Oreo Brownies Recipe

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I hope you're all having a wonderful week! This week, as part of British Lion Eggs egg recipe campaign, I am getting my baking hat on and trying the infamous 'Slutty Brownie' Recipe. This was actually concocted by Rosie from The Londoner a couple of years back (here), and I thought I would try it out myself!  We all deserve a little indulgence once in a while, and these brownies are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth! 

What you will need

2 Eggs

2 Packets of Oreos

Oil

Water

1 Box of Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

1 Box of Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

A baking tray (or an oven friendly bowl)

Spatula

Mixing Spoon

Knife

Mixing Bowl

Measuring Jug or Tablespoons

Once you have all the required ingredients, go ahead and follow the instructions on the back of the Cookie and Brownie Mix boxes. You can easily make these mixes from scratch, but if you want to save a little bit of time, these mixes are perfect and do the job just nicely.

First, preheat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 4.

Begin by making the cookie mix by pouring it into a mixing bowl. Then add 25ml water (~2tbsp), 65ml oil (~4tbsp) and an egg, and mix it all together.  (I had to add the picture of the pig below because...just how cute is my spatula...anyway back to the recipe).

English National Opera (ENO) - The Pirates of Penzance

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As some of you may know I am a massive music lover. I get totally lost in the moment when listening to certain songs/instrumentals. Opera isn't something I get to talk about very often, but it is something I enjoy. When you first come across opera, you either love it or hate it. I must say the first time I saw opera I was unsure, but eventually grew to enjoy and appreciate it. The singers just give me goosebumps, and the music takes me to another world! This post is written in collaboration with the English National Opera (ENO), and together with their new production of 'The Pirates of Penzenace', maybe it will help change your opinion on opera. 

A little bit about the ENO: It traces its roots back to 1931 when Lilian Baylis established the Sadler's Wells Opera Company and it was renamed the English National Opera in 1974. In 1984 it was also the first British opera company to tour the US. All their performances are in English which brilliant if you want to ease yourself into opera. The ENO are committed to creating new audiences by making their performances affordable and accessible to everyone, whilst at the same time collaborating with and providing new opportunities for new talent. 

From the poster above, you can already tell that The Pirates of Penzance seems rather quirky and fun, and that is exactly what it is. It is a comic opera, and was Gilbert & Sullivan's fifth collaboration. This fun production at the ENO will actually be BAFTA-award winner Mike Leigh's operatic directorial debut!  

As a brief overview, the story is based in Cornwall and follows Frederic (Robert Murray), a young pirate apprentice. Due to a misunderstanding by his nursery maid Ruth (Rebecca de Pont Davies) he was mistakenly placed into pirate apprenticeship. Although he despised the pirates' profession, he stayed on as he was bound by his sense of duty. He meets Mabel (Claudia Boyle), the daughter of Major-General Stanley (Andrew Shore), and they both fall in love. Frederic then finds that he was born on a leap year. This meant that he must remain as a pirate apprentice for another 63 years, until his actual 21st birthday. The only comfort he has is that Mabel has agreed to wait for him. 

Although I haven't seen this opera yet myself, having watched several of the videos from ENO's Youtube account, as well as reading up on the story, it is definitely something I would love to watch. If something has brilliant catchy music, I'm hooked instantly, but the costumes in this production are colourful and vibrant. What I love most is that this is a comic opera, it's always good to have a good giggle. Anyway below I just wanted to share with you all a couple of pictures from ENO's Facebook Page, and their trailer for this production. 

There are three remaining performances which you can see live at the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4E on Saturday 27 June 2015 at 14:30 and 19:30, and also Saturday 4 July 2015 at 18:30. If you are looking for something new to experience and want to have a laugh in a gorgeously decorated location this just might be what you need!

I hope you guys enjoyed this collaborated post :) Have you any of you seen The Pirates of Penzance, or any opera? If so, what has been your favourite? If not, would you like to get into it?

