Hair Drama

Seriously thought my hair would grow stupidly fast and then I would be able to put it up again!?? NO... It feels like the more I want it to grow, the longer it is taking and it doesn't help that its at that length where I literally can't do anything with it...

I put a head band on and I look like Chucky the doll. It isn't long enough to wear in a ponytail and all I can do is clip the front out of my face for fear of sweating!!! I am so annoyed by it, it almost makes me want to cut it super short again then I wouldn't have to get all hot & bother everyday trying to sort it.

Anyway, just fancied a little rant for the time being - I will stay strong & resist the urge to cut my hair even if it means looking like a sweating pig! Oh the joys... XOXO

No-bake Jaffa Cake Cheesecake

Another recipe that I use a lot is my Jaffa Cake Cheesecake - If you don't know what Jaffa Cake's are then shame on you because they are so delicious! But seriously if you don't know then please Google it!

This is what it should look like when its finished and hopefully you will love it just as much as I do. It's safe to say that there is never any left in our house!

My Jaffa Cake Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 x 250g packet plain biscuits


• 100g butter, melted


• 1 tablespoon caster sugar


• 1 1/2 teaspoons powdered gelatine


• 500g cream cheese


• 500g milk cooking chocolate, chopped


• 1 x 395g tin condensed milk


• 1 cup thickened cream, whipped

Method

1.Break the biscuits to a rough crumb and the add the butter and sugar and mix well. Press firmly into the base of a roughly 26cm spring form cake tin and refrigerate.

2.Sprinkle the gelatine over 2/3 cup lukewarm water and stir until dissolved.

3.Place the chocolate in a microwave bowl and melt gently or do this over a pan of simmering water - whichever is easiest for you. Stir until the chocolate is just melted.

4.In a bowl, mix cream cheese and melted chocolate until light and fluffy  with electric whisk if possible. With the mixer running, pour in the condensed milk. Stir through the gelatine mixture, then fold through the whipped cream.

5. Pour half the mixture into the refrigerated tin then place back in the fridge to set for approx. 15-20minutes.

6. Layer whole Jaffa Cakes over the layer then pour the rest of the cream cheese mixture over the top to cover & refrigerate for approx.30 minutes. 

7. Place Jaffa Cakes on the top layer in the design that you wish & place back into the fridge for roughly 5-6 hours.

8. Serve alone or with ice cream!

Enjoy!

Yikes..

I cannot believe that it is already nearing the end of November and will soon be December!? Where has this month gone? I feel like I haven't had time to stop and breathe this month as I have been busy with work & also took a trip to Melbourne & still have to book my skydive to do... JEEZ...

Melbourne was lovely & I thoroughly enjoyed a week away with time to myself & to enjoy being a tourist for the week exploring a new city. Unfortunately though when I arrived it was raining which continued into the next day, so what's a girl to do when it rains? SHOP!!! I got a few bargains so it wasn't a bank card massacre this time, luckily. I made sure to hit up the night market on Wednesday's at Queen Victoria Market & it didn't disappoint - fantastic atmosphere, food from around the globe (I opted for Korean food & sangria's to wash it down!) & local vintage clothes, accessories & other bits and bobs. The live bands that were on whilst I was there were great too - I listened to some Jazz and a really cool indie band - although I cannot find the flyer for them now :(

Thursday followed with a trip to The Pancake Parlour where I indulged in a heart breakfast - literally could have given myself a heart attack with the amount of sugar I had before 9am!! Opting for a latte & the Alice in wonderland pancake special I really did feel a little crazy after my sugar-fest but it did set me up for a great day visiting St.Kilda & most of the free museums in Melbourne.

Friday however was my favourite day of all - I took a last minute Groupon for a day trip of The Great Ocean Road & it was fantastic! Again the weather was a et down but did manage to hold of from actually wetting any of us that day, thankfully. Getting up for a 7.45am departure was pretty hard considering I had been drinking in the hostel bar the night before but I made it there ready for an adventure by the sea like no other. 

When I use to think about visiting Australia before I knew I was going to eventually come here, I always use to see this advert on the TV back home in the UK - its tagline was "there's nothing quite like Australia" and boy did they hit the nail on the head! Showing images of the Great Ocean Road with the 12 apostles as well as obviously the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge to name a few other things, really summed up exactly what I thought of Australia - BEAUTIFUL. Even though the trip itself was a long day leaving at 7.45am and getting back just shy of 9pm it was worth the long bus journey and the money - costing me only $79.00!!! You must go if you ever get chance, you won't regret it at all.

