My Nostalgic Thing

Autumn is drawing closer, so me and my bf took advantage of the sunny afternoon and did a spot of blackberry picking! With jumpers tied around waists and old ice-cream containers in hands, we were ready to explore forests and fields in true style (ha.)

There's nothing more nostalgic than venturing outside foraging for blackberries and bringing home your finds to make something yummy. The most popular recipe is of course, blackberry and apple pie but they can be used in jams, ice-cream, trifles and sprinkled on top of oats for breakfast.

I love it because it's free and gets you outside. When me and my brother were little Granny used to take us blackberry picking. We'd come home and watch the crumble turn to a golden colour in the oven ready for Mums arrival. The only downside is the fact your hands end up stained the purple colour of dried, inky blackberry juice if you’re not careful...

My Nostalgic Thing

Discovering treasure in your garden is like unwrapping a Christmas present. On golden afternoons my brother and I used to dig in our back garden. Mud gathered under our fingernails turning them black and my dress would have a smudged grass stain on it. Dads tools, kitchen spoons and jugs spread out on the grass. We'd pretend to be pirates and find little bits of porcelain from a lost teacup, crystal embedded rocks and smooth pebbles. They are now kept in the little treasure chest (above) on the mantle piece. Why hold on to the treasure? The bits we found are worth nothing, but memories are hidden in them too. 

Did you ever dig for treasure as a child?

Easy Elderflower Cordial

It's that time of year where long summer nights prevail and friendly gatherings take place. That means, drinks are in order! Elderflower is in season until the end of July and as I was riding my bike I thought it was about time I pick some and make my own cordial. What a sight it is to see the frothy, sweet white blossoms along almost every hedgerow near my home. A bit of afternoon nostalgia when picking them seemed to go a long way. My boyfriend and I went to a hamlet in Dartmoor called North Bovey to hunt for fresh elderflower lurking among the hedges.

We picked about 65 heads which is enough for 4 or more wine bottles full. Here is our recipe for 2 bottles:

Ingredients:

1k sugar  
1.5 litres boiling water 
4 medium lemons, washed 
30 large Elderflower heads 
55g citric acid (available from a chemist)

Method:

1. Put the sugar into a pan and pour on the hot water, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Leave to cool.
2. Meanwhile, grate the rind of the lemons with a fine grater, then cut the lemons into slices. 
3. Shake off the flower heads to remove any insects and swish them in cool water. Strain until semi-dry. 
4. Push the flowers down into the warm sugar syrup and add the citric acid. Stir. Then, place the lemons and rind into the pan and stir. 
5. Cover with a lid and leave in a cool place to steep for 24 hours.
6. Strain through muslin into a clean pan, then use a funnel to fill up a sterilized bottle with cordial.
7. Store in a cool, dark place for a couple of weeks. You can also freeze small plastic bottles to keep for longer.

Enjoy!

Flora & Fauna

Flora & Fauna - Cavallini & Co / I'm unsure about the second notebook as it was given to me a few weeks ago (helpful, I know) / Chinese Blossom - V&A 

I'm a sucker for anything with floral, pretty patterns (even bed sheets^) so that includes notebooks too. As I'm doing a degree in Creative Writing and Publishing, I've always got a ton of notebooks on the go to write down my dreams, ideas and the odd doodle. With the start of spring also comes new, fresh stationery. There's something terrifying yet satisfying about marking the first, clean page with ink - don't you think?

Where do you buy your stationery? 

Beyond the Kale

My sunny Sunday just got better. I discovered Beyond the Kale whilst walking through Green Park Station on my way home. It's a vegan/vegetarian paradise that has been open for 6 weeks and sells everything from fruit, pulses and vegan cake, to an amazing selection of yummy freshly made juices and raw spreads. If you're a clean eater or in need of a vitamin boost then look no further. 

The menu has a wonderful selection of juices and blends, which meant that I took a long time to decide which one to pick. They also offer coconut water, wheatgrass shots and almond milk to take-away. Too good!

 A colourful selection of fruit and vegetables that makes me feel good just looking at them.  

They have some pretty cool dispensers filled with trail mixes, oats, flax and quinoa and more. 

A stack of baskets for you to put your shopping in is a nice rustic touch. The freezer contained lost of Booja-Booja vegan, organic, soya-gluten free, refined sugar-free ice-cream. I bought a little tub of Coconut Hullabaloo ice-cream as a treat after doing lots of university work; it is delicious. 

In the fridge there are freshly prepared options to take-away to the park, or wherever you might go on a sunny day in Bath. Two homemade soups are on offer every day, so I must try them out next week. 

What's more is they sell vegan cake too! 

I opted for the Vitamin-C Boost blend which consists of: Kale, pineapple, orange and celery (I also noticed they also have a couple Vitamix blenders - something I really want/need.) All in all, a bright and beautiful shop filled with a vast array of healthy goodies, and not to mention the friendly couple who own it. I will be sure to visit soon... 

Judy's Vintage Fair comes to Bath

(Images courtesy of Judy's Vintage Fair and Raiders Vintage.)

 
Vintage fans stepped back in time as Judy’s Affordable Fashion Fair, returned to Bath. Under the great ceilings and chandeliers of the Guildhall, eager shoppers dressed in fur coats, tea-dresses and brogues, gathered to discover affordable delights.

 

I caught up with Emily who works at Judy’s Vintage Fair, and asked her why Bath is a great venue, she says:  ‘Bath is such a beautiful, historic city and it really lends itself to an event like ours! There are lots of vintage fans, students and families in Bath that enjoy coming to our events and finding pieces of the past to take away with them.’

