Pancakes

I may be a little late on the scene as Pancake Day came and went a couple of weeks ago now, but in my opinion, something so good should in no way be confined to one day of the year. I recently had a craving which could only be filled by some doughy goodness and settled on American-style pancakes as the only cure. I followed this Nigella Lawson recipe (which labels them 'breakfast pancakes', but let's be honest, breakfast food at any time of the day is always a winner).  I find Nigella & Jamie Oliver recipes in particular to be pretty foolproof, so I had very high hopes.

I prefer the thicker, fluffy pancakes you'd find over the pond as opposed to our traditional counterparts; there is something so satisfying about stacking them up, choosing your weapons (toppings) and going for it. I think when it comes to pancakes, the rule should always be that you eat enough to be full and then one more which makes you feel a little bit sick....just me? Ok then.

I decided to add some dark chocolate chips as well as a few whole raspberries to the mixture before cooking. I then piled on some more raspberries, another handful of chocolate chips for added melty deliciousness and a drizzle of agave syrup to serve. I would have gone for maple, but sometimes you have to work with what you have, so this was the next best option - it just adds a little sweetness as there's not a lot of sugar in the recipe itself.

They were so easy to make and perfect as a nice little treat if you fancy doing something special for your breakfast/lunch/any time food option!

Orange is the New Black

(L-R Sleek Papaya Punch, Rimmel In Love With Ginger & Revlon Tutti Frutti)

Now I know what you're thinking, 'Why have you picked three lipsticks which are exactly the same colour, lined them up in a slightly wonky manner and taken a photo of them?' WELL let me tell you. It's becoming pretty clear that one of the major beauty trends for spring/summer is an orange lip and lucky for me I have a good few to choose from. As far as the shades go, the subtle differences in colour aren't really done justice by a photograph unfortunately, but I promise they are there. And if the crooked nature of their arrangement is irritating you as much as it is me, just bear with me - lipsticks have a tendency to roll around, and when you don't have Blu-Tack to hand there's no stopping them. I tried to create a beautifully precise composition and it just didn't happen, so I'm sorry about that.

Onto the important stuff - I've picked out a few options if you're wanting to tap into the orange lip trend; a couple of bold choices and one slightly more understated option.

1. Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Papaya Punch - If you like matte lipsticks, this is an absolute must. The colour is beautiful orangey coral with a slight hint of pink and when I wear it, I feel as though I should be in some tropical place rocking a grass skirt and flower garland. If that's not a reason to buy a lipstick then what is? The formula is fantastic as well, it stays put like nobody's business and whilst matte lipsticks can be a bit drying, I find that if I wack on some lip balm beforehand then that's not a problem at all.

2. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in In Love With Ginger - This is another great bold option, but feels more nourishing on the lips and has a sheen to it rather than being completely matte. I would say the shade is more of a true orange with red undertones and for such a hydrating lipstick, the pigmentation is insanely good. I don't find that it lasts quite as well as the Sleek option, but that's the price you pay for such a glossy finish. 

3. Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti - I absolutely love the Revlon lip butters; they're so hydrating with almost a balm-like texture and provide a far more sheer finish. Having said that, they do provide a nice dose of colour and can be patted on to achieve more of a stain or built up for a slightly brighter finish. This shade is a lovely orange coral and, most importantly, there's not a hint of shimmer in sight (why they insist on having some of the lip butters resemble a glitter glue stick is beyond me). If you're not quite ready to commit to a full on, in your face orange lip then this is a brilliant choice.

I think as far as the orange lip trend goes there's definitely an option for everyone; you can go matte or glossy, bold and bright or for something a little more daytime appropriate. And anyway, you know what they say: just because the weather's still stuck in mid December, it doesn't mean your face has to be... (nobody says that).

The Staples #5: The Colourful Statement Necklace

(Clockwise from left: Accessorize, Accessorize, Next)

It's time that I came clean; the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, after all. It's been years in the making and it's not something I'm proud of, but I can't deny it any longer; I have an unhealthy obsession with statement necklaces. My jewellery stand is buckling under the weight of the twenty million purchases I've managed to squeeze onto it and I'm still not satisfied. I can't walk past an Accessorize without being lured in by the window display and every time I go into Zara, I genuinely consider spending thirty quid on one of their jewel-encrusted beauties. 

The way I try to justify it to myself is that they are a staple in my wardrobe and if I think about how often I wear them, then I definitely get my money's worth (Ahh that old chestnut! Don't tell me you've never used that argument before). The thing I love about a statement necklace is that it instantly adds something to an outfit; chuck it on over a plain t-shirt or jumper and you've dressed it up in the space of five seconds. As I've mentioned a thousand times before, I unintentionally dress in monochrome or neutrals too much of the time which is where the insanely bright and colourful options come into play. I'm definitely partial to a slightly garish, over the top necklace that treads the line between amazing and tacky and the three pictured above are amongst my favourites for adding a pop of colour to an outfit. Next on my list is this pastel number for spring...who says I have a problem?