The view from my balcony…
Milk and Cookies Bakeshop
This past week, I went to Milk and Cookies Bakeshop. I’ve wanted to go for weeks ever since I stumbled upon them via Instagram. But they sell out (almost) every day, and it’s hard for me to get there before they sell out. It’s frustrating, but it only made me want to try their stuff even more. My friends have gone since they opened and told me how amazing their stuff was.
I was lucky to go on Thursday as soon as they opened, and there were already two people in line waiting. They only allow two people in the bakery at one time so I waited outside, my anticipation and hunger growing.
Once inside, I looked at their selection in the glass cases and knew I wanted to try one of everything. Excessive, but I haven’t had a chance to go and didn’t know what I should try (aside from their sugar cookies–which they are known for). (Their baking items change weekly.)
Undaunted, I got almost one of everything (except for their cake, and I still regret that decision). Their baking is on par with other local high-end bakeries. I also ordered their cold brew with a splash of milk. Their cold brew (not pictured) was creamy, delicious, and not acidic at all! The aftertaste tasted of caramel. Whatever beans they are using is good quality, that’s for sure.
Thursday’s theme for their sugar cookies was ice cream and wow, they delivered the cuteness. Everything about Milk and Cookies Bakeshop is cute. And dang, their baking was delicious. I loved absolutely everything I ordered.
Two ice cream decorated sugar cookies. Macarons top to bottom: Fuzzy Peach, Salted Caramel, Lavender Honey.
The sugar cookies were almost too cute to eat. The cookie part was soft, vanilla scented and buttery. The icing was a little too sweet for me though. The Fuzzy Peach had peach preserves in the middle of the macaron and it was sweet and fresh. The Salted Caramel was my absolute favourite. The caramel was sweet and savoury, creamy, and decadent without being too rich. The Lavender Honey was light and almost reminded me of cereal milk.
Cake Scraps.
Ugly but delicious. It was funfetti and vanilla coconut cake scraps with vanilla icing. The cake scraps was moist but the icing is what made me fall in love with this bakery. It wasn’t American icing that uses butter and icing sugar. It was Swiss Meringue Buttercream! Rich, fluffy, and sweet without being cloying and unbearable. If you don’t think you can commit to a whole cake but still want to try one, I recommend getting a cake scraps box.
Cookie: Vanilla Sprinkle. Sandwich cookies from top to bottom: S’mores and Birthday Cake Brownie.
The Vanilla Sprinkle cookie was chewy and strongly scented with vanilla. It was sweet and I see this being a child’s favourite cookie. The S’mores cookie had chocolate chunks in the cookie part, chocolate buttercream and marshmallow fluff in the middle. It was good but not my favourite and I wouldn’t order this one again. If you like S’mores, you’ll love this one. My favourite was the Birthday Cake Brownie. It was like eating two fudge brownies with vanilla buttercream in the middle. I could eat this sandwich cookie every day (but my waistline disagrees). If you like chocolate and/or brownies, you have to try this.
Cupcakes from left to right: Pina Colada and Toffee Salted Caramel.
I don’t like coconut in my baking, I’m very selective but I loved this cupcake. The moist cake was stuffed with tart but sweet pineapple preserves and the pineapple sugar cookie on top was so cute. But my favourite was the Toffee Salted Caramel cupcake. It was moist, the caramel icing was rich and the cake was studded with toffee bits. But what made it heavenly was the salted caramel stuffed into the cupcake. The caramel is otherworldly. I can’t even describe it. It’s sweet but not saccharine, savoury but not salty, and creamy. I will definitely be ordering the salted caramel full sized cake.
If you do manage to go to the Bakeshop, try and go as soon as they open as there is always lines. When I left the bakery, there was already eight people in line behind me, and they usually sell out after a few hours. It’s a hassle but well worth it. Overall, Milk and Cookies Bakeshop is one of my favourite bakeries in my city. Everything was fresh, moist, delicious, and worth every penny.
Milk and Cookies Bakeshop
5532 Calgary Trail NW
Edmonton, AB T6H 4K1
780-758-1774
Empties! Life Brand Tea Tree Facial Toner
I’ve used this toner (not exclusively) for two years and it’s good.
That’s it. It’s good. Not great but good.
