Sick+Spring Allergies=Office Eek

I'm feeling completely out of it. I'm suffering through spring allergies and may also have a cold of some kind. But, I still have to work and attend class, meaning I can't just stay in my PJs. One day away was one too many! Days like today make me thankful for old standbys:

I slather myself in Kiehl's Creme de Corps lotion, spray Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray in my already messy hair. Slip on an easy dress with a long necklace and black sandals, and stuff a grey cardigan in my giant bag for the times I will (certainly) get cold in the office. Top it off with a shimmery tinted moisturizer and pretty coral lips and I just might look a little better than death for the duration of the day. What's the in rest of the bag?  Kleenex, Ricola and a travel tin of green tea. I wish I were kidding.

Sick Day

Sweet, sweet readers. I'm sick. I'm taking the day off from class and work to lay in bed, drink tea, blow my nose and disturb my dog by eating 17 Ricola every hour. On days like today, my only recommendation is this:

I'll be drinking several quarts of this today. See you on the other side, kiddos.

Some Kinda Rant

I know that I usually just use space here to talk about makeup, clothes or random shopping and cooking. And I really like that, and I have some great posts lined up for this week. But today, I just want to rant a little bit about what I've been reading and hearing re:health care reform.

Listen. I know that there are knowledgeable, caring people on all sides of this debate. There are people who support the reform fully, and welcome the exact reform being put into policy. I know there are others who have some concerns about pieces of the reform and wish some of it were different, or removed. I know others who don't support it at all, and wish that we as a country had explored other methods of ensuring health and well being to all people. I know that there are other viewpoints that come from a place of reason and compassion, and that they aren't all in support of the reform. And, I'm down with that. I personally support the reform, with hopes that there will be refinements made. I'm also open about saying, while I've done my level best to understand the reform, I'm still unsure about a few pieces.

What I'm just sick to pieces of is having to encounter unbridled despair and rage over this reform. Fear that isn't tempered with any attempt to even understand the language of the reform. I am genuinely sad that instead of trying to understand what's happening, a few people seem to be content to allow Glenn Beck to tell them what this health care reform "really means." I'm tired of corporations and talking heads making millions off of fear they needlessly ignite, and then fan to pandemic heights. I've had it. The only way to understand what the health care reform will do, is to READ it. Or, read a few articles about it. Don't trust the media? Then turn off your Fox News, MSNBC, CNN etc. Read the bill. It's hard to read, I didn't understand a ton of it.

The bright side is this: I think that most people want to understand, and they form a variety of opinions on the issue once they understand. I just don't want to see my neighbors, friends, family and colleagues swallowed up by a fear for something they haven't tried to understand. That's never gotten any of us anywhere.

As a side note: Here are some airy, fun things coming up!
-Paint/wall decor ideas
-Updates about where A and I are moving
-Wedding decor (I promise to not turn this into a wedding blog. I promise)
-Office organization
-Q&A I've gotten several emails from readers (who I didn't know, but am happy to now) asking questions!
I promise, it'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Liberty of London...sigh

Alright, Liberty of London has collections at Target and MAC. And, yes, some of it's really pretty. What I'd like to point out, is, some of it's really ugly. Some of it's only on the rack because, while some companies hide overblown florals away and call them "misguided", Liberty of London makes a policy of them. And I love prints, people. I wear prints so ridiculous my mother is embarrassed to be seen with  me. She once asked that I "Leave the Picasso prints on the walls." Very funny. In any case, I did go check out the Liberty stuff at Target, in part because while the whole blog world bemoaned the fact that everything got swept away in a day, all THREE of my Targets in South Carolina were still brimming with overgrown florals and inexplicable peacock designs. (As a side note: I think peacock looks can be really pretty, but I have a weird reaction to anything that doesn't include the whole bird. I'm not sure why?)

AND I even BOUGHT something. I actually bought two somethings. Not a dress, or a scarf (it's going to be HOT soon, I don't want a damn scarf.). I bought two coffee mugs that bring the kind of delight to my heart usually reserved for morning my dog lets me sleep past 8 am. I only found one online, and it's the less pretty of the two. The other one has the same colors, but in a kind of cracked glass pattern.

