October-December and CURRENT Favorites! (31 Things.)

January 9, 2022January 9, 2022That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Let’s get into my recent Favorite Things! Some of you have been asking about my next “favorites” list. I got you.

There’s a lot going on in this list because it’s a build-up of favorites ranging from October to now. 31 things, three months, the standard 10-per-month, plus one, as it’s the second week of the fourth month.

Surprisingly, I’ve only got two movies to show for the last three months. There were a few others that I watched, but I didn’t enjoy them enough (or wasn’t impressed enough) to want to share them. Whatever’s on this list is only here because it really knocked me out.

Without further ado, then!

MOVIES (In the order that I saw them)

1). Dune (IMAX theater)

Epic! Especially on IMAX!

2). The Power of the Dog (Netflix)

In my opinion, Benedict Cumberbatch deserves an Oscar for his work in this film. Cumberbatch as the dark and complex protagonist in a Western is one of the most surprising things I’ve seen in film ever, and his adeptness with the material in character is stunning. What a performance! And what a film, in general. I highly recommend this one.

—–

T.V. SERIES/MINISERIES (In the order that I saw them)

3). Midnight Mass (Netflix)

Spooky season in 2021 didn’t disappoint.

4). You, S3 (Netflix)

The finale episode of You, season 3 was without a doubt one of the best season finales I’ve ever seen, and season 3 is by far my favorite season of the series. This does not happen often. You season 3 is fantastic.

5). Maid (Netflix)

This one was difficult to watch, but I made myself sit through the whole thing, just one episode per week. That was all I could handle. I was relieved when it was over, but it was undeniably excellent, and I do recommend it. Trigger warning for domestic violence/abuse.

6). Escape From a House of Horror: A Diane Sawyer Special Event (Hulu)

Do you remember the case of the Turpin family? The group of 13 siblings who spent their lives locked up, abused, and malnourished, discovered by police after one of the daughters escaped? In this special on Hulu, Diane Sawyer interviews that young woman and her sister. It’s heart-breaking, but also inspiring.

7). Arcane (Netflix)

Outstanding animation and a great story!

8). The Witcher (Netflix) – Currently watching

9). Stay Close (Netflix) – Currently watching

FOOD

10). Lacinato (“dinosaur”) kale with Okinawan sweet potatoes and kimchi.

Okinawan sweet potato, Lacinato kale, and kimchi

Kimchi and the purple potato complement each other so well!

I can’t come up with words to adequately describe Lacinato kale, as it’s unique. It’s delicate, slightly bitter, solid and soft at the same time, and it melts in the mouth (I steam it). I’m hooked!

11). Green leaf lettuce, avocado, and plant-based chick’n salad.

Green leaf lettuce, avocado, plant chick’n

This salad is heavenly. I use an entire (small) bunch of green leaf lettuce, an avocado, and pan-fried Tofurky chick’n pieces, and then I drizzle the salad generously with olive oil, squeeze in half of a lemon, and grind sea salt and black peppercorns over the whole thing. I could eat this salad every day and never get tired of it.

12). Almond-butter-stuffed protein pancakes.

I came up with this creation one Sunday morning – Sunday morning pancakes almost every week! – when I couldn’t decide on almond butter or regular Earth Balance with maple syrup. I wanted both, so I spread almond butter onto one pancake, topped it with the second one (I make two large pancakes with the amount of batter that’s supposed to feed a family of four – serving sizes are ridic, in my opinion), spread Earth Balance on that top pancake, cut the stack into wedges, and poured on the maple syrup. It’s delicious and quite filling. I haven’t had these pancakes any other way since.

My go-to protein pancake mix is Birchbenders Plant Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix.

13). Healthy Banana Cookies.

This recipe is sorcery. Explain to me how a mere five ingredients go from a chunky slimy wet and sloppy mess in the bowl to these amazing cookies after 15 minutes in the oven…? The five ingredients are bananas, dates, oatmeal, oil, and vanilla extract. There’s no flour, sweetener, or leavening agents. These cookies defy standard baking chemistry rules (of which I’m aware, anyway). The problem is that knowing that they’re basically baked oatmeal in cookie form, I feel justified in eating half a batch in one sitting. I have to ration them in order to make them last. No more than five at a time, I tell myself (before I proceed to eat eight).

14). Sourdough toast.

Sourdough toast with organic Earth Balance.

Hot sourdough toast dripping with butter (Earth Balance, in my case) is one of my favorite comfort foods. I was born in San Francisco and grew up in the SF Bay Area, so I’m super picky about my sourdough bread. For myself, personally, I’ve found that the best sourdough breads this side of San Francisco are any of the options available at Trader Joe’s. They have classic, whole wheat, and multi-grain varieties, and they’re all good.

15). Made in Nature Apricots in the Buff Supersnacks Organic Dried Apricots.

Ingredients: Organic pitted apricots.

16). Prana Organic Kilimanjaro Deluxe Chocolate Trail Mix.

Someone gave to this me as a gift. I wish that they didn’t, because now I know about it.

Ingredients: 70% Cocoa Dark Chocolate* (Chocolate liquor*, Cane sugar*, Cocoa butter*, vanilla extract*), Raisins* (raisins*, sunflower oil*), Cashews*, Almonds*, Cranberries* (cranberries*, cane sugar*, sunflower oil*), Walnuts*, Sea salt. *Organic

17). Clif Nut Butter Bar (Chocolate & Peanut Butter).

Literally stuffed with creamy peanut butter!

Ingredients: PEANUT BUTTER*, ROLLED OATS*, OAT FLOUR*, BROWN RICE SYRUP*, CANE SYRUP*, DATE PASTE*, PEA PROTEIN*, HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER OIL*, RICE STARCH*, TAPIOCA SYRUP*, PALM OIL*, PEANUT FLOUR*, CANE SUGAR*, RICE FLOUR*, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, UNSWEETENED CHOCOLATE*, COCOA*, NATURAL FLAVORS, SEA SALT, ALKALIZED COCOA*, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS (ANTIOXIDANT).

*ORGANIC INGREDIENT

18). Sprouts Organic Popcorn Himalayan Pink Salt and Coconut Oil.

Ingredients: Organic Popcorn, Organic Coconut Oil, Himalayan Pink Salt.

If you don’t have a Sprouts near you, any popcorn with Himalayan pink salt and coconut oil would be fabulous, I’m sure!

19). Rick’s Picks Smokra Pickled Okra with Seasoned Paprika.

I love ingredients lists that look like this product’s. Everything on this list is whole, and it’s all stuff that I like. This pickled smoked okra is just sour enough, just spicy enough, and more than amazing enough. I’m totally hooked.

Ingredients: cider vinegar, okra, water, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, curry powder, mustard seed, chili flakes, dried chili peppers, cayenne pepper

———

Beverages

20). Jade Leaf Organic Japanese Matcha Green Tea Powder.

Ingredients: 100% organic Japanese Matcha green tea powder.

Matcha green tea – an antioxidant bomb with a slow-release caffeine effect that tastes as mellow as some black teas can taste sharp.

21). Kiki Green The Eight Mushrooms.

I’ve added medicinal mushrooms back into my daily supplement regimen, and this time, I’ve gone the route of mushroom powder. This blend is excellent with its eight mushrooms: Red Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Shiitake, Turkey Tail, Maitake, and Agaricus Blazei Murrill.

Kiki Green’s The Eight Mushrooms powder is a newer product that hasn’t found its way to their website yet. They themselves posted it on their Facebook page with a link to the product on Amazon. Still, I’m linking you to Kiki Green’s site page on mushrooms, where you can read about the mushrooms, how they’re sourced and grown and harvested, the medicinal properties of each, and so on.

This brings me to my new morning indulgence:

22). Matcha-mushroom tea.

Every morning, I ritually create a hot brew of matcha green tea and these eight mushrooms, and I bring the steaming mug into my bedroom and set it on the dresser next to my lit candle and magickal new fluorite skull – thank you, friend! – and drink it as I get ready for the day. Surprisingly, the brew tastes of dark, bitter (unsweetened) chocolate. The flavor of the tea, itself, is mellow, round, and smooth, and somehow, the added mushrooms give it a distinct cocoa flavor, exactly as I’d imagine hot chocolate tasted as consumed by the ancient Maya and Aztecs.

23). Pirq (“Decadent Chocolate”)

It became less and less possible to get my hands on my years-long favorite plant-protein shake by Vega – I guess they discontinued it – so I had to switch. I landed on this one by Pirq, and I have to say, I can’t be mad about it. It straight-up tastes like chocolate milk.

PRODUCTS

24). Sprouts Shea Butter and Almond Bar Soap. (Cruelty-free and vegan)

My beloved Dr. Bronner’s tea tree liquid soap rebelled against me at some point in the fall… it started drying out my skin as the weather turned cooler. I had to go on the hunt for another option for the cold months, and I found a gem in the first one that I tried. It’s this unassuming little bar of soap, Sprouts’ generic brand, ivory in color and devoid of design or fragrance. The bar yields a generous, rich lather, and it leave my skin soft and moisturized. Another keeper!

25). Sea Witch Botanicals Krampus Solid Perfume. (Cruelty-free and vegan)

My sister-in-law gave this perfume to me for Christmas. Its label reads: “A Sinister Winter Aroma of Frankincense, Woods, and Holiday Spice.” I guess if any fragrance could be described as “sinister,” it would be this one. It’s gorgeous.

26). Hask Biotin Boost 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray. (Cruelty-free and vegan)

I just wasn’t born with “nice” hair, and there are no miracle hair products, so any hair product that I post as a favorite gets onto the list because it works well relative to the ground-zero state of things. This biotin boost spray smells just awful – like a 1970’s beauty salon – and I was going to trash it based on that. Then I woke up the next morning and saw what it did to my hair. I went out immediately and bought another one before it could be discontinued. Enough said.

27). e.l.f. Luminous Putty Primer Universal Glow. (Cruelty-free and vegan)

I’ve never had a good experience with primers, but I was happy to try three of e.l.f.’s putty primers when they arrived as free trial-size additions to an order. The original putty primer worked well, to my surprise, and this luminous version worked even better. I bought a full-size one.

28). Too Faced Peach Bloom Color Blossoming Lip & Cheek Tint (in Strawberry Glow). (Cruelty-free)

I wanted to try the darkest one there on the right, but it was sold out, so I got the one that wasn’t orangey. It’s a perfect shade of just enough color, and I love its silky formula. Also, it’s long-wearing! Incidentally, I think this is my first lip-color product on a “favorites” list since 2019.

———

MISCELLANEOUS

29). Mrs. Meyers Iowa Pine (seasonal/limited edition) Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner.

When Mrs. Meyer’s came out with their Iowa Pine limited edition scent for the holidays, I had a feeling that it would become my new, less-toxic Pine-Sol for my spiritual floor washes… and it did. Its pine scent is softer and lighter and just lovely, and I feel better about using it. I use this as my everyday cleaning spray, and when I go to do my floors, I just pour a little into the mop bucket with warm water. You know I stocked up vigorously. It’s now unavailable until next holiday season, but I’m set for the year.

30). Killstar “Don’t Care” slippers.

These slippers are adorable and that was what drew me to them, but that’s not why they’re on this list. They’re on the list because they keep my feet unbelievably warm and cozy. My house, as you know, is deliberately cold. My feet being warm is crucial. These slippers make all the difference, and their adorableness is a bonus!

On me:

The link is going to break soon, because these slippers are on clearance and selling out!

31). Duraflame Freestanding Infrared Quartz Fireplace Stove with Remote Control.

Duraflame fireplace space heater in my office

As I’d mentioned recently, this electric fireplace was a birthday gift from my parents. I’m blessed. 3D and flickering, the fire looks as real as hell, literally.

That’s it for the next… while, I guess! I’ll check in with another “favorites” list in three-four months, my friends. I do find that covering material over several months (rather than every month) makes sense.

May this find you healthy and safe!

Only fools rush in. (July/August Favorites!)

September 9, 2021That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Hello, my friends. It’s the ninth of September, and it’s high time I post my list of Favorite Little Things from July and August! I have some good things to share with you today.

As of this week, I’m doing this weird new thing of shutting everything down at 10pm to get ready for bed (!!!), so let’s get right into it, shall we? I’m keeping my commentary to a minimum, but I’m including trailers and ingredients lists for your discovery and information. It goes without saying that I recommend everything on this list!

1). The Night House (in theaters at the time of this posting)

The Night House is a current horror flick. I ventured out to the theater (for the first time since 2019) to watch it with my friend Caroline. It was a Very Good Choice… spooky, layered, thought-provoking, poetic.

2). Sunshine (Hulu)

I finally watched Sunshine, a sci-fi flick long on my list. Two things drew me to it: John Murphy’s Adagio in D Minor (“Surface of the Sun”), and the fact that it’s a space movie. The scene accompanied by the Adagio took my breath away. I loved this movie, and I’ll likely watch it again.

3). Reservation Dogs (Hulu)

Reservation Dogs follows the adventures of kids being kids, humans, friends, and Native Americans living on the Rez. The largest Native American reservation in the country – the Navajo Nation – is here in Arizona, and I have several friends who grew up there, so I especially appreciate the insight offered in this FX dramedy series. I enjoy its comedy aspects and its occasional merging of legend with reality. Or are they one and the same?

4). Brand New Cherry Flavor (Netflix)

In case you’re needing some creeptastic weirdness in your life…

5). Val (Amazon Prime Video)

Maybe it was because I knew about Val Kilmer’s current health challenges that I found myself misty-eyed and speechless ten minutes in, but I suspect that audiences unfamiliar with the actor would also be moved. In recovery from throat cancer, actor Val Kilmer shares his own, personal archival footage – from childhood on – to tell the story of his life. Thus begins an incredibly brave autobiographical film about an actor’s lifelong journey in his development as an artist.

6). Clickbait (Netflix)

I always appreciate a tense crime drama with a twist. This one’s premise is based on social media, and I found it to be original. At least, if there’s anything else out there that’s based on a video gone viral with user views as the murder weapon, I’m not aware of it. I mean, did the butler do it… in the library… with views? Nah.

7). Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

In this comedy series, Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez team up to make a true-crime podcast in their (Upper West Side) New York City apartment building. It’s funny and witty and delightful. Steve Martin still does it for me with his comedic timing and talent. I find myself laughing out of nowhere!

8). The Republic of Tea Emperor’s 100% White Tea bags.

After about five years of drinking no coffee or tea, I started drinking tea every morning again. I’ve been enjoying white tea, specifically. I have a cup of this Emperor’s White Tea every morning.

9). Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Flourless Taco Size Tortillas. (Vegan)

INGREDIENTS
Organic Sprouted Wheat, Filtered Water, Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Sprouted Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Barley, Organic Sprouted Millet, Organic Sprouted Lentils, Organic Sprouted Spelt, Organic Wheat Gluten, Sea Salt.

I love Ezekiel breads, and these tortillas are no exception. See my next item for my current favorite way to eat them:

10.) Steamed purple kale, white sweet potato, and hummus tacos with Kalamata olives. (Vegan)

I threw this combination together one day and loved it so much that I kept making it. It’s just steamed purple kale, steamed white sweet potatoes, organic hummus (chickpea spread/dip), and Kalamata olives on those Ezekiel 4:9 flourless sprouted grain tortillas. It’s all the macros I need in a day on one tasty plate.

11). No Evil Foods Comrade Cluck “No Chicken” plant meat. (Vegan)

INGREDIENTS
Filtered Water, Vital Wheat Gluten, Organic Soy Sauce (Water, Organic Soybeans, Organic Wheat, Salt), Organic Chickpea Flour, Nutritional Yeast, Organic Garlic Powder, Organic Onion Powder.

I’m not huge on meat substitutes, but I decided to try this No Evil Comrade Cluck no-chicken “chicken” one day. I sautéed the whole package at once and was somewhat turned off by the sight of the little pieces. They looked like dog kibbles! They taste like jerky, though!! They’re totally like jerky in how they taste and how much chewing they need. Chicken jerky, I guess. I’ve kept a bowl of sautéed No Evil in my fridge since then. They’re wonderful as a snack. I grab a handful and it’s delicious and it’s pure protein with no animal fats and…. You can see from the ingredients list above that they’re not highly processed. They contain 100% pronounceable ingredients in a short list.

12). Wholesum Poppies Organic Cherry Tomatoes.

Another favorite snack from the last two months: these cherry tomatoes! Wholesum Farms is here in Arizona, in Nogales, on the Mexican border. These tomatoes are out of this world. I have to ration them out to myself so I don’t tear through half a container in one sitting.

