Monday Bites: Magic Spoon Cereal Review

Posted in Amazon, breakfast, foodie, Healthy Foods, review by bloomingbeautybites

Happy Monday you guys! I hope you had a great weekend! It’s really starting to look like spring here in California, it’s been so pretty.

I got a question for you all….On Saturday mornings, what was your favorite type of cereal? For me, it was Lucky Charms and Reeses Puffs. Now that we’re older, I know we are all trying to reduce our sugar intake? Am I right? Not cut it all out but at least have less. Well ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce Magic Spoon to you all. Magic Spoon cereals bring back your child like cereals but in an adult way. Listen to this:

High Protein with 13-14 grams of Proteins
Keto Friendly with only 4 grams of net carbs
Low Carb
Gluten Free
Grain Free
Soy Free
Wheat Free
0 grams of sugar

I ordered my variety pack from Amazon and here are the flavors that were included:

Peanut Butter – remember when I mentioned that one of my favorite cereals growing up was Reese’s Puff? Well this was literally an exact reminder of my childhood memories. Yes a bit less sweet, but that’s the beauty of it!
Frosted – this one reminded me of Frosted Flakes (theeeey’re GREEEEEAT) and Frosted Cheerios
Cocoa – it honestly reminded me of the many chocolate cereals we grew up on: Cocoa Puffs, Chocolate Cheerios and Chocolate Peebles
Fruity – of course we had to have a fruit flavored cereal! This reminds me of course Fruity Pebbles and Fruit Loops.

If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be Peanut Butter hands down. First of all, I love most things that taste like peanut butter and its healthy! Here’s to 2022 being healthier than the past years!

What are your favorite cereals growing up? Would you try this?

24Feb2017

2017 Crave Expo

Posted in California, Events, Expo, foodie by bloomingbeautybites

Happy Thursday loves!

I was lucky enough to get 2 VIP tickets for the Crave Expo this past Sunday February 19, 2017. Crave Expo used to be more on the industry event but for the first time this year, they opened it to the public! Even in the gloomy rainy weather, it was a great outcome!

They had a variety of foods, snacks, sweets and beverages on site. For the VIP people who came at 11am till 1pm were able to get free snack samples of most vendors.

Here are some honorable mentions that I loved!!

Norigami: They had samples of their sushi taco..Yes you heard right?! They used crispy lightly seasoned seaweed for the taco shell and then added spicy tuna and some sauces on top.

Street Churros: They gave out full size churros which had a perfect combination of sugar and cinammon. I sure do love anything with cinnamon!

Mad Dumplings: They have a variety of dumplings and were giving out the pork belly longanisa dumpling which has sweet Filipino inspired sausage, and topped with a bit of pork belly and a slice of jalapeno.

Belly Bombz: I first saw this at Foodie Con and missed it the next day. I was so disappointed! However, we ran into them again at Crave Expo and this time I had to sample something! They were giving out their firecracker boneless chicken strips with a side of coleslaw. Firecracker was sweet and spicy traditional Korean fried chicken. I was so glad to have known that they now have a brick and mortar restaurant in Artesia, California!

Burger Monster: The line for this one was actually pretty long. They had 5 different samples available and we ended up getting the Satyre slider. It has caramelized onions, goat cheese and fig jam. It’s pretty good since the goat cheese and fig jam balances the flavor out.

The Halal Guys: A Chipotle style Middle Eastern restaurant. They opened their first hot dog stand in New York City in 1990! They were giving out sample sizes of their bowls which had chicken, gyro, rice and 2 different sauces: their famous hot sauce and white sauce. They just opened up a store in Cerritos and Long Beach.

Califa Farms: They were giving out samples of their lemonades, iced coffees and the nitro cold brews. I was surprised that they were giving out full sizes of the nitro cold brews. I loved the Nitro Cold Brew in Mocha.

As I was leaving the event, I saw T-Rex and I was so upset that I wasn’t able to take a picture with him! Stella Rosa was there as well as a few more wine and alcohol booths.

I can’t wait till the next Crave Expo and will be better prepared!

