A Little Bit More About Me Tag

Hey lovely people! :)

How are you all doing today??? I'm having a great day so far and have big plans to do absolutely nothing tonight... except finally catch up on How I Met Your Mother. I know I know, it finished weeks ago... but we fell away from it in the final season and we are finally sorting that out!!!

So anyway, here is today's post.

Where and when were you born?

I was born on the 23rd of June 1985 at Bellshill Maternity Hospital, in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Me & my gran Rose.

Who chose your names and the reason behind them?

My mum chose my name based on a character in a TV show she was watching. If I had been a boy, she and my dad would have named me Christopher. 
Your earliest childhood memory? The first thing I remember as a child is being on holiday in London with my mum and dad. We had just eaten lunch in a little Italian restaurant and had made our way to Trafalgar Square where I was trying to catch one of the hundreds of pigeons flying about. My dad lifted me up onto his shoulders and I was sick all down the back of his jacket... Spaghetti Bolognese and all! Lol! I believe I was 2.
What were your hobbies as a child? I loved reading and was a bit of a geeky child. My sister and I both collected ornamental cats (sounds utterly ridiculous I know, but they were super cute and were all dressed up in funny costumes) and I loved them. I also loved swimming and it's remains the one and only "sport" that I can do well. 
Do you have any siblings? I am the oldest of 6. I have 2 brothers, Stephen is 21 and Matthew is 18, and I have 3 sisters, Joanne who is 23 (and has 2 adorable kids of her own), Claire who is 15 and Aimee who is 13. So you can imagine how manic life was growing up in my house as a child. 

Funny story as a child? My sister Joanne is a bit hot headed and would often get up to no good when we were little. One day she had misbehaved and was sent to her bedroom to "think about what she had done". My mum and I were sat in the kitchen (which is directly below her bedroom) and noticed a rope dangling in front of the window. After inspecting it and realising it was coming from my sisters room, we both ran upstairs to find her half way out her bedroom window, with scarves and belts tied together and knotted around her bunk bed post. She was attempting the great escape and had already sent our brother Matthew downstairs with supplies and clothing for her, which he had left at the front step. She was 8... and it is still quite literally the funniest moment in my life. 
Did you do well at school? Yes, as I said before I was a bit of a geek as a child. I had little to no social life and really enjoyed school. I loved to study and my favourite pastime was making up colourful notes and laminating them. I left school with 8 good standard grades and 5 highers. I would go back and do it all over again in a heartbeat!!! :)
Your teenage celebrity crush? Oh I had lots! I loved Devon Sawa (Casper, The Final Destination etc). I also lovvvved AJ from the Backstreet Boys. But these crushes often changed from week to week. 
Your favourite song of all time? Oooft... that's too hard a question!!! I will give you the ones I can think of right now: With or Without You by U2, Hold On by Wilson Phillips, Best Friend by Queen, The Scientish by Coldplay, Open Your Eyes by Snow Patrol and I Was Here by Beyonce. This list is not exhaustive!!!  Have you fulfilled your dreams and ambitions? Not yet. I want to be a super successful photographer with my own boutique style studio. I would also love to have a really successful blog with tonnes more lovely readers like you lovely people. 

There you have it lovely people! Why not give this one a go yourselves. I'd love to get to know you all a bit better. 
Remember, I'd love to get my teeth into some more of your fab blogs and I will start featuring my favourite weekly blog as part of my Friday Favourites! So get sending your links - either in the comments box below or via twitter here.
Take care lovelies. 

April Photo Challenge - Day 2 - "Arm Candy"

Hey lovely people!

So today's submission theme is "Arm Candy" and initially I thought about taking a photograph of my super handsome husband (any excuse to show him off), but then I thought I would be more literal and actually take a photo of his arm - his tattooed arm to be exact!

So this might seem like a rather strange thing to want to show off - but I have a thing with arms. You know how some women like muscles, or eyes or a tight little toosh??? Well I am into arms!!! Lol... And believe me, I understand how that sounds. But I'm really not being bias (maybe a little) when I say that my husband has the most amazing arms I've ever seen. 

Ok, so I'm going to leave it there, because I have a feeling I have shared far too much already! Look out for tomorrows submission which is "Brushes"...  So you can rest assured it shouldn't be too creepy like this one! 

