Cupcake Love: Berry Cupcakes with Buttercream Icing and Caramelized Toasted Lemon Zest

Who doesn't love cupcakes? Especially when Duncan Hines makes it so easy to create your own masterpieces! All you need is Duncan Hines White Cake Mix (Betty Crocker just won't do) and a little bit of creativity.

Women for Women Wednesday: Sophia Bush

Ladies, let's lift each other up!  Someone else's success is not our failure, and we have forgotten that.  Hearing that someone else has received a promotion, met someone new, or won an great prize should fill us with happiness for them rather than pity for ourselves, or envy.  We would do well to focus on something outside of ourselves,

So today I bring you Sophia Bush:

Beauty Talk: Oil of Olay Fresh Effects Dew Over Hydrating Gel Moisturizer

Oil of Olay is my all time favorite moisturizer brand, and I have been using it for years.  I use the classic scented Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid Lotion before bed and the Complete All Day Moisturizer with SPF 30 in the day and I am happy with these products.  However, I saw a commercial for the new Fresh Effects gel moisturizer and I was eager to try it out.  I have naturally oily skin, so I liked that it promised to have leave skin feeling more matte after application.

Musical Monday: DK3 by Danity Kane

 (Image from Google)

I haven't been this excited for a new release in a long time. . . I loved watching Danity Kane's creation on Making the Band, loved the two albums they released after, hated that they broke up, and was ecstatic when they reformed.  This means that I was, of course, saddened by the fact that they did break up again, but even that couldn't dampen my enthusiasm for their new album.  I pre-ordered it on iTunes and have been counting down to its release ever since.

Get Fit: 30 by 30

My 30th birthday is rapidly approaching and I have definitely noticed a decline in my daily activity level since finishing university.  A desk job is not conducive to moving around and staying healthy.  So, my goal is to be very active (i.e. raise my heart rate) for at least 30 minutes a day, every single day or #30by30.

I usually take a walk during my lunch break at work, but that little stroll really isn't enough to get my heart pumping.  I own a rebounder, a stationary bike and an inflatable punching bag so all I have been lacking is the motivation.  I am hoping that setting a goal will help get me on the right path.  I am sure that I will have days that I am not successful, but I have about 5 months to make this good, healthy habit stick!

On another note, I can't seem to get my Bally boxer to inflate properly.  The pictures from the website show the entire bag fully inflated, but I can only get the black base and the red top to inflate.  I still have a saggy section between these two.  Hopefully using it more often will help open the area up so that I can get more air into it. . .

(Picture from Walmart website)