Wednesday 27 February 2013

Chocolate Profiteroles

So I finally caved and made profiteroles for my boyfriend and housemates ( I hate them and eclairs). I was a little cautious due to a ball ache last time I made them - bearing in mind this was nearly three years ago for A Level Food tech. The main reason they can be so difficult is that they take up a lot of time , pots and pans and everything must be accurately measured.  Armed with Mary Berry and my own twists I accepted the challenge... The Berry would never let me down .

Ingredients:

  • 60g Butter cut into cubes 
  • 150ml of water 
  • 75g Plain flour 
  • 2 eggs lightly beaten 
  • 300ml whipped cream 
  • 2tbsp Icing sugar 
  • 2tsp vanilla extract 
  • 100g Plain chocolate 
  • 200ml double cream 

1)  Put the butter and water in a heavy based pan and heat until the butter melts . Bring to the boil but BE VERY CAREFUL not to melt the butter. 
2) Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the flour with a bit of force until the mixture makes a dough(this should take 3 mins)
3) Leave to cool slightly (so your eggs don't scramble) then beat your eggs in gradually , beating well with each addition. This should give you a smooth and shiny paste. 
4) Butter a baking tray and sprinkle with water. Pipe twelve balls of pastry on the tray. Bake in a preheated oven at 220°C/gas mark 7 for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 190°C/gas mark 5 and bake for 20 minutes. Using a piping bag nozzle poke a small hole in each profiterole. Allow to cool. 
5)  I made a ganache for the topping but there are other recipes available and you can also do coffee profiteroles. To make the Chocolate ganache:   Melt 100g plain chocolate in 200ml Double cream until smooth and shiny. 
6) To make the Chantilly cream filling : whip  300ml of cream with 2tbsp of vanilla extract and 2tsp of icing sugar.
7) Once your profiteroles are fully cooled pipe in the wiped cream in the hole you made previously and dip your profiterole in the chocolate ganache . YUMMY! 
8) Allow the chocolate to harden. 
9) Place into your mouth and enjoy !!!!

So although I'm sure no french Patisserie will be snapping be up just yet I must say I was rather pleased and these were certainly a step up from the last time. I have also been assured they taste pretty fine too. 

ENJOY !!!

Monday 25 February 2013

February 'super six' favourites

I always enjoy reading what people have enjoyed in the past months and thought hey uno I'll do my own 'Super six' favorites . They may not always be beauty or baking related maybe a whole mash up of my month. This gives me a chance to narrow down and really evaluate what I loved the most but also gives you a little insight into my life.  February was a toughie but I think we got there eventually.
I know it seems an odd time to be writing a post but I really stuffy,worried and can't get off to sleep so figured hey uno I'll do some work (that will hopefully help ) and get a post up :)

L-R Soap and Glory smoothie star body milk , Soap and Glory rich & foamous body wash ,Soap and Glory heel Genius, Giant Cous-Cous , Origins Drink up intensive, Lush Snow fairy, Mac Sheen supreme in New Temptation and Clinique dramtically different.


1) Soap and Glory Smoothie star body milk and Rich & Foamous body wash 
I've put these two together because I think there part of the same range and they certainly have the same scent and moisturising properties. I picked up the Smoothie star thinking it would be a light milk boy was I wrong it's actually really thick. It is however encouraging me to moisturise more regularly.  I then picked up the body wash in part of the 3-4-2 offer in Boots ( I didn't really need another shower gel but this smelt so good- you may have noticed I like thinks to smell yummy) . Like all of S&G shower gels this is super soothing.

2) Soap and Glory heel genius  
Now I have never been bothered that my feet were dry because to be honest I try not looking at them as feet are gross! but when my sister exclaimed 'Eww your feet are horrible' I decided it was probably time to take action. I was attracted to this as you leave it on over night and wake up to lovely soft feet. PERFECT.  After using this I think I'm going to try the S&G endless glove hand cream .

3) Origins drink up intensive and Clinique dramatically different 
Although the drink up intensive mask is one of my skincare wonder products I have been finding it so useful whilst been ill especially when combined with the dramatically different lotion.  This combination really helped  clear up my dry skin around my nose and lips and helped the redness and swelling go down somewhat so boys and girls next time you have the flu layer up your products .

