Things worth spending money and time on

1 Travel.
And I don't mean commuting. Any travel, will it be for a day out in a new place or holiday. And it doesn't have to be abroad. Ok for me living in UK only 9 years there are still places I haven't seen. Here are lovely little towns and villages so picturesque that it's a pleasure just to be there. I can stay in Travelodge for £24 (managed to get that once so far), but if there is nice town or something else worth visiting I am on.

2 Shoes.
Any shoes, flats, heels, boots, trainers. Whatever is your thing. They have to be well made and comfortable. and real leather is the thing.

3 Skin care.
Because you can always buy new clothes, but your skin should last you all your life. And don't get me wrong- big brands don't always mean better quality. Just find something which works for you.

4 Perfumes.
In this case brand matter. As there are few which use natural ingredients and they tend to be expensive. They as well last for longer as the % of the perfume in perfume is bigger. And bigger the better.

5 Hobbies.
Whatever it is what you like to do, collecting small animal figurines, knitting, skydiving. Whatever floats your boat. Money spent on that will always be rewarding.

6 Your home.
Making your house a home is important. So spending money on it is worth it. If it makes you want to be there it worth it. Even small seemingly unimportant things like candles and cushions, and blankets.

7 You.
Your education, passions, investing in yourself is important.

8 Languages.
Just as above. And it is great to be able to communicate with people in different places. And it can give you fall back job option (I know. I work as an interpreter for last 7 years).

And what would you add to this list?

Another craft project for future and one down, more to go

Craft project for future is:

Found it on the market for 5, could not resist. Needs a bit of TLC and will be like new. Just waiting for few bits and bobs.

One down one to go is ongoing project of remaking old picture frames (charity shop finds) into something more useful.

So paint them both gold and next stage is:

Caged butterfly.

Real use for it is- earing hanger.

And what are yours current projects? Dare to share.

To do list

I will skip boring things that needs sorting like tax return. It's only about my holiday craft projects.

1 Cushions, more cushions, preferably in patchwork made out of old fabrics and clothes.
2 Bookcases, they need uplifting with some nice decoupage.
3 Welsh dresser, needs sanding and painting, or just varnishing- haven't decided yet.
4 Card these 2 fleeces which are waiting for it over a year.
5 Finish rug with carded wool.
6 Make a rug from cut up dressing gowns.
7 Sideboard from lounge needs uplifting (paint or decoupage?).
8 Make those light woolen trousers I think about for a year.
9 Make some more of pictures for the walls.
10 Make woven belt, which means making a heddle first.

So list of 10. At least I started on the cushions. And then got side tracked, Just found lovely picture frames in charity shop so going to work on them first.
But on the achievement side just finished another huge cushion cover. Here it is.

What is slow life?

Several years ago we made decision to start to work for ourselves instead for various other people. That completely improved our work-life balance. First because we both do what we enjoy so work is not a stress and sometimes great fun. Second, because we have great flexibility when we do what and how much time we spend as a family.
That as well gives me time do try lots and lots of different crafts, bake lots of cakes and teach our daughter that life is not closed in TV screen (which we don't have). It all happened slowly and gradually. Too much of a shock wouldn't be good in that matter.

So first went the telly. We live without it for almost 6 years now. And apart of the time when I was student first time and didn't have one because couldn't afford it, this is longest time without one. Completely conscious decision, on which we will never go back. And believe me, once you get rid on one then you realise how much time it was stealing. We all are guilty ,of sitting in front of one till 3 am, because we just flicked on different channel. Now if we want to watch something, it's on the computer, on demand and one thing at the time.  Or simply go to cinema. But even better read the book. Or do something else. Suddenly there are  other things to do.

Then we took up gardening, in a sense of growing our own fruit and veg. We even kept chicken for few years, but they damaged the garden too much, so its easier to buy free range eggs. Especially if you have limited space.

