Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Okay, so that was a fail.

I fully intended on coming right back. But once a habit is broken, it's hard to unbreak!


So my sort of New Year's Resolution is to start posting again!
I have a whole quarter of Birchbox and ipsy to show you all. I have stuff with my pregnancy I'd love to share. I've been reading books, and would like to get back into the BATR Book Club posts! (Though, you will have to follow me on Goodreads to see what I am reading, because it does take quite a bit of time to do posts.)

Overall, I just want to come back!

Also, you will notice my ads are gone. And I am no longer an amazon affiliate. I've come to realize I just want this blog to be a hobby.
With that said, Birchbox, ipsy, and Le Tote affiliate links are still up. I am, as of right now, not doing Le Tote due to my pregnancy, but plan on starting again after this is over with. I will only use those affiliate links to get things to review on this blog or give away. Same with Birchbloggers.


I'm currently working on some blogs that you should start seeing after the 1st of January! I'm excited to be back!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Surprise!



I'm so excited to announce, finally, that my husband and I are expecting our first (and possibly only) child!

As you can tell, I've been away from blogging now since October!
A lot of that is due to my pregnancy.


I had horrible morning sickness- I've been on Zofran since week 5, and am still on it. I had a bad day earlier this week on Wednesday, felt better yesterday, and have been good today. My doctor said as soon as I am good for 72 hours, I can start dropping down to one less pill a day, and I currently take four 4mg pills. I'm really anxious to get off of it, but it's also the only way I've really been able to eat real food.
I'm really hoping I'm not one of those women that is sick all the time, but if I am, I'll get through the next 27 weeks as best I can.


So if you're good at math, now you know that I'm 13 weeks along as of this week! I am due in early June.




I pretty much just starting showing late last week/early this week. It's seriously blowing my mind that that's me. It's weird. But in a good way.
I've slowly started transitioning into wearing maternity pants (I got a really great deal on two pairs at Destination Maternity), because they are just way more comfy. I might never ever wear regular pants again! (Okay, I'm joking. But really, maternity pants are amazing.)


I haven't had any crazy cravings yet, other than normal stuff. No pickles and ice cream over here, yet. I really haven't "craved" anything yet, at least no more so than I would when I wasn't pregnant. It's been more like "Yeah, I think I can eat that and it won't make me feel completely awful!"


We don't know what we're having yet, but I do plan on finding out at our anatomy scan- I'm not going to do anything elective on that end.
I did opt to do an NT Scan, and I will complete that sometime between my 16th and 18th week. Other than that, I've had just the initial ultrasound at 9 weeks, and I've heard the heartbeat. That was a total trip.
So far, I haven't cried during any of my appointments, which is amazing to me, because I'm a crier in general. Maybe when we find out the gender?

Speaking of the gender- I personally have no feelings one way or the other right now what gender we are having. Maybe because I know we are probably only going to have one child, I don't want to get my hopes up for one or the other. But mostly because I know that I will be happy either way. I like bow ties and sparkles equally!
Most people think/hope we are having a girl. Especially when they find out how high the heartbeat has been (171 and 169 during my ultrasounds, 183 at my 12 week doctors appointment, but I had just had lunch, and apparently that makes a bit of a difference) and I guess that is one of those old wives tales about guessing gender.



So, what does my pregnancy mean for the blog?
Well, if my morning sickness hadn't have been so bad, it wouldn't have affected anything. Other than after this post, I might have started talking a bit more about pregnancy.
I was considering cutting back on the posts, and go to a more "when I feel like it" type of posting. I will probably still end up posting two or three times a week- but I need to be able to step away if I need to. Especially now since the way I'm feeling is a little touch and go.
I also might do some pregnancy and baby blogs- if I find some product or book I love, I feel like it's completely in line with what my blog already is all about.

I'm hoping that, now that I'm feeling better, I can come back! I hope you're all still out there!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Where did I go?

If you've followed my blog, you know I post Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays... and that last Thursday's post, as well as this Wednesday and Thursday's posts did not go up.


I've been a little unmotivated lately. I'm going to be honest about it, and say I hope that it comes back around. But for now, I'm taking a little break from the three day a week posting, and my about me will reflect that.
I've been busy at work, busy in my personal life, and just tired in general.

I want to give every post my all, and I feel like I can't right now. Hopefully it will come back, soon, though!


Thanks for being patient with me. Hopefully I'll be able to get some new blogs going soon!

