TGIF

I heard bad things come in threes... am I done yet?

1. I failed my safety inspection. I need two new front tires.
   
2. This morning with the back of my hair left to blow dry, my blow dryer went out (I replaced it within the last six months).
   
3. After rinsing my cereal bowl... I was showered, again. By this:

Yeah, this is the sink... that came apart, water went everywhere...
I just laughed.

TGIF, and the Tim McGraw concert this evening.

Light and Easy Tastes for Summer

Mmmmm... Mikey surprised me with this flavorful and light meal for dinner!
BBQ chicken from the grill
Flat Out wraps (I pack these for lunches too with turkey and all the yummy fixings)
Your favorite toppings and side dishes

Thanks for the yummo dinner Husb! :)

Ah yeah... that's my jam

So, if you have ever contemplated making freezer jam and have not {yet} to avoid the hassle... just make it! I have been neglecting Mikey and I's craving for homemade freezer jam for at least a year, until now. I mean, I am sure there are more intense and gourmet ways to do this, but I just went with a jam packet, a few packages of fresh strawberries and voila! So simple and SO delicious.
Being my first time, I just picked up the package of jars that looked nice and big, not taking into consideration the fact that the minimum of five jars I planned to produce turned into 3.5 x-large jars of jam.

Oh, you're making me BLUSH

I love all things makeup, but blush definitely tops my list of must wear items. I alternate colors throughout the week and specifically throughout the seasons. This summer I am rocking different shades of pink, my fave!
I recently began using MAC's beauty powder in Pretty Baby. I love it! I use it on top of my pressed powder to warm my face (cheeks, forehead, nose, chin) and then I focus one of my bright pinks on my cheeks.

My go-to blush colors this season are: MAC's Well Dressed and Pink Swoon, and Nars' Deep Throat. In addition to powder, beauty powder and blush, I still sweep about one big swoop of bronzer.

What's your favorite summer time blush hue?

The Mountains are the new Hills

Okay... total guilty obsession: I lalalove The Hills. What's there not to love? Rich kids growing up in CA driving Mercedes and Porches, wearing great fashion, rocking great hair, really fun parties, last minute vacations to hot spots around the world and really pleasurable fake drama.

Or maybe it's the fact that Mikey is a way hotter version of Stephen Colletti...
(the first night we met... )

After indulging in my guilty pleasure the other day I thought to myself... I should totally approach MTV as The Hills is coming to an end and propose the idea of

The Mountains

This production would require the casting of all in-state and out-of-state friends. After a couple shows when the money starts rolling in we can all start driving high profile vehicles and purchase super swanky homes in Park City, downtown SLC and other prestigious destinations around the state. And I can finally get a boob job (NOT Heidi style, I repeat not Heidi style). A lot of us have been BFFS since 5th grade, high school, etc. I think we have a chance here friends!!!

Here are some clips from season 1 episodes:

I'm not from the states

I love God

Lots more ideas... so little time. Please... post your ideas friends! {LOL}

Out with the new & back in with the old { # 6 }

Favorite product alert: an oldy but a goody!

Since about 6 months old (with my curled mohawk) I have been using the same hair gel,
Paul Mitchell's Soft Sculpting Spray Gel.

A couple of months ago I thought after 25+ years of spritzing a generous amount of this gel into my strands, I would try something new. I went with a new line my Mom started carrying, Mantra. I had tried a few of the products when I got my her' did and really enjoyed the smell and results of the products. To replace my good ol' Paul Mitchell spray, I went with Mantra's Foundation.

I enjoyed this gel, it's super light, it smells nice, it got the job done - but, I have had better. Not being dissatisfied with this product but rather missing my gel, I have spent the last week enjoying my oldy but a goody soft sculpting spray gel.
While this gel is also super light and soft, I appreciate the way it adds texture to my hair, specifically my bangs. Whether I am blowing my hair out, letting it air dry or styling it 'natural curly,' this is my go-to gel. I understand some people do not even use product before blowing their hair out, but if you are going to use anything- this is it! Depending on time I have and the look I am going for, I will use this in addition to a mousse or volumizing foam.

I have tried other gel products, in the form of sprays, gels and creams. More fancy, more expensive and promising to do more than this spray offers but, time and time again, I come back to my gel.

GET some!

A Reese's Birthday Delight

I wanted to prepare dessert for my Dad's birthday celebration, and most of all I wanted to try something new. While I love to cook, and {like to think I am pretty good at it} I am awful at baking. I think I lack the patience and 'exact measurement' skills to be a successful baker. In my quest to show up with something tasty, beautiful and from "full scratch" (quote by Mikey) I discovered a gem of a recipe.
Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes...
I found this recipe and directions on Hoosier Homemade.
These cupcakes were to die for! They were extremely rich and dense- but a fabulous treat!

Chocolate cupcakes:
3/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
4 large Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, cut into small pieces

I am not a batter taster, but I had to taste this one... and it was to DIE for!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with paper cupcake liners. In a separate bowl, combine cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. Add dry ingredients, alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Gently fold in Peanut Butter Cup pieces.

Divide batter into cupcake liners. Bake for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Because the batter was SO thick and dense, it did not rise like the boxed-cake mixes I am used to so I filled the cupcake liners more than I normally would once I stuck the second batch in the oven.

Peanut butter frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup Peanut Butter
3 tablespoons milk, or as needed
2 - 2 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar

(I ended up adding almost a cup more powdered sugar and more milk until it was totally fluffy. I also added a teaspoon of vanilla extract).

Directions:
Cream butter and Peanut Butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with a little milk at a time. Beat well, until desired consistency.

This frosting is like WHOA... it is the inside of a Reese's!

Frost cupcakes and garnish with a Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.

Two hours later, I present to you...
my first entirely from scratch AND successful dessert.

Because it is uber rich, I served it with a vanilla bean ice cream. It was a total hit!