Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with "Cinnabon Icing"

When it comes to desserts, my family has a hard time agreeing on what to have. Cake, cookies, chocolate, vanilla...no one can ever seem to agree. But one sweet treat my family will always agree on is a good ole carrot cake. Granted the issue of additions comes up (raisins? walnuts? pecans? all of the above???), but in the end, everyone always loves this basic version bursting with warm, spiced carrot. I recently ramped up the icing recipe to create a seriously indulgent, A-M-A-Z-I-N-G frosting that tastes just like eating a cinnabon...I promise your friends and family will be asking you to make a giant batch of it just for them to eat straight out of the bowl!

Carrot Cake

Makes 9 large squares or 12 smaller rectangles

Ingredients:

- 1 cup flour

- 1/4 cup granulated sugar

- 1/4 cup brown sugar

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 1 tsp baking soda

- pinch of salt

- 1 heaped tbls cinnamon

- 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

- 1/2 tsp cardamom (my super special secret ingredient! Shhh...)

- 1 egg

- 1/2 cup vegetable oil

- 1 splash vanilla

- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple (roughly drained)

- 1/4 cup shredded coconut (optional)

- 1 1/2 cup grated carrot
- 1/2 cup other  additions, if desired

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°

2. Combine flour, sugars, baking powder and soda, salt cinnamon, pie spice and cardamom in a bowl.  Mix thoroughly.

3. Incorporate egg, oil and vanilla.

4. Add in pineapple, coconut and carrot, as well as additions, if using. Stir only until combined.

5. Pour mixture into greased 8 inch x 8 inch square baking pan. Bake for 40 minutes.

"Cinnabon Icing"

Ingredients:

- 250 grams cream cheese

- 1/2 cup butter

- 1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

- 1/4 tsp vanilla

- 1 tsp pineapple juice (or lemon juice)

- 1 tsp cinnamon

Method:

1. Cream all ingredients together using electric mixer/beaters.

2. Spread over cooled cake. Or eat with a spoon. Your choice.

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Easter Brunch Vegan Carrot Cake

Carrot cake for breakfast?! Yup, that's right. This Easter, I'm making cake for breakfast. This carrot "cake" actually is so moist and rich that it actually takes on more of a pumpkin pie texture and tastes AMAZING! This recipe can be made vegan by eliminating the baking soda and baking powder and, while it may not be the healthiest breakfast ever, it is still much healthier than a regular, full-fat carrot cake dripping with icing and oil. It is full of vitamin and mineral rich foods that combine into a rich, ultra-moist "cake" with the exact same flavours as the original for a delicious, decadent way to start your holiday!

I do not make an icing for this cake because I feel that icings are too sweet for breakfast, but feel free to make your own! I enjoy these little darlings with a bit of jam spread on top and some tea. What a lovely start to the holiday!

Makes one 8-inch round cake
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups oat flour (DIY by using a blender to grind whole oats into powder)
- 1 tsp baking soda (eliminate for vegan version)
- 2 tsp baking powder (eliminate for vegan version)
- dash of salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 tsp cardamom (optional)
-  1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup almond milk, plus more as needed

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Combine flour, baking soda and powder(if using), salt, and spices in a medium mixing bowl.

3. Mix in applesauce, maple syrup and honey. Thoroughly combine.

4. Stir in carrots and coconut. Pour in almond milk. Add more milk to loosen the batter, if necessary.

5. Pour mixture into an 8-inch round pan that's been greased with coconut oil. Bake for 55 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

6. Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Turn out and serve.

The moist, dense texture of this cake resembles pumpkin pie, but tastes just like carrot cake.
Pumpkin pie + carrot cake= BEST BREAKFAST EVER!!!

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Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses Floral Toner Review

Photo Credit: iHerb.com

This toner is from the 1000 Roses range of Andalou Naturals skincare. The range is recommended for sensitive skin and is based around Alpine Rose stem cells that are meant to increase skin regeneration and improve elasticity. While I'm not sure if I quite believe the science behind the supposed benefits of adding plant stem cells to beauty products, my skin DOES seem to be getting some awesome benefits from this toner.

The packaging is a 6 oz spray bottle and the cost is $13. For a natural brand, this is pretty good value for money. I really like the spray feature. I hate wasting product by saturating cotton pads with traditional pour-top toners. This way, ALL of the product you use is going directly onto your face and not the trash can.

This toner smells beautiful! It's smells (obviously!) like roses, but without being too sickly and perfumey. The mist is very fine and covers your face in only 1-2 sprays. Be careful to not to get any of the product in your eyes. I'm not sure if this only happens to me, but my lips react weirdly with rosewater and get tingly. Does anyone else ever get that? The same effect happens with this toner, but the tingling subsides after a few seconds. I let the mist mostly dry and then put on my moisturizer while my skin is still a liiiiiittle bit damp. My face is left feeling smooth, soft and hydrated. This toner contains aloe, which soothes and calms irritated, red,sensitive skin, while hyaluronic acid and pure rose water work to add moisture and lock it in.

