Recipe For Raggae Reggae Soup & The Water Week Basics

Today was my first ever cooking lesson! And we made...

Wait for it...

Reggae Reggae Soup! And it was AH-mazing!

Since my niece broke my camera *glare*, I can't upload my soup photos, and I erm *cough* kinda forgot the recipe, so here's one I found online for basically the same soup! You can thank me later!

2 tsps coconut oil (or oil of preference)
1 cup chopped onions
1 TBSP minced fresh ginger
2 tsps minced fresh jalapeno pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
3 cups veggie broth
2 cups water
3 cups sliced carrots
2 TBSP fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 tsp salt

In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions, ginger & jalapeno. Cook, stirring until onions are transparent, about 2 mins. Sir in the cumin until absorbed. Add the broth & water, & bring to a boil. Stir in the carrots & return to a boil. Reduce heat & simmer, uncovered for about 20 mins (or until carrots are softened). Stir in cilantro & salt, and use stick blender to puree (or transfer soup to a blender).

And it should look something like (image taken from Google with no art theft licence needed - I'm taking precautions!) THIS...!

It was absolutely gorgeous! But with the chilli and pepper and ginger and onion and garlic is was a LITTLE bit strong...


AND, do you know that next week is Water Week? Well, duh of course you don't - you haven't had someone as brilliant as me to explain it all to you yet!

Basically, I've created this FABOO week of health for y'all in hope for at least ONE person to celebrate Water Week with me!

Al you have to do is...

1) PLEASE tell someone about it! Add the button to your sidebar, leave a note at the end of a post, dedicate a full day's written work to Water Week, whatever you like. Just as long as you tell SOMEONE about it, I'm not too picky(:

2) You must drink AT LEAST 1.2 litres of water a day from the 14th October to the 20th. 1.2 litres is the recommended amount, but only about 8% actually drink it! Your body is 60% water people! Let it stay that way!

3) Erm... there is no step three. So, yeah! Simple! But it WOULD be nice if you'd comment and let me know about you and Water Week(:

See how you feel after one week of PURE HEALTHYNESS, and then comment if I change your life (happens all the time(; )

You want to see the buttons I made?

There's this one...

And then this one...

And then this one...

Do you like them?

Keep Calm And Donkey On!*

A<3

*Emily, I know you're going to hate me forever but I NEED a tagline!

What d'y'all think?

Amy's WOAH, WE'RE SO TOTALLY ALIKE! Of the Month

First up, we had to UNINSTALL Google Chrome because it totally KILLED my computer. So, I hate to tell you all that I told you so, but... hey, I told you so! *pokes out tounge*

Anyway, ready to compare?

TV Programme

This month's TV programme is...

The Big Bang Theory!

I never really understood why people like this show so much, but now I realise. If you have not seen it, GO GET YOUR LAZY DONKEY OVER TO YOUR TV SCREEN NOW!!! After voting in my poll, obviously.

Food

Spaghetti Bolognaise!

I used to HATE spaghetti bolognaise, but I had it today and it was AMAZING! With the cheese melted into it and the sudden bursts of tomato here and there... *does a Homer Simpson styled 'mmm'*

Drink

Water!

You're probably all like WHAT?! WATER?! But next week is WATER WEEK (post coming tomorrow), so you'll hear all about it's brilliance then(:

Hobby

Clothes designing!

I've started designing my own fashion range, and I've got 14 outfits so far. I'll start a monthly thing where I can show you what I have, but until then you're just going to have to wait(:

Film

The Twilights!

Remember I told you about Twilight Day? Well since that I've been HOOKED, and I'm going to order a few review copies, once I've reviewed the other 16 I've been asked to do... (sorry if I've agreed with you - I promise I'll do them straight away!)

Idea

WOAH, I have SO MANY great ideas!

Firstly, I'm going to sort out my guitar (the C string snapped when tuning yesterday - gutted!) and write some songs.

Secondly, Why Cupcakes is on it's way to stardom! We're going to get personalised aprons, and then bake our first official batch next weekend!

And thirdly, I'm starting Rollerskating! Well, you all know I'm already a skating sensation *wink wink*, but my cousin's school has a rollerskating club so I'm going to that aswell as my normal lessons! It's kinda just for students, but they'll never know...

Blog

This month's Best Blog has been SO hard to decide! But I'm going to HAVE to go with Ink Dropperr! Click HERE to read Marian's FABOO blog!

So, are we SO TOTALLY ALIKE?!

A<3

P.S. Spellchecker broken again *glare* . Tell me if there's any spelling/ grammar/ sentence mistakes please(:

Review On How To Keep A Boy As a Pet (Diane Messidoro Three Day Worship - Day Three)

My fiftieth book review this year is on How To Keep A Boy As A Pet by Diane Messidoro.

