Tonight I am off to Ocean Isle Beach with friends. I can't wait for a little relaxation time. I hope you all have a nice weekend!
Click here to listen to Jessica Simpson's new country song. What do you think?
I made this quiche last week and it was delicious. It was a trial run/experiment, but it turned out perfectly.
Ingredients:
1/2 Recipe for Pate Brisee*
4-5 strips of bacon, sliced into 1 inch pieces
1 vidalia onion, diced
1-2 cups of fresh spinach leaves
1 package of mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)
2 large eggs
1 egg yolk
freshly grated nutmeg
salt
pepper
1 package of shredded swiss cheese
Directions:
Prepare the pate brisee. Roll out the dough and place in the bottom of a tart pan. Cover and refrigerate.
Fry the bacon until crispy. Drain and set aside. Remove most of the bacon grease, leaving enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Add the vidalia onion and saute for about 10 minutes. Then add mushrooms and saute until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms have released their liquid (about 5-10 more minutes). During the last minute, add the fresh spinach leaves and heat until they wilt.
In a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, egg yolk, freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper to taste.
In the prepared tart pan, add 1/2 of the shredded cheese. Cover with the bacon, then the onion/mushroom/spinach mixture. Top with remaining cheese. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the tart shell.
Bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes.
*This pie crust recipe is my all time favorite crust recipe. If you put all the ingredients in the refrigerator, the crust is even flakier.
Mary Kay Timewise Microdermabrasion Step 1 Refine: I love this product. It is the perfect exfoliant because it contains tons of professional grade exfoliating crystals. My skin always feels so much better after using this.
IS Clinical SPF 25 Treatment Sunscreen: I buy this sunscreen at a local medspa. After a lot of research, I found that all sunscreens are not created equal. This one is supposed to protect my skin from burning and aging rays. It also does not break out my skin or leave behind an oily feeling. Best of all, it comes in a large 3 ounce package.
Neutrogena Healthy Defense SPF 30 Eye Cream: This eye cream works well because it is lightweight and it helps cover dark circles. It also has an SPF 30 which helps protect against skin damage.
SilkPeel Microdermabrasion: I have battled skin care issues for forever. I am either dealing with acne or acne scars, or oiliness or no telling what else. Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are so helpful for me. I visit Radiance Medspa in Charlotte for silkpeel treatments when I can. They make my skin feel so much smoother and they help reduce acne and acne scars.
Differin Gel: I have used Differin gel for years. It is a retinoid gel that helps to keep my skin from breaking out. As an added benefit, the retinol also helps to keep my skin from forming wrinkles. I hope all those years of applying this will benefit me in the future.
What are your favorite skin care products?
Bath and Body Works Midnight Pomegranate Lotion: This lotion is cheap, easy to find and smells delicious. I use a lot of Bath and Body Works lotions to supplement my favorite splurge lotion I mention below. 
Check out gasbuddy.com to search gas prices in your area. It helps you to find the lowest and the highest gas prices in your city. I hope this is helpful.
Enjoy your weekend!
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige: I use this shimmer brick for everything. Some days I use it for all over color. Other days I use it over my blush for a little glow on my cheeks. I also use this for eyeshadow. It is extremely versatile and it lasts forever. 
Loreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara: This mascara is cheap and long lasting. It makes my eye lashes thick without clumping. Usually I can find it at Ulta for around $5 per tube. If I combine it with a coupon, it is really cheap.
Estee Lauder Artist's Lip Pencil in Tea rose and Rose Writer: This lip pencil from Estee Lauder is creamy and blends well. I use this often under lip gloss or lip stick. They wear evenly and are long lasting.
Bobbi Brown Brushes: With all this said, I don't think you can get the same results from your makeup without a set of quality makeup brushes. I use Bobbi Brown brushes and love them. I have had most of my brushes for years and as long as I wash them every week or so, they stay in great shape. I think I get a more even, smooth application. My products also last much longer when I apply them with a brush.
If I am not in the mood to use my body polish, I use a mesh sponge and Like Butter Super Rich Shower Cream with Shea Butter from Bath and Body Works. This shower cream makes your skin feel very soft and it lathers well with a mesh sponge. Neither of these exfoliants are expensive or hard to find, and they work very well.
Now, for the sunless tanners I use. My favorite daytime sunless tanner is hands down, Vaseline Healthy Body Glow. I have found this sunless tanner to have the least odor. I used Jergens Natural Glow last year and could not stand the scent that developed. The Vaseline lotion does have a slight scent, but it is not overwhelming. The color that develops is natural and streak free. I have been using this now for several weeks and still like it.
Lancome Flash Bronzer is another favorite sunless tanner of mine. I like the color that develops and the gel formula dries quickly. I have found it to be the fastest drying gel that I have used. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes to dry.
If I don't have time to apply a sunless tanner and wait for the color to develop, I use the Tom Ford for Estee Lauder Azuree Soleil collection. This collection has been discontinued because Tom Ford is doing his own thing separate from Estee Lauder. EL owned the rights to the fragrance, so they repackaged it and renamed it "Bronze Goddess." This collection has now sold out too. If you happen upon the Tom Ford body tint anywhere, it is great to use mixed with body lotion. It gives my skin a luminous bronze glow. I also like the body oil spray. The scent smells like summertime at the beach. 
I have decided to share some of my all time favorite skin care and makeup items. If you know me in my "real life," you know that I am a product junkie. I love makeup, skincare, and all other creams and potions. I have been like this my entire life. I have probably shared some of my favorites on my blog before, so I am sorry if there is some overlap. Today I am going to cover sunless tanners. Stay tuned later on in the week for more of my favorites.
I hope you all have a blessed week!
I made this lasagna from Everyday Food last night and it was delicious. I used whole wheat lasagna noodles and added sauteed onions, but other than that, I stuck to the recipe. It made enough to fill an 8x8 pan and two other small casserole dishes that I froze for later.
This time last year Thomas and I had just returned from our honeymoon. We had so much fun being away. We stayed at the Excellence in Punta Cana. I highly recommend this resort if you are planning a trip. The resort was beautiful and the staff was attentive and friendly. The food was good and the drinks were even better. The picture below was the area between our room and the main part of the hotel.
I received this photo in an email last weekend from Williams Sonoma. I love the tablescape they designed. I want to copy it next time I have friends over for dinner.
I went into the store and found these napkins. I love the pink and green print. Luckily my husband knew about my love for pink and green before we got married, so he doesn't bat an eye. He is a football loving, golf playing man's man type, but he is alright with all the pink.
Here is the napkin unfolded, isn't the fabric so cute? 
I am not sure how long the sale will last, but they had a great selection when I visited the store. I hope you all have a nice weekend!
I know someone has tagged me, and I planned to post, but I can't find out who it was! Please let me know if it was you and I am so sorry I have taken so long to post.
I hope everyone has a nice day!
Jenna Bush and her fiance Henry Hager were married this weekend in Texas. Here is a picture taken at their wedding ceremony. Wasn't their alter cool? I think she looked beautiful in her Oscar de la Renta gown. I wish them well. Check out this link for more information and pictures.
Barefoot in Paris is hands down one of my all time favorite cookbooks. I have all of her other cookbooks, but I usually come back to this one. I love Ina's recipes because they are simple and delicious. 
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