Liebster Award: Get to Know Me

     Thank you to Destiny from Miss Beauty Glam for nominating me for the Liebster Award! You can find Destiny's lovely blog via the link provided above, where she writes about all things beauty, makeup and general lifestyle.  I think this award is such a nice way for new blogs to be introduced and discovered by other blog readers, so I appreciate the nomination. It's definitely feels lovely to be recognised :)  I have learned that new bloggers with a small following of approximately less than 200 people have the chance to receive this award if nominated. If nominated, there are a few things you must include within your post.

The rules for the Liebster Award are:

1. You have to mention and thank the blog that nominated you in a blog post.
2. You then have to answer the 11 questions which were asked by the blog that nominated you.
3. Then it's your turn to nominate 11 other new bloggers.
4. You lastly have to set 11 new questions for your nominees to answer.

Here are the questions I answered!

What is your favourite thing to do besides blogging?

I love to read books! Any books with a bit of mystery that flips between past and present or with a historical romance theme I really like.

Where do you live and what's your first language? 

I live in Melbourne, Australia and my first language is English.

What is your biggest fear and hope in terms of blogging? 

My biggest fear is that I run out of ideas for content and my biggest hope is that it will be read, even if it’s by only one person.

Vanilla or Chocolate? 

Chocolate!

What is one thing that you feel you need to work on? 

I need to work on my photography skills, I’d love to create the images I have in my mind and translate them into the real thing.

What is your favorite season of the year? 

I love Spring where the days get longer and there’s flowers and mild sunshine. It’s also the season of my birthday :D

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? 

I would love to travel back in time to the 1920s where I’d dress up in my furs and feathers and go to a ball and marry a Lord and become a real Lady.

What is your favorite dish? 

I love my mum’s mash potato and lamb shanks and the rich sauce she makes to go with it. It’s delicious!!

What is one weird thing about you? 

I can do weird voices/ impersonations.

Name one thing that you can not live without? 

My family <3

What is your favorite show?

Downton Abbey! I absolutely love it.

Hopefully my answers have helped you know a little more about me :D

My Nominees

1. Gemma -Sparklexgem

2. Ashlee - Ashlee Liz

3. Becky - Another One Called Becky

4. Hayle - Hayle Olson

5. Laura - Lau Ann

6. Alisha - Ramblings by Alisha

7. Caitlin - Caaitlin Louise

8. Nida - Caked to the Nines

9. Alana - Lana Sultana

10. Angie - Silk and Sapphire

11. Helen - House of Helen

My 11 Questions:

1. If you could wear only one makeup product for a week what would it be?

2. What three famous people (dead or alive), would you invite to your dinner party?

3. If you could live in a book, TV show or film what would it be?

4. What movie did you last watch?

5. Smokey eye and nude lip OR soft eyes and red lip?

6. What is your dream job?

7. Describe your perfect day in a sentence.

8. What did you last laugh about?

 9. What is something you hope to achieve this year?

10. Who is your favourite Disney princess or character?

11. Who were your childhood idols/ heroes?

Congratulations to the nominess, I look forward to learning more about you! Any other readers, I'd like to know an answer to one of my 11 questions, which you can leave in the comment section :D

Kristina xx

Bloglovin'

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! One of my favourite days of year that's laden with lots of meaning, colour, food, family time and, of course, chocolate. Like every year I always over indulge and end up feeling like I have to wait a week before everything is digested! The little chocolate layered cakes below were made by my grandma, which are a specialty of hers. I really need to get the recipe off her because they are amazing.

Every Easter, I myself like to bake something new and chocolaty. This year, I decided to make the chunky chocolate and raspberry cookies (which you can find in my previous post, here) and a chocolate flourless cake (if you scroll down you will find the recipe for this deliciously rich cake). I love themed homeware pieces, such as this cute Easter theme cookie jar, which I served the cookies in.

 

I also couldn't resist purchasing these miniature bunnies (alongside my cookie jar, Easter theme mug and bunny tea cups), all of which I got from Bed, Bath and Table. 

Of course, I received plenty of chocolate, my favourite being the Gold Lindt Bunny. I actually had a dream the other night that I had broken one of these bunny's into pieces, ate it and then cried because I had I forgotten to take a photo of it beforehand for my blog?!

