My Make-Up Must Haves

I have loved make-up since I was about 4 years old. I wasn’t really allowed to wear make-up unless it was for my dance recitals, which may be a large reason why I kept going back, year after year. I used to have sleep overs where we did make overs and played dress up all night long. My mom is a big make-up lover, so I guess it’s in my blood.  Over the years I have learned how to wear make-up, what colors work best for my complextion and what products work best for my skin type.  I think I have finally found the best products. I don’t usually like to spend too much on make-up, but I have learned that sometimes it is worth it to shell out the cash for a great product. Although, I am still a sucker for the $5 lipsticks or eyeshadows at Target. How can you resist?

My Must Haves

1. Laura Mecier Stickgloss Lip Color in Courtisane. This color is just enough color to make your eye color pop, but doesn’t scream “I am wearing lipstick”. It is an enhancement of my natural color. Great for everyday or special occasions. I also wear this over the bolder colors to give a nice shine. Wore this on my wedding day. Beautiful.  Retails $20

2. Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen. This is eye make-up primer perfection. You apply to your eyes before eyeshadow to help the eyeshadow look smooth and stay on all day. I have really oily skin and eyeshadow just fades away after a few short hours, but with this magic product, it lasts all day. It gives you a smooth, clean look and keeps it all in place. Retails $24. Worth EVERY penny

3. Mary Kay Ultimate Mascara in Black. Sure you could buy a cheap mascara from the drugstore, but for me it doesn’t do its job. This mascara from Mary Kay really covers my lashes and gives them a lift.  It doesn’t run or smudge. Favorite Mascara to date. PS. Did you know you should take off most the mascara that comes onto the applicator? This gives you an even coat and doesn’t get really gloppy on your eyelashes. Retails $15 (if you need a great Mary Kay Rep…I have one!)

4. Bobby Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Violet Ink. THE BEST EYELINER EVER. Don’t be scared by the word gel. This eyeliner is really easy to use and goes on with little effort. You just need an eyeliner brush. Coat both sides  of the brush and apply. You can make it as light or as dark as you like. I have the violet color to help my green eyes pop, but it’s not “in your face” purple, it’s really dark and looks almost black. Literally lasts all day and then some. You could ball your eyes out and still have eyeliner on. Retails $21. I bought mine about 7 months ago and still have more than 1/2 the pot left.

5. Maybelline Color Explosion in Pink Punch. You get 5 coordinating colors and each has a great shimmer. This palate is great for green or hazel eyes, but they have great sets for any eye color or skin tone. The top color is pretty much pure glitter and is great by itself or over any of the colors included. The palate has an ombre of colors for a light and simple look or a bold and daring look. Retails $10. Such a fun way to update your make-up  and spice up your everyday!

Stay tuned for a post about my top picks for skincare products!

xo

Amy

Thanksgiving Day Wrap-Up

Well, Thanksgiving dinner was a success! The food was so good, I wanted to share the most wonderful receipes from our meal. We tried out some new ones that will become traditions at our house. The Herb Roasted Turkey from Ina Garten was amazing. The rub was really easy, and even though the recipe says to use fresh herbs, we used dried instead, creating a turkey that was very flavorful and moist. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/herb-roasted-turkey-breast-recipe/index.html Here is a picture of Hank the Turkey pre-cooking:

“Hank” was really good, but our desserts were the star of the meal. We had 2 new pies grace our dessert table, both featuring apple, but in very different ways. The first was an Apple Cranberry Tart with almonds. http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/recipes/apple-cranberry-tart.aspx  I am really into cranberries right now, so when my mom suggested making this, I was totally on board. This pie is not too sweet and had a nice almond taste. We used a regular pie crust instead of a tart crust, mainly because we couldn’t find a premade one, but it didn’t seem to matter. It was delicious…see photographic evidence below.

The second was decadent to the max. Bourbon Carmel Apple Peacan Pie. My brother found this recipe and he did most of the baking while I played executive chef and helped him follow the recipe. http://www.creative-culinary.com/seagrams-7-caramel-apple-pie

 We reheated the pies right before dessert was served, added some vanilla ice cream and some carmel sauce…OMG. SO GOOD. I am rather embarrassed to say that I ate another piece of each for dinner that night. It was just that good.

After our feast, I walked into the living room and found these guys in food induced comas! Guess it was good! 🙂

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of great food, lots of family and tons of laughs!

xo

Amy

Bossypants: In Review

A little over a month ago I read “Bossypants”, By Tina Fey. I like SNL and watch reruns occasionally, but I have never been a diehard fan. I don’t think I have ever seen an episode of 30 Rock, but I love Tina Fey. I love her quirkiness, her fashion sense, and her humor.

