Luxurious Lotion

The constantly changing weather in Houston can do quite a job on your skin. I am always looking for a hydrating lotion that isn't greasy and smells delicious. While browsing the aisle, I was immediately attracted to this pink label. After reading it and seeing that it had some of my favorite things in it, I decided to give it a try. I have to say that I am usually impressed with St. Ives products and this one didn't disappoint. The lotion was light and silky, without leaving any kind of residue behind and keeps my skin hydrated all day. Plus it smells like you are in a tropical heaven with the coconut and exotic orchid. I will definitely keep this in my everyday beauty routine. It's a great lotion that doesn't break the bank, but definitely lives up to its expectations.

Genghis Grill

I usually try to stay in the know on the food scene, but some how this one managed to squeeze by me. Luckily, I have friends that watch out for me, so I was introduced to Genghis Grill. This is a Mongolian barbecue restaurant where you can create your own meal. You pick your protein, seasonings, veggies, sauce, and starch. I opted for shrimp and a few pieces of calamari, but they have beef, pork, chicken, fish...basically whatever you want. You can add seasoning to your protein like garlic, pepper, cajun seasoning, and lemon pepper. Add in your veggies like peppers, onions, carrots, broccoli, corn, mushrooms, and many many more. Then come the sauces with everything from dragon sauces to citrus ginger and regular soy sauce. If you are looking for a lower sodium option, you can try garlic water which is minced garlic in water. Last, but certainly not least, you get to choose the starch. You can pick brown or white rice, tortillas, or noodles, but I was feeling healthy so I skipped the starch. This is great place to go if you are looking for a quick bite and lots of food!

Monkey Bay

There is something exciting about trying a new wine. You never know what to expect because every wine is slightly different even if it is made from the same grape. The climate and region affects the wine, so you may like the varietal from France for example, but not from Napa. I like it because it's like opening a present and usually I am pleasantly surprised. I found this Sauvginon Blanc from New Zealand called Monkey Bay. This wine was crisp and bright with a hint of pineapple. It is a great wine now that the weather is unfortunately starting to get a bit warmer. (That's Texas for you...) The suggested food pairing was chicken and seafood, but I had it with some ground turkey and it was delicious. This is definitely one I will buy again. It was refreshing on the palate and under $10, so what's not to love about a great wine at an affordable price.

Avocado Hummus

Hummus is one of my favorite snacks and there are some really good varieties out there - roasted garlic, red pepper, and Mediterranean Olive. I was really surprised when I saw avocado hummus. What is it you ask? Come to find out it is basically half chickpeas and half avocado. I love avocados and hummus, so I figured why not give it a try. At least then I can say I tried it. Here's the verdict... I wasn't entirely sure what to expect and at first I was a bit skeptical. It seemed a bit bland and you couldn't really taste the avocado. After I mixed it and it sat overnight, the flavors seemed to blend a bit more and the avocado was more prevalent. Honestly, I am still not entirely sure how to feel about it, but sometimes you just need to take a risk and give it a try. So if you are feeling up to a challenge, give it a go and then come back and let me know what you thought about it.

Mini Peppers

When you think if new food products, produce is not usually what comes to mind. However when I was grabbing my avocados at HEB, I noticed there was this bag of of mixed peppers. Now if you are familiar with peppers, it's usually the smaller they are they hotter they are. Not with these. These are Aurora mini sweet peppers, and yes they are really sweet. They are sooo yummy and I am so glad that I found them! They are great as a raw snack, perfect to throw in a salad or to cook with. I am literally eating these at lunch and dinner because they are so yummy and unique. It is a bit surprising when you bite into them and really taste their sweetness, but you need to give them a try!

