idler wheel

at 10:26 PM

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to write regularly for this blog. I plan on writing at least one post about the things I have discovered and enjoyed each month.

January has marked the beginning of the New Year and my new life in Munich. I arrived here the 16th and haven't had much time to think about my January favorites but I would go with the things that I have used the most.

I got a new bag as a Christmas present and I have been using it non-stop ever since. The bag is from Hakei, a Spanish, family brand. It is made of a very soft leather but it is durable and sturdy. I wasn't sure about the color at first but now I'm glad I didn't settle for a black or a brown bag. I usually dress in black or neutrals so this burgundy bag is perfect for me as it helps breaking up the outfit.

In the beauty departament this month has been all about soft smokey eyes or red lipstick. I recently got a new red from MAC through their back2mac program. It is a burnt-orange, brick red that suits my skintone perfectly. The days I haven't worn red lipstick, I have worn a natural smokey eye with either a warm brown eyeshadow (pictured Folie by MAC) or a grey eyeshadow (pictured Smut by MAC).

Lastly I have to talk about one disappointing product and that is a Serge Lutens perfume. I also received this perfume as a Christmas gift. I've always wanted to try Serge Lutens fragrances and after some research online and some sniffing in store I chose Chergui.

Chergui is beautifully complex, oriental, spicy fragrance. I absolutely love the smell. The problem is that the scent doesn't seem to last more than an hour on my skin. As you can see in the picture I have already used too much for just a month and that's not good for a fragrance that is close to the 100€ mark. I spray quite a lot and almost no one smells it. If I spray it on my clothes it lasts longer but it also leaves a stain behind so I'm not willing to do that. I don't know if this is normal or if I got a bad batch, whatever it may be, I don't think I'll buy more perfumes from this line.

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to write regularly for this blog. I plan on writing at least one post about the things I have disco...

at 2:56 PM

It is time to look back at 2013 and write a post about the best products and trends I've discovered this year.

(images from Polyvore)

Red Lipstick
Although I have worn red lipstick before, this year I've finally dared myself to wear it on less formal ocassions. My favorite thing to do is pairing a bold red lipstick with the simplest outfit; jeans and a shirt or leggings and a sweater. Dragon Girl by Nars and Chili by MAC have been new additions to my lipstick collection this year.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

I could say that I actually re-discover this product in 2013. I bought my first bottle when it first came out but I wasn't impressed with it. The fact that I was matched to a wrong shade didn't help much either. This year I decided to give it a second chance as the shade Stromboli seemed to be my perfect match. Nars sheer glow is the perfect foundation for people with normal to dry skin that want to achieve a light-medium coverage. It is easy to blend, very long-lasting and makes your skin look natural and fresh.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

I have always been skeptical about the concept of "dry shampoo" but this year I discovered the Batiste dry shampoo for brunettes and I am a convert. I have bangs and it is hard to keep them clean between washes. Dry shampoo has saved me many times when, at the end of a long day, I wanted to look presentable but didn't have time to wash my hair.

O.P.I Nail Envy Original

Unfortunately, my nails are brittle and prone to breakage. I also like to wear nail polish on regular basis so I need to use a base coat to protect my nails. This base coat by OPI has improved enormously the way that my nails look and feel. I have tried many different base coats (by Essie or Mavala) but this one is by far the best.

Tartan (or checked) shirts
This trend was everywhere during the Fall and I thought I wouldn't buy into it. I've never been a fan of checked shirts as I thought they'd made me look very masculine. This year I have learned that when combined with the right type of make-up, checked shirts (or tartan) can look cute on everyone.

It is time to look back at 2013 and write a post about the best products and trends I've discovered this year. (images from Polyvo...

at 7:44 PM

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light 1.

I bought this bronzer at the end of the summer with the intention of wearing it all through the fall and winter. The idea is not really to look tanned but to have something that would warm up the face after applying foundation.

This bronzing powder is just what I was looking for. It has a beautiful golden color that doesn't turn orange or muddy on the skin. It may be a little light for me in summer but it is the perfect shade for now. It is also matte which I find indispensable for a bronzer.

I use it all the time, especially now that I’m wearing more bright and dark lipsticks since I don’t always have a blush that matches with them.

MAC Fluidline in Dip Down.

This month, I've also been shopping my stash and have re-discovered this great product. I am a big fan of black eyeliner when worn by itself, without eye shadow. However if I do a light smokey eye or use mid-tone colors, I feel that black eyeliner looks too harsh. That’s when this product comes in handy; I apply it on my upper lash line to intensify the look and correct my “sad puppy” eyes, as I like to call them!

Rimmel Lipstick in Starry Eyed 128.

I bought this one on a whim and I’m in love. It is refreshing to find an affordable, drugstore lipstick that I love so much. I like that is versatile. It can be applied as a stain or built up to its full potential for a vampy type of lip. It is not a matte (and therefore not too drying); I would categorize it as a satin finish or semi-matte. It looks great for a good 4 hours before I need to re-touch.

