The Perfect Valentine’s Day Dessert

Valentine’s Day is coming up and I have come up with a healthier kind of dessert that is sure to impress!

White Chocolate Mousse with Strawberries

Ingredients:

1 bar of white chocolate, broken up into little pieces

2 egg yolks

Sugar, 3 tablespoons for the mousse, then to taste for the strawberries

2 ¼ c of whipping cream

2 tablespoons of confectioner's sugar

2 tsps of vanilla extract

Shaved white, milk, or dark chocolate for garnish

Directions: Start with the mousse. Place your mixing bowl in the fridge. Take ¼ cup of whipping cream and simmer it in a pan over low heat. In one bowl, place your white chocolate pieces, and in the other mix the eggs, sugar and 1 tsp of vanilla together. Once the cream simmers, start to pour it in the egg mixture slowly, to prevent scrambling, and whisk very well.  Then return back to the pot and cook for a few minutes, until, when dipping a spoon in the mixture, you can run your finger through it and the cream won’t come back and form over the spot you swiped.  You can strain this mix if you think you accidentally made a mistake with the eggs, but if not, just pour it over your chocolate and mix until it is melted, then set aside. 

Next, take your mixing bowl from the fridge, add 1 cup of heavy cream and whip it until stiff peaks form. Then fold half of it gently, so volume isn’t lost, into the chocolate mix. Once that is done, fold in the rest and refrigerate your mousse. 

After that, get started on your strawberries. Rinse them off and cut them in whatever fashion you like. (I think they look pretty diced.) Once you finish cutting them, add them to a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Mix and then chill for a few hours. You can always taste the strawberries as they are chilling to decide if they need more sugar or not. 

When you are ready to serve, place a mixing bowl in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes to chill. Add the remaining cream, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla to that bowl and whip it until you get stiff peaks. Then get a glass, and starting with mousse, layer the mousse and strawberries in any fashion you like. Finally, top with whipped cream and the shaved chocolate and enjoy!

This recipe is pretty simple and you can impress your valentine with them. If you like, use raspberries instead of strawberries. 

~Katrina

Trashy Friday: Eye Candy and Hindsight

Welcome to another edition of Trashy Fridays. Today we will continue with MTV’s Eye Candy, and Vh1’s Hindsight.  Let’s get to the trashiness!

Eye Candy

This episode starts out with Lindy and Calligan going into Reese’s apartment to find two mannequins, one of a man and one of a women sitting next to each other (looking like a movie date kinda thing). A chandelier looking thing, with teeth (Reese’s?), hits Lindy in the face. Lindy freaks out, but still Victoria does not look too freaked out or terrified. (The acting on this show needs to get better.) As the cops investigate, they find that the teeth belong to a missing female, meaning that Reese could still be alive. 

Sofia’s friend, Connor, is shown to be doing some sketchy activity. The creepy stalker is still watching Lindy and is shown (I don’t know if it is real or not) in a window in the building across from her, just staring at her. Sofia is trying to get Lindy to forget about investigating with the police and go have some fun with her. (Of course Lindy, being Lindy, refuses...) 

Lindy gets an anonymous envelope with “Surprise” on it. When she opens it she finds an altered picture of her and her sister from the desktop computer in her room. The picture is made up of pieces of pictures from 3 separate crime scenes, and the bracelet her sister is wearing in the original photo is not in the altered one. The cyber crime unit investigates where the pictures came from. There is more back story of her sister (such as the fact that Lindy gave her sister the bracelet from the picture), which is important but there still isn’t much emotion. The head investigator tells her to not contact Jake anymore, because he is still a suspect (since Reese has been eliminated as one). Calligan finds that the crime scene photos are from very gruesome murders. 

We see that Sofia is interested in the security guy assigned to watch her and Lindy around the clock.  As Sofia and Connor are walking (with the security guy close behind), Sofia shares the (confidential) information about the teeth that were discovered with Connor. Connor writes an article for an online magazine about the murders, and Lindy’s coworker shows it to her. (Everyone is mad that he wrote the article since it's information that wasn't supposed to be made public yet.) Connor’s boss refuses to take the article down. 

Lindy’s coworker discovers that the background of the picture she received in the surprise envelope is static, like on all the TVs that are left on in the crime scenes. (It is like the one seen on Jake’s phone after he calls Lindy, which is weird.) As the coworker and Lindy investigate further, they go back to Reese’s apartment and she realizes that the killer wants her to watch something on the TV. Lindy looks at the first letter of each movie title (with the help of Calligan) and finds that he is searching for the perfect mate. (Thus giving the reason for killing and mutliating these people.) The killer pretty much removes the part of them that isn’t perfect, killing those who lied about their flaws. With the teeth he cleaned and straightened them, thus making them perfect. (Calligan finally congratulates her for a good job for the day with this discovery.) 

