Picnic Prettiness

This is a post about what I should have been doing this weekend, as opposed to what I really did. What I actually did was get overexcited about the hot weather, start drinking cider far to early on Saturday and not get home until the early hours of Sunday, resulting in the rest of the day spent in bed watching The West Wing.

If I'd known what an amazing weekend of weather we were going to have I'd have sent out some picnic invitations - probably the above, which are free printables from Eat Drink Chic.

I'd cook mini versions of this caramelised red onion and goat's cheese tart (little ones are easier to transport and share), and lots of salad. I bought a very pretty wicker picnic basket from BHS a couple of years ago. I just had a quick look and it doesn't seem like they stock them anymore - but they do have this pretty and far more practical spotty cool bag:

Summer's here, and I couldn't be more excited.

Easy Spring Touches

I can't wait for Spring. I really thought it had arrived this weekend, but I'm currently looking out on a grey London day. What have arrived are Daffodils in the supermarket.

They're such lovely flowers, I think we get a little blind to their sunshine colour and amazing shape. I couldn't resize picking up a couple of bunches with my Friday night food shop, but when I got home I realised I had no vase of the right size. What I did have was a sizable collection of Lloyd Grossman pasta sauce jars (I really like adding it to soup!), and some pretty tape I'd spied in Tiger. Do you have a Tiger near you? The website is dreadful, but they're really lovely shops full of cheap pretty bits and pieces. And tat. An awful lot of tat.

Anyway, I shoved a bit of the tape around the jars, shoved the Daffodils in and put them all over the house. By yesterday they'd bloomed into the stunners you can see above. I love a quick win.

Pretty stuff

Yet another impulse purchase - my pretty Tatty Devine sparkly bow ring. I bought a couple of other bits in the sale, which I've yet to wear in a way I'm happy with, but this is less statement-y, so easier to just shove on. Unfortunately, I appear to have mislaid it - I think the cat may have turned magpie.

These aren't at all new, but they really do make me happy every day - my bedroom curtains, from Ikea (Children's department!). Since my boyfriend moved in with me we've had odd spurts of working on making the house pretty, followed by periods of laziness where my messiness gets out of control. I've still yet to start work on my big plan of a full on picture wall in the dining room. Updates as and when it eventually happens.

Restaurant - Casa Morita

Despite the many hours I've spent in Brixton, I hadn't headed into Brixton Market before - that's right, I've yet to visit Franco Manca. Yeah yeah, I know, I'll get round to it at some point.

We were drawn to Casa Morita (that link isn't going to give you much info at the moment!) by it's colourful hangings, bustling open kitchen and cute little tables. The waitress let me sit at a four person table instead of the two person one by the door (it was snowing). We got there about the right time at 7.15ish, there was a small queue by about half an hour later. I'd advise booking for more than two people to be sure of getting a seat.

And you should definitely go! We shared a starter of quesadillas that was lovely - without chorizo slightly tasteless, so I'd recommend paying the small supplement cost. I then had Albondigas from the specials board - Mexican meatballs (picture at the top of this post). And my, how meaty they were. Densely packed flavourful and in a lovely tomato sauce. The ultimate satisfying warmth giver, and ridiculously good value at about £8.50. Coupled with a very reasonably priced bottle of house red, I believe the phrase for which is 'eminently drinkable' we were very happy bunnies heading back out into the snow.

iPhone Fisheye lens

A couple of weeks ago I was looking for a new iPhone case. I was massively tempted by the Pantone

colour ones, or a beautiful Iconemesis arty one. But then I had a quick look at iwoot and impulse bought one that came with a Fisheye lens!

Admittedly, one of it's main selling points was the price, as it was quite a few pounds cheaper than any other I looked at. That's reflected in the quality of the case - it doesn't seem as 'protective' as some I've had before,
the screen is quite exposed at the case doesn't come up over the edges.

But who cares, because I've got a FISHEYE LENS. It can be easily unscrewed and kept in a little pouch for safety. Because iwoot have pretty terrible delivery times, the Lens came way later than I expected it to. I haven't had time to take any proper pictures with it yet, but here's one of a friend's cats chilling I snapped during Sunday lunch:

It doesn't work with the iPhone flash, which is a bit of a shame. Still, I'm pretty happy for an impulse purchase. I'll update this with some nicer photos once I get round to taking them!