Pumpkin Eatin' and Hair Teasin'

This is probably the most random blog post ever.
This week, I discovered 2 great things. 

The first was a yummy Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake 

that the beautiful "Bees and Bows" posted here. 

My family hasn't been diagnosed with celiac disease or gluten-intolerance. But after reading the book "Dangerous Grains", I'm always looking for ways to cut wheat and grains out of our diet.

Our local health food grocer didn't carry the same brand gluten-free cake mix that "Bees and Bows" used, so I improvised with another brand that I love, Pamela's Products. I regularly use Pamela's Products Baking and Pancake Mix to make pancakes and it's YUMMY. 

Here's how I adjusted the recipe because of the difference in volume of the cake mix:

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake
Adapted from this recipe: Namaste Food, LLC

(not sure why it looks "shiny". It doesn't look like that in person)

Ingredients:

• 1 package of Pamela's Products Gluten-Free Vanilla Cake Mix
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup of pureed pumpkin
• 1 cup of chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon gluten-free pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Spray a bundt pan or 9x13 pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and water. Add chocolate chips.
• Pour mixture into pan.
• Bake 25-30 minutes and check for the center with toothpick. Continue baking until toothpick comes out clean and top has thoroughly cooked. It took about 40 minutes with my oven. 

The second item on my list is a teasing hair brush that I bought from my hair stylist. I got my hair trimmed on Monday and asked for some shorter layers on top. I wanted needed more "poof" in my crown. (Don't we all?) 

When the stylist started my blow out, she pulled out a teasing brush and with a few flicks of the wrist, I had some SUR-E-US poofage. The poof stayed and I bought--especially since I already have a drawer full of teasing combs and 3 teasing brushes that don't work very well.

Here's this little gem. It's "The Little Wonder" by Spornette.  

I really do like this better than my other teasing brushes.  

I don't know if it's because the pink tips are more "textured" or if the design of the brush is different.

You can pick up the "Little Wonder" at Sally's or Ulta. 

Also, do a search on Youtube, there's several videos showing how to "poof" your hair using this brush.

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Things I'm Loving Right Now

I'd love to share with you a few items I've discovered in the last month. 

Philosophy "Amazing Grace" Body Butter

I bought this at Sephora. It smells so clean and even though it's extremely moisturizing, it doesn't feel greasy.

These are individual pads (think Stridex acne pads) that contain alpha, beta, and gamma acids along with peptides and vitamins.   You wash your face, and swipe the pad all over your face and neck. After a minute or ten (I have resilient skin), you simply rinse. 

This isn't a miracle product, but I love how convenient and quick these are. I noticed that my pores are cleaner & my overall skin texture is smoother.

 &

John Masters Organics Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been experiencing hair loss pretty badly the past five years. So much so, that I'm now regularly using a Rogaine/Latisse combination daily. I also take biotin and multivitamins along with silica and other supplements.

Hair loss, especially for women, is utterly devastating. It's not supposed to happen to us! In addition to the mentioned treatments, I've been doing a lot of reading on hair loss, its causes, and ways to prevent it.

One of the interesting things I recently read is how a hairdresser noticed the amount of hair loss she had been seeing in women in the past 10 years. After doing years of research with medical professionals and scientists, she saw a direct correlation between sulfates in shampoo and hair loss. Here's the article. Check out that website. It's very informative. 

Not all sulfate-free shampoos are created equal though. I utterly HATE  Pureology shampoo. I know a lot of you love it, but for my hair, the pH is off. That's why my hair looks like a wad of straw when I use it. Then I have to use 2 gallons of conditioner to get it to detangle. Then it's flat. Major fail.

The thing I love about John Masters' brand is that he's done extensive testing on the pH of all his hair products. After washing/conditioning my hair with the above products, my hair feels clean, strong, & silky.

I've also noticed that I'm not getting GOBS of hair in my hands when I wash it. 

Do any of you use sulfate-free shampoo? Are you using it to protect your color or highlights or for other reasons? Just curious.

What new products are you loving?

5 Under $25

I haven’t blogged in so long, so you may want to hush those howling hound dogs, put on a pot of coffee, and call in sick to work.

I’m back and ready to share

5 of my favorite items under $25.

1. Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-In Split End Protector Treatment- This smells great and really smoothes out those rough, janky ends.



2. Windex Wipes- I have these under all my bathroom sinks for touchups.

3. Purpose Gentle Face Wash- gentle, cheap and never dries out my skin. I love to use this on my Clarisonic face brush.

4. Tweezerman Slant Tweezers- I love these for my unibrow brows!

5. Sally Hansen Just Feet Spa Night Time Heel Repair Wrap – use this with the Night Time Heel Repair Ointment. This gets rid of those gnarly-cracked Granny heels. Serious stuff. I think I got mine at Wal-Mart or Wal-Greens.

   

Do you all have any favorite items that you recommend?

Flat Iron Review

Photo: Target

I saw a flat iron review in the December "Good Housekeeping" magazine. It praised the Remington Frizz Therapy " Straightener . It claims to provide 65% less frizz, even in humidity. The "Good Housekeeping" website doesn't show the extent of the testing they did. The online review says that it "changed the lives of those who tried it." Hmmm. Really? Does it do dishes too?

I'm too lazy to type or paraphrase, so I scanned the magazine article.

I've been having some serious static and fly aways with the yucky cold weather. I've tried all the tricks, but nothing has worked. When I saw the article, and what a great bargain it was, I thought I'd give it a whirl. What did have to lose? I already have 7,349 other flat irons.

I found the Remington flat iron at Target. On the website, it sells for $49.99, but it was $39.99 in the store. Check out the Target customer reviews. Holy smokes, these chickadees loved it.
I came home and immediately tried my new little "Frizz Therapy Friend". I have to say.....I love it. It heated up in less than a minute, and instantly smoothed my hair. I'm hooked.