GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL - ALL ABOUT ME - KIMMY RIPLEY

I wanted to do something a little different today and instead of sharing reviews and recipes I want to share some details about ME, in case anyone was wondering who I am! My name is Kimmy Ripley and I am from the city of St. Clair Shores in Michigan. I am very very VERY passionate about food and drink. I try my best to always eat with an open mind and I live for the thrill of trying out new things. This Give It A Whirl Girl food blog was started last June and it such a big joy to share my food and drink experiences with you all!

Today I will be sharing 10 questions and answers on the blog so you can get to know me better! There are going to be a ton of photos in this post so get ready! I know some people who “read” blogs don’t read and just check out the photos, so if you are one of those people you are in luck today!

Me! Kimmy Ripley AKA Give It A Whirl Girl

My hubby and I at Kona Grill for one of my birthdays

Give It A Whirl Girl with some Enlightened ice cream pop

Me and my daughter, Chloe Pearl, at the Heidelberg Project

You can also learn more about me in my introductory post!

All About Give It A Whirl Girl – Get To Know Me

1) Favorite food:

This is a tough question. I am not a very picky eater and I consider myself to be a foodie! There are so many foods out there that I absolutely love but if I had to choose one thing, just one thing, it would be…

Sushi! – I love love love sushi but I am also a big fan of things like crab legs or lobster tail because they are such a pricey and super rare treat for me.

My go-to place for sushi is Inyo in Ferndale, MI. We discovered this fantastic Asian fusion restaurant through Groupon. Inyo Ferndale is almost always on Groupon, so if you are local be sure to grab a Groupon for this spectacular Asian restaurant. You can thank me later… wink! wink! Their food is top-notch and we are regulars there.

And just for fun! Here is a photo of my daughter, Chloe Pear, with her chicken teriyaki dinner at Inyo Ferndale — And just for fun! Here is a photo of my daughter, Chloe Pearl, with her chicken teriyaki dinner at Inyo Ferndale

Ok guys! I am obsessed with Inyo. Here is a photo of my Walnut Lobster. This was the most recent meal that I ordered

Honorable mention:

Gotta love a big bowl of noodly pho at Minh Chau restaurant (they just changed the name to New Asian Star). Pho is comfort food for me. The broth here at New Asian Star is on-point! The pho that I enjoy ordering has sliced beef, brisket, meatballs, and soft tendon in it. Yeah I said tendon… and it is a weird meat to eat but I do enjoy it here. They also have a pho available with tripe if you are feeling really adventurous.

You can also stop in here for a bubble drink!

Big bowl of yummy pho at Minh Chau (now known as New Asian Star)

Pure comfort food right over here. I love pho at Minh Chau (New Asian Star)!

2) Least favorite food:

Oh this is an easy one. I used to eat some funky stuff when I was a little girl… things I could not fathom stomaching now!

Herrings in cream sauce (ew) I used to eat these fishy fishes straight out of the jar.

Giblets and hearts in my stuffing (ew! ew!) My mom always put those nasty things in my Thanksgiving stuffing. NEVER AGAIN

Liverwurst (ew! ew! ew!) All by itself or on some plain white bread. No thank you!

3) Favorite fruit

Want to know about my favorite fruit? This is an easy one to answer for me… dragon fruit, and that is followed by passion fruit, another favorite of mine. I am a HUGE fan of exotic fruits and I love to create exotic smoothie bowls with these fruits. If you are local, you can usually pick up a wide variety of exotic fruits at Nino Salvaggio.

Dragon fruit can have either a white center or pink center. You never know until you slice it!

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Exotic fruits that I purchased at Nino Salvaggio

4) Favorite meals that I have cooked:

Truth be told, and many of you all know, cooking and baking is my #1 passion in life! I love to serve up a delicious dish for my little family of 3

Italian drunken noodle is hands down the family favorite over here in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. You can find the recipe for this delicious dish on my blog. Italian Drunken Noodle features Pappardelle pasta, Italian sausage, and mix of peppers with chardonnay wine.