Take care lovelies. x

Hump Day Deliciousness... And getting older!

Hey lovely people!

So it's Wednesday again, and the 2nd of April, can you believe it??? This has quite literally been the quickest start to the year ever! My mum always used to say to me that when I got older, the time would start to fly by quicker than I could imagine, and I always thought she was talking nonsense... but it really does feel that way. I'm 29 in June and 30 next year... I still feel 18!!!

Anyway, less of the nostalgia. Today's choice of recipes include some of Martha Stewart's greatest dessert creations... all in the honour of feeling young... and I'll perhaps throw in another little cocktail at the end, just to make the "getting older" part feel a bit better.

Martha Stewart's Coconut Balls

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup icing sugar & extra for dusting
2 cups plain flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups dessicated coconut

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Cream the butter with icing sugar until fluffy
3. Mix in flour & salt until combined
4. Stir in coconut
5. Roll dough into 1 inch balls
6. Place balls 2 inches apart on tray
7. Bake until just starting to brown (15-20 mins)
8. Roll warm cookies onto icing sugar until coated
9. Leave to cool completely

Martha Stewart's Moist Devil's Food Cake

Ingredients
Cake

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
3/4 cup good quality cocoa powder
1/2 cup boiling water
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk

Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting

24 oz semi-sweet chocolate
4 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon light corn syrup

Directions

Cake - 1st process

Heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Butter 3x 8"x2" cake pans
Sift cocoa into a bowl, add boiling water and whisk
Leave until cool
Cream butter until fluffy
Beat in the vanilla
Drizzle in eggs a little at a time and beat between each additional egg
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl
Whisk milk into the cocoa mixture
Alternatively add dry & wet ingredients (start & end with dry)
Divide batter evenly between the 3 cake pans

Mrs. Milman's Chocolate Frosting
Place chocolate & cream into a heavy pan
Cook over low heat stirring constantly until combined & thick
Remove pan from heat
Stir in the corn syrup
Transfer to a large metal bowl
Leave until cool enough to spread

Cake 2nd Process

Bake cakes until tester comes out clear (35-45 mins)
Transfer layers to cooling rack
Reserve the prettiest layer for the top
Place one cake layer on serving platter
Spread 1 1/2 cups of chocolate frosting on top of this layer
Add the 2nd cake layer
Spread another 1 1/2 cups of chocolate frosting on top of this layer
Top with the 3rd & final cake layer
Cover outside of the cake with the remaining chocolate frosting
Serve

Kinky Pink Cocktail

Ingredients

1/4 Raspberry vodka
1/3 Cranberry Juice
2 measurements of Peach Schnapps
Raspberry infused sugar to rim glass

Directions
Add cranberry juice & peach schnapps to cocktail shaker with ice
Shake vigorously and drain into sugar rimmed glass
Add vodka

ENJOY!!!

So there you go lovely people. Give those desserts a try and top them off with a few glasses of a Kinky Pink. Don't even think about the calories in these treats, as they are off the scale. They are intended to be enjoyed as a rare treat every now and again... so go on... treat yourself!

Take care lovelies. x

April Photo Challenge - Day 1 - "What I Used..."

Hey lovely people! 

Starting from today, I have decided to take part in a photo-a-day challenge for April, created by the lovely Alice from the blog Super Gorgeous.

I have always wanted to do one of these challenges, not only because they are fun but because it encourages me to get my camera out EVERYDAY as opposed to just when I'm working, and it's a chance to really hone my skills and try to be as creative as possible with my daily entries. 

So on that note, here is the monthly challenge in all it's glory, along with today's submission.

Face - BodyShop Moisturising Foundation, Sheer Cover Concealer, Victoria Jackson Blusher, Avon Pressed Powder
Eyes - MUA Undress Me Too Palette, NO7 Brown Eyeliner
Lips - MUA Matte Peachy Keen, Carmex Lip Balm
Nails - Sinful Colors Ruby Ruby, Rimmel Finishing Touch Ultra Shine

This may seem like a lot of makeup for one face - but my foundation gives a very sheer finish and the powder I use is almost translucent. The eyeshadow can be as light or heavy as I want, all I have to do is build up the colour, and add as much or as little of my eyeliner. The peach matte lipstick is so subtle that it improves the natural colour of the lips and makes them look fuller. 

