Damson and Co., Soho

So I'm a little late to the Damson and Co. hype. It's been all over the blogoshphere and food websites for a while now. but it wasn't until a downpour at London Proud the other week saw us dashing into the nearest cosy looking tearoom in Soho.

Fashion Inspiration: Bank Holiday BBQ

So I know this is primarily a food blog but when I discovered Polyvore whilst reading another blog, I knew I had to create a post.

Its such a great website that allows you to browse mood and inspiration boards, design your own, and shop your finds - all in the same place! I am still new to it but so far I am having lots of fun with this new creative outlet and experimenting with everything they have to offer.

So here's my very first creation, following on from my last BBQ post - what I would wear to a bank holiday BBQ. Really this look works for any relaxed, outside event. I am obsessed with a white and blue colour palette at the minute - so clean and crisp, and I think that the gold studded sandals with the straw fedora give it the perfect boho vibe.

Bank Holiday BBQ by bakeitblonde featuring backpacks bags

I hope to be making a lot more of these but dont worry I wont turn this into a fashion blog! If you do want see the rest of my creations and be kept up to date, follow my Polyvore page: http://bakeitblonde.polyvore.com/

xx

Essential tips for BBQ-ing

We’ve all been there, the sun comes out and of course no one wants to be inside for a second longer than they have to be, let alone cooking away in a hot a kitchen. That’s why the humble BBQ is the perfect way to create simple, tasty dishes with minimum fuss and maximum outdoor exposure.

The Job Interview: Tips for success

As a few of you may have noticed from reading this post I have had a job interview. Now many people think that applying for the job is the difficulty and once you've got an interview then the hard part’s over. Think again my friend. Job interviews are a minefield of good etiquette and implications. What you don’t say can have just as much effect as what you do. It is therefore important to be as prepared as possible so that by the time the interview takes place you can be calm and confident, rather than a nervous wreck.

5 Top Tips To Help You With Your Job Search

I am currently job-searching. It’s not that I was unhappy in my previous job – it just wasn’t for me. I think it’s important in life to identify areas which can be improved on and work hard to shape your life the way you want it.

Want it Wednesday: Spring Knits

Spring is finally here. I've said it which makes it official, naturally.When the sun shone through my curtains last weekend I knew it would be the first Spring-wardrobe weekend, I put on my new floral dress and was ready to embrace the season.

Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience World Tour

I have been a Justin Timberlake fan since his curly haired, double-denim wearing *NSYNC days. Naturally therefore, when P text me saying she had a spare ticket for his 20/20 Experience World tour I was beyond excited. There may have been some screaming.

Nailed it.

One thing you guys may not know about me – I have a slight obsession with nail art. Nothing over the top, I prefer a subtle design that doesn’t scream at you but is an extra detail to those who do notice it.

Stationary Saviour

Do you ever see something in a shop and instantly think “I need that in my life. That one object will make me happier than anything else I have ever bought. Ever.” Ok, so a little dramatic perhaps but it comes close to how I feel about my new recipe book.

The Great Escape

It was time for a break. The buzz of Christmas seemed like a far off memory and waiting around for Spring to shine through the clouds was becoming exhausting. Everything pointed to a weekend away and for once England delivered; Brighton called and we answered.

We hopped on a train and before we knew it the beach was stretched out before us, welcoming us like an old friend into his warm and sunny embrace. We walked along the shore, chatting and feeling the stress of the city melt away until the sun went down.

We stayed at the Grand Hotel and after a luxurious night’s sleep I sauntered down for breakfast overlooking the sea and a hot stone massage in the spa.

Feeling energised and rejuvenated I headed out on my next mission – chocolate. I couldn’t go to Brighton without visiting Choccywoccydoodah.

Their name preceded them and I wasn’t disappointed. An Aladdin’s cave filled to the brim with delicious chocolaty goodness formed into exquisite works of art.

Say hello to this little guy, I named him Albert. Doesn’t he just look like the most adorable, wise old man in puppy form?

After a sun-filled afternoon exploring the labyrinth of shops that Brighton had to offer we finally tore ourselves away and boarded the train back to reality.

A wonderful beach side break and home in time for dinner, a rather perfect way to spend a weekend.

xx

Grange Park Opera

Last week I attended the Grange Park Opera party at the Royal Academy of Arts. The Royal Academy is a beautiful building and I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening listening to performances from Christina Petrou and Alberto Sousa on the grand steps, and sipping on G&Ts and Moscow Mules (listening to opera is thirsty work).

Apart from having a good time chatting and listening to some damn good singing, the purpose of party was all about reigniting (or in some cases *me* igniting) a love of opera within the younger generation. And who better to persuade you of your love for the Arts than Stephen Fry?

He gave a delightful speech at the event and I was really impressed by the passion with which he spoke about his support for Grange Park. They are one of the few organisations that are truly dedicated to making the arts accessible for people of all ages and budgets. In their own words, they have a “commitment to promoting international and rising talent, introducing British audiences to little heard operas and bringing in a new audience to hear opera for the first time. To help develop the next generation’s love of opera”.

In order to do this, they run schemes which offer free tickets to young people and reduced prices for those under 35. Even if you are not opera’s biggest fan (I myself have only ever been once) I thoroughly recommend having a look at their website. The location is stunning, set in a 17th century country mansion just outside of Winchester and with the intervals being over an hour, it is positively encouraged to bring a picnic and a bottle or two to share with friends in the lavish grounds.

Tickets are on sale now and with Spring just around the corner I can’t think of anything better to look forward to than an evening at Grange Park filled with Opera, picnics, good wine and friends.

xx

London Fashion Weekend 2014

Last weekend, P and I went to London Fashion weekend hosted by Vodafone. We went on both Saturday and Sunday and trust me we needed it.