We all are quite big on recycling, upcycling, renovating etc. So we do best we  can with limited resources. Because lets be honest, working for yourself means no regular pay cheque. Fortunately we have quite established household, and any investments can be made when we can and want to. Majority of our furniture comes from freecycle, secondhand shops and car boot sales. Some are donation from friends. Most got a bit of work. I don't have photos before and after, just after will have to do. They  are on my Instagram

Food, that is whole huge chapter of our lives.
We all need to eat. We all should eat well. We all know that.
I am lucky, I love cooking. It helps me unwind after busy day. To the extent that I not only cook everything from scratch, but as well make my own preserves and pickles.  Lots of our activities evolve around the food. Gathering wild fruit for  jams and pies, Elderflowers for cordial and wild mushrooms for pates. It is amazing how much wild stuff you can find within urban areas. Just short walk from home we have cherry trees, pears, plums and bramley apples. All it takes is a bit of effort.
We have neighbour who shoots rabbits and drops them on our doorstep. All we have to do is to skin it, gut it and cook it. I know horrible to think for some, but if you eat meat, you have to come to terms  with where it came from.

So big question is how do I link my passion for fashion with all of that. Simples - as  King Julian would say. Fashion - in all aspects, the one to wear and the one of interior is only inspiration. If I find something I really want and can't afford it, I try to make it. Or something close to. But sometimes it only about idea. Sometimes I can find something close enough on the high street and modify it. Amazing what you can do once you make friends with sawing machine.

And the real luxury is having time for what you like to do, not to buy stuff with designer logo on it for elevated price. And not getting into debt due to said stuff. Only to outdo your friend, or follow favourite celeb.
At the moment my luxury is to have time to do colouring with my daughter (there are some great ones on amazon look for Millie Marotta), choose the best ones and frame them in decoupaged frames from charity shop and create absolutely unique home decor.

I know rather long ramble. And it only meant to be list of the stuff which I want to do during my holiday. Oh well, leave it for next post.

I am on holiday

at least from Uni that is. So according to plan my days should be filled with all my craft projects, which got put off for later.
However reality is a bit different. I managed to make one patchwork cushion. And bake one cake.
Rest of the time was preoccupied with family, work,  food shopping and going out for walks. Nothing too exciting.

Anyway I should put recipe for the cake. Will do later.
Instead look at the huge cushion cover I made. It has to be so big, as the cushion was handmade by Grandma with down from home grown geese.

Slow life at its best at my parents.

my holiday, and a half-term

so despite being on holiday haven't achieved much, apart from spending time with my family and going for walks.

so here are few pics, that's the best I can do now.

Quick dinner, spring soup.

After having roast chicken dinner, which for just three of us is way too much of a meat I had to something with the rest of the bird.
So I peeled the remaining meat and reserved it, and put the bones with juices from roasting in a pan of water with some herbs (lovage, celeriac leaves, bay) and boiled it.
That made an excellent stock.
Once stock is ready it needs straining.


Then it's all about personal preference or what is to hand.

I put 3 potatoes, 2  carrots, and 1 parsnip all peeled and cut into small cubes. Bring it to boil and when veggies are tender add some greens and maybe a can of beans. Season to taste and here it is.

Dinner in 20 min (providing you have ready stock, which needs simmering for at least an hour).

Perfect if you don't have much time and fancy something wholesome and healthy.

It can be done in vegetarian version, just use veggie stock instead of chicken, but why.

more baking: Black & White

So first the sponge:

6 eggs, separated
150g caster sugar
115g plain flour
25g cocoa powder
40g melted butter

Whip the egg whites with half of the sugar until stiff, then in separate bowl whip egg yolks with remaining sugar until creamy and fluffy.  Add butter to the yolks, add 1/3 of the whites to loosen up the mixture. Add sieved flour and cocoa, mix together. Add the rest of the whites and fold gently. It's important not to knock out the air. Pour into a lined baking tray (I used square 12in one with loose base). Bake for approx 30 min or until inserted stick comes out dry.

