Review: Annie-Maes Mac and Cheese

London street food is killing it at the minute. Gone are the days of a greasy cardboard tasty burger in a stale bun. Now there's not a cuisine that isn't on offer for Londoners.

Mac and Cheese is something that I've grown to adore. Despite being a lover of cheese there was something about it I didn't like until this past year. Now I love to shove it in my face at an alarming rate. I'd heard lots of good things about Annie Maes on the blogger/Twitter grapevine so when I saw them at the Classic Car Boot (more on that soon) I made a beeline and marched straight over.

I opted for the delicious sounding Don Macaroni. Topped with tasty pesto, fresh basil and crispy bacon, it looked like heaven in a paper cup. I took my first fork full and I was hooked. It was unbelievably cheesy, if a little sticky, and got creamier the further you dug in. The pesto was the perfect partner to the cheese and the salty bacon gave it a lovely crunch. The macaroni melted in your mouth and it was free from any dreaded hard pasta. I didn't want the bowl to end and I could easily have put another cup full in my belly.

You'll find Annie Maes at street food extraganza Kerb and various other places around London Town. Just check their website!

Read more

Feburary Empties

Running a little behind schedule with the empties this month!

001. Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic c/o
In fact I've already brought myself another bottle so that tells you how much I love it. A little goes a long way and it gently gets rid in one swoop of any make up you've left behind. It feels soft on my contact wearing eyes - some toners can make my eyes feel sore. It's prefect to use in the morning to wake you up as it feels lovely and refreshing first thing.

002. Bioderma
Review here

003. Batiste Dry Shampoo Medium and Brunette
This is my favourite edition!
Review here

004. Dove Deeply Nourishing Moisturising Body Wash
I think Dove is fantastic. It brilliant value for money and always does a good job. This body wash wasn't any different. Did exactly what it said on the tin. If I didn't have the whole of Boots in my bedroom, I'd rush out and replace it. It's a great unisex wash too.

005. Marc Jacobs Dot Shower Cream
The smell wasn't too overpowering and tied in nicely when worn with the perfume. It has a gorgeous sweet smell. It lather very nicely indeed but you did have to put a generous amount on the sponge to make it last.

006. Seventeen Back Lash c/o
Seventeen reminds me of my wasted youth when I'd spend my £20 a  week wages from Next on the latest polishes and eyeshadows. I always think the brand is great value for money and have never tried a dud product. Along with eyelash curler this created a lovely long lash despite it being slightly wet on application. I'm finding this a lot with mascaras recently. Only me?

Have you tried any of these products?

Read more

I can tell you there's no place we couldn't go

Outfit:
Black cotton midi dress: Asos (similar)
Quilted faux leather biker jacket: Zara (similar)
Black ankle leather boots: Topshop (similar)
Leopard print crossover bag: Primark (similar)

Sometimes you just crave an all black outfit to make it feel like you've made an effort. Unless of course you wear an all black outfit on one of the hottest days this year. Then you don't feel chic, you feel hot and sweaty instead. Attractive! Live and learn people, live and learn.

Photos taken by the wonderful Elodie

Read more

Girls singing on the bus, fellas kicking up a fuss

Outfit:
Quilted faux leather biker jacket: Zara (similar)
Black and white checked collared blouse: c/o Shelikes
Pink scuba midi skirt: Primark (similar)
Black pointed courts: Dorothy Perkins (similar)

As soon as I spotted this lovely blouse on the Shelikes website I knew I had to have it and immediately imagined wearing it with this pink skirt. It made a pretty good partnership dontcha think?! Spring may be trying to appear but i'm not brave enough to be letting go of the black tights just yet! They'll be my comfort blanket for a little while yet.

This weekend has been jam-packed. I went to London on Friday night for the lovely Michelle's birthday dinner. Finally got to sample the delights of Breddos Tacos and they went down a treat. So much so I became an hoover and ended up eating everyone's leftovers. There was no way I could let those cheesy chips end up in the bin! Tonight i'm having a cosy night in with a Chinese for my mums best friends birthday. Then tomorrow i'm back in the Big Smoke for an indoor picnic at Lily's house. I've been ordered by Sarah to bring a carrot cake so that's what i'm baking today!

What are you getting up to over the weekend?

