How to Toast Quinoa
Quinoa is a magical little grain that's high in protein & gluten-free. In fact, it's actually a seed. I want to show you a wonderful way to give it some natural flavor. That said, you definitely don't toast quinoa in the toaster! Hehehe. Keep reading to learn how to toast quinoa.
1. Locate your quinoa. Found it? Got it? Good. Moving on.
2. Preheat your pan. No need for oil.
3. Gently rinse your quinoa. There's often dirt & other bits o' nature in there.
4. Add your desired amount of quinoa to the pan.
5. Stir lightly until toasty.
Ok, so yes those are the basics.
You really need to keep your eye on the pan, constantly moving the quinoa around. If you don't it'll burn. You'll know your quinoa is just about ready when you start to hear some slight crackling. This means they're getting nice & toasty. You'll see the edges start to brown. You'll smell a lovely waft of aromatic flavor -- kind of nutty.
Slight crackling. Brown edges. Fragrant smell. These are signs you know it's cooking & that it's just about ready. You may toast the quinoa for however long you prefer. Simply monitor the brownness. Let that be your guide because you don't want it to be over toasted or burned.
After your quinoa is toasted, cook as directed. This usually means boiling it for about 20 minutes. Add water to your pan & just let it simmer over low heat until ready. The usual ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. Substitute couscous with quinoa in this cumin chickpea dish. Do you have much cooking with quinoa experience? Was learning how to toast quinoa useful? Have you ever tried toasting your quinoa prior to eating it? :]
1. Locate your quinoa. Found it? Got it? Good. Moving on.
2. Preheat your pan. No need for oil.
3. Gently rinse your quinoa. There's often dirt & other bits o' nature in there.
4. Add your desired amount of quinoa to the pan.
5. Stir lightly until toasty.
Ok, so yes those are the basics.
You really need to keep your eye on the pan, constantly moving the quinoa around. If you don't it'll burn. You'll know your quinoa is just about ready when you start to hear some slight crackling. This means they're getting nice & toasty. You'll see the edges start to brown. You'll smell a lovely waft of aromatic flavor -- kind of nutty.
 |
| before, nice & white |
 |
| before, nice & white |
Slight crackling. Brown edges. Fragrant smell. These are signs you know it's cooking & that it's just about ready. You may toast the quinoa for however long you prefer. Simply monitor the brownness. Let that be your guide because you don't want it to be over toasted or burned.
 |
| after, so toasty. |
 |
| after. mmm. |
After your quinoa is toasted, cook as directed. This usually means boiling it for about 20 minutes. Add water to your pan & just let it simmer over low heat until ready. The usual ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups water. Substitute couscous with quinoa in this cumin chickpea dish. Do you have much cooking with quinoa experience? Was learning how to toast quinoa useful? Have you ever tried toasting your quinoa prior to eating it? :]
50 Things to be Thankful for
I'm here to give thanks. I want to take a moment to just be thankful. Be joyous for everything I have. I want to inspire you as well. We need it. The world needs it. Hopefully, there are some things on this list that you are thankful for too.
1. Being alive
2. Oxygen for making all life possible
3. Blossoming flowers in spring
4. Puppies, kitties, baby animals of any kind
5. Food when you're hungry
6. Music
7. Shoes on your feet & clothes in the closet
8. Good health
9. TV, literature, & film
10. Opportunity to get an education
11. Comfort when you're feeling down
12. Seeing friends & family you haven't seen in ages
13. Cold water on a hot summer's day
14. Sleeping in
15. Fresh cut flowers
16. Cell phones for being able to reach people with ease
17. The ability to read
18. Sun, moon, stars, & everything beyond
19. Taking off your shoes after a long day
20. Receiving a handwritten letter in the mail
21. Dark chocolate
22. Access to the internet & technology
23. Knowing true love
24. Gravity & breathing, that which we have no control over
25. Caller ID
26. Wisdom that comes with age
27. Pizza
28. Freedom to vote
29. Enough money to pay rent
30. Kindness of strangers
31. Sense of smell to smell mum's cooking or fresh bread
32. Sense of sight to see the sunset or your baby's first steps
33. Sense of touch to hug others with love or feel the rain on your cheeks
34. Sense of hearing to listen to thunder or your favorite song
35. Sense of taste to enjoy a warm meal or cold ice cream
36. Holding hands
37. The love & support of friends & family
38. A long night of sleep
39. Sales
40. Cozying up on winter's night
41. Sound of a baby's laughter
42. The last piece of anything (pie, pizza, candy, etc.)
43. How the leaves change color & fall in autumn
44. Travel
45. Sunshine to brighten the day
46. Advancement of technology & medicine
47. That first cup of tea or coffee in the morning
48. Pool & beach days in summer
49. Clean drinking water
50. Holiday traditions
Let's spread thankfulness, gratitude, appreciation, & kindness. Don't spread racism, hate, lies, or bad thoughts on others. We don't need any more fighting or death or darkness. Take the time to be thankful, genuinely. Don't do it to do it. Go out of your way to be grateful or do something kind. Lord knows the world needs more love.
