Attempting red velvet cupcakes

Yesterday, I decided to bake some red velvet cupcakes using the Hummbingbird bakery recipe. Now, it wouldn't be a true Laurel baking session without something going wrong. If you read my 'Taking another shot at cooking' post, you would know that I am a dreadful cook - absolutely horrific!! This weekend, I attempted to bake these cupcakes with no issues (this didn't happen), however I have surprised myself with the outcome! They actually taste quite nice and I didn't manage to get icing all over the cupcake case!!

The recipe for these cakes is really easy to follow if you remember to read every step! I was proud of myself, thinking that I had managed to make the batter and place it in the cases, before I realised that I hadn't included all of the ingredients! Begrudgingly, I then had to scoop the mixture out of the cases and put it back into the bowl to add in the white wine vinegar and the bicarbonate of soda. Thankfully, I realised this before I put the cakes in the oven - they wouldn't have risen! Once repeating the steps again, with all of the ingredients, I could put the cakes in.

From when I last baked cupcakes, I learnt that if you melt the butter, for the frosting, you wouldn't get any lumps of butter in it. This doesn't sound very revolutionary, but it was news to me - again, I am a dreadful cook. So this time round I thought that I was being really clever by melting the butter. Another ingredient that I included was cream cheese. Once mixing the icing sugar (which took forever to sieve 600g), butter and the cream cheese together, the buttercream still had lumps in it! I melted the butter but didn't account for the cream cheese; trying to be clever backfired - at least I know for next time!

I am rather impressed that I managed to use an icing bag without the icing going everywhere and the bag splitting. A top tip, which you won't hear many of from me, is to put the bag into a deep cup with the top bit of the bag wrapped around the rim of the cup. You can then easily put the icing into the bag without too much mess! I then piped the buttercream onto the cupcakes and sprinkled hundreds and thousands and honeycomb on the top.

Aside from the many mishaps that happened in my kitchen yesterday, the cupcakes taste great! I've had the thumbs up from my family members and some family friends so I'm taking that as a success! However, I think I'll leave it a while before attempting them again!

What are your favourite baking recipes? 

xox

The person behind the blog

For today's post, I thought it may be interesting for you to learn a bit more about the person behind this blog. I find posts like this fascinating to read as I love to know about the different members that make up the blogging community; we are all really diverse and all have varying interests and talents - it's lovely to get to know a bit more about each other. So, here goes...

Interests and hobbies

I couldn't do a interest and hobby section without including blogging! Blogging is one of my main hobbies; I enjoy doing it so much! When I'm bored or daydreaming throughout the day, I think of new posts ideas and what chats I could join that night! It seems to me that blogging is always on my mind and I am slightly obsessed - but that's a good thing, right? With blogging, comes photography which is another one of my interests. My dad and I share this passion and frequently discuss photography together, it's lovely having a shared interest with a family member! Finally, another hobby that I have, which you may not know about, is home decor. I love to decorate and organise rooms and constantly rearrange my things into a different style. Also, if you count cushion collecting as a hobby, that is definitely up there with my others!!

Sport

I've always been a sporty person who regularly attends evening clubs. Currently, my main sport is badminton and I play at least twice a week! It is a perfect sport for me as I haven't got a great stamina so I struggle with running up and down long pitches/courts. I found this out when I used to play netball! Centre was just the worst position for me because I couldn't physically keep up; I ended up playing GK for the majority of my time at netball club as you had the least amount of court to cover!!! Actually, I was one of the tallest people there so that was probably another reason why! Aside from badminton and netball, I also surf! I am definitely not the best at this but I really enjoy doing it - falling in isn't a negative, for me, it's quite fun! I'm going surfing again this year and I'm so excited - catching a wave is the best feeling ever!

Subject favourites

Throughout my schooling years, I have enjoyed a variety of different subjects and my favourite one has always changed. In primary school, English was the best lesson of the day; I could get to write stories and read new exciting books! However, as I have grown up, I found a deeper love for science and maths. I'm so interested in how the world and further places work scientifically. Physics is definitely my favourite subject which links in nicely with maths. Aside from the sciences, languages is my other passion: I am currently learning French and German. With learning a language comes learning about different cultures - this really interests me. At home, I speak in multi-lingual conversations with my family which is quite fun swapping between the three. I'm also trying to learn a little Welsh but all I've grasped so far is 'Bore da' - which means good morning! Oh, I have a long way to go!!

Media preferences 

In my spare time, my favourite thing to do is to watch/read different forms of media. Youtube, admittedly, is the one that I am constantly on - the amount of makeup collection videos I have watched is obscene! I also love to watch Netflix - as many others do! Religiously, every Wednesday, I watch the new Pretty Little Liars episode. If ever I am feeling down or just want to chill out, Netflix is my first point of call! In terms of films and book genres, my favourites are Sci-fi or stories based around real life, relatable happenings. I really don't like fantasies or superhero plots; they don't interest me, although I know they do to many other people! My favourite films include: School of Rock, The Martian and Annie. 

