Reach Your Wellness Goals Using Essential Oils {Giveaway Ends 4/7}

Learning how to live better and healthier is a continuous process but this year I have a few big wellness goals. One of those involves learning about essential oils and of course, how to use them properly and most effectively for my health. I want to start taking a holistic, natural approach to all aspects of my health and daily living. I know from the experiences of fellow natural mamas I know just how amazingly versatile and beneficial essential oils are. I'm still relatively new to herbal remedies though, so I was thrilled to get a kick start with my goal through meeting a fabulous dōTERRA Independent Product Consultant, Tricia Crookston via email and by phone. Tricia is also a Holistic Health Coach so she has really given me the motivation and a wealth of information to confidently start using essential oils!

dōTERRA therapeutic-grade essential oils are created using a steam distillation process that carefully extracts the aromatic compounds of plants while keeping the natural state and powerful benefits of the plant intact. Through strict quality guidelines and processes, you can expect all dōTERRA essential oils to be free of fillers, artificial ingredients and contaminants such as pesticides and chemical residues. Just 100% pure, truly natural, safe, highly-concentrated essential oils. 

Since I'm just starting out with essential oils, Tricia sent me dōTERRA's Introductory Kit which includes 5 ml bottles of Lavender, Lemon, and Peppermint essential oils, and an introductory audio CD. I also received a recent issue of the dōTERRA Living Magazine which has a wealth of information regarding natural health, healing, and living using dōTERRA essential oils. There were also a bunch of DIY beauty recipes and other usage ideas to try. While essential oils have many uses (everything from healing to cooking to cleaning!), here's how I've used these so far:

Lavender - Great for my anxiety (particularly regarding my current infertility issues), I love just opening the bottle and taking a little whiff for a moment of relaxation. As Tricia suggested, I've also been mixing Lavender with coconut oil as a carrier to rub on my feet before bed since feet have the largest pores. I've also started enjoying epsom salt baths and adding a little lavender just makes it that much better! This one is definitely great for it's calming and relaxing qualities.

Lemon - Love, love, love lemon! I've created my own cleaners using this lemon essential oil, I've added it to my homemade hand soaps, I tried a drop in a glass of water (yum!), and I even added to honey to help a developing sore throat from allergies. It's so versatile!

Peppermint - So invigorating, I love this peppermint added to my unscented Dr. Bronners castile soap! It's also very refreshing for my psoriasis and eczema skin conditions. It tends to wake me up a bit and open my sinuses in the morning too (especially great this allergy season!). I'm planning on making my own toothpaste soon and will be adding some peppermint essential oil.

I have loved my experience with these oils and I can't wait to start adding to my collection! My initial reaction when I opened each one and took a sniff was absolute amazement at the purity and cleanliness that I could literally smell. I used to be ultra sensitive to floral scents so I was worried I wouldn't like the lavender, but I'm now convinced that it was the synthetic chemical scents in skin products I used to use that were the real issue! It's amazing to experience the difference first hand. All three of these are great for beginners like myself since they can each be used aromatically, topically, and internally, so it's hard to go wrong with initial experimentation. dōTERRA clearly labels their essential oils so you can sure you are using them in the application intended. Some herbs are just not meant to be ingested for instance, regardless of the purity of dōTERRA essential oils.

Through my research for this review I learned that other essential oil brands do not all hold the purity standards of dōTERRA so it's important to do some research before you buy elsewhere. Essential oils found in health food stores, even if labeled as "therapeutic grade", are generally made using chemical processes that leave residues behind that you simply do not want to be inhaling, ingesting, or putting on your skin. Since there are no strong regulatory standards in place for essential oils, it's easy to be duped into spending less of an inferior product filled with solvents, fillers, pesticides, synthetics, or other contaminants. With the option of buying a pure product from dōTERRA, it only makes sense to buy the absolute best and safest essential oils available for my family.

dōTERRA carriers single essential oils, proprietary blends, and also kits to get a huge jump start in your essential oil journey, or to start your own home business selling dōTERRA essential oils. For more information about dōTERRA essential oils, to make a purchase, or just ask Tricia questions you may have, check out her personal dōTERRA website, essentialwellnessnow.wordpress.com.

 

Win It!

