A Fall Twist on Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese is delicious all the time, but it’s even better on chilly fall days.  This recipe is the perfect combination of fall flavors for a fun take on the classic dish!

Ingredients:

1 box penne pasta

½ chicken breast, cooked and shredded

Onion, chopped

Butternut squash, cubed

Apple, chopped

Greek yogurt

Shredded cheddar cheese

Shredded mozzarella cheese

Milk or cream

Butter

Salt

Soy sauce

Sweet rice wine vinegar, like Mirin

Nutmeg

For the bread crumb topping:

Plain breadcrumbs

Brown sugar

Nutmeg

Salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 350.  In a large frying pan begin sautéing butternut squash with some butter.  When they begin to brown add the onions and sauté until almost caramelized, then add apples.  Cook until slightly soft.  Mix in the chicken and season with salt, soy sauce, sweet rice wine vinegar, and nutmeg, to taste.  Remove from heat.

Cook the pasta.  While that cooks, put about ½ to ¾ cup Greek yogurt (as much as you like according to how much cheese sauce you like on your mac and cheese), cheddar, mozzarella, and some milk or cream in a saucepan and heat on medium, stirring until the cheese is melted.  Add more cheese and milk/cream as you like until it reaches your desired consistency.  Mix in some salt and a dash of soy sauce, to taste.

Once the pasta has been cooked and drained, put it back in the empty pot and add the chicken mixture and cheese sauce.  Mix well, then put in a casserole dish.

In a small bowl mix together breadcrumbs with just a bit of brown sugar, nutmeg, and salt.  Sprinkle over the top of the mac and cheese.  If you like, pour a small amount of melted butter over the breadcrumb topping.

Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the lid and bake another 5 minutes.  Enjoy!

~Alyssa

The Return of Trashy Fridays!!

Since Fall has gifted us with amazing new series, I have been inspired to bring back Trashy Fridays! Today I will cover Scream Queens and American Horror Story: Hotel. Let's get to the awesomeness!!

Scream Queens: I have loved this show ever since I saw the first trailer. It has amazing actresses like Emma Roberts and Jamie Lee Curtis, so I just had to give it a chance. And I look forward to this show every week, because it is sooo good!!! This show follows Grace, a freshman who is eager and has wanted for her entire life, to join the Kappa house. The Kappa house is run by Channel (Emma Roberts) and her band of other Channels. I love Emma Roberts for this part. Honestly it does remind me a lot of her bitchy character from American Horror Story: Coven, and she plays this part so well. I just love her! Anyway, this person in a Red Devil Costume keeps murdering a variety of people that are involved in the Kappa house so Grace and her extremely creepy-pervy guy friend, Pete, investigate what is going on with the murders and about this baby that was born in the Kappa house around 20 years ago. This episode by far was my favorite! It was creepy, funny, and just plain awesome. Emma Roberts, her band of Channels, and Hester, played by Lea Michelle, literally beat the crap out of this guy for being a creepy a perv and trying to make a move on them. At the end of the episode, the dead bodies of everyone murdered on the show so far appear in Zayday's haunted house and it was just so creepy. And Zayday gets kidnapped and I seriously can't wait to see what happens in the next episode. Scream Queens is an amazing show because it is so funny.  People get murdered  hilarious ways and the way these characters are played is the best part. All the characters in this series are amazing and a lot of them are played by celebrities, like Nick Jonas, Ariana Grande, and Niecy Nash. I would definitely recommend checking out this show!

American Horror Story: Hotel: After last year's disappointment with Freakshow, I was hoping that this series would go back to its creepy roots, like Asylum. And boy did it deliver! This season premiere has to be one of the best that I've seen from this series. It was so creepy and messed up in so many ways, and I absolutely loved it. This season involves a detective who is investigating a series of murders. The murders that occur are just so messed up in this series. It also involves this hotel, where a lot of creepy stuff happens inside. My favorite characters so far is Lady Gaga. She and Matt Bomer are just murdering everyone in their way. I love the creepy vibe from this so far and I am so excited for next week's episode!!!!
-Katrina

Exciting Things for Fall

Fall is now upon us! Here are some exciting things to look forward to for this wonderful season change.

Fall Fashion: The weather is starting to get cool, which makes it perfect for over sized cardigans, scarves, etc.

TV Shows: We are excited for the new series and season premieres this fall. Especially for the hilarious "Scream Queens" and the awesome looking new season of "American Horror Story".

