4 Desserts to Make for Christmas

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that I love baking. It makes me so happy! In recent months, I've been trying to expand my baking schedule to include things that aren't just cookies and cupcakes. I've made scones, trifles, brownies and bars, candy, and biscotti in the past year or so. It's been so fun to experiment, try new recipes, and learn more about baking than I ever thought possible. 

I've collected my favorite Christmas dessert recipes to share here. I tried to include one cookie recipes--because cookies are, after all, very easy to make and dress up. Add ice cream and you've got ice cream sandwiches; layer with whipped cream and you've got a cookie cake; dunk into hot cocoa and you've got magic. Here are 4 desserts that will put you in the Christmas spirit... just don't forget to share with your friends & family!

1. Candy Cane Brownie Trifle

Listen: brownies. Candy canes. Whipped cream. Chocolate sauce. 

Need I say more? Served in a gorgeous wine glass (or, you know, just a bowl works too!), it's the perfect dessert. You can use homemade brownies, box mix brownies, or even pre-made brownies, pre-made whipped cream, and store bought chocolate sauce for the easiest, most delicious dessert in the world. Perfect for last minute parties that you forgot were happening. 

2. Grinch Sugar Cookie Bars

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is one of my absolute favorite Christmas movies--so, of course, these bars are right up my alley. Delicious, soft sugar cookie dough topped with delicious, creamy icing. Easy, delicious, and totally Christmas-y--also, perfect for a movie viewing party!

3. Gingerbread Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Gingerbread is one of my favorite treats to have during December--and these bars combine it with my favorite frosting, cream cheese frosting. I absolutely love these bars and make them, actually, a few times a year, including for my birthday! They're also great to wrap and give as gifts, because they are so sturdy and transportable. 

4. Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love red velvet cake--so when I first found this recipe, about 4 or 5 years ago, I immediately jumped to make these cookies. They are soft, cakey, and slightly chocolatey... and so, so good. They are super Christmas-y looking too! I make these every year for cookie exchanges and they are always a big hit because they are so unique. It's also fun to use mini Andes pieces (with the green stripe) for a little extra Christmas flair! 

A Busy Mom's Gift Guide for: Toddlers

I'm so excited to be posting my first gift guide. Now, these gift guides are going to be absolutely no-nonsense: easy, affordable options that you can order online with minimal hassle. Nothing fancy, but with options you'll feel good about gifting others.

If you're the mother of a toddler, or someone who loves a toddler (shout out to the aunts & uncles, cousins, and friends of moms out there), these are great options: simple, easy, and with a focus on nurturing how smart and curious toddlers are. 

Here are my top picks for Christmas gifts for toddlers, age 18 months to 4 years! 

1. Kid Kraft Chalkboard Table, $99.99

Confession: this is actually what I'm getting Forrest for Christmas this year. We've been looking for a table for him: somewhere he could sit to have a snack, draw, or play with blocks. I originally found this at Costco (as a side note: it is available for $59.99 at Costco, so if you're local, definitely look for it there) and knew I wanted to get it for him. It comes with a handy pouch for storing art supples (where my dog cannot get to those delicious crayons), two stools, and a roll of paper underneath for easy access. 

2. Mega Bloks Build 'N Learn Math Building Set, $24.99

We are big fans of math, science, and reading themed toys in our house; for his birthday, Forrest got a set of baby science books that he absolutely loves. This block set combines the fun of building with math; you can put stickers on blocks to indicate numbers, add them, subtract them, and learn basic math! For older toddlers, this would be really fun for those first math lessons and for experimenting with counting. 

3. Seedling Littles Galaxy Rocket Adventure Cape Costume Kit, $25.99

I had never heard of this Seedling Littles brand before, but this rocket adventure kit has absolutely made me a fan. It's basically a little cape that toddlers can put together, decorate as they like, and then dress up with to pretend they are going to space, exploring the world, or just zooming. It is so much fun! They also have other great ones like this farmer's market playtime kit, this dress up headband kit, and this under the sea playtime kit. If you're into interactive and imaginative play with your kids (which, I hope you are!), these are absolutely perfect toys! 

5 Free iPhone Wallpapers for Christmas

December is my favorite time of year. I often get made fun of by my friends and family because I put up my Christmas tree as early as possible: November 1, usually, but sometimes I wait a week into November. You know, wait. I really enjoy the Christmas season. 

