Ohso Good Chocolate

When you are a fit foodie you are bound to find yummy treats while on your protein shake run at Vitamin Shoppe (well at least I do, haha). Amongst the bottles of products in the section dedicated to probiotics, I instantly spotted chocolate bars. At this point in my life, I am convinced that I have chocolate radar. Intrigued, I picked the two boxes of Ohso Chocolate  and added them to my shopping cart as a guilt free impulse buy.

And guilt free it was! As a self proclaimed chocolate snob, I enjoyed these little chocolate bars and here are 5 reasons why:

1. The perfect size for a quick snack or to toss in the lunch bag. Just enough to satisfy that sweet tooth or chocolate craving without going overboard.

2. Chocolate with probiotics? Yes, each little bar has 1 billion lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

3. Flavor options. Both the original and orange flavors are amazing. I recommend trying both.

4. Perfect Packaging. Only my people who meal prep can understand the frustration of being forced to purchase items in quantities of 6, 8 or 12. Being able to get a box of 7 chocolates makes it easy for adding a touch of sweetness to my day every day of the week.

5. And yes honey.......it tastes good.

Go and grab a bar today!

Me & the Bees Lemonade

Recently my timeline and social media accounts have been BUZZING with news of the girl who landed the huge deal with Whole Foods.   (Btw her name is Mikaila Ulmer) An 11-year old girl landing an 11 Million Dollar deal with Whole Foods? WOW!! Not only was I inspired by such a young person doing something this incredible, I was also THIRSTY!

After reading a few articles and foolishly running to my local Whole Foods Market without first seeing if they carried Me & the Bees Lemonade (FAIL), I decided to order online. To ensure that I would be able to try all the flavors that she had to offer, I purchased a variety pack. I never thought that I would be so excited about lemonade. Other than Beyoncé's Lemonade music takeover, I haven't been this into lemonade since the Lemonade Stand computer game that I used to dominate in back in the day (is that game still a thing?).

So putting all of the press aside.................this lemonade is amazing.....BOMB actually. Made with real lemon juice, honey and flaxseed as the main ingredients, it goes down incredibly smooth. This is not like those cheap, super sugary lemonades that you get from the convenience store. This is stuff here.........is EVERYTHING. A must buy and must try. Not only will you be satisfied, but a percentage of the profit made from each bottle goes to saving the honey bees. How awesome is that?

So to make it plain: GET SOME NOW!

Six Pack Bags

When you are a lover of food and a fitness expert, you have to find ways to lessen the strain of effectively maintaining your double life. Discovering 6 Pack Bags has allowed me to finally do that.

Now there are a number of reasons why I love these bags. As a person who meal preps, (and has prepped meals years before this was even a 'thing') I always hated trying to fit all of my containers and snacks into my lunch bag (if it would fit at all). I also hated the constant stress of hoping my food would stay cold during errands if I couldn't make it to a fridge right away. It was a struggle to say nonetheless. So why am I in love with a lunch bag? Here are my 6 reasons why.

1. Effortless organizing: It keeps me organized without any conscious effort on my part. There is a place for everything. Containers in the middle and extra space on the sides for additional snacks, drinks, whatever.

2. The chill factor: Not only is the entire bag insulated, it also comes with gel packs that you can freeze. Yes, it has the ability to keep food cold for at least 8 hours.

3. The starter pack: When I first opened the bag and realized that there were (BPA Free, microwaveable) containers inside to get me started really made my day. You can always visit their site to purchase more if you'd like.

4. Style variety: Now when shopping for this product in stores you will run into some monotony when it comes to style. But when you venture onto their site, you will see a whole new world. Not only are there a number of sizes available, but there are also a number of styles to choose from. From backpacks and duffle bags to briefcases and purses, they have it all.

5. Do what you want: Yes, the bags come with containers and slots for those containers, BUT you don't have to follow that method all of the time. The rack that holds the slots comes out. This means you can do without containers of that specific size, you can put other items in the bag that you would like to keep cool. The choice is yours.

