Macaroon Adventures

So I tried a second attempt at making macaroons after my first attempt went so well. This time I wanted to make something a little different. I still had some of that chocolate raspberry jam left over and I thought it would make a great filling for a macaroon. I also really wanted to try my hand at making pretty coloured macaroons so I went out and got some gel icing. I love how the colour turned out. I am still not 100% comfortable with making them and would love to get a kitchen scale so I can properly measure out my ingredients. Something to add to the Christmas list! 

Winter Skin Care Tips

The cold, snowy weather has been reeking havoc on my skin. My lips are cracked and my hands have been dry for days! The super cold weather outside to the drying heated air inside is not helping this situation in the least.

Hydrate!
I make sure I am drinking enough water in the winter. Keeping hydrated is one of the best ways to fight  dry skin. I up my water intake but if I want something hot I turn to herbal teas.

Protect!
If I go out without gloves for even the shortest amount of time my hand become extremely dry and cracked. Simply remembering to wear gloves goes a long way in saving my hands from become a dry cracked mess.

Sunscreen is also important in the winter. This is often something I forget and am working on adding sunscreen into my daily routine. The snow reflects the suns rays and no one looks attractive with a ski google tan.

Exfoliate and Moisturize! 
It is important to exfoliate to remove dead skin cells so that your moisturizer can be more effective. I find my skin is sensitive so I don't exfoliate on a daily basis but try to at least once or twice a week. I love using coconut oil as a moisturizer and lip gloss. I carry a lip balm with me everywhere I go and usually apply before going outside as an extra layer of protection for my lips. In the winter I also like to have hand cream with me at all times as well. I like the shea butter in this one and that it doesn't leave your hands greasy.


What are your winter beauty secrets?
Jaclyn

Snowed In

 I was home for the weekend and when I cam back to school I was greeted with 50-70 cm of snow, which basically appeared overnight. What does that look like you ask? 

This:

source

There is snow EVERYWHERE! It makes me not want to leave my house, but cuddle up with some hot chocolate and watch nothing but movies all day but unfortunately I have class. My wishes of a snow day were not answered. While I love the way the snow makes everything look beautiful and magical especially the trees that only seems to last for a day, then it becomes one big slushy grey mess. Its a pain to walk through. 

I seem to have a love/hate relationship with snow. I love the first snow fall every year - the one where the big flakes fall down and melt the next day. There is something so perfect and magical about it. Its the snow that sticks and the cold and ice that it brings along with it that I have a problem with. 

Snow seems to bring out both the best and the worst in people. People tend to come together to fight the snow - helping neighbours shovel or helping with the car that always seems to get stuck. Snow brings people together. It unites people. It provides a common mutual thing to hate and complain about. 

As a kid, there was nothing greater then the perfect packing snow. Spending recess rolling the biggest snow ball that you could manage, often needed two or three friends to help push the giant snowball just a little father on the field. Making snow forts with your siblings and knowing that when you're done there would be hot chocolate waiting inside. There was nothing better, except maybe tobogganing. 

Winter Bucket List

I love the idea of an activity advent calendar, but with exams and unpredictable schedules it just didn't seem like it would work. I decided to make a Winter Bucket List instead with some fun dates included. I used the template provided by Sugar and Spice to create my own bucket list on a fun background. All I had to add was the text! I plan on putting together some envelopes to go with some of the dates like a Starbucks gift card for the hot chocolate date, a new Christmas Music CD to listen too, the cookie dough tea and baileys, so that everything is ready to go before hand for when we decide to complete them. This way we can complete things when it works best for our schedules in between exams and studying. I think it will be a fun way to bring some holiday cheer to exam season.

Whats on your winter bucket list? 

Jaclyn

Sweet Potato Fries

I tend to judge restaurants on their sweet potato fries. They have to be tender yet crispy and they MUST come some sort of garlic aioli or chipotle mayo. As much as I love ketchup it just doesn't go well with sweet potato fries. I hate when restaurants charge extra for sweet potato fries and then charge you more for a dipping sauce. I've already been charged extra for the fries, now your gonna charge me more for something to dip them in? Really? Anyways rant over. 

Since I love sweet potato fries so much I tend to make them a lot at home and decided to make this batch the other day when I wanted a snack. I have tried a few different sweet potato fry recipes, some with coating (flour or cornstarch) some without. I personally prefer without. Its less messy and I find the  fry tastes just as good if not better. 

Ingredients: 

1-2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into fries

 2-3 tablespoons olive oil 

Water 

2-3 tablespoons salt 

1 teaspoon paprika 

1 teaspoon garlic powder 

1 teaspoon black pepper

2-3 tablespoons mayo 

Sricacha Sauce

Directions: 

1. Place cut sweet potatoes in a bowl and cover with cold water and mix in 2-3 tablespoons of salt. Let sit for 1/2 hour to 3 hours. The saltwater mixture draws some of the moisture out of the sweet potatoes making them crispier. 

2. Preheat oven to 400F

3. When ready to make sweet potato fries, drain water and pat dry. They don't have to be completely dry.

4. Toss with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder and black pepper. 

5. Spread out fries evenly on a baking sheet. Try to give each fry as much room as possible, this also makes them crispier. 

6. Bake for 20 mins, flip and back for an additional 10-15 minutes. 

7. Make spicy mayo using 2-3 tablespoons of mayo and Sricacha sauce to taste ( I usually use a few drops, I don't like a ton of spice!). 

8. Enjoy! 

Sweater Weather

Top Row (left to right): JCrew. Aritzia. Forever 21.
Bottom Row (left to right): Aritzia. Blush Shop. American Eagle. 

It is sweater weather here (okay more accurately its sweater with a warm coat weather) but none the less I have been loving wearing all of my favourites and am on the hunt for some new ones for my collection.

- Jaclyn

Remembrance Day

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

- John McCrae

David's 24 Days of Tea

The David's Tea Advent Calendar launched today! After much anticipation it has finally hit stores and I am sure it won't stay there long. I can't wait to go pick mine up today. I love how the changed the design of the box this year, it feels more festive then last years design, which was the classic David's turquoise. From the description of teas included on the website it seems that they have taken in suggestions from last year and really have improved the teas offered in the calendar. There seems to be a much bigger focus on the winter and holiday collections then there was last year, which some other favourites and festive flavours from David's in the mix. I wish they would have an exclusive new mystery tea in the calendar as well but it seems like thats not in the cards this year. 

It will be fun waking up every morning in December to a new tea. I had so much fun doing it last year and I am excited for this years as well! Such fun! 

Will you be doing David's 24 days of Tea? 

Jaclyn 

Loving Lately

Here are a few things I have been loving around the web: 

This Skype commercial that will make you cry 

Everything Kate Spade but especially this and this 

David's winter collection is out. Have you tried it yet. This is my fav! 

Awesome Make a Wish for this little boy! Awesome to see a community come together. 

This mug from Chapters. Basically my motto. 

Tell me what you have been loving lately in the comments! 

Jaclyn

Scarf Inspiration

I have a thing for scarves. I love how they can instantly make an outfit look that much chicer. As the weather gets colder more and more of my outfits contain a scarf. Here is some inspiration from my Pinterest Board.