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Wednesday 11 July 2012

I've Graduated!!!

Me In my Graduation Gown. 
I am now a proud owner of a third class honors degree in Film  Production Technology.

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Go: Workhouse coffee shop, Reading


 We ordered the Butterscotch coffee and a Dirty chai latte (which is cinnamon latte with 2 shots of espresso). My boyfriend had a cinnamon bun and I had a caramel and chocolate torte, its a little more expensive than most coffee shops apart from Starbucks. But it is worth the price as far as I know there are two in Reading and it is definitely worth the money.  Just don't order the ciabatta as it is really expensive for what you get.
The other thing I love in Reading is the Asian supermarket, I got gyoza and 5 different types of noodles. They also had pocky and this thing like a choc dip but strawberry flavoured.

Monday 2 July 2012

Date at the park

 So before we traveled down to Reading to see my boyfriend's family we went to the park to feed the ducks. As lame as it sounds it was nice and a cheap way to get out of the house whilst the weather was nice.

They had a greenhouse with all different kinds of plants in, so it was nice to see all the flowers even though I have hayfever so I was sneezing round the place.

We were going to get an ice cream but my mango and passion fruit juice blend was enough to cool me down so we didn't bother. We went home afterwards but it was lucky when we did go home as it started raining.


Saturday 16 June 2012

Clothes

Lace Dress// New Look 

So thought I'd post on Wednesday I did a bit of shopping to cheer me up about giving up the kitten. I got this lace dress (left) and its something I would have never picked ever, my boyfriend actually said to me why don't you try it on. So I did and I loved it, I love the way it makes me feel like a princess or just very girly. I'm not one for girly things but I'm getting there, in fact I was quite tomboy-ish growing up as I hung out with mainly guys. Anyway apart from this dress, I also got a learn Japanese book and I got some more gel eyeliner, I gave my previous one to my mum as she liked it so much.








Onto today, it was a normal explore town and then go grocery shopping day, so we did our usual visit oxfam charity shop and I found this little gem hidden amongst old lady style clothes. It is a Ted Baker dress that should have been £30 in the Ted Baker sale it seemed (still had tags on) and I got it for a mere £10. I think its perfect to wear to graduation.
Ted Baker Dress//Charity Shop

Tuesday 12 June 2012

Sadness

 So this is going to be a sad post, but I need to get it out of my system. In a previous post I mentioned re-homing our kitten. Whilst we only had him three weeks, it hurt so bad when I let him go. He has gone to a lovely family, a woman with a small child. So that child will love him, like I did with my previous cat. I had her for 17 years and grew up with her, I can only hope the little girl does t he same and has the same connection I do with animals. Any cat I see I immediately want to look after it, I feel like I have a lovely connection with them but now I feel lonely and kind of empty. My boyfriend has tried to cheer me up by giving me one of my birthday presents early but its going to take me a while to fill the void. I guess the only thing left for me to worry about is getting a job so hopefully that will soon happen and I can fill the gap by being busy.

Sunday 10 June 2012

Hair change

Before
After
 So last night, I thought I'm bored of red hair and its upkeep. I picked out a 'Bittersweet Chocolate' colour, thinking it'd come of chocolate brown. However what I actually ended up with is Black hair, I'm not sure how I feel about it but maybe I'll grow to like it. My boyfriend says it frames my face and makes me look slimmer but I'm not sure.

I feel like my whole wardrobe and make up routine will have to change due to getting a much darker colour, and the majority of my wardrobe is black, so don't really want to look like a goth, not that there is anything wrong with that.

I'm going to relax now.

Friday 8 June 2012

Lazy day

My slice 
So today has consisted of me basically being lazy in my pjs, I even woke up at 11am which is pretty late for me now. 

I made breakfast and looked outside to see it raining and blowing up a gale, so it was decided that it was a lazy day and I haven't really moved far from the bed apart from to get drinks and food. 

Good news though, I got a call today and someone might be willing to re-home the kitten. So that might be another thing less to worry about and then all I'd need to stop worrying is a job which would be gladly welcomed.

