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Spice Up Your plate with this Umami Brussel Sprouts with Sun-dried Tomatoes Recipe
If you don't like Brussel Sprouts, prepare yourself because I'm going to make you fall in love with them. I'll start off by saying they're a staple in my house and honestly, it's ALL ABOUT HOW YOU COOK THEM. Sure, it's possible to have PTSD from when your mom boiled them with a smidge of salt when you were a kid but I promise you that I'm not your mom. And after you're done whipping these up you're going to be a convert.
Warm Up Your Winter With This Spicy Turmeric + Collagen Hot Chocolate
Nothing quite tops cozying up in the winter time with fluffy socks, a good book (or Netflix binge) and drink of choice. My drink of choice being HOT Chocolate. The second the weather goes below 50˚ is and will always be hot chocolate. It's safe to say I'm completely fueled by hot cocoa in the wintertime. However, I make mine a little different and dare I say a little better for you than the usual: Milk, Cocoa, Sugar recipes. I'm all for adding spice, nutrients and anti-inflammatories for good measure. Plus it tastes amazing.
So, before you cozy up - let's whip up my Spicy Turmeric and Collagen Cocoa.
-What You Need-
2 Cups Milk (Of Your Choice)
2 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1 Tbsp. Turmeric
1 Tbsp. Unflavored Collagen Powder
1/4 tsp. Powdered Ginger
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Allspice
A Pinch Of Black Pepper
A Pinch Of Cayenne Pepper
1 TBSP. Maple Syrup
1. In a large saucepan combine cocoa powder and milk over medium heat. Whisk until smooth.
2. Add turmeric, black pepper, ginger, cayenne, allspice, cinnamon and maple syrup. Whisk until smooth.
3. Add collagen and whisk until smooth and no clumps are present.
4. Pour into cup and enjoy warm.
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Yep, now you can ask Alexa to schedule your next haircut
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Alexa Skills for IZEA Worldwide. All opinions are 100% mine.
Between figuring out what gifts to get, to ordering or shopping, wrapping said presents and getting ready in general for all of the holiday festivities throughout the season I almost always forget to get myself in order. Typical, right? I'm almost afraid to admit I haven't had a haircut since summer and I've been in desperate need for a trim since at least fall. Oof.
Walking into a holiday party with dead, frayed ends just isn't an option this year. Especially when everyone else is showing off their perfectly coiffed styles. But let's be real, it's also the holidays and EVERYONE is booking services left and right, making availability more scarce than usual. The last thing you want to do is call around from salon to salon only to hear the dreaded "No, we don't have any availability- sorry we can't squeeze you in".
BUT, I have a new secret weapon that can help remedy this tiny problem and get me (AND YOU) holiday party-ready in a pinch. It's all about Alexa. If you're already using Amazon's Alexa Skills technology to play music, manage your calendar or refresh your memory on some wiki-level knowledge, you're going to love the newest addition to Alexa's skill set. Now you can schedule your beauty appointments via the Opensalon skill for Amazon's Alexa. With a simple "Alexa, I need a haircut", you'll be directed to the nearest Regis-owned salon (Supercuts, Cost Cutters, SmartStyle Hair Salon located inside Walmart and other regional salon brands) with availability for your hair and beauty needs. I was able to make my appointment while drinking my morning coffee and get in by 2pm for a deep conditioning, cut and blowout with zero hassle.
The only thing I had to worry about was how to maneuver the trains scheduled work and usual delays to and from my appointment. But that's just part of the daily life of a New Yorker.
Now, let's get you set up and ready for your appointment and holiday season shuffle.
First, you're going to need to hop onto Amazon via the app or web and add the Opensalon skill for your Alexa enabled devices. I used my Echo Dot to schedule from my couch.
After it's all setup, give it a go with...
Alexa, I need a haircut.
Alexa will find the closet Regis-owned salons with availability and earliest appointment available.
From there, Alexa will simply ask Yes or No questions to schedule or make changes.
If you need a different time or location say 'no' and give an alternate answer (For example: Alexa says Supercuts has availability at 1pm. Just say 2pm and it will see if it's available) or say another location and Alexa will find it for you.
After you find your ideal time and location, Alexa will schedule your appointment and send you a confirmation email! Now, all you have to do it hop, skip and jump to the salon to get yourself glammed up.
