Dress: Primark

Necklace: Gifted from Aunt & Uncle

Nail Polish: Model's Own

I spotted this dress in Primark a week ago and decided to purchase it on my I've-finished-university summer clothes shop for a friend's birthday that night. I was sceptical about it looking okay on me as I tend to avoid tight fitting dresses as the weight I do have always hits my middle. Though in the changing rooms I was more "where have my boobs went?!??!" despite this I loved everything else and decided to take it home and work through the boob issue with the thought that I might have to take it back. I tried on various bras that might end up invisible or look classy enough as part of the outfit.

Then I said feck it and embraced my small boobs. I have a slender frame and I'm usually really proud of it until a piece of clothing sucks my boobs in. This dress did have to use some tit-tape around the breasts and also at the start of the straps as they were inclined to fall off as I found out wondering about the flat  beforehand. Tip: don't fall asleep with tit-tap on, especially if you have long hair!

And for the lulz (and the opportunity to see shoes and jacket) here's some drunk photos:

Morag x

I have always baked for the most part of my life but when I started baking for the public I realised what was suitable for myself in my own home wasn't quite cutting it out there in the competitive world of charity bake sales. Also if one recipe went wrong I'd need to make sure there were enough ingredients in my cupboards so that I had another cake recipe to fall back on. 

And now it is stashed. 

Food colouring

If you want to make cakes with even a hint of aesthetic appeal then food colouring is essential. In my picture you can see two types of food colouring: paste and liquid. Liquid is available in the baking section of any general supermarket (even the Metro ones) but for paste you'll need to get your baking behind to a dedicated baking shop. Both types have their uses: for colouring a cake sponge alá red velvet cupcakes you'll require the liquid type but icing I prefer paste because it does little to harm the consistency of icing (which is a pain to get correct as it is!). My preferred paste is the ones with the colours marked on top - makes it easier whilst you're in a baking rush and your drawer means you view everything from a height.

Cocktail sticks

My tool of use for adding food colouring paste to icing. Just a little bit should go such a long way! And because they're disposable you can't risk using one twice and mixing colours (unless you run out!)

Glitter

If, like me, your decorating skills aren't going to win you any points then a simple way to dazzle up some simple icing is to sprinkle glitter on top. Several of my cupcakes just have cream icing spread on top with a swish of glitter. Can make some simple cakes so much more eye-catching. Though be careful to actually sprinkle or you could end up with glitter clumps - I recommend using a small sieve. Also anyone want to guess what holiday was around the time I bought these glitters? 

Icing pen 

For intricate details. I only have black as its a standard colour that will go with most shades. I'd only buy more shades if it was needed - which so far it hasn't been. Most of my icing colours are bought on I-need-them basis.




Miniature rolling pin
Not the most exciting part of my decorating drawer - but a must have! If you're wanting to get into cake decorating then this is needed if you intend doing any crafts with rolling icing. 

Cake Cases

Like a lot of glitter and colours I buy the different case designs as I need them. Some can cross over into different themes (Halloween and Marmite cupcakes - both brown! Christmas and Valentine's Day - both metallic red foil!) but I can't say I have 'safe' cases that can be used for all occasions. Also the silicon ones? For practice baking - I only use the paper ones when people will be purchasing them and taking them away. Also there's the teacup and saucer cases that I've yet to use - someone give me an excuse for a tea party?

Also that Rhino? Genuinely lives on my microwave. It's from a Kinder Egg. 

Morag x 

Despite the name of this blog being a French play on words for "Morag Loves" I don't seem to showcase what I'm loving very often. Yes, I talk about the new dress that I love, and the meal I made last night that I love but twirling in front a camera as you're trying to get out the door is hardly new to the blogging world. 

So hopefully to add a bit more variation, and take it down the direction it was meant to at the start, I'm going to bring in a series when I showcase something that I love. For now I'll keep it sweet with some links. Finding new links/blogs/magazines/sites is one of my favourite dorky pastimes. And also because I'm feeling shattered from my day at work so can't murmur up a proper article. 

So on with some crazy internet finds!

Even if you don't follow football, if you're Scottish then you can still be proud that the Scotland Women's team slammed Poland in a friendly recently and also aren't doing too shabby at the UEFA qualifiers either. They won't win but this is better than the male team have done in a while. Time to give women's sport the attention it deserves.

I'd like to think you're already reading Gala Darling anyway, but did you see her article on 10 Ways To Make Your Instagram Photos Pop? It's a gem. 

The best Tumblr and the most amazing artwork I've come across for a while: Versus/Hearts.

Louise is quite new to the blogging arena but I'm already a fan. Animal testing is an area where so many people say it's wrong but will rarely protest with their money. Her blog MakeUp.Etc is a great place to start if you want to start living cruelty free whilst not denying yourself the pleasure of mascara. 

I've yet to cook anything I've found on The Vegan Stoner but I still just love looking at the illustrations! 

I spent a large chunk of today editing my Pinterest boards after it came up at a job interview. Want to have a look?

And some Republican satire about vaginas. Just for lolz!

And Ronan Keating presenting the Eurovision....

Have a lovely weekend!