So it goes without saying that I usually Christmas-ify everything in my life: my bedroom, my kitchen, my planner, my phone. Thanks to Pinterest, it's easier than ever to find cute, seasonal wallpapers. For your enjoyment, I've gathered up 5 of my favorite wallpapers that I've been cycling through! Check them out below. 

[One] [Two] [Three] [Four] [Five]

My November Wrap Up & A Few of My Favorite Things

Two of my favorite bloggers, Charlotte and Sian, both do monthly wrap ups. It's not something I usually do, but as I get more and more regimented about my blog (imagine me saying that two years ago!), I find myself leaning towards doing them. Well, the time has finally come: I'm going to start including a monthly wrap up, just as a way to decompress about the month, share some favorites, and be a little more personal. 

Here's what I've been up to this month. 

Reading

This month has definitely been one of my slower reading months! I usually try to read 4-5 books a month, but for whatever reason, I didn't manage it this time. Perhaps it was because I was sick most of November (food poisoning, then a severe cold). I did, however, read Sisters One, Two, Three by Nancy Star and My Sister's Grave by Robert Dugoni. Sisters One, Two, Three was incredibly good (perhaps one of the best books I've read of 2017). My Sister's Grave is a crime novel, the kind of procedural I usually like, but I found it a little clunky at times. 

Writing

It goes without saying that November is always a writing heavy month for me. I expected to be rushing to finish NaNoWriMo at this point in the month; however, by November 18, I was at over 42,000 words and realized I was going to finish early. Not just a little early, but massively early. (I finished the 23rd.) I'm really proud of having finished and actually, I quite like my story; as I've written before, at this point, I write novels entirely for myself. So, it goes without saying, I really enjoy reading the novel I wrote for myself! 

My Favorite Products

What are my favorite products from this month? I'm loving my blush duo from the Beauty Crop in the color Mauve-ulous*. I've also been loving the Beauty Crop's GRLPWR Liquid Lipsticks*; if you're new to the liquid lipstick world, they are the softest, easiest wearing liquid lips. I really want to try the shade Piedaho next! 

(*Note: These are affiliate links. Using them gives me a small kickback. However, I do genuinely love these products!) 

As well, I've been loving my Foot Petals sneakers, my L'Oreal Infallible Pro-matte Foundation (I know it's not cruelty free, but oh gosh, it makes my skin look amazing!), and the BLAQ mask from my October Ipsy bag! 

Watching

My two big Netflix watches this month have been Big Mouth and the Great British Bake Off. I watched GBBO while I was sick; I'll fully admit to crying when Candice won in the most recent season (added to US Netflix, at least). Big Mouth is an animated cartoon about puberty; it has some amazing comedians voicing it (like Jordan Peele and Maya Rudolph). If you look back at being 13-14 with both happiness and extreme terror, it's the perfect show for you! 

Well, I think that's a pretty solid round up of my November! How was yours? 

Beauty Review: The Beauty Crop*

Earlier this month, I got the opportunity to test out some products from The Beauty Crop**. I was really excited because I'd heard great things about them from many of my beauty groups on Facebook; as well, a few people I know swear by their mascara**. 

I wanted to share short reviews for each product I received. Believe me when I say, I genuinely loved all of these products for different reasons!

I want to talk about the Beauty Crop first, however, and share a little bit about their company. The reason why I decided to explore becoming an affiliate, and testing out some products, was because they are dedicated to being cruelty-free. This is incredibly important to me as a consumer; I try to only purchase from certified CF brands. Here's what the Beauty Crop says on their website: 

“We are a brand inspired by healthy living and creating products enhanced with nutrition derived from natural ingredients. We avoid complex formulas and unnecessary additives, which allows us to create unique cosmetic recipes that include natural oils and plant-based extracts for products that will nurture your skin whilst delivering intense colour technology.

Our philosophy is that nutrition is as equally essential for your skin as it is for your body. Inspired by the healthy recipes we cook in the kitchen, we are passionate about creating colourful, fun and uber-hydrating cosmetics that include nutrition-rich superfood ingredients that promote health and wellbeing.

Our products are 100% cruelty-free. We do not test on animals, only on friends and family!”

