Testing, testing... 1-2-3, I'm Back!

Hey guys! Okay I know I never update my blog. But chances are while I'm in Europe I will be posting on the blog instead of Facebook since its easier to write a lot and have many people read it. Mostly pictures if they're easy to upload, I'm guessing. So be prepared! Start following me again! :D


Merilee


P.S. Here is a random picture of me and my friend Mallory at my roommate/bestie Makayla's wedding. Just for some visual umph even though it has nothing to do with this post... It's just a tester anyway!!

Beauty Product Spotlight!

Hey all! Okay, this post is mainly for girls because most boys don't paint their nails... so... yeah, girls... I had a big problem. I LOVE pure red nail polish and I used to wear it all the time. But, it kind of dried out and got really clumpy and unusable! I was so sad! Polish is expensive, i'm not interested in going to buy a $5-7 nail polish every month when my favorite one gets clumpy. But alas, my red polish got clumpy and sat in my nail box for several months... UNTIL I found this awesome product at Sally's Beauty Supply! A nail polish thinner that actually works and its inexpensive too. I bought this for $3.49 with my Sally's Beauty card ($3.99 without). I added a tsp or so to my nasty clumpy polish and ta-da! I just pained my nails and i'm so pleased with the consistency.

SO. This is an important blog post because I will never have to waste a polish ever again! This stuff rocks. So if you have a problem with your thick, clumpy polish, I recommend this product. You can also come borrow mine if you want to. :)

http://www.sallybeauty.com/

Healthy Banana Muffins

This recipe is easy, fast, healthy, and deeeeelicious! I make a batch of these every week and store some at work, in my freezer at home, and in the fridge to be eaten sooner. :) Make these, ASAP!

Healthy Banana Muffins Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

3/4 c. flour

1/4 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt

1 c. mashed banana (riper the better)

1/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. applesauce

Mix the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix together mashed banana, sugar, egg, and vanilla, then stir in applesauce. Mix bowls together until blended. Instead of using cupcake papers, just spray a cupcake pan well with cooking spray. Scoop the mixture evenly into the 12 muffin spaces. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes.

About 80 calories each.

Merilee's additions: This recipe is delicious as is, but once I added 1/8 cup whole flaxseed, nutmeg, and cinnamon and it added a great flavor! Any variation of these would be good I think. Try adding chopped walnuts if you like extra texture. I don't add them because they cost $.

Coconut Basmati Rice recipe

I've been wanting to share this recipe for weeks. Its very delicious, healthy, fast and easy. I was experimenting with coconut milk and found this recipe online. I made some modifications and it is sweet and delicious! It is simply a rice pudding, but it is dairy free and more ethnic.

1/2 c. Basmati rice

2 c. Coconut milk (1 can)

1 3/4-2 c. Water

1/2 c. Sugar

1 t. Cinnamon

1 t. Vanilla

Raisins (optional)

Coconut flakes (optional)

Combine rice, coconut milk, water, and sugar in a medium saucepan on stove. Bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Take off heat and add cinnamon, vanilla, and raisins. Mix in about 1/4 cup coconut flakes if you desire. Served warm or cold.

Okay now MY scoop on this recipe:

*its so cool because its versatile. The first time I made it I used 2 cups of water, the second time I used 1 3/4 cups of water. It really affects the thickness, so if you like your rice puddings to be thinner use 2 cups, if you like it pretty thick (just like saucy rice) use 1 3/4 c. Your choice!

*You can use any sugar substitute (Splenda, Sugar in the raw, etc)

*I added the cinnamon and the raisins because I like them. Some people don't like raisins, thats okay! You will love it plain. You could add fresh mango or blueberries or another fruit on top to give the dish more texture and flavor.

*I baked come coconut flakes in the oven on broil for about 4 minutes to make them brown and crispy, and sprinkled them on top (not pictured). This gives it some texture and makes it really yummy. Try it!

Enjoy!

