Thursday, January 31, 2013

random wishlist

You ever browse online and find like, 10,000 things you would like to buy? Well, this happens to me A LOT. I'll just be perusing my favorite sites and come across these lovely little (or big) things that I would love to have the money to just go buy!

Here are a few, if you have any info on any of these things, or comment with something on your wishlist, please do! I love hearing from you guys!


 Just these few things right now, I'm sure there'll be more later!

open cutaway blazer
mini giraffe earrings
tulip to tango skirt
love lettuce 
belted satin shirtdress



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

modcloth sales

There's a sale going on that you guys MUST know about. Currently, I have no money (does anyone else feel like the best sales come when you're broke?) but there is an AMAZING sale at www.modcloth.com. There are some products that are up to 70% off. Make sure you search real hard to find the best deals!

I found out about this sale from Kate at Scathingly Brilliant. Thanks Kate!!

Here are some of my wishlist items:
www.modcloth.com

Monday, January 21, 2013

cooking with meela - kale and white bean soup

Hello All-

Today I have a recipe that I recently made that I'm in L-O-V-E with! The recipe comes from Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook My Father's Daughter.  The title in the book itself is white bean soup: two ways. Version one of this recipe is the one containing kale. The recipe's as follows:

Ingredients:
  3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
•  1 fennel bulb, stems and fronds removed for another use, sliced
•  1 large yellow onion, peeled and thinly sliced
•  2 large cloves of garlc, peeled and thinly sliced
•  pinch red chile flakes
•  1/4 teasppon dried oregano

•  1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
•  2 14-ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
•  2 pints vegetable stock

•  coarse salt

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy soup pot over medium heat. dd the fennel and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the onion and garlic, turn the heat as low as it can go, and cook for 1/2 hour, stirring here and there.A little color is okay, but you really want the vegetables to get soft and sweet. Add the chile flakes, oregano, and pepper and cook for a minute. Add the beans and stock, bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, add salt to taste, and let cook on low heat for 1 hour. Proceed with either version.


version one (with kale)
one bunch of kale, stems discarded and leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
•  your best, highest-quality olive oil, for serving

Stir in the kale leaves and let cook for 7 minutes, or until just cooked. Ladel into four bowls, drizzle with your very best oil, and serve.

My variations:
Only because of lack of ingredients, I cooked the soup without the fennel, chile flakes, & dried oregano. I also added more stock (4 pints, organic) and kale (about 2-2 1/2 bunches) and half of a large onion. 

You're probably thinking that it would be horribly bland without those ingredients, but to your (and my) suprise, it was still super flavorful.  Next time I definitely want to add the chile flakes to give it a little heat. I also like to serve it with a bit of breaf or a crusty roll to soak up the yummy juices! I would definitely make this super delicious, super healthy meal again!

 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

the glitter dilemma

http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t428/meelaohtwo/orig_zps65ded1e6-1_zpsf2cecf8a.jpg 
hey lovlies - 
I have to get something off my chest. It's a beauty dilemma I've had to face quite a few times. It's what I call "THE GLITTER DILEMMA"

I don't know if when you see the title, you automatically know what I'm talking about, like we have beauty telepathy or something. But for those of you who do't know what I'm talking about, I'm here to explain.

Quite a few times, I've bought something (usually from a drugstore brand) that is marked "Matte" but when I get all excited to use it, I open that baby up and find little glitter or shimmer particles inside. If I'm not mistaken matte means the exact opposite of that. 

(I'm not wrong: matte  /mat/Adjective (of a color, paint, or surface) Dull and flat, without a shine: "matte black".) 

For example, I bought a Revlon brand "matte" eyeshadow #009 called Rich Sable. 
sorry for the gross packaging.
I thought that it would be a really good crease definition color, but sadly, it had shimmer in it. But this isn't the only thing with hidden glitter in it. Bronzers, blushers, body creams, etc. All of which are usually NOT MARKED. I digress.

Have any of you noticed that sort of thing? Does it bother you as much as it bothers me? (Most likely not.) Comment with your thoughts.

Friday, January 11, 2013

friday favorites !



I  know this isn't really related to anything but I love this video.
 
Lights
anything lights *


paperalligator:

Quick tattoo commission for some good pals! These will be separate but I like how they look together.
anything arrows #--->
I'm loving this polaroid wall!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

birchbox - january review !

Hello all!

It's been a while and I've never really been that great at this blog thing, I figure I might as well tell you now.

In other news, one of my Christmas gifts this year was a subscription for Birchbox. For those of you who don't know, Birchbox is a monthy beauty subscription box filled with beauty samples and sometimes, full sized products. When you sign up they have you take a quiz so that they can cater to your beauty wants/likes/needs! 

Now I've only been with them for two months (December and January) so I can't exactly give a complete review on the company just yet, but I can tell you what I recieved in my January Birchbox.

My January box includes: 
• Caudalie | Vinexpert Radiance Day Cream SPF 15
• Juicy Couture | Viva la Juicy
• Number 4 | Clarifying Shampoo 
• theBalm® cosmetics | Put a Lid on It ™ Eyelid Primer
BEAUTY EXTRA
  100% Pure | Nourishing Body Cream



 Although I haven't tried out these products yet, the one's I'm really excited to use are the eyelid primer from theBalm and the shampoo. I really want to try to take better care of my hair this year.

Are any of you subscribed to Birchbox? Would you subscribe? Let me know in the comments and keep your eyes out for singular beauty product reviews. 

To subscribe to Birchbox visit this site: https://www.birchbox.com/join