Hot Chocolate Maker

My cousin loves gadgets. I have never seen anyone who buys more worthless inventions than he does. It seems like every time a new kitchen appliance comes out, he is the first one in line. He must watch the home shopping channel all night! I bet he has learned to replace sleep with infomercials.

His latest toy is a hot chocolate maker that he ordered online. Now both of us love hot chocolate. We have been trading recipes for hot chocolate back and forth for years. We have made chocolate the traditional Western way, we have made it like the Aztecs did – pepper and no sugar – and have even invented original chocolate recipes that no one else has ever thought of. We love mocha lattes, chocolate covered espresso beans, and all other things chocolate. Therefore, when he got a hot chocolate maker, I thought that there might be something to it. Could hot chocolate makers really make better hot chocolate? Would they be able to somehow steam the milk better, or keep the temperature just right? I wouldn't have been the first one to buy a hot chocolate maker, but now that he had it, I was a bit curious.

Let me tell you, the hot chocolate maker was a complete disappointment. Don't get me wrong – if you have no idea how to make hot chocolate, hot chocolate makers can help. They keep the chocolate moving around, preventing it from sticking to the bottom. Nonetheless, if you are an experience chocolate connoisseur like myself and not someone who just throws in a mix, there really is no point. A hot chocolate maker, like a rice cooker, is just another useless toy for amateurs who don't know how to cook. I think it is always better to learn how to do things the right way than to buy some new gadget to do them for you.

Don't get me wrong, there are some gadgets that are great. For example, I've always found that espresso comes out better when made with an espresso maker. And just try steaming milk without a steamer – it is almost impossible. Nonetheless, having too many gadgets takes all the fun out of cooking. In my opinion, you should be able to do almost everything with a few simple tools. You don't need a hot chocolate maker. All you need to make hot chocolate is a measuring cup, a whisk, a ladle, and a pot.

Skin Care Products Review

Although it's often a hassle we don't care to deal with, taking care of our skin is essential. Well, at least if you plan on continuing to look nice as the years fly past. Time is not exactly your friend, nor is it your ally when it comes to aging. It's up to you to begin a regimen at puberty and adapt to your skin's needs as you age. This is what I was taught and it's served me quite well thus far. Now, you may find it difficult to pinpoint the exact skin care products that suit your particular face and skin type. This is no big surprise. We all go through this routine. Most of us end up trying a variety of products until we finally find one that does our complexion justice. Makes sense right? Another route is to read a skin care product review or two. The insight of others can also be useful.

Let's take it from the top. Before you start skimming a certain skin care product review on some wonder cream, you should have an idea of your skin type. Is it dry, oily, combination or normal? It's really not so hard to tell. Dry skin is dry, oily is oily and prone to breakouts, combination typically has an oily T-zone and dry cheeks, and normal is pretty well balanced. I hope that helps. If you now know your skin type, it's time to begin searching for the right solutions. Most people tend to prefer a 3-step regime. These generally consist of a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. Most likely you will use these products in the morning when you get up and at night when you shower/bathe. Routine is imperative if you plan to stay on top of things. So, you now have an idea of what to do, but probably aren't clear on the ideal products. It's time for a trip to cyberspace. Here you will encounter skin care product review after review. A good website to begin on is Amazon.com. Here you can search for most any cosmetic product and read past customers' responses to them. They will give it to you straight. It's amazing how blunt and candid they are. Trust me; I've read a few.

It's a norm these days! Most cosmetic websites offer skin care product reviews for their customers. As a man, I turn to Mensessentials.com for my products and I can always count on some great and valuable feedback regarding an array of products. Let the reviews help guide you.