eSpresso

Speaking as a former barista, this is horrifyingly / hysterically accurate.

The Sunday Times supplement at its finest.

C'mon A My House, My House A-C'mon!

I'm sure most of us woke up to the news of Hugh Hefner's passing with mixed feelings. Regardless of how you feel about the publication, the world has lost a pop culture icon. Although a generous patch of fabric (burgundy silk, I'd imagine) on the rich American tapestry that drapes over the world remains.

PAM & DAN - AUG 95 / "Sexual repression and serial killers" classic!

Cooper and Marston / LOVE issue 2

I think their Insta bio says it all: Playboy: pushing and removing buttons since 1953.

Back In The Kingdom

Once again I'm back from a glorious three month summer in Corfu and back in dreary Manchester. Although having said that, I have missed my mum and blue ribands tremulously.

Martin Parr. Wells, Somerset, England. 2000. 

What's your quintessentially British home comfort when you're away?

ZZ

Here's to 20 years of Angela Missoni zig zagging her way as spectacular creative director of Missoni. I'm eager to get my mitts on one of these limited edition Angela 20 pieces:

1997 - newly appointed.

Sacrée Fleur

I'd like to personally thank Jeremy Scott for inadvertently deciding this year's decadent Halloween costume: a bouquet of flowers. I mean, c'mon how mesmerising is Gigi here?!

Accessorised with an I Love You! clutch ofc <3

Many have pointed out that Moschino have plagiarised a 1956 sketch by René Gruau, however there's nothing new under the sun is a rather bleak approach to art imo. Inspiration, as long as credited, should be encouraged! 

How does your garden grow?

No Not Just For Some, But For Everyone

To mark international peace day I thought I'd share Dorie Greenspan's world peace cookies recipe. What the world needs now is love, sweet love.

Dove of Peace, Picasso.

Ingredients: 170g flour, 28g unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 stick plus 3 tbs unsalted butter / 134g light brown sugar / 50g sugar / 1/4 tsp salt / 1 tsp vanilla extract / 142g bittersweet chocolate

1. Stir the flour, cocoa and baking soda together.

2. Working with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter and both sugars together on medium speed until soft and creamy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the salt and vanilla. Turn off the mixer, add all the dry ingredients and pulse a few times to start the blending. When the risk of flying flour has passed, turn the mixer to low and beat until the dough forms big, moist curds. Toss in the chocolate pieces and mix to incorporate. This is an unpredictable dough ~ sometimes it's crumble and sometimes it comes together and cleans the sides of the bowl. Happily, no matter what, the cookies are always great.

3. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and gather it together, kneading it if necessary to bring it together. Divide the dough in half. Shape the dough into logs that are 11/2 inches in diameter. Don't worry about the length ~ get the diameter right, and the length will follow. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and freeze them for at least 2 hours or refrigerate them for at least 3 hours.

4. When you're ready to bake: centre a rack in the oven and preheat it to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Working with one log at a time and using a long, sharp knife, slice the dough into 1/2 inch thick rounds. (The rounds might crack as you're cutting them - don't be concerned, just squeeze the bits back onto each cookie.) Arrange the rounds on the baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between them. (If you've cut both logs, keep one baking sheet in the fridge while you bake the other.

5. Bake the cookies for 12 minutes. When the timer rings, they won't look done, nor will they be firm, and that's just the way they should be. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack and let the cookies rest until they are only just warm, at which point you can munch them.


Sharing is caring.

Eat it, Peppa!

I don't know about you, but my Instagram feed was jam packed last night with the toast of London and my personal style icon, Miss Piggy. Her 2012 photo spread with InStyle magazine, whilst on a PR trail for The Muppets movie is still a constant reference for me. I mean:

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, LOVE magazine threw an outrageous party with Miu Miu to celebrate LFW and their 18th issue:

Before we zoom into the grooviest party of the year,

here are some shots from the iconic issue featuring the dream team!

I've just had a wild flashback to when my first boyfriend won me an Animal teddy from a claw machine at Alton Towers. I should probably mention that I was ten.

She's just a cosmic girl...

 Hats off (or on, should I say) to Katie Grand - you've done it again!

We come in peace!

Me & Me Mum & Me Dad & Me Gran

Back in blighty and it's back to basics:

What've I missed? Fill me in!

So Fresh & So Clean

As Freshers week is fast approaching, I thought I'd share some tips that I could've done with myself 4 years ago. It can be a rough time - I'm not going to sugar coat it. You might find yourself playing a game of shithead where the prize is a luxury can of Heinz beans - oh yes, for the next three years anything not Tesco's own is considered luxury. Or you may find that bloke in your screenwriting class hella cute, until you realise he uses empty pot noodle pots as mugs.

#1 Sign up to loads of societies at the freshers fair, even if it means joining a my favourite colour is yellow society when your favourite colour is in fact blue. Grab the free sh#t, go home, never answer your phone or door again. Become a master doodler with your new array of free pens!

#2 Add your roommates and a couple of local taxi firm numbers in your phone before leaving prees. There's nothing worse than loosing the gang in a club and having no way of reaching them.

#3 Freshers flu is real. Keep strepsils, lemsip, a bottle of water and paras in a box under your bed.

#4 If you don't trust drunk you, take your sober budget for the night out in cash - leave your card at home.

#5 Safe sex.

#6 Don't go out boozing on an empty stomach.

#7 Take pictures of whiteboards. (Put phone on silent first.)

#8 Homer Simpson was right - you don't win friends with salad. You do win friends with 2 for Tuesday at Dominos. Equally as impressive is being the guy who says 'I do' when asked if anyone has a pack of cards / lighter / bottle opener.

#9 That leads me to my next tip. First student loan purchase: bottle opener key ring lol.

#10 80% of success is just showing up. Be in the room where it happens.

#11 If you do happen to miss a lecture. DON'T ask the lecturer whether you missed anything important. They're all important.

#12 'It's safe, trust me' is often famous last words.

Who? Who? Who? Where? Where? Where?

#13 Deodorant.

#14 Don't be the drunkest guy in the room. A good rule of thumb is one glass of water for every bev.

#15 Poor people spend time to save money. Rich people spent money to save time. Cook in batches at home and freeze for the week ahead.

#16 If you have the pilot season of a TV show, a children's book and a play all due on the same day, don't start them 3 days before deadline...

#17 Call mum.

#18 If you're crap with money, make a weekly food budget and on payday buy 4 Tesco gift cards with said amount on each.

#19 Woks can double up as a saucepan and frying pan.

#20 FBGM

Let's Go & See The Stars, The Milky Way Or Even Mars.

Lately I've been seeing butterflies everywhere and I'm not just talking about on supermodels Instagram posts (do they use any other emoji?). I've always adored the way these delicate creatures symbolise hope and always seem to spot one when I need it most. I find great comfort in them.

Are you superstitious?