Purple Hair + a Real Beaut!

Something you may have noticed recently if you follow me on social media is the fact that I now have purple hair. Not just purple, but a wonderful eye-catching, whimsical shade that still feels refined... As if you couldn't tell by that description, I kind of like my new hair.

You may be saying to yourself, "wait, what, PURPLE?" I know a few people have given me looks questioning if I'm gothic and maybe painting my nails black the same week wasn't the best idea but... I love my hair. Yes, I took a big ol' jump off the metaphorical hair ledge and plunged into a deep, dark, lovely shade of violet and I'm madly in love with it.

It may come as a shock if you're a long time reader, I've had blonde/ombresque hair for a while now and while that style was cute for a few years, I was ready for a change.

This change doesn't necessarily signify anything of importance, although I am graduating with my associates after this semester and possibly taking on some new, exciting projects. I also stopped shampooing my hair (not in a hippie-flippy type of way but in a make-your-hair-healthier type of way, more on that later). This change was more about refreshing my style, starting a-new, revitalizing, and rejuvenating my sense of me and purple was just what I needed!

While I'm super excited about my new hair, I'm also pretty excited about my new dress from Shabby Apple. I love everything from their store but this dress is a real beaut! No really, the name of the dress is Real Beaut! and it's a title that suits the dress well!

The way the dress hugs my curves just right, the neutral shade of the dress, and the super-duper soft material make this dress one of my favorites to wear no matter the occasion! I also really love this dress because it's conservative yet the waist adds a flirty flair, the perfect mixture of modern and vintage styles.

Have you heard of Shabby Apple? It's one of my favorite places to shop online! Check out the store and tell me which dress is your favorite! I've got my eye on the tulle skirts they just launched, I'm almost certain you will find me dancing around on the beach at sunset in one of those gorgeous skirts all summer long!

It's a Fiesta - Have a Delicious Cinco de Mayo with Delimex! #DelimexFiesta

While this recipe and shop have been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, all the love for Mexican food and all of the opinions are mine alone. #DelimexFiesta #CollectiveBias

I'm always up for a party and since Cinco de Mayo is a day of celebration, you better believe we will be celebrating in our home. Sadly, Cinco de Mayo falls right smack dab in the middle of finals week. But since we never turn down a good time, we will still celebrate in style - we just have to keep our festivities short and sweet this year!

By short and sweet, I mean our festivities will still include tasty little Mexican candy, a pinata, some amazing Mexican food, delicious drinks, and maybe even some confetti; everything a Cinco de Mayo get together needs, just scaled down with some studying involved as well. Not exactly a party, but a good time for sure!

After finding a whole freezer full of Delimex deliciousness at Walmart, I knew the perfect way to treat us to some delicious mexican food on-the-fly. With tacos, tamales, and taquitos galore to choose from we finally narrowed down our selection to the beef taquitos, chicken taquitos, and the cheddar and beef rolled tacos!

These taquitos and tacos paired with a guacamole cream sauce that has just the right amount of kick to it, can you imagine a more perfect meal for Cinco de Mayo? Since the taquitos and tacos are ready in just minutes and the dip practically makes itself, I can prepare this cute and festive appetizer quickly and serve it up during study time! Who wants to be my study buddy for my statistics final, any takers?

While you may not want to study statistics with me, I bet you'll want to give this Guacamole Cream Sauce a try. It's the perfect blend of avocado, creaminess, and a kick of spice - I'm sure you and your family will be craving it all the time after you give it a try!

Guacamole Cream Sauce

Ingredients:

3 oz Sour Cream

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup onion

1 tbsp garlic

1/8 tsp chipotle powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp white pepper

1/2 lime

1/4 cup tomato

2 avocados

Want to make this delicious cream sauce for your family? The recipe is so simple!

Rinse and dice all veggies. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy! Top with a bit of cilantro and you're all set!

ENJOY!