At a marketing event for work,  we were talking about good reads and “Bossypants” came up as a good read.  I decided to put it on my list and thanks to my Nook, I was able to read a sample of the book before I purchased it. I laughed the entire time and purchased the book immediately after. “Bossypants” is one of those fun and easygoing reads that is good for a trip or for sitting by the pool with a cold cocktail. Since summer is over, and the pool scenario was out, I read most of this book while I was on the train to Washington DC to visit my 3 best friends. Parts of it were hilarious, specifically Tina’s first OBGYN visit, and her honeymoon cruise. Pictures are scattered around the book and this makes the stories even better. Before my trip, my hubby and I were sitting on the porch reading and I had just come to the section about hairstyles and fashion. The picture she includes literally kept me laughing for 5 minutes. I read it and laughed. I showed it to Hubs, and laughed. I looked at it again and laughed. Then I read the section again, looked at the picture and laughed.

Tina tells her stories in such a casual manner, and to me, this is what makes it so funny.  I did learn about her life (for example, didn’t know about the scar on her face, or that she had a child…okay, maybe I am not super up to date on her life). I really enjoyed learning about her trials and tribulations on SNL and with 30 Rock. She talks about her role as Sarah Palin which was most intriguing to me. I mean, that role was just perfect for her and she didn’t even want to do it! To be honest,  there were times when I was bored during this read, and was ready to move on, but then she would whip out the funny again. Tina Fey is such an inspirational woman. She wanted to be part of an industry driven by men, who thought that women weren’t that funny or that people didn’t want to watch a skit ensemble with more than 2 women. She didn’t give up, or choose a different career (let’s face it, the YMCA was not her calling), she proved them wrong.  Tina became a “funny woman” icon and one of the most recognizable former cast members of SNL.

The only thing I really didn’t like was the cover. I know, don’t judge a book by its cover (I read it anyway, didn’t I?) but it’s just creepy. It’s a picture of Tina Fey with man arms and hands. Literally. It made me uncomfortable and it’s just plain weird.

Overall, I liked “Bossypants” and would recommend it to you for a “light, funny, curl up on the couch with a cup of hot apple cider”, read.

xo

Amy

Kindergarten Story Time

I am officially on vacation from work! We are spending some time with my family for Thanksgiving. Today, I went to the kindergarten class where my mom is an assistant teacher and had story time with the kids. As soon as my mom asked me to come read to the kids I jumped at the chance. How can you pass up those precious little kindergarteners? My mom said they were totally blown away that she had a daughter who was married,  let along 24 years old. They were so sweet to me and loved the Thanksgiving books I read to them.

 I asked them what they favorite Thanksgivng food was and got about 20 responses at once, ranging from turkey, to mashed potatos, to pumpkin pie, to mashed potato ice cream (umm, what?!). I read them 3 books and each one was a hit. They were so attentive while I read. They all really loved the Silly Tilly book. Based on the reaction the title got, I believe they must be a series. Have you heard of them? When I was little it was all about Clifford and Henry and Mudge. Pinky and Rex were my personal favorite though. What was your favorite childhood book series?

The class put on a Thanksgiving Play about a turkey named Hank this afternoon for their parents. They were SO exited. They each wanted to tell me their role in the play. At the end of story time, they all, in unison, told me Happy Thanksgiving. Priceless. I just love little kiddos. They made my day and I hope this post made you smile, too.

xo

Amy

DIY: Christmas Clothespins

Glitter and Christmas just go hand in hand. And, like any girl, I am obsessed with glitter. My friend Jenny and I decided to make clothespins go glitz. The plan is for the clothespins to help display our Christmas cards. With a big thick ribbon hung from a pantry door or over cabinet doors, these clothespins will add a bit of glamour to the Christmas cards. I cannot wait. Start sending me your Christmas cards now 🙂

What we bought:

1. Standard size clothespins

2. Craft glue or Modge Podge

3. Glitter in red, green, silver and gold

4. Protecting/sealing spray paint (in gloss)

5. Foam brush to apply glue

How to make:

1. Paint glue onto the top of the clothespins

2. Pour glitter onto a plate. Press the clothespins into the glitter to coat. Touch up any areas that may have missed the glitter

3. Repeat with all other clothespins alternating between colors.*

*Side Note:  We found that they turn out really cute if you combine all of the left over glitter colors into one big pile to get a multi color look. Super cute!

