NOTICE

At the time of publication, all recipes were free of the allergens listed as being free of in the title (i.e. soy-free, milk-free, etc.), and all other information shared was accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Though I strive to update outdated information quickly and work diligently to make sure you have the most accurate information possible at all times, it is your duty to double check labels EVERY TIME to ensure that the ingredients you use are SAFE FOR YOU.
DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS INGREDIENTS AND INFORMATION DO CHANGE.
Your doctor or allergist should also be your first go-to for information on how to handle your medical needs. That being said, if you DO notice an error, please send me an email letting me know (tell me what page or recipe the error is on, what the error is, etc.), and I will correct the error ASAP.
Thank you so much!

Please Be Advised:
I make sure all of my recipes use foods that are free of the allergens they say they are free of. You will need to do the same. For help with this, please see the appropriate "Alternative Names" page for the allergen(s) you need the recipe free of.

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Friday, February 24, 2017

{Product Review} Amore di Mona Chocolat Noir Bar (Top 8 Free, Organic, Non-GMO, Kosher, Vegan, Low Glycemic, Diabetic Friendly, Preservative and Artificial Ingredient Free)




I was recently contacted by Amore di Mona about doing a product review for them*, and decided to do so.  This is a gourmet chocolate, and I rarely get those, especially one that is top 8 free and so much more, so I this was a real treat to do - pun intended.



Let's take a look at the packaging.

I like the look of this.  It looks upscale, which fits for gourmet chocolate, but it is also simple.  It's very easy to see what the product contains, what it's free of, etc.  The chocolate is also in a box of its own, and wrapped in sturdy foil, so it is well protected.  I give them an A+.


Let's take a closer look at the product.
As I said above, it is very easy to see what is in the product.  The ingredient list is short: fair trade, organic Dutch cocoa butter; Belgian cocoa solids and butter; raw, fair trade, organic Madvava agave nectar.  That's it!  Nothing artificial, and all the best of the best.  The product is also top 8 free, organic, non-GMO, kosher, vegan, low glycemic, diabetic friendly, preservative and artificial ingredient free.  This is awesome!  Truly a great chocolate for those with special dietary needs.  A+.


What does it taste like?
If you love dark or semi-sweet chocolate, you'll LOVE this.  It smells heavenly, tastes very fresh, is super creamy (melt-in-your-mouth), and tastes heavenly.  I shared it with my husband and boys, and they all loved it, too.  It tastes like the high quality chocolate it advertises it is.  It is so good, in fact, I will have a hard time enjoying other lower quality chocolates now.  Seriously.  A+.


Can I find the chocolate in other flavors or forms?
Yes!  They have several types of chocolate bars, gift boxes, and gift packs.  There's a lot to choose from, and you're sure to find something for nearly everyone. 


What does it cost?
The cost is pricey (about $2.82/ounce for the chocolate bars), but you have to weigh that cost with the quality of the product.  For a sometimes treat of exceptional quality, it is definitely worth it!  I'd give them a B on price if you want to purchase it on a regular basis; an A for a sometimes purchase.

The verdict?
Amore di Mona's Chocolat Noir Bar is a winner!  If you're looking for a really amazing gourmet dark chocolate that is TOP 8 FREE, VEGAN, ORGANIC, KOSHER, LOW GLYCEMIC, DIABETIC FRIENDLY, PRESERVATIVE and ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENT FREE, and NON-GMO, this is for youIt is so delicious, you will have a hard time eating another type of chocolate after having it, so be forewarned!

How Can I Find Out More?
So glad you asked! You can find out more at the following locations:










You can also purchase their products in some stores and online.

A big thank you to Amore di Mona  for letting me and my family taste and review your chocolate!

 




*Any and all opinions are mine without censor and reflect my personal feelings on the product and not that of the person/company who sent them to me.  Though I received the sample for free, that fact did not affect my opinion on said product in anyway.*



(This post was originally posted on my original site, Natural and Free.)


