fall

Pumpkin Muffins – perfect fall dessert

- Tobia 2 Comments
seeking creative life Pumpkin muffins perfect fall dessert

In all my time blogging I have never shared a muffin recipe here. Not because I don’t like them. Not because I don’t bake them. No I didn’t share because I am very protective of my recipes. Some at least. Today I feel like sharing tough. Not any muffin recipe no. Pumpkin Muffins – perfect fall dessert and my all time favorites. I’ve used to make them quite often but it’s been almost 10 years I last made them. Ingredients were hard to come by back then. Nowadays it’s a bit easier though.

I can not even say why those muffins are something special. They are sweet but not too sweet, they are always moist and soft even when days old – in case they last that long. I used to bake them for my host family and it’s actually a recipe from my host mom from back in the day.

craftaliciousme seeking creative life Pumpkin muffins perfect fall dessert

But without further ado here are the ingredients to make Pumpkin Muffins:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 8 oz / 230g pumpkin pie filling – you can buy it on amazon or make your own
  • 3/4 vegetable oil
  • 1,5 cups of flour
  • 1 tsp of baking soda
  • 1 tsp of baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cups semisweet chocolate chips

If you want to make the pumpkin pie filling from scratch: cut up a pumpkin. I have used the regular halloween pumpkin as well as Hokaido. But in oven on low temperature until soft. Thats it. I have not done cooking it because I feared the taste will diffuse in the cooking water.

How to whip up your pumpkin muffins:

  1. In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin and oil until everything is smooth.
  2. Combine flour, baking soda and baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
  3. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
  4. Fold in chocolate chips
  5. Fill greased muffin pan.
  6. Bake at 200°C/400°F for about 16-20 minutes.

This makes about 12 muffins. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Enjoy

Tobia
seeking creative life Pumpkin muffins perfect fall dessert craftaliciousme

Hello Fall – My Fall Bucket List 2019

- Tobia 6 Comments

Fall is finally here. I have much looked forward to this season as summer was really tough this year being prone to migraines. Just not a huge fan of those hot temperatures and high humidity. So I welcome this season with a new fall bucket list. But as always before getting started with new goals, dreams and wishes let’s have a look at the summer list:

  1. ✓ Spending some more time strolling along Berlins lakes and canals. → We went for some visits at Wannsee, Tegler See and walked around Alt Stralau. So yes.
  2. ✓ Enjoy the balcony to the fullest. → definitely did this. I even managed to keep my plants alive during this heatwave of summer.
  3. Taking a photo trip to a part of Berlin I haven’t yet been or wasn’t for long time.
  4. ✓ Going to two school enrollment ceremonies. → Yes and I even made some Zuckertüten (aka candy cones) for all kids.
  5. ✓ Celebrating Mr. ♡ milestone birthday. → It was a good birthday. Even though he felt sick on his birthday we had a ice cream party and a week later a wonderful dinner with friends and family.
  6. ╳ Finishing #the100daysofcraftaliciousimages project. → still working on it. Currently 31 days to go.
  7. ✓ Sewing summer clothes. → I managed to sew two shirts, have another one ready to stitch together and a short pants (that unfortunately doesn’t fit because I thought I was smarter than the instructions…)
  8. ✓ Making some more jewelry. → I made some lovely birch wood jewelry. Also thinking about selling a few.
  9. ✓ Spa Day with myself → It was wonderful to finally spent a day relaxing.
  10. ╳ Baking from a new recipe → nope… only staples
  11. ╳ Go swimming. → unfortunately not but I came close. I was at a lake and went almost skinny dipping because I had no swim suite. But I chickened out because I didn’t want to leave car keys and camera unattended.
  12. ╳ Eat lots of veggies. → huge fail here. Less veggies more chocolate and cake.
craftaliciousme seeking creative life fall foliage with sprinkler Berlin

Summer you have been other than expected but still great. But now it’s time to move on. For me fall starts with my moms birthday which happens to fall on the official fall start – tomorrow. Here is my fall list I’ve compiled for this season:

  1. Finishing #the100daysofcraftaliciousimages project.
    As mentioned still 31 days to go. I will get this done. However I need to make adjustments for next year.
  2. Participating in #inktober
    I feel like drawing and sketching and I always am more into it when doing a challenge. However I might be putting too much on my plate here.
  3. Participating in #NaBloPoMO again
    Always fun to spent more time on this blog and this would be year four to have a full blogging month.
  4. Sew a pencil skirt
    I have this blue textured fabric and I have a pattern in mind. Just need to sit down and do it.
  5. Baking pumpkin muffins
    They have been a favorite 20 years ago and I haven’t had one in ages. It’s bit more effort since there is no pumkinpie filling available in Germany and you have to make that from scratch.
  6. Take walks and enjoy the changing season.
    My steps have decreased during summer and the heatwave- time to pick it up again. And I love the fall light dancing in the colorful trees.
  7. Sell stuff on eBay
    Lots of things have accumulated again and it’s time to put some effort into finding them a new home. I am going to dissolve my extensive dvd collection.
  8. Read Dracula
    This book is my TBR for too long. Around Halloween I’ll will finally start reading it.
  9. Spending a weekend in Venice
    Longtime dream to visit Venice will come true this fall. Plane and hotel is booked. Now just to figure out what to see.
  10. Getting cozy
    I am looking forward to sitting by my (digital) fireplace, reading, having hot drinks and just be happy and content.
  11. Getting started on xmas presents
    Every year I feel like I should have listened to people when they tell me of things they like so once Christmas comes around I am not lost of ideas. I want to make an effort to already collecting ideas throughout fall. Maybe I’ll have good clues at hand when it gets time to buy things.

