Glamour and Green EXCLUSIVE: Jane Iredale Gluten-Free Lip Fixation Giveaway! June 8, 2010

I’ve been a huge fan of Jane Iredale cosmetics for a while now. I even used their foundation and lipstick on my wedding day.

Jane Iredale is the epitome of good-for-you cosmetic luxury. Dipped in beautiful gold-colored packaging and available in gorgeous shades, this line is based on minerals and all-natural ingredients. Most of the Jane Iredale products are gluten-free and they are all pretty much fabulous.

I discovered Jane Iredale products a few years ago at a high-end salon & spa and have been hooked ever since. I’m a slave to their Liquid Minerals Foundation. It’s become one of my cosmetic-staple items. All I need is my foundation (and some mascara & gloss) and I’m ready for anything.

I love browsing the Jane Iredale website for all the latest & greatest makeup treats. It seems like they are always adding new and exciting gluten-free makeup goodies to their line.

So what’s new with Jane now? Two words, my fabulous friends: Lip Fixation. Lip Fixation is the brand-new lip stain & gloss duo that leaves your lips gorgeous for hours! I would know. I tried it.

“Do double-beauty duty with two products in one. Each Lip Fixation boasts a lip stain and lip gloss in complimentary colors handpicked for the season. Choose between Desire, Fascination and Craving, or better yet, succumb to all three.

  

Fortified with the natural plumping properties of ginger root extract and the moisturizing power of avocado oil, these ultra-hydrating, long lasting shades can go from the boardroom to the beach boardwalk without losing their intensity.”

I’m a big-time lipstick girl, and there’s nothing worse than having to constantly re-apply lipstick, so I was super-excited about this all-new lipstick stain. I like to talk and eat a lot (duh! hehe), so I’m always having to bust out my regular glosses and re-apply. And that’s annoying. I hate having to re-apply lipstick at a restaurant in front of friends, waiters, and staff. It’s such a bother to “freshen up” your shade when your out and about and it’s not professional to re-apply in front of your co-workers at work. So, having a lip stain that lasts through long hours in meetings, gluten-free munching, or much-needed socializing? Brilliant, Jane!

I tried Lip Fixation in the Desire shade ($29) at my baby shower the other day. Desire is a gorgeous natural brown shade with a slight hint of pink. It’s a beautiful color that compliments my skin and makes my lips stand out without being obvious (like a bright red lipstick or coral shade). It went on smooth & matte and even smells slightly like Life Savers in the Butter Rum Flavor (random, I know, but that’s a good thing. Yummm….).

I let it dry for one minute. Then I simply flipped it over and used the gloss (that had beautiful, very subtle sparkles!) for a pretty, complete lip-look. With all the eating, drinking, and baby/labor/birth-talk that went on for three hours at my baby shower, my lips still looked great! I definitely could have re-applied the gloss, but my lips were still stained! It was awesome and it was so nice to not worry about re-doing my lipstick in front of everyone at the shower, so I could just enjoy it, smile for the cameras, and have fun!

Lip Fixation is like the Batman & Robin duo- the perfect team of stain and gloss to keep your lips looking colored & fantastic for the office, out with friends, or anytime you want pretty lip-color without the annoyance of it wiping away soon after using. It’s awesome stuff, worth the price, and may even become one of your cosmetic-staple items too!

Talk, eat, and pout those lips as much as you want, girls… Lip Fixation will let you do it!! 🙂

ATTENTION GLAMOUR & GREEN GLUTEN-FREE READERS:

Subscribe to the Glamour & Green Gluten-Free Blog between June 8th, 2010- June 15th, 2010 and automatically be entered to win a FREE set of Jane Iredale Lip Fixation in all three colors (Desire, Fascination, & Craving… all three shades are gluten-free, of course and an $87 VALUE!!!). All Glamour & Green Gluten-Free blog subscribers’ names will go into raffle on June 16th and the winner will be announced that day!

Subscribe & win FREE (FABULOUS) STUFF!

