Don't lose yourself chasing people | thoughtful Monday

I used to be a bit annoyed at the quote "don't ever chase people, be you and do you're own thing and the right people will stay with you." because I thought, if no one ever made an effort and everyone believed in that quote, then no relationships would be pursued and no friendships would be made. Someone has to be the one to make an effort right?

I honestly think one of the hardest things emotionally is knowing when to walk away from situations and people or when to try harder.  I don't know if you've ever been in a situation which has made you question why you're trying so hard, but I know I  have.

I think in the end this comes down to self esteem. If you're running after people when they back away from you trying to prove that you're worth their time, It's because you want to prove you're worth to yourself.

In the end, if someone were to think you're amazing and worth everything, then you would believe it as-well.

Putting your self-esteem and self-worth in the hands of others is the biggest mistake you can ever do, because they will drop it and you will be left with nothing. Every time it's dropped, it becomes harder to pick back up again. 

I know it's very easy for me to write these words and tell you "don't let your self-esteem be affected by others" and "don't allow your happiness be dependant on someone's attention to you" because I have done these things and It's a very hard and vicious cycle to get out of.  

What I'm telling you is to respect yourself enough to walk away from a situation that makes you question if you are worthy. 

Instead, focus on the little things in life that you find happiness in. Make a goal, plan you're dreams and strive for that instead of chasing people.

That's my thoughtful Monday thoughts for this week, hope you're having a pleasant start to the week, 

Infinite x's and o's

Elena 

Lord Of The Rings Book Cake

Last week both my older brothers celebrated their birthdays within three days of each-other. 

Last year I made my brother Chris who was at the time working as a mechanic a wrench cake and my other brother who just became a police officer a police shirt cake. I'm definitely not a professional cake decorator but this year I wanted to do something a little bit different and knew that Chris's favourite book is The lord of the Rings (we have that in common). So I thought I would make him what I envisioned the book to look like.

The cake underneath is just a chocolate mud cake and I used marzipan instead of white fondant to give the pages of the book a more aged and a less pure white look.

 I ended up melting some dark chocolate and adding it to the marzipan to create brown.
After I added the chocolate I rolled the marzipan in a lot of cocoa to make it less sticky. When you melt chocolate in anything you have to work quite quickly before it sets and will start to crack

The writing is buttercream icing which I coloured gold. I think the next time I make a cake with this much detail I will definitely use royal icing and paint it on with a paintbrush. I tried my hand at elvish on the bottom of the book, if you can read elvish then you probably won't be able to read that.
The ring is fondant which I shaped and painted with gold colouring. 

Hope you're having an excellent week!

Infinite x's and o's,

Elena

2 minute super moist mocha mug cake!

Yes, yes I did!
I love  mug cakes. They're quick, easy, no need for an oven and tastes great.
 I've made a few mug cakes previously but they have always ended up dry, spongey or eggy and gross.
I decided to try my own recipe and see if I could fix some of the previous problems I had. Not tooting my own horn, but... I fixed it and I fixed it good.
This literally takes 1 minute in the microwave (if your microwave is set to high which mine is, if not 2 minutes)

To make the cake you will need:

-2 tbsp of self-raising flour
-2 tbsp of caster sugar
-1 tbsp cocoa powder
-1 tbsp of butter or oil, melted.(I used half a tablespoon of butter and half coconut oil)
- 1/2 tbsp of sour cream
-1 tbsp milk
-1 tsp vanilla essence
-1 tsp of strongly brewed espresso coffee (or 1 tsp of instant coffee dissolved in a small amount of water)

Combine all the ingredients in a cup and mix until smooth. Then microwave for 1-2 minutes (depending on your microwave setting) the cake should just spring back when touched.

Once the cake has been cooked, prepare the icing (or you could leave it as is, up to you):

-3 1/2 tbsp of icing sugar
-2 tbsp of cream cheese
-1 tsp strongly brewed espresso coffee (or instant)
- 1 tbsp cocoa
- 1 tsp vanilla
- chocolate for decoration (and nums)

Combine all the ingredients in the bowl until thoroughly mixed and there are no lumps. Spoon over the icing onto the cake, dust with some icing sugar then top with your chocolate and done!

If you would like to watch the video version of this recipe, the link is below:

Happy baking and I hope you're having an excellent start to the week!

Infinite x's and o's,

Elena 

A week in photos #2

So, this is my week in photos take two! I really love how photos capture moments way more that writing about it ever could. The photos are of my families Easter celebrations, my gorgeous pets and little bit of randomness.

Cottage cheese cake, Grandma's recipe (always a winner)

 The easter feast

 Anyone else see an angel? If the head was at the bottom left.

 Cheeky nephews hiding under the table.

 Old boy

 I found the hidden stash of Easter lollies!

