Sunday Sitar - A cup of Joe on me!

Don't worry everyone, yes this post is all about coffee but I promise that I'm not going to let you experience any Deja-Poo whatsoever. What's Deja-Poo?  You know... the feeling that you've heard this crap before... nope that's not what this post is about :-). Well let's start off by listing a few stereotypes about coffee drinkers about which you may or may not be familiar:

1. It will stunt your growth.  Uhhhh, do kids actually drink coffee?  If not what is the stunt risk with adults, personality or character growth?  Hum not sure about that one.
2. It causes heart disease and cancer.  Actually recent studies from the Mayo Clinic have shown that there is no connection between coffee and increased risk of heart disease or cancer.  Especially since related studies indicated that the habit of smokers combined with coffee and people with other high risk behaviors do have an increased risk.  So coffee is not the fall guy here either.
3. Coffee drinkers are arrogant.  Now that's funny.

Okay, I am not a coffee drinker and I never really have been.  I love coffee flavored ice cream and coffee flavored hard candy but that's about the extent of my coffee experience.  I never actually liked the idea of it because growing up in grade school every teacher I had [who drank coffee] in the morning had horribly bad breath. When I got to junior high, my parent friends would talk about their need/cravings for coffee to get them right. In fact I recall some of them saying that without it jitters and head aches would soon follow.  Even as a 6 through 12 year old, I knew that FOR ME keeping one's sexy did not include the regimen of morning coffee. Why would any cute boy like a girl with coffee breath?  So needless to say that coffee and I would never build a life together, but I digress...

(photo courtesy of drinkpapua.com)
Today, as a beverage enthusiast, I am a total tea person but have recently become curious about coffee and it's actual affects and side affects of lore.  I often receive coffee and bottles of wine as gifts around the holidays.  My freezer has been stocked with packs of ground coffee for months so when I had a conversation with Mareeka [you recall that post about my favorite vegan speak easy], about the beverage that I don't consume she educated me about a brand that she swears by as a health practitioner.  And since many of you drink coffee, I felt obligated to share. The brand is called Papua.

What makes Papua unique and different from Dunkin Doughnuts, Starbucks and other brands is that it is Alkalizing, Non-Dehydrating, and Detoxifying. One more thing it is Delicious, according to testimonies on their web site.

(Papua New Guinea independent state flag)
I personally love that it is Rain Forrest Alliance Certified, organically grown, and is not based upon a large corporately owned plantation. It is also certified Kosher. Papua is grown in thousands of small coffee villages in Papua New Guinea that produce over 70% of the annual exportable crop.  

Since I am no coffee connoisseur, I cannot attest to it being "delicious." It just tastes like coffee to me. And I do like the flavor of coffee, but delicious compared to what? Other brands?  I've never had coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin Doughnuts or any other place in my life.

However after each cup of Papua, and I've had several in preparation for this blog post, I can confirm that my breath was not offensive in any way.  I can only guess that the bad breath side affect is because of animal milk as creamer, granulated sugar, artificial sweeteners.  I tasted the Papua both with and without sweetener.  The roast recommended to me was the dark and medium roast blend so that is what I tried. What I can say is that freshly brewed it tastes smooth and smokey, not bad at all for a morning beverage.
During my second cup I added natural sweetener, no creamer.  I used Eco-BeeCo which is the only sweetener I keep in my house.  As a reforming sugar person I swear by this product [that I'll write about in a forthcoming post.] After drinking Papua, I did not experience head aches or jitters. I admit that I enjoyed both cups very much. But for the coffee drinkers here is more interesting facts about the Papua flavor taken right from the website:

"Papua’s unique flavor and delightful aroma has its origins in the world-renowned Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee plants, which were transported to Papua New Guinea in 1927. The beloved traditional flavors from this original plant line were embellished with floral and fruity hints from the new environment, giving rise to a coffee that is truly exceptional.

We selected the best Arabica beans, grown naturally and farmed without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Because it is grown in high altitudes, unlike its flavorless counterpart Robusta, Arabica is a much higher quality coffee bean and has been consistently selected for the European and Japanese markets.

Papua’s unique flavor and delightful aroma has its origins in the Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee plants, which are known to yield the world’s most celebrated coffee. These gourmet beans and the rare Peaberry are roasted exclusively to satisfy the connoisseur. We offer the greatest variety of roasts, grinds and spiced organic coffee."

In closing, both fitness and health professionals highly recommend Papua coffee to their clients for its benefits that you can read about here.  In fact if any of you all are willing to I am putting on a challenge.  I am giving away a pack of Papua coffee and a pack of Eco-BeeCo to one of you coffee drinkers who leaves a comment for me.  After I read all comments I will pick and announce the winner.  All entries/comments must be entered by December 1st, 2013.

Rules:

• If you subscribe to my blog you receive this post in the form of an email.  
• Responding to the email that you receive does not constitute a legitimate comment.  
• The rule is that YOU MUST LOG ONTO www.strokeofliving.blogspot.com and leave a comment at the end of this post in the "Comments section" and the person whose comment is the most unique to me will win both the Papua coffee and a pouch of Eco-BeeCo.  
• Anonymous entries will be disqualified.  
• I must know who you are to set up delivery of the prize if you win.  
• Do not post any personal info in your comment like a phone number or address. 
• ONLY POST YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS if you think I don't have it. 
• This is a global blog so your comment is not confidential to me anyone can read it.  
• That being said, I will contact the winner directly before I post who the winner is and will communicate with that person via email to receive your delivery info.

Let's close the year with something fun!  Rev up and start your engines...

Blind Pig, Blind Tiger maybe...?

Let's Speak easy today you know like in my life, while writing my posts I have no trouble speaking easy, or speaking bluntly, or speaking often.  My happiness continues in a local organic watering hole called Mare'ka [pronounced Mar-EE-Kah].

Mareka is a local nutritionist whom I met at a woman's small business owners event several years ago.  At her establishment there was featured a "support non-GMO foods" speaker to discuss the health hazards of GMO foods.  Genetically Modified Organisms are plants and animals created through gene splicing techniques in the biotechnology field of study and food sourcing practice. Seed companies often engage in these immoral practices because it is cheaper for them to alter natural resources for global mass production than it is to ensure the soil and seeds are pure enough for animals to consume so that the carnivorous [meat easters] and the herbivorous [vegetarians] can sustain our lives.  The dangers of GMO's are even reaching the vegan population. Following the food chain can do one of two things, either get you outraged or cause you to fast FOREVER.  Since the later is not an option, we must take our healthcare and sustenance into our own hands.  I have enclosed a full length film titled Food Inc.  If you are not familiar with this expose' on the global food chain with a concentration on the USA, I am happy to share this documentary with you.  Just click on the link below to watch the documentary in it's entirety:

http://youtu.be/f69TUDbPdLs

Anyway Mare'ka is passionate about sharing nutritional information with every person who walks into her cafe.  Her cafe is a local speak easy.  During the Prohibition era around 1920, such establishments were illegal because of the alcoholic beverages that they sold.  You see back then the sale of alcohol was considered bootlegging however today these historic establishments are retro styled bars in the USA today.  The most popular [I think] is in NYC - the 21 Club.  The nineteenth century term blind pig or blind tiger comes from establishments that sold bootleg beverages illegally.  Therefore they would charge the customer to see an attraction -usually an animal - and the serve "complimentary" alcohol. These clubs were usually family secrets, the locations of which were word of mouth.  I so love that fact.

