Monday Catch-Up: Halloween is Over...Let Christmas Begin...

Its the weekend after Halloween and two weeks after my last Monday Catch-Up, and as most of you now if you've read it, I've been suffering with a bad back. Its been really holding me back from doing everyday stuff. So I've learnt that you really need to look after yourself or it just gets a million times worse. Don't make my mistake, just take care of yourself when you're poorly.

I've had a busy week, I've been baking quite a lot for Halloween including salted caramel brownies, pumpkin pecan bars, pizza chunks and chocolate cupcakes (all gluten free btw-Your welcome Zoe) with Sugar and Crumbs "sugar and spice" icing sugar, that I got from the Cake and Bake Show this year.

Rob and I had a little bit of a 'get together' at our flat, for Halloween and as a house warming, where the drinks flowed and tacky games were played, it was such a laugh and I think everyone had a good time. It was a moment to be enjoyed and we forgot to Instagram any of it. It is a good thing as it proves that we didn't need to document that moment in our lives because we were living it!

My mum also dropped by last weekend, in which we went shopping and had lunch :) which was lovely! I haven't seen her in 3 months and she was so excited to see me and Rob. 

I also had a side trip to Lush Poole, which I got a couple pre-Christmas gifts (for myself...).I'm also pleased to let you all know that I'm almost done with all my Christmas shopping. Its only the 3rd of November and I've got 3 more gifts to buy and I'm fully done! Woo! So when the shops are crammed in December, I'll be at home with my cup of herbal tea and a cookie all snugged up and smug because I did my Christmas shopping ridiculously early. Is it wrong that I've done my cards as well... that's not wrong... is it?

So now that Halloween is done... Bring on Christmas!

Monday Catch Up: Back Ache Suck

Welcoming me to Monday catch up! My weekend has honestly not that great. On Thursday, I had a little bit of a twitchy back. I ignored it. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I ignored it to the extent that I even carried a suitcase to visit my granparents. I'm absolutely regretting it. Friday-back hurt a little more so I went out and walked around. Saturday-I could just about walk and I got dizzy when I walked around for too long. Which is not great when you're on an shopping trip for Christmas presents. So I'm pretty much bed bound :( . On the plus, I'm being waited on hand and foot! but seriously lesson learnt: don't push yourself to hard, or you'll hurt yourself :/ 

On a more positive note, I've started Christmas shopping early this year. I'm thinking of posting a top ten tips about how unbearably organised I'm am during the festive season. I've only got a couple of gifts so far but the Christmas cards are done. 

I've also been sorting out my Halloween bakes, I'm definitely baking pumpkin pecan bars, and maybe some chocolate cupcakes? 

Whatever I'm baking it's going to be very yummy and won't go to waste. 

Do you have any Halloween plans this year?

Monday Catch Up: Planning my Halloween Bakes

I had such an epic weekend. I finally dragged Rob to watch Box Trolls, which is definitely worth a watch as the story is quite different and really original. No spoilers, but totally watch it. If not for the great Laika animation style. I love all of the Laika films, in fact, I'm dressing up as one of them for Halloween. That's all I'm revealing for now...

So I'm still planning my Halloween bakes. I definitely want to use some bits that I bought at the Cake and Bake Show. But that will be posted on Wednesday, because I've been neglecting Baking Basics 101 lately.

Blog wise-I'm planning to pick it back up soon, but for now, I've got some ideas... Also, I'm hoping to write more recipes that expand the baking and sweet world as well soon. Also I'm thinking of writing restaurant reviews too. I'm publishing a dummy one that I wrote in the summer and I've been itching to publish. Stay tuned for that.

I'm thinking of joining a gym because ever since my holiday in August, I've been getting super lazy >.< and I defos need to get my lazy butt off the sofa and into a treadmill. Not that I'm a good example of gym bunny. I don't like the concept of gym but it keeps you fit and I guess it beats having a treadmill in a cramped flat.

I'm also happy to say that Humpy the Slug has moved on to another house or maybe he found a lovely slipper to settle down with and make sluggy-slipper babies with. So that shoe humper is gone!

I hope you all have a great start to the week!

Monday Catch-Up: Humpy the Slug

I'm still twitching from the sugar rush that I got after visiting the Cake and Bake show and sampling all the treats. I got back from London yesterday and all the trains where messed up so it took ages to get back to Portsmouth, but I made it in the end. I'll be doing a round up post in the next couple of days with a 'haul' of what I purchased along the way. My friend Lucy and I had such a laugh looking at all the products on sale and moonching on all the free samples (we did BUY food as well but well... free samples!!). At one point Lucy got the sugar shakes. We went for a late lunch at Wagamama's and had a great catch up. Thanks Lucy for an awesome day and hope to see for Halloween!

