tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12736528155774653532012-01-31T20:42:29.049ZDomestic SlutteryThe home and lifestyle blog for women who have better things to do.Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.comBlogger37971100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-65147843199544016252012-01-31T16:30:00.000Z2012-01-31T16:30:01.859ZThe boy and his poison: The Archangel
A hangover from the Domestic Sluttery belated Christmas party wouldn't usually be the best foundation for an inspiring cocktail recipe. A hazy memory of salted caramel brownies, a few cheeky vodka royal gimlets and some superficial bathroom renovations (I may have broken the shower pole) left me in a sorry state Saturday morning. However this was no normal Saturday, this was my first PDT Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-38075070990135831842012-01-31T15:00:00.000Z2012-01-31T15:00:06.522ZShop in the Spotlight: Beautiful BottomsThis post has nothing at all to do with the fact that Valentine's day is approaching. I just happen to have a thing about expensive undies. Especially ones from independent lingerie boutiques that are in the sale. I only discovered Beautiful Bottoms today and I'm a total convert already (they do tops too). Here are my favourite sale pieces.
She does indeed have a beautiful bottom. Once you've Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-82339802636108643702012-01-31T14:00:00.002Z2012-01-31T14:00:10.484ZJoin the #DomesticDebate Twitter chat
We've been a little bit chatty recently. Our inboxes are often a flurry of debate and discussion (and cute puppy pictures) and we've decided that we should make our discussions a little more public. So we're inviting you to our very first Twitter chat.
The first Domestic Debate will take place next Tuesday 7th February at 8pm (we've checked, there's nothing very good on the telly) and we're Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-34756008663101437772012-01-31T12:30:00.000Z2012-01-31T12:30:02.188ZFabulous Flamingo Jumper
For most of team Domestic Sluttery, flamingos are the sausages dogs of the bird world. Adorable, a little bit silly, funny legs and our absolute favourite birds. Yesterday while out shopping (I went out for spinach and came back with a new dress), I spotted this gorgeous flamingo jumper in Dorothy Perkins.
I want it.
I want it hard.
It's soft and snuggly (if a little thin given that it's £28)Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-67077901550350331322012-01-31T11:30:00.002Z2012-01-31T12:19:19.287ZFolksy Find: Wall Envy Art
Love it or hate it, it's nearly Valentine's Day. If you're looking for something non-soppy for your geeky other half , you could do worse than checking out Wall Envy Art on Folksy..
There are no kittens, flowers, or "I wuv oo soooo much!" messages in their Gifts for Geeks section. Messages are hand-inked onto pages of old algebra textbooks. Euler's Identity, above, is considered one of the mostSarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-27912120634883282232012-01-31T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-31T10:00:03.238ZKeep it buttonedIf you suffer from koumpounophobia, look away now. It sounds like one of the worst kinds of phobias to me as I can never resist a pretty line of buttons, whether that's on a blouse, skirt, gloves or in a pile in a charity shop. I spent half an hour last Tuesday fishing through a bag finding the perfect ones for my cardie. If you also like how they look but, honestly, you've got better things to Franceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-455918140918305092012-01-30T16:00:00.002Z2012-01-30T21:47:41.709ZCute or Creepy: Obedient Poodle Side Table
I have Pip McCormac to thank for this little treat. This (frankly ridiculous) poodle side table appeared in the Sunday Times Style magazine yesterday. I want to hate it. I don't even really like poodles. Yet I can't not love it. The ridiculousness is exactly what I love about it. He's got a tray on his head! It ticks all of the boxes of the silly part of my brain and I really do like the silly Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-27919265723955790172012-01-30T15:00:00.000Z2012-01-30T15:00:11.198ZSites we love: ObsessionistasCollections fascinate me. It doesn't matter what's being collected. It's the idea that someone might get so excited about something that they want everything related to it. I spent a large part of my childhood collecting postcards of Flamenco dancers embroidered with silk. We've got a section in the Domestic Sluttery book dedicated to displaying your collections. Collecting makes us happy.
Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-19119050923367450272012-01-30T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-30T14:00:05.193ZDesign Porn: Rory Dobner MugsI've had about two hours sleep, I woke up to roadworks and we've run out of tea. My smiles were not forthcoming this morning. I've been in a grouch.
Until I saw these Rory Dobner mugs.
Each one depicts a cute animal and a Union Jack. This one is called Hot Dog. Because he's under the flag and it's keeping him warm, see?
This is Bee In Bed. He looks happy. I bet he wasn't woken by roadworks.
Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-79600018525522982192012-01-30T13:00:00.002Z2012-01-30T13:00:11.668ZSluttishly Sweet: Candied BaconAnd so, my bacon obsession continues. As I consider bacon to be one of my five-a-day it is safe to say that I love bacon. I have garnered a small reputation with my bacon brownies, and have spent many hours discussing my love of bacon to anyone who will listen. So when a twitter friend suggested candied bacon to me, I immediately set upon making it for myself. Within a few hours I was sat in the Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-36475842573651139122012-01-30T11:30:00.003Z2012-01-30T11:43:08.960ZHello. Also, I Love You (And This Print)
I'm still hunting for lovely things to put on my walls. And other than kittens, gin and salted caramel, what is lovelier than love? I'm not one for ridiculous declarations of amorous affections which is why I love the simplicity of this print by The Big Harumph on Etsy. It is polite and to the point which somehow makes it all the more romantic.
If you want efficient romance, it can be yours forNever Enough Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156229138795455704noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-58431995980099988632012-01-30T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-30T10:12:11.584ZBaking for Beginners: Full English Breakfast Loaf
There is nothing nicer than starting your weekend with a full cooked breakfast. It says a cheery goodbye to the working week and sets you up for two days of doing whatever you please.
For years, like chumps, we've been cooking up our bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomatoes and toast separately. What time-wasting idiots we've been! For behold: I have created a loaf with breakfast INSIDE. No longer Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-88060431182081135902012-01-27T16:10:00.000Z2012-01-28T15:20:59.511ZThe boy and his poison: Penicillin
I hope you all had a great Burns night on Wednesday and that you're all now haggis and whisky converts. My dad's side of the family is Scottish and I hate to miss an excuse for midweek gluttony and excess, it also seemed a great theme to base todays drink on.
