Sunday Morning | Buttermilk Pancakes

Sunday Morning | Buttermilk Pancakes

Sunday, 1 May 2016

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I do not have a go-to pancakes recipe however while many resort to ready-made pancake mix, I tend to lean more towards homemade pancakes because I find that it takes approximately the same amount of time to mix everything up and the best part of it all is that homemade pancakes are healthier since they do not contain additives and preservatives. 

I love searching for recipes on pinterest and pinning away a few recipes for when I'm in the mood to bake. I went through a multitude of pancake recipes however I narrowed down on this one and tried it out. Keep reading to find out what I used and some tips I learnt by trial and error. 

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

2 cups buttermilk

1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly

Clarified butter or high-heat vegetable oil, for cooking

Optional toppings: Cream cheese, banana, chocolate flakes and crushed biscuits 

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk eggs. Whisk in buttermilk and melted butter. Stir flour mixture into buttermilk mixture until just combined (lumps are OK).
3. Heat the oven to 200°F and place an oven-safe plate or baking dish inside. Heat a large, nonstick skillet on the stove top over medium heat. Melt 1/4 teaspoon of butter on skillet. Dollop 1/2 cup batter onto skillet; depending on the size of the skillet, it may fit 2-3 pancakes. 
4. Cook pancakes until bubbles rise to the surface and pop, about 2 minutes. Carefully flip pancakes and cook another 2 minutes.
5. Transfer cooked pancakes to plate in the oven. Cover with foil. Repeat with more butter and remaining batter, until all pancakes are cooked.
6. Add your toppings of choice.                                             

Tips

• Do not over-mix the dry and wet ingredients. Some lumps are fine in the batter. Flour lumps will get cooked anyway.
• Do not get distracted while cakes are on the griddle. Do keep a watchful eye on the pancakes and adjust the heat as you're cooking to prevent them from burning.
• You can make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice to milk and letting it sit to sour for 5-10 minutes. The longer the better.

Happy Sunday!

-T

OOTD: Pastels for Spring + Pantone's Colours of the Year 2016

OOTD: Pastels for Spring + Pantone's Colours of the Year 2016

Tuesday, 19 April 2016

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With Spring in full bloom, I thought it would be appropriate to share with you a Spring-inspired OOTD. As you all probably know I love my neutrals but with warmer weather on the way and the sun burning hotter each day which I personally don't like, I'm trying to incorporate more pastel-inspired pieces into my outfits and wardrobe. Additionally, this casual outfit was inspired by this year's Pantone Colours of the Year - Rose Quartz and Serenity. 

Also, if you're interested these are how the Executive Director of the Pantone Colour Institute described each colour.

Rose Quartz: The soothing, calming nature of colours in the Spring collections are led by PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz, a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Like a serene sunset, flushed cheek or budding flower, Rose Quartz reminds us to reflect on our surroundings during the busy but light-hearted spring and summer months.

Serenity: Weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity comforts with a calming effect, bringing a feeling of respite even in turbulent times. A transcendent blue, Serenity provides us with a naturally connected sense of space.

Wearing : Jeans – Next | Top – George | Shoes – Asos | Scarf – Gift

Review & Swatches: Pupa Milano | DOT SHOCK Miss Pupa Lipstick in 001*

Review & Swatches: Pupa Milano | DOT SHOCK Miss Pupa Lipstick in 001*

Sunday, 10 April 2016

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Pupa Milano has just brought out a new Limited Edition Collection by the name of DOT SHOCK just in time for Spring.  This new collection is a modern and colourful interpretation of the Polka Dots trend.

Pupa Milano in Malta kindly sent me one of the Miss Pupa Lipsticks from the DOT SHOCK Collection in the shade 001 – Sugar Peach. The lipstick itself goes on quite sheer giving the lips a hint of a peachy coral hue and a semi-transparent wet finish. Another great thing about this lipstick is that you can build the colour to a medium coverage. 

These lipsticks are concocted to enhance the volume of your lips naturally as a result of the cotton extract in the lipsticks, leaving your lips soft and captivating. In terms of longevity it’s not the most long-lasting of lipsticks due to it being almost a tinted lip balm but it fades beautifully and it’s easy to re-apply. The lipstick is also dermatologically tested, paraben-free and contains SPF 15 which is a definite bonus for an affordable lipstick retailing at €13.50. 

The only downside I found to this lipstick is that it tends to settle in fine lines/ dry patches and that I don’t personally enjoy the taste of it but despite this issue I still find it quite enjoyable to wear especially for that fresh and natural looking makeup look!

