Music and Mommies

Product Review: Ayu Natural Beauty Care - Oily Facial Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:30:00 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, 26 Jan 2012 03:00:10 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) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:00:10 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) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:00:05 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) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:30:02 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) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:00:04 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, 23 Jan 2012 05:01:12 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, 19 Jan 2012 13:04:03 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.

SOPA/PIPA Updates with a lil LOL.

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:45:45 PST

I've been a little post happy today on Facebook, both on my personal timeline and on the Music and Mommies page. It hasn't been my intention to spam everyone but sometimes information comes through rapidly and information needs to be redirected immediately. In the case of SOPA/PIPA awareness, directing people to the heart of the issue has been an absolute necessity. It is time to raise our voices and this very internet that we are fighting for is what has granted us a voice that is much more unifiable. For those of you connected to me via other social networks besides Facebook, here is a summery of some of the things I posted this morning:

The first one is a talk by Clay Shirky: Why SOPA is a bad idea. This is an extremely interesting video and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

I also posted a link to a list of US Senators that I discovered on Google. It shows which senators are for or against the bill and which remain on the fence. If you are a US citizen and have not contacted your US senator yet, please do. If you are Canadian like me, please urge your American friends to contact their US senators... this really does effect people globally and would be a complete set back on a multitude of levels.

There is also good news afloat in regards to the US Senators, according to this article, 18 US Senators have announced their opposition to the Bills in question.

This is absolutely amazing! We are indeed in the midst of a revolution. According to gismodo.com: "US Senate pages are being hammered so hard that they are crashing."

Now, I realize many of you have had an ear full of SOPA/PIPA perspectives over the last few days as awareness over the issue has heightened. So, I have stumbled across some videos in my news feed to help induce healing bouts of laughter!

The first is a video from some friends of mine at a new production company called Lady Parts Production. It is called "Shit Girls Never Say". Not really for kids but awesome none the less. The second video is just plain adorable and called "Hat Cat"

SOPA/PIPA

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:09:49 PST

I wanted to turn everyone's attention toward this video I found on Facebook regarding SOPA/PIPA. It is important to generate awareness as there is much more to this issue than piracy. As I stated on my personal Facebook page today, moments before I discovered this video in my feed:

"We have the right to an open tunnel exchange of information. We were born with the ability to make choices and by sitting idly by whilst a small group of people change the system according to their own liking in the name of money and control of information.... this has happened before. Let's wake up! Pick up the momentum. How many of you are still sleeping? This isn't just about piracy... that is the surface issue designed to turn heads away from the heart of the issue... limitation on the information we can receive limits each individuals potential for growth... this ultimately limits our own conscious evolution as a whole and further divides the social class. I don't think we can afford to be set back at such a critical point in humanities development."

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Enter Rafflecopter Ipad2/Kindle Fire Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:24:34 PST

For those of you who haven't entered the "Win a Ipad2/Kindle Fire Giveaway" what have you got to lose? Enter below! Don't forget to put "Crystal Marie Porter" as your referrer. If you win, I win too and momma could use a Kindle Fire.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review and Giveaway- Tsp Spices - Spice Sets

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:00:02 PST

The first things that struck me as soon as I opened up the parcel and caught sight of the Organic Sun Shine - lemon zest and orange zest spice set and the Organic Herb Sampler was how wonderful these to would be to give or receive. It has gift written all over it. The packaging resembles that of a CD or small book box set. The lines are clean and I'm fond of the chocolate with white trim on the boxes.

Inside the Organic Sun Shine spice set is 2 tins, one containing 12 - 1 tsp packets of Lemon zest and the other containing 12 - 1 tsp packets of Orange zest.

