Quick Dinners with Mama Jen: Chicken and Veggie Stir fry

What you need:

1 lb chicken breast
1 large onion diced
2 bell peppers diced
1 TBSP minced ginger
1 TBSP minced garlic
10 oz bag matchstick carrots
1 can of baby corn (in the Asian section of your grocery store)
6-8 cups Broccoli
2 TBSP peanut oil
1 cup chicken stock
1 TBSP corn starch
1/4 cup soy sauce

Heat oil and add garlic and ginger cook for 1 minute. Add onion and bell pepper cook about 3 minutes. Add chicken and cook until white. Add carrots, corn and broccoli and cook about 3 minutes. Add soy sauce.

Take the chicken stock and 1 TBSP of corn starch and mix until the corn starch is dissolved and add to the pan. Bring to a boil and then let it simmer until the broth begins to thicken.

This is such an easy dish to make...use what you have. Other great veggies to add is zucchini, peas, snap peas, water chestnuts.

I used the instant white rice to make this an even quicker meal.

FOTD: Mean Green

Ok i have a slight problem...I have a little obsession with green eyeshadows and it seems that's all i've been wearing this past week! But it is my favorite color..so oh well!

Face:

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Light
MUFE HD Foundation 110
MAC MSF Natural Light Medium
MAC Hipness blush
MAC MSF Perfect Topping

Eyes:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Minted eye kohl
MAC Landscape Green pigment
MAC Humid e/s
MAC Carbon e/s
MAC Solar White e/s
Cover Girl Lash Blast
MAC Feline kohl power

MAC Stud brow pencil
Anastasia clear brow gel

Lips:

MAC Fleshpot l/s
MAC 2N l/g

A Bouquet of Beauty Sci Fi contest entry

I am a huge fan of old Sci Fi films. The Blob, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman and so on. I came across these 2 movie posters for Swamp Thing and Creature from the Black Lagoon and was inspired to create a look inspired by the colors from the poster. I used manly different shades of greens and some blues to create a night time look.

Face:

MAC Translucent Finishing powder
MAC Spaced Out Blush
MAC MSF Perfect Topping

Eyes:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
MAC Pharaoh paint pot
MAC Parrot e/s
MAC Humid e/s
MAC Bio Green e/s
MAC Phloof e/s
MAC Feline eyeliner
Dior Show Blackout Mascara
MAC Stub brow pencil
Anastasia Clear brow gel

Lips:

MAC Cherry lip liner
MAC Kanga-Rouge l/s
Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Eric

FOTD: Simple with red lips

I only had a few minutes to get ready and this is all i put on

What I used:

MAC MSF Natural in Light Medium
MAC Hipness blush
E.L.F. eyeliner and shadow stick
Cover Girl Lash Blast
MAC Ruby Woo lipstick
Sally Hansen Lipnotic Gem Gloss in Sumptuous

Quick Dinners with Mama Jen: Texas Chili

What you need:

2 lbs beef or turkey
2 cups red kidney beans (drain and rinse)
4 cups diced tomatoes
1 large onion diced
2 large green bell peppers diced
1-2 garlic cloves
3 TBSP chili powder
1 TSP cumin
1 TSP red pepper flakes
1 TSP dried oregano
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

How:

Brown meat, drain well and set aside. Take a couple TBSP of oil and heat. Add garlic, onion, bell pepper, and dry spices and cook for about 5 minutes or until onions become soft. Then add drained and rinsed beans, tomatoes, cooked meat, water and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and then let simmer for about 2 hours. After 30 or 45 minutes the chili is done, but the longer you let it simmer the better the chili will taste.

This chili is not a thick and hearty chili but a few ways to make it a little thicker. Take a TBSP of corn starch and 1/4 cups of water and mix and add to chili. Another trick when the chili is simmering do not put the lid on.

Top with shredded cheddar cheese and enjoy!

Quick Desserts with Mama Jen: Pumpkin Cupcakes

This is the easiest recipe for semi homemade pumpkin cupcakes.

What you need:

Spice cake mix
3 large eggs
1/3 cup of oil
1/3 water
1 TBSP cinnamon
1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
cream cheese icing

You don't have to add the cinnamon but i like to put extra. You can also substitue the oil for apple sauce to make it a little healthier.

I had to use store bought cream cheese this time but homemade cream cheese is so much better and really simple to make.

Cream Cheese Icing

2 8 oz cream cheese packages softened
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup softened butter (i prefer unsalted)
2 cups of sifted powder sugar

In a bowl mix the cream cheese first, then add other ingredients slowly until mixed!

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

How sexy is this photo of me? I'm pretty sure i am the last person on the face of the earth that had never tried the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque. For years I have heard about this mask. Seen numerous reviews on Make Up Alley, youtube, blogs, etc. I have always wanted to try it but it just seemed like i never actually bought it to try. Well the other day i was at Walgreen's and i decided to pick it up and see what it was all about.

On the package it claims to reduce pores, wash away blackheads and dry out acne. Now I don't have bad skin, it's by no means perfect. I really wasn't impressed with the product. OK the smell alone made me want to eat it. I love spearmint gum and to me that exactly what it smells like.

If you haven't used this before you apply it to a clean face and let it dry for about 15 minutes and then wash off with warm water. I didn't notice really any different to my skin after using it. My nose is my trouble area for blackheads and they weren't washed away. Maybe that's just me being hopeful that it could actually hold up to that claim. I can dream right?

It did however leave my skin feeling like it have been exfoliated. My face felt very smooth and clean afterward. I am not going to give up after one use and I will keep using the product to see if I notice a difference in my skin.