Sofia then gives Lindy a surprise party for her birthday. (Lindy honestly isn’t too thrilled about it.) Jake shows up and pretty much ruins the already crappy party for Lindy. Lindy starts to feel like passing out at the party (kinda like she's been drugged) and the people who are watching out for her get distracted. (Good job guys...) The creepy guy finds her as she passes out and takes her somewhere. She sees him slit Reese’s throat. Lindy watches him die and he drops a small (present) box.   

Jake is set free, after being arrested at the party. (Thus eliminating him as a suspect, because Reese's murder happened while he was in police custody.) Lindy is worried that she will be killed once the creepy stalker finds out that she isn’t perfect at all. 

In the end scene, Lindy opens the present and it is the bracelet that she gave her sister.  Happy birthday, Lindy.  ;-)

The acting in the show still hasn’t gotten better, but this show is so amazing. I love it!!! I wonder if Lindy and Caligan will date, but who knows. He seems to care about her a lot. I also wonder how the story of this show will progress and the other tests the stalker will give Lindy.

Hindsight

I loved this show the first time I watched it and I really wanted to see what happens next. 

Becca is going on interviews because she needs a job now, since she quit her other one. She practices interviewing with Lolly. Lolly is being a bad friend and is still sleeping with Becca’s brother. (It’s Halloween in this episode, which is cool.) Lolly sleeps with him with a clown mask on (like, how? That’s so creepy).  Becca finally catches them and it causes an awkward moment.  She goes for her interviews finally and does a very good job of impressing the bosses. 

So Andy’s girlfriend is a bitch to Becca. (Just get over the fact she kissed your boyfriend...) Becca gets several job offers and is trying to find someway to enjoy a Halloween party that will happen at the bar she usually goes to. (She is very excited, for the jobs at least.) Lolly decides to go the party with Jamie, instead of Becca. (Which makes her very upset.) Becca tries to decide what to do with her life and Jamie and Lolly go costume shopping. Becca and Melanie both are Alice, from Alice in Wonderland. She wants to use the outfit to win Andy over. (It works!)  

Jamie and Lolly have a mini fight because Jamie was late and forgot his costume. (They are Beavis and Butthead, which I personally didn’t like.) Shaun starts dating Paige, and this upsets Becca for some reason. Becca confronts Shaun and he tells her that he’s moved on. (She is surprised at this.) 

Lolly and Jamie win a costume contest, and Melanie sees Becca with Andy and accuses her of cheating. The party ends with Shaun punching Andy in the face (showing that he really isn't over Becca…) and he blames her for the break up again. (They think they cheated with each other.) Paige breaks up with Shaun after he was a jerk to Becca.  Lolly is mean to Jamie because of the party (and what Becca said about the future and that he seemed to have more fun with his friends. He gets so mad he breaks the costume contest trophy) and Becca decides to let Andy stay with Melanie. 

Lolly thinks that ever since she went back in the past, Becca is too worried to take risks.  Becca decides to turn down the job offers, and finally takes an internship with a computer company.

I love this show too!! I want to see how Becca gets to change her life. The fact that she gets to do this makes this show very interesting.

-Katrina

Valentine’s Day Accessories

Valentine’s Day is the best holiday to get fun, cheesy accessories, judgment-free.  Tiny hearts and lip prints are perfectly acceptable and festive, and they can easily be worn all throughout spring!  Plus, just about any pink and red accessories you would wear anytime of the year work great for this holiday.  Here are some of my favorite Valentine’s Day accessory picks!

-Kiss Me Headband (pictured): This hot pink headband from ban.dō is so cute and the perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day party!  Plus it’s great for New Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day, your birthday, etc.  ;-)

-Pink Statement Earrings (pictured): These adorable earrings from our collection with Cool Gal Blue are perfect for the holiday as well as spring and summer!  They look great with a messy low bun and a cozy sweater or a cute dress!

-Heart Link Bracelet (pictured): This is the perfect accessory for those who don’t like to be too flashy.  It’s just a simple silver link bracelet, but each link is a heart!  It keeps your look low-key but catches just enough attention from people close by.

-Shut Up and Kiss Me Clutch: This clutch from Express is a great statement piece!  The red and black make it the perfect accessory for those who like an edgier look and the flirty writing will catch some attention.

