Music and Mommies

#Review - NuGo Organic

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:43:01 PST

These protein bars are dipped in chocolate and they remind me a great deal of all the chocolate dipped granola bars that I had growing up except these ones are made with soy crisps.

Nugo has many different varieties of bars, they sent me some of their vegan candy bars that also have the advantage of being a protein bar as well. I received 3 flavors from the Nugo Organic line to review:

Dark Chocolate and Almond is a beautifully balanced combination of a nice dark bitter chocolate and sweet nut taste. The dark chocolate is filled with Antioxidants.

Double Dark Chocolate while a wonderful bar was my least favorite. Although it would be any chocolate lovers dream, I personally prefer the subtle sweetness's and how it intermingles with chocolate that dark.

Although I certainly have no objections to chocolate in any form I must say the real winner was the Pomegranate. The dark chocolate and the fruit flavored splendor mixed together in such a way that it teased my pallet.

You can connect with Nugo Organic on Twitter and on Facebook.

Disclaimer: I received 3 bars for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own and I received no additional compensation.

#Kindermom - March Break, Crafty Fun Family Time

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:27:28 PST

March break is fast approaching and the kids will be home from school for the week. It is closer than you might think! I'm not sure what happened to January. I blinked and it was gone. February has been following the same example and quite frankly, I am afraid to blink.

The family is long overdue for some quality time together. Weekends in this house can be very hectic, between sleepovers, birthday parties, band practices, performances and other events. Christmas time was the last time the children were home from school and it was so hectic. By the time we were able to relax the children wanted to have sleepovers at various relatives. Who am I to say no?

One of the easiest things for us to do together as a family is play Wii or PS3 together. We have Little Big Planet and the entire family loves to play. We regulate our game play to a couple days a week. We found that by not forcing a gaming schedule they would overindulge. Then when they weren't able to play, they suffered terrible withdrawal. So, this March break, I would like to do activities with my children that help reconnect them with their imagination and creative selves. I would also love to boost each child's confidence. Both of them are closet hams and shut themselves off completely over the thought of taking their acts in front of others. I have been trying to subtly encourage them to practice performing for fun in front of others as a demonstration of courage.

Source: cfabbridesigns.com via Crystal on Pinterest

I've been spending a lot of time on Pinterest as of late and I often stumble upon interesting craft ideas that I could do with the kids. Both of my children are creative and I think that spending time together being crafty over the break would be a great way for us to bond and even catch up on each others day to day lives. Sometimes it seems as though suppertime is the only time I really get to chat with my children. I am kind of excited to see what works will be created between us all.

Source: illusion.scene360.com via Crystal on Pinterest

As you might have noticed underneath the Kinder button I have proudly displaying on the left side bar, I have been accepted for a second #KinderMom campaign on behalf of Kinder Canada and Mom Central Canada. This means more kinder inspired posts. I do enjoy writing with a topic at times as it helps me be a little more expansive with my writing. Don't forget, Kinder Canada has monthly contests on their Facebook page. Why not stop in, enter to win and maybe even jazz up a photo or two with the "My Kinder Moments" app.

Disclaimer: I have received compensation for this post in the form of a Visa Gift Certificate and a box of Kinder Eggs to share with friends and family. I was provided optional topics of discussion, however all opinions are my own.

#US/CAN - #Win a 6 pack Mini Pops Sampler

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:34:55 PST

Mini Pops is an organic, gluten-free and kosher certified snack company. They are made from Sorghum which is the 5th most harvested cereal grain and requires less water to grow than corn. Farmed in the United States, a portion of the revenue from the sales of Mini Pops are donated to family farm charities. These charities help sustain family farms throughout the US.

One lucky Music and Mommies reader will receive a 6 pack Mini Pops Sampler. To enter simply like them on Facebook and fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Lots of ways to earn additional entries as well.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation to host this giveaway. All opinions are my own and all product information is directly from the company.

#Review: Deliciously Raw Food bars from @Larabar

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:37:15 PST

Larabar has a wide assortment of food bars designed for vegan, raw, kosher and gluten-free diets. All of their bars are vegan except for their bars containing chocolate chips. The chocolate chips are dairy free which is a vegan requirement, but since they are manufactured in the same factory as dairy chocolate chips there is the potential for cross contamination. Thus, the chocolate chips can't technically be called vegan. Other than that, the Larabar is made entirely from plant based food sources. I received 4 flavors from Larabar to sample:

Made with real fruit, nuts and spices, the Key Lime Pie was my least favorite of all the Larabars I had sampled. I had a hard time getting past the coconut. I did however enjoy the taste of lime but found it a little too bland in comparison to the taste of the dates with is the dominant ingredient. While it wasn't my favorite I could imagine it being a rather delicious cookie filling. My husband enjoyed it, he is the bigger coconut fan out of us both.