Any plans for today? This is my first Thanksgiving away from my family (they are visiting my sister up in Berkeley). I will be spending the day with my boyfriend's family. Should be interesting. Now time to prep this vegetarian bake! :]
What are you thankful for? Anything from this list? What are your Thanksgiving plans? Does your family have any special traditions?
That's it from me on the blog today. :]
I'll be active on social media such as:
The Plastics from Mean Girls Costume Ideas
I've watched Mean Girls about 1,001 times but never thought about dressing as one of the Plastics for Halloween....until now! Mean Girls is a cult classic. That goes without saying, even though I just said it. But how can you achieve an authentic costume? Well, I've got the basics covered for you with this fab Mean Girls & the Plastics-inspired Halloween costume idea. In case you were wondering, the Plastics are a group of popular meanies consisting of Regina, Gretchen, Karen, & Cady from the film Mean Girls.
You'll need a pink sweater or pink shirt. This cropped pink sweater or long sleeve shirt ought to do the trick. After all "we wear pink on Wednesdays," remember? Don't forget to wear pink otherwise you can't sit with us. Why not pair your pink sweater with a denim skirt? They were extremely popular in the early 2000s along with sling-back kitten heels which are worn throughout the film. Put all 3 together & you've got yourself a very 2000s look. Mean Girls came out in April 2004, so there's a lot of potential
What you'll need for this Mean Girls costume:
- A pink sweater - Find it on Amazon
- Jean skirt - Find it on Amazon
- Pink Kitten heels - Find them on Amazon
Women's Mean Girls Christmas Outfit - Buy it on Amazon.
Other Mean Girls Costume Ideas
There's the bunny costume that Regina George wears or the Jingle Bell Rock Christmas outfit. You could dress like Regina's Mom or Karen Smith. There are a lot of costume ideas! Take a look at Amazon Regina George page to check out some ways to look like Regina George. For example, you could get an alphabet letter pendant necklace with an R initial for Regina. Bring your own Burn Book and bonus points if you cut two holes in your tank top.
Mean Girls Actors
Mean Girls stars Lindsay Lohan as Cady Heron, Jonathan Bennett as Aaron Samuels, Rachel McAdams as Regina George, Tina Fey as Ms. Norbury, Tim Meadows as Mr. Duvall, Amy Poehler as Mrs. George, Ana Gasteyer as Cady's Mom, Lacey Chabert as Gretchen Wieners, Lizzy Caplan as Janis Ian, Daniel Franzese as Damian, Neil Flynn as Cady's Dad, Amanda Seyfried as Karen Smith, and Rajiv Surendra as Kevin Gnapoor. There are plenty of Mean Girls Halloween costume options to go for such as the Plastics Mrs. Klaus costume for Jingle Bell Rock.
It's totally fetch to wear Mean Girls costumes at your next themed party. Halloween is inching forward. Do you have any plans yet? Hopefully these Halloween costume ideas have come in handy. :]
It's totally fetch to wear Mean Girls costumes at your next themed party. Halloween is inching forward. Do you have any plans yet? Hopefully these Halloween costume ideas have come in handy. :]
On the hunt for Halloween costume ideas?
Laney Boggs Prom Dress from She's All That - view here.
Bianca's Prom Dress from 10 Things I Hate About You - view here.
Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls - view here.
Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family - view here.
Cher's White Dress in Clueless- view here.
Halloween Costume Idea Cher Horowitz Clueless Yellow Plaid Outfit - view here.
Get the Look: Cher's Black & White Outfit from Clueless - view here.
Halloween Costume Idea: Wednesday Addams
Halloween rolls around every year, but some costumes never go out of style. Wednesday Addams is one of them. She’s spooky, sharp, and instantly recognizable — all while being one of the easiest DIY looks to pull together.
* This post may contain affiliate links.
Halloween is nearing, & you're looking for some Halloween costume ideas. Duh duh duh dunnn. I'm here to help! Today I have a Wednesday Addams (from The Addams Family) inspired look for you to rock. Sport this as an everyday outfit -- if you're bold -- or try this on for size as a Halloween costume idea for women or girls.
