Cran-Apple Crisp

Cranberry Apple Crisp

       Are you one of those folks who only eat cranberry sauce during the holidays? I would say that I'm one of those folks who do so, The cran-apple crisp offers for many to reach out of their comfort zone when limiting to the consumption time of cranberry sauce. When you bite into this delicious crisp your taste buds will surely get the delight that they have been longing for.

      "First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with softened butter. Set aside. Then, in a large mixing bowl, stir together the cranberry sauce, granulated sugar, and the 2 tablespoons of flour. Add the apples to the cranberry mixture, tossing to coat, and pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. To make the crumble topping, in the same mixing bowl, stir together the pecans, oats, brown sugar, 1/3 cup flour, cinnamon, and melted butter. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples in the dish and bake until golden brown. 30 - 40 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature" (Yearwood,22).

Trisha states, "I can personally eat an entire bowl of cranberry sauce in one sitting, and it's seriously good spread on turkey sandwiches - not just on Thanksgiving and Christmas" (Yearwood, 22). The trick that I learned from this recipe is that no matter when or how you have cranberry sauce it will always feel like holidays.

Questions: What other recipes can you come up with that will make an exception for you to cooking with cranberries not on a holiday?

Yearwood, Trisha. "Cran-Apple Crisp." Trisha's Table" My Feel-good Favorites for a Balanced Life. NYC, New York City: Clarkson Potter, 2015. 22-23. Print. 

Recipe:
(FILLING)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter, softened
- 1 (14oz.) can whole - cranberry sauce
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all - purpose flour
- 5 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
(TOPPING)
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1 cup quick - cooking oats
- 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup all - purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) salted butter, melted

Stretching to Find Your Inner Balance

Core, Balance, and Shoulder Work: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Big Toe Pose)

For the practice of yoga, it is important to have good core strength. This will help up become stronger in our abdomen as well as our well-being as a whole. Your abdominal area supports your lower back, the spine, and internal organs. One more thing about our core is that it is also where our sense of confidence lies, the base for how we walk through life. "We need balance in all parts of our lies, and the yoga mat is a great pace to start cultivating that! Plant your feet firmly on the ground so that you can grow tall without losing your balance in life" (Brathen 62).

Step 1) Come into a standing position. Shift your weight over to the right foot* and bring the left knee into the chest. Use your hands to keep balance while holding your left foot.

* If you feel more comfortable doing this stretch with your other leg, feel free to switch the footing in this step.

Step 2) Gently extend your left leg out to the side. Do your best to keep your hips neutral with the front of the hipbones pointing forward.

Even if you aren't very flexible, you can reach your foot out as far as you can while hold your foot using your peace fingers (index and middle). Once you feel comfortable bringing your leg up higher, you can grasp the outer part of your foot.

Helpful hint: Putting your free hand on your hip may help to gain more balance and set your body to an equilibrium.

Step 3) Gaze to the left to challenge your balance further and point into the distance.

This stretch isn't a flexibility exercise, but a relaxation method to find inner balance. Yoga isn't trying to be flexible while holding a funky pose, but rather finding a balance that you can metaphorically use in your everyday life.

This helped me find my inner balance. Although I was already flexible, it was hard to find my balance at first. I was able to hold my leg up, but not with good form while keeping my balance. My hips were not square with each other, but I soon discovered that if I changed how my hips' center point, I can find my center balance.

Brathen, Rachel. Yoga Girl. New York: Touchstone, 2014. Print.

How do you think this balance technique will help you find your balance in your everyday life?

Game day Hair and Makeup

Having the complete look is just as important as knowing your cheers. You need full proof makeup and hair that will last though the game and look good (Webber 91). I used the tips from Varsity's Ultimate Guide to Cheerleading to practice a game day look on my sister. I started with the makeup.


Step #1: Start with a Clean. This allows a clean application so your makeup will stay all day.

Step #2: Apply Foundation. This covers the whole face making it smooth, same colored and appear blemish free. With the lights shining on you during a game or competition it extenuates your flaws so a nice foundation helps to cover this.  My book recommended to use a wide brush but since I didn't have access to this tool I used a beauty blender (or Sponge) to apply the foundation.

Step #3: Apply Blush. "Your blush color should match the natural color of your cheeks when they are flushed from exercise or from being out in the cold." (Webber 95). This is because you will be outside working hard possibly in the cold. You don't want your natural blush to contrast the blush you put on, you only want to enhance it. This also goes along with the lights shining on your face. The light can wash you out and adding the blush will give you nice color.

Step #4: Apply eyeliner. In my book they suggest "Cream or gel eyeliner applied with a clean eyeliner brush." (Webber 95). I opted for a liquid eyeliner that I was used to using and liked. Adding eyeliner close to your upper lash line makes your eyes look bolder and more open.

