Karlies Kookies

I feel as though i definitely don't incorporate enough recipes into my blog posting schedule. It's not that I don't ever bake, merely that when I do I am so excited to get them in the oven and then my stomach, that I tend to forget to take pictures. However this time I remembered, which should be celebrated :)
Karlie Kloss has for a while now been my absolute favourite model and top role model. Not only does she have an other-worldy beauty to her and is one of the most in demand models of the past five years, she is still aspiring to go to medical school and has set up her own COOKIE CHARITY. I know. A charity that sells cookies and donates the profits to FEED , she is a genius. And the cookies just happen to taste great and be healthy alternatives to usual ones too. So inspired by Miss Kloss, my lovely friend shona and we set out to bake our own 'healthy' cookies.

What you will need

• 2 cups of almond flour
• 1 cup (gluten-free) whole oats
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 slivered almonds
• 3/4 cup of dark chocolate chips (preferably more :)
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp xantham gum (alternatively 1 egg)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup agave (alternatively 1/2 cup golden syrup)

First, preheat the oven to 150 (c) and grease or line a baking tray with paper. Lightly toast the almonds in a frying pan and then let them cool. Now mix your dry ingredients (including the chocolate and almonds) together in a bowl, with a wooden spoon before adding the liquid ingredients in and stirring well. 

Once mixed evenly, scoop the dough out onto the tray into individual, little (for want of a better word) blobs. Cook them in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Now leave them to cool before inhaling delicately placing them on a pretty plate and sharing them with everyone you know.

xo

My Autumn Wishlist

I am one of those really annoying types who get excited for Christmas in March. So that means getting excited for Autumn in June is usually what happens. Above all it's the fashions that come around at this time that excite me the most. There is nothing I love more than a big-knit and chunky boots. Autumn (or fall if you are American) seems to be the perfect time of year for me. My wish list (Wantworthy) is overflowing with gorgeous pieces that I vow to buy. So I thought I'd share these little beauties with you in the ever-exciting form of a wish list...

So from left to right:

1. Velvet dress - Asos        2. Dip-die jumper - Vero Moda         3. Plat headband - Topshop 

4. Popsicle sweater - Wildfox         5. Boots - Urban Outfitters        6. Sweater dress - Asos

7. Big knit scarf - Asos        8. Jacket - Free People              9. Floral skorts - Dahlia

xo

The Benefits of being a Tea Junkie.

If I'm being honest with you, I probably do have three to five cups of tea a day. Most of which is herbal (think green tea, berry or chai). I did this mainly because I love tea and it keeps me warm, but upon closer inspection, I found that Herbal teas (green in particular) have fantastic health benefits and are highly recommended by well-being folk. “In a lot of ways, we might get more benefit from a good organic tea than from a vitamin pill,” says herbalist Marianne Beacon of Elderberry Herbals in Peterborough, Ont. Don't take it from me, take it from Marianne, who clearly knows what she is talking about. In case I haven't already talked about Teas enough, here is a list of different ones and what good they can do for you :

Green Tea

Increases metabolism, therefor good for weight loss, good for dental hygiene and skincare.

 

Clipper Green Tea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chamomile Tea

Good for calming and soothing. Also cures bad coughs apparently?



Tea Pigs Chamomile Tea

 

Peppermint Tea

Relives muscle spasms, good for nausea and feeling sophisticated. :)

Storm Peppermint Tea

Rooibos Tea

High in antioxidants, helps sooth eczema and ward off signs of ageing.

Bloom Rooibos Tea

Always keep your heart locked tight, don't let your mind retire.

Everyone has that one friend who is super sporty and fit and could outrun you in a race even with her legs tied together. Well that friend for me, is the lovely Shona. In fact no, all my friends are like that. Actually wanting to go on runs and enjoying it?! Crazy I know. But boy how I wish I was more like that. Whenever I go on a run (and to be fair I do, sometimes...) I end up bumping into literally the whole village and awkwardly waving to them whilst receiving horrified looks at the monstrous thing looking in their direction (I look awful). Despite all this, I did indeed jump at the opportunity to go on a beautiful (long) walk on a beautiful day with sporty Shona, who knows all the prettiest ones around here. It was lovely! And got me seriously excited for Autumn and the fashion, warm drinks and fattening foods it brings.

***

Autumn is undoubtedly my favourite season for fashion. It is not yet too cold that you must always wear a skii-type jacket, but is warm enough that knitwear and chunky scarves are needed. I do however never stop wearing dresses all year round, so I thought today would be a good day to start getting used to 'Autumn' frocks. Going on a walk in a dress is ridiculous, I know. But hey.

This is one of my favourite colours for Autumn. ' The world is not enough' O.P.I's Skyfall range.