Party ideas and Halloween/Fall activities: Its getting really close to Halloween, which is a perfect time to come up with fun activities to do. Go carve pumpkins, have a scary movie night, and anything else you find fun for this time of year.

Fall Flavors: Pumpkin and apples are calling our names for this season. Enjoy it in any possible way that you can.
-Katrina

Yummy and Easy Tacos

Need a really easy dinner tonight! Go for tacos! They are versatile, delicious, and extremely easy to do!
Ingredients:
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup of chicken broth
cumin
red pepper flake
1 white onion
1 clove of garlic
flour tortillas
salsa, homemade or store bought
lettuce, shredded
cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tbsp of vegetable oil.
salt and pepper to taste
either chicken, pork, or beef(whatever you like)

Directions:
Start to cook the meat you desire. Season it however you like. For example, I took ground beef and cooked it with 1/2 of a chopped white onion and 1/2 of a garlic clove, chopped. I seasoned it with seasoned salt, some cumin, and pepper. Once the meat is done, drain off excess fat and set aside. While the meat is cooking, saute 1/4 of white onion diced on medium for 5 minutes, seasoned with some salt and pepper. Then add half of a clove of minced garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Put a 1/2 tsp of cumin and a pinch of red pepper flake and cook for 1 minute. Add your beans and cook for 2 minutes. Next add the chicken broth, turn the heat up to high, and boil the meat for 5 minutes. Then turn off the heat and mash it with a potato masher or a fork til it looks like re-fried beans. Taste and add more seasoning if necessary. Finally make your tacos. Put 1 tsp of bean puree, spread it around. Then add 2 tsps of cheese and then your meat. Putting enough to almost cover the layer of cheese. Finally cover it with 1 tsp of salsa and some lettuce. You may add some sour cream or hot sauce on this if desired. Next, folding your taco. First, fold it in half, tuck it the sides, and roll it over on the rest of the tortilla. Once its folded, put it in a 400 degree oven for 5 minutes. And enjoy!

Fall Brushstroke Nails

This nail art is incredibly simple, takes no time to do, and will match just about everything in your fall wardrobe!

You need:

Base coat

Top coat

Striper brush

A neutral color and any fall colors you like

Simply start with your base coat then paint each nail with two coats of your neutral background color.  Use the striper brush to add just a few small brushstrokes in different directions of each fall color.  I went with a maroon, emerald green, navy blue, and gold. 

While I love painting my nails solid, deep colors in the fall, like maroon or navy, I hate when the shades clash with different outfits.  With this look you can incorporate multiple colors that match a majority of what you wear for the season.

Finish with a top coat!

~Alyssa

Best Fall Makeup Looks

Here’s a quick guide to the best makeup looks for this fall:

·      Amethyst liner- Smudge it along the top and bottom lash lines, or make a sharp cateye on top.  The deep, rich purple color is a great dark look for fall but more unexpected than black or brown liner.

·      Metallic shadow- Sweep a metallic eye shadow (particularly bronze, copper, or gold) all over the lid, and then just add mascara, two coats on top.  Not only is it a great look for fall, it takes no time to do!

·      All-over glow- Use a bronzer (maybe in a lighter shade than you would use in the summer for a look that’s not too harsh) to lightly dust some color on your cheeks and forehead.  Use a cream shadow on your lids and brighten the inner corners.

·      Vampy lipstick- And finally, like every fall, a simple eye look and a vampy lipstick make a perfect look!

~Alyssa

Favorite Products from August

Here are a couple of my favorite products from the month that I love.

Versanti Brighten Up!- Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator: This product is one of my favorite exfoliators! This product has a very similar feel to a baking soda mask and is extremely gentle on my skin. It makes my face feel incredibly soft and does not dry out my skin, unlike other scrubs and masks that I have used in the past. This product isn't very expensive and can be used 2 times to week to give your face a fresh feel.

Laqa & Co-Cheeky Lip: This product is a lip stain and a blush in one amazing tube. I got this product in the color "Cray Cray" and it is a really pretty shade of pink. For the most part, I use this product only on my lips. This product on your lips gives you a nice pop of color that you can wear every day and is also extremely moisturizing.

~Katrina

Easier Ways to Get Ready in the Morning

Now that school will be starting soon, I have some tips to make your mornings easier!

Be prepared ahead of time: Make sure you pack everything you need for the next day, the night before. (With your homework, notebooks, writing utensils, etc.) That way you won't find yourself forgetting stuff or rushing to get ready in the morning.