A big plate of Italian Drunken Noodle and a glass of chardonnay

Italian Drunken Noodle - Give It A Whirl Girl's favorite meal to cook — Italian Drunken Noodle – Give It A Whirl Girl’s favorite meal to cook

Honorable mention:

Gigantic mozzarella stuffed meatballs are a big favorite and I have the recipe for these on my blog. This is the kind of meal that I invite my family over for. This recipe serves up a generous portion of meatballs.

CLICK HERE for my Huge Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs RECIPE!

Huge mozzarella stuffed meatballs simmering in the slow-cooker

A big plate of mozzarella stuffed meatballs served over spaghetti noodles

Pineapples stuffed with a teriyaki chicken is another family fave but it is somewhat complicated and tedious to create. You can find the recipe and learn more about this gluten-free dish on my blog.

Pineapples stuffed with teriyaki chicken are a fabulous summer meal

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5) Favorite desserts I have created

I love to bake cakes even though I am not the most talented baker and cake decorator. I created a bubblegum cake and a cotton candy cake. These cakes and cupcakes were a ton of fun to create and even more fun to eat!

Here are some photos of my favorite baking projects:

Bubblegum Gluten-Free Cake - Let's Get The Party Started — Bubblegum Gluten-Free Cake – Let’s Get The Party Started

COTTON CANDY CAKE by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL - Gluten-Free - How I Created It — COTTON CANDY CAKE

6) Favorite drink (non-alcoholic):

I don’t know how I can pick one here. I am a self-confessed coffee addict and I am also addicted to my energy drinks (have to have at least one a day!). My favorite energy drinks are by Bang Energy. With flavors like Unicorn and Cotton Candy, how can you resist?

7) Favorite alcoholic drink:

I recently started getting into craft beer and hard ciders. I was always attracted to the labels and packaging. It is so fun and colorful! I grew up my entire life, hating on beer, and saying it tasted like pee. Then one day I went to Hop Cat and I went there with the intention of giving beer a whirl and I ordered a flight with three different craft beers. Guess what? I enjoyed each and every one of them! I was impressed with myself that I gave craft beer a chance. I love craft beer and the entire drink experience with them. I love all of the unique flavors out there… Lucky Charms cereal, etc. etc.!

So sorry for the poor quality photo! I apologize but here is a photo of me with my first craft beer! I gave it a whirl at Hop Cat in Royal Oak, MI

First flight of craft beer for me at Hop Cat and I loved each one of them!

Rekorderling Passion Fruit hard cider – This was the greatest hard cider I have tried!

An assortment of craft beers... all delicious! — An assortment of craft beers… all delicious!

Cranium Crush - Raspberry Waffle Cone Ale — Cranium Crush – Raspberry Waffle Cone Ale

An assortment of craft beers that I tried out. And we save all of the bottles and cans and display them in our basement.

8) Favorite candy

Jelly Belly Raspberries & Blackberries are my favorite candy! What is yours?

There is no better candy than Jelly Belly’s Raspberries & Blackberries! These berry flavored candies are extremely highly addictive to me and I will kill a bag in just a couple of minutes!

9) Favorite post on the blog

I am nearing 200 published posts on the blog and if I had to choose one favorite post I simply can’t. I am going to declare a tie here. The two posts that were my favorite to do were both local reviews. I would love to visit more places nearby and review them. The local reviews I have done are my top performing posts. Here we go…

Modern Cone Review

and

Kawaii Bubble Tea Review

Modern Cone is an ice cream shop in St. Clair Shores that specializes in creative ice cream concoctions. This is the place to go if you want a unique ice cream concoction that is fun to eat, and very Instagrammable!

Make sure you are following my Facebook page because I will be sharing a Modern Cone gift card giveaway very soon!

Cereal Killer ice-cream Stacker available at Modern Cone

Kawaii Bubble Tea is located in Clinton Township, MI and they have some of the best bubble teas (boba) that I have ever tried. They also have a wide variety of macarons available. If you have never ever tried boba you definitely need to check out this place. It is a very fun drink experience.

