Another skinny taste dish - Sante Fe Crock Pot Chicken!

So I tried another Skinnytaste.com dish, this one was the Crock Pot Sante Fe Chicken, and it was supposed to look like this:

Hmmm...well I took a few photos during and then the final result, which you will see in a minute.  *And looks nothing like this photo*  We decided to do ours as a wrap, rather than over the rice...perhaps a mistake.

Here is what it looked like in the crock pot, following the exact recipe;

Harumph.  I was not intending on making soup, but it became very soup like.  Way too much broth..way, way.  It calls for a 14.4oz can, I would add half of that & then add small amounts if needed.  I though it would get better once we shredded the chicken & re-added it.

Still waaaayyy too much liquid, it was all very runny.  And not very appealing to look at either. 

But we went with it, adding the filling to flour tortillas & making a wrap of sorts, that turned out like this; 

Notice the liquid?  I didn't use a slotted spoon, which would have been better.  Either way, this recipe was a big miss.  There wasn't enough seasoning, way too much broth, not enough texture so even over rice I can't imagine it would be any better.  Needed cheese, needed green onion, needed some heat...needed not to have bothered, in case you weren't picking up on that.  

So far 1 hit, 1 miss from Skinny taste.   I think next we'll try one of her top recipes from 2010, the 

Asian Glazed drumsticks.  Here's hoping it tastes as good as this looks!

AVON haul

I love an AVON/MARK catalogue.  There's just something about that glossy little book that gets me everytime.  I used to work shift work and sometimes when it was quiet on night shift, my team & I used to flip thru the AVON catalogues that a co-worker brought it.  I always told her I should get a commission for her sales, because I'd convince others that there were so many things they needed & she'd always get orders based on our nightshift browsing.

Anyway I don't work nightshift anymore but I still have the same great AVON lady and I seem to able to talk myself into plenty of things I think I need.  Here's my latest little AVON haul...

Silk wrap nail treatment - SuperShock mascara

I've only used the Silk wrap once but so far I like it.  You apply the first coat side to side & then the second coat is lengthwise.  It comes off as a pale pinky nude color, almost like the base coat for a french manicure.  It didn't chip and lasted thru my work week.  I do need to be a little more careful on how I apply it next time because I could see a few places where it was a little thicker than others. 

This looked promising, but I really don't like this mascara.  I have heard great things about it, and maybe I got a bad tube, but this one of the strangest mascaras I've used.  The formula is dry, which I usually prefer, but this is so dry that its almost as if I've been using it for months already.  The brush also looks like it could produce some beautiful lashes, but it barely added volume and there was no extra length at all.  So to re-cap, this left me with short, stubby, clumpy, dry lashes.  Which shockingly was so not the look I was going for.  

Ideal shade custom shade foundation - Smooth minerals mineral make-up

I am saving up some items for an empties post so I'll just talk about the mineral make-up I ordered.  I bought this for my niece last year and she loves it, so I decided to try it too. 

I can't decide how I feel about the packaging.  There is only a small amount of product that comes out at a time, which is good & bad.  The product itself is really quite nice.  I use Laura Mercier mineral makeup and I'd say this doesn't necessarily have the coverage or staying power that does, it does still hold it's own.  The coverage would be medium and it lasts about 6 hours without requiring a bit of a touch up.  It does give a nice sheen without being greasy and doesn't look powdery or cakey.  So far I'm very happy with it.  

Lip conditioner - Extra Lasting eyeshadow

Again I'm saving the lip conditioner for another post so I'll just talk about the eyeshadow. 

This is said to not crease or fade, I got the color Crushed Violet.  Here is a swatch. 

Well wasn't that worth waiting for.  I don't know why I took a picture of a far off swatch but there yah go, better than nothing I guess.  I haven't used this shadow enough to give a fair opinion, but I will say I wish it were a little less shimmery.  I'm not feeling a love affair here but maybe I'll be proved wrong.  

Anyway, that's it for now.   I'm working hard on an empties post, one that would make Gaby (who does some of the best empties posts ever) proud.  I'll be talking about some of the AVON products you see here so stayed tuned for that. 

How about you, order any AVON lately?

The best so far...

Hello all, I'm back from my week in Winnipeg.  Loved the conference, not big on the city - sorry to any Winnipeg people.  Anyway I'm here with a product rave/review that I couldn't wait to share with you!

As you may remember, my salon started carrying the pricey Kerastase product line.  I bought the Oleo serum and vowed to use every amber drop before I bought any other Kerastase products.

Then my stylist Claire, who is a huge enabler when it comes to my product addiction, showed me her favourite product from this line.  Her words.. 'this is like liquid gold around here, we go thru tube after tube and everyone raves about it'.   So she proceeded to use it on my hair and of course I felt like I couldn't walk out without it.