4. Let dry, then spray with protecting spray. This will keep the glitter from falling off during use. We did two coats.

That’s it! So simple but so festive! What do you think!?

Once the Christmas Cards start rolling in, I will show you how they look in action! Stay tuned!

xo

Amy

What To Wear This Winter

In truth, I am a summer lover. As you already know, I live for dresses. During the summer, you will rarely find me in anything but a cute, easy sundress. But in the winter, I tend to move away from dresses becuase of the inevitable cold weather. I legitametly have a blanket in my cube at work and snuggle up in it to stay warm (I would buy a space heater, but I tried that last year and blew a fuse on my side of the office….whoops!). I like to think that I get a little more trendy, too…must have something to do with the layering, scarfs and boots.

My favorite fashion quote comes from Project Runway. I don’t remember who said it, or what season it was, but it has stuck with me for years now. “Life is too short to wear a bad outfit“. This little gem is my fashion motto. I try to live up to this quote on a daily basis and look as  fab as possible on all occasions.

Since fall is in full swing and winter is just around the corner, I wanted to share 5 of my favorite winter outfits with you. I have highlighted one of my favorite winter pieces in each outfit. Thanks to my wonderful hubs, I have pictures, too!

1. Blazer: This blazer was purchased at H&M and is a staple in my wardrobe. Here, I have it paired with jeans, pumps and a purple silk shirt. It really goes with anything…solid colors, patterns, cotton, silk, knit…you name it. It’s a great way to look trendy and stay warm at the same time. PS. My favorite accessory is brown, black, and furry…aka Sadie

2. Leggings: I live in leggings in the winter. They are more comfortable than jeans, and thicker than normal tights. Target has a great selection of leggings and tights.  Here, I have them paired with a long tunic top and a boyfriend sweater. I cannot tell you how comfy this outfit is and how fab I feel in it. Add some big earrings and you are ready!

3. Scarfs: When I went to London to study abroad, pashminas were running rampant in the markets. You could get 3 scarfs for 10 pounds or about $20. Needless to say, I came home with about 6. I have acquired a few more since then and the one pictured below is my favorite. I love the pattern in the gray scarf and I can wear it with all sorts of colors. Below, I have made this scarf work appropriate with a pencil skirt and boots. Trendy and professional.

4. Sweater Dress: To get away with wearing dresses in the winter, I gravitate to sweater dresses. They are so easy. Just add some tights and boots and you have a great outfit. This sweater dress came from London and makes my assets look great. I love to pair this (and other sweater dresses) with a long necklace or big earrings.

5. Boots: I literally live in these boots during the winter. I have them in black and in brown, that is how much I love them. They are from Nine West a few years ago and are the perfect riding boot. I will cry when they are no longer acceptable to wear in public. I wear them with everything…over jeans, with skirts, dresses and leggings. Finding a great boot is an essential.

Special thanks to Sadie for helping me model these outfits!

I hope this gives you some inspiration for what to wear this winter!

xo

Amy

Spoon Cookies

Happy Monday! I thought I would help start your week off right with a delicious baking post! Baking is truly my passion. I bake to escape, to relax, to share with others and to enjoy the yummy goodness that follows the baking. During the holidays, I am a baking fiend. Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Christmas is a short 41 days away, the (cookie) craze is starting. While my hubby was playing golf the other day, I made my first batch of holiday cookies, Food Network’s Spoon Cookies. And no, I did not listen to Christmas music while doing so (okay, that’s a lie…I did listen to Christmas music while I made these).

Here is the finished product!

 I found the recipe for these Spoon Cookies in 2007 via the Food Network’s 12 Days of Cookies. You get an email each day with a new cookie recipe. Amazing. These cookies are so delicious and have a shortbread consistency. The cookies get their name from the spoon shape they have. You use a teaspoon to shape the dough and voila…a spoon cookie is born! The recipe says to fill the middle with a berry jam, but I am a sucker for Nutella and thought it would be a nice addition. Turns out, I was right. They are so yummy. Nutty, buttery, and crumbly. You can get the recipe here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/spoon-cookies-lusikkaleivat-finland-recipe/index.html

Can you see the flecks of butter running through the cookies? YUM!

The secret to these cookies is the browned butter. You really have to let it cook for at least 15 minutes (or longer), like the recipe says. The darker the butter, the nuttier the flavor and the more delicious the cookies will be. My mom and I made a batch a few years ago and the butter was so dark, there were black specks running through the cookies. They were cookie perfection.

