Avid and Wise, up to our eyes in new summer buys!

[blossoming]

Where is everybody???

Made that soup Bloss, absolutely gorgeous.
Is it too much to ask for the shortbread recipe again OWW?

Plum - thats made my day, but the Stork Margarine Family recipe book which my Mum gave me aged 11 for starting at Senior School should take the credit!

Rufus here it is:

Shortbread

125g of butter
175g of plain flour, sieved
50g of castor sugar

Pre heat oven to 150c.
Rub butter into flour and sugar until it resembles breadcrumbs. Knead/squeeze together until mix forms a smooth dough, leaving bowl clean.

Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead again until dough becomes smooth and silky.

Roll out using rolling pin and use a cookie cutter to cut shapes (I use a heart or star). I usually make mine quite thick.

Prick all over with a fork

Place onto baking tray..
Bake in pre heated oven for around 45mins. It should still be quite pale in colour. My oven seems to cook everything really quickly so I always check on them around 30 mins - I actually prefer them a bit undercooked as more crumbly!

Sprinkle with castor sugar and cool on wire tray.

Usually makes around 12 hearts/stars but you can also double the quantities which also works well.
The recipe says you can freeze them (but I have never done this) and you can also add the grated rind of a small lemon or orange to make lemon and orange shortbread - obviously!

With love from your W&A Shortbread Fairy!

ooh! Can't wait to make that OWW thanks so much. It's low in fat right?
I have a recipe for what I call Lemon Squares, which you might like.
125g flour
110g butter
110g icing sugar (I often use caster sugar)

sift flour and sugar, blend butter with fork (I do this with my mixer) and bake in a tin at 180 for 15 minutes
While that's cooking
2 eggs
Lemon juice (as much as you like)
170g sugar (doesn't matter what type)
2 x tbps flour (any type)
1/2 tsp baking powder.
Mix with beater.

Pour over the base in tin and cook for 20 minutes at 180.

Devour before DC and DH realises you've made them!

morag thanks for the cossie idea -there's a Bravissimo near work I think so will go tomorrow and see if they have one, as am starting to run out of ordering time.

mmmmm shortbread / lemon squares

Emo, am I imagining this, or do you live near the Kings Rd?

plum yes I do. Within striking distance of a number of exciting retail opportunities...!

You lot are making me peckish. have caught up on thread and very excited for you emo and plum with your trips coming up.

Now off to have a snack

off topic but who wants to start a W&A band and enter Eurovision next year? How hard can it be.. at least we'd look good! I could borrow DD1s keyboard, I can play at least one chord...

I laughed out loud at bloss' Hunter story and OWW's Dutch homework.

red llama I totally get you about not wanting to waste an outfit. And Janice deserves as many outings as you can fit in a day

I bought a basic black bra yesterday to wear under a slightly see-through black Oasis dress, and then pottered around John Lewis for a very enjoyable hour. I'm saving up to buy a new dining set...plates, bowls, cutlery, THE WORKS. I am lusting after the Denby collection! I estimate I need about £250 to get everything. Then I can start saving for a Bayswater

nan, dh said I'd forgotten the first rule of country living ie hold your wellies upside down and give them a good shake before wearing. With socks!!!
A potter round JL sounds divine. Could you renew your vows and get a new wedding list?

I am studiously ignoring your recipes ollie and rufus!

Lol emo. Was it that bad? Maybe you could get some tips from a rock star in Miami!

Evening all! Just popping in before bed, I have been reading but need to go feed A so can't do many comments, apols.

Talk of John Lewis wedding lists has reminded me of DH and I having a full-on row (and we never argue normally) in the middle of JL trying to put our list together!

I've had a couple of web pages open all day in a 'should I shouldn't I" way, still not decided, so I shall post them here so I can a) find them again and b) get opinions.

So, here and here.

Meant to say Pickled- I wore my hair down for the big presentation. Having spent 7 years in the military being obliged to wear it up everyday I tend not to now. Unusually for me I did actually dry my hair properly so I looked z bit more groomed! Because of my infamous 12 minute bed to car routine at 6am, things like hairdryers and straighteners don't feature highly in my average daily system. I tend towards the 'beachy' look.....

Loving the receipes!

apuski I can only see the first from iPhone, but it's lovely and I'm sure it would suit you.

Morning
NanAstley my Mum brought be a Denby set for my 30th (turns out she had given up hope of me ever getting married and getting one that way!) There is a fab Denby shop/visitor centre in Derbyshire that sells seconds - but you would never know they were - worth a trip if you are looking for a bargain? here - they also have smaller outlets all over UK.
Apuski both those dresses would look great on your lovely figure but I especially like the second one. DH and I were fine doing the wedding list in JL but nearly divorced on the day we went to get all the baby equipment (I burst into tears when he wanted a cheapy baby monitor and I wanted the Philips one!)

Did you watch The Apprentice last night? Some shockers on there there series!

Yummy recipes!

ollie The transcript of the Dutch dialogue made me .

apuski I think you would look fab in both dresses! So that's permission to press "order" from me .

bloss Hope you enjoyed your soup. Have copied the recipe. I so want to make more of an effort to cook proper food again. Bread with butter and cheese is not doing any favours for my thighs and tummy...

plum Have you organised your capsule wardrobe for your holiday yet? You could always take an empty suitcase and fill it up at the outlets .

Got to go to work and will face the inquisition why I haven't been to early morning yoga again, sigh. Maybe I should stop coming up with excuses. As much as I love those classes, I sometimes need some time with DH and DD in the morning. Plus a cup of tea and some breakfast.

notyummy I want to hear more about your routine!

apuski love them both, go for it! Hope all going well on the job front.

bloss it was atrocious, though I am strangely taken with Stereo Mike from Greece.

