Monthly Archives: February 2013

February 2013: In a Nutshell.

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I think this month can be best summed up in one word: SNOW.

SO. MUCH. SNOW.

We got off easy last year. If memory serves me correctly, we had the occasional flurry, but I don’t remember a state of emergency being declared or mass cancellations going into effect for days at a time. It seemed February 2013 was payback for all those weeks we spent last winter blissfully leaving our shovels in our garages and being able to drive on the highway without sliding all over the place.

When I wasn’t attempting to build an igloo or a series of tunnels to get around my neighborhood (neither plan worked) this month, I was putting my nose to the grindstone at my job, scouting new urban exploration locations, learning new recipes, and planning for what looks to be an eventful March. I’ve got a couple of really good shows coming up, as well as a mini-vacation in Southern California near the end of the month that I’m looking forward to.

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I’ve also been doing some extensive research for something I have planned for this Summer (as if the titles of the books aren’t total giveaways as to what it is).

Bring on Spring! I can’t wait to for the flowers to bloom, and to be able to go outside without having to wear 3-4 different layers of clothes so I don’t freeze.

BeautyArmy: February 2013 Review.

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I received my February Beauty Army Box last week, and just finished using the last of the samples this morning. I had significantly more luck with this box than I did with the January 2013 one, thanks in part to my researching the samples that were available to me before I selected them.

What I Received (Chose):

GG Gatsby “Raise Volume” Shampoo

YES TO Carrots Super Rich Body Butter

Olive Natural Beauty Bar – Lemon & Lavender Bar

Immuno-Viva “Sunrise” Tea

Whip Hand Cosmetics, Loose Pigment Eyeshadow in “Medal of Honor”

Mighty Tea Leaf “Vanilla Bean” Tea

Product #1: GG GATSBY “Raise Volume” Shampoo ($14.99)

This sulfate-free shampoo was advertised as not only being capable of giving my hair intense and long-lasting volume and fullness, but also a “mirror like” shine. The formula smelled lovely, like a floral perfume, but it didn’t lather up well. Maybe it’s just me, but the lack of suds made me wonder if it was really doing a well enough job at cleansing my hair.

Upon rinsing, my hair definitely felt smoother and silkier, Once I let it dry, I didn’t really notice a difference in volume or fullness, but this could also be attributed to my curls being big and wild anyway, even when I’m not using any kind of volumizing shampoo, conditioner, or styling product. If someone has straight or typically “flat” hair, they may notice more of a difference.

Would I Purchase?: Maybe. I liked that the shampoo was sulfate-free to protect my locks from losing their red luster, I liked the scent, and I liked how soft my hair felt after I used it, but I don’t know if it necessarily made up for the difficulty in getting it to lather up in my hair. I want to feel like my hair is being thoroughly washed, not like I’m simply adding more product to it.

Product #2: YES TO Carrots Super Rich Body Butter ($12.99)

I was a little skeptical about slathering anything on my body that had the word “carrots” in it’s name, but I was delightfully surprised with how nice this smelled. Texture wise, this is more of a lotion than a body butter, since it’s so lightweight- but it spread easily and absorbed quickly into my skin without leaving a greasy residue. There wasn’t much in the pouch I received, so I focused on applying what I had in problem areas I typically have in the winter: my elbows, knees, and ankles. My skin stayed soft, smooth, and hydrated all day and well into the night.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I loved how this product made my skin feel. It was so much lighter in terms of the formula and the fragrance compared to other body butters I’ve tried.

Product #3: Olive Natural Beauty Bar – Lemon & Lavender ($10.00)

I’ve been fiercely loyal to the all-natural, Vermont-based soap company, Scentastics, for a couple of years now, but I decided to try something new and selected a sample of this 100% organic soap.

