Quirky Gift Guide

10.05am on a Thursday morning and I'm chilling in bed. My new job is shift work and I'm never in before 11.30am which is a Godsend for such a non-morning person as myself. I am a chronic 'iPhone snoozer', normally leaving myself 15 minutes to get ready and alwayyys being in such a rush. I've got the 10 minute hair/face regime sorted though, may not be the best but it works for me; I don't think it would be possible for me to be one of those girls who takes hours to get ready, I just can't think of anything else that I should be doing hah! So, this morning I've been doing a bit of Christmas shopping and thought I'd share some of my favourite presents on the web at the minute; these aren't the usual socks and wine hampers, but I think they bring a more personal touch to the festive season. 

For your best friends...Everyone remembers best friend necklaces right? It was always a playground dilemma of who you gave the other half of your necklace to, and I'm sure many kids were disappointed (me included) when you realised you weren't someones 'best' friend. Wellll, here's the solution; this is one of my favourite Etsy shops around at the minute and this 'Wolfpack Forever' three-way bracelet would be perfect for me and my two besties! Have a look around their shop though, there is something for everyone - Batman and Robin fanatics, couples and even 6-way friendships!

The Lionel Richie fan/Quirky kitchen...Words cannot describe how in love I am with the next two products. I think they are genius and I need them. They would look fantastic in any kitchen and I think they're the perfect piece for a dinner party as they're a great talking point! The Lenny Mud Etsy shop is amazing, however they can't deliver in time for this Christmas so keep this one in mind for birthdays!

The secret Jedi...Ever since doing a uni assignment with two Star Wars fanatics, I am forever on the lookout for some intergalactic inspired gifts. Incidentally I found this one when searching for a Starbucks top and think it would be such a good gift for any guy/girl who loves Star Wars as much as my two Jed's. Find it here, so reasonably priced as well if you're doing Christmas on a budget!

For the thinker (who appreciates amazing photography)...After seeing Emma Kenny's 'Thought of the Day' photography series, I pretty much fell in love, as has anyone else I've shown it to. She runs a fantastic Folksy shop (here) where you can purchase any of her prints in 6X4, 5X7, A3, A4 and A5 size, for an amazing price. I've purchased one of these today which I'm going to put in a bright frame and send to a friend. The beauty in her prints is that the 'thoughts' are ones which we may not have ever seen or heard before, but they really get you thinking. I love things like this so I'm going to have to make some room on my walls and invest in a few for myself! 

The Baker...I was looking for one of these to make a Movember celebration cake for work colleagues, alas I have found it a week to late. But who said we can't continue this moustache frenzy into the New Year. Avid bakers seem to have every shape and size of cookie cutters, but I doubt they have this one just yet...

The perfect housewife...To me the signs of a perfect home are freshly baked goods and florals, in particular Cath Kidston, and lots of it. Personally, I would just love someone to make me a Cath Kidston hamper; they have some lovely and (as always), beautiful gifts like this flour shaker flour shaker from their 'Chicken' range at John Lewis. To whoever decides to make me this hamper, please also include this plate set and this cake stand (all seen below). Thank youuuu :) 

Now, to start my fifteen minute morning routine before a long day at work. I still have a few more bits and pieces to buy so who knows what else I'll find while trawling the Internet. Have you found any 'different' gifts this year? There are some amazing homemade shops out there at the minute, pass on any links you might have! 

Laura xx

Cinnamon and apple scones

As Coca-Cola so aptly put it, 'Holidays are coming!' I'm so excited I've downloaded the 'Sleeps to Christmas' app which is only but increasing my restlessness for the 25th. November is coming to an end and so it's time to get the tree and decorations out, start (or, for those very prepared) finish the shopping and wrap all the presents. Phew. But before all the stress and hassle why not put the kettle on, have a cuppa and one of these festive beauties?

