Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Review : Udi's Gluten Free Blueberry & Lemon Streusel Muffins, Pizza Crust & Whole Grain Bread
Udi's Gluten Free recently provided me with some products from their all gluten free line to sample and review on my blog! I was sent a 4 pack of blueberry muffins, a 4 pack of lemon streusel muffins, a loaf of whole grain bread & a 2 pack of pizza crusts to sample.
The first thing you notice about Udi's products is that they look gorgeous. Their look is almost homemade and slightly rustic, yet perfectly formed. Details like the sugar coating on the blueberry muffins and crumb topping on the lemon streusel make the products all the more attractive... my family was more than happy test out these delicious looking goodies!
Here's what the members of my household thought about Udi's Gluten Free Foods:
Blueberry muffins: The blueberry muffins were incredibly moist and tasty! It's nice that these are made with evaporated cane sugar rather than white refined sugar. The texture of these muffins is even better than those made with wheat flour since the tapioca starch, brown rice flour, and potato starch seem to hold in moisture a little better and prevent the muffins from drying out. The overall flavor of the muffin is classic blueberry and the sugar coating adds a slight crunch and sweetness.
Lemon Streusel Muffins: The lemon flavor in these muffins was really nice... sweet and delicate. A lot of lemon flavored sweets tend to either have an unnatural, lemonhead-ish flavor or an overpowering sourness/bitterness, but the flavor of these muffins was perfect, very natural and pure without being at all sour. The texture of the muffins, like the blueberry muffins, was dense, filling and moist.
Whole Grain Bread: Udi's Gluten Free whole grain bread is an excellent sandwich bread! It's a little less moist than some breads, but the lack of excessive moisture was a nice feature which prevented the bread from becoming overly soggy when adding toppings like lettuce and tomato. The members of my household seemed to really enjoy this bread toasted with a light slather of Earth Balance (non-dairy soy margarine) and freshly pressed garlic.
Pizza Crust: Although this was more of a thin crust pizza, the dough stayed chewy in the center (awesome) while having a crunchy outer edge (double awesome). We prepared our pizza with pizza sauce from scratch and mushrooms which made for a nice, light treat. The crust takes less than 10 minutes to heat up after you add your toppings, so this makes for a quick and convenient meal option!
Overall Udi's Gluten Free baked goods make a great, tasty snack. The gluten free options can be purchased frozen, so they are a convenient way to have baked goods on hand without having to worry about them spoiling quickly.... really nice to have in case a guest pops in!
I want to note that each of these products contains eggs and are not vegan. I want to also note that these are probably not the healthiest snack options (for example the main ingredients in the lemon streusel muffins are sugar and eggs), but they certainly are nice as an occasional treat. Because Udi's prides themselves in being "old-school artisan bakers" they rely heavily on whole ingredients that create the tastiest overall product.
**I was provided with Udi's muffins, bread and pizza crust for review purposes only and allowed to post my thoughts at my discretion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
The first thing you notice about Udi's products is that they look gorgeous. Their look is almost homemade and slightly rustic, yet perfectly formed. Details like the sugar coating on the blueberry muffins and crumb topping on the lemon streusel make the products all the more attractive... my family was more than happy test out these delicious looking goodies!
Here's what the members of my household thought about Udi's Gluten Free Foods:
Blueberry muffins: The blueberry muffins were incredibly moist and tasty! It's nice that these are made with evaporated cane sugar rather than white refined sugar. The texture of these muffins is even better than those made with wheat flour since the tapioca starch, brown rice flour, and potato starch seem to hold in moisture a little better and prevent the muffins from drying out. The overall flavor of the muffin is classic blueberry and the sugar coating adds a slight crunch and sweetness.
Lemon Streusel Muffins: The lemon flavor in these muffins was really nice... sweet and delicate. A lot of lemon flavored sweets tend to either have an unnatural, lemonhead-ish flavor or an overpowering sourness/bitterness, but the flavor of these muffins was perfect, very natural and pure without being at all sour. The texture of the muffins, like the blueberry muffins, was dense, filling and moist.
Whole Grain Bread: Udi's Gluten Free whole grain bread is an excellent sandwich bread! It's a little less moist than some breads, but the lack of excessive moisture was a nice feature which prevented the bread from becoming overly soggy when adding toppings like lettuce and tomato. The members of my household seemed to really enjoy this bread toasted with a light slather of Earth Balance (non-dairy soy margarine) and freshly pressed garlic.
