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13 reasons to be excited about autumn

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Admitedly, I have quite mixed feelings about transitioning from summer to winter.

Yay for cosy nights at home with all the candles, all the snuggly blankets and all the hot drinks. Absolutely nay to freezing toes and fingers (mine actually turn the most charming shade of purple-ey grey at times) and night time starting at 3:30pm.

XX reasons to be excited about autumn • Cake + Whisky

That said, fall is an absolute charmer of a season.

Beautiful golden leaves, cinnamon scent and cashmere everything – there are so many reasons to be excited about autumn!

  1. Being able to drink hot tea all day, every day without anyone raising an eyebrow. Turns out you don’t get that sort of acceptance when you ask for a cup of peppermint tea in the middle of a heatwave…
  2. Not having to think about which nail colour you want. Dark red ’til Spring it is!
  3. Cashmere sweater weather (the best kind of weather). That plus black jeans/a cute skirt with black tights and boots and that’s all your fall outfits sorted.
  4. Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Need I say more?
  5. Soup being back on the menu! Super easy to make, hot, healthy, satisfying all at once – soup is just souper!
  6. Not feeling any remorse to ditch any going out plans and stay home – Comfort (carb-based) food, Netflix & chill is what chilly Autumn nights are made for!
  7. Cinnamon everything. Apple strudel, cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate, apple pie – cinnamon is the flavour of the season!
  8. New seasons of all your fave TV shows. After months with nothing better to binge than the 2500th re-run of Friends, the wait is finally over!
  9. Stew. Mashed potato. Roasted potatoes. Bolognese. Pie. Carbs are BACK! 
  10. Massive blanket-like scarves. Don’t you just love being able to use nasty air drafts as an excuse to wear a comforter around your person at all times?
  11. Squash and pumpkin – because what’s better than food you can use as decorations until it gets roasted!
  12. Putting your vast collection of deliciouly scented candles to good use. Apple pie & cinnamon cookie candles, it’s your time to shine!
  13. It FINALLY being socially appropriate to talk about Christmas. I’ve been ready since July, but y’a know, the rest of the world wasn’t quite on board with discussing wrapping theme and festive cocktails just yet!

What makes you excited about autumn? Are you a jumping-in-the-golden-leaves or a cuddle-up-with-a-good-book kind of person?

13 reasons to be excited about autumn • Cake + Whisky

More fall-spiration

Autumnal quinoa salad (V)

Pumpkin Spice Latte pancakes (V)

The best carrot cake recipe (V)

The perfect night in in 5 steps

Halloween monster brookies (V)

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13 reasons to be excited about autumn

7 Silver Linings to Being in a Long Distance Relationship

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Last week was a bit tough on me as I had to say goodbye to my boyfriend who is going away for a few months.

Let’s get this right: being in a long distance relationship SUCKS. Unfortunately, I know far too much about that already.

Long Distance Silver Linings | Cake + Whisky

It sucks that you can’t go out for dinner together, that you don’t get to see each other every day, that you might not even be able to talk as often as you might want to. It sucks that you no longer get to do all the little things.

But there definitely are some silver linings as well…

1. Goodbyes usually come with a side of really, really good food.

Long distance relationship silver lining #1: goodbyes usually include really really good food.

Best bread I’ve had in a long time. Well played @mobalondon!

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Dinner in your favourite restaurant(s) and enough chocolate to last you until Christmas are only the beginning. But more on that later this week…

2. All the presents!  Goodbye presents, Welcome back presents… Basically like Christmas but better!

Working from home with this little fellow by my side. And by working, I totally mean trying to find the perfect name for him… What do you reckon? ?

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I mean just look at him, isn’t he just the CUTEST?

Found my cryptonite. Somebody please take those away from me. ??

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Also, those! ❤❤❤

3. Not going to the restaurant that often anymore might actually be a good thing for your ongoing “healthy eating” plans.

Cake + Whisky | Bahn-Mi inspired Vietnamese Prawn Salad

Sure, I’ll probably miss having fries three times a week but it probably is better that way. Vegetable and nice home-cooked meals FTW!

