Recipe: Apple and Cinnamon Loaf Cake

 

 

It was a Wednesday Bake Off night and myself and my friends decided to meet up with cake. I was in need of a something quick, with ingredients I had in my baking stash! I turned to this Mary Berry recipe (seemed only fitting considering we were watching the bake off) and having tried it once, it's something I'll keep going back to and keep altering slightly to fit the occasion and what I need.

October Scrapbooking: Getting started

I'll start by saying I know it's mid way through November and I know this post is titled October Scrapbooking but time has completely ran away with me and I'm only getting around to showing you what I put in my scrapbook at the end of September and throughout October. I'm not 100% happy with all the pages, there's a couple I'll show you that I'm definitely thinking of changing but then there are some I just love so let's get going.

The last One Direction Show!

Last weekend I packed my suitcase as headed off to see One Direction with a couple of my girlfriends Robyn and Alex. Our hometown is Doncaster (same as Louis - give it up for Yorkshire!) so technically our local show would be Sheffield although now we all live away from home, it would be a case of travelling back to see them. We set off at lunchtime and some trains and taxis later we arrived at our hotel.

What a week!

I'm writing this blog post as I stand up on a train, surrounded by a case full of dirty laundry, a handbag full of girl junk, a bag full of uni work, a heavy laptop case, and a lot of sweaty people. Yes, I'm on my way home for the weekend. I need to ground myself. I've had a crazy week...

My favourite Blog Posts

As I mentioned on Friday, I've been super busy this week and not had chance to put much time into writing a post. So instead I thought I'd do a little round up of a few of my favourite posts from the past year for you to have a look back at if you'd like!

Coping with Blogging at University

This post will take the form of a rant...and will contain a lot of explanation as to the future of this blog whilst ever I am at University. It was something I'd hoped to write a lot later down the line, however I feel the time has come to just type what I'm thinking about how blogging is going whilst at Uni and what I'm going to do about it.

15 Struggles of growing up in the naughties

I grew up in the noughties and being honest I think it was a pretty tough time. Kids these days just don't realise how easy they have it - in today's post I'll talk you through my top 15 struggles of growing up in the noughties! Warning: This post will make you feel really old!

TAG: 10 Little Secrets Tag

It's TAG time again! I love writing these posts, but worried that they were appearing a little too often on HBH. Then a friend turned round to me and said they were some of her favourite posts, so it isn't just me that likes them - it's been a while but here's another one! Here is the 10 Little Secrets Tag!

Would I recommend a Gap Year?

 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post about what to do on a gap year when you don't travel. Well today I follow it up with a little bit of a ramble about whether I'd recommend taking one at all. Whatever you do, is it really worth taking a year out of education? Are you going to gain anything from that year that you couldn't get at some other point in life? Here are my thoughts...

My five ways to de-stress

Having just watched one of Vivianna Does Makeup's recent youtube videos on de-stressing I thought I would share with you some of my tips for keeping calm. Having just started university there's been a lot of stress in my life these past few weeks, so here are a few ways I've kept on top of it all!

 

5 Things I learnt in my first year of blogging

Six months ago, I posted six things that I had learnt in my first six months of blogging. Check that blogpost out here! Having celebrated my first blogiversary (is that what they call them? I'm still a newbie) last week I thought I would post five things that I have learnt in the last few months/year about blogging...I'll make them different to the first six!

Recipe: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn't love a good cookie? I definitely do, and I've adapted a recipe from the lovely Mary Berry to make what I think are some of the most delicious cookies I have ever tried. If you want to see how to make a gooey, chocolate delicious cookie, keep on reading!

 

Eleven things I learnt in my first week at University

I am very pleased to say I have survived my first week at University! I am yet to catch fresher's flu, yet to give myself food poisoning and yet to set the kitchen on fire...I'm pretty good right now. There are some things however, I have learnt in my first week at Uni that I either just didn't think of or knew but took no notice of...here they are!

Happy Birthday Headlined By Hannah

It's been a year! Wowzers! Headlined by Hannah, my little blog, my tiny piece of the internet is a whole year old! I can't believe how fast this year has gone, how well this blog has done, and how happy it has made me!!!! Prepare for a very exclamation mark heavy, and grammar police treasure of a post....!!!!!

