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Inspiration...

Here's some pics of my "inspiration diary". It's great to have a flick through it before I go out shopping! By collecting pictures over a period of time I have a better idea of my personal style, rather than just what is in fashion at the current time.


Looking forward to Summer!! :)

How to Make "Soy Yoghurt"

Recently I have discovered I may/may not have a form of IBS. Unfortunately this means I have had to cut out some of my favourite foods - no more coffee, milk or yoghurt!! I absolutely love yoghurt - and since I found out I have been scouring the supermarket for a substitute.

I have tried a few of varieties of soy yoghurt, but I found they were usually organic and therefore had no stabilisers - a wobbly, watery, lumpy container of off white yoghurt was not exactley appealing!

From my days working as a junior chef in a large production kitchen for rest homes I remembered a quick, cheap and easy way to make a thickened milk mixture that was used to make a variety of flavoured custards.

Below is my recipe for soy yoghurt and lemon curd.

Soy Yoghurt with Lemon Curd

2 T Cornflour
1 1/2 T Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 C Soy Milk
Juice of 1 lemon
2 T lemon Curd plus extra for topping

Combine cornflour, sugar, salt and 1/4 cup of the soy milk in a saucepan and whisk to combine. Add remaining milk and bring to the boil, whisking the entire time. Once mixture has thickened, take off the heat and strain. Add lemon juice and lemon curd and stir to combine. Pour into containers and add a dollop of lemon curd on top and swirl with the end of a spoon.

I have also made a chocolate version with chocolate soy milk and I might try a vanilla one with honey on top...

I will update my blog with more recipes using soy milk as I discover them - next will be Vanilla Scones!!

Does anyone have any other cool soy recipes I can try??

Fruit Cake - Berry Style!

Today I'm making a fruit cake for my cake decorating class. Next week we are going over icing the cake, then we have to make a floral arrangement to place on top. Exciting!!

I'm not a huge fan of fruit cake, so I have decided to use mainly sultanas and raisins, with the addition of a dried berry mix and orange flavoured cranberries. I figure this will work as the recipe calls for raspberry, lemon, almond, brandy and rum essence...should be a nice combination!

On another note, I will be reviewing a couple of shows in The Otago Arts Festival for the Theatreview website. See the blurb on 2010 and Back of The Bus here and here. I will add a link to my reviews once they are posted.

Cake Decorating Update!

Phew! I've finally finished the 1st term of my cake decorating classes. I've got 2 weeks off, where I have to make a fruit cake in preparation for next term. Here are some photos of the flowers I have learnt to make this term - Roses, carnations, open roses, daisies and filler flowers. Let me know what you think!

My Personal Style

My Personal Style by kcduey featuring J Brand jeans

AUSTIQUE SILK JERSEY MAXI DRESS PURPLE SILK 906, 260 GBP
Ruffle-skirt taffeta dress, $417
Sequenced Stole Cardigan, 25 GBP
Black long line t-shirt, 5.50 GBP
Dark blue georgette shirt, 25 GBP
Stella McCartney Sequined fine-mesh cardigan, $1,395
Cashmere-blend jacket, $848
J BRAND 62213 GREY COTTON / SPANDEX 12 IN SILVER LAKE, 126 GBP
Report Signature Malin Pump - Black, $133
High-Top Metallic Sneakers, $52
Coconuts Night Life Flats, $40
Juicy Couture Bow Pave Studs, $40
URBAN DECAY DELUXE EYESHADOW - FISHNET (1.5g), 11 GBP

Fashion and style were two things I only really became aware of during my final year of study. I have some great, fashionable friends who helped me realise style is a personal thing and you can't just follow the herd.

Of course it took me a lot of bad purchases and unflattering choices to realise this...

About a year ago I began investigating how to discover my personal style. I found this article on College Fashion about a personal uniform and began thinking about my favourite pieces in my wardrobe and what I wear most often. Another blog that helped me alot was Charade and her amazing Dream Style Series. Just the exercise of taking everything out of my wardrobe and realising what I had in there was a revelation!

A big step in finding my personal style was researching what looked good on me. I took a look at this article on College Fashion and found i was a "Deep Autumn" I discovered some colours I had never considered wearing before! I also found being more critical in the changing room helped - taking in a lot of items and if something didn't look right learning to walk away...

I also started a "Style Scrapbook" - a notebook where I stick pictures from magazines that inspire me. I include pictures of clothing that I like, but also outfits put together by the magazines to help me sort out my daily outfits. I find Instyle, Madison and British Glamour are great for outfit inspiration - I love finding new ways to wear the clothes I already own!

Elements of my personal style I try to incorporate into my outfits include:

• Black. It's my base colour - I like it better with a bit of sparkle though!

• Bows - I have a pair of bow earrings I wear to work almost every day...

• Silver - I own a few pairs of silver shoes and wear them often with jeans and black pants

• Purple or cobalt blue - I find both these colours compliment my hair, skin and eyes and I always get comments when wearing them.

• Puff/Bubble hem skirts - I have a favourite grey one in a heavy fabric perfect for winter.

• Metallic and sparkles/sequins - Something I'm always trying to find more of!!

• One off, vintage pieces - I love owning something nobody I know has.

• Studs - Sandals, tops, earrings...
  

It's amazing what you discover when you begin analysing what you really like when it comes to fashion - it helps you find your own image and you feel comfortable in your own skin. I would highly recommend reading the above articles if you are trying to find your own personal style.

Roses are...Purple?

Our first project for cake decorating classes - roses!! They were so much fun to make - I have made about 10 as we will be making a flower topper with them soon. These began as white and were then dusted with a lilac colour.

Next week we are making carnations so I will post some photo's of them soon.