Friday, October 28, 2011

So Much!?

Why hello there!!

I have so much to sure you guys!! But it will have to wait just a few more days...as we are off to...
DISNEY WORLD!!!! 

Pictures will be taken, Mickey Mouse will be hugged and i will be shedding lots of happy Disney tears!! 
So speak to you guys super soon!! 

Peace, Love & Kara <3 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Versatile Award



Eee! I got an award! Thank you to my wonderful fun sister, Faye. 
                                                          (http://lovefayexoxo.blogspot.com/
Check out my sissy's blog for all your make up needs <3 



There are three rules for this award:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave the award to you.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Send it along to 5 other bloggers and let them know you have awarded them!


1. I don't eat red meat. I hate it. It makes me sickie. 
2. I am dyslexic. I went through middle school and high school not knowing. The teachers spotted it at college straight away...Nice one schools :/ 
3. Tap water frightens me. I will never drink it. 
4. I love Birds. Cardinals are my favorite kinda birdie <3
5. I have 5 tattoos...next year i shall be adding a Disney one, a Cupcake one & a Cardinal tattoo
6. I want to be a kindergarten teacher
7. I eat Branflakes every morning with raisins and flax seeds. It's my morning obsession...


The Bloggers i am awarding are.....

* Marguerite - Cajun Delights -
 http://cajundelights.blogspot.com/
* Riley - The Authentic Nut - http://theauthenticnut.blogspot.com/
* Serena - Be Broke, Be Stylish, Be Slightly Boho.. - http://bebrokebestylishbeslightlyboho.blogspot.com/
* Zoe - Bake for Happy Kids - http://bakeforhappykids.blogspot.com/
* Sam - Sam's Notebook - http://www.samsnotebook.com/
  
Happy Blogging!! 

Peace, Love & Kara <3 

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Chocolate, Toffee & Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies


Hello my friends! 

Weekend been good? I sure hope so! 

So...i cracked. I baked...Cookies. I baked cookies. Delicious, Oaty, Chocolatey, Cookies. 
That happened. Cookies happened. I am not ashamed of my baking addiction, i fully enjoy it...like these cookies. I enjoy them. 

Should we get down to it then? Get down to cookie business? 



Ingredients you need -


I forgot to put the Milk & Toffee is the picture...

* 2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour 
* 2 cups Whole Grain Oats
* 1 tsp Baking Soda
* 1 tsp Salt 
* 1/2 tsp Cinnamon 
* 2 tbsp Grounded Flax Seed 
* 1 cup Shortening 
* 1 cup Granulated Sugar 
* 1 cup Packed Brown Sugar 
* 2 Eggs 
* 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 
* 2 tbsp Milk 
* 1 cup Semi Sweet Chunks 
* 1/2 cup Butterscotch Chips (Honestly...i hated these, but you guys may like them. Next time i will NOT use them!) 
* 1/2 cup Toffee Bits



1. Pre heat the oven to 375f. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set aside. 




2. In a mixer, mix the shortening and sugar together. Mix on medium until well blended. 




3. Once the sugar mixture has been mixed together add the eggs, vanilla extract, and milk. Mix until well blended again! 







4. Add the flour to the wet ingredients, and mix on med/high. Once all the ingredients have been mixed together add the chocolate chunks, butterscotch (yucky) and toffee. Mix all together. 




5. Scoop out the cookie mixture on to the baking tray and bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. 






6. Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes on the baking tray, then move them to the cooling rack so they can cool completely. Chow down...chow down on these wonderful cookies! 


Honestly the butterscotch chips are far too sweet for me. I am NOT a fan...it was my bad...i didn't try them until i put them in the cookie dough. I believe it is because i got too excited. It happens. Luckily it doesn't ruin these bad boys! 

After making cookies...i washed my Bug. He was stinky...AND i am trying to keep myself busy...so i don't get too excited about going to Disneyworld. I make weird noises when i am excited...they frighten children. 


Enjoy my rule breakin' cookies...i know i did! 

Peace, Love & Kara <3 

Thursday, October 20, 2011

My Obsessions.


Hello to you! 

So...still no baking. Why did i ban myself again? I don't remember? 
Something about...too much sugar? Was that it? Something like that! Something stupid. 
Not enjoying it! 

With no baking, what do we talk about huh!? Should we talk about boys? *shifts uncomfortably* 
Oh good! I don't want to talk about them either. Yuck right! Wacka wacka! But seriously...What! 

