Business Cards (Am I Legit Now?)

I got these babies created just in case a situation ever arises where they're necessary!  I highly doubt they'll see the light of day, but who knows.  Always better to be prepared, right?

If you bump into me IRL, I might make you take one!

Mini Makeup+Jewelry Haul

Since it's spring break, I figured I would go to the mall like a suburbanite does and shop a little to ease the pain of the 26 degree weather I woke up to.  Nothing like a little retail therapy, amirite?  (I'm right.)  Well.. some things I ordered online and just got today, and some I actually picked up in person.  Everything listed below is from Forever 21 (fashion) or Sephora (beauty).  I also stopped at H&M for some clothes and Bath and Bodyworks for a few candles and such, but didn't really feel like hauling those items.  

But let's be real -- I never actually know if anyone is remotely interested in what I buy or where I buy it anyway.. so.. yeah.

Without further ado:

Tribal-Inspired Tiered Necklace ($7.90) -- This is definitely a necklace I'll be throwing on a lot to spice up a super casual outfit (like a flannel and denim shorts or the like) just to give it a little something extra.  It's just detailed enough to be interesting, but not enough to be flashy.  I love the long length, too.  If you see me in person, I know you'll be seeing a lot of this necklace.

Feather and Faux Stone Necklace ($15.90) -- Hi I'm completely obsessed with this necklace.  And I'll be wearing it as much as I can get away with.

Tribal-Inspired Fringe Necklace ($12.90) -- This is just a fun piece to make any outfit a bit more interesting.  Even though it's not necessarily an "every day" piece, it would pair with a tee shirt and jeans just as well as a little black dress.

There's a swatch on that arm!  I LOVE how seamlessly it blends in to my natural skin.

Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Powder Foundation in "Medium Dark Golden" ($36) -- I love this powder foundation!  It's perfect for spring and summer, because it has a "demi-matte" finish, as opposed to a true matte.  Once the weather starts getting nicer, I think having a natural glow to your skin is so pretty and season-appropriate.  If it ever decides to warm up again, I'll switch out my Make Up For Ever Duo Matte foundation for this one -- when, you know, I actually feel like putting makeup on my face.  (And yes, I'm the shade Medium Dark Golden.  I like to tan.)

Benefit Cosmetics the POREfessional Mini ($10) -- Just picked up a little travel size of my favorite primer.  Don't get me wrong, I still like my Smashbox Photo Finish primer, but it tends to make my skin a little oily if I wear it for any longer than, say, 5 hours or so.  With the POREfessional, I barely notice any extra shine throughout the day.  And it makes your face look completely airbrushed, so how can you go wrong?

FYI: I feel like I've talked about this before, but I'll reinforce it.  A lot of people do their entire makeup routine and skip the primers.  If you're already going through all the time and effort to do a full face of makeup, take the extra 45 seconds to quickly slap on a primer or two!  It legitimately makes a HUGE difference in the longevity and opacity of your makeup.  Using a face primer underneath any foundation will change your makeup game forever. Trust.

Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Mascara ($24) -- I have been so intrigued with the new Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash, I had to grab one and try it for myself.  I figure, if I don't like it I can always return it, right?  I never, ever use non-waterproof mascaras, but I've heard so many good things about this formula and wand.  It supposedly lifts your lashes and holds a curl for hours and hours without any falling throughout the day.  I'm SO CURIOUS how it'll work on my stick straight Asian lashes.  (My natural eye lashes actually grow downwards, with absolutely ZERO curl.)  I'll do a full review of this mascara once I use it a few times!

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Cruella" (Full Size $26), NARS Satin Lip Pencil in "Rikugien" (Full Size $26), and NARS Larger than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in "Via Veneto" (Full Size $25) -- My adorable little Sephora VIB Rouge birthday gift!  I already love Rikugien, and can't wait to try out the gorgeous red shade Cruella.  And I can always use a little more basic black eyeliner, so this little present was super useful.

DIY: Wooden Drink Coasters!

When I think about "growing up" I think about things like buying laundry soap in bulk, waking up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, reading the newspaper, and using coasters for your drinks.  Sick.  Am I growing up?

For some god forsaken reason, I've been obsessed with coasters lately.  Partly because they're super practical and mostly because they can be soooo cuteeeee.  But some of my favorite sets can be anywhere from $24 to $98!  I'm not saying it isn't worth investing in a few, but buying a ton of coasters can really add up fast.

So.. why not make some? And make some for only $5, at that?  You can personalize these how ever you want -- acrylic paint (like the DIY I did below), a collage of photos and magazine cut-outs with some modge podge, all over glitter spray paint.. you name it!  Leaving them plain and natural is also such a cool look.

For a tutorial, keep reading!

If you don't have most of the other materials needed for this DIY, this is probably one of the most expensive steps of the whole process.. and it only costs 25 cents per sample.  Yep.  For real.  You can pick up these hardwood floor samples at your local Lowes, Menards, Home Depot.. anywhere that sells flooring.  I got mine at Lowes Hardware, and they were actually only a quarter each.  They come in a plethora of colors and finishes, so get creative!

