Holiday Updates

This holiday season seemed to appear so much faster this year! A few months back I posted about how I was nervous to celebrate my favorite time of year as a single woman. So far I think I have been able to handle myself just fine :). We just found out we have to work Thanksgiving day so I am actually relieved I did not make big plans. 

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of love I have received from all my friends. It is hard to feel alone with this amazing support system. This post will eventually be about surviving retail during the holidays so feel free to skip this sappy portion. Shits about to get real. 

The greatest gift I have received this season is hope that there is someone out there for everyone. Sometimes you go through painful trying experiences so you will be open to the people God brings into your life. He is rarely early, never late, but always right on time. 

Maybe my life plan strayed. I wasn't married by 23 and didn't have my first child by 25. Would I have an amazing career and find my calling as a foodie if I did follow that plan? Probably not. Would I have met the man that makes me believe fairy tales are fact? Definitely not. Keep an open heart. You never know who will find you. 

Onto the post!

Surviving retail 101

1. Have a plan. Who are you buying for? Write it down with a budget of what you can spend on each person. Once to hit that number stop! You wouldn't believe how many times I find things in packaging that were forgotten gifts. No reason to over spend. 

2. Black Friday is a scam. Every business including my own will freak, but it is true. You are going to get the same deals the week before and the week after. Maybe you can score one good thing, but did you really need that $75 RCA tv when there is a $200 LG as every day price?? Nah

3. Save your coupons. Every year I make an email and sign up for every store newsletter. The best coupons you will get this week will be kohls, express, bath and body works, loft, limited, macys, gap and  jcpenney. Sign up now!

4. Shop online. Cyber Monday is December 1st. Only hold out for that if you are buying electronics. Otherwise just buy everything in Black Friday. I have been in retail management for almost 10 years and every Black Friday I have bought 75% of my gifts online during my lunch break. Almost everywhere will be free shipping. Ship to my home for free and I don't have to wait in line? Yes please. 

5. Stock up on your favorite drinks! Publix has keurig Starbucks Christmas blend for $6.99! That's a steal for sure! 

Happy shopping!

Single Girl Dinner

I have always been under the impression that single girls are lonely and depressed living in the bottom of cartons of ice cream. Clearly the is not the case! This has been my first opportunity to experiment and try things that I probably would not serve my guests unless they were intoxicated. I snapped chatted my meal last night to a few friends and I could not believe the feedback I received! Unfortunately the only picture I have is a screen shot of the snap since I really did not think it looked very appealing. 

Last night when I got off work I was tired and grumpy from such a long shift. All I wanted was some comfort food and a beer. In moderation of course. Still need to maintain this yoga body ;) this is what I came up with after a dragged myself to the kitchen in search of a fast comforting meal. 

To start. Crack open your favorite drink. Something ice cold. My current favorite is this eye patch ale. So cold and bitter yet refreshing. 

I used fresh grated cheddars. White, extra sharp and mild. 

Off the vine tomato sliced. 

1/2 fried chicken breast 

1 egg 

Louisiana hot sauce

100 calorie wheat English muffin 

1/2 tbsp butter 

Salt and pepper 

In a skillet heat up the butter. Once the skillet is covered put your English muffin insides down and add in the egg to fry. Salt and pepper as desired. 

I microwaved the chicken for 30 seconds. I made from scratch the day before. I will include those directions below. 

Flip your English muffin over add the cooked egg carefully and cover with cheese. Top with chicken, hot sauce  and tomatoes. Enjoy!!!!!!

For the chicken. I have a deep fryer. If you don't just heat oil in a skillet on medium high. You need the oil to be around 350 degrees for a nice crispy batter.  For the dry ingredients. I fill a freezer ziplock with flour, 1 tsp baking powder, salt, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, 2 full tbsp paprika. For the wet. 2 cups of buttermilk and hot sauce to preference. Dip boneless skinless chicken breast into the wet then the dry before repeating. This double battering with ensure a great texture. Fry about 7 minutes on each side until brown and crispy. Salt again while hot if desired. 

Channeling Lauren Conrad

True to herself Lauren Conrad sported her signature winged liner on her wedding day. 

There is something so elegant about simple makeup and a matte black wing. Lauren's wing always has the perfect cat eye flick at the end. Very different then the traditional wing which goes straight out. 

