Okay so after a failed attempt at recording a video for you all i thought i would do a quick post on (yet another!) nail varnish. The video didnt work out because silly me turned the camera portrait so i had to rotate it on the computer and then is had big black lines down either side when uploaded to youtube. So i will attempt to film it again asap.
In the meantime this is the free polish that i got from American Apparel last week.

This one is called Lopez Canyon and is more of a burnt orange irl, it shows up quite red on camera. Its not very similar to any shades i have and is something i have been after for a while so glad a was able to pick this up.

x

Remember remember the 5th of november.

Went to a bonfire and fireworks diplay on monday night with a big group from uni. I always love the anticipation of waiting for the fireworks and then peoples reactions when they start. Got some quite nice photos of them as they went up. This display wasnt as good as some of the ones i have watched back home, but it was lovely to be out. We wandered round some of the stalls after and bought some bags of pick and mix. I was definitely tempted by a jacket potato (perfect bonfire food) but had already eaten so decided against it. There was also a mini fair ground which looked pretty cool with all the neon lights. But it was so expensive! So we didnt actyally go on any of them.
How was everyone elses bonfire nights?

x

Parkin for bonfire night

Heres the promised blog post on a bit more of my baking! Now parkin is something i have had every year at bonfire night, along with cheesy baked potatoes, veggie hot dogs and cinder toffee. But i really think it must be a yorkshire thing because noone in my halls had heard of it until i made it today. Its a tray bake style ginger cake and its surprisingly easy to make. So here is the recipe i used:

12oz fine oatmeal

6oz plain flour

1tsp ginger

½tsp baking powder

½oz sugar

¼tsp salt (optional)

1lb golden syrup

4oz butter

½tsp bi-carbonate of soda

¼ pint milk

Mix together the oatmeal, flour, sugar, ginger, (salt), baking powder in a large mixing bowl.  

Add the butter to the syrup in a separate bowl and gently warm until the butter is melted. Add this to the dry ingredients and stir well. 

Dissolve the bi-carbonate of soda in slightly warmed milk and then add this to the rest of the ingredients and mix together well.

Pour into a deep greased/lined baking tray.

Bake for 1 ½ hours at 150C.

This is my great grandmas recipe that my mum gave to me, after she had a little shock that the one i find online didnt contain particular ingredients. But it means all the measurements are imperial, i just used google converter to find the metric equivalent.

I forgot to take pictures as i was going along, clearly got far too into the baking, but here's the final product. Quite impressed with how it tastes as well.

x

Bonfire night outfit

Snood, gloves, wellies, coat, jeans

Halloween and bonfire night are definitely two of my favourite times of the year (after christmas of course!) I love the traditions behind them and getting together with friends and family to dress up or go and watch the local fireworks. I am going to a bonfire in the park on monday night and cannot wait. There is a fairground in the evening followed by a big bonfire and fireworks! I was putting together a quick selection of items that i would wear. It usually gets freezing cold and i love to be wrapped up cosy and warm so a good scarf, gloves and thick coat are essential. And the fact these gloves are just pretty cool..

Tomorrow i am hoping to bake some parkin, which no one seems to have heard of at uni!? Will have to see if this new oven is up to standards. If all goes well there should be a blog post up on it :)

x

Pumpkin carving

Okay so it isnt halloween just yet i know.. But i bought this pumpkin in sainsburys this weekend and just couldnt wait to carve it! Its something i have done every year with my family. We all design a pumpkin, draw it on and them carve it out. We then put them on out doorsteps with little tea lights inside.
Went for the standard scary face this year. So here are some pictures to illustrate:

 The design

 And the tops off!

 In progress..

 It all got a bit messy.

 The finished product

I have a couple of halloween nights out coming up this week so need to get some costumes sorted. I do love this time of year! Anyone else carve pumpkins?

x