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Gluten Free Taco Seasoning

Don't be a sucker. Next time Taco Tuesday rolls around skip the pre-made seasoning packs and fork over a couple bucks extra to make your own! You'll save money in the long run and get a healthier version in return. Ex. less sodium, no gluten, you see what I mean!

The Fixin's:

1/4 cup chili powder
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
2 t crushed red pepper flakes
2 t dried oregano
2 t paprika
2 T ground cumin
3 t salt (or less)
1 t black pepper

What To Do:

Step 1: Combine all the ingredients together and store in a sealed container.

Step 2: To use, add 3 T to a cup of water for every pound of cooked taco meat. Simmer on low for 20 minutes. Drain the meat then serve.

Ain't no sucker here!

Coffee Sugar Body Scrub

 "Coffee coffee coffee, bringing people together" is what my now, father-in-law sang in attempt to tell our wedding guests the story of how my husband and I met. Well, tonight, I'm singing, "coffee coffee coffee helping people get smooth skin."

The other benefits of the coffee sugar body scrub? Legend has it that Sirens used ground coffee as an exfoliate for it's natural antioxidant properties, to increase blood flow and improve their fins skins texture.

The Fixin's:

• 2 C coffee (Any coffee is fine but I'm a Seattle gal so Starbucks it is - just make sure it's ground for a paper cone filter or slightly finer)

• 1/2 C Raw Sugar or Sea Salt

• 1/4 C oil (actual massage oil is ideal but I used good ol' olive oil)

• 1 t Vanilla

• a few drops of Vitamin E Oil (Optional)

What To Do:
Prep: A couple days before hand begin collecting your used coffee grounds after your morning brew.

Step 1: Mix all your ingredients together either by hand or with a mixer. Store in a plastic*, seal-able container.

Step 2: Go use it! While showering, apply in circular motions to wet skin then rinse!

*I say plastic, because if you're like me, you will drop it, more then once, while standing wet and naked in the shower...(awkward)!

Coffee Cocoa Butter Body Lotion

Oh. My. Goodness. That is all I can say about this lotion. It's awesome. If you try one thing from this whole blog - TRY THIS!!!

What's So Great About It:

• It's beyond easy and fast to make

• Pure cocoa butter contains Vitamins A, C and E

• Cocoa butter is also used to fade the appearance of scars and stretch marks

• Now, I smell like coffee and chocolate, without having to sling coffee all day!

What's Not So Great About It:

• My baby kitty will not stop licking my legs.

The Fixin's:
1/2 cup emulsifying wax*
1/2 cup pure cocoa butter*
1/2 cup oil (any will work, I used Olive)
1 1/2 C Coffee
a few drops of Vitamin E oil (optional)

What To Do:
Step 1: Brew a fresh pot of coffee!

Step 2: Using a double boiler, MELT (make sure it doesn't boil) the emulsifying wax, cocoa butter and oil together.


Step 3: Once your coffee is brewed and your wax, butter and oil are melted down, mix them all together in a glass jar or bowl.

Step 4: Either by hand or with an electric mixer, whip it until it cools and becomes thick. You know what, scratch that, us an electric mixer. It's way faster. :)

Step 5: Store in a glass jar. And - in the words of Salt N' Pepa, "Baby, rub it down and make it smooth like lotion."



*I looked high and low for the best place to get emulsifying wax and pure cocoa butter. Hands down, it's from www.mountainroseherbs.com out of Oregon.

(Easter) Spring Time Treats

Easter! It came and went - and I am kicking myself for not posting these weeks ago! Meeeeh!

Hopefully you can still find an occasion to enjoy these tasty spring time treats.

Birds Nests

The Fixin's:
2 C mini marshmallows
1/4 C butter
4 C chow mien noodles
1 bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs


What To Do:

Step 1: Grease a muffin pan and set aside.

Step 2: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the marshmallows and butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Then add and mix the chow mien noodles.







