DIY Sugar Scrub

Summer is known for its short jean cutoffs, cute summery dresses, and adorable rompers. What all these outfits have in common is that your legs take center stage. Chlorine and sunscreen have dried my legs out over the summer and they are in dire need of some tlc before school starts. I decided to whip myself up an at home-remedy by making my own exfoliant. What I like about using sugar versus salt as the base in an exfoliator is that sugar is gentler on your skin than salt and helps your skin retain moisture better. Also sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid which thickens the layers of your skin, helping boost firmness.

You'll need:
brown sugar
white sugar
olive oil
vanilla extract (makes your scrub smell yummy!)

How to:
You'll want equal parts brown sugar to white sugar and mix them together. Next add your olive oil and let it trickle down to the bottom before pouring in a little more. After adding your oil, mix the sugar and oil together. To make your scrub delicious add a few drops of vanilla extract for a delicious smelling scrub!

This scrub makes an excellent gift for friends. Put the scrub into cute mason or jam jars and wrap with ribbon and your good to go!

Ombré Nails

This summer has been all about the ombré trend with beach hair and the trend seen all over the runway in summer fashions. I decided to replicate the trend into my manicure after being inspired by my monthly birchbox order.

You'll need:
White nail polish
Any polish of your color

How to:
Get your base color and grab a paper plate or a piece of foil and dab four drops of your base coat onto your work surface. Add drops of the white nail polish to each pile on your work surface increasing the amount of white polish as you go to get a spectrum of colors from light to dark.

Now that you have 4 distinct shades paint your nails from light to dark starting with your pinky finger, but make sure to clean the brush in between coats of varying nails. Add a top coat and dry.

DIY Canvas Artwork

This year is my first year at school having my own room and living in an actual house (freshman year it was the dorms and sophomore year was the sorority house) so I am really excited to be able to decorate it in my own style. I decided to create some artwork of my own in order to give my room some personality. This canvas image was really simple to make and ended up costing less than $10!

You'll need:
a canvas board
mod podge
a sponge brush

a printed image that you would like to have on your canvas

How to:
Cut out your image and secure it to your canvas with mod podge. Wait a minute or two to let your image dry to the canvas. Then coat the entire canvas in mod podge, waiting about 10-15 minutes between coats. I coated mine about three times.

Ooey Gooey Peanut Butter Cookies

Anything peanut butter related is often a hit in my family and its been hard trying to find the perfect peanut butter dessert. Often I find them too heavy that I'm craving a gallon of milk afterwards. This recipe gives you the perfect peanut butter cookie that wont leave your mouth glued shut afterwards! And they are so easy to make, it only requires 4 ingredients and they also happen to be gluten free!

You'll need:
1 cup of peanut butter (crunchy or smooth, you're preference!)
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon of baking soda

How to:

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Form balls of dough and place them on a greased cookie sheet. These cookies do not flatten out well in the oven so make sure to press them down on the sheet before cooking. Then just pop them in the oven at 350 for 6-8 minutes. I warn you, these cookies expand like crazy so make sure you place them far apart on the baking sheet because I almost ended up with a peanut butter cookie cake instead!

michiblogs

I just wanted to say thanks to Andy Green for including my blog on his website michiblogs.com Michiblogs is a compilation of all blogs by umich students. If you have a blog and go to the University of Michigan let Andy know so you can include it on his site and all of your posts will be automatically included. It's really cool, check it out!

French Macaroons

I've always had a sweet tooth for desserts, and have never been afraid to tackle a new recipe, but I've always been hesitant towards the french macaroon. They have to be made to perfection in order to avoid any cracks, flattening, or a hollow shell. Even in the recipe it warns agains making them in humid temperatures since these treats are so finicky! Macaroons are a special treat in my family being that they are my sister's favorite dessert and are naturally gluten free. They came out so good that I had to make 2 batches in 2 days to keep up with the demand! The best compliment was when I shared some with my friend who just returned from Paris and compared them from the famous macaroon shop Ladurée! These desserts are so gourmet and adorably petite that you will impress anyone you share these treats with.

You'll need:
2 large egg whites at room temperature
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 cup of superfine sugar
3/4 cup almond flour
pinch of cream of tartar
piping bag
parchment paper

How to:
Sift together the almond flour and confectioners sugar twice to make sure its superfine. Preheat your oven to 375. Whisk the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce the mixing speed to low and add the superfine sugar. Increase the speed to high and whisk until stiff peaks form (approximately 8 minutes). Add the flour mixture to the whites and fold in until the mixture is shiny and smooth. *tip* if you like the flavor of almonds add a splash of almond extract to your batter to really bring out the almond flavor in the batter!

Transfer the batter to a pastry bag and pipe out 3/4 inch circles about an inch apart on a baking sheet (make sure you line your baking sheet with parchment paper otherwise your macaroons will stick!) When finished tap the bottom of the baking sheet to release trapped air. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees and bake the macaroons for 10 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through.

Sandwich 2 same-size macaroons with 1 teaspoon of filling. I used raspberry jam which added a nice contrast to the almond crusts.