Read more

I'm gonna pick up the pieces and build a lego house

Outfit:
Red belted full coat: Florence and Fred (similar)
Floral sheer shirt:Primark (similar)
Black skinny jeans: Primark (similar)
Black leather penny loafers: Office (similar)
Neon Orange nail polish: Colour Club
Black Bayswater: Mulberry

After 6 months cold turkey I feel off the wagon spectacularly and stumbled into Primark and somehow came out with a massive bag. I have no idea how it happened and I managed to spend a small fortune but boy did I come out with some gems. I was hunting for the infamous gingham skirt - which I found hurrah! - and obviously had to have a mooch. This pretty shirt was in the bag of swag. I thought it'd be perfect for my upcoming trip to NYC and picked it up in cream too. They were £12 each so it would have been criminal if I didn't pick them up. It's really simple and goes perfect with a pair of skinnies for a casual weekend. My mum very kindly treated me to this gorgeous coat last month. It was reduced to £25 in the sale - say what? Bargain!

The weekend was pretty chilled considering it was payday. I spent it watching the Book Thief crying - so sad - and eating lots of food and drinking lots of wine at a girly night in on Saturday. It was very much needed although my waistline is currently groaning. I had a delicious Sunday lunch yesterday locally as we took my boyfriend's nan out for a belated birthday present. Lots of eating always makes a fun weekend!

Do you all have a nice weekend?

Read more

Mayfield Bakery

It's always a winner when you find a gem so close to your home. Mayfield Bakery is luckily located about 15 minutes from my house in Essex. I can't rave enough about the cheese and onion bread. It's like pieces of heaven - delicious with a thick slab of salted butter.

Based in a rural setting, the bakery sells a whole host of different products. From handmade loafs of bread to pastries to cheese and cakes. You can buy local products and even have a lesson in baking bread. Something I'd like to try out! It's open daily and is always busy so make sure you get there early to get the pick of the bread.

It has a little café attached that does the best breakfasts. It's not the cheapest but it's well worth the money. This time I opted for scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and some seeded brown toast. The eggs were beautifully creamy and made the perfect partner to the salmon. I didn't want it to end! I had to take one of those gingerbread men home!

Read more

Liz Earle Bath and Body Collection

Liz Earle Bergamot & Ginger Creamy Shower Nectar and Liz Earle Tiare & Jasmine Silky Body Lotion c/o Liz Earle

 

Liz Earle can't seem to do any wrong at the moment. They keep bringing out gem after gem. These latest offerings are being launched next month so keep your eye out for them. The shower nectar is priced at £12.50 for 250 ml and the body lotion is priced at £14.50 for 250ml.

 

The zesty, citrus shower gel is the perfect remedy to wake you up in the morning ready for that long day at work. It lathers brilliantly and a little goes a long way so you won't run out in a hurry. I adore the flashes of ginger that seep through as you shower - definitely one of my favourite smells. The body lotion feels thick and luxurious.  I think jasmine leaves a gorgeous scent on your skin. With avocado and shea butter including in the ingredients, your skin is left feeling supple and soft - a winning combination!

 

Will you be splashing out on them when they hit the shops? 



Read more

Why won't you come over here? We've got a city to love

 

Outfit:
Black off the shoulder jersey top - Asos
White full diamond jacquard midi skirt - Topshop
White and black patterned heeled sandals - Primark (similar)
Red studded lips clutch - Lulu Guinness

Completely impractical but a completely necessary purchase. This white skirt stood out to me as I pursued my lunchtime browse on the New In section on the Topshop website. Lethal I tell you, lethal! Topshop seem to be on fire with their midi skirt selection at the moment. I find the rest of the shop a bit hit and miss most of the time. I feel like my style has grown up a lot more and I don't really fancy wearing skirts that barely cover my bottom or tops with wacky logos on. These shoes were yet another thing I found hidden away in my wardrobe for around a year with the tags still on. I'm working on my spending habits...

Hello Lulu Guinness! My fab blogger friends clubbed together to treat me to this clutch for my birthday. Aren't they just the best? I've lusted over a lips clutch for such a long time and am so please to finally have one to call my own. It's such a beauty! I'm feeling like a very lucky girl to have such thoughtful friends.

Read more

Brick Lane

Brick Lane has a very special place in my heart. It was one of the first places in London I properly explored as a teenager when I used to spends hours rifling through the numerous vintage shops dotted around. I adore the rough and ready vibe of East London and feel much more at home here than other parts in the city.