Take care and speak soon!

☺

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When You're Handed the Wine List...

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Gosh can you believe it's June already? I hope you've all had a fantastic week! Thank you for sharing the love on my last post about my new favourite Kpop band! I'm glad you guys enjoyed it and that I welcomed some of you into that whole new world. 

A few posts back I mentioned that I would be given a voucher to review one of the products from Wrappz, a site for personalised products and here it is! I decided to use the voucher to purchase a personalise a tea towel which cost £11.45, excluding postage. The tea towel is 100% cotton, and is approximately 60cm x 50cm. 

It was one of my best friend's birthday and as a little something extra I thought I'd get her something funny. She loves homeware items but also wine so I thought rather than just getting her a bottle, I thought I'd get her something wine related as well. I just googled wine related images/quotes and 'The Wine List' (HERE) came up as a suggestion. I just thought that it was so relatable, and true which was perfect for my friend, if not a little cheeky:p But seriously, who really understands the wine list when it's handed to you? Okay, maybe I'm the only one who looks at it and goes completely blank but I still thought this was pretty awesome. 

Wrappz's website is really easy to use, and quite self explanatory. The delivery was pretty speedy and it arrived four days after ordering. The one thing I was worried about was the quality of the image. When I first uploaded 'The Wine List' image and stretched it so it filled the print area, the text came out really blurry. The website had recommended images to be at least 300dpi in resolution, but I wasn't really sure what that meant so I tried to increase the image megabyte size a bit more, however it still came out blurry. So I didn't have much expectation. When it arrived though, I was pleasantly surprised with how it turned out. You could actually read the text! So I am really happy with the product, and my best friend was thrilled as well, and thankfully she saw the funny side to it too. 

Wrappz has offered my readers two offers: (1) 20% discount anything off the site: FBFAN20, (2) and a free phone and Ipad personalised skin: FREESKIN. With Father's Day just around the corner getting him something personalised like this would be perfect.

I hope you all enjoyed this post! What do you think of personalised gifts? Do you have the same reaction/thought process when given a wine menu? 

Have a great weekend! Take care and speak soon!

☺

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Kpop - The Ark

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Although this is a slightly different post, I wanted to share one of my new found loves! From the title you may be thinking, oh god, not another person jumping onto the Kpop bandwagon, and if that's the case you wouldn't be wrong. But the following sentence may also make avid Kpop fans question my sanity. I was never very keen on Kpop. It just was never my kind of music. My first ever encounter with it was listening to Taeyang's Wedding Dress, and then of course Psy's Gangnam Style (not sure if anyone could miss it:p). 

Then came EXO's Call Me Baby (HERE) which I started to listen to, a lot. It was just so catchy, and my god do those dudes have moves! But it wasn't until J introduced me to The Ark that I realised that I was beginning to really like this genre. 

Image from Tumblr

The Ark consists of five girls Minju, Yuna, Yujin, Halla & Jane, and they made their debut just last month. I know a lot of people don't really like how these Kpop groups are formed and I don't know enough to comment really, but having seen a vlog by the girls HERE they seem so so genuine, and it's so lovely to see how close they've become despite their short time together. Since their formation they have been busking around South Korea with these little performances:

Their dancing is absolutely incredible! I wish I could move like that. Because I don't understand or speak Korean I guess if gives me an opportunity to actually appreciate what they're doing. Even if you aren't keen on Kpop you should definitely check out the video below, which is of The Ark dancing side by side (not literally although that would be amazing) with the boyband BTS to the latter's song 'Boy in Luv'! For both, they are off the charts on the swag scale!

