Birthday Celebrations

Yesterday I turned 21. We celebrated over the weekend, Saturday we had afternoon tea. Everyone made or bought something, there was so much food I didn't think we would manage all the food but we only had a few leftovers which have since been demolished. 

I made mini quiche bites and raspberry and blueberry cream tarts. We feasted on mini sandwiches, cheese scones, nibbles and plently of cakes. I was perfect to spend some time with my family over good food. It was just perfect.

I woke up to breakfast in bed. I opened my presents, all of which were beautiful and then ate eggy bread, washed down with a cup of tea. Then yesterday I decided that it would be nice to head out somewhere for a meal. After being veggie for over 10 years this year I decided to go back to meat so the obvious choice was carvery. We headed out to a little pub right by the sea and ate and ate.

 A roast dinner, strawberry sundae and glass of rose later we headed back to my mums. For more food and this time it was this amazing cake! Every year my mum makes a special cake and this year she decided to make a "21 years of sweets cake". It was covered in so many sweets. It was just amazing. We had another slice and finished off bottle of pink fizz. 

It has been really lovely, spending time with my family and I've now got a week off work to spend time doing the things I've been meaning to do for a while. I can't wait.

DIY: Cake Bunting

So you might have noticed that on the last post that sitting on top of the funfetti cake was a string of bunting and it's so easy to make. It can work for any occasion, birthdays, Christmas, Valentines etc. As long as you have some pretty wrapping paper or coloured card you can make this.

You will need: Pretty Wrapping Paper - Scissors - Twine/String/Wool - Gluestick - Wooden Skewers

Step One - Cut out eight triangles out of your chosen pretty wrapping paper.

Step two - Glue together the triangles to stiffen the paper.So in total you have four triangles.

Step three - You may have to trim around the sides slightly to keep them look neat and tidy.

Step four - Measure out a length of twine. You need enough space to glue the triangles on as well as some extra twine to tie around the wooden skewers.

Step five - Tie the twine around the wooden skewers. This should look like a mini washing line.

Step six - Glue the triangles onto the twine and hold down slightly until they are secure. And voila! Your cakes shall never look plain again!

Happy Birthday! Funfetti -sprinkle cake.

I can't believe this little old blog of mine is now two. Two years ago today I made a  New Years resolution to start this blog and I'm pretty sure I've come on leaps and bounds since then. My header was an illustration of me drawn by my friend, I knew nothing about html coding and I was shooting JPEGS. I think I've learnt a few things since then, but I know that there is still masses to learn and I can't wait. I'm hoping to make my blog bigger and better than ever this year, so I hope you'll stick around to see what happens.

This blog has taken me places I never thought I'd go, work with brands I could only dream of working with and I've loved every single minute of it. And to you, my lovely lovely readers, where would I be without your love and support so I thank everyone of you.

 Now enough of the mushy stuff and time to celebrate how you should celebrate any birthday. With cake. With sprinkle cake. With sprinkle cake with sprinkles on the inside. I knew you couldn't resist!

I made this cake way back in December and today seemed the perfect time to share it. 

For the cake:

240ml whole milk

4 large egg whites

1 whole egg

2 tsp vanilla extract

315g self-raising flour

300g caster sugar

1tbsp + 1tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt

170g butter

Lots of sprinkles

For the icing:

375g butter

400g icing sugar

3tbsp milk

1tbsp vanilla

Sprinkles

Preheat oven to 160C fan. Grease, line with parchment, butter and flour two round 8-inch pans.

In a medium bowl or measuring cup, combine and stir the eggs, 1/4 of milk, vanilla and the vanilla extract. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the dry ingredients, including the sugar, together on low speed for 30 seconds.

Add the butter and blend on low speed for about 30 seconds, then add remaining 3/4 of milk, and mix on low speed until just moistened. Increase to medium speed and mix for 1-1/2 minutes.

Scrape the sides of the bowl and begin to add the egg/milk mixture in 3 separate batches; beat on medium for 20 seconds after each addition. Gently stir in the rainbow sprinkles, until just combined.

Divide the batter in two, spreading it evenly with a small offset palette knife. If you have a kitchen scale, weigh the batter in the pans to ensure 2 even layers.

Bake 25-35 minutes or until a cake tester comes clean when inserted into the centre. Be so careful to not over-bake. Check cake at 20 minutes, but not before, and once you feel it’s almost ready, set the timer for 2 minute intervals.