Stuff You Missed in History Class Podcast.
I have been listening to this podcast for years and always liked it. There are subjects that are more interesting than others but lately I’ve been enjoying pretty much every episode that the hosts (Tracy and Holly) put out. If you have a long commute or go for walks, I highly recommend you taking this Podcast along. It makes your time go by much faster!

Quinoa.

I know I’m late to the party but I recently bought Quinoa for the first time. This month I have been eating it with everything; fresh tomatoes, olives, baked veggies or as a side dish for meatballs! It is so easy and quick to make that it has become my carbohydrate source of choice!

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light 1. I bought this bronzer at the end of the summer with the intention of wearing it all th...

at 5:54 PM

at 5:49 PM

What is Green Tea? To produce green tea, the Camellia Sinensis leaves are lightly processed and undergo more oxidation than the ones used in white tea. This minimal oxidation allows green tea to retain a higher concentration of antioxidants and benefits. All leaves (not just the youngest) are used to produce green tea which makes it more widely available than white tea.

There are countless green tea varieties being produced in different regions of China and Japan. Many times I see tea marketed simply as Japanese or Chinese green tea, which is quite a simplification! You can check Wikipedia for a quick rundown.

(Sencha to the right, gunpowder to the left)

The most important thing you need to know- if you are just diving into the world of tea - is whether your loose leaf green tea comes in a gunpowder form or not. Gunpowder beaded or pearl tea, is loose leaf that has been rolled into a small pellet. These leaves will expand when brewed. This product is more condensed so if you are measuring your tea with a spoon, be careful and don’t use the same amount of tea you would use with “unrolled” leaves.

How does it taste like? It is hard to give an answer to that because each variety tastes different. Green tea is generally grassy in flavor which doesn’t appeal to everyone. The Sencha variety is softer, fresher and sometimes even has a sweet taste to it. Chinese Gunpowder is usually stronger and sometimes described as smokier in flavor. You can always try a green tea blend that combines tea leaves with other fruits or flowers.

How do I prepare it?

If you are preparing gunpowder use 1 level teaspoon of tea leaves for 240 ml. (=8 ounces of water). If you are using Sencha or any other “unrolled” loose leaf variety, use a heaping teaspoon for the same amount of water.

Water temperature is supposed to be between 170°-175°F (=70°-80°C). The steep time should be 2 to 2 and 1/2 minutes, not any longer or else the tea won’t taste right. Use a clock for this one.

Check out part 1 for more on White Tea and part 3 for Black Tea.

What is Green Tea? To produce green tea, the Camellia Sinensis leaves are lightly processed and undergo more oxidation than the ones use...

at 5:37 PM

Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite things in the world: tea. I wrote an entry on how I prepare Iced Tea a while ago but now that Fall is finally here, I wanted to do a more in-depth post about tea. I hope it answers all your questions and helps you find the right tea drink for you.

Let’s begin with the basics. Tea is the infusion of leaves from the Camellia Sinensis plant in hot water. All tea types come from that same plant but leaves can be processed differently to produce the varieties that we usually call black tea, white tea, green tea etc.

(clockwise: Green Sencha Tea, Assam Black Tea, Green Gunpowder (in the ball) and White Tea)

Colloquially we also refer to tea when any other herb (that is not Camellia Sinensis) or fruit is infused in hot water and consumed as beverage. That is not tea, strictly speaking, but you can call your infusion of choice whatever you want. It’s fine by me.

So now let’s talk about the most popular teas that we, westerners, drink.

White Tea

What is White Tea? This tea comes from the young leaves and the buds of the Camellia Sinensis plant. It is only lightly processed to prevent the oxidation. Because White Tea should be hand-picked and be made only from the youngest leaves, it is usually produced in lesser quantities and has a higher price than other varieties.

There are different varieties of white tea (Bai Mudan, Silver Needle, Shou Mei) but I won’t get much into that. I always drink Bai Mudan or “White Peony”, Silver Needle is too expensive for my budget and Shou Mei is not available where I shop.

How does it taste like? Bai Mudan or “White Peony” has a soft, floral, sweet taste. From my experience, everyone enjoys this tea, even those who aren’t big tea lovers.

How do I prepare it? For this one, you need to use two teaspoons (around 2 grams) of loose leaves for 8 ounces (240 ml.) of water. This is just a guide; you may want to adjust these proportions to achieve the intensity you like.

The optimal water temperature for brewing different tea types is always a matter of dispute. As long as you are not pouring full boiling water into white tea, you’ll be fine. A water temperature of 80°C (= 180°F) is usually recommended. I personally like to watch the water, once the little bubbles that are sitting on the surface of the kettle begin to rise to the surface and pop, I consider that the water is ready for this tea.

The brewing time for white tea can be anything from 3 to 7 minutes. As opposed to green or black teas, this one won’t get bitter if you steep it for long. I recommend brewing it for 3 or 4 minutes the first time. Then you can do a second or even third infusion with a steep time of 5, 6 or 7 minutes. Yes, you can brew the same leaves several times as it will produce different flavors every time. Try it!

Don't forget to check out part 2 and 3: Green Tea and Black Tea.

Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite things in the world: tea. I wrote an entry on how I prepare Iced Tea a while ago but now ...