DIY Dip Manicure on the Cheap that Doesn’t Look… Well… Cheap!

DIY Dip Manicure on the Cheap that Doesn’t Look… Well… Cheap!

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The weather is starting to change and we’re sprinting towards the winter months. This means dry skin, dry hair, dry nails. Ok, you can only moisturize so much and cuticle or nail oil is great… when you actually remember it. I don’t know about you, but things around here are extra crazy this time of year and 2020 has not been kind to anyone, so I definitely don’t have time for 500 steps in my skincare routine right now.

My nails keep splitting and breaking way, way, WAY back. If I paint them this won’t help with the breaking, so I thought maybe I’d go get them done soon with a gel manicure. Ok, that might help some, but it still won’t stop them from splitting or breaking too far back. I suddenly remembered seeing a Facebook ad for dip manicures. Hmm… ok, but are they sturdy enough to withstand the cracking, splitting, and breaking nails?

Like all of my posts, I’m sure you know where I headed. Time for some hardcore Amazon research. I found many kits, but I always opt for the ones with the best price and best reviews. Bingo… I found a starter kit that contained colors I love and there was a coupon with a lightning deal. I looked at all of the photos, read the reviews, and this seemed like the real deal, so I went for it.

What I liked about this particular set is it seemed like there were only a few steps, the kit came with everything already included, and the colors were perfect! I chose the kit with a gray and pink color scheme. This particular kit had a two different color options, so if I did fall in love with it, I could order a second set in a different color scheme.

The directions were simple and there wasn’t too much to read through. I was able to apply the dip powder easily and quickly. I completed my entire manicure in about half an hour. The manicure looked great for a first attempt. I know the second attempt will be even better now that I know what I’m doing. Next time I will make sure I don’t get sloppy with the base coat as it can go outside the nail line fairly easily. Once you go outside of your nail line it adheres to your skin and it’s a little difficult to correct. When applying regular polish I’ve always gone very far outside of my nail line and cleaned it up later, but this forces me to be a little bit neater.

My nails are now strong, sturdy, and aren’t tearing, breaking, or chipping like they have been the last few weeks. I think this is a great solution to help me grow my nails out without them continually breaking. The colors are great in this kit, it is quick and easy to apply, and I found it to be very forgiving for a dip manicure newbie. For the price of one manicure I will now be able to keep up with them myself at home whenever I have time. I believe I will be purchasing an electric nail file to sand down the manicures when I need to fill in in a few weeks. Otherwise I think they’ll become a little too thick after fill-ins.

If you like a little more length than what you currently have, Amazon has a lot of options for tips. The directions in this kit even tell you how to apply the nail tips, then apply the dip manicure for a great finish.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I know, I know… Halloween is over and most people have already thrown their seeds out by now, but in case you haven’t, here is a great “recipe”. I’m using quotes because it’s really just seeds and seasoning. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Well, no lemon, but… you get it. I adapted this recipe from one I found over at Food.com.

Ingredients

  • Pumpkin seeds
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Seasoning Salt
  • Garlic Powder

Directions

  1. After removing seeds from the pumpkin, make sure all pumpkin slime and chunks are removed.
  2. Rinse the seeds in a strainer thoroughly and allow to dry overnight on wax paper. Change the wax paper after 24 hours and allow to dry on a new sheet of wax paper for an additional 24 hours or until completely dry.
  3. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Toss the seeds in a bowl with olive oil. Use enough oil to very lightly coat the seeds. The seasoning will stick well with very little oil.
  5. Add salt, seasoning salt, and garlic powder to taste. Other seasonings may be used to create different flavors.
  6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add seasoned pumpkin seeds to baking sheet.
  7. Bake seeds for approximately 45 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until golden brown.
  8. Enjoy!
Move Over Victoria’s Secret… There Are Cheaper, BETTER Alternatives

Move Over Victoria’s Secret… There Are Cheaper, BETTER Alternatives

by Engineered Mama ♥ 2 Comments

After being stuck in the Victoria’s Secret conundrum for over a decade, I finally embraced the fact that it MIGHT NOT BE the only good intimates option *gasp* I know, I know… it’s kind of like Clinique. Abercrombie & Fitch. Lulu Lemon. There ARE other brands and yes… they can be comparable, if not better.