Before you do anything to them, make sure the top of the wood is clean (so anything you paint on them will stick).

For my coasters, I decided to paint some fun geometric designs in gold acrylic.  If you don't already have any fun paint on hand, they only cost $1.50 from Joann Fabric or Michael's Crafts.  You also need a simple paint brush -- I just used a plain ol' sponge applicator.

Squeeze out a little bit of paint and soak the tip of your brush to coat it.

Grab a sample and find the two raw edges (where the samples were cut from the big plank of flooring).

Paint the edges with the paint (color of your choice, of course).  

Then, using blue painter's tape, map out the designs you want for the coasters on the sample pieces.  I did each coaster a different style, but you could do all of them the same, or two and two, etc.  

Once everything is laid out, go over the edges of the tape with your nail (or any flat surface) and push down so there are no air bubbles.

Now the fun part.  Paint away!

If your paint isn't opaque and you want it to be a little less see-through, you can cover the coasters with a few coats of paint.  Just make sure to let them dry a little bit in between each layer, so it doesn't glob up on you.

While the paint is drying, grab some adhesive cork backing.  I got this stack of 15 sheets at Joann's for only $3.50!  If you can't find any sticky kind, plain cork will work -- just make sure to have some super glue to adhere the cork to the bottom of the coasters!  (I'd recommend stocking up on cork board and cork adhesive if you want to get into DIYs.  They come in handy more than you'd think!)

Take one sheet of cork, and cut out four even pieces to cover the bottoms of the coasters.  This prevents the wood from scratching your tabletop surface, as well as keeps the coaster secure and firmly in place while a drink is on top.

Peel off the protective backing from the cork to expose the adhesive..

..and stick it firmly onto the bottom of the wood sample.

Lay the coasters out to dry, CAREFULLY peel away the blue painter's tape, and tada!  I stress carefully because if you peel too quickly, you risk ripping away some of the paint edges as well, and you won't be left with a clean line.  It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, because it would be a little worn and rustic looking.. but probably something to avoid right off the bat.

I recommend spraying them with a clear sealant or painting them with a clear top coat so the acrylic paint is protected from condensation and spills, and doesn't bubble or scratch with use.

Now you have a set of adorable, practical, and unique coasters.. which could cost you as little as $5 to make!  These also make adorable gifts, especially if you use someone's favorite colors, or even monogram them with their initials.  Just stack all four coasters together, find a pretty ribbon, tie them up with a bow, add a gift tag, and you're good to go!

Happy DIY-ing!

My Favorite Nude Lipsticks (Perfect for Spring 2015)!

If the beauty trends from the 2015 awards season and New York Fashion Week has taught me anything, it's that the "no make up" make up look is going to be huge this year (..again).  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a fun coral or bright pink lip in the summertime.  But when the occasion isn't right for such a pop of color, the nude lip will definitely reign supreme.

Below I've included some of my favorite lipsticks that are perfect for that barely-there look.  From high end ($35) to drugstore ($6), I tried to include products in all price ranges.

MAC Lipstick (Amplified Creme) in "Half 'n Half" ($16) - a pretty, creamy opaque lipstick with major color payoff.  It tends to lean more cool-toned, so it'll wear a bit mauve-y if you have already cool-toned skin.  It's a bit darker than my natural lip shade but really gives them a pretty dusty rose color.  I like this MAC formula much better than their matte shades.  It's still not shiny by any means, but has a bit more moisture to it so it's not as dry and chapped feeling.  And it lasts hours on the lips before any noticeable wear.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in "Stockholm" ($6) - an opaque lipstick in a lipgloss form.  I still don't quite know how to describe this stuff.  It's definitely not sticky in the slightest, but super smooth and creamy.  It has a matte finish to it without being drying at all.  The downside to the lip cream formula is its longevity, or lack thereof.  Because it's so smooth and lightweight, it only lasts an hour or two before it wears away.  If I wear this lipstick out of the house, I always bring the tube with me for touchups.  But this is one of the prettiest colors in the bunch!  It's the lightest and most neutral -- not too cool but not too warm toned.  And it's probably the closest to my natural lip color.  Plus, all NYX lip products smell like cake, soo..

Cover Girl Colorlicious Lipstick in "Sultry Sienna" ($8) - an opaque shade on the shiner side, but still not glossy by any means.  It's definitely the pinkest color on my list, which is super pretty for spring and summer.  It's a rosy shade that still remains in the nude family, and definitely leans on the cool side.  Paring a color like this with a flushed cheek and some mascara and/or lashes is the perfect warm-weather look.  

