Get The Most Out of Your Workout

January 8, 2016January 9, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

A very common New Years resolution is to workout and get healthy! I am resolving to continue to remain as healthy as I possibly can this year. If you also made a resolution to be a healthier you in 2016, here are a few tips and tricks to help you keep that resolution!

Just do it! You may not feel like working out, but let me tell you, you will not regret it! You will only regret the times you skipped working out not the times you did it!

Stop making excuses! You are your own worst enemy! Trust me, I know all about the head games and excuses! You are not really as busy as you think you are! Make time to get in a quick exercise session. You can spare 30-45 min to become a healthier person. You will be so glad that you did!

Be consistent! The more often you exercise the greater impact it will have on your life. As with many things consistency is what brings results. Long term health is more important than short term results.

Don’t waste your time! If you are going to take the time to work out give it your all! Don’t take the easy way out, do your best. Be completely present in what you are doing. Think about the muscles you are working

Have a plan! If you are new to exercising and working out, make sure you have a plan! Have you ever heard the saying “Fail to plan, plan to fail”? It is so true. Having a plan will also help you to not waste your time.

Keep moving! Even if you feel like you might keel over, keep moving. Even if you have to move super slowly, keep moving. If you are moving then you will keep going, if you stop to take a break, you may be able to convince yourself that you don’t need to continue. Keep moving!

Start strong, stay strong, end strong! This is similar to don’t waste your time and keep moving. Anything worth doing is worth doing right! Make the most out of your time. An intense 30 minute workout is worth way more than a half effort hour long session.

Don’t give up! Even if you miss a day here or there, or haven’t been consistent at all, that doesn’t mean you have to give up! Just remember, January may be the start of the new year, but you can start a new healthy lifestyle any day you want to! Most people give up on their New Years resolutions by February. You got this, don’t let that be you! Don’t give up!

Good Luck in 2016!

Delicious Recipes

Roasted Cauliflower

January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood6 Comments

Roasted cauliflower is one of my latest food obsessions. It is so delicious, simple, and yet super healthy. Cauliflower is is a great source of Vitamin A, folate, magnesium, and potassium. It also has a ton of phytochemicals. If you don’t know what phytochemicals are, they are an important part of health and wellbeing. Not only do they improve the health of our GI bacteria (also known as gut flora), they also promote healthy immunity.

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower cut into bite-size florets. A 2 pound cauliflower will give around 8ish cups. (you can even use frozen cauliflower*)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil or my favorite grape seed oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons kosher salt

Want to spice it up a bit more…
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped (instead of the garlic powder)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 teaspoons roughly chopped fresh thyme leaves

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Mix together the oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. Toss the cauliflower with the oil mixture in a large mixing bowl (sometimes I even put it all into a gallon sized zip top freezer bag and shake it up.) Spread out evenly on a foil lined baking sheet; sprinkle with salt. Roast until golden and tender, about 20 minutes. Flip halfway through for an all over even roast. Put into your serving dish and enjoy!

I like mine extra crispy so I usually do closer to 23-28, flipping every 10 minutes.

*Just thaw frozen cauliflower out a bit first by briefly running it under cool to warmish water, letting it sit and drain. Repeat as many times as necessary. Frozen veggies often cook a bit faster, so keep a closer eye on them, set the timer for 15 min, adding 5 min as necessary.

Beauty Subscription · Make up

Target Beauty Box

January 4, 2016January 4, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

I love Target, and recently they have been offering their own version of a beauty box. These boxes are usually awesome! Today they have two different boxes available. One is called the “Renewal box” and the other is called the “Refresh box” Both have a $30 value but only cost $7 each. I love a good Target beauty box, as of right now these are still available, but they usually go very quickly!

Target Beauty Box | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I just ordered mine. If you want one too click HERE to order. Shipping is free and if you use your RedCard you can also get the usual 5% discount.

While I really want to try out the Laneige BB Cushion, I have a feeling that the sample size will be too small to actually get a good idea of how it works. I couldn’t decide on which one I wanted more, so I purchased both boxes. Which box do you think looks better? Let me know in the comments below.

What you receive in the Renewal Box

Caress Love Forever Body Wash
It’s the first body wash ever to use fragrance-release pearls with touch-activated technology. Release a burst of perfume every time you touch your skin—all day long.