Enjoying our boba drinks and macarons at Kawaii Bubble Tea in Clinton Township, MI
What a fun experience for all of us!

Honorable mention:

Tou & Mai is located in Detroit’s midtown area and they offer some very unique desserts. I tried their halo halo (Hello Hello is what they call it). You can read the review on my blog where I spill all the beans about this awesome dessert destination!

Tou & Mai Review

Sweet beans in my ice cream~!

Hello Hello (Halo Halo) at Tou & Mai in Detroit, MI

10) Favorite place to grab a sweet treat

This is an easy question to answer. Menchie’s and Orange Leaf are definitely my favorite place to grab a dessert. I am obsessed with frozen yogurt, also known as froyo. You can read my Menchie’s review on the blog.

Want to give Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt a whirl? Grab a Groupon and save on your visit!

Menchie's Frozen Yogurt (Froyo) Build-Your-Own Creation — Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt (Froyo) Build-Your-Own Creation
Edible art!

Menchies Heritage Village in Warren, MI toppings bar

Final thoughts

I truly hope you enjoyed this post over here at Give It A Whirl Girl. I would love to hear from my readers so leave me a comment here and tell me about your favorite food!

Question Time!

What is your favorite food? Least favorite food? Please share with me. I love to hear from my audience!

Also…

If you have any questions that you would like to ask me, leave a question in the comment box and I will be happy to answer it.

Follow Give It A Whirl Girl on social media

Give It A Whirl prepping a from-scratch pizza

At Tony's I-75 in Birch Run, MI with our gigantic banana split — At Tony’s I-75 in Birch Run, MI with our gigantic banana split

Learn more about this COLOSSAL banana split in my Tony’s I-75 restaurant review

Chloe Pearl and I cooking a from-scratch pizza in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen

Did you enjoy this post? Here are more posts at Give It A Whirl Girl that you might enjoy!

SHOP PYKNIC ON AMAZON (One of my favorite brands… all food/drink related items too!)

April 26, 2019 12

BigMouth Food Novelty Gifts – Gift Guide + #GIVEAWAY

BigMouth is a brand that makes a loud statement with their fun and unique novelty gifts. I put together this novelty gift guide in hopes of making you laugh and smile and find the perfect gift for the person in your life that has a great sense of humor, and knows how to cut loose and have fun! These novelty gift items from BigMouth would also be excellent for gift giving if your family or friends participate in a white elephant gift exchange.

If you are in the market for novelty gifts you are in the right place! I included some fun coffee mugs, wine glasses, snow tubes, beach blankets, a beer mug, and some pool floats in this novelty gifts guide. Novelty gifts are always fun to give. Christmas should be a memorable time and novelty gifts like this are true conversation starters and laughter initiators.

If you are an Amazon shopper and have Amazon Prime these novelty gift items include free two-day shipping. Not an Amazon Prime member yet? No problem. Sign up and start your FREE 30-day Amazon Prime trial today.

If you would like to shop from this novelty gift guide, simply click the links or the images to shop. Easy peasy!

BigMouth Inc. Mornings Suck! Funny Gift Coffee Mug 20 oz.

The face of this mug says, “MORNINGS SUCK!” and it has a multicolored lollipop handle. I had to put this at the top of my novelty gift guide because this mug is hands down my favorite from BigMouth and you are not going to find a better deal on this mug than what Amazon is offering it at (and it ships for FREE with Amazon Prime).

BigMouth Inc Stemless Wine Glass (On Cloud Wine)

Attention wine lovers! You are seriously not going to find a more amazing and incredible wine glass out there for the rainbow-obsessed person in your life (me! me!). This Cloud Wine stemless novelty wine glass is not only adorable and creative but chances are, you are not going to knock this one over.

Big Mouth BigMouth Giant Frosted Donut Snow Tube Ride On

Now here is something fun for the donut lover in your life! This is a pink glazed donut themed snow-tube ride-on inflatable.

Check out the other food-themed snow tubes below. These novelty gifts would make a memorable gift!

