Seven Steps to a Super Winter!

Christmas may be over, and the January blues may be lingering; but it's still winter! This has to be one of my favourite times of the year for some many reasons; the gorgeous frosty scenery, warm jumpers and, of course, an excuse to drink excessive amounts of coffee to keep warm! So, I thought I'd share with you guys some of my favourite things to do in the winter!

1) Take tons of wintery photographs!
As I've probably mentioned a ridiculous amount of times, I adore photography, and winter has to be one of the best times of the year to take photos! So, take some time to go for a walk with your camera, whether it's cloudy, frosty, or snowing; it's worth it!





2) Start a scrapbook
Winter means cold days, which means staying indoors, which means lots and lots of time to fill! So, a perfect way to make the most of it is to start a scrapbook! This could be of photographs you've taken, recipes you love, fun days out you've had; there's so much to choose from!

3) Take up an indoor sport or activity

If you're anything like me, the cold weather is enough to put you off going for a run or playing any outdoor sports. But hey, there are tons of fun sports that can be done inside, like badminton, swimming, trampolining, the list goes on! Or, if you're not the sporty type, try a new hobby, like knitting, DIY, or anything you find interesting! For a fun DIY project, try this one!



4) Bake, cook, and bake some more!
I love baking, and there are so many great recipes that are perfect for this time of the year. You could try a wintery soup, or my faves- apple and cinnamon muffins!

5) Movie and pizza nights
These are so much fun! Just invite some friends over, order pizza and watch your favourite movies! This is great fun, super chilled out, and a perfect way to stay out of the cold...

6) Read a good book!
Winter is a great time to grab a book and spend some time curled up on the sofa reading! I'm thinking of posting a 2015 book list kind of thing, so stay tuned!








7) Start planning for summer!
Okay, this may seem a little premature, but the best way to get rid of the January blues is to look ahead to summer! Maybe plan some fun outings with friends; there's nothing wrong with being a little too organised!

The Liebster Award!

Happy New Year, guys!

As you've probably realised, my blog now looks incredibly different! I thought it needed a bit of a makeover, but I ended up completely changing it up! I’m still not too sure about it, so I’d love to know if you guys prefer it like this, or how it was before. (please let me know in the comments!)

So, last week I got a really lovely surprise; I was nominated for the Liebster Award! I'm not going to lie, at first I had completely no idea what it was! So, after taking to Google, I found that it's basically an award to celebrate smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to get to know other bloggers that are into the same kind of things as you!

A huge thank you to Gee for the nomination! Check out her amazing blog here.

To accept the award, you must upload a blog post including:
1) a link to your nominator
2) the answers to the questions given to you by your nominator
3) nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers
4) write 11 questions for your nominees to answer
5) notify all nominees via social media or their blog

So, here it goes!

1) What are your favourite things to blog about?
I'm a huge photography fanatic (hence all of the random pictures on my blog background!), so a lot of my post are focused on photography! I also love posting about places I've been to, recipes, reviews and tags.

2) How long have you blogged for?
I began my first blog (which I tend not to talk about much and is well and truly deleted off of the face of the internet!) in early 2014, but I started afresh around three months ago.

3) What are your hobbies?
-photography
-reading
-creative writing
-music
-running
-baking/cooking
-hanging out with friends
-making up terrible puns that just aren't really all that funny

4) Why did you choose your blog name?
I chose my blog name (LoveLife) because my blog is literally just showing you the reasons to, well, love life and be happy! I wanted to create a place where people could come and read about fun, positive things that make people happy.

5) Who inspires you?
Now that's an easy one. I may get deep here, so just bear with me...
My has always been someone I can look to for help in pretty much any situation! She's bright, caring, and makes countless sacrifices for those she loves. She's such a blessing in life, and I honestly can't thank God enough for giving me such an amazing, loving mum.

6) Who's your style inspiration?
Okay, now thats tricky. I don't really have a particular style, at least I don't think I do! I just, well, wear stuff. That's about it, really.

