Happy Halloween

I kinda left it really late to get a pumpkin, I only managed to get one today. I usually do a more creative design for example last year I did Minnie Mouse and the year before I did a giraffe. Time was against me so I did a simple pattern but I still think it looks really cool. 

This is my little pupmkin before...

...and this is after.

I created my design using a drill which I had never used before. It didn't take long and it looks really effective with the candle in. Happy Halloween, hope you get lots of sweeties. 

Charity Coffee Morning

My cousin held a charity coffee and cake morning to raise money for breast cancer, it was nice to get everyone together and who doesn't love cake for breakfast? 

There was a good selection of cake, we all made something different and not one thing was shop bought. We could have opened a cake shop.

I made the lemon drizzle cake which is the square cakes at the back.

This Guinness gingerbread cake was AMAZING!

These were red velvet cupcakes, I love how the breast cancer ribbon is on one of them.

I am loving these cake forks, they have such a vintagey feel.

We had to play this game where we each had to put our name against an item that we thought may be in the big pink wardrobe. My cousin had picked it before hand and put it in an envelope. The winner got a box of cakes...

...guess who won. Excuse the windswept rained on look. I was super happy to have won but it was enough knowing we all there supporting an amazing cause, I would definitely recommend it!

Bunting Making

I got some new wallpaper in my room a couple of months ago and thought I would make some bunting to break up the stripes a little bit. I bought a floral fabric bundle from Hobby Craft and the yellow bias binding was from Ebay. You get plenty of fabric in the bundle, I made extra flags to make some more bunting for a friend.

Here is my finished bunting, I absolutely love it, it was really easy to make and is now a real feature in my room. I am not convinced it completely matches with the wallpaper as they are different patterns but I did try to choose similar colours.  

Birthday Party Planning

Soo it's my birthday coming up, I don't usually celebrate it as I don't like the attention etc so this year I thought I would organise something other than a night out. I love a good afternoon tea which is why I thought it would be a good idea to use this theme as a chilled out gathering on my birthday. I got all excited and bought a load of stuff which is mainly from Ebay. I'm probably going to get more than this I'm not going to lie but I thought I would share what I have so far.

These were made by my mums friend at the school she works. They were made using a laser cutter, I have some in yellow too which is my favourite colour. I really like them as they are unique.

Pretty little napkins, they are smaller than I thought they were going to be but they are actually perfect for little afternoon treats. 

Cute cardboard cake cases. 

I am going to put these flags in whatever little cakes and treats I decide to make, I just like them although I probably won't use them all.  

I just had to get these, they seem a little cheesy but I mainly thought they would be nice just decorate the table with. I'm obviously going to be getting everyone to pull them with me.

These are to make paper chains to decorate the room with. I am very excited to make this.

It may seem that I went a little floral crazy but I tried to go with similar colours to avoid too much of a clash. I think in a weird way it will kinda work...hopefully.

Awards Evening

I attended an awards evening over the weekend, it took place at where I work so it was nice to get all dressed up and for the people I work with to see me in something other than a jumper and trousers that look like pyjama bottoms.

My hair was done quite last minute, I knew I wanted it up but wasn't sure how. I decided on a messy bun and got a friend to do it. I rarely wear my hair up as I suffer from Eczema and get it on my neck. I particularly like the little clips around the bun. 

These shoes were an absolute bargain, they cost £10 in the sale from Dorothy Perkins. I loved them as soon as I saw them.

For my nails, I painted them in this quite neutral pink colour and shook some pink nail glitter on while they were still wet. I think it worked really well and looks effective.

This was taken as I was about to walk out of the door, my make up I kept quite plain but used pink blusher and silver and pink eye shadow to match my dress. My dress was from Debenhams but I got it last year, its by Julian MacDonald and I love how simple it is yet elegant. I got lots of compliments.

6 Ways To Relax

I feel like it is very important to take some time out to relax, whether it is before bedtime or just taking time out of your day. I suffer from anxiety so taking some time to do something relaxing that I enjoy really helps. 

1. Go for a walk, getting some fresh air and chatting to someone while walking can really help you to relax and get things off your chest if needed.