Inside the Organic Herb Sampler are 24 packets in total of 6 different spices: Basil, Dill Weed, Oregano, Rosemary, Tarragon, Thyme

First of all I have to say that I find the whole idea behind tsp spices really interesting, because they are individually wrapped, the spices keep their potency longer. So there is a lot less wasted spice. I find the spices much more flavourful than any conventional spices I have recently purchased. It has a homegrown taste and I know any gardener will be pleased with that notion. I learned while browsing the tsp spices website that not only did a spice need to be free from pesticides and insecticides, but to be considered organic a spice had to be pure... or free from debris like twigs, fillers and other foreign matter. Tsp Spices supports sustainability and healthy farming practices. Actually, I have really enjoyed browsing through their website and I encourage you to do the same.

Tsp Spices have generously offered an Organic Herb Sampler to a Music and Mommies reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product Review: Eden Foods - Organic Sencha Mint Green Tea

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:00:07 PST

Those who have graced my door know all too well how big of a tea drinker I am... every few months I stock up my cupboards with classic teas and current favorites and a couple new treats to sample. When I have company over I'm quick to make everyone a hot beverage and yea I can be a bit of a tea pusher. When I approached Eden Foods about doing a product review, they offered me a selection to choose from and as soon as I seen the words "Sencha Mint Green Tea", I instantly became excited. In case you are wondering, Sencha Mint is a unique blend of Japanese organic green tea leaves, with Egyptian organic spearmint and organic peppermint leaves.

This box arrived last week and it is almost gone. I have made pot after pot of this tea and shared it with friends. I haven't encountered one tea drinker yet who didn't care for it. I serve it without milk or any kind of sweetener. The sweetness of the spearmint and mint are enough. The brew is very strong and I can re-steep the same bag a few times.

One thing I noticed about the packaging that caught my eye and made me feel all warm inside was that not only was the box printed on recycled cardboard, but it was printed with vegetable ink!

Their catalog has over 250 items listed and you can download a .pdf or request a print copy here. With that large of a selection, I wonder what their other products taste like!

Product Review and Giveaway: Dhuni Incensi Sticks [Canada]

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:01 PST

I received two packages of Incense to review from Dhuni, a company in the UK to review. At Dhuni, they individually handroll their incense sticks out of barks, flowers and resins over slender threads of bamboo. It is traditional and true.

The package of Nag Champa contained 7 extra large incense sticks. Each stick burns for well over an hour and sometimes to keep them a little longer we snuff them out about half way. This Nag Champa is completely free of chemicals unlike most incenses that you find on the market these days. Did you know that Indian incenses containing Plumeria have Champa attached to their name?

The package of Kashi also contained 7 extra large incense sticks and it was my husbands favorite. He enjoys it so much he wants to save it for a special occasion. I however have a thing about saving things for special occasions. They never seem to get used that way. The aroma brings him such pleasant feelings whenever he smells it. I really enjoy the smell of it as well, in fact both were extremely pleasing and aromatic.

Giveaway:
Dhuni also shipped a package of Lotus incense for one lucky Music and Mommies reader! Enter to win on the Rafflecopter form below. The lotus is thinner than the Nag Champa and Kashi and comes with more although I'm not sure how much more.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Holidays to all!

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 03:00:08 PST

I hope the holiday season brings all of you lovely people everything your heart truly desires and that it is met with love and gratitude. May the kindness in your hearts live in everything you do, every day you live.

GoGo Quinoa - Minestrone Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 07:30:02 PST

Over the last few weeks I have reviewed a couple different side dishes from GoGo Quinoa. Today I am going to review one of the soups I received. Minestrone Soup is a gluten free, vegan soup with 70% organic ingredients

With 15 to 20 minutes cooking time, this makes a wonderful meal for a family of four, if you have an appetite like I do. I eat small frequent meals. The hubby on the other hand, eats larger meals so this was a suitable appetizer for him. Well at least it would have been had he been able to try it. He requested some, I put it aside for him. He went on about how delicious it smelled and he was excited to try it. But then I think he forgot. Jessi was down from the city and she got to try it and she absolutely loved it. It was leftovers by then so the flavour really had time set in.

The picture below is about 5 minutes away from completed cooking time. It thickened up a bit more. This was so yummy! The flavor was similar to the Paella and it is also very low in sodium. The red beans give it a bit of fiber without being too hard on my digestive system. I'm sensitive to certain legumes and sometimes it is a tough compromise between sensitivities and bodily demands. After eating this I felt very content and satisfied.

