It's All Just A Bunch of Hocus Pocus

“The farther we've gotten from the magic and mystery of our past, the more we've come to need Halloween."-Paula Curan

I have always loved Halloween. I looked forward to it every year as a kid and I still love it.  I've always been drawn to the possibility of magic and mysticism, and on Halloween that is acceptable. Here's a bit of history for all of you that believe Halloween is a Hallmark created holiday: the Halloween that we all know and love is derived from the Celtic Festival of Samhain (sah-win). Samhain was traditionally a celebration of the end of the harvest and the start of the preparation for the harsh winter months. It was believed that on October 31st, the veil between the mortal realm and the spirit realm became thinnest and spirits could return to this plane an wreak havoc. Masks were worn to confuse spirits and bonfires were common to ward off evil. Many of the ways we currently celebrate the holiday harken back to the Celtic version of Samhain.

In addition to the historical part of the holiday, I also love candy, pumpkins, and dressing up. There is one thing though that I absolutely adore and cannot live without at Halloween. Hocus Pocus. It is mind boggling to me that the greatest Halloween movie of all time is 20 years old... I can't remember an October where I didn't watch Max Denison take on the Sanderson sisters. The older I get, the more I love the nostalgia the movie engenders and I enjoy spotting some of the more adult themes secreted in the film (the sketchy bus driver anyone? or anything Sarah says?) I'm almost 100% sure I first learned what a virgin was because of this movie. Anyways, Hocus Pocus is my Halloween movie and I decided tonight was the night to watch it.

After I got home from work I decided to get in the Halloween spirit by taking a walk and basking in all the gorgeous colors and changing leaves.

I am so lucky to live in a place this gorgeous. It makes it so much easier to believe in magic :) 

Once I got home from my walk, it was straight to the kitchen to make some Halloween cookies and muffins. 

Witches Hat Cookies

Witches Hat Cookies:

What you need:

• Hershey's Kisses (I used pumpkin pie spice and milk chocolate)

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 3/4 cup crunchy peanut butter

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar

• 1 tbs honey

• 1/3 cup light brown sugar

• 3 tbs egg whites

• 2 tbs milk

• 1tsp vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

How to make:

• Preheat oven to 375

• Mix peanut butter and vegetable oil

• Add in both sugars and honey

• Add in egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix well.

• Stir together flour, baking soda, salt and add to peanut butter mixture

• Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place on a cookie sheet 

• Bake 8 to 10 minutes 

• Immediately press a kiss in the center of each cookie

• Let the cookies cool 

While I was baking these cookies, I decided it would be a sin to not bake something with pumpkin. Thus I whipped up a batch of pumpkin walnut chocolate chip muffins. To be perfectly honest, I stopped using a recipe about 1/4 of the way through, but the following is what I was originally going off of. 

Pumpkin Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins

What you need:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tbs pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tbs cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1.5 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 can pumpkin
• 3/4 cup egg whites large eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

How to make:

• Preheat the over to 350 degrees and line your muffin tin 
• Mix flour, spices, and baking soda in a large bowl
• In a separate bowl mix sugar, pumpkin, eggs, oil, and water

• Mix flour and pumpkin mixes together

• Add in chocolate chips and walnuts 

Perfect Halloween Colors

• Fill liners 3/4 with batter and cook 28 minutes

The only thing left was to pop open some pumpkin lager (which I don't really like, but it seemed necessary) and to light a bunch of fall spice candles and let the Witching Hour begin! 

Unfortunately, I dropped the ball a little bit this year in terms of a costume. Last weekend, my friends and I went as the Senior Girls from Dazed and Confused (which was a lot of fun since you get to haze everyone around you) but it doesn't take much to pull it together. We really didn't take any pictures, but It basically consisted of long-sleeve white shirts, cut-offs, and white socks. Tomorrow I'm going as a hippie, mostly because I already own a ton of boho inspired clothes and I can make it work appropriate really easily. The company I work for is all about dressing up for Halloween. We have a company Halloween party after work and a number of other parties to drop by after that. I am looking forward to celebrating All Hallows Eve with lots of tricks and maybe even a few treats. 

Stay safe tomorrow... don't light any candles (especially if you are a virgin) 

Cheers X 

Mediterranean Diet Inspiration

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well"-Virginia Woolf

I'm going to be honest with you all, today was a lazy day. I had leftovers for lunch and some of my produce is verging on over-ripening so I was intent on not wasting it. Basically I had to use avocado, peppers, onions, and tomatoes in everything I made. Luckily, all of those veggies are in line with my Mediterranean inspiration. 

Breakfast:

• Veggie Egg White Scramble
• What you need:
• egg whites
• spinach
• tomatoes
• onions
• avocado 
• bell peppers
• mozzarella cheese 
• How to make:
• Scramble everything together over medium heat 

• Greek Yogurt Parfait 
• 4 oz. Greek yogurt with 4 cup strawberries, 1 tbs pomegranate seeds, and 1 tsp. honey

Lunch:

• Leftovers from Mediterranean Spinach Shrimp Pasta

Dinner:

• Mediterranean Inspired Nachos
• What you need:
• tortilla chips
• cheese
• onions
• avocado
• tomato 
• bell peppers
• How to make:
• Melt cheese over chips with all the toppings

Cheers X

Mediterranean Diet Inspiration

"The groundwork for all happiness is good health."- Leigh Hunt

Breakfast:

• 6 oz. Greek yogurt with ½ cup strawberries, 2 tbs pomegranate seeds, and 1 tsp. honey

Love starting the morning with these beautiful colors 

Nom nom nom

• 1 slice whole-grain toast with half mashed avocado

Lunch:

• Spinach with Garbanzo Beans and crusty bread 
• What you need:
• 2 cloves minced garlic 
• 1/4 onion diced
• 2 cups spinach 
• 1/2 can of garbanzo beans 
• 1 cup kale
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots
• How to make:
• Heat olive oil 
• Cook the garlic and onion for about 5 minutes

• Stir in the spinach and garbanzo beans

• Mix in the kale and carrots. Lightly mash the beans and cook until everything is thoroughly heated.