14Feb2017

February’s Daily Goodie Box Preview

Posted in Coffee, foodie, freebies, Subscription Box by bloomingbeautybites

Happy Wednesday loves!

What would you say if you could get a box full of goodies for free just for giving your honest opinion!? Well this amazing idea does exist and it’s called the Daily Goodie Box! There’s a variety of products in here ranging from snacks, home and health. I’m excited to try all of them but there’s a few that made my mouth drop. :p

*Coffee Blocks*- “a better butter coffee” A squeezable coffee block that has coffee and butter?! As if you guys didn’t know yet, I’m a coffeeholic so when I saw I was receiving this, I was ecstatic.

*Nature’s Bakery Raspberry Fig Bar*- I first heard and tried this out at last year’s Cake Expo in Los Angeles. Ever since then, it’s a snack i’ve been getting. When it first came out, I only found it at Winco, but they’ve started selling it at grocery stores.

*Gorilly Goods Coast Sweet Curry Cashew & Fruits* – I don’t know about this one since I’m not a big fan of curry but still interested in trying it out. It’s organic, raw, vegan, non-GMO, Gluten Free, and nutrient dense. By the looks of it, you could order it online on their site or at your local natural grocery store.

-may I mention the brand name and logo is amazing. You’ve got an outline of a gorilla hence the name!

*Vermont Smoke & Cure Cracked Pepper Beef & Pork Stick* – I always like trying new beef sticks, it brings back childhood memories of Slim Jims. You can find them at Whole Foods, Target and Super Target.

*Just Chill Jamaican Citrus (Calm+Focus)* – I’ve seen this a few times at Vons but never tried it. It appears to be a stress relieving and focusing sparkling calming beverage. It claims to support calm and focused mindset, helps reduce stress with Suntheanine. This drink is available at your grocery store, seems like this is an easy product to get your hand on compared to these other snacks.

*Aloha Daily Good Greens Chocolate Blend* – I’ve actually tried the original Aloha Daily Good Greens so I’m excited to see the difference between them. It’s a dietary supplement and whole food powder that energizes, provides nutrients and makes you feel great.

*XyliChew Spearmint Gum* – So it’s a gum sweetened with Birch Xylitol which is extracted from US forests. It helps balance your pH in your mouth reducing acid-producing bacteria that erodes tooth enamel. Now I’m excited to try this one out. You can purchase this at your local Sprouts and/or online stores such as Amazon, Vitacost, Herbvive just to name a few.

*Dream Water Sleep Powder* – Just the name of it, makes you wonder… lol We’ve all had those somewhat sleepless nights where you try everything and just still can’t fall asleep. It’s best to take this right after brushing your teeth and 30 minutes before going to sleep and if sleep is interrupted, then take another one. I’ll have to try this out when I’ve got to wake up for a really early shift. You can get these at your local grocery stores, some drug stores and even online.

*Jack n’ Jill Natural Toothpaste* – Wow this toothpaste is even suitable from 6 month old babies and older. It’s all natural and safe in case the kids swallow it. It’s SLS free, no fluoride, no preservatives, no added color. Xylitol is their main ingredient…Hey that was also the main ingredient for the gum! It’s an Australian company so you can only order online.

*Nellie’s All-Natural Wow Stick Stain Remover* – We all hate those random stains on your clothes right? Well wet the stained area of the fabric and rub the stick on the stained area. Agitate the stain under water and laundry away. It’s got lemongrass and sweet orange oil work with the cleansing ingredients to fight those odors caught in the stains.

There you have it loves, a preview of my February Daily Goodie Box. I can’t wait till I get another one! Do you have any favorite subscription boxes?! I’d love to hear about it. 🙂

21Dec2015

La Cookie ans Sweets Con 2016 Preview

Posted in Desserts, Expo, foodie, LA Cookie and Sweets Con 2016 by bloomingbeautybites

Happy Monday loves! Merry almost Christmas! I know I usually post Mani Monday on Monday but this week I just had to switch it up. I’m really excited for this event coming up!

