Love for Oklahoma a Tribute to Moore

The Vintage Pearl

I'm sure you all have heard the heartbreaking news about the tornados in Moore Oklahoma. My family watched the tornados live, praying they would go away and stay away from our families in Tulsa.

Local churches and organizations are gathering necessary donations and making many trips down to Moore with food, water, clothing, and to help clean up debris.

Not a lot of you know this but I work for one of the best places in the world- The Vintage Pearl. They came up with an awesome way to help. 100% of the necklace Love for Oklahoma goes straight to the American Red Cross to aid in the relief efforts for Moore. If you'd like to help you can purchase the necklace here and wear it around to show support and as a reminder to pray for Oklahoma.

Please help us spread the word. We pray that this necklace will serve as a sweet tribute and a great reminder of what happened on May 20, 2013 and to pray for your Oklahoma friends.

~ Rayah

Nails of the day

Today I felt going a bit nude... With my nails that is. And I love having one off nail so I went with a dark purple glitter. Perfect subtleness for the office or night out

Razor Ready Legs ~ Super Silky Coconut Sugar Shaving Scrub

So lately I've had a love for all things coconut oil. On top of that, a love for anything that helps my skin. I have extremely dry skin. I moisturize and drink plenty of water but still see lines around my shins and ankles. But not since using coconut oil. I usually put some on after getting out if the shower but using this scrub saves me time and helps get rid of any dead skin when I shave. No more expensive shaving products. I made some this weekend with a few items in our pantry.

1 1/4 cups of sugar

1/2 cup of coconut oil

3 tablespoons of lemon juice

Mix well with a spoon. You might need to heat up the coconut oil as it does become a solid if stored in a cool place.

And TA DAAA, that's all it takes.
Use as a shaving scrub and you'll have 100% naturally silky legs.

Personally, I use this all over my body. The sugar is the perfect exfoliant and the oil makes my whole body super silky. Seriously I can't stop touching my legs.

If the oil does become a solid again I just run the container under the hot water from the shower and it turns back into a liquid.

Feel free to use on your lips to hydrate and slosh off any dead skin.

Bring on the shorts!

~Rayah

UPDATE - after using this for a few weeks I have a few extra tips.

• Don't leave the container open... it will attract bugs. ick
• Be careful not to get any water from the shower in the mix. It will dilute the sugar.
• Go ahead, lick your exfoliated lips, it taste good.

~Rayah

These are a few of my favorite things...

Mother's Frosted Circus Animal Cookies & Jones Fufu Berry Soda. I absolutely love both of these. I'm not huge on sweet snacks but these are perfect. I was really excited the other day while shopping at our local grocery store when I found my favorite flavor of Jones soda, FUFU BERRY. When I lived on the west coast I could find this all the time, but Oklahoma is another story.

Jones not only taste great but they're fun. You send send in your favorite photo and they'll send you a pack of sodas for a small price with your picture and location on the label. Great for parties, weddings, graduation, or even a special proposal. They're based out of Canada so they can be hard to find but if you come across them they are a must buy.

Circus Animal cookies are a childhood favorite. And this is the ONLY frosted brand I like. All others taste too yogurty or have a weird after-taste. That's just my personal preference.

In 2012 there was rumor of trouble with this line of cookies from Mothers, I was sad I wouldn't get to have them anymore so my hubby and dad would buy them completely out whenever they found some. Either everything worked out or it was all rumor because I can find these cookies just about anyway now. Yeah me!!!

If I ever need a pick-me-up I get out these two things and turn on a little F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

What do you do to get away?

~Rayah

Let's Go Cowboys!!!

There's no problem showing a little team spirit at the office. Especially when your boss surprisingly does too.

I absolutely love my boss! Had to have a photo opp!
I might be disowned if my in~loves see this... :/

What teams do you cheer for?

~Rayah

Now I can share... Raspberry Coconut Cheesecake

Since yesterday was Sarah's birthday but we couldn't fully celebrate until today I can finally share my cheesecake recipe I made for her. OH MY!!! It was DELICIOUS.

By far one of the best deserts I have every had. I had trouble sharing.

I licking the bowl clean... NO LIE!

