May Empties & Samplings @ Sunday, June 23, 2013


Australian Certified Organic Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil 30ml/17.00
My 2nd RHO, I preferred this over the Atkin one, as the later didn't seem as effective of my skin, and scent was slightly stronger. I use RHO as a serum under my night cream and it think it has does do something, it makes my skin less dry and slightly more even-toned, though it's not a HG product. Would I buy it again? Yes. Interestingly this also comes as a 15ml roll-on for 13.00.



Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion 125ml/75.00
My HG Moisturizer. Initially it was too much (I used to have oily skin when I was younger) but now that I have drier skin it's great. The only thing that isn't great is the price, which is double of what you'd pay at Sephora. Would I buy it again? Yes, after I go through my samples. 

Clinique All About Eyes Rich 30ml/92*
It moisturizes, but that's about it. I do believe you could find something that does the same thing cheaper. Though I bought this for $30 at Sephora. * I swear this was like $60 in AU last time I checked! (Last Oct)* The eye cream and moisturizer lasted 6 months for me with bi-daily use.




Lush - Angels On Bare Skin 16.00
We made this at an event back in March I think it was. I like how it was a gentle scrub. A pot of this lasted about 2.5 months as you only use a pea-size amount each time. Smells like lavender (you can see the lavender in it). Recommended? Yes, personally it was ok for me, maybe I'll get it after I finish all the cleansers I already have first. I didn't really see any results though, but it did exfoliate. 





C&E - Evelyn Rose Body Cream 170g/48.00
Really like the scent, but it should come warning: use in proportion. Overwhelming if you use it all over. It does moisturize but rubs off (like an eraser/rubber) and is pricey. Too $$$ to be used alone. Recommend? No. But I do like the scent...




FACE OF AUSTRALIA - Purifying Cleansing Wipes 5.00 
Out of the three wipes I tried (this, Wotnot & Australis) I like this one the most. It does the job and smells pleasant. Will be repurchasing this. Interestingly it also seems to be the cheapest facial wipe at Priceline (when not on sale). 

Lucas Papaw Ointment 25g 4.40 
This is one of those products that was all the rage a while back, the hype then moved onto rose-hip oil and later BB Cream. To me this is just like Vaseline, I don't use it for my lips, but rather dry skin e.g elbows and it does help. Would I buy it again? Nope, looking for the yellow organic version. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo - Blush 9.00/5.00
I've bought this product over and over again, while it's not unscented, it does smell nice. Unlike Cedel which smells chemical. With Batiste I spray it the night before and go to bed with it on and by morning its absorbed into my scalp (oily scalp issues). It also adds volume. And it just happens to be the cheapest dry shampoo too, at 5.00 for 150ml when on sale (often) at Chemist Warehouse




NutriShine by Colour Riche from L'Oreal Paris - 01 Nudy Pink 23.00
I've had this since Nov 2011 and have just finished it now :P I received this lip balm in a light pink, which almost has no colour. While it's pretty, not sticky and moisturizing, I wouldn't buy it again as it wasn't super moisturizing - and I still have lots of lip balms/tints left. 



St. Ives - Blemish Control Apricot Scrub 8.40
My favourite scrub I use 2-3 times a week. Purchased over and over again. When on sale at CW it's around 5.00. 

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap 200ml/30.00
I like how it's gentle, and you only need a little. It also doesn't dry my skin out or make it feel tight. However I fail to differentiate it from other gel cleansers at a fraction of the price e.g. Simple's Gel Cleanser 50ml/4.00. At 30.00 this would be the $$ cleanser I've tried.




Nivea - Pure & Natural Body Lotion 400ml/6.00
I really liked this. It had a light scent, unlike 'Body Rich Nourishing Body Lotion' (the blue bottle) and wasn't thick. Recommended. :) 

Kiehl's Creme de Corps 1L/98.00
A very rich cream, while it has a scent it fades and doesn't clash with perfume. A bit too rich for my liking.



Paula's Choice HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion 60ml/44.00
Oh wow, it is very light! Has big claims, through you'd need to try it out long-term to determine that results. I really didn't like this product cause it smelt yuck! Worse than the seaweed cream. Within 5mins I had wash it off. 

Botáni - Boost Balancing Moisturizer 50ml/26.00
Oh wow the scent is strong! I'm put of by the scent if I was going to wear it alone. But under sunscreen and make-up you won't be able to smell it. I like this moisturizer, though it's very intense in scent. Won't be purchasing this one. But it is moisturizing. :)



L'Occitane Immortelle Divine Eyes 15ml/90.00
I've heard great things about this eye cream. After a couple week's use I did find that it reduced dark circles. Not that much though. I decided to purchase it anyway as I liked the texture, scent and many positive reviews - that and I had a 20% off code and got it for 72.00.

Hydrating Seaweed Cream - Jericho
A sample I got from one of those pop-up stalls in the mall, it smells kinda gross to me. Which is the deal breaker personally - though if it was amazing and layered with make-up it wouldn't be so bad.    


