Clothes Mentor Haul

I purchased the above Clothes Mentor for under $25:

• Signature by Robbie Bee dress - $14
• Scarf (no brand indicated) - $5
• New Victoria's Secret Bombshell Rollerball Fragrance - $5

Clothes Mentor is a women's resale garment shop that sells and buys designer clothing at a discount price.  They currently have 139 stores in  29 states with another 50 stores scheduled to open this year.  I will put a link at the bottom of this post to check to see if there is a store near you.

They carry sizes 0-26, maternity and petite clothing along with shoes, purses, scarves, jewelry and a few beauty products.   They also buy new and gently used current style, in-season items for cash.

I have been shopping there for over 10 years and found a variety of great bargains.  The only negatives are their stock depends on what items women bring in to sell, but as with any resale shop, you just have to try to think of it as a treasure hunt where you might find wonderful gems or you might find nothing.  

Here is the link to a Find A Store 

Special K Nourish Coconut Cranberry Almond Multi-Grain Flakes With Quinoa - Review

Special K Nourish Coconut Cranberry Almond Multi-Grain Flakes With Quinoa is a new cereal offering by Kelloggs.

The title describes what you would expect to see it the box, Special K Flakes, dried Cranberries, Coconut and Quinoa, but as you can see from the picture below, it also had almonds.

Special K is lighter flake than standard Frosted Flakes and I found in the regular doesn't fill me up and not very pleasant to eat, but the addition or the chewy, slightly acidic cranberries combined with exotic flavor of the coconut and the additional texture of the quinoa and Almonds for crunch do make it a much more satisfying cereal to eat, provided you like Coconut.   If you hate the flavor or texture of Coconut, you are probably not going to like this cereal.

With the multi-grain flakes, quinoa, cranberries and coconut and branded "nourish"  you would expect that it is a much healthier option and in some ways it is:

Nutritionally. a 1 cup serving with 1/2 C milk contains:

• 12% daily allowance of Protein 
• 20-45% daily allowance of the main vitamins (A,C, D, B6, B12, Iron, Folic Acid)

However, on the down side it also contains:

• Higher Calories than many cereals at 240
• High in sugars - ingredients are listed on products in order of what they have the most of
• Sugar is 3rd
• Corn Syrup is 9th
• Brown Sugar Syrup is 16th
• Cane Sugar is the last ingredient
• Contains wheat and Almonds, so not suitable if someone has allergies to either.

I personally like it and I is something I will purchase it again, but aware it does have a few drawbacks.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen is a chain restaurant that features old favorites made slightly upscale and made from scratch and we have never had a bad meal there.

The interior is nice with lots of hard wood, some brick and a very unique large overhead fan in the main dining area that is surrounded by plants on the upper level.  One this I don't like is it is a little too dark in evening and they could do with some candles or flame-less candles on the tables for more ambiance.

There offering is a good variety of standard fare:  Appetizers (they do have Artisan Toasts, which is different), Salad, Sandwiches and Burgers,  Chicken, Fish, Shrimp Pasta, Ribs, Desserts and hand crafted lemonade, fresh brewed tea soft and other drinks (they have a liquor license and full bar),  Their prices are in line with similar types of restaurants in the area.  Portions are generous and you might want to skip an appetizer unless are with a large group and sharing or meeting for drinks and just sharing an appetizer.

Overall service is usually good, but on the most recent visit a fella in the kitchen seemed to feel the need to yell several times "I am going to the bathroom" loud enough to be heard near the tables at the front of the place.  Don't know if it might have been lack of communication or cooperation with other staff members or he somehow has managed to make it to his 20's without finding his indoor voice.

Overall it is a great date night place with good food and atmosphere.



Main Dining Area

West Wall of Main Dining Area - bar is on the other side

Cheddar's Cheese Fries, Large.   French fries covered with Cheddar and Colby Jack cheeses and topped with bacon and served with their house made Ranch dressing

8 Oz Well Done Sirloin Steak served on top of onion straws and you have a choice of two of a dozen different side dishes. For an additional .99 cents the steak can be topped with sauteed mushrooms or bourbon sauce.  

For the sides, or for an additional .99 cents, you can get a salad as one of the sides.  The salad (not pictured) is served with a fresh baked croissant.  

