ADVENTURES IN MAY

Tuesday 20 December 2016

RUDOLPH CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Christmas is going to be here so soon! Can you believe it is only five more days until christmas?! So I wanted to share with you lovely readers this quick and easy and very fun to do with kids; Rudolph Christmas cookies! I made a quick and easy video for this recipe too! Check it out HERE

PREP TIME: 25 MINUTES | COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES | DIFFICULTY: EASY

RUDOLPH CHRISTMAS COOKIES INGREDIENTS

❄︎ 1 X 250g packet Arnott's butternut snap cookies

❄︎ 1/3 cup, cream

❄︎ 200g milk or dark chocolate, chopped

❄︎ 65g unsalted butter, chopped

❄︎ 11 white marshmallows

❄︎ 21 choc orange balls

❄︎ 42 candy eyes

❄︎ 42 Arnott's chocolate tiny teddy's

Step 1: Place cream, chocolate and butter in a saucepan over very low heat. Stir constantly until melted and smooth. Pour into clean, dry bowl to cool slightly.

Step 2: Fill biscuit cases with 1 heaped teaspoon of chocolate mixture.

Step 3: Cut a marshmallow in half. Stick a choc orange ball onto the cut side of the marshmallow. Place gently on the tartlet.

Step 4: Place candy eyes above.

Step 5: Place tiny teddies face down, feet first gently into the chocolate filling for the antlers.

Step 6: Refrigerate until set (approx. 40 - 45 mins).

* This recipe was based on; www.arnotts.com.au/recipes

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog this past year! Looking forward to blogging next year with exciting new content! Thanks for the lovely comments on my blog posts and the new followers I've gain - hope you enjoyed my blog so far! Take care and I'm looking forward to what 2017 brings to you and also too me!

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GIFT WRAPPING IDEAS

Only twelve more days until Christmas!!

How exciting and how quick right? There is nothing I love more than getting creative especially when it comes to wrapping up christmas presents for loved ones. Today's blog post is all about gift wrapping - to give you some inspiration when wrapping your gifts! Plain brown paper is a great base for wrapping up presents! You can decorate with stamps, candy canes, little or big DIY ornaments, string, feathers, gift tags etc.

Have you started on your christmas wrapping?

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WHITE CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE TRUFFLES

Only 19 more sleeps left until Christmas 2016! How fast is December already going? I know its only been six days but still, time for me is flying by fast. So today I wanted to share with you all this quick and easy white chocolate candy cane truffles recipe - super great to make with the kids and also a nice dessert. I also made a quick video making this recipe - check it out HERE

PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES | REFRIGERATE TIME: 20 MINUTES | DIFFICULTY: EASY

WHITE CHOCOLATE CANDY CANE TRUFFLES INGREDIENTS

❄︎ 140g, cream cheese

❄︎ 1 cup, white sugar

❄︎ 1 1.4 cup, white chocolate chips, melted

❄︎ 1/2 tsp, peppermint extract

❄︎ 1/3 cup crushed candy canes

Step 1: Beat cream cheese and white sugar until smooth.

Step 2: Melt white chocolate chips in microwave, careful not to burn them!

Step 3: Add the melted white chocolate and peppermint extract to cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Cover and refrigerate for about 20 minutes.

Step 5: Use a food scoop (or your clean hands) to measure out chocolate, roll it in between your hands into a smooth ball, then roll in a bowl of crushed candy canes.

Step 6: Place in mini cupcake liners for a perfect and festive presentation!

* This recipe was based on; YourCupofCake

Have you ever tried making truffles before?

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DIY WASHI TAPE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

It is officially the first day of December here in Australia! Just to warn you that this is only just the beginning of Christmas themed posts! Christmas time is usually a time where you find yourself a little more busy then normal. So I wanted to share with you all this quick and easy DIY Washi Tape Christmas ornaments! I had a pack of glass ornaments laying around and I had no clue what to do with them, so i grabbed some washi tape from my favourite store; WASHI TAPE AUSTRALIA - they have the cutest and awesome print and made these christmas ornaments!

