Three Things Tuesday

S'up homies!

I was about to say "Happy Tuesday" but we all know Tuesdays are THE WORST so I'm going to go with "Hang on in there guys- it's almost ruddy Wednesday!". Thankfully, all is not lost, because the world is full of beautiful things and today I'm sharing three of them with you. Ready? 

1. Escargo-go-GO
The lovely Bex over at the Pigeon's Nest (she of the incredible unicorn hoop) is only having a bloody GIVEAWAY to win one of her super adorbs crochet snails. You can find Bex here on Facebook to do the competition-y rules. Please note, there is a catch - you have to decide on a favourite colour. She's an evil vixen that girl. 

I'm off to stare at a rainbow and start making a shortlist. I've only got til Saturday after all!

2. Bramances for ever
Who needs a date* when your BFF brings you surprise Valentine's gifts!? Especially ones involving faux-snakeskin boxes. 

3. Myth Bust-ing
*boob-related warning klaxon*
Don't panic, guys- there's no nudity here. But I AM going to (briefly) talk about my lady-lumps**. 

Is it just me, or are bras really secret evil boob cages and the most uncomfortable things on the entire planet?! I've actually considered installing a bra hook next to my coat hook, so I can banish them the minute I get home. Well, my friends, let me tell you - this bra has totally changed my life. It's as if your boobs are being hugged (in a totally friends-only way, obvs) by the softest material known to man. I don't know what that material is, but then I'm not a man (hence why I need to own lady-lump holders). Seriously, ladies - treat yo' self (and your boobs) to one of these. 

Finally, in other news, I've decided I probably shouldn't be allowed near the internet this early in the morning. Apparently my discussing-boobs-online filter has yet to activate. Sorry.

Katie xxx

* OK, I also had a date. Which involved alcoholic milkshakes and the phrase "I breakfast on the screams of tiny plastic men". BEST. VALENTINE'S. EVER. 

**That is the worst thing anyone has ever called boobs. I do apologise. It will never happen again.

Six Things Sunday

Hello lovelies :)

Happy Sunday! You're WORKING that bed-hair today.

Before we get to the good stuff, I've got an important life announcement; I've decided to change my surname to "Shotgun". Not only does that mean that one day I'll genuinely be able to invite people to my Shotgun Wedding, it'll also make me seem posher because it's double-barrelled. Bahaha....

Assuming you're still reading (congrats on making it past those puns!), here's a list of things currently contributing to my eye twinkle:

1. Breaking Hearts
I see no reason why Valentine's chocolate can only be shared with someone you love in a naked kind of way. Especially when it's full of peanut butter.

2. Clock Watching
Well, watch-watching; but that sounds weird. I recently decided I needed a watch in my life, so I could start doing not-so-subtle wrist-check in boring meetings. I couldn't decide which one was my favourite, so I chose three. Story of my life.

3. Growing Up
You know you've made a friend for life when they add you to their door frame height chart. Don't even try to pretend you aren't aching to do this in your own house too now!

4. Flights of fancy
As my new watch will attest, there's always time to go travelling if you really want to, and today I'm meeting some friends to plan my first international adventure of 2016; Paris followed by Copenhagen. 



I'm most excited about visiting this bakery, because they appear to offer SPOUSES MADE OF CAKE. What do you mean "You're going to leave Copenhagen as a widow"?!?

5. Wish you were here...
My Parisian postcards won't be the first I've sent this year. Postcards from day trips are also totally legit, you know. 

6. Rawrsomely comfortable
Shortly before Christmas, I received a surprise parcel that was literally full of glitter and magic. And not just any old magic, either - DINOSAUR MAGIC. It turned out Kezzie had sent me several incredible Christmas presents, including a dinosaur duvet cover(!!!) specifically for me to cut up and play with! This discovery preceded a significant amount of squealing, because I knew exactly what I was going to make...

