DirtyHippieHealth

With the Fall season, it only seems fitting to delight our dishes with an October treat: Chocolate & White Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins! 

We all know I am no chef, and I will proudly admit that my skills belong else where. So, here is this awesome recipe courtesy of my sister! Enjoy! 

This Recipe makes 24 Muffins
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Spray Pam or grease in your cupcake/muffin pan.

Here's what you'll need. 

1 3/4 cups flour 
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup plain applesauce or 1/2 cup vegetable oil(applesauce is healthier)
1/3 cup water
2 eggs
Chocolate and white chocolate chips to your liking

Mix all of the dry ingredients in one bowl and all of the wet ingredients together in another bowl. Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture. Only add a little at a time of flour will be flying everywhere. 

Once it's allowed together add in your chocolate chips and mix by hand. 

Pour the batter into your muffin pans. Fill each section about 3/4 of the way full. 

Bake for 30 min. Make sure a toothpick comes out clean. Enjoy because they are dangerously delicious!

Long Stay Lip Love

Lately, Ive been loading on the color on my lips. Maybe its growing older into adult hood, or maybe its just a phase. Im not exactly sure of the unitary standard, but I do know that I absolutely LOVE it. 

However, upon entering my new era of pout palettes, I noticed how dry and vulnerable it made my lips. Why in the world would I want to bring attention to my lips when they are crackled and morbid? After doing a few lips masques (which I shall share later), I came to the conclusion that I needed an affordable, every day stain that would alleviate me from reapplying and irritating my lips. 

I decided to pick up Maybelline's Super Stay Stain Gloss in Cool Coral. I went coral for a few reasons;  One, being that I have pink under tones in my skin and coral reduces the emphases of my Irish attributes (as opposed to a true pink);  Two, its great for every day wear,  andddd Ive just been loving the color all summer. 

At first glance, I didnt and still do not understand the design to the lip wand that Maybelline uses for the stain. But, it didnt make a difference to the application of color. The color was calmer than I thought it would be. Its always hard to predict what itll look like inside of the bottle. Upon application, I noticed that it smelled like bubble gum and berries (who wouldnt like that smell) and dried evenly even though i added more color to my bottom lip than top (always a bonus). So far, ive had two cups of coffee (ready to destroy some contracts), breakfast, a snack..and my lips haven't dampened. ANNDDD they are still hydrated. YESS! For under ten bucks, Id definitely say this product does what its supposed to do. Another recommendation from me to you :). Ill be trying out bold red next! 

Box Up Your Color

For the past year and a half, Ive been dying my hair myself. Sometimes, I opt to pick up a custom box dye sans developer at Sally's and other times, I head heavy healed to the nearest drug store to see what the shelves have in store for me.. 

Now, coloring your hair from a box can be tricky and I definitely do not recommend it for those of you who are attempting to pull lighter stands. This is for the dark hearted only (sorry blond babes). 

Any dye, whether it be box or salon, has chemicals in it. It will damage your hair. Now, going to a salon, a colorist will have the ability to perform a personal analysis on the condition of your hair and select a color in order to accommodate to your stressed tresses. Color in a box, unfortunately, does not have this luxury...as we all know. 

However, making a trip to a salon is no longer an option for me since ive traded my life for higher education. Thus, box coloring has been espoused so forcefully into my life--and im not complaining. 

Box coloring IS damaging. Let me stress that again. So, please, keep in mind that you should probably take precautions with your hair before and after the dying process. Try to do a strengthening masque before and after. Color dries out your ends. Do you what you can to keep those beauties hydrated. I sometimes put a drop of olive oil in my condition or use a weekly repair treatment called MENDING from B&b. It has worked wonders on my staple hair. 

BACK TO COLORING: Ive learned that the average developer in a box is at a 40, this means it lifts your natural color and deposits the color in the box (developer is that cream based conditioner looking stuff you mix the color with). This is what is very damaging. So, upon purchasing a Box dye at my local CVS (Revlon's Dark Auburn..it was 2 for 6 bucks, couldnt walk away from that deal, obviously). I decided to purchase my own gentle 10 developer as opposed to using the 40 to be less damaging on my ends. I emptied out the squeeze bottle that came in the dye and filled it half way up with my developer and then placed the color in. Mixed it up..and you know the rest.. 

Please remember: Your roots are vulnerable to color! So make sure to go a level the same color or darker than your roots (levels are the numbers usually listed on your box. EX: Dark Auburn 4). Here is the scale (1 is BLACK, 10 is BLOND..I usually use a level 4 on my hair). I recommend level 4 and 5's for medium browns and Ash tones. 

Happy 1 year, DHH!

Happy 1 year, DHH! 

I can't believe I actually stuck with something for an entire year :) 

Thank you all for reading, I hope we can continue to provide you mind numbing tips! 

Love, T.