Yes, I have always gotten amazing deals from Victoria’s Secret in the past, but like every other brand name, those deals seem to be becoming few and far between lately. So, I did what any great shopper does and hit up my Amazon Prime for other options. I’ve had great luck lately just typing in whatever I’m searching for then BAM! An item with thousands of glowing reviews pops up as “Best Seller”. So, today I have two alternatives for you-Body by Victoria underwire bras and cotton bikini underwear.

Body by Victoria Underwire Bra Dupe

So, the best option that came up on Amazon was Maidenform’s Comfort Devotion Embellished Bra. Reviewers even posted photos comparing their Victoria’s Secret version to the Maidenform version. They are so similar that you can hardly tell the difference. Here are some pros and cons that I found with this dupe:

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Pros:

The fit and cut is nearly identical to the Victoria’s Secret version. In fact, reviewers posted photos of the Body by Victoria bra with the Maidenform version and they looked nearly identical. Maidenform’s version has a three hook and eye closure, while the Victoria’s Secret version has only two. I definitely prefer the three hook version as it helps everything stay in place and be much more secure. Maidenform’s version even seems softer than Victoria’s Secret’s. This could mean it won’t hold up as well as the Victoria’s Secret version, but I’ll keep you posted on how they wear!

Cons:

I don’t really know that there are many cons to this one. The straps seem a little stretchier, which could mean a little less support and the Maidenform version is definitely thinner. The Amazon selection of Maidenform also mostly have lace, which might not be the best style under tighter fitting t-shirts. Other than these minor cons, the bras are definitely comparable.

Victoria’s Secret Cotton Bikini Panties Dupe

Photo Credit: Amazon.com

Amazon Essentials has the best dupe for Victoria’s Secret cotton panties. You know, the ones you always get free when you have a VS credit card? Who doesn’t love those?! In fact, I’m not even giving you a pro/con list for this one (yeah… I know your inner Rory Gilmore just died a little…). They’re that good. I even grab these before I grab any of my Victoria’s Secret versions. They wash well, they hold up well, and they’re just plain comfortable. These are just plain great. The cut is also comparable to Victoria’s Secret Cotton Bikini Panties. The price? $2.25 per pair. Seriously. Buy some.

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

by Engineered Mama ♥ 2 Comments

It’s fall… time for chili! I’ve made a few different versions of white chicken chili, but this version that I adapted from The Chunky Chef is by far my favorite. Step on some crunchy leaves, grab a cozy sweater, and enjoy some chili!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts – I usually use more than a pound for a more hearty chili. You can also use frozen and it still turns out great!
  • 1 yellow onion – diced (I usually use frozen for a quicker recipe!)
  • 2 cloves garlic – minced
  • 32 oz. chicken broth 
  • 3 15oz cans great Northern beans – drained and rinsed
  • 2 4oz cans diced green chiles – I usually use mild because kids will be eating it, but hot works great, too
  • 1 15oz can whole kernel corn – drained
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 3/4 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • small handful fresh cilantro – chopped (dried works great if you don’t happen to have fresh on hand!)
  • 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese – softened
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • Monterey Jack cheese (optional, for topping)
  • Tortilla strips (optional, for topping)
  • avocado (optional, for topping)
  • Sour cream (optional, for topping)

Directions

  1. Add chicken breasts to bottom of top slow cooker with salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and cayenne pepper.
  2. Top with diced onion, minced garlic, great Northern beans, green chiles, corn, chicken broth and cilantro.  Stir.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  4. Remove chicken to large mixing bowl, shred, then return to slow cooker.
  5. Add cream cheese and half and half, stir, then cover and cook on HIGH for 15 minutes, or until chili is creamy and slightly thickened.
  6. Stir well and serve with desired toppings.
Easy Oven Baked Pork Chops (with Slow Cooker Option!)

Easy Oven Baked Pork Chops (with Slow Cooker Option!)

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I always buy pork chops or pork loin and never know what to do with them. I love breaded, pan fried pork chops, but it’s hard to pan fry them lately with a 2 year-old running into the kitchen every 5 minutes while I’m cooking hurling Hot Wheels cars across the floor. I mainly use this recipe as a dry rub for any kind of pork I prepare. Although this recipe is meant for baked pork chops, it’s also great on a pork loin in the Crock Pot for 8 hours on low. If you decide to use the slow cooker version, add around a cup of chicken broth to the Crock Pot.

This recipe was adapted from an Easy Oven Baked Pork Chops recipe from Lemon Blossoms.

