Good morning everyone!
I woke up to 42 degrees and rain this morning – aka my morning Mom walk was a no-go. Dang! I feel like I really could have used it today, too. I know I’m going to have a crazy day and won’t be able to get out for a walk during lunch, so on days like this it’s nice to know that I already have a little exercise under my belt. Oh well, it is what it is I guess!
That reminds me of an article my Mom just told me about – according to the Marist Institute of Public Opinion, the most annoying phrases, as voted by Americans are:
- Whatever
- You know
- It is what it is
- At the end of the day
- Anyways
Darn…I feel like I use those phrases a lot!! They say a lot without saying a lot, know what I mean? Oh well. At the end of the day, it’s my opinion that counts, you know? Whatever, anyways…
Perhaps you caught my little hint yesterday about a dish that can be made with leftover mashed sweet potatoes? Today I gave it a shot – a Sweet Potato Breakfast Cookie!
Oh yes, I used the other half of my mashed sweet potatoes from Monday night to create the biggest breakfast cookie yet!
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup pre-made mashed sweet potatoes
- 1 Tablespoon sugar-free maple syrup
- dash of cinnamon
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons skim milk
- 2 chopped, dried figs
This was definitely thicker and not as silky smooth as some of my other breakfast cookies, but overall it was a great way to use up leftovers. 
Loooove, love, love those dried figs. Their texture and flavor are so unique and delish!
For lunch, I’ve packed a Striped Taco Salad.
We’ve got carrots, spiced black beans and tomatoes.
My dressing is a couple spoonfuls of salsa, several shakes of green tabasco sauce, and a squeeze of some light ranch dressing. This combo is awesome!! Have you ever tried a little ranch mixed in with salsa for a dressing? It’s really, really good!
In other news, I had to switch to my “winter” color of foundation yesterday…nooo! It’s pale skin city up in here. Population: 1. Me.
What kind of makeup, if any, do you use?
I am all over the board, brand wise, when it comes to my makeup:
- Concealer: Mary Kay
- Foundation: Prescriptives
- Bronzer: Physicians Formula
- Blush: Clinique
- Eyeliner: Maybelline (unfortunately, I wasn’t born with it
) - Mascara: Cover Girl
I always feel like stuff that is close to my skin – foundation, concealer, etc. should be of a little higher quality than your average, drug store brand. They’re probably all made with the exact same ingredients and I’m getting totally ripped off, but that’s just me. You know?
Have a great day everyone!
~~~~~
Today’s Three Question Thursday comes with an open invitation to everyone who has never commented before, or hasn’t in awhile, to “de-lurk!” We’d love to hear from you!
1. What color are your eyes?
2. Are you a morning or night person?
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne?
My answers:
1. Oh my, it depends on the day, I swear they constantly change! I think they’re greenish-hazel. Ben’s got the baby blues – in case you were wondering 
2. Morning person! My ideal work schedule would be 5am-2pm. I get SO much more accomplished in the mornings!
3. I’m allergic to most perfumes, but body splash is A-ok. I use Bath & Body Works’ Black Raspberry Vanilla body splash…which according to the website, they don’t make anymore – only body mist?!
Your lunch looks so good!!! I need to start taking the time to put better lunches together.
1: I have big brown eyes
2. Morning person! I wake up at least an hour before I need to so I can watch the news and get all my house work done lol.
3. I wear perfume but not all the time. I’m in love with Armani Code!
1: My eyes are hazel and they change too! Usually they are brownish green but sometimes they are blue.
2: Night person!
3: I were perfume most days. I really love Angel and Marc Jacobs.
1. Hazel, but they drastically change based on what i’m wearing. Today they’re very green. Yesterday they were brown.
2. Neither! I’m at my best mid-day
3. Not usually. Many of my students are allergic, so i just stick with deodorant
1.) Hazel
2.) Morning
3.) Chanel No. 5
I haven’t talked to you since my daughter drove from IA to Tx by herself….thought I’d better stop lurking and chime in, as you requested.
l. Blue
2. Morning, comes from years of getting up at 4:30 to commute an hour one way into Fort Worth. Now I only drive 7 minutes to work!!