15 fun things to with friends on a budget

"What do you want to do?"  " I dunno, what do you want to do?" " I dunno..."   I think at some point this endless conversation has happened to all of us. Since Uni is currently on break and a few of my friends have suggested hanging out together, we were stuck with ideas on what exactly we could do. Since we really don't have a lot of money to spend, being Uni students and all. I thought hey I know, I'll make a list, no wait! A blog post. So here it is...  "15 fun things to do with friends on a budget".

1. Be a tourist in your own city -

There are so many places you may not even know exist if you actually took the time to explore it. Sometimes when we're set on a specific destination, we forget to look around. Gather your besties, arm yourselves with cameras and maps (or you know, smart phones). Don't plan too much of where you'll go, just explore, who knows what cute little shops or destinations you may find. Obviously don't go down a dark alley and think "Hey! This looks like fun". I don't advice this, but explore!

2. Photo scavenger hunt -

This would have to be my favourite. Make a list of ten or so items or things to take a photo of, (this is quite a good list) set a time and place to meet back up, make sure everyone has a working camera and off you go!

Spend the day around town, taking photos and having fun. At the end of the day, whoever has the most photo's wins. You may have to play this game in pairs for safety and so someone can hold the camera.

3. Bonfire! -

Wait until the sun is almost down, gather those marshmallows and ofcourse friends (opt) Kidding! It can be a great way to bond over the flames, singing tunes and stuffing your face full of gooey centred toastey goodness. Make sure the fire is safely lit. If you live in Australia, double check that there aren't any fire restrictions currently on.

4. Bake -

Get your mind out of the gutter! Bake a cake, cookies or cupcakes. To me, baking and cooking is therapy and with friends it's even better. Make a mess in the kitchen with your friends, eat some cookie dough, have some hot chocolate and relax. Don't forget to double or triple whatever you make so your friends can take some home with them. Mmmm... 

5. Photographic Hike -

Hiking and going on a trail can be a pretty relaxing thing to do. With friends it can be fun and a great way to explore nature. Find a local trail, pack your backpacks with all the essentials, survival kit and a camera. Spend the day taking great pictures of the local scenery. Make sure to let friends/family know where you're going and what time you'll  be back for safety reasons. Also, always stick to the trail!

6. Home Spa - 

Yes, guys can do this too!  Going to an actual day spa can be incredibly expensive. Which is probably why I've never been to one. I look at the price list and feel faint.

So, why not bring the spa to you. Grab some face masks and ask everyone to bring their favourite nail polish's and ofcourse LOLLIES!  Now, if you know me personally, you'll know I'm against chick flicks but In this case though, they're approved.

7. Games night -

Dust off your favourite board-games, checkers, chess, uno, the lot. Invite your friends over (byo drinks ofcourse) and pick your game. I don't know about you but, when it comes to monopoly, I have to win. Things get real personal, real fast when people start putting hotels on their properties. To settle the un-avoidable arguments, make sure there is hot chocolate, pizza and plenty of lollies on stand-by.

8. Have an art day/make a dream board -

Now I know what you're thinking, "eugh, not this arty farty stuff."

Well, maybe so, but if you are into art and all the things that go with it, then this will be fun. Making a dream board is a great way to focus on your goals and make a way to achieve them. Ask your friends to bring magazines or you can even print out pictures that relate to your dreams. Cut them out and stick them on a canvas with little notes under each. Such as what the goal is and how you plan to achieve it. Afterwards you and your friends can hang them on your walls.

9. Hit the beach!

Ofcourse if it's the middle of winter, probably not. Although you can still have fun taking photos and walking along the shore. Collect some sea-shells, make a sandcastle and enjoy the scenery.

10. Movie night -

This would have to be the thing my friends and I do the most. It's easy, simple and fun. Ask your friends to bring along their favourite movies, some snacks and ofcourse drinks. Now, I'm not condoning drinking. Especially if your friends have to drive home that same night, but If they are sleeping over then you could make some vodka gummy bears or jello shots. Experiment with different cocktail recipes, maybe even come up with your own flavour combination. (only if you are of the legal age to drink) Prepare for a night of many laughs!

11. Film a short movie to look back at in years to come -

It may seem silly at the time, but in about ten or so years, these kinds of things will be cherished. Grab a tripod, camera and go to a location or even just at a friends house. It doesn't even have to be scripted if you don't want it to be. Take turns at using the camera or assign someone to be the cameraman.

Ask questions, make jokes, just have fun.  At the end, piece together all the film snippets into one video to watch and enjoy. 

12. Have a themed dress up night -

There are endless themes for dress up nights. To name a few ; Pirates & Ninjas, Disney, the letter your name begins with, a colour, suite &tie, what you wanted to be when you were younger (my personal favourite). 

So pick a theme, ask everyone to come in said theme and have a great night in with drinks, snacks and movies in whatever theme you chose. Now, this can be a little pricey if your theme is something not everyone would have in their wardrobe, try to be a little bit creative with this.

