Perfume Dupes

Perfume a can be VERY expensive, and when you spend a lot of money you want it to last. I've tried out some dupes of designer perfumes and I'm amazed at the quality, and how well the scent lasts on my skin. I've narrowed it down to my top 3 and thought I would share them with you, because why waste £60 when you can have essentially the same product for £10? Especially as the majority of us buy an expensive perfume and end up saving it for special occasions because of the cost.

                        

    

All three of these perfumes have lovely packaging so can be displayed, are very long lasting and most importantly all under £15.

1. New Look ~ Pure Blush ~ £12.99 ~ 100ml

This is my favourite perfume at the moment. I had it for Christmas and I'm already half way through. What I like about this, is it lasts a fairly long time, and every time I wear it I get complimented on how I smell, and who doesn't like getting told they smell nice? It smells quite floral with a citrus twist and smells very sophisticated. It's got lovely simple packaging in a glass bottle. The lid has a tiny mirror on it, and it's not bulky so easy to travel with. This smells similar to Chanel Coco Mademoiselle which is £68 for a 50ml bottle from Debenhams, that works out to £136 for 100ml! The New look version comes in a 50ml bottle aswell for £7.99 so your essentially saving £60.01 for same product. If you can get your hands on this I would defiantly recommend giving it a try. 

2. Next ~ Just Pink ~ £8 ~ 30ml

An old favourite. I love this perfume, I had the 30ml in September for my birthday and it's still going. It's a lovely fresh fragrance and another one that I get complimented on all the time. For the 100ml it's £12 so better value for money than the 30ml, and you can also buy it in gift sets with the body cream with I think is nice as presents. The packaging is a pretty glass bottle with rose gold trim and a pink ribbon, that looks lovely sitting on a dressing table. This is a dupe for The Ralph Lauren Romance which is £42 for the same 30ml, £55 for 50ml or £72 for 100ml-however the packaging is identical to the purfume Chloé. In my opinion just pink is a must have in any girls perfume drawer, it's one of the best scents at lasting and for £8 you really can't complain. 

3. Lidl ~ Suddenly Madame Glamour ~ £3.99 ~ 50ml

Yes you read that right. Lidl. I certainly wouldn't have expected a perfume like this from Lidl, but it's such a gorgeous scent, and another one that is a dupe for the Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, just like the New look Pure blush. The only downside is you have to give a quick spritz again mid day, however for the price you can afford to. The packaging is also very similar just with a different shape. A glass bottle showing the pink/orange toned purfume inside, with a white lid and gold trim, this looks so sophisticated and grown up. In consumer blind tests, Lidl's dupe was actually preferred over the Channel version, impressive huh? Especially as there is an overwhelming £64.01 price difference, between the two bottles, you really have to give this a try. 

Would you give any of these a try? And do you own any perfume dupes?

I hope you enjoyed this post.

Ella X

The Cookie Brownie

Today's recipe is one that is very popular with my friends, whenever I send a photo of these cookies, I'm bombarded with messages asking for some. I found this recipe online, and have adapted it to a more brownie like texture, because lets face it, who like a hard cookie?

For this recipe you will need:

• 1 egg
• 270g Self raising flour
• 210g Margarine
• 300g Caster sugar
• 80g Cocoa powder
• 50g milk chocolate
• 50g dark chocolate 
• 50g white chocolate

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees (fan assisted).
2. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl until light and fluffy
3. Add in a beaten egg and mix until its combined.
4. Mix in the cocoa powder and flour, until a dough consistency is formed and its not sticking to your hand, add milk if its too dry.
5. Break up the chocolate into chunks and add to the dough, making sure its distributed all the way through the dough.
6. Using your hands make the dough into balls, whatever size you want your cookies to be. Personally I make them the size of a ping pong ball, and place them on a lined baking tray with a 2cm gap between each one.
7. Bake for between 8-10 minutes depending on how gooey you want the Cookie brownies to be. When you take them out the oven they won't look cooked, however they continue cooking out the oven and start to harden, so its important you don't leave them in too long.
8. Leave to cool for 30 minutes.

I hope you like this Twist on Chocolate cookies. Let me know if you make them!

Lemon Drizzle Loaf

Sunday is the main day I bake, mainly because it means that I start the week with a delicious bake. Mondays are more manageable when you know you have cookies, or cake, am I right?

