Get Gorgeous with Honey

With its antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and humectant properties, honey really is the sweetest way to glowing skin and shiny tresses. It's no wonder so many beauty products list it as an ingredient. But before you rush out to the beauty counter, pick up a jar of raw honey (not pasteurized!) and reap the benefits with these tips.

1. Add ¼-½ cup of honey to a hot bath for silky, moisturized, and sweet-smelling skin. Pour in some milk for a bath worthy of Cleopatra herself.
2. Mix a tablespoon of honey with two tablespoons of almond flour to make a paste and use as a facial scrub. 
3. Make this lip scrub for a softer, sexier pout. 
4. For an acne-fighting facial wash, gently massage raw honey into dry skin and let it sit for  10-15 minutes. Rinse off to reveal clean, healthy skin. 
5. Mix equal parts honey and sugar for an awesome body scrub. 
6.  Make a super hydrating hot oil hair mask by mixing three tablespoons of honey with three tablespoons of olive oil and microwaving for 25 seconds. (Use more honey and oil for really long hair.)
7. Help scars fade by smoothing raw honey over them and covering with a bandage overnight. Wash off in the morning.
8. Make a rich body moisturizer by adding a few tablespoons of honey to whipped coconut oil.
9. Cleanse skin with a mixture of one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of lemon juice for a clean, bright complexion.
10. Restore mind and body by drinking a glass of warm water with two tablespoons of honey mixed in. 

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Currently Drooling Over: Bold Accent Pillows

One of the fastest, easiest, and often cheapest ways to redo a room is to add decorative pillows. In an effort to inject more color into our home, I've been looking for new pillows to toss on the sofa; I'm starting to fall in love with bold prints I'm seeing, and I think I may need to update more than just the living room.
 
Hand painted blocks in a cool color combo. 
A classic print lends an air of sophistication and pairs will with other prints.
Colorful pillows with an ethnic print will add charm to a small space, like a reading nook.  
Simple squares make a big impact.
A watercolor effect that's as expressive as it is vibrant might work in the family room.
Polka dots could add a punch of playfulness to my bedroom.
Black, white and yellow by Trina Turk.
Blue cubes from Jonathan Adler are an optical illusion.
A striking pattern in a gorgeous citrusy color.

Happy Friday

It's the first full weekend of autumn, and while it still feels very much like summer in Phoenix, I have the urge to do some baking, one of my favorite fall pastimes. I've made exactly one apple pie in my entire life (and that was with the help of a few peers in my high school cooking class), so I might give it a go this weekend. Do you have a favorite fall activity? I'd love to hear about it.

Have a fantastic weekend and God bless!

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How to Spot Clean Suede

Suede can be a little intimating because it's so high maintenance, but if you've got a small stain, scuff, or spot on your favorite suede piece you can actually clean it yourself. First, make sure the spot is dry, then rub it with a clean towel to bring up the nap. After that, gently rub the area with a pencil eraser and you should be good to go. Beats running out to your dry cleaner every time your suede gets a little dirty, right?

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Corn and Sausage Griddle Cakes with Honey Butter

Griddle cakes are really just pancakes, but somehow calling them griddle cakes makes them sound even more warm and comforting. This weekend I made these corn and sausage griddle cakes and they were a huge hit with my family. They had a slightly crunchy texture thanks to the cornmeal, and the addition of sausage and cayenne powder gave them a little kick. Topped with a drizzle of salty-and-sweet honey butter, these cakes made for a perfect breakfast on a cozy Saturday morning. 

Corn and Sausage Griddle Cakes
6 tablespoons unsalted butter 
¾ cup breakfast sausage, casings removed
1½ cups fresh or frozen corn kernels, thawed if frozen
1 cup yellow cornmeal 
½ cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper 
½ teaspoon baking soda 
¼ teaspoon baking powder
pinch of cayenne pepper
1¼ cups buttermilk
2 large eggs

Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then spoon milk solids from the surface and throw them away. Pour the clarified butter into a glass measuring cup and set aside. 

Cook sausage in a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat, breaking it up into small pieces as it's cooked through, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer sausage to a bowl, then add corn to the same skillet (don't clean or wipe the skillet). Stirring often, cook the corn until it's slightly browned, about 5-6 minutes. Remove corn and add it to the bowl with the sausage. Wipe the skillet clean and set aside.

Whisk the cornmeal and the next 7 ingredients in a medium bowl; in a separate large bowl whisk the buttermilk and eggs. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until combined, then fold in the sausage and corn. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the clarified butter in the corn and sausage skillet, and working in batches, add the batter by the tablespoon. Add more clarified butter between batches. Cook cakes until they're golden and brown, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 1-2 minutes longer. Transfer to paper towels to drain. 

To make the honey butter, melt ½ cup butter (1 stick) butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, whisk in ½ cup honey honey. Serve the warm honey butter over the griddle cakes.

photo by Angelica Golden