The Sunday Currently (May 4th, 2014)

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It's definitely nice to be back to blogging.  It was weird not blogging for so long, but we're back and I'm feeling a lot better!  We just worked out our editorial calendar, and I've got to say, we have some pretty great posts lined up for you this month!

Starting tomorrow, we're back with the 28th edition of Five Little Grins!  I can't believe it's been going for 7 months now.  Will you be linking up?

Then, later this week we have an AWESOME giveaway to thank you all for getting us to 500 followers!

Today, I am currently. . . .

Writing a literary analysis essay.  It's on Night by Elie Wiesel.  I would be finished if conclusion paragraphs weren't a thing.  I wish conclusion paragraphs weren't a thing.  I hate conclusion paragraphs.

Reading Ruins by Dan Wells.  I got through a good chunk of it last night while babysitting.  I don't think I'm going to finish before it's due back at the library on Tuesday, though.

Listening to the parrot eat breakfast.  Not only does she make a lot of noise while eating, it also creates a LOT of mess.

Thinking that I really need braces.  All my front teeth are pretty much on top of each other.  I wish there was something that could  be done about my overbite too, but I was told by 3 people that my jaw would need to be broken and then get plastic surgery for it to be fixed.

Smelling the toaster waffles I just made.  I really like toaster waffles- way more than normal waffles- and consider them a great breakfast.  I'm going to make a great college student. . . but horrible adult.

Wishing for clearer skin.  Having so many breakouts right now and it is extremely frustrating.

Loving having a quiet house.  So relaxing.

Needing a cup of tea.  My  throat still hurts like a SOB

Feeling exhausted!  Babysat for total strangers last night so I really had co clue what to expect going into it.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for 5 Little Grins!

♥ Cassi ♥ 

April Jams

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I was listening to a lot of music in April.  I've honestly gone back to using iTunes as it allows me to sync playlists with my phone.  Which is great for a lot of things, except sharing on here!  Here's a more simplified version of what I've been listening to.  The real playlist included A LOT more Ed Sheeran.  (Who I 'get to see live in September.  I'm freaking out)

Linking up with Whitney for the first time in a long time!  What have you been listening to recently?

♥ Cassi ♥ 

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April in Pictures

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We made cupcakes for my mom's brithday

I failed to break in my new pointe shoes

Katie and I made a horrible cookie cake

There was no spicy conversation

My mom helped me finish this skirt

I got my hair trimmed

I bought tickets for Ed Sheeran

Umbrellas!

We visited the boat

Flowers

Coconut rice stuff.  So good.

I made oatmeal craisin cookies.

Katie and I had literally the best snack every

Van Gogh nails!

Poker!

I made really good cupcakes.

Cramer's Rule almost killed me.

I made an Instagram!  Keep up with my life by following!  

♥ Cassi ♥ 

Carrot Cake Pancakes!

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First of all, I would like to apologize for the crazy hiatus.  It wasn't really planned.  I was sick for about 2 weeks and when I finally went to the doctor we found out I actually had strep and not just a little cold which explained why I was (and still am) feeling absolutely horrible.  We promise we're back to posting more regularly though.  Next week we're actually having a giveaway for hitting 500 followers!  

For Easter, we did brunch and one of the things we had was carrot cake pancakes.  We hadn't really planned on it- we just threw them together that morning.  That's how simple they are!

Ingredients:

3 Medium Carrots

1 tbs Baking Powder

2 c Flour

6 tbs Sugar

1 tsp Salt

1/4 c melted margarine

1 c Vegetable Oil

1 tbs Vanilla

2 Eggs

1 1/2 c Water*

1/4 tsp Ground Clove

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1 tbs Cinnamon

Optional

1 Brick of Cream Cheese

2-3 Cups of Powdered Sugar

Directions:

Start by peeling three medium carrots, then shredding them and finally coating  them in flour.  This helps lock in most of their moisture.

Combine all your dry ingredients in a medium bowl.

Combine all your liquids in a larger bowl. (With the exception of the water)  Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to mix and slowly incorporate your dry ingredients.  As needed, splash water.  Add the carrots last and use a spatula to stir in.  (So they don't get shredded more)

Bake like normal pancakes and eat!

A cream cheese frosting is great on these.  Start with one brick of cream cheese and incorporate about a cup of powdered sugar and a splash of milk.  Slowly add more powdered sugar until you achieve desired taste and texture.

What's your favorite variation on a classic desert?

♥ Cassi ♥ 

Black Romper with Floral Heels

Black Romper with Floral Heels by dance2499 featuring an essie nail polish

Charlotte Russe ruffle romper
charlotterusse.com

Charlotte Russe high heels stiletto
charlotterusse.com

C. Wonder 14k earrings
cwonder.com

Forever 21 long necklace
forever21.com

Essie nail polish
$13 - debenhams.com

Once Upon a Dream

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At the end of May, Maleficent is coming out.  I'm super excited to see it too!  In the mean time, I'm loving this version of Once Upon a Dream by Lana Del Rey.  What do you think?

