Katie

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“I’ve Never Met A Leopard Print I didn’t Like….”

Actually, that’s a lie. I have met a leopard print which I absolutely hated, it was a weird colour combination which had way too much dark brown going on, but that’s beside the point.  It’s basically a neutral.  I can’t tell you exactly when I became ‘a bit mad about leopard print’ as my 9 year old tells me. I know it’s come on with age, and roughly around the same time I started mix matching my interiors and making things clash.  My quarter life…

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The Most Perfect Banana Bread

Now we’re fully in my favourite season, I’m finding myself in the kitchen more and more. I adore cooking, I am by no means an expert – you won’t find me claiming to be a chef – but I’m pretty up to speed on eating, and I know what tastes good. 

Banana bread is a huge favourite in my house, even with the teenager who absolutely detests bananas with a passion. She won’t touch anything that is remotely banana based, but give her a wedge of this and she is happy. 

If it’s a bit chilly outside, or, more likely wet, this takes less than an hour and a half to make and lasts a good few days. Unless you have a family who like to have several slices a day.

If, and it’s a big if, this loaf makes it through a whole day, I like to put some in the kids lunchboxes – slightly (not much I’d imagine) healthier than a shop bought bar or cake, but definitely more full of love. And, I know what’s gone into it. 

It stays moist (I hate that word more than the teenager hates bananas) for a good couple of days, and doesn’t taste any less delicious when it’s cold. You could even slather on a dollop of peanut butter if you’re feeling really fancy. 

  

Print Recipe

Banana Bread

Serve this warm with butter, or wrap some up for packed lunches!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 10 mins
Course: Snack
Servings: 6 People

Ingredients

  • 75 g soft butter
  • 4 ripe bananas
  • 200 g soft brown sugar
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda/baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 170 g flour (plain)

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 180˚ and grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch bread tin with leftover butter from the ingredients. 
  • Mash the bananas into a pulp and mix in the butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract. 
  • Add the bicarbonate of soda & salt, then mix in the flour last. 
  • Pour mixture into the prepared tin. Gently tap the tin on the work surface to make it even and get rid of any bubbles. 
  • Bake for 1 hour, remove & cool slightly. Serve in slices with a little butter. 

 

The Most Perfect Banana Bread

The Most Perfect Banana Bread

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Finding The Right BB Cream

During the week, I’m all about the full base. It feels ‘done’ and work ready. I tend to stick to a medium coverage foundation because I don’t want to cover my freckles but I need to make sure my face is able to last the whole day.

Having quite oily skin means there are few foundations that I can really get on with, but that’s a whole other post. 

At the weekend however, the last thing I want to do is whack a whole face of foundation on. Especially early on a Saturday morning when we’re rushing out of the door to football, or squash, or some other 9 year olds sport based activity.

Unless I’m going ‘out out’ (thanks Micky Flanagan forever) I literally don’t want to put proper make up on. 

Which is why I am a HUGE fan of the BB cream.

Created in Asia, BB Creams bridge the gap between skincare and make up. With SPF, moisturiser and blemish banishing properties they’re like your skin, but better.

Perfect for lazy weekend and hot summers when you just don’t want to feel like your face is too covered. 

I like to do a little bit of research before I part with my cash, way back when (in the days before social media, say what?!) I used to go by magazine features, these days, I only ever look online.

It just makes it so much easier and quicker to find out what other people with similar skin and colouring think of a product before I try it, a quick type into Google and these bb cream reviews by Vogue are right there at the top, waiting for me to click and go on to buy. Easy peasy? 

There are literally hundreds of BB Creams to choose from, despite being relatively new to the make up scene, it was only a few years ago that they came out, after originally being created by dermatologists for people after skin laser surgery –  so you can get a little bit lost in trying to find the right one for you. Choice is a wonderful thing, but there is so much thing as too much! 

Anything that makes life a bit easier is a winner for me! 

 

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The Life Daily Happy Things List #1

I have been in a bit of a ‘funk’ the last few weeks. I’ve no idea why really, everything has been ticking along quite nicely, we’re in my favourite season, Christmas is just around the corner. There’s absolutely no reason for me to be feeling so ‘blah’ – but blah I am. 

I’ve been doing a bit of a gratitude list in my notebook for most of this year (an actual notebook, with pen, I’m so retro) and it really works! You think you have nothing much to be grateful for and before you know it, you’re listing a good 10 things that have made you smile that week. 

