Tag Team

 We have a quick post today.

The song of my childhood. Whomp, There it is! Idk why but I always think of the show Martin when I  hear this song. 

Can't listen to this one without busting a move.....

Maison Louis Marie No. 03 L'étang Noir Soy Candle Review

One more post for the day....figured I would go ahead and review the Maison Louis Marie candle in my collection before I start lighting up the Holiday scents. This makes MLM candle no. 03. The last one I tried was a huge disappointment- it smelled great but had no throw. This one does at least throw.

Maison Louis Marie claims: 

Airy smoke, soft spice, and a whisper of vanilla

L’Étang Noir takes its name from an enchanted black lake where my childhood days were spent fishing, exploring, and slipping into stillness. This deep, nostalgic scent opens with soft tobacco flower and unfolds into warm vanilla, anise, clove, and nutmeg — a rich, spiced blend that lingers with quiet intensity.

Top Notes:

Anise, Nutmeg, Tobacco Flower

Middle Notes:

Clove, Ginger, Vanilla

Base Notes:

Vanilla, Tonka, Benzoin Musk

These are on the lower end of luxury but still pretty pricey because it still is only one candle. It is a soy candle. And the branding is nice- it comes in a box and the candle has the brand printed on the glass. Would make a great gift candle. 

The notes on this are pretty intriguing. From what I'm gathering it's supposed to be a spiced vanilla with a hint of tobacco. I'm not a big fan of vanilla scents- there are exceptions every now and again depending on what it's mixed with but usually vanilla doesn't do it for me. I don't love the cold throw but it does smell better when you light it up. 

It definitely gets sweeter as you burn. I don't get much of the spice notes- but I think I get the tobacco. It's just OK for me. It's not one I would purchase again- but I'll kinda enjoy burning through the rest of it. 

Unlike the last MLM candle I bought, this one does have throw. It scents my living room and drifts out into the hallway. It is one that I don't smell constantly- mostly  I get it when I leave the room and walk back in. It's still there- I just tend to go nose blind to it after a little while but I do get whiffs of it every now and again. 

It's a soy candle. I'm not sure if it's paraffin free. I wish candle brands were more transparent. I haven't had any issues with the burn...no sooting and for the most part it burns to the edges when the room is warm enough. 

Overall, it isn't something I would purchase again. It wasn't bad...and if you like vanilla scents you may enjoy it more than I did. But it wasn't really worth the cost for me. Some MLM scents come in a boatload of other forms- this one only comes in perfume oil form.  

Citrus Marinade, Gravy, and Coffee Rubbed Roast

 It's definitely too soon for another food post- but I have some stuff piling up and before it gets too out of hand- figured I would get the past week of stuff I made posted.

Starting with a citrus marinade. This had all types of goodies- orange, parsley, vinegar. It's really so easy to make your own marinade and usually they come out better than anything you can get in a bottle at the store. I made this marinade for some chicken legs and let them set overnight. But it didn't really impart much flavor except a little ginger kick. 

I also made the gravy recipe from my Harry Potter cookbook. I've never been into gravy since I was a kid and I'm still not really. This wasn't bad- and I think I'm really getting the hang of making gravy- but it's not something I would make unless I come across a recipe for it. I made mashed potatoes, gravy, and crab sauce to go with it. And then heated up some leftover mac and cheese. A very nice Sunday dinner. 

Then I made a coffee rubbed roast. The original recipe calls for pork but I switched it with some leftover chuck roast I had hanging out in the freezer. It was just a small piece because I was skeptical. It was so easy I was able to mix up the rub and get the roast in the slow cooker on my lunch break. Then come dinner time I just had to make the sides. I have leftover coffee rub which I am sure would be amazing on lamb and other types of meat.  I just made rice, sweet potatoes, and spinach as sides.

And that's all! Until next time....

Nudy Rudy Hunny Bunny Soap Review

 Got some more Nudy Rudy to review today...this is my second soap from the brand. And so far I'm not impressed. Not at all. 

Nudy Rudy claims: 

Say hello to clear skin with a honey glow. Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, Manuka Honey is known the cleanse the skin of nasty bacteria. Who doesn't want a glow up blended with natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals in a bar with a soft, sudsy, texture, against the skin? We know we do. This sonp puck has real bees knees vibes. Bunny not included. 

Unique Scents, Sustainably Sourced, No Harsh Chemicals. 

Made in Australia

The name of this soap sucked me in. I was thinking it might be a dupe of the Lush Honey I Washed the Kids- which is my favorite honey based soap. I might order one next time I make an order from Lush. So not a dupe. I thought I had used soap with Manuka honey but I'm not finding anything where it took center stage. So we will call this one the first.

Starting with the boring- the shape. I'm not a fan of the shape at all. I find it a bit awkward to hold...although the shape is something you don't see often-.  I would rather any other shape when it comes to bar soaps.

Now let's get to the nitty gritty. The scent. It stinks! I really pretty much hate this scent. I don't know what it's supposed to be. And it doesn't say. I think if I had to compare it to any other scent it kinda reminds me of Lush Porridge.  Except Lush Porridge smells amazing and this smells gross. It's trying to be gourmand- I'm guessing. I see so many review of people saying this smells amazing though so maybe it's just the bar I got? Idk. 

I dislike it so much I use it on a few areas and rinse and  reach for something I enjoy.

The lather is nice...it has a very different feel from other soaps. It's bubbly, rinses clean, and doesn't seem to dry my skin. 

