tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21367775643288833242024-03-08T13:15:48.974-08:00Make It Work SamSREEDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756784534183718948noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-7699926105079913322018-03-18T20:35:00.001-07:002018-03-19T11:24:29.733-07:00I Love PublixSome of you may know or have learned that I am strangely obsessed with Publix grocery stores. When I first moved to Tennessee, I knew I wasn’t going to have my home go-to grocery store, Pick ‘N Save, and that was kinda sad. But it ended up turning out fine because PUBLIX IS EVERYTHING. When I tell you that I am obsessed with Publix, I damn well mean it. I have big love for Publix, and I would be one of those people wearing an I Love Publix apron, sipping from an I Love Publix coffee mug.<br />
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Reason #1: Publix has what is called Aprons Simple Meals. What is that? Well, allow me to enlighten you. Usually located not too far from the produce section is a small cooking prep area with a smiling, friendly associate who is cooking up something delightful for you to sample. Sometimes the recipe is dinner, sometimes it’s dinner and dessert, but whatever it ends up being, it is ALWAYS tasty. Second of all, there is a handy dandy recipe card you can pick up. It lists out the ingredients and the recipe you just sampled, including nutritional information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Aprons Simple Meals take about 40 minutes or less to prep and cook from start to finish. Now for me, that’s very do-able on a weeknight. And although there is a featured meal, there’s an entire carousel of recipes to choose from if you want other ideas. Finally (and this is the best part), if you go just around the corner from the meal prep station, you have everything you need to make the recipe RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU! You don’t have to run around all over the store trying to find all of the ingredients! I’m talking veggies, meat, spices, bread, salad, dessert, wine—all the works are right there in this refrigerated little alcove! It’s glorious beyond measure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #2: Publix has everything you need—their selection is very diverse, and I never leave without something I have to get from another grocery store (I’m looking at you, Kroger!) Even the weird stuff you have never used or knew you needed before. When I come across a weird ingredient I have never bought or have no idea where it is located in the store (cough, cough, capers, leeks, ponzu sauce, barramundi filets), first of all, I Google it to see what it is and what type of packaging it’s in (can, box, or jar) to clue me in as to where I might find it. Then, I jump on the Publix app or website on my phone, and it will tell me what aisle or section of the store that ingredient is located in. One time I was looking for a salad dressing in the dressing aisle (obviously), and I couldn’t find it on the shelves, so I busted out the app and BAM! It was actually located in Produce. HA! How silly of me to look amongst the dressings.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #3: The clubs. The subscription variety, not the booty shaking variety, BTW. You can become part of the Publix Paws, Wine, and/or Baby Club for no cost, and you will receive emails and snail mail flyers with special deals and coupons. Love this! I have learned so much about wine through their wine club emails, featuring specials and new releases, along with educational tidbits and recommendations. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #4: Speaking of emails, Publix emails out a weekly flyer with coupons you can clip digitally. Basically, you just enter in your phone number at checkout, and your clipped coupons will be activated. You can also save trees by electing to have your store receipt emailed to you, vs. printed out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #5: Samples. Especially on weekends, there is usually some sort of amazing sampling going on throughout the store, strategically placed in the deli, bakery, and seafood areas in particular. Especially around the holidays. So come hungry, leave happy!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #6: The FOOD. Oh my goodness, if you haven’t had a #PubSub (Publix sub) or wrap from the deli, or even their fried chicken with sides for lunch or dinner, you haven’t LIVED! Their subs and wraps are always fresh and delicious, and you can put whatever you want on them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #7: Their bakery. I haven’t had a single bad bakery item from there, but their cakes are a favorite at my work amongst my co-workers and myself. Chocolate ganache cakes, cookie cakes, strawberry cakes, cupcakes, you name it—it’s all SO good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #8: Their customer service. Everyone is super friendly and nice (a la Chick-Fil-A style, minus the “My pleasure.”). They will even load up your shopping cart and take it out to your car and help you load up your car. I always have to fight them to say I will take it out myself! But I love the idea of it for preggo moms, the elderly, and the disabled, who just need a little extra help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need to return something? They also make it super easy on you. I had bought the wrong thing and was able to return it without a receipt AND receive cash back, no questions asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reason #9: Their stores all have pretty much the same layout. This is helpful when I am in a hurry or am shopping over my lunch hour, because I know roughly where everything is that I need, so that I can plan my shopping course to be in and out quickly. </div>
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Reason #10: They are festive AF. No matter the holiday, they have you covered with balloons, card, food to match, candy, decorations, etc. Superbowl? St. Patrick's Day? Easter? Fourth of July? ALL COVERED AND SO MUCH MORE.</div>
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So if you have never been to Publix, I invite you to visit one as soon as humanly possible, and experience one for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed!<br />
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SREEDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756784534183718948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-63161408329506002732018-01-28T17:37:00.007-08:002018-01-28T17:37:50.920-08:00Meal Prep<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my fourth straight week of meal prepping for 2018. This year,
one of my many goals is I wanted to save more money and eat healthier, and this
is the perfect way to accomplish both of those goals. You guys, I have saved SO
MUCH MONEY by doing meal prep. I used to go out for lunch every day during the
week and spend anywhere between $5-15 just on LUNCH. I took a look at my bank account
and went, “DAMN, GIRL! WHAT IS YOU DOING?!?” It really adds up fast. I will be
completely honest—the biggest thing holding me back from meal prepping was that
it is work. Not necessarily hard work mind you, but it does take an hour or two
to accomplish, depending on what you make. I am one of those people who likes
to enjoy my Sundays and do a whole lot of nothing before Monday rolls around
again (aka lazy—let’s just be real). Meal prep takes time, planning, and
dedication. Especially because I have to know what ingredients I already have at home and what
I need to buy, as well as if it’s a crockpot meal—I can’t start making it at
like 8:30p, only to get up in the middle of the night to finish prepping. Nah, bruh.
I started small and simple on the meal prep. Now I have a few different recipes
I can put on rotation (with some of my own modifications) that I know are a
guaranteed tried and true win. They are:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. Greek chicken with basmati rice, cucumber salad, chickpeas,
mini flat bread, and tzatziki sauce (hummus for a bonus too!): <a href="https://www.eazypeazymealz.com/greek-chicken-bowls-meal-prep-easy/">https://www.eazypeazymealz.com/greek-chicken-bowls-meal-prep-easy/</a>
(I didn’t use onions or tomatoes because the onions made my breath so flippin’ ripe,
and I hate tomatoes, so I used chickpeas instead. I also just bought tzatziki
sauce instead of making it, in the interest of time. I also used chicken
tenderloins instead of chicken breasts)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. Curry tuna salad lettuce wraps with cucumber slices,
hard-boiled eggs, almonds, grapes, and apple slices: <a href="https://damndelicious.net/2017/07/02/tuna-salad-meal-prep/">https://damndelicious.net/2017/07/02/tuna-salad-meal-prep/</a>
(I used the following recipe for the curry tuna salad from the America’s Test
Kitchen Quick Family Cookbook: Combine 4-5 cans of tuna (flaked), 1 cup
mayonnaise, 2 minced celery ribs, 1 cup quartered red grapes, 3 tablespoons
lemon juice, 4 teaspoons curry powder, and ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard in a bowl.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Scoop ¾ cup over 2-3 romaine lettuce
wraps per meal prep container. <o:p></o:p></div>
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3. Shrimp or beef taco meat with corn, black beans, Mexican rice,
avocado slices, diced tomatoes, lime, sour cream, and cheese (This one is
suuuuper easy—just fry up the ground beef or shrimp in a pan, add the taco
seasoning and cook per the directions on the packet, and then just throw the
other ingredients into the container with the meat and rice. I used good ol’ Jell-o
shot containers for sour cream, snack bags for the cheese (so it doesn’t get
soggy), and lime wedges for flavor)<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. Chicken and rainbow veggies and brown rice: <a href="https://gimmedelicious.com/2016/12/17/meal-prep-healthy-roasted-chicken-and-veggies/">https://gimmedelicious.com/2016/12/17/meal-prep-healthy-roasted-chicken-and-veggies/</a>
(I would actually add even more veggies next time—mushrooms and corn as well!
Also used chicken tenderloins instead of breasts)<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. Beef, broccoli, and brown rice: <a href="https://lifemadesweeter.com/slow-cooker-beef-broccoli/">https://lifemadesweeter.com/slow-cooker-beef-broccoli/</a>
(For the meat, I bought the fajita meat that Publix had, so I didn’t have to
cut it up)<o:p></o:p></div>
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If you can devote 1-2 hours to meal prepping your lunches
for the week you will save money, eat healthier, and have more time in the
morning. Meal prepping can seem intimidating,
but it doesn’t have to be! Here is some beginner’s advice to get you started:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li> <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The simplest first step you can take is to find
some recipes you like and want to try, and pin them on Pinterest. That’s
exactly what I did! I have an entire board devoted to lunch ideas. That way, I
can try things out at my leisure.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Invest in some good meal prep containers. I like
the divided ones, but you can get plastic or glass ones from the grocery store,
Target, etc. I bought 10 so that I never run out of them! Also check to see if
the plastic ones are BPA free if you will be heating them up in the microwave.
It’s also not a bad idea to get some Jell-o shot containers for dressings and
sauces.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Make the food! This is the fun part. I always
plan to make 6-7 meals per week. This way, if my husband is home, he can try a
few as well during the week. And if I have extras over the weekend, this makes
a quick Saturday lunch as well.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Budget your time on Sunday. How long will the
prep and cook time take in total? Don’t start cooking too late at night.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Keep track of what meals you like, and rotate
them, so that you don’t get sick of eating the same food all of the time. I
like variety!</span></li>
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What are your favorite meal prep recipes?<br />
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SREEDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06756784534183718948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-74809120503364378172016-01-15T07:24:00.001-08:002016-01-15T07:42:27.316-08:0030 Life Lessons<div class="MsoNormal">
Well hello there! It’s been a <s>little</s> long while. I
know, I know—I have been slacking a bit on the blogging. Life’s been crazy!
It’s been over a year and a lot has changed. And I mean, a LOT. I’ve been doing
less documenting of life via blogging, and just more…living. Weird, huh? For
one thing, I just got back from VACATION in the Caribbean, and it was amazeballs. Also, I am no longer in my twenties—I became a thirty year old on October
30<sup>th</sup>! That being said, I thought I would share my top 30 life
lessons (in no particular order). The wisdom I am about to impart to you is all
things I have learned through experience in some way, some are practical, some are
weird like me, so I hope you enjoy them!</div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. When people
ask me why I look like I am barely 21 (I get carded everywhere), I am always
ready with my classic line, “I moisturize.” But SERIOUSLY, it’s true! I have
been religious about it since the 8</span><sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> grade, when I learned about
skincare in modeling school. I stay out of the sun (unless I have SPF 30 or
higher on), I don’t go tanning, I don’t smoke, I drink lots of water, and these
are all things that keep me looking young.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t go to bed mad. My mom always used to say
this to my siblings and I, and it’s true. For one thing, it’s really hard to
sleep when you are mad. But life is too short to go to bed feeling mad. What if
you woke up and didn’t have the chance to apologize, or worse, you DIDN’T WAKE
UP AT ALL.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Incorporate what you love into your daily life.
You love The Walking Dead? Hang up a TWD calendar at work. Love your family and
friends? Hang up some pics where you can see them. That way, when you need a
little pick-me-up, you are surrounded by them!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Laugh. A lot. I will admit that I laugh about
the most random, silly shiggen. My partner makes me laugh every day. I’m weird,
and I laugh at weird stuff, but it’s a muscle I work out every day! And (I
don’t care how old I get) laughing at farts is something I will never, ever
outgrow.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Choose happiness. When you wake up in the
morning, and stuff isn’t going your way—you are late, you’re all out of milk,
you have a flat tire, whatever—keep in mind that you can CHOOSE to make the
best of the situation. Happiness is a choice you make moment to moment, day by
day. The more you can see the bright side, the happier you will be.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Indulge! Just buy the thing that is out of your
price range if it will make you happy. I dropped some serious dough on a Sleep
Number bed this past year, and though it wasn’t easy to part with the cash, it
was SO entirely worth it. I thought, well I sometimes have back pain, and I spend
½ my life in bed anyways, so might as well be in extreme comfort. I sleep
better, and better yet—my bed has “underbody lighting” so that I don’t disturb
my partner in the middle of the night, it is adjustable (raises up and down),
it has massage settings, and it’s basically just amazing. I was kicking myself
thinking, why didn’t I do this sooner?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Give the gift of your time. Whether you
volunteer, take a friend out to lunch, or just listen on the phone, your time
is the most valuable thing you can give to someone. Spend it wisely, because in
our busy lives, we can only give so much (without burning out). And not
everyone deserves your time either!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Remove the negative people from your life. I
don’t just mean people with a negative attitude, but those who attract drama to
themselves all the time, or have wronged you—perhaps more than once. You don’t
need that drama in your life—those happiness suckers. I’m not saying you need
to hire someone to kill them, but if they are an emotional drain, or piss you
off when you talk to them, then just don’t waste your time or energy on them.
