27 Jun 2015
by linettefm
in All Natural, Baking, Cooking, Food, Natural, Non-GMO, Nutrition, Organic, Product testing, Review, Uncategorized
Tags: #MomsMeet, #SilverHillsBakery, Ancient Grains, bacterial culture), Baked Breads, Big Red's Bread™, Breads, cultured wheat flour (wheat flour, Dairy free, Gluten Free Breads, Gluten Free Chia Chia Bread™, GreenMomsMeet, Hamburger Buns, healthy eating, Healthy living never tasted so good™, Hemptation Hemp Bread™, High in Fiber, High in Fibre, Hot Dog Buns, Mack's Flax Bread™, Marvelous Multi™, Moms Meet, Non GMO, Non-Dairy Breads, Non-GMO Breads, Organic 20 Grain Train™, organic amaranth, Organic Breads, organic cane sugar, organic grain & seed mix (organic brown flax seeeds, organic millet, organic oat flakes, organic quinoa, Organic Rolled Oats, organic sesame seeds, Organic Sunflower Oil, organic sunflower oil (used on the equipment only not as an ingredient), organic sunflower seeds, organic whole sprouted barley, organic whole sprouted brown rice, organic whole sprouted buckwheat, organic whole sprouted corn, organic whole sprouted khorasan wheat, organic whole sprouted rye, organic whole sprouted spelt), organic whole sprouted wheat, raisin nectar (raisins, Sea Salt, Sesame seeds, Silver Hills Baker The Big 16, Silver Hills Bakery, Silver Hills Bakery Review, Silver Hills Bakery Squirrely Bread, Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery Breads, Sprout's Market, Sprouted Bagels, Sprouted Whole Grains, Squirrely Bread, Steady Eddie™, sunflower seeds, Target Store, The Big 16, The Big 16 Bread, The King's Bread™, The Queen's Khorasan™, Vegan, Vegan and No Dairy, Vegan Breads, vital wheat gluten, Water, wheat breads, Yeast

The market is full of breads from sliced, wheat, organic,artisan to non-gluten varieties and much more. Finding the bread is easy, but finding one that has real ingredients and tastes wonderful…….well, not so easy.
In our home, we love “brown breads”. This is what we call the molasses type to wheat breads, and even those seedy ones. As much as I do love baking and I do bake our white breads, I have not hit a satisfactory taste profile when it comes to wheat breads and I also would like to just get a loaf at the store, get home and just bake something else. I do not always have the freedom to do so because I’m the type of person that if I can’t find what I am looking for, I make it!

In comes Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery with their large selection of breads. They all fall into our “brown bread” kind of loaves, but they have everything from bagels, burger and hot dog buns. The breads may share a base color (tan or brown) but at first impression, I was worried they would all have the same base flavor and not really differ much than just what seed selection each bread has. Let us just say don’t judge a loaf by it’s cover!

My first loaf I purchased at Sprout’s Market and it was in the refrigerated section and the store had some issues like over stuffing the open fridge, so the loaves in the back were partially frozen. I opted on a fresher date, so that meant a semi-frozen loaf. I picked “The Big 16” variety and took it home and because we carry coolers when we shop, I figure I keep the same environment going and put it in the cooler. We got home and the following day we just tried a slice out of curiosity. Even though the loaf had been stressed because I later found out at Target they just keep it out with no refrigeration, this was an entire different playing field when it came to quality. The bread retained it’s moisture but most of all, it has everything I ever wanted in a wheat style bread. The ingredients are simple and understandable, plus as a baker it would be products I would use to make my own breads at home. The wheat is flavorful without those odd bitter notes and aftertaste you experience with most “brown breads”. I find companies use sugars and sweetened syrups to cover up both the bitter off flavors, but to keep the texture satisfactory, and let’s be realistic…….to try to extend the life span of the bread. Not Silver Hills Bakery!!! They let the bread do all the talking on it’s own and I dropped my favorite all time favorite Milton bread over this loaf. This was after just one bite of a naked slice. Nothing else and I already knew I had a winner. I also like that each slice is around 100 calories and did I mention organic and Non-GMO ingredients? Plus, vegan and non-Dairy ingredients too. they make a non-Gluten variety and nothing is loaded with sugars or any unwelcoming (so not necessary) ingredients. I went down the list on their website of all the breads they make and over and over I kept say, “I’d eat that”.
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I go out shopping and because the first loaf was so welcomed, I buy another variety but at Target this time. It’s called the Squirrely Bread and I see it has exactly what I look for in a bread of this type, down to the sunflower seeds. Again, we bring it home and this is when I found out that the breads from Silver Hills Bakery are all each their own. This one tasted nothing like the loaf before! It even tasted better and my Husband remarked you gotta buy this one again, plus I want to try the Little Big Bread they carry. Yup, I’m taking orders now of what loaf to pick-up because even my family knows that this is now our “go-to” brand.

