xoliana
Member Since: July 31, 2016Reviews
Applesnax Organic Applesauce
Applesnax is a Canadian company specializing in natural and organic applesauce. This organic range of applesauce is unsweetened and made from 100% Canadian fancy apples. I buy them in bulk at Costco. The taste of this applesauce is very... +
Applesnax is a Canadian company specializing in natural and organic applesauce. This organic range of applesauce is unsweetened and made from 100% Canadian fancy apples. I buy them in bulk at Costco.
The taste of this applesauce is very authentic. Due to the nature of it being unsweetened, all you taste is the goodness of apples, no added sugar or other sweetener. This tastes absolutely fine without any added sugar, but if you have a sweet tooth, you can of course add your own sweetener to it until the taste is to your liking. I personally like adding a bit of cinnamon and just a hint of brown sugar, and warming up a serving in the microwave. I find that it tastes just like home-made!
This has just the right consistency, neither too smooth nor too chunky. There are no obvious apple chunks or peels in the product, but it's also not as smooth in texture as some of those individual applesauce cups that you can buy from the store. I find that this lends itself well to that home-made vibe, and it blends in well with different baking recipes, as well as tasting good on its own.
This is the best store-bought applesauce I have come across. Definitely give it a go if you're looking for something healthier to try.
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Hero Strawberry Jam
Hero brand jams are 100% gluten-free and contain no HFCS, no artificial flavours, and no preservatives. The strawberry jam is very thick, with real strawberries visible within the product. It's a very thick consistency which doesn't spread very... +
Hero brand jams are 100% gluten-free and contain no HFCS, no artificial flavours, and no preservatives.
The strawberry jam is very thick, with real strawberries visible within the product. It's a very thick consistency which doesn't spread very easily or evenly. It feels very gelatin-like, rather than having a smoothness to it.
The flavour is very sweet, in my opinion too sweet. I don't taste the true flavour of the fruit itself, even though it's clearly in here. It has a more artificial and sugary taste, like a product that has been sweetened with too many additives. The fruit doesn't get a chance to shine.
The price is quite high for such a small jar. Because it contains no preservatives, the shelf life is quite a bit shorter than most jams available on the market. I would only recommend this if you're a fan of very sweet things and you're looking for a more organic product.
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Inception (2010)
Inception is a 2010 science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan. It is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 148 minutes. Nolan has stated that he came up with the idea after having experience with lucid dreaming, and that he wanted to... +
Inception is a 2010 science fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan. It is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 148 minutes. Nolan has stated that he came up with the idea after having experience with lucid dreaming, and that he wanted to explore the idea of dream states on film.
The story is about Dom Cobb, a man who infiltrates people's dreams to steal information. He is hired by a man named Saito to perform an Inception, which is to plant an idea in someone else's subconscious mind by entering their dreams. Together with his team, Cobb attempts to pull off what has never been done before.
I must admit that I've never been the hugest fan of Nolan's films. I think he is a great technical director, but I've always felt that story and characterization were a weak point of his. While there are a few characters who aren'tcompletely fleshed out here, I do find this to be perhaps his most engaging film to date. It's a bit of a mind bender, but the film does a good job of explaining everything to the audience along the way so you never get lost.
The cast is a strong one here, but the standout for me was Tom Hardy, whom I was unfamiliar with before watching this film for the first time in theatres. He stole every scene he was in as the lovable forger Eames, and he has since become one of my favourite actors of all time, as has this film.
Lovers of sci-fi are sure to find some enjoyment with this. It is a bit long, but it's very action-packed and engaging from start to finish. And that ending...
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GoGo Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies
The GoGo Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies are vegan and gluten-free. They're available in large quantities at Costco. These cookies are quite fantastic. These are a harder cookie, not a soft-baked one. They're made with plenty of quinoa, which... +
The GoGo Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies are vegan and gluten-free. They're available in large quantities at Costco.
