May 2012 Eco-Emi Box

Review of the May 2012 Eco Emi box! All products listed below are linked on their site.

Beeluxe: Chocolate Lip Balm - Not a fan of chocolate flavored lip balm, so this will pass to someone else.

Beeluxe: Mangosteen & Pineapple Candle Tin - Nice 3.5 oz tin! The smell of the candle doesn't travel far, but nearby, it wafts a lovely tropical scent, fruity and bright. The fragrance did not irritate my nose the way some candles do. I wouldn't mind trying some of their other scents!

The Seaweed Bath Company: Wildly Natural Seaweed Argan Shampoo (Unscented) & Conditioner (Citrus) - The shampoo smells very grassy & mossy. It lathers well but left my hair feeling quite dry. The conditioner smelled nicer and did a good job of restoring moisture. These did the job, but I was not overtly impressed.

Beanitos: Pinto Beans & Flax Chips - Like eating crunchy crispy refried beans! I'm not a huge fan of beans and these definitely have a strong bean flavor. But what a cool idea, especially mixing it up with flax seeds. These would be great for nachos!

The All Natural Face: Mint Infused Vegan Lip Gloss in Peppermint Icing - Mmmm, smells so good! The color was not good for me, too bright and pink, but I like the texture and shimmer.

The All Natural Face: Tangerine Vegan Lip Exfolient - I wanted to eat this scrub! Delicious sugary citrus scent. It completely strips away oils and dead skin, to the point where it made my lips burn a little. I applied lip balm immediately after and now my lips feel super clean and moisturized. This is strong stuff, a tiny dab goes a long way!

Glee Gum: Spearmint - Sadly, my sample was empty and didn't have any gum pieces, so I really couldn't try this :(

Ellbees: Original Garlic Seasoning & Rub - Yum! We soaked pork chops in this wet rub, then did a simple saute in olive oil. Great roasted garlic flavor. I think it would do better on chicken or fish, or something slightly bitter like broccoli rabe or kale. Definitely liked this one!

Barleans: Omega Swirl Vegan Oil in Blackberry; Omega Swirl Fish Oil in Mango Peach - I confess, I could not make myself try these. In general, I don't take supplements. My philosophy is that nature intended us to consume nutrients in the form of whole foods, not isolated individual packets. So long story short, I would prefer to get my omegas from fish & dark greens.

CakeStyle Arrives!

My first shipment included: * 3 tops * 3 bottoms * 2 dresses * 1 belt * 4 jewelry pieces

	Elie Tahari "Brenna" Top: Love! Ruffles aren't too crazy, colors interesting and soft. Professional but not too formal or stiff. I would keep this one, except I found the same top online at a substantial discount, so I bought it there instead. Chaiken "Jackie" Pants: Great fit. And the length is perfect -- this is so rare in pants, I almost bought these just for that! But unfortunately, the material is scratchy inside and made my legs itch. So sadly, not keeping this one. I also want to mention, there was a gold colored necklace by Marlyn Schiff with a sky blue pendant that I didn't get a picture of. It turned me off right away and I didn't even bother trying it on. The gold tone looked cheaply plated and the pendant was a bit tacky.
	Tracy Reese Embellished Shift: Beautiful! Amazing material and craftsmanship. I adore that deep shimmery green. Love the design and little details like the buttons at the shoulders. I really wanted this to work on me, but overall it felt loose and lumpy, I think something like this would look better on me if more fitted. Cara "Stella" Necklace: Nice necklace with mixed metal discs. It looks good doubled up too. I don't have any necklaces like this and its flexibility is appealing. I think it pretty much goes with anything! Geranium "Elizabeth" Link Bracelet: I'm amazed my stylist found bracelets that actually fit around my tiny wrists! But even though this one fit, I thought the design was too chunky and bulky.
Myne "Jude" Top: Well constructed top, love the interesting pattern. Soft breezy fabric that's work friendly, comfortable and has lots of breathing room without looking too bulky. The perfect summer office piece! Paige "Verdugo" Jeggings: I admit, these are the first jeggings I've ever tried. I'm not entirely convinced on the trend. These particular ones were way too long and the denim just didn't feel good so tight against my skin. Citizens of Humanity "Avedon" Skinny Jeans: Skinny jeans aren't normally my thing. I don't have a good picture of this one, but it fit very much like the jeggings. Too long and even if I hemmed the jeans, the shape of the thighs and calves would have looked weird on me. It just seems designed for a much taller person. I did think the skinny jeans were way more comfortable than the jeggings.
	Beth Bowley Kaleidoscope Top: Kaleidoscope is right! Was hesitant about the print at first, but it doesn't look bad on me. Love the blocked sleeves and loose frame. You can't see this in the photo, but this top has really large arm holes which I found extremely comfortable. And I was pleasantly surprised to find they added fabric along the edge of the arm holes, so your bra doesn't peek out. Such thoughtful design! Unfortunately, the colors are a bit too crazy for work, so I'm not keeping it. Cara Threaded Chain Bracelet: Another bracelet that actually fits my wrist! I like the fabric threaded throughout the links, but this is too bulky for me. It looks OK while I'm just standing there, but it's nearly impossible to operate a computer mouse or type effectively with that thing on.
Theory "Etiara" Dress: Yay, a "grown-up" LBD that I can wear to work, but also to happy hour! I really needed a closet staple like this. It's comfortable, versatile and you can't tell in the picture, but it has pockets! POCKETS, I tell you! It's modern yet classic, definitely something I'm keeping. Lodis "Olympus" Belt: I wasn't terribly impressed by this belt. It has an interesting silvery greenish shine and up close, there's a nice snake skin pattern. But it's a pretty generic accessory and not something I want. This was really fun and I liked most of the styles. I ended up keeping the Theory dress, Cara necklace and Myne top. Return shipping is free and easy, as they provide a pre-printed label and shipping box. I can see myself getting addicted to this service. They normally ship every 3 months, but I'm already hankering for another box!

Pickling: Results

Look at that color!

So the beets turned out spicier than anticipated. They're tasty and sharp, definitely good for sandwich fixins or salad. It'll take us some time to get through three whole jars though!

Pickling

There are way too many beets in our CSA box. So today I tried pickling them.

I cut the beets into thick slices and blanched them (let boil in water for 5 minutes, then cool immediately in ice water). Divided the slices into some glass canning jars and added 1/2 teaspoon of pickling spice (store bought in this case).

Then I made a simple brine:
* 3 cups distilled white vinegar
* 3 cups water
* 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 2 tablespoons sugar

Bring to boil, stir to dissolve salt & sugar. Remove from heat, let liquid settle, then pour into jars over beets. Close jars, let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.

I'm pretty sure these will be ready in 24 hours. Only one way to find out, tomorrow evening!