Chrisopigi EVOO by Gaia Fine Foods

If you are looking for a new extra virgin olive oil brand, look no further. Chrisopigi (pronounced kri-so-pee-yee) EVOO exclusively imported by Gaia Fine Foods is a global multi-award winning olive oil recognized as Best in Class and Gold Awards at the most prestigious international competition in New York. Chrisopigi EVOO is tested annually to maintain its' superior quality and heating stability, which allows for deep-frying.  

You can use EVOO for many things, such as to dip bread with, drizzled onto salad, or my personal favourite, to fry eggs with. I love that the Chrisopigi EVOO is smooth and doesn't leave any sort of after-taste. The fact that it has been European Union regulated and Health Claim Certified, has me trust that it is one of the best EVOOs out there! The olives used to make the Chrisopigi EVOO are hand-picked from their olive orchards on the island of Crete, Greece. And if you didn't know already, Greek olive oils rank top in the world! 

If you are interested in purchasing your own, please check out www.gaiafinefoods.ca.

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[Product Review] Moscow Muled Mugs

Company: Moscow Muled
Product Type: Copper mugs
Website: www.moscowmuled.com

Do you fancy having your kitchen full of aesthetically-pleasing, but functional kitchen products? I had the pleasure of trying out some cute copper mugs that would fit into your dream kitchen from Moscow Muled, a Vancouver-based company.

The owners of Moscow Muled noticed a lack of copper mugs with interior nickel lining in the market. Many copper mugs you see are not lined with nickel, therefore acidic fluids (that could be found in cocktails) would cause a chemical reaction with the copper. This leads to copper ingestion and a negative impact to one's health. Moscow Muled aims to provide safe-to-drink and stylish copper mugs.

I received a couple of mugs to try out for this post. The mugs are handcrafted and hammered individually to create a lovely, yet simple pattern. Thus, making each and every mug unique.

Since I don't make cocktails at home, I decided to use it for some ice cream.  It took three huge scoops of the maple-flavoured ice cream to reach the top. Each copper mug holds 16 ounces of liquid. So despite appearances, one mug holds a lot of liquid (which is perfect for when you are at a party). I added some Hershey's cookies and cream chocolate pieces, rainbow sprinkles and a Pirouette stick to complete this homemade treat.

I don't recommend using the mug for hot drinks. It will heat up really fast and burn you. So these mugs are best for cold drinks or of course, your Moscow Mules. If you would like to be creative, these mugs could be used as decor or holding office supplies as well!

[Product Review] Cheese Garden

Company: Cheese Garden
Product Type: Japanese cheesecakes, drinks and desserts
Address: 5291 Yonge St. (North York); Unit G120, 3250 Midland Ave. (Midland); B58-4300 Steeles Ave. E (Pacific Mall)
Operating Hours: Mon- Sun 11 AM - 10 PM (North York); Mon-Sun 12-10 PM (Midland); Mon-Sun 12-8 PM (Pacific Mall)
Website: www.cheesegarden.ca

Interior

North York location

Menu

Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake, $22.95

Double Fromage Cheesecake, $18.95

Uji Matcha Tiramisu, $11.95

Baked Cheese Tart, $8.85

Review

Cheese Garden is a Japanese cheesecake shop that offers a variety of desserts with currently three locations in Toronto. I had the pleasure of getting a sneak peek of their new and limited edition Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake ($22.95) in celebration of their second anniversary. This cheesecake is only available from October 13th through November 4th, with only 50 available at each store and one per customer! If you visit any of the Toronto stores on October 13th or 14th, you can get 50% off one pastry item (excluding the Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake).

What is yuzu, you may ask? With a quick Google search, yuzu is a citrus fruit that looks like a wrinkled lemon. It's quite sour and tart so yuzu is normally used for flavouring. The Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake consists of three layers: the frozen yuzu mascarpone cheesecake at the top, with the baked pistachio cheesecake encrusted with sugar roasted pistachios in the middle, that all lastly sits on top of the pistachio sponge cake. The cake is covered with pistachio sponge cake crumbs and is decorated with gold flakes and a yuzu-shaped chocolate. The crumbs are incredibly fluffy (which reminds me a bit of fake snowflakes).

