Pumpkin French Toast.

I really, really love breakfast foods...I could eat it for lunch and dinner if I could! I love French toast especially, and because its fall I thought I could put a spin to it by making it with pumpkin puree. Guys, I don't like to brag about the foods I make, but this recipe turned out amazingly and I urge you all to try it just to have this flavor party in your mouths.

The recipe is super simple. I used a loaf of challah bread...I find that this bread is the perfect bread to use for French toast because it has a hint of sweetness to it, but you can use any bread you like. I found my challah at Trader Joe's. Be aware, using another type of bread that's not sweet will call for a tablespoon or two more of sugar.

This breakfast makes me happy, I hope you enjoy it too!

Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 3 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of ground nutmeg
• Pinch of ground ginger
• Pinch of salt
• 1 loaf challah or bread of choice cut into 1 inch slices

Directions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, vanilla, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
2. If you're making a lot and want to keep the bread warm before serving, preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and transfer both to oven.
3. Preheat a cast iron skillet or griddle over medium heat and brush surface with butter or vegetable oil. 
4. Place a slice of bread in the milk mixture allowing it to soak for a minute. Flip it over and allow to soak for another 30-40 seconds more.
5. Quickly place the soaked bread onto the griddle or skillet and cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes, until lightly golden brown.
6. Transfer the French toast slice to the oven to keep warm and continue the same process with the rest of the bread slices.
7. Serve with warm maple syrup. 

(recipe courtesy of acozykitchen.com)

Halloween 2013.

I hope you guys all had a great Halloween! This year my boyfriend and I went as a sushi chef and sushi. I'm ALL about creative, original costumes rather than generic, store bought costumes. I made my ginger and wasabi headpiece out of felt and and for the sushi piece, I sewed an orange pillow case on a small rectangular pillow and drew some white lines on it with paint to resemble salmon. Seto's wearing a chef coat and a Japanese headband! Added chopsticks for effect ;)

Skin that's Close to Perfect.

I've been receiving some compliments lately on how good my skin looks and people have asked me what my secret is. Well, there's no secret, honestly...just a few products that I live by! I think a big mistake a lot of people make is paying for expensive products or treatments. Some treatments cost hundreds of dollars and some products go upwards of $300. But I'm all about the effectiveness of a product...just because it's expensive, doesn't mean its effective! Staying true to this, I like to use some products that are both affordable an super efficient. I like to splurge on some products, but others are simple staples. These are some products I think every girl (and man!) should have. 

From Top:

1. Neutrogena Oil Free Moisturizer...............$8.............apply after using toner

2. Fresh Twilight Freshface Glow..................$36............apply after applying makeup for glow

3. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil Free Toner.............$16...........apply after washing face

4. Neutrogena Deep Clean Foaming Scrub......$6..........use twice a day

5. Smith's Rosebud Salve Balm...........................$8.............use on lips and on blemishes

6. Kiehl's Skin Tone Correcting BB Cream..........$37..........apply as foundation before applying makeup