And then there was July: A month in photos

For more photography see:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/claremcm/

Carpe Diem xx

Vintage Spring Style: Natalie Wood

Welcome back to blog! I've been going through my wardrobe, making a few purchases and getting inspiration for the spring/summer fashion season from vintage photos. Classic film stars of the 20th century are extremely useful when taking a elegant, vintage style and updating it with a 2014 twist. 

Born Natalia Zacharenko in 1938 San Francisco, the film star died an untimely death in 1981, at the age of 43. Her death is still shrouded in mystery - she was found drowned in deep water - and her star is largely outshone by the likes of Marilyn and Audrey, but her style is timeless. The 5'2 actress has a lot to give in terms of outfit inspiration, so whether its Natalie or other stars of the 40s, 50s, 60s, get out the vintage clobber and work it.

Happy Weekend!

Carpe Diem xx

5 Days Camping In A Cottage: A Photo Diary

Carpe Diem xx

Foodie Friday: Summer Ham Hock and Mushroom Pasta Bake Recipe

Ingredients:

75-100g pasta per person/portion

Ham hock pieces

Handful of cumin seeds

Cheddar cheese

Pine nuts

Bread crumbs
Flour
Milk
Broccoli

Method:

1) Put water onto boil and put your choice of pasta into cook when boiling

2) Make Bechamel/cheese sauce

3) Fry mushrooms separately in a saucepan and boil the broccoli (or other veg if you wish)

4) Mix the sauce into the pasta and place in an ovenproof dish

5) Mix in the mushrooms and ham hock

6) Top with breadcrumbs, cumin seeds, pine nuts and grated cheddar

7) Brown in the oven for 10-15 minutes

Carpe Diem xx

Makeup Monday: No.7 Airbrush Away Primer and Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser Review

A double makeup review day! Yay! I love testing products and particularly products from No.7. So here's what I thought of them (after testing for 3 days each).

No.7 Airbrush Away Primer:

A really nice non-silicone texture. Smooth and a nice light finish for my dry skin, especially good for those with oily skin who don't want to cake on their foundation over the top. Masks pores and is a multi-tasker and time saver! Helps foundation and face makeup to slip on and stay on for longer.

Not much bad to say about this product, apart from the fact that I can't afford to use tons of it regularly as it is on the premium side of the primers available.

Boots No.7 Airbrush Away Primer is available full-size from Boots for £19.50

No.7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser:

Hypo-allergenic and with UVB SPF 15 and 5 star UVA triple sun protection, this tinted moisturiser is great from the go! I was slightly surprised to find a touch of foundation as I didn't see it advertised on the packaging but found that it was perfect for minimal summer no-makeup makeup. It slid on nicely but I found I needed more than a pea-sized amount to blend it out properly. Perfect for days when you don't have the time to spend a long time on a full face of makeup, which is most of the time at the moment for me, and don't want to blend with a brush for ages.

The only downside was slight oilyness and shine on the T-zone after 4 hours wear, but considering I have been testing it in the heat wave it has been amazing! A dewy finish that isn't too shiny. A great multi-purpose product again!

Boots No.7 Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser is available full-size from Boots for £11.50

Swatches: Airbrush Away Primer (left), and Triple Protection Tinted Moisturiser (right)

Carpe Diem xx

My Graduate Gap Year Update: Moving On and Growing Up

A quick update on my at-home graduate gap year: 

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about deciding to have a kind of at-home graduate gap year where I would focus on things such developing transferable skills, blogging, work experience and travelling in the UK. 

This is my original blog post:

http://cupcakesandcosmeticsbyclare.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/my-stay-at-home-graduate-gap-year.html

I graduated last week. For the first time in my life I don't have a permanent paid job, am not in education or training, and I have no idea where I'll be in a years time. Have I become a NEET? Here's a quick update on the way my plans are going at the moment:

Travelling: Still not enough savings to go to Asia, but I have two holidays in the UK planned for the next month, so I'll be blogging about those adventures soon!

Work: For the past month I've been volunteering 2 days a week at my local charity shop, yesterday I helped hand out Meals on Wheels to housebound people, and all of next week I working at a children's holiday club. I never really expected to be volunteering so much of my time for free but the experience is amazing and it is very fulfilling work.

Blog: As some of you might notice there are a few changes here! There are now ads on my blog and I'm blogging around 6 times a week. I love writing and hope you all enjoy reading.