A fun tradition we do in my family is dye boiled eggs and decorate them with Easter themed stickers. After we're all full and sleepy we play a game whereby everyone gets an egg and then we crack them against other peoples. If you're egg doesn't break then you're the winner. I never win!

Also, I have eaten soo many hot cross buns this past month, which I like to have with Nutella or crunchy peanut butter. I need these all year round.

Chocolate Flourless Cake

Ingredients:

255g of good quality dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces

1 cup (225g) butter

1/4 cup (25g) cocoa powder

1 tsp almond extract

1 1/4 cup (250g) granulated (caster) sugar

1 1/2 cups of almond meal

6 medium sized eggs at room temperature

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 160*C (310*F) and line the bottom of a 9-inch spring form pan with baking paper.

2. Over a double-boiler, slowly melt the chocolate and butter.

3. In a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whisk together the melted chocolate, cocoa powder, almond extract and sugar until combined.

4. Add the almond meal and whisk until combined.

5. Add the eggs one at a time, waiting until each egg is combined within the mixture before adding the next one.

6. Pour the mixture into the pan. Smooth the top and level it by gently tapping it against a flat surface.

7. Bake the cake between 30-50 minutes, depending on your oven. Mine was done in 30 minutes.

The cake will rise and then flatten once out of the oven. The centre of the cake should be moist and dense once it cools. I like to serve it with a dusting of icing sugar, cream, chocolate ganache and fresh strawberries. As it was Easter, I made a bed of flaked white chocolate to resemble a little nest and topped it with mini Easter eggs. 

Overall, I had a lovely Easter and I wish you all the same. I'd love to hear about your Easter traditions or treats, let me know about them in the comments section below.

Kristina xx

Lip Product Tag

I thought it was about time I did the Lip Product Tag, which Everyday Living NYC kindly nominated me for. At the moment, I’ve sadly had to eliminate lipsticks from my everyday makeup routine as I have been suffering from an unidentified allergy that is occurring on my lips, which started at the end of 2013. Fingers crossed I find out what it is when I see a dermatologist and hopefully it isn’t an allergy to lipsticks because which girl doesn’t need lipstick in her life?. Anyway! Here are my answers to the lip product tag . . .

What is your favourite balm or treatment?

My lips are sensitive and dry a majority of the time so I need to wear a lipbalm everyday. I like to use Sukin’s Nourishing Lip Treatment because it is paraben free and easy to apply. I also like to keep it simple and use Vaseline because it contains just one ingredient.

What is your favourite eye catching red?

I hardly wear red lipstick, I’m not sure if I  like the look of it on me but I love it on other people. On the rare occasion that I do wear it, I like Bare Minerals Popof Passion Lip-oil balm in Rose Passion. It is hydrating and just glides on my lips. I like that it looks natural, so if I just want a soft red lip I press a little of it on my lips with my finger. I also like that it’s very buildable.

What is your favourite nude?

My favourite nude lipstick is MAC’s Hug me because I think it's the perfect neutral shade for me and it also has a nice sheen to it.

Best luxury and drugstore product?

My best luxury lip product is my Hourglass Femme Nude Lip Stylo in shade number six, it’s another one of my favourite nude lip colours. It glides on and doesn’t dry out my lips. My best drugstore lip product or non-luxury product is from the Topshop lipstick range in the shade inhibition, it’s a very rich purple colour that I like to wear during the colder months. I also like how it is matte.

Best MAC lipstick?

My best MAC lipstick is the Hug Me nude shade and also Chatterbox, which is my favourite pink shade.

Most disappointing lip product?

I am yet to discover a lip product that I dislike . . .

Lip liner: yes or no?

I like to outline my lips before applying lipstick, sometimes I even just wear lip liner and fill my lips in with that alone. One lip pencil I like is by NYX, it’s theretractable pencil in the shade Nude Pink, which I recently lost on a night out so I can’t provide the swatch (sorry!).

Favourite lip gloss?

I like Oh My Gloss! In the shade Glossaholic by Rimmel, it lasts a while and isn’t sticky. It also smells like a musk lolly, which I like.

