Lifestyle

My Seventeen Favorites of 2017

December 30, 2017December 30, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

I cannot believe that 2017 is already practically over! Time really does fly! I remember saying to one of my patients in May that it would be 4th of July in no time, and here it is already almost New Year’s Eve! Where did the year go?!

Despite the time flying, I have fallen in love with some great products this past year. Here is a list of my favorite 17 things or 2017. I have included both beauty and non-beauty related items with links to make shopping easier 🙂

This is my favorite eyeshadow single of 2017
- Maybelline Expertwear Monos Eyeshadow in Nude Glow $2.99
This is my favorite Palette from 2017
- Lorace Unzipped $42
- These are the runner-up palettes
  - Tarte Tartelette in bloom $46
  - Smashbox Photo Matte Eyes $25
  - Winkylux Kitten Palette $25
  - PUR Cosmetics Soiree Diaries Eyeshadow Palette $34What can I say, I really like eyeshadow!
This is my favorite Lip Product of 2017.
- Essence XXXL Shine in Big Night Out $2.49
- Runner Up Lip Products:
  - Cupuaçu Butter Lip Balm (Pronunciation: Coo Poo Waa Sue) $24
  - Hey Honey Bésame Mucho $14
Favorite Body Wash of 2017:
- Caress Mystique Forever Body Wash $4 This stuff smells so amazing! My skin never feels dry or irritated when I use this body wash. I like all the scents, but the purple one Mystique Forever is my favorite.
My favorite Skin Care item of 2017
- Mario Badescu Facial Spray in both the Aloe Herbs, and Rosewater version and Aloe, Cucumber, and Green Tea version. I’m pretty much obsessed with these sprays!
- Runner-up
  - Dr. Brandt Skincare PoreDermabrasion Pore Perfecting Exfoliator. My skin looks so great when I consistently use this exfoliator.
  - Loreal Revitalift Intensive Anti-aging Day cream Moisturizer $17
  - Curél hydrotherapy wet skin moisturizer $10
My favorite makeup brush of 2017
- Eco Tools Angled Crease Brush– perfect for applying eyeshadow to the crease
- Royal and Langnickle BMX 430 Moda Crease Brush
My favorite makeup related decision of 2017
- Switching from ipsy to Boxycharm
My favorite fashion purchase of 2017
- This dress and 2 other long flowing dresses.
- Runner-up this sweater and two others from A New Day line at Target
- Runner-up these Dansko booties. I get stopped all the time so that people can ask me where I got my booties.
My favorite book of 2017
- The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst. I have read a lot of books this year (65 to be exact.) I have read some great ones and some not so great ones. Out of all the books that I have read this year, The Best Yes by Lysa TurKerst has made the most impact on my life. I have been teaching a Bible study at my church based on this book. Since I have to teach, I have been forced to get into my Bible more deeply as I have studied this book.
My favorite way to listen to music:
- Spotify. My husband recently switched from a regular account to the family plan. I have been loving having my own playlists!
My favorite artist of 2017
- Lauren Dangle. Her voice is amazing and I love the style of worship music that she sings.
My favorite song of 2017
- Broken Things by Matthew West. I especially love the lines “The pages of history they tell me it’s true.That it’s never the perfect; it’s always the ones with the scars that You use”
- Runner-up Different by Micah Tyler. I love the line, “And I don’t wanna spend my life stuck in a pattern And I don’t wanna gain this world but lose what matters.”
  I know, that I am far from perfect But through You, the cross still says I’m worth it
- Runner-up Thy Will by Hillary Scott. My favorite line from this song is “I know you hear me, I know you see me, Lord Your plans are for me Goodness you have in store”
My favorite Podcast of 2017
- The Next Right Thing by Emily P Freeman. Her voice is so soothing! “If you’re in a season of transition, waiting, general fogginess or if you’ve ever searched “how to make a decision” on the internet, listen in as best-selling author and host Emily P. Freeman helps create a little space for your soul to breathe so you can discern your next right thing in love.”
- Runner-up Up and Vanished by Payne Lindsey
- Runner-up Cary Schmit and the Emmanuel Baptist Church podcasts
My favorite “Ice Cream” of 2017
- Halo Top I love them all but my favorite flavors are PB Cup and Oatmeal Cookie! The PB Cup has only 320 calories in the entire pint and 6 grams of protein per serving! Eating these two together is a match made in Heaven!
My favorite food discovery of 2017
- Trader Joe’s Avocado’s Number Guacamole to Go. Six packets of 100 calories of guacamole. I love putting these into my lunch for work or grabbing it on the go when I don’t have time to make myself something healthy for lunch.
My favorite Looking Joli Good posts of 2017
- I really enjoyed writing all of my posts from November about Gratitude. I enjoyed reminding myself daily about all that I have to be thankful for.
My favorite thing of all 2017
- I love Cadbury Mini Eggs. This year I discovered them at CVS during the Christmas season!

