New Found Favorites

It's been a busy week, so blogging has gone to the bottom of my priority list. In keeping with my "promise" to blog once a week, I thought I would share a quick list of some of my new found favorites.

Redd Bars
Thanks to C&C reader and my friend MD, I have a new bar to add to my on-the-go food list. The Peanut Butter and Mint are my favorites.

I've been buying them from Thrive Market where you can also buy my new favorite chocolate, Hu Chocolate, which I shared in my last New Found Favorites post. Do yourself a favor and order them 

both now (here).

Nuttzo

Another one of my new found food favorites is Nuttzo, a seven nut and seed butter. I got the Crunchy Organic Power Fuel at my local Costco and have been using it in place of my go-to peanut butter. I haven't tried baking with it, but can't wait to try a few of my usual recipes and use this in place. 

Blue Lizard Sunscreen

We are going to Mexico in April, so I've been thinking about stocking up on sunscreen. While I love Kiehl's SPF 30, it has a less than ideal EWG rating. I recently searched the EWG list of best beach and sport sunscreens and found Blue Lizard. Their products are made in the US but were developed in Australia where ingredients are regulated much more closely. While I know it will be thicker (it's a mineral sunscreen), it will provide adequate protection without the presence of questionable or harmful ingredients, and that's worth the extra "rubbing in" time. 

Polar Raspberry Pink Lemonade
Sparkling water is my drink of choice and I think Ive found a new favorite flavor, Polar Raspberry Pink Lemonade. If you haven't tried it and enjoy these flavors, I highly recommend it. It is a favorite of the Mini Fashionista as well.

Kapla Blocks

Some friends recently introduced us to Kapla Blocks. Apparently these are found in nearly every french home and classroom. They are super fun and engaging for both children and adults. 

 You can build some seriously cool things with these!

New Found Favorites

When I find things I love, it feels like I have a responsibility to share them with you. So this week I'm sharing some of my new found favorites.

First let me introduce you to Hu Chocolate. It's 70% Stone Ground Dark Chocolate that is Organic, made with Fair Trade cocoa and is paleo and vegan. And did I mention it's one of my most favorite chocolates EVER?

I've tried three flavors, the Hazelnut Butter, Almond Butter with Puffed Quinoa and Cashew Butter with Pure Vanilla Bean. I'll warn you, it's expensive, but worth every penny. The best pricing is on Thrive Market. Order some. You won't be sorry.

Next up are some of my new found favorites from Trader Joe's. Let's start with the Trader Joe's rice and Quinoa hot porridge. I sampled this in the store with some bananas and walnuts and was hooked. I've been eating it that way, adding almond milk, and have also had it with berries and nuts as well. It cooks much faster than oatmeal, and I've found needs more water than indicated on the directions, otherwise it's a bit thick for my taste.

These two are my new favorite Trader Joe's "snacks" or sweat treats when I'm trying to avoid eating a REAL sweet treat.

Nothing but Fruit & Nuts. Fig-Walnut

Nothing but Fruit &Nuts. Date-Hazelnut-Cacao

To round out my new TJ's favorites, I bought these unsulfured pear slices, and they are delicious. This is hands down my favorite dried fruit. And, they have no added sugar! 

Lastly, If you live in Portland and haven't been to Virtuous Pie, I highly recommend it. It's not actually all that "new" to me, but I went on Friday and hadn't been in a while, so I was reminded of how much I like it. 

They make plant based, gluten free pizza and ice cream that doesn't make you miss dairy at all (p.s. I still eat dairy and gluten).