This mist is also a great pick-me-up throughout the day when you feel stressed or in the middle of summer. Just spray one or two pumps for instant refreshment.

Andalou Naturals is a lovely brand that offers cruelty-free, natural, gluten-free, vegan(with only one or two product that are non-vegan) beauty products. All products are also non-GMO certified. Their products are available online, at many natural health stores and in the organic section of some major retailers.

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My Leg Day Workout

Here is my killer leg day workout. It's an all-rounder that works your calves, quads and hamstrings, and trust me, you will definitely feel it the next day! For weight amounts, find a manageable balance where it's comfortable enough that you are able to finish the amount of  reps in one set, but it should also be hard enough that once you hit that last rep, you're too tired to do any more! A wonderful resource for beginners is BodyBuilding.com (don't be intimidated, it's not just for super buff guys, but anyone looking to get toned up!). Beginners may want to start with 3 sets of everything, instead of 4.

Warm up:
Cardio tends to focus more on the bottom half of the body, so I like to keep it easy on leg day so I don't exhaust my legs before the workout even starts! You really just need to get the blood moving and prepare the muscles.
- Light cardio (5 minutes on bike or 10 minutes on the elliptical, working up to a moderate-high intensity)

Workout:

Machines
- 4 sets x 15 reps Leg Extensions (I hate these, so I get them out of the way first thing!) - works quads

- 4 x 15 Seated Leg Curl - hamstrings

- Leg Press supersets - calves, hamstrings, quads and glutes
   Do 1 set of each variation, one right after the other, without rest between. Rest. Repeat until all 4        supersets are complete
    - 4 x 10 normal stance
    - 4 x 10 wide stance
    - 4 x 10 narrow stance

- 4 x 15 Calf Raises -calves

- 4 x 15 Leg Extensions...again :(

- 4 x 15 Lying Leg Curls - hamstrings

Free Weights:
   Use dumbells, kettleballs, or barbells...whatever is most comfortable for you!
- 4 x 20 Weighted Walking Lunges (10 reps per leg)

- 4 x 15 "Stiff-Legged" Deadlift

- 4 x 10 Bulgarian Split Squat (5 reps per leg)

- 4 x 10 Goblet Squats

Stretch:
    Hold each stretch for 30 seconds or so. Repeat for other leg on all single leg stretches.
- Standing Hamstring - touch your toes!

- Standing Quad stretch - grab ankle and pull it to your butt

- Standing Calf stretch - put heel on a bench or mat and grab toes and pull towards you

- Seated Straddle - sit with legs open to the sides. reach forward for 30 sec. and reach over to each          side for 30 sec

- Seated Hamstring - sit with legs straight out in front and touch your toes again!


Congratulations, you're done! Remember to drink plenty of water and rest!


Disclaimer: I am not a trained fitness expert. This is merely the routine I use. What works for one person may not work for everyone. I will not be held responsible for any injuries sustained. Listen to your body. If somethings hurts or you're unsure of yourself, stop and ask for help!  
           

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Blueberry Super Smoothie

I absolutely adore this smoothie. It is super yum AND super good for you! It's so refreshing on a hot day or after a sweaty workout and gives you half of your daily recommended fruits and veg. The blueberries and gogi berries have a TON of antioxidants and the spinach is full of amazing vitamins and minerals. I love adding a few extra spoons of protein powder if I'm enjoying this after the gym. A natural property of Chia seeds is that they absorb liquid  and expand, so maybe leave them out if your not planning on drinking the smoothie straight away, otherwise it will get super thick and turn into a fruity jelly...

Makes 1 large glass or 2 small glasses to share!

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 sliced frozen banana
- 1 GIANT handful spinach
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground flax seed
- 1 tsp maca powder
- 1 tsp hemp protein powder
- 1 tsp chia seeds

Method:
Just chuck all of the ingredients into a blender and blend! Add more juice, if needed.

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Triple "S" Stir-fry

The three S's of this stir-fry are "Sweet'n'Sour'n'Spicy"! It's a simple dish that's filling and delicious, but takes less than half an hour to make. It's also an excellent way to use up leftover rice. The beautiful trio of flavours provide a rich depth to every mouthful. Balance out the flavours to your personal preference. If you like spice, add more spice. If you like sour, add more sour. Personalize it to your taste!

