Wellies and Vogue

A day date

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:24:00 +0000

We had such a lovely day on saturday... a long drive, lots of fresh air and the most amazing lunch at the Tuddenham Mill. The meal was in celebration for being, knowing and loving one another for 9 years the day was just something we should do a little bit more.

I have to say the lunch at the Tuddenham Mill was one of the best we've eaten in a long time - fresh. modern and delicious. The setting was also beautiful and drinking Prosecco in the sunshine by a river was just amazing and at the moment in the UK a real novelty! Their rooms also look super cool even though I wasn't lucky enough to stay in one - hey ho maybe another day!

love is to share

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:11:00 +0000

Sebastien Tellier - La Ritournelle from Lucky Number Music on Vimeo.

The boy and I have known and been together for 9 years.
Love is to share, mine is for him.
Have a good weekend x

spring cakes..

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:12:00 +0000

Well buns to me! Made theses a while ago for a friends birthday and thought I'd share them with you. I love how you can make the easiest all in one sponge buns and then with a little fondant icing, colouring and some flower paste make some really pretty treats. I always make my roses and flowers in front of the tele the night before I need them so they've had a little time to dry & firm up. I also mix the colours myself as my mum has all the colours and kit in stock - but there are some lush ready mixed colours available.

I thought they were really pretty and yummy - hope you like them too.

ps how how how miserable is this weather - it's still raining.........

This Image

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:19:00 +0000

has been making me smile today.. I just love it and wish it was me standing there with the amazing flowers about to eat the incredible food with the really beautiful people!

You should totally click here to see more of the images from a Kinfolk brunch photographed by Dart Photographie.. I've also got lost looking through the rest of her blog as well.. beautiful..

Blue skies

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:39:00 +0000

they're back - thank goodness for that.. This April has just been miserable - wet, cold, grey and just yuk, yuk, yuk! It was nice to step out this morning and to feel the sun shinning down and it had that wonderful smell of spring.

My weekend was good but it's definitely harder entertaining kids when you can't be outside. I got to experience Toys R Us - which is a horrid place but was cute watching the boy and his brother spend a long time looking over all the lego - I think the boy enjoyed it more! Dave has also pilled on the pounds in the past few weeks as he hates rain! He's now outside our office bunny hunting and sun bathing - I wish I could join him!

Hey ho back to work!

make it / macarons

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:13:00 +0000

So look what I made - and all by myself!

So a year ago I set myself a challenge - after the most disastrous batch of macarons ever I decide that one day I would be able to make theses bad boys perfectly. This batch just were awful. My first ones I had attempted for my sister in laws baby shower had been better - ok they we're big and ugly - but they has a certain shine on top and almost a skirt - this second batch wouldn't even come off the paper and were just nothingness. I think because of this disaster I had the impression that they were just impossible to make.

So negatively I set to work on Sunday afternoon. I'd given my mum this recipe I found of the inter web as one - it was written by one of my favourite cake bloggers Linda from Call me Cupcake and two it just seemed so simple and informative - with pretty pictures! Mum had some success with it so I thought I'd try it and for once follow it to the dot - something I don't normally do!

So you can find the whole - and very good recipe here:

But for ease I've briefly outlined what I did and used:

Ingredients:

100 gr ground almonds (I used shop brought)
100 -110 gr egg whites (about 3 egg whites), aged 1 day at room temperature covered with cling film
I used 105gr's of the amazing liquid egg whites from two chicks and got them up to room temp
200 gr icing sugar
4 tablespoons (about 45 gr) granulated sugar

"In a large bowl, whip the egg whites with a hand- or stand mixer. As the egg whites start foaming, add the sugar one tablespoon at a time and continue whipping until the mixture is glossy and stiff. You should be able to hold the bowl upside down without the meringue sliding out!"

I mixed and sieved the ground almonds and icing sugar together just so they were smooth and well mixed - but I did add in the bits left in the sieve anyway. I added it all at once to the meringue and started to slowly fold making sure I got the bits on the bottom.

"Fold the dry mixture into the meringue using a spatula. Add food coloring if desired and fold until fully mixed. The mixture should flow like a ribbon when you hold up the spatula. Don’t overmix! If you want to test if the batter has good consistency, just dollop some batter on a piece of parchment paper. If the dollop slowly “flattens”, you’re good to go! If not, just keep folding.

I usually find that a slightly under-mixed batter is better than an over-mixed.
If you, like me, find it difficult to fill a pastry bag with only two hands, put your piping bag in a tall glass or jar. Fill your piping bag and pipe the macarons onto baking sheets, I usually end up with two sheets. Remember that the shells will “flatten” once you’ve piped, so don’t make them too big. About 2,5-3 cm (1 inch) is enough.

Let them set for 60 minutes to form a dry skin."

