Xtreme Lashes GlideLiner Long Lasting Eye Pencil - 185 Black Pearl

The creamy long lasting gel eyeliner is enriched with vitamin E. It goes on smoothly and smudges well for 2 seconds before staying put all day. I love the color and how it goes on. But it was very hard to do a small line and the eyeliner goes on very thickly. Also, don't press too hard because the point keeps breaking off for me. :(

Tocca Cleopatra Sapone Soap

The sweet scented soap is packed with kukui nut oil, blue-green algae and vitamin E. The creamy soap is scented of grapefruit and cucumber.  The beautifully wrapped in hand-made decorative paper makes it a beautiful gift for hostess present. The bar of soap went on smoothly and felt like butter on my skin. It made my skin smooth, soft and delicately scented. Although, it was a treat to use, it is a bit pricey for $12 as the bar didn’t really last that long.

Book Review : Fried Chicken by Rebecca Lang

Photo Credit - Random house

Two little words that bring happiness, joy, love, and excitement to my heart. No, it's not "love you" from my significant other, but the words "fried chicken" when I ask what is for dinner.  When I was given the opportunity to read the cookbook for my blog, I jumped for joy. I have tried cooking fried chicken in different ways before, dredge in flour, covered in panko, sprinkled with black pepper and even saturated with beer batter. As soon as I cracked opened the book I realized I was in a different level when I saw there was three types of frying - skillet, deep frying and combination. Combination frying? I had never heard of it but oh, how the recipes look so enticing and delicious! 

The cookbook is packed with over 50 family friendly recipes. The Southern classic takes a global trot around the world with ethnically inspired flavors such as Saigon Street Wings, Chinese Lollipop Wings, Mexican-Lime Fried Chicken Tacos, and Korean Fried Chicken with Gochujang Sauce along with mainstay recipes such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Chicken Fingers and Gluten-Free Southern Fried Chicken. Most of the recipes are beautifully photographed in color. The instructions are clear and concise and easy to understand. The author also includes the recipes for all sauces and sides (if included) as a separate recipe. Which is nice, because I really wanted to make the chicken and waffles but I am a more of a frozen or mix type of gal than making it from scratch. In the beginning, Rebecca Lang spends some time explain smoking points of fats, types of chicken and even how to cut, wash and prepare the chicken. The cookbook is a comprehensive guide for how to make the fried goodness.

I think no matter how hard I want to cook every recipe like in Julia and Julia, it might be best if I don't otherwise I may not even fit into my fat pants. I didn't try an exact recipe from scratch but I used some of the recipes as inspiration for my own cooking. I never knew adding a bit of curry powder in the flour would add a nice complex flavor to the chicken. This book is a definite treat for anyone who loves fried chicken or likes to experiment with new flavors.

Disclosure - I received this book for free to provide my honest opinion.

Crazy Rumor Red Velvet Lip Balm

My second time trying the Crazy Rumor’s lip balms. I was really fond of the Crazy Rumor Bee My Honey Lip Balm that I couldn’t wait to try this one. The lip balm is packed with shea butter and smelled exactly like red velvet. It kept my lip very soft and moisturized and it did leave my lips tasting like red velvet without the calories.

Klorane Desert Date Hair Mask

The desert date is well known for its high concentration of fatty acids and proteins, which lends its beneficial properties to help repair hair. The wheat protein hydrolysate reinforces the structure of keratin while the cationic repairing agement repairs and soften hair. The conditioner is applied after using shampoo and after leaving it on for 20 minutes to be wash off. I love how soft, smooth, and manageable my hair feels. This is one the best hair mask I have I used.

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream

My hands always get dry no matter if it is warm, hot, freezing or “perfect” outside. I read  many good reviews of this product on Sephora and decided to give this a try. The 100% pure argan oil and shea butter cream promised to be hydrating and non-greasy.  The rich cream had a whipped consistency which went on smooth and didn’t feel greasy or heavy on my hands. It did have a delicate apricot and vanilla scent, that made this a treat to rub on. The only downside to this paraben, sulfate and phthalate free cream is that I didn’t feel the cream lasted long enough to justice the $22  price tag.

Book Review : A Bride at Last

Photo Source - Amazon

The tale of three strangers who have their faith intertwined with each together. Each with their own form of running away, will it be possible for them to work through their difference to come together?

The book starts with a young boy who takes care of his sick mother. His teacher is the caretaker for both the boy and the mother. When mother passes away, Kate loves Anthony dearly and wants to take care of the child. Unfortunately, two men show up and claim to be the boy's father. 

With twists and turns, the book keeps the readers guessing and occasionally make the reader guess, "Why couldn't they just stay together and work through it!" or if you are the skeptic, this where the eye rolls begin. Secrets and betrayal at every page, will they be able to stay together or go their own ways?  

The book was an interesting read but felt like the same plot over and over. It definitely kept me mildly entertained when I read it during my commute. It is a good beach or commute read but more romance fluff than anything else.


*Disclosure - I was provided with a copy of this book for my honest review. Link are affiliate links*

Redbook September 2014

Jumping - just jumping - can help decrease your risk of osteoporosis and fractures later in life, a new study says. All it takes is 10 jumps twice a day, but you can’t do them in a quickie row: space 30 seconds apart. In between, do an arm move… or take a deep breath and feel virtuous.

3 Rules for Vacation Eating

1. I will stick to my regular mealtimes. That’ll help keep your metabolism humming and stop you from getting so ravenous that you end up inhaling that family size platter of cheesy fries.
2. I will eat one salad a day without extra dressing or cheese. Not every meal has to be virtuous, but a daily bowl of veggies and greens guarantees you’ll get some nutrition - and leaves a little room for fun stuff.
3. I will split dessert. The first few forkfuls taste the best anyways: according to Cornell research, we’re usually satisfied with a smaller portion than we think we’ll need to calm a sugary craving.

Pickle, quickly - You don’t have to be frontier woman or culinary genius to pickle 2 pounds of produce. Combine 3 cups white vinegar, 1.5 cups of water, ¾ cup sugar, 3 tbsp pickling spice, 1 tbsp peppercorn, and 2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add 1 jalapeno and 4 dill sprigs. Pour over your fave veggies or fruit, and refrigerate for at least an hour.