Lost in Paradise

This is a bit of a quickie post today. I've gotten back into snapping my outfits just before I leave for the day. I wonder how long that will last me! I actually wore this skirt to the Simply Be store opening and I really enjoyed wearing it. For this outfit, as it is so so so freezing this week I threw on this black sweater. I really love the pencil skirt and jumper combination at the moment. It's a really comfy outfit, but it still looks quite chic and polished. The print on this skirt and the colour is amazing. It's like an aztec print and is very bright. But the rest of the black outfit tones it down and makes the skirt a lot more wearable. Especially for me, who never strays too far from a black outfit.  I managed to wear a bright necklace which had the same pinky colour in it, but that is as far as a strayed from the black. I wore my chunky chelsea boots which look great with tights and pencil skirts. My skin looks quite sheeny in the top photo, this is because I went to Space NK and did a little haul and bought some great skin and make up bits and bobs, which I will post about soon! These amazing beauty vloggers on Youtube will bankrupt me! In other bankruptcy news, I have a new car! It's my mum's old car which I've bought off of them, and I'm really excited to have a bit more freedom and to not rely on my parents too much anymore. Anyway, sorry for the bitty post, I'm a bit busy at the moment. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend and is making the most of the colder weather to wear lots of layers and clothes! 

Tights - Tesco

Skirt - ASOS Curve

Boots - ASOS

Necklace - Primark

Jumper - H&M

Gem xo

Mud Chocolate Pie

This pie is one of my favourite things to make. It's a very rare treat as it's very indulgent and rich. But it's so so easy to make! This is a Gordon Ramsay recipe (he is a sexy man, sexy men and chocolate go together so well!) with a few variations thrown into make it a bit easy for simple minds like myself.

What you will need:

One Large Sweet Pastry Case (or you can make and bake your own if you're not lazy)

100g milk chocolate
50g any chocolate of your choice to decorate
200g dark
100ml milk
200ml double cream
2 eggs

2 tbsp Caster sugar

What you need to do:

1. Turn the oven on to a temperature of 150C and leave to warm up.

2. Melt together the 100g milk and 200g dark chocolate over a bain marie. Ensure it is all mixed together and smooth. Maybe taste it to make sure this has been done to a good standard, and taste a few more times. Just you know, to check...

3. In another pan on the hob, slowly bring the milk and cream to the boil, make sure you don't burn it. When this is boiled, slowly add to the chocolate, mixing with a large wooden spoon or spatular until it's all creamy and mixed.

4. Then whisk in the eggs and caster sugar to make the mixture a little less dense.

5. Pour through a sieve to make sure there are no lumps and bumps. And then add the mixture to the empty, ready made pastry case. 

6. Pop the pie in the oven!

7. Whilst the pie is cooking, this is time to create the decorations for your lovely pie. For mine I made flakes of chocolate (failed curls). I'm sure there are some great instructions for curling the chocolate somewhere on the internet but I could not get the hang of it. I ended up making my flakes with grated chocolate!

8. Take the pie out of the oven after 35 - 40 or until the mixture is firm but wobbly. Allow to cool, which, I know, is very very hard. But the flakes will melt otherwise. When it is cool,decorate with your own little decorations and serve!

As I said before, this is super super easy to make and quite relaxing really to make. Good luck and enjoy eating it too! 

Gem xo

We Can't Get Back Yesterday

Hello, and Happy Monday! I've had such a lovely four day weekend. I booked it off a couple weeks ago as something to look forward too. I didn't really arrange anything too stressful as I needed to relax and sleep really. I've had like two days off since I started in May. And whilst I am so so grateful for this job, especially at the moment, it was nice to just chill and not worry for a weekend. I went to Trafford Centre on Friday and Chester on Saturday and I have a few christmas presents sorted, woohoo! Anyway, this outfit has crept back into my wardrobe. Black skinny jeans, black shirt and any colourful jumper I can find thats clean! I'm a big fan of the preppy, masculine look, and wore it a lot at the beginning of this year. And I'm glad to see the style still featuring on quite a few street style blogs. All I need now to complete the look is the pork pie hat from yesterdays post and long wavy bohemian hair! I'm loving this lipstick at the moment too, I'm quite pink in the face with the awful rosy cheeks I get but I think this pinky, red colour flatters the tones in my cheeks quite nicely. This is the Revlon Just Bitten Stain I picked up a couple weeks ago, and I would highly recommend it, might need to devote a whole post to my favourite winter lip products. Hope everyone has a lovely week anyway, and remember only 29 sleeps until Christmas!

Jeans - Dorothy Perkins

Shirt - New Look

Jumper - H&M

Necklace - Primark

Boots - ASOS

Gem xo

Wants of the Week #31

I've not been the best blogger recently. Been a bit lacking on the post front. But I've got a few things planned including a giveaway and a cookery post which I did today! So fingers crossed I can get back into it.

1. Dress - ASOS Curve £25

I love these simple swing dresses that ASOS do. I've been waiting for one with sleeves for a while. They look super comfy and are a great price too. I like this grey colour but I'd love them to bring it out in a maroon or dark purple. They look like a lovely winter wardrobe staples.