-Heart Crossbody Bag: This bag from Rebecca Minkoff is fun for Valentine’s Day and all of spring.  It comes in black, red, and pink so there’s an option for everyone!

~Alyssa

Valentine’s Day Outfit Ideas

Whether you have big plans for Valentine’s Day or you’re just hanging out at home with some friends, here are some outfit ideas for a little inspiration!

If you have a date (or you’re just treating yourself to a nice night out), dress up a little in something that’s still super comfortable!  I paired a white lace dress with a red moto jacket for the Valentine’s Day touch.  Add a cream clutch (this one has shimmery stitching on the bottom for an extra touch) and nude wedges so your feet aren’t killing you after a couple hours.  Some gold earrings and a statement ring would complete your look perfectly!

-Jacket from JC Penney

-Clutch from Express

-Wedges from Steve Madden

If you don’t really have any plans or you just want to keep it casual all day but still have a hint of V-day in your look, this outfit is perfect!  Dark wash jeans and a black top or sweater are really low-key, but a lip print scarf makes the outfit festive!  Red flats tie in the scarf and add an extra pop of color.  Pull your hair back in a slightly messy pony and add a red lip for a little more drama.

-Jeans from Express

-Scarf from Francesca's Closet

-Flats from Steve Madden

For girls’ night in, keep it comfy!  Leggings (or black fleece-lined tights, like I have here) are perfect for lounging around, watching sappy movies and eating way too much chocolate, and a red oversized sweater looks really pretty!  Wear one with a cute print or design like this (or maybe lots of hearts all over) because you’re with the girls and you can.  Add short black boots and keep it simple.

-Tights from Urban Outfitters

-Sweater Dress from Betsey Johnson at Macy's

~Alyssa

Trashy Friday: Eye Candy, Married at First Sight The First Year and American Horror Story Freak Show

Welcome back to another edition of Trashy Fridays! Today we will be covering MTV’s Eye Candy, FYI’s Married at First Sight: The First Year, and FX’s American Horror Story: Freak Show. Let’s get to the trashiness!

Eye Candy

We are continuing this series because I wanted to see if Victoria Justice can do better with her character over time.  

In this episode we start out with this girl who is getting a spa treatment to get her skin fixed. The psycho man sneaks in and pours paint thinner on her face, because she didn't admit to having poor skin online and he believes skin can’t be fixed with make-up. 

Mr. Creeper has been taking a ton of pictures of Lindy (it is also shown that he has been stalking her throughout the episode) and he still seems to want to date her or something. (Because she is the ideal girl?) 

Lindy goes to the club to let off steam and to find Ben’s killer. The police are trying to catch one of the guys she went on a date with from last week, but they feel like Lindy’s getting in the way of their investigation. Her best friend, Sofia, tells her that she is concerned with the way she is approaching her own investigation to find Ben’s killer. 

One of Lindy’s dates just stops by and asks to cook for her. (Everyone is worried that he is a killer, but after a while everyone just gets along.) 

Lindy finds the paint thinner guy’s car by looking at security footage from the time of the killing. With this info, Lindy goes to the police to help. She is going to help catch Reese, the suspect of the murder. (More montages of Ben memories, I get it, but please make them stop. I still don’t buy their romance.) 

So Lindy sets up a date with Reese and he picks her up to go to dinner. (The police friend of Ben follows.) Mr. A-hole decides to change his plans with Lindy because he knows he is being pursued.  So Reese takes her to a junk yard for the date. (Like what..?)  He tries to touch her and get her in the mood, but she isn’t feeling it. So he gives her his keys and tells her to drive them home. (He had a little too much to drink.)  

In the meantime, the cop is trying to get data from the suspect’s car, but he is knocked out as he breaks into it.  When Lindy gets to the car, a mannequin thing with pictures of her all over it is in the driver's seat and the car is controlled from outside to drive her recklessly, with Tommy (the cop) in the trunk.  

Lindy is able to hack the car and make it stop before Tommy is killed by being backed into a pole at a high speed. (The actor did a very bad job of looking shocked, like, you almost died dude, be a little emotional.) They determine that Reese is the killer and Lindy and her friends are in danger. (Because they can’t find Reese.)

Sofia’s gay friend takes pics on his phone of the crime scene photos. (In a really sketchy manner...) 

Lindy gets a video message and sees that Reese is the next victim. (So, clearly, Reese isn’t the killer.)

