Crazy Faze

Get your passport, and your bikini... IBIZA

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Hello all,

It has been an absolute age since I have blogged and I cannot apologise enough. The summer has absolutely ran away with me and I now find myself in September. Both Alex and I have returned to uni for our final year and we have a lot ahead of us!!

Thanks to Alex for keeping the blog alive during the summer. I have been crazy busy working but in between I have had some time for a little fun in the sun with my favourite people.

Back in August, I travelled to the infamous party island of Ibiza for a few days. It was my first time to the island and after having heard big things, I was excited to see if it lived up to its expectations! My friend Sophie and I flew out together and met up with the rest of our friends who were already out there. The first night was really civilised with a lovely dinner by the harbour and drinks back at the villa.

Our second night was one that I was most looking forward to- Zoo Project! For those of you that don't know this night is held in an abandoned zoo just outside of San Antonio and people get their faces/arms painted to go along with the theme. Here's a photo of us in our paint

All painted up for Zoo project!

After that crazy night we decided that we would spend the next evening ticking something off all of our Ibiza bucket lists... to watch the sunset at Café Mambo. I must say, it was breath taking, I got extremely emotional and so many people were sat on the beach watching the beautiful view. Also Café Mambo has some great DJ's playing whilst your enjoying your dinner. The night we were there Solomun was playing and the music was sooo good!

Another thing that we ticked off our Ibiza bucket list was a boat party, we went on one of the Pukka Up boat parties with the after party at Amnesia. Everyone was on great form on the boat and again it was amazing to watch the sunset on the boat. Here is a photo of the four of us on the front of the boat...

Ibiza is one of those places that you HAVE to visit at least once in a lifetime. I can certainly say I would hesitate going back again as there is so much to do, just make sure you SAVE SAVE SAVE before you go as it isn't the cheapest place to go.

Enjoy xo

Joy The Baker's Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 22:21:00 +0000

Paris: Part Two never happened. No excuses, No excuses! However, I figured I'd probs left it too long to do that and figure I would do a little post on today's activities instead!

I have seen this bread on Pinterest so many times and I love Joy The Baker's food blog. So a day in blobbing with the boyf definitely provided the perfect opportunity to give it a go. It was pretty delish but I would recommend not to put the sugar that falls off over the top. The inside was doughy, sweet, and mouth-watering but the crust was way way to sugary!

Give it a go and find the recipe HERE

Enjoy!
xx

Paris: Part One

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:21:00 +0000

Last weekend Flo and I sped off on the Eurostar to Paris! I had only ever driven through before and so I was excited to finally see the famous city. We stayed with my friend from Germany, Svenja, and her best friend, Alex. Flo and I arrived on the Friday afternoon and as Alex was at work we met Svenja and went for a wander down the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe. You'll have to excuse my lack of Paris knowledge. Flo and Alex arranged most of what we did and I just followed along with not much clue on where we were going!

After a nice stroll we headed up the Arc De Triomphe for a fantastic view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower.

On our way home we walked across the Lover's Bridge, full of personalised padlocks as declarations of loves.

We finished the first day with a glass of wine watching the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower.

Day two began with a look around Notre Dame which had some awesome architecture. We followed this with a walk around the Musée d'Art Moderne.

A strange piece from the Musée d'Art Moderne

We went for a quick bite to eat and had an ice cream from Amorino. My fave flavour was speculoos - a cinnamon biscuit flavour! Dee-LISH.

We still had a lot more to fit in after lunch and went to La Defense and a lovely garden next to the Louvre.

The evening was probably my favourite part of the day. Flo and I had a crepe (mine with Nutella) and then sat with a nice bottle of wine by the Seine - at which point, I dropped my lens cap in the river! :(
Although, street drinking in France is a lot more tricky because you need to remember a cork screw!!

Part Two to follow soon!

Alex xxxx

London - Eating, Drinking, the good and the bad

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 22:00:00 +0000

So, since I have spent the last month in London I thought it would be ideal for me to do some mini reviews of all the places I went to eat and drink. There has been lots of both, especially since I have been working in Soho which is full of SO many restaurants. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so I was unable to take any photos.

DINNER AND DESSERTS

Pho - Wardour Street, Soho
We went to Pho after a failed attempt at getting to Shoryu Ramen (See later). It is a Vietnamese Noodle restaurant and has 7 branches in London. I shared the pork fried spring rolls to start and they were delicious. I had one of the classic Pho noodle soups for my main and was slightly dissapointed. It really lacked in flavour and hardly rivalled Itame, my favourite noodle soup from Wagamamas. However, the atmosphere inside was nice and in the hot summer weather a seat next to the open windows was very welcome!

Joe's Southern Kitchen - Kings Street, Covent Garden
This restaurant re-opened during my time in London and was formerly known as Navajo Joe's. I actually ate here twice as I enjoyed it so much the first time. On my first visit I had the chilli beef brisket to start and really wished they did it as a main. It was delicious!! Then I had the burger which was also pretty good. They have an extensive cocktail list - a huge tick from me! I had the Clockwork Orange, a delightfully juicy cocktail with Stoli Oranj Vodka. Nom Nom! The second time I ate there I had the chicken wings to start (share them! you get loads!) followed by Joe's Southern Fried Chicken. I was all chickened-out and ended up taking most of my main home with me in a goody bag!

