Looks awesome!

I saw this today from Sephora's Twitter timeline & I think it looks awesome! I have never seen it before & wasn't sure how it worked so I clicked on the link: http://www.sephora.com/fishnet-magnetic-polish-P311904

And apparently in the lid there is a magnet. So it says to put on a base coat of it, wait for it to dry & then put on a 2nd coat one nail at a time. Paint your 2nd coat & hold the lid of the paint over your nail for a few seconds, not touching your nail & it'll pull the polish with the magnet & make this pattern! Too cool!

It come in Gold, Silver & Green. I personally like the silver/black combo best. It's a little bit pricey, it's $16/bottle.  But I think worth it. Besides, it's not like you're only going to use it once, unless you don't like it but you could really get a lot of times out of it! Yes, I am going to order myself a bottle.  There is also another one that is lines, but I thought this looked cooler!

Below I put the instructions from Sephora's website!

Suggested Usage:
-Apply one coat of Kensington Caviar base coat.
-Pull off outer cap of magnetic polish and set to one side.
-Using the inner cap, apply one coat of magnetic polish to all 10 nails. Leave to dry for 2-3 minutes.
-Apply a second thick coat of magnetic polish to one nail. Immediately hold the magnet (built into the outer cap) over the nail while the polish is still wet.
-Hold the lip in the cap just below your cuticle to position the magnet over the nail.
-Hold the magnet very close to the nail but do not touch the nail.
-Remove magnet after a few seconds to reveal the design.
-Repeat above on all nails, one nail at a time.
-Finish with one coat of Kensington Caviar Top Coa

4th of July Eats!

The 4th of July is just around the corner...well it's not around the corner...it's down the hall & the first door on the left...(inside Joke, Biggs gets it).  Haha! I know a lot of you probably have BBQ's to go to sometime this week & this is a dish i'm going to make on the 4th for a BBQ.  And I don't think you could ask anyone if they don't like fries...right?  These are more like potato wedges, but they are super simple & super delicious!  I'm not really sure how they'd travel...cuz i've only made them at the place i'm going to serve them...I guess they'd do ok if it wasn't too long of trip cuz they might loose their crispiness being covered...but then they'd get cold if you didn't cover them.  So...I dunno.  But here's the recipe & they go great w/almost anything!  I'll give you a few more tips at the end of this post...so read the whole thing!!!

Oven Baked Fries

1 Large Baking Potato
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Paprika
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
1/2 tsp. Onion Powder

Preheat oven to 450.  Cut potato into wedges.  Mix all other ingredients together.  Toss with potato to coat evenly.  Place on baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 45 minutes in a preheated oven.

Super easy right?  So, this is only for a single serving maybe 2, but you can adjust accordingly.  If you're like me, I don't measure anything...unless baking.  I just throw in abouts so measurements don't really mean too much to me.  For me, it's all about personal preference.  I also don't always follow ingredient directions & sometimes I add stuff just to see how it works out or if it improves a recipe.  For instance, in this recipe, I have previously just did Garlic Salt & Parmesan Cheese.  Or you could really swap out any of these ingredients for other spices that you might like better.  I also use canola oil instead of olive, just cuz that's what I prefer.  You could add some heat with some cayenne or red pepper flakes or go more middle eastern & use something like 5 spice.  Whatevs, that's what cooking is all about...trying out new things.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Thanks guys! And have a happy safe holiday! :)

Sounds YUM!

I got my new issue of Kraft Foods Food & Family last week & there are tons of summer recipes that I wanna try out! I love this magazine because if has like "normal" foods in it that don't require a bunch of crazy ingredients. They're just regular everyday kind of foods that get done pretty quick! It only comes out 4 times a year but sometimes they throw in a bonus issue around the holidays. Here are a few from the summer issue that I will probably try & you should too!

Peanut-Mango Coleslaw
Makes: 12 servings, 1/2 C. each
3/4 C. Mayo
2 Tbsp. Zesty Italian Dressing
1 pkg. Coleslaw Blend
1 Mango, chopped
1/4 C. fresh Cilantro, chopped
1/4 C. Red Onion, Chopped (i'll probably omit)
1/4 C. Dry Roasted Peanuts

Mix mayo & dressing, add next 4 ingredients, mix lightly. Refrigerate 1 hour. Top w/nuts.

Next...

Watermelon Salad
Makes: 8 Servings
8 C. Boston Lettuce, loosely torn
2 C. Watermelon, chunks
3/4 C. Cucumber, sliced & quartered
1/3 C. Red Onion, small slices
1/3 C. Raspberry Vinaigrette
1 Tbsp. Mayo

Combine first 4 ingredients. Whisk dressing & mayo until well blended. Add to salad & lightly toss.

And for Dessert...

