BEYOND THE OVEN
Hello! Let’s talk shall we?
1. I am so OVER this polar vortex 5.0 nonsense whatever. It’s becoming the worst winter in history and I am sure folks in Atlanta and Texas are agreeing with me right now
2. Did you know there are rules to taking selfies? What you didn’t know either? My 12 year niece schooled me this past weekend when she and I had some quality time together.
Apparently only 60% of your face should be in the picture and it should always be angled. And you should have some sort of expression. Eh, too much work for me and I don’t like my face that much.
If you haven’t yet, check out the valentine’s day baking party we hosted together last weekend. So much fun!!
3. Talking about nieces that are almost teenagers in a month. They are great to hang around and talk to because their perspective of the world is so beautiful and unique!! They make you realize how old you are (almost 30 arghhh!!) and how One Direction makes bad music that should NEVER be listened to on super loud volume. Just saying. Hurts the head (and soul) at my age.
4. The hubs made this braised beef recipe last week for dinner. Best beef I’ve ever had. So tender and just delicious. Thanks Krista for a great recipe. What did you have this week that you loved? Share please! I am always looking for new recipes to try.
5. Talking about new things, I started wearing make-up this week. I should probably clarify that statement before you think I’m a cave woman. I usually only wear make-up for special occasions (date nights, weddings etc) but I figured I should be normal and/or start acting my age and put on some make-up before I leave the house. This week I started with only foundation powder since everything else is too much for me. Baby steps. However, I have noticed that my foundation (MAC Studio Fix Powder) doesn’t last more than 2-3 hours and my oily face breaks through it. This wasn’t a problem before since I will only be wearing it for the night. But now I am in search for a) a long-lasting foundation that can last the work day and b) maybe a primer? Any suggestions?
6. I am in the market for an Ice-cream maker. I am finally taking the plunge so that this Spring (which I hope will eventually be here) I can start indulging in homemade ice-cream recipes. Of course I will share with you! Do you have a favorite brand I should look at? I’m trying not to spend above $50.
7. Thanks to a certain housemate who was at the Super Bowl last weekend working and who kindly brought back the diseases of America into the house, I am now sick. The past two days have been miserable with stuffy nose and cloudy headaches. Hopefully, by the end of the weekend it will be all cleared up.
Till then my friends. I will be on the couch so please let me live vicariously through you 🙂 What are you doing this weekend?
I hope your feeling better! I don’t have nieces but I have nephews and a sister right around your nieces age. Like you, I’m not that crazy about all the rules about selfies OR taking pictures of my face. Puh-lease. I’d much rather take pictures of food!
You and me both with this makeup thing girl! I feel like there are 12 year old girls out there who know way more than I do 😛 and I’ve also been trying to take better care of my skin.. which has lead to me breaking out like no other..so I guess that’s how my skin is thanking me! 😛
Tyler, I remember seeing your makeup photos on IG and I think you don’t need it at you. You are so beautiful!! Have you tried using a regular cleanser? I use an oil-free one from Neutrogena and it works pretty well.
I really like Avon Magix primer since it has sunscreen. But! You can use Monistat Anti-chafing powder gel as primer, too. It has almost identical ingredients to Smashbox’s primer.
I hope you feel better!
Thank you Wendy!! I’ll try Smashbox 😉
Yay yay yay I love the beyond the oven posts! Your nice and you look so cute awwh. And I totally didn’t know that selfie angle thing, which, if you think about it, it’s quite weird since I’m 17 and I am supposed to know it. Supposed to, that is.
Sorry to hear you’re sick, my friend! Hope it’s not too serious and you’re feeling better soon! xx
OMG! I so plan on doing something like this on my blog!! Ahh I should just start instead of waiting to do it. Looks like your niece is selfie queen haha! And Re makeup, I’m kinda uhm obsessed with it. LOL. I’m pretty much a packaging queen – anything with pretty packaging gets me and makeup has sooo much pretty packaging. I use BareMinerals for foundation but it isn’t very full coverage. You could try urban decay or NYX for full coverage. And re primer, I use Benefit Cosmetics and Too Faced. Welcome to the world of makeup :D. I started wearing it last year Jan 2013 and well YEAH I’ve bought way too much! This weekend, well, maybe the couch :D. Haha just kidding, celebrating Valentine’s Day and winning my Mock Trial!
Jessica, I am so glad that you finally started this on your blog. It’s so fun to see the other side I think!! Thanks for the makeup tips. I hope I don’t get hooked on the packaging as you coz I can’t afford another obsession (shoes, purses, cake stands have me occupied lol!)
Oh man, so much fun! I love hanging out with my niece and nephews, especially as they get older and have such definitive opinions on everything from what kind of pizza toppings are the best to bullying. It’s awesome to see them become their own people, as I’m sure it is for you and your niece 🙂
As for ice cream makers, we were gifted that Cuisineart one everyone seems to have and really like it. Though if you have a Kitchenaid mixer, maybe just get their ice cream attachment? Fewer appliances to deal with. Feel better!
Lovely to get this little insight into your life, Zainab! My sister has been singing the praises of Bare Minerals foundation recently – I haven’t checked it out yet and don’t know if it lasts a long time or not but my sis has just started wearing makeup too and absolutely loves this foundation. Might be worth checking out anyway! I hope you feel better soon!
Thanks Helen, I will check out BareMinerals!
Aww no fun being sick!! I hope you get better soon!
I seriously don’t ever wear makeup either. Or take selfies. It’s like the opposite of my teenage sister who is well versed in makeup AND selfies. Crazy.
I love my Cuisinart ice cream maker. It’s $80 on Amazon but SO worth it.
Zainab, I hope you are feeling better! I heard about these selfie rules last week… crazy, right? And, if I remember, Selfie just made it in the dictionary.
I’ve been the same way with make-up lately. I used to have eye lash extentions in until about 3 months ago. (I had them in for the past 3 and a half years! And, got refills every 10 days!) I loved it becz I would only do my hair and I was pretty much done. But, now I have to take the time to put on mascara. But, you know what? It makes me feel so much better once my hair and make-up is done for the day. Don’t you? xoxo
I love seeing this other side of Blahnik Baker! You and your niece are so adorable together, and I had no idea there were selfie rules, lol! Good thing I don’t take selfies, or else I may have made a faux pas! As for makeup, I really like the smashbox cc cream bc it’s so long-lasting & it’s quick & easy with moisturizer built in. One step and you’re done, boom. I sometimes do a little Mac undereye concealer too if I had a rough night 😉 Hope you are better soon, dear. Rest up and go slow. Hugs to you!!!
Thanks for the makeup tip Allie! I am going shopping this weekend with my niece for makeup so I will try Smashbox to see if I will like it.
I love powder foundations, I hate creams and liquid foundations. I like Loracs and Laura Geller’s powders. YES so sick of the Vortex, I am ok with cold weather I would just like it to make up its mind already!
I have no idea about selfies, I secretly love One Direction, and I hope you get better soon. I used the KitchenAid attachment for my ice cream maker. I think it works great. I have no idea how much it was since it was a gift several years ago but maybe with a 20% off coupon for Bed bath and beyond it will be in your range.
Thanks Emily!! I’ll definitely look into the attachment for my mixer. Glad to hear it works well.