That is really a message I can get behind. 

Without further ado, let's dive in and talk about the products I received. 

1. GRLPWR Liquid Lipstick** in Tickled Pink

I use a lot of liquid lipsticks (which dry down to matte). When I first used this one, I kept asking myself... is this really as comfortable as I think it is? I've worn it several days now and I have to say, it's easily one of the best liquid lips I've ever owned. Very matte, very pigmented, very little transfer, and super comfortable. The photo above was taken at the end of the day with no reapplications; it's a little worn, but really lovely still! As well, check out why they're called GRLPWR Liquid Lipsticks:

“Our new line of liquid lipsticks, GRLPWR, was designed to celebrate female empowerment and individuality. We are inspired to create a movement all about friendship, shunning girl-to-girl hostility, and creating a female support network encouraging self-expression.”

Again, what a cool message! These liquid lips are only $14.95 a piece, which is very affordable for such a high end feeling product. The packaging, I should mention, is really gorgeous, with a frosted tube and metallic lettering. 

2. PBJ Smoothie Stick** in Peach Please

This was probably the only product I received that I was a little so-so about. It's still a great lip; if you're someone who liked a light, smooth, glossy formula for their lip products, this is absolutely amazing. Very hydrating and pigmented. The color Peach Please is an incredibly pinky-nude shade that I think would be gorgeous on just about everyone. The reason I didn't absolutely love it was because I generally prefer a liquid lip with limited transfer; with a lip crayon, you need to reapply pretty frequently. That being said, it's a beautiful color and would look great with a more natural, everyday look. These crayons are only $14.95 a piece, which, again, is so affordable for a product that is so high end. (They remind me a lot of Clinique's Chubby Sticks, which aren't cruelty free!) You can also get a set of three for $39.95 here**. 

3. Blush Duo** in Mauve-ulous 

This is my absolute favorite product, I think! I have been obsessed with blushes lately; I used to be a "same blush every day" kind of girl, but recently, I've bought a lot of new ones. I was bouncing between my Tarte blush in Paaaarty and Wet'n'Wild blush in Mulled Wine... until I got this blush duo. It has one side powder, one side cream, both in a lovely, dark berry-mauve shade. I was genuinely worried these blushes would be way, way too dark on me, but with a little finessing, they are so winter-y and give that perfect "I was just outside in the snow" look. The cream side only requires a tiny bit for a nice, flushed look; the powder side blends so beautiful and has the faintest hint of shimmer that I love. 

I read recently that dark and purple-toned blushes, while scary, are actually the ideal blushes because we actually tend to flush blue-purple in the cold naturally, so it's a much more natural look than pink or peach. Who knew? Plus, these blush duos are only $8.50 right now, which is super affordable! 

4. Lighting Crew Highlighting Cream**

I am always a little hesitant about highlighting creams, because I find that they are often too stiff and disrupt my foundation, especially if I apply after powdering. However, this highlighting cream has truly changed my life! It is a lot looser than the average highlighting cream, but just as bright; a little goes a long way! I apply it using my Beauty Blender, then usually pat out with my finger to diffuse it just a little more. It is gorgeous though, with a slightly warm, gold shift. It had vitamin C as well. It's only $12 for a tube that will last a very long time! 

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*Disclaimer: I received the products in this post complimentary for the purposes of becoming an affiliate. However, all thoughts remain my own; I would never recommend something I didn't love! You can read more about my disclosure policy here. 

**These are affiliate links. If you do end up buying something from the Beauty Crop, I do receive a small percentage kickback. Doing so helps me keep Writing Between Pauses running! 

Beauty Review: November Ipsy Bag

This month's Ipsy bag is probably my favorite ever. I love this bag. The physical bag itself, actually: mustard yellow with a beautiful, glittery gold accent. It's much larger than the past few bags and I can see myself genuinely using it for travel. 

I also loved every single thing in my bag. Some were bigger winners than others, but there is nothing in this month's bag that I would not want to use. Let's dive in! 

