bailey bee

beauty, home and lifestyle blog

FOODIE FRIDAY: TOFU RICE BOWL

Happy Foodie Friday!
Today’s recipes is one of my absolute favorites. If I could choose to only make one thing for dinner for the rest of my life, this would be one of my top choices.
I can make this tofu rice bowl in the evening for dinner and be able to divide it into two halves to have for one half for lunch the following day.

Adapted from Mealime

Ingredients

  • 1 crown broccoli
  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1 (12 oz) package extra firm tofu
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 cup jasmine rice
  • 1/2 lime
  • black pepper
  • crushed red pepper
  • honey
  • natural peanut butter (we’ll want the runniness)
  • salt
  • sesame seeds
  • soy sauce
  • virgin coconut oil
  1. Cook rice per directions, set aside
  2. Wash and dry any fresh produce
  3. Peel and grate/mince ginger and transfer to small bowl
  4. Preheat skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp coconut oil. Once heated, add ginger and cook until fragarant (10-30 seconds)
  5. Drain and cube tofu, add to skillet with ginger and season with salt/pepper to taste. Cook 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown
  6. Cut broccoli into bite-sized florets and transfer to a medium bowl
  7. Peel carrot and trim off ends. Using a box grater, corsely grate the carrot and transfer to another medium bowl
  8. Transfer tofu and ginger out of pan and add broccoli to cook until soft (2-3 minutes)
  9. Peel and mince/press garlic. Transfer to a small bowl to prep the sauce
  10. Juice lime and add to garlic
  11. Add peanut butter, soy sauce, water, honey and crushed red pepper to the garlic and lime juice. Whisk until combined
  12. To serve, arrange rice, tofu, broccoli and carrots in a bowl. Drizzle with peanut sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Enjoy!

WEDDING WEDNESDAY: ENGAGEMENT RING SIZING ISSUES (HOW-TO FIX A TWIRLING OR LOOSE RING)

Okie dokie. Today’s post may be a bit niche but I’m hoping it’ll find its way to the proper corner of the internet to help some people.

In the past three or four months since getting engaged, I’ve mostly dealt with one thing: my engagement ring. No, no. Nothing about the design of it (it’s exactly what I wanted) or even the ring itself, really (although I tried). It’s more an issue of my finger.

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?

Here is my freaking perfect ring:

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Honestly not sure how the ring managed to be straight in that photo because it was hu-u–u-u-u-ge on me. HOWEVER! There was nothing actually wrong with my ring. It properly fit over my knuckle but once it cleared that, it was massive on the meat of my finger. I realized this QUICKLY upon getting on my computer and more specifically, my keyboard. That thing was spinning all around my finger and it was wildly distracting. Does this look familiar?

The two-plus months following our engagement were spent back and forth between our jewelers’ shop doing the following:

  • Sizing the ring down from a 5.75 to a 5.5 (it was still too ‘big’)
  • Sizing the ring down from a 5.5 to a 5.25 (it was still twirling around the meat of my finger– too ‘big’)
  • Adding sizing beads to keep the ring from twirling (now it was too tight and couldn’t get past my knuckle)
  • Sizing the ring back to a 5.5 and keeping the sizing beads (still too tight to get around my knuckle)
  • Removing the sizing beads and keeping the ring at a 5.5 (just barely fits over my knuckle but still twirls on the meat of my finger)
By the last change, I was so frustrated by the process and was determined to figure it out by myself because every time I dropped the ring off at the jeweler’s it took two to three weeks to get it returned back to me. I was newly engaged! I wanted to show off my ring!
 
THANKFULLY
 
as my jeweler dropped the ring off with the final edit, he suggested a short-term fix of some clear plastic corkscrews that twist around the ring once it had already been put on. I ended up purchasing these from Amazon. This “short-term fix” has become my forever solution.
 
The pack I purchased comes with three different corkscrews varying in thickness. I personally have to use the thickest ones and wrap them almost the entire back side of my ring– see below:

It’s not very pretty whenever the inside of your hand is shown in photos or video but it keeps my ring upright and feeling comfortable. I’m hoping in the Summer my finger will swell a bit more and I’ll be able to use the thinner adjusters but I’m just so relieved to have solved this problem as of now.
 
