. hAppy fridAy .

. 1 . wishing Beatrix Potter a hAppy birthdAy . with a new display at the V&A .

. 2 . loving these lovely retro jigsaw puzzles . personalise them at TinyMe .

. 3 . aahing over this pretty picture . & . the cutest matching siblings .

. 4 . loving the simplicity of this . & . wishing it came in my size too !

. 5 . getting organised would be something to look forward to with planners as pretty as these .

. 6 . loving the look of the new IKea catalogue for next year . something to look forward to !

. 7 . crushing on this print from Heart Vintage . oh hellO to you too .

. 8 . loving this quote from Tove Jansson . {  creator of the marvelous mOomins } .

. 9 . another wonderful woman . Freya Stark . Explorer . & . Writer . 

. & . finally . blackening bananas in the fruit bowl = a weekend of baking banana bread .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. cElebrate { All } the little things .

jUly has been a blur . a fun filled blur of baking . cocktails . & . dancing . but a blur non the less . but the blurry month is nearly over . & . thinking ahead to aUgust which brings with it celebrations;  of birthday's . of summer . of holiday's . of { hopefully } sunshine & sunny days . 

at the moment i am down in lOndon most weeks & walk past Liberty on my way to the office . a beautiful building on which i seem to notice something different each time i pass by . last week i spotted . for the first time . the quote under the clock at the Kingly Street entrance . which reads ' no minute gone comes back again . take heed and see ye nothing do in vain ' . words that have stuck by me . & . words i remembered when choosing this months quote . so in the same spirit . this month . lets celebrate all the little things . the happy moments . the sunny days . the simple pleasures .

. celebrate the little things .

. august 2016 . 

. august 2016 .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. sydnEy squAres . smAll cake No.28 .

when Bumpkin Betty announced that this month's baking theme was to be Family Favourites i had a feeling that it was going to be an interesting bake . i asked my family { mum . dad . & . little sister } what they thought our family favourite had been and everyone had a different answer which made me realise that a) as a family we are fairly fickle . b) our memories of our childhood years are all very different from each others .  & . c) it would appear that baked goods in general were our favourite . which answers the question of where i get my sweet tooth from .

i reached the conclusion that our true family favourite . the one that has remained a constant through the years was actually my mUm's Christmas Pudding . but . it's jUly . as much as i love christmas . & . as much as i love christmas pudding . i couldn't quite bring myself to start baking that just yet . 

i had a look through my mUm's lovely recipe books . the ones she collated & wrote in & stuck clippings in out of magazines . the ones that brought back such lovely memories of learning how to bake . the familiar sponge cakes . the lemon drizzle cake . caramel squares { two recipes for that ! } . my favourite cheesecake made with Philadelphia cheese that was topped with tinned apricot halves that we only ever seemed to have when people came to tea .

then i remembered the recipe box . Margueritte Patten's box of recipes . { published by Paul Hamlyn way back in 1967 } . my sister & i would spend hours flicking through this box . especially the Small Cakes & Biscuits Cards . & . one recipe in particular jumped out as one that we've talked about quite often .

Sydney Squares . my sister & i have long reminisced about this recipe . one that we remember firstly my mum, then as we learnt to bake, we would bake them too . but each time we go back to this recipe we aren't quite sure why we liked them so much . a slightly strange combination of a sweet pastry base . with a sultana filled sponge filling . topped with grated chocolate . i was convinced that we had been lulled into viewing this cake through those rose tinted glasses that you often remember your childhood through . however . it did seem that this might be The recipe for this months baking club . was this going to be as good as we remember . or . was it something that we'd finally put to bed as something best left in the 70's ?

i resisted changing too much from the original recipe . but . hadn't any sultana's { not my favourite } . & . decided to soak the raisins i replaced them with in a brew of chocolate & vanilla rooibos { not something i think you'd have found in my mum's pantry but there you go . . . } . but apart from that i made it as the original recipe .

so what did we think ?

i was so expecting to taste these & go . it's ok . but . i'm not sure why we liked them quite so much .

but .

they are so very oddly lovely . & . tasty . & . moreish . & . well . i ate two . &  then very quickly drove them over to my sister before i scoffed the lOt !

and her verdict ?

the same .

p.s. i'm still a little bewildered how a seemingly strangish combination of things should be as good as they were . but . they were !

it's been so lovely reading about everyone else's family favourites . & . the stories behind them . & . how many of us have such fond memories of baking with our mums .