The flavour of the Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake is quite unique. I enjoyed it more the second time around when my taste buds got used to it. It would definitely appeal to people who like flavours like matcha or hojicha. I think the presentation of the cake in the wooden box is absolutely adorable and is perfect for a birthday or small party.

If you feel that the yuzu pistachio flavour may be out of your comfort zone, try their classic Double Fromage Cheesecake ($18.95) instead! This is perfect for people who like original flavoured products that are kept simple without all the fuss, but is still delicious.

I also got to try the Uji Matcha Tiramisu ($11.95) and Baked Cheese Tart ($8.85). The Uji Matcha Tiramisu is a very light and easy dessert to eat. The Baked Cheese Tart is similar to an egg tart but is a lot sweeter and spongier.

Check out Cheese Garden for their second anniversary to try any one of their pastries for 50% off on October 13th and 14th and can get your hands on the limited edition Yuzu Pistachio Double Fromage Cheesecake (which runs until November 4th).

[Product Review] Full House Desserts

Company: Full House Desserts
Product Type: Traditional Hong Kong desserts
Address: 9425 Leslie St. & 4750 Yonge St., Suite 121
Operating Hours: Thurs-Tues 5-11 PM, Wed CLOSED
Website: www.fullhousedesserts.com

Full House Sago, $7.49

Mango Pancake, $8.99; Durian Pancake, $10.99

Review

Full House Desserts specializes in traditional Hong Kong desserts. They have two locations, one in Richmond Hill and the other in North York. I was invited to review their desserts and share my thoughts!

I visited their North York location, which is conveniently located by Yonge and Sheppard if you are coming off the subway line. The North York location is a take-out shop where items are already prepackaged and ready to be sold. They have a selection of hot desserts, such as the Black Sesame with Almond Soup ($5.99) and Sweet Ball with Sweet Ginger. I opted to try their cold desserts instead because I couldn't take the food home right away.

The Full House Sago ($7.49) contains mango and pomelo pulp. If you are a fan of mango, you would love this pudding dessert because it packs a punch. In comparison, the Mango ($8.99) and Durian Pancake ($10.99) is full of fresh cream with the fruits stuffed in the middle. They are incredible soft and fluffy to cut through, quite similar to Japanese pancakes! The pancakes can be left in fridge for a couple of days without losing any of the freshness. I like the pancakes because the fillings are delicious; but I prefer it in small doses since I'm normally not a cream person. It's perfect for sharing since you receive two pancakes per order. If you love cream fillings, then definitely give these pancakes a try.

The consistency and taste from these Hong Kong desserts are quite different than what I am used to. If you haven't had traditional Hong Kong sweets yet, Full House Desserts is a great starting point. I think these treats would be a hit at Asian family parties!

[Product Review] Fauxmagerie Zengarry: Ale Aged Cheddar

Company: Fauxmagerie Zengarry
Product Type: Vegan Cheese - Ale Aged Cheddar flavour
Website: www.zengarry.com

Fauxmagerie Zengarry is a Canadian company that sells vegan cheese made from cashews. They have a few flavours, including Creamy Swiss and Aged Cumin. Their newest and seventh flavour is the Ale Aged Cheddar. The Ale Aged Cheddar is cultured with Beau's All Natural Brewery Lug Tread Ale. Which is awesome because Beau's is another Canadian company and I love supporting local businesses. I tried their original six flavours last year and loved them, so I was happy to review their newest one.

Note, I'm not a pro cook by any means. I only started cooking at the beginning of 2018 and I only do so once a week to meal prep. I like to guesstimate when I put my ingredients together. For this review, I wanted to see what it was like to cook with the cheddar. I decided to try their Mac N' Cheese recipe. The original recipe is vegan, but I made a non-vegan version (basically topped it off with bacon bits).