Food: Having something to eat before you leave for school is very important. If you have time for a full meal before school, plan on getting up early enough to fit this in your morning. However, if you hate to eat in the morning, pack snacks or your breakfast early that morning or the night before so you can have some food once you get to school.

Morning routine: Plan a morning routine to help get your day started. For example, washing your face, should be the first thing you do when starting your day. If you feel the need for coffee in the morning, get up early enough so you not only can have your coffee but you can enjoy it while you drink it.

Showering: This is definitely an important thing to factor into your day. You must decide whether you can get up early enough to fit this into your morning. If not take a shower the night before and that way you can have a little more time for sleep.

Getting ready in the morning: Your outfit and make up are important to help you look and feel good before going to school. I have a few tips on making these easier in the morning. If you have a really hard time deciding on what to wear, choose your outfit the night before. Just make sure you look at the weather report and choose a cute outfit for the day. For make up, especially if you don't have a ton of time in the morning, can be done simply with these products in under 10 minutes. Use bb cream or a tinted moisturizer for your foundation, some mascara, and a lip gloss or stain in a light pink color. This is an easy natural look and more can be added to change this look up when you feel like it. Make sure you bring products with you to touch up your makeup throughout the day.

Motivation: Do something you enjoy to pep up your morning. Listen to music, dance around, whatever you like to make you look forward to the day.

-Katrina

Tips for Making the Transition Back to Class Easier

Classes are starting soon, and whether you’re ready or not, there are a few things you can do to help make the transition from summer to semester easier!  Follow these tips starting now!

·      Get your sleep schedule evened out- Start getting back on track now so it’s easier when classes start and you’re not just trying to get up early the first day after only 3 hours of sleep.  (There’s plenty of time for that later in the semester.)  Each day make an effort to go to bed just a little bit earlier and wake up just a little bit earlier, until you’re waking up (mostly) rested early enough for class.

·      Start drinking more water- If you haven’t been good about this all summer (and a lot of people haven’t!), start drinking more water now.  It’ll help when you’re in the habit of drinking more water to keep it up during the semester.  Plus it’s great for your skin, which will make you feel good and look good, and cut down on the time it takes to get ready before class!

·      Start meal planning- Plan some quick, easy, and healthy meals you can make for breakfast before class, take with you for lunch, or make quickly at night when you’re exhausted and have tons to do.  Also, try get in the habit of preparing and portioning meals for the week ahead of time.  You’ll save tie and money, and eat much better than if you were always skipping breakfast and ordering pizza last minute.

·      Get in the habit of planning outfits- This seems obvious until you forget an you’re left wasting time in the morning trying on a million different things or throwing on yoga pants in a hurry and wishing you could step up your outfit game this semester.  Plan ahead at least the night before, but if you can get a general idea of what to wear for the whole week, that’s great!

·      Take better care of your skin- Again, if you haven’t been good about this all summer, start now!  Wash off your makeup before bed, wash your face and moisturize every morning, and exfoliate periodically!  Your skin will look better and then you’ll also save time getting ready in the morning.

·      Don’t wait until the last minute to get basic supplies- You can wait to get textbooks until you know you’re definitely going to stay in your classes and you know you definitely need them, but don’t wait to get a couple notebooks and pens!  You know for sure you’ll need those and you don’t want to be that person without a pen or any paper for the first week of classes.

~Alyssa

Simple Summer Side Dish

Here's an easy and delicious side dish that you can make this summer.

String Bean Salad:
Ingredients:
Green String Beans, with ends snapped off
1 glove of garlic, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp of garlic powder
1 tbsp of olive oil
balsamic vinegar, on the side for serving

Directions: You first start this recipe by cooking the string beans. This can be done by using a steamer or boiling water. Once the water comes to a boil, add the beans and cook for 7 minutes or until desired tenderness. Drain the beans and immediately place them in an ice bath. (a bowl consisting of cold water and ice cubes. This way it keeps the nice green color of the beans and cools them quickly.) Once the beans are cooled, drain and dry them with a paper towel and place them in a clean bowl. Add the garlic, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and finish the salad with olive oil. Mix together and check to see if the seasoning is just right. Place them in the fridge to continue to chill the salad and enjoy with some vinegar.

-Katrina

Disney Princess Nails: Elsa

Let it go…  These nails are inspired by the princess Elsa from the movie Frozen (2013).  Finishing our Disney Princess Nails series is the queen of ice and snow!

