Sweet & Salty Chocolate Pretzel Bark – Dairy-Free, Vegan-Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 24)

| RaincoatesBeauty

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Can you believe it’s already Christmas Eve?! I’m not entirely sure where the month of December went. All I know is that I blinked just after Halloween, and then suddenly it was Christmas!

For the 24th day of Blogmas, I wanted to include a recipe that is perfect for a last-minute treat to bring to any Holiday occasion. This is one of my favourite treats, and I actually posted a recipe very similar to this last year. However since switching to a predominantly plant-based diet and trying to avoid dairy, I figured I needed to post an updated recipe with some adjustments!

Ingredients: 

  • 1 to 1 & 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips (dairy free of course! Many brands of semi-sweet chocolate chips are dairy-free, but just check the ingredients!)
  • 1/2 tbsp pure coconut oil (optional, just helps smooth out the chocolate)
  • 1/4 cup crushed pretzels
  • 2 tablespoons crushed graham crackers (you can add more to taste if you wish, or skip this all together) – for vegan-friendly options, choose ones without honey.

Note: I had leftover glaze from yesterday’s Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodle recipe, so I drizzled some of that on top! 

Instructions: 

  1. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper (you want extra paper, rather than cutting it to fit perfectly, This makes it easier to pull it out to break apart the bark once it’s cooled!)
  2. Crush your toppings, and set aside so they’re ready to go.
  3.  In a double boiler, place your chocolate chips and stir over low-medium heat until chocolate chips are melted. You can also do this in the microwave, in 30 second intervals. I prefer double boiler as it’s far easier to control.
  4. Carefully pour the chocolate onto your parchment-covered baking sheet, and spread evenly with a spatula. I find about 1mm works best, otherwise the chocolate is too thick.
  5. Sprinkle the crushed graham crackers over top, and then the crushed pretzels. You want to do this right after spreading on the baking sheet, so the toppings can harden into the chocolate as it cools.
  6. Place in refrigerator and let cool for approximately 30 minutes to an hour – or until hardened.
  7. Lastly, all you have to do is break up the bark! It looks much cooler than cutting. I like to break them into assorted sizes.

 

Previous Blogmas posts:

Glazed Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodle Biscuit Recipe- Dairy-Free, Vegan Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 23)

Winter Skin Savers Part 2 (Blogmas 2016 Day 22)

Glazed Pumpkin Spice Snickerdoodle Biscuit Recipe- Dairy-Free, Vegan Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 23)

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While the name sounds lengthy and slightly pretentious, I had to share this recipe with you – and I really couldn’t decide what to name them! I accidentally stumbled upon these snickerdoodle cookie/biscuit hybrids while experimenting in the kitchen. I was originally inspired by these Pumpkin Snickerdoodles created by VeganRicha, and wanted to see what I could come up with.

These are a more dense cookie that’s almost a hybrid between a biscuit and a cookie in texture. It’s got a pumpkin caramel, which I also made following the recipe on Vegan Richa’s blog. It’s super easy and so delicious! They can easily be made gluten-free, and are free of dairy and lower in fat than your average cookie, as they contain no butter or eggs!

They take about 25-30 minutes in total, and are great for a last minute treat to bring to a party. The pumpkin spice flavour is subtle, and paired with the sweetness of the maple glaze, they’re highly addictive! Also, why do more cookies not come glazed?! It’s like the lovechild of a donut and a cookie.

p1250645I used mainly organic coconut palm sugar as the sweetener, but you could definitely use brown sugar/cane sugar instead for a sweeter cookie, or if coconut sugar isn’t easy to find where you live.

Makes about 15-22 cookies depending on how big you make them! 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 cup flour (I use all-purpose, but use your preference. Gluten free flour, spelt flour, etc.)
  • ⅛ tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or you can make this using cinnamon, nutmeg, a tiny bit of ginger)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp oil (I used natural grapeseed, but you could also use coconut oil, or melted vegetable shortening)
  • 1 tbsp pure pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp sugar (I used coconut palm sugar, but you could use brown sugar, cane sugar, or whichever your preference.)
  • ½ cup spiced pumpkin caramel (this works as the binder and the sweetner. It helps to prevent the pumpkin puree from being too watery and resulting in overly wet cookies.)

