Fall Food

I have been baking a few things over the past two months for fall, many have come off of pinterest (Follow me).  

Fauxstess cupcakes.  They were okay, not a fan of the white frosting though.
The ganach however is perfect for all kinds of things.  Recipe

There are A LOT of S'mores baked goods on Pinterest.  Of the two I made, I liked this one a lot and would remake.  So yummy.  Recipe

These are the ones I would not recommend.  Recipe

Another recipe that looked better than it tasted.  Cinnamon Roll Cake Recipe

And this one was the winner!  Chocolate Eclair Cake

And it couldn't be easier either.  My niece told me it was the

most amazing cake ever! :)  Recipe

Have you made any of the recipes floating around on Pinterest?  How did they turn out?

Tips for Smooth Silky Hair

I seem to be on a quest for smooth, silky hair every few months.  I find something I like and then my hair gets used to it and starts to get unruley.  Or maybe because my hair is getting a lot longer now.  I don't have a problem with split ends, but more with it snapping or breaking off.  I do have high-lighted blonde hair, so it's damaged.  I have tried the Redken Anti-Snap product as well as some of their CAT protein products, along with lot of other brands.  I was liking the Aussi 3 Minute Miracle too, but it isn't cutting it lately.  I may have to go back to the Redken All Soft Heavy Cream treatment as a conditioner.  


BUT, the other day I tried putting Coconut Oil on my hair (concentrated on the ends) and I left it on for 60 min, then shampooed and conditioned as normal.  I also used my Macadamia Nut Oil after towel dried.  My hair was AMAZINGLY silky smooth!  And it stayed that way for a few days, through washings etc.  I got it from Amazon, but I'm sure you can find it other places (health food stores maybe, I also cook with it, it's a healthy oil).  It is in a solid form so you can either warm it in your palms or heat a little in the microwave (15 seconds).  I really recommend this.

http://www.amazon.com/Natures-Way-Organic-Coconut-Ounce/dp/B003B3OOPA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319472405&sr=8-1
$7.99

I also got the Macadamia Nut Deep Repair Mask to try out and that works amazing well also, about the same results as the coconut oil.  I also get it from Amazon, for a savings compared to buying it at a salon (or Ulta).  I would recommend either this or the coconut oil about the same.  The coconut oil a little less messy, but a little less costly.

http://www.amazon.com/Macadamia-Oil-Deep-Repair-ounces/dp/B002WTC37A/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319472499&sr=1-2
$16

The oil treatment that I put in damp hair.
http://www.amazon.com/Macadamia-Oil-Healing-Treatment-ounces/dp/B002WTC37U/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1319472574&sr=1-3
$23

Next up: A pinterest recipe post

Sephora Friends and Family Sale 2011

The Sephora sale started last Thursday, go here for your code: http://www.sephoralove.com/friendsandfamily/
It runs until November 2nd.  I didn't get too much this year, but this what I did get (I don't think I'll be buying anymore but you never know):

This is a staple for me.  I noticed I purchased it last year during this sale also, and I have about 1/3rd left.  So it lasts me over a year (not good about using it every night).  Love it.

The Stila In the Lights Eyeshadow Palette.  I LOVE Stila eyeshadows, maybe even more than MAC (ahh blasphemy).  I do NOT have the Urban Decay Naked palette and I contemplated it, until I saw this one which is $39 at full price (so cheaper) and if you add up the weight of the eyeshadows, these 10 actually give you a lot more product vs the 12 in the UD palette.  Excited to try it.

I bought this fragrance gift set for my Mom in Pure Grace for her birthday.  It's her favorite scent and with the discount came to $40.  

I also wanted to show you this magnetic nail polish my Mom added on to my order (for the free shipping).  She got it in the purple color, and I hope she lets me try it out too!!  It's pricey at $16 though, but with the discount it's $13.  I wish they had more than two colors.  

This is what I wanted to add to my cart, but I didn't.  I have it in the black and the dark blue.  The dark blue one of mine is starting to dry out and I want to replace it.  It's awesome!  Stays all day, love the color, etc.  Not sure it makes your lashes any better like it claims, but then again I don't use it everyday.

Anyway, what did you get?  

Ps.  I won't be neglecting this blog anymore now that summer is well over.  I have a bunch of posts planned, including an awesome discovery for how to get SILKY smooth hair with a natural ingredient (coming up tomorrow).

Sephora Friends and Family Sale 2011!

Mark your calendar and start making your list! Sephora.com will be having their Friends & Family sale soon October 20th – November 2nd!  Check inside for more details.