After the walk I popped them in my fan oven for 10mins on 150. The first batch looked perfect when they came out - raised with a shell and had a small puffy skirt around the edge - but me being me - I had to poke at them and thought they were under cooked. Turned out if I'd followed the recipe and left them till they were completely cooled they were actually perfect! So I cooked the second batch for a minute longer meaning they slightly browned. Lesson learnt - stick to the recipe!

I'd found these natural extract colours in waitrose the day before and used a pastry brush to colour them which was super easy and really effective.

As this was just a test to see if I could make them I didn't bother making a filling - I just used nutella - but mums made her chocolate ganache before and it's YUM. I think the nutella was a little strong but still a good quick fix!

I'm excited to try it out again - I hope it's not a one trick wonder but please let me know it you try it and it works for you! Have a lovely weekend. x

me

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:32:00 +0000

This is me messing around in the bedroom the other day! I liked the orange and blue..

I've also been messing round with a new logo.. as I've been designing lots for other people I thought I should spend some time updating this space. I'm kinda liking it but still have a few more bits to do but I'll leave those for another day.

Am feeling poorly today and have just come in from a busy day out and about. Looking forward to a thai green curry tonight made by the boy and an early night x

around the house

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:46:00 +0000

So here are a few piccies from around the house which I took on Sunday when I had a crazy day being a domestic goddess. The house was cleaned, washing done I got an hour of exercise in - a interesting mix of yoga and kick boxing - which I'm still suffering from.. walked the dog and made macaroons - which I'll be posing about soon! If you follow me on Instagram you would of seen the progress and end result.. and if you've followed my blog for a while you may of glimpsed my first results here and here!

I always seem to get so much done on Sundays when the boys away and as we work together it's always nice having a day on your own - well with Dave who spends his whole time watching and going out and in the garden!

BOOM

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:27:00 +0000

Well it's monday - once again! Where oh where is the time going? Sorry for my absence last week - I have so much to do and catch up on. I do have some lovely things that I'm dying to share with you so I'm going to try really hard to get on top of everything this week!

Just incase you were interested - I know some of you were - My Mum has posted the yummy Victoria Sponge recipe she made for Oli's birthday over on her blog. Check it out here....

For now though must get back to work.. hope you all had a lovely weekend!

just because..

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:49:00 +0000

it's spring and the sun is shinning today..

I was working on something fun last night.. but have to get on today - theses shortened weeks are causing chaos! hey ho...

happy easter

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:37:00 +0000

Hey - how was everyones Easter - been loving all the colourful Easter photos on blogs and instagram..

So my Eater was defiantly less eventful than last year - but I still had a good time! The boy, as always, was away so I was carless and dependant on others for entertainment. I was looked after by my lovely friend Sarah on Saturday - been taken to see friends in Holt and enjoy 1st birthday parties with Vintage Deli. Sunday I was enjoying the company of mum and dad and doing a little marsh hopping.. which dave struggled with due to his little legs.. And Monday - well my boy was back and we had a little day date doing a wee bit of shopping, eating and film watching in Norwich - so all in all a very good easter!

today I am exhausted - I seem to be having a mini breakdown at the moment.. hey ho I think it's all down to a bad nights sleep - too many things on my mind. Here's to a early night tonight and feeling better!

wild horses

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:20:00 +0000

hey - just wanted to let you know that I've uploaded a new post onto my TH Photography blog. There's some lovely images of a walk we went on with some of our best friends. Alex and Charlie got together the same time as us - Charlie was my best friend at Uni and Alex Oli's - 10 years ago we met then a year later we met each other and the rest is history. Theses two are very special to us and very understanding of my annoying habit of taking the camera for a walk with us.

The day was wet and windy and we had been enjoying the first qualifying of the F1 season - therefor we chose the local walk instead of heading to the coast - the decision was a good one as the wild horses decided to gallop to where we were walking and we had a magical moment with them.

You can take a look at the whole post here x

boys now 30

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:32:00 +0000

hello - back in the office just finishing up for the day.. catching up with emails and trying to get organised.. have an exciting, creative week planed - Vintage Deli photo shoot and I have a childhood heroes costume to get made.. would all be easier to sort out if I didn't have lots of work on!

So the boys now 30! here's a few photos from the boys Birthday. we had a really lovely time seeing his family during the week and followed it up by a big house party on Saturday night with all our wonderful friends. My mum made an amazing victoria sponge for the boy and we supplied rum cocktails, nibbles and beers.. I only got around to taking photo at the beginning and at around 2.30 in the morning when things were at their most craziest - all our friends dancing to dirty drum and base in our living room. When I feel off the sofa and somehow managed to land without hurting the camera - my arms are bruised and grazed - it was time for the camera to go back away! I would of played with my iPhone and instagram but I think early on that feel down the back of the sofa only to be found on sunday morning!

