a lush life

if you know me, it's no secret that i love lush. my mother was kind enough to pick me up some goodies in chicago this past week while she was there on business, & i absolutely have to share. since there's no lush in alabama, i usually order from online or pick up items in new orleans. by the way, lush, there's a macy's in birmingham that could really use you...

i got 3 bath bombs & soap! sex bomb, my FAVORITE! + twilight, which i've used before, & geo phyzz, which is new! i wanted to try out rockstar soap because it smells heavenly. their soaps are to die for. i've got such a long list of lush products i love that i'll likely order more in the next few months.



what lush products have you tried, & which are your favorites?

blueberry crumble cake

well, i've done it. i've baked something in my new apartment. it's baking virginity is gone. now, it's in for a wild ride of experimentation, way too many cupcakes & hopefully no disasters. i've got my little baking basket organized (yes, i have a basket full of cupcake liners, fondant flowers & ridiculous things) & i'm totally set. let's do this.

i thought this cake was a nice thing to start with, it's basically JUST like the very berry coffee cake at starbucks. i can't wait to have a piece with a doubleshot on ice during the afternoon. if you're looking for a simple recipe that's good every time & can also serve as a (sugary) morning snack with your coffee, this cake is definitely the trick!

for the streusel:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 & 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

for the cake:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick), room temperature
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 2/3 cup sour cream
• 1 & 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

preheat the oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. butter & flour a 9 inch baking pan.

for the streusel:

1. combine the sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg.
2. stir in the melted butter & then flour, set aside.

for the cake:

1. cream butter & sugar with an electric mixer on high for 4-5 minutes.
2. reduce speed & add eggs one at a time.
3. add vanilla, lemon zest & sour cream.
4. in another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt. slowly add the dry mixture to the other bowl with the mixer on low, until just combined.
5. fold in the blueberries with a spatula.
6. spread batter into pan with a knife.
7. using your hands, crumble the streusel on top until it covers the cake.
8. bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
9. enjoy with your morning coffee, or by itself!
   

august birchbox #2

it's finally here! my 2nd birchbox ever. i was very excited to receive this month's box since i enjoyed last month's box so much. some of you told me you signed up for birchbox after reading my post, so if you've made a blog post about your box, link it in the comments! if you haven't gotten your box yet for this month, be aware of the potential spoilers ahead.

here are the products i received this month, the description on the card & my take of the product thus far.

• befine night cream - "upgrade your nighttime routine with this lush cream - cocoa spurs circulations, while rice bran keeps skin supple & healthy." i'm excited to try this! i've never been a fan of night creams simply because i don't see results, but i'm always willing to give something a shot. it smells nice, too.
• blinc mascara - "this game-changing mascara encases your lashes in a thin tube of water-resistant formula that won't smudge, smear or run." when i first read the description for this i thought the product was going to be totally weird. it's actually a normal mascara wand! the packaging threw me off, but i do love it because it's so different. i gave the mascara a quick try & the application is nice; not much in the area of volume/thickening, but it does a decent job on length & looks very natural. i'll probably toss this in my purse to use when i'm out for touch-ups, i'm not sold on it as a daily mascara.
  
• kate spade new york perfume in twirl - "this flirty scent is a fresh update on the classic fruity floral." anyone who knows me knows i'm obsessed with perfume, so i was very happy to get this sample. it's a typical floral, but it's very sweet smelling & nice for summer. this will also go in my to-go makeup bag.
  
• liftlab lift & fix high potency solution - "an anti-aging serum with a PhD - liftlab's molecular biologists spent years perfecting a patented natural protein that strengthens & regenerates cells." i'm not sure why i got this in my box considering anti-aging isn't a priority of mine just yet, but i'll give it a shot & see what it does for my skin.
• befine exfoliating cleanser with brown sugar, sweet almond & oats - this actually wasn't listed on the little card for whatever reason. it's a tiny packet of befine cleanser & although i haven't opened it yet, i can guess from the description that it smells heavenly.
• twistband brand hair tie - "this soft elastic gives the hair tie a sophisticated makeover - it looks as good on your wrist as it does in your hair." i'm all for soft hair ties that don't break my hair or pull it out, & this one is soft & flexible. however, why boast that it looks good on my wrist when it's just... black? do they come in prints/colors?

overall, i am satisfied with this month's box. i'm most excited about the perfume & the befine products. i had never heard of befine before & now i'm definitely going to check them out - their packaging is a real draw, & i love the ingredients they use. as always everything was packaged neatly & perfect! there were a few drawbacks to some of the products (i don't understand the liftlab serum or the hair tie, really) but oh well. still excited for next month's box!

mandarin orange chicken : weeknight recipe

my parents purchased easy chinese stir-fries by helen chen & i haven't had a bad recipe from it yet. this is one of my personal favorites as it is very easy to make & healthier than the fried option. this was the 2nd meal i made in my new apartment!

