Oh, hello!

Gee, it has been just short of... forever!

But, for tonight, I am back!
Here is my most recently (nearly) completed project:

I still want to add some bunting through the middle, but I am pretty pleased with how it is looking so far!

I was somewhat inspired by sweet wreath I saw over at Too Stinkin' Cute
Hope she doesn't mind the shout out.

My plan was to just straight up copy this wreath idea, but they didn't have this fun fur anywhere near me, so I settled for the alternative- not that I am complaining.
I wasn't expecting a great outcome either, hence why there is no tutorial.
But, here is the break down:
This wreath cost about $25.00 with no coupons, it was a bit pricier because I didn't have any good adhesive on hand and that stuff costs about an arm.
I used a foam cored wreath form, some fake grass, paper flowers and butterflies, and straight pins to tack the flowers in.
Please feel free to leave me thoughts/suggestions below!

Wednesday Workout!

I am beating the mid week blah's and getting moving with this quick (15 min) workout!


1 minute of Speed Skaters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpnT1XrdhBU

1 minute of Wall Slides with Stability Ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLfdHYJIfoQ

1 minute of crunches on stability ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVBddP5oW8Y

1 minute of modified (knee) pushups

1 minute of reverse crunches

-repeat two times in a cycle


That felt good, no I'm gonna stretch for 5 minutes, stand up, breathe deep, shake off the stress, and face the rest of the week feeling refreshed!

Weekly Inspiration

I know.
I'm slacking again.
I got an internship (yay!) & my entire life pretty much consists of work now(not as yay)
But I am making my comeback, one post at a time people! This week my focus is my nails for the holidays. I have something planned, and here is my inspiration, thank you Pinterest

If you couldn't tell, I am super grooving on the mixed media nails. I think they are just so fun! & for me, they are especially awesome because I love painting my nails, but it seems like as soon as they are dry I want to try something else.
You don't want my problems.
Anyway, hopefully I will have a picture or two next week so you can see how they turned out! & Hopefully they turn out more like those photos, and less like my real abilities :]

Happy Monday!

Show a little spirit

Take Two

There was a time when I didn't know how I felt about game day dresses.

There is no more confusion.
i LOVE them.
I learned how to make them & knocked a bunch out- not certain I could pull one off, but oh baby did I feel sexy in my crimson rocking this little number

I'm not one to brag, but... not bad, right?



I'm thinking about putting some up on my etsy shop, what do ya think?
would you rock one for your school?
lemme know!

Yoga pants are evil.

I once had a home health care client who said she found it appalling that young women did not do their hair to get ready for the day. With my ponytail pulled tight I thought, ouch!
But, when you think that she grew up in the era of finger waves and pin curls and beehives, there really was a different standard of dress and preparedness for women. I know what you are thinking right now- shut up, because they also were not expected to get up at 5 to be in class for 4 hours, and run to and fro, and they weren't hitting the gym, and getting ready in ten minutes and they weren't right.
But were they? This quasi feminist movement of ponytails, and sweat pants sure is comfortable, but how practical is it? We expect to be considered an object of desire by our (potential or current ) partners, we want to be taken seriously in class and in work, and by our peers. But what about the second skin of yoga pants really does say sexy, and professional?

So I did my own experiment... for the last month I woke up a little earlier, I played with makeup, I did my hair, I even (gasp) put on shape wear nearly every day and wore only professional or nicer clothes for the entire month.
I found that I listened and payed attention better in class, I was more inspired to actually go to class instead of maybe taking a lunch break. I felt more confident and when people did a double take or when women shot me a sneer I knew it was because I looked GOOD and they weren't thinking "wow, someone dragged herself out of bed this morning" or "I wonder how many times those have been worn between washes". Yeah- take that public!
Then today, I crumbled, I am struggling after one late night, I was exhausted yesterday but I still got mostly ready, then today, I faltered completely and pulled on my old faithfuls.
I feel like crap.
And it turns out, there is a reason- yoga pants are not all they are cracked up to be.

Get this-
1. People are less likely to take you seriously when you are not dressed decently.
2. When we wear stretchy clothing, we are more likely to make unhealthy food decisions, and will eat more- probably because we are volume eaters, and without the pressure of clothing holding your tummy back, you will eat to you heart's content, rather than your stomach's (weird, huh)
3. Sweatpants and yoga pants get less clean each time you wear and wash them. The fibers hold smells more and more with each wear. So you become smellier after every wear. Ew!





The bottom line? Dress well, look good, feel good.


I know I will.

