Crunchy Top Lemon Drizzle Loaf

One of my favourite smells is the smell of fresh baking floating around the house on a Sunday afternoon. My mother is a superb baker and I think she's taught me well haha. Today I baked my mother's signature Crunchy Top Lemon Drizzle Loaf. Would you like to give it a try?

The Loaf is a simple sponge recipe with added lemon zest and sugar mixed with lemon juice to create the crunchy lemony topping!

Below I have set out the recipe for any of you that would like to re-create this amazing cake. It's an ideal sponge to accompany a cuppa for Sunday teatime.

Ingredients:

• 175g Caster Sugar (extra for topping)


• 175g Self Raising Flour


• 4 tablespoons of Milk


• 1 teaspoon of baking powder


• Grated Lemon grind


• 2 eggs


• 100g of margarine


• Lemon juice


• Extra 100g Caster Sugar for topping

Method:

1. Pre heat oven at 180 C, Use loaf tin  and line it with butter or grease proof paper. (I got my loaf tin free with Lurpak butter when they had a promotion on a few years ago - but you can buy them from anywhere really).


2. Add all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk/stir until smooth.


3. Layer the mixture inside the tin and level out.


4. Bake on 180 C for 35 -40 minutes


5. To make sure the loaf is cooked all the way through I use a wooden skewer and poke it into the loaf, if the skewer is clean when pulled out it is done -  if the skewer is still a bit sticky, give the loaf another 5 minutes.


6. Whilst the loaf is cooking you will have time to create the mixture for the crunchy lemon topping - mix caster sugar and lemon juice and put onto the loaf when its cooled.

If you fancy being adventurous you could always incorporate other ingredients such as orange zest or even add fresh raspberries to the mixture (but make sure the cake doesn't turn out too soggy).

Hope you enjoyed this post! If you do try out this recipe please tweet me or comment a photo of your bakes, I would love to see them!!

x

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel

Shamefully I'll admit I've never been one to have a strict skincare routine, even though I know I should have. Since I was about 13 I have suffered with bad skin - by no means have I had acne but I have always been self-concious about my skin. I have oily/combination skin type which can be a pain when experimenting with new foundations or moisturisers. Fortunately I think I have found my holy grail moisturiser (Hallelujah!). A few months ago I was shopping with my mother and we popped into Boots in Cardiff. Browsing around the counters, I'd seen a moisturiser from Clinique which was aimed at combination oily to oily skin so I asked for a tester of the dramatically different moisturising gel from the Clinique counter. This gel is aimed at combating oily skin and is number 3 in the 3 step skin care routine from Clinique. I hoped it would suit my skin type by moisturising yet keeping the oiliness at bay. I used the tester up in about a week and was so happy at the results. I found that I was having less breakouts because my skin wasn't feeling dry. Due to the moisturiser being a gel it felt light and soaked into my skin very quickly without leaving a greasy residue. As well as this, I think it even helped my foundation glide onto my skin better and more evenly and stayed there for longer.

I would definitely recommend trying this moisturiser if you're looking for a product that moisturisers as well as leaving your skin soft without feeling greasy, especially if your prone to oily skin or breakouts - as you can see I'm rapidly making my way through my bottle and I'll be sure to buy my next one soon.

Hong Kong

[caption id="attachment_113" align="aligncenter" width="660"] View of Hong Kong from the 360 Cable Car to the Big Bhudda.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_115" align="aligncenter" width="660"] View of Shenzhen, Mainland China from Mai Po Nature Reserve, New Territories, HK.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_117" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Happy Valley Racecourse, Hong Kong Island.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_120" align="aligncenter" width="660"] View from my hotel suite at the Crowne Plaza.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_121" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Mai Po Nature Reserve, New Territories, HK.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_122" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Hong Kong Park, Centre of Hong Kong.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_123" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Mong Kok Night Markets.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_124" align="aligncenter" width="660"] View of Wan Chai at night whilst travelling on the Star Ferry.[/caption]



On the 14th February of this year I travelled to Hong Kong. I travelled with my University course to explore different aspects of the city - their excellent transport services across the city, how they tackle over crowding and housing issues - focusing on how such large numbers of people are able to live in such a small city, renewable energy sources for the future of the city and the up and coming regeneration schemes being implemented in run down parts of the city.

We travelled from London Heathrow on Valentines day. Our flight departed at 5.15pm, arriving in Hong Kong at 12.50pm Hong Kong time. Considering I'd only flown once before and that was a 2 hour flight to Spain, suffice to say I was excited but pretty nervous. Checking in at 2.30pm at our hotel, we stayed at The Crowne Plaza Kowloon East. The first thing that hit me driving through the city to the hotel was the sheer lack of green space - everywhere you looked were roads and freeways, no flowers and grassy spaces.

Our lecturers had set out a jam-packed itinerary for the week, staying till the 21st. On Saturday 15th we were advised to buy ourselves a 'Octopus Card' (like an Oyster) for the travel around HK via the MTR (the tube). The amount of times we accidentally called it an Oyster, the ticket officers were very confused!

Throughout the week we visited a number of amazing places during the daytime and we were lucky enough to have a fair amount of spare time to ourselves to explore the city in the afternoons and evenings. On the first day we visited Hong Kong's Museum of History, after this we decided to visit a popular tourist attraction of Hong Kong - 'Tian Tan Buddah statue & Po Lin Monastery' in Ngong Ping, Lantau Island. In order to get here we had to catch the MTR to Tung Chung, Lantau Island and then we had to catch Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car across the grassy mountains to Po Lin. This part of the journey was incredible, I'm scared of heights but the view was absolutely incredible I couldn't miss up this opportunity! (first photo above).

