Missy Grace

Calling all curly girls!

2012-02-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

Ever since I was young, people would always comment on my hair. Whether it was the texture or the amount, something always fascinated them about it. I always got the age old, "People would pay so much money in a salon for your hair!!!", but being so young and just wanting non frizzy hair, out came the straighteners!

Not anymore!

A friend of my mother's had made a sweet comment on my hair recently, and in discussion of products I use and what I get a bit starry-eyed to be able to use, she offered to bring me samples of Ouidad!
If you are not familiar with their products, they are a brand specifically suited for curly hair. Their stylists are trained to work with your individual curl to bring them to their best!

Much to my surprise, a few days later, she brought me not only samples, but full-sized bottles of deep conditioner and humidity gel, amongst a few other samples like UV protectant!! I naturally thought she was just being cordial and nice when offering to someday bring me some, but boy oh boy, did she ever! :)

So, thank you very much!! You have made a new customer of Ouidad, so their thanks should be to you, as well! ha ha

Anyway, I absolutely LOVE the deep treatment and humidity gel. Both my stylist and my mother have noticed drastic changes in my hair's softness/moisture since using the conditioner, and my frizziness has gone down substantially! My curls are much more smooth and unified. Although, I have been seeing rave reviews about Ouidad's Curl Quencher, so that is my next purchase!! How anything can get better is an exciting prospect!

If you don't want crunchy curls or a product that weighs your hair down, you should really give their products a try! My hair is SUPER dry, thick and dense!!! This product helps tremendously, and has made me feel more confident about not straightening my hair to be more like the mainstream.

Embrace your curls!!! They make you unique!!!

Biscotti!

2012-02-04T08:56:00.000-08:00

I always get a bit frustrated when I go into a nice bakery in NYC, and something as simple as biscotti is so expensive!!! I've also always wondered and wanted to make them myself. Lucky for me, I have a Dad who is not only a photographer, but a chef, as well!!!

So, we made a little segment to show you how to make some classic biscotti at home!

Recipe after the jump!

A few simple ingredients: eggs/oil, sugar and anise extract

Flour and baking powder

Prep Time: 20 min

Inactive Prep Time: --

Cook Time: 45 min

Level:

Serves:

3 to 4 dozen

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon anise extract, or 3 drops anise oil

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, beat together

the oil, eggs, sugar and anise flavoring until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to

form a heavy dough. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto

the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2-inch thickness.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When the cookies are

cool enough to handle, slice each 1 crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet.

Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Cookie slices should be lightly toasted.

(Recipe may be found on FoodNetwork's site, as well)

ENJOY!!

~Missy xoxo

Renaissance event!

2012-02-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, I had the honor of working with the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Education department, on a teen workshop for the new Renaissance exhibit. Every time I am asked to work within their department, everyone is so professional, and you couldn't meet a sweeter group of people.

The event went off without a hitch, and I was assigned to assist the event's photographer. The teens arrived and worked within different rooms on different projects, relating to the Renaissance, as well as getting a chance to roam the exhibits. Afterwards, they were escorted into the designated photography room, in which I helped dress them in Renaissance costume and accessories and turned them over to the photographer for some fun Renaissance-styled photos!

Our photo station setup!

I was commissioned to make some feminine, Renaissance headwear for the teens to wear in their photos, if they so chose!

We had a rack full of Renaissance-style men and women's clothing, and a table with various chains and pins.

Accessory table with headwear and jewelry!

The teens brought the crafts (shields and brooches reminiscent of family crests) that they had made in the previous workshops and took pictures in costume! They really had a lot of fun!

A few pictures from the event will be posted up soon on the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Teen Facebook page. If you're a teen, you should definitely check out their programs! You get free access to the museum for a full year, and they have so many artistic driven programs. They're wonderful!

~Missy xoxo