So today I used my revlon nearly naked foundation with my too faced bronzer on my cheeks and lid. Then topped it off with a classic wing and my benefit mascara. 

Happy winging :)

Tips and tricks to tone

This month is the anniversary of the start of my weight loss journey. I say weight loss but really my ultimate goal is to be healthy and happy with my body. One year ago I committed to myself that I would do just that. Now I want to share a few tips I've picked up over the year that have kept me going even if I am feeling lazy. 

1. The commercial plank

Tuesdays are really long days for me at work and I do not always get a chance to go to the gym. When I settle in to watch new girl and the mindy project (hilarious btw) I hold a plank for the duration of each commercial break. This will keep your core engaged and metabolism going while you sleep.

2. Eat more kale

Kale is such a great green to incorporate into your diet. I could eat it raw, but for those of you who cannot just chop some up to add into your soups or steamed veggies. I eat kale in almost every meal. It is filling and packed with nutrients.

3. Drink more water

I hear this all the time. I always think yeah I drink plenty. In order for you to lose weight you need to drink half your body weight in ounces. Try counting out your water for the day. You will be surprised how much more you need to drink.

More tips to come, but these are my all time favorite and the ones that definitely work.

Be Someone's Hero

With all the changes in my life lately I have really been struggling to find a balance with my emotions. 

I have really been trying to put forth an effort to helping others. The problem with being emotional while reaching out to others is you may start doing nice things to get attention. This is a losing battle. 

I recommend trying to do something anonymously such as buying a coffee for the person behind you or trying to be a prayer warrior for 5 people of your choosing. 

When you do things for the right reason your heart will start to heal. 

Feeling Pretty Blue

Can we talk about this weather for a minute? I live in Georgia where the heat rages up to 100 degrees every day and lately it has been sticky and humid. This weekend the weather broke into a perfect 68-70 . We live on the lake so we opened all the windows and have been enjoying this beautiful fall breeze. 

I cannot stop wearing this shirt. The beautiful deep mint and blue gray colors this season are enough to have me obsessed! They are a nice break from the traditional browns and oranges that we typically wear this time of year. I also believe they are universally flattering colors. I am very fair and this blue blouse makes the blue in my eyes pop! 

Shirt : Ann Taylor LOFT 

Necklace : The Limited 

Pair with a nice low key neutral lip and you are ready to embrace this gorgeous weather!

Life of the Party Dip

I'm going to share a secret with you. This is the best dip you can ever bring to a party. Your friends will beg you for the recipe and it takes 20 minutes to make! 

I made this for a small get together and it was all I heard about for days from my guests. So creamy sweet and spicy!

Bacon Pepper Jelly Cheese Dip

What you need:

7 strips of thick bacon cooked cooled and chopped

16 oz cream cheese

1 cup diced smoked mozerella 

1 cup jalepeno pepper jelly 

1/2 cup sour cream 

2 tbsp full fat mayo ( I used target brand real simple mayo) 

Feel free to swap anything for a reduced fat version or even turkey bacon but the mayo should be full fat.

Directions 

Preheat the oven to 350. I microwave the cream cheese for 30 seconds to make it easier to hand mix. Combine everything but the bacon in a oven safe dish. Top with extra cheese if you choose and chopped bacon. Bake for 20 minutes. 

You can serve this with celery, toasted baguette, pita bread, crackers or even a spoon! Delicious! 

Moving On

So this is going to be a more personal most then I normal do, but I feel like it needs to be said. The past few months have been a complete whirlwind for me. I started the year looking for a home with my future husband fully prepared to start a family. As of two months ago I am single for the first time in 10 years starting over at 28 years old. I was hurt and confused. To be honest completely lost. I considered leaving my job and running back home to wallow in my misery. I was terrified to be alone. Terrified at the idea of putting new furniture together, losing a gym partner, not having anyone to practice my recipes on. Terrified to be alone on the holidays. Fortunately for me the pull of God is much greater and I woke up one Sunday knowing I needed to be in church. The message was so enlightening it truly changed the way I was looking at my life. I went from thinking I was being punished for something to realizing God was pushing me out of my comfort zone for something greater. I was granted the peace I needed to be able to move on with my life and now I have the incite to help comfort others. So now here I am a completely confident woman sitting in a restaurant, alone, and being completely at ease. For those of you that find yourselves in similar situations. Terrified to start over. I will share my secrets with you.

