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

Wonder by R.J Palacio | Book Review

  I bought this book not knowing what to expect. Usually, I buy books at friends recommendations, or because a lot hype surrounded them. But, this book just kept cropping up in my everyday life! It seems Amazon really wanted my purchase- it was a recommendation, and various editors' pick. I've never heard of R.J Palacio, but the blurb really captured my interest! So, I bought it...

  A Ten-year-old boy, Auggie Pullman, starts public school after ten years of being home schooled by his Mum. But Auggie isn't an ordinary boy,  he was born with a terrible face abnormality. The story follows his first year of middle school at Beecher Prep, where he finds both his best friends, and worst enemies.

  However, what I didn't know about this book was that it was told from several different perspectives. This novel isn't just about Auggie, it's about everybody he's close with. What I really found interesting about the story is how the characters all effect each other, how they all suffer hardship and problems, but never complain. They know that they have an easy life compared to those of others.

  Wonder is uplifting, funny, and extremely moving. I strongly recommend it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I really hope a sequel may appear!

 Go buy it,
Hannah Louise.

Our last Summer Adventure| Camping 2013

 So, Friday saw an new adventure starting. My Dad, Alfie, our lovely Schnauzer, and I traveled up to the Lake District for our last adventure of the Summer.

  Since being young I've always loved camping, and living a very 'wild' life for just a couple of days. This time we went just past Keswick and stayed on a lovely little farm, in the middle of valley. I was sooooo picturesque!

  We'd looked at the weather forecast earlier in the week...it wasn't good. But that made waking up to a blue sky on Saturday morning even better! I was so shocked!

  Bright and early, we headed up along the side of the waterfall- which ran down the side of the valley. Then we got a little lost on the mountain side... Long story short, I fell over more times than I cared to remember, but I loved every second of it!

Home is where the heart is...right?

Double 0 Dad

  However, Sunday was a different story completely. We were rudely awoken in the hours of the morning, by the tent starting to cave in on itself! The wind and rain showed no mercy when we were trying to pack up, but eventually we were ready for off!

  I really didn't want to leave, even the rain can't damage the beauty of the lakes. It was just an amazing feeling to escape the busy reality we're all subject too.

  Talk to you soon!

Hannah Louise 

Monthly 'live-by' #1 | September

 Hello readers!
   
    So, today was 'back to reality'... I just got back from school, and with every first day comes the 'new shoe blisters'. However, I trying not to dwell too much on the start of a fresh, hard academic year, instead I had an blogging idea I'd like to try...

  Some months, especially the cold ones, don't really hold anything exciting, they just seem to drag on, and on. But, I'd like to try something new! Each month I'm going to share a monthly 'live-by', or in other words a small phrase that we should all try to practice more this month. I think it would really be a great way to make me, and hopefully some of you, more conscience of our actions.

  Anyway, enough of the rambling! On to the 'live-by'! This month it is "Be the kind of person you want to meet"

  I really like this quote! Nobody wants to meet someone boring... The type of people I like to meet are friendly, lively, and interesting, but I think sometimes I forget these things. That's why this month, I really want to keep this in mind, and let people see the best side of me.

  I hope some of you will try this too, and hopefully, September won't be such a drag... Also, if you have any more 'live-by's please comment!

 Until next time!
Hannah Louise