One winner will receive a 15ml bottle of dōTERRA Wild Orange Essential Oil! {$14 RV}

{Spring Into Green Giveaway} Win a $375 Prize Pack from Mothers Organic! {Ends 4/8}

Welcome to the Spring Into Green Mothers Organic Giveaway!

I've teamed up with Eco-Crazy Mom and an amazing group of bloggers to celebrate the grand opening of the Mothers Organic store, and to bring you the chance to win a fantastic prize pack valued at $375.00!

Come check out the Mothers Organic Grand Opening March 25, 2013

The Mothers Organic motto is simple: happy shopping for the everyday eco-mama. Why? Because we've all been there before. Confused by labels and not knowing which products were safe for our kids. Overwhelmed with information. That's why eco mama Kelly McKnight and her husband created Mothers Organic. They wanted to make it easy for moms to find a variety of safe, tried and true eco-friendly products in one convenient place. Every product at Mothers Organic has been hand picked and carefully reviewed by Kelly and her team of eco mamas with the belief that if it's not good enough for their family, it's certainly not good enough for yours. Finally, a place where moms can shop with confidence - we invite you to give it a try! Shop their amazing selection of stainless steel baby bottles and sippy cups. Check out their line of Melissa & Doug puzzles and toys for babies and toddlers. Stock up on your nursery layette - complete with swaddle blankets and bunting. At Mothers Organic you'll find a great selection of natural bath and skin care, organic apparel, health care essentials and much more.

Shop now and save with free shipping on all orders over $75!

Celebrate with us and enter to WIN!

Win It!

One lucky eco mama will win this awesome Mothers Organic prize pack worth $375.00:

 Boba Carrier ($120.00 RV) Green Toys bundle ($70.00 RV) Kid Basix Safe Sippy 2 ($15.00 RV) In2green Eco friendly baby & kids blanket ($70.00 RV) Seventh Generation bundle ($100.00 RV)

{Spring Into Sustainability Giveaway Hop} Simply Straws :: Glass Straws & More! Ends 3/30

Welcome to the Spring Into Sustainability Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering and The Frugal Greenish Mama. Members of the Green Moms Network are excited to bring you great prizes to encourage your family to live a more sustainable lifestyle, all valued at $25+. Our hosts have two great grand prizes too! Happy Mothering is giving away a Wondermill Junior Deluxe hand grain mill valued at $219.95. Enter here. The Frugal Greenish Mama has an awesome gardening package valued at $262.90 sponsored by Earth Easy and Humble Seed. Enter here. After entering my giveaway and the grand prize giveaways, be sure to visit the other blogs listed under the Rafflecopter form to enter more great giveaways. 

When I think of sustainable materials, I first think of glass since I use glass a lot. Pretty much infinitely reusable, it's a safe, toxin free choice for storage or display of all sorts of things throughout my house, and we drink only out of glass at home. In the last year we've started using reusable glass straws to drink from as well. In the long run I'm keeping unnecessary plastic out of landfills, saving money, and choosing the safest option for my family.

I recently came across Simply Straws and I was immediately drawn to their beautiful glass straw colors and fun glass jar mugs, all made in the USA and family-run.

"Together we have collaborated to form “Simply Straws”, where we have consciously chosen to care.  Our products are reusable, sustainable, durable, biodegradable and handmade with intention in USA. Our colors are non-toxic, our materials bpa free, our sleeves made from fair-trade, organic hemp, flax, and cotton. Our web hosting and printing powered by eco energy, we use non-toxic dyes and fsc certified 100% post consumer recycled paper for business material.  All packaging is compostable." 

I already knew glass was the best, non-porous option to drink from prior to working with Simply Straws, but it's been great to learn how much better straws are for your teeth when drinking liquids. The founder of Simply Straws has been a Dental Hygienist for 31 years and wanted to be able to offer patients with a safe, eco-friendly option to minimize contact with the teeth and helps reduce the effects of acid on tooth enamel, while removing the harmful exposure to BPA that would be found in a ordinary plastic straw. With glass I definitely think she succeeded! Given my love of glass and this event focused on sustainable products, naturally I was thrilled with the opportunity to review some amazing glass options from Simply Straws.

