Get Ye To Bloglovin'

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If you are an avid reader of numerous blogs, you probably already know about Bloglovin'.  If you aren't let me introduce you.  Bloglovin' is a site and an app that consolidates all your favorite blogs into one place, so you don't have to go to each individual page to check the latest updates. Because while there are a lot of cute sites and interesting content out there, lets be real: no one has time to go through them all and visit them all everyday.  With this site/app, you just log in to your Bloglovin' account, and your customized feed will show you the current posts from your favorite bloggers, and you can see everything all in one place.

bloglovin

You can save specific posts as favorites, and Bloglovin' will even make suggestions for you based on your current likes.  You can set your preferences and have them send you an email as frequently as you like with the updates so you don't have to remember to check (or you can glance over quickly to see if anything is of interest that day.)  I use Bloglovin' as a resource daily, I recommend it you too.  

Click the link below to start following me on Bloglovin' or to get set up and started.  Welcome!!

 
Everyday Stilettos
 

Breakfast Treat - Easy Cream Cheese Danish

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I have been having a random craving for cream cheese danishes lately.  I've always liked them, but I've never had a specific craving for them like I am as of late (no, I'm not pregnant.)  Something about the tart cream cheese filling with the buttery pastry is just so yummy to my taste buds lately.  And since I feel like since we only live once, we should enjoy it while we can, and I'm happy to indulge my craving.  And I'm extra happy to have learned how easy it is to make these treats at home.

This was my first time making them, and while I learned a few things that I will do better next time, they still came out good.

Easy Cream Cheese Danish

Yield: 8 danishes     Prep time: 30 minutes   Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed but still cool
  • 8 oz cream cheese at room temp
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs, divided yolks from whites
  • 1/4 cup flour, for rolling

Instructions

1.  The night before: take puff pastry from freezer and let defrost in fridge overnight.

2.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Set aside.

3.  In a medium bowl, place room temperature cream cheese and sugar.  Using a spatula, cream together until smooth.  Add vanilla and 2 egg yolks and stir until just combined.

4.  On a floured surface, unfold one sheet of puff pastry.  With a floured rolling pin, slightly roll it until it is 10x10-inches.  Repeat with second puff pastry sheet.  [My note on this:  Adjust this instruction according to your situation.  You can see from the pictures that this instruction did not apply to me.  My puff pastry came in one big, rectangular sheet, and while I rolled it, I realized afterwards I didn't need to, because it was big enough to get 8 pastries out of (see next step). ]

5.  Cut each puff pastry sheet into 4 equal squares.  Spook a heaping tablespoon of cream cheese filling into the center of each square.

6.  Brush all 4 edges of each pastry with an egg white wash (2 egg whites beaten with 1 tablespoon water.) Fold each corner in to be slightly touching the filling.  Carefully transfer each pastry to the lined baking sheet.

7.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes.  Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

8.  Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown, rotating pan once halfway through.  Let cool. Enjoy.

 
 

Some additional notes:

  • If you're going to roll the puff pastry, be sure you use enough flour on the counter so it doesn't stick.  I didn't do this well, and I had a terrible time lifting them on to the baking sheet.
  • Try to work quickly once the puff pastry is out of the fridge.  The colder it is, the easier it is to work with.
  • As you can see, your pastries do not need to be squares.  You can customize.
  • When they come out the oven they will be huge, very puffed up.  They will flatten once they cool.
 
cream cheese danish.JPG
 

Beauty Splurge - but worth it

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too much makeup.jpg

In an effort to de-clutter and reduce waste, I told my husband that I wouldn't buy any more make-up/hair products until I had used up what I already had. (I know what you're thinking, because I would too reading this: HA! Yeah, right!)  For some background, I'm definitely not a compulsive product buyer.  But I'm a Birchbox subscriber, which gives me sample size products to try every month (which I don't always use up before the next month's arrival), and I'm always on the hunt for the best products to suit my hair and skin needs (come on, aren't we all?)  That's one of the reasons I do Birchbox, so I can try products without the full price commitment.  And that is how I came to love the product I'm going to rave about here.

I have several skin issues that I want to address with my face products, as I think we all do (though different for each.) I was currently using an SPF moisturizer, an eye cream, an anti-aging serum, a brightening product (damn you, pregnancy dark spots) and face primer every morning before make-up.  Why can't I get one cream that does everything?  Enter Mereadesso All-In-One Moisturizer.

This came to me in a Birchbox sample, which was actually their travel size and is available for purchase.  The little travel size last me a month, at least.  I have never been happier with my skin than I was when using this product.

Mèreadesso's simple one-step moisturizer also functions as a serum, primer, and eye cream. With benefits ranging from redness reduction to anti-aging properties, this multi-tasker is tailor-made to streamline your routine, all while nourishing skin with a host of natural enzymes and antioxidants.  It is an aloe-based gel which contains 16 botanical extracts, 8 enzymes and minerals, and over 20 antioxidants chosen for their purity and effectiveness—adding up to one powerful product. A combination of caffeine and apple and cucumber extracts contributes to the all-in-one moisturizer’s refreshing cooling and tightening sensation.

The main thing missing for me was SPF protection, which was easily remedied via my foundation (SPF Mineral Powder foundation.) 

all-in-one-moisturizer.jpg

The product absorbed quickly and provided the perfect base for my powder foundation, and I felt like the primer qualities really helped keep my make-up looking fresh all day.  It didn't settle into my pores as the day progressed, as can often be the case.

Now this is pricier than what I normally spend on products, but when you consider that it replaces more than 3 of my other products, and just the travel size lasts me over a month, buying the full size isn't really costing me more over the run of the bottle.

Rarely do I find products that I LOVE, but this was one of them. So I wanted to share.

What are your favorite multi-purpose products?
 

Friday Favorites - Warm Weather Footwear

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While I was hoping we'd have a bit more rain this spring, I don't think it's worth doing any more planning on that happening.  So, moving on and embracing the wonderful SoCal weather we're having is making me want to summerize my shoe collection (that's my new word: summer-ize, like it? :) )  And that means sandals.

friday favorites

Here are some of my favorite affordable finds (mentally adding to my closet as I type):
 

Wrap Me Up Pretty

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Ok, so here's the reality: while I would love to look crisply attired and professionally styled at all times, that just ain't happening when trying to chase a toddler around.  What I need is simple outfits that I can put on quickly, but that still have some character and style to them. I need to look like I tried without having to actually try that hard.

That's what's so wonderful about scarves.  They are simple pieces that come in a vast variety of colors and patterns, and can instantly take the simplest outfit and add that element of style that pulls it all together.  Jeans and a T: comfy, practical, but boring.  Add a brightly colored scarf and you have instant detail and interest with no fuss.  And they're not just for cold weather anymore.  They come in a variety of light, airy fabrics that feel just as spring and summery as tanks and sundresses (both of which you can add a scarf to.)

Additionally, they're  a functional accessory, particularly good for air travel, when you encounter a variety of temperatures and can be hot one minute and cold another.  Light scarves can provide just the right extra layer to adjust to temperature changes.

And there are so many ways you can style them, its like 20 pieces in one.  And you can easily find so many styles at very affordable prices. So its a win all around.  And who doesn't like winning? :)
 

Click this image for instructions on these looks and to visit a website dedicated to how to tie scarves 

Click this image for instructions on these looks and to visit a website dedicated to how to tie scarves