Throwback Thursday!

29 May 2014 6 comments
I have been a very slack blogger lately but I haven't been feeling well so I just have been taking easy. I actually went to the doctor since my ear has been bugging me for the past few days and yay I have water in my ear :( So that is just awesome, I have to put drops in my ear for the next week but I guess that is better than having an ear infection.

Since I really don't have much to say I'm leaving you with a picture from when I was kid at the beach. I can't wait until I'm the on beach again and it is warm unlike the other day when it was windy and chilly! Dogs had a good time though! :) Hope everyone is having a great week!




Make It Monday!

26 May 2014 4 comments

Last week I was boring and looking through my Pinterest and I found a recipe for Lemon Curd Cookie bars! I had it pinned for awhile now but since I had been busy with school I didn't take the time to make them. Since I love me some lemon desserts and it was a gloomy day I decided to make them and I'm so glad I did! I had no idea how easy it was to make home made lemon curd! These cookies/tarts are amazing and super easy.

This recipe comes from Barbara Bakes and I'm totally going to be picking some more recipes from her site because if her other recipes are as good as this one everything I make will be amazing. I was a little bit worried about having to make the lemon curd myself but it is super easy. It is a little labour heavy but easy and in the end it is totally worth it. The cookie part is super easy too and totally melt  in your mouth fantastic. 

Lemon Bar Cookie Cups

Ingredients for Cookie Cups
  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup lemon curd (recipe below)
  • powdered sugar for decorating, optional
Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Combine the flours, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar in a small bowl and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the oil, egg and extracts. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and stir until combined.
  • Drop one tablespoon dough (I used a #50 scoop) into each cup of a greased mini muffin tin. Bake for 8 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indentation in the center of each cookie. Fill with a teaspoon of lemon curd. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 4 minutes, or until cookies are firm and lightly browned on the sides. Remove to wire racks to cool.
  • Sprinkle the edges to the cookies with powdered sugar.
Lemon Curd

Ingredients
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Instructions
  • In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and yolks, one at a time. Beat for about 1 minute. Mix in the lemon juice. The mixture will look curdled but I promise it will smooth out when it is cooked (the butter just needs to melt).
  • In a medium, heavy-based saucepan, cook the mixture over low heat until it looks smooth. Up the heat to medium and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Watch it because this part could go faster. It should leave a path on the back of a spoon and will read 170°F on a thermometer. Don't let the mixture boil.
  • Remove the curd from the heat. Add in the lemon zest. Transfer the curd to a bowl. Press plastic wrap on the surface of the lemon curd to keep a skin from forming and chill the curd in the refrigerator. The lemon curd will thicken more as it cools in the fridge. 
Make and Enjoy!
I wish we still had some but they went over the weekend!


Also, happy long weekend to my American friends! Happy Memorial Day!


Tag It Thursday

15 May 2014 2 comments
A few days ago I was watching Fleur's latest beauty video and it was the Lip Product Addict Tag and well the first step is admitting your problem right. I love me some lip products so I figured this was the perfect tag for me to do! I tag everyone who reads this! Leave me a link if you do this tag so I can check out your answers!

QUESTIONS:

1. Favourite balm/treatment? My favorite quick and easy balm/treatment is the Vaseline Lip Therapy! 


2. Best eye-catching red? My favorite red right now is Rimmel's Kate 107...I picked it up probably around this time last year on the recommendation from Zoella and I loved it! It isn't in your face bright red but it is amazing! When I go for in your face bright I normally go for pink like Candy Yum Yum by MAC


3. Best luxury & best drugstore? Gosh I don't think I have best luxury lipstick because I really haven't tried any but I LOVE Rimmel's Kate lipsticks so that would be my best drugstore.

4. Best MAC lipstick? Syrup or Girl About Town

5. The most disappointing? Color Caresse Shine Stain is the only one that comes to mind but I wasn't overly disappointed in it I just didn't like it all that much and I think it was the color more than anything else.

6. Liner - yes or no? Rarely! I always forget it!

7. Best gloss? Hmmmmm I really love MAC's glosses

8. Something extra! Just wanted to add don't forgot to scrub your lips! You can make your own scrub or Lush has some great ones! I have Mint Julip and it is my favorite. Keep your lips nice and soft :)


Beauty Wednesday: Tips and Tricks!