I could actually smell the citrus notes in this soap before I even finished removing the tissue paper from the box. It was strong, but it smelled fresh and clean. I also thought the packaging was really cute:

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The soap was really rich and hydrating, and my skin felt moisturized long after I showered, which was nice. The only downside, as is with most organic soaps that aren’t loaded down with chemicals, is that is wears down and melts away very quickly. My sample was gone after just the one wash, so it should be used sparingly if you want to keep it for a longer period of time without having to repurchase right away.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I still love my Scentastics soaps, but I wouldn’t be opposed to picking up a bar of this sometime.

Product #4: Immuno-Viva Sunrise Tea ($11.95 for 20 teabags)

I’m a coffee girl, and have been for a long time, but I wanted to give this energizing morning tea a try to see if it did the trick to get me going for the day. A mixture of white, green, and black teas, this fruit & cinnamon flavored blend is supposed to boost immune health, fight free-radicals, and improve concentration.

It tasted sweeter than other teas I’ve tried, which was nice, but I didn’t feel particularly more awake or alert, and ended up grabbing my usual coffee by the afternoon to keep me going.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! Even if I wasn’t exactly energized, this tea tasted good, and would be a nice substitute on the mornings when I don’t want to be completely hyped up on caffeine.

Product #5: Whip Hand Cosmetics, Loose Pigment Eyeshadow in “Medal of Honor” ($14.00)

I have blue eyes, and there are a couple of colors I can wear that really make them pop. For example, purples and golds. The name of this gold/copper, shimmery eye-shadow caught my attention (it comes from a special edition collection with military themed names), and seeing that it was highly pigmented, I decided to give it a shot.

I used a gold tinted primer, and then applied “Medal of Honor” all over my lid and up to my crease. I did not add any additional colors or shadows. It was definitely bold and bright, and lasted all day, only starting to fade in the late hours of last night/early this morning.

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My only gripe with the shadow was the container. Loose powder shadows are messy, which is why I prefer pots of them as opposed to tubes, since you can control how much you get on your brush and any shadow left over isn’t wasted. The directions on “Medal of Honor” say it’s best to pour some of the shadow into the cap, which I tried to do, but it ended up going everywhere anyway, and the bit of shadow that I didn’t use was so difficult to get back into the tube that I ended up throwing it away.

Even still, a little goes a long way with this shadow, and as small as the sample was, I feel like I have enough of it left to use for a while.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I loved the color, and I’d really like to try some of the other shadows in this collection.

Product #6: Mighty Tea Leaf in “Vanilla Bean” ($9.95 for 15 Pouches)

I must have been in a tea mood when I selected my samples for this month, since choosing the Sunrise tea seemingly wasn’t enough for me. I selected this black loose leaf tea, fused with vanilla bean bits and kept in a cute, silken pouch, and hoped for the best. I’d had good luck with the Sunrise tea the other morning, and thought I’d have a similar experience when I brewed this tea earlier today.

Unfortunately, this tea was very bland, even after I added a bit of milk and sugar to try and perk up the flavor. It didn’t taste bad, but it was very boring, and I couldn’t detect a hint of vanilla in it at all, which was disappointing.

Would I Purchase?: No. This was the only sample I received this month that I’d definitely pass on buying in the future.

Overall, I enjoyed this month’s box, and was pleased to discover new brands and products that worked well for me. As I had said in the beginning of this entry, this box was a considerable improvement compared to the one I received in January. Here’s hoping I have the same luck in March!

xx

Versatile Blogger Award.

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ver·sa·tile (adj.):

1. Capable of doing many things competently.

2. Having varied uses or serving many functions.

On Thursday, I was informed by the lovely Julie over at Short and Sweet in Texas, that she had nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award! As someone who enjoys reading Short and Sweet in Texas, and is continuously blown away by the creativity and detail in Julie’s nail artwork, I’m beyond flattered. Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it!

As a recipient of the award, I’m supposed to share several random facts about myself, so here it goes:

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1. I’m French, English, and Irish. I feel like I’m giving cocktail ingredients whenever I list my genealogy. “And that’s how you make an Ashleytini. Best served chilled.”

2. I studied dance (tap, jazz, and ballet) for many years, and I was pretty damned good at it, too! I unfortunately had to stop so that I could focus on my academics during my late teens, but I’d love to go to a class again sometime, just because I enjoyed it so much and I miss it.