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Lipstick in "3 Beige Ultimate" ($35) - my all time favorite lipstick!  It's a pretty, glossy-ish formula that has a beautiful sheen on the lips.  But I'll say it now -- I am not a fan of the flavor or the smell of this formula.  At all.  I find myself making a face every time I accidentally taste it.  It's not enough to get me to hate it, obviously -- it's still my favorite!  But it's a very polarizing flavor, I'll say that much.  This is a color that will look good with virtually any makeup look, with any outfit, on any skin tone.  

NYX Simply Nude Lip Cream in "Exposed" ($7) - a very creamy lipstick in a twist up pencil form.  Probably the most matte formula I've mentioned (but still not as matte as, say, a MAC matte formula).  I would make sure your lips are moisturized with some balm or chap stick before applying this lipstick, because it's a formula that might settle into fine lines and cling to dry patches once it has been on the lips for a couple of hours.  It's a warmer shade that is probably the second closet color to my own lips on this list.  This is a great on-the-go shade for throwing in your purse or pocket, and wearing as an every day lipstick for errands, lunch, or virtually anything at all.

And just for a reference, this is the natural color of my lips.  They aren't terribly pigmented, but definitely have a pink undertone.  The lipsticks I mentioned above work as a nude on my skin tone -- if you're a lot lighter or a lot darker, they might not show up as a MLBB ("my lips but better") color on you.  But still just as gorgeous for this whole no makeup makeup trend that's going to be huge for spring and summer!

"Breaded" Zucchini+Onions

I don't think that indulging in "bad" foods every once in a while is a negative thing at all.  But I also know that you can't eat like crap every day of your life.  Which is why I like to create some intermediately healthy foods to keep me satisfied without stuffing my face with something fried or loaded with carbs.

One of my favorite veggies is zucchini.  It's so versatile and can be incorporated into or become virtually any recipe.  And -- of course -- one of my all time favorite foods ever is fried zucchini.  I will eat that wherever and whenever, no matter what the circumstances.  (If I die, bury me in a coffin with the Cheesecake Factory fried zucchini and ranch dressing.)  But as we all know, eating even a fried vegetable all the time is just plain bad for you.

When I want the taste and quality of a delicious fried zuc, but not the calories, I turn to this go-to recipe: sautéed and "breaded" zucchini and onions.  Cooking the zucchini with chunks of fresh garlic and strips of yellow onion really brings out great flavors and textures -- and who doesn't like fried onions as well?  The combo of using some bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese on a stovetop really emulates and mimics the taste of a fried breading, so I don't really miss the deep fried part either!

Without further ado, here's the recipe!

Slice a medium to large zucchini in 1/2" rounds, slice one-fourth of a yellow onion into 1/2" thick strips, and dice up as many cloves of garlic as you want (I LOVE GARLIC so I used about 6-7 cloves.. oops).

In a large skillet, heat up 2-3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over a medium flame.  If you want to add a bit of decadence, add 1/2-1 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the pan-- it's unnecessary but delicious!  There are about 100 calories per tablespoon of butter, just an FYI.

Once the oil is all heated up, add the zucchini rounds to the pan, and stir them around (so they flip over and get cooked on both sides) for about 5 minutes.

Add the sliced onions to the pan and cook 'em til they're semi-see through.

Don't forget to add salt and pepper!  It may seem arbitrary but it REALLY helps with the flavor of anything savory you cook!

Once the onions are transparent and the zucchini is starting to brown, go ahead and throw your garlic into the mix.  And don't forget to keep stirring and keep everything moving around in the pan!  You don't want one side of everything to get nice and cooked and browned but the other side raw!

Time for the fun part.  Mix together about a 1/4th a cup of bread crumbs and 1/4th a cup of grated parmesan cheese.  If the bread crumbs are plain (as opposed to italian-style or seasoned), mix in some dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and any other seasonings you like.

Add half the breadcrumb mixture into the pan.

Stir it around with the veggies to completely coat each side of each veggie.

Add the other half of the breadcrumbs and do the same thing.  At this point, just kind of let the whole mixture brown up and get nice and crispy.  Keep stirring it all to make sure everything is getting evenly cooked and browned and crisped up!

And that's it!

This is a recipe I will cook up to be my main meal as a vegetarian. But it also makes a delicious side dish to any protein you can concoct.  If course it won't be as crunchy as anything truly deep fried, but as long as you let the breading crisp up on the stove, it still has some amazing texture!  Try this sort of fake-fried veggie the next time you're craving something fried!

Nutrition:

2 tablespoons of oil: 240 calories / 0g carbs

1 large zucchini: 54 calories / 10g carbs

1/4 yellow onion: 15 calories / 3.5g carbs

1 clove of garlic: 4 calories / 1g carbs

1/4 cup breadcrumbs: 107 calories / 19.5g carbs

1/4 cup parmesan cheese: 108 calories / 1g carbs

Recipe using 1 clove of garlic and no butter = 528 calories / 53g carbs

Servings per recipe = 3

Total calories per serving = 176 calories / less than 12g carbs