LONDON ** What to do in London **

**LONDON**

As I have lived in London for pretty much my entire life I would like to dedicate part of this blog to the city I know and love. Tourists generally go around London and see all the main attractions and part of this series will be dedicated to that, alongside my favourite places to eat, sit down and relax with friends, eat, shop, and just wander around and drink in your surroundings.

I love to be a tourist in London even though it where I live, I actually do take it for granted, studying in Central London over the past 3 years has been a wonderful experience and I've gotten to know the city a little better. There are so many great things to do and places to see. Hopefully as these posts progress I will also get to experience more of the city I love so much as they will give me an incentive to do this.

If there is anyone who would like to know any specific information on an attraction in London or an activity please do not hesitate to ask, I am not a tourist guide book but I will do my best to answer any questions or requests you have.

Shoutout to my first follower: Bailey Kelsey, who was also somewhat (by that I mean completely) gave me the inspiration for this section of the blog.

Thanks again,

~ DayDreamQueen

xXx

I WANT ... A BIRKIN BAG!

** I WANT... **

What's on every stylista's wishlist?

A BIRKIN BAG of course!

The bag was created for the beautiful Jane Birkin. The idea is said to have formed during a flight from Paris to London in 1981. Birkin had her Hermès organiser with her which was overflowing with papers, as they fell to the floor the passenger next to her commented she should put things in the pockets. To this Birkin is said to have retorted, "If Hermès put pockets in, I would." The passenger was the then chief executive of Hermès Jean-Louis Dumas ... and that my dears is how the Birkin Bag was born. Created in 1984, since then it has become iconic.

Anyone who is anyone in Hollywood has a Birkin bag ... Just look at the gorgeous bag below gracing the arms of these starlets below:

The beautiful bag comes in many colours and material's from the traditional leather to the more expensive crocodile skin. Victoria Beckham is said to have a collection boasting over 100 bags and estimated at around £1.5million I mean if she can have so many ... Why can't I have just one?

P.S Congrats to the lucky lady as she is pregnant with her 4th child ... Yes we all hope its a girl ... I mean what's the use of her owning all those Birkin Bags without having someone to pass them onto? (Just kidding)

Victoria ... If it's not a girl, you can share your Birkin Collection with me!

Wishful thinking ... eh?

I have to say I am in love and as is usual with many women ... I am in love with something I can't have! *sad face* With a hefty price-tag ranging from (depending on the material) £4,200 for a basic model to £80,000+ for the

rare 'Silver Himalayan' complete with a 3carat diamond ... what is one to do?

A) Rob a bank?

B) Win the lottery?

C) Write a public letter to the Beckham's asking them to adopt

you?

D) Get a job at Hermès?

Well with all of the above being very unlikely. I wouldn't suggest robbing a bank ... and if you win the lottery I am very happy for you and your donations to my 'Birkin Bag Fund' will be kindly accepted.

and finally

E) THURSDAY FRIDAY

What? Do you ask ...

Yes ... Thursday Friday ...

The ingenious duo of creative director Roni Brunn and business strategist Olena Sholomytska have come up with an wonderful solution. No, it is not a knock off as you have seen gracing much of the high street stores and markets throughout the world ... It is a cheaper alternative.

Why don't I just show you?

Isn't it beautiful?! A Birkin Bag without the Hermès price tag.

This is the Thursday Friday Together Bag ... A lightweight canvas bag printed on every side with images of the real Birkin Bag. At the moment it comes in three colours: red, camel and blue. I love it!

At the moment it is said to have a waiting list much like the real version. However, the site will take your back orders and ship out in February... for me I think the timing is perfect.

As this is the sort of bag I would carry around in Spring and Summer once the rain subsides and also would make a great Grocery or add-on bag to chuck the extras that don't fit into your bag. Spare pair of shoes, water bottle, magazines, book to read on the train? I think it would also be great as a Uni or College bag to carry your books in.

The measurements are:

Height: 11.5"
Width: 13.75"
Depth: 7.5"
19" handle with a 9.5" drop
100% cotton canvas with cotton poly lining

(Taken from thufri.com)

They are available online from www.thufri.com for $35 (atm roughly £22.50) excluding shipping.

I haven't bought one yet but I think this is definitely on my to buy list.

What do you think?

~DayDreamQueen

xXx

____________________________________________________

Resources:

http://img.listal.com/image/811394/700full.jpg

http://www.suite101.com/content/jane-birkin-and-the-hermes-birkin-bag-a208198

http://www.thufri.com/collections/together

http://www.thufri.com/pages/about-us

http://www.4hermeshandbags.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Stars_and_their_hermes_birkin_bags1.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2QHt1bEY5qrVChS2oTz3TPXTxgtwINSQeTM_g6zl3kcsZ6BT7yirOV6yexa0cOje-RsKWblHVFcna482V3GId6a2_JgTbaIgZxc1tMbHp8vopEyE3-QtB9SpT1ft2vmyniX4jrR5a0w/s1600/victoria-beckham-owns-100-hermes-birkin-bags.jpg

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1184169/Bag-lady-Victoria-Beckhams-100-strong-Birkin-bag-collection-thats-worth-1-5m.html

RECIPE ** OAT COOKIES* (Tried and Tested)

**RECIPE**

OAT COOKIES

As I mentioned before I am a fan of many things and one of them is BAKING. So this is my first recipe for you. A very easy tasty Oat Cookie Recipe and to top it off its eggless. This is one of my favourite cookie recipes because its so simple and easy and uses store cupboard ingredients

I have many vegetarian friends who don't eat eggs and its sometimes hard to find biscuits or muffins to cater to them. They love them just as much as the next person. So I baked these on our last Picnic in the Summer for my vege friends and they went down a treat.

