The Siberian American

Friday, February 10, 2017

Five More Recipes We Love This Winter

Happy Friday, friends! I mentioned in my post last Friday Chris and I have been focusing on meal planning this year. I shared five recipes we have love this winter a few weeks ago, but my list of favorite recipes has gotten even longer, so I thought I would share more with y'all today!


Sriracha Chicken Strips
I'm not the biggest fan of spicy food, but lately, I've been all about sriracha. These sriracha chicken strips are not too spicy but have a lot of flavor. They go really well with the garlic noodles below.


Garlic Noodles
This is such a simple, delicious recipe that is super versatile. We made a huge batch on a Monday and used them throughout the week.


Crispy Sesame Beef
This beef was another winner. I loved how crispy it was, and it tasted great with the garlic noodles.


Mini Salmon Cakes
Other than the Asian Steak Bites from my previous post, this was my favorite meal we have had so far this year. They do take a little longer than most recipes I post on here, but they are so worth it.


Baked Popcorn Chicken
These are delicious as both an appetizer or a meal. I was a little skeptical you can make popcorn chicken in the oven, but I like this way more than frying!


Other Recipe Posts

What has been on your menu lately? I love trying new recipes! 

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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Eight Ideas for the Best Romantic Getaway to Paris

Chris always jokes he can never impress me on Valentine’s Day anymore because of the year he took me to Paris, and he might be right. We spent the most amazing three-day weekend in Paris over Valentine’s Day on their first warm and sunny days of that year. The Parisians kept telling us how surprised they were it was warm that weekend! Today I wanted to share my favorite parts of that trip (and a few things from a later trip to Paris), so you can plan your own romantic getaway to Paris.


Cruise on the Siene River
I had to start off with my favorite part of our trip. Chris surprised me with a night cruise on the Seine River, and the only way to describe it is magical. It was amazing to cruise down the river, learning about all the stunning architecture and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.


Picnic by the Eiffel Tower
It’s so fun to buy a baguette and some meat and cheese at the grocery store and have a picnic by the Eiffel Tower. Of course, you could always grab a crepe from one of the many crepe stands around and have a fun picnic that way!


Take a walking tour to see as much as possible
There is so much to see in Paris, and I think the best way to get a feel for the city is through a walking tour. We absolutely loved the Sandeman’s free walking tour of Paris. Honestly, the next time we go to Paris, I would want to do it again!


Pick a restaurant with a prix fixe menu and have an amazing meal
Paris is full of incredible restaurants, and what is Valentine’s Day without a delicious meal? We had an amazing meal at Le Grand Bistro de Breteuil, which was worth every penny.


Spend a day holding hands while wandering around the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay
Everyone knows about the Louvre, but my favorite museum in Paris is the Musee d’Orsay. All the impressionist art is gorgeous, and the museum is housed in a stunning old train station.


Go shopping
What’s a trip to Paris without shopping? Plus, if you are going there for Valentine’s Day, you can tell your significant other it’s part of your present. The Champs-Élysées is expensive, but it’s definitely worth seeing. You can also stop by the Arc de Triomphe since it’s close by!


Enjoy the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacre Coeur
I don’t think there is anything more romantic than a stunning view, and Paris is full of them. If you are pressed for time, the two views you have to check out are from the top of the Eiffel Tower and from the Sacre Coeur.


Take a day trip to Versailles or Loire Valley
When I first started blogging, I wrote a post about three great day trips from Paris, and my two favorites on that list are Versailles and the Loire Valley. They are both make easy day trips from Paris. I loved going back in time and seeing the extravagant lifestyles of the French royalty.


Have you been to Paris? What did you think was the most romantic thing to do there?

Monday, February 6, 2017

February 2017 PopSugar Must Have Box Review

I was so excited to receive my February PopSugar box, so I knew I wanted to share it with y’all as soon as possible. The February box is a great example of why I love PopSugar so much. It’s has several items higher than the value of the box and is full of products I know I will use.


Note: This post contains referral links. If you decide to purchase a PopSugar box, I would love it if you used my link.

Tribe Alive Foldover Clutch—Atitlán Brocade ($98):
I would never pay $98 for this reversible clutch, but I really like getting it in this box! Each bag is handwoven, and I really like that Tribe Alive partners with artisans around the world to employ impoverished women at fair-trade wages and give them access to safe jobs. The inside of this clutch says it’s made with love from India.

Kris Nations Jewelry Love Script Necklace ($48, though the website says $58):
Usually, I prefer silver jewelry, but this dainty gold necklace is so cute! I know I will get a lot of use out of it. For those that don’t know, I wear a heart necklace every day that Chris gave me for our first married Valentine’s Day, so these type of necklaces are my cup of tea! Also, the packaging is adorable.

Juara Skincare Candlenut Body Crème ($35):
My skin always gets super dry in the winter, so I am always eager to try new body crème. This crème is thick, but it absorbs really quickly and is super moisturizing.

Battington Lashes Monroe 3D Silk Lashes and Eyelash Glue ($28):
I have never tried fake lashes, but I think I have to try these! I love the length and how these look. You can use them up to 25 times, and I like that they also included an eyelash glue.

