Jack O' Lantern Apples

Check these homemade babies out:

My jack o'lantern apples

These were born out of necessity for a homemade treat for my best friend's Halloween/house warming party. I debated doing "Mummy Hot Dogs" but figured that would ultimately bomb since neither of us are big fans of hot dogs. I have an abundance of apples so I really wanted to find a fun way to incorporate some into the meal. I initially thought about taking the easy route and making an apple pie with some Halloween cut-outs but then I remembered seeing carved apples somewhere (probably Pinterest) and decided to combine the two and voila.

I added green food coloring to the apple pie filling and some sugar gems for no other reason than that I wanted to use them. The actual carving was a pain and time consuming. Breaking news- apples aren't used for carving for a reason! I couldn't get too imaginative because 1. I'm just not imaginative to begin with and had to Google pumpkin carving designs. 2. there wasn't much space to really do much. Almost all the apples looked like the one on the right. The one on the left was my exception mainly because it was time consuming and most of the apples I had weren't as tall.

I wasn't going to do anything else to the apples since I figured the pie filling would suffice but I thought the different flavors and temperatures would probably not work well together so I baked them long enough to have them cook a little but not completely bake through so that they would basically melt (think real jack o'lanterns two weeks after Halloween).

I was able to save one for my best friend before they disappeared so it's safe to say they were a success. Not pictured: the vanilla frosting I added cinnamon and vanilla extract to for those who wanted an added layer of sweetness to top it off.

I only got to take a bite off one because sometimes that's what happens when you're the baker. Good news is I can make myself a whole batch. Bad news is I can make myself a whole batch.

My Dog Has Cancer... here's why Pit bulls are the best

I don't like posting personal photos so here's a cute  pit bull that looks almost exactly like my Rocco.

Photo from Reddit

He'd been diagnosed with chondrosarcoma almost two years ago and had surgery to remove his leg and part of his pelvis and that was followed by chemo. He was fine for a little over a year till we took him to the vet last week and they discovered a few small tumors in his lungs. 

Now he's starting a second round of chemo to help slow the growths in his lungs. I didn't take the news well, as you can imagine, but I want this post to be a short but sweet ode to this beautiful breed. 

1. They're playful and loving. 

I've raised four pit bulls and they all  have different personalities but one thing is certain- they love to play and they adore you. I think this is part of the reason why pit bull owners are such vocal advocates of the breed. Once you've had a pit bull you can never not have one because their love is like no other. To this day Rocco- who is about to turn 10- likes to run around with his rubber ball or his squeaky giraffe. It's absolutely precious. He and Dante (my oldest. He's 13) love to gently gnaw on my arm when they're really excited to see me. This gesture is reserved for family and it's super sweet that they intentionally do that. 

2. They're loyal and sensitive to other people's vibes. 

Yes, I know, ALL dogs are loyal but their loyalty is visceral. When Rocco was a pup he once slid up next to me and sniffed  my hair and then fell asleep with his nose covered in my hair. It was weird but Rocky is weird. To this day he likes to sniff me before bed, it's just the way he is but I think it's also his way of making sure that it's really me. He's the gentlest dog and kind to everyone but he's a mama's boy and fiercely loyal to the family. The reason I say they're sensitive to other people's vibes is because they have different reactions to people depending on how that person feels about them. My dog-lovin' friends always get that love right back but the ones who are scared of my dogs end up actually scaring my dogs so they bark and steer clear of that person. It reminds me of the quote, "my personality is who i am my attitude depends on who you are." 

3. They have a spark. 

When we found Bella on the street by our house we already had three dogs at home and couldn't imagine adding a fourth let alone another pit bull. We posted her photo on Petfinder.com and a woman contacted me saying she was interested in Bella because she hadn't had a pit bull since her own died and that she missed that "spark" they have. That conversation solidified my own feelings and I was happy to know I wasn't the only one who felt that way about them. I've only ever had pits but I've known other dogs for almost my entire life and I can tell you (and others can attest to this) there's no dog like a pit baby. Oh and we ended up adopting Bella anyway. 

