What a Girl Wants…

We all dreamed that one day our Prince would show up to save us, but who are you kidding- FAIRY TALES ARE NOT REAL!

Prince on a Unicorn 

Check out this awesome Etsy Store: Unicorny Magic

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and some of us had to endure the smooshy, whooshy, hearts, and candy everywhere, while others were content to be alone. I, myself am taken, but my co-conspirator on this post, Heather is single and loving it. But, this post is a collaboration for men out there to learn the inner workings of a woman or better yet, just how to get the girl and keep her.

Photo courtesy of tumblr

We decided that February 15th was the best day to post this, the day after Valentine's Day. In this post we will discuss "how to keep the girl" and "how to get the girl".

Why today and not yesterday... here is why:

1. There was a strong chance you spent it alone, if you are single.
2. There was that slight chance you did not meet your significant other's expectations.

Chapter 1: How to Get the Girl by: Heather


Now being the single, 26 year old that I am, I've been asked out in lots of different ways...

Here is my list of ways NOT to ask a girl out:

1. Don't throw a note at her with boxes to check! You know the one: Do you like me, check yes or no.

     a. It's rude to throw stuff at us and run.

     b.  It proves that you're chicken.

2.  Don't have a friend of yours ask her out for you! Whether it's a "wing-girl" or "wing-man".

     a.  It's pretty annoying to have strangers approach us in bars, especially two.

     b. Again, it proves that you're chicken

3.  We live in a Social Media filled world, I get it, but if you see her in person usually, don't use Facebook to stalk her or ask her out.  As endearing and nerdy as it is... if we didn't meet each other in a chat room then don't ask her out in one.

4.  Don't be that guy that stalks her where she works either.   IT'S JUST PLAIN CREEPY!

5.  Don't get sloppy drunk and think about asking her out.  If you have to be drunk, then you probably shouldn't bother asking.

Here is my list of things to do to lead up to asking her out:

1.   Find a way to get to know her... NOT by stalking her! Go on a group outings: a party, a dinner, a movie...

2.  Once you've gotten to know her a bit through conversation: Ask for her number.

 * At this point, it's perfectly acceptable to friend request her on Facebook and remember... Don't go through and like every picture on her page! She sees that! Just pick your favorite and like it.

3. You can now call her and get to know her... and even ask to hang out with her via phone call or text.

Now, at this point you have the opening to ask out on a date.

THINGS TO KNOW:

1.  For a first date, choose something that is going to make you both comfortable.  If you're not comfortable being in a really nice restaurant dressed to the nines, then don't start off with that.  If you're not comfortable then we won't be comfortable.

2. Don't assume that you can kiss her on the first date, some of us don't roll like that and the last thing you want is to be shot down for the first kiss.

3. Do be yourself, if your awkward and nerdy, then be awkward and nerdy... We like it when you are genuinely yourself.

WHAT'S NEXT:

1.  If you guys had chemistry, if she's still talking to you, then enjoy hanging out.  

2. Don't put to much pressure on each other to label things, just continue to treat her like she's the most special girl in your world.

3.  Keep being thoughtful, respectful, and if you can keep us laughing and smiling! We're probably hooked.

4.  Don't let things get routine! Keep up the surprises! Keep that dating feeling!

5.  Communicate.

Chapter 2: How to Keep the Girl by:Charlene

Now that you may have the girl; it is time to look at how to keep her. What gives me the insight, you are asking... Well, I spent about 1/2 of my life running from doomed relationship to doomed relationship. I am 30, now and boy have I learned a lot in the past few years. I took time to discover who I am. I took time to see what I wanted out of a relationship and no longer found myself at this intersection of "Lonesome and Hardup"!

Property of Sassy Trash

My first kiss, my first boyfriend was at 17. Before that, I had other things on my mind. I thought relationships were overrated. I was a free spirit looking to experience life and at that time boys were the last thing on my mind. Looking back, I regret nothing, but there are a few things I would change, if I could.

Side note: I will not name any names of the exes in the next few paragraghs... so all my exes you can breathe easier, your identity is safe. If you do know who or what I am talking about, keep the comments to yourselves! :0)

Today at 30, I like to believe I have found happiness with Joseph. I believe that after all this time he truly makes me happy! So, enough about me let's look at how to keep a girl!

