Chocolate Covered Strawberry Puppy Chow

Not only did I not tell you what I got for my birthday but I forgot to tell you one major change. I dyed my hair! I rarely do anything with my hair -- cut or color. I usually follow the same pattern: don't cut my hair for about 2 years, get annoyed with how long and heavy my hair gets and chop it off :) But this time, I was craving something different. I have been seeing this ombre hairstyle floating around and it caught my eye. But being of a darker skin tone -- the bleached blonde ombre was just not something that would look good on  me and would be too drastic of a change.

After doing a little research I found a picture of someone who did a black to dark brown ombre. It looked really cute and like something that would fit me well. I love it! I read a lot about this look being high maintenance but so far it's been great. I do think it looks nicer with curled hair, so I try to do that more often (in fact I just bought my first curling wand). I know some people curl their hair with a hair straightner but it just does not work for me....I find the curling wand really easy to use and it make much nicer curls and waves!

On to the last puppy chow recipe of my Day 4 Valentine's Day countdown :) Since I had some strawberry cake mix left from the Strawberry Puppy Chow, I decided to make a similar version of puppy chow. All I kept thinking about was the dark chocolate covered strawberry cake balls I made. And voila -- there you have it -- chocolate covered strawberry puppy chow! These were different from the dark chocolate covered strawberry cake balls, which had a subtle hint of strawberry. Instead the puppy chow had a strong flavor of strawberry with a subtle hint of chocolate. I think this puppy chow would look really cute if mixed half-and-half with the Strawberry Puppy Chow.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY PUPPY CHOW

Slightly adapted from from Your Cup of Cake 

INGREDIENTS

5 c. Rice Chex cereal
1 c. chocolate chips

1 c. strawberry cake mix
1/4 c. powdered sugar
Valentine's M&Ms

DIRECTIONS

In a large tupperware (or mixing bowl with lid) measure out 5 c. of Rice Chex cereal. In a separate bowl, sift and then whisk together strawberry cake mix and powdered sugar -- set aside.

Microwave chocolate chips until melted, be careful not to burn the chocolate. If the microwave just does not work for you, you can try a double broiler.

Pour chocolate over Rice Chex cereal. Then using a spatula fold the chocolate into the Rice Chex cereal, until well coated. Dump strawberry-powdered sugar into the tupperware and seal with lid (alternatively you can use a large ziplock freezer bag -- which is easier for clean up). SHAKE....put on some music...dance with it...but SHAKE IT LIKE A SALT SHAKER ;) Just keep shaking....

Once Rice Chex cereal is well coated in strawberry-powdered sugar mix, dump onto large cookie sheet and let cool. Mix in Valentine's M&Ms and serve :)

Enjoy,
Chika

Strawberry Puppy Chow

I realized that in all my recapping of my birthday, I did not tell you all what I got! And, being just a tad materialistic...that has got to be one of my favorite parts of my birthday! You know, those things you would never get yourself regularly because it just doesn't fit into your budget or seems just a little to much to justify in your head? But on your birthday, it is justified....hahah...and as you open it, that feeling of excitement you get? You know, that feeling when you were turning 5 and your parents threw you a huge party. And all you could see was that chocolate cake and huge pile of presents....THAT FEELING :) Maybe that's why I love my birthday so much and probably why my loved ones go all out for me....because I act like a 5-year old on my birthday and not a rational 20-something year old ;) Who needs rational?

This year for my birthday instead of asking for baking and cooking supplies. I know right!?! What was I thinking?! I wanted to "up my game" on another facet of my life. My girly, grown up side. I wanted to get make up...hahah. My mom never wore make up and so my sister and I were self-taught. And we know the basics....foundation, powder, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara and chapstick. But we did not use make brushes, beauty blenders, primers, concealers, correctors, etc...and I thought it was about time. Well, my sister thought it was because people always see my like a little kid (I wish...)....it's actually because for once in my life, I am feeling my age! I look in the mirror and see those gosh awful bags under my eyes...the puffiness....WHAT?!?! NOOOOOoooOOOOO

So, I wanted to learn the art of make up. Not the extreme kind where you can't even recognize me but where I look nice, for everyday and going out. Where the make-up is photogenic in pictures! And that is what  splurged on....fancy, name brand make up: Urban Decay (including the original Naked Palette), Lorac, Tarte, beauty blender....you name it, I got it. And Paulina splurged and got me fancy Sigma brushes for my birthday so I can learn to put on make up the right way ;) Stephanie splurged and got me these two adorable tops and one pair of gorgeous earrings. I swear, without them, I would look like a hot mess. I've been watching make-up tutorials on YouTube (but man can those girls freakin' talk....shhhhhhh) and playing around a bit to figure it all out. Paulina is going to Facetime and "teach me."

Blah blah.... ;) On to my second  Valentine's puppy chow recipe. The hubby (because remember he's a weirdo) is not a fan of red velvet. He says "it's not bad, there's just nothing special." ::shock face:: I wanted to make a puppy chow recipe that he would like. So I decided to make a strawberry puppy chow! Plus it's pink...one of the the two ultimate Valentine's Day color.s He really liked it #score.