3. Neither, just VA VA Vanilla lotion from Ulta…do they have those in IA?
1) Blue
2) Depends on the day. I love to sleep in. But My 5 month old daughter does not!
3)Paris Hilton
P.S. Your salad looks delish! The cooke scares me a little lol
Everyone Have a great superproductive day!
1. My eyes are a light brown-they have a lot of red in them.
2. Definitely a morning person. I love being able to get into work around 7–I get a lot done that way (including blog reading!)
3. I don’t where any scents. For some reason they don’t seem to really stay with me so I just don’t bother.
That cookie looks like a PB no bake! Very nice
I am 100% in love with BareMinerals make up. The only makeup in bag with out the I.D. bare minerals name on it is my mascara!
1)Blue, so now you know both my parents have blue eyes
2)Can I be an afternoon person?? I love sleeping in, and I love going to be early. Hmmm, so maybe that means I am a SLEEP person??
3)I have an arsenal of 6-9 perfumes at any given time. I choose my scent o’ the day depending on my outfit/the weather/my mood! But my current FAVE is Prada Tendre. B&Bw Black Rasp Vanilla is sooooo yummy, I have the room spray of it!
1. Hazel
2. I am morning person, but I don’t neccessarily bound out of bed every morning. I definitely have more energy in the morning that at night.
2. I have Angel perfume but where it maybe twice a year? Sometimes I use body splash from Bath & Bodyworks, but not very often.
Kristin, your blog is AWESOME!! I’ve been a dedicated reader for a few months now, but I guess I’m a “lurker” who hasn’t commented before! First time for everything though, haha! I love the recipes, fitness advice, and overall positive attitude that I can always find here, so thank you!!
1. Greenish-Hazel, with a ring of gold around my pupil. My mom has the exact same eyes, and so does her dad. They change shades of green and grey with what I’m wearing, but the gold ring always stays the same, and they never really get blue-ish.
2. MORNING!! I love my coffee as soon as my eyes open, but at night I’m looking longingly at my bed by 10!
3. Hmm…I too have an arsenal of gifted perfumes, but the only 2 I’ve ever re-bought for myself because I love them so much are Burberry Brit and Chanel Chance.
1. Baby blues club too!
2. Historically, I’m a night person. I can be a bit grouchy in the morning. BUT, I am working on being more of a pleasant morning person. My roommates can be the judge…:)
3. I wear it on special occasions but I own a ton mainly b/c I love the bottles they come in! My favorites are: Ralph Lauren – HOT, and something by Betsey Johnson. The name is escaping me..sorry.
Loving the creative breakfast cookie with leftovers! I’m still working on perfecting the bfast cookie–i haven’t quite mastered it yet!
I love Bare Essentials mineral makeup. It has cleared up my skin + makes it glow, isn’t heavy, and is natural so I feel better about working out while wearing it!
3 Question Thursday:
1. Brown
2. Morning person definitely, I’d rather go to bed at 10 and be up at 6 to get a start on the day!
3. Perfume–love Ralph Lauren Romance
Have a great day!
Did you like it better than a pumpkin breakfast cookie?
I honestly rarely use makeup, but when I do, it’s covergirl eyeliner/mascara. And I think lancome face makeup.
1. Brown! Or hazel. There’s splecks of green/gold in there.
2. Hmm…well I like to stay up kind of late (12-1ish) and sleep in. But I get nothing done at night. And I like to get up early to run sometimes. So….neither?? lol
3. If I’m going out I’ll spritz on a little somethin’ somethin’
Brown eyes
I’m a nap person, I can get up early; but man I love my naps!
I am in love with the Donna Karen perfumes in her Delicious line – Delicious, Red Delicious, Night Delicious and Fresh ( I think that’s the name) – they have an appley, flowery, fresh clean scent. Night is a little more sexy musk smell with the same fruit/ flower under currents.