I know I can’t be the only one who has larger knuckles and slimmer fingers and I hope someone reads this blog before trying to add on sizing beads or bars to their ring because they really don’t solve this issue. I’m all for saving time and money when it comes to something as exciting as an engagement ring! If you have this problem, I invite you to sound off in the comments below so we can chat! I know it’s super frustrating and have beeeeeeen there. Good luck! Let me know if you choose to buy these plastic adjusters and how they work out for you.

CURRENT BEDROOM

Hi hi hiiii good day everyone!!
 
I’m back with ONE MORE home post before we make the big move to N.C. and this post is showcasing our bedroom! It’s the darkest room in the house (strange, because there are two windows) so the photos aren’t the prettiest but I tried my best to make it look good for ya.
 
Framed art is super high, I know. It was hung based off an old piece I had before my storage console.
 
First up is our bed. That beautiful headboard is from Pier 1 Imports. I’ve had my eye on headboards like this for a long time but getting a custom one is hella expensive and making my own seemed super tedious (because I didn’t want to have to attach to or lean against my wall). I was so beyond excited when I found this one online and ON SALE! It’s typically always on sale I’ve noticed so if you want it and it’s not right now, give it a few days.
 
The bed is piled with a bunch of bed pillows and some throw ones. The pink one is an old design from Target and the winky face is one of Urban Outfitters’ signature products. It’s not the highest quality but definitely makes a statement. Under those is my duvet from West Elm. The story behind this duvet is slightly interesting– once I finally agreed with Charlie on letting go of the one I have had in my family for YEARS and really liked– it matched those brownish bed pillows– I found myself shopping around and was at a total loss for what I wanted in a duvet cover aesthetically. I thought to head over to my ‘Bedroom’ Pinterest board and I realized that one of my favorite photos on that board starred a duvet I already had IN MY SHOPPING CART from West Elm. Suddenly everything made sense. and I bought it and I love it.
 
Hugging the bed are two side tables from Target. These are a steal IMO and the quality is top notch. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a cute side table/night stand/accent table. The lamps are also from Target; I bought the grey lampshade on sale years ago and held onto it through numerous moves without even utilizing it on a base because I fell in love with the soft dove grey color. Unfortunately, I only had one so when the time came for both Charlie and myself to have bedside lamps, I was forced to look for another match. Better yet, I found a similar-yet-different match. Same lamp shade, same reflective gold lining, just in black. Voila! A quirky lamp combo. I threw them on matching brass lamp bases and have been happy with the combo ever since.
 
Above the bed is a custom piece from RadicalSouls Collective on Etsy. It’s a huge item but brings a level of whimsy to the room that I enjoy. I loved working with Danielle from RadicalSouls because she let me customize to anything my heart desired from the wooden beads on top of the tassels to choosing the right piece of driftwood to mirror the design’s shape that I had envisioned. She NAILED it. Here’s another photo of it from her Instagram account:
 
 
 
This is my side of the bed. This storage console is from Target and I utilize it as a vanity-type station. Atop it are my go-to skincare picks (I posted about them in October. Check it out!), makeup brush carousel and my Simple Human mirror. It’s a hefty buy at $199 but if purchased at Bed, Bath and Beyond you can apply a 20% off coupon on it. It simulates natural daylight– which comes in handy over the winter when I’m getting home from work and it’s almost dark out.
 
Feel free to shop this post below! I included some items that were in the photos but did not touch on in case you were curious:
 

GIORGIO ARMANI BEAUTY A-LINE CONTOUR LIQUID BRONZER IN ’21-COOL’

Happy Tuesday!

I’m not sure what’s with me and liquid contours lately but that last one seemed to go over prettttttty well so here’s another review and demo! Today I’ll be discussing the Giorgio Armani Beauty A-Line Contour Liquid “Bronzer”.

In the above swatch, it looks like the product is bleeding (and it is) but it does not bleed on the face and it doesn’t really matter since you blend it out anyway.

Pictures really do say a thousand words, don’t they?