Chuao Chocolatier Cinnamon Cereal Smooch Chocolate Bar ($6):
We have had Chuao before and really liked it. This flavor has Chris written all over it, so I passed it on to him!

Special Extra: Revlon Super Lustrous™ Love Is on Lipstick ($7.99):
Revlon claims this red looks great on everyone, and I have to agree! It’s such a pretty shade and perfect for a Valentine’s (or Galentines!) date.

The total for this box is about $223, which I think is amazing! I think it was a perfect box for this time of year, and I will use everything in it (except maybe the lashes).

If you are interested in a PopSugar subscriptionPopSugar is currently offering $5 of your first box with the code “MUSTHAVE5.”

What do you think of the February PopSugar box? What is your favorite item?

Friday, February 3, 2017

Friday Favorites: Lots of Mini Life Updates

Happy Friday, friends! I feel like I haven’t updated y’all on life in a while, so I thought I would do that today.

One.
My little brother turns 21 today! (Anyone with younger siblings knows how old that makes me feel). He just left Texas on Tuesday to spend a semester studying abroad in Prague, so I hope he has the best time celebrating! It was funny because he was a little bummed he is celebrating his 21st birthday in a country where the legal drinking age is 18. Happy birthday, Vlady!


Two.
Now that it’s February, I’m getting really excited for our trip to Denver and Breckenridge. Chris has been a bit worn out during his current rotation, so it’s time for a break. Plus, his schedule will get much harder after we get back, so it will be nice to feel refreshed.

Three.
I am so excited to say Chris and I managed to meal plan for the entire month of January! I know that doesn’t sound like much to most, but I hate meal planning (or deciding what to cook in general), but since we’ve started doing it together, it has become a fun thing for us to do together. I’ll definitely post some more of our recent favorite recipes soon (this was my last recipe post).

Four.
That said, we are still continuing our tradition of going on a date once a week. We usually try to do it on Thursday, but we move it around according to our schedules. We love that time of focusing solely on each other, and I’ve been able to keep it budget friendly with coupons and Groupons.


Five.
I’ve been working on some early spring cleaning, and it feels so great to get rid of some of the clutter. I was clearing out my closet a bit because mom asked me if I had any clothes to send to Russia, and even though I purged in June, it was amazing how many clothes I found to give her. She even asked me if I really wanted to give all of that away. Yes, yes I do!


Have a great weekend, everyone! What have you been up to lately?

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Valentine's Day Makeup Look with HoneyGlam Ink

I have always loved makeup. I’m that girl with three full boxes of makeup from subscription boxes I haven’t tried yet but will get to eventually. When a friend invited me to join a Facebook group called HoneyGlam Ink, where people share photos and makeup tips in a safe, fun community. A few months later, Erika, the founder of HoneyGlam Ink, launched her own makeup line with her business partner Leanne! I was so intrigued I did something I have never done before—I reached out to Erika to see if she wanted to do a collaboration.


This post (excluding the HoneyGlam Ink links) contains affiliate links. If you click on them, I get a tiny commission!

If I could only wear one makeup item for the rest of my life, I would pick eyeliner, so Erika sent me the HoneyGlam Ink Luxe Crème Eyeliner in Onyx and Angled Eye Liner Brush. I had never tried a crème liner before, so I was really interested to see what it was like. Y’all, this eyeliner is perfect. The angled brush made it so easy to apply, and the texture was incredibly smooth. The best part was the staying power! The eyeliner did not move all day, and that’s a huge win in my book! I am always curious about how small business owners come up with their products, so I had to ask Erika and Leanne how they came up with the eyeliner and brush:


"The crème liner was our brainchild to combine the ease of applying a tighter eyeshadow line with the staying power and appearance of a liquid line. We decided to bring a product to market that beginners and pros can use with ease, combined with a perfect fine line natural haired brush to make any eye look timeless. Although gel is not a new concept, we have found a great balance between staying power and pigment to deliver the most dramatic and clean eyeshadow looks."



Since I did a bold line with the onyx eyeliner, I decided to do a soft look for the rest of my makeup. I used my favorite neutral palette-TheBalm Nude'tude Eyeshadow Palette in Sultry blended with ShadowSense in Candlestone Shimmer to add a little sparkle, Laura Geller New York Beauty Baked Blush-n-Brighten in Tropic Hues, TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter & Shimmer, and LipSense in Gingerbread and Bombshell Diamond with Bougainvillea Gloss. PS-Interested in LipSense? Erika is currently selling it on the HoneyGlam Ink Facebook page for 10 percent off!



HoneyGlam Ink also features beautiful eye shadow, a powdered liner pencil, and gorgeous lashes. If you want to join in on the makeup discussion fun, join the HoneyGlam Ink Facebook group! Everyone is welcome. Erika and Leanne are also offering my readers 10 percent off their entire cart through the end of February.


I received the HoneyGlam Ink crème eyeliner and brush for review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

Have you ever tried a crème eyeliner? What makeup are you planning for Valentine's Day?