Sunday Baking - The most moist delicious foodgasm brownies you will ever bake

If you only ever make one brownie recipe - make this the one

I adapted these from a Tyler Florence recipe here - his had liqueur and a serious load of sugar in them so I removed HALF the sugar (200 grams) and replaced the liqueur with ground almonds.

Ingredients:

227g butter                          
226g Chocolate
80g Ground Almonds
10g Cornflour                                  Replacing a small amount of the flour with cornflour
70g All purpose Flour                      gives you a lighter texture.
220g Brown Sugar
1T Golden Syrup

Method:

Melt Together butter and chocolate.  Cool.  Sift dry ingredients together.  Beat eggs and sugar together.  Pour choc on eggs and whisk to combine.  Gradually stir in dry ingredients. Pour into a lined 9" x 9" lined pan.  Sprinkle on some chocolate drops if you wish.  Bake at 160 Celsius for 45-50 mins.  These are so FUDGY - beware - one may not be enough - There really is no way to ilustrate to you how Mother-effin good these are! Make some!

Happy baking peeps.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Casual Friday - The Tale of how a 'little look around town' turned into a full on Shopping Spree.

So we've moved to a new city: Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty (I'm not kidding, that's the name of the province, we also have a poverty bay) not being familiar with the shops I held off on my normal shopping sojourns. I am somewhat of a solo shopper as I like to fondle and scrutinize to such an extent as to make any companions suicidal.

That's fine, I tend to buy odd things when I have company - does anyone else do that?
Buy weird things around your friends?

When I left the house I had no intention of going this crazy

but I guess that's what shopping deprivation will do to you!

♥ First Stop: Glassons.

Paisley Jacket, Monochrome skirt and some plain ol' black skinnies.

This Skirt is so cool - has a zip all the way up the front and it's Monochrome.

Biker Style Jacket in Colorful Paisley!

Neon belts - sweet

♥ Next Stop: Pagani

 Monochrome geometric prints, lace and bling

Lace was all over the catwalks for Spring Summer 2014

This top is a satiny material with leather shoulder detail - so now.

 ♥ And then: JustJeans

Don't be fooled by the name - they sell a lot more than jeans!

I'm addicted to shirts at the moment - I've bought 5 in a few months :-/

Bead detail on the pocket and collar - plus it's black and white #monochrome and sheer

 ♥ Quick Look in: Farmers (NZ's version of Selfridges)

Couldn't decide if I needed these heels - so I took a pic for posterity,
turns out I don't love them, even if they're only $20 so I left with nothing #phew

I did however purchase these cute flats with belt detail from Hannah's.

♥ I then went to Music Works and bought replacement strings for my Bass... 
but yall don't need to see that ;-)

♥ Lastly: Posti+

                     They sell these Klean Kolor nailpolishes: Neon yellow, purple and orange
                              (they've been around longer than Kardashian Krap)
              They're really good!!  And only 2 for $8!!  I am nothing if not a bargain hunter.

 Both necklaces I bought on this particular trip ended up a DIY project involving nail polish
This blue necklace is formally bo-ring:

 But not anymore - Tutorial Here

This ones my FAV - see how I did it here

Actually I spoiled the DIY surprise already here with my Instagraming

Have you guys been shopping lately?

Also! I've been thinking about doing some outfit posts
what do you guys prefer/use - Chictopia, Pose, Fashiolista?

Tell me in the comments if you use any of these :-D

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Shoesday Oct.01.13 - Just Cavalli, L'Wren Scott, Marni, Matthew Williamson, Missoni, Prada... the shoegasm continues

Shoesday Tuesday

We're still kicking round Spring Summer 2014 Fashion weeks for "shoespiration"

Let me know your favs in the comments below...

Pringle of Scotland - they do divine knits and SHOES! #cobalt

Flat shoes!!?  What is this? Love Matthew Williamson

 Just Cavalli - love the print/color combos of these sandals

 Just Cavalli - geometric and color clashing.

 L'Wren Scott - saucy! Red and Black

 L'Wren Scott - Mick Jagger's girl

 Marni - Jandal Heel hybrid = quite fugly >:/

 Missoni - these are reminiscent of some Primark heels that were kicking around this Spring...

 Missoni - HOLOGRAM!!  Check it.

 No.21 - LOVE THESE

 No.21 - These would make a nice DIY methinks - if you can't wait 6 months!

 Peter Pilotto - not only does he do insane prints... but shoes as well!