1. Females are a complex creature. You may even think that we speak a different language and you are right, we do.The little things matter the most to us. "That time you stopped the car, when I was staring out the window wanting that shot of the sunset"- that let's me know you were listening. That can mean more to me then a dozen roses sent to my office on Valentine's Day. One is an unexpected gift and the other is an expected gift.

2. We appreciate the small things, but we are woo-ed by the big surprises. Our brains operate on different waves. Whether we admit it or not we are sensitive and every little thing affects us in some form or fashion. I personally am not a materialistic person. I am independent and at times the hardest thing for me is to admit I need help. And you know what guys, a lot of women are like that! Pay attention if your woman seems different or distant in anyway... ask her what is wrong! If she is not ready to talk, just let her know that you are there when she is ready. Also, if she tells you something is wrong, don't take it and make it out that you have a problem, too. Let her have her moment and then, you will get yours. Communication is the key!

3. Guys, open your eyes... how to keep your woman is to make her to fall in love many times, but the kicker is to make sure that it is with you always and forever. I have been in relationships where I could not wait to break free, because the person I fell in love with was no longer the same person. I am not saying that you have to stay the exact same (I mean we are human and we are constantly evolving), but what I am saying do not lose your identity. 

4. Don't get this rule confused with #3. There is a difference and don't go through the rest of this post saying I am contradicting myself! This is very important: Do not change who you are because someone decides that you would be better without "this" quality! When they fell in love with you, they fell in love with ALL of you! 

5. Ok, the biggest thing that is a relationship "ruin-er" is seeing where friends come in and interfere. Guys this may not be a football game, but in life, interference is not a good thing either. I have had 2 relationships that ended because of that, when I first started dating. I have, even, had many friends to come to me and say the same, too. Guys your "bros before hoes" motto, needs to go! Whether your "bro" is a dude or chick... majority of the time, your bro's "beaver damming" is jealousy! True friends will understand why you are spending a little more time with someone that you are attracted to. The craziest thing I ever have heard was where a girl, had to synchronize with her boyfriend friend's girlfriend's schedule to hangout with her boyfriend. ALL I COULD SAY TO THIS IS, WTF? So, now that we understand that hanging with the "boys" is cool, but getting "some" can be a lot cooler! Guys if it is a female friend that it beaver damming you, more than likely she does not like just being your friend... she wants more! Yes, it is true 95% of the time, she has wanted to be with you. and that is why she does not like your current girlfriend or the previous. The other 5% is because she does not want to share being the main female in the spotlight!   

6. Technology is the devil! Put down the gadgets!!! If you have a beautiful girl in the room, give her attention or she may start giving someone else attention! Simply put: play with your toys, but not all the time!

7. Don't forget that you may be "long term", but you have to keep it FRESH! Have date nights, do things like when you first started dating. Be adventurous! Joseph and I, attend concerts and go to music festivals! We probably take more vacations than a normal people in a year.

8. Don't just have "wham bam thank you ma'ams"! Discover your partner and new things every time. Chemistry/ sex is very important! You have to keep it new... DON'T MAKE EXCUSES-- JUST DO IT!  


9. Romance... you do not have to be a total Casanova or Romeo all the time, but every once in awhile is nice. It keeps us on our toes! Pace yourself small: start once a month and then step up your game to twice a month and so on!

10. When I first started dating Joseph, I would race to open my own door and what not, but looking back it was because, I had never known chivalrous behavior from my significant other. So, whether she fights your actions or accepts it... keep it up, she will come around and appreciate it!   

11. Remember relationships are a two way street. If you have given your 110%, but your partner hasn't... it is time to take a step back and reevaluate the situation and vice versa for her! I spent 80% of relationships where I gave 200% and knew I needed to leave, but could not find ways to leave... don't fall victim to feeling stuck! No one is happy in those situations!

12.  And the most important rule... relationships are hard work. If you are not ready to clock in and do work, stay single!

Well, we hope that we have enlightened you. We hope that you take the advice and apply it to your current love interest and get that girl and keep her! 

Good Luck!

