Apiterra Raw Honey {review}

Good morning friends! Time for another yummy food review! This time, it's the 

Honey Gift Set with Superfoods from Apiterra! 

Do you love raw honey in your tea or coffee? Or maybe just to replace regular sugar, in other foods? Raw honey has so many benefits nutritionally, and it can have a unique flavor depending on where the bees pollinated their flowers. Here is the description for the Honey Gift Set, off the Etsy listing from Apiterra: 

"Welcome to Apiterra, the first artisan company in the US to produce all-natural, RAW HONEY-BASED SUPERFOODS for HEALTHY BREAKFAST. Do you like honey gift as much as we? We love honey and we know you’ll fall in love too after tasting our incredibly delicious, unique and excellent product - Breakfast Gift Set. We thrive on our passion for tasty healthy products that use the cleanest ingredients. We aim to make honey a staple in every household, promoting a healthy lifestyle for each person with each of our delicious, unique flavors. 
Our raw honey gift set has not been heated, pasteurized or processed in any way. It is alkaline-forming food that contains natural vitamins, enzymes, powerful antioxidants and other important natural nutrients. One spoon of honey spread every day boosts your immune system, improves digestion and detoxes the whole body. 
• NO SUGAR ADDED (unlike jams or fruit preserves) 
• NEVER HEATED OR PASTEURIZED
• GLUTEN-FREE 
• PALEO 
• VEGETARIAN 

Just 100% INNOCENT PURE, RAW HONEY with SUPERFOODS for BREAKFAST."

So let's talk about each honey sample!

The matcha honey is probably my favorite of the four - the matcha powder added in to the honey is an interesting combination, but it totally works! I am a sucker for matcha!

The regular unflavored raw honey is good. The flavor is definitely unique. This is good in hot tea.

The acai+blueberry honey tastes more like a very sweet jam than honey! It would be best spread on toast in my opinion. A little goes a long way! It's a bit strong. 

Have you read about the health benefits of turmeric and ginger?? Combined with honey, these three are definitely SUPER FOOD. Immune-system boosting, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-allergy are only a few benefits of these three ingredients. 

And you know what's awesome, I thought this honey would taste nasty. It didn't. It was actually really palatable and I wouldn't mind taking a spoonful for my health or spreading it on some bread or something else! The turmeric and ginger were blended in well so it didn't taste powder-y, either.

Overall, it's been a pleasure testing these four different raw honey samples. I definitely recommend checking out Apiterra today! 

//

note: I was sent these products in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pink Lotus Natural Care - FOCUS Oil {review}

Do you ever feel like you could use an extra boost of energy and FOCUS? Extra mental clarity? Improved focus? Maybe you should try the

 Finely Focused Mental Sharpness Focus Oil from Pink Lotus Natural Care! 

Description from Etsy site:

"Pink Lotus Natural Care debuts Finely Focused, our blend of lemon, rosemary, eucalyptus, and peppermint oils in a coconut oil base for tackling focus problems. The heat of your hands warms the oils and diffuses the scent for up to 2 hours of better concentration and focus."

I was sent a sample bottle of the Finely Focused oil, and have been enjoying it at work, and even at home when I just need a little extra kick to keep me on track. This blend of essential oils and coconut oil is a great wake-me-up and I love how refreshing and rejuvenating the scent combination is!

It's also reasonably priced and comes with complete instructions for how to use. 

Based in Honolulu, Pink Lotus Natural Care also offers salves and natural care products for eczema, arthritis, pain and muscle inflammation, and even anti-anxiety teas! 

To use the Finely Focused oil, you put a few drops on your hands, rub together, breathe and enjoy! No need for any chemical-ridden energy drinks or pills. The ingredients here are all-natural and safe. The oils are mixed with a carrier oil, so you shouldn't have to worry about skin irritation. 

Check out Pink Lotus Natural Care today and show this business some love! 

//

note: I was provided this item in exchange for my honest review. 

\

REAL Grain-Free Bread! {review}

These days, the terms "gluten free" and "paleo" are becoming more and more prominent. 

Nearly every restaurant and every grocery store carries options for gluten free foods. And for good reason - more and more people are discovering that their bodies can't, or won't tolerate gluten!

Not to mention, we're also finding out that dairy is an inflammatory agent. You may notice, even if you aren't lactose intolerant, that when you consume certain dairy products, your body reacts negatively. Especially when these items are paired with sugar...know what I mean? Think about ice cream. Or pizza. I mean, who doesn't love those things!? But they basically wreck havoc on your digestive track because of what's in them and the particular combinations. 

