A Guide to Kissable Lips

Do you have chapped lips? Do you want kissable lips? Look no further!

Here's my guide to kissable lips.

{ONE} Don't lick your lips. I know it's hard, but that's what dries your lips out the most.

{TWO} Drink lots of water. Not only is it good for your health, but it will benefit your skin and your lips.

{THREE} Find a good lip balm. My favorite right now is EOS.

{FOUR} Before you go to sleep, apply Vaseline Lip Therapy.

Try it for a couple weeks and you'll see a change!

8 Ways to Relax

Because of some unfortunate events that happened last week, I had a very busy weekend. Since last Thursday, it's been go-go-go. I literally have had 15 minutes alone, and I don't know about you, but I like to take some time every once in a while and have some "me time". Do you find yourself feeling like his too?

1) Read. I love to read but rarely find the time. My favorite thing to do is curl up on the couch (or sit outside when it's warm) and dive into a great book. Right now I am reading The Body Book By Cameron Diaz. I highly suggest getting this book. It is so informative and has given me a better understanding of my body.

2) Paint your nails.

3) Take a bubble bath.

4) Drink liquids. Try not to drink ones with too much sugar. Some good drinks can be hot tea, lemonade, hot chocolate.

5) Get a massage. Lots of massage places offer great specials, believe me, it makes you feel amazing. 

6) Take a drive. I find it relaxing to go and take in some pretty views.

7) Craft. I find it very therapeutic to craft and make things.

8) Rest. Take a short nap to help you feel refreshed. 

Sweet Treat Alternative

I've been consciously trying to watch what I eat. Notice I said "watch" what I eat. I LOVE food. And I've tried fad diets and binge diets, but no surprise, nothing has worked. I decided that I am not going to sacrifice good, hearty foods for rice cakes and tofu.

One of my big food weaknesses is sweets. I love chocolate and peanut butter and ice cream and cookies. And if you're like me, even if you have a high protein, low cal dinner, you could sit and eat an entire pint of ice cream just because it's so good.

I have finally found a great sweet treat alternative for those of you looking for one. The brand is Arctic Zone and I thought it was pretty delicious.

That's right it's only 150 calories per pint and only has 5 grams of sugar. I think that's pretty darn good! I found it in the freezer section at Walmart and it was around $4. If you're looking for a good sweet fix that you won't make your feel guilty, give this a try.

Easy Apply Pie Bites

If you LOVE Apple Pie, you will love these! I adapted this recipe from Taryn over at Design Dining Diapers.

I had always used the recipes that called for enormous amounts of butter, tons of cinnamon and sugar, and 7 Up. But this one to me seemed like the "healthy" alternative. And they are absolutely delicious. I made them for dinner the other night and my boyfriend ended up eating half of them before I was able to get one.

Here's how easy it is:

Ingredients:
-1 or 2 Granny Smith Apples (Peeled and Sliced)
-Cinnamon Sugar
-1 Package of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Peel and slice apples (the smaller the more it makes)
3. Open the dough and tear each triangle in half
4. Lay out on backing sheet
5. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the dough
6. Place apple slices at the bigger end of the dough and roll into mini crescents
7. After all are rolled up sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top of each one
8. Bake for about 10 mins, take out when golden brown

WARNING: They're amazing, so make sure not to eat all of them in one sitting!

Fresh.

You usually form a lot of bad habits when you're in college. Mostly because you don't have any time to do anything. 

I got in a bad habit of running by Wendy's or Bojangles on my way home because I hadn't eaten all day. And as much as I hate to admit it, I also made those late night Cookout runs to get a tray and a ridiculously good, but bad for you milkshake. 

I have tried very hard not to carry those habits over to my young, professional, working girl life, so I try as hard as I can to watch what I eat. 

You know it's true when people say "You are what you eat." When I was making unhealthy choices and waiting all day to eat, I felt awful. 

I have learned the importance of 3 meals a day and how to choose what I eat wisely.

There is a farm not called Wild Pilgrim Farmstead that delivers fresh, farm grown fruits and vegetables to a grocery store very close to where I work. One of my friends got one the other week and I decided to give it a try. 

For $25 I got a box of assorted, fresh fruits and vegetables. Now it forces me to come up with different and creative dishes!

My boyfriend and I are "hooked" on quinoa. We have literally eaten it for dinner every single night for the past month. I thought it might be fun to mix it up and try a different dish with the quinoa other than the usual. I found a recipe for Quinoa Stuffed Peppers on A Beautiful Mess blog and altered it to fit what I had in my kitchen. 

This recipe is super easy and quick.

Here's what you'll need:

-1 Red Pepper

-1 Tomato 

-1 Jalapeno Pepper

-1 Cup of Black Beans

-1 handfull of Feta Cheese

-Shredded Cheese

-2 handfulls of Quinoa (be very careful with this, we didn't think we had pored that much but it turned out to be way too much. It may look like too little but it expands, so just pour as much as you think would fill two halves of a pepper.)

First, cook the quinoa by following the directions on the bag (This usually takes about 15 mins or until you see the spirals in quinoa). Also, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. While the quinoa is cooking chop the jalapeno pepper and tomato and chop the red pepper in half and clean out the innards. 

Warm the black beans on the stove (just a little simmer and they'll be good). Combine quinoa, jalapeno pepper, tomato, black beans and feta cheese in a small mixing bowl. 

Once you've combined the "stuffing" spoon a generous amount into the red pepper halves. Sprinkle as much shredded cheese as you like on top of the pepper halves and then put in the oven for 15 mins. Check on them after about 10 mins to make sure they aren't burning and use your judgement as to when to take them out. We did this and it was the perfect amount of time. Allow them to cool for a couple mins. Then serve. 

Looky there, a very hearty and healthy dinner!