Step #5: Apply a neutral-colored eye shadow. Doing this adds a little extra brightness to your face that helps you stand out. "Chose a shade with a slight shimmer for added drama." (Webber 95). I went for this extra tip because I like the little extra sparkle. 

Step #6: Apply a neutral colored lip gloss. Adding a nice gloss gives your lips a nice shine and a little pop. This helps to make your mouth stand out when yelling cheers, and smiling.

This is the finished Look! Nice, natural makeup that enhances your features and last through the night.

Next is the hair. I started by smoothing the hair and brushing it. Next I sectioned a small portion. I then teased this section to add volume. After teasing I smoothed out all bumps and put her hair into a smooth, low pony and hair sprayed it so it would stay kept together all night.

This look would work perfectly for any cheerleading event I need to attend. With the tips in my book it made it easy to fit the application and products to fit would is best for me to use. Doing this helped me to practice so I can get it right when I have games to cheer at.

My question is to other cheerleaders, How do you do your makeup and hair for games?

The Editors of Varsity, and Rebecca Webber. Varsity's Ultimate Guide to Cheerleading. N.p.: Poppy, 2014. Print

3 Tips to Getting a Better Curl

3 Tips to Getting a Better Curl

Have you ever wondered why no matter how hard you try you can’t quite seem to get that perfect curl that actually lasts throughout the entire day and doesn’t fall flat the moment you step outside? You may just be missing out on a few simple steps you can take during the curling process that will make a major difference on how your curls not only turn out once you are done, but how they hold up throughout the day. Here are a few easy steps you can take to make your curls last and look better than ever!

Tip #1:

Believe it or not, the fate of your curls is determined before your curling wand even touches your hair. Try to not pile on an excessive amount of hair products into your hair before you begin to curl. Sometimes it’s best to even skip product all together. According to Lauren Conrad, beauty and fashion expert, “Less is more. Products can end up working against you. Ideally, when curling your hair, you want it to be as clean as possible.” (Conrad 209)

The only product that is highly recommended you use before you begin curling is a heat protectant. This will save your hair from heat damage, which is what causes dry/brittle ends. This is my personal favorite heat protectant from L’Oréal Paris.

Tip #2:

After each piece you have curled, pin it up with a bobby pin or any hair clip that works for you and leave it in until you have completed your entire head. This will make each curl much stronger and shaped, holding in the curl far better than if you were to just let it go, which is what most women do when curling their hair. This is called setting your curls which according to Lauren, “Extends the staying power of your curls and makes a huge difference on how long and how well your curls last.” (Conrad 213)

                          

(Without setting)                                                              (With Setting)

Tip #3:

I know it is so tempting to coat your curls in hairspray when you are done to be absolutely sure nothing falls out of place, but I strongly recommend you attempt to refrain from this commonly made mistake. According to Lauren, “You’d be surprised by how often over spraying can ruin your look more than dancing can.” (Conrad 209) Sometimes too much hairspray can give you the result that is completely opposite from the one you were striving for. Hairspray can do its job most effectively by keeping the spray light, moving it around your head and not harshly targeting one specific area.

This is my favorite hairspray that is ranked in the top seven hairsprays used by women across the nation, according to Allure Magazine and Total Beauty’s respected website. It holds the curl very well throughout the day and also smells amazing!

Hopefully you found these tips helpful for getting a better and longer lasting curl. I know there are so many different complicated techniques and expensive products out there that are used by celebrity hair stylists and celebrities themselves, but just a few simple tweaks can be made that don't break the bank and can make your curls look amazing, no glam team needed! Happy Curling!


My final question to the reader: What tip was most useful to you and why?


 Conrad, Lauren, and Elise Loehnen. Lauren Conrad Beauty. New York: HarperCollins, 2012. Print.

Express Lane Meals: Post 1

Do you have trouble making up your mind? Then how does this sound: "grilled meat, salad, take-out Thai food, and pizza, all in one meal? There are no special ingredients required; you can get them all in the regular market and have this pizza on the table in less time than it would take the delivery man to get to your door." Everybody loves pizza, including me. This is why I chose to do this dish; not only is it fun, tasty, and easy to make, but its pizza! Doesn't get any better than that.


Ingredients (2-4 Servings) :


- Pizza dough
- 1/2 cup duck sauce or plum sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 10-ounce sack (2 cups) shredded provolone or Monterey jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons grilling season
- 4 chicken breast cutlets
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar or any white vinegar on hand
- 1/4 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 4 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
- 1 cup bean sprout
- Palmful of fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped roasted Peanuts