3. I also studied a Burmese style of self-defense called Bando for many years as well. I had to stop studying for the same reason (focusing on academics), but I still remember everything I learned. Here’s hoping I never have to use any of it!

4. My Starbucks drink of choice = 1/2 mocha, 1/2 white mocha, iced, with skim milk and whipped cream. I call it a “Black & White”, but in San Diego it’s known as a “Tuxedo”. I’ve also heard it called a “Marble”, but whatever it’s name, it’s delicious.

5. I have a weird phobia of balloons. I don’t like having them anywhere around me. I can’t recall exactly when this irrational fear started- probably after some traumatic event in my childhood that I’ve since blocked from memory- but the idea of a balloon popping near me just freaks me out and I’ll go out of my way to get away from them. I’m a blast at birthday parties, let me tell you.

6. In my senior year of high school, my goal in my yearbook is listed as “to become a female version of Mick Jagger.” My dad thought it was funny. My mom? Not so much.

7. I carry rosary beads in my purse. I’m Catholic. Admittedly, I’m not a very good one (I think I’m a perpetual sinner), but knowing they’re within reach if I ever get the urge to say a quick prayer or just hold onto something is comforting to me.

The award also calls for being paid forward, and so here are a few blogs I think deserve to be honored as Versatile Bloggers:

Bad Horror, Good Times: I love terrible horror movies almost as much as I love good horror movies, and over at BH,GT, the authors are reviewing the best of the worst 80’s horror movies in all their nonsensical, over-the-top glory.

The BU Buzz: I was recently contacted by a girl named Jessica who wanted my feedback on the recent Vaccines show in Boston for an article she was writing. I was happy to oblige, and as it would turn out, she’s a writer for Boston University’s magazine, “The Buzz”. Their magazine, and online blog, covers everything in Boston- music, fashion, the arts, food, and sports. Jessica was really passionate about her writing, which was really refreshing and inspiring.

Detail-Oriented Diva: I sort of stumbled on this blog by accident- I actually can’t remember how I first came across it- but I was so impressed by it’s author, Natalie’s, unique crafts, designs, and really cool decorating style. She has a lot of freebies you can print for your own place/parties/etc., which is pretty cool.

Imogen Rose Beauty – [Linked in my sidebar]: Imogen is a beauty blogger from the UK, and one of my most cherished  friends. She’s smart, funny, kind, and loves The Walking Dead and comic books. She’s currently nearing the end of a month-long “Nails of the Day” endeavor, which has been fun to read. Her nail polishes are so pretty!

Messy Carla – [Linked in my sidebar]: Carla, a fashion blogger from the UK, is another long-time friend of mine, and recently made the move to Australia. Her outfits, her taste in music, and her tales from down under are worth a read. She’s an absolute gem of a lady!

Peace, Love, Shea: Fashion, beauty, travel, health & recipes- Shea’s blog has it all. Her ensembles are adorable, and her photos from her jet-setting adventures are incredible.

The Reversed View of Massachusetts: A really intriguing blog featuring urban exploration photography and stories of abandoned places in Massachusetts.

Tattooed Tea Lady: Imogen linked me to this blog specifically for the author’s recommendations for post-tattoo care products (since I’m in the market to get some ink of my own), and I’ve been a dedicated reader ever since.

Thanks so much again to Julie for the recognition, and to everyone who continues to read and support this blog.

xox

Closet Crushes: Mod Squad.

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ModSquadI felt like channeling the 60’s for work yesterday, and swapped out my planned pencil skirt and blouse for this funky patterned, flared mini-dress, paired with black tights and knee-high heeled boots. My mom used to have a dress just like this when she was my age, and similar styles can be found in different vintage and thrift stores if you keep your eyes peeled. I actually wasn’t entirely sure I liked how the dress fit when I first put it on, fearing it made me look a tad box-shaped since it was a size or two too big, but I think the interesting pattern detracts from that, and it’s an issue that can easily be resolved with the help of cinching a wide white or black (or if you wanted to add a pop- maybe even a bright red or pink) belt around the waist, so I wasn’t terrible concerned for long.