I feel bad that I never noticed Silver Hills Bakery Breads before but I now not only have made them a part of my permanent grocery list, I now get to share them with others. I am not the only one that enjoys these breads because two Targets on different days and each one was out of the Little Big Bread. The tag was there, so I know they carry it but I will catch it when it’s back in stock. I’m on a mission! I also have added the conquest to get my hands on those bagels they make and why not the hamburger and hot dog buns too! It’s nice to go into a store and pick-up bread like a normal person again 🙂 Make your taste buds sing and try something that is new, different and better…….get your hands on a loaf of Silver Hills Bakery bread and just one slice will make you a believer! You just have to promise to leave the last Little Big Bread loaf for me.
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Connect with Silver Hills Bakery Bread and find a loaf or two at:

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.
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02 Apr 2015
by linettefm
in All Natural, Beauty, Health and Beauty, Natural, Non-GMO, Organic, Product testing, Review, Uncategorized
Tags: #BodyMerry, 100% Natural, 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, 2.5% Retinol, Amazon, Amazon Beauty, Amazon Codes, Amazon Promos, anti-aging, antiaging, Antioxidants, arsh chemicals, ASIN: B00OQQLNG4, beauty, beauty products, Beauty regimen, Body Merry, Body Merry Moisturizers, Body Merry: Retinol Surge Moisturizer, Cetyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, Cosmetics, creams, crows feet, Cruelty free, deep wrinkles, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Fine Lines, Firming, Glyceryl Stearate, improve firmness, improve skin, Improve Skin's Texture, improve tone, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, lotions, Made in the USA, Moisturizers, natural, Natural Beauty, no parabens, NO Sulphates or Phthalates., organic, Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Palm Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Phospholipids, Plant Derived Hyaluronic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Retinol, Retinol Surge Moisturizer, sagging, Shea Butter, skin care, skin problems, Skincare, Stearic Acid, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), UPC: 642337770920, Vegan, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Wildcrafted Propolis, wrinkles, Xanthan Gum


Body Merry has been a guest over here in the past and always welcomed! Like you don’t need to call before you arrive type of guest 🙂 and it’s because I really enjoy using their products. They work and who doesn’t like using stuff that shows results because my beauty regimen is not just for fun……I’m sort of on the run from the tick-tock clock of time. I enjoy the memories with people and experiences, just don’t wrinkle me!

I was sent Body Merry’s Retinol Surge Moisturizer. It’s an all-in-one product that can be used by itself as a last layer application or you can amp your routine by using a serum and then a thin layer of Body Merry’s Surge Moisturizer. The product offers:
- 2.5% Retinol in a cream form
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B5
- Green Tea
Ingredients (as listed on website): Organic Aloe Vera, Organic Sunflower Oil, Palm Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Phospholipids, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Phosphate, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Plant Derived Hyaluronic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Jojoba Oil, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Wildcrafted Propolis, Shea Butter, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid.

The moisturizer really covers everything from giving you an instant boost from the green tea, uses Aloe Vera versus water as it’s base and you have nourishing agents like Shea Butter, Jojoba oil and Vitamin E. Body Merry goes one step further by making sure their Hyaluronic acid is derived from plants and let us not forget the major player here, the 2.5% percentage of retinol. The product is all packed in a pump action bottle, so no air, light or even bacteria can easily come in contact. That to me is insurance on your purchase!

Application:
A one pump serving was enough for me to cover the areas I wanted to treat on my face because I have combination skin and that means some areas get more moisturizer than others. I then had enough to treat my neck and chest area because people tend to over focus on the face when the rest of your body can also show aging. I applied the product under make-up and never had issues of my foundation not looking right hours later or even problems with blending. The acids in the moisturizer keep everything in check. Make sure to use SPF (even though you should already be) because retinol products may make skin sensitive to the sun, plus why damage the skin you are trying to take care of.
Retail Price Point: $23.49 via Amazon or $24.99 via their website for a generous 3.4 fluid ounce bottle.
Verdict:
Like with all of Body Merry’s products so far, I am happy with the results and the price point. I got tired of OTC products not declaring the percentage of retinol in their products and just taking their word that there was even a significant amount to make a difference. I might as well squeeze a bottle down the sink if it’s not going to work! With Body Merry products, everything is forthcoming and no proprietary blends to hide behind. Body Merry tells you what you are getting, how it’s going to work and what to expect, plus goes beyond and adds a satisfaction guarantee. No hassles and I like exchanges like that because the beauty world should not be complicated. We all want to look our best, we all can’t afford and/or don’t want to undergo surgery, so we just want stuff that works. Body Merry’s stuff works and that is something I (and my skin) truly appreciates.
Connect with Body Merry at:
I received the above product(s) free of charge from Body Merry. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

