Reasons for my Silence: With the state of the world on full display during the COVID-19 pandemic, it hasn’t felt right to me to continue with blogging as a career. Influencer marketing and sponsored content almost always revolve around selling something, which I couldn’t justify while so many in the world were suffering, in large part due to capitalism and all that comes with it. When I started blogging nearly 10 years ago, it was about sharing and genuine story-telling. As an industry that has blown up in the last decade, blogging has transformed into the high-stakes game of influencer marke ..read more

Provided for review. On February 26, 2021, KBShimmer will release the Enchanted Forest Collection–a nine-piece set inspired by nature in the spring. This is right up my alley and has such a whimsical, magical feel to it. This collection features one creme, one thermal, two soft flakies, and several really unbelievable multichrome polishes. Let’s jump right in to the swatches! All swatches done with KBShimmer Fillin‘ Groovy Base Coat and KBShimmer Clearly On Top Top Coat. All polishes retail for $11, except for What the Fudge ($10). KBShimmer Amanita Moment is soft sage green base filled with c ..read more

In honor of the patron goddess of Galentine’s Day, Leslie Knope, here is a fun way to make whipped cream even more special for your gal-pal-socially-distanced-celebrations! Of course, you can make these in any shape for any holiday or any just because day. And you can also make it with a tub of Cool Whip if you don’t want to make homemade. Whip up some homemade whipped cream. Simply pop your mixing bowl and whisk attachment(s) in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill them. Then add 2 c heavy whipping cream, 2 Tbsp powdered sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla, and WHIP! Spread whipped cream into a dish or ..read more

Millie and I love to bake. But anyone who shares a kitchen with a three year old knows that you’ve gotta keep things short and sweet. There’s usually a 15-20 minute time frame that she’s super invested in, and then she’ll look up at me and say Are we done yet?!?! This shortbread recipe is really easy to put together and while you could just cut it into rectangles with a knife or quick circles with the rim of a glass or jar, you can also play around with shapes if you have cookie cutters. We recently inherited my mom’s cookie cutter collection from my childhood, so Millie has been excited to p ..read more

Lake Effect Snow ice dye (done by me) on Emily Roggenburk tee This body is my home. It is where I live. Where I love. Where I grow. Where I thrive. These last 10 months have been a lot, and my body has helped me cope and stay safe. During many of those months, it provided nourishment and immunity to my daughter. And it has transitioned into a new phase, hormonally, now that I am done breastfeeding. It is amazing. Is my body bigger than it was pre-2020? Yes. Is it shaped differently, with some new marks and scars? Yes. Does that change my worth? No. Does that mean I don’t love it? Nope! Here’s ..read more

2021. I don’t want a new me; I have worked too damn hard on THIS me. Here’s to more growth and evolution in 2021! The post too damn hard appeared first on Casual Contrast ..read more

The baking adventures continue here at Casual Contrast HQ! This scone recipe has been a big hit with Millie and Benn–and I love them too! They are really quick and easy to put together with really basic ingredients that I almost always have on hand. I hate it when bloggers say that, but I promise there are no bizarre ingredients in this one! Cinnamon Scones For the scones, you will need: 2 1/2 C all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold 1/3 C sugar 2/3 C milk For the glaze, you will need: 1 C powdered sugar 2 Tbsp milk 1/2 tsp vanill ..read more

I had “dried fruit garland” on my holiday to-do list long before I started seeing these fabulous orange garlands all over Instagram, but I love that so many people are creating special, handmade items with pieces of nature and bringing them into their homes. It’s a neat concept that shouldn’t feel so foreign to us, but somehow, it does! Oranges are also fantastic as symbols of the Sun. The Winter Solstice, or Yule, is the shortest day and longest night of the year, but that also means that after the Solstice, the Sun begins to return and the days start to get longer. Pagans have celebrated th ..read more

Provided for review It’s time to take a look at KBShimmer’s offerings for the December Polish Pickup (starting TOMORROW)! This month’s theme is 2020, so there are going to be all sorts of fascinating pop culture references here! I’m excited to see what everyone came up with. Christy from KBShimmer created this cozy, comforting shade called KBShimmer Cats & Pajamas. My 2020 has been more dogs & no-pants, but the energy is the same This gorgeous shade features a blue-leaning gray crelly base packed with flakes, shimmer, and holographic particles. There’s a lot going on, but somehow it ..read more

For the last several years, I’ve started to really feel the pull of the seasons. The phases of the moon. My monthly cycle and its ebbs and flows and intricacies. I’ve started to see the interconnectedness of, well, every thing. And this last spring, when the world was unrecognizable, I knew I needed to find a way to dig in and connect with these energies, right at home. So I spent about $20 on wildflower seeds, online since we weren’t shopping in stores at the time, and Benn offered to dig up some fresh beds for me in our yard. I remember thinking in late April that there was no way we’d stil ..read more