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...

If you've ever dealt with trying to find a healthy snack that actually tastes good or an "out of the norm" new vegetable side, this recipe is for you! Kale is often overlooked, but it is a superfood suited for many uses! This amazing vegetable has many health benefits including the fact that it is high in iron, vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, and fiber; easily making kale a guilt-free, superfood addition to your diet. You can add it to smooties, stirfrys, egg scrambles, burgers, salads, as well as many other things, including these delicious chips. Kale chips are incredibly easy to make and only require three ingredients. The are light and crispy, absolutely delicious. If you buy kale already chopped, this recipe becomes even simpler, but it can be done with a bunch of kale with minimal effort. Kale Chips Recipe 3 Cups of Chopped Kale (stalks removed) 1 Tbsp Olive oil 1 or 2 Pinches of Sea Salt Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cookie...

Going out to dinner can be a wonderful way to celebrate Valentines' day, but it can also be a hassle. Poor food or inattentive waitstaff, even heavy traffic can really put a damper on the mood. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate with your love while staying in. Few things beat the romance of a picnic at home, preferably in front of the fireplace. The coziness and intimacy of it can create the perfect atmosphere. Put on a romantic movie or music in the background, pour some wine, and you've got the right foundation for a special night. Cooking together can be an activity filled with affection and anticipation. Think creativity, such as making a thin crust pizza together. (You don't want anything too heavy.) Keep it simple and buy the crust, sauce, and toppings. That way you can jump right in to assembling it together. If you're looking for something sweeter, you can get a variety of fruit and some chocolate chips. You can cut up the fruit and melt the ...

The library is an often overlooked, yet vital asset to each and every one of us. Thousands upon thousands of books and videos at your fingertips for free. So, how can this help your cooking? Public libraries have an astounding number of books on cooking techniques, recipes, and entertaining guidelines. You can find books on every cooking style, older traditional recipes, newer fusion recipes. All the information for your next culinary adventure at your fingertips! There is nothing wrong with buying books that interest you. My motto is that "you can never have too many books". But, why not try out your public libraries' selection first. That way you can find the books that truly speak to you and then you can buy those. This helps ensure that you don't end up with a plethora of books you'll never use. Most libraries have websites where you can search by title or topic ahead of time. You can peruse the variety of choices and place holds on the books that ...

Flatware used to be very coveted tools that were considered a luxury. In modern times, it seems that a single fork on the table at each place setting is accepted as adequate. This is an injustice that has led to sloppy eating habits and a loss of etiquette as well as manners. At the absolute minimum, a place setting should have a knife and fork. Preferably a bread knife on a bread plate as well if the meal so dictates. Having a dinner knife allows you a "pusher" for getting smaller bites of food onto your fork. This eliminates the need to shovel bites of food off of your plate and into your mouth. Having a separate bread knife ensures that your butter stays clean and that guests can access the butter as needed. Its terrible to use your dinner knife on your dinner only to find out that you were expected to use it on the butter first. If you will not have bread knives, ensure that your guests have access to the butter before soiling their dinner knives. If you have ...

Children can learn so much from making things in the kitchen. Not only does it teach them patience and how to follow instructions, but it also teaches science and builds confidence. The younger that you start allowing children to help in the kitchen, the better. In France, it is customary for children to bake on the weekends. They start at around three years old. They will bake in the morning and enjoy the treats for their afternoon snack. This helps teach patience. It also breaks the cycle of instant gratification. This is a wonderful approach that sets children up for success throughout their lives. One of the earliest recipes that children delve into is the yogurt cake. This cake is perfect for small hands. It uses two 6 oz. yogurt containers that then become the measuring cups for most of the other ingredients. This recipe is very forgiving, so if a cup is overflowing or not filled all the way to the top, the cake will still turn out well. You can allow children to get ...

Have you ever had that moment where you just finished cooking dinner after a stressful, hectic, crazy day, and its much later than your family's normal dinner time, and as you triumphantly announce that its ready, you realize that the table has not been set? Now dinner is getting cold while everyone pitches in, grabbing the plates, saucers, flatware, glasses, napkins, and condiments. Dinner is now cold. What's the solution? Everyone knows that I am a big planner. I am a firm believer that meal planning can make life so much easier. And meal planning is crucial for this habit to work. Its best if you know what the next meal is going to be, or at least have a basic idea of what it will consist. You can find more information on meal planning and prep  here . After you clear the table following a meal, set it for the next meal. Simple right? At minimum, put out the plates, saucers, and cloth napkins. Then, if you have children they can put out the flatware and condiments whi...