DIY: Succulents

July 16, 2015: Wadsworth, IL.  A few weeks ago my beloved cactus plant died; moving from Wadsworth to Champaign and back did not go well. The cactus did, however, last for much longer than the average plant I have owned; so I decided it was time to try again. This time I opted for a prettier take on succulents with three different types of plants, decorative rocks, and a bright coral ceramic pot.

All of the materials used can be found at Home Depot

Workout Wednesday

Wednesday June 15, 2015.  Two posts in one day?  For those of you that read our last post, Makeup Monday, you were probably curious as to why we posted that on Wednesday.  To answer that question, Mckenzie and I would like to try to get a pattern going of blogging about a variety of things throughout the week, we are schedule orientated people and this new "set up" provides us with just that! Now, for the workout.  I workout 6 days a week and like to constantly change things up.  I am the strange person who actually enjoys working out, so I want to share a different workout for you to try every Wednesday!  If you get into the habit of working out, I really think anyone can learn to at least find it to be tolerable.  I like to run, so a lot of my workouts consist of running.  If you don't like to run there are so many other types of exercises that you can try to get in a little cardio:  Swimming, biking, roller blading, walking, jumping rope.  I begin my workout by going on a run, usually I run about 4 miles.  Feel free to run less or more, a little bit of running can go a long way.  Then after my run I cool down by stretching.  Running can create a lot of wear and tear on your body, so make sure you take the time to stretch out.  Check out these Post-Run Stretches.  Once I am fully recovered and stretched out, I work out my arms a little bit using my TRX.  With the TRX I do close rows, bicep curls, and push-ups.  This website shows you those three exercises and more.  There are videos linked to the website showing you exactly how to perform each exercise.  The one's I mentioned are the first three discussed on their TRX guide.  I do a total of 30 of each move.  I typically do 15 of each move, break, and then another 15 of each.  Lastly, I end off my workout with a Barre Workout for Abs.  This video is not easy, and I am fully aware of that but it's only 10 minutes.  You will get results, and it will get easier the more times you do it.  Good luck, and let me know what you guys think!

So far, I have only worn Asics to run in.  I am a big fan of this brand, and have been for about 6 years now.  The Gel-Cumulus 16, pictured above, is the pair I am currently wearing.  These shoes are also on sale right now for a very good price, I definitely did not get that price when I purchased mine earlier this year.

If you have no idea what a TRX is these images should give you a little better of an idea.  The image with the blonde girl shows a close row, the image with the brunette girl shows a bicep curl, and the image of the guy shows a push-up/chest press.

Makeup Monday

Wednesday July 15, 2015: Wadsworth, IL.  A while back, I purchased both of these products with a Sephora gift card that my mom gave me for Valentine's Day (she's the sweetest).  I have loved both of these products ever since I purchased them.  The reason why I am just talking about them now is because I wanted to see how they looked on my skin when it was less vampire-like from the stark winter.  I would say that I like the products just as much no matter what season of the year we are in.  The Tarte Amazonian clay blush has an amazing texture, as well as it has no glitter/sparkle in it.  When I wear blush I prefer to have a dollop of pink on my cheeks, not a face full of glitter.  I like to let my highlighter be the only thing with glitter in it.  This Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Compact in the shade golden nude is an amazing highlighter.  I love the texture once again, it is so soft.  It leaves a beautiful glisten on my cheek bones and other areas of highlight.  What is so great about this product is that it does not take much to get the job done, however if you choose to pile it on (like I did when I first tried it, I got a little excited) it doesn't look like a fairy puked all over you.  It is difficult to "mess up" when using this highlighter.

The next blush I would like to test out is by Nars, and it is rated number one on Sephora's website.  I have heard a multitude of good things about Nars blushes.  The next highlighter I will be blogging about is the Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector! Stay tuned 

Trail Mix

Monday June 29, 2015: Wadsworth, IL.  This month has been extremely busy, from my first full time job to trying to soak up my last summer off before entering the real world; I have been on the go every single day.  After about two weeks of eating junk food, McDonald's, and vending machine candy I decided it was time to get back on track with a healthy diet.  Trail mix is one of those snacks that has no rules, but after trying out a few different variations I think I have found my favorite balance of tasty and healthy.

