My favorite way to brew coffee- using a French Press!

If you have not heard of Harold Import Company, you are missing out! They offer so many awesome and unique kitchen wares, there is guaranteed to be something you just cannot not live without on their website! HIC was kind enough to send me the new French Press from Aerolatte for my family to enjoy. (If you are unfamiliar with Aerolatte, I recommend you go check them out as well!!) 

When I was younger, I used to work at a well known coffee chain. I actually really enjoyed my job, and consequently became addicted to coffee. I learned fast that brewing fresh ground beans in a French Press was the way to go, as it creates the most epic cup of coffee! The flavor is out of this world, and unlike any other coffee machine or pot could reproduce. French pressed coffee is definitely my favorite way to enjoy a big, steaming mug of brewed beans.

I am in love with the Aerolatte French Press! It is so easy to use, and easy to clean. Since it had been so long since I last used one, I was unsure of how to use it. Luckily, the instructions were ridiculously easy, and the side of the beaker even has several indicators to remind you of the correct ground coffee scoopage, water level, etc. I cannot believe I haven't been using a French Press sooner!

It is available in 4 sizes! So there is something for everybody.

They offer a 3, 5, 7, and 8 cup press.

 I got to try the 5 and 8 cup.

(I usually use both at the same time to make a ton of coffee!!)

I love how easy the Aerolatte French Press is to clean. The glass beaker is easy to remove and safe to put in the dishwasher (which I do not own!). In which case, the mouth of the beaker is wide enough for even larger hands to fit in and give it a good clean. It seems to be stain resistant, and the actual plunger and metal screen seem to be free from rust! I'm thrilled to not have to worry about breaking or ruining these presses. I am not the most poised, and seem to constantly break things or forget about something soaking in the sink.

I was so excited, I couldn't help but take millions of photos.

I just adore how the sky is reflected on the lid of the Aerolatte!

Do you spot the tiny bee?!

Now you get to see the most delicious cup of coffee being made!

One scoop per squiggly line!

I just use my coffee pot to get the perfect temperature of water!

 Stir it all up, and put the plunger back on!

Let it brew for three minutes!

After 2 minutes, it is getting darker!

 Plunged, and looking bold!!

Ready to go! 

Today, Harold Import Company carries over 3,500 culinary supply products from their own Family of Brands, as well as their extended family brands from 25 countries around the world. HIC, Harold Import Co. products are available in over 10,000 retail outlets worldwide, so their products are always only a short drive or a click away!

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. 

Coqui Baby Nomad Women Wool Dryer Balls

Even before I fell head over heels in love with essential oils, I enjoyed the use of dryer balls when doing my laundry. Now that I have turned into an essential oil hoarder, my love affair with dryer balls is in full swing. I have tried many different oil combinations to create several wonderful scents that cling onto my clothes, making me feel the benefits of the oils throughout the day. The wool dryer balls seem to hold onto the scent better than my clothing does, so I add a couple more drops before each dryer load. I absolutely love the way the infused dryer balls make the laundry room smell while they sit patiently, waiting to get tossed around again. Not only are dryer balls great for naturally adding fragrance to your laundry, they reduce the drying time as well! The more balls you use, the less time clothes spend in the dryer. Did I mention how much I love dryer balls!?

With that being said, I use them. A lot. Which means I go through them. A lot! Meaning I am always on a quest to try out a different set of dryer balls to compare to my last set. When Coqui Baby agreed to send me a 3 pk of their Nomad Women wool dryer balls, I was so excited! I could not wait to get my hands on them. Not only was I excited about trying their dryer balls, I was excited about getting to know their company. They really care about the people of Kyrgyzstan, and have partnered with a manufacturer that honors human rights through its employee compensation and benefits practices. These policies attract talented employees who take pride in the products that they produce. 

• Each ball is made of 100% wool hand-felted to approximately 9 inches around and approximately 2 ounces in weight. Variations may occur as these are hand-crafted items.
• Made by a thriving co-operative of self-employed women in the Kyrgyz Republic. Your purchase supports women, shepherding families in Central Asia and sustainable free range agricultural practices by providing good income and a steady market for their wool products.
• Experience Coquí Joy -- that glowing soft and fuzzy feeling -- knowing that you are reducing your energy consumption, are keeping dryer sheets out of landfills and keeping perfumes and chemicals out of your family's clothes and bedding.
• Made in the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Clothes - especially cloth diapers - will feel significantly softer and have less static as a result of the natural softening action and the static reduction properties of wool dryer balls. Nomad Women Dryer Balls are perfect for people who need to -- and choose to -- remain clean of added films, chemicals and agents. Cloth diapers and cloth diaper soaker inserts in particular need to be dried without commercial dryer sheets, as these will leave a water-repellant film on them causing them to leak.
• Hand-felted with raw wool from free-range sheep of the Kyrgyz Republic, a mountainous region part of the Himalayan Chain. Colors range from white to dark brown, depending on your sheep's unique coloration. Wool is sheered, picked clean, washed, then dried in the sun or near a heat source. Nomad Women Dryer Balls are all-natural with no added dyes, scents or preservatives leaving you the option to customize at home with your own essential oils (it takes just a few drops to bring your favorite clean scents alive in your household). 

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.   

 

First Aid for Your Laundry + the Planet! with Berryplus

Soap that grows on trees! Botanists call their trees Sapindus mukorossi; Berryplus calls them first aid for your laundry and the planet!

Sapindus trees grow soapberries which, when combined with water and shaken, give off a soapy residue that has been used to clean clothes naturally in India and other parts of Asia forever. Now, soapberries’ cleaning power is available in Berryplus, and it’s going to change the way you think about laundry.

