Get the look!

I always love when magazines do 'steal celebrity style' features, and I'm always up for the challenge of finding pieces that I love from the high street on a budget...so thought why not give this a go!

I love Mollie King's outfit here - it's a perfect look for a hot summer's evening.  We're so used to seeing her in tiny dresses and shorts that it's a refreshing change to see her in a very simple, mature outfit. 

                                                                   image via Marie Claire

                           So here is what I found on the high street to create this look!

                                                         
~ T-shirt from Zara retailing at £15.99

~ Trousers from Reiss at £120

~ These backless bow shoes from Zara at £59.99

~ Clutch bag from Warehouse at £16

I really enjoyed finding these items, so I hope I can turn this into a celebrity style series!

                                                                        xx



my instagram life

Hello everyone!

The weekend went far too fast again, and it's back to work time.  On the positive side...the Jubilee celebrations are next weekend so we get Monday and Tuesday off work yay!

Back to this weekend first, and the weather was glorious so I spent a lot of time shopping with my mum and sunbathing in my garden...just a perfect weekend!

                                        (instagram life: angie_peanuts_pearls)

~ Spending my lunch hour with ice cream and sunshine

~ A break from shopping with my mum and having a delicious salmon salad

~ Playing scrabble al fresco!

~ Hello!

~ Sunday in the garden with a good book

                                                 
                                                 Did you have a nice weekend?

                                                                        xx

Friday fancies #3

I am so glad that it's finally Friday! 

The sun is shining and everyone seems to have a smile on their face...I just love summer!

This week's Friday fancies post is very weather appropriate, and is a perfect casual summery outfit.  I can just imagine myself wearing this to a family BBQ, or a picnic in a park with friends.

I think maxi dresses are such a good addition to the wardrobe - they can be dressed up with heels for a more glamorous event, or just casually worn with sandals for a daytime look. 

Picnic in the park by peanuts-pearls featuring bangle jewelry

    (Check out Long Distance Loving's blog for more Friday Fancies outfit ideas)


This weekend I plan on sunbathing....sitting in the sunshine playing cards and drinking pear cider....and hopefully reading a good book!

                        Has anyone got anything nice planned this weekend?

                                                              xx



Haul: H&M, Dorothy Perkins and beauty products

The sun was shining last week, and it was pay day...so naturally I felt a strong urge pushing me towards the shops in order to freshen up my summer wardrobe! 

First stop was H&M.  I was so impressed with their summer collection, I'll definitely be going back and purchasing a few more things! 

~ Here's the first item I bought - a red sleeveless chambray dress (as you would notice in my previous Friday Fancies post I love chambray!) . This retails at £14.99 and also comes in a blue denim colour.  The shape of the dress is very flattering, and I am very tempted to go back and purchase the blue version of this as well.

~ Next up is another sleeveless dress with a jersey top attached, retailing at £12.99.  This also comes in other colours, but I went for the grey top and blue flared flower print skirt.

~  I then went on to another favourite shop of mine - Dorothy Perkins.  I wasn't intending to buy a new pair of sunglasses, but I saw this salmon coloured pair and I couldn't resist, especially at only £6.00

                                                    

                                                 Now on to the beauty products!

~  I've walked past the Barbara Daly make up counter so many times in Tesco, so I though I'd give one of her products a go.  I went for her 'oil free foundation' in the shade porcelain.

I was so disappointed with this unfortunately.  It left my skin with a few dry patches, which is so weird as my skin type is oily / combination.  I am still yet to find my holy grail foundation! 


~  I've heard lots of people raving about the benefits of dry shampoo, but have never tried it....until this week!  I purchased the Batiste dry shampoo in a floral scent.

I have to say I was very impressed - it doesn't leave your hair feeling sticky at all and it's not obvious that you're wearing it either.  I'll definitely be purchasing this product again once it runs out.


                                                   That's it for now!

                                                            xx                                                                       

my instagram life...

Morning!

My weekend mostly consisted of good food...good films...shopping and a lunch date with my fiance!  So a very lovely, relaxing weekend. 

I'll be sharing my purchases in a separate haul post this week...but for now...here's a few pics of my weekend...

                                                   (instagram name: angie_peanuts_pearls)

~ treating myself to a sushi

~ my new lovely coffee table book (I just love Audrey)

~ lunch date at The Corner House

~ i went for a chicken satay salad...it was delicious!

~ trying to choose a new revlon lipstick

~ homemade curry to finish off the weekend!

                                           
                                                    Did everyone else have a nice weekend?

                                                                         xx   
 



friday fancies - loving chambray!

It's time to link up with the lovely Long Distance Loving again and create a Friday fancies of the week! 

The theme this week is chambray, a fabric which I love and is great for spring and summer.  It looks fantastic paired with pastel colours or neutrals, leaving endless possibilities for creating a variety of outfits!

