Battle of the Holiday Bulge - My Tips on Avoiding Weight Gain

It's that time of the year again when many of us gorge on deliciously decadent food and spend our free time indoors, lazing on the couch watching movies, entertaining with family and friends, or doing not much at all. As a result, we tend to put on some extra pounds during the Holiday season. For some this is just a part of the deal, but it doesn't have to be. You can still enjoy the Holidays without getting completely derailed from your diet and workout routine, without having to deny yourself every sweet indulgence.

I put together a video with my own tips and ideas how you can strike a balance between enjoying yourself and eating Holiday goodies, without packing on the pounds. If you're interested, check it out!

Or watch directly on Youtube

Sugar Plum Fairy Christmas Look

Tchaikovsky's  The Nutcracker was the inspiration behind this holiday makeup, namely the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. I wanted to create a look inspired by red-toned plum shades, mixed with shimmery light gold and some glitter for a bit of festive sparkle. I hope you enjoy this look! Happy Holidays everyone!

Face & Cheek

Lancome Teint Idole foundation, Urban Decay Glide-On Cheek Tint in Fetish, Kryolan Glamour Sparks Nr. 5

Eyes

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk, Inglot AMC Shine 30, MAC Cranberry, Inglot DS 494, Catrice black gel eyeliner, Lit Cosmetics Twisted Sistah glitter, Lit Cosmetics Clearly Liquid Glitter base, L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara

Lips

MAC Myth lipstick, MAC Date Night Dazzleglass

Nails

OPI Merry Midnight

Earrings

Talullah Tu 

Watch the video on Youtube directly

Cranberry-Orange Cheesecake Recipe

I tried out a new recipe for cheesecake and I absolutely loved how it turned out! This cheesecake was so incredibly delicious. I made it for a dinner party with 6 guests, and everyone loved it. It's so perfect for upcoming holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and makes for a beautiful presentation.

Crust

• 1 9-ounce box chocolate wafer cookies, crumbled
• 2 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, grated
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• dash of cinnamon

Filling

• 4 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature (about 900g)
• 1 cup sugar (200g)
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 4 large eggs
• grated peel from 2 oranges
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-2 tablespoons orange liqueur (like Grand Manier) or brandy 

Topping

• 1/2 cup sugar (100g)
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
• 2 1/2 cups fresh cranberries (500-600g)
• 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
• 1-2 tablespoons Cranberry liqueur (optional)

For crust:
Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Finely grind cookies and chocolate in processor. Add cinnamon, then butter; blend until moist clumps form. Using plastic wrap as aid, press crumb mixture onto bottom and 1 1/4 inches up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Bake until set, about 8 minutes. Cool completely. 

For filling:
Increase oven temperature to 350°F (175°C). Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until light. Beat in flour. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, just until blended. Beat in orange peel, liqueur, and vanilla. 

Pour filling into crust. Bake the cheesecake in a waterbath, or slide a roasting tray of water underneath the cake form. Bake until filling is just set in center but still moves slightly, about 1 hour. Turn off oven, place wooden spoon into the oven door to allow the heat to escape slowly, and let the cheesecake cool fully. Then cover and chill overnight. 

For topping:
Stir sugar and water in medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium; add cornstarch mixture and bring to simmer. Add cranberries; cook until beginning to pop, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Stir in orange peel and cranberry liqueur. Cool completely. Cover and chill overnight. (Cheesecake and cranberry topping can be made a day ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

Run knife around top edge of cheesecake to loosen. Release pan sides. Top cheesecake with cranberries and serve immediately.

Scarlett Johansson Holiday inspired look

I love this picture of Scarlett in the Dolce & Gabbana fragrance ad for The One, and I thought it would make a great holiday look. Whether it be for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah or any other holidays you celebrate in the winter season, I always think red lips are so perfect for special occasions. I also think this is a more modern way to wear red lips, without doing the 50s pin-up throw-back.

Face
Lancome Teint Idole foundation mixed with Neutrogena Healthy Skin, Makeup Forever Lift concealer, Ben Nye Natural blush, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Shimpagne

Eyes
MAC Bamboon Paint, Catrice Go Charlie Brown, MAC Soft Brown, Ben Nye Apricot, MAC All That Glitters, MAC Vanilla, Lancome Crayon Kohl 02 Brun, NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk, MAC Solar White, Max Factor Natural Glaze kohl pencil, Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara

Lips
MAC Red Enriched lipliner, Sleek Pout Paint in Pin Up

Nails
Catrice - New York

Watch the video on Youtube

Edgy and Bold New Year's Eve Makeup

This sculpted and fashion-forward makeup look is very dramatic but perfect for New Year's Eve parties, or dancing the night away at a dark club. This look is both dark but very defined; the inner part of the eyelid has a metallic, shimmering finish that adds a nice highlight.

Eyes

MAC Paint in Untitled, Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Zero, Maybelline white kohl pencil, MAC eyeshadows in Carbon, Copperplate, Ben Nye Toast, Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge, Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Ore, MAC Spiked brow pencil, Maybelline Natural Glaze kohl pencil, MAC Nr. 42 lashes

Face
Nars Sheer Glow foundation in Mont Blanc, Lancome Maquillecomplet concealer in Ivory, Barry M Natural Dazzle bronzer, Alverde powder

Lips
P2 Rodeo Drive lipstick

Nails
Barry M Cyan Blue

Chocolate Mint Candies Cookies

These cookies are soooo good! I've made them twice now in December and each time they came out perfectly. They are fairly easy to make and are a perfect combination of chocolate and mint.