The Animal in You

Fall is here! Fall is here! Well, sort of.  At least the season of fall is here. 

Anyways, I'm completely loving leopard print this fall--no surprise. It easily makes an outfit pop with little to no effort. 

Get your leopard onnnn.... 

French your way to the top.

It is VERY rare that I dont style and wear my bangs daily--they are my security blanket and I almost feel alien without them. 

However, because I spend the majority of my day studying, those bad boys need to go up and out of my face. 

Now, I can pretend that I thought of this style all on my own, Buttttt I didn't. I stole it from my dear pal, pinterest. 

I did my bun lower on my head than a normal styled bun for a few reasons. First, I wanted to get the look of an elegant updo from the front. I wanted some height on my head, a la celeb style. Two, I have such heavy and thick hair. After thirty minutes of rocking a bun, its migraine central. 

This style took me about five minutes and even for your anti-braiders out there, I have no doubt that this look is fool proof. 

Here is another front view picture (I know, redundant) but I wanted you to to see the effectiveness of the "updo" illusion. 

Don't know how to french your way up to this bun? I included a quick guide below! 

Sometimes, It takes a lot of money to look cheap.

As economic instability creates turbulence, I have only become more creative on how to pursue versatile pieces. 

Being a graduate student and a career driven civilian can ensue multiple issues when it comes to penny pinching. It is most challenging to find suitable clothing that fits an eloquent lifestyle while allowing you the flexibility to be a casual go-getter, simultaneously. However, being a Florida gal (and being limited to a very small selection of boutiques), I turned quite quickly to our most popular commercial stores. 

When searching for a viable interview or career oriented outfit, go basic. Buy simple pieces that are perfect for mismatching, layering, and that will jazz up with a pop of color. Simple doesnt always have to be boring. Versatility is the name of my game! 

Ive put this simple ensemble together below. Throw your hair up in a bun and pair with perfectly pink lips! 

Fitted Trousser: These H&M babies are your affirmative defenses! Practically perfect for every body type. Not only is this classic, you can get away with wearing these weekly without getting caught!

Metalic Collar Necklace: As we discussed earlier..gold, gold, go-ld. Get on it! Simple, elegant or bold. 

Metalic Polka Dot Blouse: Forever 21, not only am i deeming this print as the season's guilty gift, but metalic is perfect for nights out, days in and the holiday season. Its simple, adorable and an easy way to build on your outfit. Pair with a blazer or scarf. 

Pointed Toe Heel: Target, Mossimo.  Wait for it...this shoe at Target it currently buy one, get one and they literally have a rainbow of colors to choose from (hot pink, to Neon, and blues!). Its classic, practical andddd you get two for the price of one! 

Golden Girls

GOLD! GOLD! GOLD!

If your closet is taking a bare beating like mine is right now...then you're probably scrambling to find ways to make your old wear work into the new season. 

Due to my lack of income, I have to find justice in purchasing versatile items. Hence, GOLD! 

I think gold and black will be the go to colors this fall and holiday season...and lord knows, we ALL have bounds of black hidden is our ominous closets. I found it easiest to pair one gold accessory with a predominate black ensemble. And, Voila! Your boring black turns into classic chic! An eight dollar necklace can go a long way... 

Check out my favorite ways to wear gold. Remember one piece of gold, and you're golden! 

Don't Wash, just use Dry...Shampoo

I think by now, we all know that one of my absolute can't-live-without products has to be dry shampoo. Each week, my shampoo longevity rules goes longer and longer. Sick? Somewhat. Efficient? Absolutely. 

I will never deny that I hate washing my hair and being a Florida girl has kept that perilous challenge of an anti-shampoo life a mere battle. 

Here's the deal, my hair holds moisture. Seems normal. However, living in a danger zone of humidity..equivocates to a nightmare. My hair looks damp with every second I step outside. Dry Shampoo is a dyer must have. I cannot stress that enough. 

Thus, this leads me to Suave- Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo. Yes, I know, it is very seldom that I leave my precious b&b products behind. However, this dry shampoo ROCKS. It adds lift to my hair, smells like a bed of spring flowers, and leaves my hair lookin' flyyyyyy. For four bucks...this has been my complete budget saving savior! 

Here's the only downside, this dry shampoo is SUPER white. So, for those of you with dark hair, beware of the spray. However, this reckless white sucker does easily set in with a few finger rubs to the scalp, not to worry. Plus, the product isnt super thick like its competing brands that leave your hair feeling even dirtier than before. This product is really, just completely convenient. 

Stop by your nearest drug store or super market and try this baby out! 

My Tip for Dry Shampoo: Put it in at night. When you wake up, your hair will look more voluminous! 

My hair is three days old in the picture above. Notice: my curls tend to get a bit sloppier as the days go by...but my roots are lookin lifted due to SUAVE!