Tag: foodie

15 Food & Drink Novelty Gifts – Gift Guide – The Ultimate Shopping Guide For The Foodie

15 Food & Drink Novelty Gifts - Ultimate Gift Guide by Give It A Whirl Girl

If you know me then you would know that I do have a sense of humor. I believe that laughter and smiles are truly the best medicine. So today I have put together this funloving novelty gifts gift guide for my readers. The 15 items that I have included in this novelty gifts gift guide are sure to put a smile on your face or the recipient’s face! We have everything here from nutsack tea infusers to canned unicorn meat included here! I absolutely LOVE putting novelty gift guides together over here at Give It A Whirl Girl. Stuff like this is totally my style and right up my alley.

 

NOVELTY GIFTS GIFT GUIDE

Realistic Pizza Throw Blanket

Here we have a realistic throw blanket that resembles a cheese and pepperoni pizza! This pizza throw blanket measures in at 60″ in diameter and is made from a soft, polyester fleece material. This pizza blanket is perfect for the pizza lover in your life and is great for snuggling up into.

Realistic Pizza Throw Blanket
Realistic Pizza Throw Blanket


Teabagger Nutsack Tea Infuser

I gotta just come out and say here how brilliant and genius and brilliant this Teabagger Tea Infuser is. Hiliarious! Have you ever seen a tea infuser that is funnier than this one? Nope… not me!

For those of you who are hurting in the testicles department, there is a special Blue Balls Edition Teabagger Tea Infuser.

And they didn’t want to leave out the Chocolate Lovers so here is their Chocolate Lovers Teabagger Tea Infuser.

Teabagger Nutsack Tea Infuser
Teabagger Nutsack Tea Infuser


Mr. Sneezy Egg Separator

This snot-nosed egg separator is a must-have item in your kitchen if you have any sense of humor. I can’t think of a better more enjoyable way of separating your eggs!

Mr. Sneezy Egg Separator
Mr. Sneezy Egg Separator



Funny Drink Coasters

These funny drink coasters from Ultimate Hostess contain the perfect amount of an offensive attitude. Try not to be offended here, they are just having fun!

Funny Drink Coasters from Ultimate Hostess
Funny Drink Coasters from Ultimate Hostess



Canned Unicorn Meat by ThinkGeek

Ummm hmmm… not sure what the heck unicorn meat tastes like but if you are curious and intrigued by this canned unicorn meat from ThinkGeek I say GO FOR IT!

They say it is an excellent source or sparkles and that there is magic in every bite.

Canned Unicorn Meat
Canned Unicorn Meat



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Sourpuss Alternative Lifestyle Gift Guide

Nostalgia Grilled Cheese Sandwich Toaster

This is a pretty darn impressive item from Nostalgia. This is a grilled cheese sandwich toaster that is capable of creating two grilled cheese sandwiches for you in minutes!

Nostalgia Grilled Cheese Sandwich Maker
Nostalgia Grilled Cheese Sandwich Maker

Giant Gummy Cheeseburger

Ahhh yes! Gummy candies… a major HUGE weakness of mine! This is a 7 oz. giant gummy cheeseburger. This gummy candy has the flavors of cherry, orange, and sour apples.

Giant Gummy Cheeseburger
Giant Gummy Cheeseburger

 

 

Dinosaur Taco Holder Set

Serve up your next batch of Mexican food on Taco Tuesday with this 4-pack set of dinosaur taco holders!

4-Pack Dinosaur Taco Holder Set
4-Pack Dinosaur Taco Holder Set

More dinosaur taco holders on Amazon

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BigMouth Novelty Gifts Gift Guide

Blue Q Oven Mitt

This brand, Blue Q, totally blows my mind with their clever and witty designs for your kitchen. Blue Q has some gut-busting funny oven mitts and dish towels available.

Blue Q Oven Mitt (I'm Beautiful and I EAT A LOT)
Blue Q Oven Mitt (I’m Beautiful and I EAT A LOT)


 

Brain Ice Cube Mold

This brain ice cube mold is sure to make your next drink stand out from the crowd. This 3-dimensional brain mold creates 4 brainy ice-cubes.

Brain Ice Cube Mold
Brain Ice Cube Mold


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MY AMAZON STORE

Check out my Amazon store for more fun foodie items

Deez Nuts Banana Bread Scented Candle

Anyone remember when Deez Nuts wanted to run for president. I do! This is a banana bread, toasted coconut, and hazelnut-scented candle in a glass jar.