Honestly, you're never going to want to schedule an appointment another way. Ever.
Voila! Post appointment and ready to jump into the holiday party circuit. Thanks Alexa.
Alexa, order more chocolate.
Channel All Of The Bohemian Vibes this season with these 12 colorful Boho & Eclectic Christmas Trees
I think it's safe to say I'm a fan of all the bohemian vibes ALL OF THE TIME. So obviously it comes as no surprise when you find my Christmas Tree is all sorts of eclectic and bohemian for ringing in the holidays and new year.
Turns out, I'm not the only one with a fondness for quirky ornaments, colorful garlands and eclectically styled trees. So I'm rounding up 11 of my favorite bohemian inspired trees to give you a little Inso for adorning your tree...
Pantone Announced Their 2020 Color Of The Year and It's Classic Blue. Here's how to add it to your home!
Pantone announced their color of the year last week and I for one am ALL FOR IT. It's no secret that I love color, but when it comes to classic blues - the sky is the limit! Before we delve into all the places we can incorporate the newest "IT" color of the incoming decade we're going to talk about one of my FAVORITE places to sprinkle in shades of blue.
So let's welcome Pantone's 2020 Of The Year: Classic Blue for ALL THINGS HOME.
Quick and Easy Side Braid For Third Day Hair
Extending a blowout is one of those beauty must-haves that remain on the top of my list. If I can add another day to my 2-3 day hair without piling on the dry shampoo you better believe I'll take it. My biggest problem area when my hair starts heading to the 3rd day is the oil at my crown and roots. Ugh. But I have found that a good braid gives me at least another day before washing or adding dry shampoo. Hello perfect remedy for extending a hairstyle without the effort.
First brush it out. I love the Boar Bristle Brush - it helps keep my hair shiny and smooth.
Next, pull a piece from your crown - you can do as big or small as you'd like. Divide by three and start braiding.
Loosen the braid a bit and secure with a clean mini rubber band.
Add a barrette for a little extra sparkle.
The Only Peppermint Mocha Pancakes You're Going To Want This Holiday Season
So, the pressure is on to step up my holiday hosting skills and whip up all the delicious creations for my favorite meal of the day, brunch. Thankfully T-fal always has my back when it comes to custom creations because that Thermo-Spot™ heat indicator let's you know when your pan is pre-heated, leaving without the guessing game of "Is it ready"?
All that said, this holiday season I skipped the liquid form of peppermint mochas and whipped up something delicious you can stick a fork in and REALLY indulge. I'm warning you ahead of time, these are insanely good so if you find yourself making these over and over again, I'm sorry - but also not sorry!
- Here's What You Need -
1 Cup Flour (sifted)
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
1 1/4 Cups Milk
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 Tsp. Fine Salt
1/8 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1 Large Egg
2 Tbsp. Butter, melted
1 Tsp. Peppermint Extract
- Optional -
Mini Marshmallows
Candy Canes
Whipped Cream
Chocolate Syrup
1. In a large bowl whisk together dry ingredients. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl combine egg, melted butter, milk and peppermint extract.
3. Pour wet ingredient into large bowl with dry ingredients. Stir to combine.
4. Heat stove to medium heat. If you're using T-fal fry pans the handy red Thermo-spot™indicator will let you know your pan is ready when the spot turns fully red.
5. With a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop batter and drop into pan.
6. Flip once it begins to bubble rapidly. About 1-2 minutes (each side).
7. Repeat until batter is gone.
8. Eat them plain...
9. Pile on the toppings...
Enjoy!
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Here's 6 Natural Beauty Gift Ideas Under $20 That Everyone On Your List Will Love
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Burt’s Bees. All opinions are 100% mine.
Eep! It's officially holiday gift guide season. Are you guys ready? I know I am. I'll preface here by saying: while I love shopping for the holidays, I'm not always the most creative. I always imagine myself coming up with these grand gift ideas for teachers, friends and everyone in between but when push comes to shove, I usually end up going the gift card route. I mean, it's practical, right? This year I wanted to get a little more creative with my picks- especially when coming up with ideas that are not only useful and practical but also a little on the luxurious side. Let's be honest: we all want to indulge and feel pampered every now and then. Or maybe it's always. Yeah, always.