My Cup Of Tea

A New Adventure

2016-07-05T13:24:00.001-05:00

I would like to tell anyone who still looks at My Cup of Tea to head on over to my new blog and where I will be posting at lot more often that this one.

http://anitsybitsy.blogspot.com

Please come check this out and give me a follow or a read!

xx

A Pamper Night

2015-01-23T20:04:00.002-06:00

On cold winter nights, all someone needs is a good pamper night to brave the cold weather outside. Me personally do this every week or so and my body (and my mind) thank me.

So with that in mind, turn on your favorite music and relax.

Here's what I recommend:

Music:

Turn on a nice relaxing playlist. My current fav? Pandora's Laid Back Beach. Perfect for thinking you're in 80 degree weather.

Bath Time:

Step into a nice hot bath with either your favorite Lush bath bomb or my current favorite: Philosophy's Bubbly (perfect for creating those amazing bubbles)

While in the bath, I treat my skin with my absolute favorite Tocca's body polish which gives you amazing soft skin.

(Don't forget your rubber ducky!)

Candles:

When in relax mode, candles are a must in my book. For an ultimate relax, I turn to my two favorites: Trapp's Orange and Vanilla (#4) and Barr Co's Original Scent.

You can never go wrong with these two amazing scents!

Afterwards:

After your relaxing bath, no need to stop. I always follow up with Bobbi Brown's amazing Hydrating Face Cream, perfect to save your skin in the winter.

I exfoliate my dry rough lips with Lush's Mint Julips Lip Scrub, amazing for getting super soft lips.

(Bye-bye winter chapped lips)

I finish with a new favorite, Chantecaille's Lip Potion, a cute color and to-die-for moisturizer for those lips.

What do you do to relax on those Winter nights?!

The Holidays

2014-12-23T22:25:00.002-06:00

The holidays can surly be a time to get busy wrapping presents, cooking, friends, family, and studying for exams if you're like me. The crazy holiday times are also a time to reflect on those most important to you. Whether it be that friend or family member, forgiving and forgetting is something to remember during the holiday season. As we come into the new year something I want to remind all of you is to surround yourself with people you love and to not take anything less. One of my favorite quotes to keep in the back of your mind is "In life, you will meet two types of people. The ones who build you up and the ones who tear you down." So please, my one piece of advice during this amazing holiday season, surround yourself with those who build you up and make me the best you.

Mini rant over, these are the things that I have been loving during this holiday season. I promise to be back and better.

Have an amazing holiday season and new year!

Cinnamon-Sugar Pumpkin Mini-Muffins

2014-10-12T17:21:00.000-05:00

With School in full swing and college applications coming together, the start of October is no better time to get out Pumpkin deserts. The Cinnamon-Sugar Pumpkin Mini-Muffins are something that can easily be pulled out any time during fall and mine will defiantly be made during Thanksgiving. They are so easy to make and so light and fluffy, having just one isn't good enough.

Ingredients:

The Muffins:

1 cup and 2 Tbst. All-Purpose Flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

pinch of salt (optional to taste)

3/4 granulated sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

3/4 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1/3 cup coconut oil (could use vegetable oil- I did)

1/4 cup Silk Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (could use other milks)

2 Tbsp mild or medium molasses

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Coating:

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

*This was plenty for me for, even a half portion could be used

Directions:

1. Set oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and set aside your mini-muffin tin, sprayed with baking spray.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and optional salt.

3. In another large bowl, combine the sugars, pumpkin, oil, milk molasses, and vanilla until combined

4. Pour the wet pumpkin mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until combined, dont' over mix.

5. Divide batter equally among the tray and fill 3/4 of the way.

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes but be careful, these cook quite quickly and you don't want them to overcook. At 10 minutes, stick a toothpick in the middle and if no batter comes out, pull them out.

7. While still baking, combine the sugar and cinnamon to create the cinnamon-sugar mix.

8. After the mini-muffins cool, roll each one in the cinnamon-sugar mix and set aside.

9. Enjoy!

RMS Beauty

2014-09-04T08:32:00.001-05:00

When I popped onto J. Crew and saw there was a sale, I couldn't resist throwing a RMS Beauty product into my cart. I had heard about the brand from my beauty-inclined friend, Lili over at Parisian To Be, and decided to try out the lip and skin balm in simple vanilla. A brand that is prided by their organic lifestyle and their organic materials, this brand was not a disappointment. As a sucker for a good lip product, this product in its sleek and chic packaging didn't disappoint. Although the product is quite hard and compact and the price of the .20 ounces of product is tough, this tiny little pot will last you ages. I tried putting it onto my lips before bed and when I woke up, my lips were delightfully smooth.