 Step 1. Accept that your circumstances have nothing to do with you. You will not be able to change them so stop trying. The moment you release yourself from the guilt and the constant fear that you will be alone I promise you the weight will be lifted.

 Step 2. Focus on you! This is such an important step. Do not let yourself drown in buckets of Belgian chocolate gelato. Exercise! Eat healthy! Take care of yourself! I started packing my lunches for work so I will not be tempted to buy fast food. Yogurts, hummus, fresh fruits. These are all easy things to keep on hand. I have always practiced yoga, but now I am taking it to new levels. Challenging myself even more. Setting goals. Maybe you have always wanted to try indoor rock climbing. Now is your time. Step out of your comfort zone. You will not regret it.

 Step 3. Treat yourself. There are two things you absolutely need in your life. A date night perfume and the perfect dress. These two things are essential. You need a perfume that you have always wanted, that smells delicious on your skin and that makes you feel sexy. The dress. I searched high and low for my dress. A dress that is 100% for me. It makes me feel good about my body. I am the most confident when wearing this dress. It does not matter what anyone else thinks about this dress. If you feel sexy and confident then you will radiate this and others will be attracted to you just because you are comfortable with yourself. 

Step 4. Always be ready for what life will throw at you. This might seem like common sense, but you would be surprised at how many women do not follow these practices. Shower and shave your legs every day. Keep a luxurious lotion on hand to put on before bed every night. Make sure you do regular manicures and pedicures. Obviously you do not need to go spend money to have these done. They are easily done at home. My best guy friend always tells me that easiest way to tell if a women takes care of herself is to check her pedicure. I will never forget those words.

 Step 5. Be yourself! Now I am not saying tell everyone your deepest darkest secrets or announce the private conversations you have with your cats when you are alone. Think of how you act when you are alone with your best friend. Full of laughter and not trying to impress anyone. That is how you need to be. I am not ready to put myself out there and date anyone right now, but I get asked out on a daily basis. DAILY. I know it is because I am being myself 100%. I am approachable because I am not trying to pick up a date. I have so many friends that put on a show when they go out to meet men. Then they wonder why it does not last. These men have no idea who they are.

 Step 6. This is by far the most important of all the steps. Get yourself together spiritually. Something as simple as just reading a few passages in the Bible will really make a difference. I suggest reading any writings from the apostle Paul. Find a women's group at church or join spiritual yoga. You need something to fill your heart with love. 

Step 7. The final step. Get a hobby. Get ten hobbies! Do not just keep yourself busy. Find something you have always wanted to do. So here I am. Only two months later, Completely at peace. Loving my life. I have more friends then I deserve, I am more active at the gym and considering getting my yoga certification, I practice all my new recipes and have huge things happening at my job. I am telling you. These 7 simple steps will change your life. Trust me. 

My Fall Predictions

Every year we all sit around waiting for the fall trends to emerge. Spring 2015 fashion shows just ended and judging by what the audience was wearing here are my predictions. 

The camo tshirt

(Jcrew factory store $40)

Camo is often trickled throughout a lot of fall fashion. Last year it was more about camo flats or backpacks. This year I can imagine a dressed up camo tshirt.

The statement necklace 

(Francesca's collection $25)

Let's be honest. The statement necklace is going to be here for a while. I love delicate gold pieces, but to dress up a tshirt there just is nothing better than a statement necklace. 

Thick leggings 

(New York and company leggings $50)

These leggings can absolutely be worn as pants. Thick material with a faux leather stripe is perfect for fall. Goes with any tshirt. 

Brownish nude lips

Last year it was all about the deep vampy red. This year it's more of an understated brownish nude. Jaclyn Hill just released a few beautiful colors with Gerard costmetics and maybelline released a new line of matte nudes. 

What are you wearing this fall????

Facials and Yoga Straps

My skin has been acting terrible lately. I have been under a lot of stress at work and I definitely see the difference in my skin. Origins had been an absolute life saver for me. I have always used their moisturizer and eye creams but I have recently started using their face masks and acne treatment. My go to routine is to use the charcoal treatment once a week and follow up with the over night drink up mask. The super spot treatment is perfect for smaller areas that break out. The redness almost immediately went away! Sephora also started carrying single treatments and the brighten pearl is hands down the best mask I have ever used! My skin had a glow like I had just gotten back from the spa. 

