Have an idea for a story? Mlifeandstyle@theotherpress.ca life & style // no. 9 ¢ An explanation for the challenges MCNs face ¢ Morphe is finally at Sephora with fun, affordable palettes ..and more! A coffee and guilt-free desserts paradise >» Cupping 8 review Daniela Becerril Contributor f coffee and sweets are as important to you as they are to me, I’m happy to share with you that I’ve found a great spot. At Cupping 8 you'll find exquisite, healthy, and allergy-friendly desserts. When paired with a cup of strong, organic coffee, these treats will give you the boost you need to meet those deadlines and nail just about any other activity on your to-do list. Just a 10-minute walk away from Coquitlam campus along Pinetree Way, this small dessert and coffee paradise goes unnoticed by most pedestrians. Coffee cupping is actually the art—or professional practice—of evaluating and appreciating the taste and smell of brewed coffee. With more than 10 coffee and latte options, Cupping 8 is the right place to start coffee tasting like a pro. Right after the awakening aroma of coffee, the dishes on the tables catch your eye, as they look too good to be eaten: Cake slices topped with pattern figures of green tea powder and garnished with fruits and whipped cream; cappuccinos with foam figures; and a couple of other beautifully avant-garde dishes. At the till, you realize there’s a lot to choose from. Cupping 8 is allergen- conscious with their many different homemade desserts such as their signature tofu cheesecake, waffle ice cream sandwich, and sago soup. They also offer organic coffee in espressos, Americanos, lattes, and cappuccinos. Plus they have snack, dinner, and lunch sets for a reasonable price. I had the tofu cheesecake set, which includes the cake (mango, green tea, or Americano) and a coffee or tea. The green tea tofu cheesecake—made with non-dairy cream cheese, whipped and sour cream, organic green tea powder, non-GMO tofu, and agar-agar—has a tender texture that melts in your mouth, making it definitely a must-try. I paired the cake with a matcha latte and, although the latte wasn’t as hot as I expected it to be, it was very enjoyable. On my second visit, I tried the Japanese gluten-free cheesecake, which is also a delicacy—jiggly and fluffy with a rich and creamy taste. It’s much like the famous sponge cake from Hakata, but with fewer calories than the standard cheesecake. Since it was late, I had a Swiss Water Decaf, which unlike other processes of decaffeination is 100 percent chemical-free, preserving all the flavour of the bean—so forget about that funny taste that most decafs have. Honestly, this is a guilt-free dessert and coffee paradise. The place has about 30 seats so you'll probably end up sharing one of the big tables with other people (great for group projects, if you want to look on the bright side) or sitting in a tiny table where there's only room for your coffee and laptop. Quit searching for the perfect gift >» Just make it! Roshni Riar Staff Writer He shopping comes with a lot of pressure. Between braving busy shopping malls, finding the perfect gift for someone in your life, and not spending a fortune, the whole experience can be stressful. One way to avoid all of that is to make some gifts yourself! However, it’s hard to know where to start when it comes to making gifts for other people, but that’s where I come in. I’ve provided two DIY holiday gift ideas that are easy to make, affordable, and sure to bea hit with the people in your life. Tealight candles All you'll need is: Tealight cups Small pre-tabbed wicks Paraffin or soy wax flakes (they’re better for taking on colour and smells than beeswax) Essential oils or fragrance oils of your choice Crayons The most important thing to remember when making your candles is to have everything ready before you start melting your wax. Pick your colours and scents ahead of time, depending on the preference of who is receiving the batch youre making. Line up your tealight cups and place the wicks in the centre. Ifyou have any chopsticks, place the wicks in between two chopsticks laid horizontally on top of the tealight cup so they have support when you pour the wax. The best way to melt candlewax is by using the double boiler method. The less intense, indirect heat is best for melting chunks of wax evenly. Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down to medium-low and place your wax into the bowl (careful, the bowl will be hot!), stirring until it’s melted. Depending on the number of candles you're hoping to make, you can add more wax. Once the wax is melted, break up a coloured crayon and mix in half slowly, adding more crayon depending on how vibrant you want the finished candle to be. ae —_— Once the wax is coloured to your liking, take it off the heat and let cool fora moment. Then begin to add your essential or fragrance oils. Drop them in slowly while mixing, adding about six drops for every cup of wax you have. Get creative if you want! Mix and match a bunch of scents; my personal favourite is vanilla, mint, and black pepper. After adding the scent, slowly pour the wax into your tealight cups, leaving a bit of space at the top. Let them cool overnight and when the wax is hardened, you can trim the wicks accordingly and package them up with wrapping paper or small gift bags. Image via The Soap Queen Polymer clay ornaments All you'll need is: A variety colour pack of Scupley polymer clay Black, white, and gold acrylic paints Christmas themed cookie cutters Rolling pin Ribbon Preheat your oven to 275 degrees, roll out some polymer clay to about a quarter- inch thickness (or try rolling three different colours together to make a marble effect), and cut out the shapes you would like to make. Poke a hole at the top of each shape for you to thread some ribbon through after it’s hardened. Paint clear glaze on the front of the ornaments and place in oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then let cool for another 15 minutes. Using a thin paintbrush, brush gold acrylic paint around the edges of the ornament to give it a funky finish. With another thin paintbrush, you can add the initials of the people you'll be giving the ornaments to. Let paint dry and then thread through some ribbon, tying to create a loop. With your candles ready to go, you can tie your ornament to the wrapping to complete the gift. The ornament can act as a gift tag before it’s put on the tree, so it’s a nice two-for-one. Even when the candles you've made have burnt out, the ornament can be put up year after year and will serve as a nice reminder of the time you handmade and personalized something for someone in your life.