{Thrifty Thursday} A Glowing Face

So I don't know about you, but I can easily spend HUNDREDS of dollars at a single makeup counter, all in the name of vanity.  Seriously.  The plus side is I don't wear too much of it and it does last me a couple of years so these spendy visits aren't too frequent.  Besides that, lately I've noticed the price of a made up face is costing much more.  I've managed a way to cut these costs by reserving my favorite 'pricey' products for nights out and times I just want to bump up the beauty routine and substituting my every day look with more reasonable alternatives, all of which treat skin with care.

Trish Blush, Maybelline Blush, Stila tinted moisturizer, Neutrogena tinted moisturizer, Stila powder foundation, Neutrogena powder foundation

Cheers!

Ana

 

{Delicious Recipe}: Rice Krispie Treats

One of my favorite parts of the baby shower we hosted for Little Man was the dessert bar. We had lots of delicious treats and I wanted to share a super simple and super delicious recipe from the shower. My parchment & twine rice krispie treat presents!

The recipe is seriously simple--even for you toast and cereal masters out there. Trust me--even you couldn't mess this one up. So here it is, step by step.

1. At medium heat, melt one stick of butter in a deep no stick pan. Wait for butter to brown (it will turn clear, then bubble, then foam and then it will brown). You'll know the butter has browned when it starts producing a nutty aroma.
2. Turn off heat and add one bag of mini marshmallows. The heat from the butter should melt the marshmallows, but if you need to add more heat turn the stove to a low simmer and stir, stir, stir. It's a great arm work out too! Once the marshmallows have melted into a white fluffy goo, you pour in 1/2 a box of rice krispie treat cereal and mix it all together.
3. Butter a 9x13 baking dish and pour in your mixture. I like to then press down with a piece of parchment paper to smooth the top out.
4. Let cool and then cut into squares. Use parchment paper strips and wrap around rice krispie treats. Then, take a piece of twine and finish it off with a bow.

Viola! You have a super easy and delicious treat. Now, enjoy!

Cheers!
Cristi

Bangs Update

Alright, as promised here's an update on my bangs...I'm actually kinda loving them right now. They're getting long enough for me to pin back so I feel like it's really given me a versatile look where I can either rock some bangs or pin 'em back and go back to my bang-free locks. So for now--they're staying. But they're still a pain in the butt to style everyday. 

Cheers!
Cristi

{We're Obsessed} Pleats

Remember how I told you I like to associate Spring with frolicking and twirling? Well that could also explain my latest obsession with all things pleated--skirts (both short & midi), shorts, dresses. I love it all! Here are some wonderfully pleated pieces I picked out that are all on my love/want/need list. And all from Bloomingdales!

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Cheers!
Cristi

{Thrifty Thursday} Spring Dresses under $50

When I think of Spring in Texas I think about frolicking about in fields of bluebonnets a la Little House on the Prairie--but you know, cooler. I love a good spring dress for said frolicking so imagine my delight when I was notified that ASOS was having a huge mid season sale! My ideal spring dress would be colorful with a full skirt--perfect for twirling. Pair it with a pair of oxfords or sandals for the day and throw on some wedges for that happy hour cocktail! They're really all you need to get you through the Spring! Check out some of the fabulous dresses I found for under $50! And there are so many more on their website. You really can't beat that!

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Cheers!
Cristi

{Wine Wednesday} Kris 2010 Malbec

Today's wine selection is a sweet little ode to my best friend Kris. I mean, not really but I was enjoying a delicious pizza out with some friends at Grimaldi's Pizzeria when the waiter suggested this great Malbec and lo and behold it had the same name as my bff. What are the chances that two things I love would be named the same?! I lift my glass of Kris and toast to you, Kris!

Cheers!
Cristi

Boy oh Boy!

A couple of weekends ago A graced us with her presence in Dallas and we got to celebrate her little man. It’s no secret that the three of us share a lot so Jackie and I were beyond thrilled to share in the excitement of A’s bundle of joy! Since I remain child free (and thank God for that) I kinda think I’ll be adopting her little man as my own…as long as I can give him back at the end of the day :)

A invited just a few of her nearest and dearest and we hosted a Baby Sprinkle at Jackie’s house. It was a brunch so we included a mimosa bar, a few appetizers, a variety of sandwich and salads and the best part—a dessert bar packed with lots of delicious treats! Here are some pictures from the event. It went off without a hitch and was a great way to celebrate Baby Sherman! Can’t wait to meet him!

Cheers!

Cristi

{Wine Wednesday} Beso de Vino

Today has been a heck of day! It started at 3:50 a.m. for me when I woke up to be at the ABC studios for a 5:00 a.m. live interview and has just gotten crazier by the minute. I can't wait to head home and unwind after a crazy hectic day. And what better way to unwind than with a glass of vino? Tonight I'll be curling up with a glass of this 2009 Beso de Vino Seleccion. I found this gem on well, where else but my beloved wine.com for a bargain and can't wait to try it! Apparently it's a steal for the great taste!

The 2009 Beso de Vino Seleccion is a blend of 85% Syrah and 15% Garnacha aged for 3 months in French oak. Black cherry and blueberry aromas lead to a dense, plush, savory wine which finishes with no hard edges.

Cheers!
Cristi

Love or Hate? My New Bangs.

I’m always getting bored with my look. Ever since the chili bowl haircut incident of 1999 I’ve been terrified of cutting my hair short and since I don’t color it—its hard to find a new do for me. So the other day I decided to bite the bullet and cut some bangs! Gasp! And despite my hairstylist's utter excitement at me trying something new, I still haven’t decided what I think of my new bangs. Part of me loves the geek chic personality they give my hair (we know I'm a sucker for the geek chic look) but part of me thinks they make me look weird. My friend assured me they just needed a solid week to get a little growth and settlement in them and then I’ll be loving them. So I’ll update in a week, but for now—what do you think? Do you love or hate it? I seriously can’t decide!!!

Cheers!

Cristi