Staycation: My Canceled Vacation Turned Local Relaxation

There is something super disappointing about planning a well-deserved and needed trip somewhere only to have it canceled/postponed due to weather; weather we don't usually get in California. Of course, because I am a planner (lists and extensive research about places I want to go and see are more common than not), the storms decided to ruin that. Now, that seems silly to most people in the US and probably the rest of the world, however, California has been in a drought for years and this last weekend experienced record rainfall in a 24-hour period and mild hurricane force winds. So....road trip canceled.

Doing nothing instead was not an option. I had prepared for a weekend away. I NEEDED at least a night away for quiet and relaxation, to just recharge. I had an extra day to do something fun on this long weekend. So, I booked a room at the fancy Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa and looked for something to do in Orange County before staying the night there. 

Recently I had come across the fact that the Orange County Museum of Art was in Newport Beach. I had always assumed it was in Santa Ana with some of the other museums in Orange County. Upon further research, I found that OCMA also had a current pop culture exhibit featuring some pieces from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. I was sold. I also realized that Fridays are free at OCMA. Which...is probably a good thing.

The Orange County Museum of Art is located just next to—or behind—Fashion Island in Newport Beach. It's not exactly easy to find. I drove past it once and because of the streets there, had to circle around the block and come back to turn in the proper driveway. The main entrance is not clearly marked. I saw more than one person try to go through the first double doors past the driveway entrance and be pointed in the right direction (which, for them, ended up being a walk in the rain with no umbrella). These doors DO look like they are the main entrance and if not for seeing those people make that mistake, I would have tried to enter there myself.

The museum is very small. When you enter, there are two small exhibit rooms to the left and the main exhibit halls are on the right. Being that these are modern art and pop culture exhibits, I had some idea of what I was in for. Even though I was an art history major, and I can appreciate all kinds of art, some of it just makes me go "Huh? Why?" These were the rooms on the left. I quickly made my way to the main exhibit after walking through those rooms. I found these pieces a lot more fascinating, with funky furniture, posters and paintings with a comic book feel, and the ever-famous Warhol prints. There are a few of his serigraph pieces (the cow wallpaper and one from the Mao series), and some of his Campbell's soup art. It was amazing to see these in person as they have been so widely publicized and reproduced over the years. To see originals was quite stunning. However, one of my favorite pieces at the museum had to be a Superman comic book from 1941 that was on display because of the art and artist on the cover but excited me because it was the original full book inside that plexiglass case.  

I made it through the whole museum in about 45 min, and I went through the main exhibit twice. If you enjoy seeing pop culture art in an intimate setting, I suggest going. Go on a Friday when the admission is free and there are extended hours and put a small donation in the donation box. Admission is $10 on other days and, in my opinion, isn't really worth it unless you love modern art.

After leaving the museum for a quick jaunt to Fashion Island for lunch and shopping in the rain and wind gusts, I decided to just head up to my hotel. The short yet scenic drive up Pacific Coast Highway was interesting with the streets beginning to flood. Luckily this 4-star hotel has a covered valet area that leads straight to the main lobby and check-in.

The hotel is beautiful, with a grand foyer and a feel of elegance dripping off of the chandeliers. With the rain and the wind the way they were, I didn't get to explore the grounds as much as I would have liked. Every person on the staff that I came in contact with, from the front desk check-in to the room service on the phone, were all incredibly nice and helpful. They even had complimentary umbrellas for use when you had to cross a courtyard outside. I had access to the Hyatt Regency Club which was nice for an afternoon tea and snack as well as morning coffee that tasted incredible. They have an automatic espresso machine that unfortunately only has regular whole milk. There were waters, sodas, tea, coffee, and afternoon snacks of nuts, fruit, and cookies. In the morning they had a full continental breakfast. I chose to order room service as they had some great Gluten Free options including a pastry trio basket which you can never find at hotels. The staff was also very knowledgeable about gluten and food allergens in general. This put my mind at ease.

