The Past Few Weeks in Instagram Form (7)

                     The Brayford in the sunshine                                               Studio Ghibli

                        

                                   Fred                                                                         Homemade burgers

                                 The best thing ever                                                     Lincoln is pretty

                                Krishna and fur                                                            Prettiest book

                          Wishing to be tall                                                              Adorable designs

Apologies for the lack of posts lately. University has caught up with me even though I haven't actually properly began my third year yet. To be honest this post should be titled "The Past Week in Instagram Form" but I wanted to stick with my theme. Being back in Lincoln has been hectic (in a good way of course). I've celebrated freshers week with my friends and had the best time. This year's freshers has even topped first years. Every day was jam packed with seeing friends, outings, nights out and interviews.

I've been spending a lot of time just sitting and chatting to my friends and going to our local hangouts. Our particular favourite is a pub situated on campus called The Shed. It overlooks the Brayford and sitting outside when it's warm/sunny is lovely.  

Lincoln has a small and independent cinema and theatre called The Ritz. Me and my friend Guppy found out they were showing a Studio Ghibli film each Sunday for five weekends and had to get a season pass. The Ritz designed such beautiful passes. 

I always miss Betty when I'm in Lincoln but spotted this fella in our back yard the other day and decided to name him Fred. Now I'm tempted to convince my housemates we need to adopt him.

Being back in Lincoln and having a bigger house means we now have a bigger kitchen as well. I'm also trying to eat a lot healthier so am cooking from scratch. I made cheesy bean burgers the other day using a recipe from an ASDA magazine and they were delicious. I'll put up some quick and easy recipes on the blog soon.

My friend had a pub crawl belated birthday event and we ended up in a lovely little pub called Widow Cullen's Well. Her housemate suggested the Chocolate Stout and the rest is history. I'm in love.

I'm at the side of Lincoln where I can easily go up Steep Hill. I pass these benches every time I go swimming and I always think the view looks so pretty. 

Freshers week has been pretty hectic, I've been out most nights but have also had some brilliant interviewing opportunities. On Wednesday I interviewed Jameela Jamil with my friend (and yes Jameela is beautiful in real life) and on Friday I interviewed one of the members of Kids in Glass Houses and met them all. It's been amazing. On Friday my friend Krishna came down to visit for the KIGH gig (one of the best gigs I've ever been to) and we went round all the little boutiques the next day. She tried on a gorgeous fur coat but didn't end up buying it. 

We also ended up in an antiques shop which had some amazing books. I spent 20 minutes reading this one which was called Roses are Red and was about love and scorn in Victorian times. The illustrations were beautiful and I nearly bought it, but then realised I had no real purpose for it. 

After ambling back down Steep Hill we wandered into one of my favourite vintage shops called Ego and tried loads of things on. These platforms have been there ages and I had to try them on. The height they gave me was amazing but the thought of breaking my ankle was not. What I'd give to be taller...

These prints caught my eye because of the cute and quirky design. They were on sale at The Ritz and I may have to go back and buy one.

So that was a snippet of the past week and a bit. Right now I'm writing up a to-do list for beginning back at university tomorrow and tidying my room (yay).

How has your week been?

Alice

  x 

Weekly Wantings: Kanken Backpacks

Kanken Backpacks by alicelucyrose-1

Fjallraven Kanken is a Swedish brand of backpack that I've been spotting all over the blogging world currently. Having never heard of the brand before I was first drawn to them by their extensive range of colours. I love how classic they look, and their backpacks are stylish yet practical. I particularly love the lilac and burgundy one. Tempted to invest in one for travelling...

Do you like Kanken backpacks?

Alice

   x

The Raw Chocolate Company

 **This is a sponsored post**

A few months ago I was browsing an organic shop in Hull with my friend when I spotted a "raw chocolate bar". At this point I had no idea what raw chocolate was but decided to purchase one and find out. The bar I purchased was a Lovechock bar. It was absolutely delicious and unlike any chocolate I'd ever tasted before. Intrigued to find out more, I went on online to find out more information on raw chocolate. 

Upon browsing I came across The Raw Chocolate Company. Their website drew me in as it featured all different types of raw chocolate bars but also raw chocolate covered snacks as well. I'd never seen The Raw Chocolate Company's products in any shop before and really wanted to try some. The fact that their chocolate contains no artificial colours, flavourings, and uses organic ingredients made it appeal to me even more.

I decided to take a chance and email The Raw Chocolate Company asking if they'd like to work with me and if I could review some products. They replied to my email pretty quickly and to my surprise they said yes and that I'd receive some products in the post shortly. About a week later I wandered past the porch to see a Graze box sat on the mat. After a few minutes confusion I picked up the box to see the words "not from" in front of the Graze sign which made me chuckle. I just had to take a photo for the amusement.

After taking this I excitedly tore open the package (I can never open packages neatly no matter how hard I try) and a load of goodies fell out. Kris (the man who replied to my email) had said a booklet had come with the chocolate for me to have a nosey at and find out more information about the company and products. The booklet gave information about each individual product and where the ingredients came from which is always nice to know. There's a booklet on their website as well which you can flick through.

The product I wanted to try the most was the Raw Chocolate Covered Mulberries. To be honest I don't even know if I've ever tried a mulberry before but I can't remember doing so. These were the first product I tried and were delicious. They were chewy and more-ish but with a toffee like taste. The raw chocolate that covered them added a very delicate chocolate taste that wasn't too overpowering. 

Next I tried the Raw Chocolate Covered Goji Berries. I've had plain goji berries many a time and went through a phase of taking small packets of them to college to snack on. It's difficult to describe the taste of goji berries... They're sweet but with a hint of bitterness. This came through with the raw chocolate ones but once again they were also very more-ish. I'd definitely buy these and the mulberries again as they'd be perfect to take to university to snack on when I'm there all day.

I was just as impressed with the chocolate I was sent. First I tried the Organic Vanoffe flavoured one as it appealed to me the most (as did the bright blue/turquoise packaging). Vanoffe is creamy and delicious tasting with the lightest hint of vanilla. I'm amazed at how creamy it tasted even though it's dairy-free. It's very sweet and was probably my favourite out of all the bars.

Vanoffe Dark was equally tasty. The dark chocolate is quite bitter but has a lovely bit of sweetness with the vanilla once again. I found that with this bar it was very rich and half a small bar at a time was the best for me.

The Organic Raw Chocolate with Goji Berries & Orange was another rich bar. For some reason this one reminded me of Christmas because of it's warming orange flavour and chewy goji berries. This was probably my second favourite and would probably be nice to enjoy with a glass of wine in the Autumn/Winter.

The last bar I tried was the Organic Pitch Dark Bar, this was once again a lovely bar but like the Vanoffe Dark half a small bar could satisfy you in one sitting.

All in all, I was very pleased with all the products from The Raw Chocolate Company and would definitely purchase some (if not all) of them again. The products are perfect for vegans and those wanting to know what ingredients they are consuming. 

So I would like to say a big thank you to The Raw Chocolate Company (and Kris in particular) for sending me these products. I thoroughly enjoyed giving them a try and will most likely be back to buy some!

If you want to check out The Raw Chocolate Company for yourself here are some links:

• Their website
• Their Twitter page
• Their Facebook page

Have you tried raw chocolate before? What did you think of it?

Alice

  x

**Even though this post is sponsored my views on these products are 100% honest and unbiased**

Orla Kiely SS 14 Collection

In my previous post I mentioned that although I had many favourites from London Fashion Week SS14, one collection stood out to me more than the rest. That collection is Orla Kiely. As soon as I saw the outfits the opening to Moonrise Kingdom began to play in my head. Every single outfit was so Suzy Bishop-esque, especially the long sleeved blue shirt dress with the pink collar. The style of the set was amazing and I love the cute props like the camp-fire and easel. Even looking at these photos makes me want to chuck on a pink or navy beret and pull on some knee-high socks. The 60's inspired collection stands out with animal prints and pops of colour, and I also particularly like the socks and sandals combination (even though most people think it's wrong). 

Do you like Orla Kiely's SS 14 collection?

Alice

  x

Lush Rose Jam Bubbleroon

The Rose Jam bubbleroon is described to give you a bath that "helps you get out of it feeling better than when you got in". Coconut oil and shea butter in the bubbleroon leaves your skin feeling silky while the rose scent is delicate and fragrant. Much to my friends amusement I love a lot of rose scented products which they always like to point out and make a joke out of due to my second name. Now it's turning to Autumn I find myself drawn towards Lush when I'm in town. In the Winter I buy many of their bath bombs, bath melts and bubble bars/bubbleroons. I've used several of their bubbleroons before and love Rose Jam because you can use it for 2 baths. It comes apart really easily as well so you aren't left with a crumbly mess. If you're a Lush fan and like rose scented things then the Rose Jam bubbleroon is perfect for you; and as Sylvia Plath said in The Bell Jar: "There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know any of them".

What are your favourite bath products from Lush? Have you tried their bubbleroons before?

Alice
  x

LFW Collection Favourites

So many collections from London Fashion Week for SS 14 amazed me. I managed to catch a couple on the live stream but was out and about most of the week so had to catch up on an evening. These are my main favourite collections (but there's another post currently pending for my absolute favourite collection).

Bora Aksu

I managed to catch a tiny bit of Bora Aksu's show on the LFW live stream. After seeing a few of the dresses I immediately fell in love. My initial reaction to the dresses was Alice in Wonderland and tea parties. Bora Aksu's collection featured beautifully detailed dresses ranging from cornflower blues to light yellows to in your face fuchsias. Bora is originally from Turkey and the influence of it was very much apparent in his collection with his prints. I chose these 4 dresses out of the collection to display as they're just so lovely and delicate looking. 

Emilia Wickstead

The Emilia Wickstead collection followed with cornflower blue and pale dresses like those at Bora Aksu. Instead of giving off an Alice in Wonderland vibe however, they seemed to be more princess-y. To add to that, it seems to be a coincidence that Kate Middleton is a fan of Emilia Wickstead. The dresses were all midi or maxi and floated gently behind the models. I particularly love the lady-like pastel pink dress.

House of Holland

Henry Holland's collection differed to the floaty and frilly dresses from the two previous collections. He stuck to the true House of Holland style of kitsch prints and bold accessories. Pretty dresses were adorned with bright flowers and waist belts. Not pictured is an beautiful top and trouser set in duck egg blue with navy lace sections which was another favourite of mine. His dresses managed to be elegant but out there at the same time. I absolutely love the coral shift dress because of it's unique print. 

Peter Pilotto

Peter Pilotto's collection was filled with vividly printed dresses in bright colours. His dresses seemed to flow away from the body of the models and seemed very structured. Lace was mixed with digital prints and wide sleeved shirts were paired with equally wide skirts. Some of the outfits almost seemed like paintings with the colour and print combinations The digital printed shirt and skirt was my favourite as it looks wonderful. 

What were your favourite collections at LFW?


Alice
  x

The Past Few Weeks in Instagram Form (6)

                    Earl Grey & Lavender tea                                                        Autumn skies

                    Lovely notebook print                                                           New dress from Cow

                        Love Pete McKee's artwork                                          Yay free chocolate

                       Illamasqua lipstick                                                       What the lipstick looks like on


The past few weeks have a bit here and there. I went back to Lincoln for the day the other Saturday to pick up something I had forgotten and met up with Luke. I arrived a little early so sat in one of my favourite shops/cafe Rock Paper Scissors with a pot of Earl Grey & lavender tea. It was literally the best tea I've ever had and the shop is so cosy. Definitely one of my favourite places in Lincoln.

You can definitely tell that Autumn is here with how the sky is beginning to look. I took this the other day walking home because the cloud formation was beautiful when the sun was setting. Can't wait for Autumn and Winter.

I'm in love with this gorgeous notebook I purchased at the 44 shop in Lincoln. It's the quaintest little shop full of beautiful stationery and household items. Me and my friends visit it at least once a week and I always want to buy everything. On this particular visit I purchased this notebook but have no idea what to use it for... It seems too nice to use for my university modules... Any suggestions?!

I've been visiting Cow so many times in the last month and trying lots of different clothes on. I found this gorgeous rose dress and it fits perfectly so I had to buy it.

I walked past this artwork by Pete Mckee the other day. Pete is a Sheffield artist who does some amazing work. I'm tempted to purchase his Periodic Table of Sheffield Dialect print for my uni room.

A few weeks ago I discovered The Raw Chocolate Company online and after being intrigued by their products, decided to get in contact with them. To my surprise they said they'd be happy to send me some of their chocolate to review. This bar and their chocolate mulberries have been my favourites so far. I still have a few more of their bars to try so a review will be up shortly.

The other day I went to try Mac's Morange lipstick as I really wanted it. After trying it on it looked hideous on me and didn't suit me at all. I'm quite iffy with lipsticks and prefer matte ones, so with Morange being glossy it put me off it even more. I was quite disappointed but after going to Illamasqua & seeing Eurydice (featured in a previous Weekly Wantings post) I asked to try it on. The woman was so kind and applied it herself with a lip brush which surprised me. All of their lipsticks are matte but feel so creamy when applied so I bought it immediately. The first picture doesn't show off it's bright fuchsia colour but in the second one you can see it's true colour and finish. It doesn't dry your lips out and lasts for a very long time.

All in all to be honest the past few weeks have been slightly dull. On Wednesday I'm back to Lincoln to finally begin my last year and am looking forward to it. I want to be busy and tired and rushed off my feet (not many people say that haha). I feel like I need something to commit to and focus on.

How has your week been?

Alice
  x 

Weekly Wantings: Punk

Punk by alicelucyrose-1 

Punk seems to the current trend for Autumn and Winter and I can't get enough of it. Every shop I walk either has leather or tartan everywhere and every blog post I read features cut out boots. Last year the H&M tartan scarf was something I missed on and I was absolutely gutted as it was everywhere. I haven't found another tartan scarf like the H&M one yet so I've gone in search of other things.

This tartan dress from River Island caught my eye as I love anything with sleeves and a peter pan collar. The toned down tartan print makes the collar stand out which drew me to it. 

The boots are another River Island item. I tried on 2 other pairs in store that I had previously been looking at online but they looked dreadful on me. One pair just didn't look right at all while the others made my short chunky legs look even chunkier... I was gutted at first as I love cut out boots. The other day however, I spotted these beauties and decided to try them on. It was love at first site and they looked amazing. I'm still debating buying them and will most likely end up doing. Chunky boots and dresses are a favourite pairing of mine.

A couple of weekends ago me and my friend Krishna went to Leeds. We wandered around the Vivienne Westwood shop and I was blown away by everything. The jewellery is gorgeous and these safety pin earrings are definitely on my Christmas list. Vivienne Westwood was known for bringing punk into mainstream fashion and that fact makes these earrings even better.

My last weekly wantings item is yet again from River Island. Leather jackets are a wardrobe staple and this one is fairly cheap at £45 even though it isn't real leather. The zips also make it a little different to the usual leather jacket.

The best thing about the punk trend is that you can go all out or keep it subtle; and these 4 items can be used together or with other outfits to create the desired effect you want.

Alice
  x

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Contour Kit

A couple of days ago my parents were packing to go on holiday when my mum randomly chucked a box at me and asked if I wanted it. After looking at it and realising it was one of her Benefit kits (she's a huge lover of Benefit) I said quickly said "yes please!" A couple of years ago I had thought about buying this for myself but then decided not to due it being pretty pricey (£24.50). My mum doesn't really wear much make-up everyday and sticks to blusher and lip balm. She does have several Benefit kits and does tend to buy them on an impulse. Apparently she'd stored this one away and completely forgot about it.

Anyway when she gave me this and told me she'd never used it I was shocked. I was excited to try the Big Beautiful eye kit as I love eye make-up, but don't usually wear any during the day and never really know how to make it subtle. 

