MELTING ICE CREAM CUPCAKES

Me and Dylan made these cute little cupcakes last week. So so good. They are made using cooked cupcakes and raw cake mix to give a melty effect!

Ingredients

250g of Butter

250g Caster Sugar

250g Self-Raising Flour

4 Eggs

A little Vanilla Essence
Ice Cream Cones
(Cocoa Powder for Chocolate cupcakes)

Method

001. Preheat oven to 180°C /350°F/Gas Mark 4. Fill your Cupcake Baking Tray with your Cupcake Cases.

002. Cream your Butter, Vanilla Essence and Caster Sugar together in a mixing bowl and add the Eggs. 

003. Gradually sieve in the Flour (and Cocoa powder) whilst mixing all the ingredients. The mixture should be smooth, if not add a little milk. 

004. Half the mixture, and divide one half into your Cupcake cases, and place your Tray into the Oven.

005. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until nice and golden brown! Stick a fork through one of the Cupcakes to check it's cooked through, the fork should come out clean when inserted into the centre. 

006. Leave to cool on a rack for a while. When cool cut each cupcake into 3 pieces. 

007. Stuff one piece of cake into each Ice Cream cone and pour in one Tablespoon of cake mix, then another piece of cupcake, and cake mix etc. Making sure the top of the cupcake is placed in last. 

008. For the icing i cheated and bought some Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy Vanilla frosting. It's amazing. Ice the top of the cupcake carefully.

009. And decorate! 

MINI-ME DOLL

So for my summer project for my fashion course i was asked to make a doll of myself (complete with fake eye-lashes). Reflecting the way i look, as well as my personality. I spent two weeks on this, and it was hard work! I knew people wouldn't put as much effort into it as i would, i guess that's typical. I'm a little obsessive. 

So i based my doll design on Coraline, my favourite ever film! I could literally watch it on repeat. I wanted a similar silhouette, with the exception that it would have my features. I created the pattern myself, which was probably the most difficult part. I made her a little outfit by hand also, that took forever, my sewing machine decided it didn't want to sew! But it looks pretty. I'm never without my typical Bodycon skirt, brown belt and grey cardigan. So what else would i make? I even attempted to make little Vans! 

I really can't think of anything that represents my personality. So i made a sloth, not because i'm lazy, which i am, but i just couldn't resist. I love sloths! I hope you like it.

SUNDAY PORTRAIT WEEK 014

001. Oh God, i look absolutely terrifying in that photo. It has been a very emotional/busy week! Yesterday i officially moved away from home and into my flat. Boo hoo. I really didn't want to leave, i never thought i'd say that! Saturday was spent out in Whitehaven for a change. I actually really enjoyed it surprisingly. For the first time in years i was gutted for it to be over. I did manage to get a Peshwari naan, and to jump head first into someones hedge-rows on the walk back to Dylans. 

002. I finished my doll! Like completely! It looks so cute, i'm quite excited to hand it in, i am so competitive, mine has to be best! I shall post about it this week. 

003. Although it was my last week in Whitehaven i have infact really enjoyed it, it feels like i have done more with my days than all of summer. Even just sitting in Jess's for a Takeaway watching Project X. It was a good night, but at 19 telling eachother Ghost stories, i was too scared to walk to my car! Oh dear. (Well, not my car, i failed my driving test again on thursday!) Thursday was probably one of the worst days ever. 

004. I miss home so much already. I'm such a sap. I know i'm going to see him soon enough but i was in hysterics leaving Dylan. It's just so lonely, and you have to make friends really quickly because you're forced to live with strangers. All my flatmates went out lastnight but i wasn't really feeling up to it. I'm sure i'll go out soon, Leeds is a big place, i'm jus a bit nervous! So scared to start uni tomorrow!

WEEK IN PHOTOS

Pre-drinking at Jess's (Such a long time since i've been out), Yummy Strawberry Cupcake, Morticia reminds me of that Tickle Slow Loris video, Leaving meal with the Family (I love gammon), Baking session, Morticia's fat neck, Pre-drinking for Lauren's Birthday with Chelsea, Matthew and Moi, Alien face, My sister and Pumpkin, And again, My first ever iphone photo when leaving Dylan :(, Daim cake in Ikea is the best ever, ... , My lovely view from my flat in Leeds.

