{my favorite lipsticks}

I don't chat about makeup here on the blog a lot, mainly because I stick to the same thing everyday: mascara, spot concealer, eyeliner & blush. Nothing fancy. But recently I've started to wear a little bit of color on my lips just to crank up my look a little more. Lipstick not only dresses up an outfit, but it also instantly makes you feel much more put together, don't you think?

The problem with most lipsticks is that they wear off easily. I love wearing red, but I stress all day if it's rubbed off & left a rouge outline around my lips. On top of that, lipstick is usually very dry & leaves my chapped lips feeling anything but hydrated. Enter Revlon's COLORBURST Balm Stain. 

Oh yes, balm.

^^I've used the far left one so often, I've rubbed off the lettering!

001 Honey

I've had this one the longest. It's ideal for work because it's not too bold, 

& subtlety brings in a little color. 

It's just the perfect shade of shimmery pink.

220 Showy

This is the only matte color I have, but I'm obsessed with it.

It's almost neon, which is crazier than what I normally go for, but sometimes
you need to go a little crazy.

I can't wait to wear an all black outfit & this color on my lips. So chic, no?

045 Romantic

The best part about this red is it stays on! 

Since it acts more like a balm, it's easily spreadable & never leaves a red outline. 

This is a great color for a day to night look, too. Trés romantique.

A few more perks? There are SO many shades; I really need to stock up on more. I love that they act like a giant crayon, which makes it easy to apply & last forever. Once you're running low, all you need to do is twist the bottom & voilà! more lipstick to spare.

They're sold at most pharmacies & makeup stores. I get mine at Walgreens, but I've also see them at Target too. Now go get some & pucker up!

Few disclaimers: One, Revlon didn't pay me to write this. It was all me. Although I'd be happy to, Revlon! Hint hint. I mean, can't you just see me alongside Emma Stone & Halle Berry? I can. But rookie alert: I DO still leave the price tags on...

And two, the lighting in these images makes my skin look like porcelain (except in that GIF above). I wish my skin looked this flawless, yet it sadly does not. Just wanted to point that out. Makeup helps though! ;)

{nopalito}

Nopalito! How did I not know about you?

This restaurant is a ten minute walk from my apartment, has divine Mexican food, & the menu is almost completely gluten free. Three wins in my book.

Let's start with the drinks---their cocktail menu looked really fun. And that's coming from a girl who doesn't drink! My friend took a chance on the Mexcal Paloma {a smokey, grapefruit drink} & the girls sitting next to us were raving about the Margaritas. I, on the other hand, was very satisfied with my strawberry lemonade. It tasted so fresh I could've been sipping a straw sticking out of a strawberry.

For our appetizer, we ordered the Totopos con Chile. If you go, you MUST order these. They taste like upscale Doritos. I am not kidding.

^^Totopos con Chile...look at all the cheese!

My roommate got the Enchiladas for her entrée, which were great! A little too chocolatey than what I usually like, but honestly, that shredded chicken could turn any dish from okay to fab.

^^Enchiladas de Mole con Pollo

I went a little outside what I would normally order & got the Tamal de Birria con Pollo. I didn't know what I was in for...especially when it arrived in a corn husk! But once I dug in, I was so happy with my choice. It's the most tender, perfectly-seasoned shredded chicken wrapped in corn dough. It had a kick to it too, & for $6.50, you just can't beat it. 

^^Tamal de Birria con Pollo...amazing!

^^Bi-Rite Creamery was on the way home :)

If you're in SF, go to Nopalita! They have two locations & I guarantee you'll have a great meal. Check out the rest of their menu here.

{a gluten-free cinnamon bun!}

A few weeks ago, I walked passed a Cinnabon & my knees went weak. There are few smells as tantalizing as the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon buns. Am I right?  Ever since then they've been on my mind. So I was soooo happy to find gluten-free cinnamon buns tucked away in the frozen aisle of Pam MacD's.

They are made by Rising Hearts Bakery & come four to a package. {& I about DIED when I googled the company. There is an actual Rising Hearts Bakery very close to me in LA. If I go missing, look there.}

Before I get to the good stuff, there's two downsides to this product. The biggest? The fact that it's frozen. Now...I'm totally down with frozen foods. That's not the issue. {& the fact that it's frozen dough just makes the bun taste even better when you make it.} The problem?  I woke up the other morning so excited to have a bun for breakfast & almost cried when I read the directions. You have to let it rise to room temperature for 90 minutes, before baking it for 30 minutes. Say what?! 

