Sephora, new products, and olive oil

So yesterday I was at the mall shopping for Christmas gifts (I couldn't make it out on Black Friday). I had to quickly duck into Sephora to grab some more of Urban Decay's eye shadow primer potion. I love that stuff and was pretty much out. Plus I needed it for my holiday makeup look that I'll be wearing today. As I was there I saw something else I had to grab (because of course it's impossible to run into Sephora for one thing and not get anything else!). I really wanted to grab a few other things while I was in there and play with some new makeup but I really didn't have time. All I got besides the primer potion was the LaVanilla mini deo trio. I have wanted to try a natural deodorant for quite some time and thought that this would be the perfect way. It comes with 3 different scents and they're all travel size!
I just used it for the first time this morning and will be sneaking a mini dove antiperspirant into my purse today in case I need to touch up! I will keep you posted on its effectiveness but I can tell you that I have already vacuumed most of my apartment and done a good load of dishes and so far I still smell as fresh as a daisy! I really love how this is a little bit powdery because that helps keep my underarms dry without having to add anything extra. When I'm going to dance class I might have to use a regular deodorant, though.
Now onto the second part of this post: olive oil. I have recently discovered the benefits of using olive oil as a beauty product thanks to Cara at Maskcara. She has a great blog that you should definitely check out. Last night I took a shower and used olive oil as a deep conditioner. I looovvveee my hair today, it's amazing! I also used it as a moisturizer after I shaved my legs and olive oil is now my only eye makeup remover.
Anyway, just wanted to share these things with you. Have a great Thanksgiving!

XOXO,
MMM

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving and get to spend some time with your friends and family no matter where you are. Thank you so much for reading and supporting this blog and helping my dream come true. I love you all more than you'll ever know. Wishing you all the best Turkey Day ever!




XOXO,
MMM

Image from drawingstep.com

AHHH!

OK, reallllyyyyy quick post here. Just wanted to let you know Lush's Christmas stuff is up! So amazing! My thoughts will come soon. Check out the products online. 

XOXO,
MMM

Fall Nails!

Hey everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long. I miss you guys! This evening I decided to spend some time with my family. We flopped down on the couch and watched project runway and then one of  my favorite shows, Modern Family (suggested by my dad in an attempt to escape Project Runway.) I pained my nails a beautiful Essie color, Bahama Mama. Despite the summery sounding name, it is a great color for fall. After that was done I decided to paint on a sparkly coat to give my nails a little oomph. I used a Sally Hanson nail polish in Disco Ball. I actually thought it was white (and as you'll see it looks white in the bottle) but it's colored. I'm a little dissapointed, but I do like the way it turned out. Here are some pictures.

Here are some pictures of the polishes I used:

And I have been loving Lush's lemony flutter cuticle butter. This is just a sample sized container, but you can see the lovely consistency of the cuticle cream: 

XOXO,

MMM

Updates

I'd like to begin this post my apologizing. I'm sorry I haven't written on here for so long. As I'm sure you know, life is crazy. Things have been insanely busy and if you're reading this, that's amazing. I am so grateful to you for sticking with me during the crazy launch of this blog and I hope to keep posting here for a long time. Now, without further ado, let's get into the blog post.

So I thought I'd do a little update/check in. First of all: I've been sick. I stayed home yesterday and am home today. My best friend has been San Pellegrino Sparkling Orange Beverages. I love these. They taste amazing and have been perfect for when I've been sick. They give me that much-needed hydration and the vitamin C helps fight my cold.


The deliciousness that is the 
San Pellegrino Sparkling 
Orange Beverage.


Another thing I've been loving are Lush products. Today I took a bath with my last bit of the Sunny Side bubble bar. I cocktailed it with a piece of MMM. Let me tell you: I love both of these products but I would not recommend cocktailing a bath melt with a bubble bar. The oils from the bath melt sorta ruined the bubbles. Anyway, the scents were very nice together and I could justify using two Lush products (which is something I normally don't do) since it is my birthday tomorrow and I think I might get a Lush gift card! If I don't, though, I will order from there anyway. There are a number of things I want to buy, but I'm just holding back to wait and see if I get a Lush surprise. Either way, lots of Lush products will be coming my way soon!

Funny story, we are living in an apartment temporarily while our house is being redone and the stopper for our bathtub is nowhere to be found. I reeeeeaaaaallllyyyy wanted to take a bath, though: nothing better to make you feel better when you're sick! I tried using aluminum foil as a stopper but that didn't work. So I had to resort to using some Duct Tape. We just moved in a few weeks ago and I only had some mustache duct tape. So there I was, relaxing in Lush bath drinking a (you guessed it!) San Pellegrino orange drink, with mustache duct tape on my drain!