For the cake you will need:

• 6oz Self Raising Flour
• 6oz Caster Sugar
• 6oz Margarine
• 2 eggs
• 1 lemon squeezed
• grind of 1 and a half lemons

For the Icing you will need:

• 1 lemon squeezed
• 2oz Caster Sugar
• Grind of half a lemon 

To make the cake, put the flour, sugar, margarine, and eggs into a bowl and mix until the mixture is light, fluffy and pale in colour. Add in the lemon grind and the juice, and mix until combined. This should only one minute. Pour the mixture into a greased loaf tin and bake at 180 degrees (fan assisted oven) for about 30 minutes or until golden brown, and a knife comes out clean.

While the cake is cooking, make the drizzle. To do this heat the lemon and sugar in a pan until the sugar is dissolved. Pour the drizzle of the lemon cake, while its still hot. This will help the drizzle soak into the cake and make it really moist. Sprinkle the Grind on top and leave to cool in the tin, so that the cake soaks up all the drizzle. Remove from the tin, place it on a plate, and serve! 

I love simple and straight to the point recipes. Baking is meant to be fun, who wants to spend their time reading a 20 step recipe? Not me, that's for sure.

Hope you enjoy recreating this recipe!

                           

                           

Urban Decay&Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette - Beauty

In November, Urban Decay released a limited edition Collection in collaboration with Gwen Steffani. The collection is based on what Gwen would wear herself, Urban Decay have said its her 'Dream Come True Shades' and I was really surprised when I saw the eyeshadow pallete and lipsticks, that they are quite neutral, there isn't many that are very extravagant, which makes this collection very wearable for everyday, aswell as creating a glam night time look. The collection includes an eyeshadow pallete, Blush Pallete, Brow Box, Lip Pencils and Lipsticks. I picked up the Eyeshadow Pallete and was given samples of the lipsticks, and wanted to share my thoughts.

Before I buy any makeup product, I have to search reviews on them, to make sure I'm buying something I will use, especially with high end products, it's a lot of money to spend for something to just sit in your makup bag. And after reading Zoellas Blogpost, I realised I needed this pallete in my life.

The packaging stands out and is eye catching for all the products. The eyeshadows are in quite chunky box, with gold trim, I love the simplistic yet outstanding design. It's too pretty to hide away in the draw so I keep it on my dressing table. I was drawn to the vast amount of neutral shades, and shimmers in this pallete. It includes 7 matte shades and 8 shimmers and I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed with the quality of the product, because urban decay are well known for their long lasting and pigmented eyeshadows. 

The only colour I won't be wearing much is the danger, because it's a bright blue, but the rest will be getting a lot of use. My favourite colours are 'pop' which has a very wet metallic look on your eyelid, 'punk' which is a lovely deep purple shade and 'Bathwater' which works as a highlighter aswell as a base colour, to really brighten your eyes. I honestly can't fault this palette, and it's by far my favourite makeup item that I own. For £40 I really believe this is a must buy, a little on the pricey side, However the naked palettes are £38 for 12 shadows, and this one has 15, but with the naked you do get a brush. 

The lipsticks are very pigmented, and last on your lips for ages! I'm so impressed with the quality of them and will definatly be purchasing one or two. They are very smooth to apply and creamy in texture. My favourite is 'Ex-Girlfriend' which is a nude with a hint of purple. I'm not one for a very bold lip, but I will use the other colours as I'm trying to be abit more daring with my makeup.

Have you brought anything from the Gwen Stefani collection? Is their anything you want to buy? 

* I couldn't take swatches as my camera would focus on the colours, however this blogpost has all the swatches :) -https://www.zoella.co.uk/2015/11/urban-decay-gwen-stefani-eyeshadow-palette.html

Bedroom Makeover - part one - Wishlist

I don't know about you, but I have an obsession with shopping. Shopping and Homewear. That's lead me to redesigning my entire room (that was redecorated only a year ago oops). I'm planning on keeping my wallpaper, touching up the paint on the wall (to cover the makeup marks) aswell as keeping two pieces of furniture. Other than that my room is having a whole new makeover and I'm very excited. 

I have had my room redecorated quite a lot, but that's because my style keeps changing, however each time I've kept the same furniture, and I feel like it's time for a change, so I thought, why not blog about it? I'll be running through what I want to buy, a before and after of my room, aswell as the little touches I do to make it complete. Today I'm going to run through my Wishlist of furniture, cushions, bedding, blinds etc. Remember this is my taste, it might not be for everyone and you will probably have a different style to me. You might like what I choose, and you might not, that's okay, everyone likes different things.

