Saturday, January 9, 2010

Physicians Formula Shopping Trip

I know, I know, I completely missed yesterday. I was busy! I woke up, admired the snow, went to work, had a lunch date with A, got dinner with my parents (mexican!!), and then I had a movie night with Z. No time for blogging! Anyway, I did forget to mention that I went with my Momma to Target, and I picked up some Physcians Formula makeup, so, I thought I'd share my "haul" with you all. :o)

Flawless Complexion Kit (light)

This kit includes a mineral face powder, matte fininishing powder, and mineral blush.

Shimmer Strips: Custom Eye Enhancing Shadows and Liners (for Hazel eyes)


I know what you're thinking. "But you don't have hazel eyes, they're blue!" I kow, I know, I know! They are blue, but they blue color palette is really dark and I never feel like it looks that great on me. I did consider getting the one for "green eyes" which has a lot of lilacs and greens in it, but in the end I went for this one because I'd rather be safe than sorry!

Magic Mosaic Bronzer


And then I just got one of their basic mascara's too. I know, I should probably wait to do this until after I have tried them. But, I'll just wait and do a 'review' for them in a couple days after I've tried them all out.

xoxo


Thursday, January 7, 2010

Yummy Bruschetta Recipe.

Bruschetta is one of my absolute, all-time, favorite appetizers. (Okay, I could eat it for dinner too, but my mom would probably yell at me). One thing I want to do with my blog is use it as a storage house for recipes when I find them, so this looks like a pretty standard (but yummy) recipe for Bruschetta. If you haven't tried it before, I would recommend it. Even if you don't "normally" like tomatoes, just give it a try.

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil Recipe

Ingredients


6 or 7 ripe plum tomatoes (about 1 1/2 lbs)


2 cloves garlic, minced


1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil


1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar


6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.


Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste


1 baguette French bread or similar Italian bread


1/4 cup olive oil


Method


1 Prepare the tomatoes first. Parboil the tomatoes for one minute in boiling water that has just been removed from the burner. Drain. Using a sharp small knife, remove the skins of the tomatoes. (If the tomatoes are too hot, you can protect your finger tips by rubbing them with an ice cube between tomatoes.) Once the tomatoes are peeled, cut them in halves or quarters and remove the seeds and juice from their centers. Also cut out and discard the stem area. Why use plum tomatoes instead of regular tomatoes? The skins are much thicker and there are fewer seeds and less juice.


2 Make sure there is a top rack in place in your oven. Turn on the oven to 450°F to preheat.

3 While the oven is heating, chop up the tomatoes finely. Put tomatoes, garlic, 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, vinegar in a bowl and mix. Add the chopped basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.


4 Slice the baguette on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick slices. Coat one side of each slice with olive oil using a pastry brush. Place on a cooking sheet, olive oil side down. You will want to toast them in the top rack in your oven, so you may need to do these in batches depending on the size of your oven. Once the oven has reached 450°F, place a tray of bread slices in the oven on the top rack. Toast for 5-6 minutes, until the bread just begins to turn golden brown.

Alternatively, you can toast the bread without coating it in olive oil first. Toast on a griddle for 1 minute on each side. Take a sharp knife and score each slice 3 times. Rub some garlic in the slices and drizzle half a teaspoon of olive oil on each slice. This is the more traditional method of making bruschetta.


5 Align the bread on a serving platter, olive oil side up. Either place the tomato topping in a bowl separately with a spoon for people to serve themselves over the bread, or place some topping on each slice of bread and serve. If you top each slice with the tomatoes, do it right before serving or the bread may get soggy.



Makes 24 small slices. Serves 6-10 as an appetizer. Or 3-4 for lunch (delicious served with cottage cheese on the side.)


Songs that Make you Wanna Dance

We all have those songs that we will stop whatever we're doing to belt along and shake our booty too. I thought it'd be fun to compile a small list of mine, and share them. :) Feel free to let me know what some of yours are! (These are in no particular order, jsut the order that I thought of them!)

#1 - Wham- "Jitterbug"



#2 Men at Work- "A Land Down Under"



#3 Rod Stewart- "The Motown Song"



Side note, how epic is Rod's dancing in this prehistoric music video. So, so, so funny!

#4 Billy Joel- "Only the Good Die Young"



#5 Marc Cohen- "Walkin' in Memphis"



I acknowledge, that this isn't really a "dancing" song. This one I just do my Grammy performance to.

#6 Spice Girls- "Wannabe"



#7 Lou Bega- "Mambo No. 5"



#8 Michael Jackson- "Black or White"



#9 Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell- "Ain't No Mountain"



#10 The Four Tops- "I can't help myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"

Rablings

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for all the support and sweet comments everyone is leaving on my blog. I know it's dorky, but I really enjoy doing these little"Blogs" and I've really missed them. Hopefully, I've grown up some from my old livejournal blogs, and these aren't so boring and non fun to read. (I am a bit more cheerful now, I msut admit).

