Dre Does Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

I know this is a beauty blog but I can't help but share this recipe because it's so ridiculously yummy and easy that you have to try it. I fell in love with Lemon Chicken Rice soup last summer when I worked at a Greek restaurant. When the new year began I told myself I was going to learn how to make it no matter how hard it was because I missed eating it. So I got to googling and YouTubing and I was pleasantly surprised to find how simple and easy it is to make. I didn't follow an exact recipe because it all depends on how lemony you want it and whether you want rice or pasta (like orzo), but you can easily tweak it to your liking. 

Here's the basic guidelines I followed (I call them guidelines because I come from a family of non-measuring cooks): 

64 oz. of chicken broth (I prefer low sodium but you can use what you like)

1 cup of uncooked rice (let's be real though. I love rice...I probably used more haha)

2 cooked and shredded chicken breasts 

3 eggs

2-3 lemons

Salt and Pepper

Dash of Oregano (one recipe I found called for it and I can't escape my Italian roots so I obviously loved it)

The really awesome thing about this soup is that you can utilize leftovers! Takeout rice from leftover Chinese food can get a second life and so can leftover or rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. I however was starting from raw rice and chicken so this is what I did.

1. In a large soup pot, I added all the chicken broth and brought it to a boil.

2. In a large sauté pan, I added a little butter and started to cook my chicken breasts after I seasoned them with a little sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

3. Once the broth was boiling, I added my uncooked rice and stirred it every once in a while to keep from sticking to the bottom, in between checking my chicken breasts.

4. Once the chicken was cooked, I let it cool for a few minutes, shredded it, and threw it into the big soup pot. The time that it takes to cook the rice and sauté the chicken were pretty even which works out nicelyv. 

5. In a small separate bowl I squeezed my lemon juice, removed an seeds that tried to make it to the party, and cracked my eggs into the juice. I then whisked everything together. 

6. Now you have to temper the eggs. If you were to just add the egg and lemon juice mixture to your soup pot, you would make Lemon Chicken Egg Drop Rice soup, because they would cook so quickly, so you have to slowly warm them first, then add them to the soup. To do this you just slowly add ladles of the hot soup to the eggs while you are whisking it. I added about 5 but it'll be different for everyone. Once you can feel the mixture warm up a significant amount, stir the big soup pot and add your egg, lemon juice and broth mixture. You'll notice the broth thicken up and kind of get creamy but this is totally normal and the whole point of what the eggs do. They make the soup so thick, creamy and delicious. 

7. Now I just add my dash of oregano, let everything hang out for a little bit together, and test for salt and pepper. 

That's it! You now have an amazing soup you can eat all year round. It's filling, yet still refreshing because of the lemon. One thing to remember is that it thickens if you save it for later in the fridge, so if this bothers you, when you warm it up just add a little water or broth to thin it out. Like I mentioned before, you can customize the amount of lemon and other ingredients to your liking, but I hope you try it out and enjoy it! If you do let me know!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a DIY: Recycling Candle Jars

If you're like me, you're probably stuck in this never ending winter cold. To keep your spirits up, you're probably burning a million candles in all sorts of spring related scents to help you remember that things such as flowers and fruits that require the sun do in fact still exist despite the desolate tundra outside. 

So what do you do with the plethora of used up candle jars once the yumminess of peach, lemon, and lilac is burned away? Find a new use for them of course! I'm going to explain how to remove the left over wax and such, and give you some ideas for using them in beauty related ways!

So what do you need? Used up candles, a sharp pointy knife, a freezer, soap and warm water, and whatever you're going to fill your new jars with!

1. First you have to freeze the old candles. At least an hour works, but I honestly just throw a bunch in and leave them over night, so they're good and frozen!

2. Once frozen, take a sharp knife and just press the pointy tip into the wax trying the crack it all the way to the bottom. Then you should be able to shake out all the broken pieces. 

3. If there's any leftover pieces you can pull them out with your fingers. Then pull out the little wicks that are glued to the bottom of the jars. If you can't get them out don't worry. Just move on to the next step of soaking.

4. Depending on the candle, you might be able to get away with running the glass jar under some hot water and the label could peel right off. If not, soaking it in hot soapy water for a little bit should loosen the glue. Now use the soap and water to wash the glass really well and remove all sticky residues.