The food was great, the people were great, and the private balcony made for a nice breakfast outside when there was a break in the rain. My view was great, but having a 3rd-floor ocean front room with growing palm trees below, lent itself to a view that is beginning to be compromised. Poor planning on the landscaper's part. My only other complaint besides the growing palm trees beginning to block the view was... the very comfortable bed had no blanket, only a down comforter. Which, to some is fantastic. To me, a broiling oven. I woke up multiple times drenched in sweat and the only thing I could do was turn down the A/C as far as it would go to offset the heat in the bed. I should have called down for a regular blanket, but it was the middle of the night and I had taken a sleeping pill. So, either bring a blanket or call down for one before you retire for the evening!

All in all, the quiet, ocean view room with the large tub that actually allowed me to cover both my boobs and knees in water at the same time (a woman's bucket list dream) was worth it. Expensive, but worth it. I was able to relax in a quiet space and recharge. I highly recommend the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. Next time I hope to be there in better weather and be able to visit their fantastic spa facilities. Maybe I will have to take a trip back up there just to go to the spa.

ELF: Where Have You Been All Of My Life??

I was sort of a late bloomer when it comes to makeup, fashion, and beauty in general. Maybe it's the fact that I grew up in the 90's grunge era when flannels and Birkenstocks were kings. (Which, to be honest, was a hell of a lot easier than teenagers have it with trends these days).

Makeup, especially, was not something I was way into. I am sure the fact that I was a dancer and performer and spent Friday nights and all day Saturdays in stage makeup for all four years of high school, had something to do with that. I was also never taught the proper way to apply basic makeup. I learned from those around me, and from what I had to do for dance and colorguard. Fast forward to college when it was the mid 90's and burgundy lips outlined in black were all the rage. **cringe** Then...then I turned 40.

I have spent the majority of my adult years in minimal or no makeup. Then the big 4-0 happened and I suddenly got obsessed. It all started when I wanted to learn how to do better eye shadow and started searching YouTube for tutorials. I was sick in bed one weekend and I spent HOURS on YouTube. Then I found JamBeauty89. Sweet Jessica Braun. Her face always looks flawless and her reviews of products are so honest. She's adorable and I now feel like she's my little sister, waiting anxiously for her next video. I saw a video of her talking about a line I had never heard about before, ELF Cosmetics. It's because of her that I am now obsessed with ELF.

I found that Target now carried ELF, so I went and purchased a couple of items that Jessica had talked about on her channel. Then the spiral happened. I can't even tell you how many ELF products I now own. It is by far the best inexpensive cosmetics line I have ever used. Most of their products are hits, but there are some products that are misses. The price is so cheap, though, that I never feel bad for having spent the money to try a product that turns out to be a dud. The majority of their products are truly AMAZING. (Makeup and brushes ranging from $1-$12, with the majority of products in the $3-$6 range).

The first product from ELF I would recommend is their Flawless Finish Foundation. I have had numerous compliments on my face and makeup when I wear this foundation. I have really sensitive skin and this is the first drugstore brand that I have been able to wear without breakouts or skin irritations. I usually use a beauty blender or this Beautifully Precise Multi Blender by ELF to create a blended application. 

The second product from ELF I would recommend is from their skin care line: the Hydrating Bubble Mask. It's become a weekly ritual for me. It's kind of a weird sensation, tingling a bit when the bubbles start to form, but my skin never feels cleaner and softer than it does after I use this. Men and women both will love this mask. Plus, it's a fun way to spend a quiet evening at home.

It's been hard to choose the last product because I could write about dozens of their products I love, but, I will recommend their bronzer. I had the one in warm, but I used it all up and need to repurchase. I used it every single day until it was gone. It was such a subtle and gorgeous glow to the skin, making this California girl still "sun-kissed" in the fall and winter months.

Jessica started my obsession with ELF Cosmetics, which then led to my obsession with everything else she recommends. That led me to other YouTubers and other brands that I now love. Too Faced and Tarte have become favorites of mine as well. 