So that's basically what's been going on in my life. Comment down below and let me know what's been going on in yours!


Happy Fall!
XOXO,
MMM

Ins and Outs

Well, it's been a long time since I've done a good, proper Ins and Outs. I'm not even sure if I've ever done one on this blog. Let's get started.


Ins:
-Good food. I'm visiting my grandmother right now and having lots of fun cooking and eating great food with her. We bought lots of kale this morning for smoothies and I'm so excited to drink them!
-School supplies. I went school supply shopping recently and had so much fun. I love school supply shopping so much! I went to Target and Staples and got the cutest notebooks ever at Target.
-Books. I have been reading like crazy (when am I not?!) and have read some amazing books recently. Hopefully I'll be able to do a few reviews soon.
-My birthday! It's coming soon (September 19th) and I am so excited!
-Coziness. With the new season comes the coziness that I love


Outs:
-Homework. School is starting in a week and I'm excited but I  have not missed the crazy amount of homework my school gives me. I hope I'll be able to blog with all my work.
-Backpack shopping. I have been looking for a new backpack and let me tell you this- it drains energy. And it's a lot harder than I would expect.
-Construction. Our house is being renovated and it is crazy! There is dust everywhere and the last time I saw the house there was a hole in the kitchen that let you see all the way through the floor down to the basement.
-The feeling of things being temporary. I'm staying with my grandparents now and when I get back we'll have to move to an apartment for a bit to avoid the craziness of the construction. Then we'll move back in before the house is done. Things are just too temporary. Plus I really want to decorate my room. Which I can't, because I won't see it until April or so. Macbarbie07's new video totally made me want to do some re- decorating.


I hope you enjoyed this little post. See you later!


XOXO,
MMM

MMM's Book of Tips- Dining at a Restaurant

Ok, I admit it: I'm not the neatest person. At all. My friends and family can vouch for that. But I do like to eat at restaurants. And so I have accumulated several tips for doing so. Yes, it sounds unneeded. I'm sure you are all capable of putting food in your mouth, chewing, and swallowing. However, there are some tips I wish I had known a few years ago. With this blog post I introduce a new category on my blog: MMM's book of tips. Under this category I will post tips for several different things. I will have makeup tips, beauty tips, cooking tips, and so on. Tip post #1: Eating at a Restaurant.


Tip #1: Grace comes first. I realized this recently while dining at a restaurant with my parents, my sister and several friends from my time living in India.  We visited Delhi a few weeks ago and had the pleasure of going to an exclusive club with a friend. While eating I saw that my mom's hand sanitizer was on the table, and so I grabbed it and passed it to her quickly. Perhaps too quickly. I knocked over a dish of Thai curry and it splattered all over me (and my sister) and caught the attention of pretty much everyone in the room. Never again. I have learned that grace always comes first when eating out. Thankfully my elbows have calmed down. When I was younger I used to knock over at least one glass a month with my elbows. Despite the fact that this has stopped, I still must be very careful and retain grace while eating.

Tip #2: Always sit closest to the wall. This is my secret tip. I hate it when waiters lean over you to pour water, serve food, etc. HATE IT. I have started eating next to the wall or window if we are lucky enough to get a table next to one. That way waiters don't have to lean over you to give food to other people at the table. This is my most used tip and saves me from one of my biggest pet peeves.

Tip #3: Be water savvy. Do not try drinking a lot of water and wipe your hands well on the napkin before each sip to keep your water glass clear and free of smears.



So those are just a few of my tips for eating at restaurants. I do have more, so let me know in the comments below if you would like me to do a part two of this post. Also please let me know if you like these tips posts.


XOXO,
MMM

Back to School Look

So today I decided I'd create a back to school look since it's almost fall and school is upon us (or has already started for some of you). I love this look because it is a nice balance between girly and casual. I am not a huge fan of jean on jean but the jean like top works with the bottoms because it is looser, and the bottoms are more fitted. However, the jacket is fitted enough to be nice and flattering as opposed to sloppy. The shirt is also lighter than the bottoms and I don't think it's actually jean material. 

The pink top is a nice girly top that is made more casual by the jacket. I decided to pair the outfit with the big bracelet because I loved the collar of the shirt, and while it is simple I wanted it to shine. So I added a bracelet instead of a necklace. I liked the fact that the bracelet was big because with all solid colors you really want a big patterned piece of jewelry. 

Finally I added the earrings for another bit of detail. I loved them and thought that the slightly wild look was a perfect balance for the rest of the outfit. 

