Gingerbread Recipe

 These gingerbread biscuits taste amazing and are perfect for the festive season.

You will need:

For the Biscuits - 

300g Plain Flour, extra for rolling out the dough

1 teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda

2 1/2 teaspoons of Ground Ginger

1/2 teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

125g Unsalted Butter

100g Soft Light Brown Sugar

3 tablespoons of Golden Syrup

For the Royal Icing - 

225g Icing Sugar

1 Egg White

Cold Water

Firstly, preheat the oven to 180℃/ Gas mark 4, and line 2 baking sheets with grease proof paper. Then in a large bowl, combine the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan on a low hear, stiring until all the sugar dissolves. Combine the dry and melted ingredients together until a stiff dough is formed. Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the dough to a 5mm thickness. With a cookie cutter of your choice, I used stars from Lakeland, cut your dough into shapes and place on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the biscuits for 12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Leave them to cool completely on a wire rack. 

For the icing, whisk together the icing sugar and egg white, adding cold water gradually until you reach your desired consistency. Once all the biscuits are cooled, decorate them however you like with the icing, you can also use sprinkles if you wish but I just wanted to keep mine simple.

I hope you're enjoying my Beyond Christmas series. Please comment below and suggestions for posts and tag me with a picture of your gingerbread biscuits!

Favourite Winter Nail Polishes

Here I have gathered together my favourite nail polishes for the festive season, including a range of colours and glitters.

Starting from the left, this is Ciaté's silver nail polish in 'Fit for a Queen' is gorgeous. I usually wear this on my ring fingers and thumbs with a white polish on the other nails. It goes with many outfits and looks so Christmassy!

Next is my ultimate favourite sparkley nail polish, 'Tassel Shaker' by Essie. If you are like me and you are obsessed with copper than you'll be obsessed with this nail polish too. It is a blend of copper and gold flecks which look so gorgeous, especially with a dark burgundy polish! 

'Festival' from Nailsinc, is my all time favourite nude polish. It has a brown mauve undertone which makes it a darker nude perfect for the winter period, it looks so classy and chic and it also goes well with any outfit.

Red polishes are a must for Christmas and my favourite is Essie's 'Thigh High'. It has a purple undertone and a shimmer which shines gorgeously in the light.

If you prefer more darker coloured nail polishes then this one is perfect to add a bit more glam to your nails. Rimmel London's 'Diamond Dust' is a gunmetal shade with holographic glitter and is so perfect for the party season!

Essie's 'Ready to Boa' polish is a deep shimmery bronze. In the light, it shows different shades of bronze, making it look so gorgeous and glam.
In the middle is Ciaté's 'Snow Globe', it is perfect for Christmas as the white holographic flecks remind me of snow! Personally, I think this looks best over a white polish.
Lastly, I love 'Amethyst Glitter' from Barry M. It's so gorgeous and has multi-coloured glitter which is perfect for parties and looks amazing in the light!

Thank you for reading and I hope you liked this post and are enjoying my Beyond Christmas series so far! Comment below your favourite nail polishes for winter.

 

Beauty Lover's Gift Guide

If you're struggling to find presents for someone who loves all things beauty, don't worry because I've compiled a selection of gifts that would be perfect and will fit all price ranges.

Firstly, the Zoella Gingerbread Bath Fizz set, is perfect for those who love a relaxing bath and pamper. With the scent of gingerbread, these bath bombs are perfect for the festive season! Also, they are incredibly affordable being £9 from Superdrug.

Also, for any makeup junkies, the Violet Voss Laura Lee Palette is perfect. With a combination of matte and shimmer shades, almost any eye shadow look can be created. Being such a great quality, the price is obviously higher but, is definitely worth the price. You can purchase this palette from Beauty Bay for £40.

Another affordable gift which would be perfect as a stocking filler, is this Tanya Burr Mrs Claus Manicure. Including a nail file and gorgeous polish, you can buy this for £5 at Superdrug.

I personally love this book, it includes multiple makeup tutorials and more that would be incredibly helpful for someone just starting out with makeup or who watches the authors Pixi Woo on YouTube. When I purchased this book from Asda, it came with a real techniques brush included in the £10 price.

Finally, this is my favourite from the gift guide. From the MAC holiday collection, this set includes three eye shadow pigments and one glitter, all with great pigment. These eye shadows can easily be worn with any makeup look and these are available to purchase from MAC for a reasonable price of £26.

I hope you found this gift guide helpful and that you are enjoying my Beyond Christmas series. Thank you for reading and Merry Christmas!

Favourite Festive Candles

Throughout the colder and Christmas period, I love lighting numerous candles around the house. It not only makes the entire house smell like Christmas but it also makes me feel more relaxed. These are my most loved candles that are burning almost all the time.

