Gillette Venus VoxBox

Yesterday I received my Gilette Venus Snap with Embrace travel mini razor from Influenster. I was beyond excited to open my box. I have been looking for a smaller razor to pack when I go to the gym or vacations. 

This razor fits in the palm of my hand and has a small round pink grip that allows me to hold it comfortably with my thumb while shaving.  

It also comes in a translucent blue carrying case to protect you from it's sharp blades while traveling. 

I can't wait to go on vacation somewhere to bring this with me and hopefully save some room in my toiletries bag.

Sharpie Painted Ceramic Mug

I have seen this sharpie craze all over Pintrest.  I must have pinned at least a dozen ideas that I wanted to try with my Sharpies, and now it's finally here!  One more thing I can check off my gigantic Pintrest to-do list!

What you will need:
Ceramic item
Sharpie (I used black, but you can use any color or colors)
Print out of design to stencil 
Clear packing tape
X-acto Knife
Ruler

First, I printed out my design on my inkjet printer.  You can totally freehand your design, but I wanted to do the NYC skyline and I wanted it to be exact!

Next, I covered my sheet of paper in strips clear packing tape.  Once your entire sheet is covered in plastic, smooth out any air bubble.  This will be the {sticky} stencil!

Submerge your plastic coated paper in water for ten minutes.
When it's ready to be taken out, it will curl up on itself.  Lay out the sheet on a flat surface, like your counter, plastic side down.

Now it's time to remove all the paper.  Rub your finger back and forth over the paper and it will start to lift off.  Keep rubbing until all the white paper is gone and all you are left with is your design. 

Now it's time to cut out that design!  Cut away the entire colored area {that part is not sticky since it took to the color from the paper.}  You can use this using plain old scissors, or I used an X-acto knife and ruler with the sticky side facing up. 
What I realized the hard way only AFTER I finished, was that it would have probably been easier to cut away the design before submerging the sheet in water.  That way you don't have to deal with a sticky stencil in order to cut out the design!

Now you are ready to stick that stencil to your mug.  Trace the outline of the design {or fill in the entire area if you have the patience} with a fine Sharpie.

Place your mug in a cool oven, set the oven to 450.  Once it gets up to temperature, leave the oven on for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes, turn off the oven.  Leave the mug in the oven for 2-3 hours, or until completely cooled.
This process heats the glaze of the mug allowing the Sharpie ink to incorporate into it so that it will not wash off.
Please note that this mug will probably no longer be dishwasher safe if you want your design to last.

Now you are ready for some coffee drinking {or whatever else is your morning cup}!!

Spring 2014: Hometown Carabox Reveal!

This past month a participated in my first Cara Box Exchange! If you don't know what this is, head over to Wifessionals to learn more and sign up for the next one in June! 

The only requirement for the Cara Box exchange is an Instagram account to get to know your partners.  You are paired up based on an age bracket {ie. 20s, 30s...}  
You are paired with one girl to give a Cara Box to and one girl to receive a Cara Box from.  This Cara Box's theme was hometown.  We were to send out partners items from our hometowns based on the likes and interests of our partner.
I was paired with Tiffany and Amy and was able to get to know more about them via their Instagram photos and emails.
Amy was born in New York like me, but she has moved a lot since then...MA, CA, and now WA!  She loves coffee like I do, and her husband even works for an espresso machine company!  In her spare time she likes to paint, crochet, cook, and eat out. {I sent my New York box to Amy}
Tiffany is a southern girl from Alabama!  She is a pediatric nurse, she has two stepchildren {one's name is my last name!} and an 8 month old baby that she loves posting Instagram photos and videos of.  In her free time she likes to go on dates with her husband, play with her kids, and go shopping.

My Cara Box came from Tiffany all the way from Alabama.  
Keychain- Roll Tide, Alabama football
Starbucks cup
Tea- to make southern sweet tea
Monogram bag- southerners like monograms
Eyeshadow- Alabama colors purple and gold {except I had a purple explosion all over from my mailman}
Sparkly ponytails that can double as bracelets

What I Wore Wednesday

Today we were going on day 3 of rain, I am almost forgetting what the sun looks like! On the plus side, I hope all of this rain helps with easing my allergies {which I'm sure a lot of you are suffering from too.}

I wanted to wear something bright and cheery today to help with all of the doom and gloom outside!

