Ooo, la, la. These are so naughty looking, aren’t they?

Originally, these fine looking beauties were going in my book, but then I had a reader write to me with a special request yesterday:

Well, if there’s one thing you know about me, it’s that I love to make each one of you smile. So, naturally, I’m just going to go ahead and share this recipe today. Bev, I think these are the ones you were referring to. If not, then it’s the No-Bake Peanut Butter Cups that are already on the blog. Get them here!

Ready for the goodies?! Thought so …

Now all that’s left to do is FALL IN LOVE with these cookies. Enjoy! ♥

Happy Cinco de Mayo weekend! Before you head off to indulge in beverages of another sort, why not up the hydration ante with this Margarita Smoothie? It’s fresh, light and packed with electrolytes that will help your body feel oh-so-good after a particularly sweaty exercise sesh or long night spent scarfing chips, salsa and one too many drinks.

Here are the deets:

Margarita Smoothie
Makes 2 servings

ingredients

• 11 ounces pure coconut water
• 2 cups ice
• juice and pulp of one lime
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
• 1/8 teaspoon spirulina powder, optional
• 1/4 cup frozen raw coconut meat, optional
• sea salt, as desired

directions

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth. Sprinkle sea salt on a plate. Rub circumference of glass with lime juice, then roll moistened edge in the sea salt.

If you don”t have spirulina or coconut meat, then no worries! The coconut meat adds an extra dose of nutrients as does the spirulina powder. I just happened upon some frozen coconut meat at our Whole Foods and had to give it a try!

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While you’re sipping on that smoothie, you might also want to do double time with these wall squats. Think of it like this: If you’re a college student, then you can study and tone your boooo-taaay. Or, like I said, sip your smoothie and feel the burn:

To do it (from Women’s Health): Stand with your head and back against a wall. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, about 18 inches from the wall, and keep your arms at your sides. Lower your body into a squat position until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold until ya can’t hold it anymore!

Happy weekend and Cinco de Mayo, cupcakes! ♥

Alright, let’s get down to business. Time to announce the two winners of the KIND bars contest!

Donna and Dixie, you are the two lucky gals who get pick one box of these three: Nut Delight, Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio or Blueberry Pecan. Email me at caroline@thegspotrevolution.com and let me know which box you want and, of course, your mailing address.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

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Moving on to other yummy subjects — fitness!

One topic I get asked a lot about is how to tone up the arms. The great part is that between tricep dips, bicep curls, push-ups and other moves, getting buff at home or the gym is simple (with a bit of work, of course).

The awesome news?! You arms are one of the first muscle groups where you will start to see the quickest definition after adhering to a strength training program –– in as little as two weeks!

Two of my favorite moves for my arms involve lateral arm raises and alternating front arm raises …

These types of moves help to develop this nice little muscle (see arrow):

For Lateral Raises: Stand with feet slightly apart, back straight and belly button pulled toward your spine (engaged, but not sucking it in). Inhale and raise arms shoulder height (See picture). Exhale and return to starting position. Perform 8-12 repetitions and 3-4 sets, depending on weight.

For Alternating Front Shoulder Raises: Stand with feet slightly apart, back straight and belly button pulled toward your spine (engaged, but not sucking it in). Inhale and raise the right arm from the side to a maximum of eye level, keeping eyes looking forward and back straight. Exhale as you lower the weight. Repeat with left arm to complete 1 set. Perform 12-16 repetitions (6-8 each arm) and 3-4 sets, depending on weight.

The great part about these moves is that even on busy days, you can do them while dinner is in the oven or your watching television. I often pull out the weights while I’m catching up on Revenge (OMG, I love that show). Remember that your shoulder muscles might be weak from lack of use or sitting at a computer for countless hours every day (she points finger at herself), so use weights that tax your muscles, but don’t cause them to feel pinched or painful. I typically use anywhere from 8-12 lbs, depending on what else I’ve done that day. If you don’t have weights on hand, then you can also use water bottles or two cans (just make sure you pick ones that are of equal weight).

QUESTION: What’s your favorite do-anywhere move? Why?

Grocery shopping is a flat out main event in this girl’s life. Call me a nerd: I know some people might not feel giddy about cruising the food aisles. However, I could literally spend a few hours slowly examining the labels of new items, comparing brands and filling my cart with various goodies to try.