As you can see, it's not super heavy. It's really more of an everyday look, easy to do and effective enough that my skin isn't exactly bare, but certainly not caked in products. 

Anyway,  just so you know, you can expect an extra post each day, showcasing that days photo challenge, with a short description of how the photo came about, much like this post.

Take care lovelies. x

Happy Mother's Day

Hey there lovely people!

I hope you have all had an A M A Z I N G weekend and for all the UK readers, I hope you spoilt the mothers in your lives and were indeed spoiled yourselves if you are a mummy too!

I have had the most chilled out weekend EVER! My hubby was away at the football for the best part of yesterday afternoon and I decided that I would stay put at home and just relax. I tweeted a bit, caught up with facebook (as it has become slightly neglected as of late) and listened to my crappy (in my husbands opinion) music loudly and proudly!

Anyway, today's post is going to be a short one, because I want to spend some time with my mum.

She is the best mum I could ever have asked for and she still runs about after me at 28 years old. I really don't know what I would do without her.

My Mother, my friend so dear

throughout my life you're always near.

A tender smile to guide my way

You're the sunshine to light my day. 

Remember to always cherish the mothers in your lives, because you don't know what tomorrow will bring. My poor hubby lost his mum as a teenager and my heart breaks for him every year on this day. You will only ever have 1 mother in your life - please remember that and don't take your time with them for granted.

Take care lovelies. x

The Blogger Tag

Hey there lovely people,

Happy weekend to you all. Hope you are having a fabilicious Saturday.

It's that time of the week for another little Tag. They are one of my favourite things to read on other peoples blogs because it's nice to get to know the lovely person behind the posts. 

So here is this weeks choice... The Blogger Tag! 

The Blogger Tag

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

It's naturally straight with a bit of a kink in it.

2. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

Both. If I'm feeling in a particularly "pamper myself" type of mood, I will get a hair cut & colour at the Hairdressers, but most of the time, because my hair is so short I am happy just to dye it myself at home. 

3. Do you wear the same style everyday, or do you change it?

So as I was saying, I have super short hair, so coming up with different styles is often difficult - but I try my best to change it up as much as I can.

4. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I do my own. I have always had long nails and so have never wanted acrylics or anything. As well as that on the one and only occasion where I did have a manicure, the lady doing it absolutely destroyed my cuticles with her buffer and they were all bleeding and sore - BAD EXPERIENCE!!! Plus I like to change my nail colour a lot, so it would end up costing me a small fortune if I went to a manicurist every time. 

5. How often do you change your nail polish?

Like I said above, I change my colour a lot. Maybe 2 or 3 times a week. :) I love a fresh set of nails.

6. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?

Both - I stick to darker shades like 1.Chick Flick Cherry from O.P.I. or 2.Desire from Rimmel which is what I'm wearing just now. In the summer I like bright & pastel colours like 3.Hip Hop from Rimmel and 4.Brompton Place from Nails Inc.

7. How long does it take for you to put on makeup?

So if I'm just having a normal day - food shopping, out a walk etc then 10 minutes. If I have a night out or somewhere fancy to go then it's a kind of whole day process where my makeup can take 2-3 hours. I like to take my time. :)

8. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

Face. I always put my primer and foundation on first.

9. Do you collect makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

I have a relatively big collection of products that I often forget I have, particularly eye-shadows. So definitely a collector.

10. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Once in my whole life. I have really sensitive eyes so putting fake lashes and glue on them is a little daunting. However, my sister once put them on me and I loved them... pity I couldn't really see properly the whole night. 

11. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

Nope. There are maybe 3 days out of the week where I let my skin breathe... and on days like today, where I'm feeling under the weather, makeup is the furthest thing from my mind.

12. Do you wear makeup when you're home alone or with family?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. 

13. Will you leave the house without makeup?

Yes and often too.

14. How many high-end products do you have?

Not a lot... and I'm not entirely sure they are too high end. I have some Smashbox lip products, Bareminerals powders and concealers, as well as Clinique and Liz Earle skincare products.

15. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you're getting dressed?

I always tend to plan what I'm wearing and leave it sitting out and ready.

