Where did 2015 go?

Seriously, where did 2015 go? Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and Christmas advertisements are starting to appear. Why is it that the older I get the faster years pass by.

I’d like to share a few products that I greatly enjoyed throughout 2015.

Not sure what was going on with my skins this year, but one product that helped is the Derma-e Microdermabrasion scrub. Every time I used it my skin felt amazingly soft. Don’t let the microdermabrasion scare you. It helps to remove any dead skin while being gentle enough for sensitive skin. You must try it!

https://instagram.com/p/8JG60mydnj/?taken-by=kitty5289

 

I love waterproof mascara but taking it off at the end of the day is no fun. I used to use cleansing oil but I recently discovered makeup wipe that do not irritate my skin nor do they sting. The PONDS makeup wipes are wonderful and they even smell good.

https://instagram.com/p/9mZb6ySdnM/?taken-by=kitty5289

P.s. I did receive the package featured for free for review by Influenster. More about Influenster.

 

Okay, time to get a little more personal… I have oily hair. Well, I used to have oily hair. Thanks to Jason Normalizing shampoo I no longer suffer from excessive oily hair. Yay! Plus, it is a natural product. #WinWin

https://instagram.com/p/42Zyt8ydrF/?taken-by=kitty5289

 

One more product I could not live with (well, I could but I don’t want to): Burt’s Bees chapstick! The regular one. I did not like the other scents.

https://instagram.com/p/5GFZ7-Sdhh/?taken-by=kitty5289

 

Back to makeup, I absolutely LOVE the Loreal True Match Concealer in medium. I have gone through so many of these little tubes. It blends well and the color matched my skin well. Go get you some, you will not regret it.

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A post shared by Cat (@lifealacata)

 

I could go on forever, so I will stop now. Follow me on Instagram (@kitty5289) for more on my favorite products.

Thanks for visiting!

Honey, It’s Cold Outside

I never thought I’d be so happy to have rain and cold weather, but I am! These last few days have been wet ones – very wet! As much as I do not like to deal with it, California needs its. It makes be very happy to know our water supply is getting replenished.

With the rain comes cold weather and a lot of indoor time. One of my favorite things to make on cold rainy days is hot chocolate – Abuelita (Mexican brand) hot chocolate. I remember my mother making the same Abuelita, which means grandmother in Spanish. As a kid, we were served hot chocolate with a bolillo, a roll. Now as an adult, I get to have hot chocolate with my favorite treat – cookies!!!

Wait, talking about cookies I have to tell you about my favorite cookies – Kelli’s Cookies! Kelli’s Cookies is a local, Roseville CA (Northern California),  small business that has been around for 16 years and is woman owned. I discovered this company a few years ago when I was looking for a nice treat for a few of my co-workers. If you live in the Sacramento area, you must visit Kelli’s Cookies located on Douglas Blvd or the Fountains in Roseville, CA. However, if you’re not a local no worries. Kelli’s delivers nationwide via Amazon!

By the way, did you know that today is National Cookie Day! What? Yeah, I didn’t know until the other day and I decided to tell you about my favorite cookies. Kelli’s Cookies has so many varieties it is difficult to pick just one (can you tell? I bought three!) Chocolate Chunk, Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin, Toffee Fudge, White Chocolate Mocha, Lemon Coconut, Pumpkin Pecan White Chocolate – tried them all and I’ve never been disappointed. They’re so soft and chewy, Oh my gosh, so good!

So, pick up your favorite cookies, make a nice cup of hot chocolate and enjoy NATIONAL COOKIE DAY!

Adventures of an Influenster

The adventure began about three years ago. I recall reading a blog post here on WordPress, I registered and took a survey on Influenster.com, then a few months later I got an email letting me know I was selected to receive my first #VoxBox. I have been hooked since then!

“Influenster is a community for social media hotshots to share news, products, and reviews.” I have been working with Influenster for nearly three years and I love it! Through Influenster bloggers and social media “hotshots” get to work on campaigns ranging from beauty products to food or home goods. In the past I have worked with brands such as CoverGirl, Palmolive, Rimmel, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Hawaiian Tropics, Dove, and many others. Currently, I am reviewing a Vidal Sassoon products.

