The Finger Lakes

With the weather getting nicer, it's almost inevitable to get excited for summer. Plus, as someone who lives on the lake in the Finger Lakes, summer is constantly on my mind. From jet-skiing to just laying out in the sun, summer is with no doubt my favorite season. My friends and family always find something to do to take full advantage of summer!

Being on the Water
If it were possible for me to be a mermaid, I would 100% be one. My whole life, I have loved the water. I could be in the lake all day whether I'm just swimming, tubing, boating or jet skiing. Any water activity and I'm there. I live about 2 seconds up the road from Seneca Lake in New York and also have a cottage right on the lake which is about 5 minutes from my house. The lake is my number one go to in the summer and I wouldn't have it any other way.

My Cottage
Like I just mentioned, I have a family cottage on Seneca Lake. This has been in my family for many years and is shared between relatives on my dads side. This is practically my second home over the summer since it is so close to my actual house. We have tons of family get togethers here especially for the Fourth of July or just for Sunday cookouts. Sometimes I'll just go over myself and hang out or invite a few friends over. It is the perfect place to just relax and enjoy the weather. Some of my favorite things to do there are laying in the hammock, playing in the water (once and a while my Uncle's dogs will join me), laying out and boating. No matter what, there is always something to do here no matter who I am with.


Finger  Lakes Events
Since the Finger Lakes are obviously known for their bodies of water, there are many recreational places and events to attend near them. It is basically known as "wine country" being there are over 100 wineries in addition to newly added breweries and cideries. As you can probably tell, I live in an area where drinking is a huge focus. I will definitely have a new appreciation for this when I am 21 and can actually take advantage of it. But for now, I am forced to find something else which luckily isn't too difficult. In addition to activities on the actual water, there are tons of restaurants right on the lake along with festivals and concerts. 

If you ever get the chance to visit the Finger Lakes, New York I highly recommend you do it! I absolutely love where I live and there is so much to do during the summer. Whether you're a big wine drinker or just love to be on the water, this is the place for you! I am so incredibly lucky and happy to call this my hometown. 

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

Happy Wednesday everyone! To help get you over the hump of this long week, I have a delicious and fun recipe to share with you all....lemon blueberry cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting. Of course, they were as amazing as they sound. This dessert is perfect for the warmer weather as it is light and fruity yet still satisfies that sweet-tooth craving. 

I came across the recipe while browsing through Pinterest and knew immediately that I had to try it. The recipe came originally from a blog, "Annie Eats", which is an overall adorable and fun blog full of recipes. The pictures make the cupcakes look amazing and she makes the process super easy to follow. 

It might seem like a lot of ingredients at first, but a lot of them are ones you would most likely already have if you are an avid baker. The only things I had to go out and buy specifically for this were the blueberries, lemons and cream cheese. 

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 1/2 cups plus 2 tbsp. all purpose flour, divided
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 8 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. sugar
• The zest of 1 lemon
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. milk
• 1 cup blueberries

For the Frosting:

• 8 oz. cream cheese frosting
• 5 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• The zest of 1 lemon
• Fresh blueberries to garnish

***For the original source of ingredients and directions go to Annie Eats

I highly recommend trying these out sometime. They really were super fun to make, decorate and of course, eat. Next time you're looking for something to bake, try this recipe out and I promise, you will not regret it. Have fun and enjoy!

 

DIY Marble Mug

If you're looking for a quick and easy DIY project, I have found the perfect one! I saw a quick video when scrolling through Facebook that I immediately wanted to try. With only 5 simple steps, you will get an adorable marble designed mug that will brighten up your desk or morning coffee. It costs almost nothing and takes about 5 minutes. Check it out!


After watching this video, I went to the Dollar Tree to get my supplies. Pick up a white mug and any nail polish color of your choice for just $2. The third item you will need is acrylic salient spray, which can be found at a number of places. My dad happened to have some already, but it sells in Walmart for about $4. This sets the nail polish onto the mug so it doesn't peel off.

I followed along with the directions of the video to help create mine. My version is in no way as perfect as theirs, but it's all about making it your own.

1. Fill up a plastic container with warm water
2. Pour in the nail polish
3. Make sure to blow to disperse the nail polish (I forgot to do this and it does make a huge difference!)
4. Dip your mug in the water until all nail polish is on the mug
5. Spray with the acrylic salient spray

Once your mug has fully dried, just hand wash it out and it is ready to use! I chose to use it to hold pens and pencils for more of a decorative/organizational piece, yet as the video shows, you can use it to drink out of as well. This was really fun to make and the best part is how quick and cheap it was as well. You could make a whole set of them and even play around with different colors. It would make a perfect gift to go along with some tea bags, set of pens/pencils or even planting a little flower in it! This little DIY project has a number of uses, so get creative! 

Enjoy and have fun!

Simple Nail Design

I have always loved doing my nails whether it's just a simple color or crazy designs. It all started in about high school when I began to play around with different designs and patterns. I would say after practice and a lot of trial and error, I have gotten a lot better. But I had to start somewhere. Today, I tried out a more simple pattern that is geared towards beginners or anyone who is looking for a simple design.

