Currently Reading #6

If you haven't noticed I've been trying to do one book and one food post per month. I'm hoping to round out my blog topics and I have other interests, outside of beauty, that I would love to share. These three more books have been on my side table lately.

Delicious by Ruth Reichl

This fiction plates a treasure trail of letters between James Beard and a young correspondent during war time with a side order of food descriptions that can only make you hungry and curious. I didn't know that the editor of Gourmet magazine writes fiction and this one features what happens when Billie, while working at a food magazine discovers old hidden letters when digging through the magazine's library archives. Charming, would be an apt descriptor for this quick delightful read.

The Third Plate by Dan Barber

This book has been a major inspiration. Dan Barber, Chef and owner of Blue Hill restaurant in NYC and Stone Hill Barns, discusses the responsibilities chef have to ensure sustainable food production. Chefs inspire other chefs and diners to try new foods with the unintended consequences that come with increased demands for these new items. He showcases how good farming can support good (heartier, healthier and tastier) foods.  Example after example illustrate how our current farming systems sacrifices soil health and nutrition. Just reading about his experience tasting and cultivate ancient grains and baking breads from them has me convinced that the average consumer has no idea what wheat actually tastes like anymore. I will end here by encouraging you to pick up this engaging and genuinely readable book. It guarantee it will reshape how you think about what you eat.

The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham

I just started this one. I've tried reading another Cunningham book before but don't remember finishing it. Something about Cunningham's style doesn't quite gel with me but the premise of this one (promising to be beautiful, comedic and tragic) seemed like a good reason to try this author again. We follow the lives of Tyler, Beth and Barrett as they navigate their respective hardships. Tyler is an addict. Beth is dying of cancer. Barrett, having lost love repeatedly, has turned to religion. We'll see how it all turns out.

What's on your side table? 

Beauty In the Office

Today, is actually my last day of work in Toronto. I'm entering in to the scary world of un-employment while I prepare to move back to Vancouver and start packing my things. To celebrate the end of...safety..here's a look at my work desk.

Make Up For Ever Step 1 Equalizer Choices

 Though I was given the opportunity to try all 10 of the MUFE Equalizer primers, I keep coming back to these two. The Mattifying Primer and the Redness Correcting Primer are both from the texture correcting set (though really, why is the latter in that category?) and just seem to work for me right now.

On Dior Lip Addicts

I own a Dior Lip Addict in Millie (a shimmery berry shade) and in general quite like these. Dior Lip Addicts contains 25% less wax than most traditional formulas and are supposed to gives a modern sheer look with mirror shine. This summer's Tie Die* ($34CDN) version has a contract color running through the tube in a CD shape.

Maybelline Color Blur Matte Pencils and The Korean Lip Look

*Press Sample

 When my friends come over, they are sometimes surprised with the number of foreign (typically Asian) magazines I own. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, I can't read them but I love paging through them. In the Korean variety, the ombre lip has been a heavy feature, not only on the printed page but on screen as well. Perfectly faded brilliantly bold color is so fresh but still magnetically alluring and the Maybelline Color Blur Matte Pencils* (available in Aug, $12CDN, 0.04oz) are specially made to help you achieve that look.

Peanut Butter, Apple, Celery, Edamame Salad over Buckwheat Noodles

After trying a few an interesting salad via a vegetarian friend of David's, I've really been getting into the salad thing and not only that, but trying out different things I've never used before. Way too much of a fan of peanut butter, I found this Peanut Butter, Celery, Apple, Edamame Salad.