Since moving into my new house last November I'd been trying (and failing) to track down my Dream Dressing Gown. Mostly for my housemates' sake as, having thrown out my old one in the move, I'd been forced to wander round the house in a barely long enough jumper. Yes, forced, I tell you. 

After a wholly fruitless search, I'd decided to try and make one myself. It turns out making a dressing gown by eye is much harder than a shift dress, but it just about does the job. 

Ironically, it's turned out about the same length as the jumper. But, as my housemates pointed out, at least now it's my stegosaur-arse hanging out instead....

What's been making you smile recently? 

Katie xxx

A rather magical weekend

Hey m'dears!

How have you been?

I felt so relaxed after my week off I was practically floating on a cartoon cloud. I did everything I'd hoped to do and so much more. I also ate an excessive number of carbohydrates, which I'm pretty sure is what people are referring to when they use the phrase "living the dream".

Me, enthusiastically slicing carbs. Hurrah!

My outing to London Zoo on Friday far exceeded my expectations (admittedly, I was mainly expecting to fall asleep in front of the monkeys). I don't know if it was the company (charming), the caffeine (delicious), or the animals (awesome) but I was still partying 23 hours after my 2am wake-up call. And by "partying" I mean "drinking pre-made mojitos in the park", because I'm all class.

Thankfully, being up that early gave me plenty of time to research hipster coffee haunts, and The Coffee Jar more than delivered in the form of totally kick-arse white chocolate and hazelnut cookies:

I spotted all kinds of weird and wonderful critters on our way round, topped off by being INCREDIBLY brave during the Spider Walk (i.e. being put in a room with a whole bunch of BLOODY MASSIVE SPIDERS who were completely free to move around and/or jump in your face, and managing not to cry). I definitely earned the ice-cream I scoffed afterwards, and I'm pretty sure shaking from fear burns calories too.

HUUUUUGE moth. These things were so vast we all thought they were fake. Nope.

The Lesser Striped Upside-Down Bird*

Couldn't spot this guy, so I assumed that he was hiding from fish school name-taunting bullies

Although, my favourite sight of the entire day had to be this:

As for last weekend, it was literally magical, because I got to attend a Harry Potter themed Hen Do. Most of the magic was organised (fantastically!) by the Hen's sister; including HP themed goody bags, surprise boxes of (gluten free) baked goods, and amazing activities- a delicious dinner, pottery painting, and drinking so many cocktails that some girls' stomachs decided to expelliarmus their contents. Does that make throwing up sound more or less gross!?

My contribution to the weekend's agenda was a Potter-themed Scavenger Hunt, taking the Hens on a tour of Worthing and creating a legitimate excuse for some Hen Do-themed hashtags. Double win.  

Each team had an illustrated list of things to find and photograph:

The pottery painting may well have been my favourite part of the weekend, and I think it's fair to say the owner of Art-Ful is my (much cooler) kindred spirit:

Batman, Lichtenstein, incredible fonts...

... AND FAKE DEER HEADS.

This was my super-sophisticated contribution; I can't wait to get this bad boy home and full of amaretto sours.

Finally, despite seeing ocarpis, glow-in-the-dark beetles, and a man who looked like Dumbledore over the weekend, the weirdest thing I spotted has to be just how freakily disproportionate my thumb is to, well, everything else in the world. How could I never have noticed that before?!?



Seriously- have you ever seen a bigger thumb (excluding foam ones at baseball games)?!

Katie xxx

* OK, OK I made that name up. I never said I was David Attenborough**.

** I wish I was David Attenborough.

Fish Facts and Italian Figs

Hello lovelies! 

Oops. It's been a while again, hasn't it? If it helps, I've learned a helluva lot in these past few weeks, and I'm going to share some of it with you now; so settle yo' pretty self down to learn some wisdoms... 

