Guest Post on The Happy Life

Hi Friends!

Check out my most recent post below on some of my favorite Sara Happ products. BUT- while you're here, also check out my guest post "My Top 10 of the Week" on a lovely blog, The Happy Life, written by my friend Rachel. While you're there, look around and leave her some love! It is such a sweet blog and I'm so excited to have gotten to contribute!! Enjoy!!

My Top 10 of the Week on The Happy Life 

Makeup Favorites: Sara Happ

You can have a little taste of spa heaven right in your bathroom cabinet. I'm talking about one of my favorite things I have ever purchased: Sara Happ Inc. The Lip Scrub and its sidekick The Lip Slip.

This dynamic duo is quite indulgent, and it is a little on the pricey side; however, I can say that this lip scrub would last you for a really long time. I have used it a lot and have barely even made a dent in it.
These amazing lip scrubs come in many different delish flavors. I have the brown sugar flavor, but I have also smelled the creme brulee flavor and oh my gosh....you kind of just want to eat it (which you could because its pretty much all-natural).

A lip scrub is obviously an exfoliant for your lips that can get rid of all that annoying flaky skin that we sometimes get and leave your lips super soft. The reason why I ended up buying the Lip Slip (an amazing moisturizing balm) to go with my lip scrub is because you definitely want to use some kind of conditioning agent once you exfoliate your lips. Of course, you can use any type of lip balm you want- a good moisturizing one I use a lot is Aquaphor-- cheap and great!

Left: Lip Scrub; Right: Lip Slip

Personally, I think that Sara Happ's The Lip Scrub is definitely worth the investment (like a lot of good beauty products) even if you don't get her balm to go with it (that was more of an indulgence). You can order it from certain websites or get it at specialty stores around the country (check her website for places to go!). Enjoy and "wonder how you ever lived without it!" ;-)

*Note: if you have nut allergies this product IS made with macadamia nut oil so it may not be suitable for you!

Cooking Adventures: Salmon Cooking Technique

One night, I ventured into Central Market (love) and passed by the seafood counter, looking for some inspiration for dinner. The guy behind the counter was able to talk me into some type of salmon that was hardly ever on sale (I think it was from New Zealand?) and even gave me a few ounces for free. I have also cooked this recipe with 6.99$ a lb salmon and it was totally tasty too!

 I love salmon but sometimes I find it difficult to cook because it seems very easy to over-cook (and over cooked salmon is fun for no one). The seafood man gave me a simple recipe that changed my life and made cooking salmon a lot less intimidating. First, you season the salmon with whatever you like- the beauty of this fish is that so many different things work! I used a fish rub that the guy at Central Market also recommended (so so good).

{Image via}

Heat a skillet that you are able to cover to medium high heat and drizzle some olive oil in the pan. When it's hot, put the salmon FISH side down (not skin side) and sear for 2 minutes. This locks in the seasoning and gives you a lovely outside crust. Flip the salmon over carefully and reduce the heat slightly, covering the fish with the lid. Let it steam and after 8-10 minutes (could be shorter or longer, depending on thickness) you will have a beautiful tasty and EASY dinner! The beauty of this cooking method is that you can let the salmon cook as long as you need-- the fatty skin creates a nice layer of protection that won't allow the bottom to burn! I've made this more than once now and it is just a favorite in our house...and healthy too!

 Do you have a favorite fish dish that you like to make? What is your preferred cooking method?

The Odds of me being there at midnight...

Are next to none. In fact, they are none. This is not out of lack of caring about the release of what could be the start of one of the greatest trilogies ever. No, this is because I am old....ish. Still young, but also old. Middle Aged. Whatever. I like to sleep. plain and simple. The thought of having to extend this day until 3 AM makes me want to....to....well I don't know, but think of something dramatic.
Also, though. There's this.

This is Peeta. And look before I get going on this....if you haven't read the books, well, you should probably just not waste anymore of your life and go ahead and do it! It is an amazing story with lots of deep messages about war, division, and such. Oh and if you are reading this and you have no idea what I'm talking about....Hunger Games. ANYWAY...Peeta. Apparently Josh Hutcherson, playing Peeta for the movie, is the newest craze (craze being an understatement) in celebrity land (which honestly, I don't get...Liam Hemsworth who plays Gayle is 10X hotter even if he is dating Miley Cyrus), and if the girls in my class act anything like they way they do when his name is spoken tonight at the premiere...I want to be as far away from that shriek as possible!

