When I say sick, I mean under the weather. Friday night I started to cough a little bit, Saturday I woke up completely stuffed, and this morning (Sunday) I woke up completely stuffed with a pounding head. Lovely! While I am laying around watching the Great British Baking Show (they've added more to Netflix!!), I am also looking through Amazon, Intothegloss, etc, investigating what skincare I want to try out next.
As I mentioned in my last post, my Gokujun should be arriving in the next few days, so I am patiently waiting to slather that on my face. You better believe once it arrives I'll be washing my face immediately!
Here are a few other things I want to try (and perhaps I will with the Sephora VIB sale coming up!):
1. Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum - I need more acids in my life.
2. Ren Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask - With super sensitive skin, I think this would be lovely. Especially with the weather getting colder and drier.
3. I would like to try a new moisturizer because my Embryolisse will be running out shortly. Perhaps something from Paula's Choice....hmm...
I'm excited to get some new pieces into my routine soon. Stay tuned!
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Getting back on track - Skincare 10/18/18
Since my last post I've been slowly, but surely, getting back into my skincare groove. Here's what I've been applying:
1st cleanse: I've been doing one of two things. Either using the Eve Lom Cleanser or the Heimish All Clean balm. I am more partial to the Eve Lom cleanser, but it costs an arm and a leg.
2nd cleanse: Cera-ve Hydrating Cleanser. Very good.
Acid: Glossier Solution. I think it works well? When I stopped using it, my face did look worse, so I am going to say it does work...well?
Moisturize: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre. I think this is my all-time favorite moisturizer.
Occasional mask: Fresh Umbrian Clay mask. I like this!
I've got an Amazon order with Hadalabo's Gokujun hyaluronic solution coming soon, and I am so excited. All I want to do is pat this on my face and absorb all of the moisture. I feel like that can only be a good thing, right?
1st cleanse: I've been doing one of two things. Either using the Eve Lom Cleanser or the Heimish All Clean balm. I am more partial to the Eve Lom cleanser, but it costs an arm and a leg.
2nd cleanse: Cera-ve Hydrating Cleanser. Very good.
Acid: Glossier Solution. I think it works well? When I stopped using it, my face did look worse, so I am going to say it does work...well?
Moisturize: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre. I think this is my all-time favorite moisturizer.
Occasional mask: Fresh Umbrian Clay mask. I like this!
I've got an Amazon order with Hadalabo's Gokujun hyaluronic solution coming soon, and I am so excited. All I want to do is pat this on my face and absorb all of the moisture. I feel like that can only be a good thing, right?
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
September Skin...care?
This past September was not your standard month for me. The first few days of the month were spent at home doing my normal routine, and then I left for about a week and a half to go hike around Yosemite. While I was out, I only splashed the purest alpine water on my face (the most luxurious thing you could ever put on any part of your body), and then used a good dose of SPF during the day as I hiked. My skin seemed good for the most part, however I did get my period followed by a huge zit on my chin. Wonderful. Anyway, besides the monster that sprouted on my face, I think the sun and minimal application of anything (besides that glorious water!!!) was really good for my skin.
When I returned, I got really lazy with my skincare and makeup routines. I'd take a day or two off from using any products, and then do a normal daytime makeup look, and a paired down version of my skincare routine, and then skip makeup again. My face then got a little angry and I started to notice texture on my forehead, lots of blackheads on my nose, and quite a few whiteheads all around. Perhaps it was because I was reintroducing makeup again, perhaps it was because I wasn't drinking a lot of water (my Swell bottle was stolen when we were coming back from Yosemite - a lot of stuff was stolen) and not eating well, perhaps it was because I wasn't exercising enough! I'm going to go ahead and guess that it is a combination of all of those things.
I am going to step it up this October, and take care of myself a bit better. Eat better, drink lots of water, move my body a bit more - self care stuff. I read somewhere (WHERE did I read this??) the other day that said, "self care is self love," and that is so right. If I don't take care of myself, I am not happy with how my body reacts. Let's see if I can stick to this.
I am also going to start writing more. Stay tuned for more!
