Chocolate Marshmallow Creme Cake

When I got my October Degustabox I was thrilled to see some yummy items that I could have fun baking withso today we finally got around to making a Chocolate Marshmallow Creme Cake.

With the help from my lovely assistant (my hubby) we made a tasty cake using two of the ingredients from this months Degustabox the Toasted Marshmallow creme and the Dr Oetker coco powder.

Ingredients:

- 225g of butter

- 225g casting sugar

- X4 medium eggs

- 175g of self-raising flour

- - 50g of coco powder

- Half a pot of toasted marshmallow creme

- 10 squares of baking chocolate

Pre-heat oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4. Grease and line two 20cm (8 inch) sandwich tins.

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and if the mixture starts to curdle, add a little flour.

Fold in the remaining flour and the cocoa powder with a metal spoon.

Divide the mixture between the two tins and bake for approx. 25 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and leave to cool before turning out onto a cooling rack.

Spread half a pot of the Marshmallow Creme over one of the layers of cake

and then place the other layer carefully on top.

Melt the cooking chocolate in the microwave for 3 minutes stirring every 30 seconds.

Spread the melted chocolate all over the top of the cake

and pop in the fridge to cool.

Wax Lyrical "Tis the season candle

Back in 2012 I had the chance to review Wax Lyrical's Celebration candle in time for Christmas.

You can read the review here, this year I am able to show you another of their wonderful

range of candles.

This time the "Tis The Season candle which comes in 3 different sizes and is available

as a reed diffuser as well.

I received the medium sized candle, £12 which burns for an average of 50 hours.

They have a fab range of scents over on their website here and not just Christmas scents either.

What Wax Lyrical say about the "Tis Season Scent:

" 'Tis the season to be jolly... Deck the halls with boughs of holly, and let this rich scent of sumptuous red berries and shimmering green foliage surround you.Inject some stylish ambience to any room in your home with the simple design of this contemporary medium candle jar with lid. Only the highest quality wax has been used to ensure a clean burn and maximum fragrance throw."

35 Weeks Pregnant

This week we have managed to get quiet a bit done.

Stuart has a week off atm so we have managed to go to Ikea and

get a wardrobe and chest of drawers ready for baby's room.

The cot also arrived yesterday which will need to be put together.

Oh and the travel system has arrived over at my mum's and we will be testing it all out at the weekend.

On top of that I have started packing baby's part of my hospital bag and am planning to make sure that the rest is done by next week fingers crossed.

Today was also our second and last antenatal class which wasn't as eventful as last week

but still we learnt a bit.

How far along? 35 weeks today

Symptoms: This week has been the usual symptoms but today I have had braxton hicks a lot more frequent.

Sleep: Sleep is ok again for the moment still getting up in the night.

Movement: Loads of wiggles and kicks as usual

Food cravings: Nothing in particular this week

Happy or moody most of the time: both

Looking forward to:

- The cot being put together

- Seeing and playing with the travel system

- getting the hospital bag all sorted

October Degustabox

Last week my second Degustabox arrived which I was rather excited about since I loved last months box!

For those of you not familiar with Degustabox they are a food box subscription service and

every month they select and send out an exciting range of new and limited edition products from

a range of fab foodie brands.

As you can see below this months box has again got some very tummy treats!

They have picked 11 brands for this box with 14 yummy treats.

In the box we have first of all two lovely items from Brioche Pasquier.

The sliced brioche loaf which I am going to use to attempt making my first ever bread and butter pudding!

The loaf is ideal for anytime of day and versatile as a snack, meal or as an ingredient.

The second is the Pain Au Lait with chocolate chips which are soft and tasty and were gone within 3 days as I kept having them for breakfast and as a snack.

Brioche Pasquier Sliced Brioche Loaf (£1.69) Brioche Pasquier Pain Au Lait with Choc Chips (£1.60)

Heat-Holders Neckwarmer

When it comes to keeping warm when out and about this winter one item I love

is this neck warmer from Heat-Holders.

I am huge fan of Heat-Holders and own a few of their products to keep me toasty warm.

As you would have seen earlier in the week I was recently sent their new thermal snuggle blanket.

I was also sent their new neck warmer as well and now both items I feel are essential for the cold winter months.

Heat-Holders do neck warmers for both men in Black or Charcoal and for women in black or purple.

The neck warmer is made from a specially developed thermal yarn that provides high performance insulation

against the cold with moisture breathing abilities.

The heat weaver lining is a plush fur like thermal lining that maximizes the amount of warm air held close to your skin.

The Heat-Holders Neck Warmer is a versatile and effective alternative to a scarf.

The ladies sculptured fit drops low to contour around the chest, neck and chin to keep out cold drafts for extra warmth and protection.