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

BATR Book Club: True Believer by Nicholas Sparks

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Description from Goodreads: Jeremy Marsh is the ultimate New Yorker: handsome, almost always dressed in black, and part of the media elite. An expert on debunking the supernatural with a regular column in "Scientific American," he's just made his first appearance on national TV. When he receives a letter from the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, about ghostly lights that appear in a legend-shrouded cemetery, he can't resist driving down to investigate. Here, in this tightly knit community, Lexie Darnell runs the town's library, just as her mother did before the accident that left Lexie an orphan. Disappointed by past relationships, including one that lured her away from home, she is sure of one thing: her future is in Boone Creek, close to her grandmother and all the other people she loves. Jeremy expects to spend a quick week in "the sticks" before speeding back to the city. But from the moment he sets eyes on Lexie, he is intrigued and attracted to this beautiful woman who speaks with a soft drawl and confounding honesty. And Lexie, while hesitating to trust this outsider, finds herself thinking of Jeremy more than she cares to admit. Now, if they are to be together, Jeremy Marsh must make a difficult choice: return to the life he knows, or do something he's never done before--take a giant leap of faith. A story about taking chances and following your heart, True Believer will make you, too, believe in the miracle of love.



It has been a long time since I read a Nicholas Sparks book. Mostly because I figured they are all the same- they fall in love, and someone dies. Or is dying. But when I saw this in a bag of books my aunt was getting ready to donate to the library, something drew me to it. So I grabbed my phone, and read some reviews. And then talked to my Aunt. She said "nobody dies in this one." So I decided to give it a shot.

It's a cute story. There's a little mystery with the lights in the cemetary, and I thought for a minute that the man that had a crush of Lexie would cause major problems, but nothing really happened. As a matter of fact, nothing really happened. They fell in love, and then, a miracle.

I will say the "miracle" aspect of this story did tick me off just a bit. You discover something about Jeremy in the book that is not something that you hear a lot about in books. And it made me sad but did excite me a little- it still gives the couple an obstacle. But, by the end of the story, it's not anymore. And it just made me go "Okay, that's nice, but really?"


I gave this book 3 stars on Goodreads. It was cute enough, and I might give more Sparks' books a try, but I won't be re-reading or thinking about this book after now.
However, there is a sequel, and I want to check it out because the reviews aren't as good. Is that weird? Probably. But since there is an additional part of Jeremy and Lexie's story, I want to know it.



You can get this book for your Kindle here, or a physical copy here.


Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my great aunt. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains amazon affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Lush D'Fluff Shaving Soap Review

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How To Use: Wet your skin and apply a generous amount of shaving soap. For best results, let it sink into your skin for 3-5 minutes before you begin to shave. Shave the desired area, rinsing your razor frequently under hot water to eliminate excess soap and stubble. Finish off with a moisturizer for smooth, soothed skin.


How It Works: When you’ve had enough of the rough stuff, there’s D’Fluff! This fluffy, sweet shaving soap will have you dreaming of Strawberry Fluff sandwiches while you shave. It’s packed full of effective ingredients: fresh strawberries, egg whites and golden syrup, all whisked together with rosehip oil, coconut oil and maple sugar to create a light, marshmallowy texture that will leave your skin silky smooth. Plus, Fair Trade cocoa butter leaves skin moisturized and helps keep post-shave redness to a minimum.


Initial Impressions: I think I used too much of this the first time I used this- it got my razor kind of gunked up, and it seemed like I needed so much. But it did give me a super close shave, and left my skin feeling so unbelievably soft. Everywhere I shaved, it was the same.


Final Impressions: I LOVE this product! Once I finally got down how much I really needed to use, and how long to kind of wait for it to sink in (about 30 seconds to a minute), I wanted to shave every single day, but I didn't need to. I found myself able to go longer between shaves, but my skin was still smooth. It never made my skin feel irritated, at all. Overall, this is a huge win of a product, and I highly recommend it!


You can purchase this product here, or purchase it from your local Lush store.



FTC: This product was purchased by me with my own money. No affiliate links have been used.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

BATR Book Club: Top Secret Twenty-One (Stephanie Plum #21) by Janet Evanovich

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I rated this book 3 stars on Goodreads, and I'm being generous.

I just am getting really tired of the same old, same old. And it doesn't seem like it's going to change any time soon.
If you're familiar with one Plum novel, you're familiar with them all. And I'm still reading them, because I want to see it end eventually and her end up with someone (or even no one!), but it's getting boring. Someone blows up her car. She sleeps with Morelli and thinks about sleeping with Ranger. She has trouble with even the most basic bonds catch, and most often, that person is naked.

It's just the same book.

The sad thing is that I will keep reading these novels, as long as she keeps writing them. Because I keep hoping for something different. And there is a good way to do a series novel, but this isn't really it.



