Stay Hydrated with Glasstic

I take ice water with me everywhere. Grabbing for my water bottle as I walk out the door has become second nature just like grabbing my purse and keys. Plastic has always been my go-to since I tend to be on the clumsier side but we all know that some plastics can leak nasty chemicals into your beverages. My mom, Diana, has had a Glasstic water bottle for a while and raves about it, so when they offered me the chance to try one out, I just couldn't say no!

A Glasstic bottle breaks down into 4 pieces: plastic outer shell, the inner glass bottle, the bottom cap, and the lid. Both the bottom cap and the lid have silicone rings to ensure a good seal. All of the plastic parts are safe and BPA free. The lid also has an awesome lock feature that is controlled with a little switch. If the switch is locked, the top will not open. Since I use this in the car and have two small children, I really love this feature.

The double walls provide excellent insulation and keep your drinks cold for quite a while. Also, since it is double walled, you don't have to worry about your drink sweating and making a mess everywhere! This water bottle is easily the best one I have ever used. I love being able to have the clean taste from drinking out of glass without the worry of breaking it. It is super durable and if it does happen to break, the broken glass will be contained within the plastic outer shell, making clean up super easy and safe. Glasstic also offers one free replacement glass sleeve if yours happens to break within the first year of use. After that, a glass sleeve is only $7.99!

Another great perk is the free bottle brush that Glasstic includes with every purchase! I know you are wanting your own bottle, so head over to the Glasstic website and use this 15% off code: REV15OFF. Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Hurry on back though because one lucky reader will win a Glasstic bottle of their choice! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Open to US residents, 18 years and older. Winner has 48 hours to respond before another is drawn. Good luck!

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Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers. My Empty Nest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Bella Organics Vanilla Mint Deodorant Creme

I have tried organic deodorants before and had to switch back to conventional antiperspirants because they were ineffective. In most aspects of my life, I will choose the organic or natural alternative and I was really bummed that I couldn't find an organic deodorant that I liked. Conventional antiperspirants have a slew of chemicals and toxins in them, some of which have even been linked to breast cancer! Usually, they use forms of aluminum to shrink your sweat glands, or clog your pores so you don't sweat.

That doesn't sound very healthy does it? Well, when Bella Organics offered me the chance to try their Vanilla Mint Deodorant Creme, I couldn't turn it down. I am almost through my sample size jar and I will definitely be purchasing a full size tub soon! It keeps me feeling comfortable and smelling fresh all day. You should note that if you are switching from conventional antiperspirants, there is a 4-15 day detox period where your body is purging the nasty toxins from your body. During that period, you could notice some odor associated with the detox.

I didn't notice any bad odors or excessive sweating during my detox period but I don't sweat a lot as it is. Your experience could be different. Either way, I think it is totally worth whatever smells may occur at first! This deodorant works great and sticks around all day. I catch little sniffs of it throughout the day. The texture is nice too! It has an almost whipped feel that is light and comfortable. I also feel a lot better about the product I am putting on such a sensitive part of my body and peace of mind is priceless!

Be sure to follow Bella Organics on Facebook and Twitter. Also, check out the Bella Organics website, where you can learn all about their awesome products. Hurry back though, because it is giveaway time! One lucky reader will receive their own jar of Bella Organics Vanilla Mint Deodorant Creme to try! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Open to US residents, 18 years and older. Winner has 48 hours to reply before another is drawn. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers. My Empty Nest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Get Chopping with Core Bamboo

I have always loved the look of bamboo products. They have a naturally beautiful look to them that goes with any decor. Recently, I found a company that makes absolutely gorgeous, and useful, bamboo products: Core Bamboo. Core Bamboo offers so many different bamboo kitchen and household products.

Core Bamboo's products are made from 100% organically grown bamboo. They also use food-safe, water-based adhesives, natural oils, and natural lacquers derived from cashew trees. Also, wherever possible, they use recycled and environmentally friendly packaging. So, you may be asking yourself: Why bamboo? Well, bamboo grows much faster than any other wood, only 4 years from start to 60-70 foot tall. It is also naturally anti-microbial.

