Crazy Days of Summer FINALE!

Next week autumn blusters upon our doorsteps, begging us to wear scarves and hats. We've even had a wee taste of that these last few days. 

So goodbye my wonderful friend summer, and we shall see you again in 9 months! Enjoy some of my favourite shots from this summer!

Blissful beauty in Devon

Cookies and cream and pistachio flavoured ice cream!

Reflection on The Thames

Red at night, shepherds delight.

Blissful beauty in Devon again.

Beach beauty in Seaton, Devon

Bambi's friends in Bristol

Goodbye Sun. You are amazing.

Linking up with Alicia and Kirsti for the crazy days of summer finale!

Things I'm Loving!

This week I'm loving...

This song

I'm loving this nail polish

I'm loving this cheeky wee cat coming for a visit to my garden

I'm loving this love heart from my cup of coffee!

I'm loving my new crocheted hat (that I had to restart but is looking wicked!)

And I'm loving wearing my hair on the top of my head! p.s how awesome do my cheek bones look!

there will be no Friday photo dump this week, I haven't got internet at my flat so I'm quickly posting this from my cousins. But no internet to blog?? It's life changing!

Linking up with Paisley Jade cos that's still where it's at!

Extreme Makeover - Home Edition

*insert annoying voice here* Hi, I'm Ty and this is the design team.

With out fail, no matter how hard I try, I cannot watch an episode with out crying.

Although it is extreme, it's wonderful at the same time - to a certain extent. Allowing these families to finally be able to live under a leak-proof roof, a warm house, each in their own bed. What more could one ask for when they're suffering so badly?

I have one qualm though. I want to know how many families can actually afford to live in these houses that they're given? Most of the time they're too poor to fix leaky roofs, let alone pay for the utilities to an extreme mansion! And the rooms that these 12 year olds get given when their dream is to be a vet? What if they change their minds in the next year, they're stuck with this overly themed room.... 

I can see the awesome side of that, having a dream room, but is it really a dream?

If you were given the opportunity, what kind of house would you have?

What dreams would you make come true?

Is it all about having the dream home? Or about being with your family regardless of the type of roof over your head?

Pic from here

Red at night, shepherds delight!

Beauty is light

Beauty is being

Beauty is life

Beauty is capturing the moment

Beauty is amazing

Charlotte's Web

I took these photos yesterday afternoon and this afternoon, of the same wee spider, but he had a new web today! (because some silly person with their camera was trying to take a close up and tripped and ripped the web - I could have cried!) 

Even though spiders can be pretty creepy and I'd prefer not to touch one, their webs are AMAZING! 

And I love taking photos of webs covered in raindrops! 

'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly,
''Tis the prettiest parlour that ever did you spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there.'
'Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.'

'I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?' said the Spider to the Fly.
'There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin;
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!'
'Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!'

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, 'Dear friend, what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome--will you please to take a slice?'
'Oh no, no,' said the little Fly, 'kind sir, that cannot be,
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see.'

'Sweet creature,' said the Spider, 'you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you'll step in a moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.'
'I thank you, gentle sir,' she said, 'for what you're pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day.'

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again;
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing:
'Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple--there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead.'

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head--poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour--but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed:
Unto an evil counselor close heart, and ear, and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.

All photos are different and the 2nd one is the only one not edited.

The poem is from here

Things I'm Loving!

Play me :)

I had a little bit of Saturday loving at a festival called Homelanz. NZ and Oz bands. Super choice.

(and before you say it, not that kinda lovin'. Fun kinda lovin'. Although there was one guy...)

I also made a delicious marble cake which I could only have a small portion of cos it was packed with dairy. Nevertheless, it was DELICIOUS!

Each book I've read lately, I've used a different photo for the bookmarks. A nice wee reminder of those people who I love enough to get a photo printed of them!

p.s - this book is soo good! I've nearly finished it in 2 days! It's called 'The Girls' by 'Lori Lansens'. Really recommend it! It's about conjoined twins (I'm pretty sure it's not true though. Maybe based on true facts...dunno!)

I love that I FINALLY have my room sorted at my new house. And by sorted it's only half sorted, but due to  me being the worlds biggest procrastinator it's about as finished as it's going to get!

I can't believe all my clothes fit into that tincy wincy wardrobe! 

EDIT: I JUST LOOKED AT THIS PHOTO CLOSER, AND THE TOP SHELF WHERE IT SAYS XXX, IS ACTUALLY A PACK EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA STONG MINTS. NOT A PORNO HAHA!

I loved sitting out in the sunshine watching this wasp either copulate with/or eat what ever was inside this stalk!

 Sorry the quality's crap, it was zoomed in off my phone!

Don't ya hate it when you bite into your apple to much and get a mouthful of pips?

It happened twice to me this week!

And my Friday Photo Dump. 

p.s again - how cute is Keith! And the photo bottom right second one it - yep it's haggis. And also the other photo where I look like a muppet, middle row right on the right - that's Ladi6! Oh yeah!

So I made a linky for the Friday Photo Dump, can someone let me know if it works? I don't think it is. But you should all link up if it does :)

Also linking up over at Paisley Jades - cos that's where it's at!

My Saturday of Loving.

Sometimes it pays to be a dick. Like on Saturday when we were at the tube station; my friend Laura went to take a photo of me and I yelled out "GO NEW ZEALAND!" and this lady behind me was like 'oh yeeeaaahhhh!' and then I talked to her for ages about New Zealand and turns out she's from Eastbourne! 