• 2 teaspoons chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 3 teaspoons corstarch
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 3/4 inch cubes
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 4 ounces snow peas, ends & strings removed (omitted because i'm not a fan)
• 2-4 dried chile peppers, seeds removed (i used chili powder instead. 2 teaspoons equals one chili. you can vary this depending on your tastes)
• 1 garlic clove, crushed & peeled
• 2 slices fresh ginger, unpeeled
• 1 11 ounce can of mandarin oranges, drained

1. in a bowl, combine the cornstarch & sherry/wine. add chicken & mix well.
2. in another bowl, combine sugar, vinegar, soy sauce & orange juice concentrate.
3. if using snow peas : in your wok/skillet, heat 1 tablespooon canola oil on medium heat until the pan is hot. add the snow peas & cook about 30 seconds or until they are dark green. remove from pan.
4. add the garlic & ginger to the pan, stir.
5. turn the heat up to high & add the chicken. stir for 1 minute, then add the orange sauce & continue stirring until chicken is done. remove the garlic & ginger, then add the mandarin oranges & stir for another minute.
6. serve over white rice & enjoy! if using snow peas, add them as well.
   

in other news, i'm settling into my apartment quite nicely! my parents helped me move in this past weekend & since then i've been organizing & decorating. i'm so in love with my apartment & i'm glad i chose this one! one of my roommates moved in today so i've been helping her get settled. i've got plenty of errands to run tomorrow & i've been spending some time with my girls tubing on the river. hope everyone is having a great week!

when you wish upon a handbag...

go ahead & skip this post if you've any reservations about a 20 year old woman spazzing over a handbag. really, continue scrolling... this is nothing you want to see. or, accept that you too secretly harbor a lust for a material item that is ever so slightly out of reach, & rejoice with me.

i first spotted the marc by marc jacobs groovee back years ago. specifically, the 2007 resort collection where it was labeled as the "dr q. groovee", i believe (is there a wikipedia for purses? well, there should be!) i'm really a sucker for a leather bag, & the groovee was just my style. from the soft, pebbled leather to the classic silhouette, i truly couldn't get the bag off my mind. when someone asked - well, no one asked, but we'll pretend, shall we? - what my dream bag was, this was the bag that came to mind. of course i'd like to own a mulberry or balenciaga one day, but the mbmj was so attainable. so close. so beautiful.

but i just ignored it. gift giving occasions came & went. meh, a handbag... no thanks. i suppose i wasn't ready then, but oh, am i ready now...

ultimately i settled on the baby groovee. after meticulous research, i decided i simply didn't want to carry around my entire life in a bag any longer. i've been using a small crossbody for months, & i've learned how to correctly pack the essentials to get through the day. also, the groove was easier to convert to a reasonably sized crossbody itself with the long strap. i'm a junior in college, & although some girls have made it work, i don't have the energy or patience to lug around a gigantic bag full of bricks when i'm already carrying books, notepads, huge sketchbooks, coffee... oh, & it's raining, & i'm a mile from the parking deck (did i mention alabama heat is a factor too?) i needed something chic & functional that satisfied my marc jacobs adoration.

groovee & i will be settling into our new life together in the coming weeks. the transition has been quite smooth & i'm predicting long, blissful days together... trekking across campus in black leather glory. i think we're both excited - i know i am!

so, i have to ask. what's your secret material obsession? is there a product/item you can't stop thinking about & have vowed to own one day? or maybe you already have it!

surviving summer heatwaves (& moving in at last!)

it's been such a busy week, but i'm finally done with all of my summer classes! so much has happened & i've only had time to snap photos on my phone. after i'm settled in this weekend, my sweet nikon will be neglected no longer. i've missed him so much (he doesn't have a name? i guess he's just mr. nikon)

• last weekend, daniel's parents came to visit! we ate out, went to see captain america & gave them the "tornado tour" since they hadn't been down to see the damage. daniel & i ate with his dad at the veranda on highlands in birmingham on monday night & it was the best meal i've had in a long time. lavender creme brulee = to die for.
  
• picked up the keys to my apartment on tuesday! aaahh! i've moved 95% of my things over there & i've been cleaning & organizing everything, helping my roommates get settled & whatnot. unfortunately they haven't painted our unit yet like they said they would, but i'm willing to look past it just based on the fact that i have my own place! i'm crossing my fingers that they'll get to it soon though. i know, i know - white girl problems.
  
• finished up my last summer class on wednesday! i'm very satisfied with my grades from the summer & i'm happy that i'm sort of ahead of schedule as far as my classes go. with luck (& if i don't triple minor) i'll graduate in december 2013 at the latest.
• um, it's sickeningly hot outside. the weather has been damn near unbearable. the heat index ranges between 110-120 degrees daily, i can barely even walk outside. in fact, i DON'T go outside anymore! all my moving has been done at night. forget hauling things up & down stairs when it's like an oven outside.
• daniel & i went out on a date tonight at big daddy's & then to the movies. we got some greek food & split an apple flavored hookah. shisha gives me a headache now (i feel so old saying that) but i still love going. for the record, crazy stupid love is adorable.
  
• my parents are arriving in town tomorrow with my furniture & other miscellaneous items. tomorrow will be dedicated to setting up my place, decorating & a family dinner!
• the next few weeks i'm going to have some great things to post about & i'm so excited. i'm currently in the process of choosing my baking recipe to break in my new kitchen. my room decorations are coming along great but unfortunately it will be probably another month before it's complete. i'm waiting patiently!
  

ps; if you're wondering who that adorable little pup is above, that's my roommates dog, wolf baby. he's an affenpinscher & he's only 9 weeks old; i'm looking forward to living with a dog since i haven't for almost 6 years. he's the cutest!