Maybe You Should Start Listening

As I sat behind my desk today, I couldn't help but feel as though there was something missing; a greater part of me fading away. I was exhausted, despite the influx of caffeine I subjected my body to. Bewilderment and confusion flooded my mind as I tried to figure out why I stopped fueling my passion. Was I really responsible for letting the flame fade? When did I stop pursuing my dreams? When did I let it all slip through my fingers? Sure, I can make excuses, point fingers, and blame the innocent for my brief hiatus but I would be in denial.  There's no denying I lost my faith in my ability; I settled for less than mediocre.

Thankfully I snapped back to reality when I came across an article I didn't think I needed to read.

"Your Life Is Speaking, Are You Listening." Hmph. No, I don't think my life is speaking to me today, I refuted in my sarcastic inner monologue. But, just like a bad car accident, I couldn't look away. "Where is your head these days? Are you daydreaming about what should have been, could have been; or are you still looking for what is supposed to be the life path of your dreams? Has your life come to a mundane daily routine?" Damn. This guy is good. So good, that I secretly feared he would ask "Do you have a glass of wine every night with a bowl full of Cheetos? At that point, I would have immediately closed the browser convinced that the US government, was in fact, watching our every move.  But dude had a point, so I kept reading.

I soon discovered that my life was speaking to me, yet I had been ignoring its persistent nagging. I decided it was time to do something, so I made a list. I made a list of all the things I long to accomplish; a list of my dreams; a list of stories I long to tell. A list that borders the impossible, yet I don't seem to mind.

I feel refreshed; rejuvenated.and can't wait to start crossing off the to-dos. 

Happy Hour Readers: What is on your list?

Sweet Tooth: Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie
A Key West Staple, the Perfect Summer Treat

Image Found Here

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse 2002

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup granulated sugar

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick of butter) melted

2 (14 ounce) cans sweetened condensed milk

1 cup key lime or regular lime juice

2 large whole eggs

1 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 tablespoon lime zest

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter with your hands. Press the mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie pan, and bake until brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. before filling. 
3. Lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F. 
4. In a separate bowl, combine the condensed milk, lime juice, and eggs. Whisk until well blended and place the filing in the cooled pie shell. Bake in the over for 15 minutes and allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. 
5. Once chilled, combine the sour cream and powdered sugar and spread over the top of the pie using a spatula. Sprinkle with lime zest as a garnish on top of the sour cream and serve chilled. 

Beauty Lessons From Marilyn Monroe

Original Blog Post From Allure Celebrity Trends

By Kate Sullivan

Lighten Up

While we reject entirely the idea that brunettes are mousy or that gentlemen prefer blondes, we do have to concede that going platinum made Monroe's career. She lightened her brown hair early in her modeling days and never looked back. Pearl Porterfield, the colorist behind Monroe's platinum curls (and Jean Harlow's before her), used old-fashioned peroxide to make the actress stand out on- and off-screen.

 Get Glowing Skin

Monroe's face always seemed lit from within. Her secret: facial hair. For real. It was a thin layer of downy peach fuzz on her cheeks that caught the studio lights just so—and she refused to wax it off! No need to grow a beard, though: You can mimic Monroe's luminosity with well-placed highlighter.

Moisturize

Maintaining her gorgeous skin was essential to the star. She moisturized night and day, and her product picks are even still on the market.

Wing It

Monroe accentuated her heavy lids with a distinct strip of eyeliner. To create her cat-eyes, she kept Elizabeth Arden Show Stopper pencils in black and brown in her makeup kit. 

 Enhance Your Eyelashes 

In 1999, Christie's auctioned off a makeup bag Monroe once owned for $1 million dollars. In it were some of her makeup favorites, and a set of Glorene of Hollywood false eyelashes. 

Try Red Lips

Monroe was pretty in pink, but the lipstick we associate with her most is certainly a classic red. To honor the actress 50 years after her death, M.A.C. is launching a limited-edition line of products this fall, including red lipstick.

Claim a Signature Scent

When asked what she wore to bed, Monroe once quipped: "Five drops of Chanel No. 5." She even reportedly spiked her bathwater with the scent. 

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Happy Hour Mixology: 5 Girl's Night In Cocktails

1. A Tropical Dream 

Ingredients:

1 oz Malibu mango rum1 oz Malibu coconut rum1 oz 99 Bananas banana schnapps1 oz Stoli Vanil vodka2 oz orange juice2 oz pineapple juice1 splash grenadine syrup

Directions:

Combine all ingredients (except grenadine) together over ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice. Float grenadine on top, and serve.