Deez Nuts Banana Bread Scented Candle
Deez Nuts Banana Bread Scented Candle


Food Themed Socks

Show off your love for food on your feet with this super duper fun food sock set! This set contains 12 sets of food-related socks.

Food Socks - 12 Socks Set
Food Socks – 12 Socks Set

Fred & Friends Rainbow Party Cup

I am head over heels in love with this Fred & Friends reusable rainbow party cup AND this is an item that I do actually have the pleasure of owning! This is my go-to cup for when I need to wet my whistle!

Fred & Friends Rainbow Party Cup
Fred & Friends Rainbow Party Cup


Jelly Belly Beanboozled Jelly Bean Game

I believe that everyone should play Jelly Belly’s Beanboozled game at least once in their lifetime. This simple game is sure to bring belly laughs to the table with gross flavors like barf, boogers, and rotten eggs. There are also some yummy flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans in here. You never know what you are going to end up with when you spin the Beanboozled wheel! This is such a fantastic game to play with family and friends. You might just want to even video record the reactions that you end up with on your face when you take a bite out of one of the disgusting jelly beans.

Jelly Belly Beanboozled Jelly Bean Game
Jelly Belly Beanboozled Jelly Bean Game


I’ve Got Anxiety Coffee Mug from LookHUMAN

Yup… this coffee mug basically sums up my life! I love this coffee mug from LookHUMAN. This is a brand that has a ton of clever items available. LookHUMAN knows how to make someone’s day with their clever and witty products.

I've Got Anxiety Coffee Mug from LookHUMAN
I’ve Got Anxiety Coffee Mug from LookHUMAN



MORE NOVELTY GIFTS ON AMAZON





Question Time!

What food & drink novelty gifts do you love from this gift guide for the foodie in your life? Leave me a comment and let me know what item(s) made you laugh out loud!

 

OTHER POSTS AT GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL THAT YOU MIGHT ENJOY

 



 

 


15

Best Holiday Gifts For The Foodie – Gift Guide

The Best Holiday Gifts For Foodies - Gift Guide by Give It A Whirl Girl

Know someone who is a big-time foodie? Shopping for last-minute holiday gifts? This gift-guide is chock full of the perfect gifts for the foodie in your life. This foodie gift-guide has a variety of different food-related items that will surely put a smile on the recipient’s face. Hopefully, you can find an item in this foodie gift guide that will make for a very memorable gift. I know I would be completely and totally happy and content with anything from this gift-guide.

Sun Basket Gift Card

Give the gift of healthy food and clean eats with a Sun Basket Gift Card. You can read more about Sun Basket in this blog post and here as well. I recently posted this round-up post with my favorite meal kit subscription boxes and you can find the current deals there.

Sun Basket is perfect for gift giving!

Candy Club Gift Box

Candy Club has a few different options for sending a gift to someone. This Candy Club box makes a great gift for a loved one that you can send straight to their doorstep. There is a smaller Fun Box size (which starts at $9 for the first box) and a larger Party Box size (that is $19 for the first box) that you can choose from. There are six different boxes that you can choose from.

You can click this banner to get started and save $20 off your first box. This $20 in savings is on the larger box.

Give the gift of Candy Club

Grill Masters Club Gift Box

Grill Master’s Club has four different gift boxes that are perfect for gift giving this holiday season! Know someone who is a Grill Master? They will appreciate this gift that keeps on giving. Boxes start at $27.95/month. Giving a one year subscription to this Grill Masters Club gift box will be an unforgettable gift for that foodie that is obsessed with grilling.

Get started HERE

Grill Master’s Club

Bones Coffee

Bones Coffee hands down has some of the most unique flavors of coffee I have ever seen and heard of! Check out their flavors and grab yourself a sampler back of 5 different flavors that you choose.

Electric Unicorn (a fruity cereal flavor), S’morey Time, French Toast, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Maple Bacon are the five flavors I am dying to try (if anyone wants to gift me a sampler pack… wink! wink! And pretty please with sugar and cream on top lol).

Click this link to start shopping at Bones Coffee.