Here's what it looks like after it's risen:

& here is the glorious cinnamon bun after it's baked:

It bakes perfectly every time. It's kinda crazy. Tip: Mine were done after 15 minutes of baking, not the suggested 30. Check the oven! 

I also went out & bought some cream-cheese icing to top it off. I may have put too much on. You can never have too much icing.

How AMAZING?

Apologies for the less-than-photogenic messy plate. I kinda went to town.

OMG were they delicious. It was actually a good thing that the entire process of baking one took 2 hours because I would've made another one right after I finished the first. 

The second downside is so not a big deal, but here it is: I'm not a fan of raisins, & these buns have 'em. But they aren't baked in--just placed--so it's super easy to pick them out :)

Who wants a cinnamon bun now? Did I tease you enough?

If you live in CA, look for these in your grocery store! & if you don't & really want them, Rising Hearts can ship to you. {But there's a pretty hefty price.}  OR...visit me! We'll eat some together.

**I was not compensated for this review. Just sharing the love.

{some book reviews}

1. Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand {summary here}

I read Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken a few months ago {phenomenal, phenomenal, phenomenal. go buy it now.} so I was very excited to read Seabiscuit. I'm fully aware that I'm late to the party on this one, since it was crazy popular a few years ago {& even more so when the movie came out}, but I still wanted to read it. I have a confession: I'm not a horse girl. I don't like to ride them, pet them, watch them.  People hate me for it, but I just can't...go there. It's weird, I know, but it's a thing I have. So I was going into this book expecting that I wouldn't like it.  &...gosh was I wrong!  Reading the play-by-play of the races & training of Seabiscuit had me on the edge of my seat. Laura's writing is unparalleled. The amount of time & research she puts in to each book she writes is truly astounding. I recommend Unbroken WAY more, but Seabiscuit is still definitely worth a read. 

2. Everything Was Good-Bye by Gurjinder Basran {summary here}

This book really bummed me out. It was the kind of book that was sad the entire way through..then something great happens & you're so happy...& then it ends tragically. {Did I give too much away?} Arranged marriage is fascinating to me, so that's why this book captured my attention. I'd also just taken a History of India course, so anything related to the Indian culture is very interesting to me. Overall, I didn't really enjoy this book. No recommendation--I'd skip it.

3. Emily and Einstein by Linda Francis Lee  {summary here}

I also confess that I judge a book by it's cover, which is why Emily and Einstein's cover drew me in. I mean...how cute is that dog? :)  I read this book in two days. Not because it was so amazing that I couldn't put it down, but because I had off work & hours to kill. It was just good. Nothing special or amazing.  The plot took a turn that I didn't expect, & didn't particularly like, so I was a bit disappointed. But if you're going a vacation & need an easy read, this is a good option. 

{two movie recommendations}

Celeste & Jesse Forever

I've always stalked Rashida Jones' IMDB & Wikipedia pages to see what she's working on next.  & for years I've read, "Untitled Rashida Jones Project." All it said as that she was writing & starring in it.  So when I finally saw the poster, trailer, & cast for this movie...I was counting down the days.

I'm not good at writing movie reviews--I'll leave that to my good friend Andrew--so all I'll say is this: go see it. It's both heartbreaking & hilarious, dreamy & real.  Rashida is absolutely incredible; her talent seriously has no bounds. Not only is she stunning {ahem, girl crush}, but she effortless slides from comedy to drama. It was also great to see Andy Samberg in a role that wasn't all humor. The guy can act. 

I don't think it's in theatres anymore...but when it comes to DVD/OnDemand...see it!

Liberal Arts

            

I'm not a fan of "How I Met Your Mother", so I wasn't totally familiar with Josh Radnor's work. But last year I saw his film Happythankyoumoreplease & fell in love with him. He wrote, directed, & starred in the movie...& did the same thing for his second film Liberal Arts.

I've been waiting to watch Martha Marcy May Marlene for a few months now, but I have yet to see it. So I was SO excited to finally watch a film with Elizabeth Olsen, because I have only heard wonderful things about her. Well, she was adorable & I'm a big fan.

