Wholly Guacamole 100 Calorie Packs

Wholly Guacamole 100 Calorie Packs

Or "Minis" :)

So Wholly Guacamole sent me some coupons to try out some of their products, and immediately I was intrigued by the 100 calorie packs, or "minis". It's a box of 6 perfect sized little containers for a snack of guac and chips or whatever floats your boat. And I thought, well this is perfect in so many ways. Perfect because it's obviously the perfect size for a snack. Second, it's perfect because it completely eliminates the problem of the leftover guac becoming brown and grody on the top due to oxidation. Which happens, as a sad fact of life. And thirdly they're perfect because you can take them with you as a snack if you've got a little cooler pack, or if you're not going very far. 

(mine came with 6, I think that's how they come now)

And like everything from Wholly, these taste amazing. Their guac tastes like home-made. And the ingredients are very pleasing. Nothing gross. Listed here: Hass avocados, Jalapeno Puree (white vinegar, jalapenos, salt), Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Granulated Garlic. Yay! This combo is not only healthy but great to know that they don't have a bunch of bad stuff in there, only natural ingredients, and so few. And they're tasty and awesome. 

If you haven't tried Wholly Guacamole yet, I heartily recommend it. Their guacamole goes great with a bag of traditional tortilla chips, or on burgers, or with scrambled eggs for breakfast. They are tasty and good for you and the company is generous and fun. Check them out here:

Website: eatwholly.com

Facebook: WhollyGuacamole

How to Have Healthier, Faster-Growing Hair At Home and Easily!

Since I cut my hair in mid-December of 2011 and donated 13 inches to Locks of Love, my hair has grown extremely quickly back! And I've been sort of analyzing and deciding and experimenting with what factors in my life are making my hair and nails grow so quickly and strongly. I wanted to share what I've found with you :)

This is me before I got my hair cut. As you can see, it is down to my waist.

(Please, excuse my messy, we-had-just-moved-into house!!)

This is me the day I got my hair cut, December 16th, 2011

This is just a two months later.

A month after that.

 

And still going strong!

This is me NOW May 26th, 2013

And DANG! I don't know about you, but I feel like my hair has been growing extremely fast! Now to get to the good stuff. What do I do that makes my hair and nails grow so quickly?

Well first off, ladies, don't wash your hair every single day unless your stylist told you you probably needed to, or, I mean, if you absolutely want to, you don't have to follow my advice :). It strips your hair of all it's natural oils, those oils keep your hair shiny soft and touchable. So if you let them sit there and do their work for three days (I wash my hair every three days) instead of merely hours, your hair will always come out on the other side looking fabulous. Really healthy looking shiny and bouncy. Don't misunderstand, though, I still think it's important to shower as often as you need to!! Just put your hair up or wear a shower cap or something when you're not shampooing! 

There is also this product I love called "dry shampoo" which comes in many different forms and packages! Some are just powder in a bottle that you floof into your hand and rub it from roots to tip then brush out. Some are spray powders, and some can get shaken on from a little shaker :) Those are cute. The main thing you need to remember about dry shampoos is they are not right for everyone. There are plenty out there, but my favorite is called Pssst! Or you can use baby powder, just tap some baby powder in your hand and massage in starting at the roots and brush it out to work it's way down to tips :) If you do this at night before you go to bed, it'll absorb all the excess oil and give volume, too! 

Now when it comes to shampooing my hair in the shower, I think I do it differently than most. I get a good glob of shampoo, work it into the hair on my scalp, and massage every single inch of my scalp using the pads of my fingers. I do this vigorously, but it doesn't hurt. And what I think I'm doing is stimulating growth from the massage! My hair has been growing so fast since I started doing that! And I don't bother with the ends. I just work the shampoo into a lather on my head, do the massage, and all the suds run down my hair to the ends. All my hair gets clean when it's time to rinse! Then, I just put a little conditioner on the tips of my hair. I don't put it in the scalp area. 