Each campaign has a clever name like #CalienterVoxBox, #UniVoxBox, #VioletVoxBox are just a few of the ones I have received. Oh, did I mention that all of these products are FREE! Yes, all products are free for review. Each campaign has specific Tasks – the more you do the more points and Badges you get. Also, depending on the campaign and brand there are bonus activities such as creating a YouTube video or a Vine, etc. Plus, there are contest activities where if you are one of the first  50 or 100 individuals to unlock a badge you have a chance to win a brand box. Earlier this year I won a P&G Everyday voxbox. It was full of products that I already use, such as Secret deodorant, Olay moisturizer, a Gillette Venus razor, and a few CoverGirl products.

Influenster always has multiple campaigns going on. Individuals get to participate on a campaign if you qualify depending on the demographics the brands are looking for.

 

Why I love Influenster:

1. Each time I receive a box in the mail I feel like I am part of an exclusive club.
2. I get to review and share my thoughts on specific products.
3. Oh, did I mention they’re FREE!
4. I’ve been introduced to products and brands I’ve never heard of before Influenster.
5. Lastly, it is FUN! I love trying new products and telling others about them.

Want to Join the Fun?

Influenster also has an app found on iTunes, which if full of product reviews and useful information.

#InfluensterNation is great and if you can’t tell, I LOVE it! Join the adventure and have fun trying great products and working with awesome brands.

Check it out, visit: Influenster.com.

Thanks for visiting,

CAT

Simple Brownie Recipe From Scratch

Where has June gone? I cannot believe this is the last weekend of June and summer is here! Lucky for me this month has been filled with a lot of yummy food. Today I will share with you a simple and easy to make brownie recipe that I put to the test earlier this month and it was a great hit with a large group.

You see, summer not only means warm weather, pool parties and barbecue’s, but it also means I get to volunteer in an interesting way! Last summer I found a local organization that enables people to volunteer as part of their culinary team. Tuesday through Saturday individuals have the opportunity to cook meals for staff and volunteers of the organization. Because I work full-time Monday thru Friday, the only day I am able to volunteer is on Saturday’s. The Saturday shift is only available from late Spring to late Summer. Anyway, a few weeks ago I volunteered as the kitchen support person, I’ll call it a “Sous Chef”. The lead aka “Executive Chef” made a baked pasta dish and salad, I was instructed to make dessert – can I call myself a “Pastry Chef” too?

In the past I have made cookies or baked a cake, this time I wanted to try something different so I ended up making brownies from scratch! For some reason baking brownies from scratch made me nervous. I do not know why. Unfortunately, I so used to making brownies from a box that the rations of cocoa powder and chocolate really made scared me.

Well, to my surprise it was super easy to make these brownies from scratch, yay for that! On this day we cooked lunch for 10 people so the pressure was on. When in doubt I refer my trusted friend, Pinterest! I found a simple recipe that I modified a bit to suit our needs, I doubled the recipe (most of the ingredients).

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• 1 cup of softened (unsalted) butter (two sticks)
• 1 cup of sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of cocoa powder
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup of chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a baking dish.
2. In a large bowl mix the eggs, sugar and vanilla until smooth, then add the softened butter (make sure it is not hot. Cool it down).
3. Then add the cocoa powder, flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Combine well.
4. When all ingredients are mixed well then fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Next, pour the mixture onto the baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
6. Once they’re done place the brownies on a cooling rack.
7. After they cool down cut them into small pieces and serve.

To my relief, the group LOVED them and many had a second serving. If you make this recipe, please let me know how they turned out. As always, warm brownies go well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream – FYI.

Thank you so much for visiting C to C,

CAT

Strawberry Compote | Sauce Recipe

I have a super yummy and easy recipe to share with you. You only need six (possibly five) ingredients, so it’s simple too.

The strawberries in my refridgerator were reaching their final days so they needed to be used. Plus, I had recently picked raspberries and those needing to be eaten. I decided to mix the two and make a compote or sauce to top my breakfast pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 lbs. Strawberries (sliced or cubed)
• 1 cup of raspberries
• 1 lemon (zest and juiced)
• 1 tbsp. corn starch (optional)
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup of water

How to make the compote | sauce:

1. In a small pot over medium heat combine water, sugar and corn starch – mix until dissolved, then add the lemon zest and juice. Stir for a few minutes until you see a slight boil.