As well as all of this, bamboo is 100% renewable and does not require replanting, extensive irrigation, pesticides, or fertilizer. After learning all of this, I was so excited to try some bamboo products. From Core Bamboo, I received the Daisy Collection Two Tone Bamboo Cutting Board Combo Pack and a Bamboo Chef's Slicer. The first thing I noticed, and I am sure you did too, was how stunning these items are. I just love the way they look!

The cutting boards are super lightweight and thin so they are easy to store and move around the kitchen. They are also great sizes for cutting all of your veggies and meats. The chef's knife has a round, smooth handle that fits in your hand awesomely. I was a little worried it wouldn't be sharp, it is wood after all, but it has cut through everything I have tried it with: mushrooms, peppers, onions, and even some chicken breast. 

These cutting boards and knife are awesome! Not only do they look good and perform well, they are better for the environment than other options on the market. It is always great when you can make an environmentally smart choice and love the results. Be sure to head over to Core Bamboo's website and see all of the awesome products that they offer. Also, follow them on Facebook and Twitter to never miss any news!

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.

Eucalan No Rinse Delicate Wash

You all know I have had some issues with chemicals in the laundry room which has sent me on a search for more natural laundry solutions. There are several out there and I have tried a fair few. The main thing I have noticed is they can be a bit bland. What I want is something that will make my clothes smell awesome without using nasty headache chemicals or environmentally damaging chemicals.

What I found is Eucalan, which offers a perfect solution that goes way beyond my expectations. Eucalan is non-toxic, biodegradable, phosphate free, and even comes in a recyclable plastic bottle! It gives me a perfect way to wash all of my delicates and is even safe on my dry-clean only stuff, which I don’t have many of because I don’t like the fuss of going to the cleaners.

Eucalan is a no rinse formula so all you do is soak your wash  and then let it dry! What you are left with is clean clothes that smell amazing! I was sent samples of all four of the No Rinse Delicate Wash varieties:  eucalyptus, lavender, grapefruit, and natural. I am a lavender girl so that was my favorite and I look forward to getting more.

I was also sent a sample of the new Wrapture which has the most amazing jasmine scent. It reminds me of when I was a kid and had a jasmine bush growing outside of my bedroom window. All of the scents have a touch of lanolin which is a natural fabric softener that also cuts down of static. What more could want in a delicate wash?

Visit the Eucalan site to find out more and order yours in your favorite scents today. You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on news and special offers.

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.

Mountain Meadow Wool Dyer Balls

I know I have told you in the past that my husband and I are 'those people' who eat an organic, vegetarian diet and try to always do our part to leave nothing but footprints on this great earth. We are always looking for ways to make our daily tasks have less of an impact on the environment and when I find a simple easy way to do that I like to share it with you! - especially when you can save money doing it too!

Now you know lately I have had a bit of a yarn obsession, I just want to sit around all day making pretty things with yarn and that lead me to Mountain Meadow Wool. While I haven’t used their wool as of yet, not yet, I found that they offer a home line of products that includes Wool Dryer Balls!

I have heard of these in passing and not put much thought into it, but when I read that it could cut your drying time 25 to 50% I was very intrigued. I mean really that is a pretty drastic cut and one you should be able to notice in your electric consumption, which means lower bills and less wear and tear on the world and your expensive machines!

Plus since these awesome balls soften your fabric naturally you don’t have to worry about using those nasty drier sheets with their headache inducing chemicals! Did I share that with you? We had a dryer sheet mishap and have since banned them from the house. Poor Andrew had such a headache the whole time the opened box was in the house until we pinpointed it and removed them. Needless to say until these wool balls arrived I was just dealing with static electricity in my less than soft clothes.

Back to even more reasons why these are awesome. They are hypoallergenic, which is a must since me and Andrew seem to be allergic to most everything. And I really love that they are handcrafted in the US right in Wyoming. Wool is a renewable, natural, and sustainable resource so you can feel as good as your clothes do. Oh and they came in a great little eco bag that is perfect for washing your delicate things in!

Now then how do they compare to a dryer sheet? Aside from not putting toxic chemicals in your air, they are just as easy to use, you just toss them in the dryer with your clothes. They remove static electricity, yay, finally! They also soften my clothes perfectly and here’s a huge bonus they last until you lose them! You save money on electricity and you save a small fortune in dryer sheets, which can be expensive! I know the ones I used to use were.

