The peanut butter and coconut contain good fats that stimulate brain activity to keep you alert and energized. If you are concerned about sugar or salt intake choose a nut butter that is unsalted and raw.
You can also easily make your own nut butter. Here's how:
What you need:
Food chopper or processor
Desired type of nut
Tsp of honey
~Chop nuts until they become a mealy texture
~Add in honey
~Keep blending until you have a smooth consistency. Add in more honey if needed.
I have also made nut butter with just water instead of honey but I find the honey adds a nice sweetness.
What snack do you eat to get you through a mid-day slump? Let me know in the comments!
About a month ago I did a review video on my YouTube channel and in that video I reviewed a skincare product from Trader Joe's. I also told you in that video that I would update you on how it was working after I used it for a bit more time.
In case you didn't see the video you can watch it here or below:
Now, on to the update FAQ style.
Q:Have you seen an improvement in your skin from using this product?
A: Over the past 1-2 months my skin has improved a lot but I think it is a combination of things. Since I have used this product in place of my primer I have noticed my pores are less clogged but I still get the same primer effect. I think this product has helped smooth my skin and hold in moisture from the daily moisturizer I use on top.
Q: What are the pros for the product?
A: It's gentle on your skin. It's full of great, mostly natural ingredients. It helps retain moisture and hydration in the skin. It doubles as a light primer. It is well packaged and I like the sanitary pump. It works great on bare skin or paired with a little powder for a make-up less look.
Q: What are the cons for this products?
A: It's a bit too thick in my opinion for a serum. I also wish it didn't have as much dimethicone as it does.
Q: Would you repurchase this product?
A: As of right now I don't think I will immediately repurchase this product because I want to try similar products from other brands but it is something I would use again down the road.
Q: Would you recommend this product?
A: I would but with a disclaimer that it is not like traditional syrupy serums. If you are looking for a primer with the added benefits of antioxidant ingredients then this is a good product to try.
Q: Is this product worth the cost?
A: At $10 for 1 fluid ounces I definitely think this is worth the price. I have been using it generously for 1-2 months and I really haven't made a big dent. You are also getting a lot of great ingredients for that $10. (if you'd like a full list of the ingredients just let me know and I'll type it up.)
Q: Overall impression?
A: Overall I think Trader Joe's did a great job developing this product. I think it mixes skincare with cosmetics and I like that a lot. Anytime you can accomplish two things with one product it's a plus. Also, like I said in my video I feel this is a unisex product which is unique. Good job, TJ's!
As always let me know if you have questions or comments. You can tweet me @imperfectperla, email me at cwlinguistics@gmail, or follow me on Instagram @cbwright.
Happy almost 4th! Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite recipes to make for Independence Day. (Yay!) Last year I made two desserts: protein cookies with Greek yogurt icing and these:
I bet you can guess which dessert was more popular. Hehe. These are just white cake cupcakes with some red, white, and blue decorations. I think my protein cookies were not sweet enough so maybe I'll work on that for this year's treats. Here are some other great recipes- From my favorite fitness girls at Tone It Up:
3 Ingredient Cookies: These are so quick and easy to make. You could add some red or blue food coloring to make them a bit more festive too!
http://toneitup.com/2013/09/we-love-food-friday-your-3-ingredient-cookie/
Cucumber Rafts: I am making these this year for a BBQ. They are light, delicious, and 100% guilt-free.
http://toneitup.com/2014/06/ahoy-summery-boat-snacks/
Honey Grilled Peaches: If you are looking for something sweet and juicy this 4th of July these simple treats are perfect. If you don't have a grill you can just use your oven or frying pan.
http://toneitup.com/2013/07/honey-grilled-peaches/
Sweet Potato Fries: Ditch the Lay's potato chips and try these!
http://toneitup.com/2013/04/toneitup-homemade-sweet-potato-fries/
Quinoa and Veggie Burgers: I will be honest. These are a bit tricky to make at first but once you get them to stick together they are delicious.
