Urban Decay and Milani Eye Liner Smack Down!

I believe makeup should enhance features not mask them, and one essential product that can make it or break it is eye liner. After experimenting with varies eye liners and putting them through the daily trials and tribulations, I have found an eye liner that is far better than a high-end one, hope this inspires you to try something new.

The two eye liners I experimented with are polar opposites – one is high-end and the other is low-end (drugstore).

Contenders:

High-end: Urban Decay, 24/7 Glide-On pencil in zero (black)

Low-end: Milani, Liquif’Eye metallic pencil in 05 Brown

Pros:

 Milani – super creamy, easy to glide on, long lasting, very pigmented and affordable (less than $10 at CVS, drugstore chain).

Urban Decay – creamy and easy to glide on.

Cons:

Milani – the eye liner is very creamy which is good and bad. Good because it makes it easy to glide on, but it is bad because at times it makes it difficult to correct mistakes (aka crooked lines, yes, it happens).

Urban Decay – to my surprise this was not as long lasting or pigmented as the Milani, and it cost about twice as much.

Test one:

On my left hand create a single layer line, let it set for about a minute, and with my pointer finger rub back and forth five times. The Milani eye liner survives the test much better than the Urban Decay pencil, as shown here:

After the rubbing test:

Test two:

After test one has been completed I let about 30 minutes pass by then I wash my hands with soap. Once again, the Milani eye liner is clearly the winner:

Finale:

After using the eye liners for several months and running them through varies tests, I give the wining title to the Milani Liquif’Eye liner pencil!

~~CAT~~

Nutritious and Delicious Homemade Granola Bars

Granola bars, which make a quick and easy snack or in my case breakfast on the run, were one of my weekly grocery expenses. But not anymore, now I make my own which are much healthier and budget friendly.

Here I will share my recipe which was inspired by the Barefoot Contessa (Food Network star Ina Garten). Keep in mind that you can personalize this recipe and make it your own, which is what I did.

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups of rolled oats

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup flax seeds

1 cup honey

½ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

¼ teaspoon salt

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Other things you will need:

Parchment paper

Baking dish

Large mixing bowl

Large spoon or spatula

Knife

Measuring cup

Measuring spoon

Timer (most ovens or microwaves have one)

Oven glove

Small saucepan

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 10 x 15 baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl add rolled oats, almonds and sunflower seeds and mix with a large spoon or spatula. Once all three ingredients are well combined toss on to lined baking dish and bake for 10 – 12 minutes, stir occasionally.
3. Once ingredients are lightly browned, take baking dish out of the oven and transfer on to your large mixing bowl, stir in wheat germ and flax seeds, combined well. (Set aside baking dish lined with parchment paper will be needed later.  See step six).
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees (immediately after completing step three).
5. In a small saucepan add butter (or margarine), brown sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and honey and bring to boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a few minutes, until it starts to bubble, then pour over the toasted oats and almond mixture in large bowl (step three ingredients). Add the dried apricots and cranberries and mix well.
6. Pour mixture into the previously lined baking dish.
7. Lightly press the mixture and spread out evenly into the baking dish (you can use your fingers, spatula or another sheet of parchment paper, but remember the mix will be warm, be careful) and bake for 30-35 minutes, until light golden brown.
8. Cool for about 2 to 3 hours before cutting into bars.

After cutting the granola into bars (or squares) they can be wrapped with saran wrap (plastic wrap) and stored for future consumption.

