Party! Party! Party!- Eco-Friendly Party Favors by Jute Frog

Who doesn't love a good party!?

I especially love kids parties. They are so colorful and seem like so much fun. Sadly, I have noticed a certain trend. Literally every single party favor I have ever came across was junky plastic with some random chemical smell. I never noticed it as a kid, but I do now. What goes into making these throw away toys? Why are they so popular? Where are natural options when it comes to throwing a party for the kiddos?! That is where Jute Frog comes in.

Jute Frog sells eco-friendly party favors!

I have NEVER seen an eco-friendly party favor company before. So you can imagine how excited I was to review some of Jute Frog's Embroidered Colorful Vintage Headbands. Not only are these headbands adorable and well made, they are handmade with vintage fabric by Indian artisans. Since they are handmade, each one is unique! I love that! The headbands fit almost anyone, and come 8 to a pack in a canvas sling bag!

Jute Frog also sells Vintage Handmade Paper Notebooks (bound in beautiful fabrics!), Vibrant Silk Thread Beaded Necklaces, Colorful Silk Thread Necklaces, and Embroidered Sling Bags!

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Disclosure: I received the above item/s in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 

End of Summer Must Have!! Super Salve Company Review

The Super Salve Company was created by Denise Tracy Cowan in 1990 after her late husband, Randy Fabres (a Grand Canyon river guide), asked her to formulate a salve that would prevent and heal foot fungus, which debilitated a large portion of the crew and passengers on extended Grand Canyon river trips. The results were amazing and the acceptance was universal. Denise could not keep this incredible salve in stock.

 Hence, The Super Salve Company was born!

Over the years, Denise has received thousands of letters from fans, praising the properties and purity of her products. She only uses responsible sources of organically farmed herbs, oils, essential oils, butters and waxes. The Super Salve Company’s goal is to produce the highest quality products with the finest ingredients at a reasonable price, using only recyclable, earth-friendly packaging.

The Super Salve Company products are manufactured, packaged, and shipped directly from her factory (located near the ghost town of Mogollon, New Mexico) enabling the highest degree of quality control and quick response to orders from her customers.

 When my package arrived from the Super Salve Co., I was so excited, I tore right into it! I was sore and had a headache from cleaning and yard work the previous days, and was interested to see how well they worked when I needed it most. I was sent The Super Pack. It contains one of each of their salves in a large, fancy tin!

 

Salves include: Calendula Salve, Sun Salve, Arnica Salve, and the infamous Super Salve. All of which I was delighted to try!

Arnica cordifolia ~ common name “Leopard’s Bane." This salve works fast and effectively on muscle aches, joints and tension. It also helps heal sprains, bruising and swelling. Rubbed on temples and back of neck for headaches, this salve will stimulate circulation and healing.

    • excellent for body builders

    • not recommended for use during pregnancy or on open wounds

    • external use only

    • keep away from children

CONTAINS: Olive oil; organic arnica flowers; sweet almond oil; beeswax, cocoa butter; African shea butter; vitamin E oil; and pure essential oils of wintergreen, camphor, ginger, clove, cayenne, and a variety of mints and sages.

My Experience: This was the first of the salves I tried. I rubbed it on my shoulders, wrists, temples, and the nape of my neck. I love the way it creates a pleasant, warming sensation followed by a gentle cooling tingle. It helped me finish my daily tasks without being bothered by those annoying aches and pains I was feeling prior to the salve. I applied it once again before bed, and was able to rest comfortably. It is now something I put on my temples before yoga and meditation to help soothe my mind and get rid of those annoying headaches. 

(Calendula officinale, common name “Marigold”) In ancient times, Calendula was used for beautifying purposes and especially for toning the skin. Today, cosmetic experts praise calendula for its rejuvenating and healing effects on injured and damaged skin.

    • excellent for sensitive skin

    • for face & body

    • sunburn & windburns

    • scars & wrinkle treatment

    • protects skin from dehydration

    • antioxidant, fights free radicals

CONTAINS: Olive oil; organic calendula flowers; beeswax; African shea butter; cocoa butter; mango butter; sweet almond oil; jojoba oil; neem oil; vitamin E oil; and pure essential oils of sweet orange, lemon, and tangerine.

My Experience: This salve was perfect for my dry, painful sunburn. I do love aloe for sunburns, but this salve has spoiled me. It contains so many awesome ingredients that soften the skin while soothing burns or itchy skin. I have sensitive skin and always worry about what I put on it, especially my face. This salve leaves me worry free! I now put it on before going outside as well as after showering to prevent my skin from drying out and getting flaky.

Super Salve (All Purpose) is an antioxidant salve for the soothing and healing relief of dry and cracked skin, chapped lips, abrasions, eczema, and insect bites. Fights free radicals. A potent medicinal herbal salve created for the harsh environment of the desert southwest. Originated for Grand Canyon river runners and hikers.

