My Favourite Beauty Products...

                             

Now that the kids are getting a tad bit older (like I don't have an infant anymore) I feel like I have a little  (very little lol) more time for myself to get ready in the mornings. So, with that I've picked up a few new beauty products and have found a few gems that I absolutely love. Here they are….

1. Aveda Hand Releif - I truly love this stuff. Not only does it moisturize dry hands but is smells so good. Not the perfumey good but in a natural good and mild way. At $24 a bottle it seems like a bit pricey but it's totally worth the splurge. Or you could try it out with the travel size at only $9.25 a bottle. Available here at Aveda.

2. Mac Mineralize Skinfinish - If you want your skin to look fresh and glowy, this powder is the perfect product for you. Just brush a little on the areas you want to add a glow and voila. I've had a few people compliment how fresh I looked after I started using it. Especiall for when your feeling dull and drab. Available at MAC for $32. I use it in the soft & gentle color tone.

3. The Wet Brush - I can NEVER go back! I have really long hair. I misplaced my Wet Brush the other day and tried brushing my hair with a regular brush. I stopped right then and there and refused to brush my hair until I found my Wet Brush. Seriously that much of a difference. So worth it. If you don't have one, go get one now. I got mine at a salon, but you can find them on Amazon for only $7.98!

4. Purple Shampoo - (If you're a blonde only) I have blonde highlights so I use this once a week. The purple shampoo will help keep those brassy tones at bay. I don't really stick to any specific brand. But I have this one from Amazon and it works great on brightening my locks. 

5. Clinque All About Lips - There's not much that I hate more than dry and flaky lips. This stuff will seriously soften them up like butter. For me, it leaves my lips soft and smooth. It's a tiny pump that you press and all you need is a little drop to smooth over your lips. If your lips are really bad you might need something medicated, but this is great for everyday softening. Available at Macy's for $22.50

6. Sigma Line Perfector - This brush was lifechanging for me. I never knew I could do such great eyeliner until this brush came into my life. This is a really great brush to get the angled eyeliner too or even just smudging a pencil liner. A must have in my makeup bag. Available at Sigma for $16

7. Urban Decay Basics Eyeshadow Palette - This is my go to eyeshadow. I use this just about everyday. It has exactly the shades you need for an everday look. You can even create a more dramatic look with the darker shades. But it is exactly what it says it is…the basics. Everyone needs the basics in thier makeup bag. Available at Sephora for $29

So, there you have it. My go to beauty favourites right now. What are your favourites? Are there any that I am missing that I must need to know about and try? 

Artisan Bread On The Grill ~ Baking Bread Outdoors....

I have wanted an outdoor oven ever since I can remember. Well ever since I first got married anyways. I told my husband "I want one for our 10th anniversary" That was just about 10 years ago. lol. I decided I didn't want to wait any longer and wondered if I could bake it on the grill at least. So last night that's just what I did. And it worked!! Such a fun option especially for those hot months when you don't want to heat up your house. Here's how I did it...

Pull out your ingredients 

Proof your yeast

Add the rest of the ingredients (Emmett insisted on partaking in this)

Mix it up by hand or a mixer with a dough hook

Let it rise

Cut the dough in half

Shape it into a loaf and let it rise at least 2 hrs

After 2 hrs looking nice and puffy 

Slash into the dough and dust with flour

Set it out on the grill (I placed an extra pan under the loaf pan for insulation as well a pan of water for moisture)

After 35 minutes (temp on the grill was 400 degrees F)

Looks so yummy!

A little bit of butter and honey on top. The kids are on this bread with honey kick lately. I gotta say I don't blame them.

And there she is....my dream oven!!

Artisan Bread 

Ingredients

3 cups lukewarm water

1 1/2 tbsp granulated yeast

1 1/2 tbsp kosher salt

6 1/2 cups unsifted unbleached all-purpose flour

Instructions

Add yeast to the warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Mix in the flour and salt. Kneading is unnecessary so you can add all of the flour and mix it up. Once I had it lightly mixed up I threw it in the mixer with the dough hook just until it had a uniform consistency and the ingredients were incorporated.

Allow to rise for 2 hrs, make sure to cover it so it doesn't dry out.

