Hello everyone. I hope you’re all well. I feel a lot better in myself and feel able to blog again. I’ve really missed posting all my recipes up!!
I am currently having a love affair…
(Don’t worry boyfy I’m not cheating on you :D)
No, I’m having a love affair with make up. Especially make up of the MAC kind.
I used to use a MAC foundation a couple of years ago, but I think it was a bit light for me as I suffer from breakouts. It didn’t give me the kind of coverage I need. It was more geared towards those irritating people who have absolutely flawless skin. If that’s you, I hate you.
Just kidding, I love you really.
I made a change to Max Factor, a cheaper brand, but it had really good reviews. I’ve been using it for about a year now, but I found that if I had any dry patches of skin it really highlighted them which is not something you want! It gave reasonable coverage, but I still wouldn’t say my skin looked good. Good enough to have my picture taken from a bit of a distance, but any close ups and I’d run and hide!
You know I go through phases, well at the moment I’m really interested in make up again. Have been reading and researching loads into the right foundation. I decided to go back to MAC. I did love the way their foundation didn’t go cakey or clog my pores. I used their foundation finder and it came up with the same foundation I’d already been eyeing up, Studio Fix Fluid. It has loads of reviews on MAC’s own site and about 150 4/5 star reviews on Debenhams so I was excited to try it!
I also needed a new concealer. I’ve had one for a while and it used to be the correct shade, but somehow (I mean who’d have thought it possible, I already look like a ghost) my skin has got paler and my concealer just wasn’t the right shade for me anymore. Again I knew I wanted a MAC one.
I’m really into doing my research. If you’re paying upwards of £20 on a product you don’t want to be disappointed when it arrives and isn’t compatible with your skin! I chose the MAC Prep + Prime Skin as well as I wanted a light primer. I used to use a Clarins one, but it was quite thick and it looked like it clogged my pores. I did love the velvety feel of it though. Anyway the MAC one is much lighter and more like a cream. It just smooths my skin out instead of creating a thick layer.
And the bottle is glittery!!!!
Or maybe that’s just my really girlie side coming out.
With expensive make up you don’t usually get any money off. I love to look around and find discount codes and sales etc, but I realise that with MAC, NARS, Clarins etc. if it’s £18.50, that’s how much it is everywhere. I however, got really lucky. Debenhams had their new season stuff and had 10-25% off of everything, even make up! I ended up saving about £4, doesn’t sound like much, but any saving is good.
It arrived yesterday, the stupid postwoman left it right outside the front door in full view of everyone instead of leaving a card and putting it in a safe place, or checking if a neighbour was in. Real intelligent.
Our problems with the postwoman are for another post though as there are far too many. Lets just say I wasn’t best pleased and emailed Royal Mail at 10pm last night.
I got to use my new make up this morning and I am A.M.A.Z.E.D.
All three products do exactly as they say and are fan-bloody-tastic! Brilliant coverage, not cakey and my skin looks practically radiant! It’s about as close to flawless as I think it’ll ever be. One seriously happy camper over here!
Now I keep looking at other MAC stuff, there’s about 6 lipsticks I want need and lots of eye shadow. However, this is a really expensive phase and I can practically see my debit card trying to run away and hide from me.
Anywayyyyyyyyy enough about make up and more about cakey things, of the sweet kind!
These M&M cookie bars were yummy and super easy to make 🙂
Makes about 24
Recipe adapted from Fantastic Family Favourites
You will need:
> 9 x 13 inch pan
Ingredients:
> 2 cups + 2tbsp plain flour
> 1/2tsp bicarb
> 1 1/2 sticks (about 170g) butter/marg
> 1 cup light brown sugar
> 1/2 cup caster sugar
> 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
> 2tsp vanilla extract
> 135g bag of M&M;’s
Method:
> Preheat oven to 160 degrees C and line your baking tray.
> Place the butter in a small saucepan and melt.
> In a separate bowl place the flour and bicarb. Leave to one side.
> In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, place the melted butter and sugars.
> Give it a quick mix until the sugar has dissolved and smooth.
> Add in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla.
> Mix until combined and then add in the flour.
> Mix until well combined. The dough will be quite stiff.
> Fold in the M&M;’s by hand.
> Place in your baking tin and smooth out until level. It’s really easy to level off as it’s not runny at all.
> Place in the oven for about 25 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean and they are pale, puffy and almost crackled on top.
> Leave to cool in the tin.
> Once cool, take out of the tin and slice into bars. Top tip – it’s so much easier to cut bars with a pizza cutter. I only use my pizza cutter now with all bars and brownies.
> Will keep in an airtight container for 4 days.
Enjoy 🙂
Entered into Thursday’s Treasures over at Recipes For My Boys