I hope that you enjoyed this post and that it gave you a little bit of inspiration. See you in the next post!

XOXO,

MMM

Blue shirt
maurices.com

AG Adriano Goldschmied super skinny jeans
harveynichols.com

Lucky Brand silver cuff jewelry
zappos.com

Silver jewelry
moddeals.com

Sleeve less shirt
wholesale-dress.net

Bath Products To Try

In my Pretend Shopping Spree Post I told you what Lush products I wanted to try. I didn't, however, get to the bath products. Here are the ones I am dying to try/ have tried and want to re purchase.

Bath Melts:
Another Melting Marshmallow Moment (or MMM, just like Ms. Midnight Makeup)
A Dreamtime Bath Melt


Bath Bombs:
Twilight
Sex Bomb
Pink Bath Bomb
Big Blue
Another Blackberry Bath Bomb
Sakura
Tisty Tosty

Bubble Bars:
Another Comforter
Amandopondo
Blue Skies and Fluffy White Clouds
Karma
Creamy Candy Bubble Bar
A French Kiss
Pop in the Bath
Two Timing Tart


In case you can't tell, I'm obsessed with bath products, particularly bubble bars. I think it's safe to say that it's better for my wallet that I go on a Pretend Shopping Spree, rather than a real one. :)

XOXO,
MMM

Spa Day: What I Used and What I Recommend

Hey everyone,
I had a spa day today and thought I'd share with you what I used and what my favorite spa picks are.
I actually don't paint my nails when I have a spa day because painting my nails can frustrate me and I can't shower with wet nails.

When I want to pamper myself I like to take a shower and wash my hair with a clarifying shampoo. I am currently using Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo. I really like it. It is gentle and does a really good job of deep cleaning my hair. I also really like the smell. It is very herbal, so I might pick a different scent if you're not into that type of thing. I love it, though. It doesn't last in my hair, so even if you're not a huge fan of the smell, you might like it.

The next clarifying shampoo I want to try is Lush's I Love Juicy Shampoo. It is not meant to be a clarifying shampoo, but it is meant to be for greasy and oily hair, which I don't really have, so I think it would be a good deep cleaning shampoo for me.

After I use a clarifying shampoo in the shower I like to put in a deep conditioner or a hair masque. My favorite hair masque of late is the It's a Ten Miracle Hair Mask I then put my hair up in a shower cap and put on a face mask. The one I'm using right now is Freeman's Feeling Beautiful Facial Anti Stress Mask. It does a great job, but it irritates my eyes a little. It also stings a bit, but other than that it works well. The reason I used it was because I need to use it up. I wouldn't recommend this face mask, instead I would try a Lush one. However, since this does a good job I might look into getting a couple other masks from Freeman.

While I am waiting for the masks I like to take a bath. I love using lots of yummy products in most baths, but often these baths are short and productless. However, if I really want to treat myself I'll use something.

Last but not least, I rinse off the masks in the shower. I like to use an exfoliater. One of my favorites is Lush's Aqua Mirabilis. I highly recommend this one.



Xoxo,
MMM

Pretend Shopping Spree

First things first, I'm sorry I haven't posted on here lately. It's just sorta slipped my mind. :(
Anyway, when I saw a Pretend Shopping Spree on The Grass Skirt I decided I'd do a pretend shopping spree here for you guys. I already add items to carts and don't check out, so let's take a look at some of the things I've been loving lately.

First of all, I have been seriously OBSESSED with rollerball perfumes. Here are a few that I would love to own:

Vera Wang Princess
Daisy by Marc Jacobs
Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy


I've also been looking at some things from Lush. Here are the Lush products I wish I had:


Creamed Almond and Coconut Smoothie
The Olive Branch Shower Gel
Grass Shower Gel
Ocean Salt Scrub
Lemony Flutter

I will do another installment soon if it is requested. Let me know if you'd like to see that in the comment section.


Xoxo,
MMM

Lush Haul!

Hey everyone,
I went to Lush today and thought I'd share what I picked up. Normally I spend most of my money on bath products, but my bathtub is not the best and we are redoing our house soon, so I am not taking too many baths and will not be able to take any for a while. I decided to seize the opportunity and get some body/hair products I've been wanting to try.


First of all, I got Karma Komba shampoo.


 This is a solid shampoo and as you know, I already own the Squeaky Green shampoo, but I don't get to visit Lush often and so I decided to get another solid shampoo. It doesn't look like my current one will be running out anytime soon, but better safe than sorry! This shampoo is supposed to help detangle your waves. I have wavy hair that sometimes looks like I haven't brushed it (even though I have) and thought this might help. Lush's site says that it is also good for dandruff. As you know, I have some dandruff. At least I did. It has mostly gone away since I started using Squeaky Green. At first, I didn't love the smell and debated whether or not to get it. However, I got it, and when I smelled it at home it smelled great!