5. That's it! Time to fill 'er up! 

Here's some ideas for you on how I like to fill mine up: 

Cotton rounds and Q-Tips by my bathroom sink

Makeup brushes on my vanity (it's good to have multiples for clean and dirty brushes or separating eye and face brushes)

Any makeup products that are better stored standing upright (should I be embarrassed to say these are just my lip stains and lip crayons...?)

Current favorite nail polishes or colors that inspire you for the current season

While these are just some of my favorites you can also use them to store bobby pins, hair ties, jewelry, tea bags, pens or other writing things, post it notes, random do-dads like safety pins or extra buttons, important little trinkets, beauty and perfume samples, etc...the list goes on and on!

The jars you get don't have to be plain either. Sometimes I find clearances candles that are in beautiful decorative jars. Even if I don't really love the scent, I'll still buy them with the intent of burning them up and using them later on for decorative purposes! 

As much as I love my candles, here's to hoping that we experience the scent of real flowers and plants soon!! :) If you do this let me know what you plan on using your old candle jars for! 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does Dry Lip Quick Tips

If you live in the Midwest or anywhere else that's been getting ridiculous amounts of snow and cold weather your lips have probably seen better days. Don't worry though. I'm here with some quick tips on how to help get some moisture back into your pretty pout!

1. If you don't have a lip scrub on hand, when you're done brushing your teeth use the wet bristles of your toothbrush to gently exfoliate any dry skin off your lips. Exfoliation is key when your lips are chapped and dry. 

2. Before you start your makeup routine, apply a good conditioning lip balm so it can work on your lips while you're doing the rest of your makeup. I do this regardless of whether my lips are dry or not, but it's especially helpful on super dry lip days or days I want to wear matte lip products (which tend to exaggerate any dryness). 

3. Use that same good conditioning lip balm or even an oil, like the beautifying composition oil I posted about earlier this week (click here to see that post), to apply a nice thick layer every night before bed. It'll help give your lips a deep hydration while you're sleeping!

4. Keep a lip balm in your coat pocket so you can apply it before you step into the cold as a guard from cold air, wind, and all the other yuckiness found outside these days. However, make sure you remember to take them out of your pockets before you wash them! R.I.P. to the 25,672 lip balms I've accidentally killed in the washing machine and dryer...

5. Drink more water. Drink more water. Drink more water.

Now for my favorite lip products. My favorite lip balms for awhile now have been the Nivea Lip Butters that come in pan form, but I highly recommend Aveda's Beautifying Composition Oil. I've also been loving my Maybelline Color Elixirs for days when my lips are dryer but I want some color. What do you like to use when your lips are chapped and dry? 

Have a beautiful and more moisturized day,

Dre

Dre Does Beautifying

Since being in school at an Aveda Institute I've fallen in love with many Aveda Products but the standout is definitely the Beautifying Composition Oil. It's an amazing conditioning oil that has so many uses that I promise you can find something you'll love about it. It's targeted for bath, body, and scalp but I've made a list of my favorite uses below for you. Made of organic olive, soybean, and safflower oils, Beautifying softens and conditions skin, as well as repairing the lipid bilayer of your skin. The organic lavender, rosemary and bergamot mixture give an amazing and relaxing aroma as well. One of the best parts about it is that you don't have to use much product, so the bottle will last a long time. I can't speak highly enough about it and here's why:

1. Hair deep conditioner: If I know I will be washing my hair the next morning and it's feeling dry, I'll add a few drops to the ends of my hair, throw it up in a bun on top of my head, and sleep on an old pillowcase. In the morning, after I've shampooed my hair feels so much smoother and softer.

2. Eye Makeup Remover: Adding a few drops to either water or your eye makeup remover on a cotton round will help remove any stubborn or waterproof mascara. The best part is it'll also condition your eyelashes while it removes it.

3. Bathtime: Adding a few drops to your running bath water will help the amazing aroma relax you. It will also help moisturize and condition your skin as you soak in it. 

4. No More Dry Patches: This is a huge tip that I love for the current freezing winter time conditions. If you have any dry patches on your body adding a few drops of it directly to the areas will help get rid of them. If you notice dryness on your face and your current face moisturizer isn't cutting it, mix in a few drops and you're good to go!

5. Anti-Eczematic: One of the uses that I've noticed the biggest change due to Beautyifying is with my Ezcema. I've had it on my cheeks since I was little but I've never really found anything that took care of it. When my instructor mentioned months ago that it could help I bought it immediately to see what would happen. I use it in place of a moisturizer on my cheeks and I've definitely noticed a reduction in the little Ezcema bumps. I would buy Beautifying for this reason alone, even if it had no other uses.