For me, I've never had horrible reactions to gluten or dairy, but when I eat either, my body sends me negative signals. For example, gluten makes me feel bloated, tired and uncomfortable. Dairy makes me feel like I'm getting a cold - congestion, excess mucus, etc. SOOO yeah, not very pleasant. When you can feel the negative effects, it definitely encourages you to stay away from gluten/dairy/sugar and to go paleo; which is pretty much what I try to do. 

With all that being said, you can imagine how excited I was to try out this

 Grain Free Paleo Rustic Bread baking mix, made by 

California Country Gal! 

California Country Gal offers a collection of delicious grain-free baking mixes, from hamburger buns to cinnamon rolls. She also has books and recipes on her website for yummy paleo foods! 

Here is the description for the Rustic Breads mix I was sent:

"REAL BREAD™ MIXES
The original 'Starch Belly' Free Paleo Baking Mixes by CALIFORNIA COUNTRY GAL, Inc
100% Grain Free so naturally Gluten Free! This MIX is also Low Carb
... and contains NO Dairy - Soy - Sugar - Extracted Starches or Yeast!! 

This REAL BREAD MIX makes unbelievably delicious Rustic Breads!

Made with Organic, Non GMO and Kosher ingredients. Great source of fiber."

I followed the directions on the back of the package and made two baguettes, one of which I shared with my best friend and her family. She mentioned that it was quite good, especially for being gluten free! 

This bread mix was very easy to prepare and only required a few extra ingredients. Total prep time including waiting for the dough to rest and then bake was about an hour and a half. 

The bread has a pleasant, mild taste. It was delicious when paired with some fresh jam on top! 

The consistency and texture is smooth. The bread is a little on the dense side but that is not unexpected, I have noticed that in many grain-free and yeast free breads this is common. 

I would definitely use the Rustic Bread mix again! It's easy, nutritious and my gut doesn't hate me for eating it!! What more can you ask for? Plus, if you're trying to stay low-carb, this is the bread for you. 

That feeling when eating bread doesn't have to be followed with feelings of guilt or abdominal discomfort! 

If you are interested in trying your own Rustic Bread mix, 

check out California Country Gal now! And tell them I sent ya! 

HERE'S A DISCOUNT CODE FOR 20% OFF YOUR NEXT ORDER! 

CODE: LEAH (all caps) 

//

note: I was provided this item in exchange for my honest review. 

This Little Lyme of Mine {shop review}

So, I was sent a lovely collection of bath and beauty products from 

This Little Lyme of Mine , a home business based out of Mississippi, including soap, lip scrub, lotion, conditioner and even shower steamers and wax melt. Tracy, the shop owner, is a very nice lady and great to work with! 

With so much to cover, I’m going to start with my favorites. By the way, it’s always super hard to pick favorites when you’re given quality product. ;)

Overall, I love how simple the ingredients are in most of these products. The ingredient lists are super short, which is a good signal right away - and the ingredients themselves are really healthy, too. Very important factors to consider when you put anything on your beautiful skin!

using the coconut sugar lip scrub

Coconut & Brown Sugar Lip Scrub.

It’s a little messy due to the nature of sugar, but it’s still fairly easy to apply. This stuff is so yummy. The coconut oil and vitamin e oils are FAB for the skin, and there’s also shea butter and cocoa butter included as well. So, lots of moisture for dry lips. The sugar adds exfoliation.  My lips feel so yummy and soft after I use this, and the moisturizing lasts for at least a couple hours!

Visit the Etsy link here!

Cocoa Dream Body Butter 

 This body butter is definitely on the thicker side, consistency wise. With no added dyes, and easy application, it smells exactly how you would expect. Like cocoa. Yum! Since it’s so thick you don’t have to use very much to feel the moisture and glow, so it really lasts! I used it on not just my hands but also legs, too!

Click here to view the Etsy listing! There's also a Mango scent too!

Very Sexy For Her Conditioner

This conditioner is very smooth. Once again, no added dyes!  The scent reminds me of a pricey perfume, but it isn’t overwhelming. It was very easy to use. I massaged a small amount into my scalp and then the rest of my hair, left it in for about 20 minutes, and washed with shampoo. It left my hair feeling clean and silky!

Get yourself some conditioner here!

Goat’s Milk Lavender Soap

There was just not enough of this creamy little soap. It smelled so feminine and fresh, and I felt like it really cleansed well.

Buy it here!

Citrus, Strawberry and Hibiscus Foaming Bath Salts

The premise here is so unique! Combining bath salts with foaming, fizzy fun! It’s like a bubble bath but even more lavish! The scent is delish. It definitely smells tropical and summery, and I love the hint of hibiscus. Great scent combination!

See the Etsy link here!

 

Kiwi Sugar Scrub

Once again, LOVE the scent here. I’m a fan of kiwi-scented anything and kiwis themselves boast great nutritional value. This particular scrub is excellent for exfoliation.

Get yourself some here!