All my lovely readers need to run over to Mountain Meadow Wool and check out not only these great dryer ball but also the hoodies, and blankets, and I know I have a lot of crafty readers, so make sure you browse the whole site and see all of the yarns as well. You can also connect with hem on Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry to stay up to date on new products and special offers!

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.

Newman's Own Organics

As many of you know, I have been on a mission to introduce better, healthier, food options into mine and my family's life. One issue we have ran into is that we are all snackers. When it comes to organic snacks, the options are limited and usually, unfortunately, can be rather bland and unsatisfying. Thankfully, we recently discovered Newman's Own Organics. They offer great tasting, organic snacks that make both my tummy and conscience happy! Not only did I approve, but so did my husband, father, and children. Finding snacks that we all like can be hard, if not impossible.

My children and I are avid dried fruit eaters. They are a sweet snack that is easy to take on the go and keeps messes to a minimum. We love our dried fruit. Most dried fruit has a crunchy, light texture that softens as you chew it. These fruits are soft to begin with. They are closer to the consistency of the actual fruit. All of these were wonderfully flavorful and I especially like that the cranberries and raisins are juicier than most. It makes them great additions to oatmeal, cereal, and even baked goods! The apples were a total win with the children. They were chewy, flavorful, and easy for their little hands to hold. 

Pretzels are a go-to snack in my house. Everyone loves them and I like that I can get a salty snack without the calorie intake of potato chips. They are also easy for little hands to grab and snack on. The Salted Rounds aren't shaped like normal pretzels, instead they have a 'N' enclosed in a circle, representing a 'N' and 'O' for Newman's Own Organics. These all had a great flavor. They also weren't overly salty, which I appreciate. I am one of those weird people that dislike salt and order most food with no salt when out (even french fries!). These pretzels will definitely become a staple in out pantry!

Cookies, cookies, and more cookies! I love cookies. 9 times out of 10 I want a sweet snack, not salty and cookies always hit the spot. The first cookie we tried were the Hermits. These were awesomely soft and slightly spicy. Raisins and a soft, gingery cookie make these a fabulous snack! The Fig Newmans have been a hit with the children. They have always loved fig cookies and these were no exceptions. Momma even liked these, which is rare for fruit cookies. Now the Newman-O's and Ginger-O's are wonderfully fabulous. The Ginger-O's were snatched up by my husband and father before I could even object. I did sneak a few, and I agree with their greediness. The are great! Lightly spiced and the cream added a little sweetness. Now the Newman-O's were Momma's favorite of these. They were chocolaty and sweet and don't even get me started on the mint ones! Oh my goodness, they were just great! Mint and chocolate were made for each other. Dare I say, I liked these more than Oreos? It may be blasphemy to some, but I did! 

Did you think we were done with the cookies? Never! My favorite out of this bunch were the Orange Chocolate Chip. Do you know those chocolate oranges that come out during the holidays? Yep! These are those in cookie form. Momma horded these and I have no shame! They are just fantastic. Chocolaty citrus flavor encased in a crunchy cookie. So good! The children were partial to the Chocolate Alphabet cookies and my father snatched up the Ginger Snaps. The Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies were great as well. I have always loved that combination. The Chocolate Chip cookies were awesome. Crunchy and chocolaty. The perfect cookie snack!  

The only combination better than chocolate and mint is chocolate and peanut butter. I love all kinds of chocolate. If I could live off of just chocolate, I would. No joke. It has always been my weakness. Milk, white, dark. I love it all. I really love the chocolate used in all of these cups. It is soft, sweet, and a perfect match for the flavored centers. I have never had a dark chocolate peanut butter cup and I am starting to wonder why. They are great and compliment the peanut butter fabulously. What is better than dark chocolate? SUPER dark chocolate. Any chocolate lover needs to get their hands on it. It is especially great with a sweet, raspberry center. These cups are any chocolate lovers dream!