You can choose any two colors you want; I went with a nude for my base and hot pink for the design. (Polishes with the skinnier brush are much easier to use or even a pen polish. Whenever you want to do a neat design, either of those make it a lot easier instead of trying to use a normal brush.)

For inspirations I usually check out Pinterest and pin them to my board, Nails (creative name, right?)
Another place I go is Instagram where I follow heyitsjessie.k and she also has a youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/nailsofjessiek). She has a ton of amazing designs and many different techniques!

I eventually hope to expand my techniques as well by buying a Painting Brush Set which allows for a wider range of options. I also want to try out the marble design which is when you pour the nail polish into water, create a marble design and dip your nail in. These are just two of my goals for nails, but for now, designs like this will do. We all have to start somewhere, so get practicing and you will be a pro in no time!

Dolla Dolla Bills Ya'll

Imagine a world where you could buy an assortment of products from cleaning supplies to nail polish remover to mugs. A magical place where all of these products are just $1. Well guess what, this place exists, and it's not as ridiculous as it seems. This place is also known as Dollar Tree. Now I know this isn't anything new and everyone has heard of it, but I feel as though it gets a bad reputation. Yes, their products aren't the highest quality but it gets the job done.

As a broke college student, Dollar Tree is basically heaven. For just essentials it is the perfect place to go but it can also be a great place to find products for DIY projects or organization. Some essentials that I bought at the beginning of the year that are still going strong today are kitchen supplies like cutting knives and tongs, small storage containers and hair accessories like bobby pins. The mug and nail polish I used for my DIY Marble Mug were both from the Dollar Tree and turned out amazing!

This video shows you just a few ideas of what to buy at Dollar Tree and what to do with them. Especially as a college student on a tight budget, there is nothing better than getting almost everything you need for $1.  This is the perfect place to pick up a few neccessities and more!

Painting In The Sunshine

My weekend has been full of sunshine and fun times with friends. It was the first "spring like" weekend of the season and I could not be happier. I absolutely love the outdoors, especially when the sun is shining, so this weekend I was outside as much as possible. When soaking up the sun, my roomie and I decided to do some painting. It was such a relaxing Saturday afternoon; soaking up the sun and painting our own little masterpieces. All we needed was a little sunshine, some paint and a canvas.

I usually find my inspirations from Pinterest, which is where I found the idea for my painting. One of the best suggestions I can give when painting on a canvas is sketch what you are going to paint first. Especially when you are painting a quote or more intricate design, lightly sketching it out with a pencil can be one of the best decisions you make. Once I have sketched out the words, I am ready to start painting. I outlined the "you" in black and from there on decided to go with the polka-dot theme. I used brighter colors since sunnier days are upon us, yet you could use any colors and/or patterns you prefer.

Another tip which could apply to any craft is make sure you have time. You don't want to be in the middle of you're design and have to pick up everything. Then there is the chance of never even finishing it. Give yourself enough time to sit down and complete the painting without any rush. I made sure that there was nothing else I had to get done before starting this project and am so glad I did. My roommate and I were probably outside painting for a good 2 hours with no rush to get anywhere and no pressure to be doing something else. It was so peaceful to just be out in the sun, listening to music and painting.

Next time it's sunny and 75 I highly recommend getting out there and painting yourself. It is so relaxing and you get both a new decoration and some vitamin D! :)

Four Ways to Spend Your Sunny Weekend

With the weather getting nicer, I am more and more anxious to get outside and be in the sun. I have always been an "outdoorsy" person, so whenever I get the chance to soak up some sun, I'm all in, or should I say out. Since I am still at school, it is always fun to try out new activities over the weekend with my friends. Being at a university in Erie, PA, we have discovered a few ways to get outside and have some fun without spending a ton of money!

1. Athletic Games: As an avid sports lover, I love attending games at my school. Obviously there are games all year round for different sports, but I have always loved games in the spring. It's so nice sitting outside and cheering on your school on a warm sunny day in spring. Another plus is that these games are always free to get into if you're student! 
2. Hiking: This is a perfect activity that will get you moving and sight seeing. You could either pay to go into a park with hiking trails or find your own spot to venture off too. Here in Erie, we have a popular wooded area called the gorge, full of small waterfalls and hiking trails. Either way, hiking is super fun especially with a few of your good friends and a nice, sunny day.  
3. Going for a Drive: Sometimes just going for a drive either by yourself or with friends is a relaxing and cheap way to get outside and enjoy the weather. I always roll down the windows and blare my country music, enjoying both the sun and tunes. The best part about it is that there doesn't have to be a specific destination. Once and a while it's exciting to just drive and see where you end up. Here at school we like to drive along Presque Isle by the water and at home I do the same, driving along the lakes.
4. Just Relax: I don't think I have to tell you twice that just relaxing in the sun is a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Once it gets warm enough to sit outside, we always find a sunny spot to hang out whether it's to get some homework done or take a little nap. It is 100% free and even better, relaxing.

These are just a few ideas of how to spend your sunny weekend on a tight budget. There are so many more options out there though, so don't be afraid to experiment and find something new!