Cinnamon Sugar Coating: 

  • 2 Tbsp sugar (you want something with larger granules, such as cane sugar.)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon (ground works best)

Maple Glaze

  • 1 tbsp non-dairy milk (unsweetened preferably. I use almond milk)
  • 1 tbsp Maple Syrup
  • 1-4 cup icing sugar/confectioners sugar. Add extra in small amounts if your glaze looks too liquidy.

 

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, spices, baking soda, and baking powder in a medium sized bowl. Mix until combined.
  3. Stir in the pumpkin “caramel,” vanilla, oil/melted shortening, and vanilla. Stir/mix until it forms a dough. If it seems dry or crumbly, add about a tbsp of milk.
  4. Depending on your taste, you may want to add an extra tbsp of sugar. I opted for a less-sweet cookie, as I knew I wanted to dip these in the maple glaze.
  5. Scoop the dough using a spoon, and roll into a ball. I opted for about the size of a ping pong ball. Lightly roll the balls into the cinnamon sugar mixture, and press down with a fork to gently flatten.
  6. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes for a smaller cookie, and 10-12 for a larger cookie.
  7. Place on a cookie sheet to cool for a couple minutes, then dip in the glaze and return to cookie sheet to cool and dry! The glaze should be set after about 20 minutes or so.
  8. Dust lightly with icing sugar for a more Christmasy look if you’d like!

For the Glaze:

  • Sift the icing sugar into a bowl
  • Stir in milk and maple syrup, and mix until well combined
  • If it’s too liquidy, add a little bit more icing sugar.
  • If it’s too thick, add a little more milk or maple syrup.
  • The glaze is ready when it’s it somewhat slowly drips off your fork/spoon. You should be able to dip the cookies into the glaze, and the excess glaze should drip off. If you try to dip your cookie and the glaze sort of smushes around, then it’s definitely too thick and needs more liquid.

Winter Skin Savers Part 2 (Blogmas 2016 Day 22)

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For Blogmas last year, I did a roundup of products I recommend to help combat that dreaded winter dryness (you can read that here!)
I wanted to include an updated list with a couple of my current favourites, as my skincare routine is completely different this year. I’ve begun trying to only purchase from brands that don’t test on animals, so this list features skincare items that are not tested on our furry friends!

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Dr. Roebucks “Face” cream: I have become absolutely obsessed with this Australian brand. It was created by physician parents in the 70’s, with their Pure cream to treat their children’s eczema. They’re all about natural ingredients, with maximum efficacy. The products are all formulated without harmful chemicals, fillers, BPA, or parabens. They contain no synthetic fragrance or preservatives.

This cream is marketed as an anti-aging cream, which is why it took me so long to try it. It wasn’t until my coworker told me her teenage sister has been loving it to help treat her acne that I knew I had to give it a try. It is a super smooth hydrating cream that helps fight against aging, but also helps with acne and uneven skin tone! It has natural macadamia oil, vitamin E, rosehip oil, and lavendar oil – all of which are amazing for keeping the skin smooth and reducing inflammation! I noticed a difference literally overnight. I haven’t had any major pimples since using this (and while that is partially due to my change in diet, my skin hasn’t been this clear in months!!) It’s also helped keep my facial eczema flare ups at bay and keeps my skin so soft and hydrated. It’s good for all skin types, even oily skins!

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask: Lush is very well known in the cosmetic industry for actively fighting against animal testing as well as many other important issues. They truly are an incredible brand, and my obsession for them has grown substantially in the last year. This mask is one of my absolute favourite Lush products!