Eventually, if they are smart, they will get the hint. Well, hopefully, anyway!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be open-minded. Try new things. I used to HATE
country music. I don’t even really know why, because my grandparents loved it. Well,
I liked a few select songs, but when I started listening it on the regular
(reggo, as I like to call it), I realized it wasn’t actually all that bad.
There is something to be said for not knocking something until you have tried it.
Or maybe just enough exposure will make you like it!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t always say yes; don’t always say no.
There’s a good balance to maintain your commitments. I have learned if I say
yes to everything, I burn out. It’s a bummer to miss some things, but you have to
retain your sanity.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Make time for YOU. In this busy world, make time
for some alone time. For me, it is going to the gym, getting a facial,
pondering life on my work commute without distractions. Self-reflection is
important!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t dwell on the past. Use it to learn and
move on with your life. If you think always about your regrets or the way
things “might have been,” you are depriving yourself of the good things you
have in front of you right now. You can’t change the way things were, but you
can change the way they will be. You have your whole life ahead of you, and
many chapters to write.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Listen to your gut. If you feel a certain kind
of way about something, but you can’t really explain it, chances are there is
some truth to it. Don’t ignore those gut feelings you have, because they turn
out to be right so many times.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be kind to all. I cannot stress this enough,
whether it is the CEO of a company or your waitress. You don’t know the
struggles they have been through, and just because someone may not have the
most glamorous of jobs, that doesn’t mean you should treat them as less of a
human being. Also, before you react out of anger—stop and think about what you
are about to say. People will remember your hurtful words, sometimes as long as
they live, so don’t say something you might later regret.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t sweat the small stuff. I have this earring
tree that holds like 100 pairs of earrings. It got knocked over accidentally by
my partner, and earrings and earring backs were literally everywhere—all over
the room. Some of the earrings even got broken. But rather than flipping out
about the time it would take to re-organize it, or the huge mess or the broken
earrings, I took a deep breath, and just cleaned it up. Because you know what?
It wasn’t worth the energy to get angry, especially over something that was an
accident! And he apologized and helped me locate the earrings. We bonded over
me talking about my favorite ones, or where they came from. They were all cheap
ones anyways. It’s just stuff!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Take care of yourself. I mean eat healthier, get
a little exercise in however you can. Walk. Dance. Move. I started going to the
gym about 3 years ago, and wish I would have done it sooner, honestly. It’s
hard to get started, but I sleep better at night, have more energy, am more
aware of what I eat, I feel stronger, I like the way my body looks, and it’s a
bonding experience with my partner, when we can go to the gym together. Don’t
get me wrong, I love beer and wine and don’t plan on giving those up anytime
soon, but just moderation, as with anything. You only get one health, so don’t
throw it away. (I still hate cardio and probably will forever!)</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Save some money. Again, something I wish I would
have started doing much sooner. Saving money is good for emergency situations.
They say you should have about 3 months of your earning put away, but I think
it should be wayyyy more than that. You never know what could happen! And I use
some of the saved money on fun stuff, but I always replace it. It takes time to
build it up, but the cushion is good to have!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Pay your bills first, THEN have fun with what is
left over. Unless you want to end up living at your mom’s house when you are
40. I know it sounds cliché, but be responsible with and about your money. After
all, Mom isn’t going to be around forever to take care of your broke @$$.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Learn about another culture. Learn another
language. Travel. See the world. It opens your mind and your heart so much. It
allows you to experience life from a different perspective and more readily accept
the differences of others. Overall, it makes you a more well-rounded and
cultured individual.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t be afraid to fail. So many people are
afraid of failure. It sucks. It hurts. It costs. But honestly, it teaches you
so much. You come out stronger, wiser, and more humbled. Everyone needs a
reality check once in a while. I don’t think there is such thing as a life
fail. You can always find things to be grateful for.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Tell the people in your life that matter that
you love them, and tell and show them often. I wish I had said it more to my
grandparents when they were alive. I would give anything to be able to get off
work, go pick up my grandmother, and just drive around or go out to eat. Our
time on this planet is so short, and life gets so busy that the time just flies
and flies. Don’t become too busy to let someone know that you are thinking
about them or that you care. A good friend of mine said to me recently that he
remembered how I send actual mail to let friends know that I care about them.
It’s true—call me old-fashioned, but snail mail is where it’s at. Plus who
doesn’t love getting mail?</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be generous. Hint: you don’t need to be rich to
do this. Be generous with your time, your love, your happiness. It’s a good
feeling to give to others in whatever way you can, and see them smile and
brighten their day. Who wants to hang around selfish people who only care about
numero uno? Or spend all of their time and money on themselves? Those are the
people who end up alone and unhappy in life, full of regret.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Give a crap about something. Have convictions,
have beliefs, in whatever that may be! Don’t just agree with what everyone else
says and go with the flow like a brain-washed cotton-headed ninnymuggins. Stand
up for what you think in your heart is right, even if your voice is singular or
unpopular.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Don’t worry about what other people think about
you. I have made my peace with this, and let me tell you—it has not been easy
or fun. Everything you say, everything you do is going to be judged by other
people who don’t even have the faintest idea about who you are. So let those
haters keep on creeping on your social media, trying to piece together a you
that they’ve built up in their own mind. Don’t worry your pretty little head
about them. They’re just jealous and insecure about their own lives.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be a good communicator. I cannot stress this one
enough, especially being a communication major. Listen well—that means putting
your mobile device down and making eye contact with the person you are talking
to. Let them know you care by being engaged, and acknowledge what they are
saying—even if you don’t agree with it. When problems arise in your
relationships, talk them out. Don’t play games—talk about how you feel and why.
Don’t make someone guess that you are mad at them. And if there is ambiguity
about things, clear it up, explain yourself.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Be you.
Stay true to yourself. If the friends you are hanging around or the person you
are romantically involved with doesn’t like you for who you are, in all
seriousness, they can go—there’s the door, don’t let it hit you on the booty on
your way out. Don’t let anyone change who you are so that they can be happy.
Don’t ever lose the things that make you who you are—those things that make you
a weirdo. After all, nobody is a better you than you. And there is someone out
there who thinks you are perfect just the way you are. Remember, a lion doesn’t
lose sleep over the opinions of sheep.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Always have something to look forward to. I am a
planner, always planning the next get-together, the next vacation, etc. Having
stuff to be excited about is always fun, whether it is hanging with a friend,
going somewhere, or trying something new.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Never stop learning. I loved school, and even
today I love learning new things that I can turn around and teach someone else,
which is why being a trainer is such a good fit for me career-wise. Whatever
you are interested in, whether it’s architecture, animals, video games,
history, food, or zombies…go learn more about it! (I will be one of those 90
year old ladies getting her 4</span><sup style="text-indent: -0.25in;">th</sup><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> doctorate). Every person you meet
knows something you don’t!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Make a BAMF LinkedIn Profile and keep that
shiggen up to date. If you make it REALLY good, then you only need to update it
once in a while. Grow your network, make it fun and entertaining, and for
goodness sake, do not make it a repeat or regurgitation of your resume. Have a
professional pic of just you (no nudity, beer, drugs, costumes, questionable
life choices, husbands, wives, children, pets, friends, etc.), use keywords,
have a decent summary, and add some skills on there. Get some recommendations
from former bosses also (assuming you haven’t burned those bridges). You just
never know when your dream job is going to come around knocking. Hey, I got my
last few jobs from LinkedIn recruiting, so that’s pretty promising!</span></li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Take risks. I’m not saying parachute out of a
350 story building (cuz that’s flippin’ cray) but I mean—if you get a great job
offer at another company, or you want to travel the world while you are young—just
do it! There are some regrets I have of not doing things, and I would rather
have taken the risk and had the experience!</span></li>
</ol>
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You made it to the end! Wow, you are a trooper--thanks for reading! That’s all I have for now…and the
list will continue to grow. Any others you would add? <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-5932393554525379852014-12-19T21:19:00.003-08:002014-12-19T21:55:02.577-08:00Gift Giving Guide<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2M0rN9pdOkrztCvfDIZdQqS0bs8Gn2xDo3EQTjquSVpebrdjG-EY0bfAGr8V9NZoGY5TCOx2k1HQo5ERvzRjRXE2WKsBiSoOoRUuy9s7_epE4BarFVR5G-dzhIe4rRDizIvIDkeP5qg/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2M0rN9pdOkrztCvfDIZdQqS0bs8Gn2xDo3EQTjquSVpebrdjG-EY0bfAGr8V9NZoGY5TCOx2k1HQo5ERvzRjRXE2WKsBiSoOoRUuy9s7_epE4BarFVR5G-dzhIe4rRDizIvIDkeP5qg/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can haz dis?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Gift giving is really an art, and can be really rewarding. I
<i>love</i> giving gifts (because it makes
people so surprised and happy). Some people really struggle with ideas of what
to get. Have no fear—I am here to help!<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I have two words for
anyone out there who is struggling with gift giving ideas and is reading this: <i>pay attention</i>. It’s that simple. Know
what someone likes (be it a sport, hobby, show, video game, type of clothing,
etc. Not sure? Just ask!), and it becomes soooo incredibly easy to buy for
them. I also live by the philosophy that if I love it so much, you might love
it so much too. At least, that has mostly worked on my friends thus far! Oh,
and don’t forget those gift receipts!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Get crafty. A homemade gift is always from the heart, and
there are so many things you can make (just take a gander on Pinterest for TONS
of ideas!) In the past I have made a memory jar, glass etched mugs, mix CDs
(and tapes, back in the day) and Russian tea. Also, instead of one big
expensive gift, get a few little meaningful ones. And finally, take the time to
write out a nice message in a Christmas card. Like, who seriously does that
anymore (besides me)? Hell, even attach post-it notes to gifts to make it extra
fun (especially when sending to long-distance friends and family to give them
explanations). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Go unique. I am all about buying things that people can’t
just get anywhere—personalized or just hard to find. Like traveling to another
country and grabbing some souvenirs, and hanging on to them until Christmas!<o:p></o:p></div>
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*Food is always good, but be mindful of allergies. I would
never buy orange juice for my friend Kelly, for example, because that would
kill him, and that’s not really the message I want to send (especially at
Christmas time). Oh and fruitcake—don’t do it. Just...no. Candy is good though—chocolate especially. And
there is definitely no shortage of that around the holidays!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*If you are going to buy someone underwear, don’t do it
unless either you are either related and it’s a necessity or you are
romantically linked. I mean, how would you feel if a casual acquaintance or
co-worker bought you a thong? (Think Buddy the Elf and that sexy teddy he got
for his dad—HA!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Go practical. Some people really need things. As an example,
every single year, my mom always wishes for a kitchen timer, measuring cups,
and slippers. She goes through these like crazy somehow. There’s also the gifts
that you think someone might need also (like hint, hint kind of a thing). Have
a friend who is always late? Get them a watch. Or a boyfriend who never
remembers a birthday? Birthday calendar, FTW (and write in all his family
member’s birthdays on it). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Clothes are generally safe, but sizing might be tough.
Also, only buy if you know it’s their unique style or something they really
dig. Always get a gift receipt! Socks and winter gear like hats, gloves, and
scarves are a no-brainer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Be wise, accessorize: You can never buy enough bling! It
doesn’t even have to be pricey to look cute. I buy 90% of my baubles from
Tar-jay (Target). Fashion scarves, purses, wallets, backpacks, etc. require no
sizing, so go bananas!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Gift cards are pretty safe and universal, if you don’t have
time to shop or don’t know someone well enough to get them a more personal gift. Secret Santa, anyone?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Perfumes, colognes, and body sprays and body washes are great
gifts, but be careful. You may unintentionally send someone the wrong message (that they are stinky).
So, unless that is your intention, just proceed with caution. Some people (like
myself) are also very picky about the scents they will or will not wear. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*Have some feels and go sentimental. I LOVE anything from
UW-La Crosse, as that’s where I went for undergrad. Get me UW-L gear or
ANYTHING alumni and I will love it. Pictures are good too for friends, and
family. Print a good one out, buy a nice frame, and boom—instant keepsake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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*Alcohol: good for the bestie, not so much for the boss. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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*Gag gifts are fun, but make sure they aren’t <i>too</i> offensive. Avoid religious and
politically themed gifts, if at all possible. I bought the oldest co-worker I
have a funny picture book called <i>All My
Friends Are Dead.</i> He loved it, and thought it was hilarious. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am a BIG online shopper, but that only really works out if
you have time to ship things. Here are some of my favorite websites to buy
nifty giftys:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Everything: Urbanoutfitters.com, Amazon.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Artsy Crafty: Etsy.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beauty: Sephora.com, Birchbox.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Décor: Westelm.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Clothes: Anthropologie.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Shoes: Zappos.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nerd: Thinkgeek.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tea: Davidstea.com<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fave in-store shopping: Target, Kohl’s, Barnes and Noble,
Best Buy</div>
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<br /></div>
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So now that you’ve got the gift part down, time to wrap.
