Capsule Make Up Bag

Skimming our possessions down the bare essentials is all the rage at the moment. Capsule wardrobes are a hot topic and while I'm not capable of narrowing my clothing items down 37 pieces (and anyone who can probably is a different kind of human that I can only aspire to be) one thing I am quite capable of whittling down is my make up bag.

I don't wear a heap of make-up day to day anyway, but I found I was stuffing my makeup bag to breaking point. There were things in there that I never used on the regular so I decided to have a real think about what I really needed in there and I thought I'd share the results with you.

BASE

Everything starts with a good base in the last year or so I've discovered the power of a good primer. Smashbox's Primer Water is perfect. It's not too heavy and gives a nice sheen. Also it doubles up as a setting spray and also a refresh through the day if things are getting a bit dry so really it's three products in once which is great when you're slimming down your make-up bag.

In terms of foundation I knew I'd want something light but buildable. The L'Oreal Nude Magique Cushion Foundation is perfect for this. It's so light and is lovely and glory but if you need a bit more coverage to go from day to night or you've just got a few bits that need a bit more, it's very easy to build up. 

I always take two concealers. One for under eye brightening and one for blemish concealing. Pan concealers like the Seventeen Phwoar Paint are great for blemish concealing and this one is super affordable but packs a punch. However, it's too heavy, for me, for under eyes. I prefer something much lighter which is why I also chuck the Bourjois Healthy Mix concealer in. This has recently been reformulated and I've only been using it for a little while (taking over from the Bourjois Radiance Reveal concealer) but so far I'm loving it. 

SCULPT

Minis are perfect if you're trying to cut down on space in your make up bag. I got a few Benefit minis with a Christmas gift and the Hoola Bronzer and High Beam highlighter have made a firm impression  in my make up bag and I'm fairly certain I'll be going to purchase full sizes once I've used them up. The bronzer is great both for contouring but also just generally adding a bit of colour to the face. The highlighter is very glowy so if you're looking for something subtle (or haven't got time to really blend it in) this isn't going to be for you but I really like it.

I don't use blush every day but it's nice to have the option. I don't like a really pink blush so I opted for the Maybelline Master Heat in Pink Amber which is a lovely dusky colour that just adds a slight glow if you need it. 

EYES

You can't go wrong with an eyeshadow quad. One with neutral subtle colours will ensure you've got eyeshadow for any occasion. You can't buy the Revlon one I've got anymore because it's about five years old and definitely shouldn't be in my makeup collection anymore but you can find similar ones on the high street. Go for something with a darker colour for your crease, a neutral brown for all over the lid and a light colour for highlighting. 

A pencil liner is a staple. You can add a lot of drama with a simple lining of the upper water line and lash line and really make your eyes the centre of a look. I always go waterproof because otherwise you end up with black smudges through the day. The Rimmel Scandaleyes is a lovely liner and super affordable. You don't need to go expensive with a Kohl Liner. 

I'm not going to say much about the Benefit mascara as it's a new purchase and I'm still working out how I feel about it (it's kinda hard to get off) but I will say if you haven't got  time to do a full face of make up or just don't want (I don't want to most days) browns and mascara are all you need.

BROWS

Ok so Benefit are killing the brow game at the moment and my two favourites are the Precisely My Brow Pencil and the Gimme Brow Brow Gel. On their own they're great, together they're the dream team. You can build the gel for more dramatic brows and the brown pencil is so precise and just as good as the Anastacia Brow Wiz that everyone raves about. 

LIPS

Lips is simple. A nude and a red and that's all you need. Both are good for any occasion and if one doesn't work the other normally will. Maybelline offer a great range of nudes but my favourite is the Maybelline Colour Sensational Matte Lipstick in Nude Embrace. The Rimmel by Kate Moss in Shade 1 is a classic red and you can't go wrong with it really. 

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Dear March

Dear March,

Firstly can you send a message to the rest of 2017 to just slow down a little? Do you have that power?  

February was a relatively good month. As with life, there are always ups and downs but that's ok and coming to terms with that is a good lesson to learn but one I'm still learning. Maybe one I'll always be learning. No one likes when things don't go their way or the way they'd planned but taking it in our stride and riding the wave out is the best way to deal with it, I think. 