Blueberry Muffin bar was delicious. This was the second bar I tried and I was a little worried that I wouldn't care for it too much after being a little let down by the Key Lime Pie. Fortunately, I was not disappointed. I grew up on my grandmothers homemade blueberry muffins and I must say the addition of cashews is interesting. I do not object.

The Ginger Snap bar was to my liking. I can't seem to get enough ginger these days, I nearly inhaled the bar it was so delicious. I almost didn't get to experience the wonderful hint of cloves. I love cloves, especially this time of year. I usually have cloves and cinnamon simmering in a pot on top of the wood stove to add moisture to the air and a nice aroma. My husband did not get to try this bar.

As previously stated: dates are the first ingredient, so I really wasn't expecting the Chocolate Chip Brownie to have the taste and consistency of an actual brownie. I frequently found myself in disbelief that this was in fact, a fruit and nut bar. I love that this bar is made with fair trade certified chocolate.

You can connect with Larabar on Twitter, Facebook or by signing up for their newsletter.

Disclaimer: I received 4 bars to sample for the purpose of this review. No additional compensation was received and all opinions are my own.

#US/CAN - #Win 1 of 2 Organic Raw Blueberry Hemp Power Snack 2/27

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:34:25 PST

At Navitas Naturals they have all kinds of foods and snacks to supplement any raw food diet. Jam packed with nutrients these Organic Raw Blueberry Hemp Super Food Power Snacks will give you a dose of fiber and vitamin C. These Power Snacks are made with nutritional essentials like cacao, maca, chia and camu-camu. These bite sized cubes have no refined sugar, preservatives, artificial colors or flavors and are organic, vegan, raw and gluten-free.

The lovely folks at Navitas Naturals have provided some Organic Raw Blueberry Hemp Super Food Power Snacks to 2 of my lovely readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

#WorldWide - #Win an Assorted Prizepack in Celebration! Ends 2/23

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:22:04 PST

Congrats to Building Carpenters for reaching 5000 Facebook fans!! Here at Music and Mommies we are helping her celebrate such a amazing milestone! Happy 5000 more :)

Below is a note from Building Carpenters and a giveaway to help celebrate!

"Building Carpenters has reached 5000 Facebook fans!!! Thanks so much for your support of my little bloggy venture! In order to celebrate, we will be holding a little giveaway here on Building Carpenters.

I also want to thank some great bloggers who are helping me celebrate (as well has helping me become a better blogger!) Don't forget to visit their pages as well."

Mom Does Reviews

Emptynester Savings and More

Relax n' Save

Music and Mommies

Mommy and We

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#US/CAN: #Win Household Cleaning Products from Ecover

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:57:53 PST

As you can imagine, I receive a lot of parcels. One thing that impresses me is a company that reuses newspaper for shipping instead of packing peanuts. I was pleased when my parcel arrived from Ecover containing their Ecological toilet bowl cleaner and 2 different dish washing liquids, one in Chamomile and Marigold and the other in Grape Fruit and Green Tea packaged in shredded flyers and newspapers. I like it when they actually don't shred the newspaper as well. Sometimes, I find it enjoyable to read those newspapers. It is a slice of life from away and when you can hold it in your hand and feel its tangibility... it is special.

So, upon discovering the cleaning products beyond the shredded flyers. I immediately read the instructions on the Ecological toilet bowl cleaner and used it on my own toilet. The consistency is thinner then about every toilet bowl cleaner I have used previously. While my husband says thinner isn't always better, with this product I disagree. I found the thinning allowed it to spread around the bowl easier. I will say though, that I dislike the design of the nozzle. Since the consistency is thin, extra care is needed to keep the product in the bottle. If every the packaging gets redesigned I would personally recommend a smaller sized nozzle to offer more control to the consumer. I do love the pine scent, it is a nice fresh scent for a toilet. This cleaner succeed wonderful in the Quick clean test. The real test was when I left in on the toilet overnight to see if it helped with tough hard water stain. While it didn't remove it completely (only 1 has come close) it did manage to shrink it down in size. I am pleased.