7) Where is your favourite place to be?
America has to be my favourite place on Earth! From the busy, buzzing city streets to the gorgeous, serene lakes, I just love every inch of it (not that I've visited the entire country...)
I just love the breathtaking beauty of the country, and the kindness of all the people in it!

8) Where would you like to visit?
In my gap year, I'd love to travel; just me and my camera!
I'll hopefully be travelling America, stopping at New Jersey, New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Chicago.

However, I'd also one day love to visit Thailand; I've heard it's one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with fantastic food, gorgeous scenery and a wonderful culture.

9) What's your favourite film and song?
This isn't going to be easy just to pick one, but I'll give it a go! Beside the obvious Disney movies, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the list goes on (sorry, this is probably cheating)...I guess it'd have to be The Cat in The Hat. Honestly, a couple of years a go, I spent my entire summer watching it every evening. And I mean every evening! It's hilarious, wacky and frankly just one of the greatest movies around- give it a watch if you haven't!
Hmm...my favourite song...again, this is going to tricky! I kind of go through phases, and when I like a song, I'll literally have it on repeat for the next week! Recent examples are U2's newest album 'Songs of Innocence', 'The Heat of the Moment' by Noel Gallager and the High Flying Birds, Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space'; the list goes on! My fave song of the moment has to be 'Oceans' by Hillsong- check it out! Amazing lyrics!

10) What are your five favourite blogs?
-Looking Through Pixels
-Shenanigans Central
-Bored Panda
-Jim Chapman
-Everyday Reading

11) Why do you enjoy blogging?
I honestly love blogging so much for so many reasons, but the main one would have to be that I just love being part of the blogging community; this means writing for you guys, as well as reading blogs too. I just love having somewhere where I can just put a bunch of things that I love, and that you can enjoy!

My nominations:
http://theshenaniganscentral.blogspot.co.uk
http://miabartonhogan.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.1stplacevb.com/blog/index.php
http://juicywoocybeauty.blogspot.ie
http://shedoesfashion.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.jessicaarr.blogspot.co.uk
http://rachelhow-arth-you.blogspot.com
http://www.millie-loves.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.shewearsseashells.co.uk
http://lattesnlips.blogspot.co.uk
http://booquepress.com

My questions:
1) What do you blog about?
2) What's the best thing about blogging?
3) What advice would you give to new bloggers?
4) What are your hobbies?
5) If you were shipwrecked on an island and could only take three things, what would they be and why?
6) If you could visit anywhere, where would you go?
7) What's your favourite song?
8) What's your favourite movie?
9) What's the strangest food you've ever eaten?
10) If you could visit any fictional world, where would you choose and why?
11) What are your five favourite blogs?

A New Year, a HUGE Thank You and The Blogger Tag!

Happy New Year! (almost)

 

Can I just start by saying…you guys are amazing! After a crazy yet mega fun three months of blogging, you guys have got me to 1000 page views! I’m just so, so grateful that you guys come back each week reading my posts. I write them for people to enjoy, so I’m glad that it seems you are!

So, I thought I’d celebrate with the blogger tag; it’s basically a tag telling you guys all about the world of blogging, and why I love it so much! So, here it goes!

Why did you start blogging?

Recently, the world of blogging has grown hugely, so I thought, why not join it? I’ve always loved the idea of an online journal type thing, sharing with people the fun things I get up to and writing things for you to (hopefully) enjoy! So, I started a blog earlier on in 2014, though it wasn't exactly the most successful. Oh, who am I kidding, it was a complete and utter fail! I was un-committed and and uninspired, and didn't really have a very clear focus as to where my blog was going. So, after a while, I decided to delete it and start afresh, with a new theme, a new writing style, and more frequent posts. And here I am!

What type of things do you blog about?

As I told you guys briefly in my first ever post, I basically blog about things that make you happy! I chose my blog name (LoveLife) because my blog is literally just showing you the reasons to, well, love life and be happy! That could mean recipes, tags, ‘how-to’s, reviews and anything else that randomly pops into my head! I’m really into photography to, so a lot of my posts are focused on that.

What’s your favourite thing about blogging?