. Jaclyn { aka . Bumpkin Betty } made a classic Chocolate Tiffin .

. Angela from Only Crumbs Remain baked a delicious looking Date Slice .

. Jennie of Scarlet Scorch Droppers made Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Cake baked in her mUm's kitchen for added nostalgia .

. the NineGrandStudent baked a beautiful Peanut Butter & Jam Bakewell Tart . 

&

. if you pOp over to the Baking Club's facebook page you can also drool over Catherine's Millionaire Shortbread . Nadine's Chocolate Hob Nobs . Linda's Battenburg . Caitlin's Peanut Butter & Honey Cake . Helen's classic Scones { with lots of lovely cream & jam } . Virginia's Blondies . & . Chloe's comforting Rice Pudding .

if you love baking & would like to bake along in aUgust then you can join the club here . & . you can read Jaclyn's lovely write up of last months " Free From " theme over on her blog .

. have a sweet and hAppy dAy .

. hAppy weekEnd .

. 1 . still wondering about watermelOns . with this wonderful wallpaper by JimmyCricket .

. 2 . under vAnilla skies . sparkly . whimsical . shoot for Poster Child Magazine . 

. 3 . beautiful details make beautiful clothes . beautiful collar by Son De Flor .

. 4 . beautiful bows . & . beautiful bag . shared on the beautiful blog Atlantic Pacific .

. 5 . lOve this rOcky rOse mural . perfect combination of industrial beauty . by MrPerswall .

. 6 . lOve this tiny whisk necklace . perfect for those of us who like to cook . by Food52 .

. 7 . Alright Bab ? I am ta Seven9Signs .

. 8 . on a sunny day like today this quote is particularly apt .

. 9 . how incredibly beautiful are these nature inspired tattoo's by Pis Saro ? very !

. & . finally . feel inspired to return to my childhood for a bit of retro baking this weekend .

with . hOmemade wagOn wheels . retro recipe by Milk and hOney .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. yOu're One in a melOn . { twelve ways to make . eat . & . party . with a watermelOn } .

last friday i took a short vacation to Kellerman's . courtesy of the Secret Cinema . there were a lOt of watermelOn's in the shape of beachballs . dresses . hats . bags . & . a few real life watermelons . given that the watermelon has only one small reference in the film { the film being Dirty Dancing if you hadn't already realised } namely the line spoken by Baby { I carried a watermelon } . just shows what an iconic line that has turned into .  & . it's also the line that i haven't been able to get out of my head since . it was an incredible night, one i'm hoping to be able to share a little more of in the coming weeks, but for now i'm sharing a few ideas to make . eat . & . party . all inspired by those infamous watermelOns . 

. 1 . 2 . 3 .

{ isn't that umbrella just the sweetest thing ? }

. 4 . 5 . 6 .

{ lovely limeade . chocolate bark . cutest cookies }

. 7 . 8 . 9 .

{ party . party . party }

. 10 . 11 . 12 .

{ pretty plates . party props . pinatas } 

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy weekEnd .

this week . it's all about . dirty dancing .

. 1 . this tee .

. 2 . this onesie .

. 3 . these pencils .

. 4 . the poster .

. 5 . the cinema . 

. 6 . lOts of dancing . 

. 7 . Oh baby !

. 8 . this quote .

. 9 . this cocktail .

. & . finally . enjOy the sUmmer sUn with this wAtermelOn icecream .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. cAfe lOndon . { brunch . lunch . coffee . & . cake } .

a few weeks ago i was asked by Lynn of the Clandestine Cake Club to review a book that was shortly to be published . Cafe London { brunch . lunch . coffee and afternoon tea } . highlights the best places to go & eat & i'm not sure Lynn would have realised how perfect a choice of book this was for me . one of the things i love when visiting a new place is to search out all the newest coffee shops . & . lovely independent cafes . usually ending up with a list far longer than i need for the meals & coffee stops i'll need . which is indicative of how many new & independent places have sprung up over the past few years .