Will you be buying one this winter?

Heat-Holders Snuggle Blanket

The weather has been really temperamental recently, one minute warm the next cold.

I am glad to have received the all new snuggle ups thermal blanket.

The blanket is ideal for snuggling up and keeping warm.

The snuggle up blanket is a thermal luxury soft fleece blanket that is 180cm x 200cm

that comes in two colors antique silver and moon rock.

The Blanket is a good size meaning you can snuggle up in front of the fire with

a hot drink and your partner.

The blanket has an official tog rating of 1.6 and is incredibly soft and easy to look after, as it is fully machine washable.

With heating prices soaring snuggle up with Heat- Holders Snuggle Blanket and keep warm.

Mum Kind

I was recently sent some items from Mum Kind.

Mum Kind sell a range of products suitable for Mum to be's.

Even though I am in the third trimester I have found the items to be useful.

The three products I was sent are:

- Mum Kind Water Our Way Mixed Berry Water Enhancer

- Mum Kind Ginger Me Baby Soothing Ginger and Chamomile Lozenges

and

- Mum Kind Bump to Baby Enhanced Bars

The Mixed Berry Water Enhancer with vitamin B

helps reduce tiredness and fatigue in pregnancy along with

regulating hormonal activity.

The bottle is portable and convenient and makes 10 drinks.

I loved the berry taste it's not too over powering either.

The Ginger Me Baby Soothing Ginger and Calamine lozenges

contain no artificial colors or flavors and help mums to be morning, noon or night.

They are individually wrapped with no tell tail branding.

I love these as even though I am in the third trimester I still occasionally wake up

feeling nausea due to needing to eat so I'll have one of these while my porridge is heating up in the microwave.

I think these would work wonders for women with morning sickness and could have done with

these during my first trimester.

The Bump to Baby enhanced bars are lower in fat, sugar and salt than other treats.

I love the yummy chocolate flavor and these were gone pretty quick.

Asda Half Price Toy Sale

From today (Thursday 6th November) Asda will be holding a half price toy

sale online and instore.

Toys include:

Playmobil Fire Engine was £40 now £20

Star Wars Xwing Starfighter was £50 Now £30

Baby Annabell Bath time was £60 now £30

Barbie & Fashion Gift set was £30 now £20

and many more.

This is the baby Annabell bath time set which is ideal from ages 3+

the doll can be used in your bath too which is a great way to make bath time

more fun for your little one.

34 Weeks Pregnant

Today we had our first antenatal class which was interesting.
I am feeling a little more better about labor now and what to expect.
There was a lady sitting next to me and Stuart with her partner whilst we watched
a DVD about pain relief they disappeared halfway through and then we were told she
had left as her waters had broken at 37 weeks.
This has made me realize that next week I need to get my skates on and pack
my hospital bag just in case.

How far along? 34 weeks today

Total weight gain: Not checked this week

Symptoms: Tiredness, achy, breathless when out and about, very clumsy

Sleep: still struggling with getting comfy and waking up for loo trips followed by baby kicking me awake

Miss anything? sleeping through the night.

Movement: still loads of kicks and wiggles

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to:

- sorting out babies room this week finally

- Going to the next antenatal class hopefully
no one will go into labor this time!

Unisex Baby Nursery Furniture

So at just over 33 weeks pregnant we are finally getting most things sorted out for Baby's room.

It's taken us awhile as we still had boxes in there from when we moved in,during August that needed sorting.

Plus we only really just got around finding space for near enough everything.

I knew when it came to the furniture in baby's room that I wanted all the furniture to be white.

Luckily Stuart has agreed and over the last few months I have been browsing and trying to find the best items at great prices.

We are living in a rented flat and baby's room is painted sky blue. But as we don't know baby's gender I have been looking to some ideas to make most of the blue walls by using accessories that are gender specific which I will look more into once little one arrives.

Onto the furniture we have chosen to go for the BRIMNES 2 door wardrobe (1) from Ikea.

I like how this wardrobe has a shelf so that you can fit folded clothing as well as short and long hanging items.

My mum (even though we have one to borrow) decided to surprise us and buy us a new moses basket for baby (2) I am looking forward to it arriving as it does look gorgeous. It comes with hood, mattress, quilt and white folding stand.

We have also chosen to go for the MALM (3) 4 chest of drawers which I am looking forward to organizing.

Then last of all we have the Padstow Cot Bed (4) from Mothercare which was a gift from Stuart's Mum.

We managed to get it on special offer and we also brought a mattress separate for it on special offer too.

We wanted a cot bed so that it would last our baby until they reach the age of 4.

Once baby is here I am looking forward to getting the bedding etc for the cot and kitting out the room properly.