Thursday, June 16, 2011

Simple Summer Make-Up

I’m not a fan of make-up. It wastes precious morning time and costs too much. Unfortunately, I’ve been brainwashed to feel “naked” without it. During the school year I wear it faithfully, but in summer my face is free!

Here are my basics for when I need to be presentable in the summer:

Cetaphil Facial Moisturizer

No smell, lightweight, and SPF 15



This stuff is the BEST! It’s worth every penny.

CoverGirl Loose Powder

Helps reduce the glisten effect of summer heat

Maybelline Great Lash BIG Mascara

Cause you can’t see my eyes at all without it

That’s it. 4 easy steps to looking less scary each day.

Of course there are still days when I go without anything. :)

When I need to be fancier? I throw on foundation, eye shadow, and occasionally eye liner.

Cookie Capers Part 1

I stumbled across this blog a few months ago. I’ve been day-dreaming about making some super fancy cookies ever since.

Here we go!

1. Pick a cookie design to make (I’ll reveal my choice later)

2. Mix up some Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies – recipe below

3. Roll them out and use a glass as a cookie cutter since you have every kind of animal, Easter, Valentine’s, and Christmas cookie cutter, but not a single circle one.

4. Bake them on parchment paper. Why have I not used parchment paper before?!? This stuff is amazing!

5. Roll the leftover dough into balls to freeze and eat later. :)

6. Admire the fresh, warm cookies and try to resist eating them so you’ll have enough to decorate tomorrow.

Stay tuned for part two – Decorating the cookies!

Vanilla-Almond Sugar Cookies

from bakeat350.blogspot.com

3 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 c. sugar

2 sticks (salted) butter, cold

1 egg

¾ tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp almond extract

Preheat oven to 350. Cream sugar and butter. Add egg and extracts. Gradually add flour/baking soda and beat just until combined, scraping down the bowl, especially the bottom.

The dough will be crumbly, so knead it together as you scoop it out for rolling. Roll onto a floured surface and cut into shapes. Place on parchment lined baking sheets. Freeze on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then bake for 10-12 minutes.

This made 21 cut-out cookies and 10 leftovers (not counting the dough that may or may not have been eaten in the process.)