It's always a crappy time of year. It's cold and dark and January. Never a good combination. Fellow commuters on the tube look stoney faced and blur together into a sea of practical black clothing. None of us are tanned and those who are, well we just want to throw things at them.
Personally, my new year new you stuff is going quite well. I'm cooking everything from scratch. I'm prepping all my meals in advance. I am now a daily tupperware carrier (oh god). I don't seem to be craving anything sweet too badly. It would seem that for the time being vodka and whisky are like two exes - no desire for them, then you have an accidental one nighter with the Scottish one and the next morning you're back on the straight and narrow like it never happened.
But if you're struggling, if you're broke, if the abundance of sportswear pounding the pavement is hurting your eyes (totally understandable) here's a little roundup of good stuff to take your mind off it momentarily.
New sheets
The only thing I'm willing to face the sales for.
Glitter nail varnish
Don't let this end when decorations come down.
It's a cheap and easy way to add a bit of sparkle to dreary cold days.
'Molten Copper' nail varnish from
Accessorize.
A new crush
(And if this isn't an option, there's always the Ryan Gosling colouring book
buy here)
Sleepovers with girlfriends
(and if you haven't watched Girls (below) yet, catch up as season
two has already started on Sky Atlantic #addicted)
The smell of books
One of the nicest way to spend an hour is in a book shop. On the Fulham Road there is
Nomad Books (top) which has such a personal vibe. There is a little cafe, and you'll see that certain books have hand written personal recommendations poking out.
Daunt Books (middle) are wonderful with their long oak galleries and shops dotted around across London. But for pure grandeaur, and that circular/ladder/Beauty and the Beast fantasy, visit
The British Library (bottom).
Films in pyjamas
Bliss.
Markets
The best way to spend a Sunday.
Bubble baths
Totally free. Totally indulgent.
Other blogs
A poor girl's saviour when she can't afford the glossies.
(from left to right)
Ashley Ring My Bell
They All Hate Us
This Is Glamorous
Snow
No explanation needed.
* Recipe:
1 small potion of brown rice - Fry Light spray - 1 medium onion, finely chopped - 1 garlic clove, crushed - 1 teaspoon dried thyme - 1 can chopped tomatoes - 1 mug full of boiling water - Sea salt and black pepper
- Prepare rice and set rice aside. Remember it doubles in size so you really don't need much.
- Meanwhile, slowly fry the onion in saintly Fry Light, stirring occasionally over a low heat, until tender and translucent, for about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme (you could also add chilli if you want a kick); cook for less than a minute so that the garlic doesn't burn.
- Add the tomatoes and the hot water and generously season with salt and pepper. Bring to boil, breaking up the tomatoes with your spoon. Then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 30 minutes or even 45-60 if you can wait. It will thicken brilliantly.
- Pour the whole thing into a blender (it will smell amazing) and blitz it smooth.
- Serve piping hot with a generous spoonful of the rice dropped in to the middle at the last minute.
- If you have more time, pack it with vegetables. Wilt some spinach in there, add chopped mushrooms and red, yellow and orange peppers in with the onions, throw a load of frozen peas in.
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