Petite Apple Pies

Sorry for the delay in posts, this weekend has been crazy with ending my last week of work and getting in the mindset for back to school. To de-stress I went into a baking frenzy whipping up all sorts of treats. There was a dessert on pinterest that caught my eye that I was dying to replicate and its the perfect fall dessert. Its a pie crusted apple-stuffed apple. Sounds impressive, right? I first started out by making my own homemade gluten free pie crust (I just substituted gluten free flour) in my pie crust recipe, but you can just use store bought to make things easier.

You'll need:
6 apples
1/2 cup of sugar (I used nustavia for a healthier version)
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon
pie crust
melon ball scooper
apple peeler

How to:

Cut the top off of 4 apples and scoop out the insides with a melon ball scooper. Be careful not to pierce the skin of the apple!

The hollowed apples

Next peel the skins off the 2 extra apples. When all peeled chop up the apples into small pieces. In a large bowl combine the sugar, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Add the apples and mix until all the apple pieces are covered in the sugared mixture. Scoop the apple mixture into your hollowed out apples

Fill your apple shell to the brim, but not so that its overflowing

Finally cut your pie crust into 1/4 inch strips and lattice over the apples. Place the finished apples in a glass pan and fill with just enough water to cover the bottom of the apples. Cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes on 350. I put my oven on broil (425) for the last minute or two to get that gorgeous brown colored crust. Enjoy and happy fall feasting!

Add some powdered sugar for some extra sweetness!

Comfy Fall Sweater

When I was shopping in Bloomingdale's with friends a few weeks ago, I saw an amazing fall outfit that I haven't been able to get out of my head. When fall and winter approaches I am all about sweaters and knits. I'm perpetually cold and nothing is as warm and cozy as an oversized sweater. I love pairing a large oversized sweater with a pair of skinny jeans or leggings for a nice contrast in shapes. I specifically fell in love with a Marc by Marc Jacobs oversized sweater that would go nicely with any pair of tight fitting pants. 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Geraldine Cable-Knit Sweater
Helmut Lang Gloss Wash 5 Pocket Skinny Jeans
Madison Harding Miller Booties



 



Marc by Marc Jacobs Geraldine Long Sleeve Sweater
Helmut Lang Black Leather Black Skinny Stretch Pants

Giuseppe Zanotti Leather Platform Bootie





Marc by Marc Jacobs Geraldine Cable-Knit Sweater
7 for All Mankind Roxanne Classic Skinny Jean
Tory Burch Calista Riding Boots
Michael Kors Large Gold Runway Watch

(All outfits my creation via Polyvore)

Watermelon Jello Shots

Since summer is wrapping up and to me summer and watermelon go hand in hand, I wanted to come up with a fun twist to the college frat party staple: jello shots. I've seen some gourmet versions where the jello is poured into orange rinds rather than dixie cups, but I decided to "summer-ize" it by making the jello shots look like mini slices of watermelon.

Watermelon Jello Shots:

(makes 40)

You'll need: 

1 box of watermlon jello (or any other red flavor)

10 limes

1 cup boiling water

1 cup vodka
chocolate sprinkles as "seeds" (optional)

How to:

First cut all the limes in half and hollow out the peel. You can use a melon scooper or take a knice and cut the insides carefully to loosen the lime from the peel. Spoon out the lime.

Next add the boiled water to the jello mix and stir until the mixture dissolves. Slowly mix in the one cup of vodka. Pour the mixture into the lime shells and refrigerate overnight (add a few chocolate sprinkles on top if you want!)

Carefully cut each lime shell in half and cheers!

Low-cal Ready to Eat Cookie Dough

The only thing better than chocolate chip cookies is chocolate chip cookie dough! But knowing that the cookie dough will end up surrounding my tummy instead of in it, has deterred me from scarfing a whole bowl of the gooey stuff everytime I whip up a batch. I've come across a single serve recipe for ready to eat cookie dough that will save you from any food poisoning (bye-bye salmonella) and tweaked it into a low-cal version that is the perfect guilt free dessert!

You'll need:
1.5 tablespoons of butter (I used Smart Balance)
3 tablespoons of flour (I used Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour)
1 tablespoon milk (skim)
2 tablespoons of sugar (I used Splenda because it has a fine texture that blends well into the dough)
splash of vanilla extract
chocolate chips or carob chips (or andy topping of your choice!)

How to:

Mash the butter. Then add all other ingredients excpet for the milk and additional toppings to end up with a dry, crummy mixture. Then add the milk and toppings and enjoy!

The dough makes about 4 balls and totals to 100 calories before adding toppings

(with 2 tablespoons of carob chips or 1 tablespoon of regular semisweet chocolate chips the total is 170 calories)

Party Popsicles

As a kid I was a big fan of ice creams and popsicles in the summer. The icy treat was always so refreshing after a long day in the sun. I decided to try to give my old favorite an updated twist by making alcoholic popsicles for a more grown up version of the pool party treat. These popsicles are so easy to make and are a fun unexpected treat for your guests!