Saturday, February 4, 2017

Monthly Milestones 2017 {2}

Today is the second Monthly Milestones of 2017.  If you want to share a milestone post, just leave a comment below with a link to your milestone post, and I'll pop over and visit it and leave a comment, and hopefully some of my other readers will, too. :)  Normally, Monthly Milestones, where I will be giving you updates on how I am doing physically, mentally, etc., will go live on the first Saturday of every month, though sometimes I may be a day early or late depending on circumstances.

Here is how I am doing as of today:



  1. My weight is down another 3.5 lbs.!  I couldn't be more excited to share another weight loss with you all!  I have not been down to 220 lbs. in 4 years!  Yes, FOUR years!  I am working very hard to stay active enough to keep myself healthy, but not overdo it, and at eating right (low sugar, but also low grain most of the time).  It is paying off, and hopefully I will have more weight loss to share with you next month.  Keeping track of what I eat and my physical activity helps keep me honest, too.
           
  2. Winter has not been kind.  We have had a very vicious winter this year, mainly in the wind department (though sometimes there has been quite a bit of snow and cold to deal with, too), and it has made it very difficult to do any outside activity (other than shoveling).  Though I have not been able to get outside much, I am still consciously making the effort to move via housework more than anything.  I walk my daughter to school and get out when I can, too.  I also am continuing to keep track of my physical activity on my phone (as I mentioned above), and I know that helps, too.  I suppose having to shovel snow is a mixed blessing, too. :D
     
  3. Dietary/lifestyle changes are now basically habit.  I still haven't gone completely herbal with my tea choices (I am thinking that may be a few months in coming yet), but I still do not drink regular coffee, and I only drink decaf on very rare occasions (less than once a week, normally less than once a month).  I do limit my non-herbal tea choices to once a day (read that as one tea bag in the morning), and then drink herbal later if I want something warm.  Otherwise, I basically just drink water, and I drink 9+ cups of water per day (another thing I keep track of on my phone).  These choices, along with eating and exercise choices, are mainly habit now, so I find that a good thing!
        
  4. My health is still basically stable, though I do have issues with weakness and other issues off and on.  I have not had any major weakness since last month, but every now and again I will have some slight weakness/heaviness in my legs, especially my left leg. I still have hearing issues in my right ear most of the time, and sometimes my vision will be off.  Overall, I would say I'm doing well, though I have dealt with viral illnesses quite a bit recently.  We're hoping to be able to get back to the chiropractor in March or April, so hopefully that will help with the intermittent issues at least. 

    Every now and then I seem to have more issues with brain fog, headache, and even emotional highs and lows.  Some of this I can definitely link to diet (especially when I have certain types of chocolate or too much of it, or eat something with a lot of preservatives or soy), but other times it is harder to determine.  It is something I am keeping track of and will discuss with my doctor the next time I see him.  It could be linked to my thyroid or any number of things.  We shall see.
     
    Also, thank you to all who continue to pray for us.  It's hard not having any real answers when it comes to my health issues, but knowing you are all praying and that God is there means more than you know!  Thank you!    
        
  5. I have not been able to post as much as I would like on my blogs, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to post more often yet.  I am truly trying to post at least monthly to this blog and Natural and Free, but it has not happened.  I have been overloaded with a very busy schedule, trying to keep up with homeschooling schedules, trying to keep up with the snow shoveling (some days this is a multiple times a day thing!), illness, etc., and blogging has had to take a backseat.  I have been doing updates here and there, but no posts other than Monthly Milestones for now.  I do have some other ideas and material, just no time to share it all just yet.  I may not get the time until spring, but I will keep trying before then.  We shall see!

That's about it for now.  How are you doing?  Are you reaching your goals?  Have you tried something new?  Come up with a new recipe?  I hope all is going well with you, and I hope you will leave a comment sharing your thoughts and/or milestones (with a link to your post, if you wish).  As always, I wish you the best of luck in all you do, and hope you will return soon! :)





(This post was originally posted on my original site, Fibro, Fit and Fab!)