When I returned, I got really lazy with my skincare and makeup routines. I'd take a day or two off from using any products, and then do a normal daytime makeup look, and a paired down version of my skincare routine, and then skip makeup again. My face then got a little angry and I started to notice texture on my forehead, lots of blackheads on my nose, and quite a few whiteheads all around. Perhaps it was because I was reintroducing makeup again, perhaps it was because I wasn't drinking a lot of water (my Swell bottle was stolen when we were coming back from Yosemite - a lot of stuff was stolen) and not eating well, perhaps it was because I wasn't exercising enough! I'm going to go ahead and guess that it is a combination of all of those things.
I am going to step it up this October, and take care of myself a bit better. Eat better, drink lots of water, move my body a bit more - self care stuff. I read somewhere (WHERE did I read this??) the other day that said, "self care is self love," and that is so right. If I don't take care of myself, I am not happy with how my body reacts. Let's see if I can stick to this.
I am also going to start writing more. Stay tuned for more!
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Pepper-Crusted Tofu with Broccoli Stir-Fry
I made this dish last night from a recipe my dad recommended to me from the cookbook that I am totally blanking on right now (I will revise this later). It is SO GOOD. The recipe creator (whose name I don't know at all -- I will revise this later as well) writes in his little forward that this is a take from another cook's recipe that he's molded into his own and now is "addicted" (his word). I suppose I've done that again in a very minor way and am sort of addicted (my word now) as well.
The only way I've really changed up this recipe is I only use half a head of broccoli, an entire package of tofu, one shallot, and no ginger. I hate ginger in fact. To me, ginger smells like soap. It's fresh, but not something that I'd like to eat. This is weird because I love ginger ale. Is it, though? Now that I think about it, it's probably not weird at all. Lastly, I made a bit of rice to go with it. The recipe doesn't say anything about pairing with rice, but I felt like I needed a little something else.
This amount of food ended up being enough for a dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day.
Ok, here are the ingredients:
- firm tofu
- black pepper
- cornstarch
- vegetable oil
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 shallot
- 1/2 red pepper
- 1/2 broccoli head
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
First, open up the tofu and drain out all of the water. Next, wrap the tofu in paper towels for 30 minutes. Tofu kind of sucks because if you don't use all of it, you need to store it in water and replace the water every day it sits. I haven't actually done this before, I just ready about it, however it sounds like it sucks.
While the tofu is having the moisture sucked out of it, cook the rice. I cook 1/3 cup of rice with 2/3 cup of water. It's a pretty good measurement for one person.
After that has started, chop up the garlic, shallot, pepper, broccoli and place in bowl to the side.
Once the tofu has had its 30 minute blanket wrap time, take it out of the paper towels and chop into 1-2" pieces. Put the chopped pieces in a big mixing bowl, sprinkle the pieces with a lot of black pepper. Lots and lots. Next, coat every piece with the corn starch. Now, in a large pan, pour in the vegetable oil so that about half of the tofu pieces would be submerged (I don't have an exact measurement for this!!). Place the tofu in the pan and cook pieces so that they are evenly crispy-looking and light brown on both sides. After they look done, place them on a cooling rack placed above a plate to catch any oil that might fall from the tofu.
Now, pour out some of the oil, but save a little to cook the veggies! Pour the bowl the vegetables are in into the pan and cook for a bit, maybe 5 minutes. Next, pour in the soy sauce, sugar, and water and cook for another 5 minutes.
Once that is all done, your rice should be done and it is time to plate! Put the rice on first, then vegetables in the sauce, and then the tofu. That's it!
Very good, and good for two meals for one person!
The only way I've really changed up this recipe is I only use half a head of broccoli, an entire package of tofu, one shallot, and no ginger. I hate ginger in fact. To me, ginger smells like soap. It's fresh, but not something that I'd like to eat. This is weird because I love ginger ale. Is it, though? Now that I think about it, it's probably not weird at all. Lastly, I made a bit of rice to go with it. The recipe doesn't say anything about pairing with rice, but I felt like I needed a little something else.
This amount of food ended up being enough for a dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day.