Pierre Victoire - Dean Street, Soho
Pierre Victoire was my favourite dinner during my time in London. It is very unassuming and after walking past it most days I was surprised by the good reviews. It isn't cheap but its good value for money since the quality of what I ate was brilliant. I had mussels to start but they were presented like snails in a small hole-y dish smothered in garlic butter! I then had duck breast for main. I don't usually get duck because I find it quite hit and miss but this was super moist and yummy! You can also go for the set menu with lots of options on it for £12.90 (two courses).

L'Eto Cafe - Wardour Street, Soho
This small cafe is an easy one to spot on Wardour street as the windows are lined with beautiful cakes, muffins, brownies and all sorts of sweet treats. So me and a few friends went here after dinner one day. I had the best chocolate cheesecake I have ever had in my life! At first it looks expensive but is no more than a dessert in a restaurant. They do lots of different food and seems like a great place for brekkie as well.

Shoryu Ramen - Soho
I saw this place online and thought it was the perfect place for my friends and I as they were offering all their main courses at half price! I couldn't quite believe it to be true with most main courses at £4.95! However, we didn't make it in the first time we went as the queue was so long, so I thought this would be a sign of good things to come. However, we couldn't have been more disappointed. The three of us all had soup-based noodles. Mine were overly salty and otherwise tasteless while I don't think my friends enjoyed theirs much either. The restarant was so crammed we were shoved on a table next to 3 other people. I know this happens a lot at these kind of place like Wagamamas. However, this table wasn't long and spacious like the Wagamama ones but cramped and barely fit the three of us on! On one of the hottest days of the year the whole experience was not very pleasurable.

SNOG

This place is pretty well known with branches all round London. I went a few times as I am a sucker for Frozen Yoghurt! Nom! At Snog you can pile your Yoghurt high with fruit, nuts, and other goodies. I don't understand the chocolate toppings as I think they taste weird with yoghurt. I'd go for raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry toppings, plus passion fruit flavoured yoghurt is a must!

BARS

21 The Print Room - Covent Garden
This little bar was so cute and overlooked Covent Garden square area, the perfect spot for watching the performers below. The outside terrace was perfect since the temperatures while I was in London were soaring! I loved the prosecco cocktails and my fave was the Carosello 21 with lemon juice, basil and aperol. There happy hour was also pretty good with certain cocktails at £4.50.

Freud
This place was a find! I had read that Freud did pretty cheap cocktails (by London standards) so we went to check it out. It was down some dingy stairs and then opened up into this hip basement. I felt a little too uncool to be there :S However, the cocktails were delishh! Great for a cool drink with friends.

Be At One - Soho and Covent Garden
This is part of a chain of bars and they have a ridiculously large cocktail menu! It was too tricky each time I went to choose so I pretty much always got the same thing! They do a brilliant happy hour with buy one get one free most nights. However, its gets really busy so if there are more than a couple of you I would book a table!

LUNCH

Wasabi Sushi - Soho
Another chain, Wasabi sell fresh sushi in small, medium, and large boxes. I love places like this for a quick bite and had to try it since it reminded me of mine and Demi's fave place in Newcastle, Nudo. The sushi was pretty good and not overly expensive.

Jumbo Eats - Soho
Jumbo Eats is the place to go when you are hungry! They have about 150 different options of wraps. I had grilled chicken, avocado, halloumi and pesto. Oh my, it was gorge!

Joe's Juice
Having spent the morning reading about juice diets I wanted to try and have a Joe's Juice for lunch. I went with Flo and I ordered one with apple and raspberries in it. It was quite filling but I find fresh juices lack substance and it was a bit too sweet. The juice also had a high price tag at over £4!

Covent Garden Food Market
Flo told me about this great food market in Covent Garden so we went to check it out. I think it runs every Thursday to Saturday. There were so many yummy goodies from pulled pork, to polish kebabs. The first time I went I tried the polish chicken kebab which was filling and tasty and the next time I had a gourmet burger. I think it was actually one of the nicest burgers I have had!

Cheap Sushi Places - Soho and Piccadilly
The first sushi joint, another one I was introduced to by Flo, was down Berwick Street in Soho. The sushi was ridiculously cheap. I'm talking £1.88 for 6 pieces! It definitely wasnt the best sushi I have had but it was still good value for money. The next sushi place was one I had heard the girls in the office chatting about, The Japan Centre. I went on my last day and boy, what an experience! Sushi lined the huge shop walls from sashimi to maki and californian rolls, nomnomnom! I opted for some terayki beef that was so deliciously raw it was almost mooing!

Hummus Bros
Hummus Bros was right near to where I was working and I had read some good reviews online. However, don't underestimate the portion sizes. The first time I visited I opted for a regular humous with two pittas at £4.95. I got through about a third of it before I had to stop. If you are going for a regular lunch just have a small one and buy an extra pitta if you want to be really full! You can choose from toppings like mushrooms, chickpeas, and guacamole.

I hope this little list helps if you are visiting London in the future!