Josh Radnor plays Jesse, a 35-year old admissions office worker who visits his alma mater & falls in love with a 19-year old college student {Olsen}.  I thought the movie would be pretty predictable, but is was actually the opposite. Familiar faces made some surprise appearances {like Zac Efron...in a role that made me like him!} & the soundtrack was AMAZING. All instrumental & opera. Very romantic stuff.

{my fall tv picks}

My mom & I only watch two of the same shows. Grey's Anatomy & Parenthood.

This may be my favorite show on television. I love the cast. I love the story-lines. I love the characters. I.love.Parenthood.

People are always confused when I tell them that I watch {& love} this show, because I'm not a parent. But you know what? They suck me in every week. & in a small, strange way, I think it'll make me a better parent one day.

Every episode is modeled off of real experiences of the writers. They cover every family topic but in a believable, realistic way. {I swear the writers spied on me & my family, because some of the scenes have been identical.} It's covered having a kid with special needs, food allergies {holla!}, blending a family through marriage, having a baby, infertility, separation, divorce, the importance of health, the importance of communicating, the importance of listening, the importance of...family. 

& last week? When a character said the "airport goodbye" to her parents before hopping on a plane to college? Well, it just made me want to wipe my tears, fly back home, & hug my mom forever.

It's on NBC at 10pm every Tuesday. You should all watch.

& bring tissues. You'll be crying more happy tears than sad.

.

.

.

The X Factor 

Everyone knows I hate these singing shows. Part of me doesn't have the patience to remember the singers I like & continue to root for them for three months. Another part of me is too judgey, since I sing myself & I hear when they're off-key, etc. {I think another part of me always thinks, god, there are so many talented people out there...how will I make it?}

But I mainly get fed-up with the judges. Which is the reason why I'm loving The X Factor.

Oddly enough, my love affair for Britney Spears began after her meltdown/shaving incident. I think she was a class act when she stepped away from the spotlight & got her--excuse my language--shit together. I hate dancing more than anything, but her songs are some of the few that get my booty goin'.

She's also my favorite judge. She's somehow still sweet as pie when she tells it as it is. Cause she says "no" faster than anybody else. & I love her for it.

Demi is also pretty cute on this show. I don't know her music, but after all the bad press she's gotten in the past few years, I was unsure of what she'd be like. She's adorable, personable, & gives honest, good feedback.

LA Reid is as cool as always...& Simon! I love Simon on this show! I hated him on the few episodes I watched of American Idol because I thought he exaggerated the mean act enough to over-shadow his critique. But he's actually a hilarious, sweet guy!

We'll see how the rest of the season pans out, but for now...I'm hooked.

It airs Tuesdays & Wednesday at 8/7c on FOX.

.

.

.

The Mindy Project 

I've only seen the pilot of this show, but I can't wait for more.

I've been a fan of Mindy Kaling's for a LONG time. I loved her on The Office, as not only an actor, but as a writer & producer. The episodes she penned were among the best {uh, "Niagara", anybody?}

& you know she's good when she has 2 LINES every episode--if that-- & she's the most memorable character. Snaps to Mindy.

Her book was also as amazing as I thought it would be. I laughed out loud while reading every chapter. Her family experiences are hilarious, & the fact that she went & graduated from Dartmouth makes me idolize her more.

So an entire show that is created by Mindy, featuring Mindy, & written by Mindy?

I am so there.

& one that stars Chris Messina?  Sign me up.

It premieres Tuesday, September 25th on FOX. But you can watch the pilot here on Hulu.

.

.

.

I also can't wait for Homeland, Parks & Recreation, & Dexter to return. 

What are you watching this fall?

{my weekend | sweet freedom review}

Since we shared a recipe yesterday, here's my weekend post a day late.

Dylan & I came downstairs on Saturday literally wearing the same outfit. 

I was the one who had to change ;)

We decided not to go to the beach this weekend. My mom & stepdad did, so it was just Dyl & I for a few days. It was nice to have the house to ourselves :)  We just hung around, ran some errands, & cooked some good food.

On Sunday afternoon, we went downtown to an art store & a gluten-free bakery. We hadn't been to Sweet Freedom in a while, so we were excited to see what they'd added.