6. Massage Oil: At my school we use this composition oil for massages and it's amazing. The aroma really helps with relaxation and it gives a good slip to the skin. As you probably already guessed, it also conditions the skin. I find people's skin usually soaks it right up from dehydration. 

7. Bye Bye Chapped Lips: Applying a drop or two on your lips throughout the day or before bed will really help hydrate and rid your lips of being chapped.

8. Pre-waxing oil: If you do your own waxing at home this is a great pre-waxing oil to use to cleanse the skin of any dirt or makeup that maybe be on the surface beforehand. I use it for all of my waxing at home and I love it.

9. Pre-Cleanser for Makeup Removal: If you wear foundation or heavier makeup on your face sometimes it's hard for your cleanser to break it all down in one cleaning. If you apply the beautifying first as a pre-cleanse and your cleanser second, it will help break down the makeup better and give you a better cleanse. Just like the oil helps emulsify your eye makeup, it'll help breakdown your other makeup too. 

10. Dry hands or feet: Since I have chronic dry hands in the winter, massaging some beautifying into them helps with flakiness or redness.

11. Cuticle Oil: If you get dry cuticles, this is a great oil to use to soften and keep them from cracking and splitting, which can get pretty painful.

Have you ever tried Beautifying Composition? If you have, let me know your favorite ways to use it! If not, you can either purchase it at www.aveda.com or let me know and I can get my hands on some for you! 

Hope you're having a beautiful day!

Dre

Dre Does Bloglovin'

Chances are if you like reading my blog, you like reading other blogs too! Just incase you haven't heard about Bloglovin' I want to share it with you. It's an amazing website and app for staying up to date with all of your favorite blogposts and keeping track of the posts you like most! 

It's as easy as signing up for an account and then searching your favorite blogs and following them. Ever since I bought my iPad I've been obsessed with the app because it is so convenient but I like it on my iPhone too. Just like how you have a news feed with Facebook, all the new posts that you haven't read yet show up in your main feed. I really love the 'like' feature also because you can favorite all the posts you want to come back to later and no matter which blog they are from, they show up in one spot! Another feature I really enjoy too is that everyone has profile so you can see what blogs your friends or even your favorite blogger are following. You can even browse popular blogs from different categories. 

As you probably guessed it, my blog is on Bloglovin' so look to the right column now and click Follow my blog on Bloglovin' if you'd like to! I also created a Facebook page for my blog at www.facebook.com/dredoesblog so like that if you would like to stay up to date! I will probably write on there the most regarding updates, questions, and ideas! 

Lastly, I've said this a lot lately but I feel like I can't say it enough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support sent my way. 

Have a beautiful day,

Dre 

Dre Does Quick Tips for Looking Pulled Together in a Flash

Happy Monday friends! I'm back with more quick tips, except this week they're centered around how to look like you've spent more time getting ready than you really have. Whether your alarm doesn't go off, you hit snooze a few too many times, or plans change and have to be somewhere quickly, these are my tips on how to look pulled together in a pinch. 

1. Practice a makeup routine that's extremely quick and get good at it. This way you can repeat it quickly when you're in a hurry. For me it's foundation, concealer, and blush. I have my go-to products that always work for my skin and a neutral blush that matches everything. 

2. Find a bright lipstick that looks really good on you and get used to wearing it. I have my go-to red lipstick that I always keep in my purse. The key idea in these tips is to bring the focus to areas that you can amp up in a rush. Lips are huge for this because they bring the focus to your lip color which in the world of makeup are much quicker to apply than doing a dramatic smokey eye. So remember, bright lips = instant glam. 

3. Buy a pair of statement stud earrings. Earrings are such an easy and quick way to change your look. My go-to pair are neutral huge flowers so I can wear them with any outfit but they still pack a punch. Pair these with the bright lips and you will surely have brought the focus away from any areas you didn't have time to glam up. 

4. Go in your closet and find an outfit that makes you feel great. It's no secret to us women how amazing a good outfit can make you feel. So always have one on standby in your closet that you know will always fit right and make you look your best. This way no matter how rushed you are, you will have that guaranteed boost of confidence from knowing you already like your outfit. This ones huge and I always make sure to have a few ready incase I haven't done laundry but I recommend at least one! Whether it's a shirt in your favorite color or a dress that hugs your curves just right, you will look more pulled together in something you love.

