Rain Rain go away ...

Its Raining again in Jersey,the weather tricks us into thinking its may and them wham its suddenly wet wet wet again . the weather seems to really reflect my mood over the past few days i have got mountains of homework to get through . I did have the most relaxing weekend though doing nothing never felt so good! Along with a very productive Sunday most of which was spent in bed . I did have time to bake some cookies though nothing like a little bit of baking to unwind is what i say .
Wherever i go I'm dreaming of summer at the moment ....


The Urban outfitters spring summer look book really is divine .

Hmmm i really am going to start to look for a job or do another car boot sale in Easter . I'm rather moneyless at the moment.

I've fallen in love with Audry Hepburn all over again . Breakfast at Tiffany's is the most amazing film EVER .

If this weather does continue at least I've got a date with Audry .

Or Ben Howard -who By the way has the sexiest voice .... Have a listen this song is my secret obsession !

Only one more week to go !

Easter here i come !

Until then I'll be at home with my knitting and a cup of tea

Thats after I've finished those mountains of homework...

Enjoy your weekend bloggers

Lots of Love

Izzy XXX

well, well, well...

Well bloggers.  I have to say that I am not the Jean queen any more!  I have to say I think I've got a slight crush on my recent buy of gorgeous trousers i got in the sale at Warehouse....

They're actually a lot browner than this because they look grey in this picture...

It's also my friends birthday coming up and I can wait to wear them with a shirt I've recently altered from Hospice charity shop.  In fact, I've been going into there so much lately, all the ladies know me (very sweet elderly people)!!!  

We've all given up something for lent - or tried to - and I've been trying to eat really healthily and then scoff my face with all things bad for you, at one off events...and I've tried and I've failed on many occasions and couldn't help but eat ALL of the cookies Izzy kindly baked me the other day...they were absolutely scrumptious and I'll see if she can put the recipe on the blog because you must try them...

In the theme of healthy, gingham and roses have been busily planning our long Easter holiday with things we all really want to do and one of these is to have a big cycle ride...we haven't quite sorted it out yet but it's definitely on our list!!! 

Here's another thing I've fallen in love with - utterly gorgeous...

Lots of love...

Hannah xxx

"Big girls need big diamonds" -Eliabeth Taylor, R.I.P.

Rosie's little thoughts..

• I currently have a quite severe case of obsession. With 'the xx'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI2eO_mNM88 Their music is so simple, yet so beautiful.
• Me and my camera are in desperate need of some quality time. My dear Nikon is getting quite lonely. Stupid homework along with other things keep getting in the way!
• Recently I purchased some new foundation. It's mac mineralize satinfinish spf 15. I'm in major makeup love.
• I so badly wish I could sew. It became apparent in this week's textiles lesson and that I still can't even thread one up..I don't think there is much hope.
• Whilst being ill over the weekend, I did some deep thinking (a.k.a day dreaming) and realised how scary the future is. How am I going to fit everything in to my life when I don't know how long it is going to be? Then I remembered how my Mum always says "live every day to the full, and then you can't have any regrets." ...That's when I snapped out of my wannabe philosophical mode, *sigh*.
• It's amazing how happy the sunshine makes me feel. The Jersey weather has been so lovely recently, I hope it lasts.
• Seeing as it's Lent and I've given up eating chocolate, I thought, Well if I make myself not like chocolate, then I won't want to eat it, will I? This plan has failed miserably, and I'm craving some cadbury's more than ever.
• Don't you just love it when you buy what you think is just a nice, plain, mother's day card, and then realise inside it has a really cringy verse saying:

You taught me right from wrong

Tucked me in at night,

Made me feel so content

And made my future bright.

You taught me all I am

And all the things I know,

Is it any wonder then

Just how much I love you so.

• Anyone want to buy a Yamaha PSR-170 keyboard for £40? No didn't think so, nobody does! I can't get rid of it! (P.S if you do though, just send me an email! haha)
• I haven't baked/cooked in ages. Mind you, for the well being of others that is probably a good thing.
• Not sure about you, but I never bother to shave my legs in the winter. But boy, am I looking forward to deforesting my legs for the summer.
• I'm Feeling a bit of satchel love. I have barely taken mine off me since I bought it, and ditching it for a light cotton beach bag this summer ain't gonna be an easy thing.
• I was browsing through Topshop.com 's flash sale and something caught my eye. These booties. I know I should be looking for more summery footwear (i.e not boots!) but they're not thick or anything, are they?..anyway, I'm thinking of getting them.
• I used to listen to this song all the time on Youtube and loved it, but now I've forgotten what it's called and who it's by. So annoying! I can still partly remember how it goes, but it's not a popular song so no one would recognise it if I even tried to sing it. 'Darn.
• When Gingham and Roses reaches 50 followers (or if we do!) we will be holding a giveaway in celebration! I'm not going to tell you what, but think along the lines of mac... So stay tuned for that!