Anyway, the only reason I am updating at the moment is because my boss stepped out for a meeting two huors ago, and is yet to return and give me more tasks to perform. So, of course, I will sit in my confy chair and blog, twitter, and facebook. I know, it's a very deamnding job.

I have some "neat" blog ideas in my head, a few of which I'll post this afternoon. I am also interested in knowing if anyone has any topics, ideas, or otherwise for things I should blog about. I have plenty right now, but I'm sure by next week I will be completely out of ideas. Worse yet, when the semester starts, my creative brain disapears and is somehow replaced with this whiney, panic attrack driven, perfectionists brain. I know, hard to believe that I am a panic attack driven perfectionist, isn't it?

One Random Thought
This morning on my way to work I stopped at the club house of my apartment complex to pick up coffee, because I would jsut feel too bad about myself if I had Dunkin Donuts three days in a row. I used their Keurig Machine and made two cups of coffee (they only' give you 8ox's you know that's not enough for me!). However, the only creamer they had was Hazelnut. I'd never tried it before so I thought I'd give it a chance. I'm sorry I did. It made my yummy coffee all nutty tasting, and that was just not okay. I mean yes, I did still drink it, but it was jsut not nearly as satisfying as it should have been.

xoxo

Where is baby Gabriel?

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/search-baby-gabriel-infant-alive-cops/story?id=9499798

Please read the above sotry and pray for the safe return of baby Gabriel to his father. What an incredibly deranged mother,... giving up your only child to compelte strangers.

Meet Mr. Handsome!

I have a secret, I must confess. For the last seven years I've had a little "problem". I google images of puppies and adopt them as my little "internet dogs". These dogs, "in reality" actually "belong" to other people, but I just kind of "adopt them." People have chastised me for having computer backgrounds of other people's dogs, cell phone backgrounds of other people's dogs, and even just random images saved on my computer of exceptional pooches. Sometimes when I discover these adorable little fellas they already have names... but in that case I just rename them if I don't like the name. For example, there once was a dog "Marley" that I discovered. And sure, Marley's a good name, but it didn't fit this dog. This dog was most obviously a Hunter. So, it's possible that I may have renamed him.

Alas, one day during my relentless search for internet pooches I discovered www.dailypuppy.com. It was my haven. It's a website, where people go on, and just upload pictures of their adorable pups. I swear, it's like facebook for dogs.

Moments ago, I decided to check and see who the "Puppy Of the Day" was, and he was too handsome not to share.


Meet Gatsby!

He is the most adorable, handsome, little fella I've seen for at least the past week. Gatsby is a little CockerPoo (Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross breed) and the most precious little teddy bear in the world. And! I was so excited when I saw his name because it just FITS him. It's kind of like how some people say when you try on the right wedding dress you just "know". Well, that's how it is for dogs. Sometimes you hear a name, you see a face, and you just "know" that that's supposed to be the dogs name.

xoxo

Quick Gripe

I find it so incredibly irritating when people put their whole life's melodramas in their facebook and/or twitter updates. It's all like:
"Well Girl #1 was hittin' on MAH man at Place #1, then girl #2 shows up and is all 'Oh no you didn't!' bc she's obvi my best friend. LOVE YOU GIRL #2!!! Guy #1 is sucha JERK!"
And I just think to myself, "Self, do you think these girls really think everyone cares about this?" And then of course, Self replies, "No, no, they can't possibly think people really care." Of course, then I think to myself, "Self, isn't being 20 something years old too old to even be having thoughts like that?" To which Self concurs, "Yeah, it's pretty pathetic."

xoxo

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

I want...

To stop being poor for like three seconds so that I can stock up on some of the following items. I feel like a lot of my posts right now relate to products, but such is the way of life sometimes. Additionally, this problem is made worse by watching all the adorable make up guru's on youtube. So, here's the list of things I would love, love, love, to have like.. well,.. to be honest.. a pretty good chunk of change to stock up on.

#1 Costume Jewelery. I love it, love it, love it. But, I do feel like it's something you can't just go out and buy. You find it randomly, and it tends to be when your bank statement tells you you're not allowed to buy. Oh, life.

#2 Mineral make up. I've decided that I need to invest in make up. HOWEVER, I have really difficult skin to put make up because not only is it really pale, it's really sensitive. So,.. I want to invest in good quality mineral make up. Unfortunately, most "low end brands" don't do a ton with mineral make up, so even buying a set of Physicians Formula is going to cost an arm and a leg. Yuck!

#3- Pretty, shimmery, eye shadows. This is not to be confused with 'glittery'. I like light pinks, taupes, browns, even pretty light greens, wine colors, etc, but I haven't bought any eye make up in like, almost a year. I know. It's really sad.