I always jump off at Liverpool Street and walk down to Spitalfields to cut down past the white church into Brick Lane. With so much eye-catching street art and the amazing smell of the curry houses, it's the perfect place for an afternoon wander. One tip is to not go in the first curry house you see as they all stand outside in the evening shouting numerous deals. Free drinks, poppadoms and starters can all be negotiated. Remember to stand your ground! Alternatively do plenty of research online and pick one with great reviews. I've heard amazing things about Aladin.

Once you get to the end of the road make sure you stop off for a salt beef Beigal. Oh lord they are one of the most amazing things I have ever eaten. At £3.40 they're such a bargain! There are two practically next door to each other but i'd recommend the first one. As they're open 24 hours they're a much better choice than a greasy kebab! I love the way the beef is slightly shredded rather than one big chunk. Be prepared to queue but it's well worth it!

The Old Truman Brewery has some fantastic markets on a Sundays showcasing quirky independant designers. You can pick up some great unusual things! You'll be spoilt for choice in the food markets inside. With cuisines to try from all over the world, it's best to go on an empty stomach so you can sample them all.

If vintage is your thing make a beeline for Beyond Retro in Cheshire Street. It's just off Brick Lane so keep an eye out for the street on your right hand side. It's a massive warehouse style building filling with treasures from top to bottom. It's one of the more reasonably priced vintage shops in the area so you can come away with a bargain.

Read more

On Wednesdays we wear pink

Outfit:
Black grey polo neck jumper - Primark (similar)
Pink scuba midi skirt - Primark (similar)
Leather ankle black heeled boots - Topshop (similar)
Leopard print collar coat - Topshop (similar)
Glass gold statement necklace - Primark (similar)
Bayswater bag - Mulberry

I'm sure you're all groaning at the sight of yet another polo neck jumper. It really does seem to be all that i'm wearing at the moment. This horrible weather has put me in an unwelcomed style rut of a skirt and polo neck jumper. Luckily this pretty skirt softens the blow. After seeing Amy tweet a picture of it and remembering I was kindly given a voucher by my boyfriend's nan for my birthday, I made it my mission to snap it up. It was a complete bargain at only £12 and made a welcome addition to my sea of never-ending skirts. My name is Sophie and I can't stop buying midi skirts.

I wore this for a day up London to see The Bodyguard at the West End with my mum and nan. I gatecrashed the old peoples coach and took the day off work. We had amazing seats and I'd really recommend you try to catch it if you can. I feel like I need a bit of Whitney in my life at the weekend and need to watch the film.

Read more

We'll fly away

Way back in last January one of my new years resolutions was to travel more. I'd always had such grand plans to see the world but I'd never really had the chance - or the money - to put it into practise. Boy did I make the most of my annual leave at work in 2013! I took mini breaks to Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, Bristol, Derry and Cardiff with a week long trip to Bodrum, Turkey.

Now that I'm in my second year of having a proper job - not being an intern is still a novelty! - I'm looking to broaden my horizons and splash the cash. I'm keen to take a lot more luxury holidays next year to see much more of the world and Emirates Holidays offers such an amazing range of holidays if you're looking to go further afield! After all, I work hard for my money so why shouldn't I be globe-trotting in style?! There's no point heading off to exotic places like Mauritius or Dubai if you're going to scrimp getting there. I'm always on the look out for places that have a lot of history - geek alert - and something out of the ordinary. A bit of a culture shock can be a good thing at times. This is why city breaks appeal so much to me at the minute. A beach isn't always a necessity for me personally - although it's nice to have a cheeky week away in the sunshine! Barcelona can kill two birds with one stone as you'll be able to see the city sights and soak up the rays on the beach. One beach i'd love to visit would have to be based in the Caribbean. I'm not that fussed as those pure white sandy beaches and crytsal blue seas are what dreams are made of.

My bucket list seems to get longer by the minute. At the moment finally heading to of Europe is priority. Luckily i'm doing that with this years trip to the Big Apple. I have such a huge fascination with the US. It's just feels so loud, massive and brash - no two places in the country seem the same. High on the top of my list of places to visit include San Francisco, Miami and Chicago. Other than America i'd love to explore Japan, Hong Kong and the Caribbean. Two weeks in Cuba sounds like my type of heaven - not least because of the rum!

This new years resolution looks set to be the same. This year I'm off to New York, Glastonbury festival and hopefully will have the Christmas markets in Bruges and a mini UK break for my boyfriends birthday. Looks like I better start saving my pennies pronto! It's my first time flying outside of Europe so to say i'm excited is an understatement.

Have you got any snazzy holidays planned for this year?

This post was written in collaboration.

Read more