Now, of course, I know that there are genetics involved and diet, too, but I think if you have a great diet and active life, you can keep your body healthy. I definitely think genes and diet have a role to play in my weird ability to grow nails and hair quickly, but I'm just trying to give out a few tips as to why I think mine grows faster than my genes alone would allow. I hope this helps someone! If you have any questions you feel I might be able to help you with, please email me at:

 mollify24@hotmail.com 

Queen of the Meadow Lotion Bars Plus Solid Scent Review :)

Queen of the Meadow Lotion Bars/Solid Perfume

Recently I discovered Queen of the Meadow and her bars in Old Town. :) Handmade locally in Fort Collins, CO, these lotion bars are the most moisturizing and magical smelling in the world. I have tried other bars, and most of the one's I have tried were just not at all moisturizing, almost grating on the skin. These Queen of the Meadow lotion bars glide on and moisturize so beautifully and have a really delicate and fragrant long lasting scent. Packaged beautifully, too! Queen of the Meadow also makes solid perfume (I got jasmine) which has not only a good longevity, but has a great jasmine scent and projection!! The other scents they have available are Bergamot/Grapefruit, Flower Bouquet, Vanilla, and Patchouli. And all their products are all natural and organic. Their ingredients are either picked wild or organically grown. 

Excerpt from their website: "Whenever possible, the oils we add are cold pressed, unrefined, and organic. We use only raw butters - simply, we create our recipes with only ingredients that are kept in their most natural, authentic way"

The scents I got to try were the Jasmin lotion bar and solid perfume, and I also got to try the Indian Rose lotion bar (they also make really great Lavender products). I am addicted to floral scents. And I have always loved jasmine anything, jasmine tea, jasmine rice, and of course jasmine perfume! So really the first time I smelled this I knew I had to buy it. It was heaven. It IS heaven. She uses a blend of essential oils of jasmine, rose, and sandalwood that is literally so intoxicating. I still can't get enough of it. And the bars aren't greasy at all, you just unwrap the bar, rub it lightly on your hands or elbows or knees or wherever you need it (you can even use the unscented one on your face!) and then put the bar away and rub everything in and it's fantastic! I mean, I've pretty much stopped using my regular lotion. It's so easy and I really can't get over the scent. It's awesome. 
Indian Rose is a blend of essential oils (a secret blend!) that I know has roses and rosemary but I just can't place it! It is also mind-bendingly delicious. 

Queen of the Meadow also offers a whole range of skincare, facial products, hair care, bath products, and even products for home (in all sorts of scents)! All of these are all natural and handmade :) They are all also packaged with either recyclable or reusable packaging or both!!! This really is a great company. They are a great company, period, but also really really great if you want to be good to the planet and to yourself. Indulge! If you'd like to contact them or see their website, looky here: :D
Queen of the Meadow Facebook
Shop Her Website!

They also do gift cards, and gift sets and all sorts of neat things. Also, if you live in Fort Collins, you can come see them at the Farmer's Market in front of the Larimer County Courthouse every Saturday from 8-12!!! Yay!

Dr. Lewinn (by Kinerase) Instant Perfecting BB Cream SPF 15

Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase Instant Perfecting BB Cream SPF 15

I have tried many BB creams since they began to grow in popularity starting a couple of years ago. I've tried drugstore brand and high end luxury brands, too. Therefore I can honestly say that Dr. Lewinn's is the best I have tried, and thus a really great product!! 

This BB cream has a really great consistency that isn't at all runny like some others can be, but it's not so thick that it isn't easily blendable, either. It's perfect. It gives a nice even and light coverage that really does perfect, it makes my skin look so much more even and brighter and just better. I already have pretty nice skin, but this makes it look so much nicer. It also is a skincare product, so it's really all I need in one. It perfects my skin and makes it look great without being too much product or too inconvenient, it doesn't look heavy or take long at all to apply. My skin is also utterly hydrated by this product, I do not need to use my moisturizer when using this. And the fact that using it every day makes you skin better and better is great for me. It's like... tinted moisturizer, regular moisturizer, concealer, serum, brightener and sunscreen all in one. Fantastic.

Dr. Lewinn's new skincare line is supposed to give you great-looking skin without resorting to plastic surgery. He looks for the best and most effective ingredients available. Using science and nature to help "women all over the world reveal their radiant, natural beauty". The way these products help you achieve flawless skin is with really amazing high quality ingredients. 