16. How often do you change your handbag?

Often. I have a handbag addiction, and like to showcase all of my different ones as much as possible. I do, however, have some favourites that I use more often than others.

17. What time do you wake up and go to sleep?

So I go to bed through the week at around 10.30pm, but don't generally fall asleep till about 2am. I wake up anywhere between 8 and 10am in the morning. My nights are slightly longer at the weekend.

18. How often or when do you workout?

Not as often as I should... at all!!!

19. Left handed or right handed?

Right - my hubby is left handed.

20. How tall are you?

5ft 7inches.

21. Do you speak any foreign languages?

I speak a bit of French & Spanish.

22. How many pets do you have?

2 dogs - Oscar & Bonnie.

23. How often are you on Blogger?

Too often - haha! All day, everyday!!! Addicted is an understatement.

  

24. Do you read comments posted on blogs?

Yes - It's nice to read peoples nice words. Reminds me that there are still lovely people out there.

25. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

Yes - this has become a bit of a problem for my poor hubby. My spending has increased exponentially since I got more and more into blogging and watching YouTube.

26. How did you come up with your blog name?

It was initially an idea I had for my Photography, that I was telling stories through my pictures - hence "Once Upon A Picture" and when I decided to blog I wanted there to be a consistency with my pictures and my words.

27. What kind of camera do you use for your photographs?

I have a Canon 600D DSLR, but I also have a few point and shoot cameras too.

28. How often do you clean your house?

I try to clean a bit everyday, but have a good clean of the entire house once a week.

29. What's your favorite color?

RED!

30. What is your favorite drugstore/high end makeup brand?

I love Rimmel for their nail polishes, Bodyshop for their foundation and M.U.A lipsticks (they are super cheap and super pigmented). For skincare my absolute faves are Clinique, Liz Earle and I really like Simple.


So there is my Blogger Tag answers. Hope you all enjoyed reading them, and feel free to leave your tags in the comments for me to read.

Take care lovelies. x

A little Décor Inspiration - My Livingroom

Hey lovely people!

Happy Thursday to you all. The weekend is so close it's within touching distance, and there is no better feeling that Friday arriving. 

But since it's Thursday, I thought I would continue on with my Décor inspired posts and this week I'm focussing on ideas for my Livingroom.

So I'm a bit undecided when it comes to a colour scheme, changing my mind more often than not, but this week I found my colour inspiration in my flowers. Now I must warn you... as I said before I often change my mind, and it was only a few weeks ago that I posted a New York themed Livingroom Décor mood-board. I have since decided I would prefer this theme in my bedroom... hence this post today. This may all change again in a few weeks... but I decided to just go with it today! :)

My absolute favourite of all time - the unappreciated Carnation.

How beautiful are the colours in those carnations??? The deep almost pinkish red and that burnt peachy corally orange. Oooft I just love them! 

Now please don't panic - I don't intend on decorating my entire livingroom with these colours - there will be quite neutral, earthy undertones with my brown leather sofa, white walls and oak flooring. The colours of the flowers will be represented by sporadic pops of colour from my accessories, soft furnishings and perhaps a feature wall.

So anyway, here are my ideas in my favourite form... mood-boards! :D

Ok, so the above looks pretty boring and shockingly grown up for my taste. However, as explained previously this is just the base or the undertone for my inspiration. I already have the brown leather couch and I kind of loved these little coffee and end tables because they would be super easy to spruce up if I got fed up with the natural earthy tones. The TV unit and shelving is a bit of a must have in terms of storage space (we have a lot of DVDs), but I'm not entirely sure if I would have my TV on the actual unit or floating on the wall between the two. As discussed in previous posts, the flooring is not only an aesthetic decision, but also a practical one as we have 2 very mucky pooches and a less than impressive carpet covered in muddy stains.

Now for the fun and colourful part.

The idea of the throw is that it would hang loosely at a diagonal along the back of the couches. Just to add a bit of colour without being an absolute hassle to sit on top of. The cushions are just gorgeous and sumptuous looking. They will add the pop of colour I'm looking for, and despite not being able to find the perfect rug to show you, I would love one with these bright colours included. The lamp, all be it quite small and relatively cheap and tacky looking is just super fun. I'm very aware of the 1st board looking pretty sophisticated and grown up and that is just not my husband and I at all, so this is why I felt it was important to include something fun and silly, that goes with the colour scheme and just adds a little something to the overall look. Finally I found this curtain panel - now these wouldn't be suitable at all for our livingroom window, but this is the kind of idea I'm going for with the curtains. Something predominately white, crisp and clean with that funky pop of colour. 

