lifestyle
Cancer is happening right now, which is why I'm taking part in a Race for Life 10k to raise money and save lives.1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, so please sponsor me now.Donating through my page is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with Cancer Research UK.
Cancer Research Race for Life - Milton Keynes 10k Run
6 May 2017
Cancer is happening right now, which is why I'm taking part in a Race for Life 10k to raise money and save lives.1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Every single pound you donate makes a difference to Cancer Research UK’s groundbreaking work, so please sponsor me now.Donating through my page is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with Cancer Research UK.
You will need:
6oz caster sugar
6oz self raising flour
6oz softened butter
3 Eggs
A slow cooker
Pyrex bowl
Grease proof Paper
Elastic Band
Caramel
Maltesers
Chocolate icing
Method:
- Start by coating the inside of your Pyrex bowl with butter to make sure the cake does not stick when it is cooked, use either a pastry brush or a piece of kitchen roll to apply.
- Using a hand whisk, or electric whisk, Combine the butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Using a spatula, fold in the flour making sure everything is thoroughly mixed together.
- Crack in your 3 eggs and mix until fully combined.
- At this point, add 3 tea spoons of Cocoa powder, and a drizzle of caramel, I used this one.
- Transfer your mixture into your butter coated bowl, smooth out and add more caramel sauce on top.
- Cut your grease proof paper big enough to fit around the bowl, and create a pleat in the paper like so. You pleat the paper so it leaves room for the cake to expand.
- Place paper on top of the bowl and tie an elastic band around the bowl to keep everything secure.
- Turn on your slow cooker, place the bowl in the centre and half fill the slow cooker with water.
- Place on a high heat for 2-3 hours, or until cooked completely, you can poke a skewer in the centre of the cake to check if it is cooked through.
- Once cooked, carefully remove from the slow cooker, loosen the grease proof paper and flip out onto a plate.
- Leave the cake to completely cool overnight.
- Once cooled, you can add more of the caramel, but it's down to personal preference. I added more because I have a huge sweet tooth! Poke your cake a few times with a skewer and pour over your caramel making sure it soaks right through.
- Once you've added your caramel (which you don't have too), you can cover your cake in icing. Seen as we just made ours this morning we was in a bit of a rush needing it for this afternoon so we used this, which worked just as well.
- Smooth the icing as best as you can. but you don't have to worry too much about it being perfect as it will be covered in Maltesers.
- Once coated in icing you can add the Maltesers. Start by making a cross on the cake, and then fill in the sides, this makes it much easier and has a neater finish and everything is symmetrical.
- To finish lightly dust icing sugar over the cake, and add a sprig of holly to decorate.
I hope you like this post and if you do recreate this, please send me a tweet or tag me on Instagram, I would love to see how they came out! Lastly thank you for being here another year and for sticking around. I wouldn't be where I am without my readers, new and loyal. I hope you all have a lovely lovely Christmas and I can't wait to see what everybody received and to read all your Christmas posts!
Love always,
Kimberley x
Christmas Baking: Caramel Malteser Bomb
24 December 2016
You will need:
6oz caster sugar
6oz self raising flour
6oz softened butter
3 Eggs
A slow cooker
Pyrex bowl
Grease proof Paper
Elastic Band
Caramel
Maltesers
Chocolate icing
Method:
- Start by coating the inside of your Pyrex bowl with butter to make sure the cake does not stick when it is cooked, use either a pastry brush or a piece of kitchen roll to apply.
- Using a hand whisk, or electric whisk, Combine the butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy.
- Using a spatula, fold in the flour making sure everything is thoroughly mixed together.
- Crack in your 3 eggs and mix until fully combined.
- At this point, add 3 tea spoons of Cocoa powder, and a drizzle of caramel, I used this one.
- Transfer your mixture into your butter coated bowl, smooth out and add more caramel sauce on top.
- Cut your grease proof paper big enough to fit around the bowl, and create a pleat in the paper like so. You pleat the paper so it leaves room for the cake to expand.