Here is a little bonus lesson:

Photo courtesy of Facebook



Are you a Sweet Valentine or a Hearbreakin' Vixen?

It's that special time of the year again, Valentine's Day and whether you have a special someone or not...

You should enjoy it no matter what!!!

My question for you ladies is, " Are you a Sweetheart or a Heartbreakin' Vixen?".

THE SWEETHEART

She has a flawless face with an iconic and timeless eye look.  She'll charm you with every bat of her big eye lashes and her sweet smile.

Skin Prep:

* Start off with a freshly cleansed face.

* Use a toner, preferably alcohol free.  This is going to get the excess oil and dirt that your cleanser has missed.

*I use Thayers Lavender Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner*

* Moisturize!!!  If you have oily skin, use an oil free moisturizer and if you have combination or normal skin use a hydrating moisturizer.  The last thing you want is to have dry, flaky spots with makeup crusted in them.

*I'm using Embryolisse. Lait-Creme Concentre*

SUPPLIES:

Face:

PRIMERS: * You are going to want to prime your face before 

applying your makeup, especially if you

 have oily skin on certain spots on your face, as well as your eyes.

Recommendations

EYES: 1. Benefit Stay Don't Stray

      2. Tarte Clean Slate Creaseless 12-hour Smoothing Eye Primer

3. the Balm Put a Lid on It Eye Primer

FACE: 1. Benefit the POREfessional PRO balm

         2. Tarte Clean Slate Flawless 12-hour Brightening Primer

CONCEALER:  * I like a creamy concealer, preferably in 2 

   colors.  

Why? Because our skin is not just one color and you can use these to contour and highlight your face before you apply your foundation.

Recommendations:

1. Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer: Full coverage, buildable concealers, so pigmented that you could use them instead of foundation.

2. L'OREAL true match Super-Blendable Crayon Concealers: These affordable, easy to use crayons are awesome if you want to do contouring.  I get these in 2 totally different shades; 1 is lighter than my complexion for highlighting and 1 is 3 to 4 shades darker than my skin tone to create a nice contour.

FOUNDATION: * I prefer a nice matte foundation or semi-glow foundation for this look.

Recommendations:

1. Kat Von D Lock It Foundation - It is a full coverage, but buildable, highly pigmented foundation with a matte finish.

2. Nars Sheer Glow Foundation - this is a really nice, lightweight foundation with buildable coverage and it gives a subtle glow.

3. L'OREAL Lumi Foundation - this budget friendly foundation has a light weight feel and provides a healthy glow.

EYES

SHADOWS:  * All you need is a good Matte Neutral palette.

Recommendations:

* Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette

* L'OREAL Wear Infinite 821 Neutrals Quad

LINER:   * You just need a good felt tip liner and a white           liner.

Recommendations:

* Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

* Sephora Nano Eye Pencil in Pure White

MASCARAS:  * Any black mascara will do...the blacker the better.

Recommendations:

* Lancome Hypnose Drama : Instant Full Body Volume Mascara

* Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara

* Maybelline New York : The Falsies Mascara

* Revlon Grow Luscious by Fabulash Mascara

How to:
1. After following the skin care above....it's time to contour and highlight to create a flawless canvas.

(I know that this looks scary and crazy, but it works)

* Use your lightest concealer or cream foundation to highlight the parts of your face that stand out. (Cheeks, Forehead, Nose and Chin and Jaw line)

*Use the darker concealer or cream foundation to contour the parts of your face that you want to appear deeper. (The hollows of your cheeks, your temples, upper forehead and the sides of the nose.)  This step is going to slim your face.

2. Use your actual color foundation to blend out all of the highlights and contouring and you have your flawless face....if you're having issues with under eye circles like I do, use your concealer to even it out.

3.  To add a little oomph to your eye highlights, I like to use NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk....This is going to make the eye highlights pop.

4 & 5. Use the lightest color in your neutral palette all over the lid and use your medium color in your crease to add dimension.

6. Use the deepest brown in your palette and build and blend until you get the wanted effect.

7. Get your felt tip liner or gel liner and create that flick.   Start from the center of the eyelid and taper towards the outer corner, use a thin line from the inner corner to meet your center point and you have a pretty flicked eye liner.

