Just a Hint of Tiffany's

Being single doesn't mean you don't have a valentine. My mum is my valentine and I love her for it. This year she gave me the Elsa Peretti Open Heart pendant. I was so happy when she gave me a Tiffany box in the car when we were heading out to do some errands. It is the perfect size for my slender neck. I am glad that I have a necklace to wear since my shamrock necklace's chain broke last fall. I've always adored Tiffany's ever since I watched Breakfast at Tiffany's which is one of my favorite films of all times. Audrey Hepburn is a style and beauty icon. She is forever my idol. 

Friday Favorite!

As I received my Ipsy bag yesterday, I decided to try the Pop Beauty Lip Gloss in Fuchsia Freesia which was included in my bag. I have to say, it has become a favorite of mine even after one day of using it. Just a little dab gives you the perfect hint of pink to your lips. I love the color very much because it is an amazing illustration of Valentine's Day pink. Love it oh so much. The quality of it is very good, it is not sticky on your lips after you apply it which is very nice since many I've tried are sticky. This is a product that I definitely recommend. Utter perfection. 

February Ipsy 2014!!!

Woohoo! I got my ipsy bag for February! I am so excited to try these products! I am going to try them for the whole month and then I will do a review. I am still thinking about filming a look with these products and then posting it on ipsy and YouTube. 

What do you think?

Thursday Funtime

I started the day by doing a riding outfit of the day.

I wore my Horseware Ireland fleece, Ovation breeches and my Hunter wellies.

Today's lesson was thankfully in the indoor ring since it was all rainy and muddy outside.  Hercules was in his stall and not all muddy if he was in the field.

I spent some time in his stall since it started to pour down buckets. I spent some time bonding with Hercules and it was nice because he paid quite a lot of attention to me.

Once the rain let up a bit, Hercules and I made our way to the barn so that we could get ready. Since he was in his stall, he wasn't that dirty like he normally is. But still, I gave him a good curry and brushing because I love him so much. Once we were all tacked up, we made our short journey into the indoor.  When I was tightening his girth, one of the ladies that was riding asked me, "Does your horse have a matching blackout?" I got a happy feeling since she said,"your horse." I sadly told her I didn't have a matching blanket and that I wished he was my horse. I really do. If he was for sale, I'd buy him in a heart beat.

We started warming up with plenty of laps at a walk so that he was fully warmed up. Then we started to do some trotting in each direction. He was good after we cantered one way, but then he started to get a little funky and hyper. Kitchie called me over because she wanted to shorten his martingale because he was throwing his head up.

We had to wait somewhat untacked because Kitchie had to get the leather hole puncher. It was nice waiting though, because I got to mess around with his forelock. I don't think he liked it, hah!

I sadly don't have photos of me riding but I'll do my best to describe everything. We did a lot of equitation again like last week. This week we worked on halting after trotting or cantering. Hercules did very good but he was a bit mouthy when we were halting. He doesn't like the bit very much. After cantering around a few times, we started jumping! We didn't do a course, but we had a jump. 

We only did a few small cross rails. By we, I mean another lady and I. She's more of a beginner but we all remember being a beginner. 

As we were jumping, Kitchie wanted me to demonstrate for the other lady how important it is to have our heels down. Kitchie wanted me to trot to the cross rail, drop my reins and hold my hands out as if I were flying over the jump. Honestly, that was the first time doing it and it was so much fun. I did this three times then Kitchie raised the jump for me to jump. We did well jumping, but I'm going to start counting 1-2 to myself to help concentrate. When we finished jumping, we took a lot of laps of walking so that they weren't so sweaty.

We took a snap shot in front of one of the mirrored walls during our cool out.

Oh, poor baby. He looks like a ragamuffin; all disheveled. Since we finished and we were in the barn, I gave him a good grooming before I put him in his stall. Hercules was so happy to have his carrots and apples in his stall.

That's our funtime!

Toodles!

