The English Mademoiselle Diaries

OMG The Daily Mail said something correct.

So I finally got around to reading one of last years most hyped up and talked about books. Having heard so many good reviews of both the book and the follow up film I decided to see what all the fuss was about and get my head well and truly stuck in to it. I can now say the hype was worth it.

From the very start I was hooked on the uncertainty of who was in the wrong and who I should favour in the situation. Nick the compulsive liar when faced with the police, or the "amazing" Amy who at first glance is everything the 'American Dream' wants to be. I am one of those people who if given half a chance will read a book above anything else, but I honestly did not want to put this down (I was reading while walking through a train station for crying outloud!)

As I have mentioned in a previous post literature can be used to hold a mirror up to society (a social barometer if you will). If this is the case Gone Girl shows us how easily situations, specifically court cases can be manipulated by the media and the outcome changed.

If you haven't read this book do it immediately.

XO, Miriam

I have been testing out more recipes from the book I mentioned in last week's baking post, this time was a carrot cake, I changed which spices I used to suit my own tastes, cinnamon is key in this cake.

What You Will Need For The Cake:
- 3 cups of grated carrot
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup plain flour
- 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2tsp cinnamon
- 1/2tsp ginger

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease and line a 20cm cake tin.
2. Beat together the eggs and the sugar until thick and pale.
3. Mix in the oil then the grated carrot.
4. Sift the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda until well combined and with no lumps of flour.
5. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for and hour.

XO, Miriam

//Blazer - Old School One//Crop Top - Sisters//Dress - River Island//Tights - TU//Brogues - Clarkes//

Over the last few weeks I have been loving the more girly items in my wardrobe, so I brought out this dress to layer up with. But by far my favourite piece in this outfit it the crop top which I nabbed from my sisters wardrobe because it is so darn cute. I mean "boys in books are just better" I dare you to disagree! Naturally I added my brogues and a black blazer adorned with badges.

XO, Miriam

Yes the non matching covers annoys me as much as the next person (read: I want to by the actual cover). However given I had to order that book in to get my hands on it I wasn't complaining. I have also decided to review these as a group because I can no longer distinguish what happens in each book as I have a long narrative in my head.I reviewed the first two books in the series here and here.

Since Autumn last year I haven't stopped reading these books (excluding all books for my degree) since starting to read these books I didn't want to put them down, because each chapter moves around between the characters even if you don't like on character or they are being particularly boring - a rare occurrence - keep reading and you will find yourself half way across Westeros or in Slavers Bay in a matter of pages. I wish I could talk more about the books but I wouldn't give away the story to you. Unlike the majority of readers of this series I didn't find "A Feast for Crows" even a little bit boring. I enjoyed how the last three books run over the same time period and only move on timewise when the characters from "A Feast for Crows" start appearing again during the current last book.

The series has ended on a few cliffhangers so I would appreciate it if George R.R. Martin would release Winds of Winter, the sneak peak wasn't enough!

XO, Miriam

Besides reading a lot of books that will be shortly reviewed on this little space on the internet I have begun to bake again. Instead of trying something new I went back to a recipe book I was given as a child by my Aunt who just so happens to live in New Zealand (yes I want to go back to NZ), so most of the measurements are in cups. I am yet to find a recipe in this rather small book that doesn't either taste amazing or look amazing. This particular one has been used countless times for Birthday cakes as well as random baking days over the years and will continue to be used.

For the cake you will need:
- 125g of butter
- 2 cups of flour
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2tsp baking powder
- 2tsp vanilla essence

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and line and grease a 20cm cake tin.
2. Melt the butter and milk together in a pan, then leave to cool for 10 minutes.
3. Sift the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder into a bowl. Stir in sugar.
4. Whisk essence and eggs into cooled butter mixture, and pout the mixture over the flour mix.
5. Mix the ingredients lightly until well combined and lump free.
6. Transfer the mixture to the tin. Bake for 45 minutes and leave to cool.

I then made some basic chocolate butter icing with butter, icing sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla essence, and a little bit of milk. I don't know exact measurements.

XO, Miriam

//Jumper - Topshop//Vest - Hollister//Jeans - Hollister//Shoes - Converse//

I am absolutely in love with this slouchy roll neck jumper it is perfect for any ocasion I can definitely see me dressing it up for meals out and wearing it with loungewear. Recently I have been rediscovering all my basic pieces that are completely versatile, I have found that by wearing one of these pieces with anything else in my wardrobe makes me look so much more put together. I have worn these jeans endlessly since I got them last year, yep even more than my plain jeans. If you live somewhere colder wear tights underneath for extra warmth.

XO, Miriam

Having thoroughly enjoyed A Game of Thrones (reviewed here) I went on to read the rest of the series and now anticipate the forthcoming books. However due to university commitments and generally being an English major I found it quite hard to review books while wirting essays about Shakespeare and war poets. So here they all are for the next few weeks. Starting with A Clash of Kings.

The book starts with Westeros in civil war, in Kings Landing there is boy King Joff, in the North Robb Stark has been named King of the North and is battling Jaimie and Tywin Lannitster, all while Stannis and Renly Baratheon argue about who has the stronger claim to the iron throne. And by the end of the book you guessed it more people have died in battle, others have been assumed dead by other characters and even more are being used as pieces in by the players in the game of thrones.

Did I mention that Daenerys has dragons, well as J kindly pointed out Wyvens in the accompanying television series. Dragons are dragons, so does it really matter? I honestly cannot review this book fully without giving away key plot points and spoilers to those who haven't read it yet, but as always George R.R. Martin has captured my imagination and emotions as I immersed myself into the world of A Song of Ice and Fire.

If you like The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings or the Game of Thrones TV series get reading, the detail is incredible and I cannot get enough of these books.

XO, Miriam