Not Quite Mary Berry...

If you've read my blog before then you'll know I'm quite fond of baking. You may not know that getting a new job and the fact our oven is definitely hotter than it should be all the time. I really should have known better than to try a Mary Berry recipe in our oven because it's sure to disappoint me. However, it was recently both Father's Day and as Victoria Sponge is his favourite I had to try the classic that is Mary Berry's recipe. I was really hoping for something that looked like this...

Mine was rather too brown, a little dry and not quite as perfectly level and looked like this...

Height wise I think I nailed (thin layers never look so appealing) it but I really, really do need to invest in a thermometer for the oven! I had tried my new springform glass bottom cake tins but nobody thought to tell me that the cake sticks to the glass. I thought it didn't, which is why I brought them! Thankfully, my dad is a fan of cream in his Victoria Sponge so that helped cover over the cracks I made. 

Have any of you tried this recipe? Did you go for classic Victoria Sponge, lemon or chocolate? I would love to hear your tips if you have or if you have a better recipe for me to try?

Fake Magazine: The Dreams Issue

You may remember that back in March Fake Issue 4 was released, featuring my article Good as New all about upcycling and independents. Well, the lovely Kerry and Sophie got in touch and asked me to write about dreams for their fifth issue.

I won't lie, I struggled with this. I was going to just write about my own dreams but I find my story so boring I decided to interview as many people as possible. What intrigued me when I did was that all these designers, makers and writers I interviewed lived at home... as do I. How, I thought to myself, is it that all these people that I think are doing amazingly cope with living with their parents? That is one of the things I have always felt makes my own story so boring.

The article deals with the theory of shifting focus and reevaluating what you really want out of life and which dreams are more important. Would you want to live in London, on peanuts, miles from your family and friends with no cash to get home? Or would you stay nearer to the nest where you can experience more, earn more, save lots and work your way to achieving your dreams. Sometimes going leaving when you're ready isn't such a bad thing...

The article features the wonderfully talented John Williamson of No Fit State (formerly Cuppa Tea) who also illustrated the article, Niki Lau of Hero & Cape and Victoria Jackson who is both editor of MWB and blogger extraordinaire over at I Heart Fashion.

The magazine is absolutely gorgeous in it's new A4 size so you should definitely see what else is in this issue and then go and order a copy. It actually came out a few weeks ago but I haven't had time to blog about it until now so make sure you order soon!