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09 Apr 2014
by linettefm
in Health and Beauty, Product Samples, Product testing, Review, Uncategorized
Tags: #epicblend, All Natural, Antioxidants, Banana, beauty, Beauty Balm, Beeswax, Better Lip Health, Candelilla wax, Cherry, Chocolate Rum, Citrus Kick, Coconut, Cosmetics, Cruelty free, Epic Blend, fashion, gluten free, Grape, Green Apple, Happy Lips, Healthy living, Hemp, Hemp based beauty products, High-quality Lip Balm, Improve skin's health, Limited Edition, lip balms, Lip care, Lip Protection, Lip Repair, makeup, Mint, More Moisture, natural, Natural Flavors, No Synthetic Fragrances, Non GMO, non-greasy, Not Animal tested, Nutrient Dense, organic, Organic Beeswax, Organic Castor Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Sunflower Oil, Petroleum Free, Pineapple-Mint, Plant-based, Smooth, Soft lips, Super Nourishing, Unflavored, Vanilla, Vegan, Vitamin E, Wild Berry

I reviewed the hemp products from Epic Blend in the past, which came as part of a beauty box, and the company was kind enough to send me their entire line and then some to share :). Epic Blend has 3 collections to choose from:
- More Moisture Collection– They use seven moisturizers like organic shea butter, organic coconut oils, organic sunflower oil, organic castor oil, organic beeswax and a non-GMO vitamin E. You also have flavors to choose from like grape, green apple, cherry and even unflavored. This line gives your lips that extra punch of moisture without feeling greasy or looking overly shiny. My lips can still breathe and if your lips have damage from chapping or just dry from the wind or the sun, you get rapid repair. I felt the More Moisture collection made up for the times I forget or just plainly neglect protecting my lips. Epic Blend’s More Moisture collection forgives me for being not the best caretaker of my lips and I love not smelling like a medicinal oddity. I used to purchase every product on the market that promised to repair and make my lips healthier, to only just masking the problem while I wore the balm. Epic Blends products don’t do that! Who wants to also smell like you rubbed a muscle ointment on your lips……that’s just not very kissable 🙂
- Vegan Collection– Epic Blend makes product to fit everyone’s needs and this line is 100% plant-based and free of beeswax. The base product is candelilla wax, which is a plant (shrub) and the wax is extracted from the leaves and stems. The final product is a very smooth balm that just glides beautifully over your lips. Epic Blend adds organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic cocoa butter and non-GMO vitamin E. There was no skimping on the quality to meet vegan standards and even though I am not a vegan, I would not pass up this lip balm. The flavors available are Wild Berry and a Pineapple-Mint variety. Your lips are left supple and not only feel wonderful, but are left healthy without a greasy feeling.
- Hemp Collection– This is the lip balm that brought me to the party! The one that made Epic Blend a name in our household and the one I touted as the go-to for ending the cycle of chapped lips, dry lips, or if there is anything you dislike about your lips….try Epic Blend. The Hemp Collection by Epic blend uses hemp seed oil, which has antioxidant properties, is super nourishing, and is quickly absorbed by the skin. They round out the formula by using coconut oil, sunflower oil, beeswax, and a non-GMO vitamin E. You get to choose from Vanilla, Mint, Coconut and Citrus Kick. They also make a limited-edition flavors in Banana and Chocolate Rum…..the Choco-Rum as I call it, is just heavenly in scent!

Price Point: A 4-Pack of Lip Balms is just $12.00, or $3.49 per flavor. Your lips are worth it and at $3.49 a stick….it’s for a lip balm that actually works and not only looks great, but feels luxurious. Give them a try! They even have a “happy guarantee”, but it’s really impossible to be unhappy with Epic Blend because they stand by their products. All products are petroleum-free, gluten-free, non-GMO and not tested on animals (cruelty free).
Many lip balms have odd colors (dyes, tints, food/bug based colors, ect.) that is not something a guy wants to use, or a that a gal wants to have to fight off if they want to wear a certain color of lipstick. Epic Blend is free of that, it goes on clear and leaves a natural matte look on your lips. It’s seriously non-reactive, so much so that I use it every time I apply lipstick or gloss as a base. My lips remain protected but because they are healthy and not sucking out the life of whatever I apply, my lipstick and lip glosses last longer. My lips are finally healed and look normal, something I did not think was possible. If I skip a day of use….it’s okay because I have healthy lips that can take it. I never thought I would get off the cycle of needing to smother my lips with creamy and oily concoctions to look normal. I spent so much on what I call “premium broken promises” because my former balms had a hefty price tag and promised to end the dry lips I had but all they barely did was mask it. My lips peeled and just were left unhealthy. I disposed of all my balms and I only have Epic Blend now! I highly recommend using any of their lip balms because I would have just overlooked them and would have missed out on being happy with my lips. Have Happy Lips with Epic Blend and you will not be disappointed with the results!

Pick-up one or several flavors of Epic Blend at:
I received the above product free of charge from Epic Blend. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.
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