MY LIPSTICK GUIDE.

There are not many days that I leave the house without lipstick. I feel that even if I don't take the time to put the rest of my makeup on, simply applying lipstick makes me feel so…womanly, I guess. I bet I have 30 tubes of lipstick but these four are my staples.

1 // Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Fuchsia // $7.99 at the grocery store
2 // YSL Volupte Shine in #19 // $34.00 at Sephora
3 // MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo // $15.00 at MAC Cosmetics
4 // MAC Lipstick in Cyber // $15.00 at MAC Cosmetics (looks fabulous with MAC lip liner in Fuchsia underneath)

A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED FAMILY CHRISTMAS.

 

 

As always, we had a great holiday with my family. I've come to the conclusion (which I'm completely fine with, by the way) that my parents will never allow us to not spend the night at their house on Christmas Eve and wake up to what Santa brings. Even when my brother and I both have kids, I bet we will all camp out at their house and have Christmas there. It's a fun tradition and I love that we can't break it. I know that a lot of kids after they are grown up and out of the house just treat the holidays as blah, but in our family, it will always be the most exciting time of the year.

I always get really bummed out once Christmas is done and over with, this year is no different. Luckily, I have enough to keep me busy that I haven't thought about it as much.

THE CALM AFTER THE HOLIDAY STORM.

We had a great Christmas with my family and Greg's family, however, I'd be lying if I said that it doesn't feel good to be home. It's crazy that the time of the year where you are supposed to be sitting back and relaxing with family and friends, simply just enjoying each other's company, turns into the most exhausting few days of the entire year.

The past couple of years we have a new tradition where my family, Greg, and I go to Snowbasin Ski Resort and watch Greg's parents in the Torch Light Parade, followed by fireworks, and then all join together for dinner and drinks at his parent's house. It's been a fun tradition so far and I'm really hoping that we continue it in the future. It's also a tradition with my family to open one present each on Christmas Eve, new pajamas.

My little brother (he's 3 years younger) always was the first one to wake up on Christmas. His entire life that is the one day of the year where he actually wakes up early. It used to be as early as 4 or 5 AM, luckily, at the age of 20, he's now no earlier than 8 o'clock! The older that we get, the slower that opening presents gets. I like taking our time and enjoying the morning together as a family. Not too shabby.

I got a bunch of new fun cooking tools and whatnot that I am super excited about. Now that we are back in Salt Lake, I have spent the last 5 hours reevaluating my kitchen and trying to find a place for all of these goodies. All the while, hinting around to Greg that we REALLY need to find a new place to live soon because this kitchen is too damn small. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

THE INFAMOUS JMR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY.

 

JMR and the other Chalk Garden family throw a huge Christmas party every year. I remember my first year working for them and all of the other girls kept telling stories about it and saying how excited they were for the next. I soon saw why. Although we sometimes get a biiiiit out of control, it is always a great night with amazing friends. Our company is like a giant family. I wouldn't trade my opportunities that I've had there for anything.

THIS BOY IS 25!

Greg turned a year older and a year wiser on Sunday. Apparently, by the look of this photo, he spent the day contemplating life. Every year I make him his favorite homemade treat for his birthday, Oreo cheesecake. This year I had to hold back on chowing down on some myself and trust me, it wasn't easy.

OREO CHEESECAKE
Recipe by Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Ingredients:
36 Oreo cookies (crushed)
1/4 cup butter
4 package (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
4 large eggs
4 oz. semisweet chocolate
4 oz. white chocolate

Directions:
1 // Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2 // Line a 9x13 baking dish with aluminum foil. Finely crush 24 Oreos, mix with butter, press firmly on bottom of dish to create crust.
3 // In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and sugar with a mixer. Add sour cream and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Chop remaining cookies and add to mix. Transfer to baking dish.
4 // Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center is set. Remove from oven and cool completely.
5 // After the cheesecake is completely cooled, place in refrigerator for 2 hours or until serving.
6 // Melt the chocolate and the white chocolate, put melted chocolate in two separate Ziploc bags with a small hole in the corner. Drizzle chocolate over cake. Chill until you are ready to serve.

INCHES AWAY.

At 11:59 PM tonight, I will finally be done with my first degree. I walked at graduation in the spring but still had a few credits to finish up. This past week has been so busy, sorry for my silence. Two huge papers, work everyday, and Christmas parties all weekend, I'm exhausted. I can't wait to be able to enjoy the holidays more come tomorrow. But I feel like I still have so much to do. Send packages, wrap presents, and much more. Here's a few things on my mind this fine Tuesday:

// The scene in this picture looks so warm.

// I need a manicure.

// Our air in Salt Lake City needs to clean its act up.

// I keep making lists of any last minute gifts to grab and then I keep losing them.

// I would do anything to get back in my bed right now.

