Salad

Currently Craving

Just a few things that I am loving this summer…

IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+

When looking for a foundation or tinted moisturizer for every day, I always pick up one with a high SPF. I know that beauty bloggers will typically talk about how SPF is bad for pictures because it produces a “flashback”, but that doesn’t bother me. I wouldn’t wear this when I know I will be photographed, but that isn’t a daily thing for me. I like when my daily foundation or CC Cream contains SPF because that just means I can skip a step in my makeup routine.

I have been loving this CC Cream lately because it is relatively lightweight for the amount of coverage it provides. It dries down to a powder finish, but never looks cakey on my skin. Plus, it is filled with anti-aging peptides, collagen, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Keep in mind that it is a bit pricey, but I think its worth the money.

cc cream

Olive Green Romper

Rompers are one of my summer wardrobe staples. Just throw one on, add some accessories, and you are good to go. I love my olive green one that I picked up at TJ Maxx last summer. I haven’t seen it since, so I linked a similar one from LuLu’s.

olive romper

Fake Bake Flawless

I discovered this self tanner years ago and it is still my all time favorite. The first thing I look for in a self tanner is the color. No one wants to look like an oompa loompa. Fake Bake has never made me look orange or fake. It provides a natural, buildable tan.

The smell of self tanner is usually enough to make me skip it altogether. That’s why I love this one. It smells fresh with a hint of coconut. The smell doesn’t linger on your skin for a week either.

The next thing I look for is ease of application. If a product is a pain in the ass to use, it will end up in the back of my cabinet collecting dust. The Fake Bake Mitt makes application quick and I absolutely love that this product has a color guard. The color guard shows you immediately where the product has been applied. That means no patches or completely missed spots.

Lastly, this stuff dries super fast. No one wants to awkwardly stand around, avoiding all surfaces for 30 minutes after application. Fake Bake dries in minutes. It really is the best. Oh, and did I mention its affordable, too?

fake bake

The Good Place

The Good Place starts out as a fun, light comedy starring Kristen Bell and Ten Danson. Throughout it’s debut season, The Good Place continues to deliver a fast-paced drama filled storyline packed full of jokes.

It isn’t until its two-part season finale that Kristen Bell’s character reveals the twist. I won’t ruin it for you. However, it sets the viewer up for season two perfectly while leaving us all saying, “What the fork?!”

Season 2 is scheduled to premiere September 28th on NBC.

thegoodplace_s1_showb

MyChelle Dermaceuticals Fruit Fiesta Peel

MyChelle’s Fruit Fiesta peel sounds too good to be true. Just take a look at the product description:

Fruit Fiesta Peel delivers both immediate and long-term rejuvenating benefits. A potent Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) blend of multi-fruit acids and 7% Lactic Acid plus nourishing vitamins and antioxidants help promote skin’s natural cell renewal process for a radiant, revived complexion.

After reading this, and seeing the product on the clearance shelf, I knew I needed to try it out. After all, it was only a couple of bucks, compared the normal $28 price tag.

Full disclosure: peels have always freaked me out. I have combination acne prone skin and anything outside of my normal routine can have disastrous results. Therefore, I was apprehensive to try this one, but I am so happy that I did.

I always, always, always do a patch test with new products. The skin below your ear reacts much like your face. Apply the product there to make sure it will jive with your skin. I would much rather have redness behind my ear than all over my face. Not cute.

After I patch tested, I applied the peel to my face leaving it on for 1 minute. (the directions call for 1-3 minutes, so I decided to err on the side of caution)

The results: my skin was glowing, radiant, and super soft. It washes away any dry spots, leaving my skin smooth without using a harsh scrub.

I also love that this peel, along with the entire MyChelle line, is free of junk.

Made without GMO, Gluten, Parabens, Petroleum, Phthalates, Silicones, Sulfates, Ureas, Artificial Fragrances, and Artificial Colors. Vegan. Cruelty-free. 

I use this 1-2 times per week, depending on what my skin needs. I have also worked my way up to the 3 minute mark.

fiesta fruit peel

Sunshine Salad

Sunshine salad is bright, colorful, and fresh. It’s filled with some of my favorite salad toppers like craisins, feta, and roasted veggies. Its a great way to use up left over veggies from last night’s dinner. Toss it with a zippy, homemade vinaigrette and you are all set for lunch.

What are you Currently Craving?

Autumn Sweet Potato Salad 2

xo Ali Taylor
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Spring Salad with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

spring potato salad 3

Spring food brings to mind colorful produce and lots of green. I wanted to combine some of my spring produce favorites in a simple salad with a zippy herby vinaigrette. Its an easy side dish for any meal.

First, roast the potatoes and asparagus. I like to toss the veggies separately, because the potatoes will take longer to cook. I use a good drizzle of olive oil, salt, pepper, and some fresh garlic. That is it

Next, make the vinaigrette. I wanted to use some fresh dill, parsley, and lemon. To round out the dressing, I added some honey, apple cider vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, taste, and adjust if needed.

To serve, toss the potatoes, asparagus, and radishes together with the vinaigrette. I like this best warm or at room temperature. If you are making it ahead of time, make sure you bring it to room temperature before serving. The dressing may harden a little when chilled.

spring potato salad 6

spring potato salad

spring potato salad 4

spring potato salad 5

Spring Salad with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Time: 45 minutes
  • Print

A light and fresh spring salad full of color and flavor

Ingredients

veggies:

1-1.5 lb bag baby Yukon gold potatoes, quartered

1 bunch asparagus, bottoms trimmed and cut into

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 bunch radishes, sliced as thin as you can

drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

vinaigrette:

1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped

1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped

1/2 lemon, zest and juice

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1 heaping tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon grainy mustard

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss the potatoes with olive oil to coat and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic. Add to a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping hallway through.
  3. Chop each asparagus stem into 3. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.  Roast on a separate sheet pan lined in parchment for 20-25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through.
  4. Vinaigrette: whisk together the honey, mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, and apple cider vinegar. While whisking, slowly stream in the olive oil. Toss in the fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper. The easy way: Put all ingredients into a jar with a lid that seals completely. Shake until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. To assemble: Toss together the potatoes, asparagus, radishes and dress with vinaigrette.


 Enjoy!
xo Ali Taylor

Chickpea & Freekeh Salad

Hello lovelies! I hope everyone is having a fabulous week. I thought I’d put a spotlight on lunch this week. My lunch usually consists of either a smoothie or yogurt with fruit and nuts. Simple, healthy, straightforward, delicious….but a tad boring. So, I have been thinking of different ways to shake up my lunchtime routine. (more…)