Product Review: Buff Bake

Buff Bake recently sent me a jar of one of their products - Buff Bake Snickerdoodle Almond Butter. I was very excited to try a Buff Bake almond butter, because they offer a protein-packed almond butter. The one I got touted chia and flax in the ingredients - so I was even more excited because those are some of my faves! Honestly,  I normally go for the offerings that have "almonds" as the only ingredient, this stuff was chalked full of "love your body" ingredients. Each product varies, so I will only point out the Snickerdoodle - which is what I got. Buff Bake Snickerdoodle lists Roasted Almonds, All Natural Whey Protein, Coconut Palm Sugar, cinnamon, Coconut Oil, Chia Seed, Flax Seed as the ingredients.  That is a pretty sweet powerhouse of ingredients! It's also a huge plus for me that it's gluten free!

I normally have to limit my almond butter consumption to with apple slices or with my oats - only for the fact that I could eat a jar for dinner. :) But, when I saw it was snickerdoodle (one of my favorite cookies) I knew my spoon had to make the plunge!

You know when you taste something so heavenly that your eyes roll back and you just have to savor it? Yup, that's totally what happened with Buff Bake Snickerdoodle Almond Butter. I was in HEAVEN! This stuff will be a staple in my pantry, and I can't wait to try the other flavors they have to offer!

Here is one of my favorite recipes using Buff Bake Snickerdoodle Almond Butter. It's a protein and fiber rich breakfast treat. I love how the warm apples, cinnamon, and Buff Bake's Snickerdoodle Almond Butter all melt together for an amazing breakfast. It reminds me of an apple pie - for breakfast and way healthier! :)

(Hmm, now I'm thinking about one of my favorite guilty pleasures and trying this almond butter with gluten free animal crackers. That's going on my grocery list!)

Okay, enough rambling... here's the recipe!

Good Morning Buff Bake Snickerdoodle Oats:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 organic apple, chopped in to bite-size chunks
• 1/2 tb Buff Bake Snickerdoodle Almond Butter
• 1/4-1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions

1. Cook the oats according to the package directions - using the almond milk and water for the liquids. 
2. In a microwave safe bowl, add chopped apples. Sprinkle with some cinnamon and microwave for about a 1-1 1/2 minutes.
3. Top the oats with apples.
4. Top oats with Buff Bake's Snickerdoodle Almond Butter.

This would also be amazing with a sprinkling of dried cranberries. :)

ENJOY!! :)

Rodan + Fields Review

I'm sure many of you have heard of Rodan + Fields. (You know, the makers of Proactiv.) Well, one of my best friends joined their company last year. I always see her facebook posts ranting raving about the products. I finally asked her about it. I'm 31, but in my head I'm still 18. I had to come to terms with the fact that I just might do need to jump in to an anti-aging skin care routine. So, she sent me some samples, and I decided to go ahead and try the Redefine regimen.

I have pretty sensitive skin, so I was pretty nervous about trying it. Was it going to make my skin peel, red, irritated, or break out? For me, none of these were an issue. I've been using it for a good month now and I can tell a huge (positive) difference in my skin. It's smoother, clearer, more moisturized, and any lines that were starting to form have definitely softened. It is a super easy and quick routine, too!

#1. Use the Redefine Daily Cleansing Mask


I take off my makeup first, and then smooth this mask on. It dries in about 2 minutes, and then you wipe/rinse it off. That alone is super refreshing!

#2. Use the Redefine Pore Minimizing Toner
 I put a bit of this on a cotton ball and sweep it over my skin. Sometimes toners sting on my super sensitive skin, but not this! 

#3. 
(AM) Smooth on the Triple Defense Treatment

Use this jar in your morning routine. It's clearly labeled AM, so you don't have to worry about a mix up! It helps protect your skin from UVA/UVB exposure during the day, while also helping with anti-aging and firming your skin.

(PM) Smooth on the Redefine Overnight Restorative Cream
Use this jar in your nightly routine. Like the AM jar, this one is clearly labeled PM. Your skin (and the rest of your body) go in to repair and recovery mode while you rest at night. This stuff helps support that with moisture and releasing antioxidants as it works over 12 hours!

#5.  Dab on the Multifunction Eye Cream
I'm a huge fan of eye creams, and this one is awesome! The skin around my eyes gets super dry and very irritated. This stuff doesn't sting my skin and provides a lot of moisture. I can also tell it's really softened my emerging lines.

