Monday 15 August 2011

Sunny Monday in London

Hello dolls, hope your Monday was just fine and the weather is nice where you are! Today was pretty warm here in the UK, and I spent the day in London with 3 of my closest friends, for a delicious lunch at one of my favourite restaurants Cafe Rouge (I had my favourite, french onion soup to start, baguette poulet for my main and tranche au chocolat for dessert). Later, my friend Clare and I took a little trip to Oxford Street where we spent a good hour in a shop new to the UK, that I have been desperate to visit... yes ladies, I finally made it to Forever 21!

My first impressions of Forever 21 was that it was huge, very girly (decorated in pastel pink and white), with fairly good merchandising, and clear 'zones' so you knew where to go for what. The changing rooms were a good size with proper doors (I personally dislike curtains) and the lighting in the changing rooms was pretty good. The queue at the till was long, but the staff were numerous, and therefore waiting time was minimal. The range of clothing was very good, with a style for everyone. Oh and the prices were amazing! I knew it was a cheap shop but I was particularly impressed with the quality and fit of the items, especially considering the low prices.

My new purchases! I bought 2 sheer tops (love that style as so easy to dress up and down), one in a print and one classic cream colour. I also bought a kind of slouchy long sleeved jersey top in a dark orange that I think will be great with jeans. Lastly, I bought the gorgeous shimmery cuff and horn necklace. All in, 3 tops and 2 pieces of jewellery cost only £48 so I was very impressed. I will definitely return to Forever 21 when I am in London as the styles are great and the prices even better!

I got home at about 7 0 clock tonight and was surprisingly hungry (after my huge lunch!) but pretty tired, so I wanted to try another recipe that was both healthy and quick. I decided on super healthy sausages and beans (another recipe from my Sally Bee recipe book)

Step 1 - Cut your sausages up into smaller pieces (each sausage into 3 to 4 pieces is perfect). Put to one side.


Step 2 - Chop up your chosen veg (pretty much anything goes, today I used carrots, celery, green beans, peas and courgette). Chop up one onion and peel 2 cloves of garlic.


Step 3 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan and then add the sausage pieces. Cook on a medium heat for 7 minutes until the sausages are browned on all sides.


Step 4 - Add your vegetables (including the garlic which can be crushed right in) and let cook for another 5 minutes until the onion is beginning to soften. While this is cooking prepare 400ml of chicken or vegetable stock, and drain and rinse one tin of mixed beans and one tin of lentils.


Step 5 - Add your beans and lentils to the pan and pour on your stock. Add a good couple of sloshes of worcestershire sauce too. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 15 minutes (by this time the carrots will have softened and your dinner will be ready). Around the same time, begin to cook your rice (or whatever you plan to serve the stew with).


Step 6 - Add 1 tablespoon of wholegrain mustard to the stew to taste and a generous sprinkling of black pepper and parsley. Serve with the rice and enjoy!


* Sausages often get a bad reputation but as long as you buy minimum 90% meat content they are actually healthy - I usually buy mine from a butcher to be sure.


xoxo

15 comments:

  1. Love Cafe Rouge! :D And that's great you went to Forever 21, it's so cheap and cheerful and pretty!
    Btw that meal looks divine, thanks for sharing the recipe
    xxx

    http://www.wardrobeunderconstruction.com/

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  2. Yep I really wanted to go to F21 so I am so glad I finally got round to it!! xxx Thank you xx

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  3. I like what you bought at F21. Especially the first top. That meal looks soo yummy! :)

    PS. I apologize if you get this comment (or a similar version of it) twice. I've had to retype this because my computer is acting funny.

    www.ravenhaireddoll.blogspot.com

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  4. Love the slouchy, peach sheer top - very pretty indeed!

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  5. I love the first shirt and that big chunky bracelet! Good finds!!

    Thanks for stopping by our blog & for the sweet comment. We are knwo following you!

    Hope that you get a chance to check out our Tiffany & Co. giveaway!!

    Blessings,
    Kat
    www.maryanddyer.blogspot.com

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  6. I'm not a huge fan of Forever 21, but you can find some really great things for a low price, which is always nice. It makes me more likely to venture out and try new things.

    http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
    Twitter: @GlamKitten88

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  7. I am completely in love with the necklace and bracelet, they are absolutely gorgeous! Great post, darling! Love your blog and now following! Maybe you'll have time to visit my blog:)

    Kisses,
    Annabelle
    http://vivaluxury.blogspot.com

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  8. I really wanna go to a forever 21, but i live nowhere near the few! Some really nice stuff you picked up!

    http://lucyywrites01.blogspot.com/
    Lucy xx

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  9. Love going to Forever 21 whenever I'm in America, I really want to see how they've done it for the UK shoppers!

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  10. Isn't F21 the best?! So glad you finally got to go!

    Best, Lindsey
    http://teachchic.blogspot.com

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  11. I'm sorry that you had to wait so long for Forever 21!! I don't know what I would do without the Forever 21 thats 5 minutes away from my house! I feel like every time I go in I walk out with a giant bag of goodies! & you can because its so freakin affordable!!!

    xo Jackie
    http://livingaftermidnite.blogspot.com

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  12. Love the sheer tops and cuff, very pretty :).

    Your meal looks yummy!!

    Sadie xx

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  13. Thank you all, yep I am sooo happy I finally got to go! Will definitely be returning!! xoxo

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  14. Woah I didn't know they'd opened a Forever 21 in Oxford Street! Thats so irritating, I just went to America and got my friends necklaces from there :P
    Lovely bracelet!

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  15. Love your bracelet !!! New follower. I´ve a blog too, can you follow me back??
    Kisses from Perú
    Inés
    http://enisdaba.blogspot.com

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Thank you for all your lovely comments, I read each and every one xoxo