Wednesday 25 November 2015

Thanksgiving x Black Friday


Its Wednesday Glams, and less than 24 hours to the last Thursday in November - for my fellow Americans, you know what that means!!! THANKSGIVING!! Ahh so excited!! 


Thanksgiving is one of my favourite days, everrr!! Food, food and more food! I so look forward to Thanksgiving every year, its such a special day with so much meaning behind it. Especially these days with everything thats going wrong in the world its important to reflect on what you have and be thankful for it all! 


Sadly I’ll be in Brighton tomorrow so I won't actually be celebrating on the day with my family, however I will be going home on Friday to prepare for our massive annual Thanksgiving dinner which will be on Saturday! Family, friends, food and laughter, I can’t think of anything better!


On a more materialistic note, this week also brings us BLACK FRIDAY! For us fashionistas Black Friday is a  dream land…discount after discount in your favourite stores, its definitely the time to stock up! I especially love that England is now starting to adopt this delightful tradition! I wish I was better prepared for it this year but I think my buy from Balmain x HM took away my Black Friday budget this year...oh well! 


In honour of Thanksgiving,I thought I'd  share the very limited amount of pics I took at last years TG dinner :) Can't believe I don't have any of the desserts, my fave being pumpkin pie of course!


Happy eating and happy shopping!!! xx



















Monday 16 November 2015

Almond Cinnamon and Apple Cupcake


Hello Glams,


I just want to take a moment to extend my sorrow to Paris, my heart really does go out to them. The attacks that took place really broke my heart, it just shocks me to see that kind of hatred by our own kind be placed on to our own kind. Its disgusting and I hope that we are able to get justice and move on from these events peacefully. 





On a brighter note,

I am definitely getting a little prematurely festive this year! The original plan was to make a Christmas cake but with a lack of time, I changed my mind and instead spent the weekend testing out this recipe for light,cinnamony Christmas deliciousness in a cupcake! (Look out for that Christmas cake soon though!).  I guess I could use the excuse for Thanksgiving (which I'm super excited for too!), the cakes work for both occasions, but who's to say there needs to be an event as an excuse to bake!?



I'm really happy with the way the cakes came out as it was my first time using almond 'flour' (I just ground up some almonds in the blender), they were moist, light and not too sweet. I have to admit I used butter in these (I told you I'm not quite fully there with the dairy free life yet) I did search high and low in my cupboards for coconut oil but typically only found the jar after they were baked! So I'll just have to test out the coconut oil recipe later and let you know how that turns out. 


Normally I'm not a fan of chunks of fruit in cake, but the apples actually pushed these cakes further to perfection! 


The almond flour made them somewhat healthier (which I ruined with the butter and by adding sugar) but again it wouldn't be a Christmassy treat without a little naughtiness! 


I hope you try this recipe out, it really is something!

Below is the recipe and list of ingredients followed by the images of the process. 

INGREDIENTS:
(alternatives for healthier ingredients provided in brackets)

200g Almond ‘Flour’
1 Tbsp Self Raising Flour ( 2tbsp coconut flour)
50g caster sugar  (50g coconut palm sugar)
1/2 tsp baking powder
2tsp cinnamon 
2 tsp Vanilla extract
50g butter,melted (50g coconut oil,melted)
4 medium eggs
1 apple (1/3 thinly grated or mashed and the rest of it cut into chunks) 

INSTRUCTIONS
    -Preheat oven at 180 degrees or gas mark 4.
      -Line a muffin tin with some cases and set aside.
        -Add all of the dry ingredients to a large bowl.
          -Add all the wet ingredients (eggs, butter and vanilla) to another bowl and whisk together.
            -Gently stir the eggs mixture into the dry mixture until completely mixed together, then add in the grated and chopped apple, stir one last time. 
              -Scoop the  batter into the tray,( I managed to make 9 cakes with this mixture but for bigger cakes/muffins just use bigger cases and add more mix.)
                -Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden, check if they're ready by inserting a tooth pick, it should come out clean if not bake for a further a few minutes and re-check.
                  -Once done, remove from oven and set aside for 5 minutes and then enjoy them while they're still warm! 



                  Be careful not to blend these for too long, the longer you blend the less crumbly they become as it releases their natural oils.
























                  I'm fully aware it's not the best looking cake mix but it is pretty damn tasty! 







































































                  Friday 13 November 2015

                  Double Denim


                  Happy Friday Glams!

                  My sister had a 'family fun day' at her office and being the big kids that we are, we all tagged along for what turned out to be a really fun day (I'll attach some photos further down). I wanted to wear something that was relaxed, but like always I also wanted something stylish. So double denim it was. Plus its London, why not go all out!? 

                   I felt so daring when I put this outfit on... also took it one step further and paired it with a bold mustard floral blazer. I know. Rebel right!? :P I picked up my double denim look with double buns in my hair. Double denim, double buns. Why not?! 


                  At first I was a bit nervous and out of my comfort zone with this look but after about five minutes in it I began to love it and my confidence just went up once my hair and make up was done. (I wore my new favourite Urban Decay Matte Revolution '1993' lipstick which is just ahhhmmaaazinggg! Highly recommend you get your hands on one!).

                   I tried to brighten up the pics because it was quite dark when we took them but they seem to have become a bit grainy now so apologies for the quality!  


                  So this is the look, as usual all feedback is warmly welcomed as are your likes, comments and shares! 
                  I also have some very exciting news but its not yet 100% yet so I won't say anymore until it is all confirmed! 







                  I just bought this Zara bag and it is my current obsession, its the perfect size for night and day!
































































                  H&M DENIM SHIRT
                  MISS SELFRIDGE BLAZER (unavailable)
                  ZARA JEANS
                  ZARA BAG 
                  TOPSHOP HEELED TASSLE BOOTS




                  Friday 6 November 2015

                  Remember Remember the 5th of November..




                  Hello lovely Readers!


                  It is widely known that yesterday would be an exciting day waiting for the night sky to be lit up for Bonfire Night/ Guy Fawkes night but for the world of fashion, the 5th of November has been much anticipated.


                  Billboards May 2015


                  The one and only Balmain x HM Release.

                  Boy, have I been waiting! From the moment Olivier Rousteing, Kendall Jenner and Jourdan Dunn walked onto that red carpet back in May I knew I had to have something from that collection.


                  Once it got closer and the prices were released (That beaded blazer, my fave from the collection, was £300!!) I became a little reluctant, but when you think about it, thats actually a fraction of the price of what it would be retailing for if it was normal Balmain.

                  Top 3 (in my price range)! 



                  With much perseverance and determination I got my mom on board and we both worked out a plan to get a piece.With a budget in mind I targeted my top 3 choices and brought it down to these (see left).

                  I can't tell you the stress I felt yesterday morning, with uni I couldn't leave to try get it in stores. From what I hear it was complete mayhem so its just as well! I phoned H&M about 108 times, refreshed over possibly 200 times AND even had my team of specialist volunteers helping me out, which I am forever thankful for! 


                  Finally we got through, ordered the velvet green dress but with my luck there were some problems and turns out I didn't get it. The lady over the phone was so kind after I showed my disappointment and she was able to process an order for the fur coat! I AM SOOOOOO HAPPPYYY AND SO EXCITED!!
                  Hopefully Santa will let me have it before Christmas, but I really won't push it! Just knowing I securely have it is all I need for the time being!

                  Many people don't understand my obsession or why this collaboration is such a big deal but all I can say to that is : If you know, you know!



                  Can't wait to be twinning with Kendall!