2. Pork Pie Hat - Topshop £25

I've mentioned the khaki version of this before on my blog but the black is so much more versatile. I tried this on in Topshop on Friday in Trafford Centre with my friend Lauren, and we were both very surprised when it fit!! I have a rather large head and Topshop are smaller fittings, but it did fit me! I'm hinting very strongly at my mum now for a christmas present!

3.Blusher in Taupe - Nyx £5.50

I'm not really much of a bronzer person. I prefer pale and interesting. But my face still needs contouring. I saw this on Meg's blog at Lipsofacto, and it looks really natural and like a lovely dark blush.

4. Shoes - Zara £59.99

These studded pumps are beautiful. Maybe not the best or most suitable shoes for all the horrible, wet weather we've been having recently. But they're amazing. 

5. Stella Perfume - Stella McCartney £50 for 50ml

I know this is an older perfume but it's such a lovely scent for winter. It is quiet heavy and very floral, with a lot of rose notes. I'd definitely say try before you buy. But I received a sample not long ago and wore it and I really liked it, plus everyone kept asking what perfume I was wearing and saying it suited me. It also lasts which is good for me. Plus there are some really pretty bottles for winter!

Gem xo

Winter Nail Colour

All through summer I've been a fan of pastel colours for my nails. But as soon as the temperature dropped I reached for the dark, moody colours again. I'm a massive fan of dark, deep reds in particular. This red looks almost black. And I can't get enough of it. I'm really not using any other colours on my nails at the moment, apart from the occasional navy or turquoise. It goes with everything in my wardrobe which to be honest is dark this season anyway, and it looks quite classy too. I found this nail varnish in Boots. It's by L'oreal and the nail varnishes go on really well. It only took one coat for this colour, dried quickly and I find it doesn't really chip at all for me. I'd really recommend the L'oreal Colour Riche Nail colour for anyone. Finally, I like to accessorise my nails with gold jewellery for a pretty finish! What's your favourite nail colour for the winter months?

Scarlett Vamp Colour - L'oreal Colour Riche.

(Buy here)

Gem xo

Cross Over and Come Inside

Okay, I promise I am not a sponsored Simply Be blogger and I have bought all the clothes myself. But at the moment I cannot get enough of their clothes! This is the third post in a row featuring one of their items and they just keep winning in the war of my wardrobe. I grabbed this simple grey cross tee when I picked up the peplum top a couple weeks ago in Bury. I bought it because you can never have too many simple t-shirts to just throw on. And I love the slightly slouchy grey t-shirt look at the moment. I like to wear my t-shirts with pencil skirts to smarten them up a little bit, and threw on this grey cheap primark one. It looks black in these photos but its a really dark grey marl.I love this necklace too at the moment it's really easy to wear and is a real centre piece for a simple outfit like this one. I wore this to a family do on Saturday night for a casual look. And there were children there, and now I really want a kid. Not to steal one or anything, just so we're clear. I'm feeling very broody this week. Maybe it just shows I'm getting older which is very very scary indeed. Anyway, I'm going to try and put an outfit together that does not feature Simple Be. BUT. I won't lie to you girls. It's going to be hard. Hope everyone as had a nice start to their week!

T-Shirt - Simply Be 

Necklace - Primark

Skirt - Primark

Boots - ASOS

Tights - Tesco

Gem xo

Fly By

Happy Weekend! This weeks been a bit of a long sad one really. So I'm happy it's over. My weekend started last night with a bang at an Anne Summers party. I've been to one before, when I was a lot younger, and I didn't really appreciate it. I went to one last night with some friends, and our mothers/ future mothers in law were there as well. Now you may think this is a recipe for cringing, and I'm not gonna lie, it really was, but that made it all the more funny. I really would recommend it to anyone if they want an alternative to a night out. The lady was telling us they have a sale in January where they sell all the older items, so there's a tip. There is some beautiful lingerie, in large sizes too. In most of the bras and pants set, they go to a size 42 G and 24. I may have treated myself to some! Today I have a wine hangover, but its an excuse to relax! Anyway, onto this outfit. I managed to get a quick snap before I changed and headed out last night. This is another Simply Be buy, I bought it at the Arndale Store opening and I think it's one of my favourite shirts, I own. I haven't really known when to wear it, so I wore it to dress down Friday at work, but I reckon I could dress it up with a pencil skirt for more formal work days, now I've tested it out. It's a satiny material, but there is a lot of stretch in it too, which means its really really comfy. I love the navy colour and think it's a great winter buy. I paired it was dark blue skinnies and black boots to keep it looking casual and comfy. I have also found my favourite nail varnish. This is a pale lilac in the Barry M Gelly nail varnishes. They are really nice and easy to apply. This colour is particularly pretty. It brought out the lilac colour in the shirt.

Shirt - Simply Be

Jeans - Dorothy Perkins

Boots - ASOS

Rings - Market Stall and Past Times

Gem xo