Pizza Crust: Although this was more of a thin crust pizza, the dough stayed chewy in the center (awesome) while having a crunchy outer edge (double awesome). We prepared our pizza with pizza sauce from scratch and mushrooms which made for a nice, light treat. The crust takes less than 10 minutes to heat up after you add your toppings, so this makes for a quick and convenient meal option!
Overall Udi's Gluten Free baked goods make a great, tasty snack. The gluten free options can be purchased frozen, so they are a convenient way to have baked goods on hand without having to worry about them spoiling quickly.... really nice to have in case a guest pops in!
I want to note that each of these products contains eggs and are not vegan. I want to also note that these are probably not the healthiest snack options (for example the main ingredients in the lemon streusel muffins are sugar and eggs), but they certainly are nice as an occasional treat. Because Udi's prides themselves in being "old-school artisan bakers" they rely heavily on whole ingredients that create the tastiest overall product.
**I was provided with Udi's muffins, bread and pizza crust for review purposes only and allowed to post my thoughts at my discretion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
Guest Blogger : Aine of The Evolving Spirit
This week I'm thrilled to announce my second guest blogger here on The Wide World Of : Aine of The Evolving Spirit!
I first heard from Aine several weeks ago while she was working on a blanket for her grandson. Today she's revealed the finished product and it's even more adorable than I could have ever imagined. The little eyelashes on the moon are just too sweet.. aww!
Aine also works with a charity group called the Crocheting and Knitting Angels of Las Vegas. Here's some info from Aine about the group:
"The group works as a collective in sharing yarn and patterns, along with expertise, and each member can leave a small donation at each meeting to go toward social outings throughout the year. The group crafts baby blankets for those who are two and under, and scarves for the older children. But members are encouraged to branch out, if they wish, and make outfits for bears that are donated, or any other projects appropriate for children.
The items are donated to a local organization called, CHANGE, Inc. , which is an group that works with another local organization called, Child Haven, which is an organization that takes in abused, neglected, and abandoned children and places them in foster care. You can go to the websites of either organization by clicking on their names.
There are currently more than 300 children a month coming to Child Haven where they will be sheltered for twenty-four hours and then placed into foster care. Often the children arrive with barely the clothes on their backs. There are groups who donate clothing and shoes, as well as other items, and the "Angels" offer them something a bit more personal that can be something of their own that has plenty of love woven into the fabric of their personal item."
I love that Aine is sharing her amazing talents through the Crocheting and Knitting Angels of Las Vegas group. I thank her for sharing her talents with my blog as well. :)
Please drop by Aine's blog (which is a great, thoughtful and reflective read) to check out her baby blanket post and to say hello!
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** Would you like to be featured on this blog?
Send an email with your Top 5 Cute Picks
(including any links to photos) or
your crafty project to
thewideworldof (at) gmail (dot) com! **
Send an email with your Top 5 Cute Picks
(including any links to photos) or
your crafty project to
thewideworldof (at) gmail (dot) com! **
Tokidoki Bambino Sets on Sale
Monday, June 28, 2010
Review : GT's Synergy & Organic + Raw Kombucha
Millenium Products was kind enough to send me some coupons to redeem for their organic, raw kombucha. Kombucha is a fermented tea that contains a bacterial culture which provides the drink with probiotics, amino acids, antioxidants and active enzymes. While the health benefits of kombucha have been in dispute for some time, I found GT's kombucha to be a tasty, refreshing treat free of added sugars (made of only 100% kombucha and unrefined plant products) that I would enjoy regardless of its potential benefits. You can find out more about GT's take on the benefits of kombucha here.
I picked up the Strawberry Serenade, Divine Grape, Trilogy (raspberry, ginger, lemon) and Citrus flavors and despite hearing mixed reviews of these products in the past, I really enjoyed each and every one of the flavors. The flavor of the drink is tangy/slightly sour with a hint of sweet fruit flavor and a refreshing effervescence.
Divine Grape: This was my definite favorite among those flavors of GT's kombucha that I've tried so far. The flavor of the concord grapes was bold and robust and really shone through the tanginess of the Kombucha. Combined with the sparkling nature of the kombucha the overall drinking experience was exceptionally good!
Strawberry Serenade: Of the flavors I tried, this was probably my least favorite though I do know this happens to be a favorite of many. The strawberry taste is very subtle, delicate and natural, but still apparent. I don't think the strawberry blends as well with the tanginess as does the grape, but overall the flavor is still really pleasant.
Trilogy: The flavors in this drink seemed like more of an essence: you could taste hints of the raspberry and ginger, but their flavors weren't strong or overpowering. The ginger and raspberry provide a bit of a "lingering" taste and the lemon adds a crisp, refreshing element. I also think the Trilogy flavor is the prettiest of the bunch, when I saw the beautiful reddish, slightly purple color I just had to try this!
