Thanksgiving Eve

MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR: Thanksgiving Eve. Actually, if I'm being honest, the EVE of Thanksgiving Eve is probably my favorite.

It's literal perfection. The anticipation, the planning, the prepping, the cleaning, the CAFFEINE. We don't stop drinking coffee until way, way after the kids are in bed. By this point, I'm peeling potatoes like a machine and Paul has decided not to involve himself with kitchen activities, so he starts putting a puzzle together at the dining room table.

We're talking about desserts for our Thanksgiving night bakeoff, we're texting friends and family to solidify plans, we're listening to Christmas music and letting the kids stay up way too late. We're on Foodnetwork.com, I'm frantically searching for a new and incredibly innovative recipe for Brussel sprouts or carrots (it never fails. Last year, the bourbon maple carrots I found were a hit). I'm gagging at turkey prep (will I ever be mature enough to clean/cook my own turkey?!)

Photo: www.cookingandbeer.com

Do you have any day-before-Thanksgiving traditions that you love? What about tried and true recipes? I need some more for my arsenal! There are only so many veggies I can transform with brown sugar, maple syrup and bourbon.

The One With Coconut Oil For All The Things

I'm a huge fan of coconut oil, and I have gotten many friends and family members hooked on it as well for various parts of their daily routines. I mean, how many products can you moisturize with, cook with, and brush your teeth with - all out of the same tub?

I'll tell you. None. Well, none aside from coconut oil.

I have three case studies I'd like to quickly review for you. When you're done, feel free to run out to Costco and buy the giant tub. You'll never regret it.

The exact one I use 

#1 - The One Where Waterproof Mascara Actually Worked
I accidentally bought waterproof mascara one time (I usually HATE waterproof makeup) and I literally couldn't get it off my eyes to SAVE MY LIFE. I started to have a little panic attack. Eye makeup remover, hot water/wash cloths, soap, prayer... Nothing was working. I didn't even have any smudgy raccoon eyes from almost getting it off. Nope. It was STAYING PUT. I mean, on the bright side... it works. But on the flip side... I want to go to bed, and if I sleep in makeup, I wake up with swollen, itchy eyes that don't go away for hours.

I had one more option: coconut oil. I scraped a small amount from the side of my nearly empty jar, rubbed my hands together, and gently massaged my eyes. When I looked in my mirror, I was so excited: racoon eyes FOR DAYS. The black practically slid off my face. All I did was wipe it off with a hot wash cloth after that. I've been using nothing but coconut oil to remove my makeup since that fateful night.

The One With The Glowy Skin
People compliment me on my skin a lot on social media.

I confess: I am very quick to use the filters in PicTapGo to edit my pics, or redo shots 100x for better lighting, or even do a little smoothing of my under eye circles in other apps (YOU have two kids and then tell me you don't want to hide those things a bit for your memory books). So, I always feel guilty accepting compliments about my skin. Like... I'm such a cheater.

But, I felt this way UNTIL a friend of mine IN REAL LIFE told me that she thinks my skin looks just as good in person as it does in my pics, as she was sitting across from me at a local restaurant after our manicure date. Like, in real life. No phone in sight. Ok. I can accept that.

I was like "Yeah. It's gotta be the coconut oil."

The One Where Lavender Oil IS NOT SOOTHING

I love lavender oil, and to make a long story short and slightly less embarassing, I accidentally got some in my eyes. LAVENDER OIL IS NOT SOOTHING IF YOU GET IT IN YOUR EYES. I thought I was going blind. I remembered that coconut oil will immediately get rid of the sting/burn (which is why it's recommended as a carrier oil), and it does. It's instantaneous, and it floored me! I wish I could say I've only done this once, but I've done it a few times... so, yeah, I know this for sure.

Let me know if you use coconut oil for something totally random that I should be using it for, too!

Pajama Party

Let's talk about more obsessions. Specifically, Target-fueled obsessions.

