Ch-ch-ch-chia: No Cook Chia Seed Pudding

So the other day I was visiting my old stompin' grounds--good old LBC having brunch with some lovelies. My friend , aka kindred spirit, Temma brought a fruit salad delicately sprinkled with chia seeds. As soon as I found out what those curious little specks were, the catchy jingle I heard so often during my childhood came rushing into my mind: "Ch-ch-ch-chia!" And yes, they are the same seeds that we saw spread on in thin coats on terra cotta animals and Einstein heads.

Chia seeds in my fruit salad got me curious as to what else I can put them in. I found out that you can sprinkle them into yogurt, put them in smoothies, put them in baked goods, and toss them into salads. I read a few blog posts, and some peeps mentioned how they're reminiscent of boba when put into beverages. I'm more than happy to add some more healthy seeds (the other common one in our household is flax) into my diet: Chia seeds are a good source of omega 3s, dietary fiber, and protein.

I grabbed a bag of chia seeds at Trader Joe's and followed the recipe on the back. The pudding is super easy to make. It's not like your average pudding (you're probably thinking "duh"), and I can see how it could be an acquired taste for some, but I think it's fun and refreshing. I asked the hubs what he thought about it, and he said, "It's simple and subtle--and tangy from the strawberries." And you should know that his bowl is empty--seedless. Be creative. The pudding is really just an blank canvas.

Ingredients:
(enough for 2 servings)
- 1 cup coconut milk (the stuff you drink--not the thick canned stuff you make curry with)
- 1/4 cup agave nectar (I used half of this b/c i knew I was going to stir in fruit; you can also use honey)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- You can also flavor it with vanilla, cocoa powder, pureed fruit, or citrus juices (according to the bag the seeds came in). I decided to mix in fresh strawberries, and it was delish.

Directions:

Combine all ingredients. Stir well. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Eat up.

 

(Please excuse the weird yellow lighting on the bottom right photo.

 It was late when the pudding finally set.)

DIY Setting Spray

The lowdown:

I'm a sweat-er. This doesn't always help with the makeup staying in place.

My eyeliner always seems to smudge under my eyes, so I use any help I can get to keep it in place. I tried getting the hubs to give me a warning when I get a bit smeary, but I quickly learned that he doesn't say anything because he still thinks wifey still looks pretty when smudgy.

I'm a huge fan of setting sprays, (Mac's, Makeup Forever's, Urban Decay's) but I'm tired of spending 16-30 something odd dollars for them. They work wonders--making skin glowtastic and healthy.
Since I like my makeup to look as natural as possible (especially when the special occasion calls for fuller coverage), I like to have this spray on had whenever possible. All of this to say, I want my "face" to stay in place without spending an arm and a leg. After perusing a few DIY setting spray recipes, I've come up with this:

Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Glycerin*
- Rosewater Toner (optional)
(You can also use drops of essential oils; e.g. lavender/tea tree)
- 2 Vitamin E capsules
- Travel Size Spray Bottle
* Glycerin doesn't keep for too long, so you'll want to be sure to replace your batch every 2-2 1/2 weeks.

 

 

 

Using this will help you stay refreshed, dewy and fresh. If you need to touch up your makeup throughout the day, spritz some of this onto your face, so that powder or foundation go on smoothly rather than cake-y and uneven. Try it out, and let me know what you think :).