Halloween Challenge: Day 4 – Treats
Can you still remind you of last year, where I showed you in the Halloween Challenge Video with Halloween food? I noticed something. I promised you in the post to show you the result of vegan pudding brain. And I haven’t done until now. Therefore you get now my result from last extremely Year to see:
This year I again stand in the kitchen and will make a pudding brain and my bat biscuits. Both recipes can be found in my blog. So you could say that I slowly could ran out of ideas, but until now I didn’t show you the undefeated number 1 of the American Halloween Candy at my Challenges. Of course I speak about Candy Corn!
The variation of candy corn that’s industrially produced has not changed, according to my research, for over 100 years and it’s therefore not surprising that the small sugar-pieces are not vegan. That’s why I made the effort to search for a vegan recipe for homemade candy corn and here is what I found:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 2/3 cup corn syrup
- 5 tablespoons Vegan Butter
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- orange and yellow food coloring
How to make:
- Mix powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Set Aside.
- Bring sugar, corn syrup, Vegan Butter, and vanilla extract to boil over high heat. When it stars to boil, reduce to medium and boil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Remove it from heat, add to dry ingredients, and stir to combine. Let stand until warm enough to work with (10 minutes).
- Divide into 3 equal pieces. Knead using a little bit of water and food coloring to get a ball of white, orange, and yellow
- Roll each piece into equal length ropes and lay out on wax paper (orange in the middle, white and yellow on the outside edges).
- Flatten and press the ropes together using your hands or a rolling pin. Using a knife, cut triangle pieces like on this picture:
After completly cooldown your homemade Candy Corn is ready to serve ^^
Together with the Pumpkin Spice Latte, I showed you yesterday, you now have probably the two most popular favorite things from the Americans to Halloween. So I wish you much fun with these two things and if you yourselves like to contribute to the topic, you can it as always with a comment, own blog entry that you can you link with the blue frog under here, or use Instagram for a pcture with the Hashtag #ichishalloween16
Halloween 2016: Day 3 – Pumpkin
The pumpkin, the pumpkin … he is themed every year at Halloween. And also in my Halloween tradition the pumpkin appeared for the 3rd time now. Unlike previous years, today it isn’t ask for the most inspired pumpkin faces or about the task to make one, no, it’s solely about the pumpkin itself, which immediately reminds me of one of the largest pumpkin trio in the US (and the dearest of my hamster ).
But not only this trio comes from the US, also Starbucks with their Pumpkin Spice Latte which everyone enjoys. Even here in Germany this type of coffee gain more and more popularity. Why this variation is so popular, I don’t know until today, because I don’t go to any Starbucks shops. Anyway, I simply decided to mix my own Pumkin Spice Latte! This variant is of course vegan, as you can see right on the recipe:
Ingredients:
250 ml almond milk
1 Hokkaido pumpkin
about 2 tsp maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon allspice ground,
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tsp nutmeg ground,
½ cup strong coffee
How to make:
- First, the pumpkin puree is made. For this, the pumpkin is seeded and cut. Thereafter, the pumpkin comes at 120-150 ° for 25-45 minutes in the oven, wherein the time period is dependent on the size of pumpkin used. After that the pumpkin get skinned, diced and mashed.
- After that is we make the typical Pumpkin Spice. And this is also very simple: cinnamon, ginger powder, allspice and cloves simply mix in a small bowl and ready.
- Now comes the almond milk (which I also make at home. How this goes you can see here) in a pot, also the pumpkin puree, maple syrup, pumpkin spice and vanilla extract. Anyone who wants can also use a real vanilla bean. How much of what Ingredients comes into the pot, is a matter of taste, so just have a go to cook by feel.
- Everything together is thoroughly stirred and then heated over medium heat until the milk begins to simmer. Then it is removed from the stove and along with half a cup of strong brewed coffee * added to the mixer (preferably espresso) to the whole to mix briefly until it is frothy.
Ready to serve!
* For the last step, I’ve written down what I’ve read over and over again: to use trong coffee or espresso. But because I can’t stand so much caffeine or strong coffee, it was enough for me cto use a slightly cooked Instand Coffee.