ATTITUDE 2-in-1 Shampoo
This shampoo and body wash is vegetable based and biodegradable. Plus, it’s formulated to be carcinogen free and hypoallergenic. Vegan, not tested on animals.

Laneige BB Cushion
Get 5-in-1 cushion technology that works to brighten, protect, cool and cover your skin while fending off shine.

Scrunci No-Slip Grip Braided Headwrap
A comfortable, stretchy band with a braided design for stylish, no-slip grip.

Degree Women Fresh Energy Dry Spray
This dry spray uses a 48-hour MOTIONSENSE formula that goes on instantly dry for a cleaner feel and better protection.

Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer
Get 24 hours of soft skin with this instant-absorbing formula that gives you twice the moisturizing power in half the time.

ATTITUDE Volume & Shine Shampoo
Get healthy, beautiful hair with this volumizing shampoo. It is vegetable based, biodegradable, carcinogen free and hypoallergenic. Vegan, not tested on animals.

Revlon Ultimate All-In-One Mascara
This high-impact formula delivers 5 benefits in 1 product: volume, length, definition, lift and rich, intense color.

Hada Labo Tokyo Anti-Aging Facial Mask
A lightweight, deeply hydrating mask that drenches skin with serum to boost hydration, smooth fine lines and restore firmness and bounce to your skin.

Number of Pieces: 9

What you receive in the Refresh Box

ACURE Day Cream
This must-have day cream contains gotu kola stem cells and chlorella growth factor to help your skin retain hyaluronic acid and fight environmental damage and free radicals.

John Frieda Keraflex Hair Spray
This versatile formula can be used while styling hair or to lock in a finished look. Its micro-fine mist delivers a soft, brushable hold.

NIVEA In-Shower Body Lotion
This skin-pampering, in-shower lotion is enriched with almond oil to give your skin instant moisture that lasts up to 24 hours.

Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Pads
These radiance-boosting pads are soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid to help retexture and resurface to unveil younger-looking skin.

Braided Elastic Bands
Say goodbye to snags with these hair ties made without metal.

Simple Micellar Wipes
Gently remove makeup and impurities, leaving your skin cleansed and instantly hydrated, with these makeup remover wipes. No artificial perfumes, dyes or harsh chemicals.

Marlowe Extra Moisturizing Lotion
An intense moisturizer with a combination of revitalizing antioxidants and extracts to help soften and smooth dry skin.

Clear Total Care Shampoo & Conditioner
Make your hair more resilient to breakage with Clear’s Active Damage Resist system. Infused with Omega 3-6-9, this specially designed complex of vitamins hydrates the scalp and hair, and helps restore shine, smoothness and strength from root to tip.

Number of Pieces: 9

Beauty Subscription · Health/ Fitness

Slim Fast…Is There Really Such a Thing?

January 4, 2016January 3, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood6 Comments

I received a SlimFast VoxBox from Influenster for consideration. If you know me at all, you already know that I am 100% not considering using SlimFast to lose weight! Only a healthy balanced diet and daily exercise is going to provide successful long term health and weight loss.

slimfast #itsyourthing | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Make up · Review

New From Maybelline

January 3, 2016January 3, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood11 Comments

Maybe she’s born with it?… In my case, nope, it is most likely Maybelline!

So many of my favorite products are from Maybelline. The brand as a whol is one of my favorites. When it comes to foundations and mascaras, they know what they are doing!

They have recently come out with several new products! I’ll list them in the order that I would apply them if I were to be putting my makeup on.

First up face…

Dream Matte Mousse Foundation.
Maybelline claims that this foundation is ideal for normal to oily skin and provides medium to high coverage. It comes is 12 shades. They suggest that this foundation be applied with their new Dream Blender. This Dream Blender looks like a beauty blender with a handle. Not too sure about that, but maybe it is worth giving a try.

Maybelline | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Dream Velvet™ Foundation
This is their first “hydrating matte foundation.” It is supposed to be for normal to combination skin,with medium coverage giving a soft-matte finish. They claim that the “unique gel-whipped formula” will keep skin hydrated for 12 hours. Once again Maybelline suggests using the Dream Blender to apply this foundation.

