Giving Up Chocolate For a Month

So, it has been a long time since I posted on here properly.  I always seem to start getting back into it and feel passionate about it, then something happens and then life gets in the way of my poor blog! Anyway, here's hoping this makes the start of more regular blogging! I will do an update post soon (if thats something you all want?!)

Anyway, for today I thought I would do a post on a challenge I am taking part in this month.  As you can see from the title, I am giving up chocolate for a month.  This is all in aid of the British Heart Foundation. The British Heart Foundation is an extremely good charity and carries out lots of important research and I definitely eat too much chocolate so why not make some money for an amazing charity whilst making me a bit healthier? 

If anyone wants to donate I would be extremely grateful! I will post the link if anyone asks for it! BHF is a good charity after all and giving up chocolate for a whole month is definitely going to be a tough one!! 

Sorry it is only a short post today but I thought I'd let you all know about the challenge to get some donations and for maybe some of you to even take part! Here's a link for all the info.  Good luck anyone that is taking part in #DECHOX 

The best Chocolate Cupcakes

I love baking.  I've posted a few times on here about recipes I've liked. I find I can never bake at the moment as I don't have enough people to eat it all! It is only your standard chocolate cupcake but they taste so good so thought I would share with you! I've always had a good response from them!

I found this recipe online so it's not like I made it up myself or anything! You will need the following:
(Makes 12 cupcakes) 
-150g butter 
-150g caster sugar
-175g self - raising flour 
-25g cocoa powder 
-3 eggs 

For the buttercream icing - 
-250g butter 
-500g icing sugar 
-Vanilla Extract
-Chocolate flake/chocolate chips/chocolate sprinkles (anything you want really!) 
I do half this icing recipe as 500g is a whole box of icing sugar and I find half is plenty and I still have some icing left over.

Onto making the cakes! First things first, pre heat your oven to gas mark 4 / 180 c / 350f and line your cupcake tin with cupcake cases.

 Next, beat the 3 eggs together in a small bowl.  

Then in a separate bowl cream together the butter and sugar and then add the flour and sift in the cocoa powder. Once this is all mixed together, slowly add the beaten eggs.   

It is easiest to use an electric whisk for this part but you can use a spoon if you don't have an electric whisk!  How easy is that?! Now just spoon the mixture evenly into the cases.

Put them in the oven for 15-20 minutes, I've found 20 minutes to be perfect but it all depends on your oven. You can check if they're cooked by putting a skewer in through the middle of the cupcake and it should come out clean.

Once they're done put them on a wire rack to cool and while you wait, you can start the icing! In a bowl put the butter in and then gradually sift in the icing sugar.  If you add it all at once, you will have a cloud of icing sugar when you try and stir it! Slowly mix together and add a couple of drops of vanilla extract.  Then use an electric whisk to whisk together to make the icing nice and fluffy.  If you find the icing to be too thick then add a bit of milk but I've never had to.

Once the cakes are completely cool, you can start icing! I like to pipe the icing but if you prefer you can always just spoon it on.  Once they're all iced, add your decorations.  I like to use crumbled flakes.  Absolute worst blogger ever, I forgot to take pictures of the finished ones!!! 

And there, your cakes are finished! They're so easy to make and taste amazing so I definitely recommend this recipe.

Let me know if you try this recipe :)

My Bedtime Routine

What a surprise, I've ended up having a massive break from blogging again. I don't really have any real reasons for this, I still love blogging and reading other blogs but I guess uni and life in general got in the way of my blog! Anyway, I'm back now.

I struggle with sleeping, no two ways about it.  So I really do try everything to get a decent nights sleep and I think a big part of this is to have a routine in place.  I've mentioned a bit about my routine in this post but this will include other aspects that I haven't mentioned before!

(I adore this bedding but wow it is hard to make it look good in pictures!)

I know how bad this is, but I really struggle with a set bed time.  I normally end up getting ready for bed around 11 and then don't end up in bed until 12 as I just get distracted! Anyway, first things first is skincare.

I'm sure you all know by now how much I love my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish.  Honestly my holy grail product! I will always try and use this to remove my makeup and cleanse my face well but sometimes I am a bit lazy and will just use a makeup wipe.  My favourite are the Simple ones.




















I also have this Botanics cleanser that I use if I have used a makeup wipe as I find that gets off anything else left from the makeup wipe.  From the same brand I have the serum as well. I've never really used a serum before so I can't compare it to any others but it does the job for me and I'm really enjoying using it.




















Finally, moisturiser.  I use the Liz Earle one which I absolutely love.  I also use it in the mornings as well before I put on my makeup.  Although it is a bit pricier, I definitely recommend it if you're currently looking for a new moisturiser.

