Have You Ever Seen Such an Inviting Dystopian, Nuclear, Retro-Future?

I love Steven Quinn's collages. Stark landscapes and vintage humans.  

Steven has also designed a range of wall clocks, called Time Flies, which are available via his website.

The Wolf of Wall Street- In the Pink

 Marks and Spencer's have some very smart, pink, feature accessories for business wear this spring. 

Braces-  £12.50

Cable knit- £29.50

Tie- £19.50

Is January EVER Going to End? Lidl Bargains to Tide You Over to Pay Day.

Seriously, January? Christmas was about twelve weeks ago and it's STILL JANUARY. Overdrafts are emptying, tinned cans are being used up for dinners like it's the the end of time, takeaways are but a fleeting lustful thought as we tuck into baked potatoes or stew. 

Hopefully your payday is this week, but here are some every day bargains from Lidl which will save you money on your weekly Big Shop, money left over for their equally well priced wines as a farewell-to-January treat. 

The veg is noticeably cheaper, and the same, or better quality than the big chain stores. 

Chocomoons cereal has a special place in my heart as I was addicted to it when I was pregnant with our son. Eat three bowls in a go. An online friend, Nick, decided to do his big shop at Lidl last week after reading my Lidl Deli post. He says he saved around £30 off his bill, and that the big test would come when his two children tried the cereal. They loved it!

The pre-cooked wings and legs are like the packs you get in M&S. Handy if you can't be bothered cooking. Sit with the tv on and a bowl of wings on your lap. Don't forget the kitchen roll for your hands!

These salsa and sour cream pots are identical to Doritos branded ones. The Lidl version of Cheesestrings are nicer than the real ones, for me. 

The fresh meat and fish selection in store is vast. They use local producers, which helps our local farmers.  Both these packs cost £3.59 each. You'll also find some exotic meats, like partridge and veal. Keep an eye on the freezers.

Go forth and save money!

These 15 Cats are LITERALLY Better Dressed than You or I Are.

Images from the yearly United Bamboo cat calendar,  2014 available to buy now. All mini-feline-versions of the collections.

Hard to Find Kids' Party Themes On Sale at Birthday Express

Birthday Express is the US-based site I used to get all the Aquabats party decorations for my son's sixth birthday. They literally have hundreds of party themes based on cartoons, films, sports etc. and right now there are savings to be had. So if you're planning to use them this calendar year, it would be worth placing an order now to take advantage of the bargains.

Cheeky Baby & Parent Merit Badges from Twisted Twee

Takes me back to the Brownie days. £3.50 per adult badge, £6 for a pack of three infant merit badges, here at Twisted Twee.

Ye Olden Times Tardis Print Dress & Other Doctor Who Frocks Hand Made to Order at Polka Dot Polly's Shop.

Polka Dot Polly is a made to measure, online, uk-based dress shop. Polly can whip you up a dress to fit like a glove, with hundreds of fun fabrics to chose from. She also makes skirts, blouses and men's shirts. I'm really taken with this old fashioned fabric with a subtle TARDIS motif running through it.

And if Doctor Who isn't your thing, Polly has hundreds of fabrics to chose from. I'm sure if you sourced the correct amount of fabric of your own choice, she could work out a price for the frock of your dreams too. 

The £14.99 Home Ice-cream Maker that Actually Works! The Chill Factor.

When I was a child I wanted, and finally got, the Mister Frostie Slushie Maker. My parents would have this look of utter misery when I'd ask to use it, as it never really was me using it, it would be them. Twenty minutes of cranking the almost impossible to budge handle, to make half a cup of broken ice. When the Chill Factor arrived with us yesterday for review, Mister Frostie was the first 'person' who sprang to mind. As my son bounced about excitedly deciding which flavour of ice cream to create first, I thought to myself, 'this is Mister Frostie's revenge'.

Nevertheless we stuck the cone in the freezer overnight, and picked up the ingredients we needed to make Oreo Ice cream this morning. All we actually needed was 100ml of cream, and some crushed biscuits. In fact all the recipes suggested in the Chill Factor instructions are two or three ingredients long. That means you know exactly what's going into your home made ice cream, sorbet or frozen yoghurt. No additives, and you can flavour using fresh fruit.

For £14.99 it's a very reasonable price for something that doesn't take up a whole cupboard to store, like a large ice-cream maker, and can help you with healthy eating as you control the ingredients. I love it. I'm freezing it up again as I type, I'm going to make myself some frozen toffee yoghurt to have while I watch tv tonight.

Let me know if you get one yourself, and which recipes you come up with.