healthy lashes |

So it feels like ages since I went apple picking, and I promised I would share just what I did with all of those apples. A few days after apple picking, I whipped up this recipe for everyone to enjoy – however, I’m just posting about it weeks later. It has been so hectic on my end – starting a new job, helping with my sister’s wedding & bachelorette party, it never ends!

This is a perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, especially if you’re having a more intimate, smaller gathering. A great alternative to apple pie – and you don’t have to worry about how big of a piece you take 😉

Ingredients:

10 apples (this is only because I had sooo many)
4 Tbsp. of butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tbsp. maple syrup

Crumb Ingredients:

1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup crushed graham crackers (this is optional)
1/4 cup oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
6 Tbsp. butter (melted)

1 roll of pre-made pie crust (optional if you don’t want to wrap the apple in dough)
Ice cream! Caramel sauce, whatever you’d like!

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Wash apples and set aside.
Prepare the crumble topping by combining flour, graham crackers (if used), oats, brown sugar, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and then melted butter until mixture is combined and crumbly. Set aside.
Peel and chop 4 of the apples.
Add these chopped apples, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple syrup to a large frying pan and cook over medium heat for about ten minutes (until the apples are softened and tender!). Once cooked, remove from heat and set aside.
With the remaining 6 apples, cut the tops off and use a spoon to scoop out the insides. Be careful to not go all the way down/pierce the skin of the apple! Leave a perimeter within the apple as shown below. It should resemble an “apple bowl”.
Fill your “apple bowl” with the filling from the sauce pan you just made. Fill about 3/4 of the way, or halfway if you’d like to be generous with the topping.
Cut the rolled dough into strips and “mummify” or wrap the apples! It can be a bit tricky to have them stick to the apple so definitely press the dough strips into one another so they don’t unravel.
Place the apples into a pie pan (I had to use two) because just in case of drippings, it doesn’t overflow as it potentially could on a flat baking sheet.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Serve warm and with your favorite ice cream! I recommend Ben & Jerry’s cinnamon one.

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Happy Tuesday lovelies!

So one of the perks of my job is that I get to work with a lot of brands and PR firms in a variety of verticals – so cosmetics, hair, fashion, fitness, electronics, etc. And sometimes I’m lucky enough to score some product! It’s always a good day in the office when new product arrives.

I don’t know if you’ve heard of IT Cosmetics, but if you haven’t, then I seriously recommend you check them out immediately. Like stop reading this for a second and go click on the link right above this. They constantly receive a ton of social success with top beauty influencers and makeup artists from all over the world using their products in their daily beauty/skin regiments. And you’re about to see why.

superhero mascara

First things first, IT stands for Innovative Technology since it is developed by plastics surgeons and dermatologists…so you know the product is going to be top notch. All of their products are 100% cruelty free, filled with skin-loving, high performance ingredients. So basically their products are cutting edge, clinically proven, safe, highly effective, and most importantly – work phenomenally! If this were a beauty class poll, they would certainly win best all-around.

I digress. Ok, so I was first introduced to this cosmetic line a few months back, after one of my coworkers attended a beauty conference and brought back a ton of product. Since I’ve been using them ever since, I am pretty well-versed in their makeup and skincare lines. I’ll save the review of all of those products for another week 😉

Since I am always open to trying new products (especially makeup!), when I received their new Superhero mascara, I couldn’t wait to try it out. Now I normally have very long lashes and people often ask me what falsies I wear (none!), so I was definitely interested in seeing if this would accentuate them even more. Spoiler alert: it did.

Here are my three very basic steps for mascara application. I am in NO way, shape, or form a beauty know-it-all or MUA. I practically just got contouring down.

Curl eyelashes (about 5 seconds on each lash – and don’t clench the curler too tight! Love your lashes hahah!)
Use primer! I use the Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus and have been using it for over a year now. It is dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested.
Mascara time! I usually just do one application, but two would not do any harm (just try to avoid many applications because you definitely get that clumpy look – I like a more wispy, fuller look).

So when I first put this first application I was like WOAH. Do you know how hard it is to find a mascara that thickens, lengthens, and still get mega volume all at once?! Some people use multiple mascaras to achieve this, and for those of you who do – look no further! This will be your saving grace.

This is just one application:

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