Using Pinterest to Make Your Dreams a Reality | The Secret

Yesterday evening I finished reading a book, not any old story book but a book which I believe will and has already changed the way I see my life and the beauty of the world. And the title of this it? The Secret to Teen Power by Paul Harrington.

If you feel like you're currently trapped in a bubble and can't quite see the light, or maybe you have these dreams but keep thinking to yourself "its only a dream" then I highly recommend giving The Secret a read to hopefully give you the power of making your goal or passion become reality!

So you've created a new board on Pinterest. Now the most important thing about this new board is that it is set to SECRET. This board is about you and your life.

Your first pin topic. What do you want in your life? 

This one is extremely broad so start with the first thing that pops into your mind and it can be absolutely anything from a car to a dream holiday or maybe you want the latest Michael Kors bag. Whatever it is, search it and pin it. My first pin: a dog. Yup that's right, what I really want and will make sure I get in my life is a Beagle puppy. 

This one will grow and the more you think about it the more things you want, so just keep expanding on it.

Your hobbies and passion. What do you love doing?

Imagine you've been working or studying so much that you've had no time to yourself and then suddenly a day off! What do you do on that day? What makes you think yes I have the time to do that and puts a huge smile on your face. It could be going for a run, painting or just reading a book. Pin it along with some quotes about that hobby! One of my pins: Baking cupcakes! 

Travel. Where do you really want to visit? 

Imagine you have all the money and free time in the world to go somewhere. Where do you chose? You could go on a safari to South Africa, go to New York to shop and visit Broadway or visit see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Pin all those places and start imagining yourself going there! 

So you get the picture right, you're building the life you want. Keep going, include things such as your ideal home, motivational quotes, your perfect job, your favourite food and drink, anything that just makes you smile. Of course there is more to just pinning a photo online and imagining getting those things but if you read The Secret to Teen Power you will believe that you have the power to have anything you choose! 

Now whose to say you can't go get all those things you've just pinned? No one. 

Signed, Kathryn x

Dairy Free Rocky Road Cupcakes

"If you're going to be alive and on this planet, you have to, like, suck the marrow out of every day and get the most out of it." Drew Barrymore

Rocky Road cupcakes are one of the easiest yet most rewarding cupcake topping going, you can simply edit this basic recipe to your desire. If you aren't raisins why not replace them with walnut pieces? Not into marshmallows? Try fudge instead!

These dairy free Rocky Road cupcakes have a chocolate sponge with dark chocolate chips with a tasty chocolate buttercream topped with glace cherries, digestive biscuits, raisins, chocolate chips and marshmallows.

Chocolate Chip Sponge
What you will need:

• 3 Eggs
• 180 g of Caster Sugar 
• 180 g Pure Margarine 
• 150 g of Self Raising Flour
• 30 g of Cocoa Powder
• 100 g Dark Chocolate Chips
• Dash of Vanilla Essence

1. Pre Heat oven at 180 degrees and line 12 cupcakes 
2. Cream in the margarine and sugar until smooth
3. Once well mixed add an egg one by one and whisk, add drops vanilla essence
4. Sift in the flour & cocoa powder and beat with a wooden until smooth
5. Add the chocolate chips and gently mix
6. Place in cupcake cases 
7. Cook for 20-22 minutes or until the top is spongy or golden brown & leave to cool

Chocolate Buttercream

What you will need:

• 200g Stork Butter Block
• 250 g Icing Sugar 
• 30 g of Cocoa Powder
• Few drops Vanilla
• Handful of Marshmallows/Biscuits/Raisins/Glace Cherries/Chocolate Chips
• Pipping Bags
• Piping nozzle

1. To decorate, cut the butter into small cubes and whisk until soft and pale. Gradually beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder using a wooden spoon until creamy and soft.
2. Add vanilla essence
3. Fill a pipping bag with a 1M Wilton tip (or whichever you wish to use) and pipe a rose or swirl.
4. Decorate!

P.s This song will get you in the decorating mood! 

    Signed, Kathryn x

Eton Mess Inspired Cupcakes

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you" Oprah Winfrey 

Today's post is all about these beautiful Strawberry & Meringue cupcakes, I suppose we could call them Eton Mess?

These have a strawberry sponge with a hint of pink food colouring then a sprinkling of mini marshmallows in the mixture to add a chewy meringue feel to the cakes. Yum.


Strawberry & Marshmallow Sponge
What you will need:

• 3 Eggs
• 180 g of Caster Sugar 
• 180 g Pure Margarine 
• 180 g of Self Raising Flour
• 100 g of Mini Marshmallows
• Cap full of Strawberry Essence
• Dash of Vanilla Essence
• Pink food colouring 

1. Pre Heat oven at 180 degrees and line 12 cupcakes 
2. Cream in the margarine and sugar until smooth
3. Once well mixed add an egg one by one and whisk, add drops of strawberry & vanilla essence
4. Sift in the flour and beat with a wooden until smooth
5. Add the marshmallows and a very small amount of food colouring and gently mix (but not too much)
6. Place in cupcake cases 
7. Cook for 20-22 minutes or until the top is spongy or golden brown & leave to cool

Strawberry  Buttercream

What you will need:

• 250g Stork Butter Block
• 250-350g Icing Sugar 
• Few drops of Strawberry Essence and Vanilla
• Pink Gel Food Colouring
• Pipping Bags
• Piping nozzle
• Dr Oetker Eton Mess Sprinkles

1. To decorate, cut the butter into small cubes and whisk until soft and pale. Gradually beat in the icing sugar using a wooden spoon until creamy and soft.
2. Add the strawberry and vanilla essence.
3. Add a tiny amount of Pink Gel Food Colour and mix until a pastel pink shade.
4. Fill a pipping bag with a 2D Wilton Flower Nozzle (or whichever you wish to use) and pipe a rose or swirl.
5. Decorate with Eton Mess Sprinkles!

If you really wanted to push the boat out why not cut out the center of the cupcake and fill with your favourite strawberry jam! 

P.s. This song deserves a place here as I listened to it on repeat writing this! Years and Years hands up to you guys!

Signed, Kathryn x