Embracing Autumn | The Pumpkin Contest

  Today I've been feeling in the Halloween spirit- which is fast approaching- and what better way to celebrate Halloween than to carve a pumpkin? But, that's a little bit boring and conventional, and we're getting old now! So, I decided to put my (non-exsistant) art skills to the test by having a competition with my sister, and her boyfriend (top third wheeler).

  I decided to keep it simple, something I could cope with, and  after searching pintrest I had an idea... vampire pumpkin!! I was sure of a win!

  Until my sister whipped out a stencil... and her boyfriend, Tom, created a creepy monster! So here's how they turned out:

My masterpiece...simple but effective

Tom's creepy thing...

That's a pretty cool cat!

 I think it's fair to say that Natalie won with her kitty cat! But they're all so cute and fun, BRING ON HALLOWEEN!!!

Happy Halloween!

Hannah Louise

  

This week's discovery

  This weeks been...well, not the best of weeks, which is partially why I haven't written  for so long.

  There's just one thing I've learnt from all the trouble this week that I hope we can all learn from, and it is that not everything is permanent. Things you think would be a constant in your life, whether its something you depend on or just something you love, we take them for advantage. We've all heard the phrase 'you don't know what you've got until its gone', and usually it's coming from an older and wiser persons' mouth, but no matter how well equipt you are for what can go wrong, there's always something you're not quite prepared for or you didn't expect to be taken away from you.

  It's human nature to take advantage of things, and it's incredibly easy to do. I know I don't appreciate how lucky I am most of the time, it's not for lack of trying. Sometimes I simply forget-but that's okay, I just need to try harder to appreciate the simplicity of my life and all the opportunities that I'm given. This week has also taught me that you really have to work to maintain all those things you love, because sometimes they're not handed to you on a plate- this week my friends have been the perfect example of this!

  Hannah Louise

Embracing Autumn with...The Humble Carrot Cake

  This time of year is so beautiful! The air is crisp and cool, the leaves are brown, and I have been itching to grab my camera and 'get out there'. But it happens every year... The trees become bare, and the weather become intolerable, and I am never quick enough to embrace Autumn!

  So this year, with a little help from my blog, I want to start a series of posts of me...well 'embracing Autumn'.

  Yesterday I had my first real Autumn impulse. Baking. And what is the most Autumnal cake ever baked? Carrot cake of course! But the only problem is I'm not the best baker...

  Thankfully, I managed it! The recipe I used was from Nigella Lawson's website (which is so pretty!), and, true to Nigella's reputation, I wasn't a low calorie snack! Even I know that 450 grams of sugar is a lot. I did take a few short cuts-being a beginner-I didn't use baking powder or bicarbonate of soda- I don't really know what they do...

  Also, I really didn't like the icing! It was just far too cheesey for my taste. So, instead I used the classic butter icing. Another flaw with the recipe is that it didn't mention a oven temperature, but as long as you keep an eye on it, it should be okay.

  I actually cannot believe the final result. I made a carrot cake! And it tastes pretty good... It won't be the last time I make this cake, and hey if I can do it, then anyone can!!!

  Hannah Louise

Monthly Live-by #2 | October

  Last month I was so so pleased with the repose I got from my 'live-by'! It feels incredible to get such  positive feedback from what I've written. So firstly, thank you.

  Anyway, it's a new month, and after September being so long and demanding, it's a relief to finally make it to October. But, enough Chit-chat, on to the 'live-by', which this month is...

Everything you want is on the other side of fear

   I came across this post on Pintresst, and I absolutely love it! And it made me ask myself " if I was fearless, what would I do?" The answer is a lot! But, the fact remains,whether we admit it or not, we are all scared of rejection. We encourage people to see the best side of ourselves. People do amazing things every day, but nobodies perfect. They have down days and 'I can't do it anymore' days, the difference is they are extraordinary despite their fear of seeming imperfect. Or, maybe they use their fear to motivate them to achieve their best.

  What I'm really saying is, this month I am going to try my best to be fearless. I know some of you may not like her, but I live by what Taylor Swift once said: " Fearless is not being completely unafraid, it's living in spite of those things". I want to be my best, so I need to be fearless!

 Until next time! 

Hannah Louise