Where Dinosaurs Meet Design: The Great North Museum

Last week I paid a visit to the former Hancock Museum in Newcastle. The last time I was there my age was still in single figures and most of the interesting stuff was locked away in glass cabinets. I was amazed to see that the museum has been totally revamped and given a sleek contemporary new look. Gone are the pokey rooms I remembered and in their place are huge double height galleries, mezzanines and glass walkways. The old-fashioned display cases have been replaced by life-size model animals, dinosaur fossils, ancient Roman relics and enough interactive exhibits to keep even the most easily distracted kid 20-something entertained. Fortunately the museum allows photography throughout so I was able to take some pictures to share with you, although these by no means capture just how amazing it actually is. If you’re in the area (or even if you’re not!) I highly recommend a visit. Admission is free although there is a charge to visit the planetarium. You can find more information about the museum on the website www.twmuseums.org.uk

 

Hope you like my photo collage, are there any interesting museums or galleries near you?

Bargain Homewares Haul

If you’ve read my blog for a while you’ll know I love interiors and pretty homewares. I think we’re lucky that there are so many stores now that sell stylish household goods for incredibly reasonable prices. Everyone can afford to accessorise their home without spending a fortune. Last week I popped into Ikea and Matalan to pick up a couple of things and while I was there I spotted a few really nice pieces I couldn’t pass up. In total I spent a little over £50, although I think I got a lot for my money and individually everything I bought came in under £12.

   

~ I always use Ikea’s Kassett stationary range of files and boxes to store my paperwork, mail, magazines and other bits and pieces. I bought a pack of two  Ikea ‘Kassett’ White Magazine Files (£3.75 for 2) they look sleek and help keep me organised. 

~ I’ve been looking for a nice frame to showcase some of my photos from my summer trip to Rome I saw this Live, Laugh, Love Frame (£12.00) in Matalan I immediately loved the fun, modern design, and thought it was perfect for my pictures. I chose three of my favourite shots of Roman sites, each with a different colour theme, one blue, one stone/earth and one green. I got the prints themselves at an HP kiosk in my local Tesco’s for less than £1.

~ This Matalan Metal Wall Art ‘Love Home’ Sign (£5.00) was a complete impulse buy –I don’t even know where I’m going to hang it yet- I just loved the design and the unusual metal bow. Because of the neutral colour it will fit with most interior schemes. It’s not uncommon for me to keep home accessories, artwork and linen in storage and occasionally swap things around.  

~ These Ikea ‘Tindra’ Scented Tealights (£1.69 for 36) are much nicer than the regular white kind. They come in three pretty beige shades and have a lovely subtle vanilla fragrance. I also picked up a set of Ikea ‘Tindra Ljuv’ (£2.99 for 3) larger votives, these ones are all desert-themed. The dark brown candle smells like chocolate torte, the beige like caramel panna cotta and the lightest cream like cinnamon rolls. I’ve bought these candles many times before and they’re always great value, they usually burn for around twenty hours each and the glass jar is reusable.

~ I like having plants and flowers around the house but they take time and effort to look after and sometimes only thrive in certain conditions. These strikingly realistic Ikea ‘Fejka’ Artificial Potted Plants (£5.99 each) look so convincing that it took me a while to realise they were actually fake. I chose a couple of different varieties and bought a pair of ‘Skurar’ Off-White Plant Pots (£1.99 each) to put them in. I tied the ribbon around to add a pop of colour.  

~ I love these Vintage Wire Hanging Birdcage Tealight Holders (similar - £8.00 each) from Matalan. You may remember from this post that I got a similar large birdcage for Christmas, when I saw these I thought they would be the perfect complement for it. I was only going to buy one until I noticed how well they worked as a pair. They were only £8 each and I think they look much more expensive. 

Hope you liked my purchases, congratulations for making it to the end of this mammoth post! 

Spring/Summer Trend: Sports Luxe

If the mere mention of sports makes you think of your old PE kit, garish Addidas tracksuits or loungey sweat pants then you may not think this trend is for you, but Sports Luxe is sportswear with a high-fashion makeover. As seen on catwalks from Alexander Wang to March Jacobs and even Victoria Beckham, it’s all about sleek and elegant pieces with sporty details like mesh inserts, zips and drawstrings. The colour pallet is classic and neutral with bold flashes of colour and metallics. This is my personal take on the Sports Luxe look, each of the pieces featured are available for under £100 from the highstreet/online.