Bones Coffee 5-Pack Sampler (image via Bones Coffee)

Primal Kitchen

Primal Kitchen is one of my favorite brands and my go-to for clean eats! You can use my special coupon GIVEITAWHIRL10 to save on your order at Primal Kitchen and they currently have free shipping on any order over $50. You can shop at Primal Kitchen’s online store or find them on Amazon.

Paleo By Maileo

Paleo By Maileo has a few different paleo snack boxes available, indivdual snacks so you can create your own box, or you can purchase a gift card in their online store. This is for the foodie in your life that prefers a diet of clean eats and gluten-free foods. I know I would love a gift like this!

 

 

Love With Food Subscription Box

Love With Food is a snack box subscription box. For a limited time only you can get a FREE $25 snack box and $10 off any 6 or 12-month subscription with coupon code JOLLY10. You can also shop around in their online snack shop and create your own custom box. These snack boxes are absolutely wonderful for any foodie that loves to give new and different foods a whirl!

 
Holiday Sale- $25 Free Box + $10 Off w/ 6 or 12 COUPON CODE: JOLLY10
Love With Food Snack Box

Give the Gift of Shipt grocery delivery service

Grocery delivery service is all the rage nowadays. You can now give the gift of Shipt to a loved one. You can choose from a 6-month or 12-month service and the cost starts at $49/month. With Shipt you can receive your grocery ordered delivered in as soon as an hour. This type of service is a godsend to me because I do not drive due to a phobia of driving.

Sign up and get started HERE.

 

FoodStirs Baking Subscription Box

I had a 6-month FoodStirs subscription and I am super bummed that this subscription ran out because we absolutely loved it! FoodStirs is a baking subscription box and FoodStirs only delivers the best ingredients in their baking kits. They use organic ingredients and all of these desserts turn out scrumptious. This is a great box to share with your children that love to help out in the kitchen. My daugher, Chloe, is almost 9 years old and she absolutely loved creating these desserts with me. This is perfect for the sweet tooth foodie in your life.

Celbration Rainbow Pancake Kit from FoodStirs

15% Off Sitewide on your first order! (Use Code: MOREFLOUR15)

Gourmet Candy at Sugarfina

Here are some more gift ideas for the foodie in your life with a major sweet tooth. Sugarfina’s online store is full to the brim with gourmet candies that have a unique flavor profile.

The ultimate gift at SugarFina is the Build-Your-Own Candy Trunk. With this gift you get to choose twenty different gourmet candies to fill it with. Is that too rich for your blood? Check out the Four Piece Holiday Bento Box.

Build Your Own Candy Trunk (20 different flavors)

Receive Free Shipping On Orders $50+! Use code: SWEETSHIP50. Offer Valid 11/27-1/31. Shop Now!

 

Give the gift of Thrive Market

Thrive Market is the place to be if you want big savings on all the organic, clean eats! This company definitely earned a spot in my foodie gift guide and for good reason. Their online store is chock full of gluten-free, paleo, Whole 30, keto, and vegan/vegetarian foods. You can receive 25% off your first order. Delivery is fast and free. I have ordered from Thrive Market before and was totally pleased with my order AND the big savings! Their prices are 25-50% below regular retail prices.

The catch? This is a paid membership site. The membership is $59.95 for one year of access to their online store. This fee, however, pays for itself if you order from Thrive Market frequently. This membership would be an incredible gift for the healthy food enthusiast. 

 

Gift cards are always tops!

Who doesn’t love a good gift-card? Seriously, you just can’t go wrong with one of these and that is why I am including them in this foodie gift-guide for all of those food lovers out there.

Amazon Gift-Card

Amazon is your source for anything and everything. I would imagine that anyone and everyone would be excited to receive one of these gift-cards during the holiday season.

Amazon Gift-Card Holiday Box

Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar Gift-Card

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is the place to dine if you are looking for food with exceptional taste and quality. At Fleming’s there are also several fancy schmancy wines to choose from to go with you big, juicy steak.

Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar Gift-Card

Tastemade Gift Card

Tastemade has some very unique for the foodie in your life. They have an online store that has something for everyone.

Tastemade
Shop at Tastemade

Sur La Table Gift Card

Sur La Table has excellent gifts for the home chef. They have cookware, bakeware, small appliances, dinnerware and more. So make that foodie happy and give them the gift of shopping online at Sur La Table!

