Birchbox Review: January

Loved this month's products!  Here's what came in my January Birchbox!

amika | Color pHerfection Shampoo
This gentle shampoo contains fortifying omega acids & healing sea buckthorn berry oil to keep your hair color bright & shiny.  Full-size, $22

My Review:  Y'all know I love my amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask.  I've been using it for months, so I was excited to try another amika product.  This shampoo smells just as amazing as the hair mask does.  I love using it.  It's a little pricey for the size, so I don't know if I'll buy it, but I really like using the sample & I'll continue to buy/use their hair mask.

Embryolisse | Lait-Creme Concentre - 24-Hour Miracle Cream
A favorite of models & makeup artists, this cult French moisturizer heals dryness & leaves skin primed for foundation.  Full-size, $16

My Review:  When my friend Gio saw that I received this, he immediately told me how much he loves it.  Gio is a makeup artist & uses this as both a primer & as a moisture mask at night.  He said I'd love it.  He was right.  I use it as a primer under my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.  It makes my face so soft!  I can't tell if it actually helps my makeup stay on longer, but it feels amazing.  Disclaimer:  I have dry skin & I've read that it causes break-outs on people with oily skin.  It didn't with me, but it is pretty heavy.  I haven't decided if I'm going to buy it.  I don't need it, but I do like it & it is just $16...

Juicy Couture | Viva La Juicy
Juicy's charming scent will bring out your inner girly girl.  Wild berries flirt with mandarin & soft floral notes for a fragrance that's fun & happy.  Full-size, $25-90

My Review:  OMGQUITSENDINGMETHISSAMPLE

theBalm cosmetics | Put a Lid On It Eyelid Primer
Keep that pretty eye shadow crease-free with this stay-put primer, which also prevents smudges & smears.  Full-size, $18

My Review:  I actually use an eye primer.  I use Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.  I loved my last sample by theBalm, so I decided to put my Urban Decay aside & try this sample.  They both do a great job of keeping my eye makeup in place, particularly under my eyes, but theBalm sample goes on a lot easier & spreads better.  It seems to absorb into my skin more than the Urban Decay product does.  I think I'm sold.  Smell you later, Urban Decay.  I'm a theBalm girl now!

BEAUTY EXTRA
Juice Beauty | Daily Essentials to Go
Gorgeous skin as easy as 1-2-3 with this trio of organic must-haves:  Cleansing Milk, Antioxidant Serum, & Nutrient Moisturizer.  Full-size, $29

My Review:  I hadn't used this yet, so when I went out of town last weekend, I took it with me.  I couldn't get it open!  I went totes honey badger on it & still couldn't get into it.  With no scissors in sight, I gave up & threw it away.

Back in December, I received Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk.  I didn't review it because I hadn't used it yet.  Well, I used it this month & really liked it!  Like most people that pay out the nose for highlights & color, I try not to wash my hair any more than I absolutely have to.  But because I have full bangs, I pretty much have to wash & restyle my bangs every day.  This product is great for the days when my bangs are clean, but my hair isn't.  I really like that it's a spray application.  It'll take me months to use the rest of this sample, but I'll probably buy this when I run out.

NOLA Bound!

Today is the day I head down to New Orleans for the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon!  This has become a big race for East Nasty.  There are about 40 of us going & we're hilariously all on the same flight today.  Apologies in advance to Southwest airlines.

Jaime & I are staying in the French Quarter & have dinner reservations tonight at Herbsaint.  So excited!  Tomorrow we'll go to the race expo & probably explore the city a little.  I haven't been to New Orleans since college, so it's been a loooong time.  On Sunday, we'll wake up (at 4am), run the race & watch everyone finish, weather permitting (it's supposed to rain the ENTIRE TIME we're there, including race day).  Afterwards, all the East Nasties are meeting up at Pat O'Brien's to celebrate.  Then we fly home on Monday!

See you all next week!  Stay tuned for a race wrap-up both here & on the East Nasty blog.

ENFL, y'all!

A Plea For Panties

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Ladies, let's take it down to a huddle.  I love yoga; you love yoga.  But you know what else I love?  Underwear.  It serves a purpose.  And you should wear it.  I know, I know.  It's hot yoga; you're a vagina sweater.  I get it.  I do.  You'd think wearing Vanderbilt shorty shorts would be enough to keep you cool.  But if you have been graced with the long limbs & double joints that allow you to take Bird Of Paradise, please, PLEASE, have the common sense to let a piece of cotton hit you where the good lord split you.  Because you know what I don't need at 6:00am, standing upside down in a 110 degree room?  Your vulva in my face.  Please and thank you.

