Frequent Pinks, Clashing Reds and Some Baking

So my camera did this cute thing where it just focused on my new shoes the whole time - how did it know that's what I was showing off? It's slightly annoying that really, the eyes should be in focus in most cases, but at least you can see my new shoes in perfect clarity! I hope you can tell, too, that my tights are pink and not white. I have been dressing like a ice cream for most of the week, so I guess these shiny red beauties are the cherries on top! Just goes to show there's nothing wrong with clashing, as long as your resemble a scrummy treat. 

I was actually doing some baking, too, not just pretending to look excited in the kitchen! I posted a picture of my baked goods on Instagram (@anniepancake) if you want to see. They too resemble ice creams. 

All of my lipstick came off shortly after that! No matter how many smoothies you make, you just can't resist sampling the batter. And the icing. And the golden syrup. And the broken cakes. Oh, and obviously the final product. Whoops. ;)

I didn't really use the whisk much either. In the end my trusty 60s yellow Kenwood Chef did all the heavy mixing for me, and boy am I glad! Otherwise, I'd never have gotten those egg whites to form 'stiff peaks'!

New Things and Pink and Blue Spring Flowers

Hi everyone. You might be pleased to know that exam season is behind me, for the most part now. My hiatus this time was brief and coincided perfectly with the giveaway, the winner of which has now been contacted - congrats Adele! I hope you get to make lots of lovely tea and have lovely spring themed gatherings. Sadly - or maybe not sadly, really - exam stress always makes me eat badly (break outs) and spend money (new pretties!). The latter is obviously the good thing, but I suppose it's twofold as now i'm all spent-up for this week!

In other news, the weather is being super temperamental and we've just had what felt like an entire week of rain. It's certainly still chilly for the majority of the day, so this new knitted purchase (Topshop) was definitely a good spend. This dress is also a new purchase of the bargainous variety - £20! It utterly reeked of cheap perfume when I got it through the door though, and needed a needle taking to it. It looks pretty now. I've been wearing tights the last few days but I really need the weather to perk up now as all my winter tights are looking very ready-to-go-in-the-bin and I am sick of having to only choose dresses that look good with thick tights. I might have to invest in some pretty stockings to tide me over between the winter chill and barelegged summer. As you can see though, I did get my bare legs out for five minutes! As I said, the weather is very temperamental at the moment. 

I was also trying out my new camera remote which I have been meaning to get round to getting for ages, so I took these quickly outside my garden. Winnie was desperate to join in. Hello piggle :).

It's funny, I feel like I've been gone for ages and I've forgotten how to blog! Now that my holiday begins though, I'll have plenty of opportunity for practice I hope. :) 

For now I have one exam left, and then I am free until September. Obviously I will be working and hopefully holidaying, but it's terrifying to realise that I am a big grown up now, and soon enough i'll be moving into Uni halls with a group of strangers (and of the 4 i've met on facebook, so far they are all boys - typical!) and a much less photogenic bedroom. I will be interested to see how university life effects my blog and am looking forward to exciting times ahead, but i'm also really sad to be leaving my friends and also my love, Sam. 

Back soon x

Afternoon Tea With Mellorware (and Mr Fox) and a Giveaway!

Hello everyone! I have been gone for what feels like ages, I can't believe where my weekend has gone. I got funny shifts at the bar this weekend which just meant I ended up being really busy, and I am poorly yet again! Luckily I have some new implements to use in brewing copious buckets of tea to soothe my poor throat - why does tea ease your coughing anyway?

A few weeks ago, Lianne, owner of a company called Mellorware, contacted me to see if I would be interested in featuring some of her deliciously lovely products on my blog. Lianne produces modern-day-heirloom china and tableware decorated with her own watercolour illustrations of happy frolicking animals. I agreed on the spot, not least because I have been lusting after beautiful Mellorware tea sets since I discovered it about 2 or 3 years ago - I could never justify it because as a not quite yet growed-up person, I don't have anywhere to store a tea set of my own, however, since I introduced Mellorware to my mother, I think we might just make some room yet! ;)

Lianne sent me this gorgeous tea cup featuring lovely woodland creatures having their very own tea party (as well as a matching milk-jug - perfect for morning coffee and tea!) which compelled me to have a mini tea party of my own for this post! I summoned my lovely friend Martin Fu, my oft-mentioned photographer pal for whom I am a frequent muse, and we took in the last of the afternoon sunlight amidst the trees and grass. I am so happy the days are warming up. It makes me want to sit in the garden under the beaming sun and sip tea from an entire Mellorware service (or maybe fill them up with gin like a sneaky flapper!) and I may yet do that - what I adore about the sets are that not only do they feature the most beautiful illustrations, but they are placed on excellent quality white china (me and mum have a issue with cheap, thick 'china', which this most certainly is not!) and they are all designed to 'mix and match' to create your own individual tea service, where Mr Fox might be sipping tea but Miss Poodle is jumping circus hoops and Mr Giraffe is  snuggling up in his cagoule. 

Beyond all that, I also have an amazing piece of Mellorware to give away, and I am sure you will be delighted to hear that I am green with envy that I am not allowed to keep it! To be in with a chance of winning a Mellorware New Deer Picnic Teapot  - that's right, teapot - simply comment on this post below with a line or two about how you like to take tea, or would take tea using a Mellorware service. I'd love to hear about elegant afternoon sippings and snuggly evening cuppas. 

A winner will be selected randomly after 12:00 (Midnight UK Time) May 13th 2013 at which time the competition closes. Entry is open Internationally and only one comment will be counted as entry. 

Good Luck!

Ball-Busting Businesswoman

The most recent set for my photography self portraits. Today I am your CEO bitch boss that don't nobody mess with.

This is also a first look at my new capris from the lovely Lolly Doll

A New Pink Vintage Dress and Lots More Pink to Match

This is the kind of dress I had been searching for all my life. That beautiful shape and detail, and the perfect length, zipped up like a dream! I found it on Etsy recently - on sale! I'd have expected to have paid a lot more for such a desirable dress, but I think the reason is the fabric. In photos it looks like stiff cotton or linen, but it's a lot different in real life. Woven, almost. 

I decided to put it with white tights because the warm weather has mostly gone away again - that is, the sun is still out but the not-so-summer breeze is back and rain is threatening - and these pink wedges. Sadly, I've had to 'retire' these now as they are super cheap (the heels were made of polystyrene) and whilst walking home my sole starting peeling off. Not so classy. I also need, need to book a hair appointment as my roots are so bad now that I don't even notice I have them. Sigh, the damage of unemployment earlier this year is still lingering!

This outfit is from Friday morning -  I can't believe how busy i've been to only have been able to make a start on this now. It's back to that time again, where I end up having to focus on getting my folders finished for my graphics and photography courses and this one is my last folder ever. The end of my 6th Form career is scarily close now.

Cinderella

Today I played the Damsel in Distress - Cinderella losing her slipper. I get weird looks for self-timering  in public or having Sam take photos of me a lot, but these ones were particularly weird for me, seeing as I had to walk to this 'location' in the gown! 

I've nearly finished my folders-worth of personas (I have about 3 left to do!) but these shoots have inspired my regular blog photography too. I hope they might have inspired you lot in some way also. :)

Geek Chic

My latest photography self portraits! Featuring my new Lady Tie and £1 geek glasses from Primarni!