Day 12!

So it’s the end of my 12 Day Blogger Challenge and it’s been really nice to write about topics that I don’t normally write about, like my favourite things and even makeup which I know nothing about!

Just by answering a few questions each day you already know more about me, but not only that, it’s given me a break from what I would typically write on here. I’ve had the time to think up new ideas and I certainly can’t wait for the New Year to bring some of these ideas to life!

This is more of a catch up. I started a proper diet again a few weeks ago. Less carbs, less bad fats and plenty more fruit and vegetables. Despite not losing huge amounts of weight, I feel better in myself and that counts for more right now because if I’m eating better now then it will make it a lot easier for me to cut out more bad food in January.

It’s the small steps that lead to big changes!

3 Things I’m Loving:

Day 11: Three things I'm Loving

1. My Job

I really feel like one of the luckiest people that I have a job I love. I’ve worked with some really great people and it hasn’t even been 2 months since I started. I’ve got a good deal here!

2. Christmas

This build up to Christmas is great and so exciting. Taking part in doing up my work place for the Christmas season has really lifted that Christmas feeling.

3. FOUR

The fourth One Direction album (sorry, really not sorry), I wonder how long it took to come up with that name!

P… is for Present

I’ve mentioned many times before that I think it’s important to live in the present moment. And as I’ve also mentioned before, there are some circumstances where I have to think about the future and take it into account when making decisions.

However, for the short term, it’s all about right now. There’s no point in worrying about what is going to happen in a year or even 10 years because whatever is meant to be will be.

As my mum told me “It will all be alright in the end, and if it's not alright then it's not the end”. And she is so right (see mum!), everything will eventually work out. Even if things are tough right now, it will all figure itself out soon enough.

A Day in the Life of Me!

Day 10: A Day in the Life

My typical day starts really early at the moment, most likely at half 4 to 5. It’s completely crazy but I don’t mind all that much… I get to do things I love the most when I get into work at 6am and still get to do customer service when the store opens, it’s the best of both worlds!

So typically (my ideal scenario too…) I would be ready and at work at 6am, and I would start my shift by tweaking the windows or displays around the shop to make sure that it is up to date. Over the Christmas period this happens nearly every shift as some stuff sells out or we have a lot of certain products.

Other things I may do is replen of stock, moving stock to different positions around the shop or helping out with admin. The first 3 hours goes so quickly and before we know it, the shop is being opened!

Then it’s purely customer service and selling to the customer, it’s pretty great to be honest. It’s made even better by working with an awesome team! Time flies when you’re having fun right? Because this is completely the case for me, an hour can go by in what feels like a matter of minutes.

So 8 hours later, I go home completely exhausted, catch up on TV, eat dinner and then it’s a super early night for me ready for the next day.

Sure it doesn’t sound like the most exciting day but I wouldn’t want it any other way and I definitely wouldn’t want to be sat in an office all day.

Christmas Wish List

This is what I would love to get for Christmas, I've really thought hard about what I really want because all I want is to be able to be at home should my work schedule allow it.

Lush:
Since I now love having baths, I would love to have some things from there for Christmas!

[https://www.lush.co.uk/products/15-30/happy-christmas]

There's a lovely selection of their christmas products in this box which is exactly why I want this one!

[https://www.lush.co.uk/products/bubblegum]

I tried this when I was at Waterloo Station and completely fell in love with it!!

Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Camera:

How fun does this look! I really didn't know whether to go for this or a proper camera, but for now I think I can make do with my phone, I find digital cameras break too easily so this will do for a bit of fun!

[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fujifilm-Instax-Mini-Camera-Shots/dp/B00KQKGU6M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413279435&sr=8-3&keywords=fuji+instax+mini+8]

Cook Books:
Lorraine Pascale has become one of my favourite chefs to watch on TV, and I have absolutely loved the series that she has done with this cook book so this is one of the top things on my Christmas list!

[http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Better-Cook-Lorraine-Pascale/dp/0007489684/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413279626&sr=8-1&keywords=lorraine+pascale]

I'm not a huge fan of watching Jamie Oliver on TV but he does really good cook books! So this one is also on my list!

[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamies-Comfort-Food-Jamie-Oliver/dp/0718159535/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413279778&sr=8-1&keywords=jamie+oliver]

Smash Journal:

I came across this when I was reading through some blogs and this is absolutely perfect for me, I would love this to start the new year and be able to do a scrapbook for 2015!

[http://www.smashbooks.co.uk/smashshop/prod_2705876-Pink-Folio-Gift-Pack.html]

A few other things that are on my Christmas list are baking items - sprinkles, cake cases, tins, and also a slow cooker pan (I think this will make some of my recipes much better than they are already).

What's on your list?

Basic Cupcakes

Day 9: Teach us a Tutorial

I do a lot of recipe tutorials so I'm going back to basics on what I know best - cupcakes!

To make 12 vanilla cupcakes, you will need: 

6 oz self raising flour

6 oz unsalted butter

6 oz sugar 

3 eggs

A few drops of vanilla essence

I've said before that it is easiest if you have an electric mixer but not everyone will!

Preheat the oven to 160C, it needs to be lower or the cakes will burn on top and not cook. 

Using a handheld whisk, beat the butter and sugar together, at this stage you need to trap in lots of air as this will help the cake to rise, and make it light and fluffy (technical terms here...). 

Then you need to whisk in the egg followed by folding in the flour and vanilla essence. 

Now at this stage it is crucial to be very careful when you fold in the flour because if you are too harsh then you will knock all of the air out and be left with pancakes. 

By now the oven should have warmed up nicely, so spoon the cake mixture into cupcake cases and pop in the oven. 

I will often stay in the kitchen and watch them like a hawk to get them perfectly right. It should take around 20 minutes. 

Transfer them to a cooling rack and decorate in any way you wish! Here are a few ideas to get you going

Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing

'Healthy' Cupcakes