All you need is;

❄︎ Clear glass ornaments

❄︎ Washi Tapes

STEP ONE: Cut Your strips of washi tape in shape of a bunting or whichever style you prefer and tape onto the clear glass ornaments. Repeat.

Ta-da! and your done with making the cutest ornaments ever made in just under 5 minutes! This is a great idea to do with kids over the christmas break!

Have you started on your Christmas shopping?

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MY TOP 5 NAIL POLISH PICKS FOR SPRING

It is the last month of spring, so I wanted to share with you all my top five O•P•I nail polish picks for spring 2016! These shades are super gorgeous to wear during spring and even in summer. What I'm currently wearing is a beautiful white shade of O•P•I; Funny Bunny - love how long these nail polishes last!! If you want a long last of O•P•I nail polishes, you need to put at least 3-4 coats (its totally worth it).

Going from left to right;

☆ O•P•I: Funny Bunny is a sheer soft colour which is perfect for a french manicure! It's not a very bright white, but if you want it to look darker then it takes 4-5 coats to get a full opaque look. The formula is very good but it does streak a bit, but once you get to the third coast then it levels it out.

☆ O•P•I: Steady as She Rose is a pastel lavender shade with a twist of a dusty grey without any shimmer. This nail polish colour is perfect for the spring time - so very feminine and elegant! This shade is from the Pirates of the Caribbean collection.

☆ O•P•I: Princesses Rule! is a strong pinky sparkly shimmery shade which will definitely make a statement in spring! It takes 2 -3 coats to provide an opaque finish and is super easy to apply.

☆ O•P•I: Kiss Me I'm Brazilian is a bubblegum barbie pink shade with a creme formula finish, you will need about 2 coats. This is a classic pink shade with a smooth finish and a great opacity!

☆ O•P•I: Brights Power is part of the Mod about Brights collection, which has very bold bright shades designed to pop and catch your eyes! It is not as neon as you think it is and the consistency is very good and it finishes with a glossy streak free shine!

What nail polishes are you currently loving?

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CHARLOTTE TILBURY FILMSTAR BRONZE & GLOW REVIEW

I know I haven't blogged in awhile, I'm sorry! Just been really busy with university assignments, but its all coming to an end and then I will be posting often (yay for summer break). Over the past year or so, my love for a good contour has blossomed which lead me to discover Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow! This would have to be my all time favourite make up product hence why it looks so brand new in my photos - had to buy a new one! I also purchased the 'Powder and Sculpt' Brush by Charlotte Tilbury and it is a game changer.

The Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow comes in the best packaging ever! I always get amazed when repurchasing this product - the design of it is pretty awesome. The packaging is a luxurious rose gold 1920's cigarette case which is really lightweight - I promise you it won't break in your bag. The shades inside are really impressive - I love using 'Sculpt' on my cheek hollows, temples, jaw line and the slides of my nose and for 'Highlight' love using it on the top of my cheek bones, centre of my nose and bow of my lips. Both shades are really easy to blend and it gives you a luminous complexion.

Have you tried the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Face Sculpt and Highlight? What were your thoughts? oh and Happy Halloween 🎃

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MY TOP FIVE HIGHLIGHTERS

I don't go a day without a good dusting of something shimmery on the tops of my cheek bones, who ever thought of highlighting is a genius! I wanted to share with you guys my top five all time favourite highlighters from different brands; Nars, Marc Jacobs, Mac and Hourglass. I'm always on the hunt for new highlighters to use; write them down below in the comment section and I shall try them out!

NARS -ALBATROSS

Albatross has become absolutely one of my favourites! Gives you a luminous, natural radiance on the skin and you don't need much, just one sweep is enough!

HOURGLASS - AMBIENT LIGHTING PALETTE

This palette is highly pigmented and finely milled and it features three shades; Dim Light, Incandescent Light and Radiant Light. I mostly use the shade; Incandescent (middle one).