   • Chaparral Leaf - slows down the rate of bacterial growth and kills the bacteria with anti-microbial activity. Great in the first aid kit for skin abrasions and injuries.

   • Echinacea Flower - has caffeic acidglycoside, which reacts with other substances in the body's cells. This facilitates the wound healing process. Excellent for drawing out poisons such as ant bites, bee stings, jellyfish stings, and many more.

   • Hops Flower - A very powerful herb for decreasing painful swelling and inflamed pneumatic pain. Contains two antibiotic substances: humulon and lupulon, both effective on staph and other skin bacteria.

   • Usnea Moss - Usnea, with its usnic acid and other compounds is useful for burns and athletes foot.

CONTAINS: Olive oil; organic chaparral leaf; comfrey leaf; echinacea flower; hops flower; usnea moss; beeswax; cocoa butter; sweet almond oil; vitamin E oil; and pure essential oils of lemon, lemon grass, lavender, tea tree, and cajaput.

My Experience: Just look at all of those awesome herbal ingredients!! Since this salve arrived, I have used it for all kinds of things. With the mosquitoes being horrible right now, I carry this salve everywhere. I put it on immediately after noticing a bite, and BAM!, the itch is soothed. It works great on the bottoms of my feet (I go barefoot a lot!) I actually enjoy it on my lips when they are chapped, making this salve my go to cure all! I recommend everyone keep some of this in their purse. You never know when/what you will need, and this makes it easy to keep it simple!

Sun Salve Herbal Sunscreen

This sun salve soothes and heals the skin.

    • excellent for face and body

    • all natural ingredients: comfrey leaf,

      African shea butter, jojoba oil

    • contains lemon grass oil, a mild

      insect repellent

    • avoid contact with the eyes

CONTAINS: Olive oil, beeswax, organic comfrey leaf oil, African shea butter, jojoba oil, active sunscreen ingredients (5% zinc oxide and 5% Avobenzone), cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, vitamin E oil, and pure essential oils of lemongrass and lavender oil.

My Experience: Yet another great salve! It not only contains SPF to prevent sunburn, but has properties to soothe a preexisting burn. It also repels those persistent insects, with the help of lemon grass oil!

Overall- these salves have been a lifesaver! I can see myself using them for a long time. The Super Salve Company has gained yet another loyal fan!

Disclosure: I received the above item/s in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.  

The Best Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats - Jade Yoga

As many of you can relate, yoga is an important practice in my daily life.

So is being eco-friendly.

Unfortunately, some yoga products don't live up to my green standards.

I'm sure you know what I mean!

Have you ever purchased a new mat that reeked of chemicals, making you not want to use it without washing at least a million times?! Or WORSE! Using a mat that is made of a material that doesn't seem to work with your skin, causing embarrassing break outs All.Over.Your.Body?!

I even go beyond how the mat effects me personally, imagining what harm the production of this mat has caused, and pondering how green and eco-conscious a company may or may not be.

It really means a lot to me!

Everything I purchase reflects who I am as a person.

This is why I am so fond of Jade Yoga products.

I love that!! Imagine how many trees they plant! :)

Jade Yoga mats are made in the U.S. in compliance with all environmental laws. Their mats are made with natural rubber which is tapped from rubber trees and DOES NOT contain PVC or synthetic rubbers of any kind!Not only that, but their mats are slip proof and comfy!

Since I already have a decent mat, I decided to get one that my boyfriend could use!

This mat is the Harmony XW. It is the same great quality as their other mats, but has a wider width than their normal mats. 

Good luck getting any pictures of the mat being used by my bf.. So I tried to take several close ups of the quality. I am impressed by this mat, and how comfy it is!

I need one of my own!!

Connect with Jade Yoga

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Disclosure: I received the above item/s in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255. 

What I Have Been Putting on my Skin Lately!- Acure Organics

Like most women, I love pampering myself. What I don't love is putting chemicals on my skin and paying for products that are bad for the environment. I don't care to have intense artificial scents and random color additives just to make the product appear more desirable. I feel like I have been searching for the perfect company forEVER, as they are really hard to come by! Unfortunately, I must have been living under a rock, because I just recently heard of Acure. I really wish I had heard of them sooner!

If you are not familiar with Acure, they are a family owned and operated company founded on sustainable principles to provide the highest quality fair trade, natural, and certified organic personal care products. All of their products are free from animal testing, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives and artificial colors.

They were ever so kind enough to send me a great selection of goodies for me to try out. I can confidently say that I enjoy all of them!

I was sent Lip Lush in Birthday Suit, Sensitive Facial Cleanser, Argan Cell Stimulating Body Wash, Lavender Echinacea Stem Cell Calming Body Lotion, along with their Moroccan Argan oil + Argan Stem Cell shampoo and conditioner.

