Countdown to CHRISTMAS: JINGLE JINGLE- Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Hey guys welcome to another Countdown to CHRISTMAS POST!!! Today I wanted to bring back an old series of mine that I do every year and as you can pretty much see in the title it is my JINGLE JINGLE series where I share my all time favorite Christmas inspired recipes. I have a delicious and satisfying peppermint hot chocolate recipe that will put the Starbucks version to shame.

What You Need:

No exact measurements, make as much or as little as you want!!! 

-Semi sweet chocolate (the good expensive kind trust me it makes a HUGE difference)

-Whole Milk (none of that reduced fat 2% stuff)

-Heavy cream

-Candy Canes

-Peppermint Extract 

-Coconut Sugar (White sugar will work as well_

-Whipped cream or topping

-Marshmallows (optional)

How To Make:

Using a double boiler (if you don't have one no problem just put a glass bowl on top of a small pot of boiling water) melt your chocolate. The double boiler helps your chocolate melt a lot more smoother plus it also prevents lumps and the chocolate drying out.

After the chocolate is melted, stir it into a mixture of hot milk and cream very slowly (1 part cream per 2 parts of milk) 

While stirring add your sugar and adjust to your taste. Then pour in a couple drops of peppermint extract. BE VERY CAREFUL this stuff is very strong. 

After everything is dissolved and mixed pour it into your mug of choice and top it off with some whipped cream or topping and some crushed candy canes. You can also add some marshmallows.

Serve warm and enjoy!!! 

10 Things That Make Me Happy :D

I have been pretty stressed out the last couple of weeks, work and school have been super busy and frustrating. With all this stress and frustration mounting up I decided to stop and take a little break to take care of myself. Here are few little things that make me happy when life isn't going my way. Remember life is short taking care of yourself should always be your number one priority both mentally and physically. 

1.) MUSIC

Music has always been there for me whenever I needed. It calms me and sends me to a little world that is just my own. I pretty much listen to every genre out there even a little country now and then. I post weekly playlists a couple times a month so if you ever interested in what I am currently listening to check them out! 

2.)  COOKING

I am a huge FOODIE. I love to eat so much that I consider it a hobby. I am also very adventurous when it comes to food which led me to learn how to cook. Cooking is an art. There is just something so therapeutic in cooking from the prep to the finish product. It gives you a sense of empowerment and accomplishment (especially if it tastes good).

3.) HANGING W/MY LIL BRO

If you have siblings, you know that there are always moments where you wished you were an only child. I was one of them and sometimes I still do wonder a bit haha just kidding. I have two younger siblings, a 18 year-old little sister and a 10 year old little brother. My parents are one of those couples who wanted to try their luck having a kid past their prime and luckily for them they succeeded. I am 14 years older than my little bro who for the sake of privacy I will call him *Doug. While Doug may be only 10 I don't consider him a child he is a miniature adult. He understands things that most people in their 40s still don't get. He also doesn't act like a kid. He enjoys watching horror movies with me and Chinese soap operas with my grandmother and mom. I left for college when he was around 4 so I didn't get a chance to really watch him grow up but anytime I get a chance to hang out with him I take it. He never judges you and just loves you for who you are. 

4.) POKEMON

I know many of you are probably judging me reading this but I got no fucks to give. I am 23 years old and I still play Pokemon... enough said

5.) HORROR MOVIES

This might be kind of ironic but horror movies make me happy. I don't know if it is the scare or just watching other people's miseries it is just something I enjoyed ever since I was born. I was exposed to horror movies at an early age not on purpose. I hung around my older guy cousins growing up and it came with the territory. I love the Saw series and anything with a giant mutated creature. You name it I probably seen it... then again my life is like a horror movie sometimes...

6.) BOOKS

Yes, I actually read for fun I know that this might be shocking to most of you out there. This is something that I have taken for granted over the years. With the pressures of work and school I cherish any time I can get reading a book that is not educational. Reading like music sucks me away into another world, a world where I don't have to give any fucks. And who doesn't want to do that?

7.) NETFLIX

I wish I could get paid watching Netflix. Every since I signed up for one I have been hooked.... more like obsessed. If there was a Netflix anonymous meeting I would probably be the first person there.