Have any questions or want to talk about the book? Discuss below!

You can get this book for your Kindle here, or a physical copy here. Or you can pick it up from your local library, like I did!


Disclosure: I borrowed this book from my local library. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains amazon affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Ulta Haul #1

I decided to place an order at Ulta.com- the Naked2Basics had just come out, I needed a new thing of Too Faced Shadow Insurance to have as a back up (plus, it was 1/2 off that day, thanks to Ulta's 21 Days of Beauty!), and there were a couple of other things I wanted to get with my $3.50 off of $10.00 for the month.

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I am almost out of my Biore Charcoal Cleanser, and that is now a must-have item for me, so I had to pick it up. I also wanted to try the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash because I've heard it's great for dry skin, and my skin has felt super parched. I also picked up a black eyeliner from Ulta. It's not waterproof, and the one I'm used to is, so I'm reserving judgement on it until after I open it, but I'm not opening it until after my other one is used up.

And I almost always opt to get the variety sampler, and this is what I got. I just put it with my other samples I get like this, to try out "one day".
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I am intrigued by the Deodorant Wipe, though.


FTC: All products have been purchased by me with my own money.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Agave Smoothing Haircare Trio Review

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How To Use: Warm a dime-sized dab of oil between your palms and distribute it throughout damp hair evenly, from roots to ends. Air dry for a natural look, or blow dry for a sleeker style. And don't stop there- this also doubles as a hydrating body oil!


How It Works: The amino sugars in agave soothe damaged hair and infuse it with moisture. This fragrant healing oil treatment is also packed with plenty of other natural conditioning ingredients to keep hair soft and sleek: vanilla, coconut, and baobab seed oil, to name a few. And it’s free of the stuff that’s not so good for your locks: parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.


Initial Impressions: I'm not super impressed with this shampoo and conditioner. I absolutely loved the hair oil by itself when I first received it in my March 2014 Birchbox, but combined with the system, I'm not really as into it. The shampoo really doesn't feel like it's getting my hair clean, and the conditioner doesn't feel like it's conditioning- my hair feels so dry after using this. I'm going to keep trying it, but so far, I'm just glad I only wasted my Birchbox Points and not actual money.


Final Impressions: My final impressions are the same as my first impressions- I didn't like the trio of products at all. I started using the shampoo and conditioner with different things after, or nothing at all, and it was the same thing. This did absolutely nothing for my hair, didn't make it feel softer or shinier, and I never felt like my hair was "sleek". Maybe this would be better for someone with a different texture of hair than mine, but for my fine, thin hair, this is worthless.
I will say, though, that I am still in love with the hair oil. I used it with a different shampoo/conditioner combo, and it does all the things it used to do for my hair that made me love it. So, clearly, the only loser here is the shampoo and conditioner.

You can purchase this product here.


FTC: This product was purchased with Birchbox points received by providing reviews for products received in my Birchbox subsciption box, which is purchased by me with my own money.
There have been no affiliate links used in this post.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream - Acai Grapefruit Review

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How To Use: Apply to legs, armpits, or bikini line before you shave.


How It Works: A moisturizing base of omega-rich squalene, organic shea butter, jojoba oil, and coconut oil protects against the redness and irritation associated with shaving, while organic green tea extracts infuse skin with antioxidants.


Initial Impressions: I felt like I had to use so much of this to shave one leg. I wasn't a fan of the texture (it's pretty much just a lotion), and I didn't feel like it moisturized any different than any other shave lotion.


Final Impressions: This is definitely not worth the price. ($20.00 for 150ml? No Thanks!) In reading the reviews on the Birchbox website, it seems like I'm alone, but I didn't feel like this was anything special. I have sensitive skin and get a little redness with shaving, but there was no difference between this and my skintimate shaving cream. It also clogged my razor up quite a bit, so I didn't feel like I got a really smooth shave (and I was rinsing after every single pass with the razor). So, basically, I didn't like this, and will never purchase it.


But I guess if you want to, after reading your own reviews on the Birchbox website, you can purchase this product here.


FTC: This product was purchased by me with my own money. No affiliate links have been used in this post.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

What's In My Makeup Bag? (As of October 7th, 2014)

Face products! (same as last month!)
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Single eye products (Here Kitty, Kitty and Queen Phyllis by bareminerals and Bad to the Bronze eye tattoo)


See something new in my palettes?! My Ulta haul will be up on Friday, and a review of it will be up on the 16th.


I really love this cheek product, and wanted to break out my coastal scents palette and this Too Faced palette again- it's been too long.


