NutPods Creamer

Every morning, I make my way into the kitchen and pour myself a cup of coffee. I have never been a fan of plain black coffee and would add a lot of sugar and cream but since being on a diet, I have learned to enjoy unsweetened creamers with only a few that I like. For health reason, I have also been looking for a good non dairy creamer. 

Due to having Tinnitus and symptoms of Menier's Disease, I have had to make some changes in my diet. Foods that trigger episodes of earringing and vertigo associated to my problem are known to be related to high sodium and dairy. I have started doing a low sodium diet and trying to cut back on dairy products.

 

I was excited when NutPods sent me a box of their French vanilla flavored oat creamer. I can’t thank them enough! 

Their original creamers are made with all natural flavors including almonds and coconut cream, however, the oat based creamer has all the same goodness but without the nuts. It is sugar free and dairy free with zero sodium. Exactly what I have been looking for. Each serving has only 10 calories, 1gram of fat and zero everything else.

The next morning I could hardly wait to give NutPods Oat Creamer a try. I poured my coffee and added the cream. I was impressed at how creamy it was and made my coffee smooth and delightful. It was hard to believe this was sugar free and dairy free! It was delicious and had the perfect amount of flavor to wake up my tastebuds. I have found that other non dairy creamers have a weird flavor and leave an after taste, but not this one. NutPods Creamer was a game changer for me. After just one cup, I was hooked. 

Here are some other cool facts about NutPods Creamers.

Non-Gmo

Vegan

Plant based

Lactose free

No sugar

Gluten free

Paleo

And can be used in place of milk in most recipes. 

Do you like froth? No worries. This creamer is also froth friendly. How fun is that?  

It has the consistency of half and half and I’m excited to continue using NutPods as my every day creamer. I will be purchasing Nutpods creamer for now on and want to try all the other flavors they have to offer. 

It’s great knowing I’m doing something healthier for my body while still being able to enjoy the little things in life. Like what goes into my coffee. 

Nutpods.com

*Nutpods Oat creamer was provided to me free of charge 

in exchange for my honest review. 

All opinions are 100% my own.

A Walk Down South End

My daughter was on a one week furlough with her job due to Covid-19. They are making each employee take one week off without pay. This was a scary moment for her but she took it as a little vacation and tried to enjoy it the best she could. She spent time around her pool, and took some shopping trips. 

One day during her furlough week, we went to visit her for lunch. It was a beautiful day so we took a walk around South End Charlotte. We walked the Light rail trail. This is a sidewalk that runs along each side of the light rail and it goes from one end of town to the other. There are many restaurants and shops along the trail. You will also see a lot of people jogging or walking their dogs. 

We love walking to places when we visit. We all decided to walk to a nearby place called Eight and Sand Kitchen for lunch. The menu consist of soups, salads and sandwiches. Everything is made fresh and the atmosphere is clean and relaxing. 

This place offers more healthy options so we thought it would be a great place to stop in. We each ordered a sandwich. I chose the Pistachio Pesto Caprese.

 

My daughter got some kind of chicken sandwich and my husband opt for the club sandwich. Everything was delicious. 

After lunch we walk about a mile to a little ice cream shop called Jeni’s Ice Cream. It’s a pretty popular place around the area. They have a variety of unique flavors. 

Just look at all those different flavor combinations! 

I got a half and half single scoop. My flavors of choice was goat cheese red cherries and caramel pecan sticky buns. 

They scooped it into a fresh made buttercrisp waffle cone that was still warm when they handed it to me. I had to eat my ice cream pretty quick. 

It is alway nice to get out and walk to places without having to fight traffic or find parking spaces. 

Though times are bad right now, we felt safe as everyone we passed was nice and respectful to others. 

No mask required. 

New Glasses From Firmoo

I remember having a pair of glasses in the 5th grade for reading. They were pink with a little Pink Panther emblem on the side. I hated them. I thought my eye sight was fine, but the Optometrist believed my reading ability would increase if I wore them. Kids that wore glasses were made fun of in those days. I somehow lost them on the school bus and never wore glasses again through my school years.

Today I rely on prescription reading glasses. I absolutely can not read anything that is less than 2 feet from my face. They say it comes with age but who’s counting? With that being said, I am excited to have partnered with Firmoo Optical and scored this nice pair of prescription glasses and I did not even have to get dressed or go out of my house. 