So once all my skincare is done, I get into my PJs and straight into my bed. No surprises, but I end up sitting on my phone for ages before I end up gong to sleep.  

As well as a routine before bed I believe that a good mattress is very important to help you get a good nights sleep. That is where Leesa comes in. I am currently lucky enough that I do have a good mattress at the moment as my room was re done just over a year ago and I got a new mattress.  However, Leesa do some of the best mattresses I have seen and at reasonable prices, win win.  I am actually a bit sad I didn't know about them when I was looking last year! Anyway, they know how important a mattress is for a good nights sleep.  This mattress is one I really love the sound of.  It has 3 different layers, one being a memory foam which I'm sure is very nice! The reviews on the website too speak for themselves! 

I would definitely recommend this company if you are wanting a new mattress and there is also £100 off with a code that is advertised on the website.  What more could you want! 

I hope you all enjoyed this first post back from me! 

What is your current bedtime beauty routine? What do you think of these mattresses? 

The Skinny Kitchen

I'm not too sure if The Skinny Kitchen is a well known restaurant, I didn't even know about it until my friend told me about it.  Anyway, I visited there a couple of weeks ago with my friend and had a lovely lunch so thought I would do a blog post on it!

The Bedtime Tag

Hi again! Yes I am back... Sorry it has been so long but I'll focus on that for another post!
Anyway, I was nominated by the lovely Rebecca at A Belle to Remember to do The Bedtime Tag.  Make sure to go and check out Rebecca's bedtime tag here!

So, onto the questions!

The Liebster Award

The lovely Jemma from Jemma's Simple Life  nominated me for the Liebster award, thank you! I have done this before but that was quite a while again so I see no harm in me doing it again!

The rules are:

• Thank the person that nominated you and post a link to their blog in your post. 
• Show the award on your blog or in the post.
• Answer the 11 questions asked to you by the person who nominated you. 
• Write 11 random facts about you. 
• Nominate 5-11 bloggers that you feel deserve the award!
• Create a list of new questions for your nominees to answer. 
• List the rules in your post. 
• Once your post is published let your nominees know they are nominated! 

Answers to the questions Jemma asked me: 

1.  What was your favourite TV show that you used to watched as a child?

There were so many I loved! I loved 'Brum', 'Scooby Doo' (even though it scared me when I was very young haha) 'Mona the Vampire' and 'Arthur' were definitely up there as my favourites as well, they were great.

2.  Do you have any bad habits? 

Oh gosh, I probably have loads I don't realise about but I know I am 100% a procrastinator.  I will literally do everything I can to put off doing certain work, its really bad haha.

3. What is your best achievement?

Hmmmm, I'm not sure.  I've never done anything amazing.  I suppose getting through my first year of uni, I had a really bad time of it and I never thought I was going to get through it.  

4. What is your favourite junk food? 

 McDonalds or Dominos.  Easy haha. 

5. Do you have any guilty pleasure songs? 

Ohhh I really love a bit of Taylor Swift.  Definitely Justin Bieber too. I'm not sure if they're really guilty pleasures but that is all I can think of right now! 

6. Tea or coffee? 

Tea always (has to be really milky though).  I hate coffee! 

7.  What are your favourite things to blog about?

I really like writing lifestyle posts and doing tags. 

8.  If you had a choice would you prefer to live in the city or countryside? 

I don't think I'd like to live right in the city, way too many people for me to deal with.  Buuut, I feel like the countryside might be a bit isolating? I'd like to live in between, sort of like I am now. 

9. Name 3 things you couldn't live without.

Phone, food, family. 

10. What is your favourite season? 

Definitely Autumn.  Everything about it is lovely. 

11. What is the best book you've ever read? 

I've said before on my blog, I hardly ever read.  So out of my limited choice it would have to 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green.

Now for 11 facts about me:

1. I'm an only child 

2. Jumpers are my favourite things ever. 

3. I rarely wear jeans.  I normally wear leggings or skirts and dresses. 

4. I have a strong disliking for uni haha.

5. I'm currently learning to drive. 

6. I'm rubbish at thinking of facts about myself.

7.  I'm struggling to think of 11 facts right now. 

8. ERRRRMM. I've never had a job. 

9. I play the flute. 

10. OH, I hate bacon.  

11. And whipped cream .

(YAY 11 facts) 

I now nominate these lovely people:

Sophie from Petals of Perfection 

Rebecca from Anime Summers 

Hannah from Hannah Delacour 

Olivia from Olivia Cheryl

Bex from Bubbly Bex 

Nicole Marie from Thrifty Vintage Fashion 

My questions to you:
1. What is one thing that makes you smile?
2. What's your favourite quote?
3. Where do you get your inspiration to carry on blogging?
4. What is one item of make up you couldn't live without?
5.  What is you favourite High street store?
6.  If you were stuck on a desert island, what 3 things would you take?
7. One place in the world you would like to visit?
8. What is your favourite snack?
9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? (except blogging!)
10. What is your favourite thing about blogging?
11. If you could live one day again, what day would that be?

