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.

Book Review - Einkorn: Recipes for Nature's Original Wheat

Image Source - Random House

What exactly is Einkorn? Einkforn is one of the only ancient wheat that has not been hybridized and modified. Many people who have gluten sensitivity (even though it has more than "regular" wheat ) use this type of flour to enjoy foods they might otherwise wouldn't. The author, Carla Bartolucci took to finding an alternative grain for her daughter Giulia to be able to eat certain foods. The book is packed with the history, science and information about Einkorn along with baking tips. 

The book contains roughly 100 recipes accompanied by 85 color photographs. I may be in the minority but I didn't find the pictures to be particularly appealing or appetizing. I did find a couple of recipes I wanted to try, especially the bread but was heartbroken to find that most of the supermarkets and specialty markets doesn't carry the flour. I did manage to find an online retailer, Jovial Foods (the author owns the company, if I am not mistaken) that sells a 10 pound bag for $33 not including shipping and tax. For that price, I might as well go and buy freshly made loaf every week. Granted, I do not suffer from any type of gluten sensitive so this book and type of flour I am not the target demographic. A nice book to flip through but it might be best for people who have gluten sensitivities.

**Disclosure - I was given a copy of the book for my full and honest opinion. The links attached are also affiliate links.**

Cosmopolitan December 2014

New Smokey Eye Trends

1. Graphic Green - you don’t need to be an artist to master the precise, squared shape. Use pencil liner to create the box (keep cotton swab handy for wobbly-line cleanup), then fill it in with shadow. Blend away harsh edges with your finger.
2. Cobalt Cat eyes - put pigments on lockdown by layering powder shadow over a matching cream in this feline shape. Then rim inner lids with midnight blue pencil - kep to keeping the look edgy, not playful.
3. Red in reverse - instead of  dark lash line that gets lighter at the crease., rock the ombre version. Sweep a deep burgundy hue directly in your crease, then blend a light-reflecting magenta downward toward the lash line.

There’s a right way to pour a beer

1. Pour the beer slowly down the side of a tilted glass until its about three quarters of the way full. If you pour quickly, you get too much foam.
2. Straighten up the glass, and pour the beer straight down the middle. You should have about an inch of head at the top.

Self October 2014

Boost Your Strength

1. Maximize Cardio - on the treadmill, add an incline for 60 seconds intervals. Or hit the rowing machine for three minutes between weight training moves to raise your heart rate.
2. Plank - standard planks and rotating side planks strengthen your core, which can make you less prone to injury. Plus, you use a strong core in every activity, athletic or otherwise.
3. Do diagonal moves - exercises like chopping wood [using a medicine ball or weighted pulley] involve rotational strength and work muscle groups in one efficient action.

Boost Your Power

1. Just jump - try 12 to 24 inch box jumps (5 reps is enough to make fast-twitch muscle fire). Or opt for simple squat jumps - and do as many as you can for 30 seconds straight.
2. Play power sports - soccer, boxing, or tennis, for example, require total body strength and precision. Their targeted movements will help increase your power.

Boost Your Endurance

1. Mix up your cardio - alternate between classic cardio and more high-intensity exercises to increase your aerobic capacity. So in addition to Spin class or running a 5K, include CrossFit or sprint intervals.
2. Try rhythmic breathing - during yoga or a run, practice breathing through your belly. This forces you to use your chest less so you can take in more air. As you learn to breathe more efficiently, you’ll be giving your muscles the oxygen they need to last.

Boost Your Flexibility

1. Do active warm ups. move like front leg kicks, high knees and butt kicks target major muscles groups and improve circulation to those areas. This makes muscles and joints more limber and ready to work out.
2. Try foam rolling. It targets areas that are especially tight, like the glutes, quads and hamstrings. Research shows that rolling relaxes the soft tissues surrounding muscles and can increase anxiety.

Boost Your Recovery

1. Vary your workouts. Don’t jump the StairMaster every time you exercise. Changing your activities from day to day avoids repeatedly stressing the same muscles.
2. Mix it up - alternate active recovery like walking, a light jog or a swim with restorative options, like soaking in a hot tub or icing an overworked area
3. Get more sleep - Stanford University researchers found that when basketball players slept approximately two extra hours a night, their free throw accuracy increase by 9 percent.

Boost Your Agility

1. Do drills - learn to use the agility ladder and do shuttle runs. These activities increase agility by getting your body familiar with sudden movement.
2. Sprint - building leg strength improves agility because leg muscles tend to be key to moving quickly. Start with one 30 yard sprint, then recover about 60 seconds. Repeat four more times.

BBW Pink Sugarplum Shower Gel

The shea enriched shower gel is fortified with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. The shower gel provides a generous lather and leaves skin moisturized. It leaves skin scented of sugared plum, tangerine and vanilla musk. It is overly girl and very sweet scented. The shower gel reminds me a bit of Pink Chiffon.

Cargo Cosmetics BeachBlush - Cable Beach

The product has the benefits of a blush and bronzer in one container. The four complementary colors has a soft deep plum bronze. It has subtle hints of shimmer to add a radiant warmth to your cheeks. The four stripes can be blended together or used solo. I love how the bronzer leaves a nice sunkissed look but without spending hours in the sun.