6. Quality: I am a huge proponent for "You Get What You Pay For". I've tried cheaper options and they always failed. From horrible materials, limiting containers, and overall functionality issues, I've done it all. I will say that so far 6 Pack Bags has been the premier brand that I've dealt with so far.

And there you have it. Whether you're a super mom, business executive, or gym rat, 6 Pack Bags has something for everyone. A definite must try. You're Welcome.

Steve's Ice Cream

If you enjoy Mexican hot chocolate or Mexican chocolate in general, you will LOVE THIS. And if you haven't you still will LOVE THIS.

Ice cream! Who doesn't love ice cream (except for vegans and those who suffer with lactose intolerance)? Well, on this blog you will see me both use and talk about ice cream year round. Now most people that ask me how I got started on my culinary journey (enlightenment, awakening, whatever dramatic term they want to use) are usually shocked when I say ice cream.

Fresh from a debate with my husband about my incredibly boring palate, I got in the car and headed to Whole Foods (no I do not seek refuge at Whole Foods after every chat). I wanted to prove to him that I could in fact try something new. So after wandering down a few aisles, I for some reason, ended up in the frozen section.

Of course I saw the dairy free, super healthy, organic "ice creams" and wasn't enthused at the least. Frustrated and ready to leave and behold 'real' ice cream. I scanned the flavors and found Steve's Mexican Chili Chocolate ice cream. I reviewed the ingredients and deemed it adventurous enough to purchase and bring home to consume and in fact prove that I wasn't 'that' boring.

Well, let's just say that was one of the best pints of ice cream that I ever devoured and was the bite that started it all. After that experience, I vowed to myself to continue to try something new daily (at the least weekly). Years later, I'm blogging about my adventures both in and out of the kitchen. So to make a longer story (and post) short, never be afraid to break out of the routine and try something new. You never know where it might lead you.

(And yes, Steve's Ice Cream overall is absolutely amazing. You will see various flavors in a number of my recipes).

The Flavor Bible

The Flavor Bible single handedly changed the way I viewed and approached food forever. I will be the first to say that this blog wouldn't exist had it not been for me discovering this book. Unlike many cookbooks out there this book focuses on not on recipes but the ingredients that come to together to create a wonderful dish.

Whether you are new to the kitchen or an experienced cook this book is for you. The Flavor Bible has given me 'permission' to be creative in the kitchen and to explore new flavors. Many of my original recipes come from 'guided' play in the kitchen with this book being my go to. This is definitely a must have. Go check it out today!

Hedley & Bennett

My love for food and cooking also involves kitchen gadgets, tools and APRONS. Like any super busy person, I (try to) spend my Saturdays catching up on my favorite shows that I missed during the week. Of course I watch Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder, but I also love the Food Network and the Cooking Channel.

Well, in watching a few of my favorite shows from those channels, I noticed one major thing. Everyone was wearing these really cool aprons. Not the typical holiday aprons you find on sale at Walmart or Joann Fabrics, but really high end aprons. So I did what anyone else would....I turned to Google for guidance. And that is how I was introduced to Hedley & Bennett.

Now where do I start with my list of things that I love about this company.

1. Made in the U.S.A.

2. Quality, quality, quality!!! They use some to the best fabric out there to make your apron.

3. Style and color combinations. I love them all so much, I might have to start a mini collection.

4. Super adorable kids line (as you can see my little guy sporting his very own)

5. Home wares  (great napkins and market bags).

6. Need a repair? You can ship it back to them and they will fix it.

7. Great customer service!

Again this a brief list as to why I love Hedley & Bennett.

See binge watching your favorite TV shows isn't so bad after all. I came across a great company in doing so. Go check them out today.

Dry Soda

If you haven't noticed already, I'm a big fan of Dry Soda. Not only are the flavors wonderful, but it is also pretty versatile. I love it in cocktails, floats and by itself. They also do a really good job recommending food pairings for their flavors. If you haven't tried this yet, get off of this blog and go grab a case, like NOW! If you can't find it in a store near you, order it online. (But do come back... ha ha).