4. Nobody’s judging your poor TV-choices.

Gossip Girl GIF

Gossip Girl marathon? Disney movie sing-along? America’s Next Top Model binge-watching? Yes, yes and YES!

5. Sleeping in the middle of the bed.

‘No sleep. I go days without sleep.’ #whoamikidding #sleepyhead #disneyquotes

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Guest who doesn’t have to keep pulling on the blanket all night?

6. You can eat whatever YOU want for dinner.

My favourite squash soup recipe | Cake + Whisky

Helloooooooo pumpkin soup and bread roll! I know I probably shouldn’t be that excited but that’s what living with someone who doesn’t consider soup an acceptable dinner will do to you!

7. Buying Christmas presents is MUCH easier when you’re not together 24/7.

Somebody get me these socks!! #Christmas @johnlewisretail

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So maybe this year I WON’T give away too many clues and it will ACTUALLY be a surprise!

8. Making plans for when you next see each other is simply THE BEST.

Yes the best thing about not being together is definitely seing the light at the end of the tunnel and making plans for when you’ll next get to spend time together. #duh

Speaking of which… any absolute musts besides Champagne and chocolates? 

7 Silver Linings to Being in a Long Distance Relationship

25 before 25

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I’m not the kind of person who love birthdays. Or actually, I love them when it’s somebody else’s (because it gives me a good excuse to bake cakes and write cards and wrap presents and do all the things I love).

Cake + Whisky | Another Birthday
A previous birthday party of mine (and the definite proof I shouldn’t be a fashion blogger!)

I’m, however, not quite as good at dealing with my own birthday. I have this weird thing with presents, and I definitely don’t know how to deal with surprises.Oh, and I don’t quite like the ‘I’m so oooooold’ feeling (even if I probably shouldn’t worry about this too much as I’m still being asked for IDs in most places…).

But this year’s a big one as I’m going to be turning 25 in 4 months. I can hardly believe it, it’s like each year is shorter than the one before. So I thought I’d make it a bit less crazy/scary by setting myself 25 goals to reach before my birthday (so I feel like I’ve done things with my life etc etc…).

Food

1. Eat at Duck & WaffleCake + Whisky | Duck & Waffle | London04/05/2015: I was told to order the signature Duck & Waffle dish and it did not disappoint.

2. Make jam (pinapple-rum-vanilla IS a winning combination, in case you were wondering!)

3. Eat jellyfish (what do you say, yay or yuck?)

4. Make pickled turnipsCake + Whisky | Lebanese pickles

5. Make falafels at home (Can you feel the Lebanese feast coming?)

6. Poach eggs (it’s just ridiculous how long I’ve postponned that!)

7. Go to Street Feast

8. Cook at least one recipe from all of my cookbooks

9. Have really good sushi (it’s been too long!)

10. Have dinner in a gastropub (see #9)Cake + Whisky | Pig & Butcher, Islington25/04/2015: Excellent cod brandade (and overall meal) at The Pig and Butcher

11. Write another “5 healthy recipes” article Cake + Whisky | 5 lunchbox ideas | Mexican Chicken Salad15/06/2015: 5 new recipes including this delicious Mexican-ispired chicken salad!

London

12. Book tickets to The Lion King

13. Go to Greenwich

14. Go to the V&A

Self-Care

15. Keep up with daily abs exercise for 1 month

16. Fit in my jean shorts again

17. Get a pedicure

18. De-clutter my wardrobe

19. and my kitchen cupboards!

20. Get tested for HIV (not fun, I hate bloodtests!)

21. Read 10 books (any recommendations?) Sofar I’ve read: Une Page d’Amour, Emile Zola; La Faute de l’Abbé Mouret, Emile Zola; 1984, George Orwell; The 13 problems, Agatha Christie; Not that kind of girl, Lena Dunham (5/10)

Random

22. Travel to somewhere I’ve never been I’m going to the US at the end of June! Wooo!

23. Give a talk

24. Learn how to use the manual settings on my camera

25. Organise something special to celebrate being 1/4-of-a-century old!

What do you want to achieve this year? Anything exciting? Let me know!