There was a buzz in the room since stalls boasted vintage dresses, shearling jackets and a favourite of mine – ‘carpet’ handbags. Visitors were lost amongst the rails as they rummaged through and exchanges were made, along with vintage talk and tips. Whether hunting for the perfect silk blouse, hand-made accessories, menswear, shorts or an ideal skirt, it was all there. Emily tells me: ‘Each of our events features 30+ independent vintage traders all bringing an eclectic, handpicked selection of stock from 1920s to 1980s.'

 

 

Appearances included Raider’s Vintage who had a vast selection of sequin goodies, Vintage Paradise, and Vintage Promise – where dainty up-cycled and vintage accessories were on display. Also, Vintage in Print flaunted original iconic prints from the past including Vogue covers.

Next door, tea and cupcakes a la 1940’s were served from floral teacups and ditzy print plates whilst a singer from Bath Spa University filled the hall with retro tunes.

So, how did all this come about? After much pondering and chocolate eating, The Affordable Vintage Fair was born in 2005 in Yorkshire and is now a favourite of Florence Welch, The Pierces & Daisy Lowe (although they were nowhere to be seen when I went.) The ever-expanding Fair now visits over 30 cities and 6 festivals, so the future looks bright over at Judy’s HQ. Emily says they even host special 'large' vintage events such as Vintage Nation. 
At only £2 entry, it doesn’t break the bank, so be sure not to miss Judy’s Affordable Vintage Fair when it comes to a city near you...

My Nostalgic Thing

 

I haven't done a 'nostalgic thing' post in a little while! Oops, perhaps that's because I've been boring and hibernating from the rain. This weekend I travelled back to Devon (which took me 4hrs rather than the normal 1hr30 due to flooding) and grabbed the chance of a walk in the park whilst it was sunny. I love this picture of my boyfriend and my little dog and it's moments like these that make me smile.

 

What is your nostalgic thing?

Chairty Shop Clutch

The weather is dire which always puts me in a rubbishy mood. But a spot of retail therapy in Bath always makes me feel a little better, even if my student loan is slowly running out. Thought I'd do a quick post to show you my charity shop purchase. I picked up this Clark's bag for £2. Quite a bargain, huh? I love the dark green colour and the simplicity of the design. What's your most recent charity shop find?

Bath Vintage & Antiques Market

Under Green Park Station’s roof every first and last Sunday of the month is the Vintage and Antiques market. The old platform becomes a hub for dealers, shoppers and vintage-lovers, with many stalls boasting quirky items and soul music filling the station. As it's not far from my house I go pretty much every time it is on to snoop at interesting items I want to fill my imaginary house with (a student abode doesn't really count.) Stalls flaunted vintage clothes and jewels, scavenged furniture, iconic prints, art and little nik-naks. Thought it would be good to share my outing with you. Here are some snaps:

 

Particularly like the old school chairs and the 'Quirk' picture.

 

Not sure I would ever invest in taxidermy, but this tigers head would definitely catch your guests eye.

 

Scarves, hats and gloves.

 

 

A talented lady makes bracelets/watches using lots of different watch faces which I think is a brilliant idea. 

 

A nostalgic display of tea caddies and tins.

 

Bargains could be found.

I loved the suitcase full of shiny brooches. I am a magpie when it comes to anything glittery and sparkly.

Dresses from various era's were on show at a selection of stalls.

 

 

Lamps have a magical feel to them and these four lined up in a row caught my eye.

And lastly, the rare mustache mug, at £15. Wish I bought it, they look so cool...

Do you go to any local vintage markets?

Beazer Garden Maze Mosaic

 

Having lived in Bath for a year now, I thought it was about time I took a walk along the Avon Canal. I discovered Beazer Garden Maze hidden beneath Pulteney Bridge on my travels...

Designed by Rondoll Coate in 1984, the centre of the weaving stone path maze is a mosaic of the Sulis head. I thought the intricate design was pretty impressive. The petite unicursal maze is inspired by the city's Georgian architecture, Brunel's railway designs and is centered around a large Roman-inspired mosaic. It didn't take very long to complete but luckily I won (was wondering along the paths with my boyfriend.) A few odd glances were thrown our way whilst trying to get to the centre but hey, why not walk a stone maze when you're 20? 

Raw Brownies

 

 

Who would've thought you can make sugar, dairy and gluten-free brownies that taste good? These Deliciously Ella raw brownies only take five minutes to make and consist of just four ingredients. All you have to do is blend them. In the evenings I get sweet cravings (every evening) so I just grab one of these high-fibre brownies to satisfy my sweet tooth. Why not give them a go?

 

Ingredients:

Makes 10 brownies

2 cups of dates

1 cup of pecans

 2-3 tablespoons of raw cacao powder

 2 tablespoons of maple syrup (optional and can be replaced with any other liquid sweetener)

 

Method:

Simply blend the pecans in a food processor until they form a crumbly mixture, then add the dates and blend again before adding the cacao and maple syrup.

 

Place the mixture into a baking tray and either refrigerate for 3-4 hours or freeze for one to allow them to set. Then keep them in the fridge for freshness.

 

 

My Nostalgic Thing

The weather has been pretty horrid recently. In Devon, I grabbed the chance to go on a quick bike ride while the sun was out. I stopped to look at this view and then turned around to ride as fast as I could go downhill towards home. Got pretty muddy but it brightened up my day so I didn't really mind...
:)

My Nostalgic Thing

After indulging in too many chocolates and puddings my boyfriend and I took Elsie (my black Lab) for a brisk walk around the local park. On our journey home a colourful tray filled with homemade chutneys in someone's drive caught our eye. A sign read: 'Christmas Chutney's, £1.50' beside the tray. All adorned with a Christmassy jar toppers and a cut-out label, I couldn't resist purchasing one for my parents. Small gestures and kindness in the community puts a smile on my face...maybe I should try something similar!  

Has anyone done anything like this before?