Best movie EVER, and a goodin' to watch when you're ill.

Once again I have gone on a wee bit, but never mind. If you like these sort of random little thoughts posts please let me know and I'll start doing more of them.

Have a lovely week, Rosie. XXX

Here comes the sun...

Well bloggers!  I have to say...I'm in a VERY good mood today...i'm smiling from head to toe, it must be the glorious sun we've been having and the fact that the flowers are blooming and the tress are blossoming...and do you know what this means??  A chance to grab some fabulous shots on my camera. I've already taken a few.  well, my granny happened to see a huge field filled with sun kissed yellow daffodils and  I couldn't resist going to take some pictures.  She then took me down into the valley and I got some good shots...
And that's not it...although i've been very handy with my sewing skills, taking up skirts and making cushions, I think it's about time I made some clothes from scratch...I've got a few ideas.  I really want to make some camel colored medium length shorts...I can't believe that very shortly i'll be wearing shorts and skirts (without the tights) and absorbing as much vitamin D into me as I can take ( from the sun if you didn't guess)...my next challenge is to make a chic white dress that I can wear.  I can't wait to get started and I'll be sure to give you a few tips on how to make some things too along the way too...

 

Lots of love...

Hannah xxx

Dreaming of sunshine and vintage.

Another lovely day on the rock -i must say this last week has been gorgeous and on Monday i even had an ice-cream ( i know !). On Sunday i was in Guernsey playing in the netball inter insular , wasn't really a great day all round disappointed to report that we got beaten by the donkeys 30-16 quite an embarrassment ....

However my weekend wasn't all lost .I had a lovely day on Saturday venturing into town in the morning to discover some lovely new boutique shops opening up in Jersey ( i recommend you have a look ) and then meeting Hannah. We went out to St Aubins for the monthly vintage fair ,i decided i couldn't miss it . Its an absolutely amazing fair where you can find anything and everything . If your a Jersey Bean you must to go ,i always leave there feeling inspired! We walked down to the harbour gallery to collect some ideas for my textiles project and sat on a bench by the harbour unsuccessfully trying to get a tan and eating crepes...(at least i tried) .My day was soon made even better by the arriving back of guess who ? Only Rosie who decided to grace us with her skiing toned presence ! So anyway i took some photos -quite a rarity for me ....

I brought this scarf at last months vintage fair ,perfect for tying onto a satchel....

Mmmm crepes...

Ah vintage...

Hope its sunny where you are

Lots of Love

Izzy XXX

P.S I've started knitting (oh the excitement ) not too good at it but I'll let you know when i create something worthy enough to blog about!

Because being nerdish is cool.

Hi gorgeous readers,

I'm back! although I'm very much lacking in energy after a full week of skiing and then the next day a netball tournament in Guernsey, It's been so fun! The school ski trip was just great, and completely lived up to expectations. Unfortunately I don't have any photos to show you, due to me not taking a camera. I was too scared of taking my (expensive!) slr camera, and the family one recently broke. Better safe than sorry though, 'ay. Well, getting on with the post...

Although me being a complete nincompoop when it comes to technology, (I often call my friend's phone a blueberry which is highly embarrassing) I am actually a proud owner of a MacbookPro. Would you believe it! So the internet browser I use is of course Safari. As you probably know, when you click to go on the internet, it displays what you've already set as your favourite sites so with a click of a button you can go to them. I've always found it quite interesting what other people label as their 'favourite sites', so I thought I would share with you what are mine.

http://www.google.co.uk/  - It's a classic, right?

http://www.facebook.com/
My keyhole to the world of the 'populars', the answer to inexpensive phone calls, and it turns you into the biggest busy-body ever. But I quite love it.

http://www.youtube.com/
The easy route to music research, and the solution to those boredom/ 'cba' days.

http://uk.yahoo.com/
I like their little news flashes. Not too lengthily, but still enough to know what's going on outside my bubble.

my email inbox (for obvious reasons I'm not going to link that!)
To check for school emails and other boring stuff.

http://lookbook.nu/ - For clothing inspiration.
              