Alex xxx

Mad Hatter Tea Party at The Sanderson

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:30:00 +0000

On Tuesday this week I had a fab day planned! My best bud from school, Flo, invited me out for the day to London. Her friends had bought her afternoon tea for two at the Sanderson for her birthday. I was so excited that she asked me, being the foodie that I am. I had a look at photos online and just couldn't wait! The Alice In Wonderland theme looked amazing!

We thought we would make a day of it and started off at Granger & Co in Notting Hill for some brunch as Flo had read about how good it was on The Londoner. We had a nice little walk to the cafe through Notting Hill and contemplated living here and how wonderful it would be. We also theorised as to whether or not our fave blogger (previously mentioned), The Londoner, lived here on not and how whenever we come to London we always hope to bump into her.

After taking a seat outside at Granger & Co I turned my head to the right, peered inside, and thought my eyes must be mistaking me but Rose, The Londoner, was sitting right there! I almost screamed in shock and delight. Flo and I saw her when she left and said how much we love her blog!

Flo's delish hot chocolate

Any HOW. The Food. We both had ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter and bananas. They were absolutely divine and the flavours complemented each other perfectly. However, Granger & Co is definetly not a cheap eat with our big brekkie coming in at £16 with service.

After brunch we headed down Portobello Road for a look at the markets. There was some lovely jewellery and homeware bits I was lusting over for mine and Demi's house! I kept my money in my pocket though.

On to afternoon tea we went after letting our breakfast go down. The Sanderson is pretty inconspicious from the outside but the reception was pretty jazzy and tea was served on the terrace outside with a beautfiul water feature in the centre. We had to smell little pots of tea leaves to decide which flavour we wanted and opted for Apple Pie flavoured tea which came in a themed pot with a crown on top!

Mint Choc Chip, Apple Pie or Rhubarb & Custard Flavoured Teas

I couldn't believe how much food their was! When I have done afternoon tea before I found myself cutting little bits so me and the person I was with could both try things. However, The Sanderson's tea is divided perfectly for two.

My favourite bits were the smoked ham in tomato bread, the raspberry victoria sponge and the 'drink me' passion fruit potion. It was all delicious but they could have done with more savoury things as the tea was very sweet based. The cheesecake could have been left out as after eating it both Flo and I were so full!

I recommend Mad Hatters tea to anyone who is visiting London. It was a great experience and something a little different.

I will be back soon with some posts on my time in Paris!

Till Then

Alex xxxx

Long Time No Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 15:55:00 +0000

Hello friends,

The last time I posted I outlined how I was going to post atleast once a week. Well, what a fail that has been! Demi and I have both been super busy but I no this is no excuse, we really should be blogging more!!

I have spent the last three weeks in London and have one week left. I've been working for a PR company and it has been really cool working in the big city! I have done a bit of work, ate quite a lot, and drunk copious amounts of cocktails...mmm delish! I have also done a little bit of sightseeing. The boyf came to visit for a weekend and we took a little sunset trip up the London Eye, Awww. We also went to The Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy. The Summer Exhibition showcases lots of hidden talent as anyone can enter work to be put in it. However, my favourite part was a room of tapestries by Grayson Perry, especially the one below.

Grayson Perry Tapestry

Fun in Londres (see background for Big Ben:D)

Anyhow! I only have one week left and then I have lots of things going on in August to blog about such as my upcoming trip to Paris. WOohoo!

Alex xxx

ETSY.COM - Etsy Items of the Week #1

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 19:36:00 +0000

Etsy.com is a site with hundreds of cute handmade and vintage items. I love trawling through the different shops for handmade jewellery, stoneware mugs, tea towels, pillows and all sorts of nic-nacs. As well as selling my own stuff on an Etsy shop, GarnishedVarnish, I thought I'd put my obsession to good use. Each Sunday I am going to post my picks of the week from Etsy which will be great inspiration if you are looking for a gift or even a little treat for yourself. I might also include things of the site Folksy.com which is a kinda of Etsy-esque marketplace. I realise this will be quite a good insight into what I am shopping for at the moment! Demi and I are moving into together for our last year of uni so I have been searching for cute items like pillows, throws, mugs and even egg holders...

SO let me begin:

Etsy Items of the Week #1

PILLOW POODLE FRIEND

I love things in houses that make people look even if they don't like it. These pillows are a bit weird and out-there but they have a quirky charm that I love. I especially love the dog ones. I think the people pillows might creep me out a little too much!

THREE STAR EAR PINS

These earrings are a bit different and I always get stuck trying to fill three piercings with earrings that go together. These would also make a cute pressie.

CUDDLE COFFEE MUG

I have a bit of a weirdo obsession with mugs. I am a massive tea addict and I don't know why but stoneware mugs make the tea taste that bit better. This mug has a smaller top which keeps the liquid in it hotter for longer. All round winner!

TURQUOISE MINT DROP EARRINGS

These earrings are gorgeous and a massive statement. The turquoise stone pops next to the gold. I'm sure they'd make any girl stand out in the crowd!

AFTERNOON TEA CUSHION

In my search for some cushions for my new flat I found this little delight. Super chic and cute and £10 is to much of a hefty price tag either!

I hope you've enjoyed and look out for my etsy obsessions next week!