Social Media is Part of the Reason Why Millennials are Single

In the wake of the Tinder/ Vanity Fair debacle the dating habits of millennials are once again under the microscope. Yes, the digital age has revolutionized the dating scene; no, our morals haven’t suffered because of it.

Millennials are pegged as the ones who've given rise to hook-up culture as if hooking up just came about with our generation. Really what social media has done is brought color into a black and white world (a la Pleasantville). The digital age pulled the curtain to show the real nature of human beings and that doesn't and never really has align with traditional mores.

What social media has done is shift the attention away from each other and on to our devices. How many times have you purposely ignored phone calls because you'd rather text? Or found it easier to have an emoji-filled conversation on Facebook versus talk face to face? Social networks are communication buffets so why pick one when you can try others?

More than 44 percent of men and 37 percent of women say mobile devices make it easier to flirt, according to a survey of 1,500 people. The ease of meeting someone coupled with our desire to enjoy our individuality before getting serious are what keep us single longer.

It's no secret millennials want to experience the single life and develop their own identity before getting married and starting a family. In 1960 the average age of marriage for a woman was 20 and for a man 23, today it’s 27 for women and 29 for me, according to recent Pew Research Center report.

“You can’t be stuck in one lane … There’s always something better,” said one of the guys profiled in the VF piece.

FOMO is more than just seeing all the amazing things your friends are doing and wanting to be a part of it. The plenty of fish cliché in the digital world has given an identity to each fish, giving rise to a fear of missing out on someone that could be better- at least for some people.

It’s not fair to assume that everyone is looking to get laid, though the web has made it easier to go fish. Millennials are enjoying sexual freedom but before previous generations once again look down on us it should be noted that the average age of male users on Ashley Madison is 41 and 34 for women. The decline of marriage means more people would rather wait to commit instead of getting married "because it's time" or "the right thing to do" but it's not just because social media and dating apps exist.

Alexis Madrigal wrote in The Atlantic,

“And it's not wrong to say that Facebook wants us to do things. But if you stop talking to your cousins because it's easier to update Facebook than give them a call, it's not right to say that Facebook made you do that. If you stop reading novels because you find Twitter more compelling, it's not correct to say that Twitter made you do that.”

Facebook and Tinder weren’t created to help make it easier for people to hook up, people used them to make it easier for themselves. Our generation is often painted in broad strokes (we’re lazy, entitled, sexually deviant etc) but saying we’re all just avoiding marriage to spend more time sleeping around is like saying everyone who gets married is committed for life. Most millennials want a connection eventually, a Pew Research survey found that 53 percent of never-married adults say they would like to marry eventually. It’s really a matter of prioritizing our individuality and being realistic about relationships because we know all to well the damaging effects of divorce.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic wrote in The Guardian,

“This is an important point: we tend to overestimate the impact of technology on human behaviour; more often than not, it is human behaviour that drives technological changes and explains their success or failures. Just like Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, Tinder enables people to get along, albeit in a somewhat infantile, sexual and superficial way. It also enables us to get ahead, nourishing our competitive instincts by testing and maximising our dating potential.”

Countless articles and surveys have analyzed the pros and cons of dating in the digital era but at the end of the day it’s up to us to choose how we use these tools.

5 Ways Your Sunscreen Could Be Failing You

Found here 

We approach sunscreen the way we approach diet foods: Both are supposed to be good for you, details be damned. The truth of the matter is not all sunscreens are created equal, and some might do more harm than protection.

The FDA banned companies from promoting their brands as "waterproof" or "sweatproof," but there are still FDA-approved ingredients that could be affecting your health.

