Choco Flan Cake, Honey Garlic Shrimp, and Glass Noodle Stir Fry

 We have officially hit cooler weather which means I'll be cooking more. Mostly I think I will be trying to get a little creative with all the stuff I already bought...gotta do the cabinet and freezer clean out. Also saves money which means more money to spend on fun stuff...

Starting with the choco-flan cake. This has been on my list for a while to make....I was originally planning to make it when I went to the states to visit my family but I didn't really make much of anything. So this just sat and sat. Also I couldn't figure out if I wanted to make the Caveat (Goat Milk Caramel) or if I wanted to buy it.. Ended up making it and was surprised how easy it was...and also how good it is! I was eating it by the spoonful...definitely different from any other caramel I have had. 

I scaled the cake to a six inch size (just halved it really).  I just wasn't sure I wanted a whole 10 inch cake. Also I don't have a cake pan with high enough sides. But anyway...I made the cake part, made the flan...put them together and baked in a water bath. Let it cool an hour...and turned it out. Unfortunately the flan was mostly unset and the caramel did not come out perfectly, it stayed in the pan. I did try the cake that day and almost threw it out...the cake part was too espresso tasting and the flan tasted like egg that first day. But I'm glad I did not throw it away because after a day in the fridge some sort of magic happened and the cake had the perfect coffee chocolate flavor with the best flan I have ever had. I ate the whole cake over the three day weekend and wish I had more. It was an ugly- but delicious cake.

Next up I made Honey Garlic Shrimp. It's been a minute since I made any shrimp and honey garlic sounded amazing...I just googled a random recipe and did my own thing. Next time I think I would add Bourbon....

 

And last up I had some Glass Noodles hanging out in the cabinet for months and months and figured I would use them up. I just threw some veggies I had in the fridge in along with soy sauce and sesame oil and a few other things. Added some chicken and there it is....I should make this more often. 

Can't wait to jump into the next couple of recipes.....

Updated Palette Collection

How time flies. I forgot what I was looking up but I stumbled upon my old palette collection post and just realized how outdated that post now is. Since I did that one... I have used up about 5 or so palettes...and bought a ton of new ones. I've also dug out some colors so the remaining palettes I do have look a lot different. Also...palettes have been on my mind because I have been obsessing about getting my hands on the Danessa Myricks Lightworks 6. I couldn't take it anymore and I just placed an order for it....I will definitely be doing first impressions when it comes in the mail. In the meantime...this is what the collection is looking like.

1. MAC Singles- I have had this for years and years. Put this together when I first started becoming obsessed with the brights. A lot of these are great- some of them aren't as bright as newer formulas...and I may have alternative favorites but this palette is still one of my faves. Maybe I'll make it a goal to review the individual MAC shades in my collection next.

2. Too Faced Loves Sephora- Another old palette...I have dug out quite a few of the colors that didn't work for me and this is what was left. I should probably chuck the rest- except for the gold greenish shade but I can't bring myself to do it! 

3. Random Senna Cosmetics and MAC Singles- This is my 2nd least favorite palette. I don't like most of the Senna shades I had and got rid of most of them...but still have a few left. I am still trying to pair down which ones I can see myself wearing and which need to go. Maybe I'll get to doing that next year. Also still have an empty spot that needs to be filled....

4. Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette- Still have my OG Chocolate Bar. I have dug out some shades that stopped working or never worked for me. Overall, still love this palette and still is my number on travel choice.

5 &6. Viseart Cool and Warm Mattes- Cool Mattes is my least favorite palette. I can't rock cool tones like that. I still try to use it though. Lately I have been using the shades to place on top of lipsticks to change the tones and that's been fun. I love Warm Mattes for a very neutral look that goes with any lipstick or blush...and is great to pair with a dramatic liner look. I also love the yellow/orange shades in the palette, they are favorites for sure. 

7&8. Sugarpill Fun Size and Fun Size Too- LOVE these palettes...the brights go on bright and really pop on my skintone. A few of them don't wear the best but overall I LOVE these palettes. I will definitely pick up more to replace these shades as I use them up..and plan on buying more Sugarpill palettes eventually but as you can see I really don't need any palettes ATM. 

9. Urban Decay Black Palette- Does this even count as a palette? Only three shades in it and I very rarely use them...but I keep it because that black eyeshadow is the blackest shadow in my collection....it's awesome for setting a pencil liner.

10&11. Visseart Bright Editorials and Dark Mattes- You probably already know the Viseart Bright Editorials is a favorite- I love bright shades and these are AMAZING. Best thing is you can mix the shades and create new colors- the white is amazing for creating pastel shades of all the colors in the palette. I would repurchase this no questions asked. Dark Mattes is nice- mostly complimentary to shimmery shades in my collection. I use the purple shade the most of all....look at that dip! 

12&13. Natural Mattes and Natural Mattes Milieu- The natural mattes has all the basic shades...I don't really love it. Glad I got it at a deep discount. Wish I bought it in the smaller size. The mattes milieu has some really pretty shades. I like it so much more...it might be my 2nd favorite Viseart palette. I do kinda want the palettes that have duo chromes but I'm not in any rush to pick it up either. 

