Mmm. Pistachio Dessert and a sunrise.

This is the beautiful view I woke up to this morning. Normally I'm not up early enough to enjoy a beautiful sunrise like this but with fall coming and days getting shorter I was lucky enough to catch this one. I saw it when I opened up my blinds and I had to wander out onto my deck and capture its beauty.

These are the shoes I'm wearing today. I have an obsession with shoes and this is one of my favorite pairs. Not only do I love that they're red but they're also one of the most comfortable pairs that I own. I call them full day shoes since many of the shoes I own get uncomfortable after half a day.

I made an amazing dessert for the pot luck at my work today. It's called Pistachio Dessert and is one of my favorite desserts ever. The last time I made it was when I moved into my place as a "welcome home" dessert for myself. I like making it in a clear pan because you can see that it is a layered dessert and the green layer gives it some nice color. Everyone at work said they enjoyed it and wanted the recipe so I thought I would share it with you.

Pistachio Dessert

CRUST
All-purpose flour                                                              1 cup
Butter or margarine                                                        1/2 cup
Finely chopped pecans                                                   1/2 cup

FILLING
Cream cheese, softened                                             8 oz. or 250 g
Icing sugar                                                                       1 cup
Instant pistachio pudding (6 serving size)                        1 pkg
Milk                                                                                 2 cups
Whipping cream                                                              1 cup
Slivered almonds                                                          2 - 3 tbsp

Crust:
- Put flour and butter into bowl. Mix until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Press into ungreased 9x13 inch pan. Bake in 350°F oven for 15 minutes. Cool.

Filling:
- Mix cream cheese and sugar together well. Spread over cooled shortbread crust.

- Beat pudding mix with milk. Pour over cheese-sugar layer. Chill a few minutes to firm.

- Whip cream until stiff. Spread over pudding layer. Sprinkle with slivered almonds. Serves 15.

I use frozen cool whip instead of whipped cream because I like the flavor better. If anyone tries this recipe I would love to know your thoughts on it. Or any ideas on how I can improve it or make it healthier.

Now I know I already have way too many teas but the new fall collection just arrived in the mail for me. I haven't had a chance to try them all yet but I did try a few of them and I must say that they are amazing. I just finished drinking Pumpkin Chai. It's a black tea with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and pumpkin candies. I added some steamed milk and brown sugar and it was absolutely heaven. Currently I'm drinking Buttercream. It's a white tea with mango, chamomile, and osmanthus. Smells amazing and tastes equally as good. I would love to try mixing them together and seeing how they taste. Sounds delicious just thinking about it!

Sushi, corsets, and tea. Oh my!

Once again had an amazing sleep last night. It's funny because nothing has changed to make my nights more restful. I'm not going to complain since it's so nice to finally sleep well. And waking up feeling rested actually makes my day at work go by incredibly quick.

After work I met up with one of my best friends that I haven't seen in a while. I took her out for sushi and beer. I got the mexican maki and it was absolutely to die for. It's probably one of my favorite items on the menu. It wasn't until about a year ago that this friend had taken me out for sushi for the first time. Ever since then I can't seem to get enough!

Come to think of it my friend has introduced me to many things over the years. She made me want to learn how to play a guitar when she showed me how to play a few chords. She was the one who got me to try my first loose tea and sushi for the first time. I even remember the first time we met. We were both fourteen and we snuck in liquor filled chocolates into the movie theatre in hopes of getting a slight buzz.

She is very important in my life. This is why, when she asked me today, I was honored to be a bridesmaid in her wedding. I'm really looking forward to it. Not only because I love weddings but also because she is going to have hers in Mexico. One week of drinking and relaxing with close friends. Plus I get along well with everyone else that is in the wedding party which means it'll have to be a good time.

Afterwards we went to one of my favorite stores, Nightshade Corsets (Nightshade Corsets). Rows and rows of corsets and other amazing items! Whenever I come to this store it is guaranteed that I'm going to buy something even though I own so many corsets already.

Today was no different. I saw a mannequin wearing a gorgeous white and black corset with a matching skirt and I had to try it on. When I asked if they had any additional colors it turns out I already owned a corset in a similar shade of green. So to see how it would look together I found the corset I already own and tried it on with this amazing skirt. I couldn't resist purchasing it especially since I already owned the corsest.

Now I own this whole outfit minus the shrug. I haven't yet decided how I feel about the shrug with this outfit. I think I may want to find something a little more fitted. But I do love the detail of it along with the flowers around the neck. It also matches the frills of the skirt quite well. Now all I have to do is figure out a place where I can wear this outfit without having men gawking because I'd be wearing a corset.

I went out to a bar for my friend's birthday a few years back and decided to wear one of my corsets with a pair of jeans. I was sitting on a bar stool with my back facing the crowd when a larger older man walks up and runs his fingers down the lacing of my corset. My friends told me that he had a creepy look on his face as he was doing it. Ever since that night I've been worried to wear them out for fear of unwanted touching. But no time like the present to get back on the horse. And this time I'll make sure I sit with my back facing a wall.

