These are a few of my favorite things...

*This is an old post that I never published. I thought I'd go ahead and post it. 

 

I went back to school last year and I am really enjoying studying and learning new things. With that being said going back to school can be stressful. Something that seems to help me is planning. I plan my meals, errands and when to do my homework, etc... I bought a planner at school but it fell apart too quickly. I wanted something small so I could carry it with me to school and I ended up finding this great Create 365 planner from Michael's. It's a great quality planner.


You know I love Red Apple Lipstick and Brija Cosmetics. I'm so in love with both of these lip products. Berrycuda by Red Apple Lipstick is such a fun beautiful color and Talent Wand Lipstick from Brija is perfect for everyday wear.

Berrycuda on Left and Talent on Right

Schmidt's Naturals now makes toothpaste. They do not have a gluten free statement so I emailed the company and they let me know all of their products are gluten-free. They have many flavors and I found a three pack for 9.99 at Costco. Such a great deal. I believe I have seen them in other stores for around 5.99 for a tube. They have a lot of flavors and I chose their activated charcoal toothpaste. The toothpaste itself is grey so I'm not sure how much-activated charcoal is actually in the product compared to other brands but it was a good starting point for me. It tastes minty and it leaves my mouth feeling clean. https://schmidts.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiApvbhBRDXARIsALnNoK0e110gnCPG0NsXLJ0CCEAxivCGCp2WYNUqBnhIj0txFd4DCPn5ZfsaAtPjEALw_wcB

Re: Fresh organic Toning Face mist is great for setting your make-up or misting yourself in hot weather. The one I have is in the scent in cucumber and rosewater. It's organic, gluten-free, organic, GMO-free and vegan. Find more about it at plantapothecary.com 

Celiac Awareness Month Giveaway from Love With Food Gluten Free

I have an exciting giveaway to share with you. It is Celiac Disease Awareness Month and Love with Food Gluten free wants to celebrate by giving one winner a Year subscription of the Celiac-safe Love With Food Gluten-Free Box curated by KC the G-Free Foodie and a bag full of delish Allergen-Free Swag from Enjoy Life Foods! Two other winners will win a 3 Month Love With Food Membership! Just click on the link below and follow the steps. Good luck!
Giveaway:
celiac-awareness-month-giveaway

Save money on your first box:
Everyone is a winner because when you use this link you can get 50% off your first Love With Food Gluten Free Box! 
 50% off your first box!

Simple Mills Baking Mixes Review

Chocolate Muffins

I was lucky enough to win a Simple Mills prize pack from Gluten Free Frenzy and I am so grateful that I did. I was not sure what to expect because as you know gluten free baking mixes are usually a hit or a big miss. After trying all the mixes Simple Mills was definitely a huge hit at our home. All the mixes were delicious and moist and I loved that they are not crumbly like some gluten free products are.

Pumpkin Muffin

One thing that impressed me was that they were low in sugar and Paleo friendly. They are a great option if your trying to avoid sugar or grains but still want a sweet treat. Just like their name their ingredients are simple as you can see in the picture. To top it off they include some organic ingredients and they are also Non-GMO. I will definitely continue to purchase these mixes.


You can find the mixes at http://www.simplemills.com/ and I believe Whole Foods. The mixes are around 7.99 a box. They are made in a dedicated bakery and certified gluten free.

.

Nomsy

Hi, everyone. Today I wanted to share with you a new up and coming app that aims to help people with food allergies, food intolerances, special diets and Celiac Disease. It is called Nomsy. Nomsy will be a community based platform that can be customized to your food needs. That means you can open your app and find recipes and safe places to eat that fit your diet. You will be able to read articles and even be able to catch up with trending topics that you care about and all in one place. Plus it's always great to connect with others who know what your going through and support you. Did I mention it will be free? How amazing is that? When I learned about Nomsy I knew I had to share it with you all! Check out these videos to learn more.
Move Forward in the Fight Against Dietary Restrictions from Robert Greenfield on Vimeo.

A sneak peak of what Nomsy will look like Be sure to check out their website at http://www.nomsy.co/ or check out their Instagram at @nutfreenoms .

