My (no so secret anymore) Brown Sugar Cookies

These cookies taste just like fall to me. They are perfect with a glass of milk or a cup of hot apple cider. The directions are really weird and break a lot of the traditional "cookie rules", but take your time and you will be rewarded!

Makes about 24 cookies

Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups packed brown sugar

   **Be sure your brown sugar is fresh and soft or it will make your cookies          dry**

2 cups and 2 TBS all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

14 TBS butter  

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 TBS vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Unless the recipe calls for it NEVER use cooking spray under your cookies. The added fat can change the final product, trust me.
• Melt 10 TBS of butter in a small sauce pan over medium high heat. Stir constantly until is turns a dark amber color.
• Remove and pour into another bowl (so it does not continue to cook in the hot saucepan). Add the remaining 4 TBS of butter and stir until melted.
• Set aside for 15 minutes??!! I know... bizarre.
• Mix white sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a bowl and set aside.
• Add remaining brown sugar, egg, egg yolk and vanilla to the butter. Mix. 
• Add remaining ingredients and and mix until combined. Do not over mix or the dough will be tough.
• Wet your hands and roll the cookies into balls. Roll balls in the sugar mixture.
• Bake for 12-14 minutes....
• Then... leave them on the cookie sheet for ten minutes so they can continue cooking. After ten minutes move to a cooling rack or eat right away! I love them warm.

They are a little bit different but a definite crowd pleaser. Enjoy!

Recipe originally from The America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book.
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Maybe Monday... Melted Dog

I cam home to a melted dog... so cute when she is sleepy.

Empties

I am a bit of a product hoarder. I admit it. I love potions and serums and scented creams. However, this summer I decided it was getting a bit ridiculous and decided to try and use everything up. 

Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion mascara in very black. The wand is really big and has little rubbery bristles.This is great if you like really natural, very separated lashes. I like thicker lashes so I will not repurchase this product, but I would recommend it to a friend. 

This stuff is awesome! Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser in Fair. I have a little bit left and I intend to use every bit of it. This concealer covers really well but is a this consistency so it does not get cakey or sink into creases. I think I will get the brightening shade next time. It has a little bit of a pink tone that will help combat the blue under eye circles even more. Go buy this... now.

I have finally figured out what clears up my skin... salicylic acid. It helps shed dead skin cells that clog pores and your tiny hair follicles. I had the Neutrogena Body Clear Body Spray under my sink for months before I started using it and it really seemed to help. The spray feature is great for what it is intended for... your body but not great for the face. I purchase a different Neutrogena toner with the same 2% of salicylic acid.

Next... is the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in fair. This is in NO way a real BB cream. This is however a great tinted moisturizer. I love BB creams and was bummed when this was a lot thinner and a different finish then an Asian BB Cream. I did learn to like it enough to use it up. It blended well, did not break me out and was easy to use. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a tinted moisturizer.

This is the Michael Todd JoJoba Charcoal Facial Scrub. I received this in an ipsy bag. I loved this scrub! It looks a little scary because it is black, but it works great. It did not dry out my skin even though I used it every morning. This was a 1 oz sample size and the full size is 3.4 oz and $18. A little pricey for me, but I could see myself splurging on this again.

I am not loyal at all to shampoos. I often buy new ones before I am done and then never end up finishing the last of bottles, so I actually bought these in December of 2012, but I got distracted and never used these up. They are the Loreal EverStrong Reconstruct Shampoo and Conditioner. They are sulfate free which is super important for long hair. They smell like Rosemary Mint and the smell really does last all day. They are a great drugstore sulfate free option.

Last but more definitely not least is my holy grail hairspray... Tresemme Ultra Fine Mist Hairspray. I have repurchased this probably close to a dozen times. It is under $4 and does not leave any crunch. I can spray this all over my curls and they are still so soft and touchable... I love this stuff.

What have you been using up?

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Books I Read in September

This has been a month of good reading. Lots of camping and mellow lazy days at home, good for reading. I made it through 4 books.

The fist book I read is one that I have had on my shelf a long time.  Postcard Killer by James Patterson. It was a good stand alone book. I am in so many series it was nice to read a stand alone for a change. The chapters are super short and it had interesting but flawed characters. It is not going on the favorites list, but was worth the read. 