Hate wrapping? Enlist a friend to help or take your gifts to a wrapping station
in a department store (or Barnes and Noble!) Or get a gift bag and tissue
paper. No wrapping paper? Get creative and use a paper grocery bag or newspaper
for wrapping paper (especially the comics section). Bonne chance, mes amis!<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-48842655299887979152014-08-10T09:54:00.000-07:002014-08-10T09:54:59.438-07:00Beer Hair MasqueI have heard that beer is good for your hair, and I remember reading back in the day (haha) that pouring a can of beer on your hair and letting it sit can do it some good and make it shiny. This masque was virtually the same as that, with an addition of an egg yolk. I admit, it's a bit of a weird, gross combo--but if you can get past that--it really works! I found this recipe on the <a href="http://hair.allwomenstalk.com/diy-hair-masks-for-thin-lifeless-hair/2/">Internet</a> randomly.<br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
-1 egg yolk<br />
-1 3/4 or 1/2 can beer (I used Miller High Life--which was left over from my beer cheese dip recipe!)<br />
<br />
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<br />
1. Mix the yolk and beer together. Silly me, I poured the yolk right into the can and then shook it up. Naturally, it exploded all over my pants and I smelled like a drunk, just in time for work. Umm...yeah. Don't do that. LOL! Save this for the weekend when you have nowhere to go!<br />
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2. Pour the mixture all over your hair, and wrap it up in a shower cap or towel. Let sit for 30 minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscG3lrmAF5TJsQPqt4E7ZX7kuwsc9oF-gEq2K6eC-JamFXmV3-BY01RpfZJeM6PZV6-GLNgZ8yPu9GU1Ry2d2xZLiuQ8QvXfrQ8J-7XYlxSk0dd5WxPCAhd_Z1LNnvCA_xyAQqLQ7yOo/s1600/hair+masque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscG3lrmAF5TJsQPqt4E7ZX7kuwsc9oF-gEq2K6eC-JamFXmV3-BY01RpfZJeM6PZV6-GLNgZ8yPu9GU1Ry2d2xZLiuQ8QvXfrQ8J-7XYlxSk0dd5WxPCAhd_Z1LNnvCA_xyAQqLQ7yOo/s1600/hair+masque.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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3. Rinse your hair with warm water until the water runs clear. Shampoo hair as usual, but do not condition.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002743.0389025 -87.906473600000027 43.0389025 -87.906473600000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-32207717616408473812014-08-05T15:03:00.000-07:002014-08-05T15:03:35.104-07:00De-Cluttering Your House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AT-BhnKYlep83Gz9dDExrUx1brVCnyp9v9XoUsjyGt45I8I0fgzagCUrjm7vqxjK9B2Ryh23_r7BNK8nIJPu4ohdu7Soi5ZhOZ2USgLZU-HDvaGzNvlgIAlANyG_ZQMuGOU1W5UMHL4/s1600/66916409de691075f9f2155a9dc8de0b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3AT-BhnKYlep83Gz9dDExrUx1brVCnyp9v9XoUsjyGt45I8I0fgzagCUrjm7vqxjK9B2Ryh23_r7BNK8nIJPu4ohdu7Soi5ZhOZ2USgLZU-HDvaGzNvlgIAlANyG_ZQMuGOU1W5UMHL4/s1600/66916409de691075f9f2155a9dc8de0b.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This is a guest post written by Stephanie Hanson, community manager of Monkey Bar Storage Solutions.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’re like the majority of Americans, you hold onto stuff. It’s certainly okay to hold onto things when they have a sentimental value! However, many people hold onto so much stuff that they find themselves with less and less space for the important things in their homes. Use these tips on how to clean out the clutter in your life, that are from the professionals organizers at Monkey Bar Storage. </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-894ab70f-a362-81c3-be0e-cd791d9ed680" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Decide on Function: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most important thing for you to do when working on an area of the home is to decide what that room or area’s function is. It doesn’t matter what the current state of that room or area is, just think about what your ideal use for that room would be. You may note the need for decluttering when you realize that one room is having to supply multiple purposes that it wasn’t intended for. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Small Sections: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chances are that you’re not superhuman and don’t have the time to organize your entire home all at once. Instead, try tackling small areas. Eventually, these small areas will add up to a big difference that you can see in your home. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Is The Last Time I Used This?</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The reason that so many of us keep unneeded items is because we don’t ask ourselves the last time we used them. If you haven’t used something in longer than two years ago, then chances are that you won’t use it again. If you don’t want to throw out something that is perfectly usable, try donating those items to your local Goodwill or thrift store. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Customized Solution:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Now that you’ve thrown out things that you won’t use again and cleared out space, now is the time to make a habit of putting things back where you got them. Nothing makes this easier than having a customized solution. Consider shelving to get lots of items up and off the floor, creating valuable floor space. If you have a lot of little items that you want out of sight, cabinets are a great option. If you have animals or small children in the house, consider using lockable cabinets to ensure safety. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reinforcement:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Be sure to reward yourself for all your hard work! Whether it’s a piece of candy, a movie, or a trip out of the country, you decide. By rewarding yourself you’ll be more inclined to keep the room or area of your home clean and tidy.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stephanie Hanson is the community manager for </span><a href="http://www.garagesolutionsmilwaukee.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monkey Bar Storage Solutions</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, a garage storage and organization company serving homeowners in the Milwaukee area. </span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-61832161702495145292014-07-28T19:00:00.000-07:002014-07-28T19:07:45.870-07:00Slice TweezersSo, I decided to add a new section on product reviews--yayyy! After all, there's nothing more I love than trying and falling in love with new products (that's why I love my Birchbox subscription so much!) This is a very special post because it is the first one of its kind on my blog.<br />
<br />
First and foremost, this post was made possible due to the generosity of the founder of Slice, who sent me a pair to demo and review, as well as my friend Kim for putting the two of us in touch, always recommending great beauty loot, and inspiring me to branch out in a new direction on MIWS. So a big thank you to both!<br />
<br />
Let's get down to it, shall we? The product I am reviewing are the Slanted Soft Touch Slice Tweezers, pictured below. They retail for $19.99 here on the <a href="http://www.sliceproducts.com/product/slanted-soft-touch-tweezers">Slice website</a>. I've tried a few different types of tweezers in my life, but here is what I particularly liked about this pair:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gzR6eccVtTF9My7x1fWPirLRmXeE5nFd1dN7XLyQy7CN3xfp82AwEiHa1oztwZcQIxeAv3eiPcBVfnn7FQqyHbgGwTeOQ6xjYO6p8xrLYT49QEmryqfk_bQrhrS8M_nBnruRYVmjAl0/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_gzR6eccVtTF9My7x1fWPirLRmXeE5nFd1dN7XLyQy7CN3xfp82AwEiHa1oztwZcQIxeAv3eiPcBVfnn7FQqyHbgGwTeOQ6xjYO6p8xrLYT49QEmryqfk_bQrhrS8M_nBnruRYVmjAl0/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="289" width="640" /></a></div>
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-Design: They are big--but where it matters most. The size didn't obstruct my view when I was plucking my eyebrows with these bad boys. They are comfortable to hold in your hand and easy to control. They were designed by famed architect Michael Graves!<br />
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-Ease: They are made of a rubberized finish, so they don't slip out of your hand--which is perfect for klutzes like myself.<br />
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-Precision: The tip is slanted, so I was easily able to pluck those stubborn little hairs that normally are not even long enough to pluck as they are growing back in.<br />
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-Sanitary: These are easy to clean--I just used an alcohol wipe to clean the tip, which is made of stainless steel.<br />
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-Sharp: If you aren't using these for beauty purposes, but to remove a sliver, for instance, you won't have any trouble at all! I have used dull tweezers before that have had a rounded tip, and they are not the greatest for eyebrow plucking or removing slivers.<br />
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-Color: Because who wants another boring, silver pair of tweezers? I love the bold pop of red, and it makes it easy to find in my makeup bag.<br />
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On a scale of one to ten (with one being the worst and ten being the best), I would give these Slice tweezers a nine! I would highly recommend them as an essential tool to any beauty arsenal.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-64896514208861028972014-07-22T16:30:00.000-07:002014-07-22T16:31:07.294-07:00Wisconsin Beer Cheese DipBeing a Wisconsinite, I love to take pride in all things Wisconsin--especially cheese, milk, and beer! I found this recipe on <a href="http://www.ateaspoonofhappiness.com/wisconsin-beer-dip/">Pinterest</a> and gave it a try--it was such a hit at my cousin's 4th of July party, I had to make a batch just for our family to snack on! I love dips, and this is a really simple one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fje4QEP3gsiO-aKZjfV_ymMaGkbDSItmt8s8qI1HG3wcDPiTJJpTjcKLO6xgsA9t3rw766XNn8DC0VPFMMl-imIlRgIXBlAu969FABkhVZiu9JgVwA0DKrD7FXwbCz14mnYTwivhLuw/s1600/ingreds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fje4QEP3gsiO-aKZjfV_ymMaGkbDSItmt8s8qI1HG3wcDPiTJJpTjcKLO6xgsA9t3rw766XNn8DC0VPFMMl-imIlRgIXBlAu969FABkhVZiu9JgVwA0DKrD7FXwbCz14mnYTwivhLuw/s1600/ingreds.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<br />
Ingredients:<br />
-1/2 can beer (I used Miller High life, a Milwaukee favorite, of course)<br />
-2 blocks of cream cheese<br />
-1 packet dry ranch seasoning<br />
-shredded cheddar cheese<br />
-pretzels or chips (for dipping)<br />
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1. Let cream cheese sit out until room temperature (I heated mine in the microwave for like 2 minutes because I was impatient!) Combine cream cheese, beer, and ranch seasoning in a bowl and mix well.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WK8MpHZwd87lP911epJbbD1RJ8YYIFTrtVhMO8yV4gXvLQqIIPo2oPr1MAkfh5JJik2riG1hRfIwzVhgMlMzp8HjNFlQOddvFIkqgsqW_HHd5tL8Jo44d0fyALsF4JhXIjbknOqvjgg/s1600/ingredients+before+mix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WK8MpHZwd87lP911epJbbD1RJ8YYIFTrtVhMO8yV4gXvLQqIIPo2oPr1MAkfh5JJik2riG1hRfIwzVhgMlMzp8HjNFlQOddvFIkqgsqW_HHd5tL8Jo44d0fyALsF4JhXIjbknOqvjgg/s1600/ingredients+before+mix.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_j0le8GX0ua_QoevjfONihG3yae4ldTyjCNqC-jIwzS1PcAlkKmJfW_8zjzx-_JJxrzTUTHD6Ba-iaAEEjtnUC4DcVZdATu1K-rXiEZXPnhfKtJXkp8Ckd9U6kxOtkW44pPBVchZb3E/s1600/Mixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_j0le8GX0ua_QoevjfONihG3yae4ldTyjCNqC-jIwzS1PcAlkKmJfW_8zjzx-_JJxrzTUTHD6Ba-iaAEEjtnUC4DcVZdATu1K-rXiEZXPnhfKtJXkp8Ckd9U6kxOtkW44pPBVchZb3E/s1600/Mixed.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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2. Transfer dip to a Tupperware container. Place in fridge for 2-3 hours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-WvfvuRrD4JBU8KhAa1LzEBnL_B0KL8iqN6uyRtuRjmHGVgpuH1BY-sTVlaKbgFqLKZucoudfexfITWnSDdXYSciiP0cKdIdlzeKE0zlMrbshJp0wDHnR9o03ucXe35xU6nanr4aAv0/s1600/tupperware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-WvfvuRrD4JBU8KhAa1LzEBnL_B0KL8iqN6uyRtuRjmHGVgpuH1BY-sTVlaKbgFqLKZucoudfexfITWnSDdXYSciiP0cKdIdlzeKE0zlMrbshJp0wDHnR9o03ucXe35xU6nanr4aAv0/s1600/tupperware.jpg" height="288" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. Before serving, top with shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with pretzels or chips.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFFzqP2TWSgkiQ6MQinc_yDBKX1zxD3ASAqJRxd0fZtNX1KGbO0KGkY_at7ra7c1rX1n31W9dnUqC65luQcb2S9g0o4azkuZWdbIuXb1S7XD5Tcm3b4U3DJhUIHnw4NeP-KHckS8vyNM/s1600/done+dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFFzqP2TWSgkiQ6MQinc_yDBKX1zxD3ASAqJRxd0fZtNX1KGbO0KGkY_at7ra7c1rX1n31W9dnUqC65luQcb2S9g0o4azkuZWdbIuXb1S7XD5Tcm3b4U3DJhUIHnw4NeP-KHckS8vyNM/s1600/done+dip.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-21850926005777801122014-07-21T19:14:00.000-07:002014-07-21T19:18:12.325-07:00Smelly Shoe RepellentI am not a fan of wearing socks, as much as I can possibly get away from it. I even own those little nylon socks that barely show in flats, but they always irritate me, bunch up and don't stay in place in my shoe. So naturally, my shoes can get a little smelly when my feet sweat. I saw this great trick on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/126241595779622361/">Pinterest</a>, and it really works! I do this after I take my shoes off and put them on the shelf.<br />
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Materials:<br />
-spray bottle<br />
-water<br />
-rubbing alcohol<br />
<br />
1. Add 3/4 of your spray bottle full of water and the remaining 1/4 full of rubbing alcohol.<br />
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2. Before use, shake well and spritz 2-4 sprays inside the shoe and let air dry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qlc2QiZbFTdCfSLvCU_mlvJo68MHGt0ItWzPqjSrGIZdsABYZKgHysXh_mkwnf-6ZmcPAqMEIB9ypKhioAEROAFBGQsFTUbJK-UfGBwH7ql9SXM3P0Dj3T5KqUO2gkhgGquk-3vMs48/s1600/shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qlc2QiZbFTdCfSLvCU_mlvJo68MHGt0ItWzPqjSrGIZdsABYZKgHysXh_mkwnf-6ZmcPAqMEIB9ypKhioAEROAFBGQsFTUbJK-UfGBwH7ql9SXM3P0Dj3T5KqUO2gkhgGquk-3vMs48/s1600/shoe.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-68720377840488209402014-07-15T16:20:00.004-07:002014-07-15T16:20:40.966-07:00Top Loader Washer Cleaning<div class="MsoNormal">
When I was doing my laundry recently at home, I couldn’t
help but notice that the washer was a little…well, gross. It needed some TLC. I
remembered seeing instructions on how to clean a washer on <a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/how-to-clean-your-top-loader-washing.html">Pinterest</a>, and
decided to scrub that bad boy from top to bottom. After all, what’s the point
of washing clothes in dirty water and bacteria? The total cleaning takes 3
cycles, but you really only need to do it twice a year, which I can definitely handle. The
bleach and vinegar kill the bacteria and get your washer sparkling in no time. Trust me, you don't want to see the before picture!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Materials:<br />
-Bleach<br />
-Distilled white vinegar<br />
-Magic eraser<o:p></o:p><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JlV7bKi9NJaOU5P8xRLGzwaoQsx7SxZrAcSPQDMwL_1y-dFVeSTn9VYOweO46UixE0cufdLV0Nr13zLY-DQb0W5RcwJBAVMuLbhLbds0K9NpLKaXgcyzp3q-I2yKsutF54-K1q-vVgc/s1600/bleach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JlV7bKi9NJaOU5P8xRLGzwaoQsx7SxZrAcSPQDMwL_1y-dFVeSTn9VYOweO46UixE0cufdLV0Nr13zLY-DQb0W5RcwJBAVMuLbhLbds0K9NpLKaXgcyzp3q-I2yKsutF54-K1q-vVgc/s1600/bleach.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Scrub any visible dirt/mildew out of the inside of the
washer (including agitator) with a magic eraser.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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2. Fill washer with hot water. Add in one quart of bleach.