In the following days we visited the City Gallery and took part in a number of walking tours, which included a walk around Hong Park - a man-made grassy park covering 8 hectares in the centre of Hong Kong costing $398 million HK to develop (see photo 6,12 and 14). Following this we experienced a walking tour of the Wan Chai district of the city. This area represented the epitome of the Hong Kong lifestyle: well- established arts centre, large exhibitions and conference complexes, luxury apartments, shopping malls and metropolitan office towers. As this area was one of the first areas in HK to be developed, the locale is densely populated yet with noticeable residential zones facing urban decay. Due to considerable public concern, the HK government has undertaken several urban renewable projects in recent years (see photo 16).

Further on in the week we also visited the MTR Station Headquarters in which they explained to us how the MTR works smoothly to ensure an excellent public transportation service for the city. On Tuesday night we were lucky enough to have spare evening time whereby we did what usual students did and made our way out to Hong Kong city centre for a night in some Hong Kong clubs! Different to the UK, it is legal to buy drinks from corner shops and drink them outside clubs, which made our nights out very cheap. We travelled back to our hotel in taxis.

The following day we visited Mai Po Nature Reserve. This was such an amazing experience. We were taken on a walking tour of the WWF reserve whereby you were able to look straight over the water and see Shenzhen, Mainland China (that is how close Hong Kong and China are away from each other), (see photo 5). Unfortunately this year, due to the hassle and time it took to provide every student with a visa we were unable to visit mainland China. This evening we were able to visit Happy Valley Racecourse, located in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island. I betted for the first time but unfortunately didn't win anything. We then made our way to the Wan Chai district of the city which is 'Ladies Night' every Wednesday meaning all entry and drinks are free for females. I can't image the UK implementing such a promotion haha! The following day we visited Upper Ngau Tau Kok Estate and the URA Urban Renewal Centre in Kowloon.

That evening, our last evening our lecturers had arranged a closing dinner consisting of traditional Hong Kong delicacies. We decided to visit Mong Kok's famous night markets on our last evening which sells a variety of women's clothing and accessories. At these markets it's a must that you haggle which I was awful at!

We travelled back to the UK, departing from Hong Kong airport at 3.05pm via Cathay Pacific. We arrived back at the University just gone 11.30pm and made our way home.

Hong Kong is a spectacular city with masses of culture and western influence intertwined. If you love travelling I would highly recommend adding Hong Kong to your list of places to visit next because I can assure you that you wont be disappointed! One week was no where near long enough to spend in such an amazing city, but from what I did see its an incredible city to visit!

Hope you all enjoyed this post, I was so excited to share my experience and photos with you all, if you've ever been to Hong Kong please leave a comment and let me know what you thought of the city and places you visited during your time there.

x

L'oreal Paris Collection Exclusive - Julianne's Pure Red/Nude

I genuinely think these lipsticks are the most beautiful things ever - their packaging is so fabulous. L'oreal originally brought out a line of nude lipsticks which were aimed at suiting each individual skin tone from fair to dark called L'oreal Colour Riche Exclusive Nudes. I'd been swooning after Julianne's Nude for months until I decided to just go ahead and buy it and whilst I was, I saw the recently new Pure Red's Collection from the same line so I picked up Julianne's Pure Red Lipstick at the same time.

These lipsticks provide different finishes. Julianne's Nude provides a satin finish when applied to the lips with a slight glossy look to it. I'd probably describe this nude lipstick as a 'pinky' nude. It's a perfect everyday nude. I have fair - medium skin tone and I feel this lipstick really compliments my complexion.

As mentioned above I also picked up Julianne's Red. This red is quite a pure red but with orangey undertones. It's a great red for Christmas. Colour pay off is really good and with more of a matte finish compared to the 'nude', it lasts for a long time. Both lipsticks smell wonderful as well which is always a bonus!

For such lovely, good quality lipsticks with fantastic packaging you'd think they'd be pretty expensive - I picked up the nude for £8.19 and the Red Collection was on offer and was lucky enough to pick it up for just £6.99!! I'd recommend these lipsticks to anyone...I'm off to buy Blake's Red next!

x

Maybelline New York Colour Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil

As soon as I tried these lip pencils, I knew I wanted to review them - mainly to tell everyone about how amazing they are! Maybelline Colour Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencils. I'd read that these pencils were a great dupe for the famous Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, but due to their hefty price tag I thought I'd give these a go and I'm so glad I did because I love them!!

When choosing the pencils I knew I wanted to pick up a red ready for the fast approaching Christmas season. I picked '510 Red Essential' and then you can never go wrong with a nude so I picked up '140 Minimalist'. Both colours provide a matte finish and when applied to the lips they feel creamy and velvety. They have great colour pay off and last for ages! I wore the red colour to a family gathering a few weeks ago, it lasted all day and well into the night! The small shape of these pencils make these the ultimate lip products to carry about on nights out.

These pencils have become my go to lip products over the last few weeks and I would definitely recommend to anyone! The only minor downside to these pencils is that they really do smell like children's crayons, but for such fabulous long lasting lip pencils I can put up with that!

x