4) Mac sheen supreme in New temptation 
I've had this lipstick for a while now and if I remember correctly it was my first mac lipstick but it wasn't till the other week I really fell in love with it. The sheen supreme are a hybrid of a lipstick and a lip glass which means they are often a bit more suited to the day.  In the bullet new temptation looks like a bright vivid red however once applied to the lip it is a much more wearable cherry colour... mmm I love it.

5) Lush Snow fairy shower gel 
If you know me in person you will know that I love Snow fairy I get so excited when it comes out and seriously stock up.I think it would loose the novelty if they started to stock it all year round so I enjoy the festive period and it always reminds me of Christmas.  It's not the most moisturizing gel but by gum does it smell amazing and the smell lingers on the body and the bathroom all day and it contains sparkles .

6) Merchant gourmet Giant cous-cous  

So this sounds a little silly but I love the M&S superfood salad which contains no leave (happy me) but plenty of giant cous cous however I thought it would be too difficult to find Giant cous-cous in the mainstream supermarkets.  I did eventually find some this month in Sainsbury's (£2.29). It's a really good alternative to pasta and is lower in fat and taste bloody good - I think I will do a post about some of the ways in which I eat giant cous- cous.


*Bonus *
Okay so my February  favourites would not be a mention from these two little guys that my lovely boyfriend bought me ( well I bought the cage etc...) . Introducing Tommy and Cupcake. Yes I know Cupcake sounds girly but I thought it suited him - hes the black fatter one and Tommy - named after my granddad is the ginger and white one .















 


current hair care #1

So Unlike skin care I have been interested in hair and hair care for a while now- I am remember when I was younger flicking through hair mags and taking them along to the salon, I am fascinated by blow drying and lust after the perfect style. I still always rush to the hair section of T.K.Maxx.
         However I am incredibly fussy about who cuts it and I have been loyal to the same salon for about 12 years now so I never really have my hair cut in Lincoln because I simply didn't know anyone. However I recently went to Hair 100 and was seriously impressed Hayley the  stylist listened exactly to what I did and was incredibly friendly. My Boyfriend even said that they must be good because I was impressed as soon as I came out of the shop- with that I will defiantly be hitting here again and will be asking the lovely ladies to do my hair for graduation. 
With a new hair cut I decided to show you all what I am currently using on my hair unlike make up and skin care hair care is still split into your higher end products and your cheaper drug store however I think that unlike skincare and make up the drugstore really holds it's head above water especially with brands such as Lee Stafford , Tony and Guy and Trevor Sorbie.   


'
Shampoo's and conditioners: 

I change shampoo a lot but at the moment I am using Trevor Sorbie Beautiful blonde as my regular shampoo and conditioner but when I want a bit more volume and bounce I use the Lee Stafford BIG FAT HEALTHY HAIR . The Trevor Sorbie is great at locking in the colour and the moisture and uno both this and the Lee Stafford smell lovely.





Weekly treatments: 

Redken extreme shampoo and mask:

'Redken Extreme Shampoo provides a rich, abundant lather that gently cleanses, restores strength and adds shine' 

As much as I love my Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo I found my hair was longing for something a little more hydrating. The mask can be left on for 5-15 minutes which is great dependent on how your hair is feeling ... BOOM!  After this my hair feels clean , soft and healthy what more can a girl need?







Styling etc...

Elnett hairsprays :  I love these hairsprays yes there a bit pricey but by gorge they do work and they last forever.  For me Elnett has a sentimental value too me I love the smell of it and it always reminds me of dancing shows where our parents would spray almost a full can on our heads.
TIGI Bed head Dumb Blonde leave in conditioner: 
I don't use this as often as I actually should but when I do it makes my hair easier to brush and stops the ends from been as split. Like many of Tigi's products they have the scent nailed down to a tee.
Batiste blonde dry shampoo- I don't think I really need to tell you about why this product is so fantastic.
Tigi Catwalk heat defence-  Again it's a heat defence spray can't really say much more about it if I'm honest .
Bumble and Bumble prep- This is a great detanglling spray which does get rid of any knots and tangles(essential if you have dyed hair) but if I'm honest I prefer the Loreal kids detangler. 