These cookies are quite fantastic. These are a harder cookie, not a soft-baked one. They're made with plenty of quinoa, which gives it a great crispy crunch. The chocolate chips are dairy-free and delicious, and overall, the coomie itself packs a lot of flavour. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that, even though they're made without dairy or eggs, they stay together so well. Typically, without those kinds of ingredients to bind a cookie together, they get so dry they just fall apart. Not so in this case.
I like that these cookies come individually wrapped. This makes it easy to take one with you on the go without making a mess. These would be ideal for popping into a lunch bag.
These are some of the best allergy-friendly store-bought cookies you can buy. I recommend giving them a chance, even if you don't have food sensitivities.
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Mary's Organic Crackers
I get my Mary's Organic Crackers in a big box from Costco. There are two bags of crackers inside each box, so they last for quite awhile. While I do like these crackers, and I think they have a lot of flavour, I will admit that they're not my... +
I get my Mary's Organic Crackers in a big box from Costco. There are two bags of crackers inside each box, so they last for quite awhile.
While I do like these crackers, and I think they have a lot of flavour, I will admit that they're not my absolute favourite gluten-free variety. Because they're made with so many nuts and seeds, I find that they're very crunchy, and while crunchiness can be a good thing, these are kind of hard on the teeth. It takes me a long time just to chew through one cracker. I don't find myself reaching for them as often, simply because they're so hard.
Additionally, it kind of bothers me that there are whole flax seeds in these crackers. The human body can't actually digest flax seeds in their whole form, only when they've been ground. As such, their excellent nutrient content will go completely untouched here, which is a shame, and all they really do is add to the toughness in texture.
These aren't the worst crackers you can get, but I much prefer others.
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Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Mini Chips
The Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Mini Chips are dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. This makes them a safe alternative for those who have food allergies or sensitivities. The product comes in a bit of a smaller bag than your... +
The Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Mini Chips are dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free. This makes them a safe alternative for those who have food allergies or sensitivities.
The product comes in a bit of a smaller bag than your typical chocolate chips, probably due to the fact that they are a specialty product. The price is also a little bit higher, however, I do feel that the price is worth it if you enjoy baking with chocolate on occasion, and you are unwilling to sacrifice quality nor are you willing to risk your health by using a different brand.
These are mini chips, so they're quite tiny. I find that they taste good on their own, but where they really shine is in a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Although small, they melt really well and spread their chocolatey flavour throughout each cookie, making them a truly delicious and sweet treat. It's nice to see a company that caters so well to people on a special diet.
If you're looking for some dairy-free chocolate chips, these are a great choice.
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KIND Healthy Grains Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Granola Bars
The Kind Healthy Grains Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Granola bars are certified gluten-free and contain no dairy. I can't eat gluten or dairy, so this is a good choice for someone like me. Each box comes with five wrapped granola bars. The... +
The Kind Healthy Grains Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Granola bars are certified gluten-free and contain no dairy. I can't eat gluten or dairy, so this is a good choice for someone like me.
Each box comes with five wrapped granola bars. The bars themselves are in the shape of a square and are quite thin and chewy. The taste is on the sweet side, and these do indeed taste like peanut butter. Additionally, there are bits of dairy-free dark chocolate which complement the nutty flavour quite well. There's a good crunch to these because of the rice and quinoa, but I find that they have a tendency to fall apart quite easily.
I see these as more of a dessert bar because of the taste and ingredients. That's not to say they're necessarily unhealthy, but they definitely feel like more of a treat than something like a trail mix bar. The price is a bit high considering the size of the box and the size of the product itself, so I only buy these once inawhile. Still a good product if you're looking for a sweeter granola bar.
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Cortrex
Cortrex is a supplement that was recommended to me by my functional medicine practitioner. Although some people may take it to lose weight, its primary function is to help those with poor adrenal function. It's a completely natural, vegetarian... +
Cortrex is a supplement that was recommended to me by my functional medicine practitioner. Although some people may take it to lose weight, its primary function is to help those with poor adrenal function. It's a completely natural, vegetarian formula with vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and glandular nutrition to help support adrenal function and get rid of the symptoms involved with adrenal insufficiency.