Next I got Big Solid Conditioner.



I am super excited to try this one. According to their site, it's a best seller. They only have one other solid conditioner, but that one hasn't gotten the best reviews. This one, however, looked really good. I am always looking for some volume, but didn't want to get Big Shampoo because it seemed more like a special occasion type thing. They had several pre-cut slices, all different prices, at the store. I got a $12 chunk and it is fairy well sized.I can't wait to hope on the shower and give this one a go!


I also got Shine So Bright split end treatment.

I almost didn't get this one, because it is a bit pricey for such a small container. There was a trial one, though, and so I gave it a try, didn't buy it, bought everything else, and walked out of the store. Then I had lunch, and came back, because it smelled amazing on my hair, and I did NOT want to leave without getting it. Besides, you only need a really small bit, so I think it will last a while. It is to mask the appearance of split ends, plus help with flyaways. In addition, it fragrances your hair. I'm obsessed, especially since I have a ton of frizz. I tried this when I got home, and it really helps calm things down.

The next thing I got was Sea Spray.


The woman there actually talked me into this. I was so not planning on getting it. But she said it worked well to give you a beach look and she let me smell it, Holy cow, this smells just like the beach. The website says it has the same smell as Shine so Bright, but to me, they smell completely different. I love the smell of both.


That's it for hair. The next thing I got was Aqua Mirabilis.

This is a body butter. You hop in this shower, soap, wash your hair, etc., then use this all over. It exfoliates and moisturizes. Wash it off, and you're good to go. I like the subtle scent of this. It isn't sweet, spicy, or citrusy. I can't quite describe it. You'll have to smell it for yourself. I also got a tin for it.

I got one massage bar, Strawberry Feels Forever.

One of the women there gave me a hand treatment. She used Lemony Flutter and Ocean Salt scrub. Then she asked me if I liked citrusy or sweet scents. I love both, but I was in a sweet mood. She got me this bar, and used it on my arm, while giving me a bit of a massage. I couldn't get over the smell. I bought it. It smells amazing. The smell lingers a bit, but sadly not too long. I also wanted to get Lemony Flutter and Ocean Salt, but I couldn't afford them. They are on my wish list, though.

The last product I got was Green FUN.


You can use this as a soap, shampoo, or bubble bar. It is the consistency of clay, so you can play with it. It is huge! I walked in planning to get either the pink or red one, but I smelled them all and this was my favorite. I realized later that it smells like Calacus, the limited edition Halloween shower jelly. I LOVE the scent of it, but shower jellies are a smidge hard to use. Not FUN! I tried using a bit on my hand, and it was, well, fun. I just used it like a soap. When my hands were wet and I molded it, it cleansed them, but I could mold perfectly fine with dry hands, without my hands getting soapy. However, it left a bit of a green reside.

Overall, I am more than happy with my haul. There were some products I couldn't afford but I absolutely adore all the ones I got. Happy Hauling!


XOXO,
MMM


All pictures from www.lushusa.com.

Review: Lush Midnight Massage

Hey everyone,
Today I'm reviewing Lush's Midnight Massage massage bar. This was a Christmas limited edition product, so why am I reviewing it now? Well, if Lush brings it back next year, you'll know my thoughts on it. Plus, this review might help you if you're thinking of buying a massage bar.
Let me begin by saying that I love Lush's massage bars. They are incredibly moisturizing and packaging free. There are so many delicious scents to choose from as well. When Christmas 2012 rolled around, I, being a Lush addict, went to Lush.com and got a bunch of goodies! While I was putting things into my cart my sister came over and decided to get a couple of things as well. This product was one of the things she got. When it arrived she immediately tested it. She continued using it for a few days and didn't like it, so she gave it to me. I'll admit I wasn't a huge fan of it when I first smelled it. It was waaayyy too perfumey and gave me a headache. My mom didn't (and still doesn't) like it, either.
It was no better on my skin. It gave me a headache and the scent lingered, which I would like if it wasn't so bad. I started using it at night, though, because it is incredibly moisturizing. The scent was gone by the morning and I woke up with lovely skin.
Then I stopped using it. I had a bunch of nice lotions and creams anyway and so, if the scent gave me a headache, why use it? I was on Lush.com recently, browsing products, and remembered I had it. I decided to test it, to see if the scent had gotten any better. It hadn't but it worked a treat on my dry skin. Who knows how this happened, but I tried rubbing a little in my hands and then running my fingers through my hair. Perfect! It tames my fly aways, doesn't weigh down my hair, and actually smells kinda good in my hair! Since I rub it on my hands first it moisturizes my hands, but the scent is spread on both my skin and my hair, leaving me moisturized, frizz free, and headacheless. I would try doing this with any massage bar, although some might be too oily. This one, though, is nice. I wouldn't repurchase this, and I probably wouldn't recommend it to friends, but this is a good (if slow) way to get some use out of an already-purchased bar. 