So there you have it a run down of what I am currently using on my hair on a regular basis of course bits chop and change and if I'm styling my hair in a certain fashion I'll use a whole host of products. Hope you enjoyed this post and have a great week. I am hoping to feel better because I am currently facing the effects of the flu ... not nice. I would really appreciate if people would follow the blog on GFC - on the right hand side of home page . 


Have a great week xx

Friday 22 February 2013

Just like granny used to make em...

Cheese and Chorizo scones:

Well not exactly how granny would make cheese scones in fact she's probably turning in her grave at the fact I added Chorizo and paprika but essentially this is a recipe that already remind me of my Nana I used to love going to her house and having giant cheese scones... I am even lucky enough to have her hand written cook book with the original recipe.  These are really good for adding other ingredients too and I had some left over Chorizo left so went for a Spanish twist .   

200g S-R flour 
50g Butter 
25g porridge oats
85g Grated Cheddar plus little extra  
50g Finely chopped Chorizo ( use the one that doesn't require cooking)  
1 tsp smoked paprika
150 ml milk 

1. Pre-heat an oven 220 degrees . Put Flour in a large bowl and rub in the butter until it looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the oats,cheese, chorizo and paprika . Fold in the milk . If you feel the mixture is a little dry you can always add a teeny bit more milk. Then bring together the dough so that it forms a ball. 
2. Tip the dough ball onto a slightly floured surface and roll out no thinner than 2cm. You can then cut the dough I used hearts but you can also use a circular cutter. 
3. Pop them on a baking tray or two , sprinkle with extra cheese and bake for 12-15 minutes until golden. 
4. Allow them to cool and pop them on a plate. However I love them fresh out the oven. 

So hope you enjoyed that little bake either tomorrow or Sunday I am tackling eclairs due to the subtle hinting from my boyfriend and housemates. 
Post will be coming very soon !! 
Have a lovely weekend guys <3

Wednesday 20 February 2013

#2 First thoughts on Feb birch box

Eboost natural energy booster , eyelash curler, Korres Guava shower gel, Vichy thermal spa water ,  Nick Chavez Plump N'thick leave in thickening mist and Gerda Spillmann Bio Fond Cream foundation 
So February's box was not at all what I was expecting I thought they'd go down the valentines route but instead they went with London Fashion week which I am happier about .  It's full of lovely little treats there's a couple bits I'm not fussed about but I rather pleased.

Eboost Natural energy booster - Orange -  
' We're relying on Eboost's natural nutrient- rich , no crash tonic to see us through this years fashion week. Just mix with water and drink up ' Full size 20 pkts £20.99
I like the sound of this as I HATE red bull and although I love coffee I'm trying to drink less of it and it's not always ideal. I've popped this straight in my gym bag to try out this afternoon. I will defiantly considering purchasing if it works.

Eyelash curler- 
An eyelash curlers an eyelash curler but it's always handy to have a second pair to pop in your handbag or just as a spare.

Korres Guava shower gel- 
'The sweet, sophisticated scent of this moisturising shower gel will invigorate you while wheat proteins and aloe vera cleanse and hydrate your skin' Full size £8
Now shower gel is a tricky one for me I don't really care for them in boxes I have enough to be honest and if I want one I'll go buy one . Saying that I do love Korres - that there products are natural. I have been meaning to try this for ages so happy Bridge and it does smell of summer.

Vichy Eau Thermale- 
'Soothing and regenerating, this multi-purpose is naturally enriched with 15  minerals and 13 trace elements. It can be used as a toner, to set make up or as a refreshing boost.' Full size £7
This is something else I put in my gym bag I like sprays like this after the gym because it's a nice refresher after sweating it all out .(Attractive image there) . I stupidly lost my mini caudalie beauty elixir on a night out . YES I am that stupid.

Nick Chavez Beverly Hills Plump N'thick leave in Thickening mist - 
'Get visible volume with this light but powerful leave in treatment from Nick Chavez . Just spritz onto towel-dried hair before styling'  Full size £13.90
As much as I love thick hair I tend to just whack in my heated rollers and get lazy about put treatments in but I will give this a whirl I'm sure. I do like the idea.

