Martha's little BIG World

Valentine's Day Decoupaged Frame

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 03:13:00 +0000

This frame was actually my mom's idea and she helped me with the decoupaging part, so thanks, Mom! So yeah, when my mom went to visit my grandma and aunt last August, my mom got into decoupaging because my aunt does it to boxes and sells them or gives them away as gifts and taught my mom how to do it. Then, my mom told me she wanted to decoupage a picture frame and the colors she chose reminded me of Valentine's Day so we made it and now I want to share it with you guys.

-acrylic paint
-Mod Podge
-wooden picture frame
-a napkin, tissue paper or paper with the pattern you want to decoupage
-wood letters or words
-sandpaper (not pictured because I forgot! hehe)
-E6000 (not pictured either)
-brushes

Directions:

1. Sand the frame and the letters.

2. Give the letters one coat of paint. And while the first coat is drying....

3. Cover the front of the frame with Mod Podge or glue and paste the napkin or paper onto the frame. Smooth out evenly. And for those of you using a napkin like I did, put a plastic bag over the napkin so you don't tear it while smoothing it out and make sure you don't leave any air bubbles underneath the napkin or paper you're decorating your frame with.

4. Give the letters another coat of paint and let dry.

5. Seal the frame and napkin/paper with a coat of Mod Podge and let it dry.

6. Wait 'til everything dries and then paint the letters one last time. Also, using a thin brush, paint the inner and outer edges of the frame with a color that matches your print. I used white.

7. Once everything is dry, glue the letters onto the frame using the E6000 glue and let dry.

8 Finally, when the glue is dry, give everything one last coat of Mod Podge and let dry.

9. Insert your favorite picture and you're done!!

A lovely gift for your Valentine!!

Book Review: The Help

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 03:02:00 +0000

Title: The Help

Author: Kathryn Stockett

Genre: Fiction

Set in Jackson, Mississippi, this book is written from the perspective of three women in the 1960s. Skeeter is a 22 year-old girl who just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She has the great ambition of becoming a writer but in a society where women her age are married and with children, she is considered an oddball and a failure. Aibileen is a black maid who secretly loves reading and is completely devoted to Mae Mobley, the seventeenth white child she is raising. Minny is Aibileen's best friend and the best cook in all of Jackson. However, due to her sass and smart mouth she can't keep a job until she lands a job with Celia Foote, an outcast in society because of her reputation. As different as these three women may be, they unite to write a book exposing the lives of housemaids and risk it all to change the way their town thinks.

Long story short, I absolutely loved this book! Why? Because even though it deals with a serious subject, it is funny, heartwarming and just plain amazing. I loved the main characters, especially Minny. She was just such a sassy yet endearing character you couldn't do anything but root for her. And Aibileen, she had gone through so many difficult moments in her life yet still managed to have a heart of gold. So if you haven't read this book yet, I definitely recommend you read it!

Rating: 5/5

Hello 2014!

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 04:50:00 +0000

Hey guys! Happy 2014!

I know it's been a few months since I posted and yes, it's almost February but a lot has been going on. I got a job (not in my field which is biology but it's ok for now) and that has kept me quite busy; I bought a car (!!!), I adopted a puppy and I also landed another job at a sea turtle center which I will be starting in March...so yeah A LOT has been going on.

Now on to the next part, I do love this blog but unfortunately, I haven't had much time to keep posting stuff which I super sad because I LOVE sharing my DIYs, book reviews and nail tutorials with you guys. :( So... I will absolutely try my best to post at least 2 book reviews and DIYs per month and any other extra posts I can manage to squeeze in.

Thanks so much for reading my blog and stay tuned for what's coming in February!

Cable Knitted Headband

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 22:18:00 +0000

Like I've said a couple of times, I didn't craft much while I was in Mexico. However, about a month before I came back, my family went to visit me and brought me some yarn and knitting needles I had requested. So, I made a few headbands. Not that they were of much use over there since the temperature was never below the 80s. Anyway, I made a few of these and gave them away to friends so they could use them when they went back home. They are really quick to make (took me less than 2 hours each) and don't require much yarn. Plus, they're super cute and I think they'd make great Christmas/ holiday gifts! So time to knit about a million of these!...

Materials used:
- 2 balls of worsted weight yarn (or you can use 1 of chunky yarn)
- size 11 knitting needles
-cable needle

Directions:
I used the Vanessa Headband pattern you can find here.