Publisher: Electric Monkey
Published: 7th May 2012
Pages: 338
Book: To review
Format: Paperback, finished copy
Contains: Mild teenage references
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Teenage Fiction, Young Adult

The Official Truth about dating the male human species!

Can taming a gorgeous boy really be as easy as walking a dog?

Circe Shaw is on a mission. She must transform into a fabulously sophisticated journalist and discover the amazing scientific truth about boys. Urgently. But life is beyond complicated. Circe has to deal with a poisonous rival, her mum’s annoying ‘just friends’ men and her own Dark Past. Can Circe’s daring investigation really teach her the facts of love? Will it help her finally get a boyfriend? Or will it break her heart…?

Circe Shaw is on a mission. And that mission is...

Can you really train a boy to be your pet?

Circe knows that she wants to be a journalist when she's older, so when the perfect question floats to mind, she just knows that she has to find out the answer. But with her mum, all her 'just friends', and Johnny Depp, Daniel Craig and Jude Law all tryng to throw her off course, will she ever get to the bottom of this muchly mused question?

By starting up her own blog, Circe discovers many things, but  to train a boy to be your pet? Soon she has her very own reader who guides her along the way. But will she be guided into the arms of Mr Darcy? And will she ever train her own pet boy? Find true love? Or will she be stuck with her face in the mud, thanks to a moody old horse?

This book was brilliant. It was funnier than Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, more gripping than Twilight, this book is every teenager's dream. Loveable, funny, witty, this book is more than just a book - it's a teenager's love guide. Diane wrote it in such a clever way, I actually felt as if Circe was telling me - and only me - everything that was going on around her. Her thoughts, her feelings, her emotions, all spilt out into this brilliant book. I even started to believe that Circe was a real person.

But, I hated, I ABSOLUTELY HATED, the fact that this book had to end. Sequel, please!

I would rate this book a 9/10, and would recommend it for ages 12+.

You'll be bewitched by this brilliant novel.

A<3

Diane Messidoro Three Day Worship - Day Two

First up, I've reached 7,000 views on my blog! Oh, wait... I've got 7110 at this very moment! I would like to thank my mother and my father for bringing me into this world, all my teachers for encouraging me to--

Well... thank you ALL SOOOOO much!


And, as promised, here's the second part of the interview!

If you could design your own cupcake, what would it be?

A scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream.

What's the biggest mistake you've ever made?

That’s a secret! All I can say is it involved a boy, a pair of roller skates and a spiral staircase.

Did you ever do something that you didn't get busted for?

That is definitely a secret!

Have the power to turn invisible but only for ten seconds at a time or have the power to fly but only a metre off the ground?

Flyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Spend the whole night in a haunted house or spend the whole night in a room full of spiders?

Haunted house. I like the idea of ghosts – friendly ones, naturally.

Eat ten spiders or wear green for the rest of your life?

Spiders. As long as I can have them dipped in white chocolate?

Be the main actor in a really bad movie or have a small part in a really good movie?

Small part.

Have all of the world's music for free or have all the world's video games for free?

Music, no contest.

When and why did you being writing?

I began writing bad stories about the imaginary horses I kept in my garden when I was about five. I was an only child of a busy single parent (like Circe in How to Keep a Boy as a Pet) so I always had plenty of time to let my imagination run riot.

How long have you wanted to be a writer?

I wanted to act originally, though I always wrote too – I think they’re flip sides of the same creative coin. I think I first dreamed of becoming an author when I was about 12 but it took me ages to get around to actually writing a book.

Did you ever feel like giving up?

Yes, at least once a week for years!

Can you give us a title or first line that we can turn into a story?

It seemed like any other ordinary day, but then she turned the corner…

How much do you write in one week?

In my best weeks up to about 12,000 words, in my worst, ahem *blushes* zero.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

When it goes well, it’s the best job in the world, when it doesn’t it can be the worst as you have to work things out on your own. Oh, and semi-colons, I’ve never really understood them!

Did you learn anything from your last book?

Yes, I think you learn from every page you ever write, nothing is ever wasted, even if you end up screwing it up and throwing it in the bin.

What was your inspiration for How To Keep A Boy As A Pet?

I’ve always thought boys (and men) are a bit like pets, in the nicest possible way, I love boys and pets!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Since I was first paid money to write something when I was working in PR aged about 21.

What inspired you to write How To Keep A Boy As A Pet?

Remembering how confused I felt about the strange behaviour of the male human species as a teenager.

What made you give How To Keep A Boy As A Pet its title?

It started as ‘How to Keep a Man as a Pet’ and changed when Circe strolled into my head and turned out to be 15-something.