In a dream world, I would have been able to get my hair up into a flawless beehive, but let’s be  real- there is no amount of time, patience, or hairspray in the world to get my mass of curls to stay put on top of my head for more than a couple of hours at a time, so I opted to let it fall over my shoulders and kept it off my face with a large white headband. I’m thinking the next time I try this look, I’ll wake up a little earlier in the morning and attempt to get my hair into a sleek bun or high ponytail.

I was kind of bummed, since I have a pair of large black & white circular dangling earrings to offset the square pattern on the dress and would have looked PERFECT, but I couldn’t find them for the life of me and instead opted for a pair of white chunky hoop earrings. I haven’t worn earrings in a long time, so the back of my earlobe had closed up without my knowing it. When I went to pop the hoops in, they essentially re-pierced my ears. Ouch.

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I kept my makeup minimal, using just a light pink blush (Clinique’s Quick Blush in “Pronto Pink”) on the apples of my cheeks, since the dress is loud enough as it is. For my eyes, I used a cream colored matte eye shadow from my lid all the way to my brow, and just a touch of a charcoal grey/light brown matte eye shadow in my crease. The shadows I used were from a limited edition Clinique Color Surge Shadow Quad called “Clementine” (shout-out to my fellow Walking Dead fanatic, Imogen, who will get the reference!), but can easily be obtained through another Clinique quad with similar tones, “Teddy Bear” (CLICK HERE TO VIEW).

I lined my eyes with a black pencil liner- I used Clinique’s Quickliner for Eyes Intense in “Intense Ebony” (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)- curving the liner upwards passed my outer corner to give a small cat-eye effect. Again, I was going to work, so I didn’t want to do anything too extreme, although I’m sure if I wear this on a night out, I’ll go a little further up with the cat-eye and line my eyes a little thicker to look more dramatic.

Add two (or in my case, three), coats of mascara on your lashes, a matte nude lipstick (I used Chanel’s Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in “L’ECLATANTE”), and you’re ready to hop onto your scooter and go.

I got a lot of compliments on the outfit throughout the day, including a comparison to Nancy Sinatra’s style (cue me squealing), and I look forward to playing around with this dress again in the future.

Retail Therapy: Bettie Page Clothing

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Over the years, I’ve done my fair share of experimenting when it came to my fashion sense and personal style. A peek into my closet will reveal a jumbled collection of bright colors, daring patterns and cuts, questionable trends from the past, everyday casual wear, and timeless classics alike. Much like my makeup- I’m not afraid to take the occasional risk and make a bold statement with my look and how I present myself.

There is always a type of fashion I never stray too far from, however. Vintage and retro style, sometimes referred to as “Pin-Up Girl Style”, is a look I’ve coveted since my days of playing dress-up with my grandmother as a little girl all the way ’til now. It’s always suited me: my figure, my wild hair, and even my personality. What I love most about this type of fashion is that it can be worn pretty much anywhere and is universally flattering. At work, I look sharp, professional, but still feminine- and when I go out for a night on the town, I look classy and sophisticated, without looking matronly.

I’ve mentioned my love of ModCloth.com in the past. It’s where I purchase a lot of my prominent pieces of clothing and accessories. The only downside to ModCloth, though- is that not everything is sized the same way, so there is always the possibility that something you’ve ordered, even after selecting the correct size, may not entirely fit properly once it arrives. Another downside is that what you’ve ordered might not look the same way on your body as you may have envisioned it when you initially ordered it, and while there are return policies and customer service options- if you needed the dress/top/pants/etc. for anything urgent, such a setback can leave you in a bit of a pinch.

Ideally, I prefer to try the clothing on, move around in it, see how it makes my body look, determine whether or not I like the feel of the fabric on my skin, so on and so forth. I’ve been hard pressed to find a local shop that not only carries reasonably priced vintage and retro style clothing, but also has a wide, diverse selection of quality products- and informed, friendly employees who will help me select the proper sizes and allow me to try the clothing on before purchasing.

