Baked By Melissa Cupcakes + Dior + Other Favorites

 

 

It’s Friday already! I have a few favorites from the week, one of them selfishly being my son’s new school schedule which allows me to NOT RUSH out the door in the morning. While my son certainly needs to be up and out earlier than he is used to for school, the timing of everything allows for me to sleep later and run later. I head outside after he leaves which is a nice change for me because I don’t feel rushed when I wake up. It’s a beautiful thing.

Baked By Melissa

I was always a total cupcake obsessed freak, especially during the cupcake craze that took place a few years ago. While the cupcake trend has certainly died down, I still enjoy a good cupcake even though my favorite Crumbs Bake Shop has closed.

Baked By Melissa is still around though! I always liked Baked By Melissa but it had been forever since I had those cute little cupcakes.

Baked By Melissa has tons of different cupcake flavors and introduces new ones all of the time. Of course I chose the chocolate varieties and I think the triple chocolate fudge was my favorite. Now I need more cupcakes!

Dior Lotion To Foam Cleanser

You know I love a cleanser when I run out of it and need to replace the bottle immediately. Sometimes I can switch my skincare products around and then sometimes I land on a really good one, as I did with Dior’s Lotion to Foam Fresh Cleanser, and I don’t want to mess with a good thing.

It may be a little pricey but trust me, your skin will thank you. There’s just something about this lotion to foam fresh cleanser that cleans my face so mildly yet leaves it looking fresh, radiant, and clear. It only takes like two pumps of product to wash your face which means you don’t use a lot at a time! I haven’t had to replace this cleanser in several months which makes the price a bit more bearable. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a new cleanser for your face.

Onion Strings!

You know I love onion rings and you know I love my salad at The Cheesecake Factory.

Imagine how excited I was when they overloaded my favorite salad with the onion strings the other day! The onion strings are really the start of this salad because they just tie all of the flavors together so nicely.

Apple Crisp

So my recipe for lightened up apple crisp is from two years ago and I mentioned the recipe again the other day but I really want to share it today in case you missed it. It’s such an easy, healthy recipe using apples if you are looking to have a tasty dessert on hand during the week. When I reread the post and recipe again this week, I was actually pretty impressed with myself.

Who even remembers when I used to share recipes?!

If you are in the path of the hurricane, please stay safe! Hopefully it won’t be as bad as they are saying!

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This post may contain affiliate links but all products are used by me by choice and all opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!

Are you in the direct path of the hurricane for this weekend? Did you need to evacuate?

Are you a cupcakes fan? Ever have Baked By Melissa?

Which cleanser do you currently use for your face?

 

 

 

New Clothes, Salads & Baked By Melissa (week in review)

 

What a difference a week makes!

Although there are still some minor Bar Mitzvah details lingering around (like waiting for the pictures from the photographer and coordinating the service video from one videographer to be edited into the party video from the other videographer) I definitely felt more like more like myself over the last several days than I have in a long time.

Even under PMS conditions at the moment, my mind isn’t clouded and busy with planning a huge party which means I can focus more on running rather than feel burdened by everything going on in my life.

Please remember I was planning a Bar Mitzvah as a DIVORCED Mitzvah mom. Planning is tough enough when you are married but being divorced brings the process and the actual Bar Mitzvah weekend to a whole other level. I made it through and could not be happier and more relieved to now be on the other side.

You know I was not in my usual place mentally when I allowed myself to put off purchasing a much-needed pair of running shoes for at least a month, if not longer. In yesterday’s workout recap post, I mentioned that I finally bought a new pair of Saucony Ride’s for my easy runs and recovery runs.

I am definitely excited to wear my new running shoes this morning when I head out for my easy run! They are really comfortable. Even though I have only run in them once so far, I can’t feel any distinct difference between these Saucony Ride 8’s and my previous pair of Saucony Ride 7’s.

In other news from the week:

Friday became an unplanned day off from school for my son. It started out all fine and normal for a Friday until he texted me minutes after I dropped him off at school saying there was problem with the school’s electricity.

I waited a little bit to hear the full situation which involved the school busing the kids over to the high school until the power was restored at the middle school. It was only a matter of time before I decided to give up on having a normal Friday and pick him up for the day.

While I beat most of the crowd of parents who were waiting to hear if the school would reopen (it didn’t) I still waited amongst a large amount of people.

Why couldn’t the power go out when I went to school? I never got a day off for things like this.

The kid got lucky. With the unplanned day off, we went out for salads at Chopt for lunch.

In my salad:

• Romaine & spinach mix
• Quinoa
• Avocado
• Roasted red peppers
• Hearts of palm
• Roasted beets
• Tomatoes
• Charred onions

I always get the lemon tahini on the side with the piece of bread that they serve in the brown paper bag. While I still don’t think Chopt is worth their hefty price, I do enjoy the salads that I order so I am trying to ignore the financial aspect as much as I can.

I also enjoyed my favorite salad from The Cheesecake Factory this weekend.

I found a few cute things (all on sale!) as part of my never-ending missing for new clothes:

These Long Sleeve Modal Crews from Banana Republic. The link is showing the long sleeve top in a powder blue but I bought the white, pale pink and black. I have already worn each shirt which signifies that they are totally worth buying.

I also bought this Banana Republic Quilted Navy Vest. I really like the fit and color BUT then I also bought this Ivory Quilted Vest at J Crew because I wanted a vest that would coordinate when I wear black. I cannot wear black with navy, HUGE pet peeve.

My favorite store lately is Henri Bendel and they brought my love up a notch by offering Baked By Melissa cupcakes for free while you shopped this weekend. I tried the chocolate cupcake which upon first glance I thought would be a peanut butter cup flavor but I think it was actually Kit Kat.

One of the best things I did this weekend was get back into bed after Saturday’s long run. This used to be a crucial part of my long run routine yet I can’t remember the last Saturday when I had the chance to relax like this.

It was wonderful! Although, I had to force myself to get up because resting for too long after a long run can make my legs a bit stiff. 🙂

Unpictured:

We are getting through the thank you cards < – It’s a draining but necessary part of the after party process.

Pizza and salad for dinner Saturday night at La Piazza< – this is becoming a weekend trend.

Cold Stone is still out of cookie dough <- I think it’s time to write a letter to corporate.

Cleaned out the hall closet and donated about ten winter coats that we no longer wear!

Weekly manicure < – Another week, another shade of Essie light pink. I am boring.

I almost forgot that today is Halloween.

Last year on Halloween I got to hang with my son a little bit since we went to the Islanders game during the day.

The truth is, my son no longer finds it cool to trick or treat with me, so all Halloween means for me this year is that I have to be on call to pick him up from his friend’s house.

Oh, and then after I answer the door a few times, I will leave the bucket of candy outside so I don’t have to be deal with the ringing doorbell. Did you know I hate when my doorbell rings?

Linking up with Meg’s Week in Review!

Which candy will you be looking for later today?

Best thing you ate over the weekend?

Have you tried Baked By Melissa Cupcakes before? Which kind is your favorite?