Dinner:

• Mediterranean Shrimp and Pasta 
• What you need:
• 2 tsp olive oil 
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 2 cups chopped plum tomatoes 
• 1/4 cup sliced basil
• 1/3 cup kalamata olives 
• spinach linguine 
• 1/4 cup mozzarella 
• How to make:
• Cook pasta

Spinach linguine is healthier than the flour based traditional noodles

• Heat olive oil and saute garlic for 30 seconds

• Add in shrimp saute 1 minute 

• Add in tomato, olives, and basil, simmer 3 minutes

• Add in shrimp, tomato, olives, and basil to the pasta and top with cheese

It's basically the same thing as being in Greece... 

Cheers X

Mediterranean Diet Inspiration

"Health and intellect are the two blessings of life."-Menander

Breakfast:

• 6 oz. Greek yogurt with ½ cup strawberries, 2 tbs pomegranate seeds, and 1 tsp. honey
• 1 slice whole-grain toast with half mashed avocado

Lunch:

• 1 whole-grain pita with 2 tbsp. hummus and stuffed with 1 cup fresh greens and 2 slices tomatoes
• 1 medium orange

Dinner:

• 3 oz. mahi mahi 
• ½ cup couscous, ½ cup zucchini, 4 spears asparagus, 1 cup kale

Couscous

Asparagus 

Couscous, zucchini, asparagus

Mahi-Mahi

Mahi-Mahi with veggie couscous

Cheers X

Mediterranean Diet

“…There is the heat of Love, the pulsing rush of Longing, the lover’s whisper, irresistible—magic to make the sanest man go mad.” -Homer, The Iliad

Coast of Italy 2013

Lately, I have been looking for a plan to get in shape and to get healthy. After being injured for two months I realized just how important it is to keep my body in good shape and running well. However, I am not the kind of person who is good at following strict diets (I usually fail in the first couple of days). I really am not great when it comes to self-control. I’m the same way with exercise. I get bored easily and have a hard time sticking to a routine of any kind.

Mykonos, Greece 2009

I was doing some research on different types of meal based diets (e.g. paelo, gluten free, low carb, etc) and I was intrigued by one- the Mediterranean Diet. I’ve been to couple Mediterranean countries and I loved everything I ate as well as their way of life. I’ve decided to try and utilize some of the principles of the Mediterranean diet in an attempt to revitalize my body and health.  

Italian Coast 2013

Basics:

• Benefits: It is a balanced diet that can help avoid cancer, diabetes, and heart issues.
• Key Components: Be active and have a diet high in fish, produce, and nuts while limiting red meat, sugar and  saturated fats.

I’ve been scouring the web for advice and information. Here are some of the best tips I’ve found: 

• Always eat breakfast
• Have seafood twice a week
• Have one vegetarian day every week
• Olive oil should be your main source of fat
• Eat red meat only a few times a month (12-16 oz/month)
• Aim to have a few glasses of red wine per week

I plan to start my forage into the Mediterranean on Sunday.

Santorini, Greece 2009

I'll post everything I'm eating at the end of each day!

Cheers X

Fall Beauty Updates

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."- Coco Chanel

As the days get shorter and the night gets longer and the leaves start to change colors, my beauty routine is changing to match the new season. I think it is important to update my normal routines and products to mirror the changes in my environment. 

Skincare: Now the air is drying out it is more important than ever to stay moisturized. 

• Body:
• I am a big fan of Jergens lotion and I am currently using Jergen's Ultra Healing Lotion to combat the dry air of Autumn.
• I also discovered Morroccan Argan Oil which I use after I moisturize and in the shower or bath. It really does give your skin a silky smooth finish.
• Face:
• I have been wanting to try a Clarisonic Facial brush, but I couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money. Instead I decided to buy Ulta's Cleansing System. It only costs $25 compared to $150. I used it for the first time yesterday and I could feel a difference immediately. After I take off my makeup I use Neutrogena Illuminating Foamy Cleanser with the brush and I can feel the air in my pores. I think this is a great purchase for anyone who wants to have clean skin and the ability to really exfoliate well. 
• I am also a major proponent of face masks both for skin benefits and the relaxation benefits. I love this Purifying Mud Mask, it goes on bright blue so you can have great William Wallace moments. 

Nails: Dark colors and neutrals all day. My signature color is Haute Couture Red.

Makeup:

• Eye shadow: I  am currently loving Bobbi Brown Chocolate Eye Palette. For mascara I am a dedicated user of Benefit's They're Real! 
• Blush/Bronzers: I am still using Nars's Blush Bronzer Duo in Orgasm and Laguna, but it is an expensive product, so I also am using Physician's Formula: Pressed Bronzer. In the fall, highlighting your face is super important since your summer tan is fading. I use Benefit: High Beam.
• Lips: This fall I am tending towards tinted chapstick. I love Baby Lips in Grape Vine

No Makeup

Foundation + Eyebrow definition 

Finished Product

Hair: My hair was absolutely destroyed from the summer so in order to get ready for fall, I got a haircut! My stylist took around 3 inches of dead ends from my hair and recut some long layers. She also threw in a complimentary deep conditioning treatment to get some life back into my lifeless hair. 

Before

After

• Products:
• KMS Repair Conditioner and Shampoo

Cheers X