1. Naked Cosmetics Loose Pigments Mother Nature #06 ($14.95 value)

This is a loose pigment eye shadow. Not my favorite way to wear eye shadow, to be perfectly honest! I find loose pigments to be incredibly, unnecessarily messy. However, this color is really pretty. It's kind of hard to describe; in the tin, it looks dark brown, but once you start layering it on, it's not very dark and is more of an iridescent copper color with a aqua blue shift. It's very pretty! It's definitely not an "I would wear that every day!" color because it is so hard to work with, but I do genuinely like it. I've been using it to highlight my inner corner when I go for darker eyeshadow looks.  

2. Crown Brush C141 Chisel Brush ($5.69 value) 

I just told Danny the other day that I needed a new blush brush--and look what's arrived! This is a pretty dense, medium sized brush that would be perfect for subtle contouring and applying blushes. I've stopped contouring recently (just so much work!) so I've been using this for blush; it gives me a lot of control over blush and the bristles are soft enough to blend well. 

3. SKYN Iceland Berry Lip Fix ($14 value) 

I love a good lip balm (even though I do suspect lip balms are a conspiracy to make us spend money). This one is especially lovely because it has a wonderful berry scent. It is very thick and long lasting as well. I had a pretty bad cold this past week and I've been dabbing this on the skin underneath my nose to help it heal; it has been doing wonders! 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Feisty ($29 value)  

I love Tarte blushes so I was so excited to see this in my bag! I have the shade Paaarty (which was in the free Sephora birthday gift this year) and now I have Feisty. Feisty is a warm, tan color. Definitely more of a summer, bronzey look, but still lovely when mixed with a darker, more purple shade. Tarte blushes are so long lasting and creamy, it's really hard to go wrong with them! 

5. ColourPop Cosmetics Ultra Satin Lip in Calypso ($6 value) 

I'm a sucker for a liquid lip, so you won't be surprised to learn that this is my absolute favorite thing in the bag! Calypso is a dark, pink-tan shade that is so, so pretty; it dries down so smooth and lovely. It's not transfer proof, but it does look amazing on. I was so nervous about which shade I would receive, but I'm so happy with Calypso; it's the perfect lip to replace my summer favorite (Wet'n'Wild Liquid Catsuit in Rebel Rose).

Final Thoughts

All in all, this month's bag is valued at $69.64. That's pretty good for a $10 subscription! As well, I like nearly everything in the bag! I would honestly repurchase any of these things, except perhaps the loose pigment eyeshadow; that is something that I would probably try to find in a dupe version!  

If you want to try out Ipsy, you can use my link here. (Note: I do receive extra points when you use my referral link!) 

4 Skincare Mistakes You're Probably Making

When it comes to skincare mistakes, I've made just about all of them. I mean that seriously. As I wrote in my post about my acne journey (and trust me, it's a Lord of the Rings style journey!), I've tried just about everything when it comes to skincare. 

To preface, I am by no means an expert. If you're having serious issues with your skin, seeing a dermatologist or professional of your choice is paramount to finding the right treatment. However, for the average every day person, there are some little things we've all been taught (by teen magazines, primarily) help our skin. They are wrong and they can be doing more damage than you think. Here they are, the 4 skincare mistakes that almost everyone makes once and a while. 

(Psst, don't forget to read my post on winter skincare essentials!) 

1. Exfoliating too harshly, too much, or too often

When I was in college, I used this face wash from Clean & Clear that had little microbeads in it. (I've since learned that microbeads are one of the worst things to happen to our environment. Stop using microbeads!) I loved using it on my skin every night; I would scrub and scrub and scrub until my skin felt so soft and smooth. 

Friends, this is not something you should do! 

Recently, my friend asked me why she was having peeling skin on her nose. I asked about her routine. She said she used St. Ives Apricot Scrub every night, then used a face brush in the morning. I begged her (actually begged) to stop exfoliating. She had thought all the exfoliating would get the flaking skin off. I hated to be the bearer of bad news, but exfoliating damaged skin is just going to damage it more! 

You should exfoliate one or two times a week, maximum. As well, scrubs like St. Ives Apricot Scrub are much too harsh for even once-a-week exfoliation. Using a soft face brush or an exfoliant with natural, rounded beads (that dissolve, unlike microbeads) will make your skin healthier and stronger. 

