Lifestyle: Easy & Simple Pasta Recipe

Growing up, I was obsessed with Mac n' Cheese, especially Kraft Dinner and how my Mom would alter it by adding peas and carrots and sometimes even thinly sliced hot dogs (Back then we would say cut up dogs!).

Nowadays, KD on it's own is great as a special treat, but lately I do crave something a little more mature.  The other day, taking stock of the ingredients I had on hand, I put together this really easy and simple pasta.

Enjoy this fast and simple recipe:

Ingredients

• Half a bag of Ziti, Rotini or Macaroni Pasta
• 2 Handful of Spinach, finely chopped
• Half a Large Onion or Small Onion, Chopped
• 1/2 cup of Peas
• 1 Tsp. of Chili Flakes
• 2 Tsp. of White Flour
• 2 Tsp. of Butter or Margarine
• 2 Cups of Milk
• Pinch of Nutmeg
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Mozzarella or Parmesan Cheese, grated on top

1. First to prepare the Roux/Sauce, in a small pot, heat butter/margarine until liquefied, on Med/High Heat. 

2. Add chopped onion and saute gently for 7 minutes.

3. Add the flour and mix into the butter and lightly brown, should be mixed well with the flour. It should be a dry consistency with no liquid left.  Brown for a 1 Min, and then add your seasoning (Salt, Pepper, Chili Flakes & Nutmeg). Stir and mix for another minute.

4. Slowly add your Milk into the pot and stir everything together, doing so slowly.  Turn up the heat to high and slowly and firmly whisk the milk to blend together.  Once the sauce boils, reduce heat to low and continue to whisk.  If the sauce is blended well, then turn off the heat. Taste the sauce and up your seasoning if needed.

5. Prepare your pasta according to package directions.  Once pasta is drained, add the sauce to the pasta and mix in your chopped spinach and peas. Cover to let the pasta and the vegetables to cook and blend into the sauce.  Serve with the grated cheese of your choice.

This pasta takes no time to make and you can add Chicken or Sausage as well as other vegetables like mushrooms and zucchini!

Always Smile :)  - Sand

Perfect Lipsticks for Fall & Winter

Fall is here and Winter is around the corner!  I have always loved this time of the year.  The fresher air, the comfy clothes and the change towards more deeper and darker hues in Makeup.

I have put together my favourite go-to shades which are a mix of earthy browns, plums and dark chocolate, featuring shades from Giorgio Armani and Vasanti Cosmetics!

Take a look at the swatches and pics below:

A beautiful warm earthy brown shade, a perfect transitional option.

Another great shade with a softer pigment, perfect for brunch!

A warm shade from the red family, perfect for an evening look!

A rich plum based mauve, great for anyone who loves to wear pink shades!

Love this sexy shade! A deep burgundy wine colour which looks amazing!

What I love the most about wearing these bolder shades, is that you can keep your overall makeup pretty neutral since the drama is about the sexy lips!

I hope you enjoyed my faves for the season! 

Always Smile :)  - Sand

FOTD - Halloween Inspired - Lady Darkness

Halloween is just around the corner and if you are strapped for time or not sure what to do for a costume, here is an easy look that takes no time. To complete this look, I used my regular beauty products that I would use for any of the glam or everyday looks that I do.

The white face makeup that was used was the only product that was purchased, but the rest of the products I already had had at home to create this look.

Check out the products that I used:

• White Face Makeup - Base 
• Grey Ghoulish Shadows - Grey & Black Waterproof Eye Pencil
• Ghoulish Accents - Grey & Black eyeshadows
• Lips - Grey Waterproof Eye Pencil
• Blood - Burgundy Lipstick, Vaseline and Black Liquid Eyeliner.
• Black Hood - Black Shawl

Pretty straightforward, I used the white makeup to cover the face, then I used the makeup to create the shadows and the creepiness to the face.  Any of the natural angles of my face, I added the grey and blended out with my fingers.  Once the lips were greyed out, it totally completed the face.  The last touch was the blood on the lips and eyes, which I used the end of the eyeshadow to apply.  The products were mixed on the back of my hand.

Total Time: 15 mins.

Hope you enjoy this ghoulish look!

Always Smile :)  - Sand

FOTD - Fall Inspired - Perfect Look for the Weekend!

We relish for our weekends or our days off.  Mostly to finish off errands, relax, visit with family or friends, go shopping or to eat out.  

For the weekend, I usually like to keep my makeup really natural with a natural lip but I also like playing with bold colours, especially in the Fall! The season inspires fresh cheeks, bold lips and darker hues for eyes which looks great on everyone! It's also a great change from the neutral look. 

Here is my weekend look inspired by Navy's and Plums,  for whatever your weekend may hold!

Products Used:



1. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
2. Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in 10 (Adds an amazing glow to the skin)
3. Vasanti Cosmetics Kajal Extreme Eye Pencil in Electric Navy 
4. Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Silk Eye Shadow (LE) Fall Collection in 30
5. Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Excess Mascara
6. Vasanti Cosmetics Liquid Liner in Cleopatra
7. MAC Blushes in Dainty (Soft Pink) and Passionately Tempted (Mid-Tone Magenta)
8. Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani in Plum 610




Always Smile :)  - Sand

Beauty Pick - Nails: OPI Black Cherry Chutney

The easiest way to change your look is amping up your nails.  As we get into the colder months of Fall, we are seeing gorgeous hues of Browns, Navys, Reds and Burgundy.

My favourite trend is the deep blood-hued nails! It reminds me of the 90's nail polish obsession that many of us had for an affordable nail shade called "Blackest Red"!  My current obsession is OPI's Black Cherry Chutney.