Tuxedo Strawberries and Chocolate Boxes

This afternoon, I went with my mum to the TOSA Chocolate Box and Tuxedo Strawberry Making event at Pennsylvania House. I have to say, it was a lot of fun!

We all started with a piece of parchment paper, three strawberries from Whole Foods, and a cup of white chocolate. With the white chocolate, we dipped out strawberries in. The white chocolate was the shirt under the tuxedo.

As you can see in the pictures, there are places where there are blobs of chocolate. That happened because we had to move the strawberries so that the base could start to harden as we kept moving them.

My mum and I with a white chocolate dipped strawberry!

Then we were given a paper bowl with dark chocolate, let me tell you; it was no normal dark chocolate. It was mint dark chocolate and it smelled delicious. We took our strawberries and then dipped two sides into the mint dark chocolate in order to make the jacket of the tuxedo.

Again, we had to move the strawberries so that the base could harden. Lastly for the strawberries, we used a small paper icing pipe in order to pipe the bow ties and buttons in order to complete the tuxedos.

Aren't they dapper?!

Now it is time for the Chocolate Box. Dun DUN DUN!!

First off we started with a transfer sheet. The sheets we used had hearts on them which timed out perfectly since it is Valentine's Day soon. We had to tape these to the table since we needed to anchor it down.

Next, Senior (our teacher) who is a Senior Chief Culinary Specialist ladled some mint dark chocolate onto our sheets. We then used an off-set spatula so that we could spread the chocolate.

After spreading the chocolate.

Since the finish of the chocolate was shiny, we had to wait for it to show a matte finish. Once the chocolate was displaying a matte finish, we were ready to cut the shapes in. 

We used these two card stock shapes in order to cut the lid and sides out. We cut it with a sharp knife. 

This was the finished product once the shapes were cut out. We let them sit a bit longer because the chocolate was still very delicate.

While we were waiting for the chocolate, Senior made a zebra like strawberry and showed how to make shapes with the piper. While we wear watching Senior, I was picking at my chocolate along the edges.

These are the bits I picked off around the edges.

After we had some lunch, we went back to assemble our boxes.

We used a bowl of chocolate as our glue. We then dipped the sides of the walls that touched so that it could glue itself to the next side of the box. 

Once the gluing was done, Senior then filled the inside of the box with a floor of chocolate.

After moving it, it was a beautiful floor of our box. We then put these in the fridge so that it could harden twice as fast.

And voila!

The finished box. I know you can't see the strawberries very well but you know what they look like on from the photos above.

The Week Ahead

Outside my window… It's cold. Apparently there is snow in the forecast for tomorrow which makes me very upset.

I am thinking… Ways to save money for a horse of my own.

I am thankful… That I've a busy calendar full of baby-sitting, house-sitting and pet-sitting opportunities this month and next.

From the kitchen… Water!

I am hearing… The clicking of keys as I type on my blog.

Always one of my favorite things… To be all nice and warm in the house than being in the snow. Although I would like to be at the barn spending time with Hercules. 

I am reading… The sample of a speech outline for my public speaking class,

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week…Wednesday I have class then baby-sitting, Thursday I have a riding lesson and I am going to learn how to make tuxedo chocolate covered strawberries, Friday I have baby-sitting as well as the start of pet-sitting for a neighbor for the next few days. Saturday I have class and Sunday is all dedicated for homework.

College Update… Working on my classes with pride. I've been doing well with turning in my work and trying to work ahead. 

Riding Update… I rode last Thursday and I have to tell you that I am STILL sore. I expected that and I hoping that we don't get anymore snow in the future. I am done with snow. Snow and equestrians don't go well together in my opinion.

Job Hunting Update

As I have not heard any news on my application to Michael Kors, I have put in a few more applications to different boutiques at my local mall. I've applied to Talbots, Lush and J. Crew. I am hoping I hear some news about a job soon since I am desperate for a job. I've also sent two emails to two barns that are looking for stall cleaners so I am also waiting for some information from them.

Fingers crossed I hear something!

Toodles!