Pretty simple recipe and all :)

Scone mix:

1/2 cup apple

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

1 cup self raising flour

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 cup butter (roughly 50g)

1/4 cup milk 

1 egg (yolk used in scone mix, white for the glaze)

Glaze:

1 egg white

1/2 tablespoon white sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Everyone knows how to make a scone, and most people have their own method. For these, I put all dried ingredients in the bowl first (cinnamon, flour, baking powder and sugar) then beat in the softened butter (to soften microwave for 30 seconds or so, works a treat!) I then diced up one apple into cube, this doesn't have to be pretty, and mixed in with the milk and egg yolk. 

Pre-heat the oven. I kneaded the dough and popped on a baking tray; to make the glaze I used some cinnamon powder, sugar and the egg white (keep this over from the scone mix), and brushed over the top before placing into the centre of the oven on about 190 degrees. I hate saying how long to put these in for as every oven's different and I don't want to be held responsible for burnt scones haha but I'd say between 10-15 minutes and they'll be ready! 

And voila! I enjoyed mine the gold old-fashioned way with some butter and  cup of coffee. I've been dieting for the past few months so this was definitely a bit of a treat. I really should stop baking as it makes healthy eating all the more difficult! Then again I could just fatten up everyone around me...

Enjoy! xx

Not So Social Media?

I'm a huge lover of social media, and I'm guessing anyone reading this also is. Thinking back to life pre-Bebo  (as it was for me...) is quite literally impossible, and now with Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest and Instagram (to name but a few of my personal favourites), it seems that anything we do/see/anyone we speak to/plans we make or regrets we have are posted onto numerous social networking sites. I don't really believe people should know all the ins and outs of your life through Facebook however, and to be honest over-informative status' really grate me; I could cancel my Facebook account right now if it wasn't for the amount of photographs I have, it is like an online photo album for me! 

I like to believe that, money and fame aside, Facebook was created for purely positive reasons, to increase social interaction among college students, and in time, the world. As we all know, its been very successful in doing this. However as with everything there is normally a down-side, and with social media this downside can have disastrous consequences.

So, what I'm really getting to. This is a post I've wanted to write for a long time, I've had far too many opportunities to do so, however this years anti-bullying week ends today, and to be honest this comes at just the right time for me and this post!

Anyone who knows me/reads these posts will be aware that my youngest brother has Tourettes and due to this has had to unfortunately leave school, being successfully taught from home at the minute. This would in a 'social media free world' have little-to-no impact regarding bullying; if another child had something negative to say they would have to pluck up the courage to come and say it face-to-face, where, lets be honest, there is a greater chance to resolve the problem. However social networking sites, Facebook in particular for the younger generation, gives children the platform from which to bully others cowardly; a lot can be said from the safety of your own home, behind the screen of your computer and more often than not, what is said can be a lot harsher or more exaggerated than would ever be said face-to-face. It is so easy to leave a comment, like a post or get involved in a discussion about someone you don't even know, based purely on the fact that a) it is online so there are assumed to be no repercussions and b) socially, it keeps your name up there with your friends, supporting what they are writing even though you may not, deep down, agree with it. 

It was quite apt timing I thought when we were dealing with the after-effects of yet another harsh Facebook status targeted towards Josh, that I found out it was anti-bullying week. I read said status and was appalled by what a young teenager can write and threaten over the internet. What disgusted me further was when words such as 'retard' are used to describe someone with Tourettes, teenagers (or young adults of society) are 'liking' it into the double figures. Add on top of this comments on said status about 'giving someone a hiding' and references to 'knives' and you have a truly horrendous read, all the while wondering if these children really mean or could carry out what they threaten online. 

We've all seen the stories in the news and in the papers on children/young adults who take their own life (or attempt to) because of cyber bullying, and at times I have said the same as a lot of people, 'Why didn't they talk to someone about it?' or 'It could never have been that bad.' I guess its easy to think that what is said on the internet can be forgotten, that what is said face-to-face is worse. I now believe this really is not the case however, a threatening or nasty status from one individual targeted directly at another is not as personal as something said directly; friends/acquaintances and people you may not even know join in to like posts, share the status, post something related on their own page, target your family or give their uneducated opinion, which results in the targeted individual feeling totally humiliated, isolated and alone. I won't go into the ins and outs of what we have dealt with over the past few days, especially when the target sits and reads what is being written about him, that reaction will never be a nice one to see, especially when it is your brother. What I will say however is that it does truly shock and sadden me that Facebook can be used in this way. It was never invented for this, so why do children now feel the need to bully and torment others through it? 