Grey and Yellow

For real. This color combo is GORGEOUS! I am so glad I am not rich enough to have my own home because I would have redesigned the whole thing ten times in the last month. Playing with colors is one of my fave things to do, and I am pretty stuck on grey and yellow right now. Charcoal or cloudy day grey with either mustardy or bright yellow- it doesn't matter which if either you play up, the combo looks timeless and classy no matter what!

thank you LOVE IT!

Why don't you...

Show a little team spirit


so here's the deal-
I am in the middle of trying to find my game day jersey (where did you go old friend??)
& trying to find a suitable, cute, comfy, breezy replacement for said jersey.

In the mean time, I had nothing to wear for crimson and grey Friday.
here's my clever little solution...

*Yeah, I could have a taken a better picture, I could have not wiggled my thumb, but whatevs, this is what I got this try

To achieve this look I sprinkled a little crimson and a little silver glitter together onto an index card. Then I did a sort of "dry brush" technique with some clear nail polish or top coat, let that set a second so you don't big weird clumps of glitter (unless that's what you are going for) and then sprinkle the pre-poured glitter onto your nails. Then cover with another coat or two of clear coat, and enjoy!

Just a fun little project

Have you used freezer paper stencils before?
Well, I just think they are super fun, and you can do SO much with them.

Check out my newest freezer paper project

I am toying with whether or not this baby should make it's way over to my etsy shop, or stay adorning the desk of the craft room.
Where would you put it?

Welcome Back!

Yesterday marked my last first day of fall semester.

via

That's right- this Chic Chick will FINALLY be graduating from college this year.
This means, a lot of projects, maybe some parties (not the college party you are picturing...but maybe some of that too?), a lot of decisions, and some moving on.

So buckle up and get excited, I'm making a blogging comeback ;]

Lately

Things have been preeeettty hectic around chic chick headquarters.
B&I have vacated our awful, miserable, tiny charming starter apartment
and have moved onto bigger better things- as in a Town house where we can spend time alone and together, and he doesn't have to duck to move around, yay!

Anyway, we are still unpacking, and packing for our little vacay (double yay)
and I am gearing up for recruitment ;]

So until regularly scheduled postings are available, let me melt your heart a little with my handsome sleepy men.

mmmmmmm, delish!

Yummiest chocolate cookies...ever!

Now, I know a lot of people have a family recipe passed down from years and years ago for the perfect chocolate chip cookies. Mine is not that family.
I did not have that standby.
Until I met this little gem.
I happened upon the recipe for these Jacques Torres chocolate chip cookies, which had been posted in The New York Times and decided- forget the diet, where's the kitchenaid, I need these cookies NOW!
Maybe not quite like that, but pretty darn close.

So, what's so different about this recipe you ask?

Well, for starters, you need 2 different types of flour. Cake flour, which is more fine, and helps give a fluffy, airy, moist consistency. You ALSO need Bread flour, which is different in that it has more gluten in it (sorry allergic friends) which, in addition to adding more protein to the dough, is supposed to keep it more elastic.
The only other big difference with this recipe is kind of a bummer- being that it is supposed to be refrigerated for at least 24 hours, and up to 72 (but who can really wait that long?)

So, without further ado... the recipe!

Jacques Torres Chocolate Chip Cookies
from The New York Times
Print this recipe

Total Prep and Baking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, plus 24 hours to chill the dough
Yield: 18-20 large cookies (I used an ice cream scoop, and got about 45 cookies per batch- yeah, I made a double.)

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons cake flour
1 2/3 cups bread flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, packed
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/3 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content

1. Sift together the cake flour, bread flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a medium sized bowl and set aside.

2. In the bowl of your mixer, cream together your butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add in the eggs, one at a time, until combined, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add in the vanilla and mix. Gradually add in the dry ingredients, until just moistened. Fold in your chocolate until evenly added throughout the dough. Press plastic wrap against the dough, making sure it is completely covered, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, or as long as 72 hours (I left mine for 36 hours).

(Please excuse the hot mess that I am in this photo- I try to look super sexy when I am baking)

3. When you are ready to bake, bring the dough to room temperature so that you can scoop it out, and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line and/or grease your baking sheets. Scoop your dough out onto the sheets. I used a #40 ice cream scoop, which is about the size of 2 tablespoons, but you can make them even larger, if you like. Do not press the dough down – let it stay the way it is. Sprinkle the cookies lightly with a bit of fleur de sel or sea salt. Bake 10-12 minutes for smaller cookies (mine took about 11 minutes), or 18-20 minutes for larger cookies.

