Peanut Butter And White Chocolate Chip Cookies (GF)

Hello my lovelies and a Happy, Happy Wednesday to you all - otherwise known as a day off for me, nice. There is nothing more that I love to do on a day off other then bake. I find it very comforting and therapeutic listening to the radio or my music. The sun was shinning and it was sheer perfection on this gorgeous Spring morning.

Recently I have been craving white chocolate and peanut butter. I say recently but to be honest these are both foods that I always love to eat. On this rare occasion that I actually had both ingredients fully stocked I thought the obvious solution was to create a beautiful creation in a giant cookie form.

This is an American recipe that I found on a baking blog, hence why the measurements are in cup form. I was originally nervous to bake using cup measurements however I think my confidence has increased and I am enjoying experimenting with new recipes and using the most adorable pastel cup measurers.

The recipe itself is so simple and quick; probably one of the easiest cookie recipes that I have ever baked. There are also very few ingredients which makes life a lot easier. I made 12 giant cookies but you could chose to make more smaller ones but when there's white chocolate and peanut butter involved, the only answer is a giant cookie for me.

Ingredients - makes 12

1 cup of crunchy organic peanut butter
3/4 cup of light brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup of white chocolate chips or chunks

Method

1) Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 160°Fan

2) Grease and line two baking trays

3) Whisk the peanut butter, sugar, egg, vanilla extract and baking powder using an electric hand whisk to form a dough like texture and consistency

4) Mix in your white chocolate chips or chunks

5) Flatten golf ball sizes of cookie dough onto your baking sheet evenly spaced, be careful as these do spread and rise

6) Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until golden brown, half way through the bake I rotated the trays in the oven to aim to get an even bake

7) Allow the cookies to fully cool on the baking tray before transferring to a wire wrack to cool

I hope you enjoyed this recipe my lovelies. I would love to know in the comments if you attempt the recipe and what you thought of the cookies. All I know is that the house smells incredible right now and very welcoming and comforting. Warm peanut butter and white chocolate cookies, what more could you ask for? These cookies are amazingly gooey I cannot actually express the gooeyness of these cookies enough right now. The perfect morning snack with a lovely coffee. What more can I say then Happy Wednesday my lovelies and Happy Baking.

XXX

Benefit They're Real

Hello my lovelies and let me introduce you to the Holy Grail of all Mascara products. Let us all pray thanks to the beauty God's for allowing the creation of the best mascara in the whole wide world. The They're Real Mascara by Benefit isn't a new edition or release but I will hold my hands up and admit it has been one that I have been slow to trying.

Christmas 2014 saw me being lucky enough to receive my first They're Real from my Mum. Ever since using it I have been hooked. I have been so taken by it, it has totally slipped my mind to write a blog post on it.

Like I have mentioned previously I have never been one to get excited by mascaras. I have tried many a different mascaras and yes I will admit there are noticeable differences and some are of a greater quality then others. Yet I have never been one to rush out and buy the latest release. I naturally have quite long eye lashes and that's not me blowing my own trumpet it's just something people have told me even when I was a little girl I remember my swimming teacher saying "gosh you do have amazingly long eye lashes". However, after the first time of trying the They're Real my mascara views were instantly transformed and I understood the hype.

I love the gorgeous sleek packaging of the mascara. The silver metal effect is right up my street it looks like a high end product which I would say it definitely is and should be described in that way. The brush size is the perfect size for my eyes and I love the brushes on the brush as they don't get clumped and are all uniform.

The mascara is an all in one - it lengthens, thickens, curls, separates and increases the volume of your lashes; all you could wish for in a mascara. I find that when applying this mascara I only need one application and my lashes are instantly transformed yet they are still left looking natural without appearing false or caked in mascara. The best way to use the mascara is to place the brush at the base of your eyelashes and wiggle the brush horizontally whilst moving the brush vertically to provide you with one coat rather then just applying lot's of coats vertically as this will help you to coat the entire eye lash. You can then layer the mascara to build up coverage for your desired look. I love the rich dark colour which compliments my dark hair and eyebrows. I have never had issues with this mascara smudging or drying out. I cannot rave about it enough.

Now that I have tried this mascara I don't think I would be able to use any other mascara unless it was ever discontinued. I would advice Benefit not to do this or I'm pretty sure they would have a riot and uprising on their hands.

Christmas 2015 also saw me lucky enough to receive another They're Real mascara from my Mum. This time it features the limited edition Swarovski packaging - gorgeous. The mascara is the same amazing formula which I totally agree with. As the old saying goes 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. Instead this little gem is covered in a gorgeous matte jet black shell with gorgeous silver studs on the applicator handle. Very swish and very posh I love it. I think it's a shame that it is only limited edition as it looks perfect in my make-up collection. I have defiantly been spoilt this Christmas that is for sure.

