review: product, book, restaurant

busy day, whirlwind week! i am going to rattle off a quick post reviewing some of my new finds including a book, two products and a restaurant!

• frank coffee scrub: who doesn't love the smell of coffee?! if i could have a forever-brewing pot of coffee going just for the smell, life might just be perfect. anyway, with frank coffee scrub, you can smell like coffee, all while deep-cleaning your skin. my roommates turned me on to this stuff and i am so glad they did. frank targets dry skin, stretch marks, cellulite and other skin conditions like scars and psoriasis. i noticed just after one use that my skin was already softer and smoother (not to mention smelling great). i really do recommend ordering this product - i ordered the original to start off with but may have to try the other varieties soon! as frank says, "get naked, get dirty, get rough, get clean." 
• bumble and bumble surf spray: i have stick straight natural hair. little volume, very fine. in high school, my friend and i tried just about every wave-producing product in the store on my hair to give it a little something, but nothing ever worked. this past weekend i picked up a trial size bottle of bumble and bumble's surf spray since i had read so many great reviews on it. so far, i have been pleased with the results! my hair actually had some volume and body to it, as well as added texture! i still need to work with it some to really see if its worth the price but so far, so good! (*another product i may try in the future is Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray - another roommate recommendation!)
• the blonde theory by kristen harmel: i read this after being recommended it by one of my best friends. a great summer, light read that follows the classic girl can't find guys, tries all the wrong ones and then finally learns something about herself and finds the right one formula. predictable but funny, harmel brings new light to the common "blondes have more fun' stereotype. read this one if you aren't looking to stretch your thinking and don't mind listening to a whiny, yet successful main character.
• martin's bbq: BBQ in the south: a staple. while i have had my fair share of barbecue in this state, from east tennessee all the way to west, i find that nashville has the best. while edley's is still my absolute favorite, martin's is a close runner up. located on belmont boulevard, martin's is famous for their redneck taco, which of course i had to order. it did not let me down: the cornbread pancake, topped with bbq pulled pork and coleslaw (more vinegar-based than mayo, so a thumbs-up in my book) and then finished off with martin's signature dixie sauce (try all the sauces if you have a chance to go) was delicious and i ate every bite! those i dined with ordered the brisket which quickly disappeared off their plate as well! i definitely would go back to martin's anytime and encourage you go soon! 

thats all for now! happy tuesday to everyone, and a happy 21st birthday to my best friend today as well! 

xoxo,

clp

spirooli product review

long time no blog i know! but i guess i have been a bit busy with being in college! dad came up this past weekend and i really had a good time with him. we went to the basketball game, shopping and ate dinner at one of our favorites, aubrey's, and had brunch on sunday at cru bistro. it was a delicious breakfasty-brunch that i will definitely eat again. the smoked gouda grits were to die for! other than that, i have been studying and schooling and alpha chi-ing.

tonight for supper i tried something new: vegetable noodles! i have seen so many vegetable noodle recipes on the internet and have wanted to try them because they are a great low-carb alternative to regular pasta noodles! tonight i broke out my new spirooli spiral slicer to make zucchini noodles! it was so fun using my newest contraption! after i spiralized the zucchini, i ended up slightly warming it with my pasta sauce to soften them up a bit. for my sauce tonight, i simply browned a sliced italian chicken sausage link, dumped in some sliced stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce with some classic italian spices and let it simmer while i worked on the zucchini and made a salad. it was really a delicious and filling italian dinner free of carbs from pasta! with the spirooli, you can spiralize vegetables ranging from squash to potatoes, slice veggies like cucumbers or even shred cabbage! my dad made have made fun of me for buying it but i have a feeling he is going to get some good use out of it too when i bring it home for the summer. i think it is an essential tool for a healthy kitchen, and a time saver too!

i am crossing my fingers for a possible snow day tomorrow... which would give me a four day weekend! all but one of my classes are cancelled so i am constantly checking my email hoping it is either from my professor or UT! i don't like the snow at all (born and bred a southerner, i just don't know what to do with it) so i would rather have no snow or ice but if it is going to happen, i don't want to have to be out in it! i hope everyone stays safe and warm over the next few days!

xoxo,
clp

p.s. for dessert i made dashing dish's red velvet cupcake for one and it was delicious! perfect portion controlled treat without any tempting leftovers!