2.27.2013

Garlic Parmesean Wings

What do you do with the threat of Sequestration hanging over your head? When you fear furlough's and possible loss of some resources and jobs for some? You adjust your budget and learn to eat in more.
My hubby and I love Garlic Parmesean Wings.
In particular we like them from this carry out called America's Best Wings.
We decided that we would give making them at home a try, so I figured I would share with you how we made them in case you are also looking for other recipe ideas.

These are two different versions of Garlic Parmesean Wings: Regular (on top) and Double Fried.


First thing you want to do that is not pictured here:
Heat your Fryer (as you see we have a small one to the left of our stove)
or you can fry your wings in a skillet that's deep enough for oil.

Second: While your wings are frying you want to make your garlic parmesean-
Here's how:

Take your little chopper, blender or grater and mince your garlic.
I used fresh garlic, so I whipped out my mini chopper. (You know you are in your 30's officially when you get excited about using a mini chopper - I remember when I got this for Christmas back in my early twenties and I wanted to give it right back!)
Peel the garlic and place the whole clove of a small sized garlic- ( I added about a 1/4 onion and some fresh parsley in the mix).
Mince it all up.



Add it to the pan with about 6 tsps of butter (this is for a large bag of wings), melt enough butter based on how many wings you need to coat.


Then add your already fried wings directly into the skillet. Just make sure they are coated all over then take them out, place them in a clean pan and let rest.


A few at a time and toss - then immediately retrieve and place to the side.


Again not pictured: Place about 1/2 cup of Parmesean Cheese (we used that large Kraft green jar) and place that in the bottom of a bowl.
Lightly toss your wings in the cheese
Retrieve you wings and let rest.

For double fried: after tossing in garlic, tossing in the parmesean, then toss back in the fryer for a quick sec.

Ready to eat?









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2.25.2013

Disney Inspiration Make-Up


So this weekend as you know I went to my friends Birthday Party and got dolled up. 
Maria, sent out an email over the weekend saying that her Make-Up Monday prompt would be for Disney Princess Inspired Make-Up, which I thought would be so much fun. 

This look was inspired by Anastasia - 
Smokey Eye with Pink lip (slight ombre lip and emphasis on darkening the eyebrow). 

















Products used to make this look:
Eyebrows: E.L.F. brown eyeshadow, Midnight Brown Covergirl pencil.
Eyes: E.LF. Dark Brown for the Crease, Nude for the lid.
Lips: Maybelline Color Whisper and E.L.F. Pink Lipstick.


This is probably one of my favorite go-to looks... and I was really glad that I got to share in more detail my look for the evening. 




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Makeup Monday

Hello, Oscar Weekend


Well Friday, our Branch Chief said his farewell and is heading to work for another Agency. We celebrated his accomplishment with a dessert party! I was most pleased with the fact that I spent the majority of the day eating Red Velvet and Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes.

With his office cleared out - I figured what a perfect time to snap a quick pic for my vision board. Hey, one day I see Branch Chief for me... why not?
This office is huge~ I wish you could see the rest of it ... thats ok in a few years you will because it will be mines!


Well, after work it was time to do a quick change of tops, make up and hair to go celebrate one of my good friends Birthday! 

The Lady of the Evening: my homie aka my Golden Girl, Danielle. 



and yes, she is a good 6 1/2 months pregnant with my soon to be new baby church nephew, but she celebrated like a soldier! 
She was so happy and danced her little heart out to her favorite song- don't get me to lying because so much was going on that night, I don't remember what she was dancing so hard to here. 


We were at Mt. Washington Tavern in Baltimore - a GREAT oyster bar. 
The food was AMAZING ~ from the Calamari to the Buffalo Wings, to this Crab Dip with the softest bread that I have ever tasted... 
AND of course the Blue Point Oysters are the ones I would recommend. 

And as we had fun - I began to pick up random glasses and wear them. 
I love trying random looks from time to time. 



First, tried the dark black big frames for this pic above - 
and now these Brown frames that someone had - 



We had such fun for Dani's Birthday - I would definitely go back there for dinner!


AND NOW... 
My thoughts on the Oscars! 

SO ~
Where do I even begin... 
First, Seth MacFarlane is an envelope pusher - honestly I thought he was a good host - 
me having to cringe and laugh at the same time still made it more entertaining then some years
Then again, I saw a lot of the Oscar nominated movies so it made it more interesting then in the past. 

The color of the evening was Blush Neutrals and Navy Blues -

Anne Hathaway looked better for her Les Miserables performance then the Red Carpet - where she looked like she was dressed in my Junior Prom dress. THIS is what she was feeling three hours prior to the awards - it's by Prada. Valentino is pissed! Because they made her something just for tonight and she won - in that... smh. 

One person whom I saw once she hit the carpet and thought was FIERCE is Ms. Charlize Theron - although she buzzed her hair off for a film three months ago, this cut that she wore for the Oscars was so classy to me. She looked amazing. 
Not to mention she danced with my boo, Channing Tatum during the opening.