Face Studio Master Contour
3-step face contouring kit. This contour palette is available in 2 shade combinations, light to medium 10 and medium to deep 20. Each palette includes three color shades a contour/bronzer, blush and highlight. Maybelline claims that this palette will make contouring the face easy. In my opinion the “contour” shade in the light to medium palette looks like more of an orange like bronzer shade than a true gray toned contour shade. Ok, seriously, does anyone ever use the brush that is included with these things?! Why do they even waste the supplies that it takes to make these little pointless brushes?

Moving along to the eyes…

The Rock Nudes Palette
This 12 shade palette is supposed to be easily broken down into quads, trios and duos. It is supposed to “deliver the ultimate smoky rock nude look and bring out your inner rockstar.” Hmmmm, I personally don’t think that I have an inner rock star…
Did any of you get any of the other “Nudes” Palettes that Maybelline released this past year? Although many of the previous palette shades looked beautiful, due to all the poor reviews that I read and watched, I personally didn’t purchase any. Not sure if I would venture to buy this one either.

Maybelline | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Eyestudio Lasting Drama Waterproof Gel Pencil
This is Maybelline’s first gel eyeliner in a pencil form. This eyeliner comes in 10 different shades. They claim that it is and ultra smooth waterproof formula that is long-lasting with up to 16 hours of wear.

Maybelline | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Lash Sensational Luscious Waterproof Mascara
Maybelline’s original Lash Sensational Mascara quickly became a cult favorite. I have purchased it, but it is still in the package and I haven’t tried it out yet. Now available in a “luscious waterproof” formula, I am excited to see if it lives up to the hype of the original. The brush is supposed to “envelop lashes with a precious oil-infused formula from root-to-tip” while causing the lashes to fan out.
I don’t know how a waterproof mascara can also have oils infused in it, but I guess I will find out if I use it. Although, I may just wait until I hear some reliable reviews before I rush out and buy it for myself…

Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Drama Pomade Crayon
This is their first ever brow pomade crayon available in 4 shades. According to Maybelline you can get the perfect brow in just one easy sweep that both sculpts and tames! If only everything in life were that simple… Maybelline | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Last but not least…Lips…

Color Sensational Vivids Lipcolor
Available in 10 different matte, “bold, vivid shades, that glide easily onto the lips”. The formula is supposed to give full color coverage and be comfortable and creamy with a smooth application that dries to a “velvety” matte finish. Clearly Maybelline is loving the word “velvety” this season. I have seen a few reviews that say that these vivid matte lipcolors are not actually a true matte liquid lipstick, but actually more of a liquid cream. It seems as if they never actually fully dry down and become matte.
I personally don’t usually like matte liquid lipsticks. I want my lips to always be shiny, slick, and glossy. That being said the chances of me trying these out is pretty much next to none. I have to say though, the color selection is really pretty.

Do you love Maybelline like I do? Are you planning to try out any of these new products? Let me know in the comments what you have tried and if it is worth picking up.

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Make up · Review

Lorac Love Lust Lace Eyeshadow Palettes

January 2, 2016March 3, 2017 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood4 Comments

LORAC Love, Lust & Lace Matte & Shimmer Eye Shadow Palettes for the 2015 holiday season are unfortunately a limited edition! They were an Ulta Black Friday exclusives, and I received them as a gift for Christmas. These little beauties were a sweet deal!

Just like the rest of the Lorac Love, Lust & Lace collection, each of these palettes is decorated with a pretty blue and silver lace pattern. Each one contains five eye shadows and a mirror. I liked both of these palettes but think the shimmer one is just a little bit nicer. The shimmery ones are soft, pigmented and even. Matte shades seem to be a bit tougher for companies to get completely right. While I absolutely love all the matte shades in the Lorac Pro Palette, these mattes are a tiny bit more powdery than the those Lorac shadows and not quite as silky smooth to blend. To be honest, though, I would be perfectly content with these had I not been previously spoiled by the awesomeness of the Pro Palette and the wonderfulness of the Naked2 Palette (reviews of both to come soon).

The matte palette includes five shades: light white cream, pale vanilla, medium taupe, medium gray, deep charcoal.

Both the taupe and the gray make perfect transition shades for the crease. I have been using the white as a base all over my lid

Lorac Love Lust Lace Eyeshadow Palettes | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

The shimmer palette also includes five shades: creamy white, pale pink, light taupe, medium/deep brown with golden shimmer, deep brown with a red/plum shimmer.

These shimmery shades are pretty impressive. Great color payoff with not a lot of fall out.