FYI, reading through those gratitude lists when you’re feeling like a moany arse is also a great mood boost. 

So, in the interest of trying to find decent (in my opinion!) content each week, I thought I’d do a slightly less personal, more shallow version of that over here on Life Daily. Welcome to the Happy Things List numero uno!

I’m aiming for every week, which will help me focus on all the stuff I love during the week. There are so many little things that make me smile each day, but they get forgotten so quickly! 

So, grab a cuppa and join me! 

Half Term. A week (two for the teenager) off school for the kids. I only had to work two days, so we were able to spend some time together which didn’t involve starting the day rushing around, shouting about homework, missing lunch boxes and scuffed shoes. We did Harry Potter Studios, Priory Farm (3), London & lots of late nights & good brunches (2). Roll on Christmas! 

Killing Eve. Oh.My.God – it has got to be one of the best shows this year. There aren’t many programmes where you find yourself laughing (and girl crushing) on the psychotic main character. Also, the clothes, interiors and apartment of dreams in Paris. 

I practically live in trainers. For someone who spent their entire 20’s in heels, they’re my worst nightmare now. These Nike Air Span II (1) from ASOS will probably not leave my feet for the foreseeable. 

Blooms. There’s something about having fresh flowers at home. Especially now we’ve moved, the living room is just so light and airy, having flowers just adds to the colour. Bloom Magic sent me a massive pink bouquet (4) this weekend and I felt very very fancy! They have a new London Collection and offer next day delivery. Hint hint Mr AG…..

Fireworks Night. Literally in my most favourite time of year. Halloween, Fireworks, hello Christmas! We froze our little tushes off in the local park this weekend to watch the fireworks and they did not disappoint. We came home, snuggled on the sofa with pizza, X-Factor and candles. How can that not be perfect! 

Coffee. We had a few hairy mornings where we’d run out of coffee, rush off to work, forget that we’d run out of coffee and start the whole miserable debacle the next day. Lesson learnt, never run out of coffee. It is life.  

So, that’s week one done. Let’s see if I can keep this going! 

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How To Make A Playroom Fit For A Tween

We’re all settled in our new home now, as in, we know where everything is (and it’s not all in the loft anymore) so now we’re getting round to really putting our stamp on the place. 

Nothing ground breaking, just a bit of our personality into the rooms, which everyone always comments on so I think it’s a good thing! 

We’re a good team, Tom and I. Between us we have the design and brawn covered. You can guess which is which. 

The room I want to sort out next is the conservatory. It’s where C has his ‘games room’ as his bedroom is quite small, so it’s used just for sleeping and chilling out. There is nothing electrical in there, which is no mean feat for a nine year old!  

Because the room is all windows (shocker) it’s quite hard to put your stamp on it, as, despite C’s suggestions, we can’t paint the windows to black them out. 

It’s still a bit of a work in progress as we’re not quite there yet, but it’s certainly looking good for a 9 year old gamer. It’s quite hard to make it work aesthetically and sensibly for a 9 year old, his mates and the dogs. 

1. When it comes to the floor, I’m so pleased we have laminate flooring in there – so much easier to keep clean than carpet, especially as the dogs go in and out from the garden a million times a day (as do the boys) and you can always warm it up with rugs. 

2. There’s no overhead lighting at all, so lamps and neon signs are a great way to bring light to the room when it starts to get dark. I love neon signs, I could spend a fortune on them! 

3. Storage boxes from IKEA in a variety of colours means it’s easy for him to throw things in there at the end of the day for super fast tidy up. Or not, but, the thought is there. 

4. A comfy armchair (we haven’t fallen for the gaming chair request!) big enough to snuggle into with a blanket and a cheese toastie. I’ve been told. 

5. Plants. No blinds in there (yet) mean it’s basically a cooler greenhouse, so the plants love life in there. 

6. Shelves. Good old Billy Bookcase. It means all C’s books can be displayed nicely and we can add a few framed pictures of special times, a few quotes and some knick-knacks to really make it his room. 

It’s actually quite nice that his bedroom and playroom are separate, it means he’s downstairs with us a lot more and not locked away in his room (hello teenage daughter) but also his room can be kept tidier (in theory) because nothing but sleeping and reading goes on in there. There is always a method to my madness. 

Most of the time. 

Prints / Chair / Neon Sign / Rug / Storage 

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