Enter Bettie Page Clothing, who have a Boston location right on Newbury Street. They also have locations in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Santa Barbara, Philadelphia, New York City, Portland, and my home away from home- San Diego- right in the Gaslamp Quarter.

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I first heard about BPC during the Dropkick Murphy’s record release party at McGreevy’s last month, when the store was advertised during a t-shirt giveaway. The name stuck with me because 1. I love Bettie Page, and 2. I hadn’t been shopping on Newbury Street in a while, and was wondering how I could have possibly missed the news of such a store opening in the area. I made a mental note to check it out.

Upon visiting their website a few days later, I was instantly smitten with their collections (and prices), and knew I had to go to the store to see everything up close. It’s been a few weeks coming, but I finally made it in last night to shop. The store is, for lack of a better word, adorable- from the front window display to the little lounge area by the fitting rooms in the back. The clothing is beautiful and truly well-made, and the staff were absolute sweethearts who were beyond helpful. I left with a gorgeous high-waisted flowing skirt that I can’t wait to wear in the Spring.

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I definitely plan on returning within the next couple of weeks, specifically to pick up certain nautical style (another love of mine- nautical anything) and cherry print dresses that I saw advertised in a catalog of anticipated new arrival merchandise one of the saleswomen gave to me for a trip I’m taking at the end of next month.

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Besides shopping, I had gone out for dinner with Sean last night, and we followed it up with a walk around town. We ended up by the Bunker Hill Monument and decided to take a few photos, the above ones being a few of my favorites from the bunch. The monument and the surrounding neighborhood is my favorite in Charlestown. It’s just beautiful, especially in the Summer, but it was still nice despite the chill in the air.

Snowpocalypse!

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Nobody loves the snow as much as Oliver. I’ve never seen a dog so excited to be outside rolling around in the cold.

So I survived Nemo/Snowpocalypse/The (First?) Great Winter Storm of 2013. I’m back at work, although a lot of the roads and almost all of the sidewalks are still in rough shape. There was so much snow that most areas simply ran out of places to put it all. Thankfully, it’s been surprisingly warm out these past couple of days, so at least it’s starting to melt. Gigantic puddles are a lot easier (and way more fun) to get through than snowbanks.

I wish I had taken more pictures both during Nemo, and of it’s aftermath, but it was near impossible to get out of my place (the snow came up to just below my waist at it’s highest point), and the state-wide traffic ban during the storm meant I was pretty much stuck indoors until the worst was over.

I think most of the news networks did a better job documenting the blizzard than I ever could have, anyway.

However, it definitely helped that I had a “Walking Dead” Season 2 marathon to re-watch, and a replay of the first half of Season 3- leading up to the premiere of the second half of the season on Sunday night- to get me through the weekend. I probably would have succumbed to cabin fever otherwise.

Quick Eats: Baked Macaroni & Cheese

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I’m officially snowed in for the weekend (SNOWPOCALYPSE 2013!), and I physically CANNOT watch any more movies on Netflix. I just don’t have it in me. I had to take a break and get up to do something, anything, to pass the time.

Since I’m fortunate enough to still have power, I decided to bake a ton of macaroni & cheese- and document it!

*NOTE: I went a little overboard and made enough mac & cheese to serve a dozen people, or in my case, enough mac & cheese to last me a solid week and a half- so amounts and measurements may vary depending on how much of this stuff you want to bake.*

YOU WILL NEED:

* 2 1-lb. Boxes of penne pasta.

* 2 Quarts of 2% milk.

* 2 Quarts of light cream.

* 8 Cups of 4-cheese blend shredded cheese (Make sure the package DOES NOT contain mozzarella cheese!).

* 4 Large (or 8 small) Chicken bouillon cubes.

* 2 Cups potato chips.

* 2 Cups Plain bread crumbs.