Future plans

With regards to a career, I'd love to go into Medicine or something to do with Astro-physics - both are science but different ends of the spectrum! I know that these careers are so competitive but I am willing to work really hard for a career that I will love doing. As well as this, I'd like to go travelling and do some aid-work. I'm so privileged to have the life that I do and I want to help others that aren't so fortunate. This is honestly one of my main aims in life. In the further future, I would love to have a family one day! As many of you may know, I love a good quote so am going to leave this one here to end, 'You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them,' - Desmond Tutu.

xox

Sunday market style

Coat - From Germany

Top - Primark

Skort - Topshop

Shoes - Adidas 

Bag - Primark 

Necklace - Forever 21

This morning, the day of publish, I went to London's Brick Lane market. I had never been before but I know that I want to go back - to be surrounded by a melting pot of cultures was incredible. Every market stall was different, there was Chinese food on one and the stall next door was selling bicycles so the market was very diverse!! I'm really sorry that I couldn't get any photos of the stalls themselves but it was very busy at the time, however, the pictures online definitely by the market justice. 

For my outfit, I decided to go for a comfy option but still dress up slightly by wearing a nice top and necklace. I feel like my necklace is very appropriate for Brick Lane market because it has many different styles as the place does. The shoes that I am wearing were perfect; I didn't get any blisters (as I always do when I walk for a long time) and my feet didn't kill by the end of the day - another bonus! On the topic of easy long-wear items, my bag from Primark was a good option for a market: I could keep it next to me at all times and it also meant that I didn't fill a large bag with lots of unnecessary stuff! I really like the pattern on the front of the bag, it has a slightly hippyish (not sure if that's a word but I'm going to go with it) design and it fits in really well with the style of the market. 

I would definitely recommend a visit to Brick Lane market if you ever get the chance! What would be your perfect outfit for a morning out at a market?

xox

Music for varied emotions

If you didn't know, I love listening to music and although many others may disagree, I really like my music taste! I thought today I would share you with you some songs that I like to listen to when I am feeling a particular emotion, either to carry me out of it or to boost my mood! 

Songs for when you need motivation:

• Warriors - Imagine Dragons
• What a wonderful world - Louis Armstrong
• True colors - Cyndi Lauper
• Imagine - John Lennon
• Titanium - David Guetta

Songs for when you feel like have a dance party in your room:

• Raise your glass - Pink
• Black Widow - Rita Ora and Iggy Azalea 
• Mr Brightside - The Killers (Mine and my mum's favourite song)
• Aint it fun - Paramore 
• GDFR - Flo Rida

Songs for when you need a mood booster:

• Centuries - Fall out boy 
• Shut up and Dance - Walk the moon
• Rock and Roll - Avril Lavigne
• Don't be hard on yourself - Jess Gylnne
• Fight song - Rachel Patten

Songs for when you feel like performing in the shower:

• Focus - Ariana Grande
• You don't own me - Grace, G-Eazy
• Chandelier - Sia
• Who wants to live forever - Queen
• Cool kids - Echosmith

Songs for when you feel like rapping your heart out:

• Rap God - Eiminen (I actually know the words to the really fast bit but can certainly not rap it to speed)
• Monster - Kanye West
• Hotline Bling - Drake
• Black Widow - Rita Ora and Iggy Azalea (again!)
• Starships - Nicki Minaj 

Songs for when you need calming down:

• A thousand years - Christina Perri
• Everything has changed - Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran
• A year without rain - Selena Gomez
• Just give me a reason - Pink
• Royals - Lorde

Songs for when you are feeling nostalgic:

• Party in the USA - Miley Cyrus
• Breakthrough - Hope 7 
• Sk8er boi - Avril Lavigne
• The Climb - Miley Cyrus
• Cheetah love - The Cheetah Girls

Songs for when you feel like singing your heart out:

• I wasn't expecting that - Jamie Lawson
• Dreamed a dream - From Les misérables 
• 7 years - Lukas Graham 
• Writing's on the wall - Sam Smith
• Give me love - Ed Sheeran

What songs do you like to listen to when in a particular mood? Would your choices vary from my own?

xox

Blush baby

Posie Tint

This is such a beautiful petal-pink shade that I love to wear on a daily basis. It is a lip and cheek stain but I don't ever tend to apply the product to my lips as it doesn't suit me very well; however, on the cheeks, it is stunning. The wet consistency gives you a lovely sheen to your cheeks. Something that I will say is that you have to blend it out quickly because if you leave the initial application on your face for too long, it stains (as it should) and doesn't blend out. Before I learnt this, I would have two small dots on my face, from using the applicator, that just wouldn't blend. Aside from that, the product is one of my favourite blush looks that I go for regularly and if you don't particularly like the shade, Benefit have many others in the same range. 

