Eat Italian! Win FREE Italian Sausage, Coupons, Recipe Booklets

One of my favorite things to do is eat.

Yep.

Especially Italian style foods.

Especially with my friends.

This past weekend I had the priviledge of cooking up a bunch of Italian favorites for my friends using Johnsonville Italian Sausage. I made Italian Sausage Lasagna, Italian Sausage Rigatoni, Italian Sausage Vodka & Cream Sauce on low carb shirataki noodles, Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms, and for dessert, Low Carb Key Lime Pie. Plus we had plain ol' cooked sausage.

I enjoyed creating these dishes almost as much as eating them. I didn't try everything I cooked because I limit my carbs, but what I did eat I liked, and I received compliments on the other things, so I suppose they also turned out well.

I had never cooked with Italian Sausage before. Any recipe that called for sausage - I just used regular sausage, either bulk or link. This was a first for me and I can say that it won't be my last time. I liked the special Italian flavor that it gave my foods. It totally changed the flavor of the food, giving authenticity to the dishes. For example, anytime I've ever made lasagna I've used ground beef. I'd never even thought of using Italian sausage. What a difference swapping out the beef for the Italian sausage made!

Italian Sausage Rigatoni

Would you like to try out a few of the recipes?

Would you like to win coupns for 2 free packages of Johnsonville Italian Sausage?

I have 2 coupons for one package, any flavor, of great-tasting Johnsonville Fresh Italian Sausage FREE that I am giving away, along with the recipe booklet I used, "Turn Your Kitchen Into An Italian Trattoria". It has 13 different recipes in it for you to try out.

 I also have 3 $1 off coupons with copies of the recipe book that I am giving away.

Additionally, I have 5 copies of the recipe booklet to send out to my readers.

All of these supplies were provided to me free of charge from HouseParty.com & Johnsonville Sausage. I received no money/payment from them. Coupons expire May 31, 2012.

Please enter below on the Rafflecopter.

Taming of the Frizz (Does Organix Brazilian Keratin Treatment Work?)

~Important UPDATE!!! Check below!~
Spring has arrived!

 You will notice several changes in my upcoming photos due to some Spring Cleaning of the

fashion-type. Time to spruce things up, change foundations for the warmer weather & darker skin tones, lighten up the fragrances, up the SPF and go heavy on the moisturizing. Also, I'm changing my hair. It's time. I've started the process, but I'm not done.

1) First, I colored it slightly darker because it had gotten quite red and lighter than it naturally is due to sun-fade and because that stupid Garnier Gloss treatment lightened it (click here to read my review on that product).

2) Then, I wanted to try out a Brazilian keratin straightening treatment in preparation for the final step, which is...

3) A much shorter cut (a bob, actually).

So, this review is all about step #2, the Brazilian keratin treatment. I chose Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy 30 Day Smoothing Treatment because it got some good reviews on youtube.

 Yeah, yeah, youtube is not the best source for information, I know. But I happened to read some scathing reviews of the new Suave keratin straightening treatment I was considering (think hair falling out in clumps, family-had-to-leave-the-house hideous smell, etc.), so I figured I'd look to others to see what they thought about Brazilian Keratin treatments in general.

 Of course, those who got them done in salons raved and had glossy, straight, amazing manes to show for it, but since I don't choose to spend $300+ on it, a salon treatment is out. But I did run across the Organix one with lots of happy reviews, and most importantly NO horrible ones. So I headed to Walgreens where I scored an excellent deal on the treatment (regularly $14.99), matching shampoo, conditioner & deep conditioning mask (all regularly $7.99 each) (I scored a BOGO Free deal).

Oh, and for this review...another something new.

I decided it was finally time to test out the video waters. I am a newb, so please forgive me AND I used my iPod, with no tripod, so there is shaking & movement, but hopefully you won't find it to be too-terrible-awful.

Hey, I can only improve from here, right?!?

It's been 4 days since the treatment was "finished", and today was a complete soaker:


See the rain running off the gutter?

What I'm updating/adding: remarkably, my naturally curly hair, which would typically fuzz up to the high-heavens, only curled & fuzzed the slightest bit! I attribute this to the smoothing treatment.
While originally it seemed like my hair was healthier looking, shinier, & somewhat smoother (even if not much straighter on its own), I didn't realize that this would play out when extreme humidity/rain hit. So you can imagine how pleased I was after shopping in today's rainy weather, that my hair still looked this good.

BEFORE going out in the rain (yep, I got #3 done - my hair cut - earlier this week).

AFTER getting rained all over! This is really pretty good for my hair.

See the curl here at the tip of my hair?

You can see how my hair was trying to curl up some, but not so much FRIZZING out.

The other side, which had some wave, too, but nowhere near what it would usually look like. And you can see how it was actually still a little wet.