- Place paper on top of the bowl and tie an elastic band around the bowl to keep everything secure.
- Turn on your slow cooker, place the bowl in the centre and half fill the slow cooker with water.
- Place on a high heat for 2-3 hours, or until cooked completely, you can poke a skewer in the centre of the cake to check if it is cooked through.
- Once cooked, carefully remove from the slow cooker, loosen the grease proof paper and flip out onto a plate.
- Leave the cake to completely cool overnight.
- Once cooled, you can add more of the caramel, but it's down to personal preference. I added more because I have a huge sweet tooth! Poke your cake a few times with a skewer and pour over your caramel making sure it soaks right through.
- Once you've added your caramel (which you don't have too), you can cover your cake in icing. Seen as we just made ours this morning we was in a bit of a rush needing it for this afternoon so we used this, which worked just as well.
- Smooth the icing as best as you can. but you don't have to worry too much about it being perfect as it will be covered in Maltesers.
- Once coated in icing you can add the Maltesers. Start by making a cross on the cake, and then fill in the sides, this makes it much easier and has a neater finish and everything is symmetrical.
- To finish lightly dust icing sugar over the cake, and add a sprig of holly to decorate.
I hope you like this post and if you do recreate this, please send me a tweet or tag me on Instagram, I would love to see how they came out! Lastly thank you for being here another year and for sticking around. I wouldn't be where I am without my readers, new and loyal. I hope you all have a lovely lovely Christmas and I can't wait to see what everybody received and to read all your Christmas posts!
Love always,
Kimberley x
It has taken me a while to get myself back into the swing of things here on the blog, but after my blog transformation, I'm feeling rather inspired/motivated to be back here. I wanted to try do 'blogmas' this year but honestly, I've had so much going on the last month or so I feel like the content would've been awful, plus working full time and trying to even find the time to blog is difficult. On that note, I'm here today after spending the last 4 and a half hours spring cleaning and rearranging my bedroom/office area, I'm feeling very content. With Christmas just a few more days away (can you believe it?) it's always a good idea to clean and organise your space, not only does this take away some of the Christmas stress, but also makes space for more new things!
A few days ago myself, my sister, my mother and my nephew took a trip to our local garden centre to have a look around. There is nothing more festive that a garden centre; with all the real Christmas trees and the decorations. If you have never been to a garden centre near Christmas I fully recommend that you do. It has become a mini tradition in my household to go there near Christmas time and you just get such a sense of the 'magic of Christmas' and you forget you're in your twenty's and you get taken back to a time when Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year and you was excited to see Santa.
There is nothing I enjoy more than looking at decorations. Decorating the house for Christmas is my favourite thing to do. We always go with red and gold colour scheme in our house and tinsel is banned! Does anybody else's mum have a real pet hate for tinsel or 'tacky' Christmas decor? If i had enough room in my house to have a giant Christmas tree I really would, I just love them so much and I adore how comforting it makes a room feel.
Of course being in a garden centre on a quite afternoon, I had to get in some outfit shots...
I've hunted high and low for the online links for my outfit, but all I can find is my jeans. The boots and the gilet are actually from last year, the gilet is from New Look and the boots are from Brantano. I love how comfortable and wintry I felt in this outfit, If my hair was down I would have paired this outfit with a black woolly hat..
I actually have some time off for Christmas now and I go back to work on the 27th December, I'm going to try my hardest to get some more posts up this week and there will be blog posts up on Christmas!
What are your Christmas plans this week? Are you doing anything festive?
Always,
Kimberley xx
A festive day out & a catchup
19 December 2016
It has taken me a while to get myself back into the swing of things here on the blog, but after my blog transformation, I'm feeling rather inspired/motivated to be back here. I wanted to try do 'blogmas' this year but honestly, I've had so much going on the last month or so I feel like the content would've been awful, plus working full time and trying to even find the time to blog is difficult. On that note, I'm here today after spending the last 4 and a half hours spring cleaning and rearranging my bedroom/office area, I'm feeling very content. With Christmas just a few more days away (can you believe it?) it's always a good idea to clean and organise your space, not only does this take away some of the Christmas stress, but also makes space for more new things!
