Cupcakes and Commentary |

Beauty insider

August 22, 2017 No Comments

I could also call this “confessions of a beauty junkie”, however I have to say that my make-up choices have refined over the years and settled down a bit. Yet, I can still remember my first NARS eyeshadow purchase, and dropping sixty dollars on Dior shadow without batting an eyelash as a college student. Now, I stick tend to stick to my tried and true favorites, NARS and Urban Decay shadows, Anastasia brows, Maybelline mascara, and L’Oréal foundation. Yup, my foundation is cheap, and honestly it works as well as the fifty dollar ones I’ve tried. And believe me I’ve tried them! I’m much more discerning with new trends now, because I don’t like the clutter in my make-up drawer. However, this past weekend, while picking up my Sephora moisturizer, I grabbed this:

And I tried it out on Sunday with my Sephora birthday sample gloss:

And it was awesome. It didn’t budge all day. And my lips didn’t feel dry or cakey like most lip primers. I’m considering it my new favorite!

Favorite Recipes

Turkey calzones

August 21, 2017 No Comments

This dinner is sooo easy, perfect for a hot weeknight when I really didn’t want to make a huge meal. It’ll be ready in twenty minutes or less!

Ingredients

Turkey slices

Cheddar cheese slices

Thin pizza dough from the tube

Egg wash (egg mixed with 1 tsp water)

Marinara sauce

Directions

Preheat oven according to pizza dough directions. Heat marinara sauce in a pot on low on the stove. Roll out dough on a floured cutting board and cut into four equal pieces. Layer turkey slices (I did four) and cheddar cheese slices (two) on each piece, then fold in half. Press edges closed with the back of a fork. Cut a small slit in the top and then brush the egg wash on each calzone. Place on a nonstick pan (or nonstick foil on a pan) and bake for about 12-15 minutes (check periodically to make sure they don’t burn). Serve warm with marinara to dip!

How was your weekend?

Stone cut trail on Monte Sano

August 15, 2017 No Comments

As I previewed on Friday, B and I hiked a pretty significant trail this past Friday. Close to 3.5 miles, with climbing and caves, in fog and sporadic rain, and some awesome views the stone cut trail is no joke.

We climbed through spider webs…

Sloshed through mud…

Entered caves…

We found a little snail:

And some fallen trees that looked like they were still falling…

And enjoyed a foggy, but peaceful landscape at the end:

Well, I thought this was the end. Forty minutes later we were actually back to the truck. Ha!

Friday Favorites

August 11, 2017 No Comments

B and I took a long hike Friday morning, our first since the boys headed back to school. I have more pictures to share, but this one that B took of me is one of my favorites. Isn’t it nice to stop and breathe for a minute? God is great, y’all. You just have to stop sometimes and pay attention.

This picture of Echo Park reminds me of driving through California.

Indian butter chicken sounds so warm and inviting, like the last days of summer.

Lipstick primer I need pronto for work.

Creating a gratitude journal.

Tundra in our study? I’m headed to find a paint sample.

Seeing the biggest dinosaur ever is on my family bucket list for the boys.

And when we head to New York to see the biggest dinosaur, we’re going to 375 Fries for dinner.

Four Ted Talks to share with my students about moving out of ideological comfort zones.

On taking your kids on trips even if they don’t jump and down with gratitude.

And finally, advice for high school success. Saving this, I’ll need it in about six years!

Serious reads

Currently reading

August 10, 2017 No Comments

What did you say you’re reading again?

Well if you’re A, you’re reading anything Stuart Gibbs’ kid series (Spy School, Moon Base Alpha, & Funjungle). He’s read almost every one.

If you’re J you’re reading Narwhal & Jellyfish, Michael Hall books, and Bob books:

And B has jumped both feet into my love of getting library books and is currently reading The Watchman & The Dresden Files series.

And finally, as usual I’m reading several books at once:

There’s a new Mary Poppins movie coming out, and this one is supposed to be more in line with P.L. Travers vision of her book series. I love the original movie Mary Poppins, so I was intrigued to see how different the book character is. I’m going to say, not that different…perhaps meaner?

I really enjoyed Bob Goff’s book Love Does, so Love Lives Here, by his wife, is on my list.

I’m still steadily making my way through Agatha Christie’s books and I realized I really need to start keeping a list, because I’m forgetting which ones I’ve read.

Goodnight June is a book that fantasizes the back story of the book Goodnigth Moon. I read this book everyday to A until he was one (and beyond), so I had to add it.

Ruth Reichl’s Delicious is one of her books that I realized I hadn’t read, so I added it to my library holds this week!

Happy reading!

How was your weekend?, Mini Cupcakes

Splash!

August 9, 2017 No Comments

The boys may be back in school, but we are still soaking up all the pool time we can get!

We’re jumping, floating, and just relaxing. Our pool is open until almost October, which is awesome because I can guarantee it’ll be hot until then or later.

Favorite Recipes

Pork tenderloin with asparagus & tomatoes

August 8, 2017 No Comments

The boys and I have been watching Food Network Star and this dish was made by our favorite on the show, Jason. The boys love his cooking and his southern wit! This dish he made during a live discussion, and I recreated it for the boys this past weekend. Y’all. It’s kiss your Mama good. B insisted it become part if our monthly rotation of dinners.

Adventures in cub scouting

Cubadega

August 7, 2017 No Comments

This past weekend it was time to put our imaginations and glue skills to work for Cubadega.

We colored:

Decorated:

And then we were ready to race:

They boys had a blast! It was a great evening of fun, fellowship, and friends!

Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites…on a Saturday

August 5, 2017 No Comments

This week has been ultra busy, which is why I’m just now sitting down on Saturday and blogging. The boys had a great first week of school and we are officially back in Scouts, sports, and school work! Let the new year begin!

If you have extra patience on your hands, make tortillas.

Visiting Oahu with kids, outside of Waikiki.

If you want to know stress…help out with kindergarten lunch.

Thinking about making this confetti cake with the boys for my birthday.

I have a slight obsession with costume design, so I’ve been reading through the rhetoric purpose of outfits from Game of Thrones.

Crispy eggplant sounds like a perfect meal to me!

Picking the right yoga pants.

A cute globe for decor.

An inviting study set-up.

Well….gross.

And finally, J and I are going to be joining B and A on Cub Scout camp outs this year. I’m already planning and have this hoodie & these leggings on my list. Because yes, I’m a girly girl who thinks of camping according to outfits.

Milestones, Mini Cupcakes

First day of school

August 3, 2017 No Comments

Unbelievably enough, our summer break is done and the boys are officially back in school. These eight weeks flew by, I’m not even sure where the time went! I picked up a few happy back to school treats for the boys’ teachers:

And a few surprises for the boys:

An owl (I managed to find one that looks like the school mascot) and some books for J.

And a pencil case, books, and Pokemon cards for A.

And in a blink we were up dressed and taking our first day of school pictures:

J is in Kindergarten this year! He is so excited to be at school with his brother. He is such a sweet, kind boy and he loves school! I know he’s definitely ready, even if I’m not quite ready for him to be this grown up, so fast!

A is in third grade this year! He gets to move upstairs at the elementary school, which is a big deal. He is such a sweet sincere boy and I know he’s so ready to tackle third grade! He didn’t want me to walk him in, but at the last minute he ran out and hugged me.

We got our backpacks on:

And they were ready to head to school!