Easter nest cake

To make a 2 layered cake:
225g Self raising flour
300g Caster sugar
3 eggs
100ml Milk
200g Dark/milk Chocolate
50g cocoa powder

For the buttercream:
500g icing sugar
250g butter

For the nest:
2 packets of shredded wheat
200g Plain/dark chocolate
A bag of mini eggs

1. Heat your oven to 180 degrees celsius/ gas mark 4

2. Melt the chocolate in a pan

3. Mix the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

4. Crack in the eggs and sift in the flour.

5. When the chocolate has melted, pour it into the batter and mix.

6. Pour it evenly into two cake tins and bake for 25-30 minutes.

7. After you have taken them out the oven, leave them to cool in their tins before icing.

8. Get a palette knife or an icing bag and pipe on your buttercream to the bottom layer of cake.

9. Sandwich the two cakes together and then ice the top and the sides.

10. Leave it in the fridge for up to 30 minutes to leave make sure it won't melt when you put on the nest.

11. Melt the chocolate and crumble the shredded wheat into it.

12. When the shredded wheat is covered, place it onto the cake with a hole in the middle and place the mini eggs inside.

Easter bunny biscuits

To make 12 bunny biscuits you will need:
For the biscuits                 
125g/4oz butter                                  
55g/2oz sugar                                            
180g/6oz plain flour                        

For the decoration ( I haven't put measurements because it depends on how you like your icing)
Icing sugar                          
Water  
Pink food colouring
Marshmallows (mini)  
Piping bag

Sorry they are really bad I was decorating them late at night but I hope you get the idea.

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius/gas 5.

2. Beat the sugar and butter together until smooth.

3. Stir in the flour until it comes together into a ball.

4. Chill the ball in the fridge for about 20  mins. 

5. Place onto a work surface and gently roll out until its 1cm/ half an inch thick

6. Cut 12 circles and 24 paws (I made stencil with some paper as a guideline for the paws) 

7. Then bake the body's for 10 mins and the paws for 5-7mins or until golden brown

8. When they come out the oven leave them to cool until they aren't warm any more.

9. To decorate them you need to cover the paws in white icing then using a piping bag to pipe on the toes with darker pink icing than the body

10. Then cover the body with light pink icing and stick on the 2 paws

11. Next you put a mini marshmallow on for the tail

12. Now your finished you can eat them all up (and maybe share a few)


Enjoy your lazy day C xoxo

Girly Pamper Evening Routine

For this weeks post we thought we would write it all together and tell you what we love to do when we have pamper evenings together.  
Removing Make-Up
As soon as I get home from a long day, I like to remove my make up pretty much as soon as I get in the door! So to do this I take the Garnier Micellar cleansing water (which I have spoken about many times) and just squeeze a little bit on a cotton pad and this just takes you make-up right off. Afterwards, I wash my face with the Neutrogena Grapefruit face wash which has helped my skin so much so I definitely recommend it. I take the Garnier Start Afresh brightening toner to remove any dirt and make-up that I've missed and then I moisturise my face with the Garnier moisture + cream which has really helped my skin!

Bath time
After you have taken all your make-up I love to take a relaxing bath while listening to some music. I don't just like any old bath when I am doing a pamper evening I go full out with what goes in my bath from bath bombs to bath oils to bubbles. My personal favourite company for these products is a very well known company LUSH. If I have lots of products on me I will use a bath bomb, bath oil and bubble bar and may use some of Zoe's (Zoella) products like soak opera. You also need to remember to exfoliate, personally I love Zoe's scrubbing me softly that I got in September and I'm nearly finished which makes me really sad (and we also gave it to Riva for her birthday and she has fallen in love with it).

Moisturising

Moisturising is such an important thing and I feel like some people just don't do it enough! So after a bath I usually like a deep moisturise with something like Soap & Glory Righteous Butter, Burts Bees lotion, or even E45. However if you are just looking for a light moisturise I really recommend the Soap & Glory spray on moisturiser for £6.00 as it doesn't take long just to spritz it onto your skin!

Comfy clothes
Once I have moisturised my skin I love to where my most comfy clothes I have for example my pjs, slipper/bed socks and a dressing gown. I find that once you are in your pjs you feel really relaxed and all your stress from the day is just released into the air. Also when your wearing all these clothes it make you feel warm and cosy especially in front of your fire. One of my personal favourite shops to buy my pjs from is good old Primark I mean you can't go wrong with a cheap pair of really nice cosy pjs from Primark.