Discovery number 1 was that, apparently, my non-competitive approach to most boardgames (I'm one of those annoying people who genuinely thinks it's the "just taking part" that counts) does NOT apply to Jungle Speed. Essentially, Jungle Speed is a more hardcore, multi-player version of Snap. There might have been an accidental hand-gouging incident and/or a moment when I nearly wrestled a fellow Jungle Speed-er onto the pub floor whilst grappling over the Jungle Speed stick (which looks rather disconcertingly like something you'd find in Anne Summers). It was possibly not my classiest hour, but I like to think the fact that the game is French (the root of all class) gave me a marginal touch of sophistication. Ahem.

[image source]

Secondly, I discovered that (apparently!) some fish like PARSNIPS; something I heard on a recent behind-the-scenes tour of Brighton Sealife Centre, along with a myriad of other aquatic facts. Other gems included the fact that octopuseseses can squeeze their entire body through a hole the size of their beak. Yes - beak. Admittedly, I already knew the beak part, but the idea of a motorbike-sized octopod wriggling through a hole the diameter of a Smarties tube seems rather creepily surreal. 

Say whaaaat?!

I have no idea why I chose those two metaphors, by the way; clearly I have subliminal, repressed urges to join a biker gang with it's own tuck shop. Ok, they're not that repressed. 

Thirdly, thanks to this summer's genius Lego/Sealife Centre collaboration, I can confirm I (somewhat shamefully) adore Girl Lego. I want to stress very strongly here that I am NOT OK with "made for girls" Lego; the idea of girls only being able to Lego Up when it comes in a Barbie-approved colour pallet is equal parts offensive, outdated and ridiculous. But I have to admit, the pink and purple bricks did make constructing a Lego jellyfish much easier; an opinion endorsed by my male Lego playmates. Ha.

I didn't photograph my jellyfish, so here's another fun fact

Number four is a different kind of discovery, and I would be very grateful if you could please all cross, double-cross and triple-cross your fingers (like Heston's triple-cooked chips, but less crispy) for me, because I think I've finally found somewhere to live that is not my parents' futon. I am incredibly grateful to them for the on-going use of said futon, but that hasn't stopped me planning my return to mattress-based solo living (which sounds much filthier than I intended). I intend to stay in bed for AT LEAST two weeks solid. You might need to post me snacks. 

The hot chocolate I bought to celebrate finding a flat.

And the ADORABLE cream tea I had for breakfast the next day. WHAT? I was still celebrating!!

Finally, given the current state of my futon-dwelling back, my general love for all things nice-smelling, and the fact that The Body Shop's coconut perfume is my "Signature Scent", I was excited x 3,000 when I received an invite to The Body Shop's summer range launch at Brighton Marina(!) Although, come to think of it, aside from anosmics, I guess everyone loves nice-smelling things?! Please do let me know if you're the kind of person who would reject a Hot Cross Bun scented candle in favour of Eau Du Unwashed Rugby Socks. 

Baskets of chips = the perfect seaside snack

Apologies; I digress. Post RSVP'ing (accompanying by girlish shrieking), I took Skye on a mini road trip along the seafront (complete with Taylor Swift car-eoke, of course!) to meet the team and hear all about turning my bathroom into a SPATHROOM. GENIUS. The Body Shop girls gave us a whistle-stop tour of the scrummy new products and some of the classics (the Body Shop's equivalent of a little black dress and a Breton top) in their newly branded Beauty Gems range (basically the in-store equivalent of a hot tip from your best friend).

I swear to God, this moisturiser is the best thing I have ever smelled. I wanted to spread it on toast.

We were then treated to a skin consultation session, during which Skye was told that her self-selected skincare products are perfect for her skin, and I apologised profusely for my skincare "routine" of scrubbing my face in the shower and the fact that my chin was covered in flaky pastry after I'd inelegantly devouring this whilst the consultant was talking to Skye: 

After physically forcing myself to put the Kukui moisturiser down, I spritzed on a squirt of their new Indian Jasmine perfume, which was delicious. I then subsequently discovered that I preferred the even more delicious Italian Summer Fig one, and found myself suffering from Spritzer's Remorse (aka a Serious First World Problem). Thankfully, the Body Shop saved the day like a perfectly-exfoliated, animal-cruelty free superhero by putting bottles of the Fig perfume in the goody bags! 