So, if you are just starting out with this beauty thing like I was, or if you just need a change, I highly recommend ELF. It's also great if you have a teen that is just starting out their journey into the cosmetics world and wants to try different products. I also highly recommend checking out Jessica's channel. I have learned so much about beauty and products from her. If you want some other recommendations, let me know in the comments. Happy shopping! .....and sorry not sorry about your impending obsession.

2017: A New Beginning

Where have I been? What have I been doing? In all honesty, it's just been a crazy year of getting myself back on track. My life has been a series of ups and downs with career, money, love, and health. Finally, I feel like I am getting back in the swing of a semi-normal life. I want to start writing again. I want to share with everyone my experiences, my likes and dislikes, and my thoughts and opinions.

Those of you that know me personally, know that in the first quarter of 2016, I lost the job I had, but by summer I had found an amazing replacement. I wasn't bummed when I got laid off, I was just simply ready for what was next. I knew there would be a place for me somewhere. I interviewed so many places, and for so many different types of positions. Finally! Finally, I found where I am at now. I am back in the marketing field working for an agency that is probably the best company I have ever worked for. I have been there for 7 months now, and I still love it.

Now that my job/career is back on the right path the money situation is getting back to normal. My last office job was just a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Do I miss baking and decorating? Absolutely. One cannot simply live on that pay. It's really disheartening to know how little the food and artistic food community earn. Unless you start young (or have a small fortune saved as a backup), it is impossible to move up and make enough money to live on comfortably. I hope to get back to it one day, in some capacity, but for now, I am thoroughly enjoying having a paycheck large enough to pay all my bills and save a little extra (not to mention company medical insurance).

As for love... that's just too long and personal of a story to tell. But I am getting myself out there. Maybe, just maybe, you will hear my stories from here on out. But the last one is too dear to my heart to be public about. But let me tell you...dating apps and sites aren't all they are cracked up to be. I keep trying, but man, it's difficult out there! Maybe I will write a book eventually...you never know.

As for my health, some of you may know that I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease years ago. My symptoms consist of digestive issues, body inflammation (especially in my hands), mild to severe joint and muscle pain, headaches, cysts in my joints and on tendons, extreme fatigue, and insomnia. That's just to name a handful of what I have experienced over the last 7-8 years. The last few years have been the most difficult. My doctor had added Rheumatoid Arthritis to my list of possible diagnosis' and tried to get me to go on chemo meds a' la' Selena Gomez (who notably did a stint for her lupus symptoms). I refused. Since the beginning, my gut has told me that the doctors weren't right and this was something else entirely. Well, now with my new salary I can afford to see a naturopath. For the last 6 months, I have been working with her and a NEW Rheumatologist who is more on board with the holistic side of medicine. I can honestly say that this naturopath has helped me tremendously, and what she thinks is wrong with me is definitely not what the doctors have been saying I have or have been treating me for, for the last 4 years. I have a long way to go to be symptom-free, but I feel like my quality of life has improved a lot because of her treatments.

 So, as for this blog, I don't know what is yet to come. I have some ideas of what I want to incorporate, which all stick to the "Random Coordinated Chaos" theme. This, in all honesty, has always fit the theme of my life. At this point I just want to write. I want to get in the habit of writing. My guess is that much of it will consist of whatever it is I am obsessed with at the moment. So, stick with me. It might be a bumpy ride at first, but I hope to really get it going and incorporate those things that enhance my life, whether it be places I go, things I see, products I try (I am obsessed with make-up at the moment), health discoveries, recipes I love, etc.

My goal is to get on here and update as much as possible at first, and then try to get in the habit of once a week. It was my plan when I first started this, but life just got too difficult to try to continue. But now, now I am determined. Stay tuned!

    

Chocolate S'mores Cookies: A Guaranteed Hit

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season! I know I have. I honestly can't believe it is over already. I am definitely ready for a detox though. My body is going through sugar shock. For someone that doesn't eat a lot of sweets but has an extreme sweet tooth, this time of the year is so difficult for me. It is definitely time for a detox. But for now...we talk cookies! A couple of weeks ago, they had some cookie recipes in the county newspaper. I adapted from a rocky road cookie recipe to make these.

I made these Chocolate S'mores cookies for work and for my family for Christmas day. A hit in both places. I heard repeatedly how good they were. My boss is "super work out guy" and eats VERY healthy and rarely picks up any sweets. When he went back for another cookie, I knew they were delicious. I put them in the work kitchen at 9am and by noon there were only 2 left. These are easily adaptable to be gluten free. However, I think it would be hard to make them egg free unless you could find a good replacement for egg that would go with chocolate. Powdered egg replacer will not work. Maybe a flax seed mix would work, but I wouldn't recommend that unless you have experience with it, which I do not.

The best part about these cookies? You make them with cake mix! You want to use a double fudge or triple fudge mix. Even a devil's food cake mix would work well. To make them gluten free, you just sub in a gluten free chocolate cake mix. Betty Crocker makes a wonderful mix that can be purchased at a regular, non-specialty grocery store.

The recipe:
S'mores Cake Mix Cookies (makes about two dozen cookies)

1 box chocolate fudge cake mix (or gluten free chocolate cake mix)
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup mini marshmallows, cut in half
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or enjoy life chocolate chips for dairy free)
4 squares graham crackers (gluten free graham crackers can also be used)

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Mix until well blended. The batter will be very thick.
3. Cut marshmallows in to small pieces (I used kitchen scissors and cut in half). Add marshmallows and chocolate chips to batter. It may be tough to mix. I used a thick wooden spoon to stir. 
4. Break up graham crackers in to small pieces. Sprinkle on top of batter and mix carefully. You can also wait and put a couple of pieces of crackers in cookies after scooped.
5. I recommend a cookie/ice cream scoop to scoop 1 inch balls of dough on to cookie sheet. Roll each ball to make cookies more uniform.

6. Bake cookies on middle rack of oven for approximately 10 minutes. (9-11 minutes) Remove from oven and let cool for a couple of minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Make sure they are cool enough to pick up with spatula without falling apart. A cooling rack will help cookies cool quickly and evenly.

I stored mine in a plastic bag and then inside a Tupperware container. It keeps them moist a lot longer than if they were just sitting on the counter.

If you want an easy recipe that will impress people with how amazing the cookies taste, these are the ones for you! Happy baking! Make sure to comment and let me know if you make these yourself. I would love to know how it went.

Gingerbread Granola: A Bowl of Nutty Goodness

Well, it's been quite some time since I last posted. I apologize for my lack of consistency. I have no good excuse. Just pure fall-time laziness. I can't tell you how many times I put my blog on my list of things to do. What is it about fall weather that makes you so tired? Let's talk about the time change while we are at it. Is it really necessary??? I don't think so. Especially not in California. I get out of work at 5 and it is pitch black outside. It makes me want to do nothing more than go home, eat dinner, put on pajamas, and go to bed. Which is exactly what I have been doing. A lot. But huzzah! I have a list going of projects I want to do. More about that later. Let's get to the yummies!

Gingerbread Granola. You read that correctly. I love granola. I eat it almost every day. My go to is Kind brand of granola. They have great flavors, it's gluten free, and you can find it at almost any supermarket. Once in a while though, you just want something different. Bonus: the house will smell amazing!

As I have said before, Pinterest is a love of mine. Why wouldn't it be? With all the wonderful recipes and crafts? So of course, the recipe I used was from Pinterest. You can find the original recipe here. I switched out some of the nuts to use what I had in the house, but essentially kept the recipe the same. 

You will need:

1. 1 cup almonds
2. 1 cup cashews (walnuts or pecans)
3. 2/3 cup pepitas/pumpkin seeds (or other small seed)
4. 1/2 cup coconut flakes (optional)
5. 1 tsp cinnamon
6. 1/2 tsp ground ginger
7. 1/2 tsp salt
8. Pinch of ground cloves
9. 1/3 cup maple syrup
10. 1/4 cup coconut oil
11. 2 tbsp molasses
12. 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat your oven to 300F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the almonds, cashews, and pumpkin seeds into a food processor and pulse to break the mixture into smaller pieces. If you do not have a food processor, you can chop them up in to smaller pieces using a chef's knife. I chose to have mine in larger pieces as seen below. Smaller pieces might even be better.

In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the maple syrup, coconut oil, molasses, and vanilla together for 30-45 seconds. You don't want it too hot, just warm enough to melt together.

Remove from the microwave and stir the mixture until mixed together. Add the cinnamon, ginger, salt, and cloves. Stir well and make sure it is well combined. Next, add in the nut mixture from the food processor, and stir gently. It's best to use a large, sturdy wooden or plastic spoon for this step as it will make it easier to scoop and stir.

Add shredded coconut. Transfer the granola mixture to the lined baking sheet and spread it out in an even layer. I used an offset spatula to make sure it was thin and even.

Put the pan in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. The liquid mixture may still be liquid. This is because it is hot sugar. When it has cooled, it will harden so don't over bake the mixture or it will taste like burnt sugar. Remove granola from the oven, stir around to make sure sugar coating is mixed in, and then let sit and cool completely. Break into chunks and store in an airtight container or resealable bag for up to a week.

If the mixture is over baked, it will probably give it a smokey/burnt sugar flavor. My oven is a bit temperamental so unfortunately mine was slightly overcooked. It still smelled and tasted amazing. 

As you can see, this is a pretty easy recipe. You can substitute the nuts for what you have or what you like. The spices and molasses are what makes it taste like gingerbread. Just don't over cook it and it will be amazing!

In other news, I have many things on my list to blog about. I will try to get a new post out to you each week. With the holidays it has been hard, but it is my goal. I am going to finally try making a Jamberry application video, I have some holiday cookie baking to do, AND I was just introduced to needle felting. I am going to try out the needle felting before I decide if I will blog about it, but it seems awesome, inexpensive, and it turns out adorable results! So for now I will say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Season's Greetings. Keep baking and keep crafting!

Pumpkin: It's That Time of Year!

Pumpkin: pro or con? I think I might be both. I love this time of year because you can find pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING. But I agree with many people that it can get a little ridiculous and overwhelming. There are some pretty random things that they make that are pumpkin flavored. Here are just a few odd ones that I have come across: Pumpkin Spice Kale Chips, Pumpkin Pie Kettle Chips, Pumpkin Pie Chocolate Bark, and Hershey's Kisses Pumpkin Spice. Personally, I like to stick to the classics...bread, pie, cupcakes, cheesecake, and cookies. I will taste some of these other odd creations unless they sound TOO weird (I'm talking to you Pumpkin Spice Kale Chips). 

Last weekend I had planned on making a new recipe of raw vegan pumpkin no bake cheesecake bars for my friends Jenn and Elijah. How yummy does that sound? Unfortunately, the day I was to visit them, I forgot to soak the cashews so no cheesecake for them. (Sorry Elijah!) The next day I woke up with two cans of pumpkin in my cupboard calling my name. So I went to the Internet for an easy gluten free, dairy free, egg free pumpkin bread. I found the perfect recipe! (original recipe here courtesy of dontmesswithmama.com)

Per usual, I made some modifications to make it perfect for me. 

Ingredients

• 1 and 3/4 cups of all-purpose gluten-free flour
• 1 and 1/2 tbsp organic coconut flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• Egg replacer equivalent to 2 eggs (I use Ener-G)
• 1 cup baking sugar (you can use coconut sugar or raw organic sugar)
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
• 1/3 cup filtered water
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

-Mix all dry ingredients together with a whisk in large bowl.  

-Mix up your egg replacer in a separate container. I prefer to use a whisk for this to get the powder completely mixed with the water.

-Mix all wet ingredients together (make sure coconut oil is in liquid form before mixing. I did not do this and it came out a little lumpy).

-Add egg replacer to wet ingredients mixing well.

-Now incorporate dry ingredients to wet ingredients without over mixing. **You want to make sure it is completely mixed, but if you over mix the batter, the bread can come out a little tough versus soft and moist.