Our Delimex choices didn't disappoint during our initial taste test and dipped in my homemade guacamole cream sauce, these little babies will make the perfect treat on Cinco de Mayo and maybe even be what's on the menu for dinner tonight as well! Taco Tuesday, anyone? I suggest you check out all of these delicious recipes, I'd love to know which one you plan on fixing up first?

Celebrate Mother's Day with Thymes Fragrances

I have several moms in my life. Not in a weird sister-wives type of way, but I literally have a handful of females in my life who helped raise me. You know how they say it takes a village; well, it took a village (or a handful) of mother figures to raise this wild child. I'm so thankful for all the females in my life who have helped me become who I am today.

I have my real mom who is literally my best friend now, although we had our differences during my teen years (which seems pretty normal). She is the reason I have this entrepreneurial spirit, she's the reason I was brave enough to move to Florida and start fresh, she's literally inspired me to make my life into what it is today... and while I may never admit it to her, I'm a lot like her in some ways and I kind of appreciate that fact. She's been able to overcome so much in her lifetime and inspires me each and everyday to live life in a way that makes me happy, something that has truly made my life beautiful. She's incredible.

I have a sister who is almost a decade older than me and she definitely has played the role of my mother from time to time. While she didn't give birth to me, she helped to shape me into who I am today and has even taken me in under her roof in the past and provided for me. She's a rock in my life and while my mom is awesome, I love that my sister was always around to be my impromptu mom when I needed her. From waking up early to help me get ready for school to kicking my butt and forcing me into the job market when I was struggling with balance as a teen, she's literally done it all. She's now a mama to her own little one and I know her daughter will always feel safe, loved, and encouraged - because she always made me feel that way. She's amazing.

I have a "step-mom" that I love to pieces, she literally changed my life when she came into the picture a few years ago and for her I'm so thankful. She's not technically married to my dad, hence the quotation marks but that doesn't mean she isn't a mother to me as well. She may not have been around for my rebellious teenage years (lucky her), but she has definitely helped me in ways that I can't even begin to express... Bridging gaps, always wanting to grow our relationship, and treating me with love and respect. She's everything a step-mom should be and more. She's a blessing.

I also have a mother-in-law that has literally shown me the meaning of unconditional love. She's been in my life since I was in high school and she's taught me so many life lessons, even if she doesn't realize it. She's also blessed me with the most amazing thing in my life, my husband, so for that alone I'm forever grateful to her. Her passion for life, her dedication to her children, and her loving nature make her one of my favorite people in the world. She's inspiring.

I have a step mother-in-law as well. She is the definition of a loving mother to her children. She would do anything for her kids and has always extended that love to her entire family. Her style, her ability to love, and her passion for life are incredible to be around and I admire her for many reasons. She's awesome.

While I plan to spoil each of my mother figures this mother's day, I'm sharing the presents I'm giving to two of them today so that you can get in on the fun. I won't be sharing who gets what yet because I don't want to ruin the surprise but I think they all will like their presents.

With that said, one of the gifts is mermaid themed and I think the recepient will be pleased with the enticing Thymes Aqua Coralline candle and hand soap, two beach-y towel holders, and a mermaid printable made just for her (and you - download it for free here)! This printable stating "even mermaids wash their tails" is the perfect compliment to the Thymes soap!

The other lucky mama in my life will receive the feminine and fun Thymes Kimono Rose lotion and perfume set and candle with a printable encouraging her to "Be Happy, Be Bright, Be You" - the perfect encouraging and loving gift! You can download that printable for free here!

I can't wait to share these gifts with two lucky ladies, I may just head on over to Thymes website and order more for all the mama's in my life... I just need to decide which scent will work best for each woman first, the options are bountiful so I'll have to begin narrowing down my favorites with the free sample kit they scent over. Oh yeah, that's right, I haven't shared the best part yet - Thymes is hooking up each and every order over $25 with a free Fragrance Studio Sample kit (which includes 15 fragrances)!

