Shirley Brown

It's already that time for another music post. Today...Shirley Brown. 

Hello Barbara, this is Shirley. This line is ICONIC. The whole song is really. 

She said- you might not know who I am...big ol' fine sexy thang like me 😁. I'm about to refer to myself like this from now on. The only thing Miss Shirley got wrong was paying this man car note and buying his clothes. #ain'tnoway 

But I do love to sing MOST of the lyrics. 

I adore this song. I adore Shirley too. She sure was fly in that red dress with that big hair.

Love it! 

Plant Therapy Carway Seed C02 Extract Review

 It's the Eve of Christmas Eve. My how this year has flown.I really can't believe it. I want to knock out a couple of posts before I go on vacation in a couple days...so I might overload with posts. Depends on how fast I can get myself packed. Usually I wait til the last minute- but I am really trying to not do that this time. So it was about that time to open up my oils...and yet again realize I need to try and use some up. So I am reaching for the strange ones first to see what I can do with them. 

Plant Therapy claims:

The light and refreshing characteristics of Caraway Seed CO2 have a profound effect on emotional well-being, leaving you balanced and energized for the day. Its warm, rich aroma is similar to fresh rye bread and helps stimulate a tired mind and promote feelings of alertness. Traditionally, the seeds of the Caraway herb were often used to make “comfits,” or seeds coated in sugar, to eat after meals to help aid in digestion and relieve feelings of bloat. That is because the seed, much like the oil it creates, has carminative properties that support the digestive system and can ease discomfort caused by excess gas and cramping. Additionally, Caraway Seed CO2 can support the respiratory system during times of seasonal concerns as well as encourage a strong immune system. It makes a great addition to cleaning products thanks to its high limonene content, which not only helps to freshen up your space, but also imparts a stimulating, inviting, and spicy scent.

Botanical Name:

Carum carvi

Aromatic Scent:

Rich, warm, spicy aroma reminiscent of fresh rye bread

Shelf Life:

3-4 Years

Country of Origin:

Germany

Cautions:

Harmful if swallowed. Keep out of reach of children. Discontinue use if skin irritation/sensitivity occurs. If pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. External use only.

I don't have much experience with Caraway- except I did use it last year to make Bath Buns. The spice has been collecting dust in my cabinet ever since. I probably won't end up using that spice for anything else...but I'll keep it anyway. Otherwise, it is not my favorite. I don't remember what it tasted like except that it was odd. 

I was trying to read up on how best to use this oil. It does mention it's good for cleaning blends. As well as digestion. It's also purifying. And  it's supposed to boost your immune system. 

So I have mostly been using it to "purify" the air. Just to use it up. I figured breathing it in is also probably helping my immune system. The only problem is it smells like Dill Pickles. I read that most people think it smells like Rye Bread-  I love the smell of fresh bread and this doesn't smell like that. So I can't say I particularly like the scent. After it dissipates I think the air smells fresher...so I would agree it's purifying.

I did spike some of my DIY cleaners with it- but I probably wouldn't again. If I am using a scent I enjoy, cleaning becomes a bit less of a chore. The scent of pickles doesn't do that for me. But if you have ever thought you wanted a cleaner that smelled like Pickles- this is what you would want. 

Overall, it's not something I would buy again and I am overall very happy to use it up and free up some room in my collection. 

Danessa Myricks Haul

 I've been having a super amazing weekend, good food- lots of laughs...just everything!  Now the weather is super ugly so I am just hanging around the house. Will probably start Sunday Dinner in just a little bit. But before I get on with all the Sunday things I wanted to share what I bought in my most recent Danessa Haul.

I couldn't resist her Holiday sale and that email for 35% off just couldn't be ignored. Figured I would finally try out the Chrome Flakes that I have been wanting to get my hands on for awhile. And while I was added I wanted to try out her Twin Flames and the multi-chrome liner. I had the hardest time picking out colors but ultimately I am obsessed with chartreuse so I went for anything that had Chartreuse in the description. 

Starting with my favorite of the bunch- Chrome Flakes. I bought the color lightning bolt. These are pricey but they are so pretty and unique. I haven't seen anything like this anywhere else so I would say they are worth it. They definitely give a very unique look- probably more suitable for editorial makeup. But I love them and I am very extra with eye make lately so I will probably wear them casually. And for everyday. I wore mine over a teal shade and LOVE it. But I'm sure it would be gorgeous over purples, pinks, greens etc. They mostly appear gold but you can definitely see blue, pink, and green shifts. It's the most shifty and more complex than I think you could get from a powder. 