To stay on the topic of chocolate, let's talk about chocolate bars! The flavors we got were: Super Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, Espresso Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate, and Orange Dark Chocolate. All of these were great! My favorite was the Espresso Dark Chocolate. The coffee flavor was great with the dark chocolate. My dad really liked the Super Dark chocolate and my husband was partial to the milk chocolate. All of these had a great texture that was perfect for a late night chocolate craving fix. Organic chocolate just tastes better than all of that other stuff found on shelves. You can't beat it!

Who doesn't love licorice? It is just a great chewy snack! The flavors we tried were: Strawberry, Black, Pomegranate, Sour Strawberry, Sour Mango, Sour Apple, and Sour Cherry. I loved the Pomegranate licorice. It actually tasted like pomegranate. The thing I most liked about these is that they actually tasted like the fruits. They were not overly sweet or artificial tasting at all. The sour flavors, weren't overly sour, which I liked. I have never been a huge fan of sour flavors. Everyone in the house liked all of these. They are delightfully chewy and crammed full of fruity flavor!

The last items we tried were the mints. We received four flavors: Peppermint, Wintergreen, Hot Cinnamon, and Ginger. I really like these, with the exception of the Ginger. I am not a huge ginger fan but my dad and husband ate these up fast. The cinnamon was actually really nice and had a great kick to them. The Peppermint and Wintergreen were my favorites. They weren't over sweet or overly minty. It was a nice balance of the two. Not only were these good, but look at the tins they come in! Aren't they adorable? I love the artwork on them!

I am pleasantly surprised by Newman's Own Organics and will continue to turn to them for all of the natural, organic snack needs! Be sure to check out their website and see everything they offer! Follow them on Facebook as well! Come back here though because it is giveaway time! One lucky winner will receive a prize pack of my four favorite snacks: Orange Chocolate Chip Cookies, Espresso Dark Chocolate, Ginger-O's and Salted Rounds pretzels. Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Open to US residents, 18 years and older.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers. My Empty Nest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Ozeri Green Earth Textured Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan

As you probably remember from past posts, Ozeri makes awesome household products. Most recently, I tried the Ozeri Green Earth Textured Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan. I'm sure most of you know how hard it is to find a good frying pan that will leave your food, belly, and wallet happy. I am happy to report that I have found a pan that offers a great balance between all of that!

My absolute favorite thing about this pan is that it has a GREBLON ceramic coating. GREBLON is a safe coating from Germany that is 100% PTFE and PFOA free. Since I dislike the nasty chemicals that a lot of nonstick pans can release into my family's food, I tend to stick with stainless steel, un-coated pans. I do like those pans, but I really do miss having nonstick pans in the house. They just make cooking and frying so much easier! You also don't have to use as much grease in nonstick pans so they can help you make healthier meals. I sure do love my butter and olive oil but I think my arteries might like a break every once in a while!

As you can see, this pan is not only safe to heat but also really stylish. I love the green color and the designs on the top and bottom of the pan. Not only do the designs look nice, they also serve a purpose. The texture on the top helps distribute heat evenly while also providing great nonstick qualities. The bottom is magnetized and induction stove safe which creates the perfect surface for fast heat transferring. I have found that the base really helps, even on my electric stove. This pan really heats up faster than any of my other pans. I have also noticed that I don't need to use as high of a temperature with this pan. That helps my food cook more evenly and not burn.

We are a fried egg sandwich eating family. My children also really like scrambled eggs in the morning. Both of these items can be difficult to cook if the egg is sticking to your pan. I didn't have any issue cooking our morning eggs in this. Not only that, but I didn't have to use any extra oil or butter. The only grease on the pan was the 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil that I used to season the pan. Also, cleaning is a breeze! Nothing sticks to it, so you never have to scrub! I am absolutely in love with this pan.

I know if you have been struggling with finding a great, safe nonstick pan like I have, you will love this pan and want every size Ozeri offers! Head on over to Amazon, where you can buy this 8" Green Earth Textured Ceramic Nonstick Frying Pan as well as the 10 and 12 inch varieties! You can also find all of Ozeri's great products there as well!

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.

Boxtera

My subscription box addiction just got more amazing. I have been lucky enough to experience some pretty cool subscription boxes in the past, but Boxtera has got to be at the top of list. With Boxtera you will receive a monthly box stuffed full of natural, delicious snacks containing no trans fats or artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. They offer 3 subscriptions: a standard box with 5 snacks ($19.95), a family box with 10 snacks ($29.95), and a corporate box with 20 snacks ($49.95). All of the snacks are full-size products and fall under one of 5 categories: sweet, salty, savory, bitter, and sour. Let's see what was in my March box, shall we?