This mask is phenomenal for calming, balancing, and detoxifying the skin. It’s jam-packed with fresh blueberries, calamine powder, chamomile oil, rose absolute, sweet almond oil, and more. Its blend of ingredients makes it suitable for all skin types, specifically sensitive, dry, and combination or problematic skins. I love using this in the evenings when I’ve had a heavy makeup day, when my skin is breaking out, or when I feel like it needs a deep clean. It helps clean and clear up the skin without stripping your natural oils, so it doesn’t leave your skin feeling dehydrated or uncomfortable.

Lush Sleepy Body Lotion: I was so ecstatic for this limited edition body lotion to launch for Lush’s Holiday collection (you can read my post about that here!) This is an ultra-soothing and moisturizing body lotion, full of amazing ingredients to help you relax. Oatmeal Infusion, Almond Oil, Lavender Water, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter, Lavender Oil, Tonka, Ylang Ylang oil, and more.

It smells like sweet lavender and cocoa, and leaves your skin so silky smooth. I love to apply this to my elbows, arms, and neck before bed. Since it has the natural essential oils, applying it to your neck will help calm and soothe you with aromatherapy.

Sadly this cream is limited edition (hopefully they’ll launch it permanently!) so I’d highly suggest getting your hands on it while you can!

Lise Watier HydraForce Lip Balm: this is without a doubt my new favourite lip balm. Lise Watier is a Canadian brand, and has been one of my favourites since I first started playing with makeup. This lip balm is from their relatively new HydraForce line, and it features a really cool ingredient called Gaspé algae extract. It’s found in harsh climates, and helps plants to hold on to moisture and prevent from dehydration. It does the same for our skin! I slather this on my lips before bed, and in the morning my lips are still quenched. This is a great alternative for those wanting deep, long-lasting hydration without the thick goopy texture of the Bite Agave Lip Mask!

Aromic Citrusy Nighttime Face Oil: I have been loving this all-natural face oil. I just posted a full review of this oil, which you can read here! 

 

Previous Blogmas Posts: 

Holiday Makeup Inspiration (Blogmas 2016 Day 21) 

Kylie Cosmetics Review – Blogmas 2016 Day 20

Holiday Makeup Inspiration (Blogmas 2016 Day 21) 

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With Christmas fast approaching, and may going to Christmas parties with friends and family, I wanted to share some of my favourite beauty looks for makeup inspiration!

The holiday season always centers around golds, silvers and reds. You can never go wrong with a good red lip paired with gold eye shadow.
2016 runway trends really showed a shift towards more “natural” makeup with a pop of colour on the lips. Specifically, nearly bare eyes, soft dewy skin, and a red, berry, or burgundy lip.

I absolutely love this trend, because it’s glamorous, festive, yet ridiculously easy.


To master the “bare eye” look, the key is to even out the skin on the eyes. The skin around the eyes is thinner than any other areas of the face, so it tends to show veins, redness, shadows, and discoloration. I love to use a color correcting primer, like the Lise Watier CC eye primer. It evens out my skin, making it look much more bright, awake, and polished. I love to dust a little of a bone colored shadow or a super soft shimmer to highlight over top, for an extra bit of glamour.

Here’s a look I did last year using drugstore makeup! Product details here! 

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For the skin, I typically recommend a natural or satin finish for a softer, more skin-like look. Highlight is essential, and I recommend a cream as it blends into the skin much more seamlessly. Subtle strobing is a perfect addition to this look. I did a full post on strobing here!

There are so many ways you can customize looks like this. The face and eyes are so versatile and neutral that you can pair it with any lipstick colour!

What are your favourite holiday makeup looks?

 

Previous Blogmas Posts:

Kylie Cosmetics Review – Blogmas 2016 Day 20

Apple Spice Donut Bites – Dairy-Free & Vegan Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 19)

Other than the photo of myself, all other photos were taken from Pinterest, and rights go to their respectful owners!

