Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken and Queen Victoria Soup

I'm suffering through and trying to make myself watch House of Dragon. It has been so hard to try and pay attention to this season. The show has been so boring. Even the things they do for shock value really just do nothing. And I think it's a combo of the writing and the acting. I feel like the writing skews on making side with Rhanerya but I cannot stand Rhanerya. She is boring to watch and the way she talks irritates me. I am just watching it for the sake of watching it...and I think after the season finale I won't be coming back to watch more.

But anyway...figured I would knock out a quick food post. So I can make a list and go shopping and get back into the groove of cooking. At least cooking when it's not too hot. 

Starting with Queen Victoria soup. This would be the 2nd thing I have made that was associated with Queen Victoria. First being the Victoria Sponge cake. This was...boring. Not bad. I can't see how it could be anyones favorite. It's not bad. Just...meh. But it was simple to make. I served with some frozen spinach pastries that I ended up really disliking but I have an entire freezer of. 

Next up, pineapple teriyaki chicken. I made a closer version of this when I was in the states because I found a pineapple jalapeño jelly. Today I made it with a mandarin passionfruit jelly I don't really like and am trying to use up...and it was fine. It had a nice fruitless that contrasted the saltiness of the soy nicely.  Just not spicy enough. I also swapped for chicken breasts because that's what I have. 

That's all for now..until next time.

Tony Terry

I feel like I am finally getting over Jet Lag. So time for another post or two. Today we share some music from Tony Terry. 

The 90's truly had some of the best music.  Just pure, feel good, put you in a great mood type of vibe. And some great voices. This is one of them.

This is the only song I have by Tony Terry. I was hoping to discover more songs by him but this was the only song that really stood out in his discography. I just read that the great Anita Baker was instrumental in getting the video made. More reasons to adore her.

And of  course- gotta share the live version because he sounds even better than the record. 

One of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. If you love a good slow jam/quiet storm type music and you haven't heard this one- give it a listen! 

I'm dealing with a real case of Jet Lag. Since I've flown back I've had multiple days where I have been up for well over 36 hours. And I have not done one thing productive. I had a nice long vacation though, it was so long I was nervous about coming back to work- like I would just forget my whole job. One of the highlights of my trip- I finally flew in business class. It was on my bucket list...I got it at the last minute so it was definitely discounted. Not worth full price but certainly worth the price I paid. This was the first flight I got off the plane feeling refreshed. The lie flat seat on international flights was definitely worth it. Also the real dishes/silverware and slightly better food. At the end of the day it was still airplane food so you could definitely still tell it was just reheated but I still loved every second. The larger/screen, better headset. Hopefully that happens again on my next trip to/from the states. 

Anyway...back to blogging. Hopefully regularly. I was planning to review these gloves before I left but I took a lot of brain power sitting around thinking/planning to pack etc instead of actually getting it done. I packed last minute and I could tell.

Tony Moly claims:

Reveal your smoothest, glowiest skin with the Plum Bum Exfoliating Glove—a spa-quality exfoliating mitt designed to buff away dead skin, impurities, and rough patches while boosting circulation. Inspired by the iconic Korean body scrub experience, this 100% biodegradable glove delivers a deep yet gentle exfoliation.

Transform your shower routine with the Exfoliating Glove, inspired by the iconic Korean scrub experience. Designed to lift away dull, dead skin cells and reveal smoother, brighter skin, these gloves enhance your skin's natural radiance and prepare it to absorb moisturizers and serums for that spa-fresh glow. For best results, use with our Plum Bum Gentle Daily Exfoliating Body Bar and finish with Plum Bum Tightening Peptide Serum to leave your skin irresistibly soft and firm.

100% Biodegradable Viscose – Naturally derived and gentle on skin, this fabric softens in warm water to provide optimal exfoliation without irritation.

Lymphatic-Boosting Texture – Helps stimulate circulation and promote detoxification, leaving skin looking refreshed and sculpted.

Exfoliating gloves. It's been a minute since I've owned a pair. I had forgotten how much I like them. I haven't bought any in years- mainly because they are usually made of plastic and I try to watch the amount/types of plastic I am purchasing. These are different because they are not plastic- and they are 100% biodegradable. I don't know how long it take to biodegrade but at least it eventually will.

These definitely smell a bit off. They are made of viscose. I don't know if it's the process they go through but I didn't really like the smell of the gloves.

I do love how exfoliating they are- while still feeling quite gentle. It feels really nice to scrub down with them. 

They are  purple. And they look like mittens. They dry quickly and are easy to clean. They are also quite a bit thinner than most other gloves I have used before

The only other problem I had was that one of the gloves developed a hole in it the second day of use. I have still been able to keep using them with no issue. But I wasn't thrilled to see the hole.

Overall, I really like them and would consider buying them again if I can't find another biodegradable option. I also bought the Plum soap- which I should be reviewing soon.

Anthropologie Champagne Celebration Festive Fizz Scented Soap Review

Typically I don’t do reviews on vacation but since I am taking an extended vacation and just finished this soap and don’t want to wait and

forget everything about it- figured I would knock at least this review out. I’ve had Anthro branded candles but I think this is the first soap I have used from the brand- and I really liked this one. 

Anthropologie claims:

Playful spins on holiday classics, Nephthys Foster’s latest illustrated collection uses pops of

4color and fun typography that’ll have you cheering in a bright, merry way.

