Tuesday 18th February: Tomato Salad

A French lesson in Year 11 enlightened me to the delights of French tomato salad. To be honest, I am not entirely sure how French this recipe is, other than e fact that I had it in a French lesson, but at every chance I get I am eating this.

In a bowl or pot put oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper to your own tastes and mix/stir. Thinly slice a tomato and slice a multiseeded French stick into rings. Place one piece of tomTo on each piece of bread and pour over the dressing. Déliceux 😍

Sunday 23rd February: Pizza Express

Pizza Hut and Fominoes can get a bit tiring after a while, so the other day my friends and I went to Pizza Express. Why? Why?

The service was really bad, the portions were especially small for their price, and their price was steep. I think I will stick to somewhere that I can afford next time. 

Saturday 22nd February: Busker

In Trafalgar Square on Wednesday I walked past the most incredible busker playing his soul out outside the National Portrait Gallery. He was playing a Spanish guitar in a beautiful tune with a repeating melody, and then he began to sing in a foreign language. It was so beautiful, and I was in awe.

It did unfortunately make me sad because of the lack of recognition that he was getting. His music is ignored and it shouldn't have been. I would have bought his album, and the next time I go into London I will return to that spot to see if he is playing again.

Friday 21st February: Mac

After lusting over endless amounts of Mac makeup products for years, I decided that in 2013 I would buy a Mac lipstick, as a New Years resolution. That year went by and I still had not bought one. So when I finally got to go into a Mac store in Covent Garden I purchased, oh yeah I did. 

I bought Naked Lunch eyeshadow and Lovelorn lipstick, purchases that my face appreciates significantly more than my bank balance does. 

Monday 17th February: Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson, why do you confuse me so?

I won't even start with the fact that Lord is in the middle of his name, but even my English teacher agrees that your poetry is hard work to get through. To be honest, some of the poetry isn't that bad, I love The Lady of Shalott, but I think everything is a bit long. Short and sweet Tennyson, remember that.

Saturday 15th February: White Nail Polish

If you'd have asked me two years ago about white nail varnish I would have said it was no different to tipex. However, nowadays I am all for it. The monochrome look is always in style, just watch five minutes of the Kardashians for goodness sake, and as my nails are much longer now, I feel that I can pull of the white polish look without looking like a 10 year old that was bored in their lesson. 

Opaque white is edgy and more of a statement than a bold colour, and a more transparent White is dainty and makes your fingers look enlongated and pretty. This colour is a definite must for me.

Friday 14th February: A Day of Love

Saint Valentine was a priest in Roman times under the rule of Claudius. Claudius had decided that in order to create a stronger army with more men, he needed to impose a ban on marriage. The factor that had been preventing men from signing up to the army had been them not wanting to leave their wives and families, therefore the ban on marriage would be successful in creating a bigger army. 

Many people thought that the new rule was cruel and unnecessary, including St Valentine. One of his favourite activitiesw as to marry couples, an activity which he continued to do even when the ban was enforced. He performed hundreds of ceromanies in secret, until one night, he was caught. 

Valentine was thrown in jail and sentenced to death, but legend has it that young people. Ame to visit him and threw flowers and notes up to his window. 

They wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love.

St Valentine talked to the daughter of the prison guard who helped to keep up his spirits. On the day of Valentine's death he left a note to his new friend, thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it 'love from your Valentine.'

That note started the custom of sharing messages of love on Valentine's Day, February 14th, the day that he died. People think about love and friendship and they laugh at the way that Emporer Claudius thought he could stop love, but love cannot be defeated.