This morning I was looking through my teas at work and I realized that I have so many teas at home that I don't drink often enough because they have caffeine in it. I try to avoid caffeine later in the day in case it affects my ability to fall asleep. This is when I came up with the idea to inventory all my teas. I started compiling a spreadsheet depicting the type of tea, if it's caffeine free, if I enjoy it, and if I'd buy it again once it's completed. This way I will know exactly which teas I have and which ones I like.

So once I got home I pulled out all my tea, lit some candles, and completed the spreadsheet. Unfortunately there are so many teas that I don't even remember what they taste like because it's been so long since I've had them. Now I am going to have to go through all the ones that I don't remember (and there are many) to fill in the rest of the spreadsheet. In the long run it will help me keep organized with which ones I like and want more of and which ones not to bother with.

I think Dash got a little bored of my shenanigans and decided to show how upset he was by the lack of attention by laying on his face. I have never seen him lay like this before and it was so cute. Definitely got my attention! Currently he's happy that I'm done so we can cuddle and watch a movie together.

I've made myself some tea. One that was on the list of teas I can't remember how they taste. Tonight I picked Bear Trap as my tea of choice. It's a herbal tea with black currants, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. The tea is actually pretty good but I think I'm enjoying it better chilled than hot. One tea down yet so many more to go!

Now this is what I call relaxing.

Even though I wanted more than anything to stay in bed and keep sleeping this morning, I woke up feeling amazing. I had the best sleep that I've had in a while. My good mood continued on throughout my day as well. Work went by quickly and next thing I knew I was home ready for a night of relaxing. And thankfully time has slowed down now that I'm relaxing. Slowed down in a good way of course because it makes me feel like there are more hours in the day rather than less.

How am I spending my relaxing evening you might ask?

I've lit candles around my place to give off a cozy vibe. Plus it makes everything smell so pretty. One of my favorite scents is vanilla. I have so many candles around my house that my house always smells of vanilla and when they are lit it just amplifies.

I've decided that it's about time that I paint my nails as I haven't been putting enough time into maintaining them recently. I had originally chosen a darker blue but in the end I chose electric pink as my color of choice. I know that fall is coming but summer isn't over yet and I may as well wear the bright colors now. I haven't yet decided it I want to do my finger nails as well. I know the color will look great on them and it would be nice to actually have them painted but I hate having to sit and wait for them to dry. I usually end up smudging them before they're done.

My relaxing night wouldn't be as relaxing without a nice cup of tea. I am absolutely obsessed with teas. I have a cupboard full of teas and a desk drawer at work with even more. I probably own more than fifty different flavors of tea between the two places. I am currently drinking Forever Nuts. Not only does it smell heavenly but it tastes that way too! It's a blend of almond slices, apple bits, cinnamon bark, and beetroot. It's the beetroot that turns it that wonderful shade of pink. This was the first loose tea I'd ever tried and it was at my friend's house. I instantly fell in love and I've been addicted ever since.

Now no relaxing night could be complete without Dash close by. Even though he spends all day sleeping and laying around he would never pass up a chance to cuddle up next to me and watch TV. All and all my day was great from beginning to end.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...

A few days ago my friend told me something that got me thinking. He told me that people who write in journals are better off writing in a blog. His reasoning behind this was that instead of having it sitting in a desk drawer, it can be shared with others. Some may find it interesting and others may not. Upon thinking about it I have come to the conclusion that he is right.

First I would like to introduce you to Dash. He is the one year old blue tabby that I recently rescued from the humane society. He has a genetic birth defect that caused him to have a kinked tail and hips that were not properly developed. Because of this defect he has to swing his legs out to the side when he walks so it looks like he is waddling. It is even funnier to watch him run.

Despite his physical abnormalities he has one of the best personalities I could hope for. As you can see he even plays along when I want to dress him up. Every day he comes up with new ways to keep me entertained.

And then there is me...
My favorite colors are red and black.
I love shoes and need to stop buying them because there is no more room in my closet.
I also love dresses which is why I am getting sad that it is starting to get colder outside.
I have an obsession with pin up girls including their hair styles, makeup, and outfits.

I will leave the rest a mystery for now to keep you on the edge of your seats.

I would like to give a shout out to one of my friends who did my hair and makeup for me in the picture. (Smudge Makeup)

She has done my makeup several times over the past year and she is fantastic at what she does. She did my makeup last Halloween when I went out as a pin up girl cat. (Smudge Makeup)

And then she did it for me again when I was a bridesmaid for my friend's wedding. (Smudge Makeup)

Every time she does my makeup it makes me wish I knew more about how to properly apply makeup. I have been trying recently to get up a bit earlier in the mornings to put some on before work. I work with a lady who always has the nicest makeup on and it always matches with her outfits. I think with more practice and a little experimentation I can figure out what works best for me.

That is my goal for the next week. Get up ten minutes earlier to put on a little bit of makeup. I think it will end up making a world of difference in my makeup applying skills.