 Dress (worn as skirt) - Jack Wills  Top - Zara (similar)  Socks - River Island  Boots - Hoggs

xo

Favourite Fragrances

Perfume (of if your being fancy 'fragrances') has never been a huge obsession of mine. Unlike nail polish, for example, I have over 90 single bottles and counting. Whenever I buy or am given a perfume, I tend to use it up fairly quickly. And if I'm buying it, rest assured months of research and testing have gone in to make sure it's really something I'd wear. So all these perfumes are very me. 

I tend to favor sweeter (more childish?) scents. I'd love to be able to tell you that 'rose' and 'white saffron' were the fragrances I love but I'm sorry, I'm just not that sophisticated. Anything smelling of berries or candy has me at hello. And the bottles too. They have to be fun and girly. So before you read on be warned, this is not a serious scent review of the most 'current' and 'fresh' perfumes currently on the market. It is simply the favorite perfumes list of a girl with the perfume preferences of a four year old.

Beyonce - Heat                                               Jo Malone - White Jasmine and Mint                     The Body Shop - Moroccan Rose

Pink - Sweet & Flirty                                        The Body Shop - Love Etc...                                Taylor Swift - Wonderstruck

xo

Bibi's Cake Boutique

You know when you come across somewhere slightly out of the way but completely unique and gorgeous? And you kind of feel like it is yours? No? Right....Well that is what finding Bibi's Cake Boutique was like for me. Totally unexpected and special. It couldn't have been more welcome on a rainy day when walking around a town and trying to find a tourist shop selling a parka wasn't exactly all it had been made out to be. 

Their Cupcakes were absolutely to die for and restraining myself to only buying one, was a small form of torture. They had every flavor imaginable, some slightly more odd than others, but all beautifully photogenic and frosted to perfection. Once the laborious decision of what to have was over, your Cupcake was then swiftly packaged away in a pretty complex little box, before being handed over to you for the devouring to begin. I believe they also do celebration cakes too, and trust me, from what I saw, they were worth making up a celebration for. Or just celebrating the cakes themselves.

If Bibi's Cake Boutique hadn't gone well, then the owners would've no doubt pursued a career in interior design. The decor in there was like something you would only ever see on Instagram and never come across in real life. The window displays too, were unmissable. They would most certainly draw customers in if the smell of Cupcakes hadn't already. Visit Their website here for recipes.

These two cupcake were the ones I gladly took home with me :)

xo

We're Just a Box of Souvenirs

 You know that great feeling when you find some hidden treasure you never even knew you had? Well that was what I experienced a few weeks back when I stumbled upon these beauties. The surprise was even more welcome as I was in desperate need of some new boots anyway. It's little things like this that can make a day for me, or a week :).
So to celebrate my streak of good luck, I thought I would piece together a little outfit, inspired by this Autumn's up and coming trend of 'Moody Blooms' (yay for Autumn). This jacket is recent purchase of mine from the ever fabulous Zara which doesn't receive the credit it should. Yes amongst great things there is a lot of shockers in there, but if you look well and keep an open mind, I promise you will find something great!
Can we just have a round of applause as well please to celebrate the beauty that is Gabrielle Aplin and her lyrics ( as used in my title). I am lucky enough to be seeing her live in November with the lovely Mara and Shona, so keep you eyes open for that post!

Jacket - Zara  Leggings - Topshop  Top - Urban Outfitters (old)  Shoes - Hoggs

xo

What I love: Emma Watson

Say hello to my biggest fashion crush of the moment. Emma Watson.

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Having grown up in a household like mine where J.K Rowling and all things Potter - related are worshipped like a god, it has been pretty hard to avoid the beauty that is Emma Watson. Or indeed the beauty that is her acting skills. I have to admit, after Harry Potter ended (*sniff, sniff*) I did wonder how any of them could live up to the high expectations set by the 8 films that started them off. But my word how Hermione has proven me wrong. Post Potter Emma has certainly excelled in all fields imaginable. She has since starred in three hit movies, involved herself deeply in the world of fashion and modelling, found the time to attend one of Oxford and America's leading universities, stayed on the good side of the world's press and critics and all with a gleaming, charming smile on her face. She is without a doubt a great role model for anyone and everyone.

Fashion and Fancies

Formalities aside, Emma is also emerging as quite a fashion Guru and Icon. She has recently been the face of Burberry and scored her place as the co-designer at the Eco-friendly brand People Tree. Not to mention the launch of her capsule collection with Alberta Ferretti. However she is still down to earth enough to appreciate and shop at high street names like Topshop (her favourite place for 'basics'). Her style is definitely worth taking about and respecting. As is she. I love you Hermione.

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xo