Let's Start With This One...

Hey Lovelies,

Have you ever looked at a home or flat on the little or big screen and just dreamed of living in it? Sometimes the reality of doing so seems so far away. But knowing that the characters on screen are also renters is something that we can all take comfort from at times. Especially when they live in such amazing places. 

Over the years, I have built a dream home in my head that has been influenced by some of the renters I have seen on TV and in films. They have made me dream up places and spaces that I can only hope I can recreate in the future when I move out. Hopefully there is a lovely landlord somewhere who will allow me to rent a place that I can make these dreams come true, whilst making sure every piece of my dream home is safe, with great insurance. One like CIA Landlord Insurance, who have provided over 20 years of protection for first-time landlords and established lettings agencies most valuable assets to help protect your investment against every situation that arises.

With this in mind I thought it would be nice to delve into my top five renters and the inspiration that they have given us when it comes to changing up our homes for the better. All of which who have no worries about their landlords, as they all seem to have faith that they are safe. You can definitely bet Monica and Chandler’s home is on here...

Monica & Chandler’s Flat, Friends: I know that for many the apartment might not be Chandler and Monica’s at the beginning of the show, but by the end of it this is the home that we come to love even more because of them. Whether it be the famous picture frame or the purple paint, these small touches can be applied to any home without any worries. Plus, an orange sofa can add a little Central Perk touch too.

Carrie Bradshaw’s Flat, Sex & The City: The original fashion lover had the wardrobe and home furnishings that we all wanted. Even when she moved out, her built-in wardrobe remained something that we yearned for. Changing a cupboard or making the spare room in your rented apartment into a walk in wardrobe will be a sure thing win. 

The Den, New Girl: Known for being a party house, Jess and co made sure that the bare wall and floors look popular. No need to go over the top with decorations, it is more about the small accessories that make this rented apartment one that I adore. It even had so much space that you could make the layout really stand out in other ways, such as adding a room for guests or a home cinema. 

Sheldon and Leonard’s Apartment, The Big Bang Theory: Together these two couldn’t be beaten. Even when they were doing mad science themed adventures in their apartment. Thankfully nothing ever damaged the flat that the pair rented from a landlord who I am sure would have been worried by some of the things that happened in it. Recreate their creativity with a whiteboard, books and computers, to have the home of studying dreams. 

The Humprey’s Loft, Gossip Girl: Okay, so we may all have been loving the looks and wanting the homes of Chuck, Blair and Serena, but there was something so cosy about the way in which Dan and his family’s home looked. Everyone turned to the loft in times of trouble and that is why I think Rufus refused to not pay stop paying rent on it. Turn your home into a cosy one for nothing, with simple family touches like they did. Musical instruments, records and blankets placed around the room can make any home feel personal and loved. 

These are just a few of the TV homes in which I have fallen in love with over the years. I could name so many more, especially from films, but I wanted to share just a simple few. Ideas can spring from any fashionable home that you can apply to your own. All in as little or no time at all. It can even be as simple as moving some items around to get it just right. Something that you will feel when you have a feeling built inside of you of it being perfect. 

A feeling you can get with CIA Landlord Insurance too lovelies, which you can find out more about on their website. With lots of trusted partners and a team on hand to help in every situation, your landlord will never let you down, as they have a great team behind them to ensure that everything remains safe and secure. Make sure to take a look and stay safe when it comes to renting your first home or flat or even if you are moving into another. Knowing that your landlord is working with CIA Landlord Insurance will be sure to help you every step of the way. 

What film or TV homes stand out to you lovelies? Or do you dream of living in or recreating? Let me know in the comments below or on social media, as I would love to know! 

Joey X

Hey Lovelies,

With the days all mixing into one, it is easy to forget that sometimes you just need some time to yourself. This was something I had started to do, especially on the weekends. So, I decided to change things up and make Mondays the new baking days. 

Giving me more time to trial the recipes at the weekend, I can now bring you more exciting things to make. All perfect for any day or time of the week. Continuing with the baking theme, I am bringing you the latest recipe with Soreen in mind. 