13). Dr. Bronner’s Hemp Tea Tree Pure Castile Liquid Soap. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

July and August were rough. One of the misadventures was my body suddenly reacting adversely to just about everything, and one major thing I did to resolve the matter was I tossed out all of my beloved scented body washes from The Body Shop. I had five of them. Luckily, they were all almost used up, so I didn’t feel that I was wasting the products.

I replaced them with this one great big bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Hemp Tea Tree Pure Castile soap. I love it. I am CURED of my addiction to The Body Shop! I especially love washing with this product in cool water. I close my eyes and it’s like I’m out in nature, it smells so fresh and green and crisp. It has a squeaky-clean feel in the shower, rather than a silky, softening feel, but after I get out, my skin feels super soft. I also use it as a shampoo when I’m just washing my bangs. It’s a wonderful healing product that’s kind to animals and good for the environment.

And there you have it! That’s all I’ve got, friends. Here’s hoping this finds you well.

May/June Favorites, 2021 – not too long ago.

July 8, 2021That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Hello, my friends.

I’m still raw with the loss of Salem and my sorrow for her for the way that she died, but I wanted to post my “favorite little things” list from May/June. Please to forgive me my brevity of commentary in this post. Suffice it to say that if it’s on this list, I’m a true fan.

Netflix provided an action/thriller film and a Scandinavian Noir series that I enjoyed:

1). The Ice Road (Netflix)

Employ massive suspension of disbelief to enjoy this film, and you will, if you’re into action/thrillers. The filmmakers stuffed as many disasters as they could fit into one hour and 49 minutes, and it’s ludicrous, but you should have a fun time. I found that all of my eyerolling was worth the shenanegans involving Liam Neeson pissed off and on a dangerous mission that becomes personal.

2). Katla (Netflix)

A Scandinavian Noir series centered around a volcano as the main character + changelings is the series I never knew I needed. It’s in Icelandic with subtitles. Like most in the Scandinavian Noir genre, Katla is slow-paced and dark. Just something to know going in.

Now for the consumables!

3). UpTime White Peach Lemonade Energy Drink.

It’s very rare that I drink an energy drink, and I hadn’t had one in years. Then I drove to the V.A. one day after work and starting falling asleep at the wheel. Alarmed, I went straight to the hospital retail store and bought this sugar-free white peach lemonade energy drink so I could get home without killing myself and others. I was amazed. Firstly, it was delicious. Secondly, it woke me up instantly. It’s yummy and it works!

Next, meet my favorite raisin bran:

4). Uncle Sam Skinner’s Raisin Bran.

INGREDIENTS
Whole Wheat Berries, Raisins (Raisins, Sunflower Oil), Salt, Barley Malt Syrup

I’ve been eating a lot of this raisin bran lately.

Moving on to my stand-by favorite Larabar of years, which saves the day every day. This bar is nothing but peanuts, dates, and sea salt. It does taste like a cookie:

5). Peanut Butter Cookie Lara Bar.

INGREDIENTS
Dates, peanuts, sea salt

I tried out these Triscut-like crackers and discovered that they’re spectacular with Trader Joe’s Mediterranean hummus, though they’d be great with any hummus, or any kind of dip, for that matter. I love how crunchy and thick these are:

6). Back to Nature Harvest Whole Wheat Crackers.

INGREDIENTS
Whole Grain Wheat, Safflower Oil, Sea Salt

It’s stone fruit season, and the stone fruits have me enraptured, as always:

7). Cherries and Santa Rosa plums.

Also, it was/is artichoke season!

I tried out some new snacky vegan items that are wonderfully simple and delicious. This activated superfood popcorn is a surprising flavor explosion. First, the salt. Then the grassy, earthy hints from the greens, along with the zestiness of the nutritional yeast. Lastly, the heat kicks in, a pleasant yet insistent burn in the mouth. The flavors play well together, and it’s overall redolent of taco sauce to me. The popcorn itself is fluffy and light. I love this popcorn:

8). Living Intentions Activated Superfood Popcorn Salsa Verde.

INGREDIENTS:
Popcorn*, Sunflower Oil*, Himalayan Crystal Salt, Nutritional Yeast* , Spinach*, Spirulina*, Chlorella*, Garlic*, Dill*, Cumin*, Lemon Peel*, Freeze Dried Kale*, Fermented Black Garlic*, Onion*, Black Pepper*, Turmeric*, Chilies* and Thyme* *Certified Organic

I tried out a brand of vegan ice cream that takes the words out of my mouth, it’s so creamy and rich:

9). Coconut Bliss Ice Cream Dark Chocolate.

INGREDIENTS
Coconut Milk* (Water, Coconut*, Guar Gum*), Coconut Syrup*, Coconut Cream*, Cocoa*† (processed with alkali), Vanilla Extract*. *Certified Organic †Fair Trade

I love the vanilla one, too!

Finally, the only product(s) on this list:

10). Pacifica Lavender Moon Body Lotion and Lavender Moon Body and Pillow Mist.

Pacifica Lavender Moon Body and Pillow Mist

For me, these products truly sooth as I give in to sleep. I love this fragrance, in and of itself. I wish they’d make a perfume out of it.

Not to be abrupt, but… The End.

Happy New Moon eve, my friends. Stay safe! And thank you for being here, as always.

March/April Favorites!

April 30, 2021That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

As I write this, April 2021 is less than 24 hours away from being over. Unbelievable!

In Monthly Favorites news, I’m here to share my favorite viewables of the last two months, for anyone who’s curious to know what I’ve been watching as of late. Many thanks to those of you who’ve said that you look forward to Monthly Favorites! I started out the MF year with a January/February list at the close of February, and I thought I’d continue doing these posts two months at a time. Future lists will include food and product discoveries, by the way.

I’ve been taking in my usual fare of horror, true crime documentary/docuseries, and suspense/thriller/mystery. I’ve got a couple of drama picks on this list, too.

Getting right into it, then! (In no particular order)

1). Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime Video)

A heartbreaking, enlightening, and masterfully wrought story of a heavy metal drummer whose sudden hearing loss challenges his identity, sanity, livelihood, and relationship.

2). Minari (Amazon Prime Video)

A Korean-American family relocates to Arkansas from California with hopes of farming Korean vegetables and fruits in the rich Arkansas soil. There are set-backs. There are sweet moments. There’s a feisty Korean grandma who’s a riot. That’s really all you need to know. The film is gorgeous, but the grandma is the reason you want to watch it.

3). Murder Among the Mormons (Netflix)

I tuned into this Netflix docuseries with no idea as to what I was about to watch. There are more twists and turns in this bizarre story than in most fictional thrillers I’ve seen.

4). Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal (Netflix)

In case you’re unaware: some rich people gave big money to a guy in order to fraudulently get their kids accepted to top universities. The scam blew up. Netflix has the story in all of its intricate, obscene glory.

Next up, I have recommendations for a few thriller/mystery/suspense series. Without commentary:

5). Bitter Daisies (Netflix)

6). The Wilds (Amazon Prime Video)

7). Cruel Summer (Hulu, from FreeForm)

And you knew I was going to recommend at least one horror series, and at least one horror film!

8). Creepshow (Shudder):

9). I See You (Amazon Prime Video)

Now, I almost forgot to include this documentary:

10). Seaspiracy (Netflix) – Please watch this one, if you haven’t already:

And that’s a wrap on this list of recommendations. I’m already looking forward to the next one!

Take care and Happy Weekend Eve, my friends.

January/February Favorites!

March 5, 2021March 5, 2021That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

It’s the beginning of March and I should have a February Favorites post for you, and I do… ! Combined with January’s, that is. January proved to be out-of-the-ordinary, so I didn’t have enough of a list to post when February began.

I’ve got mostly viewables to share with you today. There’s no food on this list, and there’s just one product at the end. The rest is movies, documentaries, docuseries, and fictional series.

[Summary of the food I ate in February: salty things, spicy things, garlicky things, and dark chocolate]

Without further ado, then, here’s what I’ve watched (and enjoyed) this year so far! (I say “enjoyed” because I also watched a couple of things that I did not enjoy and would not recommend.)

DO RECOMMEND:

1). Nomadland (Hulu)

She did it again. Not that I doubted her. I knew it would happen: I hit “play” and it took Frances McDormand three minutes to bring tears to my eyes. She was born to take you to other worlds with her expressions, with her on-screen presence, and she does. She makes you feel things. It’s inexplicable.

Nomadland is a wondrous, poignant, and thought-provoking film not just about van life, but about life. You deserve to see it, especially for McDormand’s genius performance.

2). Promising Young Woman (Amazon rental)

I loved Carey Mulligan’s performance in this film, and I enjoyed this take on Revenge. Yes, that’s a capital-R Revenge.

3). Tiger (HBO Max)

I’m not a golf fan. I’ve never watched golf, so I’ve never seen Tiger play. I only knew of Tiger Woods because he’s Tiger Woods. After watching this excellent two-part documentary, I feel like I know him somewhat.

Honestly, I’d be shocked if the man hadn’t been involved in a scandal or two. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be a prodigy and do nothing but that one thing all of my life, since babyhood. A lifetime of scrutiny and competitive pressure will lead to a breaking point somewhere along the way, and eventually, life will demand to be lived. Tiger went to extremes with Las Vegas and the Navy SEALS, and I don’t blame him.

So you don’t have to like or watch golf in order to enjoy Tiger. It’s that favorite classic story: you have a hero who falls, gets up, and comes back. And what a come-back!

4). The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears (Hulu)

Like Tiger did with Tiger Woods, Framing Britney Spears introduced me to Britney Spears. Summary of my thoughts post-viewing: I’m furious on Britney’s behalf, and not just because of the bullshit conservatorship in which she’s entangled. This documentary is a fascinating watch from the standpoint of mental health, alone, but I enjoyed it all around.

Also, #FreeBritney

5). Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (Netflix original docuseries)

I dedicated a post to my thoughts on this horrifying Netflix docuseries. That is all.

6). Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (Netflix original docuseries)

Another interesting Netflix docuseries! The subject of this one almost seems to be window-dressing, though. The production is creepy, interesting, and entertaining, but it actually serves as more of a spotlight on the treacheries of social media. It amounts to one big “teaching moment.” I highly enjoyed it.

7). Behind Her Eyes (Netflix)

I love a good spooky love triangle plot every once in a while, especially if the triangle manages to change shape while still being a triangle.

8). The Sinner, season 3 (Netflix)

Season 3 of The Sinner finally hit Netflix! I’d been waiting for it. It did not disappoint. Bill Pullman is perfectly cast in this role, and I’m glad they’re keeping the seasons coming.

9). A Discovery of Witches (Shudder original series)

The series A Discovery of Witches is my most recent Shudder watch. I haven’t seen season 2 yet, but it’s there, and I’m looking forward to digging in!

10). Pacifica Silver Moon perfume.

Pacifica Silver Moon perfume

I wore Hypnotic Poison (Dior) back in the 90’s. Pacifica’s new perfume line includes Silver Moon, which is so similar to Hypnotic Poison, I would believe you if you said that that’s what it was. Thanks to Pacifica, there’s now an affordable version of HP that’s also vegan and cruelty-free!

And there you have it, my friends. I’ve got a list going for March, and I plan to get back on my regular “Monthly Favorites” schedule.

Happy Weekend Eve!

So long, 2020, and thanks for all the (December Favorites!)

January 14, 2021January 15, 2021That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

You know how I often post on Thursday thinking that it’s Wednesday because I started writing while it was still Wednesday, so it looks like a Thursday post rather than a Wednesday post? Well, this time, it truly is Thursday. A Thursday post. I’m sorry for the day-delay.

What I wanted to share with you tonight is my list of December Favorites, as it’s the middle of January already!

I’m determined to get to bed “early” tonight, so I’m going to get right to the point with this list of nine “little things.”

Let’s start with some manga and anime!

1). Alice in Borderland (Netflix, manga live action adaptation)

A most brilliant re-telling of Alice in Wonderland.

2). Kakegurui (Netflix, anime live action adaptation)

A most bizarre series about gambling. I mean, bizarre. I loved this!

3). The Mess You Leave Behind (Netflix)

What’s a “favorites” list without at least one mystery/thriller/drama series? This one’s well worth the watch.

4). Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)

Sabrina’s fourth and final season left me a bit unsettled, but regardless of whether I liked the way the series ended, I did enjoy this last season. I’m going to miss looking forward to Sabrina.

5). Room 2806: The Accusation (Netflix docuseries)

I must state here that I’m including this docuseries because I recommend it… not because I enjoyed it. I did not enjoy it.

From IMDB:

“This docuseries follows the 2011 sexual assault case involving French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the height of his career.”

Some of you may remember when this powerful French guy sexually assaulted a Black hotel housekeeper in New York City? And basically got away with it? Netflix covers the case. I wasn’t pleased with the way this vile man is exalted, revered, and glorified in the docuseries (mainly through the interviewees). People are proud to know him. People are willing to believe him. Adultery is brushed off as something to be expected. (France, you know.) One of the most nauseating parts came at the end when Strauss-Kahn’s lawyer summed up his own role in the case.

The docuseries is good, though. I think it’s one of those that should be widely viewed. I’m including a sexual assault TRIGGER WARNING with my (admittedly dubious) recommendation.

6). The Ripper (Netflix docuseries)

Yes, another Netflix docuseries landed on my list this time. I was in a true crime kind of mood, and The Ripper provided. Such an interesting case. It should be subtitled “How to bungle a serial killer hunt.”

7). Derry Girls (Netflix)

I only watched two episodes of this comedic series, but they did get me laughing. I’ll likely pick it up again at some point. The writing and acting are top-notch.

8). Pacifica Sea & C Love Vitamin Serum. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Pacifica Sea and C Love Vitamin Serum

9). Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Water Rehab Cream. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Water Rehab Cream

I’m loving these two products. I mix a few drops of the serum into a small dollop of the cream each morning, and I’m finding the combination to be wonderful. I highly recommend it!

The End!

Happy Friday/Friday eve, my friends. I’m off to pass out!

The eleventh month. (November Favorites!)

December 6, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

My fingertips are no longer painful and bleeding. I’ve kept my hands coated in Aquaphor these last few days, and it’s helped a lot! My hands are coated in Aquaphor right now, and if you know what Aquaphor is, then you can imagine that writing is a little bit tricky at the moment. It’s a thick, heavy, greasy ointment, and it’s hella-incredibly effective in the treatment of severely dry, cracked and bleeding fingers. It doesn’t play nicely with laptops or other devices, though.

So I’m going to leave you with mostly just the visuals for the little things that I enjoyed in November. The Netflix films and series that start this list are simply outstanding, all of them well worth your viewing consideration. I’m including the trailers here for the sake of convenience.

Let’s get right into it!

1). The Devil All the Time (Netflix original film)

2). My Octopus Teacher (Netflix original film – documentary)

3). The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix original limited series)

4). Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Netflix original film – documentary)

The fact of the matter is that minority groups win fairness via activism. The disabled were no exception. Crip Camp tells the story.

5). Quiddler.

Quiddler card game

I’ve been obsessed with Quiddler! I love playing cards and I love words, so it would be surprising if I didn’t enjoy it. Quiddler is an award-winning card game that consists of a double deck of cards with letters instead of numbers. The game can be played competitively with two or more people (it’s a rummy/scrabble hybrid), or it can be played alone, as solitaire. My obsession lies in the latter. I’ve loved solitaire since I was introduced to it ~40 years ago, and I never had any interest in playing it digitally… I’ve used the same deck of cards since my late uncle won it off a table at Harrah’s in Las Vegas and gave it to me. I was something like 12 years old. Quiddler is the second deck of cards I’ve acquired in my life.

Fun Fact: Quiddler comes from Fountain Hills, AZ, right here on the outskirts of Phoenix!

6). Women’s Calysta Sport Bottom Winter Boots (Universal Thread at Target).

Women’s Calysta Sport Bottom Winter Boots (Universal Thread at Target)

The first day my toes went numb at work, I came home and ordered these boots from Target. They’re incredible, just super comfortable and warm. My feet stay cozy in them all day!

That’s all I’ve got for November, friends. Stay safe and well!

Keeping the candles burning. (October Favorites!)

November 8, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Saturday’s bright, sunny blue sky and blustery, cool(ish) air made it an ideal fall day here in the desert. October is over, but as far as I’m concerned, spooky season continues with our gradual dip in temperatures.

(Speaking of which, I will have a Geronimo report for you soon, probably a week from today. I haven’t forgotten!)

