Katie

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What’s Your Weekend List Like?

Thank F**k it’s Friday.  That’s all I can say. It’s been a long week! Anyone else feel like last Friday was at least 2 weeks ago? Just me?  My weeks tend to run to the same familiar pattern.  Monday: Day Off (ha! oh how we laugh at this term)  Tues//Wed//Thurs: Kids, work, kids, dinner, kids, sofa.  Friday: Day off to plan all of the relaxing things we’re going to be doing at the weekend. Like clearing the garden of a gazillion leaves, serious question, do…

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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 crisis (yes, that’s a thing) clearly has pattern, texture and colour as it’s thing. And I’m more than happy to accommodate that. 

I have a uniform, for work and for days off. It almost always involves skinny jeans, a v neck top of some kind and either trainers, boots or sandals. Throw on a oversized coat in winter (still lusting after the coat of dreams from M&S) or a camo shacket in spring and I am good.to.go. 

I’ve tried switching it up but it just doesn’t feel comfortable, and when you’re almost 6ft tall with red hair, you stand out anyway, regardless of what you’re wearing. The last thing you want it to be completely uncomfortable about what you’re wearing and fiddling with clothing. 

Plain clothes maybe, but always good accessories. I love shoes, leopard print shoes especially (hence the title of this post, uh huh, ya get me?) My battered old faithful Stan Smiths have a little touch of leopard print on the back. My converse are furry leopard print. And don’t even get me started on my bargain £12 leopard print boots from Primarni. 

Winner winner chicken dinner. 

I am obsessed. Some people like to have blow dried hair, or matching undies to feel like they’re nailing life. I like to have a little bit of print on me. Just somewhere. It’s not so much my security blanket, just it makes me feel more ‘me’ – even when I’m pretending to be a grown up. 

I always like to have a little scroll through shopping sites while I’m waiting for one child or another to finish their social lives, so, in the interest of keeping leopard print alive, here are a few of my favourites at the moment. You’re welcome. 

I've Never Met A Leopard Print I didn't Like.... 1. Office Aruba Leopard Print Boots // 2. Aldo Mules // 3. Aldo Mules // 4. Aldo Mules // 5. Aldo Mules // 6. Aldo Mules

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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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