Petit Vour | November's Monthly Vegan Beauty Box

COMPANY: Petit Vour

PRODUCT: Monthly Vegan Beauty Box

COST: $15/mo (or amazing birthday gift from my friend, Jessica)

DESCRIPTION: Catering to beauty devotees interested in living a more compassionate lifestyle, Petit Vour delivers fresh beauty products - culled from beauty’s kindest - right to your doorstep each month.
        Inside your box, you’ll find a range of chic vegan beauty products for you to apply, blend, buff, lather, soak and spray. Shop the box, earn rewards points, and receive complimentary US shipping when you purchase your new cruelty-free favorites in the Petit Vour Shop.
MONTH TWO PRODUCTS:
» MODERN MINERALS, Lotus Wei Infused Emotive Lip Gloss in Violet Rose « 3g | $24
Modern Minerals collaborated with lotus Wei to create a special lip gloss infusion of pink camellia flowers, pink tourmaline gemstone essence, a light floral fragrance of lavender, chamomile, rose, and neroli. This special blend follows Lotus Wei's emotive formula and magnifies: Love of Life  •  Inner strength  • Compassion  •  Living in the Present Moment

» ONE LOVE ORGANICS, Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo Powder « .6oz | $12 or 1.8oz | $29
With a unique blend of highly absorbent Georgia Kaolin Clay, hyaluronic acid, and silica rich bamboo extract, Health Locks Dry Shampoo Powder softens, strengthens, lifts, and nourishes hair between shampoos, during travel, or for an anytime pick-me-up. 

» PELLE BEAUTY, Luxe Beauty Balm « 30ml | $65
This dreamy delicate, waterless balm provides your face with intense moisture. Formulated with floral waxes, precious essential oils, and antioxidant-rich ingredients, this super-emollient and easily-absorbed beauty balm will keep skin soft, smooth, and protected.  

» ORGANIC BATH CO, Stress Less Organic Body Oil «  100ml | $45
Softly scented with pure Bulgarian Lavender and a blend of calming essential oils, Stress Less Body Oil delivers lightweight moisture that absorbs instantly for dewy, healthy-looking skin.

RESULTS:

» MODERN MINERALS, Lotus Wei Infused Emotive Lip Gloss in Violet Rose «
This is a nice, subtle, flirty lip gloss with just a hint of color that is highlighted with sparkle (not shine, sparkle). It stays on for a decent amount of time without being tacky and leaves your lips moisturized. It says it has a floral scent—which made me nervous since I don't want some floral tasting—but I can't really remember it having a strong scent at all.

» ONE LOVE ORGANICS, Healthy Locks Dry Shampoo Powder «
I just tried this today — after traveling yesterday (and therefore putting my hair up, taking my hair down, and putting it back up again) my hair was oilier than usual this morning. I've always been a little scared/put-off by dry shampoo. Maybe because I'm scared I'll use too much and look like I basically poured baby powder all over me... Because let's be honest, that's what I would do. But this powder was really light and I only used a little bit for it to give me the boost I needed today. It has a slight scent to it, that is pleasant but not all "hey, I'm putting this scent in my hair because I don't want you to know I didn't wash it today." The 12 oz container is quite a bit, I can't see myself going through this quickly, so I would recommend sticking with the smaller, less expensive option.

» PELLE BEAUTY, Luxe Beauty Balm « I remember the lead singer in my punk rock band (late 90s, early 00s) would use a balm on her cheeks in the winter time. It was the perfect solution to dry, freezing cold wind all up in your face... but more importantly it made her look magical. She had slight shine that gave her appearance a cozy hello in a sea of pasty drunks at the show. When I saw this beauty balm, it was like I was granted the secret formula to her sorcery. Winning! 

But it's also $65, so I probably won't get it again because I'm cheap frugal.

» ORGANIC BATH CO, Stress Less Organic Body Oil « 
I love the smell of lavender, but this comes in a spray that doesn't really mist on the oil as much as it drips it on. That can be frustrating when you're less than graceful and get it on your clothes. I will probably stick to my lavender scented eye-pillow when I need to really let go of some stress.

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Petit Vour | October's Monthly Vegan Beauty Box

COMPANY: Petit Vour

PRODUCT: Monthly Vegan Beauty Box

COST: $15/mo (or amazing birthday gift from my friend, Jessica)

DESCRIPTION: Catering to beauty devotees interested in living a more compassionate lifestyle, Petit Vour delivers fresh beauty products - culled from beauty’s kindest - right to your doorstep each month. Inside your box, you’ll find a range of chic vegan beauty products for you to apply, blend, buff, lather, soak and spray. 

MONTH ONE PRODUCTS:
» URSA MAJOR OF VT, Fantastic Face Wash «
A foaming gel cleanser with a natural brightening complex, this everyday essential is made with a spirited fusion of premium, whole essential oils including cedar, spearmint, lime, lemon, rosemary, black spruce, owyhee, vetiver, and lavender. Face wash has never smelled so good!  