I take way too many photos of my cats. 

CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIE BITES

As a little leaving activity Dylan and I made these today and there were so good (even if i didn't manage so eat many), so here's the recipe if you'd like to have a go!

Ingredients

115g of Butter

115g of Milk Chocolate

300g Caster Sugar

A Pinch of Salt

2 Large Eggs

140g of Plain Flour

2 tbsp of Cocoa Powder

50g of White Chocolate

A Hand full of Fudge Pieces

A Generous helping of Toffee Sauce

Method

001. Preheat oven to 180°C /350°F/Gas Mark 4. Line an 18cm square baking tin with Grease Proof paper. 

002. Chop the white chocolate into small chunks. Break the Milk chocolate into bits and but into a heatproof bowl with the butter and heat over a pan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Stir and leave to cool slightly.

003. Stir in the Caster Sugar, the Salt, then gradually stir in the Eggs. Stir well until blended.

004. Sift the Flour and Cocoa into the mixture and beat well until smooth. Stir in the White chocolate chunks, Toffee Sauce and Fudge pieces. Transfer to the tin and smooth the surface.

005. Bake for 30-35 minutes (or longer if you don't want them as gooey). Stick a fork through the brownie to check it's cooked through, the fork should come out clean when inserted into the centre. Remember the brownies should still be fudgy inside!

006. Leave to cool in the tin for a while while, then squirt on some Toffee sauce if you fancy!

Ps. Enjoy and Remember to share!

SUNDAY PORTRAIT WEEK 013

001. It has been a busy week! Not a very interesting one, but none the less! I can not believe i move to Leeds in 5 days. It's creeped up on me, i thought i'd have ages left at home. To be honest, i'm not really looking forward to it. (While i'm sat here writing, my mum is dancing with the cat round the living-room to Coldplay) I didn't think i would, but i'm definitely going to miss home so much. It'll be so lonely. From seeing your boyfriend almost everyday to once every few weeks is horrible. And i just can't sleep without Pumpkin on my bed. Just can't.

002. So this week has been dedicated to full on doll making, well finishing (whilst watching almost the entire Bad Girls season 8). It seems like i've been making this thing for ages! I should have really finished it off fully tonight, but i'm hungover wah. I made a cute little big sloth to cling onto my dolls back. I love it! I do love my doll, from the neck downwards, she's so ugly. She looks like one of the muppets. At least all i have left to do now is cut the hair shorter, it will get done tomorrow. Promise!

003. I may have had a day off to go to the cinema, leaving my money and bankcard at home. Typical. We went to see The Possession. When i'd seen the trailer i thought it looked like the same old average exorcism-ish film, ie. Shit. It was actually alright, obviously i had to embarrass myself as i do in every time i watch a scary film. I physically screamed "She's behind you!", like a child watching a pantomime. Dylan didn't get to see the end of the film. He couldn't see it through the tears of him laughing so hard at me. I can't help it!!

004. So the reason for my hangover. After whining about having to go out all day yesterday because of lack of money and clothing. I caved. It was actually really fun! I haven't fully enjoyed a night out in so long, not many of us went out and we ended up arriving in town after half 11. It went so fast, i could have easily stayed out another hour and that's so unlike me to say. I am a bit regrettable about the fact i jumped belly-flopped into someones hedges on the way back to Dylan's house. Y'know, just to see what it felt like... Worst of all doing it twice! My belly is killing today! 

005. Today we went for a leaving meal at the Waverly Hotel. Ever since we went for our last family gathering i've wanted to go back. Honestly, the Gammon is huge. I just wish i'd felt a little more alive. I'm still feeling the effects of alcohol now. Ergh. Also, i'd been wearing these new fake eyelashes today and it was so hard choosing a photo for this post, every single one (except this one of course, my eyes are closed, thankfully) i had a huge knock-eye. 

WEEK IN PHOTOS

Homemade Butterbeer, My Sloth (it does look better in person), Leaving cake, £4.70 to Dunmail park and back extortion, Goat's Cheese and Red Onion Chutney Pizza at The Bounty, The Possession, Styled To Rock and Tesco Meal Deal, Pumpkin, Cute Morticia.

