The Best and Easiest Crockpot Roast I Have Ever Made

I don't think I've ever posted a recipe before, but this one is definitely post worthy.  I got this recipe from a link to picture on Pinterest.  I don't even have the original blog site to credit the idea to.  It is so amazingly easy and delicious.

Here's what you need:

Zesty Italian Dressing Mix

Ranch Dressing Mix

Brown Gravy Mix

For the brown gravy, I got our grocery store's generic, low sodium version.  I was actually a little worried about the sodium content, thinking the roast would be too salty, but it was perfect.

1-2 pounds of your favorite roast

I used about 1.3 pounds of my favorite roast, the chuck roast.  As long as you cook it long enough, the marbling will dissolve, making the meat incredibly moist and tender.  TIP:  If your roast is tough, you haven't cooked it long enough!  Most people, including myself, always thought that it was over cooked when it was tough.

Directions:

1. Gather all ingredients.  
2. Place the roast in your crock pot on low heat.  (Use low, people.  The low and slow method for roasts really is the best, in my opinion).  
3. Dump contents of all packets over meat.  
4. Pour water over beef until just covered.  
5. After, I poured the water over the beef, I grabbed a spoon and stirred the packet contents together, making sure to make a slight paste over the beef, to seal in flavor.  
6. Let it do it's thing for the next 8 hours at least.  No joke, I cooked mine on low for 12, and it was perfect.
1. You can also add vegetables to your roast, which we did.  I love baby carrots and new potatoes (quartered), so I added those with about 5 hours left of cook time.  Mushrooms would also be good.
7. DEVOUR!!!  

Fitting Room Photos and Falling Back in Love with Anthropologie

Lately, I'd had a love/hate relationship with my beloved store.  I absolutely cannot stand the boxy, shapeless, asymmetric silhouettes that so many stores are carrying lately.  I don't think they're flattering unless you are a pencil thin, petite size zero, which I am absolutely not.  I prefer the more structured silhouettes of J Crew and Banana Republic.  I still love Anthropologie dearly, but have been sorely disappointed lately. 

Recently, my mom and I went to browse our local Anthro, and I was pleasantly surprised to have my old emotional reaction to their clothing.  I have a visceral reaction to Anthropologie clothes that I truly love, and that is how I know it's my favorite store.  Call me vain or whatever, but my heart goes pitter-patter in that stores.  It's love at first sight, but with a garment.  I like to get both full priced items at Anthropologie to try on.  I evaluate which size I need, and if I love it, I go home and immediately add it to my Anthropologie Wish List.  It's a great way to keep track of items I'm drying to have and watch for sales.  I fell in love with a few of there items and snapped some fitting room photos.

Blue Mesa Sweater Skirt

This skirt is absolutely beautiful.  It's 100% wool, but soft and substantial.  No Spanx or slips needed makes for a happy Kate.  At the current price tag, I had to put it back, but I hope to snag it on sale.

Scalloped Stripes Dress

I saw this on the hanger, and thought, "what the heck."  I adore it.  It's substantial (no slips/camis needed), and a great length.  I can picture myself pairing this with a jean jacket and my cognac colored boots for the fall.  It's adorable and was wishlisted.

Cabana Chemise

I actually did not purchase this dress, even though I loved it.  The top part seemed a bit of to me, and I couldn't decide.  This dress is made for apple-shaped silhouettes, and I'm more of a pear.  At $40, it was hard to pass up, but I put it back to the rack.  If I'm still thinking of it tomorrow or in a few days, I may pop back in to Anthropologie to see if they still have it.

I truly enjoy fitting room photos in the blogs I follow.  It helps me to see how the clothes I like look on real women.  I hope to post more in the future. 

urban decay naked palette

I had been lusting over the Urban Decay Naked Palette for years, and finally, about a year ago, made the plunge and purchased it.  If you sign up for emails from Urban Decay, you get a discount (I think 20% off), and they had free shipping and included a deluxe sample.  So, I got a great deal on it.  Also, I know that the old palettes used to come with a half black/half brown eyeliner in the kit.  Now, they come with a brush that is also fantastic, and great for the eyeshadow application.

Above is the first half of the palette (please excuse the crappy iPhone pics under bad, fluorescent lighting).