I made the narrow version, so I only cast on 14 stitches and instead of using chunky yarn, I used two strands of worsted weight yarn held together.

Action shot:

Closeup:

Just the headband:

Thanks for reading and have a great day! :)

I'M BAAAAACK!

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 18:01:00 +0000

Hello everyone! It's been a while since I last posted but I'm back for good now and I will start posting regularly in the next couple of days.

So what was I doing this whole time?

Well, I was in Mexico working in a sea turtle conservation program and let me just say that it was one of the best experiences of my life! However, due to a lack of reliable internet and of crafting materials and an oven where I lived, I was unable to continue blogging, one of the other things I really enjoy. But now that I'm back home, I'll start writing book reviews for all the books I read, making stuff for fall/winter and baking to my heart's content.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with one of my favorite turtle pictures I took. (The fish on top of the turtle are called remoras or sucker fish)

Hope you guys are having a lovely week!

Explore: Coba, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Wed, 11 Sep 2013 01:21:00 +0000

One of the things I really like about being here in the Mayan Riviera is that there are so many attractions and beautiful places I can visit by just hopping on a local bus or van and without spending a fortune. Today I'm going to tell you guys about a beautiful place I visited recently: Coba.

Coba is a ruin city located in the state of Quintana Roo about 40 minutes from Tulum and just about an hour from where I'm staying. Archeological evidence indicates that Coba was settled between 100 B.C. and 100 A.D. and at it's peak of civilization it was estimated it had about 50,000 inhabitants. There, you can see the Nohoch Mul pyramid, the tallest pyramid in Mayan Mexico, and if you're brave enough you can climb to the top and get a spectacular view of the jungle. You can also see a ballgame court, other pyramids and the astronomy tower.

I went to Coba with two of my friends a weekday morning so there wasn't a lot of people when we got there. Also, I think it's important to mention we went during the low season, otherwise, it would've been packed. Once we got there we paid the entrance fee which was 57 pesos (about 5 dollars) and entered the archeological park. Once inside, we decided to rent some bikes because: 1) we thought it's be more fun that way and 2) we'd get to the pyramids faster since they're not that close to the entrance. The bike rental fee is 35 pesos (about 3 dollars) for the entire time you stay at the site, which I thought was pretty good. After that we just biked all over the place, stopping at the ruins to take pictures, read up on some info and climb the Nohoch Mul pyramid. I loved Coba because you're in the jungle and everything was so green and exploring the ancient ruins was awesome. Overall, I would say it was a great experience and I definitely recommend visiting Coba!

Now, on to the most important part, the pictures!

In the jungle on the path to the ruins!

Biking through the jungle.

Ballgame court.

Me in front of the astronomy tower.

The astronomy tower again.

Nohoch Mul pyramid.

View from the top of the pyramid.

Looking down from the pyramid.

Another pyramid (not sure what it's called).

In the jungle, the mighty jungle....

Cool fungi!

My Summer in Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 05:52:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

I know I've been MIA for quite a few months and I'm sorry for that. I thought that I would find time to blog while abroad but apparently it wasn't possible for many reasons, the main two being: (1) the internet here is kind of crazy, so it goes on and off for days and (2) I've been quite busy with work and just having a good time with my friends/co-workers that I haven't had much time for blogging.

So for now, I'll just leave you with some pictures of things I've done/ seen since June and I hope I can start posting more often now that work is starting to slow down. Enjoy!

Marked turtle nest...pretty much what my job consists of (marking nests)

Crooked palm tree

Yal-Ku Lagoon

Chillin' at the beach

Tarantula outside my room...eeek!

Loggerhead turtle laying eggs

What I do when I'm bored at work...

Mural outside the ecological center

My new friend I found at the park

Yummy chicken quesadillas!

Massive mushroom and cheese stuffed burgers I made for my friend's birthday

Green turtle laying eggs

Loggerhead hatchling...super cute!

Me with a baby loggerhead! :)

Yet another turtle mural!

Swimming with whale sharks!

Whale shark!

Loads of baby turtles!!

Having fun with friends!

Update from Mexico + Finding Books to Read

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:22:00 +0000

Hey guys! So... I'm back from my brief hiatus! I'm currently in Mexico where I'll be working 'til the end of August. I don't know if I had mentioned this, but I'm working with sea turtles and let me tell you, it's so freaking awesome! If you ever get the chance to go see sea turtles nesting or a hatchling release, DO IT! They're so cute and I'll definitely make you appreciate these creatures more.