Besides being noncomedogenic and water-resistant, these are other important factors to take into consideration:

1. Read those ingredient labels like a cereal box.

According to the Environmental Working Group, a organization that provides a safety guide for sunscreens, oxybenzone can trigger allergic and hormonal reactions. Studies are still in the preliminary stages, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Also, keep a look out for retinyl palmitate, a form of Vitamin A that allegedly increases the development of skin tumors.

Look for sunscreens that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, as they score well in EWG ratings. They have few health risks and physically (instead of chemically) block sun rays.

2. Slather, Don't Spray It.

You know when you accidentally inhale the mist, and it leaves a metallic aftertaste? The EWG doesn't recommend using it because you can inhale nano-particles. Though no studies have proven it's dangerous, it's still risky.

Turns out the convenience of sunscreen sprays also makes it a less effective source of coverage versus lotions since it's easy to apply less than the required amount. If you do choose to use it, spray multiple coats to ensure coverage especially on windy days and avoid spraying your face altogether to avoid inhalation.

3. The Two Most Important Words Are "Broad Spectrum."  

According to a recent TIME article, only 43 percent of people know what SPF stands for, it's like MSG- you don't really know what it means but you know it's important. The sun protection factor measures a sunscreen's ability to filter UVB rays however, it doesn't measure UVA.

What's the difference? Glad you asked. UVA darkens the skin and leads to aging because of how deep it penetrates your skin. UVA rays affect us daily without leaving evidence but the affects can show up over time. While both can lead to skin cancer, UVB rays can leave you looking like the Kool-Aid man. The only way to filter UVA and UVB rays is to use "broad spectrum" sunscreen.

4.  Pretend your shot glass is a measuring cup. 

Everybody is a different size and shape but a shot glass worth of sunscreen should suffice. Studies have shown that some users only apply half the amount of sunscreen recommended so even if you're using SPF 100 you can wind up with coverage as low as 3.2.  Just pretend you're toast and your sunscreen is peanut butter- you want a nice, even coating.

5. More isn't always better.

In a recent survey on consumer knowledge of sunscreen labels, the main factor taken into account when purchasing sunscreen is the SPF value.  As opposed to what you might think, SPF 100 doesn't offer twice as much protection as SPF 50.  SPF 50 blocks 98 percent of sun rays while SPF 100 blocks just one percent more.

The higher the number, the greater the sense of protection which might lead people to stay in the sun longer without reapplying, a problem the EWG highlights. Dermatologists recommended SPF 30 filters 97 percent of sun rays and if used properly (reapplied every two hours) it's sufficient. 

 

Top 5 of the Week

Yesterday it rained ALL DAY, I'm talking  torrential downpour with lightening and thunder that had my Dante barking like crazy at the thunder gods. Today? It's 86 degrees. Welcome to L.A.

It's Sunday so I wanted to post a fun list of the top five things of this past week... written while listening to BBHMM by Rihanna cause it's just that kind of Sunday.

1. I decided to make Greek salad for lunch (sans the bell peppers) and it's perfect. I paired it with a chicken, kale and mozzarella patty that I slathered with labneh (another nod to my Middle Eastern roots). It seems like rather odd pairings but trust me, they work. Chopped judges would agree. 

2. I decided to take advantage of the current deal Fabletics has (50% OFF for a whole outfit) and bought the Kona (with a white bra instead). Note: when they say size 6 know there is NO give- it's a tight fit. I ordered size 6 pants and they fit perfectly- too perfect. Good thing is they have a great return/exchange policy so I don't have to pay for return shipping. Suh-weet. What I paid would've just covered the pants so it was a great deal. The jury is still out on whether or not I'll keep the subscription but for now I'm happy. 

3. Rainy day fun included watching Chocolat for the first time. Chocolate looked good, Johnny Depp looked better. Also reading Life of Pi and let me tell you, the movie was beautiful but the book is beautifully written. It explores religion and faith in a very straight-forward way that makes you think outside the box and really contemplate faith also, there are zoo animals. Sold yet?