Mare'ka feeds your body with wonderful organic food, introducing you to some concepts and reintroducing you to others.  Her tasty organic spirits keep you mellow or get you buzzed [not drunk] based on what experience you seek. Look at this signature drink list.  And the nights when she brings out her historic organic sipping chocolates while showing a movie or featuring a band is good times all around.

(photos courtesy of Marekalive.com)
While she brings you food to your table she tells you about the benefits of proper nutrition via the food you are eating.  It's a soft sell not a lecture. She does not pull up a chair and bore you with her knowledge, rather she shares it subtly with you as she serves you the food.  It's quite lovely.  The atmosphere is intimate and she makes you feel like a close friend who is having dinner at her home.  If you arrive earlier than your reservation this is a great time to chat and get to know each other a little.


This is a photo of the actual portions she gives to you, I've had several of her dishes and none of them disappoint. This vegetarian pizza [that I frequently order] is so large that I must always take the rest of it home.  Let me tell you that it's fantastic for breakfast the next day - just as yummy as the night before. Every month she holds special tasting events and has live music too.  Some nights the venue gets so crowded that she must bring her patio furniture inside to accommodate everyone on movie night or live music night.

Nothing about Mare'ka is illegal, cheap or low class.  In fact this tucked away location is quite the opposite and one location I tell everyone about at least twice per month when I receive her newsletter about any promotion she is having.  Once I expose people to her place she gets rave reviews. My rave is that Mare'ka is a refreshing revelation about which I always speak easy.

Sunday Sitar- True Bliss is in the I AM

(Sitar player illustration courtesy of Google.com via www.dailypainters.com, an abstract painting by Mark Adam Webster)

Have you ever stopped to think about a time where you were truly happy - blissful - present in the moment - just observing that NOW is a good time?  Well based on an unofficial survey I've conducted over the past several years when I randomly ask people the question "Are you happy?" the answer is usually a resounding "no" and then they go into a rant about their current circumstance.

Well this post is not going to be some universal, woo woo lesson on bliss. Nor is it a dogmatic writing on salvation. Anyone can take a course on the teachings of Joseph Campbell, The Dalai Lama or Jesus Christ and there are approximately 84,000 churches in the USA that you can visit to feel comfort and direction. I'm talking about [not only feeling BUT] being happy.  My weekend began happy and is in progress of perpetual happiness.

First, I was invited to an exclusive wine tasting hosted by bottlesnotes which is an Online Wine Community. I attended alone - by choice - so sans peer pressure.  The location was the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles. There I was in the company of fellow wine enthusiasts from all over Southern California.  It was one of the most selfish things that I have done in a long while and it felt just right. The event was called Around the World in 80 Sips - a spin on the classic French novel published in 1873, that was turned into a movie first in 1953 by United Artists and re-imagined by the Disney Movies in 2004.


(Image courtesy of www.bottlenotes.com)

There I sipped a variety of delicious wines, ate tasty finger foods and laughed and raised a glass with strangers.  No one knew me and I knew no one. An empty canvas that we all painted together.  You might think "Of course everyone was friendly you were drinking alcohol and getting buzzed."  Well not really.  We all started out friendly waiting in the museum lobby anxiously looking forward to the event.   And when you attend a tasting you drink swirl and spit or pour out, you're tasting not consuming.  Anyway why would we all be in a good mood?  You see the profits from the tickets sold benefit the non-profit organization St. Vincent's Meals on Wheels.

Here is a photo of me and my event friend Jane La Trace.  A extremely friendly real estate agent whose boyfriend Michael was the DJ spinning music all night - a lawyer by day - mix master by night.

After meeting and cheesing it up with Janet, I walked over to the Heritage Link Brands table displaying South African wine brands like: House of Mandela and Seven Sisters which was the star of the display. Seven Sisters was created by the Brutus Family who has seven daughters and one son.  The family escaped the oppression of apartheid law returning twenty years later to South Africa to create fine wines.  Each varietal is named after each of the seven daughters.  The seven sisters are: Carol, June, Dawn, Twena, Odelia, Yolanda, and Vivian.  The showcased red varietal was "Dawn" a Pinotage Shiraz [a grape variety created in South Africa in 1925] and I tell you that Dawn was delicious. Imagine tasting a full bodied [meaning richness in aroma and flavor] peppery, smoky red wine dry with hints of plum and blackberry. Seven Sisters is produced by African Roots Wines based in Tygervalley South Africa.  

[Pro Black warning here.]  In an industry that advertises Caucasian families both in the US and Europe as the only people who have knowledge about and access to wines and spirits, it was wonderful to see black sommelieres at the event talking about a black owned and operated brand. My ignorance made me happy because I learned something new.  Nothing is more stimulating and powerful than incoming information of any kind. After the event I conducted more research about Heritage Link Brands. Lovely, lovely, lovely to see a young black smart and beautiful couple that happen to be a CEO and CFO of the company.  After decades of only being exposed to white experts in the wine industry. I thought people of color were not permitted to the information or that culturally we had no interest or business in this area.  I AM certain that this information is as pleasant to you to read as it was for me to research and report.  Click on the highlighted links to read much more on your own.

Second, Am I Happy?  Yes... I was happy to be in my own company attending the event. I was happy to have been invited to the event. I was happy to find a great street parking, avoiding lines in the parking garage.  I was happy to shake hands and raise a glass with new people with smiling faces. I was happy to drink endless bottles of wine.  I was happy to receive a commemorative wine glass [photo third in from the left below].  I AM happy to have an interest in wine.  I AM happy to share this information with YOU.  Most of all I AM happy to know that happiness is a choice, every day, regardless of ones circumstances.  Bobby McFerrin was not a lunatic to write his most famous song. Joseph Campbell was on to something when he merely suggested we follow our bliss, The Dalai Lama smiles from deep inside for a reason and Jesus Christ [even on the cross] thought all was and would be well.  They each made a choice to be happy.  

[Side note & possible woo woo alert:] I AM are supposedly the first words spoken by God.  I AM THAT I AM.  Very powerful words to speak out loud.  You see whatever words follow I AM is an action put into the atmosphere that comes into being.  The proverbial wheels are set into motion.  I encourage you to just try it.  I AM...