3 out of 5 stars

Specials by Scott Westerfeld is the third book in the Uglies Series. I have loved this series. It has a very detailed and believable world and the characters are constantly growing and evolving, LITERALLY!  Scott Westerfeld has written an extra book to this series that takes place 2 years after the trilogy ends. It is on my shelf and I will be tackling it soon.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Ahh, The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. Second in The Maze Runner Trilogy. I did not care for this plot as much as The Maze Runner. It was a little spookier and gorier I think, but it had all of the same great characters and now I have to read the last book in the trilogy. If there is one this James Dashner knows it is how to write a cliff hanger. I have also learned that there is a prequel to this trilogy. Rumor has it that The Death Cure does not answer all of your questions so then you have to go back and read The Kill Order. Not a favorite but I am still hooked so I give it a 

4 out of 5 stars

Last but FAR from least is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling. I am ashamed to say that I have never read these books. I have loved the movies for years. I recently found all 7 books in hardback on Amazon for only $30 so I pulled the trigger. It is no shock that I loved this book. I loved learning more about the characters that I love so much. I give this book

4.5 out of 5 stars

 What books are you reading? Comment down below with your suggestions and don't forget to subscribe!

Maybe Monday Guard dog!

Maybe has never been a fan of other dogs on her lawn, mostly because she wants to play with them! Normally we do not encourage such behavior but it was too funny to not snap a photo.

Please Subscribe and have a Happy Monday!

5 Ingredient Baked Potato Soup

Since discovering the recipe a few years ago it has easily been our fall and winter favorite. It is so easy to make and makes you want to snuggle up with a book by the fire. While it is not the most healthy dish there are some substitutions that you can make to have it be a little kinder to your waistline.

Ingredients

2 - 103/4 ounce cans cream of potato soup

2 - 15 ounce cans sliced potatoes, drained

1 pint whipping cream (or substitute half and half)

1 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheddar

Toppings

I always add bacon bits and green onions!

Pour soup, potatoes, whipping cream and milk into a dutch oven or ungreased casserole dish. Mix well. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes. Ladle into serving bowls and top with cheese and other goodies!

Makes 6 servings

Good Luck!

Bacon the Easy Way

I am super clumsy and when it comes to cooking God's most precious food, bacon, I always splash the grease and get burned. So a while ago I started baking my bacon. It is way easier. The cleanup takes seconds and I no longer get burned. Here is how I do it. (Be sure to subscribe and find out what I put my bacon bits on)

I knew that I would be baking this for bacon bits so I bought a little lower quality package then I normally would, but it turned out great.

Maybe was very interested in what I was working on that day. This is the one bad thing about such a tall dog. It is all in plain sight.

Super easy... just cover a cookie sheet in foil and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes depending on your taste. 

Done!

Good Luck!

Maybe Monday... Irish Spring Fresh!

After a recent trip to Costco I was restocking out bathroom with goodies.. I finished up and came out of the bathroom to find my little soap thief. I guess she wanted to smell Irish Fresh... silly dog. 

Have a happy Monday. Don't forget to subscribe!

DIY Laundry Soap

I have tried a few different laundry soap recipes and this is by far the best. There is no boiling soap, it works great in HE Washers and a full batch is right around $15.  This is my second time using this recipe. In October 2012 I made a half batch and I just ran out this week. That is almost one year of laundry for under $8! It smells great and cleans really well.

Ingredients can all be found in your laundry aisle

1 - 4lb 12 ounce box of Borax 

1 - 3lb 7 ounce box of Arm and Hammer washing soda

1 - 3lb container of OxyClean

2 bars of Fles-Naptha soap (Zote soap works great too)

1 - 4lb Box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda

2 Bottles of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener (this is mostly for the yummy scent. I like strongly scented laundry but if you are sensitive to scents you could use less or omit this ingredient) I chose the Fresh Spring Waters scent this time and I love it!

The strange thing about this recipe is grating the bar of soap. It looks just like cheese, but definitely is not. If you care about how it will look in the end use Zote soap. It is baby pink and has a less umm... cheddar-y appearance.

Then you just combine all of the ingredients and you are good to go!

(this is another half batch so you can only imagine how much a full batch makes!)

I put a few cups into a small cookie jar for a more manageable size and use the lid from the Purex as a cute scooper. For my HE washer I literally only use 2-3 Tablespoons of this stuff and it works great!

Happy washing! Don't forget to subscribe to my email posts and leave a comment down below. 