STRAWBERRY PUPPY CHOW 

Recipe inspired by Life, Love, & Sugar

INGREDIENTS

5 c. Rice Chex cereal
1 c. white chocolate chips
1 1/2 c. strawberry cake mix
Valentine's M&Ms

DIRECTIONS

In a large tupperware (or mixing bowl with lid) measure out 5 c. of Rice Chex cereal. In a separate bowl, sift strawberry cake mix -- set aside.

Microwave chocolate chips until melted, be careful not to burn the chocolate. If the microwave just does not work for you, you can try a double broiler.

Pour chocolate over Rice Chex cereal. Then using a spatula fold the chocolate into the Rice Chex cereal, until well coated. Dump sifted, strawberry cake mix into the tupperware and seal with lid (alternatively you can use a large ziplock freezer bag -- which is easier for clean up). SHAKE....put on some music...dance with it...but SHAKE IT LIKE A SALT SHAKER ;) Just keep shaking....

Once Rice Chex cereal is well coated in strawberry cake mix, dump onto large cookie sheet and let cool. Mix in Valentine's M&Ms and serve :)

Enjoy,
Chika

Red Velvet Puppy Chow

Before I continue on with my, probably not so exciting recap of my BIRTHDAY, I wanted to say that it is so nice to have this blog where I can write about random things that I have to share, thoughts that come across my mind (like this tangent) and food that I LOVE :) Why this random comment? I have been having a stressful February, which says a lot since graduate school is one big stress ball...yes I may make up words and yes...stress ball works ;)

Well, after going to the baby shower I headed back to have dinner with my besties. They are gorgeous right?!? I LOVE my besties AND if you happen to be one of the two people who read this blog ;)....you probably know that I talk about Paulina and Stephanie all the time because I truly feel blessed to have them in my life.

This sums up our friendship perfectly!

 As I have gotten older ::cough later twenties....sad face:: I have met many people -- those that became friends but overtime faded away as well as I've seen other people and the development of their friendships. Rarely do I see people keep a strong tie to their friends as they get older and get married. Even more, rarely do I see people keep their high school friends when they go off to college. Well, I have both in them. Paulina, Stephanie and I are going on 13 years of friendship :) We have gone through graduations, first boyfriends, break ups, love, death, engagements, marriages....all the worst and best of life....together. They support me, love me, truly care about me and want whats best for me. I know if I need anything....they would give it to me or help me achieve it. And I feel the same for them. I am so thankful for our friendship.

I had such a nice dinner with them because it's always filled with non-stop laughter. The laughter that makes your stomach hurt because you are laughing so hard. But it just feels so good to laugh that much. And, oddly at the same time we have deep conversations that you would never have with anyone else. My time with them, is always....just that awesome :)

I got to try a "new" restaurant -- by new I mean since I moved away from Cali, it was built, but it's not actually "new." It's called Wokcano and it had the best calamari I have ever had!

And on a side note: Paulina is getting hitched in Cancun, Mexico! I got her beautiful invite in the mail and I just booked the hubby and I's flight/hotel. I am BEYOND excited to spend a vacay with my besties :) I have never traveled with them, so this will be a first! :)

It is half way through my Valentine's Day countdown (I thought I'd spare you the Countdown to Love this time ;) and so I wanted to do a bonus day. This is the first of three puppy chow recipes I want to share with you. Okay, I went puppy chow crazy and then  "blamed" it on this countdown to have an excuse....don't judge me...because once you eat it, you'll know why. I gained 5 pounds just eating this red velvet puppy chow....WHY!?!?! Did I find this.....because the universe loves me! hahaha...this can get a little messy but is super easy to make and fun!

RED VELVET PUPPY CHOW

Slightly adapted from from Your Cup of Cake 

INGREDIENTS

5 c. Rice Chex cereal
3/4 c. white chocolate chips
1/4 c. milk chocolate chips
2 oz. or 1/4 c. of cream cheese
1 1/2 tbsp. milk
1 1/4 c. Red Velvet Cake mix
1/4 c. powdered sugar
Red velvet M&Ms

DIRECTIONS

In a large tupperware (or mixing bowl with lid) measure out 5 c. of Rice Chex cereal. In a separate bowl, sift and then whisk together red velvet cake mix and powdered sugar -- set aside.

Microwave chocolate chips until melted, be careful not to burn the chocolate. If the microwave just does not work for you, you can try a double broiler. Once melted, stir in cream cheese and milk. The melted chocolate will get much thicker, but this is okay.

Pour chocolate over Rice Chex cereal. Then using a spatula fold the chocolate into the Rice Chex cereal, until well coated. Dump red velvet-powdered sugar into the tupperware and seal with lid (alternatively you can use a large ziplock freezer bag -- which is easier for clean up). SHAKE....put on some music...dance with it...but SHAKE IT LIKE A SALT SHAKER ;) Just keep shaking....

Once Rice Chex cereal is well coated in red velvet-powdered sugar mix, dump onto large cookie sheet and let cool. Mix in red velvet M&Ms and serve :)

Enjoy,
Chika