Firstly, the Tuscany Candle in the Gingerbread House fragrance smells amazing. Like its name, the candle has a gingerbread scent which reminds of Christmas. Usually, I light this candle in my kitchen because it isn't to heavily scented and makes the room smell as though you've just been baking. I purchased this candle from Clintons.

Next, one of my favourite Christmas candles for a few years now has been Yankee Candle's Snow in Love. It has a creamy and fresh scent, so this is perfect if you aren't a fan of sweet smelling candles. I personally think that this candle can be lit anywhere in the house as it's comforting scent isn't too strong or heavy. This can be bought from Yankee Candle.

One of my favourite bloggers and YouTubers, Zoella, recently brought out a range of candles and room diffusers. This is the second gingerbread scented candle in my favourites and the reason why I love it is because its spicy and warm scent makes my house smell just like Christmas. It has a heavier scent than the Tuscany Candle and so I tend to only light it at night time and in either my bedroom or living room. However, I would definitely recommend using a jar topper (these can be purchased from Yankee Candle) as this candle otherwise can burn rather quickly and the wax can be wasted on the side of the jar. This candle can be bought from Superdrug for only £10.

For years now, I have loved Yankee Candle's Fireside Treats candle. It has a marshmallow and slightly woody scent which is warming and comforting and isn't too heavy or overpowering. You can buy this from the Yankee Candle store.

A new favourite of mine is the Festive Spice Candle from Next. Its fragrance is the classic Christmas spicy scent and I like to burn this in my living room as it is a homely scent that again isn't too overpowering. This candle is also huge and in my opinion it burns really well and steadily, without wax being wasted on the side of the jar.

Lastly, I have been loving the Marks and Spencer Frankincense and Myrrh Mercury Candle. Its scent is warm and slightly spicy and sweet which is unlike any other candle I own. Although I have burned it completely, I will definitely be repurchasing it during the Christmas season. I also bought the potpourri with the same scent which is currently in my room making it the whole room smell festive.

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for a different blog post each day of advent in my Beyond Christmas series.

Autumn and Winter Lush Haul 2016

Before I begin discussing the things I have purchased from Lush, I wanted to tell you that I will be doing a series called Beyond Christmas. I will be posting each day of advent including a range of posts both festive, beauty and lifestyle related.

Each year I look forward to Lush releasing their Autumn and Winter ranges as they consist of some of my all time favourite bath products! So, in tradition I had to make a trip to my local Lush shop to purchase their products.

Bath Bombs:

Monster Ball - This fresh citrus scented fizzer, contains cocoa butter which leaves your skin moisturised and nourished.

Pumpkin - A new addition to Lush's Halloween collection. With a warm and spices scent, this is perfect to make you feel cosy in the cold months.

Northern Lights - Although this jasmine scent is not my favourite, this bath bomb turns your water colours of blue, yellow and purple just like the 'Northern Lights!'

Shoot for the Stars - This sweet honey-scented bomb, contains cocoa butter and coconut cream that leaves your skin feeling silky smooth and conditioned. With sparkling stars and bright blue colours, your bath will lift your mood completely!

So White - One of my all time bath bomb favourites! The freshly Apple-scented bath fizzer now has a green leaf that will add an exciting glint of Christmas to your bath time.

Father Christmas - With the same candy floss scent as the Snow Fairy shower gel, this fizzer has a green surprise centre that makes your whole bath glow!

Mistletoe - A floral and slightly musky scented bath bomb that is new to Lush's Christmas range.

Bubble Bars:

Sparkly Pumpkin - My favourite bubble bar for the colder months! A citrus scent with a hint of spice, this bar leaves your skin soft and glowing. If you aren't a fan of glitter then I would steer away from this one.

The Christmas Penguin - This cute little bar will make you feel uplifted and fresh with its citrus scent.

Candy Mountain - A candy floss scented bar that creates mounds of skin softening bubbles that will send you into a relaxing bliss!

Snowie - New to Lush's Christmas line, Snowie has a floral scent that uplifts and refreshes.

Bath Melts:

Boo - A new one to Lush this year. with a ginger scent, this melt is perfect to make you feel cosy in the cold nights. Containing cocoa butter, this will leave your skin silky smooth and conditioned.

Snow Angel - Another glittery one, so avoid this if you don't want your bath to be left looking like a disco ball! Rich with cocoa butter p, this almond smelling melt is perfect to help you feel relaxed.

I hope you are enjoying Beyond Christmas, make sure to comment below your favourite Lush products for this time of year!

Pumpkin Spice Biscuits Recipe

Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Lattes are everyone's favourite in the Autumn season, so I thought pumpkin spice biscuits would go perfectly with one. These soft biscuits full of spice and warmth are so irresistible you'll be baking another batch before you've finished the first round!