First off is the Simply A-Mason Mug Bent Combo which features a 16 oz. glass mason jar with a handle, a screw-top lid and an 8" bent glass straw in your choice of color (or clear). I have a thing for mason jars so the execution of creativity into a drinking vessel like this is just thrilling! As you can see there is etching on the lid, and the S initial on the glass jar too. There is actually an option to customize the etching on the glass jar for just a small additional fee! How awesome would it be to customize these for a wedding or other event!? I'm loving it. Of course I also got a little giddy when the teal color glass straw arrived at my door -- it's my favorite color! I think the 16 oz. size is perfect since any larger would be a bit heavy when full. The handle is especially great for drinking an icy cold beverage too. 

I also received a Single Sleeve Set - Color with an 8" Wide, Amber colored glass straw and an Apricot with Coffee Stitching organic sleeve. The sleeve features a smart design that opens and closes using a sewn on ribbon loop. The material is a pretty thick weave so I feel confident in the protection it provides the straw in case I'm transporting it somewhere. I'm in love with the rustic, crunchy feel of this whole ensemble! This set also makes it incredibly easy for me to keep a glass straw in my purse for eating out. One-time use plastic straws are so wasteful and I'm working on wasting less in general.

Since making the switch to glass straws, my 4 year-old is absolutely obsessed with grabbing a glass straw out of the utensil drawer any chance he gets. He's already claimed this amber straw since his favorite color is orange and the Wide width of it is perfect for his beloved smoothies (I can't wait for summer so we can make them more often!). I'm happy he's so eager to use glass as such a young age. 

And check out that customizable etching again! I really enjoyed inspecting the beautiful etching of each straw and on the mason jar mug also. It tells me that Simply Straws is proud of their craftsmanship and stands behind their products! In fact, Simply Straws offers a Lifetime Guarantee Against Breakage for their glass straws so you can rest assured that using glass straws is not as scary as it may seem! Really it's not. And if you're really worried about a rolling straw falling off the counter, choose a Simply Bent straw!

 

Here's a comparison photo of a Wide (12mm) straw opening on the left, and the Classic (9mm) opening option of the right. The Wide is great for all liquids, but I think would be best for thicker soups and smoothies. The Classic is best for teas, juices, water, wine and other beverages. There is also a Skinny width if you prefer even smaller. Each width is available in 6", 8" and 10" lengths, straight or bent, and in clear or color. Glass straws can be purchased as singles, or as part of a set or package.

Simply Straws is definitely a wonderful online shop for all your glass straw needs, especially if you're looking for colors and want to support a family business. Now on to the giveaway!

 

Win It!

One winner will receive a bundle set which will include: 1 Clear Skinny 6" straw, 1 Clear Classic 8" straw, 1 Clear Wide 10" straw, 1 Classic Brush & 1 3-Straw Sleeve in Denim ($47 RV)!

Tropical Traditions :: FREE Shipping, BOGO Organic Coconut Oil & FREE Gift! {Through 3/19}

Have you ordered from Tropical Traditions yet? With free shipping code 183313 through Tuesday, a free book for new customers, and plenty of great deals on coconut oil, palm shortening, raw honey, deodorant and more, NOW is the time to order!

BOGO Coconut Oil!
USDA Organic Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is on BOGO right now! That means for just $19.95 SHIPPED (with the free shipping code above) you can get 2, 16oz jars, a $50 retail value! This is THE BEST organic virgin coconut oil you can buy!

Almost all "virgin" coconut oils sold on the market today are mass-produced by machine, but Tropical Traditions is committed to time-honored traditional practices that have produced healthy coconut oil for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is still produced by hand, using the wet-milling process of extracting the oil from fresh coconuts.

FREE Gift!

First-time customers will also receive a FREE gift, the book "Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people's lives and how it can change yours!" This book is packed with testimonies and solid research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how people can incorporate coconut into their diet. Purchase through one of my links and this book will automatically be added to your order!  

Shop Now!

 

Disclosure: This post contains my referral link.

Winners Announcement!

Larsen Toy Lab winner...Rafflecopter Entry #246 Joy N!

GreenDeals winner...Rafflecopter Entry #14 Tonia J!

Alive & Radiant Foods winner...Rafflecopter Entry #788 Doina S!