Anyway, today I was supposed to post a book review but I've been super busy and getting used to my new schedule (I work from 8pm to 4-5am and sleep during the day) so I didn't have time to finish a book or write a review, so I'll leave you with this short post about how I find books to read. Hopefully, I'll get used to the change in schedule soon and post more often because I definitely have a few things I want to post about while I'm here!

I don't know about you but I usually had a hard time when choosing what books to read next, that is until I found Goodreads. I mean, how to you usually find out about books? The New York Times bestsellers list? Recommendations from friends and family? Books advertised at your local bookstore or library?

I think those are all pretty good options but I feel that the NYT list, bookstores and libraries advertise mainly new books. So what about older books? Then, some people only tend to read a certain genre, so when you ask them for recommendations they might only recommend from that specific genre, which might not be what you're interested in. For example, if I were to ask my dad for a book recommendation, he would probably recommend a book about politics, crime or the military but if I were to ask my sister, she would most likely recommend a historical fiction or a biography book. So what do you do then?

Well, this is where Goodreads comes in. Now, I'm not saying you always get good recommendations from Goodreads because I've definitely read some books I found out about through that website that were not that great. I think that the best way to find out about books through here is to join a book club. I joined a book club on Goodreads, called College Students! And although I'm no longer a college student I definitely feel like I can relate to the people in this club because mostly every one is in their late teens or twenties, in college, recent grads or grad school but most importantly, they all love reading. I'm really glad I joined this book club because they come up with a Reading Challenge about every 6-7 months, where they include a list of tasks and a description for that specific task. For example, one of the tasks is called "Blind Date" and the description says: Go to the library and pick a book from the shelves at random. Without reading the summary or anything from the book, check it out from the library and then cozy up with your "blind date" at home. Being in that book club just really motivates me to read and encourages me to read books I had never even considered reading before such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Book Thief (which by the way is AMAZING!!), Thoughtless, Perks of Being a Wallflower and so on.

How do you find out about books and choose what books to read? Also, if you have any recommendations feel free to leave a comment!

My Week in Pictures: Boston Edition Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:04:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I'm back from Boston! I actually got in today at about 3am because my flight home from Dallas was delayed for 5 hours due to bad weather, which totally sucked because I was exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. Anyway, I'm back but this week is going to be hectic because I'm taking the GRE on Wednesday and I'm leaving for Cancun on Saturday so I might not post anything next week. But before I go on my brief hiatus, here's my week in pics!

Sunday: My sister's Commencement!

Monday: Helping my sister move out from her dorm. This is the view from the top of her building.

Tuesday: Dancers by Renoir at the Museum of Fine Arts

Wednesday: Taking a walk at Boston Common/ Public Garden.

Thursday: Salem Witch Trials Memorial/ Cemetery. Each stone that's sticking out of the wall represents a person that was executed "for being a witch."

Friday: At Logan Airport waiting to catch our plane to Dallas.

Book Review: The Edge of Never

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:19:00 +0000

Title: The Edge of Never

Author: J.A. Redmerski

Genre: New Adult/Romance

Hello lovely ladies, greetings from Boston! Since knew I was going to be on vacation when I posted this, I decided it would be appropriate to write a review about a book whose characters go on a trip and this book immediately came to mind. I actually read this book earlier in the year and I really liked it so I wanted to share it it you guys. (Also, I couldn't think of any other books about trips... ha!)

Camryn Bennett is a 20-year-old girl who's tired of not knowing what she's doing with her life. One day, she hops on a Greyhound bus, determined discover herself and see where life will take her. It is on this bus she meets Andrew Parrish, a nice, carefree guy (who happens to be ridiculously good looking). They soon become travel buddies. When it's time for them to part, they find it hard to do so and decide to go on a road trip together. While on the road trip, Andrew makes Cam live life like there's no tomorrow and experience things she wouldn't have otherwise. Eventually, they end up falling in love. But there is something Andrew is keeping from Cam that can tear them apart forever...

Whew! Where to start? This book was amazing! I must admit it was a bit slow at first but as soon as Cam hops on that bus and meets Andrew, the pace picks up. It was just so sweet and romantic... and even a bit steamy. You'll definitely like it... I'm not really into these types of books and I really enjoyed it. I loved Andrew's character. He was sexy (according to the book description), musically talented and overall a really nice guy. I definitely wouldn't mind having a friend (or boyfriend ;) ) like him. It was also a very emotional story- I laughed, got mad, might or might not have shed a couple of tears, you know... the whole spectrum of emotions. I highly recommend this book!