Ingredients

Pretzel Sticks (broke in half)

Dried Cranberries

Dark Chocolate Chips

Whole Almonds

Sliced Almonds

Salad with a Plum, Quinoa, Pomegranate Dressing

June 24, 2015:  Wadsworth, IL.  Last night I decided to venture out of my comfort zone and make myself dinner, typically I do not cook.  I love salad with fruit, some people do not (namely McKenzie).  In my opinion, mixing sweet and salty is always yummy! I got this recipe from Pinterest (Flourishing Foodie) of course, but I did a little modifying.  The recipe listed below serves two, and includes my modifications.

SALAD INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
• 1 tsp oil
• dash of salt
• 2 plums, cut into wedges
• 1 tsp sugar, brown or white
• dash of cinnamon
• 2 tsp butter, salted or unsalted
• 2 cups spring mix
• 2 tbsp slivered almonds 
• feta, crumbled, to taste

DRESSING INGREDIENTS

• 3 tbsp pomegranate juice, roughly one small pomegranate (I used POM juice to save time)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• dash of salt 

The first step is to cook the quinoa. Flourishing Foodie explains the process simply, "In a small saucepan on low-med heat, add the quinoa and 1 tsp olive oil. Fry for a couple of seconds until the quinoa starts to pop. Add 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until all of the water has evaporated and the quinoa is light and fluffy. Set to the side to cool." 
The next step is to caramelize the plums. Personally I think you could just slice the plums and not even worry about this step, but it was good this way too! Mix the sugar, the cinnamon, and the plums together in a bowl. Then melt the butter in a saucepan and add the plums.  Cook for about a minute each side.
Next, make the dressing.  Simply mix all the ingredients together.
Lastly, mix the spring mix with the quinoa, plums, almonds, feta, and toss in the dressing.

Blackhawks Parade, a day in the city!

June 22, 2015:  Chicago, IL.  Last week on Thursday Brooke travelled down to the city to experience the chaos of Chicago's spirited fans:  The Blackhawks brought home the Stanley Cup.  It was an absolute blast!  The streets were packed, the parade was awesome, and the city was nothing less than amazing (as always)!  It is a dream of mine to one day live in the heart of the city; I think it would be so much fun to be able to participate in so many fun, cultural festivities all the time!  But, for now, I will have to be content living in the suburbs.  In addition to standing for three hours to watching a 10 min long parade, I found a food trunk for lunch (which made the waiting well worth it).  I have never eaten out of a food truck, but McKenzie is always telling me how good they are around campus, so as soon as I saw a street lined with trucks I knew I had found lunch!  I ate at the "Fat Shallot" and it was absolutely delicious; I had a Turkey sandwich.  It was actually the best sandwich I have ever had, I can not even put in to words how good it was.  My friend had the same thing, and was equally impressed.  Her mom had the BLT, and once again could not get over how good it was.  If you are ever in Chicago, find this truck, you will not regret it!