Umi winner...Rafflecopter Entry #2216 Hanna!  


All winners have been contacted by email! Congratulations to you all!

 

Brittanie's Thyme :: Certified Organic Skincare & Sinus Relief Pillow {Review & Giveaway - Ends 3/21 - US/CAN}

If you're anything like me then you scrutinize every ingredient in every product you ever buy. Sure, I buy some things with so-so ingredients, but I will no longer compromise on my skincare. I finally found a completely organic skincare line I love from a lovely company called Brittanie's Thyme. You don't have to settle for less than USDA Certified Organic! It is possible to find!

Brittanie's Thyme is a women-owned, USDA certified organic company based in Cedar Springs, MI. They use no fillers, artificial preservatives, artificial fragrances or dyes and only small batches are made of each product to ensure freshness. If that doesn't sound great enough, you'll be thrilled to know that these products are all made in the USA. 

 

I opted for the Mindful Beauty Normal Skin Care System to review, although you can purchase each product individually or as complete systems geared towards skin that is dry, sensitive, young, or mature. The Mindful Beauty Normal Skin Care System includes the following five products which I'd like to briefly describe:

Organic Citrus Facial Cleanser - This cleanser features witch hazel, grapefruit and rosemary to cleanse, and jojoba oil for a little moisture. There are no soap ingredients which would account for the lack of lathering, but it's actually quite refreshing to not have to use soap on my face which can strip it's natural oils. Instead, the qualities of each included ingredient create a gel consistency that gently, but effectively cleanse without drying. The scent is light citrus that leans towards a lemon aroma. Definitely loving this cleanser and the easy to use pump.

Organic Balancing Facial Toner - I haven't used a toner in years...we're talking maybe 10 years or so! I had such ill effects from using a toner back then, but I'm now positive that was a combination of using a horribly toxic toner and also from have teenage skin. I'm so glad I gave it a chance because my skin loves it! This toner has a rosey peppermint scent, doesn't irritate any of my broken skin, and doesn't overly dry you out before applying the moisturizer. It simply balances your skin's PH, improves tone, and further reveals healthy skin. Together with the cleanser, my large pores have diminished incredibly well, something that I'm so thrilled about!

Organic Everyday Moisturizer - This light moisturizer feels refreshing and cool on the skin once applied. It's almost slightly sticky on my fingers before full application, but dries quickly and completely without any greasy residue or sticky evidence. I can say this is a great moisturizer choice before applying makeup too. The natural antioxidants, Vitamin E, beta carotene and omegas offer up a wonderful way to restore a healthy balance and glow to your skin. It's my new favorite moisturizer in a convenient pump.

Organic Restorative Facial Serum - This serum is loaded with antioxidants, omegas, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and E, essential amino acids, proteins and carotene for intense cell revitalization, protection, and overall skin rejuvenation. Best applied in the evening before bed, I found this to be really nourishing to my skin. Although it absorbs well, it does leave a shiny glow (thus the night time recommendation) which visibly shows it's protective barrier on your skin.

Organic Almond Oatmeal Facial Scrub - With just oats and almonds, this simple scrub is a super natural way to renew and smooth dry, rough skin. I'll admit, I was a bit bummed that the Facial Cleanser had no rough exfoliating beads or anything, but through reviewing these products I've figured out that my skin doesn't want that every single day anyway! Instead, this scrub is the perfect option to use once or twice a week and still get the benefits of exfoliation. It's gentle of course, but great for all skin types. The 4 ounce tub is a dry mixture that you put in your hand with a little water and then apply.

I tend to have combination skin that is not as sensitive as it was just a couple years ago, but I will still have hormonal small breakouts and weird combo skin on occasion. I almost opted for the Facial Freedom line which is best for young adults, teenagers and men, but I'm really glad I went for the Mindful Beauty Normal Skin Care System. It seems to be exactly what my skin needs at this very point in time. I was under the impression that as I get older I'd have to succumb to things like larger pores, deepening fine lines etc, but I was so wrong! My skin hasn't looked this great in years and I'm so impressed with the results. My face is pretty clear, pores are smaller, and a few bothersome wrinkles are less visible. It's amazing how gentle yet powerfully effective nature can be if we just use it properly! Brittanie's Thyme skin care products are also gluten-free, which is of course very important to me. Since I don't ingest gluten, why should I put it on my skin? Of course I shouldn't! I also love that at least some of these products are in glass, and that the pumps on the cleanser and moisturizer are different so I don't mix them up! The labels and liquids look similar when they come out so it would be easy to do so.