A few days ago myself, my sister, my mother and my nephew took a trip to our local garden centre to have a look around. There is nothing more festive that a garden centre; with all the real Christmas trees and the decorations. If you have never been to a garden centre near Christmas I fully recommend that you do. It has become a mini tradition in my household to go there near Christmas time and you just get such a sense of the 'magic of Christmas' and you forget you're in your twenty's and you get taken back to a time when Christmas was the most wonderful time of the year and you was excited to see Santa.
There is nothing I enjoy more than looking at decorations. Decorating the house for Christmas is my favourite thing to do. We always go with red and gold colour scheme in our house and tinsel is banned! Does anybody else's mum have a real pet hate for tinsel or 'tacky' Christmas decor? If i had enough room in my house to have a giant Christmas tree I really would, I just love them so much and I adore how comforting it makes a room feel.
Of course being in a garden centre on a quite afternoon, I had to get in some outfit shots...
I've hunted high and low for the online links for my outfit, but all I can find is my jeans. The boots and the gilet are actually from last year, the gilet is from New Look and the boots are from Brantano. I love how comfortable and wintry I felt in this outfit, If my hair was down I would have paired this outfit with a black woolly hat..
I actually have some time off for Christmas now and I go back to work on the 27th December, I'm going to try my hardest to get some more posts up this week and there will be blog posts up on Christmas!
What are your Christmas plans this week? Are you doing anything festive?
Always,
Kimberley xx
Everybody has bad days, we're only human. I had a bad day yesterday but I knew it was just 'one of those days'. Sometimes you have to mope around in bed and cry because you know what, sometimes you need it. You don't have to pretend to be happy all the time, you're allowed to have down days, you are allowed to be upset, you are allowed to have 'fat days', cheat days, shouldn't of eaten that much food days. I thought I would share a few things that could make you that little bit happier, either after a bad day or to avoid having the bad days...
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
- Accept the things you can't change. Accept the fact you have something on your body you don't like, a scar, a birth mark etc. It's a part of you. A beautiful little speck on a butterfly wing. If you can change something, do it.
- Blast your favourite songs. Weather it's a club/dance album, or a Disney soundtrack. Play that shit loud. Sing your heart out and dance your booty off.
- Smile at your reflection in the mirror, smile at people you don't know, smile at people you hate, smile at the cute elderly couple crossing the road, smile at nature and the tree's if you like...just smile.
- Watch the sunset. I think modern day now, we forget how pretty the world is, we would rather stay in bed for the few extra moments and check our social media like it's the newspaper. Get out of bed, open the window, take a breath of fresh air and look at what's around you.
- Ignore people who think they know more about you than you do. You are you, nobody knows you better than you know yourself. You have your own thoughts, opinions, your own likes and dislikes, your own hobbies, things you love, things that you hate and that is something that nobody can take away from you. ever.
- Keep a happy list. If you had a nice day or somebody said something lovely, write it down. When you are feeling down, it's nice to look back and remember all the lovely things.
- Be happy with what you have, be grateful for what you have, but never stop working for what you want.
- Read a good bloody book, turn off your tv, put your phone on silent, light some candles, put your hair on top of your head, tuck up in bed and even if you read a chapter or two, just read.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
8 Simple ways to be that little bit happier
25 September 2016
Everybody has bad days, we're only human. I had a bad day yesterday but I knew it was just 'one of those days'. Sometimes you have to mope around in bed and cry because you know what, sometimes you need it. You don't have to pretend to be happy all the time, you're allowed to have down days, you are allowed to be upset, you are allowed to have 'fat days', cheat days, shouldn't of eaten that much food days. I thought I would share a few things that could make you that little bit happier, either after a bad day or to avoid having the bad days...
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
- Accept the things you can't change. Accept the fact you have something on your body you don't like, a scar, a birth mark etc. It's a part of you. A beautiful little speck on a butterfly wing. If you can change something, do it.