Weekend Wrap Up: High Hair, Flat Tire Edition

I love my full bangs, but they are a lot of work.  I have to swing in to see my beauty operator about every 2 weeks.  After trimming my bangs, Jordan put my hair up in a better top knot than I've ever been able to do.  This picture doesn't do it justice.

I don't remember what I did Friday night, but it doesn't matter because this is what Linda did.  She is actually resting her chin on the chair leg.  Bless it.

I got up early on Saturday & went back to Shakti for yoga.  I'm really loving this yoga studio.  Afterwards, I treated myself to a latte from Headquarters.

My friend & fellow Team Taurus member, Mary Katherine, is getting married & Anjeanetta & I are her bridesmaids, so we got together on Saturday to eat, drink & talk wedding.  We met for brunch at The Southern.  This was my first visit to The Southern & I loved it!  I had the blood orange mimosa & southern fried egg sandwich.  So good!  And they offer free 2-hour parking in the Pinnacle building.  If you haven't been yet, I highly recommend it.

Yesterday was our last NOLA training run before the race this weekend.  We met, ran 60 minutes & then went to Ugly Muggs for coffee & breakfast.  I can't believe the race is this weekend!  I can't believe it's supposed to rain the ENTIRE TIME we're there!

This is what I came back to after the run.  'Ole girl.  At least I was just in East Nashville & not Hohenwald or Waynesboro.  Note to self:  ask John's dad to add me to the Baldwin family AAA account.

While I was getting a new tire put on my car, John drove me around to all of my errands, the most important of which was picking up my Girl Scout cookies.  I bought cookies from John's friend Reid's daughter.  Reid owns my dream car, so I'm always looking for an excuse to go visit it.  I love that car so much.

I also love these & am trying really hard not to eat all 3 boxes this week.  I finally broke down & bought a scale yesterday & am trying trying to get back on MyFitnessPal, so feel free to follow along to see how many cookies I eat today...  Spoiler alert:  all of them.

My Husband In Pictures

Justin Timberlake Wants To Show You A Few Things...

Happy Friday.  And, you're welcome.

Recipe: Homemade Hot Chicken

John & I are long time fans & consumers of Nashville's infamous Prince's Hot Chicken Shack.  Alas, it is a pain in the ass to eat there, so over the weekend we took matters into our own hands & decided to attempt to recreate it at home.  Y'all, we kind of pulled it off.

Homemade Hot Chicken

Adapted from From Away - Cooking And Eating In Maine

Ingredients:

2 skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts
2 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup self-rising flour
10 ounces + 2 tbsp lard, divided
3 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp sugar
3/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
4 slices white bread
sliced dill pickles

Directions:

In a baking dish, combine chicken breasts & buttermilk.  Cover & refrigerate *overnight.

*We didn't do overnight.  We did about one hour.

In a deep, heavy cast iron skillet over medium heat, heat 10 ounces of lard to 375 degrees.  Remove chicken from buttermilk & dredge in flour.

Add chicken to hot grease, & cook, turning every 3-4 minutes, until chicken is golden brown & a meat thermometer registers 165 degrees, about 20-25 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken.  Drain chicken on paper towel lined plate.

Microwave remaining 2 tbsp lard for 30 seconds, or until liquefied.  Add cayenne, sugar, salt & garlic powder.  Stir well to combine.  It will form a paste.

Apply paste to bone-side of chicken using a brush, flip chicken over (so it is skin side up) onto 2 slices of white bread, & baste with more of the paste.  Repeat for remaining chicken breasts.

Serve with sliced dill pickles & a million paper towels.  And milk.  And crinkle cut fries.

Notes:

Allegedly, allegedly, the secret ingredient is sold at the Kroger next door to Prince's.  It's called "Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning".  It's also on Amazon for $8.  Not wanting to drive to Trinity Lane on a Sunday night, we went without it, but you better believe we'll have it by the time we make this again.  If you do have it, you change the 3 tbsp cayenne to 2 tbsp cayenne + 1 tbsp Slap Ya Mama.

File Under:  TMI

And yes, since inquiring minds want to know, the digestive effect, aka 'the reckoning', is the same, which, in my mind, means we successfully accomplished this feat.

