Chocolate layer cake

This is actually from a recipe for cupcakes, from one of my favourite baking books, the Hummingbird bakery cake days book. but I like it better as a big cake with jam between the layers and lots of yummy chocolate icing, mmmmm!

Ingredients:

80g (3oz) butter/Marg

280g (10oz) sugar

200g (7oz) plain flour

40g (1 ½ oz) cocoa powder

1 tbsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

240ml (8 ½fl oz) milk (not skimmed)

2 eggs

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F and heavily grease three circular sandwich tins.

Use an electric mixer (or, if you don’t have one use a fork) and beat the butter, sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt (if using an electric mixer use the slowest setting and beware of the powder going everywhere) until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Pour the milk into a jug, add the eggs and whisk together with a fork.

Pour three-quarters of this mixture into the dry ingredients and beat/mix lightly until all the ingredients are combined and then increase the speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl. Add in the rest of the milk mixture and keep mixing until everything is combined again, and the mixture is nice and smooth.

Use a spatula to pour the batter into the three tins, try to get an even amount in each. Bake for about 18 minutes, then check them, if they aren’t done, leave them in for a few more minutes and check again. To check if it’s done, put a butter knife into the middle of one of the sponges, and if it comes out clean, they’re done!

Let them cool in the tins, and then loosen them with a knife to get them out. Leave to cool for a further 10 minutes or so on a cooling rack.

If you need to, level off the tops of two of the cakes with a bread knife to make the cake more even. Sandwich the cakes with any jam you like (I prefer red jam) in-between the layers and ice the cake on top and the sides with chocolate icing which will be in tomorrow’s blog post!

Yup, it’s a two part-er.

See you tomorrow! Let me know if you try the cake, and if you like it. Personally, it’s my favourite. J

Gxx

Nails of the (other) day

So, I’m going to be honest, this isn’t my current nail look, I did my nails this way just before valentines, which I guess it was kind of inspired by, but as I haven’t uploaded anything today, and I’m really tired, this is just easier… so sorry it isn’t more current!

This is actually amazingly simple. Just do your nails normally in the creamy pink, and after it’s dried use a toothpick to draw the heart. The heart could be on any finger, I just like the look of it on the ring finger. :o)

On one hand I did a larger (I must admit, slightly London lip-glossesque) heart, and on the other a smaller filled in heart. I personally prefer the outlined one, but it is harder to be precise on the right hand.

After doing the heart, just use a top coat to seal it all in, and you’re done! Simple as that. :D I must admit, I always imagine this nail design with the fingers around a massive drink of hot chocolate… perfect for the winter months ;)

The colours I used are unnamed ones from beauty UK and my trusty barryM top coat, base coat and nail hardener. However, you could substitute these for any other brands.

I will definitely repeat this look, let me know in the comments what you think, and if you try it out! See you tomorrow!

Gxx

Review: OCC Lip tar

So I got one of the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics lip tars in Memento, which is fairly similar to my natural lip colour. I could have opted for a crazy colour, like blue, or black, or orange, but I eventually decided to go with one I would actually wear.

                                            Please ignore the grossness of this photo xD

So let's look at the product quality. I was out all day when I tried this, and in the evening had two hours of dancing, so it was really put to the test. It looked almost exactly the same as when I had put it on that morning at four, maybe five in the afternoon, but by the time I got home from dancing it had come off slightly. However, the colour was still there, and I had just been dancing for two hours!

You literally need the tiniest bit of this product when you're applying. if you didn't need so little the size of the tube might be a problem (It's pretty small, with any other lip product it wouldn't last at all).

The pigmentation is great, and very true to the colour in the bottle I also really like the matte finish, as I find it nicer than gloss or glitter.

Now, the packaging. As I mentioned before, the tube is rather small. However, you need such a teeny amount this doesn't really matter. If you unscrew the lid, it has a deceptive top, like that of a lip gloss tube, which you would put straight onto your lips. Don't. With this you need a lip brush, otherwise you'll use way too much product and will end up with a gloopy mess.

The Lip tar Retails for £8.99 on line.

On top of all this, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics are a vegan brand!

I like the overall look of this product, and I can understand all the hype. Bravo OCC!

Have you tried OCC lip tars? If so what do you think of them? And if not, do think you might in the future?

Gxx

Today’s manicure, Pink French zebra

Hey,

So I haven’t exactly been active on my blog lately… (woops) but I’m trying to get back into it.

I thought I’d start off with some easy posts like LOTDs and Nails. Obviously there will be non beauty as well, but that’s usually cooking, which takes more time. :P

Right, let’s get down to it. Last night I played around with nail varnish and ended up with this:

With practice I will hopefully be able to master the zebra print, this was a first try so it’s quite shaky.

But, with a steady hand I think this looks quite effective, without being too over the top.

I always like French tips when I want to paint my nails, but have recently had a strong colour and my nails need a rest as you only paint the very tips. Of course you could do a pink, nude or peach tone base coat, but I prefer natural (much easier :P).

(bit shaky, sorry) I used this bright baby pink from a set I got for Christmas (it doesn’t have a name).

And this 17 black nail varnish in nightshade.

Just use the tape trick, a coat or two of the pink on the tips, leave to dry and I just free styled the black over the top with a toothpick. You could do any pattern you like really, even black crackle. But I find zebra print quite cool. J

I then just finished off with my trusty barrym base coat, top coat and nail hardener.

Let me know in the comments if you try this mani out, and if you like it or not.

Gxx

Day #3, Clowds

So I couldn't decide between these two, neither are great, but today wasn't ideal, so... yeah.

 Just taken in my back garden, nice shot of the laundry there :p

And that's day three! :o)

Gxoxo

Day #2, What I wore...

So, this is what I wore today.... I apologize for the bad lighting....

Top - Vintage charity shop 50p

Skirt - charity shop, originally from primark, I don't know the price.

So yeah, if you guys are doing this challenge let me know!

Also, I don't know if you can tell, but the top has thin stripes and the grey blob is a dragon fly, also there is hot pink stitching around the sleeves. :o)

Can't wait for tomorrows post!!

Gxoxo

Day #1, a self portrait

Hi guys, so here is the first day of the series, sorry I didn't do it strait away!!

Bit of a bad picture I know, but it's just me about to write this blog post. :o)

I hope you all have a great day!!!!!

Gxoxo