Some simple gluten free dishes

L-R: beef red stroganoff with red peppers and spinach; sunny side ups, ham roll , homemade potato chips and sourdough bread with coconut butter, sautéed mushrooms with tomatoes and gluten free sausages on gluten free bread; mixed salad with vinaigrette, spinach, caramelised onions and roast beef on sourdough bread. Just experimenting with some simple gluten free dishes.

Bonus: these dishes are so simple to prepare but maximum on taste. Buon apettito!

  #budgetbeautymommy

Most convenient nail polish - Yubiso No. 46

I've recently tried this cute nail polish from Yubiso. They've got a great selection of colours and I just couldn't resist. So I bought one home just for a test drive. After all, it was cheaper than Opi or Sally Hansen. 

So I got Colour 46. It's a very nice nude rose hue. It was super easy to apply and zero streaking. It dries super fast so that's an extra bonus. After about a week wearing it with minor touch ups, I've only just discovered it by chance. While showering, I've noticed the nail polish on my index finger has peeled off partially like a dog's ear on the page of a book. So I just pulled it off and it came off easily intact like a sticker. I then tried it on my other nails and they all came out with ease.

I was ecstatic because I really detest removing nail polish with removers because they wear out my nail and leave them rough. This was perfect for me. It was quick and easy removal in the shower with no mess as it peels off whole. Plus another bonus, the nail polish do not stain your nails yellow.
This nail polish is perfect! Try it out for yourself. It definitely saves time and not forgetting my nails too!

#budgetbeautymommy

Best Essential Oils to Calm Kids Down

Doterra essential oils plays a huge part in my life, from beauty, health and even cooking; but nothing is more significant than helping to curb tantrums with little darling.

Recently, I've been applying Cedarwood and Forgive from the Emotional Aromatherapy Kit. I'll rub on little darling everyday.

I'll rub cedarwood on the back of the neck and sides of neck where lymph nodes are. Then I'll let little darling inhale some of the cedarwood applied on my hands. I'll just cup it over her face a little. I'll then apply Forgive just under her nose.

Little darling absolutely loves it. She's more calm and less anxious thankfully. Its no wonder I carry it in my handbag everywhere for emergencies. 😉

If you don't have Cedarwood, another good alternative will be Vetiver. They are both very grounding and calming.

For the Emotional Aromatherapy Kit, it comes with 6 oils Peace, Passion, Motivate, Cheer, Forgive and Console. Personally my own scent is Peace. You'll find that we all have our own preference for different scents.

You can learn more about the oils further here.

#budgetbeautymommy

Italian Inspiration Day - Homemade Minestrone and Homemade Beef Lasagna

It's Italian inspiration today. Home cooked beef lasagna for lunch and minestrone for dinner.

To amp up on the taste of the minestrone, I've added one drop of Doterra Oregano Oil. Not only it's delicious, oregano oil helps to boost our natural immune system too.

Buon appetito!

Learn more about Doterra Oregano Oil here.

#budgetbeautymommy

The Best Concealer - Artdeco Perfect Teint Concealer - No. 6

The best concealer that even Lucy Liu approves!

For me, I think concealers are the trickiest part of makeup application. Most times, I would find a concealer that is blendable but the color is just not right. The rule of the thumb is, if you can see your concealer, it's not the right color. The concealer has to blend into your skin completely. Now, that's what I call a perfect concealer.

I was looking high and low for the perfect concealer. I've tried The Body Shop's concealer, it's rather not bad, not much complaints except it still leaves me the need to search for the perfect concealer. Then I've switched to MAC's concealer and it left me with a bad impression. Ok, to be fair to MAC, it may be a good concealer(in fact it was easily blendable and provided a good coverage in concealing my flaws) but I've used it at the wrong time. I was having a major breakout of my life!! The texture was creamy and maybe alittle too oily for my sensitive and blemished skin. My breakouts rebelled and became more out of control! (I'm sorry MAC, but I love your products but I do not have the courage to try out your concealer ever again.) I would like to hear more feedback from you guys who swear by MAC.

So, back to my hunt for the illusive concealer. My answer came in the form of sexy Lucy Liu. You see, Lucy Liu always looks perfect and porcelain in her makeup. She looks flawless in every picture yet her makeup looks natural like she didn't even try. Ok, I agree, so she accentuates her eyes alot, but her skin always looks healthy and naturally beautiful. That is an undeniable fact. So, I was reading a feature in the magazine of what's in Lucy Liu's makeup bag. She has her eye liner, mascara and her all-time must-have: concealer. I've also been reading some makeup tips and the concealer seems to be a choice for many celebrities too. So, I gave it a go and bought myself one.

My answer for the perfect concealer came in the form of Artdeco Perfect Teint Concealer - No.6

It works like a charm!! Arguably it has to be the best concealer in the market. This twist-pen liquid concealer has a light, smooth texture that glides over my skin and offers substantial, but imperceptible coverage. The soft matte finish poses little risk of creasing and creasing is what I hate most when other concealers start to settle into the fine lines around the eye area at the end of the day. This, my dear, works like a dream. The color is so natural and works best for fair to medium toned skin. Of course, its quite similar to YSL's Touché Eclat Highlighter, but I assure you, it really really does deliver and it beats having to try and try every other concealer in the quest for the perfect one. Best part is, it's price is half of YSL's.

I'm the biggest fuss pot when it comes to finding the most blendable and natural makeup look (my mantra), but Artdeco Perfect Teint Concealer - No. 6 gets a two thumbs up from moi!

#budgetbeautymommy

Dinner Ideas from Italy, Mexico and Britain

Some food ideas for dinner inspired by different countries round the world.

Top picture is Italian Roast Beef on sliced fresh bread, salad and baked potatoes.

On the left is Mexican shredded pork fajitas with guacamole, grated carrots, tomato salsa, cheddar cheese, sour cream and salad on tortilla wrap.

On the right is the British Roast chicken with roast potatoes, sweet potatoes, radish roasted with garlic and dried oregano. Blanched carrots and bok choy stir fry with garlic and onions with homemade gravy.

So delicious and colourful. I do like my food colourful like the rainbow.

#budgetbeautymommy

Best Essential Oil for Restful Sleep - Every Night!

Beauty sleep is sooooooo important. Sleep is such a rare commodity especially if you have a family and little darlings.

I've always been a light sleeper and I can literally wake up to a pin drop. I'm also the most grumpy person imaginable if I don't have enough sleep. So, you can imagine how deliriously happy I am when I found Balance. It's a super grounding blend too.

I sleep through the night and even if I am awoken I sleep off immediately.

Even big daddy requests for it before he sleeps -every night!

I rub about three drops of Balance to the soles of the feet and rub it in.

It works like a charm and I wake up to blissful sleep. Lavender Peace also gives me good restful sleep but I find it works better on little darling.

Share with me how do you get restful sleep every night?


Find out more about Balance here.


#budgetbeautymommy