Apologies!

I haven't posted over the last few days because I've been packing! I'm heading back to university tomorrow to start my second year as an English student and I'm soooooo excited! No really look how excited I am:

Anywhoo, when I get back to university and my room is all done up I'll put up some pictures and show you how homey I've made it :)

I was listening to this earlier when I was packing, brilliant classic.

Muffin Mashup

So...I did some more baking.

Early in the week I made some vanilla cupcakes and I was going to ice them with some simple vanilla icing, but then I remembered I had some red gel food colouring, so I made orange icing instead...

Then on Wednesday I used the chocolate cake recipe to make some more cupcakes, and I used some of the leftover orange icing to ice them.

Aaaaaaaand thennnnnnn, I made an experimental cake with some leftover strawberries I had, and it was taaaaaaasty.

So this looks like an ordinary cake with some chocolate icing right?

BOOM! Oh that was just your mind being blown by the random orange icing...

Anywhooo, music.

New York's Finest Weavers

Now I'm not an avid follower of fashion trends, but I do love fashion. Personally, mine is simple and clean and uncomplicated. I like elegance and flowing, comfortable fabric, but that doesn't mean I don't like to have a look at whats on the catwalks now and then, mostly during the fashion weeks of New York, London, Paris and Milan. Although its not over yet (NYFW), I did have a look on style.com at the shows that have already happened, and I've made a collage (although it couldn't fit them all in) of some of the pieces I love, and then some of the showstoppers below!

In this collage: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Helmut Lang, J. Mendel, Jenny Packham, Michael Kors, Monique Lhullier, Oscar de la Renta, Pamella Roland, Rachel Zoe, Tommy Hilfiger & Zac Posen.

...and the showstoppers

Monique Lhuillier Spring 14' RTW

Oscar de la Renta Spring 14' RTW

Oscar de la Renta Spring 14' RTW

Zac Posen Spring 14' RTW

Mr Posen definitely knows how to close a show!

As the year comes to a close (well maybe I'm a bit keen), I really look forward to Awards' season (and Christmas of course), and seeing what the actresses wear. It sounds a bit childish, but I'd love to have an occasion to wear a full length evening gown (other than a possible wedding of course)!

I know a lot has been said about Miley Cyrus lately, so I won't bother elaborating on it, but I do love her new song Wrecking Ball. She has incredible vocals, and its kinda catchy for a ballad-esque song.

Bakeaholic

Me: Hi My names Ore and I'm a Bakeaholic

All: Hi Ore.

Bakeaholic and proud though, don't get it twisted!

Earlier this week I made that chocolate cake with one of my best friends, Jade. As I was adding in the coffee she was frantically telling me to stop, saying (or rather screaming) that some of coffee granules hadn't dissolved in the hot water and that the cake would taste of coffee. Psshhhhh. Needless to say, after she tasted the cake, she had nothing to say. Mwahaha.

Mmm look at all that chocolate!

Then yesterday I did a little experimental batch of red velvet cupcakes with a chocolate buttercream frosting that turned out perfectly moist and 100% delicious. Only thing that went a tiny bit wrong was that after they'd been in the oven for the right amount of time, they still looked moist. DO NOT BE DECEIVED PEOPLE. Stick that toothpick right in cause it is ready and leaving it in for ten minutes longer will make the top somewhat crispy.

Aaaaaaaand after they'd been in the fridge a little while and the icing had set.

 

Look at all the moist chewy goodness!

Apologies for all the pictures, but these were de-lish-usssss. The icing also wasn't too sweet, there was just the right amount of icing sugar in them!


Then this morning I went for a lovely walk with my mum this morning, walked a few miles and fed the ducks, and it was oh so picturesque I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of the beautiful view.

Now is that picturesque or what?

I 100% love this song. Makes me dance every. Single. Time. 

Pleasing To The Eye

...and to the stomach.

Last night I made nice and creamy macaroni cheese with a little twist. When I was boiling the penne pasta (yup I'm a rebel I use penne instead of macaroni), I boiled it with some crushed garlic and some diced onion so that that there were some hidden flavours! Then when I put everything in the oven I mixed in some chopped up red sweet pepper and some tomatoes! I served it with some salad with a salt, olive oil and mixed herbs homemade dressing. Yum!

