Seana's Must-Haves (Fall)

Hello lovelies!

It's been a while, but I'm back with something new! Since fall is either already here or just around the corner for you, I'm going to do a bit of a roundup of the things that I feel are must-have items for fall.

Let's get started then, shall we?

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Fashion:

Chunky scarves are definitely one of the accessories that I can't live without during fall. They're just so cozy and warm, and they make a great fashion statement.

Oversize sweaters. Even though they're not always the most form-fitting or things like that, I feel like everyone could use a good oversize sweater to keep them warm and happy this fall. Pair it with some jeans and boots, and voila! Instant fabulous.

Speaking of boots, those are also something that I think fall calls for. They give you a sort of cowgirl-chic look that I think looks good on everyone. And they keep your ankles warm, which is a bonus!

I myself own a leather jacket, and I'm such a huge fan of it. It's perfect for fall, and it makes a statement if you pair it with a plain t-shirt and jeans.

Hair:

Braids are definitely a lovely way to wear your hair in the fall. It keeps your hair under control during windy days, and they're super versatile.

I've always been a fan of the classic messy bun, even though it's not as effortless as it may look. Either way, messy buns are a perfect accessory to your fall outfits. You can polish the messy bun up for a sophisticated touch, or make it messier for casual wear.

Makeup:

I confess, I'm turning into a bit of a makeup junkie. My collection of products has started to expand, and I'm becoming a fan of different trends too that I hadn't seen before. One of those classic trends being the cat-eye, winged eyeliner. It's such a classy look that's been around for a while, and even though it takes a while to perfect, I love it.

For fall especially, if you want to be bolder, pairing a golden colored eyeshadow look and a berry lip color is always gorgeous. I saw this recently on a YouTuber's channel (Zoella is her name if you're curious), and I thought it looked stunning. Definitely a fall look!

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And lastly, just because, I'm going to add apple cider to my list of fall must-haves. Apple cider is a staple of fall, and I never go a fall season without it.

What are you rocking this fall?

That is all.

Cheers,
Seana

Fall Recipe Poll- Pumpkin Chai Cupcakes

Hey everyone! Welcome to the results of the Fall Recipe Poll. I am sooo, sooo sorry that I didn't get this post up sooner, and even sorrier that I never had a chance to make these! 

Technically, the carmel apple shake won, but I made the huge mistake of not checking out the recipe beforehand and some of the ingredients were things that you can only buy online or in health food stores. I didn't want to get into that because I would probably only make the shake once or twice. Therefore, you guys get the recipe of the Chai Latte Cupcakes. 

I love chai tea lattes, so I'm hoping that when I do actually get the chance to make these, they will be just as yummy as I imagine!

In this recipe, you start with the basic cupcakes (which is below) and then you add other things to make the cupcakes chai, pumpkin chai, or vanilla chai. 

*Source

The Perfect Yellow Cupcake Recipe

1 cup unsalted butter (I soften this up in the microwave first, after cutting this into cubes for easier mashing)

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 eggs

3 cups sifted cake flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk (my secret: I use low fat goat’s milk which tastes like cream)

2 tablespoons of either melted cream cheese or sour cream (really adds a lot of moisture!!!)

If this is all you want to do, scoop into your muffin papers/tins and bake at 350 for 20 25 minutes. You can freeze after they cool, if needed.

Now, onto the fun stuff:

Chai Latte Cupcakes

What you will do is bring 1 cup of water to boil and place two black tea bags (does not matter if it is decaffeinated, in fact I often make it without caffeine because I have a lot of friends who don’t like caffeine) in the water. Let it boil for about 2 minutes, then reduce to a simmer and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until it reduces to 1/3 a cup of water. You’ll add HALF of that to your basic batter. Then you will add the following spices:

* 2 tablespoons Cinnamon

* 1 teaspoon ground ginger

* 1 teaspoon nutmeg

* 1 teaspoon black pepper

* 1 teaspoon cloves

I almost always add MORE spices than that, but I am giving you the minimum because I know that people have different tastes than me, so just taste your batter and adjust accordingly.

The frosting for this should be a buttercream frosting with the addition of 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Vanilla Chai Latte Cupcakes

Simply add an extra 1/2 teaspoon to vanilla to the batter and when making the buttercream frosting add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and then sprinkle each cupcake with a little cinnamon.

Pumpkin Chai Latte Cupcakes

To the Chai Latte cupcake batter, mix in 1 cup of NON SPICED pumpkin puree. If you have only pre-spiced pumpkin puree, please adjust your spices accordingly.

Frost these with a cream cheese/butter frosting with 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla mixed in.

And since it is the season, a generous topping crunchy orange sugar sprinkles is always super nice!