[image via]

 I am so looking forward to seeing this film. I am hoping that the interpretation on-screen of the incredible adventure in the book does it justice. From what I have seen so far, it looks that we will not be disappointed. The books were so great that every book I read now...well let's just say it has a lot to live up to.

[image via]

Here's our real-life Katniss. Except it's not real-life, because it's in movie-life....but you know what I mean. No need to get into semantics here ;-). Again, from the previews...she looks totally prepared to take on this monstrous role. Serious, cold, a little bitter...it's all there. I just hope she knows how much her life is going (or probably already is) to change!! Wouldn't you love to be known as "The girl on fire" for the rest of your life? I would.

Are you excited for the premiere? Are there any other Hunger Games fans out there?
Did you go to midnight premiere already? How was it!??!

PS I am planning on going on Sunday so I'm building the suspense for a few more days...

A Little Lovin'

My blog is now on the Blog Lovin' database, so if you want to follow me through that, go right on ahead!
Of course you can always join my network through Google Friends, or subscribe to my posts and comments through an RSS feed to whatever reader you use.

Thanks for the love guys as I hope to make my blog better all the time. :)

Beauty Favorite: MASCARA

Hey y'all! Sorry about the long absence-- I have been gallivanting around the United States, first with my 8th grade students for a whirlwind tour of our nation's capital (LOVE DC!!) and then with most members of my family for a trek up the Colorado Rockies for some lovely skiing. It was definitely a crazy but totally fun two weeks.

But here we are, back to the things of daily life. As promised, this is a post about my absolutely must-have favorite beauty product: Mascara. It is definitely one of those things that wakes up your face whether you have any other make-up on or not, and it only takes seconds to apply.  The thing is, there are lots of mascaras out there, so I am going to outline my 4 favorites at 4 price points. Each mascara I use is NOT waterproof, although they make waterproof versions of each kind (waterproof is too harsh on my lashes). Enjoy!!

1. Splurge: Dior DiorShow Mascara 25$

This mascara is the total package (it should be for 25$ =)). It doesn't clump and it makes lashes long and fluttery. It is easy to remove yet still lasts all day! The big brush helps it go on quick and evenly and boosts the volume.

2. Less Expensive Splurge: Bad Gal Lash by Benefit Cosmetics 19$

This may be my absolute favorite mascara in the world. I only buy it every once in a while due to the price but when I do I am never disappointed. I have been using this stuff since high school. It is the only mascara that I have ever received compliments on-- not once, but SEVERAL compliments on my LASHES. Yeah, it's that good. Big brush, fabulous formula, and looks so natural yet so defined.

3. Mid-Range: Clinique High Impact Mascara 15$

This mascara is what I am currently using and I liked it so much I have bought a second tube. I got it for Christmas in a gift set and it is a great mascara. It's by Clinique so of course it's good for everyone's eyes and it's got a little bit thicker formula than my favorite drugstore kind. It does everything the more expensive ones do and really lengthens.

4. Drugstore: Full N' Soft by Maybelline 5-7$

I've been using this mascara for as long as I can remember. It looks natural, makes my lashes long and defined, and is so gentle I have never had any issues with it. If you want a good, simple, all-around performer without all the extra craziness (which I have found doesn't always do what it says) then this is your best bet.

There you have it! I use black in all mascaras (Very Black in the Maybelline). I have tried brown since I am fair but it just does not define my lashes as well. Of course, you know what's best for you so have at it! =) Let me know if you end up buying any of these and what you think!