Miami trip looming, mail orders arriving, will report in when trying on session has been undertaken. Am now torn between taking bigger checked in bag with loads of hair/make up etc, or taking carry on only. A nice problem to have I know!

Morning Ladies. Feeling a bit bleary-eyed this morning after a leetle too much wine with my lovely friend last night. Was v impressed with myself as managed to Shred at 6. I did, however, rub toothpaste onto my feet instead of Flexitol after rummaging in my drawer without really looking. Tingly.

Day is set to get even better; Monkey Music followed by the honour of a visit from MIL. Urgggh.

Apuski I like both dresses, slightly prefer the second, but I do gravitate towards stripes.

Plum, thank you for remembering - we are moving to Bristol in August/September. Excited and nervous simultaneously. Florence sounds amazing; look forward to the shopping de-brief.

Fritzi - you'll stop enjoying your Yoga if you start feeling like you have to go. Ignore the inquisition!

Nan; I'm currently 'collecting' this set bit by bit. Not everyone's cup of tea, I'm sure. If I'd waited to save up for the whole lot, I'd never have got it as I'm baaaaad at saving. I tend to grab one or two things whenever I'm in John Lewis, or if I'm buying something online.

Have tried out a new 'do this morning, which I'm quite taken with, but DH described as 'Arwen meets Princess Michael of Kent'. I'm sticking with it though.

Have lovely days all.

Red, when you move, we'll have to meet up. I am in Cardiff, so not far away. (I'll be able to smell your minty-fresh feet from here)

Nan, I was in JL yesterday, I wonder if our paths crossed...

Fritzi, am taking very big suitcase with not much in it! Though am meeting DH for belated anniversary lunch today, and planning a once-round-Zara-with-a-credit-card dance on way back to car.

Apuski, I like both, but perfer the Sessun, is far more elegant.

Two more sleeps 'til Florence!

Morning all!

Apuski - I think I prefer the second of those two.

Plum - Have a fabulous time! Am very jealous.

Red - Well done on the exercise -and I am sure toothpaste probably has a freshening effect on feet if you slightly hungover. I used to have some peppermint foot oil that I forced DH to rub my feet with when pregnant, so its just a version of that.

Fritzi - As you know, I am a pretty avid exerciser, but I can rarely make myself exercise early in the morning. Only if there is literally no other time in the week to do it! My body performs better when it has had some time time to wake up.

Emo - I have everything laid out the night before, and I do breakfast at my desk when I get to work about 7 30/745. I get up at 6am and am out of the house (having done a handover to the mother help when she arrives at 610) by 615. Basically I always get up immediately when the alarm goes and do v quick wash, teeth, serum, moisturiser, eyecream and body brush. Brush hair and put smoothing cream in. No make-up - that gets done at traffic lights!! With DH away most of the time it's really the only way I can get a full day in at work (with a 2 1/2 hour commute each day) and still be home by 515 ish to pick up DD from kids club.

OWW, sorry about your DH's work worries, we have had that many times and the bank DH worked for collapsed when DD was a baby. That was a bit of a worrying time. I just found my baby monitor, I was delighted as it was a good one and DD is now having great fun shouting down to me.

Apuski, both dresses are nice but I really like the first one.

Annie, Malene Birger tops are true to size, I think, but the trousers are on the large side.

Red, glad you and Janice had a good night.

Denby are worth the investment and easy to replace when you break plates etc. And I love my Le Creuset set. Ok, love is a bit strong!

Bloss, lol at the hunters story! A nasty boy in school put a dead mouse in my boot when I was about 6, I have been terrified of mice ever since.

Plum, happy anniversary and have fun in Firenze.

Dh is Rome at the moment which is apparently preparing itself for an earthquake!! I have just texted him some handy survival tips from the internet......

It was predicted decades ago but good to have the tips to hand just in case!

Good morning all.

Can't comment in everyone's posts as on iPhone and the typing on this is odd. However, nan, I am collecting a set too and have found a website with some discounts. If you google county, china and glass you should find it.

I am getting excited for you emo and your Miami trip! I am gutte to hear that our Ireland trip with work is now off and will be held in London.

Looking at bloss's pictures has told me the following. A, I need to shred again and b) I need that Boden cardigan and those wrap shorts. Bloss, you look stunning in those pictures, you are an inspirational women let me tell you!

I am on the train taking DS into London today, meeting up with my dad for some lunch and maybe a quick cheeky look in selfridges.

My mum has recently been diagnosed with cataracts and has been told that good sunglasses are an excellent prevention tool. Am hoping to have a browse today. It's funny, my dad is good shopping company as he needs to stay out of the sun in this weather,

he has skin cancer in lots of areas that are being treated at the moment, so he will happily browse in the computer department whilst I hit the sunglasses!

Wow, thank you wideawake, and everyone who's posted lovely comments. I have the shorts in the dove grey too, but I must admit the seal greys I had in Rome were good for sitting on walls, dusty trains, grass etc
I suppose my legs and arms have always been my best features, and have improved vastly by shredding. Compensation for 'midsection'!

I didn't really enjoy my breakfast of porridge. I think I made too much. I bought blueberries to see if that will improve it. I've also measured my widest part - shock, horror- and hope to see an improvement at the end of the fortnight.

Have fun shopping plum and wan. Sorry to hear that about your dad. Try on some Chanel black oversizeds for me!

Still raining here.

Try grated apple Bloss on the porridge.

My dad is ok really, he grew up in Singapore in an era when sun cream was hardly used. So Welsh skin and Singapore sunshine for 10 years is not a great combination!