Haven't heard of Thymes before? Thymes is known for creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind fragrances. They take pride in thoughtfully curating every product and infusing touches of charm to make them truly special and uniquely Thymes - unlike any other perfume line on the market. The best way to describe fragrances made by times is natural, comforting scents refined with a sophisticated air. The minds behind Thymes are dreamers and doers, dedicated artisans driven to create beautiful things for others to discover, appreciate, and share. The best part of Thymes is that they opt for natural, high quality, plant-based ingredients instead of chemical ingredients whenever possible. They use botanical extracts with health enhancing nutrients, vitamins, and vital antioxidants - making wearing one of their fragrances a real pleasure.

Now that I've gushed about my favorite fragrance line, I'd love to know which one of Thymes fragrances do you want to try first? Which scent do you think your mother will like the most?

Starting The Journey with Starbucks Coffee!

Big thanks to Starbucks for sending over a bunch of goodies so that I could share them with you today!

My coffee time involves a lot of creativity, a little bit of love, and a lot of enthusiasm. By that I mean, when I make Starbucks coffee at home, it's the same great taste they offer at the coffee shop but on my own stomping grounds while doing the things I do best. I get to hang out and relax, cozied up with a blanket and my Starbucks coffee in hand while working on an upcoming project or run around town with a to-go cup of joe in hand while gathering supplies for a day of fun. Starbucks helps fuel my daily adventures.

So as you can imagine, when Starbucks asked me to be a part of their blogging community I was overwhelmed with excitement! When the first box arrived, I was even more excited. Stocked full of the Starbucks originals, The Core Coffee Series which includes The Veranda Blend, The House Blend, and The Caffe Verona Blend. The line up of coffee that every Starbucks lover needs in their home.

They also sent over a "Coffee Passport" to help me explore the fundamentals of coffee, an adorable "mermaid" siren stacking mug, a pour over brewer with filters, and an awesome yearly calendar. Everything I need to make my home into my version of Starbucks.

I'm super excited to be sharing awesome stories and information about Starbucks as I take part in their blogger program, with so many different types of coffee to try you can bet that a recipe or two and maybe even a craft project are in the works!

Did you know Starbucks has a pretty amazing mission statement? While some people may not care, I've always been one to stand behind a brand with a passionate and inspiring mission statement, a brand that really knows what they stand for. I'm a Starbucks fan and always have been, but now that I know their mission is "to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time", I'm a lifelong devotee to the Green Mermaid. They don't just want to inspire and nurture their coffee drinkers, they love build lasting relationships with the farmers who grow the world's finest arabica beans as well. Making the world a better place, one cup of coffee at at time.

So now that I've brought up everyone's favorite coffee and I have you craving it, I'd love to know what's your "usual" when visiting Starbucks?  What's your favorite blend to make at home?

Good Times and Tan Lines - Beach #OOTD + A Thug Life Shirts Coupon

I love a little bit of wit and humor, especially when it comes to my clothing so when I found Thug Life Shirts, I kind of fell head-over-heels with all of their awesome tees! With everything from baseball style tees to potterhead t-shirts to tanktops that contain the most off-the-wall stuff, they have a shirt that everyone will love.

After almost 2 hours of weighing my options and having about 50 tabs open, I finally decided I had to have the "Good Times and Tan Lines" tank top to wear all the time this summer.

It's fit is perfect, the material is so comfy and since it's a little long, it makes the PERFECT beach cover up. I may pair it with some yoga shorts if we are running errands but I felt perfectly comfortable sans pants... because uhm, these shirts are all so incredibly me (and I'm adding all of them to my Thug Life cart right this second):

Whether you are looking for a cute new shirt for yourself, your best friend, or your boyfriend, Thug Life has some of the best (and most unique) gift ideas I've ever seen! Have you shopped Thug Life Shirts before? If not, you should right this second ---- I'm excited to share that you can score 10% off with the code "LAUREN10"!

I'd love to hear, which Thug Life Shirt is your favorite? Have a clever t-shirt slogan idea? Tell me what you want to see!