In keeping with the continuation of spooky season, I’m here to share my October Favorite “little things” with you, my usual smattering of entertainment, food, and products. Scroll down to see the little things that I enjoyed in October!

1). Still/Born (Shudder Original movie)

This film spooked Nenette, who then spooked me when I was myself already a little bit spooked. We basically freaked each other out in the middle of the movie, and I ended up on the phone with Caroline, my partner-in-horror with whom I was watching the movie, and I think I had to finish watching it the next day, as I was preoccupied with Nenette and with being spooked by the entire situation. There was a specific event in the movie that did it. I’ll just say that Still/Born was an effective work of horror, and I do recommend it.

2). The Mortuary Collection (Shudder Original movie)

Like Still/Born, The Mortuary Collection is a Shudder Original. It wasn’t the best movie ever, but I found it to be good fun for Halloween season! It fueled the mood, and I loved it for that.

3). Evil (Netflix)

Evil is an excellent slow burn of a paranormal investigative series that’s available to stream on Netflix. It’s one of those that gradually tucks itself under your skin, almost while you aren’t aware of it, and leaves you with an eerie feeling at the end. That was my experience, anyway. I’m looking forward to Season 2.

4). The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix Original Miniseries)

What I can say about the excellent Netflix miniseries The Haunting of Bly Manor is that it’s a gorgeous, gothic work of horror, skillfully wrought and, in my opinion, deserving of awards nominations. Really beautiful work!

5). To the Lake (Netflix Original series)

In this Russian series (it’s unclear whether it’s a series or a miniseries), we have a virus in a pandemic scenario from which the characters frantically try to escape. It’s not our virus, mind you. It’s a bit on the zombie-ish side. It has a vibe that’s more post-apocalyptic/dystopian, which I adore… and I love that the lead character is played by Kirill Käro, a Russian actor whose work I’d admired in Sniffer and Better Than Us.

6). Roasted, salted pumpkin seeds.

Roasted, salted pumpkin seeds

I snacked on roasted, salted pumpkin seeds throughout the month. I’m more of a salt person than a sweets person, so roasted, salted pumpkin seeds taste more like October to me than pumpkin spice anything.

7). Food Should Taste Good Blue Corn Tortilla Chips.

Food Should Taste Good Blue Corn Tortilla Chips

Ingredients: Organic blue corn, high oleic sunflower oil and/or safflower oil and/or canola oil, brown rice flour, flax seed, sesame seed, sunflower seeds, sea salt, quinoa

I found my new favorite brand of blue corn tortilla chip in October. These chips from the brand Food Should Taste Good are thick and crunchy and delicious with sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and quinoa. They’re fabulous for nachos! They’re sturdy enough to hold a whole lot in the way of toppings, and they’re perfectly salted for my tastes.

8). Siete Cashew Queso (Mild Nacho).

Siete Cashew Queso – mild nacho

Ingredients: Water, Cashews, Tomatoes, Carrots, Green Bell Peppers, Nutritional Yeast, Sea Salt, Distilled White Vinegar, Flax Seed, Fermented Extract (Oregano, Flax Seed, and Plum), Coconut Milk Powder, Lactic Acid, Onion Powder, Tomato Powder, Garlic Powder

The texture of this cashew queso may not be quite what you’re used to in a dairy queso, but its flavor is outstanding. This queso with the blue corn tortilla chips above make a wonderful plate of movie theater/convenience store/sports arena-style nachos, even more so when I pile them up with jalapeño peppers, as I always do.

9). Sweet Earth Spicy Kung Pao Plant-Based Jerky.

Sweet Earth Spicy Kung Pau Jerky

Ingredients: VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, WATER, SOY SAUCE (WATER, SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT, ALCOHOL), SESAME OIL, GARLIC, GINGER PUREE (GINGER, WATER, CITRIC ACID), SUGAR, NATURAL FLAVORS, 2% OR LESS OF TOASTED SESAME SEEDS, VINEGAR, SZECHUAN PEPPERCORNS, YEAST EXTRACT, SPICES, SALT, CALCIUM LACTATE, LACTIC ACID, SUCCINIC ACID

(All in caps because I copied/pasted the text from the company’s website.)

This is an amazing vegan jerky! I swear to you that if you were to eat this jerky blind, you wouldn’t even suspect that it’s not animal meat. It’s faintly spicy, with the subtle heat developing in the aftertaste.

10). Pacifica Natural Origins High Vibration and Cosmosis Perfumes. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Pacifica Natural Origins High Vibration and Cosmosis Perfumes

I mentioned these fragrances earlier in October, and I’ve been enjoying them ever since… the sandalwood (High Vibrations) and vanilla (Cosmosis) ones, that is. A co-worker’s assessment is that I now smell like sugary cinnamon, as I’m still using the vanilla-scented hairspray that everyone says makes me smell like sugar cookies. It’s the sandalwood scent that they’re catching on top of the vanilla. I love it, too.

11). JASON Softening Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion.

JASON Softening Cocoa Butter Hand & Body Lotion

I had a Shea Moisture body lotion on a “favorites” list not long ago, and it turned out to be one of those favorite little things that ultimately didn’t work out. It was wonderful at first! It was fabulous until the lotion became separated and required shaking to reintegrate… and after that, it was so thick that it wasn’t coming out of the bottle. At the same time, its scent turned bad. It was weird how it became unusable all of a sudden.

All of this to say that I had to go looking for a replacement, and I’m super digging this JASON product that I picked up from the beauty aisle at the grocery store. I love its scent as much as I did the Shea Moisture one’s before it went bad, and I prefer its consistency over the Shea Moisture’s.

This brings us to the end, my friends. I’m sitting here in the wee hours of Sunday morning, falling asleep. I have a feeling that I’ll be offline most of the day when I wake up, because I’ve got the new Jack Reacher novel sitting here on my desk. Priorities!

Waiting for the wind to whistle. (September Favorites!)

September 22, 2020September 30, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Wednesday’s turning out to be a good new blog day, despite the fact that I work out on Wednesday evenings, same as I do after work on Tuesdays. Here’s my theory: Wednesday is easier because I do my Wednesday workout “with” Jessica, my friend/workout partner, on the phone. The set time for our Monday/Wednesday workouts is 5pm, but even if we push it to 5:30pm some days, I’m still more than likely going to be finished with the workout by 6:30pm. Wednesdays are structured.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, however, I’m on my own. What happens when I don’t have anyone expecting me, waiting for me, counting on my being there? I get sucked into doing other things, and next thing I know, I’m starting my workout at 7pm or later. I don’t manage my time well here at home, evidently.

