Day Zero Project - New recipe: Fruit loaf

One of the goals I set myself on my Day Zero Project was to try 20 new recipes and the first one I've tried is a fruit loaf.

Recipe

337g (12oz) Self raising flour

Pinch of salt

150g (6oz) margarine

150g (6oz) caster sugar

262g (9oz) mixed dried fruit

3 medium eggs

3 x 15ml tablespoon of milk

Heat oven to 180˚c, 350˚F, Gas Mark 4. Grease 2 medium loaf tins or line with greaseproof paper (this is easier)

Mix flour and salt, rub in margarine

Stir in sugar and fruit. Beat together eggs and milk

Mix together to a soft consistency

Place in tin and bake in the middle of the oven for about 50 minutes

And finally....enjoy!

When life gives you lemons....

...you make lemonade.

I've had one of those weeks so this is an alternative 'the week that was' post.

Las week I was home alone as Chris was away in France/Belgium visiting his mum so I had a chilled out relaxing time and on Sunday I went shopping with my mum as she'd been on holiday for two weeks. Haul post will be up soon.

This week is my last week off for the foreseeable future as I start my new full time job on Monday. Scary stuff but kind of exciting.

I'm going to try to write and schedule a few posts, probably up until the end of June, as I don't think I'll have time to blog as my body adjusts to full time work!

I've decided to get a new car towards the end of the year, hopefully they'll still be some good finance offers on. I've also been trying to get quote for my car insurance which is due at the end of the month.

Also I was disgusted to find out Chris is going down and helping deliver things for Glastonbury. I've wanted to go to this festival for as long as I can remember and the person who is least interested in it in the world is going. And he can't even get an tickets.

Last night I got my daily job email from the NHS showing new jobs which have been listed and my perfect job in the perfect hospital came up and it's a permanent position. Bloody typical. But I might not have got it so I just have to think that I'm lucky to have got a job even though it'll be a pain with all the travelling.

My computer also got attacked by a virus too. For all fellow Mac users you'll know this is VERY rare but I got rid of it. So if any of you see anything about Mac Shield that is an anti-virus software, don't touch it as it is a virus. But it is easily got rid of.

And back to my blog, if there's anything you want to see reviewed which are off my hauls posts let me know and I'll try to get it done or if you want to see any particular posts also let me know, preferably by Sunday!

Oh and as it's my birthday at the end of the month I've got a cheeky blog giveaway in mind so keep your eyes peeled!

Favourite products - Haircare

After doing my post on products which I regret buying I thought it would be a good idea to show you all which products I love and repurchase time and time again. I've split these posts up into categories so today it's the turn of haircare.

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist - £5.89 (200ml)

I've bought this for as long as I can remember, simply spray onto wet or dry hair before styling and it protects against heat damage.

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Glistening Straightening Balm - £6.19 (75ml)

I struggled to find a price for this on the internet but I think it's about £6.19. Again I've bought this for years and you rub a small amount of product into your damp hair before drying it and it gives it shine, sparkle and lovely straight hair!

Boots Essentials unperfumed natural hold hairspray - £1.62 (450ml)

Simply the best hairspray I've used. I try other brands but always go back to this one. It's non-sticky, lasts all day and brushes out easily.

Avon Advanced Techniques Oxygenating Scalp Treatment - £5.00 (150ml)

This is now discontinued but a similar product has taken it's place which I've yet to buy. I use this to help control the eczema on my scalp and it does. It's a mousse like product and I used 2 pumps and apply to my scalp before drying my hair.

Batiste dry shampoo - £2.35 (150ml)

I first bought this when I went to uni as I thought it might be quite useful for if I get up late and don't have time to wash my hair. Needless to say that was 5 years ago and I love it even more! It's a saviour for my slightly greasy hair and refreshes it in no time at all!

So there we have it my most purchased haircare products. Are there any which you swear by? If so pop them in the comments below!

Stockists

Lee Stafford, Boots Essentials -  Boots

Batiste - Boots and Superdrug

Avon Advanced Techniques - Avon

Here comes the summer...

(Images borrowed from weheartit)

Review - White Glo toothpaste

White Glo is a fairly new brand to the UK which is available exclusively to Boots.

White Glo was Australia's fastest selling tooth whitening system when the original formula sold in excess of a million units.

In the UK there are four different toothpastes, each comes with a special toothbrush to use in conjunction with it, including extra strength, coffee and tea drinkers, smokers formulation and the one I bought which was the extra strength whitening toothpaste with 2 in 1 mouthwash.

I only used this once a day at night as I have sensitive teeth so I used my normal toothpaste with my electric toothbrush in the morning.

So here are my teeth before I started using this:

And here they are after:

I have only just noticed the difference in light in the photos but there is that little difference in shades I don't think it really matters.

Before my teeth weren't really stained, they were slightly discoloured so it's good that since using White Glo they haven't got worse but where the main problems are I'll have to go to the dentist for a clean.

I would buy White Glo again as even though there wasn't a dramatic difference I'm still impressed with the results.

What's in my bag?

Like the title suggests this post is going to show you what I have in my handbag. But first of all which handbag am I using?

This is a Kipling bag and it's design is called Cerys. I can't find this shade anywhere but other ones are available from QVC for £53.52 or from Kipling themselves for £77 so it depends which shade you want.

And in it is...

Cath Kidston phone cover with my Blackberry in

Purse from Next

Umbrella from Primark

Winnie the Pooh diary from Boots

Re-useable bag

Glasses

3 lipsticks

My work keys

2 pens

Mentos mints

Mineral concealer

A hairgrip

What do you have in your bag?

Product use up

Another month has gone so it's time for my product use up update. If you read last months post, which coincidentally can be found here, you'd have seen that I had a very successful month but May was still quite good as I used up ten products.

L'Oreal Elnett hairspray

Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 one step cleanser

L'Occitane cherry blossom shower gel

Good Things miracle mattifier moisturiser

The Body Shop seaweed toner

Avon senses shower gel

No7 eye make up remover

Ren Micro Polish Cleanser
Soft & Gentle deodorant
Batiste dry shampoo

Eek so we're now in June, blimey it's flying by, so on my next product use up I'll do a more in depth review of how I'm doing as I'll be at my half way point of my challenge!

If you're taking part in this challenge how are you doing?