Now, go forth & burn!

Weekend Wrap Up: House Of Cards Edition

I started House Of Cards on Netflix Friday night.  A political drama starring Kevin Spacey, set in D.C.?  Yes, please!  I plowed through the first 6 episodes (there are 13).  Robin Wright, you are amazing & I covet your short, sexy hair.  This show is so good!

My friend Dawn & I tried Nashville's new yoga studio, Shakti Power Yoga, on Saturday morning.  We did the 8am Power Hour with Lauren, one of the owners.  I loved it!  I bought the 30 days for $30 package, so I expect to be there a lot between now & March 10th, when my 30 days expire.

After yoga, we fueled up on lattes at my new favorite coffee spot, Headquarters.  If you live on the West Side & haven't tried Headquarters yet, please do.  I need this place to stay open.  I can't keep driving across the river for lattes.

We met our friends Michael & Becky for dinner at La Hacienda on Saturday night.  I hadn't been to La Hacienda in years.  I forgot how good it is!  I've been off Mexican food lately, but La Hacienda may have re-awoken the sleeping cheese dip dragon...

Last week was our last long training run (11 miles).  We're in taper mode now.  We ran 75 minutes yesterday & will only run 60 minutes next week, then it's Race Day!!

We didn't even come close to burning enough calories to justify this, but after our run yesterday, we treated ourselves to brunch & 2 for 1 mimosas at Mad Donna's.  Whatever, yolo.

Last night, John & I decided to try our hand at homemade hot chicken.  Why not?  We found a bootleg Prince's recipe online & shockingly found lard hidden on the back of a shelf at Publix.  It was on.

Y'all, we totally pulled this off!  If you follow me on Instagram, then you know how this went down.  If you don't, stay tuned, recipe to follow later in the week.

Weekend Wrap Up: 11 Miles Edition

We dog-sat Johnny for Dave & Alexis this weekend.  Linda has a pretty serious crush on Johnny, as evidenced by this picture of Linda watching Johnny sleep.  Totally not creepy.

Valentine Tattlys!!!  I've had my eye on that friendship bracelet one since it came out.  And the pink glitter hearts?  Obviously, I need those.  OBVIOUSLY.

P.S. They just released a new Tattly - it's an ax & hammer & I want it so bad!

Tandem sleeping.  I thought this angle was hilarious because both Linda & Johnny's ears were sticking up while they slept.  Bless them.

You may remember, during my 10 mile run last week, my knee gave out & I was going to see a physical therapist.  After a week of physical therapy, & rest, I was cleared to try & run 11 miles on Sunday.  It had to be flat & I had to stop as soon as my knee started hurting.  They taped my knee just to be safe.

Well, I'm happy to report I shockingly ran the entire 11 miles pain free.  I really didn't think I would be able to run that far without my knee hurting, but I did.  When I saw my PT on Monday, she couldn't believe it either.  She said I've recovered really fast this time.  My knee is still taped & I'm still in PT, but I'm getting MUCH better.  I even went to Hell Class yesterday!

We are the most non-football caring people in the world.  Regardless, I made chili & cheesy beer bread, like you do.  I watched the beginning & the half time show.  P.S. Beyonce - yes!!!  But we didn't watch the game.  We watched Hoarders instead & I fell asleep at like 8:30pm.  Living large!

Emily Owens, M.D.

I've recently learned of & watched a new show that I want to make sure other people know about:  Emily Owens, M.D.  I heard about it months ago on Fresh Air & set my DVR to record it.  I had the entire season recorded, but hadn't watched it yet.  Until I was home sick last week.  Y'all, I watched the whole series in like two days.  It's so good!  I want everyone to watch it.

If you recognize that face above, it's because she's Meryl Streep's daughter, Mamie Gummer.  Emily Owens, M.D. is described as a medical drama, but when I think medical drama, I think E.R.  This is more like a romantic comedy that takes place in a hospital where sometimes something 90% serious happens, sometimes.

It's on The CW & airs Tuesday nights at 8:00pm.  Sadly, like every TV show I like (Friday Night Lights, Political Animals), it's already been cancelled.  But The CW is airing the remainder of the 13 episodes.  The finale airs on February 5th.

Here's an extended promo.  It's 5 minutes long, but I promise if you watch the promo, you'll want to watch the show:



You can watch the 5 most recent episodes on The CW's website.  You can also watch the entire series for free on Hulu.

Go watch this show!