I ended up adding a bit too much macaroni. Therefore there was less cheese on the Mac N' Cheese. The taste wasn't as prevalent considering the ratio of cheese to macaroni. It definitely doesn't melt as easily as normal cheese. So it took quite of a bit of time to mix the cheddar into the macaroni.

I prefer the Ale Aged Cheddar as a spread. I like to put it on naan and have that for breakfast. There is definitely a kick to the taste which some people may or may not like. It would probably be delicious in a sandwich as well. I personally am a fan, but I'm a fan of all cheese products, vegan or not.

I would definitely recommend Fauxmagerie Zengarry, especially if you are looking to try new vegan products. The Ale Aged Cheddar can be a hit or miss depending on how strong you like your flavour (you should pass on it if you don't like strong cheeses).

[Product Review] Ahoy Lashes

Lashes and Santorini!

Shop: Ahoy Lashes
Address: 216 Ossington Ave.
Phone: 647-326-3688
Operating Hours: Mon 12-8 PM, Tues - Fri 11 AM - 8 PM, Sat-Sun 11 AM - 6 PM
Website: www.ahoylashes.com

Interior

Review

Ahoy Lashes is a semi-permanent lash extensions shop at Ossington and Dundas. I had the pleasure of getting a full set of lashes done by the co-owner and senior technician, Bella. I got them done just before my Greece trip in June because I thought it would be the perfect time to get glam. I wore my lashes throughout my trip (8 days) plus a couple of weeks on top. With the length of time I had them on, I'm confident to give my honest thoughts.

I went into the shop three days prior to my flight. I adored the vacation-themed decor, which was definitely in tune with the name Ahoy Lashes. It's a small but quaint shop with music that would transport you to a tropical island.

Bella did a full consultation with me before she started. I was very happy that she was very thorough and patient because I wasn't familiar with eyelash extensions. She showed me photos of previous clients so I had a visual guide as she explained the different types of looks. She was honest about everyone's eye shape being different. So even if I got the same set and style as another client, it wouldn't necessarily look the same on me. She gave suggestions based on my eye shape and made sure to cater to what I wanted. I loved the personalized consultation because it made me trust her capabilities and gave me a more comfortable experience.

I went for a full set with medium dramatic volume in thickness. They were D-curve lashes and were between 9 to 13 mm in length. By varying the lengths, it created a more cohesive look. I opted for a cat eye look to see how it would turn out on me. I thought I might as well go all out if I'm going on vacation. Bella coated my lashes with a protecting mascara at the end of the session. The lashes and products used are from Korea.

I fell asleep when I was getting my lashes done because it was sooo therapeutic! An hour flew by so quickly that the next thing I knew, I had new lashes on. Bella went over how to care for my lashes and when I should expect them to fall out.

Prior to this, I only had eyelash extensions done once before a couple of years ago. However, they started falling off immediately the day after I had them applied. I think most of the lashes came off by the end of the first week. So my first experience was a complete fail. Bella told me that the eyelash extensions should last for at least three weeks. She ensured me that I should not be expecting fallout during my trip. So for three weeks I monitored my lashes.

The lashes were very long and it took some time for me to adjust to them. Once I did though, I felt pretty bare once they all came off at the end! The unfortunate part was that I couldn't wear any eye makeup during that time as it would affect the integrity of the lashes.

There were a couple of things that occurred when I was wearing the lashes. I noticed that about 2-3 days afterwards, my eyes would tear up randomly. I soon realized that it might have been the glue affecting my eyes. I was unsure if my body didn't like the specific glue used or just all eyelash glues in general. This happened about 4-5 more times in the first week where my eyes would sting for about a minute or two randomly. By the end of the first week, it stopped. I also found that my right eye was a bit tender with where the lashes were attached to. This only happened if I touch that area, otherwise I didn't feel it. The tenderness unfortunately did not go away until most of the lashes came off. However once off, the tenderness disappeared and there were no other problems to the eye.