You can help them get started by visiting their go fund me page at this link: http://gofundme.com/nomsy Even if your not able to donate consider sharing their campaign on your social media to spread the word around. What I love about this campaign is that some of the proceeds will even go towards food allergy and Celiac Disease research (they are partnering with the Celiac Disease Foundation and End Allergies Together Organization). Be sure to check them out.

Thank you all for reading and be sure to check out Nomsy.

*I was not paid in anyway for this blog post.

 

Summer Favorites

It has been awhile since I have been able to blog. It has been a busy and crazy summer but I'm back and I can't with to share some of the fun gluten free make up and food that I have found this summer

This summer So Delicious released their Cashew Milk Dairy Free Ice Cream. It is creamy and tastes amazing. My Husband was surprised that it was dairy free. Their salted caramel cluster flavor is perfection. I love ice cream and this is now my favorite ice cream flavor of all time. P.S. if you haven't already check out their Coco Whip Whipped Cream.

 If you follow my Instagram or twitter you know I love Justin's Peanut Butter Cups so when they came out with gluten free pretzel snacks I had to try them. They are perfect for an afternoon snack or when your own the go. I love their almond butter flavor.

Although I have mentioned this in a previous favorites I decided to talk about it again because it is so hard to find a good dairy and gluten free ice coffee. Califia Iced Coffee is wonderful. They have many flavors and come in a single serving size and quart size. I will add all the websites at the bottom so you can check out their ingredients and where you can find them.

Now to make up. This summer I have been keeping it simple especially because of the crazy heat where I live. I been loving my Honeybee Garden's Pressed Mineral Powder in Montego. As, you can see in the picture below I have already hit pan. It is light to medium coverage and slides on your skin smoothly and does not look cakey. It is natural, cruelty free, and of course gluten free. I also been loving Brija's new 90's eye shadow collection and Brija's amazing new Mean Girls Collection blushes. Just look at those swatches. Besides being cruelty free, vegan and gluten free the ingredients are natural and never break me out. Lastly, I wanted to find a good waterproof mascara. I have read good things about Pacifica's Aquarian Gaze Mineral Mascara. One day while at target I spotted it on sale and I had a coupon on cartwheel for it so I decided it was a good time to try it. I loved it. It didn't smudge, it made my eyelashes pop and didn't make them feel crunchy or clumpy. They are also cruelty free and do not use gluten in their formulas (they do not test for gluten).

If you have any questions or comments leave them down below and have an amazing day.

Websites:

http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-beverages/original

http://justins.com/products

http://www.califiafarms.com/

http://www.brijacosmetics.com/

http://www.pacificabeauty.com/

http://honeybeegardens.com/pressed-mineral-powder-foundation/

March and April Gluten Free Favorites

 

 



 

I have heard great things about North Coast Organics Deodorant so when I saw it at T J Maxx for five dollars I had to grab it. Good natural deodorants are so hard to find. After using it for a good amount of time I feel that it works great and I would repurchase. I still prefer Primal Pit Paste in jar form but North Coast Organics comes very close. It is more convenient because it's in stick form. A lot of natural stick form deodorants (including primal pit paste stick) has a dry hard texture and has to be warmed up which is annoying. What's the point of getting a deodorant in stick form if it is not going to be convenient? Luckily the North Coast Organics Deodorant texture is soft and there is no need to warm it up. Plus it non irritating and their ingredients are simple and clean. They only had their naked deodorant which is scentless so I will probably look into getting their sample pack because I do prefer something scented. http://www.northcoastorganics.net/#!/Organic-Deodorants/c/7094980/offset=0&sort=normal




 I found another Deep Steep product and I love it. The Deep Steep moisture spray is perfect for dry skin. If you have dry skin like I do then I recommend this product. It's light refreshing and smells great. http://www.deepsteep.com/






I love peanut butter and chocolate. Not only are Justin's Peanut Butter Cups gluten free, organic, vegan and free trade they are delicious! So much better for you than a recess peanut butter cup and it tastes better too. They also carry almond butter jars and packs.  http://justins.com/