September Scrapbooking: Tips for scrapbooking from a beginner

I've recently started scrapbooking and I've already started to pick up a few bits of knowledge I wish I'd known sooner so I thought I'd share them with you today. Some of them may seem obvious, even though I knew I shouldn't buy out Hobbycraft I didn't listen to myself, so I thought I'd share a few things with you today!

What to do on a Gap Year when you don't travel!

My gap year was very enforced. Ask any of my friends and they'll tell you how I was so against the idea of taking a year out - despite knowing deep down I wouldn't be able to cope with it. When the realisation hit that I was not going to be starting University for another year, I sat around twiddling my thumbs for how I was going to pass the time. From the girl who never travelled on her Gap Year...here is my advice for what to do on a Gap Year when you don't go travelling.

My 100 Things | An Update: Part 2

On Tuesday I gave you part one of My 100 Things Update, I promised part two would follow today and here it is! It features a whole variety of achievements and fails that complete my 100 things list! Enjoy!

#37 Eat in a dark restaurant

I've said before how I was told this existed but couldn't find one and I've spent the whole year trying to track one down but haven't been able to....for the failure of this one I blame miscommunication.

#38 Build a fort out of sheets

This was one for a throwback to my childhood - I haven't had chance to do it though.

#39 Drink no coffee for one month

I haven't done this. I did it once a few years ago and really struggled with it and I felt like I've kept putting it off all year because I know how hard it was last time. However, I have cut my intake down, I try to limit myself to three cups a day, and I have increased my water intake to rehydrate me after the dehydrating coffee.

#42 Write a letter to my future self

This is something I've done but something I don't want to post. I feel like in a few years time, after my degree, it's something I'll be able to look back on, and if this blog it still going I might post it then.

#46 Travel the country visiting friends at their Uni's

I've been all over the place. Sheffield, Oxford, Lancaster....thanks to all my lovely friends for having me and showing me around some very pretty places.

#47 Do some volunteering

I haven't volunteered in the usual sense of the word, I haven't helped out of groups or events. However, I have started to tell my story of being a young stroke survivor for the Stroke Association to use as a positive thing. Last week I spoke at a Royal Mail event to spur their employees on to raise money for the Stroke Association.

#48 Learn to Knit

I'm wanting to make a baby's cardigan, however I am currently only seeing a misshapen square with a few unintentional holes in it. Learning to knit is much harder than I thought it would be.

#50 Go to a designer outlet, and buy something designer

I bought a Kath Kidston bag and oven mitt (planning for uni back in October last year) and bought my friend an oven glove as well (packing her off for uni also!) - could have been something ''more'' designer but that would have come with a higher price tag!

#52 Get an Autograph

FAIL

#53 Write my name with sparklers

I missed the bonfire night boat for buying sparklers and you just can't get hold of them at any other time

#59 Write a letter to Pre-Stroke Hannah

This has been much harder than I ever thought it would be. I just don't know what to say, I wanted it to give warning, but a stroke comes without warning, and it just seems kind of wrong...I've got many drafts for this one, but nothing seems right. Why is it so hard?

#61 Be on the Radio

A few days before my run I talked to BBC radio York about it all and fundraising and all what the stroke association had done for me. It was an incredible experience and even though I was very, very nervous I was told it didn't come across. I'm glad I got the opportunity to do this

#62 See a Theatre Show

I headed to London a couple of weeks ago with a few friends and we saw The Commitments. It was really good actually, we got some £10 tickets on Lastminute.com and although we were very high up, it was still a really good show. The first half was much slower than the second, but they were incredible singers and the music and storyline was great.

 

I have loved all these little challenges throughout the year. They've given me the push to do more when I'm not at work than sit on the sofa and watch Jeremy Kyle. I'm a couple of days into university now and I'm looking forward to the new challenges that will come up. See you on Tuesday when I talk about what to do on a gap year...when you don't travel (and I don't just list these 100 things haha!)

 

My 100 Things | An Update: Part 1

 

Over the past year I've been blogging all about all sorts of things. In amongst the beauty posts, cake recipes, and rambles about what I've been wearing, I've been posting all about the challenges I set myself at the beginning of my gap year. Well today I'm moving into Uni, and this marks the end of my gap year. My intention has always been that I would only try to complete those challenges during my time out - so here is a post to update you on all that has gone on.