The first snack to catch my eye was the tangerine slices. I was born and raised in Florida, so citrus fruits have always been my favorite. I have never tried a dried citrus fruit so I had no idea what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and taste. They are chewy and soft. They also have a sweet, tangy, and a little bit of sour taste to them just like their juicy counterpart. Also, in case you are wondering; yes, they are seedless! 

As you can see, my husband didn't give me enough time to snap a picture before he tore into this Wasabi Bean Medley. This mix has sesame coated black beans, wasabi coated lentils, rice crackers, peanuts, soybeans, and almonds. This mix had a great, crunchy texture. It was a little too spicy for me and definitely falls under the bitter snack category. Even though I couldn't eat more than a handful, my husband really enjoyed this mix and proceeded to finish it off within a few days. If you like a little kick, this is right up your alley.

The Honey Almond Crunch mix was my father's personal favorite and I had to pry it out of his hands to have a taste for myself (he, like my husband, couldn't wait for pictures to be taken!). I don't blame him; this mix is great! It is sweet and salty while also being soft, chewy, and crunchy. There are a lot of different textures and tastes making this an awesome snacking experience. If you want a snack but can't choose between sweet or salty, this could definitely hit the spot.

The last two items were both banana based. The Banana Ribbons were exceptionally delicious. They were chewy and full of rich, banana flavor. Since the other items presented a choking hazard for my one year old, these quickly became his snack of choice. My two year old enjoyed these the best as well. The last snack sounded very odd but ended up being a house favorite. The BBQ Banana Chips were a little sweet, a little tangy, and even had a little kick to him. If you are a heat newbie like me, I would recommend eating these in small quantities. The heat sure doesn't take away from the awesome flavor though.

Isn't Boxtera awesome? If you are still a little iffy, you might be happy to know that you can purchase each of their snacks individually without making a monthly commitment. I know you won't be disappointed either way and will be left craving more. For a little savings, they have provided a 10% off code for their April box: APRILBOX. Also, they were kind enough to host a giveaway. One lucky reader will receive their own Boxtera box! Just enter using the widget below! Make sure you follow them on Facebook and Twitter as well to never miss any new snacks or cool promotions!

Entry-Form

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers. My Empty Nest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Conscious Box

So if you've been here a while, you know that I love subscription boxes. As wells as a love for awesome packages, I have been trying to introduce healthier and greener products into my family's life. Since I am relatively new to the whole green movement, a box like Conscious Box is perfect for me. You choose between Classic, Vegan, and Gluten free and for $19.95 a month, you will receive a box packed full of GMO-free products. I think it is an awesome way to be introduced to new brands whether you are a newbie, like me, or a green veteran. 

The first, and possibly my favorite, item in the box was a Chocolate Banana bar from 2 Degrees Food. Not only was this bar delicious, but for each bar that is bought, they feed a hungry child. I love supporting companies that give back and when they make a delicious product, it is a win-win. There were also Hemp Hearts from Manitoba Harvest. Now these were interesting. They were rich and nutty in flavor and the texture was interesting. They were tender, yet still had a crunch. Sprinkling these on your normal meals are a great way to introduce extra fiber, protein, and omegas. The last 'edible' were Sleep Squares in a chocolate orange flavor. I have always been a night owl and I love that I now know a more natural product to help me fight my insomnia. 

Being from the South, I am a sweet tea kinda girl. I drink it all day, everyday. When it comes to tea, I make it by the gallon. Rarely will I have a special mug of tea. That being said, I might try more 'special' teas because these were all so good. I'm not saying I am not going to drink my cold, sweet tea but a nice warm mug of tea before bed has proven to be quite nice. From Mighty Leaf there were three flavors: Organic Spring Jasmine, Organic Earl Grey, and Organic Mint Melange. All were delicious, especially the Mint Melange. There was a bag of Carrot Curry Tea from Numi which I let my husband have since curry isn't my favorite. He enjoyed it and I though it smelled really good. The last tea was a bag of Quit Tea. I am no longer a smoker but the tea was quite good. I can't say whether it will help you quit smoking but it was tasty.

