Friday Favorites: Top 5 Fall Nail Polish Colors

This season is my absolute favorite.  The smells, the food, the weather, and the colors changing - not just the leaves, but your nail polish colors too!  Now that Fall is here, that means deep, rich, autumn tones, compared to bright summer polishes.  Stop your search for the perfect fall polish - because I found them for you.  Here are 5 colors that you can wear this season.

Burgundy is a great color for fall and can really accent any outfit.  This Confetti color (found at your local CVS for about $2) is a mix of a dark burgundy and deep brown - Masquerade Ball.

 Switching from pale summer colors to a pale fall polish color is easy!  This 'Smoky Brown' from Eyes, Lips, Face - ELF Cosmetics - is the perfect transition from a light summery color to a light fall color.  It is the ideal neutral tone for fall.

 Want that POP of color? You can never go wrong with Red.  Bright red, deep red, ruby red - any red is great.  My favorite part of red, is that you can wear it for any season.  But, this Sangria color is my favorite from Forever21.

Talking about red, this color Red Wine by NYX is great for any skin tone, and any person.  This is the most out of all the colors (besides black) that I wear.  It is such a deep red, and to me, wearing a very dark color is chic and clean looking.  

Clay by Spiritual is the pumpkin orange that makes everyone happy.  You may think that orange is not for you - don't worry you are not alone, I thought the same.  But, this burnt orange color is a great addition to any nail polish collection.

What are your favorite fall polishes?

DIY: Fall Chalkboard Decor

This girl right here is a crafter on a budget.  Instead of buying all the supplies to make a chalk board - like a tray or wood, tape, brushes, chalkboard paint, etc (which add up quickly) Michaels has these adorable already made framed chalkboards.

When it comes to decorating, I always want it to feel homey and simple.  So when I saw all these Fall  chalkboards on Pinterest, I knew that I had to try it out for myself.  This DIY is very easy, and the perfect touch to any home.

What you need:

• Michaels chalk pens 
• Chalkboard
• Imagination - fall words: pumpkins, lattes, sweater weather, autumn, apples, etc.

Instructions:

1. Clean your chalkboard - just take a wet paper towel and wipe down.
2. Think about what you want on your chalkboard, and draw it out first.  
3. Using your chalk pen write out the fall-tastic wording, and leave spaces for little leaves, pumpkins and swirls.
4. Add your little art pieces in the spaces.
5. Let dry, and hang. Use rope or burlap to use to hang.

The great thing about this DIY is that you can erase it if you don't like it, you can put new things on for new seasons, or if you have a dinner party - you can put the menu on it!

Happy Crafting!

Snack Attack: Chocolate Chip Raspberries

Looking for a snack, your tempted to eat that chocolate bar, and you know you shouldn't - but you want that chocolate fix.

For a quick and easy, healthy snack - with your little chocolate fix, try this simple idea.

THREE EASY STEPS -

1) Get fresh raspberries
2) Get chocolate chips
3) Stuff one chocolate chip in however many raspberries you want for you snack.

AND YOUR DELICIOUS SNACK IS DONE!  (and you still get your chocolate fix).

These are absolutely amazing and its the perfect amount of sweetness.

Enjoy,

Cutest Halloween Phone Background

I was scrolling (probably through Pinterest) and I found this adorable Halloween background for my phone. 

I knew that I had to share with you guys. Save it in your images, download it to your computer. It's adorable. 

Enjoy! Happy October. 

Chopped Greek Salad

Moving at a young age can be different for everyone.  For me, I thought I was leaving my whole world behind - my friends, the home I grew up in, my school.
But then, I joined a soccer team, and met some wonderful people that became great friends, and one of those people, Aries, became my best friend.

She is kind-hearted, beautiful, and - Greek!  Almost every weekend we would hangout, sing at the top of our lungs, and her parents would make the most delicious dinners.  Remembering one dinner in particular, inspired me for this recipe.  They made the BEST Greek salad.

So this post is in honor of my friend Aries, and her wonderful parents.

I got together what I remembered for the salad itself - lettuce, feta cheese, olives, etc.
But, then I remembered I had no idea how to make a home-made dressing!  I did NOT want to use store-bought.

For some reason I thought of my Mom and how she always cut out recipes from magazines and kept them in her recipe box, and I just had the urge to go through it. And guess what, guys?  I found a greek dressing recipe in there from 1997.  It is super simple - some red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt/pepper, garlic powder, and dill/oregano.  I switched it up a little, but not much, so it will be my version below.

Let's discover the culinary happiness.

Food, in the end, in our own tradition, is something holy.  It's not about nutrients and calories.  It's about sharing.  It's about honesty.  It's about identity.