Every day, apart from Tuesdays, I have a mini Soreen loaf. I have it after dinner and I love it. The original one being my favourite. Today, I wanted to share with you all a recipe to help you make your own. It is simple, easy and full of fruity goodness. Get ready to be making one for breakfast, lunch and dinner…

Ingredients

• 1oz Self-Raising Flour
• 1tsp  Ground Ginger
• 1tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda
• 4tbsp Sultanas
• 3tbsp Golden Syrup
• 150ml Tepid Water

Tools

• 1lb Loaf Tin
• Baking Paper
• Mixing Spoon
• Mixing Bowl
• Sieve
• Cooling Rack

Method

1. Start by preheating your oven to 180C/350F, before greasing and lining the base of a 1lb loaf tin with baking paper. Make sure it is cut to fit to avoid creases in the cake. 
2. In your mixing bowl, add together the flour and ginger. Stir until fully combined. 
3. Add in the bicarbonate of soda and sultanas, stirring as you go. Then to bind the ingredients place in the golden syrup and water until a soft consistency forms.
4. Pour the mixture into your loaf tin and bake in the oven for 55 minutes or until it has risen and is firm to touch. 
5. Once ready, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Then place onto a wire rack to cool completely. 
6. Enjoy on its own or with a cup of tea or a topping of your choice. Custard is a big winner if I do say so!

Don’t forget to share all of your creations with me lovelies, as I love to post them on social and on the blog! 

Joey X

Hey Lovelies, 

Going into therapy all over again has been like opening my eyes to my Illness and body in a whole new way. Being more accepting of the changes I need to make this time around I have started to create a toolbox of sorts.

In recovery, a toolbox is made up of things to do when times are stressful or tough. For example, having a meal that is hard to have or talking about issues that you haven’t before but have left an impact.

Being creative is the way in which I like to deal with my anorexia. My therapy is very hands on based, even over the computer. I have taken tools from it that have led to me having lots of ideas of things to do at home. These include blogging, writing a journal, baking for my family and making pieces from arts and crafts.

Journaling is the newest thing I have started to enjoy. 50 days into doing it and I now find comfort in outlining my goals for the day. The positives and negatives of the one before. A positive thought to think of when times get tough. It has made me feel better. Plus, it has made me love stationary a lot more.

A gorgeous notebook will become the thing I seek when shopping. So, when the Old English Company reaches out for bloggers I quickly asked if I could join in. Luckily they said yes. Spending hours looking at their website, I was kindly gifted a personalised notebook. Choosing the colour, message and quote on the front.

For me, I wanted the book to be one I could use to jot down ideas. Things that come into my mind at night. Or when I have a creative session. I wanted the ideas and notes within it to be the thing that kept me going when times got hard. Picking out the perfect quote for me, I decided to go with the grey colour of the notebooks, due to it being one of my favourites.

Choosing the personalised message was the hard part for me. In the end I went with my name. Something that made it sealed that these were my ideas. My motivations. Something if anyone ever saw would then know were mine. Not in a selfish act but one I could be proud of.

After selecting all that I needed, I sent the details to the company. Within only a matter of days, the parcel arrived in the post. Pleased with the final outcome would be an understatement to say. Opening the notebook in front of my mum, she was quick to say that it was the perfect look, shape and design for me. She hadn’t seen it before, but she has since been shopping on their website for one herself.

Slim, lined and ever so elegant. The notebook is great for slipping into any bag to carry around. Trailing it on my rucksack it slotted into the back pocket easily, whilst my mum found it to be a light weight addition to her handbag. The pages are just the right size too. My writing normally gets messy by the end of the page, yet it didn’t here. I could pop it on the table or rest it on my lap in bed and write everything down with ease.

Overall and this may seem a little strange to say, but I was really impressed with the way I could note everything down, carry it around and feel inspired by it. Having fabulous stationary does that and the Old English Company is one brand that can claim that they do this.

If you like the look of my notebook or have seen another on their website you like, the team have kindly given me a 15% off code for you to use on buying your own. Just pop in OESPECBR15 at the checkout.

I am so thankful for the team creating me something so special. I know that many future blog posts will come from the ideas on the pages within it. I hope you can enjoy your own creations too lovelies!

Joey X

Hey Lovelies,

Yesterday I decided to give myself a little bit of a break from the Sunday Bakes and bring it to you on this chilly Monday instead. Sometimes a bit of change is nice and a recipe on a Monday can make the whole week exciting. 

Today’s is super simple to make and can be done in little to no time at all. With four more days to go until the weekend, these can be enjoyed first thing in the day or with a cup of tea in the evening. Because we all know that there is no wrong time to enjoy a cinnamon bun. 

Especially when they are as cute as these tiny ones…

Ingredients

• 1-8 oz Ready-Rolled Puff Pastry
• 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
• Cinnamon (Amount of Your Choice)
• Brown Sugar (Amount of Your Choice)
• 1 Teaspoon Maple Syrup
• 1 Tablespoon Milk
• 3/4 cup Icing/Powdered Sugar

Tools

• Cupcake Tin
• Rolling Pin
• Baking Brush
• Two Small Bowls
• Knife
• Spoon

Method

1. Preheat your oven to around 180(C) lovelies, before greasing your cupcake tin with butter or non-stick spray.
2. Taking your ready rolled dough, use a rolling pin to make the dough a little bit thinner, but not too much. It should be around 1/4 inch thick. 
3. Using a baking brush, smooth on the melted butter, then sprinkle on as much cinnamon and sugar as you would like. 
4. Now taking one end, roll dough until it reaches the other end. Smooth down the underside. Then taking a knife, cut the dough into small round pieces. Once ready, bake in the oven until golden on top and the dough is cooked throughout. 
5. While the rolls are cooking, make the drizzle. Start by whisking together the maple syrup with the milk. Add in the powdered sugar, until your desired consistency has been met.
6. When the rolls are ready, remove from the oven and drizzle over the icing whilst still warm. Enjoy immediately or over the next few days lovelies, whenever you feel the urge for a super sweet delight. 

Let me see all of your bakes and creations lovelies, as I would love to share them with everyone on the blog! I adore seeing them so much! 

Joey X

 

Hey Lovelies, 

Sometimes a show will come along and it will deliver something that you will not be expecting. Fresh from Australia, Laura Carmichael takes the lead in The Secrets She Keeps, an exciting new thriller. Out today digitally and on DVD. Filled with twists and turns, the show was created with the promise to hatch a promising edge of your seat thrill. However, it doesn’t always entertain. 

Created and adapted by Michael Rowbotham, from his 2017 novel, the six-part drama follows two women, as they come to terms with being mothers. Yet, things are not at all as they seem and the show takes a sinister turn, with Carmichael shredding her Downton Abbey image completely. 

Showing the world how social media captures only what we want it to, there is a clever mix of reality with the idea that those we think we know are not that person at all. It is however a show that won’t leave you shocked. You will kind of guess the moments that others will too. You will see where it is going and you won’t be left with a sense of wanting the show to return when it ends. 

Carmichael is superb in the role and is the main reason to watch. Taking herself away from everything we have witnessed her in before, she is the breath of life in the series. If there is ever a reason to just binge this, then she is it. 

For a thrilling ride, this may not be the one to get your heart truly racing, but it is a chance to see fantastic acting. Something that every show in 2020 needs, especially with so few new dramas being released. 

3 Stars

Joey X

Hey Lovelies, 

Sunday is a day for baking on the blog! Normally I like to make something a little sweet, but after challenging my anorexia this week to a new kind of bread, I got inspired to share a different kind of creation. A bagel made with only two ingredients. 

Super simple to make and with the ability to add any toppings, these are great for those going out to work or enjoying lunch at home. As well, the whole family can get involved in making them. Taking no time at all, you could even make them still this lunchtime and enjoy as a yummy brunch.

Let’s get baking bagels lovelies…

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 Cups Self-Raising Flour 
• 1 Cup Greek Yogurt
• (Optional Ingredient - Butter/Seeds/Currents/Spices - Your Choice)

Tools

• Baking Tray
• Baking Paper
• Mixing Bowl
• Knife

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F, before lining your baking tray with baking paper. Leave to one side. 
2. Taking your mixing bowl, add the flour and Greek yogurt together and mix until fully combined and a ball of dough forms. 
3. Place a coating of flour onto your kitchen surface and place the dough on top. You may need to add a little extra flour to the dough here as well, to stop sticking.
4. Kneed the dough, before flattening into a circular shape. A bit like a pizza. Using a knife, cut the dough into four even pieces. 
5. Taking one of the four pieces, rolled the dough into a thin sausage shape, before joining both ends to form a bagel/circle shape with a hole in the middle. Repeat on the rest of the dough pieces until all formed. 
6. Place onto the baking tray and add your chosen toppings if you wish to add a bit of flavour before putting them in the oven. 
7. Put the completed bagels into the oven to bake for 20-22 minutes, or until golden brown. 
8. Once ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool completely or enjoy warm with a big blob of butter!

Don’t forget to share your creations with me lovelies, as I love to share them with everyone else! Whether it be these bagels or something else, your bakes make me super happy! 

Joey X