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Happy Anniversary – 3 years!

April 11, 2014

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2014-03-30 21.58.19

For the first time in our lives, Mr D and I spent our wedding anniversary in the same country and better still, in the city where it all started, Lisbon.

We didn’t do all that much for our anniversary, just stayed home for a long time avoiding the rain, for the most part. But it was very nice to just sit around with no place to be and no stress, just hanging out. As we still don’t live together because of paperwork, just spending some time together not doing anything is a luxury.

Mr D cooked for me, which is something I always miss and almost demanded for. After we left the house we headed to Miradouro das Portas do Sol, one of the many viewpoints of Lisbon. There was a particular motive for this – it is close to home and one of the places that we had heard are now bearing love lockers. Lisbonites can’t put love lockers on the bridge and have to make do with the viewpoints. We put in ours and despite not being on a bridge, I still think it’s a nice place to be, overlooking the river. We hope to leave a few more lockers scattered around the world now!

For the rest of the day we just walked around holding hands, dined at the vegetarian restaurant Terra and went to Pavilhao Chines for cocktails where the nice waiter snapped a quick photo of us with my phone.

3 years of marriage, after we’ve know each other for a couple of years before. 3 years might not seem like much but in our situation feels like an eternity. the 3 year mark is also very important as from now on we can start applying for visas and passports as spouses. Hopefully by the end of this year we can both stay legally in the same country.

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The Tattoo Files – Fiona Morris

April 4, 2014

The Tattoo Files

 

Name Fiona Morris , Age  43 , Location Grantham

What was your first tattoo and how old were you when you got it?

Winged heart in the centre of my back just before my 38th birthday

Which one is your favourite?

Don’t really have a favourite tattoo, love them all, no regrets J

Some have meanings behind them, like my girl’s best friend and Rock of ages which is for my sister as she’s the strong one in the family and keeps us all together.

Rosie the riveter and poppies, bombs and soldiers grave, I wanted as a tribute to all those who sacrificed everything for us to have the freedom we do and to remember everyday.

The Tattoo Files

Do you feel that people look at you differently because you’re a tattooed woman?

I do get some unwanted attention from having tattoos, not sure if it’s because I’m a woman or just that some people don’t like ink.

I’ve had a unique dress style since my early teens so have always had people look at me differently, especially in a small town, so maybe I just don’t notice the looks anymore 😉

Strangely the older generation seem to be less concerned, I often get pensioners chatting about my 1940’s / 1950’s dress style and my tattoos don’t bother them.

The Tattoo Files

Do you want to get more ink? What would you get?

Definitely getting more ink, still got gaps!! My partner and I go to ET’s Tattoos in Norwich and book a few days each year.

Have some ideas, want flowers on my collar bones but otherwise not decided yet, always trying to find something unique to my lifestyle and personality.

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Sugar rush – alternatives to sugar

March 26, 2014

Sugar

After all the hoo-ha about sugar = poison and the fact that I was putting on a lot of weight a few months ago, I stopped putting sugar in my cups of tea. You see, if you live in England, you cannot escape the endless cups of tea that are made in the office all day. It’s part of the social contract, to make cups of tea for everyone, you see? I don’t have much of a sweet tooth and I can drink tea with no sugar but every now and then it is nice to have a little bit of sweetness.

The big question now is: Is there any other way of sweetening our cups of tea?

Sugar

Yes, there are several sweeteners and sugar substitutes available in the market, some healthier than others. Let’s see:

Aspartame – has to be the most common sweetener. Anything that’s labelled as ‘Sugar Free’ will most likely have aspartame in it as a substitute. It has been used as a replacement for sugar in ‘Light’ products as it made foods sweet and palatable but without the fattening that comes associated with sugar. Sounds like it’s too good to be true, right? Probably because it is. This chemical substance has been linked to a wide array of medical issues since it’s ended our diet in the 1960’s such as eye and ear disturbances, neurological, gastrointestinal, cancer, as well as metabolic issues to name just a few. The American FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has published a report on it and it doesn’t look good. I hate the way it tastes and I avoid it like the plague.

Honey – Made by our friends the bees, it’s not only sweet but also packed with vitamins and antimicrobial properties. It is sweeter than regular sugar but you end up using less of it for this reason. Honey is high in fructose which can be as bad as sugar but it is also rich in antioxidants which are good for you. It’s healthier than sugar as a whole and its safety or benefits will vary depending on the individual. I love the way it tastes and use it fairly often. It won’t help much if you’re trying to lose weight though.

Sugar

Agave Nectar – Made from the agave plant, grown in the southern areas of the US, as well as northern areas of South America. It has been used by the Aztecs for medicinal purposes for many years. It is now readily available in supermarkets although it’s not the most economical option. The finished processed product is 90% concentrated fructose thus not making much of a difference from high-fructose corn syrup. This means that despite it being sold as an healthy option, it really isn’t. It tastes nice though and I liked it.