Alex xxxx

Fifty and Fabulous

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:17:00 +0000

So whilst it has been some time since I last blogged, I felt that I wanted to wait until I had something worthwhile writing about. I know it is considered rude to ask a woman her true age or even disclose their age for that matter. However, this blog post is dedicated to my wonderful mum who just reached this remarkable milestone of 50 years of age a few days ago.

Although she seemed to be experiencing a slight crisis about that number, all around her (especially me), were determined to make it a memorable birthday. As a lot of my friends will know there are many celebrations within my immediate family this year, so instead of a massive blowout party we have decided to go away together at Christmas to mark the end of a big year for all.

However, this does not mean to say that these occasions, when they do occur, should go unnoticed, and yesterday was certainly no exception! I made the trip down yesterday with my Dad and we had planned to go to a lovely restaurant in Nottingham called Hart's, which I had been fortunate to dine at once before for my best friends 21st earlier this year.

The food was delicious, presented beautifully and the surroundings of the restaurant were sophisticated. For starter, I had the organic salmon ballotine with creme fraiche and to follow I had the Cornish lemon sole with vegetables and saffron hollandaise. Other photos are to follow of what other members of my family chose. We arranged some champagne and balloons beforehand which was a nice surprise (although my mum was a little embarrassed by the massive '50' balloon sign!).

My grandad and brother raising a toast to the birthday girl

Crispy Salt & Pepper Calamari with Chorizo

My starter of organic salmon ballotine

Lamb rump... yum!

My brother and dad enjoyed pepper sirloin with triple cooked chips and a peppercorn sauce

Now here a few photos of mi familia! Plus... the lovely present we had arranged as a surprise?!?

The boys!

The parents and me

Family photo

Flowers always go down a treat with my mother

SURPRISE!!!

Finally, yes so Happy 50th Birthday to my lovely mum! It was a lovely occasion and it has got me excited for my birthday now (3 months and counting)

Enjoy xo

The Jesmond Breakfast Club

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:49:00 +0000

So, this morning Demi and I thought we would get the day started and ready for revision by going for a nice breakfast with our friends Freya and Claire. Arlo's lies in West Jesmond and is perfect for a good start to the day. Since today is the hottest yet this year (in chilly newcastle), we sat outside with coffee and sunglasses on. We made friends with the cutest dog who sat with us while we ate! Take a trip to Arlo's when you are around and be sure to have a slice of the tiffin or brownie, very yummy!

Poached Eggs Royale (With Hollandaise Sauce and Smoked Salmon) YUM

Demi with her granola and croissant (HEALTH HEALTH HEALTH)

The Cutest Dog Ever

Claire and I

Freya

Alex xx

Face Of The Night #2

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:31:00 +0000

Due to my upcoming exams my blog posts have been few and far between so sorry about that. However, I took a break from the books the other night to go out for my friends 20th birthday and whilst getting ready I took some photos of my makeup to share with any beauty lovers. Enjoy! x

PRODUCTS USED:

M.A.C Lipstick in Rebel

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation

Chanel Solei Tan

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Half Baked, Smog, and Creep (Naked Palette)

MUFE aqua eyeliner in Gold

Clinique gel eyeliner (black)

Rimmel Lash Accelerator Endless

Alex xx

PS. I know my eyebrows are in deep need of sorting out but like I said - exams haha

Here comes the sun!

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:43:00 +0000

Ok, so whilst I appreciate that talking about the weather isn't the most exciting topic since sliced bread, I do have to mention that this lovely blue sky we are experiencing has lifted my spirits and I feel excited for the summer ahead (fingers crossed!).

So with this lovely weather in mind, its (almost) time to tuck away those baggy wooly jumpers in place of some bright, colourful numbers. I recently invested in a lovely playsuit from River Island which didn't leave me penniless.

Green tile cutout playsuits - £25.00 (there are other patterns available too)

Also, as its beginning to warm up now is around the time that I like to start searching for some practical yet pretty sandals. I feel that my feet have been suffocated by the many winter days (and nights) of wearing boots or UGGS that they deserve some fresh air! I really do believe with shoes that its worth paying a little extra for a decent pair. Kurt Geiger always springs to mind! Whilst I appreciate that some of their styles are a little more on the pricey side these sandals, that I adore, aren't too expensive...

KG Kurt Geiger MOBSTER sandals (TAN) -£75.00

They also do these sandals in a black and a white version. I think they are such a staple when it comes to your summer wardrobe. Team then with wash jeans and a baggy T-shirt or wear with a flowery dress, they are extremely versatile!

One final thing: SUNGLASSES!

I cannot live when the sun is out without a pair of sunnies. I currently own a pair of Ray Ban Wayfayers in a deep mulberry colour. However, I really want a new pair of sunglasses and this is a difficult choice when there are so many styles you could go for. If any of you have any suggestions for sunglasses it would be much appreciated...

Hope you are all enjoying yourselfs wherever you are (with or without the sun shining, hopefully with!)

Demi xo

How To Cook The Perfect Steak

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 14:46:00 +0000

As my friends know, Bonnett Family Friday Steak Night is a bit of a tradition in my house. Mum and Dad are in charge of the funding and purchasing of the steak while I am the chef for the night. If I may say so myself, I think I have become a bit of a steak master so I thought I would share with you my guide to what I think is the Perfect Steak.