Photo: anthologymag.com

SIZE REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

 

I was really hoping that since we don't have a big tree this year that we weren't going to have to worry about the cat climbing it. Wishful thinking! First, off came all of the ornaments being knocked down by one paw swipe at a time. Next thing we know, here's a full grown cat laying on the branches of our mini tree. Her bum didn't fit and she ended up resting that on the armrest of the couch. Quite the problem solver, this one. This was last year...

CREATIVE GIFT WRAPPING.

I've made it my own little tradition the past few years to get creative with wrapping gifts. Two years ago I wrapped everything in black and white newspaper (it made for some dirty fingers) and then made homemade colorful felt bows to go on top. To learn how to make those bows, click here. You can make them out of paper, fabric, anything really. Last year I wrapped everything in brown craft paper and then made these glittered feathers for the tops of all of them. I used the brightest colored feathers that I could find at the craft store. They turned out great.

I know what I'm doing this year but I'm not going to post them until they are nice and wrapped, under the tree. Here are a couple of cute ideas that I found around the internet and wanted to share.

1 /// Whimsey Box Blog
2 /// Oh So Beautiful Paper
3 /// The 36th Avenue

I AM MY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER.

Greg and I have been looking to move lately and have both been busy with work so I was thinking that I would skip putting a tree up this year. Last year we just had the cat climbing it constantly, plus it takes so long to put one up and take it down. Then I realized, I am my mother's daughter, I have to put a tree up. My mom goes all out on Christmas. There is a gigantic tree, sometimes even two trees, there are the most perfectly wrapped gifts, everything is in its perfect place. So I, feeling a little guilty, went and bought a mini faux tree. I'm happy that I did because our house feels much more complete for this time of year. I'm sure I will love it even more when it snows tomorrow.

I texted Greg today after I put it up and told him that I'm making him watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with me tonight by our tree. He isn't as big of a Christmas fan as I am (I mean, he is a boy) but I know he secretly loves the decorations each year. But I'm sure he also loves to tease me for the fact that I have watched Home Alone every night while making dinner for the past two weeks.

ONE MONTH PALEO.

I decided a month ago to try a paleo diet. I hadn't been feeling well after eating, I haven't been able to lose weight, there are a lot of factors that went into the decision. It hasn't been easy at all (I would die for pasta) but I have felt a million times better, as well as losing four pounds. One of the hardest things has been making and then watching Greg eat a different dinner that the majority of the time sounds so much better! Most nights I make him the same as I make myself but once in awhile, I want him to get the regular meals that I used to make that he loves. And I'm not going to lie, I have had a few cheat meals.

I wanted to post some of my favorite meals so far...

BREAKFAST //
Egg whites. Bacon. Banana. Sweet potato mash.
Sweet potato mash. Sausage. Onions. Green and red peppers.

LUNCH //
Chicken breast. Brussels sprouts.
Ham. Carrots. Sweet potatoes.
Lettuce (to wrap). Shredded chicken. Green onions.

DINNER //
Salmon fillet. Sweet potatoes. Steamed broccoli.
Chicken breast topped with bacon. Steamed carrots.
Zucchini. Tomato-meat sauce.

SNACKS //
Almonds.
Carrots.
Celery.
Apples.

HAPPY [LATE] THANKSGIVING!

 Hope everyone had a fabulous holiday! Greg and I started with an early dinner with my entire family (above). For the first time, both of my grandparents (they divorced quite some time ago) were both there, along with the entire rest of our family. It was a great time and we got a lot of great photos to show it.

Every year, we end up at Greg's parent's house later that night for another dinner. It's a lot of food in one day but once a year, who cares. This year, and last, we had a family that Greg grew up with in Michigan joining us. It's tradition at their house that during dessert, you have to go around the table and everyone has to say something they are thankful for. Greg's is always something sarcastic, and the rest of us get serious. What's new...

Today is my mama's birthday so we are heading over there for a Breaking Bad marathon. None of us have seen the last 8 episodes and my parents bought them on DVD. Can't wait to finish that series, it's too good.

MORE BRUSSEL SPROUTS!

As I've already made clear, I love brussels sprouts. Here are a couple of brussel sprout recipes that I've found recently that I'm wanting to try. If anyone tries any of them, post and let us know how they are!

1 /// Brussels Sprouts Skillet
2 /// Cheesy Roasted Brussels Sprout Dip
3 /// Cranberry Orange Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts

I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS MAMA.

 

Oh mama, how I love you. I'm very thankful for you and everything you've done for me in my life. I know it hasn't been an easy ride and it most likely never will be, but it's been an exciting one. We always will have our differences but I know if we were any more the same it wouldn't be quite as fun to tease you. ;-) I can't imagine who I would be without you as my best friend. Thank you for always whipping me into shape.

I'M THANKFUL TO CALL THIS MAN MY DAD.