My Pumpkin Spice Latte you can admire on Instagram and I hope I ‚ve shown you so a good alternative to the regular Starbucks Coffeee version. ^^
And as always, if you have yourself something to contribute to this day, you can do it with the blue frog, or via Instagram using the hashtag #ichishalloween16
#365LifestyleLolitaChallenge: the sixth week (Day 39-45)
Even I haven’t mutch time to blog this week (in other words I don’t wirte anything here), you can still reading the 6th week of the LLC. Next week, there will be again more blog entries here^^
So now have fun with day 39-45:
#365LifestyleLolitaChallenge: the fourth week (Day 25-31)
Now already is the first month of Lifestyle Lolita Challenge (short LLC) is over and I have to say that I still have fun with it ( ＾∇＾)
If you like, you can write in the comments if I should write this Challenge every day from February on, or maintain it as it is.
But enough preliminaries, here are the days 25 – 31! Have fun! (deutsche version here)
Hotel Transylvania
As it the title suggests, I chose for today’s film presentation the saddest and yet sweetest pouty batface that Sony Pictures Entertainment has ever conjured up at the screen.
Yes, Hotel Transylvania isbarely to surpass in cuteness on my opinion and is simultaneously humorous and thrilling, and thus this film is definitely suitable for the whole family. The 2012 released film takes almost all the monsters a bit poke fun at and represents them extremely child-friendly. From the Yeti over the Gremlins, the Mummy, Frankenstein, the Werewolf, the thing, the Blob, the Hydra, the invisible way to monster of the black lagoon, and more.
First and foremost, of course, Count Dracula himself. Because this has built a castle in Romania to protect his little daughter Mavis. Far away from the hideous and extremely dangerous human.
Very quickly, this castle is a popular destination for all kinds of monsters who want to take a break from thehumans or the eternal hiding from these. So the Hotel Transylvania was born.
At Mavis 118. birthday, which is of course is a reason to celebrate and all the monsters come to the castle, because nobody wants to miss it that Dracula finally allowed his „little bats“ to fly into the big wide world… or for the beginning the closest village. But what no one besides Dracula knows: this village doesnIt exist. It is a fake village buikd by Dracula, that shall bring Mavis future to avoid all humans.
This plan seems to work at fist, but then the greatest of all disasters happend. A human finds his way into the castle. Of course this brings a lot of trouble with, because Dracula’s daughter may not know that the new guest (which seems to be at her age) is a real human, also she should not experienced yet that not all humans are so extremely dangerous as she has always get to hear. And as if that were not enough, the human and Mavis fall even in love for each other …
As I said at the beginning, I think the film just cute and I would recommend it for a family evening it thoroughly. Yes, I find it in the home theater version wirh no 3D effects even a little more pleasant, but I’m generally not a big fan of the 3D effects in movies.
Anyway, what do you think of the movie? Write it in the comments below!
The festival of flames: Imbolc
I know there is lately a lot about Japan on this blog , but I don’t forget my roots. And that’s why I tell you today a little bit from an festivity of the annual calendar of Wicca.
I mention today Imbolc, a festival which we already can expect next week, on the 1st and / or 2nd February. As with many other festivities you can’t pic one exact date anymore here. There were over the years too many feast in February – and the thwarted yet all over the world.
The Christians among you should know this under the name Candlemas because this is one of many festivals that had to adapt by the Church to gain a foothold in the world at that time. But this isn’t the topic today.
In the past February is called the month of wolf and death. Snow covered the sleeping earth, the nights were long and the food became scarce or started to go moldy. And yet one already celebrated in such times the feast Imbolc. Originally intended that a purely Celtic festival in honor of the holy goddess Brigit, one of the most important goddesses in Celtic belief. In addition, the word is Celtic.
Imbolc means namely about „Creating the lambs to suckle“, which was an understandable name for the feast, because at that time the lambs are born. Thus, the solid is taken to represent basically to make away the winter and to look forward at the growing light.
No wonder, therefore, that this again is a festival of fire, because Brigit is a fire and probably also a sun goddess. So a legend says that a druid prophesied her that she would be a brilliant daughter who shine like the sun among the stars in the sky. So she was and will particularly associated with the increasing light of the late winter and spring dawning. With the flames of her consciousness she leads us through the darkness, breathed new life into the country and will lead us into the spring. Well, the beginning of spring is seen in calendar until March, but in the beginning of February we are in the winter half-time (that you have to remind sometimes, because if I look at the current weather here in northern Germany is look already like it would be spring season).