Makes 4 portions

Ingredients:
- drizzle of olive oil
- 1 large onion, roughly chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 4 carrots, sliced into discs
- handful of mushrooms, sliced
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- juice of 1 lime
- large drizzle of honey
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 to 1 tsp cayenne, to taste
- pinch of salt
- pinch of pepper
- 4 cups prepared rice

Method:

1. Heat the olive oil in a hot pan.

2. Toss in the onion, peppers, and carrots and cook until soft.

3. Stir in mushrooms and crushed garlic.

4. Pour in the lemon and lime juice to get some awesome sizzling action going!

5. Drizzle a spoonful or two of honey across the top of the veggies and mix in.

6. Sprinkle in the garlic, chili and cayenne powders, as well as the salt and pepper. The honey will help the spices really stick to the veg.

7. Let simmer 1-2 minutes, then serve hot over rice.

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Maybelline Great Lash Real Impact! Mascara Review

Maybelline's line of Great Lash mascaras is undoubtedly a drugstore icon. The original has been a staple in women's handbags for over half a century. I, myself, have been an addict of the little green and pink tubes for 5 years. My favourite in the collection(and trust me, I've tried them all!) is the Great Lash BIG, whose over-sized, fluffy natural brush yields full, fluttery, fanned-out lashes with serious volume! So when Maybelline brought out a new version of it called Real Impact!, I was pretty excited. Okay, super excited. Okay, I squealed like a piglet! I am definitely a mascara junkie and collect and go through tube after tube of the stuff, so there's nothing more exciting than finding a cheap, but amazing quality new mascara at the drugstore,,,without them I'd be broke. I have a problem, okay!

Here's the real impact that Real Impact! had on me(hahaha, oh so clever...)

The brush is spoolie-style with natural bristles clumped fairly closely together. It is quite skinny and long and is straight with no tapered end (making it more difficult to get the inner corner lashes). The mascara has a cream-gel formula and is made with beeswax, which Maybelline claims is gentler and less drying on lashes than traditional synthetic waxes. The colour is a shiny, deep black (shade is called Blackest Black) and very intense.

I find that, despite it's claims, the formula is still quite dry. It is very thick and clumps and flakes quite a bit, with little black specks fluttering down on my cheeks like snow by the end of the day, though I have found that this can be reduced a bit by brushing through lashes with a clean spoolie or comb after application. However, it does not smudge, but still washes away easily at the end of the day. It also does build up a lot of volume. The colour is so intense and deep that it definitely draws attention to the eyes, even with just one coat making a dramatic difference. This mascara seems like it would be a good option for people who like a lot of volume, despite having a few clumps. However, if you prefer a really smooth or natural-looking mascara, I'd recommend some of the other Maybelline Great Lash mascaras instead.

Bare lashes with light brown eyeliner

One coat of Real Impact! mascara

Two coats

All in all, it's a good volumizing mascara from the drugstore, but it flakes like snow.

-Maggie May

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Covergirl TRUNAKED Eyeshadow Palettes

One of the best new beauty products of the year so far has to be the Covergirl TRUNAKED eyeshadow palettes. Retailing at around $12.99 CAD, these little beauties are a steal! They are meant to be a drugstore dupe of the high-end, high-profile Urban Decay Naked palettes, with many nearly identical-looking shades. While the quality of a $13 eyeshadow can obviously never perfectly match up with that of a $50 eyeshadow, these rich, velvety shadows come fairly close.

There are three palettes in the range: Nudes, Goldens, and Roses. Each palette has a total of 8 shades with a mix of mattes and shimmers. The case is plastic, but fairly sturdy. If only it came with a mirror! The formula is very consistent between shades, even between the mattes and the shimmers, and the texture is a soft, creamy powder that glides over eyelids. They are ever so slightly on the powdery side, meaning there's a bit of fallout during application. However, for a drugstore eyeshadow, they are gorgeously smooth, blendable and long-wearing. The pigmentation is quite good, even for the lighter shades, and the shadows can easily be built up.

The shades are very neutral and appropriate for daytime, but can be smoked out and built up for night. My least favourite palette is the Goldens collection, as the darker shades are quite khaki-based and green doesn't suit my colouring very well (meaning: I look seriously ill!). But I'm sure it would look lovely on brown eyes! Since Spring is just around the corner, I'm really loving the soft, delicateness of the rose-gold tones in the Roses palette. My favourite thing about these shadows is that, unlike many other drugstore eyeshadow palettes, Covergirl named each individual shadow. So cute!!!

Here's a closer look at the Nudes and Roses Palettes.

The Nudes:

The Nudes Palette

Shades L-R: Buff, Shell, Champagne(sooooooo pretty!), Fawn

Shades L-R: Mink, Cocoa, Coffee, Sable

Swatches (fluorescent indoor lighting)

Swatches (overcast outdoor lighting)

The Roses:

The Roses Palette

L-R: Almond, Champagne, Baby, Rose Gold

Copper Rose(???not really coppery at all...), Dusk, Mauvergine, Mousse

Indoor lighting

Outdoor lighting

Look at that gorgeous Rose Gold(far right)!!!

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