I’ve got some fun news…The 2nd Annual LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show is coming up in February!! That’s a shoutout to all of those who love baking or who just loves sweets in general! It’s the West Coast’s Largest Baking Convention that takes place February 6-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show, the West Coast’s largest baking and sweets expo, is returning for its second year February 6 & 7, 2016. After a sold out event in 2015, the show is expanding to the Los Angeles Convention Center to make room for even more attendees and vendors. With over 10,000 guests expected, sweets-enthusiasts can enjoy free samples from over 125 local shops and national brands, meet their favorite TV stars and watch baking demonstrations, and participate in hands-on workshops in cookie and cake decorating.

The Kids Zone will offer free face painting, cookie decorating, crafts, games and more, compliments of Mommy Nearest, Urban Sitter and Baking with Melissa.

Where: Los Angeles Convention Center – 1201 S. Figueroa St.

When: February 6 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and February 7 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

Cost: $21/adult and $10/child for a one-day pass OR $35/adult and $15/child for a 2-day pass. VIP tickets are also available. Guests can purchase their tickets at www.lacookiecon.com. 100% of the proceeds from the sugar art and baking competitions will benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Last year’s event raised $5,000 for CHLA.

Special Guests: This year’s celebrity lineup includes Saturday’s headliner Ron Ben-Israel of Food Network’s “Sweet Genius”, “Cake Wars” and famed cake decorator in New York luxury baking market. Sunday’s headliner is Rosanna Pansino, New York Times Best Selling Author and creator of the show ‘Nerdy Nummies’, which airs on her YouTube channel RosannaPansino, garnering more than 5 million subscribers and 1 billion video views.

About LA Cookie Con and Sweet Show:

Now in its 2nd year, LA Cookie Con and Sweets Show features over 125 vendors from local bakeries to national favorites, making it the West Coast’s largest sweets and baking convention. Presented by AKT Entertainment, LLC., the show brings in renowned bakers, TV celebrities and local vendors for two days of tastings, baking classes, family fun and more. Major sponsors include Amoretti Ingredients, Formosa Flexible Packaging America (part of the Toyota family of companies), Jen & Joe’s Cookie Dough, Heilala Vanilla, organic dairy purveyor Humboldt Creamery, bakery supply distributors Americana Ingredients and Divine Specialties, and cake/cookie decorating industry staples Paasche Airbrush Company, BakersBodega and Kake Kreations.

For more information, visit www.lacookiecon.com.

15Mar2015

Gardein Beefless Tips Recipe and Review

Posted in BzzAgent, foodie, Healthy Foods, Meatless, recipe, review, Vegan by bloomingbeautybites

Hey loves, hope you all enjoyed your weekend!

I was lucky enough to get chosen from Bzzagent to review the Gardein Deliciously Meat Free entrees. I received 2 free coupons and a pack full of $1 off Gardein entrees.

Varieties:

*Seven Grainy Crispy Tenders *Mandarian Crispy Chick’n

*Beefless Ground *Beefless Tips

*Meatless Meatballs *Golden Fishless Fillet

*Crispy Chick’n Sliders *Meatless Meatloaf

*Boneless meatless wings *Veggie Burger

Benefits:

*tastes great

*made with non-GMO soy and wheat

*ancient grains and veggies

*cooks in minutes

*easy to substitute the meat in your recipes

My Recipe:

I had chosen to get the Beefless Tips but at the same time, I didn’t just want to eat that. So I got creative and here’s what I came up with!

Paramesan Pasta and I sauteed veggies (including red bell peppers, spinach, brocolli, kale, green beans and garlic) with the Beefless Tips. Oh and I added a little Korean BBQ sauce to the veggies! I wanted to add some color to my dish so I added a cucumber, some colored cherry tomatoes and black olives on the side.

My Review:

I personally liked it because I added flavors to it. It couldn’t come in a better time for me! It being Lent as well, it was the perfect time to get chosen for this mission. It really does cook really quick, mine only took about 4-5 minutes. It’s easy to make and healthy and especially time efficient! Especially for those times that you don’t have enough time to cook a meal.

12Nov2014

Coffee Code Review

Posted in Ca, California, Coffee, foodie, review by bloomingbeautybites

Hi loves!

