Recipe: Red Lentil Risotto (carb free)

I've been on a real healthy eating kick lately. Don't get me wrong, I still love me some fries and desserts! But I try to make healthier choices throughout the day.

One of the things I do is trying to avoid carbs for dinner. This is a pretty difficult one, as I still live at home. Soups and salads are a pretty easy way but can get boring too. So I like to try out recipes that substitute regular carb loaded products by healthier options.

Recently I made a Red Lentil Risotto, a recipe from Sorted (if you don't know about them, you should check out their videos!). 

I did change the recipe slightly: I added some courgette and topped the risotto with watercress in stead of rocket. It tasted just like a regular risotto and satisfied all my Italian comfort food cravings! 

I will definitely make this again and maybe even experiment with other flavors... 

I recommend you give this one a try. Either if you avoid carbs too, or just because you're curious ;) 

Let me know what you think!

Deauty Box May 2013

Yesterday I received my May Deauty box (Deauty is a Belgian beauty subscription service). I've been subscribed since the very first box, which was 9 months ago. Their boxes get better every month and this one got me particularly excited! 

Some of you won't be able to subscribe but you might be interested nonetheless...

First of all, the packaging is always amazing! It feels like getting a present every month :)

• The first product that caught my eye was the full size Garnier Ambre Solaire BB Cream. I've wanted to try a BB cream for a while but I think I'm more of a foundation girl... You can expect a review of this one soon!
• The second product is a shampoo from Klorane, a French brand that's available from the pharmacy. It's a 100 ml sample so I think I will keep this one for traveling.
• The next sample is an After-sun Repair Lotion by Avène, also a French pharmaceutical brand. Not something I will use right away either because of the absence of sunny weather. Hopefully it will come in handy during summer or on holiday. 
• The product I'm the most intrigued about are two reusable makeup removing wipes by Lamazuna. You only need water, they can be washed out and reused up to 3OO times.

• The product I was most impressed with is a bronzer by Bo-ho Green Revolution*. I have never heard about this brand before but I'm very curious now. The bronzer itself is very beautiful, not to orange and with a nice amount of shimmer. Some much needed summer feeling in Belgium!

That's it for my May box! 

If you want to see reviews of these products, please let me know in the comments!

*I did some research on the brand and found out that this product exists in multiple shades. Mine is TC 06 - Terre d'outre mer.

Empties (May 2013)

One of my favorite kinds of videos on Youtube lately are the Empties or Products I’ve Used Up ones. I actually like them better than Monthly Favorites! I feel like you can really tell if something works for you after using it for a while.  And I don’t know about you, but I only repurchase products I REALLY like…

So after this short introduction, I have some Empties for you! :)

I’ll start with hair:

• First is my Lush Retread Conditioner. As you can probably tell from the pot, it has been in my shower for ages… I liked it but I stopped using it when it almost ran out (I tend to do that a lot, I don’t know why?). As I said, I liked it but I was a bit disappointed. It is sold as a super strong conditioner, whereas I think it compares to most richer drugstore conditioners. Also, I don’t really like the smell, it’s quite herbal and stays in my hair for a while. Conclusion: I won’t repurchase this product.
• The second is a Dry Shampoo (which you may have seen in my Most Worn Things tag last summer or this Haul). Of course, this isn’t the same bottle! I go through these like nothing else because I can’t live without it! I use it on second or third day hair but also to give my hair some texture and hold. Needless to say I always have a back up ;)

Next are skincare products:

• The first is Tea Tree Oil from The Body Shop. My sister and I use this as a spot treatment. I don’t think it makes the spots disappear faster but I do find they heal nicer. I already bought a new bottle, because I like to have one at home whenever I need it.
• Another treatment type product I used up is a package of nose strips (I also hauled them here). They are budget proof and I will definitely be buying another set.
• The next skincare product is an eye makeup remover from Bourjois. I bought it while on holiday in Austria last year because I didn’t take a water based makeup remover with me. It does its job but I have a lot of similar things lying around so I will use those instead.
• The last skincare item is my everyday moisturizer by Clinique, Superdefense with SPF 25 for dry combination skin. As this is one of my skincare staples I already bought a new one.

The last product is not really empty but I hit pan on it, which is the first time this ever happened to me! Honestly, I didn’t understand what the fuss was about before but I was actually very excited when I saw the first bit of metal coming through. 

On to the product itself: It is the MAC Beauty Powder in Pretty Baby. I know it looks very pink but I use it as a powder to take away the shine on my T-zone, as it isn’t to pigmented and I’m very fair.

That’s a LOT of empties!

But this means less clutter and trying new products, YAYYY!