Hope you enjoy this recipe; remember to personalize it by adding your favorite dried fruits, seeds or nuts.

 ~~~CAT~~~

Additional information: all ingredients were bought from bulk (non-packaged items sold separately at most grocery stores), which were less than $5 (honey not included). Also, this recipe makes about 14 good size bars, feel free to reduce the ingredients or increase depending on the size of your family or needs.

Juicing 01: Tangy-licious

Whenever I take a trip to the grocery store, I am inclined to buying a natural fruit juice like Odwalla or Naked. While these fruit and veggie juices are delicious and nutritious they can also be a bit pricey for those of us on a budget. As an alternative I have opted to making my own fruit and veggie juices.

When I first began making my own juices, I would stick to simple juices such as carrot juice, apple juice, pineapple juice etc. With time, I’ve learned to mix and match fruits and veggies to not only make tasty juices, but to also make them as delicious and nutritious as possible.

I’d like to share one of my favorite juice recipes with you, all in hopes of inspiring you to give juicing a try. This recipe requires that you own a juicer, but if you do not own one, I suggest you chop all the ingredients into smaller pieces and mix them in the blender.

Tangy-licious

Ingredients: (yields about 16 oz.)

1. 4 carrots
2. 3 large stalk celery
3. 4 oranges
4. ¼ of a pineapple cut into spears
5. 1 small lime
6. Tajin or cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash fruit and veggies
2. Peel skin off the oranges
3. Cut the celery stalks in half
4. Cut the top off the carrots (do not peel the carrots)
5. Peel lime
6. One by one, insert fruits and veggies into juicer (no particular order)
7. Stir juice thoroughly and pour

**To add zing to the juice, I like to top my juice with a pinch of Tajin (a chili powder) or some cayenne pepper. It makes the juice that much more delish **

Good source of: Beta-carotene, Vitamin A, B-Complex, D, E, K, iron, calcium, magnesium and manganese.

Good for: Anti-aging, cleansing, colds and flu, digestion and cancer prevention

Let me know what you think, Enjoy!

**Cristy**

How to: Easy at Home Manicure

As you may recall, I am a bit frugal with my money, and one thing I totally cut out of my spending “budget” is going to the nail salon.

Yes, I enjoy getting pampered and trust me, I love a nice hand massage, but one thing I can enjoy more and for a longer period of time is my own collection of nail polish. Some may say I have a problem, I on the other hand would say, I like to have options – a lot of options.

Time to focus, an easy at home manicure is pretty simple and takes very few products.

Here’s what you’ll need:

- A small bowl with warm water

- Cuticle remover

- Pick tool(s)

- Nail file

- Cuticle oil

- Hand towel

Step one:Fill half of your bowl with warm water (optional – add a little hand soap or olive oil for moisture) and put your finger tips in it for about 5-10 minutes.

Step two: Dry your finger tips with a towel.

Step three:Add a small amount of cuticle remover to your cuticle and let it sit for a few minutes. Remember, to read and follow the directions on the product.

Step four: After a few minutes have passed, use your pick tool to push back on your cuticle. Be gentle, don’t hurt yourself or damage your nail bed.

Step five: Wash your hands.

Step six: Use your nail file to straighten the edge of your nails and get rid of any unevenness. Also, give them shape – square, oval, or whatever you choose. You can also take this time to cut off any excess or dry/dead skin with a nail clipper (the ones with a slanted edge).

Step seven: Add cuticle oil to your nails, cuticle area and rub it in – give your fingertips a gentle massage to get blood circulating to your nails, so they can grow pretty and healthy. I usually let the oil sit for about 10 minutes then I wash it off.

After you’ve done all of the above then you’re ready to add some color to your naked nails. This is my favorite step.

So, go ahead and give this simple at home manicure a try, and see what you think. Share any tips you may have.

– CAT

Friendspiration 02

I never really understood how some people could only have one or two very close friends. See, I have never had a hard time making friends and for the most part of my life I can say I’ve always been blessed with a large group of close friends (BFF’s). When people would tell me, “just wait and see, the older you get the smaller your circle of friends will become.” I always replied with, “No I don’t think that will ever be the case for me. I am very close to my friends. I can’t see us ever growing apart.”

What I should have said was, never, say never. While I still maintain very close relationships with some of my BFF’s, some even from childhood, I can’t help but to reflect on the fact that as I get older that group of friends is getting smaller.

At times it is disappointing to see how friendships dissolve, but it makes those friendships that still exist a bit stronger and valuable. There comes a point where you realize who sincerely cares about you and has your best interest at heart and vise versa. People who demand your friendship but don’t reciprocate it don’t really add much to your life.