There is also a cheeseburger, peppermint, and slice of pizza available on Amazon. This is sure to produce and result in a good time next time the snow falls. I live in Michigan and I know my 8-year-old daughter Chloe would have a blast playing in the snow with this sled.

**Big Mouth BigMouth Giant Frosted Donut Snow Tube Ride On**

BigMouth Inc Giant Inflatable Taco Pool Floats, Durable Pool Tube with Patch Kit

Next up is a fun taco pool float from BigMouth brand. I know, I know it is winter but if you live someplace warm or are patient enough to wait for the return of summer then this BigMouth taco pool float would be perfect for the Mexican food lover in your life.

BigMouth Inc Unicorn Farts Mug, Ceramic Cup for Coffee and Tea with Handle, Funny Magical Novelty Cup

The rainbow unicorn farts mug from BigMouth is for the person in your life that likes to start the day with a bit of humor injected into it. This novelty mug would make a great gift and might just become the go-to mug in the gift recipients stash of mugs. I love and adore the rainbow handle on this one!

BigMouth Gigantic Cupcake Beach Blanket, Towel

These beach blankets from BigMouth come in a variety of fun food-themed designs! Which one is your favorite? Be sure to check these novelty food towels:

- Hotdog

Pizza

Avocado

Cheeseburger

Sushi

Popcorn

Pineapple

Cotton Candy

Red, white, and blue popsicle

PopTart

Buttery toast

Strawberry

Watermelon

Tropical drink

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

**BigMouth Inc Gigantic Cupcake Beach Blanket– Fun Beach Blanket Perfect for The Beach and Pool**

Continue reading “BigMouth Food Novelty Gifts – Gift Guide + #GIVEAWAY” →

November 13, 2018 7

Kitchen Gadgets You Need For Next Level Cooking – Top 10

It is time for another one of my top-lists that I enjoy putting together for my readers. Today I will be talking all about kitchen gadgets that can simplify your life and take your cooking to the next level. There are so many gadgets available now in 2018 and I wish I had space and storage to hoard them all. I searched Amazon to bring you some of my current favorites. Some of these products just blow my mind. So grateful for the brilliant minds that come up with these gadgets.

These items are all in stock and ready to be shipped with Amazon Prime.

Not a Prime member? You can sign up for a free 30-day trial. I am telling you, you will be hooked once you try out Amazon Prime. I can not imagine my life without it.

Non-Stick Burger Press Patty Maker by Twisted Chef

Let’s kick things off here with this burger press kitchen gadget. I love whipping up burgers in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen and this sure would come in handy. This will also help you make stuffed burgers! Love sliders? This kit also includes a press for little slider patties.

All-In-One Sushi Making Kit | Sushi Bazooka, Sushi Mat & Bamboo Chopsticks Set + 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer

A long time ago I tried making my own sushi and failed miserably. Well, it is 2018 and what a time to be alive! Now we have a kitchen gadget to help with the painstaking process of making perfect sushi. May I present to you the Sushi Bazooka! With this gadget you simply open the device, fill it up with your favorite sushi ingredients, close it up, and then squeeze out the perfect sushi roll! It doesn’t get any easier than this folks! And to sweeten the deal it also includes an avocado slicer so you slice up your avocado with ease.

KitchenAid KSMPEXTA Gourmet Pasta Press Attachment with 6 Interchangeable Pasta Plates

I own a KitchenAid stand mixer and I love how versatile it is with the attachments that are out there. This kitchen gadget for your mixer will help you crank out some fresh pasta. It includes six different plates:

Spaghetti
Bucatini
Rigatoni
Fusilli
Large or small macaroni

This would be a wonderful gadget for making some gluten-free noodles at home. Nothing beats fresh pasta!

KitchenAid 3.5-Cup Food Chopper, Guava Glaze

This KitchenAid kitchen gadget will simplify your chopping routine in the kitchen. Yes, it is another KitchenAid product… huge fan over here! This is a versatile kitchen gadget and it is capable of chopping up anything from onions to nuts. It has 2 different speeds and a pulse option. Not digging that pink color? There are 19 different colors to choose from.