My Nighttime Routine

Hey everyone! I realized I hadn't posted on here in a while and decided to do a post with my nighttime routine. These are all the products I use at night before I go to bed.

First of all I wash my face and take off my makeup. I put on a soft headband so the water doesn't get onto my hair. One of my favorite face washes is Lush's Let the Good Times Roll. It is gently exfoliating, good at washing, doesn't irritate my skin, and smells amazing. Sadly, though, it is limited edition. Let's home they make it a full time product! Since I can't get anymore right now I just use whatever face soap I have on hand. I don't have any particular favorites besides the Lush one. I believe I am currently using a Dove face soap. The image below is not the face soap I am currently using, just a picture to represent it.




Next I brush my teeth. My favorite toothpaste is Crest 3-D White. I love the Glamorous White flavor because it is better at whitening my teeth and tastes better too. However, it is a little harder for me to find.

After I brush my teeth I get into pajamas and brush my hair. Then I braid it and tie it with a soft hair tie. Finally I sometimes use moisturizer. I used to use Neutrogena Naturals multi-vitamin nourishing night cream, but I read that you shouldn't start using night cream until you are in your thirties. I decided it probably wasn't a very good idea to use night cream now. When my skin is very dry I use my regular moisturizer, which is the Neutrogena Naturals one. I really like that line because many moisturizers break me out, but this line is very soothing. If my skin isn't super dry I will just skip the moisturizer. I just started this new regimen, so for now my old night cream is still sitting in my beauty drawer.

Finally I hope into bed! I hope you enjoyed this post and keep your eyes peeled for new posts. I am planning on posting an app review later this week, after I test it out some more.

XOXO,
MMM



images from makeupalley.com, www.just4teeth.com,www.apollopharmacy.in, ak2.polyvoreimg.com, mugsbees.com

Lush Dragon Egg Review

Hey all,
I was organizing some files on my computer and I came across this old review for Lush's Dragon Egg bath bomb. This was before I had a beauty blog, but I was thinking about creating one and so sometimes I wrote posts. This one is a bit short but I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know in the comment section below whether or not you would like me to post some other old bits of writing. Here it is:

Hey! I just took a bath with Lush’s dragon’s egg and it was fantastic! The smell was more of a clear my mind and wake me up then of a goodnight smell. It was relaxing though, and I was soaking in there for ages! The smell began to disappear after an hour and a half or so, but I was ready to get out by then anyway. When I put my nose to my skin I smelled a little bit of it, but I didn't think anyone would notice, however later when I saw my mom she immediately exclaimed “You smell like you just showered!”

 Anyway I will definitely be repurchasing this in the future even though I am not one for wake me up baths. This bath bomb helped clear my head and put me in the moment and that alone would make me buy it again. It was also a bundle of fun, colorful explosions and a little bit of glitter. A great bomb to try with a light book and a glass of sparkling water. 

Geocaching!

I realized I hadn't updated this blog in a while and so I just wanted to talk for a bit and tell you about an amazing find... geocaching! I recently discovered it and I think that it is like the coolest thing ever. For those of you that don't know, geocaching is like a real world scavenger hunt. People hide containers in locations all across the world and post the coordinates of the location online. The coordinates aren't exact and some are really hidden so you have to look hard. All of the caches have a log where you sign your name once you find it. Some cache containers are big and are filled with tiny toys, compasses, etc. You can take wahtever you want as long as you leave something of equal or greater value in its place. My sister and I biked with my dad to a couple geocaching locations a few days ago and found a cache! I had so much fun and am thinking of hiding my own (after I find a few more). My sister found this amazing container for caching and we even found a few potential hiding spots. It's like my new hobby. I just wanted to share it with all of you since I hadn't posted here for a while. See you later.

Xoxo,
MMM

Delicious Pasta Sauce

Ok, I know I've been all about the recipes lately but seriously this recipe is AMAZING. My mom and I created this together.

Ingredients:
2 cans of diced tomatoes
2 small jars or 1 large jar of marinated artichoke hearts
1 small jar of sundried tomatoes

Directions:
Put diced tomato and artichoke in a pot, mix thoroughly, and turn flame on. Heat until desired temperature. Then put sauce into a bowl and add sundried tomatoes. Put over pasta and enjoy!

Update: Turns out my mom got this recipe from a friend but my mom and I added the sundries tomatoes.

Snickerdoodles

Yummy yummy!I got the recipe from realsimple.com. I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375° F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
2. With an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup of the granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
3. In a shallow bowl, combine the cinnamon and the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Form the dough into balls (each equal to 1 level tablespoon). Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
4. Bake until the edges are golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Three bean salad

So here is a simple and delicious if not precise recipe. My three bean sald recipe is not precise (at all!) but I thought I'd share it with you anyway. I am now back on track with my recipes and will be posting some beauty related things later this week. Tomorrow is my last day of the recipe a day thing, but I will continue posting recipes after that, just not daily. And now, without further ado, here is my recipe.

Ingredients:
Olive oil
Vinegar
1 can wax beans
2 cans green beans
2 cans kidney beans
1/2- 1 onion
1/4 bell pepper (optional)

Directions:
Mix 2/3 parts oil with 1/3 part vinegar. Add green beans, chickpeas, and wax beans. Dice onion and bell pepper and mix in. Marinate overnight.

So... not very precise. Let me tell you a secret: I don't follow these measurements! I normally just put in however much looks good but this is a loose guideline. I do however, use 2/3 parts oil to 1/3 part vinegar. Just experiment with amounts. I hope you enjoy and I will see you tomorrow with my very last Recipe of the Day post. 

Blueberry pancakes and apologies

Ahhh. I didn't post my recipe for yesterday. I feel like such a monster. Please forgive me because here it is:

Ingredients:

1 egg

1 cup all purpose flour

3/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons melted shortening or vegetable oil

1 tablespoon sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (thawed and well drained)

Directions:

Beat eggs with hand beater until fluffy; beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth. For thinner pancakes, stir in additional 1/4 cup milk. Grease heated griddle if nessecary. 

Pour about three tablespoons batter from tip of large spoon or pitcher onto hot griddle. Cook pancakes until puffed and dry around edges. Turn and cook other side until golden brown. 

Makes about nine four inch pancakes.

I got this recipe from Betty Crocker's cookbook: new and revised edition. Thank you! 

Tomato Sandwiches

I'm sorry everyone, my recipe post for yesterday didn't go through and I thought it had so here is my post from yesterday. Keep checking back for my post from today.

I was shocked when I found out people didn't know what a tomato sandwich was so I decided to let everyone know. Unfortunately, this isn't much of a recipe because it is just for a sandwich but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Ingredients:
2 slices of toast
2 thick slices of tomato
Mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper (optional)

Directions:
Cover both slices of toast with mayo. Put both slices of tomato on one piece of bread and sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired. Close sandwich and enjoy!


So that's it! I hope that those of you who were in the dark about tomato sandwiches learned something. See you later with my next recipe: blueberry pancakes

Salad Dressing Recipe

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
4 tablespoons olive oil
Sprig of dill


Directions:
Combine all above ingredients in bottle, shake well to mix.



So that's it! Delicious and easy. You can use any amount of olive oil and vinegar as long as it is a /3 olive oil to 1/3 vinegar ratio.

Girl's Night Out

I decided to create a Girl's Night Out look. I made the look with a color scheme in mind: black and gold. I paired black skinny jeans with a gold clutch, a gold necklace, black heels, and a gold nail polish. I also added the blue top because I thought that having a different colored top would make the outfit better suited for Girl's Night Out, because black and gold can be too date night-ish. The top is fun and cinches in at the waist, which goes well over skinny jeans. I like the shoes because the strappy look is very chic and GNO. The clutch is gold without being too tacky and I think a clutch screams GNO. I love the feather necklace and it adds to the gold theme. Finally, the nail polish finishes the gold and black theme and pairs well with the rest of the pieces. 
I would like to give my wonderful sister, Anika, credit for helping me with this outfit. She helped me with the best shoes and clutch. Thank you Anika! You can visit her site at dreamingurban.blogspot.com.

