Merry christmas!

Merry christmas everyone, I hope you all have an amazing time, full of family, food, presents and festive fun! What do you think of my present wrapping?

 

Megan xo

 

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Lollipops and cakes = cake pops!

Hey guys!

Pre warning, give yourselves plenty of time to do this, don't start them at 11pm like me, I was up until about 3am!

For 20 medium cake pops you will need:

20 popsticks

A block with holes in

Cellophane bags and ribbon (optional)

Vanilla cake

120g unsalted butter

150g caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

180g sifted self-raising flour

4 tbsp milk

Vanilla cream cheese frosting

80g unsalted butter

40g cream cheese

200g sifted icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 180°C/gas mark 4 and lightly grease a 20cm circle or square cake tin. Cream butter and sugar until smooth, add eggs and vanilla. Slowly mix the flour and milk into the mixture before pouring into the cake tin and baking for roughly 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

When cool, crumble the cake finely into a large bowl.

Cream the butter and cream cheese, gradually combine the icing sugar and vanilla. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before using.

And the icing to the crumbs bit by bit until you have a fudge like texture, you probably won't need all of the icing.

Wrap in cling film and put in the fridge for an hour. Split into 20 equal (ish) balls (or exact equal weights if you're a bit of a perfectionist like me.)

Melt a little bit of chocolate, dip the pop stick 2cm into the chocolate and then put it roughly half way into the cake ball. Put in the fridge for another 20 minutes.

Melt 450g of chocolate in 30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring each time. Use whatever method you like to cover the cake ball in chocolate. Make sure the chocolate goes right down to the popstick.

Cover them with whatever sprinkles you like and put in the fridge for 10 minutes to set. It's handy to have a polystyrene block or a make shift block with holes in to place the pop cakes in to. Avoids having flattened/ruined sides.

Leave them bare or wrap them individually, it's up to you!

Enjoy!

 

Megan xo

 

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Christmas wishlist!

It's that time of year again, time for food, presents, excitement... and lack of money! I always struggle to think of little things that I want for Christmas, because I generally buy the things I want throughout the year. This wishlist may seem like a pretty random selection of things, but nevermind!

 

Yankee candle in sparkling snow. I have been looking for my perfect Yankee candle for ages, I hope I've found it!

My side your side pillows. I think these are adorable, but very expensive for pillow cases.

Full-finish Benefit lipstick in the shade 'do tell' and silky-finish Benefit lipstick in the shade 'nice knickers'. I will say something controversial in the blogging world...I'm not a fan of Mac lipsticks. I find them too drying. Whereas Benefit lipsticks are nourishing and are just as colourful as Mac.

New look blue studded jeans. Who doesn't love studs at the moment?! New look is definitely one of my favourite high street stores.

Studded peplum top from new look. I love studs, I love peplum tops, need I say more?

Cupcake case from redbubble.com

Philosophy bubble bath in candy cane. Smells like Christmas, ideal for my Christmas bubble baths!




What have you asked for?

 

Megan xo

 

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Children in need

Hey guys!

I have another nail art post for you guys :) red and yellow, spots and paws. Don't forget to apply your base coat before you get started!

Misguided in the colour 'misslead', Barry M in 'Dark silver' and Orly in 'Ruby'

Paint your nails alternately in red and yellow. Make sure they are completely dry before starting the next stage.

Use the dotting tool on your red nails to create yellow spots, have as many spots as you like.

Use the small brush in the dark silver to create small bear paws on the yellow nails. Be as detailed or as simple as you like, I went for generic simple paw prints.




Quick post for you guys today, I will be doing Christmas wishlists and Christmas ideas soon. Keep your eyes peeled for these.

 

Megan xo

 

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Sophisticated?

Hey guys!

So today I went for brunch with a friend who's back from uni for the weekend. Brunch to me sounds sophisticated. But believe me, we are far from it ha! She's one of my fave girlies and eating food is a favourite hobby of ours. Best way to bond!

This furry hat/headband thing from Accessorize was included in my latest haul post, and I have to admit. It's the best thing I have bought in ages, I am in love with it! It's so warm and snug and will be worn constantly during this cold weather. I decided not to do an OOTD as the top and jewellery I am wearing have already been featured in a quite recent one. I woke up late and was in a rush to meet her so my makeup is quite natural. I decided to go with a nude lip and I am wearing a Benefit lipstick in the shade 'Lady's choice' and you can find it here.

Giraffe is quickly becoming one on my favourite places to eat in Bluewater. The breakfast and brunch menu is heavenly! I settled for eggs and bacon on sourdough toast and chunky wedges. Next time I am going to have the Brioche french toast with apple compote and Greek yoghurt. NOM!

Natalie decided on eggs and bacon on Foccacia. We had already covered our food in ketchup and such when I remembered I needed photos, so I apologise for the not so pretty food pictures!

I got so excited by Lola's cupcakes opening nearby (that and I stood gawping at the cakes for about 20 minutes) that I had to buy one. A good old Red velvet settled my cupcake craving.

I couldn't leave without buying something that wasn't food. I bought more clothes on Thursday so it was time for a beauty product of some kind. Essie won the battle and I went for Sexy divide and Jamaica me crazy on the 'buy one get one half price' offer that Boots has currently got going on. I'm excited to use these, I'll let you know my thoughts!

