Thursday, September 22, 2016

Recipe: Salty & Sweet Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn't love a good chocolate chip cookie?!  I know I certainly do, and I've always been a big fan of Nestle's Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I've been making them for as long as I remember and have the recipe memorized at this point.  Recently I've gotten brave enough to start making some changes to the recipe to really customize it to my taste.  I think that I've finally gotten down a recipe based on the Original Toll House one that I really love and decided to take it up a notch this week.  I always see Emily Schuman from Cupcakes and Cashmere add sea salt to her chocolate chip cookies when she bakes them on her Snapchat and have been dying to try this myself!  A few days ago I decided to go for it and could not be happier that I did.  Adding salt puts a fun spin on a classic and gives it a delicious salty and sweet taste that I love.  Below is my recipe for chocolate chip cookies with sea salt that you and everyone you share them with (if you want to share!) are sure to love too!

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 sticks butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Sea Salt

Instructions:
-Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl, set aside.
-Beat butter and sugars in a bowl until fluffy.
-Add eggs and vanilla to butter mixture, beat until fully incorporated.
-Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mixing while you add it, mix until fully combined.
-Stir in chocolate chips.
-Drop cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt onto each cookie.
-Bake for nine to eleven minutes or until golden brown.
-Remove from cookie sheet and allow to cool.
-Enjoy!

What do you think of this fun take on a traditional favorite?

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Your Best Hair & Skin With DermOrganic

DermOrganic is a line of hair and skin care products with formulas based around naturally derived ingredients that replicate the elements hair and skin use inside to replenish, refresh, and maintain their beauty from the outside.  Their products also feature argan oil, which contains vitamin E and linoleic acid that protects and moisturizes the hair and skin.  The DermOrganic simple philosophy is "less is more" and only the best, most essential and fully researched ingredients go into their formulas with the result being youthful looking hair and skin.

If you've seen some of my beauty posts then you know that I love using natural ingredients as much as I can and that I really value high quality products.  It should come as no surprise then that my personal beauty philosophies strongly align with DermOrganic brand philosophy.  I had seen DermOrganic a few times at Ulta before and was very excited to try their products!  I can honestly say that since I started using them they've changed my hair and skin for the better.  While I really like all of the products I've tried from DermOrganic, I do have one in particular that is my favorite; keep reading to learn about the products, what I think of them, and see which one is my favorite!

This shampoo is sulfate free, which I think is very important because sulfates can dry out hair and irritate the scalp.  The thing about this I think is really cool is that it is made with facial cleansers derived from lipids and amino acids that moisturize and strengthen hair, moreover it makes this even more gentle on the hair and scalp.  It is also super safe for salon treated and colored hair!  

This has to be the thickest shampoo that I have ever tried, so thick that it wouldn't work with the pump bottle it came in and I had to remove the pump and squeeze out the shampoo.  It requires as much product to get a nice lather as other sulfate free shampoos I've tried and easily rinses out of hair.  I can definitely tell that it is made from facial cleansers as it has a different texture than most shampoos, but it is different in a good way.  After using this my hair felt very clean and incredibly soft, which is a often a hard combination to find in a shampoo.  Furthermore, this doesn't irritate my very sensitive scalp and actually leaves it feeling soothed.

This mask is rich in rice amino acids that replicate the keratin structure of human hair.  It works to seal cuticles, repair damage, balance pH, and restore resilience.  It also smoothes hair and helps to make it more manageable.  It works to strengthen hair from the inside out and since it doesn't contain harsh ingredients like silicone and glycerin it is safe for everyday use.

For me this has become a holy grail hair mask!  I love very thick conditioner and this is just that.  It makes my hair probably the smoothest it's ever been and repairs any damage I have, but never leaves my hair greasy, which has happened with other masks.  I typically use this once a week while I'm in the shower and try to use it on a day when I'm shaving my legs so that it is in for longer.  I really want to wash my hair, then apply this in the shower, put on a shower cap, and leave it on for an hour or so, so it will give my hair a very deep conditioning.

This treatment is meant to protect, repair, and improve shine in hair.  Moreover, it restores optimal moisture balance, smoothes and softens, and protects hair from thermal styling.  It also speeds drying time by up to 40% and is filled with Omega-6, lipids, antioxidants, vitamin E, and more.

I love how this not only moisturizes my hair, but helps to protect it from heat styling too.  It also smells really good and makes my hair extra silky smooth.  This is meant to be used on clean, damp hair and while I do use it for that I also like to use it on dry hair as a styling aid and to moisturize my hair.

This hairspray contains a blend of three eco friendly polymers designed to dry fast and keep hair in place.  It helps hair to maintain its shape even after brushing and is never sticky or heavy.  Furthermore, it holds all day, is resistant to humidity, and contains anti-fade extracts to protect colored hair.

I don't really use hair spray, but gave this a try and really like it.  I also had my Mom who is a hairspray aficionado try this and she loves it!  We both love that this contains argan oil because it makes it less harsh on our hair then other hairsprays.  Additionally, it smells amazing and leaves that lovely scent on our hair all day long!