Going lighter on the mascara this month.


And, finally, eyeliners, primers, etc.


Friday, October 3, 2014

Judging A Book By Its Cover: My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale #1) by Elena Ferrante



Description from Goodreads: A modern masterpiece from one of Italy’s most acclaimed authors, My Brilliant Friend is a rich, intense, and generous-hearted story about two friends, Elena and Lila. Ferrante’s inimitable style lends itself perfectly to a meticulous portrait of these two women that is also the story of a nation and a touching meditation on the nature of friendship. The story begins in the 1950s, in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples. Growing up on these tough streets the two girls learn to rely on each other ahead of anyone or anything else. As they grow, as their paths repeatedly diverge and converge, Elena and Lila remain best friends whose respective destinies are reflected and refracted in the other. They are likewise the embodiments of a nation undergoing momentous change. Through the lives of these two women, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it is transformed in ways that, in turn, also transform the relationship between her protagonists, the unforgettable Elena and Lila. Ferrante is the author of three previous works of critically acclaimed fiction: The Days of Abandonment, Troubling Love, and The Lost Daughter. With this novel, the first in a trilogy, she proves herself to be one of Italy’s great storytellers. She has given her readers a masterfully plotted page-turner, abundant and generous in its narrative details and characterizations, that is also a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight her many fans and win new readers to her fiction.


I read about this book in Entertainment Weekly, and it just sounded fascinating. I really love books about friendship, and I really like that it sounds like it will tie into a bigger story.
As of this post, it gets almost a four star rating on Goodreads, which is pretty good, and most of the reviews talk about how beautiful and rich the story is.  I really can't wait to just get into it.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

My Life - September 2014

September 1st - September 7thOn the 1st, I went to a local arcade with my husband and some friends. It's a nickel arcade, so all of the games are either two nickels, one nickel, or in some cases, free. You also have to pay a fee to get in, but it's less than 2 dollars. It was a fun way to kill a few hours in the afternoon, and I completely beat the old Simpsons arcade game, so that was kind of cool. When I was younger, I played that game every Tuesday night when my parents were bowling. It definitely brought back memories!
The rest of the week, I basically worked, did some cleaning around my house (which ever ends, but I think I have gotten into a good rhythm with it), and worked on blog posts. I keep trying to get a good jump on them and keep up with products as I'm using/finishing them. Some of those samples get used quick!
The 4th was the first Seahawk game of the year against the Packers, and they won! Woohoo!
On the 5th, it was my roommates birthday, so my husband and I went to dinner with his parents and my friend Jeanette.
Over the weekend, we went to see Coheed and Cambria in Oakland. I wasn't a huge fan of their music initially, but over the past few years, I've gotten pretty into them.

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This was the last song of the night. They did Welcome Home, and he broke out the DoubleNeck, which is so freaking sweet. It was a great show, and if you're a fan and have never seen them live, I highly recommend it.


September 8th - September 14th
Both my husband and I had the 8th off to recover from the concert, but we still had to get up early to return our rental car, so we had breakfast burritos at this Greek place by his work. They were definitely worth staying up for! But when I got home, I took an almost 2 hour nap. (We got home from the concert at around 2am.)
Again, it was a week full of mostly work, housework, and working on the blog, but my husband, my roommate, and I did start rewatching Arrow to get ready for the new season.
My little brother also moved in with us this weekend, and will probably stay through the beginning of the year.
A show I forgot to mention my husband and I have started watching is Wizard Wars. Does anyone else watch? I find magic fascinating!
Sunday was Seahawks at the Charges, and they lost. And I made brownies. It was my first time using our Kitchen Aid mixer. I just made from-a-box, but they were still delicious!


September 15th - September 21st
This week was employee appreciation week at my job, and it made it really fun. My boss had a ton of fun activities for us, and a ton of treats- it was a fatty work week!
I had dinner with my friend Jeanette at this local pub called Mad Duck on Friday night. Also, Friday was my grandma's birthday (the one that recently passed away), and I had not been out to see her headstone yet so after some things I had to take care of, I went out there and saw her headstone and talked to her for awhile. I didn't think I'd want to do that, but I really needed it.
On Saturday my husband and I had his dad and stepmom over for a BBQ, and his dad made Fried Okra, which is one of my favorite foods in the whole world. Actually, just Okra in general is one of my favorite foods, I even eat it raw.  This is also when I made the banana pudding that I blogged about.
Sunday night I made a breakfast casserole from a recipe I found on pinterest that I really, really like. I'm not linking it now because I intend on one day doing an Adventures in Cooking post about it, but if you want it feel free to go to my Pinterest board under recipes I've tried.