1) BUYING THE STEAK
Personally from the most common four steaks you can buy in the super market I order them like this:

Fillet (The Best)
Ribeye
Sirloin
Rump

However, due to the fact that fillet is ridiculously expensive my parents tend to buy us Ribeye. Look for a piece with some nice ripples of fat throughout.

2) PREPARING THE STEAK
This is the bit most people leave out. They think that plonking the steak in a pan with some fat will taste just as good but believe me preparation is SO IMPORTANT.
Firstly, make sure you cook your steak from room temperature. Cooking straight from the fridge can dry out the outside and take longer for the heat to hit the middle.
Secondly, you need to tenderise the meat with something like a meat mallet. This also evens outs the steak to make it the same thickness all over so that it cooks evenly. Just go a bit crazy on either side of the steak and beat it until you feel satisfied.
Then, put a little pile of olive oil and salt onto the steak and give it a good massage to flavour and tenderise it a bit more. I like to put the oil on the steak instead of in the pan to make sure everywhere is coated and to spread the salt about.

3) COOKING THE STEAK
In my opinion, cooking a piece of steak anything longer than medium rare just destroys it. All you chickens who can't stand blood then please don't waste my beloved steak. Why eat something if you aren't going to eat it properly?
The absolute key to steak cooking is to get the pan (preferably a griddle) as hot as can be. I leave mine to heat up on high heat for nearly 10 minutes. I also only ever allow one steak per pan as I don't want the heat to be shared.
Slap your steak on and don't be tempted to move it around, let it sit so you get the nice cooking lines in it.

If, like me, you like yours rare (or blue) then just cook for 2 mins either side but if you want it pink in the middle then I flip it the minute you see any pinkish juices coming out the top side then just cook on the other side for 2 minutes.
Serve with garlic or sweet potato chips and a salad. Also try with horseradish sauce for something a bit different.

Who knew there was so much to cooking steak!? But trust me, its worth it! Happy Steak Cooking!

Alex x

Relaxing In The Scottish Countryside

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:47:00 +0000

Demi and I are now on our Easter holiday and I have spent the first few days staying with two of my best buds in one of their lovely houses in the Scottish Countryside.
After going all out for the last week of uni with two birthdays, including my own, it was nice to finally have some fresh country air!
We went to the seaside, had some nice walks, and drunk lots of gin and tonic! - a perfect few days!
We even went riding, but I, not being a very seasoned rider, came flying off the horse! At least it gave me a good excuse for some extra drinks each night!
Also, the friend we were staying with had the cutest dog called Bramble. She was a poodle and I think probably the first 'big(ish)' dog I've ever really liked.

Feeding The Hens

Claire - Posing

Baking!

Pre-falling off horse

BRAMBLE!

Alex x
Ps. Follow us using Google+ or Bloglovin if you haven't already!

Birthday Baking

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:17:00 +0000

So as yesterday marked the start of a weekend where I had nothing planned I knew that meant one thing and one thing only! I had to bake...

Also because of the fact that it is my dear friend, (and fellow blogger) Alexs' birthday this coming Tuesday, my housemate and I thought it would be a cracking idea to make her some birthday cupcakes! (I mean who doesn't love cake on their birthday?)

As my housemate has rather more work to do than me at the moment, I waved her off to the library and eagerly awaited her return in the evening to let the cupcake creating commence.

In the meantime, another friend of mine came round so we could make some goodies of our own to enjoy. We went for Banana bread with the hidden surprise of warm gooey strawberries in as an extra treat. I hate to admit it but our first attempt was an absolute disaster (charcoal would have looked paler next to it)... but anyway we kept calm and carried on. The second was a bit of a beauty if I say so myself. Here is a picture of our very strawberry Banana Bread:

Banana Bread decorated with icing sugar and strawberries... Delicious!

So gooey and scrumptious!!

If you want the recipe for this beauty it can be found on the following website: http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/03/strawberry-banana-bread.html There are also tonnes of other recipes on here to get your mouth watering, so definitely give it a look if you want some bakespiration.

Now for the cupcakes... We had intended to do red velvet but our red food colouring was doing a very bad job of turning the sponge red. Anyway, our take on red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, flaked dark chocolate savings and twisted strawberries to decorate.

I've had this cakestand for ages so it deserved its 15 minutes of fame...

The proof is in the pudding?

The recipe that we followed for this was really simple and can be found here: http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/red-velvet-cupcakes-1.html I would, however, recommend you search round for some good (gel) red food colouring because ours didn't really do its job properly.

Anyways Happy Birthday Alex. Enjoy your yummy birthday treats and many happy returns!

Happy Baking all!

Demi xo

Street Spice Newcastle

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:50:00 +0000

After a toughly won netball match on Saturday morning my friend, Charlotte and I decided some good food was in order. I had heard about a three day street food festival being held in Newcastle at the Life Centre called Street Spice. Being the foodie that I am, it was a must do on my list to attend. I just wish there was more stuff like this in Newcastle!

They also had cooking demonstrations

Charlotte and I spent about 40 minutes doing several laps trying decided what to eat but we both settled on a bread bowl with pulled pork, bbq sauce, cheese, cajun fries, and coleslaw. YUM! We both resisted the amazing cupcakes and bought half a pint each...lad lad lads.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of these gastronomy events in the future and might convince Demi to take a trip next year with me to the food show!

