Monday 30 September 2013

Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Cake

Hello everyone,
Recently I feel I have been neglecting the blog a little, although I have updated the layout slightly which is good!

Whilst I have been away, I have seen Adam Hills at the Hammersmith Apollo, this was such a good night out, unfortunately, I had lost my phone in the house so went without taking photos. Adam Hills is a hilarious comedian who takes his disability as an opportunity to make people laugh.

Since starting my new job, I have been working a lot, working in the care industry means I work silly shifts, like starting at 7.30am and finishing at 9.30pm. It's full on.

However all hope is not lost, I had a spare afternoon and decided to bake something quick and simple, a Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Cake.


As this recipe is on the Telegraph's website, I used my iPad to display it which worked well, although I was careful not to spill anything onto it!

The recipe is so simple to follow and the cake mix worked well even without having a mixer to use.


 
The icing is a chocolate, almost fudge icing with melted white chocolate dribbled over. 
 


 Overall, I really enjoyed making the cake, it was different to do a loaf style, almost enjoyable not having to decorate 12 tiny cupcakes. 

You can find the recipe here.

Goodbye, Lydia
x
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Wednesday 18 September 2013

A Day Celebrating All Things Agricultural.

Hello Lovelies,

I am very sorry that I haven't blogged so far this week, however, I have been a little busy starting a new job. This job has made me a very happy person because it means I am still doing aspects of what I love in my time away from university. 

Over the weekend, I visited The Henley Show. This is annual celebration of Oxfordshires agriculture and farming communities. This year was a first for me and I thoroughly loved it. 

If you were anywhere in the UK on Friday you would know that there was a serious amount of rain pouring down which put my friend from coming with us, but being in the country seems second-nature to me so rain is not an issue! Anyway we didn't have any rain on Saturday at the show :)

There were lots of activities going on, such as an equestrian competition with show-jumping and dressage (I think!), there were local farmers there selling chickens as well as showing their cattle off, as well as a group of dancing sheep...


Unfortunately for us the sheep didn't feel the beat in the music during the performance but it did not stop us from having a good ole' laugh. 

Walking around the site we had the lovely music of Lucky To Be Alive, a function band that are really good! 

Another part of the show we took interest in was the dog show. We entered Tilly into the Prettiest Bitch contest in the novice category. She didn't win and I don't think we will get to Crufts with her, but how could you say this gorgeous pup isn't pretty!?


We took in all aspects of the show and spent some money buying Christmas Presents for friends and just had a really fun time. Here are some of the things on display:



 This shampoo smells so good! We spoil our dog a little too much sometimes.
 




I think if I was going to own a tractor, I would buy a pink one too :)




There was some abnormally large fruit & veg in the produce tent.



If you want to visit your local country show, a full list can be found here;
http://www.countryshowguide.co.uk/

Bye Lovelies 
x
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Wednesday 11 September 2013

Brighton.

Hello Lovelies,

On Sunday my family and I took a little trip to the wonderful town of Brighton, there was only one reason for this trip. My younger sister, Beth, took part in the London to Brighton cycle ride. This is 54 miles on the road with various landscapes to admire. Beth completed this cycle in 4 hours and 38 minutes, which is not bad for a 16 year old. Tearfund is the charity she was completing it for, a wonderful charity that works in third world countries, they are such a deserving cause and any donation to them is amazing.



After meeting Beth, we took a little trip down the pier, I visited it last year and I love it, even if I didn't have any spare change for the 2p arcade machines! Unfortanately the weather was not on our side when we were in Brighton so we decided not to go shopping but, I am already planning another trip to venture into the little lanes filled with rows of querky boutiques. 




 



 

Oh and Tilly loved making new doggy friends on the beach.
 

Bye Lovelies
x

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Saturday 7 September 2013

September's Dozen

Hello Lovelies,

I thought I would share a new type of post on the blog today, that is a monthly playlist, my monthly 'dozen' here is the September edition.

Grace Sarah: Sunrise

Grace is a an up-and-coming artist based in Cambridge, UK. Sunrise is one of her first released singles and I love it! The song has such a relaxed, mellow feel and I will certainly be driving round the countryside with this playing.

Buy 'Sunrise' on iTunes:

 The 1975: Chocolate

The 1975 are a band that have really came out of the shadows over this summer, playing at numerous festivals. Chocolate is such an upbeat song and is something I love singing with my sister around the house. 