Sur La Table
Shop at Sur La Table

Chef’s Catalog Gift-Card

The online store at Chef’s Catalog is another slice of heaven for foodies. They also offer cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen essentials you can possibly think of.

Chefs Catalog
Shop at Chef’s Catalog

Did any of these gifts in this foodie gift-guide pique your interest? Let me know in the comments what you will be gifting this year or treating yourself to!

Related posts: 

 

 

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS (no extra cost to you). ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.

Virgin Wines
World Port Seafood
Send holiday gifts, holiday cake delivery, Bake Me A Wish!
13

Surround Yourself With Squash & Gourds- Tried It Out Tuesday (Dumpling & Buttercup Squash)

Have you ever gone on a squash adventure? No? Neither have I until this past weekend when I went to Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in St. Clair Shores, MI looking for something interesting to try this week for Tried It Out Tuesday. We ended up taking home four different types of squash. In this post I will be discussing the dumpling squash and the buttercup squash that we tried.

I have written about this place before and I love going here on a fun little foodie adventure when I have a small wad of cash to blow. Some girls spend their dollars getting hair & nails done or buying trendy new clothes. Not me, not this girl right here! My family enjoys being adventurous eaters so when we have a little extra cash we like to treat ourselves to something delicious and tasty.

There is a whole world of squash out there in the universe just waiting to be discovered by you!

When you eat with an open mind you allow yourself the chance to experience new foods, new flavors. I went to Nino’s with no clear plan. I just wanted to go in there and walk out with something that I have never tried and experienced.

A little bit about Nino Salvaggio’s

Giant pumpkin at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Indian corn at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Nino Salvaggio’s is a great local place that is chockful of interesting fruits and vegetables right at your fingertips. They currently have 3 locations with another added location in the works. I live closest to the smaller, St Clair Shores location, and believe it or not I have been going to this little store my whole entire life. On weekends I remember my mom taking us out to fruit markets to stock up on produce. We would go to Randazzo’s on Gratiot in Roseville and we would go to Nino’s in St Clair Shores. Honestly, I absolutely hated going to these stores when I was growing up. I thought it was boring and I would get a bit antsy and impatient and want to leave.

Look at me now! I am all grown up and going shopping for food is always the highlight of my days and I look forward to it. I just can’t seem to get enough of it.

Nino’s is bustling with people on the weekend and for good reason! They have the most beautiful displays of fresh produce that I have ever witnessed. They are super picky about what gets put out on the display for purchase, and they only put out the best of the best.

I will be writing frequently about my shopping experiences there. Other than Eastern Market, this is my go-to place for interesting eats. If you live in the area of Nino Salvaggio’s I highly recommend taking a little trip there to see what you can stock up on. There is always something new and interesting there to feed the senses.

My little haul of unusual squash

Squash that I bought at Nino Salvaggio's
Squash that I purchased at Nino Salvaggio’s: Dumpling Squash, Buttercup, Hubbard, and Sweet Potato Squash

I am a huge fan of summertime in Michigan. I pretty love and cherish most things about summer here, minus the god-awful humidity. I do enjoy a good barbeque feast on the weekends and I do love the food during the summer BUT my favorite foods are all autumn related. I love a good, filling bowl of soup on a cold day. I love a thick & hearty stew. I enjoy eating pumpkin flavored desserts. Just last year I recently discovered that I am also a huge fan of squash. The first squash I fell in love with last year was the butternut squash. I pureed it and made some paleo soup with it and topped it with a coconut milk drizzle. And then next up I ventured into trying out acorn squash. I remember serving it as a side dish with a maple syrup drizzle on it.

So this year I was up for the challenge of taking home some new-to-me squash. Nino Salvaggio’s had a grand display of squash, pumpkins, and gourds out in the front of the store. I grabbed a shopping cart and starting asking Google a bunch of questions on my phone about these squash I was about to purchase. I filled up my cart with four varieties: dumpling squash, buttercup squash, sweet potato squash, and an orange hubbard squash. I had a general idea on what I was going to do with them. Maple syrup always goes well with roasted squash so I got myself a bottle of pure Michigan maple syrup.

I did not even step foot into the store and I already had my mind made up on what I was going to take home… SQUASH and lots of it!

My daughter, Chloe, was scoping out the heirloom pumpkins and observing them in amazement. She fell in love with a tall white pumpkin that you can see in the photo below.