4. I collected two bags of clothes after learning H & M has a garment collecting service where they recycle gently used clothing and in exchange give you two coupons for 15% off. Win-win, people. 

5. I learned Ms. Fizzle was voiced by Lily Tomlin (!!), Boo was on an episode of FRIENDS (she hit on Phoebe at the wedding in the episode where she's "possessed" by Rose), and Clueless turns 20 this year! 

Bonus: My latest Buzzfeed Community post. 

Photo via Cambio 

3 great meals with 5 ingredients

Last week wasn't a good one so I'm hoping this week is better. On the bright side, it was my sister's birthday so we enjoyed some fruit topped mousse cake and tres leches cakes (yes, plural). Sounds delicious, right? In case you aren't aware, tres leches literally translate to "three milks" - the recipe calls for evaporated, condensed and whole milk. I'll have to do a whole post on my attempt to make this from scratch.

Found here

But this post is about 5 meals you can make with 5 ingredients. My ingredients are the following:
kale, chicken, potatoes, tomatoes, feta cheese. Note: I'm not including olive oil, lemon or any other dressings or spices as ingredients. 

 1. Sauteed Kale and Potatoes

Switch out the onions for some garlic seasoning and you're golden 

Found here

 
2. Stuffed Chicken with Potatoes

My variation of this recipe calls for sauteed kale and tomatoes with garlic stuffed in the chicken with feta. Roast the potatoes with a a little black pepper and salt.  

Found here

 
3. Chicken with sauteed kale and boiled potatoes

Instead of baking the chicken, cut it into small portions and saute it with some paprika, black pepper and garlic seasoning. Then saute the kale with garlic, salt and EVOO. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes and  then drizzle with olive oil.

Found here

 Enjoy! Please share your five-ingredient recipes in the comments.

Stylishly Conscious

Have you guys heard about the Conscious Co. H & M exclusive? I'm a big fan of the work they do promoting conscious brands and who doesn't like H & M? I scour their sales racks like I don't own clothes. Anyway, they have some of the clothes online and while it's a little pricier than I would like (doubt they'll last long enough to make it to the sales rack!), I wouldn't mind splurging on this sequined dress made with recycled sequins.

Found here for $299

 

 

I've also written about Sevenly in the past and, much like CC, they work with organizations in need but their focus is more on helping charities. Seven dollars from every purchase goes to a particular charity and in the case of the shirt below it's First Descents, an organization that provides outdoor adventures for those with cancer. Not only are you supporting a great charity but you're also promoting Malala who is one of the most amazing young girls that will ever walk this earth- I'm not prone to hyperbole so this is simply fact. I highly recommend her memoir and check out Malala Fund 

"One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world"

Found here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Color Me Happy

Because I left Argentina when I was almost six years old I don't have many memories of my time there but I do have glimpses and one thing that always stands out is my grandma's colored window. She had a French window- which I've always loved- and the glass was stained red and blue. It lit the dining room up so beautifully and it's something I've only ever seen at her house. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the actual window since last time I was there was pre-Instagram but it got me thinking of different ways I'd like to brighten up my future home. Here are some ideas:

The Inspiration (every panel in my grandma's window was painted):

Found here

The Accent Wall: Like The Decorologist says, pick the right wall to accent. 
 

Found here 

Hanging Flower Vases:

Found here 

Glass Pebbles- How cute would this be on a china cabinet?

Found here 

 The Mountain Mural: LOVE THIS.  

Found here

What are some of your favorite ways to brighten up a room?

Say It With a Meme

How I felt about all my deadlines:

When I made stir fry for the first time and it was a success:

When my dogs were extra playful and kept bringing me their toys:

When I was getting ready to watch the Doctor Who S6 finale after a long day and realized it was an hour and a half long:

Before I go I would like to leave you with a photo of a dish I've been dreaming about all week: The Panwich from Humble Bee. It's a hole in the wall by where I used to live and I'm so glad I discovered it because everything is delicious but nothing is quite as satisfying as this pancake sandwich stuffed with their homemade turkey sausage and eggs.