AND THEN...

FOR THE MORE INTERESTING WEBSITES...here are my favourite online shopping websites I like to browse:

http://www.topshop.com/
http://www.asos.com/
http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/    probably my fave.
http://www.zara.com/     kind of gone off this one actually.
http://www.missselfridge.com/     ...and this one too.
http://www.jackwills.com/      to dream about.
http://www.rokit.co.uk/      can't get enough of this website!
http://www.bowsandbandits.com/     doesn't have much, but pretty darn cute.

AND FINALLY...

the blogs I look at most:

http://www.papermache-hearts.blogspot.com/
http://jerseyandthemonkey.blogspot.com/
http://thedrifterandthegypsy.blogspot.com/
http://bleubirdvintage.typepad.com/blog/
http://anotherdaytodressup.blogspot.com/
http://www.thestylerookie.com/
http://colormenana.blogspot.com/

^All of which are utterly lovable and very inspiring.

I'm REALLY sorry if that bored you, I didn't mean for it to be so lengthily. Anyway, if you want to be a nerd like me I would love to hear what email addresses you often visit and like instead of a book swap, we can do a URL address swap! Ok, I think I'll stop there.

Have a lovely week, Rosie XXX

P.S Why have two of my links turned out different colours? I don't know.
Grrr technology!

A suprisingly sunny day at last ....

Today was a surprisingly sunny day here on the rock and unsurprisingly I'm in a good mood ( that's what a bit of sun does to me ..). Its comic relief day tomorrow , a day when i actually have an excuse to veg out in front of the sofa all evening AND its dress down day in school ( a pirate theme -but dress down day none the less ). I'm planning on having a very quite weekend this week . Pottering around the house , listening to music , maybe even a spot of knitting for my textiles project - if anyone has any tips for a novice knitter like me they'd be greatly appreciated !
Who know i might even share my ramblings with you ...

So anyway i thought I'd show you what i picked up in Bristol this weekend -( the shopping really is very good there )

Bambi print playsuit -Urban outfitters

Shorts - Topshop , tights urban outfitters

Please excuse my ramblings bloggers and as always have a good week :)

Wish me luck on my knitting !

Love

Izzy X

something vintage...

Well, 'tis the night before red nose day tomorrow and I'm sure everyone's getting their outfits ready and prepared.  I know I have and I've decided to wear the blue skirt I altered from the charity shop...I'm really looking forward to wearing it!  I was going to go for a full blown pirate costume (that's the theme) but then again, I decided to save the embarrassment for another day...
As my granny and I picked my mum up from work today, my mum seemed to have some kind of tin in her hand.    There were loads of old things left at her work and she was told she could take anything she wanted.  Just lucky she new that I loved vintage!  Sadly there weren't any clothes for me to do my magic on, but she picked up an old mini portable iron in a really cool unusual red rustic tin....I love the tin...not sure what i'm going to do with the iron though???  If anyone needs any clothes for ironing!!!

I was planning to share a recipe with you all today, but it looks like Izzy beat me to it, so I'm afraid I'll have to bore you with some pictures I've taken...I never new how addictive photography could be!

I've really got into Darwin Deez's song at the moment...it's been out for a while, but the video's great to watch...

have a jolly thursday...

Hannah xx

'When the going gets tough the tough get baking '

Right now im huddled over my computer with a giant plate of roast chicken- becuase roasts are always better on a monday ...Nursing my blistered feet and wishing i was somehwhere else. This weekend was the most possibly one of the most tiring in my life and i currently have many painful blisters the size of my toe to prove it. Well i did manage to pick up a few lovelies from Urban outfitters .More on that later . So what do i do to cheer myself up ? I crack out the mixing bowl thats what ...

