5 lovely links for summer

There's nothing I like more than to while away the time looking for inspiration on-line.  Propped up on the sofa or bed, with a cup of coffee and my ipad I can 'waste' hours very happily!  Just in case you find yourself with some browsing time to spare,  here are some of my latest finds...enjoy....

* for summer inspiration and ideas galore on making the most of the sunshine...
* delicious icecream in summer flavours
* obsessed with the shabby-chicness of these blogs
* make this delicious summery salad
* a delectable lipscrub - for kissable lips

*image

Wednesday words

Simpson's-in-the-Strand

Simpson's-in-the-Strand is one of London's most historic landmark restaurants.  I visited it recently to celebrate a family birthday with cocktails in its Knights Bar.  Swinging into it's grand hallway is like going back one hundred years to a time when gentlemen smoked in private and the ladies dressed to please.  It's interior has a gloom that reeks of old British values, but gloomy it isn't.  You leave behind the manic bustle of the Strand and find yourself in a quiet and dignified British oasis that belongs to a different era.

Simpson's opened it's doors in 1828 as a chess club and coffee house called  'The Grand Cigar Divan' and soon gained a reputation for being the 'home of chess', attracting top players,including Howard Staunton, the first English world chess champion.  Momentoes from its days as a chess haven can be seen throughout the building.

The Grand Divan restaurant serves fine British ingredients served in typical British fashion, including the best beef and lamb that is wheeled to the tables in antique silver domes and cut at the table.  This practice originates from the days of chess when they didn't want to disturb the chess players.

The Knights Bar on the first floor is a beautiful nod to the arts deco movement.  It possesses a quiet glamour that demands cocktails and we were only too happy to oblige with a perfectly made Whiskey Sour, a raspberry mocktail, G&T and French Martini. 

Going to Simpson's is like stepping back in time - glamourous, timeless, epitomising all that is Britishness at its best; I can't wait to go back - for dinner!

How to...style a scarf

I've only just recently become a scarf addict - before I only wore them to keep warm in the winter, thereby missing out on a whole new sartorial experience!  The thing is, the way you wear your scarf depends on the cut and the fabric, whether it's knit, cashmere, square, silk, long, or short, so,  I've put together a few different ways to rock this look.

1.  Traditional, snuggled for warmth.  Wrap the scarf round your neck as many times as the fabric allows and tuck the ends underneath.  This looks best with jackets and blazers.

2.  This style only works with square scarves.  Simply fold the square to form a triangle then place the triangle in front of your nexk with the point down.  Wrap the ends round the back of your neck and let the ends hang.

3.  Sleek and stylish, this look is perfect for those colder days when you still need to look chic.  Place the ends of your scarf together, folding in half.  Bring the folded scarf around the back of your neck and let each end hang in front.  Find the loop of the fold and bring the ends through, or only one end for a slightly different look.

4.  C lassic and chic - best for silk and satin scarves.  Just wrap around your neck leaving one end in front and the other at the back.  Elegant and timeless.

5.  This is one of my favourites...take your favourite scarf and just attach to your bag with a simple knot.

 Check out this tutorial for more styling tips..

*image sources: Camillestyles/ivillage

Five things...making me happy

It's been a long, long week with a few not so good moments, but despite that there are the little things around me that still make me smile and realise how lucky I am...

I love this book, full of gorgeous photos, and the shells came from a beach in Dubai, the dome from Two Sisters in Wimbledon Village. 

Dutch Peonies, bravely withstanding the torrential rain.

Piles of vintage napkins and bedlinen, waiting patiently on the shelf.

This gorgeous light and airy (pink!) bedroom

Here's to a relaxing weekend for us all x

Bonne Vacances



Sleepy villages and shuttered windows

 With just over a week and a half to go until I take myself off to the South of France, I'm gearing up for sunshine, great cuisine and a touch of rose to help me recharge the empty batteries.  To get me in the mood - after all, it's pretty difficult when all I can see out of the window is torrential rain - I've been looking at these pictures..

Cool Interiors...crickets chirruping, soft breezes and afternoon naps

Shaded lounging, leisurely lunches and twinkly nightime lights

celebrations and girly get-togethers

Bliss...

*image source: Maison

Calming Colours

It's that time of year, towards the end of term that I start feeling truly frazzled - exhausted by the daily routine, bored of the rain and in need of a dose of calm; so when I came across this source of calming photos I was instantly hooked.  My overstimulated brain is craving calm scenes and neutral colours to gaze upon and these blogs fit the bill perfectly.  Here I can sink into a feather sofa, let soft chiffon and twinkly gauzes drape me still, pen a vintage card in old-fashioned inks and let serenity envelop me in it's perfect entirety.  Sigh....

What's your go-to when you're feeling the pressure?