Blog Spotlight: Valentine's Day Tea Party

As promised, this is a little feature post that is spotlighting my friend Erin and her annual Valentine's Day Tea Party that she throws. It is always such a creative endeavor and she works really hard to make it fun, special, and cute! This year was my second time to attend. This party was something straight off of a Pinterest board-- Erin did an amazing job with the decorations! She also provides tons of different kinds of tea to enjoy plus amazing (and beautiful) food! It's always a sweet time of gathering to celebrate not only romantic love but also sister-ly love. Speaking of love, Erin has a blog herself on all things marriage and love. It is her passion, and her blog is rich with advice from personal experience and from her Master's degree in counseling! Make sure and pay it a little visit! Enjoy the following visual aids to help you see the fun that was the V-Day Tea Party 2012 :)

Precious Mantle Display...I love flags!

The spread...YUM!

"Carnation" Center Piece- made completely from cupcake wrappers!

Handmade tissue paper ceiling flowers...so cute

Heart-shaped fruit skewers!!

She collects vintage tea cups for, of course, the tea!

Hope you enjoyed this little look inside the Valentine's Day Tea Party!

Next time, I talk mascara...my favorite beauty product!!

Makeup: The BeautyBlender

Ok, so I know I promised a feature blog-post about my dear friend's Valentine's Tea Party but I promise this is coming in a couple of days-- I actually got a request to do a tutorial on using the BeautyBlender and I thought I'd do it tonight before I go out of town on a little visit to see my little brother!

If you subscribe to Birchbox (a monthly box filled with deluxe samples delivered to your door...aka FUN) then there is a chance you received a BeautyBlender sponge in your box. I was SO excited to get one because I'd been wanting to try it but wasn't sure about it since they are slightly pricey. However, now that I have one, I think I would be willing to invest....

pink spongy fun!

Here are some quick tips for using your BeautyBlender:

1. Wet the sponge. This makes application easier and also helps to avoid the sponge soaking up a lot of your product. Make sure you ring it out until it is just damp.

2. Dot or swipe your foundation on the main spots of your face with your finger: on your cheeks, sides of nose, middle forehead, sides of forehead, lower jaw line, and chin.

3. Take your BeautyBlender and start to lightly and quickly dab it all over using the bottom fuller rounded side of the sponge, spreading out the foundation with "spackle-type" dabs. *Yes, it will look at first like your foundation will look spotty and like it isn't going to cover your face but trust me it will!

4. Every so often, you can "swipe" the BeautyBlender to even out the coverage. Try to avoid swiping too much or too hard as it might wipe off what you've done, and you want a really natural, pressed finished.

5. The pointed side of the BeautyBlender can be used to blend under the eyes, the sides of the nose (close to your nostrils) and in other parts of your face that you need to be more precise.

6. Blend until you get the coverage you need!

I LOVE the way using this sponge feels...it's soft and actually kind of fun to use! Plus, you can just rinse it out once a week like you do your makeup brushes (see a tutorial for washing those here). Hope you enjoy using your BeautyBlender! If you don't have one but want one, you can purchase from Sephora (the two for 25$ is a good deal as this basically replaces your use of a foundation brush). Happy Blending!

Cooking Adventures: Portobello Pizza

Cooking is not exactly my favorite thing to do, but every once in a while I get inspired. I figured I'd try a recipe and then share my experience with you all! I have wanted to try this recipe for a long time, but my husband doesn't like mushrooms much so I waited until he was out of town on a trip to experiment! As far as ease goes, this recipe takes the cake. It took NO time to put together and there was hardly any cleanup. LOVE. Also, for those of you watching your gluten, this is completely gluten-free!

recipe adapted from www.tenleymolzahn.com


Preheat your oven to 350 degrees so it's ready to go when you're done prepping the pizza :).

Pick yourself out a lovely medium/large portobello mushroom, and then remove the stems and the "gills" (this is the dark fan-looking part on the underside of the mushroom). You might want to run a damp paper towel over the outside of the mushroom to clean it.

Before stem/gills removed

Cleaned and stem/gills removed

Now, you're ready to add your toppings. I chose onions, bell peppers and mozzarella. Add a layer of tomato sauce before you add your other toppings (Side note: I used Prego pasta sauce but I think next time I would go for PIZZA sauce...the pasta sauce turned out a little watery). 