Other than those two problems I ran into, the lashes held on amazingly. As promised, there were barely any fallout when I was away in Greece. I only went into the beach once but they held up no problem. The lashes did not start falling out slowly until mid second week. I think the glue is quite strong because the last few lashes stayed on so stubbornly towards the end of the month!

I give the lashes a 4/5 stars due to the times where I had tenderness and some tearing, but they stayed on like a champ. The lashes definitely became an added feature to my face and I got used to having fluttery long lashes. The customer service deserved a perfect 5/5 stars! I loved the customization and the wonderful experience I had in the shop. Bella was a joy to work with and I would recommend booking her 100%. Overall, I give Ahoy Lashes 4.5/5 stars.

Ahoy Lashes also only charges a set rate for the extensions. Bella did not think that it was fair people were being charged by the number of lashes used because everyone is born with a different number of lashes. Therefore, if you are someone who has been paying too much for lashes, you should take a look at Ahoy Lashes! I do recommend that if you know what eyelash glues your body is averse to, you should inquire with the shop before booking.

Woo, lashes!

[Product Review] La Holjaldreria Artensal

Company: La Holjaldreria Artensal
Product Type: Mexican pastries
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lahojaldreriaartesanal
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lahojaldreriaartesanal

Review

La Holjaldreria Artensal is a local Toronto catering business specializing in Mexican pastries. The owner reached out to me to try her pastries and share my thoughts. I am always open to product reviews and am happy to see what local businesses have to offer.

I got to sample the Puff Cheese Balls. The puff pastries were originated in France but the concept of French baking was later introduced to Mexico. The puff cheese balls are now known to be a Mexican pastry, with a lightly sweetened puff shell on the outside and flavourful packed cheese bit on the inside. I am a fan because I absolutely love savoury items. The Puff Cheese Balls are great for people that prefer savoury over sweet pastries.

La Holjaldreria Artensal is available to order online and will be delivered by the owner in person. You can contact for availability and check out their social media for more baked goodies!

[TNWS Feature] Sweets Canada

Company: Sweets Canada
Product Type: Gourmet chocolates made with high quality and local ingredients.
Website: www.sweetscanada.com

Review

Sweets Canada is an online retailer that sells gourmet chocolates. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner of Sweets Canada at The National's Women Show back in November. Sweets Canada aims to be a one-stop shop for a chocolate lover or if you are looking for a gift. Whether personal or corporate, these gourmet chocolates are made with precision and wrapped with care. The chocolate bars are also placed in a fabric pouch, perfect to reuse afterwards for storing or gifting small items. I was able to try an array of Sweets Canada products for this review.

I got to try three of the Gourmet Chocolate Bars and two of the Edible Flower Chocolates. Each one were unique on their own. My favourite is the Dark Chocolate Matcha Green Jasmine Powder. Being a matcha fan, this is a great blend of jasmine and matcha in chocolate. I thought the edible flower chocolates were quite unique and everyone should try it at least once. Each chocolate bar is made with high-quality and locally-sourced ingredients that you can taste.

I also got to try Q'Bites, which are snack-sized chocolate pieces. I found these to be a hit or a miss, depending on the flavour you pick up. The first one I had were the Orange Chocolate Apricots, which unfortunately was a miss for me. Mainly due to the fact that I don't like apricots anymore, making me averse to this flavour. The Milk Chocolate Malt Balls reminds me of Malteses, however a bit lighter and slightly less flavourful. I did like the Blueberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Balls and Milk Chocolate ChoChip Cookies.

I highly recommend checking out products from Sweets Canada if you have a wedding or office party coming up. These are the perfect gifts to give your favourite chocoholic.

[TNWS Feature] Vooray

Company: Vooray

Product Type: Fashionable and functional athletic gear and clothing

Website: www.vooray.ca

Review

Vooray was established in 2010 as a sport leisure apparel company. Last year they introduced their gym bags and backpacks, making it a new focus for their brand. I am reviewing their Rose Grey compact duffel from their Burner Gym Bag collection (first picture) for this post. The Burner Gym Bags are much more compact compared to standard-sized gym bags. They got gorgeous patterns and sleek design that appeal to both men and women. 

