Manchester 'Haul'

Oh I am been good today and posting twice in one day. On Thursday/Friday me and boyfriend went over to Manchester which is a place which holds a place in my heart as most my family are from that side of the UK. However this visit was a bit odd as it was the first time I'd been back since my Grandad's funeral so was certainly different. Heartfelt stories out of the way I thought I'd do a little haul of my time in Manchester . I also went to manchester to see a man about camp Canada and I can let you all know that as of June the 20th I will be working in Canada for two months ... I am so excited especially as I am also seeing Bruce Springsteen again on the 18th June. :)  

I did buy a fair bit in Manchester some of which wont be at all interesting to every one so instead I've decided to show my 'best bits' .

Loose peplum flower top - Miss Selfridge £27 and Topshop leather effect shorts £30.00

L-R Khiels midnight recovery concentrate , Nars albatross, Caudalie beauty elixir ,  and Georgio Armani lip maestro in shade 201

Beauty bits :

So firstly I hopped along to Selfridges with the idea of picking up a YSL lipstick however the women was so rude that I ventured over to the Armani stand instead and this bad boy caught my eye. The colour is so unlike me and I thought it was going to be a more gloss effect but oh how I was wrong it's a beautiful matte stain with long lasting effects my only gripe is that it has a shade number rather than a name. I Then went to space NK and picked up  the Khiels concentrate which I've been wanting to try for ages , Caudalie beauty elixir - do I really need to say why? and Nars albatross which is a finely milled highlighter with yellow undertones . 

Fudgey flapjacks

So this is a simple recipe but it's very tasty and good for a quick pick me up or on the go snack. It also gave me a great chance to use up the masses of oats I seem to have aquired ... I do love porridge :) It may not be the healthiest recipe due to the ammount of sugar involved but hey everyone needs a scrummy snack 

Ingredients:                                                                                                

175g Butter 

175g golden syrup 

175g LIGHT muscovado sugar 

350g Porridge oats 

200g fudge pieces

The how to's :  

• Preheat the oven to 150 degrees, weigh out your ingredients and grease line a 20cm tin 
• Melt the butter over a low heat, add the sugar and syrup . Melt until the sugar has dissolved and combined. Remove from the heat and stir in your porridge and fudge pieces. 
• Pack the flapjack mixture into the tin. bake for 30 minutes - longer if you don't want very chewy flapjacks. 
• Once cooked allow to cool and chop them into small bitesize pieces. 

Hey presto simples :)  Oh the tin is a Emma Bridgewater union jack tin from John Lewis but you can buy them directly off the Bridgewater website http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/tin/storage-tins/icat/storagetins/

The 'hangover what hangover' face

So earlier I was watching the lisa Eldridge Quick brightening make-up video (http://www.youtube.com/user/lisaeldridgedotcom) when an idea came into mind... 'The hangover face'   As a student this is a look that often comes in to play may it be after a heavy night out, an all nighter in the library or just a simple lack of sleep .  It's super healthy and just looks natural and flawless it's quite a simple routine one particular tip Lisa mentions is to dab a bright lip colour then a nude over the top so for me I chose MAC sheen supreme in the shade new temptation which is a beautiful red with pink undertones and popped Mac cream sheen Shanghai spice over the top. I absolutely bum this colour its like my lips but a touch darker and more orange toned. So there you have it no one will ever know the effects your feeling.
I'd love to hear anyone else's top tips on beating the effects of  lack of sleep

 Products used: 

• Dr.Jart + water fuse BB cream 
• Revlon grow luscious mascara 
• Topshop cream blush in head over heels 
• Bobbi brown creamy corrector in warm ivory
• YSL touch Eclat
• mememe beat the blues in sunbeam
• Bobbi brown brow pencil in ash
• Rimmel scandaleyes - nude 
• Mac sheen supreme in New temptation
• Mac cream sheen in Shanghai spice

Catching those precious 'ZZZZ's

Sleep is possibly one of the most important things a person needs , it benefits us in so many way so why are there so many people struggling to get some shut eye? It is estimated that on average one in three people struggle with insomnia at some point in their life. Unfortunately I have this problem always have since I was teeny tiny but there are a few bits that do help now and again :) Candles: I LOVE !!! candles and always have them burning however there are a few that really help me feel relaxed and calm...