For some funny reason the sun had been out in Newcastle all day so we finished off out chilled saturday with a few drinks in Jesmond. Fab day all round!

Alex xx

Celebrations on Call Lane

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:24:00 +0000

Hey everyone,

It has been a while, yet again, but was waiting for something to blog about! This weekend I made the exciting trip down from Newcastle to Leeds, for one night only to celebrate my cousins 18th Birthday.

Having relatives who live in Leeds has resulted in many a weekend trip and normally I leave with one nasty hangover (oh the perks of having a cousin who works at a nightclub). The usual mix of free alcohol and a crazy cousin to consume it with equal one horrible hungover mess. However, I thought this time may be different...

As it was a special occasion, I thought there was no better excuse than to dress up. I was told that we would be heading down to 'Call Lane' in Leeds where they have some cool bars within a hop skip and a jump of one another. We set up camp at Neon Cactus Bar for the night and headed downstairs for some free tequila and dancing. Alex (fellow blogger) made the trip down with me and we danced the night away. It was a fabulous occasion for my beautiful cousin. Happy Birthday darling. I think we (as you would say, 'parDDied in style') the Carnelley girls were out in full force so it was sure to be barrel of laughs, (Danielle providing most of entertainment for the evening). Thanks goes to Danielle, what a wonderful host she is!

So anyway here is what I wore...

Outfit:

Grey Crop Top: Topshop
Lime Green Midi Skirt: Never Fully Dressed
Black Court Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Gold Chain Necklace: Topshop

The Carnelley girls out in full force!

The B-E-A-U-tiful birthday girl

Alex and I

Enjoy a celebratory G&T (would be rude not to!)

If any of you are ever in Leeds take a trip to Call Lane for a few drinks, its definitely worth a visit! For more information on the bar that we went to here is their website, its a must for you tequila lovers of the world: http://www.neoncactus.co.uk/

Demi xo

My Birthday Wish List!

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 15:52:00 +0000

So it's my birthday in less than a month and, apart from me, the rest of my family hate surprises. This means if I want any presents I have to make a massive list that is circulated amongst everyone with gifts they can choose to get me. I suppose it means everything I get, I like, but I also like surprises. So I thought I would turn my present hunt into a blog post and give other girls some good ideas for their own birthday presents!

At the moment I'm loving little rope bracelets and have yet to get myself one. Urban Outfitters do some like the one below which are pretty inexpensive at £8. I also love this one off Etsy.

I also really like these sunglasses for £16 which I have tried on several times!

Carrying on with everything UO I saw this bag in one of the London stores over Christmas and fell in love. I have yet to acquire the money to buy it but might ask the grandpadres!

I wanted a kind of bright but daytime wearable lipstick. I think Craving by MAC is perfect as a toned down raspberry shade.

My friends and family know how much I like painting my nails so I though I had to include a mini nail set on my list. I love this one by Jessica and also this Nails Inc one. Both seem perfect for spring and summer!

I really want something small to boost the sound of my laptop and my dad actually has one of these. They are definitely worth the money.

If you are stuck for any other ideas this website, www.notonthehighstreet.com , has some really cute gifts that can be personalised.

Hope this has helped if you are just as stuck as me!

Alex xx

FOTN - Face of the Night #1

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:13:00 +0000

Demi and I thought that, since we go out so much, we should start blogging when we particularly like our outfits or makeup! SO... I am going to kick off with my make up from my latest night out. I thought to add a bit of colour with a pop of blue eyeliner and keep my lips toned down with a coral colour. Excuse the posey photos!... (List of products below)

Eyes:
No7 Fanomenal Eye Palette
Toasted eyeshadow - Urban Decay
MUFE Aqua Liner (No.5)
L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara

Face:
Esteé Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation
Mac Limited Edition Blush in Dirty Plum
Mac Lipstick in Vegas Volt

Alex xx

How to bag yourself a Bargain!

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 20:28:00 +0000

Hey all,

Sorry I haven't written in a while, been having a love affair with the library, but as of yesterday I finished my exams so it gives me a few days to catch up on the things I love doing and have neglected slightly as of late.

As its January one thing that excites me after Christmas are the sales. If you get in quick you can bag yourself a bargain and those things you wanted before Christmas have been reduced so low that you feel your getting something you love without burning a hole in your pocket! So even though working my way through the racks of clothes can sometimes irritate me, I have found myself some gems which I thought I would share with you.

First, the cami-coat. Ok, so this one wasn't the original one I wanted but a very similar one. Urban Outfitters, naturally. This beauty was originally priced at a hefty £98 and even with UO's lovely student discount I couldn't have quite justified it at full price. It was £40 in the sale so I thought, brilliant £36 with discount. However, much to my surprise it rung through the till at £20 meaning I got it for a whopping £18!!!!! Its not the warmest of jackets, but definitely on trend.

From the back, nice fur hood!

Secondly, for those that know me best, they know I have a serious shoe obsession. Therefore, I have been searching high and low for a new perfect pair of heels. Much as I hate to admit it I have been loving the courts, like those donned by Kim K with ankle straps. I got mine from Topshop, original price £99 and in the sale £27 with student discount!