Below are some photos from the day, but they don't capture the real feelings of when you are there, its just amazing to see. And with that, I am signing off as have little time to do everything else I planned to do... XOXO

The 12 Apostles    

London Bridge, The Great Ocean Road

A quick post..

It has only just been Halloween and already Christmas is being shoved so far down my throat that I no longer enjoy food shopping! (Yes I am one of those strangely weird people who likes food shopping) 

I love Christmas but I just can't focus when shopping as I see so much that I want to buy, not good for the bank card - actually another thing - this stupid pay wave is sooooo bad for spenders like me, who feel the need to buy something no matter how big or small on a daily basis. It's just a tap away! 

Anyway, Project 365 has been quiet easy so far although I do want to make sure I make an effort with capturing great photos but so far so good & I haven't missed a day - a week into it now. 

In other exciting news, I am off to Melbourne Tuesday 12th and looking forward to ticking another place off my list to do. Have a few plans for when I am there and of course I have to visit the Great Ocean Road!!

I will post while I am there if I get chance... This is me until next week unfortunately! XOXO

Project 365

Recently I have been slack on the old journal front because to be honest I haven't had the time & some of the things I have done recently are just not that exciting unfortunately. After looking around for inspiration on what I can do to liven things up on the journal front, I came across the idea for project 365, where you take a photo a day for a year to document with photographic evidence every day in your past year. 

Sounds like hard work you ask yourself? But consider most of the population nowadays has a camera enabled smart phone I think this challenge might be easier than me growing my hair for the next year. The only thing I might struggle with is actually limiting myself to uploading just one photo a day! 

So here is to the next 364 days left in which I will take a photo a day, some may be classed as dull or boring and some may actually help me become a better photographer - but whatever the outcome, at least I will be able to look back in years to come & see what I was actually doing on a certain day?!

Day 1: My horoscope which is freakishly right for a change... I'm a Leo by the way...

New Challenge accepted! Operation Hair-grow

I have been known for as long as I can remember 'the one who changes her hair more than anything'. It started when I was in sixth form at school, and feeling the teenage rebellious streak decided against my mums wishes to have some "cringe" PINK streaks put through my blonde hair! And as they say, the rest is history or not quite as I have some photograph proof of all the hair colours, cuts & everything in between to share with you all. Thankfully what I will share is quite normal.

From streaks, full black hair, bangs, bob's & pob's to extensions & super short do's... I have been there/done that & now I am finally, at 26 years old & with the idea coming from a good friend of mine going to grow my hair out from my short cut for the next year to see how long I can get it to grow by October 2014! 

From the top to the bottom is my hair over the past 2 years (plus these are the only photos I don't mind sharing with you!) Some of the other hairstyles I have partaken in are plain hideous therefore I would not put that on you, it's just plain wrong.

So wish me well on this hair-story - I thought I would relish in the fact that I have 'short hair, don't care' but the attitude is not me, ok I have the confidence for this 'do but I feel most girlie with longer locks, so let the hair race begin... 

GO!

Treasury Casino... Oh dear!

Having been on the road or should I say settling into life in Brisbane, it seems only fitting to try out Treasury Casino, not only is it central with local food joints & the Queens street mall across the way but also because it is part of Brisbane history.

Treasury building is actually a heritage listed building therefore I see it as I am getting 2 for the price of 1 when I go.

This time round I had a sneaky play & thankfully it paid off having left the machines over $70 up! Moving on as it was closely reaching lunchtime (ok so I was at the casino early, what can I say - The early bird catches the worm & all that) a friend and I decided on food whilst we were here but seeing as we had already had lunch prior at Fat Noodle, we opted for The Kitchen at Treasury Casino this time round. 

I started with Toasted sourdough bread w. selection of dips and went onto enjoy a Spicy duck curry w. roasted peanuts & jasmine rice. Both equally as nice, and very well priced I would recommend here for their fast service, reasonable priced meals & all in the comfort of within the casino!

I must try not to go out for food as much because it seems my bank account is getting smaller but not my waist... Moving on...