In a mean time prepare gelatine - 2 leaves or 2 heaped tbs just cover with hot water and let it dissolve.

For cream in a classic it is just 500 ml double cream and 2 tbs of icing sugar. However I changed it and used 200 ml of double cream and approx 250ml  of stracciatella yogurt. Whipped the cream, added the yogurt and the gelatine.

When the sponge was ready I cut it in half, used the plum vodka to soak it, put the cream on the bottom layer, top it up with second layer and put chocolate ganache on top. Chill it in a fridge for at least 2 hours, or even better overnight.

Chocolate ganache: 100ml of double cream- heated, 100g of dark chocolate (74%) melt in the cream and pour all over the cake.

Enjoy.

been in a mood for baking and it's a season for rhubarb,

so made this

and how did I make it? easy:

shortcrust pastry:
250g of flour
1 tsp of baking soda
220g cold butter
100g light brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp of cinnamon
1 tbs of ginger
                           
mix together, can be in a blender form the ball and chill for at least 30 min.

In a mean time make vanilla creme patissiere
600 ml of milk
100g of vanilla sugar
6 big egg yolks
40 g of plain flour
40 g of starch or corn flour

mix about 100 ml of milk with sugar, flour, starch and egg yolks. Boil the rest of the milk and then add the mixture and boil for half a minute. Make sure there are no lumps. take of the heat and cover with cling film so no skin will form.

Take a half to the dough and line a tray, bake it for approx 20 min until lightly golden in 180C.
When it's in the oven prepare rhubarb, about 600g of it. Cut  in a cm pieces, dust it with starch or corn flour, sugar and cinnamon.

Take the tray form the oven, spread rhubarb and cover it with creme patissiere, then cover it with the rest of the dough (can grate it to make even layer) and bake for further 40 min.

Cut, serve with coffee and enjoy.

so weekend ended up

being wine, ironing and binge watching Silent Witness. And I should have done some more revision. Should have, but didn't and ended up cramming stuff today on the bus. While going for exam. Oh well. Not the first time nor the last. Anyway physical evidence done, now for the rest.

Because I thought I deserve a treat I got those. My fav. And my cats fav as well.

Oh and something from this weekend, I was asked for ID in a shop. First in a decade at least. Made my day :-)

And again

revision. Physical evidence this time. I won't bore you with specifics of paint or blood spatter analysis. Just need to learn them for Monday. Then finish my CSI report for next Friday.
Chemical evidence for Tuesday week after and Biology and Anthropology (read decomp stages etc) for Thursday. And that will be all for this year. Then I can concentrate on looking for more digs. My DIY projects, crafts, cooking, fashion and everything else I will get inspired to do.
I am looking forward to my 3 and a half months of holidays.

To get more inspired to work towards holidays- little photo from the last ones in South West.

Sunrise in Abbotsbury

Chocolate cake in a middle of the week.

Because why not?

for cake
200 g butter
200 g caster sugar
4 large eggs
250g self-raising flour
125g dark (80%) chocolate- melted

Cream butter and sugar together until smooth, then add eggs and flour and mix. On the end add melted chocolate and mix some more. Put into a lined round baking tray - not too big, approx 20cm diameter. Bake in 180C for 45 min, or until stick comes out clean :-).

Once is baked cool it a bit, then cut in at least 2 layers, 3 are better but its your choice.

Filling
300ml double cream
200g dark (80%) chocolate- melted

Whip the cream, when it holds its shape add melted chocolate and whip some more. Just not too much (double cream likes to change into butter if whipped for too long).

Put the layer of the cake, cover with cream mix and repeat as long as you have cream to put on the top.

Put the cake in a fridge for at least 2 hours, then enjoy with some coffee.

May day weekend

and I am busy writing my CSI reports and witness statements and revising. Oh well, just 2 more weeks and it will be over.