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!

Haul: Jewelry

Good morning everyone!

As promised yesterday, I have a little haul for you!

I went to Antwerp almost two weeks ago because my mom got me and my sister tickets to the SYTYCD theatre tour. The show didn't start until 8.30 PM so we decided to hit the shops! Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of time before the shops closed, so we both didn't buy that much. It was only afterwards that I realized I had only bought jewelry...

Enough said, here are some pictures:

As you can see, I kind of went crazy on the stud earrings :) 
I couldn't take a clear picture of the gold bangle but it says "Love makes the world go around" all around, which I think is very cute!

That's it for today!

XOXO Jorien

Update: New year, new blog posts...

Hi everyone!

I want to start by apologizing for being MIA for a while... I started studying a new subject at a new school in October, so I spent some time adjusting to all these changes. And to be honest, I kind of fell of the blogging band wagon :(

At the beginning of this year I felt the urge to start blogging again, and I want to keep doing it this time around. As my January exams are now finally over, you can expect a lot of new blog posts!

For now, I will leave you with this short update... 
You can expect a real post tomorrow (Hint: I did a little bit of shopping!!)

I think this picture sums it up quite nicely :)

XOXO Jorien

Loving: Step Up Revolution

Last week I went to the cinema with my BF to see Step Up 4: Revolution. I LOVED it! 

As a dancer myself I'm obviously attracted to this type of movie but I thought it was the best film in the Step Up series yet! And my BF even liked it ;)

I'm not going to spoil anything here, but if you liked the previous Step Up movies I would definitely recommend watching this one. If you're not convinced yet, this is the trailer:

XOXO Jorien

Tag: Most worn things - Summer Edition

Hi everyone! 

I was watching some YouTube videos this morning and saw Pixi2woo do the Most worn things tag - Summer Edition (watch her video here). As it is finally starting to feel like summer in Belgium, I'm in a summery mood today so these are my most worn things for the summer of 2012 so far:

Nail polish(es): My favorite nail polish colors this summer are my Essie polishes in Tart Deco and Off the shoulder. I have been wearing both colors almost all the time, either on my finger or toe nails. They are such bright and happy colors that they give me an instant summer feeling! (I posted a review of the pink one)

Hair product: This category is the one I had to think about the longest. I decided on my dry shampoo that I mentioned in my latest drugstore haul. I use dry shampoo all year round but I like it especially for giving my hair more volume when I wear it up in the summer or for work.

Bag(s): I found this a difficult one too, but I chose my black bag from Primark because I took it on vacation with me. It's not really a summer bag but it is a pretty big one (I like to take 1001 things with me all the time!) and it goes with almost every outfit. The green one is also from Primark, I love the color and it fits a LOT! 

Shoes: These sandals I bought at the beginning of the sales at Eram (I believe it's a French brand) and have worn them probably 50% of the time since! I love the pop of neon pink because it is bright, on trend but very wearable at the same time.

Accessories: I've been LOVING wearing a stack of bracelets this summer! It is an easy way to add some color and personality to an outfit. The ones in the picture: blue and gold bangles are from H&M and the beaded ones I made myself (let me know if you'd like a DIY post!)

Clothing item(s): The two clothing items I chose are my bright pink shirt dress from New Look and my baby blue jeans from H&M. Both pieces stand out because of their beautiful colors. I especially love the dress because it can be worn both casual as smart, depending on how you style it.

Foundation: As you can see I've almost ran out of this foundation and I will be buying a new one soon. It's the Photo Finish Liquid Foundation 18h by Catrice cosmetics (a drugstore brand that is available in several European countries). I like the color on me and it does stay put for a pretty long time.

Blush: If you've read my June Favorites you know I love the MAC blush in Peaches, especially in the summer time ;) It is actually the ONLY blush I'm using at the moment!

Lip product: My favorite summer lip product is a Clinique Chubby Stick in 07 Super Strawberry. I absolutely love this product because it is a moisterizing balm and gives your lips a natural hint of color in no time (I can even apply it without a mirror!)

Mascara: The mascara I'm currently using is the NYC High Definition Volumizing Mascara. It is not an exceptional mascara but I like it and it is budget proof.

Eyeshadow(s): My most worn eyeshadows are some from my Urban Decay Naked Palette and the MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study. The Paint Pot is perfect for a touch of color/shimmer on your eyes if you don't want to wear actual eyeshadow. The shades from the UD Palette I use the most are: Sin, Naked, Buck, Half Baked and Smog.

That's it! What are your Summer favorites?

XOXO Jorien