I tried the Herbal Dish Soap in Chamomile and Marigold and it was miraculous. I only needed one single drop in the water.... at first there weren't any suds but then I agitated the water and I was very surprised to find that I got a lot more suds than I anticipated. Now, I should state that the dish soaps do contain surfactants and that is a grey area for some groups of people who feel that surfactants (or detergents) aren't natural as they have a tendency to deplete the skin of its natural oils (and more depending on what the surfactant in question). Other groups believe that unless it contains a detergent it doesn't actually clean.Two entirely different schools of thought and neither is any more right than the other. Many of you are going to be excited to find that this product's surfactants are plant based, not synthetic and are available at a very comparable price to those available in your local supermarket.

I must say, I really enjoy the scent of the Grapefruit and Green tea Dish Soap the best. The Chamomile and Marigold smells good but the smell of the grapefruit is very uplifting. That is nice, especially considering how dismal it has been weather wise around my area so far this year. Ecover has offered one of my readers exactly what I reviewed. So you will receive the toilet bowl cleaner and both dish soaps to try out for yourself!

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Disclaimer: I received this products from Ecover for my honest opinions. All opinions expressed are my own.

#Organic Tea, Winter Wonderland Nights with Joy's Teaspoon

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:00:04 PST

Last night, I enjoyed the company of a dear friend who has been living in the city for the last few months. Not only is she a dear friend but a fellow music maker and I miss her presence in my life while she has been going back to school. It was nice to see her last night if only for a few hours. While she was here I put on a pot of Winter Wonderland from Joy's Teaspoon. It was a perfect evening for a tea that spoke of Winter. A fire was lit in the wood stove and the smell of this tea fresh in the tin and in the pot was mesmerizing. It was deep and calming with a hint of magic. There is chocolate in this coffee, chocolate... like it didn't already have me hooked. We were both very impressed with the deliciousness of this tea.

Past reviews of products from Joy's Teaspoon:

Teas:
Mahalo Green Tea

Spices:
Four Peppercorn Blend
Oregano

You can connect with Joy's Teaspoon on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: I received 3 teas and 3 spices from Joy's Teaspoon in exchange for my honest review. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Pacifica Donates Percentage of Island Vanilla Sales to the Ocean Futures Society

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:02 PST

I'm a night owl. I can often be found awake on the internet blogging away into the wee hours of the AM. I've been trying to keep ahead of the game by scheduling my posts in advance which is a fantastic notion as it keeps me proactive and I am less likely to feel overwhelmed or pressured to create content. If I find myself whisked away on a songwriting spree, I can stay focused without feeling guilty. Sometimes I find myself immediately inspired to write because of my first product impressions! This was the case today... by the time you read this however it will be Saturday.

I received a couple items to review from Pacifica. The first one I am will review today is the Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On. Right now a portion of proceeds from the sale of all Island Vanilla products goes to the Ocean Futures Society. The product packaging is beautifully designed with various tones of pink, swirls and butterflies giving it a distinctly feminine branding; essence of an island tropical paradise complete with lush fields and exotic flowers. Upon removing the roll on from the box you notice that the artwork continues on the bottle. I unscrewed the top and was whisked away by the captivating, sweet smell of Vanilla. The perfume is 100% vegan, cruelty free. It is free from parabens, phthalates and propylene glycol. I encourage you to purchase this delightful scent and support this wonderful cause!

The second product that I'm reviewing today is the Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint in Blood Orange. Like the Island Vanilla I am really fond of the packaging. The tube that it comes in is fully recyclable and I love the fact that the product is 100% vegan. I absolutely adore the scent of this product. I do however have a product suggestion. I would love to see alternative sources for coloring other than dyes that many people (myself included) have developed sensitivities toward. I personally could still utilize the product in moderation if I choose so, however people with higher sensitivities who might be drawn to the company for compassionate reasons might turn away. So great overall but I would love to see healthier coloring alternatives. Having said that, I do really like the color and how it looks and feels on my lips.

If you would like to purchase either one of these products they are available exclusive at Sephora stores, Sephora.com and Pacificaperfume.com.

Disclaimer: I received both of these products in exchange for my honest opinion. These opinions are my own.