From L-R: MAC, Hug me; Bare Minerals, Rose Passion; Topshop, Inhibition; MAC, Chatterbox; Rimmel, Glossaholic; Hourglass, Femme Nude No. 6.

My tags:

Ms Beauty Glam

Through the Mirror

Blossoming Daydreams

Katies Beautique

Thanks again to everydaylivingnyc for the tag! 

What are some of your favourite lip products?

Kristina xx

Bloglovin'

Books I'm Currently Reading

First of all, how cute is my Easter mug?! I bought it from Bed, Bath and Table who currently have some really cute Easter decorations. I like nothing more than reading with a nice cup of tea or coffee in hand, for this post I thought I'd give a little update on what I'm reading at the moment. I've just finished reading Storms of War by Kate Williams. It's the first novel and is part of a trilogy that follows the lives of members of the de Witt family, a part German and English household who live in a beautiful country estate in the English countryside. The story takes place during the Great War and mainly centres on Celia, the youngest daughter of the de Witt family, whose world changes entirely as a result of the war. The story is inspired by historical fact such as how the women during the war helped, which makes it an interesting read. The detail is immaculate and the writing flows really nicely. One thing I also like is that each of the characters seem like real people, they have flaws and faults, which adds depth to the story. As well as being informative it was also quite poignant and features an unexpected twist at the end. If you're interested in reading novels set within this historical period and setting as I am then you will love this book.

Currently, I am reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, which is set in France during the second world war. I haven't read a lot but so far I am really intrigued by the story, which is based on two sisters caught in the midst of the war who have an unresolved conflict with one another. Again, the detail in this book is perfect, I can easily visualise what's been imagined. I love the setting, which moves between the south of France and Paris. There's something about novels set during the war that I like. I find that stories set within such times encompass a lot of themes such as mystery, hardship, suffering, love and passion - I feel it teaches things not only about that time but also about human kind. I just think those kinds of stories have the most depth and thought and stay with me long after reading it. A the moment it still so many books, so little time for me . . .

What books are you reading at the moment?

Kristina xx

Bloglovin'

My Favourite Films/ TV Shows

I love nothing better than sitting nice and snug on the couch with a warm drink and a good film or TV show, especially one I know I'm gonna love. In this post I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite film and TV shows (in no particular order).

1. Bride and Prejudice

I first watched this film a while back when it was released and since then I have watched it so many times I know almost every line! It's a Bollywood film based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with actors Aishwarya Rai and Martin Henderson, who play the leading roles. They've changed some of the names in the film, though like the original story, a mother of four daughters seeks to marry them off to suitable men. The second eldest daughter aims to find her own suiter and finds herself falling for Darcy, a wealthy American - with whom she shares some misunderstanding. It's colourful, funny and dramatic (in a good way), with lots of catchy Bollywood dancing and music. 

2. Outlander

I saw this TV show advertised in the magazines so I thought I'd give it a go and basically at the moment I am hooked. It's based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon and is about a woman Claire living in post-war 1940s who travels to Scotland with her husband on their long awaited honeymoon where her husband is also researching his ancestry. Whilst there, Claire visits a set of stones that somehow take her back in time to the year 1743, where she finds herself venturing with Scottish highlanders, experiencing mystery, romance and danger. There's a fair bit of nudity but overall it's a great storyline and I am so curious about how it's all going to end!

3. Anastasia

I love this film mainly because I watched it a lot of times when I was younger and even today I find both the story and the music quite poignant. It's loosely based on the story that Grand Duchess Anastasia of Imperial Russia escaped and survived the execution of her family. It follows the story of Anya (Princess Anastasia) who suffers from amnesia and wishes to go to Paris to find her family, where she believes they live because of a necklace she has worn all her life. I know all the words and the songs basically because I have watched it a billion times.

4. Ever After

I LOVE this film! Starring Drew Barrymore, it's based on the story of Cinderella, though it is set in 16th century France and the main character is called Danielle. When her father dies unexpectedly, like the original story, Danielle is forced to be a slave for her cruel stepmother and stepsisters before she meets Prince Charming. The scenery is beautiful and I love the costumes.