Wednesday and Saturday nights, then. After so many years of Tuesday/Thursday posts, that’s how it’s shaking out here in TALC in the wake of going back to work and switching all of my workouts to evenings. I’m fine with it. I like it. I hope that you do, too.

~~~~~

We’ve arrived at the end of September, and my next post will land on the 3rd of October. OCTOBER, guys, as in SHORT HORROR OCTOBER. (!!!) It’s finally here! I’ve got a lot in the way of short horror to share in the weeks to come.

For this list of little things that I enjoyed in September, I only have one shareworthy film, and there were no new streaming series (as I continued watching Shameless throughout the month).

As for food, now that I’m looking at the list, I see that many of these items were products I’ve included in past “favorites” lists. I’m posting them anyway, though, since it’s been a while, and I enjoyed them quite a bit this last month.

[Side-note: My friend Caroline has been texting in efforts to convince me to rest my hand and to NOT post tonight! She’s straight-up trying to sabotage this post by making me laugh, blowing up my phone to keep me from writing, and letting me know that I’m a terrible mother because Nenette is being neglected as I sit here writing this. I told her I’d try to keep it short.]

Let’s get into it, then!

1). Host (Shudder Original film)

You might remember that I was impressed by the effectiveness of this low-budget horror flick… I mean, it actually scared me. In case you missed it, you can click here to read what I had to say about it. Highly recommend!

2). Kashi Whole Wheat Biscuits, Autumn Wheat (cereal). (Vegan)

Kashi Autumn Wheat cereal

(Repeated item.) Since I enjoyed this cereal throughout September, it’s worth listing it again. I love this simple cereal… it’s organic, vegan, and just barely sweet.

3). Frozen mango chunks. (Vegan)

Frozen mango chunks

(Repeated item.) I still enjoy eating frozen mango chunks straight out of the bag for a healthy and refreshing dessert.

4). Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped (salad) Kit. (Vegan – without the included dressing)

Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped (salad) Kit

(Repeated item.) I’ve been eating a lot of this salad as of late. It’s still my favorite pre-prepared chopped salad! I use olive oil and balsamic vinegar instead of the dressing provided in the kit, so it’s vegan and I can really taste the fresh ingredients: broccoli, green cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, radicchio, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries. Delicious!

5). American Flatbread Vegan Harvest frozen pizza. (Vegan)

American Flatbread Vegan Harvest frozen pizza

This frozen pizza is hands-down my favorite vegan cheese pizza. My most-favorite vegan pizza is Amy’s No Cheese, but if I’m going to get a vegan cheese pizza? THIS ONE.

6). Siete Grain-Free Nacho Tortilla Chips. (Vegan and Paleo)

Siete Grain Free Nacho Tortilla Chips

I expected to see a list of chemicals when I picked up these chips to inspect the ingredients panel. Instead, I saw:

Cassava Flour, Avocado Oil, Coconut Flour, Nutritional Yeast, Tomato Powder, Chia Seed, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Garlic Powder, Jalapeño Powder, Onion Powder, Serrano Powder

My friends, I will have you know that I bought these chips and ate the entire bag myself in one weekend. I’m not sure how I feel about that. They’re not terrible for you, but they’re not exactly nutrient-dense, either. They’re a not-terrible junk food, I guess I’d say… and they’re super tasty.

7). Urban Decay Stay Naked Correcting Concealer. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Urban Decay Stay Naked Correcting Concealer

I was going to re-purchase my NARS concealer when I finally ran out, but in the time it took for me to use it up, NARS started selling their products in China. Consequently, NARS products are no longer cruelty-free. China requires that products are tested on animals!!

One of the things I appreciated about the concealer was how perfectly the shade matched my skin tone. I found a shade in this Urban Decay line of concealers that matches well, too, and I like the formula as much as I liked NARS’… plus, it’s vegan! If you’re looking for a good vegan and cruelty-free concealer with a wide shade range – and if you’re okay with a pricier concealer – I recommend this Urban Decay line.

8). VEBE shock-absorbing fingerless gloves. (Ordered on Amazon)

VEBE shock-absorbing fingerless gloves

I ordered these gloves in the interest of protecting my troubled left hand at work, and I liked them so much, I bought two more pairs. One, I use for lifting weights, and the other, I keep as a clean pair for doing things in the house should I need hand protection. That extra pair also serves as a back-up. The great thing about these gloves is their shock-absorbing gel pads. They do help! They’re easy to clean, too… I throw them in the washing machine once a week, and they come out like new. I don’t know about cycling/mountain-biking (for which the gloves are marketed), but they make for great everyday work gloves and weight-lifting gloves.

That’s all I’ve got for the month, my friends. Happy OCTOBER Eve!

Only 36 hours late this time. (July Favorites!)

August 8, 2020August 8, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

My friends, I am so sorry. This post was supposed to go up last night, and it would have gone up had I not fallen asleep at the keyboard. Yes. That actually happened. I startled myself awake and went to get ready for bed. My job is physical and awesome and I’m still full of energy when I get home, but when night falls, I’m tired! This is great for me, but last night it wasn’t great for writing.

So here I am today, the latest I’ve ever been with a post. July favorites! I’m just going to get right into it. There’s some good stuff here.

Enjoy!

1). Snowpiercer (Netflix)

I’m solidly of the opinion that filmmaker Bong Joon Ho can do no wrong. I loved Okja and Parasite, so I wasn’t surprised that I finished Snowpiercer feeling just as impressed. The post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller had long been on my list, and it was worth the wait. The superb cast includes Tilda Swinton, who also starred in Okja… she can do no wrong, either, as far as I’m concerned… but the acting is outstanding all around in Snowpiecer. There’s also the direction and cinematography to admire in this well-written, thought-provoking film. I loved it.

2). Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (Netflix)

Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is a horror-comedy movie that we’ve consistently overlooked on Netflix. Beyond that, even, we’ve started and stopped it (within mere minutes) on several occasions. It wasn’t until a co-worker who went to film school highly recommended it to me that I decided to give it a serious try, and I’m so glad that I did! This “horror” film is good, campy fun. Callaghan enjoyed it, too.

3). Noroi: The Curse (Shudder – a Shudder Exclusive)

A Shudder Exclusive, Noroi: The Curse is a J-horror film in a hybrid genre of mockumentary/found footage. Filmmaker Koji Shiraishi’s work here is effectively creepy. It’s a slow burn with small instances and details sticking with you along the way, each one increasingly important as the story progresses with its developing mysteries. By the time the film built up to its dreadful conclusion, my nerves were frayed. If you’re a fan of Japanese horror, you’ll probably appreciate this excellent film.

4). Ju-On: Origins (Netflix)

July was a good month for J-horror! Netflix’s Ju-On: Origins as yet another offering in the world of The Grudge actually does justice to the story’s growing canon of films. It was delightfully surprising to me. There were moments of pure horror, unexpected instances of graphic violence, a satisfying amount of decent gore, and a couple of images that translated to pure nightmare fuel. This one did it for me, friends. I highly recommend it if you’re in the mood for J-horror, or any kind of horror, for that matter.

5). Grand Sumo Tournament – July 2020 basho (NHK)

July’s Grand Sumo tournament actually took place! The May 2020 tournament had been cancelled due to the pandemic, and we weren’t sure whether the July tournament would be a go. We didn’t know until the 11th hour. It happened, and for us, it exceeded all expectations.

First of all, the wrestlers returned to the dohyo in top form after their long rest, as we knew they would. Most of them are perpetually injured, as they’re given no opportunity to rest between tournaments.

Secondly, for the first time in maybe two years, this tournament featured Terunofuji, the wrestler that locked me into the sumo obsession in the first place. He was my original favorite. We saw him win the top-division championship in the May 2015 basho, but by the beginning of the following year, he’d dropped down into the lower divisions due to injuries and other health issues.

Not only did Terunofuji return to the top division in July, but he won the championship. Talk about a comeback! It was incredible. It was like he never left. He won the championship, dropped down into the Sumo dungeon, clawed his way back up, and won the championship again. Who does that?! Terunofuji does, that’s who.

Also to be celebrated was the fact that Tochinoshin, my favorite wrestler – co-favorite with Terunofuji – finally finished a tournament with ten wins (out of 15). It was the first time in over a year that he turned out a winning record, much less a double-digit one! He’d been badly injured with no chance of recovery within the strict regimen of the Before Time. The pandemic allowed him to rest.

My favorites, these two. Terunofuji (of Mongolia) and Tochinoshin (of Georgia):

Terunofuji (left) and Tochinoshin about to fight at the July 2020 Grand Sumo Tournament

6). Red Dog (Amazon Prime)

This family film was a total surprise of a watch, and one that I greatly enjoyed. I’d never heard of Red Dog before. I loved everything about this film… and yes, I got a little teary eyed at the end. Animals stir up all of the emotions in me. I didn’t cry the way I do at the end of Where the Red Fern Grows, but it still brought out the tears. I also enjoyed the story just for the story; I realized that I don’t know much about Australia, and it was cool to learn a bit of this particular region’s local history. What a legend, Red Dog! It’s fantastic. I loved this film. Go watch it! Amazon Prime!

7). Shameless (Netflix)

I finally started watching Shameless, my friends. I know.

It was funny because the day after I watched the pilot, I overheard some people at work talking about it, and I was ready to tune out in case of spoilers. There weren’t any. It was just a funny coincidence that seemed to verify that I am, indeed, the last person on the planet to watch this series. And I get it! I totally get the hype. I’ve always been a fan of William H. Macy’s, anyway; honestly I don’t know why it took me so long to get into this series.

8). Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Body Lotion with Songyi Mushroom. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Body Lotion with Songyi Mushroom

This lotion’s moisturizing formula is one that really works for me… it feels great on my hands, especially. I don’t have much to say about it other than that, but it’s worth sharing. If you’re looking for a new vegan and cruelty-free body lotion option, you might like this one, too.

9). Shea Moisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Leave-in Treatment. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Shea Moisture Virgin Coconut Oil Leave-in Treatment

I wash my hair five nights a week now because of my job, and I have to blow-dry my bangs every time. I use this coconut leave-in treatment as a heat protectant, and I think it works as well as any super expensive salon one could. I’d rather keep things simple and use coconut oil if it works!

10). Pacifica Big Waves Soft Hold & Volume Hairspray – Coconut, Sea Salt & Vanilla. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Pacifica Big Waves Soft Hold and Volume Hairspray – Coconut, Sea Salt, and Vanilla

Funny story about this hairspray: After using it for over a month, I just realized yesterday that it is also my perfume – the one that several people at work have complimented profusely. And all this time, I’d thought it was my Pacifica Island Vanilla body spray.

Three people at work had remarked on my perfume, asking me what it is that I wear, saying that I smell so good, like “delicious sugar cookies” (one person said gingerbread or sugar cookies). I’ve been telling them that it’s a vanilla body spray, because that’s what I wear for fragrance.

But at home early yesterday morning, I went out to the kitchen and Callaghan said that I smell like sugar cookies. It took me aback. Why is everyone saying that I smell like sugar cookies?! I really, finally had to stop and think about it, because I hadn’t used the body spray yet. I wasn’t wearing any fragrance at all when Callaghan made his remark. If it wasn’t the Pacifica spray, I thought, then what the heck was he and everyone else smelling on me?

Then it hit me: my hairspray. It had to be. It’s coconut, sea salt, and vanilla-scented, and I, too, always think that it smells good when I spray it onto my hair.

An hour later I was at work when yet another co-worker commented on my perfume, saying the same thing that others had said… that whatever I was wearing smelled delicious. I was ready with an answer. Actually, it was a demand. “I think it’s my hairspray,” I said. “Smell my hair.” I wanted confirmation. He leaned over to smell my hair. (Just briefly, and we were wearing masks, as always.) His response: “Yeah, that’s it!”

I asked him whether he could smell it only in the mornings, or for longer than that. He said that I smell delicious like sugar cookies all day, every day.

So there you go, friends. If you’re like me and you’d appreciate having a fragrance that lasts all day, I highly recommend this hairspray. Haha! It’s probably the best perfume I’ve ever worn. Everyone loves it, it doesn’t give me a headache, I use just a little bit (to keep my bobby pins in place) and it lasts all day with wonderful sillage, it’s vegan and cruelty-free, and it’s only $12.00! That might be on the pricey side for a hairspray, but it’s inexpensive for a good perfume. It’s a wonderful hairspray that works wonderfully as a perfume. Totally worth $12.00.

The End. Enjoy your weekend, friends!

June 2020 Favorites!

July 2, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

My “favorite little things” in June were basic in the best of ways. I’ve got a horror film and a horror documentary series on Shudder, two comedic series on Netflix, and a sci-fi anthology series on Amazon Prime, all original projects on their respective streaming platforms. I also included my current favorite bread (for the food part) and the fragrance I’ve been wearing (for the product part). That’s it. The major favorite of the month is my new job, but I’ve spoken enough about that, and we’re here for the small stuff. Right? Yeah.

Without further ado, then:

1). Z (Shudder Original Film)

This movie actually succeeded at creeping me out a little bit. It pleased me in this regard. If you subscribe to Shudder and you’re in the mood for a basic popcorn horror movie, you might want to try this one.

2). Never Have I Ever (Netflix Original Series)

Our favorite laugh-guarantee comedy series (Black-ish) is on hiatus until 2021. Our second-favorite (Bob’s Burgers) is on hiatus until the end of September. In the middle of this dry season, we landed on Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever. Turns out that it’s a brilliant and highly bingeable comedy series. A grand discovery!

3). After Life (S2) (Netflix Original Series)

We waited long enough to watch the second season of Ricky Gervais’ Netflix series After Life, and it was worth it. It’s hard to be disappointed by a smart dramedy woven through with acerbic wit and irreverence, if you’re into that sort of thing, but still, it was delightful to come back to After Life and find that it’s still brilliant and enjoyable.

4). Cursed Films (Shudder Original Series)

Shudder’s documentary series about horror films that seem to be “cursed” (suggested by mysterious, ominous occurrences during or around production) makes for some fascinating, thought-provoking entertainment. It all comes down to whether or not you believe in coincidences, or, rather, whether you want to believe in them.

5). Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (Amazon Original Series)

This sci-fi anthology series features stand-alone episodes based on the work of science fiction author Philip K. Dick. I found several of its episodes to be impressive, but one episode in particular actually terrified me: “Safe and Sound.” As far as I’m concerned, this sci-fi story amounts to straight-up horror. If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, I recommend that you search for Electric Dreams and take 50 minutes to watch just this one episode, “Safe and Sound,” even if you’re not really into sci-fi or horror.

6). Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame Sprouted Whole Grain Bread. (Vegan)

Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sesame Sprouted Whole Grain Bread

There’s not much to say about this bread except that it’s been my favorite Ezekiel bread of late. I have it every day with peanut butter and jelly for lunch. Incidentally, it’s interesting to realize that the one consistent thing in my professional life – the one thing that never changes – is that my lunch of choice is peanut butter and jelly. It doesn’t matter where I work, or what I’m doing… if I have a job, I have a pb&j for lunch. I don’t even think about it! I just enjoy it, and it’s satisfying.

7). Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfumed Hair and Body Mist. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Pacifica Island Vanilla Perfumed Hair and Body Mist

I happened by a travel size of Pacifica’s Island Vanilla Perfumed Hair and Body Mist, and it’s since taken the place of my longtime favorite vanilla perfume by The Body Shop. I don’t know. It’s got some sort of floral note going on that I love.

That’s really all I have to say about that.

…and now, it’s July. June went quickly. It’s bewildering that any month in this bloody year of 2020 could go quickly, but June did… on my end, anyway.

Happy Friday Eve, everyone!

Little Things. (May Favorites.)

June 9, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

I wasn’t sure whether I was going to post a “May Favorites,” to be honest. I had my running list, but in light of the critically important matters of the day, the idea of a “favorite little things” post just seemed ridiculous and self-indulgent.

I decided to post it, though I’m without many words. I’m sorry for this, for the fact that my heart just isn’t in it. My heart has been broken and flung to far more worthwhile places, along with millions of other hearts. I’ve been preoccupied with wanting to do my part as an ally in the Black Lives Matter movement. By this, I mean that I want to do more. I’m unsure of how. I’ve been educating myself. I’ve donated. It doesn’t feel like enough. I’m going to continue with my education, that’s for sure.

Here are those Little Things that I enjoyed in May:

1). El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story (Netflix)

Somehow, it’d escaped us that there was a movie continuing Jesse Pinkman’s story after the conclusion of Breaking Bad. We rectified the oversight, and we were glad that we did. Breaking Bad fans, if you haven’t seen El Camino: A Breaking Bad Story, you really must. Those of you who haven’t seen Breaking Bad: don’t bother with this. It’s excellent, but it’ll only make sense if you’ve seen the series.

(Also, if you haven’t seen Breaking Bad yet, WHY NOT? It hasn’t been over-hyped. It can’t be hyped enough.)

2). Alps (Amazon Prime rental)

I only got to one of the Yorgos Lanthimos films on my list, and Alps was it. I found it to be as bizarre, thought-provoking, risky, and lyrically semiotic as Dogtooth, The Lobster, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer. The next film of his I plan to watch is The Favourite, which I believe is his most commonly known film.

3). Ingrid Goes West (Amazon Prime rental)

I went for this film because of Aubrey Plaza, and her performance was as satisfying to watch as I’d thought it would be. Parks and Recreation fans could imagine how she’d own the role of a stalker. I think that this indie film would be enjoyable to many, but it’s a must-watch for social media influencers.

4). The Ritual (Netflix)

A proper horror flick seemed appropriate at the time that I watched this film on Netflix. It was rather “eh” to me, but it proved its worth in terms of my love for the cabin/camping-in-the-woods sub-genre of horror. As mediocre as I thought it was, I was in the mood for it. It worked. If you’re also a fan of this sort of horror, you might enjoy escaping into this film, too.

5). Hannah Gadsby’s Douglas (Netflix)

This Netflix comedy special also proved to be the right thing at the right time, and I found it to be excellent. It came recommended to me by a friend (thank you, April!), and I second her recommendation.

