~ diy pedi ~

With the arrival of summer come flip-flops galore! Every store seems to carry at least 20 varieties of shoes that will show off your toes. Unfortunately pedicures, at least in my area, can cost between $45-$65. So with tighter funds (thanks to the r-word) how's a girl to keep her feet ready for sandals 24/7? Well, lots of magazines have been featuring tips for DIY (do it yourself) pedicures lately. Below are a few ideas I've found that have helped me cut back on costs while creating a new de-stressing ritual in my own bathroom.



*and don't worry if you do not have a ton of fresh flowers to soak your feet in ;) I promise these ideas are simple and cheap, I just liked this photo.

Steps to help you create your own spa experience:

1) Light a few candles, and put on some soft music. After all, getting a pedicure isn't just about getting your nails done it's a time for you to relax. My favorite combinate is lavender candles with Diana Krall in the background (http://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-Diana-Krall/dp/B000SO7OL6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1243613195&sr=1-2).

2) Soak your feet. Mix all the ingredients (listed below) together and soak for as long as you want.

Ingredients for skin softening soak:
1/4 fresh lemon juice
a bit of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/4 cup of milk
1/4 water

3) Scrub. Take 1 cup granulated sugar and pour into a mixing bowl. Gradually add your favorite Olive Oil and mix together until you have a slightly wet, but granually consistency (really, whatever looks good to you). Then, add in a sprinkling of peppermint leaves (or a few drops of peppermint oil).

Ingredients for scrub:
Brown sugar
Olive oil
Fresh mint leaves (or peppermint oil)

4) Massage in your favorite lotion. I love 'Shea It Isn't So' from Bath & Body Works (http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2222376&cp=2484528.3214849&parentPage=family)

5) Push. Use a cuticle or Popsicle stick to press cuticles back so they don’t get in the way of the polish.

6) Polish. Apply a base coat first, or use Sally Hansen’s Double Duty base and top coat. Then, apply two thin coats of polish followed by a top coat.

7) Hit the beach to show off your toes ;)

Summer Read #1

When school is in session homework tends to cut into my leisure reading time far more than I would like. Thankfully summer is finally here! For me this means more time to read books that don't require me to write a huge paper afterwards =) I'll be posting some novel's I've been reading of late- great for relaxing when you get some downtime. Let me know what you think of them!

The Piano Teacher-Janice Lee



I read this book not long ago, and loved it (nearly impossible to put down)! This often dark tale of two affairs unfolds against the vibrant backdrop of Hong Kong. In fact, the city itself is just as engaging as any of Lee's characters, and perhaps the only one you will still have faith in by the end of the story. As the New Yorker says "Lee unfolds each story, and flits between them, with the brisk grace and discretion of the society she describes—a world in which horrors are adumbrated but seldom told". I definitely recommend it for anyone trying to mentally escape for a bit this summer with a complex novel, not just another cheap beach book. Here's a site with more information about the author: http://www.elle.com/Living/Travel/Janice-Lee-The-Piano-Teacher

~picnic time~

It's summer! To me that means lots of eating outdoors =) There's just something about eating outside that makes dinner (or lunch) into more of an event than a chore. Below are some fantastic (and simple) recipes for a summer picnic.

Lemonade
it's not summer without it



Ingredients:
5 lemons
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1 1/4 quarts water

Directions:
1. Peel the rinds from the 5 lemons and cut them into 1/2 inch slices. Set the lemons aside.
2. Place the rinds in a bowl and sprinkle the sugar over them. Let this stand for about one hour, so that the sugar begins to soak up the oils from the lemons.
3. Bring water to a boil in a covered saucepan and then pour the hot water over the sugared lemon rinds. Allow this mixture to cool for 20 minutes and then remove the rinds.
4. Squeeze the lemons into another bowl. Pour the juice through a strainer into the sugar mixture. Stir well, pour into pitcher and pop it in the fridge! Serve with ice cubes.


Pasta Salad
super easy and delicious




Ingredients:
1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons country-style grainy mustard
1 pound cooked ditalini pasta
1/2 cup diced roasted red peppers (from water-packed jar)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Salt and ground black pepper
2 cups small mozzarella balls


Directions:
In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, oil and mustard. Add cooked pasta, red peppers and basil and toss to combine. Season, to taste, with salt and black pepper. Fold in mozzarella cheese.


Berry Napoleons
simple & elegant



Ingredients:
Cooking spray
12 wonton wrappers
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup whipped topping
1 cup raspberries, blackberries or sliced strawberries, or any berry combination
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
Mint to garnish, if desired

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Arrange wonton wrappers on prepared baking sheet and spray the surface with cooking spray. Sprinkle sugar over wontons.

3. Bake 5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove wontons from oven and arrange 4 on a serving platter (or individual dessert dishes).

4. Top each wonton with 2 tablespoons whipped topping and then 2 tablespoons berries.

5. Top with second wonton wrapper. Repeat layers (whipped topping, berries, wonton wrapper). Sift confectioners' sugar over top layer. Serve immediately.

The R Word

As we all are acutely aware, the recession is a reality. The downturn in the economy can affect everything from how often you eat out to whether you skip a hair color touch up. These things aren't necessities to be sure, but they are little luxuries that I miss when funds do not allow for them as often as I would like. Fortunately I've found a website that makes things a little easier in this not so sunny time for money. Go to billshrink.com! There you can enter information about cell phone plans, interest rates, or even gas prices, and the site will find you a cheaper payment plan (or better gas station). Saving money by switching plans may just give you enough extra cash to treat yourself to something special to brighten your day. Happy savings!

Five Ways to Simplify Your Beauty Routine

Getting ready in the mornings can be the most stressful part of the day. One minute you were enjoying the warmth of your bed and then the alarm went off and you stumbled into the bathroom in mad rush. Well, below are a few tips I use when I'm tight on time in the AM. They help save time and bring a little sanity to my dash out the door.

#1
Set up an area on your vanity or bathroom counter to lay out your makeup and tools. They'll be easier to find than in an overstuffed bag.

#2
Choose big fluffy brushes to apply face powder and blush. They will deposit a sheer wash of color that's easier to blend.

#3
Don't use mascara on your lower lashes. It often smudges and it will take more time to clean up.

#4
If you don't have time to wash your hair, spray the roots with hairspray- the alcohol in it will absorb excess oil.

#5
If you do have time to wash your hair, but not enough to let it dry, you can work in a golf-ball sized amount of mousse. The alcohol content will speed up the drying process.

#2 = more time to watch youtube!

Admit it-there has been at least one moment in the past week when you've been on youtube and felt guilty because you knew you should have been doing something else. Well give yourself permission to get distracted because I have two AMAZING videos to share with you. So sit back (chai latte in hand) and enjoy!

*This is one of my best friends performing with her boyfriend.*



*This is a long video, but these guys are awesome!*

Best part of summer #1 = iced lattes!

I love chai lattes, my best friend from elementary school got me hooked. I prefer them hot in the winter, but in the summer I would rather have an iced chai latte than lemonade any day. Below is a recipe to add a little zen to the beginning of summer =)

Make Chai Tea Latte from Liquid Concentrate
*I like TAZO's concentrate (http://iweb.cooking.com/images/products/enlarge/206751e.jpg). It's faster than brewing your own from scratch.*

Step 1-->Shake the package of liquid chai concentrate before opening it.

Step 2-->Pour a ½ cup of the chai concentrate into a into a glass

Step 3-->Next mix in ½ cup of milk

Step 4-->Add ice cubes to the glass

Step 5-->Sprinkle the chai latte with cinnamon, nutmeg or both and serve