Gerda Spillmann Bio Fond cream foundation-
'This light,creamy base is easy to apply , offers great coverage and sets to a powder finish . No wonder it's used on movie sets' Full size £20
This is great for popping in your bag but if I'm honest I'm not impressed by it but that is simply because I'm fussy about foundations. Nothing personal.

Birchbox magazine - -London Fashion week edition-
I love receiving the box but you know more than anything i love reading the magazine. It's always full of handy tips and articles. This week was a cracker! I  really enjoyed reading about the catwalk trends and was very very pleased to see that Bright bold lips are still in . I also enjoyed the article about Korres as i really do love there products especially the Lip butters. 


Current skincare #1

In the past year I have really become interested in skincare I did used to be a make up wipe kinda girl when I was younger but saying that I never particularly had bad break outs or anything when I'm stressed I do get the odd spot on my back but hey you can't see that . I think skincare is so important because you can have the best make up in the world but whats the point if the surface is prepped? With this I decided to do a skincare post about what I use and find helpful ... This may not be correct in the eyes of skincare experts (which I am not ) but it works for me and after all everyone's skin is different :)  

AM:
NUDE  cleansing purifying wash -   I really love this wash it's not heavy but is great for just giving your face a little cleanse in the morning and just gets rid of all the sweat and grim from the night before ... delightful.
Liz Earle skin repair moisturiser or Clinque dramatically different moisturizing lotion-   I love the Liz Earle moisturizer it does really leave the skin feeling lovely but I think I will purchase the lighter version next time . IF my skin is feeling really dry I use the Clinque lotion.  
Origins Ginzing eye cream - I like this eye cream I feel it is light enough to use in the morning and I like that it has a hint of shimmer which works to brighten . However I know some people aren't a fan of the shimmer it holds. 
YSL youth liberator serum- I don't use this every day because I just don't feel my skin needs it at the moment however it is great when my skins just looking a bit lack lustre e.g a heavy night of work, early  mornings or hungover. 

PM:
Micellaire waters:  I cannot rave about these enough they are great at removing makeup and so handy too. Like many others I love my trusty Bioderma so far nothing has come close for me. It lasts a super long time I've had this bottle since I went to Paris in October so a good few months. Now it's running low so until I order a new bottle I am using the VICHY 3 in 1 which is a good substitute not as strong and tastes bit funky but easier to get a hold of.
Emma Harding Cleansing balm: I actually look forward to using this on a night it's really good at getting rid of any last traces of make up and just leaving a nice clean feeling . I do prefer balms for an evening cleanse.  
Liz Earle skin Tonic:  This is just a nice toner it smells lovely and fresh. In the summer it's great to spritz on as a refresher .
Khiels midnight repair concentrate: If you have read my review on this you will know already how much I adore it . Theres something so luxurious about it . 
Emma Harding eye serum : I only have a small sample of this but i will be buying it full size. It's a lovely serum which doesn't feel to heavy but just leaves under the eye feeling refreshed and moisturised. 
Origins high potency night-a-mins:  THIS SMELLS AMAZING!  It's more of a gel based moisuriser which I sometimes prefer especially at night because I don't want to feel it on my skin while I'm trying to sleep. Once I have completed all of this regime I whack on the NUXE reve de miel and I'm good to go !

Masks: I change my masks all the time but at the moment this is what I'm using. 
Body shop honey and oat 3 in 1 scrub mask :  I have mentioned this on here before it does exactly what it says on the tin ... fantastic!
Clinique  Turn around facial masque: A newbie for me i bought it because of the radiance boasting claim but it's also meant to be an anti aging product. It contains grains which exfoliate the skin.(think I'll try it for a little longer then do a review) 
Origins drink up intensive: Another lovely smelling product which you leave on over night and the skin drinks it all up leaving your face feeling Deliciously soft.
I sometimes also mix in some of the Emma Hardie exfoliating seeds into the balm and use this as a mask.

