The First Fall Bake: Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

It's the end of September, which means the beginning of fall, and since I am basic af, I wanted to do something with some pumpkin puree. I asked my boyfriend what he would want to eat, and of no surprise to me, he told me snickerdoodles. Off I went to find a recipe.

After running into  couple of recipe road blocks (i.e. cream of tarter and brown sugar), and taking a quick break to go to the store, I finally got to work.

Firstly, let me give a big shout out to My Food Story for supplying my inexperienced baker self the recipe. It's no secret that I am not the most creative in the kitchen, nor the most skilled, and this recipe did everything it needed to for me (meaning, it was easy, not a lot of mess, cheap/using supplies most people already have on-hand, and not too time consuming).

Secondly, my boyfriend is lame, so we omitted the chocolate chips and the peanut butter chips, but there is no doubt in my mind I am going to try them with all of their goodness next time! These ones were still delicious, just not by the book. I am linking the recipe here for your guys' convenience. Please use it!

Now to the cookies.

They were super easy to make, following the same pattern as always: mix the wet ingredients, mix the dry ingredients, then mix them together. You do have to let the dough chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, which I was not expecting, but it worked out because I forgot to preheat my oven to 350 degrees anyway, so I did that and watched some Harry Potter (per usual).

After visiting Godric's Hollow with Harry and Hermione, I decided the cookies were chilled enough, and I went to work rolling them in the cinnamon and sugar that makes a snickerdoodle, a snickerdoodle.

The recipe says to flatten the cookies a bit and to make sure there is a decent amount of room between each cookie for them to span out, so I placed six on a cookie tray, sprinkled some extra sugar on top, and let them bake for about 10 minutes.

I'm honestly not a huge snickerdoodle fan, but these ones were SO GOOD. They were so soft and chewy and the spices were such a nice touch--perfect for fall. I'll definitely be making them again before the season changes.

Let me know if you guys give them a try! I'd love to see some pictures of them, so tag me on Instagram @jojomariaaa if you do make them. And of course, comment below what your favorite fall baking recipes are.

xxx

How I Decided to Stop Caring

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

I allow everything to weigh on me. I have a difficult time realizing that I am not, in fact, the foundation holding everything together, but rather just a piece of the puzzle, and if I was lost, the picture would still be clear. It took me a while to come to this conclusion, and I still struggle with it daily. But I had to stop. I was allowing my jobs and my school work and everything that should have only been an aspect of my life to completely swallow it and take it over. And I stopped doing what I needed to do for me.

Thankfully, a few months ago I kind of realized that enough was enough. It was hard, and I don't really know how I did it, but my quality of life is 10 times better now, and I want to share it with all of you! I'll do my best to list out three ways of how I decided to say f it and start enjoying myself more, but I can't promise they'll be the most clear. I hope you get something out of it nonetheless.

1. Go after what you want, and if you don't get it, don't settle. This one is a hard one to carry out considering you have to take into account how far you can really go. Don't quit your job if you have bills to pay; I'm not telling you to be spontaneous. I'm just saying, if you are unhappy in any aspect of your life, try to fix it. There's almost always a way out, and living a low-quality life because of comfort isn't necessary. You aren't stuck, be it a job, school, a friendship, or a routine.
2. Being responsible doesn't mean missing out on everything. I still struggle with this one, but don't let the cons always out way the pros. Sometimes "because I want to" is a good enough reason to do something. Buy the thing, take the day off, go on the trip. Whatever you have to do can most likely wait. And if one thing can't, that doesn't mean nothing can.
3. Remember that you come first. You aren't here to please everyone. It's impossible. You're going to disappoint and you're going to let people down. Just don't let that person be you.

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Do what makes you happy. It's a cliche for a reason; you should listen to it and take it to heart.

What ways do you make your days more worthwhile? Let me know in the comments!

xxx

What I Got During the Sephora VIB Sale!

You may or may not be aware that Sephora recently had their VIB sale, where, as a VIB Rouge member (oops), you get 20 percent off (you get 10 percent for Insider, I believe). Well, I got a little excited for my 20 percent discount at that pricey little makeup store and got myself some goodies that I want to share you with you guys!

I got some essentials and some frivolous items, but it was a sale--what do you expect? Most of the items are well-known and loved, but besides the foundation, they're new to me, and I am excited! I've had the items for about a week and have put them all to the test, so I've got a bit of  first impression for every items for you guys, as well. Without further ado, here's what I got this past week from Sephora:

Becca Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation in the shade Light, $44

This is my Holy Grail foundation and I've talked about it before, so see my Top Four Favorite Makeup Items post about why I love it so much.

Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronze Coconut Perfect Tan in the shade Tan-Tastic!, $49

I've only heard good things about this bronzer, and after using it for a few days, I can definitely see why. It's a light color, not really a bronzer you can use to contour, but more to add some color to your face in a natural way. The pan size is huge and the mirror is beautiful and so nice to have around when you're trying to get up close for something! Not to mention, the bronzer has that signature coconut collection summery smell. I'm about it.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, $62

I have wanted this palette for so freaking long. I love, love, love Hourglass. Their formulas are always so nice and their powders never seem to sit on my skin weirdly. And for someone who loves a good glow, they're my go-to. This palette adds a fresh, subtle glow to your face without being overwhelming or too pigmented. It's just the right amount. So far, I'm in love, and I think this is going to be so perfect for my winter makeup looks.

Hourglass Caution Extreme Lash Mascara in Ultra Black, $29

Samantha Ravndahl raved about this mascara, so naturally, I had to try it out. It claims it doesn't transfer, and so far, I haven't noticed any transfer. It is a little difficult to get off at night, but hey, beggars can't be choosers. It's a beautiful black, though, and it doesn't clump. So far, my non-existent lashes are a little more noticeable, and I'm a fan, I think. Also, it's worth mentioning that this mascara feels expensive. Like, it's heavy, and I'm in love with it's packaging, so add 10 points for that.

Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer in the shade Porcelain, $29

My friend told me this concealer is being compared to Tarte Shape Tape, so I figured I'd give it a go. I'm never crazy about concealers, and I accidentally got this one a little darker than I wanted (it's for my under eyes and should have been a shade lighter), but it blends like a dream and has a nice full-yet-natural coverage. I also haven't noticed any creasing, so I'm pleased so far!

Youth to the People Superfood Antioxidant Cleanser, $36

I'm always one the lookout for a new cleanser because I think skincare is so, so important, and when I saw this one, I had to try it! Ugh it's so beautiful and its packaging is sophisticated yet simple: aka everything I want in life. The cleanser itself has a subtle smell and is gentle, but it works into a lather nicely, leaves my skin feeling refreshed and clean, and not too stripped of anything. Hopefully nothing changes. I've been using it once a day after I remove my makeup and before bed.

Let me know if you guys try any of these products or what you bought during the sale! I'm always looking to try new makeup!

xxx

My All-Time Favorite Lyrics

Photo taken by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

(My beautiful and creative friend Donita suggested this one, and I instantly wanted to post it, even though I doubt most of you will want to read it. I hope you enjoy it anyway.)

Music has always been my saving grace (original, I know). But it has. When I was going through family stuff growing up, it was my main solace; I didn't feel like I could voice my feelings to anyone else, but I could always relate to a lyric in a song.

Sociologically, that's kind of what music is for. Most bands write for their audiences, and even if it's only a part of the reason they're writing said lyric, it's still a reason. And maybe that takes the magic out of it, but maybe it doesn't. When I relate to a lyric, I am extremely aware that I am projecting my personal feelings onto it. And I've always enjoyed that. I like to know that lyrics can take on so many different meanings; they can be whatever you want them to be, whatever you need them to be, and that should be something to celebrate.

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

The lyrics I love are pretty cliche, I'm the first to admit, but I am forever a cynical and angsty teen, reciting The Catcher In the Rye over and over in my head and reading into conspiracies, so sue me. These are for me. Maybe you'll make them for you. Please do.

"I'm trying to find truth in words, in rhymes, in notes, in all the things I wish I'd wrote."

-The Format, "I'm Ready I Am"

I think this quote embodies what I wrote above. I want to be introspective and I want to place meaning and personal truths in things that don't belong to me. This lyric (from my favorite band) pops into my head a lot and it really calms me down when I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Don't ask me why.

"We don't all need a home, but just a place to sleep."

-Mayday Parade, "Ocean and Atlantic"

This one is corny and I know it, but when we moved a lot when I was younger, this lyric helped me feel grounded. I never felt like I had a home, and the home I did have was in Connecticut and only accessible for me for a few weeks or months over the summer. Mayday, this song, and this lyric specifically made me feel like I wasn't the exception but the rule when it came to not feeling like home was a place I went everyday.

Photo by the beautiful and talented Sarah Nowak of Themindfulmuncher

"When the leaves start to turn there is so much to learn from the freeway."

-Sherwood, "The Town That You Live In"

I love long car rides. I like the views and the quiet and the hours of being trapped in my own head. Thus, I like this quote.

"So read your books, but stay out late some nights."
-Jack's Mannequin, "Bruised"
I like this one for exactly what it is. Sometimes it's difficult to remember that you don't have to be all or nothing. Balance is key.

"If I find my way through the darkest of days, will I laugh about the things that kept me awake?"

Daphne Loves Derby, "Cue the Sun!"

Take this one at face value. You'll make it through, and when you do, everything weighing you down won't seem as heavy or as important, and you'll try to remember why it felt like that in the first place.

These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, and I think they're a good little start. Maybe if you guys like this post, I'll do an updated or a part two. 

I honest to God want to know your guys' favorite lyrics, so please comment them below!

xxx