Kylie Cosmetics Review – Blogmas 2016 Day 20

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For the 20th (seriously?! We’re already on the 20th?!) day of Blogmas  I thought I would include a full review of my recent Kylie Cosmetics haul. With Boxing Day fast approaching, we can likely anticipate some sales happening on Kylie Cosmetics.

My haul was very small (2 lip kits) as it was my first ever order. I had heard so many mixed reviews, so I figured Id only order 2 things to try them out. Well, that was reason #1. Reason #2 was more along the lines of “oh god its going to be HOW much after shipping and Canadian to US dollar conversion?!”

Firstly, I absolutely could not resist the Koko Kollection. Im not the hugest fan or supporter of the Kardashians, but out of all of them Khloe is definitely my favourite. She has such great style and her makeup is always gorgeous. Then when I saw that rose gold packaging, I knew I had to try to get my hands on it! Luckily my best friend Claudia was able to go online and order before they sold out!

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The Koko Kollection: 

This limited edition collaboration with Khloe Kardashian features 3 liquid lipsticks, and 1 gloss. It retailed for $40 USD (about $53 Canadian) which is actually a great price considering you get 4 full sized lip products.

The shades

  • Khloe$: a mid-toned nude
  • Okurrr: a vibrant fuschia
  • Gorg: a burgundy/reddish wine
  • Damn Gina: a peachy pink gloss with soft shimmer

I am so ridiculously obsessed with Khloe$ and Damn Gina. I thought Khloe$ would be too warm, but it’s actually a perfect nude. I’ve never typically been a fan of sparkly or shimmery lip glosses, but this one was a definite game-changer for me. It is so stunning and flattering on the lips! The colours show up a bit warmer in my swatch photo, Okurrr is definitely more of a pinkish fuschia in person.

P1250366.JPGThe packaging: 

Encased in a gorgeous white and rose gold box, the lipsticks all come in a shiny, rose gold version of the Kylie Cosmetics liquid lipsticks. Truthfully, I didn’t even care if I’d like the formula or not. I simply had to have these for aesthetic reasons – and you can bet I’ll be forever displaying these as a decoration.

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The Formula: 

While I’m not typically a huge liquid lipstick fan (thank-you, chronically dehydrated lips) I do actually think these have a beautiful formula. As with most liquid lipsticks, the formulas and level of dryness can vary depending on the shade. Okurrr, for example, is a teensy bit smoother than Khloe$ and Gorg. All were surprisingly comfortable to wear, even after a couple of hours. They are also incredibly long lasting, I got over 4 hours of wear before needing any sort of touch up.

Overall, I am so pleased with the Koko Collection. Every shade is truly gorgeous, and I think they did a fantastic job with all aspects of this collaboration – the packaging, formula, shades, and price point. I’m really hoping they will restock this collection, and if they do I highly recommending try to get it!

Candy K Lip Kit 

Next, I knew I had to try the Candy K lip kit. I have had my eye on this shade since it first launched. The Lip Kits come with a full sized liquid lipstick and lip liner. They retail for $29 USD (about $38 Canadian).

Candy K is a warm, pinky-nude. It is undoubtedly my new favourite shade. It is the perfect pinky nude, and is flattering on so many skin tones. The formula is actually a bit smoother than the Koko Kollection – again, texture can vary a bit depending on the colour. It’s super pigmented, not streaky, and very long lasting.

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The lipliner is creamy, glides on the lips, and personally I love that it matches perfectly. Lip liner is not optional for me as, I have very uneven lips. I love that the Lip Kits come with lipliners, it means I don’t have to try to figure out which lipliners will match!

Overall, I am so in love with everything I purchased. I will undoubtedly be purchasing more in the future! Whether you’re a Kardashian/Jenner fan or not, from one makeup-junkie to another I can truthfully say I think these products are very well done!