As for more RMS Beauty products, I can't wait to try out more of these little gems!

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know!

My Music Ep. 7

2014-08-14T14:28:00.001-05:00

With the end of summer coming and new music being realsed constantly, my favorites in music are quickly expanding for the better. With that, here are some of my new music favorites:

Troye Sivan- Happy Little Pill

Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj- Bang Bang

Beyonce- XO

Demi Lovato- Really Don't Care

The Vamps- Somebody to You

*New guilty pleasure*

My Normal Workout Routine

2014-08-11T20:57:00.001-05:00

When it comes to working out, I am not the type of person that does it every day, yet alone every week but when I am feeling motivated, I love that after workout feeling and feel good about myself. The feeling during the workout, I don't love as much though :). Since the school year is about to start and a more normal fitness routine for me will kick in, for those of you who don't have a normal routine, here is what I do to stay fit.

The Clothes:

Don't get me wrong, though the workout is the main focus, the clothes that you wear can definitely effect your workout. Here is what I would were on a normal day working out:

Hair ties // Workout Tank // Water Bottle // Nike Shorts // Tennis Shoes

The Playlist:

For me, the music can either make or break a workout. You definitely need a playlist that will keep you moving at a fast pace. I normally either use the Pandora app on my phone and listen to the "Pop Fitness" Station or to ignore all of the adds, I create a workout playlist that will keep my going.

*Picture Credit

The Workout:

The hardest part of the actual workout is forcing myself to actually do it. Though the after feeling is worth it, during the actually working out, I'm dying on the inside. My normal workout either comes from my Pinterest or I basically invent it in my head. I am no expert trainer so this is just what I have done and it is what has made me feel great but do whatever you're comfortable with and make sure to have plenty of water!

Here is what I do normally:

45 minutes on the treadmill: a mix of walking and running; intervals are my best friend here.

30 minutes on the elliptical: I keep it at a steady rate and don't push myself too hard.

10- 15 minutes of abs: I will either force myself to plank (normally not gonna happen) or I will look up some Youtube tutorials where I can actually be watching something and entertain myself. My favorite channel is Blogilates, she keeps it fun and entertaining (something I definitely need after working out.)

And to finnish: 5-10 minutes of stretching: possibly the most rewarding part

So that's my normal workout! Though that is the basis of what I do, the times differ constantly. I love to mix it up in the workout and love to add in a bit of yoga if I'm feeling steady!

Enjoy!

Europe Exploring

2014-08-07T10:01:00.003-05:00

Well, the past six weeks have been absolutely breathtaking and amazing and now that I'm finally home for the start of the school year, I can't wait to go back. All of you have seen the past five weeks of what I've been up too, but you haven't seen the last (and possibly most exciting) part of my journey.Here is what I got up too for the past week:

Geneva, Switzerland

Lake Como, Italy

Scotland Part Four // London Exploring

2014-07-30T17:39:00.001-05:00

With my time in Scotland done and an amazing time behind me, what came next was a couple of days visiting London. Though I had never been to London before (yes- it's true) the time that I spent there was absolutely amazing (and the weather wasn't half- bad either!) With five days in London done, here's what I got up too:

Though I got up too so much more, all of the exciting-ness got to me and pictures became scarce.

What is next you may ask? The best has yet to come.

Scotland Part Three

2014-07-20T11:57:00.000-05:00

As my final week approaches, what can I say? I have had an amazing time and cannot wait to come back sometime down the road. But for the mean time, I can enjoy my last week and see what has to come afterwards.
Here's what happened this week:

Dundee:

RSS Discovery

Falkland Palace:

East Lomond Hill:

Dewar's Distillery:

Cheers to week four!!

Scotland Part Two

2014-07-15T09:13:00.000-05:00

Once again this amazing place has amazed me for the second week in a row. With now only two weeks left here, I cannot wait to see what else is in store for me. In the mean time, here's what a got up to this week:

Glamis Castle:

Edinburgh:

We spent a day in the city shopping and eating (mainly eating)

JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter here!

Dundee vs. Manchester City Soccer Match:

Definitely an experience

Can't wait for week three!