As Anti-Bullying Week says, 'We're better without bullying', and we are so much better without it. Take this slogan on board and if you ever see a case of cyber bullying, think of the individual sitting at home who may just have too much to deal with already. Report it and try to put an end to this faceless form of bullying, and bullying in general. Social media is there to be enjoyed, not to be used to hurt others.

Fifteens

After three and a half months working in, and getting reacquainted with Belfast City, I had my last day in my current role today, opting to move to a job I know I will love, much closer to home. I'm the definition of 'not a morning person' and so am thrilled to say goodbye to the early starts and ridiculous commute, and hello to a 5 minute, crisp Winter walk to my new employment, giving me more time to enjoy the things I truly love; as much as I will miss everyone from work, I'm so looking forward to the change!

My team, clever as they are, seen this as an opportunity for some baked goods, and so I thought it only right that I opted for an Irish favourite. When I first went to university I was shocked that people hadn't heard of our namesake "Fifteens", however in time seen this as an excuse to happily introduce them to people! Their appearance may be a little deceiving (they're not the prettiest of treat), but they've always been a success and are quite possibly the simplest thing you could make, sticking very close to their name they go a little like this:

15 marshmallows

15 glace cherries

15 digestives

Desiccated coconut

1 tin of sweetened condensed milk

You can also add in some extras; I opted for white chocolate pieces however have tasted them with nuts, milk chocolate and other pieces of fruit. After introducing these to a friend she made her own batch with jelly babies, that's where I (sadly) draw the line.

Crush the digestives, make this as smooth as possible or they'll taste a little too biscuity; use a food processor or the old "bag and rolling pin attack" technique. Add in all the other ingredients, mix, roll into a long, thick, sausage-like shape, and roll/sprinkle in coconut (this bit can get messy.) Pop this in the fridge so they set quicker and a few hours later cut into bite size pieces. Simple!

Needless to say these went down a treat today and are the perfect, quick midweek recipe!

Enjoy! x

Festive Interiors

I don't know if it's just me but since the Christmas tree and fairy lights have been put up around the office, Santa's grotto's are dotted about the high street and Christmas ads are back I've become so excited that we are in the festive season. It literally is my favourite time of the year and now that I'm living at home after four years at uni I'm determined to have the best one yet.

I've done the majority of my present shopping already which gives just enough time to look around for the perfect DIY and interior ideas; here are some of my fav's:

1. I'm totally in love with H&M Home this year, especially their 'Winter Harmony' range. These cushion covers can be found here and here, are so reasonably priced and I think they would give any room the right touch of Christmas.

2. John Lewis are the go-to for Christmas (even though I'm no-where as keen on this years advert than last...) This doormat is a great way to spend £10 and in the process channel your inner child via home-ware!

3. Cath Kidston. Wah. This is my favourite store, though I just wish it wasn't so expensive. I love their Christmas decorations which are affordable at £4.50 each; however if like me you would want a tree full of Cath Kidston then they have the perfect substitute. Buy this Make Your Own Christmas Decorations booklet, perfect for any DIY enthusiasts, just like myself....


Basically, anything cutesy, floral or handmade and I'll pretty much be sold so pass along any festive interior suggestions or DIY ideas you come across! Hopefully the snow is on it's way....

Oreo cupcakes

So, yesterday I got a bit of a telling off from colleagues; I've been forever promising home-baked treats and am yet to bring the goods. My excuse is the daily commute as I never seem to have time for much else in the evening after I fit in a run, some munch and a catch up with family.

So I decided that last night I'd prove them wrong and make something really quick and easy that still looked tasty and set me at Great British Bake-off standard... Well, not quite but getting there. Betty Crocker is a revelation, saving me so much time and effort with this and many other recipes; I challenge anyone to find a replacement for her as I'm yet to succeed in doing so!