My new shoes, chunky shapes, open toe and electric blue heel

And finally, I have a weakness for a chiffon shirt or two. Teamed with some nice skinny jeans or tucked into a skater skirt, they are effortlessly beautiful. I got this cream one from Warehouse for £12. I especially love the lace detail on the back its really pretty.

Lace detail- tucked in

Lace detail on the back, tucked out

So there's just a few of my bagged bargains, I wonder whether any of you got some beautys in the January Sales?

Demi xo
Photos by Freya Mortimer

BBC Sound of 2013 List

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 18:18:00 +0000

One of my favourite things about the beginning of the year is when BBC announce their nominees for the Sound of 2013. It is a great way for me to find new artists that I might like. So I thought I'd give you a quick run down of the top 5 and the ones that I like the most.

The Winners - HAIM
HAIM are an all girl trio who are influenced by Fleetwood Mac and Kate Bush.

Second Place - AlunaGeorge
This duo are the winners for me personally. I absolutely love their catchy electronic songs and cannot wait for their debut album coming out this June. If you want to read some more about them then be sure to check out our previous post: Crazy Faze - AlunaGeorge

Third - Angel Haze
I have only recently started listening to Angel Haze after I first heard of her from TheRedPages Hot 100 of 2013. I think its hard to come by female rappers who can really pull it off and that she certainly does. She released a diss at Azealia Banks titled "On The Edge".

Fourth - Laura Mvula
Laura Mvula brings something a bit different to the Pop/Soul scene. I especially like her track 'Green Garden'.

Fifth - CHVRCHES
Electro-Pop group with MGMT sounding synths. Its a bit chirpy for me and I think they sound like Robyn (which I don't think is a good thing) but decide for yourself here:

Alex x

Ten Things We Love

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:47:00 +0000

We were chatting about our favourite blogs and realised that one of the things we love to read is something about the person who is writing! So we thought we would give you an insight into 10 things we both love right now. Some of you may judge our lists as we think everyone loves things which others might find a little sad. But we can't help it! Just being honest :) SO... Here goes:

ALEX
1) Urban Outfitters - Pretty sure Demi is going to write this too but it's the best thing about living in Newcastle. My nearest UO at home is about 2 hours from my house :( I especially love all their little bedroom homeware things like rugs. They do really nice rugs.
2) Photos - I love looking at pictures and I think people get annoyed about the amount I take on my phone on a night out! I recently got all my instagram prints done as little polaroids. So Cute!

Get your own here: www.inkifi.com

3) The Internet - My housemates will agree with me on this one. They know I can't go long without it. We once got cut off because we hadn't paid the bill... It was the first time I ever went to the Library...Oops!
4) Makeup Brushes - People are shocked about how much I'm willing to spend on a brush but I just love them. The different shapes and cool handles plus how good they can make your makeup look!
5) Cows - One of my housemates won't eat beef because she loves cows so much but thats the opposite reason to why I love them. They make steak - my favourite food ever. They make leather = handbags and nice boots. Their milk makes cheese. They are the second best species on the planet after humans.
6) Bedroom Accessories - Following on from loving UO's homeware stuff...I love home decor... candles, fairy lights, pillows, bedspreads, mirrors, organisers, canvases etc and I spend ages on sites like Etsy and Achica looking at all the pretty things.
7) Nails - Doing fun nails is always a good way to pass the time! Check out my nail tumblr at garnishedvarnish.tumblr.com
8) Reality TV - I don't care how shit it is, if it's partial reality and its on TV then I'm usually game.
9) Gold Jewellery - I have a little obsession with looking at gold jewellery. I don't know why. But I do. Especially brushed gold that isn't so shiny like this ring.
10) Daily Mail Online - I hate to write this one down but its true. I check it at least twice a day and it just has so many good photos!

DEMI
1) Sex and the City- Although not actually a tangible object, Sex and the City is my go to tv series in times of need. It has made me laugh, cry and question everything in between. Many of my close friends will also know that I idolise Samantha and one day wish I could be like her (minus her promiscious ways, of course)!
2) Shoes, shoes and more Loubs- Since I can remember I have always had an extensive shoe collection, shoes for every occassion. When I go to London I often spend the best part of two hours wandering the Shoe Hall in Selfridges only wishing I could afford some of the creations they sell. (One day, maybe?)
3) Baths- There is nothing more relaxing to me than a few candles, lots of buddles and a steamy bath of hot water. Having no bath at my house at uni drives me insane and I really take advantage of our bath at home during the holidays, it gives me time to soak in my thoughts for as long I want.
4) Friends- I really love my friends, sounds a little silly I know but over the years I have made some life long friends, some live 5 minutes down the road, some are currently living in different time zones, but my friends are those I have shared some of the best memories with throughout my 20 years of life so far.
5) Sushi- Only over the past few years have I really jumped on this bandwagon, I don't just like it - I devour the stuff. #ilovesalmon
6) Flying- I love flying, especially as it usually involves landing in a new destination to rewind for a week or more. The greatest invention, where you can get to new places in a matter of hours and explore exotic surroundings.
7) Cupcakes- Since last summer I have really started to enjoy baking. Although I haven't really pushed myself outside my comfort zone in the baking sense I like making cute cupcakes for my friends
8) Bombay Sapphire, Naturally- I love a G&T (slice of lime, mandatory). Bombay is my favourite. It is such a refreshing drink and enjoy the occassional few on a night out.
9) Spanish- The language, the people, the culture, the tapas, the dancing. You name it, I love everything about the Spanish. Since starting to learn the language at school I have been obsessed. Many a holiday, or a language trip enjoyed in Spanish territory and the paella ain't bad either.
10) Mulberry- I am the fortunate owner of a few lovely Mulberry numbers and I plan to, over many years, expand my collection. Timeless classic fashion right on your arm and they get better with age. Here is one I have my eye on next.