Gourmia 3 In 1 Handle Push Cutter, Mango, Apple Slicer & Corer With Bonus French Fries Blade, 3 Stainless Steel And Interchangeable Blades

This kitchen gadget has three uses. It can cut a mango properly (cutting mangos is so hard!), core an apple, and create French fries out of your potatoes.

Continue reading “Kitchen Gadgets You Need For Next Level Cooking – Top 10” →

October 17, 2018 0

Iridescent Home & Kitchen Items – Holographic Rainbow Gift Guide – Friday Faves

For this week’s Friday Faves, I curated a collection of iridescent home and kitchen items. These rainbow items can all be found on Amazon. If you are anything at all like me you are going to want it all. I really do love this collection of Friday Faves this week and would love to have all of it in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. I have everything listed here that you need from dinnerware to drinkware in this iridescent gift guide.

I think the truth is out by now about my addiction to anything rainbow. It is an obsession I have had since I was a little girl. Rainbows dazzle my eyes and my senses. When I see a rainbow and all colors combined it brightens my day and it gives me a reason to smile and put on a happy face.

Iridescent Gift Guide

Mikasa Coronado Place Setting Pearl – Iridescent Dinnerware Set

I blogged about the sister set to this Pearl colored Mikasa dinnerware collection. I love both sets of this line. They have a tantalizing pearlescent luster finish. This dinnerware would be best for special occasions. If the service for 4 set price is too steep, why not just splurge on one single place setting? This line also includes an oval platter and a vegetable bowl that shimmers and shines. Who else here wishes they could have it all? Me! Me! Me!

Mikasa Coronado Pearl 4 Piece Place Setting

Iridescent Wine Glasses

These sure are a sight to behold! I can totally imagine myself sipping my next glass of wine in these iridescent wine glasses. Each glass is handmade and you will receive a set of 4 of these beauties!

SOCOSY Royal Embossed Clear Glass Apothecary Jar / Iridescent Candy Jar

This is something that I most definitely want. I have never seen a candy jar so beautiful! This jar with lid has a stunning raining appearance with all the iridescence a girl wants in her life!

SOCOSY Royal Embossed Clear Glass Apothecary Jar With Lid - Candy Jar — SOCOSY Royal Embossed Clear Glass Apothecary Jar With Lid – Candy Jar

Mexican Glass Hand Blown, Turquoise & White Iridescent Swirl, 18 oz Set of 4

These stunning hand blown glasses from Mexico would be the perfect glass for your next beverage. They have a mesmerizing swirl appearance. The great thing about these is that they are great for everyday use and these can be washed in the dishwasher. I am really loving the iridescent look of these glasses.

Mexican Glass Hand Blown, Turquoise & White Iridescent Swirl, Set of 4

Slant Collections – Women’s Pineapple Sipper

I actually do own this same sipping cup but, sadly, mine is just plain and it does not have the beautiful rainbow iridescence to it. I do enjoy drinking some tropical adult drinks in mine or a nice cold, salty blue margarita!

Iridescent Flatware Set – Service for 4

This set of 16 pieces of flatware will appeal to your senses. They sure are dazzling to my eyes. This set is designed to have a comfortable feel and that is something that your houseguests will appreciate.

Iridescent Measuring Spoon Set

Just picture yourself for a second, measuring your next kitchen creation with this iridescent measuring spoon set! This measuring spoons have an iridescent rainbow design to dazzle your senses.

Iridescent Moscow Mule Mug by Blush

Here is another lovely iridescent kitchen item that I won and this here is a Moscow mule mug. This iridescent mug will keep your next drink nice and cool.

Iridescent Tablecloth

This iridescent tablecloth sparkles and shines and it might just be a necessity in your dining room!

Fred & Friends – The Iridescent Rainbow Party Cup

Last but certainly not least, here is another iridescent item that I have the pleasure of owning, and truth be told… this is my absolute favorite cup to drink from! Keep your drink icy cold and let it shine!