September 22nd - September 28th 

This felt like such a short week, and work just flew by.
Nashville started again this week, which was exciting for me because I love that show! I love all the drama- my brother was home when I was talking about it (he moved in with us for a couple of months), and I was explaining who everyone was and what their relationships were to each other and just said "wow, this show is nuts."
I went to my Great Aunt's on Friday night to watch Fresno State football and eat pizza, and then was supposed to meet up with friends after but I was feeling absolutely awful so I went home.
Saturday I was feeling a little better and haven't seen my cousin Michelle (who is one of my best friends, also) since we went on our train adventure last month, so she picked me up and we went to a park and then McDonald's with her little ones.
On Sunday, my husband, my roommate Kyle, and I went to our friend's son's first birthday party. We hadn't met him yet (they have an extremely busy life), but he's adorable and it was fun. We didn't stay for a long time, but it was still nice. First birthday's are such a weird concept to me- you want to celebrate it, obviously, but at the same time, kids are not going to remember it. I think when the time comes, Joe and I will just have a small party with cake and ice cream.

September 29th - September 30th

This was a pretty boring couple of days, to be honest. I pretty much just went to work and came home. Though, on Tuesday, I went with my husband and my roommate to Habit Burger and Target. But other than that, same old same old!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Ipsy vs Birchbox, July - September (are they both worth it?)

I wanted to do a quick post about what I have thought about my ipsy bag the last three months, compare it to my Birchboxes from the last three months, and then ask myself- is it worth the money to keep them both?

Birchbox and ipsy July 2014
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This was the first month I had ipsy, and at the time, I really like it, but looking back, I haven't really used any of the products, and none of them are now must haves for me. However, the Birchbox has two products I really loved (the nail polish the posiebalm), and I will be repurchasing posiebalm once I run out of the sample. So I guess this month, Birchbox won for me!


Birchbox and ipsy August 2014
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This month, ipsy definitely won me over more. I LOVE the Perversion mascara, I've used that eyeshadow so much, and the Mongongo lip balm is now something I can not see myself ever not having. For the birchbox, I wasn't excited for it at the time, and looking back, it's probably one of my least favorites. I did really like the perfume, and have it on my favorites to possibly purchase one day. This month, ipsy won!


Birchbox and ipsy September 2014
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Since I'm not that far removed from when I received the boxes, I can only say that both boxes were fine. I've used most of the products in both of the boxes, and don't really feel like any are must haves. (Though, I haven't tried the Liz Earle Cleanser yet.) Nothing so far strikes me as something I'll be repurchasing, but I liked the curation of both boxes. So this was a tie month.


So the score is Birchbox - 1, ipsy - 1, and both - 1. Which, to me, means it's absolutely worth it to hang on to both. Neither of them is the absolute winner, but both have been curated according to my profile and have some good products that I still use.
I'm going to make this a quarterly series, so I'm going to check back in at the beginning of January for October, November, and December.


If any of you are interested in signing up for Birchbox, please click there and use my affiliate link! I receive points which I will exchange for products that I can review on this blog.
If any of you are interested in signing up for ipsy, please click there and use my affiliate link! I receive points which I will exchange for products that I can review on this blog.


FTC: I pay for both subscription boxes with my own money. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Tuesday, September 30, 2014

BATR Book Club: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

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(Read my Judging A Book post about this book here.)

This book was so good, and kept me guessing until the very end!

The main characters are incredibly complex and so different from each other- you have Madeline, who is this slightly crazed mom who is dealing with her ex-husband's new wife and her teenage daughter, Celeste who seems to have the idea life as a rich stay-at-home mom, and Jane, who is a single mom to a little boy who is accused of being a bully. 
There are many other characters, but those three are who the story centers around. The story as a whole centers around characters that have children in Kindergarten. 
Also, this story takes place in Australia, which I didn't know when this first started. Not that it's a huge part of the story, but it is something they mention.

You know almost right away that there is a death in this story, but I could not figure it out the whole story. I know what I was hoping for, but I just didn't know. But I did out loud say "OMG" when it happened. And when another reveal happens- I did NOT see it coming, at all. I was in absolute shock.
(I talk a lot when I read books, and laugh. It's just a thing I do. Like the characters can hear me or something...)

This wasn't a quick read by any means (the book is 480 pages!) but it didn't feel like a long read, either. 
I gave this book a solid four stars on Goodreads. I really liked it and it kept me interested. 


Have any questions or want to talk about the book? Discuss below!



You can get this book for your Kindle here, or a physical copy here. Or you can pick it up from your local library, like I did!