- Louise Fresco

OOEY GOOEY FUDGEY LOVEY HOMEMADE BROWNIES

I think my favorite thing about having Adam as my hubs, is the fact that I can make anything and he will eat it - ALL OF IT.  So, on the bright side, in my fitness journey, I won't feel as bad, because Adam eats most of it, before I get a chance to.  This is not a healthy post, guys.  I repeat -

THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY POST - BUT IT IS OH SO GOOD, IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.

I was inspired by today's blog post, because Adam is sick...sad face, I know.  But, when he is feeling really sick, I know that what makes him happy - my baking.  So, in honor of my Granny, I tried to remember her brownie recipe that she had in her cookbook, oh so long ago, when I would spend my summers at my grandparents house in Maine, with my foot stool, on my tip-toes, hovered over her mixing bowl, so intrigued by the magic she was concocting.

Grab your apron, slap a little flour on your ass or have your lover do it for you (wink wink), and lets get down to baking.

OOEY GOOEY FUDGEY LOVEY HOMEMADE BROWNIES

Ingredients:

           

            Brownies –

-       2 sticks unsalted butter

-       8 ounces, semi-sweet chocolate (2 boxes Bakers Chocolate) – chop it up

-       1 ¼ cup all purpose flour – sifted

-       2 Tbls unsweetened cocoa powder – sifted

-       1 tsp salt

-       2 cups sugar, divided

-       2 Tbls brown sugar

-       1 tsp vanilla

-       4 large eggs – room temperature

-       Chocolate chips - optional

            Chocolate Frosting –

-       3 cups powdered sugar

-       ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa

-       ¼ cup unsalted butter – room temperature

-       ¼ cup milk – room temperature

-       ½ tsp vanilla

Directions:

1)   Melt the butter and chocolate together in your double boiler, medium heat. (Or a pot with water in it with a stove proof bowl on top) Make sure that the water does not touch the bottom.  I did one stick of butter with one box of chocolate. Set aside for about 10 minutes.

2)   Line your pan (I used a 9x9) with aluminum foil – covering all sides.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

3)   In a medium bowl, add the sifted flour, cocoa powder, and salt.  This makes for a fluffier batter.

4)   Whisk 1 cup of the sugar, and vanilla into the chocolate/butter mixture until the sugar is dissolved. (About 30-45 seconds)

5)   In another bowl, add your remaining sugar, and the 4 room temperature eggs, use an electric mixer to blend together. 

6)   Pour half of the egg mixture into the chocolate/butter mixture and whisk constantly.  When whisking constantly – this prevents the eggs from setting because of the heat. (Basically, this means it turning into scrambled eggs)

7)   Back to your bowl of the other half of the egg mixture – whip on high for about 3 minutes, until it is thick, doubled in volume and pale. (See in photos)

8)   Pour chocolate mixture into the whipped eggs and fold together. When the eggs are almost in completely incorporated, gently fold in the dry ingredients (I added it in thirds)

9)   Pour the batter into the prepared pan.  Bake for 35-40 minutes.  Stick a toothpick in there and when it comes out with a few crumbs, you are good to go.  If you need to – wiggle the toothpick around in order to see inside to make sure it didn’t look like soup.

10) When done – cool on rack.  After cool, frost with frosting (optional)

For the Frosting:

1.     Sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder (if you don’t have a sifter – you can add it to the bowl and use a whisk – it works the same)

2.     In a separate bowl beat your butter until creamy (about 2 min).

3.     Alternately add your milk/vanilla* and the dry ingredients.   Once incorporated, beat on high for 2 minutes.

* Pre-mix your milk and vanilla

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!? GO MAKE 'EM!

But, first - if you love these, try some of these out:

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramallows

Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

Old Bay Shrimp Tacos

Simply Shrimpy - quick, simple, easy & cheap.

Imma be honest, guys.  I did NOT want to cook dinner last night.  So what did I do?  Exactly what anyone else in this generation would do, I went to Instagram in order to figure out what I wanted to do.  I follow a couple fitness accounts, and foodie accounts, and I cam upon Shrimp Tacos by @great_healthy_recipes.  Since I didn't have half of those ingredients, I took it upon myself to wing it...hence, my Maryland self, the Old Bay had to come out and play.

First, Mr. and Mrs. Frugal McDoogal here, bought the cheapest uncooked, peeled, defined shrimp we could find, some pre-cut cabbage (it was a buck), and some yellow pepper - it was the cheapest compared to the red and orange.

