Sriracha Egg Salad, Summer Squash Pancakes, and Cock- a- Leekie Soup

We've reached the point of summer where I have lost my motivation to cook anything. It's just too hot. I attempted to make breakfast today and things did not go well. At all. I need to move somewhere with central AC so I can keep motivation up. 

In the meantime..I did make three things this past week- although the struggle was real so I'll just share what I've got.

Starting with egg salad. I love egg salad. Back in college it was my go to thing to get at 7/11. That and the brownies. I haven't made amen egg salads. Not sure why not. It's just not something I think of. Also it just seems like so much work and I don't like to boil and peel eggs. I did really like this recipe though. And I also made fresh rolls to go with it although I do wish I made a crustier bread. I also just used Texas Pete hot sauce because that's what I have and I didn't feel like buying a different hot sauce. 

Next up, Summer Squash pancakes. I tried making these this am.I already knew it wasn't going to be something I didn't like- and I was right. I ended up throwing them out. The flavor wasn't bad. But as you keep eating it get's worse and worse. I also didn't really cook them up the best because the kitchen was hot and I just wanted to get out as soon as possible. The green color was fun- but I'm just not into savory pancakes. No picture because the plate came out just plain ugly. I got the recipe from my Vitamix book but these are kinda similar...

And last up- Cock a Leekie soup. Unlucky for me, I seem to be in the soup section of the unofficial Harry Potter book. Luckily I made this before the temperature because just plain too hot. This is another Scottish recipe- and I like it so much better than the last soup I made. This would be the perfect winter soup recipe- especially when you feel under the weather. And it's so simple. I ended up using the biggest leek I could find in the grocery store and it was perfect. This is a recipe I could see myself making again...but when it's chill out. 

Clinique High Impact Mascara Review

 Another hot day. I'm just trying to stay cool and move as little as possible. Figured now is the perfect time to knock out a post or two. I've been meaning to review this mascara for awhile now but I've just been too lazy to wear proper eyeshadow and take pictures. I took a break from shadow for a minute but I'm back into wanting to play and make fun interesting combo's. 

Clinique claims:

The #1 Mascara from a Dermatologist Brand in the U.S.* Kicks up the volume and length of each and every lash.

Ophthalmologist tested. Safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Allergy tested. 100% fragrance free.

A Classic for a Reason

High Impact™ Mascara is your go-to for buildable volume and natural lashes dialed up a notch. 

Kicks up the volume and length of each and every lash—and resists clumping.

Dramatic Range 

Rich black pigments give lashes intense color, adding to the drama.

Create the look you want with this lengthening and volumizing mascara, from your-lashes-but-better to lush, bold drama. 

Brush

The soft fiber brush was designed to comb and define every lash. 

Formula Facts

The Clinique Eye Safety Promise

Ophthalmologist tested

Safe for sensitive eyes

Safe for contact lens wearers

This Product is Also

Allergy tested

Fragrance free

Great to Know

Resists clumping

Free Of

Fragrance

Parabens 

Phthalates

Oil

I think I fell off because of this mascara. I typically don't like Clinique mascara and have tried a few samples- the only one I like is the high impact one in the green tube. I saw this in a set though and figured I would give it a go...

And it's every bit as disappointing as expected. I would rename this one to No Impact- or Low Impact Mascara. 

I feel it clumps my lashes in all the wrong ways- doesn't provide length or volume. I just get short stumpy disappointing results. 

What's most dissapointing is the price. I got mine in the set so I didn't pay full price. I always thought Clinique was one of the more affordable brands but the price on this is outrageous. Twenty Seven. For a Clinique Mascara. 

Supposedly on the website they claims it's the number one US Mascara from a dermatologist brand. I think the key to that is "from a dermatologist brand."

It comes in three colors- Black, Black Brown, and Black Honey. The Black Honey color does sound interesting. I probably won't pick it up since I dislike this formula so much but I do want to experiment with mascara colors soon.

It's not for me. The only people I can see actually liking this are people that already have amazing lashes and don't need their mascara to do much of anything. 

On the days I wear this I always tend to put a primer underneath it to give it all the help I can give it- and I still end up disliking it. 

Tone Loc- Wild Thing

This song was a recent download for me. I have been playing Dance Central again lately and looking back through all the downloadable songs that I missed downloading. I've been creating youtube playlists of those songs so I can at least do the dances...which is how I discovered this song. 

I love 80's/90's hip hop and somehow had never heard this. I was missing out. I downloaded this song immediately. 

Posting the Dance Central dance- cause it's worth checking out.  I love that game SO MUCH! 

I need to check the rest of his discography and see if there's anything else I need to add to my music collection.

Garnier Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel Review

Years and years ago Garnier used to be a go to brand. They are easy to find and pretty affordable. These days I avoid silicone/dimethicone in my hair stuff so that limits some of the brands/products I am willing to plunk down cash for. This is one of the few products they make that does not have the cones in them. Although there probably still are some questionable ingredients. 

Garnier claims:

Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel provides shiny and defined curls with strong hold and no frizz.

Fructis Curl Shape Defining Spray Gel is a strong-hold spray gel for wavy, curly, and coily hair types. Infused with coconut water, it defines curls, adds shine, and helps control frizz without weigh-down, stickiness, or build-up.

• Mist-on spray-gel format coats strands evenly like a hair spray with the control of a hair gel.
• Shiny finish with defined curls that stay in place yet feel touchable.
• Works on damp or dry hair; great for day-2 curl refresh.
• Free from silicones, phthalates, and DMDM hydantoin; Leaping Bunny approved.