For me watermelon is the quintessential summer time treat so what better than to combine 2 summertime favorites into a watermelon margarita ice pop?

Watermelon Margarita Ice Pops

You'll need:
5 cups of chopped cubed seedless watermelon
2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons of sugar (I like to use Nustavia for a low-cal version)
1/4 cup of tequila
Ice pop molds

How to:
Purée all the ingredients in a blender until  liquified, the strain the mixture into a large measuring cup. Pour the mixture into the molds and freeze it for 30 minutes. If your ice pop molds do not come with a stick, add a wooden popsicle stick to the center of each mold. Continue freezing until firm (about 24 hours).




Over spring break last year in Punta Cana, a tequila sunrise was me and my friends drink of choice. Its a sweet tropical tasting drink that always brings me back to my times on the beach. This popsicle version is just as good as the real thing!

Tequila Sunrise Ice Pops
serves 8

You'll need:
1/2 cup of cranberry juice cocktail
2 tablespoons of lime juice
2 teapoons of honey
1.5 cups of orange juice
1/4 cup of tequila
popsicle molds

How to:

In a measuring cup combine cranberry juice cocktail, lime juice, and honey. Pour 4 tsp of the cranberry mixture into the bottom of each mold. Freeze for an hour or until firm. In a separate measuring cup combine the orange juice and tequila. After the cranberry mixture has firmed pour the orange juice mix into the rest of the mold.  Cover molds with foil and insert popsicle sticks into the mold. Freeze overnight and remove foil before serving.

Mojitos have to be one of my favorite drinks of all time. I find them so refreshing and I love the extra sweetness that the simple syrup adds. These popsicles pack a delicious punch.

Havana Mojito Popsicles

You'll need:
1/4 cup of Bacardi Light Rum      
1/4 tablespoons of fresh Lime Juice                  
1/4 tablespoons of Simple Syrup*
2½ cups Lemon lime soda (sprite or sierra mist-I used diet for the lighter version)              
12  Fresh mint leaves                         
3 cups Ice Cubes                         

Combine all ingredients into blender with ice.  Puree all ingredients until mixture is smooth and slushy.  Pour slushy mixture into Popsicle molds.  Add Popsicle sticks and freeze for 8 hours

**Simple SyrupYields: ½ cup
Prep: 10 minutes
½ cup        Sugar of choice                  
½ cup        Water                          
Bring water to a boil and remove from heat.  Add sugar and whisk mixture until all sugar has dissolved.  Mixture should be clear in color.  Bring to room temperature.
**use an all natural zero calorie sweetner for a healthier option

Summer Reads

This past weekend while I was away at the beach I finally had the opportunity to make a dent in my list of books to read this summer. I am a firm believer in some good summer chick-lit and find no better opportunity than to enjoy them then by the pool. When in Doubt, Add Butter by Beth Harbison was a quick, adorable read with a very relatable heroine. Buy here: When in Doubt, Add Butter

Here are some of my other favorite summer reads:

The Sugar Queen: by Sarah Addison Allen

"Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds her closet harboring Della Lee Baker, a local waitress who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey’s narrow existence quickly expands. She even bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who is hounded by books that inexplicably appear when she needs them—and who has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush. Soon Josey is living in a world where the color red has startling powers, and passion can make eggs fry in their cartons. And that’s just for starters"

The Sugar Queen

Eat, Pray, Love: Elizabeth Gilbert

"This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali."

Eat, Pray, Love

The Girl Who Chased the Moon: Sarah Addison Allen

"Emily Benedict has come to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, not only wishing to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also dreaming of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in."

 The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Very Valentine: Adriana Trigiani

"The Angelini Shoe Company, one of the last family-owned businesses in Greenwich Village, has been making exquisite wedding shoes since 1903 but now teeters on the brink of financial collapse. To save their business from ruin, thirty-three-year-old Valentine Roncalli—apprentice to and granddaughter of master artisan Teodora Angelini—must bring the family's old-world craftsmanship into the twenty-first century. Juggling her budding romance with dashing chef Roman Falconi, her duty to her family, and a design challenge presented by a prestigious department store, Valentine returns to Italy with her grandmother in a quest to build a pair of glorious shoes to beat their rivals. And in the course of discovering her true artistic voice and so much more in la bella Italia, Valentine will be turning her life and the business upside down in ways she never expected."

Very Valentine

Smoking Slippers

Though I am definitely a jean shorts and sperry's girl I do get eager for all the amazing new fall fashions as they start to debut towards the end of summer. Recently I've had my eye on all the new styles of fall shoes. Having already gotten a pair of the cowboy bootie (see previous post) I've had my eye on one of the top upcoming styles for fall: smoking slippers. The smoking slipper is the trendier, older sister of the classic ballet flat and can be worn the same way. I like pairing mine with skinny jeans or leggings. Since they are such a simple shoe I decided to be a little daring and get them in leopard for some fun! I got my pair from Steve Madden (see link below).

 

Steve Madden Croquetl

 





Vectra Studded Slippers-Top Shop

Chalres Philip Smoking Flats-Eula