Baking Year Roundup

The reason why I've been MIA for so long is because I've been trapped in the kitchen. No really, these pictures will prove it.

But in all honesty, it's been many, many days since I've uploaded a post, and that's because I am back to a daily schedule and not travelling much, which is what this blog engendered from. However, I'd like to change things up in 2016, and try to blog more about my daily life, along with anything I find piquing my interest at the moment. Hopefully you'll find this blog to be more active, more content-heavy, and all around more interesting to peruse around. So without further ado, here is a compendium of my 2015 baking escapades in JPG format:

bread- (L to R: white, whole wheat, mix)

 apple crunching- crockpot apple butter, apple rose tarts w/ strawberry compote

carnival fun- funnel cake

savoury sides- cast iron cornbread, herb and garlic biscuits

freeze and bake, from home to school- chocolate chip cookies

holiday cookies- brookies, ginger molasses, rugelach

spiced nuts, cookie platter roundup

Sick days

Sick days are no fun at all. In light of the situation, however, here are six of my favourite remedies and products to help alleviate some of the pain that comes with being ill:

1. Oatmeal

Sprinkle a cup of rolled oats into your nightly bath to help soothe discomforted skin. Oats are a great way to calm down angry and dry patches, and also works as a gentle cleanser for your face: take a handful of oats, run it under lukewarm water and squeeze the excess liquid out of your palms. Then, massage the saturated oats onto your skin, focusing on parts of the face, e.g. red, dry nose, that need some particular TLC.

2. Voluspa Coconut Wax Candle- Mokara

This a light floral candle, with notes of mokara orchid, white lily and spring moss. The burn is strong enough for congested noses like mine to pick up, yet subtle and unoffensive to those sensitive to candles.

3. Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment

This thick balm has time and time again saved my nose's life! When my nose becomes dry and irritated from constant contact with tissues, I take a pea-sized amount and dab it around my nose before bed. In the morning, my nose is refreshed and ready to take on the tissues again.

4. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash- Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub

I find using bright, citrus-y cleansers particularly rejuvenating when I am ill. Additionally, using a gentle scrub is good to rid the skin of any dead skin cells. This scrub works as a two-in-one as a cleanser and light exfoliator, making my skincare process simpler when I don't have the energy to deal with too much.

5. Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX

After I cleanse my face, I look to something no fuss and simple so I can hit the hay as soon as possible. I slather a dollop of this hydrating mask onto my face, and have reassurance my skin will be good as new in the morning.

6. Water!

This needs no explanation. I use my blender bottle because the mouth cap is the perfect size for guzzling, it's portable, and I can pop in some lemon slices if I want to.