I also want to say that me and Rob have been so involved with the whole mess of moving in, we forgot to thank a single person in sending us a 'New Home' card. We got some beautiful cards from family and friends, we want to say a big thank-you to everyone who put in an effort to write the cards and we both really appreciate it.

Speaking of new homes, our lovely home came with an invisible pet. Its a pet we don't want, its a slug. Yup, a slug. We saw a slime trail one morning in the living room and the damn thing keeps coming back. We cleaned everything from top to bottom of the living room, trying to fathom out where its coming from, as it disappears when we wake up each morning. In fact, we have named him: Humpy the Slug. Why? Because for some bizarre reason, he loves to hump all over Robs slippers. He leaves gross slimy trails all over his slippers. We've had to get slug killer pellets for outside and inside (good thing we don't have pets or kids. They look like blue tic-tacs) to get rid of it. So far its been 2 days without an appearance... for now... I'm so paranoid that Humpy is sick of Robs slippers and lusting after my boots! Keep away from my shoes Humpy! Shoes are for wearing, not for slug sexy time!! 

We've also got Halloween plans on the go! So watch this space!
Have a great week everyone!

Monday Catch Up: Busy Week Ahead!

Its a late Monday Catch-Up, sorry about that. It's because I've had an extra long to-do list today.
So last week we covered having 10 minutes to myself to relax, I've been working on it. I'm not going to lie, its been maybe 5 minutes tops that I have to myself. I working on it.

I've been gathering bits and pieces for a Halloween party that me and Rob are throwing at the end of the month. I've also been obsessively search Pinterest for pumpkin recipes and fun Halloween food bits to serve. Its that time of year where its: pumpkin, pumpkin, PUMPKIN!!!
You know whenever you host a party, you go over the top, serve too much food and just over do the whole thing. You kind of end up so wacked out before the party even starts. This year we've planned a relaxed, chilled approach to the party, but with added tacky games. This is also the first party that me and Rob are going to host, as a couple, so we'll see how my uber organised powers are when faced with Mr Last Minute.

Also, I'm glad that I'm busy this week because more I get a reward at the end. This weekend I'm off to Earls Court for the Cake and Bake Show. I'm so buzzed for it because I'm going with my equally cake loving friend Lucy. I'm meting her there and we're going to stuff our faces, buy some cake stuff and its going to be amazing. (Last time I spent so much money....) I didn't really blog about the Cake and Bake Show in 2012 because I didn't think readers would be interested. I'm thinking of doing a follow up post on it, but what do you think?
Do you wanna see a Cake and Bake Show 2014 post?

Monday Catch Up: So I Forgot How To Relax (What?!)

Its the start of the working week for some people, most people

in fact. Its odd because my weekend has suddenly got shifted and I've got a couple of days off. Which for me never happens. Ever. I never have a moment to relax. 

I'm not going to lie and announce I'm superwoman (because that would be epic). Its more about finding a moment to sit down and relax. But always (seriously, always) I'm on the move and busy, I've sort of forgotten how to relax....Work, classes, housework, or life in general, it can get on top of me. It happens to everyone of course and they say: "Right it's time for me now."

Even when attempting to relax I'm always up to something. Either, I'm doing a quick spruce up of the coffee table or making a to do list. This has always been overlooked by most people. Except a couple of nights ago when my boyfriend (who is the king of chilling out) noticed I when I was stressed out about the housework (the housework that didn't really need to be done... until the next day...). He said that I'm so wrapped up in my stress that its no wonder I find it hard to relax or sleep. Take a break, even if its 10 minutes.
I was very defensive about it, but reflecting on it. He has a point, so thats what I've decided to do. Everyday I'm taking 10 minutes to do something for myself. He made me realise that's if your not recharged mentally, how can you balance all the other aspects of life? Thats sort of the reason why this post is short this week.
How do you relax? Do you have trouble winding down? 

Monday Catch Up: New Beginnings (it sounds epic right?)

Its been a little over a week since I've moved in my flat with my boyfriend. We've been getting on pretty well. I mean its going really well. Its a little surreal that we've finally moved in, like a proper couple. Like a couple of grown-ups (heh... not really Penny...). I'm not sure what to really write here because, and I know its cliché, but its going perfectly. I'm almost expecting someone to come in and burst the coupley bubble. I'm so happy and I think Robs pretty happy too. Well, he should be, hes living with a pastry chef in training!