I've been on this supplement for two and a half years now. I take anywhere from the usual dose of two per day, to a double dose of four per day, as recommended by my specialist for when my adrenal glands are functioning poorly and I feel worse. I feel as though this has definitely helped me over the past couple of years with minimizing some of my symptoms, even if it hasn't completely eliminated them. I tolerate this supplement very well, and feel that it definitely works.
There are 60 capsules in a bottle, which is a one month supply if you take two per day. I would consult a doctor before using, but this is a very good supplement that I feel is worth the money.
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General's Drawing Class Essential Tools Kit
General's is a well-known and trusted brand when it comes to drawing pencils and other supplies. The Drawing Class Essential Tools Kit comes with 13 pieces in total. They are as follows: -Graphite Drawing Pencil, HB (#2) -Graphite Drawing Pencil... +
General's is a well-known and trusted brand when it comes to drawing pencils and other supplies. The Drawing Class Essential Tools Kit comes with 13 pieces in total. They are as follows:
-Graphite Drawing Pencil, HB (#2)
-Graphite Drawing Pencil, 2B Medium
-Graphite Drawing Pencil, 4B Soft
-Layout, ebony-black, soft Drawing Pencil
-Charcoal Pencil, 4B Soft
-Charcoal Pencil, 6B Extra Soft
-Graphite Art Stick, 6B Extra Soft
-Compressed Charcoal Stick, 6B Extra Soft
-Sanguine Pastel Stick (Crayon)
-White Pastel Stick
-Willow (Vine) Charcoal Stick Medium
-Kneaded Eraser
-Artist Sharpener
The pencils are very high quality in this set. I have purchased other pencil sets and found that the charcoal pencils, particularly the soft variety, tended to break easily and simply wouldn't sharpen. These are very well-made, and you can sharpen them easily without any breakage, which brings me to my next point: the sharpener in here is amazing. No matter what pencil I use -- whether it's from this set or something else -- if I use this sharpener, it will sharpen to an extremely fine point and never, ever break. I have not once experienced any breaking with this sharpener. Do you know how rare that is? Extremely!
The kneaded eraser in here is also very good. I find kneaded erasers in general work so much better than the rubber kind. They get rid of any trace of what it is you may have drawn, no matter how dark. It even erases the charcoal very well.
This set is excellent. It's great for beginners, or for anyone looking to get a bunch of supplies for a good price. You can't really go wrong here.
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Prismacolor Scholar Pencils
My mom bought me these pencils for Christmas, along with an adult colouring book. Although I already had some very old pencil crayons lying around, it was nice to receive a brand new package of something of a higher quality. I have the 24 pack... +
My mom bought me these pencils for Christmas, along with an adult colouring book. Although I already had some very old pencil crayons lying around, it was nice to receive a brand new package of something of a higher quality.
I have the 24 pack, which contains everything from pink and purple, to blues, greens, yellows, and more. My biggest gripe about this particular colour selection is that it only contains one pale pink and no bright pink. It also contains a few very similar shades of yellow and orange, where I feel they could have added something different. There's also only a very pale grey, which is almost too pale to use, and if I want something darker, I have to use my black pencil and refrain from pressing too hard.
Colour selection aside, the quality of these pencils is much better than something like a Crayola. The colours are smooth and pigmented, and the pencils themselves have a kind of creaminess in terms of their texture. They are not at all dry, like other brands, which I think really contributes to having a better-looking end result when I'm colouring. You can absolutely see the difference between these and other pencils.
The price is a bit high, but I suppose that's to be expected from a brand that's used more for professional drawing. I do feel that they're worth it, though I wish I didn't have to look elsewhere for particular colours.
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