Let them eat (lots) of cake

So, yesterday when I got home there was a marvellous little package waiting for me.

The lovely Amy at Cake Shop Corner asked if anyone would like to test her cake pops.  I naturally agreed to test them, totally against my will you understand, to save anyone else the torture. 

I've not tried cake pops before - they seem to have crept into the cake arena and most places are now selling them along with cupcakes.  They are like little bites of cake coated in chocolate.  Perfect as a more snackette version of a cake. 

I don't think I could have had a better example as a virgin popper.  The inside was the most deliciously moist cake ever.  I thought maybe they'd have an opportunity to get dry in the post but not at all.  The outside coating was really tasty too.  Not too sweet, I hate it when chocolate makes me really thirsty because it's so uber sweet. 

Thanks Amy, I suspect I will be ordering some of those badboys for a party in the near future. 

Oh you pretty things

Apologies for keeping the updates to a pretty pathetic all time low lately.  Work is busy.  Life is busy. 

Sleep is busy.  No really, it is - I had this crazy dream last night. 

I was visiting Australia (details are rather sketchy as I'm writing this at least six hours after I awoke from my slumber) and I had only one bag, M's laptop bag, which was apparently my luggage.  Aside from all the awful impracticalities of trying to pack all your clothes into the space of a laptop bag, it had gone missing.

In every single room I looked for it, it wasn't there.  It was a pretty awful dream actually.  You know when you've put something down lost something and you're absolutely convinced it's in that one place - then you can't find it?  Imagine that for a good solid dream session and that's where I appeared to be last night.   

In the end I convinced my sleeping self that someone must have stolen it and I would be reporting it to the police as soon as I'd woken myself up.  Thankfully once awake I realised it was allllll just a horrible dream.  Phew. 

This week's lovely jewellery post feature type thing (see this post for clarification) is brought to you by the letter P.  P for presents. 

I'm trying not to indulge in any more jewellery whilst I have such a vast and wonderful collection of things at home - but when someone gives you a belated birthday present, well, I class that as having something new by no choice of your own; double hoorah for the person who can never have enough jewellery.

So, a few weekends ago, my very beautiful friend Hels gave me an amazing Russian doll locket for my birthday.  It's from MISI - which I've never heard of but it seems to be like Folksy and Etsy.  It's made from recycled parts and I'm totally in love with it.

  This is the front, isn't it pretty?

  Enough space for some pictures or dried flowers

(please say I wasn't the only mad keen dried flower maker)

or a ticket meaning something, anything really.

Lovely lovely lovely.  Thoughful presents are the best. 

Speaking of jewellery, I keep seeing things popping up about the Royal Wedding and I must admit, I'm a little excited by it.  I can't say why, presumably it's just that I like a happy ending - it can't be the day off, I don't flippin get one! 

I'm not overly impressed with the merch that's been released so far.  I saw the Royal Worchester beaker in Debenhams last week and thought it was just ugh, and blimin expensive for a mug, despite the gold thing.  I really don't like that picture of them - it looks like Wills is doing that 'i've got something stuck in my back tooth and I'm going to pick it out with my tongue' face.  Very odd.  

However, and getting to the original point of this paragraph, I adore the new Royal Wedding inspired pieces from Hoolala. 

 This red letterbox necklace is super cute. 

I could actually see myself wearing this Golden Carriage.

I wish she was going to the church in this. 

Like a proper princess.

So, in conclusion - there is a piece of Royal Wedding memorabilia for everyone.  And this whole thing isn't just a gimmick to get everyone to part with their hard earned cash.  Maybe.    

Then somebody told me, the weekend's just for me

1. Mac Wonder Woman mascara and eyeliner.
2. Models Own in Beth's Blue.
3. Fifi Lapin lightweight scarf - as seen on Marina's blog (via Gem's blog).  So nice, I'm getting another!
4. River Island Sunglasses.
5. Emo Hello Kittie Pez, huzzah!
6. New work mug, courtesy of Joy.