(Images courtesy of www.bottlenotes.com)

Finally, I AM happy to report there will be much more later.

Twelve hours later...

It's 1:00 pm in the afternoon.  And I'm inspired to share.  So what does the time of day have to do with anything? you may ask.  Well a friend invited me to join her at Wi Spa a 24 hour Korean day spa at 10:30 last night. For years I've been going to day spas for massage treatments and healing salt baths on birthdays and other special occasions. Last night was the first time that I visited a 24 hour spa.  It was fabulous.

24 hours: that means the facility and services are available 24 hours per day.  Why blog about it?  Well look at each room and you decide if after experiencing this treat for the eyes it was worth it to read.  It was certainly worth it for me to experience - lucid. Several people have tried to enjoy the spa intoxicated but the health benefits are lost on the inebriated body so it is not recommended.

THE BULGAMA, made mostly out of oak wood, sits at an impressive 231 degrees for intense thermotherapy. As guests lie on the floor, heat helps to loosen muscles, remove toxins and bacteria in the body, and reduce blood pressure -- for an overall cleansing effect. Recommended usage is 10-15 minutes.

THE SALT SAUNA, with the help of thousand-year-old minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium and selenium, improves the physical, chemical and hydrodynamic conditions of the body. The respiratory system is purified, circulation improves, the immune system is strengthened, and muscles are relaxed. In addition, halotherapy (salt therapy) is healing for skin conditions. Recommended usage is 10-20 minutes.


While THE CLAY SAUNA features clay specially imported from Korea, clay has been used for centuries around the world for its medicinal and cosmetic benefits. This natural mud stimulates the lymphatic system and assists in the heavy metal detoxification process. Guests immerse their bodies under layers of clay balls to increase the body temperature. Recommended usage is 10-20 minutes.

The powerfully hot JADE ROOM eases muscle tension, helps with arthritis, and is known to lower the cerebral temperature. The sodium and minerals within the walls of Jade Spa also help in the balancing of hormones. In Asian culture, Jade has long been revered for its healing properties and in aiding stress relief. Recommended usage is 10-20 minutes.

THE ICE SAUNA is the final stop after a day at the spa. This room helps bring the core body temperature down, closes the pores and tightens the skin. By finishing with the Ice Sauna, circulation will improve and overall well-being is restored. Recommended usage is 10-20 minutes.

These rooms are considered to be Jimjilbang.  Jimjilbang is simply the co-ed or common areas for both men and women to enjoy some experiences together since traditionally jimjilbang spas are gender-segregated. However at Wi Spa the jimjilbang areas are opposite with the extensive reference library with comics, kids zone, restaurant and computer area and the five specialty rooms just featured above.

Of course in these areas modesty is required so they provide T-shirts and shorts for everyone attending any common areas. 

Keep in mind that any type of spa experience is not for the apprehensive or "shy." One must be open to new things and willing to take your temple body on a health journey that people have been doing for thousands of years!  My journey just happened to be in the wi hours at 1:30 am. Maybe that's what really inspired the name of the spa.

I must say that after years of attending day spas on weekends during the day at the most popular times of the day, and even the occasional couples treatments with my beloved at the time, I really prefer the late night/early morning hours.  Less people, more services for me to enjoy in solitude [I liked stretching out in the 150 degree dry sauna alone, and the dipping into the cold pool only to walk into the 120 degree steam room.  I stay in until my heart rate increases which is my body telling me it's too hot to stay longer.  My night ended with a loofah bath and a sea salt tooth brushing.  My skin and teeth very smooth,very clean.

Search out Korean spas in your city, Highly recommended!

Would you wash your face with a vegetable?

Agreed this is an unusual question.  But after you read the following your answer might be YES.  The answer to this question for me is a hearty YES.



After attending a natural product expo in 2012 my friend and I walked up to the Konjacu booth to inquire about this product.  These funny looking "rocks" were hard to the touch and displayed in a pyramid in the table but when each was submerged in water and after a few minutes they were soft and fluffy.  The demo and education made my friend and I believers so we made our purchases of several types of Konjacu sponges.  I have both the bamboo charcoal round [black] and the white body wash sponges.  For whatever reason I let these sponges sit in my bag for 1 year without use.  Until one day I was tired of looking at my adult acne prone skin.  With teenage years long forgotten, Duh! I had a possible solution., I purchased a Konjacu which is not only made of natural vegetable fiber but is biodegradable and is great for all types of skin.  Taken straight from their website here are more facts:

"Introducing Konjacu, The Original Japanese Konjac Sponge, it is entirely made from food-grade, dietary Konjac powder with no preservatives, no coloring, and no additives. With the recent news reports about dangerous chemicals in nearly everything that we use daily, we are especially conscious about the quality of the materials used as well as the process of manufacturing. From raw material to manufacturing, 100% of our konjac sponge is “Made in Japan”, which has one of the strictest regulations in the world in terms of material safety and quality control.

Why is the konjac sponge so tough and hard in its original form? Because, it is the most original and natural form of the konjac plant fiber. Unlike most of the generic sponges you see in the market, the konjac sponge is made entirely from vegetable fiber with no preservatives and no chemicals to artificially prolong its life.

Our konjac sponge is suitable for both dry and sensitive skin, even people with atopic skin(hypersensitive skin) will benefit from the gentle texture of the konjac sponge.

That is what separates Konjacu ? The Original Japanese Konjac Sponge apart, it is our commitment to keep our products 100% natural and earth-friendly from manufacturing process to having it in your hands."

I've been using my charcoal Konjacu for three months and I see a dramatic difference in my skin texture.  The bacteria the causes adult acne is gone because the sponge is gentle and soft while simultaneously exfoliating my skin.  It is a product promoting the natural pH balance for the skin and creates a nice lather on the face.  The Konjacu retails for about $28 for a pack of three sponges.

Coupled with the Konjacu sponge for the past three months I've been using Dr. Bronner's organic Shikakai (unscented) Baby Soap after receiving this product to review.  I stopped using soaps and wasahcloths on my face many years ago.  I must say that this product is fantastic at cleansing surface and under surface.   It comes from seed pods from the Asian tree Acadia Concinna and is used in India for centuries to gently clean skin and hair.  And according to wise geek (dot) com acadia concinna is used to treat dandruff and psoriasis.  This is a fabulous all-in-one product.  I don't use this in my hair because I have someone who washes my hair for me, she uses another product, and since I keep Shikakai on the vanity of my master bath I don't remember to take it with me.

The ingredients are organic white grape juice, organic sucrose, organic coconut oil, organic olive oil, organic Shikakai powder, & organic hemp and jojoba oils as well.  It is marketed as an unscented product.  But to me it has a slight scent of the combined oils.  This is not strong at all and in fact, it passed the test of my friend Janet who can not tolerate any type of fragrance at all.  Here is a link to her scent free blog for those of you who have environmental issues.  Or have zero tolerance for chemically created fragrances.

