Sunday 30 November 2014

November

I can't believe that it's going to be December tomorrow!  Where on earth has this month gone?!  It's been a fairly boring month for me, but it's been such a busy one.  Here is my November in pictures.

Funfair and fireworks.
Healthy month.
Experimenting with healthy meals.
Christmas candles are out!
Brownie making.
Cake making.
Onesie weather.

I have a feeling that December will be more exciting!

Saturday 29 November 2014

Iron Man

I have been trying to save this month but I decided it was time to treat myself to a new phone case and have found the perfect one!  I purchased my new Iron Man phone case from Blue Banana but you can get it from other places including ebay and Amazon.


Now I don't have to be embarrassed by a filthy, pen-stained phone case and this one is so me!


Friday 28 November 2014

Happy Friday!

You know when you have had one of those difficult days when nothing seems to have gone right, everyone seems to hate you, you seem to blindly blunder your way through your work, and you've gone and spilt your lunch down you.  I have had one of those days.  I have had a shit day, and I mean quite literally shit.  I work in a hospital... no more needs to be said.  The only way to make one of these days right is to have an evening of endless cups of teas, pizza, a good gossip and your comfiest clothes.  Perfect.

This evening I pulled out my comfiest jumper, and most comfortable trousers making up a completely mismatched outfit - black and gold sparkly jumper bringing some Christmas spirit with purple and white jazzy trousers - while my friends picked up pizza.  Then I walked down the road in my odd outfit, feeling cool about how I looked, to my friend's house where they were waiting with a chicken feast pizza from Dominoes.  Yummy!!




We munched our way through the large pizza chatting about how our days hadn't gone too well, had a bit of a gossip, then headed our separate ways home.  It was early, but I was tired.  Now I finally have that good Friday feeling.  Unfortunately I am working for the next two days but it's still a weekend right? Yay!  Happy weekend!

Thursday 27 November 2014

Pole Fitness

Every week I put on my dancing feet and go off to my dancing class... My pole dancing class that is.  Everyone needs some sort of hobby and my thing is pole dancing.


How did I get into it?
One of the first things that that people usually ask me when I tell them my hobby is how I got into this.  Back in September 2012 I was a student at university in my third year feeling like I needed a new hobby, so I looked at the different activities the university offered.  Then something caught my eye.  Pole fitness classes.  That sounds like fun I thought, so I went along and it was so much fun!  Boy did I ache the next day like you cannot imagine! But the fun kept me going and that soon turned into determination!


Image Source


My Pole Journey
From September to April I went to my pole classes once or twice a week enjoying each session more than the last as I learnt the different moves, improved on my techniques and developed my confidence.  In my class were a range of completely different people studying varying courses, all who had different experiences of pole from just a few weeks to many years.  I felt completely comfortable in the class, like no one was judging my ability, and the instructor was brilliant, catering for each individuals capability.  But by April the stresses of third year university crept up on me and with exams to revise for, essays and dissertations to write and work experience to attend, my attendance to the pole classes petered out.
By September 2013 I had finished university, moved to a new town and started a new job and decided to get back into pole, but after trying classes with two different companies I just couldn't find a class that I liked.  A year later I decided to try the search for a good  pole class again and fortunately, I found an awesome one!  I stuck with it and am still loving it as much as the day I started!


Why Pole?
So many reasons! Firstly, it's the most fun hobby I have ever had! There's nothing else that is quite like spinning round a shiny pole to the music, accomplishing the technique of a new move.  This also helps to develop confidence.   If you are used to getting into all sorts of moves in front of a group of people, sometimes in short shorts, then there are a lot of other things you can feel comfortable doing!   Fitness is also a large part of it.  I go to gym classes a lot, but doing pole works out the whole body, using muscles you didn't even know you had!  Pole fitness combines resistance training as well as cardiovascular exercise to develop endurance, muscle tone and flexibility.  You also meet new people along the way and make new pole friends, the social side of it is nice.  The motivation of improving each week and learning new moves keeps me coming back!

Image Source


What do you wear?
I honestly wear what I am comfortable in.  My usual pole outfit is exercise trousers or leggings, with a comfortable t-shirt and trainers.  Shorts and bare feet can be helpful with some moves as skin contact with the pole can help with grip.  There's no skimpy leotards with thongs and high heels.  If we are learning a dance routine we can wear heels if we want, but it's our choice how high the heel is and if we want to wear them or not.  A lot of the time I opt out because I am dangerous enough walking in heels, let alone learning a dance routine in them!


So do you do this as a job or....?
I'm not afraid to tell people what I do but people often think they are funny by asking if pole dancing is my evening job.  I normally go along with it.


Who can do pole?
In my pole class there are a wide range of people, from a 19 year old, to people in their late 40s.  From a teacher, to a nurse, a university student and a farmer.  In most pole groups, both men and women are welcome.  You usually have to be over the age of 18.