I decided after dinner that I wanted something sweet but I didn't want to trek outside to the shop to get some chocolate or something. So I used up the lemon curd that one of my boyfriend's housemates left when they moved out and made a lemon curd victoria sponge. It's quite tasty but at 468 calories it's going to have to be a treat and not a regular thing. 

Tomorrow, I have to do boring things like grocery shopping and general errands but hopefully the farmers market will be on and my tea lady will be there, she hasn't been for the past few weeks which makes me sad she sells lovely loose tea blends. 
Full cake

Thursday 7 June 2012

New layout // Ramblings

Drinks with Will 
 So I've gotten inspiration for blogging again. I changed my layout so it seems fresh and new. Hmm so last time I updated me and my boyfriend had gone to see florence and the machine so that was in March.

It's now May so what did I do in between those months, basically I did my dissertation, carried on looking for jobs, entered GradEx which is a graduate exhibition which occasionally helps students get jobs; unfortunately I got nothing. I had an interview that day too but I didn't get the job.

I also went home to see my mum and family and well we didn't do a lot just ate out a lot and did a little bit of shopping and went drinking, I drank far too much as per usual.

Now we're up to date, this week has comprised of house viewings, one which has been successful so me and my boyfriend will have a place to live next year. However that means the pressure to get a job is really on, but I am trying my hardest.
We've also been swimming twice in a week and we're going to make it a regular thing like twice a week to get healthy, although I've been healthy eating and such anyway to try and lose a stone I've somehow put on. 
After swimming today we went to the pub, had a healthy chicken burger and salad although Will had chips haha and soft drinks pictured above. 

Then, because of the bad weather we went to the supermarket to get some hot chocolate that is what rainy days call for. So I went and showered to get the chlorine off me and now I'm relaxing with a hot chocolate. 

I also forgot to mention we have a kitten, but unfortunately we have to get rid of him for numerous reasons, the number one being he's too expensive and a little bit violent and I have a condition that if I have even the tiniest cut that I can have an epileptic fit. So I'm going to finish my hot chocolate and enjoy my night on the internet whilst in my pjs. 

My owl pjs. 

Monday 19 March 2012

Been Busy

Sorry I've been a bit M.I.A I really am a bad blogger, but I've actually been really busy. Firstly with my studies I had a deadline coming up with making a music video and such; then helping my boyfriend and our friend with a podcast and then me and my boyfriend went to see Florence and the Machine as it was a valentines gift to my boyfriend and most recently I've caught this flu thing going around my university. I've also been trying to work really hard at losing weight but I've been having some bad days with being tired or lazy or just having a bad day, but amazingly I seem to have lost two pounds and 1% body fat but I'm still in the 11st(just under 160lbs) category which I don't want to be in. But just so you know what's been happening here is some pictures to show I'm alive:
Here is me and my boyfriend just before Florence and the Machine concert started, I didn't get any pictures of her playing because I was too busy enjoying myself and dancing.
Krispy Kreme donuts, I told you I was being bad on my diet, but we only wanted 6 but for 6 extra donuts it was only 60p thats 10p per donut so my boyfriend wanted to get it.He ate 8 of them and I ate 4 not in one sitting they actually helped me survive the concert.
The weekend before I think, was my friends birthday so we went out and the theme was heroes and villains, so I went as the silk spectre from Watchmen. But this is the shapewear I wore underneath to keep all my lumps and bumps in place, and my phone case took a tumble that night and broke but I should be able to fix it with superglue.

And here are my space nails which I tried from this tutorial which actually worked really well, its actually rare make-up things go well for me.

Well I'm off now to try and get better and exercise.

Ciao
xx

Saturday 18 February 2012

Practical....

This is my new hand blender for only £5

This is my new Tupperware set for only £4.

Serious about healthy eating ^-^. The blender is mainly for smoothies and soups but today I made banana ice cream, where you just blend a chopped frozen banana into a smooth paste it was so delicious. I got the Tupperware for holding weekly soups or just leftovers to freeze or refrigerate.
Also proper on a health kick, lost 2% body fat in a week feeling much better and totally guzzling water which is helping my skin really well. My immune system is also improving but I'm still on allergy pills.