- Blast your favourite songs. Weather it's a club/dance album, or a Disney soundtrack. Play that shit loud. Sing your heart out and dance your booty off.
- Smile at your reflection in the mirror, smile at people you don't know, smile at people you hate, smile at the cute elderly couple crossing the road, smile at nature and the tree's if you like...just smile.
- Watch the sunset. I think modern day now, we forget how pretty the world is, we would rather stay in bed for the few extra moments and check our social media like it's the newspaper. Get out of bed, open the window, take a breath of fresh air and look at what's around you.
- Ignore people who think they know more about you than you do. You are you, nobody knows you better than you know yourself. You have your own thoughts, opinions, your own likes and dislikes, your own hobbies, things you love, things that you hate and that is something that nobody can take away from you. ever.
- Keep a happy list. If you had a nice day or somebody said something lovely, write it down. When you are feeling down, it's nice to look back and remember all the lovely things.
- Be happy with what you have, be grateful for what you have, but never stop working for what you want.
- Read a good bloody book, turn off your tv, put your phone on silent, light some candles, put your hair on top of your head, tuck up in bed and even if you read a chapter or two, just read.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
I don’t know about anybody else, but working full time can really take it's toll on you. Recently I am coming home from work Exhausted. I work in a warehouse so it's constant, always on your feet busy. This never used to bother me before, but recently it really has been. I think my brain is just in constant work mode since I got promoted, I feel like I have more responsibility but that also means I don't really 'switch off' and before you know it I'm back at work again. The last few weeks I have been making a conscious effort to 'relax' not just physically but mentally as well. Finding that balance with being lazy and relaxing yet being productive is something i'm still trying to figure out. I get home and think about too many things I need to do weather that is; washing, writing blog posts, editing photos, cleaning etc and I think I just need to stop. Stop thinking and just take some time for me.
CHANGE INTO COMFY CLOTHES
There’s no better feeling than getting home from work and changing into a comfy pair of pyjamas or just a baggy t-shirt and some leggings. Changing out of my work uniform is the first thing I do as soon as I am home and I think Its a great way of letting yourself know that, actually now you're in your home and you can chill out!
UNPLUG FOR A WHILE
Although this is something I should do more often, It really is great. Turn off the phone, the iPad, the computer and just relax. Find yourself a good series on Netflix or an easy-watch movie where you don't have to think too much about it and just take some time for yourself.
TAKE A BUBBLE BATH
Since having a shower put in a few months back, I feel like I never just have a nice bubble bath anymore as showers are always just a bit more convenient. I brought a few new bath products the other days and now I just want to stay in a nice bath forever (if that means I wouldn't go prune-y!) After a busy day at work in my steel toe cap boots, there’s nothing like sliding into a nice hot bubble bath. Drop in some essential oils, a lavender scented bath cream and light a few candles and you're all set for a nice little pamper.
MUSIC
Music is a great way to help you relax, weather its your favourite pop songs you want to sing and dance around too, or nice classical music. I am a huge fan of Spotify and I love the fact that you can browse different music depending on your mood. I am a huge fan of the 'Chill' category and a great tip, if you are ever having trouble sleeping there is a category called 'Sleep' and a playlist called 'The most beautiful songs in the world' and it will change your life. It is the most relaxing/beautiful way to wind down at the end of the day or to fall asleep too.
DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE
If you're a bit like me and you can't fully wind down if you know you have things you need to do, then these are some great tips. Before you start to wind down (turning off technology/bath, etc..) This is the time to get them last minute emails,blog posts written. You want to do it while your brain is still in work/concentration mode as this is the best time to do it. Then continue with the rest of your evening. Give yourself 45 minutes-1 hour of computer time (unless you have more time to spare!) and try to be as productive as possible, there is nothing worse than having a nice bath and a cup of tea in bed then shooting up realising you never did publish that blog post that needed to be up 2 hours ago!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are my suggestions for winding down after a long day. Do you have any other suggestions? How do you relax after a long day? Let me know in the comments.
