Things I've been to, bought and burnt recently 07/04

*I mean cooked not burnt! A bit of a Sunday supplement for you this week with everything I've been up to recently in the closet, kitchen and outside world

Hi!

I thought I’d do a bit of a mash up this week whilst these things are fresh in my mind.

As we know it’s been Easter, a time for treats, indulgence (it was my birthday too) and you know, Jesus. Turns out I don’t like sharing my birthday with a long weekend as everyone goes away! So, left to my own devices I may have made a few purchases I can tell you about…

We actually had a really lovely chilled Easter at home just us, we were meant to be going away for the long weekend to Porto (I am desperate for even a small dose of mildly warm sun!).

But of course the flights were RIDICULOUSLY more expensive over the bank holiday weekend and Ryanair don’t do a birthday discount 😂 they really should!

We’ve been to Porto once, five years ago, also at this time of year as I was finally proposed to on my 31st birthday and we went the day after. All a surprise to me, but it did take him sixteen years!

** If anyone has any Porto recommendations please do let me know in the comments at the end of here! Obrigado! x

Staying at home but switching off work did actually feel like a proper relax. We did eat out and do a few things, so I’ve got some more reviews for you.

But since we actually had time we also got our Master Chef on a little in the kitchen, so I’ve also got some recent recipes to share too (don’t worry not my own creations). 🍽

Art David Shrigley.

Which is rather unlike me (the relaxing and the cooking). I always enjoy this line by

Pandora Sykes

from her article here: ‘I do not really cook, except for maybe once or twice a week. I heat.’

I am a heater. Not a cooker. I can actually cook, we just don’t have time most week nights for a culinary masterpiece and then in turn I don’t enjoy rushing to make a meal at 8pm that really requires more time / effort / love (and quite frankly I enjoy a jacket potato).

But give me a spare hour or two, a recipe, a little glass of wine (always one for the chef) and allow me to put Kylie on in the kitchen (chef’s privilege musical choice) and I can have quite a pleasant time. I mean I’d still rather be off out for a margarita (drink not pizza).

*The we I mention is me and my husband, plus our whippet Mabel, who consumes but does not cook. Damn small paws.

So, I’ve got some buys and want to buy, some things I’ve been to and booked in the big bad world and some recipe recommendations - basically a Sunday supplement! Let’s go!

BOUGHT / WANT TO BUY

Like I said it was my birthday over Easter so I obviously had to treat myself to some ‘to me, love me’ gifts - they’re always my best ones! And no I’m not fussy / super specific about gifts AT ALL 😂

Here’s my little list of treats, including some I’ve just seen this week so haven’t actually bought but they’re now on my mental wishlist. I need to assess if my wardrobe has a loving space for them, the great seasonal switchover is due!

A mammoth task I always think will take a couple of hours and ends up being an all dayer (weekender) ending with me staring into space amongst various piles of clothing - store for next year / dry clean / charity / sell / sell but wrong season thus keep for later / undecided / nostalgic / I used to love this why don’t I anymore - and so on! (

Olivia Purvis

I think you’re with me!)

But truly I’ll only buy something if I 100% absolutely love it / it betters the thing from the same category I already love the most / I know I’ll wear it next year too / I genuinely need it as I don’t already have an alternative that does the same job.

Obviously, I can deviate from these rules / my genuine ‘need it’ may be somewhat questionable but I do mostly stick to this!

Free People | Spring Flower Jumbo Scrunchie | £15 - Bought. I lost a black and yellow floral Ganni scrunchie I’d had years last year, so this was a necessity of an item!

Cecilie Bahnsen | Uphi Ruffled Trim Yarrow Fil-Coupé Top | £610 - linked here at Farfetch but they do have at Matches with 25% off (do triple check their returns policy now they’re in administration - I’ve still ordered and returned in the last two weeks all okay, but I have seen different stories from people).

This top looks like my dream! Not a need but a desire and I genuinely am lacking in really nice tops for spring / summer.

I do not need any more summer dresses but now separates and a ‘nice-top-n-jeans’ are set to be the song of summer I realise I could do with some dressier tops. I could just buy one (or two) super special numbers like this to wear on repeat… my brain is ticking (as I try to justify this purchase to myself).

Damson Madder | Tish Poplin Midi Dress Grape Embroidery | £125 - Bought. Oh crap I just said I did not need any more summer dresses, I’ve failed myself! BUT I do not own any yellow dresses (pale lemon yes but not yellow) and I thought you could layer a white shirt under this for spring, and add ballet flats with socks, transeasonal!

And I’d seen it on the wonderful BEKA (luuurve her style, and her music, and she’s generally a lovely human) a couple of months ago and was desperate to try it when it launched! I’ll let you know when she arrives.

Beka actually told me she was wearing a big skirt under the dress here, optimum styling. Just bear this in mind if you order the dress.

Wolf & Gypsy Vintage | Fasano Face Side Plate | £40 - I've wanted to visit Nicola Fasano’s workshop in Puglia for years and was meant to be there last June as part of our European roadtrip we took some time out for (I must tell you all about this, lots saved on my highlights on Instagram).

We rerouted for a few reasons and didn’t end up making it to Italy, after driving over 3000 miles through France and Spain. I had envisaged coming home with a whole collection of Fasano’s face plates (since we had the car!). Alas, it wasn’t to be but the odd UK independent occasionally gets a tiny stock drop like this 🙃

Plenty more coming up below…

— The BEST £60 barrel leg jeans I’ve tried, THE sandals of summer, a beauty of a metallic blazer (in sale), the leather skirt you have to see, the OG of fish necklaces (it’s under £90) and the £20 red sunnies.
— My recent beauty buys.
— Recipes, a new restaurant review, some of my regular haunts and a pop up alert!