my little make up bag.. and avocado skin care mask recipe ♥

here is a few of my fave cosmetics and things in my little make up bag love them!

my mac make up I cant live without, rather than wearing foundation i just use this under my eyes and i love it! ♥  http://www.maccosmetics.com

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

my fave lipstick shade "spirit" ♥

mac eyeshadow for that smokey eye look i love! ♥

for my lashes love this stuff! ♥ http://www.loreal.com

bobbi brown bronzer! http://www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

lip plumper!by Too faced http://www.toofaced.com/
 ♥

victorias secret lip gloss beauty rush! ♥ http://www.victoriassecret.com/

oil of olay! love this stuff ♥ http://www.olay.com

my fave self tanner! better than fake bakin! ♥ 

my fave perfume from victorias secret sexylittle things! http://www.victoriassecret.com/  ♥

and my fave face mask with recipe! avocados the natural beauty agent! ♥

A Face Mask the Natural Way.
Ingredients:
1. 1 Avacado (ripe)
2. 2 tbsp plain yogurt
Cut avacado in half and take seed out. Take out green part of avacado and put in a bowl. Mush it into a gucamole like texture. Add plain yogurt and stir evenly. Spread on face, avoiding eyes. Let sit for 20 minutes. Wash off and feel how smooth your face will be! ♥

love this wine! ♥

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you can go here to purchase some of your own online! :)♥

http://www.snooth.com/wines/bitch/

sushi night out tips ♥, happy friday!

i love sushi! ♥,  here's some tips for a fun sushi bar night out! happy friday!

Dining• You may be offered a hot, wet towel (called an oshibori) at the beginning of your meal. Use it to wash you hands and try to fold it back neatly the way it was offered to you before returning it.
• Do not rub your chopsticks together. When not in use they should be placed parallel to yourself on the holder (if there is one) or on the shoyu dish. They should also be placed there when finished with your meal.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for an item not on the menu as the sushi-ya may have special or seasonal items that are not listed. It is perfectly acceptable to ask, and often the itamae will appreciate your interest.
• Don’t put wasabi directly in the shoyu dish. Nigiri-zushi (fingers of rice topped with fish or another topping) comes with wasabi placed under the neta (fish) by the itamae, and reflects what he feels is the proper balance of wasabi to fish. Some of us like a little more, and you can always sneak some separately on the fish or with it.
• It is OK to eat nigiri-zushi (sushi) with your hands. Sashimi is only to be eaten with your chopsticks.
• Pick up the nigiri-zushi and dip the fish (neta) into your shoyu, not the rice (which will soak up too much shoyu). The rice is like a sponge, and too much shoyu will overpower the taste of the food and could also lead to the rice falling into your shoyu dish and making soup, which is not a good thing.
• Do not pick up a piece of food from another person’s plate with the end of the chopsticks you put in your mouth. When moving food like this use the end you hold, which is considered the polite way.
• Eat nigiri style sushi in one bite. This is not always easy (or possible) in North America where some sushi-ya make huge pieces, but traditional itamae in Japanese sushi-ya will make the pieces the proper size for this. In North America, try your best and don’t worry if they won’t let you.
• Gari (ginger) is considered a palate cleanser and eaten between bites or different types of sushi. It is not meant to be eaten in the same bite as a piece of sushi.
• Slurping noodles is OK, less so for soup, but a bit is fine, at least by Japanese standards.
• In more traditional sushi-ya, if you are not given a spoon for your soup, do not ask for one. You are expected to pick up your bowl to drink the soup, using your chopsticks to direct the solid pieces to your mouth.
• It’s nice to offer a beer or sake to the itamae (but of course not required). He may remember you and treat you well upon subsequent visits.
• Never pass food to another person using chopsticks as this is too close symbolically to the passing of a deceased relative’s bones at a traditional Japanese funeral. Pass a plate instead allowing an individual to take food themselves.
• Also, never stick your chopsticks in your rice and leave them sticking up. This resembles incense sticks and again brings to mind the symbolism of the Japanese funeral and prayers to one's ancestors.
• Technically one doesn’t drink sake with sushi (or rice in general) only with sashimi or before or after the meal. It is felt that since they are both rice based, they do not complement each other and therefore should not be consumed together. Green tea is a great option with sushi or sashimi.
• With alcoholic beverages, it is considered customary to serve each other (if not alone) instead of pouring one's own drink. Be attentive of your fellow diner’s glasses and refill them. If you need a refill, drink the remainder of the beverage and hold the glass slightly and politely towards a dining partner.
• Sake is available both chilled and hot, depending the quality and style. Experiment to learn what you like, but generally, higher quality sake is served cold. And some is quite good as well as sophisticated.
• Belching is considered impolite at the Japanese table, unlike some other Asian cultures.
• “Kanpai!” (“empty your cup”) is the traditional Japanese toast you may hear. Do not say “chin chin” as to the Japanese, this is a reference to a certain male body part best left out of proper conversation.have fun!

