Thursday, July 31, 2014

6 Things Making Me Happy This Week

That sweet sweet moment on Saturday morning when I enjoy a homemade iced coffee and watch the Food Network is calling to me!  I'm comin' Saturday! 

1.  This is just the saddest.  I actually don't find many food advertisements to be appetizing anyways (they always looks so plastic-y to me) but dang, those real pictures are rough.  Somebody doesn't know the value of some natural light.  #bloggersknowhatsup  

2.  Brownie Brittle!  Dyyiinnnggg.  I found Brownie Brittle a few weeks ago in my local grocery store and that stuff is like crack.  It's got the absolute essence of a brownie but it's crunchy and tastes light as air.  And it's 0 calories (in my mind)!  I wanted to try a homemade version but I never got around to testing it out.  This recipe is heading straight to the top of my list!  

3.  This is possibly the world's best pasta.  I haven't even tasted it but I'm confident I'm right.  

4.  The thing is, if I were to try this eye look myself, I would look like a 1980's prom queen who got caught in the rain.  There's just no way I could make it work.  But I so badly want to try!  So the question is, what day of the week is best to look like a 1980's prom queen who got caught in the rain?  

5.  I am 100% certain that this is what every yoga teacher wants to say.  I'd like to take a yoga class where people just be real with me.  

6.  Feel like I just need to tuck these affirmations away for a rainy day.       

What's making you happy this week?
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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

DIY Potting Succulents

Plants!  Did you grow up with live plants in your house?  We were a strictly fake-flower family.  No time to fuss with watering and such.  We even had silk plants in the flower boxes outside.  Classy.  

So introducing real plants in my home was a huge step!  Aside from the odd bouquet now and then, flowers and plants are virtually nonexistent in my house.  Welp, I set out to change all that as soon as I saw this Spring tutorial by EssieButton (video link here).  I loved the look of succulents!  I didn't even know the word succulents until that video.  You can judge me for that.  

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Fig and Cherry Sunflower Seed Oat Bars

Oh it's been so long since I've made a bar.  Why was I holding out on myself?  Bars are some of my favorite desserts! They don't feel decadent but, hello, these are packed with butter and sugar.  But it's still really easy for me to convince myself that these are healthy granola bars or something.  I'm so good at self-deception.

Even when I made the damn recipe by hand.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

The Weekly Manicure #2: Rimmel Salon Pro Reggae Splash


This week's manicure injected a little color into my nails!  But not too much color.  Let's not get crazy.  

This is the first Rimmel polish I've owned, but it won't be the last.  Rimmel Salon Pro Polish in Reggae Splash is a beautiful muted neon orange.  Cantelope, if you will.  It seems like a color that wouldn't be flattering on the nails but it somehow just is.  The color reminds me of those Flintstone Push Pops that were my sole diet every summer of the 90's.  

The formula is pretty amazing for the price.  It's thick but not goopey.  It's a two coat job, but then again, most polishes are so I won't hold that against it.  I think the thing I enjoy most is the brush.  It's short and fat and makes for a quick, one stroke application.  

What have you got on your nails this week?

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Thursday, July 24, 2014

6 Things Making Me Happy This Week

A little quiet around these parts this week, eh?  Between traveling a bit, getting back to work and feeling a little blah, I've fallen a bit behind.  Fear not, I've still got happy-making things this week:

1.  These industry food styling tips explain why I never really find advertisement food to be appetizing: because it's hardly real food.  I've got mad respect for food bloggers who don't use these tips and still make food look downright irresistible.  

2.  Tea fanatics like myself will like this handy guide to tea.  I hardly consider myself to be a tea snob but loose leaf tea is where the magic happens.  

3.  Well, while we're talking about guides to things (I lead an exciting life, don't I?), how about oats?  I found this to be SO helpful.  It's like, I sorta knew these things but I also sorta didn't?  I sure as heck didn't know what to do with a groat though.  If I had to guess, I would have said a groat was a troll-like man who lived under a bridge.  

