At Long Last...

...I have returned!

I apologize for my long absence. I needed to take a step back and decide how much time I wanted to devote to this blogging thing. What I decided is: not as much time as it takes to post three times a week, but more time than it takes not to post at all.

I think what I realized is that I want this to be an enjoyable hobby, not a stressful (non-paying) part-time job. So expect to see me continue to post, but not as often as before. Hopefully I can manage once a week, but it may be a little while before I get there because these next few weeks will be busy ones for me. 

But for anyone out there who's reading, I just wanted you to know that I'm still here and  I haven't given up on this little blog just yet! 

Lovely Links 06.06.14

What to do with fresh chives and chive blossoms. (food52.com)

Based on this review, I may need to give Sephora's Formula X nail polishes a try. (essiebutton.com)

The Body Shop Aloe Skin Care Review

Have you ever used any products from The Body Shop? I'm a big fan of their Aloe Skin Care line, so I thought I'd share my thoughts on my favorite products from the line today.

Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal for One

Banana bread for breakfast? Yes, please!!

Lovely Links 5.30.14

Great video tutorial for making almond milk (joyoushealth.ca)

Disney announced the writer and director for the first standalone Star Wars movie set to be released on 12/16/16! (starwars.com)

Another great video tutorial, this one for making ice cream. (handletheheat.com)

Birchbox Review: May 2014

Chances are if you read any beauty blogs, you've heard of Birchbox, but just in case you haven't, here's a quick description: it's an online beauty retailer that also offers a monthly subscription service. Every month Birchbox mails subscribers a small box of about five samples to try. You can earn points by reviewing the items you receive and then use those points toward purchasing full-size products. For more detailed information, check out the FAQ section on their website.

Classic Egg Salad

I know there are lots of ways to dress up egg salad (eg, Deviled Egg Salad, Curried Egg Salad, Cheddar Bacon Egg Salad, Avocado Egg Salad, Egg Salad with Pickled Celery and Dijon) and I can't wait to try them all. But there's something so comforting and homey about the classic version.

Lovely Links 5.23.14

A video with a great tip to prevent those tiny holes from showing up on the front of your t-shirts (cardiganempire.com)

Ergonomic Guide to Shoes - hilarious infographic. And so true! (kindofnormal.com)

Almond Torte Mascarpone Ice Cream with a Brown Butter Almond Crunch: ice cream with cake inside of it. Seriously. (howsweeteats.com)

DIY Glitter Word Art

Is there anything more fun than playing with glitter? I'm not the handiest diy-er, but this is such an easy, simple project that even I managed it. And the possibilities for designs are endless. I decided to go for an extremely simple single word for my first try, but I think it would be fun to do a longer word or phrase or play around with different shapes. It might be fun to tape some hearts in different sizes on the canvas and glitter around them, for example.

Creamy Parmesan Polenta with Marinated Artichokes

Creamy polenta, tangy marinated artichokes, a sprinkling of salty Parmesan...what could make a better meatless meal than that?

Lovely Links 5.16.14

This Russian Sherlock dance mob in honor of the BBC tv show is something to see. (sherlockology.com)

This post and video about the effect our thinking about food has on our metabolism is fascinating. (empoweredsustenance.com)

This tutorial about keeping your bangs from going flat is just in time for summer (I especially love the last tip--I've already tried it and it definitely helps!) (thesmallthingsblog.com)

Nail Polishes for Spring

I feel a little silly writing this post because the truth is, I very seldom actually wear nail polish on my fingernails. I have a hard time finding the patience to sit and paint my nails and wait for them to dry. And even when I do, the polish usually ends up a chipped mess after the following day at work. I do, however, almost always have my toenails polished, even in the winter. I like change things up color-wise with the seasons, so here are my picks for the next few week leading up to summer:

Revlon "Enchanting" | Revlon "Flirt" | Sally Hansen "Buttercup"
Essie "Pink Glove Service" | L'Oreal "Tangerine Crush"

White-Cheddar Potato & Corn Chowder

I recently decided to cut waaay back on my meat consumption. I haven't gone completely vegetarian, but I'm probably only eating meat at most 2-3 times per week instead of 2-3 times per day. That means I've been looking for lots of hearty meatless recipes that I can make for dinner that will please both myself and my husband, who's been a good sport about the sudden change.

Lovely Links 5.9.14

1. a website that combines two faces into one (morphthing.com), plus...

2. ... what the ideal Sherlock Holmes looks like (ihearofsherlock.com)

3. how big is your vocabulary? (http://testyourvocab.com/)

Banana Protein Oatmeal

This is my favorite everyday breakfast. I don't remember where I first came across the idea of adding egg whites to oatmeal (I think maybe it was this recipe), but I've been hooked ever since. It's super easy and quick to make, packed with fiber and protein, and really versatile. You can add pretty much any flavorings and/or toppings you'd like to it. 

You have to start somewhere...

...and I guess for this blog, that's right here and now.

I've been wanting to start a blog for awhile, but lots of things have held me back. Mainly worrying about whether I'll have the time, whether my ideas and writing and photographs are good enough, and whether anyone will actually ever read this (I'm not sure if I'm more worried that they won't or that they will.)

But the time for all that worrying has come to an end. I'm going to just start and see where it takes me. Awhile ago, I came across a quote on another blog that I loved: 

"If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done." ~Thomas Jefferson 

So. If you are reading this, I welcome you and thank you for being here and hope you stick around to read more!

Sarah

p.s. Happy Star Wars Day!!!