Good Luck!

Maybe Monday: Camping!

We went camping this weekend with our extended family and our great dane Maybe played so much that she has been asleep ever since. She loves running around and getting a lot of attention from our family ( and other campers).

Trying to steal my parents dog, Oakley's stick...

Caught in the act digging up our campsite.

It was a super fun weekend! Subscribe and come back soon!

How to Paint Furniture Without Sanding!

My living room has been feeling a little matchy-matchy since we moved in. Not having the money to buy new furniture has helped my be creative with what I have starting with an end table. It has a matching partner and a matching coffee table. Time to give it a little life.

This photo was my color inspiration. My house is primarily gray with pops of teal, so I was brave an decided to go for sunshine yellow.

This is my end table before. Pretty standard mission style end table.

And here are my supplies... notice NO SAND PAPER!

1. a small foam roller

2. Pain brush (not shown)

3. Behr Paint Sample in Citrus ($2.97)

4. Zinsser Primer

5. Polycrylic Top Coat

The primer is the most important step. I should have primed twice. Be sure that the surface is opaque white before painting, especially if it is going to be a light color.

 You can see here that after one coat it was not totally covered. I could have saved paint if I would have gone over it with another coat of primer, but hey... you live and learn. The primer did not bubble or peel at all. It was a huge time saver to not have to sand.

Next was painting! Behr samples only come in flat, but the protective clear coat at the end will give it some gloss and make it easy to wipe spills off of.

 After two coats of paint and two coats of topcoat this is what you get!

 I like the little pop it added to the room!

Please leave any questions below and don't forget to sign up for email update!

Maybe Monday

Since I imagine most people talk about their kids are their blog I will too... The difference being most people's kids do not outweigh them by 30 pounds at age two... I therefore declare this Maybe Monday!

Maybe is a harlequin great dane and our first family dog.  She definitely lives up the great dane description of gentle giant.

We bought her this toy over a year ago and it is one of the few that has stood the test of time. Most toys only last about a week at the most. It is called the Everlasting Treat Ball and while it is a little pricey(I think I paid around $30), the flexible rubber does not flake into a million pieces. Plus when you are feeling extra generous to your pup you can fill it with treats and it keeps them happy and busy for a LONG time.

Have a great Monday and come back soon!

Mary Kay Haul

I recently received a box full of goodies from Mary Kay and while most of it was for my loyal customers, a good portion was for my own stash. Some of the products are brand new to me and some are my MK favorites.

So this is all of the things I bought for myself...

First off is one of my FAVORITES... MK Foundation Primer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF15 I cannot say enough good things about this primer. I have tried some drug store brands but nothing even comes close. It is a clear gel and has the silkiest texture that I love using. I put it on under all my makeup and it helps keep concealer from creasing and gives an airbrushed look to any foundation, mineral powder, or BB Cream. It also has sunscreen, so it is that extra layer of protection, which with my fair complexion is a must. You may be seeing this in a upcoming giveaway so be sure to check back soon.

One of the new products I am trying is the MK Makeup Finishing Spray made by Skindinavia (the same company that makes Urban Decays setting sprays. I have only used it a few times and so far so good. I primarily use mineral powder foundation and it seems to help it not look so powdery and just blend in with my skin's texture better.

 MK Brow Gel and Cream Eye Colors are a must. I love them both. This eye color is in Pale Blush... a nice subtle pink.

Below is MK Lash Primer... I have tried this once without much success but I love long lashes without falsies so I am going to experiment with it. My friends who use it swear by it so I think I just need to play some more.

I was in the market for a new cleanser so I decided to go more high end and try the TimeWise Repair volu-firm Foaming Cleaner. It is super luxurious feeling and promises to reverse signs of aging... while that is not a huge issue for me in my late twenties I do love the way it takes off all my makeup and leaves my skin super soft.

MK Mineral Foundation.... I love this. It works the same for me as Bare Minerals did at a fraction of the price. I actually bought two because I never want to be without it

Whew... last two are new things that I am liking so far but have only used for a few days. First the MK Oil Mattifer. I have developed very oily skin since moving to a new climate and will be trying this under my foundation to help me stay matte. And a new night time treatment/serum the TimeWise Repair Volu-Firm Night Treatment with Retinol.

That is everything for now.Check out all these products and more at http://www.marykay.com/calynn.kelly. 

Calynn