4. Allow the cookies to cool slightly on your baking sheet, then move them to another surface to cool completely. You can enjoy these warm, room temperature, or cold. Store in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

I would love for you to see what the finished product looked like, but with cookies as good as these, you don't really think to stop and snap a photo.
Guess you'll have to try em' for yourself!

Save save save

Three sites reviewed so far, and I think it's about darn time I put my money (or yours) where my mouth is.

So- for the next two weeks YOU can save big in MY shop! Use code SHOPCHIC

See you there!

Save a lot!

I'll say it, my last post may have been a little harsh- clearly Zappos and I are gonna have to resolve some ish before we can be friends again. Maybe this will help...
Zappos has a not-so-dirty little secret.
Maybe you've heard of it.
But probably not.

My friends, let me introduce you to a semi life changing web site of awesome.
It is the brother site to Zappos.

6pm.com
This site is basically clearance for nearly any brand you can imagine and already love.
There are clothing items, accessories, and (I saved the best for last) SHOES!
Not only are the savings incredible, but they actually tell you list prices, the percentage you are saving and your cost- wow.
BUT- it doesn't stop there my friends: the navigation is a dream. You can narrow your search by price, by brand, by type of item, and even further shoe-flats-sandal (yeah, it's that good), by size, and even by color.

Shipping is a standard 6.95, but if you sign up for sale alerts, they have better shipping deals fairly often I have noticed.

Go ahead friends, give it a whirl.
I dare you not to fall in love.

Save a little...

You have seen their commercials.
You have heard tell of their phenomenal customer service.
& Their shipping is rumored to be dream like, and expedited.
But.
Is Zappos all it is cracked up to be?
Here's the deal, in my own, unsponsored opinion, of course:
If there is something specific you are looking for, Zappos is a great place to check. Maybe they have that new mixer you wanted or that specific pair of running shoes that was sold out at your mall. But, they don't necessarily have it for a steal. Zappos is touted as being a hub of savings, but I think it more just a hub. You may be able to find a great deal here or there, and that's what gets people talking- but doing a comparison between their site and others, the savings just don't add up.& Chances are, when they do have a great sale- what you were looking for is a weird color, or the wrong size.Bummer.
The verdict?
Don't rule it out, but Zappo's is not really the savior of the sale.

Love a good sale?

If you are like me, or probably the greater percentage of the population in general, you probably don't LOVE paying full price for your purchases all the time. Well, my friend, this week I have some "best of" solutions for you.
HOORAY!
1. The site does does the shopping for you- Shop it to Me
- Signing up for this service is free (score!) and they do the deal searching for you (double score).
The best part? It isn't just a hodge podge of deals strewn together, you choose your sizes for dresses, shirts, pants, and shoes individually. You also choose brands that you love, I picked like 15- variety is the spice of life after all.
Then... if there is something you really have your eye on - mine is a good blazer, you can highlight what specifically you are looking for currently.

-So what does the service actually do?
It scans those brands for the best deals currently and sends you an email (with pictures!) of those deals, and prices. It will also send an alert if there is a massive sale, i.e. when The Loft had a 40% off of everything blowout.

-My evaluation: This is certainly a worthwhile service if you are bargain hunting. There is never an obligation to buy, but it is kind of like having a personal stylist (who knows your budget... and doesn't scoff at said budget). And, unlike those annoying "sale" alerts I get daily from other companies, you can choose how many times you want to be notified weekly-they even suggest the best sale days.

-My recommendation: Give it a shot, I found the blazer of my dreams- for 65% off, and will continue to peruse the sales until I have grown up clothes for CHEAP!

Excuse my absence...

I've been sick.
Like don't want to move, no appetite for the first time in my life, did I seriously just hack up my lung?, sick.

but this is it.
I'm making my comeback!
starting... tomorrow.
Look out blogging world!

Free your mind

Have you ever tried stumbleupon.com?
It's pretty much my favorite procrastination/discovery tool.
When you have a paper due, facebook only updates every so often, but I can press the stumble button WHENEVER I want, and it brings a new treasure to my screen.
Plus it is based on all sorts of my interests so at any given moment I can find a blog about baking, or pictures of cute animals... I know, HOORAY!

But today, I stumbled on something much cooler, a list of 50 questions to "free your mind" and I want to explore them with you.
Question #1. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
This is such a difficult question for me. Sometimes I catch myself listening to my little sisters' stories and missing the simplicity of high school. I miss my old job, my sports teams, (easy homework) and quality time at home every night.