I am in love with the Powder foundations! I love the way they go on and cover without the mess.
Hi Kristin!
I’ve only commented a couple of times but I check-in with you daily!
1. I have blue eyes which I love because the are the same color as my grandpa’s and my sweet Godson’s (nephew). I love little family simularities!
2. I’m most definitely a morning person! Even in college I would get up at 4am to study for a midterm rather than push through the late night cramming.
3. I alternate between Ed Hardy perfume and Nina. I almost always wear some scent.
Your breakfast cookie looks good!
My eyes are green.
I’m totally a night person. As I’m getting older I’m becoming a little bit more of a morning person.
I stick with body splash. Right now I’ve got Victorias Secret Vanilla Lace.
ohhh cover girl mascara is the BEST! that’s what i use too – it makes my puny lashes mah-ve-lous!
my eyes: poop brown (according to a little kid my mom used to do daycare for)
depends on the day: sometimes i am uber-productive in the morning while sometimes i hit my stride at night.
burberry london. the best!
since you called out the lurkers thought I should finally leave a comment! I’m totally clinique brand loyal for my make-up and skin-care routine.
1) blue eyes
2) definitly a morning person, I love my early nights!
3) i wear Marc Jacobs perfume or Pomegranate Noir body lotion by Jo Malone. Not sure if this is something that we just have over in he UK.
Love the blog and i’ll be sure to comment more often now you’ve outed us!
Hahaha, thanks for making me laugh this morning with your “unfortunately I wasn’t born with it”. Haha!
I have brown eyes and I’m NORMALLY a morning person but this week I seem to be having a heck of a time getting out of bed!!
Girl, some drug store brands are the best!
1) green eyes!
2) morning person – SO EFFECTIVE
3) I switch it up – but Michael by Michael Kors is the best.
Note on BBW black raspberry vanilla – Luckily for me, I work there once a week just for the discount. Body splash and mist are the same formula. ALSO- our semi-annual sale is coming in January. Stock up! The stuff goes on sale for $4!
Congrats on your Foodbuzz nomination! I would love to see you have your own food network show! What a cool nomination! way to go girl!
Yum, yum! Love the breakfast cookie. I like your posting of make-up brands. I agree with paying more for foundations but right now I’m searching for a new brand to use.
1. I have brown eyes but almond-shaped and love them (thank you Persian roots)! I think they’re my best feature.
2. Morning person by far. I turn into a pumpkin around 10 or 11 PM.
3. If I remember I spritz Curve or Clnique Happy perfume.
Love how your bfast cookies turn out, they’re so thick and appetizing!
1) Green eyes!
2) I’m a morning person – I get up at 5 most days. But I prefer to work out at night before bed….strange.
3) My two favorite perfumes are Ralph Lauren Blue and Body by Victoria’s Secret. I break out in a rash when I use them but only on my neck…I can spray it elsewhere though. I’m a perume addict.
Love how your bfast cookies turn out, they’re so thick and appetizing!
1) Green eyes!
2) I’m a morning person – I get up at 5 most days. But I prefer to work out at night before bed….strange.
3) My two favorite perfumes are Ralph Lauren Blue and Body by Victoria’s Secret. I break out in a rash when I use them but only on my neck…I can spray it elsewhere though. I’m a perfume addict.
brown eyes
morning person
laura mercier almond coconut
1. Eyes: Dark brown. My husband’s eyes are like yours: masquerading sometimes as blue, green or blue gray.
2. Are you a morning or night person? Night person! I could stay up until 1 am every night and get so much more done … if only I could sleep in until that time.
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne? I love perfume, but usually I’m in too much of a rush to get out of the door in the morning to put any on. I really like DKNY’s fresh blossom scent.
I wear cheap cover girl mascara and really pricey clinique foundation, powder and coverup. I’m all over the board too – I love sephora and buy whatever strikes my fancy!
1) Hazel
2) Used to be night, I am not a total morning person as I wake up on the week days and weekends at 7am!