I might return for a few more items, but none of them will be clothing. It's strange, I either love the cut but hate the pattern, or I love the pattern and hate the cut. For example:

Am I loving the print? Yes. And I even love off the shoulder. I'm less interested in a giant ruffle at my chest, though. That seems hazardous. But I may go back for a few more things, like some of the pillows and maybe a few items to give as gifts later on.

Thai Cucumbers

I love this time of year in the South because we're already starting to see some Spring bounty, which includes cucumbers! So, for dinner a few nights ago, I decided to make a little cucumber mix-up for my roommate and I:

Small, seedless cucumbers, peeled and cut into small slices.
White vinegar
Fish sauce
Red pepper flakes
Sugar

You want to mix the vinegar, fish sauce and sugar together and taste until it's perfect for you. It takes a little time to get it right, but I don't like to use measurements since everyone is different. Most recipes I've found for this are way too sweet for me. Then, add in the pepper flakes. They'll heat up the mixture more and more the longer it sits, so don't add too much if you're not into spice. Adding just a little won't make it super spicy, just a little heat. Then, add in your cucumber, give it a mix and let it sit for at least an hour. Before you serve it, garnish with crushed peanuts. We ate this little mixture with moo satay. Delicious!

Au Naturale, Sometimes

I'm not really a super dedicated consumer of only all natural items, but I do like quite a few products and items that happen to be all natural. I find that some of them just work better with my skin needs, and some of the organic fabrics just hang more comfortably.

1. Makool Loves You Hemp/Organic Cotton Skirt. This is a Portland,OR based retailer and the skirt is adorable. My mom purchased this skirt for me on a trip and I wore it over my most recent break trip to Mississippi. The skirt lives there full-time since I am going to be making a move there soon. I miss it sometimes though!

2. Burt's Bees Loose Powder. I love this loose powder over a bare face or over my tinted moisturizer. Keeps my face matte but never chalky.

3. Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm. I stole this from my fiance last time we were together, and it's a dream. I'm pretty sure my mom actually put it in his Christmas stocking, since he'd rather die than think about buying a "lip product." He says that like it's a dirty word, so I was happy to scoop this right out of his grimy man-hands!

4. Origins GinZing eye cream. I'm not sure when, but I noticed recently that I've really started to develop some super-dark under eye circles and some serious puffiness. It's probably a combination of not sleeping well and constantly rubbing my eyes from early-spring allergies. This cream takes away a lot of the puffiness and helps my concealer get rid of the dark circles.

5. Fin Wild Silk Print Dress. This silk dress is made from cruelty free wild silk and is incredible to wear. Both times I've worn it I've felt like sleeping in it. It's a crazy print, probably too much for some but just right for me. I'm going to wear this well into the fall of this year! This website in general is a great source for fair trade, cruelty free and all natural products. Shipping will certainly cost you, and it doesn't beat finding a great local source for such sweet items, but I think it's a great way to spend any holiday/birthday gift money you might be lucky to get!

Freedom Fridays

I get Fridays off this semester, so I tend to look for something relaxed but still fun to wear. I also try to do much much less with my makeup and hair. I thought this get-up would be super sweet to try out as the weather gets warmer!

Old Navy Jeans, J Crew shirt, Tom's Shoes, Burt's Bees Lip Sheer and Laura Mercier TM

I like that it could go straight from shopping to a dinner date with friends, and I'm obsessed with Tom's lately. They're so comfortable, and a great cause. What do you wear on Friday's?

The Luck of the Irish (or at least their bread...)

I'm obsessed with bread, friends. Sourdough, Focaccia, Wheat Berry...any kind really. Every few weeks I turn out this bread for myself and my roommates. It's perfect for a night snack, or for breakfast with some hard cheese and coffee. This is a modified recipie I found online, and yes, the Irish butter makes all the difference.

Irish Soda Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup  good Irish butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.


2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
 
4. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor. This last step makes all the difference! Don't skip it!
 
I actually used powdered buttermilk for this recipie, since it's the only thing I ever use buttermilk for. The only change is that you follow the directions and put the recommended amount of water in with your wet ingredients, and the powder goes in with the dry ingredients. I find it's a bit more economic that way!
 