Tee: Cotton On

Crochet Spike Necklace: gift from my Mom from C Wonder

Watch: Michael Kors (it's actually men's, but I love oversize watches)

 Shoes: Steve Madden

Easy Burrito Bowl

This burrito bowl looks so fancy and hard to make, and I sure fooled my husband at dinner last night! It's a great idea for a dinner party, or for date night like I did.  Continue reading to learn my secret!

What you will need:
1 pound ground meat for the filling
Assorted veggies
Burrito spice mix
Salt
Pepper
Kale
Olive oil
Tortillas
Cupcake Tins
 
First, saute your veggies.  I started with an onion and let that brown first.  I then added garlic, carrot, mushroom, broccoli, and seasoned with salt and pepper.  
Once all the veggies were halfway cooked, I added my ground meat.  At this point I added my burrito spice mix, but if you don't have that I usually use a mixture of turmeric, cayenne pepper, paprika, and any other spices that you have laying around.
Keep stirring the meat so that it gets browned all around, and I chopped my meat pretty fine while I was stirring to get small bits.
After the meat is fully brown I added a bunch of kale to slightly wilt. If you don't like kale use spinach or cilantro.

{Drum roll please...} Whip out your cupcake tins! What?! You ask, that can't be!  Yes, I've said it, turn those cupcake tins upside down and press in your tortillas to make a bowl shape. {Mind Blown!} It's that easy!

 Now, fill your homemade bowls with your filling.  I topped mine off with some fresh cut tomatoes.  The tortillas will get crisp in the oven and will hold their bowl shape and prevent any liquids or filling dropping out.

 Bake in the oven on 350° for 10 minutes, or until the tortillas slightly brown.

 Voila! Burrito bowl complete!

Glorious Greens Pasta

I don't know about you, but pasta gets boring after a while.  Pasta with sauce, baked ziti, spaghetti and meatballs. I thought I was over pasta, until I tried something new with it.
Skip all that red sauce, and just sauté some greens in olive oil and add some bread crumbs.  This way is much healthier and you don't feel guilty about eating those pasta carbs!

What you will need:
Box of pasta
1 bunch of kale, washed and stems trimmed
A few stalks swiss chard
Handful of spinach
Salt
Pepper
1/2 cup Seasoned bread crumbs
Handful of parsley
Olive oil

Boil the pasta according to it's directions.
In a large skillet, heat the olive on medium heat.  Add your greens and lower the heat to low.
Allow the greens to slightly wilt.  Add a pinch of salt and pepper.
Once the pasta is ready, drain and add to the skillet.
Mix the pasta into the greens and add the bread crumbs and a little more olive oil if it seems too dry.  
Top it all off with some fresh parsley.
Plate it up and devour!

Enjoy!

What I Wore Wednesday

Today I would like to share what I had worn yesterday to work.  I recently started my new job as the assistant buyer for ThinkGeek, if you missed my announcement check it out HERE.  
As you can tell from my pictures, the dress code in the office is basically to look and feel good in what you wear and try not to offend anyone.  Yesterday was the first day since I had started that I took advantage of wearing a T shirt and leggings to work. Let me tell you, it's WAY more comfortable than business clothing {sorry for y'all out there that still have to wear suits to work!} 
We are also allowed to bring out dogs to the office {and my office already has the baby gate ready} But if you have met my dog, or seen videos of him before, I'm not sure my dog is office ready no matter how laid back the vibe is there.
Anyway, back to yesterday's outfit. Jet would not sit still or get out of the way long enough to take a picture, he wanted to be the center of attention as soon as I got home.

Jet finally sat still long enough to give me his paw for a picture.

Where to get my look:


ThinkGeek Classic Star Wars X-Wing
http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/e6a2/?srp=30

Uniqlo Easy Knit Legging Pants
http://www.uniqlo.com/us/women/featured/sale/bottoms/women-easy-knit-leggings-pants-073545001.html#13

Toms Classic Canvas Slip Ons
http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/TOMS-Classic-Canvas-Slip-On-White/prod76110066/p.prod?ecid=BGCIGoogleProductAds&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=prod76110066skuWHITE