Iridescent Rainbow Party Cup by Fred & Friends

Question Time!

What iridescent home or iridescent kitchen item(s) from this list of iridescent gift guide are you crushing on? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Shop on Amazon for more Iridescent Home and Iridescent Kitchen items

Shop my Amazon store

CLICK HERE to shop!

September 28, 2018 0

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa RECIPE – Gluten-Free – One Last Summer Meal

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa - Gluten-Free

Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa - Gluten-Free - RECIPE — Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa – Gluten-Free – RECIPE

It really is starting to feel like autumn now and I have been craving this Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken dish all summer and I finally got around to whipping this dish up a couple nights ago. I created a pineapple dish with a sweet honey teriyaki sauce (the sauce is paleo compliant) with chicken breast and some ginger & orange quinoa. My daughter, Chloe, was super duper excited to chow down on this dish. It is so fun to eat your food out of a pineapple, right? This dish is gluten-free and will also be paleo if you just leave out the ginger/orange quinoa.

Dishes served like this are always memorable. It’s not too often that the opportunity arises to eat your meal out of a pineapple. I truly get joy out of preparing meals like this for my family. Not only is this dish super cool but it is also healthy and nutritious, most importantly!

Create something amazing and memorable for your family to enjoy! This dish will make you feel like you are swept away to an exotic tropical location.

Continue reading “Pineapples Stuffed With Sweet Teriyaki Chicken and Ginger/Orange Quinoa RECIPE – Gluten-Free – One Last Summer Meal” →

September 12, 2018 6

Take Flight And Start Your Day With A Healthy & Nutritious Thunderbird Bar – REVIEW -Tried It Out Tuesday

I am so happy to be an Ambassador to this great company Thunderbird Bars. Now is the time for me to spread the word about these amazing bars to my readers with this Thunderbird Bar review. I want to let you in on a little secret… these bars are amazeballs! The best thing about them is that they are all natural and made with REAL FOOD ingredients: fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices. If you are vegan, following a paleo diet, and are looking for a no-added-sugar treat, Thunderbird Bars are for you! You have to trust me on this, these bars are an excellent snack and they are especially great while on-the-go and the hunger hits you. I have been eating these for the past month now and I feel the need to spread the word about them.

Thunderbird Bar Pecans + Goji + Pistachio in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

There are ten flavors available for Thunderbird Bars and every single one of them is delish!

No boring flavors over here! These bars are unlike every other bar I have experienced. As you may already know, I live for the thrill of trying new foods. These flavors do not disappoint one bit and they satisfy my hunger. Their flavor combinations are unique and each and every single one of them delivers a satisfying taste.

Want to know my favorite flavor of the ten that are available? I’m going to say it is the Pineapple + Mango + Papaya. I’m always a sucker for anything tropical and I love how all of these flavors blend together.

I have included an image of the bar in a photo below. It might look a bit on the small side but these bars are quite filling. This bar has seven simple ingredients noted on the label: prunes, buckwheat groats, papaya, raisins, mango, pineapple, and Hawaiian black lava salt. No BS here… just pure + simple real food ingredients.

This bar comes in at 145 calories, 30g of carbohydrates, 3g of fiber, and 22g of natural (no-added) sugar.

Thunderbird Bar also stays away from sweeteners. You will not find any real, artificial, honey, syrup, agave or any other variety of sweetener in their bars. There are not many bars that you can come across that promise that.

These bars will give you energy and endurance during your day derived purely from the real food ingredients. I love to start my day with a Thunderbird Bar. It gives me the fuel that I need to conquer the day.

Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI - Pineapple + Mango + Papaya — Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + Carrot

Thunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya

Thunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya Nutrition Facts

Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI - Cashew + Fig + Carrot — Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + Carrot

Thunderbird Bars - Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI — Thunderbird Bars – Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

Thunderbird Bars - Cacao + Hemp + Walnut — Thunderbird Bars – Cacao + Hemp + Walnut in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

Two of the Thunderbird Bars flavors available for children

Thunderbird Bars also encourages your little ones to eat healthy and they offer four flavors for kids, also known as Thunderkids.