(it was just before this photo was taken, but the lady in the background with blonde hair was the one who came and talked to me!)

I also love that I met Ladi6 (excuse the photo. It's one of THE worst photos of me ever!)

And I love that I met a cultural Aborigine man (despite him looking like Santa...)

And I love that I wore a purple wig for the better part of the afternoon.

And I love that I got to eat Burger Rings

And I love that I had a super fun time. And super yay for free stuff! 

Edited - not super yay for all my tummy rolls in nearly all of the photos. That diet IS STARTING TOMORROW!

The not so dairy-free Marble Cake!

I made this for a treat to go with our Haggis and Neeps this evening! It doesn't really go, but I thought I better contribute something!

I found the recipe here but adapted it to make it yummier! I couldn't find the cocoa at Tescos so I bought some cooking chocolate which I melted instead! 

The recipe is...

Ingredients

225g butter, softened

225g caster sugar

4 eggs

225g self-raising flour

3 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Note: after typing that out, I thought it said 1 TABLESPOON of vanilla extract not a teaspoon- whoops, looks like we've got an extra vanillary cake!

Note 2: when stirring, it works way better if you have the Mamma Mia soundtrack and the first 3 Glee soundtracks on shuffle. It makes the whole cake making activity more enjoyable.

Heat oven to 180C/gas 160C/gas 4. Grease a 20cm cake tin and line the bottom with a circle of greaseproof paper. If you want to make life easy, simply put all the ingredients (except the cocoa powder) into a food processor and whizz for 1-2 mins until smooth. If you prefer to mix by hand, beat the butter and sugar together, then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Fold through the flour, milk and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.

Divide the mixture between 2 bowls. Stir the cocoa powder into the mixture in one of the bowls. Take 2 spoons and use them to dollop the chocolate and vanilla cake mixes into the tin alternately. When all the mixture has been used up (and if young kids are doing this, you'll need to ensure the base of the tin is fairly evenly covered), tap the bottom on your work surface to ensure that there aren't any air bubbles. Take a skewer and swirl it around the mixture in the tin a few times to create a marbled effect.

Bake the cake for 45-55 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Turn out onto a cooling rack and leave to cool. Will keep for 3 days in an airtight container or freeze for up to 3 months.

So my version didn't have the right amount of milk. It kinda spilt over the spoon and went into the bowl then proceeded to keep pouring over onto my feet and the floor. 

I HATE milk. 

Always have, always will. 

I CANNOT stand the smell or taste, so this nearly resulted in a vomit marble cake! 

Never fear, this cake IS vomit free!

And I just used a block of cooking chocolate which I melted half of, and then smashed the rest of it up to throw in as an extra treat.

It'll be interesting how it tastes as I don't eat dairy. A small portion of cake should be fine, but if it's good then I'm doomed! 

I just checked on the cake now and apparently the cake tin leaks...


But....


Ta Da!


The during and after!

You leave me by myself for a while and this is what I think about...

So I was just having a think about Halloween, and realised that I don't even know why it happens! It's such a random holiday to 'celebrate', or does it make total sense and I just don't know why? Is it one of those 'bad' holidays where it started like Guy Fawkes blowing someone up or something? Or have I got that wrong too?

I can count the number of times I've been out trick or treating on one hand (ok, maybe like 6 or 7 times!)! And that's including the times Mum would take me and my younger sister to our Granny and Grandad's house in Petone, where we'd be dressed up, we'd knock on their door and 'surprise' them, then we'd go to the neighbours to the right of them and then to the dairy because they were the 'safest' places to go! (and Granny new the dairy owners really well! Me and Mum even bumped into the lady a few weeks before I came to London and she remembered us! And this was from when I was about 6!) And that was the extent of our trick or treating! 

I was always to jealous of the kids from my class who go to go trick or treating EACH year and when their parents didn't go with them - woah, hold the phone! They were sooo cool! 

But now looking back, I didn't miss out on anything. Maybe a few fillings from all the sweets?!

What were your trick or treating experiences like? Were you allowed out? 

Halloween 2009. I was a moose!

Wordless Sunday - Reflection

Linking up with Stacey at Kendyls Place for...

Things I'm Loving!

Play me :)

This week I'm loving...

My new flat. Check out that garden!

All the leaves scattered everywhere.

This fat thing. I've been home so often that I know what time Keith poos, and when he wants feeding. A sure sign that I should get a job!

And I'm loving doing a Friday Photo Dump. I got the idea off Kelle at Enjoying the small things. 

Basically you just upload all the photos you took on your phone during the week, and dump them all on ya blog! Easy peasy!

I also made a bloggy button for this if you want to grab it, and then someone can tell me how to make it into a linky - that'd be choice! 

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Linking up with Paisley Jade as per usual :)
p.s-the link won't work :s

<a href="http://www.paisleyjade.com/search/label/things%20i'm%20loving"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5389998828_290f765d55_o.png" width="160" height="160" alt="button2" /></a>

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The worlds biggest procrastinator

Hi, I'm Nikki. And I'm the worlds biggest procrastinator. 

Seriously.

I move into my new flat tomorrow *yippee* and I am yet to pack. There is crap everywhere!

But alas, I have filled in my day appropriately. 

 Instead I have made my friends birthday present (cost me £3.60) and it's really cool. It's not about how much you spend, it's about how much love and consideration goes into the gift!

I ate some strawberries and blueberries. By some, I mean a whole punnet of them. Each.

I also wrote this blog entry and took my sweet ol' time doing it! So now I might try and close my suitcase, and by the time I get around to that, it'll be time to go out for tea!