Beauty Rituals

I've been planning on doing a post about my daily beauty routine and favourite skincare products for the last couple of days and just in time, lovely Mirela wrote about that very topic on her blog and tagged me. Now that I'm part of that 'game' I'm gonna show you my beauty essentials - a make up post will follow very soon - although I'm sparing you the details, cause honestly, showing you my collection of shower gels and dental care products would be a tiny bit too awkward. If you're having any questions, feel free to ask me, though. Oh, and if you wanna blog about that topic too, just leave a comment with your link below - I'd love to see your daily beauty routine.

P.S. I'm on Pinterest now and totally head over heels with it! Come over and say hi, guys. I'd love to have a couple of followers and check out your boards. 

Love, Julie.

After I had been so careless regarding removing my make up in my early teenage years, I now take the time to do so each and every night before going to bed. Therefore I always use the products above. My favourite brand at the moment is Aok - I use that facial wash gel regularly and am pretty satisfied with it. It has got that very fresh smell and is refining my pores day by day. To get the waterproof mascara off my eyes I either use the very cheap brand 'My Face' by Bipa or Bebe Young Care cleansing wipes. Those are especially useful when you're too tired to solve the 'full programme' ;)

These products are kinda randomly picked; my favourite deodorant spray by Garnier, which I'm feeling a little guilty about because it contains Aluminium and is also not the best for our environment but I simply love the smell of it. So if you're having any suggestions for me - there you go!! What else do we have here? My fav. face cream which is part of the Aok First Beauty edition you've already seen in the above picture, a shea butter Body Shop body butter that's also got a lovely scent and is so nourishing - I just wish I'd use it more often but I'm a little lazy concerning post shower lotion sessions! Haha Last but not least an addition to my daily dental care - dental floss sticks. I know, I had told you earlier not to show you such things but I really do like these sticks and have a pack in my bag, too.

My hands need intensive care as I tend to wash them (a bit too) often. Weleda and Avène are my choices for hand cremes because they perfectly hydrate my skin. The left one contains certified organic shea butter, rich in fatty acids, which protects skin from moisture loss, while natural plant extracts stimulate cell renewal to keep my hands soft and refreshed and the right one incorporates the nourishing benefits of traditional Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream in a rich formula which leaves the skin instantly hydrated. Last, you see my favourite nail polish remover that's got a great smell - at least if you like coconut ;)

Yankee Fan

A few days ago I got an e-mail saying that I'd be sent a package of Yankee Candle products. As I am a huge fan of the brand I was more than delighted by those news and the arrival of the parcel only one day later. I imagined one or two mini candles but the package was much bigger.. yay! I now show you the wonderful newbies and tell you some facts about them. For further information I advise you to check out their online store. Do you like the brand? Are you as much in love with scented candles as I am?? 

Love, Julie.

Scented Sachet 'Wedding Day' // The new Spring Tarts 'Waikiki Melon', 'Black Coconut', 'Turquoise Sky', 'Paradise Spice', 'A Child's Wish' - Just put one into a fragrance lamp (without water) and light the tea candle beneath. Delicious! 

Tea candle holder // Car Jar 'Beach Walk' // Quick Scent

Graphic Prints

As one of the so called 'big trends' in 2013 is graphic prints, I pulled out a jumper I almost forgot about since I've never worn it before - it kinda felt like a mispurchase.. you know, online buy and then being too lazy to send it back again. Nonetheless, the über-graphic pullover had it's first appearance the other day when I kept it rather casual. But as I think this is the only way you can pull off that look - combining it with too many accessories and/or other prints would quickly make it seem overcharged. So, there it is my H&M-sale-print-monster. Oh and you got to let me know: should it stay or should it go?? 

Love, Julie.

H&M from head to toe.

Guerlain Goodies

A marvellous pink package was brought to my door a couple of days ago - the Guerlain Spring Collection 13 goodie bag finally arrived after having problems with the parcel service. Although I had already known that I was about to get something, the products blew my mind. The powder pearls are super lovely but the lipstick is uh-mazing!! Such a nice colour - looks exactly like the 'Grandest Grape' chubby stick I have been longing for a couple of posts before. Huh, I'm in lipstick heaven. More information below, my dearest beauty-holics.