4.  Uuuhhhh, where was this list of questions you should ask at every job interview back when I was interviewing and miserable?  Because I always know you should ask questions after an interview but obviously my mind is blank and all I can think of is that I usually have to pee and I'm probably sweating and I'm so thirsty and "what's the company culture like?"  

5.  Omelet Scones?  Yup!  I'll take one please.  Or seven.  

6.  I just love this "Letter from Anthony Bourdain."  So many leather jackets.  
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Thursday, July 17, 2014

7 Things Making Me Happy This Week

Another week of summer flown by!  And I'm jetting off to NYC this weekend to visit the little sis!  Woo!  Let's talk about happy things:

1.  Seinfeld emojis are the best news of the week!  Since getting cable recently, it seems like there isn't an hour of the day when an episode of Seinfeld isn't airing and I'm lovin' every minute of it Jerry!  Binge watching til bedtime?  Yep.  

2.  You'll probably notice that around these parts, I don't make a lot of desserts that require much intricate decorating.  There are several reasons for this (laziness, lack of skills, laziness...) but when I spy a cake like this Trix Cake, it makes me want to run to the kitchen and have at it.  

3.  I LOVE reading about marketing tricks for different industries and this list of restaurant menu secrets was fascinating.  I don't know why I'm surprised to find that so much research has gone into menu creation.  It makes you wonder what other sorts of marketing tricks we fall prey to on the daily.  I'd love to know industry secrets for cosmetics since I am a documented sucker for pretty packaging.  

4.  When I was younger I distinctly remember my Grandma Anna using a mortar and pestle to grind up vitamins and vaseline to make her "salve," which she would put on her face for supposed beauty benefits.   She was a peculiar, fascinating woman.  We all joked about it and chalked it up to the one million other odd things my grandma did.  According to xoVain though, my grandma was actually on to something.  Aren't grandma's always right? (and weird).  

5.  Since recently painting a dresser in my bedroom, I've been drunk on painting!  I want to paint all the furniture in my home (but oddly not the walls...).  Just look at this adorable bar cart!  I'd take up drinking a nightcap every day just as an excuse to make that cart.  

6.  It's amazing how it sometimes takes one article for something to click.  This article on silicones in beauty products answers so many questions for me!  I feel like I can make much more informed purchases with a little knowledge on the ingredients in cosmetics.  If you've got 10 minutes to spare, I really recommend the read.  

7.  Ok, let's all just get a grip people! 

What's making you happy this week?
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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

It's Love: Miss Manga Mascara

Why yes, those ARE fake flowers.  What of it?

I'm in looooovvveeeee!

It's rare that I find a mascara that I like so quickly after trying it.  Often times, I need to let mascaras dry out a bit before I really fall in love.  And that's ok.  I'm prepared for that.  But gee whiz, is it nice to love a mascara after the first use.  Miss Manga, you saucy minx!  

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Potato Chip Rice Krispies

Oh yes I did.  Potato Chips in the Rice Krispies.  We all understand this concept because whether you want to admit it or not, we all dipped our french fries in our milkshakes when we were younger.

Don't even deny it.  I KNOW YOU DID TOO.

And it kinda worked right?  There was something delicious about the bland salty potato being covered in cold sweet milkshake.  Because even as 7 year olds we understood that salty + sweet = heaven.

Trust your inner 7 year old.

Monday, July 14, 2014

The Look: Easy Tuck and Cover

Perfect. Summer. Hair.  Period.  

I've spent 28 summers of my life dealing with heat and humidity.  That's 28 summers of bad hair days.  And finally, FINALLY, my 29th summer I wised up.  Here's the trick: just give up.  

And I mean that in the best way possible.  I don't fuss with curling my hair much (just the parts that matter), and rarely wear my hair down in summer.  I am a high-powered business woman on the go who does not have time to fuss! (Did you picture a 1980's-style woman in a shoulder padded blazer with sensible shoes?  I did)  So, easy but stylish updo's are my jam.  

Sunday, July 13, 2014

The Weekly Manicure #1: Formula X Brain Power

Incredibly natural hand pose

I thought it would be fun to do a super casual (i.e. pics taken with my iPhone) manicure post each week since I'm always painting my nails and I rarely use the same colors too frequently.  And cuz I wanna, ok?  