Ok, here are the ingredients:
- firm tofu
- black pepper
- cornstarch
- vegetable oil
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 shallot
- 1/2 red pepper
- 1/2 broccoli head
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons water
First, open up the tofu and drain out all of the water. Next, wrap the tofu in paper towels for 30 minutes. Tofu kind of sucks because if you don't use all of it, you need to store it in water and replace the water every day it sits. I haven't actually done this before, I just ready about it, however it sounds like it sucks.
While the tofu is having the moisture sucked out of it, cook the rice. I cook 1/3 cup of rice with 2/3 cup of water. It's a pretty good measurement for one person.
After that has started, chop up the garlic, shallot, pepper, broccoli and place in bowl to the side.
Once the tofu has had its 30 minute blanket wrap time, take it out of the paper towels and chop into 1-2" pieces. Put the chopped pieces in a big mixing bowl, sprinkle the pieces with a lot of black pepper. Lots and lots. Next, coat every piece with the corn starch. Now, in a large pan, pour in the vegetable oil so that about half of the tofu pieces would be submerged (I don't have an exact measurement for this!!). Place the tofu in the pan and cook pieces so that they are evenly crispy-looking and light brown on both sides. After they look done, place them on a cooling rack placed above a plate to catch any oil that might fall from the tofu.
Now, pour out some of the oil, but save a little to cook the veggies! Pour the bowl the vegetables are in into the pan and cook for a bit, maybe 5 minutes. Next, pour in the soy sauce, sugar, and water and cook for another 5 minutes.
Once that is all done, your rice should be done and it is time to plate! Put the rice on first, then vegetables in the sauce, and then the tofu. That's it!
Very good, and good for two meals for one person!
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Getting back to it
I put my writing on the back burner for the past couple of weeks and I am just now really realizing why. I think I kind of lost my "voice" after not writing for a very long time. This is all really ironic to me because at my work I've been told recently I have the voice (I don't want to go into detail, but if you worked with me, you'd know what I was talking about). I used to write on here and the words would just flow out. I feel like that was my voice and I had no trouble writing down, and more importantly making sense of, the ramblings in my head. I was reading one of my last posts before writing this and I enjoyed reading it. I think I enjoyed it because it was so me. I'm not sure if I was happier then or I felt more like me then, but man, I could write.
Well, I am going to try to make this more of a habit because I need to feel happier and more like myself. I liked my idea I had the other day and I want to stick with it. It's gonna happen!
I also really liked that old post I wrote because I loved what I was writing about, which was something my mom said about taking things one day at a time. My life is constantly changing, but the one constant is that there is always something that I will need to take one day at a time. It could be getting over a heartbreak, or getting back into running, or getting my voice back, there is always something!
Probably what I liked most about reading that old post and then now writing this is that I felt so much anxiety for the problems I was having and now I had to read what I wrote back then to remember it. This is very comforting to me because in some length of time I will feel the same about the anxiety, sadness, and problems I am having today. Oh how I wish that day was tomorrow, but alas, it's going to take a little bit longer than that (I really really really really do not like how it has to take longer than that).
It's all going to be ok. I just need to remember that.
Tomorrow I am going to make and then post about my dinner that I am semi-obsessed with. It is a good one.
Until then,
Caroline
ps - I looked at another post I wrote and in both that one and the one I mentioned here, I say "in true ____ fashion...". I love these weird consistencies of mine. I do make myself laugh sometimes.
Well, I am going to try to make this more of a habit because I need to feel happier and more like myself. I liked my idea I had the other day and I want to stick with it. It's gonna happen!
I also really liked that old post I wrote because I loved what I was writing about, which was something my mom said about taking things one day at a time. My life is constantly changing, but the one constant is that there is always something that I will need to take one day at a time. It could be getting over a heartbreak, or getting back into running, or getting my voice back, there is always something!
Probably what I liked most about reading that old post and then now writing this is that I felt so much anxiety for the problems I was having and now I had to read what I wrote back then to remember it. This is very comforting to me because in some length of time I will feel the same about the anxiety, sadness, and problems I am having today. Oh how I wish that day was tomorrow, but alas, it's going to take a little bit longer than that (I really really really really do not like how it has to take longer than that).
