Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Food | Curry Chicken with Potatoes & Wild Rice

I love to cook and typically I spend the time to shop, prep and create an epic meal. But with life today, I have learned 3 different ways to make one of my favourite dishes, which is Curry Chicken and Rice! Each version tastes great and has subtle changes but in the end make for a delicious meal. I like that depending on my day or schedule, I can pick the version that works for me.

This is the quick-fast version and is a one-pot recipe that uses Rotisserie Chicken and cuts the cooking time in half, and it turns out great!! 


Ingredients:
  •          1 Rotisserie Chicken, Skin Removed
  •          1 Large White Onion or 2 Medium Onions, Diced
  •          5 Roma Tomatoes (Or 1 Large Can of Stewed Tomatoes/ 2 Containers of Cherry Tomatoes)
  •          10 Small Potatoes, Halved with skin on
  •          2 Cups Wild Rice
  •          1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  •          2 Tsp Chopped Garlic
  •          1 Tsp Chili Flakes
  •          1 Tsp Salt
  •          1 Tsp Turmeric* Some people will opt to get Curry Powder, which is not the same as turmeric.
  •          1 Tsp Garam Masala (Optional)
  •          Handful of Chopped Cilantro (Optional)
  •          Water, ¾ filled in the pot
  •          2 Tbsp of Margarine or Preferred Cooking Oil

Since this recipe includes chicken that is already cooked and prepared, you only need to spend time on making sure that your sauce is prepared.

On high heat, in a large pot, add margarine and place a piece of chopped onion into the pot to ensure the margarine is hot. Then add the remaining onions. After a minute of stirring the onions with the melted margarine, add Garlic and chili flakes. Mix together.

Reduce the heat to Medium High and sauté onions until they are golden then add the remaining spices (Salt, Turmeric, Garam Masala). Stir and mix together. Add about a cup of water to this mixture after 5 minutes to de glaze the bottom of the pot.

Add 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice and the Tomatoes. Stir together until mixed. Lower the heat to Medium and partially cover the pot for 5 mins. Once liquid is released from the tomatoes, add Potatoes. Stir the mixture until the potatoes are properly coated.

After about 5 minutes or so, add remaining water to the pot. Increase the heat to high, uncovered until it comes to a boil. Add half of the cilantro to the pot. Stir and add the chicken along with the rice. Mix well and reduce the heat once it comes to a boil for a final time.

Reduce the heat to medium low, uncovered and keep checking on it until the rice is cooked along with the potatoes. Once cooked, shut off the stove, and cover with lid until ready to eat! Before serving, top bowl or plate with a touch of Cilantro and pair it with a crisp green salad!

Stay tuned for more Food Blog Posts for 2015!



Thursday, January 1, 2015

Lifestyle | Happy New Year - Welcome 2015!!!

The start of the new year brings hopes, resolutions along with the multiple ways you may want to spend or celebrate the new year. Along with the new year comes with the the list of things you want to complete. 

My wish for myself personally is to do the following:
- Blog More
- Spend time with Loved ones
- Take at least 2 trips for 2015
- Continue making healthy choices
- Documenting and acknowledging more of the positives of the day
- Spend less time on irrelevant details and spend quality time
- Keep pushing forward no matter what
- Spend less time on Social Media, spend more time being social
- Write more and read more

Makeup wise, I would like to do the following:
- Attempt to do makeup videos
- Do more makeup looks as well as adding more creative aspects to the looks I do
- Review trends but make them work for me and for my clients (ie. Instagram Brow etc)
- Do more makeup reviews 
- Blog More (On both lists!)

These personal notes are more of a blueprint of what I would like to accomplish for this year. This is the perfect time to reflect and reset. Keep yourself in mind on what you need to do for you and everything will fall into place. I am going to share what I posted to both Facebook and Instagram yesterday:

Whether its a time to get glammed up, get the party started, get dinner or drinks, get pyjamas on, get little ones in bed, get your blessings in order, get your self set up in front of the TV/Netflix, get hyped for the new year ahead...whatever it may be...Be Thankful, Be Present, Be Supportive, Be Patient, Be Understanding, Be Optimistic, Be Kind and Be Open to the moments and not things that 2015 will bring. Happy New Year everyone!

Whatever you decide to do or reset for 2015, I wish you courage, support and love! Hope everyone had an amazing time ringing in 2015 and wishing and sending all my best to you! xoxo



Thursday, December 18, 2014

#Instagram Beauty Look | Neutral Tones


Here is a great neutral look that I love wearing as my go-to everyday makeup. The colours are soft, the skin is glowing while the lips and eyes are balanced without being too overpowering.



PRODUCTS USED:

Eyes
BH Cosmetics 28 Neutral Palette
Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara & Maestro Eyeliner
MAC Eye Pencil in Smoulder

Brows
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in Wedgewood

Face
Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer #10
Luminous Silk Foundation #7
#400 Bronzer
#509 Blush

Lips
Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani #500
MAC Cosmetics Spice Liner



The list above does include many products but you can always start with one new product or technique and try to incorporate it to your own makeup looks. Either elevate the eyes or try a new lipstick, the options are endless! Hopefully you will find something new and discover what works for you!




