Recent Purchases

Thought I'd share some of my recent purchases. I'm probably getting a little too excited for summer with a couple of these, but I refuse to buy any more wintery clothes and I'm on the countdown to summer.

ASOS lips print shirt. I love a print and this is as cute as they come. I missed out on this on ASOS but I picked this up on eBay for $17.

Saltwater sandals - these are sure to be a summer staple. So comfy I can see myself getting a rainbow of colours and matching them to my pedicures. The kids ones are so cute too - if only I had a mini me! 

TOMS Sandela Sunglasses. Not only are they great quality with lots of styles to choose from, but with every pair you buy, TOMS give or restore sight to a person in need. You have to love that!! 

Sanctuary Spa Therapist's Secret Facial Oil. I battle with dry skin in winter, but still get oily patches and the occasional huge red under the skin pimple (you know those really sore ones where you feel like you have a second head/chin). When it comes to skin, you name it, I deal with it. I only bought this last week so I can't claim it's a miracle potion but I've been using 2 drops (morning and night) under my moisturiser and my skin feels softer and brighter and although it's an oil, it's completely non-greasy. Here's hoping it does great things for me.  If you know of any other skin miracles, let me know.

Amaretti Biscuits

I like nothing better than a biscuit and a cup of tea and these chewy amaretti biscuits are up there with my favourites. I use glacé cherries on the top, but you can use blanched almonds if you prefer. I made this batch this morning and they were gone in minutes.

2 large egg whites
250g almond meal
200g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
80g icing sugar mixture
Glacé cherries, halved

Preheat oven to 160°C. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper.

Whisk egg whites with a whisk or fork until foamy. Combine almond meal, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Add egg whites and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Do not over mix as it will toughen the mixture.

Place icing sugar in a shallow bowl or plate. Take tablespoons of the mixture and roll into balls, roll in the icing sugar mixture to lightly coat and place on the trays. Press a glacé cherry into the centre of each biscuits.

Bake for 15 minutes or until cracked and light golden. Allow to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

First Birthday Giveaway

August 1 marks one year of A Little Slice Of. I honestly can't believe:

• I have people regularly reading my blog
• I've clocked up 119,000 page views 
• Some people actually take the time to comment
• That I've kept it up (I know I'm not that regular but I have managed at least one post a week)
• My Instagram pics have featured in the Sunday Herald Sun Style mag (twice!)
• My double braid tutorial was featured on Cupcakes and Cashmere's most recent 'Links I Love'

To celebrate a year and as a thank you for all the support I'm offering one lucky person the chance to win a US$200 NET-A-PORTER Gift Card.

For your chance to win, simply follow me on Bloglovin, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest (links at right) and leave me a comment below letting me know how you're following (you will receive one entry for each type of follow). Entries close at midnight AEST on 31 July and I'll conduct a random generator draw at 7pm (AEST) on 1 August. Winner will be announced immediately after the draw. This giveaway is open internationally. Thanks again and good luck x

Chocolate Hedgehog Slice

Hedgehog Slice is one of those things that takes me straight back to childhood. It was an after school treat if friends came home to play, a party favourite and often something mum would make for the yearly bake sale days in primary school. Remember when parents would bake something for you to take in the next day to sell for 20-50c a slice for a school fundraiser or charity?  Not sure if they still do  bake sales at schools today - I imagine that too many associated 'risks' have ruined all the fun. Anyway, mum still has the same recipe written on a tatty old piece of paper and I have a photocopy of the tatty thing - I don't want to rewrite it as I have so many memories attached to the original.

1 x 250g packet of plain sweet biscuits (Arrowroot, Marie, Scotch Finger), broken into small pieces
½ cup desiccated coconut
175g butter
2/3 cup caster sugar
¼ cup cocoa powder
1 eggs, lightly beaten

Icing
2 cups icing sugar
¼ cup cocoa powder
50g butter, softened
1 tablespoon milk

Lightly grease a 28 x 18cm slice tray (the size really depends on how thick you want your slice). Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 2cm above edge of tray.

Combine biscuits and coconut in a large bowl.

Place butter, sugar, cocoa in a small saucepan and stir over heat until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat to cool slightly. Add the egg and whisk well to combine. Pour chocolate mixture into dry ingredients and mix well.  Press mixture into the prepared ban using the back of a spoon. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes until firm.

To make the icing, mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Spread icing over chilled slice and refrigerate for an hour or overnight.

Cut into pieces and serve. Store chilled in an airtight container.

Purple Haze

Marks & Spencers Jumper | J.Crew Trousers | J.Crew Heels | J.Crew Necklace | Mulberry Bag

I'm not one to shy away from colour and I'm sure people think I've been smoking something when I wear this outfit, but it's one of my favourites and is on serious rotation for work in winter. I've had the J.Crew trousers for over 2 years and they still look brand new, making them one of my better buys. Given how great these have been, I've bought a few of J.Crew's wool cafe capri trousers but I've had to return them as they're just not the same quality - the material is so thin you can see the pockets and they just seem a bit 'off'. I believe I may have lucked out on these ones or perhaps they have changed the material?

I also just realised that 1 August is the blog's first birthday so to celebrate I'm going to have a little giveaway. I just have to figure out what I'll actually be giving away...watch this space.

Style Crush: Natalie Joos

Belgium-born, New York-based fashion consultant Natalie Joos has the best knack for mixing vintage with high end for a uniquely modern look. She's not afraid to mix prints, textures and colours, she has fun with fashion and it never fails. I'm sure you've seen countless pictures of her amazing street style all over the internet but in case you don't know her, here are some pictures.

*Images via Pinterest

DIY Doily Heart Jar Lantern

I've seen different little tea light jars all over Pinterest but this type really caught my eye so I had a go last weekend with a few old glass jars I had laying around. I know what you're thinking - I have too much time on my hands (yes, I probably do!), but to be honest they took about 10 minutes to make. All you need is:

- Old glass jars
- White doilies (I got mine on etsy here)
- Red paper or newspaper hearts (I cut mine from red wrapping paper)
- Twine
- Scissors
- Tea lights

You don't really need instructions: simply place a paper heart on a doily, wrap some twine around the jar a few times and tie to hold in place. Put a tea light inside the jar and away you go.

They look really lovely in all different sizes along a fireplace or as a table centre piece.  Newspaper hearts and brown twine also work really well.