I don’t have blemished skin but I do get blemishes randomly. And when I do, I use this toner. I’m not sure if it reduces my breakouts but its anti-bacterial nature helps prevent more blemishes. During the summer, I get red angry bumps on my décolletage, and using this toner in that area every night for a week not only reduced them but completely prevented them!
That being said, I do have to address the elephant in the room. Yes, denatured alcohol (alcohol denat.) is listed as the second ingredient. I know, I know. Not good.
Which is why I don’t love this toner. Though witch hazel is listed as the third ingredient and tea tree oil is listed as the fourth, the fact that denatured alcohol is listed as a second is iffy to me.
Witch hazel acts as an astringent and anti-inflammatory ingredient, while tea tree oil is an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and is an anti-acne treatment. Both (in theory) are really good ingredients to fight blemishes.
I know alcohol is often added to skincare and there are so many different types. Some are good and some are bad. Denatured alcohol is in the bad category. It’s drying, it strips the skin and can damage your skin’s barrier. In all, not really a good ingredient.
And yet, I still return to this toner. Lately, I’ve been branching out and using gentler or homemade toners but I still keep this in my skincare regime. I can’t seem to quit it. I’m convinced it helps with blemishes and maybe it does. So when my skin is revolting, I reach for this toner.
Note: this will dry your skin out! It’s verrrrry drying and I don’t use it regularly because of that.
Also note: I have combination skin so if your skin leans towards the drier side, please be aware that this will exacerbate your dryness.
Do I recommend this? Honestly, not really. I’m sure there are better tea tree toners out there but for the price (I paid $7.99 CDN and it lasts me 6-7 months), it’s okay.
Overall, I like this toner because of its anti-inflammation and anti-microbial properties but hate that there’s alcohol in it.
Mask of the Week: Dr. Jart Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask
If I could lament on my skin for just a self-indulgent second, I would say “why am I forsaken with broken capillaries, pigmentation from acne scars and sun damage, and rosy cheeks?” My skin isn’t terrible but at the moment, it’s not too great.
I started to incorporate retinol in my routine again and though it’s a gentle percentage of retinol, my skin still hates it. I tried a 1% retinol oil and my skin instantly revolted. Now I’m using a .5% and it’s gentler but still, the purging is nonstop. I’m convinced retinol is trying to do me in and ruin me but I’m just being overly dramatic and paranoid.
I also used a new toner last week with the hope that my skin would love the honey and propolis but it did not. I’m still unsure if it was the new cleanser or the toner. Yes, I know. Don’t try two new products at the same time. But I was impatient. So now I have some red spots that refuse to fade to deal with. I’ve also been slacking on using my AHA toner to help with the pigmentation and cell turnover.
Overall, my skin isn’t at its best. That being said, I learned more about my skin and fine-tuning my routine over the past month of skin troubles.
Enter Dr. Jart.
A trustworthy brand and one of my favourites that I often don’t reach for but rely on when my skin is rebelling. It’s not an affordable brand, by any means. But it is about quality and results. So when I have reactive or dehydrated skin, I reach for Dr. Jart. I trust the brand because I know I’ll get reliable and good results. It’s not a flashy brand with gimmicky packaging (I do love gimmicky aesthetics) but it’s about the contents within. And I respect that.
I plan on using retinol tonight and one thing I’ve learned about retinol is that it is harsh and drying to my skin. So when I do use it, I always make sure to prep my skin with hydration and moisturizers. Sheet masks are so important when I use retinol but with my skin healing right now, I need a sheet mask that isn’t filled with fragrance that will irritate my sensitized skin.
Vital Hydra Solution deep hydrating sheet mask by Dr. Jart is exactly what my skin needed.
The Specifics:
Condition of my skin: Dry after using retinol the night before.
Skin Prep: Double cleansed and prepped my skin with my homemade green tea and witch hazel toner.
Brand: Dr. Jart
Claims: “A cellulose sheet mask that deeply hydrates and replenishes skin’s moisture levels. Aquaxyl: Derived from plant glucose; replenishes and protects vital moisture in your skin. Xylitol: Hydrates and strengthens the skin barrier by preventing water loss. Oligo-hyaluronic Acid: Supports moisturization.” (x)
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol, Panthenol, Betaine, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Algae Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Chlorphenesin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Carbomer, Arginine, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Acorus Calamus Root Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Leaf Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil.
