FEATURES
five reasons spring is the best season!
We're past Christmas, pancake day and still what seams like a lifetime away from summer. However, maybe everything isn't as bad as it seems. Keep reading below to find out why spring is your new favorite season!
1. There's nothing better than stomping on a crunchy leaf! Make sure you take yourself away from the screens and loudness of the cyber world and act like a child for a change!
2. Take your little ones out to see what creatures they can find! During this season we see tons of little critters trying to find some food, help them out!
3. There's tons of sniffs for your pets! Make sure you take them to their favorite field so they can smell what's new to their noses!
4. With spring comes the blossoming of summer flowers! Why don't plant some of your own or pick some for your loved ones!
5. Many would argue that spring time has the best weather! Clear skies with no rain is perfect for dog walking, picnicking and so much more!
nutty banana pockets!
Fancy something nutty and filling? Try making these banana pockets for a tasty desert!
Fresh puff pastry
Chocolate spread
Peanut butter
Chocolate chips
1 banana
Cut puff pastry into rectangles.
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Spread chocolate and peanut butter across pastry.
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Add chocolate chips and four slices of banana.
Fold over and add egg wash.
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Bake at 200* for 20 minutes.
pizza pleasers
Fancy something easy to make and savory? Try these easy pizza pleasers for a quick dinner! Perfect for the little ones!
Fresh puff pastry
Marinara sauce
Pepperoni
Mozzerlla
Any other toppings you want
Cut puff pasty into rectangles. Spread marinara sauce all over.
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Add pepperoni, mozzarella and any other toppings you want.
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Cook for 20 minutes at 200*.
milk chocolate & cherry muffins
Craving something chocolate-y and fruity? Make these easy muffins to satisfy your taste buds!
2 eggs
125ml vegetable oil
250ml milk
200g caster sugar
400g self raising flour
100g glacied cherries
100g chocolate chips
Whisk 2 eggs together in a bowl. Add vegetable oil and milk and stir.
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Pour caster sugar and add self-raising flour and mix.
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Fill cupcake cases half way with mixture then add cherries. Add more mixture on top then chocolate chips.
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Bake at 200° for 25 minutes.
glittery cat eyes
Bored of your day to day make up? Want to release your inner glitter self? Follow these easy steps to spice up your make up.
Dot where you want the eyeliner to end. This will make it easier to control.
Draw a second dot from the end of your eye to make it easy to connect.
Once connecting the two dots, draw your eyeliner from the inner eye outwards to meet the flicks.
Once done, fill with glitter to add sparkle to your day!
loaded sweet potatoes
Fancy something low fat and salty? Make these easy loaded sweet potatoes at home.
2 sweet potatoes
Salt and pepper
Feta cheese
1 bell pepper
Add any other toppings you want
Pierce potatoes through the middle, vertically, and microwave for five minutes. Cut potatoes in half. Spoon out middle of potato as much as you want. Add salt and pepper.
Cut bell pepper in half and half again, until you are left with small pieces roughly about 1cm big. Place inside potato alongside feta cheese.
Cook for 20 minutes at 200° degrees.
white chocolate and blueberry muffins
Craving something sweet and chocolatey? These white chocolate and blueberry muffins will sort you out.
Ingredients;
2 eggs
125ml vegetable oil
250ml skimmed milk
200g caster sugar
400g self-raising flour
1 tsp salt
100g blueberries
100g white chocolate chips
Whisk two eggs in a bowl. Add vegetable oil and milk then stir.
Add caster sugar and stir. Sift self raising flour into mixture alongside salt.
Pour half way into cupcake tray. Add blueberries and white chocolate chips.
Add more mixture then more chocolate chips.
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Bake at 200° for 20 minutes.
EASY CHOCOLATE PLAIT
Want to spoil yourself for this cheat day? Make this super easy chocolate plait ready in minutes.
Ingredients;
200 grams of chocolate
Puff pastry sheet
Open pastry and place chocolate in middle. Cut away any excess pastry over three inches.
Cut vertically lines from the top of pastry down the chocolate and fold over. Using the lines on the chocolate bar as a guide, cut diagonally down from each row.
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Do this on both sides of chocolate, then begin to fold pastry over from side to side.
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Bake at 180° until top turns golden brown. Serve with ice cream!
two ingredient face mask
Skin feeling a bit dry this winter? Make this super easy two ingredient face mask to boost your skin and give you a glow!
Ingredients;
1 banana
2 tbsp. honey
Mush banana with a fork. Pour into bowl and stir.
Add 2 tbsp. of honey, for extra dry skin add another.
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Keep cold in fridge for up to a week.
poppin' chocolate covered strawbs
Fancy something healthy but not too healthy? These poppin’ chocolate covered strawberries are the ones for you.
Ingredients;
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As many strawberries as you want
Two cups of chocolate
Poppin’ chocolate candy
Wash strawberries thoroughly. Set aside.
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Cut chocolate up into small pieces. Get a small saucepan and fill with 1 inch of water.
Place heat proof bowl over the top. Add chocolate pieces in one at a time. Make sure no lumps are left.
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Once all chocolate has melted, grab a tablespoon and pour melted chocolate over each strawberry. Top with poppin’ chocolate.
blueberry pancake bites!
Do you ever crave something sweet but are on a strict diet?
Try these blueberry pancake bites with less than 100 calories per bite!
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Ingredients;
120 grams plain flour
1 tbsp. caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 egg
2 tbsp. melted butter
120 ml milk
Tsp vanilla extract
100 grams of blueberries
Pour plain flour into mixing bowl, add caster sugar, baking powder, salt and stir. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg then add egg to mixture.
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Melt two tablespoons of butter than add along with milk and vanilla extract.
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Pour mixture evenly into cupcake tray. Do not overfill as they will rise. Add blueberries.
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Bake at 180° for 12 minutes or until they turn golden brown. Let cakes cool then top with icing sugar (optional).
Charity shopping has changed since the first one opened in 1947. They have developed from bits and pieces that families didn’t want, into charity shops becoming trendy, and having their own lines that they sell in store.
The British Heart Foundation have been fighting heart disease for over 50 years, and one of their key sources of funding is their High Street shops. They were founded in 1961 by medical professionals wanting to research into causes, diagnostics and everything surrounding heart and circulatory disease.
In their shops they have great gift ideas for men, women, children and a home department full of vintage items. I found a vintage bicycle clock in their store, and after chatting to the sales assistant, I discovered that the clock was part of a wide range of products that the BHF make and sell in their stores. Not only was it a great gift for my dad, but it is also a feel good feeling buying something from a charity shop.
The second charity shop I checked out was Oxfam. On their website they say that they are “part of a global movement of millions of people who share the belief that, in a world rich in resources, poverty isn’t inevitable. In just 15 years, extreme poverty has been halved. 15 more years and we can end it for good.”
I was extremely impressed with their Exeter Branch, as it is divided up into three parts. Clothing, books and living pieces. With friendly staff and good quality stock, you can’t tell this difference between it and a high street shop.
Make a change this year. Don’t stick to the stores with the labels and get your loved ones gifts that everyone else has. Shop at independent and charity shops, and know that your money is going to make a difference to people who really need it this Christmas.
how to: charity shop