Here's my look of the week - a floaty chambray sleeveless top with a pair of skinny jeans to balance out any proportions.  I've also chosen a pair of gladiator sandals, another trend which is still popular this summer.

A summer chambray outfit! by peanuts-pearls featuring chain jewelry

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.  Mine will mostly consist of sorting a few wedding bits out and hopefully picking the bridesmaid dresses, exciting!

xx

recipe: buckwheat blinis for brunch!

I adore going out for brunch with my friends or family.  I usually stick to my two favourite options - either pancakes with fruit or smoked salmon with a muffin topped with hollandaise sauce (yum!) 

So when I discovered this simple recipe by Sophie Dahl, combining two of favourite options I knew I just had to attempt this at home!

Buckwheat blinis with scrambled egg and smoked salmon

Ingredients

For the blinis

• 85g/3oz buckwheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 150ml/5fl oz full-fat milk
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 70g/2½oz cheddar cheese, grated
• small handful chopped fresh chives
• 2 free-range egg whites
• pinch salt
• knob of unsalted butter

For the scrambled eggs

• 4 free range or organic eggs (plus 2 free-range egg yolks)
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• knob of unsalted butter

To serve

• 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
• 250g/9oz smoked salmon
• 1 lemon cut into wedges

Preparation method

1. For the blinis, mix together the buckwheat flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper and the milk to make a smooth batter.
2. Add the mustard powder, cheddar and chives and mix until well combined.
3. In a seperate bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed.
   
   Gradually fold the whisked egg whites into the batter mixture using a metal spoon.
4. Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium high heat, and spoon large tablespoons of the batter into the pan to make medium sized pancakes, about 10cm/4in in diameter.
5. Fry the blinis, in batches, for 2-3 minutes until small bubbles appear on the surface and the underside looks cooked. Turn the blinis over and cook on the other side for a further 1-2 minutes, or until golden-brown. Keep warm.
6. Repeat until all of the mixture is used up.
7. For the scrambled eggs, whisk the eggs in a bowl, and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
8. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over a medium heat, then pour in the eggs, stirring a little to break the eggs up slightly as they set. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat and set the eggs aside to finish cooking for a further 1-2 minutes.
9. To serve, place two blinis onto each of four serving plates, spoon on the scrambled eggs, and sprinkle over the chopped chives. Arrange the smoked salmon on the side, and finish with the lemon wedges

                                                                 and enjoy with fresh juice!

                                                       What do you love having for brunch?

                                                                               xx

my instagram life

Well the weather finally changed for us in Wales this weekend - blue skies, the sun was shining - it was perfect!  It was exactly the weather we needed after a horrible rainy April.

I spent the last few days relaxing with my fiance Tony, catching up with family and sorting out a few more things for the wedding. 

Here are some little pics I took on my phone and I wanted to share:

                                      (instagram name: angie_peanuts_pearls)


     ~ meet Charlie, the cat who pops into our office now and again for a cuddle!

                                          ~ starting a new book

                                       ~ you can't beat fresh strawberries for breakfast!

                                         ~  relaxing in the my garden = bliss

                                          ~  my new wedge shoes from Tesco

                                  ~ trying to catch up on Grey's Anatomy, I've missed so much!

xx

friday fancies: colour crush

Today I'm linking up with the brilliant Long Distance Loving for Friday Fancies!  I've always been a fan of these posts so really wanted to join in on the fun. 

Colour blocking and colour clashing is still a huge trend on the high street.  Personally, I'm not quite brave enough to wear a colour combination that clashes.  I tend to be drawn towards a more relaxed and classic style of clothes, and I'm not sure I could pull off two very strong colours worn together!

However, one combination I absolutely love together is purple and peach! 

colour crush by peanuts-pearls featuring amethyst earrings

The strong purple colour goes very well with the toned down peach.  If you're too scared to wear a strong purple and neon pink together (like me!) then this is a great alternative option.

Another way to combine two of your favourite clashing colours is to wear a dress in the more toned down colour, and then accessorise with the vibrant, stronger colour. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

                                                                               xx



my instragram life

Sorry for the lack of post yesterday - I was enjoying a lovely bank holiday weekend, and also very tired after celebrating my friend's hen weekend in London!

It really was a fun weekend though, here's some pictures I wanted to share

                                    (instragram name: angie_peanuts_pearls)


                                                          ~ waiting for my train

                                                            ~ hello London!

                              ~  my lovely hotel room, we stayed in the Royal Garden Hotel

                                                     ~ very elegant afternoon tea

                                 
                                                ~  delicious sandwiches and cakes!

                                                     ~  having food with friends

                                      
                                                              ~  good times!

                         
                                                       ~  phew, home time!

Did everyone else have a good weekend?

xx