The next day was not pretty - the house and boy were a mess - but after an intense cleaning session - thanks for the help Alex - the house was back in order we made sofa nest and ate chips and ice-cream then the world was all good again!

sunny days

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:14:00 +0000

well how beautiful is this weather - even though I've just been enjoying it by looking through the window blue sky and sunshine is a wonderful addition.. did get to spend a couple of minutes with this little man - who is growing up fast. the obsession with tractors is still ripe and as there were two parked outside the office yesterday he came running over to see them. I'm such a lucky auntie who gets to see her nieces and nephews daily.. and he's a lucky boy to get to spend so much time around tractors!

anyway not sure what's going to be happening for the rest of the week - Boy is turning 30 tomorrow so we are partying! Hopefully I'll catch up soon x

time off...

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:05:00 +0000

times gone by again - stress levels in the office are high at the moment - we will be taking some well needed time off next week to celebrate the boys big 3 0 - but, as anyone who's self employed knows, taking time off is a nightmare as you always have a massive list of things that have to get done done.

today started badly - but has got better.. this weekend is looking more like a catch up session and a few meetings for me.. hey ho.. it's all for a good cause and I'm sure we'll still have fun.

Hope you're all happy and enjoying the sun! Have a good one x

preview

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Hey - I am itching to continue editing theses guys - but thought I'd share my little preview with you.

Things are starting to get busy and I am so excited about it! I had a play at lunchtime on Lightroom 4 and have got ALOT to learn - but it's all good fun and I'm loving working on theses images I took on a drizzly saturday afternoon.. Anyhow work list is full so have to get that done first.. Things seem to be being crossed off so not doing too badly!

Also if you want to keep up to date with everything come and follow me on my Facebook page.. Going to use it for both blogs.. it's still a new space so trying my hardest to get to grips on how to use it - I'm not the best facebooker!

Hope your all having a good week - already it's wednesday.. where does the time go!

A wedding & a weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:10:00 +0000

So I finally did it - I've posted another wedding on my Blog! YAY.. if you've been here for a while you may recognise it! But I thought I'd let you know anyway.

I've had a crazy day - but am looking forward to a weekend with friends!

I also have to say a massive thank you to Nell for writing such a lovely post over on her beautiful blog: On the first day of marriage. I'm really excited that she's asked me to do a family session with her, Ben and their new beautiful baby Josephine. Once again all the support I've got from here means so so so much! And I am so so so excited about it all - nervous but in a good way!

Have to run - house to clean and friends to greet x

blueberry muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

so I am and have always been a muffin fan.. when I worked in london everyday started with a muffin - if I was feeling flush it would come from Megans on the kings road - the best raspberry muffin I have ever had - not so flush then one from any coffee shop I decide to walk in that day!

Country life breakfast's are different.. there is no coffee shop, or delicatessen - I have to make my own coffee and breakfast. I was intolerant to milk when I was born so breakfast has always been a tough meal for me.. can't eat cereal - toast is dry without butter and who has time to make anything else. I also can't do yogurt - the smell makes me gag! I've been surviving off crumpets & peanut butter and the odd bowl of coco pops mixed with strong black coffee.. the same dull thing every single day!

so as the boy and I are, as always, on a health fix.. I googled healthy breakfast and ta da - found theses!

I couldn't believe theses puppies only have 6g of fat in them and only 1g of saturated fat - crazy! they also happen to be incredibly easy to make - trust me I'm not a patient baker - especially on a monday night! I followed the recipe but used my mixer so mixed up all the wet ingredients first then added in the flour and sugar and mixed just a little till combined. amazing! As you can see theses batboys aren't muffins! I didn't have a muffin tin to hand so had to improvise - I think they'd be better as muffins - but as healthy recipes go really really yum!

Ingredients:

5 tbsp rapeseed oil
225g self-raising flour
115g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
zest ½ lemon and 1 tsp juice
85g golden caster sugar
50g light muscovado sugar
1 small very ripe banana with black skin (about 85g peeled weight)
1 egg
284ml pot buttermilk
225g fresh blueberries 

Method:

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Use 1 tsp oil to lightly oil a 12-hole muffin tin (or use paper cases). Mix both flours with the baking powder and lemon zest. Reserve 1 tbsp caster sugar, then stir the rest into the flour with the muscovado.
Mash the banana well. In another bowl beat the egg, then stir in the banana, buttermilk and oil. Using a large metal spoon, very lightly stir into the flour mix, just to combine. Over-mixing will make the muffins tough. Toss in the blueberries and give just a few turns of the spoon to carefully stir them in without crushing.
Spoon the mixture into the tin - each hole should be very full. Bake for 20-25 mins until risen and golden.
Mix the reserved caster sugar with the lemon juice. When the muffins are done, remove from the oven, then brush with the sugar and lemon mixture while they are still hot. Gently loosen the edges of each muffin with a knife, then leave in the tin for 15 mins to cool a little as they're very delicate while hot. Remove to a wire rack. Best eaten the day of making, but will keep for up to 2 days.