Thursday, July 10, 2014

5 Things Making Me Happy This Week

We did it.  We made it to Friday.  Hallelujah.

1.  I don't need this, I don't need this, I don't need this. http://www.beautezine.com/bobbi-brown-surf-sand-collection-for-summer-2014-photos-information/  #nobuyjuly 

2.  Cats Sitting Awkwardly couldn't get any better unless it was Cats Chillin' in Boxes.  

3.  I am forever is awe of the beauty of pies.  This Bumpy Cherry and Almond Pie is gawjus.  Making a beautiful pies is something that is forever out of my grasp.  Good thing I can make a damn good cookie.  

4.  If the word "nachos" exists, I provide my stamp of approval.  No further explanation necessary.  These Apple Nachos are embarrassingly easy and I'm a bit ashamed I've never done this before.  I'm losing my nacho street cred.   

5.  I have this problem where most blushes bafflingly look the same on me.  And it's alway "clown face pink" no matter what shade I chose.  I think I'm defying the laws of light and color with my ability to alter all blushes once they hit my skin.  So this list of Nude Blushes is now my Bible.  I've been eyeing the Josie Maran Cheek Gelee for quite sometime and now it only beckons me more.    T minus 20 days until #buyeverythingAugust  

What's making you happy this week?

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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Blueberry Pinwheels

I love a good dessert that looks fancy and sophisticated but is secretly easy enough to do on a lazy Sunday morning.  Pinwheels are that dessert.  Don't be deceived by their adorable playful shape.  They're dead simple and *gasp* I even used store-bought pie dough.  

Go ahead and judge me.  

Sunday, July 6, 2014

The Best Foot Treatment

I almost hesitate to write this post because I don't want to scar you for life with tales of my feet.  Suffice it to say, they're bad.  Especially in summer, I do quite a number on my feet.  Namely, I'm barefoot whenever possible.  I've been that way since I was a kid.  If I'm indoors, I'm barefoot.  

Well, except for at the office.  Don't think I haven't considered it though.  

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Making Me Happy This Week

It's a LONG WEEKEND!!!  'Nuff said.  

1.  This Vanilla Date Smoothie just speaks to me.  Imagine those sweet sticky dates being pulverized in that smoothie.  Ooooo and a dash of cinnamon?  Breakfast of champions. 

2.  Uh yikes, this post was a little too real for me.  I am the QUEEN of justifying things!  Dessert, makeup, whatever.  You name it, I can justify it.  

3.  Vanilla Cornmeal Crumbcake?!  The woman is a genius, pure and simple.  

4.  Looking for a good LOL?  Coast your eyeballs on over to this list of "Every English Novel Ever."  I love it.  Being someone who has often fantasized about living in 18th and 19th century England, this list just feels right.  

5.  Bad news guys, we're definitely doing it wrong.  Apparently, Marilyn Monroe ate a cup of warm milk with raw eggs every morning for breakfast.  And here I've been spending all my time eating raw eggs for lunch.  

6.  In reality, I'd be lucky if I could successfully execute even one of these Projects You Can Make With Paper but a girl can dream.    

So what's making you happy this week?

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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

No Buy July

Lord help me.  I'm making a commitment to myself and to my bank account.  July will be a "No Buy" month.  

It'll be miserable.  

I mean, enlightening!  It'll be enlightening!  

You may have noticed that I enjoy beauty products.  In fact, I love them.  I love makeup and nail polish and skincare and I'm not ashamed of it.  Beauty and baking are like, my thing.  

But. 

I've got a decent collection, to put things lightly.  I've got more makeup than any one woman needs and that's a fact.  So I want to challenge myself to dig deeper into my collection and rediscover old favorites.  Experiment with things I already own.  Because there's plenty to experiment with.  I don't need the newest eyeliner or palette or lipstick.  I just usually want it really really bad.  So I'm gonna try a little thing called self-control.  I hear it's worth trying.  

Please support me in my time of need.  

Will you try No Buy July?  

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