My 100 Things | #63 Talk in front of a large group of people

This time last week I was on a train heading to London. I was so nervous I was feeling sick, I was shaking, I was in a cold sweat, and no I wasn't heading to a hospital appointment, I was going to talk to a large group of people at the Royal Mail New Graduate event, on behalf of the Stroke Association.

My 100 Things | #2 Sit in the Audience of a TV Show

The order in which things are on my list do not represent anything except the order in which they popped into my mind. Considering this is number two it suggests it's something I thought of pretty soon after I decided to put my list together, and that's because it's something I've wanted to do for a very long time but never had the chance, with being in college all day and living in the middle of nowhere we've never had the time or easily been able to get somewhere....but this year I had a lot of time on my hand's!

The Dreamy Naked 2 Palette

Owning an Urban Decay Naked Palette is something I've lusted after for a pretty long time. I've never felt like I could justify spending that much amount of money on a palette when a) I already own a countless number and b) the money could come in very useful elsewhere! But my friends know me just too well, and as a little present for making it a year past my stroke and getting ready for uni, they bought me the Naked 2 Palette! It was such a lovely thing and something I totally did not expect. But has the palette I placed such high hopes on lived up to my expectations?

My Week in Outfits #2

I last did a 'what I've worn this week' type post back in June (I seriously thought it was a couple of weeks ago, but time flies!), so I thought considering I've had a pretty busy week, I'd take pictures of everything I've worn each day and share them with you today! Hope you enjoy!

The College Favourite Malteser Cake Recipe

During our A-Levels myself and my friends became fans of visiting the Starbucks café in college. The malteser cake they sold became a firm favourite. I've since to got a recipe and it gives me something pretty close to the real deal that college sold us. Here is the recipe for the cake that brightened up those stressful days.

My 100 Things | #36 Climb the Covent Garden Tube Steps

 

I was going to post my August Favourites today, but as I sat down to write them, I realised just how fast August had gone by, and just how little I'd took note of things I'd been loving. So instead I decided to write about something I ticked of my 100 things list just a few days ago at the very end of August! Here is why I wanted to climb the Covent Garden Tube steps and what happened!

My 100 Things | #13 Go to a Theme Park

I went away for the weekend with my girlfriends last week, and on the Saturday we visited Blackpool Pleasure Beach for the day. With the weather in Blackpool being tropical, it was never going to rain, it was never going to pour, it was never going to make us so drenched we were wetter than we would have been in the shower - that would just never happen! Here is what happened!

My 100 Things | #56 Take a girls trip away

 

I was under no illusion after my stroke that the price of travel insurance would be the equivalent cost of paying for all my friends to go on an all inclusive week long break to LA. Therefore when girls holidays were discussed, we decided a staycation was the way to go, and a weekend in Blackpool with my five closest friends would do just the trick.

The Make Up Bag... Girls Staycation

Last Weekend I took a trip to Blackpool on the North West Coast of England with my closest friends. It is a place that is known for being cold and rainy nearly all the time, so the clothing I took did not reflect the fact it was August - anyway, from a Make Up point of view I took my general everyday make up, very relaxed, and then my new Naked 2 palette for some dramatic eyes on the night out.

My Nan's All Bran Cake Recipe

Today is a day for another recipe. My Nan was famous for her recipe books, her apple pies were particularly delicious, however today I'll be sharing with you what is likely to be the most simple of all her cakes - her All Bran Cake. Yes, cereal in a cake is something that you might be thinking should never have been created, however this is without doubt one of the most delicious cakes I've ever tasted, and possibly the easiest recipe I've shared on my blog.

13 Problems only Ginger girls will understand.

I have naturally bright ginger hair - it can come in very useful, I'm easily spotted on a giant group photograph (actually don't know it this is a good or bad thing), never have to worry about the dye running out, and can be picked out from a mile away in crowd. But there are also some things us red heads go through in life that only other red heads will understand!