This bag is well thought out in regards to functionality and comfort. There is a shoe compartment that slips into the bag versus it hanging on the side. It maximizes the space within the bag if you choose not to store your shoes. There are several pockets on the inside of the bag for easy access and organization. The front is padded with faux fur walls to protect items such as your phone and other electronic devices. I personally keep my magnetic work fob in there so I don't have to take it out every time I enter my workplace. The straps are removable and the handles are magnetic. I want to keep this bag as pristine as possible, so I actually keep my gym clothes and toiletries in a reusable tote bag that I tuck within the Burner. 

I honestly cannot rave about this bag enough. I used to carry around a standard size Adidas gym bag for a couple of years whenever I went to the gym. It was quite big and awkward to lug around. I no longer use it and started carrying a separate bag for my workout clothes in addition to my regular handbag. That is until the Burner came into my life. The bag is quite comfortable and carries everything I require throughout the day. Instead of my usual handbag, I would throw in my lunch, wallet, makeup bag, etc., into the Burner along with things I need for yoga.

I highly recommend a Burner Bag for anyone who is a busy bee like me. They are made compact and fashionable so they can be carried around the clock. It's perfect for people who go straight to the gym after work. You can expect it last 2-3 years of daily usage. Though judging from the high quality production of the bag, you can probably make it last a lot longer if you don't abuse it.

Vooray also has different types of bags to fit other needs along with sporty apparel and accessories. Check out their products today to find the perfect holiday gift for that active person in your life! 

[TNWS Feature] Sudsatorium

Company: Sudsatorium

Product Type: Natural vegan body products

Website: www.sudsatorium.com

Review

As mentioned in The National Women's Show post I made last week, I am featuring some brands that were at the show with product reviews. The first one is Sudsatorium! I've seen this brand at several shows in the past. Sudsatorium is a Toronto-based skincare and cosmetic company. As of late, I have been interested in trying products from vegan and ethically-conscious companies. Not only does Sudsatorium produces with fair-trade ingredients, but for every purchase you make, 5% of the proceeds are donated to the grassroots charities. Each product label indicates which charity you would be contributing to when you buy the product. I decided to pick up two products: Royals and Back in Black.

Royals is a toner that contains lavender and rose. I recently ran out of a toner I was using from a Korean brand and this was the perfect opportunity to find a replacement. I was recommended to try Royals since I have acne-prone and oily skin. I saw some improvement in my skin after using it. It did not get rid of any pimples I had at the time, but I saw that my skin was more even and supple. I spray the toner 2-3 times after I have cleanse my face before I apply a daily moisturizer/night cream. 

My favourite product of the two would be Back in Black, a stick deodorant. Sudsatorium started the deodorant line about three months ago, bringing on stick and spray deodorant options. I stopped using store-bought deodorants about a couple of months ago because I realized that the aluminum have been causing my armpits to smell really bad. Which is the exact opposite of its job. I detoxed using apple cider vinegar and bentonite clay and stopped using deodorant for a bit. I wanted to find a deodorant from an organic and vegan brand that didn't contain any aluminum and were made of natural ingredients. When I saw the deodorant sticks at Sudsatorium, I knew I wanted to give one a shot.

Back in Black is a unisex deodorant stick which goes on clear and smells pretty good (it contains rosalina, honey myrtle, and rose). For Lush lovers who aren't a fan of using their deodorant powder or non-packaged bars, I highly recommend trying out Sudsatorium's deodorants instead!

[Launch + Product Review] Shopbake.com

Hate making that long trip to your favourite bakery? Wish there is a way to get all the sweets for the party or wedding in an easier fashion? Look no further with Shopbake.com! Shopbake.com is a new Canadian online marketplace for all things baked. It's like Etsy, except all edible goods! The site launches today and anyone can sign up to sell their baked goodies.