Im finding it really hard to give up chocolate for lent at the moment -i've already suffered two 'accidents ' involving a galaxy bar ,this is just a little sweet alternative:

 Izzy's banana cake- 
Ingriedients

Melted butter, to grease

125g butter, at room temperature

315g (1 1/2 cups) caster sugar

1 1/4 cups mashed overripe banana (about 2 large bananas)

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
100ml buttermilk
225g (1 1/2 cups) self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 banana, extra, to decorate
Fresh lemon juice, to brush
Cream cheese frosting :
125g cream cheese, at room temperature
50g unsalted butter, at room temperature
230g (1 1/2 cups) icing sugar mixture
1 1/2 tsp buttermilk-or full fat milk

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Brush a round 20cm (base measurement) loaf tin with melted butter to grease. Line the base and side of the pan with non-stick baking paper.
2. Place the butter, sugar, banana, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of a food processor, and process for 2 minutes or until well combined. Add the buttermilk and process until combined.
3. Add the flour and bicarbonate of soda, and process until just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Shake the pan to settle the mixture. Bake in oven for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Set aside in the pan for 10 minutes to cool slightly, before transferring the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Meanwhile, to make the cream cheese frosting, use an electric beater to beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl until well combined. Add the icing sugar and beat until well combined. Add the buttermilk and beat until the mixture is pale and creamy.
5. Place the cake on a serving plate. Spread the cream cheese frosting over the top of the cake.

 Serve it warm -it really is heaven,one slice may lead to another i know it did for me !  Switch on some music,sing along , and have a good  dance .

Happy Monday!

Izzy XXX

There's nothing like a nice bowl of soup...

IT'S THE WEEKEND!  Finally, I swear this week had way more than 7 days in it....
Although I'm up to my neck in homework I always find time to relax and what better way to relax than writing my blog.  Well, I'm supposed to be writing an essay for tomorrow but I'll get round to it when I'm ready....
I love Sundays, you know that school is the next day so you squeeze as much into your last few hours or freedom to do something that you enjoy.  One of the best things for me when I've come home from Athletics is the smell of my mum's homemade soup whilst listening to her singing to all the songs on the CD I got her for her birthday.
I don't think my life could be complete without music.  I'm always listening to music whether I'm listening to Bombay Bicycle Club whilst doing my homework or turning the volume up loud shouting all the words to Pass Out by Tinie Tempah.  And what better way to express my love of music than to share it with you...

Ivy and Gold, Bombay Bicycle Club...

Adele, Someone Like you...

Wake up, Sliimy...

Bruno Mars, Count on me...

Have a fabulous sunday, better start getting down to that essay...
Lots of love
Hannah xxx

Don't miss me too much...

I'm going skiing tomorrow for a week! Ahhh I can't wait! I've heard very good things about the school ski trips, so I hope they live up to my expectations ;) ...I'm sure they will.

This is me...

Have a lovely week bloggers, whilst I'm in Austria!

Love Rosie XXX

Continental Fever

Well bloggers its been a very busy week -i feel like i've hardly had time to breath , im currently busy packing (yes AGAIN ) to go away this weekend .Only for two days to play Netball in Bristol ,we've been promised some shopping so im looking forward to buying something that every other person in Jersey doesn't have . Sort of comes with living on a 45 square mile rock in the channel ...

I know Paris Fashion Week is over but i seem to be getting a bit of french fever , it all started after i started listning to Bense ,a sort of french acoustic god . I simply have to go to Paris guess thats another thing on my to do list .....

Why would you not want to be a Parisian ?

You've got to love a bit of Chanel ....

Audry Tatou  Coco before Chanel ...little bit of fashion envy

Hmmm tiny bit of  a fantasy but i can dream....

Bisses ! (not my language change ! )

Izzy X

Boy was it cold!!

Yet again, Izzy, Rosie and I thought it would be a wonderful idea to do another car-boot sale in order for us to earn some well need cash!!  As I woke up at at an extremely early 6.30 on Saturday morning, reality kicked in as I soon found myself dozing off whilst cooking my porridge (with extra raisins and seeds of course).  However as I finished making it, Izzy had already arrived to pick me and my junk load of old toys, clothes and books up, so I put the porridge in a flask and we set off sitting literally on top of the stuff in Izzy's car.  Rosie had already arrived and I don't think any of us had expected how windy and cold this car-boot sale was really going to be!  I have to say it was rather fun setting our pitch up next to all the other sellers and a man was already looking through Rosie's collection of old jeans to pick up a bargain without us even setting up the stall yet...
Anyway, as the time rolled on by, service started to get slow, but morale was kept high with Izzy's flask of tea and vanilla Oreo's, and we're never short of a good old laugh whilst warming ourselves up in Rosie's car whilst the wind blew outside.
Soon it was time to pack up and it was about time as I think our frozen toes were literally about to fall off.  We counted our profits and Rosie got £25, Izzy £35, and I £30.  Well, I think Izzy came out as our top seller in this car-boot sale, but I'm sure there will be plenty more to come in the summer - hopefully when it's 20 degrees warmer...

