200 Followers Prize Update and BodyShop's New Range...

Ladies.....I just want to say you are AMAZING!!! A hhuuuuuugge ginormousssss thank you to everyone for your support in helping to grow this blog! When I started my blog with the great encouragement of House of Pinheiro I never even dreamed of getting over 50 followers let alone 200!! Its such a huge achievement and I thank everyone of you for taking the time to read my posts, I truly appreciate it and just love reading each and every one of the comments you write...I would love to send everyone a gift but unfortunately I'd be extremely broke! lol!

So onto the next 190/200 follower prize updates... I popped into to my local Body Shop store yesterday to get another product for the prize and saw a tester of the hand lotion in the new Chocomania range. I've seen these products on a couple blogger reviews and thought it sounded pretty good to as soon as I saw it in the store I almost burst with excitement! Litterally! I kinda shouted a 'oh you've got the Chocmania lotion!' so the sales assistant! So I pumped abit out onto my hand and immediately I could smell the chocolatey goodness...my god I was in HEAVEN!!! The scent is absolutely gorgeous! An extremely rich and deep chocolate that will practically want to eat as soon as it comes near you! lol! Seriously its that good!!

The full range is available on the UK Body Shop website now and will be released in stores tomorrow. Its being marketed as limited edition but I heard that it should be available as a permanent range.

Sooooo...here are your two new prizes....

190 Followers - The Body Shop Delipscious Tinted Lip Balm in Peach Crush

200 Followers - The Body Shop Chocomania Heart Shaped Soap

Full details of the giveaway plus all the prizes can be found here.


I will announce the winner on 3rd Feb...good luck everyone!!


Cherry Lane xoxo

New Beauty Box 'She Said Beauty' Comes to the UK!

Hey everyone!! I love the idea of getting a lovely packaged box of mysterious luxury gifts delivery to my doorstep every month...the anticipation of the arrival of the box...the excitement one you receive it and open it up...the joy of sharing your whats in your box with fellow bloggers and friends and testing out the lovely new products! Its just so fun!!

And now we have a new player to the game...She Said Beauty!

As quoted from their website, She Said Beauty are a team of specialists from many disciplines including Beauty Industry experts from ELLE UK, Estee Lauder and influential journalists and bloggers. The She Said Beauty Box will contain 5 luxury beauty samples everyone month for us to try out. Check out the box above...I love the bright colours of the packaging...its just so cute and pretty!

The box retails at £9.00 per month plus £2.95 p&p so £11.95 in total.

They do have some promotions on at the moment which are valid until 27th February:

Get 25% off your first box making the final price less than a tenner at just £9.70
Get 30% off a 3 month gift subscription for the box plus the standard £2.95 p&p making it £27.75
Get 40% off a 6 month gift subscription for the box plus the standard £2.95 p&p making it £50.10

UPDATE: She Said Beauty have extended this offer until 29th February.

I always think that the first box these beauty box companies launch are really good because they recognise the importance of the first box...they know that everyone will be looking on blogs and magazines curious to find out what it contained and based on that people will decide whether to take the plunge and sign up. Does anyone remember that Nars Orgasm Illuminator in the first Glossy Box? I just heard that Glossy Box is launching in India too so I'd recommend to all you Indian women to have try it out for the first month and see what your get...you can always cancel afterwards if its not for you.

I'm not big on commitment so I've gone for the first month option to try it out. The first box will be sent out to us in March...I'm so excited!! I cant wait to get it!! Keep an eye out in March to find out what I get! :-)

Cherry Lane xoxo

The most amazing cupcakes I've ever made!!! Carrot & Raisin baby!

I've been getting into baking quite abit over the past few months and I've tried out quite a few different recipes but this is by faaaaarr the best thing I've baked!! (apart from maybe the ham and mushroom muffins they are so friggin delish I had to mention them lol)

These carrot cupcakes were so easy to make and turned out so incredibly soft and moist and bouncy in the middle with that lovely delicate airiness that makes cupcakes so yummy! The raisins also add that extra sweetness to make them amazing!!

INGREDIENTS:


For the cupcakes:


225g grated carrots
130g raisins
2 large eggs
130g golden caster sugar
120ml vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp fresh orange zest
120g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
Pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon

For the cream cheese frosting:


300g icing sugar, sifted
50g unsalted butter, at room temperature
125g cream cheese, cold

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 160degC(fan)/180degC/350degF/Gas Mark 4. Line two 12 hole muffin tins with cupcake cases or papers.

2. Combine the grated carrots and raisins in a large bowl using a wooden spoon and put to one side. Beat the eggs and sugar together for several minutes and the carefully add the oil, vanilla extract, and orange zest and beat well.

3. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and cinnamon into a separate bowl and then slowly add these ingredients to the egg and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition.

4. Then pour the mixture into the bowl containing the carrots and raisins and mix by hand using a wooden spoon or spatula until they are well incorporated.

5. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases, filling each case about two-thirds of the way up the paper.

6. Place the trays in the oven and bake for approx 25mins. When cooked the cupcakes will be quite dark brown in colour and feel spongy to the touch. Allow them to cool in their tins for 10mins or so before placing on a wire rack to cool.

7. For the cream cheese frosting: Beat the icing sugar and butter together with handheld electric whisk on medium -slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed. Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer to medium-high speed. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 mins. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.