Other nights I find myself in deep envy of my other friends who didn't go to college. They are married and some are having their second child. They are living the life that I so look forward to, the sweet moments with their children, the celebrations with their spouses. It all seems carefree, away from the stress of school and the real world looming in the future. I wish I could break free from where I am, I question the decisions I have made along the way.

Sometimes I think even further into the future. I see my parents remodeling, and looking toward building their dream home. Their nest almost empty and nothing but the brightest in sight. I see the love they have been building for 25 years and I envy even that. I want people to take me seriously as an adult, and I want to be building my dream home too, damn it.

Then there are the nights I reminisce on Freshman and sophomore years of college. Pre B., before the puppy, before I was really intently serious and focused on the future. When I cared, but I didn't... really... care, you know? And I miss it, the silly choices you make in some friends, the ridiculous things you do to pass time that seem so fun at the time- but in hind sight, not so much. I miss staying up until three watching Disney movies with 10 sorority sisters piled on one couch. I miss being able to go for half price apps every other night (especially since those 40 pounds finally caught up to me).

I think about all of these ages, nearly every day, I would say. But then I breathe. Because when you really think about it, every age is what you make it. I miss the years in my past because I enjoyed them fiercely. Just as I wouldn't trade one day now, I wouldn't give up my past. As cheesy and cliche as it may be, I love and miss my past because my past shaped me. It taught me that there are some types of boys that will only break your heart. It taught me what real friends are, and how to love, and how to laugh, and how to work hard.

Sometimes being 22 is completely overrated, like when I am at the gym and the newly enlisted men look like 15 year olds, and I catch myself wondering if their mommies even know where they are. And sometimes it is completely underrated, like when I see the stress on my friend's faces as they try to build a future for not just themselves but for their babies and husbands too.
In the end I can recognize that I love who I am, and I love where I am.
22 is just fine with me...
for now.

How old would YOU be?

Hot Summer Trend:

They'reeeee baaaaaaaack.

via
Headbands, the thicker the better, and head wraps are coming in this season, in a MAJOR way.
Is this a trend you are jumping on board with?

The Next Level

I'll be honest, my fitness journey took a little bit of a detour at the beginning of the summer, but... I'm back!

In the last couple of days I have tried to be very conscious of my caloric intake, skipping unnecessary additions like salad dressing, working out with my handsome to make it more fun, and... wait for... going to the gym!
Shocking, I know.

Today- I mixed things up.
B. headed back to Pullman and won't be here for a couple of weeks, in the meantime my goal is to lose 10 pounds.
Yeah, it is gonna be rough.
So I downloaded the totally free NTC (Nike Training Club) app for my ipod.
The app provides a plethora of workouts based on what your goal is, and your fitness level.
The coolest part is that it motivates you via rewards like "badges" and more workouts for the time you spend working out.
Pretty cool huh?
Today was my first attempt, and it was not so pretty. I had asked B. to help me with timing and technique the other day but we didn't get around to it, and now I am glad we didn't because I would have been SO EMBARRASSED. My baby sister and I did the workout together, and we concur that if you want to be completely worn out and feel like you will not be able to move for a month, try the Quickstart Full Action workout first.

What steps are you taking?

He Said - Family Dinners

First I would like to say that if it were up to me, we would be having BBQ everyday (yes, even when it rains outside).




But, we already know that when it comes to being in a relationship, you get to do what the other person wants to so every once awhile.

I'll break down how the story goes from my perspective and see what you guys think.

It usually starts with me initiating the idea that we should cook together. We did this together when C. and I started dating and we both enjoyed it enough to make it a thing.

Second usually goes with the decision. This can be comparable to congress decoding the 2011 budget or whether or not Andy Dick wants to like women that day. I guess what I'm trying to say is that this isn't the easiest thing I've ever done.

Third follows getting supplies and the severity of this depends on where we are cooking. If it is at my place, we need everything all the way down to needing something every house should have like salt and pepper. Her place, we usually need one or two things. (we still consistently eat at my place)

Fourth would be the preparation. Now like any man that gets into the woman's domain known as the kitchen, we want to be alpha male and hit the ground running. This tactic usually works for about 10 minutes when the sense comes back to me and I realize I'm not where I belong and I take my plastic in the living room or act occupied until just about the finish.

There are other techniques that I use to "scam" out of finishing making dinner, but I know C. Ia reading this so you'll have to trust me.

Lastly is eating the meal. This, by no comparison is what I low best because I get to enjoy it with my wonderful girlfriend.

Until next Friday folks.

B.