Body Shop Shimmer Waves

This is very similar to the Bobbie Brown Shimmer Brick but is a fraction of the price. I love to swirl my brush around to pick up all of the beautiful shades in the blush. However, you could just wear one of the 5 shades instead of applying all of them! As the name of the product suggests, it is really shimmery so I don't tend to wear a lot of highlighter with it! I think, sometimes, that the Body Shop doesn't always get the recognition that it deserves for its makeup - I think that it's such an amazing brand with a lot to offer! I have actually worn this so much that I've broken the lid off the packaging! 

Coralista 

Coralista was one of my first high-end beauty products. After searching for a new blush, I came across the Benefit box blushes and fell in love with the range of shades. This one took my fancy the most and I'm so glad I purchased it! It is such a lovely coral colour and it has some pretty gold shimmery undertones to it. As you may be able to tell, this is well loved product in my collection; I rarely ever hit pan on powders! For me, this is the perfect every day shade and I'm sure that I will re-purchase it once I start to run out!! 

What are your favourite blushes?

xox

Bedside table reading

The Martian 

If any of you didn't know, I absolutely adore science! Any book that has a great story line and is scientific, I am instantly drawn to it - The Martian is no exception!! I saw the film when it first came out and knew that I had to read the book - I've not only read it once but twice! The storyline is so gripping; I'm also really happy that the commander in this book is a female as in most space stories, it is the males that are usually in control. What really surprises me is that quite a lot of the science mentioned in the book is correct! This is a novel that I know that I will always love and will want to re-read so I keep it on my bedside table to allow me easy access to it!!

I am Malala

I've written a full review before on my blog and if you read that, you will know my love for this book. It is so inspirational and really moving - it is written beautifully! Malala is such a true role-model for everyone. Whenever I am feeling uninspired, I love picking this book up. It gives me such a strong boost of motivation to achieve whatever I set my hopes on. Owning a book that can have such an effect on me is so special and this is why I like to keep it close by. 

Unbecoming

I haven't actually started reading this yet but it is the next book that I want to get my nose into. After receiving this for Christmas and reading the blurb, I'm so excited to start it. From what I have gathered, it will be right up my street because it is about family and the love within and outside of it. I love books that are relatable and are true for real life!

All I know now

Carrie Hope Fletcher is a fellow blogger and also a Youtuber and musical theatre star. Her book is about her experiences growing up and through telling her stories, she offers advice for the reader. It is written in such a way that you feel really connected to her as a person; it almost feels like she is giving advice over a cup of tea in a coffee shop. Due to the tone of the book, the guidance comes across as uncensored and heartfelt - I love this! I can pick this up whenever and just read a specific chapter or read it from start to finish in one sitting, the book structure is so versatile!

Lauren Conrad Beauty

This book is loved within the blogging community for giving some great makeup tips! I've learnt a lot about how to apply makeup and what specific products actually do for your face. It's one of those books that you can just read as often or little as you want but you know that the advice and knowledge within is really useful. I keep this on my bedside table so that if I prefer to have a lighter read at night, I can but will still enjoy the content. 

What books do you keep on your bedside table?

xox

Blogging routine

Blogging is one of my favourite hobbies. With any hobby, it isn't rare that you won't always stick to a specific schedule. However, this is, generally, how 'Makinglifeacamera' comes together on a weekly basis. 

Weekdays 

I usually do most of the writing for my blog over the weekend - more to come on that in a moment - so my week doesn't consist of any writing unless I am behind. In the weekdays, I like to participate in Twitter chats and read lots of other blogs. Everyday, I scroll through Bloglovin, enjoying the new posts in my feed. I get a lot of my inspiration from reading other blogs and I find many of the posts that I read really informative as well. Whilst daydreaming throughout my day, I try to come up with lots of blog posts so I never run out of ideas. I then arrive home and scribble them all down in a notepad for safe keeping. Weekdays, for me, don't usually involve me doing any physical work for my blog but blogging is always on my mind! 

Saturday

Saturday is definitely a photography day for me! I find it easiest to do on Saturday because I am generally always at home when the lighting is the best for photos. If I am doing fashion photos, the day varies but for all other pictures, I take them on Saturday. As I post two times a week, I have to take two lots and edit them ready for writing the posts. I'm not sure if this applies to anyone else but I can't start writing a post until I have a designated photo; photos really help me visualise the structure of my writing. 

Sunday

This is the day that I start to actually write and finish my posts ready for the week ahead. Between finishing a blog, I like to have a break because I find it hard to switch from one topic to the next in a short space of time - my head has to be solely focused on one post. After finishing, I read my post out loud to check it for grammatical errors - my grammar is usually horrific! I do still sometimes get it wrong but it does minimise the amount of errors. If I am particularly proud of a post, I read it to my family members because I love to hear their thoughts and contrastive criticism. Whilst doing this whole process on a Sunday, I have Spotify on full blast. Currently, Sia's new album is my favourite  - there are some amazing tracks on there!

If you are a blogger, what is your weekly blogging routine?

xox