* 1/2 Tablespoon of salt.

* 1/2 Tablespoon of pepper.

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OKAY, HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Pour the 2 quarts of cream, the 2 quarts of milk, and the 8 cups of shredded cheese into a 5 quart pot and slowly bring to a boil while stirring.

2. As the sauce is boiling, gently crumble the chicken bouillon cubes into the mixture. Continue to stir.

3. As the cheese begins to melt and the cube crumbles dissolve, swap the spoon for a whisk, and whisk the mixture so it thickens as it continues to boil.

4. Add the 1/2 tablespoon of pepper. From here, if you so desire- you can add additional ingredients. I’ve heard of some people adding pieces of bacon, jalapeño pepper, bits of tomato, etc. Whatever you want! Just be sure to continue whisking the sauce to get it nice and thick.

*The sauce has to come to a boil, and not just while you’re stirring it. If you stop stirring and the sauce is not bubbling, it needs to be heated more*

5. When the sauce reaches a thick texture, let it simmer. You can now begin boiling water to pour the 2 pounds of penne pasta into. Add the 1/2 tablespoon of salt to give the pasta a little more flavor as it cooks.

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6. While your pasta cooks, and your sauce simmers, take the 2 cups of potato chips and the 2 cups of plain bread crumbs and HULK SMASH THEM TOGETHER into a bowl.

7. Preheat your oven to 350°.

8. When your pasta is done cooking (the goal is to still have some texture to it. Try not to let the penne get too soggy!), strain out the excess water and pour the pasta into a baking pan.

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9. Pour your sauce over the pasta and mix thoroughly. Try to get every piece of penne coated in the sauce.

10. Sprinkle, or shake, your crunchy chip & breadcrumb topping over the pasta and sauce.

11. When your oven is ready, heat for approximately 30 minutes. If you want your macaroni and cheese to be crunchier, heat for a little longer- roughly 45 minutes.

12. Carefully remove the baking pan from the oven and let cool.

13. SHOVEL MAC N’ CHEESE INTO MOUTH.

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The best part about making so much of this? I have enough of it left over to last me if I remain snowed in for any significant amount of time.

Quick Eats: Homemade Tomato Soup

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In case you haven’t heard by now, the Northeast, specifically Massachusetts, is due to get slammed with what is expected to be a record-breaking winter storm/blizzard in less than 24 hours. The estimate of snowfall amounts vary, but the last report, at least the last one that I’ve heard, says we could get more than three feet of snow over the course of tomorrow through Saturday afternoon.

Massachusetts has essentially come to a screeching halt in preparation for the worst, with state-wide school closures and public transit shutting down early. My office is closed tomorrow, and drivers have been ordered off the roads by noon- roughly the time the brunt of the storm is anticipated to hit.

I’ve got plenty of candles, blankets, DVDs, and laptop battery to get me through any potential power outages, so braving the mass hysteria at the markets today was (thankfully) not necessary, but all this talk of snow and ice and cold had me wanting to make something warm and comforting for dinner tonight- and there’s nothing more warm and comforting than homemade tomato soup.

 If you’ve got an hour, this recipe is so easy, and the result is, to me, a lot better than just heating up a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup in the microwave for three minutes.

YOU WILL NEED:

* 1 Vidalia onion (“sweet” onion.)

* 2 Cans of whole tomatoes (I use Hunt’s brand.)

* 1/2 Quart of chicken stock.

* 8-10 Fresh basil leaves.

* 1/2 Quart of light cream.

* Sour Cream.

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OKAY, HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

1. After slicing up the vidalia onion, pour all of your ingredients, EXCEPT the light cream & the sour cream (you use that near the end) into a 5 quart pot.

2. Bring the ingredients to a boil, and then let simmer for 1/2 hour. Stir occasionally.

3. Using a immersion hand blender, puree the ingredients inside the pot until thick in texture. *Be mindful to turn the blender off before you lift it out of your soup. Take my word for it- if you don’t- it goes everywhere.*

4. Add the 1/2 quart of light cream. Puree a little more with the immersion hand blender to mix the cream in thoroughly.

5. Simmer mixture for another 1/2 hour. Stir occasionally.

6. Pour, or spoon soup into small bowls or serving saucers. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, a basil leaf, and any desired amount of salt and/or pepper.