If you haven't already you should check out my Love with Food Box review. The giveaway contest is over but if your looking for a gluten free subscription that is also healthy then this one might be right for you. Plus for every box purchased they donate two meals to food banks. http://letusreview101.blogspot.com/2015/04/love-with-food-box-by-gfree-foodie.html


I have tried many different gluten free pizza crusts good and bad. Glutino pizza crust is my favorite  by far. I feel like a lot of crusts are either gooey or hard and this was crust was not. It has a great texture and a perfect taste. This crust is also perfect for making some garlic bread. Just add some Italian seasoning and garlic. http://www.glutino.com/









*taken from website

It can be tough finding truly gluten free coffee. The problem with coffee is that it is often contaminated with wheat. There are truly only a handful of coffees I trust. So, when I found Califia Farms Iced Coffee I was excited. Not only are they gluten free but they are made with almond milk which is perfect for those who avoid dairy or are lactose intolerant. When browsing on their website I found out they also make almond milk, coffee creamer, aqua frescas and even horchata! Also, most of their products are carrageenan free and they currently removing carrageenan as an ingredient. Their products are also GMO free.
http://www.califiafarms.com/learn-more

Izzy's Organic Blue Agave is perfect for substituting table sugar for foods and drinks. It is only 11 grams of sugar per tablespoon. I love to use it instead of maple syrup and since I don't use that much on my pancakes it really cuts down my sugar. It's organic and gluten free. I found it at a discount store but you can find it on amazon.






http://www.amazon.com/Organic-Agave-Sweetener-11-5-ounce-Bottles/dp/B00KPN8L08/ref=sr_1_1s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1430858957&sr=1-1&keywords=izzy%27s+organic


I usually pick a classic movie but I thought I would talk about one of my favorite movie series of all time. Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea by Kevin Sullivan. Sadly Jonathan Crombie who plays Gilbert Blythe past away recently. I know he was apart of my childhood and so many others. This was the first movie I can remember my Aunt (we loved watching period movies and reading period books together) showed me. I instantly fell in love with the series and read all the books. Although Anne Of Avonlea is different than the books it's still a great movie. I hope you check it out or revisit the series because they are truly wonderful. http://anne.sullivanmovies.com/


I hoped you enjoyed this post. Have you tried any of these products? Did you like them? Feel free to comment and don't forget to subscribe for more.

Andalou Naturals 1,000 Roses Moistuerizer Review

I was looking for a new moisturizer when I found the Andalou Naturals 1,000 Roses Facial Lotion on Iherb. It was $11.96 for a 2.7 oz. tube. I chose 1,000 Roses because I have very sensitive skin. My skin can also be dry at times and yet it can breakout easily so it is tough to find a moisturizer that works for me.

After using it for awhile I would definitely recommend this moisturizer. It is not overly thick or too thin so it blends into your skin easily. You don't need a lot of product either which is another plus. My skin feels a lot more hydrated now and I love that it does not leave my skin feeling greasy or oily. Best of all my skin did not get irritated or breakout like it usually does with conventional moisturizers. It has a nice rose sent (which I love) that is not to overpowering. If you do not like rose scents that may be a con for you. The only downside is that although it also has SPF (18) you have to reapply it every two hours to stay protected from the sun if using it alone. If your going to be outside all day it would be inconvenient to have to reapply every two hours. If you have sensitive skin but it's not necessarily dry then you might want to consider their other moisturizer because it might be a better option for you. They even have BB and CC creams but they only come in one shade. Overall, I am very pleased with this moisturizer and want to try the other products in this line.

Things to know about this moisturizer:
*100% GMO Free
*Verified Gluten Free
*Paraben Free
*Cruelty free and vegan
*SPF 18
*Sulfate Free
*Fair Trade
*Website: http://andalou.com/index.php/

Have you ever tried an Andalou Naturals product? Have a question? Feel free to comment down below. Don't forget to subscribe by email to get more posts on gluten free goodies.

Keep an eye out for my next review (coming soon) on the Love With Food Box by G-Free Foodie!