So there you have it, another set of mood-boards to oooh and ahhh over. I don't know about all of you, but I never tire of dreaming up ways of redecorating and generally improving my living space. I don't always follow through on them but I am always thinking up new ways to add a bit of pizazz to my home. I will no doubt change my mind entirely about all of this, and come up with a whole new concept in a few weeks, but for now I am going to enjoy the idea of living in amongst all of this bright and vibrant colour and will be back with another post for you all tomorrow. 

Take care lovelies. x

Hair, Beauty & Skincare Products Wishlist

http://bloggernetwork.e-tailwebstores.com/scripts/click.php?a_aid=OnceUponAPicture&a_bid=05b3a39b

Hey there lovely people!

As well as my "Hump Day" post I have decided to share another Wishlist post with you all. Simply because over the past 3 nights I have been doing a bit of online window shopping (with some actual shopping much to my husbands dismay) and I seem to be getting a bit carried away with all of the items I want. I wonder if some of you are like that too???

Anyway, I've divided my wishlist into 2 sections; Hair Products, Beauty Products & Skincare Products. Please share any of yours with me and let me know if you've had any experience with any of the products I'm mentioning here.

Hair

1. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo (1000ml) - £26.78 (rrp £31.50)
2. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo (1000ml) - £28.99 (rrp £34.95)
3. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair & Scalp Treatment 200ml - £13.18 (rrp £15.50)

Now I'm a bit of a fan of Tea Tree products and I have been since I was a little girl, using my first ever Tea Tree cleanser and toner. I absolutely love the freshness of it. And I recently began using Tea Tree products on my hair as well as my skin and I have never looked back. For somebody like me, with sensitive skin and in particular a skin condition like dermatitis, I have found that Tea Tree products are soothing and fresh and nourishing to my skin, and particularly my scalp. It was actually a hairdresser that recommended these Paul Mitchell products to me and I have done nothing but swoon over the idea of purchasing them over the last few days. So these will definitely be making their way into my shopping basket just shortly!

If you're interested in these fabulous products, they can be found at HairTrade which is a fabulous little site offering an array of hair products from wigs and extensions to haircare and makeup. Be sure to give them a little visit and save yourself a bit of money at the same time!

Beauty

1. Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick - £21.16
2. Sephora Collection Moonshadow Baked Palette - In The Tropics - £17.31
3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - £13.46

So I know I've already gone on a bit about the Dolce & Gabbana Classic Cream Lipstick which was heavily featured in last months Vogue UK. But seriously... how delicious does that look??? I am sooo in love with it... and it just looks so lavish and expensive that really I must have it! The Sephora Palette was something that just caught my eye when I was swooning over every other product on the page. Its just so pretty and colourful and despite being quite a classically nude girl when it comes to eye colours, I really did fall for this palette. The Anastasia Brow Wiz is actually something I've been trying to get for a while, but didn't really know how I was going to manage it because it's exclusive to the US. Samantha Chapman goes on at length about how great this product is, and for someone like me who really struggles with eyebrows, I think it's definitely a product I need in my life. Now all I need to do is convince my hubby to let me order £75 worth of goodies in order to get the £10 flat rate international shipping! 

Again, if you're interested in any of these products, you can find them and much much more at Sephora. I promise you will not be disappointed with all of the products available and at such great prices, you too will be begging you're other half's for the permission to spend the cash!

Skincare

1. Clinique Liquid Facial Wash - £15.50
2. Clinique Clarifying Lotion - £16.50
3. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion £17

Clinique are without a doubt my absolute favourite Skincare brand out there. Pricey??? Yes! Worth it??? ABSOLUTELY!!! Having exceptionally dry skin, these products seem to just transform in an instant the way my skin not only looks but feels. The Liquid Facial Wash penetrates your skin so deeply that you feel super clean and refreshed after using it. The Clarifying Lotion feels so smooth and silky across your skin and really wakens you and your skin right up. And the Moisturising Lotion... well it just leaves your skin so soft and smooth and supple, that it feels like brand new skin. I do have other skincare products that I use from time to time, but I always come back to my Clinique. 

