Month: October 2014

Rocktober Favorites

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Helllllo!

So Zeptember totally got away from me.. It just means that Rocktober’s Favorites get to happen a little early! Awwww yeah! \mm/

Let’s light this candle….

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Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask- This stuff! I first heard about it from Kathleen Lights on YouTube. It’s pretty dang amazing. It can be mixed with water or apple cider vinegar. I mix it with ACV, slather it all over my face and then watch some Hart of Dixie, Australia’s Next Top Model or some SuperNatural…. It can take a bit to dry, but that’s a-okay! When they says it makes you face pulsate… they ain’t kidding. Very strange sensation, but I kinda dig it. Don’t be alarmed when you take it off and your face is the shade of a tomato.. this will calm down after a couple few minutes. After using this my face GLOWS! I might like it even more than GlamGlow YouthMud. What shocked me was the price. It’s less than $5 for A POUND!

Here’s the blurb:

Mix clay with equal parts of raw apple cider vinegar and/or water.  Use a non-metal bowl and utensil.  Stir the mixture into a smooth paste.  Add more clay or liquid as needed.  Apply 1/4 in. to 1/2  to the face or other area.  Let it dry for 5-10 min. for delicate skin and 15-20 min for normal skin.  You will feel a pulling and tightening sensation.  Feel Your Face Pulsate!  Remove clay by washing with warm water.  Slight redness of the skin is normal and will disappear in about 30 minutes.  Removes impurities and dirt from the pores. 

I got mine at VitaCost. Their shipping prices are amazing! Here’s what they say, “Within the contiguous U.S., FREE standard shipping is available for orders of $49 or more, while orders under $49 ship for a flat rate of $4.99. And you only need to spend $25 on Vitacost brand products and these select brands to qualify for FREE standard shipping.” Oh, and if you order before 1pm, it could arrive the next day (depending where you live)!

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Real Techniques Make up Brush- I started watching the sisters of PixiWoo on YouTube about a year or so ago. They are just amazing. When I found out they had their own brushes, I hightailed it to Ulta. I first picked up the smaller orange one in the picture, the Expert Face Brush. I use it for all kinds of foundation and concealer. The pink one is the Blush Brush. I’ve used it for blush, bronzer and subtle contouring. The big orange one is the Powder Brush. I use it with the Verona Mattifying Powder from my August’s Favorites and Mineral Veils. I also have the kit with the eye brushes. These brushes are my favorite brushes. They are soft, easy to clean, easy to hold and apply makeup flawlessly. Also, they are pretty easy on the wallet. So go grab your Ulta coupons and try them out!

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TStudio Pearl Ceramic Professional Styling Wand– This was suggested to me by The Boyfriend’s sister. I’m so glad I listened. My hair is notoriously hard to curl. It curls and then 5 minutes later it’s straight again. With these I can wake up the next morning and still have waves! You can selected your heat setting up to 410 degrees. The auto-shutoff helps cure that awful feeling of DID I TURN OFF THE CURLING IRON? MY HOUSE IS GONNA BURN DOWN!! I also like the tapered-ness of the wand, the curls are a bit more natural looking. I have both the ½” to 1” and the 1” to 1½” … a girl’s gotta have options. First few times I used the glove. Now I don’t, I can get a better feel for grasping the end of the hair. I won’t lied, I did burn my thumb once. I burned myself once, and then I learned… HOT! 🙂 Not a bad price on these either. You can find them at Target and all over the web…

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Gel Polish Removal Clamps- I got these on eBay. Such a time saver. Put acetone on a piece of cotton land and clamp…. wait. No trying to fiddle with tin foil. You also get a better saturation on the actual nail with these. Also, they are great for removing glitter polishes.

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Simply Balanced Greek Yogurt– You can find these little tubs of tastiness at Target. They come in several flavors. Black cherry is my favorite with Blueberry a close second. Cheaper than most yogurt cups at 87 cents.. and with your Target Red Card they are 83 cents! If you love yogurt like me, you have to try them!

There you go.. my Rocktober Favorites! What are some of yours?

Be Awesome!