-Glamour & Green Gluten-Free

Host a Gluten-Free Tea Party this Mother’s Day May 6, 2010

There’s nothing better than a tea party. I’m obsessed with high-quality teas, and I’m always in the mood for a sweet, gluten-free treat. Hosting a tea party for that special mom is a great way to show her how much you love and care about her without breaking the bank (Mother’s Day just right around the corner!). Plan an “afternoon date” to enjoy gluten-free tea and dessert with mom and just have fun talking & being girls!

Here are some gluten-free tea-time tips for this Mother’s Day:

• Make a special Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea Invitation: Take Digital Scrapbooks and More’s “Making Cards Training” to learn how you can personalize your very own party invitation! Including photos of you & mom, special notes inside, and details on the time and place for Mother’s Day tea will make your invitation much more than a regular card, but a Mother’s Day keepsake that she’ll treasure!

 

Note: Digital Scrapbooks and More also has training that can help you make place cards (decorate a beautiful table with tea accessories and include two personalized place cards with your names on it) and design your very own gluten-free tea-time menu!

• Serve high-quality tea: If you haven’t tried Mighty Leaf tea, you have no clue how incredible tea can be! Mighty Leaf only uses the finest of herbs in biodegradable silken tea bags (that are hand-sewn closed). This is tea at it’s finest. Brew a pot of this gourmet tea and pamper a well-deserving mom. Flavors that go well for a special girls-only tea date? The oh-so delicious Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Mint Truffle. Mom will be in heaven! Digital Scrapbooks and More also mentions a special discount on Mighty Leaf tea! Read this blog for more info on saving money and giving this fabulous tea a taste!

 

• Bake a delicious gluten-free dessert: You don’t have to spend a million bucks to make mom smile. Take your time in making the little details count, and you’ll surely impress mom and make her feel loved. Bake a delicious gluten-free cake that you can splurge on over Mother’s Day tea. Try this Gluten-Free Banana Pound Cake for a tasty treat!

 

• Buy some delicious gluten-free desserts: Besides baking a dessert, you can buy some ultra-yummy pre-made desserts to give your tea treats a little variety. These are must-have tea time tries: Mariposa’s Gluten Free Brownies, Mariposa’s Gluten-Free Tea Loaves, Melange Sucre Macaron Petits. Spoil mom and serve these scrumptious GF treats during your afternoon tea party.

 

Happy Tea Time & Happy (Early) Mother’s Day!

-Glamour & Green Gluten-Free

Oh-la-la! Little Bites of Gluten-Free Bliss: Melange Sucre Macaron Petits April 21, 2010

When going gluten-free, one of the hardest things to find is great-tasting desserts. So often gluten-free sweets are too dense and don’t have that light, fluffy, or moist texture that gluten-filled goodies have. So when I find a gluten-free dessert that’s FABULOUS, I need to share it with the world.

And that is why, my friends, you NEED to know about this super-glamorous, completely delicious little treat: Mélange Sucre Macaron Petits! (Yes, they really are as luxurious as they sound).

These delicate cookies have nothing in common with the dense coconut confections that Americans know as “macaroons.”

 

Mélange Sucre macarons are prepared in the traditional Parisian style, sandwiching two light cookies together with a flavored cream or marmalade. Each macaron is made by hand and skillfully baked to achieve the perfect blend of natural ingredients to produce an authentic French macaron. Mélange Sucre macarons are crafted to be lighter and more petit than the traditional macaron. The chewy and crunchy cookies surprise you with each bite.

 

Now as much as I love my gluten-free bakeries, I have to say, it’s great when you find a dessert that’s gluten-free JUST BECAUSE IT TASTES GREAT WITHOUT GLUTEN. And that’s how it works with Mélange Sucre. They made these incredible little treats using fresh, delicious, all-natural ingredients and without seeing the need for gluten.

So, what are these little bites of pure bliss made from? Mélange Sucre macarons are made with egg whites, sugar, natural almond flour, milk, cream, and butter.

Sweet… literally. 🙂

These cookies are totally high-maintenance (kinda like me- haha!), and that’s just another thing that I love about them. When you receive your package of Mélange Sucre cookies, you know it’s something special… and that this isn’t your average gluten-free treat:

Mélange Sucre Macaron Petits are shipped frozen, so to ensure freshness, and to maintain the quality the Chefs intended for the macarons, these perishable items are shipped via overnight or 2 day express.

