How To: Stacked Naked Wedding Cake

A couple of weeks ago I was given the task of creating a 4 tier naked wedding cake for a family wedding. Most commonly they are just Victoria sponge but for this one I made a different flavour of cake for each tier. I made banana for the 12”, Victoria for the 10”, carrot for the 8” and coffee & walnut for the 6”. This cake is easy enough to make even if you aren’t an experienced baker, it was my first ever time making a cake like this. You can make it far easier if you have the same flavour for each tier as you can just make a massive batch of the batter.

To figure out how much of each ingredient you need for the different sized tins this is how i did it;
For example, I have a recipe for an 8” tin but I need it for a 12”, I divide 300g of flour by 8, then times it by 12 = 450g of flour. Then just do this for all the ingredients. Sometimes you’ll just have to round it up or down for things like eggs.

What you will need;
Ingredients for your cakes and buttercream
4 cake tins (12”, 10”, 8” & 6”)
4 cake boards (12”, 10”, 8” & 6”)
Cake leveller or cerated edged knife
Piping bag with a large and small round nozzle
Palette Knife
Cake supports (you can purchase supports from your local cake decorating store or on amazon, you can also use bamboo skewers)
A selection of flowers (peonies, gerberas and gypsophila are popular ones)Presentation board/stand
Flower picks (you can purchase from your local cake decorating store or on amazon)
Cake topper
Icing sugar for decoration (Optional)

How to create the cake;

Step 1 | Bake 2 cakes per tier, making sure you line the tins well with baking paper to make it easier to remove them from the tins once baked.
Step 2 | Level the cakes with either a cake leveller or a cerated edged knife, so they’re all the same height. 

Step 3 | Place the bottom cake on each cake board, pipe a layer of icing onto the top and smooth out with a palette knife, then place the other cake on top.
Step 4 | Add 4 cake supports into each cake in a square at least 2 inches in from the edges.
Step 5 | Place each tier on top of each other.

Step 6 | Place the cake onto your presentation board/stand.
Step 7 | With a small piping nozzle, pipe along around the edges of each tier to hide the cake boards. To smooth these edges I just ran my finger along the buttercream to look that little bit more rustic.
Step 8 | Arrange your flowers onto the cake using flower picks.
Step 9 | Around the flowers add the berries using the buttercream like a glue. Arranging the berries in clusters tends to look most effective.
Step 10 | Add your topper.
Step 11 | Sprinkle icing sugar over the cake for the final touch (Optional)
Step 12 | Serve and enjoy the cake!

My Everyday Autumn Makeup Look

The final look using the products mentioned in this post. Photo from my Instagram @Alexandraahowe

I originally wrote this post for Chloe at http://www.thechloelook.com/2014/09/guest-post-everyday-autumn-makeup-look.html but I thought I would also post it for you guys to see.
I went on a bike ride the other day and saw conkers mixed in with fallen leaves on the pathways so I’m now officially calling it Autumn. When Autumn comes along I say goodbye to bronzer and coral shades and move onto deeper pinks and a paler skin tone. 

For my base I use one of my all-time favourite products the Porefessional by Benefit, I use it all year round as it’s perfect for creating an even base and reducing the amount of oils on your skin. Then for foundation I use the MAC Face and Body Foundation (the palest shade of course) with my Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush and just apply a thin layer and buff it right into the skin. To conceal my dark circles and blemishes I use the Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer and just use my fingers to apply this. Before I set the foundation and concealer I apply Moon Beam by Benefit to my cheek bones as a soft highlight with my fingers. Using the Real Techniques Powder Brush I set the base with the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural and then finish the skin off by applying the MAC Blushbaby Sheertone Blusher with the Real Techniques Blush Brush.

For the eyes and lips I start off by filling in my brows using the HD Brows Kit with the Sigma E65 Small Angle brush, at the moment I'm using the Dark Brown shade but this varies depending on my hair colour. As a base for my eyes I use the MAC Painterly Paint Pot just with my fingers and take this write up to the brows and then to set it I use the MAC Eye Shadow in Brulé with the Sigma E40 Tapered Blending brush. For my eyeliner I use the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink with the MAC 263 brush which is a really sharp angled brush which creates the perfect winged eyeliner. To finish off the eye I use the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara which is just amazing! Trust me.

Then to finish off the entire look I use the MAC Lustre Lipstick in Plumful and just apply that from the stick, it's definitely a staple Autumn lipstick to own! 

What are your staple Autumn products?

My Skincare Routine and Products

I love to keep care of my skin and as I do tend to wear makeup on a daily basis I think its very important to make sure I remove it properly to keep my skin healthy and able to breathe! 

Almost all the products I use are under £10 each so it's a pretty affordable routine, as a student I can't afford fancy products but these do the job for me so I don't even feel the need to pay more. 

The only product here which is over £10 is the Benefit Triple Performing Emulsion but this is my one luxury I do use and always tends to be on my birthday or christmas wish list. 

I have very combination skin, I get quite dry patches around my mouth and nose but then have an oily forehead and eyelids. I don't have very spot prone skin, but I do get the occasional spot. This should give you an idea if any of these products may work for you.

My Daily Skincare Routine

1. I use the Simple Eye Makeup Remover to remove my eye makeup first, it works great with heavy and waterproof makeup, as well as being super affordable.
2. I then use my No7 Cleansing Balm in Dry/Very Dry, I gently massage it in my face and a little down my neck. With a large cotton pad I wipe that off to get rid of the majority of my makeup. This product is super moisturising without being oily and having to wait for it to sink into the skin. Quite often at Boots you get £5 off No7 skincare products which makes this product under £5!
3. After that I tone my skin using either the Botanics All Bright Toner or LUSH Tea Tree Water, I love both these products that's why I like to use them both! With the Botanics toner I apply this onto a cotton pad and then wipe across the skin but with the LUSH toner I spray this directly to my face and then wipe off with a cotton pad. These get rid of those last bits of makeup and dirt on your skin.
4. To finish off I apply the Benefit Triple Performing Emulsion lightly onto my skin, this is super refreshing and sinks into the skin much quicker than many moisturisers I've used in the past. 

My Occasional Skincare Products

If I haven't got time for all of that, for example coming in after a night out, I will quickly use my Simple Cleansing Wipes to get rid of as much makeup as possible. Then usually in the morning I'll refresh my skin properly.

I forgot to photograph this product but whenever I have a shower, this is usually every other day, I use the Freederm Exfoliating Daily Wash. I don't feel the need to use it everyday as I luckily haven't got very spot prone skin, that's why I only use it in the shower, but it helps keep away any blackheads and spots that I do occasionally get from stress and hormones flying around!