What I Wore … 25th April 2014

We have dress down Fridays at work, not that you can really tell I’m not expected to dress up for any of the other days but I took this Friday as an opportunity to wear a shortish dress from New Look I paired it with my oversized blazer from Zara as I wanted pockets and wore tights and my New look Suede boots, I promise I stop wearing these soon! I also chucked on a belt I haven’t worn in ages it has a beaded Aztec pattern around the back, I want to say it’s from Urban Outfitters but I really have no idea.

For hair and makeup I left my hair plain and put on mascara and Rimmel with Kate Moss lipstick which I am loving with the muted colours I’m wearing.

Thanks for Reading xx

Brownie Cupcakes!

I really fancied a chocolate fix and thought the best way to deal with that would be to make some brownies but I had also come across some sweet cupcake cases from Dr Oetker in the supermarket so I came up with the plan for cupcake brownies! I know, I am a total genius you don’t need to say it…

I used a Hummingbird recipe for the brownies from their book which is pretty much the only bakery book I have bought because I am a massive BBC Good Food fan as you may have been able to tell? I also added in some orange zest and chocolate chips which pretty much melted instantly so they were a bit pointless but the white chocolate added a nice swirl on some. The recipe was really easy to follow and quick to do, it made 24 cupcakes and I cooked them for 20 minutes.

For the frosting I kept with the orange theme and added orange zest and juice to plain vanilla butter icing and did a piped splodge on top of each cupcake. I then garnished them with a piece of dried orange from my bag of mixed dried fruit.

The brownies only came out of their cases cleanly once they had thoroughly cooled so I would suggest making them the day before they need serving and with it making 24 its fine if a couple going missing, the chef should always get to eat a bake good warm out the oven!

Loved these brownies, the recipe book and getting to do some quick and easy piping so this is something I will definitely repeat in the future.

Let me know if you give it a go!

Thanks for Reading xx

All my ingredients laid out! Getting started!!

Dr Oetker cupcake cases

Melting butter and chocolate in a Bain marie

Adding my orange zest to get chocolate and orange brownies

What the mixture looks like after adding sugar

Action flour shot!

You can see how smooth its gotten this is the last egg!

Chocolate chips!!!!

Finished batter

It easily made 24 cupcakes

Where the white chocolate has melted and swirled 

Adding a little zest into the butter icing

Halfway through mixing in my icing sugar

Adding orange juice to get the icing light

Just out the oven

Piping ready!

Chef share with some whipped cream because they were too hot for icing

All Done!

Run Run Running!!!

I have finally forced myself to go running on my own! I have been saying for weeks that I will go for a run when I’m at mine because I still live at home and a couple of years ago my parents got a treadmill because of my dads cholesterol and he was pretty much the only one who used it but last night I got myself on there plugged my headphones in and tried to find some good running music, a bit tricky, and got moving!

I have learnt one thing from the experience and that is to never ever eat a whole dinner and then run an hour later I had a stitch the whole time! It was not cool! But it did show me that I can preserve not matter how hard and hopeless it feels at the start. I managed 20 minutes running after a 5 minutes quick walking warm up and then I rewarded myself with a long hot shower! Well done me!

Anyone else lack a bit of motivation when it comes to running?

Thanks for Reading xx

What I Wore … 24th April 2014

I felt like being a bit smarter at work today than yesterday so I’ve put on my grey tube skirt that my mum made for me, she stitched the ends of a piece of fabric together and sowed on some elastic at the top, so easy for her I would have made it look a mess! But its pretty cold in our office so I had to pair it with a jumper and I maybe shouldn’t have gone so baggy if I wanted to keep up the smart look I put on my peach COS jumper with an Asos high neck vest underneath, my new New Look boots and my Pull and Bear necklace.

For hair and makeup I washed my hair last night so just brushed it this morning and put on mascara. Done!

Thanks for Reading xx

Sunday Weights

A quick squat update and question. So I am getting less laughs and quizzical looks when I do squats, still without weights, I stick my arms out in front to help with the balance and I push my knees forward first and then bend as if I’m sitting down and that is my current squat technique BUT it hurts my shins and lower leg more than it does my bum and thighs is that normal? The only thing that feels like it has been worked out the next day are my shins, I think its from the balancing? I think I may be doing something wrong.

Anyone got any tips?

Thanks for Reading xx

What I Wore… 22nd April 2014

So it is meant to be 18 today, fingers crossed and I have gone with light weight garments that still offer some cover for when it’s a bit chilly in the morning, I feel like a bit of a weather worshipper at the moment I do whatever the weather tells me!

I have gone with my patterned Forever 21 trousers, I need to get another pair so I can stop wearing these all the time! My COS black t-shirt. My H&M blazer and my New Look brown suede boots. Hopefully it will hit 18 and I won’t melt on the tube later and can enjoy a lovely sunny walk home!

For hair and make-up I saw a thing ages ago can’t remember where or when but it was about making a plait just knotting your hair, literally getting two pieces and tying them in a knot! So I though I would try that out today instead of a boring old plait. I kinda like it I think I can get the first one to lie a bit better next time but I did three knots then twisted the two strands at the end used a small elastic band and a hair slide to secure and it was done! So quick and easy!

I gone for a bit of colour on my lips with Show off from Topshop which is the one I can’t find any more but looks suspiciously like macaroon! Then just mascara!

Thanks for Reading xx

What I Wore … 17th April 2014

It was the big 1 year anniversary today and we also go a bit of sunshine so I wore my Zara Aztec skirt. My Zara embellished jumper. Tights from M&S and my new New Look lace up boots.

We also got let go at 4 for Easter so I had a very long Easter weekend it felt like it was much needed. We’ve being trying to decide where they should move the third May bank holiday day to instead of having it two weeks after, I think October is the winner so far. What do you think?

Thanks for Reading xx