#Yummy Me: Beanitos - My Hearty Bean Chip Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:19:25 PST

Lately, I have been watching a 5 year old girl after school along with my own children. She gets off the bus with my youngest son every day after school and I watch her until just after supper. It has been quite comical to observe her each day. The contrast between her and my boys really is like night and day. I am very glad that they get along so well. Today, I had a multipack filled with 4 varieties of Beanitos arrive. With the children soon to arrive on the bus, I couldn't think of a better opportunity to collect tiny, yet valuable opinions.

I sat down with the children and explained that some chips are made with potatoes, corn, spinach and these ones are made of beans! I've never had bean chips before... have you? Both of them shook their heads. Would you like to try them with me. Considering it was snack time, it suddenly made their afternoon quite fun. There were 2 different varieties of chips made from different beans in a regular version and a flavored version. So the choices were: Regular Black Bean Chips, BBQ Chipotle Black Bean Chips, Regular Pinto Bean and Flax Chips and last but not least Cheese

The little lady, my son and I plowed through those first 4 bags and I think my son could have finished off the rest of the multipack if I would have let him. As filling as they are, his stomach does not come equipped with a flashing red sign that says: "I am FULL, Food Denied". Every bag Ty tried was his new favorite. The tiny visiting lady claimed both the regular Pinto Bean and Flax Seed bag and the Regular Flavored Black Bean chip and placed them on her lap on the couch and snacked away."These are mine, okay." She's comical.

When my oldest son came home I thought it was only fair that I open up another 4 bags for him to try. He compared ingredients! I was so impressed with the awareness he was placing in his observations of the product. He loved the taste of the BBQ Chipotle and said it was probably the best tasting barbeque chip he has had in a long time. He asked me if I could pack a bag in his lunch tomorrow. I just might, I wonder how many of his friends will try them.

I asked him to save half out of each bag so I could bring them downstairs into the jam room for my husband and his visiting friend to try. I then closed the door behind me and proceeded to grab some wood to put in the wood stove and I could over hear them discussing the chips and comparing them to the stout of beers. Wonderful beer drinkers analogy. They are certainly the potato chips dark, hearty, nutritious friend.

Although there is more fat (good fats) in the Pinto Bean and Flax then in the Black Bean, the calories are quiet reasonable especially when you compare them to other chips of any variety. I personally prefer the taste of the Pinto bean over the black bean but they are both delicious. I certainly wouldn't argue to eating a bag of either one of these varieties, flavored or unflavored. There is a lot more sodium in the BBQ Chipotle but that is to be expected. No GMO's, high in Omega 3's, Gluten Free, High Fiber, a great source of protein this chips are packed with nutrition. What makes them really unique? These chips are certified low Glycemic which is just fantastic!

Not only are these chips great on their own but I feel they would be the perfect dipping companion to a nice bowl of guacamole or other dip of preference.

Right now I have quiet kids with happy bellies and I don't think any of them even realize supper is coming... except maybe Ty!

US/CAN #Win 1 of 2 Mixed Boxes of The Simply Bar - So Much Protein, So Little Sugar, So Good! @TheSimplyBar

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:46 PST

The Simply Bar are a milk free, gluten free, low sugar, vegan protein bar. The bars contain more fiber than sugar, so they fill you up and keep you satisfied without all the empty calories. All of the bars are made with soy crisps so they are very easy to digest but they are a little crunchier then traditional granola so they take a little more work to chew. I had the privilege of sampling the various flavors of the simply bar and they were all very tasty... very tasty. I had a difficult time narrowing it down to my absolute favorite because I appreciated all of then for different reasons. However, two of them in particular really grabbed my attention. Those two were the Cocoa Coffee and the Lemon Coconut bars.

The Cocoa Coffee bar is made with real organic coffee beans and it is absolutely delicious. It was as though I was eating chocolate covered coffee beans with soy crisps. Oh, I could eat it buy the jarful... I was banned from chocolate covered coffee beans as a teenager. It was for my own good. True story.

The Lemon Coconut surprised me and grabbed more than just my attention, it blew my mind. I am allergic to Tartrazine which is also known as Yellow #5 and disguised as Color on many product labels. A rule of thumb for me has always been if it is yellow, orange or green and has color on the label don't eat it. My allergies aren't severe but it does leave me uncomfortable and sometimes a little sick to my belly depending on how much I have ingested and how good my body is functioning that day. Over time I have learned to taste that chemical in my foods so you can imagine how I've conditioned myself overtime to be repulsed by the idea of eating anything with lemon in it. Except there are no chemical ingredients in these bars it was like eating a lemon meringue pie. I don't even normally like the taste of coconut all that well unless I'm in the mood for it but these large coconut shavings were so yummy.

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Disclaimer: I received various flavors of The Simply Bar to sample in exchange for my honest review. All opinions on this blog are my own.

Greek Salad Adventures with #Organic Oregano from Joy's Teaspoon

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:48 PST

Every week we make a large bowl of Greek Salad. We make it large enough to last a family of 4 about 3-5 days depending on our appetites. We started this weekly tradition about 5 years ago, what started off as a basic Greek salad has evolved over the years into a Mediterranean dream salad! We don't use lettuce, instead we use spinach because it offers a much more nutritious base for the salad. From there we add capers, onions, cucumbers, sweet peppers, celery, plum tomatoes, green apples, black olives, green olives, feta and when the mood strikes... some cheddar cheese. Everything is finely diced. One of my husband's pet peeves is vegetable chunks in a salad. If we chop things any finer we might as well start using a food processor. We topped the salad off with some dried organic Oregano from Joy's Teaspoon, my husband was impressed with the scent and flavor of the oregano. We do not use it sparingly in this salad, in fact both the homemade Greek dressing and the salad rely heavily on oregano as a seasoning. Joy's Teaspoon did not let us down!The end result was a delicious and rather beautiful salad.

To read previous reviews about the various teas and spices available at Joy's Teaspoon, follow the links below.

Teas:
Mahalo Green Tea

Spices:
Four Peppercorn Blend

You can connect with Joy's Teaspoon on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Disclaimer: I received samples of spices and teas from Joy's Teaspoon for the purpose of review. All opinions are honest and my own.

US/CAN: #Win a 50 load bag of Nellie's All Natural Laundry Soap

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:41 PST

Whilst browsing a couple weeks ago I stumbled across Nellie's All Natural, a company with remarkable branding (I do like good branding) that sells unscented dryer balls that reduce the drying time by 25 percent, decrease the amount of lint while separating the cloths and are guaranteed to last up to 2 years! While looking about their website I became very interest in all of the products that they had to offer. So I contact them about reviewing on of their products. They graciously sent me a 50 load bag of Nellie's Laundry Soap and offered one to my readers! I must say I am very excited to offer this to you.

The package (and company branding) is filled with vintage housewife inspiration. Nellie is housewife extraordinaire and she is filled with Eco Savvy knowledge that she bestows willing upon her friends in need. This cute comic was on the back of the package of Laundry Soap.

This has got to be the best Natural Laundry Soap I have used ever. It is unscented so you have the option of adding a drop or two of essential oils to the wash if you choose. Even though it is unscented, it still smells clean and not chemically whatsoever. I put in a full load of cloths and a spoonful of the powder, we use cold water for our wash cycle and the powder dissolved perfectly. The cloths came out looking and smelling clean and fresh with no overbearing scents.

The real test for me washing the accidental bedtime happenings of the youngest child. They also came out smelling fresh and amazing.

Wanna try it? Head on over to Nellie's All Natural and pick some up for yourself or you can try to win one below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product #Review: Earthrise Nutritionals - Spirulina Natural

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:44 PST

Every hear of Spirulina? If not it is worth investigating.

Spirulina is a microscopic spiral shaped plant without leaves, seeds or flowers, growing by the hundreds in a single drop of water.

Heavily nutritious, this fresh water plant derives energy from the bright desert sunshine. Since Spirulina is a complete food our bodies are able to absorb all of the plants nutrition naturally, unlike many vitamins and supplements that only truly contribute to our bodies a percentage of the original compound because of our bodies inability to absorb the vitamin or mineral once extracted or synthesized. In other words, our bodies need to recognize it as a food to process it.

I received a bottle of Spirulina tablets and a bottle of Spirulina powder. I must say, I really enjoyed the convenience of being able to take this in tablet form. The downside is that I like to practice awareness of the things I eat and sometimes I find that a little more difficult when I can appreciate the taste and other sensations involved with the experience. This is where the powder comes into play, if you have a juicer (or access to a fresh juice source) add a spoonful of the powder to the juice (or to a smoothie) and enjoy. It looks far worse than it tastes... it looks both disgusting and beautiful simultaneously. It is a dark, almost grotesque green but the spiral shapes are so lovely and wondrous. They are so tiny and plenty and that is when the appreciation for what it is really begins to sink in. The powdered form has its downside as well, it takes more preparation and if you are not feeling too hot it just isn't going to look appetizing.