Above you will find five items that I am smitten with right now. If you are looking to treat yourself, then I recommend you give one of these a shot. One you can often score on sale for about $1, while others come with a heftier price tag.

Here are the deets …

1. Suja juice: One of my new favorite products. In fact, if you follow me on Instagram, you will regularly spot pics of me sipping on Suja (at home, at the desk, on the go …). All of the raw juices are cold-pressed, creating a product that is high in enzymes and nutrient dense. My local Whole Foods started selling it last month and I couldn’t have been more excited. The price tag tops out at about $8.99 each when you are buying them at the store, but I try to rationalize it by balancing it with a green smoothie made at home. See if it’s sold at your store here. Or, score it online. They often feature deals, so keep your eyes peeled!
2. Maca powder: Maca powder is known for helping to promote energy, and restore balance and vitality. Maca root has been used by indigenous Andean societies as a source of nourishment and healing for thousands of years. Maca has been used to fight stress, increase stamina,  boost libido and combat fatigue. This product by Navitas ($17.99) is my favorite, but there are several other brands out there. You only need about 1 teaspoon at a time, so it lasts awhile. Drink it hot or cold! (See below for a recipe for Maca “Coffee”)
3. Cocomama Banana Cinnamon Quinoa Cereal: I discovered this product last month when I was taking advantage of a sale at Abe’s Market. I love ingredients that are easy to identify (this one has coconut milk (water, coconut cream), wild blueberries, organic quinoa, maple syrup, vanilla extract, lemon juice, cinnamon and sea salt) and one package of this stuff makes for a filling breakfast. Other flavors include Honey Almond, Orange Cranberry and Wild Blueberry. A package of six is $23.50 at Abe’s Market, but, again, watch for promo codes! Abe’s is great with running special deals.
4. KIND Bars: There’s no doubt about it that there are one too many food bars to choose from these days, but KIND ranks in my top favorites because of its whole ingredients. Like Cocomama cereal, the ingredients are always easy to identify and you can actually SEE whole nuts and other real foods. New PLUS flavors include protein, fiber and antioxidant blends. (**SEE BELOW FOR A GIVEAWAY**)
5. Spirulina powder: This green powder is one of my favorite superfoods. Spirulina supports cardiovascular, eye and brain health, boosts immunity and energy. It is the most complete food source in the world with over 100 nutrients, 60% protein content, the highest levels of carotenoids, and high in antioxidants known to promote health and longevity. Make sure you score a brand that contains high quality ingredients (I like Nutrex Hawaii Pure Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica). The price tag can be a little hefty (this 16-oz. one is $28.79 on Vitacost.com), but you only need about 1 teaspoon at a time. I add mine to green smoothies or even throw a bit in to one of my raw bar recipes for an extra boost.

Recipe for Maca “Coffee” (based on Mimi Kirk’s recipe in Live Raw):

ingredients

• 1 cup warm water
• 1 Tablespoon maca powder
• 1 Tablespoon honey, agave or sweetener of choice
• 1/4 cup dairy-free milk, like almond, coconut or hemp

directions

Heat water until war, (not boiling). Add all ingredients to a mug and pour water over top. Whisk until smooth. Enjoy!

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Speaking of KIND bars, who wants to win some?!

I am hosting a contest for all of my blog readers to enter to win a box of KIND bars (there are 12 bars in each box; each box retails for approximately $23 each). And because I love you all so much, I am giving away TWO prizes! That means two readers will each win a box of bars. Woo hoo!

You’ll get to choose from three flavors:

So, how do you enter,  right? All you have to do is comment below, telling me how you would like to take your gluten-free life to the next level. It could be something as simple as, “Well, now that I’m gluten-free, I would like to work on how much sugar I’m eating — I have a major sweet tooth!” Or, “I’m gluten-free, but it’s time to step up my fitness game!”

Earn an extra entry by tweeting about the contest and/or sharing The G-Spot’s Facebook post about the contest. If you do either one, then be sure to make a separate comment below to tell me what you did. For example, if you make a comment, tweet the contest AND share the Facebook photo, then you will earn three entries! Just comment below with my original question (How would you like to take your gluten-free life to the next level?), then also make a comment and say, “I tweeted it!” Lastly, make a third comment to say you shared the Facebook photo.