I have to prefix this recipe with an appeal. If any of you ever meet my grandfather, I certainly didn't suggest replacing the traditionalNickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-17797100431030486352012-01-27T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-27T16:27:56.800ZKitchen Gadgets: The Potato RicerThe first time I used a potato ricer at a cookery class, it was a revelation. Even after Nigella had been banging on about them for years, it had seemed like an added extra and something that I couldn't justify space for in a tiny kitchen.
I'm still not going to pretend that they are essential but a ricer is to fluffy potatoes what a hand mixer is to cake making, i.e. you could use a wooden Gail Haslamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941524304617800460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-87260844845843699252012-01-27T13:00:00.002Z2012-01-27T13:00:14.121ZThe Friday Five: Cocktail ShakersIt's the Domestic Sluttery Christmas party tonight (yes, we know we're a little late but we spent most of December signing your books and having Christmas naps). Nick is obviously in charge of booze, so here's a roundup of some nice cocktail shakers to play with.
Gosh it's pretty, John Lewis. This makes drinks of magic, I'm sure of it.
It's 'all about the Boston shaker', according to Nick.
Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-81894144688016127372012-01-27T12:00:00.000Z2012-01-27T12:00:05.917ZBaking for Beginners: Coconut Cupcakes with Champagne ButtercreamMy best friend turns 30 in March and we're planning a 1940s party at the gorgeous little village hall where she got married. It's going to be darling. However, whilst the theme may be wartime, the nibbles most certainly won't be; and I'm getting my practice in early to ensure her party is suitably decadent.
The first recipe under scrutiny are these yummy coconut and champagne cupcakes.
You'll Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075436147498572976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-57659129337802837112012-01-27T11:00:00.003Z2012-01-27T11:00:04.791ZDream Dress: AWear Bird PrintA few months ago, I wrote about having finally found a dress I was going to buy on ASOS. I lied. Or rather, I never got around to buying it.This time though I bought three and kept two. I absolutely love this owl print dress! It's £32 and incredibly cute, although sadly doesn't come with the red belt you see in the picture. Funnily enough, despite not being a tall-specific size, it's a lot more Kat Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273545990845176567noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-49182051039954404882012-01-27T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-27T10:00:09.184ZBaking for Beginners: PignoliPignoli are a sticky little riff on amaretti biscuits, made with almonds and pine nuts. They're naturally gluten free and pretty quick to knock up in a hurry. Perfect with your morning cuppa, or afternoon cuppa. Or for breakfast (ahem).
They'll be very soft when they come out of the oven, but will firm up as you leave them to cool (if you can).
Pignoli (makes around 20)
You'll need:
340g groundalexthepinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844098278749749707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-58798094187575776662012-01-26T15:30:00.000Z2012-01-26T15:30:02.496ZWet Dream: Bubble Betty rainwearGeneral clumsiness, the fact I'm perfectly sized to poke the average commuter in the eye, and an inability to look out the window to check the weather before leaving the house: all these things make me a very bad brolly user. At the age of 31, I still haven't quite mastered the correct use of an umbrella. So when I read about Bubble Betty over on Retro To Go I knew that I'd found the answer to myFranceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-13561506065008916132012-01-26T14:00:00.000Z2012-01-26T14:00:15.772ZEtsy Pick: Joy NevadaWith Valentines Day approaching I have been on the lookout for gifts that are a little more personal than the standard chocolates, flowers and big red heart options. I want something to keep, something that is one of a kind, or even something with my name on. These personalised salt and pepper pots are on my list of potential Valentines gifts. They are simply adorable. Illustrated and Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-75435307655209763632012-01-26T13:00:00.001Z2012-01-26T13:58:33.516ZDesign Porn: Le Cirque MacabreThis new jewellery collection from Momocreatura is chilling. Titled, 'Le Cirque Macabre' is creeping me out more than a little. Yet I can't stop looking at it.
See? It's creepy! Fabulous creepy, though.
It's like a circus performer died while playing on hoops. THAT'S CREEPY.
Watching a whole skeleton circus is frankly scaring the bejeezus out of me yet I can't not love this range. it's Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-82436351134830454372012-01-26T11:00:00.002Z2012-01-26T11:00:15.212ZArguably The Best iPhone Case In The WorldA couple of weeks ago I helped a friend move house which satisfied my twin fondnesses for a) helping and b) driving vans. Sadly, it turned out that I get monumentally flustered when driving vans with boys in, and as a result, I left both my headphones and my iPhone case behind.Still. I'd been lusting after Firebox's game controller iPhone case for ages so this gave me a nice excuse to treat Kat Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273545990845176567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-49366809588200937982012-01-26T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-26T10:00:00.846ZShop in the Spotlight: Papa StourI hope you took our advice to heart and were well feed and watered this Burns Night (though your arteries probably took less well to the deep fried tunnocks). If you are still in the mood for all things Scottish, may I direct you to the wonderful webshop that is Papa Stour? It stocks independent Scottish makers and designers and has its very own, very Scottish kind of look to it. Even without a Franceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-12177574509530600832012-01-26T09:00:00.000Z2012-01-26T09:00:10.201ZMorning Mocktail: Starburst Smoothie2012, as you're all probably sick of hearing by now, is the Year of the Dragon. *does best dragon impression* Grrr. So, we've all got a great excuse to be fiery and temperamental, not to mention grumpy-as-hell in the morning. Hurrah!If you're in dire need of a Chinese New Year-themed smoothie (and, let's face it, who isn't?) then I've concocted something splendid just for you. Scrummy!(Oh, and Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075436147498572976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-1688710793946201942012-01-25T16:00:00.004Z2012-01-25T16:26:42.039ZTop Whisky Recipes
Burns Night means whisky and last night on our Facebook page, Deidre asked us for a little round up of whisky recipes so you can have a whisky cocktail after your haggis. Here's a round up of our favourite whisky recipes.
Whisky Sour: This is the perfect cocktail when your cupboards are bare. You'll have all of the ingredients even when you've only got toast for tea.