 

Previous Blogmas Posts: 

Apple Spice Donut Bites – Dairy-Free & Vegan Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 19)

Christmas Movie Favourites – Blogmas 2016 Day 18

Apple Spice Donut Bites – Dairy-Free & Vegan Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 19)

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I’ve had a slight addiction to recipe experimentation lately – particularly when it comes to donuts. For Blogmas day 19 (even though this will be going up 4 minutes after midnight due to yet another day of technical difficulties) I thought I’d share this recipe for apple spiced donut bites! They’re ridiculously easy to make, and can be customized in a multitude of ways. They’re completely dairy free, as well as vegan-friendly!

They’re also free of added fat, and sweetened with organic cane sugar, maple syrup, and applesauce! They taste like apple spice, and are so perfect for the holiday season!

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Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups flour (you can use whole wheat pastry flour, gluten-free flour, whatever your preference. I typically just use all purpose flour)
  • 1/2 cup sugar (coconut sugar or organic cane sugar preferably)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (basically cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup applesauce (unsweetened)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 & 1/3 dairy-free milk (I prefer unsweetened almond milk)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 small-medium apple, finely chopped (optional, but it really adds flavour and moisture!)

Glaze: 

  • 2/4 cup powdered sugar (sifting it works best!)
  • 2 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon milk

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Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a mini muffin tin with a vegetable-based cooking spray. (You could also use a little bit of coconut oil if you prefer)
  2. Mix together milk and apple cider vinegar, then set aside
  3. Sift together flour, salt, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice in a large bowl.
  4. Add the vanilla and applesauce to the milk mixture you made before, and stir well
  5. Add the wet ingredients (milk mixture) to the dry mixture, and stir. Be careful not to over mix! Just mix until it’s combined.
  6. You can use a donut pan, or a mini muffin pan like I use. You can spoon them into the pan or use a piping bag for a more precise donut! Fill each spot in the pan about 3/4
  7. Bake for about 10-12 minutes (10 was just about perfect for my convection oven.) You can use the toothpick test to see if it comes out clean, but I advise against using the “touch the top to see if it bounces back” because when warm the donuts will be squishy. It’s very easy to overcook these! They also likely won’t be all perfectly golden brown.
  8. Let cool in the pan for about 5 minutes and then pull them out. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for a few minutes longer.
  9. Dip the cooled donut into the glaze, lightly twisting. Holding the donut upright, allow some of the excess glaze to drip off before placing it on the cooling rack to set. Once they’ve set, you can dip them a second time if you’d like! You can also drizzle the glaze if you prefer. The glaze is set once it’s not wet or sticky to the touch!
  10. Store in a cool, dry place. They will last for up to 5 days

For the glaze: 

  1. Sift powdered sugar into a small bowl
  2. Add the maple syrup and milk, then stir. If it’s too thick, add about a teaspoon more of milk. The texture shouldn’t be liquidy, but should drip.  If you try to dip your donut into the glaze, and the glaze just clumps without spreading or dripping, then you need to add more milk.

 

Christmas Movie Favourites – Blogmas 2016 Day 18

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Last year, I compiled a list of Christmas movies to fill your December with holiday spirit. This year, I wanted to create an updated list of my all-time favourite Christmas movies!

  • Love Actually
  • How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  • Elf
  • Just Friends
  • The Santa Clause
  • The Holiday
  • Home Alone
  • Edward Scissor Hands
  • Gremlins (this one can be great for Halloween and Christmas. That’s pretty darn special)
  • Arthur Christmas

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Now, I’m only slightly embarrassed to admit that my mom and I have a tradition of watching those cheesy Hallmark/Lifetime movies – you know, the ones that are all slightly (okay, painfully) cheesy, set heartwarming and uplifting.

Some of our favourite Hallmark Christmas movies are:

  • The Christmas Shoes
  • The Christmas Ornament
  • Heaven Sent
  • Christmas Town
  • A Princess For Christmas
  • A Christmas Kiss

What are your favourite Christmas movies?