Regardless, this "soap" that I consider a cleanser since it is certified organic and "lathers" by forming a white film across my face like a heavy lotion, no bubbles, does the job pretty well.  It retails for $9.99 and removes make up without irritation.  Dr. Bronner's has been around since 1958 and I see why.  They are a high quality company that makes high quality products for the conscious soul with quirky labeling that respects and includes all faiths.  If Dr. Bronner were still alive I'm sure he'd approve the coupling of the Japanese sponge with his cleanser.

Bambooee and Eco Towel

Disclaimer:  I attended the 2013 Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim CA which is how I knew theses products existed. As a blogger I can only speak to my personal experience with products and product representatives.  The following post speaks to only that.  I was not given any shipments of either product beyond what I received at the trade show.

If I did not see it with my own eyes I would think bull$^#* there is no possible way that you can use a paper towel to clean up spills of honey, ketchup, grape juice or oil, toss it in a washing machine to reuse it again and again - up to 100 times actually - and have it be just as strong and durable.

Well after two months so far and several machine washes I am still only using my first sheet of a roll of Bambooee.  I can say based on experience this product is a tremendous value for the durability. No bull$^#* at all.  In fact I've used it to clean to surface of my kitchen and bathroom counters, tossed it in with my whites and now I'm using it in place of my Swiffer sheets to clean the dust on my hardwood floors.  I only air dry the sheet-never put in in the dryer.  It's really amazing.  I was afraid to switch from food surfaces to the floor but it works great!!  it's still in one piece no holes, no fraying.  At the trade show I attended I received about 15 sheets of samples by their representatives; who were strong in numbers.  At least two reps at every door to give everyone 3 to 5 samples each; even more if you asked nicely.  So I guess I have the equivalent of an entire roll.


In case you are unaware of how incredible bamboo is here are interesting factoids.  It is one of the fastest growing plants on earth, provided the climate and conditions are optimal.  Bamboo likes warm climates and healthy soil.  In spite of those conditions bamboo still thrives.  It is a species of grass that when harvested grows itself back.  It tends to die in near freezing temperatures but temperate bamboo hibernates and grows again in the spring.  It also produces flowers and fruits which can increase a rodent population.  Boo!  But bamboo shoots are a great source of nutrition of animal species like the Panda.  It has a 5 to 7 year life cycle and when broken down to the texture of material is quite soft but when used to build structures like pools or houses can be quite strong.  My friend who lives in Arizona has a built in /ground pool filled with salt water and lined with bamboo.  It's attractive withstanding imported salt water and the boiling sun rays of the desert.

Bamboo is a an item that I consider to be a freak of nature.  I have used bamboo as curtain rods in my home and have purchased under garments made from bamboo.  Now I'm cleaning my home with it and tossing it in the wash to reduce, reuse and recycle.  The three R's of being green.

One roll of Bambooee will cost about $20 for 20 sheets but when you wash each sheet 100 times multiply that by the amount of cash you currently spend on napkins and paper towels and how much you are saving the earth. 20 sheets replaces proximately 300 rolls of regular paper towels.  If a two roll package costs $2.39 at the drug store you spend $358.50 on 300 rolls of paper towels when you can spend maybe $40 tops buy rewashing the same sheets over and over.

Eco Towel has the same concept made by a different manufacturer.  But the outcome is the same.  A lovely product that is 100% biodegradable, washable/durable.  The only thing is their representatives were less willing to give out multiple samples for review.  I only received one sheet and I was happy to receive it because their demonstration was convincing and I love what they are doing for the environment.  After viewing their website several times I still have no idea what a roll of Eco Towels costs to purchase, after viewing their web site we are encouraged to contact a sales rep for more info.  Maybe this company has a very small to a zero budget for advertising which is why they were frugal in the product giveaway department  I'm just happy this product exists.

BTW, I've never tried the wildly popular Shamwow which apparently has much more cash in hand to produce infomercials and after some superficial research I don't know what material it's made of.  Regarding Bambooee and Eco Towel I like both products and recommend you all try either one.

...would love to see the day when theses products are wildly popular as well.

Bamboo rules!!!

Skinny Pop as in pop corn

What?

Skinny "anything" usually gets our attention as consumers because we just can't have curves and weight right?  Wrong...to quote a popular street vernacular "curves is where its at" and weight gets the positive attention of others so I encourage you all to flaunt those attributes if you have them!  But that being said, after attending an event where I received a gift bag which included Skinny Pop as one of the featured items it got my attention because of the name.  I read the ingredients and saw:

• Guilt free
• Cholesterol free
• Gluten free
• Non GMO
• Zero transfats
• Good source of fiber

(photo courtesy of www26.netrition.com)

This caught my attention as just another manufacturing trick to get me to eat something actually unhealthy and to appeal to mt ego of the secret desire to be skinny.  So after I tasted Skinny Pop I was pleasantly surprised that the flavor was superb, the perfect combination of salty, buttery, crunchy and light.  The funny thing is there is no butter in Skinny Pop at all! You get the natural flavor of the corn without ANY chemical enhancement.  The "flavor" comes from sunflower oil and dead sea salt.  It tastes better than any movie theater popcorn that I've had.  I was so impressed I reached out the the company asking them to grant me access to their product [as a blogger] so that I had time-over time-to savor it and share it with others.  This review is shamefully overdue but well worth the wait.  

I was in the theater last night watching the new Star Trek movie in IMAX 3-D.  As my friend got our pop corn I swear all I could think of was how fantastic it would be to be eating a bag of Skinny Pop right now.  I missed the experience and coveted my time with the product several months ago.  I've shared and eaten many bags of Skinny Pop and admit that I've never had that annoying kernel stuck between my gums and teeth.  I think it's because their process ensures that the whole kernel pop without leaving many shavings or unpopped kernels to get stuck in your teeth.  I embrace my curves and am NOT concerned about skinny anything.  However when it comes to the choice to be healthy taste does not have to be compromised in any way.  So I am a Skinny Pop woman for sure!!

I don't own a microwave therefore do not indulge in microwaved popcorn; and if I go to the theater I rarely purchase overpriced popcorn and I stay far away from their "butter flavored" toxic oil.  I tend to sneak snacks in - YEAH I SAID IT - which saves me money and keeps me incontrol as the gatekeeper of my own nutrition.  Because of my Skinny Pop experience I'm not only a fan but a consumer.  Is this high praise for a packaged product, yes.  After all it's just popcorn right? yes.  At 39 calories per serving, should you, on this Memorial Day holiday, purchase it to take with you to your BBQ, yes.  Will you be as pleasantly surprised as I was-YES.

To make you more of a believer here is an article that compares eating Skinny Pop to eating vegetables.  All I can try and hope to do is to encourage you to become a believer as well.  

