I've moved...

kinda sorta. I took the advice of the web savy people in my life and decided to move this blog over to wordpress. I've been working on the silly stuff for weeks now. In the grand scheme of life the fact that I pondered over this as much as I have is kinda silly. So I hope you will continue to follow this little blog over at

picklesandchapstick.wordpress.com or picklesandchapstick.com works just as well :) 

deliciousness: no bake cheesecake

Lately I've been missing baking... a lot. The only problem is our apartment already feels like an oven most days so I avoid the oven as much as possible. While getting ideas for new things to bake, cook, etc. I came across a no bake cheesecake recipe. The moment I set my eyes on it I had to make it. That and it involved cool whip and someone may have weird liking for cool whip (yup, that'd be me). It was probably one of the easiest recipes I have ever made. Extra easy points if you buy a pre-made graham cracker crust. It's a delicious treat to wrap up summer with. On a side note - how the heck is it already august?!?! I demand a summer redo!!

Ingredients:

2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

Step 1: put cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract into bowl

Step 2: beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract until smooth

Step 3: Fold in cool whip and beat/stir until smooth

Step 4: fill pie crust. chill 1 to 2 hours before serving.

If you wanted to, you could add a pie filling (apples, blueberries, cherries, etc.) on top. I may do that next time :) xo

a weekend in pictures

a goodbye party

the infamous dart board

mason jars for yummy ideas (or extra vases) 

sorry but you are needed, little guy

jalapeno infused vodka

crushed red chili pepper infused olive oil 

the perfect way to celebrate an anniversary date and watch the sunset 

growth

After my post-face time session with Charlie, I was sitting on the balcony staring at our plants (mostly succulents) when I noticed something. There's little baby succulents growing! When I first moved in with my boyfriend, I had one succulent plant that was looking a little dead. I tried not to let it show how concerned I was about it. I bought it right after Charlie was born and found the perfect pot for it, etc. After all the changes I was already going through, I wasn't ready to lose that plant too. At first it was an adjustment for me, living somewhere new, living with grown ups again, trying to function and live life without having my little chicken around 24/7. Since I'm a nester at heart, I decided my little plant needed some more friends. Our plants have become my babies (along with my hermit crab). Not sure if I shared that news but yes, I'm a proud hermit crab mama. I'll discuss that topic/decision at another time. 

Changes and growth aren't always meant to be easy. I find myself wanting to rush through this period and find a way to feel "okay" again or find where I "fit" in this new chapter of my life. Everything I've grown to know the past two years has changed. I'm scared because as promising as the future is, it's still uncertain. While there's a large part of me that likes to be spontaneous and jump head first into things, there's an overly cautious side of myself. The side that doesn't want to get hurt again, the side that needs some sort of stability, etc. Life is strange and it's really strange to think that people who were once huge parts of your life, are no longer a part of it. Sometimes you're left missing old friendships or the "good ole days" but I guess that's a part of "growing". Learning who wants to grow with you and who doesn't. I've been through times that were amazing, that were extremely difficult, that i didn't understand, etc. I've grown in the past two years, I've grown in the past year and I've grown in the past several months. I guess that's the beauty of life and changes, you get to keep trying to better yourself and that's what I've been trying to do.. everyday.

I love that my old & new plants have new growth happening. In a way it's kinda symbolic. We're growing quite well in our new environment. I guess a little TLC will do that for you. Every day may not be perfect but at least you tried and tomorrow is a new beginning to try again. Yeah, Yeah, I know. Totally cheesy but very true.   

mint ice cubes

This may sound weird but I'm horrible at drinking water. Something has to have flavor for me to drink it. It's not even a sugar factor, it just needs flavor. I'm too lazy to constantly be cutting up cucumbers or lemons for my water. I've always wanted to make cucumber or lemon ice cubes but my freezer never has enough room to fit a cupcake pan filled with water and lemons or cucumber slices. While friends sipped on some delicious homemade mojitos for the boyfriend's birthday is when it hit me, mint ice cubes!! 

It's pretty simple. Tear up some mint, place it in each little ice cube, fill it up with water and place it in the freezer to freeze. An hour or so later (depending on your freezer) you have a delicious ice cube to freshen up your non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverage! I've been drinking a lot more water since I made these ice cubes. I may start cleaning out the freezer soon so I can make lemon and cucumber ice cubes!

she's crafty: an artsy themed birthday on a budget

I'm a big fan of birthdays (you know, other people's). I mean that's your one little holiday all for yourself! annnnnnd since it's your own little holiday you deserve it to be tailored to who you are! My boyfriend is an artist so I kinda rolled with that idea with a few other touches that I thought he'd enjoy (and he did). My main factor was cost because the funds are super tight these days so I had to get creative.

Some guys are a fan of cake and others are a fan of angel food cake. Normally I'd bake one but we already had a box mix laying around (i may have cringed at admitting that).

Usually I like doing table centerpieces with one of my boho place mats/napkins from world market with my mason jars filled with flowers and a candle. Even if it does look nice, that's me, that's not him. I took kraft paper and splattered some paint on it. That became the place mat that I'd set everything on. I even managed to get those paints on sale at Michaels.  

I incorporated his can of liquitex matte gel into the mix. It would up being the perfect size to set the easel I had made out of wooden dowel rods. The dowel rods were both under a $1. I may or may not have to replace a bread knife. I mean, not everyone had a saw laying around. You gotta do what you gotta do.

I could've done flowers but throwing paintbrushes and other art supplies into a mason jar seemed to fit the little theme I had going on.  

Angel food cake with black pearls (bb lookalikes). I looked high and low for those little silver balls that used to come on Christmas cookies but come to find out they're illegal in the state of California and can kill you or something. Awesome. You know how many of those things I ate as a kid? I've been dying to own a cake stand but can never find one I actually like so I decided to improvise. I used a shot glass and sat the plate on top. Voila! 

For a hot second I was feeling lazy and almost bought one of these banners in the store and after staring at the colors it hit me - you can't hang a pastel colored banner for your boyfriend! So I chose some fun scrapbook paper and made my own (it was cheaper this way too). I even made a little happy birthday sign that I put on our deer head. 

All together I think I spent roughly $25 on decor (and that may be pushing it). I spent a good portion of time stressing over being able to afford a fancy dinner, the constant did I buy enough or do I buy more, etc. Sometimes when you love and care about someone you find yourself wanting to do more for them even though what you're doing may be enough. Yesterday was a nice little reminder that fancy dinners can be overrated and all that matters is being present and in the company of those you enjoy. Everything else great that may happen is just bonus points. Oh, and aren't those drinking glasses the coolest? The birthday boy has good taste :)

wednesday wants

a pretty opal and gold ring

 - loving these vintage georgian topaz earrings from the 1800s

 - this catbird necklace is so pretty!

 - i think i could rock this leather bracelet

 - a sweet pattern locket