Winter Baking: Berry and Apple Crumble

It’s been a little while since I’ve done a baking post, I made this crumble at the beginning of the month, and it’s been one of my favourite bakes from the year so far I would say. I learned how to make a basic crumble at school, but since then I’ve opted for things like cookies, or cake so I wanted to try something slightly different. Most of the ingredients we had in the cupboard already but I asked my Mum to pick up frozen berries to add in with some apples from the fruit bowl.

If you’ve made crumble before, you will know to rub the butter and flour lightly with your fingertips to create breadcrumbs which is an important step to master. I also had to peel the apples and slice them into cubes. Those are the main bits that are a little trickier but it’s actually a very simple recipe, I added oats to the breadcrumbs on top, which gave the dessert an earthy feel. I used The Hungry Student Easy Baking book which I’ve mentioned before, the layout of the recipes, and simple ingredients make the process easier. My family gave some good feedback on this one, a crumble is a bit of a crowd pleaser.

Do you ever make crumbles? 

What kind of filling is your favourite? :-) Xx

The Library of Fragrance Paperback Eau de Toilette

Hi all, it’s so lovely to be back after taking a little break. Today I’m reviewing a fragrance which I bought recently, and just had to tell you all about it. I introduced myself to The Library of Fragrance brand over the summer, with my first purchase from them, with the scent ‘Sunshine’. At the beginning of autumn, I’d ran out and was eager to try something else by them. They had such a great collection of different singular scents, with cute names, I was stuck for choice. I eventually settled on ‘Paperback’ as it seemed to go with my love of reading and there were many positive reviews.

With buying online, I had to wait until my purchase arrived before I could see if the fragrance was for me. I sprayed some onto my wrists, and as it warmed to my skin for a few minutes, I began to fall in love, it’s such a unique, unforgettable scent. I think seasonally this is a perfect buy, either as a gift or for yourself and great for book lovers. Cruelty-free and vegan, £15.00 for a 30ml Eau de Toilette. Click here to buy online.

Read this to get a feel of the scent…. “The Library of Fragrance ‘Paperback’ Cologne celebrates our love affair with literature, with a backdrop of milky-vanilla sweetness, joined by delicate woody facets and just a touch of must and dust. It smells just like your favourite second hand bookshop.”

Does this brand interest you too? 

What’s your go-to autumn/winter perfume? :-) Xx

A Beauty Haul: Products for Autumn into Winter

Just recently, I did an online shopping haul with Boots collect+ and Superdrug for a mixture of essential and luxury items. At the beginning of autumn, I was just about finished with my previous perfume by Library of Fragrance. I was delighted with the brand so I thought I would try another fragrance from them. The ‘Paperback’ scent really drew me in, it sounded perfect for autumn/winter and I liked the book association as I’ve found over these months, I do more cosy reading with a blanket and hot chocolate. It seemed like a fun thing, to buy the perfume, and the reviews I read were very positive.

Next is my second ever purchase from Kind Natured at Boots, I’ve been interested in this natural brand lately, and had my eye on the jam doughnut shampoo, which was a very much needed toiletry, as my last shampoo ran out. The next two items I ordered from Superdrug, and each having the leaping bunny logo for being cruelty-free. Flutter is a beautiful brand by Superdrug, they have fun packaging, budget friendly prices and would make good Christmas gifting. These soap flowers were a little treat, and I can’t wait to indulge in a bath of flower petals.

Lastly I picked up a shower gel, by Superdrug Spaa, I’m not going to do a separate review post for this, and instead I’ll give you a quick summary now. I really rate the brand, I was first drawn to the marble packaging, and reasonable price point. They have a large range, so I might go back for more, as I loved the shower gel, particularly for the spa like scent.

I’ll be doing a few follow up review posts soon... 

Let me know which products from this haul caught your eye! :-) Xx

What I Bought Info:

Library Of Fragrance ‘Paperback’ Eau de Toilette 30ml

(£15.00/Boots.com/Buy Here)

Kind Natured Kids Jam Doughnut 2in1 Shampoo 200ml 

(£2.99/Boots.com/Buy Here)

Superdrug Flutter Bath Soap Flowers

(SALE £5.00/Superdrug.com/Buy Here)

Superdrug Spaa Bergamot & Cassis Shower Gel 250ml

(SALE £1.45/Superdrug.com/Buy Here)

Recent Reads Reviewed #4

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert – 5/5

This was one of my favourite books this year so far, and maybe ever! There were so many clever ideas and stories in this book that moved me and Gilbert’s voice came across authentic and personal, it was like talking to a very wise friend. There were a few things that stood out to me while reading, one was the chapter about enchantment where she tells us about her own experiences of creative magic and she touches on creative friendships, which struck a chord. I loved reading her perspective on things throughout. It was a quick and easy book to read actually, I flew through it, and I had to take a moment to admire how pretty the cover is.

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson – 5/5

I read this over the summer, another book I just devoured. I picked this one up off my Mum’s bookshelf, and went in fairly blind to the plot, but it really took me by surprise at how much I loved it. I think the writing style and storytelling was extremely beautiful, the story is of an elderly artist and her six-year-old granddaughter who are away on a summer vacation together on a tiny island in the Gulf of Finland. This book is a literary classic, and outside my normal comfort zone, yet one of the best books I’ve ever read.

The Ice-Cream Makers by Ernest van der Kwast – 5/5

This was the first book I ever won on a Goodreads giveaway, and have had it on my shelf for a little while now. I picked it up mid-summer, as I thought the themes of ice-cream would fit the season. The story is of an Italian family ice-cream business, but eldest son Giovanni Talamini decides to break away by pursuing a literary career. Giovanni faces a dilemma: serve the family’s interests one last time or choose his own path in life, once and for all. This was a superb novel, I loved the writing, descriptions of the ice-cream, and believable characters.

Are you a seasonal reader? What makes you become interested in a book? :-) Xx

The Stray Café and Beach Walk Photo Diary

In October the weather was unusually sunny and mild, we headed for our favourite café spot for a cuppa, a cake and a sit outside. I had a cake with chocolate sprinkles on top, and a blueberry green tea, both were lovely. We’ve been making it a more regular thing, and I’ve been enjoying it. One of my most loved hobbies is photography, so every time we go, I have a wander on the nearby beach with my camera, while my parents have a sit and admire the seascape.

There was a lovely vibe to Marske beach that day, the sun had clearly persuaded people to come out, and there were many dogs, dog walkers and other people about. I have shared some of my fav photos from the day, including friendly dogs passing by, seascapes, macro etc. I hope you enjoy this different kind of post from me.

Have you been to any beaches recently? 

What kind of sights are there near you? :-) Xx