13.Go Ice-skating -

Rug up, wear some comfortable clothes that aren't too tight, ones that you can actually move your legs in. Grab your friends and head down to your local Ice-rink. Now, if you're like me... actually you probably don't have an issue with this if you're a normal person. I'm deathly afraid of Ice-skating ever since I had two accidents in which I fractured my coccyx (tail) bone. If you are a little hesitant (an under-statement for me) then just stay on the outer edge of the rink, gripping for dear life onto the barrier.  It will be a blast! 

14. Photoshoot! -

This could co-inside with the themed dress up night, set up a photobooth and take some pictures of you and your friends that will last a life-time. Try glamour poses, silly faces, try to build a pyramid, spell words.

15. Make a time capsule -

Time capsules are created to dig up and look back on in many years to come or to commemorate a significant event. You could use a glass jar, bottle or box. Place an item from each friend inside that represents something for them. This could be photos, a message, recorded message on a cd or usb, pictures of their favourite people/idols, anything. Set a burial location (don't forget to write down where you actually buried it or place a little marker there) and write the date of burial on the box/jar. 

So there it is! This list isn't excaustive, but hopefully it gave you a few ideas at least! 

Infinite x's and o's,

Elena.

All about protein!

After posting that I was starting a twelve week female body-building course, I had a few questions asking me If I would be drinking protein shakes and which ones are the best. I thought I'd share with you the protein mix and bars that I usually have.

I also want to start by saying that I don't use protein shakes or bars as a meal replacement. I've only done this occasionally when I'm out and don't have the time to make something or as a back-up in-case there's no food available for me to eat.

Obviously I'm not a personal trainer or had any experience in the industry but this is just what I've found to be my favourite.

The protein bars I use are by aussie bodies and they are the mini-bars. They contain 2 grams of carbs and 9 grams of protein. The flavour range is amazing. Rocky road, peanut butter, cookies and cream, the list goes on. You do need to be careful though since some flavours have more fat then others. The average amount of fat per bar is about 2.5 grams (which is pretty good I think).

They are relatively cheap compared to other bars I've bought previously. I buy mine from chemist warehouse and buy about 50 or so bars on-line once a month. They work out to be around $1.50 each.

My favourite flavour would have to be dark chocolate cherry, it tastes like a cherry ripe and it's SO good.

 There's quite a bit of confusion when it comes to protein powder and I had to do a lot of research to find one that suited me. Some say to take two different shakes at different times like for instance just before exercise you apparently needed Hydroxy citric acid  and then amino acids for post-training to repair muscles. I found that route would be pretty expensive, so I wanted to just have one shake. Vital Strength define for women. Per serve it is 99% fat free, has only 1.9 grams of carbs compared to 28.3 grams for celebrity slim and is 1.3 grams lower in fat and calories. It also contains 19 grams of protein per serve.

Define contains Hydroxy citric acid for pre-training and amino acids for post-training. It combines everything you need in one shake. Which is great  because you don't have bottles everywhere and don't even need to pause to think which mix you have to take.

I take one scoop mixed with one cup of half iced water and half milk.  I find having the liquids cold makes it taste that little bit better. Define is available in four flavours; Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla and banana. I've only tried chocolate and strawberry and I've found strawberry to be my favourite. I drink it about an hour before I exercise in the afternoon.

So there you go! Hopefully that answered your questions and gave you a bit of knowledge.

Do you have a favourite protein?

Infinite x's and o's,

Elena ♥ 

DIY Tropical Sugar Cookie Scrub

You know those expensive exfoliaters/ sugar scrubs you see in-store and at spas that are only a tiny little jar? 

Well they cost literally a quarter of the price to make yourself! Plus they look great as a gift and you know exactly what you're putting into it! You can experiment with flavours and colours. It also only takes 3 ingredients to make!

Sugar scrubs can be used on your face, lips (great for using before you put on lipstick) body (like before you apply a fake tan to remove dead skin) and feet.

So here's what you need:

Ingredients:
-2 cups of raw sugar
-1 cup of coconut oil
-1 tsp of butterscotch essence (or any essence you like)
Just make sure it's safe to put on your skin.

Then you will just need a bowl to mix, spoon, measuring cup, a saleable jar (I got mine at Ikea for about $3) and then some ribbon for decoration (opt).

Method:
Combine 2 cups of sugar with 1 cup of coconut oil. If the coconut oil has solidified then you may need to heat it up for a little bit until it has become liquid. Then add a teaspoon of essence, stir it in and that's it! You're done. Scoop it into the jar, decorate with a ribbon and enjoy your smooth skin.
These last (on the counter at room temp)  for at least 2 months and it smells soooo good!

I made a video on how to make this sugar scrub, which I will link below:

So, Have you tried making your own sugar or facial scrub? What's your favourite flavour combination?

Infinite x's and o's

Elena ♥