Well, since i haven't been spending my free time in the kitchen i have been obsessing about new things. Things that we can high five too. Do you know what I haven't done for a while? 
A list! We haven't made a list for a while...what is wrong with me!? 
Lets do it! Lets get this list down! 

Ready...! GO! 

My Obsessions.



1. Popcorn. Popcorn is rocking my world this week! Ever tried Kettlecorn? It's the bees knees! Sweet and salty, just perfect! My obsession started when i went to a Pumpkin Patch just down the road from our house for an AuPair Meeting. As soon as i got there...i spotted a tent making and selling fresh kettlecorn popcorn. BOOM. Me likes. So off i trotted to the popcorn tent...and i was sold. Popcorn and i are like best friends now. A best friend i can consume. Wonderful. 


2. Diet Coke. I could literally drink this all day, everyday. Zero calories? Heck yeah! Crazy delicious? Good lord YES. I don't know what it is about this drink, but it makes me a crazy chick! I just love, love LOVE it! I hear diet sodas aren't good for you...but i have also heard that eating french fries can give you cancer. Yeah, so Mr Scientist...i shall carry on drinking this wonderful liquid...take that! Good Day. I said GOOD DAY! 


3. Starbucks House Blend VIA Coffee. I love coffee, i drink it everyday...i get headaches if i don't, so i am a coffee prisoner. I don't mind being in a coffee prison though, it keeps me going and tastes wonderful! I am not a fan of the fresh brewed coffee that you make at home, odd i know. I just prefer the instant coffees. I am a huge fan of Starbucks, just like my sister. I love the Starbucks drive-thrus here, they are amazing. I am just too happy they made the instant stuff...Thanks Starbucks...Love Me. 



4. Nail Art Strips. I love painting my nails, but when i get nervous or bored i pick at my nail varnish. So my nails look pretty for about a day...then i ruin them! My friend, Missy bought Faye, Kirstie & I nail art strips...and i love them! Look how fun! So quick and neat, i fudging LOVE them! I like that you can't peel them. I want to get them all...like Pokemon. Gotta catch 'em all. 


5. Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I never in my life thought i would love a show like this...but here we are...watching it as i type. Thanks Faye. Thanks. I am completely obsessed with this stupid show! I love the Beverly Hills one and the New Jersey one...what has happened to me!? I just love it...damn it. I want to be like Lisa when i grow up...for real. 

My Zombie Bride Outfit

Ruffles Bug's Caterpillar Outfit
6. Halloween. My favorite holiday! So much fun! I love the dressing up, the Halloween baking, the Movies, just every thing about it! I can not wait! I am truly obsessed!!! Halloween!!! Argh!!!! I could talk about it all day long...i won't bore you with it though...you know how much i love it! 


7. Disney Trip!! My fella and myself are going to Disneyworld for 4 days in 10 days. 10 DAYS! I can't even tell you how excited i am! Disney has been my life long obsession, and it always will be. My children will be obsessed too...it's a family thing ;P My Mum & Dad love Disney, My Sister Loves Disney...I LOVE Disney! These 10 days are going super duper slow...Spending Halloween in Disney will be just like old time, i may cry! 

There we have it...my obsessions. Of course Cupcakes aswell...did i even need to mention them! 
Oh geez...now i need to go and get popcorn whilst catching up on Real Housewives...and drinking diet coke. 

What are you guys obsessing about?? 

Catch ya on the flip siiiide! 

Peace, Love & Kara <3 

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The Flour Shop Bakery


Why hello...It's a good day, a good day for a cupcake review! 

  A new bakery opened up literally 2 minutes away from me...and i love it! It could be dangerous for me though as it is so darn easy to get too. 

The Flour Shop Bakery. 


Photo by The Flour Shop Bakery.

Myself, Faye, my Sister and Best Friend, Kirstie just so happened to come across this little gem the day it opened, and we couldn't have been more excited about it! We had been craving cupcakes and BOOM...Hello Flour Shop Bakery!


Outside the bakery. 


I love the window writing! 
Inside the bakery is quite small with light blue and bright orange walls. There are cute shelves with lots of knick knacks and a few places to sit. It feels super cozy and modern. I like it! The cupcake display is lite up and very welcoming indeed...so many yummy treats to look at!


Yummy cupcakes and cookies Display
More cupcakes! 
 




Today my good friend, Missy and I went to The Flour Shop Bakery to try more of Cara's goodies. Cara is the owner and baker, we met her today and she is super friendly...she put up with me taking pictures and was kind enough to pose for one.




Hello Cara! 


The Flour Shop doesn't just have cupcakes. There are cookies, sometimes rice crispy treats (Faye had one of these and LOVED it!) and more! I have posted The Flour Shop Bakery's website at the bottom of this post so you can check it out for yourself! So many goodies!


