Four 0 Seven Revisited: Gluten Free Bakery Orlando (Fall and Christmas Flavors)

Okay, it's not a secret that I'm obsessed with Four 0 Seven Bakery in Orlando. Since my guilty secret is out in the open I wanted to show you some new gluten free fall flavors! Yummy!!

Pancake Breakfast with Candied Bacon: Um, yum! It actually tasted like breakfast and the candied bacon add a nice savory twist. Delicious!

This is my crazy cupcake lady look.
Do you like it?

S'mores: The best part was definitely the toasted marshmallow frosting and the spot on flavor profile. The Man ate one and just said, "Wow" and then promptly ate another one. He said it's amazing because it tastes exactly like eating a s'more.

Irish Cup of Joe: My favorite of the bunch! Your mouth will thank you for the perfect combo of delicious rum and glorious chocolate and rich coffee. A beautiful pairing done marvelously well that just explodes in such a tiny little cupcake.

I could eat this All. Day. Long.

Banana Fosters: This one definitely has a complex flavor profile. At first the frosting laced with caramel hits you and then your tastes buds switch over to appreciate the mild banana flavoring of the cupcake itself. Definitely a win and definitely got 2nd place for my favorite cupcake of the bunch!

I still love my old staple: pumpkin with maple frosting, but these are definitely changing the game for me a little bit.

And then this happened…

Christmas Flavors!!!

Chocolate Orange: Delicious! It's a little fruity and a little chocolaty, but the candied orange peel steals the show. Seriously, I giggled when I ate it because it was so good.

White Chocolate Cranberry: Mmmm… a sweet cranberry filling laced with delicious white chocolate. I thought for sure this was going to be super sweet, but it was a really nice balance. So good!

Peppermint Bark: Seriously, this is like Christmas exploded in your mouth. It's so good and the little bit of park on top of the cake really added something to the texture.

Egg nog: This has the most subtle flavoring of the three, but the egg nog is flavoring is perfect and the rum buttercream adds a deep richness to the experience.

I think I'm doomed to be fat.

Come check out Four 0 Seven at the Lake Nona Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings from 8am - 1pm for a taste of heavenly cupcake goodness. She makes both regular and gluten free cupcakes and cakes! You can check out my first review to see how the gluten free version stacks up to regular cupcakes!

Or you can call and place an order. She will also be making deliveries for Christmas! Yay!

You can check out her website here or her facebook site here for more information.

Natural Moisturizers: DIY or Buy

By far the most popular questions that I am asked by readers are about moisturizers. Let's face it-- it's really, really hard to find a product that works and doesn't contain a bunch of crap-tastic chemical ingredients.

I'm really excited to talk to you about some of the products that I use, but first.. some housekeeping:

I'm sad to announce that I got yelled at by a reader recently about my qualifications about writing a blog ::insert sad face::

So, please, let me clarify-- I am NOT a dermatologist. I am a nurse. However, as a nurse, I cannot diagnose or give prescription treatments for skin conditions. So, I am giving you recommendations as a human being who happens to have some scientific knowledge and who has also been there and done that once or twice due to bad skin.

Whew! I'm so glad we got that out of the way. 

If you have any questions please comment or email me. I love hearing from you guys (just please don't yell at me)!

Savory Loaded Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

There is nothing more delicious than a loaded twice baked potato. Well, except chocolate, but that's different post. ;)

Most recipes for a baked sweet potato seem to be sweet with cinnamon or spicy with chipotle pepper, but I wanted something more like a traditional baked potato. You know-- something covered in bacon, oozing with creaminess and just the right amount of veggies to make me feel like it's might actually be healthy.

I'm going to tell you how easy it is to make a delicious savory baked sweet potato. I'm really excited to share this with you guys today!

DIY Natural Toilet BOMBS!!

So I was browsing around Pinterest and found a website that talked about Toilet Bombs. Yes, bombs that go in the toilet. Whaaatttt?? That definitely got my attention.

The basic idea is that you combine a couple ingredients together and then drop it into the toilet where it cleans the toilet and the essential oils make your bathroom smell lovely.

I used the instructs from Healthy Holistic Living to make my toilet bombs! Check out their website because they made the toilet bombs look super cute with a little flower pattern! Love it!

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 c Baking Soda
• 1/2 c Citric acid
• Essential oils (total of 90 drops) I recommend this brand

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Whisk
• Spray bottle or misting bottle
• A flexible or shallow mold (ice cube trays, small silicone molds, madeleine cookie tray)
• Mask for mixing (recommended)
• Glove to prevent an irritation to your hands (optional, but recommended)

Budget Gifts for the Manly Outdoorsman In Your Life

I'm awesome at giving gifts if you like anything glittery, but tools? I just recently learned what a socket wrench was. Sort of. In theory.