*image credits: assorted Whipped Cream Network

Zucchini heaven

A few years ago I had a holiday that I've never forgotten.  We went to Tuscany in Italy and I have many wonderful memories of our time there, but one thing stands out above all the rest - the food!  On our first day we went to Cortona, a place I'd always promised myself I'd visit.  We walked to the top of the village and on our way back down we came upon a tiny, tiny restaurant in a back street.  There were three tables on a raised dais opposite the restaurant, one was free, so we claimed it.  The meal that followed was simple but probably the best I've ever had.  I've never before, or since, found that intense pleasure from such a simple meal.  I began with stuffed courgette flowers and it was the most delicious thing I'd ever eaten; the crisp outer casings and goey interior is still the basis for my food fantasies, and so my love affair with courgettes really began.  It's so versatile and it's flavour can be enhanced and toyed with in a whole variety of ways.  You can grate it into salads, fry til the edges are browned and crispy before dowsing in lemon juice; bake them in the oven with chilli flakes and parmesan or steam them and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  One of my go-to things to cook with them tho' is a frittata - combining all my favourite ingredients - cheese, eggs and courgettes.

Here's how:

1 courgette, thinly sliced lengthways (I use a cheese slicer for this!)

4 large eggs

55g grated cheddar (or any other hard cheese you like)

1.Heat a spoonful of olive oil in a frying pan and add the courgette slices, cook for 2/3 minutes until they start to turn a golden brown.

2. Beat the eggs with a fork and season with salt and pepper before pouring over the courgettes.  Sprinkle with the cheese and cook for about ten minutes, until the egg is almost set.

3.  Heat the grill to high, place frying pan under the grill for two minutes until the frittata is golden.  Serve warm with salad.

Stuffed Courgette flowers

1 onion, finely chopped

salt and pepper

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 small courgettes

100g unsmoked rindless streaky bacon, diced

30g breadcrumbs

1tsp pitted black olives, finely chopped

2tbsp fresh oregano

75g manchego cheese, grated

12 courgette flowers

1.Heat some olive oil in a pan and saute onions for about 20 mins until soft.  Season, and stir in garlic, courgettes and continue to cook for another few minutes.

2.  Spoon onto a plate and return pan to the heat and fry the bacon and chorizo until golden and cooked.

3. Drain the fat from the bacon mixture and return to the pan along with the onion mixture, breadcrumbs, olives and oregano.  Mix together well and season, before stirring in the Manchego cheese.

4.  Preheat the oven to 220c/425f/Gas7.  Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and spoon the filling into the courgette flowers.  Season and place on tray before drizzling with a little lemon olive oil.  Bake in the oven for 12/15 mins until the flowers are golden and crisp.  Serve with a tomato salad and warm crusty bread.

What was your most memorable meal?

Meal in a jar

When I first came across this idea it was a real 'wow' moment.  I take my lunches to work everyday, usually a salad and protein of some description; but it almost always ends up looking far less appetising than it began.  I first saw this idea on Pinterest and decided to do a bit of research on my own.  You can buy mason jars relatively cheaply from here and the rest is so simple - you make them up in advance (they keep for up to five days depending what's in them) and just grab and go.  For me that's a bonus; I hate the morning dash to make up a fresh lunch and the idea of grabbing and going is a winner and not only that, they look SO good.

You can add whatever you like, in layers, although two rules do apply: put your dressing in the very bottom of the jar and your lettuce towards the top so that it doesn't get soggy!  Then start layering.  Here are some ideas for your jars:

 Salmon Niçoise Salad- In a pint-sized Mason jar add 2 tablespoons of your favorite vinaigrette dressing, then layer roasted green beans, one half hard boiled egg, cherry tomatoes, black olives, roasted new potatoes, and roasted salmon, or add Tuna for a Tuna Nicoise.

Chicken Cobb Salad- In a pint-sized Mason jar add 2 tablespoons of your favorite vinaigrette dressing, then layer roasted chicken, chopped hard boiled eggs, chopped bacon, cherry tomatoes, and mixed baby greens or spinach.

You can even layer up fruit salad...

Enjoy creating...

*image credit: here

Pretty corals and seafoam green

I'm absolutely loving the different shades of corals that are out at the moment!  I've just got to buy myself something in this shade to feel this summer's vibe.  It's so fresh and vibrant, without being overly loud and garish; it adds a real pop of colour to an outfit, or design scheme. 

My other colour fad at the moment is the palest, pastel, seafoam green.  I recently redid my bedroom in this shade as I find it instantly soothes and refreshes, making my space soooo relaxing and inviting.


Meadowsweet Wallpaper by Dulux

  This delicate 'shabby-chic' design perfectly evokes the uplifting feeling of summer days and flowering meadows. I used Sea Urchin 4 on the walls to complement it and it's such a haven after a long day...



Seafoam and coral, mix and match

 What colours are you gravitating towards this season?

*image credits: collages from CamilleStyles/Dulux

Nora, Nora...

