The Blogging Platypus

Illustration by Veronica Grech/For The Times) The relief that washes over you when you sink into a warm tub can be even more therapeutic! From beauty stores to big box superstores, there seems to be a plethora of bath accessories, including bath salts. No, not the kind that will make you want to eat the face off of your favorite person, but rather the kind that can help to relieve stress and feel your pain begin to become more manageable. There are just about as many bath products out there as there are cute doggos, and that’s a lot! Some of the things I look for in a bath soak is that it is cruelty-free, smells good, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. But if it did cost an arm and a leg, that would be fewer body parts that require a soaking! I jest, but it’s true. Sometimes I am limited by the products from which I get to select, as I can be a little picky at times. I know what I like. One of my favorite fragrances is the combination of spearmint and lemongrass. Everything in ...

Some may enjoy their coffee as black as their winged eyeliner, while others prefer adding a little sweet and creamy extras. Neither one is better than the other as a whole, but those who drink their coffee in a more “pure” form may have it a little easier when it comes to the accouterments needed to enjoy their morning brew. For those of us who like to add a little something to liven up our cup of Joe, it can be difficult, especially when you have a restricted diet. I have been living the gluten free and vegan life for a few years now and cannot see myself going back. However, one issue that I had when switching over was a lack of tasty coffee creamer options that didn’t cost an arm and a leg (either literally by how much sugar they contained, or how hard they hit the pocketbook). I tried a few recipes that I found online, but many of them seemed to take too much time and effort, not to mention more than a few ingredients. I was looking for something easy that was affordable ...

Okay, so maybe it won’t change your life, but your taste buds will thank you, as will your gut! I ran across this recipe on Pinterest and have made it a few times. One of the things I love about it is how easy it is to customize. It’s also a no-rise bread, so you don’t have to worry if your yeast is still good. But there is a setting period that you will want to plan for when making a loaf of this delicious bread. I have been having two slices of this bread for breakfast lately, but originally made it before we took a road trip to ABQ. I wanted to have something that was tasty and would hold up well. Traveling with a special diet can be tricky. Sometimes I am limited to peanuts, some types of chips, and fruit, as those are typically the only vegan and gluten free options at gas stations along a route. Like I said, you can customize this in so many ways. Just make sure that you set aside some time for the loaf to set before baking, and you may want to bake it a little longer, depend...