Affordability: I bought this mask on sale for $3.99 CDN.
Smell: There was slight alcohol and floral scent to the mask. It was very faint but I did catch a whiff of it when wearing the mask.
Texture of the essence/serum: The serum is thick, viscous, and clear.
Texture/material of the sheet mask: A thin cellulose sheet mask that was translucent on the face. Though the material of the mask is thin, it was able to hold the serum exceptionally well and clung to my face without me needing to readjust it.
Duration: I wore the mask for 20 minutes.
Does it meet its claims: Yes! This was a deeply hydrating mask that plumped and smoothed my skin. It left my skin well moisturized.
What I like: I like the slight cooling effect of the mask, it was refreshing. I also like how hydrating and moisturizing the mask was, how it clung to my face, how much serum was drenched in the mask, and how much was leftover in the pouch. I am also a fan of how well it plumped my skin. The sheet mask had a plastic liner folded with it so the mask didn’t cling together. I like the thoughtfulness of that.
What I don’t like: I’m not too keen on the smell of the serum. To be clear, it was very faint and I only caught a whiff of it when smelling the pouch and for a brief few seconds when applying the mask. It was faint but I could still smell a floral, alcoholic scent.
Repurchase: Yes! I’m glad I purchased the mask and I will repurchase it when my skin is dehydrated and in need of a hydro-boost.
Recommend: Yes. If your skin is dehydrated, dry, or you just want a boost of hydration, I recommend this mask.
Final thoughts: Though the mask left my skin slightly tacky when applying the rest of my skincare, the products I used glided on my skin smoothly and the tackiness went away. I find Dr. Jart a trustworthy and reliable brand that is in the middle range between high-end and low-end of the spectrum of affordability and luxury. Even the pouch the mask was in had a luxurious feel to it. This mask can be used under makeup and layers well with other skincare products.
Rating: 5/5
- hydrating and moisturizing
- plumps and smooths the skin
- luxurious mask and pouch
- a ton of leftover serum in the pouch
- a slight cooling effect
- layers well under skincare products
- alcohol is listed as an ingredient
Pablo Japanese Bakery Cafe
For my birthday, I wanted something other than cake. There’s nothing wrong with cake…I mean, it’s cake. Cake is delicious. But I wanted something different and fun.
Enter Pablo Cheese Tart Edmonton (or Pablo Japanese Bakery Cafe.) A Japanese bakery and cafe known for its cheese tarts, cheesecakes, ice creams, and drinks. I’ve wanted to go for a while, and in my bid to complete my summer resolution to go out and experience my city, I went today.
With lockdown still in full effect where I live, only a few people were allowed in the cafe so we waited outside. I didn’t mind; it’s a lovely and sunny day.
Once inside, there is a display of mini tarts, tarts, and cheesecakes. Since it was my first time, I went for the original cheese tart, a Basque cheesecake, and a drink. The bakery associate helping me was friendly and chatty, telling me more about their products. It was nice to chat while we waited for our takeaway. I learned that their matcha cheese tart has red beans and mochi in it. Mochi! I will go again for the mochi and matcha combination.
The original cheese tart was $17.50 CDN and was delicious. The filling was light, fluffy, soft, and almost mousse-like. I found the crust to be a little tough but still delicious. The glaze was sweet and added a nice contrast to the creamy, cheesy filling. It was rich but not cloying. It was the perfect balance between sweet and savoury.
The Basque cheesecake was $14 CDN, and it was my favourite. Basque cheesecake is crustless and baked quickly in a very hot oven. The top becomes almost burnt. I was curious to try it since I’ve heard great things about it online. I was worried the browned top of the cheesecake would be dry, but I was wrong. It tasted like caramelized sugar–the same flavour as crème brûlée. It was light and fluffy, sweet but not saccharine. I have to admit, the caramelized top of the cheesecake is what made it delicious (for me). I only had a small piece, but I could easily eat the entire cheesecake by myself.
I also ordered a drink–Lychee Romance. It was sweet, creamy, and had chunks of lychee at the bottom. The top had almost a cheese-like whipped topping. It was interesting and filling, though I’m not sure I would order it again. There are other drinks I would like to try.