Fruit Punch
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Chocolate Chip Cookie

I love when a healthy brand of food makes kid-friendly products. I try my best to avoid giving my daughter junk. When I give her a Thunderbird Bar as a snack I feel good about it. Chloe also really does enjoy eating these. They are naturally sweet and satisfy a sweet tooth craving in a more healthy approach. These bars will be a great thing to pack for her daily snack during school when she goes back.

Thunderbird Bar Thunderkids – Chocolate Chip Cookie (image courtesy of thunderbirdbar.com)

Thunderbird Bar Thunderkids – Peanut Butter & Jelly (image courtesy of thunderbirdbar.com)

Want to learn more about Thunderbird Bars?

Check out their website
Store locator
Shop their online store
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Want to try a variety pack of Thunderbird Bars? Find them on Amazon:

Learn more about how I got inspired by the cacao in Thunderbird Bars and created a healthy smoothie bow. READ HERE.

Hope you enjoyed this Thunderbird Bar review! What Thunderbird Bar flavor interests you the most? Leave me a comment and let me know which one you will try out first!

Please join my Facebook Group Give It A Whirl Girl so you can participate in the weekly Tried It Out Tuesday challenge.

August 21, 2018 12

Our Visit To Roger’s Bulk Candy & Ice-Cream – Because Sometimes A Girl Just Needs To Have Fun

Roger's Bulk Candy & Ice-Cream Shop REVIEW (Eastpointe, MI)

We have all heard the expression, “You will feel like a kid in a candy shop”. Yesterday I was that kid in the candy shop! Last night I came up with the grand idea to visit Roger’s Bulk Candy and Ice-Cream in Eastpointe, MI. As you may already know I often promote a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet. I believe in living your life and having fun every once in a while though. I feel that eating should be all about BALANCE. I regularly opt for healthy meals but sometimes I like to just cut loose and enjoy whatever the heck I want.

I heard about Roger’s Bulk Candy and Ice-Cream on the news just recently. I could not believe that I lived in the area of this place for so long and had no clue that it even existed. When you first step foot inside you will see an explosion of color, candy, and the huge variety of ice-creams that are available. This place just looks absolutely fun from the first moment that you get a peek inside. This place is floor to ceiling candy wherever your eyes looks.

This was a very exciting excursion for my 8-year-old daughter, Chloe. We ended up going there on a whim and planned it out as a surprise for her. We did not tell her where we were going, we just drove over there.

We had a blast walking around the store and looking at all of the candy that you can help yourself to. It is a bulk candy shop and the candy is sold by weight so you can buy as much or as little as you want. If your sweet tooth is calling, this is the place to be.

Roger’s has been in business for 12 years now. They have over 500 types of candy and they have something for everyone. Seriously, if you have a problem finding a candy to take home with you then maybe you have a problem lol! Most of the candies here are nostalgic candies that date back to your childhood. Seeing these candies sure did bring in a tidal wave of memories!

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37661431_10156512589229420_1619769657814679552_n — gumballs galore

37562516_10156512589359420_1723051951857336320_n — Hershey Kisses in every color

37669745_10156512588849420_2919800947725041664_n — Jones Soda and Stewarts soda

We ended up getting a little variety bag of sour candies. Then it was time to figure out what we were going to get at the ice-cream area of the shop. There is a huge assortment of ice-cream available and if you are seeking out something a little healthier, Roger’s does offer smoothies made with fresh fruit.

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We decided we would order a banana-split and share it. This was no ordinary banana-split either. We did not go with the basic vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. We wanted a colorful, Instagram-worthy banana-split with some fun flavors. We chose Superman, cotton candy, and anniversary cake. We had the usual toppings on it: strawberry (on the Superman), pineapple (on top of the cotton candy), and chocolate (topping for anniversary cake). We really were not sure how this would all pan out but this really did come together as a memorable banana split that we all enjoyed!