I cannot go to Target without buying a new haul of pajamas. The LAST thing my boys need are pajamas. I have drawers (plural) dedicated to pajamas. Onesies, cute sets of long sleeved shirts and pants, shorts and tank tops for summer... Paw Patrol, aliens, Minions, football, Star Wars, sailboats, camo, cowboy... you name it, we have it. There is something so cute about a little kid in adorable pajamas. When they start wearing raggedy t-shirts and basketball shorts to sleep, I'll cry.

And, I can't throw any away. Well, except for a pair I got at Nordstrom when Porter was a baby, I tossed those with no problem. Designer pajamas are not my thing. They're too serious, and kids need FUN pajamas. I need the cheap packs that come in sets of 2... with the cheesy designs and characters. Get outta here with those color-blocks, Tucker & Tate.

Paul has started to bargain with me: throw out a piece of clothing, or an old set of pajamas, for every new one you bring home. I agreed, but truth-be-told: I just started a new drawer and make sure I'm the one to dress the boys for bed each night. Sawry.

What can't you stop buying - from Target, or elsewhere? 

Current status:

dropping everything to run out and buy these, because Porter is loving Spiderman lately... and I have NOT seen these yet in my local Target.

I'm So Basic.

I have what one may call an obsessive personality; everything is my favorite. Here is a short-but-running list of some of those things that I've been obsessing over, lately. Most of these things are what "the internets" are calling "basic", as in "basic white girl", but I'm 30 freaking years old. I liked these things before the cute little beauty bloggers decided it was cool.

Let's start with s'mores. Before they bombed your Instagram feed, I was obsessed. Mainly because of toasted mashmallow. I will get, buy, smell, taste ALL THE THINGS that are toasted marshmallow flavored/scented. But the idea of s'mores just makes me happy. It's so summer, and SO early fall. Which - forget you, Caitlyn Jenner - THAT is my favorite transition in the world.

And on that same note: cotton candy flavored anything - but not actual cotton candy. That just feels like I'm eating hair, and who likes to eat hair?

Hair. I was dying to cut it. Now that I did, I hate how stupid it looks when I pull it back into a ponytail (like a stub sticking off the back of my head), so now I'm dying to grow it out. I'm also looking for a new color/style of color... so, yeah, obsessed would cover it.

Family Feud. Specifically, the ones with Steve Harvey hosting. It's on Game Show Network all the time, and we can't get enough.

All of the lights. I will string twinkling lights on my toilet and love it. 

Speaking of lights: I love highlighter. Not like the pens, like the makeup. I think it's called strobing? Or whatever those fancy YouTubers call it these days. Anyway, my favorite highlighter is Jaclyn Hill's collab with BECCA Cosmetics - Champagne Pop. Yasssssss, gimme all the strobing. I look like a beaming ray of sunlight and I love it so much.

Hot sauce. On everything.

Socality Barbie. Just... yes.

Grapefruit La Croix. I finally said goodbye to soda, and my body thanks me.

Vans. I never understood the power of a plain white pair of Vans, but I do now and I can't get enough.

Planners. I'll never use one, but I want to be that girl SO BAD. So I buy them and fill them out once as far out as I can, and then never open them again. Same with journals. I'm really trying with journals, though.

What are some of your favorite things as of late?

An Ode To Coffee

I am working really hard to re-train myself in the art of coffee.

I am such a "seasonal mocha" kinda girl, at heart. I love the sugary, milky concoctions like s'mores frappacinos and creme brûlée lattes. However. They are so bad for you. I know this isn't, like, "breaking news", but they are. I try so hard to make better decisions in my eating, and that has to include drinks too, right?

My husband is a black Americano drinker, and I love the simplicity of his order. I decided to try just a plain iced coffee a few months back.

Ok, not bad. It's actually kinda sweet? I can do this!

Oh, what's that? They add classic syrup? Awesome. So, I decided to ask them for no sweetener, with a splash of cream.

Did you guys know that NO ONE understands what "a splash" means? Every single time I ordered, my iced coffee came out white. And with no sweetener, it tastes like flat, bitter coffee. 