Let washer agitate for one minute. Then, let sit for an hour. Use washer’s
longest cycle to rinse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kjdkrbz_yugx2gHEXpU4Gp7jFhjKssIdICp0AJqbVvEEGDGMvWhlKyWFDYelZ4virHpK3xn0lBqN8AAVnsif-ooPEdTejttOgBIMghOsE_kZmx9oWkclO8QxzMu5xWXvL2gg0pTytiw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kjdkrbz_yugx2gHEXpU4Gp7jFhjKssIdICp0AJqbVvEEGDGMvWhlKyWFDYelZ4virHpK3xn0lBqN8AAVnsif-ooPEdTejttOgBIMghOsE_kZmx9oWkclO8QxzMu5xWXvL2gg0pTytiw/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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3. Fill washer with hot water. Add in one quart of white
vinegar. Let washer agitate for one minute. Then, let sit for an hour. Use
washer’s longest cycle to rinse.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Now, while I was waiting for that second hour to pass, I
actually removed the bleach tray and cleaned it and scrubbed down the outer
surface of the washer. I detailed it by getting in all the nooks and crannies
with a magic eraser.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Use the washer’s longest cycle to do a final rinse. That’s
it! Now you are good for another solid 6 months.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2nohrmJ-ihzoMgO6kiR1kyxrTmlLaKyL0ohC-PxMaP2pJYR6OK8dDn9G-h-ctftxT9UMfwKVrL7PRrrBriub9CZcMjfoMUpOahD_hBLAZaDMypKiuk-bADKcRyFMOLrx593B3UCJXTs/s1600/clean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2nohrmJ-ihzoMgO6kiR1kyxrTmlLaKyL0ohC-PxMaP2pJYR6OK8dDn9G-h-ctftxT9UMfwKVrL7PRrrBriub9CZcMjfoMUpOahD_hBLAZaDMypKiuk-bADKcRyFMOLrx593B3UCJXTs/s1600/clean.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-81457066198432902562014-07-14T15:24:00.000-07:002014-07-15T18:00:09.859-07:00DIY Bath Bombs<div class="MsoNormal">
Ok, I admit that I am a little late to the game, but I
didn’t know what Lush was until I did my summer internship in Montreal back in
2007. We didn’t have any close by in Wisconsin, but now we have one in Mayfair
Mall. I like their stuff a lot, but man—it can be pricey! I got some bath bombs
as a gift for Christmas a few years ago, and really, I like anything for the
bathtub. I discovered a DIY bath bomb
recipe <a href="http://www.creatorsocial.com/index.php/basic-bath-bomb-recipe-for-lush-dupes/">here</a> and decided to give it a whirl. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GwthjLfTrIs2qxOB8uIlayxgAXBrQ5xZ12snkYJlHolNY9xm56hIgDLYWbipfDRbIrLpWX0XVULwaI4M4TSXEJaS4uYI6DLD3_Ca0Z0rEiKr83Zcjb2H2MJudPEGde-oFntuj0XXwv8/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GwthjLfTrIs2qxOB8uIlayxgAXBrQ5xZ12snkYJlHolNY9xm56hIgDLYWbipfDRbIrLpWX0XVULwaI4M4TSXEJaS4uYI6DLD3_Ca0Z0rEiKr83Zcjb2H2MJudPEGde-oFntuj0XXwv8/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But before I jump into that, here are my learnings
from this project: I recommend getting smaller ornament molds, as mine were
HUGE! I ordered 80 mm ones on Amazon, and they kinda broke easily too. Big ones
means you only make 2-3 bath bombs per batch, vs. a smaller mold of possibly many
more bath bombs. Also, all of the ingredients together are a bit pricey. So, I
guess the difference is spend the money at Lush and have someone else make them
or spend it yourself and do all the work. But you do save a bit by DIYing. I
would think plastic Easter eggs would make great molds also! Also, a little food coloring goes a LONG way! My bathtub water was super yellow when my bomb dissolved completely, but the color did not stain me or the tub.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Materials:<br />
-8 oz baking soda<br />
-4 oz Epsom salt<br />
-4 oz cornstarch<br />
-4 oz citric acid<br />
-2 tsp baby or almond oil<br />
-3/4 tsp water (or witch hazel)<br />
-2 tsp essential oils of your choosing (I had spearmint, eucalyptus, orange,
and lavender)<br />
-food coloring<br />
-80 mm or smaller plastic fillable ornament molds that snap together (I got ,
but definitely recommend a smaller size)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. Mix the salt and all of the powder ingredients together
(except the citric acid) in one bowl. Set aside. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Mix all of the liquid ingredients together (except the
food coloring) in a separate bowl. Slowly add to the powder mix and stir
gently. The consistency should be that of wet sand, where it sticks together
somewhat. If it is not, slowly add a few drops of water at a time while mixing
and squeezing it in your hand until it is like wet sand. Now add the citric
acid and mix. Do not test the consistency with your hand, as the citric acid is
abrasive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso4PzeX_U3Mqfbh05I__Rqe-loSYh1r8-fk2lnh6kUlYDiBC-eJr2YNw7ud-eGIhhkRWnHDiRqTuXjmSGbhxkp_OV1CcidBgXBZd_T_OlxE5C-W-z52vm23U1hF0OE8Er0UvgGNPOvpg/s1600/mixture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhso4PzeX_U3Mqfbh05I__Rqe-loSYh1r8-fk2lnh6kUlYDiBC-eJr2YNw7ud-eGIhhkRWnHDiRqTuXjmSGbhxkp_OV1CcidBgXBZd_T_OlxE5C-W-z52vm23U1hF0OE8Er0UvgGNPOvpg/s1600/mixture.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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3. Add the food coloring in last and mix well. I did blue
for my lavender scented ones and yellow for my orange scented ones.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Fill one half of the plastic ornament past the edge with the mixture. Pack
it down tightly. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78_z-Dhxl6819CY0gW1xNjzOCXBEG_JHtdgwK16i-8Hcwm0BiGmufdr-p7uuz0wkj12QCmdpNZ5fg-CU9tJEQ0FUwrkiGaCy_5kAl6BGXjjR8cTNpgInkXJ34UHvU-bCvBfTk12U5HwU/s1600/pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78_z-Dhxl6819CY0gW1xNjzOCXBEG_JHtdgwK16i-8Hcwm0BiGmufdr-p7uuz0wkj12QCmdpNZ5fg-CU9tJEQ0FUwrkiGaCy_5kAl6BGXjjR8cTNpgInkXJ34UHvU-bCvBfTk12U5HwU/s1600/pack.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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5. Repeat with the other half of the plastic ornament past
the edge. Pack it down tightly. Now snap the two halves together. Seriously,
this was the hardest part for me because I could not get mine to snap together.