You can find more information and more products from Clinique at their website, where you can actually purchase their skincare straight from them. If you don't have a skincare routine set in stone or you've never tried them before I would highly recommend you giving them a go. Like I said before, since trying them I have never really looked back.

So anyway, that is my current Hair, Beauty & Skincare wishlist. Being honest, I could have filled the page with products I want right now, but I thought a mishmash of products might seem a bit greedy and might be a bit of an eyesore. Let me know if you have any MUST HAVE products in your wishlists and if you have tried any of the products I've mentioned above, I'd love to hear from you.

Take care lovelies. x

Snap Happy Tuesday - Kids

Hey there lovely people!

Today is another post about some of my previous photo-shoots. It's a big deal to me for there to be a dedicated spot on my blog to showcase my love of photography and therefore my job. I don't think many people can say honestly, that they love their job... but I am certainly one of them. I believe that photographs are the the proof of our lives and the connection to our past. I know that in this day and age of technology, there are so many ways to connect and communicate, but I genuinely believe that nothing does that better than a photograph. 

Anyway, enough of the rambling and more of the sharing. 

ISO 400 - 50mm (50mm lens) - f/1.8 - 1/125 sec

This is little Mikael. He is 2 years old, so is technically still a baby and therefore should have been included in last weeks post. I for one, think that it's quite difficult to tell exactly what age little Mikael is in this picture, which is therefore why I included it. Shooting him was a very different experience from any other 2 year old I've had in front of the camera. He was very stubborn in terms of giving me a smile... but ended up being one of the shoots I'm most proud of. I think a lot of mum's and dad's, get really stressed out about getting their children to smile for the camera in order to get that smiley, happy photo. However, I firmly believe that these types of photographs can often end up the most beautiful and vulnerable. There's so much more of a story in these images than that of a run-of-the-mill smiley one.

ISO 400 - 37mm (18-55mm lens) - f/4.5 - 1/30 sec

Let me introduce you to my cousins children, Leon (top) and Brendan (bottom). I had to include this photo simply because it makes me smile. Brendan, the older of the 2 is such a laid back and quiet little soul, whereas Leon is just absolutely wild. So when I suggested this pose to Brendan he was quite embarrassed and hesitant about the idea and I think that shows in his little face. Whereas as soon as he lay down, Leon just jumped on top, no prompts, just jumped onto of his brother and started making horsey noises. It was just soooo funny that every time I look at this photo I relive the entire moment. This is a perfect example of my believe that photography is a way of "capturing precious, funny & irreplaceable moments". This certainly fits the bill. 

ISO 200 - 32mm (18-55mm lens) - f/4.5 - 1/30 sec

This is little Emma. She and her mum came along for a shoot, together with Emma's friend and her mum. She was quite the little character - a typical girly girl giving me all her poses. It was an absolute joy to photograph her. Not to mention how adorable she is... especially in that denim dungarees! It's so fun for me, when I get a client who just loves to be in front of the camera, because the joy in their face is just so evident. They are always super enthusiastic to pose and get into any position you suggest that any level of stress I might feel, just slips away and it becomes just an absolute pleasurable job to do.

ISO 200 - 28mm (18-55mm lens) - f/4 - 1/60 sec

Meet Zain and Isaah. They are the adorable boys of Diya, one of my lovely clients who came to me wanting some good family photographs after having been let down with photographers in the past. They were a lovely family and were very smiley and enthusiastic clients throughout, even Diya's husband (which is very unusual for the men I normally shoot). So the reason I chose to show you this image is because I just wanted to show that even though both of the boys aren't facing the lens, it's still a lovely image. Like I said before, parents tend to get very stressed out behind the scenes trying to get their children to look as good as possible on camera and this includes trying to get them to look the right way. Often this is just out of the question. Kids are so easily distracted, so it can be quite a chore to get their little eyes looking the right way. However, I think you'll agree, this is still a very cute picture and the boys look utterly adorable, despite little Isaah's eyes trailing off to the right of the lens.