 Peter Pilotto - the detail on the heel is reminiscent of some Kathryn Wilsons!

 Ports 1961 - these coincidentally have a 60's vibe! Love the white.

 Prada - LOVE THESE!  Jewels, interesting shape, peep toe = got it all!

What has been your highlight of the last months fashion weeks?

The streetstyle? A color palette? A specific designer/show?

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Sunday Baking - Spice Crisps

These are a MASSIVE #foodgasm - crisp, spicy, not too sweet.  Hmm, might go have one now...

Ingredients:

170gm Butter (softened)

200gm sugar (white sugar will give you the crispest result)

1tsp Vanilla Essence

1 Egg

100gms Treacle (I didn't have any Treacle so substituted with golden syrup)

280 gms Flour

2tsp Baking Soda

1/2tsp Salt

1tsp Cinamon

3/4tsp Ground Ginger

1/2tsp Ground Cloves

200gms Sugar (extra for dusting)

Method:

Cream Butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, add the egg, vanilla and treacle and beat well.

Add the sifted dry ingredients and mix until a smooth dough is formed.

Scrape the dough into a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to firm it up.

Pre-heat the oven to 190 Celsius, line two trays with baking powder.

Put the extra sugar into a shallow plate.

Take teaspoonfuls of the dough and set them out on the bench.  Once dough is all divided up roll into balls and then roll in the sugar  before placing them in rows on baking sheets - give these suckers plenty of room. Don't flatten them at all - they will do that in the oven.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.  When done, the biscuits will have spread and cracked, and they will smell cooked and delicious.  Don't let them brown too much.

I found these biscuits took over night storage to crispen up - so don't be disappointed if they're soft after baking, they'll get there.  These biscuits are delicious!  I would definitely recommend you give them a go - they would make excellent holiday gifts with their gingery spiciness!

This recipe was taken from the excellent tome of classic New Zealand recipes

by Alexa Johnston: Ladies, a Plate.

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Necklace DIY tutorial - How to transform a so so necklace into a POPPING one

Who ♥'s DIY?

While out terrorizing the shops I came across these necklaces,

underwhelming as they are I almost didn't purchase them...

But then I remembered that old trick that never fails me...

 Nail polish + boring necklace = KICKASS NECKLACE

Check out some of my previous Exploits

Bubble necklace - Tutorial Here - previously black, NOW GREEN OMBRE!

Neon Floral Extravanganza - Post here- Formally a washed out pink, NOW NEON.

And now to the method:

 Apply a few coats of white nail polish if the stones are dark (as mine are)

As I demonstrate here to great effect.

 Just planning what colors go where.

Once again - whiting out the stones.

I've left some blue to go with the other colors.

Went with a fetching neon theme - I like my Adornment LOUD.

And the final reveal...

#drumroll

Isn't it #totesamaze?

I think both these pieces will only need a crisp white shirt to really sing.

Actually I'm thinking about pairing the red necklace with a gold top I have...

What do you guys think?

Have I convinced you all to try it for yourself?  And have you ever tried it?

♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.

Shoesday - September 24th

Manolo Blahnik

Last week for Shoesday we looked at some of the shoes coming out of various fashion weeks for Spring Summer 2014... you guys were keen as mustard so this week we're going to look at some more!

        I'm doing it in alphabetical order as I don;t want to be seen as playing favorites
                   plus there are a BUTTLOAD of beautiful shoes, how to categorize?

Alberta Ferretti - totes elegant!

Antonio Berardi - lovin the color clash

Bottega Veneta - simple yet saucy

Christopher Kane - unusual...

Christopher Kane - holographic!!!

Dolce & Gabanna - Embellishment

Dsquared2 - I have some sandals similar to this. with the beads on the front..

LOVE THESE - Green

Ermano Scervino - these are so awesome #ombre

Fendi - Red ombre plastic? Count me in.

Fendi - Plastic + monochrome = swoon

Fendi - Blue plastic - whats NOT to love?

Gucci - saucy snake sandals

Gucci - Suede and strappy.

Jil Sander - I love these... and I can't tell why?

      That'll do for this week, next Shoesday we will have a look at some more.  If you simply

    can't wait head on over to Elle.co.uk for all of the shoes (including the ugly ones I left out)

                                       Are there any standouts in here for you guys?

                               Any particular styles your'e looking forward to rocking?

                                                         ♥ Paula Shoe Fiend.