6). Dead to Me (S2) (Netflix)

Dead to Me: for when you want some light and funny with your crime. I was there for it, and also for the outstanding acting performances. I love the writing in this series, as well.

7). Bordertown (Sorjonen) (S3) (Netflix)

We enjoy Scandinavian noir, in general, but Bordertown (original title: Sorjonen) is our favorite project within this sub-genre of crime thriller. With its third and final season, its creators deftly wrapped up the series. They took the development of Kari Sorjonen’s eccentric character as far as they could. Story-wise, they left things exactly the way I would’ve wanted them to be left, though I didn’t know what that would look like until they did it. This is a great series, in general, but I’d especially recommend it to you if you’re new to Scandinavian noir.

9). JASON Calming Lavender Body Wash. (vegan and cruelty-free)

JASON Calming Lavender Body Wash

I used up all of my body washes from The Body Shop and decided to look to the drugstore shelves for another aromatic option. JASON is a brand that’s never missed the mark for me; I usually re-purchase the products of theirs that I try. This body wash will be no exception. I find its scent to be more crisp and invigorating than calming, but I like it nonetheless.

10). Pacific Shaving Company Natural Shaving Cream. (vegan and cruelty-free)

Pacific Shaving Company Natural Shaving Cream

Kiss My Face finally returned their vegan/cruelty-free shaving cream to their stock, but before I could realize that, I went looking through Callaghan’s products. He’d started using this Natural Shaving Cream, and I had no idea that it was vegan and cruelty-free! This is just a good product. I recommend it.

That about does it, my friends. Until Thursday!

7 movies, 3 series. (April Favorites!)

May 7, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

April was halfway-to-October month, as in, halfway to SHORT HORROR OCTOBER. Hence, I took it upon myself to watch more in the way of horror shorts than usual. It’s my responsibility, after all, to bring you the best in short horror when October comes around. As selective as I’m trying to be, I have 12 short films on my list so far. This number will probably (at least) double in the next six months, so you’ll likely get several horror shorts per post in October. I’m looking at the list and seeing nothing that I want to cut.

That aside, I’m here to tell you about the feature films and series that we/I watched in April, because that’s all that’s on my list this time. There were no new food items or products to try in April.

We were glad to be able to catch the three movies we’d wanted to watch in theaters in the last six months. As a wonderful coincidence, they’re all set on or in the ocean: The Lighthouse, Aquaman, and Underwater.

Then, Netflix dropped an original movie, Extraction, which readily delivered the sort of entertainment you expect and want from a high-octane action movie.

Also in April, I discovered the dark, arthouse films of Greek writer/director/producer Yorgos Lanthimos, whose work held my fascination for days after viewing it. I watched The Killing of a Sacred Deer, went on to The Lobster, and then to Dogtooth. One after the other, the films drew me into their simple yet elaborately designed little worlds, each one small in scope, grand in situation, and surreal on any scale. The minimalism of Lanthimos’ cinematic style is interesting, too, in the way that it isolates the story, with you in front of it like the proverbial fly on the wall – you can either walk away, or allow yourself to become engrossed in the material that’s ultimately thought-provoking, often macabre, and sometimes perverse. I found myself caught up in the spare complexity of Lanthimos’ excellent films with their carefully crafted, awkward characters. The only film of his I’d heard about in the mainstream was The Favorite. I’ll get to that one eventually, but the next two I plan to watch will be Alps and Kinetta.

As for series, Ozark’s third season dropped in April, along with The Terror: Infamy (season 2 of The Terror) and the Netflix mini-series Unorthodox.

On with the list, then! The first four, I watched with Callaghan. The rest, I watched alone. (I’m going to start making that distinction.)

First, the “recently in theaters” from newest to oldest:

1). Underwater (Amazon Prime)

2). Aquaman (Amazon Prime)

3). The Lighthouse (Amazon Prime)

Next, the Netflix Original:

4). Extraction (Netflix Original Movie)

(That wraps up the four that I watched with Callaghan!)

Now for Yorgos Lanthimos’ excellent films:

5). The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Netflix)

6). The Lobster (Netflix)

7). Dogtooth (original title: Kynodontas) (Amazon Prime)

These last three on the list are series, which I found to be outstanding:

8). Ozark (S3) (Netflix)

9). The Terror: Infamy (S2) (Hulu)

10). Unorthodox (Netflix)

That does it for April, my friends. Happy Friday Eve!

In like a lion, out like a tiger: March was a liger. (March Favorites!)

April 2, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

March was a long-ass month, and yet I only have four “Little Things” items to share with you.

This first one is really the only one, though.

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness (Netflix)

Words escape me.

Tiger King isn’t on my list because I loved it so much. (It’s not a lovable story.) It’s on my list because it’s shenanigans of unbelievable proportions, and it’s an excellent production.

This seven-part docuseries follows former private zoo owner “Joe Exotic,” aka “The Tiger King,” though the story isn’t just about him. You meet many other characters along the way as Tiger King’s events unfold on their twisted path. What’s mind-boggling to me is that each new character is somehow more bizarre than the last, and not one of them is fictitious. I had to keep reminding myself that Tiger King is a documentary. It contains hours and hours of footage accumulated over months, if not years.

One take-away is that there are cat people, and then there are cat people. Your garden-variety “crazy cat lady” has nothing on the folks involved in Tiger King.

Tiger King is well worth the watch because it’s an outstanding production, as I’d said, and the story is just… well, let’s just say that if ever there was a train wreck custom-designed to serve as a distraction from a pandemic menacing all of humankind, it’s Tiger King.

(As a strong proponent of animal rights and welfare, I found Tiger King to be difficult to watch in some places. I turned my eyes away from those moments.)

I’m going to leave the following two films bare of text. They’re both fantastic cinematic achievements showcasing impressive acting performances, directing, and story-telling. I have nothing further to say about these films except that I highly recommend them both if you haven’t already seen them. The Invisible Man, a re-make, is a spooky sci-fi thriller, and …Hollywood is a Tarentino comedy-thriller without much of a plot, but entertaining nonetheless. “Tarentino” says it all, right? Ha!

2. The Invisible Man (in theaters now, but we rented it on Amazon Prime Video)

3. Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood

4. Acure Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Acure Seriously Soothing SPF Day Cream

I bought this product when I was almost out of the sunscreen I was using, and I was glad that I had it stored away for the occasion. I used up the last of my sunscreen during the worst time to go looking for a new sunscreen. Fortunately, I love this one. It’s everything I want in a sunscreen: SPF 30, broad spectrum, high zinc oxide content (15.50%), and smooth application.

This SPF product is really an all-in-one moisturizer, but I layer it over my Nourish Organics day cream, anyway. If you’ve been here a while, you know that I’m a skin-care junkie.

The End, then. Happy Friday Eve!

The Big Things can wait. (February Favorites!)

March 3, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

There were a couple of Big Things that made the month of February especially enjoyable, but these lists I put together are about the Little Things. If you’re new here, hello! I do a list like this at the beginning of each month. They’re basically/mostly a run-down of whatever entertainment, processed foods, and non-edible products I discovered and particularly enjoyed in the previous month.

Without further ado, then! Here are the Little Things I’ve got to show you from February:

1). The Autopsy of Jane Doe (Netflix)

It’s not often that we pick a horror movie that actually grips us in any kind of way you’d want from a horror piece. This one did. Highly recommend, fellow horror fans!

2). The Pharmacist (Netflix)

The Pharmacist is the docuseries you don’t necessarily want to watch, but you should. I watched it alone (Callaghan doesn’t watch everything that I watch), and I pretty much binged the four parts/episodes. A New Orleans man searches for his son’s killer and ends up exploring avenues that lead him to other killers, killers of others. (Those last three words were unnecessary, but I couldn’t resist that palindrome. Had to do it.)

3). I Am Not Okay with This (Netflix)

Each episode of this Netflix dramedy is 30 minutes or less, and there are only seven. It’s easy, fun, fast, and cringey. It’s light and dark, real and fantastical… in other words, as balanced in contradiction as a teenager can be. I Am Not Okay with This is a story about a young girl whose superhero powers develop in tandem with all else that develops in adolescence. (It’s based on a comic book series, in case you’re wondering about the superhero part.)

4). Homeland, S6 (Netflix)

All last year, Callaghan periodically wondered out loud about Homeland’s new season. Isn’t it supposed to be out by now? Two years after the last, its final season has finally arrived. As usual, it’s outstanding. We’re already wondering, “WTF, Carrie!” We’re going to miss Homeland.

5). Better Call Saul, S5 (Netflix)

Another series we’d been anticipating was Better Call Saul. May I just suggest that if you loved Breaking Bad and you haven’t yet watched Better Call Saul, you might want to get on it…? This Breaking Bad prequel focuses on the development of Saul, Walter’s attorney, and it’s brilliant. Season Six is the series’ penultimate one; as of now, the overlap between the two series is getting real.

6). Locke & Key (Netflix)

Like I Am Not Okay with This, Locke & Key is another “kid’s show” of a series. This outright fantastical story gives off Stranger Things vibes that become especially potent by the end of the season. If you enjoy stories in the Stranger Things vein, you’ll likely enjoy Locke & Key.

7). Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain English Muffins. (Vegan)

Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain English Muffins

8). Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Original Flake Cereal. (Vegan)

Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Original Flake Cereal

If you’ve been here awhile, you know that I love Ezekiel breads. Lately, I’ve been eating Ezekiel 4:9 cereal and English muffins… together. Hence, I’m writing about them together.

Food For Life’s Ezekiel 4:9 products were “Inspired by the Holy Scripture verse Ezekiel 4:9., Take also unto thee Wheat, and Barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and Spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make bread of it…

…indeed, Ezekiel 4:9 breads and cereals are made of these ingredients. This is a bad picture of the informative back panel of the cereal box, but if you click to enlarge it, you might be able to read it:

Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Original Flake Cereal

9). Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate. (Vegan)

Equal Exchange Organic Very Dark Chocolate (71%)

I love a dark, bitter chocolate. I’ve been eating more sugar than usual lately because I’ve cycled into a chocolate phase. It’s safe to say that I’ve consumed maybe three of these Equal Exchange chocolate bars in the last month. It’s hard to resist! Equal Exchange dark chocolate is rich and creamy. It’s divine.

10). Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Oat Blossom Liquid Hand Soap. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Mrs. Meyer’s Oat Blossom Liquid Hand Soap

Also in February, I discovered Mrs. Meyer’s Oat Blossom scent. It’s kind of vanilla-almond-amberish. It’s my new favorite of the brand’s fragrances!

That’s it for February, my friends. Happy March to you!

Campy. Tasty. Ethical. (January Favorites!)

February 6, 2020February 7, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

January’s “favorite little things” theme involved easily digested entertainment, sweet munchies, and a couple of products. January wasn’t all that bad. Check out what I’ve got for you today!

1). The Witcher (Netflix)

Exaggerated video game/graphic novel aesthetics (The Witcher had already been delivered in both of those mediums) contribute to the comic-book style of this fantastical series. Where some see The Witcher in comparison to Game of Thrones, I see it as the adopted lovechild of Lord of the Rings, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels.

As I’d commented to a friend, from what I’ve read online, there are two types of Game of Thrones fans: those who can’t watch The Witcher because of GoT, and those who love The Witcher. (Callaghan is a huge fan of GoT, and he enjoyed The Witcher.) It’s funny how a series can polarize a fandom of another series! I love humans. Whatever your case, The Witcher is done well from an artistic standpoint, so there’s that. I also appreciate and resonate with its thought-provoking tagline, “The worst monsters are the ones we create.”

2). American Horror Story – 1984 (S9)

Continuing on with campy entertainment to be enjoyed at home, we’ve got American Horror Story – 1984, which came out last fall. We finally got around to it in January! It’s unabashedly cheesy, and I loved everything about it; 1984 instantly landed in my top-three favorite AHS seasons.

3). Good Girls (S2) (Netflix)

Good Girls is the series you turn to when you want a crime thriller, a comedy, and a light watch. It’s well-cast with actors who can act, but as usual, I especially enjoyed the performances of Christina Hendricks and Retta.

4). Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (S3)

We were also happy to have a new season of Sabrina. The series gets darker, sappier, and more complicated in season three, and we were into it.

Come to think of it, we didn’t watch anything heavy in January. It was all magic, monsters, and ridiculous shenanigans… a fabulous tone to strike in the first month of the new decade, and appropriate for the times, at that!

5). Ten Second Songs (YouTube channel)

So there’s this guy named Anthony Vincent on YouTube. He’s a phenomenal music talent who plays numerous instruments very well, and he can sing like, well, everyone, apparently. In YouTube favorites this month, I bring you his channel: “Ten Second Songs.” From video to video, I’m endlessly entertained. One thing he does is he takes this challenge: he picks a song requested by a viewer, and he sings/performs it in the style of other musicians, also requested by viewers. You don’t need to be familiar with the songs or the musicians Vincent covers, as he’s hilarious and awesome to watch, regardless, but it’s especially fun when you do know the songs and musicians he’s covering. Here are a couple of examples of his cover challenges:

Disturbed’s “Down With The Sickness” (I know the song because I’m big a Disturbed fan):

Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” (I know the song because of Body Combat):

6). Mountain Dew Zero Sugar commercial (As Good As The Original) – The Shining edition

I love almost everything about this most excellent commercial. The only thing about it I don’t like is the product it’s touting, but who cares what it’s about when you have Bryan Cranston, Tracee Ellis Ross, and The Shining. I never get tired of this.

7). CLIF Bar – Sweet & Salty Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt

Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt CLIF Bar

I’d lost my ability to taste while I was sick in January, but I could taste sweet. One sweet I particularly got into was this variety of CLIF bar. Chocolate Chunk with Sea Salt is delicious.

8). Ricola The Original Natural Herb Cough Drops

Ricola The Original Natural Herb Cough Drops

I don’t have much to say about these cough drops beyond 1). they helped, and 2). they didn’t taste terrible. I actually like this flavor! I always have a few in my bag now. You never know when you’ll need a cough drop.

9). Hello Activated Charcoal with Fresh Mint + Coconut Oil Epic Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste

Hello Activated Charcoal with Fresh Mint + Coconut Oil Epic Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste

I discovered this toothpaste as I was researching teeth-whitening products. I’m glad I gave it a try! It actually works, and it’s fun to brush with black toothpaste. You end up with a mouthful of ghoulish zombie teeth, and then you get to spit black stuff into the sink. It tastes like a minty toothpaste with a hint of barbeque (not BBQ foods, but the actual BBQ), and it’s just slightly gritty in texture. Love this stuff. I brush with it after brushing with my normal JASON toothpaste. I don’t mind brushing twice.

10). Sally Hansen Pure Vegan Nail Polish

Sally Hansen Pure Vegan Nail Polish

For the first time, a mainstream drugstore nail polish brand has a line of vegan nail polishes! Sally Hansen has stepped into the future. It’s good nail polish, too.

This brings us to The End. Didn’t I just say “Happy Friday Eve”? I’m saying it again!

Last “little things” loves of 2019! (December Favorites!)

January 7, 2020January 8, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Here we are at my final “favorite little things” post of 2019! Somehow, I found a lot to include on December’s list. Let’s jump right into the goods, eh?

1). Knives Out

I love going to the movies on my birthday. This year, I chose Knives Out, and it was a fabulous good time. A classic “whodunit” murder mystery, this film exemplifies outstanding film-making on every level. Daniel Craig with a Southern gentleman accent was a bit disconcerting at first, but it was a part of the fun! Daniel Craig, right? I hadn’t been aware of his gift for comedic timing, either. The entire cast was excellent, but I was particularly impressed with Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas. Highly recommend this one.

2). Reprisal (Hulu Original Series)

Hulu’s Reprisal left us immediately counting the days until S2 drops next year. This was one of those series that started with a slow burn, then fully spread and intensified until we were thoroughly captivated by the end. Reprisal is easily one of my favorite series of 2019.

3). The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (S3) (Amazon Prime Original Series)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel continues to be marvelous. I’m endlessly impressed with this entire production, and Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein are superb! Also, for me, as far as period pieces go, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel spectacularly fills the void left by Mad Men. Looking forward to S4!

4). You (S2) (Netflix Original Series)

I’m not sure where to begin with Netflix’ You, so let me just sum it up with my appreciation of how the writers took Joe’s shenanegans to another level in Season 2… and how the twist at the end is one of the most brilliant twists I’ve seen in a series. Like Reprisal, Callaghan and I were kind of “eh” at the start, but by episode 4, we were ALL IN. One aspect I particularly enjoyed this time was the added depth given to Joe’s complex psyche. Season 2 is deeper, crazier, more surprising, and just as outstanding as Season 1. You is a rare series in that I actually enjoyed its second season even more than its first.

5). Miyoko’s Un-Lox Your Dreams Vegan Cream Cheese. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Miyoko’s Un-Lox Your Dreams Vegan Cream Cheese

INGREDIENTS: Organic Cashews, Filtered Water, Organic Coconut Cream, Sea Salt, Organic Seaweed, Vegetable Juice For Color, Spices, Cultures.

December started out as I was beginning to eat solid foods again. I felt that I had a lot of catching up to do, and I definitely had several pounds to re-gain after November’s post-oral-surgery menu. This may have biased me when I went to taste Miyoko’s “Un-Lox” vegan cream cheese flavor, but I’m pretty sure that I’d like it just as much under normal circumstances. I haven’t tried a Miyoko’s product that I didn’t like, after all.

6). World Cuisine Saffron Road Crunchy Chickpeas (Sea Salt). (Vegan and gluten-free)

World Cuisine Saffron Road Crunchy Chickpeas (Sea Salt)

INGREDIENTS: Organic Chickpeas, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola and/or Organic Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Rosemary Extract, Ascorbic Acid.