Sweet Comfort Bubble Bath Bar

This reminds me of those candy gum balls you could get at the store when you were leaving the building - you know, the ones you had to pay a quarter for? It definitely makes me think of candy, or bubble gum. And visually it looks almost edible! I love the colors and how it looks like a slice of raspberry ripple cheesecake. My only complaint here is the inclusion of polysorbate 80 in the ingredients – research polysorbate 80, if you aren’t familiar with it.

Visit the Etsy listing here!

Apple Pie Wax Melt Tart

Oh my gosh, this smells absolutely amazing. I wish I had one of those wax burners. I used to…ugh! The scent of this little wax tart is remarkably similar to real apple pie, almost even better! I wish there was a candle alike to this scent. Maybe that could be the next item added to this store…hint hint?

Visit the Etsy listing.

Tension Buster Shower Steamer

Not too crazy about the scent, but this shower steamer is definitely a must if you are always battling tension or anxiety. Or if you just wanna chill after a loooong day at work dealing with frustrating customers or a demanding boss! My job isn’t really stressful or tense, but my body takes a lot physically because of the constant exercise and being on my feet all day. So I can definitely appreciate this shower steamer.

Get some here!

Citrus Sunrise Shower Steamer

Ahhh this literally smells like a bowl of fresh cut oranges and grapefruit. So fresh and rejuvenating, and it really opens your sinuses up, too! Once again, if you’re into citrus scents, this one is truly accurate!

Get some here!

Coconut Bath Bomb

If you know me, you know I love, love, love anything coconuts. I enjoy eating anything coconut related, especially coconut ice cream. And coconut-inspired scents are just divine! This little bath bomb is delightful. It smells terrific, and is a fun addition to your relaxing evening bath. Like a LUSH bath bomb, but even better for you!

Take a look at some of the other scents here!

Sinus Relief Shower Steamer

With essential oils like witch hazel and peppermint leaf powder, this shower steamer definitely opens up your sinuses and clears your head of the yuckies.  Definitely a must have during cold season and might even help you during this allergy season as well! Give it a try!

Get one here!

Goddess of the Universe Lotion

Sadly, I was not crazy about this product. It doesn’t have a very noticeable scent of any kind. Maybe if you prefer to use an unscented lotion, it would be something you’d be interested in. For myself, I love to smell good, especially since I work in a gym and have to smell a lot of unpleasantries daily. This lotion has vitamin e oil and other helpful oils, though, so you definitely can feel the moisture after using it!

//

I hope you all enjoyed this review, as much as I enjoyed testing these yummy products! Check out Tracy's shop today and drop a comment what your fave product is!

NaturelleGrow Hair Products {Review}

I absolutely love reviewing hair stuff. If you know me, you know that my hair is my pride and joy. I have spent hours of research trying to learn about keeping my mane as natural and happy as possible.

With all the hair products available today, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right stuff. You also have to take into consideration your hair type, how oily/dry your scalp is, and what kind of environment you're constantly exposed to.

For example, my hair is on the oily side, moderately fine, and hip-length. If I don't wash it, it tends to become very dense/thick in volume, like a lion's mane. Whenever I do wash/condition, it becomes very soft and silky.

My normal hair routine is extremely simple. I take a shower every day/every other day, but only shampoo/condition once a week if possible, sometimes twice a week. The reason for this? Have you heard about how fragile your hair follicles are? They're incredibly fragile. Not to mention, they are very easily stripped of their natural oils, mostly because we wash our hair too frequently, AND use products that are crap! In fact, a lot of synthetic hair products aren't too different from motor oil. Yikes!

So yeah, by only shampooing/conditioning your mane 1x-2x a week, you allow your scalp and hair follicles to stay balanced and healthy. It lets everything "reset" so that you aren't constantly stripping the scalp of oils.

By the way, if you're in the process of growing your hair out, doing this will aid the process! 

But anyways! Let's move on to the review.

I had the pleasure of getting to test some Naturelle Grow hair growth products this past week. Naturelle Grow is a small business that specializes in all-natural luxury hair growth products and hair care items. 

 I was sent the Grapefruit and Lemon Conditioner for Fine Hair, 

and the Mango & Berries Cleanse/Conditioner for Hair Growth. Click the links to see the original listings!

Gotta say, I love both products! Since I'm used to using just plain ol' coconut oil as conditioner, these are both a major upgrade and oh. my. gosh. they smell amazingggggg.

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think I like the Mango & Berry scent best. Both are easy to apply.

To use these products: I took a small amount and massaged into my scalp and then into the rest of my hair, finishing with the ends.

I left the conditioner in for about 30 minutes and then washed it out with shampoo. Note that since both are deep conditioners, you have to spend a few minutes rinsing or it will feel oily afterwards.