Love, Julie.

Guerlain says: In one gesture, a cocktail of sequins and colours! Automatically ACCESSORY… Fashion accessory. Seductive object. Beauty asset. Automatically SEQUINS … A light-reflecting cocktail, made of various shimmering pearly particles, tone-on-tone, contrasting, red, blue or golden, which boosts lips with subtly sparkling scintillation. Automatically COLOURFUL … Unlike classic white pigments, crystal pigments do not have an opaque base. They are more transparent, giving purity and radiance to colours with no whitening effect. 12 new irresistible shades in an extremely fine texture that becomes one with the skin to deliver perfect moisturisation and maximum comfort. Lips are soft, smooth and deliciously glossy. I say, the colour is totally adorable and the lipstick has got such a smooth texture - it's a real delightment to apply and wear it. Even the golden look of the lipstick case is so pretty. Love it!! A MUST HAVE.

Guerlain says: To illuminate skin with an angelic halo, Guerlain’s legendary pearls are getting a boost and coming out in an XXL limited edition size. This devilishly beautifying compact features six skin-toned and pastel shades. The face lights up and shimmers subtly, revitalized and instantly awakened, as if by magic.  I say, this is a lovely product I would have never ever thought of buying before. It gives your face a nice little glow but is not that much of a daily essential. I really like it though and am gonna use it a lot now that I have it ;)

Ombré Vanilla Cupcakes

As everyone has been head over heels with the ongoing ombré trend for quite a while now and I really like colour gradients as well, I decided to give classic vanilla cupcakes a twist frosting them with an ombré look. Here's my recipe - maybe you'll use those snowy days for baking delicious treats? :)

Love, Julie.

Ingredients: (for 12 cupcakes)

120g Flour

140g Sugar

1½ tsp baking powder

A pinch of salt

40g Butter (at room temperature)

120ml Milk (the original recipe contains whole milk but the fat free version worked also well ;)

1 Egg

¼ tsp Vanilla extract

Frosting:

250g icing/powdered sugar (sifted)

80g Butter

25ml Milk

Some drops of vanilla extract

(optionally: food colouring)

1.) Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3.
2.) Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and butter in a bowl and beat on slow speed using the electric mixer until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.
3.) Gradually pour in half the milk and beat until the milk is just incorporated.
4.) Whisk the egg, vanilla extract and remaining milk together in a separate bowl for a few seconds, then pour into the flour mixture and continue beating until the mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.
5.) Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until two-thirds full and bake in the preheated oven for 18–20 minutes, or until light golden and the sponge bounces back when touched.

6.) For the frosting beat the icing sugar and butter together with an electric mixer on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.

7.) Turn the mixer down to slow speed. Combine the milk and vanilla extract in a separate bowl, then add to the butter mixture a couple of tablespoons at a time.

8.) Once all the milk has been incorporated, turn the mixer up to high speed. Beat until the frosting is light and fluffy (at least 5 minutes). The longer the frosting is beaten, the fluffier and lighter it becomes.

For an ombré look put half of the frosting aside and add some drops of food colouring. Then frost half of the cupcake with the original icing and the other half with the coloured one. Use a palette-knife or butter knife to mix those two. It gets best if you revolve the icing in slow circles, stretching one colour into the other.

I pretty much stuck to the original Hummingbird Bakery recipe here because I wanted to try my new cookbook. 

My Spring Wish List 2013

So, this is a premier for me: I have never made an online wish list before - especially when there are no festivities (birthday, christmas..) around. But I somehow felt the urge to clear my mind and focus on a few selected items I'd really love to have rather sooner than later. I'm so fond of making lists - I really have them for like every day, month, year, shopping, travel destinations.. So this is one creative way of displaying my cravings and as a basic principle: life's always better if you have something to wish for, right? And where there's a will, there's a way. Some bloggers would probably just smile at my list because they're oh so wealthy and can afford designer stuff all the way. But hey, I'm a student and therefore my budget is quite limited. But I like to dream and maybe those more down-to-earth pieces of mine are already Valentine's/Mother's Day/birthday inspirations as well. Tell me if you like or already have them! What do you think about this collage?