Disclaimer: I received a shipment of Skinny Pop before writing this review, however as previously stated, I also received the product initially in a gift bag before contacting the manufacturer.

The new morning drink, not for children

Several weeks ago I watched Dr. Oz whose show that day focused on which country/culture had the secret to longevity.  On this show he reported [and I'm paraphrasing] that in their research they discovered that Sardinia has the highest population of male centenarians in the world.

    
(Photos courtesy of Wikipedia)

In fact they visited a man who at 105 has a glass of wine at 10:00 am one in the afternoon and one in the evening. This man is Giovanni who easily won an arm wrestling match with a man half his age [read here].  Now in our American culture it is a strange notion to have a small glass of red wine before lunch given the many substance abuse issues reported. In this part of the Mediterranean these people live in areas where they work in fields, have terrains that are harder to walk on which affords them a lifestyle that enables them to burn more calories. About 490 per hour. And combined with plenty of exercise the local foods are richer in omega fatty acids, etc. is what contributes to their healthy daily diets.  This wine that many Sardinian residents consume on average three times daily is called Cannonau.  It is fermented from a grape varietal  Grenache from Spain.  My disclaimer is that I am not promoting habits that will perpetuate any substance abuse issues that any reader might have, I am simply providing facts about a beverage that I like to consume.  Because of my amateur wine enthusiast life style I am interested in this subject.

All that being said, after I watched that show I was on a mission to find this type of wine from Sardinia.  I visited my local BevMo! who had not heard of it, I dare not enter a Cost-Co on the weekend - and I didn't, but I did score at Cost Plus-World Market.  They were having a wine promotion [$5 and $6 selected bottles] so I slowly walked through each isle in the wine section where I stumbled upon  Los Dos a wine from Spain.  Los Dos is a delicious Grenache and Syrah blend.  Read all about my love for Syrah from my older post here.  So imagine how excited I was to find that this existed.  My favorite red wine mixed with the secret to longevity in Sardinia!  I felt like I hit the jackpot...but what if it didn't taste good?  For only $6 I was willing to try.  In fact to draw you into my experience I'll describe the flavor as I have a taste from a shot glass right now...yes at 8:30 am. Oh what I do to give you all a complete story.


(Courtesy of www.winesfromspainusa.com)

This varietal is very light and underwhelming at first sip.  In fact the alcohol content is only 14% per volume.  What I mean by underwhelming is when you hold the glass to your face the vapors don't rush up your nose as it would with a fermented grape with a higher alcohol content [like a Merlot grape] upon contact.  As you swoosh the beverage around your mouth the flavors of mulberry and raspberry are present and light.  It finishes so smooth that you don't feel like you've just taken a swig of a red wine, no bitter aftertaste, no burning sensation down your throat.  Very airy, just a pleasant experience.

I don't necessarily need to live to the ripe old age [yes I used a wine pun] of 105 like Giovanni but my life is good.  I have many blessings and things about which to be grateful.  I also have quite a few things to check off my bucket list which requires a bit of longevity, so if I'm to drink anything that will help along my already pretty healthy lifestyle why not choose the elixir of Sardinia?

I ask this as I finish my shot glass.

Chicks and Girls... Partners perhaps?

I have three favorite TV shows right now.  My number one is currently on hiatus on HBO, that being "The Newsroom", this show I will write about affectionately in a forthcoming post.  My number two show is "Partners" [by the creators of Will and Grace I missed that phenomenon believe it or not] and my number three show listed but with no less love is "Two Broke Girls."  That's what THIS is post is about - a happy comparison.

During my college years I passed up many opportunities to drink beer and throw up all of the next day after a night for fornicating debauchery to study... ooh imagine that, but I digress.

I actually became interested in fine wine and beer at this fantastic stage in my life.  Wine is great - if you recall from an older post about my wine tasting trips here.  Anyway while researching artisan beer, several months ago I read about a business partners called The Beer Chicks. After I read about them I began to see their TV appearances.  After that I just had to sign up for their newsletter for tidbits about all things beer.  They even had a recent appearance on "Eat This, Drink That" for the Cooking channel.

I never liked the taste of beer only because I thought that my choices were [and no disrespect to] any version of Miller, Heineken, Corona, Sapporo, Asahi and Red Stripe (which I actually kinda like).  That is until I attended a beer tasting special event in downtown Los Angeles where they served what I now know to be Artisan or Craft beer, based on my own ignorance I was limiting my pallet to what was being done with hops, wheat and yeast.  My introduction to artisan beer was Caracole Amber Ale.  I remember this experience with detail because when the bottle was brought to my table the logo on the bottle was an illustration of a funny looking little snail holding a blade of wheat. Once I tasted it I forgot that it was beer because it was sweet, light and smooth. This Belgium beer is a complex spiced beverage with hints of orange peel and caramel.  Sounds yummy right?  Well it WAS!
 (photos courtesy of Google)
I also tried a Japanese beer called Hitachino Nest White.  This beer had notes of orange, ginger, pear and spice.  YUMMY TIMES TWO.  Now daring to try a dark ale I moved on to taste Maui CoConut Poter just knowing that it would be like Guinness (yuck) a bit too bitter for me but I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors of toasted coconut, vanilla and coffee.  YUMMY TIMES THREE...I was hooked!  And since stalking taking in all education tidbits from The Beer Chicks I never looked back.  After one in person meeting at a recent signing of their latest book these women instantly reminded me of my beloved Two Broke Girls. Both women were lovely and very friendly.  One is blond and bubbly and the other is brunette with an East Coast commanding vibe although she's from California.  Maybe I'm just purposely drawing an aesthetic comparison and by doing this I mean no disrespect at all.  Here are side by side photos:
  (courtesy of cbs.com)(courtesy of thebeerchicks.com)
While I know nothing about The financial status of The Beer Chicks whose names BTW are Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune I know that they are neither chicks nor girls, but partners for sure. They have two published books and are the goddesses of beer.  I use their second book, The Naked Brewer, as my beer bible; dog eared pages, highlighted sections and all.
    (photo of their first book in case you were interested)
While Two Broke Girls who work as waitresses to support their never quite launched cupcake business and cupcakes are yummy, The Beer Chicks are both beer sommeliers on their way to rock star status in the craft beer biz with an impressive walking knowledge of all the do's, don'ts, how to's and what beer to pair with what food endless recommendations.  Beer can be just as yummy as cupcakes.  Frothy deliciousness. Beer Is Good.

Bottoms up!

I embrace KOMBUCHA

Pronounced Kam-Boo-Kaa, this seaweed tea is known in the USA as the wonder drink.  The Chinese consider it the "Immortal Health Elixir" also known as the mushroom tea - although it is not a mushroom. Originating in Northeast China the Kombucha culture, made of mostly bacteria and yeast, is fermented from a species of yeast, active enzymes, organic acids and microbes.  Sounds gross right? Looks yucky hun?

