Valentines Baking | Raspberry Macaroons

Ingredients:

• 1 Sachet of Macaroon Mix (Included)
• 1 Sachet of Icing Mix (Included)
• 2 Large Eggs
• 50g Butter
• 1tbsp of Milk

Equipment Needed:

• Piping Bag (Included)
• 2 Mixing Bowls
• Electric Hand Mixer or by hand
• Spoons
• Baking Trays
• Grease-proof Paper

So, the first step is to line your baking trays with grease-proof paper so when your macaroons are cooked they don't stick to the tray. 

Then you want to get your 2 large eggs and separate the egg whites, this can be quite tricky so seek help if need be. You then once you've separated them, want to get a electric mixer and mix the egg whites until it forms peaks and becomes almost foam like. You don't have to use a electric mixer however doing it by hand takes a lot longer so a electric mixer is a better option.

Once you've whisked the egg whites you want to add the Macaroon Baking Mix that is included and you want to FOLD them in. Make sure you fold not stir because this creates air pockets in the mixture and that's crucial to create a perfect macaroon. Once you've folded it all together the mixture should turn a nice pinky colour, you then want to scoop it into your piping bag and this bit can also be a little tricky so seek help if you need it. The next part is up to you, if you want to make big macaroons you will need to pipe bigger circles and if smaller, smaller circles. Tip: Make sure you do them in pairs other whise you could end up with a random lonely one. 

You want to put your macaroons in a cold oven, no preheating, and put the temperature to 50'c so the temperature will slowly rise around your macaroons. You want to keep it on 50'c for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes of being on 50'c, you want to turn the heat up to 150'c for the last 15 minutes and at this stage they will be looking flat but they will start to rise within the next 15 minutes.

Whilst the macaroons rise in the oven you want to make the icing, for this you'll need to mix with a electric mixer the 50g of butter until it becomes soft, you then want to add the Icing Mix and the 1tbsp of Milk and again mix with the electric mixer, once it looks like the following you want to take your macaroons out the oven once they're done and let them cool. Once they're cool you want to spoon the icing in between the two macaroons like a sandwich and presto, you've got some yummy Macaroons.

So, I hope you guys enjoyed this tutorial on baking Macaroons. It was alot of fun to make however getting flour etc over my camera was not a good idea. I'd love to do some more baking tutorials for you all, if you have any ideas on what you'd like to see let me know in the comments. If you recreate these macaroons or similar, instragram or tweet me a picture with the #BakingWithLola. I hope you guys enjoyed this, I know I did by eating them.

Photography Shoot | Abandonded Interior Shoot

Hello Everyone!

So today I've come to you with a complete different post, yes photography.

I've been wanting to do a photography based post on my blog for awhile but I never really came round to doing it, however today I am. So if you didn't already know, I'm currently studying a photography course and its the most fun I've ever had in any subject and lately we were assigned to take a interior shoot of abandoned places. If you don't know what any of that means, it basically means to do a photo shoot on the inside (interior) of abandoned or old places/houses. I'm quite lucky where I live because I have abandoned mine houses all around me so this was pretty easy to pick what and where I was taking this shoot. Firstly, I came up with the idea of having a filter of black and white to create a darker and almost creepier effect on my images. I wont go into technical terms because I'm sure most of you wont or don't want to know what they mean. So here are some of the best photos I took.

I hope you enjoyed this post, if you want to see any more than please let me know because I'd love to do more. I'm actually this week coming being assigned to do a portraiture shoot so if any of you want to see that then I'll be more than happy to write up a post for you. If any of you do a photography course or just love doing photography, I'd love to see your images so if you'd like to share them then tweet or instragram me the images with the #PhotographyWithLola. Hope you enjoyed this, see you next week.

Valentines Day Questions | Tag

Hello Everyone! Firstly I'd just like to start off with saying Happy Valentines Day to you all and I hope your sharing it with a very special person, whether that's your partner or family, I hope you have a day filled with lots and lots of love. Question 1 - What is your favorite Valentines Day treats? That's a hard one, I love lots. I think hot chocolate with heart shaped sprinkles is always a winner, and lots and lots of chocolate. 
Question 2 - Sweethearts or chocolate covered Strawberry's? Chocolate covered Strawberry's, definitely.
Question 3 - What is your favorite Valentine Day memory? That would be when I used to live with my Mum and Nan in the same house and we'd secretly leave presents scattered around each of our rooms for the morning of Valentines Day and we'd get together and open them, they were always the cutest days. 
Question 4 - What movie would you rather watch on Valentines Day: Pretty Woman or You've Got Mail? I've actually never heard of either and I'm not one to watch soppy romantic films but I'd like to watch You've Got Mail as it seems cute and well I don't know really, more of my cup of tea.
Question 5 - What celebrity wouldn't you mind having for Valentines Day? Demi Lovato, although I'm straight we could still get together and have a movie night together as best friends.
Question 6 - What would be your perfect Valentines date? Just staying at home and watching movies with food and chocolate, perfect.
Question 7 - Red or Pink lips on Valentines Day? If I was feeling confident I'd probably go for red but I think pink is more subtle and compliments my face better.
Question 8 - What is your ideal Valentines Day outfit? Skinny jeans or a skater skirt with cute jumper, probably with a peter pan collar on it, and some comfy boots.
Question 9 - Homemade or Store bought gifts? I think homemade is always such a cute idea and it makes it all that more special, however I think if your treating someone to something shop bought things are always still good.
Question 10 - Would you wear your hair up or down for a date night? I proffer my hair down so probably half up and half down with loose curls.
So that's my tag for Valentines Day, if you've done one leave the link in the comment as I'd love to check them out. I hope your all having a lovely day and its full of love and special people. Love you all, Happy Valentines Day!

