Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Book Review: The Husband's Secret

Finally finished the book I had started on vacation!

 
Author: Liane Moriarty
Genre: Thriller & Suspense
Back Cover Summary: Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not only the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. And then imagine that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive…
Amazon Rating: 4.5 stars
My Review: What an interesting book! I got up several mornings in a row at 5 am just to find time to read it. I found the story line and the intertwining of all of the characters lives fascinating and thought the ending was well written.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Easy Breakfast Bowls

One of the keys to keeping our sanity during the work week is meal prep. This includes breakfast. For awhile I was making egg sandwiches, then switched to breakfast wraps and am now obsessed with breakfast bowls ever since our Whole30 challenge. I can eat the same breakfast every day but I try to mix up the ingredients each week to give Matt some variety (although he could eat the same thing day after day too). I'll rotate between sausage and bacon for the breakfast meat, sometimes add different roasted vegetables in and top the bowls off with fresh veggies (usually avocado if I have time to cut one up that morning). Anyway, we are hooked on these. And if you're looking for an easy breakfast you can make for the entire week, you need to try these.
Easy Breakfast Bowls

Ingredients

12 slices bacon
2 large sweet potatoes peeled and diced
1 large onion, sliced
salt
pepper
olive oil

For scrambled eggs:

12 large eggs
1/2 cup full fat coconut milk
1½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons cooking oil

Instructions

1. Roast the sweet potatoes. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Spread sweet potatoes across a greased baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake for 25 minutes or until sweet potatoes are fork tender. Remove from oven and set aside.

2. Cook the bacon. Place bacon on a large baking sheet and bake in oven at 425 for 15 minutes or until bacon is brown and crispy.

3. Caramelize the onions. Toss your onions in a skillet with some olive oil. Add a pinch of salt, and slow cook, stirring occasionally, lowering the heat if any onions begin to brown too quickly. 

4. Scramble the eggs. In a large bowl or stand mixer whisk together the eggs, coconut milk, salt and pepper.

5. Assemble the bowls. Layer your roasted potatoes, onion, bacon and eggs. Add any other toppings you wish!

*Makes about 8 breakfast bowls

Friday, February 23, 2018

Five on Friday: Makeup Edition

Happy Friday from Wilmington, NC! I'm so close to the beach yet stuck in a conference room since I arrived yesterday to give a presentation, had a late work dinner, a big event this afternoon and head back home tonight. Somehow I managed to write a post every day this week and then ran out of time and topics for my Five on Friday. However, my makeup travel bag combined with some pictures I had from a recent morning spent with my friend and talented makeup artist, Lindsey, inspired me to post about five beauty products I'm currently loving! These are some of my favorite posts to read because I am nosy and love to know what products everyone else is using. Also, I am clearly no makeup professional at all but Lindsey is and her advice is always spot on,  so if you really want professional makeup advice, go check out her blog!
one. Let's start with my favorite product first -- Too Faced Peach Perfect Foundation. This was a new product that Lindsey used on me when she did my makeup. Right after I left her house I ditched my NARS foundation and haven't been happier. This is hands down the best foundation I've ever used. It's a medium coverage matte foundation that doesn't go on thick or cakey -- perfect for warmer months ahead (or anytime really). It's smooth, light and infused with peach and sweet fig cream! I am color nude. Tip: you can buy it from Sephora or sign up for emails from Too Faced and get 20% off your order (which is what I did). Highly recommend!
Too Faced Peach Perfect Foundation: Sephora // Too Faced

two. I can't tell you how many brow products I've tried -- waxes, pencils, shadows, gels, etc. For awhile I was using Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil but I was going through it too fast and it wasn't a product I could quickly apply without it looking like I had, well, penciled eye brows! Then my whole eye brow world change when Lindsey used Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade (color taupe) on me. This smudge-free, waterproof pomade is truly the perfect all-in-one brow product.

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade: Nordstrom // Sephora // Ulta

three. Next up, Benefit Cosmetics' award-winning Hoola Matte Bronzer Powder. I received this bronzer from my girlfriend Laura last Christmas and have been hooked ever since. Lindsey used the contour stick version on me when she did my makeup and they are both awesome. The powder is less intimidating to me than the stick though.
Hoola Matte Bronzer Powder: Ulta // Sephora // Nordstrom // Amazon

And a little bonus contour tutorial by Lindsey...

four. Another product gifted to me by Laura! Smith's Rosebud Salve. It's SO good. Just pick up a tube and you'll understand! Although I think I'm the last one to the party on this.
Smith's Rosebud Salve: Amazon // Sephora // Ulta

five. Last but not least, the best kit for natural eye shadows, Too Faced Natural Eyes. I know this product is super popular among the beauty bloggers right now and I can certainly see why! I've been wanting to add it to my makeup kit for awhile now and after Lindsey used it on me I decided to finally scoop it up. She also has a tutorial saved in her Insta-Stories highlight reel using this product.
Too Faced Natural Eyes: Too Faced // Sephora // Ulta // Amazon

Ta-da!










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