2. Not Cleaning Your Make Up Brushes

When was the last time you cleaned your make up brushes? If you can't remember, it's been too long. For the health of your skin, you need to be washing your brushes at least once a week. And I mean, every single brush, including your beauty blender. Brushes can also harbor bacteria and mold, so if you have acne (like I do), cleaning is especially paramount. Spreading bacteria around your face is a definite no in terms of skin health! 

3. Using Pore Strips 

I used to love doing a pore strip. A few years ago, I learned that the dots on my nose were not blackheads like I thought, but sebaceous filaments. Sebaceous filaments are a natural part of human skin; they look dark and open, depending on your pore skin, and when squeezed, a small, plug of oil comes out. This can make you think that the oil isn't supposed to be there, but that's not true. It's just how our skin is and some people (like me) aren't genetically blessed with small pores, so ours look huge. You can shrink the size of your pores, but if you have flat, pinpricks across your nose that you think are blackheads, I have to tell you: that's just your skin, baby. 

Pore strips often remove the oil plugs out of sebaceous filaments. Marketing on these products has made us think these are blackheads, but they aren't (I promise!). Pore strips can damage your skin, make you break out (because removing that oil plug allows bacteria into your pore), and can break capillaries in your nose (I've done it). 

4. Using Inappropriate Acne Treatments (like Toothpaste)

When I was in college, a friend in my hallway knocked on my door and asked if I had any Windex. I said, yes, but what do you need it for? 

"I have a zit," she replied, nonchalant. "And Windex kills zits." 

Teen magazines have been spreading inaccurate information about how to treat zits for years. I remember smearing straight rubbing alcohol over my face once because a magazine said it helped acne (the chemical burn really hurt). I've also covered zits in toothpaste and gotten chemical burns. 

The logic behind using things like Windex or toothpaste on acne kind of makes sense, but realistically, these products are not designed to use on the skin and you risk giving yourself a serious chemical burn that can include serious scarring and infection. Do not, I repeat, do not put anything not designed for the skin on your skin. 

This includes "homemade masks" like honey and cinnamon (and any homemade mask you see on the internet that isn't backed up by science). I burned myself with a cinnamon mask once and ever since, I've been terrified to use it! 

3 Outfits That Are Perfect for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I would even go so far as to say that I may prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas (because really, they're part of the same holiday, aren't they? Thanksgiving is Christmas practice) because there isn't the added pressure of gifts. 

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that everyone experiences slightly differently, but overwhelmingly, we all have the same experience. For as long as I can remember, my family dresses up on Thanksgiving. I can't exactly tell you why, but it's expected that we will all wear something nice--not just sweats and t-shirts, that's for sure.

I've always looked forward to picking out my Thanksgiving outfits (and now I probably put more effort into Forrest's); this year, I decided to put together a post of cute, low-effort Thanksgiving outfits that combine trends with tried-and-true comfy-cozy classics. These aren't fancy (so if your family usually goes all out, these aren't the answer), but they are put together. 

1. Classic Cozy

Thanksgiving 1 by wiredphosphenes featuring Hat Attack

If you're used to dressing up a little fancy on Thanksgiving, but want to dial it back for a little more comfort this year (to be fair, after the year that 2017 has been, we all deserve a little more comfort), this is a great option. This sweater dress from Hollister is super cute and would look great paired over tights or leggings (I am imagining it with maroon tights, ala my fashion posts circa 2012!); add some knee high boots or comfy flats, and some simple jewelry and make up. 

2. Trendy Cozy

Thanksgiving 2 by wiredphosphenes featuring long sleeve shirts

If you live in a warmer climate and want to play around with some hot trends, this is the outfit for you. Straight cut corduroy skirts are everywhere right now (I had this exact skirt in 2011, I think) and this one, in a pale, romantic pink, is very cute. Pair with a plain sweatshirt, moccasins, and a dark berry lip for a more Autumnal look. 

3. Relaxed Cozy

Thanksgiving 3 by wiredphosphenes featuring leather combat boots

Listen: you're here to eat turkey. You want to wear your comfiest jeans (these ones are delightfully high-waisted, so no stomach tucking); you want to wear a comfy, warm top (this turtleneck is chic-but-comfy; isn't it funny that turtlenecks are in?); and these boots layered over some warm, cozy socks will be perfect. For make up, a berry lip will help you feel a little fancy, even when you're digging into your 5th dinner roll.