Benefit products always look so kitsch and lovely. The Big Beautiful Eyes kit is another that doesn't disappoint with it's design. I love how it tells you what the kit does on the outside of the box and the end result. 

The inside of the kit is set out neatly with a concealer, base eye shadow, contour eye shadow and liner shadow. The kit also comes with a 2 brushes that are labelled for a quick and easy use. It also comes with a fold out step by step guide to getting big beautiful eyes and gives you extra tips along the way. 

All the eye shadows are subtle yet really make a difference to your eyes when you wear them. I particularly like wearing the liner shadow on my bottom lash line as opposed to my usual gel eyeliner. It's more subtle and opens up your eyes a lot more. 

Overall Benefit's Big Beautiful Eye Kit is fantastic for day time wear and is worth the slightly high price tag of £24.50.

What's your favourite Benefit kit?

Alice

  x

(P.S. did you spot my lovely watch strap tan mark in the last photo? Pleasant eh?)

Recipe: Matcha Truffles

Remember my last Weekly Wantings post about matcha? Well, the day after I wrote that post I was in town and ended up buying the small £10 beginner's grade tub. For the first couple of days I stuck with a simple matcha tea which is as basic as it gets and is perfect first thing in a morning. You only need 1/4 of a teaspoon of matcha powder and hot water. It tastes like a slightly stronger version of green tea but is twice as good for you. Just knowing this makes it an even better purchase!

As good as a matcha tea is, I wanted to branch out more and try to do some cooking with it. Vitalife do have their own special cooking grade matcha but I decided to stick with the matcha I already own. I remembered seeing pictures of matcha truffles and thinking they looked good & easy to make, so set off on a cooking spree. Here's how I made my matcha truffles*:

At first I was torn between white chocolate and dark chocolate, but then realised the matcha would be bitter and as dark chocolate is also bitter it wouldn't work as well. White chocolate it was! I rarely eat white chocolate as I find it too sweet but was excited to see what it would taste like paired with matcha.

For the matcha truffles you will need:

• 2 teaspoons of matcha powder 
• 1/3 cup of double cream
• 300g of white chocolate
• 2 and a half tablespoons of unsalted butter
• A pinch of salt
• A strainer (to sift the matcha)
• 4 cups of water
• An ice cube tray or mould of some kind
• A saucepan

1. Melt the butter and cream on a low heat, add a pinch of salt.

2. Add the mixture to the a teaspoon of matcha and mix well. You may have to whisk it to get rid of any lumps and set the mixture to one side.

3. Pour 4 cups of water into a saucepan, heat until boiled. Break up your white chocolate and place in a bowl. Turn the heat off and place the bowl on top of the pan to melt it.

4. Once the chocolate has melted, add the matcha cream to it and stir until it's all mixed in. The mixture should be fairly thick but pourable. 

5. Using a teaspoon and knife (my cutlery of choice) transfer the mixture into your mould. I had leftover mixture but no more moulds so placed it on a foil covered tray for a matcha chocolate slab.

6. Refrigerate the mixture for a minimum of 3 hours. I decided to leave mine overnight (but ended up eating the chocolate slab after 3 hours).

7. In 3 hours or the next day, pop the solidified mixture out of the moulds. If you are using an ice cube tray like me, use a silicone one. I used a plastic one and spent 20 minutes trying to saw (slight over-exaggeration) each truffle out of the tray. Next time I will definitely get a silicone tray and use that instead...

8. Sift a teaspoon of matcha onto your work surface, carefully roll your truffle mixture into the powder and coat evenly. Hopefully your truffles will be better shaped than mine!

9. Ta-da! Your matcha truffles are finished. Don't forget to keep them stored in the fridge so they don't melt.

The matcha and white chocolate is a perfect combination. You first taste the bitter matcha powder which is then followed by the sweet, creamy white chocolate. One of the best things about the truffles is that you can't eat them all in one go as more than 2 do become sickly.

*My recipe for matcha truffles is from Oh How Civilised but with slightly different measurements. Thank you to Jee for this recipe, it truly is wonderful!

Have you tried matcha truffles before? If you haven't and decide to make these, let me know how they turn out.

Alice

  x