Women�s liberal arts college

Women�s liberal arts college, Bryn Mawr, one of the famed Seven Sisters known for leading the American women�s education movement, recently sent out emails to 100 current students with �elevated BMIs� asking them to join an eight-week fitness program based on their private health data stored in the student health center. This information was misused, as emails for the fitness program were sent through a HIPAA-protected confidential system that doctorsused regularly. �There were truly good intentions behind this,� Bryn Mawr spokesman Matt Gray told . �It�s a program that includes individual counseling, nutritional advice, and group support.� But regardless of intentions, the Bryn Mawr program, Onward to Weight Loss Success, makes an assumption that those with �elevated BMIs� even want to lose weight or need to lose weight for good health or high self-esteem. Enrolled students are taking a stance against the school, while some health care experts feel this use of personal health information can be potentially harmful.

Related: When �Healthy� is Actually Unhealthy

�I think a lot of young woman would go down the slippery slope of shame, blame, and guilt if they got that email from their college,� Dr. Pam Peeke, Senior Science Advisor of Elements Behavioral Health and author of Body-for-LIFE for Women, told Yahoo Beauty. �I understand Bryn Mawr meant no malice, but they used an old-fashioned approach to young women who are already battered in the media. Young women who are obese already feel enough shame�they don�t need that email.� Instead of policing BMIs, Dr. Peeke suggests making the gym more accessible and welcoming and turning a healthy campus culture into the norm, instead of focusing on the scale. She cites her undergraduate experience at wellness-centric and radical UC Berkeley, as a major influence for her views on how colleges should address student health.

Related: Plus-Size Model Tess Holliday Encourages Women to #EffYourBeautyStandards

Furthermore, Peeke feels that Body Mass Index is not the most reliable source of tracking one�s health in the first place. �BMI tells you nothing about body composition, which means that it doesn�t say anything about how much muscle you have, or how much fat you have,� she says. �I can line up five women who are all 5�4� and 120 pounds, and each will have a different dress size�a size two to a size 10. What�s going on with that? It�s all body composition.�

Related: Emma Sulkowicz Tackles the Issue of College Rape

On Facebook, junior Rudrani Sarma, who publicly acknowledges her battle with eating disorders and received the email, wrote:

�Sending your students a message �inviting� them to take a weight loss class because they�re on a �list of students with elevated BMI�s� is not ethical. It�s problematic, it�s hurtful, and it�s just plain stupid. You�re telling students that they need to fit an arbitrary measurement of health (that has been criticized to the nth degree). You�re telling students that it�s more important to lose weight than to be healthy. You�re telling students that you discriminate based on weight by compiling a list of �fat� students.

A year ago, getting an email like this would have set me back years of counseling and self-esteem work. I�m in a good enough place now to call out your bulls�t. How dare you, Bryn Mawr?�

Related: What if You Stopped Looking in the Mirror for a Year?

In a statement sent to Yahoo Beauty, Bryn Mawr officials claim the invitation to Sarma was sent as an error in her electronic medical record, and they have since then apologize to her and corrected the error. Health Care officials have apologized directly to students and publicly on social media, and the statement carefully noted that �[t]he goal of the program has been to reduce health risks and to help women take care of and love their bodies at any size. Most students who have completed the program have been positive about their experiences.� Dr. Peeke, however, rebuked, �Young women shouldn�t have to live on a scale.�

Related: Fitness Exec: �It�s Not About Being A Size Zero�

Check out the original email sent by Bryn Mawr below, and let us know if you feel it was inappropriate:

�Give a HOOT! We want YOU to be in the Fitness OWLS program.

The Health Center, Dietician and Athletic Department are collaborating to offer a fitness program for students with elevated BMIs*. There is no cost to you. This program includes a personalized fitness plan and is eligible for PE credit. If you would like to enroll or learn more about this program please email us at [redacted] immediately indicating your interest.

