Lemon Fairy Shortbread!

I have never really written about this kind of thing before, but I want to include a lot more foody stuff on my blog! And what better way to kick start it, then with a naughty little recipe for shortbread?

No, this isn't in the slightest bit healthy... BUT its tasty, easy, fun and they look pretty cute too. We added lemon to ours to give it a zesty kick, and did them with a fairy like theme.

Ingredients needed for shortbread:

150g Plain Flour
100g Butter (Softened)
50g Sugar



Ingredients needed for decoration (optional and can be adapted anyway you like!) 

Hundreds and Thousands
White Cooking Chocolate
Pink Food Colouring


Method

1. Preheat the over to 150 degrees celcius

2. Put the butter, flour and sugar in the mixing bowl.

3. Mix together, until it forms a dough like texture. Hands may be required for this step!!

 





4. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.

5. Cut out the shapes using your chosen cutter.
(Excuse me in my Frozen pj's!)

6. Place on a baking tray and leave in the oven for 20 minutes or until they turn golden brown.

7. Let the biscuits cool before decoration!

For decorating

1. Melt the white chocolate in a microwave/hob until runny. Don't overcook the chocolate!!

2. Add the food colouring of choice until it is the colour you desire.

3.  Lightly wave the spoon of chocolate over the shortbread to get the splattered effect.

4. Add the hundreds and thousands. Of course you can decorate them however you like, especially if you are going with the fairy like theme. You could add edible shimmer, glitter, edible petals, cut them out in flower shapes etc! The shortbread is your oyster!!

ENJOY!! 

Soph x

P.S Please do let me know if you recreate the shortbread, I'd love to see!

"You Shall Go To The Ball!"

Greetings friendlings! 

I thought I would share with you my thoughts on a recent film that I went to see; a modern interpretation of Disney's classic tale Cinderella. For those of you who don't know the story behind Cinderella (Where have you been?!), it tells the magical story of a young girl who loses her parents and consequently is brought up by her evil step mother and two ugly step sisters. They treat her as a servant, forcing her to cook and clean up after them. She is even banished to the attic room after the step sisters complain their room isn't big enough. Harsh right?

Cinderella or 'Ella' was told by her mother one piece of advice which would evolve her into the kind and gentle being we see her as in the film; " I want to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage and be kind". So despite her evil in-laws, she keeps this in mind and powers through these 'trials' in her household. She encounters the Prince of the land, (who conveniently is looking for a wife) and when he invites the whole kingdom to the ball poor Ella is trapped in her home and forbidden to go by her evil step mother. EVEN harsher!! 

Helena Bonham Carter plays the Fairy God Mother, who appears to come to Ella's rescue in the back garden. She brings an excitable wit and charm to the role, and is beautifully encompassed in a sparkly gown designed by the film's costume designer Sandy Powell. The costumes look absolutely incredible, my favourite being Ella's blue ball gown and glass slippers. Downtown Abbey's actress Lily James conveys the pure innocence and kind nature to Ella's character, bringing forward the classic damsel elements from Walt Disney's 1950's version. I would recommend to any Disney fan, although there are some scenes I feel children could find slightly distressing. (Passing of her parents/ The animals morphing into coachmen but still looking part lizard...quite creepy!) 

(Photo credit tumblr,inc)

Lastly a quote which proves so true, I wish everyone would abide by this day to day. 

"Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

So please remember to be kind, be good, and most importantly stay magical. 

Soph x

Smiling Soph is BACK!

Hello lovely people!

It's taken me a while to get myself organised, but as promised I am officially back in action. Instead of putting up several posts of all the things I've been getting up to since the end of last year, I'm just going to do a quick summary of adventures. I still have a post regarding my reasons for abandoning my blog, but for now I want to keep things light and chirpy. Thank you to those people who have been messaging me to keep going with this, you are the reasons for doing so.

1. COMIC RELIEF!

On Friday 13th March my cousin and myself were lucky enough to attend the live recording of Comic Relief at the London Palladium.

             

 I didn't know what to expect what so ever.. We knew of a line up of general people but it was all an element of surprise for both of us. When we arrived at the Palladium the audience were greeted with Lenny Henry, a joyous and bubbly guy who got everyone's spirits high. If you've never been in a live audience before, I would recommend it to anyone. The buzz you get from people around you and the bizarre thought that you are aired to over seven million people is mind boggling and so exciting to be a part of!

HIGHLIGHTS


SAM SMITH AND JOHN LEGEND...
 I know Sam Smith is quite 'marmite', you either love him or hate him. But I for one LOVE him, and even more so after he proved he can sing absolute note perfect live. The goosebumps were REAL.

ORLANDO BLOOM...
 I actually saw THE Orlando Bloom in the flesh. I didn't even recognise him at first, I just stared for a while and suddenly the penny dropped that the guy off Pirates of The Caribbean was stood right in front of me. He is absolutely gorgeous in person guys, no sweat. Wasn't majorly impressed when Davina jumped on him though. Not cool.

Huge thank you to the the person who made this trip possible. You know who you are. 

2. WEDDING!

I promised a dear family member that I would write a post about this wedding day! It was magical, and there is nothing more warming than witnessing two people in love, and sealing it with vows in front of those closest to you. Weddings have always been a huge love of mine, the dresses, the themes, the colours, the flowers, the joy and general celebration; I could go on forever. So here are some snaps...Congrats Michelle & Dave! It was a beautiful day and I feel honoured to have been a part of it.

  Thank you Lipsy, this dress is BEAUTIFUL. 

                           

3. WICKED!

It was the first time in what feels like ages that I have seen a show at the Hippodrome. This production is one that I've heard great things about, I knew all the songs but didn't know of the storyline. In all honesty it was one of the best shows I have seen.

It is inspirational, gives you real thoughts about inner beauty and the strength love has and also that the wicked witch from The Wizard of Oz isn't that evil. Intriguing right?
Favourite quote; "Whatever way our stories end, I know you'll have rewritten mine by being my friend."

4. X FACTOR TOUR!

I went with my Mum and friends to Cardiff for the X Factor Tour. I had a really great time and especially enjoyed Fleur East and Ben Haenow. The covers they did were AMAZING and they seemed to get the crowd really going, as the majority sat down for the duration.. *snores*. I didn't let you fangirls down though, of course I stood up and danced like no one was watching!!


Pre-show railway snap...

5. THE GLASS SLIPPER!

On a spontaneous trip to London, I came across this absolute gem in the Disney Store. IT IS REAL GUYS, IT IS REAL.

And I pretended that it was in fact me on my way to the ball in a magical pumpkin! (The Fairy God mother didn't give me a beautiful gown this time...)

Anyway, thus so far I have had some wonderful times since we last spoke, and now you have me fully for the duration. It is my birthday coming up, so expect to see a blog post next week.

Toodaloo me dears!

Soph x

I am returning...

Hi everyone.. Ive had some personal family problems recently so I've abandoned my blog. I have written a MAHOOSIVE blog post about this and will be back in action from next week. I have plenty of posts on their way to being published so I look forward to returning with full energy and smiling vibes and can't thank you enough for your patience.

See you soon...

All my love Sophie xox

P.s Here is a picture I took the other day. Gorgeous right?!