Sightseeing in Chicago

When you live in a city, you don't usually do the sightseeing thing, but since I was visiting I wanted to do some of the touristy things. One of the first things we did was go to the John Hancock Observatory. This building boasts the fastest elevator in North America, getting you to the 94th floor in a mere 40 seconds. With breathtaking views over The Magnificent Mile, you can experience Chicago from a unique perspective. The audio tour is informative and entertaining. One of the things that was highlighted was Navy Pier, which will be on my list to visit when I go back in the warmer months so I can enjoy the rides and outdoor restaurants. Art is huge in Chicago and Millennium Park is home to one of the most famous Chicago landmarks...The Cloud Gate. Most commonly referred to as the Bean, it was installed in 2004 and is a must see when you visit Chicago. It's a perfect place for some fun photos too! Apparently, Millennium Park is also home to these very odd LED face fountains, but sine it was winter the fountains weren't on. I was honestly a little creeped out, but it's art so anything goes. Whether it's shopping on The Magnificent Mile, visiting museums, or just walking around, you never know what you will find, but I can promise there is something for everyone.

Horizon Cafe

During my short and sweet stay in Chicago, we managed to squeeze in a breakfast outing to Horizon Cafe. It was just a place where you felt at home. I love breakfast even though it is a constant struggle and seriously one of the hardest decisions I make, especially when I go out to eat. When I make breakfast at home, it's usually eggs and fruit. However, when I go out I have to decide between sweet and savory (a very tough choice). But sometimes you just need something simple and yummy. I used to eat cinnamon raisin toast all the time when I was little, so I decided to go old school and order a past time favorite. This cinnamon french toast was filling and there was plenty of it! The plump raisins and tender, but not soggy bread was the perfect blend of textures. I am not one of those people who drowns everything in syrup, but a light drizzle added just a touch of sweetness. Horizon Cafe is the go to breakfast for my Texans in Chicago, so it was fun to see their hangouts. This is a hopping place on the weekends and it was great to just sit around and enjoy a good meal.

Michael's Pizza

Going to Chicago and not having a deep dish pizza is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower...it's just something you don't do. So it was a given that that was on the list of things to eat before I left. Once you find a great restaurant, sometimes it's hard to branch out, but after visiting Michael's Pizza I am fairly certain I would not have much motivation to find some where else. Though it wasn't the birthplace of the deep dish pizza, it was pretty legit. (I think just for comparison's sake, next time I visit I might try it out though.) We opted for the simple pleasures of a stuffed cheese pizza. No, this was not a stuffed crust pizza. Stuffed means there was just cheese galore. I am not sure what I was expecting to come out of the kitchen, but what I saw was a masterpiece. At first, it just looked like sauce and crust, but don't let that fool you. Underneath the top layer of sauce was ooey gooey cheesiness. I am not usually a sauce or crust person, but there was a nice ratio of sauce to the cheese. The crust was crispy and quite necessary to hold all the toppings, but wasn't too bready. It was definitely very filling and one piece was more than enough for me (and it was not a small piece either.) Deep dish pizza is definitely the way to go, but unfortunately for me I will have to wait to get my fill until the next time I visit (Definitely motivation to schedule another trip soon!)

La Ciudad Chicago Style

Sometimes you just need a quick getaway amidst the craziness of life, so luckily for me I have friends I can go visit. This visit took me to the beautiful city of Chicago. It was fun getting to see all the sights and catching up...which we of course had to do over food. The thing about Texans is that no matter where they go, they seem to gravitate to some kind of Tex-Mex. Of course, that was one of the first stops, dinner at La Ciudad. (The first one was an AMAZING two-story Target!) I was feeling adventurous and decided to try something brand new. I opted for chile rellenos because anything with cheese is usually pretty delicious. However, I was totally surprised when I tasted it and was literally overwhelmed with spiciness. It made it really difficult to enjoy, which was kind of disappointing. After topping it with a healthy dollop of sour cream, I was finally able to really taste the flavor and found it to be really yummy. I am not sure if it is usually that super duper spicy, but maybe I will give it another try in the future. At least now I can say I have tried it.

