Sunday's Breakfast: Orange and Dark Chocolate Buttermilk Scones

Ever since I saw the recipe for these scones on Joy the Baker I knew I had to try them. I’ve never made or eaten scones before so I didn’t really know what to expect and made them anyway. They surely were a change from our usual breakfast but to be honest, I find them more suiting for tea just because they’re sooo rich. Even for me there was just too much butter involved for a breakfast. But the orange and dark chocolate combination tastes amazingly well so it was well worth the extra calories. ^^

See below some photos I took during the process and go here to find the recipe.

Have a good Sunday!

Jewelry by Aurélie Bidermann: simple yet beautiful

One of my recent obsessions are jewelry boxes. I kind of still regret not having bought this mirrored Zara Home jewelry box I saw in Amsterdam, but I couldn't ignore this : "Why do you need to store your cheap metal jewelry in a box?" Valid question! Since I didn't have an answer to that, my cheapo H&M accessories are still unorganized and I am dreaming of Aurélie Bidermann's simple yet cute and bold pieces...

"Heart" ring, gold

"Body" Necklace, gold plated

"Venenum" ring, gold plated

Thursday's Beauty post: time for a manicure

What girl doesn’t love getting her nails done at a salon?
I sure do, but I’ll treat myself to a salon manicure only few times a year and do the rest myself. I’m definitely not a pro and still smudge when applying nail polish but nevertheless I wanted to share with you some products I use every couple of days.

I start by applying a tiny bit of Sally Hansen’s cuticle remover and push the cuticles back with a rosewood stick. Next I’m using this manicure scrub which I got it at a local shop and am currently on my second bottle (it lasts a looong time). It smells very pleasant and makes your hands really soft as a baby's. Sometimes I also cut my excess cuticles with a cuticle scissor
because I think well-trimmed cuticles make for a more finished appearance.

A couple of months my nails started to peel and I couldn’t grow them at all. That’s when I did some research and found out about NailTek base and top coats and ever since they have become holy grail products I’m never going to stop using. My nails grow without peeling or breaking! The product on the left is applied as a base coat, next are two coats of your color nail polish and to finish off a top coat of the product on the right. This one is applied everyday (1 coat) for seven days until you renew your manicure. In my case it’s never seven days because I change my nail polish quicker. (The color of the top coat is clear but mine turned pinkish because I often use red nail polish.)

This OPI polish (Jade is the new black) is the one I have currently on my nails. Just like the Nailtek products I buy OPI nail polishes on ebay.

This little brush pen is supposed to strengthen your nails and make them grow faster. To be honest I couldn’t see an improvement and wouldn’t purchase it again. I only apply it around my cuticles and under the nails occasionally.

Do you also give yourself a home manicure? If so, what are your favorite products?

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: creative work space

Having enough trouble getting started as it is, a depressing home office would make me even lazier than I already am. That's why I love bright, iniviting work spaces that actually would make you want to sit there and work/study etc.

In our new apartment we have a separate room for my desk and my sisters sewing machine and I collected the images below as decoration inspiration.

An inspiration board filled with pictures, motivational quotes and curiosities is an absolute necessity for me. You'll notice that there is an inspiration board/wall of some kind in every office picture I've collected.

Source:

1./2./ 4. The Decorista
3. Made by Girl
5. ?
6. Desire to Inspire
7./8./9. Decor8

Silk

Some ideas to fill your closet with silk garments... because in my opinion, a girl can't have enough of them!

(From left to right):
1. Chloé silk-crèpe shirt
2. Topshop Green Silk Wing Front Tee
3. Kelly Bergin Silk Chiffon T-shirt
4. Rag & Bone Summer Sion Blouse
5. Apiece Apart Textured Silk Tank
6. Equipment silk shirt


Source (1.photo):
Vanessa Jackman

Monday's Inspiration: “If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” J.M Power

Source:

Photo of my cat Lilly, private
Words: weheartit

Sunday treat

I could have made an incredibly healthy breakfast with these.. Blueberries are, as you probably know, packed with vitamins and anti-oxidants and can help reduce belly fat. I wouldn’t suggest to follow my lead if you want to make your tummy flatter but if you want to make it happier, then read on…

I can’t think of many things that are more blissful than taking time to prepare and savour a weekend breakfast whilst sipping on freshly brewed coffee. Instead of preparing a smoothie or fruit salad I opted for blueberry pancakes. I rarely stick to a particular pancake recipe so this time I used this one and simply added some fresh blueberries.

