Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Thayers Cucumber Witch Hazel & Face Chatter


I would like to take this opportunity to blab a bit on Thayer's.  More specifically their Cucumber Witch Hazel Facial Mist.

I need to preface this by saying that my own personal skin care regimen is next to nil.  That's right...I really don't do anything to my face.  I don't even really 'wash' it.  I know you are probably thinking...EWE GROSS...so let me explain...

I don't wash my face with soap or other chemicals.  When I was a pre-teen and teen I battled with acne like most of us did.  I had oily skin.  Once I turned vegetarian that seemed to improve - as did the acne.  I didn't really add it all up until later in life, to be honest.  From that point on I had more of what they call 'combination skin'.  And NOW that I'm getting older - and AGAIN - I'm being completely honest here - my combination skin only seems to be a problem this time of year...when it's bitterly cold and windy and dry both inside and out.  For those of you who don't know I live in the Tri-State area of New York/Pennsylvania/Ohio and am placed right around that snow belt area.

Anyhow...back to...I don't wash my face...

Yeah...I know...I went off on a tangent but it was going somewhere I PROMISE!  

For the past 20 years or so I really haven't used much on my face!  I don't wear make-up often (if at all) and the few times a year I do it might only be a little bit of cover-up.  And I'm talking like 2 or 3 times a year.  When it comes to 'washing' I usually only use water and for the more oily times, I would use a natural toner such as Witch Hazel.  I have used other brand of Witch Hazel in the past but Thayer's not only stepped up their game to the next level - they have been around since 1847!

Ever since I got my goodie box in the mail a while back from Thayers I have been LOVING each of the 4 items I received!  This Cucumber Witch Hazel Mist is AMAZING!  What I have been doing is spraying some on my Norwex Facial Cloth at night and wiping my face once with it.  In the morning, after my hot shower, I spray it directly on my face.  That's it!  That's all I do for my face/skincare and it's been great!

I'm such a low maintenance person it's scary!  I also LOVE that the mist is so refreshing that after I get out of the hot shower and spray it directly on my face it's a nice little WAKE-UP.  A great way to start the day!  The aroma of the cucumber is delightful, too!

And...I have to tell you...it put a smile on my face to know that the items they sent me were natural, cruelty-free, and vegan!

I can't wait to tell you more about Thayer's so stay tuned!


Wednesday, January 16, 2019

The Lunch Room - Ann Arbor, MI


I know I briefly mentioned our trip to Fort Wayne, IN (which ended up being our 'home base' and we hopped around to several other cities in the process) a few posts ago when I was doing my 6-packs of photo posts and recaps since I was so behind on blogging but I really wanted to dedicate a blog post to my experience at a few of those places because of their vegan friendliness!


First up is The Lunch Room - Ann Arbor - Michigan.  It was nestled in the Kerrytown District of Ann Arbor and I TOTALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE!  It was original hippie meets new/millennial-hippie and I seemed to fall smack dab in the middle age-wise.  There were brand-new college kids straight up to the higher ages of the Baby Boomers and I couldn't have been more 'at home'.  Their menu was completely vegan.  Because was 'new to the place' I asked the guy at the counter if everything on the menu was vegetarian or vegan and he said with a big smile 'always been vegan - always will be vegan' to which I said AWESOME and THANK YOU!


In these first three photos you can see the outside of the building.  The first one was taken from the back of the parking lot and the other two are looking in on the middle section of the building...their courtyard, if you will.  I took one from inside the red tunnel and the other one outside from across the way.  They were all decorated for fall and it was lovely!


This was a pic of their counter area.  They showcased a slew of vegan desserts and goodies but by the time we were done with our meals I couldn't eat another bite AND the place was totally packed and wanted to make sure we weren't hogging a table.


We decided to get nachos to split.  They were HUGE!  The Loaded Nachos were about $10, I believe.  It was a meal for one (or two) by itself that is for sure! Tortilla chips, Cuban black beans & corn, avocado, their house vegan nacho cheese & pico de gallo. Gluten-free, too!


Next up...this GINORMOUS bowl of Vegan Mac & Cheese!  Spoiler Alert...I took most of this back to the hotel with me and ate it for another 2 meals!  So yeah...$8 for Gourmet Vegan Mac that lasts you 3 meals was TOTALLY WORTH IT!  The official description of this dish?  "The ultimate comfort food. The “cheese” is rich with butternut squash & red bell peppers. With a crunchy almasen (almonds, lemon zest & sesame seeds) & parsley topping."


And then there was hubby's meal...Queso Burrito Bowl.  It was a Gluten-free bowl with Black Pepper Tofu, Cuban black beans & corn, rice, pico de gallo, nacho cheese, chipotle ranch, avocado, baby greens, red bell pepper & tortilla chips.  I believe this was about $10 as well but DH the omni said he liked it.  However, and it was to no fault of The Lunch Room, between the vegan cheese on the nachos and the vegan cheese on his GIANT Salad/Bowl, we learned a lesson that day...Nutritional Yeast isn't a friend to those with Crohn's Disease.  I have been reading about it ever since and apparently SOME Crohn's people can't handle Nutritional Yeast.  DH hardly ever eats my food at home so he hasn't had much if at all any Nutritional Yeast in the past and even if he did it was in very small quantities.  He had a LOT that day and now we know he can't handle it.  YIKES!  But....everything was WONDERFUL tasting and SO FILLING!  I highly recommend The Lunch Room to anyone!




Monday, January 6, 2014

I WON A Vitamix! Woot!

I've been chompin' at the bit to post this on my blog...but...today I got an email that it's been officially posted so here it is...

I WON A VITAMIX!

I'm so excited!  I have wanted one for over 6 years but they are pricey!  I usually see them online for about $429 to $449.  I participated in Garden of Life's Bloggers Contest and I actually WON!  This has totally made my YEAR!  In addition to winning - they announced it on their blog!

They also featured THREE of my posts!  The Sweet Protein Balls/Bars, The Pomegranate Strawberry Smoothie, and Citrus Dijon Dressing!  But I have TONS more on here - so - if you are NEW to by blog - feel free to use the SEARCH BAR and type in "Garden of Life" or "GoL".

You KNOW I will let you know when the Vitamix arrives as well post new recipes and ideas when I start using it!  This is a DREAM COME TRUE!  I'm so excited!