I will now probably use this regularly, IF it continues to help with humidity frizz. THAT would make the work worth it to me! Sometimes, you just can't truly see the inner repair work that something does on your hair until it's been put through extreme conditions.

If you've had great or not-so-great experiences with straightening treatments, keratin therapies, or the like, please let us all know about it in the comments. After all, you might save someone from burning their hair all off or having skanky, greasy hair all weekend! You never know ;)

An Inexpensive Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Substitute?

It was love at first site.

The soft, muted hues...the powerful, warm darks...the shimmery, neutral metallics.

Utterly beautiful. Utterly usable.

And at $50, utterly out of my reach *sigh*.

Click here to buy at Ulta.com.

So I started my hunt for a comparative set at a much lower price.

At first, while at Ulta, I spotted the very lovely Physician's Formula "Nude Eyes" set, technically known as "Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Shadow & Liner-Universal Looks Collection, Nude". You can get it here at Ulta.com. (click on the Nude option)

 It didn't have the same amount of colors, nor the high quality brush, but at only $10.99 (at Ulta), it also didn't have the hefty price tag of the Naked 2 Palette.

The colors were very nice, the case was really cute, and the unique foam applicator was handy not only to apply color to the lid, but also to line the eye with it's triangular, pointy tip.The packaging showed 3 different application style suggestions to help you plan out your look.

Great neutral colors (all shimmers)

Cute peach & black lace magnetic case

Box has detailed directions for 3 different looks

I like this set. I have used it multiple times to create different looks. One thing I didn't like about it: the color blocks are quite small, so it can be a little tricky trying to load your brush without also getting the colors around it. And as unique as the foam applicator is, I still prefer actual brushes for application, so I used my own. That little rectangle is pretty small to try to load your brush.

I liked several of the colors, but found some of the colors to be no good for me.

Then, as I was checking out the cosmetics rack at my local Burke's Outlet, I spotted some ELF cosmetics. I like ELF (Eyes Lips Face). I've bought a number of their stuff over the last several years and for the most part been very happy with my purchases (one notable exception being their mineral foundation...it's awful, and their mascara...a goopy, clumpy mess).

My awesome score! NOTE: the case is REALLY hard to get open. I had to use the edge of my tweezers.

It's called "e.l.f. Studio Endless Eyes Pro Mini Eyeshadow Palette – Limited Edition, Warm"

The colors are amazing, but the applicator is cheap & useless

It contains 32 fabulous, warm-toned eye colors for nearly anyone to use successfully. Sure, it has the typical browns, creams, and peaches in multiple shades. But it also has some more unusual warms that one doesn't expect, like yellow, burgundy, gray, and plum. There's a good mix of shimmers and mattes, too. The colors are spectacular, and their are SO MANY to choose from! You're sure to find many that you'll love, that work with your personal coloring.

I certainly haven't had a chance to use all the colors, but the ones I have used have been great: deep color, good texture, excellent blendability, pretty good staying power. The dark colors have performed pretty well as liner for me, as well.

One of the best things about this palette - it was only $4.99!

Now, I located this same set on the e.l.f. website for you, and it's listed at $5...but it's currently out of stock in this shade set *boo-hoo*; though they do have the brighter color palette called "Cool" right here: ELF Cool Palette Limited Edition for the same $5.

For the price, this set is so worth hunting for if you're in the market for warm eye colors. I've seen ELF for sale at some drugstores, at Kmart, and of course, you might find it at your local Burke's or other discount outlet store (like Marshall's or TJMaxx). I really wanted to buy several of these and do a giveaway for you guys, but the store only had this ONE. *Sigh*

Even so, I just had to let you all know how fab it is, in case you can find it in a store near you.

Here's one of the looks I created using 4 of the colors (as lid shade, crease color, highlighter & eyeliner).

Good luck!

I hope you can find one of these for yourself.



Easy Spring Color Trends I Love

I read a few weeks ago that the big color trends for Spring 2012 are:

Coral

&

Turquoise

You know what I love about this year's choice?

It's E-A-S-Y!

Easy to wear, easy to find, easy to incorporate inexpensively.

Let me elaborate.

1) Easy to wear - Let's face it, not everyone can pull off electric blue eyeshadow, or dark plum lipstick, nor can everyone work lime green or lemon yellow jewelry without looking ridiculous.

Pretty much every skin tone and every age can beautifully display a shade of coral lipstick or blush. Any lady can rock a pair of coral nails or even turquoise toe nails.

2) Easy to find - If you don't already have these colors, they are so classic that you won't have a hard time finding them at nearly ANY store.

For example, turquoise jewelry is just plain classic. Most people already have some. I had some lying in wait in my vanity drawers. Chances are you do too?