Disclosure: I won this book in a Birchbloggers contest to review in the month of September. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This post contains amazon affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Adventures in Cooking: "Yes We Have No Banana Pudding"

I am not a cook. 
I have little experience doing any form of cooking. I wasn't raised to help cook, really. Over the past couple of years, I've started to experiment a little bit, putting together pasta or broccoli salads for potlucks, and receive pretty good feedback (other than one time that I got my pasta a little too al dente), but overall, actual cooking isn't really something I feel passionate about.

Something I have discovered I really like, though, is baking. Or doing desserts. I think I like it because it's more exact, with little wiggle room. I don't have to figure out a dash of this or a pinch of that- it's cups and ounces, and tablespoons and teaspoons. 


My Father-In-Law and Step Mother-In-Law were coming over for a BBQ, and I decided I wanted to make a dessert. My husband is a huge Alton Brown fan, and recently they re-aired his Good Eats episode "Yes We Have No Banana Pudding," in which he makes both a refrigerated and baked banana pudding. I decided to give the refrigerated a try. 

Refrigerated Banana Pudding (adapted from Alton Brown's recipe)
Total Time: 3 hr 10 min 
Prep: 30 min 
Inactive: 2 hr 30 min 
Cook: 10 min 
Yield: 8 to 10 servings 
Level: Easy 

Ingredients 
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons 
3 tablespoons cornstarch 
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 
2 large eggs 
1 large egg yolk 
2 cups whole milk 
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces and chilled 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
45 vanilla wafers 
4 ounces banana liqueur 
3 ripe bananas, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds 
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice 
1 cup heavy whipping cream, very cold 


Directions 
Combine 3/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch and salt in a 3-quart saucier. Add the eggs and egg yolk and whisk to combine. Add the milk and whisk until well combined, about 30 seconds. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture reaches 172 to 180 degrees F, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. The mixture will begin to thicken and bubble around the edges. Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 piece at a time, being sure each piece is fully incorporated before adding the next. Whisk in the vanilla extractCover the surface of the pudding with a round piece of parchment and refrigerate until the pudding reaches 45 degrees F, approximately 2 hours. 
Lay the vanilla wafers on a half sheet pan. Slowly and evenly pour the banana liqueur over the cookies. Set aside for 10 minutes. 
Toss the banana slices with the lemon juice in a small bowl and set aside.  
Spread a small amount of pudding in the bottom of a 1 1/2-quart glass mixing bowl. Cover with a layer of vanilla wafers, followed by a layer of banana slices. Spoon 1/3 of the remaining pudding on top of the bananas and repeat, ending with a layer of pudding. 
Put the whipping cream in the bowl of a stand mixer, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and whisk just until stiff peaks form. Spoon the whipped creamover the cooled pudding and spread to cover completely. Top with any remaining soaked cookies. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.


I have a couple suggestions, especially if you have an electric range, I would suggest cooking on Medium or one notch above medium in order to get the same cooking time. I found this out when I had to remake mine, because it took over an hour on medium-low to get up to 172 degrees.
If it's not thickening up by the time you add the butter, it won't thicken. At least that was my experience. 


Not to toot my own horn, but everyone really loved this dish. Something about the sweetness of the pudding and the liqueur on the cookies really made it something special. 
However, next time I make this I will definitely be trying out Alton's Vanilla Wafers, because they might be a little drier than store bought, and therefore, won't absorb quite so much of the liqueur. Because a few of the cookies got absolutely soaked and a little soggy. 



Hopefully you all enjoyed this extra post this week! I'm definitely going to be trying out some new recipes and things and let you guys know how they go!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

ipsy September 2014

Ahhh I love everything in this bag!

ipsy photo ipsySeptember2014spoilers_zpsa3723f4b.png

- The Bag: I can't actually tell if I'll like this or not. I like the colors, but I'll reserve judgement until I hold it in my hands.
- Alterna Haircare CAVIAR CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction: I have wanted to try this for awhile, so I'm really happy to see it in my bag. I just hope that it's a decent enough sample to at least get 3 or 4 uses.
- Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush: I'm always excited for new brushes, and I've heard good things about Crown Brushes.
- NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow: I wonder if I'll be receiving this purple shade, because according to the ipsy website, there are 10 different shades I might receive. I'm already a fan of NYX, so unless they send me a color I don't like, I know that I'll like it.
- Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil: I never really get excited about standard pencil liners- I'm more of a fan of the kind that twist up. So this is one product that I'm just meh about, and I kind of wish I had received the nail polish instead. There are two color choices (Gunmetal or Fringe), and I don't really care which one I get.
- CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss: The two choices are Basic Instinct (which is the one shown above), and Love Affair, which is a deeper red color. I kind of am hoping I get Basic Instinct. According to the spoilers, this will be a full sized item. (And the lipgloss is worth $19.00, so this will basically pay for the whole bag.)