Ok so there were a few reasons for selecting these images to show you today. Obviously they are super cute kids and they deserve to be showcased, but I just wanted to get the message across that sometimes the imperfect pictures turn out to be the ones you love the most. Kids aren't robots. They don't march to anybody else's drum but their own and often expecting them to do exactly as they are asked in such a pressured environment is too much. Photographers will always do their best to snap the best possible image of your children and deliver the best quality they possibly can, but it doesn't always mean it will be a standard smiley shot - these images are my best examples of how great, a less than perfect scenario, can turn out in a photograph. 

Hope you enjoyed looking at these ones as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Take care lovelies. x

A little Décor Inspiration - My Bedroom

Hey lovely people!

You probably don't know this about me... but have quite an addictive personality. If I'm into something, i.e. a TV show for example, then I'm obsessed with it and will watch every episode there is available.

So when it comes to things like blogging (which is still a very new part of my life), I have become utterly devoted to delivering as many read-worthy posts as is humanly possible for all you lovely people to delve into.

On this note, I thought I would share another of my addictions... and that my lovelies is PINTEREST!

I can't get enough of this fabulous site, and quite literally haven't stopped using it since I discovered its brilliance 2 years ago.

I can quite literally scroll for hours and hours, liking and pinning away and my absolute fave pins are those related to Home Décor. So this post is going to showcase my current bedroom decoration inspiration.

I'm a bit of a NYC fanatic so this décor is inspired by the city itself. The crisp sharp edges of the mirror, the interior brick walls, and the dishevelled hardwood flooring all remind me of the real, edgy feeling of New York City. 

This look was more of a classic one. Something along the lines of an "English Rose" theme. The strong and sturdy wooden bed-frame, the fluffy sheepskin rug, the dreamy vintage dressing table and the ornamental lamp all give a cosy, homely feel. Obviously this room would be dressed with lots of vases full of fresh flowers.

Finally we have a classic contemporary look. This is always my go to style when it comes to creating an inspiration mood-board. I really don't think you can go wrong with it. It's simple and sleek, with a modern punch. A bit safe maybe, but I honestly believe that sometimes sticking to the most simple of styles, delivers the best overall look.

So there you have it. My current bedroom inspiration mood-boards brought to you through the absolute genius and fabulous little gem that is Pinterest.

If you haven't already given the site a little visit then get to it... I guarantee you will find something of interest there, be it the 1000's of recipes available at the click of a button, the numerous DIY/ Craft ideas for you to try at home or the countless posts showcasing the current trends and celebrity styles at the moment. It is an enormous world of pins to get lost amongst and you can't help but love it!!!

Take care lovelies. x

My Disney Obession

Hey Lovely people!

This post was inspired by my love affair with Disney movies. I mean who can say they don't like a good Disney classic??? Nobody!!!

Today I have decided to watch Aladdin... simply because it has been far too long since I gave it a watch. Not only does it have some of the best Disney songs included, but it also has Robin Williams providing the voice of the Genie.  It is also the Disney movie with the greatest life lessons... 

1. Always remember to be true to yourself and don't try to be something and someone you are not. 

2. Remember to value your self worth. 

3. It's important to keep your promises, even if you have to make a sacrifice. 

4. Money doesn't bring you happiness.

5. Anything is possible, as long as you work hard enough to get it. 

Now like a lot of people, I have an affinity with the old classically animated movies with The Little Mermaid being my absolute, unequivocal favourite. I was read the Hans Christian Anderson book by my family when I was a little girl and became obsessed with the idea of mermaids and the magical world they lived in under the sea. The only disappointment I had with the book... and obviously being a little girl... was that there was no happy ending. 

However, when Disney released their "Happily-Ever-After" movie version on the 1st of January 1989 (when I wasn't even 4 years old yet) it quickly became my most cherished and beloved movie of all time. 

I thought Ariel was beautiful with her long wavy red hair, lilac seashells and turquoise fishtail. She sang so beautifully and for a little girl like me, she sang songs that were easy to learn and sing along with. I just loved her and I loved the beautiful story of love overcoming all obstacles. It set me up to be a bit of a hopeless romantic, always striving to find that one true love of my life. Well whoever said that fairytale's aren't real, are really needing to have a look at my life because after many struggles and "obstacles" in my way I finally found the love of my life - my own Disney Prince, and I have been living happily ever after for almost 13 years now. :) 

My husband and I on our wedding day in November 2011.