You’ll need:

Base coat

Top coat (I prefer Seche Vite)

Striper brush

Light blue, medium blue, green-blue, white, black, brown, orange, nude, light yellow, light pink, silver, and sliver glitter nail polishes  (I used: Dior Vernis in Porcelaine 204; Pure Ice in Kissy Kiss; OPI Nail Lacquer in Go On Green!; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in 110 Hard to Get; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in 880 Black Heart; OPI in You Don’t Know Jacques! Suede; NYC Nail Enamel in 112 Times Square Tangerine Creme; OPI in My Vampire is Buff; OPI Nail Lacquer in Megawatt?!; CoverGirl Continuous Color in Parisian Pink 052; Sephora by OPI in Queen of Everything; and Sephora by OPI Top Coat in Flurry Up!)

Start with a base coat.  Paint each nail medium blue.

On your pinky, use your striper brush dipped in white to outline and fill in the shape of Olaf’s face, leaving a section unpainted for his mouth.  Add a small section in white at the top of his mouth for teeth.  Dip your striper brush in black to outline his eyes and add pupils, then brown to add eyebrows and hair, and finally orange for his carrot nose.  (I also went back with some medium blue to add smile lines on his cheeks.)

On your ring finger, use the striper brush to create and fill in the nude outline of Elsa’s chin, neck, and décolleté.  (I angled the right shoulder line up a bit to create a raised arm.)  Use the green-blue to create the bodice part of her dress, then the light blue for her arms and cape, making sure to have the arm on the right extended outward from her body off to the right edge of the nail.  Dip the striper brush in light yellow to add her famous braid then add her small light pink smirk.

On your middle finger, use the striper brush to create a light blue sleeve extending from the left side of the nail to the middle, with a nude hand shape with the palm facing up.  Then use the striper brush dipped in silver to add swirls extending up from the hand and toward the right edge of the nail, with some white swirls mixed in and tiny white snowflake shapes.  Add some silver glitter over the top of the ice magic.

On your index finger, use the striper brush dipped in white to create a large snowflake near the center of the nail and silver and white swirls coming from the left edge of the nail.  Add silver glitter to the swirls and the center of the snowflake.

On your thumb, use the striper brush dipped in white to write “Let It Go”, and then add silver glitter in any open spaces.

Finish with a top coat and you’re done!

~Alyssa

Ways to Make Your Makeup Last in the Summer

Summer heat and humidity can cause all kinds of problems regarding your makeup.  It can run, smudge, streak, crease, get cake-y, or change colors on you.  Follow these tips to keep your makeup looking fresh and flawless in the summer:

·      Use tinted moisturizer instead of foundation- Tinted moisturizer is much lighter than foundation, meaning it’s much less likely to get cake-y and crease on your face.  Plus, as a lighter product, it’s less likely to clog your pores and cause breakouts!  You can build up the coverage of a tinted moisturizer by adding a little more at a time, so no need to worry about blemishes showing through.  If your skin is on the oilier side you may want to choose an oil-free formula to prevent a greasy look and avoid the chance your tinted moisturizer will turn orange-y.

·      Set your concealer with skin-tone powder- To keep concealer in place you’ll want to set it with a powder, but avoid dusting a skin-tone powder all over your face.  This can easily look a bit harsh and cake-y in the summer.  Instead, use a small brush to set individual spots of concealer with a pressed skin-tone powder.  Then…

·      Set your makeup with translucent powder- Use a loose translucent powder to set your whole face. This will keep your makeup in place and help prevent smudging and creasing, as well as keeping the look more natural.  If you have a medium-darker skin tone use just a bit of translucent powder and build it up to avoid creating a white cast on your face.

·      Set eyeliner with matching eye shadow- This not only helps your eyeliner to last all day, it also intensifies the color (it’s especially great for bright blues!) and helps to keep the eyeliner from streaking or running!

·      Use cream blush instead of powder- A cream blush can add a more natural flush in the summer than a powder blush, and it’s less likely to look cake-y and packed on throughout the day.  Set the cream blush with a bit of loose translucent powder to make sure it doesn’t smudge.

·      Use a lip stain or liquid lipstick- These last much longer than a regular gloss or lipstick and are less likely to run or smudge.  Make sure to exfoliate and moisturize your lips beforehand so they don’t look dry or cracked, and then wipe off any excess moisturizer before applying color to get an even finish.  A little bit of concealer around the lips will keep the color from feathering.     

~Alyssa