Kinetin:

A strong barrier of protection from the elements, as well as something that diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Skincare :)

Passion Flower Oil:

(I didn't know this, but this is also known as maracuja oil!) This key ingredient is high in vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and fatty acids that keep skin hydrated. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect. Light and easily absorbed, making this BB cream really easily blended and basically looks like your skin, but better.

Diacetyl Boldine:

Another key ingredient which regulates melanin production, combating hyperpigmentation and evening out the skin tone with frequent usage.

Hordeum Vulgare Seed Extract:

An ingredient rich in 100% natural antioxidants and polyphenols which helps to brighten and has anti-aging properties. 

Lumispheres:

Offer instant brightening and evens complexion, while, over time, reducing the appearance of blemishes and making skin more luminous.

3D Hydra Aps:

A way to more effectively deliver not only all the key ingredients, but keep skin better hydrated through a more efficient hydrating process. Polarsomes are what make the absorption of hydration more efficient and thus the absorption of the other ingredients. And keep them there!

I've been using this product for about a week and it's really been working for me. I think this product would work for all sorts of skin types. The only negative is it only comes in one color. It's a pretty universal color, and it happens to fit me just right, but it's still only one! 

The price is right, however, at about $15. You can buy them at drugstores (Walgreens), and Targets and WalMarts, too, I'm guessing. And this product really is great! Better than some of the ones that cost up to $60. Please, don't waste your money, Dr. Lewinn's is much better than the rest. Highly recommend. :) 

My face with Dr. Lewinn!:

If you want to check out more from Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase see here:

Website: Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase

Facebook: Dr. Lewinn by Kinerase

Thank you for reading and I hope you get to try!!!

Mighty Leaf Tea Huge Review!!

*Mighty Leaf Tea Review*

I am so so happy to present to you an amazing brand of tea that I recently discovered, and since discovery, have wondered where they've been all my life!!

Mighty Leaf Tea!

This brand of tea goes above and beyond quality and taste. They work so hard to make every aspect of the company 110% amazing. Firstly, their tea bags are special because they are biodegradable, 100% unbleached cotton, woven together beautifully and topped with the tea tag (that tells what flavor and how long to brew). Second, they leave enough room for the whole tea leaves to unfurl (which is a beautiful process). They don't use glue or staples, and the bags are compostable! 

And I'm only just starting!
They also blend a BUNCH of different flavors of loose-leaf tea, but I have yet to try those ;)

They have the most amazing quality of tea. I've never come across better. Their bags are filled with WHOLE tea leaves, sourced from their special tea gardens, instead of "tea dust" which is what a lot of manufacturers use (eww, dust??). 

Their packaging is even spectacularly beautiful! And we all know that's important, too. Plus, their customer service is amazing, which is getting rarer and rarer these days. But seriously, tea aside, this is even the best company (period!) that I know of because of how they do things.

I wanted to share with you a few of my favorites of their teas, and tell you a little about each.

First, I want to talk about Earl Grey Decaf:

When I was young, my grandmother used to make Earl Grey tea for me with lots of cream and sugar. Even with the caffeine, it always put me to sleep. Fast forward to adulthood, and I haven't had EG for years, well, I found a decaf version from Mighty Leaf and it is DIVINE!!! It's exactly like the classic, but I can drink it at night and reminisce about my grandmother and our EG ritual. 

Earl Grey is black tea flavored with bergamot oil. Mighty Leaf's version has first press bergamot oil to flavor it, and it is heavenly. It's a little strong when you take the bag out, but after brewing, it's perfect. And the fact that it's decaf makes it so I can enjoy this tea at any time!!

Brew time: 4 minutes

Ingredients: black tea, bergamot oil

The next tea I'd like to talk about is something I didn't even think I'd like, or I thought it wouldn't be a good flavor combination... but boy, was I wrong!!!