my fave quote from breakfast club..."What's that? Sushi. Sushi? Rice, raw fish and...seaweed. You won't accept a guy's tongue in your mouth and you are gonna eat that?"
-John

and dont forget your doggies! heres some cute toys for them while you are out! :)

heres the link where you can buy theses supercute! ♥,

http://www.sushipups.com/

and here's a recipe for homemade california rolls on my other website europeancutie

http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-just-love-sushi-california-roll.html

bottom line...♥, :)

heres a homemade recipe of my california roll

 

flirty girl fitness ♥,

one of my fave workout videos! :)

go here on the website for more info on your own workout tape! :)
http://www.flirtygirlfitness.com/

pink party for breast cancer awareness ♥

in honor of the breast cancer walk this weekend here's some tips for a girly party for breast cancer awareness! :)  ♥

pink ribbon shaped cookies... ♥

rhinestone ribbon awareness charms.. ♥

First off, make the guest list. It just has to feature the people you want to spread awareness to, like close friends and family members. Even if you know survivors of breast cancer, invite them as well. They'll make wonderful speakers at your party to share their experience. Also, a little donation goes a long way. Even if it's not a lot, ask your guests if they would mind donating towards this great cause to promote awareness. ♥
Next up, focus on the decorations. When people think about this awareness month, they think of pink and the ribbon logo. Therefore, that's what you need to decorate your party with. Also, as party of your party decorations place out pamphlets or articles about breast cancer and what this campaign is all about. ♥

Now for the party food focus on pink themed food. Focus mainly on finger foods or mini desserts for this get together. Your event will probably have a few friends and family members over, so going with a light party menu is the way to go. Pink cupcakes featuring the awareness ribbon, pink chocolate ,pink ribbon shaped cookies,dipped strawberries, pink candy and even pastries with pink icing are great ideas for mini desserts. To top it all off, don't forget about the pink cosmos! recipe here.
http://europeancutie.blogspot.com/2011/09/pink-cosmo-recipe-in-honor-of-breast.html

                                                                     pink cosmos! ♥

The main focus of your party needs to promote awareness. So, focus on providing your guests with the information they need to better understand this topic. If you know someone who has dealt with this, is a breast cancer survivor or works with the association, have them as a guest speaker. Don't forget about interesting articles and pamphlets to hand out to your friends. Your party will be informative, promoting and giving back to this society.
So, when throwing your pink party, don't forget to incorporate information and have fun with it. Your party is a great place to help raise awareness, promote Breast Cancer Awareness and even raise a donation to help further their research and promotion. ♥

jdrf charms ♥, ( Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

this weekend I am doing a walk for jdrf in honor of my mother...♥


this is in honor of my mother who passed away at age 37 from this disease, I volunteer and promote these products to find a cure and raise awareness these charms are adorable and every purchase is donated to jdrf. :)

these charms are sold at brighton stores click on the link for more info http://www.brightonretail.com/store/wishlist.php?m=product_detail&p=J94222

Each charm costs $25, and Brighton donates $20 to the charity symbolized by the charm. Is that a great deal or what?!

When you purchase the charm, right then and there, you receive a $20 check, which has already been made out to your charity. All you have to do is mail the check. There is space to add your information, if you wish to do so.

 Brighton’s charity charm campaign is fabulous. It features seven ribbon charms in different colors and each charm benefits a different cause: American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, USA Cares, Autism Speaks, Alzheimer’s Association, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and American Cancer Society.

also here is the link for walk for jdrf just click on your state...
http://www2.jdrf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_homepage

girly fondue party ♥

 still remember my mother's fondue pot..fondue parties have come a long way since then...
heres some great fondue recipes....

here's also some tips for a fun fondue party! ♥
classic fondue recipe ♥
•1/2 lb grated Emmentaller
 •1/2 lb grated Le Gruyere
 •1 clove garlic
 •1 1/2 cups dry white wine
 •1 tbsp lemon juice
 •3 tbsp flour
 •pepper and nutmeg to taste
 •2 loaves Italian or French bread cut into 1" cubes with crust on one side
•Combine Emmentaler and Le Gruyere and sprinkle with flour (this can be done in a plastic bag).

•Rub inside of fondue pot with cut garlic clove.

•Pour wine into pot and heat over medium heat until warm, not boiling!

•Add lemon juice.

•Add cheese by handfuls, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until melted and cheese-wine mixture has the consistency of a creamy sauce.

•Add pepper and nutmeg to taste.

•Let boil once.

•Remove pot and put on lighted burner on table. Adjust flame of burner so fondue continues bubbling lightly.

•Serve each guest a handful of bread cubes.

•Spear fondue fork through bread cubes. Dunk and stir well to bottom of pot. Enjoy!

italian cheese fondue recipe ♥


•1 garlic clove, halved

•1-1/4 cups milk

•8 ounces grated mozzarella cheese

•8 ounces grated fontina cheese

•2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

•1 Tablespoon cornstarch

•3 Tablespoons dry white wine

•Salami cubes, crusty Italian bread cubes, veggies for dipping!
Rub inside of a heavy saucepan with cut side of garlic, Discard garlic.

