Macaroni Grill DIY

Story: Yummy yummy I got Love in my tummy.

Ok so this isn't really a beauty item review, but a happy tummy makes a happy attitude and a happy attitude makes a person seem attractive/interesting. I know a lot of people who cook or know how to cook consider cooking from a box not cooking. Well I'm a student and how I learn to cook is from a box and some damn good instructions. I wanted to learn how to cook Lasagna but was told by a few people I should do it from scratch. Uh I don't have the time to do it from scratch and if it's something I'm not familiar with I know I just might screw it up. Like the gingerbread fiasco (miss read the measurements and ultimately made syrup gingerbread cookies). Walking through Longs (CVS) I saw they had these Macaroni Grill DIY boxes on sale. I have done one of these meals before with the chicken Alfredo and substituted the chicken with clam :9 salty goodness. Really salty though shouldn't have included the water from the can in it. So I thought this would be a great way to learn how to make it. So here is the story...

The Macaroni Grill boxed meals come with a few of the ingredients you will be using mostly the important things like the Restaurant's sauce, pasta, and any additional seasoning. They also have a veggie version in the back in case you want to substitute the meat. I pared this with a nice Volcano Winery Red wine.

On the top of the box in the back it tells you what you will need to get from the store, in this case I totally missed the Mozzarella cheese and while in mid cooking had to turn off the burner and run to the store to get it. By then the meat was marinated but still good to use.











The instructions are pretty simple, I ran out of meat sauce near the 3rd layer so I had to improvise with some Ragu. I also ran out of cheese, I got to happy on the ricotta sauce about half way through. -_-; Well it was a learning process after all.











This is how it came out.
Looked great smelled great and ultimate was a four layered Lasagna with meaty cheesy sauce. It came out of the oven looking like sunshine.

Yes that is a Storm Trooper spatula.

Over all it was a good job done, I absolutely was happy with the out come and the taste was good for beginner. I brought it over to the boy's place and they ate it all up and each complemented it. So for a DIY boxed Lasagna I can now feel a little more confident to maybe try it from scratch. (Maybe)








I know this isn't really usual for a Beauty Blog but I also like to add a few things here and there. I'm trying to learn to cook on my own sometimes and thought to share this with you in case you thought about doing this yourself.

So whether your late in the game or ahead of the curve do it cause it feels good in the tummy.

Man can you see how tired I am after work and cooking.

-Val

St.Patrick's Day .*+Gilt*ar*ri+*.

Story: Bevintual Gold

Here is my Zoya sweetie Bevin with her man Meteor Shower. This nice duo was just the St.Patrick's day touch I needed. That is if I had worn this duo for St. Patrick's day. Unfortunatly I will be wearing fleshy tone nail polish for this weekend holiday, because I will be in costume for the Kawaii-Kon as Snow white. Kawaii-Kon is our Anime/Game- Convention and I have attended them for 4 years so far, and once back in high school - I liked it a lot. Even though I came late and missed it I was still able to see some people's costumes. Any way back to the matter of heart. Here is a great duo for this Green Irish holiday, which I love so much. I'am half ginger after all. 

List of products:
1. Sally Hansen - Complete treatment continuous treatment growth nail polish (Base coat)

2. Zoya - Bevin

3. American Apparel - Meteor shower  

4. Sally Hansen - Triple strong advanced gel nail fortifier (Top coat)

L-R: Bevin & Meteor shower

Swatches

 The best way to apply this type of glitter it to use a tooth pick or pointed tip to

lift the glitter off of the brush or a flat surface then apply to the nail.

It can stick out feeling rough or pointy, just use clear nail polish to set it flat.

American Apparel: Meteor Shower (A metal flake glitter)

So whether your late in the game or ahead of the curve, do it cause it makes you happy.


May the sun shine bright on you,
May the mother smile for you,
and May the blessings of Patty be with you.


-Val

Revlon Butters V.S Clinique Butters

Story: Buttery Goodness for your Lippies

Lip butters have been around for years now but recently they have become popular over the Internet Space as well as Drug stores. Before the Revlon butters came round I had already tested these waters thanks to Clinique. Now that I have all the Revlon shades I wanted in my possession and have been able to try them all I can feel better about giving this review.

If you would like to watch the Video here is the link: Clinique Butters VS Revlon Buttters 

List of products: 

(Revlon Lip butters)

Creme Brulee

Peach Parfait

Creamsicle

Strawberry Shortcake

Sweet Tart

Lolli Pop

Tutti Frutti

Candy Apple

Red Velvet

(Clinique)

Ambrosia

Pink-a-boo

Alright Let the review begin.