This picture makes me laugh. It's like the wall mural is pressuring you to go inside & buy something sweet, lol.

I love bakeries that have seating. It's not just grab & go.

We got a vanilla, red velvet, & chocolate cupcake, a chocolate-chip cookie, & a cookie sandwich.

The cookies were really good...but Dylan didn't really enjoy her cupcake. {We have yet to eat the vanilla & red velvet!}  In addition to being gluten-free & vegan, everything is free of soy, dairy, eggs, peanuts, & corn.

Now, I know I shouldn't complain, but I like my food to have everything BUT gluten. I can eat all the other stuff. When you take dairy out of a cupcake, it changes it...for the worse.

I've had a few other goodies of theirs in the past--like their donuts--that are always delicious. So even though Dylan didn't love her cupcake, it's definitely worth the trip there. It's the only gluten-free bakery in Philadelphia, so we'll always go back :)

Happy Tuesday!

{100th post & giveaway!}

**This giveaway is now closed**

Raise your hand if you're excited about my 100th post!

{Pretend that's a girl. & then pretend that's me.}

I can't believe I've posted 100 times already!  I blogged on & off for a while, but now I've got my stride :)

So to celebrate this little blogging milestone, I'm going to be giving away one of these:

The Stump Stand is a 3-in-1 stand that provides multiple viewing positions for your tablet - Ramp, Lean and Upright.

The Stump is compatible with:

• iPhones
• IPads
• Androids
• Kindles
• Nooks
• Kindle Fires
• & more!

The Stump is affordable, portable, low-profile, & the perfect stand to bring anywhere!

It's made of a rubber-like material, so it sticks to every surface, & comes in five fun colors! {green, blue, pink, black, & yellow}.

My favorite feature about it, however, is the opportunity to advertise:

Wouldn't that make a great client or employee gift?! I think so!

It just so happens that my uncle is the creator of the Stump, so a lot of my family members are working on it. However, I would never write or review a product that I don't use & LOVE. I really believe this is one of the best tablet stands out there. With that said...

I'd love for one of my readers to have one!  

To enter to win a Stump: comment below & tell me your name!  

This giveaway will be open until Sunday night. I will then pick a winner using Random.org.

On an end note....

Thanks to all of my readers out there, {old & new!} for continuing to read!  I love blogging & can't wait to show you what I've got up my sleeve for the summer. 

Happy Thursday & comment to win!

**All images belong to the Stump Stand website.**

{product review: julian's gluten-free pancakes}

**Tomorrow is my 100th post!

So come back & comment for a fun giveaway to celebrate!**

I.love.pancakes.

I was so bummed when I was diagnosed with Celiac, because gluten-free pancakes aren't easy to find. I was thrilled when I found Pamela's gluten-free pancake mix, because they taste like the ones I grew up with :)  But with my schedule, I never have time to make them from scratch. So pancakes are never on my breakfast menu.

Until I found this:

I grumbled too. Frozen pancakes? No thanks.

But since my mom had kindly bought them, & no one else in my family was going to eat them, I gave them a shot.

& guess what? They're SO good! Honestly, they're better than when I make them from scratch. Crazy, right?

Eight pancakes come in each box, with four split into two packages.

I just stack two pancakes on top of each other & stick them in the microwave for 45 seconds.

At the :20 mark, I flip the stack upside down. Voila!

Now comes one of my quirky habits. I grew up on warm syrup. My grandfather always warmed the syrup for his kids, so my mom always did it for us.  I cannot stand when my syrup is cold or room temperature. Honestly, why would you put cold syrup on a hot pancake?  Makes no sense.

We've have this little nifty mini-pitcher {I honestly can't think of a more appropriate term} for years...& it's the perfect thing to use for syrup. I just microwave it for 20 seconds & pour it on the pancakes.

I went a little overboard on the syrup.

Delicious, fluffy, buttermilk pancakes. THAT ARE GLUTEN-FREE.

Julian's Recipe pancakes come in buttermilk, chocolate chip, & blueberry. You can find them at your local grocery store, or here: http://www.juliansrecipe.com/stores/index.php

Have you tried Julian's? What do you think? 

Anyone else know of delish gluten-free pancake mixes? 

Tell me!

**This is not a sponsored post, nor am I being compensated. Just sharing the love!