5. Practice a hairstyle that's quick and easy like a sock bun. Having a go-to hairstyle is key when you're in a rush incase you don't have time to shower and re-do your hair. I personally love a good top knot or sock bun, but whatever works for your hair length and style, practice it! Your hair is key in making you look pulled together (unless you're one of those blessed people who can rock messy hair without looking like a homeless person...in which I say props to you!)

As you can tell, the general theme is to brainstorm and practice ideas beforehand and also use bright colors or statement pieces to bring the focus away from areas you don't have time to do in a rush. Do you have any tips for getting ready in a pinch? Leave a comment below and let me know what helps you!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does January Favorites

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I'd really like to start sharing my favorite products from the month, both beauty and non beauty related. While reviews are great, I think it's more realistic and beneficial to know what people are using consistently. So here are my January Favorites!

1. Physician's Formula Organic Wear Mascara: I had heard some really great things about this mascara but I never gave it a serious thought because of the extremely tacky green metallic packaging. That sounds really stupid when you type it out...haha but seriously! If it wasn't for a ridiculously great sale at Rite Aid and a two for one package, I might not have ever tried it, but I really do love it! The brush is a little larger than I'm used to so that took some getting used to but I love it now. I like how it separates my lashes and gives me amazing volume, but the thing I like most is that I can apply multiple layers and it doesn't clump up like some volumizing mascaras do. I also really like how easy it is to remove, yet it doesn't flake off when you're wearing it. I absolutely hate mascaras that are really hard to get off. I don't care how great it makes my lashes look, I won't realistically wear it if it drastically increases my nighttime skincare routine (ie. Benefit's They're Real). I highly recommend it and now I'm even happier that I got two tubes for the price of one!

2. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Hair Mask: I got this hair mask in my January Ipsy Glam Bag. Click here for my post on it! I managed to get 4 uses out of that sample and I would say I noticed a difference in my hair's texture. While my hair isn't very damaged, I could tell the mask made my hair softer and smoother. I am probably going to be purchasing the full size soon before that Ipsy discount expires! 

3. Maybelline's 'The Elixir': I won't go too in depth with these since I just posted a review here on them, but I am a huge fan. They are my new favorite lip gloss which is huge since I'm much more of a lip stick girl. I love the pigmentation and texture. They aren't sticky and smell yummy too! 

4. Aveda Beautifying Compostion: Since I've been going to an Aveda Institute since October I've been falling in love with all Aveda Skin Care Products. I could spend hours talking about which ones I love, but for the sake of this post I picked our Beautyifying Composition as a favorite because it's seriously such a multi-use product. It's designed for body, bath, and scalp so I use it as a deep conditioning treatment for my hair, a remedy for any dry skin patches on my body, in my baths, and especially on my cheeks because it's an anti-eczematic! That's only a few of its uses. I'm going to be doing a post on it soon so look out for that! 

5. Beyoncé's new album: I have honestly not been much of a Beyoncé fan in the last couple of years just simply because I couldn't get into her music. That all changed with her new album though. I absolutely love it all; the songs, videos, everything! So good. My top songs however would be Drunk In Love (obviously haha), Blue, Heaven, and Flawless. Just incase I wasn't the last person on the planet to buy it and you haven't listened yet, please do! 

6. Covergirl's Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation: This is another product I heard about through the YouTube world that was getting good reviews so I decided to pick it up at the end of December and it's amazing! When I saw the 3 in 1 claims (primer, foundation, and concealer) I wasn't expecting much. However, this foundation stays on really well, gives you a flawless finish, and conceals the majority of my hyperpigmentation and scarring problems. It has a matte finish though so if you are really dry or like a dewier finish it might not work best for you. I don't like my skin to be 100% matte so I mix it with a tiny bit of another foundation and I find this works well to add some moisture. I have a large amount of hyperpigmentation on my chin due to my Mediterranean skin that tans easily, so when I breakout I scar no matter what. I had to remove this foundation from my chin at school for a procedure and everyone was shocked at the scarring that this makeup was covering, so I have to give Covergirl credit for making an amazing product. I highly recommend this one. 

7. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: I talked about this brush in my Brush Guide found here, but it's another must have for me. I've only reached for this brush when doing my foundation since I bought it a few months ago. Great price and great quality.