Revlon Lip Butters are a really great thing to have or even to try. They are affordable can cost from 4-6 dollars depending on where you get them. You can find these in Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS stores. They have 20 different shades to choose from and smell like deserts. Plus they have a multifunctional case. (The top Cover can be used as a magnifying glass.)

Creme Brulee: 
To be honest this was bought on a whim, I figured it would be a nice sheer nude lip butter. May I just say I love it when I'm right. It really was a surprise to me when this color came on nice a smooth with out any hassles. But a tip when using this particular shade, buff your babies first before putting this nude on.

Creamsicle:
Out of all the colors I tried this was the worst for me. The shade would clump and give me an uneven coverage, even when I buffed my lips. Almost a dupe for Lime Crime's Coquette but does not hold a teaspoon to it. I think I have to go into relationship therapy with this shade because something isn't working.

Peach Parfait:
My FAVORITE shade out of all the shades I have. It comes a little more pink then peach.This is a very nice dupe for the Clinique Butter Shine lipstick Pink-a-boo. Not as pigmented but with a few more coats, pretty close. I love the light gold shimmer this shade has. The moisture + coverage = a great butter lipstick.

Strawberry Shortcake:
A cute baby pink darling of a lipstick, has the same constancy as Creme Brulee, and might use some lip buffering before application but it's not necessary. It really is a cute pink shade to have and even try out as your first baby pink lipstick because you have to build it up to reach full opacity.

Sweet Tart:
A very nice glossy shade of pink maybe a middle ground between fuchsia and rose. This is a nice color to have for a day-night look. You could use one layer for a hint of color during the day and then re-apply over to make it darker for a night out. Plus with it's glossy finish it looks like your wearing just gloss.













Lolli Pop:
Gotta like this shade, it looks like a color taken straight off a flower. It is a fuchsia color for sure. But it helps to layer this on for a better all around coverage. There even is a very small purple sheen to it when the flash is on, nice an slight but not over powering.

Tutti Frutti:
This is a nice dark orange cream color for the lips. I would never have thought the word Tutti Frutti to be orange color, mainly because of the Jelly Belly Bean Tutti Frutti is pink with different color flecks in it. (Hm I think I've seen a nail polish like that? = Deborah Lippman's Candy shop) But none the less this is a very nice red orange color for the lips.

 Candy Apple:

This shade is my 2nd Favorite out of the shades I have. It's a nice sheer red that you can build up to your comfort zone. The color on this is just pretty and a good mute red tone. What I mean by that is it looks like a flush of color not a big bright red light like some red lipsticks can be. Because of the glossy look to it too, its just a nice juicy color.

Red Velvet:
Like the cupcake? Yes, yes it is. Just as if you had eaten it and the color of the cupcake smudged on your lips. A nice dark red, I wasn't a 100% that I would like this red but against my warnings I got it anyway. It was a good bet didn't kick myself after. Like Candy Apple you can build this color up to your taste.

 

Clinique Butter Shine Lipsticks are just as equally grate. Unlike our Revlon Butters here these can run about 14-16 dollars depending on your state tax.You can find them at Sephora, Macy's, or any store near you that sells Clinique cosmetics. They have 16 different shades to chose from these aren't scented or don't seem to be if they are. They don't have a multifunctional case but a nice sliver bamboo shaped classy case.

Ambrosia:
If there was a shade of the fruit of the Gods this I think would be it. A very lovely shade of blood orange with golden flecks of glitter that makes this just a gorgeous color to have. Can be a little sheer but pretty pigment. This was another shade of lipstick I've gotten nice complements from. In fact this was my very first Orange shade of lipstick I tried.

Pink-a-boo:
This is an adorable pink shade and feels great on the lips. I can't think of any pink lipstick that complements so well. Not over bearing but not too sheer to be non-existent on the lips. This is one of my favorite shades of pink. Has the same gold glittery flecks in it which bring this pink a little on the warm side.













Hope you liked this review and help you decide what colors seem best for you.
Whether your late in the game or ahead of the trend do it because it makes you happy.

-Val

(Have any questions or comments leave them below, please.)
P.S Sorry for the late post on the Loreal Infallible 24 hour shadows VS the Maybelline 24 Color Tattoo Shadows. I don't have all the colors yet.