Lorac Love Lust Lace Matte Eyeshadows | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Overall, I love both of these palettes. I think that they made the perfect little stocking stuffer gift for a makeup lover like me. I can’t wait to continue to use these shadows. Overall, I really love the products that I have tried from the Lorac Brand.

(Are these shadows as high quality as the Lorac Pro shadows, no, but they are definitely workable and blendable.)

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Make up

Too Muddy To Contour…

January 1, 2016January 2, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood2 Comments

My daughter was playing dolls in the other room and I overheard heard her say, “I was really anticipating that this shade was going to be great for contouring, but it’s too muddy. I think I’ll try it as a transition shade in my crease.”

I love it! Little eyes and ears are always watching and listening!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Quote

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2015January 2, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood6 Comments

My 2016 diet plan… give all my friends cupcakes and sweet treats…the fatter they get the thinner I’ll look 🙂 Happy New Year from Looking Joli Good! May your new year be filled with all kinds of sweet things!

Delicious Recipes

Creamy Garlic Scallops

December 30, 2015January 2, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGoodLeave a comment

I love scallops! They are one of my favorite dishes to eat. While scallops may seem like they might be hard to make, they are actually one of those dishes that tastes amazing but is quite simple.

Here is a great recipe by Rasa Malaysia. You can check out her other 900+ recipes at rasamalaysia.com

Creamy Garlic Scallops

by @rasamalaysia
Serves 3

Ingredients:

1 lb jumbo natural scallops
Salt
Ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon melted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons white wine or Japanese cooking sake, optional
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt, to taste
1 teaspoon chopped parsley leaves
1 slice lemon wedges, quartered, for garnishing, optional

Directions:

Rinse the scallops, pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and black pepper.

Heat up a skillet with olive oil and butter. Pan-sear the scallops on both sides until nicely browned, but don’t overcook them. Remove and set aside.

On the same skillet, add the garlic and saute. Add a little bit olive oil if you want. Add the cream, water, wine, salt and cayenne pepper. Bring it to a gentle simmer until the sauce thickens a bit. Add the scallops back into the skillet, add the chopped parsley leaves and lemon wedges, turn off heat and serve immediately.

For a lighter version that is just as delicious check out her Garlic scallops recipe by clicking HERE.

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Beauty Subscription

Walmart Beauty Box Winter 2016

December 29, 2015January 2, 2016 LauraJoli LookingJoliGood3 Comments

Did you know that Walmart has it’s own a subscription beauty box? Yup, they do! It is a quarterly box and only costs $5 a season. Generally the box will have around 5 samples, with 1 or 2 of them being full sized products. Also in your Walmart Beauty Box, they send 2 or 3 smaller sample beauty products and coupons.

Walmart technically calls it a “sample box” and says that the box itself is free and the $5 is a flat rate for shipping and handling. Either way the box costs $5 each season.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen the picture that I posted the other day of my Winter beauty box. If you don’t follow me on Instagram, you should 😉 https://instagram.com/lookingjoligood/

How does it work?

You sign up at https://beautybox.walmart.com/
Create and account
Add your payment and shipping info
Wait for you confirmation email
Enjoy your beauty box when it arrives

If you are first time subscribers: Your subscription will be processed when you sign up and your credit card will be charged $5 and you will receive the current season’s box. Once you are subscribed, you won’t have to resign up, you will receive a shipping confirmation email and then your box will arrive. You’ll only be charged when your Beauty Box is shipped.

The Walmart beauty box website says “Each seasonal Beauty Box is a “limited edition” and may sell out. Note: Beauty products vary by box. Only one beauty box per email address.”

Here in the picture below is what I got in this seasons box. I wasn’t overly impressed with this seasons box. I have already received both the Neutrogena face wash and the Pure Silk shave gel in previous Walmart beauty boxes. Usually there is at least one or two full sized makeup products, but this time there was only lotions and hair stuff. Oh well, they can’t all be winners.

Shipping Schedule

Winter Starting the last week of November I got mine at the end of December
Spring Starting the second week of March (I didn’t get my spring box until mid May)
Summer Starting the second week of June (I got my summer box in mid August)
Fall Starting the second week of September (I received mine mid October)

Looking Joli Good

Kindness is beautiful!

Tag: makeup

Get The Most Out of Your Workout

Roasted Cauliflower