I also had to rummage through the basket of decorative gourds and bring home a few of them. We enjoyed looking at how unique each and every one of them was.

My daughter, Chloe, checking out the heirloom pumpkins at Nino Salvaggio’s
My daughter, Chloe, checking out the heirloom pumpkins at Nino Salvaggio’s
Dumpling Squash at Nino Salvaggio's International Marketplace
Dumpling Squash at Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace
Buttercup Squash at Nino Salvaggio's International Marketplace
Buttercup Squash at Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace

Continue reading “Surround Yourself With Squash & Gourds- Tried It Out Tuesday (Dumpling & Buttercup Squash)” →

3

Friday Faves – Wear Your Food Edition – Part 1

Pretty much obsessed with everything on this list! I have composed a list of gift ideas for the foodie in your life or go ahead and splurge on yourself! All day and night I live in a world where I dream of food. I really should start dressing myself in head-to-toe food clothing. This list features some of the best of the best of food fashion.

Pizza Hoodie

Pizza has to be the most universally loved food on this planet right? I have never in my life heard anyone say that they hate pizza.

Hotdog Duffel Bag

Wow. What to say about this? *Insert LOZ here* I just can not get over how wild and crazy this bag is. Surely you would be the talk of the town toting this weiner bag around.

Sushi Dress by Folter

I am a big fan of Folter’s line of dresses and I own a few. Owning this adorable sushi dress is definitely one of my goals to achieve one day. I would be thrilled to rock this dress on my next sushi date.

Taco Cat Board Shorts Here is something for the man in your life! The graphics on these shorts are totally crazy but in the greatest way.

Avocado Socks

Seems like avocados are all the rage these days so why not show off your love for it with these green avocado socks!

Pineapple Purse

This purse is small and would be great for date night. You could carry a coin purse and cell phone in it. This purse is a sure attention-grabber!

Candy Land Dress by CowCow

This dress is super cute and the best part about it is that it is easy on your wallet. You can get this dress for around $20 depending on your size.

Donut Backpack by Jansport

You can send your child back to school with this pink donut backpack.

Lasagna Del Rey Shirt

If you are not familiar with Pyknic it is time to check them out. This shirt is the epitome of perfect for me. Lasagna + Lana Del Rey? I love both and I definitely need to rock this tee.

Happy Ice-Cream Cone Dress

JXStar is another great line of clothing for the little girl in your life. My Chloe Pearl does own this dress and it is one of her favorites. This is the perfect dress to wear on your next trip to the ice-cream shoppe.

So we have reached the end of my Friday Faves list. What are you crushing on? Leave me a comment and let me know!

DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS. ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.


Diamond CBD

3

Kiwano Horned Melon For Tried It Out Tuesday!

Kiwano Horned Melon - REVIEW - Tried It Out Tuesday

Yesterday I had a $25 credit for Instacart so I decided to hurry up and spend it right away. I have no control over myself when it comes to having money for food. I spend, spend, spend. I live for the thrill of trying new foods out. My game plan yesterday was to use my credit to stock up on not only healthy foods BUT adventurous foods as well. I ended up getting a kiwano horned melon! What?? Keep reading to learn more!

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In the photo above you can see the small haul that I acquired from Meijer. I usually avoid the Meijer near our house because of the long checkout lanes as opposed to the speedy service at Kroger that is right across the street. However, Meijer does carry quite a bit of food that is not available at Kroger. Since I had the credit to get food delivered to my home and avoid the checkout lines altogether, I placed my order with Meijer.

I ended up with 6 bottles of Kevita Kombucha. They had a promo where you could get free delivery if you purchased $20+ of this line of beverages. I love kombucha anyway and it is a nice treat for me to have some in my fridge so I figured I would load up on that to waive the $10 delivery fee.

I also stocked up on exotic fruits. Dragonfruit is a very rare treat for me because of the high cost. My daughter has been begging me to get one so I did. I also got a passionfruit,  starfruit, papaya, kiwi, and last but not least~ a kiwano horned melon (see photo below).

37276624_10156500268609420_1652719757851361280_n

I have always wondered about this fruit. It is a bright orangish-yellow color and it covered with little spikes. It actually looks quite intimidating with the spikes all over it. I had to do a little research on this fruit before I bought it. I wanted to know what I was getting myself into. I basically just wanted to make sure it was something I could cut into with ease. I have an issue with mangoes. To me, they are very difficult to cut. The kiwano horned melon was easy peasy though with just one long slice down the middle length-wise.