25 before 25

New-ins February 2015

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I think I’ve been rather good in February. At least as far as shopping is concerned (because if we’re talking eating out, is a completely different story!). Here are the happy few that I’ve picked up last month!

sndguerin-new-ins-february-2015

 

1. Caudalie Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet: My absolute skincare essential. I already raved about it in my 10 beauty favourites of all time article and I still love it just as much.

2. Repetto Cendrillon ballerinas: They were my dream shoes and they’re now mine *little dance of happiness* Now, I might want them in every single colour there is (aka. a lot)…

3. Accessorize socks: Or the cutest things I’ve ever put on my feet. I also have the tiger ones and the koala ones btw… Is that what they call an addiction?

4. Sephora twizzers: I lost my former beloved ones (drama). So I got new ones. Sometimes, life is no more complicated than that. They’re not pink as the old ones 😦 but I suppose bright yellow is good for Spring too!

5. Hotel du Chocolat Whisky truffles: Those little wonders were part of what I gave my boyfriend for Valentine’s day. I’m not even sure I got to taste one, so you better get some for yourself as well if you’re planning to gift them!

6. Philips juicer: Very powerful new kitchen stuff there! I’m still experimenting with it… Any juice recipe I absolutely must try?

What has joined your cupboards in February? I’m always looking for shopping inspiration!

New-ins February 2015

What you don’t see / Last week in my life #4

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Cake and Whisky LWIML#4

What you don’t see / Last week in my life #4

My 10 beauty favourites of all time.

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When it comes to beauty products, I am very much a creature of habit. Many because my skin has a bit of a temper and strongly reacts ever single time I try out something new (until it gets used to it, that is). So I almost never get around to try new things, unless some of my favourites get discontinued (end of the world). I would be the worst beauty blogger ever.

sndguerin-10-all-times-fav-beauty-products

But i figured that, since thy’ve served me so well for such a long time, it was about time I pay a tribute to 10 beauty products I love (and cross everything that they never ever stop being sold!)

1. Eau de Parfum, Chloé: I fell in love 5 years ago, when I was looking for a “signature” scent. My skin being acidic, a lot of perfumes don’t stay on me/ start smelling funny after a few minutes (sexyyy!). But not this one, thanks god!

2. Moisture-rich Body Lotion, Clarins: Rich but gets absorbed SO quickly and doesn’t leave your skin sticky/oily. THE most decadent body moisturizer ever. It doesn’t come cheap, but is worth every penny.

3. Le Vernis Rouge Noir (#18), Chanel: It has the most fantastic colour. I’ve worn it all winter and I’m still not bored of it. I smile every single time I look at my nails. #InLove

4. Exfoliating gel, Lexel Paris: THE BEST exfoliating gel I have EVER tried. And I’ve tried A LOT. And it smells DIVINELY good. The only issue being that it’s quite difficult to find on this side of the Chanel.

5. Aqua Smoky Lash mascara, Make Up For Ever: Make-Up Forever has FINALLY made it to London. Which means I won’t have to cry on the phone to get my mum to send me this little wonder! *little dance of happiness*

6. Make Up Remover Oil, Mixa: I’ve never really liked water cleasing lotions (is it just me or do other people feel like their skin is left weirdly sticky?), and since I wear waterproof mascara (see above), oil makes a lot more sense for me anyway. I love this one because it smells so nice (a rose-y sort of thing), but it’s not sold in the UK, so I’m probably going to try out the L’Occitane one once I finish my stocks.

7. Vinosource Moisturizing Sorbet, Caudalie: The only face moisturizer that doesn’t turn my combination skin into a complete mess. The texture is somewhat odd (more like a serum than a moisturizer), but it works for me.

8. C me smile Lip Butter, Yes to Carrots: Everyone needs some lip balm in their life. I have tried many (I went through a lip balm collection phase at some point), but this is the one I’d buy immediately if I ever were to run out (not happening any time soon though!).