My life would've been very different if this wonderful man would of never come into it. Unlike most people's dads, this one didn't have to be my dad but he chose to. He also chose to do a damn good job at it. He has always, and continues to, be the most encouraging and supportive person anyone could have in their life. He bought me every doll and Barbie I could of wanted as a little girl, taught me how to throw a baseball, supported all of my dreams to become the fourth Dixie Chick (I ended up being a terrible violinist, then made another bad attempt at the guitar), he helped me with all of my art projects, and took us bowling every weekend. Even through my teenage years of dating idiots, having sassy arguments, and dumb actions that I thought were right at the time, he was still there when it was all over. He helped move me into the dorm the day I moved out for college, and completed my new living space with a gigantic stuffed lion and a tool kit. There wasn't one night that entire first semester where I didn't call him and my mom crying, wanting to come home! And every weekend that year, I went home to watch football with him instead of partying with everyone else. Even after almost five years of living away from home, I still try to make it home once each weekend to visit my parents.

I'm very thankful to be such a lucky daughter.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS LITTLE SWEETIE.

Well, errrrrr, maybe ornery-sassy-moody little sweetie some days. But I couldn't live without her, even on those days because of all these things:

// She rubs up against my legs when I get home and kneel down to her.

// She comes and finds me and leads me back to her food and water bowls when they need to be filled.

// She knows whenever I'm upset and I can always tell by the tilt of her head that she's concerned.

// She runs so fast around our apartment that she has to put her claws out to stop herself on the wood floor.

// She hops up on the bathroom counter every morning while I get ready for work.

// Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, she is creepily staring at me. I like to think that it's because she's protecting me but she's probably plotting her revenge on me for the times that I've forced her to ride in the car.

// She sniffs the air, it makes me laugh.

// She has a permanent coffee moustache that makes me smile.

// She can sense those evil kinds of people who don't like cats.

// She runs to the door whenever she hears Greg's keys jangling as he's coming up the stairs.

// Aaaaaaand...because....well, look at that face.

BRUSSEL SPROUT AND BACON SALAD.

Ever since I began going to a local restaurant here in SLC, Eva, a few years ago, I have become obsessed with brussel sprouts. Their brussel sprouts must have crack in them or something because I can't eat enough of them.

I found this recipe on Pinterest a couple of months ago, tried it once for myself and loved it. I decided to make it for our office girls night recently (it's a little summery but who cares when it's delicious). Even the ladies who aren't huge brussel sprout fans loved it and needed the recipe.

Bacon and Brussel Sprout Salad
By Lindsay: Pinch of Yum
Serves 8-10

You will need:
1 lemon
1 orange
1 large shallot, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
6 slices cooked bacon, chopped
4 dozen brussel sprouts
1 cup almonds
1 cup grated Pecorino-Romano cheese
Salt and pepper

Step 1: Cook and chop the bacon.
Step 2: Squeeze lemon and orange into a large bowl with the shallots. Pour olive oil into the bowl while whisking to form an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Step 3: Shave the brussel sprouts into thin slices, creating a slaw texture.
Step 4: Chop almonds (I used a food processor) finely. Add 3/4 of the cup of almonds, the bacon, and the cheese to the brussel sprouts. Toss to combine.
Step 5: When ready to serve, toss the dressing and the remaining cheese, almonds, and bacon in with the brussel sprout mixture.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS GIRL.

Oh, my little French-Irish-American-whatever best friend. I've never connected with a girl in my life like I do with Maeve. In the short amount of time that we have known each other, I feel like we have shared enough laughs, smartass remarks, bitch sessions, and tears to make up for the 20 years that we didn't have one another. There's not a day of my life from here on out without this girl in it. Love you, Marve.

EXPLORING SUSTAINABILITY.

 

During my junior year of college, I took a class called Design Process by professor Carol Sogard. During this class, Carol's curriculum incorporated design with environmental issues. She then taught a class called Sustainability in Design this past spring for the first time. In the class, we were taught about the designer's place with the controversial subject of a degrading environment across the globe.

 

By tracing the process backwards, you begin to see that it is not completely the consumer at fault. As a designer, our goal is to catch the audience's eye through our designs in order to sell the ideas. Many times, these ideas are products. By thinking of this subject in this way, you begin to see that you play a large role in the problem. We focused on finding our place in this, as well as solutions for how we can help, through intensive research, "field trips", and design projects.

 

We got the opportunity to have our projects in the class featured in an exhibit at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. The projects could be on a related topic of our choice, and we were able to decide how we wanted to represent our information and research. Some students chose installations, some interactive pieces, etc. I was also given the opportunity to help Carol put the show together for my required internship credit for my degree. Being a part of the production of putting together the exhibit was great. It opened my eyes to some of the issues that you face putting artwork in a museum, the work that goes into it, and how each and every aspect helps to determine the show's success. The show has been up since September and will continue until July 2014.

 

If you are in the Salt Lake area, go take a look at the show! And if any of you readers are design students at the University of Utah, I highly recommend taking Carol's Sustainability in Design class, it is held during spring semester.

 

Artist Credits:

Photo One //  Jonathan Gracey

Photo Two // Michelle Mann

Photo Three // Alex Douangdara

Photo Four // Kris Sovereen

Photo Five // A compilation of process of students by me.