Category Archives: Reviews

Organic India Review

I love superfoods, and feel great when I know my family has had at least one serving daily. I love hearing about new (or new-to-me) superfoods, which is why I was so excited when Moms Meet asked me to review Moringa Powder by ORGANIC INDIA.

ORGANIC INDIA’s mission is to provide true wellness for all by offering 100% organic, pure, and natural products. ORGANIC INDIA also strives to create a sustainable global environment by working with thousands of family farmers in India on tens of thousands of acres of certified organic farmland. The company actively promotes sustainable agriculture and pays these farmers premium prices for their crops.

Something that is extremely important to me is finding out how the employees are treated- from their website: we “treat all employees with fairness, respect and dignity. We also empower poor and disadvantaged people to become self sufficient by improving their skills and economic security.

Our manufacturing and marketing departments employ over 500 people. In addition, it is estimated that thousands of farmers, tribal people and their communities around India have been impacted in some way by the work of ORGANIC INDIA.

Just the facts about Moringa:

*Moringa is considered one of the most complete, nutrient-dense plants on Earth, containing over 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, and abundant
minerals.
• Moringa leaves have been eaten for thousands of years as a superfood nutritional supplement, and are often used to combat malnutrition in impoverished countries.
• Daily use of Moringa as a dietary supplement can help restore nutritional imbalances.
• This concentrated superfood is both alkalizing and energizing, and is abundant in vitamins, minerals and complex amino acids.
• ORGANIC INDIA Moringa is USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher and Halal certified, gluten-free, and vegan.

I used Moringa powder daily in our smoothies, sprinkled it on salads, and tried some of the recipes they offered- these are great ways to add a dose of superfood to things you are already eating!

My favorite was the Moringa Garlic Aioli- just add 1 tsp. ORGANIC INDIA moringa powder to 1 cup mayonnaise, 3 Tbsp. lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. black pepper, 9 cloves of garlic, minced, and sea salt to taste. Whisk everything together, season with salt, and serve with veggies, fries or crackers! Enjoy!

Head to ORGANIC INDIA to learn more!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Books, Reviews

Hardworking Honey Bee

Holly 2 Comments

We recently happened upon a reading of Hardworking Honey Bee: An Aromatherapy Book for Sleepytime by the author Tiffany Briggs at our local Barnes and Noble. This sweet story follows a day in the life of a delightfully illustrated honey bee.

The illustrator, Liz Guenthner, was also there and she taught the children how to draw honey bees. I might be slightly biased, but this one was my favorite:

b'sbee (2)

An added bonus, this book is Scratch and Sniff! And not just any scratch and sniff- the scents are made from essential oils. Each time the scents are scratched, tiny amounts of these therapeutic oils are released- scents such as chamomile and lavender that encourage calmness and comfort, and promote relaxation and peaceful sleep. What a perfect book for bedtime!

Hardworking Honey Bee is great for those of us who encounter bees on a daily basis. Living in Austin, we are used to seeing bees everywhere at all times of the year. This book gives us a new perspective on these sweet little buzzing creatures and reminds me to be thankful for them (not worried they will sting us.)

I love books that prompt questions and discussions after we read them, and we are still talking about things from this book. Such as how much we love honey. My three year old reminded me how he loves to put it on his almond butter sandwiches. My 6 year old tells me daily how spring is his favorite season because “I love flowers.” They both made the connection that we would have neither without these pollinators.

There is more to learn in the back of the book, details about the olfactory system and aromatherapy. Also there are descriptions of types of bees and a little about Colony Collapse Disorder.

As you will read in the book- “bees do a lot more than just make honey; they help feed our entire planet. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and flowers all depend on pollination from hardworking honey bees.”

I encourage you to get a copy of this book!

***For more about the author and illustrator, bees and aromatherapy, check out their website:

http://www.aromatherabee.com/

Reviews

Monk Fruit in the Raw Review

Holly Leave a comment

I am always on the lookout for a way to use less sugar in my baked goods. Now that the holidays are here, it seems like every single thing we do involves sugar!

That’s why I was really happy when Green Moms Meet asked me to review Monk Fruit in the Raw.

Here are some facts about this zero calorie sweetener:

• Monk Fruit In The Raw is a wholesome, zero-calorie sweetener made from real monk fruit, a vine-ripened fruit that is native to Asia.
• Monk fruit, known as luo han guo in Asia, was first harvested in the 13th century by Arhats, or “Enlightened Ones,” which translates to Monks in English.
• The sweet and delicious extract from monk fruit is blended with other sweeteners to create the perfect balance of sweet.
• Monk Fruit In The Raw is naturally vegan, kosher, and gluten-free, and does not contain any added table sugar, sugar alcohols, or molasses.
• Conscious, rejoice! Monk Fruit In The Raw has the closest taste to sugar of any non-caloric sweetener, and has the least amount of aftertaste.
• One pack of Monk Fruit In The Raw is about as sweet as two teaspoons of sugar.
• One box of Monk Fruit In The Raw (40ct packets) retails for $3.49, and the Monk Fruit In The Raw Bakers Bag retails for $6.99. Price may vary based on the retailer.