Of course, there are also some custom Hallows that you can perform at Imbolc. In most cases, small fires are liten in honor of the goddess Brigit. Who doesn’t have this ability, can ignite some candles instead, here the white ones are the best, because this color is the color of the goddess and the color of light. In addition, this festival invites also for dancing and have fun. In the past the Celts consulted then also the oracle to find out more about the future.
In general, this festival is for cleansing rituals in any form, whether body, mind or home. The „spring cleaning“ is for example an ritual that comes from this fetival, I know each of you should ever have heard about it.
At this point I hardly recoomend a book , in which I have admittedly swiped the title of this blog entry. I speak about Candlemas: Feast of Flames. The authors Amber K. and Azrael Arynn K. have here in my eyes a good reference book and collection. Because they put together alls around the theme of this festival.
In the first chapter you learn about how the festival was celebrated over the years, and especially where it was celebrated everywhere. In the second chapter you learn more about the goddess Brigit, which is known not only in the form of a goddess (fo example also as a saint and elves daughter). And from Chapter 3 on you gets an insight into the custom Hallows, rituals and especially tips for your own festivities. Yes, there are even recipes for suitable meals.
All in all, so this is a thoroughly enjoyable book in which there is something for everyone, whether „newcomers“ or veteran of this topic.
I myself leafing just around in the last 3 chapters of this book and think about what I’m going to do this year, so who wants to know more about it, can write in the comments below, then maybe I write an extra blog post about it.
Otherwise, it still remains up to you, how you celebrates it for yourself or with friends, because I don’t want to dictate anything to anyone!
In this sense, Blessed Imbloc!
Tuesdaysounds: exist†trace
Meanwhile, even I noticed that my blog is very strong in the topic Japan again. Nevertheless, I present you today with exist†trace again a Japanese band …
exist†trace is one of the few all-female visual kei bands in Japan. It was founded on 15 June 2003 by Jyou, Miko, Naoto and Mari. The first live performance they had at 28 December 2003, followed by their first demo tape in February of 2004. Hai no yuki was distributed for free at their concert at that time. Sometime during the march came Omi added as a second guitarist and the 5-member band was complete. First concerts with her were in April, in June was followed by the second demo single Kokumu. This was followed by several concerts in 2005, before their first official single ambivalence was published on August 26. Until the end of 2006 another 2 singles should follow, which contributed to exist†trace to enable an increasing amount of fans. In the end of 2006 they were also part of the „Meguro Rock May Can by Sequence Records“, the accompanying DVD was released in March of 2007.
In July 2007, also released their first mini live album of the band Demented Show 20070715. End of the year they pushed a second pressing of their mini-album Annunciationhinterher (without DVD Part in the form of music videos for Judea) and ended the year as part of the New Year’s show from „Sequence Records“.
In the spring the band was part of an event of L’eprica which were promoting their new single and for that several bands brought aboard. End of February rose exist†trace also the indie label Sequence Records parallel with the bands Art Cube, Venus and LSD. The only downer was that the band took a break immediately after entry. Until May were still sporadic performances, then first was resting for the year of 2008.
End of August exist†trace returned with a new look and were first part of the show “Sequence Records 7 Days Live Summer”. Incidentally, the data for the European tour of the 5 girls in October 2008 was released. One Concert led them also to Germany. After the tour the band had a few big concerts with equal several bands. In October they played several concerts with bands like DELUHI, Megaromania, gaudie, Juliette, LSD, Venus and mutch more. These seires of concerts was called Deer Call War No. 5 and No. 6 and also one of them Black Riot. In addition, in November released their first album, which was a best of album of their songs from 2006 – 2008.
exist†trace also took a part on the 8th anniversary of the Sequence Records, but with the bitter aftertaste that they would then leave directly the label. In February 2009, it began with the fact that the band opened a new homepage and their accession by Monster’s Inc. was signed and sealed. With a new label, a new look and with the mini-album, VANGUARD -of the muses- in the baggage they were back on scene.