Belated Valentines Post

This is my main course to the three course meal that my boyfriend cooked me, did I mention it was by candle light and we got through two bottles of wine. Yes we did drink them out of pint glasses, we don't own wine glasses. Also when I was walking to my boyfriend's house I got called a whore by some random guy out of a window, classy when I was dolled up quite elegantly.


These are the homemade chocolates I made my boyfriend, I also got him a box of cupcakes which we shared and Florence and the Machine tickets which we'll go to in march.

It was the most romantic thing ever that day and whilst he only cooked me a meal it was all I wanted it was lovely. I hope me and my boyfriend have many lovely memories together.

*****Sorry for the gushy post, I don't do it often*****


Sunday 12 February 2012

Review: Whitening Face Mask


So I received two of these in EveyChua's Giveaway last month, so I thought I would give it a little review.

First of all I was a bit skeptical about a whitening face mask but I really liked it overall.

I found it evened out my skin tone a bit, not that its uneven but I get blotchy and this helped with it. Although it does burn a little lightly, I get this with most facemasks I think its the product working into my skin.

But 15 minutes with this on and my skin is noticeably lighter and it also does your neck, you hook it over your ears to hold it in place which I found really weird to begin with as facemasks in the UK don't have this, but I found it really useful.

I'd give this mask a 4/5 if it didn't burn my skin a little I'd give it full marks as it makes my skin really soft too.

Saturday 11 February 2012

Little bit of shopping!!


So me and my boyfriend went to the farmers market, my boyfriend found a blackcurrent and apple brandy, we both decided to settle on a boar pie which we're going to have for dinner with homemade chips tonight. The last thing we got was duck eggs which have sentimental value to me as they were my great grandmothers favourite and they always remind me of her.


We also wandered round town just generally and we checked out a new goth shop that had popped up and I wish I didn't, I really like goth fashion but this was very tacky and cheap. We then stopped at cafe nero for a quick coffee which was really nice, I don't know why people spend lots at starbucks when its just as lovely. I popped into the charity shop too as they had a teapot I liked last week, and it was still there so I decided to buy it. As a treat for my boyfriend even though he's paying me back I got him a new game he's been wanting for 8 months, it sounds really interesting which is why I wasn't that bothered about getting it.

That's all for now xxx

Tuesday 7 February 2012

Recipe: Turkey Mozzarella burgers



Turkey Mozzarella Burgers

-Turkey mince
-Mozzarella
-mixed herbs
-Salt and pepper

What to do:
Mix mince in a bowl with herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
Make into patties double the amount you're serving as half will make a topping.
Place a mozzarella piece in the middle, Top with a pattie.
Fry for 20-30 mins, check inside if cooked flipping several times.

These were delicious even my boyfriend liked them and he doesn't like healthy things usually. After this I had half an apple and two go yoghurt bars and I've almost drank a litre and a half of water which is so good.

Busy day


This was the view from the street when I was walking, it reminds me of silent hill.

Anyway yesterday was a really busy day, early in the morning I had a doctors appointment to sort this cold I've had for 5 months. That's not natural, so now I'm on anti-biotics, allergy pills and I have nasal spray too. Then I had my presentation for my dissertation which went a lot better than expected, after that I had to go to the clinic for my contraception where basically they told me I had only lost a kilogram which got me down this weight is becoming harder to shift but its hard to get back into a routine again for exercise but healthy eating is fine.

Lately the weather has been horrible but my new jumper is keeping me warm and I got some new boots which are like army style with studs I can't wait to wear them. Tonight I'm going to try and make turkey burgers which hopefully will go well.

Ciao
xx

Sunday 5 February 2012

Snow and life

This is the snow man my boyfriend and his housemate built whilst I was inside browsing tumblr and drinking tea like the old lady I am. Wish I had a cat and an open fire would have given me a better warmth.

Here you can see my winter jumper and kind of my new phone case, which I found out is really durable after slipping in the snow and landing on it.

Apart from that I have just been resting up and enjoying life as well as doing uni work. Tomorrow I have the doctors and my progress presentation for my dissertation hopefully it'll go well and the doctor will give me something better than over-the-counter flu stuff as that doesn't seem to be working.