7. Wrap yourself in fleece blanket, and enjoy!

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I love preparing the soup with the ingredients above because when it’s done, it doesn’t taste like you’re just eating bland liquefied tomatoes. It has a really nice, warm, full flavor to it. Perfect for apocalyptic snowy days.

To all my friends reading this in Massachusetts- stay off the roads, stay bundled up, and stay safe. I’ll see you all when the storm is over and after I tunnel my way out my front door.

GLOSSYBOX: January 2013 Review.

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Along with BeautyArmy, I also recently subscribed to the monthly Beauty Box service, GLOSSYBOX, after hearing glowing reviews about it. A few dollars more than BeautyArmy, but similar to it’s service, GLOSSYBOX sends you deluxe sized samples every month based on the results of a series of questions about your skin & hair type, color, and personal preferences when it comes to cosmetics and style. Unlike BeautyArmy, however, you don’t pick the samples, so you never know what you’re going to get. I like good surprises like this, though- and decided to go for it.

I had placed my order at the very beginning of January, right after New Years, and had grown increasingly worried when, as the end of the month drew near, I still hadn’t received my shipment. I apparently wasn’t the only one, either, because GLOSSYBOX contacted me about the delay. They’d simply needed to replenish their product due to overwhelming demand, and would ship it out A.S.A.P. To make up for it, they credited my account with 50 GLOSSYDOTS, which are points that are accrued and can be used towards obtaining a free GLOSSYBOX.

My box arrived the other night, although I didn’t just receive one, but two– free of charge! Talk about awesome customer service. I gave the extra box to my cousin, Paige. Let’s take a look inside, shall we?

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This month’s GLOSSYBOX teamed up with Leandra over at The Man Repeller to create a box of Winter essentials.

What I Received:

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara*

Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum

Le Métier de Beauté Replenishing Daily Solution

Narciso Rodriguez Eau de Toilette Spray (For Her)

OPI Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer in “Can’t Let Go” (Full Size!)

Sebastian Professional “Potion 9” Styling Cream

Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick in “Fierce” (Full Size!)

*What I Didn’t Use:

Estée Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara

Why Not: As I had mentioned in my January BeautyArmy Box post, I’m dedicated to my Dior mascara. We’re in a committed relationship. I’ve tried Estée Lauder mascaras in the past, and wasn’t particularly blown away by them. This sample was given to someone else who was interested in trying it.

But on to what I did use!

Product #1: Sebastian Professional “Potion 9” Styling Cream ($19.00)

The second I pumped some of this orange tinted, citrus-scented styling cream into my hand, I knew my hair was in for a treat. The product was lightweight, easy to work through my hair, and didn’t dry crunchy or greasy. It made my hair soft and defined my curls for an all-day hold. I also liked that I didn’t have to use a ton of the product to get my desired look, which means I’d be getting my money’s worth if I bought a full-size bottle of the product (5.1 oz.)

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Would I Purchase?: Yes! This is one of the few hair creams I’ve tried that I liked. It worked well with my curls, and it smelled really, really good.

Product #2: Fresh Umbrian Clay Mattifying Serum ($35)

This serum, perfect for the skin dulling winter, helps to not only clear out acidity from the pores, reduce their size, and control shine, but it purifies and clears your complexion as well. I applied this serum after my oil-free moisturizer to prevent my skin from drying out. It felt nice and spread evenly- not sticky or greasy or overtly drying despite having clay in it, and my skin felt comfortable all day as I wore it. It did a fine job reducing shine, although I think I can achieve the same result from my mineral finishing powder, which is the same price as a 1 oz. container of this.

Would I Purchase?: It’s a maybe for me. I think if I ever wanted to stop using my mineral finishing powder, this would be a decent alternative to switch to in order to keep my skin shine-free, but I wasn’t necessarily in love with it.