First things first, to achieve the look you'll need to braid your hair in the classic Wednesday Addams fashion. That was easy. Now you'll need to master your wardrobe. A collared dress is the only way to go. If desired you could do a long-sleeved black dress with a white collar.
Since Netflix’s Wednesday series first dropped in 2022 (and brought us Jenna Ortega’s viral dance scene), Wednesday Addams has become more popular than ever. Season two in 2025 cemented her as a full-on cultural icon. TikTok trends, gothcore fashion inspo, even mainstream clothing brands have taken cues from her signature black-and-white style. So if you’re looking for a 2025 Halloween costume idea that’s both timeless and on-trend, Wednesday Addams should be at the top of your list.
Related reading: 100+ Halloween Hashtags to Use on Social Media - Read it here.
The Classic Wednesday Look
To nail the Wednesday aesthetic, focus on a few key elements:
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Hair: Center-parted braids, neat and sleek.
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Dress: Black, long-sleeved, with a sharp white collar. Like this one.
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Shoes: Mary Janes, combat boots, or chunky loafers.
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Accessories: Black tights, pale makeup, and maybe a small prop (a spooky book, a fake spider, or even a headless doll if you’re going old-school). Like sheer black tights and combat boots.
Grab yourself some sheer black tights or take creative liberty by getting skeleton tights. They're so festive & definitely a conversation starter. My Halloween costume version of Wednesday Adams would wear these because she's cool, she's different, she's a little bit morbid, & doesn't mind standing out from the crowd. I would combine this look with combat boots. It's a little bit Wednesday, a little bit me. Feminine, yet spunky.
Accessorize this Addams Family Halloween costume idea with a black choker. Autumn is the best time to rock dark berry lips. I love the the deep shade, the rich pigmentation as well as the immense sparkle.
Why Wednesday Addams Still Reigns in 2025
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Pop culture powerhouse: Thanks to Netflix, Wednesday has crossed generations. Kids, teens, and adults all know her.
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Simple but bold: A collared black dress + braids = instant recognition.
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Budget-friendly: You can thrift or DIY most of the outfit.
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Versatile: Works solo, as a couples costume (Wednesday + Enid, anyone?), or as part of an Addams Family group.
Wednesday isn’t just a costume — she’s a whole vibe. Wednesday Addams is a Halloween staple for a reason. She’s spooky without being over the top, stylish without being fussy, and recognizable across generations. In 2025, she’s more relevant than ever thanks to Netflix, which makes her the perfect costume choice this year.
The Addams Family has been around for nearly a century, and every generation seems to fall in love with this spooky crew all over again. From cartoons to Netflix hits, the family has gone through many transformations — but the core is always the same: creepy, kooky, and oddly lovable.
The Origins (1930s–1960s)
The Addams Family started as single-panel cartoons created by Charles Addams for The New Yorker in the late 1930s. They weren’t given first names until much later, but the quirky, macabre humor was already in place. In 1964, the first live-action TV series aired on ABC, bringing Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, and Lurch to living rooms across America. This black-and-white sitcom cemented the family as pop culture icons.
The Movie Era (1990s)
For many fans, the definitive Addams Family came in the early 1990s with two live-action films: The Addams Family (1991) and Addams Family Values (1993). Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston delivered unforgettable performances as Gomez and Morticia, while Christina Ricci’s deadpan Wednesday became a cultural touchstone. These movies blended dark humor with genuine heart, giving the Addams clan a modern cult following.
Animated Revivals (2010s)
In 2019 and 2021, MGM released The Addams Family and The Addams Family 2 as animated films. Featuring the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, and Chloë Grace Moretz, these family-friendly movies reintroduced the Addamses to a new generation. While critics were mixed, kids loved the colorful take on the creepy household.
The Netflix Era (2022–Present)
The biggest resurgence came with Netflix’s Wednesday in 2022. Starring Jenna Ortega, the show followed Wednesday Addams at Nevermore Academy, mixing gothic style with coming-of-age mystery. The series became a viral sensation thanks to Ortega’s performance and that unforgettable dance scene. A second season in 2025 solidified Wednesday as the family’s breakout star for a new generation.
Would you ever go as Wednesday Addams? Do you have any Halloween plans yet? I don't. Shhh. :]Here are some other Halloween costume ideas:
She's All That Prom Dress - Laney Boggs - view here.
Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls - view here.
The Plastics from Mean Girls - view here.