Items and links below:

Blue shirt
$27 - newlook.com

Cheap Monday skinny jeans
$78 - newlook.com

DV by Dolce Vita high heel platform sandals
pinkmascara.com

Tory burch
toryburch.com

H m
$6.25 - hm.com

Deborah lippmann
beautybar.com





XOXO,
MMM

Summer Swim

Today I decided to create this collage for the beach since we are now in summer! I paired pink shorts with a t-shirt, which is easy to slip on and off. I also included a bikini top that you can wear with the shorts or to swim. In addition, I had flip flops, which are easy to slip on and off. They are silver, to match the T-shirt, which I find adorable. Finally, I have a big beach hat to protect you from the sun. The items are below:

Dorothy Perkins short sleeve shirt
$11 - dorothyperkins.com

French Connection hot pants
usa.frenchconnection.com

J Crew pinup swimsuit
jcrew.com

Havaianas flip flop sandals
swell.com

Calvin Klein paper hat
zappos.com





XOXO,
MMM

Tuna Casserole

Tuna Casserole is one of my favorite meals. So hearty and delicious! I got this recipe from Betty Crocker's New Boys and Girls Cookbook

Ingredients:
3 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cups milk
4 cans drained tuna
1 bag of potato chips
100 Grams (about  cups) noodles, uncooked
700 grams cooked green peas

Directions:
Mix all ingredients except the potato chips. Put into a casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. While they are cooking put the chips between two pieces of wax paper and roll with a rolling pin. Take the casserole out of the oven partway and sprinkle with the potato chips. Return to the oven and continue baking.


So that's it. I hope you make this recipe and I'll talk to you later.


XOXO,
MMM

My Thoughts

Hey all,
    I am currently sitting with my grandmother watching Wheel of Fortune. I just wanted to check in since I have some major blog love going on. I have missed this! Anyway, I don't really have much to write , just wanted to check in. I thought I'd share some of my favorite blogs.

For cooking and recipes I love Real Girl's Kitchen. Haylie is such an incredible blogger and her recipe are super simple, fresh, and tasty.

In terms of beauty I love Musings of a Muse. She updates every day (minus weekends) and it is a great site to go to for finding out what new products brands are releasing and what is worth it. I also love Elle and Blair's site although it is temporarily down. Even more than that, I love Dreaming in Blush. Elle is such an incredible writer and I find myself enjoying her writing even if it is not on a particularly interesting subject. It is a new blog and she is so incredible when she is independent (Her own site, not with Blair).

I hope you check out these websites. Let me know in the comments below.

XOXO,
MMM

New Theme!

So as you probably can tell I have been sprucing up Ms.Midnight Makeup and I completely changed the theme. Let me know what you think of it please.
On a slightly different note, I'm not sure if I ever told you why the name of this blog is Ms.Midnight Makeup. It wasn't my first choice (that address was taken) but it was on my list. As you know, this website features makeup. But you may not know that I have insomnia. So some of my posts are written during the night (not literally midnight, but pretty late). I believe Midnight Makeup was taken =, and I liked the "Ms." so that's it. I have to run.

XOXO,
MMM

Cinnamon Sweet Potatos

I came across this recipe just today at lunch. I was eating leftovers and had some leftover sweet potatos. I was making snicker doodles yesterday and have some cinnamon sugar. Suddenly I thought of the best idea: cinnamon sugar sweet potatos. These are delicious and oh so easy to make. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
Two sweet potatos
Butter
3 tablespoons cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar

Directions:
 Put your two sweet poatatos in the oven and bake for about an hour, until done. While they are baking mix the cinnamon and sugar. When the potatos are out of the oven take the skin off, chop them into quarters, and use the back of a spoon to mash them. The mashing should be easy and fairly quick. They do not have to be perfect. Then take your butter and put in a spoonful. Finally, add several spoonfuls of cinnamon sugar, to taste.

So that's it! Pretty easy. You probably won't need all the cinnamon sugar, so you can microwave some of it onto toast for breakfast. I hope you enjoyed this recipe. It is a delicious one! Check back for more recipes later this week.

XOXO,
Ms. Midnight Makeup

Lush Love

Today I wanted to talk to you about my love of Lush Cosmetics. It's no secret I am addicted to Lush. Bath and body products galore! I recently picked up the Little Green Bag and wanted to share my thoughts on it. The Little Green Bag comes with four items: a solid shampoo bar, a  solid body scrub, a soap, and a massage bar. It also comes with a tin to store you shampoo bar in.

First, the shampoo bar. It came with the Squeaky Green shampoo bar. This shampoo bar is supposed to be for people who have oily hair and a dandruff prone scalp. I have always had a dandruffy scalp and I have noticed increased oil production in my hair. This was my first ever shampoo bar. My thoughts? I'm in love. The shampoo bar is eco friendly (no packaging unless you use the tin(which is made of recycled materials)), full of herbs, and completely changes my hair. My hair problems are long gone. Using this shampoo bar I have bouncy soft and completely non oily hair and a healthy scalp. I highly reccomend it. Lush has lots of shampoo bars for all sorts of hair types so I would definitely check them out!