Now you're ready to put the pizza in! I put mine on a layer of foil on a baking sheet to cook--- even EASIER clean-up! I cooked mine for about 12 minutes, but I think next time I would go a bit longer (maybe up to 15-17 minutes) to "crisp" the cheese a little. Ovens can vary on their cooking speed, so it's good to check and cook it just like you like it! 

finished product :)

RECIPE REVIEW:

Like I said, as far as ease goes....SO EASY. I loved how fast I could put this together (very important to me!!!). Now, also like I said, I think I would choose an actual "pizza" sauce next time because the pasta sauce did make it slightly watery. I also think I would add some seasonings- italian seasoning, pizza seasoning, I don't know...just something to boost the flavor a little! That said, I absolutely loved the texture of the mushroom and the idea of eating pizza without feeling super full from thick pizza crust! I will definitely make this again, and hopefully you will like it if you try it! Let me know in the comments what you think. 

Next time, I spotlight my friend's annual Valentine's Day Tea Party! Very exciting things coming up...stay tuned! :) 

Makeup Brushes Pt 2: How I clean my brushes

Hello everyone! Today's topic of discussion is how I wash my makeup brushes. There are lots of different ways that you can do this, but I find this to be extremely easy- requires no mixing of any ingredients and costs about 99 cents! 

I use Johnson&Johnson Baby Shampoo to clean my makeup brushes. It is mild, and washes out really nicely. You can get one for 99 cents or less in the travel-size item aisle at Wal-mart or Target. I put a very tiny amount in the palm of my hand and run the brush that I'm cleaning under some lukewarm water. I swirl it around and wash until the water runs clean. I do this with each brush I need to clean. Obviously, depending on the size it takes more or less soap/water. 

I generally clean my brushes once a week to once every two weeks (depends on how much I use them during that time). Face brushes need to be cleaned more often because dirty brushes can cause breakouts-- I learned this the hard way. 

I just got this product a few weeks ago from Sephora. It is a daily brush cleaner that you can spray on your brushes to sanitize them and clean off the most recent bit of producy. I really like this spray. It can prolong the amount of time you go between major washes as well as give you a clean surface for working with each day. I bought this in a small size to try it for only 6$. You need 1-2 sprays per brush, depending on the size.

Now, this is a product that is totally not necessary for drying your brushes, but I got it just for the fun of it. Normally, you can just lay down your brushes on their side on a towel or paper towel (never dry them straight up and down since excess water can settle and cause mildew...emphasis on the "ew"). This product called the "Dry 'n Shape" from Sigma Beauty not only dries your brushes faster (4-6 hrs, normally they will take all night to dry) but it also dries them so that your nice big fluffy brushes don't lose their shape. Like I said, not necessary, but cool if you're interested :) 

These are some of my tips and tricks...hopefully you will find some of them helpful! Do you have any that you use on a regular basis for cleaning your makeup brushes? Share in the comments! Next time, I try out a recipe for Portabello Mushroom Pizza! 

Makeup Brushes Pt 1: DIY Makeup Brush Organization

Let me start of by saying that if you know me at all, you know that I am not organized in any way, shape, or form. When I come across an organization tool that sticks...well, I just have to share it. If it can work for me, it can work for anybody. I first got this idea from seeing the brush displays at Sephora (aka my heaven on earth). Then, when Pinterest came out (aka heaven on the internet) I was inspired to try. This little "project", if you can even call it that because it is so easy, is cute, cheap, and displays your brushes in a fun way while also making them accessible.

First, you'll want to get a small glass candle holder/glass container (I got mine from Wal-Mart for 2.50-ish). You want it to be small enough so that it will make the depth of the beads enough to hold your brushes totally upright (the first time I did it I got a glass container too wide at the bottom). The beads/mini-pebbles are from the home-decor section at Michael's craft store. Obviously, you could get these from anywhere they sell this type of thing, and in any color to match your own decor. I've heard of even using coffee beans, but that might be more fragrant (and not as pretty). I used one package of the beads (I believe they were 5.99). Dump the beads in the glass and voila! You've got a lovely and accessible brush holder!

Next time, I'm going to highlight tips and tricks for washing and drying your brushes to make them last! Do you guys have ways that you use to keep your brushes organized? Did you try this "project"? Let me know in the comments! Enjoy!