2. Add the berries and continue to stir until all ingredients come to a boil.

3. Turn the head down to low and stir. Let the berries cook for at least 10 to 15 minutes. Allow the sauce to cool for a few minutes before serving.

 

The sauce | compote can be served with pancakes, waffles, French toast, ice cream or anything your little heart desires.

Enjoy!

Hydrating and Refresing

What are some of your favorite summer fruits? Mine are watermelon and cucumbers. I thought I’d combine them to make a delicious refreshing juice. Then, I thought to add a little mint and parsley for an added hint of “je ne sais quoi.”

The ingredients are:

Lemon, cucumber, watermelon, parsley and mint.

Then I juiced them together.

• Watermelon is full of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant health benefits, here’s why you should eat watermelon.
• Cucumbers are good because they provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer benefits, here are sixteen reason why you should eat more.
• Lemon’s are known for their antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting power – reasons to consume more lemons.
• Parsley has anti-inflammatory properties and helps keep your immune system strong, here are ten reason why you should consume more of this leafy green.
• Mint promotes digestion, soothes your tummy, and helps lose weight – here are a few more reason why you should eat more mint.

Let me if you make this yummy refreshing juice.

Enjoy!

 

Roasted Tomato Salsa Recipe

Hello! I am back after a month long hiatus, miss me? Don’t answer that!

Well, happy Cinco de Mayo weekend! Drinking a Corona and eating some nachos? Well, you know what goes well with that Corona, or Margarita, chips and salsa!

I love salsa (food not the dance) which is why I am sharing this super easy recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 – Tomatoes
• 1/4 – Onion
• 3 –  Serrano (or Jalapeno) peppers
• 1 – Garlic clove
• Cilantro (to taste)
• 1/2 a Lemon (juiced)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

How to:

To roast the veggies I used a cast iron skillet, no need for oil or butter, just plain veggies on a hot surface. Place the veggies on the skillet (you can also use a grill or an oven), turn them every so often so that each side has a little char. Tomatoes took the longest about 20 minutes or so.

 

Remove veggies from the skillet after they are well roasted and let them rest for a few minutes. Once all the veggies are roasted and have great coloring (which will give flavor to the salsa), let them rest for at least 5 minutes.

Next, using your blender or food processor “shop” the onion, garlic and peppers. Once those are nice and chunky remove them and place them in a glass container. Next, do the same for the tomatoes, one by one, be sure not to over “shop” them. You do not want to end up with a tomato puree – make sure your salsa a little chunky. Once that’s done, mix them with the onion, garlic, and peppers and mix well.

Next, finely shop the cilantro and add it to the salsa. Then add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Voila, you now have Roasted Tomato Salsa!

Simple! Serve this delicious salsa at your Cinco de Mayo festivities and you’ll be the talk of the party.

Enjoy,

CAT

 

Wordless Wednesday

via Pinterest

Wordless Wednesday

 

via Pinterest

 

Lovely DIY’s

I love Pinterest! I pin recipes, home décor ideas, inspiration quotes, workouts, healthy goodies, and DIY’s. My favorite boards is  “Lovely DIY’s,” which provides endless inspirations for arts and crafts projects.

I’D like to share a few projects that I’ve been day dreaming about:

Upcycle Wine Bottles: Twine or colored yarn is a simple solution to covering up old wine bottles without much effort. For this project, all you’ll need is the yarn of your choice and a strong adhesive like fabric or craft glue. – See more .

Starbust Mirror:  Starburst mirrors are so chic in metallics and I’m really loving gold accents lately. I wanted to create something for our bedroom that replaced an old art piece that wasn’t really working and that also added more light to a dark corner in that space.  See more.

DIY Headboard: Super cute and chic! See more.

Don’t these Lovely DIY’s look fun? I think so.

What are some your favorite Pinterest boards, let me know. To view my DIY’s board, click here.