Thursday 27 December 2012

Brownies in a jar




Ingredients

To go in the Jar:

·         1/2 tsp salt
·         1/2 tsp baking powder
·         95 g plain flour
·         35 g cocoa
·         75 g plain flour
·         135 g brown sugar
·         150 g sugar
·         100 g milk chocolate chips
·         100g white chocolate chips


 To write on the tag for your recipient

·         150g melted butter
·         3 beaten eggs

Following the order above layer the dry ingredients in a one litre jar I bought mine from Ikea for 85p. The amounts given should exactly fill the jar. Write a tag as follows: Combine the contents of the jar with 150g melted butter and 3 beaten eggs. Mix well, and pour into a lined 10 x 10 inch tin. Bake at Gas 4 / 180 C (160 fan) / 350 F for 25-35 minutes

 There are so many variations to this mix, I made a different variation for each of my family members:-

·         Brother-100g mini marshmallows
·         Mum-  100g peacan nuts
·         Dad- 100g walnuts
·         Sister- 100g fudge squares
      
      In the interest of blogging I thought it my duty to make these brownies to try them our for you all and make sure it is right:-


150g butter melted

 3 eggs beaten


 Put the contents of the jar in a bowl

 Add the beaten eggs


 Add the melted butter


Mix all together
 
Put the brownie mix in a large tin or  I have gone for 2x 7 inch ones
 Bake at Gas 4 / 180 C (160 fan) / 350 F for 25-35 minutes




These are the finished brownies ready to cut up and enjoy.



     




Blogmas Fail

Sorry everyone!Blogmas was a big fail for me ,I had a very unreliable Internet connection, long hours at work and recently Christmas taking up all my time however I have mad a decision one of my New Years resolutions is going to be to blog everyday even if it is just a mobile post.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Blogmas day 14: Wedding Seasons




One of the first decisions you need to make is which season to get married in. I have put a few of the benefits to each season to help you.

Spring Weddings
Spring  is a great time for flowers! Almost every flower you want for your wedding is in season and you can choose any colour you want. You have a lot of freedom when it comes to the fashion for the day as it is never too hot for evening/ball gowns and tuxedos or  too cold for short dresses and open shirts. You can also have your wedding indoors or outdoors.

Autumn Weddings
Autumn weddings are filled with colour the warm oranges and reds are so cosy and romantic. The weather is a bit cooler and so outdoor weddings are less advisable although some brides and grooms choose the wedding ceremony outside and the reception inside.  For many hotels autumn is not high season giving a great financial benefit for the budget conscious bride.

Winter Weddings
 This is not the most popular season for weddings, but it has become more popular in the last 3 years causing many hotels to include December and January as high season.  One thing that you have to remember about a winter wedding is that it is going to be cold and you may have to deal with the snow and wet weather and heating do not assume these will be provided. During the winter, some flowers that you want may not be in season but many veues are decorated for Christmas cutting your decorating costs.

Summer Weddings
Summer weddings are more popular because you can choose from many different dress styles and you could have the wedding outdoors or indoors. It offers the best chance of good weather which is very important for photographs.  Also the wind is lower and the sky is clearer which means sky lanterns and fireworks are on the cards.

Another thing to remember is that if you have a Sunday Wedding before a bank holiday Monday you can save money on the Saturday rate but guests will not have to book time off work.

Sunday 16 December 2012

Blogmas Day 13- Wedding Flower Meanings




Is a flower just a flower or is there more to it than that? In Victorian times lovers exchanged love letters for ‘The Language of flowers’ each flower and sometimes flower combination has a meaning. I thought it would be interesting to look at the flowers I would like in my Wedding and see what their meanings are:-


Baby's Breath
Meaning: Innocence
Best For: Filler in bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres
Scent: None
In Season: Year-round
Price Range: Inexpensive


Lily
Meaning: Majesty, truth, honor
Best For: Bouquets and arrangements
Scent: Fragrant
In Season: Summer, but often imported during other seasons
Price Range: Moderate to expensive



Rose
Meaning: Love, joy, beauty
Best For: Bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and arrangements
Scent: Lightly fragrant to very fragrant, depending on variety
In Season: Year-round
Price Range: Moderate to expensive
Floral Fact: Roses are the most popular wedding flowers.







Gerbera
Meaning: Share your feelings
Best For: Bouquets
Scent: None
In Season: Year-round
Price Range: Inexpensive (in season)



Take a look at the meaning of your flowers.

Blogmas Day 12- How to make Christmas Card Balls



Ever since I can remember my mum, my sister and I have made Christmas ball decorations from last years Christmas Cards. It is a nice time to spend together and chat about our festive plans and also another homemade touch to Christmas.