http://toneitup.com/2013/08/veggie-quinoa-protein-patties/
From the always-addicting Pinterest: Red, White, and Blue Rice Crispies: These treats bring back the best childhood memories.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/405605510160726006/
American Flag Fruit Platter: Another simple classic. You could also put the fruit on skewers for easy sharing.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/265149496784361156/
Star Spangled Tart: If you are feeling creative this recipe might be for you. Personally I think it would be easier to add the fruit design on top of a pre-made pie/cake. I would go with an angel food cake for a lighter option but that's just me.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/404338872768579846/
As you can tell I chose recipes that are mostly quick and easy to make. From personal experience Independence Day is a holiday where people like simple foods they can munch on. Since most BBQs and meals for this holiday are not sit-down style people might not appreciate your elaborate foods as much as with another holiday. So my advice is to keep it fresh, simple, and tasty. I would love to hear which recipes you are trying this holiday. You can leave me a comment below or tweet me @imperfectperla. Also you can follow me on my personal Instagram @cbwright to see which treats I end up making for tomorrow and this weekend. Have a great 4th of July! Courtney
So I know in one of my last YouTube videos I said I would be posting a lot on my blog while I was gone to Brazil but it turns out our wi-fi was not strong enough to publish the posts from my phone. So, I saved all of the drafts and I will be publishing them this week from my regular laptop.
I'm so sorry. I think the high volume of wi-fi users at our hotels and area cafes made it impossible to upload large amounts of data. I was able after 5 attempts to publish a pre-recorded video. It was my Bare Minerals Skincare Review.
You can see it here:
Let me know if you have any comments or questions about this skincare line. My skin is really enjoying it.
I hope you all had a great 2 weeks and I look forward to getting back into the swing of regular video and blog post uploading.
While I was packing for my 2 week Brazilian adventure I thought of an interesting way to safeguard my digital camera.
WARNING: Awkward Topic Alert!
Let's face it no one likes tampons or the topic of menstruation. The mere sight of feminine products makes some people feel uncomfortable and talk in a hushed voice. *Whispers* "Psst! Do you have...um...a tampon?"
So I've decided to prey on this awkwardness and conceal my camera in an empty tampon box. My thinking is that a woman won't open the box unless she desperately needs a tampon and a male will most likely leave it be due to the ick-factor previously mentioned.
Let me know in the comments if you've ever used a sneaky trick like this to safeguard your valuables. I would love to know!
Today I have a quick treat recipe to share. I was inspired to make these after I saw some delicious looking coconut macaroons in the bakery case of a local coffee shop. These are my version of those macaroons.
What You Need:
A food chopper or processor
3 Dates with the seed removed
2 Tbsp of unsweetened coconut flakes
1 Tsp of sweetened coconut. Alternatively you could add in 1tsp more of unsweetened coconut along with a little sugar or stevia.
Spoon
Directions:
Add in ingredients
Pulse the food chopper in slow bursts at first to break up the dates and then let it blend until you reach a consistency that looks like this:
Then spoon out a little of the mixture and roll it into a ball or form into a cookie shape, depending on what you prefer.
Place the finished treats into cupcake liners and enjoy immediately or place in the fridge to enjoy later.
Here are what my finished treats look like:
Close up:
These are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without overdoing it. They are vegan, gluten-free, and all natural. You can't get much better than that!
A few days ago I posted a video on my YouTube channel demonstrating how I made some all natural, allergen-free veggie make-up. You can check it out HERE or watch below.
If you want to follow along with the video here are ingredients you will need:
~ 1-2 slices of beet
~Food processor or food chopper.** I got my little food chopper at Walmart for about $8.
~2 tbsp of water
~A small mixing bowl and spoon
~1 tsp of coconut oil heated to a liquid
~Small container to store your product
~Freezer
**You could also juice some beet if you prefer.
This product gives your lips a really nice rosy tint similar to the Benefit Bene-tint. I love it! It is also really moisturizing. It works best on your cheeks if you dab it in the area you want and blend QUICKLY. As is the case with most liquid/cream blush products you don't have a lot of time to work. If you get a too much on or the color spreads where you didn't want it, you can always go over that area with your foundation or powder brush.
Ok, and now for the final test....before and after!
Before:
After:
Ta-da! I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know if you try this yourself.
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