14 May 2014 2 comments
Happy Hump Day Everyone! I have to say I don't find this week going as fast as last week and honestly that is okay with me. I think last week went so far because I was recovering from Backstreet Boys! This week I figured I would bring back Beauty Wednesday since I know a lot of you really like it! 

Since most everyone loves knowing beauty tips and tricks I decided to give you a few of mine! I'm sure some of you know them but I figured I would give my top 10 tips and tricks! 


Beauty Tricks by Brittany


1. Do your eye make-up first then it is easier to clean up any fall out or edges with your foundation


2. Hairspray your bobby pins! They won't move! They probably should make sticky bobby pins but they don't.


3. Use conditioner as your shaving cream! Not expensive stuff ladies!


4. Clear mascara to keep your eye brows in place!


5. Static hair? Run a dryer sheet over it! Or if you don't have one but you have your hand cream use just a bit in your hands then run them over your hair.


6. Want your lipstick to last all day? Put your lipstick on then put a tissue on your lips and brush on some translucent powder.


7. Avoid lipstick on your teeth by putting your finger in your mouth and then pulling it out, the excess lipstick should be on your finger instead of your teeth.


8. Have a special event coming up but the weather is going to hot and you might sweat? After your primer rub some gel anti-perspirant on the areas of your face where you might sweat!


9. Keep your perfume from fading away too quickly....place it on pressure points because they give off heat and will keep releasing the fragrance of your perfume!


10. Bobby pins should be worn with the wavy side down! 


Hope you're all having a great week!



Why I Love....Lush's Cupcake Face Mask!

13 May 2014 2 comments
I have to admit I'm not really a face mask kind of girl. Normally if I do a face mask once or twice a year that is a lot for me. I just don't take the time for them or when I have a bubble bath I forget to put it on. Well, this was until I got the Cupcake mask from Lush! Face mask life changer right there!

I was watching a video by Ingrid and she was talking about this face mask and she has oily skin like I do so I thought maybe I will stick this on my Christmas list this year since she seem to love it so much. I normally really like a lot of the products Ingrid recommends. 

I got the mask for Christmas and I LOVED it! I really don't mind the smell but the rest of my family thinks it is stinks! I think it could hate the smell and I would still love this mask. It goes on so nice and when you wash it off your skin feels amazing. I normally put on a face mask before I get in to the bath and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. This is perfect for this mask. To remove this mask I just take a face cloth and rub in a circular motion with warm water. I get between 4 and 6 uses out of the mask which I think it pretty good since it is the best mask I have found for my skin and it is only $8. If you have dry skin I wouldn't recommend this mask but if you do have oiler skin like myself this mask will make your skin feel amazing and soft!  I don't think I can say enough good about this mask honestly. I think I might have to go and have a mask face now! But just to recap this mask is amazing because...

-natural products
-leaves skin feeling amazing
-smells like chocolate (to me anyways)
-good bang for your buck!

 We all know I love me some Lush bath bombs and I'm branching out into more Lush Products now!

What is your favorite Lush Product?

Okay, lets get real here....

12 May 2014 3 comments
So recently, I have noticed a number of my fellow bloggers have been speaking about babies mainly because a number of them are preggers or just had a baby. There is also a number of them who are not sure if they want babies. This got me thinking and I decided why not blog about it! 

Where do I stand this? Do I want kids? Will I care that society is going to judge me if I don't? What if I do/don't want kids but my boyfriend/husband does? What if I can't have kids? As one ages these are things that start going through your mind when you're trying to sleep or when your birthday is coming and you don't feel like you're where you should or wanted to be. When I was a teen and in my early 20s, I didn't want kids at all! I liked other people's kids and I was good with that. When I was like well I would maybe adopt a kid. Then I had a cancer scare where they told me they might have to remove all my lady plumbing and at the time I was like do whatever you have to do, I just want to come out of this cancer free. Luckily, they didn't have to and even better it ended up not being cancer. The specialist told me things looked normal minus an ovary now. She also told me I could start menopause early, which means my window for having kids got smaller. She said because I only have one ovary I could have pre-menopause symptoms starting in my early 30s. Wait! What? Whoa lady I'm only 25 lets not pile this on me was what I was thinking at the time. Thirty felt long enough away at the time that I wasn't really thinking about but now I'm 30 and I have to say nowhere near where I thought I would be at 30. Now, don't get me wrong I'm very happy right now and I like where my life is going but it doesn't change the fact this is not where I thought I was going me. I figured by the time I was 30 I would be married probably not with kids but who knows. I'm nowhere near married (unless you count my 20 year relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio mind you he doesn't know about it) and who knows if kids are even in the cards for me!

