Sarah Levannier

Here are my favorites for October 2018.

 1. Now that Fall is seriously kicking in, I have enjoyed lighting candles very evening and morning. It’s part of my winter routine. It just makes my apartment cozier and picking scented candles usually adds a sweet smell to the apartment, which couldn’t make me happier. All that’s left for me to do is wrap myself in a blanket and sip on some tea.

 2. Beauty products wise, I have fallen in love with the Laroche Posay Effaclar Mat day cream. You can actually also use it a an evening cream. I have a sensitive and combination skin. It’s always been a struggle finding the proper cream that wouldn’t make my skin oily half way through the day and that wouldn’t give me pimples or make it itchy. I have been using this cream since late September now and I couldn’t be happier about it. My skin is soft and doesn’t turn oily at all. I would definitely recommend it if you have the same oily/combination skin as I have and/or if you struggle with spots past 25.

 3. Still in the beauty product section, can we please pause and talk about this amazing face wash ? It purifies your skin and the smell is just divine. It’s a bit pricey but a little goes a long way so I guess your investment is quickly made profitable ?

 4. Last but not least, Birchbox sent me this Davines mask lately and I have loved it. First, the package feels so autumn (if that’s even a word…?). Second, the Davines smell just tops any other beauty product smell. And third, my hair feels amazingly soft and light after using it. I’ll definitely buy it again, thank you Birchbox.

 5. I bought this Birchbox limited edition. I have always been curious and intrigued by face brush. Well I’m completely convinced and would recommend buying one if you were asking me. If you want your skin to literally feel like baby skin, then these kinds of brush are for you.

6. My mac “Mehr” lipstick. I mean what can you say when you wear a mac lipstick? It’s long-lasting, doesn’t dry out my lips, makes me feel like I’ve turned from just another girl to a woman within seconds. Nothing bad can happen if I wear Mac lipsticks. 

7. Baking this banana bread. And since I’m still in love with cooking, I thought I’d share with you my recipe. I was inspired by Shalane Flanagan and Elyse Kopecky’s spelt banana bread to make it. I just changed a few ingredients and added some black treacle to give it this strong and deep flavor as well as its dark brown color. 

Ingredients: 

- 1½ cups whole wheat flour

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

- ½  stick unsalted butter, at room temperature

- 2 tablespoons maple syrup 

- ¼ cup black treacle

- 2 eggs

- 4 very ripe, brown-speckled mashed bananas

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

- ½ cup raisins

Steps : 

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan with butter.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the butter, treacle and maple syrup together. Add the eggs and beat for about 1 minute. Finally, add the bananas and vanilla and stir until combined.

4. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Fold in the raisins.

5. Pour into the loaf pan and shake the pan to spread the batter evenly. Bake in the center of the oven until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, which is roughly 50 to 60 minutes.

6. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes. Remove the loaf from the tin and let it cool completely on the wire rack before slicing.