So, I switched my order this weekend - espresso, three shots over lots of ice in a venti cup (which will naturally water it down), with a couple pumps of white mocha for some flavor/sweetness.

It's a winner. My next goal is to phase out the white mocha altogether.

Does anyone have any further suggestions for my newest concoction? I'm all for recommendations! As a mama of two, I desperately need/want the caffeine, but I don't want it at the expense of my health.

M•A•C Attack!

Today we spent some time wandering around the lamest mall in my state (seriously), and I took advantage of being the only girl in our little family of three and escaped to the Mac store while my boys looked at hats (snooooooooooze).

I meant to just go in to buy Ruby Woo, really, I did.

But I was the only one in the store, and I caught a glimpse of myself in one of the brightly lit and terribly unflattering mirrors (you guys know that they do this on purpose, right? Those mirrors are formulated to make anything other than a Mac-encrusted face look absolutely awful). My dark circles were screaming, even under a layer of Loreal TrueMatch and NYC Bronzer... I know. I'm a walking drugstore-makeup-billboard.

I needed to fix this.

I've heard nothing but amazing things about their Pro Longwear Concealer, so I caved and made friends with the Mac girl. She nodded knowingly when I mentioned "dark circles" and "new mom", and pulled me over to a seat where she showed me the miraculous concealer.

As she dabbed it under my eyes and I watched in fascination ... the dark circles faded away within seconds. It's now four hours later, and they are still nowhere to be seen. Can I get an AMEN? I got so excited she cleaned off my whole face and applied a full face of concealer and foundation.

This is a bathroom selfie I took during Porter's bath time (don't worry, he was safe. Calm down, Mom Police). I'm wearing nothing but some concealer, and some foundation -- and this is about four hours after the initial application.

Oh yeah. I also bought the foundation because I was so thrilled with the concealer. I was all "gimme allllllll the products"!

I probably would have bought more, but Paul and Porter showed up from the hat store and I had to stop. :(

My Mac Haul

Pro Longwear Foundation -- NC20 (aka PALE)

Pro Longwear Concealer -- NW 20 (aka, WHITE LIGHTENING/GETRIDOFMYCIRCLES)

Ruby Woo Retro Matte Lipstick (not shown)

Cherry Lip Pencil (not shown)

What else should I buy on my next "I just need to pick up one lipstick" outing?

Date Night With Myself

Last night, I took myself out.

It's been a rough week in the Burton home. Paul is sick with the flu, Porter was sick and is now on the road to recovery, and I desperately needed a moment to breathe. So, I sent Porter with Grammy and Opa to clean the clinic, made sure Paul was comfortable on the couch, and I left.

I drove out to Ulta and spent a good hour pouring over all the makeup and hair products and curling irons I could handle. I bought another new sea salt spray, a new BB cream, about forty new concealers (#momprobs), and then I took myself to the only coffee stand that was open at 8:30pm and got an iced white almond-milk mocha. At 8:30pm. Clearly, I am sleep and sugar-deprived.

Anyone who asked (the girls at Ulta, the barista) what I was up to, I gave them my current life story: "I HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD AND A SICK HUSBAND AND I NEEDED SOME TIME TO MYSELF." I was met with knowing and sympathetic smiles from the Ulta girls and a semi-confused and totally-alarmed smile from the eighteen year old barista, but I didn't care. It's reality, sweetheart, take notes.

I swear by hair night, and now I swear by Ulta-sprees. I don't think Paul agrees, because he almost died when I handed him the receipt (followed quickly but a bottle of new hair product for him to try, because I love him and I'm smart like that: never return from a shopping spree without something for your spouse. I learned this the hard way.)

Buy This.

Buy this. Put it on everything. Especially quinoa & arugula salads.

This has been a blog post.

Currently - November 15

- Making googley-eyes at my new iPhone 5s. I love it so much. It's so pretty and bright and perfect. I'm doing things on my phone I would never normally do, like making voice memos about the current episode of Law & Order that is on my TV. Just because I can. Just because it's so pretty.