Product #3: Tarte Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick in “Fierce” ($26)

Red lips are a bold, ballsy look to try, and I bow down to any woman who wears it with confidence and wears it well. With my complexion, red lipstick is a hit or miss, and honestly- my misses when I attempt the look far outweigh my hits with it. Some reds look too orange, others wash me out, some reds make my teeth look discolored, and some just make me look like The Joker. I’ve settled on lip stains if I want a red lip; demure, but pretty.

When I opened the packaging to this Tarte Lipstick, twisted the color up through the cute, quirky wooden container it’s nestled in, and saw the color, nearly neon red- I was ready to re-cap it, set it back in it’s box, and back away from it slowly- but something stopped me: I’m bold. I’m ballsy- and damn it- I was going to wear that color, wear it proud, and really give it an earnest attempt- even if I ended up looking like The Joker (again.)

I kept the rest of my makeup subdued and natural looking, since I wanted my lips to be the focal point. If there’s one thing I learned in my teens, it was that bright red lipstick + a dramatic eye = MESS. SUCH A MESS.

The lipstick was blindingly bright the second it touched my lips, but I finished the application, and upon getting used to it, I actually kind of liked it. It didn’t feel waxy or drying, the way some other long-lasting lipsticks do. My only gripe was that when I went to lightly touch the corners of my lips to even out my look, the lipstick stained my fingertips and it WOULD NOT COME OFF EASILY. Other than that, though- I was impressed.

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I even felt confident enough in the color to run some errands. While ordering a coffee during a stop, a guy who was waiting in line behind me complimented my lips, stating that it made my eye color really stand out.

I’m just glad he didn’t ask me “why so serious?”

Would I Purchase?: I don’t know if I’d do the “Fierce” red again, but I would definitely check out some of the other “Glamazon” colors that Tarte has to offer. They really are long lasting (my lips aren’t as red as when I first applied the color, but they’re still red regardless- even after a coffee and dinner), and comfortable. Perfect for a long day at work or a night out. No reapplications necessary!

Product #4: Narciso Rodriguez Eau de Toilette Spray ($77)

I’m very particular when it comes to my perfumes. In the Spring and Summer, I tend to wear light floral, citrus, crisp and clean scents, and in the winter, I go a little heavier, a tad more wooded and spicy, with light spritzes of my Chanel or Prada perfume. When I first dabbed a little of this Narciso Rodriguez scent on, it smelled more like a man’s cologne than a wintery perfume, but as the day wore on, and it lightened a bit, the floral scent that enveloped me was a welcomed change. It smelled pretty, and feminine, and stayed with me for most of the afternoon.

Would I Purchase?: Yes! I think once I run out of my usual winter perfumes, this would be a lovely addition to my collection. It definitely grew on me.

Product #5: OPI Liquid Sand Nail Lacquer in “Can’t Let Go” ($9)

I won’t lie- I actually gasped when I unwrapped this GORGEOUS and glittery dark purple nail polish from the box. I have acrylic nails that were due for a little maintenance this weekend- so seeing the bottle made my color decision a lot easier.

Part of the “Liquid Sand” collection, the color is more matte than shiny, and the texture, as the name implies, is grainy- but it still looks beautiful once it dries:

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Would I Purchase?: Absolutely. I love OPI and their colors, and this is no exception. It’s beautiful, and adds a perfect pop of color to my winter wardrobe.

The only product I haven’t tried yet is the Le Métier de Beauté Replenishing Daily Solution, which I plan on using tonight before bed after I wash and exfoliate my skin. Judging by the other samples I’ve tried from this box, I have a feeling I’ll like it.

Everything in the January GLOSSYBOX was well thought out, put together nicely, and fun to try- even the things I wasn’t sure about at first, like the Tarte lipstick and the Fresh mattifying serum. Well done to GLOSSYBOX (especially for their above and beyond customer service), and to Leandra over at The Man Repeller for picking out some seriously good stuff!