My 100 Things | #60 Take part in a Pub Quiz

I'm not sure how to describe a pub if you aren't from the UK and don't know what one is, but this post will be all about the quizzes that take part in them. What has ended up being nearly every Tuesday, me and my friends take a trip to the local pub, where the boys drink beer because they think it makes them more manly, and the girls take it in turns to drink the coke because one of us will always be driving. Every two Tuesdays there is a pub quiz, something which we have become highly competitive at...how well are we actually doing?

TAG: The TMI Travel Tag

I was copying all my pictures over from my phone to my computer (a job I do not do enough, I'd lose far too many precious photos if my phone ever got wiped!) and I came across all my holiday pictures from last year. The holiday I took to Gran Canaria with a couple of friends was probably one of the best I've ever had - I flew home only a few hours before I had my stroke, but I have fantastic memories of that week away. Anyway, as I was reminiscing I remembered that I'd seen a travel tag over on Wanderness. I thought I would tag myself and post it for you today!

The Most Loved MUA Eye Palette

A couple of Christmas's ago I received the MUA Undressed palette and since then it has become one of the most loved items in my make up drawer and my most loved MUA product. It's my go to for a neutral eye look, has that all important eyebrow filler shade, and seems to just be that one palette that I feel the need to take with me where ever I go.

Cinnamon and Sultana Scones Recipe

 

For the past thirteen Fridays you've had a fitness related post from me - well this week, we're talking baking. Today I'm sharing a recipe for cinnamon and sultana scones. A little treat is OK every now and then! If you'd like to see how I've made these delicious, melt in your mouth scones then keep reading...

The Schwarzkopf Got2b Volumizing Powder

I've had my hair cut shorter about four months ago now, and at the time my hairdresser told me it would be good to buy a volumizing powder, and this will add more texture to my shorter hair. Basically being given a reason to go to Boots, I took myself off in search of a volumizng powder. I picked up the Got2b powder, I already love this brand, and their heat defence spray has been a firm favourite of mine for a while, so I even though I hadn't read any reviews, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I've been trying it out for the past few months and here are my thoughts.

My 100 Things | #3 Apply for a TV Show

 

I was petrified about doing this one. It originally started out as be on a TV Show but I couldn't guarantee that that would happen, so instead I thought, if I apply, I'm ticking something off and giving myself the best shot. So, will I be on TV?

My 100 Things | #1 Do a Run

 

The last twelve Friday posts have been leading up to this moment, the post where I can say I finally ran the York 10K for The Stroke Association. It was a day filled with pride, fun, laughter, nerves and excitement. It was probably one of my proudest achievements, and a day I will never forget.

My 100 Things | #30 Place a Bet

Following on from the last post about my trip to the races, I thought I'd do a quick little post dedicated to talking about betting. It's only a short one, so it's a bonus Wednesday post! 
A little disclaimer - I do not promote gambling.

My 100 Things | #11 Go to the Races

I live about half an hour away from Doncaster Racecourse and going to the races is always something I've wanted to do. A couple of weeks ago my Dad saw an advert for two free tickets to the races at Doncaster for two different nights. Never one to miss the opportunity for a freebie he applied for both nights, and got tickets. Night one I went with Bridie and night two I went with my Dad.

Monthly Favourites | July 2015

This month I've got some quite varied beauty that are more skincare than make-up, and then a very random couple of lifestyle favourites. I'll stop teasing you and just start telling you shall I? Let's get started!

Fitness Friday: Week Twelve

Today is the final fitness Friday! It's run day on Sunday and where the past twelve weeks have gone I do not know. I am so nervous for the race, but I'm so pleased with how our fundraising has done. Not only will crossing that finish line be a personal achievement, but I know how much the money raised will help people just like me all over the country.

Review: Essie Help Me Grow Base Coat

I wore Gel nails for a couple of months, a couple of months ago. They wrecked my nails. I've had them before and the after effects have never been as bad as they had this time. They were flaking, brittle, breaking, they wouldn't grow, they were yellow and very dehydrated. They were the worse they had ever been. I used to have really good, strong nails, but not anymore. I tried so many different things. I left them bare for a while, no polish, no products in a hope that they would begin to grow out. They weren't growing, while ever they didn't grow, the bad nail was going to stay. I looked online for a miracle cure. While in Boots, I went to the Essie Stand and saw the 'Help Me Grow Base Coat', 'That's what I need' I thought so I bought one.