Cheers,

Clare

Bandar Foods aka The Makers of Monkey Sauce

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Sorry, I haven’t been around. I’ve been helping out The Boyfriend and dealing with what is probably a bad gallbladder. Life…. she took the reigns and drove me away from this little corner of Internet.

Now…. I’m hopefully back on track.

And it’s Story Time!

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(A cheese-tastic ‘We have Fancy Cocktails’ Selfie! Left to Right. Maile and Me)

Last October 25th, I was in San Francisco. It was one of the trips that I  took with The Boyfriend and his company. I help out by booth set-up, fetching lunches and other Girl Friday tasks. When I’m not needed, I’m let to my own devices to explore. This time I met up with, Maile. She agreed to play tour guide.

First we hit Blue Bottle Coffee in The Farmer’s Market and then did some shopping. She found me in the hot sauce area.. and asked, “You like hot sauce?!” She grabbed my hand and we sprinted to the other end of The Farmer’s Market… within minutes a tasting spoon was in my mouth.

This little spoonful packed a flavorful punch… it was like nothing I had tasted before. A little sweet, a little smokey, a little herbaceous, some good heat… Heaven in a Bottle. It was the Spicy Mango Chili Sauce. A love affair began.

I immediately bought a bottle.

We continued our mission of adventure around San Francisco.

At the end of our journey.. I brought said bottle back to the hotel to The Boyfriend. After tasting, he wanted to know why I didn’t buy more. He, too had fallen in lurve with The Monkey Sauce!

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A couple months ago, Bandar Foods had an internet giveaway. I enter on all the social media sites I could… never thinking I’d actually win. I got a text from Maile (she entered, too) saying I won. It was a happy day!! The boyfriend was so relieved… he had finished the bottle the night before.

Shortly, there after my mailbox was full of tasty goodness. The three sauces we’re mine all mine.. (Okay… I shared them with The Boyfriend!)

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(The Sauces and Ned. Ned works for The Boyfriend. He was in San Francisco, too, but never got out of the convention room. Ned might be kissing the Spicy Mango… just saying’!)

Let me tell you about the sauces:

Sweet Mango Chili Sauce: (You’ve read a little so far!) It’s awesome. We eat this on so much stuff. We’ve put it on eggs, a slice of cheese, stir fries, rice & beans, a spoon. I’ve put in salad dressings, in curries, and in asian-y peanut noodles. Maile and I might have brought it to a Bachelorette party and slathered it on onion rings, fries and fried mozzarella sticks.

Every friend that we have try it… Loves it. Our fridge will never be without…

Tangy Tamarind: I’ve only recently be exposed to the awesomeness that is Tamarind. Where has this flavor been all my life? I was so excited to get this sauce. And I wasn’t let down. It’s sweet, tamarindy and tangy.. just like the name says. It reminds me of a fig preserve, perhaps because of the slight earthiness. Another winner for The Bandar Band of Flavor Masters! I’ve mixed this with Lee Kum Kee’s Garlic Chili Sauce, put it one some chicken and bake it… SOOOOO GOOOD! I’ve been know to put it on grilled cheese. I’ve also had it on Chicken McNuggets. (Don’t judge!)

Mint Cilantro Chili Sauce:  I would love to taste this. Unfortunately, cilantro sends me into fits of gagging. (Pleasant, right.) I wish I liked it. This article explains why. So, to get over this hurdle, I employed the taste hole of The Boyfriend. He loves cilantro! Here’s what he had to say: “Very tangy. An even taste of mint and cilantro. It would go wonderfully with citrusy grilled lemon chicken. A little bit in a salad dressing would lend a fresh, bright flavor. There is a slight little after burn.  Very fresh tasting. I want this on gyros, falafels and  a  grilled vegetable sandwich.” From his description I think a snack of hummus and pita bread would be another fabulous use… I’m see a trend of Middle Eastern foods that this would be good on..

Bandar has also come out with 2 flavors of Lentil Chips and a Masala Ketchup!

There you go… a review of some amazing sauces by some wonderful folks.

Go find them….  <——-Click there! Have some Monkey Sauce!

Be Awesome!

Cheers,

Clare