To help spread the word and check out some participating shops, I was sent an adorable gift box full of sweets to try. This box finally satisfied the crazy cravings I had for chocolates! I decided to give my thoughts on everything in the box, so you know what to try out!

Review

Chocolate Chip Cookie by Cookie Scoop: The cookie was soft and yummy. I have tried other chocolate chip cookies that I would prefer over this one, but it was still enjoyable.

Salted Dark Chocolate Cake Truffle by Petal Dust Bake Shop: This was absolutely delicious! Despite the small size of the cake truffle, each bite packed a punch. It was very decadent and would fulfill a chocolate lover's craving instantly!

Milk & Cookies Sandwich Cookie by Petal Dust Bake Shop: The cookie sandwich was slightly hard by the time I ate it (which was a couple of days after receiving the package), but I still liked the concept of it. I think it would be better fresh.

Baby Macs by Dollop Bakery: All of the baby macaroons were hard and unsavoury. I guessed they were no longer fresh by the time I tried them, which was a disappointment.

Chocolate Fudge Mason Jar by Short & Sweet Cupcakes: By far my favourite item in the box! The mason jar sealed the freshness of the cake inside. I loved the different layers of the cake in the jar. The middle was the yummiest and gooiest of them all!

Chocolate Lollipop by Branded Bites: This company makes chocolate lollipops with any business logo or picture of your choice on them. The chocolate lollipop tasted like any basic chocolate in my opinion. Though I liked that the chocolate was in lollipop form and was perfect for any company event.

My recommendations: Cake Truffles from Petal Dust Bake Shop and Mason Jars from Short & Sweet Cupcakes!

[Product Review] Zpirit

Company: Zpirit
Website: www.zpiritfood.com

Review

Product: Zpirit
Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Yes to all

Spiced Pear & Vanilla, Pineapple & Sage, Mandarin & Mint, Peach & Basil

An acquaintance reached out to me, asking if I would be interested in reviewing naturally infused water products from the company he is working for. Obviously, I said yes! I am always open to trying new products because I like discovering new favourites!

Zpirit currently sells four flavours of their naturally infused water, only 30 calories per bottle. The unique aspect of Zpirit is that all the drinks have actual fruit pieces in them! I thought this was a cute spin from most naturally infused water brands out there in the market. I got to try their entire line and these were my thoughts in the order I drank them:

Pineapple & Sage: This was the first drink I tried and was my least favourite. It had a pineapple taste but I wasn't sure if I was detecting the sage in there, since I was unfamiliar with how sage tasted like. Despite the drink tasting like pineapple, there was something about the flavour that I wasn't particularly fond of. It felt bland. I was afraid that the other drinks were going to be similar, but thankfully not!

Peach & Basil: The second drink I tried became my second favourite out of the bunch. The peach flavour had a nice kick to it and I gulped it down a lot more quickly than the Pineapple & Sage. I am a fan of peaches, so it was no surprise that I liked this one.

Mandarin & Mint: In this drink, you can taste both the mandarin and the mint, which is a nice balance. It didn't stand out compared to the three in my opinion, but I think this could be a favourite for others.

Spiced Pear & Vanilla: Hands down, this is my favourite flavour out of the four! At first when I tried it, I wasn't sure if it was going to be a favourite over the Peach & Basil. As I continued to drink the Spiced Pear & Vanilla, it reminded me of tea. This flavour would be perfect in tea form and many tea lovers would definitely enjoy this drink.

The one thing I was disappointed with all the drinks was that the fruit pieces didn't have any flavour left by the time you eat them. I think all the juices are sucked out from the fruits once infused with the water. So you get textured, but flavourless fruits to chew on at the end. Overall, Zpirit is a good brand to try out if you are a fan of flavoured water or trying out healthy drink alternatives. I highly recommend the Spiced Pear & Vanilla.

