Mum Style Icons

I'm really enjoying this blog today, especially the 60s and 70s Mums. What amazing style and hair they had, it's so interesting to explore how other peoples Mum's dressed and looked during those decades. Each Mum had a special style, and a story too.


I'm going to have submit photos of my Mum in the 70s, in her late teens, early twenties... the beautiful clothes she had that I would *love* to have now. And her story.

The author of the website, Piper Weiss, is collecting together these images and stories of Mum's styles, not just for her blog but eventually for a book too due in 2011.

Check out my favourite, the "Red Hot Mama" what a babe!

My Aunt definitely should get a mention too, about 5 years older than my Mum, and definitely rocking it as a teenager in the 60s.

Pevensey Bay

 South England was hit by a heatwave at the weekend, which luckily coincided with a holiday Laurie and I had been planning for a couple of weeks now. We decided to get out of London and go to the south east coast to a small beach in East Sussex, called Pevensey Bay.

Pevensey is located in "1066 country", so we knew that the area would be brimming with history. We took our bikes down on the train which was undeniably helpful once we got there, as it seems the area has a very limited bus service and very winding roads which would have proved quite a walk to get that one mile down to the beach. We stayed at this lovely family-run farm called Fairfields which wasn't too busy (despite the glorious weather) and with incredibly clean facilities.

Not far from the farm was a medieval castle that was built shortly after the arrival of William The Conqueror in 1066. Pevensey castle was actually originally a Roman fort (called "Anderitum" - said to date back to 290 AD) and the remains of this still remain around the edges of the castle. It's a beautiful castle with a bridge over the moat, and dungeons that you can explore (one which you get to via a spiral staircase!).

We went on a ghost walk of the castle grounds and the immediate area near the castle, which also led us to the St Mary's Church - the first Norman church of England. In the church yard are seven stones in a form of circle which is the Stuart Plague Pit. All those who sadly lost their lives during the plague in the 17th Century were buried here. Nearby are the remains of the old village cross, which was converted into a sundial in the 18th Century.  

There was a very cute little cafe right next to the castle that I adored - Castle Cottage Tea Rooms - that served up a great english breakfast as well as traditional cream teas (which you could have with cucumber sandwiches and champagne too).

The beach at Pevensey Bay was a pebble beach - similar to Brighton but far cleaner and much quieter. It was quite a small beach and we felt safe leaving our belongings there as we went for a swim.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

For Nathan's birthday, Kacey and I made these delicious home-made red velvet cupcakes in a handmade box (pictured above!)

I have been wanting to make red velvet cupcakes since trying them for the first time last September whilst working in New York. It was two of my colleague's birthday's, and so Priya picked up a large red velvet cake, from Magnolia (which is really near the NY office!)
Jude also bought me red velvet cupcakes from Hummingbird in Soho for my birthday last month, that were so delicious.

My version weren't exactly as good as the bakery-bought ones, for a start I misread the red food colouring quantity and ended up only putting in a fraction of the amount and therefore the cakes ended up brown. But the cakes themselves were yummy, very rich and quite heavy, similar to a tasty brownie.

Here is the recipe, courtesy of The Guardian:


Magnolia Bakery's red velvet cake with creamy vanilla frosting

Makes around 24 cupcakes (no kidding, these quantities made a lot!)

Ingredients

For the cakes:
500g plain flour
165g unsalted butter, softened
500g sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
6 tbsp red food colouring
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1½ tsp vanilla extract
1½ tsp salt
330ml buttermilk
1½ tsp cider vinegar
1½ tsp baking soda

For the Icing:
6 tbsp plain flour
440ml milk
450g unsalted butter, softened
450g sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract

Method:
Preheat oven to 180C/gas mark 4. In a small bowl, sift the plain flour. Set aside. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about three minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Whisk together the red food colouring, ­unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla. Add to the batter and beat well.

Stir the salt in with the buttermilk and add to ­the batter in three parts, ­alternating with flour. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are fully ­incorporated, but make sure you do not overbeat.

In a small bowl, stir together the cider vinegar and baking soda and add to the batter and mix well.

Divide the mixture into cases, then bake each tray of cakes for 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean.

Cool the cupcakes in the tins for 15 ­minutes. Remove from the tins and cool ­completely on a wire rack before mixing together the frosting ingredients and applying the icing.

Play me I'm yours

We currently have a street piano in the small bandstand on Hampstead Heath. I guess it hasn't been there long as it's not been vandalised (yet) although there are a few keys missing it still plays pretty well.

 

“Play Me, I’m Yours” is an artwork by British artist Luke Jerram who has been touring the project globally since 2008.