Wishlist Wednesday: Recipe Books

Now we all know that I love baking.. I bang on about it enough, right? Well I was talking to a colleague today and she recommended a baking book to me, and I realised, I haven't had a look to see what baking books are on the market in a long time. One cheeky look later, and this wishlist was born.

1. The Great British Bake Off: Big Book of Baking: I love GBBO, I already own one of their books, so why wouldn't I want this one?
2. Mary Berry's Baking Bible: Mary Berry is my absolute baking idol, I seriously love this woman, I want every single book she has ever written. Seeing as this one is called her 'baking bible' I assume it's a must have!
3. Crumb: The Baking Book: To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Ruby on last year's GBBO, but after seeing the 'Where are they now?' episode showing her book, I've been intrigued about it.
4. The Hummingbird Bakery: Home Sweet Home: I was recommended the other Hummingbird bakery book on this list by a work colleague, as mentioned above, so I thought why not put this in my list too.
5. The Great British Bake Off Christmas: Do I really need to explain this?
6. No-Bake Baking Book: This one really grabs my attention... as it's a baking book. containing things you don't actually have to bake... It blows my mind.
7. The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook: This is the book I was recommended by my colleague, and she says every single recipe she has tried from this book has turned out perfectly. Strong claims, so I think I need to try this one out for myself.
8. Mary Berry 100 Cakes and Bakes: 100 recipes from my baking idol? Yes please.
9. Peek-a-boo Cakes: This is another book that intrigued me. Recently I made a hidden chessboard cake, and it's made me want to try and make other cakes with hidden surprises. This book would certainly help me achieve that.

Christmas Wishlist

Seeing as we are getting closer to the 'Big C' I thought it was about time that I put together a Christmas wishlist. Also I'm sure this post will help my boyfriend out with what to get me this year.

1. Real Techniques Base Collection
2. Doctor Who Pendant
3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
4. Zombie Fluxx Card Game
5. Doctor Who Starry Night Pendant
6. The Complete Make-up Artist
7. 120 Eyeshadow Palette
8. Ice Skating Lessons
9. Doctor Who Themed Eyeshadow Collection
10. Real Techniques Eye Kit
11. Fluttershy Necklace
12. Canon Camera Lens

So there we have it! A little insight into what I am hoping to get for Christmas. Let me know in the comments what you are hoping to get for Christmas!

UPDATE: 22 Before 22 List!

So seeing as it's about 6 months until I hit 22, I thought it was about time to review my '22 Before 22' list! So here is my list:

1. Go on holiday without my family (Outside of the UK): This is something that I don't really see realistically happening this year. However, this weekend I am going to London for Summer in the City, which I have ALWAYS wanted to go to. Also I might be going to Abertoir again this year with my friends, so I'm still doing pretty well, EVEN if I'm not going to get out of the UK this year!
2. Make an item of clothing: This is something that I have changed my mind about for now. Its still something that I definitely want to get into, but realistically speaking, I just don't have the time at the moment.
3. Write a script: This is one I started. For one of my final year university modules I had to write Act one of a script. So I have part of one down, I'm not sure if I'll finish this one. We'll see.
4. Do the Race For Life: I didn't do the race for life, I forgot about it to be honest, and by the time I remembered, it was too late for me to really raise any kind of money for it. This is still something I want to do next year!
5. Make a Scrapbook: I did start this, I even wrote a post about it here. Since I've been home I haven't contributed to my scrapbook. Mainly because I know as soon as I go through my Uni photos I will cry!
6. Get a tattoo: I have changed my mind about this one for now. Maybe in the future I'll get a tattoo, but for now I'm pretty happy without!
7. Watch every film on my 'To Watch' list: I have started this one, but I have a LONG way to go, I need to get a shake on to be honest, you can check out my progress here.
8. Learn a new craft: This is one I still want to do, but I'm not sure what exactly this 'craft' is going to be...
9. Lose weight: Since being home I have lost 6Ibs, I plan to lose more! (we can hope)
10. Start making Youtube Videos: This is one that I am proud to say that I have started!!!! I am thoroughly enjoying it, and it is every bit as fun as I thought it would be! You can find out about my Youtube channel here.
11. Take more photos: This is something I have been trying to do, I'm not completely there yet, but I'm happy with my progress!
12. Walk my Dog more: Since being home I have been walking my dog more, but still not as much as I would like to be! So I'm going to be fixing that!
13. Work my way through my favourite baking book and see how far I can get: This is something that has not happened. To be honest I haven't unpacked my baking stuff since I moved home. There simply isn't anywhere for me to put it! So I've decided to take this one of the list, and then hopefully I'll be able to complete some of the other things on my list instead!
14. Read 5 Classic Novels: I have read one on my list of five so far! I still want to complete this, I haven't been reading classics, but I have still been reading a lot. Just more modern things. I hope to read at least three of my five before I hit 22.
15. Stay in Touch with my friends: This one is going ok! I speak to my two best friends a lot, I need to contact the others more to be honest. So something to work on here.
16. Play a sport: This is one I haven't yet started, however I'm hoping that I'll find something I can do. We'll see!
17. Move out of my mum's house?: I honestly don't know whether this is going to happen. There have been talks about some options... but nothing is set in stone yet. 
18. Have a radio show: This one actually became a bit of a possibility for me, but I don't know where this is going to go, so that's all I will say!
19. Listen to more music: This has actually been happening! I listen to the radio more, and my sister plays a lot of music, so I am actually managing to keep up with the charts! 
20. See more of the UK: Well I have been to Wakefield, and I saw another part of Wales! As I mentioned earlier I am going to London this weekend. Then in September I am going to Bristol for a week. So safe to say I've saw a little more of the UK than I would normally.
21. Write a letter to someone who inspires me: I still haven't done this one, but I am definitely going to do it. I just have to decide who to write it to!
22. Maintain my blogs!: I'm happy to say that apart from a few months after I moved back, I am managing to maintain my blog. When I originally wrote my list I had two blogs, since then I shut down one, to focus more on the other. So I'm doing ok I think!

So there you have it! That is how I am getting on with my list! Overall I'm pretty pleased with my progress, especially seeing as I forgot about this list for a few months!!

Let me know in the comments if you are doing anything like this on your blog! I love reading these kinds of posts!

Wishlist Wednesday #2 and An Announcement!

So I want to kick off this weeks Wednesday Wishlist post with a bit of a sad announcement. After a lot of careful thought and consideration, I have decided to stop writing my Nail Blog: Rose Tint My Nails. Unfortunately I just have the time to write both my Nail Blog and my personal blog, so I had to make a tough decision. I just think that writing my personal blog gives me a lot more scope to talk about ALL the things I like, rather than being specified to one.

This in no way means that I am going to give up my obsession with Nail polish, and I wont stop painting my nails, and creating nail art, and I certainly won't stop buying polish, but I will just be posting it on this blog instead, and it won't be as often. I started Rose Tint My Nails back in November when I discovered my passion for nail polish and nail art, it grew to have 75 GFC followers, which was something I was very proud of. This was the first blog that I ever gained followers on and it was nice to know that there were people reading and appreciating my writing for the first time! I also met some wonderful people through various groups on Facebook, including the lovely Kerrie of Pish, Posh and Polish who has become one of my best blogging buddies! So although I won't be posting on Rose Tint My Nails anymore, I will still be posting my Nail Art here! So watch this space for a regular polish feature coming soon!

Now that's out of the way, on with the Wish List! Seeing as I had a job interview at an office this week, which I am going in for a trial on Friday! I have been looking into smart and fashionable blouses/shirts.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8

The top four blouses are all from New Look, and the bottom four are all from Matalan! I didn't mean to pick everything from just those two stores, oh well. Out of all the picks, the New Look ones are definitely my favourite of them all. One of the biggest problems I face when buying shirts and blouses is that it's hard to find one that fits me right. The main reason is that I have very thick arms, but a small waist, and big hips. So my strange shape and size doesn't fit the cut of shirts or the material that they are made from means that I have to buy them extra big and wear them baggy! Hopefully when I tone up a bit I wont have to worry about that anymore! Some of these may make there way into my wardrobe if I decide to take the office job I have been offered, if not, I won't have to worry about office clothing!

I'm so glad to be back and blogging, I've had a very busy few weeks, and I'm going through a massive change in my life right now, I expect it to be very difficult, and I'm sure my blog will suffer my busy schedule, but I'm hoping I'll come out of the other side of it!

This post is sponsored by Strutt and Parker, check out estate agents uk here.

Wishlist Wednesday

I'm starting a new feature! Every Wednesday I'm going to be doing a wishlist post, with a theme, or from a certain shop. Today I found all these pretties on the John Lewis website. As you may or may not know (I've said it a billion times already) I am moving home in TWO WEEKS! As such I have been thinking a lot about how I would want my place to be decorated if I had my own room, which when I move home, I won't have. John Lewis is a store that I've always thought has some beautiful homeware, so I went and had a gander and this is what I have come up with:

1. Vase: As soon as I saw this vase I knew it would be perfect for me! I mean come on, it has roses on it, and it's just beautiful! 
2. Perfume Bottle: I love little trinkets like this and how cute would this look on a desk/shelf!
3. Cake Stand: We all know I love baking, and I love how clean and elegant this cake stand looks, I can see myself using this all the time.
4. Milk Bottles: This one is rather unusual, and that's why i love it! They look like the little glass bottles that Alice would drink the 'drink me' shrink potion from. You could also fill them with cute gems or something.
5. Bird Tealight Holder: This is so cute. It's definitely one of my favourites out of all my picks, I can just see this hanging off of a shelf and instantly brightening up a room.
6. Ceramic Owl: I like Owls. That is all.
7. Ceramic Cow: Another unusual item, but again super cute! I could see this sitting in a kitchen.
8. Heart Dish: I'd love to have this dish on my dressing table so that I could put my earrings in it! It's so simple and cute.
9. Greenhouse: I'm not entirely sure what I would use this for, but it's pretty quirky and I'd definitely find somewhere for it!

So there you have it! My first Wishlist Wednesday! Also let me know what you think of the post title banners, I'm not entirely sure of them yet.

*This is a sponsored post

Ultimate Benefit Wishlist!

/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/

I am enjoying writing wishlist posts far too much right now... someone stop me! God help my bank account when my loan comes in... Seriously...

Anyway, I was having a sneaky look at the Benefit counter yesterday when I went into town to meet Kerrie, and I could stare at all these beautiful products for hours. The packaging, the colours, I literally want EVERYTHING! When I move back in May I am planning to book myself in for a free Benefit makeover, and then I will simply HAVE to take the plunge and buy a Benefit product. I did actually own They're Real Mascara, but I bought it off of an Ebay seller and had a bad reaction to it, so had to send it back. Still not sure whether it was a fake or not... This is also the reason that Bad Gal Lash is in my wishlist rather than They're Real, as I don't fancy having another allergic reaction anytime soon!

I'm not going to mention all the products in my wishlist as some are pretty self explanatory... but here are the products that are top on my hitlist:

• Something About Sofia Fragrance - I absolutely LOVE the packaging of these fragrances, the mini cocktail shaker idea was genius. I had a good sniff of all of the fragrances whilst stood at the counter yesterday and this was hands down my favourite. Here is how Benefit describes the scent, 'oriental floral - a dream of oriental blossoms, mango & vanilla an intriguing & mysterious scent with a free spirit.'. Trust me when I say this fragrance is super yummy!
• Fine-One-One - When I first saw this product recently on a blog I thought to myself, 'Who in their right mind would wear that!'. To me it looked far too orange and bright, and I thought it looked horrible. At the counter though curiosity got the better of me and I swatched it on the back of my hand. After some careful blending I achieved a colour I can only describe as amazing, and now I want it.
• Feeling Dandy Gift Box - I fell in love with the cute, simple colours in this cheek and lip tint gift box. It comes with: Posietint, High Beam, Dandelion Face Powder, and Ultra Plush Dandelion Lip Gloss. I'm not massively confident with either cheek or lip colours but I thought this box looked like the perfect starter kit for someone wanting to wear more makeup! This is actually #1 product I desperately want!
• How To Look The Best At Everything (Light) - This is the perfect starter face kit from Benefit and would give me a good test of a few of the products in this wishlist! It comes with: The POREfessional, Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation, Boi-ing concealer (1&2), and Hello Flawless Custom Powder Cover-up. This is definitely a close second to the Feeling Dandy Gift Box!

So there you have it! There is ANOTHER what I am lusting after list. I will stop making these I promise... 

Adventure Lust: Theatre Shows Edition!

via

I seriously enjoyed writing that graduation dress wishlist last night so I thought I would share a few more things that I am lusting for, this time Theatre and Show tickets... I studied Drama at secondary school and as such went to a few shows a year, since going to university I am ashamed to say that I haven't been to any shows. I am hoping to remedy that over the summer and here are some of the shows I HAVE to see.

1. Wicked - I've wanted to see this show for SO long it's unbelievable. My sister got to go last year with her school and I was seriously jelly! I simply have to see this soon, especially seeing as I already know the lyrics to some of the more popular songs. 
2. The Woman in Black - I studied this in Drama at school, and at the time we did go and see the stage show, however ever since seeing the Daniel Radcliffe film version last year I have been desperate to go and see the show again! What I remember of the show was being pretty scared, because our teachers had filled our heads with rumours of the Woman in Black walking through the audience. I also remember screaming rather loudly at one point... 
3. Cirque Du Soleil London - I have ALWAYS wanted to go and see this show. The acrobatics, the make up, the costumes and the music. What is not to like? I have almost gone to the show a few times to be honest, even once in Vegas. I got super excited when I saw it was playing at the O2 this summer! I am seriously considering it... 
4. Shrek The Musical - My mum's friend actually alerted me to the existence of this show. She went to see it last summer and said that the special effects were amazing. I am a MASSIVE fan of special effects, and not only that but Shrek too! I'm pretty sure I can quote almost the entire of the first and second Shrek films because we always used to watch them in school before the summer break when the teachers ran out of things to teach us. Unfortunately this musical is currently closed! *sobs* 
5. Sarah Millican - I don't even know if this counts as a show but I don't care. I LOVE this woman. I had a chance to see her at the Arts Centre in Aberystwyth last year but by the time I went to buy tickets they were already gone. I think I literally cried. She is one of the only female comedians that I actually find funny. That's not me being sexist, I just think she's funny without playing too much on sexism, or race. 

So there you have it! Here are 5 of the shows that I am desperate to see. Does anyone want to come with me/buy the tickets? No? 

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know in the comments if there are any shows you are dying to see!

*This is a sponsored post.