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I've been slowly decorating our rented house...here's a few little peeks

 Pretty baskets and plants in the kitchen

This framed card I bought from the shop in the Royal Exchange in Manchester

 Made these pom poms with my sisters when it was my birthday last month and I can't take them down!

 This plant is growing well here

 My little sister Jen made this awesome pin board for our kitchen - poster is from my trip to Paris

 This is a poster I picked up at Oklahoma in Manchester in a lack Ikea frame

 Recycled wool throw from the gift shop at Tatton Park and a cushion I made from an old H&M dress

 Cards and wool on the old map chest I salvaged from a skip and painted cream

 Little birds everywhere! Painting behind is by Tom's Dad Paul Mills

 Old London transport posters from my Grandparents house

 Little metal duck! and Tinga tinga paintings from my trip to Tanzania live on the mantle

 My grandmother's blue pots with little dried flowers

Really looking forward to getting on with the garden this bank holiday weekend :)

Jo

xx

Stockport Vintage Village 13.04.14

I love my monthly trip to Stockport vintage village there are always lovely people, treasures to be found and delicious food to be eaten! This Sunday it was warm enough to get my bike out and ride to the fair :)

Stuart Thornley was there with his fantastical cakes! I wasn't brave enough to try the dippy egg cake but did have a hot cross bun cupcake and got some Rocky road with mini eggs to take home for Tom

 This stall had so many gorgeous vintage picnic sets gleaming away in the sun

 Love the pretty flasks and tins

 Think I like the blue one best

 I liked this little Swedish plate

Also spotted a box of old film reels from the Picturehouse in my home town of Bury St Edmunds!

Jo

xx

Linguine alla puttanesca

One of my favourite quick dinner recipes

Recipe (for 2)

1 garlic clove
4 anchovy fillets (in a jar in oil)
shake of dried chilli flakes
tin of tomatoes - 400g
spoon full of capers
large spoon of chopped olives

150g linguine pasta (just because I like it - I think you are supposed to use spaghetti)

Cook the garlic, anchovies and chilli on a low heat til it turns into a mush and the anchovies have broken down. Add the tomatoes to the pan and simmer for 20 mins.
In the meantime cook your pasta in a large pan of salty boiling water. When the sauce is ready stir in the capers and olives and cook for another minute while you drain off the pasta. Mix and serve with a tiny squeeze of lemon, lots of black pepper and grated parmesan cheese.

I made a side salad to have with this of spinach, chopped sun dried tomatoes and toasted pine nuts.

Hot, salty, spicy, delicious! What is your favourite pasta dish?

Yum

Don't mess with the chef!

Jo

xx

Birthday

Yellow Orla Kielyesque birthday dress from www.sheinside.com

Gorgeous sisters

Tom <3

Celebrated the big 30 last weekend in Manchester. The perfect weekend - afternoon tea party with my sisters then out for dinner and cocktails with family and friends at the Rosylee in the northern quarter. Massive brunch and trip to Stockport vintage on Sunday :)

Afternoon tea spread

Homemade pom pom decorations

Stockport vintage village

Agapanthus interiors in Stockport

Another lovely sun filled shot in Agapanthus

 

Yes please

mmmmm

Lotta from Stockholm cloggs from my Mummy :)

Floor cushion from Jodi-Jo Retro and Aesops Fables illustrated book

More flowers!

Jo

xx

Bake Off!

I came third in a baking contest at my work and got a lovely rosette from the Mayor of Oldham!
My cake was a lemon sponge covered with old school rainbow drops

Castlefield Artisan Market

I spent a very enjoyable Sunday afternoon over at the Castlefield Artisan market today! I think I first read about it on Nadinoo's blog and was so glad I sought it out despite all the sludgy snow.

Top eats included a delicious pie from the award winning great north pie company, some blue stilton, and bread and cakes from of crust and crumbs. Entertainment came in the form of some great swing music and dancing from the cotton town hot club.

The market will be held on the first Sunday of each month alongside the canal near Dukes 92.

I also popped into topshop on my way home to see if I could find anything to spend my christmas vouchers on! I have been eyeing up this gogo philip necklace for a while and now it is all mine. mwah ha ha :)