I broke a few halves trying to do this. There should not be any cracks in the
bath bomb once the halves are together—just a smooth finish on each side. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN_bu_wnaZELvYAlJ3357EoFIJJVcrTehvy37mwoJ7l4ZGnJoShAnKiFtncE9b5RjtBmtCwhg69f7nBODISF0-MxU5GDgibOSYtLoa31qayduTFcLOLKl8xeFOo2G1PHG4OowChN7D44/s1600/balls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuN_bu_wnaZELvYAlJ3357EoFIJJVcrTehvy37mwoJ7l4ZGnJoShAnKiFtncE9b5RjtBmtCwhg69f7nBODISF0-MxU5GDgibOSYtLoa31qayduTFcLOLKl8xeFOo2G1PHG4OowChN7D44/s1600/balls.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6. Allow the bath bomb to dry out in a dry place for 24
hours. I did, and here is what happened when I removed the mold (this one even had cracks and still stayed together!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ5DWMvgQZ1lGxprnCGgM9Eda4ifLFhKDN7htSA-0rkdySbZDHzx_v4F3lIUvi3Yl2i-N1k0EHZdKr1sQ1lJvS2rRp96ZjpmySv2Aj05KPN7Gn5cQeXlKbRN78MRlYBp6BRvQLrAgqSc/s1600/dry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQ5DWMvgQZ1lGxprnCGgM9Eda4ifLFhKDN7htSA-0rkdySbZDHzx_v4F3lIUvi3Yl2i-N1k0EHZdKr1sQ1lJvS2rRp96ZjpmySv2Aj05KPN7Gn5cQeXlKbRN78MRlYBp6BRvQLrAgqSc/s1600/dry.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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7. Add one to your nice warm bath (trust me, one is ALL you
will need at this size!) This was the final test for me...<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHIG8GpqadfMeRQRpXL3SCtatlv3AUa40xA2Xv42Q5SbjOyEYYXNkFAYzCGDdzRfSAsc8ePLktW-vnmYiD6ajUww4-W_IfcS0wywiMnPNlItvP9YV__UMLRPlS5EpD2SttJdRtE7ZrCU/s1600/fizz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHIG8GpqadfMeRQRpXL3SCtatlv3AUa40xA2Xv42Q5SbjOyEYYXNkFAYzCGDdzRfSAsc8ePLktW-vnmYiD6ajUww4-W_IfcS0wywiMnPNlItvP9YV__UMLRPlS5EpD2SttJdRtE7ZrCU/s1600/fizz.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It worked! Fizzy and all, comparable to the real Lush one, like a big glorious citrus ball of bath time happiness.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2Milwaukee, WI, USA43.0389025 -87.90647360000002742.6676395 -88.551920600000031 43.4101655 -87.261026600000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-66878925149830689122014-05-05T14:11:00.001-07:002014-05-05T14:11:05.814-07:00Mozzarella Sticks<div class="MsoNormal">
Lately, I have been making a bunch of snacks because my
friends and I have been having Game of Thrones nights, where we will get
together and watch like 5 episodes at a time, and cook food. My friend Bob gets
credit for this recipe—it was really yummy and super easy to make.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Serves: 4<br />
Prep time: 15 minutes<br />
Cook time: 3-5 minutes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ingredients:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-1 package wonton wrappers<br />
-1 package mozzarella cheese sticks (approximately 8-12)<br />
-egg (for egg wash)<br />
-1 pkg pepperoni (optional)<br />
-1 jar jalapeños (optional)<br />
-marinara sauce, for dipping<br />
-deep fryer<br />
<br />
1. Lay out the wonton wrapper on a flat surface in a diamond shape.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPd8goF_YXwmzQXyghL9skqS4-97SdQz-UjpGCoiXPc3u9dFtmAIxVEOD5jd_eH6qgYd-M5cCRYWbfCZKbTHWNh5059SuPpUrqE6f6W6y7Uj5DJdnwcZQiXC6MgyZYC0fPea2XtZlks4/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPd8goF_YXwmzQXyghL9skqS4-97SdQz-UjpGCoiXPc3u9dFtmAIxVEOD5jd_eH6qgYd-M5cCRYWbfCZKbTHWNh5059SuPpUrqE6f6W6y7Uj5DJdnwcZQiXC6MgyZYC0fPea2XtZlks4/s1600/1.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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2. Using a pastry brush, line the two sides farthest from
you with egg wash, as in the picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZDeKjVVNHilp6jWqmDE6CTHTR5Iu_pDDGVlT7Z1tJJIJSViloybCgEi-dpBoiuQzuhaSnqU1jzORs0KmKhTCBCBHH48aGLLJDZTvWBAW1rJSDpXuhsFtEWpE-MfbOssG6vag-fGje6Q/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZDeKjVVNHilp6jWqmDE6CTHTR5Iu_pDDGVlT7Z1tJJIJSViloybCgEi-dpBoiuQzuhaSnqU1jzORs0KmKhTCBCBHH48aGLLJDZTvWBAW1rJSDpXuhsFtEWpE-MfbOssG6vag-fGje6Q/s1600/2.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. If you are going to add pepperoni or jalapeños,
add them first in the middle of the wonton wrapper. Place the mozzarella stick
towards the lower corner closest to you. It shouldn’t be so low that there is
not enough wonton to cover the sides of it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq9i5HWD8_6K4C0nbo7tQS7McJxL3KUsWVbJVnqsvFXBcIviZxaTEfJk_jtHyGOT-6WDDMPSeJjP_LUSSOUs5jNB-kTLsRa4C9RWArViJF0nmVx-GmtWMaFfN385gdCFfeDwDhH8VzBM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq9i5HWD8_6K4C0nbo7tQS7McJxL3KUsWVbJVnqsvFXBcIviZxaTEfJk_jtHyGOT-6WDDMPSeJjP_LUSSOUs5jNB-kTLsRa4C9RWArViJF0nmVx-GmtWMaFfN385gdCFfeDwDhH8VzBM/s1600/3.jpg" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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4. Begin to roll the cheese stick into the wrapper away from
you, folding in the edges as you roll, as in the picture. Repeat for as many sticks as you desire to make.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7elBScuBpIQc_RAi_n9LvcCbSKOR0ARxp2xuDOuMfaO8IVz3ISD-OeI9ZSnB_a8WQTJCAFx0-W1pMU63EReY7M6wyxBELdM_ALRSHxAxi269-SSVdTE4AJqHSvrcoU5hhJAP-Oior9l0/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7elBScuBpIQc_RAi_n9LvcCbSKOR0ARxp2xuDOuMfaO8IVz3ISD-OeI9ZSnB_a8WQTJCAFx0-W1pMU63EReY7M6wyxBELdM_ALRSHxAxi269-SSVdTE4AJqHSvrcoU5hhJAP-Oior9l0/s1600/4.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf2mSQbyiXH9-gqhGcaJH1f-dilGorsYcHNz2cSinits2NofNb4gqmpAh9sii-pWudPyw1iXWdVnnPhAykuk6iL2Hh7nVF2StkA6FMyqiqwVeF2co_D4M5b6FBD9xkOKPm2N3laBX68Q/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf2mSQbyiXH9-gqhGcaJH1f-dilGorsYcHNz2cSinits2NofNb4gqmpAh9sii-pWudPyw1iXWdVnnPhAykuk6iL2Hh7nVF2StkA6FMyqiqwVeF2co_D4M5b6FBD9xkOKPm2N3laBX68Q/s1600/6.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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5. Place the mozzarella sticks into the deep fryer, about 2 or 3 at one time. Keep a
close eye on them—as soon as they are golden brown, remove them from the deep
fryer. If you leave them in for too short a time, the cheese will not be gooey
enough. If you leave them in for too long, the cheese will be too gooey, and
will leak out of the wonton into the deep fryer grease.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgsTLyiiDxB5tqz8Jx-ShFy_FXY7j7UzINmw_pi8S_UpZSx24fF6ofhAWSJSfFiK_oUR21f7guam6E6dDlkY9QZs_AOnuY4O5VB4OOVwK3QnowkigjG2FYLgPxhyff-pIotNOCoBzrZg/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgsTLyiiDxB5tqz8Jx-ShFy_FXY7j7UzINmw_pi8S_UpZSx24fF6ofhAWSJSfFiK_oUR21f7guam6E6dDlkY9QZs_AOnuY4O5VB4OOVwK3QnowkigjG2FYLgPxhyff-pIotNOCoBzrZg/s1600/7.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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6. Allow 10 minutes to cool. Serve with marinara sauce.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZUgVtyT3ig672bgucA7mGtIo3R4yp2BnJ-ugdnVHTOK1nJOzOqfS6GSiFA3LCXJqTpZwf9P9M7iroG1gMZmyn6agvbeX92_33Y4uACkTOmahG_Ape-nRomEjOzx0w83XJfJZfRe3IeY/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZUgVtyT3ig672bgucA7mGtIo3R4yp2BnJ-ugdnVHTOK1nJOzOqfS6GSiFA3LCXJqTpZwf9P9M7iroG1gMZmyn6agvbeX92_33Y4uACkTOmahG_Ape-nRomEjOzx0w83XJfJZfRe3IeY/s1600/8.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-47606965170641009712014-04-28T17:33:00.004-07:002014-04-28T17:33:59.129-07:00Eyebrow Shaping<div class="MsoNormal">
They say eyebrows really can change someone’s look, and I
didn’t buy into that very much until I saw all the pictures of celebrities
without eyebrows. Yeesh! If you haven’t seen them, I highly recommend them to
you—they are totally worth the Google. Think Voldemort—that’s mostly what I was
reminded of! I have also seen a few “before and after” pics of celebrities who
have changed up their eyebrows by making them thicker, darker, etc. It’s
amazing how much it can complement their face or even change it up. I’ve always
had eyebrows, but they are naturally very thin. Even if I was to just let them
go wild, they wouldn’t get very thick at all. I pluck once every other week
just the stray hairs that are really outside of my natural brow. I don’t need to get them threaded or waxed
ever. One time, when wandering around the mall, I decided to stop in and have
my eyebrows threaded. I settled back into the chair, the lady came close to my
face, smiled and said, “There is nothing for me to thread.” Umm…so yeah...some
might say that’s a gift that I don’t have to deal with that. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax2VGdU_HNgRl1wvSZ2_MZUV9r3bNHVXqZ0jyUUM2NtCIi1ubSQNTe4hpPhweDUD-VK9JJ-MJRviUip2pb4G-3K0w6-88DDl2ptHOAaXHA6uMNaymrd9en-PtLk_T5346B5v8n2JYSK8/s1600/Lauren+Conrad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgax2VGdU_HNgRl1wvSZ2_MZUV9r3bNHVXqZ0jyUUM2NtCIi1ubSQNTe4hpPhweDUD-VK9JJ-MJRviUip2pb4G-3K0w6-88DDl2ptHOAaXHA6uMNaymrd9en-PtLk_T5346B5v8n2JYSK8/s1600/Lauren+Conrad.JPG" height="295" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, just look at Lauren Conrad. Case and point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I have always struggled with my eyebrows in terms of how to
get them to look better—and by better, I mean more shapely, more full, and a
little bit darker. I have long been afraid of the pencil, as it can cause such
a dark, severe line (in my younger days, I did not color match to my natural
color very well at all). About 2 years ago, I discovered the company Anastasia
at Sephora. I tried out a blonde pencil and it filled in my thin little
eyebrows nicely. So, I bought it and used it for a year and a half. Then,
Anastasia came out with a brow powder duo. One shade is lighter, and the other
darker. You can actually mix them to get a shade somewhere in between also. I
had the Sephora assistant do my brows for me, and she did a decent job. Ok, so
it seemed easy enough to use a little brow brush and some powder and fill in my
eyebrows. But I still wasn’t going outside of my (thin and short) natural brow
shape. Truthfully, I was a little afraid of looking like a dork with
unnaturally long/full eyebrows by free-handing them. What if my eyebrow shapes
turned out different? What if one arch was higher than the other? There is a
saying I have heard and remembered—something to the effect of, “Don’t ever let
anyone with bad eyebrows tell you shit about life.” Truth! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P4JIsgINmMfV_qR__9cz9ZABgVXE67bJcYihc9Upc-bQuQnH0cG0OtCPZ5WzEZeHnyzhVZSwSu4eDqtlIhbHphZI2anawQPLyeVUxFYAw4mB0GRmxDR2g9h-pqBb5sEE2yzITk12arw/s1600/Angelina_bad_brows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5P4JIsgINmMfV_qR__9cz9ZABgVXE67bJcYihc9Upc-bQuQnH0cG0OtCPZ5WzEZeHnyzhVZSwSu4eDqtlIhbHphZI2anawQPLyeVUxFYAw4mB0GRmxDR2g9h-pqBb5sEE2yzITk12arw/s1600/Angelina_bad_brows.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, Angelina.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Recently I found out that Anastasia has eyebrow stencils. I
was super pumped about this—it’s seriously
really hard to screw up with a stencil I assumed, so I ordered a set of
them. I think you get about 5 of them in a pack, so needless to say, I have a
lot of choices for “new” brows. I decided to test the water by starting with
the smallest stencil, the “petite arch.” Here are my before and after pictures,
and the steps I took to get them to look fab.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY3UFqonuBU8cQgGYnnJnNU02Kakg21RuXBt6UQzCmTuETMPdB6THXDwozk_p9zilbIn0x5c2bFESLfXFc2r2JZFxwqSLxdRvQa1e_A94XizZT_L56GGIPOJRy7abpYh2HG-f7Jz0AVU/s1600/materials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwY3UFqonuBU8cQgGYnnJnNU02Kakg21RuXBt6UQzCmTuETMPdB6THXDwozk_p9zilbIn0x5c2bFESLfXFc2r2JZFxwqSLxdRvQa1e_A94XizZT_L56GGIPOJRy7abpYh2HG-f7Jz0AVU/s1600/materials.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Materials:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-clear brow gel<br />
-eyebrow spooley brush<br />
-eyebrow powder, pencil, or gel<br />
-cotton swabs (optional)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1. With a spooley brow brush, gently brush eyebrow hairs up
and out to see your natural shape. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9fRROMx0RhPacYYDE_IXZHIef-gO50CubGYY_WsfQYllHjq_lYuFT6UfMTlGW4FqAuDKyF-rxHuO9Pw_DMD3vaufEV9DmIt25GZYQ69gF94lG0hkcrw6zZX-guCBKGUUooH_OWehihY/s1600/step+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9fRROMx0RhPacYYDE_IXZHIef-gO50CubGYY_WsfQYllHjq_lYuFT6UfMTlGW4FqAuDKyF-rxHuO9Pw_DMD3vaufEV9DmIt25GZYQ69gF94lG0hkcrw6zZX-guCBKGUUooH_OWehihY/s1600/step+1.jpg" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
2. Next, line up the stencil so that your eyebrow hairs are
in the middle of it. The middle is a good way to go, because if you do too high
or too low, the color stands out and looks a little strange. Believe me, I have
done it! For now, just worry about the first half of the arch. You can adjust
the arch to be higher or lower if you want to. Now, the stencil is actually
longer than my natural brow, so I started the end a little higher up. A good
rule of thumb for where to line up the edge of the stencil is to line up that
dashed black line with the inner corner of your eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39RhlV60EAhJNmBkRhhevP-yiiLihf-if_Zsp3_nyX3lQ_zOF-1s87x1WXZpE77V7tK9dh7Hj_CMLyVRrTy2y1v_p-2cgY46JzJiyjGWJW4suQ-kX-G4MV-_ewvGURGGBFTg2SElymiM/s1600/step+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39RhlV60EAhJNmBkRhhevP-yiiLihf-if_Zsp3_nyX3lQ_zOF-1s87x1WXZpE77V7tK9dh7Hj_CMLyVRrTy2y1v_p-2cgY46JzJiyjGWJW4suQ-kX-G4MV-_ewvGURGGBFTg2SElymiM/s1600/step+2.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3. Fill in the entire stencil area with brow powder, pencil,
or gel. Sorry, I don't have another hand to show you a pic of me applying the powder and still holding the camera. Boo hoo! Remove the stencil and look at the brow. Shade as needed in any sparse
areas. I used powder because it is easy to apply in a larger area, and cleans
up easily, but I have found that the staying power is not as good as a pencil
or a gel. Just something to keep in mind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvao5MRS7XOxOwIBt2M8_kKn0SE-B4w-6FLLPhph4ex3hUhahCdeW0l5XAIWqkbERgyt6tTuh9-hGZeAxkFcH3TxkXYAaImY3UpwJWeZHMrLFMED146pPh2ZhGmbaefv-fpqBO84AVgn4/s1600/step+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvao5MRS7XOxOwIBt2M8_kKn0SE-B4w-6FLLPhph4ex3hUhahCdeW0l5XAIWqkbERgyt6tTuh9-hGZeAxkFcH3TxkXYAaImY3UpwJWeZHMrLFMED146pPh2ZhGmbaefv-fpqBO84AVgn4/s1600/step+4.jpg" height="320" width="294" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4. Clean up any loose powder. If you don’t like a particular
edge, you can use the cotton swab to easily clean it up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5. Lastly, use some clear brow gel to set the color.