BMI stands for �Body Mass Index� and is a standardized estimate of an individual�s relative body fat calculated from his or her height and weight. An elevated BMI can lead to significant health problems.�

If you�ve ever had trouble sleeping

If you�ve ever had trouble sleeping (falling asleep, staying asleep, or falling back asleep), then you know the misery and anxiety attached to not getting a full night of shuteye. No longer. Use these 7 genius strategies to make sure that you�re out cold and sweetly dreaming as soon as your head hits the pillow.

 Related: How to Burn More Calories While Sleeping

Do This First
�Turn down the lights a full hour before bedtime,� says Michael Breus, Ph.D., a sleep specialist. Lowering overhead bulbs and drawing the shades helps your body produce more melatonin, which can induce sleepiness.

For even better dimmed light, install a Good Night bulb ($70, definitydigital.com), which eighty-sixes the blue-light wavelength that�s considered most detrimental to sleep.

Nighttime Noshing

Banana: The magnesium and potassium can relax your muscles.
Tart cherry juice: This drink is full of melatonin, which may help you doze off.
Toast with peanut butter: Easy-to-digest simple carbs topped with tryptophan-rich protein won�t keep you up.
Rooibos tea: Soothing and caffeine-free (black and green aren�t always).

Related: 5 Foods That Are Keeping You Up Every Night

Supply List: Accessori-zzz�s
Eye Mask

Choose one that�s lightly filled or weighted (as opposed to a single flap of cotton), or made with a pillowy fabric like fleece, so it blocks light from coming in around the sides of the mask too. Sleep Mask ($45, sleepstudio.com) is chic, not cheesy.

The perfect slumbering outfit should be loose; made of a lightweight fabric such as cotton or silk; and comfortable around your middle (no gut-pinching waistband!). We like the Butterfly Blue camisole, $31, and shorts, $24, figleaves.com.

Myth, Debunked
Sheep counting? Baaa-d idea. In a study, insomniacs asked to imagine a nice scene (like a future vacation) fell asleep faster than those told to count something (like sheep). Detailed, positive images may take up enough cognitive space to distract you from other thoughts, while mindlessly ticking off numbers won�t.

Related: The Best Sleep Position For You

Keep Your Cool
The ideal temperature for snoozing is 65�F to 70�F

PRE-BEDTIME BEHAVIOR
Relaxing or angst-producing? We rank the usual suspects.

Terrible
E-mail�especially for work. �It stirs up emotions,� says Breus. �To fall asleep, you don�t want to be dwelling on your day.�

Pretty Bad
Texting or game playing. Though it can take your mind off stressors, constant pings and beeps are bound to stimulate you (ahem, Candy Crush).

Related: 4 Tech Traps That Destroy Your Memory

At Your Own Risk
Watching television or a movie. This is the least disruptive tech activity (especially if the screen is far away) because it�s passive and distracting.

Mostly Calming
Sex. Everyone�s different, but �the endorphins tend to be good for sleep in most people,� says Janet Kennedy, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist.

Downright Soothing
Reading fiction. �It settles the mind and distracts you from other things buzzing in your head,� says Kennedy.

Quick Tip: If you�re reading on your tablet, slap on a SleepShield screen cover to dim the snooze-destroying glow (prices vary by tablet, sleepshield.com).

More From Women�s Health:
76 Best Things You Can Do For Your Body

14 Foods Nutritionists Never Eat

Many nutritionists will tell you that they�re big advocates of the �all foods fit� approach to healthy eating�the idea that even things like cookies, cakes, and candies have a place (albeit in moderation) in an overall healthy diet. That said, there are still foods that they personally wouldn�t touch with a 10-foot-stick. Granted, they may be ones that you love and simply couldn�t eliminate from your diet altogether�and that�s OK.