Face masks
I love applying face masks in the bath or in the evening before doing my homework so I can fee lovely and fresh. Not only is this fun to do with your friends, but letting it set and watching it go lighter. You can get loads of different types from peel off ones, ones that are hot when you apply and rub to the traditional scented ones. My personal favourite ones are the 'Quick fix' ones because they have one to suit every skin type.

Nails
When having a pamper night it is almost a MUST to paint you nails, so first I select a colour which this time was a gorgeous shade called fiji from Essie. I also used the Sally Hansen base/top coat on top which helps prevent the nail polish from chipping! I really recommend both these nail polishes as I find they stay on my nails for ages. After painting you nails make sure you're not doing anything fiddly as you might end up smudging it!

Films, YouTube & Netflix
Whether you like watching a chick flick, horror film, beauty videos or your favourite YouTubers, watching something really helps to get me relaxed. I would be re-watching 'Pretty Little Liars' on Netflix because one episode a week from season 6 is not enough! Also listening to people talk about their monthly favourites makes me feel like I'm having a girly chat with them. Watching vlogs makes me feel like I've had a more productive day because you are watching their busy day in 20 minutes, even if you have been in your pyjamas all day!

Candles
These are probably the most essential thing when it comes to pamper nights, they just add that amazing cosy feeling! I have lots of favourites like Yankee ones, T K Maxx ones, Primark, Ikea but it really doesn't matter as long as they smell and look good. Also try to burn your candles in long periods of time then they won't end up with lots of little edges, just a helpful tip!

Music
I love to listen to music from really old songs to new releases, I find that music can really put you in the right mood (if you play gentle music not a rock band). Music can change your mood for example if you play a happy song it can make you cheerful and if you play a sad song it makes you feel emotional. I love to listen to music in the bath and what I do is literally just go on my playlist on Spotify of my general songs or go on search and find a relaxing playlist that someone has already made for you which is so easy. I don't know if you can tell but I really do love Spotify as I find it's such a great music app and also if you pay a little bit a month you are able to listen to music offline.

Food
Before I settle down to watch a film, I like to have a few snacks so that I don't have to keep getting up and pausing it. I especially like popping popcorn which is so easy, you can either get the microwaveable packets or simply get a packet of kernels and put a little oil in the pan, put the lid on and wait a few minutes. I prefer popping them in the pan because you can hear them all popping and you get less un-popped ones like you do when putting it in the microwave. I also love chocolate covered strawberries or if I feel like being healthier, I would make a smoothie or milkshake with a plant based milk.

Fairy lights
What I love about fairy lights are the fact that once you have have turned off your main light and turned on any other little lights around your room like fairy lights it makes your room feel magical and so cosy. Not to mention fairy lights do just look so cute and tumblr, also you can literally put them where ever you want and they will just look like they were meant to be there. You can really buy fairy lights from most shops including Primark which once again you can get a great price for fairy lights there however if you are looking for more expensive ones I would have a quick look in
Urban Outfitters as they have some really nice cute ones.

Books and blog posts
Reading books has been proven to relax you by up to 68% however if I can't find a book I like to read blogs as they drain all my stress away. A few of my favourites are Zoe's, Tanya's, Niomi's and Lucy and Lydia's. Reading about people's holidays gets me really excited and plan about where I want to travel to. It also gives me inspiration about what we could write about on here! One of my all time favourite books is 'All the Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven, I heard about it when Zoe mentioned it in a favourites a while back and as soon as I picked it up, it was impossible to put down!

February Favourites

For this week's post we are doing February favourites and as it has recently been my birthday most things will be stuff I got given then! I will try to link all the products at the end, but let's get on with this post!

Zoella Sweet Mint Lip Balm

I actually got this lipbalm set for Christmas 2015 and I haven't used it much since then, but in February I have been using it so much! At the moment the sweet mint lip balm sits on my bedside table, so I can use it whenever I'm in bed! The reason I love this so much is because it's so creamy and moisterising, the packaging is also so pretty. I think they are unfortunately out of stock now but if they are instock I will link them at the end! 

Make Up Wedges

I recently invested in these, as Clara had them and said they were good. I completely agree! I use them to blend my under eye concealer and afterwards the result is amazing, your make up doesn't look cakey at all! I would highly recommend these, they are not pricey (I got mine from primark) and usually come in packs so they will last you a while.

Garnier Micellar Water
I have pretty much always loved this product ever since I got it however this month I've really started to appreciate how good it is! I use it every evening to remove my make up and it works like a dream. All you do is take a cotton pad, squeeze a small amount of micellar water on and simply apply to your face. The best thing about it is that it's only about £3.50 and lasts for absolutely ages, I've only just finished my first bottle of it!