Highlights:

• Exclusive artwork by Nephthys Foster
• Sold individually
• Festive Fizz: Champagne Celebration
• Glow on the Go: Velvet Vanilla
• Merrytini: Shaken not Stirred Sandalwood 
• Nutmeg Nutcracker: Panettone
• Paw-La-La: Gingerbread Wonderland

Made in Portugal

I like a good champagne scent- I think my favorite is by Lush and the worst I have tried has be from Philosophy. This one is really nice. It reminds me of the Victorias Secret Strawberries and Champagne lotion I used to save for special occasions in high school. I had about four different scents I used to rotate through. Back when their scents used to be amazing. 

That packaging is so nostalgic for me. Wow. Anyway.. this soap smells almost exactly like I remember that body lotion smelling. It was a nice and an expected walk down memory lane. 

As always the soap lathered well, rinsed clean, and bubbled nicely. My skin has been a but dryer lately but I suspect its the hard water and not this actual soap. 

Almost forgot to talk packaging. I loved the packaging. It comes packaged on wheels. Made of wood. I love when they get creative and manage to skip plastic. I will be keeping and repurposing the packaging. 

Ingredients- 

Festive Fizz: Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool, Citrus

Overall, loved it. I got mine on sale after the season was over and it was so worth it. Would definitely try more Anthro branded soaps. 

Jo Malone Lime Basil and Mandarin Soap Bar Review

I'm just watching  a breakdown of the latest House of Dragon episode- which I'm surprised Im actually watching because I'm finding this season boring and hard to pay attention to. I don't really care about any of the characters...I only care about the dragons. I don't find the "villains" of the show to be in a quarter as interesting as the Game of Throne characters. And I don't find Rhaenyra to be interesting at all...she wants to rule but really didn't take any time preparing or learning the proper way to rule. I did watch Knight of the Seven Kingdoms though- a few weeks ago and was shocked because I actually really enjoyed it. Much better than HOTD at least.

But let me stop blabbing and get this post done. 

Jo Malone claims:

Elevate your daily routine with satiny Lime Basil & Mandarin Soap. With moringa oil and RSPO-certified palm oil, the formula creates a creamy lather, and cleanses and conditions skin. Leave skin scented with this tantalising, zesty fragrance.

Made in England

I've tried a few Jo Malone scents at this point...I think seven. So I'm not new to them. Of all of them though- this is the one I wanted to try the most. I love Lime and Basil together.  So I assumed I would also love Lime, Basil, and Mandarin. Sounds like the ultimate summer scent. 

But I don't really like it. I guess I get the Basil. I also get the Mandarin. Idk about lime. Put them all together and you get a scent that I'm just not excited about. It has this odd note to it or underlying scent that reminds me of the Red Roses scent. Just a sharp note of something strange.

Other than that it lathers well, doesn't dry my skin, lingers a little, and rinses clean. 

Also it melts fast. I've noticed an insane price increase of the past year or two. I bought it on sale- good for me. Because really it is so overpriced for what it is. 

Ingredients: 

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water\Aqua\Eau, Fragrance (Parfum), Methyl Gluceth-20, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Palm Acid, Palm Kernel Acid, Polyquaternium-7, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Bht, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Tetrasodium Etidronate <ILN52095>

Overall, this scent is not for me. I have one more Jo Malone soap in the stash and after I use that up I don't see myself buying any more soaps from them for quite awhile- especially since the remaining soaps are in scents I have already tried in other forms.

Indigo Wild Zum Sweet Orange All Purpose Cleaner Review

Yesterday I went to see the movie Obsession- tell me why it was so unexpectedly good.  So good I took a few hours on the reddit group reading opinions, theories and etc. I even want to watch again and there aren't very many recent movies that have made me feel that way. Recommendation from me for sure.

But back to the review. I've reviewed a lot of Zum products. Mainly the soaps and years and years ago. I do plan to try more- they have lotion, laundry soap, and all kinds of things and are more accessible than they used to be. You can actually find them outside of healthy stores. I was really surprised when I saw this in my local store and snapped it up right away. 

Zum claims:

Meet Zum Sweet Orange All-Purpose Cleaner: a fresh scented cleaner that brings citrus-forward freshness to your routine. This multi-purpose cleaner spray works on kitchen counters, appliances, bathroom surfaces, and everyday messes.

Made with saponified coconut oil, alcohol, essential oils, and baking soda, this cleaner is free from ammonia, bleach, and artificial acids. It’s a go-to orange-scented kitchen cleaner that delivers a solid clean while leaving behind an uplifting, citrusy aroma.

I usually do cleaning posts- and lump a lot of stuff into one post every couple months or so but I wanted to do a stand alone for this. It's on the pricier side and I like the brand- so full review it is. 

First things first- it smells amazing. It smells like Orange bubbly. Orange champagne. One of the best cleaning sprays I have ever smelled. It's not strong though nor does it linger excessively. 

It does clean really well...but doesn't make things as shiny as some of the other all purpose cleaners I have used. 

The ingredients are clean and feel completely safe. It even has cleaning super hero baking soda in it-  which I have yet to see in a cleaning spray. 

Ingredients:

Water, potassium cocoate (saponified 100% coconut oil), fragrance (essential oils), alcohol denat., glycerin (vegetable glycerin), and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)

One thing I love the complain about it when a company only makes regular bottles and not refills- I went to their site fully expecting not to see them- but they do have them. Yay for saving a little bit of plastic. I wish my local store would carry them but of course they don't. At least I know if I really want one I can just order them from their website. 

Overall, great cleaning spray. Smells great and will make you happy to clean- but maybe a bit overpriced. Method cleaners do the same thing but at a much better price...I still might be tempted to re-buy though,. Just not often.