Naturebox May 2013

 

I love that we can now pick our own selections. This is what I got this month -

Honey Nut Medley - These were delicious! I ate the whole bag in one sitting. They remind me of the street vendors that sell honey roasted nuts. These were almost like those except they were hard and super crunchy.  If you like the taste of honey roasted nuts but have sensitive teeth or don’t like them sugar coating to be crunchy, then these are for you.

Peppery Pistachios - I loved these. They just had the right amount of kick. The only downside is the facts on the back says 49 pieces and there is a serving size of 3. Trust me there is no way in hell that is possible. I am starting to wonder about the labels for the other snacks.

Toasted Cheddar Stix - They had the perfect mix of cheese and salty. Although, I did get really thirsty after eating this :)

Peanut Butter Nom Noms  - These were okay. They didn’t taste like cookie dough more like rolled oats with a taste of peanut butter. I wouldn’t be as disappointed if they didn’t compare it to cookie dough.

Everything Bagel Stix - These taste like a whole grain everything bagel but has a bit of a “healthy” aftertaste. Overall, it I like it but it will never replace my everything bagel.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Liner – Bronze

 

Photo Credit - Tarte

I love this liner. The formula is nicely pigmented and it is so easy to blend.  I love that the eyeliner that came with a dual side brush. The brush made it very easy to apply this creamy eyeliner. The eyeliner doesn’t smudge and doesn’t budge all day. This one my favorite eyeliners, I already bought three :) [And once again, I lost the swatches...honestly I need a better system]

Sephora Collection Ultra Vinyl Lip Pencil - Fuchsia Fever

This creamy lip pencil goes on smoothly and lasts. It leaves my lip feeling soft and moisturized. I love the hot pink color and it is packed with glitter. Although, I might say it might have more glitter than some people might like but I like looking like a disco ball. I would recommend making sure to exfoliate your lips and apply a bit of lip balm before using this lip pencil so the glitter doesn’t stick to any flakes [trust me it is not pretty]. I also like when the color fades away there is a slight stain and glitter left over and it looks great when you apply a little clear lip gloss over it. 

**I lost the photos with my swatches but I think I have a little nub of this left to re-swatch it...just have to find it!**

I finally did  get to retake the photos, but I am not going to lie -- it felt a bit weird to take close up of my lips.

I was trying to get a better shot but it looks like I am just making out with the camera

Glamour November 2012

Yup, I am way behind on my subscriptions that I just finished reading this. The worst part is this is not even my oldest issue. I am pretty sure I have couple from 2011 somewhere in my reading pile. Well, since most of the fashion pieces are a bit outdated I guess I can just list some cool tips or at least stuff I thought was cool.

How to find a perfect sweater for your shape -

“1. If you’ve got curves - tuck strategically or try asymmetry.

2. If you’re bigger below - bring the focus up top with color and cut.

3. If you’re long and lean - you can do a thick knit sweater”.

Here are some hair  tips from Lauren Conrad -

“1. Take prenatal vitamins to promote hair growth - they may not be scientifically proven to make hair grow faster.

2. Use metal - free elastic to fight breakage.

3. And stick with clear shampoo. Does your hair tend to get oily? Conrad has found that shampoo that creamy or pearlescent generally contain more conditioners, which you do not need on your scalp.”

Good Housekeeping April 2013

Here is a cool tip -

“Sit down on the floor any way you’d like, using as little support as possible from your hands, knees, etc. Then rise. Done? Now you’ll really want to be sitting: This simple test can help predict a shortened life span. In a new Brazilian  study, researchers found that participants who’d used the most body parts were 5.4 times more likely to die within the next six years than those able to sit and rise using just their own strength or one body part. Get moving: boosting fitness now can help lead to a longer future”. In all honesty, I didn’t do this because I can’t sit down or get up without any assistance and I rather live in denial.

How to wear patterned pants for you body type -

“1. Small busy - horizontal stripes = oomph. Chunky extras balance the graphic prints.

2. Petite - Go for bold: A close - cut cardigan in “ka-pow” yellow and an outsize tote get you noticed.

3. Big Tummy - The peplum’s flare minimizes your middle. Nude stilettos make legs look long and lean.

4. Wide Hips - A flowy cardigan drapes and disguises. Ethnic earrings draw attention upward.”

“Break these fashion rules -

1. You can’t wear navy with black - Surprise: This duo is a win-win when the blue hue isn’t too dark. It should be obvious that your mix is 100% intentional. Pick solids over prints for a sophisticated partnership. Navy and black look best with a hint of brightness.

2. You should never mix patterns -  To make sure a multi-print ensemble looks chic, not clashy, keep everything in the same palette. One mega pattern at a  time is plenty, so calm down oversize florals with understated dots. The secret to these wearable combos: one print is bold, the other subdued and colors don’t compete.

3. If you’re big, hide it with loose clothes - Body skimming styles beat roomier ones at hiding pounds.

4. Always match your shoes to your purse - Fabric oxfords and cognac hued satchel prove that pulled together doesn’t have to mean matchy-matchy --- the pumps echo the guy style lines and the linens of the blazer, while the doctor’s bag riffs on the menswear influences.

5. Horizontal stripes make you look wider - the thin bands and low contrast colors can prove surprisingly slenderizing. “

Pick up the issue for decorating, fashion, cooking tips and exclusive diet by Dr. Oz.

Love with Food - Mother’s Day Breakfast in Bed, May 2013

Great Full Cookie from The Cookie Department, Inc. - The cookie is packed with natural ingredients like sweet potato, brown sugar, cranberries and oatmeal. I tasted everything except the sweet potatoes. The cookie was pretty tasty except for the cranberries. I am not a huge fan of cranberries but the cookie was still enjoyable.

Strawberry Preserves from Bonne Maman  -  I got this last month from the Goodies box. I love it so I was quite happy to get it again.

Latte Candy from Bali’s Best - I am not a really big fan of coffee but these were tasty. My favorite part was the milky center. I am just wondering why do they was only include one piece of the candy! It was so tiny would another piece kill them. I am going through sugar withdrawal!

Original Cajun Seasoning from “Slap Ya Mama” -  I am not really sure if this an appropriate item for a Mother’s Day box. I guess you could use this to spice up eggs, sausages or homes fries if you were going to make breakfast in bed. Either way, I am not sure I would use this but I left it around in my spice cabinet.

Tomato Crunch from Snapz Crisps  - I am not a huge fan of tomatoes and still not from these. It’s only ingredient is tomatoes and does have that fresh tomatoes scent. Overall, they taste weird by themselves maybe with pasta or soup it would taste better.

Authentic Almond Biscotti from Biscotti Bari - These were divine. If I ever come across these again, I will buy the whole stock. One of the best biscottis I ever tasted.

Hand Drip Coffee from Caffe Borsa - I had to open this very delicately not let it fall everywhere. I am not really a fan of coffee and this was not very good. My friend who tried some [and loves coffee] noted that it was indeed watered down but it did smell decent.

Coconut Almond from Mrs. May’s Natural - These were crunchy and delicious. It wasn’t overly sweet which is good. I had some...all of it when I was eating my yogurt. I like how the simple ingredients [you can literally read and understand the ingredients list] tasted well together and didn’t overpower each other.