*I will go into more detail about prices and where I buy my furniture when I do a room tour post, so look out for that!

1. Bed- My bed is about 4 years old, and I've just outgrown it. When I brought it, I was going through a vintage/shabby chic phase, and now I'm more modern. The bed is also falling apart as it wasn't well made, so I need a new one. I chose this grey ottamon bed, with detailing on the headboard. I'd have a double bed if it wasn't for the fact my parents brought me an expensive mattress a year ago for my single bed, so I'm ordering a single version. It's practical for space and will look lovely in my room. 

      

2. Wardrobes- I've wanted new wardrobes for YEARS. Currently they are birch or beach (I'm not sure) coloured ikea Pax system large wardrobes that my mom picked out about 10+ years ago, and they don't match my room at all. I've decided to go for a modern white and mirrored door wardrobe, that will look very elegant in my new room. 

                     

3. Blind- personally I prefer curtains, however I'm changing my mind and feel like a Roman blind will open up my room, I've already got a grey blind so the Roman one will be for show. It's got a hint of green in which will tie my room together, as I'm going for a Purple accessories with pops of green. 

                          

4. Duvet Cover- I want a fresh look in my room and this duvet cover will certainly do it, I love the hints of green with the purple, and it's reversible too! It will look lovely on my new bed.

                                       

5. Dressing table- This is the item I'm most excited for. I currently stand up to do my makeup, next to a draw that is too crammed up with makeup. The most sensible decision would be to stop buying makeup but realistically that won't happen. I've wanted a nice dressing table to ages, and this will look so nice on its own wall in my room opposite my bed, where everything will be neat and organised and I can sit down and do my makeup properly.

         

If there's anything you have seen that will look good in my room, leave me a link in the comments below, I'm still looking for accessories to pull it all together, and I can't decided on cushions and throws.

I hope you will like this little room makeover series, I've never done it before, but I thought it will be interesting for me to look back on how it changes.

Let me know your favourite part of your room!

Ella x

Easiest Victoria Sponge - Baking

I thought that for my first Baking post of the new year, I would do something simple, but so tasty and something  that everyone should know how to bake. It can be made by anyone, with any baking ability, with just 4 ingredients.  A classic 2 layer Victoria Sponge. I learnt this recipe off my nan, and have been baking it for years.

   

In a bowl, put 8 ounces (227g) each of Self Raising Flour, Caster Sugar and Margarine. add 4 eggs, and using either a Mixer or wooden spoon, combine all the ingredients together until smooth. I don't sieve the flour or sugar, I don't cream the sugar and butter. I put it all in the same bowl and mix, which is why this is the easiest Victoria sponge you will find (That still tastes amazing). You could add in vanilla essence if you want but its not necessary.

Bake on 180 Degrees Celsius(fan) or 356(Fahrenheit) or Gas mark 4, depending on your oven, for 30 minutes or until golden brown and spongy to touch. Leave to cool then spread an even layer of jam in the middle. sprinkle icing sugar on top and enjoy with a cup of tea. 

Let me know how you get on! all my links are in the bar under my blog name.

Happy Baking

Love Ella x

The Blog Name...

Recently I stumbled across a '30 day blogging challenge' and while I'm not going to hold myself to that, I thought I'd use it as base for starting my blog, especially as the first day was 'Your blog name'.

I've been following a few blogs for years now, and I've always loved the idea of writing to a little community, and now as I have many lovely blogger friends, I've plucked up the courage to start my own blog, my own little community of happiness and fun, and I hope you like it.

I'm a keen baking enthusiast, I've been baking since a young age. I'm self taught and fun fact I actually work in a bakery and have done for nearly two years now. So hence the 'Baking' in my name. Anyone who knows me knows I like to talk, and as a said previously I like the idea of a community, which is where the 'Chatter' comes in. It's not limited to anything, it could be about beauty, fashion, lifestyle anything I want to talk about, or feel like I need to talk about. My blog is going to be an open blog where I feel I can talk about anything freely and I hope you enjoy the free feel and variety that I'm going to post for you, because who likes to just stick to one thing, am I right? 

So there's abit about my Blog name, and I hope you enjoy the things I will be posting! All my social media links are in the bar below my blog banner, come and say hi, and welcome to Baking & Chatter!