Banana Bread.. Sugar Free | Recipe

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number: COMPLETE

Hello! As I mentioned in this post I have given up refined sugar for lent, basically any sugar that has been processed. I have a massive sweet tooth, so I've began to hunt around for alternatives. My first cake alternative is this Banana Bread, and it tastes delicious, and really isn't that unhealthy at all. I didn't have the correct tin unfortunately hence why it looks a bit flat, in the images.

Ingredients 

125 g Wholemeal Self-raising flour

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

2 tsp Ground Cinnamon (or to taste)

75g Sultanas

50g Butter, melted

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 Egg

1 tbsp Milk

3 Ripe Bananas, mashed

Recipe

Preheat oven 180C/160C Fab/gas mark 4 and line a small loaf tin.

Mix together flour, baking powder and sultanas in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, Mix with a balloon whisk together the, butter, vanilla extract, egg, milk and mashed bananas until combined.

Add the wet mixture to the dry, and mix together.

Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out.

This recipe is very moreish and tempting, maybe this no refined sugars thing won't turn out to be too bad after all!

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Haul | Mac, Boots

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number: COMPLETE

Hello! I haven't spent money on make up in a while, so in the past couple of weeks I've picked up a few bits and pieces. One necessary, one lusted over and two just cuz purchases.

The Necessary

I had been using Max Factor 2000 calorie mascara, which I love to use, as it was getting to the dry unusable stage, I saw youtube videos featuring the new Loreal Miss Manga Punky Eyes mascara. I know these were ads, and the youtubers were obviously going to say that it was good. However after seeing the application of the product, I was sold right then and there. If I can get myself together I'm going to do a post on the make up I wore a couple of weeks ago for a friend's birthday so you can see it on.

The Lusted Over

Harriet will know more than anyone how much I wanted MAC Soar Lipliner, but due to the Kylie Jenner effect it is bloody difficult to get hold of, forever being out of stock in store and online. Then one day on the off chance we went into MAC, and my excitement was uncontrollable as I saw(Soar hehe) it there sat on the shelf. The purchase was made immediately. This has an amazing staying power and I don't find it overly drying on the lips. However if you more of a glossy finish gal, stay away from MAC lipliners.

The Just Cuz

I don't need anymore nail polishes, and have banned myself for a long time from buying them. Then Harriet was looking for a dark red nail polish, I suggested Barry M Red Black and it was no where to be seen, in my local boots. Thats when we turned to the Maybelline Super Stay Gel Nail Color. I got some weird kind of envy over her buying nail polish, so I picked up the top coat and the shade Mint For Life. Worse things have happened to a gal. This turned out to be a good purchase, as this Nail Polish is has the best staying power out of all the polishes I have tried, even surviving work reasonably well, which was amazing.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Lent | Giving Up Refined Sugars

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number: 222

Hello, I am in no way a religious person but I like the idea of Lent, its a short term goal and whatever you do you will not be the only one. This year I am going to try and give up Refined Sugars, which if you saw my last post (Brownie Recipe), you might understand this is going to be very tricky for me. One of my passions in life is the sweet stuff.

I have until Sunday 5th April.

I have voluntarily banned myself from... Cookies, Cakes, Brownie, Ketchup, Fizzy Drinks, Desserts, Jam and Peanut Butter to name a few. I am also aware that sugar is added to things like Ready Meals, however I am not in charge of main meals and shopping so I will cut down there as much as I can physically.

However I can still have natural sugar woo! I need to eat more fruit as it is anyway, so this seems the perfect way to encourage myself, I don't think I've had my 5 a day for a very long time. And you know what I love fruit, but I just haven't been eating it. I've already decided in my tea I am going to try Honey instead, Carrie Hope Fletcher does that, and she also loves her Sugary snackage.

Over the next 40 odd days, you can expect so recipes of creative snacks which have kept me going. I am going to at least try to put two up.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Peanut Butter Brownies | Recipe

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number: 106

Hello! With ole Valentines day around the corner, chocolate is on people's mind whether they have said partner or not. Come to think of it, Tibbles (my cat) has never gotten me anything, how rude. My personal view on Valentine's day is that its a money spinner, and people should love one another all year round. This is why this Brownies are perfect, a little something, something which always goes down a treat.

Here they are...

Ingredients
350g Dark Chocolate
250g Butter
3 Large Eggs
250g Muscovado Sugar
85g Plain Flour
1tsp Baking Poweder
2 heaped tbsp Peanut Butter

Recipe
Preheat the oven 160C/ Gas 3/Fan 140C. Butter and line a tin (I used a roasting tin, but any will do)

Melt together butter and chocolate, over a medium heat. Leave to cool.

Whisk eggs until pale, then whisk in sugar until thick and glossy (at this stage it is important to get lots of air into the mixture).

Gently fold in the chocolate mixture.

Then add the flour and baking powder. (These two stages must be done gently in order to maintain the air, and get the typical brownie top)

Pour the mixture into the prepared tin.