Rating: 4/5

My Week in Pictures: Boston Edition Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:37:00 +0000

Greetings from Boston! I'm having a lovely time here with my family. I've been pretty busy while here but since I've been taking a lot of pictures I wanted to share some with you. Enjoy!

Sunday: My mom and me on Mother's Day! :)

Monday and Tuesday: Skipped.

Wednesday: Getting my carry-on ready for Boston.

Thursday: Up in the air.

Friday: Me and my sister at Boston Common.

Saturday: Quincy Market (where we ate) and pirate ship at the wharf (ahoy mates!).

What's In My Carry-On Bag: Boston Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:06:00 +0000

Hello! For those who don't know, I'm going to Boston today! I'm mainly going for my sister's graduation, which is on Sunday, but we're staying there for a whole week so that my brother, aunt and grandparents who've never been to Boston before, get to know the city and do some touristing. Since I'll be away til next Friday, I prepared some travel- related blog posts that I'll be posting while I'm away. I hope you enjoy them!

So you see that pink bag on the top left corner? Well, that's my carry-on bag. It's not the bag I usually use to travel but this time I didn't need my little rolling luggage and I don't feel like hauling a huge tote so this bag was the perfect size for my needs. Now, on to what's inside! (In no particular order).

1. A sweater. It's always cold on the plane so a sweater is a must.

2. A change of clothes. Just in case. You never know what's going to happen or when you're going to get stranded without your luggage. Been there, done that.

3. iPhone and Kindle Fire chargers. To charge my iPhone and Kindle.

4.Kindle Fire (the thing in the green case) and iPhone (not pictured because I took this picture with it). To read and stay entertained during the 3.5/4 hour flight to Boston.

5. Tinted moisturizers. Just in case my lips get dry.

6. Kleenex. I always carry some with me.

7. Earphones. If I want to listen to music or watch a movie on my iPhone or Kindle these are always useful.

8. Pen. Just in case I need to jot down something.

9. Hand lotion. In case my hands get dry.

10. Wallet. To carry my ID, some cash and debit/credit cards

11. GRE vocabulary list. Just in case I decide to study during the flight.

12. Small cross-body bag. I carry my wallet, tinted moisturizer and iPhone in here.

13. Tylenol. Just in case I get a headache while on the plane.

So that's pretty much it!

Book Review: Gone Girl

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:37:00 +0000

Title: Gone Girl

Author: Gillian Flynn

Genre: Mystery/ Thriller

Nick and Amy Dunne have the perfect marriage... or at least that's what everyone believes. On their fifth wedding anniversary, Amy disappears from their mansion on the Mississippi River. Initially, it all points to a random kidnapping but everything changes when the police discover Amy's diary. In it, they find that Nick and Amy's marriage was not as solid as everyone thought it was and it points to Nick as the prime suspect for the kidnapping and possibly murder of Amy Dunne. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn’t do it, where is his wife?

Overall, this is a good mystery/ psychological thriller. I really wish I could say more about it but it's one of those books that's incredibly difficult to discuss without revealing major spoilers. But here's something I can say: Gone Girl has so many twists and turns you won't know what to expect next! However, there were two things that really bothered me. The first was Nick (That's all I'm saying. If you want to know why, read the book!). The other, was the ending. From the reviews I read on GoodReads, it was either a hit or miss and for me it was the latter. But don't let this discourage you from reading it! I'm not saying anymore so I won't ruin it for you guys. Definitely check it out!

Rating: 3.5/5

Cheesecake with Strawberry Glaze

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:52:00 +0000

Hello lovely ladies! Today I wanted to share with you a simple recipe so you can surprise your mom with a delicious homemade cheesecake for Mother's Day! It's a pretty simple recipe that anyone can make.

Since it was my first time making a cheesecake I wanted a simple, straightforward recipe that was pretty much foolproof. After searching for quite a while, I found Kraft's Best Cheesecake Recipe and adapted my recipe from that.

Cheesecake Recipe

Ingredients:
1 package Maria cookies (found in the Hispanic food aisle) OR 1 3/4 cups graham crackers
1 stick of butter
1-1/4 cups sugar, divided
3- 8oz. packages cream cheese at room temp.
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325F.

2. Put the cookies in the blender of food processor to make cookie crumbs. Mix the crumbs and 1/4 cup sugar in a bowl. Melt the butter and add to the crumb- sugar mixture and mix everything together. Press firmly onto the bottom and about 1 inch up the side of a springform pan.

3. Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Pour mix into crust.

4. Bake for 1 hour and 10 min. Turn oven off and let cheesecake set in oven for 1 hour. Remove cheesecake from oven and cool completely. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
***I recommend making this cake the day before and refrigerate overnight.

The only problem was that it browned on the top and it wasn't very good-looking but I wasn't even on planning on leaving it like that anyway. Here's what it looked like.

Strawberry Glaze Recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup of strawberries, mashed (about 1/2 lb.)
1/2 cup sugar
4 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions:
1. Mash the strawberries to make 1 cup of pulp.

2. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water.

3. Place the pulp in a saucepan and add the sugar and the cornstarch- water mixture.

4. Cook over medium heat until the mixture boils and thickens.

5. Remove saucepan from heat; add the butter and lemon juice while it's still hot. Stir.

6. Cool to room temperature.

7. Pour over cake and garnish with extra strawberry slices.

This is what the glaze looks like.

And voila, the cake!! It was super delicious. Enjoy!

What I've Been Pinning Lately...

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:08:00 +0000

Hello lovely ladies! I present to you my first "What I've Been Pinning Lately..." post! I hope this will add a bit of variety to my usual blog posts and will give you a sense of what I like and what inspires the things I make. Enjoy!

Also, feel free to follow me on Pinterest! :)

I usually style my hair in a ponytail, braid or bun because they're quick and simple. I really like this braid because it's simple yet different from my usual hairstyles. Pin.

Same with jewelry. I like simple and minimalistic pieces with a pop of color and these are just perfect. Pin.

These are the perfect wedges for the summer. Pin.

It's a mixer and it's PINK!!! 'Nough said. Pin.

Cute, rustic decoration for the home. Pin.

Happy pinning and have a great rest of the week!

Book Review: The Lightning Thief

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:27:00 +0000

Title: The Lightning Thief (Percy and the Olympians #1)

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: YA Fantasy

Well, I just wanted to say straight from the start that this is a kid's book and even though it's classified as YA it's probably aimed towards tweens and very early teens but yeah, I read it and I'm not ashamed of it. Anyway, I read it because it was on the World Book Night 2013 List and I'd heard good things about it so I decided to check it out. This is actually the first book in the Percy and the Olympians Series and I believe there are four more books in the series, just FYI.

So what's it about? Well, Percy is a 12 year old kid who always seems to be getting in trouble. He's been expelled from 5 schools in the past 6 years and he's about to get kicked out again. During a school trip to the Met he is attacked by his math teacher and discovers she is one of the three Furies (as in the goddesses of vengeance). After the incident he learns from his history teacher, who happens to be Chiron (a centaur) , that he is a demigod, the son of Poseidon. He also learns that Zeus' master lightning bolt has been stolen, and he is the prime suspect. So it's up to him and his friends to find and return Zeus' lightning bolt in ten days and prevent a war between the gods from happening.

I thought this book was very good. It's fast paced, humorous and overall a fun read. I especially liked the chapter titles, they were witty and really funny. If you're a Greek mythology fan you should definitely read this, it's all about Greek mythology but in a modern setting which I thought was pretty original. It's super kid friendly so I definitely recommend it for your kids, younger siblings, cousins or whatever; or if you're an adult like me and like reading YA books every once in a while to bring out your inner child, definitely read this book!

Also, if you're interested, there is a movie based on the book. I watched it after I read the book and I was not impressed. It was very different from the book and just to keep it quick and simple, I didn't really like it. I think I would've liked it better if I had watched the movie without having read the book beforehand... Oh well! Check out the book though, it's great!

Rating: 5/5

Just a Few of Announcements!

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Mon, 06 May 2013 04:08:00 +0000

Can you believe it's May already? I sure can't! Time is going by so fast! Also, I wanted to mention that I've been blogging for 3 months already! I can't believe it! My 3 month bloggiversary was on April 28th. So thanks to all of you who follow me and read my blog, it means a lot to me. :)

I just wanted to make a few quick announcements because a lot has been going on and there might be a few changes in the next couple of weeks but hopefully I'll keep on posting 2-3 times (at least) a week and sharing fun stuff with you guys! So yeah, this month is pretty busy for me because:

1. I'll be going to Boston in a few weeks for my sister's graduation and will be there for about a week. I'm planning ahead so I'm working on a book review for that week and possibly a tutorial. I'll also post My Week in Pics, which should be fun because I'll be in Boston of course!