Currently, Zpirit is available only in Ontario and Quebec in selected stores. Big retailers you can find Zpirit in are Longo's, Whole Foods and selected Loblaws. Zpirit is in many independent cafes and stores, such as Cafe 260, Wanda's Pie in the Sky, Lettieri, and more!

Have you tried Zpirit yet? If so, which ones? Do you have any favourites?

Thank you to Zprit for the products provided for this review! :)

[Product Review] Kiss Me Organics - Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder

Company: Kiss Me Organics
Website: www.kissmeorganics.com

Review

Product: Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Yes to all

KissMe Matcha Green Latte

Matcha Orange Cocktail

Kiss Me Organics asked if I wanted to try their Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder. I had an unpleasant experience with a Matcha Latte a long time ago, but I wanted to give it another chance to redeem itself. I knew there are a lot of health benefits to matcha. A few of the things highlighted on the packaging are: all day energy, metabolism boost, increase focus, improve skin health, and 137x antioxidants of brewed green tea. I don't know about you, but I like to have all of the above!

The Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder is exclusively sold through Amazon. Once purchased, you will receive a complimentary recipe e-book with different ways to incorporate matcha into your daily life. The e-book has over 50 recipes using matcha anywhere from smoothies to breakfast. When I skimmed through the e-book, I realized I didn't have most of the ingredients. Therefore, I was only able to make two things: the KissMe Matcha Green Latte and the Matcha Orange Cocktail.

The KissMe Matcha Green Latte was very easy to make. It only needed milk, water, and agave syrup! Since I didn't have agave syrup on hand, I replaced it with honey. Sadly my drink looked nothing like the photo in the recipe e-book because I had zero skills with creating foam and latte art. It was a nice latte drink nonetheless, and my favourite to drink almost everyday as of late. The Matcha Orange Cocktail was just as easy. It required ice, sugar, hot water, and orange juice. I didn't have any Tropicana so I used Sun Della's Citrus Punch. For the cocktail, you should adjust the matcha or orange juice depending on which taste you prefer more of. I liked tasting the matcha more so I adjusted the amount the second time I made it. Plus, the cocktail is a great alternative for having a cold summer drink!

Overall, I think the Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder is a great product! I like the taste and I love how there are so many different ways to use it. Hopefully in the near future I will tackle another recipe once I have time to (I will update here once I do!).

You can purchase here: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00DDT116M/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you to Kiss Me Organics for the Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder provided for this review! :)

[Product Review] Square Snacks

Company: Square Snacks

Website: www.squaresnacks.com

Review

Product: Square Snacks
Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Vegetarian, dairy-free, whey-free, soy-free, peanuts-free, wheat-free, nut-free and corn-free

I got the pleasure of reviewing Square Snacks, a line of healthy on-the-go energy snacks created by a Torontonian nutritionist. These snacks meant to be that quick bite to eat before having your next meal. Square Snacks emphasizes on giving you all the nutrients your body needs and being the simple energy bar. They are created with basic ingredients that are fresh and wholesome. So far, they have two lines: 3 pm Snacks and Marvellous for Mom Snacks (which will be discontinued soon and all flavours will be integrated into 3 pm Snacks). 3 pm Snacks have three flavours: Fruit and Nut Boost, Hazelnut Cherry, and Cocoa Cravings. In their Marvellous for Mom Snacks, there's only one flavour which is Chocolate Coconut. I had the chance to review all except for their Hazelnut Cherry. All the snacks are 25 g with 100-110 calories each!

Square Snacks are currently available in many independent cafes, such as Black Canary Espresso Bar, Rise Espresso, Jimmy's Coffee, and Si Espresso Bar. They are also available on campus at Ryerson University, Humber College, St. Michael's College at University of Toronto and George Brown. They are being sold for $1.50 per square. Some grocery stores, such as Whole Foods and The Big Carrot on Danforth, carry them as well. Square Snacks are aiming to be available in private gyms soon. A couple of the products have been featured in Munch Better, a subscription healthy snack box that gets delivered to your door every month.