If your peanut butter is not slightly runny, warm up in a microwave. Then zig zag across the surface of your brownie mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Leave in the tin, and cool for at least an hour.

Then cut into pieces, and voila Peanut Butter Brownie are complete!

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

The Wooly Hat

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number:55

Hello! I have been meaning to make this hat a focus of a post for a while, this was a gift from my friend Harriet, but this is special because she made it for me, this is why you keep those friends studying Fashion and Textiles, I'm just kidding she's a lovely gal. My favourite bit of the hat is the bobble, oh and also that there won't be another one like it #unique #oneofakind .

Also on the this day I wore it with those Leather trousers, Mono white converse and a slouchy purple jumper, comfort all round.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

The Social Media

Hello! Today I just wanted to do a quick post on my Social Media, so if you wanted to you would be able to find me on all platforms, yup this is totally me promoting myself so lets go.

Firstly Bloglovin' this is where I personally like to do most of my blog reading, its easy and accessible. Most blogs are one there. Here is the link to mine.

Next Twitter, the easiest way to connect with bloggers chat. My favourite way to interact with other bloggers, you can follow me @katmay_porter

Instagram, the first thing I check in the morning, is essentially my face, Tibbles and food. Here you'll find me a justanorwichgirl

 On my Facebook page you will be notified when each of my blogposts goes up, so you can keep right up to date!

Now you know where to find me if you want to!

Thanks for popping by

xxx

February Wishlist

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number:

Hello! It is a new month which means there are new different things out there, and I wouldn't mind some of them becoming mine...

1. Cushions A B

2. Fringed Bucket Bag

3. Biker Gilet

4. T-Shirt

1. I spend a lot of time of Pinterest at the moment, dreaming of interiors. Then I started thinking about my Uni room (non existent currently because Gap Year). I don't know why I am thinking about a colour scheme, but white, grey and orange are taking my fancy right now. These cushions would make it super snuggly.

2. I featured this in my 70's inspiration post, I said it would be on my wishlist and now here it is!

3. Many a day is spent scrolling through Topshop new in, like the addict I am, then mid scroll, my heart skipped a beat. I think a Leather Gilet is One of the things I am missing in my wardrobe. This would be so great for layering when a coat is no longer required, but some earth is.

4. My mum said that I shouldn't buy more white T-Shirts, this is not white Mother! T-shirts are an obvious essential basic in my wardrobe, or any wardrobe, one can simply not be without one.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Clothing Confidence | My Thoughts

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number:

Hello! Today I am addressing the confidence to wear clothes, which might be uncomfortable mentally.

I wouldn't say I had the most outlandish sense of style, but there are moments when I wear things where people are like "Oh thats DIFFERENT" "WHAT are you wearing?!" but also "I'm not COOL enough to wear that" "How do YOU CONFIDENCE to wear that"

For me I feel there are two issues with the confidence to wear certain types of clothes. Body Confidence and Shyness/thinking you will be judged.

Body Confidence is a massive topic... When I heard one of my closest friend's say 'Oh I can't wear that' to which I reply "Why?" following that I was told 'Some people have fat days, well I'm having a fat month'. Which is entirely ridiculous because she has a fab.u.lous figure. I am not saying I am at one with my body, but I'm not going to let my thighs (which I hate) stop me from wearing my leather coated leigh jeans, no chance.

Shyness/Judging. Firstly Who Cares? Are you going to see that stranger who you don't know, who might've given you that dirty look. They are a stranger you don't know who they are, who cares what they think. For all you know, it might've been one of those awkward I caught you gaze moment *has teleportation been invented yet?!*. If you don't care about if they care, who cares if they care, stop caring they never started. Get my drift?

If you have trouble with friends or family, deal with it as banter. When I did panto, I tried to up the anti in order to get a reaction out of what I was wearing. As they were taking the time to say something, I thought I had better make it worth my while. Who knew a skort could be that controversial? But in all seriousness, if you are bothered, tell them, they will stop if it upsets you.

Enjoy the attention, express yourself.

If you want to be more than a Jeans and T-Shirt person, you can, but only if you want to be.

Thanks for popping by!

xxx

Evening Outfit | Leather Trousers

February Book: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham Page Number: 21

Hello! This is my first outfit post since before Christmas, since I love clothes and fashion this is naughty of me, oops. On Friday I ventured out in the evening (not my typical granny behaviour), to go to TGI Friday's with Matt, cray to the cray.

Getting ready

Applying lipstick, fyi Mac Mehr. Has to involve picking a soundtrack, my sound track of choice is Into The Woods. 

The Outfit

Jacket, White Tee: Zara

Leather Trousers, Boots: Topshop

My thoughts on TGI's... um the food was really good and it took me 3 million years to decide what to have. I just prefer the atmosphere of somewhere like Bill's. But I do highly recommend if you like somewhere that feels busy as the food was so yummy.

Thanks for popping by!

xx