3) I do not like perfume too much, I typically wear scented lotions.
=) Laura @ Finding A Healthy Balance…..after a 100+ POUND weight loss!
1. What color are your eyes? ocean blue!
2. Are you a morning or night person? absolutely morning!
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne? yep — ck into you!
yummm! that breakfast cookie looks amaaazing!!
1. baby blues!
2. morning, fo reals.
3. perfume. I am addicted. I have about 10 bottles (no joke)
I love Paris Hilton’s first one, Vera Wang Princess, and YSL. <3
So busted! I am one of your delurkers… I don’t know how I found your blog but I’ve been addicted ever since I came across it. LOVE your recipes and have been using quite a few so THANKS!
My answers:
1.) blue eyes — sometimes grey (with pupils so large I don’t qualify for lasik surgery because they don’t make a laser big enough for my pupils!);
2.) Definitely morning person — if I don’t work out at 5:30am, I won’t do it at all that day;
3.) I’ve been loyal to Chanel Allure for 10 years and counting.
Have a great day!
Oh no!! No more Black Raspberry Vanilla??
That was my fav & I just ran out!!
1. What color are your eyes? Brown
2. Are you a morning or night person? morning person – all the way
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne? I don’t wear a lot of perfume. I prefer the body sprays.
1. What color are your eyes?Change from brown to green
2. Are you a morning or night person?Definately morning!
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne?
sometimes on special occasions, but mostly scented lotions
Love this blog – I’m from Iowa too but living in Chicago…used to live in LA…love to travel as well!
1) Green
2) Night
3) Perfume
Also, some great makeup tips I have found:
Foundation: I used to use perscriptives and although it rocks, I found something even better – Giorgio Armoni (Luminous Silk Foundation)- yes, and it’s not that expensive – comparable to prescriptives – here’s a link, you will never use another foundation! http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/_us/_en/makeup/face/foundation-primer.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Cosmetics_Face&utm_content=Foundation&utm_term=armani%20foundation&cm_mmc=MorpheusSearch-_-google-_-Cosmetics_Face-_-armani%20foundation&gclid=CND7jOKwv50CFRYhDQodADnehw
YUM! Your breakfast cookie looks amazing! Why haven’t I made one of these yet!?
i was feeling the same way since i havent been in the sun since our cruise, so i tried the neutrogena gradual tan (i’m scared of these things dying me orange haha) and it was AWESOME! i have a nice hint of summer tint and no splotchy/orange/oompa loompa-ness in site
raining and cold here too, which better go away for the weekend!
1. What color are your eyes? Brown
2. Are you a morning or night person? Morning! I can’t sleep in!
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne? Body spray, sometimes. Purfume once in a while. I feel like it doesn’t smell nice on me, no matter what scent I get.
1. Blue
2. I’m both, but I love mornings the most.
3. I use Heavenly by Victoria Secret for perfume & Exotic Coconut body splash by Bath & Body Works. I also wear Coconut Sugar by V.S too. I’m crazy for Coconuts!!!
1. Blue eyes with a hint of green
2. morning person!
3. I like body sprays – love Victoria’s Secret Secret Crush or Love Spell
As for makeup, I like things that are fairly basic/easy on the skin and tend to spend a bit more for things that are close to my skin as well. Most of my Makeup is Mary Kay because I used to sell it and I believe it’s a good product. Here’s my rundown:
Moisturizer: Aveeno
Eye cream: Mary Kay
Foundation powder: Origins
Eyeliner: Mary Kay
Eyeshadow: MK, Origins
Bronzer: Cargo
Mascara: MK, Body Shop
Kristin, omg! Pumpkin pie oatmeal was beyond amzingly good this a.m.!! And so super simple, too. I topped mine with some chopped microwaved cinnamon apple, plain greek yogurt and raw almond butter. So so good…excited to have the other half tomorrow
BTW
1. Brown
2. No question, morning
3. No perfume. The smell kinda makes me nauseous ever since my pregnancies.
1. Blue eyes
2. I’m becoming more of an early riser, but I’m still post productive and cheerful in the evenings
3. I don’t wear perfume daily, but I like Escada Ocean for special occasions.
1. What color are your eyes? very very blue (people think they are contacts LOL)
2. Are you a morning or night person? i agree with your preferred schedule! I work out at 5 am b/c thats the time i am most motivated (crazy i know)
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne? i wear CKIN2U. smells fab!!!