Another thing that has really helped my skin is yoga. I have been practicing for years, but I finally incorporated a yoga strap. Life changing! Using the strap was just the push I needed to jump start my strengthening and toning routine. If you haven't tried using a yoga strap I 100% recommend it! 

No Knead Orange Rolls

I love orange rolls. When I was younger my dad always made pillsbury orange rolls on Sundays. Now that I am older I do not typically eat any kind of pillsbury product. I try to put better ingredients in my body, but it is nice to have a treat that reminds you of home. 

These rolls are super easy to make and use just a few ingredients. 

What you need:

2 medium navel oranges or 1 large orange 

2 1/2 cups bread flour 

1 packet of fast active yeast 

2 cups of sugar 

1 tsp salt 

1 egg

1 cup of warm milk (not hot!)

1/2 melted butter

1/2 cup room temp butter

Directions:

Mix yeast, milk and 1 spoonful of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes. This is the most important step. If the milk is too hot the yeast will not activate and if it is cold it will not activate. You can start to smell the yeast and it will begin to thicken as it activates. 

In a large bowl mix 1 cup of sugar, melted butter, the egg and the activated yeast mixture. Stir in flour and salt. Form a ball with the dough. Remember you can always add more flour but you cannot add more wet ingredients. Dough should be slightly tacky. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm place. I use the microwave. Let set for an hour or until doubled. 

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9inch glass pan. 

Flour your clean work surface and rolling pin. Roll out dough until it is an even rectangle slightly larger than your pan. Use your hands to mold if needed. 

Wipe off excess flour from the dough and 

cover dough with soft butter. Sprinkle the remaining sugar evenly. Zest your oranges over the sugar. 

Roll the dough jelly roll style. Long ways. Tuck ends in and pinch the seams. Use a sharp knife to cut slices of the roll about an inch thick. Lay slices down in pan. Cover and let rise another 15-30 minutes. 

While dough rises you can make an optional topping. I mixed juice from the oranges, powdered sugar and warm cream cheese. It should be slightly on the running side. Bake rolls for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown. 

Add glaze if you chose. I also sprinkled natural sugar over the rolls. 

Enjoy!

My go to summer makeup

This is my favorite go to summer face routine. It is a full face so please do not mistake this for beach makeup! I usually where this to work where I am fully comforted by air conditioning :p. 

What I used: loreal true match foundation in n3, Mac Pro concealer in nc15, elf liquid liner, benefit they're real mascara, too faced chocolate bronzer in deep, the balm mary loumanizer, too faced matte powder, buxom blush in euphoria and buxom gloss in pucker up

It's a lot of products, but I go super light on everything except mascara! 

After moisturizer I stippled in about a dime size of foundation. I used about half a pea size of concealer to go under my eyes and on my lids to cancel redness. I bronzed all over the face and then added a little in my crease and lower lash line. Using the highlighter I dabbed a little on my cheekbone, cupidsbow and inner tear ducts. I used the powder to set under my eyes and on my lids. ( and anywhere that could potentially get oily) I used the liner to make a very thin line close to my lashes. Then I used 3 coats of mascara on top and bottom lashes. I never let my mascara dry between coats. 

Since I'm using a brighter purple gloss i put my blush on after so I can make she the lip color doesn't wash me out. Just a little of this pretty orange blush in the cheeks mimicks a slight sun burn. 

That's all! I hope you enjoy! 

Bare Minerals Faux Tan Review

 Summer is the time to show off your golden skin. I've practiced safe sun for years and I have tried dozens of self tanners. I wanted to try out the bare minerals self tanner since I love their makeup line. 

Pros:

The scent! I will continue to buy this product for the scent alone. When freshly applied it smells like almond oil which I love! And I have yet to smell the weird self tanner smell we all know so well. 

The color. When you apply there is a color guard. It is an almost green tint to the gel which is perfect for an olive tan. Most tanners have an orange hue. My all time favorite self tanner is Victoria's Secret brand which is almost a reddish brown. 

The price. It is $26 for 6 oz. that sounds expensive but it's almost half the price of st. Tropez. I think it's definitely worth the price. 

Cons. So far the only con is if you do not let the tanner dry and set it gets a little streaky. I used gloves and a mit. I applied with gloves then rubbed in with the mit. 

All in all I love this product! I will let you know how long the tan lasts. It claims 5-7 days. 