Nutrition Per serving
206 kcalories, protein 5g, carbohydrate 36g, fat 6 g, saturated fat 1g, fibre 2g, sugar 16g, salt 0.43 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, March 2010.

If anyone else knows any other easy, healthy breakfast recipes I'd really appreciate it - I need to jazz up my breakie! savoury ideas more than welcome - prefer this to sweet really.. it isn't just me is it - breakfast is a tough one to be creative with!

....

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 17:41:00 +0000

as always it comes by way to quickly! how was your weekend?

we had a good one - pub & homemade burgers on Friday / cleaning, shopping and a birthday tea on Saturday / 11 mile woodland off road bike ride on Sunday - this is the first time this year and nearly killed the boy and I.. as always I got the giggles when I got silly tired but we made it.. I'm just struggling sitting down today!

another crazy week lined up - but we have a really special weekend with friends to look forward too..

weekend..

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:00:00 +0000

well woosh - another week has flown by.

am pleased the blue sky's come back.. hopefully it will be around for this weekend as I'm dying to get some photos of the coast taken.. who knows. Have quite a lot of work to do this weekend which is dull but necessary.. have also got to start making plans for the boys big 30.. exciting times!

Have a lovely weekend whatever you get up too..

theses photos were taken last saturday on Brancaster beach.. I was very hung over so didn't take my proper camera - which I'm gutted about! Hey ho.. always a next time and am planning on behaving myself this friday night so I can enjoy the whole of the weekend..

Dave..

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Wanted to play with my camera the other day so stuck David up on a table so he couldn't run away and got a few photos of him.. how cute is my little boy.. he was doing his best in ignoring me - as he always does if I have a camera! He's not a fan of his photo being taken!

Have been finding some amazing locations for portraits recently so am itching to take photos of people! It's amazing how you look at things differently..

Hope your weeks going well.

hey

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 18:35:00 +0000

How are we all..?

Things are really good with me.. Crazy but great. I've been helping the boy get back on top of things for our company. Since the launch of our website we've got loads of new and REALLY exciting enquiries - so I've been working hard with him trying to get caught up with our current projects - which I'm pleased to say we've almost done. This means I can now start thinking about my blogs and photography again! few..

I am honestly feeling like the luckiest ducky right now - the response to me going professional has been amazing. I can't wait to get stuck in and start showing you all the results! I've hoping to get another wedding up on my blog at some point this week.. hopefully tomorrow! But knowing me it will more likely be Wednesday... I will do it this week!

I'm also about the hit the 300 follower mark! Crazy days! Thanks so much everyone for coming here I can't tell you how much I appreciate you all and your amazing comments - I promise they'll be more life on here soon.. I always hate February and never having anything to say and now it's March I no longer have an excuse! Bring on the Blossom!

weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:27:00 +0000

Just wanted to write a quick thank you to Charley from the amazing wedding blog London Bride for featuring my illustrations today. It's nice to have them appreciated again and on such a cool blog - how amazing is her branding!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. We're heading off to Twickenham to watch the rugby which should be a good laugh and are looking forward to a day of nothingness on Sunday. It's been a crazy week here and a lot of late nights working so we're going to have a well deserved lie in! Hope you all have a lovely weekend too and see you next week.. I have some spring cupcakes to share with you as well as some pictures from Ella's arrival - where does time go! hey ho x x

florals

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:53:00 +0000

so today it feels like spring! I am so excited.. sun, florals, leaves and life.. so much to look forward to! I know the weather will change and it will be freezing again soon - just thought I'd celebrate while it was here..

also how Beautiful are theses images.. they're by Grant Thomas for the ES magazine.. totally feeling clashing prints!

my birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Wellies and Vogue) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:22:00 +0000

So here are a few instagram piccies from my birthday.

It was a very civilised 29th - we had been treated to dinner by friends the night before at the amazing White Horse in Brancaster.. we were wined and dined and ate some incredible food and drank very tasty wine which resulted in a very laid back morning... well I think we missed the morning but it was all good.. The boy treated me to my favourite bagels and I got given the most ridiculous amount of sweet treats! The day also included a walk and watching rugby with a friend followed by a delicious dinner at our local with mum, dad and the wonderful Jon.. so all in all a very good day.. thanks mum for the macaroons - even though the ago doesn't allow you to cook them properly - Oli and I still think they tasted DAM good!

Am now busy planning the boys 30th! So excited about throwing a party and am whirling with ideas of what to do, make, eat, drink.. the boy is not enthusiastic about my ideas at all - but only cause he doesn't want to make the effort! So am quietly getting on with it behind his back!