I took this recipe from uktv.co.uk and have made a few minor adjustments in the many times I've made these. These cookies can be eaten once slightly cooled. They will be nice and crunchy. However I find for me they are best eaten a day or two after baking as they become slightly softer and more chewy (the texture I prefer). Excellent with Tea or Coffee or with Milk for children.

I like this recipe because it combines so few ingredients to make something very tasty. The tag line from the site is 'Mary Berry's mouth-watering crunchy oaty biscuits are quick and easy to make and terrifically moreish.'

**************************************************

INGREDIENTS

175g Self-Raising Flour

175g Granulated Sugar

175g Butter

75g+ Porridge Oats

1tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

1tsp Baking Powder

2tbsp Golden Syrup

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

COOK TIME: 12-15 minutes

MAKES: Approx 28 Cookies

METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4

2. Line two large baking sheets with baking parchment OR grease with Butter if parchment is not available.

3. Sift flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder into a mixing bowl, add sugar and oats in also and stir together.

TIP: I love the Oatey taste of these cookies so I generally add a greater quantity of Oats to the mix roughly 20-50g more you can be a little more heavy handed with them. For me this makes them taste that much better. I also use jumbo rolled oats because the oats are bigger and for me I prefer them this way. Ideally you could use any type of oats it will just change the texture of the cookie.

4. Put the butter into a pan and add the golden syrup, heat gently over a low heat stirring until the butter has melted and combined with syrup. Pour into the mixing bowl and stir until mixture has combined.

TIP: You can use your hands to combine the mixture if you feel it is not properly mixed but generally its okay with stirring.

TIP: I have used Maple Flavoured Golden Syrup with this recipe also or a little Maple Syrup with the Golden Syrup and this adds a wonderful hint of Maple to the recipe. It just depends on what you have in your store cupboard.

Again feel free to be a little heavy handed with the Syrup (not too much Maple though unless you like the flavour) as this just adds a little extra flavour. An extra tablespoon or tablespoon

and half is welcome.

TIP: Also, once I really wanted to bake these cookies and we didn't have any butter so I used margarine instead and chilled the mix in the fridge for 15-20mins as I was unsure of the effect it would have on the recipe. I got a more bulky cookie that didn't flatten out whilst baking so if you prefer a more chunky cookie rather than a flatter thinner cookie.

5. The recipe suggest that you turn the bowl out onto a work surface and and shape 28 2cm balls from the mixture.

TIP: I have found using a tablespoon to take a spoonful of the mixture out of the bowl and shape it with your hands works fine if you don't like getting work surfaces buttery (like my mother)

6. Arrange the balls on the baking trays so they are not too close to each other as they do spread a little bit. Press the top of the ball down with your palm to flatten a little.

7. Bake these cookies for 12-15minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven using a fish slice, transfer to a cooling rack to cool and firm up.

TIP: These cookies will still be very soft to touch so do not try to move them straight away. Bring them out of the oven and leave to slightly cool for a couple of minutes - they will still be soft so using a flat fish slice transfer these cookies to a cooling rack or flat tray. As the cookies are still soft they will require a flat surface to cool on or they will cool to the shape of whatever you leave them on.

**************************************************

Once cool enjoy dipped in Tea or Coffee.

These cookies will keep for a week in airtight storage. With my family I find they last two days maximum as they love them! I do keep a few to one side for a day or two to allow them to become slightly 'stale' as they become more soft and chewy (as my younger brother prefers them) and are great with Milk for children.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

~ DayDreamQueen

xXx

Comments on layout and any changes you would prefer are appreciated. Is this too much information ... Would you prefer more pictures? Let me know :)

Original recipe taken from: http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/585410

TIPS and Alterations are my own.

OFFER ** MODELS OWN GIVEAWAY **

**OFFER**

I'm sure many of you have already read about the MODELS OWN and FABULOUS MAGAZINE giveaway on the beauty blogs. But just incase you haven't ...

Models Own and the News Of The Worlds: Fabulous Magazine have teamed up for what I think is an excellent offer! A beauty kit worth £24.

The kit contains:

• Liquid Eyeliner
• Tweezers
• Mascara
• Duo Eyeshadow
• Eyelash Curler
• Make-Up Bag

In addition to that all Fabulous readers will receive 25% off purchases on the Models Own website [www.modelsownit.com].

A great offer!

All you need to do is collect TWO TOKENS (out of three) from Fabulous Magazine and take them to your nearest participating TESCO. The tokens will be available in Fabulous magazine from tomorrow (Sunday 9th January) and the two following Sundays (16th and 23rd January) and also at Fabulousmag.co.uk.

I know I definitely will be collecting the tokens. I've tried a few of Models Own nail polishes which are great and have heard positive reviews of their blusher. It would be interesting to try these other products and see how they fare.

~ DayDreamQueen

xXx

This information and all images were taken from the Models Own blog

[http://www.modelsownit.com/blog/models-own-fabulous/] which also gives you a link to the full Terms and Conditons: [http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/notw/public/fabulous/1183309/Free-Models-Own-make-up-for-every-reader.html].

Welcome Post

My first post and a little introduction to myself:

I have read many blogs and follow beauty bloggers on the internet, I love them all and it really got me thinking, could I do this too?

One of my good friend's is an absolute make-up fanatic and she has really given me the beauty bug. Within year alone I have purchased so many beauty products that I'm finding it difficult to store them away. Although I have a love for beauty and cosmetics I have to say ...

Here I want to try and give something a bit different: although I am a new beauty fanatic there are also many other things I enjoy - this blog will be dedicated to my purchases, offers, recipes, books, movies I've seen and just my general day to day life.

I am always open to feedback, so please comment and let me know how I'm doing.

Hope you enjoy!

~ DayDreamQueen

xXx