McDonald's Chicken McWrap

I must say, I really, really enjoyed this McWrap. I'm actually writing a review so that I can remember which one I ordered. I got the  Sweet Chili Crispy Chicken McWrap (Large) and it is pictured below. I don't eat at McDonald's on a regular basis. I may go there once a month or once every two months depending on my schedule, budget and mood but I got a coupon in the mail for a free McWrap with the order of a medium french fries and a medium drink. I decided to try something new and ordered. The cashier was beyond friendly and helpful with my order. She knew all of the offerings. Here's what I got. I remembered to take a picture after I had eaten half of the wrap and was pretty full.

They offer three flavors: Chicken Ranch, Sweet Chili and Chicken Bacon. You can choose between Grilled Chicken or Crispy Chicken. The Sweet Chili sauce actually tastes like a spicy version of Sweet and Sour sauce.

The Sweet Chili Chicken (Crispy) is described on McDonald's website as being, "A sweet and satisfying mix of crispy chicken breast filet, crisp cucumber slices, spring greens, shredded lettuce, all drizzled with sweet chili and creamy garlic sauce, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla."
(Quote Source: http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/food/product_nutrition.chicken.1061.Premium-McWrap-Chicken-Sweet-Chili-Crispy.html)


I was surprised to bite into a cucumber. It made the wrap taste so fresh and delicious! I like this so much that if they offered vegetable wrap with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, purple cabbage and sweet chili sauce, I would order it. I hope that the ingredients continue to be fresh. This wrap was also a good size. I initially expected the wrap to be quite small but this wrap with my medium fries and drink left me full and satisfied  I absolutely enjoyed the sauces. It was tangy yet, sweet with a spicy kick. Fifteen minutes after eating the wrap, the flavor was still in my mouth. I would definitely purchase this again.

What do you guys think? Did you all enjoy the wrap? Which one did you order?  How much did you pay? Did you think the price was reasonable. Would you purchase it again? Please leave a comment below. Don't be afraid to interact.

P.S. I was not paid in anyway, shape or form to give this review. This is my honest opinion. Thanks for reading.

Haute Nail Polish Kit Review (Gel Nails)

I won a Haute Nail Polish Kit a week ago. I was really, really excited. I haven't painted my nails in over 4 years. Mainly because I wash dishes with bleach, use a mop that requires me to wring it with my hand, type a lot and I work outside a lot. It's pretty impractical to wear nail polish. In the past, I got some pretty nasty comments from males and females alike about my nail polish chipping. The length of time that the nail polish lasted versus the time it took to apply the nail polish, wait for it to dry and remove just didn't seem worth it. I left painting my nails for special occasions, Sundays and days when I needed some TLC.

I've heard about gel nail polish for a while now but when I saw how complicated the process was if you decided to use tips, that you needed to apply a base coat, gel color and top coat, wait for each to dry under a lamp, that some systems can cause up to $160.00, that you had to soak your nails to remove the polish and that each bottle of color/coat can cost up to $16.00 each (that's almost $48 for the base coat, gel color and top coat), there was no way as a student that I could afford the system.

The Haute Nail Polish Kit comes with an LED Talking Smart Setting Light (affectionately called 'Emily'), AC Adapter, Classic Red Polish Shade (0.35 oz), Remover Pockets, Cleaner & Finisher Wipes, Nail Buffer and Detailing Wands. You can turn talking 'Emily' off by simply holding the button on the lamp for 5 seconds. The lamp is timed and automatically turns off after the 60 second setting period. The kit is neatly packaged and promises fast, easy and beautiful gel nails in minutes. After using the product, this was true for me. The kit also promises to last up to 2 weeks without the need for a base or  top coats for nails that are 500% shinier than regular nail polish and have a chip-free shine.

The One & Only Haute Nail Polish Kit

Clear Instructions with Pictures

Nail Swatches

I was lucky enough to win a Haute Polish System and a bottle of their Classic Red Haute Polish. This system only requires the use of the Haute Polish, a buffing stick, cleaner/finisher wipes and their LED Talking Smart Light to apply the gel color. The process is simple. So simple in fact that after watching a video on youtube and their instructions that come with pictures, I felt like a pro. As with all new things, it's good to use trial and error. I did and found it to be fun.

