Apple & Cinnamon Muffins

When Spring/Summer rolls around I feel the need to start using fruit in my baking. Not quite sure why, maybe because most fruit is good this time of year, or the fact that we buy more of it. A few weeks back I posted a recipe for Blueberry & Almond Muffins , which were great according to most people but as I said in the post, I don't like blueberries, or almonds. However, I do absolutely love apple and cinnamon!

These would make a great breakfast or brunch snack, albeit a little sugary. To finish these off a dipped them in a mix of melted butter with a teaspoon of cinnamon, then dipped in sugar. In all honesty, I don't think it made them any better, they were already fantastic so I wouldn't recommend doing it unless you have all your teeth are sweet. I think we need to take a second to appreciate how cute these cupcake cases are, I wish you could see them better in the pictures, they have little strawberries on them. I picked them up in Dealz/Poundland, I am in love with them. This recipe makes 18 cupcakes or 10 full size muffins. Enjoy & Happy Baking! 

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 and line the tin with cupcake/muffin cases.

2.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. 

3. Add in the eggs, one at a time. Be sure the first one is mixed in before adding the second. Then add the vanilla. 

4. In a second bowl, sieve the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Stir together.

5. Fold the flour into the wet mixture, alternating with the milk. 

6. Grate the apples and gently fold into the batter until everything is combined.

7. Pour the mix into the cases, fill them to just above 3/4 of the way full. 

8.  Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer/knife comes out clean. 

9. Leave on a wire rack to cool. If you wish to add the topping, wait until the cupcakes have completed cooled. Poke a couple of holes in the top of them, dip them in the mixture of butter & a teaspoon of cinnamon then coat with sugar. 

What's In My Suitcase

So as promised in last week's  "My Travel Essentials" post, here is a look at what I have in my suitcase. Majority of this stuff is old so I unfortunately won't be able to link anything like I would normally do. I apologise for the state of my wrinkled clothes too, I did iron them but it lasted less than a day.

Jaws Tank - H&M
Red & White Striped T-shirt - Penneys/Primark
Blue T-shirt - Charity Shop

Beatles Vest Top - H&M

Skeleton Vest Top - H&M

Grey & White Striped Dress - H&M

Light Denim Dress - H&M
Bright Blue Skater Skirt & Belt - New Look
Dark Blue Skater Skirt - Primark/Penneys 

 Denim Shirt - Dunnes Stores

Black Cardigan - H&M
Black Sandals - Primark/Penneys
Blue & Cream Espadrilles - TOMS 

The long lost make up bag! 

Travelling Clothes 

Aaaand, that is it. I'm probably taking too much in some people's opinion, too little in others. I think it should be the perfect amount. I must also point out that I am in no way a fashion blog, this is just an idea of what I'm taking for anyone that's nosey or what's an idea. I'll let you know when I come home whether or not I actually wore everything. I hope you enjoyed this post & that you are all having a very happy Monday!

Seven Happy Things #5

I can't believe I've only been doing this series for a month. It seems like so much longer! Not in a bad way, I really like having a series of posts and it's a great way to round up the week. It's also the highlight of my Sunday. So, last week I told you seven things that I had been grateful for that week. I felt that the word "grateful" wasn't the best way to describe all seven things that I mentioned, so this week does include things I am grateful for, as well as things that I have just been really enjoying this week. 

1. Twitter Blogger Chats - I joined Twitter for the first time a month ago. I never saw the point of having one before I started blogging. I usually have nothing to say on social media and/or no one I want to say it to. I am so glad I did join though, my blog has grown so much in the time that I have had Twitter. Turns out I do have lots of things to say and lots of people that I want to interact with. That brings me onto the subject of Twitter Chats for Bloggers. There is one to suit every kind of blogger and a few that appeal to bloggers in general, no matter what kind of blog you run. They are such a fantastic way to interact and get to know other bloggers and become a part of the blogging community. 

2. Salads - I'm  a pescatarian, so I don't eat meat but I do eat fish. The main reason I decided to change my diet just over a year ago was because I wanted to try different foods and meals, not just stick to the same old things I've been eating for years. I knew that for me, the only way to do this would be to restrict my diet. I'm really enjoying salads at the moment, something I never would have said a year ago, I know you can have meat in a salad too, that's just something I had never had. The past two evenings I have had a salad which featured tuna, beetroot and cherry tomatoes, among other things. 

3. Travelling - When I say "travelling" I don't mean visiting different places, (I do enjoy that too but more on that next week) I'm talking about the actual journey you take to get there. I love planes, trains, car rides and I honestly have no idea why. I get really excited, the thought of the journey to get to the destination is just as appealing to me as being there. I started travelling on planes on my own when I was 13. I would go to see my grandparents in England, at that age at made me feel really independent and grown up so I think that's why I loved it so much then. 

4. Kind People - Now this is something I am grateful for. In the past few years I have lost an unbelievable amount of confidence in myself, blogging has played a massive part in restoring the confidence I had lost. Before I began blogging, I was quite afraid to talk to people. I didn't think anyone would care, I thought I would just be an annoyance. There are so many bloggers out there, I wasn't sure if it would be possible for everyone to fit in. I wasn't expecting everyone to be so kind, helpful and welcome. I have been proved totally wrong. It is a really wonderful community to be part of. 

5. The Sims 3 - I have loved The Sims since I was a child. I remember begging my Dad for the first one on the playstation 2 (we didn't have a computer) and when he finally gave in, feeling like all my Christmases had come at once. I would get up super early on a Saturday morning, park myself in front of the television and play it for hours before everyone else woke up. At the moment, I love playing The Sims 3 and listening to podcasts. Who's excited for Sims 4?! 

6. Photoscape & Picmonkey - These are the two best photo editing tools, in my opinion. I've been using Photoscape for the longest time. You download it onto your computer, I much prefer that to online photo editing. However, everyone seemed to be kicking up a fuss about picmonkey so I decided to give it a go this week. I'm almost fully converted. 

7. Google - Pretty broad, I know. To be more specific, whenever I want to change something with my blog, move things around, add things, take them away, I google it. I created my blog header and the click-able links with the help of a youtube video that I found by googling what I wanted. Ever want to know something about blogging, google it. 

I am in Paris as you are reading this (yippee) so I will reply to any comments on blog posts when I am home on the 19th. I hope you all enjoyed Jaimie's post on Friday & Becca's on Saturday, I know I did! 

I'm wonderfully pleased with this post. It took me longer than most of the ones in this series, but I like it, so hopefully you did to. 

Guest // Day to Night Make Up: Summer Edition

Hello lovely readers of Katie's blog! My name is Becca and I run and beauty and lifestyle blog called MissBeccaBeauty. As you probably know Katie is on holiday *right now* having a fabulous time and I can say I am very jealous. I am so excited to be writing this for you to read and I hope you enjoy!

Summer evenings are beautiful, not only that but a lot tends to happen during the evening in summer because it is cooler: BBQ's, garden parties, evening walks and much much more. I remember last year I was doing so much in the evening and usually it required me to look presentable. Obviously because it is summer things tend to happen to our makeup during the day, it might slip off because it's hot, if you sweat a bit (as lovely as that sounds...) you makeup will come off and if you are a fellow hay-fever suffer then you will know watery eyes + itchy eyes = all makeup removed around you eyes. So by the time it gets to early evening and you realise you have to be out the door looking presentable, you only have about 5 minuets do this! Here are the 5 products I use, to freshen up my day makeup ( I already have foundation, concealer, mascara and all that jazz on!) in the summer when I am in that situation:

Bronzer is an absolute lifesaver, especially for us very pale girls out there (hands up if your with me on this one!). My bronzer of choice at the moment is the Bourjois Delice de Poudre. Add this to your cheekbones to help define them, your temples, down your nose and basically anywhere you want to look really glowy and sun-kissed. I then go in with some blush, cream blushes work best for me in the summer and are quick to blend with your fingers if you have to work quickly. Topshop is the winner of the high street when it comes to cream blush in my opinion, this one if the cream blush in Afternoon Tea. This is when those odd single eye shadows come in handy, whether you are just at home or have had to take these products with you to get ready there, single eye shadows work well to add a wash of colour to your lid. I have a L'Oreal Chrome Shine in Brown Lame which looks like a really shimmery brown in the pot bot on the lids it has that golden goddess look to it. The pigmentation of these are beautiful and they blend really quickly and easily. To finish the eyes I like to take an eye pencil and apply it along the outer corner of my upper lash line. Usually I go for the Soap and Glory Smoulder and Kohl pencils in either black or brown because I find they are the quickest to apply because they glide on so smoothly. Sometimes if I'm feeling fancy I will even blend it out a bit so I have a mini smokey eye going on. Finally to complete the summers evening look I apply a pink lipstick to brighten up my face. Topshop Brighton Rock Lipstick (I have a review here if you fancy a read!) is the perfect bright summers pink that is great for any occasion. 

If you liked this post let me know in the comments and I will reply to you and try and get to know you. I would love to know what products you use for updating your makeup from day to night. Please head on over to check out my blog and leave a comment or even a sneaky follow if you are really friendly!

MissBeccaBeauty xo

Becca's links: Blog / Bloglovin / Twitter 

I must say a huge thank you to Becca for writing this post. I will definitely be taking notes from this post during the summer months! 

Guest // How To Cope With Bullying

Bullying is something that everyone experiences. Whether it's just silly name calling or physical violence, everyone experiences it at some stage. It's not fun, it's not pleasant but it definitely makes you stronger as a person. Like the old saying says, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," and they couldn't be more right. If you're going through a tough time, here are a few tips that might help you feel more comfortable.

Don't react

Even though you may feel like punching the bully as hard you can right in the middle of their face, try to avoid it. Don't show that you feel hurt or uncomfortable, bullies gain satisfaction when they realise that they've affected you in some way. All they want is attention, don't give it to them. They're irrational people and it is impossible to talk sense in to one of them. Walk away with your dignity and show them that you're the bigger person. However, if it does continue to happen over a long period of time, stand up for yourself or for anyone else who is being bullied.

Do not make jokes at your own expense to try to prove that there is nothing that the bully can do to hurt your feelings.

This will only result in you feeling worse and will make the bully feel as if they continue. It will lower your self esteem even further and possibly make you feel humiliated. The one person you need on your side at the moment is yourself. Don't insult your personality or appearance in the hope that they'll go away.

Outsmart the bully

Laugh really hard at their jokes, only give them sarcastic responses. You could even create a master plan that just shows how pathetic this person really. A plan so genius that it results in crowds of strangers carrying you off in the distance whilst they cheer your name.

Ok, I'll be more serious now.

Defend your self

If you're suffering from physical abuse then take a martial arts class, watch some YouTube videos or read a book and learn how to fight back. This stops you from having to suffer any serious injuries and allows you to escape and call for help without being put in an insane amount of danger. You don't need to be an expert at self dense, you just need a few tips. A quick kick in the groin will cause a person to become dazed and confused long enough for you to make a quick get away. If the groin doesn't work, try hitting them under the ribs or on the elbow. Once the person gets embarrassed you can run, hide and call for help.

Surround your self with loving friends and family

A bully can't get to you if you've got a wall, made up of all your loved ones, around you. They will make you feel safe, secure and provide you with millions of wonderful memories that you will never forget and will replace all the not so good memories created by the not so good people.

There is my advice. If you are going through a tough time right now then make sure that you talk to someone. Talk to a friend, a teacher or your parents just so that someone knows what's going on. If you feel like you can't talk to someone you know then check out a helpline such as The Samaritans or Childline. There are so many ways to get help, you don't have to spend your time alone and in the dark.

Just remember this, a day spent without a smile on your face is a day wasted.

I'm afraid I can't take any credit for this wonderfully written, extremely informative piece. This is the first of the guest posts that will be posted while I'm away. It was written by the lovely Jaimie, you can find her over at Bubblewrap and Popcorn, her lifestyle blog where she posts daily about a range of different topics!  

Jaimie's links: Blog / Bloglovin' / Twitter