 But for her birthday I did take her out for Sushi. Tulsa's Sushi Hana is absolutely the best. Get the OMG Roll... Tell them Shurayah sent you and they'll hook you up with a free appetizer.

After we were fully stuffed they brought her a deep fried slice of cheesecake... again delicious!!!

But back to my cheesecake recipe.

Ingredients

4 - 8-ounce packages of cream cheese

1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 teaspoon Coconut extract

1 tablespoon Vanilla extract

2 cups of Coconut shavings

2 cups of Raspberries

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup cornstarch

2 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 tsp Sea Salt

3 large eggs

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 335 F and oil ( I used coconut oil)  an 8 to 9-inch cake or glass pan. Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom for easy removal later. If you are wanting a crust I recommend toasting some of the coconut now to use.

Place one 8-ounce package of the cream cheese, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the cornstarch in the bowl to mix. Beat on low speed until creamy, about 3 minutes, then beat in the remaining 3 packages of cream cheese.

Increase the mixer speed to high and beat in 1 1/4 cups of the sugar. After you're done with that beat in the vanilla, coconut extract, and salt. Blend in the eggs one at a time, beating only until completely blended.

Now slowly mix in the cream and sour cream until just combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place the pan in a larger shallow pan containing warm/hot water that comes about halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake the cheesecake until the top is lightly browned and center not wobbly, about 1 hour and 25 minutes. Allow to cool in the oven with the door propped open for about 30 minutes. 

Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 4 hours if you plan on eating it the same day.

Now for the coconut. Switch the oven to broil and spread the coconut on your baking sheet.

Toast for about 15-25 minutes, checking every 5 minutes to make sure you're not burning them. They wont all turn brown but as long as 20% of them change color that's what you're looking for. Remove from oven and let set until the cheesecake is ready.

For the Raspberry sauce topping use only 1 cup fresh raspberries ( the rest will be for decoration) and 3/4 cup sugar. Reduce in small pot over medium heat until thickened. If you don't like the seeds then now's the time you'll want to strain the sauce.

 

Press the toasted coconut into the sides of the cheesecake. They wont all stick the first time so you might have to go around it a few times to place as much as you want on.

Spread raspberry sauce to within 1/2 inch of the edge of the cheesecake. Place fresh raspberries on the top.

Eat and Enjoy!

Since my husband hates seeds and I wasn't sure who would mind I did strain them out as much as I needed to cover the cake. I was a bit hungry and everything was so delicious that I decided to use the remaining seeded sauce for a late night PB&J sandwhich. mm mmm

~ Rayah

Happy Birthday Sarah!!!!

My very close friend of a few years turns 27 today! I thought I'd share the celebration with you.

I get to see her beautiful face almost everyday now that we work in the same building. I'm so lucky to have a close friend that I see this often, most working married people don't get that luxury.

When she started working here a few months ago I wanted to share a deep congratulation that expressed how much she means to me but never got around to finishing it so here it goes...

I am so thankful for you. I've prayed for a special friend like you for many years but it took about a year and half until I realized my prayers had been answered. One day it just hit me... God blessed me with you. You're an uplifting, encouraging woman of God and I'm so thankful David found you. You go out of your way for the people that mean the most to you and I feel so blessed to be one of those. Your laugh and personality brings out the best in others and that draws so many to you. You know how to have fun and wont let others taint that bubbly spirit of yours( even when they are jealous ; ) ). You're EXTREMELY thoughtful and never miss a beat to show it. You let others come to you with their problems and I've never had someone that would so unjudgingly listen to me. I've bragged to many about you and what I'm most excited about it all the years we'll spend as friends.  Thank you for being so awesome. Thank you for all the fun we've had. I pray I'm as good of a friend to you as you are to me.

And today we celebrate you. You and all you are. Why you're so loved and cared for. I pray that you have a wonderful week filled with everyone you love and loves you. It's your first birthday we really get to celebrate and see each other and I'm so happy now you're in town to stay.

I feel like there is so much more but it all comes out the same...

We love you Sarah

Happy Birthday!

  

 Wish Sarah a happy birthday at http://wedding1112.blogspot.com

~ Rayah