Rusty Nail: One of the mostSianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-78251920525020504012012-01-25T15:00:00.000Z2012-01-25T15:00:15.949ZWeekly Wine: Wine to Make You Giggle
It's still January, isn't it? Yeah, I thought so. Bugger.
The most depressing month of the year needs an injection of fun, and what better source than a nice glass of the good stuff. Some wine is more fun than others, and I'm a particular fan of a tasty glass of vino that has a deliciously silly name.
Bobbie Burns Shiraz
First things first: it's Burns Night. If you're looking for something to Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409438475325468555noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-8330440893710282752012-01-25T13:30:00.000Z2012-01-25T14:06:22.754ZBurns Night tribute: Deep Fried Tunnocks Tea CakesYes, other chocolate bars were definitely harmed in the making of this gooey, melty, chocolate treat. We're already fans of Tunnock's Tea Cakes and given that it's Burns Night (work with us here) we thought we'd try to give them the same treatment as we've heard is meeted out to Mars Bars, pizzas and other delicacies in Scotland. By far, the tea cake is the victor.
Make your batter as gluey and Gail Haslamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941524304617800460noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-24167653948694471162012-01-25T12:00:00.001Z2012-01-25T12:23:31.950ZDream Dress: Multicoloured stripe dress by Closet
I think this is going to be a real love or hate dress. I am firmly in the love camp. The colours! The stripes! The shape! Closet have come up with a total winner. We're really bored with winter now (did you see these summery shoe lovelies yesterday?) and having this dress would mean I could convince myself that summer is definitely on the way very soon indeed. Even if I did have to wear it with Never Enough Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156229138795455704noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-17916753270034907312012-01-25T11:00:00.003Z2012-01-25T16:35:17.545ZSluttery Travels: Prestonfield, EdinburghCalm yourself, Domestic Sluttery readers. Prestonfield in Scotland is going to make your heart flutter. Home of Edinburgh's Lord Provost, it was built in 1687 and it's one of the most elegant hotels in Scotland. By elegant, I mean a damn sexy pile of bricks that I'm plotting to steal and make Sluttery HQ.
I would write great postcards at that desk.
And have brilliant erm.. dreams in that bed.Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-42820311477995444372012-01-25T10:00:00.003Z2012-01-25T10:00:03.090ZWallpaper Wednesday: Timorous Beasties' Thistles
As we're going for a bit of a Burns night theme today, it seemed only right to feature some Scottish-inspired wallpaper. What better than this Timorous Beasties Thistle design?
The blue is gorgeous.
How about pink? It's a little too vibrant even for me.
The wallpaper was created by the Glasgow based design duo Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons. Timorous Beasties have been creating gorgeousSianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-47208444263370025252012-01-24T16:00:00.000Z2012-01-24T16:00:03.848ZThe boy and his poison: The Shanghai Fizz
A belated Kung Hei Fat Choy to everyone. Although this post is a day late I thought it would be remiss to pass up an excellent excuse to investigate Asian inspired cocktail recipes. So I decided to spend Chinese New Year researching and experimenting.
The Lychee Martini was an obvious contender but there was no way to improve upon our recipe (believe me I made three of them to check). Next cameNickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-82291841166377403882012-01-24T15:00:00.000Z2012-01-24T15:00:01.235ZSluttishly Vegetarian: Veggie HaggisWee brother o’ the puddin’ king
Whase praises Rabbie Burns did sing,
Relief an’ joy tae us ye bring,
That eat nae meat!
For us ye are the verra thing,
A rich rare treat!
- from Fergus McInnes's Address to a Vegetarian Haggis
When Siany suggested I might like to create a veggie haggis for Burns Night, I presumed I'd have to cancel all my weekend plans and spend my Saturday gipping over Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-88656505511662343502012-01-24T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-24T14:00:12.335ZDesign Porn: Sarah Ray's I'm a Londoner
I think even non-Londoners will like this Londoner print. Cockney rhyming slang is always funny. You can see the cogs whirring when someone on Eastenders uses it. It's fun, even if I can't remember much of it and tend to make up my own rhymes instead.
Sarah Ray's shop on All Things Original is full of great designs (some excellent Valentine's cards if you're looking for something non-sappy). Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-8233492589750321362012-01-24T12:00:00.017Z2012-01-24T13:01:07.057ZSluttishly Savoury: Siu mai dumplings
I've gone a bit crazy for dim sum this week. More so than usual. It's rare for a two week period goes by without some sort of dumpling fix. They're probably the healthiest thing I can order from my local Chinese (at least that's what I tell myself anyway), but they're also really easy to make.
The hardest thing about making your own dumplings is sourcing the wonton wrappers. Surprisingly, none Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-30575999970577316182012-01-24T11:00:00.005Z2012-01-24T11:00:12.472ZSluttishly Savoury: Dragon EggsThese are a slightly less yucky version of Century Eggs (also known as hundred year eggs, or even thousand year eggs for those fond of hyperbole). Century Eggs are a delicacy I tried when living in Hong Kong. They are preserved in salt and ash for several months, resulting in a gelatinous grey yolk and strange brown "white". The flavour is quite, er, strong. I loved them, my other half nearly alexthepinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844098278749749707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-48166435852787162972012-01-24T10:00:00.001Z2012-01-24T10:25:35.426ZShoe Porn: River Island Pastel Buckle Sandals
Pastel sandals? In January? Yes, I've obviously gone mad. I'm so in love with these shoes and I know that in a couple of weeks, they're going to be sold out and then I won't have a pair to wear once it's sunny. And what could be sunnier than a shoe that looks like it was inspired by an ice cream? Nothing at all, that's what.
I'm in colour blocking heaven, and the huger than huge see through Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-41444550280465611402012-01-23T16:00:00.003Z2012-01-23T16:07:57.268ZSluttishly Savoury: Char Siu Pork Pastries
There's always a bit of an argument when I go for dim sum (Westferry Royal China, most hungover Sundays). I don't like the pork buns, but for everyone else I know they're a dim sum staple. I almost always lose this fight, but sometimes I get my way and we compromise with pork pastries instead.
Pork pastries are my happy place.