Spirulina has 10x more calcium than milk, 20x more beta carotene than carrots, 50x more iron than spinach and 5x more protein then eggs. This is simply a dietary staple but like anything else, everything in moderation. Too much of anything isn't good for you so make sure you don't go over the recommended daily intake or else you may end up orange from to much beta carotene.

Find out more information about the Earthrise Farm and their growing conditions.

Connect with Earthrise on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer: I received product from Earthrise Nutritionals in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions on this blog are my own.

US/CAN: #Win a Green Tea Gift Set from Rishi Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:06:11 PST

The kind people at Rishi Tea have generously donated this Green Tea Gift set to readers of Music and Mommies. They have a large selection of premium and specialty teas that are not available anywhere else. I encourage you all to check out their gift section. They have many beautiful gift sets that would be perfect for any tea drinker in your life!

The gift set comes with a lovely tea pot as well as 1 tin of Sencha Green Tea and 1 tin of Dragon Well Green Tea. Just looking at the photo takes me away to a beautiful mid-summer day in the gardens.

This giveaway is open to my US and Canadian readers and ends at 12:01 am February 13th ! Good luck everyone.

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Product Review: Ayu Natural Beauty Care - Oily Facial Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:44 PST

Earlier this week, I reviewed the Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Sun Protection Body Lotion from Ayu Natural Beauty Care. Today I am going to review their Jojoba and Aloe Vera Cleanser and the Three Flowers Healing Moisturizer.

As I have previously stated, the quality of these products could not have impressed me more. I love how this cleanser makes my skin feel. Because of my skin even with this cleanser I still occasionally have to switch it up with another cleanser so my face doesn't adapt because otherwise I breakout. Having said that, I can actually use the Jojoba and Aloe Vera Cleanser for a longer duration before having to switch. One pump will clean your whole face and there are many pumps in a bottle. A little of this product goes a long way, it will last for months. It truly is a great value!

The Three Flowers Healing Moisturizer is honestly the best moisturizer I have ever used. It contains Juniper extract which is quite effective in removing toxins and excess oil. I just love the smell of it and my skin feels terrific every time I use it. Ayu recommends that you use it each your face is washed and a little goes a long way. Like the Jojoba and Aloe Vera Cleanser above this little jar will last a long time.

I can't wait to try the Magic Lavender Toner and the Intensive Juniper Treatment. I have been eying them both up!

Product Review: Joy's Teaspoon - Four Peppercorn

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:48 PST

I received this tin of Four Peppercorn Blend from Joy's Teaspoon to review. You can't even tell how vibrant the spices are based upon this photo. I placed this in my pepper grinder and have added it to various meats and even creamy mashed potatoes. My husband loved it so much he discreetly went shopping for some at the grocery store. He was outraged at the cost and came home empty handed. I was outraged that he went to the grocery store instead of shopping organic. Welcome to our relationship... *smirks*
I am glad he felt inspired. I will say though, that he isn't going to find quality like the Four Peppercorn Blend that Joy's Teaspoon carries in a grocery store. This quality of Peppercorn is sought after and as you can see the blend is very pure.

Joy's Teaspoon is Green Office Certified. What does that mean? It means that this company is environmentally savvy, use energy wisely, recycle, use recycled goods and use energy efficient products! You can connect with Joy's Teaspoon on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Past Joy's Teaspoon Reviews:

Mahalo Green Tea

Disclaimer: I received this product to sample for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions above are my own.

Product Review: Tropical Traditions - Canadian Raw Honey

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:48 PST

I recently won a jar of Tropical Traditions Canadian Raw Honey and let me tell you I am super impressed with this product. First of all I had no idea what the requirements are for a honey to be considered organic and it is a little more strict than one might have thought.

From the Tropical Traditions Website:
"In order for honey to be certified organic, the beehives must be placed in isolated areas miles from the dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fields treated with chemicals and landfills. Second, a bee’s flying range is determined by their natural instinct which tells them to stay within their natural four mile range from the hive location. Finding area which can be certified organic is extremely difficult, which is why there are so few certified organic honeys on the market. Tropical Traditions sources its honey from hives in the wild frontier areas of Canada."

Now I understand why it is made in Canada, we have the land to accommodate such a venture. This honey is incredible. Because it is raw and has never been heated it is solid unlike grocery store honey. So it is filled with nutrients and beneficial enzymes. The resulting flavor is so pure and delicious it is like tasting honey for the very first time. I encourage you all to try it at least once, the benefits to the immune system are extraordinary.