My Morning Routine and How I Prevent and Treat Blemishes as an Adult with Acnevir®

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Acnevir for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm going to share something somewhat embarrassing. As of lately, I've been getting really gnarly pimples, I'm not even talking about the average everyday zit but the type of pimple that makes you want to stay home from social events. The type of blemish that old TV shows make into a whole episode and while my life isn't some Brady Bunch episode, these zits are realer than real, they are embarrassing and they hurt! I thought when I graduated to my twenties I wouldn't have pimples anymore, I was obviously wrong.

I've done everything I can to prevent them. While tea tree oil seems to help once they are healing, I have been struggling to find a product that really helps to rid my face of blemishes before they even start. That's when I realized, I've been using products made for teen skin and as much as I want to reclaim my youth I'm now getting closer to 30 than my teens and need to find products made for my skin.

That's when I found Acnevir Gel, a three-in-one homeopathic gel that does everything I need. It clears my current break outs, reduces the redness that never seems to leave my cheeks, and even helps to prevent future break outs. With aloe to help reduce dryness, I'm almost addicted to applying this to my skin and love the way the water based gel goes on smoothly and absorbs super quickly!

I love using Acnevir first thing in the morning. I apply a thin layer, put some eye drops in my eyes, give my eyebrows a touch up, and apply mascara every morning before I leave my house, no matter what! It's the perfect addition to my morning routine and if you are battling any redness or blemishes, I highly recommend you give it a try as well. Like with everything in your medicine cabinet, please make sure to read and follow all label instructions before using though!

Have you ever had a break out that made you feel like you were the star of a cheesy sitcom? Maybe it wasn't that bad but almost everyone has had a zit that made them want to run and hide, am I right? Well, one lucky reader will win a tube of Acnevir® simply by leaving a comment below telling me about that awful breakout or blemish. Please remember, this product is only for those that are 18+!

Celebrate Earth Day with Desert Cactus + Succulent Cupcakes

Earth Day is a day to celebrate our planet - the place that we all live, the place we all should be thankful to live. I'm super excited to celebrate mother nature and our beautiful planet this year, so excited in fact, that I made a batch of cupcakes to celebrate! These cupcakes aren't your ordinary, run-of-the-mill cupcakes though; I made these cupcakes to resemble one of my favorite parts of our earth, these desert cupcakes make the perfect dessert for Earth Day and will wow your guests with their rich flavors and decadent accents!

Even if you aren't well versed in fondant, this recipe is something you can try to recreate... I promise it's not complicated and the rich, moist cake is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Ingredients      

Chocolate Cake:    
2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour   
2 cups sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water    

Fondant:
1 package marshmallow cream
3-4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar    
4 teaspoons solid vegetable shortening
Decorating Icing in Green & Red

Icing Ingredients:
2-3 cups confectioners' sugar
2/3 stick butter
3 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
splash of milk
Candy Rocks

Cake Instructions     

Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare cupcake tins with reusable cupcake liners.

Add flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder to a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk through to combine or, using your paddle attachment, stir through flour mixture until combined well.  

Add milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla to flour mixture and mix together on medium speed until well combined. Reduce speed and carefully add boiling water to the cake batter. Beat on high speed for an additional minute to add air to the batter.

Distribute cake batter into cupcake liners. Bake for 25+ minutes (until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean).

Remove from the oven and allow to cool, remove from the pan and cool completely.

Now we'll start with the fondant, all you'll need to do is fold the confectioners sugar into the marshmallow cream, about one cup at a time.

Once they are fairly well blended, add in shortening and decorating icing (for color) and start to knead with your hands like you would a dough. Continue to knead until thoroughly mixed, adding more decorating icing as needed for color.

Wrap colored fondant in plastic wrap and place to the side for at least 5 hours. If you want, you can leave the fondant out overnight, if you have extra time this is actually your best bet.

Next I made the icing ... You'll simply need to heat the butter and then mix all the ingredients together. Then lightly apply icing to each cupcake.