Ingredients:

Sodium Palmate*, Sodium Palm Kernelate*, Aqua*, Sodium Gluconate*, Fragrance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Palm Acid*, Glycerin*, Leptospermum Scoparium Mel (Manuka Honey)*, Sodium Chloride*, Titanium Dioxide*

I think I hate it. I can't wait til it's gone. I have been intentionally letting it melt under the water so I can be done with it. So far I have tried two of their soaps- and still have two more in the stash. Hopefully they can redeem the brand with the next two  but I don't have high hopes. 

Samples Review Biologique Recherche Creme Dermo Purifiante, Korres Youth Renewal Sleeping Facial Black Pine Primus

 

Fancy French skincare. Oooh. I bought my first product from this brand- my splurge skincare product of the year but I have yet to start using it because I want to get through a few samples first. This is a sample of a very expensive face cream meant for acne and eczema. I don't typically have either but thought I would give it a whirl. First thing I notice- it stinks. This cream seriously smells like shrimp left out on a hot day. It's gross! I do not enjoy the scent at all. When I first started using it I ended up with a few white heads. After a few days it cleared up and my skin looks ok again. It is very hydrating. A little too much so- it doesn't wear well under makeup and starts to separate and just look really worn in general by the end of the day. I don't think it did a great job of regulating oils either. My skin does look a little bit more glowy though, unless it's all in my head. I hate the experience of using it so it's not something I would buy again. Also- didn't love the first couple of ingredients though it was some interesting ones lower down. Glad I sampled but it's not for me! 

Ingredients:WATER (AQUA), PROPYLENE GLYCOL, GLYCERIN, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, SUCROSE POLYSTEARATE, C10-18 TRIGLYCERIDES, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, PENTAERYTHYL TETRASTEARATE, NIACINAMIDE, BON NITRIDE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, BETULA ALBA BARK EXTRACT, EQUISETUM ARVENSE EXTRACT, ARCTIUM LA ROOTAPPA EXTRACT, ENANTIA CHLORANTHA BARK EXTRACT, HEDERA HEDERA HELIX (IVY) LEAF/STEM EXTRACT, FUCUS VESICULOS EXTRACT, HYDROLYZED ALGIN, CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT, SPIRAEA ULMARIA EXTRACT, ARNICA MANTA FLOWER EXTRACT, ROSA CANINA FRUIT EXTRACT, MYRTUS COMMUNIS LEAF EXTRACT, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLI ACID, TOCOPHEROL, CARAMEL, POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6, ZINC SULFATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE.

I've tried a grand total of two Korress products. And I do want to try more because Greek beauty brands are interesting to me. The main star ingredient seems to be the black pine primus. Korres claims it is "rich in antioxidant active ingredients and supports skin regeneration during the night. In the Black Pine Primus Night Cream, it unfolds its effect in combination with the innovative YouthRePro technology: It helps to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles and noticeably plump up the skin. The creamy texture gently blends with the skin and ensures a fresh, rested complexion in the morning.." It has a very fresh smell that smells similar to other facial skincare I've tried. It's pretty fragranced so if you dislike fragranced skincare you would not like this. I like the scent- and better a pleasant scent than something stinky. I also like how it wore overnight. It did seem to bring a radiance and glow to my skin. It was very hydrating. And I woke up feeling like my skin looked nice in the morning. I liked it. I think that Jojoba oil can do the same thing- or even other oils. But I did like this. Not sure I would repurchase though. Possibly. It would be interesting to see if it does anything to help wrinkles or see if there are any long term benefits since it's hard to judge them long term. Ingredients list isn't my favorite..I've seen better...

Ingredients: 

aqua/water/eau, glycerin, propanediol, cococaprylate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, triheptanoin, caprylic/capric/myristic/stearic triglyceride, glyceryl stearate citrate, cetyl palmitate, c10-18 triglycerides, glyceryl stearate, prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil, acetyl hexapeptide-8, alanine, arginine, betaine, butylene glycol, caprylyl glycol, cellulase, disodium phosphate, epigallocatechin gallatyl glucoside, ethylhexylglycerin, gallyl glucoside, glutamic acid, glycine, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, lactic acid, lavandula angustifolia (la taurate, sorbitan isostearate, threonine, tocopherol, xanthan gum, benzyl alcohol, dehydroacetic acid, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, perfume/fragrance.

Morrocan Beef Stew, Blueberry Sunrise Yogurt Smoothie, and Apple Muffins

 Last post for me today. Just wanted to share what I made the past week. 

Starting with Moroccan Stew. I can't recall ever making anything Moroccan so I was excited for this. I'm not sure how authentic it is...but it was pretty good. It kinda reminds me of a Christmas spiced type of stew. Usually I don't like any dried fruit in stew type food but it surprisingly went really well with this. I served with cous cous and veggies. I really like it- but for me it's probably not something I would make again.

Next up- a smoothie. I didn't completely follow the recipe. I added spinach. And used plain yogurt with vanilla extract added. I always try to make sure I eat a lot of antioxidant rich food and this is a good way to get a ton since blueberries have quite a bit. Can't go wrong with a fruit smoothie! 

And last up....Apple Flax muffins. I changed a lot for this recipe too. I didn't feel like buying and adding flax so I subbed Almond Flour. I always tend to have a lot of that on hand for some reason. I also didn't use the full amount of wheat flour. I used a bit of all purpose because I wasn't sure they would be as good. I think this recipe coulda handled full whole wheat. They were OK. Not a lot of apple flavor. I definitely prefer blueberry muffins over this- but nice to try something different. 

And that's all!