It's all going to be ok. I just need to remember that.
Tomorrow I am going to make and then post about my dinner that I am semi-obsessed with. It is a good one.
Until then,
Caroline
ps - I looked at another post I wrote and in both that one and the one I mentioned here, I say "in true ____ fashion...". I love these weird consistencies of mine. I do make myself laugh sometimes.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Week #1 shopping list
I thought I would start things off with my first shopping list of the new blog. I try to look at some recipes I am interested in making and then base my list off of that. I then think about side dishes and any snacks I'd like through the week. Simple enough!
Ok, confession time: when I actually went to the grocery store I was in kind of a time crunch. I needed to get home as soon as possible because it was raining and I had a cat to bring back inside and I had someone coming over soon. I planned out my list pretty carefully, but because of my preoccupation I had a couple more things on my list than I actually got. Oops! Well, I'll leave an asterisk on the pieces I did not pick up. Cool? Cool.
- pasta
- cherry tomatoes
- mozzarella pearls
- basil
- pesto
- 2 avocados
- 2 apples
- 2 peaches (I got three!)
- yogurt
- baguette
- tofu
- sweet potato
- broccoli
- red pepper
- hummus *
- baby carrots *
- butter *
- shallot
- arborio rice *
- pinot grigio *
- 2 vine-ripe tomatoes
- spinach *
- salad greens
Things I did pick up that were not on the list:
- cookie dough
- kitchen cleaner
- maybe one other thing
The total of this shopping trip was: $49.90
The pieces I did not pick up I forgot about, but also, I could not pick up because I cannot purchase alcohol in grocery stores in Maryland (where my job is located). I need to plan that part out a little bit better, eh? I think the rice and the wine was for a risotto dish I wanted to try. I might try that out next week instead.
A little something about me and maybe a helpful tip! I always try to have a sweet potato at home. If I am not really prepared for a meal or I am very tired I'll just microwave that with salt, pepper, and olive oil. It's very filling and tasty! Easy meal.
This is all I have for now. Later on we can look at actual meals.
Ok, confession time: when I actually went to the grocery store I was in kind of a time crunch. I needed to get home as soon as possible because it was raining and I had a cat to bring back inside and I had someone coming over soon. I planned out my list pretty carefully, but because of my preoccupation I had a couple more things on my list than I actually got. Oops! Well, I'll leave an asterisk on the pieces I did not pick up. Cool? Cool.
- pasta
- cherry tomatoes
- mozzarella pearls
- basil
- pesto
- 2 avocados
- 2 apples
- 2 peaches (I got three!)
- yogurt
- baguette
- tofu
- sweet potato
- broccoli
- red pepper
- hummus *
- baby carrots *
- butter *
- shallot
- arborio rice *
- pinot grigio *
- 2 vine-ripe tomatoes
- spinach *
- salad greens
Things I did pick up that were not on the list:
- cookie dough
- kitchen cleaner
- maybe one other thing
The total of this shopping trip was: $49.90
The pieces I did not pick up I forgot about, but also, I could not pick up because I cannot purchase alcohol in grocery stores in Maryland (where my job is located). I need to plan that part out a little bit better, eh? I think the rice and the wine was for a risotto dish I wanted to try. I might try that out next week instead.
A little something about me and maybe a helpful tip! I always try to have a sweet potato at home. If I am not really prepared for a meal or I am very tired I'll just microwave that with salt, pepper, and olive oil. It's very filling and tasty! Easy meal.
This is all I have for now. Later on we can look at actual meals.
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Toasty Little Surprises
Hello!
I decided I am going to write as much as I can here, because I've missed it, and because I think writing things out is good for me. When I used to write at school, I used this blog as an outlet to channel my anxiety and fear about graduating and being out in the big scary world. I am still terrified everyday (I am working on that, I promise), so perhaps this will still be therapeutic. Here goes!
It's been a while! Lots has changed while I've been gone. Here are a few notable events:
- I've been at my full-time job now for more than a year and a half.