This is a gorgeous shade to wear for the season and a perfect compliment any Halloween Outfit or Costume that is vampire inspired! The photos do not do it justice, therefore, see the description below:

Colour - Deep Bordeaux Burgundy

Looks Like - Wine, Dark, Vampy, Deep Grape, Black Cherry

Coats - 2 Coats 

Finish - High Shine Gloss

Accents - Subtle Sparkle

When to Wear - Great for Fall, A night out and Halloween

Always Smile :)  - Sand

My TOP 5 DIY Skincare Tips!

If you are like me, you are constantly seeing the ads for skin care products. These ads are everywhere from our phones, the grocery & drug store, the subway, magazines and TV. 

The challenging part is how to filter through all these products that we come across and pick the few that will work and are cost effective.  

Therefore I wanted to share my top 5 DIY SKINCARE TIPS that will not break the bank, and can be found in your own kitchen!

1. Coconut Oil - Glowing Skin

Not only is this amazing for you to eat and cook with, but it's amazing for the skin.  The best multi-purpose product you can get. The fatty acids contained in Coconut oil will help to strengthen the skin's lipid barrier and leaves an amazing scent.

• Helps to remove makeup
• Use it as a Night Cream as the texture is rich which is great for a night treatment
• A natural Lip Balm which will help to add shine and moisture
• Body Moisturizer right after the shower to help seal in the moisture
• Recommendation:  Grace Virgin Coconut Oil ($6.99)

2. Ice Cube Facial - Brightens and tightens the skin
This is a new tip that I recently came across on the great blog by Tia and Tamera . I use this tip at least once a week and I love the difference to my skin that I see immediately.

• Helps to Promote Blood Circulation
• Tightens your pores
• Smoothes out your complexion as well as brightens

You take the ice cube and wrap it in Paper Towel.  Apply it on the face using a circular motion.  The coolness feels refreshing and soothing on the skin.

3. Cold Tea Bags - Great Eye Treatment

Tea bags have been a classic DIY Skincare Tip. It offers temporary relief, especially after a late night out or a night of no sleep due to a busy lifestyle. 

• Helps to reduce darkness under the eyes
• Reduces swelling and puffiness 

You must remember to boil the tea bags, drain and then refrigerate. Once cooled you can use over your eyes for about 5-10 mins.

4. Cucumbers - Skin Relief

Cucumbers have a high water content and contain Vitamins A, B and C. The Ascorbic acid present in cucumbers can help to reduce puffiness and swelling around the eye area. 

• Slices of Cucumber can help to relieve skin affected by sunburn or windburn
• Diminishing Wrinkles
• Provides cooling and calming effects to the skin, especially on the eyes.

5. Shea Butter - Heals Skin

Shea butter provides amazing anti-aging benefits. It contains essential fatty acids that help to neutralize free radical damage and stimulates collagen production. 

• Fades acne and scars
• Helps to heal skin due to sunburns
• Soothes skin allergies 
• Fights to reduce wrinkles & stretch marks
• Provides a protective barrier on top of the skin
• Recommendation: Maiga Handmade Shea Butter ($7.99)

Hope you find these tips easy on the wallet and leave you with amazing skin!

Always Smile :)  - Sand

EOTD - Get NAKED for TIFF2013!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!... Not first day of school as drummed into our heads by that amazing office supply commercial...and no it's not Christmas time just yet...  It's TIFF Time!

TIFF, otherwise known as the Toronto International Film Festival is gearing up to launch today and over the next few days everyone and their grandma, will be star stalking, celeb loving, film watching, city dwelling, club hopping, last call loving, paparazzi loving film buffs.  :)

No matter what the reason will be for you to be downtown, here is a great look that you can wear that will make you "Selfie" ready to take that photo-op with the next up & coming celeb.

It's very easy to get swept away with the excitement of TIFF. I had the pleasure of working a very special event last year at a celebrity gifting lounge in the beauty bar at a very luxurious hotel. While I was at this event, I was very excited by all of the glamour. The event was top secret, therefore, you are expected to be professional and offer the utmost levels of discretion to whomever you are working on. Yet the minute a major celebrity walked into the beauty lounge, everyone in the room went silent, so much so, that you could hear a pin drop.  On the outside, I was as cool as a cucumber and appeared not affected, however, in my mind I was having the ultimate fan-girl moment, but no one was ever the wiser! ;)

Anyhow, I digress, here is the easy look that you can use with similar shades/dupes at home. I used the Urban Decay Naked Palette V.1:

1. Fill in the brows, I used Vasanti Dynamic Brow Duo in Cape Town.

2. Apply SIN on 1/3 of the inner lid and up into the crease. 
3. Apply SIDECAR on the rest of the lid. Sweeping the colour and blending it into SIN.
4. Apply NAKED & BUCK mixed together and sweep into the crease, blending very well.
5. Apply VIRGIN, the perfect shade to highlight under the brows onto the brow bone.
6. Using CREEP, start at the corner of the eye and sweep this shade into the crease.
7. Using Makeup Forever Eye Pencil in Black, apply to the inner waterline.
8. Use Vasanti Kajal Extreme eye pencil underneath the end of the lower lash line.
9. Create a cat eye with Liquid Liner onto the top of the lash line and winging out.
10. Apply 2 coats of Mascara, helps to open and define the eyes.
11. For added sparkle and pop, add SIN the inner corner of the eyes.

Here is the full look with a soft pink blush, using sin as a glowing highlight and a soft pink brown lip gloss to finish the lips.

A great look to rock for the FILM Festival and any other day to night parties that you may attend!

Always Smile :)  - Sand