Halloween Costume Idea Cher Horowitz Clueless Yellow Plaid Outfit - view here.
Halloween Costume Idea: Cher Horowitz from Clueless
As most of you likely know Clueless is one of my all-time favorite films everrrr. That said, it would make sense to feature Clueless's main character, Cher Horowitz, as a Halloween costume idea for women. I dug through some stills from the movie & created a hybrid outfit to emulate her style.
To start off this look, you're going to layer a white sleeveless top or turtleneck & a lacy black tank. There is leeway with the white shirt -- in the film, she wears a basic white tee & in my costume, it's a sleeveless turtleneck. You can do whatever makes sense for you, it's mainly about the black and white aesthetic.
Next, we definitely want some sort of yellow plaid to mimic one of Cher's most notable looks: her black & yellow plaid ensemble. This plaid yellow skirt is a great way to keep your Halloween costume modern. We don't have to be so literal when dressing up like a character. :]
Next, we definitely want some sort of yellow plaid to mimic one of Cher's most notable looks: her black & yellow plaid ensemble. This plaid yellow skirt is a great way to keep your Halloween costume modern. We don't have to be so literal when dressing up like a character. :]
Related reading: 100+ Halloween Hashtags to Use on Instagram, TikTok, etc - Read it here.
Lastly, we want some cute silver heels paired with some knee-high or thigh high socks. Once again, there is freedom with your socks. Throughout the film, most characters wear knee socks at some time or another. The color is up to you. To accessorize the look, get a small transparent clutch to hold your necessary items like your ID, cell phone, & credit card. Now you're ready to be totally clueless.
This Halloween costume idea based on Clueless's Cher Horowitz is actually pretty simple to achieve & you'll look super awesome while wearing it. Clueless is a timeless film & Cher is the perfect person to be if you're out of Halloween costume ideas this year. As if!
Stay tuned for more Halloween costume ideas for women! Stay cool. Stay positive. Stay updated. What do you think of this costume idea? Would you ever be Cher? :]
On the hunt for Halloween costume ideas?
Laney Boggs Prom Dress from She's All That - view here.
Bianca's Prom Dress from 10 Things I Hate About You - view here.
Rory Gilmore from Gilmore Girls - view here.
The Plastics from Mean Girls - view here.
Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family - view here.
Cher's White Dress in Clueless- view here.
Cher's Black & White Outfit in Clueless - view here.
My Experience at Comedy Central's @midnight Taping
My boyfriend & I ventured up to Los Angeles for the taping of @midnight, an internet-themed improv comedy panel show hosted by Chris Hardwick on Comedy Central. I've never been to a television show taping, so it was an intriguing experience. We arrived to LA around 1 p.m. or so, lazily making our way from San Diego.
Tickets are free so you just print out the paper & it shows you how many guests you have. We arrived at 3 p.m. in time for the 3:15 p.m. RSVP time. We immediately showed our tickets, got searched, then sat down on some benches outside for 20 or so minutes. Then Brody Stevens -- or Steven Brody Stevens -- came out to hype us up. We were supposed to be psyched & clap & laugh loudly during all segments of the taping.
They have strict dress code. It said absolutely no t-shirts with logos, white tops, shorts or hats. It said they preferred dark, solid color clothing & that proved to be true once they moved me because my grey top seemed to get in the way of the camera. Man, I was really looking forward to my half a second of fame. I wanted to spot my head in the background of a shot. However, the way the show was filmed the only thing you ever see from the audience is the dark silhouette of the back of peoples' heads.
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| One of the only photos from the day. We found a cool jumping fox graffiti. I'm wearing: Tunic: Thrifted // Slip: The Closet // Necklace: my grandma's // Earrings: Claire's // Sunnies: The Way, Way Back movie premier |
I would show you a picture but cell phones were absolutely not allowed inside the recording studio. It was intriguing to attend a live taping because you realize just how scripted everything is. If Chris messed up a line they reshot it. A couple times we didn't laugh or clap loud enough, so they had to reshoot it & we had to be even more clappy & laughy about something we obviously weren't naturally so amused by. Basically the bigger the laugh & the louder the clap the better. So yes, it is somewhat forced but simultaneously it's funny seeing as it's comedy.
In between segment breaks the makeup crew would fix up the comedians' faces. You could also spot the guest comedians reviewing their cards, which I can only assume contained prewritten jokes to the answers to some of the segments. The experience was somewhat inspiring because I realized hey I could be a comedy writer maybe. I'm funny ha ha. Right? Right? Laugh with me guys. Laugh with me. By the time we were all done filming & got out it was nearly 6 p.m. Time consuming but fun.
