Let's Start With This One...

Good Morning Lovelies, 

I didn’t realise how much I had missed doing these blog posts. Baking has become a huge part of my life again recently. It is definitely a way of keeping me calm in mad moments. Today I am bringing you a biscuit break that only uses three ingredients. 

All of which will have you using up ingredients I am sure you already have at home…

Ingredients:

2 Ripe Bananas
125g Oats of Your Choosing (1 ½ cups)
65g Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter (¼ cup)

Tools:

Baking Tray

Baking Paper

Large Mixing Bowl

A Fork

A Spoon

Method:

1. To start, pre-heat your oven to 180C/350F and line a baking tray with baking paper. Leave to one side. 
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the two bananas and mash with a fork until smooth.
3. Once the bananas are ready, add the oats and peanut butter to it and mix together.
4. When combined roll or spoon the mixture into around six balls, placing each one onto the baking tray. 
5. Using the fork from earlier, lightly press down with a fork into cookie shapes and place in the oven for 20 minutes. 
6. When lightly golden, remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for five minutes, as this helps to make them a bit more firm.
7. Once set, simply dig in and enjoy! 

Biscuits are a big delight in our house, especially HobNobs, so this recipe is sure to go down well! You could even dip them in chocolate and make chocolate versions too. 

Don’t forget to share your creations with me lovelies, as I would love to share them on the blog! What will you be baking today? 

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Sunday’s have become all about baking in our house again recently. We have been spending the last few days of summer foraging for blackberries, leading to an apple and blackberry galette recipe I made for my mum. 

However, today I have gone for a simple recipe that is perfect for the early days of autumn. With only three ingredients needed, these little fruit cupcakes can be done in no time at all. Get ready to make them all the time lovelies…

Ingredients:

1KG Mixed Dried Fruit

3 Cups Cranberry Juice (or Any Juice You Would Prefer)

3 Cups Self-Raising Flour

Equipment:

Large Mixing Bowl

A Mixing Spoon

Cupcake Tin

Cupcake Cases

A Skewer/Toothpick

Method:

1. Start a day ahead of when you want to make these cupcakes lovelies by combining the mixed fruit and juice in a large mixing bowl. 
2. Once combined, leave to soak for 24 hours, stirring briefly every six to eight hours.  
3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 125C/235F and line a cupcake tin with cases. Leave to one side.
4. Whilst the oven heats up, stir the flour into the fruit mixture until well combined. If the fruit has absorbed all the liquid, add an extra cup of juice. 
5. Place the mixture into the cases when ready and pop it into the oven for 25-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cakes comes out clean.
6. When ready take out of the oven and enjoy straight away or when they have cooled. Perfect with a simple touch of icing sugar or a topping of your choice. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe lovelies! It is a great one to get ready to Christmas with. Oh yes, I said the C word aha! If you make the recipe, don’t forget to share pictures of your creations. I would love to share them! 

What will you be baking today lovelies?

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Many of you will know by now that I love a gadget! I could spend hours setting up new technology and playing around with it. So, when the team at Anker and more, got in touch  with me about reviewing their items, I had to say yes. 

Kindly the team gifted me, a pair of their new Anker Soundcore Life P3 earphones, the fantastic Anker Nano II Fast Charger and a eufy Outdoor Security Camera. All wireless and perfect for a busy life. 

Trying out the earphones first, I was lucky enough to be able to choose the colour in which I wanted. Of course, it had to be blue! My favourite. In a light pastel vibe, the earphones come in a handy case that is also wireless and provide the earphones with loads of charging time. 

Easy to wear, comfortable and great for when on the go, these earphones fitted my lifestyle perfectly. When out on my own, I like to keep headphones that I can make calls on on hand. It means that if I get anxious or need to speak to someone then I can do. 

With Anker’s Soundcore ones, not only could I drown out the unwanted noise with their cancelling system, but I was also able to make calls and connect it to my tablet and phone easily. A great change from some of the harder to use ones. This made me super happy, especially as I had found a pair of headphones I could trust and afford at £80, instead of the ones that are normally over £100. 

Next on my trial list was the charger. After playing around with the headphones, my tablet and phone were a little low, so I thought it was the perfect time to also try the plug. However, I had a few issues to start with. Upon opening the box, I found that the plug came on its own, with no cable. I therefore had to get the right USB cable instead of using the one I thought would fit. 

Yet, once I had sourced this the charger was great. Truly fast and reliable, it slotted into the socket without a lot of force and provided the power needed. More so in fact. The charger was more compact than a bulky plug too and allowed space to be stored. It also looked fancy and gave off a more professional look. 

Finally, I got stuck in with setting up the security camera. Last year, me and my mum brought one off Amazon. It was cheap, had a cable and didn’t really work in the way we wanted it to in the end. We ended up sending it back because of this. However, we have always discussed trying out another kind. 