8.  Curl your lashes and use your favorite black mascara.

9. Finish off with a pretty neutral pink lip color and you have the sweetheart look.

THE HEARTBREAKIN' VIXEN

She'll tempt you with her smoldering glare and bold smile, but don't get too close.  She's a Maneater.  

  Follow steps 1-8 above

9. Amp up the contours of your eyes with a Matte Black and build and blend until you get the desired effect.

10. Add some bronzer to the areas that you contoured previously to warm up the face and neck area.

11. Use your favorite Red lip product.  I like to use a lip stain first and then top that with a balm stain and now you're a Vixen.

However you spend you Valentine's Day...
Whether you have a date or not...
Enjoy Yourself

Heather

From Your Car to Your Wall: Recycled License Plate Wall Decor

Ashley here, and lately I've been working on a pretty cool project that's fairly simple that I thought I'd share with you folks before we jump into the crocheting. This post will be about recycling old license plates into pretty cool wall art!

These are four of the plaques that I've made that are displayed at a local shop called Sugar Magnolia's, so if you're local you can go take a closer look.

Before you start, you'll need to gain access to a few things:

1.) Ear plugs or noise cancelling head phones. Ear plugs are cheaper, so keep that in mind.

2.) A band saw (luckily my husband has one of these, so I used his)

3.) Wood to attach your letters to. I used a simple 2x6 piece of white pine. 

4.) A miter saw OR if you purchase your wood from somewhere like Lowes or Home Depot, they can cut your wood to the size you need it. 

5.) A power drill with a small drill bit.

6.) Nails slightly larger than the drill bit size. 

7.) A hammer.

8.) Hanging hardware (sawtooth hangers or eye-hooks)

9.) And of course, license plates! The more the merrier, as you'll want a variety of letters and numbers.

Okay, getting started! 

One of the things I will always stress is proper ear protection when using power tools. Those tools are loud, and there's no project worth going deaf over. Plus, ear plugs help take the "scary" out of your first power tool experience. So get some that are memory foam material, squish them between your fingers, then put them in your ear before they puff back up. Can you hear me? No? Good, we're ready to get started!

 This is the box of license plates I started with. I bought a few from local people, and some were given to me from awesome people. Before you start hacking away at them, I suggest cleaning them or rinsing them off. A dirty plate won't mess up a band saw, but it's easier to clean them before you cut them up. Try to get plates from different states to mix up your look. And focus on vowels when obtaining plates. I noticed that "I"s and "E"s were in short supply after I cut all of mine up. 

 This is Mr. Band Saw. Ours is a little older, so we had to special order the saw blade band. There are many different types of blades, depending on what you plan on cutting, so check your local hardware store to get the right type of blade for cutting metal. Also, if you have a work table/bench, take the time to attach your saw to it. I had to sit on our garage's concrete floor for a few hours, and let me tell you, it's not fun. Plus, it has a tendency to "walk" if it's not attached to something, so I had to keep pulling it back to me.

Our band saw has a button on the front (orange square thing in the bottom left of the picture). You push it once to start the saw, and again to stop it. It's much easier than flipping a switch. Get used to hitting it repeatedly. You'll need to stop occasionally to clean aluminum shavings off the metal skid plate, and it's better to know where that button is quickly to save time. Also, I drew lines on my skid plate so I'd be able to tell if I was feeding the license plate through straight. 

A good rule of thumb my husband told me was, "If you're not using it to push the plate through, tuck it in."

 If you're anything like me, when you first start the saw, you'll be nervous. My best advice is to find the straightest plate you have in your collection and keep a firm amount of pressure on it while you're cutting. Line it up with the lines you may have drawn, and slowly but smoothly push it up to the blade. It might kick a little, but cutting the plates face up eliminates most of this. Don't get discouraged if your cuts aren't perfectly straight, you'll be able to remedy that when you attach them to the wood. If you cut completely through the middle of a letter, obviously you won't be able to use that one, so try not to do that. Of the 30+ plates I cut up, I only lost one number, and it was my first time using a band saw, so it CAN be done! 