Step 3: With wet fingers press the noodles into the bottoms and around the sides of the muffin pan. Add the eggs to the center and refrigerate until firm.




Crunchy Chocolate Eggs

The Fixin's:
1 C packed brown sugar
1 C light corn syrup
1 C peanut butter
2 C cornflakes
2 C rice krispie cereal
1/2 C finely chopped peanuts
3 3/4 C semi sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 t butter
candy sprinkles

What To Do:
Step 1: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the brown sugar, corn syrup and peanut butter. Stirring occasionally until smooth. Reduce to low heat and add the cereals and nuts.




Step 2: Let cool then by the spoonfuls, drop onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Wet your fingers to mold into egg shapes and refrigerate until firm.


Step 3: Using a double boiler or 30 second intervals in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips and butter until smooth. Dip your eggs and allow the excess to drip off before placing bake onto the baking sheet. Decorate with sprinkles and stand until firm again.

Gluten Free Granola

In less then 30 minutes you can have a bowl of this delicious homemade granola sitting right in front of you!

The Fixin's:
4 T canola oil
8 T honey
3 C Gluten Free Oats
1 C dried cranberries
1/2 C flax seed
1/2 C unsalted, sunflower seeds
1/2 C sliced almonds

What To Do:
Step 1: Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees and prep a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large saucepan on low heat, stir the honey and oil together until melted.


Step 3: Combine the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and mix into the sauce pan.


Step 4: Stir together the oats and nuts until they are completely saturated with the melted honey and oil.


Step 5: Spread the mixture evenly over the parchment paper and place in your pre-heated oven for 15 minutes.


Step 6: After 15 minutes stir up the baked mix and give it another 5 minutes.


Step 7: Repeat step 6 until your granola is a golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool, then keep in an air tight container.

Cleanse Your Face With Oil? - REVISED

Being someone who has suffered from acne since the good 'ol middle school days, there's almost nothing I wouldn't try, in effort to overcome it. So, when I discovered the 'Oil Cleansing Method,' I was intrigued.

I gave it a shot last January and let me tell you, my face has never been so soft and so hydrated through the winter months. However, it is now mid-April and I have the worst case of acne that I have ever had!!! The culprit? The Oil Cleansing Method. A much anticipated trip to my dermatologist confirmed that. According to her, while this method can fair nicely for some individuals (most likely those who don't suffer from acne and typically have dry skin) this is not an appropriate alternative for anyone with combination, oily or acne prone skin.
That being said, I apologize to anyone who also converted to this method only to discover it did more harm than good. And to anyone considering it, my advice is - DON'T DO IT!!!!

If you still feel the urge to give this method a shot...read on. More information can also be found here.



The Oil Cleansing Method works like this:

Step 1: Pour a quarter sized amount of oil into your palm and rub your palms together to heat the oil.

Step 2: Begin massaging your dirty, make-upped face with your fingers in slow firm motions. Spend extra time around your problem areas. This is the oils chance to work into your pores and dissolve impurities.

Step 3: Soak a clean washcloth under hot water, wring and place on your face until it cools. The steam from the hot washcloth will assist in lifting the dirt and crud out of your pores. Once the washcloth has cooled, gently wipe your face. NEVER scrub. Scrubbing is bad news bears!

Step 4: Repeat step 3, twice more.

Still interested? Here's how to make your very own oil cleanser:

The Fixins':
Castor Oil* - does the cleaning
Almond, Grape seed, Jojoba, Olive or Sunflower Seed Oil - does the moisturizing and nourishing
Travel Size, snap top container

What To Do:
Step 1: Carefully fill your clean travel size container about 20% full with the Castor Oil.
Step 2: Fill the remaining 80% with your desired second oil of choice.

For acne prone skin, add a couple drops of tea tree oil to your bottle.
Give your skin a week or so to adjust to this routine.

*Yes, castor oil is also used as a laxative. Don't be alarmed, that's simply another qualification on it's resume.