  
(images from Google and synergydrinks.com)
DISCLAIMER I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL I AM SIMPLY SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT A BEVERAGE like any other beverage THAT I HAVE CHOSEN TO CONSUME.)
No pun intended but, It's jarring to look at [left image] unless you purchase it in a pretty package [center and right image]. No sugar or sweet taste here so don't expect that.  If you're a kombucha virgin, once you get past the aesthetic and the taste which I liken to vinegar, the detoxification benefits are worth your pallet being momentarily uncomfortable.  According to Dr. Brent Bauer of the Mayo Clinic health benefit claims are cancer prevention, immune system stimulation and improved liver function.  On the flip side some negative side effects reported have been: allergic reactions, diarrhea, and breakouts.  These "side effects" have been reported to disappear after a few days because the body is simply reacting to the new elements being introduced to the system.  And when toxins are festering in the body our system needs to push toxins out.

This beverage has a very particular taste for a very particular pallet.  It took ME a minute but now I embrace Kombucha.  You should embrace it too!

My Big, Fat Greek Shout Out - Part Deux

On my last post about body butter, I raved about Korres products which are great but a little pricey.  So I want to offer you all a powerful alternative - KleanSpa Extreme Moistuer Shea.  This is better on your budget, you can call toll free for a consultation [866-412-7343], create your own fragrance, mix and match fragrances, choose from her inventory, or opt for fragrance free products.

[Disclaimer] I know a dear, dear lady named Jennifer Hardaway who is the creator and owner of KleanSpa.  


(KleanSpa is one word not two)

We met a while ago at one of the networking events for entrepreneurs that I regularly attend.  I received one of her room fragrances in a gift bag that I used a few times that week.  One spritz left my kitchen and restrooms fragrant for hours without my choking down any fumes.  They also double as perfume body fragrance - brilliant!

Since KleanSpa is located in Los Angeles I visited one of her two locations closest to me and have been a faithful customer ever since.  Long long ago I stopped purchasing lotions and room sprays from the drug store opting for more natural products.  I used to choke after using room sprays and after researching why that happened I discovered that room sprays often contain neurotoxins.  And many lotions contain toxic chemicals.  Since our skin is the largest organ on our bodies and we need our brains to function it's important to treat them both with honor and wisdom.  It's good to use my product reviews as a resource for your wisdom but it's up to you to honor your body with what you put onto it and what you put into it - both literally and figuratively.

Anyway my new favorite extreme moister product is the 4 oz. pomegranate-fig lotion.  This product [and actually all of her lotions] feel like you are putting the texture of whipped butter on your body without the grease. All evidence of ash dryness was gone in an instant from any part of my body and I sometimes use it on my face!  I said sometimes because I typically prefer fragrance free items on my face but in a pinch KleanSpa is fantastic. You can even snap your fingers after application. This means nothing slippery is on the surface of your skin, because the essential oils are absorbed.  Here is a list of the ingredients KleanSpa uses.  If you have any negative reaction [allergies, gluten issues] to their ingredients the unique thing about KleanSpa is that they will custom blended for you which makes YOU in charge of what you put on your body.

  
(photos courtesy of KleanSpa.com)
No longer at the manufactures mercy, at KleanSpa, you take control of your health and wellness.  Worthy of repeating, you can call the toll free number for consultation and advise.

Not to exclude your man from such pampering, they have products specifically for men too; check it out here.  I just love, love, love KleanSpa and hopefully you will too.  If you join their newsletter you get 25% off your first item ordered online!  Sign up here:  http://kleanspa.com/KleanSpa-Newsletter.html

  Happy blending

Arsenic/ rice anyone?

If any of you are concerned about this new report of fear that we should be concerned with the levels of arsenic found in white and brown rice fear no more.  There is a delicious alternative - QUINOA.

Pronounced Keen-Wah.  This grain is rich in protein and can be purchased and cooked like rice. Quinoa are edible seeds from the grass family.  A great source of daily fiber, phosphorus, magnesium and iron quinoa can also be purchased as a "pasta" rather dry in a box like pasta. When I purchase the seeds I soak them [for a few hours or over night] before I cook them over my stove top.  My favorite way to eat it is in the "pasta" form; stalks broken over boiling water cooked soft with delicious spaghetti sauce over it with fresh basil leafs.  You don't HAVE to soak it first, I just like to before I cook the seeds.  It seems to break that earthy taste.  I've done it both ways soaked and straight from the package.  In the end it's all about the seasoning and sauce so it REALLY doesn't matter. Butter, coconut oil, hemp oil, your favorite pasta sauce

At first it may taste grassy or earthy to you but it's nothing like eating grass - don't front when we were all kids and we all ate dirt and grass!  Well I don't know about YOU but I remember eating both.  There I said it. Anyway, in unsure times like these quinoa is your new best friend.  At a restaurant here in L.A. I've had quinoa sprinkled in cooked seed form in a vegetarian pasta - Julie, you remember when we just had to meet the chef at Mani's opening party to pay him compliments?

All quinoa brands are great however my favorite brand is Ancient Harvest. I'm not a paid spokes person I just like the packaging [It reminds me of Tiffany jewelry boxes] it has nothing to do with the product quality at all.  All markets nation wide carry many different brands of quiona so you do not have to only buy on line or at a health food store.

  
(courtesy of Google)

Here are some recipes to get you started from Chef Mom, until this rice thing blows over.  If the links don't work, below are the hard copy from www.chefmom.sheknows.com:

White rice is out; brown rice is getting old, yet you still need a healthy whole grain to round out your meals. Why not try the nutrient-rich goodness of quinoa?

What is quinoa?

Quinoa, pronounced KEEN-wa, is one of the oldest grains, originating in the Andean region of South America over 5,000 years ago. The Incas, who held the crop to be sacred, referred to quinoa as "chisaya mama" or "mother of all grains." And with good reason - quinoa provides the nutritional value of meat (without the saturated fat) and is packed with complex carbs, iron, fiber, magnesium and calcium. Best yet, quinoa is gluten-free and lacks the allergy potential of many modern-day grains like wheat. Quinoa has survived for centuries because it is a hardy little grain. Unlike other grains, it thrives in harsh, high-altitude conditions and is considered a sustainable crop. Another naturally protective property of quinoa is that it is coated with a substance called saponin, which makes the grain bitter and unpalatable to birds and other animals. However, once cultivated, rinsing the quinoa in water before cooking will remove any lingering bitterness.