 Place a box to your left, and as you cut pieces, toss them into the box. Start with the left end of the plate first, and cut the letters and numbers until you meet the center where there's usually a gap. Then flip the plate around and cut the right side off (the letters and numbers will appear upside down). Toss the center gap into a separate pile, as these will serve as "spaces" if you have multiple words for your plaque.

Okay!!! The hardest part is over! Unless you have a curious cat that constantly wants to be the center of attention *cough, Tweak, cough*! The next step is to spread all the letters and numbers out and organize them into stacks. Maybe you won't have letters and numbers from 30+ plates, so this won't take you too long. If you ended up with a lot of plates from one state you'll start to notice that you have a TON of one or two letters, and are kinda slim on other letters. For me, I had PLENTY of "A"s and "B"s and TWO "I"s... Thankfully this project is forgiving and an upside down "1" can be an "I" and a backwards "3" is suddenly an "E"! But you'll have to get creative. 

 Now that you've laid out your letters, it's time to think of words (if you haven't already). You might want to do your name, or something inspirational to hang over your bathroom mirror or coffee maker. Have fun with it! I almost made one plaque that said "FREE CANDY". I needed the "N" though, so I scratched that. 
After you come up with words, lay out the letters to see how they line up. Luckily, license plate height doesn't really vary from state to state. But at you can see from the picture of the word "BEAUTIFUL" I had to you an "A" that was an "end piece". This isn't a big deal, because you can just place the letter (or number in this case) over it slightly. You'll be nailing these down, so they aren't going to go anywhere, and slight required layering will add dimension.
Next, lay out the letters on the piece of wood you have. Once you have the word arranged on there, draw a line. You will cut along this line. If you want your letters to hang off the edge (for a more "floating" like effect) shift them about two centimeters over to the left, then draw your cut line. Now you can either cut it on a miter saw, or have your husband do it for you. I opted for the latter, because I was completely over loud power tools at that point. Really, any saw would work; table saw, miter saw, circular saw, etc. Whatever you have laying around that can cut a straight line.

Now you've got your plank! Awesome! Almost there! Get your drill out, and drill two holes in each letter/number, one above and one below the actual raised portion. These don't have to be perfectly aligned. If you have a "V", just go to one side on the bottom and in the middle at the top. A helpful hint is to place a  scrap piece of wood under your letter or number, to brace the letter and also keep you from drilling holes in your floor.

Now for my favorite part, the hammer and nails. I think I was a carpenter in a past life; not because I'm good with a hammer, but because I just enjoy hitting something so hard it sends a nail through wood. This is probably the easiest part. First, lay your letters out on the wood, to ensure they line up correctly, and to find where exactly you need to nail your first letter. The first letter placement is key, because if it's off, the whole plaque is off. Place a nail in the pre-drilled hole, and nail it into place. You might bend a few nails or have to pull them out because your letters aren't aligning, so make sure you have plenty. You might also want to add glue to the back of your letter before nailing it in place, just for extra security.  Also, don't fret if you have to pull a couple of letters off after nailing them. I had a tendency to be so worried I wouldn't have enough room at the end for the last letter that I spaced them too close together, had to pull a few to spread them out a little more. It's trial and error with each plaque, but that's part of the fun!

Finally, you'll want to add your hanging hardware. You can go with sawtooth hangers that will require tiny nails (these nails usually come with the hardware) OR you could do two eye-hooks and string a piece of ribbon, string, raffia, or wire through them. It really all depends on YOUR style!

And now all that's left is to sit back and enjoy your handiwork!

Party Time... Mardi Gras King Cake

I love New Orleans. I love the culture, the food, and the atmosphere. Life in New Orleans is so laid back and you can walk the streets with alcohol (Heaven on Earth... haha). Last year, we visited NOLA and I fell in love.

St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

 

Group of musicians in Jackson Square

 Up close of St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

The city is alive with music day in and day out. The streets are immersed with creativity and the architecture and monuments are amazing. 

 Rev. Zombie's Voodoo Shop

Joan of Arc Statue

New Orleans Live Music

The first time, I experienced King Cake was at the French Market, and it was love at first bite! 

So, in honor of Fat Tuesday which is tomorrow, I am going to show you to the best of my ability an easy recipe to kick off your Mardi Gras. We will be making an "easy" version on Mardi Gras King Cake, yum!