The yummy shredded cabbage above, and the sweet, crisp yellow pepper to the left (and avocado in the back) is what I used in my tacos.  Adam added the minty sour cream.  Switch it up guys, add your own flare and let me know in the comments below what you do!

Bring a little Maryland into your home,

Currently in September

I was reading over a few blogs, and I stopped by a great blog called  "Brave Love" by Bailey Jean. Right now, she has the #BlogtemberChallenge happening, which I will try to post  for on the days that I can. Then I found her "Currently" post and I knew that it was a quick and fun thing to do for a blog post, to have my readers learn a little more about me, as well as my lovely habits - and it happens to land during the Blogtember Challenge! HA.  Read on guys, grab a glass of wine and some chocolate and lets get down to business.

...reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

...watching my New England Patriots kick off a great NFL Season!  And Rizzoli and Isles, not only only Season 2 & 3 that I have on DVD but the Current Season 5! Every time Adam and I watch it, we love it just like it was the first time we were seeing it.  But, to be completely honest, guys, my hubs and I are awaiting THE WALKING DEAD to come back on October 12th.  You have no idea how excited we are.  Parties and Zombie Cocktails galore.

...trying to find time for my hubs and myself. We spend every night snuggling together, which is so much better than it has been when he was commuting to Charlotte. But, we enjoy being together during day time too, where we could run errands together or just fix stuff around the house. 

...eating (just finished) my Ahi Tuna Salad with an Asian Vinaigrette. We went out with our volleyball team last night for some food and drinks after a great week.  It has been absolutely amazing to form these new friendships.

...pinning Fall EVERYTHING and DIY Home Decor. FALL IS HERE. and it is my favorite time of the year, plus who doesn't want to upgrade their space.

...tweeting about people who need to use their fucking indicator/blinker/turn-signal - whatever you call it, and how I follow more Dog Instagrams, than Person Instagrams. Follow me guys - @XO_CassieMarie.

...going to relax from my fun in Char-town last weekend for my BEAUTIFUL friends, Rae and Disco's wedding. I was honored to be apart of their day, and spend such a wonderful day celebrating their marriage as well as Adam's and my anniversary!

...loving working out every morning.  It is a positive start  to my day. and I get to spend it with my new friend, Jade, who has been helping me on my fitness journey, and pushing me to try new things!  Thanks, girl! <3

...discovering myself.  Guys, I can tell you - two posts ago, I was a pretty abrupt into opening a new chapter in my blogging zone to just try and find more about myself.  I am ready to just be me...not that I wasn't in earlier posts, I just need y'all to know that I am quirky, I wear my emotions on my sleeve, I say SHIT a lot, and I pretty much have an opinion about everything...which I will most likely share. 

...enjoying quiet time.  Snuggling with my puppies, and reading a book.

...thinking about what I need to make for dinner tomorrow, because I really don't feel like cooking.  Having errands to run, people to see, blogs to write, recipes to try out, ANDDD I am thinking about work this upcoming week and what I need to do ahead.

...feeling weirdly sore, but good.  As stated above, I have been working out every day.  But, this Monday I started a detox with Jade.  Oh my lanta, when it says it's going to clean out your intestines, it is NOT lying. -_-

...hoping for Adams schedule to be clear one weekend in November.  I have so many things planned for his birthday, but the way his schedule works, has him on and off different days, it isn't set - so I am hoping things will work out.

...listening to this beautiful young voice, Neece, as well as Sam Smith's version of Fast Car. It will melt your heart and you need to listen to BOTH NOW!.

...thanking Adam for him being here for me/for us. No matter what, he is my rock, he helps me through it all.  We have been through a lot since June.  From the transition to the new house, to  it taking a while for him to find a job, I am so thankful he has been by my side through it all.

...starting to drink a whole bunch of water.  I feel really dehydrated!



What about you?? What's going on in your month? Tell me all about it - or don't.  It's up to you, but it's always fun to gossip and trade stories.

One Year.

Our one year anniversary is coming up, and I could not be happier.  I have found the one that completes me, the one who makes my life whole, the one you is truly my soul mate.  But, this first year has been different too. We have definitely had our ups and downs.

Until this past Friday, he was actually commuting to Charlotte every week and that just tore me down.  He was here, and then he was gone, and then back again.  My heart was going through so much happiness and so much sadness every week.  But, that is apart of life, you have to deal with the down times in order to come through on the bright side.

That is something I pride myself on, I think of myself as the "glass half full" type of girl.  I have always tried to find the good in people, in situations, and in life.

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade - and add vodka.  LOTS OF VODKA!