What about you? What have you been loving during 2017? I would love to hear all about it in the comment section!

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Delicious Recipes

Sweet Potato Casserole

November 22, 2017November 21, 2023 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I look forward to Thanksgiving dinner every year for one reason. It is not the turkey or the mashed potatoes. It isn’t even the pies and desserts, although those are great too. The reason I look forward to Thanksgiving is this awesome Sweet Potato Casserole! It is so delicious!!!

I have shared this the last few years, but it is my favorite thing to eat, so I am sharing it again today. I’ll be dreaming about this all night!

Ingredients

4 cups sweet potato, cubed
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Put sweet potatoes in a medium saucepan with water to cover. Cook over medium-high heat until tender; drain and mash. (or use canned yams and skip this step altogether.)
In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, cinnamon, salt, butter, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a 9×13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, mix the brown sugar and flour. Cut in the butter until the mixture is coarse. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the sweet potato mixture.
Bake in the preheated oven 30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly brown.

If you try it, please let me know! I have a feeling that you will love it too!

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Love and Life

30 Days of Giving Thanks! Day 22

November 22, 2017November 22, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood3 Comments

November 22: I’m thankful for Trader Joe’s.

Here are just a few reasons
1) Speculoos ice cream and cookie butter: Um awesome, no explanation needed.
2) The people that work there wear Hawaiian shirts and are awesome and so friendly!
3) They have little child-sized carts. I can’t even stand how cute it is to see a little two or three-year-old helping by pushing around a little cart.
4) Awesome prices for great products.
5) Also these things…see below photos…

What about you? What are you thankful for?

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Delicious Recipes

NEW ENGLAND PUMPKIN-WALNUT BREAD RECIPE

September 27, 2017September 24, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

Just because you are eating healthy doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on all the enjoyable seasonal goodies. You just have to be careful with portion control. One slice of this pumpkin bread is 220 cal.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
BREAD:
1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
4 large eggs
3/4 cup canola oil
2/3 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 cup honey
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°. In a small skillet, combine oats, sugar and cinnamon; cook and stir over medium heat 4-6 minutes or until oats are toasted. Remove from heat.
For bread, in a large bowl, beat pumpkin, eggs, oil, water, sugar, honey and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt and spices; gradually beat into pumpkin mixture. Fold in walnuts.
Transfer to two greased 9×5-in. loaf pans. Sprinkle tops with oat mixture.
Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool. Yield: 2 loaves (16 slices each).
Editor’s Note: To toast nuts, bake in a shallow pan in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS
1 slice: 220 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 200mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (22g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Originally published as New England Pumpkin Walnut Bread in Taste of Home September/October 2015, p81

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Delicious Recipes

Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Dipping Sauce

September 7, 2017September 4, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I haven’t posted a recipe in a long time! Here is a tasty one from Natashaskitchen.com for Shrimp Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 5 mins

Total time: 25 mins

These shrimp lettuce wraps make for one fantastic, delicious and super impressive (Gluten free – mind you) meal. We love the cup-like shape and dark leaves of the Boston, bib, or butter lettuce but regular lettuce works too 🙂

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Skill Level: Easy

Cost To Make: $14-$17

Serving: 4

Ingredients

For the Lettuce Wraps:

1 head of Lettuce.
1 lb large Shrimp, peeled and deveined
Salt and Pepper
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Avocado, sliced into strips
½ Cucumber, sliced into strips
½ bunch Cilantro
1 medium Carrot, cut into matchsticks