No silicones, no phthalates, and no DMDM hydantoin. All Garnier products, globally, are approved by Cruelty Free International under the Leaping Bunny program.

For best results, start with a curly hair shampoo, then layer over a leave-in conditioner for curly hair or curl cream for curly hair before styling.

For all curl types.

This is not my first time trying this product. I had this back in the day when I still had a relaxer. Why? IDK. I guess I thought I would create curls from straight hair. Of course, it didn't work. I don't know how I ended up using the rest of the bottle. 

We'll start with something easy. Scent. It smells nice- kinda a faint light apple/fruity type scent. It's very light though and I don't think it sticks to my hair. But I do like it. Garnier never misses as far as fragrance for their products.

As for the product itself- it is a "spray" gel. I don't know why. I'm not sure I think it makes any sense to have a spray gel. I think I would rather have a squeeze tube or a tub. Spraying it onto the hands seems to be tedious and makes application take longer. It does say you can spray directly into hair for even coverage- I don't think so. It doesn't diffuse- just sprays in a straight line so I do not think that's the best method of applying. 

It does have some crunchy hold that feels a bit drying. Even layering over a leave in conditioner. It kinda defines my hair- but I do feel there could be more definition/stretch. This seems more a product that encourages curls to shrink up rather than stretching them out.  I think I want something to define and weight down my hair just a little more than this does. 

I think shine and overall look just end up being "OK". 

No silicones- which I avoid.  But it does have "acrylates" and PVP which never sound like the best ingredients. 

Ingredients: 

454049 F8 AQUA/WATER, PVP, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, PHENOXYETHANOL, PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, PEG-70 MANGO GLYCERIDES, TRIETHANOLAMINE, POLYACRYLATE-3, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, METHYL-PARABEN, BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER/SHEA BUTTER, HEDYL CINNAMAL, AMYL CINNAMAL. F.I.L.# D232780/1.

Overall, it's affordable but not something I would repurchase. 

Beekman Lilac Dream Goat Milk Soap Review

 I don't think I've ever had any Lilac scented bath and body care. It's not a common scent. I've never smelled fresh lilacs but I do really want smell them. I guess for now- this soap is as close I'll get to it. 

Beekman claims:

Rejuvenate your skin and senses with this hydrating bar soap formulated with creamy goat milk and our 100% vegetable base to deeply cleanse without stripping moisture. Enriched with the farm-inspired scent of lilacs in full bloom, this creamy lather will transport you to your own personal garden of grandeur.

Creamy goat milk and botanicals deeply nourish and moisturize skin, giving you long-lasting freshness with a velvety foaming lather that cleanses without stripping skin’s moisture. 

Benefits:

• Triple-milled to last even longer, extending all of the benefits of nourishing goat milk down to the very last lather
• Goat Milk boosts skin health with the same pH as human skin, and it’s rich in lactic acid, vitamins, and minerals to help renew and strengthen skin

Top: Jasmine, Lilac, Rose 

Middle: Gardenia, Lemon, Orange Blossom, Ozone 

Base: Musk, Vanilla, Amber Moss

I'm starting to get a little tired of the brand. It feels like that's all I've been using this year. Luckily after this soap is gone- I only have one more in the stash and then I am taking a long, long break. Although I am tempted to just grab the rest of the soaps just to say I've tried them all.

From what I have read this scent is retiring. And good riddance. Well actually, it's not that bad. I just didn't like it much.

I can't compare the scent to actual lilacs since I've never smelled them- but I'm sure it probably does not smell anything lilacs as Beekman scents usually don't smell realistic. I'm not sure how to describe it except it reminds me of a soap I recently used and reviewed from Granado.  I really didn't like that scent and this smells similar enough that I don't like this either. Luckily it's not strong. It's barely present.

Not impressed with the scent. But the soap itself is nice. My skin is soft, it lathers well, rinses clean and isn't too drying. 

Ingredients:

Sodium Palmate, Sodium Cocoate and/or Sodium Palm Kernelate, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Sodium Chloride, Caprae Lac (Goat Milk), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Extract (Kukui Nut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Pentasodium Pentetate... and Kindness.

I just couldn't get into the scent so this is a pass for me. Last one in my  stash  is the Lemon scented soap- I'm looking forward to being done and finally moving on to trying other brands. 

Scotch Broth and Best Ever Banana Bread

 I've got two more posts I want to known out to make for my slacking the rest of the week. I've got another two little recipes of what I made this past week.

Starting with Scotch Broth. Of course it comes from my Unofficial Harry Potter cookbook. Which I'm still having fun cooking through. Even if I don't like some of the recipes. Scotch Broth is a Scottish recipe. I don't think I've ever made anything Scottish so I was excited for this. Basically it has Barley, red meat ( I used Chuck Roast) and lots of root vegetable. Lots of root vegetable. I couldn't find turnip so I used Kohlrabi. It also had celery, carrots, leeks, and cabbage. All the veggies. Too many veggies for me. I didn't love it. I didn't even really like it but I was glad to at least get all my veggies in for the week. 

Made a HUGE pot. 

Then I made the best ever banana bread. I cook from a lot of food blogs and one thing there is never any shortage of- banana bread. That's really the only reason I have made so many. This one was a little different than most other banana bread recipes in that it uses cream cheese and sour cream. I would usually sub those out for yoghurt. It only uses two bananas so it's not super banana flavored. Just enough I would say. And it used brown sugar instead of white.  I always decrease the sugar- I think I used 3/4. I also used 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour cause health- and I have some whole wheat flour I really need to use more. Also it uses the chocolate chip. I think my preferred banana bread would use Walnut instead of chocolate chips but overall, it's a nice banana bread. 

And that's all for this week....