8. Celestial Sleepytime Tea: Sleepytime tea is my go-to night time tea. With no caffeine and lots of amazing herbs it smells heavenly and tastes so good. I've gone through a whole box in January alone because I drink it so much. It's so prefect for relaxation and getting you ready for bed (shocker I know since it's called Sleepytime...haha).

9. tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hr blushes: To say that I love these blushes is an understatement. I have many and they are honestly the only blushes I grab for 95% of the time. Perfect amount of pigmentation, gorgeous shades, and they last longer than any other blush I've ever used. 100% worth the higher price tag. Go to your nearest Sephora or Ulta, swatch them all, and TRY to walk out without purchasing at least one...I DARE YOU! I'm like a kid in the candy store with all tarte products...

So there they are! The first month of 2014 is over and these are the products that helped me welcome the new year. What were your favorite products last month? Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Maybelline Elixir Review

I wouldn't consider myself a huge lipgloss fan. I'd say my lip product collection is easily a 5 to 1 ratio of lipsticks to lipgloss. Due to the fact that I like my bold lip colors to be matte 95% of the time, I simply don't own many lip glosses. However, recently I've been getting more into nude lip colors and the look of a glossy finish is growing on me. I decided to try out some of 'The Elixirs' by Maybelline because I've been hearing nonstop positive things since they came out, so here we are.

(L to R): Nude Illusion, Blush Essence, Captivating Carnation.

To say I'm in love with a lipgloss is an understatement. Never did I think I would use that sentence. I'm really picky when it comes to gloss, so for me to be this obsessed with one is insane. I don't like sticky at all and I want a good cremey and pigmented finish. I don't like a super sparkley or glittery gloss either, so before these my go-to glosses were the NYX Butter Glosses. I still love those, but these Elixirs are amazing! Extremely buttery and smooth, great pigmentation, and they smell nice. I think the color range is good too. 

(L to R): Nude Illusion, Blush Essence, Captivating Carnation.

I purchased the shades Nude Illusion (060) and Blush Essence (095) the first time. After Nude Illusion created a new home in my pocket every single day, I went back and picked up Captivating Carnation (080). Nude Illusion is still my favorite but I love the other two as well. As you can see in the swatches below Nude Illusion and Captivating Carnation are both Creme glosses with no shimmer at all. Blush Essence (in the middle) has a slight shimmer to it but you can't feel it in the gloss and it's honestly not that noticeable. I really like the applicator as well because it's slightly slanted and the point at the tip makes it easy to be precise with your application.

Overall, I love these things. Watch your Rite Aides or Ultas because they will often have Buy One Get One 50% off sales for Maybelline (I know I will haha). At most locations around me I've been seeing them for $8.99 each! 

What are your favorite lip glosses? Leave me a comment below if there's one you think I should try!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre

Dre Does a Skin Type Guide

The first step to getting your skin to look and feel the way you want it to is to know what your skin type is. Essentially, you can't fix the problem unless you know what the problem is. So I've made a description of each skin type. One of the biggest misconceptions about skin is dehydration. I have mentioned it before but in case you missed it, it's important to know that any skin type can be dehydrated. Hydration refers to the moisture or amount of water in your skin, and dryness refers to the amount of oil. So whether you are oily or dry or inbetween, you can be dehydrated. Your skin is the last organ of the body to receive water, so water consumption is important for all skin types.

Dry Skin feels rough, tight, itchy, flakey, and lacks oil.  The pores of dry skin tend to be very small and not very visible. It is the skin type that is most likely to be dehydrated and requires gentle cleansing and creamy moisturizers and cleansers.

Oily Skin feels waxy, greasy, looks shiny, has an over production of oil, and can be flakey around the nose. In the T-Zone area, true oily skin has larger and more visible pores (T-Zone refers to the forehead, nose, and chin area). People with oily skin generally want their skin to 'feel clean' because of these symptoms. Oily skin can also be dehydrated and requires light moisturizers and gel cleansers. 

Normal Skin has just the right amount of oil. Depending on the season, it can be dryer on the cheeks (winter) or be oilier in the T-Zone. If you find you get slightly oily throughout the day and only in your T-Zone you most likely have normal skin. Combination Skin is a more drastic difference in cheeks and T-Zone. 

Sensitive Skin is generally red, warm, inflamed, light sensitive, and affected by the wind and touch. You should make sure you use gentle, soothing, and calming products. Also make sure to stay away from heavy fragrances in skin care products.

I hope this helps you at least establish what type of skin you have. If you ever have questions please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you!

Have a beautiful day,

Dre