Split dough in half to make 2 loaves. I baked one and saved one in the fridge.

Shape dough into a loaf, stretch the surface of the dough all around into the bottom. Cover and allow to rise on a dusted pan for 40 minutes. (don't over dust your pan with flour or you'll end up with a bunch of really dark brown excess flour on the edges of the pan, I did that..lol)

Dust and slash the dough. Slash a quarter inch into the dough in two diagonal lines with a serrated knife)

Preheat grill for 20 minutes. If you have a thermometer on your grill it should read 400 degrees F. Also prepare a pan with water (not necessary but adds moisture) to place on top rack of grill. Place your cookie sheet on grill to create a barrier between the loaf pan and the flames from the grill to help prevent burning.

You can also bake this bread in an oven at 450 degrees F is you choose to

Bake for about 30-35 minutes. If you are baking on the grill you will want to check up on it to make sure it doesn't burn. Mine turned out perfectly at 35 minutes.

This is the basic Boule bread mix recipe from the book "Artisan Bread in five minutes a day" I adapted it to use on the grill.

Learning to crochet...

I love doing crafts and projects. Even before Pinterest was born I had many projects on my to do list. One craft that I taught myself to do was crocheting. I just loved all those cute little baby hats I was seeing all over Etsy. That's also when I started seeing patterns for sale on Etsy….(ding…lightbulb going off) I'm going to make a hat for my baby! I bought a pattern and I was going to make a hat….today. But wait, I need yarn and crochet hooks. Away to Michael's we go. 

Ok now what? Not as easy as I thought. If you're wanting to learn to crochet, my advice would be to start by learning the basic stitches. You Tube is a great source for this. That's how I learned to crochet. 

Here are the steps I took to learn how to crochet:

1) Choose a pattern that is geared towards beginners (a simple baby hat will work). I used this one I found on Etsy. It is the Li'l Jackie hat by injenuity. (It's not very difficult but it states that it is Easy/Intermediate difficulty. The stitches are not basic ones but still easy. Here is a basic hat pattern from Daisy Cottage Designs for those who want to start with something totally basic.

2) Check to see what materials you will need. There are different yarn weights, make sure you choose the correct one.

3) Get familiar with crocheting lingo. Single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, chain stitch…etc. Watch a few You Tube videos and learn the stitches that you are required to make in your hat. Next try the stitches along with the video to get used to them. Here are some links to get you started.

Learning to crochet basics- chain (ch) and single crochet (sc)

Half Double Crochet (HDC)

Half double crochet 2 together (hdc2tog)

Front and Back post half double crochet (fphdc & bphdc) used in the Li'l Jackie hat shown above

Long single crochet (Long sc) used in the Li'l Jackie hat

4) Go ahead and start your hat. As a beginner, it will likely take you a few tries before you start to see something resembling a hat. I took me probably 10 tries doing the first few rounds and ripping them apart before I got it. Making mistakes is part of learning and without someone there watching over your shoulder, you will likely make them. Don't give up.

5) Once that hat starts coming together there's a sense of pride and you'll be so excited to finish.

Here's My finished product (and my baby boy)….

Good Luck and happy crocheting!!!

Amanda <3

Finally Back....

Our trip to Florida was an absolute hoot! This is our third year going and we just love going back. A 30 hour road trip with these 4 cuties was a snap... Lol. They are actually really great travellers. (warning, these are iphone photos so they're not the best quality)

My little beach bums

So I was totally oooing over a pair of mirrored Ray-Ban sunglasses, but I wasn't feeling the price since having four boys usually leads to them getting scratched or lost once they get their hand in them. But, I scored a pair of these  look a like sunnies from American Eagle for a fraction of the price. $15.95 here

Having a blast at Tampa Bay vs Montreal game 7!!!

During our drive back we made a stop at Magnolia Planation along a Georgia highway. So many peaches and pecans...yum! If you love pecans and have never tried one of these... Omg... So addicting. Didn't make it home though. It was a long drive and the snacking was constant... Lol

So now we are home and back at it. Lots to catch up on and get done. More posts to catch up on too. But now I've got about 20 loads of laundry to fold... Happy Saturday night :)

Amanda <3