Give this bread a try for St. Pat's! It's not quite traditional but it IS delicious.

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

I love peanut butter, on pretty much anything. I even like it on hamburgers sometimes (well, soy burgers really...). This recipe is super simple and delicious!



Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

1 1/2 cups flour 1 cup peanut butter 1/4 cup oil 3/4 cups sugar 1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, roll the dough into 2-inch balls, place on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes. 


I use the honey roasted peanut butter you can grind yourself at Earth Fare (or Whole Foods, Fresh Market, where-ever) but I'm 100% sure you could use any variety. Be careful to not overcook them! These aren't exactly health-food, but they are a little better for you than other recipes which call for pounds of butter and eggs. You might find that you need to add some oil to the mix to get it to stick together nicely, this varies because different brands and kinds of peanut butter contain different amounts of oil. Happy Baking!

Been a long time, been a long time

I took an unannounced one-week hiatus while I was on spring break! The break was great, I hardly checked email and the net at all. I thought I'd post about some of the items that are becoming  my newest favorites in my makeup bag. When I packed for spring break I tried to pack some things I hadn't used yet or hadn't used in awhile.

1. Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate. This is so soft and sheer, I can't resist applying it a million times a day. I sometimes rub it on my cheeks too, and it gives a nice sheer flush without getting smudgy or messy.

2. Revlon Age-Defying Moisturizing Concealer. This under-eye concealer is perfect for general concealing as well, I usually end up rubbing a little on my cheeks and chin after the eyes, which are the only other places I really need coverage. I usually reach for it on days when I'm feeling more sensitive than regularly (on those days, I just use my TimeBalm concealer).

3. CoverGirl Lash Blast and LashBlast Length. I've been doing a swipe of LashBlast and then a swipe of the LashBlast Length, both in waterproof Very Black. I love the combo, and I never have to comb them out at all. Sticks around all day long.

4. Stella by Stella McCartney. I love this perfume, and I had hidden it away in a drawer. I pulled out the rollerball for this trip and I'm newly in love with it. So soft but unique, it never overpowers me though.

5. Soap and Glory Dr. Spot. A great spot-fighter for my skin, you can grab it at Target along with all the other adorable Soap and Glory products.

6. Yes to Cucumbers Facial Wipes. These wipes are the perfect travel solution. Pre-moistened (but they don't count as a liquid or gel, HA HA!), they leave your face soft and clean, NOT sticky and stinky like lots of wipes I've found. I'm excited to try the rest of the Say Yes to...line once I finish my current rotation of hair products.

7. Aveda Phomollient Foam. This foam adds great volume to my hair, but doesn't leave it sticky or greasy. It also gives me a good bit of shime and helps to control frizz when I pair it with my Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum.

So, there are just a few of my new/old discoveries over the course of my trip!

What's a Girl to Wear?: Weekend Shopping

White Anne Taylor T, Gap Skirt, Nine West Flats, NARS Sin Blush, Gold Necklace

I love big weekend shopping excursions. The kind where you pack a PowerBar in your bag and make sure to wear comfy shoes. This outfit fits the bill, with a comfy skirt/T combo, dressed up with a gold necklace. The shoes are comfortable but still fun. The blush gives you a day-long flush with just a little shimmer. But, what bag, you ask? I'm so GLAD you asked.

I'm dying for this beauty. Sweet, vegan fabric, made by hand and completely guilt-free!

What's a Girl to Wear?: Simple Date Night

The Limited Cardigan, Gap dress, Gap shoes, DiorShow mascara, Paul and Joe Bronzer, NARS Lip Gloss, Etsy.com seller's bracelet

My fiance and I have been together a little less than five years, so I don't feel much pressure to impress on our dates. However, we do go out a good bit when I'm in town and I always like to try a fun look. I was trying to brainstorm some spring break looks and this one came together nicely! 

Perfect for an outdoors date night, or a group date night. A sweet cotton dress is the centerpiece, for comfort and a bit of neckline action. The cardigan keeps it grown up, and warm if needed. A fun bracelet and strappy sandals keep the flowery cardigan from getting too frumpy. Add glossy pink pink PINK lips, a metric ton of mascara and a swipe of bronzer and it's a date outfit  that could work in tons of occasions!