Then I bought one of the Twin Flames. The color I bought was Passion. I wanted a bright pink to lime green shifting color and I was expecting this to be that. Mostly I get a pink glitter look. I'm not sure I needed this since I did buy the most recent light work palette and I think I like those powders over this. But I do need to play with it more. I coudn't get it to photograph nicely....

Last up, I bought a multi-chrome pencil- shade Charlotte. I think this might be the most dissapointing of my haul. I don't see much multi-chrome effect to it. It just feels like a deep purple. The pencil is very thin...not as creamy and smooth as I was expecting. And the tip already broke off. But I will reserve judgment until I have used it more as there may just be a learning curve. I would probably still test out other colors later down the line though....

And that's all! I'm off to play in some makeup and then probably get started on dinner....

Lush The Juice is Loose Shower Gel Review

 Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

I'm not afraid to say it three times.

 This is my first Lush collab product- I know they collaborated with Barbie, Mario, Wicked, just about everything lately. Most of their collab stuff doesn't appeal to me...but for some reason I wanted to try this shower gel. I think I just wanted some Halloween theme type of stuff. I missed out on it on the US site, but I did check the .de site and they had it there so I was in luck! 

Lush claims: 

Turn on the shower and see what shakes loose with this limited-edition Beetlejuice Beetlejuice × Lush shower gel. Made with a refreshing juniperberry and sweet wild orange scent to make your millennium, plus softening carrageenan extract to help your skin feel downright revived.

What’s in it for you?

- Part of our Beetlejuice Beetlejuice x Lush collection.

- Juniperberry and sweet wild orange oil lift your spirits.

- Carrageenan extract softens skin.

How to use:

Come on down to the shower and lather up.

How to store:

Store with the lid closed between uses.  

I can't remember if I liked the movie...I saw the second one before I saw the first one so I was very, very lost. Then I did go back and watch the first one ...and for the most part I can't remember it. I don't remember movies like I did when I was a kid. But I did pick up the Beetlejuice shower gel. 

You know what I realize...Lush sometimes does a terrible job of describing scents. They will name random oils and infusions and their stuff smells nothing like what they named. They name juniper and sweet wild orange...which are nice. But that's not what this smells like. 

It smells like Grape Soda. Like you just popped a fresh can of grape soda. And now I want grape soda. And I don't even like grape soda like that. It smells and tastes nothing like actual grapes. Lots of artificial flavoring going on. But it's an American Classic. 

So the scent is mostly grape soda-- but every now and again I get something else that smells peppery and weird. I don't know if it's supposed to be like that but I really don't enjoy those notes. Luckily, it's not present every shower. 

Other than that the grape scent was nice to try...but nothing I need to experience again. If you like Snow Fairy...you may like this. Lush has a lot of different scent categories and this is definitely in the sugary and candy like type scent.

Also..the scent is strong and lingers well after a shower with it. 

It's a pretty purple color. The texture of it is odd though. I think they did it that way on purpose. It's like goo...or some kinda slime like what you would see on Nickelodeon. It's fun...but tends to splat on the shower floor so you will likely waste some. It's not formulated to be very concentrated so I did feel like I had to use quite a bit to get it going and the lather isn't as rich and thick as it is on some of the other Lush gels. 

It cleans ok...rinses easily. And lingers a bit on the skin. 

Shower gels typically don't have the best ingredients- but I do think Lush does it better than most other brands. It has Juniper Oil which is great for cleansing and purifying the skin. It also has Sweet Wild Orange oil which is another great oil-it's relaxing and refreshing and smells amazing- but this shower gel definitely does not smell of oranges. 

Ingredients: 

Aqua (Water), Red Clover Flower Infusion, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Perfume, Juniperus Communis Fruit Oil (Juniper Oil), Citrus Sinensis Peel Oil Expressed (Wild Orange Oil), Chondrus Crispus Extract (Irish Moss Extract), Titanium Dioxide, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, CI 45410, CI 45410:2, CI 42090:2, CI 42090

It's not bad. It's just one of those gels that was cool to experience once. I am kinda glad I got the smaller bottle because I would likely have tired of the larger size. 