But for today we tried a handful of cupcakes and a cookie. Wanna see??
Sure you do!


 


Here we have the Cupcake of The Week, Snickerdoodle Vanilla topped with Buttercream and rolled in Cinnamon Sugar. The furthest cupcake is a Pumpkin Cupcake. These are both the mini sized ones. 




Isn't Missy sweet! Enjoying her Mini Pumpkin Cupcake. She had finished the Snickerdoodle one whilst i was purchasing my treats...She must have liked it! 


Here is my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie...






This cookie was so good! Chocolate in every bite, i love the oatmeal taste. Oatmeal cookies make me feel happy...They remind me of my Nana's cookies, so always a winner in my books. I could have eaten more of these for sure. Super soft and tasty. I had too eat it before i even got home! I couldn't wait :D


Now for the cupcakes! Exciting right! I bought 2 mini cupcakes and 2 big ones...i wanted to buy more, but i know my limit...I could get sugar drunk. No one likes that.


Check out my minis!


Triple Chocolate Threat Cupcake.





This could be in my top 10 cupcakes EVER. So yummy! So chocolatey! A chocolate cake filled with a chocolate creme. I had forgotten that this cupcake was filled, it was a lovely surprise. The cupcake was moist and the filling was awesomely creamy. I love the filled cupcakes. A Must try if you are a chocolate lover!


Oh! Hey There Red Velvet Cupcake!


This is my fella's favorite cupcake flavor, i can see why! This cupcake is sweet and simply. It has a wonderful homemade taste that you just can't beat! Again this cupcake was moist and yummy. The frosting is super sweet, i have a sweet tooth clearly so i fully enjoyed it!


Now for the bigger cupcakes!


PB & C...YUM.


The Peanut Butter Crunch Ball that was on top of the cupcake.
 


I had never tried this cupcake before and it is now my new favorite! Peanut Butter rocks my world...but peanut butter AND chocolate...amazing! A rich chocolate cake filled with a peanut butter creme, tasty tasty tasty! Moist, and creamy! The frosting is a dark chocolate peanut butter ganache, topped with that awesome peanut butter crunch ball! LOVE IT! I would like another...10. Thanks.


Now for the Cupcake of the Week.
Snickerdoodle Vanilla Cupcake filled with a snickerdoodle cookie dough, topped with a buttercream frosting rolled in cinnamon sugar...



Look at it! So good! The cinnamon wasn't over whelming at all which is nice as i am not the biggest fan of it, but this tasted wonderful. A vanilla cake with a touch of cinnamon filled with cookie dough! My favorite part was the cookie dough! This blew my mind! This cupcake was soft, sweet and delicious. A very good flavor of the week. 


One of my favorites is the S'mores cupcake from here, i will have to show you another time...it's amazing!! Oh and the cream cheese brownie sprinkled with sugar is wonderful!   


If you are able to get to this bakery...Then please do! It is so worth it :D Cara and everybody else that i have met there are all very nice and patient...(i take a while deciding what i want!) Check out the website to see all the cupcake flavors and what else is baked up fresh daily


Thank you The Flour Shop Bakery for letting me take pictures! :D 


Lets talk Halloween next...i have somethings i wanna show you ;P 

Peace, Love & Kara <3 
http://www.ilovetheflourshopbakery.com/_iltfsb/

Monday, October 17, 2011

My Babies...


I have babies. A handful of babies...here and England. 

Of course i mean pets! Did you really think i had a bunch of babies!? I haven't been that busy! Don't get me wrong i loooove the babas! I love to hold them and try to eat their little chunky legs...and smell their wonderful little foreheads to take in the baby smell! Then hand them back to their parents. Done. 

Animals on the other hand...i will try to steal them. If you notice my bag moving slightly...chances are i have a teeny puppy in there. I kid, it's just Ruffles Bug. He is too big to hide now though, his head and tail pops out of the sides. Bless him, he puts up with it. 

The little loves of my life are my awesome pets.
 I am a complete animal person, i talk to them like their a person...i sometimes expect them to respond to my questions. I ask them lots of questions. That can't be normal. 
We have staring competitions. They get intense, but so far i have won MOST of them...Candy is a good little starer. Damn her. 
I will cook with them, explaining what i will be doing next. Its like a personal cooking show just for them...that also gets intense...i feel their little judging eyes when i eat some of the dough. Not cool. 
We sit and watch movies together. Sometimes Ruffles & Kirppu will bark...just to scare me. Those tricksters. 
If i leave the bathroom door open whilst doing my business...they will all come in with me...this i don't enjoy. I don't watch them do their thing...but whatever. Kind of rude. 