From Zarbee's Naturals, there was a packet of Adult Daytime Cough & Throat Relief. I haven't been sick so I haven't tried it but I have used the brand with my children and it was very effective for their colds. There was a BumBoosa bamboo baby wipe and a packet of Vitamin D3 gummies. The CRAM capsules were passed onto my husband as well because energy supplements never sit with me well. The last item in this group was Flor-Essense Detox buy Flora. I haven't tried this and I am a little weary of doing so. Detox sounds...well, scary. I will update once I have grown enough confidence to take this supplement. 

For dogs, there was a BioBag which is a biodegradable waste bad for your pets and a packet of Omega 3 capsules from Nordic Naturals. There was a $100 wine voucher from Naked Wines when you spend $60 dollars on wine and a 50 cent off coupon for Hemp Hearts. The last two items are information pamphlets from Nordic Naturals and Healthmate Sauna. 

Overall, I am very impressed with the items included in my Conscious Box. This box contains a lot more than a lot of other subsciptions boxes out there. For $19.95 and free shipping, I think it is a great buy! Be sure to follow Conscious Box on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.

Glasstic

I have heard before, over and over in fact, that drinking from plastic has negative results. There are all sorts of things that leech from plastic into your drinks. Plus it can even affect the taste of what you are drinking. Some plastics are worse than others but it is my understanding that none of them are totally safe for long term use. Because of what I know, while I am home I drink filtered tap water in a glass made of glass. However, as you might have guessed, I am way too clumsy to take that on the road with me.

Glasstic seems like it was made for someone like me! It is a glass travel cup made in a way that it is me proof. This glass container has a plastic outer-shell and I can attest that you can drop it. Now I am not recommending you toss this lovely travel cup on the ground but like I said I am clumsy and I have dropped it.  Not only did not shatter or crack I couldn't even find any marks from it being dropped. Had it shattered the plastic outer-shell would have contained the mess making it a safer clean up at least.

Since your drink is in the glass part you get no strange tastes from plastic and no toxins leeching into your drink. I like to add things to my water, everything from lemon slices to essential oils and with a glass bottle I don’t have to worry about the oils dissolving into the plastic. The top has a neat handle that flips up so you can essentially carry this bottle with just a finger or two. I have never had a metal or plastic travel cup that was that easy to carry.

Speaking of caps the cap unscrews so you can easily fill and clean your bottle. It can be cleaned like I do with a bottle brush or you can toss it in the dishwasher. Another great feature on the cap is the wide mouth and the lock. I love the lock! When I dropped it, it was locked so the lid didn't pop open, spilling my drink. Plus I am forever kicking over my cup in the car and the lock means I won’t be sopping up water from my foot as well as in car any more - I told you I was clumsy.


Check out the above video and then for more details and to see all the styles available please visit the Glasstic site. You can also connect with Glasstic on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay up to date with news and specials.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Maple Hill Naturals

As I have said time and time again, shower time is one of my favorite times. There is no better feeling than hopping out of the shower all squeaky clean and relaxed. Like most of you, I love trying all sorts of new shower goodies to get the most out of my shower time. Recently, I was able to try Maple Hill Naturals and I am quite surprised by just how much I enjoyed these products. The best part about their products? All of them contain no harsh chemicals, phthalates, or artificial colors. They are also biodegradable, gluten free, aren't tested on animals and contain no animal products!

I was sent the Lavender Vanilla Dream Gift Set to try. The set included a Vanilla Dream Lip Balm, a Lavender Vanilla Dream Shampoo & Conditioning Bar, and a Lavender Vanilla Dream Essential Oil Soap. The first product I tried was the lip balm and it is pretty awesome. It has a light, sweet scent that isn't overbearing on the lips. It keeps your lips protected and moisturized without being overly thick and sticky. I have been using this as my daily lip balm and I love it. My lips are super soft!