As my friends are pretty big fans of their Tex-Mex, they have been to La Ciudad a few times and are almost on the verge of being regulars, which does have its perks. As a bonus, we got to try the mocha tres leches. It was heavenly. The cake has a silk texture, but wasn't overly sweet or soggy. The hint of chocolately coffee flavor added depth to the dessert and was a nice twist on the a classic. One of the interesting things about Chicago is that in addition to the random soda tax they have, most restaurants are "bring your own alcohol". Plus, they don't usually charge a corkage fee and you can take the leftovers home with you. It's kind of a pretty sweet deal. Overall, La Ciudad was a great first meal in Chicago!

Bubbly Champagne

A name can say it all whether it is for a food, nail polish, or a candle. For me, the perfect name for a nail polish makes me fall in love with the color even more, but that's not what today's post is about. This is about a candle that is perfect for celebrating the arrival of 2013...bubbly champagne. Not only is it a fun name, it also smells beyond delicious and like the real thing! It is light, fresh, and airy, but fills the room with pleasant aroma. (Plus the cream candle in a clear glass jar with gold "bubbles" on it is fun to watch burn) I hope that this scent is available year round because it just has this freshness to it that puts extra pep in your step.

Macaron: Part 2

I came to find that there are other people in the world that choose wine by the look of the label. I'm glad I'm not the only one that does it and it proves that wine makers should never underestimate the power of creative label. I was already drawn in with the playfulness of the Macaron wine label and decided to try one of the other varietals. The Moscato Italia is a fun dessert wine that is light and sweet. However, I did notice that this Moscato didn't have that syrupy sweetness to it that most Moscatos have. This is a great girls night wine or just something nice to sip on. I know that because of the sweetness Moscatos aren't for everyone, but if you want to mix it up this is definitely a great wine. Plus, it's a great wine for the price and is a perfect way to celebrate the start of a wonderful new year! Cheers!

Bravo Brio

For me there is something comforting about Italian food, but due to the somewhat unhealthy nature of pasta I try not to eat it too often. Brio is an authentic Italian restaurant and this was a special occasion, so I made an exception and went for broke. It started with a sampling of bruschetta that included steak, roasted red pepper, caprese, and antipasta options. The crunch of the toasted bread added a necessary textural element, but each one was yummy.

For my entree, I went for a Mediterranean pasta dish. It had sun dried tomato, mushrooms, spinach, Feta cheese, caramelized onions and pine nuts in a light sauce. The onions added a touch of sweetness, the pine nuts added a bit of crunch, and the other ingredients made the dish multidimensional. The dish wasn't heavy which made it easier to not feel super guilty after eating it.

Of course, I had to end this special dish with dessert. Since tiramisu is one of my favorites, I try to order it in order to compare. I am still on the hunt for the most delicious tiramisu, but I have a few that top the list. This one wasn't my favorite because it was a bit on the heavy side and super rich, but it was fairly decent. Brio is a great place for a special dinner and great food. If you haven't stopped by, be sure to do so soon. 

Metallic Shine

Just because the holidays are over and you've rung in the New Year doesn't mean that you have to go back to the same old nail color. Bring a little shine back into your life with this fantastic color..."Because you're worth it" (I am pretty partial to the name). This light catching color will give you the subtle sparkle and shine you want without being too crazy. Don't let the chilly weather and end of the holidays get you down. This color from L'oreal is sure to make you smile. Happy New Year!

Lifesaver for Your Lips

So the always shifting weather here can be pretty rough on your skin and for my it kills my lips. I seem to always be putting on chap stick and it's somewhat annoying because no matter what I try it never seems to work. Luckily my sister is a chapstick fiend, so I can usually get some suggestions from her. During her last visit she pulled out this egg and said it was the best chapstick she used. I was intrigued by the shape and decided I would give it a try. The flavor was light and fruity (probably not the best option for guys) and it makes your lips feel silky smooth. The best part is that my lips are staying moisturized longer and feeling softer than ever before. Seriously, this is a chapstick that you need to try. Not only does it have a really unique container, but it is like a spa treatment for your lips. If you are looking for some way to save your lips from the brutal weather changes, this should become your "go to" product.