Wow, that’s tricky; there’s so much! I guess the best thing is getting to be a part of the blogging community! I love sharing all of these things with you, as well as reading other people’s blogs as well!

What’s the toughest thing about blogging?

I think it would probably have to be staying organised and getting posts up on time, which is something I really struggled with on my first blog! It can be tricky to stay on top of things, but some key advice for anyone wanting to start up a blog is to plan ahead!

What are your blogging ambitions for 2015?

It definitely has to be to stay on top of blogging through exams and what not, and to keep posting every week!

Winter Favourites!

Hey guys, guess what?
IT'S SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS!
Calm down, Aisha, calm down...

Anyway! I hope you guys have had a fab and festive week! If you're anything like me, you've probably been doing some some incredibly last minute Christmas shopping! Nope, just me then...
So, this week, I thought I'd do a favourites post, which is basically just telling you about some of my fave products that are out there at the moment! I've never done one of these before, but I thought it could be a pretty fun and seasonal post, so enjoy!

Peppermint/Mango & Lychee Green Tea

I've always been a huge fan of tea, but to be honest, I've never really experimented with different types until very recently! These two are my current faves; they're soooo good! I must say, I was a little apprehensive about the idea of mango & lychee green tea, but it's literally one of the yummiest, fruitiest teas I've ever tried! It's such a beau-tea-ful combination! Sorry about that...Anyway, if you're looking for something more festive, definitely try peppermint; it's perfect for those chilly winter evenings! It reminds me of candy canes and Christmas, which is why I love it so much!

 Oversized Christmas Jumper

As you probably know from previous posts, I'm obsessed with oversized Christmas jumpers! After searching for the right one for countless hours, going in and out of shops, I finally found this one in the Primark mens' section (yes, I just said the mens' section). This shop has a huge variety compared to most stores! Whether you want flashing ones or more of a low key style, they'll deffo have one for you! Plus, the mens' section is always the go-to place- they're bigger and therefore way more comfy!

Marmite Chocolate

After long hours of procrastination, I thought I'd finally give this a go...

My verdict? It's amazing!

It's not overly marmitey (yeah I know, that's not a word...), although you still get a hint of marmite that goes surprisingly well with chocolate! Honestly, this is genuinely delicious!

This would make a perfect Christmas gift for someone who doesn't ming trying something new!

 The Lord of the Rings (book)

In all honesty, I didn't begin this book with too much motivation; tons of pages full of teeny tiny writing! But, to my surprise, this was a fab read! Tolkien's writing is just phenomenal, with so much detail and beauty poured into every single sentence. A fab storyline, some great characters, a wonderful writer; go read it!

Benefit 'The Pore-fessional'

 I was given this in a Benefit set for Christmas last year, and just love it. Such an essential! It does a fab job of minimising the appearance of pores, as well as being so simple to use! You literally just apply a small amount whenever you need it and your pores literally disappear, just like that!

Christmassy Penguin Socks

 I got these from my not-so-secret-santa, and they're just so, so cute! I love them; they're so festive and cute and ahhhh! Thanks santa!

Dashing Santa Bath Bomb

I'm a big Lush fan, so receiving this from my secret santa (SANTA! SO RELEVANT! Sorry...) was super exciting! Made with mandarin oil, bargamot oil and orange flower, it smells gorgeous and makes your bath super colourful! Honestly guys, this is the bomb. Yep, went there.

Well, guys, that's all from me for this week! Have a fantastic Christmas!

What's Christmas Really All About?

Christmas is swiftly approaching, and as you probably know, I'm SO excited!
But, as we get closer and closer to Christmas, it's so easy to get sucked into thinking that it's all about presents, food and decorations. These things are great, but it's so, so important to remember what Christmas truly means, and why it brings such amazing news for me and for you!

If you ask someone what Christmas is all about, the most likely answers are usually things like:
-giving/receiving gifts
-spending time with your family and friends
-mince pies (yum)
-wearing Christmas jumpers
-remembering the birth of a miracle baby

All of these things are really great, and I love every one of them! But, that's just not the whole story.