I simply went online to Firmoo Optical and searched from their wide selection of fashionable frames. The hardest part was making my mind up on the ones I liked best. Once I settled on frames I wanted, I followed the simple instructions and added the numbers from my prescription, then entered my shipping and payment information.

If you are ready for a new pair of glasses, look no further. Firmoo Optical is safe and secure. You can even download your photo and try on frames to see what looks best on you. There are also photos of customers wearing the frames so you can get a visual of what they will look like. I personally did not load my photo and try them on. I took my chances by seeing how the frames of my choice looked on others. 

I admit, I was skeptical of ordering glasses online, but when my glasses arrived, I was impressed with the quality of the frames and accuracy of my prescription. It only took two weeks for them to arrive. They came is a protective box and included and soft drawstring case. These glasses are light weight, flexible and feel great. I love the thin metal sides and the two toned frames. I paid extra to have blue light blocking lens added them. Blue light blocking protects your vision from long use of computers and other electronic devices. I would highly recommend this feature. 

Right now, Firmoo Optical is offering a free pair of single lens glasses for new customers. All you have to do is pay the shipping cost. 

. 

For your free pair, Shop Firmoo.com

and Use Code: AUFF at checkout.

My Style shown: S3500 

Brown/black with blue light blocking lens.

Unisex size Medium.

 These glasses were provided to me free of charge 

in exchange for my honest review. 

All opinions are 100% my own.

Luminance Skin Care

Have you ever used a skin care that felt so good that you couldn’t wait to use it again? That’s how I feel when I use Luminance skin care.

I received a sample in the mail and thought it would be just another face cleansing product. It was more. I fell in love with these products after the 3rd day of using it. I would have said first day but I always give it couple days just to make sure how my skin reacts to it. It also takes a couple days to get a true opinion. 

This sample kit came with a delicate cleaner, rosewater toner, and a deep hydrating moisturizer. Each are made with a list of good ingredients and all products are organic, vegan and non-synthetic. 

At the end of the day is when I prefer to wash my face. This is when I experienced the Luminance Delicate Face Cleanser. 

This face cleaner is PH balanced and excellent for all skin types. I could smell the tingling aroma of Tangerine. Just a small amount is added for the scent. Rosemary seed extract is added as an antioxidant along with other natural oils. My face feels clean and my skin feels rejuvenated. 

After washing my face I spritzed on the Luminance Rosewater Toner. 

I have to admit that I have never used a toner other than micellar water. This toner is PH balanced and made with 100% pure filter rose water. I loved the sweet smell of the rosewater and it made my face feel so fresh. I noticed almost immediately that any redness in my skin had disappeared. 

Last I applied the Luminance Deep Hydration moisturizer.

This moisturizer is great for sensitive or mature skin. Get this: “It works as a collagen to help skin retain moisture and regain elasticity”. Now that’s what I like! It is also a great moisturizer if you are in cold climates where your skin goes up against the dry and cold temperatures.

I wake up in the mornings with my face feeling soft, fresh and clean without feeling greasy or weighed down. I think my skin feels tighter too. 

I can actually feel results using these products and that’s what makes me excited to keep using it. I plan to order some of the other products to try such as hair care, eye creams and more. 

If you are looking for A great skin care, you can get a free sample of these three products by visiting their site. You just need to pay shipping. 

All products are alcohol free, non-toxic, and no animal testing or animal products are used. 

Shop Luminance Skin care

I am not affiliated, paid or asked by Luminance skin care for this post. 

I simply loved my experience and wanted to share my personal and honest review.

Blueberry Grill

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I love cooking it and eating it. We never usually go out for breakfast anymore. I get up about about 30 minutes before Nick and I enjoy a cup of coffee and a lite breakfast. I remember the days we used to go to Bojangles or Hardees for biscuits and gravy. That was also 50lbs ago.

Down at the beach, there is a place near our stay called Blueberry Grill. It is located in a shopping area called Barefoot Landing. We see it often and I mentioned how I would love to try it one morning. So when morning came, Nick asked if I would like to have breakfast at Blueberry Grill. It will be something different from the ordinary. I threw on a sweater and jeans, pulled my hair back in a messy bun and brushed my teeth. I was ready in 15 minutes. You don’t have to ask me twice if I want a good breakfast. 

As we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed by friendly staff. They asked “would you like to sit inside or on the patio?’. It was a crisp 50 degrees morning and the sun was shining bright, so we decided to sit on the patio. 