The candle from the right is from T.K Maxx and the scent is vanilla and lavender. I think it's just the cutest thing and on the side it says follow your heart which is a nice thought to bear in mind whilst drifting off to the land of nod. The ones in the below picture are a selection of some more of my bedtime candles and they include a Gardenia bloom Yankee candle which isn't too strong. so well done to my daddio for that choice he also bought me a cute gingerbread one which I near;ly bought before christmas ( he knows me well) . I then have the little one from space Nk life which was in a bed time bath and body set :)

Whitards dream tea This stuff has been in my cupboard for months but i've just started drinking it more and blimey it's yummy - a mixture of honey,brown sugar and apricot . I mix it with half hot water half cold n bam your ready. i don't know if it actually helps but it's nice to think it does 'beauty' bits I've mentioned the space Nk set which smells of Vanilla, jasmine,violet and lilly which really feels luxurious and relaxing. I will defiantly be purchasing the larger sizes . I also spritz the this works pillow spray all over and inhale(attractive image) now I don't like lavender but this is discrete enough that I can get along with it ...However James doesn't like it ... awkward turtle.

well hope this has been enjoyable and you have maybe benefited. Sorry there wasn't a baking post this week I was at work all sunday then drove back to uni on the night so was pooped (that also helps me sleep haha) but there will be one on sunday for sure :) oh and next week I will doing a post for the boys so keep an eye open

my 'ULTIMATE' cleanser

* drum roll please* This has been a much hyped product for oh well over a year now but I was perfectly happy with my Liz Earle Cleanse and polish so didn't really see a need for a new cleanser. However I felt the time had come for me to be unfaithful to the trusty Liz Earle.  I wanted to start with the starter kit because what works for sheila down the road might not work for me especially where skincare is concerned.  I got the starter kit from feel unique and good news is it's still available.  http://www.feelunique.com/p/Emma-Hardie-Amazing-Face-Natural-Lift-and-Sculpt-Anti-Ageing-Professional-Facial-Starter-Kit

Professional facial starter kit includes:  Cleansing balm , cleansing cloth, Rosehip exfoliating seeds,  Hydrating and firming treatment moisturiser and  Firming eye serum .  

I'm really enjoying using the professional kit so much so that I had a cheeky space NK order on Monday and purchased the 100ml version of the Cleansing balm.   Or to call it by it's full name the Emma Hardie Amazing face natural lift and sculpt Moringa cleansing balm - bit of a mouthful lets be honest .

Enough blabbing on... I can't rave enough about this cleanser it really does clear my skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple. You mix some of the balm with a touch of water on clean your skin then wipe of with the cloth provided(you could use a flannel or muslin cloth.) If you fancy a real cleanse and your skin feels awfully congested mix the balm with the exfoliating seeds ... this feels like such a treat :)  The smell is fresh and organic and well the packaging is a little bit swanky too (it must be good if my boyfriend said it looked nice ) . This is something i'll defiantly be repurchasing I'm trying to justify the eye serum too 

Enjoy the rest of your week...

x

Bridgey's red Velvet Cupcakes

I love these cupcakes the colour is just amazing . Today I tried a new butter cream for a change of scenery. I used cocoa and chambord which actually worked really really well together :)  Chambord is one of those things I use for cooking all the time but never actually drink . 

Ingredients :

100g S-R Flour 

15g cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder

115g Softened butter 

115g Caster sugar 

2 eggs

2 tbsp of red colouring  

1 tsp vanilla extract 

For the icing :

250g icing sugar

80g softened butter

2 tbsp of milk 

2 tbsp Chambord 

1 tbsp cocoa powder 

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees (350F/gas mark 4) and line a muffin tin with cases . 

2. Soften the butter and cream with the sugar . Then stir in the flour ,eggs and baking powder . In another bowl mix the cocoa , red colouring and vanilla to make a paste then add this to your buttery flourey mix . 

3.Once everything is well combined . Place a tablespoon of mix into your cases and bake for 15 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. 

4. Whilst the cakes are cooling  get your butter cream ready . Mix the softened butter with the icing sugar until combined. Add the chambord and cocoa and mix until thick - but not to thick that you can't pipe it . 

5. When the cakes are FULLY cool pipe, I decorated with a bit of pink glitter for a bit of well sparkle. 

ENJOY !!!! :)

Just a little side note I picked up this snazzy carrier in Tescos yesterday ... you get the muffin tin and a lid that clips on for easy carrying . I just thought that was a very good invention.  I can't find this one online but Amazon do a very very similar one if not a little more pricey 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweetly-Does-It-12-Holes-Non-stick/dp/B005X6QPYG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1357513780&sr=8-3

Week 1 #Budget Buys

N SPA - Jojoba and White Vanilla  warming salt scrub 

So I picked this up on a whim because I got to boots and realized I forgot my bank card so I hit ASDA with the money I had in my purse ( I don't tend to carry cash). I do love a good scrub and this hits the spot. It's a very very thick salt scrub which warms when rubbed onto the body. This feels lovely and really does leave the skin feeling smooth and soft. At £2 you can't really complain but my one and only issue would be that the product is a bit too thick to squeeze out so perhaps a tub would be better . All in all though a great product.

I'm thinking of doing a weekly budget buy post because not everything needs a hefty price tag.