Read my previous GoGo Quinoa reviews:

Granissimo Paella
Granissimo Pilaf

Wordless Wednesday: Cat Feet

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:00:15 PST

Product Review: Hugo Naturals - Essential Mist

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:00:05 PST

I received a lovely amber bottle of Essential Mist in Calming French Lavender to review. You might remember my review of the Indonesian Patchouli & Sandalwood Massage and Body Oil. Hugo Naturals also sent that wonderful product.

The Essential Mist is a great all over body spray for after bath or shower. A few spritzes cools down my skin and is a great way to add quick hydration. This blend of purified water and essential oils can also be used as a fabric refresher. Consider spritzing a few pillows, a stuffed animal or a babies blanket in a nursery with this calming lavender scent. Even spritzing the furniture in the living area to give that calming effect throughout the house. You can even spray your hair with it if you like. Since there is no carrier oil you do not need to worry about greasy hair. I really love the quality of the products at Hugo Naturals. I love that they are cruelty free, vegan and gluten and Soy free.

One thing that I really love about the product is that they do not use any artificial colors or synthetic fragrances. I am allergic to yellow #5 and it bothers me to no end when companies needlessly add cheap synthetic dyes to a product that is going to be placed on the skin and absorbed into the body or ingested into the body. More and more people are developing sensitivities to these ingredients and suffer side effects from an accumulation of these toxins in the body over a period of time. So, I embrace companies that are conscious of that.

Product Review: Nature Balance Wellness - Part 3 of 3

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:55:00 PST

Over the last few weeks I have posted 2 different reviews about various products from Nature Balance Wellness. You can read the review for the facial collection here and the second review can be found here. This is the third and final installment of this review series. I have been thrilled with the quality of these products and would have no objection to working with these company in the future. They have been a privilege to work with and I really encourage everyone to pay them a visit.

The Marigold Magic Body Butter is one of NBW.ca's best selling products. It is great for eczema sufferers and those with sensitive skin. It is remarkable on really dry and even cracked skin. I get really dry feet in the winter and this did a fantastic job of breathing some life back into those tired feet and elbows. I like to put it on after a bath, my skin just soaks it right up. The sweet orange softens the skin and the calendula heals the skin and promotes skin growth. Sweet orange oil also promotes optimism and calendula helps heal stretch marks! This cream is even gentle enough to use on babies

The Love Me Lavender Body Scrub is one of my favorite products hands down. Lavender is amazing for the skin. I use this product nearly every time I shower and a little goes a long way. I especially love to use this product on problem areas on my legs and bikini area. Some areas need a little more love, especially if you are a frequent shaver. Speaking of shaving, I was told that this product also doubles as a shaving oil. Use it first to exfoliate and then wait and you can use the extra moisture to shave. It really does keep the skin terrifically moisturized and give you a close shave without all of the ingrown hairs, but the downfall is that it gunks up the razor quickly. Perhaps I need to adjust the time in between exfoliating and shaving. Immediately after using this product I watch as the water beads right off of my skin. The smell is so calming, I'm in love.

Product Review: Eden Botanicals - Essential Oils

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:00:05 PST

I received a few samples of essential oils from Eden Botanicals a US company located in Hyampom, California. The samples included: Sandalwood, Lemon, Lavender and a tiny Sample of Jasmine Absolute.

The samples included a note about how each oil was collected, its place of origin and the plant part that contains the essential oil. In the case of the tiny sample of Jasmine, the oil is collected from the flowers. In the case of lemon the oil is collected from the peels. The potency of these oils is impressive, I can distinctly smell each one through the tiny sample vial without opening it. Since the samples were shipping in clear containers I have been storing them in a dark spot in my home where the light won't reach them.

Certain methods of extractions are more costly then others but these costly methods help preserve more of the plants essential oils. These things help determine the cost of the oil. The Jasmine for example is a more expensive oil so the sample size was much smaller than the Lemon, Sandalwood or Lavender oil.