What I loved about it was that, far from the invite-only nature of actual Fashion week, here there was something for everyone (provided you like fashion of course). So much more than watching a few catwalk shows – this was an event, a whole arena of shops, salons, lounges and bars as well as talks by top dogs within the industry - all housed in the exquisite Somerset House. As it was sponsored by the Outnet there was also the opportunity to shop the looks that you saw the models strutting their stuff in, a welcome spin on the traditional.

I could literally write pages and pages about our weekend but I wouldn’t bore you guys like that so here’s a few of my favourite parts:

The Fashion

The Bueno Lounge – free Bueno bars and a massage!

Maria Grachvogel’s new collection – check it out here

Career advice from Hillary Alexander

My new girl crush – presenter Angela Scanlon (never heard of her? – you will)

The Outnet’s new range Iris and Ink

The Canon Fashion 360 Studio

(yes, we did pretend we were on E!’s GlamCam)

xx

Lady that loves

Here's a few of the things I am loving at the moment:

1. Gold. I am loving gold jewellery at the moment, most of my day to day jewellery seems to be silver so it was so refreshing when I received this beautiful Monica Vinader gold bracelet from Patrick for my birthday/Valentines day.

2. My new ZARA trench coat. I was bought this as a birthday present and I absolutely LOVE it, its so chic, yet practical and is surprisingly warm for those chill February days!

3. Black ankle boots. Following on from the gold theme, I treated myself to these new Miss Selfridge ankle boots over the weekend, The gold buckle details add a chic edge to a practical winter staple.

4. Candles. I love filling my bedroom with candles in the evening, they give the place a wonderful cosy glow and are much prettier to look at than harsh overhead lighting. When I saw this beauty for just £1 in Primark I couldn't resist!

What beauties are you coveting at the minute? I'd love to know.
xx

Happy Valentines Day xoxo

Hey friends! Whether you are part of a couple or not, Valentines Day is always something to celebrate - it's the perfect excuse to appreciate and be thankful for all the relationships we do have, be them with friends, family or partners. So take a few minutes today to remind someone you love how much they mean to you, it might just make their day!

And because everyone deserves a rose on Valentines day.... here's one from me to you.

Happy Valentines Day!

xx

p.s. I promise I will stop being soppy

tomorrow, it's also my birthday 

today so I'm feeling the love!

Kindle Paperwhite - Review

I was lucky enough to receive the new Kindle Paperwhite this Christmas. Whilst I absolutely loved the thoughtfulness of the gift - I always complain about carrying books around with me to read on the tube - my joy turned to hesitation. I love to read, so shouldn't a printed book be enough? Was the introduction of technology into something so simple as the printed word on a page, something which already gave me so much enjoyment, really necessary? And, most importantly, was I ready for it?

I can safely say that after two months of using it I am smitten - I absolutely love it! And as an added bonus I'm reading more than ever! The ability to have any book to read at the touch of a button (and the lower cost of an eBook vs a real book) means endless hours of pleasure at my fingertips. It’s so lightweight it lives in my bag without me even noticing, ready for me to pull it out whenever I have a spare second … tube journeys, lunch breaks, or if a friend is running late.

This is helped by the incredible battery life, I have only charged it once so far … in two months. Yes, two whole months of reading indulgence satisfaction before a screen popped up to remind me to give it some more juice. For anyone who has their iPhone glued to their side, the idea of not having to charge something at least once a day, if not more, is astounding. In addition to this, the front lit screen enables me to read in every type of light without any eyestrain as it is easily adjustable at the touch of a button.

However, the Kindle Paperwhite does have a few downsides. The touch screen sometimes gets a little confused if I don’t swipe it properly or press it too hard, often trying to highlight and define words (a good feature when you need it) when I want to turn the page. And yet, a quick tap on the screen and this disappears and the page is blank again, waiting eagerly to react to my next command.

I also find myself wanting to do other things on it from time to time – in a world where your smartphone can do a million different things and make a phone call, I find it quite limiting that it only allows me to read. I guess that’s probably a personal flaw rather than a product drawback and if you do want a broader range of options there is always the Kindle Fire tablet.

I would recommend the Kindle Paperwhite for anyone who loves to read and finds the notion of being able to read whatever you want wherever you are truly exciting. Initially I was on the fence and, to be perfectly honest if it wasn’t a gift I would never have bought one – oh how wrong I was. To anyone that’s thinking of buying one, take the plunge! You won’t look back I promise!

xx

Pretty in Pink

When I came across this beautiful pastel pink coat in REISS over the weekend, I was in love. I'm not sure whether it was the upcoming Valentines influence or the fact that I am a sucker for anything pastel at the minute (Spring just can't come around fast enough) but there was no stopping it, I was 100%, all-singing, all-dancing, pirouetting-around-the-shop in love. I have to have it.

At £265 it is not cheap, however I honestly believe this coat will get worn.....alot. I am yet to convince myself to part with the cash but I did spend my Sunday afternoon dreaming up outfit inspiration. Here's how I would style it - day and night. How would you style it?

Reiss Mandarin Collar Coat Blush £265.00 - here

Topshop MOTO Grey Jean £38.00 - here

Olivia Burton Watch £72.00 -here

Topshop Floral Satin Cami £28.00 - here

DUNE Black Pony Tassel Slipper £125.00 - here (similar by H&M here)

ZARA Striped Dress £29.99 - here

ALDO Livergnano Heels £60.00 - here

ASOS Double Jewel Earrings £10.00 - here

xx