In autumn the band was part of the famous Shock Edge Events. Together with SOMANTIC GUARDIAN or even kiryu rocked the band on October 12, the stage and were found two days later on the accompanying omnibus CD. Only 2 weeks later the new mini-album Ambivalent Symphony were in the stores found. One day later, exist†trace was also part of the V-rock concerts, along with over 20 other bands (for example: Kagrra, heidi., Merry, LM.C, D=Out). That year, the band was still quite relaxed end the year with a few Live performances, before it went on directly with a oneman in January 2010.
For 2010, it also went again to Europe, this time from late April to early May for several concerts among others in Germany and France. After their return they were part of the sampler Neo Voltage Vol. 1 and her single Knife appeared on 2 June in stores. They were also part of the Neo Voltage Tour 2010 from 10 – June 18 with 3 performances.
In early November, the band released their first full album with name Twin Gate. 2011 saw the launch ecually successful for the band, witch was a part of the Sakura-Con in April and thus the 5 girls had their American debut. After that, stans again a label change. At this time one step higher, because with the contract with Tokuma Japan Communications reached exist†trace the Major Status.
Cost celebrate the group with her mini album TRUE, which was released on 15 June. In addition, the band had given a sort of farewell oneman show called „The Truth“ on 18 June. Thus, they said goodbye to their indie period befitting. Just a few months after the debut already appeared a second mini-album. 2012, the band gave a few concerts in America in March and on 23 May they released their new album Virgin. From this album comes also one of my favorite songs Daybreak.
Since I’m one day divorced from the visual kei scene, it happens to me with this band (just like many others), that I have somehow lost sight of. So I have heard again from this band on September 24 in 2014 and although they have not inserted a break till 2012 and 2014. Anyway, on 11/24/14 appeared the second major album of exist†trace, entitled World Maker. Furthermore, took placein December the final concert of their (probably started in late 2013) Gekijyou Spiral tour.
Last December, announced exist†trace to the release a previously untitled mini-album for March 2016 , which will contain six songs.
The musical style of the band has evolved repeatedly markedly over the years (just compare the two videos together), can be described as melodic death metal, however, still. Singer Jyou’s voice supports this effect. The music is particularly focused on the drums and the bass. The texts, however, are going more towards Gothic. Works as a head behind the musical is Miko especially, whose compositions are responsible. The band’s name is intended to mean about „trace of presence,“ which describes the concept of group. From clothing style itself are the majority of macho, but is also just in places emphasized by some that it is women, although this is true mainly due to Miko.
Since I have a few gaps in the band description this time, I advise all those who want to know more about the band and can propper read the Japanese Kanji, to look at their official Homepage.
#365LifestyleLolitaChallenge: third week (day 18 – 24)
After I asked you last week if I should blog this challenge every day or not, I was told that it’s fine to blog only once a week. So I continue with Sunday entries until the end of January. After that I decide new for February.
Like last time there is an german version too. So now have fun with reading!
Novala’s essay: Let’s talk about Perfume
Below is an English translation of the first of 31 essays/short articles in Takemoto Novala’s recently published 乙女のトリビア ( Trivia for Maidens), originally published in Zipper magazine.
Let’s talk about Perfume – That perfume that suits your style.
Even though I never wear anything but Dior Fahrenheit, I own a lot of perfumes. After all, it’s not just the scent itself that is appealing. If the name is wonderful or the bottle is cute, I find myself wanting to buy it.
Of course I own all the famous ones, like Poizon, Chanel No 5, Shalimar, Les Belles de Ricci, and Babydoll. In Novala Castle, you can find not only Guerlain’s Mitsouko, which nowadays is only worn by stylish older women, but also più cologne, which was once the must-have item for elementary and high school girls.
As an author, someone who writes novels, when I’m creating my characters, not only do I decide what shop they buy their clothing from, but also, I choose a perfume for them to wear. For example, Mishin, the punk rocker in Mishin 2/Casako, wears Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir. After all, it has a saccharine but rocking scent. The aesthetically inclined Aunt Reiko from the horror novel Scale Princess wears Christian Dior’s Poizon. This scent could only suit a woman who chooses an elegant lifestyle of mysticism.
While the note of a perfume (the scent of a perfume is called the “note”) changes slightly from person to person when worn, much like clothing, we don’t want to wear the same thing as everyone else. Because of this, whenever I’m asked to recommend a perfume, I always hesitate. I can only give advice to choose it yourself.