December Favorites-Gluten Free Food, Beauty Products & More!-

I wanted to have this post up before the year ended but December was a world wind. My Son's fourth birthday was this month and of course Christmas. I got a little behind. I have tried some new products and I am excited to share them with you.

Gluten Free Website: The Gluten Free Frenzy Website has giveaways, recipes and much more. It's a great website and I recommend you checking it out.
http://www.glutenfreefrenzy.com/

Green Blog:
Not every green blog is going to have exclusively gluten free items but a lot of times they will include a gluten free product. So reading green blogs is a great way to find new beauty products. One blog that I have been enjoying lately is the Organic Beauty Junkie. She has so much knowledge on safe non-toxic beauty products and I really enjoy reading her blog. She even started her own etsy shop.
Check out her blog at: http://organicbeautyjunkie.blogspot.com/

31 Gifts: I received two 31 Gift bags for Christmas and I thought I would feature them because I have really enjoyed using them this month. In California using paper bags at a store will now cost you a fee. Reusable bags are great because they help the environment but sometimes they are just to small. I received the pink bag to use as a reusable bag and it works great. It is roomy and good for bigger items. Another great feature is that it is insulated to keep cold foods cold so it really helps if your going to multiple stores. I think this bag is perfect for us Celiacs because we often have to bring our own meals to parties and potlucks so this bag is very convenient. The black bag can be use multiple ways so you can you use it for around the house or use it to put groceries into as well. They are really good quality and sturdy. They have a lot of different bags too like diaper bags, duffel bags, totes, and more. Plus the prints they come in are so cute. You can even have a name embroidered on them. Prices vary and you can click this link to find out more and order.
https://www.mythirtyone.com/248800

Udi's Tortillas: I was more of a corn tortilla fan before being diagnosed with Celiac Disease so I didn't think I would miss flour tortillas much. I was so wrong. I missed making burritos. So I tried some gluten free tortilla brands but they tasted more like wraps than flour tortillas. I even tried gluten free frozen burritos but it wasn't the same especially when you want a homemade burrito that is fresh and has the ingredients you want in it. Then I found Udi's Tortillas. They taste homemade and way better than regular store flour tortillas. They are amazing. You have to try them. There about $5.00 a pack which is expensive so I don't buy them all the time but when I do it's worth it.
http://udisglutenfree.com/

Milton's Cheddar Cheese Crackers: I found these crackers at Sprouts and they were on sale two bags for six dollars. I decided to try some. They taste like cheez-it crackers but are a lot better for you. Besides being certified gluten free, it's non-GMO, free of high fructose corn syrup, rBST free, Kosher, peanut and nut free, vegetarian, has no trans fat and is baked instead of fried.
http://www.miltonsbaking.com/


Silk Cashew Milk: Silk Cashew Milk is my new favorite milk. I like it better than almond milk! Cashew Milk does not have a strong after taste compared to almond milk and it's very healthy for you. I prefer the unsweetened flavor because the original flavor is very sweet. The unsweetened milk has only 25 calories per serving! It has 50% more calcium than regular cow milk. It's perfect for making drinks like hot chocolate and smoothies and I cant wait to try to make ice cream with it when summer time comes around. Sorry Almond Milk but Cashew Milk has replaced you. It Costs the same as almond milk and you can find it at health stores and even Walmart. It's Gluten Free, Soy Free, and Dairy Free, Casein Free and NON GMO.
http://silk.com/

Andalou Naturals Hand Cream: Since I cook all my meals I am always washing my hands which makes my hands dry out. I wanted to try a new hand cream so I decided to try the Andalou Naturals hand cream to see if could help. It did and it is wonderful. I got it in the scent Lavender. It smells so good and you only need a little bit because it's a bit thick. It really just helps your hands feel hydrated and soft. This product is actually a Path of Light product so 100% of the profits will go to help socially responsible projects. Andalou Naturals is such a great company. All their products are certified gluten free so you don't have to worry about gluten cross contamination. This product is cruelty free (all their products are), non-GMO, made in the U.S.A., fair trade, and certified organic.
The price on their site is $8.95.
 http://andalou.com/index.php/