An extra fave:
Micro-Dermabrasion Paste: I haven't got the full size yet, but I'm loving the sample I got (AND it lasts FOREVER)! You use this instead of the mask only a couple of times a week. Again, I was worried it may be too abrasive on my skin but I didn't have a problem. My skin was a little red when I didn't water it down (the package has instructions on using more water to make it gentler), but that should be expected when using a scrub of any sort. My skin was baby-bottom soft and noticeably clearer. The next day my make looked a lot smoother, too! LOVE IT!


The Redefine regimen was what was right for my skin, but yours may be totally different. Get your own consultation here and see which products are right for you!

KIND Product Review

Surprises...

I talked with KIND a while back about doing a product review. I can't even tell you how excited I was when I got home one day and saw a box sitting on my porch from them. Inside was 2 big boxes of Almond & Coconut and Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants KIND bars.That was my first surprise... (more on that later on). Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants is my "go-to" KIND bar, as I tend to be that person who finds one flavor and sticks with it.  But I am a big coconut fan, so I was excited about the Almond & Coconut flavor.

Well, surprise #2 and #3 came a few days later. KIND sent not one, but two more boxes! Because I enjoy puns, I thought to myself, "How KIND of them!" Honestly, if you've ever done a product review before then you know this is kind of a big deal. Aside from reviewing the food, I am always well aware of how the company presents itself. This says a lot about KIND.

Reviewing the food...

Let's face it, we live busy lives in a fast-paced world. Snack bars are easy to throw in your purse and eat on the go. Sadly, not all snack bars are created equal. Check the ingredients. If it looks like something from a college chemistry exam, then it's probably not healthy for you. Now, flip over the package on a KIND bar. The ingredients list real food!

Not only does it tell you it contains these real, God-made foods, but you can actually see them! A lot of snack bars look like some sort of food composite that was ground to a pulp in the food processor, but not KIND bars! I don't know about you, but I love actually being able to see what I am eating.

Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants

Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants has been my favorite KIND bar for years. These are especially good if I am craving something sweet, then it hits the spot. The cranberries add just the right amount of sweetness, while the quinoa and almonds pack a big nutritional punch. The powerful foods in Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants will satisfy your hunger or cravings.

Almond & Coconut
I love coconut, but I rarely tend to choose something with it. Clearly, I'm crazy because this bar was AWESOME! There is just something about coconut - it's sweet and refreshing at the same time. One bite in to this, and you're in heaven. Aside from tasting like dessert, it's a great way to keep your energy levels up.

Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt
I must admit, I was wary of this one. I'm always a bit skeptical of sweet and salty things together. But I love dark chocolate, so I dove in. The verdict? I loved it! There is definitely something to be said about the sweet and salty together in this bar. The dark chocolate isn't overly sweet; it has that deep chocolaty flavor, and the sea salt was a perfect compliment. I think I'm going to keep these around for when I get that intense chocolate craving. You can satisfy that chocolate tooth, without the guilty aftermath.

Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt
Each bite into these reminds me of fall. I think they taste just like a pecan pie! My dad is a huge pecan pie fan (like a "can I have a pecan pie instead of birthday cake" type of fan), so I am definitely sending some of these his way.

I've seen KIND at most of the major chains, but you can also get them online. Just check them out at kindsnacks.com!

Product Review: Barney Butter

Barney Butter recently sent me some samples of their almond butter to try. I absolutely love almond butter and I haven't seen Barney Butter here locally, so I was quite excited! It also helped that in my correspondence with them, they always sounded off with, "Buttery Best." Off topic, but if you are familiar with brand identity, etc., then this was quite catching! It was adorable... I loved it.

OK, now on to the product. They sent me several of their 90 Calorie Snack Packs to try - hello, portion control, which is always a good thing for me and almond butter! I received their regular Smooth Almond Butter, Cocoa + Coconut, Vanilla Bean + Espresso, and Bare Almond Butter which has no added salt or sugar. I have to admit, I am not typically a fan of flavor variety nut butters. They tend to be too sweet for me, but this was NOT the case with Barney Butter! I will just have to tell you about each one...

Smooth Almond Butter:

I usually rock the plain Jane almond butter, and this one will now be on my list of favorites. It was exactly what it says, so smooth. I spread it over a banana and it was sheer perfection!

Cocoa+Coconut:This was my first flavored one, and I was skeptical. The verdict... it rocked my socks off! It was not too sweet; neither the almond butter, cocoa, or coconut overpowered each other. This is where portion control went out the window. After this, I immediately had to try to Vanilla Bean + Espresso.