GoGo Quinoa: Mushroom and Quinoa Cream Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:48 PST

For the last few weeks I have been posting reviews of various GoGo Quinoa products. While this was delicious, I must say I did not enjoy the Mushroom and Quinoa soup nearly as much as the Minestrone. It is blander then the tomato based products that I have sampled so far. So for those of you who prefer bland foods or are required to follow a bland diet due to digestive issues, this soup might be right up your alley. My oldest son actually enjoyed this soup a great deal and he is a lover of spice. This soup is gluten-free, vegan and 70% Organic.You can make it with any unsweetened milk of your choosing. I didn't get to add the optional coriander or parsley to garnish the soup as it suggested on the back of the package, I do think that either would have complimented the soup quite nicely.

Ingredients: Organic amaranth flour, organic quinoa flakes, organic white and/or red and/or black quinoa royal grains, chopped mushrooms, mushroom powder, organic quinoa flour, carrots, organic onion, parsley, salt, organic garlic, organic turmeric.

You can read my previous reviews here:

[1] Granissimo Paella
[2] Granissimo Pilaf
[3] Minestrone Soup

Disclaimer: I received this product for review purposes in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Product Review: Ayu Natural Beauty Care - Sun Protection Body Lotion

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:43 PST

Ayu Natural Beauty Care blends Aromatherapy and Ayuveda to develop 100% natural products. The actual meaning of the name Ayu is "Life". It is a very suiting name for the company because the products really do breathe life into your skin. The products are made with wholesome and real ingredients like Shea butter, grapefruit seed extract, cosmetic grade vitamin E, Distilled Water... etc

The products from Ayu Natural Beauty Care are not tested on animals and were made in Canada. The company operates out of Ontario. Each bottle and jar I received has the following quote on the label: "Looking back to nature's gifts for healthy skin. Our philosophy is to nourish the skin using the ancient sciences of ayuveda."

I received three different products from Ayu Natural Beauty Care and today I am going to review the Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Sun Protection Body Lotion. First of all I must say that overall I am completely thrilled with all of these products. These are some very high quality natural products.

The Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter Sun Protection Body Lotion is lovely. Distilled water is the primary ingredient and although you can tell it is water based on account of how it absorbs, it isn't thin in consistency. Lavender extract is the final ingredient and it is so well blended with the scent of the Shea butter, Coconut oil and Almond oil.

I am very interested in trying out more of their product line!

Product Review: Joy's Teaspoon - Mahalo Green Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:47 PST

Naomi Rosen and I have two things in common: We both love tea and our mothers were both given the name Joy. Formed in 2010, Joy's teaspoon features a variety of teas and spices, many of which are organic and/or Fair Trade. The company that hosts their website is powered by carbon neutral and wind powered company. All of her products come in reusable tins or glass bottles. These are just a few of many of their Earth loving actions.

I received 3 different teas to review and 3 different spices. Today I will review the Mahalo Green Tea. Made with green tea leaves, pineapple cubes, mango cubes, flavoring, safflower and sunflower blossoms 1 oz of this tea can be brewed multiple times. All you need to do is increase the brewing time by 1-2 minutes. 1 oz of tea from Joy's teaspoon can provide 12 -15 single cup servings.

The tea is very sweet and really doesn't require sweetener, although if you must I recommend some raw honey. I'll let it slide this time! *winks* You can taste the fruity hints of pineapple and mango cubes throughout the tea. The tea leaves themselves are flavorful. I'll have you know I plan on spending the rest of the evening indulging in this never ending cup of tea. I made a whole pot, nothing like a hot cup of comfort.

You can find Joy's Teaspoon on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest.

Book Review: The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:58:18 PST

This book was written by Judith A. Belmont, MS who is a national speaker and corporate wellness trainer with over 30 years experience as a psychotherapist and Lora Shor, MSW. Lora is a national health and wellness speaker, an international corporate work/life consultant to Fortune 500 companies and a therapist.

Instantly upon opening this book I was thrust into a world where at any moment I was behaving like one of three characters: The Swiss Wiz, The Swiss Cheese Fairy of Life, or the Negative Stinky Cheese. At first this whole notion while cute and fun, upon first glance seemed a little childish. I was concerned that some people might not take it seriously on account of such a playful analogy. It was my husband who shed light on this for me. He said that given the moods a person might be encountering while reaching out to a book like this, if it weren't written in such childish way a person might be too confused and flustered. As a result, they might find the average book with a similar theme of behavioral therapy a little overwhelming. I love him.