 

Previous Blogmas posts:

Sephora Gift Guide – What’s Hot This Week (Blogmas 2016 Day 17)

BH Cosmetics Marble Collection Warm Stone Eyeshadow Palette – Blogmas 2016 Day 16

Sephora Gift Guide – What’s Hot This Week (Blogmas 2016 Day 17)

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Can we just take a moment to collectively express our shock that it’s already December 17th?! It still feels like the first week of November to me. My plan to slow down and relax this December clearly hasn’t been very successful thus far.

With Christmas less than a week away, I thought I’d share another gift guide for any of you looking for last-minute gift ideas for the beauty lovers in your life. Because lets face it, there’s a lot of procrastinators out there. Myself included.

Here’s a roundup of some of the hottest gifts and sets from Sephora this week! I picked the items that I thought were the most exciting and some of the best values! I also chose brands that do not test on animals – because it’s 2016, and animal testing should not exist anymore.

  • Too Faced Naughty Kisses & Sweet Cheeks set
  • Tarte Gallery Gals Deluxe Tarteist Eyeiner Set
  • Too Faced Melted Liquid Lipstick “Candy Cane”
  • Smashbox Glow & Go Set
  • Too Faced Melted Liquified Longwear Lipstick Ornament
  • Tarte Tarteist Pro To Go Amazonian Clay Palette
  • Tarte Tarteist Pro Glow Highlight & Contour Palette
  •  Urban Decay Makeup Lockdown Travel Duo
  • Smashbox Be Legendary Matte Lipstick Minis

 

Previous Blogmas posts: 

BH Cosmetics Marble Collection Warm Stone Eyeshadow Palette – Blogmas 2016 Day 16

Delicious Chocolate Oatmeal Squares – Gluten Free, Dairy-free, Vegan-Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 15)

BH Cosmetics Marble Collection Warm Stone Eyeshadow Palette – Blogmas 2016 Day 16

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There have been so many exciting palettes launching within the last few months, and the Marble palette from BH cosmetics has definitely been one of my favourites. BH Cosmetics is cruelty free, and this palette is vegan friendly!

I will fully admit that I initially bought it just because I knew that marble packaging would look gorgeous in my collection. For a palette with that pretty of packaging to be under $20, how could I possibly say no?!

The Marble Collection features 2 aptly named palettes – “Warm Stone”is the neutral/warm-toned palette, and “Cool Stone” features cool-toned shades.

20161023-1799045275“Warm Stone” was much more appealing in my opinion, partly because I prefer warmer shades, but also because it has the more classic marble packaging.

The palette launched in late Summer 2016, and sells for $12 (the website says it’s regularly $18 and on sale for $12, but i’ve never seen it not on sale since launching!)

It contains 12 colours – 6 matte, 3 frost, and 3 shimmer finishes. The shades range from warm browns, pink, cranberry, and taupes. The packaging is so gorgeous, and much nicer than the typical cardboard-feeling packaging BH cosmetics usually uses! This packaging feels similar to the Tartlette palettes, but not as heavy.

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As for the formula, they do differ depending on the finish. The mattes are super blendable, but they do kick up quite a lot of powder when you dip your brush into them. This isn’t really a problem per say, it can just be a bit messy (especially if your makeup table is white, like mine.) The shimmers are gorgeous, smooth and creamy, and while they to feel slightly drier than the shimmers, they are very pigmented and appear to have almost a duo-chrome quality.

I find all shades to be very pigmented, and long-lasting. Of course any eyeshadow works much better when used over a primer, but even without they still show up very well on the skin, and blend super easily.

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I think the shades are laid out perfectly. Sometimes it can be hard to know which colours to use together, but the shades are laid out with perfect complementary colours in each row.

I absolutely love this palette, and for the price I really don’t think you can go wrong. If you’re looking for a great palette that is super affordable, I 100% recommend it!