Blueberry & Lemon Cream Angel Cake
Makes: 10 Servings
1 pkg. Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 C. Milk, cold
1 tsp. Lemon Zest
1 pkg. Angel Food Cake, cubed
2 C. fresh Blueberries

Beat pudding mix, milk & zest in bowl. Stir in 1 1/2 C. Cool Whip. Refrigerate 5 min. or until thickened. Layer cake cubes, pudding mixture & blueberries in 10 dessert bowls, top with remaining Cool Whip.

An extra treat...

I'm for sure going to try this one for the kids!

Fruity Lemonade Pops
Makes: 12 Servings

2 C. Water, boiling
1 pkg. Lemon Jell-O
1/4 C. Lemonade 4 fresh Strawberries, sliced
2 small Kiwi, peeled & sliced
1/2 C. Blueberries

Add boiling water to Jell-O, mix in large bowl, stir until completely dissolved. Stir in Lemonade. Place fruit in plastic popsicle molds or small paper cups. Pour Jell-O mixture over fruit, insert sticks. Freeze 3 hours or until firm. If using plastic cups cover with aluminum foil before inserting sticks & put stick through the top of the aluminum, when ready pop out of paper cup or tear paper cup off the pop.

Thanks guys, hope these sound good to you too!

Beans, Beans the Musical Fruit...

I haven't posted a recipe in a long time! I know many of you probably have BBQ's to go to this Memorial Day weekend so I thought i'd post a BBQ recipe! It's not mine...it was my mom's & she would make it for her friends when she had a BBQ or dinner to go to & i've only heard good things about it so I thought I share it w/you. It does have meat in it but I have made simple modifications to make it Veggie friendly.

Baked Beans

1 53 oz. can Pork & Beans
2/3 C. Brown Sugar
10 oz. Crushed Pineapple
8 strips of Bacon
1 Tbsp. Dry Mustard
1 Onion, Chopped
2/3 C. Ketchup
1 lb. Hamburger

Brown onion, bacon & hamburger in a skillet. Mix all ingredients together in a casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour @ 350 degrees.

*Modifications: I cook mine in a slow-cooker just cuz it's easier, however, it does take a couple hours to heat all the way through, so keep that in mind. I also use the Vegetarian Baked Beans instead of Pork & Beans. No Bacon & Quorn Grounds w/a little bit of Olive Oil instead of Hamburger. Everything else I do the same.

I don't know how many servings it is but it feeds a pretty good sized group. You could always half it & make a smaller batch. I would only take this size if it was a pretty good sized group of people.

Hope you guys try it out! I like it a lot & hope you will too!

Ready to go?

My brother & I were just laughing at our family because you never know when you're going to get a random question like..."Do you want to go to Kentucky?" Out of nowhere. He was saying that my mom called him once & started the conversation with "Hi, do you want to go to Russia?". That's how it's always been in my family! You know we LOVE to travel & will hardly ever turn down the opportunity when it arises. It really only gets turned down when we have something "important" already planned or someone will be in town or something like that. I'm trying to talk my bro into coming to Scarefest with me, but then he's like well, if we're going to be there I haven't been to South Carolina or Georgia yet & those are my only 2 states left. So, then I said "Well, why don't we fly into Columbia, SC, drive to Atlanta, GA & then up to Lexington, KY? It's only about 9 1/2 hours total & if we go the day before then we'd have plenty of time to drive around & see things." Right? He's going to see...which probably means he just doesn't want to flat out tell me no. But we'll see. If not, I totes don't mind going alone. In fact, i'd probably prefer it in some ways. Then I can just do my own thing...like I like to do. But it'd be nice for some company too & i'm always down for a mini-roadie.

Back in the day I was all over the country doing road trips to LA, Frisco, Seattle, Vegas, Denver...wherevs. I should've kept count as to how many concerts we went to on those but I didn't. I was just a kid, I didn't think of stuff like that back then. All I knew was that I was having a good time & didn't have a care in the world! That was good times! Wish I could go back! Remember when we ALL went to Pocatello, ID in my 'burban? That was random.

So, if you're so inclined...you should come to Lexington w/me. We always have fun!

Song Of The Day

So this is my #SongOfTheDay on Twitter today...and I wondered how people thought I picked them. It's not just random songs. I listen to either Dev Radio, Deadmau5 Radio or Today Top Hits Radio on Pandora all day at work & home so when I start it usually i'll hear a song that jumps out at me & that's how I choose. Or sometimes i'm feeling a certain way & i'll be thinking of a certain song so i'll then choose that one. You can usually tell my general mood by the songs I post throughout the day. Sometimes I just do the one in the morning & sometimes i'll do probably up to 5 a day. You can also tell how bored I am by the amount of Tweets I post. I check it all day. Somebody the other day posted you know you're addicted to Twitter when you wake up in the morning, immediately check your Twitter timeline like it's the morning news. It kinda is. I don't just follow people, I also follow all the big news groups (ex. MSNBC, CNN, Breaking News, Huffington Post, etc.). And my local news (ex. Fox 13, SL Trib, City Weekly, etc.). Plus, I just like to see what people are up to. I like the inspirational quotes, the music & pics others post & I guess just general things people do. It's kinda like people watching without actually having to watch the people. Weird.