Once icing is applied use candy rocks to decorate each desert-scape and place in refrigerator until fondant has become the desired consistency.

When the fondant is ready, begin to shape each cactus. This was really, truly a trial-and-error process... but my tip to you is to roll everything into a ball and shape it from there. Looking to form a short stubby cactus? Just roll a bit of green fondant into a ball and then shape into a cactus. Wanting to make succulents? Make a BUNCH of tiny balls and flatten in between your fingers to form a leaf like shape. I'm no fondant expert but I think over-all that if I can make these, anyone can!

I'm pretty happy with how these cupcakes turned out. The cake is SO moist it falls apart and the icing is just the right "sandy" look to make these desert cupcakes have the perfect look! I love celebrating our planet, especially when it includes sharing adorable Earth Day cupcakes with my friends. What's your favorite way to celebrate our planet?

Spring Flowers Painted Wine Glasses Tutorial with Finish® & a Target GC Giveaway

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShowMeTheShine #CollectiveBias

Who else is super excited days are finally getting longer and the weather seems to be getting warmer? There's just something about spring... I've always been one to cherish the season, so I made a set of painted wine glasses recently that capture spring perfectly! Covered in colorful flowers and so uniquely mine - I'm so in love with how they turned out, I just have to share a tutorial with you so you can make a set of your own!

These little beauties are so easy to make and they are such a fun way to express your creativity! I personalized each glass with a different color flower on the bottom, a fun accent that makes each glass extra special!

I'm excited to continue making painted wine glasses - I'm even thinking these would make an awesome gift for a newlywed couple, a special treat for mom on mother's day, or even a little present to yourself (everyone should craft pretty little things for themselves)!

Supplies:
Finish® Max in ONE™ tablets or Finish® Quantum Max™ Tablets

Stemless wine glasses
Acrylic paints (in a handful of colors)
Varnish
Paint Brushes

You'll want to pick up a set of 4 stemless wine glasses and a pack of Finish® Max in ONE™ tablets to make sure your glasses are super clean! Plus, you can Save 5% on NEW! Max in ONE™ & Quantum Max™ Small Size with Target's Cartwheel app from 3/29-4/25.  Don't forget to grab an extra pack, so you can shine & protect all your glassware!

The first and most important step is to wash your glasses with the Finish® Max in ONE™ tablets! They'll be noticeably cleaner and ready for paint after just one quick run through your dishwasher!

While your glasses are in the dishwasher, you'll want to set up your paint area. You'll need a handful of different acrylic paints and a varnish to finish your glasses. Most likely, you'll want a few different paint brush options! Don't forget an older cup to rinse the brush in and a palette to keep the paint on.

Once you have everything set up, it's time to get crafty. While I'm no expert flower painter, I had fun painting a variety of different flowers on my glasses. I actually practiced my flower painting skills on a canvas so that I could show off how I create all of the different types of flowers, you can copy these styles or create your own! Get creative and go to town on your glasses!

Cover the glasses from the bottom to about half-way up the glass, making sure not to paint to the rim (otherwise the paint will wear thin quickly). Add flowers until your glasses look absolutely perfect, let the paint dry and then it's time for the finishing touches!

Once the paint has dried, you'll need to varnish each glass. I used a matte varnish and only applied it where I had painted with acrylic (because I learned the hard way if you coat the whole glass you'll likely end up with streaks). I applied two coats  of varnish, waiting for the first coat to dry before applying the second coat. Once the varnish has dried completely, it's time to party! Pour win in each glass and invite friends over!

While you are sipping your wine with your besties, you'll definitely want to enter this giveaway! You have the chance to win all kinds of goodies, including gift cards so you can snag some Finish® tablets for yourself next time you make a Target run!

Finish #ShineAndProtect Giveaway!

After finishing up these glasses, I've decided I want to make a set with gold polka dots and maybe a set with a nautical, beachy design. I'd love to hear what designs you think would be fun to paint on wine glasses?