LIFE UPDATE!

Rachael walking Louie along the lake across from our air BnB - right before we left!

HI
Okay, so I got back from Paynesville just under a week ago - twas fun but I am glad to be back!
I didn't take many photos there because I didn't bring my DSLR, but I do have a few on my phone (and there are a few on my 'Phhhoto' account: @fishbowl).
We came back on Sunday after a short trip that included lots of dog walking, cave exploring, winery visits and me practically binge reading The Maze Runner series.

My week since our return has been very busy up until now. The day I got back, I began obsessively watching the new 'Shadowhunters' TV show on Freeform!! I've seen the first episode probably four or five times now?

In a few sentences, my past week has included:

Monday: my friend Madison came over and we basically just made soup and watched Shadowhunters.
Tuesday: I hung out with two other friends, again watching Shadowhunters, and making vegan + gluten free Anzac biscuits.
Wednesday: I had a sleepover with my friend Izzy and we played Animal Crossing and made rice paper rolls for dinner.
Thursday: I went op shopping with Madison, hoping to find some 90s style clothes.
Friday: I went to another friend's house to play Animal Crossing and plan our joint birthday party, although we didn't end up having much to plan.

(I actually sound like a little kid with all this Animal Crossing... I swear I'll be a legal adult in 7 days.)

The clothes I bought whilst op-shopping included a velvet-looking black hoodie, a black cardigan and an oversized navy blue t-shirt with embroidery on the front.

I just thought I'd show the shirt (the cardigan and hoodie don't need much imagination to picture haha)

I've been a little bit stressed lately because I found out what university I'll be going to, and struggling with the decision to defer or not... so if anyone else is going through/has gone through the same thing, let me know what you did! Although at this point in time, I'm leaning towards a deferral - I don't feel ready for school again, ew.

I've also been feeling really jealous in some of my friendships recently, which isn't that unusual, except for the fact that it's sticking for longer than a minute or two this time. I don't really know the best way to go about this and it's hard to let go of these sorts of feelings but I think the best thing to do is take a step back and let yourself realise that you're not co-dependent on this person, you have a life outside of them and just reacquaint yourself with yourself! Maybe even spend a day with other friends.
I'm just writing this incase anyone reading it can relate, because it's a pretty frustrating feeling that I don't think we have all that much control over.

Anyway, sorry if this post was all over the place, just wanted to update everything! Leave a comment and I'll be happy to talk to you! :) x

VEGAN GINGERBREAD COOKIES ~ RECIPE

This is a really simple recipe, and it doesn't require many unordinary ingredients that you wouldn't already have in the cupboard!

What you'll need:

• 150g brown sugar (I used dark brown sugar for both batches, I think either light or dark would work fine)
• 2 tbsp golden syrup (maple syrup should be fine too)
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground clove
• 190g butter substitute (I use Nuttelex)
• 1 small tsp bicarb soda
• 450g plain flour
• Icing sugar + water (for easy icing)

Method:
1. Combine all the ingredients together, either on the stove or just in a mixing bowl (like I did), making sure to sift the flower. However, if you're choosing to mix them on the stove, remove the mixture from the heat and then add the flour.

Note: Add extra spices if you'd like a stronger flavour! I think I will next time.

First batch

2. This is what the dough should look like after everything is combined. It should be firm, so you may need to add more flour. Cover the bowl with glad wrap and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.

First batch

3. After you've taken the dough out of the fridge, spread some flour on your workbench and your rolling pin so that the dough won't stick to them, you will need to keep adding more as you go. Find some cookie cutters (I used gingerbread men, candy canes and Christmas trees) and pop them on a tray ready to be put into the oven. You can preheat the oven, in fact most recipes would say you should but I always forget and they turn out fiiiine, to 180 degrees Celsius and bake the cookies for 10 - 15 minutes. 

First batch

Here are my cookies, just out of the oven!
Note: It can be hard to tell whether they're done or not when you take them out because they will still be a bit soft (they harden up once they've cooled for a bit) but resist the urge to leave them in for just a little bit longer! That's what always stumps me and then they end up burning. In fact, that may or may not have happened today...

Second batch

SO. I made a second batch of cookies and you can probably tell from the photos that they're slightly different from the first one.
In the original batch, I had to use blackstrap molasses instead of golden syrup, despite the fact that I can't STAND molasses, oh my God. Even the smell.
I was hoping it wouldn't be noticeable once the cookies were out of the oven but I decided that while the dough was in the fridge, I would go up the street, buy some golden syrup and make another batch of cookies, because who wants gingerbread cookies that taste like sewerage? (No offence intended if you really like molasses hahah)
I used the same process and all other ingredients were the same, but I think the second batch is definitely better than the first, although everyone else in my house seems to like the first just fine, so maybe it's just dependent on personal taste - I still suggest golden syrup though.

I simply used icing sugar mixed with water to decorate these (just add icing sugar and water to your desired consistency - more icing sugar compared to water = thicker mixture) but obviously you can do whatever decorations you want! Food colouring is always fun too.

I didn't bother icing the first batch, mainly because I was tired but also because I wasn't as emotionally invested in those ones hahah.

So have fun baking and Merry Christmas!!