Things that make you go...

WTF?  You thought I was gonna say "Hmmm..." didn't ya! Like the song?!?!  So since October my life has been crazy! You know i've been through some tough times the last little while & i'm not so great at coping w/those kinds of things.  And now that my BFF, my rock, my hero & biggest supporter, my mom is gone, well i've kinda had to figure myself out. I've just always counted on her being there & picking me up, cleaning up my messes & in general just getting me by.  Right? So, now i'm just I guess finally becoming my own independent person, or at least trying to. I'm by no means perfect, in fact far from it...like thousands of miles from it, but i'm working my way back to what everyone calls a "normal life". 

Isn't it weird how people see you? From the outside my family & myself seem pretty normal, like we don't have any problems. But really when you get in to it, just like any person or family you see all the problems & craziness that happens within. 

So, right now i'm working on ME. I've been reading a lot of inspirational quotes...if you haven't noticed from my Twitter timeline.  Or my FB posts. I've made a vision board, for those of you that have read the "Secret" then you know what i'm talking about.  I also need to get myself back to the gym. I don't know why I feel like that's so difficult.  I'd go in the morning but then i'd have to get there at like 7am & then get all ready there or at work.  And at the end of my work day it sounds like not a good time. I'm all tired.  But when I use to actually go after work I felt better when I left, but I just cannot talk myself in to it.  The last week, i've been telling myself only positive things.  I can't let certain situations & circumstances get me down this time. I'm keeping a positive frame of mind & any time I feel fear & anxiety I stop & breathe.  Breathing in positive energy & out all fear & anxiety.  It's been working really well. If I hadn't been doing this who know where i'd be right now...seriously. 

So...I know I haven't written for a while & this one is all about me.  But you got a little insight into me & now know what's been going on. Hope I didn't disappoint.  I'm gonna try to get back in to writing on here regularly with new stuff & hopefully some new recipes.  Or even some old ones that I have never given you.

Mr. Oat-y

I LOVE oatmeal for breakfast!  But, i'm talkin' about real oatmeal...not that crappy stuff in a package from Quaker that you cook in the microwave for 3 minutes, or whatever!  I can't eat that stuff...it has too much sugar & generally makes me sick.  I also don't like how the oats in it are all small & piecey.  I like to buy Old Fashioned Oats, not quick cook, original & make my own oatmeal.  It doesn't take that long either.  I prefer mine with Almond Milk since I don't drink regular milk.  My perfect oatmeal goes like this...1 C. Almond Milk in a small saucepan.  1/2 C. Oats.  Cook for around 7 minutes.  It's gonna still look runny but as it cools down it'll thicken up.  When finished I add about 1 tsp. Butter...that just smoothes out the texture.  A few pinches of brown sugar & a small handful of raisins.  Mix together, let cool for a few & then eat!  Perfect!  In all, it probably takes 10 minutes & is so much better for you than that pre-packaged stuff!  I have a thing with pre-packaged foods though...I limit myself from eating them as much as possible.  I'm a big believer that food is better for you, body & soul if made from scratch.  And besides, I love to cook, so that's gotta put some kind of karmic goodness into it...right?  I like to think so!  Try this out...you'll like it.  You can add whatever you want too, if you don't like brown sugar add Agave....or whatever sweetener you prefer.  And you can also put any kind of dried/fresh fruit in it!  :)

Worth it? I think NOT!

"You kjnow I'd rather walk on my lips than to speak bad about someone but..."

So, you know i'm a huge fan of OPI & nail polish in general but I have a complaint!!!  Me complain?  Right.  Anywho, when I bought this color I was loving it!  It's a black base but with super big kinda chunky silver glitter in it so it's super shiny & just my kind of thing.  Then over the next few days, it started to chip & if you know me once I get a chip in my nails the whole paint job has to come off!  I just think chipped nails looks tacky & cheap.  So, I was a lil disappointed in that.  Well then I decided to take it off & let me tell ya...it was a chore!  I don't know what they add extra in those glittery kind, but I literally had to soak my nails in remover for 5+ min to make any kind of progress.  I went through dozens of tissues & probably 1/2 a bottle of remover.  And I do buy the OPI remover cuz it's super quick & eats through anything, but it could not stand up to this stuff!  This color was in the Nicki Minaj collection which I was really diggin' but now i'm not so sure.  Just FYI!

Love me some trashy TV!