Ingredients

(Makes about 24 - 30 cookies)

• 3/4 cup butter (170g)
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar (220g) (read my note below)
  
• 2 tablespoons water (30ml)
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips/baking chocolate (335g)
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (310g)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda (6g)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (3g)
• 3 (4.5 ounce) packages chocolate covered thin mints such as After Eights (378g)

Directions

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar, butter and water, stirring occasionally until melted. Remove from heat, stir in the chocolate chips until melted and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Pour the chocolate mixture into a large bowl, and beat in the eggs, one at a time. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll cookie dough into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, be careful not to overbake. When cookies come out of the oven, Press one mint wafer into the top of each cookie and let sit for 1 minute. When the mint is softened, swirl with the back of a spoon or toothpick to make a pattern with the green filling of the mint wafer

Note: The only changes that I made from the above recipe is that I reduced the sugar in half because I found it way too sweet, and added a few teaspoons of brandy to the batter.

Gold Sparkle Holiday Look

I love this look for the holidays, gold and red are my favorite Christmas colors. I often wrap my presents with gold gift wrap paper and red ribbons, it's a timeless classic that will never go out of style for this time of year. I wanted to incorporate those colors in this look, so I focused on gold glitter and ruby red lips.

Face
Revlon Colorstay foundation in Ivory, MAC MSF in Shimpagne, Ben Nye Latte blush

Eyes
MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot, MAC Soft Brown e/s, Ben Nye Aztec Gold e/s, Ben Nye Iced Gold e/s, Essence glitter liner in Gold, Cinema Secrets Hollywood Glitz in Oscar, L'Oreal Super Liner in Carbon Gloss, Max Factor Natural Glaze kohl pencil, Red Cherry Lashes Nr. 47,

Lips
MAC Red Enriched lipliner, Illamasqua Maneater lipstick, MAC Red Romp Lipglass (LE)


Nailpolish
China Glaze - Cowgirl Up

Holiday Giftwrap Nail art tutorial

 

Aren't these nails just so festive and perfect for the holidays? I got so many compliments from people when I wore these nails, asking me what nail salon I go to. Nail salon?? Pshaw! Get out some brushes and let the creative juices flow.

Products used:

China Glaze Emerald Sparkle and Ruby Pumps nailpolish
Essence Tip Painter in White
rhinestones (craft store)
Seche Vite topcoat

Gilded Cranberry Holiday Look

I just love the holidays! November and December have so many great events coming up, be it for Christmas, Thanksgiving, St. Nicholaus Day or other traditions you may celebrate. This golden cranberry colored look would be perfect for any of these settings when you want to look extra festive but also glamorous and pretty. Hope you like it!

Face
Nars Sheer Glow foundation in Mont Blanc

Eyes
MAC Paint Pot Rubenesque, MAC Gold Mode pigment, MAC Cranberry, MAC Handwritten, MAC Fairylight pigment, Maybelline Express white pencil liner, MAC Solar White, Illamasqua Precision Ink in Alchemy, Lancome Artliner in black, Red Cherry lashes Nr. 47, Duo adhesive, Max Factor False Lash effect mascara

Cheeks
MAC Cream Color Base in Hush, MAC Shimpagne MSF, MAC Stereo Rose MSF

Lips
MAC Hue lipstick, MAC Wonderstruck Lustreglass

Nails
A nail tutorial is coming up soon so stay tuned!

Link to the video

Holiday Gift Guide

I've put together a video of some great makeup gifts that you can put on your wishlist, or get for other people interested in makeup and cosmetics. These include some of my favorite products, and other great offers I've been able to find for you on various websites. All stores except MAC, Sephora, Body Shop, and maybe Lush ship worldwide - please see their country specific websites to find out if they ship to where you live. I cannot answer questions regarding shipping of any store mentioned. I've made sure to include gift ideas for all price categories, starting at about $2 and going up from there! So you can be sure to find some stocking stuffer ideas as well.


Urban Decay Book of Shadows, Smashbox palette, Lash Stash Sampler, Stila Lip Glaze Collection all from Sephora stores or:
http://sephora.com/

Handmade Makeup brush rolls:
http://www.etsy.com/ (Various sellers, search for "brush roll" or "cosmetic roll")

Lipsmackers:
Most drugstores / pharmacies in North America

Body Shop Body Butters:
http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/ (they have country specific websites too)

Crown Brushes:
http://crownbrush.com/
http://www.crownbrush.co.uk/

MAC Cosmetics:
MAC Counters at Nordstrom or Macy's, freestanding stores, or online through country-specific websites
http://www.maccosmetics.com/

Lush Cosmetics:
http://www.lush.com/

NYX Cosmetics:
http://www.nyxcosmetics.com (USA only)
http://www.shopcraze.com/
http://www.mscuppycakes.com/

Ben Nye Grande Lumiere palette:
http://bubbasikes.com/supersavers.html
http://sillyfarm.com/

Generic makeup palettes from China:
http://stores.ebay.ch/jolieeeeeboutique
http://stores.ebay.ch/abestlife

Brush Guard:
http://www.thebrushguard.com/

Happy Holiday shopping!

xoxo,
Julia