Morag x

With the onset of May comes one of my favourite annual events: Eurovision! A combination of really bad pop music, wacky costumes and the not-so-party-friendly underlying topic of international relations makes me squeal slightly. 

Despite this last year was my first year attending a Eurovision party. Even though I was not the one hosting I still got myself into a frenzy when my friend decided to instead. We sent recipes back and forth and gave out costume ideas to other guests. 

The thing that struck me however was the dead-end in my Google search for ideas. Aside from the BBC Guide, not much was out there on how to host a house party that would rival the 'real thing'. 

This year, enter my own guide! As a Christmas/Halloween/Easter/Valentine's Day/New Year New Start enficianado I felt it was time to turn my hand to how to get hyped up over Eurovision.

General Idea

Everyone comes as a country. Dress in the style of that country or as a famous Eurovision act from that country. Bring some food from said country and some drink, again from said country. Watch the show and possibly play a drinking game (or two!). Simple!

Choosing Your Costume

Being a fancy dress fiend this is probably my favourite part! Last year I was Russia and that costume went down as one of my favourite fancy dress adventures ever. Originally I was going to go as the Netherlands but that fell through....

Which brings me to my first point on costumes: make sure your country has a hope in hell of getting through to the final. Most countries have a Wikipedia page on how well they tend to do. If like the Dutch they haven't gotten a place in the finals since 2004 you'll be better off putting your favourite clogs back on the mantelpiece. It's a guessing game with the two-semi finals being held the same week but if you want a safeguard option go for one of the countries that fund the competition! The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain will all get a place indefinitely in 2012 no matter how ridiculous the act due to funding. Azerbijan also are guaranteed a place in the grand finale because they were last year's winner. 

Also with all fancy dress ventures - make sure other guests (and people who view the photos later) know what country you're trying to recreate! Generally most people will be more familiar with Germany's national dress more than Bosnia & Herzegovina's, unless of course you're reading this from Eastern Europe, then hi! 

General List:- 

UK - with London 2012 coming up union Jack clothes are common place. Check Primark for Geri Halliwell-esque dresses

France - french maid, beret, Eifell tower necklace

Russia - furry hat

Iceland - Bjork and that swan

Finland - goth, Lordi

Sweden - long blonde wig, ABBA

Germany - Beer girl, giant beer can

Greece - goddess

Italy - Roman, Pope, Gangsta

Spain - Bull fighting person (refuse to Google the real name!), flamenco dancer

Also, if all this fails, there's always football strips...

Food

The hardest part I found last year. There aren't many Russian restaurants floating around Scotland so knowing off the top of my head what constitutes as Russian cuisine wouldn't get me any game show points. Research was easy but the harder part was making it or finding it ready packaged in a local supermarket (made harder by your local supermarket being a city-centre Metro). I had settled on Bliny which did pop up in Tesco (in the seafood section!) but was sold out on my Eurovision-day shopping trip so I resorted to regular pancakes which got me a few weird looks. BE MORE ORGANISED THAN ME!

Something I've already decided on this year (if my dough skills improve) is flag pizzas! So cute! Just need to work out what topings for each colour - any advice for blue?

General List:-

France - garlic, meringues

Spain - paella

Greece - salad, feta cheese, olives

Ita;ly - pizza, pasta, olives, easiest of the bunch

Scandanavia - fish based dishes

Drink

Again, same as the country you've chosen. You don't need to share the drink - it just adds to the atmosphere if the drink you have in your hand matches your costume. But some countries still equal easier more so than others. A lot of European countries (especially Western/Southern ones) have a wine that will be available locally. Also Scandinavian countries seem to have special local potatoes that make slightly different vodkas. But again those Eastern European countries? Even Portugal and Greece are a bit awkward when it comes to these things. 

General List:-

France, Italy, Spain - finding a French/Italian/Spanish wine is any supermarket shouldn't be a difficult feat

Germany, Czech Republic - Beer

Russia, Finland, Germany, Swedish - Vodka

Ukraine, Belarus, Netherlands, Poland - all have a few vodka brands but might need to order them online

Denmark - Lagar, namely Carlsberg

UK - beer, bitters, ales

Ireland - Guiness, Irish Whiskey

Greece, Cyprus - Ouzo

Other ditbits

Drinking games exist for this but it fell flat for us. Mainly cause we didn't have exact rules and by the time the result were read no one had much drink left. Also decoration - flags. Pictures of famous Eurovision acts; re-create Azerbijan in the living room.

But most of all have fun! 

Morag x

I picked this dress up yesterday from H&M for my job interview today. H&M have some really nice stuff right now and I think it's where I'll be getting a large chunk of my summer wardrobe! I'm also trying to buy more H&M clothes because by high street standards they're making a bigger effort to be "ethical".

Only the second picture shows it but the dress has a really cute apple print. It's not in-your-face and you have to beside me to see the print but I think it's lovely. Some might argue it's a bit quirky for an interview but I felt the shape of the dress made it suitable as office wear. Also, my interview was at an advertising agency, so creativity in the form of clothing is allowed! 

Also, on a serious note, anyone got any photography tips? I'm using a Nikon D3100.

Morag x