My "old" turquoise jewelry

Which leads us to -

3) Easy to incorporate inexpensively - a few well-thought-out choices will go far. If you can't afford much, go for lipstick & nail polish for less than $10. You can add a tank top which can peek out from tops you already own for an additional $6. Or you can pick up a set of coral-colored jewelry that will go with lots of your existing clothing. My necklace, bracelet & earrings from JCP came in under $40. But you might find some for even less elsewhere. Or you can stick with any turquoise jewelry you already own. A bag and shoes to go along with the jewelry on top of your existing clothing will really spice things up, but that might add up, depending on brands, where you get it, etc.

As you can certainly tell, I decided to really embrace these color trends. After all, these aren't outlandish colors. I can still wear all of this as a "classic" during springs & summers to come. Maybe even autumns?

Off To The Mall

I had a Visa gift card left over from Christmas (thanks to That Crazy Man I Love), so I headed over to my local JCPenney (who, by the way, has recently revamped their entire business practices...everyday lower pricing...smart move).

I had already thought out my purchase plan. I already have some turquoise jewelry and a tank top in that color. So my purchase focus would be on coral. I would pick up a coral tank top, a coral bag, and some coral fashion jewelry. I'd also look through the clothing to see if I saw any coral or turquoise tops that I liked that were inexpensive. I figured I'd stop off later at a discount store and pick up a coral lipstick & nail polish if I found some that I liked. I already have coral blush and a nice bronzey-coraly shade of eyeshadow that looks great against my blue eyes.

I planned, I went, I scored!

My new Nicole Miller bag, lipstick, nail polish, coral jewelry & some turquoise stuff I already had

By the way, the best background (IMO) for these beautiful colors is a neutral, as demonstrated here. I love them against an ecru shirt or khaki pants. Or perhaps something brown. I think they will look especially gorgeous against tanned/olive skin

Oh, and I LOVE my new shoes :) They were my unplanned splurge.

My new euro soft (by Sofft) wedges

So, what do you think?

Are you gonna rock CORAL & TURQUOISE this spring?

Leave me some comment love!



Is High End Mascara Really Any Better? A Mascara Showdown!

So you know I've been all about the eyes lately. All kinds of eye product reviews going on around here. Well, I had heard so many wonderful things about Benefit's They're Real Mascara, that I was longing to give it a try and see if it would do amazing things for my lashes. Luckily for me, I scored a "mini" for only $8, instead of forking over the usual $22 for a full-size tube.

I decided to put They're Real to the test, comparing it to two mascaras I'm currently using: Essence Multi Action False Lashes Mascara and Maybelline Illegal Length Fiber Extension Waterproof Mascara.

The plan: to put They're Real on one eye & one of the other two mascaras on the other eye, testing them against each other on two separate days. I put the same time, care & effort, as well as the same amount of coats (in this case, 1) on both eyes for each test.

I took my time, wiggled the wand lightly (as all the "experts" suggest) as I pulled the wand up through my lashes, and tried my best to get all the lashes, including the ones in the very corners.

Try to guess which eye is the one with They're Real and which one is Illegal Length.

Whattya think? Above, the one on your right seems just a little bit longer to me. Maybe a touch fuller, too.

How about when I do a close-up of each eye by itself at a slightly different angle?

They're nearly the same from this angle, in my opinion.

 Can you tell much of a difference?

Here's the answer! in the above photos, the lashes on my left eye (your right as you're looking at my pics) were coated in Illegal Length. My right eye's lashes (your left as you look directly at me) is coated in They're Real.

RESULTS:

To me, the Illegal Length ($7- 9) looked just as good, if not slightly better, than They're Real ($22), and costs less than half the price!

Now for the results of Test #2: They're Real vs. Essence Multi Action

 

 I think that the one of your left shows a bit more definition of each individual lash, while the one on your right is a touch more clumped together.Also, the one on your left seems a bit longer.

And then, check out one eye at a time, slightly different angle.

The difference is a bit more pronounced from this angle. The one on your left is definitely longer and more defined than the one on the right.

 

 Not much difference from here.

The Big Reveal: The lashes on my left eye (your right as you're looking at my pics) were coated in Essence Multi Action. My right eye's lashes (your left as you look directly at me) were coated in They're Real.

RESULTS:

To me, They're Real ($22) looked a bit better than Essence Multi Action ($3.49). HOWEVER, at such a huge price difference, is it a big enough improvement to justify paying $18.51 more??

Not to me.

So, the lesson to be learned is that paying a higher price for your cosmetics doesn't necessarily mean that you have bought a superior product.

 After all, the proof is in the pictures!

Illegal Length vs. They're Real

Essence vs. They're Real





Double digits for mascara? A sucker is born every day!