Raines Realm

I have taken some time to test out Elf's Matte lipstick and it performs extremely well! In using this lipstick for the past month, I can now accurately share my experience. The color that I chose was Berry Sorbet . For the three dollars that I spent on it, I have to say that I didn't expect very much. But, I have used other elf products and I have been very happy with them, so it was worth a shot. The color was so vibrant and rich. It went on very smoothly. It is not a dull matte and it didn't dry out my lips either. Because of the shape, I was able to use it to line my lips before filling them in. That was definitely an added bonus. Now, this is not a lip stain, so it will transfer to things like napkins, but I knew that going into this. As far as the transfer, it wasn't bad when it came to things like glasses and cups. It did leave a little mark, but not some huge layer that ends up smearing your lipstick on the second sip. Overall, I would say that this...

In this day and age, many of us have lives so demanding that we have become accustomed to rushing. One common sacrifice is the act of savoring our food. To consume anything at all some days is sadly considered a victory. Meals are one of the most primary functions that we achieve throughout the day. How we approach them says a lot about our personalities. If we treat meals as an inconvenience or something that merits little more than an afterthought, then we are telling ourselves that we are not worth the effort. We are stifling our own importance. We must love ourselves enough to savor our meals. We all deserve to have the time to experience our food. Interesting things happen when we do this. Our taste buds may change. We realize that certain foods taste differently when we take the time to chew. Slow eating also leads to better digestion and becoming full from less food. To truly savor your meals, start in the kitchen by savoring the various aromas. Allow your anticipati...

We've all heard the saying, "we eat with our eyes". Well, restaurants have started taking it to the next level. If you've noticed the dimly-lit, cozy atmosphere in restaurants replaced by bright, unflattering lights, you can blame social media. As the quest to be "Facebook famous" grows, more people are searching for that perfect dining photo. Restaurants have picked up on this and are attempting to cash in on the free advertising. This means brighter lighting for higher quality phone camera shots. Some restaurants are taking it a step further with food photography classes on a weekly basis. Specialized plates are being utilized that allow even the most amateur photographer to produce high quality images. With all of this focus on photography, expect your dishes to be dressed up a little fancier than usual. Extra garnish, elegant presentations, all of the bells and whistles to make them camera-ready. Some restaurants are tring to encourage thi...