Bleuuurgggh Weather = Comfort Food

So the gorgeous spring heat wave didn't last long as we knew it wouldn't. I really tried to make the most of it by making up my orders in the evening and morning and being free to sepnd the midday sun out in the garden with my little girl.

Chance of the sand actually staying in the sandpit was slim to none but it was heaven. 

Sun loungers out and kindle in hand it really felt like someone had spun the earth on it's axis and Britain was now where spain should be!

Today on the other hand is a totaly different story and when it rains there's only one thing for it, comfort food!

Here are my chocolate cupcakes I made today with homemade chocolates, who wants some?

Picture Friday

Here are my favourite pictures i've collected and stumbled acros this week with usual girlyness and some "awwwwwwww cute" thrown in too for good measure.

Happy Friday everyone hope you all have a lovely weekend I am obsessed with baking lately so stay tuned for lots more recipes and baking tips for those of you that share the interest. Ooooh and I will be making my first ever easter cake, wish me luck.

I LOVE this dress and will one day own it and wear it everywhere and refuse to take it off, beautiful layers of pale pink in a very french romantic style just heavenly.

Ooooh I say! I know! I thought the same thing "who would buy this let alone display it in their house!?" Brings a whole new meaning to the expression let it all hang out.

How gorgeous is this you literally would never have anywhere to wear it because it's too dressy for a nightclub or bar and a bit risky for a formal event but that doesn't mean we can't bathe in it's gorgeousness, big bird just got sexy!

It's the easter bunny! One day I will have him and love him and call him hop!

Sleeping Pug!

This is something my toddler would do!

Bring back love notes!

How adorable and perfectly pointed toes. Ballet was a big part of my childhood, love anything ballet but this is just too cute!

This is my absolute favourite image from my picture friday and I would love to frame it and have it up in my studio somewhere to gaze at when i'm making :) So genious love the way the skirts match the actions of the model. In the second picture the skirt is sprayed out to match her action which looks as though she is twirling, AMAZING!

Perfect wardrobe colour palette for the summer lovely feminine and chic.

Raspberry Victoria Sponge Cake

Now that my daughter is starting nursery I have more time on my hands for doing things I love such as baking... so will be posting recipes and pictures of all my latest creations up on my blog.

Today I made this yummy raspberry victoria sponge cake with raspberry jam, buttercream and fresh raspberries my fella's favourite. This is such a lovely summery cake with the weather we're having lately I couldn't resist.

Firstly here's how mine turned out....

Here's how to make it:

Ingredients

200g Caster Sugar

200g Unsalted Butter

4 Medium Eggs

200g Self-Raising Flour

1 Tsp Baking Powder

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Using an elecrtic mixer or by hand in a bowl mix together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Next add the eggs one at a time beating well until the mixture is smooth.
• Sift the flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture (if mixture is looking dry add a little milk)
• Grease or line two 8" cake tins and divide the mixture in two level with the back of a spoon and put in the centre of the oven for 20 minutes. Check it after 20 minutes it should be cooked but if not do the knife test in the centre and judge it by your personal oven. Allow to cool on a rack until completely cold.

Time to make it look pretty and taste gorgeous

Buttercream

200g Icing Sugar

100g Butter

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence.

• Put the butter in a a bowl or electric mixer, sift the icing sugar over the top and add the vanilla essence. Mix well intil light and fluffy. 
• Put a layer of buttercream in the centre of the cake and put raspberry jam on the top of the buttercream to sandwich the two cakes together. 
• Now put the buttercreamon the top cake and then decorate with fresh raspberries and your done! Bon appetite!

Let me know if you make this would love to see your pics.

Family Photo Shoot

You might remember that I mentioned we went for a family photo shoot not so long ago.

Well we've got the pics back and they are so incredibly beautiful Jane one half of the two part team that make Sammy Southall Pohotography also made up a slide show of our shoot which is so well put together. 

I was amazed how emotional and moved I was watching the slideshow and am so over the moon with the end result of the shoot capturing a key moment in our daughter's life.

Lilly has just turned 3 yesterday and she is at that stage where she's really changing and growing up loosing her little baby ways and changing into a little girl as if overnight! As i'm sure you will know if you have children or young relatives similar age.

Sammy and Jane were brilliant at making us all feel comfortable (especially Lilly) being a bit of a shy tot at times.

So enough gushing from me here is the slideshow couldn't resist sharing this I am soooo proud of my little family.

Introducing Lilly Belle Posh Tots

Breaking news!

10% Off sale on everything on my entire website to celebrate the introduction of my new and improved little girls hair accesory range Lilly Belle Posh Tots.

No minimum spend just simply put cupcake in the promotion code box at the checkout.

Take me to Lilly Belle Posh Tots

Here's a little preview of the range below.
Would love to know what you think?

Glossy Box - Special Harrods Edition

So this morning the postman banged on the door at a new personal best record for early o clock and I had no choice but to partake in a braless dash downstairs (don't worry I was wearing a top)!