Overall, I enjoyed Pablo Cheese Tart Bakery and Cafe. The menu is large to satisfy many people, the customer service was fantastic, and the food was exceptional.
If you have a chance to go, I highly recommend you do so! And if there’s a line, I promise you, the Basque cheesecake makes the wait worthwhile.
Pablo Cheese Tart Edmonton
10163 81 Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T6E 1W9
587-415-9866
Birthday Girl
Excuse this self-indulgent post but I’m celebrating myself today. This birthday feels like a drag this year but I’m trying hard to be positive. Cheers to the old days when we were young and our biggest worries were if we could eat candy for breakfast and if our favourite television show was going to be a new episode or a re-run.
Yesterday…
I went to an ice cream truck yesterday with my family. It was sunny and windy outside and we decided last minute to go. It was fun and the ice cream was delicious! I made a list of local bakeries and restaurants, and food trucks I’d like to go visit and so far, I’ve gone to two of them. My waistline may not like my summer’s resolution to go out and enjoy my city but I am.
We visited one of the Scoop n Roll Creamery trucks. There was a long lineup but it went quickly and was totally worth the wait. Scoop n Roll Creamery is a fun experience. They pour the liquid ice cream base with mix-ins (such as fresh strawberries or mangoes) on a frozen flat top and mix the liquid ice cream until it becomes frozen and then they scrape the ice cream into rolls. They chat with you while they work and they were so friendly. Their menu is quite extensive and they have many different ice cream flavours, mix-ins, and toppings to choose from.
From left to right: Pistachio ice cream with fresh mangoes and strawberries, Booza (a mastic ice cream that is flavoured with orange blossom water and pistachios), matcha ice cream with fresh mangoes and strawberries.
The pistachio ice cream didn’t have an artificial flavour, but rather, a deep toasted pistachio flavour. The matcha ice cream tasted like matcha but without the bitterness and the Booza! Wow. I had ordered that flavour and I’m sad it’s a weekly special and not on their permanent menu. It’s chewy and stringy, light in flavour, and refreshing.
Overall, I’m happy I went and I know I’ll be visiting them again this summer. If you have a chance to go in Edmonton, I highly recommend it. I hope you have something similar in your city!
Last Saturday…
Here’s to me going outside and enjoying late spring/early summer!
I’m back!
Life’s been pretty busy but also stale at the same time. It’s the same old routine, rinse and repeat, over and over.
I love routines but they can get quite dull after months of it. Do I blame the lockdowns and staying inside or is it me not wishing to do anything? At this point, I’m not sure. But I do know that I’m tired of it.
So this summer, I have decided to (safely) go out and do things. What sort of things? Pretty much just eat at food trucks and go for walks. Spend more time with my dad, be more intentional with my energy and be more present.
It’s exciting, right? I finally feel a spark of excitement after months of feeling anxious over life or nothing at all.
My first poetry book was published in March and it was both exhilarating and unnerving. I wrote it during such a painful period in my life and it was (and still is) extremely personal to me. But it was time to release it into the wild and let it go. When I have bad days, I read a few poems from it and know just how far I’ve come.
My second poetry book is set to be released next month. It was ready in April but I wasn’t ready to let it go. I tend to feel like I need to rush things but also hold them back at the same time. What a conundrum. But I’m ready now. This collection is a sequel (of sorts) to my first collection. Whereas my first book is dark and delves into one’s mental health and loneliness, this collection focuses on one’s light and resilience. Darkness and light. I wrote it during recovery threeish years ago and I am immensely proud of it.
It’s odd to publish my years-long journey from illness to recovery through poetry and let the world in on it. But I wouldn’t change a thing.
Lately, I’ve been focusing on skincare. More than I have in the past. Being more intentional with what I put on my face and with sunscreen. I must confess, for years, I never used sunscreen and ouch. So now I’m trying to rectify that with daily usage. I wish I could go out and wear a face full of makeup—I miss it so much. But I don’t see the point when I cover half my face up with a mask. I’m planning on posting more here again. I miss it.
Anyway, I’m alive. I hope you’re well. Thanks for looking.
A.
Honeysuckle Haiku 