 

For optimal flavor, Mélange Sucre macarons are best if consumed within 1-2 days. Store in refrigeration up to 7 days at 41 degrees F; before consuming, remove the macarons from refrigeration and allow them to reach room temperature. (Approximately 30 minutes). See… this gluten-free delicacy is a treat to be treasured; not something you can just pick up at your local grocery store any ol’ boring day. 

 

Each box includes 12 macarons with two of each flavor. Flavors include: Chocolate, Raspberry, Pistachio, Pecan Caramel, Cinnamon and Coffee. 

I melted over the chocolate and raspberry flavors, but all of them are absolutely delicious!! Light, airy, flaky, creamy, and chewy all the same time. They are almost impossible to describe how fabulous they really are… Just a must-have goodie for any dessert-loving gal that wants to try something extra special.

These gourmet cookies pair nicely with gourmet teas or a delicious, frothy cappuccino. They’d work well with a little tea party or an afternoon get-together with your favorite gal-pals. Another occasion that would suit Macaron Petits perfectly? Mother’s Day. Their beautiful presentation (the box the macarons come in is long, gorgeous and made from environmentally-friendly materials that’s also reusable as storage for other special things!!) and phenomenal taste makes them a fabulous gift to give to that special mom of yours. And with only 130 calories for 2 cookies, they’re a treat she won’t feel bad indulging in!!

You can buy a box of 12 Mélange Sucre Macaron Petits on the Mélange Sucre website for $28.00 (though you should read on for more info about the fabulous discount that they are extending to you, loyal Glamour & Green Gluten-Free readers!), and are more than worth it. They are the kind of shi-shi cookies you’ll want to have on hand 24-7 for guests, they’re so classy and impressive. Ooh-la-la!

So, give them a try this spring! Host afternoon tea and serve this delicate little cookies as your tea-time treat. And give them to mom as a Mother’s Day surprise. You really don’t need a special occasion to indulge in these amazing cookies. Simply buy them for yourself and try one of the best gluten-free/non-gluten-free treats you’ll ever eat! MMMMMMmmmm!!!

 

Mélange Sucre has also given YOU, our fabulous Glamour & Green Gluten-Free readers, an EXCLUSIVE discount! Enter the coupon code: GGREEN for 15% off your next purchase of Mélange Sucre Macaron Petits! 🙂

Bon Appétit!

-Glamour & Green Gluten-Free

MARIPOSA: Heavenly Gluten-Free Brownies March 11, 2010

I was kind of having a “blah” day yesterday when I heard a knock on my front door. Waiting on my doorstep was a package. It always cheers me up whenever I get a package, but a package filled with 1/2 dozen gluten-free Mariposa brownies? …Pure bliss!!!

Let me tell you a little bit about Mariposa: They are a gluten-free bakery in Oakland, CA (that ships their fantastic treats anywhere in the US) dedicated to making artisan-crafted, gluten-free goodies.

First of all, their brownies are HEAVENLY. I got the 1/2 dozen brownie set– filled with two Triple Chocolate Brownies, two Mocha Chocolate Brownies, and two Walnut Chocolate Brownies ($21.50 at Mariposa). And WOW!! They’re flaky on the outside and soft/chewy/fudgy on the inside… just like a brownie should be. All three brownie flavors are rich, delicious, and ridiculously chocolate-y. I think I like the Mocha brownie best, but all three are so good, I’m seriously conflicted.

I also think that I am full-on addicted now. Only a day later, I am running scarily low on my 1/2 dozen brownie set… If I could, I would inject these brownies straight into my vein. 🙂

These brownies are so incredible it’s hard to believe that they are gluten-free. If it didn’t say “GLUTEN-FREE/ WHEAT-FREE” all over the packaging, I would have sworn I just got contaminated.

Oh, and I am NOT lying, but I literally had dreams about eating more of their brownies after I had fallen asleep last night. So, yeah, I pretty much had another brownie for breakfast this morning. It was awesome.

