Amazing (Addictive) Chocolate Rolo Cookies

I found this recipe while looking around for something new to make on cooks.com. I decided to make them myself, following their recipe exactly as said, except for the cook time which needed to be longer. I am a huge fan of Rolo candies, so these were so up my alley! If you're interested in making them, here is the recipe and directions from cooks.com.....

2 1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. butter, softened
2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
48 Rolo candies

Mix flour, cocoa, and soda. Cream eggs, sugar, vanilla and butter until fluffy. Add dry ingredients; mix well. Chill 10-15 minutes.Place 1 tablespoon dough around 1 Rolo (flour hands). Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 7-10 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool 2 minutes, then finish cooling on rack.

(I didn't need to flour my hands because I used a small ice cream scooper to scoop the dough.)

I also didn't need all 48 Rolos. For me, the batch made 38 cookies which is still a lot even for a big family like mine, (whom all loved the cookies by the way, along with my neighbors.) So, there's definitely room to share. Here are some pics of my recreation.

I think these cookies turned out delicious and I can't stop eating them! Which is probably not the healthiest habit, but hey, it was so worth it!

Oringinal Recipe (same as I have posted): http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1810,159187-224197,00.html

Always,
Britta

Blackberry Dares: Smoky Eye Tutorial

Here is a gorgeous smoky purple eye that I created on my model. We are both in love with it and I thought I would share it with you guys! Almost all of the products I used are from MAC so they will be easy to get a hold of. Here's what you're going to need to recreate this look.....

1) primer
2) MAC's All That Glitters eye shadow
3) Sable from MAC
4) Blackberry from MAC
5) MAC's Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Engraved

Step 1: As always, apply a primer all over the lid.

Step 2: Going out about half way from the inner corners, place All That Glitters.

Step 2: Blending into the first color and going about 3/4 of the way out, apply Sable.

Step 3: Go into the outer corner with Blackberry, up into the crease and winged out to a point. Bring it down half way on the lower lash line.

Step 4: Using the eyeliner in Engraved, create a winged tip on the top lash line. Also take it onto the waterline.

 Step 5: Apply mascara and you're done!

I hope you're loving this look right now just as much as I am! Have fun and as always, put your own twist on it!

Always,
Britta

Makeup Necessity: Warm Soul by MAC

One of my absolute must haves for any time of the year is MAC's blush in Warm Soul. It goes great with basically any skin color! I'm a bit on the darker side skin wise so it's great that I can have a blush that works for me and all of my friends when they have me do their makeup. It gives you a nice flush of warmth in the cheeks and I think it's gorgeous! If you're looking for a good blush, I urge you to try it out!

Warm Soul Mineralized Blush; $22 at MAC

Always,
Britta

My First Ever Birch Box!

Starting this month, I've signed up for Birch Box. If you guys are not familiar with Birch Box, it is a monthly package that arrives in your mail full of 4-5 deluxe samples of beauty products. If you like them, you can go on Birch Box's website and buy it in a full size. The box is $10 a month or $110 for a year. This month they had designer Cynthia Rowley curate the box of some of her summer must-haves. I will definitely be getting one next month! Let's start in on what I got!

Underneath the hot pink box.

After you take off the sleeve.

Letter inside about what's in the box and pricing on full sized products.

Adorabley packaged!

What I got: Redken's Shine Flash, Ahava's Mineral Hand Cream, Philosophy's Purity Face Cleanser, Zoya Nail Polish in Shay from the Touch Collection, an almond apricot bar from Kind.

When I saw the nail polish, I freaked and had to try it on right away. Here are some pics of it!

With flash.

Outside.

I'm really looking forward to trying everything out. None of these are really things that I would have gone out and bought on my own which is so great about Birch Box. You find things you love that you never thought to try. Hope you enjoyed! Have a happy Friday!

Here's where you can order your own Birch Box: www.birchbox.com

Always,
Britta

Makeup Necessity: Eye Shadow Primer

I thought I might start a small series with some of my most loved products.  My first one is eye shadow primer.  No matter what type of eye look you are going for, no matter your skin type, primers are a must-have.  There are so many benefits to using them including the fact that your eye shadow won't crease, you will have better color payoff, it will stay much longer, and you will experience less fallout. That is, if you get one that is of decent quality.  I started off using BH Cosmetic's lip and eye primer.  It really did help, but since I'm still considered pretty new to the beauty world, I don't know that it is my fave. I have been trying Too Faced Shadow Insurance and once I get the feel of it, I will let you know. Another popular one (I have not tried it out yet, though) is Urban Decay's Primer Potion. Again, I've never tried it so I can't tell you about it. I just know many people are quite fond of it. I just want to show you some swatches of eye shadows with and without primer just to show you the difference in color. For these pics, I used my BH Cosmetics primer.

I used two colors from my BH palette. The left one of the blues is with primer, the right being without. The same with the greens.

As you can see, there is a huge difference in the color between without primer as to with.  I hope you enjoyed my short makeup necessity post and found it somewhat helpful! You might need to shop around for primers until you find the one that is best for you.

Always,
Britta

NYX Lipstick Swatches+Selena Gomez Video Lips That I Promised!

I know it's been a while, and I know I told you guys that the lip colors for the "I Love you Like a Love Song" lip looks were coming in, but the colors weren't too resembling toward the music video. I will show you some swatches of what I did get anyways.  These lipsticks are NYX brand but I bought them on Ulta's website. So, here are the swatches!

From left to right; Eros, Georgia, Iris, Baby Pink

Eros, Georgia, Iris, Baby Pink

Eros, Georgia, Iris, Baby Pink.

I love all these colors and the texture is super creamy! They glide right on and you don't need very much to get good color out of it. They are definitely worth checking out! Hope these swatches tickled you pink!

Always,
Britta