Berryplus was created to be the purest and most natural, yet effective laundry soap around. It cleans your clothes as well as leading brands using only wholesome and sustainable ingredients which are safe and gentle for even the most sensitive skin and fabrics.

Berryplus has figured out how to extract and concentrate saponin, the soapberry’s magic cleaning ingredient, to give you soap that’s free of harmful or questionable ingredients, fillers and fragrances. No more weird gels, smells or bells, because when clothes are naturally clean, they don’t smell like flowers, fruit or fluffy teddy bears, and they and don’t need chemicals to stay soft.

Available in 3 sizes!

Berryplus is a modern laundry innovation, because it delivers age-old cleaning with modern convenience. Berryplus works as well as anything else on the market, but is much less irritating and super safe for your clothes, your family, your washing machine and the planet. It is so safe that Berryplus doesn’t come with warnings or first aid instructions about how to use it. That said, and as their founder (a lawyer says), they’d prefer you not drink their soap, because (like all soap products) it may upset your stomach and it doesn’t taste good.

Berryplus' not-so-secret ingredients, which they will always disclose to you, are:
• 95% berry-based (berries + water)
• 4.5% vegetable glycerin (for stability and added softening)
• 0.3% olive-leaf extract (to kill bacteria and other junk)
• 0.1% each of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (food-grade preservative to give Berryplus a shelf life)

 
I was pleasantly surprised by how well Berryplus works! I admit I was a bit skeptical at first. How can such a small amount actually clean my clothes? Especially the really dirty ones. Well.. It just does! I have used it to wash several loads of clothes from my most delicate of washables to my dogs filthy, smelly blanket to have it all come out with flying colors! I wish I knew about this product when I lived upstairs in an apartment. I wouldn't have had to lug around all of that laundry detergent.

 Berryplus also has a cute and durable laundry bag. I was definitely stoked to be able to replace my holey, mesh laundry sack from years ago. It has a cute little pocket to carry my Berryplus liquid, as well as anything else I may need (such as quarters and keys if going to the laundrymat.) 

Using the Microdose

Don’t be fooled by its size – this small but mighty microdose is perfectly measured to wash a full 30lb load of laundry! No more guessing and messing or lugging the jug ever again. Less to carry, less to recycle and less packaging too. Perfect for travel, whether to the laundromat, on the road or into the woods.

Doing laundry isn’t rocket science or a science experiment. Combine clothes, water and soap, shake around, and rinse. It’s that simple.
Berryplus was designed for cold-water and high-efficiency machines, but works any way you do laundry – front or top loader, sink or bathtub, at any temperature (although cold is better for the planet and your wallet). Please don’t add extra softener, because the berries do that too! To find out where to buy your own, follow this link.

 

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 Disclosure: I received the above item 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. 

Karma Kiss Owlet Salt & Pepper Shaker Set Review

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Budded and bloomed by the creators of Streamline Inc. in 1991, amongst the awe-inspiring, creative habitat of New York City. Karma Kiss went on to feature a boutique of ‘time pieces’ designed by a troupe of Streamline artists that worked aside designer & proprietor Sophia Senderovich.

 

From their earliest days of Bubble Watches™ & Blowfish Alarm Clocks, Karma Kiss has been providing gifts of best quality, unique style & genuine thoughtfulness with their savvy customers in mind. Today Karma Kiss is proud to share that their products have been featured in memorable Hollywood films (Down To You, Little Miss Sunshine, Twilight) and popular publications such as Real Simple, Rachael Ray, Family Fun, O Magazine, New York Times & many more!

Karma Kiss offers a creative array of lifestyle accessories which are both fun and functional and that attract the young and the young at heart. Some of their most popular pieces include Playful WonderBalls™, Fun Sound Alarm Clocks, Delicious Lip Gloss designs, Clever Desk Diversions, Whimsical Money Banks & the beyond awesome ReMake Its!™ Kits which have a keen sense of green in mind.

Karma Kiss committed to offering a continuum of well-designed gifts and accessories that are updated regularly. There’s a little something for everybody! Give a gift with Karma Kiss today and receive a guaranteed big smile of gratitude in return!

I am not going to lie. I was immediately drawn into browsing the Karma Kiss website upon seeing their adorable owl logo. I am a huge owl fan, and I was curious to see if they had anything "owl". Sure enough, they did! I spent about an hour browsing their site, seeing all kinds of cute items. Definitely a gift there for everyone! When I saw the fat, little Owlet Salt and Pepper shaker set from the Karma Kiss Home & Garden selection, I had to have it!

And so it was. I was sent this lovely set to cherish and enjoy for many years to come. I love how the owls are round, making them easy to hold in my hand. They sit really well, having great balance. What I really found adorable was that one owl shaker has its little eyes closed while the other one does not. See if you can spot it in the photos! I am still debating on if I want to use them for salt and pepper, or if I want them to hang out with the rest of my owl collection (where they are keeping roost until my decision is made!) 

These little Karma Kiss Owlet Salt & Pepper Shakers come in a cute box. I am a bit odd, and tend to keep boxes that I like, especially if the close (which this one does!) The box alone makes this a great gift to give on almost any occasion, not to mention how great of a gift the Owlet shakers themselves would be. These fancy shakers are made out of porcelain, making them attractive to the eyes and more durable.

 Can you tell how much I love these Karma Kiss Salt and Pepper Shakers by the sheer amount of photos I "just had to" take? They are WAY too adorable!

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Disclosure: I received the above item 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.