I was still wavering a little and then I smelled it.  Sigh.  It's fresh & delicious, kind of citrus smelling.  Like 'what have you got on your hair' kinda smell.  So yes, I bought it.  Of course I bought it.

Kerastase Ciment Thermique - Heat activated reconstructor milk.  What the heck is up with the name?  I never remember what this is called.

This is a leave in product and acts like a cross between a leave in conditioner and smoothing serum.  According to my stylist Claire I wouldn't need to flat iron my hair after using this.  When I used this at home I wasn't so sure I'd get the same results as she did in the salon, but I did!  This gave me that bouncy hair commercial kind of hair and I was thrilled with how it turned out.  My hair looks healthy and almost as good as when I get a professional blow out.  

The important thing to note is that you do need some sort of heat to activate this product.  This isn't for those who just wash their hair and let it air dry.  This doesn't weigh my hair down or give me that greasy, gluey feeling the next day.  My hair just felt soft and like I had no product in it at all.  

I love this more than the Oleo serum and if I had to choose one, this would be it hands down.  It costs about $40.  But that said, this is quite a large tube and I only use about a quarter size amount in my hair so it will last me awhile.  For once I have no buyers regret with a high end product, no twinge in my stomach, nothing.  This is TOTALLY worth the money.  

One strange note about this product....

There are many languages on the back explaining how to use the product..ok fine.  But why is the ingredient list in Chinese?  Japanese?  when it's made in Spain.  I don't get it.  

Either way, this may be my favourite product of the year so far.  Of the year!  I give it a huge thumbs up and if you are looking to treat yourself, or add a product to your birthday/Christmas wish list..this would be the one.  

Can you tell I love it?  And now I'm off, hoping someone will ask me a question with my back turned so I'll have to swing my bouncy hair around to answer. 

Better late than never - September LUXE box!

I have no idea why it takes so long to get my LUXE box each month, but it seems to get later and later.

This month it arrived the last week of September with another explanation about delays thru Canada Post.  I spend most of the month squinting past any blog posts on other people's LUXE boxes because I want to be surprised.  Such first world whining I know...  Anyway I have one more month of LUXE box and then I have to decide whether or not to renew, so there was a lot riding on this month.  

Here is what I got; 

Clapping hands...fancy schmancy looking products.  Now this is more like it.  

Okay so the impressive book like packaging gave me high hopes for this sample.  The sample itself is actually a 0.2 fl.oz size sample in a cardboard container.  I wish they would have spent a little less on the packaging holding the sample and a little more on the sample itself.  

I've never tried Mereadesso products, which they say are proudly made in Canada, but I'm interested to try this face & neck toning gel.  This says its has 16 botanical extracts, 7 minerals and over 20 different antioxidants.  Should have, the full size product costs $120 for 50ml.  I'll let you know my thoughts on this one.  

Next up MoroccanOil..yay!  For those who aren't familiar with this product, it's one of the best hair serums I've used.  It's designed to help chemically processed or sun damaged hair, and restores your hair's silky texture.  I already own this in a larger size but this will be a great travel size container.  The bottle is 25ml, a really decent size and more than pays for this month's LUXE box.  Thrilled!

Next up is a a product I hadn't heard of, Laura Mercier's Perfecting Water.  Decent sized 10ml sample. The reading I've done on this  say it's hydrating fluid that allows for deeper penetration of other skin products such as moisturizers or serums.  You apply it with a cotton ball in small circular motions & it's supposed to keep your skin looking soft & supple.  Supple...such a weird word.  Apparently if you have oiler skin you only need this product, no other moisturizer.  But if you have dry skin you let this absorb into your skin & then apply your other products.  I'm really excited to give this a try, and am not afraid of falling in love with it as a full size container is $38 (200ml), so not too bad. 

Sorry I haven't had much of a chance to try the skin products yet.  Life has been a little hectic with some trips & family celebrations in October and I didn't want to have any break out issues with my skin. 

Seche Vite, I must be the last girl to not have tried this top coat.  This is a teeny tiny bottle, see the Hershey kiss for reference.  I am looking forward to using this as people swear by it.  I have heard however that it dries out in the bottle quickly, so maybe it's best I have such a wee bottle. 

I'll be MIA this week, because my new job is taking me on a conference this week to.....Winnipeg.  Jealous aren't you?  My brother said it sounds like I'm on an episode of the office. 

 If any of our group sleeps with the concierge I'll let you know. 

Have a great week everyone, let me know if you've tried any of these products and 

what you think of them! 

My day in photos...