Easy peasy!

The contest ends Monday, April 22, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EDT … so get movin’! I will pick and announce the two winners on Tuesday, April 23, 2013.

Remember when I told you a bit ago that I had a film crew in my house for a news segment about gluten-free beauty? Well, the first of several segments has popped up at CBS Miami. Click above to see my television debut! Man … why is it that listening to my voice makes me want to run and hide? Something about seeing yourself on camera … it’s just kind of … weird. I tried not to be overly self-critical, but it is definitely new territory for me!

I am so honored to be featured in this segment with experts like Alice Bast, founder of The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. She’s a totally awesome gal!

Curious about some of the beauty products I used in the segment? Click the image below for a free download of some of my favorites, including everyday (i.e. beauty on the cheap) options, in addition to suggestions for moments you are looking to step up your gluten-free game.

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Another aspect I appreciated about the segment was the points the experts made about gluten-free products for kids, including lotions and play items, like Play-Doh. If you spend enough time with kids, then you will quickly be able to identify one of the things they love to do the most: Put their hands in their mouths.

It might sound gross, but it’s just the truth. Kids touch dirty hand railings and sticky God-knows-what under tables just before eating or sucking on their thumbs. For a gluten-free kid, that means special precautions must be taken when choosing play items or personal care products for your little ones.

A few suggestions:

Play Time:

• Wonder Dough: A non-toxic gluten-free clay that also does not contain wheat, shellfish, eggs, nuts or dairy.
• Eco Finger Paint: Gluten-free
• DIY Gluten-Free Recipe for Clay: Make this easy version of Play-Doh at home and let kids get creative!
• Colorations Glitter Glue: The company’s washable classic markers, glue sticks, jumbo stamp pads, large crayons, fabric markers and many other products are also all gluten-free. Many are also free from latex, casein, peanuts, dairy and tree nuts, but be sure to check individual labels.
• Elmer’s Glues and Glue Sticks: All are gluten-free, in addition to being free of dairy and casein
• Crayola: All crayons, markers and colored pencils are free from gluten, latex, egg, dairy, casein, tree nuts and peanuts.

Lotion:

• Kiss My Face Kids™ Natural Sunblock: Gluten-free, biodegradable and SPF 30.
• Aubrey Organics Natural Baby & Kids Lotion: Gluten-free and all-natural ingredients.
• Monkey Sea Monkey Do Cherry Lotion: Free of gluten, oats, soy and dairy, plus it’s great for sensitive skin and has a fun scent kids love.

Toothpaste:

• Orajel® Training Toothpaste: Thomas the Rain and My Little Pony are just a few of the characters the company uses to make its gluten-free toothpaste appeal to kiddos.
• Aquafresh Kids’ Toothpastes: The company maintains it does not use gluten in any of its products.

Shampoo and Body Wash

• Seventh Generation Wee Generation Shampoo: Gluten-free and hypoallergenic
• California Baby Shampoo and Body Wash: Gluten-, soy-, oat- and dairy-free. Also vegan.
• Suave 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner for Kids: Suave and Dove are both Unilever brands and they maintain that if gluten is present in a products (wheat, barley, rye or oats), then it will be listed on the label.

Whether you are buying for yourself or the kids, it is important to properly read labels and watch out for gluten-filled ingredients that hide behind complicated names, such as: Hydrolyzed wheat protein, hordeum vulgare (barley), wheat germ/wheat germ oil, triticum vulgare (wheat), avena sativa (oats), laurdimonium hydroxypropyl (hydrolyzed wheat protein), malt extract (often barley), secale cereale (rye), vitamin E (often derived from wheat) and vegetable protein (may contain wheat, barley, rye and/or oats).

Oh, and remember those oatmeal baths when you had chicken pox as a kid? They were made from collodial oatmeal –– not a good idea for gluten-free little ones.

What about you? What’s your take on gluten-free beauty products? Do you poo-poo the idea, or would you rather play it safe than sorry? Any product suggestions?

No sooner did I put up yesterday’s post that I began to see the news trickle in.

Explosions at Boston Marathon.

Multiple people injured.

Buildings on lockdown.