I dream of the 20s

I dream of the 20s, honestly. Living and loving and sitting on a picnic blanket it the sunshine with a boy in suspenders. I know this is a common fantasy for girls these days, but I am completely and utterly in love with all things old fashion. From Jane Austen, to flapper dresses, to Rosie the Riveter, i'm enchanted. Its so beautiful and put together and soft and feminine. So I keep dreaming and falling in love with old movies and just all of it... And I decided to try finger waves, because its possibly my favorite hair style of all time. This is the first time so it didn't turn out as well as it will next time. I'm planning on throwing a 20s-30s party for the beginning of spring/summer. It will be lots of fun and I can't wait to sport this hair and see it on all my friends!

A dreamy front view of my hair today...

What it looks like from the side. If it were perfect, it would have the same sway but more volume/sticking out.

I hope you like it. Most boys do NOT like it and do NOT understand the whole old-fashion fantasy thing, but luckily no boys read this blog. :D. So, I will keep pretending because I can, and its fun! Try it!

Covets of Fashion

Well, here's the thing. I love clothes and fashion, I really do! But it seems the finances of being a self-sufficient college student don't allow me to dress exactly how I dream. I do a lot of daydreaming about how cool it would be if I could afford and justify spending tons and tons of money on beautiful clothes and super trendy styles! So this is what it comes down to. These are the TOP 10 items on my covets of fashion list, the things I really dreadfully want, but mostly probably will never have.

TOP 10 Covets of Fashion:

Straw fedora. So cute with a little summer dress or some loose jeans and a light jacket.

Red TOMS.

Trendy necklaces (this one's not my fav, but it gets the point across), they look great layered with a dress under a light jacket and over a button up with some jeans.

Vintage summer dress. Add a couple inches on the bottom, and some more sleeves, or a jacket, to make it modest and its to die for! Pair it with a blazer or a jean jacket and some strappy heels or leather boots.

Jean jacket. WARNING: To be worn with cute things only, aka the white summer dress below and some leather boots or red TOMS.

White summer dress. So cute with the jean jacket above, a colorful necklace and some color poppin' shoes. (No flip flops *please*)

Black Skinnys. Awesome for a night on the town, date, or just class. Pair with hiiiigh heeled pumps and a blazer for evenings and the cute fedora at the top and a loose white T for daytime.

Miz Mooz leather boots. I'm picky with my boots, but I love these. So trendy and versatile. I may grow out of liking these soon but as for now, i'm drooling.

Black oxfords. Go great with a simple dress or black skinnys.

Black 3/4 sleeve, single button blazer. My personal favorite right now. So cute for lots of different occasions. I'm seeing it with the oxfords and skinnys, and especially with that cute fedora.

Okay, i've just created my own fashion heaven! Too bad its all fantasy. How much would all of this cost? TOO MUCH. But but but but, I can dream, and dream I do. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: This may not be your style. :) Oh well. If you are curious about my style and where I derive a lot of my tastes, check out this blog! She is a fashion genius http://www.clothedmuch.com/

Sundays at the Carmichael's

Sundays here in Provo are hardly lonely... actually never. I usually find myself at my aunt and uncle's house for some family, laundry, and famously experimental cooking. Last night it was homemade fried chicken (I know, I was a bad girl... but it's soo good!), corn, and fried rice. After dinner activities usually consist of a chat-a-thon between my aunt Sheri and I and whoever else is present and feels like talking about the woes of life (oh, and the good things too). But last night I ended up in my cousin Aidan's room with a set of Lincoln Logs. He loves them, and since I haven't touched them since the early 90s he so kindly taught me how to build a house and put in the windows and doors. It's very high tech. Anyways, needless to say, it turned into a photoshoot because I thought it was so cute! P.S. The chat-a-thon with Sheri took place directly after this, don't worry, I wouldn't miss it!

This is how it started... just building with Lincoln Logs...

Then we started taking pictures...

This one is my favorite :)

And Wes came and joined!

And we had fun!