Studs and Flicks: blogmas

Christmas Day is nearly here, so it's time to relax after finishing your Christmas shopping, with a tasty & festive (alcoholic) cocktail! This cocktail is a festive twist on a classic margarita, and is super easy to make. The recipe is for making one glass/cocktail. It doesn't contain tons of ingredients, and is great for even a cocktail making novice to make.

I hope you try to make it and really enjoy it!

Ingredients (Makes 1 Glass)

140ml / 4 Shot Glasses of Cranberry Juice

35ml / 1 Shot Glass of Fresh Lime Juice

52ml / 1.5 Shot Glasses of Tequila

17ml / 0.5 Shot Glass of Cointreau (Optional)

8.5ml / 0.25 Shot Glass of Simple Syrup

Garnish with sugar and lime slice

Method

1 - Rim your glass with lime juice and sugar. Cut a lime slice and place on the edge of glass.

2 - In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, cointreau and simple syrup.

3 - Add the lid and shake until the outside of the shaker is cold/frosty.

4 - Once shaken, leave to one side. Then add ice to your sugar rimmed glass.

5 - Pour the drink into the glass over the ice.

6 - Finish with a straw and serve!

And that is my Christmas cocktail recipe! Perfect for any festive parties you are hosting during the holiday season, or even for a quite night in after Christmas shopping.

A quick, simple and delicious Christmas margarita!

Let me know if you try it in the comments below.

What is your favourite cocktail?

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Today's post is a recipe for a gorgeous gingerbread flavoured cake, with gingerbread icing. This cake is so tasty, and the sponge is beautifully fluffy & light. It is a great cake for this time of year, and would make a great alternative dessert on Christmas day, if your family doesn't like Christmas pudding. Depending on how you decorate it, it could be a great showstopper cake at a Christmas party this season too. Everyone in my family loves it, and I think it will be asked for every Christmas from now on.

Ingredients

Homemade Gingerbread Biscuits (recipe)

Method

1 - Preheat the oven to 180C. Then, line & grease 3 x 20cm cake tins ready for the cake mix.

2 - Pour the 150ml milk and 3 tbsp of treacle into a saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly until combined. Leave to cool.

3 - In a stand mixer, add the 375g of Plain Flour, 3 tsp Baking Powder, 1 1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda, 375g Light Brown Sugar, 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon, 2 tsp Ground Ginger and a pinch of salt. Gently mix the dry ingredients until the brown sugar breaks up, and you have a sand-like texture.

4 - In a large jug, whisk the 300ml Buttermilk, 225ml Vegetable Oil, 3 Eggs, 3 tbsp Amaretto and 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract together. Once mixed, add the milk-treacle to the jug and mix well.

5 - Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, in the stand mixer. Whisk the ingredients together to form a smooth cake batter.

6 - Divide the batter equally between the three tins and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean, after you poke it into the middle of the cake. Once cooked, cool the cakes in the tins for 10 minutes.

7 - Then turn out the cakes onto a wire rack, for cooling. Remember to peel of the baking paper from the bottom of the cake. Leave to cool completely.

8 - When the cakes are cool, make the icing. In a stand mixer, whisk the 200g of Butter and 400g Icing Sugar together, until combined. Then add the 1 tsp Vanilla Extract, 2 tbsp Black Treacle, 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon and 1 tsp Ground Ginger to the mixer, and whisk until combined & has an icing-thick texture.

9 - Place the first cake sponge layer on your chosen cake board. Then spread a thin layer of icing on the top of the sponge. Apply the next sponge layer, and spread icing on the top of that sponge. Then add the final sponge, and apply the icing on the top.

10 - Smooth a thin layer of the icing around the sides of the cake. It won't look pretty just yet, as this is the crumb layer. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes, to set the icing.

11 - Once out of the fridge, spread the remainder of the icing (should be about half of the original mixture) on top of the hard crumb layer. Smooth out as this is the final layer.

12 - Then finish your cake with whatever decorations you like. I decided to go with some desiccated coconut on the top, to look like snow, and several gingerbread biscuit trees around the outside.

And that is it!

Finished!

And that is how you make this delicious gingerbread cake, with gingerbread icing. It's a perfect cake for this festive season, whether you want it for cosy winter nights in, or as a centre piece for your holiday party.

I hope you like this recipe, and let me know if you decide to make it.