I could get into all the segments & the comedians who were present, but I find that to be the least pertinent information from my time there. It was more about the teleprompters, the scripted funniness vs. naturally funny things that came out of their mouths, seeing how small Chris was in person, & just to do something new.
Have you ever been to a TV show taping? Which one? How was it? Let me knowwwww. :]
Have you ever been to a TV show taping? Which one? How was it? Let me knowwwww. :]
Don't forget to find & follow me, my friends:
Q&A with David Heartbreak
DAVID HEARTBREAK. This Brooklyn-bred electronic dance music (EDM) artist has his eye on the prize. What's the prize exactly? To make music? Sure. More specifically, he wants to contribute to the art form known as music. He doesn't want to be a humble musician. He wants to be an artist, to make art to last a lifetime. To be a legend. Despite the lofty goals, he is down-to-earth. Given the opportunity, Mr. Heartbreak could eat a Double Double from In N Out on any given day. He realizes perfection isn't attainable & likes those little quirks which make us human. My interview with David Heartbreak was pretty fun. He's cool, chill, & kind. You'll see that too. Read on, friends. Read on.
Name: David Heartbreak
Age: 28
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Current Location: Los Angeles, CA
What is the music making process like? Walk me through how a track is made.
Honestly there's not enough paper, but in short it's different each time. I write a lot of different music that most people would never imagine I do, but I'm pretty all over the place. It's different each time. I use a lot of different DAWs*. If it's a melody based track it's logic. If it's some choppy shit it's Ableton. It's different each time. I also don't force myself to make music. I only write when I'm inspired, and that can be on a plane, on the couch or sitting in my backyard. It all depends, ya know?
Editor's note: *DAWs = digital audio workstation
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
Editor's note: *DAWs = digital audio workstation
How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
You deal with it and move on. I think the beauty is in the imperfections. Everyone wants to be perfect. I like the gray area. I think you have to capture the crowd's emotions and sometimes that comes from playing in the moment thinking ahead, and having happy accidents.
Which artist would you like to collaborate with & why?
I like a lot of artists, but I like to work with people that are as passionate and as crazy as I am. I'm not really into the names, I'm more into the passion that people put into their music. That's how great songs are made, from vibes, relationships, and visions. This is why sometimes two dope artists collab and make a whack tune, because the vibe isn't right and it's forced.
How did growing up in Brooklyn affect your music style?
How did growing up in Brooklyn affect your music style?
Brooklyn taught me the grit of everything. Brooklyn was always the grimy shit for some reason. The dirtiest reggae, the dirtiest acid, the darkest house music. Beautiful but weird place, even though it's changed now. But Brooklyn made my music aggressive, and other skills I learned made it soulful and ambient, so now everything is a mixture of that, I guess sexy aggressive music, with a splash of dub.
What are you most pumped about for HARD Summer?
I'm just ready to rage and have a good time. I love LA, and I love the crowd. The crowd at HARD appreciates different shit, and that's what I bring, different shit, so it works.
What is the best snack for munchies?
What is the best snack for munchies?
Haha, that depends on what city you're in and what you're doing, and why you have the munchies, but honestly the answer regardless is In N Out, Double Double once a day homie.
Do you think any kind of afterlife exists?
Yeah I'm sure it does. We're all forms of matter if you really think about it.
What did you do for your latest birthday?
What did you do for your latest birthday?
Last birthday I don't remember. It wasn't anything too big or I would remember, but this year I'm going hard, no pun intended.
Where do you most want to travel, but have never been?
I want to travel to Tokyo and Australia, those are the two places I have yet to experience and I want to sometime in the near future.
List 5 goals on your life's To Do List.
I don't really live off goals to be honest, but if I have to have a goal, it would be to live forever, and that's why I put so much passion in my music, because I want to be remembered for contributing to the art form we know as music.
David Heartbreak has come a long way from Brooklyn. LA is pretty far right? He still has dreams & ambitions to keep moving forward. His music is energetic; it cannot be defined into one genre because his tunes contain traces of trance, dubstep, dancehall, electro, & more. It tells a story. In time we will see how the story plays out.
Find David Heartbreak:
Facebook
Twitter
Website
Check me out on:
David Heartbreak has come a long way from Brooklyn. LA is pretty far right? He still has dreams & ambitions to keep moving forward. His music is energetic; it cannot be defined into one genre because his tunes contain traces of trance, dubstep, dancehall, electro, & more. It tells a story. In time we will see how the story plays out.
Find David Heartbreak:
Website
Check me out on:
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