Fashionable Flaunt

I don't normally do posts like this, but here I am. There's a competition running on West Coast Cooler NI's facebook (sponsors of Belfast Fashion Week) that's been going on for 4 weeks. Each week has a theme and you have to submit a photo. I made it to the top 10 for a few weeks and now I am in the final 10, to be whittled down to 3 and then a winner chosen. The winner gets £1000, and well you can probably tell from my lack of designer or even new items that this would be more money than I could dream of.

I'm a bit nervous, this voting system reminds me a bit of when I was in school and never being popular! But ah well, I thought go for it and I'd be really happy to be in something like this. I'm not a typical looking fashion type, but I think I know what looks good on me and it's been fun. If you could, I would really really love if you could go and click on my photo and vote for me here! Everyone who votes is also entered into a draw for £100, so it's win win. Voting closes on Sunday night.

Here were my entries for each theme:

Week 1: Pastels

Week 2: Prints

Week 3: Accessories

Week 4: Shoes

Again, you can vote HERE just by clicking on my photo (2nd from left along the top) - and if you do I will love you forever (and ever!).

Glad Rags

When Platform 51 got in touch with me about their newest campaign, I couldn't say no. Platform 51 are charity supporting disadvantaged women across England and Wales. On International Women's day (March 8th) they launched a month long campign called Glad Rags, to raise awareness of low level mental health issues and to empower women to come together in a positive way to share experiences, and raise self esteem and confidence.

Dress - A-wear

Boots - Office

Necklace - Miss Selfridge

When I started this blog many years ago now, I had almost no self confidence at all. It's only through being part of this community and interacting with other women that I have finally accepted myself for who I am. I no longer try to change things or try desperately to lose weight. I know and love my real size, and get excited about dressing up now and don't spend all my time worrying about whether I should wear short skirts or shouldn't wear stripes and all that nonsense.

My first outfit post.

Platform 51 asked me to share an item of clothing or an accessory that gives me confidence. It has to be this dress. It's the first proper outfit post I ever did. I don't know what it is, I think it's the combination of florals which already always cheer me up, with the bright bright colours and the amazing cut. I've worn it on nights out, on dates, to dinner, shopping - you name it. Actually when I went to Manchester last to visit my friends, they giggled because the only photos they had of me on my many trips there, I am wearing this dress. It just makes me feel fabulous, and I love that a piece of clothing can do that. I don't care if other people think it isn't fabulous or that I don't suit it, it's my fav.

I'm putting these embarrassing photos up here for the sake of mental health, of course! Me being totally trollied with Daisy Gin. Actually, I've never had a bad night out in this dress - even when I lost my iphone.

I really encourage you all to check out this campaign, and get talking about what makes you confident! This is not a paid or sponsored post in any way, I just really believe in what Project 51 do. They are running a petition to review the use of antidepressants and I really would appreciate it if you could have a read over and think about signing it here.

And just for fun, here's a photo of me doing my favourite thing (eating), with my favourite thing (donuts) in my favourite dress.

The Lily Pink Bakery

So I know I often start these posts with a reason for not posting much lately, but I promise I have a valid excuse this time! I've been spending the last few months on a business programme run by my city council to set up a small business. So that's what I've been doing!

I've always been really passionate about baking, and I have taken orders and baked for birthday parties and weddings before but never as a proper business. After months of work and help from people I couldn't have done this without <3 I have my own little bakery company up and running!

Cake for sampling! The kids went nuts over this.

These were for an event at Belfast City Hall that I baked for, it was called The Mad Hatter's Tea Party so it was really fun to do! The Queen of Hearts cake was rainbow inside :)

Yesterday I traded at Belfast's busiest and most historic market, St George's and it was a wonderful day. I sold out of everything! I'll be there again this Sunday so any Belfast folk - come and say hi!

My website just launched yesterday, check it out and let me know what you think! I'm so excited about it, especially my cocktail cupcake menu. I also have a facebook page you can 'like' to keep up to date with my events :) It's been hard work, but it is a labour of love and I am having a great time with it!

The Lily Pink Bakery

Facebook

Twitter

p.s. my illustrations were done by the same wonderful girl who did my blog header, Harriet off Blargle Fargle, if you ever need any illustration work done at all I highly recommend her! Her rate was very reasonable, I had the work really quickly and she was wonderful putting up with all the little alterations every time I changed my mind on something!

From the City Lights and Sounds Deep Into the Dark...

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Cardigan - New Look

Shoes - Topshop

Necklace - Miss Selfridge

Rings - Primark (owl) and Topshop

Quick outfit snap for today. I haven't done an outfit post in forever, mainly because my auto focus is broken on my camera and being a complete dunce when it comes to cameras I have kind of given up. I usually take my photos with my auto timer so I seized the opportunity here to get my sister to take these, despite the fact that I look a bit like death and hate wearing my hair up, I wanted to share the dress because I think the print is beautiful.

It's pouring and cold outside and those hopes I had of Spring arriving early appear to be dashed. Listening to Kimbra is cheering me up slightly though, so give her a listen. Also the video for this is just beautiful and I have hair envy.

What's new Pussycat?

It's the little things in life that make me smile, like this sweet mirror which was only €1.60 from Forever 21.

When life gives you lemons, make lemon cupcakes!

I went on a baking frenzy last week and one of the things I baked was these lemon cupcakes. I thought I'd share the recipe with you. I also wanted to share some snaps of the Joseph Joseph bowls I was kindly sent by Find me a Gift. They are so pretty to use and keep my newly organised baking cupboards free of too much clutter!

Primrose Bakery Lemon Cupcakes

Makes 12

Ingredients

- 110g unsalted butter, at room temperature

- 225g caster sugar, preferably golden

- 2 large eggs, free-range or organic

- 150g self-raising flour

- 125g plain flour

- 90ml semi-skimmed milk

- 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

- 1tsp (roughly one lemon’s worth) grated lemon zest

- 1tbsp sour cream

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160deg C (fan)/180 deg C/350 deg F/gas mark 4

2. Line a 12 hole muffin tray with cupcake cases.

3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, to the creamed butter and sugar and beat well.

4. In a jug, combine the milk, lemon juice and sour cream. Alternate adding the flours and milk to creamed butter mix as follows - add one-third of the flour and mix well. Add half the milk mixture and mix well. Add another third of flour and mix well. Add the reaminder of the milk and mix well. Finish by adding the last third of flour and the lemon zest and beat well. If the mixture looks like it is curdling slightly, don’t panic – simply add another spoonful of plain flour and beat well.

5. Spoon out the mixture evenly between the cases and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Use a cake skewer in the centre of one the cupcakes to check they are cooked through. They will appear quite a light golden brown colour even when cooked.

6. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes and the place carefully on a wire rack to cool completely.

Lemon buttercream

Ingredients

- 115g unsalted butter, at room temp

- 30ml freshly squeezed lemon juice

- 2 tsp grated lemon rind from an unwaxed lemon

- 500g icing sugar, sifted

Method

In a large bowl, beat the butter, milk, lemon juice, lemon rind and half the icing sugar until smooth. Gradually add the remainder of the icing sugar and beat until thick and creamy. This can take several minutes.

I made a bit too much buttercream, so I whipped up this cake to use it on. It's just a basic sponge recipe then I added lemon drizzle icing on the top. Yum!