Haul

Hello all i hope you are having a good weekend so far. Ive had a very busy week at work but i still had time to do a little shopping.

Firstly i stocked up on a few bits, i like to make sure i have these in my draw incase i run out. I love a back up or 2 ;) all from Boots.

Keeping stocked up

As i have mentioned before I'm a lover of stationary so i got a new 2015 diary from Paperchase and some more of my favourite perfume Armani Code from Boots.

Stationary love

I also got given an early birthday present from my Mum and Dad, a lovely Pandora charm.

I got this lovely J isn't it nice. These are just a few charms i have, i tend to swap them about, different colours etc.

And today i popped into Tesco and happened to wander down the DVD aisle and well........ just look what happened!

DVD madness

Today i have watched 2 of them already! Firstly i watched Northern Soul and i wasn't sure what to expect first of all but i must say its a good watch i really enjoyed it, i then watched Maleficent well all i can say about this is she's very misunderstood! Great movie.

See you soon

Jinny xx

Beatrix Potter Book Collection

Today i wanted to talk about my love for Beatrix Potter. When i was younger my mum and dad brought me Beatrix Potter books which i have kept to this day its not a full set but a few years ago i decided to work towards a full set of old/original books and with some books as presents for birthdays, christmas and just because i have been lucky enough to complete the full set. Most of these books are either from eBay or Peter Harrington.

My Beatrix Potter collection 

I haven't read them for years and have forgotten most of the stories but i am going to start reading them all. I may have to be very careful as some are very old and fragile but they can't go unread!

Since i have a love for the books i was really happy when the movie came out. If you haven't seen it you must. Its lovely, heart warming and you may shed a tear or two but i have watched it a few times now and i doesn't get old.

I hope you enjoyed todays short but sweet post and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

See you soon 

Jinny xx

Halloween

Well its midweek (Hump day) and what to do? Well i thought it would be nice to give you a look at some of the things i have got for Halloween. My friend and her boyfriend are having a party and for the first time ever (well as an adult anyway) I'm dressing up! I don't have much of a choice as it is fancy dress ;)

Ive always loved tattoos of Candy Skulls but I'm yet to see a design i love that i permanently want on my body anyway through the Pixiwoo Blog i saw that Face Lace have Halloween styles and they have Candy Skull ones. So there i was having my own lightbulb moment, i don't have to worry to much about my actual makeup, and it looks really cool (hopefully) and as for an outfit well anything goes really, i haven't got my outfit yet but I'm hopefully getting a long black dress to got with it.

Excited to use this

I also got some jewellery bits from New Look that goes along with the Face Lace/Candy Skull style I'm looking for.

So all being well i will get my long black dress and hopefully look the part, I'm really looking forward to it and pleased with my fancy dress choice and i think i will feel comfortable too which is important on a night out.

Now i can't buy halloween stuff without buying new pens so whilst on the internet buying my Face Lace i somehow come across these pens from Paperchase and i couldn't resist.

Stationary love

Hope you enjoyed my spooky post today and hope you had or are having a happy Hump day.

See you soon

Jinny xx

Sneak peek #2 - My Handbag

So yesterday you had a sneak peek into my makeup bag, today i wanted to give you another sneak peek this time into my hand bag. Im going to be honest its a big bag so it will have a lot of unnecessary crap in it but here goes.

My handbag is Ted Baker and for whats inside well you have been warned:-

Smints - we all may need a mint now and again
Pens - im a stationary lover sorry not sorry
Ted Baker purse - Not my normal style but i do love it
Armani Code EPD - Just incase i need a top up throughout the day
Work Keys - Cant be locked out
Carmex - Keeping my lips smooth now winter is coming
Scarf - Its getting chilly
Socks - Unsure why
Chocolate chip Tracker bar - Energy boost or just a quick snack during the day
Mirror - Just to check in
Sunglasses - Even though winter is coming there is still glare when i drive
Umbrella - For that unpredictable English weather all year round!
Tissues - For those times you may have a sniffle or watery eye
Boots vouchers - Not here for long ;)
Hair bobbles and clips - I seem to go through hair bobbles like no ones business
Juice Cube - incase my phone needs a top up
Paracetamol - Essential
Extra chewing gum in bubble gum mint - I like the flavour but it doesn't like me i think I'm allergic :(
Tesco Receipts - Im a regular especially down the DVD aisle
Work ID - Just incase they forget who i am

