living room bliss
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Tunesday Vol. V
Sorry this is a little late in the day, but I spent the majority of the day at work and moodboard-ing the crap out of all my apartment ideas. Also, I've been overplanning for an apartment that my boyfriend doesn't even really want - like, down to picking out paint colors. This needs to stop. But more on that tomorrow.
This week's song: Mr. Saxobeat by Alexandra Stan.
I realize that this song is hardly a musical masterpiece. A large majority of the dance songs that I like are entirely hook and beat based, and this falls into the same category. But, my god, that sax-y bit. Sexy saxy. Lovin' it.
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
spring floral nails!
Does anybody follow Mr. Candiipants? She has an instagram, a blogspot and a tumblr. And not only is she wicked talented - just go check out those talons! - she's freaking hilarious. I'm amused pretty much the whole time I watch her tutorials. (The one that I used for these nails is here.) I'd put the video up, but youtube is being kind of dumpy.
This is legitimately one of the easiest things to do ever. And it looks so cute! The hardest part is probably picking out which colors to use, 'cause you end up just using the bottle brushes. I also used a nail art pen for the dots in the middle, but you don't have to.
I have gotten a ridiculously large number of compliments on these nails so far... everybody loves how spring-y they look! And I'm not kidding, they were beyond easy. Even when I messed it up, it took half a second to fix. Perfection!
This is legitimately one of the easiest things to do ever. And it looks so cute! The hardest part is probably picking out which colors to use, 'cause you end up just using the bottle brushes. I also used a nail art pen for the dots in the middle, but you don't have to.
The colors I used were:
Urban Outfitters "Virgin" for the base
Sally Hansen Insta-dri in "Lightening" and "Sonic Bloom"
Sinful Colors "Dream On" and
Urban Outfitters "Bandeau"
I have gotten a ridiculously large number of compliments on these nails so far... everybody loves how spring-y they look! And I'm not kidding, they were beyond easy. Even when I messed it up, it took half a second to fix. Perfection!
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Tunesday Vol. IV
To prove that I'm not a one trick pony, I decided to pick something outside of the hisptery-indie genre that I am so musically enveloped in. I bring you: Feel The Love by Rudimental.
This song... oh my god, this song. I could listen to it all damn day. In fact, I have. And while I was listening to it all day on repeat, my upstairs apartment-mate was also listening to it on repeat. Granted, he's the one who introduced me to it, but still. So good.
Also, how ridiculously awesome is this video? Ghetto kids on horseback? So good!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Strawberry Mini Pies
The other day, my mom and I made mini strawberry pies for a friend of mine. They were adorable and delicious, so I decided to make a crap-ton (scientific quantification) more to give to other folk, too. The recipe is from the Food Network, and you can find it here. The cool part is that the original recipe is made with honey, not sugar, and yet it is still yummy! This time around, though, I did give it a pinch of sugar, just to give it that extra tart that I love so much. Both are good, though. The original recipe makes 12 mini pies in a mini muffin pan, but I doubled it because we only have a 24 count mini muffin pan. Adapt or die! And also get more mini pies. I'm not much of a cook, but I do make a mean pie. Probably because pies are mad easy to make.
First I chopped up a bunch of strawberries, and only ate one or two in between. The recipe calls for 1 1/4 cups of quarter inch sized pieces. Pay attention to that, 'cause those muffin tins are tiny.
I also had to grate some orange peel, which I then added corn starch to (instead of the arrowroot in the recipe - both work as thickeners) and honey, as well as lemon juice. And then I whisked it all together, and folded the strawberries in with a spoon. This all sat for a while until I was finished cutting up all the mini pie circles in the crust, but that's good, as it makes it taste yummier.
In order to get the pies out of the tin without ruining them, you put little strips of parchment paper under the crusts. It's really not scientific, cutting them. Just make sure they're long enough to use to lift up the pies in the end.
Then I had to cut 48 little circles in the crusts, 24 for the bottoms and 24 that were a little smaller for the tops. This took... forever. I mean, just completely ignore the 15 minute prep time thing, 'cause it's a lie. Even when I only made a dozen the first time and there were two of us, it took longer than 15 minutes. Expect to be cutting and grating and making circles for much longer.
Putting it all together: parchment paper strips, bottom circles pressed in, spoonfuls of strawberries, and then the little top circle crusts. I brushed egg along the rims so that they'd stick together, and then crimped the edges with a fork. Then I brushed the tops lightly with egg, and made little vents in the top. (You know, so it wouldn't end up looking like the fourth picture, with everything spilling out everywhere after they cooked. Oh well. I said I made a mean pie, not a tidy looking one. Messy still equals yummy, promise.) Then they went into the oven for a little over 15 minutes, and came out messy but smelling oh so good.
And came out adorable like this! Some are going to my mom's work tomorrow, some to my work, and the rest into my tummy. Pie is my super duper favorite.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Tunesday Vol. III
Ye Gods! I almost forgot that it was tuesday! The only thing I'm trying to do weekly, and I almost botch it this pathetically-far in.
I had a hard time picking this week, possibly because I'm unprepared, but in the end I came to a band called Bad Books. It could only be you, Bad Books. My friend Casey is responsible for my knowing of them at all, as is the case with a lot of the tunes I've come to love recently. (Thanks Case... I love you!)
Bad Books rocks, there's really no way around it. This song is called "Forest Whitaker," and the first ten seconds always kinda weirds me out when I hear it. It's always a now-what-in-God's-name-is-this reaction, but then it clicks in and.... perfection.
I had a hard time picking this week, possibly because I'm unprepared, but in the end I came to a band called Bad Books. It could only be you, Bad Books. My friend Casey is responsible for my knowing of them at all, as is the case with a lot of the tunes I've come to love recently. (Thanks Case... I love you!)
my arugula is sprouting! my arugula is sprouting!
I know it's been a plant-filled week for me on here, but...
My arugula is sprouting! It's beyond incredible! Also, because none of my herbs are sprouting, I am putting all my little hopes and dreams into this fantastic, peppery salad green. I don't even care that there's still snow on the ground or that my golden retriever knocked over one of my aloe plants so that he could eat the dirt it was planted in, my arugula is ALIIIIIIIVE.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Planting!
Today, I decided to plant some seeds! This is the first time I've ever planted from seeds, so I'm pretty nervous. I picked out some herbs to plant some together in one big pot, as well as in separate little pots - so that I can give them to my momma and a couple friends. I picked out chives, basil and lavender. So now I just have to wait and see if anything grows!
I also planted some arugula seeds. I bought one of those big trays with the pellets that expand once they're soaked in water - super duper handy. Assuming it works and my arugula actually grows, I mean. If you ever use one of these, pay attention and use warm water, as cold takes forever to make the pellets expand. FOREVER. But now the tray cover is on, and it's getting all greenhouse-y in there, and I'm supposed to leave the cover on until I start to see some seedlings. I'm very excited.
I picked up a couple cheap plants to put into my old fishbowl, because it was just laying around collecting dust. Terrarium, hooray! I actually don't have very high hopes for the terrarium, 'cause the roots were much looser on these two plants than I'm used to, so I'm sure I've mangled it somehow when I was planting them. But who knows. I picked out pretty plants, and I hope they live. I don't even know what they're called - I'm probably the worst gardener ever.
I made cute little flags for all the herb pots so that I can remember which one is which. My main pot is big and separated into three sections, and is also pretty and can sit in my window. I made these up as back-up and extras give to my momma. I'm really hoping that at least some of them grow. Are you seeing the theme? Plant and pray, plant and pray. Please please please, don't die on me, little plants!
Friday, March 22, 2013
Plant update!
My plants are still living! Even though we have quite a bit more snow and not much warmth.
Also, in the exciting news category, I am now the proud own of a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. (hence the doodling on the image.) I'm totally digging this tablet. The S Pen is wicked cool, plus I love everything on the go. So awesome. Also, tomorrow i'm going to be planting some seeds! Exciting things are happening, so clearly y'all should stay tuned.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Dresses in blue
So, I love blue. Like, a lot. And I like spring. And I like dresses. So here are some springy blue dresses that I'm seriously lusting after, especially the lower three.
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| 1. True Blue Charmer Dress 2. Hope Is A Thing With Feathers Dress 3. A Lark In The Park Dress 4. Blueberry Cascade Pleated Dress 5. Ceramics It Up Dress |
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