While I was looking for Disney images to use I came across some pictures of the most fabulous Disney Princesses and I thought I would share them with you.

These real life sketches are gorgeous - and provide a much more realistic image of the princesses.

I love these true to life Disney princesses. They are all super beautiful.

And finally this up-to-date portrayal of the Disney Princesses & what their style might be if they were everyday girls.

Hope you enjoyed this post lovely people. I think it's important at any age to stay connected with your childhood and I think Disney provides us with this opportunity. I will never grow old of it and I will read the stories and watch the movies with my own children and their children for as many years as I have ahead of me.

It was after all the marvellous Walt Disney who said... 

"That's the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up"...

Take care lovelies. x

Hump Day Recipes

Hey Lovely people!

After my last Wednesday, I decided that I would continue on with the theme of sharing some of my favourite chefs and recipes with you... I mean what is better than some good old grub to get you through Hump Day???

So this weeks chef of choice is the wonderful and charismatic Jamie Oliver!!!

I love him... not only because his recipes are just fab... but because he makes it all look so effortless! Now I know that it's absolutely not effortless in the slightest, but the style and flare he shows in the kitchen, and the way he just throws the ingredients together without care or hesitation, gives me hope that I can produce meals with the same punch and pizzazz!

Anyway Danielle stop rambling and get on with it! Lol

This weeks choice of recipe is the fabulous Perfect Roast Chicken. Now I know that a lot of you will be like "What? That's soooo boring"... but let me tell you, there is no better dinner (in my opinion) than a good Roast... and Chicken is always top of the charts for me!

Perfect Roast Chicken
with lemon, fresh herbs & veg

Ingredients

1.6 kg higher-welfare chicken

2 medium onions

2 carrots

2 sticks celery

1 bulb garlic

olive oil

sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon

1 small bunch fresh thyme, rosemary, bay or sage, or a mixture

Method

To prepare your chicken

Take your chicken out of the fridge 30 minutes before it goes into the oven. Preheat your oven to 240°C/475°F/gas 9. There's no need to peel the vegetables – just give them a wash and roughly chop them. Break the garlic bulb into cloves, leaving them unpeeled. 

Pile all the veg and garlic into the middle of a large roasting tray and drizzle with olive oil. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper, rubbing it all over the bird. Carefully prick the lemon all over, using the tip of a sharp knife (if you have a microwave, you could pop the lemon in these for 40 seconds at this point as this will really bring out the flavour). Put the lemon inside the chicken's cavity, with the bunch of herbs.

To cook your chicken

Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the roasting tray and put it into the preheated oven. Turn the heat down immediately to 200°C/400°F/gas 6 and cook the chicken for 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you're doing roast potatoes and veggies, this is the time to crack on with them – get them into the oven for the last 45 minutes of cooking. 

Baste the chicken halfway through cooking and if the veg look dry, add a splash of water to the tray to stop them burning. When cooked, take the tray out of the oven and transfer the chicken to a board to rest for 15 minutes or so. Cover it with a layer of tinfoil and a tea towel and put aside. Now is the time to make your gravy. 

To carve your chicken

Remove any string from the chicken and take off the wings (break them up and add to your gravy for mega flavour). Carefully cut down between the leg and the breast. Cut through the joint and pull the leg off.

Repeat on the other side, then cut each leg between the thigh and the drumstick so you end up with four portions of dark meat. Place these on a serving platter. You should now have a clear space to carve the rest of your chicken. Angle the knife along the breastbone and carve one side off, then the other. 

When you get down to the fussy bits, just use your fingers to pull all the meat off, and turn the chicken over to get all the tasty, juicy bits from underneath. You should be left with a stripped carcass, and a platter full of lovely meat that you can serve with your piping hot gravy and gorgeous roast veg.

There you have it - the most delicious Roast Chicken dinner you can imagine - I should know, I've tried it 100 times.

To find more delicious recipes like this just visit JamieOliver.Com... I guarantee you will find so many amazing and easy recipes there that you'll be dying to try!

Take care lovelies. x