Both of us work hard, that I wanted to do something special for our one year, the good and bad thing - he never wants anything!  He is so kind hearted, loving and full of support.  No matter what we are going through, he is always thinking of more ways to go about things.  Through rough times (which happen) to good times (which we have more of) - I am one lucky lady.

Then one day he looked at me, and said "Remember that Fossil watch you gave me for our first year together as a couple?" - Yes? - "Well, it's really worn out, maybe we could fix it?" - That's all that that he wanted, guys.  He wanted a new leather band for his watch.  I tried to buy him one of the automatic watches (which are gorgeous), but he didn't want me spending the money.  I tried getting him other things - he didn't want them!

The more I think about our first anniversary, the more I tried to google what to get your hubby...the more I didn't want to go with those typical boring presents.

So, I went out, fixed the watch, and I made reservations for the day after our anniversary, for a lovely dinner at a fine dining restaurant.  The reason why I am doing the day after, is because we are spending the 14th with our absolutely AMAZING friends Rachel and David as they celebrate joining their lives together. (The 14th is just such a great day to get married, guys!)

The more I think about it, the more I want to tell you,  FORGET about the typical anniversary gifts, forget about trying to please a tradition formed by society.  Do what YOU want!  Don't feel like you have buy your hubs something expensive, or something outrageous; we all have the rest of our lives for all of that!  Get something that they really want, just ask them - they will tell you eventually.

To be brutally honest, we aren't the type of people to worry about anniversaries, and everything.  We have the rest of our lives together.  We are just so blessed to be able to spend it with each other, surrounded by people we love, and a night full of happiness.

In marriage, no matter what day, what hour, what minute, or second, to know that you have a best friend that will stand with you throughout everything is refreshing, beautiful and powerful.  Life gets crazy, hectic, busy and overwhelming, and I am very lucky for Adam and him being my life-partner.  I love you, Lovebug.  Happy Anniversary.

Changing it UP!

HELLO, MY LOVES!

XO, Cassie is a blog that started from Bless this Mess(er), to Sprinkle me Southern, to the current Xo, Cassie.  And that’s it guys, I’m Cassie, a woman trying to find her place in this world, with her wonderful husband, and two dogs.  I’m changing things up...

Now it is time, it is time for me to just put it all out there.  I am going to live.  I am going to tell you my about my successes and failures.  Things change, people change, you change, but that is life.  The more I think about “WHAT DO I HAVE TO BLOG ABOUT NEXT?” – the more I just want to write, uncensored.  I am going to keep posting recipes, thoughts, ideas, DIY projects. But, again, more uncensored, a little extra sugar, and a whole lotta spice. ;)

I was born and raised a crab eating, Annapolis native, Maryland girl - now living down south in the BBQ lovin', Sweet Tea brewin' state of North Carolina.  I enjoy the south, but I still love my Maryland way of driving, the Patriots, and especially the crabs.  I have southern tendencies, because, well, we can only hear y’all so much until we start using it ourselves.  Did I mention I love/miss crabs?

I keep Old Bay in my purse, right next to my lip-gloss; but, I can still throw down when I need too.  I have recently been addicted to fitness, and cupcakes.  It’s what I like to do. Life is crazy, and you never know what is going to happen next.

I am not a professional chef.

I am not a therapist.

I am not soft-spoken.

I am a woman that is on a journey, trying to find my place in this crazy, beautiful world, while cooking some awesome stuff.  There is so much out there that we haven’t seen yet.  So why do we have to follow the rules?  We will miss all the fun.  This is me giving you permission to have fun doing  what you want, not that you need it.

I am a happy-go lucky type of person that says shit a lot.  I'm here to learn more about myself, love myself more, and give a whole lotta fucks about what I eat (good and bad)!  Join me!  Do this for you, too!

Good luck, y'all! If you need a kick in the ass then follow the journey, subscribe, all you gotta to do it put your email address in where it says to and then bam!  You get a pretty little email whenever I post awesome shit!   Lets get inspired people! Lets do this!

Not so "Modern" Emmy Look

A lot of women came out to the Emmy's dressed to the nines!  Even though I fell asleep during the show, because I was super tired and had to be up early for the gym, I think I watched the best part.

It is young, it is elegant, and it is fabulous.  Y'all it is Sarah Hyland.  She was breathtaking.

Even her hair and make-up was the best that I have ever seen on her.  Normally, she dresses overly mature for her age, but this year at the 2014 Emmy's, she looked amazing, absolutely stunning.  

Sarah Hyland is known for her role as Haley Dunphy in Modern Family, as a typical independent teenager.  Casual clothing, dresses like a teenager, talks back to her parents, but she was not so "Modern" at the Emmy's, she was exquisite.
 

Thanks for stopping by, y'all!