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Origins Review

Wadsworth, IL:  June 5, 2015.  Summer has officially begun!  McKenzie is home from college; Brooke graduated high school and is ecstatic to be attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to study Business in the fall with McKenzie.  In the mean time, both of us will be working throughout the summer, blogging, and getting ready for college with fun dorm and apartment goodies.  I write to all of you today sitting at home bored out of my mind because I am anchored to the couch with an ice pack:  I just got my wisdom teeth removed. Hello milkshake diet!  To get into the post, I received a gift for Christmas of a bag of Origins products.  The bag consisted of miniature sized products, a little test of a bunch of products for a good deal.  McKenzie and I both have always been a fan of all Origins products, and definitely plan on trying out more of their things, but for now I will just review what was in the bag. First was their GinZing moisturizer (orange jar), and let me tell you, this was my favorite thing out of the entire bag.  It smells so good, and it leaves your skin feeling so moisturized.  It did not leave my face oily, which is sometimes an issue I have with face lotions.  You will be shocked at how soft/smooth your face (and hands from applying) feel!  When I go to Origins this will be the first thing I purchase.  Next, the exfoliator Modern Friction (white tube).  This facial scrub I also really liked.  The smell was not as great as the last, but the gritty-ness of the scrub really cleaned my skin and once again left it feeling so soft.  I would also recommend this product, however I really want to try the GinZing scrub just because I am literally obsessed with the lotion version.  Next, the Clear Improvement facial mask (black tube).  This mask has a charcoal base which is very helpful in cleaning out pores, and eliminating black heads.  McKenzie also loves this mask, as does my cousin, and so do a few youtuber beauty bloggers that I follow.  I also love this mask because it does not take long to put on and wash off; some face masks you have to leave on for up to 30 minutes, and this one I leave on for only five minutes.  It's so fast, so easy, and it works!  I will be purchasing this again, it's a staple.  Lastly, the No Puffery cooling roll on for eyes (green/blue tube).  I have never really used anything like this, so I was really excited to try it out.  I will say I was a little disappointed.  I suppose I don't really have a huge issue with under-eye bags, but I didn't see a huge after effect from using it.  Although, like I previously stated, I have never used anything like this so it is difficult for me to compare it to anything.  I am very interested in trying out an eye cream, rather than a roll on.  Any suggestions?  I think A Perfect World for Eyes eye cream looks like it might be a good next purchase from Origins.  Let us know what your favorite Origins products are in the comment section below!

Spring is in the air

Wadsworth, IL:  May 27, 2105.  Before we fully transition into summer, I have to blog about this outfit!  I definitely have a love hate relationship for lace because all sorts of things get stuck on it, and you typically have to wash lace items with caution, but this shirt is much thicker than the average.  I also love these Toms, especially with this outfit!  It is as if the shirt and shoes were made for each other.  Then of course I accessorized with a belt and bracelets.

Shirt: HollisterCo

Jeans: American Eagle

Belt: Unknown

Shoes:  Toms

Bracelets: DSW

Lush Favorites!!!

Wadsworth, IL:  May 2, 2015:  For starters, Lush is a beauty company that Mckenzie and I have recently discovered.  The company not only makes great products, it has a good story too.  All of their products are handmade with organic fruit and vegetables, essential oils, and safe synthetics; as well as all of their ingredients are purchased from businesses who do NOT take part in animal testing.  Lush chooses to use no packaging at all, or packaging with little to no preservatives.  All of their vegetarian ingredients are also clearly listed on the packaging, and some of the products have a picture of the person who made the product by hand!  The company does it best at trying to protect the environment, animals, and us!  Take a moment to read about their story on their website (linked below).  Aside from the company's good morals, it makes some pretty awesome products.  I hope to try out a lot more of their things in the future, but thus far I have yet to be disappointed.  Every one who has tried their products that I have spoken to loves them too.  If you have the chance, take a visit to a Lush store because the store in and of itself is pretty cool, there is a store in downtown Lahaina, Maui that we went to twice and in Old Orchard (a shopping center not too far from us)!

Movis is a facial soap.  I might have been too excited to use it, and forgot to take a picture until after I tried it and got it wet, oops.  This bar is indescribable.  The first time I used it I was shocked at how smooth it made my skin, and it makes it feel so clean!  The smell might be different for a few people, but I actually like it.  The bar is made of "wheat-based ingredients and is rich in vitamin E... Whole wheat breadcrumbs are mixed right in to help exfoliate and revive the skin, while gently scrubbing away any dry bits. And with cleansing labdanum and sandalwood oil, your face will feel refreshed and clear."  My mom and I actually buy a bar, cut it in half, and each use our own piece (we are on our second bar)!