I also love Sing by Ed Sheeran.  So great and I'm probably going to get to go see him live in September and I am beyond excited.

Linking up for #backthatazzup!

5 Little Grins #27

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<a href="http://globsoflipstickandclumpsofmascara.blogspot.com/search/label/5%20Little%20Grins" target="_blank"><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4fb1b81a9b1ad6d17c9317ea03174589/tumblr_mucw6eXUKG1s3gqbyo1_400.png" alt=" 5 Little Grins " width="350" height="246" /></a>

In case this is your first week, here's what it's all about.  Generally Mondays are considered pretty sucky right?  Well, let's change that.  Instead of focusing on what sucks about Monday, we'll talk about what made us smile throughout the rest of the week, to start the week on a positive note!

The Rules!  (These are really just kind suggestions)

1. Follow your hosts: Cassandra and Raewyn!

2. Link up your post that includes 5-ish things that made you smile in the past week

3. Comment after you link up

4. Go visit some other blogs and make some friends!

5. Have fun, and don't forget to smile!!

My 5 Little Grins from this week include. . .

1. Hanging out with my friends

2. Walking to BOB with Cassi

3. Seeing my siblings

4. Going outside & enjoying the warm weather

5. Going to softball practice

♥ Katie ♥ 

5 Little Grins #27

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In case this is your first week, here's what it's all about.  Generally Mondays are considered pretty sucky right?  Well, let's change that.  Instead of focusing on what sucks about Monday, we'll talk about what made us smile throughout the rest of the week, to start the week on a positive note!

The Rules!  (These are really just kind suggestions)

1. Follow your hosts: Cassandra and Raewyn!

2. Link up your post that includes 5-ish things that made you smile in the past week

3. Comment after you link up

4. Go visit some other blogs and make some friends!

5. Have fun, and don't forget to smile!!

My 5 Little Grins from this week include. . .


1. HITTING 500 BLOGLOVIN FOLLOWERS!!! Thank you guys SOOOO much.  There will definitely be a giveaway coming your way soon :)

2. The BOB kids got FIFTH overall.  There were 24 schools total and some of the battles were rigged, so overall they did AMAZING.  So proud of them.  A couple weeks ago I honestly didn't think they would place since they were generally more worried about a second snack than studying, but they really turned it around.

3. Going on a walk with Katie on Friday.  It was pretty crappy though.  :(

via

4. WATCHING ED SHEERAN ON SNL.  I'm sooooooo excited for his new album and have already preordered it.  and North American tour this fall?  amazing.

5. I made hecka good cookies last night all by myself.  Which led to a lot of dough consumption, but there are worse things I could be doing.

♥ Cassi ♥ 

The Sunday Currently (April 13th)

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Sunday already!  Kinda crazy.  Technically this week I have Spring Break off of school.  As glad as I am to have a break, I won't be taking it, but instead will be working through it to get ahead.  (which will give me about an extra week to study for finals)

On the other hand, my entire summer has been pretty much thrown into the air.   All though I have a good idea of where my parents and the boat will be, I'm not even positive I'll be spending the whole summer with them so that should be interesting.

This Sunday, I am currently. . .

Listening to the tortoise drink water.  Similar to the water dispensers at most offices, his has a bottle at the top that fills a reservoir for him to drink from.  As he drinks, air gets in the bottle allowing it to drop more water into the reservoir.  He drinks a lot at a time and it's extremely entertain to just keep hearing the bubble.

Reading Ruins by Dan Wells.  I loved the first two and this one is no different!

Writing another essay for school.  It's a literary analysis essay about Night by Elie Wiesel.  I have about a month to do it though, so I'm taking my time.  I'll be sure to share when it's done too.

Feeling sore.  I unfortunately haven't had dance since Thursday, but for some reason everything is still sore.

Thinking about BOB.  The kids did so well at their battles the past two weeks.  They're kind of disappointed with how they did, but based on the other teams they battled, it really would have been possible to do much better than they did.  On of the girls on the team actually made me a bracelet which I thought was so nice of her!

Wishing SNL skits were still funny.  I loved Ed Sheeran's performances, but the skits this season are as dull as ever.

Wearing a tank top from my favorite dance convention (I may or may not have gotten to meet Travis Wall (!!!!!!) there) and skinny jeans.  But, only because we went to Target for groceries.  Speaking of which, if you're planning on dying eggs for Easter, you can get a dozen at Target for $.99 and they have a $.50 off coupon available right now (text SPRING to 827438).