King Cake is a delicious dessert, usually in the shape of a ring. The icing are in the traditional Mardi Gras colors. Each color represents a meaning of the Mardi Gras spirit: Purple- Justice, Gold- Power, and Green- Faith.

King cake is such a versatile dessert.The cake itself is a danish like consistency. In a King cake, you can have many different fillings: cream cheese, pecan praline, lemon, stawberry, blueberries, or just a plain Jane with nothing. Today we will do an cinnamon dough with a apple/ cream cheese filling.

This recipe will take approximately 30 min. So, preheat those ovens to 350 F and let the baking fun begin!

Prep Time: 10 mins... give or take

Cook Time: 15-20 mins... depending on your oven 

Total time: 30 mins... to be on the safe side 

Shopping list: 

• 8 oz Cream Cheese 
• 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1/4 cup Applesauce
• 2 cans of crescent rolls 
• 1-1/2 cups Confectioner's Sugar 
• 4 Tablespoons Milk or Cream 
• 1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract 
• Purple Green Food Coloring and Purple, Green, and Yellow Sugar Crystals
• Bundt Cake Pan
• Butter Flavor Pam
• Small Plastic Baby

Prep: We are going to begin this by making our filling. First allow your cream cheese to soften. Make sure that it is at a consistency for easy mixing. Take your cream cheese, applesauce, brown sugar, cinnamon in a bowl. Mix the ingredients until well blended together (almost creamy, spreadalbe texture).

  
 First mixing...                              Almost There!





Take the bundt cake pan and spray it down with your PAM! Your oven should already be preheated to 350 F. 

Here is the fun part! Pop open your crescent rolls. Take and separate the triangles, sprinkle a little bit of cinnamon on the dough. Line the bundt cake pan with the crescent roll triangles. Press the overlapped edges together to make a solid ring. 

Take the yummy filling that you made and spread around the ring. Don't forget the baby! Just randomly place it amongst the filling. Take the dough from the center and fold it toward the outer edge. 

Tuck in the edges and press the edges together... Put it in the oven and bake till golden brown (15-20 mins, give or take). Cool it, to room temperature. 

Making the icing, you will take the confectioner's sugar, vanilla, and milk/ cream (I personally use Almond Milk... I am lactose intolerant), put all into a bowl. Whisk until the texture is smooth. Add more milk/cream if necessary. Now take the icing and divide into 3 separate containers if using food coloring. Add 2 drops of each food coloring to each bowl.

Take the frosting either into a pastry bag or use a spoon to drip over the cake in large stripe sections. Take the sugar crystals and sprinkle over appropriate color. Let it sit for an hour for the icing to firm and serve!

Remember whoever finds the baby, must supply next year's King Cake or throw the next Mardi Gras Party!
Now give me some beads!

-Charlene ;)

Side note: You do not have to make a Cinnamon Apple King Cake. You can replace it with anything. Be creative, be daring... do something out of the norm! Enjoy!

Now You Have Met Us: Upcoming Posts and Ideas

Now that you have met all of us we hope you stick around and follow some of our upcoming projects and I hope that we inspire you to join us on some of our DIY's.

          Squirrely Doodle Ink            Snuggle Bug Apparel                         Meow Ka-Pow                  Sassy Trash Organics & Art 

We have lots planned for 2013. We are going to be doing some wedding planning/crafting for a lucky couple Brittany and Charlie, make-up tutorials and reviews, Ashley is going to take you through the basics of crocheting,  we will have plenty of home improvement projects coming up, as we take on the task of reviving our studio, and we will most definitely be showing our audience some amazing crafts.

Stick around and let us woo you!
And we love feedback!
Comment on the blog post or message us on Facebook, just let us know how we are doing! 

If you have a request or questions send us an email: ReconstructedCuriosities@gmail.com

Next week we have a lot planned for our DIY-ers:

• Valentine's Day Special Blog for the men out there
• Some Local Reviews
• Wedding Crafting
• Recipes
• Unique Wall Hangings 
• Much, much more

But if you are in the Albany area stop by Sugar Magnolia's this weekend for LoVe Is In ThE AiR! 

 
 Come out and see some of our goods and other local artists of the area!