Kimberley
xx
How To: Relax after a long days work...
20 September 2016
I don’t know about anybody else, but working full time can really take it's toll on you. Recently I am coming home from work Exhausted. I work in a warehouse so it's constant, always on your feet busy. This never used to bother me before, but recently it really has been. I think my brain is just in constant work mode since I got promoted, I feel like I have more responsibility but that also means I don't really 'switch off' and before you know it I'm back at work again. The last few weeks I have been making a conscious effort to 'relax' not just physically but mentally as well. Finding that balance with being lazy and relaxing yet being productive is something i'm still trying to figure out. I get home and think about too many things I need to do weather that is; washing, writing blog posts, editing photos, cleaning etc and I think I just need to stop. Stop thinking and just take some time for me.
CHANGE INTO COMFY CLOTHES
There’s no better feeling than getting home from work and changing into a comfy pair of pyjamas or just a baggy t-shirt and some leggings. Changing out of my work uniform is the first thing I do as soon as I am home and I think Its a great way of letting yourself know that, actually now you're in your home and you can chill out!
UNPLUG FOR A WHILE
Although this is something I should do more often, It really is great. Turn off the phone, the iPad, the computer and just relax. Find yourself a good series on Netflix or an easy-watch movie where you don't have to think too much about it and just take some time for yourself.
TAKE A BUBBLE BATH
Since having a shower put in a few months back, I feel like I never just have a nice bubble bath anymore as showers are always just a bit more convenient. I brought a few new bath products the other days and now I just want to stay in a nice bath forever (if that means I wouldn't go prune-y!) After a busy day at work in my steel toe cap boots, there’s nothing like sliding into a nice hot bubble bath. Drop in some essential oils, a lavender scented bath cream and light a few candles and you're all set for a nice little pamper.
MUSIC
Music is a great way to help you relax, weather its your favourite pop songs you want to sing and dance around too, or nice classical music. I am a huge fan of Spotify and I love the fact that you can browse different music depending on your mood. I am a huge fan of the 'Chill' category and a great tip, if you are ever having trouble sleeping there is a category called 'Sleep' and a playlist called 'The most beautiful songs in the world' and it will change your life. It is the most relaxing/beautiful way to wind down at the end of the day or to fall asleep too.
DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE
If you're a bit like me and you can't fully wind down if you know you have things you need to do, then these are some great tips. Before you start to wind down (turning off technology/bath, etc..) This is the time to get them last minute emails,blog posts written. You want to do it while your brain is still in work/concentration mode as this is the best time to do it. Then continue with the rest of your evening. Give yourself 45 minutes-1 hour of computer time (unless you have more time to spare!) and try to be as productive as possible, there is nothing worse than having a nice bath and a cup of tea in bed then shooting up realising you never did publish that blog post that needed to be up 2 hours ago!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are my suggestions for winding down after a long day. Do you have any other suggestions? How do you relax after a long day? Let me know in the comments.
Kimberley
xx
I very recently come back from holiday this weekend just passed and I couldn't wait to upload all my holiday snaps for you all. I visited Gibraltar for my sister-in-laws wedding and it was amazing. I hadn't been on holiday for years and years before this and it will defiantly be something I will never forget. It was the first time me and my boyfriend had gone away together and it was so lovely to spend some quality time together. I hope one day I can return to Gibraltar because honestly it was one of the best experiences of my life. Enjoy my photos!
Photo Diary | Gibraltar 2015
5 May 2015
I very recently come back from holiday this weekend just passed and I couldn't wait to upload all my holiday snaps for you all. I visited Gibraltar for my sister-in-laws wedding and it was amazing. I hadn't been on holiday for years and years before this and it will defiantly be something I will never forget. It was the first time me and my boyfriend had gone away together and it was so lovely to spend some quality time together. I hope one day I can return to Gibraltar because honestly it was one of the best experiences of my life. Enjoy my photos!
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