Note book - What can i say STATIONARY <3
Work diary - Keeping my day in check
Tampons - Just being honest
Mobile Phone Iphone 5s with ironman minion phone case - Goes everywhere with me

And a photo bomb from Humphrey (He just wanted some attention)

Now to put everything back a bit neater than it was

And thats it a sneak peek inside my handbag. Is yours like this? I can't do small handbags for too long as i try and get all this inside and it doesn't work.

Hope you enjoyed this weekends sneak peeks.

See you soon
Jinny xx

Sneak peek - My makeup bag

So today i thought i would show you in my "daily" makeup bag. On a day to day basis i don't change things up i tend to go for quick and simple.

My Ted Baker loveliness 

So for my actual makeup bag its Ted Baker, a present from mum and dad. Its big enough for my daily bits and some of my basic brushes as well.

Now to what i use on my face:-
Seventeen blemish BB Balm in Medium - I only like a light coverage
Maybelline Instant Anti-Age The Eraser Eye in Light - Great for my under eye dark circles
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light 2 - If i need a little more coverage on a blemish
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in 003 Peach Glow - To set all the above

Depending on my mood either:-
benefit Rockateur Blush
No7 Coral flush Blush

Eyes:-
If i have the time
Urban Decay eye shadow primer in original - LOVE THIS!!
MAC Painterly Paint Pot - I need both these as i have very oily lids
Urban Decay Deluxe edition Underground - This changes often
Soap and Glory Archery in Brownie Points - I tend to only use the twist up end
benefit gimme brow in medium/deep
And of course Mascara
Seventeen doll'd up in Black - Gives great separation and length

Whats on my face

Ok so i need brushes to apply all this so here goes:-
Real Techniques expert face brush - for my base
Real Techniques powder brush - for powdering my face
Real Techniques contour brush - for powdering under my eyes (great shape for this)
Real Techniques duo-fiber face brush - I use this for my benefit blush
Real Techniques blush brush - I use this for my No7 blush
Real Techniques miracle complexion sponge - To apply my under eye concealer
Mac 217 - Used for my eyeshadow

Day to day tools

Now i have many more brushes then these I'm a bit of a makeup brush obsessive and swap this about every now and again especially if they need a clean!
And as for my actual makeup bits i also have a bit more than these im a big eyeshadow fan maybe one day i will give you a sneak peek ;)

I get all these products from Boots apart from my MAC  and Urban Decay bits of course.

See you soon
Jinny xx

My simple skin care

Hello all today i would like to go through my skincare routine for both morning and evening. This will probably be the simplest routine you have seen but it works for me, especially my morning cleansing routine as it has not changed in years!
I would also like to say by no way am i a professional when it comes to skincare i just know what i like and as i said it works for me.

Ok lets get started so i prefer to have more time in bed so my morning skin care "routine" is not very in-depth, first things first i get a flannel (face cloth) soak it with hot water ring it out and wipe it all over my face, wiping away anything from my face and it also gives my face a little exfoliate, after that i put a small amount of No7 advanced perfect and perfect serum on my face leave this for a few seconds to soak in and do its thing then i apply my Vichy Aqualia Thermal Riche moisturising cream all over my face and down my neck, we must not forget the neck area! Now for eyes i dab my ring finger into my Clinique all about eyes eye cream and apply this gently around my upper and lower eye area. Then i leave my face alone for 10 minutes or so whilst doing other bits before i start my make up and the only other product i use is my Caludalie beauty elixir face spray and i use this after all my makeup is done to set it, it works wonders and my makeup last all day! And thats it, simple I'm done for the day and I'm off to do a hard days work ;) Also throughout the day i will either apply Elizabeth Arden Eight hour cream or Carmex to my lips. I can really suffer with my lips especially in winter times so both these products do a great job and to make sure my lips don't get too used to one product and it stops working i swap it around every so often.