Speaking of cheffing, I've just started my pastry course. On the first day my stomach was a concoction of excited and very intimidated. The other trainee's are really qualified and are so creative,talented and they are so friendly. Like amazingly lovely. I think its sort of jittery nerves and the fear of I'm not good enough. Is that normal? Do any of you readers get like that? I think nerves are normal. I don't think I would be human if I didn't worry. 
After that first day, I've walked away with my head held high with more friends,the talk of going to cook in a restaurant, trips to Paris and learning alot of gastro-delights. I'm thrilled and really excited. Its going to a great ride, will you join me in it?

That's it for this weeks Catch-up Monday. Stay tuned for next weeks instalment.

Monday Catch-Up:Back to Reality

Sorry about missing last weeks Monday Catch-Up. There was a good reason for it. I was sunning myself up in Tenerife with my boyfriend and he (and I) both wanted a tech break for the week. I was lucky that I had pre-written some of the blog posts in the week before 1,2,3 so all I needed to do was hit publish. 

The holiday was great by the way, thanks for asking. We packed lots in for a short space of time including Loro Parque, Siam Park, Royal Delphin Cruise and lots of walks by the beach. I came back lightly tanned and a bit burnt. I guess that's the price you pay when you have an 'English rose' complexion.

Getting back from holiday is very exciting too. Not because I have fun getting questioned by customs or anything like that, but because I've got 2 more adventures to look forward too. Firstly, I've moved in with my boyfriend of 3 and 1/2 years, which is exciting and scary at the same time. What strange habits does he have? Does he get freaked out by the many, many, many sauces I have? Who's going to do the washing up?! I'm sure its going to be hard but also fun, for both of us. I'll have to keep you posted on how we get on. 


The second adventure is that I'm starting a new pastry course at college. As most of you know I've graduated uni now so, for me, going BACK to college, is kind of a step backwards. I should be going into a graduate job or full time job like many other of my uni peers, but I decided to take the chance, improve my patisserie skills further and follow my dream. Even if its kind of scary, meeting new people and starting from fresh in a new area. 

I always like to think everything happens for a reason and it all works out in the end. Hopefully our oven works so I can still bake and post some tasty treats on here.

Are you going on any adventures? 

Monday Catch-Up: The First One

This blog has always been focused on recipes and is expanding into bigger and better things. I'm introducing a weekly catch-up with you readers. You know to make sure you're all doing ok and to keep you all informed on the weekends going ons and the forthcoming week in the world of Cupcakes, Cake and Passion. 

Not much has been going on this weekend, on Saturday I found myself down the beach all by myself. I wasn't there for any reason apart from fresh air. As my walk along the seafront continued I noticed people constantly recording on phones, instagramming photos etc. All of which we are guilty of and there isn't anything wrong with that. But for that moment, staring at the sea, listening to the soothing sound of the waves, I thought its nice to have a break from all the tech. For a few precious minutes, I was without a camera/smartphone, and just enjoyed a relaxing moment by myself. I gathered strange looks when I started writing these thoughts down in an old school paper and pen kind of way. If you take away anything from this post is that its fine to have a break from life, step away from the mobile and just take a moment to enjoy life. 

Its been a long time coming really. I mean, we all knew that it was bound to happen at one stage. Also, I found that some of you readers also wanted something different so I'm going to be posting reviews of restaurants. Because why not?! As a foodie I go to as many restaurants as I can get too, but of course meals out cost money so it won't necessary be a weekly thing (oh I wish!). I'll be posting as much as I can, whenever I can. So watch this space!

Also introducing another new feature: Baking Basics 101. Kind of what it says in the title...The inspiration came to me when I was sitting in a cafe in Dorset about a year ago, discussing with my boyfriend's mum about the joy of baking.

We were both chatting over coffee and pecan pie in a vibrant, busy cafe. Comparing recipes and techniques etc, when she mentioned that she knows quite a few people who can bake. Which is in contrast to me, I know a few people who dabble in baking, are too scared to bake for me because their scared I'll slaughter their skills or can't do so at all. I'm sure that many of you reading this post are thinking: "Basics *pffftt* I know what I doing!"

Or maybe, just maybe, a little secretly perhaps, that you would like a little 101 on the baking front. 
Sometimes its good to brush up on the basics, to remind oneself that baking is both a science and an art (Woo check me out with the 'oneself'). The methods I'm going to show you are well known and commonly used in home and professional kitchens. Hopefully, we'll be covering everything you will need to know about baking.

Simply put, I'm going to be posting as often as I can, dedicated going back to the basics of baking. If there's a particular method you would like to know about then comment below, tweet or facebook me with the hashtag #bakingbasics101

Another thing that is happening is that I'm packing to go on holiday! I'm off to Tenerife with my boyfriend on our first ever overseas holiday. We've saved up super hard to afford it and we're super excited. Woo! Hopefully, the hotel will have wi-fi so I can post some pics on instagram 

Happy Monday and see you on Wednesday for the first Baking Basics 101.