Win a Kitchables Pour Over Coffee Maker! Make Great Coffee An Art Form!

Sure, there are ways to make decent coffee in around 30 seconds, but some of us like to take our time and make an artful, GREAT cup of coffee.

Chomps Snack Sticks: Amazingly Tasty, Healthy & Portable Paleo & LCHF Snacks!

One of the problems you have when you upgrade your way of eating to Paleo and Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) is that most portable snacks out there are grain-based.

That, and they usually have loads of sugar and other junk you don't want to put into your body.

I tried making my own grain-free granola-type bars for portable use, but they crumbled into a mess!

Then I bought a few of the healthier bars out there, but they usually still had more carbs than my body likes, plus they had a few "iffy" ingredients that I wasn't very happy about.

 

But then I met Chomps!

 

The Perfect Gift for Moms or Moms to Be

Recently, I was introduced to a new subscription service for moms like me...moms who care about being healthy, about the health of their children, about the health and wellbeing of our earth.

That subbie box is Ecocentric Mom.

 

What is Ecocentric?

Hot Flashes, Night Sweats & Mood Swings, Oh My! Help!!

**UPDATED...BELOW**
Even though I haven't quite reached my 42 birthday, my hormones have been getting wackier and wackier over the last couple of years. For about 8 months I've been having hot flashes. Not fun, but totally manageable for me. I just grab up whatever's near by and fan myself wildly for the minute or two it occurs, then life goes on.

But...

But!!!

Then I started having night sweats!

VERY not fun.

 

Being awakened several times a night feeling like you are in the pits of Hades simply does not make for a well-rested, happy person come morning!

Hello Internet!

Forget Pills! Absorb Your Vitamin B12 & Your Magnesium?

Although I must take a number of pills, I don't enjoy it.

Especially those big horse pills!

When I can find an alternative way to take my supplements and vitamins, other than pills, I'm all for it. I try to get as many of my vitamins naturally, through my food, as possible. But some levels are just not going to be achieved through food alone, so I must supplement.

I recently found a very cool alternative method for a couple of vitamins I like to take:

absorbing through the body's largest organ...the skin!

  

Getting Rid of Dandruff & Flaking Naturally

In our family, there are a few of us who suffer from dandruff.

I get seasonal dry scalp flaking, from time to time.

We've tried lots of different things over the years, including prescription strength shampoo. Some of it has worked, some of it didn't. But everything we tried had chemicals and other unnatural stuff in it, which I'm trying to avoid now, because it's...

not good for you, not good for the earth.

I'm VERY happy to report that I've found an answer to both the Dandruff issue AND the occasional dry scalp flaking, and it's natural!

 This is Pura D'or.

Getting My Gut Straight: The REAL Scoop On Probiotics & Why Many Are a Waste

So, you've noticed that I'm talking more and more about using things that are natural, organic, whole, and such...whether it's in my hair, on my face, or in my body.

 

But why?

Going Natural For Cheap?! Radha Skincare's WorkHorse Duo of Organic Oils to the Rescue!

As previously mentioned, I'm trying to slowly convert more of my life to natural, organic and sustainable products.

I can't do it all at once, because that would be costly and a bit emotionally painful (goodbye to most of my current makeup!)...but I can do little bits here and there.

 

I recently found a few GREAT products that fit into my plan BEAUTIFULLY.

I Quit Coffee! Here's How I Survived...

First, let me say that you are going to be noticing a shift here at the blog...towards things natural and organic. As my drive to be healthier and happier progressed, I realized that I needed for ALL of the products in my life to move toward natural and organic. I've been working on buying organic, whole foods for a while, now. But I just recently decided that it's time to change over all the products that my family uses, as well. So, you will be seeing lots more reviews for things that are natural and organic. I think this is the natural progression of the "Health Movement" and I hope you will join me in making some switches, too.

Unboxing the Influenster TLC VoxBox (a FREE Goodie Box!)

A little while back I signed up over at Influenster to get in their VoxBox program.

Basically, you fill out some surveys, connect your social media to their site and wait to be chosen for a FREE goodie box. Free!? Yes!

So far I've gotten 2 and I'm a big fan of Influenster.

This particular box is the TLC box and was compiled with Moms in mind. Moms could use a little tender, loving care, right?!?!

Here's my video of the unboxing:

5 S's for a Successful Shorts Season

Here are 5 S's

to help you have a more successful

Spring & Summer Shorts Season:

 

1.) Shave Cream.

Shorts show skin. Best if it's not hairy skin!

I've tried lots of shaving creams, foams, gels, lotions, etc. We are all different, but I've found that I truly like shave lotions/creams best.

They provide close, comfortable shaves, while moisturizing the skin better than most of the others. I like EOS and Skintimate, but Skintimate edges out EOS thanks to the packaging (EOS, as a pump, will end up leaving you with a lot of cream at the bottom that won't pump out, while Skintimate, being upside-down and a squeeze-type, will completely empty out with no problems).

 

2.) Shaving Razor.

Review: Skinny Jane Weight Loss & Nutrition for Women, plus Giveaway

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

 

 

If you want to jump start your weight loss, Skinny Jane may be what you're looking for. I'm not big into shakes and specialty "diet" items...I eat low carb and most of what I eat is "whole foods", things I prepare myself from scratch. But, I do recognize that many people need "help" dieting, especially in the beginning, when they're trying to adjust.

Maybe they don't have time to fix a healthy breakfast. Or maybe you are on the go and prefer to drink a quick breakfast drink. Sometimes you just have to do what works, even if it is just for a little while. I realize this. As long as it isn't sugar-laden, I'm game to at least try it out.

 

So Skinny Jane sent me 4 flavors of their shakes to sample: Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate and Banana. They also sent me their "Burn" and "Cleanse" pills.

 

Can YOU Shake Your Booty? Wii Zumba 2

I can!

And with a little more practice (okay, maybe a LOT more), I might look skilled while doing it.

So, you'd have to live under a rock to not know about the wave of popularity that Zumba has recently ridden. But maybe, like me, you're not keen to shake your moneymaker (and fall out from exhaustion or smack someone next to you with the errant hand) in front of an audience. That's where the Wii comes in.

With Wii Zumba 2, you can have loads of fun, get heart-pounding exercise, and sweat off some pounds while tightening up the parts of you that ought NOT be jiggly. And you can do it without an audience. Aaaaand, you can learn how to dance like a Latin star if you apply yourself. Bonus!

Oh, and you don't have pay for ongoing classes, babysitters, nor gas to drive to classes, nor fancy workout wear (unless you just want to!). These are definite positives in a harsh economy where many of us don't have a dime to spare.