It was Glossy Box with their special edition Harrods box of goodies :)

GB clearly chose a simple black and white classic chanel style look for their box this month.

I am a little disappointed with my box as I must admit it's not quite what I was expecting for a Harrods deluxe special edition. 

Perhaps it is because i have already recently had Clarins products in my box I couldn't help but feel a very familiar feeling when opening my box.

I am pleased with the Lancome Mascara as it's an instant full body mascara and my eyelashes always need a bit of a boost.

My initial reaction to the Valentino perfume was "Hello granny!" but actually it smells nice once it's been on for a few minutes and that strong smell fades.

Looking forward to trying the Molton Brown vitalising vitamin shower and bath as I haven't tried any Molton Brown products before.

So overall I think the box would be better suited for someone else. 

For example i'd like to think at the age of 24 I wouldn't need to try anti-ageing and extra firming products let alone buy them. Aside from Lancome and Clarins which I unfortunately have just received I wouldn't really say the brands used are that high end enough for a Harrods box.

Of course with all boxes it's luck of the draw and I have seen some people have received Burberry lipsticks and YSL products.

I have emailed Glossy Box and asked them to remove the spa products checkbox from my account so I don't keep getting similar products so if like me you felt the same might be an idea to check what products your subscribed to.

On the plus side I have a lovely Harrods signature box for storing things in and i'm sure once I test the products they will all be great products.

Reviews will come as and when I get the chance to trial them so stay tuned for that.

What did you think of your Harrods Glossy Box?

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder?

So sorry everyone for my absence this week I have been crazy busy this week with orders and spending day and night finalising some new little girl hair accessory collections.

I am so proud of them they are so cute and girly can't wait to share them with you. I have tried to incorporate lots of different colours into my ranges as being a mum of a nearly 3 year old I know how hard it is to get accessories for little girls that match a dress you might have bought for a special occasion.

Lets face it all girls no matter how young need to learn how to accessorise.

I'm going to be photographing the product shots this weekend and then hopefully I can arrange for them to be shot on baby models to show the products on. 
Would love to hear what you think when I do put them up on here and my website.

I love making new things and my brain is constantly buzzing away full of ideas the downside of this is that when i'm really getting into designing a range and working until late at night I find it really hard to switch off afterwards and it takes me forever to get to sleep.
So this week comfort food has been my rocket fuel and totally got me through my manic week and tiredness. My thighs will not thank me for it later! :)

Here's an example of my saviour foods this week including a very cute shortbread bunny rabbit biscuit the mister bought back from work one day.

I had a rabbit and little one had a chic, well looked after or what? Lovely little surprise.

Primary rainbow....that's right I googled!

It's not every day you see a mystical beautiful rainbow outside your window! 

The weather has been so weird today raining then sunny, hot, cold you name it all seasons seem to be merging into one here today.

Was intrigued to find out how rainbows are made (science/geography wasn't my strong point) and apparently my rainbow was a primary rainbow, who knew there were different types of rainbows.

I couldn't help but jump up and sprint for my camera when I saw this little beauty though who wants to help me find the pot of gold?

Have you seen anything rare or beautiful today?

Lilly Belle Bow Rings

So you might have guessed I am a bit of a magpie for anything sparkly or girly.

My bow rings always seem to get a lot of interest from my customers, my previous bow rings were more lace orientated and I have now had great fun playing around with more vintage/shabby chic looking bows.

Isn't it funny how leopard print used to have a bit of a Bet Lynch/Kat Slater connotation to it but these days it is really popular!

Here's the result and what is your take on leopard print bet lynch or animal print chic?

Rings are all just £4.99 each click here to be taken to them on my shop. 

Limited Edition Glossy Box

I am soooooo freakin excited Glossy Box are doing a limited edition box this month and you'll never guess who they've teamed up with for it, I couldn't guess it but they've just announced it's..... Harrods!

Bom chicka wah wah I cannot wait to see what treats it has in store for us, excitables!

Baby Girl Accessories

Thought I would share my latest creations with you for my posh tots baby hair accessories collection.

I love making little girl headbands they are just so sweet and teeny tiny.

Would love to know which one is your favourite?

 

Post Of Gratitude!

Just to say a HUGE whopping thank you to all my previous and most current followers for helping me get to my 100 followers goal.

It's so nice to know that people actually care about what I have to say and I am so grateful to anyone that takes the time to read my posts... don't feel like I'm talking to myself as much now :)

I love getting comments with your responses and always get round to replying so please comment and tell me anything you like. 
Also if there are any other topics or information you'd like me to post in my blog just let me know.
I love reading other people's blogs and feel so strongly that blogging is amazing and should be totally encouraged in schools to help develop students individual thoughts and opinions and help with typing and spelling etc.

Let me know what you think do you think blogging should be encouraged in education, surely it's a great way to spend your time getting your thoughts across in the written? (typed) word.