Peanut Dipping Sauce:

¾ cup Newman’s Own lowfat sesame ginger dressing (P.S. this dressing contains wheat so if you’re gluten free, try: Braggs ginger sesame)
2 Tbsp creamy peanut butter (microwave 30 sec if peanut butter refrigerated)

Instructions

Rinse and pat dry your shrimp. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil to a large hot non-stick skillet. Once oil is hot, add shrimp and saute on med/high heat 2 min per side or until cooked through. Don’t overcook them or they will turn rubbery.
Cut your cucumber and carrot into thin matchsticks. Slice your avocado into strips. You should find a prettier avocado though; one that doesn’t look as sickly as mine.
Make your dressing by whisking together the ¾ cup sesame ginger dressing with the 2 Tbsp peanut butter. If you have a tightly sealed tupperware, you can put it int there and shake ‘er up until it’s nice and smooth. This sauce is so so tasty and way too easy!
Assemble your lettuce wraps with a lettuce leaf, several strips of carrot and cucumber, a decent slice of avocado, 2 shrimps and a couple good sized sprigs of cilantro. Don’t skip on the cilantro. At least give it a whirl. It totally reminds me of spring rolls and makes the entire spring roll dangerously enticing. Then drizzle the top with the peanut dipping sauce.

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Ponder The Path by Francie Taylor

August 4, 2017August 4, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

~Ditch The Diet~

My Mom, sisters and I have been reading through this book Ponder The Path by Francie Taylor. It’s been great so far and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a daily devotional.

I wanted to share one of the devotionals with you that I have found to be convicting yet also applicable to this series of “Ditch The Diet”.

Happy is a man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding Proverbs 3:13

We’ve been tricked!

Women today are being duped into believing that their physical appearance is the key to happiness. Add in the myth of “anti-aging” and we’re caught in a trap, and we’re passing the Baton of insecurity to young women running the next leg of the race. Now they are also striving to have the image that supposedly makes life complete.

But does it?

I met an 80 something-year-old former beauty queen and tap dancer. “I was really famous in my day,” she told me with great pride. It was almost as if she felt the need to validate her presence by describing her past. Did you know that there are a lot of former beauties in nursing homes?

God doesn’t value the currency of good looks. In fact, it must make him shake his Heavenly head as he watches all these organized piles of dust wearing “powder and paint to make a woman what she ain’t.” Sigh.

Happiness doesn’t come from having flawless skin, stylish hair, and a size 2 figure wrapped up in fashionable clothing. All those things are temporary. You will wake up one day at 80, when it will seem to you that it was just yesterday that you were 20, like the former beauty queen, if God grants you that many days.

Happiness is a benefit of wisdom. When we find wisdom from God’s word, we are able to see life through clear lenses, understanding and comprehending that there are far more important issues in this life than whether or not people are impressed with our appearance. Cutting a fine figure is no substitute for being a wonderful human being.

To be happy is to be blessed. Find wisdom. Get understanding. It’s far more valuable than being able to wear a size 2 at age 82.

Happy is a man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding Proverbs 3:13
Read Proverbs 3.

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

Caught in the Food Fixation Trap?

July 7, 2017April 26, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch the Diet~

Here is a great devotional by Asheritah Ciuciu that I found to be very helpful!

Caught in the Food Fixation Trap?

We live in a world that both worships and vilifies food. A quick glance at Pinterest or Instagram reveals our society’s fixation with food, from scrumptious recipes that make your mouth water (often known as “food porn”) to scathing articles about the origins, sustainability, and ethics of the ingredients that make up our meals. For something as mundane as what we eat, food has become an increasingly complex issue that causes many of us to feel guilty, overwhelmed, and even hopeless.

For those of us who have spent years on the roller coaster of dieting, food fixation adds another layer of complexity to our journey. It’s tempting to dwell in the land of if-only’s: If only I could overcome my sweet tooth. If only I would develop a craving for carrot sticks. If only God would miraculously transform the calorie count in blueberry streusel muffins…. then I could finally overcome my food struggles.

e become so fixated on the food we eat—or don’t eat—that we fail to realize that food itself is not our enemy. Food is a good gift from a loving Father, given to turn our hearts and minds to Him in worship.

God could have created our human bodies to subsist on energy-dense flakes. But in His goodness, God chose to create a veritable cornucopia of foods with unique colors, textures, tastes, and smells to both nurture us and delight our taste buds. Seen in this way, food is a thoughtful gift from a loving Father.

So for those of us struggling with our food choices, our journey toward overcoming food fixation begins with recognizing this first basic truth: food is a good gift and it is not our enemy. And as we’ll see in the next few days, the fullness we seek in food can only be found in Jesus.

Food is a good gift from a loving Father,

given to turn our hearts and minds

to Him in worship.

Hold tight to the truth of Scripture and celebrate God’s goodness through His gift of food.

Reflection Questions: Have you ever heard the implicit or explicit message that food is bad? How has this type of thinking influenced your relationship with food? What are the implications of the truth that food is a good gift meant to turn our hearts toward God?

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Food Is Not The Enemy

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Ditch The Diet for Healthy Habits

The Power of Protein

April 13, 2017April 12, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

~Ditch the Diet~

As I mentioned in a previous post macronutrients are nutrients that provide calories (or energy). There are three macronutrients: Protein, Carbohydrate, Fat.

Today I want to specifically talk about the macronutrient protein.

One of the first things that I learned about in nursing school was that amino acids are the building blocks of life. Proteins are made up of amino acids.

Some amino acids are nonessential which means that our body can make them. Others are essential which means that we need to get them from our diet.

What do we need protein for?
Cell Growth
Tissue repair
Immune function
Making essential hormones and enzymes
Preserving lean muscle mass

Where can you find protein?
Protein is found in meats, poultry, fish, cheese, milk, nuts, legumes, and in smaller quantities starchy foods and vegetables.

When we eat these types of foods, our body breaks down the protein that they contain into amino acids to be used to rebuild our bodies and create new cells.

The protein that comes from animal sources contains all of the essential amino acids that we need. Plant sources of protein, on the other hand, do not contain all of the essential amino acids.

While everyone’s body is different the USDA recommends that 10% – 35% of daily calories should come from protein. You can easily meet this need by consuming a balanced diet.

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Delicious Recipes

Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting

March 29, 2017March 17, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood5 Comments

Recently we celebrated my husband’s birthday, and I made a white cake with chocolate frosting. While the cake tasted great, let’s be honest, the star of every cake is always the frosting.This chocolate frosting is so delicious! It is such a simple recipe and you can find it right on the back of the Hershey’s cocoa powder container

This chocolate frosting is so delicious! It is such a simple recipe and you can find it right on the back of the Hershey’s cocoa powder container

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

2/3 cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk (do not add it all in at once)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Melt butter.
2. Stir in cocoa.
3. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
4. Add small amount additional milk, if needed.
5.Stir in vanilla.

Makes about 2 cups of frosting.

chocolate frosting | lookingjoligood.blog

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

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Delicious Recipes

Lemon Crumb Bars

March 22, 2017March 17, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

I haven’t posted a recipe in such a long time! I figured that I would share one of my favorite treats with you today.

I love lemons! Anything with a lemon flavor is instantly one of my favorites! These Lemon Crumb Bars as no exception! They are absolutely delicious!

Ingredients

1-1/3 cup All-purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 stick (1/2 Cup) Butter, Slightly Softened
1 cup Brown Sugar (lightly Packed)
1 cup Oats
1 can (14 Ounce) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Lemon Juice
Zest Of 1 Lemon

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350 DEGREES.

Mix butter and brown sugar until well combined.
Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder.
Add oats and flour to butter/sugar mixture and mix to combine.
Press half of crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 x 11-inch pan.
Mix together condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Spread onto the bottom layer of the crumb mixture.
Top with the other half of the crumb mixture, but don’t press.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow pan to sit on the counter for 30 minutes after baking.
Cut into squares and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until cool.

Try not to eat them all at once, these things are delicious!!!

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Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: food

My Seventeen Favorites of 2017

Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients

Directions

30 Days of Giving Thanks! Day 22

NEW ENGLAND PUMPKIN-WALNUT BREAD RECIPE