Influenster's "Good Life" VoxBox

After hearing about people getting free products to blog about from Influenster, I have decided to give it a go!  Finally, I have qualified for a VoxBox.  This one is called "The Good Life VoxBox" and is filled with products that are dedicated to happiness and health. Since I'm always striving for improvements in both, I guess I've made the cut!  Let's take a look at what's in the box!

1.  New Skin liquid bandage.  I've long been a user of New Skin, because I hate bandages.  It's so convenient to just brush the liquid on and go. This new formula is a spray version!  I can't say that I'm exactly looking forward to the next time I get injured, but I am curious to see how this new spray version works in comparison to the brush-on kind.

2.  90-capsule bottle of Garcinia Cambogia supplement from The Vitamin Shoppe.  Looks like a 45-day supply.  This substance claims to have appetite suppressant properties.  Interesting. I'm not a diet pill user, but I know someone who is -- so they won't go to waste.

3.  Nonni's ThinAddictive Biscotti 100-calorie pack.  Never tried anything from this company but my package had plenty of crumbs and broken bits.  We shall see!

4.  ZonePerfect Greek Yogurt Bar.  This is right up my alley.  Can't wait to try it!

5.  Urgent RX Headache Powder.  Had no idea that "headache powders" were still officially a thing.  I do get headaches on a regular basis, so I'll keep this product at hand.

As instructed by Influenster, I'm to disclose that I received these complimentary items for review purposes.  However, I promise to be honest in all of my reviews! ;). Stay tuned for more!

Chicken Carcass Soup

Last night, I had a delightful rotisserie chicken! (Yay!) But, it was overcooked. (Boo!) It still tasted pretty good (yay!), but quite a bit of it was inedible due to the scorched parts (boo!). I decided to make some bean stew later this week (a la "Recipe for a Snowy Day")... Which is not only a great way to use up those blackened bones and dried-up meat and shrivelly chicken skin, but also a fab way to get the nasties out of the fridge as well!!

I started by picking all of the usable meat off the bones -- I'll eat that for dinner tonight -- and threw all the rest of the carcass into my trusty crockpot. Some of you might be aghast that I didn't toss that tasty browned skin -- but I never do! I always let the skin simmer with my broth, and after everything is strained and cooled, I just skim the fat from the top. It couldn't be easier, and the broth turns out virtually fat-free this way.  And even the littlest bit of extra flavor helps.

I also added the woody stalk pieces to some asparagus that's been staring me in the face a little too hard... (Because, again, it's all getting strained... Why not add what you can't eat?)

... As well as the green leafy ass-end of my beautiful cauliflower.  (Not pictured: the bug I found clinging onto a floret for dear life!)

Then, I grabbed the ass-end of my celery and chopped it up too.  By the way... You know those green and yellow leaves that you toss whenever you chop celery? Shame on you! ;)  I always use mine in broths, soups, and stews for extra flavor. You should try it!

Last (but certainly not least), I gutted the nasty parts out of a sweet potato before coarsely chopping it and adding it to the mix.

Once the veggies were put into the crockpot with my carcass, I added some liquid.  Add whatever makes you happy -- chicken or veggie broth that you already have, water, booze, anything.  I had frozen a couple of cups of "onion broth" which came from my day-long onion simmering session a few weeks back... It will make a tasty addition for sure!  Tonight, I will soak my dry Lima beans and tomorrow we'll have a yummy, healthy, homemade dinner.

That's all for now. Happy broth-making! :)

Let's Make a Face-Washing Mitt!

I usually just splash cold water on my face and wipe with a napkin or something. (I do exfoliate in the shower, though.) Lately, I'm feeling the need to mix up my face care repertoire!

Today, I made this cleansing mitt out of a baby wash cloth and a length of ribbon.

It would have been better if I had 2 wash cloths, but I used what I had. This is designed to fit over the hand in order to get an easy, gentle cleanse.

This is all you need! If you're hand-sewing like I did, you'll require a needle and thread. My washcloth was a tiny bit bigger than my hand; I wound up using about a foot and a half (give or take) of ribbon.

And what adorable ribbon it is! This neon yellow poly ribbon came from Michael's, Gotta love those Halloween scores that work all year 'round! :)

After I eyeballed my ribbon and snipped the ends (always on the bias to help defray fraying!), I folded my washcloth into a triangular hand approximation and aligned my ribbon along the seam. This mitt-length ribbon helps to strengthen the seam, but its real purpose is so that I can hang the mitt to dry when I'm finished.

Overcast stitches along the edge will do nicely.  They needn't win any beauty contests to be effective.  Just make sure that your washcloth edges both get poked with the needle, or else you're gonna have holes!

This took me less than 15 minutes, and was super fun to make! I love easy & functional crafties. Any ideas what to make next? Post 'em here! :)

Review: So Delicious Chocolate Ice Cream

Lately, it seems that all I'm doing is posting reviews about beauty products and food. I'm ok with that. :)

This summer, I have been living with a vegan that has made cooking a real challenge!  However, I've been rising to the occasion with fake meat recipes, fake egg recipes, and plenty of other fairly tasty inventions.  However, when I come across something that I don't have to pull together to enjoy, it makes me that much happier.

Enter "So Delicious" products... There's a vast array of ice creams, yogurts, and milks that would make your head spin!  I have tried their coconut milk-type-product and it was just okay, though a swig here and there isn't the same as *using* it somewhere.  But the ice cream has been a wonderful experience!  Lower in carbs and fat than traditional ice cream, it's a health-conscious dessert-o-phile's dream come true.  Only 150 cals for a 1/2 cup serving, and a scant 20 carbs (with just 12 from sugars)!  The consistency is very ice-cream-like, and the deep chocolate flavor is incredibly satisfying.  One drawback is that it doesn't scoop as smoothly as regular ice cream; but that's ok. Just let it melt for a few seconds.  

I love this stuff.  The one drawback is the price, at about $4 a pint!  However, since we are eating far leas takeout and processed foods these days, the cost difference isn't so bad. As my vegan says of a product that he enjoys, "It's humanizing."  When we can find things that make our lives easier & more normal, why not go for it every now and again?