I was once again –– seeing as this seems to be happening all too often these days –– in shock that people’s lives were being affected and taken as a result of senseless acts of destruction.

It seems our first reaction is often associated with one that shames humanity. A the-world-is-an-awful-place mentality, if you will. And don’t you get me wrong for one damn second: To all of those who are grieving, scared and coming to terms with this senseless act –– I am not asking you to shake off your feelings of hatred and disgust. YOU go ahead and feel those feelings in whatever way you feel necessary. Cry, scream, feel angry. Your healing will come in time.

After all, those of us who are here to offer our support will be the ones who begin to rebuild your walls of hope. Looking for answers and sharing reassuring messages of our faith in humankind.

The American flag stands tall in the midst of chaos at Monday's 2013 Boston Marathon.

And from a woman, Linda, who was running the race: ” I will find the strength … The terrorist will never EVER maim my heart, my spirit, or my drive to live life out loud. Got that?”

YEAH, DO YOU GOT THAT?

This final message and the ones I’ve already shared are exactly what I and so many other supporters will be holding in our hearts during the aftermath that follows. To all of you friends, healers and believers, I ask that each time you hug a loved one and feel his or her arms around you, smile with gratitude. When your furry friend cuddles up next to you, let that love open your heart to those who might need it. Breathe in the smell of your child’s hair and bask in the glow of daylight. After all, it is your overflowing faith that will help this nation to heal once again.

Viva Las Vegas! We just returned from the City of Sin and I figured now was as good a time as ever to share with you my tips for gluten-free travel. Not only did I snap phone photos throughout the airport that I thought might be helpful to you, but I also scored shots of some delish dishes I had while visiting Las Vegas.

As many of you probably know, it can be tough to find gluten-free eats while on-the-go. That’s why it is always helpful to pack a few TSA-friendly items (i.e. no liquids, including yogurt and hummus) before embarking on a trip. That leads us to Rule #1 in gluten-free traveling …

1. Pack some snacks. This time around, I stored a gluten-free bagel with hummus, sprouts and lettuce in my bag:

Once you hit the airport, it’s important to a little bit of gluten-free scouting. Rule #2 will be especially necessary on the return trip home since you will most likely not be able to prepare a gluten-free sandwich or other dish for traveling. While I was in the airport, I spotted several gluten-free finds!

2. Go gluten-free hunting. I found steamed edamame, a gluten-free GoPicnic snack box, KIND bars (my favorite!), Pirate’s Booty and Chobani yogurt. I also found Sabra hummus which is paired with non-gluten-free pretzels. However, they are stored separately, meaning you can safely use the hummus and pass along the pretzels to a friend who doesn’t have to eat gluten-free. I enjoyed my hummus with a container of fresh cut carrots, celery and broccoli that I spotted at another store.

Rule #3 involves a little bit of creativity on your part. After all, plain old yogurt and other airport finds can get boring. This step might also help save you some cash …

3. Spice things up. For example, I bought some Chobani yogurt after going through security and paired it with a KIND bar that I already had in my bag. I saved myself a bit of cash and created a more filling bite to eat. Fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, crackers and other gluten-free, TSA-friendly items are a few other examples of things you can pack and pair with airport finds.

Rule #4 is perhaps the most important of all when traveling. Do not be afraid to enjoy eating out. You may or may not be surprised by just how many restaurants are more than happy to accommodate your gluten-free requests. While we were traveling, I enjoyed green juice (naturally gluten-free), coconut macadamia yogurt with grilled pineapple, trout almondine with haricots verts and gluten-free macaroons at Bouchon.

When dining out, it’s important to keep in mind that, while it’s hard to be “THAT” guy or gal with all of the questions, the more information you request from a server, the less of a chance you will have of ingesting gluten. Always keep a smile on your face and thank helpful servers for making your dining experience enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to request to speak with the chef. A big ol’ smile and some manners will go along way in ensuring a safe dining experience!

All-in-all we had a glorious trip that included walks down the strip, shopping, a helicopter tour over the Hoover Dam and a Cirque du Soleil show.

It was awesome!

I’m curious: What are your tips for easy gluten-free travel? Share below!

Goofing around during a photo shoot for my book ...