SUNDAY PORTRAIT WEEK 012

001. All i have done this week, yet again, doll making. That, and Bad Girls Club. American Reality TV is the best. So apologises the the extreme shortness of this post. I can't say i fully remember what i've done this week, it's that dull! I made my doll some clothes. (My mum has actually just put on The Inbetweeners, this is an unusual but amazing moment) Aaaand i have just spilt tea all over the carpet. Great.

THRIFTY TREASURES

I'm not one of those hugely Royalist people but i think these mugs are just so pretty and flowery. And at least when i move to Leeds i'll know if someones stolen my cups! I got these in charity shops recently for £2.20 altogether. 

I saw this weird little pendant on a stall at Silloth Carboot sale, i don't know how old it is but it looks so strange and for 50p why not? I think the pendant part is close to snapping, so i might even stick it on a ring! 

I just love the colours and the gold on this saucer. I found it in a £1 box in Keswick's Magpie Vintage. My sister actually bought the set for £7 but i'm planning on putting this in my Fashion Inspiration Project box.

Thankfully my boyfriend used his skills to get this Vintage Orange Crocodile Skin purse for only £5 at Penrith Carboot sale! I think it's beautiful.

This is also from Magpie Vintage for £2!

So i've been collecting these old souvenir spoons recently. I saw this man at the Whitehaven Festival making jewellery out of cutlery so i thought i could give it a go, making these into rings. You can usually find these for £1 each.

This lovely silk scarf is from Magpie Vintage again, for £8. A bit more than i would usually spend on a scarf, especially when charity shops are full of them for under £1! But i couldn't resist. 

A broken but quite unusually looking LED watch from Silloth Carboot sale for £1.

I got these old postcards from a little Antique shop in Keswick a couple of weeks ago, for my Vintage Inspiration Box as part of my Uni summer homework. I love the one on the right, i think it has a sort of Native American style to it. But i got these for £3.50 altogether. 

For sure my Inspiration box is going to be full! This is what i have collected in only the past couple of weeks. Now to get started of my "Mini-Me" doll of myself for university. When i'm finished i'll post photos!

WEEK IN PHOTOS

Dylan's Birthday Meal at The Georgian House, My Tapas Meal: Chicken and Chorizo-Mozerella Sticks-Sweet Potato Fries, Strangely Luminous Van, My Broken Drawer, Attempting to Draw for the first time in months, Indoor Barbecue, Three Tuns, Sewing my Dolls Arm, My Sheep, The perfect way to spent a Bank Holiday, Pumpkin stealing Bacon,  Ugly Cat. 

SUNDAY PORTRAIT WEEK 011

001. I'm so bad at this blog thing, i haven't posted in ages. Apologies apologies. I think i've kept moderately busy... by far not as much as last summer, 2 holidays and 2 festivals! 

002. I still need to post about Kendal Calling which i went to a couple of weeks ago, ah so much to do! And i got my Leeds summer project, to create a doll that looks like me and reflects my personality.  I'm thinking of doing a doll in the style of the Coraline doll in the opening credits (My favourite movie).  And the other part of my homework is to collect vintage/cultural/contemporary things for inspiration and put them in a box. I've started both. I decided to put together a little sketchbook for the doll project, looking at inspiration from Tim Burton and Henry Selick. 

003. I've spent the entire day sewing buttons for my Box project, my eyeballs are in so much pain. I'm hoping my box looks beautiful though, i just don't think it's big enough. I could fill a crate with the amount of vintage things i own! 

004. It's my boyfriend Dylan's birthday in 2 days, so that should be fun. Again i've spent a bit too much, oops. But i can't help it, i love buying presents. We're going for a meal at Georgian House which is so overpriced it's making me cringe. I'm going to feel so guilty eating something at expensive as an outfit. But i think i'm just very cautious when it comes to money. Hopefully it will be really good! 

005. I'm obsessed with Real World San Diego. I've been watching it all day. I'm such a hermit. 

INSPIRATIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS

So it seems all i've really done this summer holidays is go to carboot sales and vintage shops. I'm not complaining, i think i've found some quite good things recently. I've been looking for a few old books for fashion inspiration for patterns/shapes etc. for university. Then i came across these huge Nature Books from around the 1930s (apparently). I got all 3 for £1!

I also got this cute little book from 1962 for 50p. I love the illustrations they're so pretty.