Vanilla Bean + Espresso:

This one ended up being my top favorite. I'm a huge vanilla fan, and I love that it wasn't too sweet. It was just sweet enough and had enough coffee flavor to give it a kick. I've been craving it ever since.

Bare Almond Butter:

I love that this company has regular, unadulterated almond butter. The Bare Almond Butter was amazing with the pure taste of almonds. No salt, no sugar, all almonds. It was lovely.

If you haven't checked out the buttery best from Barney Butter, then it is absolutely a must! 

Udi's Gluten Free and Chocolate Mounds Recipe

If you are familiar with the gluten free lifestyle, then you are sure to recognize the name "Udi's." Udi's products are natural, without artificial flavors, colorings, preservatives, or other synthetic additives. They also have a wide assortment of gluten free goodies that are sure to fill your belly and soul.

Udi's graciously sent me a ton (seriously, see for yourself) of products to review. It was like Christmas morning when I saw the package on my doorstep. My son was even jumping around the house, because he saw some of his favorites in the box! Of course we had to sample a few things right out of the box! YUM!

I've long been a long-time fan of their products, but they sent me new items that I had never tried before. Goodness - I can't even pick a favorite! I still love the snickerdoodles, but their granola bars are simply amazing and my son finished off the cinnamon rolls. As a parent, my favorite part of it all was that they weren't laden with sugar. It can be difficult to find granola, muffins, cinnamon rolls, etc without all of the excess sugar. Udi's succeeded in making tasty goodies, without sending us in to a sugar coma. I had no qualms about letting my child enjoy the cinnamon rolls at breakfast. We have also found a new lunchtime option. The Ancient Grain Chips will be a staple in our house. These little things come in a few flavors (we got cheese), and are made with quinoa, flax, and other nutrient-dense ingredients.

I talked to one of the teachers I work with, whom is gluten free, about Udi's. She noted how much she loves their products and the fact she has a healthy option with Udi's, as she is dairy and gluten free! Then she steered me towards their Lemon Streussel Muffins, one of her top picks!

After receiving all of this gluten free goodness, I decided to tackle some family recipes using Udi's products. One of my favorite family recipes is called Chocolate Mounds. My grandmother made it for my dad and his family growing up, and I remember my dad making it for us when I was young. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... peanut butter + chocolate = a gift from God. My dad gave me the Chocolate Mounds recipe a while back. I looked over it recently and saw some quick changes I could make to the recipe to make it gluten free and a cleaner treat for the holidays. My changes included using Udi's Coconut Peanut Butter cookies - hello!

 I hope you enjoy this special treat! It is sure to be a holiday hit!

Chocolate Mounds

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 1 cup dates, chopped
• 1 tsp xylitol (only add if you prefer this to be sweeter)
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1/2 cup Udi's Peanut Butter Coconut Cookies, crumbled
• 2 tb orange juice (or more as needed)
• 1 6-oz package chocolate chips (60% cacao chocolate is the best option)
• 1 tb coconut oil

Directions

1. Combine peanut butter, dates, xylitol, walnuts, Udi's Peanut Butter Coconut Cookies, and orange juice. 
2. Shape into walnut-size pieces. Tip: Roll between hands to shape.
3. Refrigerate for several hours, or overnight.
4. In a double-boiler, melt 1 6-oz package of chocolate chips. Add coconut oil and melt.
5. Use a spoon and roll each cookie mixture in melted chocolate.
6. Place on wax paper to harden.
7. Enjoy!

Visit Udi's Gluten Free, find them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter!

Udi's Product Review

As this is my first Thanksgiving sans gluten, I had been pretty nervous about how to approach the meal planning. Then, a couple weeks ago I got the best little package from Udi's. The company graciously sent a huge pack of full value coupons for me to review their products. Udi's opted to send the coupons in lieu of packing the foods (which need to be frozen) in dry ice, which is not so environmentally friendly. (Good call, Udi's!) I was then prepared to attack my holiday menu, and what is prepping without a little taste-testing?

There are several stores around my area that carry the brand, so the kiddo and I set out. All in all, we came back with pizza, cookies, bread, rolls, buns, and muffins. My freezer is packed - enough said. :)

We are a roll-loving kind of family, so when I saw that Udi's had some, I quickly snatched up the Whole Grain Seeded Dinner Rolls. These are loaded with chia, sunflower, and flax seeds. I added a shmear of butter, and the pure goodness just melted in my mouth. I knew these would be perfect for our holiday dinner!