It was a busy month we got out more, there were so many birthdays and there was lots of happiness and laughter which is always nice to look back on. I feel happier this year and that's definitely a good thing. I feel more at ease with taking it easy and not stressing over the little things that don't really matter. By not stressing so much about things I've found I feel I've actually achieved more things, ticked more off the list. 

Surrounding yourself with positivity is the best way to feel positive. Positive books, positive music, positive people. Cut out the negative crap that brings you down and see what a difference it makes. Aim to be something positive in other people's lives and see what a difference that makes to both you and others.

So March is here, daffodils will start springing up soon and sunny evenings will be here before we know it. I can't wait.

Work hard. Play hard. Be nice.

Hever Castle

Call me a nerd if you will, but I love exploring castles and old houses and I am very lucky to live in a country that is filled with them. We have so much history in England and it would be a shame to waste it. Countries with less visible history our jealous of us for it, so we should all get out and make the most of it. 

Hever Castle is a lovely one although as Jack was quick to point out, 'it's more of a big house than a castle.' Although isn't that what a castle really is at the end of the day? Anyway you'll find it in Kent, 30 miles south east of London. It's got beautiful grounds and gardens as well as a humongous lake you can walk all the way round. The castle itself is teeming with history, it was once owned by the Bullen (later Boleyn) family - yep as is Anne Boleyn and is where she grew up. William Waldorf Astor (yep as in the hotels) acquired it in 1903 and restored it to it's former glory after it had gone to rack and ruin for some time. As with all these places there's a lovely cafe but on a warm summers day there's plenty of places to lay out a picnic mat and enjoy the castle in all it's glory. 

It's not too pricey at £16.90 per adult for the castle and gardens and £9.50 for a child. It's definitely worth it.

WHAT I'M WEARING

COAT Miss Selfridge | JUMPER New Look | SKIRT Topshop | BOOTS TU | HAT Dakine

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Center Parcs Nov 2016 | Video

Center Parcs is somewhere me and my family have been going since me and my brother were little and we still love it. For us it still has that magical quality you get when you go as a child but it is a great place for a little escape no matter what your age and no matter if you've been there before or not. There's so much to do and you can do as much or as little as you want. It can be an active, adventure break or a chilled, relaxing break depending on what you choose to do. It's great if you've got young kids cause there's heaps to keep them entertained but there's also plenty to keep a group od adults entertained as well. It's basically the perfect place for a break.

Toffee Apple Cake

It was my Grandad's birthday last Friday and one thing I love doing is making family and friend's birthday cakes. I like to make cakes personal to them, things, flavours, that particular person likes. My Grandad LOVES toffee. To put this in perspective he got six bags of toffee for his birthday (as well as other things, but still.) He's also a lover of a good old fashioned pudding such as Spotted Dick, Apple Crumble, so I decided to combine the two and this is what happened.

You will need

225g self-raising flour

115g unsalted butter

115g light brown sugar

1 egg

8 tbsp milk

225g Bramley apples

100g sultanas

110g butter

220g dark brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

6 tbsp milk

350g icing sugar

1/1 Bramley apple

How to

Preheat oven to 180C/160F/Gas 4

Grease and line one 20cm cake tin

Cube the butter and add into the flour. Crumble them together until it looks like fine bread crumbs.

Stir in the sugar before beating in the egg. Add the milk one tablespoon at a time until you reach a smooth batter. 

Peel and core the apples before cubing them and adding them and the raisins to the batter. Stir in until everything is well combined.

Pour into the pre-greased tin and bake for 30-40 minutes.

Warning this cake is very crumbly and moist so be really careful when turning it out of the in. 

Chop an apple into slices ready for later. 

For the icing, melt the butter in a saucepan. Add the sugar and salt and boil for about 2 minutes until everything is melted. At this point dip the apples into the toffee and place onto a plate for the toffee to harden. (If you're not serving the cake on the same day as baking do this step before serving)

Take the pan off the heat and add the milk. Bring back to the boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for around 20-30 minutes. 

Take a tablespoon or two from the pan to drizzle over the iced cake later. Sift in the icing sugar and beat until smooth and cool enough to spread. If the mixture stiffens up you may need to add another tablespoon of milk to loosen it up. 

Once you have a smooth mixture spread the icing onto the cake. I like mine to look messy and not too  perfect. Drizzle the toffee sauce you put to one side earlier over the top and then decorate with the apples.

Stick in a couple of candles, or put on the kettle, and enjoy. 

P.S That's my brother and yes he's currently single handed. He volunteered to help.