Citrus: I found this drink to be the most refreshing of the flavors I've tried. This was also the most tangy of the flavors and although the drink has no added sugar, it's not overpoweringly sour. The lemon juice in combination with the kombucha was very thirst quenching.
Some liken the taste of kombucha to vinegar... I hadn't thought of this until after I tried the product, but I can see how this statement that has its merits. The drink does taste a little similar to vinegar with its tanginess, but the overall flavor was much more complex and pleasant. The added fruit flavor and the effervescence made this a really delightful drink. I realize this is can be an acquired taste for some, but I enjoyed these right off the bat!
A huge thank you to GT's for allowing me to sample these tasty drinks! GT's Synergy & Organic Raw Kombucha can be found at many health food stores. Click here for a store locator.
**I was provided with coupons to be redeemed for free GT's products for review purposes and allowed to post my thoughts at my discretion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
Deth P. Sun : The Various Things I Eat Zine
"The Various Things I Eat" Zine, $5
8"x5.5", 28 pages with a 60lb cardstock cover
From Deth P. Sun's Etsy Site: " I drew everything I ate for 5 months and put it in a zine."
8"x5.5", 28 pages with a 60lb cardstock cover
From Deth P. Sun's Etsy Site: " I drew everything I ate for 5 months and put it in a zine."
**All photos in this post property of Deth P. Sun**
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Giveaway : $25 Gift Certificate to Growing Tree Toys (Melissa & Doug, Uglydolls, Plan Toys & more!)
I'm happy to announce that Growing Tree Toys is teaming up with my blog to giveaway a $25 Growing Tree Toys Gift Certificate to one reader of The Wide World Of!
Growing Tree Toys is an online and brick and mortar (State College, PA) shop that sells a great selection of products for children which includes pretend play toys, educational toys and furniture. I love their selection of plushes for kids and toys for babies. Some of my picks under $25 include:
Calico Critters: Zach and Sandy's Bicycle Riding Adventure Playset, $18.95
Moxy Uglydoll plush, $19.99
Stacking Construction Vehicles Set, $19.99
Teddy Bear Jack in the Box, $21.95
Vulli Sophie The Giraffe Natural Rubber Teether, $21.95
Melissa & Doug Flapping Duck Push Toy, $24.95
*To enter all you need to do is visit the Growing Tree Toys website and let me know what you might like to purchase with your gift card! (Please note that you are not required to select this item if you win)
For one extra entry each you can:
* Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect
* Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (post your email address)
* Follow Growing Tree Toys on Twitter and leave your Twitter ID
* Become a fan of Growing Tree Toys on Facebook and leave your Facebook name
* Post this giveaway in your blog and leave a link to your post
* Tweet about the giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (you may tweet once per day)
* Enter any of my active giveaways and let me know which one
* Leave a comment on any non-giveaway posts on this blog & leave a comment letting me know which one (up to 5 extra entries)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry! Also make sure to leave your email address in one of your comments or have your email address visible in your profile.
This giveaway will end on July 18, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Open to US readers only. Good luck!
Giveaway winner: yellowlabs
**I was not given anything in return for this post except to offer a $25 gift card to a reader of this blog. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
Growing Tree Toys is an online and brick and mortar (State College, PA) shop that sells a great selection of products for children which includes pretend play toys, educational toys and furniture. I love their selection of plushes for kids and toys for babies. Some of my picks under $25 include:
Calico Critters: Zach and Sandy's Bicycle Riding Adventure Playset, $18.95
Moxy Uglydoll plush, $19.99
Stacking Construction Vehicles Set, $19.99
Teddy Bear Jack in the Box, $21.95
Vulli Sophie The Giraffe Natural Rubber Teether, $21.95
Melissa & Doug Flapping Duck Push Toy, $24.95
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Growing Tree Toys was generous enough to offer one of my readers a $25 gift certificate that can be used toward purchasing anything from their website!
*To enter all you need to do is visit the Growing Tree Toys website and let me know what you might like to purchase with your gift card! (Please note that you are not required to select this item if you win)
For one extra entry each you can:
* Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect
* Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (post your email address)
* Follow Growing Tree Toys on Twitter and leave your Twitter ID
* Become a fan of Growing Tree Toys on Facebook and leave your Facebook name
* Post this giveaway in your blog and leave a link to your post
* Tweet about the giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (you may tweet once per day)
* Enter any of my active giveaways and let me know which one
* Leave a comment on any non-giveaway posts on this blog & leave a comment letting me know which one (up to 5 extra entries)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry! Also make sure to leave your email address in one of your comments or have your email address visible in your profile.