Second of all, their packaging and presentation is fabulous. Often times, gluten-free products’ packaging looks so… how do I say this? …Cheesy? Scary? …Awkward and even un-edible?  It’s hard to find gluten-free products that look so pretty that you want to keep them out on your living room’s coffee table and offer them to non-gluten eating guests. Products are packaged in a simple brown box, tied with a pretty red bow, and can include a hand-written note on a tasteful Mariposa card. 

Mariposa is that kind of classy gluten-free company that not only tastes good, but looks good- with elegant wrapping and packaging that you can be proud of. Definitely the kind of product that we here at Glamour & Green Gluten-Free look for.

Third of all, they’ve got some brilliant gift sets and packages that really make them different than other GF bakeries. They offer 1/2 dozen brownie sets, 1 dozen brownie sets, brownies & coffee sets, biscotti and tea gift sets… and more! They make gorgeous (and delicious!) gifts that you can send to any goodie-lover for a birthday, celebration, holiday, or “just because”… whether they eat gluten-free or not! 

Mariposa’s coolest package? The Mariposa Month Club! Choose from Biscotti, Brownies, or a Gluten-Free Goodie Sampler for 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months! How rad would that be to get a package of delicious gluten-free treats delivered right to your doorstep every month?!! What a cool gift! These Mariposa Month Club Memberships would make a great present for your well-deserving mom, a special friend, or a favorite co-worker. Heck, they’d make a great gift for a much-deserving YOU! Send them to your office or to your house, and treat yourself to this fabulous monthly indulgence! Pamper your hardworking & fabulous self!

And finally, get a Mariposa DISCOUNT! For the month of March 2010, CALL Mariposa Bakery at: 510.595.0955 and place your order by phone. When you mention that you heard about Mariposa from the GLAMOUR AND GREEN GLUTEN FREE BLOG, you will receive 10% OFF your total purchase of any Mariposa gift set! 🙂 This 10% discount is for orders placed by phone ONLY and will not apply to online orders.

With this special Glamour & Green Gluten-Free exclusive discount, this would be a great time to order a Mariposa gift set for yourself or for someone special in your life!

Well, that’s it for today.

Is it lunch time yet? Brownies sound good… 🙂

-Glamour & Green Gluten-Free

Welcome to Glamour and Green- A Blog for Fabulous Gluten-Free Gals! February 24, 2010

Thanks for visiting Glamour & Green- the ultimate Blog for any fabulous gluten-free gal looking to find all that super-cool and super-good for you & the environment.

Gluten-free is not always associated with “desirable”, but we here at Glamour & Green are here to change that! We don’t see any reason why every day can’t be a glamorous day; one filled with good-for-you goodies, trinkets, and treats!

We think that living a gluten-free lifestyle is a gorgeous way of life, filled with lots of luxury and little pleasures… and we’re here to show you! Join us!

But, before we begin sharing our fabulous little GF secrets, we’d like to thank an incredible online business, started by two super-glamorous and gluten-free women, Digital Scrapbooks and More, for being our blogging sponsors! Check them out at: www.DigitalScrapbooksandMore.com

If you have ever been curious about digital scrapbooking or photo editing, make sure you that visit the DSAM website!

Digital scrapbooking IS the ultimate “green” product! No wasting paper and trees like traditional scrapbooking! All the training, papers, embellishments, and supplies are all right there on your computer! …Way cool!

Like this Glamour & Green Digital Scrapbooking Page?

We made it using Digital Scrapbooks and More’s Digital Scrapbooking Beginner’s Digital Scrapbooking Training, the Getting Started Series, and the Goals & Resolutions Digital Scrapbooking Scrap Kit!

Get training and supplies and start digital scrapbooking today!

Buy digital scrapbooking training, digital scrapbooking supplies, and photo editing training and learn how you can create one-of-a-kind photo albums, scrapbooks, memory books, photo stamps, stationary, gifts and more!

Let’s begin Glamour & Green on a good foot by offering a special discount in our very first blog entry: Starting March 3rd, 2010, when signing up for the Digital Scrapbooks and More FREE Newsletter, you’ll receive a coupon for 15% OFF your total purchase of digital scrapbooking training, digital scrapbooking supplies, or photo editing tutorials! 🙂 Sweet.

-Glamour & Green Gluten-Free