8 Oz Well Done Sirloin Steak served on top of onion straws served with a side of mashed potatoes and white gravy. 

8 Oz Well Done Sirloin Steak served on top of onion straws served with Off the Cob Corn and Loaded Baked Potato (served with sour cream and topped with Cheddar Cheese.

Unique fan and includes plants and windows.

Qiaoyan 12 colors Nude Eyeshadow Makeup Eye Shadow Palette (color 4) - Review

I as looking for something that had a bit of sparkle and I found this on Amazon and it is called Edtoy 12 colors Nude Eyeshadow Makeup Eye Shadow Palette (color 4) and it was under $9,

Qiaoyan appears to be the brand (although that was not referenced in the listing).

My favorite part is that inside below the double-tipped applicator a mirror that you when applying the product.  The circle in the mirror is the lens of my camera to show that although the mirror is tiny, it is still large enough to see to get the job done.


This product has 12 different colors in more of a nude/neutral palette.

The gold shade in the upper left-hand corner is much more yellowish and doesn't really work with the rest of the colors.  That being said, I like the rest of the colors can be worn in different combinations and go well together.

 While it looks very sparkly in case, it is much more subtle when you apply.

If you are hoping to achieve a retro-disco look for a party or Halloween (as I had hoped), you are probably not going to achieve it with this product.  It is a more "no makeup", less pigmented look with a bit of sparkle that catches light other that glittery that could be used for an everyday evening look or used as a bit of a an accent used with other more matte shadows during the day.

2017 Urban Decay Brow Box, Regularly $30 Value, Only $9.00 + tax Shipped

Normally $30, Urban Decay currently has the above Brow Box on sale for $9.00, which is 70% off.

The set is palm-sized and contains:

• 2 shades of brow powder
• Perfecting/Setting Wax
• Mini Metal Tweezers
• 2 Mini Angles Brushes
• 2 mirrors (1 is a magnifying mirror)

It comes in two shade:  Honey Pot (lighter brown) and Brown Sugar (darker brown).

You also can select a free sample of their All Nighter Foundation in Light, Medium or Dark.

If you join UD Beauty Junkies you get free shipping (an additional $8 savings) and you can get all of the above for $9 + tax shipped.

DIY Jar of Sand Travels Keepsake

Picture - original source unknown - downloaded from Facebook

I saw this on Facebook and think it is a great idea, despite the fact that I live in the Midwest and rarely ever travel anywhere there is sand; guess I could collect dirt or small rocks instead.

I can see using a tall skinny jar, like the king Kroger salsa jar (picture below and although not my favorite, is pretty good for a bargain brand)  

then collect around 1/4-1/3 cup of sand (or dirt or small rocks) where you visited and then use your printer and clear address labels to print off where you have been and cut around the label and center it on the front 

Campbell's Well Yes! Italian Vegetables with Farro Soup - Review

This is one of 9 soups in a new line of soups from Campbells Well Yes! line.

Campbell's website for the soup indicates their promise for Well Yes! soups are are: 

"Clean, simple and nutritious ingredients available in nine flavors"

"Deliciously crafted with ingredients you know and understand, but with unexpected flavors you’ll love. Our ingredients are chosen purposefully to make you feel good about what you’re eating in every bite."

The look of the label in modern and look great on a shelf, with the branding at the top, the type of soup in the middle and pictures of the ingredients at the bottom.

The 16.6oz can of Italian Vegetables with Farro Soup is in a tomato/vegetable broth base, tomatoes, white beans, carrots, red peppers & zucchini and farro grains.

Pros:  

• This soup is Vegan
• Seems to contains more vegetables than regular Vegetable soup
• Is quick and easy to prepare - just heat and eat like regular soup
• Can lining is BPA-Free and recyclable
• Is low in calories - 2 servings per can at only 80 calories
• As it is a newer product there are sales and coupons (see link at bottom of post)
• High in Vitamin A and Fiber
• No Artificial Colors or Flavors

Cons:

• Flavor is a little lacking; much better if you add some flavored cracker like CheezIts (but also increases the calorie intake)
• Price is higher than Campbell's standard soups - suggested retail prices is around $2.69.
• High in salt (sodium) - 25% of the daily allowance in one serving.

Overall is a good soup and I will try some of the other soups while they are on sale or if I have a coupon as they can make a quick meal or complete a sandwich meal.