Primal Pit Paste: I have a full review of this product that you can see if you click here. I love this deodorant because it's free of toxic ingredients like aluminum but it actually works. It is gluten free and cruelty free. It's pretty affordable and you can check them out on www.primalpitpaste.com

It Happened One Night:
So I wanted to add a classic movie at the end of my favorites because its a big part of who I am. My Aunt and Dad used to have me watch a lot of classics and musicals growing up. I think they are so well written and I hope you go out there and watch some because you don't know what your missing. I am not a big fan of current romantic comedy's or dramas. Of course I do like some current romantic movies but they really have to impress me and that's because of the quality of classic love stories. They made you believe in the story and in the couple. The one I want to share this month is one of my favorite romantic comedies of all time. It's called It Happened One Night. There are some remakes so make sure it stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. I had never seen a Clark Gable movie before (I know how could I have not seen one? There is just a lot of classic movies out there.) so I didn't understand all the hype. Surely he wasn't as amazing as Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper or James Stewart (my favorite classic actors). I was very wrong. He is just as amazing. He is now on my list of favorite actors. Every movie I have seen in him since he makes you believe in and love his character. The movie is so well written and won five Oscars. They won for best picture, best actor, best actress, best screenplay and best director. There a only a small amount of movies that have accomplished this. It scores a 98% on rotten tomatoes. It is about a rich woman who runs away and meets a dashing newspaper writer. They end up having to travel with each other and of course run into crazy adventures. It also is where the iconic hitchhiking scene originated. You can rent it on amazon, google play and iTunes.

Thanks so much for checking out my December favorites. Have you tried any of these products? What was your experience with them? Feel free to comment and don't forget to subscribe. Have a wonderful week. -Sylvia

November Favorites (Food & Beauty Products)

Hi Everyone,
November has gone by so fast. I have quite a few things I stumbled upon in November. These are my favorite things of don'forgotorget to followorget to follow. e month.

Blogs:
The first blog I wanted to share belongs to one of my closest friends who also has celiac disease.  Her gluten free blog is filled with delicious recipes that you need to try. Sometimes after making so many meals you need a little inspiration and that is why I love her blog. One of my favorite recpies that she has put up is her copy cat double decker tacos. If you have never made this you need to now. It's so good. You can check out her blog at :
http://kcstartedthefire.blogspot.com/?m

The next blog is actually a video blog. The Non-Toxic Voyage is a great resource for finding natural and green beauty products. She is very sweet, kind and fun to watch. Although she doesn't use strictly gluten free products many of the products she has reviewed and talked about is gluten free and she even did a Send Me Gluten Free unboxing. You can check out video blog at:
http://m.youtube.com/results?q=non%20toxique%20voyage&sm=3

Food:

Pillsbury Gluten Free Cookie Dough: This product came out awhile ago but I found it on sale so I grabbed some. It tastes just like regular cookies and no one notices the difference. I have been getting sinus migraines lately and it's been great to just pop these cookies in the oven for a quick dessert.
Website: http://www.pillsbury.com/products/gluten-free

Udi's Farmhouse White Bread: This new bread is delicious and it has become one of my new favorite breads.So soft and the closest to wheat bread I have ever tried. I have  a review on it and you can check that out here. Unfortunately, I have only found it at Wal-Mart Stores.








All But Gluten Granola Bars: Delicious and perfect for on the go or a snack. They come in a variety of different flavors and every one I have tried have been great.
website: http://allbutgluten.com/

Lucy's Cookies: Remember the Christmas cookies that came in a round tin? Lucy's gluten free cookies remind me of them. There just as good. You could even put them in a decorative tin and give them as a gift or maybe have them around for your guests this holiday. Just find a tin box at a department store or even a dollar store and get some cupcake paper cups and fill them with Lucy Cookies and done.

Canyon Bakehouse Muffin: So hearty and delicious. Sweet but not to sweet. Perfect for a snack or part of your breakfast. My favorite gluten free muffin of all time. For a more in depth review on Canyon Bakehouse click here.