Valentines Day | Hairspiration

Hi guys!

So I'm back today with yet another Hairspiration post, I'm aware I haven't done one of these since I believe the countdown to Christmas, am I wrong?

Anyway, as valentines day is just like a week away I thought I could give you a few ideas for if your stuck on what you want to do with your hair then I hope you bring something away from this. I'd just like to say, all photos are from Pinterest.com and you'll find them all on my boards somewhere.

Firstly, I think a typical hair style for Valentines Day would be something romantic looking and almost posh you could say? I think my over all favorite would be the first image because I just think that it's absolutely adorable and it's fair enough as easy as you could get, for me anyway. I also really like the half up half down hair styles with loose curls, they look so cute and romantic and I just love curls and to add a bit more girly to it, a bow would finish it off.

I really like all these pictures and I think even un-experienced people could do it as they all seem fairly straight forward and easy. I hope you've managed to get a few ideas from this and please let me know if you recreate any of these or have ideas to share, or better yet, send me a image on instragram with the #HairspirationWithLowenna.

Gift Ideas For Her | Valentines Day

Hanging Birdcage Tea Light Holder - Matalan Love Heart Tea Lights - Red 5 Egg Heart Shaped Molds - IWoot Rose Detailed Heart Mirror - Tesco Love rocks Candle - Bath And Body Shop Set Of 3 Candles & Holders - Tesco

Hello Everyone! So with only nine days to go until the day, I thought I would put up a gift idea post to anyone that is completely stuck of what to get their Women. I put together a few things I thought a typical girly Women would love, I didn't include it but, don't forget the cute bunch of flowers too! So, I think my all time favorite here would be the Hanging Bird Cage Tea Light Holder, it is so beautiful and who doesn't love abit of decorative in your house for candles? If your special Lady loves her candles, I'm sure she's going to like this too. Next of all I found the Heart Shaped Egg Molds. Now, this idea is just brilliant, whats better than having breakfast in bed? Heart shaped eggs, that's what! I think its such a cute idea but you could always use it all year round its just such a cute idea.
I found these Love Heart Tea Lights, which remind me of the sweets, and I just think they're so gorgeous to put around a room even if you don't light them, they make such a nice decorative. When I spotted this I knew I had to include it, it is the one and only candle by Bath & Body Works. This candle is literately heaven, it smells so good just like candy and marshmallows I don't know, but it smells good. I also spotted this Set Of 3 Candles & Holders, I think the idea of it is such a cute idea, even after Valentines day it would be perfect. You don't have to have candles in it either, I think its beautiful to put on a table or something and light the room up a bit with or without the candles lit. Last of all, I saw the Rose Detailed Mirror now, this is so beautiful and the detail is just gorgeous. 
I hope you enjoyed and branched off at least some ideas from this.  Stay tuned as I'll be doing a gift idea post for Him soon so if your stuck for what to get for your Mr then keep checking back for that.
What things are you getting your special someone for Valentines Day?

No7 Beautifully Matte & Beautiful Skin

Hello Lovelies! So lately I've been surfing the interwebs, just watching alot of videos and reading blog posts and realized that actually, alot of people use makeup primers in their daily makeup routines. See I never thought makeup primers actually worked all that well but alot of people still seemed to be raving about them and so I thought I'd join in with the rave and purchase my own to try out. I came across No7's Beautifully Matte Makeup Base in boots which I believe is £10.50 which can seem alot to pay for a makeup base however I totally reassure you, it's worth it. For anyone who doesn't know what a makeup primer is, its at its most basic level a cream of which you apply to your face which makes your makeup stay on much longer through out the day.
First of all when you apply it, it's really thick and its got a really nice matte feel to it. It goes on your skin really easily and softly and at first I was abit sceptical to whether it'll work or how long it'll last. I don't think anyone will ever find a primer that will keep your makeup looking perfect for hours on end however this is still a really good primer. I didn't exscatly count how long it lasted, however I did notice it gave my foundation a smoother look on my skin and more of a matte look to it too. I think it's a brilliant primer, it keeps my makeup on for that little bit longer and although the price is a little steep I'm sure it'll be worth paying for, it's definitely something I'm repurchasing. 
I also came across No7's Beautiful Skin BB Cream for Dry/Very Dry Skin. I suffer from dry skin and I'm always on the hunt for new and better creams as I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks dry skin isn't exscatly the most attractive look. When I first tried this, the cream was actually a really daunting dark, almost foundation cream however if you rub the cream in well enough, there will be no coloring left on your skin what so ever. I've been using this cream for a few weeks now and I have to say I haven't actually seen a huge deal of improvement or difference in my skin or my dry patches which is a really big shame. I picked this up for £12.95 which can also be quite a steep price for a cream however I don't think this is the right cream for my skin as its not made any major improvements.
Have you tried any of these products?