Gently brush eyebrow hairs up and out as you did before.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpeubTT2hXii_WEvAzPgQ9dhHCweibRqW5RSUoJspSxRTKTU2NZgD6ZowGj_FKcFbH8DS4NPR5140DyUDAbt1waBKlDKkwTxqWLJuRgqRqQtT8DTpJA6SWx8ad-rI8YghFJnrFvxs9cc/s1600/step+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpeubTT2hXii_WEvAzPgQ9dhHCweibRqW5RSUoJspSxRTKTU2NZgD6ZowGj_FKcFbH8DS4NPR5140DyUDAbt1waBKlDKkwTxqWLJuRgqRqQtT8DTpJA6SWx8ad-rI8YghFJnrFvxs9cc/s1600/step+5.jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ta-da! That’s it! Not so scary at all. The most difficult
part for me is now doing the left eyebrow and making sure the two arches match
and the eyebrows have the same shape ( I also naturally have a great right
arch, but a left arch that does not match it exactly!) But I am sure that
practice makes perfect. Also, I am going to try a brow gel eventually—as I
mentioned earlier, it has better staying power, but the one I have my eye on is
out of stock EVERYWHERE! It is the Anastasia Dipbrow pomade in Blonde.
Seriously, it must be super popular because I can’t get it at Ulta, Sephora, or
even direct from Anastasia’s website. Stay tuned!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNkQ-ABxRGCm7pxpnugPn5yjB4U8GauRenvQ-arb-NkIZzxqFQ6yNBemNVUJUsQp9Qj6pLCxLBEXuu6ryrMkbyaioW2ilH3EL_vKkLEQZMTuoXnRe2ng30A_E6XG9WDsZ7NxWoD_Iyc0/s1600/done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNkQ-ABxRGCm7pxpnugPn5yjB4U8GauRenvQ-arb-NkIZzxqFQ6yNBemNVUJUsQp9Qj6pLCxLBEXuu6ryrMkbyaioW2ilH3EL_vKkLEQZMTuoXnRe2ng30A_E6XG9WDsZ7NxWoD_Iyc0/s1600/done.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-90481780037447599302013-12-26T15:25:00.001-08:002013-12-26T15:25:33.055-08:00Cheap JewelryLet's face it--I am a sucker for jewelry. And it doesn't have to be expensive jewelry, either. I love the baubles I can find at my local Target just as much as anything from Swarovski. But one thing that REALLY sucks about cheap jewelry is when it turns colors on you. When jewelry oxidizes, there is no going back. Luckily, I found a great life hack to prevent that from happening! I found it <a href="http://casualcrafter.co/2013/05/25/gloss-your-forever-21-or-cheap-jewlery-to-keep-from-turning-colors-this-also-makes-it-hypoallergenic-thank-you-for-this-pin-i-hate-when-my-jewelry-turns-diy-home-ideas/">here</a>. And a nifty bonus--this also makes it hypoallergenic!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLEVjwUUs_hsOgdHC2_0gg0oHUvcmEYoFwdUHztktg-U6FVzxGXxTFr0XgNghbQ4aP0O9fQc2yr2cmnYZzGn3DMfgTYEdlFkIeJ7fdLJoc7RHabZOhM0VPIKrd6D3Sjmwjt_EvZnMNo0/s1600/ring1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLEVjwUUs_hsOgdHC2_0gg0oHUvcmEYoFwdUHztktg-U6FVzxGXxTFr0XgNghbQ4aP0O9fQc2yr2cmnYZzGn3DMfgTYEdlFkIeJ7fdLJoc7RHabZOhM0VPIKrd6D3Sjmwjt_EvZnMNo0/s400/ring1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This used to be a silver ring---<br />
now it has a copper band and decoration!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRDtWMd0_EQfC6dtfsuDjBzE4xYKNEl9CFZtkqtJvZclArJnoAsaeRcUMEWSwPb5R8PNpxqbU0SDANbRF2AdkQLU_Cz8HZdkJEyg4VyXyeRXw8D4nye_pmM7GPvEzro-k1UxIQbav1ZU/s1600/ring2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRDtWMd0_EQfC6dtfsuDjBzE4xYKNEl9CFZtkqtJvZclArJnoAsaeRcUMEWSwPb5R8PNpxqbU0SDANbRF2AdkQLU_Cz8HZdkJEyg4VyXyeRXw8D4nye_pmM7GPvEzro-k1UxIQbav1ZU/s400/ring2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This gold ring has seen better days! :(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Materials:<br />
-jewelry<br />
-clear spray paint (glossy finish if you want your jewelry to be shiny!)<br />
-cardboard<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWYBEOLdt4q5Jf6ffySAdKsNolM2sg2cDf3cjK6zXMyyAe_YmukkracHIRLXJnkCVqfX0a4VElFllnfpcfb2I65MEDp8tSArK5gVn0nmOmjnIYzlWKA5yHcBKXu_LEdPHznZmFuuRDqw/s1600/material.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWYBEOLdt4q5Jf6ffySAdKsNolM2sg2cDf3cjK6zXMyyAe_YmukkracHIRLXJnkCVqfX0a4VElFllnfpcfb2I65MEDp8tSArK5gVn0nmOmjnIYzlWKA5yHcBKXu_LEdPHznZmFuuRDqw/s320/material.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
1. Lay your jewelry out in a well-ventilated area on some cardboard (I put that leftover wrapping paper that I didn't use to damn good use! Bad idea though, because it stuck like mad to the jewelry and I had to peel it off). Considering it is the dead of winter here in Wisconsin, I just had to do this in my basement and run up the stairs before I got too high off of the fumes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dHopFpxHtK_2cetB32gIqfpMEM-K5hcEe4M04JKGXK_Icdko2KkClA_Cf4lTTO2q57dBroPgelpMESzl6m58hUy9BNCZTMWOK6IvBcR2M2Q8mKgJj638Y_RrUg-HmF9-MUU0xwLtkcU/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dHopFpxHtK_2cetB32gIqfpMEM-K5hcEe4M04JKGXK_Icdko2KkClA_Cf4lTTO2q57dBroPgelpMESzl6m58hUy9BNCZTMWOK6IvBcR2M2Q8mKgJj638Y_RrUg-HmF9-MUU0xwLtkcU/s320/before.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
2. Shake the clear spray paint can vigorously for 2 minutes. Spray each piece thoroughly from about 6-12 inches away. Let dry for about 20 minutes. I left and did some grocery shopping and came back and finished this up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimehJ7VMEdfC4EQkqzip_kypaan0jFceQX4tB0qQ8QEe3y_FVChfmG-VHNcaT7lciXqWoll5gCL1mOvck5KGOvfs7kKKlS7Z3RZTVUNZ6chha-QjC5rEq71JktwpXnYW4bFiJAlOiOdTg/s1600/sprayed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimehJ7VMEdfC4EQkqzip_kypaan0jFceQX4tB0qQ8QEe3y_FVChfmG-VHNcaT7lciXqWoll5gCL1mOvck5KGOvfs7kKKlS7Z3RZTVUNZ6chha-QjC5rEq71JktwpXnYW4bFiJAlOiOdTg/s320/sprayed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
3. Flip the jewelry over and spray the back side. Let dry for about 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
4. That's it! Now your jewelry is element-proof and will stay monochromatic. Awwww snap!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-88163567600054942602013-11-02T21:30:00.000-07:002013-11-02T19:58:46.135-07:00Wedding QuiltI had to delay making this post public, because it actually was a surprise for a very dear friend of mine, Rachel, who recently got married, and the project was a family tradition put together by her mother. It is such a cute and crafty idea that I just had to share.<br />
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The premise of the project is that the family members and friends of the bride and groom could make a square for the quilt in whatever fashion they wanted to. This could include a photograph, an embroidered picture, etc. Sue, the mother, created a private Facebook group in which people could post their ideas, their finished squares, and ask questions. Now, I have never embroidered anything in my life, and I was a little daunted by the task, but I really wanted to be a part, so I requested a square to be sent to me. I thought for a while about what I might like to put on the square. I had known Rachel for almost 10 years through our days volunteering as part of a youth leadership group through the National Hemophilia Foundation. In that time, we had come to be good friends--family even, through our unique situation of being affected with a bleeding disorder.<br />
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I am not really much of an artist, and didn't want to tackle something with intricate detail for a beginner. I picked out the picture I wanted--the couple Carl and Ellie, from the movie Up, in their younger years lying on a picnic blanket staring up into the sky. The note Ellie left Carl in their adventure book was, "Thanks for the adventure--now go have a new one--Love, Ellie." I thought that Rachel and Dave getting married and starting a new chapter, or "adventure" together was perfect. I sent the photo idea to Sue, and she transferred it onto the square and mailed it to me. The rest was up to me!<br />
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Supplies:<br />
-fabric square<br />
-fabric pencil<br />
-embroidery hoop<br />
-embroidery needles<br />
-black embroidery floss<br />
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1. First, I placed the square in the hoop, and stretched it across pretty snugly and attached the outer ring to secure. I had to leave about 1/2 inch around all sides to allow it to be attached to the quilt itself.<br />
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2. Next, I took a silver fabric pencil and lightly traced the message I wanted on the bottom half of the square.<br />
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3. Now for the embroidery part! I was nervous. I YouTubed the stuff out of how to embroider, and Sue included some great tutorials for beginners in the Facebook group--everything from how to thread a needle to various stitches. I carefully stitched my message. It took about 4 hours total, and there were times I had to take out the thread, or start a new thread. Don't fret--and don't expect perfection on the first try!<br />
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4. I removed the hoop, laid out the square, and admired my masterpiece. Not bad for a first try! Even if the handwriting is a little...kindergarten-y.<br />
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5. I mailed that bad boy back to Sue, and she took care of the rest! She added corners onto the photo to make it look like an old photograph.<br />
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6. And here it is on the quilt:<br />
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7. Here is the finished product:<br />
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Also, the mother of the bride put together an album with pictures and the meaning behind each square, and who it was from! She used the same fabric from the quilt's design too.<br />
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The bride and groom loved it! All in all, the quilt looks amazing, and the best part is that each square is made with creativity and love. I definitely want to do something like this for my wedding!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.905848 -88.138977899999986 42.905848 -88.138977899999986tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-52016289752325570742013-10-27T16:20:00.002-07:002013-10-27T16:20:32.161-07:00Jack-O-Lantern PopsThis was the perfect little Halloween snack, and I loved it the moment I saw it. Here is the <a href="http://thedomesticrebel.com/2012/09/11/pumpkin-pie-pops/">original recipe</a>. I altered it slightly, since I didn't have vanilla, and I added nutmeg. One thing to note is that it is pretty time intensive, so don't make this if you are in a hurry!<br />
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Serves: 12<br />
Prep time: 20 minutes<br />
Cook time: 15-20 minutes<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
-½ cup pumpkin puree<br />
-2 refrigerated pie crusts<br />
-8 tablespoons sugar<br />
-3 teaspoons butter, melted<br />
-2 teaspoons beaten egg (crack an egg open, beat it, and use 2 teaspoons for the mix and the rest for coating the pops later)<br />
-¼ teaspoon vanilla<br />
-½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice<br />
-¾ teaspoon cinnamon<br />
-dash of nutmeg<br />
-cinnamon sugar<br />
-popsicle sticks<br />
-pumpkin cookie cutter<br />
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1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.<br />
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2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.<br />
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3. Beat the egg in a bowl and set aside.<br />
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4. Mix together the pumpkin puree, sugar, melted butter, 2 teaspoons of the beaten egg, and all of the spices (except the cinnamon sugar). Set mixture aside.<br />
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5. Roll the dough out onto the cookie sheet. Use the cookie cutter to cut as many cookies out of the dough as possible. Keep in mind you will need an even number of cookies, because you need one for the front and one for the back.<br />
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6. Set aside half of the cookies. This half will be the back of the cookies.<br />
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7. With the other half of the cookies, use a paring knife to cut little faces onto them. Set aside.<br />
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8. Lay out the back of the cookies onto the cookie sheet. Spoon a teaspoon of the pumpkin mixture onto the middle of the cookie.<br />
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9. Press a popsicle stick onto the mixture, and cover the stick by spreading the mixture over it.<br />
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10. Place a front face cookie on top of each back cookie, lining up the edges. Pinch the edges together to seal the mixture. Use the very edge of the tongs of a fork to seal the edges even better.<br />
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11. Using a baking brush, carefully spread remaining egg mixture over the top of each cookie. Finish by sprinkling cinnamon sugar over each cookie.<br />