I am looking forward to the season. Have you written a fall list too? Please share your ideas. And if need more ideas check out last years list.

Happy leave hunting

Tobia

Fall Bucket List 2018

- Tobia 1 Comment

Hello again,

Did you enjoy the last days of summer? I sure did but I have to be honest I am looking forward to cooler temperatures and the cozy home feel that comes with the fall season.

fall bucket list 2018

Just this week I was visiting my friend and instead of just hanging out and chatting our time away we ended up making apple sauce from her 7 apple trees  – and chatting our time away. This inspired me to make a fall bucket list. Actually the first one on this blog – how did that happen?

  1. Making apple sauce.
    I realised I have never done it before only watched my grandma.
  2. Sewing a maxi skirt.
    I want to expand my wardrobe choices. I created a new pinterest board and am inspired by this look.
    A picture of me wearing it ended up on this blogpost.
  3. Make a tassel necklace.
    As I didn’t get it done in summer – let’s try in fall.
  4. Try a new pumpkin recipe.
    Let me know if you have any good ones.
  5. Drink lots of tea.
    Nothing more to say…
  6. Read even more books.
    I let you in on a secret: I already managed to hit my reading goal for this year. Come join me on Goodreads to share some fun. Check out my posts about my favorite books 2018 part I & part II
  7. Taking walks in the park and cemetery and observe the leaves changing.
    It is always such calming experience. See here.
  8. Go mushroom picking.
    It’s a long lost love and I wish I could make time to do so. Maybe this year.
  9. Celebrate my mothers 60th birthday.
    It is really weird doing so. I remember celebrating my grandpas. Anyone else having strange feelings?
  10. Participating in a charity.
    I’m thinking about going the “Christmas in a shoebox”. The last years I’ve been too late.
    Here is my blogpost about the experience.
  11. Going to BLOGST a blogging conference.
    Lucky me snatched a ticket third time in a row so I will be going to Cologne in November. Who will I meet? Read about my experience and what I learnt about networking here.
  12. Work on my craft lab.
    This is so embarrassing but I put it out here: I am still not done with this room. I really want – no need – to finish it by the end of the year. It drives me crazy. Well, this is semi done I’d say. Not as far as I would like but you can see progress. However I won’t manage my yearly goal I am afraid.
  13. Making a floral arrangement for Sunday of the Dead.
    And maybe donating it to an unattended grave. I made two arrangements however only for my grandparents grave.
  14. Sitting on the balcony listening to the rain.
    Preferably wrapped in a warm coat and som hot beverage in my hand.
  15. Reading more blogs and commenting.
    At least on the weekends I want to catch up and leave some lovely words.
  16. Enjoying a spa day with myself.
    I have to admit that I prefer those days maybe even a tiny bit more compared to having company.

What plans do you have for fall. Love to hear about it in the comments.

Happy fall,

Tobia

Homemade Vegan Bath Bombs

- Tobia 4 Comments
handmade vegan bath bombs

I mentioned that I attended the blogst conference last weekend. One fun thing about this conference is that during coffee breaks you not only drink coffee but can craft. Because those sponsors are cool. They don’t just set up a booth no they set up crafting tables for the attendees to get creative. One of the sponsors was PonyHütchen a natural cosmetics shop from Berlin. And we were able to make our own vegan bath bombs.

 

It was so very simple and most all ingredients are either already in your house or are available in any grocery or drugstore. Now that does sound good right. Not only because the product really is natural if you can actually (almost) eat it. So I asked Lucie (head of marketing & Berlin store fairy) if I can share this simple DIY with you here. She said yes!

So lets get started (recipe makes two vegan bath bombs):

♥ 100 g baking soda (Natron)
♥ 50 g citric acid (Zitronensäure)
♥ 35 g corn starch (Maisstärke)
♥ 15 ml almond oil (Mandelöl)
♥ essential oils, food colors, nonpareils – optional

  1. Now it is really simple. You have to mix well. And by well I mean well. If it is not really mixed the bomb might break when drying up. So take you sweet time, let your mind wonder and start relaxing.
  2. Then press the mixture into a form. We had some half balls but I guess you could easily use silicone mutton of praline forms. However it needs to be packed really good. Otherwise it will all crumble.
  3. Now it needs to dry over night. And ready to go. Wrap them up, gift or just enjoy a bath yourself.

This is a wonderful gift idea. It could also be a cool idea for a girlfriends night. Oh the possibilities.

vegan bath bombs Pony Hütchen

I’ve heard from PonyHütchen before the event but I was happy to have gotten a better idea what they are doing. I have to admit I am usually not the biggest fan of natural cosmetics. Not because I think it is not good valid cosmetics more so because of the fanatics behind it. Fortunately this was not the case it was just lots of love, enthusiasm and joy. I loved the displays they put up in the bathrooms and the packaging is so cute too. It is nice to see such a young fun brand.

vegan bath bombs ponyHütchen products

After I tried their hand cream at the event – it smells amazing and makes the smoothes hands, really no joking here – I was really happy to find a sample of the deodorant cream in the goodie bag. I will give this a good try during my business trips as I like to travel with the smallest amount of weight and it comes in a tiny cute tin. I am excited how it works.

vegan bath bombs Pony Hütchen2

Anyhow, I just wanted to share this discovery from my weekend with you. If you are into vegan handmade cosmetics this could definitely be something for you as they do have some decorative things too. And they own an online shop for everyone not in Berlin. I am not sure about worldwide shipping though.

Now I am wondering, have you ever tried making cosmetics yourself?

Happy Tuesday,

Tobia

 

PonyHütchen Store Berlin | Straßburger Straße 37 | 10405 Berlin

linked to creadienstag | Dienstagsdinge | Handmade on Tuesday | MMI | Freutag

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