Recently I've been...

...Reading
The second and third instalments of the Birthright Trilogy by Gabrielle Zevin, about a chocolate mafia princess, and experiencing the bittersweet feeling of reaching a good story's end (no doubt as bittersweet as the fictional Balanchine Special Dark chocolate). I can highly recommend these books - just make sure you book a few days out of your diary to devour them, and have some chocolate to hand.

...Eating
So. Much. Sugar. 

Cake, ice-cream, cookies, more cake, extra ice-cream, and oh-go-on-then-I'll-just-have-one-more-(handful) of Millionaire's shortbread bites.

Beautiful cake display at the Etsy Craft Party

This cake was unbelievably delicious. Kudos to the anonymous Brighton-based baker!

Saturday's treat (to the power of 10) was from Boho Gelato. When my friend Holly and I realised that we could get a 0.5l tub for less money than two tiny paper cups with two scoops each, we basically had to do it; it was essentially free ice-cream. And it was DELICIOUS. 

(L-R) Sachertorte, Mango, Chocolate with Orange, Cinnamon and Fig, and Salted Caramel Peanut Butter

I also made my own version of Michelle's incredible recipe, by substituting normal milk for coconut rice milk. It. Was. Heaven.

Although Michelle is right - it doesn't exactly photograph well!

Consequently, Sunday involved a lot of this:



And some of this:

... Crafting
A decorative flag at the Etsy Craft Party. It was fun trying to get everything on the check-list into one design. The raspberry ripple is made of ribbon, and the waffle-cone check is strips of photograph. I was really struggling with how to include an animal, so it's a good thing I ate that cupcake with a bird topper, really...

... Admiring
A fun and unusual sculpture at the We Made This event at Friends' Meeting House, and some adorable miniature terrariums.

An incredible dino-tool box hybrid in TK Maxx. Sadly, I did not buy him, because I was busy being a grown up and spending all my money on Sophisticated Work Dresses. Which I'll undoubtedly end up accessorising with plastic jewellery that most five year olds would find tacky.

The sun-soaked sights during a long walk along the seafront on Sunday afternoon (which burnt off at least four tiny plastic scoops of gelato...). Hove seafront was so happy and peaceful, I felt like I was on holiday.

I'm linking up to the lovely Hannah's The Week That Was: Captured. I'm so thankful for my new phone camera for letting me start documenting my life again. Even if my life is essentially just a dessert menu.

What have you been up to recently?

Katie xxx