Brittanie's Thyme also offers a few organic products for cold and sinus relief too. I get horrendous allergy symptoms every year on what always feels like the same day.....April 1st. This year it seems to have hit earlier since we've had less rain lately in California and trees are already in full bloom! I do get very mild allergy symptoms throughout the year, but the spring is absolutely miserable for me. My eyes are itchy and runny, my sinuses are clogged, my face is swollen, I can't focus or concentrate and I'm plagued with constant headaches. Oh joy!  

This year I hope to naturally ease my symptoms and start off each morning not feeling so lousy. One natural remedy I'm trying is the Organic Sinus Relief Pillow that features the lovely aromas of Basil, Lavender, Peppermint and Eucalyptus. It works by aiding in the relief of sinus congestion and by promoting clearer breathing while you sleep. This means it's great for colds, sinusitis, allergies, and sinus headaches. Simply place the little pillow inside your pillowcase at night! I see this little pillow as not only a way to ease and clear my allergy congested sinuses, but also as a calming, sleep-inducing little gem. For me this pillow is one part sinus congestion relief, one part aromatherapy-induced restfulness that is great for helping me fall asleep faster! I can literally rest easier while knowing I'm using a completely natural product that consists of only organic herbs, essential oils, and buckwheat, all in this cute little blue pillow with the added bonus of alleviating some of my allergy symptoms! So far my allergies are managing well (although early in the season), probably at least in part due to this Organic Sinus Relief Pillow.

I'm so thrilled to have found Brittanie's Thyme. Considering the amazing organic ingredients, product formulas, and the fabulous results I have personally experienced, I can whole-heartedly recommend Brittanie's Thyme to everyone.

Price: Mindful Beauty Normal Skin Care System - $67, Organic Sinus Relief Pillow - $9

Buy It: Order at BrittaniesThyme.com or find a retail location near you!

 

Win It!

One winner will receive the Mindful Beauty Normal Skin Care System & an Organic Sinus Relief Pillow, a $76 RV!

Arrowhead's ReBorn™ Bottle :: Another Great Reason To Recycle

I'm lucky to live in an area in California where our trash and recyclables are actually sorted for us once picked up, so everything can just be thrown in one trash can. One less thing for my family to do and another step to going more green...check! If your city doesn't have such a program, I hope that recycling is something that you're implementing already into your family's routine, or you're finding ways to reuse recyclables around your home (check out Pinterest for plenty of ideas!). There are plenty of reasons to recycle, and even more when you consider the long term impact that growing landfills have on our environment. Recycling is one of the easiest and most beneficial ways we can all help the environment. Today I'd like to focus on recycling plastic water bottles and Arrowhead's mission to bring awareness to California's recycling problem in particular.  

If you're a regular reader of my blog that you know I prefer drinking filtered water from reusable glass or stainless steel. However, there are rare occasions that bottled water is convenient or necessary for even my family, and I realize that not every one of my readers is as far into their green/organic/natural journey as I am (if at all).  

With the new Arrowhead ReBorn™ Bottle that's made from 50% recycled plastic, and that's also recyclable, we now have a better option when those times come up. Even though a plastic bottle may say “100% recycleABLE”, this does not mean it's actually made with recyclED plastic. It just means it CAN BE recycled once you're done with it. In fact, most plastic beverage containers are not made of recycled plastic at all, but with PET plastic which has been the industry standard for decades. Times are changing though and companies like Arrowhead are using this recycled PET (rPET). However, due to the limited supply of high quality recycled plastic that comes in, we need your help in recycling so companies like Arrowhead® 100% Mountain Spring Water can use more rPET in their water bottles! This awesome infographic tells it all:

The fact that in California alone we are not recycling that much plastic is pretty disheartening. 2.8 Billion plastic bottles ended up in California landfills in 2011?! That's just incredibly sad to me!