2. I'm taking the GRE on May 29th. That week, I'll probably be super stressed and will most likely not post anything until after the day after the exam. As you might or might not know, I majored in Environmental Biology in college and graduated in 2012 but I want to continue studying and get my Master's, for which I'll be applying in the fall, and then my Ph.D. So yeah, wish me luck! :)

3. Last but not least...and definitely the most exciting announcement is... I'm moving to Mexico! Well, only temporarily. But yes, I'm super excited because I'm going somewhere near Cancun and will be working with an organization dedicated to sea turtle conservation and environmental education. I'll be there from June 1st til the end of August. I'm really excited because this is definitely what I see myself doing full-time in the future and I'm sure it'll be a great experience. I'm really hoping this won't affect my blog a lot. There is internet where I'll be living so I'll definitely continue posting stuff. My Week in Pictures posts will probably be way more exciting then, I'll continue reading and posting reviews as always and I'm excited to say that I'll probably be posting more recipes and cooking tutorials because I'll be doing my own cooking there. In terms of sewing/knitting/crafting DIYs and nail tutorials, I'm not sure how those are going to work out since (1) I'm obviously not taking my sewing machine or any other craft materials, so I might do some tutorials beforehand and post them sporadically throughout the summer and (2) I'll be working outdoors and handling turtles and equipment so my manicures wouldn't last a single day so I might skip those altogether during the summer.

So yeah, I think that pretty much covers everything that's been going on/ will be going on during May and the rest of the summer. Thanks for reading and hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

Pretty in Pink + Glitter Nails

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:43:00 +0000

It's been a while since I posted a nail tutorial because I usually just paint my nails a solid color but this week I decided to add a little extra to my nails, so I decided to share this tutorial with you guys.I call it the Pretty in Pink + Glitter Nail DIY.

First, I added a base coat, followed by 2 layers of pink nail polish. Then, I added 2 layers of pink glitter nail polish on my ring finger nail. Finally, I added a top coat. And that's it!

Let me just say that I absolutely love the color of the pink nail polish I used, it's actually one of my favorite colors ever! And I think the glitter makes it more fun and adds a little more glitz and glam to your nails.

Polishes used:
-Multi care base + top coat (965) by Revlon
-Teak Rose (161) by Revlon
-Pink Bling (154) by NYC

Book Review: The Book Thief

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:14:00 +0000

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Genre: Historical fiction

As I was going though my "favorites" list on Goodreads while I was compiling my list of recommended books for my World Book Night post, I came across The Book Thief. Now, the book reviews I've been posting here are reviews that I write as I finish the book but when I came across this title, I knew I had to write something about it on my blog. I actually read this book last year but it's so good and I love it so much that I had to share it with your guys.

It's the story about a German girl during WWII and it's narrated by Death, who is obviously personified in this book. To quickly sum it up, I'll use a quote from the book.
“It’s a small story really, about, among other things:
* A girl
* Some words
* An accordionist
* Some fanatical Germans
* A Jewish fist fighter
* And quite a lot of thievery”

I absolutely loved this book! The story is so beautiful yet sad and touching that I actually cried my eyes out for the last few pages of the book and that's saying a lot since I've cried with only one or two other books. So drop whatever you're reading and read this book! I highly recommend it!

Rating: 10/5 (Yeah, it's that good!)

As always, if you have any recommendations feel free to leave a comment below and/or friend me on GoodReads if you want to know what books I've read, am reading or want to read. Happy reading! :)

My Week in Pictures #4

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:30:00 +0000

Happy Friday everyone!!! I can't believe it's been two weeks since I last posted my Week in Pictures! That's a really long time! However, I got back on track this week and started taking my daily pics again. Hope you have a great weekend! :)

Sunday: Spotted at a parking lot- bird eating salad and drinking beer. ;)

Monday: Free Earth Day bag from HEB!

Tuesday: Gerber daisies at the store.

Wednesday: Moo and Sasha (she looked away when I took the pic).

Thursday: I forgot to take a pic...oops!

Friday: My new swimsuit from Target arrived!

World Book Night 2013 and Book Recommendations

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0000

If you read my blog or follow me on Twitter, you know I love to read. So in order to share my love for books with you guys, instead of writing a book review today, I want to share a bit of info on World Book Night.

World Book Night is actually today, April 23rd and it's a non-profit organization that "spreads the love and power of reading person to person through the giving of books every April 23rd." What they do is choose 30 books that include several different genres and that are for different age groups. This year's list can be found here. Then, people sign up to be Book Givers. If they are selected, they get assigned a book and get 20 free paperback copies of that book to hand out to light and non-readers.

