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

Clinique Airbrush Concealer

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.)

Pretzel Rolls

So much to blog about and so little free time. Actually, I just choose to do other things with my time. For example, tonight I made some Pretzel Rolls. That’s right...this delightful treat can be made in under 2 hours with minimal hands-on time. Even at the end of a long school day.

For the recipe, check out the Tasty Kitchen Blog. I highly recommend adding that blog to your reader. Lots of delicious recipes!

Here’s my twist:

I halved the recipe because I didn’t have enough yeast for a whole recipe. This was a probably a good decision because I don’t need to eat them all.

The most exciting (and very essential) part was poaching the rolls. Be prepared for some major fizzing when you add the baking soda to the boiling water.

Wax paper is not a good substitute for parchment. It gets a little cooked in a very hot oven.

Make yourself some ASAP. You’re welcome. :)

Vintage Pearl Giveaway

Have I mentioned my love for The Vintage Pearl?

They're having an awesome giveaway today. But don't enter...cause I want the $100 gift certificate. ;)

I Won!

I've been slowly adding blogs to my google reader over the past few months. One that I follow is Nesting Place.

Last week I entered a contest and won a pillow cover from Blessings Unlimited:

Yay for prizes!

Maybe someday I'll be a famous blogger and give away prizes of my own. :)

Your Love is a Song

In honor of the Grammy's and Valentine's Day, here's my list of top 10 love songs.  I broke it into two parts to make it more interesting.  :)

 

Top 5 Saddest Love Songs

5. Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler

You loved him, but now you don't.  And, there are some powderkegs.  And, the music video is really disturbing.

 

4. My Immortal – Evanescence

Beyond the lyrics, the pain in her voice just makes you want to cry.

 

3. You Could Be Happy - Snow Patrol

Letting go of someone you love because it's best for them.  Always hurts.

 

2. Breakeven (Falling to Pieces) - The Script

This is the ultimate break up song.  Doesn't it always seem like you're stuck with the raw end of the deal?  They're moving on and you're still miserable??  Ugh...

 

1. Grenade - Bruno Mars

Bruno is gold in the pop world right now.  The hyperbolic (...I hope) song is about being willing to give everything for someone, but they don't return the feeling.  Oh, the pain of unrequited love. 

 

Top 5 Best Love Songs

5. The Way You Look Tonight - Tony Bennett & At Last - Etta James

I know I picked two, but they're classics.

 

4. I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

This song still makes my heart sigh.  Did you know that he wrote it to his wife after her parents got divorced?  

 

3. The Other Side of Me - Michael W. Smith

This song is actually part of a trilogy.  It's always stuck with me as a very genuine song.

 

2. The Only Exception - Paramore

I know this one is popular and will probably be destroyed by being overplayed, but it resonates with this generation.  Choosing to love is hard, but worth it. 

 

1. Head Over Heels (In This Life) - Switchfoot

This is not a traditional love song, but it's been my favorite since their Oh, Gravity album was released. Here's a little excerpt for you:

 

In this life, you're the one place I call home

In this life, you're the feeling I belong

In this life, you're the flower and the thorn

You're everything that's fair in love and war

 

 

Do you agree/disagree?? What songs would you have picked?

 

P.S. The title is another Switchfoot song I love. In fact, it's my ringtone. J

 

Guilty Pleasure

I ordered myself a little Valentine's Day present today:

double pearl drop earrings

I mean, no one else is going to be giving me a present this year. AND I'm obsessed with Vintage Pearl and have been every since I bought this necklace for myself a few years ago.

initial on a chain

They have awesome giveaways, so I suggest following her blog.