The long weekend has been glorious and filled with loveliness.  What have you been up to?

All these things that I've done

Hey kids, have you all had a lovely weekend?

I spent most of yesterday sorting through things.  I tell you what, this Spring clean is going to take all Spring to finish at this rate.  Yesterday was the turn of the shoes and books.

I suspect when I'm older I might end up in a house or even a room surrounded by heels and childrens books if my collections are anything to go by.  Despite this, and instead of being appalled at my ridiculously large collection of Havaianas I instead daydreamed of new offerings on their website and thought of flip-flop covered summer feets.

After that I decided to dust off my books and flick through all the niceness.  I had a lovely time looking at my Beatrix Potter Journal then I got told off for not putting more effort into tidying so dusting commenced.  I think I need some whole days to just sit and look through 'my things'.  I'm so lucky to have such nice treasures.

Other things which have taken up my time lately:-

• Going out with the boro lasses into Leeds.  We went to Viva Italian which was super lovely and the waiters said Prego quite a lot so I instantly felt like I was on holiday in Roma again.  It was a really tasty meal, very authentic and totally reasonable, five stars.  
• Wondering when it became acceptable to wear french knickers and a top as a 'going out' outfit.  On said night out with boro lasses we encountered a lady wearing just pants.  Is that on trend now?  Lots of "ooh young girls today" and "they must be cold dressed like that" ensued.    
• Still on said night out (are you noticing a pattern here) we went to a gay bar.  I have never been to a gar bar before but it was ace.  Music was as camp as christmas and the drinks were cheap - and, the highlight, bar staff were in boxer shorts.  It was a little tricky placing an order let me tell you.  The lovely young man that served me muttered something to me after I'd ask for our drinks.  I sort of zoned out (I was just wondering what washing powder he uses) and when I came round, I'd apparently agreed to doubles.  Those crafty good looking pant wearing bar people! 
• Questioning - when did 90s indie music become football chants?  This is a point we were pondering after several rounds on the hardcore dancefloor at The Stone Roses Bar.  If you like rowdy fist pumping to The Smiths, and are prepared to be one of maybe 10 or so girls, this is definitely the club for you.  If you prefer to bust some more elegant moves, avoid.
• Preparing for Juli and Matt to visit with Queen Lolaface.  Poppy is already a little bit scared but I've told her that she can have lots of tuna to compensate and she's stopped pacing the floor now which is a move in the right direction. 
• Hoping that it will be lovely weather by the time we go to Poland next month.  It's been -19 there according to father, I'm a little scared of such temperatures.  In fact, I was moaning that it has been a little chilly the day I spoke to him at 7 degrees.  He kind of trumped me.  A lot. 
• Trying not to think about the flight from here to Poland to enjoy said trip.  Deep breaths.  Calming deep breaths.  Argh. Argh - repeat. 
• Trying doubly hard not to think that I will have to endure another flight in May to Portugal for my sister's hen do.  SUPER excited about that, although I might have to have someone knock me out, BA style.
• Looking forward to my boyfest at McFly in a few weeks.  No plans for knicker throwing as yet, things might change - heck maybe we'll even dress in them. 
• Speaking of boy bands I have been wondering why TakeThat have decided to merge Kinks, Sunny Afternoon and Gorillaz Feel Good Inc in their verse of Kidz.  Anyone?  I took an executive decision and I'm not going to the gig in July now.  I think I might have finally grown out of them.  Sad times.    
• Lusting over pancakes on the BBC food recipe site.  How are you going to have yours this year?  I suspect we will just have sugar and lemon as is traditional.  I wonder if I could get away with eating just pancakes from now until Easter? 

And....because I was too drunk to take any decent pictures of my night out, here's a picture of my cat shooting lasers at me (destroying my camera focus) because I told her off for sleeping on my clothes.  Pew!  Pew!