I hope you all are enjoying November! Is it just me or are the days going by so quickly?

I wanted to start doing reviews on restaurants and places I indeed believe people should know about! I recently went to a coffee shop called Coffee Code located in Buena Park, CA (across from Knotts Berry Farm) and this definitely is different type of cafe. It’s not what I expected at all. Once I walked in, I was overwhelmed by the scent. It smelled of sweets and coffee. Such a daring mix!

THE INFO:

Name: Coffee Code

Address: 7855 La Palma Ave, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-11pm

Sunday-11am-10pm

Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/coffee-code-buena-park

THE DECOR:

From the outside, it doesn’t look like much but when you walk in, the walls are red with quotes and drawings. There’s one awesome quote that says:

Sweet and hot coffee makes me sing,

A piece of cake makes me laugh,

Chocolate covered donuts makes us happy

Come and share with me.

There’s also a TV in the corner (which I never noticed playing), you can’t help notice the LOVE shown under it. It’s so romantic! ❤ This is definitely a great place for a first date.

I do love how in the corner there is a table that has more sugar, creamer and napkins in case you do need it. But when I first noticed the table, I saw the two plaques that had coffee quotes on them! One read: “Coffee made me do it” and the other one read: “Dear Coffee, I love you. That is all.”

Of course the lights!

The COFFEE:

I’ve came here already twice in one week, that’s how much I love the coffee and the art!

First time I came here my friend had ordered the peppermint white mocha and I had ordered the caramel latte. I definitely am in love with the latte art. It’s such a cool creative concept and it is pretty cool to see the baristas doing it. The coffee itself is awesome, a tad bit strong but pretty tasty.

Peppermint White Mocha and Caramel Latte

Caramel latte

Hazelnut latte

Peppermint White Mocha

THE MENU:

Just like any other coffee shop, there’s much more than coffee. They have their famous french toast and waffles that can feed 2 or 3 people! They also have iced coffees, frappes, smoothies, and teas.

PRICE RANGE:

Both times I came here, I ordered 2 drinks and paid about $10 total. I hoenstly think this is more of a splurge 🙂 I will have to try the desserts next time though.

If you guys would like to see my yelp review, you can check it out here!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/coffee-code-buena-park?hrid=xTmraLkSX45yWQ6hUYcXkg

What do you guys think? Have any of you tried any great coffee places?!

24Sep2014

Dunkin Donuts Downey Grand Opening ‘

Posted in Bloglovin, Ca, California, donuts and coffee, Dunkin' Donuts, food, foodie, Grand Opening by bloomingbeautybites

Hi loves!

Hope you all are enjoying the beginning of fall especially with the pumpkin spice theme coming from all the coffee places!

I wanted to change up things a bit with a post about the 2nd Dunkin Donuts in Southern California located in Downey. When I first heard that they were going to open a Dunkin Donuts in Downey, I was so excited because I heard great things about the iced coffees and donuts. This is actually one of the first Dunkin Donuts that has a drive thru in SoCal!

The grand opening was on September 23, 2014 and started at 5am! :-O For the first person in line as well as the first person in the drive thru line would get free coffee for the whole yr! The first 100 guests in line did get a Dunkin Donuts tote filled with goodies! For everyone who came yesterday did get a free medium iced coffee.

I got there about 11am and the line wasn’t too long but I didn’t get my coffee and donuts until almost 11:50am. I think it was well worth it though, however I didn’t see anything about the “California-inspired donut”. I did get the medium iced coffee in Caramel. Not too sweet but not too strong, dare I say I might start getting this more than Starbucks iced coffee!

As for the donuts, I kind of wish there was more of a variety of donut flavors but I understand it was that grand opening so it was limited. For a dozen donuts, its about $9.95 and for a single donut it’s $0.99 which isn’t bad considering it to be a well known brand. As for the flavors I got: Boston Kreme, Chocolate Frosted, Old Fashioned Cake, Sprinkles, and Vanilla. At this point, I think my favorite would have to be vanilla.

I am definitely looking forward to coming here more often and try more of the donut flavors and coffee flavors.