I really like the bag this time- it's kind of got an 80s vibe, and I like that it's just a little bigger than the last couple of months' bags have been. 



Alterna Haircare CAVIAR CC Cream 10-in-1 Complete Correction
A miracle leave-in product that delivers 10 benefits in 1 easy step, leaving hair perfectly polished. Can be used alone or as a foundation for the layering of other styling products.
How To Use: Apply evenly to clean, towel-dried hair & style as desired. Can also be used as a finisher on dry hair for added perfection.
How It Works: Caviar CC Cream perfects hair in 10 different ways for complete: Moisture, Shine, Smoothness, Softness, Anti-Breakage, Heat Protection, Light Hold, UV Protection, Manageability and Strength
Will I Use It?: I've already tried it once, but results weren't that exciting. I'll keep using it and do a more complete review. 




Crown Brush Infinity Shadow/Crease Duet Brush
This dual-ended brush offers the best of both worlds.
How To Use: The shadow brush is perfect for applying eye shadow or contouring the eye, while the crease brush is designed to be used dry for defining the eye, or wet for precision concealing.  
Will I Use It?: I've used this brush a handful of times since receiving it, and I understand why Crown Brushes are so hyped. This is one of the best quality brushes I own, and can definitely see investing in some others in the near future.






NYX Hot Singles Eye Shadow in Bling
Whether your look is edgy or natural, NYX’s unique formulation is easy to blend and build on. 88 amazing shades inspired by the latest fashion runway trends.
How It Works: Hot Singles are intense! Powerfully loaded with pigments, this versatile formula lets you make a statement for any occasion
Will I Use It?: I added it to my makeup bag, but haven't used it yet. I will, though!






Pacifica Natural Water-Proof Eye Pencil in Fringe
These rich water-proof, buttery smooth eye pencils glide on smooth and deliver big color pay off with every stroke. 
How It Works: Long-lasting natural formula, provides hours of wear and contains beneficial ingredients great for the sensitive eye area.
Will I Use It?: I used it on a day when I knew I'd need a waterproof mascara, and this definitely came through- it didn't budge at all. It's a nice, dark brown color, and I really like it!






CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss in Basic Instinct
CAILYN Art Touch Tinted Lip Gloss delivers the stunning color impact of a lip stain and high shine of a lip gloss. 
How It Works: This silky smooth gloss glides on your lips like butter, leaving you with a lacquer like finish.
Will I Use It?: I really like the color, but I haven't used it yet. 


I really enjoyed everything in this bag, but I have decided to switch up my profile a bit- I've unmarked lip products completely. Hopefully I won't receive any for awhile, because I'm not even a big lip product junkie, so none of them are really getting used. 
This isn't reflected at all of the color or quality of the lip products received, I just won't use them and would rather see what else I get if that option isn't available for now.


If any of you are interested in signing up for ipsy, please click there and use my affiliate link! I receive points which I will exchange for products that I can review on this blog.


FTC: This box was purchased by me with my own money. All opinions are my own. All product descriptions were taken directly from ipsy, amazon.com, or the product page on the brand's website.

This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links and an ipsyaffiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
The individual product links to the ipsy product page are not affiliate links.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Birchbox September 2014

It's Birchbox's 4th anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Birchbox!

This month, I received an email asking to choose a sample, much like last month and the month before. I hope that means this is becoming a regular thing, because I really like it!


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I chose to get the 2nd sample on the top from the left, which is the Davines sample package. The reason I chose this is largely because it's a complete Shampoo/Conditioner/Oil set, and there's also three products, so I knew I would get to review them all, which will give me more Birchbox points.


I received my shipping notification on the 6th this month! According to "Everything You Need To Know About The Birchbox Cycle," all boxes now ship by the 10th, which is awesome, because it used to be you didn't really know when it would ship. I'm really happy mine shipped so early.

However, I did have to wait until the 10th to see all of my spoilers!

 photo BirchboxSept2014spoilers_zpsf102ae1d.png  photo BirchboxSept2014Spoilers2_zpsacfc68f8.png


- Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee Cologne Absolue: The description says this has jasmine, vanilla, and lime. I'm not sure about those combos together, but it could surprise me.