Since my hair is already pretty oily, I don't really need the moisturizing factor. I still enjoy using it in a small amount like regular conditioner. 

Considering how much you get in the bottle, and how expensive most natural hair products are in the store, you're getting a pretty good deal. Especially if you only have to use a small amount each time, like I do. (just saying, because my hair is so long, unless you have really thick hair or super long, you shouldn't have to use very much either.) 

Also, you can recognize and pronounce all the ingredients! Whoop whoop!

Also, gonna take a sec to just acknowledge the marketing and packaging, because look how aesthetically pleasing this container is?! 

Naturelle Grow also has many other different conditioners and hair growth products, for all hair types. The scents are just amazing!

To learn more, visit the Naturelle Grow website. 

Also, they have at Etsy account too! Go show them some love! 

//

note: I was given these free products in exchange for my honest review. 

Ori Active//Activewear with a Polynesian Flair! {review}

Yoginis and fitness enthusiasts! 

Looking to spice up your workout wardrobe? 

Check out Ori Active! 

As a yogini, personal trainer, and gym rat, I think it's important to have yoga pants you can rely on. You don't want something cheap, and you don't want something uncomfortable! For all the different asanas we move through at each practice, range of motion is vital. Whenever I'm lifting or doing squats, I also have to be careful what leggings to wear. Believe me - I'm pretty picky!

I really like my new leggings from Ori Active. Both pairs have soft, stretchy breathable fabric and high-waist construction. 

They also have mesh detailing on the calves which is very trendy. 

I like the high waist because I can be confident doing inversions or anything plyometric without having to worry about them falling down or looking awkward! You know that feeling? 

The weather outside has been so lovely here in the Sunshine State. It's like we're having one last little wisp of winter before the heat sets in, and I'm loving it. So whenever I can, I try to take my yoga practice outside! 

What's one of your favorite yoga poses? Triangle always makes me feel so good. The hamstring stretch combined with the spinal twist is so rejuvenating. 

By the way, if you live in Ocala or the surrounding area, come check out my BodyFlow class at Zone Health & Fitness on Tuesday mornings at 10am. It's basically a combo of yoga, tai chi and pilates. A lot of fun and very relaxing at the same time! 

I also teach Stretch Class on Fridays at 10:30am. For more info, drop a comment! 

Working on improving my backbend. It feels good to get that flexion in my spine and decompress while grounding myself. 

Overall, these pants are bomb. I like the black ones best because they are super flattering and I love the turtle design! It's unique, but sleek. Hey, that rhymes! Also, neither pair are see-through at all. The fabric is thick enough to look fab on you even when doing the most difficult poses and heavy lifts.

My only complaint is that the two side zippers (on the black pants) are sometimes dysfunctional. It works sometimes and then it won't. They are cool looking, though. 

Like what you see? Get the black Honu turtle pants here. 

Or, if you like the Tropical Hawaiian pants, get yourself a pair here. 

GET 10% OFF YOUR NEXT ORDER BY USING THIS CODE: 10off 

Also, check out www.totalfitnessdvds.com and you can use the same code above for 10% off there, too! 

//

note: I was provided these items in exchange for my honest review. 

For the Love of Matcha {review}

Who loves matcha? If you haven't tried it, it's basically powdered green tea and it's delish! You can drink it hot or cold and it's a nice little pick-me-up without having a caffeine overload.

But not all matcha is created equal! If you're going to enjoy a cup, wouldn't you want to make sure you're getting the best quality and price? 

Enter the Matcha Outlet! They sent me a sample bag of their Starbucks Matcha  Green Tea Frappechino mix! Here is what this mix boasts: 

✓ Matcha from Japan
✓ 0g Fat
✓ No Food Coloring✓ No Preservatives
✓ No MSG / Gluten / Diary
✓ No Chemical Additives

Here is a picture from the Matcha Outlet website. If you want to try making a hot matcha latte, it's just as tasty as a cold one!

It tastes identical to the Starbucks Green Tea frappechino, but without all those nasty chemicals. Yum! Really easy to make, too. All you do is blend a scoop of matcha with a couple ice cubes and a cup of milk. (I used almond milk) Voila! Perfection in a cup. 

Did you know that green tea is actually very good for you? It boasts numerous benefits including enhancing your metabolism, and being anti-cancer! So not only is this drink delicious, it's very healthy!

Apologies for the poor picture quality, I wish I had a camera and lighting that would capture the lovely green color of this matcha.

To get some yumminess of your own, go check out Matcha Outlet right now! They are a family owned business and even offer free shipping on their matcha blends. There are lots of other blends to pick from, besides the Starbucks blend! 
Tell 'em I sent you! 

do you have a favorite matcha blend, or favorite way to prepare it? 
comment below!

//

note: I was sent this product in exchange for my honest review.