Get 20% off off your purchase when you order online from Thursday October 20 until Wednesday November 2. Discount is valid on all merchandise, there are no exclusions.
There is no code this time. You must go to sephora.com/friends during the time of the event for a unique code to enter at checkout. Free standard shipping when you spend $50 or more.

I will do an updated post with what's on my list.  What's on yours?

Summer 2 2011

Summer 2011

I hope you are enjoying your summer!  I am, hence the lack of posts!

Cleveland Ohio

View from Pier W Restaurant, Lakewood Ohio

Lakeside Winery, Geneva-on-the-Lake Ohio

Mansfield State Reformatory Mansfield Ohio
(where they filmed The Shawshank Redemption)

Holden Arboretum, Kirtland Ohio

Holden Arboretum, Kirtland Ohio

Holden Arboretum, Kirtland Ohio (life size gnomes!)

Lake Erie Ohio

The Westside Market, Cleveland Ohio

Do you like tea?

Pizza Bites

These pizza bites couldn't be any easier and were a big hit as an appetizer for a party.  You basically take pizza dough (I bought mine at the Italian grocery store) and divide it into 20-25 pieces.  Spread each piece out a bit, stuff with cheese and pepperoni, seal it up and put it in a pan sealed side down.  Then you brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasonings and parmesean cheese.  Finally you bake it in the oven at 400 for 20 min.  Then they pull apart very easily.  Yum!

Favorite Makeup

If you saw my makeup organization video, then you saw the amount of makeup I have.  





Guests will be staying in my guestroom though, so I had to clean out my makeup drawer, and will have to apply it in the bathroom or my bedroom.  I put everything that I don't think I will need for three weeks, and kept out my favorites.  This is what I have left and what I will be using for the next three weeks (plus two eyeshadow palettes):

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation, Clinique Redness Solutions Foundation,
Urban Decay Face Primer, Clinique Pore Minimizer,
Maybeline Dream Mousse Concealer, Physicians Formula Correcting Face Powder,
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush, Milani Blush in Luminous,
and a MAC highlighter, Nars Laguna Bronzer

Urban Decay Primer Potion, Prestige Black Eyeliner, Rimmel Green Eyeliner,
L'Oreal Hip Purple Eyeliner, Make Up For Ever Navy Aqua Eyes Eyeliner,
L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara, Urban Decay Eyelash Primer Potion

Buxom Lashliner in Dark Blue and Sequined Black, MAC Paint Pot in Rubinesque,
MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked, Smashbox Eyebrow Powder and Gel,
NYC Eyeshadow in My Favorite Color

Summer

Sorry I've been MIA since June 1st, I think I have summer on the brain!  It doesn't officially start until Tuesday, but it unofficially started Memorial weekend.  Especially when it was in the 90s that weekend and has been nice ever since.  Makes up for that rainy April and May.  What are you looking most forward to this summer?  Here's my list and I hope to enjoy every second of these precious months:

• sunsets at the beach
• walking at the beach path in the morning
• swimming!
• hanging out with my Mom at her pool
• reading books and magazines and more books! (my goodreads: 
• lazy hair and makeup
• flip-flops
• flower clips in my hair
• scary movie night on Monday nights with Tom, Mom, Aunt April and Uncle Mike
• going to the movies more often
• wineries
• making s'mores
• sitting around a fire at night
• picnics
• hikes
• pool parties
• Fourth of July
• our SEVENTH wedding anniversary (Holy Cow)
• Tom's parents coming from Scotland 
• getting a new job
• ice-cream
• strawberries
• TOMATOES 
• peaches
• watermelon
• grilled food
• girlie foo-foo drinks

Here's my beach-bag (got it at Forever 21), what's in yours?

Here's a great, EASY dessert to make for get-togethers/cookouts:

Recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/down-home-with-the-neelys/strawberry-shortcut-cake-recipe/index.html

Pepperoni Bread How To

Pepperoni bread is pretty simple to make and a great appetizer for an outdoor party (can be eaten hot, room temp or cold).

Roll out your dough to a long rectangular shape.
I get my dough from a local pizza shop.

My secret is that I add a very thin layer of marinara sauce.

Add the pepperoni.

Add mozzarella and parmesan cheese and roll up.

If it's too long for your baking sheet, wrap it around.
Brush olive oil on the top, sprinkle with parmesan cheese
and add a few slits to vent.

Bake on 400 for 30 min with foil covering,
remove foil and bake for 5-10 more minutes.

Slice and enjoy!