**they also have a rewards card called DD Perks. You get a free medium beverage when you first sign up, on your birthday and every time you earn 200 points. You earn 5 points for every $1 you spend.

29May2014

April 2014 Conscious Box Review

Posted in foodie, natural, Online Deals, random, samplpes, Sub Box by bloomingbeautybites

Hi Loves!

I hope everyone is enjoying their week! 🙂

I wanted to do something new and this my first time doing a subscription box review. I previously signed up for the Conscious Box a few weeks ago. Thanks to Facebook! haha they had a sponsored advertisement mentioning that I could get my first month free just pay the shipping fee which was about $5. There’s two available options

1. The Taster- monthly samples

2. The Plus-with more samples and a few full size premium product

There’s also 3 different varieties: Classic, Vegan or Gluten Free.

I’ll show you guys what I received in my box! 🙂

ECOVER Dishwasher Tablets:

Contains: 2 free automatic dishwasher tablets. Power, effective cleaning. *Phosphate and chlorine free *Biodegradable * Not tested on animals.
www.Ecover.com

Sadly I don’t own a dishwasher so I’ll probably give this away to a friend or a family member who has one! 😦

Plum Kid Fruit and Veggie Shreddz:

Chewy and organic healthy kids snack *Made with real fruit and veggies *Perfect lunchbox snack
www.plumorganics.com

Even though I don’t have any children,it’s a great snack for any age.

Weleda Replenishing Shampoo and Conditioner:

Certified Natural Hair Care
Oat Replenished Shampoo: With it’s delicate scent, this shampoo smoothes the hair’s surface, and reduces breakage and split ends and improves suppleness.
Oat Replenishing Conditioner: With it’s delicate scent, this conditioner smoothes hair’s surface, adds moisture and restores the hair’s natural resillence.
www.weleda.com

Annie’s Homegrown Bunnies:

Whole Grain Graham Snacks *No Artificial flavors, synthetic colors or synthetic preservatives *8g of Whole Grains
www.Annies.com

Crystal Body Deodorant Towelettes:

No Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Parabens, Phthalates, or Fragrnace *Prevents Body Odor all day *Leaves no white residue on skin *Hypoallergenic, Dermatologist Tested, Non-sticky, Non-staining
Available at CVS stores and CVS.com
www.thecrystal.com

I personally love any type of deodorant towelettes. It’s a great way to get refreshed when you’re on the go, either at work, the gym or traveling. Not too strong of a scent and does the job right!

Allimax 100% Allicin Capsules:

A garlic powder capsule that is odor controlled *Maintenance One capsule daily *Certified Bio-Active *Scientifically tested *Supports Your Body’s Natural Defenses *Combats: athelets foot, arthritis, bites, C-Difficile, Colds, Eczema, Flu, Diarrhea, Nail fungus, Wounds, Fungal infections, Viral infections
www.allimax.us

Spatone pur Absorb Iron:

Feeling tired/fatigued? Take this by itself or dilute it in half a cup of fruit juice or water. *Don’t use grape juice *Gentle daily iron provider *Easily absorbed and gentle on your stomach *100% Natural Liquid Iron Supplement
Clinically proven high absorption *less side effects *no additives *gentle dose *convenient
www.purAbsorb.com

Nordic Naturals Omega Boost:

525mg Omega-3s in just 1 teaspoon * Dietary Supplement for Heart, Brain and Immune System *Creamy, delicious mango flavor the whole family will love *Fast absorption for a tasty boost of Omega-3s
www.nordicnaturals.com

Raw Rev 1o0 Bar:

Non GMO Project Verified *Kosher *Vegan *Dairy-free *Vegetarian *Gluten-free *Organic
ingredients: organic cashews, organic sunflower seeds, organic dates *organic agave nectar, organic spirulina powder and organic sprouted flax seed.
www.rawrev.com

When I first saw this, I was a bit intimidated due to seeing it green. However, after I did try it, I loved it! It’s not too sweet, healthy and it does fill you up. I like the fact that they do have cashews, sunflower seed kernels and dates.

I don’t have an exact picture of it because I was so intrigued that I ate it before I could take a picture of it!