This isn’t Arrowhead’s first environmental initiative. In fact, Arrowhead has a long history of treating Mother Nature right and showing their commitment to the environment. From preserving and protecting their carefully selected natural spring sources (and acres surrounding them) to sustainable sourcing of their waters, from LEED certified facilities to utilizing wind turbines for renewable energy, and constantly improving packaging. The list goes on, just like the recyclability of the new ReBorn™ bottles.

Arrowhead’s ReBorn™ Bottle can be recycled again and again, so there is no end to its usefulness. The ReBorn™ Bottle is proof that recycling works, but for it to continue, we all have to do our part. I hope you will join Arrowhead in their mission to encourage more recycling by "liking" them on Facebook, and by viewing the short video, “Recycling Is A Beautiful Thing” to learn more!

 

Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Arrowhead Waters. This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.

UMI :: Children's Shoes for Spring! {Giveaway Ends 3/13}

Umi was founded in 2004 and has been making high quality children's shoes ever since. With growing feet in mind, Umi ensures their sizing allows for a bit of room to grow, and your child's safety is kept at a high priority through the use of child-safe materials and through strict quality and safety testing. They are also environmentally conscious and use earth-friendly materials wherever possible and recycled packaging. With a wide selection of shoes for babies up to big kids, Umi has you covered when it comes to finding that one pair of amazing shoes that becomes the mainstay of your child's shoe collection each season.

Umi's spring line recently rolled out! After a lot of debating, I finally decided on the Laren sandal for Buddy as his new spring/summer sandal. With warmer weather coming soon (it's been showing up in California already!), velcro sandals are a necessity for my busy little boy. With Buddy going in and out of the house to the backyard a billion times a day and a no-shoe policy inside, this mama just cannot deal with tying shoelaces all day long! With velcro Buddy can just do it himself which is not only helpful for me, but he feels quite accomplished too. Besides, he's truly a hot body and hot summer weather is not always comfortable for him. Sandals are a must for him since they provide plenty of airflow!

First off, notice all the adorable details! The colored trim and contrasting reinforced stitching, the raised dots on the velcro closures, and various stitching all over for extra personality. What's not to love? The Laren sandal has a very sturdy, thick sole that grips the ground very well. Despite this I can still fold them pretty far in the middle so I know they are appropriate for growing feet. Also at the same time, this sturdiness ensures a long shoe life, and plenty of firm yet flexible foot support for rough outdoor play especially. This shoe is made from neoprene, microfiber and other man-made materials which make the Laren pretty water-friendly too. I'm excited about this since I plan on getting outdoors and doing more water activities this summer. Actually, we have a water park around the corner from our new house that we're excited to visit a lot this summer. Buddy will easily be able to go from water play to the playground with bark in these sandals.

A great feature about the Laren is that they are wonderful for young boys with growing feet due to the flexible neoprene upper material and the ability to adjust the shoe is three areas. The velcro is very strong and will easily hold up through rough usage. The velcro strap behind the heel is especially helpful for us right now since these are slightly too big for Buddy. Umi is wonderful in how they size their shoes to account for growth (he measured between the 29-30), but I intentionally went up an additional size from the printable shoe size chart I used from Umi (so I got a 31). I wouldn't normally recommend you do this, but Buddy just turned 4 and is already in the equivalent of a size 13 to 1 in other brands and rapidly still growing at a steady, but fast, pace. I figured he's going to have a growth spurt or two prior to summer when he'll wear these daily! Actually, in the 3 weeks I've had these shoes in my hands, Buddy has clearly grown into them a little since he first tried them on so he has actually started wearing them on warmer days!

The Laren style is available in sizes 20-35 and three colors: Steel, Cocoa Multi, and Pink Multi for girls. The Steel color we received is a combo of deep and light gray with a bright orange accent trim. It's not a combo that will really match too much of most kid's wardrobes, but I think boys can easily get away with that so it doesn't bother me at all. Besides, orange is Buddy's favorite color! He's so excited about his new sandals, and so am I. They are going to be the one and only pair Buddy needs throughout the whole summer, unless of course he grows out of them! :)

Don't forget, Umi offers FREE shipping and returns (excluding clearance)!

Price: Laren - $45-$50

Win It!

One winner will receive $60 Gift Card to UmiShoes.com!