Ciao xx

Thursday 2 February 2012

Movie Review: Chronicle



Well last night was date night and whilst there wasn't much on at the cinema apart from War horse not exactly my cup of tea and Chronicle. Me and the boyfriend decided to give Chronicle a gamble since there were no reviews online as it had just come out that day.

So my first impression was 'Oh no, another superhero film' however throughout the film I realised it wasn't that it was exactly what would happen if people did get super powers. They'd mess about with them and try to concentrate their skills. I will advise though if you're looking for a light fun-hearted super hero film this is not it. It's not a drunken friend comedy with super powers, it slowly takes a macabre turn. The special effects are pretty good apart from a few scenes when it's kind of obvious they are there.

Overall I'd give this film an 8/10

Oh and if you're curious the rest of the date night we went to pizza express which was kind of nice but I didn't really feel full even though I'd had a starter and a main course both of which were low fat so maybe it was that. Then we checked out a bar afterwards in town which was really nice, next time we go in I'll try and take pictures to show you. It's weird though as it's a wetherspoons, for those of you that don't live in the UK wetherspoons is a really cheap chain of bars that is perfect for students like me. But this was like an upmarket version. Since both me and my boyfriend were hungry we stopped by the supermarket and got a diam tart and cornish ice cream it was delicious.

Ciao xx

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Recipe: Spinach and Mushroom pasta



So I'm trying this flexitarian diet which is where breakfast and lunch are vegetarian and then dinner can have a little meat, this makes me want to get more creative with my cooking as well. I'm just doing it to eat more vegetables in my diet not because I want to become vegetarian and I enjoy some vegetarian dishes anyway.

Anyway so I cooked up this tasty spinach and mushroom pasta since they're my favourite two ingredients.

You will need:
-Mushrooms
-Onion
-Spinach (I used frozen, fresh will do)
-Spaghetti
-Milk
-Flour
-Mixed herbs
-Salt and pepper to taste

Firstly saute the mushrooms and onion in a frying pan. Start cooking the spaghetti now too follow the packet instructions. Then add milk and flour to the frying pan (sorry I don't have measurements I freestyled) stir whilst sauce thickens once thickened add spinach and mixed herbs, if you've used frozen spinach here cooked until defrosted. Next add the cooked spaghetti to the frying pan and make sure its all covered in sauce. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Volia.

A tasty vegetarian dish, I believe if you used something like chestnut mushrooms it would give a lovely woody flavour.

Monday 30 January 2012

Giveaway: The Glamourous Housewife

This week over on http://talesofaretromodernhousewife.blogspot.com is having a giveaway week!

This is the first day of the giveaway and she's giving away a lovely cocktail ring.

To enter the giveaway, all you need to do is announce this week's giveaway on your blog and link back to this post. Then let me know in the comments with a link to your blog. If you don't have a blog, then a facebook post, twitter, or pin is also welcomed. I am leaving this contest open until next Monday, because I have noticed not everyone is obsessed with blogs like I am, and some only read them on the weekends, and I want to make sure everyone is included this week. Let the giveaway begin!

****UPDATE: INTERNATIONAL WELCOME TO JOIN***


Go enter now!!!!

Sunday 29 January 2012

Recipe: Blueberry Tart


Pastry:
-225g Flour
-1 egg
-2 Tablespoons Caster sugar
-2-3 Tablespoons Cold water
-125g Butter

Filling:
-300g Blueberries
-125g Sugar

What to do:
- Grease a tart or cake dish.
-Rub butter into flour until like breadcrumbs, Stir in sugar and add water to slowly form a dough.
-Refridgerate pastry for an hour.
- Stir in sugar with blueberries.
-Put the pastry in the dish and add blueberry mixture.
-Cook at 180 degrees centigrade for 20 minutes until pastry is golden.

Recipe: Caramel Apple Upside down Cake



This was my first tricky cake ....also I guess this is becoming a bit of an amateur food blog.