Still, it�s pretty fascinating to get a glimpse into the eating habits of people are who paid to help others eat nutritionally for a living. So we asked several nutritionists to share the foods that they would never, ever eat. Here�s what they had to say:

Processed and/or Canned Meat or Cheese
�I particularly avoid those that are made with additional thickeners, preservatives, sugar, or a high content of preservatives. Animal products (and food products in general) that have to sit on a shelf inherently require a decent amount of processing to protect against microbial growth and contamination. I�d rather go for the fresh version than eat something high-sodium and preservative-rich (hence why some processed meats have earned their �mystery meat� name).� �Jaclyn London, M.S., R.D., senior clinical dietician at Mount Sinai Hospital

Related: 15 Gross Facts You Didn�t Know About Processed Meats

Non-Dairy Creamer
�It�s completely without nutrient density of any kind, and it can increase your risk for heart disease.� �Kristin Kirkpatrick, M.S., R.D., a wellness manager at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute

GMOs
�If it�s controversial, I err on the side of caution. Plus, I prefer organic, high-quality foods that are clean and more environmentally sustainable.� �Katie Cavuto, M.S., R.D., the dietician for the Phillies and the Flyers

Related: Frankenfish and the World of Genetically Modified Food

Pepperoni
�I personally don�t love the taste, but more importantly, I�d much rather top my pizza with nutritious veggies than overly processed meat.� �Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet

Diet Soda
�Those who are drinking diet sodas are most likely looking for that sweet taste without the extra sugar and calories. Unfortunately, that sweet taste comes with sugar cravings and increased caloric intake throughout the day. I�d recommend slowly removing diet soda from your diet. If you�re looking for an extra boost of caffeine, try green iced tea. Or if you�re a bubbly connoisseur, opt for a club soda with a squeeze of lemon or lime. Diet soda is all chemicals and won�t help you avoid extra calories in the long run anyway.� �Keri Glassman, R.D., Women�s Health contributor

Related: 7 Fizzy Alternatives to Diet Soda

Maraschino Cherries
�The added sugar, chemicals, and artificial dyes ruin the health benefits of the naturally delicious fruit.� �Michelle Davenport, Ph.D., R.D., a Silicon Valley nutritionist

Cold Cereal and Fat-Free Dairy
�Most cold cereals are loaded with added sugars and are missing protein and fiber. If I eat that to start, my entire day will be thrown off eating-wise, as I�ll be hungry and on a sugar crash within an hour or two. Fat-free dairy is something I avoid whenever possible. It certainly doesn�t taste as good as regular dairy products, but mainly because I think fat is a super important part of each meal. Having good-quality diary that�s full fat is delicious and nutritious.� �Brooke Alpert, M.S., R.D., founder of B Nutritious

Related: 5 Fatty Foods That Make You Skinny

Soda
�It�s literally liquid candy with absolutely no nutritional value. Why bother?� �Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., the nutrition and health expert for NBC�s TODAY Show and Founder of NourishSnacks 

Fluorescent Orange Crunchy Snacks
�Most chippy packaged foods are an absolute waste of calories and are loaded with chemicals. But any of them that are orange? Well, that pushes yuck over the edge. These are salt, chemical, and artificial color cocktails in a bag! Steer clear.� �Keri Glassman, R.D., Women�s Health contributor

Artificial Sweeteners
�I can�t bring myself to consume something I know is fake and void of nutrients. Plus, my body doesn�t like them.� �Katie Cavuto, M.S., R.D., the dietician for the Phillies and the Flyers

Related: 16 Detoxing Cleanse Foods That Jumpstart Weight Loss

Bacon
�Unless it finds its way into my Brussels sprouts with my knowing when I�m dining out, bacon is a food that I haven�t eaten since I was a child. Its high saturated fat and sodium content has been a huge deterrent for me for years.� �Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet

Hot Dogs
�Processed meat loaded with preservatives and barely any protein? No thanks!� �Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., the nutrition and health expert for NBC�s TODAY Show and Founder of NourishSnacks 

Sugary Beverages
�For example: coffee, juice, and tea �drinks.� I�d rather eat my calories (or save them for a glass of wine!) than drinking calorie-rich, nutrient-poor beverages that don�t fill you up.� �Jaclyn London, M.S., R.D., senior clinical dietician at Mount Sinai Hospital

Support for Rape and Sexual Assault Survivors

�We need to fight back against those who miss that Mad Men era,� said Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) on a press call Thursday to introduce the 21st Century Women�s Health Act, which Murray brought to the Senate today along with co-sponsors Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Murray emphasized how women�s health decisions should be made between a woman, her doctor, and, when applicable, her partner � and recognized how many of her colleagues in Congress feel otherwise and have made a concerted effort to intervene directly with women�s health, especially when it comes to abortion and birth control access.

The bill focuses on the following key components of women�s healthcare:

Maternity Care

The Act would require all states to establish a �Maternal Mortality Review Committee� to address disparities in maternal mortality nationwide, to better assess the factors contributing to pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths so that policy and medical solutions can be implemented to ensure that all women are able to experience pregnancy as safely as possible.

Birth Control

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) now requires all private insurance to cover FDA-approved forms of contraception. The 21st Century Women�s Health Act would ensure that those same measures are extended to women who are insured through Medicaid.

Support for Rape and Sexual Assault Survivors

The Act will ensure that all survivors of rape and sexual assault are provided with factual information about emergency contraception (EC) upon receiving treatment in an emergency room or hospital setting, and be provided with emergency contraception upon their request at no charge.

Presently, only 13 states and the District of Columbia require hospital emergency rooms to provide emergency contraception upon request to survivors of sexual assault. Additionally, nine states have enacted restrictions on emergency contraception, including six states that allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense emergency contraception.

It is estimated that 25,000 to 32,000 women become pregnant each year as a result of rape or incest. If used correctly, emergency contraception in conjunction with prompt medical treatment could help many of these rape survivors avoid the additional trauma of facing an unintended pregnancy.

A related provision would also support campus based sexual assault prevention educational programs and ensure access to EC at institutions of higher education.

Abortion and Reproductive Rights

The Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a study every 5 years on women�s health and report their findings to Congress, looking specifically at the impact of state laws that restrict access to abortion and geographic regions where access to family planning services is limited. The study will also report on economic impacts of such measures as well as the effect they have on pregnancy-related deaths.

Presently, 89 percent of counties nationally lack abortion clinics, and hundreds of laws have been passed at the state and federal level to restrict a women�s access to reproductive health services and family planning services.

Preventative Care

Since the implementation of the ACA, all private insurance companies are required to cover birth control, breast pumps, breast feeding support services, as well as well-woman exams, cancer screenings, and treatment and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

The 21st Century Women�s Health Act will ensure that all women, both those with private insurance and Medicaid, have equal access to these services and comprehensive level of care. The legislation would strengthen Title X funding, providing additional support to clinics and health centers across the country that provide these services at little to no cost for American women who would otherwise be unable to access this care.

Additionally, this legislation would establish a three-year grant program for the training of nurse practitioners that specialize in women�s health care, helping to ensure a stronger health care workforce.

To ensure women are fully informed about their rights and health care options, the Act would launch a public awareness campaign among community-based organizations, pharmacists, providers and other stakeholders making sure that women have information and access to the services available to them.

Furthermore, The 21st Century Women�s Health Act would help ensure that women are not wrongly forced to pay more for health care services now covered under the Affordable Care Act by creating a reporting database for women to inform Health and Human Services of inappropriate charges.

Though the bill was just introduced today, Murray said that she and her co-sponsors will be seeking additional co-sponsors and are �confident� that they will receive �bipartisan support� of the legislation, and that �colleagues on both side of the aisle� will recognize its importance and sign on with their support.

Dana Singiser, Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, voiced Planned Parenthood�s support of the new bill, noting that will there has been significant progress for women�s health in recent years (from the teen pregnancy rate dropping to historically low levels, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and its many benefits to women including the more than 48 million women nationally who can now access birth control without any co-pay), the 21st Century Women�s Health Act will continue to push progress for women�s healthcare forward.

Singiser also called attention to the fact that since birth control has become legal, women have become the majority of undergraduate students and holders of graduate degrees. She noted that there is now an expectation among young women embarking on higher education that safe and legal abortion and birth control will be available to them, and that unplanned pregnancy should never be a deterrent in their educations or future careers.

The Giving Keys

Hey guys! I'm back...excuse my absence. I was away for a few weeks in regards to our adoption, a post about that hopefully to come! 

Have you heard of The Giving Keys ? I love this Los Angeles based company & their concept for several reasons.  Not sure if you knew, but my passions is helping the homeless & those less fortunate, so, The Giving Keys really struck a chord with me.  This brand takes fashion accessories to a new level by employing those who are looking to transition out of homelessness.  I'm always intrigued how companies started and what inspired them. I love the story of how it all began on their site. Check it out.

It started with a New York hotel room key. The Giving Keys founder, actress and singer/songwriter, Caitlin Crosby, wore the key as a necklace and had the idea to start engraving old, used keys with inspirational words. Realizing that in a way we are all like these keys � unique, flawed, scarred, and at risk of being discarded � she wanted these keys to have their purpose renewed over and over again. Their message is yours for a time, but once they've served their purpose with you, pay it forward to inspire another.   -   Pretty neat huh?

 

Well, when they contacted me at the end of January, I was still very heartbroken over the death of our boxer, Darla, (which you can read about here).  When they asked what I wanted written on my key I had two requests, one that said "Nuevo" & the other would read "Darla" in memory of our pup.

Nuevo, of course for the new life in Christ I lead - and all things new to come. At the time I had no idea of what NEW was to really come .... I got the gold Dainty key pendant.

So,what do you think? Is this something you'd wear? They are customizable - so you have quite a lot of room to think of what you want it to say, but remember Pay It Forward.

-images of darla and nuevo keys by jen ramos

Design: Touch of Blue

Hi all, Monika here from ohmydeco with next portion of design! I really like blue and navy blue color schemes for living rooms lately, especially spaces incorporating those hues in accessories and soft furnishing. As much as I love velvet navy sofas, going just for a rug or cushions creates a less dramatic, calmer, more relaxed look. I just love how great they look with neutral furniture. How about switching to blue this year?

1 Chandelier 

2 Brass table lamp 

3 Shagreen console 

4 White faux fur cushion 

5 Patterned blue cushion  

6 Vermont sofa  

7 Silk Rug  

8 Small navy cushion

9 Gold leaf coffee table
10 Occasional chair 

- post by Monika Boruch 

FOOD: Veggie Sliders with Tahini Mayo

Hi there, Made By Girl fans! I'm Jen from Pretty Eats and today I'm serving up a favorite of mine, Veggie Sliders with Tahini Mayo. I cannot tell you how great this recipe is, so tasty and healthy! Usually, we will make a double batch of these veggie sliders so we'll have extra for lunch the next day. Much room for adapting these sliders to what you have in the kitchen. How great would these be with some sauteed zucchini added to them? I truly love how these are baked, which just adds to the ease of this recipe. Try these Veggie Sliders in buns, wraps, or even on top of a salad, yummy any way you have them!

Veggie Sliders with Tahini Mayo

Ingredients: makes 4-6 sliders

• 2 sweet potatoes, skin-on and washed
• 4 small pre-cooked beets, finely chopped (you can often find these packaged in the refrigerator section of stores)
• 1 shallot, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 small portabello mushrooms, chopped
• 1 cup quinoa, cooked
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 tablespoons mayo (Vegenaise or regular mayonnaise, your preference)
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• juice of 1/4 meyer lemon
• sea salt and ground pepper
• microgreens
• mini slider buns

Directions:

• In a 400 degree oven, place sweet potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until soft.
• Saute shallot and mushrooms in a touch of olive oil. Add garlic and beets after a few minutes, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
• Scoop the inside of the cooked sweet potatoes into a large bowl, and combine with beets/shallot/mushroom mixture. Add quinoa and flour. Mix well.
• Taste mixture for seasoning, add salt and pepper to suit your taste.
• Refrigerate slider mixture for 30 minutes before forming 4-6 small patties. (Add more flour if too sticky.)
• In a 350 degree oven, bake patties on a foil-lined oiled baking sheet for 15 minutes. Flip and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until golden.
• Make the Tahini Mayo by combining mayo, tahini, lemon juice, and a small pinch of salt and pepper.
• Assemble sliders on buns with a spoonful of Tahini Mayo and a sprinkle of microgreens. Enjoy!