The world tell us you grow up, you get married, you have kids and live happily ever after. Well, what if I can't? I want to, I want to have the whole pregnancy experience no matter how bad or good it is, I want to feel the kicks, I want that and I don't know if I will get to have that. The ovary that got taken away from me could have been my 'good' one with more eggs or the one left just might be a bitch! The world is saying You're 30 and childless what is wrong with you? Well, world I have one ovary and I don't know if it works so screw off!

I also wonder if it would be a deal breaker with my future husband (if I ever find one). Would he be open to adoption? Would he be okay with no kids? Would I be okay with no kids? Would he want babies that came from him and me? Would it be him and not me that gives us problems? Would I be understanding? Who knows?

Right now being that age looking around seeing others married and pregnant makes me want it but I know in my heart I'm not ready for any of it, but I won't lie I see it and sometimes I feel a pang of jealousy it doesn't last for more than a moment but it is there. I feel joy for those pregnant and got that way easily. I feel sadness for those who every month pray for a different result to their pregnancy test. I just often wonder which one I will be? And what if I'm never either?

It is the what if that scares me...

Side Note: I didn't even realize I was posting this the day after Mother's Day! I guess this is another time you think about these things too much.

Finally Friday....

09 May 2014 4 comments

I have never done the Five on Friday link up so I decided I might as well today! Hope you're all having a great week, the weather is sunny here today so I'm a very happy camper! Lets get on with this Five on Friday stuff!

1. I'm in post concert depression! I have been listening to a playlist I have created of the concert set list and I just really want it to be Sunday again because it was such an amazing day. 

2. This week has flown by! I can't believe it is Friday already. This is probably because of the concert being on Sunday and just didn't feel like Sunday and then recovery mode on Monday and Tuesday wasn't helpful haha

3. I got tickets for Sarah MacLachlan's tour! It is like 194 days away but nice to know I have tickets and I have plans in November haha Sad thing I haven't bought her new album yet! It came out on Tuesday but I haven't taken the time to get it but I will of course.

4. I'm really excited for Sunday because we are celebrating my dad's birthday and mother's day with a nice meal of lobster! It will be the first time we are having lobster this season. So yummy! 

5. I won't lie I'm going to go now and watch more youTube videos from the concert! This is the only way I can get through my post concert depression! 

And before I leave you I have to link up with my girl Whitney for #backthatazzup Friday!

Happy Weekend Everyone!






So I Met the Backstreet Boys....Again

07 May 2014 4 comments
A weekend update on Wednesday? Sure why not! I really meant to get this up yesterday but I was battling some major post concert blues! And lets be honest I was super tired since I didn't get much sleep on Sunday night and Monday wasn't a great day for sleep either. But anyways, on with the weekend update well more just Sunday!

On Sunday was the day I had been waiting for since like March 19th or something when the tickets went on sale for BSB. After night a restless sleep on Saturday night (yes, I was kinda excited) I got up and had to do my hair twice! Then I headed off to Halifax to finish getting ready with my friends before heading to the sound check. The friends I was with were friends I had made because of our love for Backstreet Boys and finally having all of us together to experience this was amazing. The sound check was great as always, it was always nice to be able to interact with the boys a bit before the concert and it makes me more excited for the concert. As always I had my picture taken with the boys and this year was the best one I think. They are all such sweet guys. Nick liked my shirt, finally got to meet Kevin and they all smell amazing! 