All with new boots, funny that??

I would put some more photo's on here but the laptop's being rather slow at the moment....
Hope you didn't fall asleep in school like I did today!!
Lots of love
          Hannah xxx

My little rant, if you will..

So I'm pretty sure that many people feel the same...but I am so fed up of cold wintry weather.

I WANT SUMMER! 

I always look forward to winter at the end of summer- the warm fires, hot chocolate, spicy smell of cinnamon and Christmas! But now that it's March I'm so sick of it. I can't wait to squeeze into my summer shorts, and swap my heavy makeup for my tinted moisturiser. Looking through photos from my holiday to the Maldives in October (over my birthday!) makes me want to cry! I want to go back!

No, this is not off the internet! ;)

'Pool chilling'.

Me and my new friend, Coco.

To make sure I avoid 'the great winter depression' (actually I think I have already got it), I've swapped my shorts for trousers already..but putting woolly tights underneath! ...Plus, the odd capri sun instead of a tea never fails to give me back my summer spring!

Have a lovely week, Rosie XXX

Back on the rock and back to the blog at last.

Well bloggers I'm backkkkkk!

And haven't i missed the old blog ? But no fear I'm well rested after a holiday in sunny South Africa and ready to blog again.

I'm currently sitting in bed with a bottomless cup of chai tea and a nice big plate of beans on toast (because there's nothing like a bit of Heinz to cure the jet lag blues ). Its finally March and although I'm all for showing off what semi tannish like thing i spent the last 13 days gaining its still a little chilly (ok try FREEZING ) so that's why I'm here to tell you what I'll be embracing when the daffodills start to peek through the frost and spring finally arrives...

-Vintage -this spring I'm determined to breath some vintage love into my wardrobe and whilst scouring the world wode web i came across these babies :

http://www.itsvintagedarling.co.uk-good/ -a vinatge sweetshop for all things gorgeous.

http://www.peekaboovintage.com/ -very cute!

http://www.rokit.co.uk/ -i just had to inlcude this one - its just the best i reccomend you order something from their quick !

Go on try them you neverknow what vintage delights you might find...

Style - Gillian Zinser-such a spring summer style icon ,she always looks so effortless .I envy everything about her especially her part in 90210..

Blogging - I can't wait for some gingham and roses days with Rosie and Hannah ,baking ,travelling or maybe just laughing whatever we do i can't wait for the spring !

Lots of Love

Izzy

P.S Are't these the coolest ,they're made from a reycycled fanta can , i got them in South Africa.Eco friendly AND cool.

Tea with two sugars...

Well then...It's back to school for everyone, 'oh the excitement' and the teachers do really pile it on!!!  I have had so much homework already, and the pressure of two GCSE's caught up with me yesterday, sorry!!!  
Anyway, as I arrived into school on monday with my 'homemade' school bag, I though to myself how I could still be in bed, sleeping silently, not disturbed.  It's funny to see how all the year 7's were so excited and us year 10's really weren't...
 as I woke up this morning and found out that my life was over whilst cooking way too much porridge, I realised that the dreaded spot on my face had come back to haunt me. Yes that's right, the start of term spot had come for a visit and decided to stay. so, I scrubbed my face and tried to cover it up only making it worse...at least I could hide it under my exam papers.
During the exam, I though to myself, wouldn't it be lovely if I could go home right now and snuggle up in bed watching a nice movie...I really want to go at see Never Let Me Go, it looks really good.  Here's some more good one's!!!

• Paul - starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost
• Gnomeo and Juliet - very good apparently?
• Rango - It's got Johnny Depp in it, so it must be good!!

Sorry for a pretty boring post today, I hope you had a better day than I did though!!  Here's my bag I made I promised to show you:

It's like a Cath Kidston bag, just with my touch on it!!

Lots of Love
Hannah xxx

Sorry!

There has been a bit of a mix up so there is no proper post for today as there should be, but Hannah promises her post will be done tomorrow!...The trauma's of revision!

Rosie XXX