14. Urban Decay Electric Palette- I LOVE this palette. Some of these shades are truly irreplaceable. I wish I had bought a back up of this palette I love it that much. That blue shade Chaos?? Beautiful! Blue is a hard shade to wear but when I get it right, I can't stop starting at my blue lids.

15. Danessa Myricks Love is Love palette- This palette didn't get the most love- people really had a lot to say based on the layout. I bought it anyway and love it! I just wanted to get my hands on different multi-chromes and special shades and I don't regret this one bit. I think it's what made me NEED Lightworks 6. I cannot wait for it to come in.

 

16&17. Urban Decay VICE LTD and VICE 4- I love my Vice palettes. I think Urban should bring them back. You get a fun mix of colors and very unique shades...shades I don't want to use up even today because I know I probably won't be able to find replacements for them. 

18 &19. VICE 2 and VICE 3- The Vice 2 was a gift from my sister and what started my obsession with them. The packaging is still so pretty to me....The VICE 3 might be my least favorite of the ones in my collection and one I was thinking about panning one day. Except the red shade- best shade in the palette.

I wasn't sure exactly how many palettes I had in the collection..but 19 isn't bad. Even with one on the way....I think in a few months I might pick one and start trying to pan it....or just go back to picking random colors to use up just to try and use up some colors. 

MAC 209 Eyeliner Brush Review

 I have some time now that I am letting my cake cool for an entire hour. I can't wait to turn it upside down and see if it actually came out how it's supposed to. Patience is key...I guess.

MAC claims: 

An extra-fine tipped synthetic fibre brush that delivers a precise, firm, even stroke with which to line the eyes. Use with liquid or cream products.

• Bristle type: synthetic
• Made in USA

In the meantime, a quick eyeliner review. I've had this brush forever now (2018!) . Just waiting for me to buy some gel liner so I could finally test it out. I wanted to use up most of my pencil liners first. And I finally did so I splurged on the Bobbi Brown gel liner. So all these years later, I am finally using my 209 brush.

My favorite liner brushes or the ones I used most often tended to be the angled liner brushes- but I do have some that are similar styled to this one....and I have to say this is definitely my favorite. 

Something about how the shape tapers when you get product on it so you can really get a precise line and you can really perfect the shape in a way you can't with an angled brush. You aren't really limited to a straight wing, you can curve the line more which I think can suit the eye shape better. Or at least I feel like I can make it so with this brush. It just feels more free style. 

I was also worried that this would create too thick of a line but you can really get a thinner OR thicker line. So it's pretty versatile. I pulled out my similar brushes- Sonia Kashuk Bent liner and the Real Techniques one and the MAC one blows them out the water. The Sonia Kashuk one is a bit frayed and doesn't come to a point, so the wing part of the liner is always thick no matter what. And the Real Techniques one is OK, but the bristles are a tad longer so I feel I had less control with it. And you always get a thick line with that one

As always the quality of the brush is nice- sturdy yet light wood handle. Nice silver ferrule. Soft and not splayed bristles. 

I still need to give my MAC 210 a whirl- but right now my favorite for gel liner is the MAC 209. 

 

Eden's Garden Nutmeg Oil Essential Oil Review

 I have a long list of things I need to get done today: Cardio Boxing workout, baking a cake, two blog posts, a bit of cleaning, and a few other odds and ends. Starting with the first post. I have been digging through my huge collection of oils and trying to pick ones to use up. I've had this for awhile so decided to make it a focus to use up.  I'm not really sure why I decided to pick this one up...other than I love baking with nutmeg. I do know it's one of the oils you have to be careful with though because I read eating too much Nutmeg can cause hallucinations, confusion, drowsiness, and incoherent speech. I don't see any warnings for the oil...but I like to be careful with it anyway.

Eden's Garden claims:

Myristica Fragrans

Discover the warmth and spice of Nutmeg in a whole new way with Edens Garden's Nutmeg essential oil. This aromatic treasure, steam distilled from seeds grown in the lush Indonesian landscape, carries with it the essence of fall coziness and wintry comfort all year round. Its spicy and woody fragrance enriches any room with the same heartwarming aroma one would find when baking with the familiar spice. But beyond its delightful aroma, Nutmeg essential oil is a wellness powerhouse, offering more than just olfactory bliss.

Nutmeg oil is not only a favorite for its rich scent profile, but it's also sought after for its wellness benefits. It’s like having a personal wellness advocate in a bottle—one that supports your journey toward a balanced mind and body. Integrate Nutmeg oil into your daily routine by massaging diluted drops into sore muscles for a soothing experience, or diffuse it during meditation for an enhanced sense of tranquility and focus.

At Edens Garden, we take pride in ensuring each drop of Nutmeg essential oil is as pure as nature intended. Responsibly sourced and offered at a value that promotes both affordability and quality, our oil invites you to indulge in nature's gifts without compromise. So why not elevate your wellness repertoire today? A dash of Nutmeg may be all you need to transform your space into a sanctuary of serenity. Indulge in the aromatic richness and join a community embracing natural, plant-based living with every breath.  