City Spotlight: Scotland Part One

2014-07-07T16:06:00.001-05:00

With my first week of Scotland life done, I have already seen so much of this beautiful country and cannot wait to experience more! Week one was definitely colder than expected but fun-filled none the less. With a week full of experimentation and relaxation and cannot wait to spend three more weeks here!

Week One Entailed:

Stirling Castle

Gorgeous look into life hundreds of years ago for the Scottish Royals!

The King and Queen

The amazing ceilings!

Wallace Monument:

Amazing views, what more can I say!

ps. We climbed 246 spiral stairs to get to the top!

Random Excusions:

The beautiful beach!

Treehouse overlooking a zoo exhibit

Get ready for more to come!
xx

A Trip Abroad: The Start

2014-07-05T12:14:00.001-05:00

Some of you may have noticed my absence lately and also my Tips for Packing a Makeup Bag. Yes my need for adventure is still strong but for the next six weeks they will be met before school kicks back into gear (yikes!) Although my lust for adventure has taken me loads of places (the beach, the mountains, etc.) traveling abroad is still something that I get giddy about. So, for the next six weeks I will be traveling around Europe. Although a month of my stay will reside in Scotland (for a summer academic program) the two weeks after are dedicated to tiring my travel bug. Where am I going you may ask? You will have to wait and find out because more and more posts will be happening. Am I nervous? Sure. Am I excited? Definitely!

I just wanted to give you a little update as to where I was and what is too come.

I hope you look forward to what I have to show you because I am so excited to share!

Lemon Pound Cake

2014-06-25T09:26:00.002-05:00

Since summer has been off to a great start traveling and relaxing, I have been looking to bake some more (another guilty pleasure of mine). Because of this, the Lemon Pound Cake was born and I am in love. Perfectly lemon-y and sweet, this cake was eaten up quickly in my house!

Here's what I did!

Ingredients

For the Cake:

1 Cup Unsalted Butter

I Cup Granulated Sugar

1 1/3 Cup Self- Raising Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

4 Large Eggs

4 Tbsp Milk

Grated Zest of 2 Lemons

For the Drizzle:

Juice of 2 Lemons

1 1/2 Cups Confectioners Sugar

Directions:

Mix together the Unsalted Butter, Granulated Sugar, Self- Raising Flour, Baking Powder, Eggs, Milk, and the Zest of 2 Lemons. Mix well and place into a greased pan for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Whilst the cake is baking and has around 15 minutes left, mix together the juice of the two lemons and the confectioners sugar. When the cake comes out golden brown while still warm, poke various holes in the cake and pour the drizzle on top and enjoy!

*Sorry for the lack of pictures, it was gone before I knew it!

Enjoy!!

How To: Pack a Makeup Bag

2014-06-17T12:02:00.000-05:00

How to pack a makeup bag to travel across the globe is something that I have dealt with figuring out for a long time. Is it too much? Not enough? Finding the perfect combination is quite challenging but finding those perfect pieces of makeup will make your life much easier. Finding the perfect makeup and brushes to take with you across the world with you for a significant amount of time can be quite daunting but after you take a deep breath and think what you will really need, it is quite rewarding to slim your collection down to the most-needed pieces.

Here's what I came up with!

The Brushes:

Brushes is something that (most) everyone needs to bring with them. Although I do most of my makeup with my hands for convenience and because it's normally quicker, I always carry these brushes with me to apply the makeup more precise. In my loot is a fair mix of Bobbi Brown Brushes (the wood ones), Trish McEvoy Brushes (the clear ones), and Napoleon Perdis Brushes (the black ones). All of these brushes have a specific purpose so every brush is used and (most) every occasion is prepared with a useful brush. Each brush having a purpose is key in traveling and avoids the "Why do I have four brushes for blush?"

The Makeup:

Whether it be traveling to Italy, England or a weekend trip to North Carolina, packing the makeup to take with you involves cutting down your collection down to your most admired pieces that you know that you will use. What I highly recommend is first packing what you wear on a normal basis: concealer, powder, blush, bronzer, etc... Then pack a couple of "special occasion" pieces that you may only wear a couple of times but you know they will make you really pop and feel good! Try and think back to what you wear to dances or normal days out. Obviously pack what you want and what fits the place you are going best and what you will be doing there. For instance, no need to pack heavy makeup if you won't be doing anything extra-extravagant but whatever you feel necessary, go for it! I decided on a couple of different pieces and a couple of staples that those of you that have been reading Little E for some time will recognize. I'm not going to be specific on the brands of these products because most of them you've seen before, but if you have any questions feel free to comment below and I will get back to you as soon as possible!!