Then earlier today I was a little cheeky and had some cheesy chips for lunch...it may not be healthy, but the taste was definitely worth it...until I see it on my thighs. Oh who cares?!

I also did some baking today...

But I'll save that for tomorrow ;)

As you know, I am a massive Coldplay fan, so I was delighted to finally (they postponed the release date in August and I was not a happy bunny) hear their new song 'Atlas', for the new Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack. It is absolutely beautiful. If its any indication of what their new album (which I really hope comes soon) will sound like, then I am one very excited Coldplay fan indeed! Listen below:

How beautiful!

Wants & Needs

There's always that thin line between what you want and actually need. Personally I blur the lines a bit sometimes for my own personal gain, and hey, if its my money, what's the big deal right? Right???

bag; New Look, boots; Dune, diary; Mulberry, lipstick; MAC, foundation; MAC

Since I'm going back to university to start my second year, above are just a few things I'd love to take back with me. The diary though? Maybe a cheaper option. It looks nice, but unless I hit my head really hard, I do not see myself buying a diary for over £20! For me its student, and just plain sensible living!

I've been wanting Ruby Woo lipstick from MAC for a while now. Since becoming a student tend not to spend more than £10 on make up unless its 'They're Real' mascara from Benefit which I have decided it only good because of the brush by the way, having substituted the actual mascara for a cheap Collection 2000 formula which works just great in conjunction with the Benefit brush! I've heard a lot of good things about the Ruby Woo lipstick and its great moisture and colour, and its staying power, especially in comparison to the other red lipsticks I've tried! 

The Mineralize Skinfinish from MAC is also absolute perfection but on the pricey side for lil' old me but is definitely worth it when I can afford to splurge a little because it makes my skin look airbrushed and is not too heavy on my sensitive skin! 

The boots have been needed for a while, ever since I went out in the snow in January and discovered a hole in my much loved and very comfortable boots from Dorothy Perkins. The above boots from Dune are not exactly what I want (I'd like a slightly smaller heel) but the colour and height are perfect. The price mind you is not..

The diary - I need to organise myself. The Calendar on my phone is rarely (if ever) checked and as the new load of societies are added to my schedule, I'm going to need a place to keep up with them all. This is where the diary comes in. Wish me luck trying to organise myself!

The bag I feel is the perfect balance between shoulder bag and satchel. I had a very nice but very unsuitable arm/wrist/hold-low-with-my-hand bag for my first year and I ended up with sore arms and sore hands from carrying heavy books in a gorgeous and very sturdy, but highly unsuitable bag. The gorgeous coloured New Look messenger bag above is the perfect mix between a satchel and a shoulder bag that can carry my books but still make me look good. 

Now, just to save up for all these things...

A Moment in the Sun

Sometimes, I get caught up in all the seriousness of life, that I forget to enjoy the little things, like spending time with family. Over the last few days I've spent a lot of time with family, laughing, eating, just enjoying one another's company, and its moments like these that I cherish the most.

Just this weekend I baked a chocolate cake! But not just any chocolate cake.This, is a Baked Bree chocolate Cake. The recipe for this much loved, and quickly devoured chocolate cake can be found here. Whilst I didn't get to take pictures of the cake while I was making it, (I was in a massive rush and it was late at night), I did get to take some pictures of it just before it was massacred by a pack of hungry people, also known as my family, at a BBQ on Saturday. Salivate, and enjoy ;)

If there was one particular criticsim I would want to make about this cake, it would be that I wish it wasn't so boiling hot when I was icing it because it meant that the icing was melting as I was icing the cake, and it meant that I couldn't smooth the sides and top as well as I could have! Ugh, the negatives of sunshine.

Oh, and I became an Aunty again! My cousin's gorgeous wife gave birth to twins just a week ago. A boy and a girl named Noah and Olivia; and let me just say, even though I'm their Aunty, they are absolutely gorgeous and 100% adorable. I am in love. Check out the newest, and cutest twins on the block below.

All snuggled up with mama bear.

I am completely in love with them!

Family is precious! Always remember that!