I’m still not biting into anything hard with my front teeth, but I started tossing crunchy snacks into my mouth again around the third week of December. The savory such food I went for was roasted, salted chickpeas. The first few bags I devoured were these from Saffron Road, and then Callaghan went ahead and got me a huge bag of whatever the brand is they have at Costco. Salted crunchy chickpeas are all the same, and they’re all delicious! They’re crunchy, but they’re not hard, corn-nut-level crunchy. I’ve been mixing these chickpeas with raw almonds for my afternoon nosh.

7). Trader Joe’s Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Trader Joe’s Thai Green Curry Simmer Sauce

INGREDIENTS: Coconut milk, water, green curry paste (shallot, lemon grass, garlic, green chili, galangal, water, salt, coriander seed, Thai lime peel, ginger, turmeric, white pepper, cumin, citric acid), cane sugar, rice bran oil, modified cornstarch, basil leaf, green chili, salt.

Trader Joe’s satisfied my recent cravings for curry with its prepared green curry simmering sauce. A typical fast, processed lunch I enjoyed in December consisted of Trader Joe’s frozen rice medley (red rice, brown rice, and barley, I think) with this sauce mixed into it. It was like a quick and dirty Thai risotto. I must’ve curried myself out for the time-being, though, because I haven’t been wanting it lately! I loved it and loved it and loved it, and now I’m done. No doubt I’ll cycle back around to it at some point, though.

8). NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil (True Beige Buff). (Vegan and cruelty-free)

NYX Bare With Me Tinted Skin Veil

This tinted moisturizer became my new ride-or-die foundation the second I tried it from the tester at Ulta. I wear the shade True Buff Beige, and it’s a perfect match. A little goes a long way when you apply it with your fingers! I use a pea-size dab on each side of my face, and that’s it. I don’t know what else to say about it, really. It just works for my skin, and it’s lovely and it feels amazing and it’s vegan and affordable and available in every drugstore, and, well, I’m going to cry if NYX ever discontinues it. That is all.

9). The Body Shop Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask

I said that I wasn’t going to go crazy on The Body Shop’s website this past Black Friday season, and I didn’t. I only purchased a few items, and I got them at astonishing prices. It had to be one of my proudest retail moments when I ordered $41.00 worth of stuff from The Body Shop and checked out at only $11.60! I had $19.50 worth of promotions, including a $5.00 coupon found by the Honey app, and I also used my birthday month $10.00 voucher. I love that my birthday month is also Black Friday/seasonal scent month! The Body Shop’s seasonal scents are my favorites, as you’ll see in the entry below.

Oh, but first, this mask, you guys. From the first time I used The Body Shop’s Japanese Matcha Tea Pollution Clearing Mask, I knew that it was what my skin had been needing. It’d been months since I’d done a daytime mask of any kind. I’m so glad that I tried this one. Another new favorite-favorite, for sure.

10). The Body Shop Juicy Pear seasonal scent (body butter). (Vegan and cruelty-free)

The Body Shop Juicy Pear (2019 seasonal scent) (body butter)

Juicy Pear is one of those seasonal/limited edition scents from The Body Shop that I wish would stick around, it’s so good. It doesn’t really smell like pears to me. It just smells divine. If only they’d keep it and make a spray fragrance of it….

11). Crystal Mineral Deodorant Roll-On (Vanilla Jasmine). (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Crystal Mineral Deodorant Roll-On – Vanilla Jasmine

I ran out of deodorant and decided to try this Crystal roll-on. The Schmidts deodorant worked well for me, so I was surprised that this one worked even better. In fact, it works better than most non-natural deodorants I’ve used! The scent I chose is vanilla jasmine, but it smells herbal and crisp and kind of masculine to me, which I like in a deodorant.

12). Jason Powersmile Anti-Cavity and Whitening Gel. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

JASON Powersmile®
Anti-Cavity & Whitening Gel
Powerful Peppermint

Again, necessity gave me an excuse to try something new. I’m happy with everything this toothpaste has to offer, but my favorite thing has to be its sharp peppermint flavor. My teeth and mouth feel super clean and fresh after brushing with it, and again, a little goes a long way! A small dab on the toothbrush is enough.

So… that is IT for 2019! I hope your New Year is off to a wicked good start.

No tricks, all treats. (November Favorites!)

December 3, 2019December 4, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

In this “monthly favorites” post, I’m doing something different in including a few recipes. I figured, why not? I believe it was last month that I started posting food ingredients, so this is just an extension of that. If I discover good recipes, then I should share them with you, after all. Good recipes are definitely “little things” that qualify for the “favorites” list.

November was fairly low-key. We saw one good film that we loved, one good streaming series that we enjoyed (and that we’re still watching), one bad series that we also enjoyed, and the new Jack Reacher novel came out at the end of October (which I’m still reading, as I got a late start), and I discovered awesome foodstuffs even before I could eat “for real” again toward the end of the month.

Let’s go!

1). Ford v Ferrari

Fabulous, entertaining flick. Matt Damon and Christian Bale have great chemistry, and if I ever doubted that either of them could act, I’m not doubting it now!

2). Sneaky Pete (Amazon Prime Original Series)

After passing over this Netflix Original Series for years, we finally landed on it and decided to try it. We’re almost at the end of Season 1, and we’re into it! Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) is one of the crime thriller series’ co-creators, and he’s featured in it, as well. It’s interesting to see him in a role other than Walter White. I’m always a little thrown during his scenes. Aside: It’s funny how an actor becomes a character so thoroughly that they’re always that character, no matter how talented they are. In my mind, Jeff Bridges will always be The Dude. Bryan Cranston will always be Walter White.

Anyway, we’re enjoying Sneaky Pete. You might like it, too.

3). The Mist (Netflix)

Here’s the series that apparently everyone in the world hated except for us. I’ve read nothing even remotely positive about this badly rated series, but we really enjoyed it! Granted, I haven’t read the novel, nor have I seen the film version of the story, so I had no basis of comparison… yet there were many others new to The Mist who gave this production a thumbs-down. At any rate, we got into the story and had ourselves a good time watching the series on Netflix.

4). Blue Moon (new Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child)

“Blue Moon” by Lee Child (Jack Reacher novel, 2019)

I’ve only just started reading Lee Child’s new Jack Reacher novel, but I liked it from its opening pages. I would love to get inside Lee Child’s mind to see where/how he comes up with his plot ideas. How many different sorts of adventures can one character have? Reacher lands in the middle of some shit going down every single year. I like some of the stories more than others, but I’m always impressed. REACHER FAN FOR LIFE OVER HERE.

5). Vega Protein Nutrition Shakes. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Vega Protein Nutrition Shakes

These ready-made protein shakes saved me in the month following my surgery! I’d usually mix up my own, but drinking two of these a day, it was just easier to grab them from the fridge. I like both the chocolate and the vanilla, but the chocolate is my favorite!

Ingredients and nutrients in a nutshell and quoted directly from Vega’s site (“sic” all the way through):

20 grams protein: each bottle has 20 grams plant-based protein from a multisource blend of pea protein, hemp protein, and pumpkin seed protein
Veggies & greens: with ingredients including spinach powder, kale powder, carrot juice powder, and organic spirulina
25% DV of at least 11 vitamins and minerals
3-4 grams fiber: Vanilla flavor has 3 grams fiber, or 12% DV, while Chocolate flavor has 4 grams fiber, or 16% DV. The fiber in both flavors comes primarily from flaxseed
1 gram Omega-3 ALA: You’ll get essential fatty acids from flaxseed

6). Imagine Organic Miso Broth. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Imagine Organic Miso Broth

INGREDIENTS: Filtered Water, Organic Yellow and Red Miso Paste (Organic Whole Soybeans, Organic Rice, Sea Salt, Koji Starter [Aspergillus Oryzae]), Organic Flavors, Organic Onion Powder, Natural Flavors, Organic Evaporated Cane Syrup, Organic Potato Starch, Yeast Extract, Organic Ginger Juice, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil and/or Organic Safflower Oil and/or Organic Sunflower Oil.

This miso broth was another life-saver, the warm and savory to Vega’s cold and sweet. I love adding silken tofu to this broth. Did you know that you can eat silken tofu without chewing it? Neither did I.

7). Mandarin oranges.

Mandarins

Once I could eat again, I found that mandarins are great for when you can’t bite into fruit and you want to add to your selection of bite-size options. I’ve been cutting up strawberries and tossing them into a bowl with red grapes and mandarin slices to make a little bite-size fruit bowl for dessert, and it’s wonderful!

8). One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Oat Vanilla Chia Granola. (Vegan and gluten-free)

One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Oat Vanilla Chia Granola

INGREDIENTS: Sprouted gluten-free organic oats, organic cane sugar, sprouted organic brown rice, organic sunﬂower oil, organic ﬂax seeds, sprouted organic sunﬂower seeds, organic chia seeds, organic vanilla, unreﬁned salt, tocopherols (Vitamin E).

This granola! Is so! Delicious! Enough said.

9). Impossible Pumpkin Pie (recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie). (Vegan)

Impossible Pumpkin Pie, aka Crustless Pumpkin Pie (recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie)

WHAT I PUT INTO THIS PIE: Pumpkin puree, plain unsweetened soy milk, flaxseed meal, agave syrup, whole wheat flour, canola oil, vanilla extract, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, salt, baking powder

(For the exact ingredients list, see Katie’s recipe)

The whole concept of Thanksgiving is still somewhat foreign to my French husband. He never liked pumpkin pie, and he typically dislikes pumpkin anything (pumpkin is very New World and pretty much doesn’t figure in French cuisine), but he loved this pie that I made for Thanksgiving this year! I loved it, too. I made another one this morning and took the pic you see above.

This dessert is called “Impossible” because it’s a crustless pie. The flour you mix in with the other ingredients gives it a structure while it maintains the classic pumpkin pie texture. (You can see in the pic how it kind of forms its own “crust.”) I got verification of its awesomeness when one of my exacting Thanksgiving guests – a pumpkin pie purist, mind you – remarked that “it tastes just like pumpkin pie.” I suspect that if it doesn’t taste “healthy” to him, it won’t taste “healthy” to anyone.

You can use whatever sweetener you want, and Chocolate Covered Katie gives options to make the pie gluten-free and/or fat-free, so there’s a version of this simple and easy recipe for everyone. And I do mean it’s easy: you mix everything together by hand and pour it into the pie pan without having to deal with a pastry, and it’s in the oven for less than 30 minutes. Clean-up is easy, too. You need this recipe in your life if you like pumpkin pie.

10). Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie Baked Oatmeal (recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie). (Vegan)

Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie Baked Oatmeal, aka Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal for One (recipe from Chocolate Covered Katie)

WHAT I PUT INTO THESE OATMEAL SQUARES: Rolled oats, plain unsweetened coconut milk yogurt, plain unsweetened soy milk, agave syrup, peanut butter, salt, cinnamon, vanilla extract, mini chocolate chips [ETA: I use Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips… they’re vegan.]

(For the exact ingredients list, see Katie’s recipe)

I wanted to eat oatmeal. I was not in the mood for oatmeal. I was tired of mushy food. I had a feeling that Chocolate Covered Katie’s The Healthy Dessert Blog would hold the answer, and it did. Put 1/2 cup of oats into a bowl, she said, and mix in these other things, and throw the whole shebang into the oven, and there you go – oatmeal that isn’t oatmeal.

Like the pie, this baked oatmeal is so simple and so good. The most difficult part is having to break it to Callaghan that the oatmeal isn’t for sharing. It’s one serving, the same serving I’d have were I to make it the traditional way. It looks like a lot because I make it in a loaf pan and cut it up into squares, but it’s really not a lot. In fact, it’s not enough.

I did tell him that I’d make him his own pan, though. No guilt!

Also, I think that Chocolate Covered Katie is my new spirit animal.

The End.

p.s. December’s already grand, because I started the month by going back to the gym!! I did my first Body Pump workout in a month yesterday.

Warm days, chilly nights, good horror. (October Favorites!)

November 5, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

October’s short horror posts left little room for daily-life or other content here, so all that kind of thing will pick up again henceforth. First, a look back at the little things I enjoyed in the tenth month of the year!

I bring to you a few films, a streaming T.V. series, some food items, skin care, and make-up. As usual, the food items are vegan (plant-based), and the skin care and cosmetic items are vegan (no animal ingredients) and cruelty-free (not tested on animals). I’ve also got a song/music video for you this time!

All of the viewables on this list are horrific in their unique and unexpected ways, might I add. Altogether, they amplified everything I love about October. It was a good “favorites” month, for sure.

Without further ado!

1). Joker

It’s always satisfying when a movie I’m anticipating exceeds my expectations. Joker accomplished this in brutally raw fashion. Joaquin Phoenix acted the hell out of this character, a comic book villain who didn’t seem like one, at all, because the film didn’t come across as a comic book film. Joker is a very real, very human story… a story about the making of a monster.

2). Parasite (Gisaengchung)

Parasite was brought to life by Bong Joon Ho, the genius behind Okja (Netflix); like Okja, Parasite is a masterpiece. It’s also scarce. If you can find this Korean film in a theater within your reach, I’d 100% approve of your decision to chase it down. Be prepared for a dramedy that gets pretty dark!

3). Suspiria (Amazon Prime Video)

Suspiria had been on my “to watch” list for months, so when it came to my attention that it was available on Amazon Prime Video, I wasted no time. Incidentally, this horror remake features Tilda Swinton, who was also in Okja, the brilliant film created by the guy who did Parasite (above). I’m convinced that Tilda Swinton’s otherworldly talent makes Suspiria creepier than it would be been without her, but the story’s creep-factor is solid.

4). Creepshow (Shudder Original Series)

I believe I’ve already raved about this Shudder Original Series somewhere in a past post. Creepshow is horror I’d characterize as good fun. Highly recommend!

5). Marilyn Manson’s cover of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” (and official video)

Thick in this current cycle of my Marilyn Manson obsession, Manson went and dropped a cover of my favorite folk song, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down.” I popped the video into this post so that you may appreciate the man’s cutting and creeptastic artistic vision, as well. Manson growls out the song’s darkness in glorious Manson form – he digs his own grave and buries himself alive – though the song is plenty dark on its own. (Johnny Cash’s chilling version is still my favorite. Manson’s is a close second.)

Allow me to take this minute to whine about missing Marilyn Manson’s show when he played here on Sunday night. YES – Marilyn Manson performed at the Van Buren downtown two nights ago, and where was I? NOT THERE, that’s where. Not only that, but he performed “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” which he’d dropped in conjunction with his tour. I’m dying. Anyway.

6). Mighty Manna Bread (Carrot Raisin). (Vegan)

Mighty Manna Bread in Carrot Raisin

INGREDIENTS: Sprouted organic wheat kernels, filtered water, organic carrots, organic raisins.

(I’ve decided to start including the ingredients of my food favorites, so you can see what you’d be putting into your body were you to eat these things.)

I’ve tried several varieties of Mighty Manna’s delicious, dense, sticky-sweet breads, but this carrot raisin one is my favorite so far. I love it for breakfast! I cut the bread into thick slabs and bake a couple of them in the toaster oven until the outside edges are slightly crisp, and then I slather them with organic almond butter.

I’m incorporating more gluten into my diet these days, but I’m choosing sprouted grains as much as possible. So far, so good.

7). Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread. (Vegan)

Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread

INGREDIENTS: Organic Sprouted Wheat, Filtered Water, Organic Sprouted Barley, Organic Sprouted Millet, Organic Malted Barley, Organic Sprouted Lentils, Organic Sprouted Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Spelt, Fresh Yeast, Organic Wheat Gluten, Sea Salt.

I’ve cycled back around to Ezekiel bread with its yummy, wholesome sprouted grains. It’s a classic, and I’ll always love it!

8). Kitehill Almond Milk Cream Cheese (plain). (Vegan)

Kitehill Almond Milk Cream Cheese (plain)

INGREDIENTS: Almond Milk (Water, Almonds), Salt, Enzyme, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Lactic Acid, Cultures.

This almond milk cream cheese is so light and creamy!! I’ve enjoyed Kitehill’s vegan cream cheese in the past, but I don’t remember it being like this (though it was also amazing).

9). Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion

Between this product and the cosmetic item below, you’ll see what I mean when I say that I generally spend more money on skin care than I do on make-up. I love Nourish Organic’s products, so I wasn’t surprised to find that I love this face lotion.

10). e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer

I had to blink the first time I put this on and looked in the mirror; I could not believe what I was seeing. This liquid concealer seemed to effortlessly erase the dark circles under my eyes. e.l.f. continues to astound me… it’s sorcery, what they do. I’ve used pricey concealers by Urban Decay, Tarte, and NARS, and they were all good, but e.l.f.’s humble little $6.00 concealer is my holy grail of concealers. It’s PURE MAGIC.

On that note, I’ll close out this list… it’s a good and appropriate note for October.

Newsflash: It’s October 1st. (September Favorites!)

October 1, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

All I can say about this list is that it means OCTOBER has arrived. It’s already been very Octoberish! September lives on in my continuing love for the items on this list, but OCTOBER, okay.

Let’s get on with it, shall we?

1). Savage X Fenty Show (Amazon Prime)

I put Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty (lingerie by Rihanna) Show at the top of this list because it’s the best thing I saw in September, and one of the best things I’ve seen all year, and maybe even one of the best things I’ve seen ever. Here’s my opinion in the wake of our watching this superb and mesmerizing production: Victoria’s Secret should just go ahead and file for bankruptcy, because what are they doing, exactly? I’ve yawned while watching their lingerie fashion show. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Rihanna’s lingerie fashion show. We’re all in it… you, me, everyone. Rihanna wants you to know that her lingerie is designed for YOU, but even if you don’t wear lingerie, you won’t want to miss this magnificent show. Amazon Prime, guys. Go see the Savage X Fenty Show if you haven’t already. (RUN, don’t walk!)

2). Marianne (Netflix)

Here is where September got very Octoberish. We just recently started watching French horror series Marianne on Netflix; we’re only on the third episode, but we’re not sitting around waiting for the series to get scary. We were good and thoroughly horrified one minute into episode one, and that is no exaggeration. October’s off to a great start.

3). Black Spot (Zone Blanche) S2 (Netflix)

Also in September, we discovered that season two of this excellent French thriller series is available on Netflix, and we found that its story’s paranormal aspect has been heightened. Octoberish!

4). Luna Bar in Creamy Dreamy Peanut Butter. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Luna Bar Creamy Dreamy Peanut Butter

I made a couple of fabulous ~~candy bar~~ energy/protein bar discoveries in September, both from Luna Bar: their Creamy Dreamy Peanut Butter flavor, and their Chocolate Peppermint Stick flavor (below). Love these!