I enjoyed searching their website for recipes, and I decided to make our favorite pancakes using Monk Fruit in the Raw. The results were delicious!

Check out Monk Fruit in the raw- you won’t be disappointed.

And Have fun as baking just got a little healthier!The Monk Fruit In The Raw Baker’s Bag measures cup for cup, just like sugar and can be used to replace all of the sugar in beverages, sauces, and dressings.

For baked goods, it is recommended to only replace half of the amount of sugar with Monk Fruit In The Raw for best results. Try to substitute half of the sugar in your favorite baking recipes with Monk Fruit In The Raw or visit InTheRaw.com for recipe ideas.

Connect with In The Raw online to see their latest products and get exclusive access to discounts and special offers!

I have samples and coupons to share! Please contact me if you’d like me to send you one.

***I received this product for free from the sponsor of theMomsMeetSM program,MayMediaGroupLLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a MomsMeetsSM blogger,Iagreetousethisproduct and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Books

Tree Huggers

Holly 1 Comment

Recently while having a picnic in a park with friends, I heard a woman start yelling at our children. Then she asked me, “Are those your kids, the ones trying to destroy the tree?” To which I calmly responded, “They aren’t destroying it. They are climbing it.”

Deep breath.

Anyway, hasn’t she read The Giving Tree? Trees love to give and give and give to children.

I am a tree hugger. I love trees. My children are being taught not to deliberately hurt any living thing, be it a tree or a roly-poly. This scenario upset me because a woman took it upon herself to reprimand kids whose mothers were ten feet away from them.

It also got me thinking- no wonder children today have what Richard Louv in his incredible book Last Child in the Woods calls “Nature Deficit Disorder.”

Kids who see a perfectly good tree to climb, collect nuts off of, and who want to just explore its wonder and beauty, should have the freedom to do it.

Products, Reviews

New Mama Toolkit- Sponsored Post

Holly

The first few weeks post partum are bliss, unconditional love, joy, wonder, and awe combined with exhaustion, anxiety and discomfort.The reason behind the bliss, love and joy needs no explanation, but as for the others:

Exhaustion due to recovering from giving birth, the constant demands of new tiny human and the infamous sleepless nights-I remember my mom saying, “Don’t worry, he’ll start sleeping better in about four months.” What? Did I really have it in me to make it four more months without sleeping through the night? Yet somehow we all adapt and discover how much we actually can function on no sleep. Here I am almost five years after the birth of my first child, and I have not had a full 8 hours straight since then.

Anxiety because I wondered if I was doing everything right or if I was doing anything right. Where was this supposed maternal instinct? And then I was constantly watching to make sure the baby was breathing…every time he was asleep- also a contributing factor to my exhaustion- and I still find myself doing it!

Discomfort from nine months of a changing, stretching, growing body, going into labor, giving birth, learning how to breastfeed a new creature, and the hormone surges and dips that can lead to sluggish bowels.

So I’ve created a New Mama Toolkit- things to have on hand at the hospital and for the first few weeks at home that can help alleviate some of these discomforts.

A great breastfeeding pillow that can double as a body pillow- one you can put behind your back, between your legs, or even to prop up your own head. Then, when the baby comes, you’re prepared with a pillow you can nurse him on. This will take some of the strain off of your already aching body.

A comfortable nightgown and robe- one that makes you feel good. I chose black so I didn’t have to worry about any possible stains.

Nipple cream, booby tubes, cabbage leaves, a water bottle and a supportive nursing bra to prevent any possible issues with breastfeeding.

As for the constipation, I try to do everything as naturally as I can, and there are ways to relieve constipation during pregnancy and after delivery through nutrition. However I will gladly integrate conventional medicine whenever going the natural route just doesn’t work. (Integrative Mom!)

A few things you can do for sluggish bowels-

1) Take short walks as soon as you can- any movement will help get the bowels moving

2) Eat foods high in fiber

3)Drink plenty of fluids

4) Ask your doctor about taking a stool softener (Absolutely imperative if you are pregnant or breast feeding) a great one to try is DulcoEase® Pink™

DulcoEase® Pink™ Stool Softener contains the #1 OB/GYN recommended stool softener ingredient* ducosate sodium. It Prevents and Relieves constipation, is stimulant free, and provides comfortable relief within 12-72 hours.

If you are interested in trying it, click here for $1.50 off a box.

Every new mother’s toolkit should include DulcoEase® Pink™, the #1 OB/GYN recommended ingredient* for going #2. So if you are pregnant or breast feeding, ask your doctor if you should think Pink. Find savings on DulcoEase® Pink™ at www.MomsTalkDulcoEase.com!

*Among stool softener ingredients

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of DulcoEase® Pink™. The opinions and text are all mine.