#4- Yummy smelling soaps, body washes, and bubble baths. Z's little sister got me bubble bath and bath oils and stuff for christmas and they just smell so happy and delicious but I always kind of consider them to be 'frivolous' so I don't purchase them for myself. But they are so amazing.

#5 Cute little trinkety boxes to keep my aforementioned costume jewelery and make up in.

#6 A giraffe print purse. I don't even care if it's a fake and not a Dooney and Burke purse, I just think they are so adorable!

#7 Adorable flats that do not cut up my feet. (This is impossible for I have sasquatch feet that are about a 9.5 in flats)

#8 This is kind of long winded, but I want to go to like an antique store, or like a used furniture store, or a flea market or something, and find some sort of like "trunk" like.. night stand with a door on it, and then sand it, and paint it, and line it (I'm not sure how I'd complete this step) and use it to put flower vases on and store blankets and photoalbums and such.

#9 Headbands. Love them. However, I am a big believer that you can't go cheap with them, because the cheap ones tend to attempt to squeeze your brain out. I know, gross. But anyone whose ever worn an uncomfortable head band knows exactly what I'm talking about.

#10 Another massage. The last one I had was literally heaven, I'm pretty sure at least. It was so amazing. And so warm. And smelled so wonderful. And they brought me water, and told me I could stay in the room as long as I wanted. And they were so nice to me! And I know it was because I paid (Well, technically my cousin paid for me) them but it was so, so, so, so, so, so, so, soooo amazing!

La fin!
xoxo

Wednesday's Thoughts

Thoughts


#1- Hurray, hurray, hurray, hurray it's already Wednesday! That means I've succeeded at surviving one half of a work week. However, it also means that I am half a week closer to starting my spring semester.


#2- This weather is ridiculously gross. I'm not sure it has surpassed 32 degrees at all in the last week, and I am running out of thick, warm, wooly socks to keep my feet warm. This is a problem.


#3- Agent Seeley Booth and I would make really cute babies. Z is not okay with the idea of me swooning over him. However, I contest that I will probably swoon until the day I do. How could one not swoon over a man that looks like this.



#4- I have been craving a really meaty, cheesey, greasy, pizza for the last 3 days and it has yet to miraculously appear. This is awfully upsetting.


#5- I updated my iGoogle theme earlier today, and it may or may not have given me an immense amount of joy. Sometimes I question if it really is possible to get too much joy for the little things.


xoxo,
Em

Products I'm interested in Trying Out

#1 Sephoria, by OPI- "Meet for Drinks"







It's so dark and sparky, and adorable. I really like it! However, I kind of would want to "try it before I buy it" because I can see it looking too gothic on my pale hands.


#2 Barns and Noble "Nook"





I don't really want to own one, or go out and buy one (not that I could), but I almost just want to burrow one and play around with them to see if I would ever be interested it one.


#3 Burt's Bees "Radiance Day Creme"



Aagin, this is a "try" product because while I'm sure it works fabulously (like all burts bees prodcts), I have really sensitive skin. And this little baby costs almost $20, so I'd want to know it could cure my dry skin, before purchase.

Places

All of the following are places that I wish I could visit over the next few weeks. Alas, I am still a poor college student!

#1 Outer Banks, North Carolina


#2- Savannah, Georgia


#3- Disney World



All images provided by google images.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Things I Want Right Now

#1 Keurig Mini Brewer (In red, obv.)

First of all, it's tiny, adorable, and red. How can any product go bad if it is red? Anyway, this little baby would make me coffee, tea, or hot chocolate every morning with just a touch of a button. And, the real perk, no mess to clean up. Too bad it's $90. (For more information visit: http://www.keurig.com/ )


#2- Vera Bradley, Morgan Purse, in Symphony in Hue

How cute! Isn't it precious? I love, love, love it. And Santa must have left it at the North Pole on Christmas, cause it sure didn't show up under the Christmas tree. Ah well, I will continue to drool over it for the time being.

Tuesdays Hi-lights

In light of my grumpy post and ramblings yesterday I have decided to focus on the moments of pure happiness in my life today.

Moment #1- I got dunkin donuts coffee (I wasn't kidding when I said I was slowly getting addicted) on the way to work today. Why is this fabulous? Well because first of all, I didn't burn my toungue. And more importantly, I didn't pay, at least not really. So it was an oh so fabulous moment in life.

Moment #2- I went back to work in the office I used to work at and felt like I'd come home after being away for years.


Moment #3- Internship man called me back. I go in to talk to them next Monday at two. How incredible!