The reason I love The Ark so much is that they are so different to other Kpop girlbands in terms of their dance style, and fashion. Don't get me wrong, other kpop girlbands are super talent as well, but I just like how The Ark they don't fit into the 'usual' girlband style. I like how they've got this 'tomboy' kind of look going on, but how do they dance so well in those PU leather pants haha. If this is their niche, I hope they stick to it as I think they're really good role models! Also, anyone who can sing AND dance, live, so well always gets so much respect from me! Although, vocally speaking The Ark aren't as strong as their dance performances, I'm sure with more time and practise, they will excel at both. Below is their first single 'The Light' which may possibly bring a tear to your eye!

Seeing as though I've only recently grown to like Kpop the last month or two, technically I am not an avid Kpop lover, but I'm probably well on the way to becoming one:p  I definitely think that they are the new band to watch, and I hope they do make it.  I obviously don't know them personally but I do wish them all the success in the world, as they deserve it:)

I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Do you like Kpop? What new music acts have you discovered recently?

Take care and speak soon. 

☺
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What to Wear for a Job Interview

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If you have a job interview lined up, I just want to firstly congratulate you! After hours and hours of research and trying to fit your answers to the word limit, it is always so rewarding to hear some positive news.  Securing that well deserved interview is already a big hurdle, and you don't want your outfit to let you down on the big day. So, have one less thing to worry about by having your outfit interview-appropriate and interview-ready at the very minimum the night before.

This post is written in collaboration with City Calling which is a free career site that matches jobs (in the UK & Ireland) to your personality & skills and you can find more here: Job Vacancies. I have been browsing the website myself the past week and by filling out the profile page a selection of available suitable jobs have been suggested to me. What I like most about the site is that they have articles such as 'How to use LinkedIn to market yourself online', 'Finding the Right Career', and Making a Good Impression On Your First Day which I personally find very insightful. Below are a couple of other articles they have and you can click HERE for more. 

So, onto what to wear! Where to begin? Well, it really depends on what kind of interview you're attending. Have a read of what your interview email/letter says and try to dress accordingly. If it says 'Smart Casual' I would always err on the side of caution by being more formal. There's nothing wrong with being a bit smarter.

Although this post will focus more on formal interview outfits, the most important thing for any type of interview outfit is to ensure that you are comfortable in whatever you wear. You don't want to feel self-conscious, or worry about blisters or your skirt riding up etc. 

CLOTHES

I think it is an essential for all women (and especially for men) to have a tailored suit. Although they can cost more, they really are worth it as you will look very well put together and automatically interview ready. Or at the very least make sure that you try on a couple of suits to get the perfect one(s). As time-consuming as that may be, finding the style that suits your body is a step closer to not having to worry about your interview outfit. Whether you prefer having lapels or not, or have flared, straight legged or cigarette trousers, you want to wear something that enables you to carry yourself with confidence. 

So skirts, pants or dresses? It really is up to you. Choose whatever makes you feel most comfortable and confident. If you worry about your skirt riding up, choose trousers. If you don't want to worry about what shirt to match with your trousers/skirt, choose a suit dress. Never ever choose anything that is far too tight fitting, you want to be able to walk comfortable and most importantly, be able to breathe! 

Typically, formal interview outfits tend to be void of colour, and I would say it is probably best to stay with a more subdued colours. Although I have heard that, for men, it is best to stay away from black suits as they are normally worn at funerals. I'm not sure how true that is but that's something to consider when buying suits. If you do want to add a bit of colour to reflect your personality I would advise something not too in your face, as you want the interviewer to concentrate on what you are saying rather than wondering where you got your bright shirt from. 

I personally tend to go for blues or creams, as an alternate to white or black just because I feel comfortable in those colours and it is just a little different. Also, as I have a tendency to go pink if I am nervous, I have been advised to stay well away from reds or pinks as that will make you look even more red. 

SHOES

Heels or Flats? Again, whatever is comfortable and puts you in the 'interview-zone'. I prefer wearing heels because as a petite, this gives me a little bit of a height boost, and does make me feel more confident. However, if you do choose wear heels you don't want to worry about getting blisters or falling over so make sure they are at a sensible height and are comfortable. If you didn't feel as though you could be creative with your outfit, you could always wear shoes that reflect your personality. But again, be quite subtle and don't wear anything to flash. Finally, you want to make sure that you polish them at least the day before your interview. There's nothing more annoying than a polished outfit being ruined by your shoes. 