I hate to compare friendships to shoes but I’m going to do it anyway…A good friend is like a comfy chancla. Always comfortable, no matter the situation while flaky friends are like $20 heels, when you first get them you think ooh what a sweet deal, but when the heel breaks on you in the middle of the dance floor on a Friday night, you think, aaaaaaah…my faithful and comfy chanclas would never leave me stranded on the dance floor.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is, while my group of friends is smaller, I appreciate them dearly. See, when it comes to BFF’s it’s the quality that matters not the quantity.

**Cristy**

St. Patrick Day Foods and Treats

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, to all. Hope you have fun plans and if you don’t here are some holiday theme treats to keep you busy today.

I’ll be sharing some foods and treats I found on Pinterest that I thought would be fun and easy to make.

Let’s start with breakfast:

Green milk and cereal; super cute, colorful and simple to make.

St. Patrick's Day breakfast

Now, let’s make a yummy side dish… Green Mac-n-Cheese without using food dye.

St. Patrick's Day Green Mac-n-Cheese

And because I have a sweet tooth, I think I should share a few yummy looking treats:

Green Velvet Cake Pops

St. Patty's Green Velvet Cake Pops

Triple Layer Fudgy Mint Oreo Brownies… They look delicious!

St. Patty's Triple Layer Fudgy Mint Brownies

Well, I must stop before I become a mad-woman and start salivating non-stop. Hope you all have a great St. Patty’s Day, be safe and have fun.

Feel to share your Green treats or foods.

**Cat**

Guilty Pleasure: The Hunger Games

Lets admit it, I think most of us can attest to having at least one guilty pleasure. Myself, I’ll admit I read the entire Twilight Saga throughout the course of two weeks, I secretly lip synch to Selena Gomez’s, “Love You Like a Love Song” and I might regret admitting to this in a minute, but I can’t get enough of Pretty Little Liars. It is no surprise that when a friend tried persuading me into reading The Hunger Games (the first book in the latest young adult book series and soon to be released movie) it didn’t take much convincing.

Let me start by telling you that this book is definitely not for everyone, but I highly recommend it. Comparable to a modern day Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games takes place in post-apocalypse North America or as they call it in the book Panem.

I’ll try not to divulge too much information but every year teenagers (ages 12-18) from the 12 districts of Panem (comparable to our states) must enter a drawing where two teenagers are chosen at random as tributes to partake in the annual Hunger Games. In the Hunger Games, the 24 tributes are placed in an arena where they are to fend for themselves and kill each other, while their every move is broadcast via television for everyone’s entertainment. The last tribute standing wins the Hunger Games.

The book follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, a brave young girl who volunteers as a tribute in place of her little sister who was originally selected as tribute. Throughout the book we get to see how grotesque the tradition of the Hunger Games is and how in a way it is comparable to reality television shows today like Survivor. We also get to see how even in a post apocalypse world, governments still control the every move of people and in a way force people to revert to primitive animalistic ways.

I wish I could say more, but then I would give it all away. All I can say is that the book is a very fast read. I read it all in three days. I highly recommend it, but don’t take my word for it. Click on the image below to watch the movie trailer and see if the upcoming movie, which by the way comes out in theaters on March 23, entices you enough to read the book.

**Cristy**

How to Begin Saving Moola With Coupons

I don’t know about you, but I was fascinated with TLC’s (the TV channel, not the group) Extreme Couponing. I was amazed at how much stuff these individuals would buy with so little money, and all thanks to coupons!

Being the inquisitive person that I am, I set-out to figure out how to save money with coupons (of course I’d like to be an “extreme couponer,” but it’s pretty difficult to save that much when coupons are not doubled… And, I live in the Golden State aka prices are higher).

So, I’ll be sharing with you a few tricks I’ve learned and some of the best deals I’ve scored, but first, I tell you how I got started.

Get Coupons:

Sunday newspaper – I subscribe to a Sunday paper, and I get a second one from an anonymous source. I was once told that “a good rule of thumb is to purchase one newspaper per family member.”

Ask friends and family – if they get a newspaper but throw out the coupons then I’m sure they’ll be happy to give it to you. Hey, maybe you can work out a little deal and it can be a little win-win exchange.

Coupon trading – find a couponing buddy with whom you can trade coupons. For example, I have a cat and always throw out dog related coupons; I would not mind sending those to a friend if she would mail me cat item coupons, see what I’m saying? This can be done with pretty much anything.

Print coupons – there are so many online printable coupons all you have to do is search.

Subscribe to other couponer blogs – I subscribe to at least five couponer blogs and I get daily emails full of coupons, sales, freebies, and many other deals. It’s a good way to get coupons.

Organize your coupons:

I keep mine in a 3-ring binder with monthly dividers. This will have to be another blog post, stay tuned.

Choose a store and know its coupon policy:

I shop at several different stores depending on their deals. I find it easier to do this than to just shop at one specific store, this may be different for you. Do what works for you and your schedule.  Overall, I have found that some stores require you to be a card member to get better deals for example Safeway (aka Vons) or CVS.

Stacking coupons – one of the best examples for doing this is Safeway. Basically, they’ll advertise an item but will provide you with a by-store-coupon (usually in the back of their weekly ads) but then you can use one manufacturer coupon (what you get in a Sunday newspaper), this is a great way to maximize your savings.

Make a plan:

I cannot tell you how important this is. Other than cutting your coupons this will consume more of your time.

Weekly Ads – read the weekly store ads to see what is on sale and which stores have the best deals. You can also find them online.

Coupon Matchups – here’s where the fun starts, match coupons to the sale items to get better deals. Most couponing blogs will do this for you, but I like to find my own.

Price match – some stores (Wal-Mart) will price match. Basically, if one item is less than what it is at Wal-Mart, show the AD to the cashier and you’ll get the lower price.

Make a list – save’s you time and keeps it all organized when you’re going up and down isles in the store.

Rain checks – If your store is out of a sale item, ask for a rain check! Then you can come back another day and get the item… Who know, you may even be able to gather coupons for this item.

Now let me show you a few good deals I’ve scored over the last few weeks:

Tide laundry detergent less than $2 for both

Dawn Dish soap less than $0.75 each

Gevalia coffee $3.99 each

International Delight coffee creamer $1 each

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~~ Cat ~~

Friendspirations 01

Do you ever have one of those days where things do not make sense? Or something happens and you wonder, why, what is the point of that?

Actually, the one that really gets to me is when I’ve had a good day; you know my hair is “behaving,” I’m in a great mood, and things seem to be going “my way.” Then, I find out someone I knew, or a relative of a friend/co-worker/colleague (you fill in the blank) passed away or had a horrible accident. An instance like the above, I can’t help but feel as though life just paused. I seriously feel the need to stop. Pause. And ask myself, “Wait, is this true?”

I find it strange how some of us can be having an amazing day and at another end of the world (or across town to make it more relevant) someone is under an immeasurable amount of pain. That’s life for ya!

Why? How come life is so inexplicable and/or complicated at times? Like I said, some things just don’t make sense, but I guess that is all part of our journey in this place we call Planet Earth and this ride we call life.

When I am having “one of those days” I go to my trusted sources of inspiration (or comfort), which I will share a few with you.

Music!

I am currently loving the Kelly Clarkson single, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).” When I hear, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller. Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone,” something inside of me just wants to jump up, pump my right hand in the air, and yell out “WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STONGER!” Yes, I’m a firm believer in that line!

Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”

Nature!

Something about seeing an awesome sunset with all the fiery reds, gold’s, and purples really soothes me.

Sunset over lake

And of course I cannot forget about these few: Ice Cream, a glass of red wine, or chocolate really helps make things better.

What are some of your sources of inspiration or comfort?

~~Cat~~

Coffee Bean Facial

Puffy, drab and dry is what my face was feeling like lately, and well honestly, getting an expensive facial at a salon was out of the question. Instead I opted to find homemade facial recipes. To my surprise there are many great recipes out there.  Throughout the course of several weeks I’ve been testing a few of these recipes out and I have found that the coffee bean facial recipe I am going to write about today, does wonders for the face.

Not only did I find that the caffeine from the coffee beans help reduce puffiness, but when you wash it off it exfoliates the skin and leaves it feeling and looking silky soft.  Additionally, the honey in the mix, acts as a great moisturizing agent. The facial is very easy to make and best of all it is inexpensive.  All you need is two ingredients: ground up coffee beans and honey.

Here is how it works:

Step 1: Mix a handful of ground coffee beans and about 5 tbsps of honey into a small bowl until it looks like a paste.

Step 2: Gently rub paste all over face and neck (avoid getting any of it in your eyes).

Step 3: Let paste sit on your face for about twenty minutes.

Step 4: Gently, rub paste in a circular motion all around the face and neck as you rinse it off with cold water.

Once you have finished the facial, you will notice your face is less puffy and it will look radiant because you will have scrubbed off old skin cells. I hope you try this recipe and come back and let us know how it worked for you.

**Cristy**