Buy The 1975 album on iTunes:

Ellie Goulding: Burn

Ellie Goulding is making her return, after a few months out, with her album 'Halcyon Days'. Burn is a song that is a mid-tempo song, quite different to her other hits, though I am enjoying this new style.

Buy 'Burn' on iTunes:

Jake Bugg: Broken

What can I say about this song? I really want to recommend Jake Bugg's whole album! Broken is one of my favourite songs on the album it is so thought-provoking, and to think that it was wrote by a 19 year old makes me even more in love with it. 

Buy Jake Bugg's album on iTunes:

Kacey Musgraves: Follow Your Arrow

Here is evidence of my huge Country & Western music love. Ever since I went to a Lady Antebellum gig in 2012 where Kacey Musgraves was a supporting act, I have loved her music. This song talks about the decision not to care about stereotypes and doing what you want. This is another song that I love driving to.

Buy 'Same Trailer Different Park' on iTunes:

Michael Buble: Close Your Eyes

Michael Buble has created a masterpiece of upbeat songs and ballads on 'To Be Loved' and this is a ballad. I love listening to this song and imagining that he is singing into my eyes. I can only dream!

Buy 'To Be Loved' on iTunes:

Ms Mr: Hurricane

This song is a blend of different styles of music, the truth of the lyrics and the techno music gives a different sound, that I am enjoying and hope to hear more from this duo.

Buy 'SecondHand Rapture' on iTunes:

Mike ft Ariana Grande: Popular Song

Popular Song is such a feel good anthem, edging on the fence of cheesy. This may not be on repeat for the rest of the year, but it is for September, bringing happiness to the gloom of a new academic year. 

Buy 'Popular Song' on iTunes:

Katy Perry: Roar

This is another feel good song for me. However, listening to the lyrics forces me to enjoy it even more, the essence of being strong and positive is something I feel the music industry needs to hear at the moment.

Buy 'Roar' on iTunes: 

One Direction: Best Song Ever

Now I know I will get mixed reviews on this one, but I'm going with it anyway. This is such a cheese fest and I love it! After years of making a decision on the band, I've come to the conclusion that I enjoy their music, it is simple and doesn't require me to think about it lyrics as some others do. For this song, I will be playing, and enjoying it.

Buy 'Best Song Ever' on iTunes:

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft Mary Lambert: Same Love

I first heard this song after a reading an article on Gay Marriage and the Church whilst procrastinating in the library a few months ago. I hadn't listened to it since then until the VMA's and am so disappointed that this hasn't had more interest after them. I love Macklemore's lyrical ability, focusing on positive messages that modern rap seems to miss out so much.

Buy 'The Heist' on iTunes:

Tom Odell: Grow Old With Me

Tom Odell is currently experience a well deserved fame. Grow Old With Me is a lovely piano & voice song. This is fairly easy-listening and I am enjoying listening to it in the evening. You can buy this song on his album 'Long Way Down' or Pre-order the single for release on 15th September 2013.

Buy 'Long Way Down' on iTunes:

So there it is, 12 of my favourite songs at the moment, please let me know of any new music you enjoy, and if you enjoyed reading this feature. 

Bye Lovelies 
x
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Monday 2 September 2013

A Camping Trip To Dorset

Hello lovelies, 

If you follow my Instagram you may have seen my last photo of a very excited Tilly on the way to Dorset, and her first holiday. The holiday was a mini camping break for 3 nights in the Dorset countryside. I went with my family and stayed at the lovely Lake Farm Campsite, this is about 20 minutes outside of Poole and is a lovely, quiet campsite.

During the trip we spent most days relaxing on the beach and taking some well-needed time away from the world. Since we were camping, I decided I would not take my phone charger, so switched my phone off for most of the time, I feel that it is so so easy to get caught up in worrying about problems in the world and feeling the need to share every moment immediately with the world that we can forget to enjoy the moments we want to share, so this time off the my phone, and the fact my camera ran out of battery forced me to be still, and enjoy the holiday. 


Tilly enjoying her new surroundings on her first day at the beach.



The beach in my favourite time of day, the golden hours.

A lovely photo courtesy of my sister, Naomi.
Sorry that there weren't many photos, but technology failed me when I wanted it. 

Bye Lovelies
x
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