Holla!

I wouldn't consider myself a baker of any sort however I felt as if this could be a new thing!
As it is autumn and by far my favourite time of year I felt it was necessary to give it a go, especially after browsing on pinterest and Zoella's blog. As I am not used to baking I thought these would either be a hit or miss but the only way to find out was to try it. As I like to be organised you will see my trusty notebook feature with my set of instructions and ingredients! You cannot go wrong when you make a plan!

The recipe you would need to use is :

The cupcakes

>280g cupcakes
>110 unsalted butter softened
>250g pumpkin puree
>200g caster sugar
>5 table spoons of brown sugar
>100ml milk
>250g pumpkin
>1 tea spoon cinnamon
>half tea spoon nutmeg
>half tea spoon ginger
>half tea spoon salt
>half tea spoon all spice
>1 table spoon baking powder
>half tea spoon bicarbonate of soda
>2 eggs
>cupcake cases

1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees Celsius and grease your muffin tin if you do not have any cases
2. Sift together the dry ingredients such as the flour, nutmeg, ginger, all spice, salt, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and set this aside
3. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy
4. Add eggs one by one and mix them with the butter and sugar
5. Gently and in small quantities add the milk and puree after the last egg has become part of the mixture
6. Gradually add the flour
7. Once the mixture is smooth apply to cupcake cases, roughly two thirds of the case should be full to enable room for icing and decorating
8. Put the cupcakes in the oven for 25 minutes

When the cupcakes are taken out of the oven leave them around 5 minutes to cool. Whilst they are cooling begin to make the frosting. When the cupcakes are ready to come out the oven, make sure they're golden and crisp, they should sponge back when lightly pressed. If in any doubt prod with a sharp knife to check for any uncooked parts of the cupcake. Place back into the oven for a few minutes and check again. The cakes should be light, spongy and moist if the recipe is followed to precision.

Cinnamon cream cheese frosting

>200g cream cheese
>50g softened unsalted butter
>350g confectioners sugar
>1 tea spoon vanilla extract
>1 tea spoon cinnamon
>piping bag
>halloween decorations

1. Beat the cream cheese and butter in a mixer until smooth
2. Beat the confectioners sugar gradually into the mixture of butter and cream cheese
3.Add the vanilla extract and cinnamon
4. Keep mixing until smooth enough to pipe

If a the icing appears a little runny add some extra confectioners sugar and this should thicken it up so it becomes appropriate for the decorating

For me following this recipe was super simple. As these were appropriate for halloween I used some purple and orange crisp balls as I could not find any halloween pumpkins for decorating cakes in my area. Everyone who tried them complimented me and said the cinnamon was very apt. creating much flavour and how the pumpkin wasn't over powering at all, one said it was festivity in a cupcake! No getting out of the bake sales now.

The recipe can be found at all recipes.

I hope you enjoy this post and try them out for yourself!! Very tasty and I'm looking forward to making some christmas ones come December! Stay in tune for more posts to come and drop a comment if you like the blog and for any questions.

Love always,

A Levels and I

Holla All!

I thought I would do a post on whats been going on recently. I am at a point in my life which is incredibly important for my future, along with this comes a lot of stress. A Levels are extremely hard work and require a lot of time, dedication and commitment. Personal statements, revision, flash cards, mind maps, notes, post its, reading journals, timelines... the list is endless and will never be completed!! Once you know what you're applying for for uni you lose interest in the subjects which have no importance in this role. I am applying for English Literature and am extremely excited, It's all I want to do.. whether I decide on teaching, journalism or another careers field of interest only time is to tell but I'm intrigued as to what the future holds! I'm looking forward to change and moving out of Norfolk, I consider this an a new chapter in my life a chance of adventure. 

I'm the type of person who will not do anything until I know I've hit a satisfactory amount of work which is normally a lot higher than expected. I may even work up to 15 hours if I have a free day. I like to make the most of the day and ensure I am making the most of my time especially with my future at the end of my fingertips. I always end up writing too much or revising the unnecessary information. As an organised being I like to schedule my day and this puts me at ease so I know what I'm doing and exactly when I'm doing it, I do not like to be left in the dark without an idea of what I could be doing as theres always too much to do, things need to be separated and broken down in terms of necessities and deadlines. 