This show is still so good, but the acting could use a lot of work. The killer is playing with Lindy and it’s so creepy. I love the script and the concept of this show a lot.

Married at First Sight: The First Year

Jamie and Doug: They get to celebrate Doug’s birthday together. Jamie said she didn’t want to have sex during the experiment, just because she had to. Now that they’ve waited, their sex life is amazing. Jamie mentions babies to Doug, and he isn’t comfortable with the idea yet. So for his present, Jamie got him lingerie and dinner. She said he could choose what she wears tonight. (He’s excited.) They discuss finances and she wants to budget. (Doug doesn’t seem to care about that or having kids.) Jamie says she doesn’t want to put pressure on it, but she is by continuing to discuss it. (Doug isn’t ready and he admits it.) She also surprises Doug the day after his birthday, and gives him a party with his friends. Jamie gets Doug’s parents to help. She says she wants to be as warm to them as they are to her. (Um no offense, they are so much better to you than you are to them.) Doug performs a baptism (apparently he got a preaching license), but Jamie stays home to set up the party. (He really wanted her there for support though.) The party is a success, as he was very surprised. (Doug also loves that Jamie cares so much about him.) Doug finally tells Jamie that he wants a baby, but not yet. (In fact he makes jokes because he doesn’t want to talk about it.) He insists that they aren’t ready for kids and he leaves the conversation. (Because she is putting a lot of pressure on him and he cares enough about her feelings to just stop the conversation.)

Jason and Cortney: Cortney tells Jason that she lost her job. (Finally.) Jason is very concerned about money.  He is willing to work with her and help them get through this rough patch. They go to dinner and they both won’t talk. Cortney finds it awkward and she isn’t happy.  She attacks Jason because she is stressed out. Cortney feels like she has no control in her life right now and she’s lost parts of herself after marriage. She also doesn’t agree that Jason should wrestle. (Really she is just being mean at this point, and you can’t tell him to not do something that he enjoys.)  I see that Jason and Cortney’s apartment is a mess and no one seems to clean.  Since tension is so high in their house, Jason decides to go out with his friends. (Good idea.) Cortney feels lonely that he went out and chose his friends over her. (Like of course, because you are unpleasant to be around at this point...) So she vents to her friend. Finally, Cortney tells Jason her concerns. She and Jason talk, and he wants to support her and tells her that he always thinks of her. (What’s sad is that Jason will encourage Cortney to do whatever, but she won’t do the same for him.) Jason and Cortney call Dr. Pepper (love the name) for help with their relationship. (More complaining from Cortney, ugh…) Dr. Pepper says they should talk and she advises Cortney to not make all of her happiness depend on Jason. (She needs to make her own happiness, Jason can be a part of it, but not all of it.) They decide to take her advice and spend time together blind finger-painting. (They have a paint fight and cover themselves with paint.) Lastly, after getting painted, Jason carries Cortney to the shower. Somehow every time he carries her, he hits her head.  XD

Monet: Monet comes on the show and goes on her first blind date since the divorce.  (Her gay friend is so adorable and helps her get ready for her date.) She seems very upset that she got the divorce and she’s afraid that she won’t find love. Her date was really nice and she seemed to enjoy herself. However, she keeps comparing him to Vaughn. This tells me that she isn’t quite over her marriage. But her date wants to see her again, so good for her!

Well this episode was boring and kinda annoying. I don’t like it… I am hoping this series will get better as more drama will happen, but I’m still quite skeptical.

American Horror Story: Freak Show

So this series hasn’t really been my favorite from American Horror Story. Mostly these episodes have been boring and trying to focus on soooo many ideas that it also loses the point that it was going for. First it tried doing the freaks, then the clown, then Dandy, and the “Hollywood talent scout”. It was just all over the place and it made it very difficult to watch. This series also seemed to try to connect the previous seasons, which they did do with Asylum. But trying it together didn’t really matter to me. (Hopefully if they really want to tie things together they'll make a better effort to connect other seasons in season 5.) 

Then for the past two episodes, they brought in Neil Patrick Harris to play this magician with some serious issues and an obsession with his puppet wife, Marjorie. I loved his story and acting! He had to be the best part of this series so far, too bad it had to all happen at the end.  

Elsa had to escape the show because all of the freaks wanted her dead, as they believed that she murdered Jimmy’s mother. She originally sold the show to Chester so she could go to Hollywood. But after discovering the scout was a liar, the freaks ganged up on him and made him a freak. After he went to jail and Elsa was forced to leave, she sold the show and everyone’s contract to Dandy. This is where we left off before the finale, which the trailer made me think it could be really really good. (Fingers crossed, I hope I’m right!) 