Want to meet my little fluffy balls of happiness? Too cute not to show them really!

Meet my Main Man...Bo. 




Bo Bum spent the first few weeks of his life in a Puppy Farm. A disgusting place where they breed dogs. These people don't care for the animals, just the money. It was clear Bo had been abused. He would shake uncontrollable, he was terrified of men, he hated water and would pee everywhere. My mum & dad chose Bo out of the other puppies because he wouldn't have been able to make it much longer. This little fella is the most gorgeous boy! He is a Staffordshire Bull Dog, all muscly and tough! Such a little gentleman. He and my daddy have a bond...but Bo turns to mush around me. I babied him so much! He loves the snow, and he will sit on your lap if you sit on the floor. Bo believes he is a lot smaller then he actually is...  Goodness i love him and miss him so much!

Check out Tigger! 




Tigger-a-liggs reminds me of a pirate's cat. Well what i assume a pirate's cat would look like and act like! His meow still sounds like a kitten's meow...he is too cute. A thug, a cute thug though. Tigger loves to be picked up...but only when he wants. Such a big kitty! Bo and Tigger are like best friends, they sleep in the same bed often. My Dad loves this cat, it's his little buddie. Daddy will talk to Tigger often. True story...My fella came to my Dad's house for Christmas and heard my Dad talking to Tigger. My fella was frightened. Frightened and confused.  I miss this ball of fluffy. He is a character. 


Oh Hey There Little Lady! Meet Candy Kisses (her show name, we didn't name her that.) 




This is my little sweetheart. Candy will let me pick her up and she will hold on tight like a little parrot. My teeny tiny little lady. She drinks water out of our bathroom sink and sleeps with her tongue out, lady like. I do the same sometimes. She is a fussy thing and will only want lovin's on her terms...what a gal! Candy is having to put up with my Mum's new kitten, Yoda. I haven't met that little fella yet! He looks super cute though! Look at little Yoda!




Meet my Sister's little fella...Jinx. 




This is honestly the only photo we have of him where you can see his face. He is a mover. He won't stay still. Our Jinx is a little...how you say...special? A normal cat wouldn't fall off counters and sleep where they land. He will sit inches from the wall and just stare. He will wake up suddenly and stare down the dark hallway...like he sees something. A monster perhaps? Jinx will sneeze on you and eat the fur around his face, but god bless him he will love you so much and want your attention always. Jinx follows Faye around like her little shadow. He is adorable and one of a kind. Our Jinxies <3 


Oh Hey My Little Finnish Friend Kirppu...





This little guy is my shadow. I fell in love with him about 3 1/2 years ago...he is a feisty, loud little man, but so so loving. Kirppu (means flea in Finnish) is a little grumpy fella, he will have no problem biting you if you piss him off. Not very social AT ALL...he will bark until he can't bark anymore...a good guard dog! I love it when he plays with his toys, he gets so excited and noisy! What a guy...i adore Mr Kirppu. 


Now for my little love bug. Meet Ruffles Bug. 







Ruffles was born at our house. Minnie & Mickey (2 dogs My boys family had made babies) are his parents. We helped Minnie give birth too 6 healthy puppies. Ruffles was the runt. He would never leave Minnie's side and would be the 1st one to cry. He had unusual markings and had a lot longer hair then the rest of the puppies...It was love at first sight. I raised Ruffles and pretend he is my child. Yeah...i am one of THOSE people...He follows me everywhere and pines after me when i am away, that breaks my heart...i would bring him everywhere with me if i could. He loves everybody and is a little attention seeker. Ruffles Bug is oh so loving, if you are sitting on the sofa he will climb up the side and try to sit on your shoulder whilst giving you kisses. I love this little man more then life it's self, he makes me the happiest human ever. My little Ruffles Bug.


My Mum's cat Bomber passed away about 2 years ago, he was the love of her life. Bomber was gorgeous and the biggest cat i had ever seen! 



This is me saying goodbye to him :( I was moving back to America and my Mum knew that this would be the last time i saw him as he was starting to get super sick. We grow very much attached to our pets, they truly do become apart of the family, so when we lose one part of the family it hurts more then anything. We miss him everyday. Bomber you big bear like kitty!


So there we have it...my babies. I love them. I miss the ones i can't see everyday, but i think of them often and Faye tells me funny stories about them. Such little peoples! 

Peace, Love & Kara <3