Image Source

I love my hobby and I will strive to keep on improving... perhaps I will document it here.
Do you have a different hobby that you are passionate about?

Saturday 22 November 2014

Chocolate Brownies

In addition to Thursday's blogpost on my contribution to the cake sale, I present to you my second entry to the sale - chocolate brownies!  These were my favourite out of my little baking session,



280g Dark chocolate
280g Butter
4 Medium eggs
280g Caster sugar
Vanilla extract
125g Plain flour
50g Cocoa powder
85g Milk chocolate
85g White chocolate



Step One
Melt dark chocolate and butter together in a bowl, stir until smooth then set aside to cool a little.

Step Two
Lightly beat the eggs, then whisk in the sugar to form a creamy froth.

Step Three
Fold in the mixture of melted dark chocolate and butter.

Step Four
Mix in flour and cocoa powder.

Step Five
Add in roughly 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.  Chop the milk and white chocolate into chunks then stir in.

Step Six
Line a tray with baking paper and pour in mixture,  Bake at 180°C in a preheated oven for 20-30 minutes.


These brownies are equally as nice warm or cool.  I think vanilla ice cream would go lovely with the warm brownie, although be careful whilst cutting warm as it can be a little crumbly.
Mmmmm my favourite!


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Thursday 20 November 2014

Cranberry and White Chocolate Cupcakes

Anyone who knows me well will know that I love a good baking session, so I was more than excited when I learnt we were going to have a cake sale at work.  Of course I got to work trying to research the most delicious recipe, when I spotted cranberries for sale in a supermarket and came up with the idea of cranberry and white chocolate cupcakes.  They were very yummy, even if I do say so myself, so here I am to give you the recipe.




175g unsalted butter
175g self-raising flour
175g caster sugar
Baking powder
3 large eggs
Vanilla extract
Fresh cranberries
White chocolate


I am a bit lazy when it comes to baking and don't tend to weigh out all of the ingredients.  I weigh out the important stuff like flour, sugar and butter, but when it comes to the other bits and bobs such as vanilla extract and all the other flavourings, I tend to add in whatever I feel like.



Step One
Mix softened butter and sugar together

Step Two
Add in all 3 eggs and flour and beat well.

Step Three
Mix in a dash of baking powder and roughly half a teaspoon of vanilla extract. 

Step Four
Add chopped fresh cranberries and chunks of white chocolate.  I used roughly 80g of a bar of chocolate and cut it into large chunks.

Step Five
Divide mixture evenly between 15 muffin cases.  Bake at 180°C in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cakes are well risen and firm on top.  (Check on them! As my cakes may have a slightly burnt look!)

Step Six
When the cakes were cool I added bits of white chocolate.  Or you could add icing if you prefer.

Very easy to make and very yummy too!  What is your favourite type of cake?

Sunday 16 November 2014

Goodbye :(

Sadly, I no longer use this blog.

But if you want to check out my latest adventures then head on over to...


... to join in with my latest adventures :) :)

Oh Hello There

What are Sundays for if they aren't for blogging?!  How I love Sundays!

I used to have a blog, but what with finishing university, moving house, and starting a new job with all sorts of funny hours as well as making new friends, I had little time and blogging just faded out of my life.  However I missed it and I am back!!

I didn't really know what to call this blog as it is going to be about anything in my life from clothes and make-up to music and food.  I like adventures, a lot.  So that is how I came up with the name.

I thought I would start this little blogging journey off with one of my favourite things, make that two of my favourite things.  Lush and spending money.  Yes, a Lush haul!!

1. So White shower gel
     2. Eau Roma Water Toner
     3. Fresh Farmacy Cleanser



So White Shower Gel



You can really smell the appley goodness in this shower gel, it makes my skin smell great and fills the bathroom up with it's lovely scent, but it is not too overpowering. After use, my skin feels so soft, smooth and fresh.  Would definitely buy this again!


Eau Roma Water Toner




I was looking for a product that isn't too harsh and something that does not dry out my sensitive skin and this seems to do the trick!  I have been putting this on morning and night after using my cleanser and before applying moisturiser.  My skin feels refreshed after use and it isn't too harsh.



Fresh Farmacy Cleanser



This is my second purchase of this product,  Lush advises that this product can be used on the body and face, but I have only been using it on my face.  I feel that this soap does not lather too easily but that can be forgiven as it cleanses my face so well.  It's not too harsh on my skin but certainly does the job and leaves my face feeling clean and fresh.  I use this in the morning as the first product I put on my face, and in the evening after removing my make up.  This soap seems to keep any oily skin at bay, and my skin tends to be clearer in general.





As well as the above three products, I also treated myself to the Snowman Shower Jelly.  I have yet to use this, but I opened the pot to have a sneaky sniff and it smells so good!  I cannot wait to use it.

I love Lush, easily one of my favourite stores, and I wish I was able to buy all of their new Christmas products!!