I’ve had this contouring liquid in my ‘loves’ list on the Sephora app for weeks and I finally decided to give it a go during Sephora’s recent 20% off promotional sale. The shade I purchased was ’21-Cool’.

After I dusted off the initial SHOCK of how tiny this bottle is………. it’s like, smaller than my palm…….  I was able to demo it out and I concluded that I do really like the stuff. If you’re scared of contouring, this is a great beginner product for you because it blends very, very easily. I personally prefer highly “blendable” cheek products because I don’t have a very precise way of applying face makeup. Anytime an item can blend itself out well and not require too much specific attention, it’s a winner in my book. Additionally, this contour doesn’t look dirty on the face as some cooler-toned contours can appear. The one down side? The $38 price tag.

I’ve been applying this liquid contour/bronzer with either a brush or my Beauty Blender. I do not recommend using your fingers as things can get a bit streaky.

Feel free to shop this post below:

FREE PEOPLE YELLOW KNIT + BAUBLE BAR

Hey there!

I’ve been wanting to show more of my style choices here sooo I am doing just that with today’s post. My fashion taste is simple but sometimes I feel the need to share those simple things as this wild online world can sometimes be overrun with OTT outfits that I could never imagine actually donning for an entire day.

I picked up this Free People sweater from LuLu’s on Black Friday because I was inspired by the sunny shade in a sweater since I’d be obligated to wear it November-March– the months I’m usually rocking jewel tones and extra hardcore blacks and greys. I paired the sweater with some tassel earrings from BaubleBar in a matching mellow yellow color (similar tagged below).

Heads up if you’re reading this the day I’m posting it or soon thereafter– this sweater is actually 40% off if you buy from Nordstrom (linked below), which is an even better deal than what I got it for on Black Friday! It comes in a variety of delicate shades that you can easily transition from Winter to Spring when the time comes.

Random side story– I have driven past this little gateway well over a hundred times in the two and a half years I have lived in my current city. It’s behind a stretch of townhomes next to the shopping center that holds both my Target and grocery store (aka I’m passing by there a LOT). I always told myself I would get around to shooting either myself or someone else underneath it but have just never gotten around to doing so. Yesterday I was off from work for a day of mourning former President Bush and I figured I’d do it since I’m moving so soon. The owners of the home were totally fine with me setting up behind their house for a few minutes on a random, chilly Wednesday afternoon. I love that.

Let me know below if you pick up the sweater while it’s on sale and tell me which color you got! We can be style (and/or color) twins!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: JEWELRY LOVER

jewelry laid out from south moon under, baublebar and kendra scott for holiday gift guide inspiration

I’m not big on gift guides BUT I have found myself drooooooling over some jewelry lately across a few different sites so I figured I’d throw together a mix of what I’ve seen that’s new and pretty in jewelry land.

1. I have two favorite stones from Kendra Scott. I love her opals and I love her dichroic glass. These studs are the latter– and come in two more colors! They’re fairly large for studs– which I prefer. If you’re gonna buy pricier jewelry that you think is cute for someone, I think they should show them off as much as possible!

2. If you follow me on Instagram then you know about my obsession with South Moon Under’s resin tortoise earrings. I own two of the three shown above and fully intend on buying the third as well. I love the creaminess and contrast of this tortoise pattern and they’re sooo light. It’s like you aren’t even wearing earrings. I sent a picture to my sister after I bought my first pair and she immediately went and bought the same ones. They’re definitely a gifting winner!

3. Another fave of mine from Kendra Scott are her lariats. This one comes in three colors and is a unique addition to a layered necklace look.

4. This necklace looks a bit wild but I think it’s just so cool. The discs look like they’re floating on your neck and the choker length creates an edgy, yet simple vibe. AKA MY VIBE. Edgy, yet simple. Always. This one also comes in silver!

5. On the topic of creamy and contrasted, this sweet bracelet is just that. I’m a sucker for anything black and white and speckled. This bracelet is made of dalmatian stone– which, other than sounding cute, balances the emotions and body. Plus, it’s stretchy. Who doesn’t prefer a stretchy bracelet? This allows it to fit many different sized wrists so it makes a worry-free gift.