 Moment #4- I left the gym today super sweaty and disgusting. When I got in the car, I turned on the radio. Party in the USA was on. So what'd I do? You better believe it maxed out my speakers and made the 5 minute drive home belting along. And to top it all off. When Party in the USA ended 2 minutes from home, "Whatcha Say" came on. Two good songs in a row? Priceless! Moment

#5- After returning home from the gym (I ran 3.5 miles and biked 4.5!!) I took a nice long shower, got a snack, and sat down to read one of the most amusing blogs ever. And had not one, but two, updates waiting to be read. ( http://allthesingleladiez.blogspot.com/ )

Monday, January 4, 2010

Who I'm listening to...

Currently listening to my friend Samantha's Youtube videos. She is so talented! Check her out! :o)

My absolute favorite is her "This is Me" video. Enjoy!

"Text Of The Week"

"I may or may not start a blog now because I read yours and love it"

:o) Pretty epic? I think so!

Oh Monday, you never let me down.

Negatives Thoughts:

1- Called the owner of the firm I may intern for this summer to talk about the internship, at 9:30AM. It is now 3:30. I haven't been called back. I am not okay with this. I know people are busy, but being the little guy sitting around waiting for a phone call is the absolute worst.


2- Called the MVA to find out information I needed about renewing my license. Sat on hold 10 minutes. They literally had so many stupid ads playing while you sat on hold (for 10 minutes) that they would pop up on top of eachother. Disgusting.


3- Called Dr. #1 this morning to get a referral for Dr. #2. Dr. #1 told me that they don't do the referalls and that I need to call Dr. #3. Call Dr. #3, it's all automated so I leave a message. 4 hours later, after not getting a call back, I drop into Dr. #3's office. Dr. #3 tells me that Dr. #2 needs to do the referall. So I drive to Dr. #2's office, and Dr. #2 informs me that I actually don't need a referral to go see Dr. #1. Seriously?


4- After six months of telling my dad that my car was making funny noises and turning stiff, he took it in to get the oil changed/looked at today. A $20 oil change, and $640 dollars later my cars fixed. Awesome. I know, I know, you're asking yourself "But how is Emily, who makes minimum wage going to apy for that?!." Answers, my $450 dollar tax return, that my mom has been convincing me to use to take a trip for the last 2 weeks. I cried.


5- An entirely joking e-mail I sent six months ago is coming back to bite me in the ass. Do my actions have a statute of limitations or something?


Positive Thoughts:

1- Secret life's season premiere is on tonight, and I am so excited that I could positively scream. (I'm sure you can tell since the previous sentance was positively dripping in enthusiasm)


2- I'm considering selling my old DVD's and books on ebay. But I'm too lazy to do it... problem?


3-When I went to sleep last night I definitely had my pandora station set to Backstreet boys. I am not the least bit ashsamed. Just saying.


That's about it as far as my thoughts are concerned. I'm too grumpy to be cheerful. At the moment I'd honestly rather eat gold fish and drink an entire bottle of white wine while watching Seinfeld. We'll see how much of that actually occurs. (Hint 0/3)

xoxo,

Em

Sunday, January 3, 2010

What's up?

Hello, Hello, Hello.

I've decided to start a sweet and simple blog for 2010. Nothing too grand, just something to write some thoughts down in. :o)

So here are some of today's thoughts:

1- I really hate when I read about tremendous ways to "work your core ab muscles." Why? Because I just don't get it. I wish working your core ab muscles was like learning how to bat for softball (which, to be honest, I still can't do), where someone can just help you through the motions.. but they can't. I find it highly frustrating.

2- I am pretty sure I am slowly becoming addicted to Dunkin Donuts coffee. This is mildly dangerous.

3- Just finished Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. SO GOOD! It was a chick lit mystery... so, so, so amazing!

4- It breaks my heart that the nails I got done on Tuesday are already chipping. They are so pretty. OPI- Peru B Ruby, awesome color.

5- On day one of trying to find a room mate for next year, might have been successful. So. Exciting.

6- I love "Self" Magazine. Definitely better than Cosmo, which is always trying to teach me '55 sizzly ways to please my man'

7- Last night I discovered that Aaron Carter (yes, you read that right) has new music. The 11-13 year old girl in me was highly intrigued. Then highly let down. (If you're interested check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlF48SfduoU)

8- I just discovered a purse I really adore in my aforementioned "Self" magazine. Color me surprised to see it was more than $600 dollars. Setting my hopes away from the funky, aqua, chocolate, and tan number, I checked out some other purses. I settled on the bright purple one. $300. I really need a job that supports my expensive taste... needless to say, no new purses today.

9- I always watch Food Network or the news when I'm at the gym. I plugged in my headphones today and my ear was shocked. Seriously, who else would have that happen to them.

10- I am of the impression that anyone who goes into public wearing tweetie bird shirts and leggings should be escorted out of whatever venue they are in by police escort.


Sooo! That was fun. I think everyone else interested should make blogs and we can all follow each other. :o) It'll be perfect, back to the days of xanga and livejournal! Do it, do it, do it!

xoxo,
Em