Life After Stroke: One Year On

 

It's been a year since I had my stroke! One Year! Where has the time gone. Every 3 months since my stroke I've always wrote a little update about how life is. Well, you don't usually get a post from me on a Saturday but I really wanted to post on the exact one year mark since my stroke so that's why this post is going up on 25th July, at 8pm. I have no idea how long this post is going to be, and I only roughly know what I'm planning to talk about, but I'm just going to type, from the heart, and from a nearly fully functioning brain.

Fitness Friday: Week Eleven

The race is next Sunday! The race is next Sunday! The more I say it the more it terrifies me! I've been doing these Fitness Friday updates for nearly three months, and when I read back on those first couple of weeks I realise how far I've come. I might not be a sprinter, and I'm not a marathon runner, but I am running, which is something I never thought I would do. This weekend marks one year since my stroke, and thinking about the changes in that year. Wow. I can't believe that next week I'll be running 10K. Anyway, back to this week...here is how it's gone.

Five ways to deal with Hayfever

 

I had no intention of writing this post, and I know some people suffer with hayfever from the beginning of the year, and we're heading towards the end of July now, but this past couple of weeks has got me bad. The pollen count has been super high, and if you read my Fitness Friday posts you'll know for the past few weeks, it's been really difficult for me to deal with. But considering I've been struggling for a while, I thought I'd share a few things that make me prepared for a hayfever attack.

My 100 Things | #28 Buy an item of clothing from a charity shop

I regularly donate things to charity, old clothes, CD'S, DVD's, and, I'll sometimes go in and pick up a CD or a book - but never something to wear. I just felt like, everything seemed old, even though I know I lot of young people that donate clothes to charity shops I felt like I could never find them. I added this to my list, so this year I could make it my mission to find something I actually liked, and wanted to buy, from a charity shop.

Fitness Friday: Week Ten

This week has been a major week. When Bridie and me were out for drinks at the pub with some friends the other night they said 'so you haven't actually ran 10K yet?' and we were like 'No, we have plenty of time'. Then when I came to write last Friday's post and realised there were only three weeks until race day, I panicked a little bit. So this week, I put myself into gear, and planned to boss that 10K.

Six tips for staying motivated to Blog

There are days when I get a few hundred views, and everyone of those means as much to me as the two views I could get the day after. But I won't lie, those days, where only a couple of people have looked at my blog do get me down - is the time and effort I put into writing posts, taking pictures, planning and everything else worth it? Well, after not a lot of consideration it definitely is! The days I see my views rising at a pretty rapid pace are the days I always feel more motivated. So I thought I'd sit down (on what I can tell you is a low view day) and write my top six pieces of advice for staying motivated to blog!

Seven ways to make train travel a little easier

Post stroke it was a big goal of mine to get back on trains and start travelling again. My confidence had been knocked but once I'd done it was I was OK. My fears were under control. Over the past few months since I wrote that post about that first time changing trains, I've been travelling a lot more, both on my own and with friends, both with and without luggage. Today I thought I'd share with you my top few pieces for advice for train travelling that I've picked up over the past few weeks.

Fitness Friday: Week Nine/Fitness Clothing Haul Part 2

It's less than one month to go until race day. The nerves are kicking in a bit, and the need to get training more and more is constantly in the back of my mind - but this week, not the best.

The fear of changing your blog template

 

 

This is a post that fellow bloggers out there will probably relate to more than non-bloggers. I've had a nightmare with my blog template the past few weeks and I just wanted to share what's been going on, how I've got to this new design, and my advice for anyone thinking of changing their template.

My 100 Things | #22 Host a Dinner Party

'Ten months ago I was struggling to organise myself to get out of the front door let alone plan something like this' - something I said to Bridie whilst she helped me load this dishwasher after what I would like to think was a very successful evening. I hosted a dinner party, a three course meal, a right old gathering of much loved friends.

Fitness Friday: Week Eight

I really hope you aren't getting bored of these Fitness Friday posts, I'm trying to make them not to repetitive, I've had some really lovely comments about them so I hope everyone is enjoying them. This week has been a very different week for me, and my routine so fitting running in has been very different to how I thought it would be.