8.) HONKING AT PEOPLE

Now before you call me crazy, I only honk at pretentious asshole drivers who think they are Vin Diesel. I don't know what is wrong with some of the drivers out there today. Is it really that hard to use your turn signal? Did your teacher ever taught you the word STOP? Are you really that selfish or blind that you have to take up 2 parking spaces for your smart car? I mean come on people...

9.) HANGING OUT W/MY FRIENDS

My friends are some of the best people I know especially the ones who have stuck around this long and if you know me believe me that I am not an easy person to be with. Anytime I am with them my worries just go away. They are always there for me no matter what time of the day or how silly of a problem I have. As Jerry McGuire says "You complete me"

10.) CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKES

I am not a big chocolate person, but I am ALWAYS DOWN for a chocolate milkshake. I was deprived of this when I was younger. My grandmother told me that I would be arrested if I ever drank one and my parents told me that they were drugs in them. As I got older and wiser obviously I knew better and drank them whenever I could especially with french fries... god I am so Americanized... 

Weekly Playlist VALENTINE'S EDITION '15

I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's Day never have been. It just seems kinda pointless and commercialized. It puts so much stress on couples each year that they forget the whole point of the holiday which is to celebrate LOVE. If you love someone you should be able to express you love to them  EVERYDAY and not wait for that one day a year. Plus Valentine's Day candy tastes like butt. But when all else fails you can always turn to music. So whether you are single or have that someone special turn up the stereo and enjoy! Happy V-Day everyone! 

LISTEN ALONG WITH ME

1. Blank Space: Alex Blue (cover)

2. Hey Lady: The New Velvet

3. I Want It That Way: Backstreet Boys

4. Back at One: Brain McKnight

5. Valentine: David Choi

6. Two is Better than One: Boys Like Girls

7. Iris: Sleeping With Sirens (cover)

8. Unexpectedly: Jason Chen

9. Wedding Dress: Taeyang (Korean song)

10.What Hurts the Most: Rascal Flatts

11. I'm Yours: Jason Mraz

12. Lucky: Jason Mraz & Colbie Calliat 

13. Thinking Out Loud: Ed Sheeran

14. One Wish: Ray J 

Summer of Food (Last one)

Chocolate Dipped Tangerines & Peanut Butter Banana Sandwiches 

Hey guys! Welcome to another and sadly the last recipe for the Summer of Food series. Summer is heading to a close and it's back to school for most of you so I wanted to give you guys a little sendoff. These treats are delicious and so easy to make and very kid friendly. So here's to the end of another summer and the beginning of fall. No worries I will be back with more recipes with my holiday recipe series coming October 2014 so stay tuned! XOXOXO

For the chocolate dipped tangerines (credit goes to my litter sister who found the "recipe" on Pinterest) you will need...

-Your favorite chocolate (white, dark, milk whatever you prefer), we used this easy to melt chocolate by Baker's

- Tangerines (or oranges if you can't find tangerines)

-Baking sheet lined with wax paper

-Optional SALT

How to make:

Melt your chocolate

Now you can go about this in a few different ways. My little sister and I purchased this Baker's microwaveable chocolate and just followed the directions. It was super easy and there are tons of brands out there that has this sort of thing.

If you bought chocolate chips or a chocolate bar first chop the chocolate up. If you have a double boiler which is probably the best way use that if not get a medium sauce pot and boil water half way and the put another heat proof bowl over it (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water) and you got yourself a makeshift double boiler. Make sure to keep stirring when melting the chocolate so it doesn't burn.

You can also melt your chips or bar in the microwave at 30 second intervals stirring in between each for about a minute or until your chocolate is nicely melted and NO CHUNKS!!!

Next peel your tangerines or cut up your orange slices and dip them in the chocolate. We dipped ours half way to avoid a mess but you can dip them in all the way. After dipping we laid them on a tray and sprinkled some salt on it to bring out the chocolate flavor even more and to add a bit of an extra zing however you can totally skip this part.

After you are done dipping put your tray in the freezer for about 5-10 mins. The chocolate should be completely harden and the tangerines cold but NOT FROZEN!!! Take them out and enjoy!!!

For the Banana Peanut Butter Sandwiches you will need...