The concert was frickin' amazing! These boys know how to put on a show and the place was packed! It always normally a well sold show but on Sunday it was basically sold out! People were up in the nosebleed section all the way in the back. It was great to see this even though there was fans there who didn't know much of their new stuff but still AMAZING show. They did a good mix of their oldies and new ones. I love that they still dance and they are good! I also like that they sing and you can tell they are singing because you can hear that they are out of breath. If I wanted to listen to perfect vocals I would just listen to the album. I'm there to be entertained and the Backstreet Boys never disappoint when it comes to entertaining the crowd. I should stop rambling about how awesome the concert was because I could do it for hours and hours which would make for one long post and I have more to tell you about the night!

After the concert there was an after party. We decided to go a few days before even though the last one we went to was kind of crappy. You couldn't even really see the boys. This time they had it at the Marquee Club which isn't always open so it was just fans there and there was a stage for the boys to be on. It was a lot of fun. The boys seemed to having a great time and Nick did a great job DJ'ing. The bonus part of this night I got to get more pictures with the guys. Brian wasn't there and Nick didn't come off the stage because he was DJ'ing but I was lucky enough to get my picture with Kevin, Howie and AJ. I love these guys!

The night was amazing and I got to share it with some great people! I can't wait until I get to do it again! Hopefully sooner then last time. Since I don't have my pictures on this computer I'm just going to leave you my picture from sound check! If you want to see more feel free to let me know or add me on Facebook or Instagram :)


Internet Friends?

02 May 2014 5 comments
When I was trying to figure out what to write about today I really didn't have any great ideas since I didn't really want to do another beauty post this week. Then it hit me...internet friends! i know I doesn't sounds that excited but this weekend I'm spending time with people I 'met' on the internet.

There are some people who think it is crazy to think they you can make a real friend on the internet and to be honest I kind of felt that way for a long time because you can be whoever you want to be on the internet and no one is going to call you out for it because they don't know the difference between the real you and the pretend you. For me what you get in 'real life' is the same as you get on the internet. I think the friends I have met online are the same and for the ones I have had the pleasure of meeting in real life and I know this for sure. I realize that sometimes internet friends don't work out and I think it is easier to lose touch with internet because you can get busy with real life and then next thing you know they and/or you have moved on. I luckily have found some great people online to become friends with. I think my first internet friends came from LiveJournal and I still talk to a lot of them! Everyone knows the lovely Ms Whitney from I wore Yoga Pants, she was one of my LJ buds! My good buddy Justin I have been talking with him since like 2002, all started with LiveJournal! It is weird to think about it sometimes. Also, Faith from You Gotta Have Faith was a friend on LiveJournal and since we actually were from the same place we got to meet in person and she was great and of course still is great but she moved across the country! ;) I could list a few more of the girls I still talk to from Livejournal but they know who they are and know I love them! OH I did have a friendship going for awhile with Stephen who actually went on to win the reality show with Paris Hilton haha I think they was actually on MySpace and not LiveJournal actually but yes before he was Paris' BFF, he was one of mine online.

Mutual interests bring people on the internet together the most. So, it comes as know surprise that I have made some great friends through some of my interests such as music. Ryan Malcolm (winner of the first Canadian Idol) bought me some great friends! I don't talk to the girls I met through Ryan enough anymore but I can say they are all amazing people! Then of course Backstreet Boys bought me some of the best friends I could ask for. Even though I'm far too excited to finally meet Kevin Richardson on Sunday I'm almost equally excited to spend the day with my friends since we don't see each other as much especially this past few months as I didn't get up to Halifax as much as I normally do. It is going to be a great day all being together and bonus we finally get to be together at a Backstreet concert. Deena and Gavin lived in England so it was hard before now haha. Yup, I just can't wait. 

I have gone from being internet friends with people to real life friends. I have attended some their weddings, I'm friends with their families, I'm excited for them when they have great news like they are going to be parents and I'm sad with them when they share hard/bad news. I'm happy they are in my life no matter how they came into it.


And just to wrap it now because I could probably ramble on forever about the great internet people I have met. I just want to say friends are friends, it doesn't matter how you met them, good friends can come from anywhere and really good friends are hard to find so keep them close and be happy you found them. 


And because I have linked up with Whitney in far too long here is a song to get your weekend started! A throw back really...Happy Friday Everyone!