I admit it...I love trashy reality shows!  They are my guilty pleasure!  You know I like anything on Bravo & definitely ALL of the Real Housewives...OC, Atalanta, New York & of course Beverly Hills!  I wasn't sad to see the DC wives get cancelled though & especially not the Miami ladies...I didn't much care for them.  I'm also a Jersey Shore fan "Yeah Buddy"!  And if that wasn't bad enough it even goes in to Bad Girls Club & Toddlers & Tiara's territory.  Maybe I just like them cuz it a self esteem booster!  Don't ya think?  You think you're screwed up & then you watch all of them & you're like...oh wait...i'm not so bad...in fact i'm NORMAL!  LOL!  I'm also a fan of any of the makeover shows & most of the cooking shows.  Ya know who has so real crazy ones??? A & E...how do I know?  Cuz I watch Hoarders...duh!  No, but who watches the shows like....Lady Hoggers???  Just wondering'.  

Artichokes are the way to my HEART!

I was just looking around on www.kraftfoods.com at recipes & I ran across this one on the MVP Recipes for football season! I don't really watch football, except for the occasional Utes games but I thought i'd just make this for myself one night at home! It sounds awesome! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE artichokes! I love them in a sandwich with Sundried Tomatoes. I always joke & say that if you could put a whole antipasti bar on a sandwich it'd be my dream come true! I love all those things! Especially olives...that's the best sandwich ingredient! So, i'm gonna try this out & you should too! I might however, omit the red peppers & maybe do sundried tomatoes or olives...cuz peppers & I are not friends. Haha!

Black Pepper & Artichoke Pizza 

Ingredients:
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, drained, chopped
3/4 C. KRAFT Mayo with Olive Oil Cracked Pepper Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
1/2 C. Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/2 C. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 ready-to-use baked pizza crust (12 inch)
1/4 C. chopped drained roasted red peppers

HEAT oven to 400ºF.
COMBINE first 4 ingredients.
SPREAD onto crust; top with peppers.
BAKE 15 min. or until cheese is melted.

PS: Ya know what else might be good on this??? Spinach! Then it could be like a different take on Spinach Artichoke Dip...but in a pizza! YUM!

No Squints!

I have an unhealthy obsession with sunglasses. I admit it! I say unhealthy cuz I just can't help myself from buying them...even though I have 20 pair laying around. And they're all basically the same! Just different colors & a little bit different shapes. They have to be pretty square & big though or they make my face look round, ok rounder than it looks anyway. And ya know who has the best selection??? You guessed, didn't you! Ross. I don't really like to admit I shop there but I do, it's my guilty secret. They have the best sunglasses & the best shoes. Clothes...so so. They're usually cheap so when you wash them they get all mishapen & crazy. But, back to my sunglass obsession. I use to buy expensive ones but then realized it wasn't really worth it since I either end up scratching them, losing them or somehow breaking them. So now I just buy cheapies. I also almost ALWAYS wear sunglasses outside as a preventative measure against "crows feet"! You know i'm all about looking younger than I am! So, I suggest getting some. I'm not necessarily particular either...if i'm at some crappy gas station & I see a pair I like, i'll buy them! You should too! Just another one of my compulsive shopping habits! Hahaha!

Meet Your Meat

It's probably been I dunno....10, 11 or 12 years since I stopped eating meat.  When I tell people that they think i'm crazy.  I might be.  You might be wondering why I quit eating meat.  It's all thanks to 1 man.  John Feldmann, the lead singer of Goldfinger.  He put a video on the Peta Starter Kit DVD "Meet Your Meat" of his song "Free Me".  I've seen it a bunch of times & each time I watch it, it makes me cry like a baby.  Literally.  I thought it was so sad that I decided then & there I would not contribute to the cruelty of slaughtering animals.  I do however eat dairy.  But only "Cage Free" Veg fed eggs.  No milk though...it makes me sick to my stomach so I drink Almond Milk.  I use to eat mainly Soy products but not so much anymore since they are finding out that it's not so great for your body.  If you are looking for  a good meat alternative i'd recommend the Quorn brand.  They sell it at Whole Foods & Smith's Marketplace.  I like it the best because it most closely resembles the taste & texture of real meat.  I however, haven't found a good Tofu dog that I like.  Except for the veggie corn dogs at Hot Dog on a Stick.  Weird right?

Another thing I get asked is "How come you cook meat if you don't eat it?"  Why?  Cuz not to eat meat is MY decision.  Not yours.  If you want to eat meat go ahead, it's your body & mind that has to deal with that.  For me though it just seems right.  I don't like those non-meat eaters who think they're all better than people that eat meat.  It's a personal choice just like everything else you do or put in your body is.  Who am I to say i'm right & you who are you?

I'm putting the "Free Me" video at the end of this entry, but I strongly suggest NOT watching it if you are squeamish in any way.  And, if you do watch it...I suggest a box of tissues!


Free Me - Goldfinger