Jessica Chastain in Armani PrivĂ© took a gorgeous risk by choosing a gown that was so close to her skin tone but it worked! She looked amazing. The beading on the gown had a pattern that accentuated the right parts. Her hair was gorge and that red lip was what brought it to life! 
a nude lip wouldn't have worked.



Kelly Rowland in Donna Karan did it again! Fierce ma'am!
She has looked amazing over the last two months at every event she has done. 



Jennifer Lawrence looked Fab in Dior Haute Couture
I always loved her because despite the fact that she is not big at all - she represents no matter what size she is and looks fab doing it. 


and not only did Zoe Saldana look great in Alexis Mabille, she is dating my boo too - Bradley Cooper
although no one is quite sure if they are on again or off again. 
Oh well. 


Give me the Blues: 

Jennifer Hudson in Roberto Cavalli looked and sounded amazing last night!



Reese Witherspoon looked awesome in Louis Vuitton and had some of the best hair of the evening. 



QuvenzhanĂ© Wallis in Armani Junior looks so cute, especially with her puppy purse that was made to look like the dog she has at home. 
Such a huge personality in such a little tiny package.
She said she picked her gown because it was fluffy and sparkly.


KUDOS to Helen Hunt for wearing a gown she got from H&M - proving that you don't have to wear big labels to look fabulous.. just wish her assistants would have starched that dress. 
The steam clearly wore out. 



And to my girl, Robin Roberts!
We are #TeamRobin
She is such an example of strength. 
After watching her 20/20 special when she said that the doctor's told her that she had 1-2 years to live and what smiles she had to put on her face during that time made me love her all the more. 


My Favorite Male looks: 

Chris Pine ~ Something about this sleek double breasted tuxedo looks so sharp!


And of course, my boo's can do no wrong. LOL 

Channing Tatum and his lovely super pregnant wife, Jenna.


and of course Bradley Cooper, who could've did something different with his hair and told his mom to not wear all those feathers - but hey - he is doing no wrong with his attire.


And the misses:
The fact that Kerri Washington's Miu Miu dress looked amazing on stage, 
yet it falls so flat on the Red Carpet. 
It was so beautiful and yet hard to tell.. 


The Absolute Horrendous: 
Maria Menounos in her Pepto gown and this Bump It hairstyle


*all oscar pics via JustJared

What were your faves of the evening??





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Cotton Candy In Times Square




 I went to a make-up party that was hosted by a Make-Up Artist friend of mines and it featured Motives for LaLa products. 
I had never seen or knew anything about the line, so I was excited to dip my fingers in some of the products and learn more about the custom color foundations. 

My intention for going to the make up party was to see the trends and 
I went looking for a few new colors for the Spring. 
I ordered some goodies that I can't wait to share with you. 

For now let me share with you this new lip color that I chose as part of my Spring Palette: 
This is Cotton Candy lip liner with Times Square lip stick.
Let's just say it was LOVE at first sight!

The pigment of the lip liner and the lipstick is what I was so impressed with. 
Being a woman of color, getting pigments to just POP like they should can be tasking. 
Not with this though. 

So for Spring, I am loving Motives for LaLa.

Have you picked things for Spring?
What colors are you thinking of trying for this upcoming season?


Once I had it on, you couldn't tell me nothing! 
I went walking around the neighborhood feeling good about my choice. 
I can not wait until the rest of my products come in so that I can share with you some more goodies!

*I was not compensated for talking about the product or event - just thought it was worth a mention and my money*

In preparing my face for events and day to day - I always ask myself the most important make-up question : To Lash or Not to Lash? That is always the question. 


I can say that it wasn't until I moved to Chicago that I saw lashes worn even with every day make up. 
It took some practice to get a rhythm in regards to applying lashes. 
I use to be in LOVE with Mascara and I still have my faves but none do the work of turning my tiny curly lashes into what I get from false lashes. 

It also depends on the event - if I am going to be in the dark most the night, then no lashes for me. Too much work and I will probably rub my eye and the lash off sooner then someone noticing them. 
But for the event I went to yesterday, Lashes were perfect!

If I had the stamina - I would DEFINITELY wear lashes daily!
What fun - its like a Party on your eye!

Do you lash?


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2.22.2013

Life is But a Dream: Friday's Letters

There are weeks you dread and then there are weeks like these that you simply look forward to:
This year has been amazing so far and it continues to prove that there is never a dull moment.