Montalbano is a shampoo bar.  Shampoo... in a bar? I know weird, but of course I had to try it!  I had no idea how to use it, so I just experimented and rubbed the bar in my hands, then put my hands through my hair, or just rubbed the bar straight on to my hair.  This worked so well, again I was shocked.  I was not expecting to get 'suds' out of a bar, but I did! A little bit went very far too.  In the store I was told this was for blond hair, online I am not finding anything in regards to that, but I felt like it made my hair blonder.  I have tried several 'blond shampoos' and none have worked, except this!  It also added shine to my hair.  The shampoo was VERY clarifying.  I am not sure if I would recommend using it every day because it could be drying, but I did most days and it did no harm.  Now, because all of these products are handmade and there are not a lot of preservatives, make sure you use them in a timely fashion! I would say this bar lasted about 2-3 months.  Try to keep it in a spot where it can dry out every day, otherwise it will dissolve faster.

 If you don't know what to get, try out a gift box!  There are a variety of products in these boxes all coordinated around a specific theme.  Next time I take a trip to the store, I will be buying myself a gift box just so I can try out multiple products!  Show this company some love, it deserves it.  What this company stands for is what we all need to stand for, to protect our Earth and our future.  

One Last Winter Outfit

April 30, 2015:  Wadsworth, IL.  Hello everyone, it's almost Friday, and that's something to celebrate about!!  Today, I  want to share with you guys one last winter outfit.  I know it's spring, but I did wear this outfit in early March.  As well as, recently it has been pretty cold here in Chicago, what's new!  Spring will come eventually I know it.
For this outfit I kept things pretty simple, but I think the vest really spices things up and gives the outfit the extra push it needs to be a good one.  Vests are great to add a little something extra, or to keep you warm if you would like a non-fashion reason!

Vest:  Ralph Lauren

Sweater:  Urban Outfitters

Jeans: American Eagle

Necklace: H&M (these are every where!)

Shoes:  Crown Vintage

Lentil Chili

April 23, 2015: Champaign, IL.  Lentil Chili is by far the meal I get asked to make most often.  Even though it looks like a mixture of refried beans and dog poop, it's a dinner I can eat three days in a row and still want more!  I have never liked beans and always asked for "bean-less chili" growing up, until I discovered this lentil variation.  This recipe is so easy and hearty, perfect for these uncharacteristically cold spring days we've been having!

 Ingredients

1 bag of Lentils

4 Cups Beef Broth

1 Lb Ground Beef, Ground Turkey, or Vegetarian Ground Beef

1 can Petite Diced Tomatoes

1 packet Chili Seasoning

1 tbs minced Garlic

1/2 of a large Yellow Onion

1 tbs Garlic Salt

Salt and Pepper to taste

Start by browning the garlic and onions in a small sauté pan.  Next, combine all of the ingredients in a large pot or crock pot.  Allow to simmer on low heat for up to 6 hours.  Top with shredded cheese, sour cream, or crackers and enjoy!

Maui

April 21, 2015:  Wadsworth, IL.  Hello everyone! It has been a LONG time since we have blogged. Times have been a little bit crazy with school and life, but we have a bunch of cool stuff coming.  This post is devoted completely to our spring break.  Mckenzie and I traveled to Maui, Hawaii on March 22.  After a 9 hour flight we arrived in paradise.  Words can not describe how beautiful this island is, if you ever have to opportunity to go please do.  You will not regret it!  Our parents actually got married here, so we have visited a couple of times before, but this trip was special;  Mckenzie and I are old enough that we will definitely remember it forever, and our next family vacation is unknown with both of us attending college next year. 

Downtown Lahaina:  Cheeseburger in Paradise, Shaved Ice, and the Great Banyan Tree

       

 

Duke's Beach House, we ate here a few times if you can't tell.  Mahi Mahi, Swordfish, Banana Macdemia Nut Pancakes, Hula Pie 

Hotel:  View from balcony, rental car, sight while walking beach

Leoda's Pie Shop: Chocolate Macdemia Nut Pie

Whaler's Village

Ka'anapali Beach: Triangl Swimwear

  

Road to Hana:  Sights along the way, Banana Bread, Homemade Coconut Ice Cream, Ohe'o Gulch (2 mile hike up rocks, through bamboo forest, all to reach the waterfall.) 

Black Sand Beach: This is on the way down from the Ohe'o Gulch on the Road to Hana

  

 Nakalele Blowhole: Pohelua Bay