It smells exactly like Nutmeg. I don't have too many uses for it, so I only diffused it rarely. It doesn't have a strong scent unless you use a good bit of it in a diffuser. I know it does have calming and relaxing properties and is said to be really good for your digestive system. 

It's supposed to help with Insomnia. I have been using it more lately and have been a lot sleepier than usual. One day this week I definitely fell right to sleep on the couch which is not normal for me. 

I haven't had any stomach issues to test if Nutmeg does help with that. But I wouldn't doubt it.

It's supposed to be great for aches and pains as well, arthritis pain in particular. All my joints and muscles (except the same old ankle trouble I have had for the past couple years) so I haven't been able to test that either. 

I did recently make a small bottle of "massage oil" with the diluted oil. You have to really dilute nutmeg oil...so the oil doesn't smell much like Nutmeg.

I do love using it as a room spray. I put a few drops in alcohol and then top off with some water and spray all around my space. Makes the place smell spicy and warm. All cozy and fall like. I do really enjoy it that way. I probably should have broken out some of my more fall essential oils to blend it with like Cardamom and Ginger but I didn't feel like digging through all my collection. I bet I could have made a really nice blend though if I hadn't been so lazy.

I do really like the oil--- but it's not an immediate repurchase for me but something I might pick up later on. For now I'm glad I have used up yet another bottle in my collection. 

Selena

 

Made it to the three day weekend! Thank goodness, I have been impatiently waiting for a three day for the past month. Starting the weekend off with a music post- Selena! Queen of Tejano music. I may or may not have been living in Texas at the time she died, not really sure. Somehow the entire time I lived in Texas I hadn't really heard of Selena. Until I was over a friends house in the 5th or 6th grade (years later)  and she had us watching the movie. I had no idea she was murdered at the end so I was floored. So shocking and sad--- her life was cut off way too soon. 

I love her music though and wish she would have had the opportunity to really cross over- although I love her Spanish songs so much more. 

These are my faves....

I always thought Bidi Bidi Bom Bom was one of the stand out songs from the movie. I couldn't watch the movie on demand but I remembered this song very clearly after only one viewing. She had the best outfits and so much stage presence! 

I love this song...I really don't know what she is saying and can probably look it up. I just love it though..and she did her thing on the live version. Love how she serves the red lips too. MAC did a lipstick collection for her years ago...and I almost regret not picking up one of the colors- I truly didn't need more lipstick though. I think I read somewhere that she used to wear Chanel Brick? Idk how true that is or even if they still make the shade.

Next up Techno Cumbia.....this one looks like it would have been so fun to be in the audience for. Actually  this whole concert of her in the purple outfit looks lit. 

She really sang with so much emotion...I think that's why I enjoy her Spanish songs so much more. For some reason her voice didn't have the depth/range when she sang in English. 

And last song on the Selena playlist- La Carcacha. Her style is so iconic! 

An icon that was  truly gone way too soon. 

Butter London Melt Away Cuticle Remover Review

I was going to do this post yesterday but I ended up falling asleep. Which almost never happens, I think because I was hyper fixated on watching/listening to stuff about the Hurricane. Truly horrific...the US can't catch a break right now. Sending all my prayers to the people of Florida. I can't imagine the panic they must have felt- especially when you hear of people trying to leave and getting stuck because gas stations ran out of gas etc. 

It seems off to talk about this and go on to a review of something so trivial but...my writing posts is stress relief for me. So here we go...

Butter London claims: 

Gently remove dry, overgrown cuticles in minutes

The Irish Moss-infused formula helps soften the look of cuticles, making it easier to push back cuticles.

Made in USA

I usually keep a cuticle remover to use on my nails...pushing back or melting away overgrown cuticles makes your nail polish look so much better. I didn't always take care of my cuticles and can tell the difference when I do my nails. Lately I have been keeping on top of it...especially for a pedicure.

This is definitely pricey for a cuticle remover....but I bought this in a set that came with a glass file and a glass cuticle pusher- so although this was pricey and I did get the mini bottle- the price was better. The usual bottle is .4 ounces with the price being $18.00. 

I can tell you I don't think it's worth it. It doesn't do anything that the much more cost effective Sally Hansen doesn't do. 

I even like the packaging better on the Sally one. I do like that this comes in glass packaging- it still does have a plastic lid though. But for ease of application the squeeze bottle is just easier to use rather than trying to load up the brush this comes with and then brush on. 

I do like that this seems a bit thicker though, it stays where you put it.

It doesn't have a scent unless you intentionally smell it...and then it smells awful. If you don't smell it, it probably won't bother you though. 

Otherwise it does help you scrape up the cuticle off the nails which makes your nails look better and polish last longer. I have mostly been using it for DIY pedicures- I'm not sure this is gentle enough on my nails since I've had more splitting and peeling but it could be something else. 

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua/Eau), Butylene Glycol, Potassium Hydroxide, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Extract, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Isopropyl Myristate, Laureth-7.

Overall, I wouldn't buy this again....but glad I tried it.