My resident picky-eater is the Kid. He was quite skeptical when I made him a PBJ on Udi's Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread. We've tried a few gluten-free breads in the past that were very hard/brittle, and Udi's was soft, just like its gluten-full counterpart. I think I actually got an "oh my gosh!" after the his first bite. Out of the mouths of babes, right? That's when I decided the Whole Grain Bread needed to be used for our Thanksgiving dressing and stuffing. In our family, we are pretty serious about stuffing/dressing. (Dressing is cooked outside the turkey, stuffing is cooked inside the turkey.) We make both, because there's never enough! As long as I can remember, my mom always had a traditional recipe for her stuffing. Our family enjoyed this recipe year after year. I'm beyond happy that I can carry on this tradition, and I can actually eat the dressing! Thanks, Udi's!

Snickerdoodles are by far my favorite cookie. Admittedly, I was unsure about a frozen, gluten-free cookie; I've only had a gluten-free snickerdoodle from a local bakery. I was beyond pleased with Udi's cookie. Honestly, the package was opened with a few cookies missing before we even made it home. I cannot say whether I devoured cookies in the car, or not. I will say, I had to tell the kiddo to quit eating all my cookies. Yes, my cookies. :) Udi's Snickerdoodle Cookies are now a staple in the Piece, Love, and Peanut Butter household. Now, my plan is to use these cookies to make a crust for my cheesecake. Perfect!

We picked up a few other Udi's products, that clearly were not for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and would not even have made it that long in my house. :) The Three Cheese Pizza was crispy, with melty-cheesy-goodness! I love a crispy crust and the box had topping suggestions to help personalize your pizza. Am I the only one who is enamored by companies that put little messages and suggestions on their packaging? Anyhow, through this I realized I had chicken breast strips in my freezer. Those immediately went on my half of the pizza (the Kid usually eats his plain). It was great and perfect for a lazy night.

I'm not usually a HUGE granola fan - I'll add it to yogurt, etc. A package usually lasts me quite a while. At Whole Foods, I picked up a bag of the Gluten Free Vanilla Granola. Holy moly! To be honest, I have been munching by the handfuls on this stuff. It doesn't even quite make it to a bowl of almond milk or yogurt. I've added it to my oats a few times, to give my breakfast a little crunch and kick. It was a perfect bowl of hot vanilla-y crunchy oats. :)

Udi's has a ton of products that would be perfect for holiday festivities or lazy days (perhaps to recover from holiday cooking?). Between the French Baguettes,  Cinnamon Rolls, and Classic French Dinner Rolls, there's plenty of choices for you and your guests for a gluten-free holiday season.

I bet your hungry reading this, because I am from just writing it! :)

Zevia Product Review

In my quest for a healthy lifestyle, I often hear and read scathing remarks about sodas. To be honest, I love my sodas. Of all of my vices, I'm not sure if that is one I can ever cut-out completely. It's always been such a guilty pleasure for me. Years ago I switched to the diet version, which helped me drop some poundage. Knowing the health ramifications from these sodas, I started to really watch my consumption.

A few months ago a co-worker introduced me to Zevia. My store only carries a few flavors, but I loved the ones that were available. It was such a healthy alternative to traditional diet sodas, which are laden with artificial sweeteners. Zevia is sweetened with stevia. I love stevia because it is lower on the glycemic index, which means you don't have those crazy blood sugar spikes and ultimate lows. Oh, and it's calorie free. It's like my own personal ambrosia of sodas.

Zevia was so kind to send me a variety of their sodas to try. My kiddo loves sodas, and I had no guilty feeling from letting him delve in to picking out his favorites. He tends to stick to the fruit-flavored sodas, so the Orange and Grapefruit Citrus were his favorites.

 I loved the Dr. Zevia and Black Cherry. As a soda connoisseur, I was skeptical before my first taste. I was worried about how the flavors would measure up, if it would be too sweet, and what a "healthy" soda was like. I LOVED all of the sodas. I even tried the kiddo's drinks, which aren't usually my bag. I don't usually like fruity drinks. The notion of a fruit drink, that ends up being laden with sugar really grosses me out. I might as well drinks snow cone syrup. Zevia's drinks weren't anything like that! The sweetness level was perfect! The same held true for my sodas. There was no funky sweet flavor, I loved it. The flavors were pretty in-sync with "traditional" soda flavors. It was really nice to enjoy my drink, guilt-free. I think its so awesome that Zevia has developed a variety of healthy alternatives for all of my fellow soda lovers.