Rhodes Creations Naturals {reviews}

Good morning, folks! Time for another review of an Etsy small business! 

Today we have Rhodes Creations, based out of Amherst, Virginia! 

This shop offers quality natural edibles, teas, bath and body products and much more!

I love the assortment of goodies I was sent - a lavender chamomile pillow spray, sleep salve, two different lip balms, a bath tea, a gourmet tea for drinking, and a soap! 

Let's start with the Evening Repose gourmet tea sample . Click the link to see the Etsy listing! 

This is a mild herbal tea blend great for encouraging the relaxation and calming of your body and spirit. After a long day at work, this is definitely a nice beverage to sip before bed! The herb combination is superb. I love the packaging, too. So darling and rustic. 

Next we have the Herbal Bath Tea. Another great addition to your day/evening for relaxing a little extra! Simply add in to your warm bath water and enjoy! 

I was also sent a Sleep Salve. Personally I didn't find this one super useful, because I don't really like to have anything sticky on me when going to bed. 

On to the lip balms! I was sent a Citrus lip balm and regular beeswax balm. The ingredients list on both was phenomenal. Simple and nothing questionable at all. All natural yumminess! The smell of each balm was very mild. I could hardly even notice the Citrus scent. If you like to have minimal scents for your lip care products, you would enjoy these two. Great moisturizers, minimal fragrance.

The all natural Lemon Basil soap  makes me think of a soap I'd like to use on my hands, perhaps in the kitchen. It's also great for using in the shower, though! The lemon/lime/basil combination is really unique and fresh. Once again, a great ingredients list with nothing questionable!

My favorite thing from this collection was the Lavender Chamomile Pillow Mist , which I have been spraying faithfully on my husband's and my pillows each night. It really does promote an aura of peacefulness and restful sleep. I love the pleasant lavender chamomile fragrance, which is definitely not overpowering. It's just right. Very easy to use, as well.

Overall, this is a darling shop. I am impressed by the variety of items Laura Rhodes offers! Everything is natural and earth friendly, as well as safe for your skin and body! The packaging for all the products is so cute and old-timey. If you want to support a quality business, you should definitely check her store out today! Tell her I sent you! 

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p.s. I was sent these items in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Appalachian Mushrooms & Chaga {review}

Are you a mushroom fan? Guess what - I didn't use to be! As a kid, I thought mushrooms were nasty and to be avoided! But every since I got into my late teens, I started acquiring a taste for the fungi. 

I would never in my wildest dreams, as a kid, thought that some day I would even acquire a taste for wild mushrooms. 

That's right! I got to try some delicious dehydrated wild mushrooms and chaga from 

David Russell at Appalachian Mushrooms. 

 I had the opportunity to review both the Maitake Mushrooms, as well as the Wild Mushroom Mix and ground chaga. 

When I tried both types of mushroom, the results were quite surprising....

After rehydrating the mushrooms in some water and then draining the extra water off, I mixed a bit from each mushroom packet and sauteed them with a little organic olive oil, some garlic salt and other herbs. 

I paired the finished product with sauteed kale and it was amazing! It almost tasted like bacon bits mixed in the kale. Highly recommended, especially if you are vegetarian or kosher and want something vaguely similar to pork but no actual meat! 

The maitake mushrooms taste very close to the typical mushrooms you would purchase anywhere else. The mushroom itself has a unique shape but the flavor is quite mild. The wild mushroom mix included Oysters, Chanterelles, and Hedgehog mushrooms. The flavor was a little stronger but still delicious! I think these were what brought the bacon bits flavor and vibe. They might look a little different but don't let that throw you off! 

Next, we move on to the chaga!

So first off, what the heck is chaga? I asked myself this question as I opened the little tin container and smelled the ground mushroom powder. 

Turns out, it's a very nutritious substance that is packed with health benefits! For example - chaga mushrooms are great for boosting the immune system! Also, they are anti-cancer, antioxidants, reduce inflammation, protect the liver, and even can help promote healthy skin. It boasts 215 different phytochemicals. Wow, right? Who would have guessed that a mushroom could do all that! (information source, and another useful source)

Chaga can be enjoyed in two different ways primarily - tea, or tincture. I decided to try the tea since I don't have the ingredients right now for a tincture, and am more likely to drink hot tea than use a tincture at this phase in my life. 

You can also take chaga tablets or make your own, but note that this method is not as efficient for garnering all the benefits from the chaga, as it is very hard to break down in the human digestive tract without a little extra help. It appears the best way to get the full benefit is from tincture, and then second best is through hot tea. 

David included some nice paper tea bags with the chaga, which was a plus! I brewed a cup using about 2 tablespoons chaga and let it steep for about 20 minutes. I read you can let it steep up to an hour, even, to get all the nutrients out. 

I sweetened the finished tea with a spoon of Apiterra raw honey, and it was tolerable. I say tolerable because I'm not used to the flavor of tea made with mushrooms. That's just the reality, haha. I think that this kind of tea would wear on me if I were to keep drinking it. And knowing how amazingly healthy it is, gives me incentive to drink it! With honey, it really isn't that bad at all. Give it a try and tell me what YOU think?!

You should definitely check out Appalachian Mushrooms especially if you already are into mushrooms or trying new things that are very healthy! Tell them I sent ya!

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p.s. I was provided these items in exchange for my honest review. 

Lark & Owl Naturals {review}

Hey lovelies! It's time to feature another awesome small business! 

This time, we have Lark and Owl Naturals. 

This shop offers natural hair care products that smell amazing and are safe for you!

I was sent a dry shampoo in the medium brunette shade, a mint & geranium conditioner, and mint & geranium soapnut shampoo. I have enjoyed using all three products and am excited to share them with you today!

The dry shampoo is a pretty nifty thing. If you are on the go and don't have time to shower or wash your hair, this is the stuff for you! You simply pick the shade that best matches your hair, and brush a little bit into your roots. It helps to soak up some of the extra oil, and add volume and new life to a frazzled scalp! Who doesn't want that, right? 

I used a makeup brush to lightly dust my roots with the dry shampoo. I definitely noticed a difference! My hair is naturally quite oily so it helped to lessen that! And if you have read previous posts, then you know that I try to only wash my hair once a week, twice at max. So using something like this dry shampoo can really help to give extra life to my hair halfway through the week!

The mint & geranium conditioner paired with the mint & geranium soapnut shampoo

was really pleasant. The smell is just right and just what you would expect for it to be. Refreshing, and definitely not overbearing. I think it's interesting how long the ingredients list is, for it being a natural product. But nothing directly jumps out at me that is negative. 

I did my weekly hair wash with the two products and had people complimenting me on how nice my hair looked, the next day! 

I also like that the shampoo uses soapnuts - something I have experimented with before in the form of aritha berries and shikakai just by themselves. Soapnuts are awesome, and my hair seems to love that method! 

So in conclusion, you should definitely check out  Lark and Owl Naturals!

I enjoyed using their products and know they will last me for a long while. 

They also have natural sea salt hair spray and other dry shampoos to match your exact hair color! Go visit their page and tell them I sent ya!

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

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! 

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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! 

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

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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) 

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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!

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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!