- post & photos by jen olson

BEAUTY: 2015 Lipstick Trends!

Please excuse the absence - Jen is away for a couple weeks there will be a few sporadic posts. So today, we are discussing the 2015 lipstick trend...

Hi everyone! Sami from The Unexpected Type here today to talk about lipstick trends for the upcoming season! With Spring just around the corner, I need an instant beauty refresher to wake me up from using Winter neutrals and I always reach for a new lip color to do the trick. Lipstick is one of the easiest ways to transform any look from head to toe! A quick red lip can add mega drama and impact to a power outfit, rather than opting for your run-of-the-mill nude lipstick, am I right ladies

Some amazing colors hit the S/S 2015 catwalk this year and I've picked the top three trends that you can work into your style as the snow starts to melt and Spring pops into play. This year, prepare for a fiery statement lip of orange-red hues, a luscious, just-bitten look, and a perfectly plump pout. These hues will add an instant touch of Spring as you transition into the bright, sunny season.

1. NYX Cosmetics / Target
2. Nars Cosmetics / Sephora
3. Givenchy / Sephora

There's a designated statement lip for each season and this year it's a fiery, orange-red. Kiss fuchsia goodbye this year and say "Hello" to the power orange! For bright colors, you'll need a great lip liner as your base. I also recommend using a tapered lip brush to apply the color to make sure it's completely saturated and looks crisp. The rest of your face to should have minimal makeup with this look, since Spring is all about keeping it fresh and clean.

1. CoverGirl Cosmetics / Covergirl
2. Bite Beauty / Sephora
3. Rouge Dior / Sephora

The nude lip is getting an update, too! If you aren't quite ready to jump head-first into fiery hues, the 'Just-Bitten' look is perfect for you. Mauve pinks just a shade darker than your natural lip color give your lips a plump, voluminous look and is a great choice for someone just venturing into trying out lipstick trends. Compliment your lips with highlighted, bronzed cheeks and tones of brown eye shadow for a natural, but gorgeous, look.

1. Make Up Forever / Sephora
2. Yves Saint Laurent
3. MAC Cosmetics / MAC Cosmetics

If you're all about the dark lip, plum is the perfect shade for you! Instead of poppy pinks, romantic purple hues are all over the radar and complimenting a bunch of collections hitting stores soon. Complete this look with dewy skin, top-lined eyes, and a fresh coat of mascara.

Whether you're ready to make the jump to a daring statement look or ease into an update of your natural look, these trends are a fun way to get inspired and spark your creativity. Whatever your new look is, remember that trends are just guidelines and true style shines through with what you do with them!

- post by Sami

FOOD: On-The-Go Breakfast Bowl

Hi everyone! Sami from XO, Sami Davis here. I'm the newest contributor here at Made By Girl & am so excited to be posting today for the first time! So, here we go! Let's chat about breakfast.

Breakfast used to be the hardest meal of the day for me to put together. From rushing out the door or just not feeling particularly hungry, skipping breakfast was seriously make a dent in my daily routine. With the need for a great recipe I could make in a snap, I cultivated a yummy breakfast bowl perfect for the girl on the go. Today, I�m sharing with you a honey greek yogurt bowl topped with strawberries, bananas, and your favorite granola.

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup greek yogurt

- 1 tbsp clover honey

- 1/2 cup sliced strawberries

- 1/2 banana

- 1/4 cup your favorite granola 

1. Start by placing your greek yogurt in a bowl and pouring the honey over the yogurt.

2. Slice up your strawberries and bananas then 

assemble them on top of your yogurt honey mixture.

3. Top with your favorite granola, enjoy!

TIP: These make great make-ahead meals and would hold perfectly in small mason jars assembled like a parfait. That way, all you have to do is grab a jar on your way out the door!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

-post and photos by Sami Davis

FOOD: Almond Milk Oatmeal with Chia & Blackberries

Good morning Made By Girl readers! Jen from Pretty Eats here with a great way to start your day, Almond Milk Oatmeal with lots of yummy toppings. I'll admit it, I'm more of a "coffee for breakfast" type of girl, something I'm trying to change this year. To make breakfast tempting, I make it beautiful and adaptable to any tastes I'm craving at the moment - sliced nuts and fresh fruit are my favorites! The lovely thing about multi grain oatmeal is that you don't need  a lot to fend off hunger for hours. Also, high quality grain blends can be found pre-packaged or simply in your grocery's bulk bins. Simple, tasty, and easy!