Taco salad… yumm….
My hubby can’t stand the phrase “back in the day…” when spoken by someone younger than him. It cracks me up.
I use mostly Mary Kay (a friend sells it). I buy the cheap Cover Girl mascara, though, b/c I don’t use it often enough before I have to throw it away.
1. Brown eyed girl here!
2. I am more of a morning person than night, but it’s not easy getting out of bed some days.
3. No perfume for me – I get headaches from it.
I CANNOT STAND “it is what it is”!
1. brown. with yellow-y spots.
2. morning.
3. I like to use essential oils, but I also love my Narciso Rodriguez for her. and sometimes I even wear a man scent- Kenzo Power.
I wanted to comment to de-lurk myself and also to admit that I just had a honeycrisp apple for the very first time! I’ve always been a golden delicious girl, but wow–so good!
1. What color are your eyes? Blue like the calm before a storm
2. Are you a morning or night person? Night. I hate getting up but I can usually stay up until 1 no problem if needed.
3. Do you wear perfume or cologne? no. Only on special occassions I wear Happy or J’adore.
1) Blue!
2) I much prefer to be an “early to bed, early to rise” type of person, but being that I’m in college it doesn’t always work out that way!
3) Depends – currently, B&B Works Japanese Cherry Blossom spray.
As for my makeup rundown… I’ve actually recently switched things up from where they were at for a loooong time. I always wore liquid foundation and loose powder (Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation, Cover Girl Powder), but finally decided to simplify things a bit and speed up my morning routine. So…
Concealer: Neutrogena or Mary Kay (the best!)
Foundation/Powder: CG Simply Powder – ended up liking this a lot more than I expected! It’s soft, smooth, light, and, paired with concealer, the coverage is great!
Bronzer: Neutrogena Mineral Sheers
Blush: CG
Eyeliner: CG
Mascara: Currently CG, although I have never been able to find an absolute favorite!
1. Clearly green, but my mother SWEARS that they’re blue. They havent been blue since I was a baby! Haha.
2. Night person. I HATE waking up early… hence why I dont have any classes til 12:45 on any given day, but I’ll admit, I start falling asleep around my 5pm class. and I do wish I could get done earlier.
3. Yes! I love having multiple perfumes to have a selection. Currently Burberry Brit, Viva Hollywood (Michael Kors), With Love, and Halle by Halle Berry
1. Light brown.
2. Morning. Although I don’t like to get up and go to work, but who does?
3. No perfume.
Geez, my answers are boring!!
1. My eyes are greenish-hazelish like yours too I guess. It’s hard to tell what color they are!
2. I can be grumpy sometimes in the morning, but on the other hand, I love to work out in the AM and and hate sleeping in later than 9.
3. I usually don’t wear perfume because I worry that it would clash with whatever hand lotion I wear…does anyone else have this problem? If I do wear perfume, though, it’s “Armani Mania”(the eau de toilette).
1. Super dark brown
2. Night. Late Night. So late it’s partially morning.
3. Clinique Happy (or Happy Heart), or DKNY Be Delicious (or Red Delicious)
Kristin~ I make soap with a dead on fragrance oil dupe of B&BW Black Raspberry Vanilla! It’s a classic!
I’m a bit of a Clinique junkie but my must haves are their powder, stick cream eye shadows and lip gloss.
Oops, I hate to double post but couldn’t figure how to edit or delete my original.
But! I had to add that Jouer makeup (“to play” in French) is amazing! Expensive but worth it. And all the separate pieces click together to make an easy, personalized to-go palette! I think it’s only online, not in stores.