What you'll need:

 For the biscuits-

100g Softened Butter

60g Golden Syrup

150g Light Brown Sugar

250g Plain Flour

1 Egg

1 tsp Mixed Spice

1 tsp Ground Ginger

Half a tsp Bicarbonate of Soda 

2 Baking Sheets Lined with Baking Parchment

For decoration-

500g Icing Sugar

80ml Water

Orange Food Colouring

Green Food Colouring

Begin by preheating your oven to 180 Celsius (350F). Beat together the butter, sugar, syrup and egg in a large bowl. Then mix in the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda, until it forms a stiff dough. If the dough seems too sticky then add more flour. Now, leave the dough to rest for 30 minutes. Sprinkle a clean surface with plain flour and role out the dough into a large rectangle at about 3mm thick. Cut out as many biscuits as you can using a cookie cutter of whatever shape you like, I used a pumpkin shaped one from Asda. Then arrange them, with slight room in between each one, on the prepared baking sheets. Continue to gather the dough and repeat this step until you have cut out as many biscuits as you can. Place the trays into the heated oven and allow to bake for 8-10 minutes, until firm and golden.

Time to decorate! Split the icing sugar and water into two bowls and mix until smooth. Add the food colouring to each bowl until you reach your desired colour, then place the icing into piping bags. Cover each biscuit with orange icing and allow to set before piping a stem and leaves with the green icing.

 Now you can enjoy your pumpkin spice biscuits whilst cuddling up with a hot drink and blanket on the couch!

Thank you for reading, stay tuned for more posts coming soon.

My Travel Makeup Bag

As I said previously said in my last blog post, I will shortly be going away on holiday to Florida. So I thought I'd share with you the contents of the makeup bag I will be taking with me.

Usually I wear hardly any makeup on holiday but, this time I will be celebrating my birthday and my parents anniversary whilst I'm away so we will be going out for meals where I will want to look fairly formal and dressed up.

               

I take my makeup in a clear toiletry bag so it is easier to find the products I need. This bag comes in a set with a larger and smaller size bag, you can purchase this from Boots.

Firstly I pack in order of what products I put on my face. Starting with primer, I take an oil controlling one and a bronzing one for when I begin to tan. Here is the Benefit Porefessional Matte Rescue Primer and the Smashbox Photo Finish Luminizing Primer that has a bronze tint with a shimmer.

                       

Moving on to foundation, I take my everyday and a darker, full coverage foundation to add to my everyday when my tan begins to develop. This time I'm taking the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and the Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation, both are long wearing and can be used for either a fuller or sheerer coverage.

                        

Similarly to taking a darker foundation to mix with my everyday one as my tan becomes darker, I take my normal concealer that matches my natural skin tone then a darker shade to mix. This is the MAC Pro Long Wear Concealer and the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.

                       

As a powder, I like to take my favourite which is the Rimmel London Lasting Finish Powder. This controls shine for a longer duration and it also has a mirror and sponge in a compartment below the powder.

                       

When it comes to bronzer, blusher and highlighter, I find it better to take a palette that includes them all, this way it leaves more space. I take a bronzer that can be used as a contouring powder too and by taking a palette with a large mirror it makes traveling a bit easier. I'm taking the Nars Virtual Domination Palette which includes a bronzer, 3 blushers and a highlighter.

                                                                                             

When I want a more dramatic highlight, I love my Sleek Solstice Highlighting Palette. It has 1 cream and 3 powder highlights, which all give a gorgeous glow to the skin.

 Then for eyebrows I find taking a retractable eyebrow pencil saves space rather than taking a powder and having to take an extra brush. Also, I take a brow gel to keep the hairs in place throughout the day. I will be taking the Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Wiz and the Lancôme Brow Gel.

                                                              

Moving on to eyes, I take an eye shadow palette that has a good range of mattes and shimmers, I stick to neutral shades as they go with everything! Also, I take a pigment and a liquid and pencil liner to add drama to a look. I rarely wear mascara during the day but I will take one for night time. So this time I will be taking- the Urban Decay Gwen Stafani Eye Shadow Palette, MAC Pigment in Melon, Rimmel Scandaleyes pencil and liquid liner both in black, and the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara.

Lastly, for lip products I take 3 lip liners, a pink, nude and red one. Then I take 3 lipsticks- a peach, nude and red. I also take a bright pink and a more brown toned nude and a nude lip gloss. I will be taking the: MAC Lip liner in Soar, Maybelline Lip liner in Sweet Pink and Pleasure Me Red, MAC Creme Sheen Lipstick in Creme Cup, Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 38, Lancôme Lipstick in 132, Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Abu Dhabi and Istanbul, and lastly the Tanya Burr Lip Gloss in Lunch Date.