Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! 

I made some homemade cheese cake filled eggs to share with family and friends. I got the idea from Raspberri Cupcakes and followed her recipe for the cheese cake filling and used a mango curd instead of the passion fruit filling she used. They turned out well. I just wish I was able to find slightly bigger eggs.  

The Easter bunny also brought some chocolate teas from David's  which I am super excited about! I cannot wait to try all of the different flavours and make some tea lattes with them! You can never have too much tea. Really its impossible. 

Happy Easter! 

Jaclyn

Top 5 iPad Apps

I recently got an ipad mini and I have been enjoying the number of apps that are available for it. I thought I would share some of my favourites here with you. I also love being able to sync my calendar from my computer to my ipad, the wireless sync feature is a great way to easily keep it updated.  I also really enjoy being able to quickly check my emails and avoid the hassle of turning on my computer.

Blitz Bejewelled - I am obsessed with this game. I cannot put it down. It is by far my favourite. I actually have to limit the amount that I allow myself to play it.

Twitter - I love checking twitter on my ipad. It's easy to scroll though and updates quickly. I am constantly on twitter now and love keeping up to date with everything.

Flipboard - this might be my favourite app yet. I love it. It is a simple and easy way to keep up to date about the things that I am interested in. I can quickly read headings and if they seem interesting then i can read the entire article. If you don't have this app you are seriously missing out.

Reminders - this came installed and I love it. I love being able to check things off. Plus I can simply sync it with my computer and keep lists current no matter what I a working on. Now I just need an iPhone and I will be all set. Haha.

iBooks - The mini is the perfect size for reading. Its nice and light. I didn't think I would like reading a book off of a screen but I actually use it all the time. Its is great on the go.

What are your favourite apps?
Jaclyn

Target Canada

Its FINALLY here! It has arrived. The doors are open! To say I was excited for the opening of Target in Canada is an understatement. Every time I would go to the mall I would glance over to what once was Zellers and hope Target was FINALLY open. Well now it is and I am sad to say I was underwhelmed.  It was tiny. Which shouldn't have come as a shock. I knew all along how big the Zellers was but seriously it was small. They tried to fit all their departments in which meant that each department didn't get the full range of products. They should have focused on their best selling departments allowing them to be larger and leave the other stuff for things like Canadian Tire etc. I also felt that it was poorly laid out. It was a maze. Things weren't where you thought they would be. And the prices... not spectacular. I wasn't wowed or floored or jumping up and down. They also didn't have any designer clothes collection to kick off the opening, which I thought was just plain silly.

What I did like however was the selection of accessories (shoes, scarves, purses etc) and the home decor selection. Their grocery selection is decent but I wouldn't forgo the grocery store all together. I liked how eco friendly it was. The lights in the fridge/freezers only turned on when someone walked into the isle. Which was super cool. They also had a great selection of Essie Nail Polish and their beauty section was well organized which I liked. Overall I am not going to stop going to Target but I don't think I will be purchasing as much there as I had thought I would be.

What did you think of Targets opening in Canada?
Jaclyn

Identity Crisis

I have been having a serious case of The Blahs lately. I am tired of this wintery weather. I am ready for spring! Seriously getting dressed in the mornings is getting harder and harder. I don't want to wear boots any more or thick wool sweaters. I want to wear cute flats and light cardigans. I want to wear my trench coat. I am tired of mittens. Seriously is it spring yet? I open my closet and I just hate all of my clothes. I don't want to wear any of it. I go shopping I don't see anything in the stores that I am just dying to purchase. I change my outfit more times then I care to say. I think I am having a style identity crisis. Its driving me nuts. I seriously envy all of the bloggers who live in warm weather climates or who seem to be able to layer in their sleep. I pull out a shirt and it looks foreign to me. Did I seriously buy this? Did I actually wear this? I need a serious style intervention. Someone please. How do I find my style identity again?   
Jaclyn

Chocolate Baileys Cupcakes!

I knew I wanted to make an alcoholic cupcake for St. Patty's Day. I have been meaning to make Chocolate cupcakes with Bailey's butter cream for awhile now. I love the combo of chocolate and Bailey's. I knew this was the perfect opportunity and got festive with some green icing and sprinkles. 

For the Cupcake: 

Use your favourite chocolate cupcake recipe. I used one from Annie's Eats.  It is super simple and really yummy. I use it as the base of many of my cupcakes 

I wasn't going to fill these but then I decided they needed a little something extra so I made some Bailey's cream.  