If you're like myself then you won't leave your desk for hours so the most important thing is to make sure you're hydrated unless you will lose interest and concentration and this is so easy to do when you're not originally interested in your study!! Working in candle light is one of my favourite things to do, have some background music a cup of tea, cinnamon candle for christmas and my work and I'm away! The simple things turn out to be the best.

Sometimes you just have to break up your day and walk away, I find going for a run or even taking the dog for a long walk is a brilliant way of clearing my head getting some fresh air and just taking into account what is around us all the time. I am so lucky to be living in the country where I can just escape to a lake or forest absorb the nature and revert back to my little sector of study after an hour or so. A hearty homemade meal is also encouragement of working hard, especially this time of year around autumn and winter when you return from a brisk walk in the mist or even chilly haze of the evenings to a bowl of slow roasted stew or more excitingly on a sunday a roast dinner and all the trimmings. Another release which as a born and bred british may come naturally, sitting in a different room or even venturing off to a local cafe or your grandmas, grabbing a cuppa T, a herbal tea (peppermint is my favourite!), hot chocolate or even a coffee and picking up a book, magazine or the paper and just sitting and taking some time to yourself for about half an hour before its back to the studying!! I love looking at fashion and home decor magazines! Taking breaks with family is also nice for them as well as yourself considering you're working hard it's good to socialise too! 

Other ways of being at one with yourself may be to go outside, take a journey to a park, beach or a coffee shop take a notebook and pen and jot down some things about your day, what you've enjoyed what you've completed and things to think about, maybe a to do list. A journal is something i'm going to make a new years resolution! It would be nice to look back on what I used to do and not keep cooped up in one room but make sure I'm having a life too!! 

Why running is important, ah I do love a good fitness regime!! I like to go to the gym, bike rides, rugby training and a run whenever I can. Again its a marvellous way of letting yourself go and clear your mind in a few minutes! There's so many tracks and trails to discover when running or biking or just walking. 

Sixth form isn't just about the Alevels (obviously thats a very important aspect!) its also very important to keep a social calendar. Not having to wear a uniform during seasons such as Autumn is a lovely pleasure as you can wrap up in blanket scarves, beanies, baggy jumpers, jeans, boots and oversized coats!! I absolutely adore this season for all reasons and more to be mentioned in Autumn favourites coming soon!! Being able to co ordinate your make up to your attire is also something which brings such joy in winter, being able to mix and match a berry lip with a tartan scarf can never be frowned upon!

Thank you all for taking time to read this post, it's been fun writing it and I hope you keep up to date with my weekly varied posts!! I hope this will help many of you to plan your days and hopefully feel more calm when times become stressful, changing location for an hour makes a massive difference so test it out and see what works for you! I'd love to hear what helps you in the comments below.

Bye for now and love always,

What makes me happy?

Holla!

Living in the country

So this weekend has been different to many others recently. I actually had a sunday off!! New world I tell you that and what did I spend it doing? Clearing my head and being at one with nature, I chose to go for a run, release some endorphins and really appreciate what I take for granted. I live in a small village in Norfolk, I have some stunning scenery around me and I really do forget I have it until I take it upon myself to go for a brisk walk or a run or even a bike ride. Being in the forest or near the lake really eases me and enables me to escape everything, my phone stays at home and just my soul travels along with my freedom. This is my favourite time of year to be absorbing the countryside all around me not to mention the diverse shades of leaves and the cold air yet still rosy cheeks when we're all wrapped up in our hats and scarves!! Not just myself but my dog too, he also loves this time of year and the long walks around the lake.. it's just a shame it starts to get dark so early!! The nature, not just the wildlife but the plant life also excites me, there's only certain places you can find such treasures and I am one of the fortunate to have them right on my doorstop. 

Catching up on lost time

My sister who lives with her mother in Norwich came to visit this weekend. She doesn't come that much and when she does i normally work all weekend or i'm stressing over ALevel studies. I had a sunday off this weekend which was lucky and I chose catching up on lost time with a special person I forgot how much i missed over my studies, very unusual for me but worth every second! Was lovely to have a chat and catch up with her, will be very much looking forward to her October half term stay. 