If you are local to this spot definitely stop in and give it a whirl! This was a wonderful experience for all of us. We also really enjoyed the helpful and friendly staff. Roger’s Bulk Candy & Ice-Cream will surely put a smile on your face.

What is your favorite kind of candy that takes you back to your childhood? My favorite has always been those little raspberry and blackberry candies. Leave me a comment below!

Roger’s Bulk Candy & Ice-Cream LOCATION

15020 E. 9-Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI

July 22, 2018 7

Papaya Smoothie For My Pearl Girl

My daughter, Chloe Pearl, loves when I bust out the blender to whip up a smoothie or smoothie bowl for her. We have an abundance of fruits and veggies over here right now and I am loving every minute of it. This morning we shared a delicious papaya smoothie. Papaya is a fruit that I do not normally have on hand so she was super duper excited when she saw me slicing the papaya and scooping out all of those seeds.

We used half of a papaya, 1 whole banana, a handful of Simple Truth frozen mango, and a handful of Simple Truth pineapple. I used approximately 2/3 cup of Bolthouse Farms Plant Protein milk (unsweetened). We have been using that particular milk for a while now. Ibotta currently has a $2.50 cash-back offer on each bottle that you buy, and Kroger also had it on sale. So I consider that a win!

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My daughter really enjoyed her morning smoothie. I had a bit of it as well and I can certainly say that it was quite yummy. I am quite sure that tropical fruits rank pretty high as my favorite.

Tidbits of info on the papaya fruit

A medium sized papaya comes in around 120 calories.
Papayas can aid in digestion. Papayas have an enzyme in them that helps move things along, and they also have a high water and fiber content.
There are two types of papayas: Hawaiian and Mexican. Hawaiian papayas are small (apx 1lb), while Mexican are large. The Mexican papaya can weight in as heavy as 10 pounds!
The seeds of a papaya are, in fact, edible. The seeds have a very strong mustard & peppercorn taste. You can add some honey to them to make them more palatable.
Papaya is often consumed raw but it can be used in recipes to make a sweet sauce.
Papayas have beta-carotene (an antioxidant) in them which can help prevent cancer.
Papayas have a good amount of potassium and vitamins that can help prevent heart disease.

I have been increasing my intake of fruits and veggies and trying to rid my diet of processed foods. There are so many health benefits in these foods it just makes sense to eat them. I have a big weakness for candy. If there is a bag of Sour Patch Kids in front of me I often lose my willpower and eat them. I feel guilty afterward even though I enjoyed them. My point is that it is just best to reach for fruits and veggies when a hunger pang hits. Instead of having a bowl of Fruit Loops for breakfast why not just make yourself a smoothie. They are both filling and nutritious. Your body will thank you for it!

July 21, 2018 0

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.

July 20, 2018 3

You can also learn more about me in my introductory post!

All About Give It A Whirl Girl – Get To Know Me

1) Favorite food:

Honorable mention:

2) Least favorite food:

3) Favorite fruit

4) Favorite meals that I have cooked:

Honorable mention:

5) Favorite desserts I have created

6) Favorite drink (non-alcoholic):

7) Favorite alcoholic drink:

8) Favorite candy

9) Favorite post on the blog

Make sure you are following my Facebook page because I will be sharing a Modern Cone gift card giveaway very soon!

Honorable mention:

Sweet beans in my ice cream~!

10) Favorite place to grab a sweet treat

Want to give Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt a whirl? Grab a Groupon and save on your visit!

Final thoughts

Question Time!

What is your favorite food? Least favorite food? Please share with me. I love to hear from my audience!

If you have any questions that you would like to ask me, leave a question in the comment box and I will be happy to answer it.

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Iridescent Gift Guide

Question Time!

What iridescent home or iridescent kitchen item(s) from this list of iridescent gift guide are you crushing on? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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Want to learn more about Thunderbird Bars?

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What is your favorite kind of candy that takes you back to your childhood? My favorite has always been those little raspberry and blackberry candies. Leave me a comment below!

Roger’s Bulk Candy & Ice-Cream LOCATION

15020 E. 9-Mile Road, Eastpointe, MI

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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.

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