Quinoa is a mom's friend in the kitchen

Keep a few boxes of quinoa in your pantry for quick meals. It takes less time to cook than brown or wild rice and it is nutritionally superior when compared to white rice. As a bonus, your kids will think it is "cool" because every cooked translucent grain has a little white tail. Quinoa cooks in 15 minutes, has a delectable nutty flavor, and can be used in place of all other grains. Try quinoa for breakfast as a hot cereal in place of oatmeal. In addition, if you have a baby who has transitioned to soft solids, substitute quinoa for rice ceral. Toss quinoa with crisp-tender vegetables, juicy fruits, nuts, crumbled cheese or lean proteins for a near endless array of cold or warm salads and side-dishes. Use it in place of rice for holiday stuffings or other stuffed dishes, like stuffed eggplant, mushrooms or bell peppers. Mix quinoa with mashed beans or ground meats to make a healthy hamburger, meatloaf or meatballs. Quinoa is also milled into quinoa flour, which can easily replace white flours in your baked goods. You can find quinoa in the grain section of most supermarkets and both the whole grain and flour can be found at health food stores. Give this ancient, nutrient-rich grain a try. Here are three recipe ideas to get you started.

Kid-friendly quinoa recipes

Breakfast

Apricot Quinoa Cereal Recipe courtesy of Northern Quinoa CorporationServes 4 Instead of boring porridge, let your kids start their day with a bowl of protein-rich naturally sweetened quinoa hot cereal. The millet adds a fun buttery taste in this dish but if you don't have any on hand, replace with a like amount of quinoa. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups water 1 cup apricot nectar 1 cup chopped dried apricots (or other dried fruit) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground mace 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed 1/2 cup millet 1/4 cup cottage cheese 2 tablespoons maple syrup Directions: 1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring water, apricot nectar, apricots, cinnamon and mace to a boil. Add the quinoa and millet and reduce the heat to a simmer. 2. Partially cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the grains are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Press the cottage cheese through a sieve into a small bowl (to give it a creamier texture) and stir in the maple syrup. Transfer hot cereal to serving bowls and swirl the cottage cheese into each bowl. Serve warm.

Lunch

Sesame Orange Quinoa Salad Serves 4 Sandwiches are an easy fix for lunch but this flavorful and nutritious quinoa salad can be quickly made on Sunday and served as lunch for Monday or Tuesday. The varied textures and tastes will be a slam dunk for your little ones. For an even quicker dish, substitute Drew's Sesame Orange Dressing for the tahini orange dressing in this recipe. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons tahini* or peanut butter 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar Salt and black pepper to taste 1 cup quinoa, rinsed 2 cups vegetable broth or water 1 large navel orange, peel removed, diced 1 small cucumber, halved, seeded, diced 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion 2 heaping tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons sesame seeds Directions: 1. To make a dressing, whisk together tahini or peanut butter, orange juice and vinegar in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside. 2. In a small saucepan, combine quinoa and broth or water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until water is absorbed and quinoa is translucent with a white ring, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. 3. In a large bowl, combine orange, cucumber and red onion. Add quinoa and toss ingredients until well combined. Drizzle with tahini dressing and toss ingredients to coat. Sprinkle with cilantro and sesame seeds and serve. Salad can be served warm or refrigerated and served cold. *Tahini is sesame seed paste used commonly in hummus and nutty sauces. You can find it next to the nut butters at health food stores and most supermarkets.

Dinner

Quinoa Turkey Burgers with Easy Guacamole Serves 4 This is a delectable combination of meat and grain topped with a dreamy guacamole. Avocados are rich in flavor and a tasty source of healthy unsaturated fat. For an added health bonus, garnish the burgers with fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro leaves. Herbs and spices are considered superfoods, providing a significant amount of antioxidants and, best yet, unbeatable flavor.Ingredients: 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 pound lean ground turkey 1 egg, beaten Salt and pepper to taste 1 avocado, halved, pitted 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 Roma tomato, coarsely chopped 1/4 small red onion, coarsely chopped Fresh flat-leaf parsley or cilantro leavesDirections: 1. Bring quinoa and chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and grains are translucent. Transfer to a large bowl to cool. 2. Add turkey, egg, and salt and pepper to the quinoa and use your fingers to combine. Form into four patties and refrigerate while you make the guacamole. Preheat your indoor or outdoor grill (or broiler). 3. In a food processor, blend avocado, lemon juice, tomato and onion until slightly chunky. 4. Grill or broil burgers until cooked through or to desired doneness. Serve on a whole grain bun or enjoy open-faced topped with guacamole.

My Big Fat Greek Shout Out!

Heraclitus the famous Greek philosopher said, "Man is most nearly himself when he achieves the seriousness of a child at play."

I am going to pay homage, give a stellar review of, give big ups, to two Greek items; yogurt and body butter.  What does this have to do with anything?  Well nothing has anything to do with anything, but I must share. Really "must"?  Well you know that when I like something I'm all about evangelizing. So I MUST!


(Photo courtesy of Google)

As a child I loved butter [still do] especially if the butter was whipped and creamy. After forty something years of use I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur.  I certainly didn't discover Greek yogurt but have tried it for the first time last week and let me tell you it far surpasses any other type.  Do you know the watery topped yogurt that we have all eaten?  The kind that you must stir to get the fruit flavor on the bottom of the tub only to have a gooey watery meal?  Well eating Greek yogurt is nothing like that.  It is already blended with fruit chunks/flavor and is so thick and creamy - not watery - it feels and tastes like pudding rather than a diet-y breakfast.  You can purchase the blend-able type of Greek yogurt as well.  I liken the experience to having Gelato in Rome [first hand experience of delicious fresh cream and fruit sans preservatives] vs. American ice cream [sugar, toxins, freezer burn] in the states.  An unbelievable party in your mouth. YUM!

Now the Greeks certainly did not invent body butter however I think they perfected it in the apothecary [Korres] on their isle.  I was recently sent a belated birthday gift of Korres body butter and can not believe how frggin' hydrating it is to my skin. But when I spread just a smidgen of Greek butter on my skin, it feels like thick water but it absorbed into my skin quickly leaving my skin soft and smooth.  You must just pick whatever fragrance you like, I'm not sure they sell this product fragrance free and the products a little pricey.  However it is a sustainable company.  I've had the butter on all day and did not have to reapply on any part of my body [not even my hands]. Yes, argon oil and Shea butter are amazing!  Not any of the drug store brands of lotion that we all know are in a league with Korres body butter.  This product is so thick and creamy that when squeezed from the tube upside-down it does not drip or pour out.  It's laughable to even compare so I won't.

I'll just say that I'm not a paid rep for any particular brand but given my new experiences, that have been like no other to date, have been from Cyprus and Athens this post is all about a much deserved shout out to the Greeks.  They have given us Mensa-esque thinkers, myths, factitious tragedies, a fantastic vacation destination [I don't know that from personal experience], an alternative alphabet, health, grape leaves [hurray], people who have produced the highest grossing independent film in history[over $300 million], a verbal benchmark for what an Adonis should be [thank god], and a process for the best YOGURT and the best BODY BUTTER EVER.

