Blissfully Simple: December 2014

lifestyle

Vermont & Brown Sugared Grapefruit

8:06 PM

recipe

Day 3- 12/23: Peanut Butter Kisses

6:51 PM

Day 2 12/22: Two-Layered Peppermint Bark

11:21 AM

THREE MORE DAYS!!!

Today is Day 2 of the Five Days 'til Christmas: Dessert Countdown! The recipe I'm sharing with you all is the recipe for Peppermint Bark. Peppermint Bark is possibly the easiest thing I've made, dessert wise. It just takes a little time.

This is the perfect holiday treat because it's simple, and who doesn't love chocolate? This is also a bonus treat because you can give it as a gift. All you have to do is cut up the pieces and place them into a cute jar like a mason jar and tie it with a gorgeous red bow. I love mason jars because they're so understated and simple but so elegant. This makes a great gift for co-workers, neighbors, babysitters, cleaners, etc.

Here's what you need:

16 ounces of dark chocolate
20 ounces of white chocolate
Peppermint candies or candy canes (8-12)
1 tsp of Peppermint extract

Instructions:

1. Chop up the peppermint candies or candy canes into small pieces. Set aside.

2. Cover a baking sheet with wax paper. Set aside.

3. Place the dark chocolate chips into a glass bowl and put into the microwave to melt. Start with 30 seconds. Take out and mix. Put in for another 30 seconds. Take out and mix. Repeat until the chocolate is a smooth and melted texture.

4. Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the wax paper with a silicone spatula. Put into the fridge until the chocolate is hardened, about ten minutes.

5. Melt 16 ounces of white chocolate the same way: microwave for 30 seconds, take out and stir, repeat until melted. Once the white chocolate is melted, add a teaspoon of peppermint extract and fold it in.

6. Pour the white chocolate over the dark and spread out, add the peppermint candies as quickly as possible. You want to make sure the white chocolate doesn't harden and your candies don't stick.

7. Melt the remaining 4 ounces of white chocolate and drizzle it over the peppermint candies. You can do so by dipping a spoon into the chocolate and holding it over the bark.

8. Put the bark into the fridge to set, overnight is best.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this recipe! It's so easy to make and such a hit during the holidays.

recipe

Day 1- 12/21: Penuche Walnut Fudge

4:52 PM

lifestyle

5 Days 'til Christmas: Dessert Countdown!

4:32 PM

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5 Days 'til Christmas: Dessert Countdown!

4:32 PM

inspiration

Morning Message of Positive Energy

10:18 AM

recipe

Santa's Favorite Cookies

11:12 AM

lifestyle

Gorgeous Tea Towels by Claudia Pearson

11:27 AM

beauty

Honey Lemon Facial Scrub/Mask

1:46 PM

I am completely and utterly obsessed with facial care. I mean who doesn't want perfect skin. I love finding new ways to help a breakout, take care of unsightly blackheads, or cure the dark circles under the eyes from a sleepless night. The only thing better than finding new ways to help my face is finding NATURAL ways to do it. I am a firm believer that almost all of the necessities we need for our bodily health come from our very own mother earth.

I am obsessed with this facial scrub/mask (scrask??). It is so simple and so easy to put together. It's made with lemon, honey, and a dash of sugar. First you want to cut the lemon in half and then pour about a teaspoon of honey onto the lemon. Next, sprinkle on the sugar. When you're finished sprinkling the sugar, take the lemon half and rub it all over your face. I did so for about two minutes. When finished, let the scrub/mask sit for 15-20 minutes or until your face feels tight and dry. Wash your face with warm water and towel pat dry.

When you have completed the scrub, your face will feel smoother than a baby's bottom. It will feel so fresh and so clean. I felt like a million bucks!!

Benefits:

Lemons: are SO good for your face. Who would have thunk it?! They help to heal and cure breakouts and they can also help to remove those stubborn blackheads. Lemons are also great for lightening and treating dark spots, blemishes, and scars. The acidity in lemons helps to brighten your face and make your skin tone more even. The citric acid also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties to help kill any unwanted germs on your face.
Honey: is also an amazing natural remedy for skin, nails, and hair. Honey is a natural moisturizer. Raw honey contains enzymes that clean and clear out your pores of any unwelcome particles. Like lemons, honey helps to fade scars and even your skin tone. Honey also has antibacterial and anti fungal properties to help fight and cure breakouts.
Sugar: is a natural exfoliator. It helps to scrub away any impurities and dead skin cells located on your face. Cindy Crawford keeps a bowl of sugar in her bathroom because she uses it to exfoliate before she washed her face.

The ingredients for this scrub/mask are basically all household items and that's one of the big reasons I love it! Hope you all can try it! Comment to let me know how it goes!

lifestyle

Gift Guide for Your BFFs

4:19 PM

The holidays are always a stressful time when it comes to finding that perfect gift. Fortunately, shopping for your best friends is usually easier than shopping for your parents or boyfriend/girlfriend.

Here are a couple ideas for that perfect gift for your flawless BFFs:

1. Lilly Pulitzer Tumbler: This is the perfect gift for the coffee and tea lover in your life. Whether she's on the go, or just going to class, this tumbler is simply perfection. Find here.

2. Kate Spade Passport Holder: If you're like me and all of your friends are going abroad soon, this passport holder is a great holiday gift. They come in so many cute colors so you can find one that is just right for your best friend. Find here.

3. Bauble Bar Ice Asymmetrical Alpha Pendant: One of my best friends birthdays was this week and I got her this gift and it was PERFECT. Dainty necklaces are the hottest trend right now and this necklace is so simple but so stated. I think that this gift is the quintessential personalized necklace. Find here.

4. Bliss Softening Socks: Socks are such an underestimated gift. Not many people hate receiving a fluffy pair of socks they can wear around the house and with their boots! These socks however are a little different, they're spa socks. Bliss is one of the best skincare companies out there right now and these socks are perfect for moisturizing and beautifying feet. Find here.

5. Wool Scarf: If your friends are anything like my friends, then they LOVE scarfs. I absolutely adore a cute scarf. They can make all outfits perfect. Any wool or knit scarf is the perfect gift for the winter. Find here.

6. Philosophy Iced Gingerbread Cookie Duo: Girls simply love to receive beauty products as gifts. I personally love to get a great lotion or scrub. This specific beauty duo is by Philosophy- an amazing company. The lotion is sugary cinnamon icing and the body wash/shampoo/bath gel is spiced gingerbread cookie.. can you say yum! The scents are just simply divine. Find here.