Baking: white chocolate and pecan mug cake

 

I have been wanting to bake a ‘mug cake’ for quite some time now and recently they have been dotted all over the internet. Mug cakes are single serving cakes made in the microwave in around 1-2 minutes. 
There are quite a few variations on the internet and as somebody who doesn’t eat regular milk chocolate finding a recipe with only white chocolate was a little tricky... I managed to make a White Chocolate and Pecan mug cake through adapting some other recipes online, this cake I suppose may also be known as a ‘blondie’ (the opposite of a brownie)
So let me tell you the recipe:
Ingredients  3 table spoons self raising flour 2 table spoons sugar 1/2 table spoon vegetable oil 3 table spoons milk 3 squares of white chocolate 1 tablespoon of chopped pecans
Method In a microwavable mug mix together all the try ingredients, then add the oil and milk and finally add in the white chocolate and pecans. Microwave for around 50 seconds (950 watt). For the top I melted a little more white chocolate and decorated it with some sprinkles!
This cake is so simple to make, I was apprehensive about how it was going to turn out but it actually tastes pretty good! Imagine making lots of different ones at the one time, I would probably end up eating them all. 
Let me know if you give this a try or if you have heard of this before?
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My tanning routine | Cocoa Brown: Luxury Gift Set

I have tried a fair few self tanners in my time but the one I always gravitate to is the Cocoa Brown tan. I first came across the brand when I was sent a sample around two years ago. Since then my loyalty to the brand has gone from strength to strength and I have repurchased the Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan countless of times. 

Recently the lovely lot at Cocoa Brown sent me over what is called the ‘Cocoa Brown, Luxury Gift Set’ it features three must have products alongside a much needed tanning mitt. This all is presented in a pretty pink bag.

Cocoa Brown, Tough Stuff

Tough stuff is an exfoliating body scrub that you can use before a tan to prep the skin or after a tan to remove it. Exfoliation is key before you apply a tan so it doesn’t go patchy. This product leaves your skin feeling super smooth and well exfoliated with the help of smaller and larger granules. After using this you are left with a nice base for when you apply your instant tan. It’s also pink in colour! win. 

Cocoa Brown, Chocolate Whip

So once you have prepped your skin with the body scrub apply a generous amount of moisturiser. Thats when the Chocolate Whip moisturiser comes in. This product is oil-free and is perfect for using before your tan, it also extends the life of your tan when you use it after. It absorbs into the skin really quickly and contains Vitamin E. This moisturiser smells like chocolate, and also looks like it! The name is pretty apt. 

Cocoa Brown, 1 hour tan in Dark

Final step, includes my favourite self tanner. The shade is the most perfect golden brown and looks so natural. Application with the mitt is really easy as the product is a foam mousse, it applies very evenly. It also lasts for a good few days too and doesn't leave your skin patchy when it starts to fade. I have reviewed this product before in-depth, here. I really love it! 

The full set retails for around £19.99, but it is currently on sale here for £14.99. The brand is really affordable. When purchased individually they are around £7ea. I normally pick my tan up in Primark or Superdrug.

Have you ever tried anything from this brand before?

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When a Disney lover gets a new phonecase...

I was thinking I should start a little series on my blog dedicated to my love of phone cases. But then I remembered there aren't nearly enough as many nice phone cases available for a Samsung phone as there is for iPhones. 
I received really good feedback from my last personalised phone case so I thought I would do another one but this time incorporating my love for Disney. I found a really nice image on Pinterest not too long ago, it was of the Cinderella Castle at Disney but it had been edited in such a way that it looked a like a painting of some sort - or maybe somebody just went WILD with filters. 
Anyways I was able to work with the same company as last time (link) and make another case for my phone. The process is simple and on the site you can personalise almost every phone on the market - this is great as with many other stores you can only ever get iPhone and Samsung cases. I uploaded the image onto the site and resized it until it fit within the lines.
I really love the way it came out, it looks so cute and a few people have come up to me and asked where I got it from. My last phone case from the same company lasted a good while. The cases are not shiny, they are matt. This is ideal as it is scratch resistant. 
The personalised phone case is £14.95 and includes free worldwide shipping. It took 3 days to arrive which is excellent as usually personalised orders on other sites take a while.
Let me know what you think of this case?
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INIKA | Vegan Cosmetics