Cake mix:
110g butter
110g sugar
110g flour
2 eggs beaten

Apple base:
30g butter
30g sugar
2 apples
1/2 tsp cinnamon

What you need to do:
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees centigrade.
-Grease your cake tin, peel and core the apples line the base of the tin with them and sprinkle cinnamon on them.
-Cream together the butter and sugar.
-Add flour and the beaten eggs.
- For the caramel part, heat butter in a non-stick pan.
-When the butter begins to melt add the sugar to the pan.
-Pour the caramel sauce onto the apple base, then add the cake mixture on top of this.
-Cook for 15-20 minutes or until golden.
- To remove the cake from the tin, wait for the caramel to cool a bit maybe 10 mins then get a dish with hot water put your cake tin in this and a knife round the edge. Put a plate on top and flip. If some of the caramel is stuck or if there is not enough make another batch of caramel and pour on.

(I've adjusted the cooking time from the original recipe by Phil Vickery a professional chef, due to my cake coming out half cooked, he suggested 10-12 minutes)

Monday 23 January 2012

Fitness



So this is the workout I did this morning, I can tell you it absolutely killed me. I can tell you lovelies now that I have never sweated from working out, apart from when I was 14 and we had to do P.E. compulsory. I usually do yoga, pilates and about 200 sit ups a day, so to get the rest of my body working I thought this would be good even though it included dreaded running, which I ran on the spot.

The jumping jacks killed me due to not having a sports bra, but I managed just like we used to in school. The crunches didn't bother me as I usually do them and the squats didn't bother me since I've included them in workouts before. The leg lifts were a little difficult as I was trying to keep my balance and then running for 10 minutes was the killer, I went in thinking okay 10 minutes not that long, after 5 minutes I was flagging, my boyfriend kept me motivated by counting down the clock but still by the end of it I was sweating which is what a good workout should do.

I eat healthy anyway so this isn't a problem but I have been avoiding temptations such as chocolate as its what my boyfriend always eats in front of me. But tonight since its chinese new year we're having a chinese takeaway to celebrate, I will try to pick the healthiest dish and avoid fried things apart from spring rolls I love them but we'll see what other starters they have. I also do a lot of cleaning round the house so that's helping me lose weight without realising, I don't use scales but last time I did which was just after christmas/new year I was 158lbs /71 kg when I used to be 145lbs/66Kg, I usually get my weight checked when I do my contraception and the next time that will be is February so we will see if my effort has paid off.

Anyway have to go, I have to start writing my dissertation whilst my boyfriend is out so I've got no distractions.

Ciao xx

Thursday 19 January 2012

Recipe: Mexican Lasagne

I didn't mean for this to start becoming a food blog, but it seems it has with all these recipes, I have some stuff to review though as I received my giveaway winnings from Evey chua. Anyway on with the recipe.
This came about because one my boyfriend always took more of the filling for fajitas than me so I'd end up with more bread than the healthy stuff, so to stop this mexican lasagne.

Mexican lasagne

You will need:

-Tortillas (we used about 6 but we have a small tray)
-Kidney beans
-Chicken (about 4 medium size pieces)
-Chopped tomatoes (canned)
-1 bell pepper
-1 onion
-Tex mex seasoning
-Cajun seasoning
-Herbs
- Salt and pepper to taste
-Cheese

First you cook like you would fajitas, brown bitesized pieces of the chicken with chopped onion and pepper.
When brown add seasoning, I guess for this part but a tablespoon of each should do it.
Next add kidney beans and chopped tomatoes and herbs. Stir through until everything is coated nicely.
Then get out your baking pan, layer two tortillas on the bottom then add the chicken mixture and then add two more tortillas layer with cheese and then add more chicken mixture.
Continue this until you've run out of ingredients.
Then bake in the oven for 30 mins or until baked through, if the cheese on top browns too quickly cover with foil.


Friday 13 January 2012

B.B Cream


So I thought I'd post a little review of this BB cream I brought over Christmas, one reason I got it is because I'm so pale I can never really get a moisturiser to match and the other was because I'd heard good things about it.
It comes in two colours light and medium, I obviously went for light but was a bit worried because when I used the tester it seemed a bit dark still. However when I used it, it matched my skin tone very well probably because its more like a tinted moisturiser than a foundation.