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It's officially the party season, which means that people are looking for outfit inspiration for the biggest party night of the year, New Years Eve! I love going out on NYE with my friends, and getting super dressed up for it, by wearing lots of glitter on my face and maybe a bit of sequins.

So, for today's post, I decided to put together six different outfits, that would be great for bringing in the new year, no matter where you are. Now, I'm not suggesting that you should buy all of this, but you might be able to find an odd item to jazz up an old dress or top that you already own, for your New Years celebrations. I hope you like my picks!

1 - Dusty Daze Contrast Leg Flares in Snake & Sequin £60.00 ASOS

2 - Black Sweetheart Neck Lace Bodysuit £17.99 New Look

3 - Missguided Faux Fur Black Jacket £45.00 ASOS

4 - Girl Power Cross Body Bag £20.00 (SALE) Skinnydip

5 - Twist Hoop Earrings £6.00 (SALE) Topshop

6 - Statement Heel Faux Fur Sandals £39.50 Marks & Spencer

1 - V by Very Sequin Tux Jumpsuit £50.00 Very

2 - Purr Diamante Perspex Heels £15.00 (SALE) Public Desire

3 - Pendant Crystals Earrings £15.99 Mango

4 - Black Chain Trim Clutch Bag £12.00 George @ ASDA

1 - Red Camisole Dress with Fringed Belt £39.99 Zara

2 - Jena Silver Diamante Choker £15.00 Pretty Little Thing

3 - Red Sandals £14.99 H&M

4 - ASOS Design Beaded Fringe Grab Handle Clutch Bag £28.00 ASOS

5 - Silver Teardrop Gem Embellished Earrings £4.00 (SALE) New Look

1 - ASOS Design Relaxed Suit Blazer in Metallic £40.00 ASOS

2 - ASOS Design High Waist Metallic Shorts £25.00 ASOS

3 - V by Very Sequin Cami Top £25.00 Very

4 - Cadee Diamante Detail Ankle Sock Boots £39.99 EGO

5 - Black Glitter Rectangle Mini Tote Bag £22.00 Pretty Little Thing

6 - Crystal Pendant Earrings £12.99 Mango

1 - Embellished Pencil Midi Skirt £45.00 Marks & Spencer

2 - ASOS Design Tall Body in Sequin Embellishment £40.00 ASOS

3 - Navy Patent Curve Clutch Bag £15.00 Next

4 - Navy Velvet Square Toe Platform Heels £27.99 New Look

5 - Rhinestone Pendant Earrings £17.99 Mango

1 - Black Sequin Extreme Split Maxi Skirt £24.50 (SALE) Missguided

2 - Black Feather Detailed Mules £17.50 (SALE) Missguided

3 - Stripe Plunge Body £22.00 Pretty Little Thing @ ASOS

4 - V by Very Alice Rhinestone Layered Drop Chokers £8.00 (SALE) Very

5 - Rhinestone Crystal Earrings £15.99 Mango

6 - Brandi Disco Cross Body Bag £28.00 Skinnydip

I hope you found my outfit choices inspirational for your own NYE celebrations.

I would love to hear what you are planning to wear in the comments below, and what your favourite item from my suggestions is.

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In today's post, I am going to share a recipe for an easy chocolate tart, which could be a nice alternative for your Christmas day dessert. You may have already seen photos of this dessert, as it is the one from my uni flat Christmas dinner. I thought that it would be a nice alternative dessert for Christmas, if you don't like Chirstmas pudding etc.
You could serve it with cream and/or ice-cream.

Serves 4-6 people

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Final part of my mini series of festive party outfits. Today's is for the other people in your life, ladies! Sometimes you want to take your boyfriend/husband and/or your children with you, to whatever festive party you are going to. So here are some outfit suggestions for the children and men in your life.

Enjoy!

Outfits for under two year olds

For a little boy

- Mamas & Papas 5-piece tweed blazer set £38.40 Very

- Pram tan premium shoe £10.00 Next

Total = £48.40

For a little girl

- Red cable leggings £3.50 Next

- Minnie Mouse party dress £25.00 Disney Store

- Patent boots £38.00 Next

Total = £66.50

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Only 6 days till Christmas! I am so excited now!

Today's post is the penultimate one of my party looks series. This one is for a woman who has quite a bit of money to spend on her festive party outfit. I hope that you like my suggestions and I have tried to cover every kind of woman.

Enjoy!