Char siu is one of the sexiest things in the world. It just tastes Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-749309043330240872012-01-23T15:00:00.000Z2012-01-23T15:00:14.258ZYear of the DragonI love dragons (and still spend slightly too much time in my day hoping that they're real). Year of the Dragon sounds all sorts of fun - it's like the super year. Dragons trump monkeys, don't they? Here are some cool dragon things that you'll want even when it's year of the... chicken.
Oh I do want this dragon brooch. I would also like my make-up to look like the pretty girl. She looks amazing.Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-64813178863360939982012-01-23T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-23T14:00:04.628ZDream Dress: Lucky in RedIn China, red is said to be lucky. Very lucky. I remember once being with a red-headed Aussie chap in Beijing and him waking from a nap in the train station to find money resting on his head. He was a bit taken aback. It's not just red hair, or the exchanging of red envelopes that's seen as lucky. Wearing red is also said to bring fortune, so I've found three gorgeous red numbers under £50.
Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-69506588514305898302012-01-23T13:00:00.012Z2012-01-23T13:00:04.081ZTop Chinese Recipes
Chinese New Year means eating brilliant food. Getting friends and family together and spending some time with the people you love.
To help you decide what you put on your menu, and save you reaching for the Chinese takeaway menu, here are some of our previous Chinese recipes to see in the year of the dragon. Some of these recipes are so simple, you can do them when you get home from work Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-15003636939959256722012-01-23T11:00:00.002Z2012-01-25T11:34:09.114ZSluttishly Savoury: Chinese Spiced Roasted Duck Legs
Sainsburys are selling duck legs at half price at the moment. This means delicious succulent meat and crispy skin for less than 3 quid. And just in time for Chinese New Year? Perfect.
This simple recipe, inspired by the lovely Jamie Oliver, takes a matter of minutes to prepare and then looks after itself in the oven for a couple of hours, giving you plenty of time to watch the latest episode Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-83416330594876176042012-01-23T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-23T10:00:04.341ZSluttishly Scents: Grown-Up Stink Bombs
Sick of scented candles? If small children or unruly pets mean naked flames are a no-no, you tend to forget about lit candles and wander off to bed, or you're just not a candle person, then check out these stink bombs from Cire Trudon. Hurl these paper glass vials at the floor for a beautiful burst of fragrance - these scents are stinky in name only. Cire Trudon have been making candles since Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-35940149687013191152012-01-20T16:00:00.000Z2012-01-20T16:16:02.631ZThe boy and his poison: The Matcha Green Martini
My plight against detox-guilt and the January blues continues unabated with the Matcha Martini. Sitting firmly in the 'have your cake and eat it' camp this cocktail manages to combine the flavour of an absinthe kissed vodka sour with the savoury depth of basil and the powdered super-food goodness of matcha green tea.
Matcha is by no means your average cuppa. It boosts the metabolism, can reduceNickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-35801069451846307912012-01-20T15:00:00.001Z2012-01-20T15:30:43.939ZEtsy Pick: Monster Shark Soda CoolerI have always adored sharks. When I was 7, I saw Jaws for the first time, and by 8, my parents - the same parents who wouldn't let me watch Four Weddings and a Funeral until I was about 16 - had rented me all four of the films from our local VHS store.My friends and I used to pore over shark books, draw pictures, and play increasingly nerve-biting games of Top Trumps in which the facts on the Kat Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273545990845176567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-6471157474066638182012-01-20T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-22T18:51:56.561ZCraft Cheat: Sukie Iron-on Transfers
If you fancy doing a little easy crafting without getting tangled up in embroidery or cutting up lots of fabric only to sew it back together a la patchwork, get your hands on a copy of Sukie's Iron on Craft Pad.
Created by a brilliant Brighton-based design duo, the book has 20 sheets of different patterned iron-on transfers which can be used to pep up t-shirts, tote bags or anywhere fabric you Gail Haslamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941524304617800460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-48074920091890783792012-01-20T13:00:00.000Z2012-01-20T13:00:08.253ZPractical AND Pretty Wet Weather GearWho said practical had to be boring? Pah to that concept! Now, I don't know about where you are but today in the grey of the East Midlands, it has done nothing but rain and be miserable. Icky. There is no incentive to go outside. Mainly because I am sadly lacking in nice wet weather gear. Yeah, you heard - NICE practical waterproofs. You think they don't exist? Think again.
Let's start with Never Enough Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156229138795455704noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-75532352262282296072012-01-20T11:00:00.001Z2012-01-20T11:29:31.298ZTravel clever: Moleskine Luggage TagsAfter a near-miss with someone trying to mistakenly haul my bag instead of their similar one off an airport luggage carousel, I realised that luggage tags would be a good idea. But didn't like any of the ones I saw which all seemed to be made from chintz. However I'm reasonable obsessed with Moleskine.
Problem solved - via @topleftdesign on Twitter - so I'll be buying a couple of these Gail Haslamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941524304617800460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-83753654899946404782012-01-20T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-20T10:00:06.588ZSluttishly Sweet: Spice Baked OrangesThis dessert couldn't be easier, the only tricky part is peeling the orange. I have Nigel Slater to thank for the method, but I've beefed up the flavours to make it a bit more hot toddyish in nature.
It's perfect for any tired looking oranges you may have lurking around the kitchen as the baking process seems to perk them up and make them more juicy. It also gives you a kind of mini-facial as alexthepinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844098278749749707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-66114172674828252252012-01-19T16:00:00.000Z2012-01-19T16:00:03.214ZShit Bartenders Say
We couldn't let this video slip by without sharing.
Barmen across the world. We love you. Especially Nick. We like The Boy and His Poison the best of all, having our own barman is quite brilliant. But goodness you come out with some rubbish. We salute you and your muddled smoky prohibition era bitters.
Enjoy.Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-72702687230415111762012-01-19T15:00:00.008Z2012-01-19T15:00:08.275ZSluttishly Savoury: Spaghetti CarbonaraAccording to our Facebook page, that you have some SERIOUS opinions when it comes to Carbonara.
Strangely enough, I've been planning a Sluttery take on a carbonara recipe for a while now. Then y'all went and scared me with your strong opinions.
