EIGHT FILMS TO WATCH THIS VALENTINES DAY NIGHT

Hello everyone and Happy Valentines! So i have never been one of those people to go all out and do something spectacular on Valentines day, i would rather stay in and watch a film of two where it is warm. Saying that last night i was out in the freezing cold at the football, so tonight i will definitely be staying warm. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would do something slightly Valentines related non the less and share with you eight must watch films this Valentines night, whether that be with your loved one, friends or by yourself...

1. fifty shades movie marathon (nowtv fifty shades darker linked)

I have spoken so many times now how much of a fifty shades fan i am and of course this last weekend i was at the cinema watching the last instalment, which was so so so so good just like the other two movies and the books! Valentine's day is the perfect time to have a fifty shades marathon, especially with your girlfriends! (About the film: FSOG - Literature student Anastasia Steele's life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey. FSD - While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.)

2. afterburn aftershock (amazon video linked)

Sticking with the whole romance book turned movie, this time one from an amazing new service called PassionFlix (a little like a Netflix service) or you can watch on Amazon Video. This is a film from a book by one of my favourite authors Sylvia Day, called Afterburn Aftershock and it was everything as good if not more than the book so much so i watched it twice in one week. (About the film:Businesswoman Gia Rossi is determined to be successful in her new job, but when her ex lover Jax Rutledge waltzes back into her life, their passionate connection ignites not only in the boardroom, but the bedroom.)

3. hollywood dirt (amazon video linked)

Another film by the same PassionFlix service, also on Amazon Video and one i had never actually read the book before hand, but i love love loved the film! About the film: Based on the novel by Best Selling author Alessandra Torre, abandoned by his superstar wife, Cole Masten is Hollywood's Sexiest Bachelor. Arriving in small town, Georgia, to film a passion project, he meets Summer Jenkins. Sassy and strong willed, he casts her in his movie, resulting in an entertaining enemies-to-lovers scenario.)

4. the lucky one (amazon video linked)
If you are in the mood for a classic romantic love story, then The Lucky One is definitely one to watch and even more so if you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks books turned films in general. Definitely one needed to be watched with a tissue or two. (About the film: A Marine travels to Louisiana after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman he believes was his good luck charm during the war.)

5. the age of adaline (netflix linked)
This is a film i only watched for the first time recently and i felt like i went into watching it not expecting much, but i absolutely loved every minute of it and i might of cried a little bit ha. (About the film: A young woman, born at the turn of the 20th century, is rendered ageless after an accident. After many solitary years, she meets a man who complicates the eternal life she has settled into.)

6. the best of me (netflix linked)
Another film also taken from a novel by Nicholas Sparks and another tear filled love story, which has a bitter sweet ending. Definitely one to watch, if you loved The Notebook, then you will love this. (About the film: A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown.)

7. the wedding planner (amazon video linked)
Next up is a throwback to the early 00's and a film that i just have to watch whenever it is on the TV (which in the uk that is a lot) but it is a favourite of mine. This film is perfect in every single way and one of my favourite quotes of all time is in this film, just listen for the reference about brown m&m's. (About the film: Mary Fiore is San Francisco's most successful supplier of romance and glamour. She knows all the tricks. She knows all the rules. But then she breaks the most important rule of all: she falls in love with the groom.)

8. pretty woman (amazon video linked)
Finally we have another throwback film but this time from the 90's and one that will forever be the most iconic romantic comedy. Every time i watch Pretty Woman it's like the first time, yet you repeat the lines from the film as it goes ha ha! (About the film: A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love.)

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

WHAT I ATE IN A DAY: FESTIVE EDITION

Hello everyone and welcome back to another "what i ate in a day" instalment! Since picking this type of post back up again in September, i have been so proud that i have remembered to do updated versions monthly and in fact last month i did not one but two (which i will link at the end). Before that i thought i would share with you a festive themed "what i ate in a day", which is not an all healthy food post but it is Christmas right?

So for breakfast this particular day i didn't have the most "winter-y" breakfast, like porridge as i usually would but i fancied something different and it is super quick to make. I had some mixed berries which were frozen and i warmed up in the microwave, with some homemade granola (cacao, almonds, oats, mixed nuts, dried fruits) and then also some Rachel's organic greek style honey yogurt and to top it off some more honey on top. As i had not had my coffee first thing when i got up, i had it with my breakfast instead.

Lunch time and i mentioned in a previous what i ate post that i had wanted to try smashed peas on toast for the longest time, then i finally did. Since then i have found another amazing recipe from Jamie Oliver, which is smashes peas and broad beans on toast with chilli the only thing different i did to his recipe is that i didn't add cheese as we didn't have any in ha ha. This is a great alternative to avocado on toast, especially if you are like me and aren't the biggest fan of avocado. 