Dear D.C., You are a city that I can never grow tired of. When I first came to you in 1999 to attend college, I swore that I would always return home to Baltimore... Slowly, but surely you sucked me right back in and I am ok with that. Once the weather gets warm again, watch out!
Dear Weather, Please get warm again and quick! I can't wait to go Segway riding again with my fam'. It was so much fun last time that I really can not wait! Mind you- today you suck! Its snowing now and hubby will not let me drive to Baltimore to celebrate a birthday with my favorite "Golden Girl" if you don't quit it - so umm please go back to spring.
Dear Partner, its funny because as much as we get done - we manage to have fun and a bunch of laughs as people try to get over on us. It's why we go in the community - to sniff out the lies. Welp until next time... coming to a home visit near you - its our D.C. Parole Diaries. (Lightbulb! I just may have to share with you guys just some of the random things that we do encounter throughout the week.)
Dear Blue Ivy, You aren't the only light skinned baby with a pretty mommy.. here I am in my Life is But a Dream debut also. Check out that coiffed hair mom was rocking in the 80's and my matching bush. I didn't get caramel in color until I was about 2 years old. Go figure. I think thats granny in the corner whose Jherri Curl I was checking out so intensely.
Dear Readers, Did you know that I launched a swap program?? All you have to do is click the sponsor page and upload your button through passionfruit. Its really simple, quick, easy and most of all FREE!
Also, if I reach 200 followers, I will have a giveaway soon to celebrate.
Dear Book I'd Say I write, Can you write yourself? I have so many great ideas that I want to include, but no single train of thought - my book is getting lost in my own head space. One day I will get motivated and be done. Did you know that I wrote about 130 pages of my first book and then quit on it. Ask me where it is now? no clue. smh. I must finish this book.


Today 's Topic: 
"WHAT?! Brought you Here??"

So you all know that Google will tell you what Search Keywords have brought something to your blog space. This week I had some of the most random searches.
Grant it, most times they are usually very legitimate searches of something I know I have written about like "DST Centennial"
However, sometimes I am thinking to myself - "I hope they find what they are looking for... just not here"

Here are 4 WHAT?! Brought you Here Search Words:

1. "men shorter" 
 - nope. no short men here. We already went over that here.
2. "tights under"
 - I don't know what you may looking for,
but I was only talking about them being underneath my ripped jeans here.
3. cutest busty wet babes of 2012
- now really? definitely not a wet babe of 2012
however, had a busty snapfoo that I was trying to avoid here.
4. eating sushi off a woman restaurant
- now I love sushi like the rest of them however, I do not want to eat raw fish off of a woman.











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2.19.2013

Her Way vs Mines: Rachael Ray's Penne with Pistachio-Mint Pesto

What else do you do on long weekends? 
You try new recipes!

Seeing as though its Lenten Season, my parents are doing a Daniel Fast - 
my mom asked us were we going to join her this year and I told her that I would try some things from it.  So last night, I decided to make a dish that would be in line with what we did give up for Lent and in line with the Daniel Fast guidelines.

Being home on a mini-vacay, I got to watch a lot of my favorite day time shows - Rachael Ray being one of them. Yesterday she made a Penne with Pistachio-Mint Pesto. I asked my husband if he wouldn't mind trying it and he didn't so we set out to get the ingredients from the store. 


Of course, the way Rachael did things are a little different in my real life kitchen. 

1. Rachael cooks in front of a live audience - I just pretend I have one. 

I usually like to cook with my iPad or Laptop at hand when I am cooking from a recipe. 
I prepared all the ingredients and placed them all within hands reach. Because once the Pasta is done and the puree is made, it kind of goes fast. 


2. Rachael hand chops all fresh ingredients and does so quickly - no way, I use the freeze dried in the jar. If I love the recipe then I will spend the money to make it with fresh organic ingredients.

I decided to use freeze dried instead of fresh - only because we didn't go to my usual favorite market - Wegman's. And thats fine. It just meant that I had to adjust some of the measurements depending upon what the bottle said the transfer measurement. 
For instance, for the Parsley - 1 tsp freeze dried was equal to 1 tsp fresh.
For the Mint - 1 tsp freeze dried was equal to 1/2 tsp fresh, which meant I had to cut what the recipe calls for. 


3. Rachael made her Pesto in a food processor - I made mine in my Cuisinart Blender - It has a Puree button for a reason!

I puree'd the Pesto in my Blender and it handled the pistachios really well. It blended everything nice a smooth like. 

4. Rachael knows her measurement to a T, although she may fudge it. I on the other hand get a little lost once I start and start misreading the instructions. Oh well! 

The only thing I didn't realize was that it only called for half of the chicken stock in the Pesto - I used the whole measurement. 
I did however have to add even more in the end. 

Either way, when I watched the show, she said to save some of the starchy water - I forgot and at the last minute grabbed the last bit of water coming through the colander. The other thing I think I may have even forgotten was to read how much pasta. Although I cooked one box, I feel like I had so much Pesto sauce, I could've made two boxes. 


In the end: It was YUMMY! 
I would give it a you should try this!
If you don't like meat less dishes, this would be good to add shrimp or chicken too. 

I felt so accomplished, it was my first time making my own pesto - I think that I may have to do that again and just bottle up the extras. 

Updated to say: I ate the leftovers the following day. It was Yummy the first day, but it was just so much Pesto to me- but next day once out of the refrigerator - I placed it in a pot on the stove with 2 tsp of oil and about a 1/2 cup of water and stirred until the water had boiled out - the consistency of it was SO MUCH BETTER - therefore so much more yummier. I will definitely try this recipe again now.








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