the hot seat… round two

To read round one of the hot seat, click here!

Where do you buy your gluten free products?

I could get my products at most grocery stores sell gluten free products, but to be perfectly honest with you, I’d rather keep my arm and my leg for another purchase someday. So, I scope out the places with the best prices on products.

Online: gluten free oats and flours on Amazon, iHerb, or Swanson’s

Trader Joe’s: pasta (and now there are rumors that there are gluten free oats there as well)

Whole Foods: bulk items like quinoa and rice

Costco: Crunchmaster crackers

And when I’m in a pinch, I can always go up the road to Jewel and buy flour but it’s really expensive and I would rather not do that. I also don’t buy too many “gluten free” products — most of the time I’ll make my own baked goods, crackers, etc — because I’m on a budget and they are costly. And in reality, most gluten free products out there aren’t even really a “healthier” option if you read the label. I usually just focus on whole foods and making my own snacks.

Do you buy gluten free bread or make it yourself?

If I buy it, it is not very often. I usually buy brands like Rudi’s multigrain sandwich bread or Food for Life Brown Rice Tortillas.

Very early on in my gluten free days, I got comfortable cooking with yeast so I could make my own breads.

I found the very best gluten free sandwich bread recipe and make it once every few months (I’m not really a sandwich kind of girl). I always store my breads and baked goods in the freezer after about a day because gluten free products can go rancid pretty quickly. That way, it stays fresh and I don’t have to feel like I have to use it up all in a couple of days. When I want to use a piece of bread or I want a baked good, I either take it out to thaw or toast it so it doesn’t crumble.

What kind of beauty products do you use?

I always think it’s funny when people ask me questions like this because when it comes to hair and makeup, I am so low maintenance it is ridiculous. I did a skin care and makeup routine video blog in the beginning of the summer, and I also followed it up with a hair video blog as well. If you have ever wanted to hear my voice (believe me, it’s not that great) or see my weirdness on camera, they’re kind of a must see. But, if you want the low down without having to go watch me talk about myself for twenty minutes, I use some of the following products — in my hair I use:

• Pureology Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner (I am starting to use it tomorrow actually — I’ll let you know how I like it!)
• Thicker Mousse
• Paul Mitchell Fast Drying Sculpting Spray
• Coconut oil for deep conditioning once every few weeks (smear a few tablespoons of the good stuff in my hair and let it sit for 15-30 minutes — wash hair normally!)

On my face I use:

• Face Naturals Purify Line

My face is really oily and tends to break out and it hasn’t really been doing anything for my skin in the past month of so. Does anyone have any recommendations for an all natural/organic product?

My makeup includes:

• Mary Kay products
• Bare Escentuals

What workouts are you doing before school?

Ugh — the dreaded morning workout. Did you really have to remind me about that?

Actually, I kind of like it. Sure, when my alarm clock goes off at 4:15 every morning, I kind of want to hurt myself. But, by the time I get to the gym and start working out, I have forgotten all about my bed (wishful thinking) and am wide awake (really!). Last year I would really crash on the way home from work, but I’ve been really great and my energy levels have been high all day long. I don’t know what I am doing differently, but I’ll take it.  I’ve been following some sort of routine in the mornings just so I know what to expect when I get there.

Monday: 3 mile tempo run + ab work
Tuesday: Full Body Weights + ab work
Wednesday: easy 3 miles + ab work
Thursday: 30 minutes cross training or 15 minutes with 20 minutes full body weights + ab work
Friday: 3 mile run or rest depending on my running schedule for the weekend + ab work

When I say ab work, I mean like five minutes of different exercises. I don’t spend nearly as much time on my abs as I should… and I really don’t care. There, I said it.

If I’m really feeling tired, I will definitely take a day off. There is always later if I feel like doing a workout. I usually take Charlie for a 1.5 — 2 mile walk after school as well.

Question: What are some more questions you want answered? OR What workouts are you currently doing right now?

Tagged as: blogging, faq, gluten free products, hair routine, makeup, questions, questions about blogging, the hot seat, where to buy gluten free food, workout routine