Dinner time and i was actually at Meadowhall doing some last minute Christmas shopping, so we decided to get some dinner whilst we was there as it would be a little late to be eating dinner once we got back home. There is also finally a GBK (gormet burger kitchen) opened in Meadowhall, so of course we had to give it a go. I opted for burger, skinny fries and a sparkling elderflower drink, which was amazing!

Seeing as it is Christmas (which has been my excuse for the whole of December) i had dessert in the evening and i can never refuse anything mince pie related. With that in mind i had a options (low calorie) salted caramel hot chocolate and a viennese-mince pie, which was so yummy!

Catch up on some previous "what i ate in a day" posts...

| what i ate #1 | what i ate #2 | what i ate #3 | what i ate #4 |

xo.

WHAT I ATE WEDNESDAY

For breakfast i actually had something completely different for a change. Homemade fruit loaf (toasted) with Nutella on, so yum!

For lunch i was in town with my mum and we went to Costa. I had a White Chocolate and Raspberry Muffin and an Americano Coffee. I know it's not really a proper lunch but it did the job.

For dinner we had another recipe from the Hairy Dieters book like last week but this time we had the Lamb, Spinach and Potato Curry served with Rice. This was so good!

♥

WORLD CUP(CAKES)

Hey guys, hope you are all having a great day! So seeing as i hadn't done a baking blog post in a couple of months i would do another one for you all and also with the World Cup starting this week, the timing couldn't of been better to create some football/world cup themed cupcakes. So if you want to know how to make these World Cup(Cakes) please keep reading...

For the cupcakes you will need:

12 cupcake cases

150g self raising flour (i photographed plain my mistake)

25g cocoa powder

1tsp baking powder

175g caster sugar

175g soft butter

3 large eggs

For the topping you will need:

250g mascarpone cheese

25g icing sugar

a few drops of green gel food colour (or as much for how green you want the frosting)

1/4tsp peppermint extract

brazil m&m's (or any blue,green and yellow candy)

or football wrapped chocolates

cocktail sticks for handmade country flags (optional)

Firstly you are going to make sure you have clean hands. Then you are going to want to pre heat your oven to gas mark 4 or /180C or 350F and then also you are going to want to line your tray with the cases.

To start the cupcake mixture you are going to want to take your sugar, butter and eggs into your mixer along with the sifted cocoa powder, self raising flour and baking powder... mix until combined and smooth.

Next you are going to want to take your mixture and spoon them into the cupcake cases, then place into the pre heated oven for 20 minutes. Once you remove your cupcakes from the oven leave the cupcakes on a cooling wrack and make sure they are completely cooled before decorating.

So once the cupcakes have cooled you are going to want to make your topping. Take your mascarpone, caster sugar, peppermint extract and green gel colouring and mix all together until combined. Once the mixture is all combined you are going to either want to pipe the topping onto the cupcake or if you prefer just spoon on the topping and smooth with a knife. Then finally all you are going to want to do is top the decorating off with either the m&m's, chocolate footballs or flags (i have done a variety just to show what cool options you can create).

Hope you have enjoyed this type of blog post and don't forget to cheer on your country during the competition!

WHAT I ATE WEDNESDAY

For breakfast is the same as last week, i had Jordan's Country Crisp Cereal topped with Sultana's and Soy Milk. As well i had my usual Costa Coffee also with Soy Milk.

For lunch i had some Pesto Pasta just for something different, this was topped with Parmesan Cheese, Pine Nuts and Black Cracked Pepper. 

Today i also had Starbucks, Coconut Mocha Soy Frappuccino if you haven't tried one of these yet GO AND DO IT they are so so good!

And lastly for dinner i had a homemade Florentine Pizza which is Bacon, Spinach and topped with an egg. This is definitely my favourite type of pizza to have.

What is your favourite pizza toppings?

  

WHAT I ATE WEDNESDAY

For breakfast i had Honey Cheerios topped with some Blueberry's and Unsweetened Almond Milk. To drink i had a glass of Water and a Decaf Coffee.

For lunch i had Light Philadelphia Cheese with Grilled Peppers on an Italian Seeded Roll, Muller Corner yogurt (Peach and Apricot) and to drink i had Sparkling Lemon and Lime flavored Water.

  

For a snack in between lunch and dinner i had a juice using the Nutribullet (this thing is amazing). It contained fresh Blueberry's, Watermelon, Zero fat Lemon flavored yogurt and some ice cold Water.

And lastly for dinner i had stir fry, with Chicken, Prawns, Asparagus, Stem Broccoli, Red Pepper, Chestnut Mushrooms, Red Chilli and Fine Noodles.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and i was thinking about doing this sort of post on a monthly basis, just to switch things up!