Also just to tell you, we have decided to make posts more regular! So we are going to attempt to post twice a week normally on a Tuesday and a Friday! So keep coming back to check, or follow us on bloglovin (top right of page)!

Demi and Alex xx

The Hoxton Grill

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:13:00 +0000

I know our posts have been very food based recently so I'm sorry to do another one but I am sitting on the train back to Newcastle and couldn't stop reminiscing about last nights dinner. I was in London for an interview and my dad was there for a meeting so Mummy Bonnett tagged along to make a whole day of it. We ended up at The Hoxton Grill restaurant which is part of The Hoxton Hotel about 20 mins on foot from Liverpool Street.

The interior was full of dimmed low hanging ceiling lights and american style red leather sofa booths. After being seated I was excited to see the menu. They do very american grill type food as you would expect; burgers, ribs, salads etc. We decided to get a house board to start, which had three mini starters on it. I chose Nachos, Chicken Wings, and Fried Calamari (mmm...healthy). It was sooooo yummy. The calamari was the best I ever had accompanied with a garlic mayo. My dad (Mr. I just lost 7 stone) sneaked most of the chicken wings since he didnt want to eat anything else but I got one and they were pretty incredible too.

For main, I had a rack of beef ribs and stupidly ordered sweet potato wedges, which were yummy but I couldn't eat. SO FULL! The ribs were delicious, perfectly stringy and falling off the bone. My mum had a burger, perfectly pink in the middle, and my dad had jerk chicken salad, which he said was lovely.

I'd definitely recommend The Hoxton Grill if you are ever in that part of London for a quick dinner that isn't too expensive for London prices.

Here's a link to their website: http://www.hoxtongrill.com

Alex x

Homemade Christmas Gifts: Chilli Jam

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:42:00 +0000

As a big foodie I'll take any opportunity to cook so when thinking of a cute Christmas gift for the grandparents I decided I was going to cook it!

This chilli jam is so easy to make and goes well with plenty of different cheeses, meats and would also taste great on salmon.

You can find the recipe here: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/8257/sweet-chilli-jam

Also google "food gift recipes" for plenty more ideas from truffles, to chutneys, and even marinated goats cheese (interesting...)

Alex x

Christmas Gifts: Have you been naughty or nice?

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:07:00 +0000

For those who know me well you will know how unbelievably excited I am about Christmas this year. I have got into the spirt of things early as Christmas cards were out by the 1st of December (Ok, very keen).

For those who don't know me, I will warn you I haven't been this excited about Christmas in a long time! I think it may be down to the fact that after a hard term back at University I can't wait to unwind in the warmth with my family and friends.

What have you all asked Santa for this year? I'm sure if your like me and have run out of the obvious luxuries such as Make-Up and Perfume these will be high up on your lists...

I just thought I would share some of the goodies I have on my wish list for Christmas 2012

Miss Dior Eau de Parfum, it is utterly delicious!

You can find Miss Dior in most places such as Boots, John Lewis, Fenwicks... The cute bottle makes it even nice and I have a sneaky suspicion I am on to a winner here!

Another pressie that I have had my eye on is this uber cool bedding from Urban Outfitters. I can't say no to a floral pattern and this black and white number is no exception. It is a bit of a twist on the usual girly florals...

This bedding would look perfect on my bed up here at uni, plus some cool fairy lights and we've got the perfect combination... Which brings me to my next most wanted gift.

The Fairly Lights!!!

I did have some really pretty ones but they broke on me... so therefore I have asked for a new set. John Lewis have great selection, especially with Christmas around the corner. Some of the lights can double up as christmas tree lights as well as room decorations for all year round. Here is a picture of some that I have on my list this year...

So for those of you that haven't been as keen as me this year, hopefully this post gets you thinking about what you would like from Santa (Mum, Grandad, boyfriend, friend etc.).

Enjoy xo

Cheese and Wine!

noreply@blogger.com (Demi and Alex) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:42:00 +0000

Being the massive foodies that we are, Demi and I came up with the brilliant idea of having a Cheese and Wine Party for us and our friends. Everyone loves a bit of cheese, and of course, a glass of wine! We had enough cheese (and wine) to feed an army and still managed to consume it all. We also did a secret santa since it's now December and (almost) acceptable to get into the Christmas spirit.

See some photos of the yummy cheese below. My favourite was the Pié d'Angloys, which is like an extra creamy camembert.

Tips for hosting your own cheese and wine party

If you are all big eaters get a cheese per person
Add little touches like flag labels and explanations
Make sure you have enough bread for everyone to fill up on
Have a varied range which includes a few common cheeses and some interesting ones
Be sure to buy some chutneys and grapes!