I am always on the hunt for new beauty brands, especially those slightly understated. Recently I was given the opportunity to try a few bits from Inika Cosmetics ... a brand I somehow hadn't heard of before.
When I researched the brand I was intrigued. Inika is a certified vegan cosmetic brand and like all the brands featured on my blog they are animal cruelty free. Not only is the actual makeup made of high quality ingredients and free from talc, mineral oils, parabens and more, the packaging itself is made with the environment in mind, it is recycled. I was given a selection of sample items and thought I would share a review with you all today.
Mineral foundation, SPF 15, Nurture. (£27.50) The powder is very finely milled and feels like velvet almost. I have tried a few mineral foundations in the past but haven't really got on with them that well so I was quite sceptical when trying this. I can safely say however it has worked really well with my skin and I have been wearing it daily. I find it applies really well with my Real Techniques Buffing brush. The swatch pictured looks too light but I promise when buffed into the skin it is the perfect shade. It really helps provide an even tone to the skin and doesn't feel weighty like some foundations. This mineral foundation contains really small glitter particles, most of which fade when buffed into the skin but if you are looking for a matte coverage then this isn't ideal. It gives a pretty decent coverage to the skin, I sometimes apply concealer underneath.
Organic eye liner, 07 graphite. (£13.50) This product is everything you'd want in an eyeliner. It's smooth to apply, highly pigmented and lasts all day without smudging. I really love this medium grey shade, it isn't a colour I have used in the past but I feel it really helps in making your eyes look bright. I feel like because this eyeliner isn't black but a medium grey shade you can get away with applying it on your waterline during the day. Also because the liner is so creamy I have also been utilising it on the lid itself and have often created a subtle winged liner with it. Again, it doesn't smudge so is perfect for this.
Ultimate lip tint, Cosmic. (£15.50) When I first used this product I smelt the overwhelming minty smell from the peppermint oil. The shade is deep red but I feel it doesn't transfer well at all, even though it is just a tint. It really moisturises your lips so I will more than likely just use this as a lip balm rather than a lip tint for colour.
Mineral eye shadow, Forest gold. (£14.50) This is my first ever mineral eyeshadow and I actually really like it. The colour is a gorgeous khaki shade and I feel it will be perfect in spring and summer along with a tan and lots of black mascara. This product is supposedly a powder but it is quite creamy, I've tried it a good few times and never had problem with fall out. It applies like and eyeshadow foil I'd say. With a good base it stays intact all day, I use the Urban Decay Primer Potion. Did I mention how lovely the shade was? Overall this definitely is a high end brand but I feel like the price is justified because it is organic. You can definitely feel the difference in quality compared to some other brands - the mineral foundation and eyeshadow in particular. They feel so luxurious.
Have you ever heard of this brand before? What are your thoughts on organic makeup?
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Sneaker love

Blue and white stripe, sneakers - H&M White mock croc, slip on - MissGuided TIPI Snake, skaters - Topshop Leopard, skaters - Shoebou Black snake print, skaters - MissGuided Vans holographic, skater shoes - Net-A-Porter Leopard, sneakers - H&M Holographic, skater shoes - Ebay
My recent love for sneakers/skate shoes, has rapidly grown into a little obsession almost. I went a little WILD and purchased a few new pairs the other day after scouring the internet for ages. My justification for this was that I think they will be perfect not only in the Summer but also in a few weeks for when Spring comes around... and well Autumn too! I find that sneakers are so versatile and can be worn with almost anything.
I have compiled a little list of the ones I like and it also includes a few of the ones I’ve purchased. I can see my collection growing in the coming months. They are just too comfy!
Let me know what you think of skate shoes? ♡

The Atlas watch

I’m such a watch lover. I have actually lost count of how many I have, too many. I just love how they can dress any outfit be it casual or something a little more swish. Late last year I saw a few bloggers post about the Atlas watch. There were a few stores selling these for quite a price online but I of course went onto eBay to see if there was anything similar, for cheaper. I found this little beauty for just under £1.10 posted! It took about 2 weeks to arrive - (here) or you can purchase it from a UK seller and pay a little more (here).
I love this Atlas watch, it’s quite a simple design but the gold rim definitely makes it something else. It has a medium watch face and a black leather strap. For the price the quality isn’t too bad - it’s pretty decent, I have worn it a few times already. This watch is also available in a few other colours. 
I hope you enjoyed this post, let me know what you think in the comments.
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