Do you have any advice for any budding writers?

If you can’t think of anything to write, write anything! Even if you write  nonsense, just keep going, something interesting will happen on the page eventually.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Happy reading – and happy boy catching!

And, here's the pictures that Diane sent me to make the interview more exciting!

Diane Messidoro with new boy How To Keep A Boy As A Pet... looking very happy!(:

Diane's cat Rufus (Jhonny Depp in HTKABAAP ((bet THAT is hard to say!)) is based on him!)

And, the Tapir (read question 1 ((or 2..)) from yesterday) (:

The last day of the Three Day Worship coming up tomorrow!

Stay tuned!

A<3

p.s. Only 9 votes on my new poll? REALLY? *glare* (;

Diane Messidoro Three Day Worship - Day One

Diane Messidoro is a VERY good author, she even sent me a birthday card with little presents last year! So, I've decided that it's only fair that I dedicate THREE FULL POSTS to her. I did send off like 17 GAZILLION questions, but some were a little personal (like, 'have you ever peed in a swimming pool?'), and, thankfully, she hasn't answered them. Some questions were taken from books, some were requested, and some were even made up by your very own Awkward Donkey. Tomorrow will be the other half of questions, and then an awesome review on How To Keep A Boy As A Pet by MOI. And then maybe a personal word from Diane(;

Enjoy!

What's your favourite animal?

Apart from boys? Cats, although I’m also a big fan of tapirs. A lovely friend of mine adopted one for me on at London Zoo, I never got to take it for a walk, unfortunately, but I have a little tapir reminder of him on my desk and I let him out to run around on the grass every day!

What's your favourite TV show?

Mad Men. Brilliant writing, super-stylish and set in New York (my favourite city apart from London) It also stars my second-favourite (after my pet husband) pet man, actor, Jon Hamm, who plays the dastardly Don Draper.

What's your favourite band?

Ooh, tough one, I’ve got quite a few – Radiohead for rainy days, Warpaint (fab all girl grunge-rockers) for dreamy nights, Faith No More and Tool (metal) for running, Abba for singing and doing the washing up, I could go on, and on and on…

What's your favourite smell?

My pet husband’s gorgeous zingy aftershave. And fried garlic. Yum. Oh, and I love the smell of horses, weird, I know.

What's your favourite shop?

Liberty in London, it’s just gorgeous, with creaking wooden stairs and galleries lush  fabrics, stunning fashions, boots (which I’m bonkers about, though I can’t afford to buy them there) and vintage furniture. Even the lifts are fabulous!

What's your favourite drink?

The first strong black coffee of the morning.

What's your favourite sweet?

Scottish Tablet (like extra sweet crumbly fudge)

What's your favourite cereal?

Creamy porridge with honey.

What's your favourite movie?

Oh so hard, but I’ve always loved the comedy, ‘Some Like It Hot’, with Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe.

What's your favourite word?

Varies, but today it’s ‘pizzazz’.

What's your favourite book?

Also varies, but I love Stella Gibbons’ ‘Cold Comfort Farm’.

What's your favourite accent?

I have to say French or I’ll get into trouble (my pet husband is French!)

Have you ever got a haircut that was so bad you had to stay indoors for a month?

YES! Six weeks before I got married – argh! I went a bit mad and had my long blonde hair cut really short in a crazy spiky style. It looked so awful I had to scrape my hair back on my wedding day and hide it under a long veil.

Have you ever been bitten by an animal?

Yes, I was  bitten by a grumpy horse called Comet with HUGE teeth when I was working at a stables when I was about 13. I had a massive bruise for a month.

If you could have the power to read people's thoughts, would you want to?

Definitely not. My own thoughts are confusing enough!

What's the worst thing you ever ate?

Cat food, a friend’s mean big brother convinced me it would be delicious (I was five).

What's something you wish you were brave enough to do?

Ride a huge motorbike. I took one lesson a few years ago, but I’m too scared of the mad London traffic to venture out on to the roads.

What's the most boring sport to watch on TV?

Golf. Yawn.

If you could go on a shopping spree at any store, which store would you choose?

Liberty on Regent Street.

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?

‘Gosh. Really?’

Do you believe in unicorns?

Hmm…

If you ever got to meet a unicorn, what would you ask it?

Are you actually a unicorn or just a horse wearing a fancy spiky hat?

...

Interview to be continued tomorrow, and a bunch of photos to be put up that will BLOW YOU OUT OF YOUR ROCKING CHAIR(:

Excited?

A<3

Review On Jane Airhead by Kay Woodward

Publisher: Andersen Press

Published: 5^th November 2009

Pages: 224

Book: To review

Format: Finished copy, Paperback

Contains: Content suitable for younger readers

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fiction

What's not to love about Jane Eyre? Gothic and passionate, it features the ultimate male hero - Mr Rochester. And that gives Charlotte a top idea: she'll look for a new Mr Rochester for her lovely mum.