The Past Two Weeks

2014-06-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

The past two weeks have included trips, relaxed days and a all around a fabulous start to the summer.

Here's what I've been up too...

Week 1: The Beach

A much needed trip to the beach to detox from exams and just a break from the school year to prepare for the next.

Week 2: The Mountains/ Concert

Traveling to the Mountains for a quick wedding involves having an impromptu trip to hike, doesn't it always? Traveling to that beautiful side of the country always makes me happy and energized and when I got back, a country music concert! (The inner southern girl came out)

What are your summer travel plans!

My Music Ep. 6

2014-06-02T20:36:00.001-05:00

With the end of the school year comes and summer kicks in these are some new music favorites that I've fallen for. This bunch has a very relaxed tone that I am currently loving and loved taking with me to the beach. Some new songs and some old songs, these are the current things that I'm jamming too and singing every word.

Hozier- Take me to Church

Moon Taxi- Morocco

The Head and the Heart- Lost in my Mind

Jake Bugg- Simple as This

Summer Nails

2014-05-22T08:48:00.002-05:00

With summer coming up very very soon, a summer manicure is the perfect thing to take you into the season of relaxation of sun. This summer, bold colors and pastels seem to be the upcoming trends that have the best colors coming out and old favorites reappearing. Whether it be a nice pastel green or a fiery red, this summer try something new!
Here are my favorites for the summer that you will defiantly see me wearing!

Essie Mint Candy Apple // Essie Bikini So Teeny // OPI Year of the Dragon (Similar- California Raspberry)

What nail color will you be wearing this summer?
xx

The City Lights

2014-05-08T19:42:00.000-05:00

Normally on a weeknight, I'm inside studying or aimlessly watching TV, but for the past week, I've been outside on the city for a school project late at night (something that defiantly doesn't happen much.) What it taught me is that every once and a while, you need to experience your own city in a time you would never imagine. What I was doing at 10 o'clock at night on a random Wednesday night was taking pictures of the city for my photo class and I though for a little inspiration of your own to get outside and show off what your city has to offer, I'd pass them along.

If you have any pictures of your own, I'd love to see them!

It's Time for Spring!

2014-05-02T13:35:00.000-05:00

Spring always gets me in the best mood of the year. Whether that it has the best weather or its the time of my birthday, spring always gets me excited for summer in the best possible way. After we all defrost from the harsh winter, spring is the time where laying outside becomes acceptable and weekend trips to the lake or beach become a must. When the first flowers start to bloom we know that we're in season and its time to break out the bathing suits and shorts and enjoy one of the most wonderful times of the year. With all of this new warmth being spread comes a time for a closet switch to happen. Switching the fleece coat that you stayed warm in during the winter for your favorite bathing suit is a must and switching the hydrating face cream that saved your skin in the winter for some sunscreen becomes necessary. With spring comes shorter dresses and a time to go outside and how fun.

Some of my favorite spring time necessities are below:

Antropologie Tank // Hunter Rain Boots // J Crew Shorts // Madewell Dress // Ray Ban 'Clubmaster' // J Crew bathing suit top and bottom // TOMS Sandal // Lilly Pulitzer Dress

What are your spring essentials?

The Long Dress Look

2014-04-26T12:49:00.000-05:00

(Atlantic- Pacific)

Whether it be a spring formal or your high school prom, every lady needs to know how to wear a long dress. A very elegant staple to any girls wardrobe that can be tricky when it comes down to it. Whether you're picking the dress, shoes, accessories or clutch, every piece of the outfit has to come together in a perfect match made for heaven. I have worn a long dress only on special occasions in my life and with the helpful and insightful fashion eye of my mother and my grandmother, I've (hopefully) been able to put together the "Long Dress Look." Though the entire process can be quite complicated (fittings and finding everything) when you put the gown on, you suddenly become simply elegant and it becomes worth it.

