magic monday - cupcake edition

As spring draws near, it seems as though our tastes all migrate towards the light and pretty. Don't we all want to try and hurry mother earth along just a tiny bit with our lipstick, clothing, or food choices? I know that as soon as March hits, my kitchen becomes less of a soup-factory, and more often than not, cupcakes, pies and cookies line the counters. I'd love to share one of my favorite spring treats, cardamom cupcakes with rosewater frosting. Cardamom and Rosewater are a flavour match made in heaven, and cupcakes are the perfect catalyst for such a combo.

Cupcakes: 1c unsalted butter, softened 1 ¼ c sugar 3 tsp ground cardamom 4 eggs 2½ c all purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 cup whole milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease up your cupcake pans, or get your cupcake liners in place, whichever you prefer. I find cupcake liners a bit wasteful, but there's something about peeling that liner to expose a soft, fluffy cake that just can't be beat.

In a medium bowl, (or the bowl of your electric mixer if you're so inclined) At about medium speed, beat together butter, sugar, and cardamom until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat the whole thing well once more. Sift in flour and baking powder in batches, until just combined. Fold in your milk with a spatula, or mixer on low.

Once it's all combined, spoon the mixture into your cupcake pans, at about halfway full in each cupcake hole (is there a proper term for that? if there is, please let me know. cupcake hole doesn't have a great ring to it)

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden. Test the readiness of your little treats by skewering one  (toothpicks work well here). It should come out clean when they're ready. Cool on a wire rack. (VERY IMPORTANT)

While those chill out, you can get started on....

THE ICING!!! 3 c. icing sugar 1 c. butter, softened 2 tbsp. milk 3 tsp. rosewater 1 drop red food colouring (optional)

In a bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Slowly add in icing sugar, about ½ c. at a time, until just combined. Beat in milk, rosewater, and food colouring if desired.

After the cupcakes have cooled sufficiently, **Remember, if you haven't cooled your cakes long enough, that lovely frosting will slip right off into a big melty mess** FROST AWAY!!

Now, I iced the cupcakes above with a piping bag and star tip, but feel free to just slather it on in a haphazard fashion. I promise they'll taste JUST as good.

xxo pascale

magic monday- heart on

Who are your current hair-heroes?

Ann + Nancy Wilson of HEART, have forever been an inspiration to me.Not only are they one of the most ferocious sister duos in the history of all sisters, they can slay your heart through song. I mean, Magic Man? Come on now.

Since cutting bangs about a month ago, I've been looking to the Wilson sisters for a touch of hair-spiration, and as a result of countless hours spent in a youtube wormhole (watch this video to see how ann + nancy made robert plant cry), their Little Queen-era gypsy rock style has been heavily influencing my thrift buys as of late (how much black fringe does a girl really need?? am i really going to wear pointed, studded black boots with this silk kimono??)

In about a weeks time, I will be in the presence of these sublime sisters, and here's what I'll be doing to get the same sleek, rocker hair as the Wilson sisters are sporting. Start off by throwing in a bit of Body Guard to your damp hair will not only offer you a bit of heat protection, but it'll also help to smooth out any dry ends. After you've dried up your coif, throw in a few heavy, flat-iron curls. Spray with a hair spray (we like Session Spray or Glamour Queen) and SHAKE IT OUT! For any fly aways, try taming them down with a tiny touch of an anti-frizz cream, like Anti-Gravity. VOILA!!

Now for those super sexy lash-grazing bangs. NOTHING is better for your bang situation than the Freshair Dry Cleaning Spray. I repeat. NOTHING. I've struggled with bangs for years, and I'm now convinced it was because I didn't have this spray in my life. When your bangs are freshly washed and almost too clean, Freshair will give them a bit of extra grit and lift, which in turn takes them a bit off your forehead, thus avoiding greasy pizza face. Then, as the days wear on, a little spritz of this stuff will ensure that no questionable looks of 'did you just crawl out of an oil slick?' be directed towards you.

we'd love to hear who your hair heroes are! have a great week, freshies!!

xxo pascale

hey boys...

Here's some kit inspiration for you guys.  Nothing says more confidence to me than a sharp dressed man.

the fresh perspective...

Have you started thinking about spring yet?  I know that I have.  I am ready and waiting for the warm sun, I'm waiting for the smell of BBQ, I'm ready for tank tops.  Now that February is almost over, although we still have some more months of snow, we shouldn't forget about the status of our hair/skin/nails during the time of changing seasons.