For the Cream: 

1/2 cup whipping cream 

1/4 cup Baileys 

1 tbs butter 

2 tbs sugar 

1 tsp corn starch 

Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Combine whipping cream, butter, sugar and corn starch in a small pan. Bring to a boil. Then stir in Baileys. If you would like to make it more of a gauche add about 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. 

Once cupcakes have cooled, cut a cone in the middle of each of them and fill with 1-2 tsp of filling.

 For the frosting: 

1 cup butter (room temp) 

3 cups icing sugar 

1/4 cup Baileys 

Optional: 3-4 drops of green food colouring 

Whip butter until it is light and fluffy. Add icing sugar one cup at a time until desired sweetness and texture is obtained. Add 1/4 Baileys and whip to combine. 

Frost cupcakes as you wish. 

Enjoy! 

-Jaclyn 

Happy St. Patricks Day! 

Cravings: Green

TOMS. Nail Polish. Scarf. Shirt. Bag. 

I will be wearing green and eating some green coloured pancakes for sure this Sunday!

Enjoy your St Patricks Day!  

-Jaclyn

Tea Latte

It is no secret that I love tea. I have a cupboard full of David'sTeas and am cannot keep myself from buying the latest tea.  While I drink tea every day (multiple times a day actually) I don't usually have tea lattes and for me they are a treat. They are easy to make and some teas taste better as lattes then others. 

Here is how I usually make my lattes.  

What you'll need: 

Milk

Milk frother 

mug 

your favourite tea (I find black teas work best as lattes)

sweetener if you so choose - I like honey

either a microwave or pot and stove

 boiling water

Direction: 

Steep your tea as your normally would

Warm up milk either on the stove or in the microwave (hint: measure milk using the mug you will be using you will want it about 2/3 full of milk)

Once milk is warmed use frother to create nice and frothy milk 

Add about 1/3 steeped tea to your mug and top off with your frothy milk 

add sweetener if desired  

enjoy!

My red velvet cake tea latte with honey drizzle on top! 

What is your favourite tea latte? 

Jaclyn

Gym Bag Essentials

I pack my gym bag the night before and go straight from class. I usually shower at home afterwards so I don't carry too much with me on most days just the essentials.

Top - I have a few different Lululemon tops that I tend to rotate through. Or I will wear a sports bra and one of those oversized t-shirts that they gave away during the first week of school during my first year. 

Bottoms - I love love love my wonderunders from Lululemon. They are my favourite pair of leggings by far. 

Shoes - I have been wearing Nike shoes for as long as I can remember. They seem to be the only shoes that will fit my extremely skinny foot. 

Dry Shampoo - This stuff works wonders. It is great to freshen up right after a workout especially if I can't get home to shower right away

Ipod Nano - I have the older version that clips on so I do not need an arm band to go with it which is great. Its the perfect size for working out.

Water bottle - I always carry a reusable bottle with me. I simply fill it up before each workout. 

Hair ties  - You can never have too many hair ties. I never know where they all disappear to but I cannot workout without one. 

Gym bag - I don't have this particular Lululemon bag but I do love the one I do have. I got it on sale and I have had it for probably 5 or 6 years now maybe more and it is still going strong. The thing can hold a ton! They are super spacious and are great quality. 

Other - I usually also bring a small towel, face wipes, deodorant, extra socks and a granola bar 

What is in your gym bag? 

Jaclyn 

Nude Nails

OPI - My Vampire is Buff
I would really like to know who comes up with the names for nail polishes. Seriously. How can I get that job.

I was at the salon getting my nails done and I was reading (ok skimming) Hello Magazine. Apparently Nude Nails are in. I tend to go with a lighter colour on my nails anyways and decided to try OPI's My Vampire Is Buff . It has a putty like colour and I was very happy with the results. 

What do you think of the nude nail trend?
Jaclyn

Getting to the Gym

I find it so difficult to actually get to the gym and work out. I am forever finding excuses as why I shouldn't go. I am busy. I just showered. I'm tired. I'll go tomorrow.   

Here are somethings I have found helpful in getting to the gym. 

1. Creating a schedule... and sticking to it! 

No more excuses. If it is written down then I have to go. I find going right after class works best for me and I give myself two rest days which I use to make up for days I have to miss because I have reports or assignments. 

2. Packing my gym bag the night before

When I pack my gym bag the night before I don't have to rush around in the morning to make sure I have everything. This way I can grab it an go in the mornings. 

3. Finding a work out routine that I enjoy

I found this work out routine on Pinterest. Surprise Surprise. I like how it gradually gets more difficult and I love that I can download a check list to keep track of all my workouts. It is a great visual and helps to keep me accountable. 

What are your tips on getting to the gym and do you have a favourite workout routine? I would love to hear about it.

Jaclyn