5. Downton Abbey

Beautiful country estate. Picturesque English landscapes. Unforgettable characters. Gorgeous costumes. 1920s. I LOVE this TV show. I am devastated that it's all going to be over soon!! There's something about that era and the way of life back then that I love. The costume, the way people related to each other. When I watch this show I feel like I've been taken back in time. I definitely have to visit Highclere Castle, which poses as Downton Abbey one day. 

6. Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

I love all the Harry Potter films and books but one that I love re-watching is the Prisoner of Azkaban. It's quirky, the characters have grown up slightly and I love the new characters it introduces such as Sirius Black and Lupin. Harry Potter will always make it's way into any list of my favourite things, I love it so much.

7. What A Girl Wants

Starring Amanda Bynes, it follows the story of Daphne who travels to London from New York to find her father, Lord Henry Dashwood, who is rather posh and a budding politician. Two different worlds collide and Daphne becomes uncertain about her father's family and way of life, even though he accepts her as his long lost daughter. I have watched this film a lot of times! It has humour and some teary scenes and is set in London, which is always good with me!

8. Mrs Browns Boys

An Irish comedy TV show that ALWAYS makes me cry with laughter whenever I watch it. It's about Agnes, an old lady played by a man in real life, who has four sons and one daughter who all go through some hilarious experiences. It love how they don't take the filming of it too seriously and that they often break out of character to laugh at themselves or each other. It definitely cheers me up when I feel the need!

9. Prison Break

The whole family was hooked on a Prison Break marathon over the holidays. It's full of suspense and always has you hooked about what's going to happen next after the end of EVERY episode. At times it stressed me out a bit because something bad would always happen if things were going to plan for the baddies breaking out. It's coming back again this year, which I'm excited for!

10. Titantic

Do I have to explain this one? The romance, the fact that the event happened in real life, the scenery, music. I often struggle to make it to the end because it's quite a long film. No matter how many times I have watched the end and know that Rose ain't gonna hold on to Jack, there's always a part of me that still hopes that she will. Such a classic and I love it.

I have so many more that I have probably forgotton but for now there is my list of top 10!

What are some of your favourite films/tv shows? 

Kristina xx

Bloglovin'

Chocolate Chunk and Raspberry Cookies

Recently, my mum purchased the Australian Women's Weekly newest baking book entitled 'Love to Bake.' It's a gorgeous book with so many delicious and easy looking recipes. The images are beautiful and the cover itself makes a lovely display in the kitchen. I flipped through it with my sticky notes and found that I had noted almost every page . . ! I aim to make something once every week. One of the recipes were these yummy looking chocolate chunk and raspberry cookies, which I made with the help of my sister. Honestly, it was so easy we could have done it with our eyes closed. Not only do they look really good but they are so soft and chocolaty. They have definitely made it to our list of family favourites. The ingredients included are:

125g (4 ounces) butter, softened

3/4 cup (165g) firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup (150g) plain all-purpose flour

1/4 cup (35g) cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

90g (3 ounce) dark (semi-sweet) chocolate, chopped coarsely

125g (4 ounces) frozen raspberries

I preheated my oven to 180 and lined some trays with baking paper. I forgot to soften the butter so instead I grated it, which is another way to soften it. I then added the butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in my Kitchen Aid and beat that until it all came together. Then I stirred in the flours, cocoa powder and soda by slowly adding it to the mixture in two halves. At this stage, the mixture is quite dense and slightly difficult to stir. It forms as a kind of soft dough. Then I added the chocolate and raspberries by just stirring it through the mixture. This makes it kind of wet. As the recipe notes, you can add blueberries or any other type of berry and mix up the type of chocolate according to what you like. Taking about a tablespoon of mixture, just dollop it onto the tray. I found it quite difficult to make it pretty whilst placing the mixture on the tray, but I attempted to make it into a neat circle. Once in the oven it forms into a chunky and rustic looking cookie shape. The recipe notes to keep them in the oven for 12 minutes, though I took mine out after 8 minutes. When I took them out they were still quite soft but leaving them on the tray for an extra 5 minutes to cool made them firmer. By taking them out earlier I got a soft, moist cookie that melts in the mouth.

Delicious!

Kristina xx

Bloglovin