Cream or no cream? That's the big issue here.
Apparently, the origin of spaghetti carbonara is quite the disputed little tale. Some folks say the sauce Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075436147498572976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-47948564078732810282012-01-19T13:30:00.001Z2012-01-19T13:30:03.880ZPuppy LoveCats and dogs don't get much pretty stuff to play with (not that they care, they're pretty happy with a cardboard box). But if you're looking for something pretty for your pooches, Caroline Gardner has some gorgeous hand stitched dog collars in stock.
They're made with Italian leather and come in large for big dogs and small if your pooch is little enough to jump on your lap.
The collars are Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-83796020132344397852012-01-19T12:00:00.001Z2012-01-19T12:00:14.800ZSluttishly Savoury: Jansson's TemptationAnchovies are a controversial fish. You either love them or hate them. I happen to love them, and I think the salty little blighters make this Swedish potato dish even tastier than a bog-standard dauphinoise. Others say they're the devil's food, in which case they should probably not try Jansson's Temptation (just make a Tartiflette instead).
As you can see from the photo, this dish has the alexthepinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844098278749749707noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-54005274787564041222012-01-19T11:00:00.000Z2012-01-19T11:00:09.896ZDesign Porn: Yas-Ming CeramicsMoo, Rawr, Baa, Nay, Oink: Not only the noises that come from some of my favourite four legged friends but also the names of the products from my new favourite ceramics makers, Yas-Ming. And they're worth making some noise about. Makers Ming Wai Sun and Yasmin Dilekkaya have produced a marvellous menagerie of kitchenwares taking the animal world as inspiration.
With their white glaze finishFranceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-44209863981491636712012-01-19T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-19T10:00:04.375ZA Modern Mary PoppinsI was suffering a bit from the January Blues earlier this week: the combination of snuffles, cold feet and frizzy hair do not make a happy me. But then an email from Nancy and Betty popped into my inbox and their new treats cheered me up no end. Their Practically Perfect in Every Way tape (£5.95), aside from looking perfectly pretty, inspired me to dig out a copy of Mary Poppins. Every day could Franceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-86673350648533644812012-01-18T16:00:00.002Z2012-01-18T16:00:06.165ZA Wine Romance: Matchmaking Food To WineMatching the perfect wine to your meal is a scary, scary task (even if you have the cool tea towels Sian showed us yesterday). Not because you're not savvy enough, though, but because it's mission impossible: there is no perfect wine. So you can take a deep breath and put your feet up.Yeah, there are guidelines you can follow, but your own tastes are as important as what the experts say, and justLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409438475325468555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-43568597840259612832012-01-18T15:00:00.001Z2012-01-18T15:00:02.221ZThe Magical Powers of Soup
You're feeling under the weather and nothing is shifting the nasty big. That weird kind of sick where you're not quite hiding under your duvet for a week, but no cold and flu drugs works. You're not super sick, you've just been feeling 'meh' for the whole of January. Even those four hot toddies last night haven't worked. Nothing will work and YOU'RE GOING TO BE SICK FOREVER.
Calm down, you Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-87691010766858671842012-01-18T14:00:00.003Z2012-01-18T14:15:57.477ZBirds Of A Feather Plate Set from Poketo
Now I've finally got round to painting my living room (or rather, telling The Hairy Drummer to paint it), I'm busy looking for stuff to put on the walls. Because paint isn't enough. I'm currently coveting this set of plates by Oksana Badrak. Yes, it's time to bring back plates as decorative items. The birds make them traditional but the colours and style make them sufficiently modern that Never Enough Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156229138795455704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-50003912306081539952012-01-18T13:00:00.001Z2012-01-18T13:08:13.852ZShop in the Spotlight: Berry Bros & Rudd
I've been a fan of Berry Bros & Rudd for a while now. It's a London institution (with a massive online shop for those of you not living in the city) and one of the prettiest shops you'll find. It's also Britain's oldest wine merchant and is steeped in exciting history.
There used to be an underground passage to St. James Palace over the road, and gentleman would sneak down here to get to Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-58323239639911127582012-01-18T11:30:00.001Z2012-01-18T11:32:25.955ZWallpaper Wednesday: Fine Little DayThis mountain wallpaper from Fine Little Day is silly. Really silly. That's OK, I like silly things. It looks like there should be a cartoon yeti poking his head from around the edge of a mountain. Actually, I'm not sure I could help but draw one on. I think it's more suited to a kids' bedroom than anywhere else, but the mountains are adorable indeed.
Cute mountains not your thing? How about Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-37083525819211892192012-01-18T10:30:00.000Z2012-01-18T10:42:10.884ZEtsy Pick: Joy of Ex FoundationThese totes are rad. Or should that be, they are totes rad? No, nevermind. It's still early.
These fun totes, from the Joy of Ex Foundation, are my kind of bag - cute, funny and perfect for carting around all my stuff. I think our very own wine buff Laura would be more than happy to cart home her latest stash of delicious plonk in this Book (Wine) Club bag.
This one reminds me of my best mate. Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-11538042223150139542012-01-17T16:00:00.001Z2012-01-17T19:01:42.767ZThe Knitted Calendar
January is often marked by new calendars, diaries with empty pages and lots of shiny and new things. As much as I'm a fan of the fresh feeling of a new year and stationery, I'm also a slave to Google and can't cope with a written diary and calendar any more. I live with three inboxes open, I need my calendar in front of me on my screen.
But I do love beautiful calendars, and this one is one Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-4839761410398835462012-01-17T15:00:00.001Z2012-01-17T15:06:09.017ZEtsy Pick: Over the RainbowThere is sunshine in London! Look outside. It might not be warm, but the Potential For Rainbows is higher than usual and that gets me all excited. Rainbows are excellent things. Just nature playing about with light and suddenly everyone gets a little bit happier. You can't be in a grouch once someone has pointed to the rainbow over there.
I can't take credit for finding this gorgeous rainbow Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-52476949919962970002012-01-17T13:00:00.007Z2012-01-17T13:00:12.935ZTop Ten Beef Recipes
It seems that I've had a bit of a thing for red meat recently. Red meat and carbs are making shivery days much more appealing so here's a rundown of our most popular beef recipes. Pop this post in your bookmarks and get it out when you need something rich and warming. Don't worry, vegetarian readers - we're compiling a veggie top ten for you next week.