The eufy one sent to me changed this discussion. Fit for outdoor use, without cables and easily adjustable, the long lasting 120 days battery camera, could be stuck to the wall where we wanted it to. Then by simply downloading the app that works with it, we could see the places that we wanted to protect almost straight away. 

Seeing and hearing from us about how easy it was to set up, we have encouraged others, including neighbours to buy the camera in fact. Something that we are happy to do, as we feel like our neighbourhood would be even safer with them. 

Overall, I was super impressed with the Anker products I tried. Apart from the cable issue with the charger, I found that each item did exactly what they were made to do well. A very encouraging discovery, because it meant that we now have an affordable brand that we can trust and turn to. 

To discover more about the brand lovelies, head to the Anker website and uncover your next tech find. They have so much to offer to keep you updated when it comes to your technology needs.

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

It isn’t very often that a show makes audiences use knowledge they may have on a murder to help them solve the plot. Yet, Channel 4’s Deceit, out now on DVD and digitally, does just that. 

Based on the real life murder case of Rachel Nickell, who was killed on Wimbledon Common, in front of her two-year-old son, the four parter looks into the depths of the police inquiry. It delves into the darkness of the investigation, as the victims come to terms with what has happened and learn of who did it. 

For those who saw this tragedy unfold on the news in 1992, the show is a series full of new information. For younger audiences, it will be an educational experience. Highlighting the right and wrong ways to handle a case and those involved. 

Sadly though, the show isn’t as gripping as you may hope. It doesn’t flow in the same manner as the case did in real life. Sympathy is placed into the story that shouldn’t be there. Nothing seems to fit right in certain key scenes. Especially in places where they have mixed fiction with reality. The acting is skilfully done however. With many of the cast being the reason to watch this drama. 

The show seems to want to do what it can’t in just four short episodes. Leading to what feels like a restrictive and a to fast piece. Yet, the reality and the actors manage to save it from being a disaster. It is this that makes it watchable. If you don’t know the case, then give it a binge. However, if you do, than you may want to give this one a miss. 

3 Stars

Joey X

Although many will have already seen Love & Basketball over the years, it’s new format brings out a different side to this classic love story. As two basketball lovers unite, their story provides a 00s classic to audiences around the world, which continues to stand the test of time. 

Years ago, the film created a bidding war when it come to those wanting to produce a feature that gave female players the chance to finally appear on screen. In a powerful way. Spike Lee won and so Love & Basketball became to be. Sparking a cult following, the feature is a powerful take on both classic and modern issues, as Monica and Quincy face many. 

The film and the issues it follows may not have worked so well back when it was first made. Yet, with it being re-released this year it does. You connect with the characters. You understand their wants and needs. You become a true support and arc for them. Something many films seek. 

A whole feature that becomes more and more powerful. Something not many can do. Something that has obviously led to its re-release. A successful one at that. 

4 Stars

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

Based on the hit game, Monster Hunter made a short release onto our big screens last year. Now, out on DVD, digitally and Blu-Ray edition, the film is about to be shared to millions more. However, it may not make as much of an impact on how it is received as it hopes. 

Mills Jovovich stars as Captain Natalie Artemis, as she fights to keep her team together, when one of them is separated. The feature is made with superb action and CGI features, yet the special effects and acting can’t save it. 

There is no passion it seems for the project. The cast and crew make the feature feel like it is being made with no real life. When playing the game, audiences and gamers can feel the thrill. Yet, there is nothing within director Paul Anderson’s film that makes you feel this way. 

With not much heart, it seems and feels like a Monster Hunter is needed for this film. No one seems to enjoy their screen time, the script lacks the depths of the games story, with the only stand out reason to watch being the special features. Watch at your own risk. 

1 Star

Joey X

Good Morning Lovelies, 

It isn’t often that the fourth film in a franchise does the rest justice. Yet, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, strives to top the others with its scares and story. Out now, it is not one to be missed. Especially with Halloween just around the corner. 

Returning in their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, put on another excellent set of performances as they build their characters lives. From dolls to demons, the pair have used the true life stories from the two real life investigators, to give us an entertaining set of features. This one included. 

Refusing to let audiences down, the films are filled to the brim with action and scares. Even from the paranormal investigators. Seeking safety behind a pillow is more or less how you will watch this film. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It has a gripping exorcism scene that will leave you sleeping with the lights on for a few days. All due to the close up shots and influences from other classic features. 

There are moments where the feature does get a bit loss. You start to worry that the characters are about to miss the mark at times, but the cast reel it back in and make it work again. It may not seem as though it is as tightly created as the first set of features, but it works. All in a way that you will appreciate. 

4 Stars

Joey X