6. Next are some statement earrings. They also come in a blush but something about the black and gold screams New Year’s Eve to me and these would be the BEST party earrings for somebody. These also come in blush!

7. Lastly is this delicate letter necklace. You can pick any letter you want for your recipient for your name, their name or anything else your heart desires. I want to pick up the ‘B’ for my first name (and future last name!) The chain balances the off-kilter letter by placing in two small stones up the chain to the left. It’s dainty and understated but will feel extra special with the personalized letter– without having to pay for an actual personalized gift.

Feel free to shop this post below:

FULL FACE OF MAKEUP SAMPLES + FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Hi there!

I recently uploaded a video to my YouTube channel trying out various makeup samples that I have had sitting around for ages. I love collecting samples of products but I’m terrible at using them up and this video was the perfect solution for that problem. Check the video out below and keep scrolling to get the dirt on my first impressions of each item.

I started with the Glossier Priming Moisturizer which made my face moisturized and tacky. The tackiness spoke to how this product performs as a primer but I can’t speak any more on that because I don’t know how the other face products would have performed unprimed or over my usual primers. As a moisturizer, though, it was solid.

I began my eyes with the Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadows in ‘Kitten’ and followed up with ‘Twig’. Kitten was insanely metallic and reflective (very Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Wand-esque) and blended great. Twig was terrible. It stuck down where applied and did not blend whatsoever. On top of that, it wasn’t even that shimmery. In order to blend Twig out as much as I could I applied Bite Beauty Multisticks in ‘Cashew’ to the crease and it solved all my issues. I’ve used Bite’s Multisticks in the past (from samples) and they’re a fantastic multiuse product. To date I’ve used it in the browns, on the eyes, on the cheeks and lips. I tried to add a bit of depth by adding in Twig as a top eyeliner. Didn’t work very well as that either.

To start with my face I applied the Dr. Jart Premium Beauty Balm in ‘Light to Medium’. I’ve had a few samples of this in the past and liked it enough to ALMOST buy it on one occassion but it is simply just a shade too dark for my natural complexion and for that, I haven’t bought it. But I do enjoy it as a product. To clean up my undereyes I applied Cover FX Power Play Foundation in ‘N30’ in a concealing manner with a stiffer, detailed face brush. I initially expected this shade to be significatly darker than me but it ended up looking just fine. It did its job as a concealer but I can’t speak to the longevity as a full face foundation. Next was Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Powders in ‘Dim Light’ and ‘Radiant Light’ to set my undereyes and bronze up my cheeks. I really enjoyed Dim Light as it brought a healthy filtered glow to my eyes. I liked it so much that I may even pick up a full size. To finish up the face I went in with Bite’s multistick in ‘Biscotti’ as a blush.

I got the godfather of all samples in the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in ‘Ash Brown’ and three other shades. I expected Ash Brown to be a terrible match for me but in the theme of this video, it ended up being just fine. I never expected to like Dipbrow because I’ve always been happy with powder products and never even enjoyed pencils like the masses do but MAN.. I LIKED DIPBROW. I already purchased it in my more proper shade. Review coming soon!

Last up was Sephora Collection #LIPSTORIES Lipstick in ‘Labyrinth City’. I applied it over a base of that Bite Multistick in ‘Biscotti’ and it was a pretty, typical matte rose lippie. It was super comfortable on the lips but I feel that may have been because I applied it over the creamy multistick.

I was so caught off guard with how many products I genuinely liked and I’m proud that the samples served their purpose– to allow me to try a product for free and form an opinion prior to buying.

Filming this video inspired me to use up my samples as I receive them in hopes of finding more products I like that I had never thought to try out before. Do you like the final look? Let me know in the comments!

To shop the products I used in this video, see below:

SOME PINK GOODIES

I’ve been inspired by some beauty accounts I’ve seen on Instagram lately and decided to try to make a flat lay of my own. Here are some pink beauty grabs I’ve picked up recently and/or have been loving!
flat lay of pink products like warby parker glasses, frank body scrub, glossier lip gloss, becca lip gloss, viktor and rolf flowerbomb

Shop this pretty post: