Jock Soap Bloody Orange Body Soap

The glycerin soap had a delicate citrus scent. I didn't notice the scent lingering my skin after my shower. It didn't leave skin feeling sticky or waxy.   The soap didn't provide a generous lather and the soap didn't last very long. It also didn't hydrate my skin. A definite mediocre soap.

Greenleaf Silver Spruce Candle Cubes Votive Candles

The wintery scented candle has scents of Siberian Fir, cedarwood and sandalwood. The candle has a 15 hour burn time. It was very heavily scented even when it wasn't lite. It is the perfect scent for the winter and the holidays. While, the candle promised a 15 hour burn time -- I noticed more like a 10 hour burn time. It was a fairly cheap candle under $3 on their website. Might get the bigger version next time.

Book Review - Love Everlasting by Tracie Peterson

Photo Credit - Amazon

The "compelling" love story between the longtime friend and the playboy, Priam Welby. The book's description describes Abrianna unable to choose between the two suitors. However, I don't think that's an accurate description. Without giving away the story, Abrianna is forced into this choice against her will.

The book was an average read. It was rather slow, tedious and had ton of filler. I found myself glazing over the pages and counting down the pages until the end, hoping the story would pick up. The story started off okay but then progressed very slowly and felt stretched. I didn't realize this was a part of a series but it isn't necessary to read the other books. If you are a fan of the author, I would recommend reading it otherwise I would pass on reading this book.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion**

Book Review - The Healthy Mind Cookbook by Rebecca Katz with Mat Edelson

Photo Credit - Amazon

The Healthy Mind cookbook is chocked full of recipes, color photos, and culinary pharmacy.  The  120 recipes are organized by type of meals such as soup, dollops (almost like sauces/condiments),  seafood,  and snacks. The culinary pharmacy lists ingredients and their health benefit. The recipes are all accompanied by a short introductions and are well written. While, each recipe doesn't have their own photos -- a good portion of the book is illustrated. I haven't made any of the recipes yet but they don't require much prep time or "fancy" (read only use a drop and never again) ingredients.

**Disclosure - I received this book for free my honest feedback**

bareMinerals Pout Loud - Loud and Clear Lip Sheer in Berry Remix

The moisturizing gel lip balm is enriched with shea butter and jojoba seed oil. The sheer lip balm nourish and condition lips. The soft raspberry color is imparted on my lips upon application along with a soft glistening shine. It's a nice mix of a lip tint and a lip balm. I wish the containers though felt a bit more luxurious and not so plastic-y feeling.

Erno Laslo Firmarine Face Bar

I received this tiny bar of soap in one of my subscriptions. I love the brand so I was still excited but disappointed in the size. I packed this little bar for my roadtrip to NC. The soap had a fresh ocean breeze scent and had a good lather. The soap promised to firm, hydrate and leave skin feeling soft and smooth.I read online that you had to splash still and then running water on your face about 20 times a piece. Honestly, who has time for that? Perhaps, it was the reason why I didn’t notice any results from using this bar. It was quite the disappointment.

Philosophy Candy Cane Shower Gel, Shampoo and Bubble Bath

I know the holidays is far off away but I felt in a festive mood. I usually save these body washes for the holidays but I couldn’t resist! I mean they do make these scents available all year around, so I guess they want you to indulge year around...right?...Okay, it turns out I was completely wrong and they are only available during the holidays..well, even better of reason to use it now. What better time to do something than in the present? This creamy, vitamin E packed body wash gives a rich and luxurious lather. The sweet peppermint aroma filled the shower and left my skin softly scented and soft. The peppermint also left a tingly sensation on my skin or it could just be because I was excited for the holidays.

Book Review - Lucky Peach Presents 101 Easy Asian Recipes

Photo Credit - Random House

I was so excited to see this cookbook in my mailbox. I have heard of Lucky Peach but never read anything by the editors before.  I have always been a fan of Asian cooking but found a lot of the recipes to be very complex and complicated along with requiring many specialized ingredients. 

The cookbook starts off with an introduction along with basic information on equipment needed, types of noodles, rice, basic pantry items (such as soy sauce, peanut, fish sauce, rice vinegar, etc.), intermediate level pantry items (such as white pepper, nori, curry paste, shrimps chips, etc.), and expert level pantry items (such as maltose, takuan, dried lotus leaves, etc.) along with providing descriptions of each item. I love how they separated the types of pantry items by levels -- it seems a bit like video games.

The cookbook has 101 recipes all depicted in beautiful color photos.  The cookbook is organized by types of recipes for example, breakfast, chicken, super sauces, dessert, seafood, warm vegetables, meats, etc.  All the recipes are accompanied with a brief description about the recipe or history behind the recipe. The recipes are usually very clear and simple to follow. Granted I haven't made any of the recipes, yet but I probably have bookmarked at least 15 recipes ( Garlic Shrimp, Kung Pao Shrimp, Beef Satay, Pad See Ew, and a couple more). This is definitely one of new favorite cookbook addition for this year.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book for my honest opinion, this had no affect on my review**

Yurrku Australia Utopia Night Cream

The creamy night cream is enriched with native nectars such as Banksia, Jacaranda,  and Wild Rosella from Australia. It is also packed with other ingredients like Vitamin A, E, Shea Butter, Cocoa Seed Butter, Avocado Oil, Manuka Honey, Kelp and Rosehip Oil. The night cream promises to hydrate, promote skin elasticity, nourish, soothe and repair skin. The soft scented night cream went on smoothly and absorbs quickly on the skin. My skin felt smooth and soft after waking up each morning. Actually, correction, it felt like butter. Once, I use up all my night cream from Sephora hauls and subscription services, this night cream is definitely going into rotation.