5). Luna Bar in Chocolate Peppermint Stick. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Luna Bar Chocolate Peppermint Stick

6). ThinkThin Original Sprouted Grains Oatmeal. (Vegan)

ThinkThin Original Sprouted Grains Oatmeal

Having cycled back into an oatmeal phase, I’ve been enjoying ThinkThin’s Original Sprouted Grains Oatmeal. It’s yummy and wholesome and 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber and what more could you want in oatmeal? It’s great with a spoonful of peanut butter, too.

7). Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Sauce.

Trader Joe’s Jalapeno Sauce

My assessment of this sauce is that it’s basically a thin wasabi based on Jalapeño rather than on horseradish. A dab on the finger suggests more heat than flavor, but added to nachos, it’s great flavor!

8). Birch Benders Plant Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix. (Vegan)

Birch Benders Plant Protein Pancake and Waffle Mix

YUM.

I love browsing supermarket aisles and discovering convenient foods (aka fast food you prepare at home) of solid nutritional value. Birch Benders Plant Protein Pancake and Waffle mix gives you 10 grams of protein per serving… and who eats just one serving? These just-add-water pancakes are delicious.

9). Snak Club Spicy Party Snack Mix. (Vegan)

Snak Club Spicy Party Snack Mix

This was my latest road trip junk food discovery. This stuff should be called “Spicy Party Crack Mix.” That is all.

With love from one season to the next. (August Favorites!)

September 5, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

Check out, if you will, my favorite little things from August! I’ve got a movie, two streaming series, one facial product, and a whole lot of food.

We’ve discovered Russian-language series, and now I want to watch every single one available. The two equally excellent projects mentioned here both feature Estonian actor Kirill Käro. You would be correct in guessing that Kirill Käro is my current favorite actor. Let’s start with a film from South Korea, though!

1). Train to Busan (Original title: Busanhaeng) – from South Korea

Someone has gone and created a brilliant film melding family drama with the zombie apocalypse. Train to Busan is great for when you can’t decide whether you want to see a drama, a thriller, or a horror movie. It’s currently on Netflix.

From the protagonist’s standpoint: When you’re bored with your routine and think it would be nice, for once, to have a day filled with family drama, high-speed thrills, and a zombie apocalypse.

[Sidenote: this film has revived my interest in preparing for the zombie apocalypse. I’ve already gotten that endeavor underway.]

2). Better Than Us (Original title: Luchshe, chem lyudi) (Netflix) – from Russia

When you get adopted by a robot who happens to have been made in China, shenanegans will ensue. (Kirill Käro is on the right.)

I must put in that we couldn’t help but continually marvel at the way actress Paulina Andreeva portrayed a robot. The person who trained Paulina Andreeva knew what they were doing, and Paulina Andreeva is hella talented.

3). The Sniffer (Original title: Nyukhach) (Netflix) – from Ukraine

We’re only four episodes into The Sniffer. I’ve seen enough, though, to know that you’re daft if you don’t insure your nose and its superhuman power of being able to smell in such detail that you can make hefty coin as a freelance detective. This series is a dramedy with an often hilariously bumbling duo, one half being Kirill Käro’s character. (I won’t say his name anymore in this post, I promise.)

4). Nature’s Path Organic Sunrise Crunchy Cinnamon Cereal. (Vegan and gluten-free.)

Nature’s Path Organic Sunrise Crunchy Cinnamon Cereal

As pumpkin-spice everything takes over the States, I indulge my love for one of those spices by sprinkling extra cinnamon onto this delicious, crunchy cinnamon cereal. My current passion for this flavor may be related to my eagerness to plow into Halloween season (aka fall), but I can see enjoying this cereal year-round.

5). GoMacro Macrobar Sunny Uplift Cherries + Berries. (Vegan and gluten-free.)

GoMacro Macrobar Sunny Uplift Cherries + Berries

August was one of those months that left me hooked on a particular food. I cannot get enough of these Cherries + Berries GoMacro bars. I’ve liked all of the GoMacro bars I’ve tried, but these? I love cherries! These bars are sweet and tart and chewy and wonderful, and they vaguely remind me of Pop Tarts.

6). 365 Cape Cod Trail Mix. (Vegan and gluten-free.)

365 Cape Cod Trail Mix

Here’s another simple one: cashews, almonds, and dried cranberries in a mix that’s altogether similar in flavor to the Cherries + Berries GoMacro bars. I’m enjoying this flavor combination of sweet and tart in a wholesome food. It tastes of both summer and fall to me. I love the transition of summer to fall.

7). Food For Life Sprouted Corn Tortillas. (Vegan and gluten-free.)

Food For Life Sprouted Corn Tortillas

These tortillas make for some seriously yummy black bean tacos, and they contain only four ingredients: organic sprouted corn, filtered water, sea salt, and lime. They’re delicious. They will make you wonder why you’d put any other ingredient into a corn tortilla.

8). Follow Your Heart Gluten-Free Oat Bread. (Vegan and gluten-free.)

Follow Your Heart Gluten-Free Oat Bread

I’ve also been enjoying this oat bread by Follow Your Heart. I pretty much only eat toasted bread when I’m at home, though, so I can’t tell you how this bread comes across when un-toasted. I should’ve thought to try it out for you! After all, texture is everything when we’re talking about gluten-free baked goods. Really good toast, though.

9). Food For Life Gluten-Free Brown Rice English Muffins. (Vegan and gluten-free.)

Food For Life Gluten-Free Brown Rice English Muffins

These English muffins are super dense. They’re like hockey pucks, and it would probably hurt to get hit with one. They’ve become my staple breakfast on Body Pump mornings! I split two of them apart and toast them and spread Earth Balance on two halves and peanut butter and jam on the other two halves, and they’re good. It takes a while to eat them, they’re so heavy! Awesome energy for a pre-workout meal!

10). Acure Brightening Facial Scrub. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

Acure brightening facial scrub

I cannot describe to you the luxury of this exfoliating facial scrub. With its base of sea kelp and “French green clay,” it’s a green so dark, it’s almost black. A little goes a long way. The formula is thick and rough, as in large-grain grainy, so I proceed with a very light touch with added water throughout use. I massage it in circles from my forehead all the way down my neck. The luxurious part is the feeling on my skin as I rinse it off. It’s unlike anything I’ve tried! I use this scrub every night following my Earth Science Creamy Fruit Oil Cleanser (a favorite from July). I love the combination of these two products. It’s like a spa in my shower every night.

The End. I can’t wait to get back here with my September Favorites, because that would mean the start of Short Horror Movie October! I know that you can’t wait, either. Heheh.

Happy Friday Eve!

Radiance! (July Favorites.)

August 1, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

I’ve found that pictures and links speak quite effectively on their own when I present my list of favorite “little things” from the previous month, so that’s what I bring to you on this first day of August: a quick and dirty list of favorites for July with little in the way of text. As always, take my favs as recommendations if you’re so inclined, and with the idea that what works for me may not work for you, whether it’s entertainment, food, or products.

Enjoy, and Happy Friday Eve!

1). The Art of Self-Defense (film)

When your bad day at work becomes a bad night after work, and the realization that your whole life follows this script prompts you to take action.

2). Midsommar (film)

When your relationship is fragile and your co-dependency leads you to take a summer trip overseas. (Take note: horror)

3). The Lion King (film)

When you’re a talking animal whose life plays out like a Shakespearean tragedy, except not everyone dies at the end. (Take note: not a cartoon)

4). La Casa De Papel Part 3 (Money Heist S3) (Netflix series)

When the capture of a beloved family member gives you an excuse to ride your dormant adrenaline waves, and those waves turn into a tsunami.

5). Fleabag (Amazon Prime Original series)

When you’re a sex addict struggling with grief. (Take note: this comedy series is outstanding and hilarious, but it’s NOT “family-friendly.”)

6). Eating Evolved Primal Chocolate Signature Dark (72% Cacao). (Organic, vegan, paleo, and soy-free.)

Eating Evolved Primal Chocolate Signature Dark

A taste of dark chocolate was in order, so I thought I’d go for something new. It’d been so long since I’ve had chocolate that there was a lot of “new” to explore! I ventured to try this dark chocolate bar because it’s sweetened with organic coconut sugar, and sugar was a concern. I’d say that this is the least bitter and crumbly of the 72% + dark chocolate bars I’ve tried in my life. I highly recommend it if you’re wanting a healthier dark chocolate that’s creamy and not overly bitter.

7). e.l.f. Jelly Pop Face & Eye Gloss in Icy Pop. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

e.l.f. Jelly Pop Face and Eye Gloss in Icy Pop

When e.l.f. cosmetics offered free shipping for a period of time in July, I felt I should order something in addition to the lip product I wanted to try. I looked at their newly released products, and this face and eye gloss caught my attention. I’m actually surprised by how much I like it and its glowing effect! On days I don’t wear make-up, I take just a dab the size of a pinhead and tap it lightly onto my cheekbones and eyelids. I don’t wear it to the gym, so I can’t say how well it’d hold up through a work-out, but it lasts all day when I’m just home or out and about running errands.

8). e.l.f. Radiant Gel Lip Stain in Dewy Nude. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

e.l.f. Radiant Gel Lip Stain in Dewy Nude

This is the e.l.f. lip product I wanted to try, and I’m happy to say that it works for me. It’s a simple lip stain that does what I want it to do: it adds just a hint of lip color, it wears well, and it doesn’t make my lips feel dry. I put my regular lip balm over it, and I can’t even tell that I’m wearing a lip stain.

9). Pacifica Mineral SPF 50 Body Butter Pineapple Flower. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

Pacifica Mineral SPF 50 Body Butter Pineapple Flower

I’m always on the look-out for a body lotion with a strong SPF that doesn’t feel and/or smell unpleasant. This one by Pacifica is a game-changer!

10). Schmidt’s Bergamot + Lime Natural Deodorant. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

Schmidt’s Bergamot and Lime Natural Deodorant

I’ve also found it challenging to find effective vegan and cruelty-free deodorants. For me, Schmidt’s deodorant works better than standard ones. It doesn’t behave or feel like regular aluminum deodorants in how it applies, though; it took some getting used to. I press it firmly into my armpit and hold it for a good ten-Mississippi count, and then it’s soft enough to apply. Other qualities that may be down-sides: it’s a little grainy in texture, and it’s white (not invisible), so it will leave marks on your dark clothes if you’re not careful. But it really works! That’s a big enough up-side for me.

And that’s it for July!

(La Fin)

Super into it all. (June Favorites!)

July 2, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

I’m back with another Monthly Favorites post, because, well, another month’s gone by. You who enjoy these posts didn’t have to wait long if June went as quickly for you as it did for me! Let’s get right into it, shall we? We’ve got some streaming television series (all originals on their platforms), we’ve got some food, and we’ve got some products.

Here’s what I loved in June (and still love):

1). The Handmaid’s Tale, S3 (Hulu)

The Handmaid’s Tale, S3

When enough is enough.

2). After Life (Netflix)

When you’re not happy, no one is happy… but you manage to be hilarious while bringing everyone down.

3). Absentia (Amazon Prime Original)

When the cops and the feds can’t get it together, and the only person who can is everyone’s main suspect.

4). Good Omens (Amazon Prime Original)

When you had ONE JOB, but realized that you should’ve re-taken Armageddon 101, which you apparently failed.

5). Sinto Gourmet Spicy Red Kimchi.

Sinto Gourmet Spicy Red Kimchi

One of my go-to meals: brown rice, nori (seaweed), and kimchi. I’m simple like that. I’m not too picky about my kimchi, but this one is exceptional in its balance of flavors.

6). Hakuna Banana Strawberry Frozen Dessert.

Hakuna Banana Strawberry Frozen Dessert

Do not approach this dessert thinking it’s like dairy or plant-based ice creams, because it’s not… its mouthfeel is too different. Just think of it as a frozen dessert, and you’re good. This stuff is delicious, devoid of added sugar, and delightfully almost-chewy in its thick texture. I’m loving it this summer!

7). Cherries.

Cherry season 2019!

But of course my favorite fruit made June’s “Favorites” list.

8). Snak Club Protein Power Snack Mix.

Snak Club Protein Power Snack Mix

This is one of those snacks that I’ll gorge myself on without a thought. It behooves me to measure it out in some way! I picked this up at the V.A. in Palo Alto, and I’m still eating it… I discovered that the Phoenix V.A. store carries it, too. I haven’t looked for it in civilian stores because I’m over at the hospital enough that I can just get it there. If I didn’t have it at hand, I’d order it, for sure.

9). Earth Science Creamy Fruit Oil Cleanser A-D-E. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

Earth Science Creamy Fruit Oil Cleanser A-D-E

I’d been using my beloved Alba Botanica Hawaiian Pineapple Enzyme gel cleanser for three/four years now, so when I ran out this last time, I decided it’d be good to switch things up. The skin adapts to products! I browsed the shelves at Sprout’s and decided on this cleanser. I’m liking it so far. It’s lightly scented. It feels nice. (Also, it’s a couple bucks cheaper than the Alba Botanica one.)

10). Derma-E Anti-Aging Regenerative Day Cream. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

Derma E Anti-Aging Regenerative Day Cream

I started using this day cream late in June, so it’s too soon to report on its regenerative powers. It’s already on this list because I loved it immediately for its texture. This product manages to be creamy and rich without feeling heavy or greasy. I love the way it feels! It’s going to remain a favorite regardless of the “results” I see or don’t see.

And there you have it, my friends. I hope you had a lovely first month of summer, as well.

A little saint, mostly sinner. (May Favorites!)

June 6, 2019February 10, 2020That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

For those of you who enjoy these “favorites” posts and for anyone else curious, scroll down to see what I loved watching, eating, and putting on my face in May!

1). The Curse of La Llorona (film)

Because horror always completes a month. Incidentally, I’m counting down the days to Short Horror October! I’ve already discovered a great one that I’ve stashed away just for that series.

2). John Wick 3: Parabellum (film)

Because who needs a plot when you have Keanu Reeves kicking ass in exquisitely choreographed fight scenes? I will say that the story-line makes sense if you’ve seen the first two John Wick films. If nothing else, you can just sit back and enjoy the splendor. The sets are eye-candy in and of themselves.

3). Chambers (Netflix Original Series)

Key words and phrases for this intriguing Netflix thriller/horror series: Native American representation in characters and their actors; Navajo; Diné (Navajo) language; Navajo rez; Arizona!

4). Dead to Me (Netflix Original Series)

Because there aren’t enough well-written drama series that you can watch in conveniently packaged 30-minute episodes. This one has a darkly funny edge and a talented duo of main actors… Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini both kill it (pun not intended). Cardellini also plays the lead in The Curse of La Llorona; it was wonderful to witness her range between these great performances.

5). Love, Death & Robots (Netflix) (NSFW)

Even more rare! Here we’ve got a brilliant animated series with episodes that run from six minutes to 20 minutes, most of them just around 15 minutes long. We tore through Love, Death & Robots. It’s hard to keep the binge at bay when the episodes are this short! Each episode stands alone as a story. This series is like an animated Black Mirror in tiny installments.

We loved every one of these little stories. If I had to recommend just one, though, I think it’d be Beyond the Aquila Rift. Or maybe Sonnie’s Edge. Or The Witness. Or Fish Night. Or….

6). Killing Eve (Hulu)

May I just say that Jodie Comer plays the most impressive psychopath I’ve ever seen on screen?

7). May 2019 Grand Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) (Grand Sumo Highlights)

Because Sumo is my favorite sport. This time, my favorite badass Sumo warrior came back healthy enough to earn back the Ozeki rank he’d lost in the March tournament! Congratulations, Tochinoshin! The pride of the country of Georgia is back!!

Tochinoshin

(Pic taken from Tochinoshin’s instagram)

8). SkinnyPop Sea Salt Popcorn Mini Cakes.

Skinny Pop Popcorn Mini Cakes – Sea Salt

These mini popcorn cakes are wonderful little vehicles for salt. They know their place in this world.

9). e.l.f. Sculpting Silk Eyeshadow in Berry Please. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

e.l.f. Sculpting Silk Eyeshadow in Berry Please

I went looking for an eyeshadow trio holding these very shades. The quality of e.l.f.’s eyeshadows gets better and better, though it’s always been good! The shadows in this mini palette blend beautifully, and the colors are gorgeous. Vegan, cruelty-free, and only $4.00.

10). e.l.f. Liquid Matte Lipstick in Vampy Violet. (Vegan and cruelty-free.)

e.l.f. Liquid Matte Lipstick in Vampy Violet

A purple so dark, it almost looks black. My heart!! This liquid lipstick doesn’t feel drying, and its staying-power is excellent. Lip balm works well to fill out the color at the end of the day, or after eating something oily. The color lasts even with lip balm over it! Vegan, cruelty-free, and $5.00.

That’s it for May! Happy Friday Eve, my friends.

April Favorites, of sorts. (ft. zombies et al)

May 2, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

To those of you who look forward to my “monthly favorites” lists, I must apologize again this year. I have no list for April. This isn’t to say that there were no “little things” to be enjoyed last month, because there were… mostly simple things, which often feel the most satisfying, anyway. Dried apples and fresh strawberries. Spring cactus blooms and perfect Arizona in-between weather. I discovered an exceptional hairstylist at the Supercuts down the street. Body Combat at my alternate gym seems promising in terms of consistency. Mundane little things like this make a big difference in the day-to-day, I find.

On the writing front, I’m crafting a plan for my second novel. It’s been too long since my last writing update, I know! I’ve been writing poetry all this time between novels. Poetry explains the world to me, and these days, there’s a lot of explaining to be done. Let us not speak of the explanation-resistant world here. This is a place for serious stuff, like witches and zombies.

If nothing else, April was a month of enjoyable horror entertainment. We went looking for it on Netflix and found ourselves catching up: we had the second season of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and the second and third seasons of Santa Clarita Diet. I delighted in the revelation that the former got darker, and the latter got funnier.

On the cinema side, we went to see Us, which left us adequately spooked and contemplative. Us exemplifies psychological horror done well. I love a film that makes you say, “Now that I know what I know, I want to see this movie again.” But I haven’t re-watched it yet, because the next movie I went to see was Pet Sematary. My thoughts on the re-make? I enjoyed it, but I prefer the original. I still get cold prickles recalling the image of Zelda dying in that bed in 1989, whereas Zelda in 2019’s re-make didn’t terrify me at all. Also, 1989 zombie cat creeped me out more effectively than 2019 zombie cat. See? I’m a simple and low-budget horror fan, happily freaking out before simple and low-budget horror flicks.

At any rate, I suppose April could be summed up with witches, the dark lord, zombies, and all other species of the undead.

May is looking good. It’s an odd-numbered month, which means it’s a Grand Sumo Highlights month!

I love this sumo slogan:

[art by sumofish]

On that note, Happy Friday Eve, all.

It was all too cool. (March Favorites!)

April 2, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick 2 Comments