My morning products

So I'm now home from work and getting ready for bed, now this is where i really swap things around just depending on my mood. Firstly makeup removal so these are my options for eye makeup removal before i get into the shower - Loreal skin perfection 3 in 1 purifying micellar solution or
No7 Beautiful Skin eye make up remover i love both these products but i do find the No7 one leaves a small kind of greasy residue around my eyes but nothing i can't live with. I just put a small amount of either onto 2 cotton wool pads and hold these on my eyes for around 30 seconds then rub gently to remove any excess off my eyes. Now once in the shower i either use my Clinique take off the day cleansing balm or Loreal skin perfection miracle cleansing oil to take of the rest of my make now if i can't be bothered to do the separate taking off of my eye make up i will just use my shower products on my eyes to do my whole cleansing routine. I get a small amount of either product in my hands and rub together then apply to my face massaging it in i then get my flannel run it under the running water ring it out and remove all the makeup and grime from the day.  Once or twice a week i will also use a face scrub either No7 Total Renewal or Clinique 7 day scrub cream again depending on my mood.
Now if I'm going to be very naughty i will just use No7 Beautiful Skin quick thinking wipes to remove my makeup but this only happens after a night out and I'm to tired to do anything else so not very often.
Once all clean i apply the same Vichy moisturiser as i do in the morning for my night time cream maybe just a little more of it and again a little lip balm and as naughty as you may think that is i don't use anything else on my face at night, no serum, no eye cream I'm just a little to lazy to do anything else.

My night time products (don't worry i don't use all these that would be a little OTT)

And thats it, i may occasionally try something new but these have been the products I've used for some time now and i tend to get them all from Boots as i love the offers they do and adding up my points to treat myself.

See you soon
Jinny xx

Salted Caramel

Hello and good morning, afternoon or evening to you. So today I decided after making my cookies I was going to make some salted caramel to go with them.
I got the recipe from cupcakejemma on youtube and this was my 4th go at doing this. My first attempt went really well and i gave that and another batch of cookies to a friend and her boyfriend, so when i decided i was going to make cookies to take into work i thought this would be a good opportunity to do salted caramel again as it went so well the first time.
So to tell you about my second attempt before we start, i set myself up same as my first attempt but i made one major mistake that i knew i shouldn't do, i touched the sugar whilst it was on the heat and when it come round to adding the cream it was just to watery and the sugar just blobbed together. So off i went to the corner shop fingers crossed they had some double cream to have another go, as i had promised salted caramel to go with my cookies. My 3rd attempt was ok not as great as my first but still tasted great just didn't look dark enough and was a little more runny than I would have preferred.
Anyway...

What you need for this recipe:-
1 cup of caster sugar
6 table spoons of water
1 cup of double cream
1 tea spoon of vanilla extract (I use a table spoon, it's just about taste)
1 heaped tea spoon of flaked sea salt (not table salt as it dosent have the same taste)

So I've told you what not to do and that is DO NOT TOUCH THE SUGAR, and thats why I'm here having a go at these things and letting you know where I've gone wrong so hopefully you don't.
Lets get started, put your cup of sugar into a deep pan with your water place on a medium heat, now I think this may have been where I was going wrong I put mine on 3 on an electric hob I don't think it was hot enough so this time I put it on 4 which was a lot better, and now you leave it!! Now get your cream ready, pop this into a jug you can pour out of and add the vanilla extract and mix, put this aside until its needed in a bit.
Ok so keep an eye on you sugar but still hands off! Your now waiting for your sugar and water to turn into a dark amber colour syrup once this had happened take it off the heat and begin to add your cream/vanilla mix do this with a steady flow and as you do this stir stir stir, once all the cream is in with the sugar continue to mix until it stops bubbling (this shouldn't take long) Now you should have a dark Amber coloured smooth liquid, don't worry if you get a few sugary lumps in it you can always strain it with a metal strainer if you want. (I have done)
Get a heaped tea spoonful of your flaked sea salt in you hand and give it a crumble then add to the mixture and again stir until the salt had all dissolved. Now your salted caramel is done pop it into a glass jar leave to cool and ta dah all done.