Let cool on racks for 10 minutes before loosening the sides with a small metal spatula, and invert onto greased wire racks. Gently turn cakes back up, so the tops are up and cool completely.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter for 8 minutes on medium. The butter will become very pale & creamy.

Add remaining ingredients and mix on low speed for 1 minute, then on medium for 6 minutes. Frosting will be very light, creamy and fluffy.

Best used right away (for ideal spreading consistency).

Cover the cake with a final layer of frosting. Sprinkle until your heart's content!

Hope you enjoy!

Positive Thinking - Get Happy!

I know that not everyone likes personal posts, so if that's you, you might want to look away now. But I think for my state of mind this is something I need to post and I'm sure there will be a few people out there that can relate. 

One of my new years wishes was positive thinking. I've always tried to be a glass half full kind of person but when you've been through some horrible things it's hard to think positively. In December I decided that there was no point being depressed and sad all the time and that I would appreciate what I do have rather than focus on what I've lost. It's easier said than done and I know for some people it's not that easy but for me picking myself back up was the most important thing. I think having things to focus on really does help. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut and not enjoy the things you used too, but ultimately you're not helping anyone.

So I'm not going to be one of those people who thinks that a new year will change them, but I do think that the new year, even though we are almost a month into it, is an opportunity for me to realise that if I want positive things to happen, I'm going to have to think positively and get off my bum and work hard. So that's what I'm planning to do. I'm going to love and cherish every happy moment and take every opportunity I can.  It's amazing how adjusting how you think can change your outlook. 

As for my health recovery, I'm doing just fine. Things are pretty much back to normal and the 3rd of February should be my last test. Bring it on!

New Year Wishes

I'm not going to write a post about how awful 2013 was. There were highs and many lows but that's in the past. So no more dwelling and onto 2014.

It's the time of year when we all make resolutions. Usually a promise we can never keep. They always seem to be the same. Lose weight, give up smoking/drinking etc. But why not make realistic resolutions. New Year wishes if you like. I have a few and I thought I would share them with you along with a few of my photographs from 2013.

Stay organised.

This past month, other than over Christmas, I have posted every other day. I’ve organised posts and planned things sometimes weeks in advance. Anyone who knows me well will tell you how much I love to write lists and organise things, even other people. But I love the feeling of having things planned. So planning my blog seemed like a great idea and I have really loved posting every other day. So hopefully my wish is to keep this up.

Positive thinking.

I am the worst for this. I’ve always been a worrier, stressing and worrying over everything. But the last quarter of last year has taught me that there are so many things beyond control and that worrying or not isn’t going to affect the outcome. So why not enjoy every minute. Look for the positives. Sitting around depressed isn’t going to help anyone. Being happy in everything I do is my wish.

Relax

This ties in with the one above. I would like to relax more. I’ve decided that this means yoga or pilates a few times a week. There’s so many great Youtube videos that there is really no excuse. I think I might have been a cat in a former life because I love a good stretch. 

Family

With everyone having busy work schedules socialising with my family is difficult. I’d like to hold more get-togethers. Sharing food and conversation. Family is so important to me and with a few new arrivals expected soon being close is going to be great.

Friends

Change the words above to friends. But add in seeing them more. Life gets in the way too much.

Explore

I want to make the most of my days off work. Exploring little towns and villages. You never know what you're going to find. I'd like to take more walks, I always feel like I need an excuse but why can't I just go out for a walk.

Photography & Blogging

I want to keep improving my photography. I always look at other photographs and blogs and want for my photographs to be as good. I want to stay on top of this blog. I’ve come to realise it’s my creative space and I couldn’t function without it, when I'm not blogging I'm taking photographs, when I'm not taking photographs I'm planning the next weeks posts, safe to say I'm a little addicted. I would love for blogging to become a full time thing, but one step at a time hey?

Online shop/ Vintage shop
Eventually and hopefully some point this year I want to launch an online shop full of pretty homeware, vintage clothes and jewellery. It's something I've wanted to do for so long and there's no time like the present hey? I've started planning things and hopefully in the very near future you can shop Little Paper Swans too!

So here's hoping that 2014 is a great year and the wishes come true. Share your wishes below, I’d love to hear them and what you think of mine?