 Top Row Mango Bowling Handbag £42.99 ~ Warehouse Mink Sporty Skirt £35 ~ Oasis Dial Bracelet Watch £45 ~ Topshop Lemon Ponte Boyfriend Blazer £40 ~ Warehouse Light Grey Mesh Panelled Top £30 ~ Mango Tear Drop Neckline Dress £44.99 ~ Zara Yellow Clutch with Clasp Frame £39.99 ~ 

Middle Row Oasis Blue Applique Flower Top £38 ~ Topshop Chiffon Trim Racer Back Vest £32 ~ Zara Fashion Wooden Wedge £69.99 ~ Zara I Basic Sandal £29.99 ~ Oasis Resin Bangle £16 ~ Oasis Drape Back Colourblock Dress £65 ~ Mango Metallic Yarn Skirt £34.99 ~ Topshop Sleeveless Drape Front Blouse £30 ~ Asos Link & Plate Detail Belt £12 ~ Zara Crossover Sandal £39.99 ~ Warehouse Sequin Front Vest £35 ~ 

Bottom Row Mango Touch Bowling Bag £44.99 ~ Oasis Button Back Top £28 ~ Asos Zebra Cuff £10 ~ Mango Biker Jacket £44.99 ~ Miss Selfridge Black Super Skinny Jeans £38 ~ Topshop Athlete Wedge Heel Trainers £75 ~ Asos Mini Skirt with Tier £30 ~

Do you like the Sports Luxe look? What's your favourite catwalk trend this season? 


 

Sweet Treats: Belgian Waffle with Strawberries

If like me you live in the UK the type of waffle you’re probably most familiar with is the potato variety from Birdseye. Belgian -sometimes referred to as ‘American Style’- waffles on the other hand are sweet, made from a pancake-like mix and absolutely delicious served with fruit, syrup or even ice cream. They’re one of my favourite deserts (or breakfasts if I’m feeling particularly decadent) and best of all they’re super quick and easy to make.

What I used   

~ 115g/4oz of plain flour

~ Tbsp of sugar

~ Tsp of baking powder

~ Pinch of salt

~ Two eggs separated

~ Splash of milk

~ A little olive oil

~ A handful of fresh strawberries

~ Maple syrup

~ Waffle iron

The hardest part of this recipe is actually finding a waffle iron! I bought mine several years ago from a German based company although you can now find them on Amazon or Ebay for around £30. Once you’ve tracked down an iron the rest is easy!

I started by pre-heating my waffle iron, using an oil spray to lightly coat the plates to stop the waffles from sticking. Next I combined all of the dry ingredients -flour, sugar, baking powder and salt- in one bowl. In another I mixed the egg yolks with the milk and about a tablespoon of oil. When I had a nice, even liquid I added it to the dry ingredients and mixed them together until I had a smooth and lump-free consistency.

Finally I whipped up the egg whites until they were light and fluffy and carefully folded them into the mix. Now the batter was ready I used a ladle to spoon a small amount onto the centre of the iron, closing the lid and letting it cook for 30 or 40 seconds. When my waffle was cooked I threw on some chopped strawberries and drizzled over a generous helping of maple syrup. Delicious!

Shoe of the Week + Save 20% at Office with Look Magazine

Lana Del Rey in Office 'Karen'

Even when I’m not actually looking to buy, I still enjoy browsing in my favourite shoe stores and online. This week I came across this pair of cute nude heels in Office. I was immediately attracted to the T-bar design which is fun and girly and gives the shoe a real 1920s Great Gatsby esque vibe. The patent leather is surprising soft in person and the beautiful peachy nude shade would go with anything. These were recently spotted adorning the feet of It Girl of the moment Lana Del Rey so they’re sure to be popular.

If you’re tempted to splash out they can be found in Office stores, concessions and on their website now for £62. If you’re quick you can also claim 20% off by picking up a copy of March’s Look magazine and showing page 79 when you make your purchase. The discount can only be used in store and is valid until 5^th March. For more details see Look's website

~ Photo credits The Mirror & Office ~