Happy "tanning" !

Birthday Cake Frosting

I have made more frostings then I can even count. This one is my all time favorite! I've had it every year on my birthday for at least 15 years. It doesn't have an overwhelming citrus flavor just an undertone. 

What you need:

2 clean navel oranges (make sure the skin is unscarred because we are going to use the zest)

1/2 cup butter

1/2 unflavored shortening or lard

3 cups powdered sugar 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

1 tbsp buttermilk

Food coloring if you choose

Directions:

Cream together the shortening and butter. Zest both oranges into the bowl. I zest until I have about 1 tbsp. Cut oranges and squeeze juice into the bowl. Add the vanilla and mix. Start adding in the powdered sugar one cup at a time. If you are using food coloring you can alternate milk and sugar until you have the color you want. If you are not using food coloring just add 2 1/2 cups of sugar and skip the milk.

My new favorite piping tip is the jumbo star tip. Makes decorating soooo easy!

Lip color for summer

I love lip colors this time of year. The most pigmented neon colors are presented and I cannot wait to get my hands on all the pinks, corals and lilacs. Unfortunately, summer also brings intense temperatures and a melty lip is not cute. My favorite beauty hack of all time is a simple one.

All you need is your favorite lipstick and a lip balm. 

Use a lip scrub or just rub a tooth brush over your lip to make sure they are smooth and flake free. Apply your lip color of choice very lightly and use your finger to pat the color into your lips. This will make sure it stays put. Top with lip balm. Perfect summer lips that feel amazing and you will not have to worry about it bleeding into your foundation! 

What I am wearing: 

NYX matte lip in red pink topped with Chapstick 

Forever 21 top 

Francesca's necklace 

Foodie gone Yogi

This coming month will finally declare my 28th birthday. I decided to deticate the month of May to my body: spiritually and physically. 

Step 1: diet coke detox

I have always prided myself on an adventurous diet with a sprinkling of diet coke. I will still continue with my baking and cooking, but this month they will come from natural, less refined sugar, ingredients. 

Step 2: introduce my body to new workouts

While I have been doing yoga for over a year now I am going to work on challenging myself. Starting with a flat foot perfect form downward facing dog and hopefully ending with improved flexibility and stronger binds. 

Step 3: stop crying when my trainer challenges me

Okay so I don't realllly cry. But I do whine. A lot. By the end of the month I want to finish my workouts without saying a can't. Clearly I can or he wouldn't ask me to try. 

Step 4: Drink. More. Water.

I never drink water. Maybe MAYBE a glass a day. By the end of the month I want to be drinking at least 8 glasses a day.

Step 5: spend more time with God

Yoga introduces a lot of meditation and spiritually. I want to use this time to focus on my relationship with Jesus rather than clearing my mind completely. 

Only 5 steps, but they are 5 steps that can dramatically improve my 28th year. 

Buxom gloss and sephora sale

I have been dying to try Buxom glosses for a while now. This is the best deal I have found and I am a huge fan!!!!

They are very opac and not sticky. The box says there is a tingle but I didn't notice one at all. 

This kit has the best selling colors!

$32 at sephora but through April 10th you can save 15% using code TICKET!

Raspberry Frosting

Frosting is one of my least favorite things to make. It is delicious, I cannot stopping "taste testing" and for some reason I really dislike mixing butter. It's strange I know. BUT the end result is always worth it when I top my cupcakes. 

What you need : 

1 stick of soft unsalted butter 

1/4 cup marshmallow fluff 

1/4 cup organic raspberry jam seed free

3 cups confectioners sugar

1 tbsp vanilla extract 

Directions: 

Mix together vanilla and butter until creamed. I used a hand mixer (so much easier). Add in the jam and fluff. Once everything is creamed together add in the sugar a little bit at a time until fully incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to use! 

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

I wanted something light and fresh that would double as a comfort dish. Roasted red pepper, fresh tomatoes, spicy salami and fresh cheeses are only a few things that made this pasta some satisfying. 

This dish can easily be made vegetarian but the meat eaters in my house would freak if we had more than one meatless meal a week. 

What you need: 

Really good olive oil

Fresh ball of mozzarella 

Block of parm with pieces chipped off

2 vine ripened tomatoes 

3 organic red bell peppers 

Parsley and basil fresh or dried

Sea salt and cracked pepper

Crushed red pepper 

Whole wheat angel hair pasta prepared and drained 

Salami of your choice. I got my at whole foods. Presliced stick of spicy salami 

Chopped garlic 

Let's get started!