The Shooters Sandwich: We're going to keepSianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-51181999393724709062012-01-17T12:00:00.002Z2012-01-17T12:44:36.638ZPerching RobinsFile these cute bone china birds under 'things you don't need but really want' (while you're at it, you might as well file the rest of Domestic Sluttery there as well). What does this little bird do? Not a lot of anything. Just perches on your lampshade.
He's also got a friend to hang out with.
They're adorable. You don't need them, but they're £12.50 each from Rockett St. George and I do Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-31465514858068677912012-01-17T11:00:00.000Z2012-01-17T11:00:07.136ZTea Towel Tuesday: Food and Wine PairingsIt's been a while since we had a Tea Towel Tuesday, mainly because my kitchen is so full of tea towels now that I don't know what to do with them. Despite a drawer full and another dozen being strewn about the place, I can't resist these clever foodie tea towels from Stuart Gardiner.
This tea towel pairs white wine with different food.
This one pairs food with red wine? Clever, huh?
They're Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-62308449834493458052012-01-17T10:00:00.001Z2012-01-17T10:20:09.056ZDesign Porn: The KeepCup
A friend of mine kept tweeting and Facebooking about her KeepCup - how convenient it was, how easy to use on the go, how it was environmentally-friendly and avoided waste. "It's nice that she's so open minded about her lady cycle," I thought, "but does she need to talk about it quite so much?" It was only when she said it kept her coffee warm for ever so long that I realised it wasn't a MoonCup.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-56722927314722442532012-01-16T16:00:00.000Z2012-01-16T16:00:08.930ZThe London Cocktail Club
To say that I was fussy about where I drink my booze would be understating things slightly. If I'm paying £8 for a cocktail, I don't want to do it in a venue that I don't like (Be At One, I'm looking you square in the face). I can deal with an average pint but I won't settle for mediocre mixing.
This weekend, The Boy and His Poison took me to The London Cocktail Club. I knew immediately that Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-23334880105150986602012-01-16T15:00:00.000Z2012-01-16T15:00:06.219ZSluttery Travels: Lumley Castle, County DurhamIt's been a while since I've featured a castle on Sluttery Travels. Mainly because my Rapunzel fantasies are put on hold when I see the prices. Castles don't usually come cheap. Surprisingly County Durham's Lumley Castle does come cheap. The 73 rooms start at just £55 for a single and you can get a double for £105 at the moment.
The hotel is 20 minutes away from Newcastle and the grounds are Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-48590478096699975222012-01-16T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-16T14:00:15.741ZSnowglobe Salt Shaker
Brrrrrrr. It's flippin' freezing out there today. We haven't had any snow yet and that seems a little unfair. Frost and cold are only fun if we get a bit of the white stuff as well. I'm just going to have to settle for a snowglobe.
Not just any snowglobe, a salt shaker snowglobe! Salt shakers are probably the shakiest things in your house (unless you're lucky enough to have an Etch a Sketch) Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-18055533500169578282012-01-16T12:00:00.000Z2012-01-16T12:11:19.638ZSluttishly Savoury: Honey and Peanut Butter Chicken GoujonsYou can probably have this for dinner this week, but I fortuitously made them after dinner as a late night snack. I know, I am so rock'n'roll! Goujons are always tastier homemade, with the succulent chicken breast and light crumbly coating. These goujons are best left to marinate in the fridge for at least 8 hours to allow the sweet nutty flavour to soak into the meat. I prepared mine in the Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-36874346563699327392012-01-16T11:00:00.000Z2012-01-16T11:00:03.264ZSluttishly Simple: No-Bake Birthday CakeIt was my nephew's 1st birthday party last weekend. Little Gilbert had a robot-themed shindig at Walthamstow Social Club - a cute, retro venue in Walthamstow Village.Everything was suitably adorned with crinkly tin foil and big red buttons, bright balloons and a make-your-own-robot booth. It was perfect. When my sister realised how make people wanted to wish Gilbertron (my nephew's robot name forCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14075436147498572976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-79324627290308364942012-01-16T10:00:00.001Z2012-01-16T10:52:57.904ZBook Review: Dan Lepard's Short and SweetIf you've got foodie friends, you may have heard them singing the praises of Dan Lepard's Short and Sweet, which covers every aspect of baking from bread to pies to bagels to biscuits and cakes. You might have taken a look at your collection of a dozen cook books, pondered the vast repository of recipes on the internet, and decided against on yet another book with recipes you're too busy to bake.Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-4083562648424195252012-01-13T16:15:00.000Z2012-01-13T16:20:03.650ZThe boy and his poison: The Precursor
I know many of you are still detoxing (its ok, I can wait for you all to come to your senses) but what could better to help you clear out those pesky toxins than a supplement full of ginseng, echinacea, goji berries and manuka honey? Thats why I thought I'd introduce you all to Kammerling's, an enigmatic little spirit that through its shopping list of 45 botanicals makes for an incredible Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-86592882646202843812012-01-13T15:00:00.005Z2012-01-13T15:00:12.571ZPolly Horner's Best in Show Top Trumps
Do you remember Top Trumps? It was such a brilliant game. All a bit of luck (there was always a card that no one wanted - rabbits might be cute, but they don't win anything), but throw in some facts and it was a battle of wits. Sara was telling me about this pug cushion cover, illustrated by Polly Horner. And then I found that she'd also made a set of dog top trumps.
They're £7.16 and I'm Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-35296731293318146492012-01-13T14:00:00.000Z2012-01-13T14:00:00.914ZBaking bits: all kinds of linerAround Christmas time some of the Domestic Sluts were chatting on Twitter (ok, the others were chatting and I butted in) about the difference between and the relative merits of greaseproof paper versus parchment. On the supermarket shelf, there are lots of options and not much advice on which product to choose for baking. Different recipes have varying requirements but even modern non-stick Gail Haslamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12941524304617800460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-52924098382377381152012-01-13T13:00:00.001Z2012-01-13T13:28:47.638ZFriday Silliness: Mounted Crochet Dinosaurs!January is a bit serious isn't it? There's the whole post festive come down when it's suddenly not acceptable to be in your pyjamas all day drinking gin like water. And the lack of essential things like money and daylight. That's why we need some silliness. Something like this.
