Lush Scan Me For Scares Shower Gel

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 It's been such a sunny weekend...a bit chilly today though. I'm excited for this Spring because I bought a garden box and I'm going to try growing some stuff. Starting small with just some lettuce and see how it goes. If it works out for me I might expand to a couple of other things like kale...and possible get a few grow bags. But I'm starting small. 

Lush claims:

A screamingly good cranberry wash

Relax and take a shower with sweet cranberry infusion and hydrating glycerine, served with a side of horror film vibes. If you’re feeling brave, triple check that the door is locked behind you and scan the QR code on the label. While the sounds give you goosebumps, corn syrup gives you moisture, leaving the skin soft and smooth. It’s a deliciously scary shower experience!

What's in it for you?

- Corn syrup softens and hydrates skin

- Cranberry infusion is rich in vitamins A and E

- Fine sea salt cleanses and gently exfoliates skin

Leaving the world Lusher than we found it

The glycerine in our products is completely palm-free and vegan friendly. 

Made with sea salt from Portuguese and Croatian pans that protect birdlife biodiversity.

I bought this shower gel last year when it came out in the Halloween collection. I didn't really pick up anything else from the Halloween collection. But maybe this year I'll be able to get a few more things. Depending on what I have in my collection.

Anyway...I wanted this immediately because I have been wanting to try more of their shower gels. Lush really does have some of the most unique scents. Some of them are hits. Some misses. I bought this one when I saw it because it mentioned Cranberries. There are just not enough Cranberry scents out there and I LOVE cranberries. But there is really nothing cranberry about this scent. 

To me, it smells like an earthy and sweet almond scent. A very unique pairing. And very familiar. If not identical to Roasting Chestnuts On An Open Fire. Maybe that one had a smoky element to it? I love, love, love that scent but I don't think Lush will ever bring it back. So I was happy to have the same/similar scent back.

And I do also love this scent. It's a sweet marzipan almond scent with something earthy. An odd combination and one I would have never through would go great together. But it works for me. 

The glittery look of the shower gels are much better- it used to be the glitters settled at the bottom but these stay nicely suspended and you get the prettiest, glittery red gel. The run off is red/pink too which can be cool. I'm sure the intention was spooky.... 

You can scan the code and it will give you some shower music. I guess that's fun too?

The lather in this gel is a bit disappointing. It bubbles up but seems to lose its oomph really quickly. I think that's due to the ingredients. SLSi is further down and that's what makes the lasting big bubbles. It's not my favorite formula for Lush shower gels but it may be a little less drying. But then again my skin doesn't get dried out from Lush anyway.

Ingredients:

Glycerine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cranberry Infusion, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Calcium Lactate Gluconate, Fine Sea Salt, Lauryl Betaine, Perfume, Corn Syrup, Lactic Acid, Cedarwood Oil, Vetivert Oil, Almond Essential Oil, Water (Aqua), Titanium Dioxide, Propylene Glycol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Tin Oxide, *Limonene, *Linalool, Colour 17200, Colour 45410:2, Colour 14700, Colour 77491

Because I love Roasting Chestnuts- I was really happy to have this and kinda wish I bought a larger bottle. I wasn't even that dissapiotning that there was really no cranberry scent. I would love it if they made this in a body lotion or something where I could buy the scent year round. 

Salmon Cakes and Blueberry Banana Pie

 This week went a little better for me as far as cooking. So let's get to it.

I made Salmon cakes. This was a recipe from my Vitamix Cookbook- only I did not make it in the Vitamix. It just seems like he perfect thing to make in the food processor. So that's what I did. They whipped up in no time at all. And I even used fresh instead of canned Salmon. I also used Panko Bread crumbs because those are my favorite. And then I made tartar sauce. Which was amazing! Who woulda thought it was so simple to whip up? I feel like I can make most of the sauces I need so that's pretty cool. These are very basic- but very good. You can probably make much more exciting flavors by adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Chipotle Cranberry anyone? Garlic and Honey? The possibilities are endless. I've have to experiment some. Served with Okra and Cous Cous. 

Then I made a pie. I'm at the part of the Harry Potter book where there are a few appetizers listed. Very complex appetizers. And I don't want to spend all that time on a complex appetizer. So I decided to turn one of them recipes into a pie. I was curious about the cream/cheese and heavy cream mix. Which is good. Not mind blowing. I made a blueberry pie filling and threw some bananas in it and there we go! It was slightly too sweet...but still pretty good. I probably wouldn't make it again..I think I would rather eat a Lemon Meringeue Pie or Sweet Potato pie. 

And...I found glass bottle Martinelli Apple Juice! So glad I found it, it's very sweet but I love the glass bottles. I can't wait to repurpose them with single serve tea! 

Apotheke Cardamom Chestnut Candle Review

 

I've been watching this lady on youtube make a massive amount of freezer meals and I always catch myself wondering why I don't do that....until I realized I really don't have the fridge/freezer space for that. I kinda wish I did but I feel like even if I bought a separate freezer it's highly unlikely I would actually even make the meals. It seems like a lot of work- and I mostly like to cook fresh. But why am I rambling about food..let's talk candles! 

Apotheke claims:

Apotheke Cardamom Chestnut Candle blends spicy black cardamom, roasted chestnuts, creamy vanilla, and warm woods for a decadent gourmand fragrance.