They had heaters blowing from up above that was perfect for keeping the chill off. It was so nice and we could hear the birds playing in the planters and would often run onto the patio waiting on someone to drop some crumbs.

We ordered a cup of coffee while we waited on our meal. 

We both decided on the short stack of French toast made in a rich batter that was infused with brown sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Then dusted with powdered sugar. I requested a side of blueberries to add to the top of mine. 

I prefer instant grits but Nick likes what he calls “real grits”. So when he seen they had real stone ground grits, he just had to order some. I admit they were delicious.  

I loved everything about this place. The atmosphere, wait staff, and the food. It was a little pricey though but was worth it. We will definitely go back again sometime once Summer comes around and we take another trip to the coast. 

Blueberry Grill

North Myrtle Beach, SC

A Birthday and Pumpkin Painting.

This weekend we celebrated my sweet husbands birthday. His birthday was Sunday but I started it off on Friday by making reservations at a new upscale restaurant in town. The name of this restaurant is Barristers at the Esquire.

Barristers is located in the center of our little town, inside one of the oldest and tallest buildings. This was the old Lawyers building. It had been empty for years until it found a buyer who has spent a couple years making something out of it. 

This is my favorite building and I have always had this goal to get to the roof of it. There is just something about the size and architect of this building that makes me want to visit the top.

Well, so far I have made it to the first floor. That is where the new restaurant is. The rest of the floors are still under construction. It will soon me an upscale hotel called the Esquire.

Walking in, I immediately got a 1940’s vibe.  I have never been inside this building in my life but could feel the history all around me. With the smell of new paint, chandeliers and oldies music, we took our seats. It was quiet and only a few other tables were occupied. After looking at the menu, I was ready to make my tastebuds smile and my pocketbook cry.

I ordered the Ranch Steak with fingerling potatoes, mushrooms, and horseradish ham crumbs in a Demi Glaze. 

Nick ordered the Carolina Coastal white fish. Maui Maui was the fish of the day. It came on a bed of glazed sweet potatoes and Carrots. 

It was all delicious and we had a wonderful evening. 

Saturday, My Daughter came home and we all went to my moms for a big birthday dinner with Country style steak and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, pasta salad, biscuits and lots of desserts. Nicks request was pound cake. She never lets us down on a good meal and dessert. We left stuffed and it was a lot better and more satisfying than the fancy dinner the night before. 

Sunday after church, my daughter and I made cookies and painted pumpkins. 

She painted hers a Disney theme. I opt to paint a butternut squash instead of a pumpkin. 

Scary huh?

My Win Review

I am a sucker for those Instagram giveaways. If it is something I would love to try, I will enter the giveaway. I'm not just after the freebies, but I really and honestly want to try things. I enjoy writing about products I try and I also believe in supporting small businesses.

I entered a giveaway a couple weeks ago and was so excited to have been chosen as the winner of this darling gift pack sponsored by four different companies. It was like Christmas when It arrived on my doorstep.

Usually there will be one item in a giveaway that strikes my attention. This time I liked ALL of the prizes. Let me show you what I got.

1. I received this darling wide lace leather cuff from New Market Farm House. They are a family owned business located in Southern Indiana.

Their products are all delicately handmade with love and care. They specialize in Faith inspiring, engraved and hand stamped leather key chains that are uplifting and encouraging. You really should go check them out. Christmas will be here before you know it.
I think this one will be perfect for my Fall or Winter sweaters.

2. I am always looking for some good plant based health benefits. One day I might find the secret to staying young, but until then, I couldn't wait to try this BIOHM Probiotic Supplement with Super Greens.

BIOHM is formulated with fused fruits, vegetables and herbal extracts. Rich in probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes that include 31 organic plant extracts. That means a healthy balanced gut. That’s right. It has good bacteria and good fungi to break through digestive plaque. 

Just one scoop a day is all you need to feel super charged.
The direction say to add it to water but you can add it to your shakes, smoothies or any other drinks.
How does it taste? I added it to water and it tasted like a nice rich and smooth herbal tea. I think it would be perfect warmed and cuddled in a cup.

3. I can hardly wait to sit back and relax in the tub with the wonderful aroma of these baths soaks and essential oil roller ball from The Inked Bee. The owner is a mother who has a love for bees and what they can produce. She only uses natural sourced organic or non GMO ingredients.  

