December Favorites!

While the majority of my discretionary income this past month was spent on Christmas gifts, I did treat myself to a few goodies. Please enjoy my first ‘favorites’ video which highlights some of the items I’ve been loving lately.

Alyssa

Bracelets

Its safe to say that bracelet stacking is a huge trend. I love this trend and I know it can be overwhelming when deciding which bracelets to buy so I thought I’d share my all time favorites. I pretty much wear the same jewelry everyday so I have two main sets of bracelets that I alternate depending on my outfit. Lets start with the staples, regardless of the stretch bracelets I wear, I always wear my gold cuff from Satya and my small silver cuff from David Yurman. I have unusually small wrists so it took me forever to find these cuffs, but I bought the gold one because it can be squeezed smaller and I bought the silver one because its from the baby collection so its small.

My first bracelet look contains dark colors; one blue, one silver and one pearl. All three bracelets have gold charms hanging off (the blue has a moon, the silver has a sun and the pearl has a lotus flower, all from Satya).

My second bracelet look contains more earthy colors; one brown, one multi-color green, and one orange. The brown and orange bracelets have gold charms hanging off, while the multi-color green has a silver charm (all three charms are the tree of life, all from Satya).

Alexa

Fresh Nails

As you may have seen in a recent post, I tried Maybelline’s nail stickers for the first time last week. I loved how my nails came out and after 7 days the stickers were still on! However, all my other nails had chipped. Here is a picture:

 I wasn’t ready to take the perfectly looking stickers off, so I decided to remove the paint from my other nails and try something a little different. Below are the after pictures that show my freshly manicured nails with OPI’s Black Onyx. I used silver glitter to create a reverse French manicure effect.

(My new goodies from Sephora!)

Alyssa

Now Bring us some Figgy Pudding

Have you ever wondered what exactly figgy pudding is and how it tastes? Well, I did. So, I located a recipe on the Food Network’s website and decided to test it out for myself. The recipe I followed is below, however I made a few modifications which I have noted at the end.

Pudding Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups chopped dried pitted dates
• ½ cup chopped dried figs
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 7 tablespoons of softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 ½ cups self-rising flour
• 2 ½ ounces of grated dark chocolate*
• Pam/butter for coating ramekins** 

Sauce Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 14 tablespoons of butter***
• Fresh figs for garnish (optional)
• Ice cream or whipped cream for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Add the dates, dried figs and water to a medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the baking soda. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then add to a blender and puree.
3. Using a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add the eggs and beat well. Fold in the flour, the pureed date mixture and the chocolate.
4. Put the mixture into 4 buttered, 1-cup individual ramekins, filling halfway or slightly under. Put in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
5. Prepare the sauce by stirring the sugar, cream and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Simmer until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until incorporated.
6. Remove the ramekins from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. May be served in the ramekin or unmolded onto a small serving plate. With paring knife cut a cross in the top of the puddings for the sauce.
7. Pour the sauce into the cross in the center of each pudding, then pour more sauce over the puddings and it allow to soak in slightly. Top with fresh figs and vanilla ice cream or heavily whipped cream. Serve warm.

*This is way too little chocolate. I strongly recommend adding a LOT more chocolate shavings or perhaps a cup of coco powder

**Instead of using individual ramekins, I used a baking pan. Therefore, it took approximately 30 – 35 minutes to bake fully as opposed to the 20 – 25 recommended above.

***14 tablespoons of butter is insane! 7 tablespoons are sufficient.

As far as the taste is concerned, in my opinion it was very similar to a date and nut bread or even banana bread, which is strange because there are no bananas in this recipe. I much prefer chocolaty decadent treats, but this was very good as it was a nice change of pace and now I finally know what figgy pudding is and how it is made.

Alyssa

Holiday Nail Art

 Before

 After I

After II

You’ve probably heard it several times by now, but I’ll remind you again – Christmas is right around the corner! So, don’t wait any longer to adorn your nails in holiday hues. For an early December look I opted for Essie’s Stylenomics on every finger but my ring fingers. For my ring fingers I used Maybelline’s color show nail stickers in a metal prism pattern. This was the first time I used nail stickers and I have to say that it could not have been easier. They went on flawlessly and look great. However, I do find it a little odd that the package only includes 18 stickers, which is two stickers shy of two full manicures. Good thing I don’t plan on using these stickers on every finger, rather I will stick with an accent nail.

You can read Alexa’s earlier post about Sally Hansen’s nail stickers by clicking here.