- I traveled around the US and abroad to two countries (soon-to-be two more countries!!!).
- I ran in a few races (slowly).
- I stopped eating meat.
- I moved out!!
I should write that I've been doing a lot of things on my own now, but that isn't as much fun to include with those bullet points. When I say that I've been doing things on my own, I mean that there have been some good things that have happened and some bad things that have happened and now I pay for everything. That is growing up, right? I am going to say so.
While I've been doing some growing up, my interests have pretty much stayed the same. I still love skincare/makeup, I still love music, and I still love baseball. Something that has definitely changed about my interests is that I am now very, very interested in cooking and making meals. I've been trying out new recipes for just myself that gave me a great idea...
I am going to use this blog as I did in the past, but I am going to try to direct this towards exploring and archiving the art of making vegetarian meals for one. That is the kind of blog I would like to read, so why don't I just write it?
Doing just that, buying, cooking, storing food for one person is hard I've just recently found out. You need to keep in mind portions and using up ingredients before they go bad. It might not be as expensive as buying groceries for a family, but I think there is definitely some strategy that goes into properly cooking decent meals for one person.
I hope by doing this, I start to become a smarter food shopper, preparer, and executer! Perhaps I can collect a bunch of super great tips and tricks to share with you lovely readers! I will share shopping lists, recipes, food diaries, and other goodies. Oh, this will be so much fun!
A new blog name may be in order, eh? I like my TLS acronym, so I think I'll play off on that. The Lonely Spoon? The Last Supper? Toasty Little Surprises? I'm grasping at straws here, people. Leave your favorite in the comments!
Alright, so, here we go. I'm going to do this now. I'm not sure how many times per week I'll write, but I'll try to be as regular as I can. I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow, so maybe I'll share my first grocery list tomorrow. Eek!
Until then!
I decided I am going to write as much as I can here, because I've missed it, and because I think writing things out is good for me. When I used to write at school, I used this blog as an outlet to channel my anxiety and fear about graduating and being out in the big scary world. I am still terrified everyday (I am working on that, I promise), so perhaps this will still be therapeutic. Here goes!
It's been a while! Lots has changed while I've been gone. Here are a few notable events:
- I've been at my full-time job now for more than a year and a half.
- I traveled around the US and abroad to two countries (soon-to-be two more countries!!!).
- I ran in a few races (slowly).
- I stopped eating meat.
- I moved out!!
I should write that I've been doing a lot of things on my own now, but that isn't as much fun to include with those bullet points. When I say that I've been doing things on my own, I mean that there have been some good things that have happened and some bad things that have happened and now I pay for everything. That is growing up, right? I am going to say so.
While I've been doing some growing up, my interests have pretty much stayed the same. I still love skincare/makeup, I still love music, and I still love baseball. Something that has definitely changed about my interests is that I am now very, very interested in cooking and making meals. I've been trying out new recipes for just myself that gave me a great idea...
I am going to use this blog as I did in the past, but I am going to try to direct this towards exploring and archiving the art of making vegetarian meals for one. That is the kind of blog I would like to read, so why don't I just write it?
Doing just that, buying, cooking, storing food for one person is hard I've just recently found out. You need to keep in mind portions and using up ingredients before they go bad. It might not be as expensive as buying groceries for a family, but I think there is definitely some strategy that goes into properly cooking decent meals for one person.
I hope by doing this, I start to become a smarter food shopper, preparer, and executer! Perhaps I can collect a bunch of super great tips and tricks to share with you lovely readers! I will share shopping lists, recipes, food diaries, and other goodies. Oh, this will be so much fun!
A new blog name may be in order, eh? I like my TLS acronym, so I think I'll play off on that. The Lonely Spoon? The Last Supper? Toasty Little Surprises? I'm grasping at straws here, people. Leave your favorite in the comments!
Alright, so, here we go. I'm going to do this now. I'm not sure how many times per week I'll write, but I'll try to be as regular as I can. I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow, so maybe I'll share my first grocery list tomorrow. Eek!
Until then!
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