Texture: The texture at first felt like it would be heavier than foundation but as soon as I started applying it, it felt light on my skin, as there is one thing I hate is feeling my make up on me.
Smell: I actually really love the smell of this is smells like apricots which is great as most things for your face smell like chemicals or just plain disgusting but I don't mind wearing this as it smells really nice.
Application: The application of this product is really easy I use it like a moisturiser which technically it is as well as providing protection against UVA rays its has a SPF 15 in it. Coverage is quite good, but it will need to be reapplied throughout the day. Also just a little side note if you have acne or other skin conditions it doesn't seem to cover these, I had a spot on my chin and it basically pointed out to everyone as it lightens as well.
Overall: I would buy this product again definitely I don't know what it compares like against its asian counterparts but as an international product its pretty good. I get good coverage and it lightens and matches my skin tone.

Recipe: Apple Pie

So since I'm trying to shed this stone I have gained, which is about 6kg, and more I've decided no chocolate and make healthier choices. So my boyfriend the other day asked me to make apple pie now with no custard or ice cream it should be fine if I have a small slice, plus it has fruit in it which makes it healthy right? Well apart from the pastry which is mostly butter (-_-').

So for this kind of healthy pie you will need:
Pastry (if you can't make your own or are short for time buy ready-made shortcrust)
-225g butter at room temperature
-50g sugar
-2 eggs
-350g flour

Filling
-1kg apples
-140g sugar
-1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

To make:
-Mix the butter and sugar with your hands (it can get a little messy), break in the eggs and stir with a spoon. Now add the flour slowly with a wooden spoon, begin to clump it up with your hands to make a dough ball, then refrigerate for 45 mins (I left mine overnight).
-Peel and slice the apples so they're in small chunks.
-After pastry has been chilled, heat the oven to 190c/170c fan or 350F if your oven is like that. Mix 140g sugar with the cinnamon and then coat the apples in this mixture . Cut a third of the pastry, then roll the rest out and line a pie tin thats 20-22cm and 4 cm deep, I used a cake tin it was fine, Put the apple mixture into the pastry lined tin.
-Make the Pastry lid with the third of pastry you cut off earlier. Seal the edges you can make a fancy crust pattern using a fork if you would like. Make five little slashes on the top so steam can escape. Bake for 40-45 mins until golden and then let sit for 5-10 mins to cool a little bit.

Can be served hot or cold.




In other news I've received some eyelashes I ordered unfortunately they don't come with glue and My friend Ivana received her Christmas package and she liked it. And I finally got paid from my Christmas job and have been looking for a new one.

Sunday 8 January 2012

Holidays

These are the cupcakes my mum got me for Christmas in lemon,vanilla and chocolate.
This quiche I baked for my nan as a Christmas present it was spinach and feta, I was really impressed and will be making quiche more often.
Package off my friend Ivana from Prague. There is a cat hand warmer with lavender, Caramel tea which is slightly bitter and beer hair balm which I haven't tried out yet.

This was our family Christmas tree.

For the holidays I didn't do much since I was working at the bar and on top of that we were redecorating my room. For Christmas day I went to my nan's for dinner as my mum was on holiday but I was working boxing day so I couldn't drink too much so I just ate a lot. For New years I went to visit my boyfriend in reading and did a little shopping I got underwear, some much needed jeans and a new satchel style bag as mine was broken. We went to lunch at wagamama's where I discovered my boyfriend had never used chopsticks before so he tried using them to eat gyoza and a bowl of ramen, he managed it luckily and he's getting better at trying new things which I appreciate. He came to visit mine for a few days as well and met my mum I think it went well and we went to Nando's. I think I can understand why I've put on a stone over the holidays which I will work off. From now on its healthy eating and trying to lose weight and hopefully by the end of this year me and my boyfriend will have a flat to move into, we have to start looking this semester. Also speaking of moving I have changed rooms to the smaller room in my house which is £90 a month cheaper and amazingly all my things fit into it so finances should be better although I still need to get onto student finance about that. Also a little surprise over the holidays I won eveychuas giveaway so I look forward to receiving that in the post.

Ciao xx