First: The Gown
Possibly the most challenging part to any "Long dress look" is finding the long dress. Finding the perfectly elegant gown that fits can be a challenge but once you find it, it can be amazing. My favorites are below:

Donna Morgan // Aidan Mattox // Eliza J // Black Halo Eve // Oscar de la Renta // Marchesa

Second: The Shoes
For the shoes you want something that is not only comfortable enough to get you through the night but also elegant enough to compliment your dress. Something not to high but not to low is defiantly the way to go, some of the best choices are below:

Aldo Wedge // Cole Haan Pump // J Crew Suede Pump // Jessica Simpson Pump // Kate Spade Pump

Third: The Clutch / Accessories
Once the dress and the shoes have been picked, something to add on and something to throw your phone and lip stick in is the final piece to the puzzle. You want something that compliments your dress but isn't too "match-y." Here are some of my favorites that I can rely on:

Nadri Arrow Bracelet // J Crew Necklace // Toms Marketplace Druzy Stone Earnings // Kate Spade Watch // J Crew Leather Clutch // Kate Spade Clutch // Nina Clutch

What do you think of the long dress look?
Enjoy!
xx

A Trip to LUSH

2014-04-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

Since my city decided to indulge in getting a LUSH store a few weeks ago, I decided to take the trip myself to see what all of the hype was about. Taking one of my more beauty- inclined friends in tow, we made the trek to the store. Though the immediate smell can be overpowering, what lays inside can be worth the trip. After spending a good 25 minutes walking around and smelling everything I could get my hands on, I decided on a few little gems to try. The first being the Butterball Bath Bomb. Though the name can seem unappealing at first (A butter bath bomb?) what awaited was wonderful. Though the color seems simple and boring on the outside, it had a lovely smell of vanilla and cream. When I popped it into my bath the benefits of the bath bomb defiantly outweighed the simple color and name. The cocoa butter started to come out and I finally felt relaxed-- a success in my book. The other piece that I decided to try was the Honey Trap Lip Balm. After waiting at the checkout, my eye wondered to to the lip products, my weakness in the beauty department. After trying both the lip balms and scrubs I landed on the Honey Trap. Perfectly smooth and creamy and smelling of honey, I decided to take it home with me and I'm still in love. So, after all was done, I consider my first trip to LUSH a success and a place that will definitely be seeing me again.

Have you tried anything from LUSH? What are your favorites?
xx

The Midi

2014-04-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

Another fashion trend that I'm running late on, typical. The Midi skirt is making its way into the fashion world and I, along with many others, are falling in love. Not quite a maxi skirt but it falls just below the knee at a perfectly elegant length. The Queen of the Midi Skirt is Blair Eadie of Atlantic-Pacific (One of my all-time favorite fashion blogs.) Check out how she rocks the Midi below:

Now isn't that some fabulous inspiration?! Now its our turn to try it out...

Polka Dot // Blue and White Stripe // Simple Black // Dusty Sage // Black and White Stripe

Do you think you'll be trying out The Midi anytime soon?

The Disney Princess Look

2014-04-14T08:23:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wanted to look like a Disney Princess? I surely know I have! The perfect makeup that compliments each ones tone and seems imposible to master. Well now you can look like a princess, with "grown up" products. I found this on Buzzfeed and fell in love. It brought out the little girl who threw makeup on her face in order to make herself look like Cinderella (yes that actually happened.) You can now get the look of Mulan, Pocahontas, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White!

Hair Clip // Gel Eyeliner // Cherry Blossom Spray // Mint Lip Balm // Recovery Cream

Dr. Bronner's All-In-One Soap // Pink Clay // Daily Moisturizer // Lip Tint // Thermal Water Mist // Hair Barrette // Cheek and Lip Tint

Mermaid Shampoo // Detangling Comb // Sea Salt Soap // Lip Stain // No More Tangles Spray // Surf Spray // Ariel Lip Gloss

Foaming Cleanser // Rose Gold Liquid Luminizer // Rose Chubby Stick // Paperback Perfume // Eye Shadow // Stratford Honey Nail Polish

Bring on The Bling Nail Polish // Angel Body Cream // Blue Spark Eye Shadow // Liquid Eye Liner // Cinderella Lip Gloss // Bun Ring

Face Primer // Afternoon Tea Blush // Shimmer Eye Shadow // Honey Body Cream // Snow White Lip Stick // Snow White and Evil Queen Blush

Enjoy!

The Happiest 5K on Earth

2014-04-10T07:39:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to break the normal routine of a weekend and run a 5K! Not just any 5K, but the Color Run! A 5K full of colored powered being thrown at you from every direction and a after party worth the price of admission. With 4 other friends in tow, we made our way to downtown at 8 am full of adrenaline and ready to run. Weather it was the adrenaline pumping or our bodies trying to stay warm, we took off towards to color and never looked back. This may have been the most fun I've had in awhile and even though it was freezing and raining, I loved every minute.