my instagram life

Happy Monday! It's the last day of April, I can't quite believe how fast this year is going so far.

I had a lovely and relaxed weekend with my fiance celebrating his birthday.  Our options were slightly limited due to him still having to walk with crutches (bless) but we did manage to get out of the house and eat lots of good food!

Here are a a few pics of my weekend:
instagram name: angie_peanuts_pearls

* my homemade banana, coconut and pecan birthday cake was a success!

* we went to Ed's Diner for lunch - they do amazing burgers here

* I had to try the oreo cookie milkshake....delicious!

* cinema trip to see The Hunger Games (finally!)

* started a new book - Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

* finally a healthy teriyaki salmon dish to end the weekend whilst watching The Help, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Did everyone have a nice weekend?

xx

coconut surprise...

It's my fiance's birthday this Friday, so I really want to bake a nice dessert for a treat. 


He absolutely adores coconut, so I've been looking for the perfect recipe that will involve a lot of coconut to satisfy his cravings!


I've narrowed my search down to one gem of a recipe that I stumbled upon....I think he's going to love it

It is this mouthwatering banana pecan coconut cake (he also loves pecans....bonus!)

Ingredients
(this serves 24 apparently, so bear that in mind when thinking about the amount of ingredients your need and how many people are going to eat it!)

• 300g caster sugar
• 125g butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 250g plain flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 4 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 125g chopped pecans
• 75g desiccated coconut
• Banana Nut Icing:
• 125g butter, softened
• 500g icing sugar
• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 125g chopped pecans
• 75g desiccated coconut
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation method

Prep: 25 mins | Cook: 50 mins

Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4. Grease and flour two 23cm (9 in) round cake tins or one 23x33cm (9x13 in) tin.

In a medium bowl, cream together caster sugar and 125g butter. Mix in eggs and 3 mashed bananas.

Sift together flour and bicarbonate of soda in a separate bowl. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, mixing well after each addition. Blend in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Fold in 125g of pecans and 75g coconut. Pour batter into prepared tins.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool completely before icing with Banana Nut Icing.

To make the icing: Cream together 125g butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in 1 medium mashed banana, 125g pecans, 75g coconut and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Use to ice the cooled cake.

 I can't wait to surprise him with this....wish me luck!

xx

instagram life

Well the rain did continue over the weekend unfortunately, and it's time to pack away my spring t-shirts for now and pile on the layers!

The weather didn't stop me from having a nice weekend though.  I even managed to make a few more decisions regarding my wedding, such as choosing the bridesmaids dresses (fingers crossed) - so productive weekend all around! 

Here are a few pictures taken from my instagram of the last few days...

                                               * instagram name - angie_peanuts_pearls

* finding a lovely deli, full of delicious fresh food.  I bought my lunch from here - hummus, green olive and rocket sandwich, yum!

* some great freebies in the new Company magazine

*  grapes are a great snack during work time!

* new flowers for decoration

* trying out a new healthy lunch of rice, tuna, spinach and cucumber

* my new mug!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

xx



Rainy day fashion & five things

The weather in Wales has been so temperamental lately - just this morning we've had sunshine and blue skies...changing to rain...and eventually hailstones all in just 30 minutes!

It's hard to know what to wear on days like these.  Do you risk wearing your canvas shoes when you look outside your window and see sunshine, only to get soaked then 20 minutes later when the pouring rain arrives?

Here are a few fashionable ideas that are very handy to have for rainy days just like today...

rainy day by peanuts-pearls featuring Mango coats

If you're lucky enough to be able to stay inside and avoid getting drenched on a rainy day, here are my 5 favourite things to do...

1)  Wearing a chunky knitted jumper, just like this one from Topshop

2)  Watching a good old fashioned Disney film like Beauty and the Beast

3)  Looking outside and hearing the rain against the window

4)  I always have a lip balm scattered about my house, so this one is perfect.  Combining my love of lip balms and earl grey tea!

5)    Drinking a delicious hot chocolate, like this recipe from Jamie Oliver

                    
                                       Have a lovely weekend everyone, hopefully rain free!

xx

wedding wednesday - celebrity bridesmaids!

With 7 months to go before my big day, I'm currently on the look out for the perfect bridesmaid dresses. 

I'm having 4 bridesmaids altogether - my sister and three of my friends, so I need to find a style and colour that suits all of them individually!  I've decided on a blue colour theme, but it's always fun to look at what everyone else has done right?!

I'll always remember when Kate Bosworth wore this beautiful black flowy dress to her friends wedding...

I just think the whole look is perfect!  Not many people would want black bridesmaids dresses, but I think it looks so classy and elegant. 

This then spurred me on to research celebrity bridesmaids, and I found some great pictures that have given me lots to think about!

Here are my favourite ones:

Rachel Bilson in a beautiful pale green dress

Jessica Biel in a chocolate brown maxi

Jessica Alba in a gorgeous one shoulder number

Ali Larter in classic navy

Selena Gomez in a stunning blue dress

Keira Knightley in a short but very cute and 50's style purple number

                                                                 (all pics from Marie Claire)

Some great inspirational ideas to look at and admire here!

xx

pics of the week!

How is it Monday already?!  Time seems to be flying by!

I've had a lovely few days, so thought I'd share them through the power of instragram (yay thanks Android!)

* instragram name - angie_peanuts_pearls


my first revlon lip butter - berry smoothie



trying out my new shoes



visiting a beautiful bridal shop



some girl time on a friday night



delicious saturday night treat

new nail polish colours

amazing mango sorbet for dessert whilst out with my fiance

                                       
                                                  Did everyone have a nice weekend?

xx

five things friday - stripes!

I am such a huge fan of stripes, especially anything nautical inspired.

They never go out of style, and it is always good to have a few stripy items in your wardrobe for those days when you just can't decide what to wear!

stripe inspiration by peanuts-pearls featuring brim hats

As well as my endless collection of stripy t-shirts (you can never have enough in my opinion!) I am trying to branch out and purchase different stripe inspired outfits and accessories.

Here are my current five stripy things that I simply adore:

1) This dress from Vero Moda, which I spotted on the ASOS website for only £28

2) I fell in love with this maxi dress from Next, retailing at £35 - it would be perfect for a summer holiday!

3)  Another holiday inspired look, this time a bikini from Topshop for £26

4) This cute hat from John Lewis would make anyone feel like a glamorous film star from the 1950's

5)  Lastly, stripy bed set from John Lewis would make a lovely addition to my bedroom! 

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

xx