Macadamia Natural Oils

I have to say, I have always taken a lot of pride in how my hair looks.  I mean my senior year of high school I was voted best hair!  I'm really cool, aren't I?  Ha.  I've been keeping up my "natural" blond locks for quite some time now...with spurts of red...and brown, once (say no to brown).  Even through this maintenance my hair has stayed remarkably healthy.

Cut to after the birth of my daughter.  No, cut back to pregnancy.  My hair and skin were looking pretty good, if I might say so myself.  Now, cut to after the birth of Fenley.  My hair and skin are not something I'd like to brag about.  Really, you probably can't see too much of a change, but I can.  My skin is dry and back to having minor breakouts and my "natural" blond locks are feeling quite dry.  I know this is do to a change in hormones (yeah, yeah), but I'm gonna try and help what has taken a turn for the not so much better.

This is Macadamia Natural Oil.  I've heard rave reviews about this stuff.  It's supposed to be good for all hair types...dry, colored...I'll stop there since that covers me!  Anyway, I just got it and am going to be trying it out.  I thought I'd let you know what's going on, I'll try it, then tell you what I thought.  Ok, a review!

Here's the Rejuvenating Shampoo.  Nice, and free of all bad things!

Meet Moisture Rinse.  Nice, and free of all bad things!  It's a daily conditioner for those of you who choose to wash your hair that often.

This is the Deep Repair Masque.  Fancy!  It reconstructs dry hair and I'm sure brings it back to it's glory days.

Finally, Healing Oil Treatment.  It's a healer and a therapist all packed in a 4.2 ounce glass bottle (with a pump).

I'm gonna give these all a fair shot.  We'll see if they are really miracle workers in a hair care form!

Caramel Crunch--Tasty Thursday

Happy Tasty Thursday!  This snack is brought to you by my mom.  I have to warn you that this sweet cereal snack will hook you.  You'll walk by and grab a handful....and another....and another...and...why not one more.  It's that good.

Caramel Crunch

4 cups honey nut Chex

4 cups chocolate Cheerios

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

6 TBSP butter

3 TBSP light corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup white vanilla baking chips

Line a cookie sheet with wax paper.  Pour cereal into a large microwave safe bowl; set aside.

In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup uncovered on high 1 to 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until melted and smooth.  Stir in baking soda until dissolved.  Pour over cereal, stirring until evenly coated.  Microwave on high 3 minutes, stirring every minute.  Spread on cookie sheet.  Cool 10 minutes.  Break into bite-size pieces.

In a small microwavable bowl, microwave vanilla baking chips uncovered on high about 1 minute 30 seconds or until chips can be stirred smooth (bowl will be hot).  Drizzle on snack.  Refrigerate until set. Store in tightly covered container.

*recipe adapted from chex.com

Enjoy!

Cafe Mocha Cupcakes--Tasty Thursday

Hey everyone, welcome to Tasty Thursday!

Whether or not your a coffee lover I think you'll really enjoy these cupcakes.  They're a chocolate cake with a light coffee flavor and a vanilla coffee buttercream.  The coffee flavor isn't so strong that it'll knock you over, just enough to make you think...hum, that's really good.

I believe these are the first cupcakes I've made since I did cupcakes for a wedding in JULY!  Can you believe I took that long of a cupcake break?  I was a lazy pregnant woman, so I just went to bakeries and bought some when the craving would hit!  Anyway, I think these turned out really tasty...hope you enjoy!

Cafe Mocha Cupcake

1 cup strong brewed coffee

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup + 2 TBSP cake flour

3/4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, soft

1 cup + 2 TBSP sugar

2 eggs 

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Pour hot coffee over cocoa, whisk until smooth; let cool
• Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside
• Cream butter and sugar
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla
• Add flour mixture and cocoa mixture, alternating, beginning and ending with flour
• Fill prepared muffin cups about 2/3 to 3/4 full with batter
• Bake for 15-20 minutes
• Allow to cool, then frost

*makes approx. 18 cupcakes

Vanilla Coffee Buttercream

3/4 cup butter, soft

6 cups powdered sugar

4 1/2 TBSP strong coffee, cooled

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

• Cream butter
• Gradually add some powdered sugar, beating well
• Beat in coffee and vanilla
• Gradually add the rest of the powdered sugar
• Beat until smooth

*buttercream recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

If you have any special requests or ideas for Tasty Thursday please let me know.