Anyways, I told The Man I was going to write a blog about what to get a manly man and I needed advice! He said that every manly man wants the following:

• Tools
• Car Stuff
• Awesome Stuff
• Weapons/Survival/Camping/Hunting/Zombie Apocalypse supplies
• A Little Something-Something ::wink wink:: ::nudge nudge:: 

Hey! And one of those options is completely free. ;)

The rest... well, not so much.

I'm going to focus on budget friendly options that are geared towards the outdoorsman/survivalist/military enthusiast. Why? Because cars and tools are boring.

And this is a PG blog so I'll let you figure out the ::wink wink:: ::nudge nudge:: on your own, but I thought we could take a look at some....

"Awesome Stuff"

• Magnetic Wristband This is awesome and it kind of goes with cars and tools. It's a magnetic strap that he wears on his wrist and it will hold onto anything metal (nails, screws, nuts, bolts...)



Mind games baby! This one is HARD! 

• I know that The Man has lost a bolts down the hood of the car and has had to fish them out-- this will prevent it! 
• Hanayama Brainteaser Puzzles Mind games are always so cool! Guys love figuring stuff out! 
• THE WALKING DEAD Seasons 1-3 DVD Sets -- I think this is awesome and it teaches your man survival skills in case of a zombie apocalypse which is very important. I mean, he is going to be the one protecting you and your family. It's best to teach him. 
• Seriously, it's one of the best TV series on right now. We love it and I even HATE horror movies.

Survival Knives
Okay, I know I'm pretty much a hippie, but today I'm going to write you about weapons. I know. It's crazy.

Mind blown. Poof!

But, really, it's all love's fault. You do crazy things for love.

So I know you're thinking, "What gives this almost hippie the right to tell me what weapons to buy my super awesome manly man?"

I'm so glad you asked!! :)

1. Well, I was in this little thing called the United States Military. Maybe you heard of it? ;)
2. I grew up with a Marine for a Father. Enough said.
3. The Man (who was specially trained in knives while he was is the Army Special Forces) has educated me on the fine art of knife selection.

So, that's my credentials. Hopefully, you approve. If not, then let me convince you...

Or just look at the pictures.

Whatever. ;)

Happy Veterans Day and Military Girl Power!

Yours Truly in 2005, Camp Pendleton, CA.

I just wanted to say THANK YOU to the many, many men and women who have served, are serving or will serve in the United States Military. You Rock!

And since I write this blog I get to babble about whatever I want which is pretty awesome.

Respect my auth-ori-tah!!

Words cannot even express how incredibly proud/happy/thrilled I am that my niece joined the military! I am so blessed that I get to watch her push herself, learn and grow as a member of the US armed forces.

She and I are the first women in our family to serve and it is an honor to be sharing that experience with her now. I'm not joking when I say almost every man in our family has joined one branch or the other and it's kind of fun to be the first women to say, "Hey! Look we can do it, too, and we can do it better!"

Natural, Safe Tile Floor Cleaner- Only 3 Ingredients!

Just keep cleaning

Just keep cleaning

Just keep cleaning cleaning cleaning

What do we do we clean, clean, clean….

Sometimes, I feel like cleaning is my life. It's never done!! And with all the harsh chemicals it's so important to find something safe for my family. I mean, seriously, who want any nonylphenol ethoxylate on their toesies!

Psh! Chemicals. Ruin everything.

Anyways, months ago I went on a mission to find a GREAT natural tile floor cleaner. I honestly didn't think it would be that hard, but I should have known better! Whenever I think something will be easy-- it's not. Oh, life! You're so funny!! she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes (Yes, I am perfectly aware that I wrote in 3rd person)

I don't know how many different recipes I used but they all kept leaving a film on my tiles! It was driving me nuts. I knew that there had to be something better... and then I found it! Yay!

What You Need

• 1.5 gallons hot/warm water
• 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
• 1/2 cup white vinegar (but you can add 1/4 c more for dirtier jobs)
• 5-10 drops Essential Oil(s) 
• Like Purification, Lemon, Lavender, Peppermint, Thieves 
• Optional for tough jobs: Add a splash of a green cleaner.

I've been eyeballing the measurements for a bit and it works just fine, so don't get too wrapped up on the exacts here!

Mix the ingredients into the hot to warm water. Stir to combine. 

Ready. Set. Mop!

Commit an Act of Kindness: Homeless Care Kits

I challenge you to commit an act of kindness!!

Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. 

Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.

~Scott Adams (1957)

The idea started when I was thinking about what a rough year I've had and I started to feel badly for myself. It became very apparent (after I demolished a box of tissues) that I needed to stop having a pity party for myself. There are so many blessings in my life that other people do not have. I should be grateful, not sad.

After I got my head out of my butt, I knew that I needed to do something to give back.

That's why when I saw a "Homeless Kit" on Pinterest and I knew instantly this was what I would do! I hope you will do it with me! 

You can really put anything in the kit that you think would impact someone's life in a positive way. I decided to use the following items, but feel free to make it your own!