Preheat oven to 375. Starting with a casserole dish pour olive oil to cover the bottom of the dish. Add in herbs, garlic, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. 

Add in the cooled pasta and toss in the oil. Cover pasta with the mozzarella, tomatoes and red peppers. Top with salami and parmasean. Be sure to put salami on last because you want it to be crispy. 

Bake for 45 minutes or until red peppers have roasted down. 

Enjoy!

Adapted from www.halfbakedharvest.com

How to wear color eyeshadow

I love colors but not necessarily on my eyes. I'm always terrified of looking like I came out of the 80s. Pink and brown is a classy way to do color and is completely work appropriate. 

I used all too faced shadows/blushes to create this look. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate, rosy blush, taffy and snowflake. 

Start by using a light brown on a fluffy brush and blend all over the eye and lower lash line.

On the same brush use the rosy blush and sweep into crease. Using either the same brush or a smudge brush add the dark brown lightly to the outer v of the eye and the inner of the eye. 

Using a clean brush blend everything together until you cannot see any edges then add a light pink to the center of the eye. 

Final touches are using a shimmery white to the inner corner of the eye and under the brow. Finish with your favorite mascara and liner. 

Enjoy !

Falafel and feta

Sorry about the lack of pictures! This meal was thrown together so quickly I honestly did not expect it to come out so well! This is a real fast but tasty way to do vegetarian. 

I saw a recipe for falafel on emerils website. He used fava beans and a fryer. I decided to use chick peas and bake them off. 

What you need: 

2 cans of chick peas

1 egg 

1/3 cup flour 

1/2 cup chopped parsley 

1 lemon juiced and zested 

1/4 cup olive oil 

Salt and pepper

Crumbled tomato basil feta 

1 cup Greek yogurt 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Red pepper flakes 

Directions:

Preheat your oven 400 degrees. In a food processor add olive oil and chick peas. Once blended add the lemon juice, salt pepper, parsley, egg and flour. I used an icecream scoop to drop batter on a pan before putting in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes. 

While the falafel is baking mix together the feta, oil, red pepper flakes, lemon zest and yogurt. You can use the food processor if you want a creamier texture. 

Top your falafel with the feta and serve with a warm piece of flat bread. Enjoy! 

Flawless Lasting Foundation

I spend countless time searching online for products that will help your makeup last. I work long days without time for touchups so I can't worry about what my makeup is doing. 

I have found a few products that help me ensure I have a "flawless" face. 

Step 1- moisturize ! This is the most important step. I have been using origins morning moisturizer. 

Step 2- primer that works for your skin. Primers are made for large pores, oily skin, dry skin, fine lines ect. I chose one for lasting power. Benefit 15 hour flawless face primer 

Step 3- foundation. If you find your perfect primer you can use any foundation really. Revlon photo finish has a really sheer yet buildable coverage. 

Step 4- setting powder. My current favorite is Victoria's Secret mineral finish powder. It has a very subtle sheen that blurs lines and large pores. 

Step 5- if you still need staying power try a setting spray. I like something mattifying so I use urban decay de slick spray 

Let me know if you try any of my tips! Or if you have some to share!

Valentines Cookie Cake

This is easily my FAVORITE cookie cake recipe. The texture of the cookie is light while still having the density of a traditional chocolate chip cookie. 

We were snowed in for 3 whole days with this cookie... I really needed to leave before eating the entire thing. 

What you need 

2 cups of flour 

3/4 cup of unsalted butter

3/4 cup brown sugar 

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp cornstarch (most important ingredient)

Pinch of kosher salt

1 egg

1 tsp baking soda 

2 tbsp vanilla 

1 cup chocolate chunks

1 cup m&m s

A good tip here is to freeze the chocolate first. This helps it hold it's shape and keeps the cookie from discoloration. 

How to do it

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until creamy. Add in dry ingredients. It with form a very thick ball of dough. Do not over mix. Add in chocolate and m&ms. 

Pour into a greased 9inch pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. The top should be very lightly browned. Leave out to cool for at least an hour before taking out of the pan. I used a Betty Crocker icing bottle to make the heart on my cookie. 

Enjoy! 