Along with many, many others, I'm mourning the passing of a wonderful writer, Nora Ephron.  I first came to know her through the film version of her only novel, Heartburn. How I loved that film!  It came out just as I finished at University and I remember watching it over and over and over; Carly Simon's haunting voice the backdrop for the breakdown of a marriage.  A truly talented writer, she wrote or co-wrote many of my favourite films including Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally;  I'm still searching for the high that I got when I first saw When Harry Met Sally.  She had a knack for tapping into the universal themes of love and loss, happiness and grief and the extremes of emotion that go with them, not least the black humour.. one of my favourite lines from Heartburn being when Meryl Streep (playing the wife of cheating Jack Nicholson!)began to spread the lie that Nicholson's lover "Thelma Rice has herpes"..oh what sweet revenge!
More recently she wrote her infamous lists: what I will miss and what I won't.  Diagnosed with leukaemia I can only guess that these lists were her way of dealing with the inevitable and she did it in her own inimitable way.  She said she wouldn't miss emails, bras, mammograms or dead flowers, but would miss the christmas tree, Paris, dinner for just the two of us, taking a bath and reading in bed.  It strikes me as wholly appropriate that these things are such simple pleasures; for in life, as in print, she and her characters celebrated the simple, universal things that touch us all.

We'll miss you Nora...

I leave you with a clip from my favourite film, currently winging it's way to me from Amazon

What was your favourite Ephron film?

Summer Salad

There's nothing like a bit of sunshine to bring on the healthy eating vibe.  Somehow you don't want the stodge and begin to crave lighter, brighter foods that look as good as they are to eat.  I'm currently on a major healthy eating drive, fuelled by an imminent holiday to the South of France where I want to look and feel my best.  With this in mind I recently bought the Lean and Clean Cookbook by James Duigan.  His philosophy doesn't encompase faddy eating but keeping your diet 'clean' ie as it is in nature, and 'lean' the look you get after following it. He is famous for keeping the curves of Elle McPherson feminine but lean.  I have to say that his take on eating makes sense to me so I splashed out on the cookbook which doesn't disappoint.  The following recipe isn't in the book, I adapted it from the 'rules' of the lean and clean philosophy, but it was delicious; healthy, nutritious, filling and looked good too.

You will need:
1 large butternut squash
250g of shelled baby broad beans
200g of petit pois
feta cheese
toasted pumpkin seeds
edible flowers to garnish (I used viola's and naturtiums)

1.First of all cut your squash into wedges, drizzle with olive oil, cumin seeds and chilli flakes and put into a hot oven for about half-an-hour, or until tender and slightly charred on the edges. 
2. In the meantime cook your beans and then plunge into cold water to revitalise them.  Leave to cool before podding the bright green kernals from their leathery shells. 

3. Do the same with the peas, except of course, you don't need to shell them!
4. When the butternut squash is done, cut into bite-size chunks and mix with the beans.  Toss with dressing of your choice (I used white balsamic and lemon olive oil). 
5.Add your toasted pumpkin seeds and feta and finally scatter over your edible flower heads.

I promise you'll feel so virtuous after making this, and it looks almost too good to eat! 

Enjoy!

It's a blogger's life!

The last few years have seen a huge rise in the number of bloggers out there in the virtual hemisphere.  You can find a blog on just about absolutely anything and it got me thinking...  what makes someone want to blog?  I can only answer for myself, but guess that my motives are similar to others.  I blog because I love to write; I love to communicate and forge a connection.  I've written since I was very small when I made homemade books, stapled together; moving onto writing 'chapter' books for my friends and terrible angst-ridden poetry when I was a teenager!  If I wasn't writing I was reading, and even my first job was in publishing.  I guess, in a nutshell, I write because it's when I feel most like me.  It feels like it's what I'm meant to do; whether it's writing a list (my love of lists is well-known) a poem, or a short piece of mindful writing, the buzz I get from seeing words form, that have meaning for myself and hopefully others, is a compulsive addiction. 

I remember when I first got the idea to blog...I'd been going through a tough time one way or another, and nothing was ticking my boxes, nothing energised or excited me and then, one morning, I woke and my first waking thought was, "I'm going to write a blog".  For the first time in months, I felt alive, excited, renewed by the thought of a new project and so 'Lifelola' was born.

It's been two years since the 'birth' of my blog and to be honest it's been an organic thing; initially I only blogged at weekends and then as I became more involved with my writing, I realised that even a short spurt of creativity through my blog, on a daily basis, fulfilled and calmed my urge to create.
But of course, as writers we can learn from others; from other bloggers who have been longer on their journey; who have different skills to share, advice and encouragement to give; so it seemed serendipitous, that, just as I was feeling that I'd come to a bit of an impasse with my blog that I came across the blog decor8 by the multi-talented Holly Becker, a freelance design consultant.  From there I discovered her on-line blogging course Blogging Your Way2.  I didn't hesitate to sign up and have spent the last month on a wonderful journey; getting to know fellow bloggers and making new friends (thank you to the London Bloggers Group!) but also, crucially, practising new skills through podcasts and on-line tutorials;  I guess, for me, my steepest learning curve was with the 'techie' stuff as that doesn't come easily to me - great tips and advice on taking photos, using photoshop, creating collages and dealing with on-line trolls!  Thank you Holly and all your wonderful team for helping me breathe life back into 'Lola' and keeping me on my toes for the last month! 

*credit: decor8

and to all my readers, thank you for your support, patience and appreciation!  Here's to the start of a wonderful week...x