Yacon Syrup– Extracted from the roots of the yacon plant, indigenous of the Andes, in Peru. The old Incas used it and modern Peruvians eat it for its nutritional properties, such as few calories and low sugar levels. It also contains enzymes that have been linked to weight loss and for this reason it is now becoming fairly popular. It is processed in the same way as maple syrup, using an evaporator. Hubby says he used to eat it when he lived in Peru, it’s apparently fibrous and good with cheese. Oh he also mentioned they call it yuca! If you are interested in finding out more about this plant, head on to the Guardian for an article on how to grow it and other ideas for consuming it. I like the taste of it in the tea, it’s not too sweet, the flavour is pleasant and I like the fact that it doesn’t contribute to weight gain. It’s not easy to get in the UK though, I was sent a sample by Quality Yacon so I could try it out. When can we get some of this here?

Yacon Syrup

These are the alternatives to sugar I have tried so far. Do you have any other suggestions I should look into?

PS: How do you like my car boot royal tea mugs? I love them.

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Glamming up the goth

March 19, 2014

Glam goth

Last Sunday the weather felt so nice that I decided to bare my legs a little. Not too much, only a little, but it felt soo nice. I am hopeful that we will have a nice warm Spring and Summer and that the sandals won’t have to stay in the loft until next year. I went to Matalan the other day, as I had a gift voucher to redeem as well as extra discount and ended up spending a bit more than I was supposed to- I see what they’re doing and it’s working on weak people like me. But I brought home these sandals and the golden hearts necklace with me. the sandals were already 50% and I thought it would be an unexpensive way to try the strappy sandal trend. My feet can be really sensitive and there would be no point in spending a fortune in something that would just cut through my flesh.

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Outfit details: Scalloped skirt – Darling, via TK Maxx, Socks – H&M (on sale), Shoes – Matalan (on sale), Silk Cardigan – Repeat Cashmere, Bauhaus T-shirt – Ebay, Necklace – Matalan

Glam goth

My photographer Filipa was at home that day so I had to make do with the tripod and the self timer. I have to say that I wasn’t too happy with the results, plus our back garden is looking a bit drab these days. I did some editing on the images to try and make them look a little bit better. I think I have succeeded in making them look somewhat more interesting. What do you think?

Glam goth

Glam goth

I’m loving the softness of this silk cardigan. I really should invest in good quality pieces more often!

Glam goth

Glam goth

I’m going home a week from today, for a week. I can hardly wait…

London

London Fashion Week Street Style

February 19, 2014

As promised, here’s a write up of the main trends spotted at LFW, by Olivia Golding, with some exclusive content for Hello the Mushroom! Check out more street style at the Missguided.co.uk blog!

London Fashion Week couldn’t have been more British after we were greeted by the all-too-familiar rain. That failed to dampen anyone’s spirits though as we slung our cameras around our necks and admired the street style parading proudly on the stage that is Somerset House.
Given that street style now influences fashion trends as much as the runway shows themselves, we were paying close attention to what we saw on the cobbles this season. Competition between fashion bloggers was fierce as each competed for best dressed. The skies may have been grey and gloomy, but the street fashion was anything but.
Some of us girls over at Missguided popped down to Somerset House at the weekend to soak in the atmosphere and find out for ourselves if the trends we predicted to be big for spring / summer were showcased on the cobbles, and guess what? They were!
Here’s our favourite street style looks from London Fashion. Will you be sporting any of these looks in the coming months?

As S/S’14 approaches we can expect more than a sprinkling of no less than all colours of the visible spectrum. If you paid attention in physics at school, you’d know we’re talking about white! Perhaps as an honour to the snow that never came, we’re anticipating this fresh hue to dazzle us this season. It’s going to be class all the way as midi-skirts become a permanent fixture in our wardrobes. Bringing a certain element of elegance, we’re sure that midi-skirts will have us sway our way through to summer.

 

 

Jumping to the other end of the scale, we’re welcoming with open arms print trousers and boy, what a treat for our eyes it will be. Remember the rules of opposites though! When donning your print trousers that are sure to turn heads in a crowded room, pair them with plain numbers. Take our model above. We love the tartan print but also how she’s played it cool on her top half with a black jumper sitting on top of a white shirt, all enveloped with a black leather biker jacket. Not to mention, a cute and wise move on the navy bobble hat. The wind that day was getting on everyone’s nerves.

Too many people go on about how great the ‘80s were and not that I’m disagreeing, but where’s the love for the ‘70s!? Well, it’s time for that era to shine; let me introduce you to the jumpsuit. The one-part outfit, depending on its pattern, can be teamed with a simple waist-length jacket. Obeying rules similar to the above, our model has opted for a floral number with a beige leather jacket.

Denim, one of our greatest loves, how could you ever go out of fashion? Dress it up, dress it down, denim is our trusty PIC (Partner In Crime) in all situations. Our model has gone for the daytime class type affair; animal print carried by a beige double-breasted jacket. She dresses it up with high heels that belong with skinny jeans.
Robyn from the Missguided team had this to say…
“London Fashion Week is always a whirlwind of fashionable excitement. From spying street style trends, models off duty and celebrities alike to those insider moments, there is no occasion quite like it for those with style close to their heart.“

So there you have it, four trends to bring in the daffodils, lambs and glorious sunshine. We can’t wait to see what attire you guys will flaunt.