It's a crochet Tyrannosaurus Rex! Look at his cute little face! Rawr! Maybe you'd prefer a narwhal instead though.
INever Enough Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156229138795455704noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-39279903507265176942012-01-13T12:00:00.001Z2012-01-13T12:00:06.735ZSluttishly Sweet: Lemon & Coconut BrigadeirosI know we've only just recovered from the excesses of Christmas, but I couldn't resist trying out these fudgy Brazilian sweets. Brigadeiros are named after Brigadier Gomes, who apparently was little and round, hence the shape.
Traditionally they're chocolate flavoured, but in the name of "detox" I've made these with lemon instead.
Lemon & Coconut Brigadeiros
You'll need:
240ml condensed milk
alexthepinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844098278749749707noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-50588743992642487752012-01-13T10:30:00.001Z2012-01-13T11:09:25.880ZThe Friday Five: TeapotsIt's finally Friday. Here are five things I'm loving this week.
Who doesn't love owls in pants?
I like the sleepy guy on this Ali Miller teapot.
Now the iconic Blaue Blume teapot comes with red shoes!
The blue British Isles design on this Emma Bridgewater is stunning.
Saving the best 'til last. The tea comes out of his trunk!Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-81024775216419685942012-01-12T16:00:00.003Z2012-01-12T16:21:36.099ZDesign Porn: We Are Dorothy Song Map
Penny Lane, Highway to Hell, the Long and Winding Road... the amount of songs written about streets and roads is pretty extensive (though the less sound about Duffy's Warwick Avenue the better). Those nice boys at Thrillist alerted me to We Are Dorothy who have popped them all on a map.
The details are so cute. Look, there's the Heartbreak Hotel, just down the road from Hotel California. The Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-78210955400796945602012-01-12T15:00:00.002Z2012-01-12T15:00:10.457ZSites we love: UnboundWhat could be more brilliant than being able to play a part in publishing a book that you really want to read?This is the premise behind Unbound, which brings authors and readers together to get books funded and produced. "Books are now in your hands," they say, but that's really just the start.Authors do a filmed pitch and write a bit about themselves and deliver an extract from the book. Kat Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273545990845176567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-80801196670269784332012-01-12T14:00:00.000Z2012-01-12T14:00:01.897ZJewellery Under £20: Tatty Devine Sale
As it was my birthday last week I have been on a mini mission to treat myself to a few pressies in the sales. It is one of the very few benefits of having a birthday right next to Christmas - cheaper birthday shopping trips! One of my favourite mini purchases so far has been these delightful hexagon earrings from Tatty Devine for £12.
Also on my Tatty Devine sales wish list is this little Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-7095158579682451982012-01-12T12:00:00.002Z2012-01-12T12:11:33.698ZBlack + Blum's Box AppetitI went over to my friend Annabel's for supper last night and, as has been tradition since we were both about 9, to watch her steam through a couple of hours of Zelda.Annabel got hitched in June (you can get the recipe for the cocktail I invented for her here, it's lush) and, as a result, her flat is a treasure trove of grown-up wedding list stuff and really excellent toys.I got most excited aboutKat Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273545990845176567noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-84725275025823062212012-01-12T11:00:00.000Z2012-01-12T11:00:00.239ZKnockdown knitwear: jumpers for £20 and underWe've covered shoes, dresses and bedlinen. What else could you possibly want in the sale? You sensible readers, who know this mild weather is only fooling us and we've got months to go before we can start wearing all the 'Spring/Summer' things the shops are insisting on showing us, will surely be shouting at your screens 'KNITWEAR!'.
Here's a selection of the finest woolly warmers in the shops, Franceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-66302035295201825352012-01-12T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-12T10:00:07.573ZPrints charming: Andy SmithPicking prints is a tricky business. I want something that suits whatever mood I'm in - whether that involves dancing on the ceiling or being slumped in a corner. Typographic prints are especially tricky. No matter how pretty they are, if my print is commanding me to make lemonade when handed lemons, chances are that all I'll feel is bitter.
That's why I was delighted to discover the work of Franceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05339517973272134452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-58953659520330773802012-01-11T16:00:00.001Z2012-01-11T16:00:13.783ZWeekly Wine: Something Old, Something NewNew Year means New Year's Resolutions. I know you're probably still hungover from Christmas, but now is a great time to resolve to try and make different wine choices instead of going for the same-olds: not only are you full of New Year fervour, but there's also a ton of wine sales on crying out for some of your pennies.I've harped on about 'trying something different' before (ahem, okay, a lot),Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07409438475325468555noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-27431032228992460822012-01-11T15:00:00.001Z2012-01-11T15:37:53.981ZBag Lust: Ostrich Bag by Urban OutfittersNot having much money has meant that my sales shopping has been limited to pretty much nothing. Luckily there really hasn't been all that much that's caught my eye anyway. It has meant though that I've been rummaging through my own wardrobe and using things that I may have bought previously but never worn or used. One of those things is this bag from Urban Outfitters. I bought it on a whim Never Enough Shoeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08156229138795455704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-2845889449594016832012-01-11T14:00:00.004Z2012-01-11T14:05:05.538ZThe boy and his poison: The English Garden
It's time for a bit of a refresher. If you're feeling a little too egg-nogged or overly brandy flipped, I promise this will act like a liquid SAD light to perk you up after a miserably dark commute home.
If you're lucky enough to have an iPad, or if Santa dropped one in your stocking (you were good last year, weren't you?), you should definitely consider snatching up a copy of Difford's Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-7417242911351391242012-01-11T12:30:00.004Z2012-01-11T12:57:03.497ZSluttishly Savoury: Beef and Chestnut Pie
Elizabeth is poorly today so instead of her sharing a fantastic chicken recipe, she's off to bed with Lemsip and a DVD boxed set and I get to share my beef and chestnut pie recipe with you. It's not strictly a pie and pie pedants purists will no doubt tell me off for calling it one. It's really a stew with a puff pastry hat.