To test out the Square Snacks, I did what they were intended for by taking them on-the-go. The first one I had was the Fruit and Nut Boost, which I took with me to the Justin Timberlake concert mid-February. The first thing I noticed about the snack and could describe it in one word is: raw. As mentioned earlier, the squares are made only with basic ingredients so you could tell from just eating it. It was fruity and chewy but I didn't taste a lot of nuts as much as I expected.

The next one I tried was Cocoa Cravings. I was craving for food despite having a hearty dim sum meal earlier. So I wanted to see if Cocoa Cravings was going to ease my hunger. Unfortunately, I was hungry again after anyway! This square is definitely for people who love cocoa.

The last bar I had was during a meeting was the Chocolate Coconut. The coconut taste was not as strong, which I was glad for because I'm not always a fan of coconut. I thought this bar was the most similar to most energy bars out there in terms of taste.

The squares are definitely not for people with huge appetites. Despite having a bar to satisfy my hunger on all three accounts, I got hungry again pretty quickly. I do know though that I usually require something substantial before I stop craving. So I'd need at least three of these bars if I wanted to stop being hungry for a short period of time! However, I know that there are people out there that would only need one square and they are good to go!

Thank you Square Snacks for the samples provided for this review! :)

[Product Review] DLish Cupcakes

Company: DLish Cupcakes

Website: www.dlishcupcakes.com

Review

Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: No

Lemon Meringue, $17 for box of 6

Maple Walnut, $3

Pumpkin, $3

DLish Cupcakes is one of the popular cupcake stores in Toronto. If you aren't familiar, DLish Cupcakes have two locations on Queen West and Yorkville. They specialize in cupcakes for all occasions, with limited edition flavours that come out maybe once or twice a year.

The very first time I got to try DLish Cupcakes was when I won a 6-pack of their limited Lemon Meringue this past summer. I was super excited because who wouldn't want to win free cupcakes? My friend asked for one immediately after she found out I won. I remembered it being soft and chewy, which is a given for all the DLish Cupcakes! I was quite content with the number of cupcakes I was able to chow down by the end of the day.

I was able to try their Maple Walnut and Pumpkin recently through their weekly freebies! How do you get a free cupcake? If you keep an eye out on their Twitter account @DLishCupcakes, they sometimes announce a secret word that you need to say in-stores to win a free cupcake. I remember devouring the Maple Walnut pretty quickly and the Pumpkin tasted true to its flavour. My favourite out of the three flavours I have tried so far is the Maple Walnut.

So to wrap it up, each and every cupcake I've had so far from DLish Cupcakes is absolutely delish! It's perfect to bring to a small dinner party or for someone's birthday. Heck, why need an occasion to have a cupcake anyway? Cupcakes are simply amazing.

[Product Review] David's Tea - David's Iced Teas

Company: David's Tea
Website: http://www.davidstea.com/

Review

Product: David's Iced Teas
Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free?: Yes to all (correct me please if I'm wrong)

I bought this tea set during the summer and I meant to have this post up three months ago. Oh well, better late than never! Although this tea set is no longer available for sale, I'm reviewing it because the individual teas you can still get in-stores.

The three teas in this set are: Goji Pop, Tropicalia, and Mango Madness. Originally, Tropicalia was my favourite. It's very sweet and has these cute sugar hearts in the tea. Out of my entire tea collection, Tropicalia is the only one I have finished thus far. Towards the end of finishing Tropicalia, I started to prefer Goji Pop because it's less sweet. Both of them are fruit infusion teas. Mango Madness is a white tea that is my least favourite. Smelling it now, I don't think I mind it as much as I did previously. It is great for the mango lovers out there. They do not do well in the iced tea version though because the teas aren't sweet enough.

I personally would not repurchase this set. They aren't bad since I bought them on sale and I'm glad to have tried them out. However, if you come across a sale with this set, it's a pretty good deal.

Note: I saved the empty Tropicalia tin to store my earrings. So definitely save the tins, they can be re-purposed!