2. Beer Margaritas

Ingredients:

1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate

12 fluid ounces tequila

12 fluid ounces water

12 fluid ounces beer

Ice

1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions:

Pour limeade, tequila, water, and beer into a large pitcher. Stir until well blended and limeade has melted. Add plenty of ice, and garnish with lime wedges. Adjust with additional water, if needed.

allrecipes.com

3. Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Stoli Vanil Vodka

1/2 oz Amaretto

1 splash Cranberry Juice

1 splash Pineapple Juice

Directions:

Mix together over ice and shake until frothy. Strain into shot glass.

www.barmeister.com

4. Strawberry Dreamsicle

Ingredients:

1 oz Vodka

1 oz Strawberry Schnapps

1 oz cherry juice

1/2 orange juice

1/2 pineapple juice

1 oz cream

Directions:

Mix and add ice.

www.mixeddrinkrecipes.net

5. Mojito Fresco

Ingredients:

2 large limes, cut into pieces (reserve one piece)

2 cups water

2/3 cup sugar

2 water

1/4 to 1/2 cup light rum

Sugar

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

Ice cubes

Quartered limes and/or mint leaves (optional)

Directions:

In a blender combine lime pieces, 2 cups water, and 2/3 cup sugar. Cover and blend about 30 seconds or until limes are chopped; do not puree Strain through a sieve into a large pitcher. Mix in 2 cups additional water. Cover and chill for 1 to 12 hours.

Stir rum into lime mixture. Moisten the rims of 8 glasses with the reserved lime piece; dip rims in sugar. Divide mint among glasses. Use a wooden spoon to press mint into the bottom of each glass; press firmly to release flavor. Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour chilled lime mixture over ice and mint leaves. If desired, add extra quartered limes and/or mint leaves.

www.fitnessmagazine.com

(Blog post adapted from AllWomenStalk.com: 9 Fabulous Drink Recipes for Girls Night In)

Happy Hour Mixology: Pineapple

It's hot out. 

It's Friday the 13th. 

It's time for a cocktail. 

Here's the recipe for a sweet pineapple coconut concoction. 

What you need:

(This is to be consumed with a few friends)

1 can pineapple juice (46 oz)

1 cup County Time Lemonade

2 Cups Water

2 Cans Sprite

& Pineapple Coconut Rum

(hmm, the original Pinner didn't leave an amount of booze, so measure accordingly and find a DD)

What you need to do: 

Mix all the ingredients together, serve over ice, put on some music and be thankful the Zombie Apocalypse didn't occur today. 

Healthy Lifestyle: 8 Juicing Recipes

According to ABC News Juicing has some serious health benefits! When you juice fruits and vegetables you are actually getting a concentration of minerals, vitamins and enzymes that are vital for a healthier you! 

Why purchase a Juicer?
A juicer can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle. Many of the juices that you can purchase at the grocery store are loaded with sugar, high fructose corn syrup and other preservatives; ingredients that have been attributed to weight gain. Buy using a juicer, you not only get the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs but you eliminate the excess sugar found in most juices.

Juicers are versatile. You can juice anything from fruit to vegetables to leafy greens.

Juicing Recipes

The best part of having a juicer is the ability to experiment with different fruits and vegetables! But if you are stuck on some ideas, I have listed 8 recipes that are easy, healthy, and sure to keep you energized  throughout the day. If you are looking for added nutrition feel free to add greens such as kale and spinach to any of the recipes listed below.

Good Morning OJ

Re-energize with a breakfast classic, orange juice.

4 medium sized oranges, peeled and sectioned

Berry Medley:

A sweet medley of delicious berries

2 cups strawberries

2 cups blueberries

1 ½ cup raspberries

Tangy Green Apple & Grape

These bold flavors blend together wonderfully. A hint of lemon gives it a zesty kick

3 Granny Smith Apples, cored and sliced

1 cup seedless green grapes

1 thin wedge of lemon, peeled

Berry Pineapple

A zesty citrus flavor and a sweet berry taste

1 orange, peeled and sectioned

1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed, rind removed

1 cup strawberries

Apple Kiwi

The perfect pick-me-up after a long day!

3 kiwis, peeled

2 apples, cored and sliced

Green, Lean & Mean

Post work-out fuel!

6 large kale leaves

1 celery stalk

1 large carrot

1 small sweet potato

2 green apples, cored and sliced

½ lemon, outer peels removed

½ cucumber, peeled

½ cup blueberries

Hawaiian Delight

Delight in the ambiance of the islands with this sweet concoction!

2 large grapefruits, peeled and sectioned

2 cups pineapple, rind removed

6 medium oranges, peeled and sectioned

Orange Carrot

Nutrition at its finest

8 large fresh carrots

2 large fresh oranges, peeled and sectioned 

Red, White, & Blue Sangria

Hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July!

Enjoy this easy-to-make Red, White, & Blue Sangria I found on:

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/red-white-and-blue-cocktails

What you need:

Handful of strawberries sliced

Handful or two of blueberries

Pineapple cut into star shapes

2 bottles of dry white wine

1 cup Triple Sec

1/2 cup of your favorite berry flavored vodka

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup simple syrup

What you need to do: 

Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher & stir!

Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours, serve & enjoy. 

Punch Bowl

Permission

"You have permission to be weird; or angry or confused or joyful or all of the above or none of the above. You have permission to feel however you feel. Your feelings are valid and understandable. 

Ask questions. Ask friends, acquaintances,  strangers: How are you feeling today? What do you need? Ask yourself the same questions. Take care of yourself. We live in worlds that weren't created for weirdos and the rad folks like us. We need to learn how to take care of ourselves and each other so we can survive, thrive, and continue building better worlds. "

[AuthorUnknown]