So when Charlotte finds the ideal man, she can't believe her luck. He's dark, brooding and mysterious. He's PERFECT. But the real-life romantic hero also turns out to be sarcastic and rude. Does Charlotte really want her mum marrying him?

Perhaps it would have been better if Mr Rochester had stayed between the covers of Charlotte's favourite novel...?

Charlotte has spent her whole life searching for a Mr. Right for her mum, but when he comes along he’s not as brilliant as expected. And with Charlotte’s own Mr. Right just around the corner, will she risk her mum’s happiness for the sake of a few day’s young love? And then something unexpected happens. Not only did she mess up her chance with the boy of her dreams,  but it turns out that her mum’s Mr Rochester is cheating on his wife with her mother! And not with just one  woman, but two! Charlotte’s life is in shreds, but will she be able to sort it all out before it’s too late?

Romantic heroes should be kept behind the covers.

This book was BRILLIANT, sarcastic yet witty, cool yet funny, it has everything a book could need! It was beautifully written, and the cover is LUSH! It gives nothing away about the amazing book inside! Kay Wooward really managed to turn the much loved classic into a work of art, and it is definitely a book to pass down the generations.

I would recommend this book a 8-and-a-half/10, and would recommend it for readers of all ages. Whether you’re nine, or ninety-nine, this book will leave you in stitches.

A<3



p.s. Have you guys noticed my new poll? Anyone can enter, so please PLEASE do!

What Are You Reading?

I'm joining in with Neevie's WHAT ARE YOU READING? meme, and basically, all you have to do is...

Add the button to your blog:

• Tell us the Title and Author
• Show us the Cover
• Share the Blurb/ a brief summary
• Thoughts so far
• Any other information  you want to include  eg. opening line, snippet from the middle...

That part ^^ 's background came out brown, didn't it? *blank stare*

Anyway, I've already added it the button to my sidebar, so here we go!

I am reading...

Ballad by Maggie Steifvater!

I still need to review Lament, the first one, but I've got like 16 reviews that I've been asked to do, so it'll have to wait..(:

The blurb:

You're all going to hate me, but I've Googled it and can't find it anywhere, and since the book is in my bedroom and I'm in the living room... *sigh* Sorry guys, but you'll just have to wait for the review!(:

Thoughts so far:

Hmm.. I've only just stared so I haven't really read anything to judge it on. But Lament, the book before this, was BRILLIANT, and now this is being told in a different POV. It's a good idea, but maybe just a tweensy bit confusing..?

Any other things:

Oh, erm... I haven't really got anything else to say about it, as I'm only on like page 2 :L Sorreeeeeeee!

~*~

AND, I'm sure you'll all be VERY happy to hear that WHY Cupcakes has it's own business cards! I baked some heart fairy cakes and created a cute little origami box, placed three neatly inside, put a floppy sunflower sticker thing to tie it together on the top and put little gem hearts on the sides, and then gave it to my new neighbours downstairs! And even if I do say so myself, they were probably the best batch that I've ever made - I couldn't stop stuffing!

AND, how cute is this little fella?!

Because I've got an interview with the designer for next month! WOOOHOOO! Stay tuned!!

A<3

Shining Gift

First up, me and my friend Rebecca are starting out our own cupcake business! With business cards and everything! We even went to cooking club today!! Just letting you know, because do you want me to post an update of Why Cupcakes (our cupcake business name!(: ) each month, or..?

And we've now got Talk Talk instead of BT as our internet supplier thingamagig, so this computer is now really slow and rubbish... and I read back yesterday's post - cannot BELIEVE how many 'but' s I wrote in just like one sentence! Sorry!

AND I went on my blog at the library at school today, and the writing was all slanted and horrible and hard to read... is that what comes up to you?

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you guys about this AWESOME online shop I found today - it's called Shining Gift, and is on the wonderful Etsy that I'm sure you all know of..? 'Coz I practically LIVE on it!

So, my top five Shining Gift pieces are...


5.



For £6.54, this moustache iphone case is LUSH! I am totally IN LOVE!


4.



This LURVELY ring is £2.54 and is just so ickle and pretty! Imagine wearing THIS on your finger!


3.



£3.17 and worsth £30.17! Completely vintage and stylish, this deer bracelet is AMAZING!



2.



The golden snitch! It's only £2.54 and looks ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Don't you think?!

1.

Look at this! A close call with the Mockingbird one (), this £3.17 watch necklace is TO DIE FOR! And my birthday's on the 30th December, hint hint...(;

What's your favourite?

A<3