassy drinks party...i will let you know how i get on...hic!

If you like the look of this, get yourself logged onto www.firebox.com and take advantage of their free delivery!
A 500ml bottle costs £39.99
Px

possibly the cutest pie dish in the land....

So, Anyone who knows me will say i have a thing for pies....making them especially, There is something so comforting creating a hearty meal (that i usually go to town decorating with pastry hearts and stars and such like) with minimal effort or cost, for example...a humongous pie big enough to feed 5 hungry tummies rarely costs me upwards of a tenner (yes...10 English pounds!!) and the added bonus of taking no longer than 30minutes to make....i think thats pretty darn good, I will show you my two, all time favourite pie recipes soon but before i do i HAD to share this find with you, imagine my delight when i saw this...pie dish-check! large enough to feed a family (or a handful of hungry rugby players...which incidently i also find myself doing on occasions)-check! cute as a button print-check check check! I most definately will be adding this to my ever extending wish list!!!!

You can purchase this beauty at www.brixtonpottery.com for a very reasonable £19.99 for the medium or £24.99 for the larger one.

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And so on the bandwagon I jump...

After months of saying i'm going to do it, and witnessing my already fairly green eyes get greener with envy seeing everyone else doing it.....I've done it. Welcome to my blog! I plan to share my attempts of trying to be a domestic goddess (or at least as goddess-ish a girl from 'up north' can be!) whether it be recipes i love, cushions or cute bits i make, cupcakes and other naughty but nicies i simply cannot NOT bring into this world, re-vamping tired furniture or lovely, gorgeous 'house stuff' that i accidently on purpose stumble across (and buy)....I hope you enjoy! Px