Pour milk into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir in mozarella, fontina, and parmeson cheeses until melted and smooth.

Whisk together cornstarch and white wine until smooth. While constantly stirring, slowly pour wine mixture into cheese mixture and continue to cook until thickened. Transfer to a fondue pot to keep warm.

Serve with salami cubes, veggies, crusty Italian bread cubes, and/or bread sticks for dippers.

4 to 6 servings

fat free chocolate fondue recipe ♥


 1 Cup Water warm


1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa


2 Teaspoons Cornstarch dissolved in one tablespoon cold water

1/4 Cup Sugar


1 Teaspoon Extract Of Vanilla



1. Mix cornstarch and water in a small saucepan.


2. When smooth, add remaining ingredients except fruit and stir over moderately high heat until mixture boils 1 minute.


3. Pour into fondue pot to keep warm. enjoy!


fondue party tips....



Figure just how much food you'll need. ♥
One person can eat about 20 one-inch cubes of bread (1/2 to 1/3 of a loaf of French bread), 8 ounces of meat, 6 ounces of fish or seafood, 4 to 6 ounces of cheese, 6-8 ounces of vegetables, before trimming, 6-8 ounces of fruit, before trimming, 2-4 ounces of dried fruit, 4 cookies, 2 to 3 ounces of dessert sauce.
Figure a total of about 1 pound of food, or a little more, per person

Serve bite-size food. ♥
All fondue food should be served in one or two bite pieces to allow for easy skewing or hand-dipping. Strawberries, large marshmallows, small cookies, medium shrimp, large scallops, etc., are perfect as they are. Thick bread and cake should be cut into 1-inch cubes. Cut meats into 1/2 to 1-inch cubes.

Use the correct fondue pot. ♥
Ceramic fondue pots for cheese, chocolate, or other dessert fondues. Metal fondue pots for broth, oil, wine or beer fondue recipes in which the food is cooked in the pot. Combination pots are the most practical and are usually very elegant
Use the right liquids. ♥
Use flavorful liquids only, such as broth, beer or wine, never water. When adding wine to a cheese fondue recipe, use a dry or semi-dry wine, such as a Swiss Fendant, Sauvignon Blanc or California Riesling to help the proteins in the cheese melt more smoothly.
Cook your fondue sauce on the stove; serve in the fondue pot. ♥

Never let your fondue recipe boil in the pot. ♥
Keep cheese and dessert fondues at a low temperature, just enough to keep them warm, about 120 degrees. Use a very low flame or tea light candle to warm the pot. Oil for frying should be kept at about 375 degrees. At that temperature, a cube of bread will brown evenly in about 20 or 30 seconds.
Observe fondue etiquette. ♥
Remember you are dipping and swirling from a communal pot; try not to touch your lips or tongue to a fork that goes back into the pot.
 When cooking in the pot, skewer meats onto your fondue fork in such a way that the tines protrude slightly. That way, the meat will not stick to the bottom of the fondue pot. Important: Remove the cooked meat from the fondue fork before eating. The fork will be much too hot!
and remember just have fun and enjoy! ♥

a girl's guide to antique shopping ♥

1. Do your homework. Especially if you are looking to make a big ticket purchase, it’s important to go into the store, show, or market knowing the price range of an item you like. Having comparison shopped will save you headaches and some hemming and hawing. The usual internet suspects of Ebay and Craigslist can quickly give you an idea what an item should cost. You can also hit up your local library or used book store.
2. Check the item's materials and their condition. Price should correlate to quality. See if the item has original tags to help date it and let you know if you've got the "real thing" or a knock-off. Also, notice what it’s made of: is it leather or naugahyde, glass or plastic, oak or pine? Whatever the materials, expect some age-appropriate wear and tear, but make sure there aren’t any substantial flaws. That $50 antique dinner table won’t seem like a bargain when you realize it has a giant, hard-to-mask gash. Politely mention this kind of thing to the seller, and you'll have ammunition for bargaining.
3. Size up the shop and seller. If you're unsure, you can get hints as to whether the price is fair by looking around and talking to the owner/vendor. Notice if there are other pieces whose price range you're more familiar with, and see if they're reasonable. If you’re at a flea market, take your time and comparison shop between booths (and know that prices will be more negotiable by the end of the day). As for the vendors themselves, don't be afraid to ask questions. I know I feel more comfortable shelling out cash when the seller proves he really knows his stuff. Also, an item feels more valuable to me when I know its history.
4. Go with your gut. Maybe those chairs you've found are a little more expensive than similar ones you've seen, but they have an extra detail you love. It's your wallet, and the bottom line is whether a price feels fair and worth it to you. If it doesn't, haggle or walk away. If something is not exorbitantly expensive, my final test for deciding if I "have to have it" is deciding if I would really regret not buying it if I knew someone else had snatched it.

my favorite top things to antique for....♥

antique jewelery and fashion...♥

 antique furniture and decor....♥

antique dishes.....♥

antique dolls..♥

any anything else in between...someones elses junk is my treasure! ♥

happy shopping! ♥ :)