Beauty Products:
 Andalou Naturals Body Butter: I got this body butter at a discount store at a really good price because Andalou Naturals changed their body butter packaging. It works great. It smells good but the fragrance is not to strong. It is not to thick but not to thin. It works really well to keep your skin hydrated and overall I really enjoyed it and will have to repurchase.
Website: http://www.andalou.com/

Gypsy Soul Lipstick: I love this color from Red Apple Lipstick. It's perfect for fall. It is a semi-matte formula so be sure to put some balm on if you have dry lips like mine. Even though it's a different formula it still feels creamy and smooth when applying.  For more on Red Apple Lipstick check out my review here.
website: http://www.redapplelipstick.com





Everyday Minerals: I also have a review of their products here. They are gluten free and cruelty free. It looks smooth, natural, has good coverage and doesn't break me out. I will be repurchasing their foundation.
website: http://www.everydayminerals.com/store


Coconut oil: I've been loving using coconut oil in my hair as a treatment and on my hands which dry up quite a bit. It also is a great eye makeup remover. I have been using it on my son who has eczema instead of lotion and he hasn't had a breakout since. I don't use a specific brand I just make sure it's organic, 100% coconut oil and non-gmo. If you cant find one in your area try www.iherb.com or www.vitacost.com

Fashion:
I've been loving infinity scarfs lately. I love how they add color and just a little something to your outfit. I got some at Wal-Mart.  There are many different colors and styles. They come in a two pack for around 4.00. www.wal-mart.com

Have you tried any of these products? What did you like or didnt like? What have you been loving latley? Feel free to comment and dont forget to follow.

Cayon Bakehouse Bakery Review

I was lucky enough to win the Canyon Bakehouse Bakery prize at the last Virtual Gluten Free Expo at www.glutenaway.com. There is going to be another one soon so you should visit the gluten away website for more details. Besides being certified gluten free and being made in a dedicated gluten free facility their bread is also kosher, dairy free, nut free, GMO free, casein free, and soy free. Their products are also whole grain. All their products are also a good source of fiber (2 grams a serving) which we can often eat to little of on a gluten free diet. They do contain eggs which I know can be a problem for some people. Here is my review.

White Bread: 7-Grain Bread, Deli Rye Style, and Cinnamon Raisin. The size is decent about the same size as Udi's bread. Their shelf life is about week at room temperature and a few months when kept in the freezer. I tried them both at room temperature and toasted. The taste it's self is great. The Cinnamon Raisin is perfect to make french toast with or just to eat alone toasted with some coffee. The Deli Rye is good but I never tried regular rye bread so I can't really compare the two. Although the bread is really good Udi's is still my favorite brand.

Update: I tried Canyon Bakehouse Bread again because I was tired of finding huge holes in my Udis bread and I couldn't believe how much I now prefer Canyon Bakehouse. The taste and texture is more like real bread. Even my Husband and Son loved it.

Focaccia Bread: This bread is so good. It's already cooked so you can eat it right out of the bag but you can also heat it up in the oven. I cut it into slices like bread sticks. It's perfect to eat with Italian food.

Hamburger Buns: The Hamburger buns were really good toasted. They have a great taste to them. The remind me of the kind of buns you would eat with a deli style sandwich. They also have sesame seeds which I have really missed on hamburger buns. I would probably buy these over Udi's hamburger buns which can be be too thick for me.

Muffins: I honestly was not expecting much from their muffins but I was very pleasantly surprised. They are sweet, hearty and just plain delicious. I love the poppy seeds and the cranberries. They give it a little something extra but do not overwhelmed the muffin. I will be repurchasing these muffins.



Price?: $5.00 and up and they sometimes have coupons on their website

Where Can I buy?: Check Canyon Bakehouse's website for stores near you or buy on their website http://www.cayonbakehouse.com

Gluten Free Status: All Certified gluten free and made in a dedicated factory.

Have you tried Canyon Bakehouse Bakery? What did you like and what didn't you like? What is your favorite gluten free bread? Any suggestions on a product I should review next?