About 5 years ago we went to couples therapy, we had within 3 months of one another experienced the death of very dear family members. In my case, a grandfather who was a fatherly figure and huge musical influence in my life and in his case the passing of his father that resulted in us adopted his then 4 year old brother. Much of the topics that were covered in this book were golden tools that were taught by our therapist that really helped us through our difficulties. Both my husband and I recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves thinking stinky.

Random Newsfeed Stumblings ft. Healing and Laughter

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:00:35 PST

So the hubby drove up to the city in a snow storm to go shopping for a new Tube amp and ended up getting snowed in so he is staying the night. In the meantime, I have once again been... more than a little active on Facebook today.

Earlier today Mega Uploads was taken down and 6 of its members were arrested. It was cited that they over the years had "stolen" millions of dollars in revenue from the Entertainment industry. Within a matter of hours SOPA had pulled the bill from consideration. Leaving the people feeling victorious but in actuality they had done what had been in their power to do all along, shut down a website and throw people in jail. Remember that next time this happens, because it will... it has been happening for decades. It was within their realm of capabilities the entire time.

Sometimes we contribute more to the storm itself,
forgetting how beautiful it is at the eye of the storm.

So as a response to this, in an effort to find a common ground between the people on both sides who have real feelings... not the people at the top of the chain, but the day to day people within all industries who are effected by all causes within this ordeal. Inspired, I wrote:

"All art regardless of the medium or source of inspiration is expressed, observed and experienced. When you add in other factors like circumstance, position, money (especially money)... each of those previously noted events are now bonded... for example: Money bonded with expression can modify what we observe and in turn what we experience. This is why some people feel that money and art should be separate, and others feel that belongs pair bonded. Choose what you experience."

I did manage to find an inspirational video about a girl with autism and a video of a very talented older lady named Carol to share with you folks who haven't seen it on Facebook. I hope all of you enjoy. Oh, and in case you haven't seen the page circulating about what Beavis and Butthead look like in real life, take a peak... but be careful, it might just keep you awake tonight.

#1Mil4RARE - "1 Million for Rare" - GlOBALGENESPROJECT.ORG

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:30:00 PST

On February 29th, the rarest day of the calender year, join the 1 Million for RARE Movement and help raise awareness of the various rare diseases that affect the lives of 1 in 10 individuals, that is over 350 million people worldwide. Currently only 5% of rare diseases have any sort of treatment at all. There are no cures. 75% of rare diseases effect children and 30% of those children die before their 5th birthday. I can't imagine how terrible those parents must feel. It is difficult to lose a child at any age let alone so young.

Help raise awareness by following the Global Genes Project via Facebook and Twitter and help spread the word about rare diseases. Remember to use the hash tag #1Mil4RARE when you Tweet.

Product Review: Xenessence Bath & Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:59:46 PST

XenEssence Bath and Beauty is a Canadian based out of Ontario. They sent me a Lavender Bath Bomb, Pina Colada Lip Balm, Sweet Orange Un-petroleum Jelly and 3 other products that I will review separately to keep my review at reasonable length.

The Lavender Bath Bomb was pretty impressive. I washed my hair prior to placing the bath bomb in the water and then just put it in an up-do to keep it out of the water. I knew that the bath bomb must contain a lot of oil if they thought it important to enclose a note making sure that I washed my hair first. Sure enough as the bath bomb dissolved in the water I noticed tiny little lavender oil globules all around the tub. The bath water felt soft and exquisite and my skin felt as moisturized as it does with the best of lavender scrubs.

The Pina Colada Lip Balm wasn't thick like many lip balms on the market. It is very slick and non-greasy. It turns out the very first listed ingredient is Sweet Almond oil which is known for those attributes. This is probably hands down the best lip balm I have ever tried. It is more oily, less waxy and the oil is non greasy. It shines and it feels nice on my lips.

The Sweet Orange Un-Petroleum Jelly is great for any application that calls for Petroleum Jelly, except this Un-Petroleum Jelly is Petroleum free! I have been putting a tiny dab on my lips at bedtime and also using a small amount on my elbows which have been dryer than usual this year. It has been pretty windy around these parts as of late and my lips can use the extra protection. The sweet orange scent is quite invigorating.

You can find Xenessence Bath and Beauty on their website.