Pretty Little Pots

Last year I was a little bit obsessed with candles at the end of the year I was left with loads of burnt out candles covered in wax so I decided to remove all the useless wax and give the jars a bit of an up-cycle! I just used a boiling water method like wiki-how says, it was a little messy.. but worked. Now onto how to make your empty jars beautiful and useful again!

All you need is your empty jar, spray paint of your choice and masking tape!
Start by thinking of the design you want I went for a 2 stripe design, so started by masking of my first small stripe (I wanted to cover a ring that the wax had left!) and once you've done that start spraying.

Wait for it to dry and peel the masking tape off, I then did the big stripe at the bottom in the same way.

And then you're done! So simple and easy, up-cycling at it's finest.

Let me know what you think and if you'll be giving it a try!

Welcome to Puzzlewood

Set in the heart of the Forest of Dean is a magical place called Puzzlewood, full of rock formations, secret caves, huge trees and mazes of small paths. Rumour has it that J. R. R. Tolkien and JK Rowling may have taken inspiration from Puzzlewood for Fangorn Forest in Lord of the Rings and The Forbidden Forest in Harry Potter, and an episode of Doctor Who was filmed here too... making it a very magical little spot indeed. 

Aaron and I choose one of the last sunny days in September to give it a visit. 

We started the day by having a picnic in the sweet little picnic area they have before making our way into the forest.

I swear these photographs do not do this place justice, it's just breathtaking. We could have easily spent all day there (even though it's a bit exhausting with all the walking and singing about hobbits!) I would highly recommend this place if you are ever in Gloucestershire, just make sure you pick a sunny day as the wood was a little bit muddy even when we went.

hello again,

I have definitely been lagging in the blog stakes, oh dear! I've been working a lot and haven't had much drive to bake or create anything (minus my new desk which I'm currently sitting at, post to follow I'm sure) now it's time to get back into the swing of things. Now my new desk is in place, I'm finally mounted my blackboard that Aaron made me on my wall. I love it, can't stop writing on it now.

I love it!

'It's all about the desk. If I find the desk, the writing will come.'

Well you were nearly there Carrie. Find the desk, and the designing will come. Let's hope.
I've been after the perfect desk since I moved back home (so what 4 months now?!) pinning inspiration, searching ebay and gumtree endlessly. I wanted a vintage style dressing table/writing desk, a bit like the ones below...

and this is what I finally found on gumtree for the amazing price of £20.

It's beautiful, I didn't think I could love a piece of furniture as much as I do this! Can't wait to start restoring it, and finally get it in my room!

Graduation Day

The day I worked 3 years for, my graduation day! It was a beautiful sunny day in Lincoln, the castle and cathedral (where my graduation was held) always look lovely in the sun. Although I was a bit tired from the YCN awards the night before I was really excited to see my friends and everyone off my course. Even though I have mixed feelings to whether university was really for me, and continually ask myself if I actually learned anything, I am glad I went. Mostly due to the friends I made, experiences I had and of course getting to meet my boyfriend!

Part of me is really sad that I won't be going back again this year, but maybe it's time to move on to a new chapter. For the day I wore a dress by Coast and shoes by Dorothy Perkins.

Congratulation Graphic Design Class '12!

YCN awards ceremony

On Tuesday night I travelled down to Shoreditch Town Hall for the YCN awards, my friends Rob, Sam and I were being commended for our ideas for the Google packaging brief.
The night was filled with amazing flower displays, a Jamaican steel drum band, huge dishes of pulled pork by bompas & parr and not forgetting glittery pineapples.

I was also given the best of year award, which was a huge surprise (honestly, you should have seen my face!) I have no idea why I was awarded it, but let be honest I'm pretty happy about it. It's probably the best things to happen in my academic 'career'. I was awarded with an awesome star light and a flower crown made by the flower appreciation society.

An amazing colourful night I will not be forgetting anytime soon, all followed by graduation the next day. (Which I'm sure will be a post very soon..)