- Listening to Christmas music. All of you "omgeee, don't mention Christmas until after Thanksgiving" people... just relax. And read my BFF Jess's thoughts on this same subject (under "Refusing To"). I support her logic entirely.

- being annoyed that people don't know how to use an apostrophe.

- Fighting back tears after reading this fantastic post by an amazing blogger. Just, yes. This is my entire heart toward my husband and son. I could have written this (and I wish I had). Beautiful.

- Lusting over the Naked3 Palette from Urban Decay. Confession: I don't own previous Naked palettes, but man... rose golds? You got me. I'm signed up and receiving the alert the minute this becomes available.

- Sipping my morning coffee very, very slowly. I love peppermint, I love caffeine, and I love that it's FRIDAY.

- "City Folks Just Don't Get It!" Oh my stars. Have you seen the commercial for FarmersOnly.com? Laughing. Out. Loud. I thought it was a joke!

What's going on with you currently?

Decisions, Decisions...

Oh, ok. Fine. I'll take all three.

Word on the street Facebook is that Nordstrom is matching Costco's price on all Hunter Boots. That drops them down to like $75 bucks each; I can't tell you how happy it makes me to think of a colorful lineup of rainboots for me to debate between, each and every day, from now until June.

So, yeah. I'll take all three.

A Rave Wave Review | The Goody Wave Creator

THIS.

This curling iron is life changing; I am obsessed. Sometimes I stop using it because I go through a sockbun or straight-as-an-arrow phase, and then I forget how perfect it is. Then, on other days, I hurry and curl my whole head with this thing, because I'm short on time and I need some good curls...

...and then I don't have to wash my hair for three days because these curls just look better the longer they exist. And then I sing and skip through my days, gleefully tossing around my perfectly messy second-and-third day curls.

I kid you not. You guys, I don't ever go more than a day without washing my hair -- especially after having a baby. I just can't. I turn into a greasy mess, like, in the 25th hour. I'm not kidding... nothing has ever changed the fact that "second day hair" is not for me.

Enter: the cheapest, easiest tool on the planet.

I feel like I could maybe do my first and only hair tutorial on this... because people don't seem to appreciate how easy and perfect this tool is. Maybe I've discovered a secret in execution or something... but I feel like I need to share it with the world.

It's. Just. That. Good.

Sweater: Charlotte Russe | Lips: Laura Mercier Stickgloss in "Maple"

These curls don't fall out. They don't go limp. They just get more and more perfectly tousled with time. Sadly, the Wave Creator is discontinued through Goody, but you can still buy it online.

You're probably annoyed that I just blogged about something that is probably going to be unavailable very soon, but just in case you come across one for sale or for snagging from a friend's house, I wanted you to know that it's worth the effort. Take it. Your friend probably won't even miss it. But when they ask you about your awesome, beachy waves... don't tell them that it's from the curling iron you jacked from their spare bathroom.

Marshmallow Whaaaaa?

I've been obsessed with marshmallow lately.

Who am I kidding. Always. I have always been obsessed with marshmallow. Toasted marshmallow, to be clear. Burnt marshmallows, even... yesssss. When I was introduced to Marshmallow Fluff, I thought that life couldn't possibly get better (until friend who introduced me to the beautiful Fluff proceeded to make me a Flutter Nutter sandwich on WONDER BREAD AND OMG I CAN'T EVEN KEEP FOCUSED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S JUST DREAMY AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD IT YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH.

Anyway. That being said, raw (haha) marshmallows are gross. I'm not really a fan. I'll eat one of two out of respect for the 'mallow, because, that's just what good foodies do. The only way I can truly enjoy a raw marshmallow is if I work it into a melty, gooey ball of sugary goodness with my hands, like I learned how to do in sixth grade.

So, yeah. This picture? Makes me giddy.

http://www.cheekykitchen.com/

Oh my Lord. I love marshmallows!? I think this is the first time I've said this out loud.

My favorite fro-yo spot had Toasted Marshmallow flavored yogurt last week, and I almost drove to Paul's work to pick him up so we could go at 2pm. I tried for years to make a delicious coffee drink from the Toasted Marshmallow syrup that all the local coffee stands carry. I will always, always, always buy anything that is scented or flavored like marshmallows.