Enjoy!

I'm Here...SURPRISE

I'm here, I'm here!  Maybe you didn't miss me, but I sure hope you did!  Anyway, I'm back from quite a long hiatus.  I'll just fill you in quickly on what's been going on since last summer.

SURPRISE!  This is my gorgeous little girl Fenley!  She was born January 15 and is absolutely amazing...Ronny and I couldn't be happier.

If Fenley sees fit, I hope to have a few new posts up each week.  I have some things in mind, so just cross your fingers it all works out.  

Charleston Living-Southern Style

I've told you all before that I have grand dreams of being a fabulous, charming Southern Belle living in a beautiful old home (mansion).  I can dream, right? 

Well when I went to Charleston those dreams were only heightened.  The homes there are absolutely breathtaking.  I would move in a second.  (Ronny, if you're reading this, just give me the word and I'm outa here!)

Now, for your viewing pleasure...

Isn't the outside of this home beautiful?  I love the weathered look, but still crisp looking.  And the blue piazza ceiling...love.

Piazza

Gardens...I was peaking through an iron gate.

Lovely window boxes all over town.

Privacy door to the piazza, not the front door.  Aren't they tricksters!

Just amazing.  Right in the middle of town.

Ice Cream House.  The former owner would serve ice cream out on the piazza to orphans.

Wedding Cake House.  This was owned by the Ice Cream House's sister.  Built to resemble the owners wedding cake.

Here is is from the courtyard.  It's now a bed and breakfast.

I love the white houses.

Amazing

Rainbow Row.  All pastel houses.

All shutters must be in working order.  This would be very practical for Oklahoma...close shutters and no hail damaged windows.  Aren't I smart?

The brick and greenery, amazing.

Orange front door.  Very eye catching, the only orange door I saw.

I thought it was meant to be...the house is number 21...I'll take it!

Yellow house.

First form of barbed wire.

These steps could lead to my home!

Hope you enjoyed!

Black Lightening 2

When you hear the names, Black Lightening, Reba 1, and  Reba 2 what comes to mind? 

Maybe a dogs name, or a bearded dragon, or a new cocktail, or maybe a red headed country singer?  Unless you said they are names of vehicles you're wrong.  These have all been names of Ronny's vehicles.

Reba 1

Do you or have you ever named your car, truck or SUV?  I sure never did until I met Ronny.  But, now I am the proud owner of Bruce Wayne, a charcoal colored SUV!  The color is technically called "night armor".  It reminded me of Batman.  I wasn't gonna call my vehicle Batman, so Bruce Wayne it was.

The pick up Ronny drives right now is Reba 2.  It's red, but I'm sure you figured that much.  It's 2 because this is the second red vehicle Ronny has owned.  I mean I guess he couldn't think of anything better.  He could have chosen, Ruby, Beautiful Blair, the possibilities are endless, but he chose Reba 2.

Actually the reason this all got brought up was because I saw a beautiful, stylish black car the other day that I would love to own.  As I was telling Ronny all the reasons I "needed" this car I threw in that we could call it Black Lightening 2.  Oh my, this was not ok.  He said it would not be called Black Lightening 2 because the original Black Lightening was "special".  I'm thinking the original was his first car, or maybe second, anyway I guess it meant something to him. 

(This isn't the exact one, but it was a black BMW Z4 coupe)

This new car would be way nicer than the original, but not happening.  Really, we aren't getting this car anyway, but still.  Here are some other names I came up with...Black Widow, Black Gold (I was informed this was oilfield trashy), Black Diamond, Black Barbie...I guess I was hung up on having black in the name now that I look at it.  Fun times!

Do you have a name for your car, truck or SUV?

Corn & Wiener Dogs

I love wiener dogs.  I love corn on the cob.  I love them together, corn with wiener dogs.  But NOT corn dogs!

Here's my wiener dog corn cob holder.  Precious.  

Here's my fresh corn and my wiener dog corn cob holder.  Looks delicious.

It is delicious.  How do you eat your corn? Do you go around like me or length wise?

No more corny wiener.

And the real wiener wanting corn.

If you want a quick way to make fresh corn, I've got you covered.  Clean the corn.  Wrap each ear of corn in a few very wet paper towels.  Place on a plate and microwave in intervals of 2 minutes until tender.  It'll be so tasty you'll want more.

I love wiener dogs and I love corn!

Enjoy!