Snack Smart with MacroLife Nutrient-Rich Food Bars

The kind of fuel you put into your body is just as important as the quality of fuel you use in your car or to heat your house. So don’t fuel your body with junk! MacroLife Naturals (www.macrolifenaturals.com) makes it easy to reach for something nutrient dense when you need a snack or a meal replacement, thanks to their Nutrient-Rich Superfood Bars.

Fresh Berri Berri (our favorite), Apple-Lemon Ginger, and Chocolate Cinnamon are the flavor varieties available in each individually wrapped vegan and gluten-free bar. These superfood bars are chewy and satisfying, with just the right amount of sweetness and no artificial aftertaste. `They also contain probiotics to keep your digestive system on track and give an added boost to your immune system. We also like the fact that MacroLife Naturals Superfood Bars contain ingredients like Brazil Nuts, Acai, Goji Berries and Pomegranate, not your run of the mill snack bar ingredients.

MacroLife Naturals Nutrient-Rich Superfood Bars – Gotta Love it!

Star in Your Own Valentine’s Day Romance Novel

We were recently introduced to one of the most clever Valentine’s Day gift ideas we’ve come across in quite some time. Did you know that you and your sweetie can star in your very own romance novel, thanks to UStarNovels.com.

This unique paperback book gift is personalized with the specific information you input when ordering, right down to your favorite brands of perfume and cologne, your occupations, favorite foods and music choices, as well as hair and eye color. It’s such delicious fun to receive the finished product in the mail, with an exciting storyline that places you and your Valentine right in the center of the action. You can even put in the name of your favorite celebrity if you are between sweethearts or just want to fanticize about being the main squeeze of a famous hottie. We chose a story about Hollywood, but other titles include more than a dozen different scenarios, such as Safari Nights, Indecent in Italy, and Doing DC.  In addition to romances, U Novels can also make you the star of other personalized novels including several literary classics, as well as stories designed for same-sex couples. UStarNovels.com offers you a Valentine’s Day gift you can enjoy reading again and again!

UStarNovels.com Personalized Books – Gotta Love It!

Shake Up Your Cooking with Bob’s Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook

One thing the snowy winter weather is good for is inspiring us to spend more creative time in our kitchen. Camilla V. Saulsbury’s latest release, the Bob’s Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook (www.robertrose.ca) offers delicious inspiration for discovering a variety of ancient gluten-free grains that may not be at the top of your regular grocery list, including Buckwheat Flour, Amaranth, Teff and Quinoa.

Author Saulsbury provides an interesting tutorial about these gluten-free ingredients, many of which date back to ancient times. Then comes the fun part — the wide array of recipes ranging from soups and stews to breakfast breads , casseroles and desserts which can be created using whole grains. Bob’s Mills Products can be purchased online or found at your local supermarket or you can use your own preferred brand.

Bob’s Red Mill Everyday Gluten-Free Cookbook by Camilla V. Saulsbury – Gotta Love It!

St. Germain Pours Flowers Into Your Valentine Cocktail Glass

In place of a bouquet of flowers this Valentine’s Day, why not create a cocktail using the first handcrafted liqueur made using fresh elderflower blossoms – St-Germain ( http://stgermain.fr/).

This delicately sweet liqueur, which has such a lovely aroma, makes a delicious appertif prior to your Happy Heart’s Day meal. To create a simple yet elegant La Rosette cocktail (pictured above), simply fill a flute glass halfway with St- Germain, then top with Brut Champagne and garnish with a whole fresh strawberry. Very refreshing!  St-Germain also mixes nicely with sparking water and Prosecco. Check out the St-Germain Carafe offered at http://www.stgermaincollection.com to make your cocktail mixing easier than ever.

St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur – Gotta Love It!

Bombay Sapphire Inspires The French 75 Cocktail

Bombay Sapphire Gin is the kind of spirit you want to keep on hand to treat yourself well and to impress others! There are a total of 10 precious botanical ingredients  used in the production of this very special liquor, including Coriander, Angelica, Lemon Peel and Cassia Bark to create its very distinctive flavor.

Juniper from the Hills of Tuscany are a key ingredient in this classic gin (www.bombaysapphire.com), a favorite for creating a sophisticated Valentine’s Day cocktail called The French 75: Shake 3/4 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin with 1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/2 shot simple syrup. Strain into a champagne glass, then add a little champagne and stir, garnishing with a fresh lemon twist. A crisp, clear, refreshing taste that is certain to get the attention of your Valentine! You can vary this recipe by topping with Martini & Rossi Prosecco instead to make the cocktail a Capital 75, garnished with a cherry instead of a lemon twist.

Bombay Sapphire Gin and The French 75 Cocktail – Gotta Love It!

I’ll Take Manhattan With Dewar’s Scotch Whiskey

Baby it’s cold outside. Why not plan to heat things up with your Valentine this year by staying inside and mixing up a couple of Dewar’s 12 Manhattan cocktails using a very chic and classic ingredient, Dewar’s Scotch Whiskey. (http://livetrue.dewars.com/us/home/live).

This smooth and satisfying libation combines 3/4 parts sweet vermouth,  2 1/2 parts Scotch whiskey, 1 dash Angostura® bitters, 1 maraschino cherry, and 1 twist orange peel. Combine all ingredients with several ice cubes in a mixing glass, then strain into a cocktail glass garnished with a stemmed cherry and orange peel twist. The flavor is complex, rich and delicious and the slight pink hue makes for a perfect Valentine’s Day cocktail to celebrate your togetherness.

Dewar’s Scotch Whiskey and the Dewar’s 12 Manhattan Cocktail- Gotta Love It!