Alyssa

Fragrance Collection

We hope you enjoy a video featuring our favorite fragrances!

Alyssa and Alexa

Can I wear you everyday?

Now that the cold weather has kicked in I’m fully embracing my warm sweaters and fun jackets. One of my favorite pieces this season is my Free People Cypress Jacket which combines the two concepts into one amazing staple piece. The sleeves are made from a thick sweater material (they keep me nice and toasty!) with a design that is beige, navy blue, orange and green. The front and back of the jacket are denim, yes you read that right, this is a sweater denim hybrid. And the piece de resistance is the eagle patch on the back. I love this jacket, it is so warm and it is so beautiful to the point where I have to stop myself from wearing it everyday!

Alexa

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream Review

Enjoy our review on Maybelline's Dream Fresh BB Cream!

Alyssa and Alexa

Whats in my Bag?

Whats in my bag?  Watch this video and find out!

Alyssa

An Unlikely Obsession

Last winter I was in my glory – mild weather with very little snow.  However, I feared that the 2012/2013 winter season would be extra cold and stormy to make up for the little gift we received the previous year.  Therefore I decided that instead of waiting to see what Mother Nature has in store for us, I would do my homework and read The Old 2013 Farmer’s Almanac.  This little gem lays out an overview of the predicted weather for the entire year broken out by region.  So, for all you out there in NJ/ NY/ Boston/ Philadelphia/ Baltimore/ DC/ Richmond and the surrounding areas, expect snowy periods in mid December as well as mid to late February.  Also, expect June to be a rainy month.  In addition to weather predictions, this 256 page book also contains recipes, information on the moon, tide and so much more.  I have a feeling that purchasing a Farmer’s Almanac will become a yearly tradition!

Alyssa

DIY - How to Mat a Picture

Next Saturday is my boyfriend’s 30th birthday. To celebrate the milestone birthday I planned a surprise birthday party for him that took place this past Friday. One of the things I was most excited about was the football themed invitations. While the guests and I got to enjoy the watercolor football invites from finestationary.com, Michael did not receive one (obviously). Therefore I decided to frame an invitation for him and mat it myself. Below are step by step instructions on how to mat a photo along with pictures. Enjoy and good luck! And Michael, if you are reading this, I wish you a very happy early birthday! I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow xo

Supplies: ruler, scissors, crayon or pencil, glue stick, scrap book paper, item to be framed and frame

Make sure the frame you purchase has a back that can easily be removed

 Use the paper that comes in the frame to measure the correct size for the scrap book paper

 Cut the scrap book paper

 Measure the paper you just cut and mark the center of the page

Place the photo in the center of the paper and glue it down.

Then place in the frame and close the back of the frame.

Alyssa

Happy Belated Birthday S u g a r E y e l i n e r

On October 31^st S u g a r E y e l i n e r celebrated its first birthday!  We have thoroughly enjoyed blogging over the past year and we look forward to the next year!  To celebrate the occasion we baked Pillsbury brownie cake pops.  Enjoy the pictures and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for following our blog!

Alyssa and Alexa

Hurricane Sandy

This picture was taken over the weekend during a walk at a local golf course.  It shows just how gorgeous NJ is.

We apologize for the blogging hiatus, however up until yesterday we did not have power and thus were not able to blog.

What transpired the last few days was absolutely horrific and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones, pets, homes, personal belongings and power. We are extremely proud to be from New Jersey and we know this great state, as well as the surrounding areas, will rebuild and come back stronger than ever.

Alyssa and Alexa

Sheer Coverage

Now that the weather has turned somewhat cold, there’s no better time to invest in patterned stockings. I recently purchased nude stockings with black polka dots. I really wanted a pair with polka dots but I couldn’t decide between big dots or small dots. Finally, I settled on a pair with big dots from Forever21 and I am so in love with them! Another pair that I recently purchased was also from Forever21 and it is a pair of plain burgundy stockings. I’m not sure what I want to pair these with yet but I’m kind of envisioning them with brown boots. The last pair I purchased is from Urban Outfitters and they are lavender colored with a lace design covering them. The lace is enlarged and is a slightly raised pattern so I’m planning on wearing them when I want to make an outfit look a bit more soft. I am so excited to wear these tights, they are the perfect touch when sprucing up a favorite outfit!

Alexa

The Chic Sneaker?