Here's to uncertainty!

Carpe Diem xx

Weekend Vlog: Romeo, Romeo and Chillin' from a Height

Romeo turned up at my window at 7am this morning (how rude) in the form of two painters. Ok, they were on scaffolding and sheltering from the sun, but a girl can dream? In other news, I've turned the platform outside my window into a temporary elevated sunroof, which is actually pretty cool and makes me wish I had a permanent balcony there. 

How are you chilling this weekend?

On my toes: Barry M Indigo

Carpe Diem xx

Weekend Bake: Celebration English Cupcakes Recipe and Tips

Whether it's a birthday, an unbirthday, a summer barbeque or the Wimbledon final, it's always great to get baking and try an English version of sweet American cupcakes. With more flour and less sugar, these cupcakes are more Victoria sponge and work perfectly for tea parties.

Ingredients:

3 eggs

6oz self-raising flour

6oz caster sugar

6oz butter

1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1) Cream together butter and sugar

2) Fold in flour into the mixture in stages

3) Break in the eggs

4) Spoon into cake cases

5) Bake in a Gas Mark 4/350F/180C

Chef's Tips:

1) Sift flour and icing sugar fully before combining

2) Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the mixture for extra taste sensation

3) Combine all the ingredients until smooth

4) Leave to cook until bouncy and golden

5) Decorate with chocolate and other flavoured icing, when cooled, by adding cocoa powder to icing sugar and water

Carpe Diem xx

Fashion Thursday: F'edore Summer

This year in a bid to save money and experience the full-on summer weather experience in South Asia, I'm basing my outfits around my favourite 3-year old denim shorts and knock-off black and floral wayfarer sunnies. 

My new £18 straw fedora from Accessorize will also make an appearance, at some point, when the British weather becomes logical. The point is that even in Britain their isn't an excuse not to bring summer home. Lazy bonfire evenings, Pimms and lemonade, flip flops, sunnies, homemade teepees in the garden....

Have fun!

Carpe Diem xx

Spring Into Summer

The infamous sun has been spotted behind the clouds, I have a new fedora, and the Easter chocolate has been eaten, so there's no better time than to start the post-uni health kick!

Here are some ideas for nutricious and delicious dinners:

Halloumi, aubergine, and sweet potato salad with tomato sauce

Homemade carrot, mushroom, cabbage and egg ramen with rice

Carpe diem xx

Summer OOTD: Biker Jacket and Flip Flops

Biker jacket - Topshop Petite

Blue sailor stripe dress - H&M

Gold hoop earrings - Accessorize

Black flip flops - Accessorize

Carpe diem xx

OOTD: Summer Wedding

Dress - Topshop

Shoes - Stradivarius (Spain), hid-heels
Gradual self tanner - Dove Summer Glow, light to normal skin

Carpe diem xx

Style Essentials: Top 5 Spring/Summer Jacket Essentials

 

The Leather Jacket: biker, Topshop Petite

The Denim Jacket: Per Una at Marks and Spencer

The Military Jacket: Warehouse

The Trench Coat: cropped trench, Debenhams Petite Collection

The Blazer: navy blue, H and M

Spring and autumn can have changeable weather. You need a jacket or coat but not that heavy winter one. Never fear, all your problems can be solved by just investing in a few staple jackets that are versatile to work in whatever situation they might be needed. These are my faves - bear in mind I live in England where it is cold enough for me to wear these jackets most of the year without boiling :)

What are your favourite styles?

Carpe diem xx

Happy Midsummer: Top Summer Beauty Secrets Haul

So midsummer is here, the days are getting shorter and summer has officially begun. Unfortunately, so does the panic over summer beauty regimes; revealing your pale legs for the first time in months, attacking leg hair, buffing and bronzing for that bikini body. But never fear, you need just a few secrets up your sleeve to waltz your way through summer sun with confidence. 

Bronzer: Delice de Poudre bronzing powder, Bourjois

Self tanner: Dove Summer Glow nourishing moisturiser gradual tanner

Sunglasses: retro cat eye in black, Accessorize

Tinted moisturiser: Olay Essentials complete care everyday sunshine moisturising cream in light, SPF 15

Bikini top: 2-cup size booster in black, Primark

Bikini bottoms: black, Marks and Spencer

What are your summer beauty secrets?

Carpe diem xx