Giveaway winner: yellowlabs
**I was not given anything in return for this post except to offer a $25 gift card to a reader of this blog. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
Friday, June 25, 2010
Mod Cloth New Arrivals : My picks
Giraffe Tales Mug, $17.99
Lady Panda Mug, $24.99
Virtue of Patience Lunch Bag, $29.99
The Birds and The Trees Mini Dress, $49.99
The Jackson Purchase Dress, $51.99
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Review & Giveaway : Turtle Mountain Chocolate Chip and Cookie Dough Coconut Milk Ice Cream & Strawberry Coconut Milk Kefir
After reviewing Turtle Mountain's So Delicious Coconut Milk Minis (which really were so delicious, by the way), I had high expectations for pretty much every item in the line. Everything I did end up trying was even better than I anticipated! In addition to the Coconut Milk Minis I also sampled Turtle Mountain's Purely Decadent Cookie Dough Ice Cream Made with Coconut Milk and their So Delicious Strawberry Coconut Milk Kefir (both items are vegan and gluten free).
This ice cream was rich, flavorful and creamy. Like the So Delicious Coconut Milk Minis, the texture, consistency and taste are close to that of dairy ice cream, but with an added coconut milk flavor. While soy milk based ice creams can sometimes be a little unpleasant due to a subtle, lingering soy flavor, the coconut flavor in this Purely Decadent selection actually contributes nicely to the taste. This ice cream also doesn't suffer the typical problems of a rice milk based ice cream which can sometimes be a little icey and hard. In contrast, this coconut milk ice cream is amazingly soft and creamy. I had been craving cookie dough ice cream for years, but had never been able to find a suitable non-dairy version until now, Purely Decadent Cookie Dough Ice Cream is definitely a new staple treat for me!
Kefir is typically made with cultured milk, but this coconut milk, non-dairy version is very yogurt-y and wonderful. This drink has the slight tanginess and thickness typical of a yogurt smoothie and also has the added benefit of containing probiotics. Like the other coconut milk products in this line, the product has a subtle coconut milk taste which blends with the flavor of the drink nicely. Prior to trying out this drink, I had never tried kefir, but I absolutely loved this! The flavor was great and I loved the slight tanginess of the yogurt. The drink was also very refreshing and the flavor of the strawberry was very natural (not artificial tasting in the slightest) and the drink even contains some small chunks/pieces of strawberry. Delicious!
Turtle Mountain products can be found at almost all major grocery store chains (including Ralphs, Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, Food Lion, Wegmans & many others). Click here for a store locator.
Thanks to Turtle Mountain's generosity, I'm able to offer ONE reader of The Wide World Of:
For one extra entry each you can:
* Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect
* Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (post your email address)
* Post this giveaway in your blog and leave a link to your post
* Tweet about the giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (you may tweet once per day)
* Enter any of my active giveaways and let me know which one
* Leave a comment on any non-giveaway posts on this blog & leave a comment letting me know which one (up to 5 extra entries)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry! Also make sure to leave your email address in one of your comments or have your email address visible in your profile.
This giveaway will end on July 14, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Open to US readers only. Good luck!
Giveaway winner: Andie
**I was sent coupons to be redeemed for free Turtle Mountain products for review purposes and allowed to post my thoughts at my discretion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
Purely Decadent Cookie Dough Ice Cream Made with Coconut Milk
This ice cream was rich, flavorful and creamy. Like the So Delicious Coconut Milk Minis, the texture, consistency and taste are close to that of dairy ice cream, but with an added coconut milk flavor. While soy milk based ice creams can sometimes be a little unpleasant due to a subtle, lingering soy flavor, the coconut flavor in this Purely Decadent selection actually contributes nicely to the taste. This ice cream also doesn't suffer the typical problems of a rice milk based ice cream which can sometimes be a little icey and hard. In contrast, this coconut milk ice cream is amazingly soft and creamy. I had been craving cookie dough ice cream for years, but had never been able to find a suitable non-dairy version until now, Purely Decadent Cookie Dough Ice Cream is definitely a new staple treat for me!
Strawberry Coconut Milk Kefir
Kefir is typically made with cultured milk, but this coconut milk, non-dairy version is very yogurt-y and wonderful. This drink has the slight tanginess and thickness typical of a yogurt smoothie and also has the added benefit of containing probiotics. Like the other coconut milk products in this line, the product has a subtle coconut milk taste which blends with the flavor of the drink nicely. Prior to trying out this drink, I had never tried kefir, but I absolutely loved this! The flavor was great and I loved the slight tanginess of the yogurt. The drink was also very refreshing and the flavor of the strawberry was very natural (not artificial tasting in the slightest) and the drink even contains some small chunks/pieces of strawberry. Delicious!