Jesus' birth isn't just remembered because it's a nice story about a miracle baby being born to a virgin. As a Christian, I believe it's something way, way bigger.
It's the birth of our saviour, God in human form, who came to earth with one aim; to die in order to take the punishment for all of the bad things we've done, all the ways in which we've messed up, so that we can be forgiven by God. Then one day we can be with him in Heaven!
Pretty crazy, right?

I've messed up, I can tell you that for sure. I do everyday, and I will for the rest of my earthly life. But the most amazing thing is that I know, that through Jesus' death on the cross, I can be forgiven. Not because I deserve it, not because I've done anything special, but because Jesus loves us so much that he came to die in our place, to give us a way to be friends with our loving, gracious creator.

'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' -Romans 5:8

How amazing is that? Even though we don't do things God's way, He still loves us so much, and offers us forgiveness through Jesus' death. Even though we approach him with empty hands, he accepts us into his family, and invites us to be with him in Heaven when we die, if we just choose to accept his offer and trust in Jesus' death.

So, Christmas is a time to not only remember Jesus' wonderful birth, but also to remember why He came:
To rescue us, and to one day take us home with him.

Christmas Market at Waddesdon Manor!

Happy Friday! Yeah, I know, it's Wednesday...wishful thinking...

Anyway...

Hey guys!

Only 15 days 'til Christmas! Crazy, right?! So, last Sunday, my family and I went to this cute, festive Christmas market at Waddesdon Manor, which is a National Trust property in Buckinghamshire. As if it's not beautiful enough all year round, it's definitely even more magical at Christmas! Here are some shots I got on the day.

The manor itself is a gorgeous country house built in the nineteenth century. At this time of the year, they go all out in the way of festive decorations, inside and out! The house is also surrounded by acres and acres of land, which just adds to its immense beauty.

As far as Christmas markets go, this has to be one of my faves ever. There's literally everything you could need in terms of Christmas gifts, as well as plenty of snacks along the way...

And of course, when isn't it the perfect time to adopt an alpaca?

I just thought these were really cute. They're Christmassy things. In giant buckets! Nope, just me then...never mind.

I just love Christmas decorations (as you can probably tell)! Ours are usually up around the first of December...yep, you heard me right...But, to be fair, if it were down to me, they'd probably be up around September!

I bought this tree decor which shows the three wise men going to see Jesus. I love things like this, because you get to see what Christmas is really all about!

Just a casual reindeer covered in tinsel, as you do.

Make sure you take a camera with you!

I just love this place; it's definitely worth visiting! The gorgeous surroundings, the Christmassy, festive feel, and just the house itself- such a lovely place!
Have a fab week, guys!

Simple Yet Spectacular Salted Caramel Cookie Recipe

 

Recently I've been doing a lot of baking, so I thought I'd share with you guys a recipe that I came up with not long ago! It's really simple, and a little messy- but that's half the fun!

Ingredients:
-150g softened butter
-100g soft brown sugar
-125g caster sugar
-1 egg
-1tsp vanilla extract
-320g self-raising flour
-200g caramel (tinned)
-sea salt (to taste)

What to do:
1) Preheat your oven to 180° (160° for a fan oven) or gas mark 4
2) Line two trays (of around 60cm x 45cm) with baking paper
3) Cream the butter and sugar (both types) until light- it won't be perfectly smooth because of the brown sugar, but don't worry!
4) In a separate bowl whisk the egg and vanilla extract, before adding it to the mix.
5) Slowly sieve the flour into the mix in three or four intervals, pausing to mix.
6) When the mixture is combined, separate the dough into walnut sized balls.
7) In a separate bowl, mix together the caramel and the sea salt.
8) Now for the fun part! Carefully spoon your caramel mixture into a piping bag, and, through a very small nozzle, pipe a small amount into the centre of each cookie. It'll get pretty messy, but don't worry, it's part of the fun!
9) Place them in the baking trays, ensuring they're not too close together (they get pretty huge!), sprinkle with sea salt, and bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on how gooey you like them!
10) Enjoy!