Chocolate Cake!

Hi Guys,
            So I thought I'd give you the recipe for my Good Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake. If you are going to get started with baking, I recommend starting with this cake as it's fairly simple to make and serves about 8. So lets get started:

Ingredients;

For the cake;

• 200 grams plain flour
• 200 grams caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 40 grams best-quality cocoa powder (I like to use Cadbury's Bournville!)
• 175 grams soft unsalted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 150 ml sour cream

For the icing

• 75 grams unsalted butter
• 175 grams best quality dark chocolate(broken up)
• 300 grams icing sugar
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 125 ml sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• sugar flowers (optional)

Method;

1. Take everything out of the fridge so that all the ingredients can reach room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to gas mark 4 / 180*C / 350*F and butter two 20cm/8inch sandwich tins 
3. Now all you have to do is put all the cake ingredients-flour,sugar,baking powder, and bicarb, cocoa, butter, eggs, vanilla and sour cream-into a food processor and process it until you have a smooth, thick batter. If you don't have a food processor or you don't want to do that, just mix the flour, sugar and leavening agents in a large bowl and beat in the soft butter until you have a combined and creamy mixture-although mine wasn't creamy, and still worked fine  
4.  Divide this batter, using a rubber spatula to help you scrape and spread, into the prepared tins and bake until a cake tester or thin skewer comes out clean, which should be about 35 minutes-but I would check your cake after 25! 
5. Remove the cakes, in their tins, onto a wire rack and let them cool for 10 minutes before turning them out of their tins. Don't worry about any cracks!
6. To make the icing, melt the butter and chocolate in a good sized bowl either in a microwave or suspended over a pan of boiling water. Either way, go slowly or else it will burn!
7. While the chocolate and butter are cooling, sieve the icing sugar into another bowl
8. Add the Golden Syrup to the cooled chocolate mixture, followed by the sour cream and vanilla. When this is all combined, whisk in the sieved icing sugar.
9. When you've done, you may need to add a little boiling water or some more icing sugar to get the icing to the right consistency. It may be right as it is, but you don't want it so runny is dribbles off the cake, or too thick to spread. It should be liquid enough to coat easy, but thick enough not to slide off.
10. Choose your cake stand/plate and sit one of the cakes onto it
11. Spoon about 1/3 of the icing onto the center of the cake half and spread with a knife or spatula until you cover the top of it evenly. Sit the other cake on top of it, and gently press them together.
12. Spoon another third of the icing on to the top of the cake, and spread it in a swirly textured way, or any textured way you would like. Spread the sides of the cake with the remaining icing also, and leave it for a few minutes to set.
13. Finally, I love to dot the cake with some Sugar Flowers, as they look so cute!

Enjoy xx

                              :)

Drugstore Haul

Hi guys,
              So today I thought I'd blog about the Rimmel Haul I went on yesterday with Anythingeverything. 
              As most of you know, all of these items are available to purchase in any drugstore.

1. So the first thing I picked up was the Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation in the shade 101 Classic Ivory. This is a really good foundation, and feels like a high end one :) Although, I find it leaves the skin feeling dewy, which for me, I don't like, but if you do, its for you!
2. Secondly, I bought the Rimmel London Clear Complexion Clarifying Powder, which I had heard really good reviews about. I got it in 021 transparent. 
3. Then I picked up the New Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser from the Maybelline counter. THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER! If you get the chance BUY THIS as it makes my skin feel so soft and even! Great primer as well.
4. For a while I've wanted to try out the Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks, so I picked one up in the shade 03, Rossetto. I haven't yet tried it, but it is a lovely shade. (they also had some red lipsticks for Red Nose Day you should pick up!)
5. I also Picked up the Blemish Balm from Seventeen, in the shade light. this is really really nice and evens my skin tone really nicely. It also covers imperfections (obviously) and "oil control". It has an SPF of 25.
6. Finally I picked up the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer that everyone raves on about, in the shade Fair (1). I actually really like this, which is something I thought I'd never say!

My skincare routine

Hi Guys,

So today I thought I'd do a blog on my skincare, which is a big part of everybody's life. I believe that taking care of your skin is vital because the chemicals that are in your makeup can clog up your pores. Even if you don't wear makeup, the chemicals that your skin comes into contact everyday can be harmful. 

              To take good care of my skin, I use a lot of Eve Taylor, which is a company that has been running for over 50 years. In this time, they have never tested on animals, and their products are formulated to balance with the correct pH of the skin. 

             Eve Taylor basically makes my skin feel so soft and clean after use!  

My normal Skin Care Routine:

1. The first thing I do is remove all my eye-makeup with the Simple Kind to Eyes Eye Makeup Remover, which you can basically buy in any drugstore (eg, boots, Superdrug)
2. Secondly, I use the Eve Taylor Soothing Cleanser, in the scent Cucumber and Lettuce. This smells sooo good, and very refreshing. I believe that you can also get this in the scent Lavender and Sandalwood, which is more relaxing. Anyway, I then apply this all over my face, before applying warm water onto my facial sponges, and removing the cleanser off. I usually go around my face a few times with the sponges, until its all removed. Cleansing opens your pores and cleanses all the dirt and makeup out of them and off your face.
3. Then, I use the Eve Taylor Soothing Toner, in the scent Lavender and Chamomile. This closes your pores.
4. Then I moisturize with the Eve Taylor Purifying Moisture Cream, in the scent LemonGrass and Ylang Ylang-be careful not to put too much on, and just apply it to your face in little circle movements until its all absorbed into your skin

Other Routines I use:

             About once a week I will use the Eve Taylor Enzyme Peel in the scent Papaya and Pineapple. Basically apply this as you would a cleanser, but leave it on for at least 3-5 minutes for it to work:)  This helps my skin look healthier and more vibrant... I love it! Then I just repeat my regular routine

            Also once a week, I'll use the Eve Taylor Advanced Skin Therapy Anti-Bac Skin Wash Intensive Purification which is ABSOLUTELY AM-A-ZING!! It deep cleans pores and reduces your pore size, and whenever I have a spot, I use this and it works! It says to use twice daily on your skin (am/pm) everyday, which I would recommend if you have badish skin, but for me it works just doing it for one or two days. After use, repeat the regular routine.

Leah xx 

P.S-check out Eve Taylor's website! http://www.eve-taylor.com/

The Lokai Bracelet

Hi Guys,
Some of you may have heard about the Lokai Bracelet, its basically a bracelet which is infused with elements sourced from the highest and lowest points on Earth. The white ball, carries water from Mt. Everest, and the black ball, holds mud from the Dead Sea, which are positioned on opposite ends. A string of clear beads link the two, signifying that throughout life’s circular journey, your path is your own.
               I find this bracelet really deep, as it reminds you that "Sometimes you've hit a low, stay hopeful" which is what the black bead represents. The white bead tells us that "Sometimes you're on top of the world, stay humble". And the rest of the beads are clear, because "We all have our own story of balance to tell".
              Personally I think these bracelets are really cool, and if you're thinking I bet there isn't really mud and water in there take a look at this: https://www.facebook.com/SpoiledChicsTheBoutique/posts/668585713195914

              Check out their website! http://mylokai.com/our-story and be sure to get yourself one of these!