Almond Milk Oatmeal with Chia & Blackberries:
Ingredients:  makes 1 serving

    �    1 c 7 Grain Blend cereal (rye, wheat, oats, barley, etc)
    �    1/2 c almond milk
    �    pinch of sea salt
    �    2 big dollops of your favorite yogurt
    �    1 tsp chia seeds
    �    Additional toppings such as sliced almonds, crushed pistachios, and blackberries.

Directions: 
    �    Heat almond milk to simmering and pour over oats with a small pinch of salt.
    �    Stir and allow oats to soften for a few minutes.
    �    Add toppings of your choice, such as yogurt, chia seeds, almonds, crushed pistachios and blackberries. Enjoy!

-Post & photos by jen olson

On Valentine's Day...

Valentine's Day should be everyday if you're in a relationship. 

My husband & I are firm believers in keeping L-O-V-E alive by nurturing it daily. We strive hard to place God at the center of our marriage, and even though some days it's not easy, the most important thing is we 'both' keep trying.

This week, my husband & I were practicing making desserts for Valentine's day.  He loves cooking, while I'm more the creative type who likes to decorate them .... we work well together!  Below are the sweets we made, which we'll also be making on V-day!  Hope we can inspire you to show someone...that you LOVE them....whether you have a husband, wife, bf or gf...or you're single.

Remember....love comes in many forms.  Have a Happy Valentine's Day.

Above: a bouquet of flowers I brought home - couldn't resist!

Below: The newest Love print in Blush pink+gold - gorgeous! Available in my Made By Girl shop.

Below: Chocolate cupcake with butter cream frosting & a side of pink cotton candy, don't forget the conversation hearts!

Enjoy a good LOVE LETTER? I do! In fact, my husband STILL leaves notes & LOVE letters for me even after many years together.  Paying attention to the small meaningful things is key.  

In 2013 I created an online magazine devoted to Love Letters, where several blogger shared their favorites. I shared one my husband wrote me, you can see a peek below. See the entire letter & more in the online magazine here. 

I'm sure you'll LOVE it!

Below: chocolate cupcakes with butter cream frosting & conversation hearts - yum!

below: Chocolate heart ice-cream sandwich? Sure, why not?

Below: one of the many Pink Ombre original paintings I painted for clients - great reminder to LOVE.

-all images by jen ramos

FOOD: S'mores for TWO

Hi guy! Jen from Lemon Drop Love here. We are in the month of love and Valentines Day is creeping up on us. Today, I wanted to share a version of one of my favorite sweet treats�s�mores! But this time you get to share it with your special someone and get a little messy in the process.

S�more For Two
INGREDIENTS:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Graham crackers for dipping
1 small skillet
 Get this one at Sur La Table or others via Madyson's Marshmallows or (or extra large marshmallows cut in half)
Heart-shaped cookie cutter

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 450.
In a small cast iron skillet, add chocolate chips. Take each Maddy Melt and cut into heart shapes or cut the large marshmallows in half and top the chocolate chips with them.
Once the oven is up to temperature, add the skillet to the oven. Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until the marshmallows turn golden brown.
Serve with graham crackers for scooping.

-images and recipe by jen costea

FASHION: 12 VALENTINE GIFT IDEAS FOR HER

Hi everyone, Sandra from Blasfemmes here! Just thought I�d share a little Valentine�s Day inspiration with you today. I can't think of a more appropriate time to focus on pink though I don't really need excuses to wear/buy pink. :) From the items below I'm definitely getting the 'Blush Pink LOVE' print, I already own the gold one but this new blush edition is killing me. And you, how will your surprise the ones you love? Do you have plans yet?

1. Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAB Tote // 2. 'Roses de Chlo�' Eau de Toilette // 3. Wildfox 'Love You' Sleep Mask // 4. Wonderelle Bunnies Ring Holder // 5. MadebyGirl Blush Pink 'Love' Print // 6. Rebecca Minkoff Heart Crossbody Bag // 7. Guerlain 'M�t�orites' Perles de Blush // 8. Wonderelle Tiny Heart Ring // 9. Hanky Panky Signature Lace Original Rise Thong Rose // 10. Kate Spade Gramercy Watch // 11. Williams Sonoma Heart Mug // 12. Kate Spade 'Kiss Me You Fool' Clutch

-post by sandra lopes

Books for KIDS on Vday

Valentine's Day is usually for lovers no? Well, I believe it's a day to celebrate L-O-V-E with anyone you adore!  Including your children.

At this stage in my life, my husband & I do not have kids (yet) .........but we are still in the process of adoption & we're excited! If I had a child this very second, I would get them books for Valentine's Day. Why?

Well, to be honest, I love books & I hope to instill the same passion for them to our child.  My love for books started when I was about 6 years.....my dad brought home several encyclopedias for us.  Between my sister & I, I was the one more interested in diving into these complex historical encyclopedias, even if I had no idea what I was looking at!  No matter what, I was enthralled by books of every kind.  As a young kid my favorites were Charlotte's Web, Charlie & The Chocolate factory and of course, Corduroy.  Ever read any of these?

So, I selected a few titles I thought would be a lovely addition to any child's book collection. Great & useful gifts for Valentine's Day! 

Ball, I love my mom, I love my dad, a walk in New York, The magic bunny, Louise loves art, Dog loves books via:  Barneys.

Mr. Funny
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Corduroy 


-post by jen ramos

BEAUTY: Color Of the Year

Hello! Bonjour! My name is Monica and I write a beauty blog called Beauty Parler. No, not a spelling mistake. Parler, the french verb to talk/speak in this case Beauty Talk. So excited to contribute my first beauty post here at Made by Girl. What better way to begin my first post than with Pantone's 2015 color, Marsala. The perfect earthy wine shade that translates beautifully to makeup. A universal shade that suits most skin tones. A warm shade that is perfect for Winter.

Marsala is such a fabulous shade to wear.

(1) NARS Almerla Blush- Use it as a hint of color on cheeks.

(2) OPI Nail Lacquer- the easiest way to wear Marsala this year is using a nail lacquer like shade Lost on Lombard.

(3) Clinique Brush-On Cream Liner - this waterproof cream liner is a great for those that want to try a shade other than black. Shade Honey Black is not black but rather a reddish brown liner.

(4) NARS Satin Lipstick- a bold lip always makes a fabulous statement in Winter. Shade Afghan Red is balance of reddish brown. Making it a close match to marsala.

What do you think of the color Marsala?

-post by Monica

Valentine Gift Ideas

I know it can be overwhelming to shop for a Valentine's gift, but for the next day or two, I've decided to give you a few ideas. You don't have much time left - so here we go!

Men, If you give your wife or gf perfume, chocolates, a massage etc....try adding in a little something extra to the mix such as an art print from my Made By Girl shop, a gorgeous card from Paperless Post or some cute stickers from Paper-Source! These are just thought ful extras she'll love! 

Ladies.... you can also do the same for your honey......it's not just men doing the gifting, you know?!

-post by jen ramos

William Sonoma This V-DAY

How will you be celebrating this Valentine's Day? My husband & I were originally going to go out to a nice dinner, but we decided to take the fancy dinner money & donate it to a charity.  It's the first time we've ever done this on V-day....but we knew that we could come up with something fun to do anyway.  So, Mat offered to make a lovely dinner instead - then we both will be making something FUN for dessert! Neat huh?

However, if you're NOT in the cooking or going out mode, I suggest ordering something sweet & pretty for your Valentine - I recommend William Sonoma.  They have the prettiest cakes & candies for that special day.

Here are a few of my faves, and even though I'm still looking to try some of these....just out of sheer beauty I'd buy some.

Seriously, who wouldn't be impressed with any of these arriving at their door?

-post by jen ramos