Next, the solid body scrub. This is fairly small (I believe it is a mini) and my guess is that it would only last a few uses. I have not used it yet but I will let you know what my thoughts on it are when I use it.

Now the soap. It is Sexy Peel soap. It smells lemony and delicious. I kind of think it is a soap that would be good in the kitchen since I associate lemon scents with cleaning products but I have been using it in the shower and am really liking it. It is excellent at waking me up or being a refresher throughout the day. It has a few pieces of lemon peel in it but it does not bother me too much. I really enjoy the scent and would reccomend it as well as many of other Lush soaps.

Finally the massage bar. It is called Each Peach massage bar and smells delicious. I imagine it would last a long time even though it is a mini. It is very moisturizing and feels incredibly nice on my skin BUT beware. You need to buy the massage bar tin (avalible at Lush) for it. It will melt in the hot sun and pretty much ruin whatever it melts on. I know from experience. So unfortunately my massage bar is no longer really useable. I do think that Lush gives a free massage bar tin with every purchase of two or more massage bars. I have looked at a few of their massage bars and have a few in mind to buy. I did enjoy the scent of Each Peach but after it melts all over your stuff... well the scent of the bar lingers of your things reminding you that it has melt everywhere. I don't know, the scent is just kind of lost on me now but it is a great scent.

So overall I would recommend this set if you want to explore some of the items Lush has to offer besides products for the bath. It is $25.95 and avalible at Lush.com. Be sure to come back for more posts. Today's recipe will be posted in the evening.

XOXO,
MMM

P.S. What do you think of that signature? Let me know in the comments. 

French Beans Lyonnaise

I got this recipe from my great grandmother. It is fairly simple to make and the result is delicious, vinegary green beans.

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons vinegar              
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 teaspoon season salt (I actually used reg. salt)
1/4 teaspoon parsley flakes
dash pepper
1 medium onion-diced
1 can (8 ounces) French cut green beans

Directions:
In saucepan combine all ingredients but beans. Cook the onion until tender. Add beans and heat to serving temperature. Serves 2.


See, simple. And easy. I find that it is best to marinate everything after you add the beans. It really intensifies the vinegary flavor and if you don't marinate it really isn't that flavorful at all and honestly tastes like plain beans. So, marinate it! I often double the recipe because I am cooking for more and this dish is a big hit! I hope that you enjoy this. Look forward to more recipes later this week.

XOXO,
Ms.Midnight Makeup


P.S.: Quick question. How should I sign my name? First name, first initial, Ms. Midnight Makeup or Ms.MM? Let me know in the comments below.

Update

Hello everyone,
Sorry I have been so MIA. Truth be told I kind of forgot about this blog. Oops! I also had a lot of work. End of school brings lots of tests! I do want to thank you for visiting my site. It has gotten more views than I could hope for! :).
I have some announcements as well. First of all, I WILL start updating this blog. I am so sorry for not doing so earlier. Second of all, I have noticed that the mobile version of this site does not always work.
My solutions:
1) Try rotating your device
2) Click the button at the bottom of the page to change it to the regular site
3) Change your browser.
Third of all, I will start including some things on this site that are not makeup related. I will have recipes as well as random musings. To kick off my returning to this site I will post a recipe everyday for the next week. Unfortunately, I currently am staying with my grandparents and did not bring my laptop, so the recipes might be posted later in the day.

XOXO,
Ms. Midnight Makeup

Selena Gomez

Hey Everyone! So for my first real post I decided to do a get the look post. I wanted to do this look because I think Selena Gomez looks effortless and I love that look. I think this photo was taken a while ago, but this is just a nice easy way to step into Spring. I also believe she wore this dress not too long ago, but don't quote me! Because I found it difficult to find a dress that matched hers I gave two options. One is more orange and the pattern is different from Selena's dress but the other is whiter than Selena's dress yet matches the pattern better. I picked a bag that was pretty similar to her bag. The belt is also similar to hers although I cannot see the belt well and may have accidentally gotten one that was not super similar. I also picked out hoop earrings like the ones she is wearing. For shoes I decided to go with a bright orange. Her shoes are not in the picture and I thought that the orange would bring a pop of color should you go with the white dress which is sadly lacking in color. I also love the rhinestones on the back because they add some cool detail.

Rose dress
modcloth.com

Jasmine orange dress
$22 - awear.com

Dorothy perkin
dorothyperkins.com

Kenneth jay lane jewelry
theoutnet.com

Studded belt
boohoo.com







I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll talk to you in my next one. Luv you! 

-Ilana