I get slightly nervous when I run out of maple syrup, I just love it that much! Be it on top of crunchy fruit müslis or pancakes...

Our new kitchen needed to be celebrated with new supplies: French Press and fancy double wall glasses by Bodum.

Have a nice Sunday everyone!

In a rut

I’m aware that this look quite resembles MiJi’s last outfit but I have to admit that I can’t put much thought into what I’m wearing these days, so apologies in advance. I wore this to the university then changed into heels in the evening to attend a pre-shopping event of the re-vamped Schild store in Zurich. It was a well organized event with yummy food, drinks and music. Hop over to Stilblog, which is written by lovely fellow blogger Larissa, to see more impressions of the evening.

Ring: from a shop in Istanbul Clutch: vintage

Parka & Trousers: H&M Beige jumper: Mango Pink blouse: 4you

Ankle boots: Zara

Thursday's Beauty Post: Bright lips

"Orange is part of the tropical family and therefore can be worn with other colours including fuchsia, blues and reds. The ultimate summer look however is quite bare – simply team your orange lipstick with liquid eyeliner and a strong mascara”

Jamie Coombes, national make-up artist for Dior

Yves Saint Laurent Pure Lipstick No.21 Orange Sari
Calvin Klein Delicious Luxury Creme Lipstick - #112 Orange Too
Lancome Color Fever Lip Color
Anna Sui, Sui Rouge G
NARS Semi-Matte Lipstick - Heat Wave
Beauty Is Life Lipstick - Orange 12

Guerlain, KissKiss Lipstick #560 Pushy Pink
Bobbi Brown
Yves Saint Laurent, Rouge Volupté, Orange Shiver
Lancome, Fever Shine
By Terry, Rouge Terrybly #301 Pink Party
Yves Saint Laurent, Rouge Pure Shine Sheer Lipstick #31 Tuxedo Pink

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: Alexander Wang's apartment

Source: 1,4,5: This is glamorous via The Decorista
2,3: weheartit

Thursday's beauty post: my skincare routine

I’ve been using Avène products for about two years now and am really satisfied with the results this skincare line offers. After having used many different, more expensive brands I’ve settled with the French pharmacy products which are relatively inexpensive in Switzerland.

The Cleanance series is specially made to meet the needs of blemish-prone, oily skin:

From left to right:
Thermal water spray, Cleanance purifying anti-shine toner, Cleanance soapless gel cleanser, Cleanance-K moisturizer

I use the gel cleanser in the morning and evening; it foams up nicely and leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean but I think it could be a bit too drying for those with drier skin.

The purifying anti-shine toner which is applied right afterwards needs to be shaken before use (you can see the powder at the bottom of the bottle). I like this so much more than Clinique toners (which I’ve used for many years) since it doesn’t give me stinging or irritation but still helps to keep the shininess at bay during the whole day.

The Cleanance-K gel moisturizer has slighty exfoliating ingredients and is the only product of the line I don’t use twice a day. I feel like it gets the job done in the T-zone but for my cheeks and some other drier parts I use another moisturizer. I just have the feeling it doesn’t give me the hydration I need but protects me from breakouts in other zones so I always have a tube around.

The huge thermal water spray on the leftside of the picture is pure love, that’s why I have the large one at home and a small one in my purse. It has so many uses: before going to bed I top my skincare off with a mist of this thermal water to soothe my skin, in the mornings I spray it on top of freshly applied makeup; this makes it more lasting in the long run but also instantly leaves you with a bit more „lived-in“ look, meaning you don’t look unnaturally matte if you like to fix your liquid makeup with powder like I do.

I can’t say that my skin is perfect now but this line definitely helped me a lot to deal with my skin problems.

Have you tried any Avène products? What does your skincare routine look like?

Wednesday's Interior Decoration Inspiration: modified ikea lamp

It’s Wednesday again so this means I’ll be sharing new interior decoration ideas with you. I’m still in the process of settling in and having everything sorted but I already feel at home in our new apartment. In this post I’d like to share with you a do-it-yourself idea my sister did for her new room. Click here to find the instructions on how to do it (Design*Sponge has sooo many more, great source of inspiration for the crafty ones).

Lilly, our cat, always wants to "help" when my sister gets crafty but obviously I’m no help at all. I have even trouble cutting out felt circles... But I’ll make it up in the kitchen, I swear!