9. Sephora Twizzers: I can’t live without twizzers. So much so that when in my first year of uni, we had to bring along the one thing we couldn’t live without for one of my German conversation classes, I brought twizzers along. Back then, I had pink ones, but they died a tragic death. So I bought the exact same ones in yellow and now my life is back in track!

10. Stay Matte Powder, Rimmel: It keeps the skin perfectly matte for hours without having to worry about re-applying any. Oh, and it’s cheap as chips too (especially if like me, you take advantage of some crazy offers!).

What are the beauty products you can’t live without? Anything I absolutely must try? 

My 10 beauty favourites of all time.

What you don’t see / Last week in my life #3

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sndguerin-LWIML#3

What you don’t see / Last week in my life #3

What you don’t see/ Last week in my life #2

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What you don’t see/ Last week in my life #2

What you don’t see / Last week in my life #1

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sndguerin-LWIML#1

  • Coconut chia pudding, Hema’s packaging genius, snow (?), exibitions, socks and much more on my Instagram. Want to know what you’re missing? Follow me @sndguerin! 
  • Fascinating read! 24h in Duck and Waffle, the restaurant that never sleeps
  • Are all eggs large and butter always unsalted?
  • Somebody help me, I’m completely hooked!
  • I’ve been watching a bit too much of The Mentalist lately… But Simon Baker’s just too cute!
  • So, so, SO happy to see The Theory of Everything got the recognition it deserves in the BAFTAs and Golden Globes. Keeping my fingers crossed for the Academy Awards. Eddie Redmayne is truly incredible in it, and if you haven’t yet, you should go see it.
  • Loved Dara Vandor’s work at the currently running Lingerie Draw/er exhibition at The South Place Hotel. Delicate pen drawing and beautiful lingerie art, right down my aisle I have to admit! If you’re around, go take a look!
What you don’t see / Last week in my life #1

New-ins January 2015

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So, it’s been a month or so since I’ve last posted here. Sorry about that. The truth is, January has been a bit crazy and I simply haven’t had a second to breathe (or write). But the good news is, I did give a bit of a thought to what I want this blog to become, so let’s give it a go!

January has been filled with shopping trips of all sorts (because, well, sales!), so I thought I’d make a little recap’ of all those new things that have made an appearance in my life lately!

I’ve been reading a lot on “capsule wardrobes” lately and I find them absolutely fascinating, but I don’t know if I’m quite ready to take the idea on just now, so I thought as a first step, these “new-ins” posts will help me keep track of what I buy. Baby steps.

jan2015

1. This pink Jigsaw sweater is one of my latest obsessions. I’d been looking for that shade of dusty pink for ages, and now it’s finally mine! Not that it diminishes the obsession, ooooh no! And it’s still on sale in case you want one for yourself!

2. I wasn’t sure whether to get this Moleskine make-your own London guide, but who was I kidding, this is just up my aisle!  So handy to keep track of all the restaurants I want to visit, and to hand out to my friends when they visit! You can get a closer look at it here. (and YES, I am planning on getting a few more of those some time soon…)

3. I have finally come ’round to trying Rimmel’s Stay Matte powder and I’m loving it! It really helps my skin stay matte (good job with the name there, marketing folks!) and it’s such a bargain, I don’t think I’ll try something else ever again!

4. World breaking news! I have found leather black ankle boots, they don’t hurt my feet and I’ll all in love with them! Want the same ones?

5. Hardly a discovery for anyone on this planet but me, conditioner actually makes a difference! (crazy, I know!) Yay for silky-soft hair either you’ve realised that long ago, or if (like me), you’ve been stubborn enough not to try it until now!

6. Real Techniques‘ brushes are not the cheapest of the bunch, but they’re SO soft. I “invested” in their eye-shadow brush and can now happily apply my one and only (see why I’m no beauty blogger huh?) eye-shadow every morning with something other than my finger! Yipee!

What have you been up to in January? Any last-minute sale I can’t miss out on? Let me know!

New-ins January 2015