This past weekend was my 29th birthday. While I certainly love a great celebration, I must say one of the things that I love the most about birthdays is a reminder of all of the things for which I am grateful.

Like early morning birthday wishes from my brothers (who were leaving my house at 12:05 a.m. on the night before my birthday). And breakfast with my husband, Dan …

… or impromptu visits from my sweet godchild (and the sound of her giggling when I greet her at the door) …

… and how well she knows my love for The Great Gatsby …

… or visits from my youngest brother, Isaac, who easily recognizes that it’s the little things that count (really) …

… and watching Dan do what he loves …

… or spending time with my lil’ sister …

… and, naturally, kitty cuddles …

… and a life that gives me opportunities to do this …

... another outtake from my book photo shoot. (P.S. I'm crazy.)

After all, isn’t it the everyday things that make the passing of each year oh-so-remarkable?

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I know I have been M.I.A. with new recipes and fresh workout tips, but that’s because I have been working my booty off to get the book finished. (One month until the first draft is due … eek!) Next week, however, I will be kicking off all-new content. WOO HOO!

QUESTIONS: Tomorrow, I am heading to Las Vegas for a few days. Anything I should be sure to see? Anyone out that way want to grab coffee?

This past weekend was such a blast! That’s right: We were at it again, as the G-Spot Revolution did double-time as The Sweet Spot, participating in the Magee Women’s Hospital Family Health Fair at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. We set up a table with all of our gluten-free (some vegan!) goodies and even had our wonderful sponsors, KIND, by our sides, passing out samples of the oh-so-delish bars to all of the people who stopped by our table.

Bonus of hanging out at the Children’s Museum? The totally adorable kids. Check out the pics:

These adorable girlies were our number one fans. The little blonde sweetheart even hugged us all as she said goodbye. SUCH A CUTIE!

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OK, I know … You want cookies now, right? Don’t worry: I’m giving you the hookup with these simple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (gluten-free and vegan). Get the deets …

Enjoy! xo

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any of my other social mediums, then you know that I have recently signed on to be the star of my own reality show.

HA. Yeah, right. But, seriously, I did allow a camera crew into my home earlier this week for the taping of a segment about gluten-free beauty products and snacks.

Let me tell you, there’s a reason I’m a writer, people. I was more than a little freaked out.

Check out some of the behind-the-scenes shots:

Have you ever brushed your teeth on camera? Yeah, I don’t recommend it. I was especially freaked out about this one. Let me tell you: It’s really hard to look cute and brush your teeth!

I hated the bathroom shots because that’s the one room in the house we still haven’t painted and it still looks like a salmon threw up all over the walls. But, hey, hopefully everyone is so busy watching me brush my teeth that they don’t even notice, right?

I will keep you posted on the details about where this is going to air, so you can see me in all my bathroom prep glory. This was an especially interesting adventure. At first, I was fairly nervous to get in front of the camera, but I think I managed to loosen up a bit and have some fun with it. The segment will feature my thoughts on gluten-free beauty products, in addition to some suggestions for my favorite snacks. Woo hoo!

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In other news this week, we had some kitty drama. You all know how much I love my fur babies. So when Emerson, our gray cat, started acting funky, I was especially worried. After two days of not eating and ignoring us, we took him to the vet to find out he had an extremely high temperature and pretty bad kidney infection. She said we caught it in enough time that it won’t cause permanent damage, but, man, did he have his mom and dad worried! He had to stay at the vet for the last few days, but I got to visit him yesterday:

Not a happy camper! But he comes home today and we are prepped to LOVE HIM UP. His twin brother has been so stressed without him that he has been up all night crying for the last few days. He finally passed out a bit ago — poor kid is snoring:

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Tomorrow, I will be at the Magee Women’s Hospital of UPMC Family Fair, March 23rd, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh! It will be an awesome event packed with family health experts, cooking demos, and nutrition, health, and wellness resources from local businesses. We will have gluten-free granola, cookies, cupcakes, and info about my sister’s upcoming race, The Sweet Sprint. (Dash to the finish for a cupcake?! Why not?!) Oh, and our table is sponsored by KIND bars, so the first 300 people get a treat from them!

The cost of admission at the door will be $13/person. For directions, please visit www.pittsburghkids.org/directions. Will we see you there?!

Happy Friday, cupcakes! ♥