Introducing, Chocolate Mint Truffle:

This tea has a base of African red tea, or Rooibos (roy-boss) which is HIGH in anti-oxidants and very good for you. It also has cacao nibs and mint mixed in. This tea is very much an after-dinner dessert tea. It's very sweet and smooth, good with a spoonful of sugar (it's JUST like a dessert, with that). And it's calming and relaxing as well. I just thought you couldn't make a tea that decadent, but it's good. You feel like your indulging, but you're actually doing something good for yourself! That's another thing about these teas from Mighty Leaf, is they're all good for you!

Brew time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: Rooibos leaves, spearmint, cacao nibs, natural flavors

Next I want to tell you about an herbal tea that has a little bit of caffeine!! I know, it seems counter-intuitive to have an herbal with caffeine, but it's mighty* good! It's called

Rainforest Mate:

Rainforest Mate is an infusion of tropical fruits and spices and mate. It has a little bit of caffeine, but it's different from, say, coffee-caffeine, in that it doesn't hype you up too much, and firstly there's not much caffeine in it. But it serves to just put you in a better mood :). This brew is balmy and delicious, spicy and sweet. Good by itself or with a spoonful of sugar OR honey/agave nectar.

Brew time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: Rosehips, Hibiscus, Green Mate, Green Anise, Mint, Licorice, Cloves, Apple Pieces, Cornflower Petals, Marigold Petals, Natural Flavors

I also wanted to talk about a few more flavors that are DEFINITELY worth trying out :)

Firstly, Ginger Twist (yumyumyum):

Ginger Twist is an herbal infusion that I find really REALLY relaxes me. It's a base of lemongrass, with tropical fruits and mint, and also ginger and ginseng! It's a very versatile brew, tasting different all alone and with sweetener. Balmy to the extreme! When I say balmy I mean it's got a body that fills your mouth with softness and calms you. I normally don't put a thing in this tea, it's good all by itself. I drink it before bed or when I need a little escape.

Brew time: 5-7 minutes (I do 6)

Ingredients: Lemongrass, mint, lemon, orange, licorice, apple, papaya, ginger, ginseng, natural flavors

Chamomile Citrus:

This was the first Mighty Leaf tea that I tried, and I am madly in love with it. I've always loved chamomile tea, because I'm more of a "let's relax" type person, but I've never really thought any chamomile teas were out of this world. Well, now there IS one that's out of this world. Mighty Leaf tea decided it would be a great idea to add citrus to their chamomile, and it is heaven. The citrus really complements the chamomile and gives such an interesting, delicious flavor! A fresh take on an oldie-but-goodie, you'll never want another regular chamomile again!!!

Brew time: 5 minutes

Ingredients: Orange peels, chamomile flowers, rosehip peels, lemongrass, lemon myrtle, hibiscus, spearmint, natural flavors and orange petals.

Now, those don't even begin to touch on how many wonderful and amazing flavors and blends Mighty Leaf has to offer, so I'll give a few more of my favorite flavors and their notes :) 

Organic African Nectar: Another rooibos tea with tropical fruits and blossoms. Delicious AND nutritious :)

Organic Spring Jasmine: Green tea with jasmine flowers. This tea is like potpourri, the fragrance is divine and when you brew it, the smell fills your soul like angels. It's an ethereal brew that is more than green tea, it's an experience.

Orange Dulce: This is a flavored black tea (morning tea with caffeine) that I NEVER thought I'd enjoy, but it's just like a breakfast pastry!!! So delicious, it has orange, vanilla, bergamot AND jasmine notes. Likened to an aged port, this sweet full-bodied brew is amazing as a start to my day. Cream and sugar? Yes please.

My product recommendations:

Abaca Tea Box: $18.71

30 bags, 6 different flavors

Master Tea Pouch Sampler: (on sale!) $44.96

108 bags, 11 different flavors

Mighty Leaf Variety Box: (on sale!) $7.46

15 bags, 7 different flavors

I recommend these samplers because all of Mighty Leaf's teas are just exquisite, I know you'll find one you love from the samplers, and when you do, they have big ole one-flavor boxes!!!

I hope you've enjoyed my review, and I hope you also enjoy some Mighty Leaf Tea very soon!!!!

Mighty Leaf's website: Mighty Leaf Page

Mighty Leaf on Facebook: Mighty Leaf's facebook