I recommend stocking up on some oils because not only to they offer terrific aromatherapy benefits but certain oils also have medicinal properties. Tea tree for example is a powerful antiseptic... Thyme oil is a wonderful disinfectant. Look to Eden Botanicals as a source for pure wholesale essential oils and even rare ones!

Tsp Spices - Spicy Nachos

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:51:18 PST

I received a few different products from Tsp Spices to sample and I was very fortunate to have been sent some organic mild ground chili pepper. So, I decided to make nachos. I did use ground beef in this recipe, you can substitute the ground beef for ground turkey or opt out of the meat portion of this recipe all together. If you choose to opt out of the meat, might I suggest adding the chili pepper and splashes of hot sauce to the salsa. The salsa can be homemade or store bought, it is entirely your preference.

I used ingredients that I had on hand and I did not put any sour cream on my nachos because sour cream holds my hand and carries me into a world of pain. As you can imagine, "world of pain" isn't a prime vacation spot.

Ingredients: ground beef, 1 package kettle nacho chips, Salsa, Jalapenos, Choice of Olives (we used green and black), Cheddar, onions (green and regular), hot sauce, 1 tsp pkg of ground chili pepper.

While the ground beef was cooking we added the Chili Pepper courtesy of Tsp Spices and some hot sauce to taste. Spicy foods are high in request in this house during the colder months of the year.

Afterwards the children helped me scatter the prepped ingredients (except the salsa) onto 2 baking pans. I don't include the salsa in this step because it really does make the nachos too soggy. So I usually put the salsa on the side as a dipping sauce for the nachos or over them after they have been baked.

I bake them in the oven long enough for the cheese to melt and the chips to get warm and a little crispy. Allow to cool temporarily and enjoy.

These nachos were very spicy and that is to be expected when you put jalapenos on your nachos. I managed to sample the chili pepper when I first added it to the hamburger and I must say. There is a distinctive freshness to this product like no other in my spice cupboard unless it is homegrown and has been dried properly.

Product Review: Hugo Naturals - Massage and Body Oil

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 10:51:10 PST

Have you ever heard of the company Hugo Naturals? If not I recommend that you take a peak at their product line. They have a wonderful selection of products for both mother and baby and even products for the men in your life. I received a couple products from Hugo Naturals to review. Today I am going to write about the Indonesian Patchouli and Sandalwood Massage and Body Oil.

While I am not a masseuse, (someday!) I absolutely love giving massages. It brings me great joy to help people heal their physical and even emotional pains and stresses whether it be in council or just in providing a calm, relaxing atmosphere for the people in this home and our loving guests. This oil is the perfect blend of masculine and feminine scents. Sensual is indeed the perfect description of this scent experience, the patchouli is strong but the sweet woodsy notes of sandalwood provide a delicate balance. I often find myself dabbing a drop of this oil on my wrists to use it as a nice perfume. Sweet Almond and Jojoba oils are the base oils so this product is great for skin. Naturally, to protect the oils from sunlight (which causes it to rapidly oxidize) it comes in a lovely amber bottle to filter out some sunlight. What I love about this product is it doesn't leave you feeling like you immediately need a shower like many other massage oils on the market.

My Kinder Moments - #kindermom

noreply@blogger.com (Crystal Marie) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:03:37 PST

Have you visited the Kinder Canada Facebook page lately? They have an application on their page called My Kinder Moments. This application allows you to jazz up some of your special memories big and small. There are frames for everyday experiences and frames for special memories like a visit from the Tooth Fairy and every a theatre or dance performance and even a haircut.

I think the tooth fairy frame is really cute, imagine your child's toothless face with this frame around it. Or even a photo of them placing their tooth underneath their pillow. They also have a frame for the fall season and since it still looks like fall around here, it would make a lovely frame for an outdoor scene.

If you love how your memory looks framed, share it with your friends and family! Or invite them to build their own albums. What are you waiting for? Head on over to Kinder Canada and start building a Kinder Moments album.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Kinder Mom campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received special perks as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.