-Scoop batter in to loaf pan that is completely greased (I used dairy free butter in a glass loaf pan and it worked extremely well).

-Place in the oven and bake for 60 min and then test with toothpick. Can be baked for up to 70 min depending on oven.

After removing from the oven, let cool completely before taking out of pan. Gorgeous!

Gluten free baking is an art. This is a fairly easy recipe if you don't over-mix the batter. It came out moist but a little crumbly. Such is gluten free baking. The only thing that the original recipe did not mention is the addition of xanthan gum which helps bind gluten free items. My gluten free flour mix did not have it already in the blend. Next time I would probably add a tad bit of xanthan gum. However, I was surprised at how well this worked without it. So if you are not a fan of gum additions, you could probably leave it out like I did and be just fine. 

So if you are looking for a gluten free, dairy free, egg free recipe for the holidays, this is a great idea! You can add chocolate chips, nuts, or dried cranberries if you so desire. This recipe can also be put in individual size loaf pans or a muffin tin. Baking time would be a lot less, so adjust accordingly.

Happy Baking! Today I made a Gingerbread Paleo Granola. Keep an eye out for that entry soon!

November: Clean Eating Begins!

The last two weeks have been fun celebrating my (yikes) 40th birthday! One weekend I had one of my best friends come down from San Jose to visit and we got to spend some time together and with other long time friends. Then this weekend another best friend took a group of us to Glen Ivy Spa for a day of lounging and pampering. It has been a fun time of celebrating with some of my favorite people. I have the best friends and family! Needless to say, I haven't been eating the best the last couple of weeks. I woke up this morning and decided it was time to get back on track. Enter Pinterest. 

Oh Pinterest I love you and loathe you. Pinterest makes me excited about everything and makes me feel inadequate in the same minute. Crafting, drawing, creating, baking, cooking...you name it, I look it up and pin it.

I am not the best cook. When you cook for one, you tend to go the easy route versus the healthy route. With the Santa Ana winds blowing through Southern California the last couple of days, coupled with trying to stay cold free when everyone likes to cough on you in public, I have been a little under the weather this weekend. I immediately thought crock pot cooking! Easy, yet can still be healthy. I have a ton of food issues, mostly food allergies. I try to stay on the healthy side when searching for recipes and I always have to modify to be gluten free, dairy free, and egg free, as well as something I actually like. The recipe I found ended up turning in to something completely different when I was done so it ended up being my own recipe. 

It was so tasty and simple, I feel like I forgot something!

What you need: 

Chicken (I went for organic, free range chicken tender strips from Trader Joe's)

Chicken stock (again, Trader Joe's. They have gluten free stock)

Sweet potatoes (I used two smaller ones)

Organic Brown Sugar (Trader Joe's)

1/2 Sweet Onion

Garlic salt or chopped garlic

Layer chicken in bottom of crock pot. Top with cubed sweet potato and sliced onions. Sprinkle approximately 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and garlic salt to taste. Fill almost all the way with chicken stock. Cook on high for approximately 5 hours (until chicken is cooked thoroughly). I cooked on high 3 hours and then turned to low for a few more.

The plan was to have it more like a chicken and potatoes meal, but it quickly turned in to a stew that smells amazing. The brown sugar is mostly for the top of the sweet potatoes, but I wanted to make sure there was enough liquid that the chicken and potatoes would cook and be tender. So, I may have gone a little overboard with the chicken stock. But I am happy! The sugar probably could have been left out since the potatoes soaked up the stock, but then the sweetness would be gone. The sweetness makes it taste amazing!

The best thing about the crock pot is you don't have to measure. You just throw it all in and turn it on. I just made a healthy chicken and sweet potato stew with minimal effort and amazing taste! Substitutes are easy. You could easily change out the sweet potatoes for pumpkin, regular potatoes, or even another type of squash or root vegetable. Want it a little spicier? Add black pepper and cayenne? It's whatever you want to make it and it's easy!

Happy healthy eating! Bring on Fall!