Go on give it a go you know you want to.

What happens then is I get one of those chocolate cookies if it's cooled pop it in the microwave for 15 seconds or so to make it all gooey inside get a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top then add some of that salted caramel you just made all over and enjoy. Mmmmmmmm

See you soon
Jinny xx

The Bake Off weekend!

Hello all so i have this weekend off and its going to be a bit of a baking weekend with my mum and my new toy.

This is a wonder machine! I love it.

So firstly on Friday mum made the base to our lemon meringue pie so it was ready to go on Saturday.

Unfortunately mum is so used to making this we don't have any specific details but I'm sure if you google it you can find one but... this is what she does, get plain flour and margarine rub together until it resembles bread crumbs then add water a bit at a time to make a nice none sticky dough, roll out and line you flan dish, cover that with baking paper so you can add your baking beans on top, pop this in the oven 160 degrees until golden brown.

Once it has cooled down add your lemon curd to the cooked base (this is an easy/cheats lemon meringue you can start from scratch and make your own lemon curd if you wish) we then got 3 egg whites and a pinch of salt in the mixing bowl and whisked it in my new toy on low speed for a minute or so then turn it up a little until you get a nice white peak from the mixture at this point you want to add a table spoonful at a time of caster sugar (175g) add this whilst on a slow to medium whisk until all gone and the mixture turns into a thick creamy one with nice stiff peaks. Now what you want to do is put the mixture onto of your lemon curd and even out and decorate as you wish (we just tapped the top of the mixture once all on to form nice small peaks on top) pop this in the oven for 45 minutes or until the top looks nice and slightly browned off and your done wait to cool and have a nice slice.

Even though i do say so myself this taste sooo good.

Next mum made a quiche all you need to do for this is make the same kind of base you made for the lemon meringue. Inside was 7 eggs, grated cheese, 6 slices of ham cut up into little squares. What she done was sprinkle ham and cheese into the pastry case then pour the whisked eggs into the flan case until it is full and then top with sliced tomatoes and bake in oven on 160 degrees until golden brown and set which means the mixture is no longer wet and not wobbly.

Mums home made ham, cheese and tomato quiche. Fancy a slice?

And finally for today i made some bread rolls, i got the recipe from the side of a flour packet so the details of that is
500g strong bread flour
7g of salt
30g olive oil
7g dried yeast
310g luke warm water

I put the flour salt and yeast into a bowl and mixed together using my dough hook whist this was mixing i got the water and olive oil in a jug together and slowly poured in into the dry mixture. The machine then kneaded it for 5 minutes on a slow to medium speed the mixture will come together to form a smooth dough. Then i put it into a glass bowl (not sure if this makes a difference) covered in cling film and set aside of one hour to rest.
After one hour pop some flour onto the kitchen side take you dough out which should now be doubled in size and begin to hand knead it to knock the dough back to the original size.
Get a baking tray put a very very small amount of olive oil on the tray, i then divided the dough into roughly the same sized balls, i did 16, put these onto the tray and put into an oven of 220 degrees for 30minutes and golden brown on top. Take these out the oven be careful as they will be hot, tap the bottom of a roll to see how it sounds, i it sounds hollow then you should be ready to go, cut one open and put some butter on that nice warm bread roll and enjoy.

The smell of home cooked bread mmmmm

So thats all the baking done for today its definitely been a go go go kind of day.
Tomorrow I'm making some more chocolate cookies for 2 ladies at work and they are going pay me £5 for 7 cookies and I'm going to give that money to Macmillan. I think its a nice way to raise money for charity, i enjoy the baking and they enjoy the end result ;)

I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
Ohh i almost forgot whilst at Tesco i made a cheeky purchase, i will keep you all informed of any future bakes from these books.

Im going to be busy

See you soon
Jinny xx