If you know me you'll know I love baking and normally it's something I would spend hours doing, but when your a little stuck for time, simple solutions are a god-send. Here's one of them, oreo cupcakes. All you need is three simple ingredients, Betty Crocker chocolate fudge cupcake mix, vanilla butter cream icing and of course, oreos.

All you have to do is pop an Oreo into the bottom of each cupcake case, whisk up the simple cupcake mix, adding two eggs, some milk and water and spoon the mixture into the bun cases. They take 15 minutes to bake and while your waiting the oreos will be softening in the mixture, leaving them tasty and creamy when their finally ready.  (it does advise to add some oil to the mix, but I always leave this out to make it feel a little less naughty!)

For the frosting it was yet again Betty Crocker to the rescue; all you have to do is mix her vanilla butter cream icing with some crushed Oreos. These cupcakes are all about the generous portions; what's that people say, if your going to do it, do it right! Take this on board and heap the frosting on top of the cupcake, decorating with an oreo (if you have any left!)

Safe to say these went down a treat in work; I brought some round for my friends' colleagues and think I converted a few of my own to my oreo ways. I couldn't eat any until tonight as I have a weekly weigh in, but boy was it worth the wait! 

What are your favorite simple recipes? With minimal spare time at the minute I'm always on the look out!

Pinterest Inspirations #1

As I've mentioned before I'm totally addicted to Pinterest and since becoming an avid 'pinner' I've found so many projects which I want to individualize and try out for myself. These posts are that exactly, creating projects which I've seen on Pinterest and making them my own. You can find me on Pinterest here and the link to this project here; it's originally taken from http://www.spearmintbaby.com/ one of my favorite blogs/sites for DIY ideas.

Before starting this project I made a prototype to ensure I had enough (pretty) buttons; if you need to buy some more eBay or Amazon are great places to get them for cheap, a 50g bag costing about £2.

Prototype complete, time to move on to the real thing. I decided to create a mixed media piece, using white linen instead of canvas and stitching through it in pink, yellow and green thread. After this I got to grips with the UHU and affixed buttons to the canvas in an L shape; this can get a little messy but the saving grace of UHU as opposed to superglue is it's a lot less messy and you can't glue your fingers together.

This is such a quick and easy project and requires little preparation. Affix the buttons to the canvas and build up on this, filling in any spaces with more beads, buttons and glitter.

Finito!

The Grass is Always Greener in Ireland

Since moving back to Northern Ireland I've had a little more time (and money) to revisit all my old loves; one of these is photography, and of course, Ireland is such a pretty muse! As per a lot of places in the UK, rain is never far away, but when the sun does come out to play it brings with it the best opportunities for some photos!

After a sleepy 5am flight home following graduation week, I was picked up at the airport by my Nana and went straight to Portrush. Anyone from Ireland will be familiar with the Antrim coastline, as will (most probably) anyone who has ever visited. It is absolutely gorgeous; home to the Giants' Causeway, beautiful far-stretching beaches and known for its' golf and water-sports. For me it holds many of my childhood memories and so will always have a very special place in my heart. I only had my iPhone with me, so all photos were taken from that but I think you can still see why this is such a special place for many; the golden sand seems to go on forever and if you get down early enough you can have your own personal section of beach. Later in the day it transforms, being filled with parents, children and grandchildren enjoying their holidays, playing bat and ball and settling down for their picnic on tartan rugs.

The rock pools are amazing and such a fun thing to bring little cousins to; we visited when it started raining and the beach was a no-go and found this little crab (below). It's always amazing to witness children seeing an animal for the first time, obviously this one was a tad scary to them!

Like every city, Belfast also got into the Olympic Spirit and even on a very rainy day on my way to an interview, I had to get a picture of the City Hall showcasing the Olympic Rings...