beautifully broken down into chapters for different eating;  brunch, lunch, coffee, cakes & bakes, afternoon tea, culture & shopping, & the unusual and alfresco .  although i don't live in lOndon it is somewhere i visit quite regularly & thought i was familiar with most of the best coffee shops & cafes around . how wrong i was ! there were places that i knew and whose names were familiar; The Ritz for afternoon tea, The Hummingbird & Primrose Bakeries, and some that i'd been to; Sketch for brunch, The Breakfast Club for lunch, and Bea's of Bloomsbury for afternoon tea, but so so many that i didn't know . 

each review is accompanied by beautiful photography . showing each place & their food off to their best . the reviews are short & sweet but give a lovely snapshot of the feel & the vibe of each eatery . there's also an enticing list of Other Places to Try at the end of each chapter { as if the ones already listed weren't tempting enough ! } .

i love the fact that they cover so many different areas of lOndon . & . there's a handy map at the back of the book so wherever you are exploring in the city you can look up & read up on the best places to eat . one little tip from me;  read this book with a cup of tea . or coffee . & . a little snack . & . a pile of post-it notes to hand . it's impossible to read this book without feeling hungry . & . without thinking * i must try there * .

{ gooseberry oat crumble bars . clare ptack for the guardian }

one lovely place that's listed that was already on my * to visit * list was Violet Cakes in Hackney, owned by Clare Ptack, who also has a column in the Guardian . & . as luck would have it on the weekend i was reviewing this book she had a lovely recipe for gooseberry oat crumble bars . which just sounded the perfect sweet treat to accompany the reading of the cakes & bakes chapter . they were . just yUm .

since i've had the book i've had chance to try a few new places . one that caught my eye was Foxcroft & Ginger on Berwick Street . by chance . just around the corner from the office i work in when down in lOndon . the pictures & the review in the book are spot on . you are welcomed by the most tempting array of baked goods as you enter & the brunch & lunch menu's are equally as tempting . unfortunately the service . on the day i visited . didn't live up to the expectation of the food . & . a mix up with my order meant that my lunch was just a pot of tea . such a shame . but i'm planning to pop back there as the cakes looked too good not to give it a second go .

i had a little more luck with the second bakery on the list . the Nordic Bakery on New Cavendish Street is a lovely scandinavian bakery who are known for their cinnamon buns . again, the book delivered on it's review, though happily it did have one thing wrong;  their predictions of those cinnamon buns selling out by 11.30am proved unfounded & i happily bought one to take away & enjoy at home . { & . yes . they are deserved of their reputation } . 

cAfe lOndon is a real gem of a book for those who live in the city or go there often & like to find out the places that are a little bit different as well as those places whose reputation is a little more longstanding . i'm looking forward to working my way down my { very } long list of places to try .

a very big thankyou to both Lynn at The Clandestine Cake Club . & . also to Quarto Publishing for being kind enough to send me the book to review . if you fancy a gander at the book you can find more details here & here .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. the fAshionable Beatrix Potter .

{ image from the Stylist }

i love it when two of my favourite things combine . & . in this instance it's books & fashion . this year is the 150th birthday of Beatrix Potter . & . as part of the birthday celebrations five of her best loved tales are being released with covers designed by five iconic fashion designers;  The Tales of Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten, Jemima Puddle-duck, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, and Squirrel Nutkin are re-imagined & given a makeover by Cats Brothers, The Rodnik Band, Henry Holland, Orla Kiely & Preen . 

{ The Tale of Peter Rabbit . by . Cats Brothers }

{ The Tale of Tom Kitten . by . The Rodnik Band }

{ The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck . by . Henry Holland }

{ The Tale of Miss Tiggy-Winkle . by . Orla Kiely }

{ The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin . by . Preen }

beautifully done & another lovely way to celebrate #Beatrix150 . in addition to the release of a series of 50p's by the Royal Mint, and a collection of stamps from the Royal Mail . as well as many events happening around & about Hill Top including " story telling saturdays " . talks & exhibitions . & . on the 28th July Birthday Picnics for Beatrix will take place all across the Lake District .

{ The Tale of Peter Rabbit Denim Jacket . Cats Brothers }

and if you want to look sUper stylish & very much the part at one of those picnics . then . head over to the Stylist & enter their competition to win this customised denim jacket . designed by Cats Brothers .

. have a hAppy dAy .

. hAppy weekEnd .

. 1 . hues of indigo at MaboKids . spotted at BabyccinoKids .

. 2 . white with pops of daisies at MilkMagazine . photographed by AnnaMalmberg .

. 3 . red . white . & . blue . to celebrate the 4thJuly . spotted at HooligansMagazine .