XXX

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint Spring 2016 Collection

L - R: Butterscotch Sundae, Pink Lemonade, Acai Smoothie

L - R: Butterscotch Sundae, Pink Lemonade, Acai Smoothie 

Hello my lovelies, I have a lovely Spring blog post for you all today that leaves me feeling all warm and gooey inside. I love painting my nails; always have and I always will. Those of you that have followed my blog for a while now will know that Barry M is a personal favourite of mine. It is cheap and affordable yet the quality of the nail paints is inanely good. They have the biggest range of colours, formulations and finishes to chose from such as the original collection, gelly, matte, sunset, speedy, glitterati and aquarium ranges. I am totally unashamed to admit that I have a draw of nail polishes dedicated to Barry M. My personal favourite are the Gelly nail polishes. The Gelly paints have a slightly thicker formulation as they are based on the fact that they appear to be a proper gel nail paint where you can set your nails using UV light. The Gelly's are amazingly shinny and glossy. Most of the time I don't even bother with a top coat. Yes I know I'm lazy. They are also pretty chip resistant. I recon that there is the greatest range of colours for the Gelly collection and Barry M are constantly creating new beauties to join their amazing and vast collection. I have so many shades that an uneducated nail lover would look at the draw and say "Do you really need six nudes that look exactly the same?" The answer my lovelies will always be "Yes" as we know that they aren't the same and are all equally as gorgeous and need to be appreciated for different days, outfits and seasons.

True to form Barry M were quick off the marks to release their Spring 2016 collection. This collection excited me immensely and I was straight down to Boots to pick these up. It is probably the collection that has excited me the most over the years. I have never known myself to drop everything and go to Boots just for nail polishes before.

Barry M realised four gelly nail paints and I picked up three of the four. First of all thank you Barry M for going down the pastel nude road. Spring is one of my favourite seasons for nail polishes it is packed full of pastels and prettiness. I already own pretty much every pastel shade under the sun so it was refreshing to see a Spring nail collection that featured heavily on the nude side. Very sophisticated may I add. Perfect for the start of my third decade in my twenties. Nudes are perfect as they go with every outfit, you can't go wrong with them; unless like me you manage to get black pen on your nails.

The shades I picked up were Pink Lemonade (pale pink nude), Butterscotch Sundae (pale golden brown nude) and Acai Smoothie (subtle pale taupe purple). The final shade in the collection is called Cream Soda which is a pale creamy shade with light green undertones to it, similar to Shore Thing by Essie. Totally honest I have mixed feelings about this one as I have seen some pictures on social media where I think it looks gorgeous and others where I'm not sure. Having said that I instantly fell in love with the three that I picked up. The hardest decision was debating which to wear first. After wearing all three shades my love for the shades has grown and I am full to bursting point. For weeks I have been quite boring as all I have been doing is alternating between the three shades but I just can't help myself.

On a side note can we also just take the time to appreciate how adorable the names of these nail polishes are. Super, super cute! Barry M always turn up trumps with their styling.

Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade - two coats and a top coat

This was the first shade that I trialled. It is a gorgeous nude pale pink. You're probably thinking what's special about this one then? Well, it has a slightly warm tone to it making it perfect for Spring/Summer. Personally I think pale pinks with a cooler tone are more suited to winter. The fact this nail polish has warm tones will make it look really pretty alongside white tops and t-shirts that are essential for Spring without washing you out. It's a gorgeous shade and it is really easy to wear. I would also add it is more pink in reality but it was a tricky one to photograph to get the true shade.

Butterscotch Sundae 

Butterscotch Sundae - two coats and a top coat

You may be thinking that this one looks identical to Pink Lemonade. I promise you they are different. Butterscotch Sundae is a pale brown nude with a gold tone. Again this also makes it a warm shade to wear. These warm shades are great for making your hands look more tanned then they are and are therefore perfect for that awkward transition into Spring/Summer where you're starting to de-layer and expose flesh yet this flesh hasn't had a chance to see the sun since last summer as it has been quite happily hibernating. I'm going to stop typing the word flesh now. I would say that it is most similar to an older gelly shade that is another personal favourite of mine called Lychee although it is lighter and more golden.

Acai Smoothie

I would say that I have probably worn this nail polish the most. It is the hybrid of Spring combining nudes and pastels. I call it a hybrid as it isn't a true pastel purple. The polish is too dark and less bright to be a pastel yet too warm to be a pure nude as it has that added colour. Although I would still call it a beautiful and sophisticated neutral shade that is equally as easy to wear as the above shades. Nudes are so easy as they go with every outfit although purple can be harder to incorporate to outfits. I thought I would struggle yet so far so good.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. If you are a fellow nail lover then I think you may have enjoyed it. Let me know in the comments if you have these polishes and what your favourite shades are. I personally love Barry M and I have been tickled pink by yet another gorgeous collection. Normally I find it easy to chose a favourite shade, two seconds boom. However with this collection I honestly can't chose a favourite. My nail polish collection is continually expanding into multiple draws but I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

XXX

March Favourites 2016

Hello my lovelies and a Happy Friday to you all! Who has that Friday feeling? I know I do. It's also April Fool's day - help us all. First of all, where has the month gone it has seemed to fly by. March always seems to go quickly with Mother's day, my Mum's birthday and Easter. Plus I have also been to stay with family and friends. It has been a busy and crazy month that's for sure.