2. Have a nice soak in the bath complete with candles and a bath bomb. 

3. Drink something calming like camomile tea or a milky drink.  

4. Reading whether it be a good book or a magazine like I prefer.

5. Listen to some calming music, my go to song is anything by Ludovico Einaudi especially I giorni.

6. Getting creative losing yourself in art, colouring in, sewing, drawing or acting. I coloured this image in using an app called Colorfy. I love it!

I hope these tips helped and would love to hear if anyone has their own way in which to relax.

Store Cupboard Chocolate Cakes

I wanted to bake so I Googled the ingredients I had in my cupboard and one of the recipes that came up was this one. I adapted it slightly by decorating them with what I wanted. 

Here are the ingredients I used (they aren't all in the picture)

Ingredients

150g Plain Flour

30g Cocoa Powder

1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1 1/4 Teaspoons Bicarbonate of Soda

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

175g Muscovado Sugar

115g Vegetable Oil

80g Milk

1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

2 Large Eggs

The recipe is really quick and easy once you have measured everything out.

Add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt together. Mix them really well which you could with your hands. In a separate bowl beat the eggs with a fork for 10-15 seconds to loosen them well. To the eggs add the vegetable oil, milk and vanilla extract.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.  Mix well together, a balloon whisk for 30 seconds should do it.

If you pour the mixture into a large jug it makes pouring into the cases easier. Fill the cases two thirds of the way up.and bake in the oven for 17 - 20 minutes.

Leave them to cool on a wire rack, they can be eaten naked or decorate them however you please.

I decorated mine with Nutella spread and Chocolate buttons, they taste amazing. 

Primark Haul

I went to Primark over the weekend, the one I went to in Liverpool is mahoosive and super busy. Not the best place to go for an anxiety sufferer but I did get some really cute things.

I have recently had a sort out of my clothes and cardigans is one of the things I am now lacking. I got these two Autumnal colours for a bargain £5 each. They are ideal for work or throwing on when I get cold which is pretty much all of the time. 

Instead of the suitcase sized 'handbag' I currently carry around, I really wanted a smaller sized across the body bag which is ideal for carrying around while shopping or just times when you don't want to carry a big heavy bag around with you. I like the colour of this one and it cost either £4 or £5.

I absolutely fell in love with this dress as soon as I saw it. It cost £13 which I don't think is bad at all. I especially like the lace detail on the shoulders and the berry colour.

I got these cute little lights to go round the mirror in my bedroom, you can't really see them properly here but they are round lights with a pointed bit on the end. They were £3 which is a bargain!

I got two packs of these super cosy tights. They are £3.50 each and are my go to tights when it comes to winter. They are super thick and have a fleecy inside, mmmm toasty.

Finally I got these cute polar bear slippers which were £3. I have since named them Paul and Phil and they are the cosiest slippers. 

September Favourites

My September favourites are quite random, there isn't really a theme but here they are...

I am a big fan of the Collection brand, remember when it was Collection 2000? It is very inexpensive and works just as well as higher end brands. I have been loving this contour kit. I have never contoured before but thought I would give it a try and I have not looked back. I couldn't imagine my make-up routine without it now. Once you have got over the initial what goes where and constantly looking at a diagram, it is easy peasy. Love Love Love!

Shade 107 by Rimmel in the Kate Moss range. I love the shade and staying power. It goes with a lot of outfits especially now were in Autumn. 

Love this Barry M Mustard shade. It's the Gelly Hi Shine range. Yellow is my favourite colour in all shades. Bright yellow for summer and this shade for the colder months. I love the colour and how it looks like shellac nail varnish.

I curled my hair a lot last month, it was just so quick and easy with my new wand. It took about 10-15 minutes to curl my hair before work in a morning. Its the Tresemme Volume Curl Tong.

Been loving the sewing magazines, I have gained lots of inspiration and ideas. Can't wait to get cracking to keep me occupied through the cold winter months. 

I saw this cushion and knew I had to get it straight away. I think it was £7, it was temporarily put in the living room and it instantly brightened it up.

I have been enjoying this pretty unhealthy snack, Nutella and digestive biscuits is just the best thing EVER! Mmm could genuinely just eat it right now.