I think this is a great project and I would have loved to be a book giver but since I found out about this project a week or two ago, I wasn't able to sign up to be a giver. Instead, I'm going to make a list of 10 books I highly recommend which will include one book from the World Book Night list, that way I'll be a Virtual Book Giver! Happy reading!

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

Harry Potter (all 7 books) by J.K. Rowling

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho ***World Book Night title***

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

If you want to know what books I'm reading, which ones I've read and which ones I want to read, friend me on GoodReads. Also, if you have any book recommendations leave a comment below. Thanks!

Earth Day, Eco-friendly Tips and Freebies

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 05:50:00 +0000

Happy Earth Day!!!!

Hi everyone, I hope everyone is having a great day! I'm pretty excited about Earth Day. I think it's a great day to raise awareness and to remind people to take care of our planet. As inhabitants of this lovely planet, it's our duty to take care of it, nourish it and restore it whenever we've misused it. It's the only planet we can live in so we should try to maintain it as clean and organic as possible. Here are a few simple tips to make everyday more eco-friendly.

1. Recycle. Recycle paper, plastic and metal. This will help us accumulate less waste which is better for the Earth.

2. Use energy efficient light bulbs. Not only will this help you save on your electric bill but you will also help save the Earth by saving energy. HOWEVER, you MUST recycle these light bulbs once they stop working because they contain mercury which is very harmful for the environment.

3. Use reusable shopping bags. Did you know that the U.S. alone goes through 4 BILLION shopping bags annually? That is a lot of plastic! Sadly, only about 1-3% of plastic bags are recycled worldwide. So when you go shopping take your own reusable bags. They are super sturdy and come in all sorts shapes, sizes and designs you're most likely to find one that suits your needs and wants.

4. Buy organic. Yes, I know these products are more expensive and may not fit into everyone's budget but if you can, buy organic because they don't contain synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and/or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These are not only bad for humans but also for the soil, water, plants and animals.

Freebies:
Freebies for Earth Day: (Note- These are not sponsored, I'm just sharing the love with you guys!)

Disney Store- Bring 5 plastic bags and get a free reusable bag. I think you can choose between a Brave or Cars bag.

HEB- (For fellow Texans) Bring 5 plastic bags and get a free reusable bag.

Caribou Coffee- Bring in your mug for some free coffee.

Pottery Barn Kids- Get a free seed packet.

National Parks- Free admission to all national parks all week.

Please Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and Happy Earth Day! :)

DIY Apron

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 19:16:00 +0000

I don't know about you guys but I usually end up making a mess in my kitchen when I bake. I've no idea why, I'm really careful and use the lowest speed when mixing the dry ingredients, I pour in the liquid ingredients very slowly so they don't splatter all over the place, yet somehow batter always ends up on the counter top and worse, on my clothes.

To fix this little problem I decided to make an apron I can put on and then hang up when I'm done baking. It's a really simple project that can be done in just a couple of hours. All you need is about 1- 1.5 yards of fabric depending on the size of the apron and if you line it or not. I would recommend using a thick and sturdy fabric such as canvas or using two layers of normal fabric. I flowery cotton fabric, which is what I had, so I cut each piece twice and sewed them together.That way, each piece has two layers and is sturdier.

Tutorial:
Materials:
*1.5 yards fabric-- If you're using two different fabrics like I did, you'll need 1 yd of the main fabric and 0.5 yd for the neck and waistband.
*Scissors
*Tape measure
*Thread
*Sewing Machine
*Pins
*Iron (optional)

Instructions:
*(I don't have pictures to go with the tutorial but it's pretty straight forward, I think, but if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment!)

1.For the neckband, cut a rectangle that's 5 x 24 inches (includes 1 inch seam allowance on each side) or the thickness and length you want your neckband to be. Fold the fabric in half so that the right sides are together and sew lengthwise, leaving a 1/2in seam allowance. Now, you have a long tube that should be approximately 4 x 24 in. Turn the tube right side out and press, making sure the seam is along the middle and not the side.

2. For the top part of the apron, cut two rectangles that are 10 x 12 inches (includes 1" seam allowance) or your desired size. Place the rectangles right sides together and sew along 3 sides, leaving one of the longer sides open. Flip the rectangle right side out and press. Fold in about 1/2" of fabric on both layers and press. Take the neck band and place the ends inside the big rectangle and pin them where you want your neckband to be. Sew along the folded edge and now your top part is complete.