ACCESSORIES
Everyone has heard of the phrase less it more, and it couldn't be more true in an interview situation. I am definitely an advocate for wearing your lucky necklace or bracelet etc but make sure that they won't distract you or your interviewer.

I hope you all enjoyed this post! What are your interview fashion essentials? If you are ever unsure about whether your outfit is too risky/informal for a formal interview, always go for a safe option. You have plenty of chances to experiment with various styles when you've secured your job, of course within reason. But to make sure you have one less thing to worry about on the day of your interview, make sure your outfit is on the 'safe' side. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to drop me a comment or an email at lifeasapetite@outlook.com. Before I go, just want to say good luck! :) 

Have a great week everyone! Take care and speak soon. 

☺
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Cinderella Swarovski Exhibition

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I hope you've all had a wonderful week! I can't believe it's May already, this year has flown by so so quickly! This week I will be sharing a very photo heavy post. A couple of posts back I mentioned that I had been to the Cinderella Exhibition that Swarovski had sponsored and now I can finally share the photos I had taken, sorry it's taken so long! Although the Exhibition was quite short it was amazing to see the costumes and designs, which were incredible! It was also fascinating seeing the rough drawings/plans and old memorabilia.

The photos are in the order of what you saw as you walked round the exhibition, apart from those stunning glass heels which I thought I would start with, and finish as well. We were given little talks as we walked round and was told that five of the glass slippers were made for the movie, and the one that Cate Blanchett broke wasn't one of them. I think I heard that correctly, well I hope so anyway the shoe is far too pretty to break!! It was actually really difficult to take a decent picture of the shoe because it was just so so sparkly, but you can kind of see the various colours and sparkles. You know I love myself some glitter and sparkles so this place was definitely my kind of place. Also, it was for free as well and you can't be critical with anything that is free, especially when it was so spectacular! 

The Fable Review | lifeasapetite

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Wooo it's Friday!! I hope you've all had a fantastic week! I am sharing another foodie adventure today, and this time I enjoyed Steak, Lobster and a glass of Prosecco for £16 at The Fable. I made the booking through Bookatable, HERE, and the offer ends tomorrow! 

Who doesn't like a complimentary glass of bubbly? As you can tell from my photos I'm trying to be all artsy haha, but I do like how they turned out! I've actually never had a drink with a petal in it before, actually I lie, I just remembered that I had a flower in one of my cocktails before :p Either way it's still very pretty :) 

I had been to The Fable before, but only for drinks at night, so it was nice to see what it looked like when it was lighter and less crowded. We were seated on the ground floor, and I have got to say I love the decor! As you may know, I am a sucker for good decor, and this place gets a massive thumbs up from me. The huge windows and high ceilings give such an open and airy feel, which I love, and the cool looking wheels and plants just makes the place look so cosy. The last time I was here, I was on the top floor (I think they have three floors) so couldn't appreciate any of this.

You guys may know how much I love candles and cute little home ware items, so I had to take the photo below. Plus I love the little peg on the menus. It is probably very silly but I just love these little touches.

Easter Bunny Tutorial | lifeasapetite

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I hope you've all had a fantastic weekend! With Easter soon I thought I would share an Easter themed DIY Tutorial. These little origami Easter bunnies are just an incredibly cute way in decorating your home etc. Of course if you're religious you can't forget the true meaning of Easter but this is just a fun way to get into the spirit of things even if you're not. 

TOOLS:

Origami/A4 Paper

Scissors

Chocolates/Sweets

Arbutus Review + Wicked!

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First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers in the world! Hope you're all spoilt rotten! :) If any of you are still looking for last minute DIY gift ideas, you can click HERE for a paper rose or HERE for other DIY gift ideas. 

