"Pumpkin Soup" - The best winter warmer

My favourite winter warmer is pumpkin soup, it's easy to make and all ingredients are readily available at the local supermarket.

Things you'll need:

1 Butternut Pumpkin, chopped
1 Large Brown Onion, sliced
2-3 Bay Leaves
1/4 Tspn Nutmeg
2L Chicken Stock

Preparation:

Cook pumpkin in stock with spices until soft. Strain the pumpkin but make sure to save the stock (remove the bay leaves). Puree the pumpkin and onion, then sieve to make sure it's fine. Add Bechamel sauce and some stock until required consistency is reached.

Garnish with Crouton, a dollop of sour cream and chives.



For Bechamel Sauce:

60g Butter, chopped
1/3 cup Plain Flour
41/2 cups Milk
75g Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
1/4 Tspn Salt
Pinch of Nutmeg

Preparation:

Melt butter in saucepan over medium high until foaming, add flour. Cook, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from heat, slowly add milk whisking constantly until the mixture is smooth. Return to heat and continue to stir with a wooden spoon for around 11-13 minutes or until the mixture comes to a boil. You know it's done when the mixture coats the back of the spoon. Remove from heat and stir in parmesan, salt and nutmeg.

I hope you enjoy it as much as i do.. Happy Eating!!

getting ready for spring

You know it's time to put away those heavy woollen cardigans when the weather begins to look a little brighter, and all you see is greenery around but finding new spring outfit ideas can be a bit of a task as the weather is still cool.

This is when we usually suffer from "dresser's block" (like writer's block).

It all comes down to creativity when picking out outfits from your closet. All you have to do is think a little out of the box, your wardrobe will probably already have those perfect items that won't break the bank, so looking spectacular this season should be a cake walk.

A simple white t-shirt, jeans and jacket (be it linen or leather), throw on a scarf to add that subtle pop of colour, and not forgetting a pair of flats or heels (day or night). Most importantly accessorise with a nice handbag and sunglasses.

                       

TOO FACED SEMI-SWEET CHOCOLATE BAR PALETTE REVIEW

This palette is exactly what you'd expect from Too Faced, beautiful warm tones and highly pigmented. There are 16 eyeshadows, the packaging is similar to the original Chocolate Bar Palette, magnetic closure and is slightly thinner. This palette consists of 8 shimmering shades, 7 matte shades and 1 iridescent shade.

The matte shades are buttery soft and apply evenly. The glitter in the shimmer shades are finely milled and apply quite similar to the matte ones. The iridescent one looks beautiful when applied as an overcoat.

The shades are listed below with swatches.

L-R Licorice, Coconut Creme, Nougat, Truffled, Hot Fudge

L-R Cocoa Chili, Pink Sugar, Puddin', Blueberry Swirl, Peanut Butter, Frosting

L-R Rum Raisin, Mousse, Caramel, Bon Bon, Butter Pecan

It retails for $65 and is available at Mecca Maxima.

Getting your toddler to adjust to the new born

I remember watching my friend's toddler struggle with adjusting to the new baby, and that was the moment I decided to try things differently if and when I did have kids of my own.

And then d-day arrived, I was pregnant with my second child. The first person we spoke to was our 3 year old daughter, and she looked at us weird like "what are you on about?".

I knew I had just a bit under 9 months to get her used to the idea of loving someone smaller than herself and sharing her mum and dad. I started involving her in all my doctor appointments and ultra sounds (the look of amazement on her face said I was doing it right).

Talking to her about the baby was really important and making sure she knew that she was still my little girl. Gradually her excitement grew as did my belly, she loved placing her hands and feeling the baby kick. When family or friends would come over, she'd be all excited to let them know all about the baby. Somehow I felt reassured that things were going well with our little girl.

Finally it was time to introduce her to her baby brother, she had the biggest smile on her face and asked if she could take him out to play.

Since then they have been the best of friends, and of course like all siblings do, they fight like cat and dog.

So all I would say to parents is don't be afraid to involve your toddler, they are very smart little beings. Your new born doesn't actually need you for the first few months other than to be fed, burped and changed, so use this time to get closer to your toddler and show him/her that things haven't changed. Give him/her those special cuddles more often. All they need is that little reassurance that you're still there for them.

My favourite Nudes

I love a good nude lipstick, why you ask? Because it's just like your lips but better and makes them look fuller! It is always flattering and appropriate for any occasion. I think it's the equivalent to the LBD.

But finding the perfect shade that suits your skin tone is tricky, either it's too pale or sheer or matte or the smell puts you off.

I've put together 5 nude lipsticks and swatches from drug store and high end brands below:

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1. Too Faced Melted Chihuahua    2. MAC Modesty   3. Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencil 630 Nude Perfection   4. MAC High Tea   5. Revlon 035 Blush                    

L-R MAC High Tea, Revlon Blush, MAC Modesty, Maybelline Nude Perfection, Melted Chihuahua

XOXO
Corinne