Dandy is ruling with an iron fist and is being an asshole to all of the freaks. After hearing him complain, some of the freaks gang up on him and tell him like it is. (You will never be a freak and they quit.) 

Elsa finally gets the attention she desires at a Hollywood studio. 

Dandy, while humming a nutcracker song, shoots all the freaks in the head… Murdering them without hesitation. It’s like killing them relieves tension. (Dandy is just killing everybody like he doesn’t care.) Dandy only leaves the twins to survive (so he thinks) and he basically keeps them prisoner. 

Jimmy comes back to find a lot of freaks murdered and Elsa gone. He turns to find only Miss Three Boobs survived. Dandy marries Bette. (Dot is forced to go along with it. Dandy wants her to participate in sex though, even if she doesn’t want to. Otherwise he’ll have a temper tantrum.) 

Apparently the marriage was all an act. Jimmy, Dot, Bette, and Miss Three Boobs planned this so they could kill Dandy. To kill him, they put him in a Houdini water trap to make him a part of the show.  They all watch him drown to death and applaud. 

Elsa gets successful in Hollywood and marries her manager. (She is a bitch to him.) But Elsa’s life isn’t perfect, in fact she is not very happy. Elsa’s life eventually falls apart, everyone finds out her secrets, her love (the guy who gave her her legs) is going to die, and she loses her contract. Elsa decides to go out with a bang and, even though she refused at first, she will perform on Halloween.  

We see that eventually Miss Three Boobs marries the love of her life and the twins marry Jimmy. Jimmy and the twins are expecting and are having a little girl. (Unfortunately we'll never know what she looks like...) 

When Elsa performs, Edward Mordrake takes Elsa’s life because of his weird rule with taking the most deserving freak if one performs on Halloween. However, Mordrake will not let her join his group, she is forced to stay in the freak show forever, with all of the spirits of the dead freaks who were murdered. (Kind of a weird freak show heaven.) Elsa performed on purpose so she would die. Life is happy here as Elsa gets to perform and there is a full house to watch her sing every night. 

Well this was really really stupid, still so disappointing.

What did you think of the finale?  The whole season?

~Katrina

My Favorite Healthy Living Apps

For this Christmas I was finally given a tablet and it is amazing! I thought that I would share my favorite free fitness and diet apps that you can use to help keep your healthy living goals on track. 

-My Diet Coach: This app is definitely one of my favorites. It can help you make and reach goals, and take pictures to help you see your progress. It can even remind you to exercise and help you meet the challenges you make each week. These challenges can be custom made; like, for example, I have one that rewards me with points when I don’t eat chocolate for the day. This app will also help you with tips on avoiding cravings and sharing quotes to help you stay motivated. 

-myfitnesspal: This is my favorite diet diary system that I use daily to count calories and mark down the exercise I do every day. It is pretty easy to use and with smartphones/tablets you can scan barcodes to help you know exactly what you are eating. 

-Free exercise apps: I have found free exercises that will target your abs, thighs, glutes, and arms in a really quick workout!  (Try Daily Workouts FREE.) There are also free cardio and yoga apps (search "free [insert exercise] app" and The 7 Minute Workout). Most of these exercises can be completed in about 5 minutes and they really kick your butt. Also, after doing them a few times your device will remind you that it is exercise time.

Yes, technology can be your friend when you are trying to get fit!

~Katrina

Organize Your Life: Desk

Organizing your desk makes you so much more efficient and productive, which is perfect in January when you may want to improve your skills!  Here are some tips for organization and staying focused:

·      Clear off the clutter.  Of course this has to be your first step.  A clean, mess-free space makes a world of difference for getting work done, finding important papers and staying focused in general.  No more distractions!

·      Put items in designated spots, like pens, paper clips, post-its, whatever.  Pick a place for each (necessary) item and keep them all where they belong.  You can get cute little dishes and containers to hold the things you need.  (Monochromatic, like all shiny black holders may help keep you more focused, but bright, fun colors may give you more inspiration!)

·      If you set something that doesn’t belong on your desk on there temporarily, clear it off the moment you get a chance!  Don’t wait just because you don’t feel like putting things away.  The longer you leave it there, the more likely you’ll let things start piling up and get out of control.  And there goes your workspace and focus.

·      Finally, keep your desk the area where you work/study.  Avoid eating, watching videos, painting your nails, etc. there.  Your desk should be a place where you get work done and aren’t even tempted by distractions.

~Alyssa