Stretching: My routine :)

Hey guys, so this is my routine for stretching (usually 30 min b4 class). Make sure you stop when your body tells you to. And, warm up, and keep the room at a warm temperature to help your muscles. Stretch b4, and after ballet class. :) Hope this helps
-Butterfly-foot soles together, knees down to the floor-classic :)
-Frog Stretch-lay on your stomach, press your foot soles together, knee's and bum flat on the floor. Stretches you turnout.
-Straddle-open legs in a la seconde, and lean forward. Chest on the floor.
-Lunges left and right-Lunge with one knee bents, other straightened behind you
-Splits pre-stretch-Lay on your back, keeping one leg straight, bring the opposite leg up (keeping straight) to your chest/ear
-Splits-left and right
-Oversplits-take a phone book, and do the splits with one leg propped up on it. Or take two chairs, front leg on one, back leg on another
-Middle Splits
-Back stretch-Lie on stomach, push up with hands keeping legs together, shoulders down

Smiley Face Nail Art Tutorial! :)

You will need:

-Base coat (I used Revlon multicare base + top coat

-Bright Yellow polish (I used Sally Hansen Insta-dry in Lightening)

-Black polish (I used Silky Girl in black)

-White Polish (I used Silky Girl in white)

-Nail brush (You can purchase a tiny brush from an art store, or purchase a nail art brush at Sally's Beauty Supply Store

-Top coat (I used Sally Hansens Diamond Strength top coat)

-Bobby pin or nail dotter (You can purchase a nail dotter at Sally's Beauty Supply Store)

Stepz:

First, apply the base coat. Let dry. Then apply a thin coat of yellow polish. Add a second coat if needed. Dot on two black medium-sized dots with a bobby pin. Paint on a smiley face with black polish and a small paintbrush or nail art brush. Add two small white dots with the paintbrush inside of the two bigger black dots. Apply a top coat.

Best frosting ever!

So I recently made this frosting 4 some cupcakes, and it was absolutely delicious! It's great for piping on cupcakes, or cookies, as it's thick-ish (it can be made thinner, though).
Ingredients:
1/2 cup softened butter
1/2 cup cream cheese
small spoonful milk (more or less, depending on the consistency you're going for)
1 cup icing sugar

Stepz:
Cream the butter and cream cheese together, until well mixed. Add a small spoonful of milk, and add icing sugar 1 cup at a time. If you want a thinner consistency, simply add more milk. Store in a container in the fridge.

Huge Ballet Haul!!!

Ok, so I recently went to the local ballet store, and spent 2 hours getting a pointe shoe fitting, and going ballet shopping, so here's what I got! (pictures are from the Internet, not taken by me):

Grishko's Miracle Pointe shoes $110. These are super comfy, as they have a new thin layer off padding, preventing from blistered feet from getting worse. They have a super nice shape that goes slightly outwards at the bunion portion of your foot, and they have a sturdy, hard box. Overall they are a comfort pointe shoe, that I would recommend for anyone :) They are the newest model of Grishko's pointe shoe, so that explains the price...but they're totally worth it! ;)



Russian Pointe Polette/Almaz? (Around $82-84)Not sure...sorry :-/Anyways, I got two russian pointes. The ones I got are super hard! I think russian pointe's generally are...They are very narrow at the toes, so they kinda pinch your toes together, so I would recommend wearing spacers with them, and the v-shaped ones have no drawstring...
                              

Bloch woman's tights (srry dunno the price...):

Spacer pack by Bunheads: I need them for my big toe! Especially with the russian pointes :p

Bunhead's Jr. Ouch Pouches: Super comfy, the best padding I've had.

Bunhead's Jet Glue: They recently started selling this, you put it in the box of your toe shoes to make them last longer :)


Bunhead's Stitch Kit: Great for doing up your ribbons and elastics quickly! :)

Bloch's ProFlex leather ballet slippers:

Some

Hair Care (and bath gel)

So, these are the products I've recently been using on my hair. I don't use a lot of products, because usually I don't have a lot of time (my school starts quite early...), and I have thin.greasy hair, so I was my hair everyday, and I don't use a normal conditioner.
Kerasys volumising shampoo:

Kerasys volumising wave essence: This is just a leave-in conditioner, that gives your hair texture


Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair (sort of like a shine serum):


Schwarzkopf Osis+ Hairspray:

 The Body Shop bath gel in Cherry Blossom (OMG THIS STUFF SMELLS SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!):

Healthy Desserts?

I have a huge sweet tooth, so I'm always finding out my favorite sweets, and when I have time, baking them. But I know that there are "healthy desserts" and really, not so healthy desserts. I'm not a nutritionist or whatever, so I may be wrong, but here are some suggestions, photos, and recipes for a more "healthier" selection of desserts.
#1: Pumpkin pie. This is one of my favorite desserts, although the title might sound repulsive, I promise you, it is extremely delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 eggs
• 1 (15 ounce) can LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can NESTLE® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2. Combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shell.
3. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F.; bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause the crust to separate from the filling.)

#2: Oatmeal/raisin cookies: These cookies you've probably heard of, but here's the recipe anyways.

Ingredients

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the oats, flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in walnuts and raisins.
2. Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool

#3: Carrot Cake: One of my personal favorites! :)

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 (15 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk. Stir in carrots, coconut, vanilla, and pineapple. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; gently stir into carrot mixture. Stir in chopped nuts. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
4. In a medium mixing bowl, combine butter or margarine, cream cheese, vanilla, and confectioners sugar. Blend until creamy. Frost cake while still in the pan.

#4: One of my dads favorites:

Ingredients

• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy, and stir in melted butter. Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar and the flour; mix well. Last add the milk, vanilla and nuts.
3. Pour into an unbaked 9-in pie shell. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until done.

New Grishko Fouettes!!

They are super comfy. They're in a size 3 1/2 Hard shank, and a long/medium vamp, 4got which one...:-/