This organic argan oil can be used for both hair and skin.  It is rich in lipids and vitamin E and is intensely moisturizing.  This is hands down my favorite product in the bunch.  I love it for my super dry skin and it even made the list for my September Must Haves.  I put this on my face almost every night after cleansing and I have seen a serious improvement in moisture levels and the condition of my skin.  I think that since it is so moisturizing this will be especially great in the winter when my skin gets extra dry.  I'm also dying to try adding some of this to my hair when my ends get a little dry.  If you haven't tried argan oil, I recommend trying this one ASAP - your skin will love you!

If you're wanting to try some DermOrganic products for yourself the best time to do that is now because Ulta is giving away free Argan Oil (my favorite product!) with any $20 DermOrganic purchase through September 25th, both in stores and online!

Have you tried any DermOrganic products before?

*I was given the DermOrganic products mentioned in this post by BXX Media Influencer Network to facilitate my review, however opinions of these products are all my own.
  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!
Today I'm linking up with Tutu Tuesdays, Style Sessionsand Confident Twosday.

Welcome to Tutu Tuesdays a linkup with The Blush Blonde and The Fairy Princess Diaries!  Linkup whatever you'd like and make sure to do a little mingling - our goal here is to create a community of bloggers where we can all connect, find new blogs, and support one another.  We love new friends, supporting other blogs, and meeting fellow girl bosses!

There are just a few rules we ask you follow to join in on Tutu Tuesdays:

1. Please follow both Jordyn and me, your lovely hosts, on Instagram and/or Bloglovin.
Kristin: The Blush Blonde  |  Bloglovin'  |  Instagram
2. Link to your specific post, not your blog's main page.
3. Grab our super cute button or share a link to Tutu Tuesdays in the post you are linking up so everyone can know about the party!

4. Have fun and mingle with other bloggers that have linked up!  Like I said we want everyone to make new friends!
“The




Monday, September 19, 2016

Emmy Awards 2016 Gowns

Who else is so excited that is it officially award show season?!  My favorite part about award show season is definitely all the gorgeous gowns we get to see!  Last night's Emmy Awards were no exception and so many beautiful looks hit the red carpet.  Below is The Blush Blonde Emmy Awards Best Dressed List.

Kristen Bell in Zuhair Murad  |  Olivia Culpo in Zac Posen  |  Emilia Clarke in Atelier Versace

Julianne Hough in Armani  |  Claire Danes in Schiaparelli  |  Priyanka Chopra in Jason Wu

Sofia Vergara in Versace  |  Julie Bowen in Lela Rose  |  Emmy Rossum in Wes Gordon  |  Aimee Teegarden in KaufmanFranco  |  Anika Noni Rose in Tadashi Shoji

Tina Fey in Oscar de la Renta  |  Taraji P. Henson in Vera Wang  |  Shiri Appleby in Diane von Furstenberg

Emily Ratajkowski in Zac Posen  |  Kirsten Dunst in Givenchy  |  Abigail Spencer in Jenny Packham

Which look was your favorite from the night?

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Today I'm linking up with #HowISummerHello MondayLet It ShineWeekending, and MIMM.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Friday Favorites

Favorite Discovery Volition
I discovered Volition through this article on Byrdie.  It's a beauty community where members submit ideas for beauty products that are not already on the market, then they vote on product ideas and finally Volition goes to work on creating the products with enough votes.  I think that this sounds like the most awesome business idea and I need to start thinking about a product to submit!

Have you ever had trouble keeping track of all the hashtags you need to use for your blog or business?  I know have, which is why I am loving this post from Money Can Buy Lipstick where she puts all of the hashtags in one place for you.  Check it out to make posting on Instagram so much easier!

Favorite Cute Piglet and Puppy Become Best Friends
My sister sent this to me the other day and it is too cute not to share!  I love pigs and dogs so this is the perfect match.  It is also a really sweet story that will definitely make you smile!


I am always fascinated with beauty products and routines from other countries so this article is like a dream come true to me!  It breaks down the difference between nighttime skincare routines in America, France, and South Korea to show what women in each country do.  It also gives you a look into the different products used in all three countries which I love getting to see.

Favorite Desk Accessory Dots and Feelings Stapler
How adorable is this stapler?!  I am redoing my bedroom since I recently moved and this would go perfectly on my desk since it matches my decor.  It is sure to make a cute and fun addition to any office space!

What are your Friday Favorites this week?

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Green Tea Clay Mask

I love making masks and one of my favorite ingredients to use is Amazon Secret Indian Healing Clay because it deeply cleanses skin and is so versatile.  You can add many different things to the clay to tailor a mask to your skin's needs.  One thing that we can all use in our skincare products is antioxidants.  Antioxidants help to prevent and repair free radical damage and are frequently recommended by dermatologists and beauty experts for all skin types and ages.  Matcha Green Tea's antioxidant properties greatly surpass other foods, and it is known for being calming, detoxifying, filled with vitamins, and containing caffeine which soothes inflammation, constricts blood vessels, and tightens skin.  Combining matcha and clay creates an easy to make mask that has countless skin benefits.  Give this simple recipe a try to get clear, glowing skin!

Supplies:
-1 tbsp. + 2 tsp. bentonite clay powder
-1 tsp. matcha powder
-2 tbsp. filtered water

Instructions:
-Place clay and matcha powders in a small bowl.
-Add water.
-Mix until combined.
-Apply to clean face, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse off.

Do you usually make your own face masks?

  
                
Make sure to add me on Snapchat - @kthomp22!
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