If in a few weeks you start feeling like your skin, hair or nails are acting up.  It might be because of the fact that the snow is melting and spring and summer are not too far away.  The changing of the seasons might require you to lighten up on your heavy washes and thick treatments.  The dry environment will soon change and your heavier products will be too much accompanied with the humidity.

Keep an eye on your friends (hair, skin, nails) and make sure to prepare to change your routine up by the time we're in June.  As always, now is not a bad time to talk to your stylist about the look you're wanting for the summer.  This might be a good time to set out a goal, or a loose plan for your locks.

Last week I noticed how bright it was outside at 7 am.  That can only mean one thing!  You know it, I know it... That's the fresh perspective...

high brow

Happy Monday Freshies! As Praise mentioned on Saturday, she and I have embarked on a post-holiday eyebrow overhaul. We've committed to lay down our tweezers, and give our brows a chance to recharge, and regrow.

The importance of a good brow cannot be overstated. As this study done at MIT states, the eyebrow may play a more important role than even eyes in facial recognition.

A well-shaped brow can emphasize your features, while a poorly shaped brow can detract from those features and take your face hostage, as evidenced by these young ladies:

According to the New York Times, brow hair grows on average for 30 days, and rests for a period of 3 months, whereas hair on your scalp has a tendency to grow for 2-6 years, while resting for a period of 100 days.  This means that if you're attempting to plump those babies up, patience is key!

Paste some photos of brow-spiration in your bathroom to keep you on the right track! My 'brow shrine' is laden with images of Jennifer Connelly, Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor, and of course, Baby-Brooke.

Grab a brow pencil, or cut a pair of eyelash-grazing, brow-concealing bangs, and join us in our quest for the perfect brow.

Post your favorite brow heroes or horror stories in the comments below!

xxo pascale

magic monday

Happy Monday! Pascale here, receptionist at Freshair Boutique, and your new Monday Blogger. I have all sorts of posts lined up for you guys, so stay tuned and be sure to subscribe in order to keep up with all things FRESH.

After a solid few weeks of holiday-induced bad habits, I've started to feel pretty sluggish and lazy. So sluggish and lazy, that after a long day of work, I just can't be bothered to do anything more than eat my roommate's leftover perogies and my go-to snack of smoked oysters and sour cream on Triscuits.

Whenever I feel myself getting into this funk, I know it's time to turn to my beloved Braun MP80 Juicer.

I inherited this juicer when my parents made the upgrade what I believe is the Holy Grail of juice-extracting machines, THE BREVILLE.

These days, living such fast-paced lives as we do, it can be difficult to get the necessary nutrients from our foods. Nutrients that are important for whole body, as well as hair and skin health. For those of you who aren't super-fans of those dark leafy greens (rich in iron, zinc, and essential B vitamins) adding a few leaves of kale, a handful of spinach or a few florets of brocoli to a beet/apple/carrot juice is a great way to get your servings of veggies while limiting the 'yuck factor'.

I picked up a copy of this great book, Juicing For Life, courtesy once more of my brilliant mama, who is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to all things health and wellness.

This book, (which I understand now has a much more chic, updated cover) has pages upon pages of information on how juicing can benefit those with disorders or ailments ranging from Varicose Veins to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Eczema.

I find that within a few days of steady juicing (and easing up on the cheese burgers) there is a noticeable improvement in my skin and hair, as well as my energy levels. Here's a few of my favorite juices, for you to try at home!

Cherry Lime Fizz

This one is less of a juice, and more of a great, sugar-free alternate to soda. I added the cherries to give it a bit of colour, but feel free to use any fruits you have lying around. Peaches, grapes, lemons, pears, and melons all taste great.

Juice the following, pour it over ice, and top off with sparkling water.

1 lime (depending on your juicer, you may want to cut off most of the peel) 1 apple 5-10 cherries, pitted

Beauty Spa Express

This is a great mid-day juice, full of B vitamins. The carrot and apple really steal the show.

one handful of spinach one handful of parsley 4-5 carrots 1/2 -1 apple, seeded.

Fresh Complexion Express

A great morning juice! Pineapples aren't exactly in season, but they are a great source of Vitamin C.

2 slices fresh pineapple (with skin) 1/2 cucumber 1/2-1 apple, seeded

Ginger Hopper

Don't be afraid to add more ginger to this one!

1/4 inch slice ginger root 4-5 carrots 1/2 apple, seeded 1 small beet

Any of these recipes can be used as a rough guideline, don't be afraid to experiment! As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, 'All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.' Try adding half a lemon and an apple to a particularly heavy vegetable juice, or a beet to lend some depth to a light, fruity juice.

Leave any juice suggestions, or questions you have below, and be sure to stay tuned this week for more posts from the Freshair team!

xxo

pascale