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Good Food & Wine Show - Part 3 @ Saturday, June 22, 2013

Part 3 



We found Caramelicious! I decided to go for the salted butter (9.00) over vanilla in the end. Not sure what I'm going to do with it, but I'm thinking of drizzling it over butter cream on cupcakes and over ice cream. 



Salted Butter


One of the more natural stalls offered tomatoes, they had samples. 


There was a non-food stall O.O that sold candles! Not any candles, wax candles that smell like vanilla (Dusk spray) that change colours and have a timer. Being accident prone (I scorched a wall at the drs once...) it was perfect for me. Though I didn't get it because of the price 100.00-ish for 7, and the way they marketed it. "Buy it now and not only will you get this amazing blah blah blah, you'll also receive x free and we'll even throw in a y". Apparently it's normally $100 for 3. There were more flattering colours, and a flickering effect too. I like the pink and natural glow. 



This stall is always interesting, it's so different, and you can see it from far away. They sold lunch dishes, I was interested but we had a pasta class to go to.



Samplings
Savour Chocolate - Sake 
- Salami&Co - Philly Choc Cream Cheese -

We got some Philadelphia samples, the biggest samples at the show. 25%-ish cheese  30% chocolate. A healthy-ish/er version of Nutell. I've been wanting to try this, as it recently came out a few months ago, though never got around to buying what to me is a chocolate spread. It's nice, but nothing I'd buy.  


After coffee with recommendations from a blogger we checked out passionfruit curd at 'Unforgetable Products' which sells things your nana would make e.g. mergines. The curd was nice, though not amazing. I may be biased as I have a jar of lemon curd in the freezer from last summer. 



Pretty!
Didn't get this as I don't actually like 100s & 1000s, 
however if this were sprinkles I would have bought it. 


In Celsius cakes are baked at 180 degrees by the way. ;)


Classic Chocolate


Our last stop was Movenpick, while I checked that out jas wandered off to the cheese alley. This place is deceptive! That picture on the sign is 2-3 scoops. "2nd Scoop Free" is an enticement, and essentially a lie.That's what "two" scoops looks like. They're around the size of two rounded tablespoons. I had choc mint & butterscotch, it was nice, but not worth it considering the size. Next time we should just get Sara Lee for 9.00 and share that. 


Overall we had a great time (avoiding work), jas bought heaps while I bought just what was planned. Tickets are 27.00 (student price) though I got a free double pass through a business client. :) Normal price is 33.00. Recommended  Yes, though only of you intended on buying more than two items :P. There was also wine tastings for 3.00 (for the glass) but we didn't go there. 






Freebies

Did you go to the Good Food & Wine Show this year?
Favourite stall? Did you buy anything?  


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Good Food & Wine Show - Part 2 @ Friday, June 21, 2013

Part 2 - Classes


Casa Barilla Cooking School was running a class on making a seafood pasta dish. 


Our presenter was Luca Ciano who was very engaging.

A few things I learnt:

  • Yes to salt in the water
  • No oil, a. Doesn't do anything b. Sticks to the pasta so that the sauce doesn't absorb it as much, it's like a barrier 
  • No to washing it after you drain it, it washes away the good stuff on the pasta
  • Always leave it in the sauce for it to absorb the flavours
  • Don't throw out the water (that you cooked the pasta in) till the end, cause if your final sauce + pasta + meat mix is a bit dry you'll want to add that water



Luca went through how to make 'Casarecce with Mussels and Vongole, Arrabiata Sauce, Lemon and Parsley Pangrattato' aka pasta with mussels and calms sprinkled with fried breadcrumbs.

After the demo in pairs we had a shot at making it ourselves. Jas was head chef, I'm the assistant. The ingredients they were promoting was their sauces and pastas. In the dish we used 'Avabbiata', which is a hot tomato sauce, that's the first picture in this post ^. 


Cooking the Mussels & Calms with Onion & Garlic 

Jas showed me how to squish the garlic and finely slice/dice the onion. That didn't go too well. I rarely ever use knives as le beau prefers that I don't go near them, being accident prone. I once cut a nail chopping up Oreos. 


Final stages, just letting it absorb the flavours. 


bon appétit

It was nice, hot though in flavour. Someone over cooked the seafood so it was a bit chewy and I didn't eat that. 

Initially the class was 15.00 but they changed it week and we got a refund, though on the brochure it still said 15.00. I would have done it anyway. :P Last time I cooked must have been at least a decade ago (if you don't count cupcakes).   


There were showbags! The sauce & pasta we cooked with, a spatula and apron. 



After lunch we went to the Nepresso Class. We made 3 coffees and poured no.4 over a very nice vanilla ice cream. I drank 1 out of the 3 coffees, with lots of sugar and milk. The others were kinda gross.



Indriya from India



Comparing Cosi & Indriya.


Inside a Capsule


Water to clear the palette or perhaps just a sponsor?


No. 3 - Milk & Sugar


No.4 - Vanilla Ice Cream!


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