- Davines OI/Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion: This is a serum, actually, and you all know how much I love hair stuff.
- Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit: This is probably the most hyped up item I will receive in a Birchbox (at least up to this point), so I have very high expectations!
- Davines OI/Shampoo: This shampoo claims to boost volume and improve hair texture. We'll see!
- Davines OI/Conditioner: This is supposed to soften and protect hair, and improve drying time. Again, we'll see!
- Acure Organics Day Cream Gotu Kola Stem Cell +1% CGF: Hmmm another anti-aging day cream. But this also claims to help fight free radical damage, and who doesn't want that?! (Okay, that was slightly sarcastic, even though I do know that it's a good thing.)
- Pixi by Petra Breath of Fresh Air Exclusive Lip Balm Set: I'm assuming since the sample says set, I will receive them all? I guess we'll see!


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I LOVE the packing this month! It's so cute!


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Acure Organics Day Cream

Made with gotu kola stem cells, this antiaging moisturizer firms and protects skin.
How To Use: Smooth onto clean, dry face, neck, and chest
How It Works: Chlorella growth factor protects collagen and elastin fibers for stronger, more elastic skin. Gotu kola stem cells stimulate cell turnover, help fight free radical damage, and firm skin tone, restoring and evening complexion. The easily absorbed formula locks in moisture for all day nourishment of normal to dry skin.
Will I Use It?:I definitely will give it a try. I've heard it's a thicker moisturizer, so I might wait to use it when it's not 100 degrees plus outside every day. I will definitely post a review once I am able to use it.


 photo BirchboxSeptember2014_3_zpsb603bd7a.jpg


Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee Fragrance

A fresh, lively blend of soft vanilla, romantic jasmine, and bright lime notes.
How To Use: Spritz onto pulse points- a little goes a long way.

How It Works: Romantic and sumptuous, this scent is a worthy addition to any fragrance collection. Top notes of bright lime and coriander mingle with middle notes of jasmine and oak moss. Madagascar vanilla and amber notes anchor the scent.
Will I Use It?: I haven't been in the mood for perfumes too much lately, but when I am, I'll give this a try. I also really like the postcard the sample came with- it's super cute! I've been using it as a bookmark.


 photo BirchboxSeptember2014_4_zps5035aa52.jpg


Davines Oi Conditioner (the shampoo and oil are bonuses)

Loaded with apricot butter and roucou oil, this detangler protects and softens hair.
How To Use: Apply small amount to hair after shampooing, focusing on ends. Rinse after 2-3 minutes.
How It Works: Natural active ingredients like antioxidant-fueled roucou oil guard hair from harsh UV radiation and heat styling, while apricot butter softens, conditions, and soothes.
Will I Use It: I love hair products, and trying them, so of course I'll try it! And I'm thrilled that Birchbox gave me the whole system to try. I will definitely post a review once I get a chance to use it.


 photo BirchboxSeptember2014_5_zps65abe49a.jpg


Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser Starter Kit

UK favorite that uses a two-step ritual to purify and exfoliate. A Birchbox exclusive!
How To Use: Massage into skin. With muslin cloth, wipe off gently in small circles, from the center out. 
How It Works: This creamy cleanser contains moisturizing cocoa butter, and two of nature’s best astringents: eucalyptus essential oil and rosemary. These plant oils lift dirt off the skin’s surface without disrupting the natural barrier function. The 100 percent cotton muslin cloth gently exfoliates without irritation, even for the most sensitive complexions.
Will I Use It?: I absolutely will use it! I've heard such good things about this product, so I wonder if it will live up to the hype? I will definitely provide a full review and let you all know!


 photo BirchboxSeptember2014_6_zps2a81e327.jpg


 photo BirchboxSeptember2014_7_zps228892ab.jpg
Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Ripe Raspberry

Dual-purpose balm that hydrates with shea butter and give lips bright, buildable color.
How To Use: Swipe onto lips for instant moisture. Layer on for a more intense hue.
How It Works: This exclusive set features four tinted lip balms: Honey Nectar, Ripe Raspberry, Natural Rose, and Comfort Clear. Formulated with shea butter and vitamin E, each infuses lips with moisture with every application. No flaking or dryness here!
Will I Use It: I have used it, and I really like the color! It has better pigmentation than I thought it would, it's very smooth, and lasts quite a while. I definitely recommend it!



If any of you are interested in signing up for Birchbox, please click there and use my affiliate link! I receive points which I will exchange for products that I can review on this blog.


FTC: This box was purchased by me with my own money. All opinions are my own. All product descriptions were taken directly from the Birchbox card included in the box.
This post contains Amazon.com affiliate links and a birchbox affiliate link. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
The individual product links to the birchbox product page are not affiliate links.