Tuesday 31 December 2013

2013!

So, it has come to the end of 2013 and I am currently sat with a towel on my head waiting for my hair to dry and preparations for tonight begin.Whilst my hair dry's I thought I would write this and look back on 2013.

2013 has been a year of ups and downs and some things that I wish to forget about, but it has also been full of some AMAZING things, here are a few highlights and pictures:

April - I turned 21 and was my family surprised me with dinner in London and going to the theatre to watch Mamma Mia. If you have not seen it then I thoroughly recommend that you do. It is an amazing musical full of the classic Abba songs and great dancing and set. Definitely one to take the whole family to see.



May - Me and my three friends were fortunate enough to get tickets to see Beyonce's Mrs Carter World Tour at the MEN (Manchester). She sure did put on a show and it was such a magical evening. Beyonce is simply incredible and her concert has to be one of the best I have been to!



May - For my sister's Christmas present (2012), I bought her two tickets to see One Direction in concert. I was lucky enough to be the person she decided to take along with her! Although the concert was full of 11 year old screening girls, or mums and dads who looked very bored supervising their young children it was definitely a great show! Not only are the boys good looking they put on a fantastic show and I had a great night! I am very sad that I haven't managed to get tickets to their next tour. I recently watched This Is Us and after watching their movie I would love to go and watch the boys in concert again!

June - Myself and three of my girls from Uni booked to go on a girlie holiday to Magaluf. We did not want to stay in the centre of Magaluf as we think we are too old for 'those' types of holidays anymore. We stayed at the Aquasol Aparthotel in Palma Nova. The hotel was lovely, a great pool and fantastic staff and right by the beautiful beach. Apart from a couple of nights out in Magaluf we also went to mini golf. I had never done mini golf before and really enjoyed myself. We also went to the water park which again was a brilliant day trip and we also went on a boat trip. I think I am slightly too old for clubbing holidays now, but it was nice to go on a lovely holiday with a brilliant bunch of girls from university.

July- In July myself and a friend from Sixth Form went to Rome on a mini break. We stayed in a very cheap hotel, but it was perfect and in an excellent location right by Termini station. On the first day we bought tickets for the hop on hop off bus, we went round the whole route once without getting off and then went round again getting on a sites we wanted to see. This was a brilliant way to explore Rome and also see the places we wanted to. We also visited the Collesum, Trevvi fountain, Spannish Steps, Pantheon. However my highlight was hiring these pedal carts in a park near the Villa Borghese. This was hilarious trying to control the bike and was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.



July - After returning from Rome I started my placement. The first week was very nerve wracking but after working there nearly 6 months I am thoroughly enjoying myself and have made some friends for life here!

August - I joined my family on their two week holiday to France for a week. I got the Eurostar to Paris and had a quick stop over, where I quickly visited the Notre Dame before getting the TGV to Avignon. It was a lovely and relaxing holiday and a nice break from placement as the first weeks were quite exhausting settling into a new job and the routine of getting up at 6am every day!

October - As part of my job I was very lucky to go to Cologne in Germany to help at the biggest food trade fair in Europe. We had a huge stand at the fair and I went along and helped on the stand and also assisted with the culinary show that we put on with the famous German Michelin starred chef called Tim Raue. I had a lovely couple of days and was also able to explore Cologne on the last day before the flight home. I left on my own without a map and explored the small city and climbed to the top of the Cathedral. unfortunately it was a cloudy day so I couldn't get great pictures. This trip was a fantastic opportunity and a trip I will never forget!



November - I was lucky enough to attend the Premiere of Thor 2 with my job. I got to walk the carpet with all the stars and stood meters away from Chris Hemsworth. The film was amazing, and I would recommend buying it when it comes out on DVD! After the showing all the X Factor stars were waiting in the lobby and I got my picture with a couple of the contestants. This is something of my placement that I will remember for ever. It was such a privilege to walk the red carpet!



December - Christmas is here! December was a fun month full of Christmas preparations, buying presents, seeing the lights and work Christmas parties.


HAPPY NEW YEAR and I wish you the best for 2014! xoxo

Thursday 26 December 2013

Christmas is over :(

I absolutely love the build up to Christmas. I think I prefer it more than the day itself. I love seeing all the lights appearing in London, Carnaby Street are always my favorite as they are so 'quirky'! This year I also went to to Somerset House for iceskating with the girls. We went to a lovely carol concert at St Pauls, before heading to Las Iguanas on Southbank for dinner and cocktails then walked along the river to Somerset House. I also love putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the house but my ultimate favorite thing this time of year is buying presents for my family and friends and the excitement of watching them open what you bought them on Christmas day.

Anyway, I am sad that all the preparations are over and the month build up is over and the anticipation of what Santa will bring! However I am very grateful for all the lovely presents I received. Especially my new Panasonic Lumix camera which I will use when travelling America.

Now to start planning NYE (which I personally think is over rated and over priced)!

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! xoxo



Sunday 22 December 2013

Christmas Baking

I absolutely love Christmas and I also love baking, so around this time of year I like to do as much Christmas baking that I can.
Today I made a shortbread Christmas tree, using a kit from Lakeland (http://www.lakeland.co.uk/r80552/Christmas-Cookie-Tree). I didnt use the suggested recipe rather a favorite of mine from Sam Stern's first cookbook:

200g butter well softened
75g caster sugar
150g plain flour
150g self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence

Mix the butter and caster sugar together using a a electric whisk. Sift in the flour and add the vanilla essence. Rub the ingredients together to begin with and then bring together into a ball. Roll out on a floured surface and use cutters to create shapes. Put on a greased baking tray and bake in the oven at 150 degrees for approximately 10 mins, more if the biscuits are thicker.

I also made melted snowmen cupcakes. I made a basic vanilla cupcakes mix, then decorated with white glace icing. On top of this I put a large white marshmallow and then decorated the snowman using writing icing.

Happy baking xoxo