Lastly, I received a Serengetee Fabric Swatch.

Customizable shirts & bags with Fabric from around all the world.
www.serengetee.com

My Verdict:

I honestly wouldn’t order another Conscious Box just because I can’t use all of the products I received. I did like Annie’s Bunny Grahams, the Raw Rev 100 bar, the Crystal towelettes, and the Weleda shampoo and conditioner.

**”Go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” -Maya Angelou

3Jan2014

Kroger Skillet Meals Review

Posted in BzzAgent, chicken, food, foodie, groceries, Kroger by bloomingbeautybites

Happy New Years loves!

I hope 2014 brings happiness and blessings to everyone!

As a Bzz Agent, this time I received the Kroger Skillet Meals which include a skillet dish, garlic bread and a salad.

*Tuscan Style Penne

*Sausage Rigatoni

*Penne with grilled chicken

*Chicken Florentine

*Chicken Fajitas

*Sorrento-Style Gnoochi

*Shrimp Lo-Mein

It takes about 10 minutes, each meal contains at least 2 servings per bag and 20 grams or more of protein.

It’s available at all Krogers, Ralphs, Food4less, Dillions, King Soopers and Smiths.

I was lucky enough to find the Chicken Florentine which was to die for! The chicken was so soft and juicy. The garlic bread was a pretty big size so that lasted me for a few days while the skillet was done in 2 days. For some reason though, the salads are pretty hard to find. Every time I found a salad, it was on clearance. Grr.

I would buy this again, especially wanting to try the Sausage Rigatoni. 🙂

5Dec2013

emeals.com Review and Recipe

Posted in cooking, eMeal, foodie, recipes by bloomingbeautybites

Hey Lovies!

Since the holidays are coming up, I figured I would show you all a different way to save money for your meals. emeals.com was nice enough to send me a free year of trying the site out! Here’s what they’re all about:

About: eMeals is the market leader in online meal planning solutions for consumers.
The company provides over 50 weekly plans based on customers preferred food style, family size and grocery store. Specialties include classic, clean eating, simple gourmet, low fat, low carb, paleo, portion control, organic, vegetarian and gluten-free meals.
eMeals not only gives you meal recipes for the week based on a couple meal plan for 2 people, or a family meal plan for 4+, but eMeals is also designed to ensure that you do not have food waste. This means no wasted money, no wasted food storage, and more money in your pockets.

Here’s an OFFER CODE FOR 35% off: Cyber35

There are 3 ways eMeals helps you save money:

No extra items – By sticking to the plan, you limit the extra spending on misc items.
Duplicate items – eMeals plans try to utilize items multiple times a week to reduce waste of throwing out food.
Store sales – eMeals planners try to incorporate your local grocery store sales into the plan.

eMeals gives you a shopping list that tells you what sales are going on in your LOCAL grocery story with items on your personal recipe list for the week – saving you time! (eMeals has partnerships with all major food stores). For example: Krogers, Ralphs, Safeway, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, ALDI, and Publix. Including so much more! All the ingredients you buy will be used in multiple recipes so that there is no waste.

*Did you know that eMeals saves consumers on average $1,000/year because of the smart meal planning, no waste, and store sales coordination! Something you definitely need to be thinking about after the holidays!

Here are a few links that you’ll be interested to check out. 🙂

http://marker.ly/b/emeals4464/10226/23 — eMeals main website

http://marker.ly/b/emeals4464/10226/24 — Use this link if you are posting before Thanksgiving – it’s includes a Paleo Roast Turkey Recipe for Thanksgiving.

http://marker.ly/b/emeals4464/10226/26 — Financial Planning celebrity and TV show host, Dave Ramsey, supports eMeals and how it helps families save around $1,000/year

Here’s a picture of a recipe I tried doing last night. It’s an Enchilada Soup but I put a bit of extra noodles.

Before its cooked without the noodles.

Here’s the finished product!! I just put some shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, crisp onions and cilantro!

<script type='text/javascript' src='http://files.markerly.com/tracker.min.js#tracker_id=emeals4464&blogger_id=10226'></script>

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