TIPS: I buffed my nails and wiped them with a cleaner wipe. I used the same cleaner wipe to remove the tacky film that is left on the nails after setting the nails under the LED lamp. I also applied three coats of polish to my nails. I applied a thin layer at first and then added two thicker layers. Each time I dried my nails under the LED lamp twice and wiped away the tacky film.Online this product has been getting some negative reviews. I was hesitant to write a review and didn't have to if I didn't like the product. Some complaints have been that the polish doesn't dry and still feels sticky.  I think one of the fears that people had was after drying their nails under the lamp, the nails still felt sticky and they didn't want to wipe the nails with the cleaner wipe because the color might come off. I had the same fear until I used the cleaner wipe to wipe the sticky feeling off of each nail. There will be some color residue on the wipe but my nail color was fine and my nails did NOT feel sticky. The polish didn't completely wipe off. Again, WIPE OFF THE TACKY FILM AFTER DRYING!! I've had problems with regular nail polish coming off an hour after applying. I didn't have this problem.

Also, people have complained about the polish colors appearing brighter after application. This is true. Please keep this in mind. I think of  gel nails as a plastic and as a result, the polish is expected to look brighter after setting. I was also okay with this.

REVIEW: Overall I was pleased with my nails. I thought they looked so cute and shiny (even in dim light). I couldn't stop going to look at them in brighter light. Yes, I applied three coats but I would prefer to do that as opposed to buying the top coat, base coat and gel color. The instructions also recommend applying a second or third coat to intensify colors and with regular polish I typically apply two coats. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to try additional colors and I am curious to see how long the color will last on my nails. I've never tried gel nails before so this is a first for me. The process was simple and fun especially for an evening of much needed alone time. I really like the look and feel of my nails. I will post updates on the nails. Please remember to seal the edges of your nails to avoid chipping.

Trying to catch the glossy look in better light.

Nails in Dim Light 

Picture of finished nails (My camera doesn't capture how shiny my nails are.)

I want to thank Emily P-S for sending me the kit and the Luminess Air team. I wasn't paid to give a review but I loved the polish so much that I decided to write a review.

More information on the kit can be found on www.HautePolish.com  or you can call (877) 384-0396. The site is user friendly and has videos, nail polish colors, FAQs, purchasing information and so much more!

What do you guys think of the nails? Have you all tried gel nails before? Which systems do you use? Which ones are you interested in? Don't be afraid to leave a comment below.

Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner

I received a sample of Aveeno's Active Naturals Nourish + Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner in the mail. I've had this for a while but I didn't have an opportunity to review. I tried the Shampoo and Conditioner today and my review is below. Both products promise to" nourish dry, damaged hair by reducing breakage by 90% in just 3 washes*". 

The Shampoo is creamy, opaque, thick and has a light fresh scent (almost like bubble bath but not really). The shampoo had a nice lather and left my hair feeling soft and clean. My hair didn't feel dry or stripped. I do have some more of the product left in the package and will see if I have the same results following my next use. I really liked the shampoo. The creaminess of the product was a major bonus for me. This product reminded me of the feel of nuNAAT's Creamy Chocolat Shampoo without the Cocamide DEA
 (this could have been an older version of the product that they changed). I'll post the ingredients below and let you be the judge.


Ingredients: Water, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Sodium Cumene Sulfonate, Cocamide MEA, Cetyl Alcohol, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Distearate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycerin, Polyquaternium 10, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, May also contain: Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide

Source: Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Strengthen Shampoo
The conditioner is creamy, white and smells to me like a mixture of wheat and honey. I like the smell. Currently, my hair is in a very, very short natural cut so detangling is not an issue for me at this point.The conditioner is very light and I am curious if it would be enough to detangle really thick hair. Typically, I use conditioners that come with a shampoo just to soften my hair a bit. I never detangle with them. I leave that for my deep conditioner. One of the problems that I had with a past staple conditioner was that it left residue on my scalp and a filmy coating on my hair which I assumed caused breakage. I stopped using it. This conditioner left my scalp feeling clean and my hair was soft. 

Ingredients: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Cyclohexasiloxane, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Behenyl Alcohol, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Gluten, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Glycol Distearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Fragrance, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Cetrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Panthenol, Polyquaternium 7, May Contain: Citric Acid

Source of Ingredients: Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish + Strengthen Conditioner
The sample that was sent was only enough for one use. As a result, I can't say whether or not this product actually repairs and fortifies to prevent damage. Overall, the products for me were o.k. I'm not sure why the products are called Active Naturals. I love the fact that the products do contain wheat complex. As you all know by now I'm not strict over ingredients. I'm fine with sulfates, parabens and cones.  

Price: Both products retail for about $6.50 on drugstore.com for a 10.5 fl oz bottle. You may be able to find a better price elsewhere. 

Have you all tried out the products? Do you love them? Tell me what you think. Don't be afraid to leave a comment below!!


*Nourish and Shampoo and conditioner vs. non-conditioning shampoo