So what on Earth does this look like inside? Check out the photo below.

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The inside of a kiwano horned melon is certainly unusual. Was not really expecting the insides to look like green slime but that is what it resembles most~ slime! There are also a ton of seeds inside, which are edible. My 8-year-old daughter, Chloe, and I got brave and decided to give it a whirl. I scooped out the guts with a spoon and put it inside of a bowl. We ate it like a soup. It had a very faint taste of citrus. We were expecting much more flavor than it delivered so it was a bit of a letdown.

37289846_10156500268659420_7874617697340751872_n

The kiwano horned melon has quite a few health benefits that may make it worth eating. It is packed with antioxidants. It can also help improve cognitive function, heart health, weight loss (boosts metabolism), improve vision (lots of vitamin A), and it can also aid in digestion (contains a great amount of dietary fibers).

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Would I ever purchase this fruit again?

The answer to that is no. This melon is quite pricey coming in at about $5 a melon (at Meijer). The price was worth it, to me, for the experience of trying it but the flavor was so bland and the slimy texture with all of those seeds in there was not very palatable. Also, I am not sure how this food would be used in any type of recipe. It is not versatile at all. So if you enjoy eating a bowl of bland slime the kiwano horned melon just might make your day.

On the other hand, I asked my daughter if she would want me to purchase this again and she told me that she would love to have it again. She describes the taste of the kiwano horned melon as, “sweets slime”. A future foodie in the making? Considering that she is only 8 years old, I think she is definitely an adventurous eater.

Have you ever tried the kiwano horned melon? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below.

If you are interested in trying out Instacart service you can claim $10 off your first order with the code: KRIPLEY1051BA

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS (no extra cost to you). ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.


5

Healthy Foods For Your Pantry – Friday Faves – Things I Am Crushing ON

Welcome back to Friday Faves. This week’s edition will feature some healthy foods that I am dying to try out. Hop on the train to Healthy Town with these nutritious items found on Amazon.

Primal Kitchen – Whole 30 Kit

I am not participating in Whole 30 but I do often love to try to eat as paleo as possible and believe in trying to eat clean ingredients. This Whole 30 kit is a great starter pack for anyone wanting to take the plunge into healthier eating habits. This kit contains Mayo, Chipotle Lime Mayo, Extra Virgin Avocado Oil, Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade, Ranch Dressing.

Tessemae’s All Natural Dressing, Sauce, and Marinade Value & Variety 8 pack

Another great starter kit paving the way to a healthier lifestyle. I recently picked up a bottle of Tessemae’s Green Goddess dressing and it was incredible. The wonderful thing about this brand is that they are Whole30 Certified, Paleo approved, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and they taste incredible. Their products are also low in sugar. I am always looking at the sugar content on the labels and these suit me just fine!

tess
Nuts ‘N More High Protein Birthday Cake Peanut Butter

This nut butter is packed with protein and fiber. And hello birthday cake! Spread it on toast, put a dab on top of a sundae, or grab yourself a spoon and eat it straight out of the jar!

Buff Bake Protein Cookies Here is a variety pack of Buff Bake cookies that I hope to try someday. I have only tried their cake cookie and it got two thumbs up from me.

             

        

Continue reading “Healthy Foods For Your Pantry – Friday Faves – Things I Am Crushing ON” →

0

Why You Should Give It A Whirl TODAY

I was not always this way. I created a lot of routines in my life and my life was beginning to feel so mediocre. Today I live life for the experience of trying out new and different things. I would definitely slap the label of “foodie” right across my forehead. I am in a committed relationship with food. Trying out new foods injects a ton of happiness and joy into my life.

49559c5c4a06a4bbf0c27db15b76771e--new-food-choose-happiness

source

What is a foodie?

A foodie is a person who is very passionate about food. It is more than just having a love for food. It is about the experience of savoring unique flavors and exploring what the world has to offer. Every single day new foods are hitting the market. On each of those days I am scouring the web and admiring them and wishing I could just get them down into my belly! A foodie has a strong, genuine interest in food and experiencing food is a hobby to them. There really are no requirements to being a foodie. There are several definitions of what it takes to be a foodie online but I feel that if you have that passion and desire about food then that is all that it takes to be a foodie.