Sally Hansen Vitamin E Nail and Cuticle Oil Review

Back again for another post. Still trying to get through reviewing all the nail stuff in my collection...I've been pretty faithful with buying cuticle oils- not so much in applying them. But I am trying to get better because I want healthy, non splitting nails that hold onto polish better. Who knows if I will get there. I had a lot of luck with the Essie oil, but I thought I would give some other oils a go.

Sally claims:

An intensely moisturizing Vitamin E oil that softens cuticles and cares for dry, brittle nails. Natural Essential Oil Complex with Vitamin E, Wheat Germ, Apricot Kernel, Aloe & Panthenol moisturizes & conditions cuticles while increasing nail flexibility. Salon tested. Dermatologist tested.

I don't have particularly dry cuticles...but everyone that I see that has beautiful, long nails uses a cuticle oil. Most recommend Jojoba oil which I do have. It's probably the most cost effective. But before I go back to basics I want to try what is on the shelf and ready to go. 

The packaging on this is not as nice as the Essie. But the Essie did cost more. I think I got this for under $6.00. Which for the amount is kinda pricey when you consider DIY options. It does come in a glass bottle and has a polish applicator tip you use to apply. The application can be a little wild as it does feel like the tip holds excess oil...but you don't have to constantly re-dip. 

It takes a bit longer to absorb. But nothing too crazy. It does make everything look and feel moisturized and I haven't had any issues with dry looking or splitting cuticles. I don't think it helped my nails with splitting much- but I think that's mainly due to my nail polish remover being too harsh. 

It has no smell whatsoever. Which is a little boring but fine. I did just add some essential oil to it to give it a nice scent. I am enjoying it much more since I did that. Makes it more fun to use. I don't mind it being unscented though because then I could choose exactly how I wanted it to smell.

Ingredients are ok..I would prefer not to see the ingredients that end if -siloxane. I do like that there are small amounts of Apricot Oil and Wheat Germ. And there is Vitamin E which is great for the skin. 

Ingredients: 

CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS (SAFFLOWER) SEED OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, ISOCETYL ALCOHOL, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CYCLOHEXASILOXANE, PANTHENOL, PROPYLPARABEN, PRUNUS ARMENIACA (APRICOT) KERNEL OIL, TRITICUM VULGARE (WHEAT) GERM OIL, AQUA/WATER/EAU, COCOS NUCIFERA (COCONUT) OIL, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM/MINERAL OIL/HUILE MINERALE, ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT, CITRIC ACID.

Overall, I think it's nice. I probably wouldn't buy it again...mostly due to price and ingredients. But it was nice to try.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, Multi-Grain Waffles, and Mambo Chicken

 It's already that time for to catch up on some of the things I made this week.....I was definitely in the kitchen making magic. 

I started with  double chocolate chip cookies. I have a go to double chocolate chip cookie recipe that is excellent, this was good but not as good as the one I usually make. Probably because I adapted it from another recipe that was intended to make Smore cookies. I just left off the marshmallow and graham cracker. They are just a smidge too sweet for me. I feel like the sugar slightly overpowers the chocolate part of the cookie. And I probably didn't help it by using white chocolate chips which are on the sweeter side too.  Imagine if I had put the smore/marshmallow with it? 

Next up, waffles. It was time for pull out my waffle iron again..and time to make the multi-grain waffles I had been putting off making. I really didn't follow the recipe. I made quite a lot of changes but they came out so good! I use Rye Flour instead of Whole Wheat. Extra Almond Flour instead of Wheat Germ. Whole Milk and Buttermilk Powder. Also instead of the oils I used Butter. I just mostly wanted to use what I have instead of buying extra ingredients to sit around. And they came out amazing. I think they have much better flavor than using only unbleached flour. This and the other Belgian Waffle recipe would probably be my go to from now on. Of course, I served with homemade whipped cream and some fresh fruit. And decided to go full brunch by brewing some tea, and cooking up a side of eggs and sausage. 

Last up, Sunday Dinner. I don't make chicken wings often but saw a pack and wanted them. I had some Mambo Sauce I wanted to cook into the wings. Basically I dried the wings, tossed in peanut oil, then cooked at a high temp on a rack in the oven to crisp them up. Tossed them in the sauce and then cooked some more. I think if I made them again I would toss them in the sauce a second time to get them more saucy...but they were good! I'm a fan of Mambo Sauce! I made rice, roasted squash, and cranberry sauce to go with it. I plan on making some Salmon tomorrow so I will use this as a glaze and see how I like that. 

And that's all!