Thursday 28 February 2013

1DSunD

If you follow me on Twitter you'll know that Sunday was finally the day we got to see One Direction. I've had a lot of stick for my love of this band in the past but I really don't care, I love them and yes I am 21 years old.




We booked these tickets almost a year ago and ended up buying Sunday matinee tickets which was definitely an experience getting to the O2 for 11am but on we walked towering over every single person there, I'm not kidding we were genuinely a whole head taller than everyone there meaning finding each other in a crowd couldn't be easier!

We all decided to join in with the fan girls and all bought T-Shirts, I think it could well be my new pride and joy!








I won't bang on about the support acts as they weren't much to write home about it, the first girl was possibly the worst singer I've ever heard and the Australian boyband were just a bit boring and samey.

Then the real action began! They did a seriously long set singing all of their songs from the current album and a few extra singles with a huge screen backdrop projecting different London inspired scenes across the stage.






Halfway through, their podium part of the stage started moving forwards towards the crowd ending at a middle stage where they performed 'One Way or Another' which is my new favourite tune and surprisingly 'Teenage Dirtbag', I have a feeling we were among the minority who knew the words to this song!







Post 1D drinks to calm down




I've honestly not had more fun for a while, they're so energetic and every single song everyone was on their feet having a good old boogie. I know they're not "cool" but their songs are fun and lighthearted and sometimes that's just what you need on a Sunday afternoon. I promise you if you're ever feeling down put a couple of songs on from the new album and you'll have a smile back on your face (obviously, of course, if you're a 1D fan). Their world tour started this past weekend and doesn't finish until November so they must have a few fans out there.

I do have tickets to Beyonce and Wireless festival with JT and Jay Z so I promise I'll blog about some slightly cooler artists soon!

Friday 22 February 2013

Summertime Prep

My Mum has recently booked our holiday to Croatia and I got so excited I went straight to Topshop and invested in loads of bikinis.

However, it did dawn on me that summer is creeping round quickly and the old bikini body routine has not been started yet. So I thought to jump start this I'd blog some ideas to tempt you lot to start with me!
hi


I'm not a believer in dieting, I like food too much. So I try to exercise to counteract the burgers I eat rather than saying no to those deliciously cheesy burgers because where's the fun in that?

I try to run 3 times a week after work but I always seem to either be busy or it's just too bloody cold to go outside. So I looked at Lauren Conrad's blog for inside inspiration. Her website is full of really interesting reads so check it out.


rings and swimwear


This following circuit is starting to actually make some differences and is easy to do just before bed or even after a short workout.

Here's the recipe:

10 pushups
30 lunges
30 bicycle crunches (I thought this was pretending to ride a bike on your back but it's this)
60 secs of jumping jacks
60 secs of plank

Repeat twice (try and get 3 in if you've had one too many doughnuts today - today is one of those days for me)

If you try to get into a routine of doing this any off night you have from the gym/run/brisk walk then I think you'll really feel the difference.

Obviously healthy eating is advised and will help that bikini bod come along faster but some days (cold days) you need a biscuit and a tea, why deny yourself that?


summer, get here soon

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Leon's Venison Casserole Recipe

Last weekend I went home back to Kent and the countryside, on my trip back up to London my mother sent me off packing with a joint of venison to remind me of home.

So I found this recipe in the Leon Family and Friends cookbook, I couldn't recommend the recipe or the book more, it has some really easy recipes with quite simple ingredients.

So here's how to make this...


From a hunk of meat like this...


You will need:

800g venison (or try pheasant/pigeon/beef/lamb)
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
125ml red wine (small glass)
400g tin of tinned tomatoes
4tsp ground cumin
1tsp chilli powder (or to taste)
1tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp dried oregano
20g dark chocolate (optional)
2-4 potatoes depending on size, peeled and sliced (I used 3 medium sized baking potatoes)
50g cheddar cheese, grated
Melted butter to glaze

You should do this:

1. Fry off your garlic and chilli pepper in a big saucepan (or a casserole if you have one that can go on the hob) and wait until they're all nice and soft. The recipe doesn't say this but I would have added some mushrooms here to bulk it up a little and add a bit more interest in there.


2. Pop your prepared chunks of venison (or any meat) into the pan until they've browned.


3. Add your glass, and pour another one for yourself, and let it start bubbling and then add the chopped tomatoes, cumin, chilli powder, cinnamon, oregano and chocolate (I'd say this is optional) and some salt and pepper, Sergeant Pepper helped me out on this one. 


4. Bring it all up to a simmer for 20 minutes, go away and drink some more of that red, come back and give it a taste adding more spices as you wish. Then take it off the heat and put it aside to cool.


5. Peel and slice your potatoes to slices, don't go too thin on the slicing or they'll burn and crisp up too much.

6. If your meat wasn't cooked in your chosen dish then put it all in there and start adding the potatoes in any pattern that takes your fancy but make sure they overlap to keep those juices in.


7. Brush with a little melted butter and sprinkle over half of the grated cheese. Pop in the oven for about 40 minutes, then add the rest of the cheese and finish it off with another 5-10 minutes until it's golden brown and you're too hungry to wait any longer, just me?

8. Serve with any green veg or on it's own. Enjoy!



Thursday 14 February 2013

1 year

I'm pretty sure I'm going against the grain today by not doing a blog today about 'great craft ideas for your valentine' or the perfect place for dinner on that special day of the year. I'm afraid I'm not much of a Valentines Day girl.

However, I started my blog one year ago and I thought that deserved more celebration than a day that forces romance on everybody. My first ever post was a cringey, appropriately timed Valentines post about my Valentines evening with SO many 'lovely's in there. I look back on that girl and wonder how I ever became her, I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that these days! Thankfully for my readers I snapped out of it and now (hopefully) write about much more interesting things than about a boyfriend, I've loved having this blog because I can see the change from that to the girl I am now, so clearly.

I started the blog as an Internet diary so I could remember all of my favourite days (geddit?!) and so all of my friends across the country at Uni could share these days with me so it only seems appropriate to look back on some of my favourite days this year.



SUBU Elections with one of my favourite boys, James Rodgers




Jubilee Cake at Ideal Home Show


Champagne and tea at Hotel du Vin with Lucy


The Geisha girls in Alpe D'Huez



Last Bournemouth weekend with the girls




Martinis before Bombay Bicycle Club


Charlotte's birthday, Call Me Maybe with Julian


Amy's birthday with the home gals


Hackney weekend with Charlotte






Turning 21 in style



21st birthday in London with Lucy


Mummy Springett's birthday in Kew Gardens


Photoshoot in Brighton





London 2012 Olympics at Horse Guards Parade


Skiing with the girls in Val Thorens

I'm so happy to have this diary and that I can share it all with you, here's to the second year being even more exciting!

Tonight I plan on using the day as an excuse to go out in London and have fun with my friends, celebrating being in the best city in the world with some great friends around me, I couldn't think of anything better.