Revlon Run 2013!

 I think we need to wear pink this year. 

Stacy Keibler, Halle Berry and Mario Lopez were 2012 celebrity ambassadors.

I am getting ready for EIF Revlon Run/Walk in Los Angeles. It is a month away and I need to start hitting the pavement! If you want to get involved or just find out more information you can visit EIF Revlon Run/Walk My friend, Kristina and I had a blast Last year raising money for women's cancer. After 9 years doing this I think we should have a team name I am not sure yet what celebrities will be there this year. Emma Stone and Olivia Wilde will be at the NYC race.

Mamas don't let your daughters grow up to be Snooki...

We can ALL agree Audrey Hepburn was a classy woman. It seems like she had endless style. Audrey didn't get caught up in her own celebrity. She put her fame to good use becoming a UNICEF ambassador. The children's book Just Being Audrey By Margaret Cardillo is a biography with beautiful water colors geared toward elementary school girls. I love this book! It's a reminder to be yourself. I've seen one to many Victoria Secret commercial this week! I feel very strongly that you don't need to act dumb or be trashy to get noticed. I want to send this book to Lindsay Lohan to read while she is in rehab. Just Being Audrey shows little girls that kindness is beautiful. I don't have daughters however I think this book is a great edition to any girl's home library.

Roman Holiday

“Make-up can only make you look pretty on the outside but it doesn't help if your ugly on the inside.”  Audrey Hepburn

Spring Break in San Diego

 At the Ruben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa park. 

Most spring breaks (and summers) I focus on History and English projects. However this year we are all about math and science. We visited the science center in Balboa Park. The museum has lots of hands on experiments. The visiting exhibit is about space but more details on comets and meteorites. I was worried that D was getting a little freaked out because there is a lot of information about how scientist think the dinosaurs died. Scientist believe a 6 mile wide meteorite hit earth. 

 Kicking it old school

 After the museum we went on the carousel. The carousel is so charming it was built in 1910. F.W. grabbed the brass ring so he got to ride again for free.

Julep Maven

 I love nail polish and I love mail so joining a monthly nail polish website is a no brainer for me. Every month at Julep.com you can buy a Mystery Box. How exciting is that?? In the past I've always been pleasantly surprised. However this month was a let down. I only got 3 colors (in the past I've gotten 6). I wasn't thrilled with the colors and The Daylight Defense I already own. As luck would have it D's school is having it's big fundraiser this weekend. The school makes a lot of money off a silent auction. So I donated this box to the silent auction. Combine this box of nail goodies with a spa pass and the school is sure to raise some $$$.

My one sister's nails ALWAYS look good. I would do my nails and they would look less glossy and chip right away. My sister asked "Do you use a top coat?" I was like no...Well using a top coat has made all the difference. I usually use Sally Hansen Insta-Dri. It helped seal in the color and my nails would dry fast but it has a terrible smell that lingered for days. I got Julep Freedom Top Coat in my Maven box and I'll never use Sally's again! Biggest improvement for me...it doesn't smell toxic. It prevents chipping and gives your nails a high gloss like Gels but it doesn't strip your nails like Gels. It can be removed with any nail polish remover.

Chocolate Guinness Cake

I only iced the top of the cake so it resembled a pint of Guinness. It is so delicious that it doesn't need to be St. Patrick's day to bake this cake. Guinness cake would make a great 21st birthday cake. 

This is a wonderful chocolaty cake! You'll want a glass of milk or a warm cup of tea to wash it down. Next time I make this I will frost it heavier on the top.

Chocolate Guinness Cake

(recipe from “Feast” by Nigella Lawson)

Ingredients

Cake:
-1 cup Guinness stout
-1 stick unsalted butter, sliced
-¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-2 cups superfine sugar (i used granulated)
-¾ cup sour cream
-2 eggs
-1 tablespoon vanilla extract
-2 cups all-purpose flour
-2 ½ teaspoons baking soda

Icing
-8 ounce cream cheese (cold)
-1 cup confectioners’ sugar
-½ cup heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch cake pan and line bottom with parchment paper.

2. Pour Guinness into a large saucepan, add butter and heat until melted. Whisk in cocoa powder and sugar. In a small bowl, beat sour cream with eggs and vanilla and then pour into brown, buttery, beery mixture and finally whisk in flour and baking soda.

3. Pour cake batter into greased and line pan and bake for 45 minutes to an hour (Check at 45 minutes for doneness, poking a skewer in center.). Leave to cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack, as it is quite a damp cake.

4. When cake is cold, gently peel off parchment paper and transfer to a platter or cake stand.

5. Place cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar in a mixing bowl, and whip with an electric beater, until smooth.

6. Add cream and beat again until you have a spreadable consistency.

7. Ice top of cake, starting at middle and fanning out, so that it resembles the frothy top of the famous pint. Since you are not icing the side of the cake you can be a little heavy handed with the frosting. 

St. Patrick's Day Nails

Happy St. Paddy's Day

I used Julep Emilie, Maybelline Porcelain Party & Revlon Siren

 F.W. found his dream car

 This morning we had breakfast downtown at The Field. We got to watch the 7 Nations rugby.

French cooking

I watched the french film Little White Lies & now I am in a french phase. I got these cookbooks from the library to mix up our regular dinner routine...stir fry, pasta, soup repeat. I don't think I'll get a chance to try any recipes till next week since Sunday is St. Patrick's Day.