Monday 26 January 2015

Let's Cook! Banana Bread - Low fat, Low Calorie!

 Hello Lovelies!

Today I've got a recipe for low fat healthy version of Banana bread! It comes in at around 140 calories a piece (Or less if you use smaller cases!) It's very simple to make and takes about 30-40 minutes to bake in the oven!


Ingredients

  • 200g Whole wheat flour
  • 300g Over ripe bananas
  • 119g eggs (roughly two medium eggs)
  • 1 TSP Stevia or other sweetener (Optional)
  • 1 TSP Cinnamon
  • 1/2 TSP Nutmeg (Optional)
  • 1 TSP Bicarbonate of Soda
  • Pinch of salt

Stuff

  • Large bowl
  • Wooden spoon
  • Fork
  • 8 cake cases or loaf tin
  • Oven - preheated to 200c or 190c if you are using a fan oven



Add your bananas to the bowl and mash them with the back of a fork until you have a lumpy goop!


Crack the eggs into the bowl and beat in to the banana mix. Add in the sweetener if you are using it and mix well.


Next add in the flour and stir in till you have a wet cakey mixture. It shouldn't be overly runny, if it is add a little more flour in.


Add in your spices, salt and bicarb and mix through.


Divide the batter evenly between your cake cases (If you're using hard cases like mine I suggest using a baking sheet underneath or if you are using paper cases using a cake pan)


Pop them into the oven for 30-40 minutes - I'd check on them around 30, if they look dark brown and are stiff to the touch they are done. You can try using the cocktail stick method but as there is banana in these you run the risk of mistaking banana for raw cake batter!


And there you go! All done! You now have some pretty tasty snacks for jsut 140 calories a pop! I hope you enjoy this recipe! Let me know your thoughts in the comment, or any suggestions you'd like to see me make!

Ta-ta for now!
x

Monday 19 January 2015

Urban Piercings Reading - ~*~Positive~*~

Hello Lovelies!


Today I have a handy review about Urban Piercings in Reading! I'm mainly witting this as whilst I was researching for a reputable piercers in Reading I couldn't really find many reviews or information! Awhile ago I decided I wanted my upper ear pierced and set about looking  for somewhere that I would be happy with. I came across Urban Piercings which had been recommended to me before, and had a look at their very informative website. (They also have an amazing on-line store that I'll be taking advantage of soon!) The website contains lots of different information on different kinds of piercings, stretchings, after care as well as lots of other useful items. Urban are also registered with Reading Borough Council. After thinking it over for awhile I decided to go ahead and get my piercing done with Urban - whilst I was researching I came across someone who said Urban used to be in Harris Arcade - It turns out these guys did my original lobe piercings but had just moved locations!


So off I went on a Tuesday morning down to Urban Piercings - they are located just off Friar street - so very accessible for all modes of transport. I'd been forewarned they get super busy so I aimed to get there just after opening, I went in, talked to the very friendly lady behind the counter about what I wanted, chose a ring over a bar and paid for my piercing (£22) and was offered a choice of after care solutions. I opted for the drops as they seemed easier to use and would last longer! (£4 - but they smell really lovely too!) I was given an after care sheet to read through and asked to take a seat and someone would be right with me.


I then met the lovely Belle! She was so so sweet! Belle showed me the ring that she would use to make sure I was happy with it, disinfected my ear, marked the spot, checked I was happy, wiped it again and away she went! I have to say it hurt way less than I was expecting! It was way easier than a blood test! Belle did a fab job and was happy to chat away to me too (probably a good thing because I babble when I get nervous!) Belle explained the after care for the piercing (It's slightly different to lobes as you aren't meant to move the piercing at all as this can prevent it from healing properly). It didn't really hurt much after I left either, though it does feel a little bruised now - the healing time for cartilage piercings is around 2-4 months though you can change the jewellery after 2.


And here we go, my lovely ring a day or so after it was done! I'm considering getting my other ear done once this one is healed! (I'd highly suggest not getting both done at the same time as you'll have a very interesting time trying sleep!) I'd definitely go back to Urban again and I'd ask for Belle too!


If you'd like more information on Urban Piercings 
you can check out their website and store below!


Monday 12 January 2015

Etudé House - ~*~Posititve~*~

Hello Lovelies!


My favourite cosmetic company, Etudé House are now shipping world wide! Yay! This is a really great thing for me as I've been stuck ordering from ebay and I've had a few problems with fake products and items never arriving, so when they announced they were now shipping world wide I was over the moon! For those that don't know Etudé are based in South Korea. Their website is extremely easy to use and works like any other mail order website. You can pay via paypal too which is always a bonus. I ordered three eye shadows, a face mask and was entitled to a free gift too.



My order was sent very quickly and took about two weeks to arrive. Check out that super cute box, I really love the 'All of you are born as a Princess' slogan on the side! Everything was packaged securely in the box inside some bubble wrap too.


Here are the items I ordered! All perfectly safe! I was a little worried the eye shadows might get broken in transit but there was so much protection from the bubble wrap they were fine.


These are the awesome free gifts I got! A lovely pink tote bag (It's made of really strong cotton and I use it quite a lot!) And lots of little samples. I've wanted to try the baking powder range for awhile so I was extremely pleased to receive these - I love make up samples because they let you try out different things before deciding on your favourite to purchase.

I was very happy with the service I received from Etudé and I didn't think the shipping charges were too bad either. I'd definately order from them again, espeically as they seem to have so many shopping events on at the moment.


If you'd like to check out Etudé House's 
website you can follow the link below!


Ta-ta for now,
X



Sunday 4 January 2015

IKON HAIR REVIEW - Earley - ~*~Positive!~*~

Hello Lovelies,


Hair is a very personal thing. You always want it to look it's best, and the wrong hair cut can mean disaster (unless you own a variety of awesome hats!) I've had some very bad hair cuts in the past and even a few there were completely opposite to what I wanted (take the time when I asked for a scene cut, and for it to be dyed pillar box red - I left almost 4 hours later with dark red perfectly straight, one length all round!!). There's now only one person I trust to cut my hair, and that's Kay from Ikon Hair!


I met Kay almost two years ago when I was looking for a bridal hair dressers that wasn't going to charge me £300 just to do my hair, I wasn't asking for anything too complicated (I think, but saying that I did have long hair that reached the small of my back, and it's quite thick too) But I contacted Ikon and sent them a picture of what I was asking for and they came back with a price and asked if I could pop in!) From there it was pretty much history! Kay did a wonderful job of my hair for the wedding, so much so that I went back a few days later to get it cut shorter. I really do love Kay, and one of the things that I like best is that she LISTENS to what I ask for! She also chats to me whilst styling my hair! I can't stress enough, how good this is, every other place I've been always makes it seem like a massive inconvenience that I'm there and I end up sitting in silence for an hour! Ikon always makes me feel welcome.


So here's a quick before and after my last visit to Ikon! My hair always looks so pretty and feels really soft! I'd highly recommend Ikon to anyway in the Wokingham/Earley/Woodley/Reading area! It's definitely worth a trip!


You can check out their website below which has a price list and a handy online booking system to boot!