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick
This is a new addition to my make up collection, which is slowly growing, and I absolutely love it! I ordered it online from Feel Unique so I was scared that I wouldn't like the shade but in actual fact it is so beautiful. At the moment I have been loving dusky pink sort of nude shades and this is my ideal lipstick, it's in the shade 'Timeless All' (08) Personally I think the Rimmel lipsticks are some of the best in the drugstore so please go pick it up for £5.49 in Boots/Superdrug/FeelUnique.

Maybeline Mastersculpt Contour Kit
Eve always mentions this contour kit in her videos so when I had money to spend in Superdrug I picked it up in the medium shade and now I don't know what I did without it. I feel as if my make up routine (not for school) isn't complete unless I've used Mastersculpt. It just adds a really natural yet defining shadow to your cheekbones, it also comes with a secret mirror and brush! It is available in Boots/Superdrug/FeelUnique for £7.99

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette
I have talked about this in my Top 5 make up products but it's so good I have to talk about it again! Recently, for a natural eyeshadow look, I have been taking the pinky shades and creating really wearable Spring make up looks. However this palette is perfect for any look, evening or daytime that's why I love it so much, and the pigment is unreal for a £7.99 drugstore palette!

Zoella 'Let's Spritz' Body Mist
This is another thing I got for my birthday and I have always wanted it, so when I received it I was so pleased. All the packaging of Zoe's ranged is to die for and this Body Mist is no exception  I especially love the detailing on the back. I find this mist stays on all day and I can immediately smell it when someone else has it on! For £7.99 in superdrug/feelunique go buy it.

T K Maxx Kilner Jar
Ever since I watched Alfie (PointlessBlog) use one of these in a vlog I had to get one, and my sister very kindly purchased one for me as a birthday present. Every night I fill it up with water and ice then take it to my bed. This might sound really weird but if I have a cool cup to drink out of then I will probably end up drinking more water! My cup was from T K Maxx but as it was a present I don't know how much it was.

Decathlon Leotard
For any of you that don't know, I do gymnastics quite a lot and so getting new leotards is very exciting for me! This design of leotard has always stuck out to me as this brand has amazing quality but everything is so affordable. They also sell sports wear and other sport accessories. I have been wearing this Leo to practice a lot recently and I just love it! My favourite part is definitely the detailing on the front. The picture I took wasn't in focus, and it's not on me now so I'm sorry there is no picture!

Sprinkle Of Glitter Diary
I am absolutely obsessed with organising so when I opened this for my birthday I was over the moon! In this diary I write in my dates eg. when i'm seeing my friends etc, and I cannot stop planning things! I find this is also really good on the go as it's very lightweight and is so stylish just to whip out of your bag! You can get this is WH Smiths, Waterstones, Sainsburys and lots of other places too! 

Links
Garnier Micellar Water: http://www.boots.com/en/Garnier-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-400ml_1440752/

Rimmel Lipstick: http://www.feelunique.com/p/Rimmel-Kate-Lasting-Finish-Lipstick

Maybeline Mastersculpt: http://www.boots.com/en/Maybelline-Master-Sculpt-Contouring-64g_1685065/

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette: http://www.superdrug.com/Sleek/Sleek-Makeup-I-Divine-12-Piece-Shadow-Storm/p/472360

Zoella Body Mist: http://www.superdrug.com/Zoella/Zoella-Lets-Spritz-Body-Mist/p/468902?singleResultSearchPage=true

Decathlon Leotard: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/lign-gym-leotard-purple-id_8353273.html

Sprinkle Of Glitter Diary: https://www.waterstones.com/book/sprinkle-of-glitter-2016-diary/louise-pentland/9780571322671

Enjoy your LazyDay R xoxo

Exercise-conditioning

Conditioning is what you have to do to become stronger and muscular. This is an easy thing to do as you can literally sit on the floor in your room and do some conditioning while watching Netflix or listening to music. You should try to condition about every other day or even everyday if your feeling up to that. But to be honest its not that hard to do it everyday as long as you can remember to do it. You should also try to change the routine of conditioning quite often as then your body won't get used to the same routine also I would advice that some days you go easy then hard then medium and also changing the difficulty will be better for your body. This post will give you 3 different routines depending on how hard you want to push yourself, I will also put where each move should be working on/ hurting in brackets.