Food prep for success

Last year I lost over 20 lbs and managed to keep it off. This year my goal is to get my body to its healthy weight and tone up. One of the biggest obstacles for me is my job. I leave the house by 7am and usually do not get home until 8pm. My lunches are squeezed in whenever I find a minute so they are never at the same time. After talking to a good friend and amazing motivator I decided to commit my Sunday free time to food prep. Instead of driving around trying to find healthy fast food options I'm stocking up in organic veggies and free range proteins to eat through the work week. 

This week I made roast chicken breast with lemon, garlic, pepper, cayenne and a little sea salt. My broccoli was roasted with lemon and pepper.

What do you eat to stay healthy?

Valentines day favorites

Valentines day is just over a week away. I'm not huge into celebrating valentines day since T and I have an anniversary shortly after. BUT I love having an excuse to wear pinks and reds. These are just a few off my affordable favorites! 

1. The limited skater dress $70

2. JCrew factory store sweater $30

3. New York and co hearts blouse $50

4. Forever 21 dress $12

5. Boohoo.com Candy dress $45

 

6. Target red shoes $30

7. Mac all fired up lipstick $15

8. JCrew factory store sweater $30

9. Aldo pumps $70

What are your favorites??

Savannah vacation and January lippy favorites

Hey guys! 

I do not know if you heard about the ga #snowpocalypse2014 but it all started with a light snow at around 12pm. By 3pm we had a thick 3 inch layer of snow on the roads that was quickly freezing over. By this time an estimated 3 million people were on the road at once trying to make it home. 

This is a picture comparison between that day and the walking dead promo. After spending 6 hours in the car before walking to safety and staying with coworkers until the roads cleared Tim and I decided to take a trip to savannah ga. It was pretty rainy but we found this amazing French cafe for brunch. 

Chocolate filled beignets 

Pan fried ham and Swiss sandwich topped with over easy egg

Everything was so amazing. Tim had a pork melt on fresh brioche. Even the coffee was delicious. 

On a side note this January I have been using lots of pink lippies! These are a few of my favorites. 

1. Milani plum rose 

2. Loreal fresh as a rose 

3. Rimmel blush pink

4. Vs luster gloss in deep red 

What are your favorites!?

Meatless Monday Week 2: Quinoa Mac and Cheese

Whole Foods is know for free sample Saturdays. New products are prepared and displayed. A few weeks ago I tried the gluten free corn free quinoa noodles. They tasted soooooo similar to a regular white enriched pasta. About 200 calories per serving and still a whopping 40 carbs, but zero sugar higher protein and way easier for your body. 

What you need: 

Quinoa noodles (there are two kinds the gluten free can be found at most grocery stores. The gluten and corn free I have only seen at health food stores) 

1 cup organic cream or half and half 

1 cup of buffalo cheddar 

1 cup extra sharp white cheddar

1/4 cup plain unsalted Panko crumbs 

2 tsp butter

1 tsp of flour 

How to do it: 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Prepare noodles according to package set to side drained. Melt butter in sauce pan on lowest setting. Add flour and whisk consistently. When flour starts to turn to a light brown color add in half of the cream. Whisk very quickly and make sure the mixture is smooth. Add in cheese. Whisk while cheese melts and add the rest of the cream. Cheese should be thick and creamy. Add in noodles. Now is the time to salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a baking dish. Sprinkle Panko on top. You can add extra cheese if you would like. Bake for 15 minutes. 

This dish is very easy to change up. Use any cheeses you prefer! 

Blueberry Oatmeal Chip Muffins

Let me tell you about these muffins. Each bite is packed full of chocolatey blueberry crunch. These are not health food muffins  but they are definitely better than something you will get in a bakery. So fluffy with the perfect top crust. 

Blueberry Oatmeal Chip Muffins 

What you need: 

1 1/2 cups oats 

1 cup all purpose or wheat flour unbleached

1 tsp baking powder 

1/2 tsp baking soda 

1/2 tsp of kosher salt 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/4 cup granulated sugar 

2 eggs 

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce 

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 tbsp canola oil 

1 tsp vanilla 

1 cup blueberries ( I buy fresh then freeze them. This keeps the color from bleeding and it's healthier than buying already frozen) 

1/2 cup dark chocolate 

Ok I know there are a ton of ingredients but I promise it is worth it. You can replace the almond milk with regular milk and skip oil by adding more apple sauce. You can even ditch the chocolate if you want. 