Makes 24 cupcakes

Cherry Lane xoxo

Carrot Cupcake Recipe Source
Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe Source

Champneys Spa Indulgence Mediterranean Bliss Collection

I have to admit I am little obsessed with bath products...I love trying out different bubbles baths and shower gels! As soon as I saw this cute little Champneys set in Boots I knew I had to have it! So I waited until the 50% off Boxing Day sales managed to pick it up for £7.

A little about Champneys Spa as quoted on the packaging:

Champneys prestigious spas are among the finest in the world, with a rich heritage in health and beauty. For this collection, we've travelled the Earth to bring you wonderful therapies inspired by ancient rituals. Celebrating Champneys first Continental Spa, high in the sun kissed Spanish hills, Champneys brings this Mediterranean Bliss Collection

The gift set contains:

Mediterranean Bliss Shower Cream 50ml

Mediterranean Bliss Body Glow 50g

Mediterranean Bliss Bubble Heaven 50ml

Mediterranean Bliss Body Hydrator 50ml

And also comes in this really cute little travel bag...

Mediterranean Bliss Shower Cream 50ml

This Mediterranean inspired Shower Cream with blends of fig milk, olive leaf, green tomato and mango butter cleansers helps leave skin moisturised.

Price of Full Sized Product - £8.00 for 250ml

Pros - Thick gel like consistency feels very luxurious

- Lovely rich formula looks very beautiful with a pearlescent pink shimmer

- Very delicate and unusual scent with the combination of fig milk, olive leaf and green tomato

- Lathers up very well and leaves my skin feeling moisturised

Cons - Scents and smells are very personal thing so some people may not like the smell

Buy Again? This is a product but at £8 for a full sized bottle I personally think its too much to spend on a shower gel.

Mediterranean Bliss Body Glow 50g

An exfoliating blend with sugar, olive oil, olive stone granules, coconut oil and shea butter to help leave skin feel moisturised

Price of Full Sized Product - £12.00 for 200g

Pros - Sugar scrub contains medium sized granules which are corse enough to exfoliate your body well but not too fine so that you cant feel anything

- The coconut oil and shea butter leaves skin feeling moisturised

Cons - I cant put my finger on the reason why but I'm not a big fan of the smell of this one. Its not bad and its quite subtle so it wouldnt stop me off finishing off this bottle

Buy again? Full sized Because I'm not too keen on the scent I would have to say no.

Mediterranean Bliss Bubble Heaven 50ml

This treacle smooth elixir is full of Mediterranean inspired sunshine, with a soothing, summery blend of fig milk, olive leaf and green tomato helps to condition and gently moisturise, leaving your skin soft and glowing.

Price of Full Sized Product - £12.00 for 400ml

 

Pros - This is my favourite product from the set! It feels lovely, luxurious and indulgent

- Foams and bubbles up really well

-Bubbles last a long time

Cons - I cant think of any to be honest!

Buy Again? Yes definitely! Dim the lights, light some candles, a little Jack Johnson playing in the background and OJ in a champagne glass...all this with a lovely bubble bath...my idea of heaven!! 

Mediterranean Bliss Body Hydrator 50ml

This ever so silky body hydrator is full of Mediterranean inspired sunshine with fig milk, olive leaf and greem tomato which help to leave your skin feeling deeply moisturised, soft and glowing.

Price of Full Sized Product - £12.00 for 200ml

Pros - Nice lotion texture
- Absorbs into skins quickly
- Feels very moisturising and refreshing
- Light delicate fragrance
- Leaves a very subtle sheen to the skin which looks really pretty

Cons - Cant think of any?!

Buy Again? Probably not. There are so many moisturisers on the market. This one is nice and cant be faulted but for didnt have any particular wow factor.

Happy Australia Day!!

Ok so I know its India's Republic day too but I'm gona save my special ode for Independance day. Today I am going to dedicate to Australia!!

To one of the most beautiful countries in the world...I feel lucky I have had the opportunity to see some your great sights...I heart you dearly!

Catchin some waves posing with lovely lifeguards board in Perth...

Just for fun...this is one of my favourite comedy sketch from Balls of Steel Australia...soooo funny!!!

Weekend in Pictures...Crafters Ceilidh in Edinburgh

Hi everyone! Did you all have a good weekend? I had an awesome time at my first bloggers meetup in Edinburgh. House of Pinheiro invited me to join her sewing blogger friends for a day of fun chitchat, fabric shopping and pattern swapping followed by a delish dinner at the opulently grand Voodoo Rooms! I can't really sew and didnt know anyone there but everyone was just so lovely, warm and welcoming! Me and House of Pinheiro decided to make a weekend of it see the sights of the city and my gosh Im so glad I did...Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited!! If you have the chance definitely go and visit! You wont regret it!

From L to R: Kerry, Karen, Winnie, Rachel L., Kari, Roo, Carolyn, Amanda, So-Ha, Me, Rachel P, Debi B.,Kristen, Franca, Alana, Debi, Hannah, Katie and Melizza. Not pictured: Clare, Anneleen, Tom and Cat.

Fredericks Coffee House...

Vintage store....

Fabrics ect...

I couldn't resist this cherry fabric..now I need to get sewing!!  Thanks so much to our lovely hosts for making us these really cute fabric flower badges! 

City...

Dinner...

Check out more photos on my Facebook page...

Cherry Lane xoxo