The first product I tried was the Lip Lush. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and try it out! I love lip gloss, even though I normally just wear lip balm. I was so stoked that it actually lived up to my expectations. Not only is hard enough to find an organic lip gloss in the first place, it is uber hard to find a good quality one at a great price! The Lip Lush in Birthday Suit was just the perfect color! Or barely any color at all to be exact, which is what I was hoping for. I tend to wear a more natural look for my day to day makeup routine. 

I love how it glides on effortlessly, is not slippery, and did not get sticky or clumpy after wearing it for awhile. It had a subtle shimmer. Perfect for a day at work, lunch date, or worn over a lipstick for a evening look! 

Then I tried the Argan Cell Stimulating Body Wash. The smell is quite unique. Hard to place, almost like it has a hint of almonds! I really liked how it moisturized as it cleansed my skin. I only had to add a little bit to my sponge, as it seems to lather really well. Argan stem cells are added to help stimulate healthy healing and regeneration, while CoQ10 assists with vascular support. The pumpkin seed oil contains essential fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants and the sea buckthorn oil hydrates the skin! So many great things about this body wash. Not your cup of tea?! Acure offers a few other body washes to choose from, although I do highly recommend that you try this one.

Since I was already in the shower, the most obvious choice was to try the Moroccan Argan Oil and Argan Stem Cell shampoo and conditioner. They contain Argan Oil + Argan stem cells, CoQ10, Pumpkin seed oil (for mega shine) and organic Seabuckthorn Oil (which is super high in Omega 7). The Argan Stem Cell Shampoo was excellent to use. I didn't have to use a ton, despite having thick, long hair. The scent was great! And it left my hair feeling squeaky clean. It provided my hair with much needed moisture, even without the accompaniment of the conditioner. It left my hair shiny. I do tend to have thick, tangly hair so conditioner is a must. The Argan Stem Cell Conditioner was the perfect addition to the previous shampooing. I love how soft and manageable my hair was after using this conditioner for even the first time! This really is the perfect combo as they help lock in moisture, leave your hair shiny, soft and manageable, repair damage, and strengthen follicles. What more could you ask for?! 

(In case you are asking for more,

they have several other great hair care products as well! )

I don't know about you, but I like to take shortcuts. I am not lazy, persay, just careful about how I spend my time. What I am getting at is, I like to wash my face and brush my teeth in the shower on top of the normal shower things. I find it easier to have the shower rinse the cleanser away rather than cupping water in my hands over and over. THE MONOTANY! :p

So after my main shower routine, I busted out the Acure Sensitive Facial Cleanser with Argan Oil and probiotics. I have really sensitive skin, especially on my face, so it is really important for me to find a cleanser that works. I am happy to say that my skin actually accepted this product! No horrible flaking, itching skin! I just feel clean after using it, not all tight in the face like I normally do after washing it. Not only did this stuff work, it was relaxing and left my face feeling fresh and hydrated! Woo! Now that makes me happy :)

Find more Acure face care products here.

After getting out of the shower, I always suffer from extremely dry skin. I am talking EXTREMELY dry. They literally sometimes look all powdery, especially if I shave my legs. The Acure Calming Body Lotion formula is like a dream come true when used after I get out of the shower. I love lathering it on while my skin still feels a bit damp, to lock in extra moisture. This blend incorporates Echinacea Stem Cells to maximize production of stress fighting and immunity boosting agents while also helping to smooth and revitalize the skin. The lovely lavender works to soothe and contributes to a state of relaxation. I love the scent (whch seems to linger for a good while) and I really enjoy the way it makes my skin feel. 

If lavender isn't your cup of tea (what is wrong with you?!) then check out the other awesome lotions they carry!  

  

I really cannot get enough of Acure! I am really digging all of the products I just mentioned, and look forward to trying their other things out in the future.  I love using products that benefit my skin and hair, while knowing that the production of them isn't making the world a worse place.

Acure cares about the environment (almost) as much as I do! 

They started a program to plant trees, and have since planted over 20,000! That is pretty awesome. They are proud supporters of the Farmland Trust (which works to convert conventional farm land into certified organic farms!!) 

Acure even sponsors small organic farmers in Panama and and Costa Rica.

Their office and manufacturing facility is as green as can be! Using 100% solar and wind powered with Green-e certified renewable energy!!

Acure's products are 100% biodegradable. Meaning they will safely break down so that they won't pollute waterways after going down the drain. (Have you even thought about what happens to all of the products you flush down the drain each day?! Not to mention what is now in our drinking water..)

Even their packaging is eco-friendly! 

Check out the amazing sale they are having!

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Disclosure: I received the above item/s in return for an honest, sincere review. I was not expected to leave a positive review, and would never post something I didn't feel fully confident in. No monetary compensation was provided. The above opinion is the sole opinion of me and my family, and may differ from your own. I am disclosing in accordance with FTC 16 CFR Part 255.