3. For the bottom part of the apron, cut two rectangles that are the length of the front part of your waist by the length from your waist to about 4 fingers above your knee. Include 1" seam allowance. Mine was about 19 x 21 inches. Place the rectangles right sides together and sew along all 4 sides leaving a 2 inch gap on one side to flip the fabric right side out. Turn the fabric right side out, sew the gap shut and press.

4. To make the waistband cut two rectangles that are 6 inches by the length of the circumference of your waist. Place both rectangles right sides together and sew them to create one super long strip of fabric, 2 times the circumference of your waist. Fold lengthwise right sides together and sew, leaving 1/2" seam allowance, to form a long tube. Turn the tube right side out and press, making sure the seam is along the middle and not the side. Fold in about 1/2" of fabric on both ends of the tube, press and sew shut.

5. Find the middle of your waistband and mark it with a pin. Center the top part of the apron about 1/2" under the waistband and pin it down. Do the same with the bottom part of the apron. Sew both parts of the apron to waistband. And you're done!

Here's the finished apron!

Book Review: The Mousetrap

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:39:00 +0000

Title: The Mousetrap

Author: Agatha Christie

Genre: Play/ Mystery

The book I'll be reviewing this week is a bit different from the other books I usually read since it's a play. To be totally honest with you guys, I don't really like reading plays. I hated reading Shakespeare and other plays I had to read in high school and college. I don't know why but I just have a really hard time reading plays. However, I absolutely love going to see performances of plays and let me tell you, I went to see my fair share of plays when I lived in NYC... but that's another story.

So you're probably asking yourselves, WHY would you read a play if you know you hate reading plays?!?!?! Well, that's a great question! I think I mentioned before that I'm in a reading club on GoodReads and every 6 months or so they post a reading challenge and one of the tasks on the Spring/Summer reading challenge was to read 3 plays by a playwright. I wasn't planning on doing this task but then I found out that one of my favorite authors, Agatha Christie, had written some plays and I knew I had to read them.

The Mousetrap takes place in Monkswell Manor, a boardinghouse that had been recently opened by Mollie and Giles Ralston. There are five guests staying there: Christopher Wren, an architect, Mrs. Boyle, a former jurist, Major Metcalf, a retired army major, Miss Casewell, a secretive woman we don't know much about and Mr. Paravicini, a strange foreign man who claims his car was overturned in a snowdrift and arrived unannounced. All the guests are stranded at the boardinghouse in the midst of a snowstorm when Detective Sergeant Trotter arrives on skis to inform the group that he believes that a murderer will be heading to the hotel -- one who murdered a Mrs. Maureen Lyon in London and who will strike two more times according to information he has received. As soon as he arrives, Mrs. Boyle is killed, which makes them realize that the murderer is already there. The detective must then interrogate everyone and delve into their past, if he wants to prevent the murderer from striking again.

I really enjoyed reading this play. I'm a huge fan of Agatha Christie and mystery novels so it's not surprising for me that I liked it. It was very descriptive in terms of how the scenery was supposed to be so I could easily picture the scene in my mind. It was really well written and like any other Christie novel, it has its twists and turns, so you pretty much end up suspecting all the characters at some point in the play.

So... Just a little FYI before I finish my review. I googled this play and it turns out that it is the longest running play in history. It's been showing since 1952 in London's West End (equivalent to Broadway in NYC) and in November 2012 it's 25,000th performance took place. Wow! That's amazing! If I ever go to London, I'll definitely check it out! Anyway, if you have the chance, definitely check out this book/play. It's really good!

Rating: 5/5

Also, if you have any book recommendations feel free to leave them in the comments section! Thanks!

Insalata Caprese

noreply@blogger.com (Martha) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:17:00 +0000

Today was an all Italian food day at my house. We had lasagna rolls, chicken parmigiana and caprese salad for dinner. All that was missing was the tiramisu and it would've been perfect but I've never made tiramisu and I didn't have most of the ingredients the recipe calls for, so I guess I'll make it another day.

Anyway, insalata caprese or caprese salad is super easy to make and it's delicious! All you need are:
-tomatoes
-fresh mozzarella cheese
-fresh basil
-olive oil
-balsamic vinegar

Slice the tomato and the the mozzarella cheese. Add the basil leaves, whole or chopped, whichever you prefer. Finally, drizzle the salad with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Buon appetito!