Same Old Story.

Ahh it's that time of year again. Along with New Year's Eve, I genuinely dread Valentine's Day. I try to make myself feel positive about it every year, but there is no escaping the loneliness. Sob sob. Yet again, I am single this year - I've just come to accept that - and so won't be receiving any cards, kisses or fine dining. Instead I'll have a nice hot shower, put on clean pj's and crack open a bottle of wine - I'll just love me instead.

Fully what I expect to look like tonight

That's enough of my Valentine's sob story - you've heard it all before anyway - so I thought I'd just share with you some stunning vintage Valentine's beauties instead.

Vintage Vegetarianism.

Frequent and long standing readers of this 'ere ramblings might remember that last year I gave up meat for lent. Well, I've done the same again this year. It's day one, I'm ill and there is left over chicken pizza in the fridge - it's torture! Anyway, onto the purpose of this post...

I've decided to do a bit more research into vegetarianism this year, and try to expand my food palette from veggie sausages (they are delicious though) and bland risottos. With a little tap into Google I've discovered a whole world of vintage vegetarian recipes! The best seem to come from the website called 'Vintage Recipes' (Imaginative, I know) although some digging has revealed quite a few have meat in, naughty naughty! They date from 1672 (how to boil samphire, and how to fry pompion - whatever that is!) to the 1920s. A lot of these recipes appear to be just how to prepare and cook vegetables, hardly enough for an entire meal! I will attempt to recreate some of them though, and share with you my successes - or failures!

Glancing down the list these seem to be my favourites:

Brighton Stew (1892) - a haricot bean based stew, yum yum yum!

Croquettes of Salsify and Celeriac (1898) - Although apparently I need a fire for this, gas hob will probably do!

Flan of Vegetables (no date) - This sounds like a good one hot for dinner and then cold for lunch

German Lentil Curry (1915) - Sounds like a dhal curry to me, not sure if I have to use German lentils (what are they?), so might substitute for chickpeas instead.

Legume Loaf (1918) - This is from the book 'Foods That Will Win The War & How To Cook Them' and sounds like a nice, nutty bread.

Minestra (1915) - Vegetabley, ricey dish mmm

Nut and Pepper Croquettes (1920) - I'm sensing a croquettey kinda Lent

Savoury Pie (1915) - Another beany, eggy recipe

I managed it last year, I'm sure I'll do it this year! What are you giving up/taking up for Lent? Do you have any favourite vegetarian dishes?

The Liebster Awards

Good day folks! Yesterday I was nominated to partake in the Liebster Awards by the laavely Ria over at Wishing For Chanel. The point of the awards is to get to know your fellow bloggers through passing on questions from blog to blog - always fun! It's open to any sort of blog with less than 300 followers, and is personal from post to post. I'll give you eleven random facts about me, then answer eleven questions from Ria, and finally give eleven questions for my  eleven nominees (phew! That's a lot of elevens!)

Here we go...

11 Random Facts:

I have no idea what my natural hair colour is (I think it's probably some kind of dirty blonde...)

I'd love to own a bar (I've already named it - it's called Atomic and it's all very Mad Men/The Hour)

I've never had a driving lesson, and don't even own a provisional license

I love vampires (just not the Cullens)

I have 3' long legs

I will always love Josh Hartnett (sorry future husband...)

If I could be any supernatural beast I'd be a centaur

My measurements are 40/31/40

I have loved history ever since I could remember.

I considered a career in the RAF before deciding to go to university to study archaeology

I have a phobia of slugs and snails (not the best thing to have when they infest your kitchen)

11 Questions from Ria:

Snow or Sunshine?

Sunshine, although only if I have lots of sunscreen on - it's taken for 4 years to get my skin to my desired hue!

If you could leave on a jet plane and fly anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

Paris, without a doubt! It's my favourite city of all time, and is perfect at any time of year. Just plonk me in a cafe in Montmartre and let me watch the world go by. 

Favourite beauty/make up product of the moment?

MAC lip liner in Night Moth

If you could sing like anyone in the world, who would it be & why?

Billie Holiday - it's just so beautiful and mournful

Last movie you watched?

Literally just finished watching Moulin Rouge 

Recommend me a book! ;) 

Camomile Lawn - Mary Wesley

Spring/Summer trend you're looking forward to wearing?

Hmm...I don't really follow trends but I'm hoping to wear lots more 1950s (or 1950s style) house dresses - I got a beautiful one last year and I can't wait to wear it.

When I was a kid I wanted to be....?

I went through a long phase of wanting to be a vet, but then I swapped to an RAF engineer, and settled on archaeologist when I was 15.

Instagram? Yay or Nay?

Yay! Find my face at roxieroulette

Name an attractive celebrity! Go!

Damien Molony

What's your top blogging tip?

Write about what you truly like. Your readers want to know what you like and what you think, otherwise they wouldn't be following you!

11 Nominees from Moi

Leah Loverich

Demi of Dots Divine

Eclectic Ephema

Good Morning Beautiful

In With The Old, Out With The New

My Last Dollar Dress

Scarlett Daggers

You Make Me Blush

Lady K Loves

40s Modern Hepcat

Nothing But Bettina

11 Questions from Moi

1. What is your favourite piece of clothing you have ever owned?

2. If you could be a fly on the wall for any event in history, what would that be?

3. Guilty pleasure, food wise?

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

5. Why did you start your blog?

6. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would that be?

7. What was your favourite television show as a child?

8. I say red, you say...?

9. Recommend me a blog to follow

10. What is your favourite scent in the whole entire world?

11. Would you rather have lollipops for fingers, or bread sticks for arms?

Go on...give it a go!

Vogue #3

And so we conclude this series with the third and final part to my Madonna/Vogue series. I've had to guess a few - I take it Madge meant Lauren Bacall, Katherine Herpburn and Lana Turner...I hope you've enjoyed it!

They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katherine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you

Rita Hayworth (originally Margarita Cansino) is probably my favourite screen icon. I once got told I looked like her - I wish!

Lauren Bacall - What a sultry lady

Katherine Hepburn - Cheekbones, cheekbones, cheekbones!

Lana Turner - I love the casualness of this photo

Bette Davis - personally she is the epitome of 1930s style for me

(Well that was a very lady heavy entry...)

Viva Las Wedding

Warning: This blog will contain lots and lots and lots of photos!

Yesterday the Cruse clan gathered for the wedding of Wes Cruse and Gilly Small. What a lovely day it was! By the title of this post you may sense that this wedding had a sort of theme: Elvis. Well, not really, but there was a touch of the King there. What did you expect from a family of rockabillies and bellas?

The ceremony was short and sweet in a lovely coaching inn in Romsey, Hampshire. The bride wore a 60s style dress with a lace overlay, accompanied by two beautiful bridesmaids, my cousins Ellie and Lottie.

Lots and lots of photos were taken outside - t'was a bit chilly. It was nice to have the whole family together for snaps as it's a rare thing, what with me being an honorary northerner now, and just as nice to see family friends I haven't seen in well over a year.

Mmm the food. My poor student belly wasn't used to such luxury! Duck followed by beef Wellington with sticky toffee pudding to finish - all washed down with lots of red wine. Divine! As usual, the meal was followed by the speeches; it was during this time that my nan found out she was the MILF of Merry Oak Boys School - Donna Summer will never be the same again...

There was lots and lots of dancing (with equally lots and lots of drinking) well into the night, thanks to Mick Mears spinning some old records for us all.

And if you were wondering what I was wearing it was a home made dress (by my mama) from a 1947 pattern, made of modern silk.

All in all a wonderful day to stay in the memory banks for a long time!