With hints of Rosemary, Peppermint and Eucalyptus I will be taken away. Calgon has nothing on this. The roller ball is perfect to keep with me for some easy quick aromatherapy when I need it. Be sure to visit her shop for more great natural products.

4. Last but not least, I love this adorable pumpkin patch shirt by D&G at The Memphis Market Co. I have been wanting a cute shirt to wear for Fall fun and this one is perfect..

This company is a husband and wife team in Southern Indiana. You should definitely check them out as they have the cutest t shirts, sweatshirts and digital files to make your own. I love how soft the fabric is. This is not your typical bulky t-shirt. When held up to light, you can actually see how the fabric breathes for a dry and comfortable wear any season.

Essential oil and bath soak- The Inked Bee.

Probiotic Super Greens- BIOHM with Online Health Coach Stephanie Richie

Pumpkin Patch Tshirt- The Memphis Market Co

Leather laced cuff- New Market Farm House

I am not affiliated, asked or paid by any of the companies mentioned in this post. 
These items were given to me at no charge. 
All content is written using my own honest opinion. 

Get Casely

Do you use a phone case on your smart phone? I do. I usually resort to the Otter box brand because I know it is good and will protect my phone the best during a drop. But sadly, there are not a lot of options for colors and designs. While I am normally pretty plain Jane when it comes to accessories, I like to mix it up sometimes and add some color in my life.

The style of your phone, color and case have become a fashion trend with all the “mirror selfies” you see on social media. I rarely take a mirror selfie but I do enjoy dressing my phone up to accessorize my outfit, pocket book or even my mood. 

Unfortunately phone cases can get expensive and I have always been afraid to use other brands that seem cheap to me. Fortunately, the newer phones are a little tougher within themselves and really do not need a case for protection. However, I still like to have one to keep it clean and scratch free. 

Then I found “GetCasely” and they sent me a case of my choice. They have so many trendy phone cases at reasonable prices with several styles and patterns to choose from. It took me forever to decide on a design. Each case comes in “Classic or Bold”. The bold has more protection and durability.

I finally settled on the patchwork design in the classic.

I like the fun boho look and it pairs perfect with my Favorite RiceLove bag. I do not think I could have found a case anywhere else that matched so perfect.

This case is slim and thin and fits perfect in my smaller purse or pocket. It’s comfortable to hold and has been a great conversation starter. 

When your ready for another phone case, try GetCasley. You can choose from the classic collection, the bold collection or the power/charger collection. 

They also have other accessories such as wallet cases, phone rings and screen protectors. 

Shop GetCasley.

Get 30% off with my code: Lisa30

Backpack bag can be found at Ricelove.org

Another Book

I read another book. Yes that’s a big deal to me because I rarely ever read books. I have read a couple Karen Kingsbury books and a couple Nicholas Sparks books, but reading just isn’t my thing. I can’t keep up with what I read if its long. I get lost. I can’t comprehend what I read. I do wish I liked to read. I can see how a book and a quiet corner would be relaxing. I don’t even like long blog post unless it can hold my interest more than a minute. Again, I really wish I was more of a reader.

One of my favorite blog buddies is also an author. He has written several books. His name is Jack and you can find him over at “The ShipsLog”. 

He is not my only blogger pal that has written books. I will list a few others at the bottom of my post. But I just want to give a shout out to Jacks latest book release. “Ace n Me”. You can find it on Amazon and also for Kindle. 

This was my kind of book. It was a short and easy read. It only took me about 2 hours total to read it all. Yes I’m a slow reader. I’m getting better though. 

Ace n Me was interesting right from the beginning. It was about a preachers boy and his dog. As I read this book, It reminded me of the old Andy Griffith shows. That's all I’m gonna say with out giving it away. Just go read it for yourself. It would even be a good story to read to your kids.  

Jack did a good job on this book as well as all the others. My favorite one is still “The Appalachian Trail”. 

I just don’t understand how he does it. He is always on the road, busy fixing things, helping others and being kissy kissy with his sweet wife. He also blogs daily and his blog is also a fun read. One day I will meet this Jack fella. I mean, we only live 15 minutes away from each other, I’m bound to run into him any day now. 

If I ever get caught up in life and chores, I want to take at least an hour a day and read a book. 

Below are a few of my other Blog friends who are also book authors. 

Stop in and pay them a visit. They all have a link to their books on their side bar.  