Found here

How was your week? Have a great weekend!

Why Angelina’s Fight Against Ovarian Cancer is Relevant to Millennials

Found here

Angelina has been praised for raising awareness of the choices women have when it comes to ovarian cancer. At 39 she’s had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed due to the increased likelihood of ovarian cancer because she carries the BRCA gene mutation. Ovarian cancer mainly affects women in their 50s and older but it’s also the fifth most common cancer among women and causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer.

Most people first became aware of the BRCA gene mutation when she wrote about her decision to get a double mastectomy in 2013. The gene mutation isn’t common but roughly more than half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer- with or without the gene mutation- will die. It’s harder to detect in the early stages since it can feel like a bladder or digestive problem so more often than not it’s discovered when it’s Stage 3 or 4. Because of this, women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer while in their twenties or thirties are likely to have to undergo surgery. 

The Affordable Care Act includes insurance plans that cover genetic counseling and testing specifically for women with a history of breast and ovarian cancer linked to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.  There is no screening test for ovarian cancer. Besides BRCA carriers, women who started menstruating before 12, got pregnant after 30 or have never been pregnant or taken oral contraceptives are at greater risk, according to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Despite it being considered an “older woman’s cancer,” experts estimate that 500 to 1,000 cases occur in females under age 20. Though there is no way to prevent cancer, there are a few ways to decrease the chance of having ovarian cancer that can also improve your overall health. Like Angelina stated at the end of her piece, “knowledge is power.”

• Add Flaxseed to your diet: Flaxseed is the richest plant source of alpha-linolenic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid. One study found that a flaxseed rich diet for one year reduced the severity of ovarian cancer. While it didn’t decrease the incidence of ovarian cancer, it was less likely to metastasize which is the main cause of death with this type of cancer.

• Take aspirin daily: A recent study showed it may reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by 20 percent. Daily aspirin use has its own side effects including upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke so consult a doctor.

• Birth control: The use of Depo-Provera for three years or more showed an 83 percent risk reduction. Taking the birth control pill for 15 or more years cuts the risk of ovarian cancer by 58 percent and even women who’ve used it for one to four years cut their risk by 22 percent. These are not recommended as preventative options but if you are taking birth control it certainly helps to know you’re potentially cutting your risk of ovarian cancer by more than half.

• Workout: Besides hitting the gym more often, there are several healthy foods to incorporate into your diet that also fight cancer including kale, garlic and legumes. A report by the American Institute for Cancer Research and World Cancer Research Fund released last year linked obesity with ovarian cancer.  Researchers found that a 5-point increase in a woman's body-mass index (BMI) increases her risk of ovarian cancer by six percent. A BMI above 25 is considered overweight, while a BMI over 30 is obese.

Treat Yo Self Friday: Subscription Boxes

I initially got into the sub box craze after my 9-year-old pit Rocco was diagnosed with cancer. He had to undergo surgery and chemo and I thought it would be fun to sign up for Barkbox so he'd get monthly treats and toys. I kept it for almost a year and loved every box, seriously, it was like I was getting a gift every month. But the joy of seeing Rocco and my other dogs, Dante and Bella, playing with their new toys was my gift. That said, I just signed up for another sub box this time for my mom's birthday. My friend sent me a referral for Ipsy so I decided to try it out. Unlike Barkbox, for Ipsy I had to refer friends, Like them on Facebook, Follow them on IG and Twitter in order to get off the wait list. I did all that and tweeted them letting know and that it was for my mom's birthday and they immediately took me off the wait list so at least they've got good customer service. She gets her first box next month so we'll see. In the meantime I can't help but think about what I'd sign up for if I could afford to indulge myself so here are my Top 5:

PopSugar Must-Have

Found here

Fitness, beauty, and food all in one box... What's not to like? Plans start at $39.95 which is a little pricey for me right now but it looks like it's worth it. Plus, every box is worth double the price you pay if not more.

Julep Maven 

Found here

I kept seeing the ads on Facebook but it wasn't until my friend gifted me some Julep nail polish that I became interested. The polish was peachy color and it lasted a few days which is unusual for me since I'm notorious for not wearing gloves when cleaning the dishes. I like that you can change up the colors and products- it's nice to have a little power over what you get.

Fabletics

Found here

Kate Hudson co-founded the brand of activewear and I'm loving the looks. How cute is the black tee that drapes in the back? The leggings look comfortable but also thick enough so that I'm not insecure about my underwear showing (cause we've all been there, right?). The first box is $25 which is a great deal for active wear- I'm so tempted.

Birchbox

Found here

It's the original beauty subscription box and seems a lot like Ipsy so I'm not sure which is allegedly the better box or if they're essentially the same. It also starts off at $10 and provide deluxe samples but maybe they have access to better/different brands? Either way it's the OG beauty box and it's lasted despite the competition so that's saying something.

CauseBox by Sevenly

Found here

I found out about Sevenly through Facebook ads and liked that they give $7 of every purchase to charity. They just started their sub box service and it's all about socially conscious products. You get to select which charity gets a portion of the proceeds from your box plus all the products benefit non-profit organizations or  businesses in Africa, India etc. It's a quarterly box and costs $49.95 if you pay up front for a year subscription. It's definitely the priciest of all the boxes I've listed but considering the proceeds help so many people I wouldn't mind paying that much.

So that's my wish list. Do you have any sub boxes you're interested in? Any opinions on the ones I've listed? Recommendations?

The Law of the Wild

Found here

When I saw this obviously I was in awe of their interaction  but also how it reiterates that there is still so much humans can learn from wildlife.

I remember reading about how many sharks are killed annually and I was shocked: 

Based on available data for shark deaths and estimates of unreported illegal catches, the researchers estimated that 100 million sharks were killed in 2000 and 97 million in 2010. But since scientists lack sufficient data on shark catches, they say the real number of annual shark deaths could possibly be between 63 million and 273 million.. Sharks are fished for their meat, liver oil, cartilage and valuable fins, which are hacked off, often from live sharks, to be used in shark fin soup, an ancient and prized delicacy in East Asia.

How many people die of shark attacks annually?

 The United States averages just 16 shark attacks each year and slightly less than one shark-attack fatality every two years. Meanwhile, in the coastal U.S. states alone, lightning strikes and kills more than 41 people each year.. Each year there are about 50 to 70 confirmed shark attacks and 5 to 15 shark-attack fatalities around the world.

On a lighter note, it also made me realize I too need to  not eat if I'm not hungry. I don't care if I feel in my heart that the leftover pizza is calling me, I don't need to eat it just cause it's there. (must repeat this to myself when temptation hits).

Working Through the Pain

I have Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome aka PFPS aka runner's knee. The odd thing is I was never really an athlete or a runner so I'm not sure how it happened but it hit when I was a teen which, as it turns out, is fairly common for PFPS. I was told I couldn't walk or run more than a 1/4 mile which was great for me at the time since I hated running during P.E. Now it's a lot harder for me since I love to take my dogs on 2-4 mile  walks daily. I was also attempting the Lazygirl butt challenge (love the name) but once it got to 40 squats and lunges the pain became unbearable. I was researching ways to work out my glutes without putting too much pressure on my knees and came across this article.

Bridge is one of my favorites.

The bluish fog at the bottom is the beach. 

I wish I could take a beautiful jumping shot like Giselle but my hair does NOT flow gracefully in the wind, le sigh. Even jumping hurts after a while from the pressure that hits my knees when I land but heck, it's a must when I go to the beach.The photo above was an exceptionally foggy day where you could not see the beach from the hiking trails!

I'm going to incorporate the lower body toning exercises into my workout (I'm still doing the Lazyfit ab challenge) and hopefully I'll see results.

How have you worked through a similar physical problem to stay/get in shape? Have you ever heard of PFPS?

It's All in the Details

Last week was crazy busy with work and it being the week of my mom's birthday I had requested Ellen tickets which we were lucky enough to get. Not only did we get to see Ellen but we got in for the taping of Michelle Obama's episode! But that's for another post, this post is about home decor.

I've been thinking about what I would change if I had a bigger space. Here are my top five accents:

Honeycomb/ hexagon mirrors:

Found here

Garden wall planter turned fruit basket:

Found here 

 

 

A Glitter Wall:

Found here

String Lights on a headboard:

Window Picture Frame:

Found here

Homemade mini chicken pot pies

On a monthly if not biweekly basis I get together with one of my girlfriends and either I make lunch or she buys lunch. We didn't decide that I would be the one to cook but it just worked out that way and I've actually come to enjoy trying out new recipes. It rained last weekend and today was really windy (those Santa Ana winds make you believe you can fly) so a warm chicken pot pie seemed like the perfect dish. I debated do a full on pie but just didn't have the time so thank you Pillsbury for coming to the rescue!

I used two cans of their biscuits (side note: I'm a wimp when it comes to popping them open and BOTH cans actually exploded this time!), cream of chicken, chicken strips, carrots, celery, and peas. I didn't use one particular recipe but the few I browsed asked that I cover the filling. Now, the biscuits I used weren't the layered buttery Grands so I didn't have a lot of biscuit to work with. Instead, I used bread crumbs.

I cooked them at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes and they were delicious. I didn't have time to shoot the process and only got one iPhone shot of the final dish but I'm sure I'll be making it again.

Has anyone else made these before? What's your experience been like? Also, am I the only one afraid of the popping Pillsbury cans? Say it ain't so.

Sisters are DIYing it for themselves

This year, my friend and I decided to make each other homemade gifts even though neither one of us is the DIY type. Knowing that I'm a bookworm she made me this:

She chose David Copperfield.

I could never do this myself because how could I cut into a book like that? But I admit that a hollow book is pretty cool though I'm still trying to figure out what to put in it.

As for me... well I've decided to attempt to create a mosaic jewelry box. I'm still trying to figure out how it's gonna work but I'm optimistic. I also have a small, white wallet and I plan on getting metallic letters to glue on her initials. A couple of years ago I got her a black, glittery Batman wallet which she loves but since she's about to graduate law school she thinks she needs something more "sophisticated."

Here's a design that's got me inspired:

Photo from Architecture Art Designs

 On the one hand, this could turn out beautifully... on the other, I will end up with a mishmash mosaic that will strongly differ from the mental image I had. The latter has been my typical experience with art but, like I said, I'm optimistic.

Will post a photo once it's done!

Perfect Imperfections

I think that something needs to be weird in order to have a real beauty- CR

The upcoming sixth CR Fashion Book will be out March 5 but let's discuss the cover for a second...

Carine Roitfeld, the 60-year-old former Vogue Paris EIC,  didn't get to where she is by following the beaten path. Ever since I watched her documentary on Netflix she's become one of my girl crushes. She's been with her partner for 30+ years, they  have two seemingly grounded kids and she's made quite a name for herself in the dog-eat-dog fashion world. Despite her success, most people outside the fashion  world have no idea who she is- she doesn't have the name recognition of Anna Wintour but she has arguably equal success.

While Vogue is very particular about who makes the cover (not much diversity there) it's refreshing to see a girl with braces on the cover of a major fashion publication. When Photoshopped images are the default for publications, I love that she went with something atypical. This may not be the most groundbreaking cover, but I think it's a step in the right direction.