Why is it important to try new things?

Trying out new foods is beneficial in so many ways. You approach food with an open mind, and they do say that variety is the spice of life! Doing so breaks you out of a rut. When I first began cooking I would make the same recipes over and over: spaghetti, chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable soup, chicken Parmesan, etc. I picked up some cookbooks for myself and explored different recipes and cuisines. I think my family was nervous at first when I began venturing into these new meals. We just did not know what to expect. You never really do know what to expect and that is the beauty of it!

Even my 8 year-old daughter, Chloe, is on-board with food exploration. She may be 8 but she is not a picky eater. I am so glad that she eats with an open mind. She comes along on our dining adventures and explores different cuisines with us. I was nothing like that when I was a child. I think it is really neat that she is brave when it comes to food.

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When you try out new foods you overcome a fear. We always pose the question of, “what if I do not like it” and “what if it is gross”. You really will not know unless you get adventurous and allow your taste buds to be the judge. When you hold back and deprive yourself you are only creating a roadblock. So cook that new recipe. Take your family out to dinner at a restaurant you have never stepped foot in. My family enjoys seeking out a new dining experience often. We are always down for the challenge of a new experience. We have discovered many interesting places to dine at when we have an open mind about it. If you do go to a restaurant that you are a regular of, don’t order the same cheeseburger you have ordered a bazillion times. Challenge yourself and say, “I’m going to try this today”. I have done this so many times and have very few regrets. It does not always agree with me but I often am glad that I took the plunge and had a new taste experience.

 

 

What’s for dinner tonight?

I use Kroger’s ClickList and I work on my shopping list all week. I use Pinterest for dinner inspiration. I created a board there and add interesting dinner recipes and snack/dessert recipes to my board whenever I come across something that I think my family would enjoy. I don’t often repeat recipes and seek out new ones to try each week. While I am adding items to my shopping cart I explore different brands.

Did you know that you can actually write to a company and inquire about free samples or coupons? That sort of lessens the fear of being bold and trying new things. If you can get a freebie or a discount coupon at least you are not out the full cost of the product. I have become a repeat customer of several different brands after requesting a sample or coupon from them. Every week when I am working on my shopping list I’m cruising around and tossing new foods into my cart.

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**samples and coupons I received in the mail**

So now it is question time!

What is the most adventurous food you have ever tried? 

I will answer first. I recently had the pleasure of trying pho at Minh Chau that had tripe (stomach lining) and tendon in it. It also had sliced beef, brisket, and meatballs in it. It was hands down one of the greatest soups I have ever had in my life!

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Let me know in the comments how adventurous you are. I am so curious to hear about your experience!

 

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Showcasing a little bit of my cooking skills

I figured that showcasing my cooking skills would be another great way to introduce myself here and what I am most passionate about. This is a part of the day that I often look forward to. I really do get so much happiness and joy cooking for my little family of 3. In my kitchen it is a new adventure every single day. I am always seeking out new recipes to crank out so we can have a taste of some new concoctions here. As you may already know I love to try out new things, hence the name~ Give It A Whirl Girl!

**photo of me with the new Circulon cookware my hubby bought me** Kimmy Ripley GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
**photo of me with the new Circulon cookware my hubby bought me**

I have been cooking for a few years now but I really did not fall in love with it until last year when I began my weight loss journey. For awhile there pretty much anything passed as a meal… processed foods, loads of carbs, etc. I started falling into the trap of blaming my medication for weight gain. Until I changed my eating habits I realized I was dead wrong. I was the one to blame for my weight gain. I had been a skinny girl my whole life and when I plumped up I felt like I was in a foreign body of some sort. I realized I needed to make changes and amp up my recipes to pave the way for a healthier lifestyle.

As mentioned in my previous post I stated that I started out on a Mediterranean diet. It really did work and I saw results! I dropped quite a bit of weight but I will be honest that I got bored with the cuisine after while and needed something new.

I started looking into paleo (no grains, beans, soy, dairy, certain vegetable oils, and refined sugar). What I was left with was meats, fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and seeds. I was never strict with paleo and just tried my best to be as paleo-ish as possible.