I thought I would share with you how to do it:-

List of tools:

·         Old or used Christmas Cards – The more balls you want to  make the more cards you need
·         Scissors
·         Pencil
·         White glue or staples
·         String or ribbon
·         Christmas Cards Ball Ornament Template

To make the ball template draw an equilateral triangle with the sides being  1 inch, 2 inch, 2.5 inch or 3 inches long, then draw a circle around the triangle so that the pints are all touching the circle. Cut out your chosen circle. Taking one of your circles cut out the triangle this will show you wear to fold lines later on  and your template is complete.

Trace the circle you cut out onto the backs of old Christmas cards, fit as many as you can bearing in mind you want a nice picture, pattern or colour for  your ball. Cut out your circles and draw your triangles onto them.

Fold each circle towards the front side of the Christmas or holiday greeting cards along the 3 sides of the triangle you drew to create 3 flaps.Glue or staple the  flaps together in the following sequence to form the ball. The top and bottom parts of the ornament are formed by gluing/stapling  triangle shapes together. The centre section is formed by gluing  alternating triangle shapes to form a straight line. Once the three sections are completed, glue/ staple the top piece to the centre piece and then attach the bottom.

Punch a hole at top of ball and thread some string to hang it.


Blogmas day 10 Ice age 4



We had a bit of couple time today and watched Ice age 4- Continental drift. You may think that was a strange film choice but as we both find Ice age hilarious and we have the other 3 on DVD but had not got round to watching this one yet.

As usual the film begins with Scrat's hunt for acorns causing  Pangaea to break up  into the continents we have today. Meanwhile , Manny and his wife Ellie deal with their teenage daughter Peaches who has a crush on a mammoth named Ethan. Peaches' best friend, a mole hog named Louis, also appears to have a crush on her. Manny catches Peaches hanging out with Ethan, Manny starts an argument with her. Peaches runs away after the argument.Then Scrat's actions cause the continent to break up, seperating Manny from his family. Manny gets stuck on a floating piece of ice together with Sid, Diego, and Sid's grandmother Granny. 

The film basically follows what happens to Manny and co while trying to get back to his family. The gang get captured by a strange pirate gang escape their ship shaped iceburg and befriend a female saber-toothed cat called Shira. They are on their way once more and come accross Sirens who appear as loved ones to lure themin and eat them but Manny realises what they are and saves the group once more. The next morning, Manny, Sid, Diego and Granny finally reach home, but, much to their horror, find out that Gutt and his pirate gang had beaten them to it and captured Ellie and Peaches. Diego also notices that Shira is injured. Louis, Ethan and the teenage mammoths come to rescue, starting a battle and Shira joins them. Once the battle is over the group set sail. After sailing over the ocean, the group finds a new place to live. Manny and Peaches hug. Shira joins the herd and becomes Diego's girlfriend.

The film ends with Scrat finally reaching the island on the map, Scratlantis a floating city inhabited by an enlightened civilization of other “Scrats” and acorns. But because of his nut obsession, Scrat grabs many nuts as he can. Suddenly he sees a giant acorn. He tries to that one but it’s blocking a hole. He grabs it which causes the city to sink to the bottom of the ocean, leaving Scrat in the middle of a newly-created land desert.


I would defiantly recommend this as a goof fun film to watch, it is family safe so no need to worry about the little ones.

Friday 14 December 2012

Blogmas Day 9- Fertility Friends



As you are aware from earlier posts I have PCOS, this does not mean I am infertile but as my Fiancee had to have a vasectomy for the health of his ex, it means we will have to have some sort of fertility treatment. We are not sure which path we want to take and so we have been looking around different clinics and doing research into procedures and what will be best for us.

Along the way I found a fab website called http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk it has really helped me to talk to other couples in the same situation and to find hope. The site also has lots of information and guidance from professionals  If you have any fertility problems or struggles please check it out.




Blogmas Day 8- Christmas day outfit




Let the search begin! The hunt is on for this years Christmas Day outfit .I like to make that bit more of an effort on Christmas day. Whether its a glitzy top to, glittery dress or sequinned heels.

For me my  Christmas day outfit needs a lot of thought and is not as simple as you would think. There are several things to take into consideration.Think about the type of  Christmas day  you have is it a day like ours where you know there will be games to be played, lots of food and drink to have consumed and many family visits in the ice/snow. If so that means nothing too tight/too high/too short/too bare but still makes a statement.

I have put a few pieces below that I am considering- what do you think?