Delicious Chocolate Oatmeal Squares – Gluten Free, Dairy-free, Vegan-Friendly (Blogmas 2016 Day 15)

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The 15th day of Blogmas marks only 10 more days until Christmas! To celebrate, I thought I’d share one of my all-time favourite recipes: chocolate oatmeal squares! My mom has been making these ever since I was a child, and they always remind me of her.

They are so easy, and so versatile. They can be customized in any way to accommodate any allergy or dietary need. If you have a nut allergy, you can easily make without nuts. If you have a dairy allergy, intolerance, or are vegan, you can easily substitute the chocolate chips with semi-sweet, dairy free chocolate chips like we do, and you can substitute the butter with oil or a vegan butter such as Earth Balance! You can also substitute the brown sugar for coconut sugar or organic cane sugar.

These are incredibly delicious, and are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without having to feel too guilty – they packed with protein and goodness from the nuts, oats, and flax. These also offer vitamins and other nutrients! Dark chocolate has antioxidants and other benefits, and is much lower in fat than milk chocolate. If you aren’t a huge dark chocolate fan, use the semi sweet chocolate chips like we do, or add a little maple syrup to the melted chocolate.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup brown sugar (can use coconut sugar, cane sugar, golden sugar, etc)
  • 1/2 cup softened vegan butter (or coconut oil, also softened)
  • 1 & 1/2 cups Quick Oats
  • 1/2 cup ground Flax (if you don’t have flax, you can just use 2 cups oats instead of the 1 & 1/2 Cups)
  • 1/2 cup nuts (ground, we prefer almonds but use whichever nut of your choice. Substitute )
  • 1 to 2 tsp of vanilla (we love vanilla, so add it to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

Directions: 

  1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees Farenheit
  2. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat sugar and the vegan butter or oil until fluffy
  3. Slowly beat in oats, vanilla, and salt
  4. Transfer mixture into a greased 8 inch baking pan, and pat down so it’s even
  5. Bake for 18-25 minutes or until golden brown (times may vary, newer convection ovens should start at 18 minutes, and see if it needs longer from there)
  6. Remove from oven, sit on a cooling tray and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Let sit for about 10 minutes, or until the chocolate chips are melted
  7. Using a knife or spatula, spread melted chocolate chips so it evenly covers the baked mixture.
  8. Let cool, and once the chocolate is set (will be hard to the touch, and no indentations left behind if you touch it) cut into squares.

These will be good for up to 1 week in a sealed container – but they probably won’t last that long, I guarantee they’re too addictive to resist!

 

 

Check out my previous posts: 

Morphe Me December Brush Review – Blogmas 2016 Day 14

What I Eat In A Day for Weightloss (Plant-Based) Blogmas 2016 Day 13

Easy, Delicious Brownies! (Dairy-Free & Vegan-Friendly) Blogmas 2016 Day 10

Morphe Me December Brush Review – Blogmas 2016 Day 14

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For the 14th Day of Blogmas, I knew I had to include a review of this month’s Morphe Me brushes! December’s packageDecember’s package was a celebration of their 1 year anniversary, and included 6 brushes, making it arguably the best valued brush package they’ve done so far.

This was originally supposed to be a video review, however after a few days of technical difficulties, I opted for a written review instead – hopefully a written review is better than no review at all!

The M502 Round Blender: (Sable bristles) this is a super soft, medium fluffy brush with somewhat long bristles and a rounded tip. I originally thought this was a repeat brush, and that it was identical to the M533 which arrived in a previous months package. Upon closer inspection, I realized it is actually quite different to the M533, and also different to all the other crease brushes I have! It’s shorter and not as wide as the M533, and the rounded tip makes it (in my opinion) just about the perfect brush for any shading in the crease. It’s one of those brushes that fluff up after a few uses, so once it fluffs up a bit it also works beautifully to apply transition shades to your crease area.