To split perfumes into a few main types, there are refreshing and casual scents, like Gransenbon, and trendy cool scents, such as Dolce & Gabbana. There are elegant perfumes that proclaim that the wearer is quite the lady, like Bulgari Pour Femme, and sexy mysterious types that are noticeable as perfumes such as Poizon and Jean-Paul Gaultier. These are the four main types. By understanding these, you should be able to choose a scent that suits your own personality from the mountain of possibilities.
Even after all this, if I am asked, “Still, tell me one that’s cool right now that you like, even if it’s biased and your own opinion!” well, hmm…I guess in that case, Dior’s Forever and ever. The simple pink bottle is adorable, and it has a rose-based sweetness that is not too heavy, so it can be used for both casual wear and when dressed up. Also, it hasn’t really become exceedingly popular yet, so you won’t overlap with too many other people.
I have worn my own beloved Fahrenheit for many years now, but there are very few men who wear it. However, during the height of the Fuyu no Sonata television drama’s popularity, it became known that Bae Yong Jun liked this scent, and for a while it became very popular with women. It was so troublesome! Bae Yong, how dare you wear the same perfume as Novala!
Anyway, we’ve been talking about perfume, but did you know that there are four ranks for perfume based on concentration of the perfume’s essential oils?
Strictly speaking, “perfume” refers to the highest rank perfume, perfume extract, with which if you apply more than a drop, it will be so strong as to surpass smelling good and be too much. Scents made as perfumes are also very expensive. The next rank is parfum. Most spray perfumes that are commonly used are actually the 3rd rank, eau de toilette. And the last level, with the least scent, is eau de cologne.
Personally, I believe that using perfumes and eau de parfums can wait until adulthood, and yet eau de colognes seem childish, so for teenagers and young women, I recommend eau de toilettes, which are also affordable. However, I’d like you to remember the four ranks of perfumes, perfume extract, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, and eau de cologne, as knowledge that every proper maiden should have.
Toilettes will lose their scent after about four hours, so if you put it on in the morning and go to school, but then have a date with your boyfriend in the evening, you should put it on again. There are many different bottle sizes for toilettes, so why not carry a small bottle in your bag? Should you do this, you will be the master of toilette.
A beloved perfume can life your spirits when worn, even if you aren’t going to meet anyone that day. I like to spray my bed’s pillowcase and comforter with my favorite scent to be wrapped in a content feeling as I drift off to sleep. It feels decadent and luxurious. Please try it~!
I must honestly admit without the Lolita Challenge I had not encountered this essay (despite the fact that Novala Takemoto is quite a term to me) and I had to smile a couple of days after the task has been made to read an essay of the good gentlemen. Because at Day 15 was a task required which came quite familiar to me …
To my „shame“ I must confess that I mentioned none of the perfumes of this essay, and also the differences between the various ranks were not so clear to me.
Own I do 5 perfume, but my favorite is almost empty and also it’s no longer even available, unfortunately (in the picture the one that is right).
Who knows these perfumes that will recognize that I am a big fan of heavy fragrances, because Expecting to Fly, Incubus Succubus Patchouly and Essentiel Patchouli are just such one. The Bruno Bannani Magic Woman I have gifted several years ago by my grandmother. I’ve used it mainly in the time of my training, so I do not constantly smell like patchouli. So this falls quite out of the perfume that I like.
Another exception is the Mora Blackberry, which just smells very fruity. This was the first perfume that I bought myself respectively is it already the third vial of it. And even though I et al therefore have been bullied in my school days – after all, I was the only girl in the class is not the smell of vanilla, but that’s a different topic …
So now I’m curious times in your opinion on the subject. Did you also perfumes that remind you of something or for special events? And what do you think of the essay? Writes me in the comments!
#365LifestyleLolitaChallenge: Second Week (Day 11 – 17)
Today’s time again for the Lolita Challenge. And I‚ve noticed that I‚m pretty much the only one that makes this challenge in the German language. So I have this time evenendeavored that this English version is equal to publish with the German one.
(deutsche Version klick: hier)
Now, hopefully no one complain that this challenge can’t be understood ^^
But enough of that and on to Day 11-17:
ichigokomoriblog 