DIY: Whoopie-Corn-Mallows

For thanksgiving, I decided to make dessert. I don't really love traditional thanksgiving desserts, so I decided to troll the internet and find a dessert that fulfills my chocolate desires. That is where the idea for the Whoopie-Corn-Mallow came from. Basically a thanksgiving inspired chocolate covered whoopie pie. 

The first thing you will need is the base of the treat, the cupcake. feel free to make any type of cake, but because this is "thanksgiving inspired" I used a cornbread mix and just followed the instructions on how to bake that.

The most important part of this process is baking the cake in cupcake tins rather than baking a normal cake. Again, just follow the instructions for baking, and modify cooking time for size.

While cupcakes are in the oven, melt the chocolate. Any chocolate will do, but I usually use semi-sweet chocolate chips because they are delicious and easy to melt.

Add two tablespoons of butter or margarin. This will thicken up the melted chocolate and make it the perfect spreading consistency.

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. What this does is melts the chips without burning them. Fill a pot halfway with water and set it to boil. Put the bowl of chocolate chips and butter/margarin in the water and let it melt (make sure you use a glass or metal bowl that won't melt with heat).

If you find that your melted chocolate is too thick to be spreadable, than add oil a bit at a time until consistency is perfect.

Next step is the filling. Feel free to use any marshmallows desired, but ,in my opinion, vegan marshmallows are the best! Once you have had one there is no going back to normal marshmallows.

Take the muffins out of the oven and let them cool down on a cooling tray.

Then, cut each muffin in half and set the tops off to the side.

Take a marshmallow and a muffin bottom, put one on top of the other, and put in the microwave. Time may vary, but I basically put each one in for about 5 seconds/whenever I saw the marshmallow puff up. Then I quickly take the bottom out and wiggle the muffin top till is sticks to the bottom. 

Then comes the messy but yummy part. Cover your muffins in chocolate. This part is open to interpretation. 

Then stick them in the freezer...

... and ta da! Your Whoopie-Corn-Mallows are complete.

Enjoy!

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Twist and Shout - The Beatles

Life Update: Thanksgiving Dinner 2015

Thanksgiving. When family comes together and eats too much food. The holiday with the most leftovers. The time of year when its okay to eat two different pies and whatever else is served for dessert. 
But on a more serious note, this year I am thankful for my family and friends (I know, its a bit cliché). But more specifically, for the support I get from each and every one of them. This year so far has been pretty stressful with school, college, and everything in between, but in particular these past few weeks have been really hard. There is a lot of tragedy in the world, and never before has it hit so close-to-home. I am so thankful that I have the support I need from the people I love surrounding me and helping me stay strong when I really need to.

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: One Time - Justin Bieber

Life Update: A Social Introvert

If you were to ask me for three words I would use to describe myself, one of them would be introverted. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an introvert as "a reserved or shy person". Literally, introvert means "to turn inward or in upon itself". In certain ways this word describes me perfectly, but in others it maybe goes too far over the line. I don't consider myself a shy person, at least not any more-so than most people. I find myself to be pretty comfortable with public speaking or performing. And yet, when it comes to social situations, I have avoided quite a few due to fear.
I often get nervous around new people because I never know what to say, and as a result I might just not say anything at all. In class, I am the type of person who thinks about what they are going to say before speaking, so when a class is full of louder personalities I tend to sit back and listen to conversations rather than join in. Even on the weekends, I normally prefer staying home and watching Netflix all day, rather than spending time with friends.
Even though I may be introverted most of the time, I still love being around my friends and being social. It just happens to be that because I choose to be alone with my thoughts more often than others, I don't spend as much time with friends and doing fun things. And I know I'm not alone in this.

So, from this day forward I have made myself a promise. When ever a situation arises, (whether it is with my friends and people I know, with people I have never met before, or anything in between) I will jump at the opportunity. I will not let Netflix keep me locked in my room anymore. I will not make up excuses to get out of a situation. And, most importantly, I will make an active effort to spend my last year at home with the people in my life. I will go out of my way to hang out with friends, and do things that I have never done before. 

If you can relate to anything that I have said, than make this oath with me. On the count of three say this out loud in defiance: 1...2...3... "I WILL!" (if you are ever so inclined, read my promises written above aloud as well). 

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Summer Lovin' - Grease

Favorites: November

So, I know that monthly favorites are usually done at the end of a month, but I just had so many favorite things already this month that I decided I would go for it. Most of these items are beauty products because for some reason these past few weeks I have decided to try out some new products. I have learnt to love many new things and have added them to my normal routines.

Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Reactivating Mist
This is my all time favorite new hair care product. If you are a curly girly and have not yet tried this stuff, then you are missing out. It is absolutely unbelievable! I use it after every shower when my hair is damp, but I found it's best use is when you spray it in before bed. If you have curly hair then you know that second day curls are just never as good as the first. But when I wake up after having sprayed the mist in my hair, the curls are sometimes even better then the first day. I can now wear my hair down two days in a row instead of hiding my hair in a bun when the curls are less then satisfactory.

DevaCurl 'DevaFuser' Diffuser
Another great product for curly hair. Diffusers are meant particularly for curly hair, but I have never found one that I liked. My hair always gets really frizzy and the curls don't last. But then I discovered this super special one. The shape is specifically made so the airflow is 360 degrees around the hair. This way you can stick the diffuser inside the hair as if using your hands (hence the shape), and just dry away.

My Nail Polish Collection
For a very long time, I have been a nail biter. It has gotten to the point where I just don't think my nails are as healthy as they could be. So, I decided would start painting my nails more often in order to refrain from destroying them. I store my polish in a tin box I got in London (best box ever), and it only holds a small amount but I have a very specific taste in polish color.

I basically only wear shades of blue and black. Here are my favorites right now.

Fujifilm instax mini
As an aspiring photographer, I just love when a photograph looks really old. Old family photos from the 80s and 90s are so beautiful. The colors are brighter and everything looks really retro. That has a lot to do with polaroids. Unfortunately, the Polaroid company went out of business. Luckily, fujifilm has created their own instant cameras that work just as well, and they are mini! Love love love this camera. It took me a bit of time to really understand how it works and get the best images, but it is totally worth it. If you are looking to buy one, try amazon because they are much cheaper Urban Outfitters.

Smith's Rosebud Salve Balm
Its getting colder and my lips are getting dryer. I put this balm on every morning as part of my routine, and it stays on forever even through eating. It keeps my lips moisturized and looks really pretty on. 

Benefit Rockateur Blush
I bought this product a while ago, but only started using it pretty recently. It adds the perfect amount of color to my face in the morning and is super build-able. That way, if you want a more subtle glow it works as both a natural color and a highlighter. Super subtle natural color that works with every skin tone.

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: The Star Spangled Banner

Favorites: 5 Single Season TV Shows Worth Binge-Watching

Source: http://giphy.com/search/watching-tv/3

If you didn't know this yet, I am a huge TV watcher. I watch multiple shows on air and a ton of shows that have finished. But, my favorite shows to watch are shows that got canceled and only have one season. It's like watching a movie, but it ends on a huge cliffhanger. Single season shows are easier to watch because they don't take up as much of your free time by being fully committed, and sometimes (even if they were cancelled) they are the most entertaining... but some are just plain trashy, and thats fun too.

  
#1
Emily Owens M.D.

This is my number one favorite single-season show. The main character, Emily, is played by Meryl Streep's daughter, Mamie Gummer. She is a shy and quirky doctor, with more potential than she believes, and who was glad to be done with high school. Turns out, working at a hospital is very similar to being in high school...
I cannot recommend this show more! You will fall in love with all the characters, cringe at all the awkward encounters, and get to see some cool (and not too gruesome) surgeries. Ends on the best and largest cliffhanger

#2
Freaks and Geeks

Hilarious, great cast, and ahead of it's time.

#3
My So-Called Life

Super retro, relatable, and intriguing....Oh, and jared leto.

#4
Jane By Design

Cute clothing, adorable characters, and some good ol' fun.

#5
Hellcats

trashy, but in the best way possible.

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Bei Mir Bist Du Schon - Ella Fitzgerald

A-Z phone photography

A - Avocado

B - Bubbles

C - Car

D - Door

E - Edge

F - Flowers

G - Grafitti

H - House

I - Ice Cream

J - Jealous

K - Keep Calm and Go to the Beach

L - Light

M - Marble

N - NYC

O - Open Road

P - Pasta

Q - Quote

R - Reflection

S - Sunset

T - Trees

U - Uncooked

V - Very pretty stain

W - Washington Square Park

X - Xperience

Y - You

Z - Zilly ;)

xoxoxo

Nina

Song stuck in my head right now: Florida Key - The New Basement Tapes