In summary- puns, chips, bubbles and smelly things?! What is NOT to love? OOH - and tiny pots of Eton Mess (I can't believe I almost forgot those!) 

Have you discovered any fun fish facts recently? 

Wishing you all a magical weekend full of adventures; like a grown-up version of an Enid Blyton novel- sponsored by red wine and brunch.

Katie xxx

Three Things Thursday

Hello lovelies!

In the grand tradition of Three Things Thursday, here are three things currently rocking my socks:

1. Chocolate Dinosaur Biscuits
When my sister-in-law-to-be told me she'd bought me a present as a thank you for assisting with their wedding plans, I stressed that there really was no need for a present, because I'm more than happy to help. Then I saw she'd bought me these (which I'd never even heard of before!!) and snatched gratefully received them so quickly that she almost lost a hand.

2. Chocolate Dinosaur Biscuits
So good I'm counting them twice. 

3. Lovely people on the internet
Who send me tweets like this:

Linking to stuff like this:

[image source]

Thank you, lovely internet people - you really are my favourites. 

Have you discovered anything particularly awesome recently?

Katie xxx

Recently I've been...

... Dating
Skye, after she made me her +1 at Present in the Laine's first birthday party. OK, OK, so technically it wasn't an actual date (I could never get a babe like Skye) but I was still very tempted to wear my tuxedo jumpsuit. 

Bubbles and beauty products. Best first birthday ever!

... Running. Voluntarily.
Yes, you read that right. Sorry- I should've made sure you were sitting down first. Admittedly, I've only been three times, but I'm rather freaked out to admit that I'm weirdly enjoying it. 

My "What's happening to me?!" Face of Fear.

My 80's power ballad playlist is probably helping with the enjoyment factor. I'm also hoping that, seeing as power ballads are played over all "learns to do a sport well" montages in every movie ever made, listening to them while running will make me Run Good More Faster too. 

...Eating
ALL THE THINGS. Hence the running. Recent discoveries have included:

A seriously wholesome box of vegetarian Lebanese food from Brighton's Street Food Market, which tasted all the better for being eaten outdoors, perched on a tombstone in my favourite graveyard. What do you mean, you don't have a favourite graveyard?!

Weird tinned fake meat from the Asian supermarket. I've yet to try the fake pork (or "fork") as I call it, but managed to transform the fricken into a reasonable veggie homage to shredded duck pancakes. 

It's something of an understatement to say I was rather excited about finding these chocolate button dispensers in hisbe; a new, independent supermarket in Brighton which only sells local produce. The premise is customers serve themselves by pulling the handle to fill up a paper bag. Essentially, they're arm-bandit arcade machines for sweet-toothed grown-ups; and YOU ALWAYS WIN. 

... Coveting
All the pretty things at the aforementioned PITL birthday party. 

Yes, that's a miniature lucky cat made of gold-coloured chocolate. Of course. 

... Feeling 

So proud of Emma Kate for launching her very own business selling vintage-style kitchen splashbacks; she's one seriously talented lady, and bloody lovely to boot. 

... Drinking
The most viscos milkshake I've ever attempted to suck through a straw, in the toddler-sized form of the Oreo Milkshake at Burgers and Cocktails. Yes, that's my third visit to B&C in under a month. No, I'm not sorry. 

The gorgeous Lauren snapping a shot of her salted caramel milkshake.
Blogger dinner dates rule.

... Plotting
A brand new project. It's a sort-of secret right now, but I'll be revealing all as soon as I can. Sorry- I'm being that annoying "I've got a secret I can't tell you" blogger, aren't I? *proffers packet of biscuits apologetically*

... Finding
The love of my life, thanks to Present in the Laine stocking products from the Brighton Beard Company. Fingers crossed this guy's on tinder!

