Substance of Living

There are times that we just don't feel like messing with the stove to make homemade hot cocoa but still want something hot and tasty.  Today's hot chocolate solves that problem and more. Pour milk (dairy or any non-dairy) into a microwavable cup, heat for about 1 1/2 minutes on high, open your favorite hot chocolate package, pour in cup, stir, and now add a 1/2 to 1 full shot of your favorite peppermint liqueur. You're done and the sensational sipping begins within two minutes! When you're hosting a gathering on a cold evening, try setting up a hot chocolate bar with instant as well as homemade.  Have hot milk, hot water, sprinkles, marshmallows, whipped cream, and of course alcoholic and non-alcoholic flavorings to add. Notes: We used non-dairy milk and of our favorites are almond milk or coconut milk.  Soy and rice would also be nice. We like dark chocolate and have found Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate to have a rich flavor. There are other varieti

Take a look and drool over everything that came in the September Send Me Gluten-Free box!  I'm telling you, these boxes of goodies each month are AWESOME!!! Thanks to Pamela's , we enjoyed a pancake breakfast one morning. Had a romantic picnic, provided by gopicnic , Beanfield's , and Lovely , inside by the fire one evening. Breakfast and a snack on the go by Giddy Up & Go and SoyJoy . I'm telling you, these boxes are like a little surprise gift each month and the best way to sample all sorts of gluten-free items.  It's so much better and cheaper to enjoy new goodies each month than to go out and purchase items that you've never tried.  You and I both know how expensive a lot of gluten-free or specialty food items are to just to fill your grocery cart full of new items. Take a look at last month's box of SendMeGlutenFree and you'll know what I've been going on about.  There are some products I've tried before, which are

Apothecary Extracts Tea Tree Oil I remember years ago, and I'm talking almost 20 years now, a co-worker friend of mine introduced me to Tea Tree Oil.  It's been so long that I don't remember which brand she used, and suppose that doesn't really matter.  What does matter is that she had been using it for a long time.  She used it to treat all kinds of skin problems including acne.  She also used it as a cleanser around her house. To my uneducated thought process, I couldn't fathom using an oil to clean anything in my house except maybe to condition my wood. Fast forward to 2014 and here I am ordering Tea Tree Oil from Amazon and loving it.  Besides the pureness of this product, it was really quite gentle on my skin.  It is recommended that another oil, such as coconut oil, be used if trying on your skin for the first time. Upon ordering my Apothecary Tea Tree Oil , they also sent me a recipe / use type booklet via email in PDF format. Besides figh

I'm beyond excited to introduce you to what I'm calling "The newest sensation in eating gluten free" !  You can now sign up to receive a box in the mail each month packed full of gluten-free items from Send Me Gluten Free .    This is what my box looked like this much.  In addition to some full-size items, there were samples of tea, sweets, energy bars, lip balm, and coupons galore.  After your box arrives, you'll also receive an email with links to each of the products and if you complete a quick survey they'll send you additional discounts or coupons. Another email will come giving you recipes and ideas of how to use the items in the box.  For example, this month there was Sevierly Good: Garlic Bread , TeeChia: Blueberry Date Quickbread , and other recipes . Close up of Items in the August 2014 box. Close up of Items in the August 2014 box. Close up of Items in the August 2014 box. I don't know if I'm actually supposed to co

This is a super exciting day for me.  Not only do I get to share with you the newest addition to Castello family - Burger Blue Cheese, but we are celebrating my fabulous husband's birthday and 4th of July!  (Although you've seen bits and pieces of him from time to time, he really does not like being in the limelight and yet he did an amazing job as Nathan Detroit in "Guys and Dolls" musical. I can go on and on and on about how adorable and wonderful my husband is, but you really want to know about this new cheese that people are talking about. "Transform your burger into an epicurean delight" "Top burgers with a perfectly-sized slice of NEW Castello ® Burger Blue cheese to give them a bold and sophisticated taste found in the kitchens of gourmet chefs across the country. With perfectly sized and supremely meltable Castello ® Burger Blue cheese, the messy, inconsistent coverage of blue cheese crumbles is a thing of the past. T

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. You might remember the name Rachelle Ayala from a previous book review Taming Romeo where we met the Sanchez family and heart throb Romeo Garcia.  This time we meet Carina Chen, fresh out of an ivy league school and interning through the summer for an investment bank in Berkley, California.  At the same time we are introduced to Carina, we have the pleasure of meeting the free-spirit Dylan Jewell who is the oh-so-yummy barista.  Did I mention that Dylan is also the lead singer and guitar player in a band? Don't worry, I won't spoil the story for you, but want to tease you a little so you rush over to Amazon and purchase yourself a copy of Whole Latte Love (New Adult Romance) . Ms. Ayala has a way with words that truly pulls the reader into the story.  At first, I liked Carina Chen but as the story progressed, I found myself wishing she would grow up.  Guess I was frustrated with Carina because I didn't wan

Welcome to summer or in some areas of the world, winter!  A lot happens this month; Father's Day , school's out (in most places for the summer), vacations, backyard parties, family reunions , and so much more. Lavinia Esposito, a.k.a. Vinnie, wants answers when a box is mysteriously left on the front porch for her recently deceased aunt.  Vinnie can't let this mystery drop even after the cops find nothing amiss with the "gift".  Vinnie is a criminal justice instructor. For Love of Livvy - J.M. Griffin Jazmine Crawford wants only one thing from life; that is to be invisible.  Events unfold that disturbs Jazmine's world and she is forced to be in a school play, make friends, and learn the truth about her dad. Invisible - Cecily Anne Patterson What would you do if you had a dilemma, dialed the wrong number and the man on the other end of the phone gave you sage advice in a sexy voice - only to be disconnected? A lot is packed into this 30-pag