Blogmas Day 7: Pretty little liars



My sister has  recently  introduced me  to a very addictive TV series called 'Pretty Little Liars' . PLL is an American teen drama mystery-thriller television series loosely based on the  series of books by Sara Shepard. 

PLL is set in the fictional town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, the series follows the lives of Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson),Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario) and Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell), four girls whose group falls apart after the disappearance of their queen beeAlison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse). One year later, they begin receiving messages from a mysterious figure using the name "A" who threatens to expose their secrets. At first they think it's Alison herself, but after she is found dead, the girls realize that someone else knows their secrets—including long-hidden ones they thought only Alison knew.


Spencer is the -neat / control freak of the group. Her family have very high expectations in all areas of life. She is very intelligent possible due to her obsessive personality. She has very good intentions but on more than one occasion she has messed up.She feels that her older sister is the family favorite and lives her life to try and live up to her lead and make her parents proud.


Aria moved to Iceland after Ali's disappearance but came back to Rosewood, has a crush on her English teacher, Ezra. Aria is different from the rest of the group, her fashion sense is quirky, and seems to be more kind and considerate than some of the others. 



EMILY is a lesbian who's first lover is Miya a neighbor who moved into Ali's house. She is a competitive swimmer. Emily is very sweet and seems to be more emotionally vulnerable than the others.



HANNA was a chubby child but after suffering from years of bulimia is now thin. After Ali's death she is now the queen bee of Rosewood school. She is a bit of a snob , much likely Ali, and is really superficial, into designer clothes. She is still trying to deal with her parents divorce and the fact that her Dad is re-marrying.



I love this series the fashion is great as each character has their own look and style and I must say I love all of Hanna's outfits and would wear any one of them! I must say the theme tune is very catchy but when you listen to the theme tune its a little creepy.

This series has got me hooked each episode makes me watch the next and I just can't get enough of it. Check it out and tell me what you think!












Thursday 6 December 2012

Blog mad Day 6

This is my first blog from my iPhone which is cool another step on the technological ladder. We are on our way back from Bristol Christmas shopping. The new toy superstore Smyths is great for gifts for children board games, books and every type of toy you can think of. We also went to Asda for some adult presents. Finally choose my outfit for tomorrow nights Christmas party. Tops and trousers is the dress code. As I have mentioned before I love the lace effect clothing and this is the pattern for my top teamed with black formal trousers and heels. The weather is awful poor Paul can't see the road. Sorry for lack if pics on this blig!

Blogmas Day 5 Urban Decay Naked 2




Here is one item that is on my Christmas wish list! The Naked 2 palette. I am a great lover of eye shadow and of items that work for their money and this is  both.

The Naked 2 palette has 12 generous sized eye-shadow shades. Each can be used either on its own, or blended/ layered  with others, to create a variety of looks. You can create everything from neutral day-time eyes, to smokey night time eyes



The first four shades are Foxy,  Half Baked,  Booty Cal and Chopper. Foxy is a very deep cream shade with a matte finish, that works great as a base on the lid. Half Baked is a gorgeous golden-bronze shade with a shimmery finish and Booty Call is another shimmery shade, a great highlighter. Chopper has a  copper tone  and silver  glitter finish.



The next four are Tease , Snakebite ,Suspect and Pistrol, Tease is pale brown  with a matte finish, Snakebite is a dark bronze shade shimmer finish. Suspect is a pale golden beige with a shimmery finish, Pistol is a light grey or  brown with a shimmer finish and


Last but not least we have Verve,  YDK, Busted and Blackout. Verve is an oyster shade, again with a shimmery finish. YDK metallic based shadow with a brown overtone and shimmer finish, Busted is a deep brown with mauve undertones with a shimmery finish and Blackout is a black with a matte finish.

All of the shades are soft and easy to blend .I love that it is so versatile and can create a new look each time. Mix and match colours, layer and blend for different finishes.



Wednesday 5 December 2012

Blogmas Day 4 Secret Santa




At work today we exchanged our Secret Santa Gifts before I tell you what I bout and what I received I will explain what it is all about.
The point of Secret Santa is to ensure that everyone in a group of people get a gift on a particular day.  It helps cut down on the Christmas spend and also makes sure no one gets left out of the present giving. The most important thing  is that the gift givers are anonymous, hence why its called “secret” santa.
There are a few points to be organised for the secret santa to work:-

What is the gift amount to be? (Normally £5 or £10 for an office gift is sufficient)
Who is going to be invited to join?
When is the giving going to take place?
Pick the names out of a hat/box

Once everyone has picked a name to buy a gift for you are ready to get buying.

