Dreams unfold you, in them, dear, I'll hold you

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting a 1940s event that was taking place at Bantock House Museum and Park. Unfortunately, I don't own any forties dresses, otherwise I'd have thrown one straight on for the day!

Unfortunately, when I got there I realised my camera had run out of battery while I was uploading videos earlier, so I had to use my phone.

Browsing a vintage stall

Here I am playing the "Shut up Hitler" game,
 where you throw beanbags into his mouth to win!

 While I was watching the elderly man play tunes on a ukulele in imitation of George Formby, a photographer  kindly offered to take my photograph. We shot it against a window, looking out onto the grounds of the manor.

photo credit: Mugshots Photography

Lastly, here's a little video of String of Pearls, who performed classic songs from the 40s and 50s. My mom filmed it, which is why you can see me on the left of the stand at one point - I don't have a doppelganger! How sweet are the vintage-clad couple dancing?

While finishing off on a music-related note, I just wanted to add that the title lyric comes from my favourite song of all time, Goodnight Sweetheart by Al Bowlly. I did hope they would sing it, but as it's a 1931 recording, it was a long shot. It's just so lovely! 

Outfit details:

dress - Primark via charity shop

tights - ASDA

shoes - New Look

bag - Primark

August Recipe: Lemonade Scones

I've decided to do a monthly recipe feature, and this is the first! This recipe for Lemonade Scones is super quick and easy, but delicious all the same, especially served with jam and clotted cream.



Ingredients
350g self raising flour
60g caster sugar
125ml lemonade
125ml double cream
Pinch of salt
1tsp milk

Makes between 4 - 8 scones depending on thickness

Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 220 centigrade / 430 Fahrenheit (210 centigrade/410 Fahrenheit for fan-assisted)  and line a baking tray with grease-proof  paper or a baking sheet.

2. In a bowl, mix the flour, sugar and salt together.

3. Pour in the cream and lemonade, and mix well. A dough should begin to form. If it is too sticky, add more flour until you reach a nice consistency, which is neither too dry nor too sticky.

4. Place dough onto a clean work surface which has been lightly floured and knead.

5. When the dough is nicely combined, push it out until it is a round shape of about 2cm thickness.

6. Using a scone cutter, about 5-6cm diameter, cut out as many shapes as you can and place them on the baking tray. Combine and roll out the leftover dough out again to get as much from it as possible.

7. Lightly brush the tops of the scones with a little milk and place in the oven for 15 minutes, or until they turn a light golden brown on top.

8. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Outfit details:
Dress - Therapy at House of Fraser
Apron - thrifted
White tights - Topshop
Boots - My mom's! (Matalan?)
Headband - Primark?

Liverpool (this is not here).

A couple of weeks ago, I visited Liverpool for the third time. In typical Bee fashion, the purpose of my visit was to gauge the size of the wardrobe I'd be storing my clothes in when I attend university there in September.

Now, as a Beatles fan, I wanted to visit their hometown wearing my obsession dedication, but I didn't want to look a typical tourist in one of my many Beatles t-shirts. My solution? A not-so-subtle nod to Sgt Pepper :)

My mother and I were shown the show flat in the accommodation building that I'll be staying in, Cambridge Court. The building next door, which is also university accommodation, happens to be a former hospital and guess which iconic 20th century musician and peace activist was born there? How cool!

Image source:  http://openplaques.org/plaques/8183

I then took a little walk to LIPA, the performing arts school which is housed in the building that was once Paul and George's school, Liverpool Institute. At this point, it had gotten quite cold so I put on a cardigan and my boots had begun to hurt, so I changed into a comfy pair of Dorothy Perkins flats.

 I saw Paul's childhood home (as well as the Beatles museum, the Cavern Club exterior and Penny Lane) the first time I went to Liverpool, but I couldn't find John's, so this time I hopped on a bus, determined to find it. Coming from such a small city, I was shocked that it could take forty minutes on the bus to get somewhere still in the same city.

As silly as it sounds, seeing Mendips in person really set in the fact that John was a real person, not just a legend. I already knew it was so, of course, but I couldn't help thinking - the little boy who grew up here was murdered. It made me so sad. RIP John.

Mendips is much grey-er in colour than it looks on these photos, however. We ran out of time really quickly, so a fleeting look at Strawberry Fields was all we could manage after this. I couldn't get the whole gate because there were people in front of it, and the photograph of me is truly awful in quality, but it's the only one I have.

Tomorrow, I'm going on a day trip to Liverpool (tried and failed to think of a 'Day Tripper' joke at this point), but by myself this time. It's also results day tomorrow, which means I'll finally find out whether I've got the grades to confirm my place at LJMU or not. I don't usually worry about this kind of thing, but I absolutely bombed that exam. Wish me luck!

Bee

x

'sgt pepper' dress - primark (thrifted)

boots - new look

cardigan - select

forever we're singing that old country song...

I went to a country and western themed birthday party recently, and thought I'd share a few pictures. There was even a bucking bronco! It was a few months ago - before I got my fringe.  Pictures were taken by my wonderful friend, Zanii.

  

jacket: Oasis
dress: Oasis (thrifted)

title lyric: Me & Tennessee - Tim McGraw

random acts of patriotism...

 In celebration of the Diamond Jubilee (words that must cause some to roll their eyes at this point), my mom and I had a fit of patriotism and displayed lots of bunting on the gates in front of our house! Shame the weather was a bit gloomy, though.

That's my dear mother, hanging up the flags.

"Pull a stupid face" she asked, and certainly received.

We also put some patriotically-coloured bunting up against the fence in the back garden's patio, which you can see in the last three photos.

Now, off to a local celebratory fair and bonfire!

Bee x

dress - charity shop; originally matalan
tights - primark
boots - charity shop
flower garland - charity shop

hey you, get off of my cloud...

I've been meaning to update with one of those "11 Things" tags, I've answered it but it's still waiting to be published! I seem to be wearing these boots a lot lately, although I got a couple pair of new shoes yesterday so maybe that'll change soon. I'm kind of busy at the moment as I have a few deadlines at college coming up, and I'm running behind on both a script and a show reel!

Rolling Stones t-shirt: TK Maxx
dress: Primark
cardigan: Primark
bag: Evolution
boots: Matalan
headband: unknown (Accessorize?)

title lyric: Get Off of My Cloud - The Rolling Stones

i close my eyes and drift away...

I chose to wear a sixties style outfit today, but the lycra dress, purple tights and leather boots made me feel like a superhero instead (hence the pose!). This dress is actually meant to be skin-tight, but it's 3-4 sizes too big so it gives a comfortable fit.

dress: thrifted
necklace: Primark
tights: mytights.com
boots: Matalan

title lyric: Lazy Sunday Afternoon - The Small Faces

a wind will blow me back to you.

This afternoon, I went out for dinner in a beautiful lakeside location. I planned to take these photographs there, but the lighting was awful so I did them in front of my house and in the bathroom instead. I still don't have a new camera, so my iPhone had to suffice. I was going to wear a nice pair of shoes with my outfit, but I chickened out for fear of looking too "over done" and threw on a casual pair of boots instead.

dress: Redmutha
cardigan: Coast
tights: uknown
boots: Matalan
earrings: my moms

title lyric: Sofia - West Indian Girl

Au revoir,
Bee