The Soap & Paper Factory Jasmine Shea Butter Soap

Around the winter time everything seems bland and boring. In the need to spice things and brighten  up a dreary month I decided to use this cheerful soap to cheer me up. The sweet scented shea butter filled up the bathroom with the scent of Jasmine even before I removed the wrapper. With the floral scent wafting through the air, I imagine walking through the meadows full of flowers -- I guess I am in for a treat. The creamy soap lathers well and left my skin soft and smooth. The best part is my skin was left moisturized and softly scented. The soap still managed to scent the entire bathroom even long after I finished taking a shower.

Julep Nail Polish - Karmen

The crimson nail polish is packed with golden microglitter. It is one of the most gorgeous colors I have used in awhile. I always get tons of compliments when wearing it. The color goes on smoothly and evenly without leaving any streaks.

Sephora Tangerine Grapefruit Body Lotion

I came across this body lotion along with several other varieties of it while organizing my room. I didn’t even know I had these  but it was a nice treat to use. I like the unique shape of the container. It seems this body lotion has been discounted for awhile,which makes me sad since it was a really good product. I noticed a lot of Sephora’s products get discounted very quickly. The body lotion is packed with aloe vera and jojoba to soften and moisturize. The body lotion is lightly scented with white grapefruit, Italian mandarin, blood orange, lily of the valley, and Gold Coast jasmine. The creamy lotion went on smoothly and absorbed easy and didn’t make my skin greasy. I really like this body lotion, I wish they would bring  this back :(

Kneipp Pure Bliss Mineral Bath Salt - Red Poppy and Hemp

As being a fan of their Kneipp Deep Sleep Mineral Bath Salt - Valerian & Hops, I decided to try the other salts they had to offer. This bath salt being packed with red poppy, hemp and other essential oils promises to deliver you in a state of bliss. While I was totally relaxed soaking in the pale red water, I didn’t notice much of a scent as I did with the deep sleep one. I guess, they didn’t want to overwhelm your sense of peace with a scent. Overall, I think I prefer the deep sleep one to this any day of the week.

Obsessive Compulsive (OCC) Lip Tar - Role Play

The metallic lip tar is describe as deep maroon with a red pearl shimmer finish. The lip tar looked a bright red unlike the deep maroon as described. I also like slight metallic finish. Like all the other OCC lip tars, I recommend exfoliating  before applying so dead skin flakes are not apparent or using lip balm before applying to tone down the color. The color last for around 3 hours and left a slight stain behind.

Self July 2014

Get rid of swim hair - to rinse the greening chlorine from the pool and damaging salt from the sea out of your strands, pour 1 cup of vodka over your hair when showering and leave on for five minutes, then shampoo and condition. The spirit removes harmful water deposit without altering your color or texture. It also detangles and helps close hair’s cuticle layer, leaving it shiny.

Fight sweat spots - To help keep skin dry and flower fresh, mist your body with an stringent. The astringent’s alcohol and menthol make skin feel cool, and along with witch hazel, cleanse it of sweat and oil.

Marie Claire July 2014

How to grill

1. Prep your surface - before use, wipe down grates with vegetable oil. Brush off charred food with a grill brush after each use.

2. Get the gear - you’ll need noth grill and meat thermometers, and a pair of tongs

3. Let it marinate - coat chicken a day ahead with a simple garlic, ginger and soy sauce marinade [fish and steak only need two to four hours]. No time to spare? Make a spice rub and olive oil paste for major flavor fast.

4. Leave it be - checking on the meat too much. Let it sit for a several minutes per side or until you see grill marks. Then rotate 180 degrees for a crosshatch pattern.