Love, Julie.

1.) More Yankee Candles - I'd love to try the new summer scent 'Fireside Treats' but that's not available yet
2.) New York, New York - That's only partly a wish because the flight's already booked. YAY! I'm going there over the Easter holidays for 8 days. Still I need to save up till then - 'I need a dollar, dollar, dollar is what I need' :D
3.) Nike running shoes - I need motivation to start working out!!
4.) The beautiful striped paper straws you see everywhere around the web
5.) Spring flowers are always welcome
6.) The Clinique chubby stick 'Grandest Grape' or another dark lipstick! Don't really care about the brand if the colour's right.
7.) Beautiful chevron patterned paper cups

I belong to the hurricane

As we were taking a walk around Schönbrunn last week, the atmosphere was crazy. Sun and clouds were chasing after each other and there was that steady change between light and darkness. The song that came to my mind immediately was 'Hurricane Drunk' by - of course - Florence and the Machine. What other band or artist can catch the feeling of twilight better? Excactly, nobody. My new H&M kimono kinda matched the situation well. Here's an extract of the lyrics and some pictures. Plus the winner of the giveaway is announced at the end of the post.

"No hope

Don't want shelter

No calm

Nothing to keep me from the storm

And you can't hold me down

'Cause I belong to the hurricane

It's going to blow this all away"

Kimono, Belt: H&M, Jeans: Zara, Top: Forever21, Shoes: Max Shoes,
 Bracelet: From a Portugese Shop

P.S. We have a Kenzo winner! Nr. 5 - Lena is the lucky one! Congrats. But don't be sad, another giveaway is already waiting for you :)

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:5

Starbucks Matcha Tea Latte

The Starbucks event last week was a great one! We bloggers were invited to try their newest addition to the already wide range of hot beverages - matcha tea latte. As that is a Japanese drink and peace of culture, really, the event took place at lovely Leopold museum where there's an interesting Japan exhibition at the moment we were shown afterwards. Despite the exciting location the event was rather low-key but informative. Both, the Starbucks stuff and the nice lady who led us through the exhibition, were SO lovely and made that evening even more pleasant. Thanks again, guys.

Now some information on the product:
Matcha green tea latte is made of matcha powder, the classic Starbucks syrup and steamed milk. Usually, three pumps of syrup are being put in one cup of any tea or coffee speciality and as far as I'm concerned, that is too much for the matcha creation. Of course, everybody has a different taste but I'd rather advise you to try it with a little less syrup. Adding some afterwards is easier than being hyperglycaemic ;) I love the fact that all Starbucks products are certified fair trade and I also love that this drink is one of the top three low-calorie beverages at Starbucks. Double-yay!! I'm totally fond of matcha green tea latte and advise you to try it yourself. If you bring your very own tumblr to the shop, you get a thirty cents discount on any drink.

Have you already tried matcha tea? Did you like it? Tell me!

Love, Julie.

P.S. Today's the last day to enter the KENZO GIVEAWAY! Be quick ;)

Pandora Spring/Summer 13

Last week I was invited to two blogger events which both quite covered a Japanese topic: a Starbucks matcha tea presentation and the Pandora blogger brunch with the cherry blossom themed spring collection presentation. Both events were absolutely lovely and I'm happy that I have been invited - thanks again to the organisers. Today I'm gonna show you some impressions of the Pandora event and their new collection and within the next days you'll have the chance to glimpse at the matcha tea presentation as well. 

The Pandora blogger brunch took place at the beautiful hotel Lamee in Vienna's first district last Wednesday morning. About 15 bloggers gathered in a luxurious suite on the 8th floor with a spectacular view over St. Stephan's Church where we have been shown the brand new spring/summer collection. Shiny, sparkling jewelry was displayed nicely around the hotel room and after we all took about a million pictures, the beyond delicious buffet was opened. But enough words for now, I'll better let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy your journey through a jewelry fairy tale..

AND don't forget to join the great KENZO GIVEAWAY! Good Luck.

Love, Julie.

The YUMMY food area and my blogging friend Kati

Lovely gift every blogger got - the plain bracelet with one charm to start your very own 'Fairy Tale'