Easy Routine 
20 second plank hold (abs)
10 squats (legs) 
10 v-sits (abs)
10 triceps dips on a chair (arms)
10 mountain climbers (legs)
15 crunches (abs)
20 second wall sit (legs)
10 press-ups (arms)
15  high knee running on the spot (legs)
20 second side plank (bum)

Medium Routine
30 second dish hold (abs)
20 squats jumps (legs)
25 Russian twists (abs)
30 second wall sit
20 v-sits (abs)
25 swimmers (legs)
45 second plank (abs)
20 mountain climbers (legs)
15 press ups (arms)
15 burpees (legs)

Hard Routine
75 second plank (abs)
20 press ups (arms)
30 triceps dips on a chair (arms)
35 high knee running on the spot (legs)
40 second side plank (bum)
30 crunches (abs)
30 second lowered held press up (arms)
35 squats (legs)
25 burpees (legs)
30 v-sits (abs)

-Enjoy your lazy day C xoxo

How to keep healthy - Food Tips

Staying healthy involves lots of things, the main two being exercise and healthy eating, however I've got some tips and tricks to help you along the way as being healthy isn't always as easy as it sounds! I hope these tips come in handy and help you keep healthy.

Tip 1- Snacking
Whether you're a snacker or not, it's important to make sure your snacks are healthy. The occasional packet of crisps won't hurt but just make sure you aren't snacking on them all the time. To help with this you can start putting healthy alternatives on the shopping list (or buy them yourself). Always keeping fruit in sight helps as when you crave a sweet snack you can just grab a piece of fruit!

Tip 2 - Eating Meals
If you struggle with meal portions then one of my best tips is to portion your meal sizes onto smaller plates so it tricks your mind into thinking there is more food on the plate. As well as this put smaller portions on your plate and eat all of that rather than picking little bits from each dish as you will lose track of how much you've eaten.

Tip 3 - Food Labels
Pay attention the labels on your food. In the UK green labels mean that the food you're eating is relatively healthy and high in fibre, whereas red ones mean that the food is high in fat, sugar or saturates. Orange labels are medium and can be found on sauces like Ketchup or BBQ. In order to keep healthy you have to know what you are putting into your body.

Tip 4 - Food Substitutes
Making small changes to your diet are often the most effective, for example if you eat white bread change to whole meal (they taste practically the same!), you can change from white to brown pasta, go from semi-skimmed milk to 1% fat, and lots of other little changes. Often you'll find that the healthier version tastes the same if not nicer than the original. I find that Diet Coke tastes way nicer than Coca Cola, both are not healthy, but still.

Tip 5 - Mealtimes
Never ever skip breakfast. I can't stress enough how important breakfast is. Most people think that it will make them thinner, but it slows your metabolism which means your body will hang onto the fat from the next meal you eat. Breakfast also powers you for the day so without it your body will lack in crucial energy.

Tip 6 - Staying Hydrated
Keeping hydrated is crucial, for our health and skin. It helps our skin by clearing our complexion, basically it helps prevent spots. Drinking water keeps us hydrated, and alcohol can sometimes dehydrate our bodies. Limit your juice intake into no more thank 1 glass a day if not less, the sugar in the juice also damages our teeth.

Tip 7 - Grocery Shopping
Even if your parents still shop for you (like mine) you can still use this tip. When you go shopping ( for groceries) make sure you have eaten food before you go, so you wont' end up buying more than you need. You also won't crave sugary foods as you'll have eaten before hand. This tip also save money!

-Enjoy your LazyDay R xoxo

6 Tips on how to stay healthy

These are some of my general tips on how to stay fit and healthy!

Finding the time
Try to exercise at least 60 minutes per day however if you are trying to tone up or lose weight conditioning/shorter yet harder routines will be more effective as you'll be pushing your body harder. Try to make a schedule as then you won't lose track of when you should be working out!

Clothes
If you have a nice set of workout clothes you are more likely to want to workout rather than thinking of it as a chore. Plan your outfit the night before so that the next day you can just throw your clothes on this will make you more motivated as you won't have the stress in the morning. You will see them before you go to sleep this should make you motivated and want to wake up in the morning.

Working out with a friend
Staying fit with a friend will keep you motivated and if you set dates in which you are going to meet and workout you are not going to cancel unless you have to.

Your routine
Change your exercise routine very often because as soon as your body starts getting used to it you aren't as challenged so you won't burn as many calories.

Making your heart rate rise for short bursts of time has been proven to be more effective than keeping it at the same rate for long periods.

Food and drink
Cooking your own food will be better than ordering takeaways because you know exactly what you're eating. Making a weekly meal plan will keep you organised and you can make sure that you have all the ingredients. Pay attention to nutrition labels to help you make healthier choices.

Staying hydrated is crucial for becoming and staying fit. Water is so much better for you than fizzy drinks that have more calories in than you can imagine!

Sleep
Work out a sleep pattern that works for you so you are not tired in the morning as having 10 hours of sleep might make you feel over-tired. If you have a goods night sleep the chances are in the morning you'll feel more productive.

-Enjoy your LazyDay H  xoxo