The white specialty-ceramic vessel features a reflective-gold interior that glistens more brightly as the candle burns down. Sophisticated yet festive, it enhances any space with understated elegance.

Apotheke Candles Fall Collection candles include extraordinary scents that burn clean, enhancing any room with beautiful, simple design. Apotheke Candles are made in Brooklyn, of a high quality soy wax blend and burn 60 hours.

Hand Poured in USA

Apotheke is a new brand to me. I don't know if I've heard good or bad things about it- but sometimes you have to try things for yourself. I can tell you I'm not impressed.

I was expecting a spicy and nutty scent. And this is largely vanilla. I don't get any cardamom. Not even a hint of something spicy. And nothing nutty. I don't know how a chestnut smells- I've had them a couple times but the scent isn't coming to mind. 

This is sweet vanilla. Maybe a slightly more complex but still very sweet vanilla. And it smells nearly identical to a candle from Anthro I just reviewed. I didn't mind the vanilla scent in that candle...it's just when I get a nearly identical candle from two completely different brands it kinds throws me off! 

It is quite a large candle. Comes in a matte white vessel. I hate the feel of it when I pick it up so I am throwing it out when the candle is empty. 

It also smokes quite a bit. Sometimes right after I have trimmed it..it will just released a steady puff of soot. So disappointing and reminds me of the candles from Illume. 

I didn't realize it at the time but it is supposed to be one of their Holiday candles. I don't know if it's coming back next year- I sure hope not! 

It's supposed to be a soy blend. More than likely it does have paraffin. 

Overall, not a fan. 

Danessa Myricks Infinite Chrome Micropencil In Charoite Review

I really thought this pencil was named Charlotte. I just now found out it's Charoite. And apparently a Charoite is a rare purple crystal. Learned something new....

Danessa Myricks claims:

A color-shifting, multi-chrome, waterproof micro-pencil that creates smoldering and graphic lines.

Most of the Danessa products I have I love. But if I'm being honest- I didn't love this. 

I don't know if it's just this color but I don't really see the multi-chrome. And I was hoping this purple would look great on me- but I never have luck with deep purple (liners or shadow) and the way it shows up. It just doesn't stick out on my skin tone. I think I need a purple with a different undertone. 

When you put it on, it just looks purple and not as exciting as I was hoping. It does wear well though in the waterline. Especially if you set it. In order to add more fun, I like to take a few different shades of blue and pop it over the purple but leave the purple peeking through in a random spots.[

It is a mirco-pencil. So it's thin....and you have to be careful or else you can break it off. I ended up breaking it the very first time I used it. I can see why you would want a micropencil for something like your brows but I can't see the point in a fun coloured liner. I tend to only use it in the waterline because I don't like the way it goes on as a lid liner and it's easy to break that way.

One complaint I have is that it barely has product. I feel like I have only used it a handful of times and I'm running out. I only have a very more uses before I throw it in the recycle bin.

And last up- the packaging feels cheap. It's rickety and just doesn't feel like a liner that costs $22. 

So overall, I was definitely disappointed. I might still try another color just to see if any of the other shades are better. But not anytime soon.

Pre De Provence Linden Soap Bar Review

I thought this soap was Linen at first and I looked all up and through their site for it until I realized it was Linden. I thought Linen sounded a bit of an unusual scent for a "French" soap brand anyway.  I had never heard of Linden - also known as Lime trees but unrelated to the citrus fruit. The reviews looked pretty good though so I was excited to try it.

Pre De Provence claims:

Fresh, warm floral aroma with delicate, sweet, honey-fruit top notes and a fine green, undertone of meadows and sweet herbal tea.

Bright, Sunny Floral.

For centuries, the luxury of French-milled soaps has remained the gold standard of excellence. Each time you begin to lather a French made soap, you enter a time and place where quality and craftsmanship have stood still. Traditional French soap is triple-milled to produce a completely uniform and smooth soap, without impurities, thus lasting longer.

Each bar of Pre de Provence soap is not only carefully made today by dedicated soapmakers in Provence following their proud traditions, but quad-milled to be smoother and have a richer lather to create our luxurious feel.

Using pure, natural ingredients enriched with shea butter, you can feel the difference in our unique quad-milling process. Aromatic fragrances transport you into a moment of calmness, vitality, dreaming, or well-being.

It's not worth the hype.

The scent is so light and unremarkable. Just a light, very forgettable floral scent. And you really can't smell it much. I was using its n the shower but took it out to use as a hand soap because I get more scent that way. 

Everything else was fine. Lathers well, rinses cleanly, not drying.

I don't see the ingredients listed on the site and they weren't on the box.

Overall, glad I have the mini...could be the full size has more scent but I won't be buying it to find out. 

Sly and the Family Stone

I made a mistake of taking a really long nap earlier, which means I'll probably have a hard time sleeping tonight. And I have to wake up early tomorrow. Yikes! I should probably make some iced coffee for tomorrow....

In the meantime...a quick music post. I love Sly and the Family Stone. If You Want Me To Stay is a classic. Very unique sounding song. I love that hat...it looks like something you would see on Good Times.

Gotta share the studio version- cause I like the vocals on it a bit more. Lyrics are just a bit stronger.

Everyday People might be my favorite Sly song. This song has an important message I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing these days. Short and to the point.

Essential listening!