Chocolate Bark

I thought I'd do a quick post about an easy homemade gift idea that I've made a few times for different occasions, because who doesn't love chocolate? I first made this last Christmas as a little extra for few of my friend's presents and, as you made have read in one of my latest posts, I made some for my boyfriend for Valentines Day.

It's so easy to make and I think it looks like a great gift, made all the more special because it's homemade. To make mine I used chocolate from Lidl, it's only about 35p per bar and I think it tastes pretty good for the money. You could use any type of chocolate but I opted for cheap-ish stuff since I was buying about ten bars to melt. I melted the milk and white chocolate in separate pans and then spread one as base onto grease proof paper on a baking tray, and then used a spoon to drizzle the other one on top making a marbled kind of effect. Then it's just all about what sweets you want to add on top...the fun part! One of the ones I made for my friends had smarties, marshmallows and Millions and the other one had broken up Crunchie and white chocolate chips! The Valentines one had Love Heart sweets, cherry lips and freeze dried raspberry pieces. There are endless possibilities; I've seen some in the shops with popcorn on them and saw some on Pinterest topped with dried fruit an nuts...a remotely healthy version I suppose!!

I believe the name for this is 'bark' and if you search 'chocolate bark' on Pinterest then you'll find a lot more inventive inspiration that the few photos I have here. I'll definitely be making this again, and I think my sister has already taken the idea to make this for a few of her friend's birthdays this year!

Dream House: Brick Walls

The second post in my 'Dream House' series is dedicated to my extreme love for exposed brickwork. I think this has recently become a bit of an interiors trend, and I imagine that more and more people are recreating this look in their house. I also think that quite a few newly built houses and flats are being designed with this feature nowadays. There are a few people I follow on Instagram who have flats with walls like this, and it's safe to say, I'm very jealous! I would love a feature brick wall in my *hypothetical* house, probably in a bedroom or the kitchen.

All images can be found on my Pinterest board.

James Dean Daydream

It's March already! I mean how did that happen, I genuinely remember partying on New Year's Eve like it was last weekend! It really is scary how much time flies, and I'm sure it's going so much quicker the older I get. And on that topic, it's exactly a month today until I turn 25...eeeek! However before that, I have one last month of being 24 which includes my first week off this year. I can't wait to have a week off work to relax back at home in The Borders, as well as cash in the Groupon voucher I've bought for a full body massage. I am determined that it'll be a stress free week!

So what did I get up to in February? It's easy to feel like my routine is work, eat, watch something on Netflix, sleep...and repeat! However I definitely do manage to fit in some other little adventures!

I spent one Sunday having lunch and a wander at The National Museum of Scotland with some of the family. We ate at the Bistro section downstairs, which I'd never been to before, I had such a lovely haggis and potato dish. // I'm not sure a month could go by without me buying new shoes! You can't really blame me in the job I'm in though, can you!? I couldn't resist buying these spotty trainers in the sale from work. Our store had never stocked them so when someone returned a pair in my size...FATE! The picture of my new shoes was taken on a day when my sister and I took the train to visit our other sister in Stirling for the day, where we had a wee liquid lunch and a catch-up at a lovely restaurant in Bridge of Allan called 'Jam Jar'. // I had the luxury of a full weekend off of work a few weeks ago, so I spent most of it with my boyfriend. I went to my first ever rugby match which was...cold, but good fun! We also took a little day trip to North Berwick where we walked along the beach then sat and ate chips by the sea!

This was the first time in...a wee while...that I had someone to celebrate Valentines Day with, which was really nice. I was working the full weekend but I had a lovely dinner cooked for me, and some gorgeous flowers bought for me. The flowers have lasted for ages, it's been so nice having fresh flowers in my room. I think I might make an effort to buy flowers more often, especially with Spring coming. // I handmade my gift, chocolate bark with some Valentines related sweets on top. I was pretty happy with how it turned out, and I possibly may have ate most of the bits that were left over!

My February soundtrack has definitely been none other than Taylor Swift, I've had her '1989' album on repeat and I absolutely love this song!

Dream House: Exterior

This is going to be a new feature on here, where I walk you all through my dream house! I am a bit of a Pinterest addict and one of my most pinned to boards is definitely my 'Dream house and interiors inspiration' one. When I was younger I used to love making interiors moodboards with pictures from catalogues and Pinterest is definitely the grown-up version of me sitting cutting up the Laura Ashley catalogue! I know that I'm a while away from this stage in my life, but I can't wait to own my own flat or house for the simple reason that I will be able to decorate it.

The first post in this series is dedicated to my dream house exterior, before we start looking at my favourite interiors. I will forever be a country girl and I do imagine that one day in my life I'll end up back in the countryside in a dreamy little cottage like these ones, or like the one I grew up in. This will likely, if at all, be a lot later in my life but I can't help but fall in love with houses like these. And Pinterest is just heaven for all the daydreamers like me!

All images can be found on my Pinterest board.

The Festive Season

Hi there! I'm finally back to giving my blog some attention after a completely hectic December which involved; lots of craft projects, constant shopping, seeing plenty of friends and family, a work promotion and a new relationship! Unfortunately blogging had to take a back seat temporarily! 

So it's 2015 now! For the past few years I've written a resolutions post, but I don't really have any resolutions that are not things that I tell myself all year round anyway. After my extremely hectic December, it was great to start the new year with a lazy day in bed (the first time in four years I have had New Year's Day off work!) and to have the luxury of a full weekend off this week. I'm currently using the time to recharge my batteries from the festive season and spend some more time with my family before everyone goes back to the usual school/uni/work routines.

What does this year have in store for me then? Well apart from the big quarter century birthday and a possible winter time trip to New York with my best friends, who  knows really! If 2014 taught me anything then it's that you never really know exactly what's round the corner and I'm quite happy with that.