I’m back with a “monthly favorites” post, and this time it’s an actual 10-item list and also on the first blog day of the new month – just like old times! I’ve got more food on the list than anything else, along with a couple of products, one random item, and only one entertainment mention. We didn’t get to the theater at all (not to worry – Us is at the top of our list for when we do), and we watched less T.V. than usual. We caught the March Grand Sumo Highlights, but you already know how much I love Sumo. We watched a fluffy streaming series that kept us entertained, but I didn’t feel compelled to include it here.

Without further ado, here’s what I’ve been watching, eating, and using:

1). Hanna (Amazon Prime Original)

I hesitated to include this series because it just dropped, and we’ve only seen the first two episodes. It might’ve been better to put it on my April list, but I’m already so impressed that I wanted to share it now as a recommendation. Hanna is based on the 2011 film, and it brings together one of my favorite T.V. duos: Linden (Mireille Enos) and Holder (Joel Kinnaman) from The Killing.

2). Shea Moisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Facial Wipes.

Shea Moisture 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Facial Wipes

I ran out of facial wipes for makeup-removal, and I saw these and almost didn’t get them… they’re not the cheapest. I was looking for my usual Yes to Coconut facial wipes when my eye caught on the word “coconut” on this package. Of course, I got them. Of course, I love them. They’re refreshing and wonderful with my makeup removing products, and they don’t feel oily at all.

3). W3LLPEOPLE Bio Extreme Lip Gloss (Berry).

W3LLPEOPLE Bio Extreme Lip Gloss in Berry

Target’s added more vegan/cruelty-free cosmetic lines to their stock! They’re killing it. I picked up this W3LLPEOPLE lip gloss in Berry, and now it’s my new favorite lip product. I love the feel of its formula, its herbal scent, the staying power of the color, and the color, itself.

4). Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped Kit.

Taylor Farms Sweet Kale Chopped Kit

There’s not much to say about this salad mix except I’M HOOKED. It is chopped salad perfection. I’ve been eating this for lunch every day, removing the cranberries from the seed packet and using my own dressing (olive oil and balsamic vinegar for this one) rather than the one included.

5). Dried apples.

Dried apples

Dried apples: a new favorite snack that’s easy to eat while writing. No mess! They’re tart and light and lightly sweet, and the chew is satisfying and not clingy to the teeth.

6). Japanese sweet potatoes.

steamed Japanese sweet potatoes

Here’s another new favorite snack: these tiny sweet potatoes. I steam a whole bag all at once and keep them in the refrigerator. They’re easy to grab and eat, and they’re also mess-free since they’re cooked in water with no oil. So good!

7). Vega Sport Protein Bar (Crunchy Peanut Butter).

Vega Sport Protein Bar in Crunchy Peanut Butter

Vega Sport’s peanut butter crunch bar is my new favorite way to get in some post-workout protein if I can’t get home right away to make a protein shake.

8). Munk Pack Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie.

Munk Pack Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie

Clearly, I’m eating more sugar these days; I was impressed with the nutrition panel on these protein cookies, so I thought I’d try them. Lenny and Larry’s, move over. Munk Pack’s protein cookies’ nutrition panel looks better, and from what I recall of L & L’s, I like these better, too. I cut them in half and store them in the freezer in individual snack bags, so I only eat half at a time (half = one serving). They’re awesome frozen! I also love the double chocolate ones. I currently have both in the freezer.

9). C-Weed Snack Seaweed Crunch with Almonds.

C-Weed Snack Seaweed Crunch with Almonds

MORE SNACKS. Mom sent two bags of these seaweed snacks from Hawaii. I love seaweed in all forms. I also love almonds. This one was going to make my list without question… I mean, it was going to have to try really hard to not make the list. It’s not just not-horrible, it’s really good. If you like seaweed, you’ll want to try these!

10). Bat birthday card.

You guys, this was a totally random and anti-minimalism purchase. I was looking for a card for a specific person/occasion – not a birthday – and my eye snagged on this one. Bats! I read the outside, read the inside, and felt an uplifting of mirth such that there was no way my depression-challenged ass wasn’t going to bring it home. I love the art, as I said, but the card had me at the incorrect comma, weird/wrong syntax, and the awesome WTF-ness of the punchline. This card with its goofy message and birthday-hat-wearing-bats sits on my dresser and makes me giggle every day. Best four bucks spent in the month of March.

[studio ink another side of hallmark – art by brace]

goofy birthday bats by brace

The artist signed as just “Brace.” Thank you, Brace!

The End… of March.

What there was to see can now be seen. (February Favorites!)

March 7, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick 2 Comments

For being the shortest month of the year, February 2019 seemed long and drawn-out. Some awesomeness came out of February, for sure! On the 10th, I added a Sunday cardio class to my workout week, so I’m finally back to five workouts per week: three days of weights, two days of cardio. The last time I was in this place was when I started Body Pump and I was still going to Monday night kickboxing. That was over two years ago! I’m determined to let nothing get in the way of this modality split. If I have to miss a class, I have to find a way to make it up. Yesterday, I found out that I’ll be out of town for a week in June, but I’ll be staying in a place with gym equipment. No excuses.

What else? Looking at my planner’s February month view, I see that I went to many appointments, most of them at the V.A. hospital, and also I went to the dentist and to the optometrist. I had no social agenda items in February at all! I met with 0 of my friends. It was a long and busy month, but it was productive and not at all unpleasant.

Oh! If you read my last post, then you know that Geronimo (our Sonoran desert tortoise) emerged from hibernation on February 28th. That automatically makes February awesome.

Onto the wonderful Little Things, then…

Three Netflix offerings we watched that I enjoyed (in the order that we watched them):

1). Velvet Buzzsaw

2). Russian Doll

3). Doctor Foster

A cosmetic item that I’m finding to be lovely:

4). Pacifica Super Powder Supernatural Eyeshadow Trio (Stone Cold Fox).

Pacifica Super Powder Supernatural Eyeshadow Trio in Stone Cold Fox

And one random little thing:

5). New glasses. New prescription, new specs. I don’t have a new-glasses selfie (yet), but I can post a pic from the company’s website and link you to the frames. They’re Prodesign Denmark Model 4729 from the Danish Heritage Collection. I got them in Tortoise… of course! They’re light and comfortable, and they weren’t on the pricier side. That’s always a plus.

That about does it, I would say! I hope you all enjoyed an overall good February.

Just a little something. (January Favorites!)

February 7, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

I sat down to work on my January Favorites post, then realized that I don’t have enough to form an actual list. Sudden events opened a black hole that swallowed the entire month. All good things, though! January vanished in a good way, but by the end of it, I’d noted nothing for this list. January was Big Things, not Little Things.

I can tell you that we loved the Netflix series You and Hemlock Grove. The former was unique (to us) in that we hadn’t seen a thriller series of the stalker-as-protagonist variety before. The latter is a horror series we couldn’t believe we hadn’t seen yet.

I can also tell you that we enjoyed 15 days of Grand Sumo Highlights… the first tournament of 2019.

(Grand Sumo opening ceremony)

I developed deep feelings for The Body Shop’s Vanilla Marshmallow Shower Gel (vegan and cruelty-free) and Amy’s Tofu Scramble Breakfast Wrap (vegan and gluten-free).

The Body Shop Vanilla Marshmallow Shower Gel

Amy’s Tofu Scramble Breakfast Wrap

(I have these wraps for lunch, though. Not for breakfast.)

What else? That would be it for this first Monthly Favorites post of 2019. It’s like January 2019, itself: short and sweet!

Happy Friday Eve, all.

Much ado about the usual, but different… (December Favorites!)

January 3, 2019January 6, 2019That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

We’re here today because, as usual, I’m compelled to share with you some of the past month’s riches. It’s all quite predictable. A movie. Some streaming series. Foods I’ve been eating with great enjoyment all month. A couple of products I’ll definitely re-purchase.

This month, though, I’m going to start with a person. Maybe I’ll make a habit of this!

1). Favorite Body Pump Bitcher and Moaner: RON.

This is Ron. Ron does not wish to be photographed in the wild. Ron’s favorite thing to do in Body Pump is bitch and moan. Ron has an answer for everything. When the instructor says “shoulder rolls,” Ron says “CINNAMON ROLLS.” When the instructor says “you can increase your weights,” Ron says “okay, I’ll decrease my weights.” When the instructor says “moving on to the lunge track!” Ron says “You mean the shoulder track. We already did lunges.” Ron loves lunges the MOST! Body Pump instructors everywhere: if Ron turns up in your class (you’ll know it’s him because he’ll be the one bitching and moaning about lunges before class even starts), make sure to do seven tracks of lunges.

(Thank you, Ron. LOL.)

2). The Possession of Hannah Grace

This film in a few words: spooky, dark, claustrophobic, fantastic. Horror fans, you’ll want to see this one. It’s not the demon-possession flick you’re used to seeing. That’s all I’m going to say.

3). The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Netflix)

We sprang for this series on a whim, and we’re so glad that we did! As Aunt Zelda would say, “HAIL SATAN.”

4). The Kominsky Method (Netflix)

I also recommend this smart series about a pair of longtime friends and Hollywood legends of yore. We found The Kominsky Method to be surprisingly fresh and delightful considering it features a couple of crotchety oldsters. Highly recommend!

5). Dumplin’ (Netflix Original Movie)

Again in a few words: powerful, moving, funny, sharp. We loved this Netflix film, and it’s not of a genre we usually prefer. The film is sorely underrated, in my humble opinion. I found Dumplin’ to be pretty much perfect, and I would see it again. I recommend that you see it, too!

6). Tinkyáda Pasta Joy Brown Rice Pasta (spaghetti style). (Vegan and gluten-free)

Tinkyada Pasta Joy Brown Rice Pasta (spaghetti)

I swear you’d never suspect that this pasta is gluten-free! You must try it to believe it. It’s amazing.

7). Victoria Vegan Alfredo Red Pepper Sauce. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Victoria Vegan Alfredo Red Pepper Sauce

We tried every pasta sauce in Victoria Vegan’s line, and this alfredo red pepper version was our favorite. To be honest, all of the sauces started out well and then disappointed with their slightly bitter aftertastes, but any bitterness at the end of this one melded perfectly with the sauce, itself. Victoria Vegan’s alfredo red pepper sauce is delicious.

8). Miyoko’s Organic European Style Cultured Vegan Butter. (Vegan and gluten-free)

Miyoko’s Organic European Style Cultured Vegan Butter

Earth Balance will always be a staple, but now we have another buttery spread favorite in Miyoko’s Organic European Style Cultured Vegan Butter. It’s so good!

9). Vega Protein Snack Bar (Coconut Almond). (Vegan and gluten-free)

Vega Protein Snack Bar (coconut almond)

Another month, another protein bar, I know. I can’t walk by a vegan protein bar without picking it up. I’ve found a lot of “favorites” in recent months, and I’m still noshing on them all… but this one. This one, guys, is my MOST favorite favorite. I’m borderline obsessed with this bar. I tried a few other flavors in this line, and I found them to be as disgusting as this one is superb. Vega is like that, in general, I’ve noticed. I either hate their products or really, really love them.

10). Alba Botanica Hawaiian Body Oil Deep Moisturizing Kukui Nut. (Vegan and cruelty-free)

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Body Oil – Deep Moisturizing Kukui Nut

Yet another product from Alba Botanica’s Hawaiian line that I adore! My ride-or-die cleansers are still Alba Botanica’s Hawaiian facial cleanser, facial scrub, and plumeria shampoo, and now I’m hooked on their body oil, too. I smooth this on at night, in the shower before I dry off. It’s moisturizing, light, and not the slightest bit greasy.

11). The Body Shop Blueberry Body Butter. (Cruelty-free)

The Body Shop Blueberry Body Butter

This body butter arrived as a free gift with my Black Friday purchases. I’m glad that this was the “surprise” scent they threw in, because I wouldn’t have tried it otherwise! This body butter smells divine. I’ve tried several other body butters from The Body Shop before, and they all smelled delicious, but this one. I’m already almost halfway through the large pot, and it’s only been a month. If The Body Shop expands their blueberry scent into a full product line, I’ll be all in.

La fin! Happy Friday Eve, everyone!

November Favorites!

December 6, 2018That Asian-Looking Chick Leave a comment

I love sunshine the most, but I’m fond of occasional days like today, too. It’s a moody day, damp, chilly, and gray.

We’ve reached the penumbra of Christmas, and I, for one, am actually feeling calm and ready for it. The high point of Black Friday/Cyber Week for me was scoring a space heater for my parents on a ridiculous sale at Home Depot. You know you’re a grandma at heart when your proudest consumer extravaganza moment is a space heater. It was such a good deal, and we really needed it!

Hopefully this will be the last time we’ll have to think about heating my parents’ room when they visit in the winter, since the A/C guy is coming next month to address the ventilation issue.

Anyway, let’s get right into some of my favorite Little Things from November!

1). Book: Past Tense (the new Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child)

Past Tense (2018 Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child).

Okay, Lee Child’s 2018 Reacher might be one of my favorite Reachers ever. I just really enjoyed this novel. I found it to be deliciously taut, intriguing, and twisted, and I loved the Sumo comparison Child wrote into one of the bad guys!

Incidentally, I’m as thrilled as any Reacher fan that Lee Child is planning a Jack Reacher streaming series… and that Tom Cruise will not be cast as Reacher! It also came to my attention that Child is open to suggestions for Reacher actors! I’m going to dedicate next week Tuesday’s post to my ideas for this.

2). Homecoming (Amazon Prime Video)

In case you didn’t know: Amazon Prime Video released this original series called Homecoming, and it would be well worth your while to check it out if you’re into intrigue, military themes, and Julia Roberts.

3). Bodyguard (Netflix)

Speaking of Reacher, this guy! Richard Madden! A few of his scenes in Bodyguard made me shout “HE IS REACHER.” Not fight scenes, mind you. It was more these little, transitional moments in which the character would reply to someone, move between places, or stand and allow a certain mood to arrange his features in a Reacher-like fashion. It was about attitude and the air about him, I guess… subtle and important qualities. There’s more to Reacher than 6′,5″ and and 220 lbs. Spoiler alert for Tuesday’s TALC post: Madden didn’t make my short list of potential Reacher actors (no pun intended). Dommage.

But I wildly digress. I was going to say that the Netflix series Bodyguard is brilliant, in my opinion, and quite a ride. I’m posting this here with my highest recommendations!

4). Get Shorty (Netflix)

We discovered the series Get Shorty by accident, and what a pleasant, hilarious accident it was. Callaghan and I both prefer this series to the film (1995). The infuriating thing is that we know there’s a season 2 out there, but we can’t figure out how/where to watch it!! Netflix doesn’t have it yet. How’s that for a so-called first world problem? At any rate, you may love this series, too.

5). Sprouts Organic Creamy Peanut Butter.

Spouts Organic Creamy Peanut Butter

I don’t know how any natural (i.e. stir-it-yourself) peanut butter could differ from Laura Scudder’s Old-Fashioned creamy peanut butter, but somehow, Sprouts came up with one that does. Laura Scudder’s brand is good, but Sprouts’ is sublime. It has one ingredient: organic peanuts. Laura Scudder’s brand has peanuts and “less than 1% salt.” Close enough, right? But Sprouts’ creamy pb is easier to mix, its consistency is more indulgent, and its flavor is just perfection. Sorry, Laura Scudder’s. As long as Sprouts is making theirs, I’m never going back.

6). Pacific Organic Roasted Garlic Mushroom Lentil Soup.

Pacific Organic Roasted Garlic Mushroom Lentil Soup

I’ve been sick since November 6 (yes, still sick, as it turns out), so I ate a lot of soup in November. I just wanted it, you know? Most of the time, when I want soup, I’m also not in the mood to make my own. My go-to, ready-made soup is Amy’s lentil or lentil vegetable. My new favorite soup, though, is this one by Pacific. This organic roasted garlic mushroom lentil soup is divine. I don’t think I would’ve discovered it had I not gotten sick, so thank you, forces of the universe.

7). Pumpkin Pie Larabar.

Pumpkin Pie Larabar

Dates, cashews, apples, almonds, pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger. These are the ingredients mashed together to make Larabar’s pumpkin pie bars. The recipe works. These bars were perfect for November… for anytime, but especially for November. Love these!

8). Van’s Gluten-Free Original Waffles.

Van’s Gluten-Free Original Waffles

I discovered that Van’s gluten-free original waffles eaten hot with only butter (Earth Balance, in my case) taste like biscuits! These are wonderful. They’re crispy on the outside, and the inside melts in your mouth. Consider this post to be a Public Service Announcement.

9). Bigelow Green Tea Classic.

Bigelow Green Tea Classic

Another thing that happened in November as a direct result of my illness? I quit drinking coffee. That was a cold day in hell. It must have been. What happened was coffee started to upset my stomach to the point of I can’t do this anymore. Coffee’s never affected me like that! It only took two days of intense nausea and related trips to the bathroom. The first day it happened, I suspected that it was the coffee. The next day, it was obvious that it was the coffee. I started drinking green tea in the morning, instead, and now I’m hooked on early morning green tea.

Now for a lone product:

10). Pacifica Hot Vegan Probiotic & Spice Rehab Mask.

Pacifica Hot Vegan Probiotic & Spice Rehab Mask

I had no expectations when I picked up this daytime mask. Pacifica Hot Vegan Probiotic & Spice Rehab Mask kind of surprised me. I thought it might have a spicy sort of fragrance, but it does not. I thought that it would go on like a gel and feel like a gel, but it doesn’t… it glides over the skin, and it tightens up just a little bit. Just enough to remind you that you’re wearing it. It doesn’t dry into the aggressive, pulling second skin that many masks become the longer you wear them. I leave it on for five minutes longer than suggested, and the tightness of it doesn’t change. My skin glows after I rinse it off. I will be repurchasing this product!

So there we have it for November’s favorite Little Things. Until next time! Happy Friday Eve.

That Asian-Looking Chick

poet-writer-blogger. combat sports-fitness enthusiast. combat veteran. vegan. aspiring minimalist. my kids have paws.

Monthly favorites

October-December and CURRENT Favorites! (31 Things.)

Only fools rush in. (July/August Favorites!)

March/April Favorites!

January/February Favorites!

So long, 2020, and thanks for all the (December Favorites!)

The eleventh month. (November Favorites!)

Keeping the candles burning. (October Favorites!)

Waiting for the wind to whistle. (September Favorites!)

Only 36 hours late this time. (July Favorites!)

June 2020 Favorites!

Little Things. (May Favorites.)

7 movies, 3 series. (April Favorites!)

In like a lion, out like a tiger: March was a liger. (March Favorites!)

The Big Things can wait. (February Favorites!)

Campy. Tasty. Ethical. (January Favorites!)

Last “little things” loves of 2019! (December Favorites!)

Warm days, chilly nights, good horror. (October Favorites!)

Newsflash: It’s October 1st. (September Favorites!)

With love from one season to the next. (August Favorites!)

Radiance! (July Favorites.)

Super into it all. (June Favorites!)

A little saint, mostly sinner. (May Favorites!)

April Favorites, of sorts. (ft. zombies et al)

What there was to see can now be seen. (February Favorites!)

Just a little something. (January Favorites!)

Much ado about the usual, but different… (December Favorites!)

November Favorites!

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