Just Desserts: Watergate Cupcakes

Since I was young, one of my very favorite deserts has always been Watergate Salad. Nothing tops a rich, pistachio flavor! A friend introduced me to the best combination ever, Watergate Salad and cupcakes, after there were leftovers from a wedding reception. It took months to get a hold of the recipe, mostly because the cupcakes were referred to as Pistachio Cupcakes at the time. Finally, my sister tracked down a recipe and altered it to fit our taste, which obviously makes it better than ever!

Finished product, conserving frosting before I knew there was plenty.
I promise, very tasty! 

Just Desserts: Homemade Turtles

For Valentine's Day, I felt like doing something a little special for my husband [okay, maybe for my own benefit, too...]. Back around Christmas I stumbled across directions to make your own homemade turtles (the candies, yum!). The first time around, it didn't go as well as planned, but I decided to give it another try, lining up a few new techniques. I'm very pleased to announce that they came out great!!

Cooking Tip: Toast your Pasta!

I got this really neat cookbook a little while back and have been experimenting with a few of the tips listed in it. One of my favorite new culinary tricks of the trade is toasting pasta!

Toast your Pasta!

Shopping: Sephora Valentine's Special

As a Beauty Insider [meaning I have an account], Sephora sends me specials or advertisements about every other day or so. Today, Sephora sent out a Valentine's Day Special that is definitely worth taking a look at! Using promotion code SHIPLOVE, particular items (pictured below) will receive free 3-day shipping! Super!

Just Desserts: Coconut Rice Pudding

I stumbled across a bunch of coconut recipes one afternoon. My favorite (so far) is the Coconut Rice Pudding. It's come to be expected that when I cook something, I nearly always do something wrong, in some way. The first time I made this, I followed the directions perfectly, but I used sweetened coconut milk (the viscous kind, typically marketed for pina coladas, I found it on the cake isle) while the original recipe called for unsweetened milk. While checking out the "ethnic" food isle the other day I finally found a can of unsweetened coconut milk, got really excited, thinking Yes! Now it will be really awesome!! I was wrong. Come to find out, the "mistake" I made the first time was actually an improvement! So, here is what I consider the best recipe of coconut rice pudding ever!

Operation Crochet a Scarf

My mom spent most of the time leading up to Christmas crocheting like crazy. Most females in my family are donning handmade scarfs this winter. I absolutely love my soft, blue, black, and white infinity scarf, but I realized that I really do need a scarf comprised of warm colors. So, I endeavored to crochet my first scarf!

Mind you, I have crocheted before. I don't think I've every actually finished something 100%, but I've known the basics since I was a child. After a quick crash course with my mom, I set down and began to crochet away.

The finished scarf, wrapped in to itself three times

Beauty Tip: Eye Makeup Remover

I always love finding a new purpose for common products!

One product I had a horrible time finding an agreeable brand was eye makeup remover. From cheap, Target makeup isle to expensive, hard to find, there was not one brand I could consistently use on my sensitive skin without swelling, itching, a rash, peeling, redness... You name it. Luckily a solution presented itself in response to an unexpected medical issue.