Back to my secret santa, our price range was £10+ I bought my person as follows:-
A bottle of Jack Daniels
A bottle of Port
A mug
A chocolate santa

I received
A magic rotating globe- I have been wanting to get a map for ages!
A really cool pink stress ball- self-explanatory I think ha ha

I was really happy with what I received and the person I bought for seems pleased with their gift too. It added a bit of Christmas cheer to the office and gave us the opportunity to think about each other too.

Do you do secret santa?  if so what did you buy and recieve?





Blogmas Day 3- How to decorate a Christmas Tree




Decorating the perfect Christmas tree is an honour but does require skill and a bit of creative flair. If you follow these few simple steps you will have a beautiful tree-

1. Access all areas

1.The first step to decorating the perfect Christmas tree is make sure you have access all round it .  Make sure you know where it will be placed in the end, you can make sure allvisible sides of the tree are decorated.

2. Hanging the Lights
In my view you should always hang the lights first Plug your lights in ( not on to ensure you have the right length) then start winding the lights around the tree from bottom to top.

3. Hanging the Christmas Tree Garland
To achieve the perfect Christmas tree this year you should always hang the garland after you hang the lights! With this start weaving the garland in and out of the branches start at the top and work your way around and down the tree.

4. Hang Large Ornaments First
If you have a large number of red ornaments, then hang them first. This applies to any colours. Spread them out over the tree. If you are going for an all one colour themed Christmas tree, then hang all of the larger sized ornaments first. When you hang the ornaments hang them in layers- some on the tips and some deeper in the tree.

5. Fill in gaps
Once you have your larger ornaments placed, then fill in with smaller ornaments. Tinsel can also be used to fill gaps to provide a beautiful full tree.

6. Finish With The Christmas Tree Topper
The final touch to the perfect Christmas tree is always the tree topper. Choose an Angel, Santa, a star or even a big bow. 


Blogmas Day 2 Yanke 12 Days of Christmas






According to tradition, the Twelve Days of Christmas start December 25th and end January 5th. In some cases people give each other gifts to open on each of these days as we are not as financially endowed we like to think of other ideas. Yanke Candle have brought out a collection called Christmas memories 12 Days of Christmas Yanke Candle – it contains 12 sampler sized candles all seasonally scented.
We all have special memories of our chistmases in the past and its nice to make new memories. Smell is the strongest scent when being  linked with memory, so make your memories and add scents to remember them  for years to come. 

Includes 12 different samplers for the 12 days of Christmas.

Day 1 - Gather round for Christmas Eve
Day 2 - Share a Christmas Kiss under the Mistletoe
Day 3 - Come Home for The Holidays
Day 4 - Spread Happiness with Sparkling Snow
Day 5 - Celebrate with Christmas Cupcake
Day 6 - Deck the Halls with Christmas Wreath
Day 7 - Warm up with Sparkling Cinnamon
Day 8 - Polish off the year with Christmas Cookie
Day 9 - Welcome the New Year with Holiday Home Sweet Home
Day 10 - Fragrance the Foyer with Red Apple Wreath
Day 11 - Treat yourself to Buttercream
Day 12 - Treasure the Winter Woods with Balsam and Cedar




Blogmas Day 1- Ways to decorate your home for Christmas




If you're like me, you don't have much time or energy left at the end of a hard day to do anything extra but Christmas has always been my favourite time of year and I want to make my home look and feel like Christmas. I have put together some quick and simple ways so that you can bring Christmas to your home too


One of the easiest ways to spread Christmas cheer is to decorate with Bows-
  • Tie large ribbons to chair backs, candlesticks, basket handles, stair railings, and doorknobs.
  • Choose patterns and fabrics that co-ordinate with your other decor. If you can't find anything then you can’t go wrong with metallic silver, gold, green, or red.
  • Pick a ribbon that you can tie and un-tie every year then you get value for money and can build a good collection.


Wreaths.
  • Hang a wreath or swag on every door -start with the front door to bring Christmas from the very beginning.
  • You can make fresh wreathes yourself and decorate with pine-cones, berries, ribbons and even nuts. If you want to keep wreaths year after year, buy artificial wreaths.


 Garlands
  • Drape garlands, either real or artificial, on railings, over mirrors, on the top of the mantle-piece, and across book shelves.


 Sounds of the season
  • As soon as you're home, turn on a CD and listen to Christmas music.
  • Tie some sleigh bells onto the front door, and listen to the tinkle every time it opens.
  • Lots of the TV channels have Christmas specials on. Make it a family time to spend together -enjoy the laughter and  ease into Christmas
  • Watch the classic movies with Christmas themes, such as "The Santa Clause" or "Scrooge"