MAC - LIGHTSCAPADE

Mac has hands down the best mineralize skin finish products ever! Soft and Gentle is on my list to try out next! Lightscapade is a light beige baked highlighting powder with blue and pink veins running through it!

MARC JACOBS - SPOTLIGHT

It's a twist-up creamy glow stick illuminator that does wonders to your cheek bones! It glides on smooth like butter!

NARS - ORGASM ILLUMINATOR
Even though it is a blush illuminator, it is also a great liquid highlighter! It is a peachy pink shade with tons of shimmer and it gives a decent pigmentation when applied carefully!

Which is your favourite highlighter to use?

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GREETINGS FROM DUBAI

Dubai, home to the largest mall in the world - Dubai Mall and the longest indoor ski slope - Emirates Mall and lastly, the worlds only 7 star hotel. I love travelling to new places, seeing people and cultures different from my own is the best experience ever. Travelling to the Middle East and not knowing much about it apart from the world breaking records and the do's and dont's, seriously is the most amazing experience ever. Dubai isn't nearly as strict has Abu Dhabi and other places - women are able to wear shorts etc in public places. Even though I was only in Dubai for a couple of hours, I definitely fell in love!

What to See:

+ The Dubai Mall (1,600 shops with the world largest aquarium and ice skating rink + more!)

+ Mall of the Emirates (600 shops also the worlds longest indoor ski slope)

+ Burj Khalifa (Tallest building in the world)

+ Dubai Museum

+ Trip to the desert

+ Dubai Marina

+ Palm Jumeirah

+ Wild Wadi Water Park

+ Burj Al Arab

CHECK OUT MY DUBAI TRAVEL DIARY HERE

Have you ever been to Dubai?

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A QUICK GUIDE TO ABU DHABI

Abu Dhabi, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the U.A.E. Abu Dhabi neighbour Dubai, is only 1 hour and 40 minutes away. Packed with so much tourists and world breaking records attractions/sightseeing. Abu Dhabi would have to be one of my favourite cities in the world - the culture, people and breath taking sights, you can say that I fell in love with Abu Dhabi.

A QUICK GUIDE TO ABU DHABI

+ Getting Around: Taxi's would have to be your best option, from the Abu Dhabi Airport to the hotel I stayed at (Jumeriah at Etihad Towers) it cost 80 dirhams (around $28 AUD) which took around 40 minutes (depends on traffic, of course) to get there.

+ Where to Stay:

Jumeriah at Etihad Towers - the complex is made up of five towers (Fast & Furious 7 was filmed here) - three residential towers, one office tower and the Jumeriah at Etihad Towers hotel and is 4 km from Marina Mall.

Emirates Palace - the luxury 5 star hotel and is the definition of an unrivalled Arabian fantasy and is also 4 km from the Marina Mall.

Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi Hotel - This luxury hotel is only 2 km from the Yas Island Marina Circuit and is 3 km from Ferrari World Abu Dhabi amusement park,

+ Getting By: In Dubai, the dress code is much more relaxed (women are allowed to were shorts etc) due to being a very tourist city while in Abu Dhabi the dress code is semi conservative but no shorts shorts or mini skirts are allowed, or anything that is showing too much skin! In the Mosque it is much more strict - women are required to be fully covered from the head, wrists to ankles (yes I wore a long maxi skirt and I still had to pull it down even more).

In Abu Dhabi, do not, I repeat, do not show any public display of affection (so no kissing and cuddling in public guys)!! During Ramadan, no one is permitted to eat or drink in public places as it is the Islamic month of fasting and lastly don't forget to tip the workers at your hotel (something I learnt, since in Australia tipping is not a big deal here).

+ What to See:
Shiek Zayad Mosque

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Marina Mall

Emirates Palace

Yas Island

Yas Island Marina Circuit

4x4 Desert Safari - Emirates Adventures

+ What to Eat & Drink: Arabic food is one of my favourite food ever! Try their mint and lime drink, so good! Their hummus, grilled halloumi and falafel are so yummy too. Don't forget to try their arabic sweets - dates are the best!