Mommin' It Up!

June 27, 2013

I made gluten-free Cheez-its type crackers!

I am super-proud of my mad culinary skills, y’all! Because I made gluten-free cheez-its. And they were DELICIOUS! Now, I’m not totally perfect (sorry to burst your bubble). My 2nd batch was way better than my first. But dang, are they GOOD!! I didn’t realize how much I missed crackers until I found myself frantically stuffing my face with these.

Now just so I am not accused of recipe stealing, I got the recipe here from Fields of Green. Well, actually I got it from my friend Kris, but she got it from Fields of Green. It’s also pinned on my Gluten Free Pinterest board if that’s easier for you.

Here is a trick I learned by trial and error. In the recipe it notes that it’s really important to get the dough rolled very thin. Well, I learned that what I thought was thin was not thin enough. So the second time around I rolled it as thin as I could, cut out my crackers, then cut each one in half and rolled them again individually. More time consuming but it made a much crispier cracker! If you are a real baker you probably have some tool that does that for you (ahem, Becky Dell.)

Raw on the tray. Need to be rolled thinner.

Also, the first time I pricked them with a fork, but then I decided that didn’t look authentic enough, so the second time I just made one whole in the center like a real Cheez-it (as you can see in the picture a the top of this post).

Gluten free Cheez-Its on tray — My first batch finished.

So there ya go. They were awesome. Even the non-GF kids in my family loved them! I hope you do, too. If you decide to make these, here’s another tip: I got my sweet rice flour on Amazon because I didn’t want to take the time to go out and hunt for it in a store. Plus, at the time it was a really good price.

Enjoy! Let me know if you make them!

June 26, 2013June 25, 2013

Some of my new favorite drugstore cosmetics #doyourmakeup

I am sock bun obsessed. Not exaggerating.

Ok, this first pic has nothing to do with cosmetics but I AM OBSESSED with the sock bun. It’s a bun. That you make with a sock. There’s a sock up in there, y’all. (And about six bobby pins.) I am NEVER WEARING A PONYTAIL AGAIN. (Maybe exaggeration.) BUT SERIOUSLY! If I can do it, anyone can! And this was my FIRST ATTEMPT! Sadly, it was also the best one. I am actually getting WORSE at the sock bun the more I practice. But bobby pins make it all better, so no worries. I learned how from this tutorial here. I wear my hair up a lot in the summer because it is heavy and hot, and I LOVE that this method is so pretty, keeps it off my neck, and is easy to do. YAY!

And now on to the makeup. Ever since my decision a couple of weeks ago to go out in search of the best drugstore makeup products (and the worst, I suppose), I’ve had a lot of F-U-N trying out my frugal finds at the drugstores. Here are some of my faaaaaaves so far.

almay — Almay Intense i-color shadow duo

I got this little baby on a sweet deal thanks to the CVS Beauty Club and I loooove it. It’s a soft shadow – more cream than powder, so no primer required. The colors together really made my eyes pop. Gotta say this is a real winner and I’ll probably try it out in another color combo, too!

Next up is the makeup bargain OF MY LIFE up to this point: This little liner:

e.l.f. glitter eyeliner. ONE DOLLAR!!! Amazing.

This e.l.f. glitter eyeliner was $1 at Target. ONE DOLLAR!! I was totally skeptical but I ADORE it. ADORE. I know Emily will be a-rollin’ her eyes at this, but I couldn’t stop looking at my eye makeup all day long when I wore this! I’ve pretty much had to stop myself from wearing it every day. It’s like the sock bun of eyeliners! Here it is on:

Glitter eyeliner. How have I survived 35 years without you?

Next up:

Fergie makeup. I bought FERGIE Wet ‘n Wild makeup. Because I GOTTA FEELING…that Big Girls Don’t Cry or their makeup might run!!

No, seriously. The real reason I bought the Fergie makeup is because I’ve been looking for a drugstore highlighting powder. I don’t go a day without my highlighting powder on my cheekbones, so I needed to find me a “street” brand (oh, I kill myself!). The Fergie makeup was buy one get one 50% off at Walgreens so I got a lipstick, too. It rang up at just $1.74, HOLLA! A truly Fergalicious price if you ask me.

The verdict on the Fergie products? I really like them BOTH! I think the highlighting powder is great. I DO have to use more of it than my usual, so I don’t think it will last nearly as long, but it was half the price, soo…and the lipstick? I think the color (“Fergie Daily”) is a little to light for me, but I LOVE the way it wears. Really lasts a good while. I will probably buy another color the next time I catch them on sale!

(Side note: aren’t you glad I didn’t say anything about my humps in my Fergie references?)

Here’s how my face and Fergie got along together.

Ok, so…those are my new faves! Have you tried any of these? Let me know if you do or have!

June 25, 2013

I’m alive. Barely.

As it turns out, I was right to be nervous about last week. Because it was CRAZY, both at work and at home.

I am paying for it now.

The thing with adrenal fatigue is that I just don’t have energy reserves that normally would kick in in periods of stress, lack of sleep, whatever. It’s a strange feeling, not being able to just push through. It takes a longer time for me to recover than I would like. I wish I could rewind the last 13 months and make this whole thing not have happened. While I know it’s not, it feels irreversible.

One of the biggest things I’m struggling with right now is exercise. I have no motivation and energy for much planned physical activity, and I frankly I’m scared to do too much because I don’t want to put too much stress on my body. But for the first time in, I don’t know, ever, I don’t feel strong, and that’s not a feeling I enjoy.

I want to do yoga. I need to do yoga. Yoga is magical. It’s amazing how much better my mind and body feel after a class or even a video. I don’t know where to find the time, but I’ve got to make it a priority.

Hold me to that one, ok?