NONI'S KITCHEN// Blonde Brownies

I'd never even heard of blonde brownies until I stumbled upon this recipe. They're lovely and goey, just they way I love my brownies. For those of you, who like me were unawares, blonde brownies are just brownies without the need for chocolate. I know I know, you're thinking what is even the point, but trust me, they're good. I decided to add some chocolate chips as I had some lying around anyway. Next time I shall definitely also add some nuts, maybe walnuts or macadamias (my weakness).

Ingredients:

125g (1 cup) sifted plain flour

225g (1 cup) packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 tsp salt

75g (1/3 cup) butter, melted

1 egg, beaten

1 tbsp vanilla extract

110 (2/3 cup) milk chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.

Sift the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt (and nuts and chocolate chips) into a bowl, mix well and set aside.
In another bowl mix the brown sugar and melted butter, allow to cool, then add the vanilla extract and beaten egg and mix well.
Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined. Spread into prepared tin and bake for 20 to 20 minutes. 

Enjoy! Noni xx

Original Recipe from Allrecipies.com

'Dem shorts again

URBANOUTFITTERS Crop Top//JAEGER Blazer//TOPSHOP Shorts//ZARA Boots

So here's a quick OOTD for you.

This beaut heat wave called for shorts, and as I am so madly in love with these shorts I had to rock them again.

I paired them with my new booties again but this time a crop, I feel rather naked with just a crop top on so I chucked on this blousey blazer from mothers wardrobe.

Hope you're all enjoying the sun! 

Noni xx

REFLECTIONS//Confidence

Confidence is sexy.
I live by this mantra.
I wish for everyone to live by this because one of the greatest feelings you can have is to feel and believe that you are sexy and beautiful.
Once you start to believe this about yourself, it'll start to show, you'll be glowing and radiant and happy.
This confidence will shine through, it'll shine through in the way you walk, the way you carry yourself, the way you communicate with others and the way you smile and laugh. People will notice and appreciate this, and in turn will reaffirm this new found feeling you have.
Be confident in the skin you're in. Be confident in the body you own. Be happy with the person you are. Never apologise for loving who you are despite your flaws.
We are responsible for our own happiness, and to be happy we must be happy with all of ourselves, we must love our bodies.
Surround yourself with positive, supportive and confident people. Respect yourself by filling your mind body and spirit with the good.
Learn to love your body. Learn to love yourself. Be happy.

Feeling Blue

I've had this skirt in my wardrobe for a while now but haven't been quite able to style it (in a hurry as is always necessary), but I had so many visions, as one does, when I bought it so I stared at my wardrobe hard to come up with a couple of ways of wearing it:

For that summer bbq/garden party?

H&M Top//TOPSHOP Skirt//CLARKS Sandals

A fancy evening of dinner and drinks? (these shoes aren't made for dancing gals, sad I know)

H&M Top//TOPSHOP Skirt and Shoes

I be loving me some colour, but have been neglecting it of late, but i'm feeling back in the full spectrum of things!

Noni xx

Zara makes everything better

H&M Top//Topshop Shorts//Ted Baker Bag (Thrifted)//Zara Boots

I really haven't been feeling my wardrobe lately, these last few days I've just struggled to find things that I want to wear, despite clearing it out last month (filling 5 bin bags!). A sad combination of feeling like I've worn everything a million times, and nothing in there bringing me joy (naturally I look for this in my clothes). Thankfully, it was just my birthday the other day and two of my laaavely friends who know me all too well got me a couple of Zara vouchers just in time for the summer sale so I trooped down to my wardrobe's HQ and was most definitely not disappointed, naturally. After trying on nearly the entire store (I went to the changing rooms three times, each time with more than I was allowed to), I decided to snag these beautiful boots.

I have been eyeing up these beauties since what feels like forever but just wasn't ready to part with £100 on one item (being a stingy student and all), but the Gods were looking down upon me and I got them for a pleasant £30. 

I guess sometimes you just need a little injection of something new to see your wardrobe in a whole new light?

I do however still feel that I am changing my style ATM, but alas, pay day is on its way, and I have many many many items ready in shopping bags for that magical day so watch out for lots of new fashion posts. 

Hope your holidays are going swimmingly :)

Noni xx

My Take on Carbonara

So beside fashion and beauty, my first and probably most loved passion is cooking. From around age 8 I used to hover round the kitchen begging my mum to let me help her and it eventually paid off as I am now a reasonably good cook. I thought it might be nice to share some of my favourite meals and recipes, so here's the carbonara-esque meal I made yesterday that went down a treat: