Cottagecore Baking Essentials

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'Cottagecore' has taken over the internet over the past year and if you follow me on Instagram or Tik Tok, then you'll know that I've incorporated this cosy, wholesome trend into my life too. The floaty dreamy dresses definitely entice you in, but it may be the baking videos that suck you in further. It's really helped me rekindle the love for baking, but if you're unsure on where to buy the baking essentials, then I've got just the blog post for you. 

A mixing bowl is the best place to start as you tend to use this in all of your bakes one way or another. This Mixing Bowl with a handle is perfect as it means you have more grip on what you're doing and if you're making a heavy loaf of bread, you're less likely to drop it when transporting it to your warm place to rise. 

Whether you're opting for a Retro Sage Scales or Bee Hive Measuring Cups, having some way of measuring out your ingredients is definitely up there with the essentials for baking. It's easy to convert recipes into your preferred measurements, but it all comes down to what you feel more comfortable using. 

I've wanted a Floral Baking Dish for the longest time, but I've struggled to find one that I liked until I came across this one. I imagine myself making a large apple pie amongst many other delicious treats. Although not necessary at all, I've been lusting after a Ceramic Cheese Baker as I think it looks adorable and can be used for other things as well as camembert. 

Talking of tasty bakes, I think these Edible Flowers, although are not essential, definitely would come in handy when you're making a cake or cookies for an cute Spring spin! 

TV Shows I've Watched This January

January has been pretty slow and I've enjoyed nothing more than to settle down at the end of the day with a cup of tea and a new TV show to watch. With so many streaming sites and new releases to choose from, I know how hard it can be to narrow down your selection, so I thought I'd share four TV shows that I've watched recently to give you some inspiration. 

Queen's Gambit | When I first suggested we watched a TV show about chess, I wasn't welcomed with an excited response, but after swearing that people raved about it, we put it on. After the first episode I was hooked, it made me laugh, cry and get angry - an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. I absolutely loved the characters and the way to the story unfolded, it never felt slow and had me gripped until the very end. 

The Night Stalker | I recently saw on Instagram a post saying "I've just turned off the news and put on a serial killer documentary to relax" and if this doesn't sum up this next find then I don't know what will. This docuseries is about the famous 'Night Stalker' serial killer and although at times it felt rushed and I almost thought it needed an extra episode, it definitely made me consider getting another lock for the front door. 

Bridgerton | If you haven't heard of Bridgerton yet, then you've probably been living under a rock. Everyone is listening to the classical renditions of pop songs they play throughout the TV series (genius!) and dressing like they're from the regency era with low necklines puffy sleeves. Post- Christmas this way a great series to cleanse my palate and just escape into this storyline. It took a couple of episodes to get into it and remember everyone's names, but after that I was hooked.

The Serpent | We tried to savour this series for as long as possible, but we just couldn't hold out and binge watched it in a couple of days. This gripping BBC drama is based on a true story and if you're a true crime fan like myself, then you may be familiar with the case of Charles Sobhraj. If you're not aware of it, then I'd recommend going straight in with the series as it's a great telling and will leave you at the edge of your seat. The 70's outfits also makes me want to overhaul my wardrobe! 

What TV shows have you been watching lately? 

Dark Academia Outfit Ideas

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- This dress as featured in photo above was sent as a PR sample, but under no obligation to post. -

The dark academia fashion trend was all the rage last year and it's looking like it's not going anywhere anytime soon. I personally love it as it incorporates all the brown and forest green tones that I love alongside check and houndstooth prints that are easy to mix and match. Here are some dark academia outfit inspiration if you're looking to embrace the trend this year. 

A Check Skirt + Jumper | This classic combination is effortlessly stylish and you'll find it all over Pinterest when looking for inspiration. If you opt for a darker check print on the bottom, you can easily mix and match jumpers for a variety of different looks. 

Brown Trench Coat | I'm yet to pick up a classic trench coat, but it does feel like my wardrobe is ready for one. It's a great way to keep an outfit looking chic and if you go for a black or brown option, it can easily be worn with a range of outfits. 

Add A Beret and Satchel | You probably already know that I love a hat and I think you can't go wrong with a beret. I've been matching mine with my handbag which is often a brown satchel bag big enough to fit your calligraphy kit and books - all the dark academia essentials. 

Below I have put together some of my favourite finds. I wanted to choose items that can be layered for Winter, but could be worn once the weather starts to get warmer (wishful thinking) and that will still be on-trend come Autumn 2021. 

3 Creative Hobbies To Take Up

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With a little bit more extra time on my hands and a New Year's goal to fulfil, I set off at the start of the January on a quest to find myself some new hobbies. Tasked with finding a hobby that can be done indoors and last longer than a couple of hours, I scoured the internet (and Etsy!) for ideas and here are the three activities that I've been doing recently. 

Learning The Art of Calligraphy 

I've been meaning to try my hand at calligraphy for many years now and I thought whilst I'm spending a lot more time indoors, now would be the perfect time to start. I picked up the Alice Gabb Calligraphy Kit and got started straight away. It's great for when you want to take your mind off any stress and lose yourself in writing for a couple of hours. It certainly takes a lot of practice and I'm far more perfect yet, but I hope to continue in the Winter months ahead. 

Starting Simple With Beeswax Candles 

I saw Jesca.Her on Tik Tok share a video on beeswax candles and as it looked super easy and not messy at all, I thought I'd give it a go myself. I bought these beeswax sheets and wick and got started. All you have to do is measure the wick, secure it and then roll the sheets up into whatever design you'd like. Super easy and it's got me wondering if I could create some other candles with this soy candle kit. 

Losing Myself In Embroidery 

Picking up embroidery as a hobby last year was one of my highlights, losing hours sewing away and creating my own designs. It's honestly done wonders for my creativity as I've learnt that I do have the talent to put my visions down on material. I started with a Beginner Embroidery Set to get started with the basics and then went onto buy my own thread kit.

Have you taken up any hobbies recently? 

A Plan For The New Year + 4 Goals For 2021

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Just like many others, I was more than happy to see the back of 2020 and after taking a well earned rest over the Christmas period, I'm back feeling refreshed and more motivated than ever. Even though I've shunned the idea of resolutions, I still want to reflect on the past year and share goals for the months ahead. 

Taking up new hobbies 

One of the positives that came out of 2020 was that I took more time for myself and this is a mantra I wanted to take into the New Year with me. I can't tell you how long I've wanted to take up calligraphy and I finally bit the bullet and ordered myself a calligraphy beginners kit the other day. I'm looking forward to wasting hours away on my new hobby, but there's still lots of other things I'd love to take up like candle making (using this candle making kit) and even getting myself a wax seal stamp set so I can act like I'm in a period drama - anybody wanted Bridgerton yet?  

Learn and Let Go

I went into 2020 with many expectations as to what the new year and new decade had to offer and a mere twelve months later, all those expectations had well and truly disappeared. Travelling was off the cards and any social activities I had planned were cancelled; the year didn't go to plan and I initially felt lost. I mourned the time lost with loved ones and potential "what if's" and quickly (to my surprise) learnt how resilient I am to scary changes over the year. 

The year was a rollercoaster to say the least and although I gave myself personal goals throughout the year to keep me motivated, I learnt that it's okay to just make it through. On the positive side, it did allow me the time to sit and work on myself, realise my priorities and reflect on the past. I got to work on my creative side, working on side projects that have grown me as a personal, plus reaching some career goals that I never knew were possible. 

Continue on my fashion journey  

Although last year certainly had it's highs and lows, I think I had an epiphany in regards to my personal style. I had the mentality of "if I'm not going to wear this on my daily walk or the trip to the supermarket, when am I going to wear it?" which made me pluck up the courage to wear whatever outfit I please. My confidence grew and over the course of the year, I developed my sense of style even further. 

I think I've always had a broad range of fashion, some days I will opt for an all black outfit and others I will be head to toe in plaid looking like I've stepped directly off the Hogwarts Express. Jeans are a thing of the past and I've embraced that extra comfort of an elasticated waist band, my wardrobe doesn't have a theme and you certainly wouldn't look at it and think curated, but it's looks more like 'me' everyday and I hope to continue that way of thinking into 2021.

Stay active 

This year made me realise that I quite like staying active, getting outside and breathing in the fresh air. Earlier in March and throughout Summer, I tried to get out in the sunshine as often as I could, never taking a daily walk for granted again. I learnt that I quite like exercise not just for personal results, but because of the way it made my mind feel. I experimented with exercises, taking up yoga at sunset and weights to feel strong, never forcing myself through a workout and always wanting exercise to feel like pleasure rather than a chore. This mentality changed the way I looked at exercising and I'll be sure to carry this idea throughout the next twelve months too.

What are your goals for the new year?