I hope that you will add the Spoon Cookies to your holiday cookie line up! They are so easy and so delicious. I am going to go eat one right now!

Happy Baking!

xo

Amy

A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there is so much to be grateful for. Every Thanksgiving, I make my family go around the table and each person has to name one thing that he/she is thankful for. Today, I am going to share a list of 24 things I am most thankful for (one for every day of November until Thanksgiving).  Here it goes…

1. My Husband

2. My Supportive Families

3. A job that I enjoy (most of the time)

4. Sadie, our puppy (she wasn’t always such a joy, but she grew into it)

5. My best friends: Sam, Kirsten, Melissa

6. The luxury of having nice things

7. DVR

8. My health

9. A nice home (apartment)

10. Our savings account (house budget)

11. Coffee

12. Laughing everyday (Thanks Hubs!)

13. Zumba (my stress relief)

14. A good book (there have been many that have touched my heart)

15. Chocolate

16.  Being in love

17. Email/text messages/Twitter/Facebook (to stay connected with my friends)

18. Girls nights/weekends

19. My parents (for providing me with a healthy, supportive, loving childhood)

20. My brother (even though I bossed him around when I was little, he has always been the best brother I could have ever asked for, and a great friend)

21. My Mom (and one of my best friends…we just get eachother)

22. My Faith (in God, in love, in friendship, in the good of mankind)

22. Vacations

24. The people that have so tenderly touched my life and are who are missed everyday (Granny, Pa, Mike, Auntie, Grandma Dicie)

What are you thankful for this year?

xo

Amy

DIY Coasters

Sometimes I wish I was more artistic. I can’t sing, draw, sew or paint. But, I am pretty good at most DIY crafts. I love creating things that I could make for mere pennies of what it would cost me to buy it in a store. While I was on Pinterest the other day (www.pinterest.com), I saw a pin for DIY coasters. I was pretty confident that I couldn’t screw this up, so I decided to buy the “ingredients” and give it a whirl. Here is what I purchased:

1. 4×4 basic white tiles from Lowes (16 cents each!)

2. Scrapbook paper in my favorite colors (red, black and white)

3. Modge Podge

4. Clear Finishing Spray in Gloss (like spray paint, but clear)

5. Self-stick felt pads

To make my cute coasters, I cut out the scrapbook paper to fit the tiles and painted the Modge Podge onto the tile with a foam brush (any brush, or a finger would work, too). Then I pressed the paper on top and made sure it was glued on nicely. After letting them dry for about 30 minutes they were ready for the protecting spray. I put on 2 coats (letting them dry between sprays). Finally, I adhered the felt pads to the bottom of the tile so that the coasters wouldn’t scratch our coffee table.

I was very pleased with the outcome! It was so easy and the best part is that I was able to do this on a Sunday morning while watching Paula Dean on TV and drinking a cup of coffee. No stress crafting- my favorite type!

You should give these little guys a try! Pick out scrapbook paper that speaks to your personality and go for it! You won’t be disappointed.

xo

Amy

Welcome to My Blog!

Hi! Welcome to my brand new blog, In My Pink High Heels! On my blog, you will find posts that cover adventures of married life,  lots of  baking and cooking, book reviews and really anything that I find blog-worthy. I hope that you will enjoy reading about my life in pink high heels!

So by now you are (hopefully) intrigued by the plan for my blog, but you are probably wondering who I am…well,  I am 24 years old and have been married to my sweet husband for almost a year and a half now! We live in Raleigh, North Carolina with our little Yorkiepoo, Sadie.  I am a sucker for pink, high heels, and dresses. Baking, taking photographs, reading, shopping, spending time with my friends and family, and fashion (particularly shoes) are my most favorite things. I love classic colors and silhouettes and really should have been born in the 1950s . I guess you could call me a girly-girl.  

Here is a picture of my hubby and me at our engagement session.

When I was thinking about starting my blog, I knew that I wanted to share all of my favorite things with you. Coming up with a name to complete my vision was not so easy, so it took me a while to find the perfect fit. I wanted to give my blog a title that would speak to my personality without being too specific to one dimension of my life. Driving home from work one day,  I started thinking about all of the things that are “me”. During this impromptu brainstorming session, the color pink kept popping up, and all of a sudden a light bulb went off and it hit me. Pink High Heels… I own 2 pairs. I love them. I wear them a lot. It’s so me. It’s perfect!

I hope that you will enjoy my blog and visit often! For now, take on the world in your sexy high heels!

xo

Amy