If all hats were made of pastry the world would be a much better placeSianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-92223127296133338202012-01-11T11:30:00.001Z2012-01-11T11:30:00.866ZWallpaper Wednesday: Scandinavian SurfaceScandinavian Surface's tagline is 'one drop is enough'. They specialise on panels of wallpaper, just to highlight a wall here and there. Not quite a feature wall, just a little splash of pattern. Here are my favourites.
One for sorrow, two for joy. I like this magpie design, even though that cat looks stuffed.
Love these foxes, they're are several different colourways but this is my Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-73890815606763841702012-01-11T10:10:00.000Z2012-01-11T10:25:24.442ZSluttishly Easy: Cheesy Beet GratinNo, not cheesy feet gratin. Cheesy BEETroot gratin. It's almost 100 times better than cheesy feet, I promise.
This is simply a beetier (and dare I say it, better) version of dauphinoise potatoes, complete with lashings of cream, garlic and gruyere cheese. It's a lot less carby than a potato gratin, and the volcanic magenta bubbles of cream are particuarly fetching.
If you don't want pink alexthepinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02844098278749749707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-22760951995789846882012-01-10T16:15:00.001Z2012-01-10T16:15:55.914ZThe Boy and His Poison: Ward Eight
January is a mean task-master of a month. It seems to last forever, December's pay cheque is a distant memory and there are four months till Easter and its promise of bank holidays and Summer. So why on earth would you want to make life harder by indulging in the masochism of giving up booze for a month and punishing yourself in the gym?
In an attempt to subvert all your resolutions I presentNickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16480736050471747633noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-89296447171647616152012-01-10T15:00:00.003Z2012-01-10T15:00:01.445ZMonster ThreadsI don't have any proper jumpers. Not one. All of my sweaters have stupid bracelet sleeves, or they're fine knits and tiny or jumper dresses (no one tells you what to do when you get to hot in a woolly jumper dress and your immediate reaction is to take it off). I need me some jumpers from Monster Threads. They're cool and so snuggly I might get lost in one.
This gumball sweater is apparently Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-42065243950991475862012-01-10T14:00:00.001Z2012-01-10T14:00:06.276ZDesign Porn: Sally NenciniI try not to write about London-centric design all the time, but it's really hard when some of it is as striking as these designs by Sally Nencini. I spotted her on Natural History's blog, and I want all of her capital-inspired cushions.
All of the little black cabs have their yellow lights on which is rare. The cushion is lambswool so it'll be super snuggly.
You can't have a London theme Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-41660007637679777712012-01-10T12:30:00.001Z2012-01-10T12:40:29.071ZSluttishly Savoury: Smoky Paprika Breadsticks
Some things are roughly a million times easier to buy in the supermarket than make at home, and my immediate inclination on seeing a recipe for them is 'why bother?' Breadsticks have always fallen into this category. They're about 80p, for goodness' sake, and what could I possibly add to them to make them worth baking from scratch?
The answer turns out to be 'lots of herbs and spices', along Sarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04033896516450368187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-78904830696628084712012-01-10T11:30:00.002Z2012-01-10T11:47:10.303ZDream Dress: Under £15I have absolutely no money this month (because I spent it all on books, honest) but I still want a new dress. Luckily, there are some glorious sale bargains to be had. Not all of these dresses are available in every single size, but they are all under £15.
This zigzag stripy dress of happiness is TWELVE POUNDS from Warehouse. It's gorgeous. And would look pretty darn foxy on our Kat.
Ten Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-35525277482840325422012-01-10T10:00:00.000Z2012-01-10T10:00:10.933ZEtsy Pick: Cup CosyHow adorable are these handmade cup cosies? (is that the correct plural for cosy?) I am assuming they work in the same manner as a teapot cosy, but even if they are scientifically flawed and all the steam escapes out of the cup anyway, they make your cuppa look rad.
They come in a variety of colours so check out Natalya's Studio for more. My favourites are the Cranberry, Taupe and Eggplant, Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02862308713806887109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-15397087015531871682012-01-09T16:15:00.001Z2012-01-09T16:15:01.729ZCocktail Hour: Alchemist Dreams
I like mixing things together and seeing what happens. I do it when I'm cooking, I used to do it with my aunt's perfumes when I was a kid and I still do it with booze. Sometimes with brilliant results, sometimes with results that make you vomit green (no, Midori and Coke do not go together). It's a bit like doing chemistry. Happy, booze chemistry.
I think Ruth, the lady behind Alchemist Dreams Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-1863966012625771252012-01-09T15:15:00.000Z2012-01-09T15:15:00.869ZBlogs We Love: Things Organized NeatlyI'm probably the messiest person I know.
I also like things organised neatly. I like rows. I like piles. I like things arranged by size and colour.
This little contradiction means that today I'm surrounded by books and paper and magazines (and crisp packets, which may or may not have been a large part of my lunch), but I'm swooning like a mad thing over Things Organized Neatly.
This makes me Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-46986310850520990302012-01-09T14:30:00.000Z2012-01-09T14:30:03.220ZSluttery Travels: House in the Clouds, Suffolk
This is such a strange house. It looks like something straight out of an Enid Blyton novel (in fact, The House in the Clouds would make for a perfect title).
I want to stay in the highest room, in the highest bit of the tower. Bet the views would be amazing. The acting out of Rapunzel is also likely.
The house is HUGE. I'll admit that it's not the classiest of interiors, but despite the Sianyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14536919654548369387noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1273652815577465353.post-32478635480595494142012-01-09T13:00:00.001Z2012-01-09T13:33:10.882ZBaking for Beginners: Easy Peasy Chocolate CakeI love cake. I particularly love this chocolate cake because it is so incredibly simple - here's one I made in about five minutes flat (plus cooking time) last week. I iced it as a salute to my service provider who was irritating me.In an ideal world, nothing I cooked would involve more than five ingredients, and any techniques more complicated than "throw everything in, stir."This is one of Kat Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14273545990845176567noreply@blogger.com4