The collections consists of 7 new products: Dot Shock Eyeshadow Palette, Vamp! Stylo Liner, Dot Shock Blush, Miss Pupa Lipstick, Dot Shock Balmy Gloss, and last but not least, the Lasting Colour Gel and Velvet Matt Polish. So if you come across a Pupa stand containing the DOT SHOCK Collection, do check it out as it contains some gorgeous pieces as you can see below. 

I can’t wait for more sunny days so that I can rock this Spring-Summer shade! 

Hope you found this review helpful!

-T 

Review & Swatches: Sleek MakeUP Blushers

Review & Swatches: Sleek MakeUP Blushers

Tuesday, 29 March 2016

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It's time to explore some more products from Sleek MakeUP, and this time it's all about their gorgeous blushes! 

Let’s start with packaging! All Sleek blushes come in a matte black mirrored case which is very similar to Nars packaging. The case looks very classy and sturdy however it catches dust very easily. Apart from that, the only problem I have with the packaging is that it is shut very tightly so it’s slightly hard to open especially when you’re in a hurry. 

Now onto the blushes! First I have Pixie Pink which is a bright matte Barbie pink with cool undertones. Although it looks super bright in the pan, it doesn’t come off as bright when applied therefore it gives a fresh and natural flush to cheeks. The texture of the blush is very soft which makes it very easy to blend. It’s the perfect everyday colour – especially for that Spring glow!

Flushed is a plum toned matte colour with red undertones which makes it perfect for darker skin tones. You’re probably already thinking that the colour looks scary but if you apply it with a light hand, it can look very natural as if you’re a bit flushed (as the name states). Then if you like a bolder look, its smooth consistency makes it very buildable so you have control over how much colour you want. This one is a favourite of mine since it’s a very unique colour.

Suede is a light terracotta shade with peach undertones. It’s basically an everyday shade because it looks very natural and  just gives a warmer look to your complexion. Like the previously mentioned blushes, Suede has a silky smooth texture which makes it super blendable and it also has a slightly satin finish despite it being almost matte. Definitely a must have!

Pomegranate is a rich berry shade with microscopic specks of golden shimmer. This is the perfect fall/winter shade.  It’s suitable for all skin tones especially those with medium to dark skin tones would rock this shade. Even with the golden specks of shimmer I mentioned earlier, when applied it does not look too shimmery but it gives a nice radiant sheen to the skin. This blush also blends like a dream and it does not get patchy throughout the day.

Pros of the Sleek Makeup Blush:

-Affordable

-Super pigmented so a little goes a long way

-Soft, silky and easy to blend texture

-No scent

-Longlasting

-Finely milled thus it does not accentuate pores

Cons:

-Packaging is slightly hard to open

-If not applied with a light hand, it might come off too strong.

 These Sleek single blushes are super affordable not to mention they are not tested on animals which is a huge plus! These blushes can be found online here or locally at Melita Health and Beauty (visit their facebook for daily updates and also visit them on April 1st and 2nd for a Sleek MakeUP weekend!)

-T

Beauty Night Out | A Melita Health & Beauty Centre Event

Beauty Night Out | A Melita Health & Beauty Centre Event

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

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To celebrate International Women’s Day, I had the privilege to attend a beauty night out event for beauty bloggers and make up enthusiasts organized by Melita Health and Beauty Centre. It was the perfect event to catch up and meet fellow bloggers and beauty enthusiasts whilst trying out some of the amazing products found in store.

Melita has a strong and knowledgeable beauty team who can assist you with all your beauty needs and guide you without pressuring you into buying (which I personally appreciate). What amazed me the most is the wide variety of makeup, skincare and health brands - from high-end to drugstore - one can find under one roof. Some of these brands include Sleek, Bourjois, L’Oreal, Revlon, Make Up Studio, Elizabeth Arden, Clinique, La Prairie and Givenchy amongst others. Another brand they feature that I haven’t seen in Maltese stores is Real Techniques.  Before I left, I was kindly given a lovely goodie bag filled with products and samples which I’ll review in a future post.

What makes the store stand out from others is that you may also find a skincare and beauty clinic offering Dermalogica treatments on site. You can visit their website melitahealthandbeauty.com to learn more about their products, holistic therapies, medical clinics & lab services and also skincare and beauty clinics.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Melita Health and Beauty and their team for the invitation. You will definitely see me again very soon!

Melita Health & Beauty Centre is located at 72, St. George's Street, St. Julian's. I also invite you to like their Facebook page to stay in the know. Photos are courtesy of Tamsin Pace Decesare | Photography. 

-T