Turtle Mountain products can be found at almost all major grocery store chains (including Ralphs, Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, Food Lion, Wegmans & many others). Click here for a store locator.
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Thanks to Turtle Mountain's generosity, I'm able to offer ONE reader of The Wide World Of:
- (3) Coupons that can be redeemed for ANY of Turtle Mountain's Dairy Free items (not limited to coconut milk items, expires 12/31/2010) and a selection of money saving coupons for Turtle Mountain's So Delicious Products!
For one extra entry each you can:
* Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect
* Subscribe to my blog via RSS or email (post your email address)
* Post this giveaway in your blog and leave a link to your post
* Tweet about the giveaway and leave a link to your tweet (you may tweet once per day)
* Enter any of my active giveaways and let me know which one
* Leave a comment on any non-giveaway posts on this blog & leave a comment letting me know which one (up to 5 extra entries)
Please leave a separate comment for each entry! Also make sure to leave your email address in one of your comments or have your email address visible in your profile.
Giveaway winner: Andie
**I was sent coupons to be redeemed for free Turtle Mountain products for review purposes and allowed to post my thoughts at my discretion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
Sanrio by Demeter Fragrance Collection
image from demeterfragrance.comDemeter has teamed up with Sanrio to bring you the Sanrio Fragrance Collection which currently features Hello Kitty, My Melody and Little Twin Star inspired scents!
- 1 oz. bottles of each fragrance are available from Sanrio.com ($20 each)
- .5 oz. ($25), 1 oz. ($45) and 3 oz. ($75) sets (containing 1 bottle of each scent) are available from demeterfragrance.com
New Lesportsac Prints: Madras, Shibori, County Fair, Pixie, Fresca & Tweet Tweet
"Madras" print, seen here on the pencil case, $20
"Shibori" print, seen here on the 3-zip cosmetic bag, $20
"Shibori" print, seen here on the 3-zip cosmetic bag, $20Itazura Cat Coin Bank
From the Ningyoshi website:
"Ok cat lovers! We have something for you... The latest Japanese cool electronic coin bank is the Itazura Coin Bank! Simply place a coin on top of the fish and hear a "Meow" sound. Watch the fuzzy cat inside the box open the lid slowly and grab the coin. So cute! Requires 2- AA batteries. By Takara/Tomy Japan." Available in brown and white.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Review : Revlon "Beyond Natural" False Eyelashes and Precision Lash Adhesive
image property of Revlon, click flyer to enlargeWhats great about these lashes is that each box retails for only about $5 (with 2 pairs of eyelashes per box at that) making them great for trying out different styles and application techniques without having to worry too much about ruining the lashes. It's nice that you can try out just about every pair of lashes Revlon offers in the Beyond Natural line for the same price (or less) as a pair of high end lashes. These were excellent starter lashes!
Although inexpensive, I found these lashes to be quite durable. I've worn the same pair a few times and they still look great. The lashes are slightly more glossy than my natural lashes but blend well with them color-wise and thickness-wise. With a coat of mascara and good blending at the base of the lash I could see these looking quite natural. The only problem I had with these lashes is that I wasn't able to curl them along with my natural lashes. Since the false lashes curl very easily (much more easily than natural lashes), they actually became crimped when I curled them along with my eyelashes. I believe they would curl well with mascara, but mascara use is what I am aiming to avoid.
Precision Lash Adhesive: This clear lash adhesive was super easy to use. The thin brush makes it easy to apply the correct amount of glue to the lashes and avoid any messes. The consistency of the lash adhesive was perfect, it wasn't too runny or too thick and the glue adhered really well to the lashes. I wore my lashes for nearly the entire day without the corners coming unglued or my lashes falling off. Lash crisis averted!
Defining Lashes: Of the two varieties of lashes I tried out, the Defining lashes were my favorite. They looked subtle but provided a nice amount of volume. They look delicate when worn and the style is quite pretty making them excellent for a sweet, wide eyed look.
Intensifying Lashes: These lashes were great for a more striking, bold look. They were also a lot of fun to experiment with along with different makeup styles! I like these paired with a smokey eye or a thick eyeliner on the upper lids.**I was provided with three boxes of lashes and a tube of lash adhesive courtesy of Revlon for review purposes only and allowed to post my thoughts at my discretion. I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. All opinions expressed here are mine.**
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