So there you have it my skincare picks sorry it's such a long post but I hope you have all enjoyed it. I am a huge believer that lifestyle and diet play a huge part on how your skin behaves but I think that's a post for a later date. 
Also another good piece of news Bioderma isgoing to be more widely available in the UK . Currently you can buy it in Beauty mart ( Harvey Nics London) which isn't available for everyone. I order mine online from Ebay Bioderma
Have a lovely week guys !!!

Sunday 17 February 2013

General chit chat / How to follow me

Just a bit of a general bit of chit chat bit of update on life because who doesn't like to be a bit nosy now and again?

1) My dissertation is due in two-three weeks so PANIC's on and I seem to be living in the library everyday with this my apologies if I don't blog as much over next few weeks but I will try and get at least one in a week :) then I'm free to blog when ever .
2) I booked my flights to Canada this week ... so excited and my best friend is also taking part in the camp Canada program so I'm thinking once my dissertation is out of the way I will do a post about Canada once every two weeks. This will include preparations , what I'm taking and such like ... I'm even going to try and get Bryony to post her preparations now and again.
3) It's finally getting a bit warmer so Spring clothes and beauty is on it's way (mind last time I said this it snowed the next day )

Following me? :  

1)  Google friend connect 
Possibly the easiest way to follow and you can do this by clicking the link to the right... all you need is a twitter or Google account .

2) Bloglovin 
I recently put my blog up on bloglovin which is a really great way of following a great range of blogs in one easy place. I literally go on bloglovin everyday to see all the recent posts fellow bloggers have put up it's just so easy to see them all in one place ... I am a bit lazy haha
Bloglovin or you can click on the blog lovin tab on the right hand side of my homepage

3) Twitter 
I LOVE twitter !  If you wanna ask me anything , fancy a chat  anything you can find me @brigid_farrell 


Choco shortbread hearts

CHOCO SHORTBREAD HEARTS : <3
Ingredients :   
100g unsalted butter 
50g caster sugar
110g plain flour 
40g cocoa powder 
And anything you want to decorate with I used silver spoon's chocolate caramel buttons .... yummy !!



Method : 
1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees and line 2 flat tins with grease proof paper.  Grab a bowl and add the softened butter and caster sugar. Mix until creamy and fluffy. 
2. Add the flour and cocoa powder to the bowl and use a rubber spoon to mix into the butter mixture.  Do this for a minute or two until it becomes too difficult then use your hands to form a dough ball. 
3. Tip the ball onto a floured worktop and roll out to about 1 cm  thickness. Then go cutter crazy ... I used hearts because it was a valentines present but you can do whatever you fancy. 
4. Place onto the trays( be careful to separate the biscuits as they spread when baked) and pop into the oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Before decorating allow the biscuits to fully cool. 
5. Theres a number of ways to decorate I did some just sprinkled with sugar and then I melted the caramel buttons ( these are a great dupe for the hotel chocolat caramel buttons at a fraction of the price) and dipped some of the biscuits with the caramel.... YUMMY!!! 

This post was inspired by a recipe I saw in ' The Great British bake off - learn to bake' book . 

Friday 15 February 2013

Get ready with me #1 Valentines day


So me and my boyfriend don't really do much for valentines usually except the year he paid for my tattoo (two hearts on my wrist) - what a sweetie but this year we decided to actually do something . I made him some biscuits and a bag full of goodies and he got me a lovely emerald ring - hold ya horses not that kinda ring  and he surprised me to dinner and cocktails I thought that I'd show you what make up I used for the night . 


Base -   I used the Liz Earle skin tint as I already had tan on and just wanted a lovely glow.  Set my T-zone with the Illamasqua loose powder(which oddly doesn't say a shade) , covered any blemishes with the Bobbi Brown creamy concealer in warm ivory and went under my eyes in YSL touche eclat.  I then went in with Nars laguna to add warmth to my face , then to give me a rosy glow I used Nars deep throat and highlighted with benefit High beam. 
Eyes-   I really wanted my eyes to look simple because I had a bright pink lip so I used Mac naked lunch over the lid with Mac wedge in the crease, I then went on the water line with Rimmel soft Kohl pencil in sable brown.  Popped some YSL volume effect faux cils mascara on my lashes and filled my brows in with the bobbi brown brow pencil in ash. 
Lips - I started with YSL Rouge Volupte in shade one and packed it out with elysambre lipstick in the shade 220. I have never heard of this brand but received it in either jolie or glossy box but it's a really bright pink colour.  