M560 Detail Liner: (Synthetic bristles) this is a firm, pointed brush with long, densely packed bristles. Despite the name “liner” I don’t personally recommend this for applying gel or liquid liner – it’s a bit too thick for that. It is however perfect for adding definition to the corners of the eye, such as as a cut crease type look. This is honestly the perfect brush for building up colours for a cut crease!

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M512 Round Contour: (Goat hair bristles) this is a rounded brush with firm, densely packed bristles. I think of it as the MAC 109’s chubbier, shorter cousin. I was extremely excited to receive this brush, as I have nothing else like it in my collection (which after being subscribed to Morphe Me for over 7 months, is growing rather large). As with all the Morphe brushes, it’s incredibly soft. This is one of those brushes that can be used in an endless amount of ways. Morphe suggests using it set the under eyes with powder, but I think you could also use it contour any part of the face (it works wonders for the cheeks & nose) or body, since contouring awkward places is all the rage now apparently. If you like a strong highlight, you could also use this to apply highlighter!

M562 Tiny Crease Blender: (Synthetic bristles) this is an adorably small V-shaped brush with long bristles. I have absolutely nothing like it in my collection, so I’m ecstatic to welcome it to my brush family. This is a great brush to use for softly applying any sort of definition or shading to the outermost part of your crease. Because it’s more sparsely packed, it won’t pick up quite as much pigment. This is great for small eyes, hooded eyes, anyone wanting to do softer or more natural looks, or to get into those hard to reach areas. It’s phenomenal for softly diffusing colour on the lower lash line, and also for adding some highlight to the inner corner of the eyes, and brow bone, cupid’s bow.

M515 Detail Crease Blender: (Goat hair bristles) this is quite possibly one of the teeniest little smudger/pencil brushes i’ve ever seen.  The bristles measure at 1/2 of a centimeter, and its pointed tip makes this perfect to use for the most precise of detail work. You could sculpt the cleanest cut crease with this, or use it to apply colour to your lower lash line. Personally I’ve been loving this to apply a bit of a highlight to my inner corner (tear duct) area! This is another brush that would be really great for small, deep set, hooded, or mono lid eye shapes.

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M516 Angle Blender: (Goat hair bristles) last but not least, this angled brush is definitely a unique one. In a way it reminds me of the E4 blush brush, but it’s much smaller, and has more of a flat top. Morphe suggests using it to define the outer corner of the eye as well as contouring the nose. I do agree it is fantastic for contouring the nose, as the angled shape of the bristles hugs the sides of the nose perfectly. It can be really great for defining the outer corners of the eye, however if you do have smaller eyes or hooded I don’t think this would be the best brush for you. The shape can seem a little awkward at first, but it does hug the outer crease of the eye, and the nose very well! You could also use this for a super defined cheek contour!

Overall, I think MorpheMorphe once again did a phenomenal job with this months package. If you’re contemplating joining or thinking of gifting the subscription to someone for Christmas, I think December is the perfect month to do so, as you get the most bang for your buck! It’s free shipping to Canada and the United States.

Don’t forget, if you join through my link here, we both get a free brush!

 

*Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored in any way. But dang I wish I was* 

Morphe Me Monthly Brush Club – November Brushes

Morphe Me Monthly Brush Club – October Review

 

 

 

What I Eat In A Day for Weightloss (Plant-Based) Blogmas 2016 Day 13

| RaincoatesBeauty

My second What I Eat In A Day video consisted of lots of green skin-loving goodness! A breakfast smoothie full of anti-inflammatory skin boosting ingredients, quick snack/lunch, and creamy veggie pasta.

Once again I slept in rather late (what can I say, I’m a night owl) so I had a late breakfast. In between my snack/lunch I had some grapefruit and some cucumber, I just forgot to record it!

I hope you enjoy! Make sure to check out my new food Instagram page for daily inspiration!

(Also, this video was technically posted 44 minutes past midnight, so I know it’s late! Youtube was not cooperating, so just pretend it actually posted on the 13th!) 

Check out my previous What I Eat In A Day video here!