Beauty Look | #FOTD/#MOTD Mac Heroine Lips!

This look was so fun because it featured MAC's Heroine Lipstick which I am obsessed with. I wanted to balance the lips with a look that wasn't too strong for the eyes, since the lip colour was the key feature!



PRODUCTS USED:

Eyes
Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks
BH Cosmetics 28 Neutral Palette
Vasanti Cosmetics Cleopatra Liquid Liner
Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara
MAC Cosmetics Eye Pencil in Smoulder

Brows
Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro in Wedgewood
YSL Touch Eclat #3 for Precision Highlighting

Face
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation #7
MAC Cosmetics Blush in Dainty
Giorgio Armani Bronzer #400

Lips
MAC Cosmetics Heroine Lipstick
Giorgio Armani Rouge D'Armani Sheers Lipstick


The vibrant lip is what makes this look. You can go smokey, edgy or soft whenever you have a bold lip. The rules to any look is that you must be confident! This Lipstick is a gorgeous shade that would look amazing on all skin tones!





Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Product Love | Laura Mercier Mini Caviar Stick Eye Colour Collection



As a beauty junkie, I feel it is important for me to share when I am in love with a product. Because I will share my thoughts from two perspectives, as a beauty lover and as a Makeup Artist. For me, the product needs to WOW me and also be good quality. I recently picked up these goodies and I have no regrets, because they have successfully done both! The Laura Mercier Mini Caviar sticks are like...Hoh my gawd! 




These little gems are perfect! This collection offers you gorgeous balance of colours which are perfect for everyday and for the holidays!  If you want a quick, effortless and long wearing smokey eye or any eye shadow look, you can easily achieve it! 

I love that you can literally scribble these on with no effort and can use your fingers to smudge out to achieve the perfect look.  Meaning: You can do the 1 minute smokey eye! If you want to, you can layer eye shadow on top but I find you can totally wear these alone.


  • Rosegold: Soft Pink Gold Tone. Reflective Sheen.
  • Amethyst: Pinky Brown Tone. Soft Sheen.
  • Moonlight: Silvery Brown Tone. Reflective Sheen.
  • Copper: True Vivid Copper. Reflective Sheen.
  • Khaki: Dark Deep Green Brown. Semi Matte.
  • Cocoa: Dark Chocolate Brown. Semi Matte.

Check back on the blog soon because I will be posting looks using these babies! Be sure to check out the Laura Mercier counter at Holt Renfrew Sherway Gardens. The lovely Paige and Courtney will be happy to show you the regular shades of the Caviar Sticks and what's new for the holidays!




Review | Maybelline Master Kajal



I love eyeliner and when I came across the ad for this Eyeliner by Maybelline I had to check it out. The Maybelline Master Kajal is pretty amazing! I loved the shape and love that I don't have to sharpen this pencil. The unique shape allows for precision eye lining whether it be for the waterline or upper/lower lashline.





















Pros:

  • Easy to Use.
  • Multiple ways to line eyes (Waterline, Under lash line or on the Top Lash line).
  • Shape allows for easy application inside the waterline. 
  • You can tightline by closing your eyes during the application.
  • Smokey and Smudgy effects can be achieved.
  • Never need to sharpen it!
Con:

  • Would love if it were waterproof, but it's not bad for long wear, with minor transfer.
  • Will not give you a sharp liner look. (Which is ok!)

Tip:
  • Use the pencil on an angle to keep shape and for even easier application.
  • Black shade is called Onyx Rush



Overall I am impressed with this product. It has worked very well for me as well as on my makeup clients. Worth the buy and I will be checking out the other colours that they offer too!





Monday, October 27, 2014

Product Love | Lip Goodies from MAC Cosmetics :)



You never forget your first love! The same is true for makeup junkies and their first experience with makeup. My makeup shopping started from regular visits to Shoppers Drug Mart where I would get the beauty basics but eventually I grew to discover MAC cosmetics. 

As a Makeup Artist, I have discovered a variety of beauty brands whether it be through the industry, colleagues, clients or from my own experience. Therefore my makeup kit will always have a mixture of products that I have grown to love. MAC has been a line that I have loved for their amazing lipsticks! From vibrant shades, unique collections and the multitude of finishes, every girl has at least 1 MAC lipstick in her beauty bag! Today I would like to share my NEW Lip goodies from MAC Cosmetics!



I went to Square One Shopping Centre on Thanksgiving Monday and I stopped by the Bay and took a quick peek at the MAC counter. I am totally a kid in the candy store when I shop for makeup. I ended up picking three goodies from MAC. (Trust me when I tell you that was a difficult task to reduce it to three!).
  • Fast Play Lipstick
  • Heroine Lipstick
  • Spice Lip Pencil





MAC Heroine I am obsessed with, it is such a beautiful vibrant matte purple-plum shade! MAC Fast Play is a gorgeous neutral brown lipstick and looks great with MAC Spice Liner.  This liner is great with nudes as well. All three are perfect for the season, whether you want to go super bold or muted brown. Check them out the next time you are at a MAC counter!