My 22nd Birthday Haul

Last week I turned 22 *cue the old jokes*,and unfortunately I did not celebrate it due to a mixture of the snow blocking all transportation and exams.

To make up for it I got some lovely gifts from my family and friends.

*I apologise in advance for the bad quality of some pics as my camera decided it didn't want to work*

I got this beautiful  rose gold bangle by Jeminee from my sister, Shanaz with a cute inscription saying "Life is a blessing be true to yourself"

My mum got me a really delicate and dainty rose gold bracelet from Mikey London. This picture does not do the bracelet justice, as inside the twisting detail are tiny crystals in addition to the larger crystals outside. When it catches the light the sparkles look so glamorous. It is just perfect to add that extra sparkle to an outfit.

I have been dying to get a new watch as my DKNY watch is getting old. I fell in love with rose gold watches after seeing them all over the blogging world as well as on Tumblr. I got so excited as soon as I unwrapped this amazing Breda watch, because not only is it rose gold but it has a diamanté border around the watch face. In addition this watch features the days of the week and the date. Unfortunately, I can't wear it yet as I have to get a couple of links removed.

My sister again got me a lovely phone cover case for my Samsung Galaxy S3, which is a dupe of the Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene Canvas print . I have just noticed the gold theme that seems to be running throughout all my presents lol

My chic studded high top trainers from my sister, so I can still look stylish even when I'm having my casual days at uni.

Again my sister showering me with gifts and got me this Limited Edition fitted abstract print body-con dress. I love the neckline as it's similar to a sweetheart neckline which is always flattering. The back detail caught my attention as soon as I opened it, because it features a cut out back. It's not fully cut out, maintaining its sophistication but adding a hint of mystery at the same time.

I love my brother for getting me the Mango coat I wanted. You can't tell in the picture because the lighting was crazy  that day, but it is a black coat. This coat is a double breasted wool coat *it is soo warm and cosy* , it just goes over my knees but is perfect as a dress coat for those special occasions.

You must have realised that my sister and I have quite the sweet tooth. My friend decided to add to this bad habit by giving me this bag of sweets, but she also knows my love of cupcakes and got me a cupcake money box. I use it as a decoration in my flat rather than a money tin  *it's too pretty to be used lol*

I haven't actually seen these in person yet as they were delivered late, so my sister sent me pictures. The studded detail and the fact that they are heelless shoes, just screams chic to me. I can't wait to wear these, maybe after all these exams are out of the way I'll have an excuse to wear them.

Hugs and Kisses

Bake Days #1 - Cookie Monster Cupcakes

 ****Picture Heavy Post****

Welcome to the first edition of Bake days, I have now begun to dedicate my sunday afternoons to being a domestic goddess in the kitchen (cooking, baking & cleaning) before starting a hectic week of university lectures/seminars.

So a couple of weeks ago, if you saw my instagram you would have sneak-peeked my first baking creation.  I decided I wanted to bake some cupcakes but not your standard cupcake but a themed cupcake which I chose to be reminiscent of one of my favourite childhood tv show's 'Sesame street' , in particular the notorious "Cookie Monster" so I recreated the design of the cookie monster cupcakes.

Ingredients

Serves: 12

Vanilla Cupcake Mixture

2 large eggs
175g Margarine
175g Self Raising flour
175g caster sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla Paste or Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice (Optional)
1/2 juice of a  Lemon (Optional)
Large cake paper cases

• 
  

• Buttercream Mixture

50g Margarine
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract or Vanilla Paste
Blue Gel food colour (Adjust depending on your preference)
Sifted Icing Sugar (Apologies, I didn't measure this as I added as and when it was required, I would use 50-60g if I did measure)

• 
  

  Coconut topping Mixture

  Desiccated coconut ( Again sorry I didnt measure I probably used 250g of the packet

  Blue Gel Food Colour (Be generous with the colouring as you need to ensure the coconut is fully coated so probably 1 1/2 tablespoons)

  
  

  Cookie Monster Face

  6 chocolate chip cookies for the mouth ( These will be halved)

  Giant or normal sized white chocolate buttons for eyes

  Designer writing icing or Milk/Dark Chocolate chips for pupils of eye

   

  METHOD 

1. Preheat oven to 200 C / Gas Mark 6. Prepare your cake tin with 12 paper cases.    

2. In a mixing bowl , mix the butter and caster sugar together until light & creamy in consistency. 

3.  Then one by one, beat an egg into the butter & sugar mixture (not too vigariously as you want the cakes to be light and airy) . 

Optional: if you like you can put a dash of lemon juice in the mixture so the eggs are not so rysh once cooked.

If the mixture looks slightly curdled , don't worry as the flour will help to bind it together. But make sure you don't overmix.
4. Add the vanilla paste or vanilla extract to the egg, butter & sugar mixture.

5. Sift the flour little by little into the sugar, butter and egg mixture, but make sure you fold it with either a tablespoon or spatula instead of a mixing it with an ordinary wooden spoon , in order to ensure it keeps it light/airy consistency.( You can identify this by seeing if bubbles arise when you fold the mixture) 

6. Once it is all mixed together and smooth in consistency without any lumps of flour, then fill  approximately 1 tablespoon & 1/4 of cake mixture into the paper cases. Then bake in the oven for approximately 15 to 25 minutes until they are a light golden brown or once you press them and they spring back when you touch them in the middle.(Note: Keep an eye on them as they tend to cook quite quickly).

7. Once the cakes are cooked, take them out of the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack, so they are completely cook to enable you to put on your cookie monster faces.

8. Prepare your buttercream mixture by mixing together  in a small bowl the margarine , vanilla paste/extract, blue food colouring and the sifted icing sugar until thick/smooth without lumps. If it is too runny, add more icing sugar and put to one side.

9. Then in another bowl mix together the dessicated coconut with the blue food colour and ensure the mixture is all blue without any pieces in white and put to one side. 

10. Then prepare the cookie monster face by getting your cookies and cutting them in half with a knife ( A normal one is fine, doesn't have to be a sharp one) then set aside. Create the eyes of the cookie monster by getting your white chocolate buttons and adding pupils to them by putting a small 1cm drop of icing or chocolate chip (Stick it with buttercream/icing or edible glue) in middle.

11. Get your cooled cupcakes and create the faces by firstly spreading a layer of buttercream all over the top of the cakes, then add sprinkle generously the dyed coconut to create texture. Make a slit for the mouth and stick a half of cookie in the split for the mouth. Then add the two eyes which you previously set aside.

There you have it, the final product cookie monster cupcakes.

Let me know if you have you tried baking these before?!

Peace, Love & Besos

Keep Calm and Eat CUPCAKES

Hi Belles

Boredom took over me so I decided to make some cakes and have a little tea and cake party with the family.

Vanilla cakes with icing and sprinkles

Hugs and Kisses

Cupcakes & Bows

Hey Belles

I just bought my tickets for my Graduation. I can't believe my three years of university will end in two weeks. Just have to get through the three exams first of course :(.

I probably won't be posting again for a while so I want to say 'Good Luck' to all those doing exams and revising for upcoming exams.

I thought I would give you a little update on my current nails. I was feeling calm and collected today and I went with a cute baby pink/peachy colour *I also ordered some nail art brushes this week, can't wait for them to arrive*. I decided to add sparkly bow ties and a cupcake to my nails.

Black 47, Bright Red 262, Coral 296, Peach Melba 318, LA Colours Sassy Sparkle

Hugs and Kisses