Just a note on my hair I used the enrapture heated rollers to create some volume and curls and then went over some of the curls with my GHDs. I love doing my hair like this and the rollers have a bit of sentimental value because my Grandad bought me them for Christmas before he passed away. I thought was nice gift to receive because me and my cousin used to always play with my nana's rollers . 

So hope you all had a lovely valentines day/ night whatever your relationship status <3


Thursday 14 February 2013

'Honey I shrunk the kids '

Honey is not just one of those wonder products that taste 'amazeballs' but it's also really fantastic for your skin,hair and general health.  Traditionally the Ancient Greeks,Romans and Egyptians would use honey as an antiseptic which is why we now use it when your feeling a bit under the weather.   However it also has amazing results on your skin it moisturizer, natural antioxidant properties,tones the skin and is often used in exfoliation.Theres also something so comforting about the smell of honey. So ladies and Gentleman I give you my selection of honey based products.  


L'occitane shea honey foaming shower gel (£13) / Shea honey hand cream (£8) : 
I bought the shower gel because I fancied a bit of a luxurious shower treat and this is right up my ally ... It smells fantastic- not too sweet or sickly and it really does soften the skin (excellent for locking in a tan) . I then got this particular hand cream free (L'occitane had an offer that if their facebook page got enough likes they would give out free handcreams = happy bridgey ) however I often buy them for my mum who has very very dry skin and they always work a treat. The honey version does not disappoint. Next on my L'occitane wish list is the Shea honey whipped body cream . 
Lips - NUXE reve de miel (£9.50) + Nivea milk and honey lip balm (£1.99) :  
OMG!   I cannot rave about the NUXE lip balm enough yes it is expensive but it's worth every penny I use it religiously every night and  by morning my lips feel soft and ready for my lip products.  As for the Nivea lip balm I may or may not of picked it up because it contained honey  but it is actually really moisturizing. I like to keep this in my car ready to go. 
Body Shop -Honey& Oat 3 in 1 face mask (£10) : 
This mask claims to cleanse,polish and  moisturize . It does exactly what it says on the tin basically . Sometimes it'd nice that a product just does what it should no frills .  I must say I do quite fancy the Body shop honey bronze shimmering dry oil (maybe in the warmer months) 

So there you have it my love for honey  expressed :) 
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY  <3

Friday 8 February 2013

Tisserand FOCUS aromatherapy roller ball

So today I decided to have a little wander to Boots - I only wanted some bubble bath to have a bit of a relaxing pamper on Sunday  however I decided to have a stroll over to the alternative therapies section.  At the minute (like a lot of students ) I am feeling very stressed and overwhelmed  what with dissertation,essays and sorting all the paper work and flights for Canada but yet I can't always stay focused - especially when I'm so tired.  I was just browsing the stress less therapies when I saw the Tisserand Focus roller ball. Although this isn't a brand I've used it is one I have heard of courtesy of The Sunday girl's recent post on the sweet dreams roller ball .Click here. Here it goes I'm going to give it a go anything to help and all that :)


So what's in this dinky bottle ?   

' A base of Jojoba, the roller ball contains a handmade essential oil blend that includes : 
- Herbal Rosemary 
- Zesty Grapefruit & Orange 
- Refreshing Orange leaf ' 

I can report that it smells lovely and fresh so I have high hopes ... now if I roll it on every pulse point on my body will I have double concentration? 

I got this in boots for £4.99 



I did pick up the bath stuff in case you were wondering I got the Sanctuary spa Relax warming body oils which seemed very intriguing also in boots at the moment if you spend over £10 on sanctuary spa you get a classic fragranced candle .  Also just a little note to the readers ... There won't be a baking post on Sunday because instead I'm going to do a pancake post (i'm having a pancake party on Tuesday ) and a valentines baking post later in the week . 




HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND !!!! 
XO 

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Chanel Bronzers


Hands down I love bronzers. One of my first ever make up 'proper' make up purchases was the Bourjois Delice de poudre ( I kind of wish all my bronzers smelt like chocolate). I love the way a good bronzer can warm your skin up - especially important for us paler girls and the way correctly applied they can really help contour your face. I love my NARS laguna and kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder but for me it's got to be Chanel bronzers with the sophisticated black and gold packaging . 

Chanel Bronze universel  bronzing make up base and Soleil tan de Chanel shade 63 Terre Ambre


A few weeks ago I finally picked up the make up base after searching for about a year for it and blimey it was certainly worth the wait... I love it !!! The colouring is very similar to the powder bronzer but without the shimmer - making itbetter for contouring.  It can be used in a number of ways but I find that mixing it with your day cream gives a lovely subtle glow . Yes Chanel bronzers aren't the cheapest but they will last you and you know its your slice of Chanel ... because I know I won't be buying a Chanel bag anytime soon :(

Hope you enjoyed this little post ... I'm trying to save money at the moment to go travelling and put a depoist on a flat after uni so I'm cutting back on make up spending alas I still have many beauty posts in the pipeline . 


HAVE A GOOD WEEK !!!
XO  



Sunday 3 February 2013

#2 Weekly beauty bits

So for this weeks beauty picks decided not to bore you with the skincare and haircare baskets because if I'm honest it's not changed so instead I have my make up picks and my travel/overnight picks as I went back up North for the weekend ....

As you can see this week is going to be all about the lips and I'm hoping dewy skin will be making a come back as the sun is trying to poke through . You will also notice that I finally picked up the Chanel soleil tan de chanel bronze universel I have been wanting this since the summer and no where had it. My boyfriend endured a good hour or two searching duty free for this bad boy! So when the lovely Chanel lady(it really does help if the MUA is nice) told me they had it in stock I soon ditched the blusher in favour of the bronze universel.... I am not disappointed.

So for weekend/ overnight I pack my bits and pieces  into this wrap bag from Soap and Glory. I like that you can see what's in and you can fold it all up to be bit more compact. I also pop the black YSL bag in  my handbag for whatever I'm wearing on the day or the odd touch up.
 So my overnight skincare/body bits reflect what I usually use so there the Emma Hardie, Liz Earle skin tonic and day cream, I also have a little bottle of Vichy Micelle water - I didn't want decant my bioderma because I'm running low n last time it leaked :( however this is a fine replacement.   Theres also boring stuff like deodrant, hair bits, toothpaste( I have very very sensitive teeth) . You'll also notice the YSL youth Liberater serum poking through - I bought this because as in a previous post I mentioned that the Khiels serum wasn't pratical for travelling. 
I must say I was proud of how light I came on the make up front . But there is something for every eventuality .  I found the body shop foundation in the depths of my draw and loved it so much I went and bought a new one today(review soon ). You will also notice that my powder Chanel tan de soleil is still in it's little bag/case this is because I stupidly dropped it and the packaging snapped in half so the pouch holds it together... cool story eh ?
Sorry about the long post but I hope you enjoy !
Have nice week see you weds :)
 

#4 Yorkshire pud pud's

Bit of a different baking post today but I was just making some Yorkshires (I did say I love roast dinner didnt I?) and thought hey I'll put that up because although it's a simple enough recipe it requires a few sneaky tips to get the perfect yorkshire pudding ...

140g Plain flour , 4 eggs , 200ml milk and seasoning .... you don't need much I would however suggest a silicone muffin case/tray (as you can see we use ours a LOT!)



1.  Heat the oven to 230 degree/ fan 210 and gas mark 8. Drizle oil into your tin and pop in the oven
TIP #1 get your oil really hot it should bubble when you put mixture in
2. To make your batter tip the flour into a large bowl and beat in the eggs. Slowly add in your milk and whisk so that you have a smooth mixture.
TIP #2 I don't really know why but my mum always told me to leave the mixture to stand for 10 minutes so I do ... I like to think it helps
3. Pour your mixture into the cases (fill it so they go huge :D )
4. Leave them to do there thing for 20-25 minutes in the oven. Eat ASAP .
TIP #3 Once cooked you can then put them in the freezer for up to a month .... you never need to buy those famous brand ones again

Enjoy !!!