Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Temporarily Out of Sorts...

Bad blogger doesn't even begin to describe what I've become. BUT, I did just destroy my Macbook, which makes anything involving technology a bit difficult. As of right now, I am blogging from my dinosaur, aka G4 Mac from 2001. Yes, it still works, but S L O W L Y.

My Macbook drowned in a tragic accident involving a giant glass of water.
Don't drink & use your lappies, my dears.
Sigh.

I will be back...hopefully next week sometime!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Whoa.

Can ya tell school started? My blogging has become practically non-existent! Ugh, how blah of me. It's hard when the biggest event of your day is getting a massive pumpkin spice latte at the campus library Starbucks.

At least we have fall television premiers, right? My picks...

{courtesy of Fox}

House, even thought I mostly have no idea what is going on. Saw the finale of last season & previews for the new one. Looks like it's finally going to be good again.

{courtesy of AMC}
Mad Men...continuing from summer. How crazy is it getting?

{courtesy of the CW}
90210 & Melrose Place. I'm channeling my inner 90s-girl. Again, I have no idea what's going on with these bizarre kids, but they're fascinating to me.

{courtesy of the CW}
And last, but certainly not least, Marissa Cooper's {oops, I mean Mischa Barton} return to tv! The Beautiful Life looks like a wonderfully guilty pleasure. I'm excited.

How about you all? Anything I'm missing out on?

Thursday, September 10, 2009

{Fall} Makeup Trends


{both collections @ Sephora}
Guess what? They're my favorite! There's not a lot to say other than for me to tell you to take in the drama, the rich colours, & the beautiful skin. Gorgeous. Guerlain & Nars put out my fave 2 this season. Which do you prefer?

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Holiday Weekend {& a Winner!}


{Cows celebrating Labor Day}
First off, sorry I didn't get to posting a winner of my giveaway yesterday. We spent the holiday in Iowa at a family friend's farm & got back late last night. Without further ado, the winner is....
{I used an online random line picker for the winner}
Pink Sass! Congrats to you & thank you all SO much for being great readers & supporting my blog. I look forward to more giveaways in the future {I thought up a great holiday one the other day...} to show my appreciation.
Miss Pink Sass, if you would be so kind as to send me your info I would be much obliged.
{My friends. Probably one of the most normal photos I ended up with. We're having fun. See? Thumbs up.}
The weekend was a nice long one. I spent a lot of time visiting my family & celebrating with my friends. Friday night was a show at our fave bar, O'Leaver's, with a BBQ on Sunday night as well.

{Ooh, special effects! Me & Becca @ the bar.}
As I already mentioned, yesterday the fam headed to a farm in Iowa where we shot guns, looked at animals & ate, what else, but Steak & Cakes. We're so Midwestern, aren't we? There were lots of farm kitties {cute, but dirty little things} & I even drove, aka steered, a tractor! It was funny.

{They sat in their food. ??!}
I hope you all had a great holiday weekend & thank you again for being such lovely readers!
Have a great week.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Football. Glorious football.

I know lots of you are excited. Who's your team of choice?
I'll bet you know mine by now...
{USC's mascot, Traveler}
In related news, it's the weekend! I've got a whole plan for the football festivities tomorrow {mini burgers, homemade 'end of summer' salsa & chips, stuffed jalapenos...& so on}. My plan for sharing with you is this: next Friday I will post the preview week's blowout {or shindig, depending on size} so you can have some ideas for parties of your own that weekend!

{USC head coach Pete Carroll & alum Will Ferrell}
So stay tuned each Friday this fall for some yummy ideas {including vegetarian options for lovely Pink Sass, who recently requested so} & fun pictures. Oh, & hopefully lots of happiness about USC's perfect season.

And don't forget to enter my giveaway! I will be posting the winner Monday. Have a great weekend & a fun Labor Day. We're heading to the farm to fish & shoot guns. How Iowa, right?

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

One Whole Year {a giveaway}

That's about how long my blog has officially been around. Please don't look at the pathetic number of entries I have actually written in this time. It's shameful. But I made it a year, wow! And mostly thanks to all my lovely readers & friends.
{you can find these very items in my bag RIGHT now!}
In honor of this event, I'm doing a little anniversary giveaway to celebrate & thank all my loyal followers. It's just a few of my must-have, everyday items. Things I simply cannot leave the house without.

1. A fun book. In this case, Bergdorf Blondes, one of my personal faves.
2. Notebooks! I love lists. Love them. I've chosen this 4-pack of recycled notebooks for YOU!
3. Nail polish. My go-to shade is Ballet Slippers by Essie. {doesn't show mistakes, ha!}
4. Rosebud Salve. Moisturize, ladies! Perfect by itself, over lipstick, under gloss, mixed with blush or eyeshadow to make a cream, ....etc., etc., etc.!
5. Sharpie pens. The best thing that could have happened to the pen.
6. Cherry Passion Tic Tacs. AKA USC Trojans football Tic Tacs. Hee hee.
7. My new fave mascara: CG VolumeExact. It's actually pretty awesome. I die without mascara, really, I do.
8. My signature sunnies, giant, massively fabulous 'Sparkling Jackies.' You'll love them, too.

To enter, simply leave me a comment. And that is it! If you're a follower, I will give you two {2!} entries, just be sure to let me know. You have until Sunday evening, September 6th, to enter. I will announce the lucky winner Monday {Labor Day}!
Good luck dears!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

For No {Special} Reason

We made a few special treats for dinner last night. I suppose you could say it's because we made it through Monday, which is usually a struggle, afterall. Actually, I had a great piece of ahi tuna {THANK YOU MOM & DAD, you were right, it was awesome} that needed to be eaten & a recipe for said piece of tuna.

SO, just for fun we had some fancy pants food & wine, & watched the college football preview on ESPN-U. I think it's important to have a little special time w. the one or ones you love. Con & I both love to cook & try new things, so this made for a perfect evening.

Here's what we created: Ahi tuna tartare {adapted from Ina Garten's recipe} & broiled escargot. Both were SO easy & quite quick.

The tuna took all off 10 minutes to pulse through the food processor & mix w. the other ingredients. Ina's recipe is for like, 800 people, so adjust accordingly.

Moo Cow looking over his handiwork, aka CHEESE.
This is the best way to eat escargot: 1. Spread out your little snails {I used canned. I'm serious.} in a baking dish, 2. Put a few tablespoons of butter in around them, 3. mince some garlic in there, 4. spread shredded havarti over it all {6 ounces or so}, 5. sprinkle chopped scallions on top, 6. broil for about 8-10 minutes.
EAT IT. With a baguette. Mm, snailies.

Voila! Two quite complementary dishes, I must say.
Go "cook" them now. It's not hard. One is broiled & the other is raw.
You have no excuse not to be "fancy."

We're so fancy we eat off our coffee table w. candles in jars.
Now go on, treat yourself!