Jack at “ShipsLog”

Rick at “Life101”

Diana at “Nana Diana Takes a Break”

R. Mac Wheeler at “R. Mac Wheeler”

Elizabeth at “ESeckman” and “The Really Real Housewives”

Breakfast and a SeeSaw

Saturday we spent the morning visiting my daughter in the queen city. She wanted to take us out to breakfast and a little walk around the area.

Her boyfriend came along too. He is a joy to be around. We parked at her uptown apartment and walked 2 miles to a little place called Roots Cafe. 

Me and Nick just wanted something lite so we ordered a side of avocado toast. 

They messed up and gave us the whole meal plate which included 2 eggs on the side. I was ok with that as I love eggs and ended up cleaning my plate. 

We also shared a Latke with Poblano Cream Crema & green onions. It was a type of potato cake and was delicious. 

Afterward we walked down to a new doughnut shop tucked away in the back of a building called PepperBox Doughnuts. They offer different varieties of doughnuts each week. I chose the “Elvis”.

It was topped with a banana cream with a drizzle of peanut butter and topped with bacon. I only took two bites and I was finished. I’m trying to keep away from the sweets. But I just couldn't resist. 

My daughter ordered the Hibiscus Jelly filled. Hers was much better than mine. It tasted like real fruit and topped with sugar crystals.

While we were headed back, we came across a see-saw next to the lightrail and I had to jump on. 

We laughed and giggled like two little kids on a playground. I didn’t care who was watching. 

You can see her boyfriend sitting there probably thinking his girlfriend has a crazy mom. Haha.

It’s always fun to visit my daughter. Later we headed to my mom and dads to celebrate my oldest brothers 55th birthday. We had some good food, cake and laughs to finish off the night. 

Rep Announcement

I'm proud to announce that I am now a PuraVida Bracelet Representative. If you follow me on Instagram, you have noticed a lot of post of me promoting these cute little bracelets.

One day I ordered one and later my sister gave me a little set of them. Before I knew it, I was hooked. Then, in no time, I got an email letting me know I have been approved as a rep.

This is perfect for me as I love the beachy vibe of each bracelet. I also enjoy taking photos and promoting brands I love. I may even make a tiny commission and receive free gifts with sales I make. It's all for fun. It feels good to promote something that has a story behind it. Something that helps make a difference in other lives.

PuraVida bracelets was founded in Costa Rica where two Southern California friends went on a college graduation trip. They met two struggling artisans making colorful string bracelets. The two friends wanted to help so they requested 400 bracelets to take home to with them. After putting the bracelets in a local boutique, they sold out in just a few days. This was a movement that celebrated the simple things in life. This is were the name came from. "Pura Vida" is Spanish for "Pure Life". You can read the whole story HERE.

One size fits most as they adjust from 6 to 11 inches around with a small slip knot.
Each bracelet has a waxy feel and is waterproof and sand proof.
Each purchase includes little drawstring dust bag and a set of their popular fun stickers.

By purchasing one of these bracelets you are creating jobs for artisans.
Puravida also gives to more than 175 charities around the world through purchases made.

If you would like to purchase one of these bracelets 

you can visit my special link to the site HERE and get 20% off 

or just go to Puravidabracelets.com and use code: LISADIMEO20. 

Sunday Lunch

The weather has been hot here in North Carolina and very sunny. It is just too pretty to stay inside especially on a nice Sunday afternoon.

After church, Nick and I decided we wanted just a sandwich for lunch. Unfortunately it was grocery shopping day so we were out of sandwich fixings. That's when we decided to go out for another adventure to find a little spot to sit down and have a lite bite.

We ventured out to a little town close by to try a place everyone raves about called the Table and Market. As we walked inside it took us back in time. This restaurant was structured using old materials recycled from the towns historic buildings.

The bricking and roof are all original structure of what used to be an old supermarket. The shelving are from the town library which was the first library in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The bar tops and wine racks were taken from a Parr Yarn Mill.

We found a spot to sit down on the outside patio. It was so peaceful as we observed our surroundings. Service was great and the food was delicious. Oh, and we did get a sandwich but it was not a small sandwich. 

I ordered the BBQ sandwich with a side of slaw and Nick had the Italian club with a side of tomato. It was delicious and the meat was fresh deli meat prepared right there in the restaurants deli. 

We will definitely go back to this one again. They had a good looking brunch menu I’d like to try. It’s just hard to eat “brunch”. I’m old school where it’s either breakfast or lunch. Nothing in between unless it’s a stale danish with a cup of coffee.