Travel | Malta, The Pool Days

I like arriving in a new country at night time. It feels all the more surreal and you wonder what you are going to wake to the following morning, when you get to see your destination in all it's sunlit glory. 

We got to Malta late, headed to our hotel and then straight to the rooftop pool bar. After a couple of refreshing V&T's we wandered out into the night to explore our surroundings. 

When we woke the following morning, this was the view from our balcony. No sea, but a beautiful church and pretty little Maltese road.

After a busy time at work, we were both ready for some R&R. So we spent our days lying in the sun; reading, drinking, eating.... you get the gist. 

Batteries fully recharged we were ready for an adventure......next stop the beautiful Valetta.

Life | Gone to the Beach

I'm away on holiday for a week now, be back soon!

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Beauty | Brow Talk

I love a good brow, I really do.

I wasn't always so obsessed, I blame my friend Annie who once berated my teeny tiny, over-plucked blonde brows and made me go to the salon for a tint and thread. Since then, it's all just become part of the daily routine.

First of all, I would fully recommend letting a professional look at your brows, they can tell you what works for your face shape etc. Although there are also plenty of online tutorials if you're brave enough to go it alone.

I leave the shaping part to the lovely Kelsy at BeautyBox (Clifton), and then the every day prep is up to me.

Here's what I do:

1. Brush them through with my Spoolie.
2, With an Angled Brush I apply some Brow Powder. Starting at the thickest point of your brow, not the point closest to your nose, I gently sweep some over my brows.
3. Then a quick flick of Benefit Speed Brow and I am good to go.

Celebrity brows I love:

Source: hubpages.com

Source: prweb.com

Source: tracyfensome.co.uk

Source: www.mrsmeganhopkins.blogspot.co.uk

Does anyone else get brow-envy? Or is it just me?!

Style | Summer Polka

It is hot, hot, hot in the UK at the moment. Whilst I couldn't be happier to wake up every day to sunny skies, looking professional whilst working in the heat can be tricky. 

Anything polka or striped is always a firm favourite with me. The polka dot skirt keeps the look fresh and young, whilst the sleeveless shirt helps with ventilation! 

Skirt: Tommy (Outlet)

Shirt: Miss Selfridge

Belt: ALDO

Shoes: Marks & Spencer

Watch: Michael Kors (gift)

How do you guys like to wear Polka?

Life | Cotswolds, Clay and Competitive Boys

On Saturday (while the rest of the UK were cheering on The Lions), I snuck out to the beautiful Cotswolds with Dan and my big brother, Rich.

Not far outside Bristol is Lady's Wood Shooting School. It's a wonderful place. A building especially made for those with shooting at heart, you get a little glimpse into this fantastic country sport.

On arrival, you're greeted by these two handsome fellows.

I've been clay-pigeon shooting a couple of times before and really enjoy it. The boys? Well they've both been a fair bit and were quietly confident.....I didn't see money exchange hands but a Laurent Perrier Rose competition was definitely mentioned more than once.

 After a good nose around, we went out to shoot some clays with our Instructor, Duncan.

Dan had his eye on the prize from the word go...

Swiftly followed by Rich.

 I was a little more relaxed about the situation. Duncan is a fantastic instructor, he explains everything really clearly and is happy to laugh with you whilst you learn, just so no-one takes the competition too seriously.....ahem, boys?

Shooting faux rabbits.....

We all had a great time, hiding from the scorching sun in the beautiful Cotswold countryside. Dan and Rich are now inspired to become proper country-men and take their shooting etiquette and skills to the next level.

Next stop was lunch, which I believe this guy had carefully collected for us.

Food | A Naughty Little Chocolate Brownie

Paul Hollywood has a lot to answer for, not only has he helped revive the baking fever that is sweeping our nation, but he is also responsible for the recipe for these rather naughty chocolate brownies.

When I get a brownie craving, nothing but the most chocolatey, cakey, gooey brownie will do, and more often that not I'm left wanting by anything shop bought. 

Luckily this time, I had all the ingredients to knock up a batch of Mr. Hollywood's Chocolate Brownies with Dried Cranberries. And they definitely did not disappoint. Easy to make and outrageously chocolatey, they verge on extremely naughty indeed.

First of all you melt your butter and chocolate over some simmering water.

Keep an eye on it! It doesn't take long before it resembles Willy Wonka's Chocolate River and makes you want to dive right in.

In a separate bowl, with an electric hand-held whisk, beat together your eggs and sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy.

Next add your chocolate mixture to your eggs and sugar.

I love the marbling effect as you combine the two.

Sift in your flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. Gently fold in.

Then add your cranberries and nuts (I used roughly chopped pecans instead of walnuts). Fold in,

Pour your mixture in a lined baking tin. The recipe asks for a 20cm square tin but I didn't have one so used this rectangular one which was about 17.5cm x 26cm, it worked out great.

Pop your tin in a pre-heated 180C oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. You know it's done when it look like this, nicely crusted on top but still soft and gooey in the middle.

I'm going off on a tangent here but I love any recipe which means I get to use an electric hand-held whisk. This one is my Mum's original from the 70's. It's kind of heavy and clunky but works like a dream and I'm totally attached to it!

Retro and I love it.

Reminiscing over kitchen equipment from the 70's over, I sliced up my brownies and piled 'em high.

Finish with a wee dusting of icing sugar, if you wish.

Chocolate Heaven.

NB. My batch only yielded 12 not 16.... which means I probably should have sliced them smaller. However,  I'm a greedy little piglet and chose not to. C'est la vie.