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12. Bake from 15-20 minutes in the oven, or until edges are golden brown. Enjoy!<br />
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These turned out delicious! I would try this again with other fillings, like cherry and apple!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-82061337470857136062013-10-14T18:23:00.000-07:002013-10-14T18:23:23.638-07:00Skeleton ShirtI loved this easy, halloween DIY shirt idea. I got the idea from Martha Stewart's <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/265451/rib-cage-t-shirt">website</a>, although the way I executed this craft (due to the materials I had) was a little bit different. I also only did front ribs on my t-shirts.<br />
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Materials:<br />
-shirt (any color will do)<br />
-fabric scissors<br />
-ribs stencil (http://www.marthastewart.com/265451/rib-cage-t-shirt )<br />
-fabric marker or pen<br />
-Scotch tape<br />
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1. Print the stencil from Martha Stewart's website. Cut out each rib to make the stencil. You will also need to trim the first page on the solid line, match it to the dotted line on the second page and tape it.<br />
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2. Lay the shirt flat on a hard surface. Because I was working with a V-neck shirt, it was really easy to find the middle. Line the front ribs stencil up so that the solid black line on the right hand side corresponds with the bottom of the V-neck.<br />
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3. Trace each rib with a fabric pen or marker.<br />
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4. Flip the stencil over to the other side. Line the stencil up so that the solid black line on the right hand side corresponds with the bottom of the V-neck.<br />
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5. Trace each rib with a fabric pen or marker.<br />
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6. Carefully cut out each rib with fabric scissors. Make sure not to cut through the back of the shirt! Also, depending on how stiff the fabric is will determine how big the ribs stretch. A stiffer, thicker shirt will allow tighter ribs. This fabric was kinda stretchy.<br />
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No bones about it, this turned out AWESOME! Can't wait to wear it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-91399005286718931482013-10-13T13:17:00.000-07:002013-10-13T13:17:30.016-07:00Skeleton ManOnce again, that crafty and foxy lady friend of mine, Jennifer, and I were at it again--crafting like mad women! She saw a picture that inspired this craft, and we just got creative with it. Enjoy!<br />
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Supplies:<br />
-Wooden shapes of all sizes<br />
-Acrylic paints<br />
-Paint brushes of varying sizes<br />
-Hot glue gun<br />
-Ribbon<br />
-Black fine tip marker<br />
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1. Paint and decorate the wooden shapes however you would like--the possibilities are endless! Make full use of the craft supplies, and any other extras you would like to add (glitter, gloss, etc). That's it! Here are the skeleton men we made:<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-8416026199340096852013-10-09T18:06:00.004-07:002013-10-09T18:08:19.783-07:00Boo CupsBeing that fall is my favorite season of the year, I decided to do some fun halloween crafts and treats, and this was one of the cutest I have seen, possibly ever! <a href="http://www.cobornsdelivers.com/easymealideas/meal.asp?mealID=1234&attributeType=KID_FRIENDLY&attributeCode=ALL&friendlyCode=All%2520Kid%2520Friendly&inPage=MEALS">Here</a> is the original recipe, courtesy of Pinterest. Please note that for this post, that I only made half of this recipe, because I wanted to give them a test run first, so the quantity listed here is for the full 15 cups.<br />
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Serves: 15</div>
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Prep Time: 15 minutes</div>
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Ingredients:</div>
<div>
-3 1/2 cups cold milk</div>
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-2 packages of Jell-o chocolate instant pudding</div>
<div>
-1 8oz tub of Cool Whip, divided</div>
<div>
-20 Oreo cookies, crushed and divided</div>
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-1 package of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips</div>
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-9oz clear plastic cups or smaller </div>
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1. In a large bowl, combine the milk and dry pudding mixes and stir well.</div>
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2. Add in half of the Cool Whip and half of the crushed Oreos, and mix well. Set mixture aside.</div>
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3. Crush the Oreos using a rolling pin or can of soup. You can crush the pieces as big or small as you would like.</div>
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4. Spread out the plastic cups. Add a small amount of the crushed Oreos to each cup (approximately 1/4).</div>
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5. Add in the pudding mixture to each cup (approximately 1/2 of the remaining space in the cup)</div>
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6. Add a final layer of crushed Oreos on top. You can fill all the way up to the top of the cup (I didn't only because these cups were BIG!)</div>
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7. In order to be able to pipe the Cool Whip on top in a ghost-y fashion, put Cool Whip in a Ziplock bag and cut the corner of the bag off. Then, pipe Cool Whip making a circle about the size of a golf ball and spiraling smaller circles on top until a ghost shape is made.</div>
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8. Lastly, gently place 2 mini chocolate chips next to each other in the Cool Whip ghost for eyes.</div>
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Ta-da! Pretty easy, huh?</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-53950450597242342152013-09-07T19:41:00.003-07:002013-09-07T19:41:45.476-07:00Coin MagnetsWhen I travel, I don't care so much about the souvenirs at all. It's the priceless things like the memories, the people I encounter, and, of course, the pictures I take that I really treasure. Often times, I will have some leftover foreign coins from my trip and am not quite sure what to do with them. I saw a GENIUS idea on Pinterest, and decided to put the idea to good use. The best part is, this craft took me all of 10 minutes--seriously. Also, you don't have to travel anywhere to put this good idea to use--you can do it with American coins if you want to! Here is the <a href="http://tatteredstyle.blogspot.com/2011/08/magnetic-change.html">original idea</a>.<br />
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Supplies:<br />
-foreign coins<br />
-craft glue<br />
-small magnets<br />
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1. Wash the coins thoroughly with warm, soapy water. I initially forgot this step, and then realized how dirty money can be and flipped out and washed them with the magnets on (HA! Craft fail!). So do this step first, and you will be thanking me later, when your magnets aren't falling off the back of the coins.<br />
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2. Dry the coins off well, and put a little dot of glue in the center of the magnet. The cool thing about magnets is that they will stick to the coin naturally and hold tightly to make the glue stick even better.<br />
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3. Attach the coin to the magnet. Allow the glue to try for about 20 minutes.<br />
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4. Repeat for all of the coins.<br />
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5. Voila! Instant magnets that you can display, and they make a great conversation piece!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-69324937267492819552013-09-01T18:40:00.003-07:002013-10-09T18:31:04.509-07:00Fruit SaladThe second yummy dish I am "cooking up" for Labor Day is a fruit salad. Sounds pretty simple, but it has a secret ingredient. Choose the fruits you would like for the salad, and then add in the extra special ingredient for a surprise little bang that will keep them coming back for more! <a href="http://rachelschultz.com/2013/04/02/secret-fruit-salad/">Here</a> is the original recipe.<br />
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Serves: 15<br />
Prep time: 10 minutes<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
-1 package of raspberries<br />
-1 package of strawberries<br />
-1 package of blackberries<br />
-1 bunch of red seedless grapes<br />
-1 cup of cut up pineapple chunks<br />
-2 tablespoons of instant vanilla pudding mix<br />
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1. Wash all of the fruit. De-stem the grapes and strawberries. Slice the strawberries into fourths.<br />
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2. Mix all of the fruit into a large bowl.<br />
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3. Sprinkle the vanilla pudding mix over the top of the fruit.<br />
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4. Mix the fruit and pudding mix well. Cover and refrigerate to let the juices marinate for 2-3 hours.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-11954861784379215222013-09-01T18:22:00.002-07:002013-09-01T18:49:35.616-07:00Neiman Marcus DipWith the Labor Day holiday tomorrow, I decided to make a few (new) treats. My family is going to be cooking out and enjoying the last warm days of summer, so I thought some snacks would be a perfect addition. This first one is called Neiman Marcus dip (also known as "catch a man" dip!), and it's pretty tasty. The recipe comes from Pinterest, and <a href="http://www.justaspoonfulof.com/2012/05/neiman-marcus-dip.html">this site</a>. It's also only 5 ingredients, and you can whip it up in a jiffy!<br />
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Prep time: 10 minutes<br />
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Ingredients:</div>
<div>
-8 oz shredded cheddar cheese</div>
<div>
-1 package of sliced almonds</div>
<div>
-6 green onions, chopped</div>
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-1 1/2 cups of mayonnaise</div>
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-1 package real bacon bits</div>
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1. Wash the green onions and chop them into very small pieces.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBDqKnT9GhtihVk8lAK-OyBEDPU6Z9KTDYMTvc3NXtzxpawnq8xI868rhfJvsx1n0B-2-fiwZutH-5wbcXUplMwI0W5IBu0V650qbMvOE40brzgVXDK2r1JrqwN_vNS7fdX2-USYTxao/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBDqKnT9GhtihVk8lAK-OyBEDPU6Z9KTDYMTvc3NXtzxpawnq8xI868rhfJvsx1n0B-2-fiwZutH-5wbcXUplMwI0W5IBu0V650qbMvOE40brzgVXDK2r1JrqwN_vNS7fdX2-USYTxao/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2. Mix the green onions, mayonnaise, bacon bits, cheese, and almonds together until well blended. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35YnfngukgZp1B3G7-RTFNO0lVnOiS-uA4fE58MSW5YAKdToGjMFt5nVyG0o5FzIcavtJSIjRuXBduAOu-cM-0jQF0eaP9DUWfokD7vOU8TByqledkBgpEpjXvrjDIuJplfjqhJ3-JDY/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg35YnfngukgZp1B3G7-RTFNO0lVnOiS-uA4fE58MSW5YAKdToGjMFt5nVyG0o5FzIcavtJSIjRuXBduAOu-cM-0jQF0eaP9DUWfokD7vOU8TByqledkBgpEpjXvrjDIuJplfjqhJ3-JDY/s400/photo-1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. Refrigerate for approximately 2-3 hours to allow flavors to combine. Serve with chips or crackers.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-10962013407054441912013-07-31T15:33:00.002-07:002013-07-31T15:33:18.449-07:00Homemade EarringsI have a wonderful friend named Jennifer, and she is a really classy lady. She suggested that we have some lady time and make earrings, which I have never done before. I was really pumped, because I had only ever made friendship bracelets out of floss at summer camp, but never legit, grown-up, fashionable baubles. She brought over a fishing lure box filled with beautifully colored beads, tools, and earring parts. I made 4 pairs, and am excited to share the results with you!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATWlF_iDU110jyrvLfzVF4IqVMPd_3VKSrCZ3TibbA7uqkXh_htYBs37DiugSFx13LCrcHMgFmovgXFfTetfO6m242E5dzBduYmM7wXQ6gFqFpnqBSHSVEkLk632G7vVQck7OFMLoH14/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATWlF_iDU110jyrvLfzVF4IqVMPd_3VKSrCZ3TibbA7uqkXh_htYBs37DiugSFx13LCrcHMgFmovgXFfTetfO6m242E5dzBduYmM7wXQ6gFqFpnqBSHSVEkLk632G7vVQck7OFMLoH14/s320/photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Materials:<br />
-earring hooks<br />
-beads of various sizes, shapes, and colors<br />
-metal spacers<br />
-headpins (1 per earring)<br />