Anyway, that's not really the point of this post.

My POINT is, my favorite food blogger and I are so in tune, it's not even funny.

Jessica, from How Sweet Eats, is my favorite. She cracks me up, and makes me lust after food that I shouldn't be lusting after. She doesn't know it yet, but I want to bring her into my inner circle of BFFs and people that feed me. She'll feel honored, I know it.

She posted a "teaser" on Instagram the other day for a marshmallow cheesecake that will be up on her blog very soon, and two things happened. 

First, my heart stopped. And second, I immediately subscribed to get her blog notifications via email. I had been holding out on this step in our relationship, because OMG who gets food notifications in their email? 

I do. 

I get food notifications in my email.

I had to. Because if I don't get immediate notification of this recipe, then what am I doing with my life?

Honest Toddler

I started following Honest Toddler on Twitter some time ago. I seriously can't handle the pure amazingness of these tweets; they're genuinely hilarious, written from the perspective of a brutally honest and blunt toddler (a child after my own heart).

I just read that they will be on GMA tomorrow (the writer behind the account, not the toddler, to be clear), and I can't wait to watch!

If you don't follow, do yourself a favor: Twitter. Instagram.

You're welcome.

Oh. And they just started following me today. I know it's no big deal, because, I'm just one of 4,600... but I'm one of 4,600 hundred out of the 250k that follow them. 

So. There's that.

New Favorite Food. Until Tomorrow.

I would like to announce that I officially have a favorite food. No more debating between Italian or Mexican. No more yearning for good Pad Thai. No more heart palpitations over a good roll of sushi.

I have discovered what I could eat every single day for the rest of my life. And, shockingly enough, it's none of the above.

Are you ready for this?

Avocado toast.

Image from: whatsgabycooking.com

Now, if I'm being honest, it's just guacamole on bread, and there's nothing impressive about that anything on bread is freaking awesome. However, it's much easier than whipping up some fantastic guacamole to put on some bread. You guys: it's guacamole, dialed down. Back to it's roots. It's just a diced avocado, some garlic salt or coarse sea salt and lots of pepper... smothered on whole grain toast. If you're feeling really fun, throw on a slice of fresh turkey, or a few pieces of tomato.

It's filling and delicious and now I want five more pieces of it. Have it tomorrow for breakfast. Or for lunch... or dinner. Or even as a midnight snack. This is one of those things that would make sense at any time of the day, kind of like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Ok, not like Reese's. It's nothing like Reese's PB Cups.

Just try it.

Currently Loving: Scandal

This show. I'm in love.

I kind of want to be Olivia Pope. Or at least one of her Gladiators in a suit. I'd heard a lot of people talk about how much they loved this show, so one fateful Tuesday night, Hubby and I decided to watch Season 1 on Netflix...

... and I bought a trial subscription on Hulu so we could continue into Season 2. It's good, folks. Like... really good.

Although, I'm really confused and amazed as to how I feel ok rooting for the mistress... that's not like me. But, once you get to know President Grant and Mellie... you kind of have to root for the mistress, don't you? I mean... sheesh.

Plus, Olivia Pope's wardrobe alone could have it's own spinoff. So many glamorous pantsuits and vintage blazers, I can hardly stand it.

Dang you, Shonda Rhimes and your brilliantly written masterpieces! (RIP, Private Practice and Seasons 1 through whatever-season-Izzy-left of Grey's Anatomy)

WATCH THIS SHOW.

Who got the BOOCH?

(Haha, see what I did there?)

Anyway. Once upon a time, I decided to try something healthy. And I'm talking about the time I decided to only drink regular Coke instead of Diet Coke because, eww, aspartame.

I was 39 weeks pregnant, and was on my way home from a scary overnight stay at the hospital (my anxiety was getting the best of me, my blood pressure had skyrocketed). We stopped at a neighborhood grocery store, and I decided to try Kombucha. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, and there's nothing like a freak hospital stay to scare the health into you.