These are the first three proper photographs I have taken with my new camera, a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3, a graduation present to myself. I have SO much to learn about photography and am determined that before I travel the world this will happen; I don't want to be one of those people with an amazing camera but absolutely no knowledge of how it works! Can anyone recommend some good photography tutorials/blogs/books?

I entered these into a competition where we were asked to depict Ireland through a series of photographs; there was a big gallery event/voting event and the first photo (below) came second! I was absolutely over the moon considering the subject is a five minute walk from my home, and plus it's given me a little more confidence in my photography abilities; granted, there's still a long way to go!

This guy is undoubtedly my favorite...

I hope you enjoyed this post and it's given you a little peep at rural Northern Ireland :) Hopefully I'll get out to take some winters day/snowy photos soon! Our weather has been so terrible lately I'm waiting for snow already...

Good books don't give up all their secrets at once

Recently my life has become a repetitive stream of early mornings, train commutes and long days in work as a legal marketing assistant. To combat the inevitable boredom of a 50 minute commute (each way), I have become a bookworm, with Amazon succeeding at keeping me within the depressing confines of my overdraft! I may be skint, but I have come across some absolute keepers along the way...

After my Summer affair with the Hunger Games which I absolutely adored and the 50 Shades trilogy, which I was quite honestly happy to finish, I decided to stick to novels for a while and find some new favourite authors! Here are some of my sleepy commute reads....

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

This was one of the most surprising books I've read in a long time; the style and layout were poles apart from anything I have ever read before and the content was on one hand very close to home and yet, at other times quite alien to read. The novel is written in a series of letters from the main character Charlie to his 'friend', detailing his experiences of his teenage years as a boy who wants to live life to the full but is too socially awkward to 'let go'. I loved this book because it brings you as the reader back to your teenage years and every time you really appreciated or were overwhelmed by a moment in your life.  Amazon link here.

"Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and the Rocky Horror picture show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But Charlie can't stand on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. "

I don't want to give too much away here as the movie is out now in cinemas however I've included the trailer below for a peep!

HEFT by Liz Moore 

This book was bought on an absolute Amazon spree and to be honest when the delivery arrived I had forgotten ordering it, but alas, I can safely say I will never forget the story; out of all three books mentioned this one is by far my most recommended! The story follows 550 pound, overweight Arthur Opp and on a tangent, seventeen year old, high schools' 'Mr Popular' Kel Keller. I was particularly interested in the story of Arthur as he commented on his life, unrequited love, lack of confidence and unfulfilled dreams. Liz Moore does an exceptional job of describing relationships, family history, debates and arguments and slowly but surely explains how these two individuals are linked and the role they play in each others lives. I was hooked from the first page and quite unsurprisingly the book ends with such an emotional cliff-hanger that you remain hooked to the very end, wishing there was 'just one more chapter' as you don't feel quite ready to say good bye to the characters. That in itself, I believe is testament to Moore's success with this novel; she doesn't finish the story with a definite ending (so to speak), but I think this is her way of keeping the characters alive, by leading us to believe there is far more to come. And who knows, maybe one day there will be. Amazon link here.

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

"It is never what you worry over that comes to pass in the end. The real catastrophes are always different - unimagined, unprepared for, unknown..."

Quite honestly I bought this book for purely aesthetic reasons, and in the process discovered quite an interesting read. I wouldn't rant and rave about this novel as it doesn't have much in the way of shocking or nail-biting story lines; what Karen Thompson Walker does successfully however, is intricately detail the life of Californian Julie and her family, and quite an unimaginable thought, the slow disintegration of the world. This happens quite simply through the elongation of the standard 24 hour day, leading to devastating consequences. The author really does catapult you through the journey with Julie, however, if you're after a book to keep you hooked I wouldn't buy this. If you want a read which makes you appreciate what we are so lucky to have, this book is definitely for you and will make you a lot more grateful for the minute things in life, as minute as the successful running of the 24-hour clock. Amazon link here..

 

If any of these tickle your fancy I'd definitely give them a go; if you do, or have any suggestions for ones I should try, let me know! I've made my way through a mountain of books recently so need some ideas!