Coffee and car journeys

I'm a mad coffee addict and I love a strong caffeine kick but also a syrup shot too. This time of year greets me with a spiced pumpkin latte or a salted caramel flat white and I just adore them, how could one be so excited over a beverage?!! I also feel as if car journeys are another way of escaping reality and just setting off but not knowing the true destination, just being guided. Usually I don't have time for car journeys so when I do i take full appreciation of them and the scenery I get to see behind the scenes of the city life is the back country roads, some still with a slick line of vegetation in the middle of the road which shows how clean and how prominent the nature is in such areas. Fields and forests, beaches and arboretums, my love for these areas will never go amiss. I just hope everyone appreciates and respects them as well as i do, there's always habitats where you would least expect them, care for the environment and the environment will care for you. 

Lists, Lists, Lists and more lists!

I absolutely love to be organised and along with organisation comes lists, lists for all!! I make lists for everything, schedules too! Studies were still a key, I never complete a list and then there are lists overlapping lists. Lists about lists, listing studies, times, upcoming events, positive thoughts, quotes, anything you could possibly imagine! 

Pinterest

This is a website, one I have used for many years and i will continue for many years to come. It provides everything I could ever imagine, ideas about recipes, fashion, decor, event planning, EVERYTHING! I would be lost without it and it's 100% my go to whenever I have a spare 5 minutes which turns into hours when i get my hands onto the world of pinning! If you haven't already got an account i would definitely recommend getting one, you won't look back, ever! 

Happiness/Positivity quotes

Whether they are from Ghandi to Shakespeare i always enjoy having a browse at new quotes about anything! Life, travels, positive thinking and motivation. I read a quote and think to myself, yes thats true i will now follow and plan my paths in mind of that special sentence

Changing for the better

So recently I have been looking at universities and writing my personal statement.. discovering after AS results that science was not my chosen career path but surprisingly English Literature chose me. Bearing that in mind my personal statement has been based around Lit and my excitements to start full time study on this one subject, never thought I'd be so motivated for such a subject. Whether its with Classics, French or Philosophy i'm ever so intrigued to my further study and venturing to a new place next year.. yet of course friends will be missed and thats sad but we will ensure summer is one to remember. 

Events with friends 

These really make me realise how lucky i am to have such amazing friend and the many events we have held make me so happy just to know we're all a unit. There will always be tough times when you have such a large friendship group full with so many individuals but that makes it all the more intimate too. I love every single one of them and I wouldn't be who I am today without any of them. "Raises glass" To friendship!

CANDLES

I love, love, love a candle and especially during the darker and colder evenings. They add something spectacular to the mood and most importantly the room I'm in, i feel transformed when I light a candle, as if I'm in a daze and the best thing is I can still smell them days after they were lit! My favourite at the minute is strawberry shortcake by Yankee Candle and I cannot wait to start lighting my Christmas go to! A friend once told me that candles are a way of reminding them that there's always light in everything you do or see and even though times may be tough right now, there's always a silver lining, I love that hypothesis and vouch for it myself.. whenever I have a bad day or things are tougher than usual, a candle will be lit to be a reminder of a light being at the end of the tunnel. As God said 'let there be light'.. and let there be. We may be having a bad day but its never a bad life. 

Tea and hearty dishes!

I am a true british, I do absolutely love a cuppa and more prominently now. When I get home I like to get settled, grab a blanket and my laptop, turn on the news make a tea and chill on the sofa for an hour before I have to get cracking with the dreaded Alevel studies! I feel blessed for this time of year when I can indulge in a homemade soup, stew and dumplings and roasted vegetables. The hearty meals are my all time favourite things to eat throughout the whole year I'm waiting for october for this prime reason!

These were just some things which make me happy but i thought if I shared all then  might as well have written a book!! Every now and then recall the things which bring happiness to you and remember what you take for granted which should really be appreciated. I hope you enjoyed this post and don't forget whatever you decide to do make sure it will make you happy!

Love always,