I’ve long been a rejector of sneakers. I’ve always believed that if you need an easy shoe to wear, you can never go wrong with ballet flats. I still believe in this styling tip but recently my fashion world was rocked by a pair of wedged sneakers. So I saw these sneakers and I began to fall in love but I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to buy a pair of sneakers. One day while struggling with this thought, I was watching a Lana Del Rey music video in which she was wearing a pair of red Converse sneakers for one second. While I never aim to be a follower, after watching her wear sneakers, I realized that they can look just as amazing as that perfect pair of ballet flats. After much research of various wedge sneakers I finally decided on this pair by Steve Madden and I am so happy with them. I’m even considering buying a pair of Converse...

Alexa

Get Ready With Me - Hair + Makeup

Today I filmed my current getting ready routine which includes some of the products I am loving for fall 2012.  The video goes through my makeup and hair routine.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt-eS4Mm8uY&feature=youtu.be

Alyssa

How To Make a "Sock Bun" Using a Donut Piece/Hairstyling Ring

Hi everyone! Check out my tutorial to learn how to make a "sock bun" using a donut or hairstyling ring. You can purchase the same donut that I used from H&M by clicking on this link: http://www.hm.com/us/product/01922?article=01922-D

You can also purchase one from Claire's by clicking here:
http://www.claires.com/store/goods/Tweens/cat1170028/Dance-Teams/p23013/Oversized-Hair-Donut/

Enjoy the video and if you like it, rate it!!

Alyssa

Yes!...to clear skin?

I hate acne, I hate acne, I hate acne, I hate acne! Try as I might, sometimes I just can't avoid breaking out, and nothing ruins an outfit more than an unclear complexion. While I understand that acne can come from stress or hormones, I never considered that my makeup remover could be the culprit. I had been loyally buying Nutrogena's makeup wipes for quite some time, and despite the fact that my face uncomfortably tingled while using it and my cheeks felt tight when I finished, I didn't really consider changing products. With that being said, one day while at Target, I spotted these "Yes to Cucumbers" makeup towels and I decided to buy them (I'd heard great reviews of them). The first time I used these wipes my face felt amazing afterwards, so good that I didn't even think I needed to moisturize (I did, just in case). Now, a month into using these sheets and I am so pleased with them that I will absolutely continue to buy them. And for those of you suffering from acne, the line has a "Yes to Tomatoes," extension that contains salicylic acid.

Alexa

The Last 48 [in pictures]

 Kappa Delta Bar Crawl

Apple picking at Eastmont Orchards

 Pumpkin Picking at A. Casola Farms

 The finished product!

Alyssa

A Change of Face

My makeup routine has been the same since I was in high school, subdued eye colors and a nude lip. While I’ve always admired bright pink lips and electric blue eye shadow, I’ve always felt out of place when wearing these colors. As I find myself at the start of my senior year in college, I’ve begun to open up to new things, one of which is reinventing my everyday makeup look. While the eyeshadow colors I’ve been using lately seem to change on a daily basis, one new element remains the same these days, and that is a bright red lip. Perhaps my inner Marilyn Monroe or Mae West is starting to emerge or maybe I’m just feeling more comfortable in my skin, but these days nothing makes me happier than a red lip. While I’ve been satisfied with Sephora’s “The Red,” lipstick, I am absolutely in love with the bright red lip gloss from this month’s October Glam bag, by Mirenesse. This lip gloss stays on for hours, even through eating and drinking. To compliment this vixen look, the bag also came with an amazing liquid eyeliner that resembles a magic marker, a mascara, ocean inspired eye colors and a hair treatment.

Alexa

Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray Product Review

Check out my latest product review -- Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray.

Alyssa

Pumpkin Magic Bars

This weekend was the first time all year that I could feel fall in the year. Therefore I decided to light my cinnamon sugar candle and bake a fall treat. The fall treat I selected was Pumpkin Magic Bars.

Ingredients:
• 14 whole graham crackers, crushed)
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1 14oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 11/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup salted almonds, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Use foil to line the lip of the 8”x8” pan
2. Combine graham crackers and butter and stir until well blended. Press mixture onto the bottom of 8”x8” pan
3. Combine sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and stir until well combined. Pour mixture over graham cracker crust.
4. on chocolate chips, followed by the almonds and then finish by sprinkling coconut on top.
5. Place assembled pan in the oven and bake for about 25-35 minutes. Let cool in pan completely and then transfer finished pan to the refrigerator to chill before cutting.


Alyssa