How to do it.

Preheat to 400 degrees. Mix all wet ingredients together then add in the dry. Mix very lightly. You almost just want to fold the mix. Add in blueberries and chocolate. These do not rise a ton so you can fill the muffin liners 3/4 of the way. I sprinkled more oats on top. The more you mix the batter the tougher your muffins will be. Bake for 20 minutes. 

Enjoy! 

 

Chicken pot pie minus the pie

Sometimes you want food so comforting you just forget how cold it is outside. This is one of those dishes. We were craving the creaminess of a chicken pot pie, but did not want to add so many calories to our meal. 

What you need: 

2 chicken breasts cooked and chopped 

1 cup of peas (we used organic frozen)

1 cup of corn 

1/2 cup chopped raw carrot 

1/2 cup chopped raw celery 

1 small sweet onion chopped 

1/4 cup cream or half and half 

3 cups chicken broth 

1/2 tsp red pepper (optional) 

Salt and pepper

How to do it:

Heat up a soup pot with a little cooking spray or olive oil and add all veggies. Cook about 5 minutes stirring as needed or until onions are translucent. Add in chicken and broth. Bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium low and let simmer for at least 20 minutes or until carrots are cooked through. Mix in seasonings. Turn heat to low. Stir in the cream. 

Serve with crusty farmers bread! Trust me you will want it to soak up this goodness. 

Meatless Monday Series

So I am definitely a day late on this post, but I want to start a meatless Monday series! All my favorite protein packed meatless recipes. This isn't a diet. Just an extra day to fill up on produce and yummy grains. This first recipe is a an awesome light salad that is perfect for lunches! 

Spinach Quinoa Salad 

What you need:

1 cup red quinoa (prepare according to directions)

1 can of rinsed chick peas

2 handfuls of spinach 

1 ounce herb goat cheese crumbled 

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp red wine vinegar 

1 tsp honey 

1 tsp spicy mustard 

Salt and pepper 

How you do it:

Add spinach and chick peas to warm quinoa. Mix together oil, vinegar, honey and mustard to make a vinaigrette. Stir dressing into the quinoa. Add goat cheese, salt and pepper and toss. 

Tada! Easy peasy quinoa salad. Serve warm or cold. 

Super fast apple pie crumble

We have all been there. 30 minutes before people arrive and you still have nothing to serve. We tried this apple pie crumble recipe the other night and not only was it easy - it was delicious! 

What you need: 

Prepared pie dough wheat or regular 

Canned apple slices

1 cup flour 

1 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp cinnamon 

1/2 stick butter

How you do it:

Roll out the dough to fit a 9 inch pie pan. Grease before hand. I used canola spray and a glass dish.

Poke holes across the bottom and bake at 350 for ten minutes. 

Add apple slices 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1 tbsp cinnamon. 

To make the crumble:

Mix flour, butter, cinnamon and sugar. 

Use a fork to incorporate the butter making a crumble texture. Spread ontop of the apples. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

Have a few more minutes? 

Mix 1 cup of heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tbsp cinnamon. Mix until the cream starts to stiffen and stand up on its own. 

Enjoy! We sure did. 

5 Minute Day Time Sultry Eye

Hey guys! 

Every day I fight the battle between looking put together and sleeping longer. I use just a few tips and tricks to bring my morning routine down to a whopping 35 minutes. One of the easiest looks is a day time smokey sultry eye. Takes only a few minutes, but looks like a lot of work went into the makeup. 

Today I used the Two Faced palette.  To recreate this look you will need a blending brush, a smudge brush or Q tip and a lengthening mascara.

First I prepped my skin with Origins moisturizer and Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation. I primed my eyes with Mac Pro Concealer.

Using the blending brush I put Chocolate Milk on my entire eyelid and the crease.

Next I used the second darkest chocolate shade mixed with the silver navy shade and put that on my entire lid. Using the smudge brush I blended the same combo on my lower lash line. This is when you can use the qtip. The trick here is to REALLY blend. This is the biggest step because this is what makes the eye smokey.

Go back in with the darkest chocolate shade and cover the lid. Go back to the Chocolate Milk shade and blend any harsh lines.

Mixing the light champagne color and the matte cream color I highlighted my tear duct and under my brows. 

Finish off with the mascara! I used Origins brightening mascara.