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless pork chops
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning or dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  2. In a small bowl, mix the dry rub ingredients.
  3. Rub the pork chops with the olive oil and season them with the dry rub. Make sure to coat all sides of the pork chops.
  4. Place the pork chops onto the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the pork is thoroughly cooked.
  6. Remove from the oven and let rest 5 to 10 minutes, tented with aluminum foil. Serve and enjoy!
Communist States of America

Communist States of America

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I never thought I would see things that I’m seeing happen before my very eyes in the land of the FREE (well… what used to be free…) and the home of the brave. Ladies and gentlemen, we are no longer a nation of freedom. We are a nation of censorship, division, and false information.

Today I encountered something I never thought would happen to me-censorship. Censorship of my personal social media account. With everything going on in our country at the moment (I’m not even opening that can of worms…), a quote came to mind: “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.”

The author if this quote is none other than… you guessed it… Adolf Hitler. The reason I decided to post this quote was to show that the media can’t be trusted. We are being fed lie after lie and not only is it being considered the truth, but no one is even questioning it. Where does the information come from? Is it a reliable source? Is it an OPINION? Contrary to popular belief, opinion isn’t fact. Just because you want to believe something doesn’t magically make it true.

Back to censorship. Posting this simple quote to try to inspire others to really think about what information is being digested left me banned from my personal Facebook account for two months. I was notified that my post was removed because it didn’t meet community standards. I was able to respond to the removal and stated that I didn’t feel I broke any community standards. What was wrong with my post? The fact that it was a quote from a communist dictator? Huh… the irony is strong with that one. Or maybe Zuckerberg doesn’t want mention of the Holocaust since it didn’t really happen *full eyeroll* Maybe it hit too close to home because of the current political climate. You know, gotta keep people as dumb as we can so they don’t know they’re being lied to. Regardless of the reason, this is blatant censorship at its finest.

Now, me being the stubborn person I am, I took this screenshot and naturally posted my outrage that this was removed and being censored. I’m sure you know what happened next…

Not only was my quote removed, but the post of the screenshot of my removal was removed and I was banned from commenting and posting for 24 hours or advertising or going live for 60 days… SIXTY… six zero days. Guys… that’s TWO MONTHS. Two. Months. Can you imagine how devastating this would be if this was done to a business?

This is why it’s important to pay attention to what is happening around us. We can’t keep letting this happen. I will not be silent about what I see happening around me. Don’t let yourself be silenced.

Roasted Beets with Citrus

Roasted Beets with Citrus

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

img_6410Beets are probably one of my favorite vegetables, but for some reason I’ve never actually purchased fresh beets.  I always heat them up out of a can, which I guess is ok, but of course like every other recipe post, Misfits Market changed that!  This week there were two giant golden beets in my box.  Finally, the search was on for a great beet recipe.

I found what seemed like the perfect recipe from Love & Lemons.  I altered the recipe a bit based on what I had in the kitchen, but it’s probably one of my favorite side dishes now.  If you prefer your beets warm, you could even just roast the beets according to the first few steps of the directions and call it a day.  They’re delicious simply roasted, even before marinating!

Ingredients

  • 6 to 8 small or medium red or yellow beets (I used the 2 large golden beets I had and they worked out great with this recipe!)
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • 1 large navel orange
  • balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
  • Juice of ½ lemon, or to taste
  • Handful of watercress leaves, arugula or microgreens, or other leafy vegetable of choice
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Flaky sea salt, optional

Optional Toppings

  • Goat or feta cheese
  • Chopped walnuts or pistachios

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Place each beet on a piece of foil and drizzle generously with olive oil and pinches of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Wrap the beets in the foil and roast on a baking sheet for 35 to 60 minutes, or until soft and fork-tender. The time will depend on the size and freshness of the beets. Remove the beets from the oven, remove the foil, and set aside to cool. When they are cool to the touch, peel the skins. I like to hold them under running water and slide the skins off with my hands.
  3. Use a citrus peeler to peel long strips around the orange, avoiding the white pith. Grated zest would work here also. Slice ¾ of the orange into segments and reserve the remaining ¼ wedge for squeezing.
  4. Slice the beets into 1” wedges or chunks and place them in a bowl. If you’re using red and yellow beets, place each color into separate bowls so the red beets don’t stain the yellow beets.
  5. Drizzle with olive oil and sherry vinegar, then add the lemon juice, orange juice squeezed from the remaining wedge, and a few pinches of salt and pepper and toss. Chill until ready to serve.
  6. Taste before serving and season with more salt (flaky sea salt, if using) and pepper or more vinegar (for more tang), orange, or lemon juice, as desired.
  7. Serve on a platter with the orange segments, watercress, and citrus curls.
Baked Jicama Fries

Baked Jicama Fries

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

img_6236Misfits Market strikes again… yet another vegetable I’ve never prepared.  This was an interesting one-I had to Google pictures of root vegetables to figure out what it even was.  Now, I know that a jicama makes a delicious side dish!