Needing to go for a nice walk.  It was great most of the day yesterday, with the exception of a horrible storm smack in the middle of the day.  It's just plain cold today, though.

What are you up to this Sunday?

♥ Cassi♥ 

Easter Cakes

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Easter is in only 10 days.  Kind of crazy- it was just St. Patrick's day!  Today is going to be a short post- I just wanted to share some pictures from Easter last year with you! :)

We don't really have any Easter traditions in the common sense.  My parents, brother and I don't really attend church, so we never go to Sunday Mass.  Recently, we haven't even been dying eggs or doing Easter baskets.  One thing we always do, however, is a huge dinner on Sunday.

Our (Katie and I's) great grandmother's parents had a bakery in Northern Chicago when she was younger.  They always made lamb and chicken pound cakes.  So, this year we brought them back.  I got to help make them and they're so much fun to make and decorate.

My aunt and I love the Hangover, so we thought it would be funny to decorate the chicken cake like the unexplained chicken in the Hangover.

The lamb got covered in coconut shreds and the grass is just more coconut died green.

Do you have any unusual Easter Traditions?

How I Keep My Workouts Consistent

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This post is going up way late tonight because I was extremely unmotivated this morning :)

Since about this time last year, I have been working toward a six-pack.  (or at least minor ab definition)  It's definitely a two-part process though.

April Goals/ March Recap

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I seriously can't believe we're already a week into April!  Hopefully that means Spring weather will be here before we know it?

Recently, I've been setting a lot of mental goals.  Like, "I'll finally get my splits back this week" or "I'll totally write and schedule all of next weeks posts today".  Most don't happen.  However, it's always helpful to have it written down.  Plus, know if I don't accomplish it, I'll have to announce so on the blog next month is kind of a good push.

In March I planned  to. . .

1. Drink more water!

a. I'll continue to bring water to dance because that seems to be where I drink it most.

b. I'll fill up my water bottle before we leave to go to dance so I have it in the car- it's a long drive.  If I drink it all, I can just fill it up at the studio.

c. I'll also start bringing water to BOB because if the water fountains are anything like they used to be, the water is either hot or close to room temperature and tastes like copper.

I did drink more water, but I didn't really bring water anywhere but dance.  It really is a royal pain to bring it!  Do you have any tips for drinking more water?

2. Stretch more!

a. Instead of blogging right away when I finish my school work for the day, I'll go straight to stretching.  That way I know I'll have time.  Plus I blog too much any way ;)

b. I'll continue to stretch before class at the studio.

I actually did stretch quite a bit.  Although, it was mostly at the studio.  After school I did a lot of crunches (and during school- more on that tomorrow) and some blogilates.

3. Go on more walks!

a. Usually our thing with Katie is to go on a walk whenever she's with us.  Unfortunately it's been too cold recently, but hopefully it will start warming up and this month we'll be able to.

We went on a few but most of the time, Midwest weather was like "Ah hell nah, you ain't going on a walk today!"

5 Little Grins #26

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<a href="http://globsoflipstickandclumpsofmascara.blogspot.com/search/label/5%20Little%20Grins" target="_blank"><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/4fb1b81a9b1ad6d17c9317ea03174589/tumblr_mucw6eXUKG1s3gqbyo1_400.png" alt=" 5 Little Grins " width="350" height="246" /></a>

In case this is your first week, here's what it's all about.  Generally Mondays are considered pretty sucky right?  Well, let's change that.  Instead of focusing on what sucks about Monday, we'll talk about what made us smile throughout the rest of the week, to start the week on a positive note!

The Rules!  (These are really just kind suggestions)

1. Follow your hosts: Cassandra and Raewyn!

2. Link up your post that includes 5-ish things that made you smile in the past week

3. Comment after you link up

4. Go visit some other blogs and make some friends!

5. Have fun, and don't forget to smile!!

My 5 Little Grins from this week include. . .

1. Going back to dance and getting to finally start alllll our recital dances.  I missed dance so much!  Plus, I didn't get to see anyone from dance all break since they're quite far away.

2. Making (and eating) cupcakes for my mom's birthday on Tuesday.  SO good!

3. Getting to go to the first night of battles for BOB.  The kids did very, very well and I couldn't be more proud of them.  I was rather worried 2 weeks ago, but I think they really pulled it together.  We'll have the last 5 battles next Friday as well as find out how they did.

4. My parents and aunt went and saw an 80's cover band at a bar, so Katie stayed over and we made a cookie cake and ordered pizza.  One was really good, one was pretty horrible (the cookie cake).

The dough wasn't too bad

5. Forcing my parents to watch the first two seasons of Sherlock with me, even though I've already  seen all of the episodes.

♥ Cassi ♥