Opa! (Now enjoy the contest winner for the official video for Greece courtesy of YouTube)

Support your local ethnic markets

The 2012 Natural Products Expo West was a blessing in many ways.  The biggest way for me was the amount of education that I received about quite a number of solutions from hydration to aches and pain to nutrition to sleep patterns to the unmentionables. To breach a subject that many people will find as unpleasant as halitosis [bad breath] is apocrine bromhidrosis [under arm odor].  I am not pigpen or anything but I do notice when I am offending myself.  To combat arm odor I have heard everything from crystals, lemon juice to vinegar.  I threw away drug store deodorants years ago because of the harmful toxins in them.  Then I used a popular natural product that I do love, but that's a subject for another time.

First, I remember from junior high school science class that humans are supposed to sweat, so anti perspiration products are unhealthy and can be considered dangerous.  Our glands are mean to sweat to release bacteria.  Unfortunately that bacteria carries an odor.  For some a simple splash or a shower will not work alone so we reach for a product to remedy that issue.  The market for deodorants opened up because although our glands are working to rid our bodies of bacteria, we don't have to be offensive.  Second, arm odor is something that most people feel uncomfortable discussing and NO ONE will ever mention to you if you are the culprit of the offense.  Many under arm deodorants contain aluminum base and parabens which are included to preserve products.  You can read all about the harmful affects on he Internet however these products are not your only choices.  I love two products in particular that contain all natural ingredients without additional toxins. However this post only focuses on ONE of the two, a new discovery for me.  Milcu deodorant powder.  The other product I've used for several years and although it's very good I recently switched to Milcu because I visited their booth at the expo and first used their small sample pack because I will try most natural products to see if what they claim is true.  Also [full disclosure] the company kindly sent a full sized container for me to review.

 

Milcu is made from a natural anti bacterial mineral salt called potassium sulfate 12-Hydrate OR Tawas crystal.  It is milled to a fine powder similar to baby powder so I recommend application before you get dressed or the product will transfer to your clothing.  It comes in a tube container, a pressed powder container, and is odorless.  After one week of use I can confirm the fantastic claims of this product.  Southern California has experienced some of the highest temperatures on record this year and I am happy to report that although I do perspire in the heat, I experience no odor of any type even after 24 hours after application; daily shower to shower times.  This product has claims to combat foot odor as well.  However I don't experience foot odor [and never have] so I cannot personally make any claims on that.  But for those of you who do I highly recommend Milcu to you.  I am using the purple Magic Puff container and I must say that it contains a lot of product.  This will last me for at least 4 or 5 months because you don't need much to apply to do the job.  In fact it will last longer than that.

This product can be found in most Filipino stores [Google to find one nearest you] or through their on line store here.  For the amount of product that you get and the benefits you receive, the price point is competitive in the $7 - $10 range.  Milcu has been around since 1958 and is marketed to both men and women through their packaging.  The product inside of the containers is exactly the same but the "Magic Puff" is marketed to women and girls as the "Sports Deodorant" and "Magic Puff for Men" is marketed to men and boys.  Notice the difference in the colors and containers. The purple container has a beauty puff to shake and dispense the product under your arm.  The tube dispenses like baby powder with a twist cap top to shake.  In fact THAT is the only flaw, no manufacturer has figured out how to make fine powder application easy and clean.  Other than that I believe you will be monumentally happy that this product does eliminate odor.  In fact their tag line is "Odor away!  Fresh all day!"  The original all natural body deodorant.
               
If any of you decide to try it, leave a comment on this post so that I can share it with the manufacturer.

Natural Products Expo - Sunland gourmet peanut butter

I grew up loving peanut butter.  In fact to this day I consider a peanut butter sandwich high on my list of comfort food.   I eat peanut butter several ways: on bread with jelly, on fruit, and by spoon.   I'm a self proclaimed connoisseur.  The Natural Products Expo was my introduction to the Sunland brand. Ever since then I'm happy to see it in my local health food markets.

When I saw the Sunland booth I had to try all of the flavors to see which one I'd become a customer of.  I'm happy to report that my peanut butter experience was happily taken to the next level with the traditional flavors [Creamy Valencia and Almond butter] as well as several flavor infused flavors.  The most outstanding of which is called organic Thai Ginger and Red Pepper.  Yes it sounds like flavors that one would never think to ever infuse into peanut butter, but TO ME this was a revelation.

When I sampled many of the flavors of Sunland peanut butter my palate sensed that my comfort would be taken to the next level.  I'll suffice it this way; experiencing Thai Ginger and Red Pepper is similar to eating Thai food with peanut sauce, it's like having a meal.  Other flavor infused butter are: Banana, Caramel, Cherry Vanilla, Creamy Chocolate, Raspberry, and Chipotle Chile.  That's the beauty of Sunland gourmet butters the sky is the limit!   And no refrigeration required.


I am more than happy to review this yummy peanut butter because it introduced me to organic butter that tastes sweet like the unhealthy versions.   The Valencia peanuts are the reason that the butters stay creamy and are much sweeter than other varieties.  For that reason I am also happy to relinquish my affections for the major brands I grew up eating that contain high fructose corn syrup, other sweeteners and other chemical additives.  Creamy Valencia butter easily replaces Jif Creamy as a nut butter staple in my world.

Enjoy!

Natural Products Expo - Gardenbar

I had the pleasure of meeting GardenChef Paul the creator of the garden burger.  I live in Los Angeles where every restaurant has their version of the garden burger whose name has morphed into the veggie burger. Some have been phenomenal and some not so much.  Because tastes are subjective I'll not reveal which ones I love and which ones I'll pass up.

What I will say is that I love this garden bar idea and execution.  There are five flavors one of which gets top honor by my palates standards.  American Savory, Indian Savory, Italian Savory, Japanese Savory and Mexican Savory. These bars are not sweet but little meal genres in clever packaging where you associate the genre with the color of the packet:



I love all of these genres of food and gardenbar brilliantly translates those food favorites into theses 1.76oz individual packets.  Each have a shelf life of 1 year so no pressure to eat them in a specific present time frame.  Although I can eat sushi everyday and my favorite restaurant in LA is a tiny bistro on 3rd Street, my favorite gardenbar is Indian Savory.  After sampling all I must say that it is refreshing to eat a bar that is not sweet but pretty satisfying like a small meal with the delicate balance of salty and savory however the Indian bar has a combination of natural spices which mirror yellow curry which is sweet to my palate.  And as a woman who will take a bite of frosted cake chased with a potato chip to get the salty/sweet sensation this one bar ranks #1.

All of these garden bars are great so my apologies about my bias view I just love curry but I can't ignore the other flavors.  Please visit the website here to order your variety pack so that you can pick a favorite as well.    Once you do leave a comment so that we can open a discussion.  I may just reveal the restaurant/deli/mom & pop that makes the best garden burger in my opinion.