Lovie Dovie Nail Polish By Essie

One of the best things about March is the official arrival of Spring; and when it comes to nail polish this means I can go totally crazy and crack out the pastel nail polishes. This makes me immensely happy. One nail polish that I have been reaching for in particular is Lovie Dovie by Essie. This isn't a new nail polish, I have had this colour for many years now. A retro if you like. In a way I am surprised at myself for reaching for this polish so much as I tend to normally wear it more in the Summer. I don't know why but in my head I see Spring for super, super pale pastels; pinks, greens, blues and purples that are so pale they are almost white. Whilst in the Summer I tend to go slightly brighter. It might be because I have been using gradual tanning lotion this past month in preparation for Spring I don't know. Lovie Dovie is your classic barbie doll pink. I'm normally more of a dark pink or pastel pink girl yet I have just found myself reaching for this colour so much recently. Even now as I'm sat here typing away I find myself smiling as I get a glimpse of my busy fingers typing away wearing this beautiful shade. The Essie nail polishes are a beautiful thick formula yet they aren't too thick where they can look streaky. I only need two coats to get a beautiful full coverage. The polishes themselves are also super glossy. There are so many amazing colours to chose from with beautiful names Essie is a brand that I would highly recommend. I love my collection.

Acai Smoothie Nail Polish By Barry M

Another nail polish that I have found myself reaching for a lot over March was surprise, surprise a Barry M shade. Acai Smoothie is one of the latest additions to their Gelly collection which is my favourite range that Barry M produce. Again, surprisingly to myself this isn't a pastel shade. It is a beautiful mauve purple. It is one of four for the Spring 2016 collection with the theme of pastels and nudes yet this is the darkest shade of the collection. I thought I would find it quite difficult to pair this shade with multiple outfits however this hasn't been the case. It is actually a really easy shade to wear and I have also found myself reaching for this a lot recently. I have basically alternated between the two shades over March. To sum it up, the gelly collection is thick, glossy, long lasting and easy to apply. Barry M is also really affordable and a cheaper alternative to Essie yet the quality of the nail polish would make you think that it is from a high end beauty brand. If you are interested in the Gelly Spring 2016 collection you can read my blog post by clicking here.

The Strength Restorer Serum By Garnier

Hair care is really important to me and I am always after products that can help to keep my hair looking healthy. I do straighten my hair regularly although when it comes to styling it could probably be worse. Even so I still want to look after my hair. I have recently been using a serum from Garnier which I have been really enjoying. I love the Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Care range; in particular the Strength and Sleek restorers. I thought I would test out the Serum from the strength restorer range. I apply two pumps through the ends of my hair after washing it. I find that my hair gets really knotty after I've washed it so if I apply the oil before brushing my hair it makes it a whole lot easier to deal with. I find that alongside my tangle teeser, brushing my hair after washing it isn't a nightmare anymore as the brush can glide through. Not only that I have found that it leaves my hair looking super shiny which I approve of and appreciate immensely. The strength restorer range also smells of honey; very refreshing and Spring like so what's not to love?

Snow Fairy Shower Gel By Lush

When it comes to washing and all things hygienic I have been loving using the Snow Fairy shower gel by Lush. Yes I know it was from their Christmas range and yes I know that it is now April but what can I say, I'm a free spirit. If you're like me and you love scents that are sweet and slightly food related then you will love the scent of Snow Fairy. It is a super sweet scent and too sweet for many but I personally love it. It is a Lush christmas classic. If you say the words 'Lush Christmas Range' to a true Lush fan then they will instantly reply with 'Snow Fairy'. I wish it wasn't limited edition yet I suppose maybe it wouldn't be as special to be if I could buy it all year round. It is a beautiful barbie doll pink with a silver simmer running through it. Packed full of candy floss and sugary sweetness it is just to die for. The quality of the Lush shower gels is also really good. I picked up a small bottle yet this will last me a long time. That doesn't mean I don't wash often - I do. The shower gel itself lathers really easily and creates beautiful Lush bubbles for your shower or bath. I have actually been enjoying using this sweet scent for the start of Spring as it's very refreshing.

Summer Glow Body Lotion By Dove

During the colder months I find that I get dry skin quite easily, especially as I was really ill the previous month I have been slapping on the moisturiser. In true preparation for Spring/Summer I have brought one of my oldest and dearest friends out of hibernation. I have been using the Dove Summer Glow body lotion for years now. I think it goes back to my year 11 prom in 2012. My legs always tan the least so I like to give them a little head start for when it is warm and sunny enough to crack out the skirts and shorts. The body lotion is really moisturising and it leaves my skin feeling really soft afterwards. It absorbs into your skin really quickly. Not only is it benefiting by reducing the dry skin yet it is also a gradual tan giving a bit of warmth and colour to my legs. It has a lovely scent towards it and luckily not the one of ammonia that some fake tans have. I usually get through three or four of these bottles over Spring and Summer but that's not too bad for over half of the years worth.

Thank you for reading this blog post my lovelies. I would love to know what products you have loved using over March and if they are similar to mine. Enjoy the rest of your day it's not long to go for that weekend push now.

XXX