-wire cutter<br />
-nose pliers<br />
-earring backs<br />
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1. Pick out the beads you would like to use. Thread beads in desired order onto headpin. As a note, if the bead hole is too big and falls right through the headpin, first place a small seed bead at the end. I actually had to do that on this pair, if you look closely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiAj2HNcOcz5eOH2cnfkHERs4zgNY_YLGy7Azx3rjq8glY8e9grsCx1tLU8e1ZGOOpfFk8X-lwuVLq1PKGdX8ORcbstFrkZ-QMItLfhi_QkR4xEyV6a3xOUpbG1c1N9t9GtgGqyyABF8/s1600/head+pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiAj2HNcOcz5eOH2cnfkHERs4zgNY_YLGy7Azx3rjq8glY8e9grsCx1tLU8e1ZGOOpfFk8X-lwuVLq1PKGdX8ORcbstFrkZ-QMItLfhi_QkR4xEyV6a3xOUpbG1c1N9t9GtgGqyyABF8/s400/head+pin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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2. Trim headpin with a wire cutter, until you have enough wire to fold over into a tiny loop. I left about 1/2 inch. It's better to have too much and need to trim more than not enough and have a wasted headpin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mbumwZvMdgKG5LZmRaTqkzQnQCJEVn9G6nV4_o7xPFiO3EWoPQZHIn1unNDWMwima8neUtcbLxSXk5FgkFR1-DVfK87KdcZRk8XkEOGV4BGEHhuPQ450Whs_gYioF6xylcxrlmI6GKM/s1600/cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mbumwZvMdgKG5LZmRaTqkzQnQCJEVn9G6nV4_o7xPFiO3EWoPQZHIn1unNDWMwima8neUtcbLxSXk5FgkFR1-DVfK87KdcZRk8XkEOGV4BGEHhuPQ450Whs_gYioF6xylcxrlmI6GKM/s320/cutting.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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3. Bend the excess wire over into a loop using the nose pliers. It takes serious practice to not make it look all jacked up (I'm still working on that). It's tough to not run into the bead at the top, also. Slightly squeeze the loop with the flat, inside part of the pliers to ensure it's closed securely. The loop should look like this when finished:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnDZUQ9neuHCK3IVlamOuQPjvAmpB02mLakSn92GUO0xft_IiqJ80d42f65_cMT_crCErWkI4Pb98DnqmqpdU3aemRaYXglgZlMb2HPcLNzacTTWo94FLW8DGpDoAiVRyug3zQUjG1kg/s1600/bent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnDZUQ9neuHCK3IVlamOuQPjvAmpB02mLakSn92GUO0xft_IiqJ80d42f65_cMT_crCErWkI4Pb98DnqmqpdU3aemRaYXglgZlMb2HPcLNzacTTWo94FLW8DGpDoAiVRyug3zQUjG1kg/s320/bent.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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4. Almost done! Take the earring hook and slightly open the loop at the end with the nose pliers, enough to get your headpin loop into it. Then, squeeze the loop back shut securely. As a side note, you can add a seed bead to the actual earring hook (these ones came with a silver seed bead, and I replaced it with a translucent one by removing the ting spring and replacing it. This was the finished product!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8SSYXK-jlGquVXwU0OmKPaaBDv7zNYn4BY9skKctYdfsRDCTst6OH9wGrpl0a8Y08wdqmzFf6QJIh5HUPAoigWEXc9-s3bGB2__os7w9pE4RbGJ7AFMB6MC7vB-jbv6FBRsQgXPf0kA/s1600/done.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8SSYXK-jlGquVXwU0OmKPaaBDv7zNYn4BY9skKctYdfsRDCTst6OH9wGrpl0a8Y08wdqmzFf6QJIh5HUPAoigWEXc9-s3bGB2__os7w9pE4RbGJ7AFMB6MC7vB-jbv6FBRsQgXPf0kA/s320/done.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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And here are all the ones I made! I tried to do some with spacers, small ones, long ones, etc. for some variety. That's it! It was much easier than I thought, and I had a lot of fun making earrings. I hope you do too! :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkX06LeCPr4GUJtUMHAmBNGiOMq8G7N6RyHTqo1D57KPR7bd4MKrn9mG-ORZ4MU7Pr85iDzcpXUFLEf8xz1ZuRQx3ykea4ss2GwqsmhI2rAunUGpVfpGP9M7OyeZlvirtN5XcHVUHr94/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkX06LeCPr4GUJtUMHAmBNGiOMq8G7N6RyHTqo1D57KPR7bd4MKrn9mG-ORZ4MU7Pr85iDzcpXUFLEf8xz1ZuRQx3ykea4ss2GwqsmhI2rAunUGpVfpGP9M7OyeZlvirtN5XcHVUHr94/s320/1.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsAz8hyeOnpCcLJ408__iWPmQHUnulmLaoakVs155w5_jF_FjjOpJrRx9r0AYq26dsmuZkrhLLoQ3Kkoswz8eZtirWoAqr-0Koww0RobFtg9sP4jsXn6lz4SNuvtgAQ1q8Fgq05UsDjY/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsAz8hyeOnpCcLJ408__iWPmQHUnulmLaoakVs155w5_jF_FjjOpJrRx9r0AYq26dsmuZkrhLLoQ3Kkoswz8eZtirWoAqr-0Koww0RobFtg9sP4jsXn6lz4SNuvtgAQ1q8Fgq05UsDjY/s320/3.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-40097217876856431832013-07-21T21:39:00.000-07:002013-08-03T19:32:21.615-07:00Rainbow FanJosh actually saw this idea somewhere and we both loved it and wanted to give it a shot. A DIY rainbow fan! Here was the inspiration:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQSGNsJ1JvPYdI3xTtdYHowfwg7ZdgecQfCpzs4sUHKhfcQ54ffNmxsmDOaUoPSCuglIoVku52R9x-mYR5KNHGL1Rq_ckAUy50U_tZvdbQ4sU-lM5tHHuXWy61_oVuhMb-rSsUfIgXMo/s1600/rainbow-fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSQSGNsJ1JvPYdI3xTtdYHowfwg7ZdgecQfCpzs4sUHKhfcQ54ffNmxsmDOaUoPSCuglIoVku52R9x-mYR5KNHGL1Rq_ckAUy50U_tZvdbQ4sU-lM5tHHuXWy61_oVuhMb-rSsUfIgXMo/s640/rainbow-fan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was impressed--pretty sweet, huh? I needed an excuse to buy a new (taller) fan anyways, so I decided this was the perfect opportunity to get creative. I picked up a fan for $26 at Target, some painter's tape, and spray paint in red, yellow, and blue. BEFORE YOU BEGIN--get a fan that has a slow spinning blade. Otherwise--let's just say, don't expect the above picture unless you have a camera with a slow shutter speed. <br />
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Materials:<br />
-a fan<br />
-scissors<br />
-a razor<br />
-a flat edged tool (like a paint can opener) <br />
-painter's tape<br />
-newspaper (to protect your work area)<br />
-spray paint in red, yellow, and blue <br />
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1. Remove the fan blade from the fan. Cover the middle piece well with painter's tape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYGWiYWybZTmNKj9q6wCZKGo-lpFCevoaoMynnw93ER0eYLfouzzQtcS2JU0wPAO17o260GpE-TSfLRZjjFidpwWYpXokJ6cFj3A53KIrkrJWsijL-UvnkWoiOyfd_gYjKP2gxPQbph0/s1600/middle+covered.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYGWiYWybZTmNKj9q6wCZKGo-lpFCevoaoMynnw93ER0eYLfouzzQtcS2JU0wPAO17o260GpE-TSfLRZjjFidpwWYpXokJ6cFj3A53KIrkrJWsijL-UvnkWoiOyfd_gYjKP2gxPQbph0/s320/middle+covered.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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2. Smooth down the edges of the painter's tape with a flat edged tool (we used a paint can opener).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVvHEdo6VoOPoc6WabbLJFz7NKWvIibQEIjB9Ih0CA-CgYpcI7S73s61tViBeFpNyV6bBAwaqL91W6ycoc4AjeuskuRpdV8mEmHAM6PT-0mcEJLYVuhN4she4R6q_JUXTdUfa3x8ltZY/s1600/push+flat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVvHEdo6VoOPoc6WabbLJFz7NKWvIibQEIjB9Ih0CA-CgYpcI7S73s61tViBeFpNyV6bBAwaqL91W6ycoc4AjeuskuRpdV8mEmHAM6PT-0mcEJLYVuhN4she4R6q_JUXTdUfa3x8ltZY/s320/push+flat.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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3. Carefully remove the tape that overlaps onto the blade for a more perfect edge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEn7ZD4Fdb9lJzBrmmc8GCS7SB1U-QGSMjuDq07H4VMMWMoYjHYqpavPmPaVNVS8ELJAsDZcv2LaPh86G_8KvDZcPCMRmrFMMg9L-TDDv6V-aBMK_33kq3jGtHcUIaKOtKLu-2ZfSKWA/s1600/taped.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEn7ZD4Fdb9lJzBrmmc8GCS7SB1U-QGSMjuDq07H4VMMWMoYjHYqpavPmPaVNVS8ELJAsDZcv2LaPh86G_8KvDZcPCMRmrFMMg9L-TDDv6V-aBMK_33kq3jGtHcUIaKOtKLu-2ZfSKWA/s320/taped.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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4. So, in retrospect, I would have tightly wrapped each blade I was not currently painting with saran wrap or something. I was lazy and just laid ripped up cardboard pieces from the box the fan came in onto the other 2 blades. The result wasn't horrible, but not as perfect as I would like.<br />
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5. Cover your workspace in newspaper. Spray the first blade with red spray paint, covering it evenly. Don't hold the can too close--just use a thin layer of paint (I will tell you why in a little bit!). Allow to try a solid 45 minutes, just to be safe.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdriDn2TaVGM1ci5cWf2uZFbP9SVq_lHAKcGdDcxFgT_9URWwLytTCUwNmiswj5Ex3WI9UIWoi0Xhpt5N2HrGwPIF8yUNKJYr3Qjlp4poJ50Hcb9_wtNnGVK5eKX8ONg8dzdLrLBXkx0A/s1600/red+blade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdriDn2TaVGM1ci5cWf2uZFbP9SVq_lHAKcGdDcxFgT_9URWwLytTCUwNmiswj5Ex3WI9UIWoi0Xhpt5N2HrGwPIF8yUNKJYr3Qjlp4poJ50Hcb9_wtNnGVK5eKX8ONg8dzdLrLBXkx0A/s320/red+blade.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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6. Cover the other 2 blades and spray the second blade with yellow spray paint. Allow to dry for 45 minutes. Here's a fun story--we used too much paint because the yellow was initially too light, and the paint ran and clumped and dried in the middle and looked like SHIGGENS. Oops! So we sanded the plastic blade with sandpaper which resulted in it being all scratched up. SHIGGENS! We repainted it with 2 coats of yellow paint. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5i66Y9u_gj7TphQj27FlQ3wUJVDQc-LKicrH28m10DY1YGBkYaNx83znS2PPmezAzThzSw6tDnTE1HIFiMDPbHgZXn224PZT_ziYP1TWcN7R4LAQNBCVD_RVYDyZSzwzBcDWNMFLhBk/s1600/yellow+blade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5i66Y9u_gj7TphQj27FlQ3wUJVDQc-LKicrH28m10DY1YGBkYaNx83znS2PPmezAzThzSw6tDnTE1HIFiMDPbHgZXn224PZT_ziYP1TWcN7R4LAQNBCVD_RVYDyZSzwzBcDWNMFLhBk/s320/yellow+blade.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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7. Cover the other 2 blades and spray the third blade with blue spray paint. Allow to dry for 45 minutes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZT0dunWhqtso-NDjNvSQ_XqJkmm2fkbjLWhlRgWltkwefoPno19COe9_Eg1ditDgiTdU-TQMQ0Vc_BEOW9dFmkMht-kuFHvKCd_TFfHFqye10QoOisNg2KPeHarcmcFpEucwC2qrKbs/s1600/blue+blade.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZT0dunWhqtso-NDjNvSQ_XqJkmm2fkbjLWhlRgWltkwefoPno19COe9_Eg1ditDgiTdU-TQMQ0Vc_BEOW9dFmkMht-kuFHvKCd_TFfHFqye10QoOisNg2KPeHarcmcFpEucwC2qrKbs/s320/blue+blade.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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6. Remove the painter's tape. If touch ups are necessary--don't spray them! Simply get a paintbrush and do the touch ups by hand.<br />
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7. Reattach the blade onto the fan. <br />
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8. Turn the fan on. Moment of truth! Here's what we got:<br />
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Well, dang it! It just looked light yellow, even on the lowest setting. However, when we turned it off, I snapped a pic and got a good one of what we WISHED it looked like, which was:<br />
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Well, it was a fun project, nonetheless, but I was a little disappointed, to say the least. Can't win 'em all, I guess! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2136777564328883324.post-91650003602408646752013-07-17T18:34:00.000-07:002013-07-17T18:34:42.096-07:00Italian Dressing Seasoning Chicken and VeggiesI saw this recipe on <a href="http://tristanfamily.blogspot.com/">Pinterest</a> and was saving it for a lazy day. It only takes an hour to cook! I can handle that, even on a busy work week.<br />
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Serves: 2<br />
Prep time: 15 minutes<br />
Cook time: 1 hour<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
-2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts<br />
-1 bag of baby red potatoes<br />
-1 bundle of asparagus<br />
-lemon juice<br />
-parmesan cheese, grated<br />
-pinch of salt and pepper, to taste<br />
-1 packet Italian dressing mix<br />
-1 stick of butter<br />
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1. Preheat oven to 350°.<br />
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2. Rinse chicken breasts under cold water. Lay flat in oven safe baking dish.<br />
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3. Rinse baby red potatoes under cold water. Lay next to chicken in baking dish.<br />
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4. Melt stick of butter in a bowl. Drizzle over chicken and potatoes.<br />
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5. Sprinkle Italian dressing mix over chicken and potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.<br />
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6. Cover dish with foil and bake in oven for 1 hour.<br />
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7. To see how I made my asparagus, check out my past post <a href="http://www.makeitworksam.com/2012/11/baked-asparagus.html#.Udn6CBaDbFJ">here</a>. Enjoy!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Muskego, WI, USA42.905848 -88.13897789999998642.812773 -88.300339399999984 42.998923 -87.977616399999988