I found this recipe from Spend with Pennies.  I paired this recipe with Lemon-Garlic Aioli and it was amazing as a side dish!

Ingredients

  • 2 large jicama
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Peel jicama and cut into ‘fries’. Boil 10-12 minutes.
  3. Drain and dab dry. Toss with remaining ingredients.
  4. Place on a parchment lined pan and bake 20 minutes.
  5. Flip and bake an additional 20 minutes or until golden
  6. Serve warm with ranch or aioli.
Crockpot Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

Crockpot Honey Lime Chicken Enchiladas

by Engineered Mama ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Enchiladas are always a big hit, but this is by far my favorite recipe and it’s so easy.  Crockpot… how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways… ok, you get the point.  Set it and forget it recipes are my favorite.  I love this recipe because it has such a different flavor than traditional enchiladas, but it always gets rave reviews.  The hardest part is putting the enchiladas together and baking, so I call it a win!

I have adapted this recipe over the years from a recipe I found from One Good Thing.  I use the slow cooker to cook the chicken in the marinade used in the original recipe.  Instead of marinating already cooked chicken, I find this really gets the flavor in the chicken and makes for great enchilada sauce in the end!

Ingredients

  • 6 Tbsp honey
  • 5 Tbsp lime juice (2 large or 3 small limes)
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 bell pepper (any preferred color), diced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 lb chicken (or extra to freeze for later!)
  • 8-10 flour tortillas (or corn if you prefer corn enchiladas)
  • 1 pound monterey jack cheese, shredded (or cheese of choice-I use whatever I have on hand and all varieties have turned out great)
  • 16 ounces green enchilada sauce
  • 1 cup heavy cream (don’t have heavy cream?  Make your own if you have whole milk and butter on hand – mix 2/3 cup whole milk with 1/3 cup melted butter.  No grocery trip, FTW!)

Directions

  1. Place chicken in crock pot.  Add diced bell pepper and onion.
  2. Mix honey, lime, chili powder, and garlic powder together until well blended.  Pour mixture over chicken and vegetables.  Cook on low 8 hours or until chicken is thoroughly cooked (at least 165 degrees).img_6187
  3. Shred the chicken and reserve the drippings for the enchilada sauce.
  4. Pour about 1/2 cup green enchilada sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan.
  5. Stuff the tortillas with the chicken mixture and shredded cheese, saving about 1 cup of cheese to sprinkle on top of enchiladas (or more if you love cheese… who doesn’t love cheese???).
  6. Mix the remaining enchilada sauce with the cream and leftover marinade from the chicken.
  7. Pour the sauce on top of the enchiladas and sprinkle with leftover cheese.
  8. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until brown and crispy on top.
Pan Fried Zucchini with Easy Lemon Garlic Aioli

Pan Fried Zucchini with Easy Lemon Garlic Aioli

by Engineered Mama ♥ 1 Comment

img_5795Yep… more zucchini.  There is an over abundance of zucchini this time of year, so I always try to find ways to prepare it other than zucchini bread.  This recipe is pretty simple and easy to prepare, although it’s a little more time consuming than baking.  If you want a side dish with a little crisp, this is the recipe for you!

This recipe comes from Maria’s Mixing Bowl if you’d like to check out the original!

Ingredients

Zucchini Bites:

  • 1 large zucchini
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups  Panko Bread Crumbs
  • 1/4 cup canola oil

Garlic Aioli Sauce:

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

Zucchini Bites

  1. Slice the zucchini into 1/2″ thick rounds.

  2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and ground black pepper. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. And pour the Panko into a third bowl.

  3. Coat the zucchini with the flour mixture and then dip them into the beaten eggs. Cover them entirely with the Panko.

  4. In a large, heavy bottomed skillet, heat the canola oil over medium heat. Once heated, place zucchini bites flat in the pan (only one layer at a time), and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, or until golden and cooked all the way through.

Garlic Aioli Sauce

  1. Combine mayonnaise, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

  2. Serve zucchini bites hot with the sauce and enjoy!