After a final chat over a Costa hot chocolate it was time to say goodbye again until Christmas :(. Have you ever been to Giraffe? What's your favourite menu item?

 

Megan xo

 

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It's been at while...

It's about time I get to write another haul post...I've missed shopping! I haven't missed the queues in shops though. I had my first weekend off in quite a while, so I went to Bluewater with my mum to start looking for Christmas presents. Unfortunately, I mainly bought stuff for myself. Oopsie.

Is it just me that loves walking around with big bags?

I have been deciding which Real techniques brush to get next ever since I got the stippling brush, and yesterday I decided it was a good time to buy it. It's £13 from Boots, but they had a 'buy one, get the next half price' offer, so my mum got herself the blusher brush. I love the stippling brush, so I am excited to use this one too.

I have been looking for a new day to day bag for ages! Seen as my purse is purple, my colour options were limited but I love this one. I love that it has the brown handles, makes it even more versatile, and it was a bargain from Accessorize at only £22!

I tried this on as a joke but then my mum said it suited me. Plus it's really warm, so I couldn't resist. I'm excited to wear this over the Christmas season, eeek! Originally £16 from Accessorize but it had 20% off so for £12 I thought it was a pretty good buy.

Molton brown isn't normally the place I'd go to for my luxury bath products, the smells are generally to strong for me but I had a gift card for there so decided to make the most of it. I got the paradisiac pink pepperpod set to share with my mum and sister as well as the vitamin lipsaver. I'm hoping the lipsaver works well because I get really bad dry lips during the winter. I also got a bath oil for my boyfriends mum for Christmas, but it's already gift wrapped and I didn't want to undo it.

For spending over £70 I got given 5 travel tubes and a couple of mini bath and shower oils. These will make brilliant extras for Christmas presents.

All in all I think it was quite a successful trip!

 

Megan xo

 

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Halloween part 2 (part 2 of 2)

Hey guys!

So this is my final halloween post, I hope you have enjoyed them! This final part is my favourite because it's a recipe post, WOO. Here goes:

Spider web cake and spider cupcakes

For the cake you will need:

225g unsalted butter

225g caster sugar

4 eggs

225g self-raising flour

2 tsp baking powder

Couple of drops of sugar flair tangerine gel food colouring

Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius/350 degrees Fahrenheit/gas mark 4


Put all the ingredients in a bowl and beat until smooth, separate into the two tins and bake for about 25 minutes, until the top is golden and springs back when touched. Put on a rack and leave to cool whilst you make your cupcakes!

Whilst waiting for the cakes to cool, mix up your buttercream. 250g sifted icing sugar, 80g unsalted butter, 25ml milk and a drop of orange food colouring. Cover the cake and leave to set in the fridge for about 10 minutes.

Pipe the chocolate fudge icing in a web shape and leave to set.




For the cupcakes you will need:

120g plain flour

140g caster sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

40g unsalted butter

120ml milk

1 egg

Pinch of salt

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Couple of drops of sugar flair tangerine gel food colouring

Pre-heat oven to 170 degrees Celsius/325 degrees fahrenheit/gas mark 3

Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, butter and half the milk until just incorporated. Then beat in the egg, vanilla extract and the rest of the milk.

Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases (I filled 10 2/3rd's full) and bake in the oven for roughly 25 minutes. A skewer inserted in the centre should come out clean.

Use the last of the buttercream to thinly cover the cupcakes.

Pipe on the spider legs and then pipe a large ball for the spiders body. Add whatever you like for the eyes.

Arrange your spiders around the web, and there you have it, halloween yummyness!

 

Megan xo

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Halloween part 2 (part 1 of 2)

Happy halloween!

I was going to do 2 parts but then I decided my nails needed sprucing up and so I thought I'd add a quick how to on my 'webs and ghouls.'

Base coat: Collection 2000

Top coat: Leighton Denny

MUA in white and Ciaté paint pot in dark purple (I was originally going to use my black Barry M but it had gone gloopy so had to chuck it.)

Dotting tool and thin brush

I won't show you photos of the stages because this is just a quick how to whilst I wait for my cakes to cool!

Don't forget to use the base coat first. Then, paint your nails alternately in white and purple/black. Once completely dry, use the thin brush to create the start of the webs on your purple nails.

Use the thin brush again to complete your webs. Use the dotting tool to create the ghost faces.

Once dry, cover in a clear top coat. Webs and ghouls=complete.

 

Megan xo

 

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Halloween excitement part 1

Okay, I'll start by saying, I'm not actually a huge fan of halloween itself. BUT, I am a fan of being 'creative' (which to everyone else means, make a massive mess.)

So, this first part of the 2 parter post is....PUMPKIN CARVING! I know right, how much fun is this? I won't lie, when I went with Jake to the farmers stall to pick our pumpkins, I was like a child at a fairground. I had already decided what I was going to do, so I picked my diddy pumpkin and my normal sized one, and I was set to go.

The one part I hate, pulling all the seeds out!

What I thought would take 5 minutes took much longer :(

Don't forget to take the outer layer off the eyeballs

Diddy pumpkins scared

Poor diddy pumpkin

Mum's, Jake's and Max's pumpkins

Part 2 will be... Halloween cakes! Check back tomorrow for cakey goodness.

 

Megan xo

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