I also ventured into the world of grain-free paleo baking and nice-cream. I love paleo desserts so much and they satisfy my sweet tooth in a healthier way every single time I whip them up. I am aware that they are not totally healthier… keyword is “healthier” for you! Life just isn’t worth living if you can’t have a tasty dessert every now and then. I live for the sweets!

Oooooh and let’s not forget Cheat Days! There are plenty of those around here when I just stuff my face with whatever my brain desires! I believe that life should be balanced. There is no way in hell I could ever be strict.

Hoping you will stick around to see what I am capable of. I am having a very productive day and filling up my Erin Condren planner with all sorts of ideas for future posts. I have so much to learn and I really want nothing more than for this blog to be a great resource and an exciting spot to visit. I look forward to engaging with my new readers. Thank you to all for being a part of my dream.

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I am Kimmy Ripley “believe it or not”! Welcome To Give It A Whirl Girl!

The Ripley Family - Kimmy Ripley, Chloe Ripley, Joe Ripley
The Ripley Family

Hello and welcome to my brand spankin’ new blog! I have been putting off doing this for quite awhile because it seems like a daunting task to get it started. I honestly have no idea how to start a blog BUT I am “giving it a whirl”! I am Kimmy Ripley. I am currently 37 years old. I am happily married to Joe. We have been together happily since 1999. We have one daughter, Chloe Pearl, who is my dream girl. All my life I wanted a daughter named Chloe and now I have her in my life. Let me tell you… this girl is sweet as sugar. She makes everyday worth living and she brings me so much happiness even on the darkest days.  I am blessed to have my family of 3 and everyday is a new adventure for us!

A little bit about me…

I graduated from Wayne State University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. I wanted to be a photographer so bad. Once I got a taste of working in a studio it hit me over the head that it just was not for me. Photography is still a passion of mine but for the most part I have sadly dropped out of the art scene.

In 2009 my daughter was born and that is when my entire life changed! I got a new career and that was raising her as a stay at home mom. It is what has worked out for the best for our family.

Chloe Pearl Ripley
The Pearl Girl

Once she was born and started to eat solid foods I realized that something needed to change in my life. I needed to learn how to COOK! I used to think that throwing a jar of Ragu pasta sauce over a box of spaghetti noodles was cooking lol! When my daughter started eating those solids I wanted to do what was best for her and I prepared most of her foods for her myself. I rarely used any prepared baby or toddler foods. This is when my journey and passion for cooking began.

I started scouring the internet for tasty and nutritious recipes. I started checking labels on foods more to see if I wanted to feed those weird ingredients to my family. I became a lot more aware of what was healthy.

Last year I began my weight loss journey with a mostly Mediterranean diet. I introduced many interesting meals to my family and I was so pleased that they enjoyed them. In the end I started going more paleo with my diet. I am not strict paleo so I am just paleo-ish. I try my best to avoid processed foods and feed them more whole foods and organics. We still have plenty of cheat moments because hey… who doesn’t love an indulgent treat like a deep fried peanut butter and jelly?!?@!

Cherry smoothie bowl
Cherry smoothie bowl
Teriyaki chicken served in a pineapple with wild rice - Give It A Whirl Girl
Teriyaki chicken served in a pineapple with wild rice

The content of this blog will contain the following topics for now:

  1. My passion for cooking! I try to cook new recipes as often as I can. Sometimes I get brave and create my own dish without a recipe.
  2. My journey of trying out new foods and beverages. I am telling you that I live for trying out new products. Total foodie right over here. Food is completely on my mind all day long.
  3. My new adventure with coupons and sampling because who doesn’t love a great deal? Am I right?

I am sure that over time things will change with my blog as it experiences growth. I would also love to host giveaways on my blog because I enjoy them too! I have discovered a vast array of new products by entering giveaways. I end up being a fan for life and new customer to these brands that I get lucky enough to win from.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stumble on over to my first post that I was nervous to whip up and then hit publish on! Anyone want to hold my hand LOL! This is a big step in my life. My goal and resolution for the year was to start up this blog and try my best to keep up with it. Being a SAHM during the day while everyone is away gets lonely and I am hoping to connect with people along the way. Thank you again for stopping by. I really truly appreciate any new fans I acquire here!

The Pearl Girl and Give It A Whirl Girl - Kimmy Ripley
The Pearl Girl and Give It A Whirl Girl
The Pearl Girl loves shopping at Whole Foods
The Pearl Girl loves shopping at Whole Foods

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