... Smelling 
Like a Terry's Chocolate Orange, thanks to the Mocha Orange Figs & Rouge hand cream in my PITL birthday party goodie bag. Which was, rather serendipitously, also my favourite product in the shop! :)

... Completing
What will probably be my greatest achievement of 2015. 

My parents are so proud. I've told them to stick the empty jar on the front of the fridge.

What have you been up to recently? 

Katie xxx

P.S. I'm linking up to the fabulous Hannah's #TWTWC

Czeching out Prague

Hello lovelies!

What's the 4-1-1? And, more importantly, what does "4-1-1" even MEAN? 

You veteran readers will be aware that I'm quite a fan of the occasional epic adventure. My travels have taken me from Norwich to Nepal (although, thanks to my Geographical Dyslexia, I couldn't tell you which was which), and last weekend saw me jetting off for a mini-break in Prague. 

There are already countless websites listing the best things to do in Prague much more eloquently than I ever could, so I'm going to focus on the things I know best; weird stuff and food. Mostly food. Before reading any further, please make sure your seatbelts are fastened and your tray tables are in the upright position. Thank you.

Firstly, you simply MUST visit M&S in Wenceslas Square, just to admire the denim shark in their window. 

Seriously- why aren't our M&S stores' window displays this cool?!

Then, if you only have time to eat one thing while you're in Prague, you won't regret choosing the Domácí koláč from Cake Café Prague. It tastes like the love-child of a plum crumble and an apple sponge and, like all great romances, ends in tragedy. In this case, the tragedy was me being too stupid to think of emptying my suitcase and filling it with Domácí koláč before I flew home. 

The other tragedy is that it's SO delicious I couldn't restrain my fork for long enough to photograph it. So, instead, here's a photo of the banana-and-Nutella pancake I had there for brunch the next day. I usually try to visit as many different eateries as I can when I'm on holiday but, when the food is that delicious, a lack of return visit would basically be a crime. 

FYI - the fresh fruit juices are AMAZEBALLS, and totally balance out the fact you're eating whipped cream before 11am. Honest.

Before my visit, I was (not so) reliably informed that Prague's staple cuisine included copious quantities of waffles; so I naturally made it my mission to find some. My quest was harder than expected but, proving I'm nothing if not determined (especially when waffles are involved), I eventually tracked some down at Café Parisienne; where they also serve champagne and broadcast a continuous loop of Victoria's Secret catwalk show footage on a screen behind the bar. Of course. 

The French toast with berry compote isn't too bad either...

Post-brunch, if you feeling the urge to visit a local landmark or two, I'd suggest a stomp over the Charles Bridge to the Gingerbread Museum. 

The term "museum" may be stretching the truth a little, but just LOOK at all the adorable gingerbread. 

Being such a dedicated investigative journalist, I sampled some gingerbread hearts JUST FOR YOU GUYS, and can confirm it tastes as delicious as it looks. 

After discovering on day one that Cafedu make their hot chocolate with actual chocolate buttons, I thought I'd reached Peak Hot Chocolate. Less than 24 hours later, I was (blissfully) proven wrong. I still don't know what Paul does to his hot chocolate, but it is knee-weakeningly good, and as thick as school dinner custard. 

Paul's hot chocolate is EVEN BETTER than a Lion Angel Statue.
It's almost incomprehensible.

Finally, if you want to sample some traditional Czech food (or, y'know, eat something savoury) you can feast like a Carbohydrate King at Restaurant Trilobite; an underground bar, slightly off the beaten track, which seems to be frequented by locals. 

L-R: "Traditional" mash (e.g. full of pork and onions), potato dumplings, sausage and chips, and veggie risotto.

Have you ever been to Prague? And, if so, do you still dream about the Domácí koláč too?

Katie xxx

P.S. The architecture's not bad either, I guess. Although it's no Paul's hot chocolate...