Laura Mercier Spring 2014

First, let me just confess that I am totally obsessed with makeup and learning new techniques. Sephora TV is THE best and has helped me achieve looks I had failed again and again. Yes, behind the stacks and stacks of books, there's a makeup geek here, too, and I'm so happy I can write about these pleasures in addition to my love of reading. So here goes...

The latest kits in Laura Mercier's spring 2014 line are must-haves.

The Enlightenment Eye & Cheek Palatte - I love a good neutral palette. This particular kit not only delivers some truly beautiful and long-lasting shadows, it also gives you two new blush colors. If you're the kind of person who likes to pack light, this kit is it. You can wear each shadow alone, or add the darker shades to compliment a smoky eye (just throw in a chubby eyeliner stick). The blush pigments might not rival NARS, but they're certainly pretty and gave me a nice flushed cheek. My only complaint with the blush is that it doesn't stay as long as the shadow.

Perfection Lip Trio in Matte Red: I love a red lip (especially a matte lip), but hate when I constantly have to worry about it wearing off. This trio is AMAZING. The pencil and lipstick can be worn together for a perfect matte finish. The gloss is great to add a juicy pop, but can also be worn alone. I recently wore this out with a group of girlfriends to dinner and didn't have to reapply!

What spring collections are you eyeing at the moment? Have you tried these?


 *This post is not sponsored by Sephora or Laura Mercier.

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A Recipe & Review: Cocoa Almond Granola by Joy the Baker

If there's one blog you absolutely need to be reading, it's Joy Wilson's Joy the Baker food blog. People, she is hilarious, and her recipes are always incredibly tasty. I think most of her subscribers secretly want to be her best friend. Right?! If you're thinking about getting a cookbook that offers sweet treats, baked goods, and green smoothies, this one has to be on your kichen shelf! 

As part of my decision to start including recipe books in my review list, I've been confronted with the dilemma of how one actually reviews a cookbook. Do you try everything single recipe and then report back? Or, do you try a few things, give it a yay or nay, and call it a day? 

The latter seemed like the most reasonable option because if you're anything like me you probably have a ton cookbooks-- some you rely on to make a few delicacies on special occasions, gifts that are beautiful but too scary to actually bake from, and then all the others that are totally reliable companions (save from a fire type books). So, with all that being said, this recipe will be the first installment of three recipes sampled from one title. 

*Note: I would never actually save a cookbook from a fire, or any book for that matter (gasps), but I would certainly get my cats out. 

I decided I'd tackle a recipe that's popular, seldom made at home, and perfect for gifting. 

GRANOLA

Yes, granola. I love the stuff. I eat it sprinkled over my oatmeal or cereal, I mix it in greek yogurt, or scoop it up for a quick snack. The crunch is such a beautiful thing. Plus, granola is incredibly easy to make and doesn't require a lot of time. Win!

Recipe from Joy the Baker Cookbook: 100 Simple and Comforting Recipes

Cocoa Almond Granola  

  

4 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup raw whole almonds

1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp butter

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Place racks in the center and upper third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. (I used one large baking sheet and a silpat liner.)

In a large bowl, toss together oats, almonds, coconut, cinnamon, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine sugar, honey, oil and butter. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Pour the warm sugar mixture over the oat mixture and toss with a wooden spoon. Toss until all of the oats and almond bits are at least moistened by the sugar mixture. Spoon mixture onto prepared baking sheets and place in the oven.

Bake granola for 30 minutes, removing from the oven to toss and stir 2 to 3 times during baking. Granola is done when it is toasted around the edges and fragrant. 

Remove from the oven and cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature, for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe: 4.5 stars out of 5 (reliable companion).

Give it a try! I'm sure you'll love it. 

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Excitement: Tana French's Broken Harbor Release

People! I'll admit that despite being a bookworm I generally don't get too excited about new releases. However, I am so excited about Tana French's newest novel, Broken Harbor, which was released today. While I know I should have visited an indie store this evening to pick up a copy, I couldn't resist when J asked if there were any books I wanted when he was making an order on Amazon. So. My copy should be delivered sometime today. Excited face.

 From Goodreads:

 In BROKEN HARBOR, a ghost estate outside Dublin - half-built, half-inhabited, half-abandoned - two children and their father are dead. The mother is on her way to intensive care. Scorcher Kennedy is given the case because he is the Murder squad’s star detective. At first he and his rookie partner, Richie, think this is a simple one: Pat Spain was a casualty of the recession, so he killed his children, tried to kill his wife Jenny, and finished off with himself. But there are too many inexplicable details and the evidence is pointing in two directions at once.

Scorcher’s personal life is tugging for his attention. Seeing the case on the news has sent his sister Dina off the rails again, and she’s resurrecting something that Scorcher thought he had tightly under control: what happened to their family, one summer at Broken Harbour, back when they were children. The neat compartments of his life are breaking down, and the sudden tangle of work and family is putting both at risk . . .

Don't know about Tana French?! Who are you?!? Where have you been?!? 

Take a peek at my reviews of her first three novels (and then read them and love them):

A Review: In the Woods by Tana French

A Review: The Likeness by Tana French

 A Review: Faithful Place by Tana French

Already read it? Don't tell me because I'm jealous. But seriously. What'd you think?

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Monday Madness

Happy Monday, everyone! 

 I've been running a little behind on my review schedule - apologies, apologies. Did I also mention that this just happens to be one of the busiest weeks of my life?! In the near future you can expect reviews of Tana French's In the Woods, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar. 

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