The most intriguing part of this kit was Shampoo & Conditioning Bar. Honestly, I have never used a shampoo bar before this and I was a little skeptical. I didn't think this little bar was going to wash AND condition my hair but man was I wrong! This little bar is awesome! It leaves my hair soft, clean, and easy to maintain and brush. I rubbed the bar on the top of my head and it lathered up great! It was also really easy to rinse out. In addition to all of this, it also doesn't strip my hair! I was, and still am, very impressed with this bar shampoo. I really recommend this product!

I, obviously, don't refuse to use bar soap but I usually gravitate towards shower gels. A lot of the soap bars in the stores leave my skin feeling striped and dry. This Essential Oil Soap does the complete opposite. It leaves my skin feels soft, moisturized, and, most importantly, clean! The oats in the bar gently exfoliate while you wash which I love because I am an exfoliating addict! Other bar soaps don't later very well but, yet again, this bar is different. I got a great lather both when washing with the bar itself, and when I used my loofah. It also leaves a light, relaxing scent on your skin which is great for right before bed.

The last item was something pretty interesting as well. It is called the Crud Eraser and claimed to be able to cut through grease, paint, dirt, and grime. To help the soap, this bar also contains oats and pumice. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it really did cut through grime. It washed all sorts of different messes off of my family's hands with ease. I also liked that there wasn't a strong scent. Honestly, I didn't notice a scent at all. The men in my house aren't as excited about good smelling soap as I am. They just want to be clean and not walk around smelling like perfume. This bar does just that. It also keeps their callused man-hands pretty soft! 

I am really enjoying everything I received from Maple Hill Naturals. I thoroughly recommend this brand to anyone looking for natural alternatives to the chemical filled gunk sold in most stores. Even if you aren't actively looking for alternatives, try these products. I promise you won't be disappointed. Also, be sure to follow Maple Hill Naturals on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on news, new products, giveaways, and promotions!

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers.

Kicking Horse Coffee Review & Giveaway

I used to think coffee was just coffee but as I have ventured into the expansive coffee world, I have learned that all coffees are not created equal. Now, I am no coffee connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but I do drink coffee regularly and I am always trying new kinds. Recently, I discovered Kicking Horse Coffee, and I couldn't be more pleased! All of KHC's coffee is 100% Certified Organic, 100% Certified Fair Trade, and shade grown. On top of all of these things, KHC also prides themselves on being involved in communities and being sustainable. 

I had very high hopes and expectations for KHC's Kick Ass Coffee and it met, or exceeded, them all. This coffee is just plain awesome. It is rich, dark, full-flavored coffee deliciousness. The coffee comes sealed in a sleek, black can. On the back, there is a lot of information about the coffee and KHC as a whole. The first thing you notice when opening the can is the awesome aroma. The smell is strong, thick, pure coffee. After thoroughly sniffing it for myself, I made sure my husband and father took a whiff for themselves. They were both equally as impressed.

If you are new to the whole bean coffee game, KHC's website has very detailed grinding and brewing instructions. I found these very helpful for figuring out just how many beans to grind for each cup. On their website, you can also find breakdowns of each kind of coffee they offer. These include boldness, aroma, acidity, body, flavor, and suggestions for other kinds you might like. Since they do offer quite a few different types, I could see this being very helpful for new and returning customers. Our neighbors to the north are definitely setting the coffee bar high!

My husband and father are the black coffee drinkers in the house. I don't mind black coffee, but when I can make some sweet, I usually do. I blame my sweet tooth. They lovingly call this my 'pansy-facation' of coffee. Whatever you chose to call it, I could still really taste the coffee through my creamer, which I loved. I did taste my husband's black cup, and I will admit, it was delicious. It had some very special notes to the flavor. Charles described it as 'spiced'. I am not too sure on how to describe it, but it wasn't your average, bitter, one-note coffee. All three of us really enjoyed our cups, 'pansy-fied' or not.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with Kicking Horse Coffee. The coffee is delicious and the company is eco-friendly. It is a win-win! Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on all of the delicious coffee news. Hurry back here though! The lovely people at Kicking Horse Coffee are hosting a giveaway for you guys! One lucky reader will win a can of Kick Ass Coffee! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Must be 18 years or older. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I may receive products in exchange for an honest review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally believe will be good for my readers. My Empty Nest is not responsible for prize fulfillment.