This is the full can of soup in a bowl

Coupons - currently .50 cents off one can or $1.25 off two.

Source of some information above: Business Wire.  All photos were taken by me.

Fragrance Gifts Sets 25% Off at In-Store at Sears

At our local Sears in-store (and likely at other Sears stores) they have Ladies and Men's fragrance gift sets 25% off the original price.

I picked the Elizabeth Arden as I used to wear Red Door and have sampled Sunflowers, but had not tried the other two.

Above is an Elizabeth Arden set that includes:

• .33oz fl. oz. 5th Avenue Eau De Parfum Spray
• .5 fl. oz. Sunflowers Eau Toilette Spray
• 33oz fl. oz. Red Door Eau De Parfum Spray
• .5 fl. oz. Sunflowers Eau De Parfum Spray

The box above indicates it is a $44.00, had an original price of  $28.50 and I picked it up for $21.37 + tax, so it is less than 1/2 price of what the value is and a great way to try out a new fragrance or stock up if it is an old favorite.

Some sets have compilations of fragrance from one brand, like the above, and others have the same scent in different sizes and/or lotion/body wash.

As few of the scents they had for women are::

• Elizabeth Taylor
• Celine Dione 
• Paris Hilton
• Giorgio
• Britney Spears

In Men's sets they 

• Several different sets of  Curve
• Axe

Thift Store Finds - 3 Butterick Patters - .40 Cents

Franciscan Family Thrift Store had a 1/2 price sale this weekend.  The patterns were not marked so I took a chance in picking them up ,but was ecstatically surprised that the original price was .25 cents and I picked up the above patterns for .40 cents.  Had I known the price, I would have picked up a lot more patterns as to me, they are pure gold.

As the fit on any pattern that had not been tried before can be a little tricky, and some sewers would prefer trying in a muslin material, I like to buy thrift store bed sheets before investing in a higher dollar fabric to see if the fit needs to be tweaked or if the pattern looks great, but not so great on me and time to donate it back.

Modern Table Meals - Teriyaki Bean Pasta and Veggie Kit - Review

I purchased the above packet of Modern Table Teriyaki Bean Pasta and Veggie Kit at Target for $3.99 as I liked the fresh design and clear packaging on the side and colorful pasta made out of Red Lentil Beans and it advertised many features that I liked:

• Pasta made out of Red Lentils instead of flour
• No artificial color or preservatives
• High in Protein (19 grams) and Fiber (7 grams) per serving
• Gluten Free
• Vegetarian
• Has all items in packet to serve 4 people 
• Ready in 10 minutes

My first impression is this would be an overall healthier choice for a side dish or could be turned into a main dish by adding a protein.  The bean pasta also contained dried carrots and red bell peppers.

Although the instructions are the back seem straightforward at a glance, it doesn't indicate if the bean pasta is to be added to boiling water like you do regular pasta then reduce, bring to boil and reduce or any clue of what temperature the product should be cooked at other than "boil".

I cooked mine like regular pasta, added to boiling water then reduced heat, stirring occasionally and cooked 7 minutes (online instruction their website indicate 5-6 minutes).  It did form some foam on the top as indicated in the instructions, but it came out rather "gummy" like it was over cooked.

The website indicate you could add frozen broccoli, edamame or snow peas during the last minutes of boiling but did not recommend an amount or 

Drain it, but do not rinse and set aside.

For the sauce packet, it indicated 2 tablespoons oil (I used Canola), 1/2 cup water and open the sauce packet and mix.

The sauce looked like this when mixed.

To the cooked pasta, toss in the sauce from above then sprinkle the seasoning packet from the package on top as it is to add flavor.  

The website indicated you could add when tossing the noodles your own:

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
• Sriracha sauce if you prefer it hot 

.Although I like what initially attracted me to the product as outlined above, I found the product to be:

• Lacking in specific instructions
• Lacking in flavor and rather bland.  I ended up adding a tablespoon of soy sauce to try to make palatable and did not feel I should have needed to do so.
• Not as carefree and simple successful dish as it seemed at first glance.

Although the red lentil pasta is unique, there are vegetable kinds of pasta on the market and you could easily make your own sauce or even buy a jarred sauce and it would be just as quick, get more for your money and taste better, so this is not a product I would recommend.