(from left to right):
Virgin:  the best highlighting color.  If I'm pressed for time and my complexion is looking extra dull, I'll sweep this gorgeous color over my cheekbones and down the bridge of my nose.  I love it!

Sin:  Also, a gorgeous color, but the shimmer is more coarse than Virgin.

Naked:  The PERFECT base color.  It matches my lids perfectly so that I don't always have to use my UD eyeshadow primer (which is also great).

Sidecar:  Sidecar is the perfect color, BUT there are huge flecks of glitter that fall to my cheeks.  So, I NEVER wear it.  Take the flecks of glitter out, and I would have been such a happy girl.

Buck:  My favorite, favorite color for the crease of my eyes.  It is such a gorgeous, warm light brown, and adds great dimension.

Half Baked:  A great gold color for the inner corner of my eyelids.  It adds a great shine without looking too 'Liberachi.'

  And the last half, from left to right

Smog:  A darker brown than half-baked, and less golden.  Also a gorgeous color.

Darkhorse:  I love putting this color on the outer corners of my eyelid. It's a great brown to give depth.

Toasted:  I love this color as a base for my eyelid when I'm going out or to a nicer dinner where I want to wear more makeup.  Alone, though, this color looks gorgeous.

Hustle:  Probably my favorite color in the collection.  I absolutely love burgundy eye shadows, and I usually end up wearing this on my lids with buck in the crease and then blending.  It is a gorgeous fall/winter color.

Creep:  I love this color for smudging eyeliners.  I take this color and blend it along my lash line to smudge any harsh lines that my eyeliner may have created.

Gunmetal:  I have blue eyes, and this color makes them POP.  I love this color on my lid.

There are a few more things I love about the Naked Palette:
The colors are highly pigmented and they do not fade and/or crease.
They can take you from season to season with the color versatility.
Probably my favorite thing is that you can find TONS of makeup tutorials using the Naked Palette, since it is so popular.  Then, you can make the tutorials your own.

Two Weeks of a Low Carb Diet

I have now officially completed week two of my low carb diet.  By low carb, I mean: no sugars, no breads, no fried and/or breaded foods.  I allow myself fruit.  To be completely honest, it hasn't been that difficult.  The hardest part has been the tedious planning.  I have to make sure that I'm always one step ahead of myself, especially when running errands.  There aren't exactly many places to get a low carb snack or meal in a drive through.  I've been living off these 100 Calorie Cocoa or Cinnamon Roast Almonds as a quick snack option that satisfies my sweet tooth and that I can throw in my purse.   

Other things I've been loving are as follows:

Cauliflower Crust Pizza:  Woah, Mama!  These pizzas are good!  I made the first one and was hooked.  No lie; this crust is better than traditional crust.  It is addicting and so delicious.  I also re-heated a few slices the next day for lunch at work, and it tasted just as delicious. 

Parmesan Rosemary Crackers:  These are a fabulous snack when I am craving something to crunch.  The recipe calls for dill, but I'm addicted to Rosemary, so I add that instead.  These are delicious.  I also omit the salt in the recipe.

Chocolate Mousse/Frosting:  Once again, delicious.  Even my husband liked this, and he HATES anything diet.

Breakfast Meatballs:  Absolutely delicious for a quick go-to breakfast that you can grab and heat.

Paleasagna:  This stuff is FANTASTIC.  I made this initially before I even stared going low-carb.  Even my picky husband will eat it.

Kale Chips:  Absolutely addicting as well.  I omit the Parmesan usually and just add some salt.  Yum!!

Have you ever done a low-carb diet?  What's worked for you?

Introducting...Another Gamechanger Hair Product

Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser's Invisible Oil

Oh.  My.  Gosh.  This stuff is incredible.  I have tried several hair oils, and this one is by far my favorite.  I like this one, because it is also a heat protector.  My hair has every type of hair in one:  fine and stick straight as well as coarse, thick and wavy.  If I do a blowout, my hair usually ends up frizzing within moments of stepping outside.  I got this stuff in a Sephora sample and am truly amazed.  It made my hair SO smooth and sleek for days.  I only applied about a dime sized amount, I think more would cause an oil slick, on my damp hair before a blow out.  My hair stayed frizz free and soft for THREE DAYS.  Yes, I was able to have day three hair with this stuff (which I have never done in my life).  I would highly recommend this stuff!