London Callin'

Off to Hogwarts // Bubble Tea // Dinner at The Diner // Kings X //
Bodean's // Aaron & his pulled pork // The Design Museum // Tower Bridge 

It's nearly time for Aaron and I to head off to London again for the YCN awards. It's happening Tuesday night and I can't wait! We're heading to London in the afternoon to have lunch at wahaca and do other touristy things around the city, maybe even go on the Air Line. Does anyone have any amazing places they like to visit in London? Let me know, we're up for exploring!

I'm sure I'll be documenting the night of YCN and London in general on instagram, so if you want follow me my username is hannahcobbe, and I'm sure I'll get around to do a post on it sometime too!

All in one chicken and veg!

I haven't really had time to cook this week, after a spending the weekend with my lovely boyfriend and landing myself a new job, it's all been go really!

This recipe is sort of a perfect 'I just got home from work and I can't be bothered to cook, but I want something healthy..' because it's so easy, and except for the chopping pretty much effortless.

So you will need:

• 1 chicken leg, and chicken thigh per person
• 1 whole onion
• 1 carrot
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 red pepper
• 1 yellow pepper
• 1 or 2 sweet potatoes
• 2tsp Jamaican jerk seasoning 
• salt and pepper seasoning
• 250ml chicken stock

If you want to make the dish healthier take the skin of the chicken, because that holds a lot of fat! Also you can add whatever extra vegetables that you want really, tomatoes and celery would work well.

Start off by peeling and chopping up all your vegetables, and then throw them dish with your chicken legs and thighs, which you should slice across the skin. Once they're all in sprinkle the jerk seasoning, along with some salt and pepper then mix it in well. Finally add the chicken stock, and your ready to bake.

Pop in an oven heated to 220degrees, and leave it in there for 40-50mins and it should come out looking something like this... but a little less burnt, oops.

The perfect mix of lazy, healthy and good home cooking!

Under the Sea, duh du duh du

All photos taken with Kodak sport waterproof camera.

I would 100% recommend getting one of these cameras if you going on holiday soon, loads of fun and the photographs come out great! These photos are from my family holiday earlier this summer.

All photographs copyight Hannah Cobbe, 2012. 

Doughnuts, Mini Ones!

Another sweet dessert, oopsies. But this are justified cause they're mini... right? The perfect little afternoon, or after dinner snack! ... and there is absolutely no frying, yay!

So before we get into this, I do own a mini doughnut tray. I've had a look for similar ones and found this and then also found one like these - amazing I want one! But obviously you can just use the recipe to make little doughnut holes instead by placing a small amount of batter in a cupcake tray for example!

This recipe is for 12 mini sugar coated doughnuts, as you can see I've swirled some nutella into some of the doughnuts, you could also use peanut butter, jam, what ever you fancied. Even after they've cooled half dip them in some melted chocolate and cover with sprinkles! Really what ever you fancy doing with these you can, be creative!

• 75g plain flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking power
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 55g caster sugar
• 60ml milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• 10g melted butter
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• Extra caster sugar for dusting, or a few tsp of nutella for swirling, or some melted chocolate for dipping!

The methods pretty easy, all you do is:
1. Pre heat the oven to 325F/160C/Gas Mark 3
2. Take a large bowl, sift in the flour, baking power, salt and sugar and give it a good mix.
3. In a separate bowl mix the milk, beaten egg, butter and vanilla extract together, and then add them to the dry mixture.
4. Using a teaspoon spoon the mixture into your tray, a few should do. This is the point I added the nutella.

5.Pop them in the oven for about 10 minutes until they are springy to touch.
6. Whilst they are cooking, you can pop some more caster sugar onto a plate ready to spinkle, or heat up to chocolate to dip. When the doughnuts come out the oven spring them out the tray and cover them in the sugar! and then eat!

Let me know if you try anything interesting out with them, I think they would be perfect for a chocolate fondue!

Strawberries & Banana

Recently I've discovered a great simple, quick and healthy dessert. I'm one of those people who love sweet things, and after most meals I'll be craving something sweet. Now I've found something perfect for that situation, it's a sort of ice cream meets smoothie, meets a muller corner...












Looks good right?! and it's so simple and easy to do, you only need 3 ingredients.
Frozen banana, frozen strawberries and one ginger nut biscuit!

Blend the fruit together...














Serve it up and crush your biscuit on top, and you're done!

So easy, just takes a little thinking ahead!