I hope all the people I nominated enjoy answering these questions! Let me know when the post is up and I'll have a read!

Jessica 

x

My First Q&A!

Hello!

I realised the other day that I've never done a Q&A before on my blog and they are a post that I love to read so I thought it was about time I did one myself. It then gives you all a chance to know a bit more about me too!

This is really bad, but I really don't read that much! The only thing I really read are blogs, haha.  My favourite out of what I have read is 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green. My favourite TV shows are Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl and Gogglebox! Probably more but I can't remember them all! You can see some of my favourite bloggers from this post here, some others are Petals of Perfection, Dork Face and A Belle to Remember (she's new, go check her out!!) I don't watch that much YouTube anymore, but I really love Emily Canham's vlogs.  I like Lucy and Lydia too, they're always so cheery in their videos! I quite like the SacconJoly's too, they're the cutest family. 

Sorry that was a bit of a long answer! 

Well, I'm not really sure that I'm the best one to ask for that as there are people with much more successful blogs than mine!
I would say its important to put your personality in your posts.  Personally I don't like reading posts that have no personality in.  I also like seeing pictures in posts otherwise it just looks a bit scary with all that text if you get what I mean?! Haha.

This a good question. I'd have to say Zoella. I know there's lots about her and if she actually does write her own posts etc, but either way, she was the first blog I started reading and then it carried on from there. I remember coming across her blog and I fell in love and the idea of blogging! I still love her blog now :) 

Ah I really don't know! I think it would have to be any on mental health.  Only because I've found them helpful and they've always had a good response! I also liked my one about when I went to The Ritz because its just a really nice memory.  You can read it here if you want!

I looove wearing jumpers.  My favourite one is this one from asos, I just love it so I couldn't live without that!  I also wear skirts and dresses a lot so I couldn't go without tights haha.  Sorry thats not just one!! 

I don't know why but I really love doing tags! I find them really fun to write, I just like answering questions! Haha.  I like reading others lifestyle posts and what I got for Birthday/Christmas or something posts! I'm a quite nosey haha.

Ah I don't even know! (ooopsie) I guess because its just something I really enjoy doing I find it easy to be motivated to do it, if that makes sense? When I don't feel like blogging, I don't.  I know my posts will not be up to the usual standard so I'd rather post nothing than something I'm not happy with.

I love anything with pasta! Except spaghetti Bolognese or something like that, I hate mince and mushrooms. 

Thank you to everyone that asked me a question and I hope you enjoyed me answering them! If you would like me to do another Q&A let me know!

Jessica 

x

Hello 2016

Happy New Year everyone! I can't actually believe 2016 is here, last year felt like it whizzed past!

I've been unsure if I should write a post like this as I feel it is just going to be me writing loads of negative things at the start of 2016. I don't think that would be a great start to the year, would it!
However, it doesn't have to all be negative does it? I can focus on the positives that happened in 2015 and what might be to come in 2016.

Its fair to say 2015 was probably the worst year I've had. More or less right from January things were crap.  I won't go into all the details as I'm pretty sure none of you will want to know it all but yes, 2015 was an awful year for me and my family.

There were some good things though, like me finding something I really enjoy; writing this blog.  *cue me thanking you for reading*  it honestly baffles me that 150 people follow me on Bloglovin, like those people want to read my tiny piece on the internet, like, what? So thank you everyone who reads my blog :)
I've also made so many amazing friends from blogging and I am forever grateful for that!  I've become much closer with some of my friends from uni and back home and that makes me happy.

The end of this year was ok.  I've spent a lot of time with my Nan, I did before but now even more, and me and my Mum take her out every week and it is something we all love doing now.  We went to see the panto yesterday as my nan always loved taking me when I was younger.  It actually was the best thing ever, haha.  I wasn't really looking forward to due to it just being for children, but no it was very good and there weren't children screaming all the way through (added bonus haha)

I really hope that 2016 is a much better year for me and my family. I'm going to try my absolute best to get rid of this silly depression and anxiety and I really hope to feel happy by the end of 2016.  That is all I want, to be happy.

I haven't made many resolutions as I am terrible at sticking to them, like honestly, I forget about them by the 3rd or something silly like that!  However, I have one for this blog. I'm gong to try my best with it this year and I will make sure I stick to at least 1 post a week, WOO! My writing might not be the best, but hopefully it will improve more and more :)

If you're reading this, I hope 2016 is your year!

Jessica 

xx