-Melted chocolate (we use the same chocolate from the previous recipe)

-Bananas

-Peanut Butter

-Baking sheet lined with wax paper

How to Make:

Peel and cut your bananas into small circles and make little sandwiches with peanut butter. After you assemble your sandwiches dip them in chocolate and lay on tray to freeze. These need to freeze a couple hours (overnight is the best).

These are super delicious like little ice cream bites plus they are healthy especially if you dip them in dark chocolate.

GOBBLE GOBBLE: Ice Cream Pie Recipe

I personally love pumpkin pie but not everyone does especially in my family. There is a small group of us that like pumpkin pie. So every year along with pumpkin pie I also make an ice cream pie for those who are not fans of pumpkin. This pie has been a success every time I have served it to family and friends. It is really simple to make and requires very few ingredients. You can also substitute the flavors of ice cream and candies below for your favorites. BE WARNED FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING YOUR CALORIES AND FIGURE I DON'T REALLY RECOMMEND THIS.

What you need: (For one pie)

1 Pre-made Oreo Cookie Pie crust (You can usually find this in the jello and cake mix aisle, if they don't have Oreo ones graham cracker crusts work just as well)

1/2 pint of Coffee Ice Cream

1/2 pint of Chocolate Ice Cream

2 Heath Bars

1/4 cup of White Chocolate Chips (More or less depending on your taste)

1/4 cup of Semi-sweet chocolate chips (Again more or less depending on your taste)

Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

1 tub of Cool Whip Original

How to make:

Make sure your ice cream is melted at room temperature. This makes it easier to work with and won't break the crust. In a separate bowl combine your ice cream with the candies. You can either chop the candies and put them in or leave it whole. Mix well and put into pie crust. Put it in the freezer at least overnight. Before serving top the entire pie with Cool Whip. If you have any extra candies left over sprinkle them on for a fun presentation. This pie is so freaking good. I recommend making more than one. These can last in your freezer for up to 2 weeks so you can always make them ahead of time and enjoy them.

Too Faced Beauty Blogger Darlings

Recently Too Faced came out with a sample kit of their best tried and true products from their line. Not only these products are the best selling from Too Faced all the products in this kit are beauty blogger approved. If you are a fan of watching beauty videos on YouTube all these products will be very familiar. The kit includes 4 deluxe size:

1.) Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Medium- A chocolate scented, antioxidant- rich cocoa infused matte bronzer that is great for all over the face or just used for contouring. It neutralizes any red tones on your face and evens out the skin tone. Very easy to blend out and nicely pigmented. Unlike some other bronzers this one does not have any orange undertones that will make you look like an oompa loompa. This product is also cruelty free, paraben free and vegan friendly. By itself this product in full size retails for $30. 

Chocolate Soleil

More pigmented in person that on camera

2.) Primed and Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer (Little pink squeeze tube)- A vitamin infused face primer that contains vitamins C & A, mulberry extract, and retional. This primer not only preps your skin for makeup but also banishes pores, hydrates, firms and detoxifies. Your skin will appear brighter, fresher and younger. Makeup will stay put all day with this underneath. This product retails for $30 on its own. Contains no parabens. 

3.) Better than Sex Mascara (Pink Tube)- The name isn't exactly accurate (lol) however this is a pretty great mascara. It lengthens and volumes giving your lashes a luscious, sultry and fuller look. The brush has a curve to it that allows you to get into those annoying little lashes in the inner and outer corners. I wasn't a fan of Too Faced mascaras until I tried this particular one. Even those with sparse lashes will fall in love with this. Retails on its own for $23

4.) Shadow Insurance Eye Shadow Primer (Teal tube)- This is a long time favorite of mine. I been using this stuff for years since it was first released. It keeps your eyeshadows bright and vibrant and also long lasting. The texture is very nice not too thick or thin and keeps any shadows from creasing throughout the day.It comes out a creamy beige color but it does not show up on the eyelid or change the color of the shadow you are using. Retails for $20 on its own. 

This kit retails for $20 at Ulta which may seem steep for deluxe product samples however if you were to purchase these products in full size it would retail to about $50+. This kit allows you to try out these products and see if you want to commit to the full size later on.