Homemade Watermelon Pops

Summer is officially upon us which makes this tasty snack perfect for the season. Why buy artificially flavored popsicles at the store when you can make your very own healthy treats at home?

Simply take 2 cups of watermelon. Cube them and remove the seeds. Blend with 1 cup apple juice until smooth and pour this lovely pink mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze and enjoy!

[Recipe and Images via MinuteClinic.com]

DIY: 4th of July Denim Cuffs

Summer is officially upon us tomorrow, so I thought I'd share this awesome tutorial that is perfect for this time of year.

You'll need a pair of jeans, preferably in a boyfriend cut. Just make sure they aren't so tight that you can't cuff the bottoms.  You'll also need an American flag or any fabric with the beloved stars and stripes (ie. t-shirt).  Get your needle, thread and safety pins.

Turn your jeans inside out and secure the fabric from the bottom going up to the mid-calf area with safety pins. Sew and then remove the safety pins.

You can use this method for jazzing up your jeans with any pattern/colored fabric you choose. I love how there is stripes on one leg and stars on the other. It's up to you.

Enjoy your super patriotic jeans :)

[Images and tutorial via BDLG25.com]

DIY: "Born in the USA" Cut-Off Shorts

Patriotism NEVER goes out of style!  And with the 4th of July right around the corner, this is the perfect piece for the season. Your local craft store should carry all the necessities for this "Do It Yourself" (DIY) project. Let's get started!

What you'll need:

*painter's tape   * red stencil spray   * white stencil spray   * 2 foam brushes

* star stencils   * small piece of scrap cardboard

* oh yeh! a pair of denim cut-off shorts ;)   (I'm a huge fan of the light blue- especially for this look)  

Take your star stencil and place firmly against the shorts. Putting the scrap cardboard behind the first layer of the short will help you keep everything more secure. I prefer putting the stars on the right side of the zipper (the left side facing front) to more accurately mimic the American flag, but it's within your discretion. Spray the white stencil spray onto the stencil and touch up using one of your foam brushes.

Next, take the painter's tape and adhere it to the other side of the shorts to create the stripes.  You can place them vertically or horizontally- it's up to you! In this DIY tutorial, the stripes run vertically, which is a fun twist on the traditional American flag.

Spray the red stencil paint onto the shorts over the tape. Don't worry if it's not perfect. The distressed/faded style just gives it a more vintage feel. You really can't go wrong. Again, you can touch up using your other foam brush to create just the look you're going for.

Remove the tape and allow to dry completely.

And you're all set! :)

There's nothing better than finding an inexpensive and fun way to create a trend that is retailing for $$$ right now. People won't believe you when you tell them you Did It Yourself ;)

[Images and tutorial via BDLG25.com]

Spring Giveaway!

Spring is one of our favorite seasons of the year! For all our amazing friends on Facebook, we're having another giveaway- winner to be contacted on March 20th, the first day of Spring!  Leave a comment on our Facebook page about why you love Spring for an additional chance to win the prize :) Good luck!

Meatless Monday: Asparagus Artichoke Salad

I'm a huge fan of asparagus and love making it during the Spring.  As the weather continues to warm up, salads abundant with hearty veggies do just the trick to keep you going through your busy day feeling satisfied, yet not weighed down.

Ingredients:
1 large shallot sliced thin (alternatives: red onion or green onions/scallions)
2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 lbs. thick asparagus (rinsed; tough ends broken off and discarded or saved for stock)
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes (sliced in halves)
1-15 oz. marinated artichoke hears (quartered or halved)

Directions:
Soak the sliced shallots in the lemon juice as you prepare the rest of the salad.

Grill or roast your asparagus

To grill: Prepare your grill for high direct heat.  Coat the asparagus with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt.  Grill them until nicely charred and fork tender, between 5 to 10 minutes).

To roast: Preheat oven to 400°F.  Coat the asparagus spears with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and salt them well.  Lay in a single layer in a foil-lined roasting pan and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned and fork tender.

Remove the asparagus from the oven or grill and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Put the asparagus and all remaining ingredients into a large bowl and mix to combine.  Add as much of the marinated liquid from the jarred artichokes as you like.

Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Bon appetit!


[Recipe and Image via SimplyRecipes.com]

Tutorial/Review: OPI Shatter Nailpolish (Black)

I was lucky enough to receive the OPI Shatter nailpolish in Black from a friend as a gift.  It is unlike anything I've tried before in the nailpolish realm and I really like it alot.  Perhaps not for everyone, this kind of effect is very edgy and fun.  Personally, it is something I really like as the latest addition to my nailpolish collection.

Want to start off more subtle?  Try doing a shatter French tip look.  This is also a great option for Spring if you want just a little black with a pop of bright color!

French Tip Style

Here is what I used:

Base coat, Base color, OPI Shatter (Black), Seche Vite Top Coat, Cuticle Oil

First start with your base coat.  I am using Sally Hansen's Maximum Growth Plus Top and Base Coat.  I prefer this as a base coat only.  I apply one coat.  Much like an eyeshadow primer helps eyeshadow color adhere to your eyelid, a base coat keeps nail color on the surface of your nail.  I find it makes a huge difference and do not paint my nails without it.  Allow to dry.

Then you want to apply your base color.  I used one of my favorite colors, Twisted Pink by Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails Line.  I got mine at Target, but you kind find it in almost any drugstore or online.  Any color will do.  I usually apply two coats of my base color to prevent early chipping.  Allow to dry.

Now the fun part!  I take my OPI Shatter in black and just paint the top.  Simply sweep your brush horizontally using a light hand.  You can apply as thick of a line as you want.  The wider the tip, the more shatter effect you will see.  The consistency of this polish is quite thick, so only one coat is necessary.  In fact, if you add more than one coat, you risk covering up part of the base color that was coming through after the first coat.  You want to give this polish more time to dry due to its viscous texture.

Once your Shatter polish has dried, you should see that shatter effect happening.  Bits of your base color should peek through in random bits.  It's pretty cool!

Now, apply your top coat.  I use Seche Vite.  This will help seal all your work and keep your nails looking good for awhile.  One coat will do and I find my nails are shinier and chip less when I use this amazing product. What I love most about this product is that it makes your nails dry very quickly, which allows me to get on with my other day's activities.  It is the only top coat I'll ever use.  You can get yours at Sally's Beauty Supply stores or online.

Finally, you can apply your cuticle oil.  This step is optional.  I hardly ever do this step, but if your cuticles need extra moisture, you may want to implement cuticle oil into your regimen.  The one I purchased can be found at Sally's Beauty Supply.

All in all, I give it a thumb's up!  You can apply the Shatter polish over any color, so you can always change things up.  You can do just the tips or paint the entire nail.  So you have options.  Check out OPI's website for more colors.  I also love the "Try This Color" feature where you can simulate your skin tone and nail length and virtually try on different OPI colors, like Shatter in Black and other colors.

Have you tried OPI's Shatter collection?  What are your thoughts?

Quote of the Day

"Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun."

- Kahlil Gibran