I Got ENGAGED!

Why hello there….

It's been awhile i'm aware, intact its been over two months!
It's been a busy two months though but i'm going to try to get back into blogging!

Since I last blogged I've completed my first half marathon! I ran it on April 6th with a friend from works brother. He really helped keep my spirits up between miles 3-6 where I seemed to hit a wall - stitch, dead legs & a general lack of motivation. Once I hit mile 6 I got back into the swing of things, had an energy gel & really felt good about things! The last 3 miles were running into a headwind & at mile 12 I decided to leave my friend (sorry!) and try pick up the pace! I finished it in 02hrs 00mins 41secs. I'm a little bitter about the 41secs as I really wanted a sub 2hr time but for my first half its a good effort! My running hasn't been all that regular recently, although i've been getting out a couple of times a week. I'm running a 10mile event next weekend though!

In mid April we went to London for Andy's birthday. We had a fantastic time, we went to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the theatre. Had a fantastic meal and cocktails at Christophers. Had some amazing post theatre cocktails at The American Bar in the Savoy. We went to the Shard for breakfast for Andy's birthday & HE ONLY WENT AND POPPED THE QUESTION!!!!! Obviously I said YES!! We also went to The Savoy for afternoon tea :-)

Since getting home everything has been abit of a whirlwind! Choosing an engagement ring, lots of celebrating and now we're starting to look at where we are planning on getting married.

I've also just joined slimming world! I can & I will lose weight for this wedding!

Much Love

& I promise to blog again soon!

Jennifer xx

MIA, 5 Piece Update, Great North Run

It's been nearly a month since I last blogged. 

Where has it gone!?!

I seem to have been super busy. 

I've worked the last 3weekends including a full weekend of nights. 

I've had a few trips to manchester.

I've started learning to figure skate. 

I've been training towards my first half marathon. 

I've been to my first clandestine cake club.

5 Piece Update : 

1. Grey Cardigan - Primark £10 (ok so I said i wasn't going to do it but I just needed something to keep me going until I found the 'perfect' one)

2. White Leather Converse £45 (My pink ones have seen better days)

3. Still lusting after a handbag.

4. Dress

5. Space

I've started training for my first half marathon and also in preparation for the great north run.

Here's a link to my Sponsorship page, I'm raising money for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. This is such a great cause & one close to my heart. In June 2013 my Stepdad was diagnosed with a rare aggressive type of Non- Hodgkins Lymphoma, he has since undergone chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant and is currently doing extremely well. I hope he's going to take me out cycling hills soon ;-)

I've been MIA

Apologies that its been rather a while since I last posted!

I've been a very busy bee :-)

I've still not purchased a thing off my ' 5 Piece French Wardrobe'

I got a place in the Great North Run, raising money for leukaemia lymphoma research! I bought some new trainers. I went for a extremely windy 12km run in my new trainers (I now have black toenails again :-( ) I hurt my foot and have now got to rest :-(

I had a haircut - a new fringe!

My Brother & His Girlfriend had a Beautiful Baby Girl - Emily Victoria Holmes

I've done a little bit of baking & a little relaxing.

I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things blogging again….

Here's some photos from the past few weeks :-)

5 Piece French Wardrobe Update

This is 'the perfect leather jacket' I'm hoping to purchase it as the first thing out of my 5.

although I need to wait until I have a trip to manchester to try it on :-)

Its from All Saints

(I know 27days & i've not bought anything yet!)

I'm also thinking of ordering this cardi - anyone who knows me, knows I LIVE in cardigans - I'm aware i'm not the coolest kid on the block but they are easy & comfty & thats all that matters.

This is from Topshop

Has anyone else took on the 5 piece challenge & how are they doing?

Jennifer xx 

Pilates, Moussaka & Fougasse

So today was my day off. I've had a really productive and yet chilled out day.

I went to Pilates this morning, I really needed a good stretch after the spinning class I attended yesterday! Then I had a quick swim before I headed over to see my friend Vikki at Cupcake. We had a good catch up and I had some of her amazing chicken & chorizo soup… nom nom. 

Then I nipped to the food store to get some bits for dinner before heading home to do a little housework and prep dinner. I made the Hair Bikers moussaka for tea which you can find the recipe for here. I warn you theres lots of washing up!! (also enough to make one for tea and one to go in the freezer for another night).

 I also had a go at making some of Richard Bertinets Fougasse to go with it. 

The recipe for these is from Dough. I cannot stress how much of a brilliant book this is & it even comes with a free dvd (where richard bertinet shows you through the steps of bread making). 

This was my first attempt at these but they were really easy and I think they'd make a great entrée with some oil & balsamic vinegar when having friends & family over for dinner. 

Jennifer xx

KMix Review & My Nana's Carrot Cake :-)

Just before Christmas I started the debate of Kenwood vs KitchenAid. After doing my research I decided to go with the Kenwood and i'm so glad I did! I read a lot of reviews about both machines before I finally decided on the KMix but here are the main differences between the two.

The Kenwood has a 4L bowl, the KitchenAid has a 3.8L bowl - not a great difference but a difference non the less. As for power, the Kenwood has a 500W motor and the KitchenAid has a 300W motor, a significant difference. Also price wise - the KitchenAid retails at around £425 where as the Kenwood is around £300 (prices from John Lewis). I understand the KitchenAid is very good but is it £125 better or do they just get away with charging high prices as the larger 7l machine is shown on various tv shows? Also the Kenwood comes with an additional attachment (a paddle scraper mixer and also a splash guard!) I know I'm biased because I've not got a KMix but I love it and am not regretting not getting a KitchenAid one bit!

I got mine as a Christmas present from my Nana (also my housewarming present). I researched the machine and waited to find a good deal. My Kmix was £250 from John Lewis and I also got a free KMix kettle & Toaster (these retail at around £90 for the two!).

I've made a few things but thought it was appropriate to share my Nana's carrot cake recipe with you, with a few added tweaks of my own :-)

Ingredients

8oz / 225g SR flour (I used Gluten Free)
Pinch of salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
6oz / 175g caster sugar
8fl oz / 225ml sunflower oil
4 medium free range eggs
6oz / 175g grated carrots
3oz / 85g chopped walnuts
3oz / 85g Sultana's
A little dark rum (optional)

topping
1oz / 25g butter
5oz / 150g cream cheese
8oz / 225g icing sugar
2drops vanilla extract

method

optional - soak sultanas in rum overnight (i find this makes them really plump and juicy)

sift flour, salt and cinnamon into bowl. stir in sugar.

Beat in oil & eggs (adding one at a time if doing this by hand)

 Add Carrots, Walnuts & Sultanas and Mix.

Pour into a Greased and lined cake tin ( I use a 1LB Loaf tin)
Bake for apron 1hour at Gas 4 / 180C

 (when you test it the skewer may come out a little sticky still)

Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Mine did catch a little on the top as you can see but once it had cooled I removed these bits with a sharp knife.

To make the topping - beat butter until soft, blend in cream cheese, sift in icing sugar (i didn't sift it and it got lumps!) & add vanilla.

Put the topping on the carrot cake once its completely cooled.

Enjoy with a cup of tea :-)

Jennifer xx

5 Piece French Wardrobe Update

Today I went for a little trip to the trafford centre with my mum & nana, the main aim was to look at light fittings for my mums new house but we ended up looking at a few clothes. I really like this dress from Ted Baker. I love Ted's range of clothes and have a similar style dress to this but in a emerald green. I didn't try it on but I think this may be added to my list for spring/summer.

My list again - 

1. Perfect Leather Jacket.

2. J Brand Black Skinny Jeans

3. Cross body type bag - Mulberry Alexa

4. Ted Baker Dress

5. Free Space.

I was very good and did not buy any clothes! I did however get a great bargain in M&S with this Richard Bertinet Pastry book & I even got my friend one! Richard Bertinet is one of my favourite cookbook authors, his book 'Dough' is fantastic, he gives step-by-step instructions to the basics and comes across as a very charismatic man. He has a cookery school in Bath where he teaches a wide range of classes. I really want to go on his 'An introduction to bread course'. 

Hope you've all got a fantastic weekend planned

Jennifer xx