Anyway, how is everyone? Did you have a good week? A while back J and I went to Arbutus and watched Wicked. Needless to say Wicked was amazing!! But I wanted to share with you my experience at Arbutus :)

If you asked me why I like London, one of the many reasons is the variety of restaurants. Granted there are a lot in other cities but London in particular has a lot more to give, and you would expect so given that it is the capital city. J and I are trying out as many restaurants as we can and do so by looking at what deals are on. At the time we were going to the theatre and we saw that Arbutus had a pre-theatre menu for £20.95, and booked via Open Table. Arbutus is a Michelin starred restaurant, so given its reputation and the price, we were in for a treat!  

The restaurant is situated in Soho with Soho theatre being the closest - but we were actually going to the Apollo Victoria theatre. They have their pre-theatre menu running from Monday to Saturday 5pm to 6.30pm and change the menu daily. One thing that I really take notice of, apart from the dishes, is a restaurant's interior design, and Arbutus has a lovely design. It is cosy yet modern at the same time and again provides a perfect setting for any date. 

Royalé of Stilton, broccoli velouté, toasted hazelnuts

We both ordered the soup to start. I was having the fish as a my main so didn't want to start with fish as well haha. I'm usually not a huge fan of blue cheese so I was really worried the cheese would be too overpowering. Surprisingly it wasn't that strong which I personally preferred. The fusion of flavours was really interesting and very tasty!

Channelling Rachel Zane | lifeasapetite outfit #22

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How are we all? I'm really sorry for the lack of posts, the past couple of weeks have been so crazy but hopefully will calm down within the next week or two. Just thank you so much for being so understanding and patient :) 

As the blog title says, this week I am channelling Rachel Zane. Those who have been reading my blog for a while might know how much I love this character! You only have to go back to last weeks post HERE to see :p For those who might not know, Rachel is a character played by Meghan Markle in the TV series Suits! I would highly recommend watching it, even if it's just for the fashion inspiration. I love Meghan's own style as well but there's just something about the character she plays! The outfits she wears just oozes class and sophisitication in a business context. I find it really difficult to buy work clothes not only because the sizing can be difficult for petites, but also I have to find something that does not make me look as though I had just raided my mum's wardrobe. Before, I wasn't really sure what kind of look I was going for, but now with a style icon I can get inspiration from I wanted to show you my latest outfit.

To be honest with you, this dress isn't anything that special, apart it not being at an extortionate price. This dress isn't of the material suit dresses are made out of, as it is a cotton/polyster kind of material. If any of you are interested in terms of guidance, I got this dress in a size XS/6 and it fits quite well!

I just think the black criss-cross detailing at the stomach area just helps accentuate or give an illusion of having a waist. Also as you may know, as I am a lover of all things neutral/pastel coloured, I thought I would go for a shade colour outside my usual choice. There was the choice of red (which I will link below) but I thought I wouldn't feel comfortable walking around a business area in a bright red dress. One thing I would say about the dress is that you might want to wear nude coloured underwear as otherwise you might be able to see it through the white material at the top. 

At first glance my bag looks like a Prada Saffiano bag - oh how I wish haha, but actually it's just a one I got from ebay for about £20! I adore the shape of the Prada bags but they're just too expensive. Especially for a person like myself who ruins things really easily, getting such an item, or anything of the sort is just a massive nono. So I was so excited to have found a bag that had a similar shape!

This outfit gives me the perfect chance to wear my new heels! They just finish the look and add the extra bit of class. I could not not (sorry for the double negative haha) insert another picture of these beauties, they're just too gorgeous!! 

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Dress: Amazon // HERE (or Red)

Bag: Ebay // HERE

Heels: Ebay // HERE

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I hope you enjoyed reading this post! Who's your fashion icon, and why do you like their style?

 Take care and speak soon. 

☺

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