. 4 . what the best dressed walls are wearing . quirky makeovers by AlijoeDesigns .

. 5 . what the best dressed girls are wearing . beautifully illustrated by EmmaBlock .

. 6 . lOving the new strawberry print from Thornback&Peel .

. 7 . lOving the cute comfort box from KimsLittleMonsters .

. 8 . don't you just lOve the word bOmbdiggity !

. 9 . cUte stripe shOrts . just because .

. & . finally . would lOve to be celebrating a win for AndyMurray at the WimbledonFinal . 

. & . these would be the perfect drink to do that with . StrawberryChamomilePaloma . chEers .

. have a wOnderful weekEnd .

. fAbulous fUn . at a . fAbulous sUmmer mArket .

way back . when the year was turning from winter into spring . some lovely friends & i headed off to the Spring Market at the Roundhouse in Derby . i was too busy having fun learning the art of faux calligraphy with Polly&Me . & . taking in all the fAbulous stalls there to take any pics . hence . no blOg post . but i couldn't let a visit to the sUmmer market go unrecorded .

organised by the { very fAbulous } Deb of Fabulous Places . the market is now in it's sixth year & a Christmas Market makes up the trio of events alongside the Spring & Summer . with over a hundred stalls selling everything from art & accessories . to . coffee & cake . food & flowers . handmade & handselected for the market . with a lovely little tea room & a great choice of food stalls to satisfy the appetite you'll build up with all that shopping !

arriving at the market on the Saturday, not long after it opened, i paid my £2 entry & made my way inside . i couldn't resist having a very quick look around first . but . then the tearoom started calling to me . & . it was time for coffee & { coffee } cake . after savouring every single mouthful it was time for a better look around . & . time to spend a little money .

. The Original HandMade Fudge Co .

{ lots . & . lots . of fabulous fudge }

i managed to { just about } resist temptation at the fudge stall . possibly because i was overwhelmed with the choice of flavours on offer . & . just wanted to try everything !

. Oh Daisy .

{ artwork . cards . jewellery . & . just very lovely things }

Oh Daisy . indeed . oh . such lovely things . again a case of being very spoilt for choice . i really wanted to take the fabulous flamingo home with me . but in the end made do with some smaller { but equally cute } purchases that will make the perfect present for someone soon .

. The Greenery .

{ fabulous fresh flowers }

from the Greenery Florist . i couldn't resist a little present to myself of a bouquet of blooms . although there was a little . { ok . a lOt } . of dithering over choice of bouquet . wonderfully white with a pop of greenery . or . bright pops of pinks . or . lovely hues of lilac ?  in the end the bright pops of pink won out to brighten up the less than bright day .

. Yummy Little Cakes .

{ beautiful brownies . cookies . & . such lovely layer cakes }

then onto the sweet treats . and . Yummy Little Cakes couldn't be more aptly named . yummy indeed . the layer cakes were so tempting with flavours of summer . peach + prosecco . strawberry shortcake . rose + raspberry . but in the end it was a box of brownies that accompanied me home to enjoy later that weekend . 

. Corin Beth Designs .

{ gorgeous hand drawn illustrations . on cards . & . homewares }

absolutely loved the illustrations of Corin's . such pretty lines . & . such pretty colours . & . i'm hoping they'll be at the Christmas market as they would make perfect Xmas gifts for people i know .

. Harry & Frank .

{ covetable vintage loveliness }

and then { almost } last . Harry & Frank . wonderful vintage ephemera . wonderfully set out to catch your eye . & . tug at your heart strings . as you know next time you see them at one of the many markets they do . that beautiful plate will no longer be there . so you just Have to buy it . so yes . one more lovely china cup & saucer to add to my collection .

. Sunshine Coffee & Bakes .

{ cups of sunshine . aka coffee . served from the sunshine van }

and then . one last cup of coffee before heading home . from the Sunshine Van . with the sunniest natured barista . who would brighten up even the dullest of days ! but then i think serving coffee & cakes out of a cute yellow van would bring a smile to most peoples faces . don't you ?

. #derbysummermarket .

and so that was my fabulous day at the fabulous summer market . just a few months now to work off all those cake calories & earn a few more pennies ready to spend at the Christmas Market . so pop the dates in your diary { 12th & 13th November } & pop along .

. have a fabulous day .