RESULTS
They aren't lying — this smells amazing! And after using it for over a month now, I can honestly say this will officially replace my face wash for good! It suds up just a little, and instructions say if you leave it on for 30-60 seconds after you massage it in, you'll get extra hit of exfoliation. I don't know if that's true, but it makes me feel all spa-like, so I let it sit while I brush my teeth. For reference of my skin type — overall it's more on the oily side with dry patches during seasonal weather shifts. I am prone to horrible acne, and my skin has been pretty clear since I started using it.


» HABIT COSMETICS, Nail Polish «
Habit gives you the gorgeous color you crave and strengthens your nails (that's the Myrrh extract at work), all without the harmful chemicals found in other brands. 

RESULTS
The color they sent me is a sparkly gold/sand color, called Disco. Love the name, I mean, if nail polish doesn't have a great name it's not worth contemplating, right? I feel like it's out of season for my taste, but I also think it will make an excellent color for sun-kissed skin. That being said, I tested it on my nails to see how it went on. Applies great, and because I'm lazy, I also learned it lasts long because I didn't remove it right away. Oh, and the bottle packaging is cool too.


» HANA ORGANIC SKINCARE, Eye Oil «
The delicate area around your eyes will love the gentle, soothing, and smoothing properties of this nourishing eye oil.  

RESULTS
This is a product (though I liked how it went on/the scent/the potential benefits of it), I won't end up making a habit of using it. I'm just too low-maintenance when it comes to any beauty regimen. So introducing new habits, like delicate area around your eye only oil, won't make it into my routine.





» ESSENCE OF VALI, Sleep—A Bedtime Ritual « 
This concentrated natural blend will ease you into a peaceful sleep and comfort you during times of stress. 

RESULTS 
About 2-3 months ago I finally jumped on the essential oil bandwagon. After years of trying it at a friends house and reading/researching the best kinds—I knew it was worth the investment. I can say, I am more relaxed, seeing improvements as far as shorter or less frequent bouts with illness, and I just purchased an oil to help with hormone balance *fingers crossed*. 

So! When an essential oil came in my first package, I was elated! I was a little put off by the scent, it's more musty than I expected, but I'm still a big fan because it also has helped my sleep. I wouldn't recommend it in a diffuser (I think because the scent is too strong for me, not because it will ruin your diffuser), but applying it to the pulse points (inside of the elbows, wrists, and your temples) does wonders. I also enjoy rubbing it into my hands and then cupping over the nose while deeply breathing it in.

I hope this was helpful. I can't wait to get my next Petit Vour box, it's such a fun surprise (and this is an excellent gift from my friend Jessica—3 months of vegan goodness, swoon)!

Namaste

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My First Ever Juice Cleanse » DIY Style

We're doing our first juice cleanse! See how I said "we're" and "our"... boyfriend is joining me. In fact, it was his idea (as he shakes his head in regret). I've been working really hard to get back into a healthy routine at the gym and with yoga (successfully, I might add... pats on back), as well as keeping up with my acupuncturist's supplement requests (so many damn pills, I hate taking pills). I'm slowly starting to see an improvement, but with spring just around the corner (for real, it's around the corner—stop effing with us winter!) I started researching cleanses.

When I was sick over the winter I basically ate (Imagine) soup and drank (Naked) juice. I couldn't believe how amazing I felt while going through a sickness. It was the first time I thought that I might actually enjoy doing a juice cleanse. I had tried the master cleanse  (pre-vegan days, I don't do honey now) once in the past, for like a day and a half. I just couldn't drink the same thing all day long. It worked, but I felt like I was burning off my taste buds from over exposure to the mundane. But a juice cleanse, with a variety of flavors  all day, that gets my attention.

When you do a search for juice cleanses you'll find a slew of mail order juices in pretty packaging and with glowing reviews. I wanted to try all of them. And review all of them for you! Then I looked at the price. For one day, I would end up spending at least $65 for one person... times three days and we're at about $200. Now add in my partner in crime and we're looking at $400. He actually said, "I'll just drink orange juice or something, that's ridiculous!"

The lazy version of me started to pout over the realization that the curious version of me was about to take on DIY juicing for three days. It's happening! I chose this last weekend because it's spring break in our college town, so I knew boyfriend would be less tempted by his PhD/Master cohorts to go get lunch or bring food into the office (because he's the only one there this week). We also started on a Friday so the two of us would be working on (according to others) the crankiest day of the cleanse. Good distractions and some separation from one another so we don't get in a fight was good thinking on my part (I'm patting myself on the back a lot in this review, aren't I). And then we would have the weekend for flexibility, since neither of us knew what to expect.

I'll start with the recipes... Actually, I'll start with the grocery list. Which, when all was said and done (including the jars for storing), cost us a total of $125 for two people over three days. Way better than that $400 price tag from earlier, right?!

Shopping List:

6 grapefruits
36 carrots
2 chunks of ginger
18 green apples (should have done 12)
6 beets
6 sweet potatoes
2 pineapples
6 cups of cashews
60 brazil nuts
12 pears
12 cucumbers (only needed 6 because they were huge)
3 bundles of kale (probably could have done 2)
3 bundles of spinach (probably could have done 2)
1 nutmilk bag (I'm sorry, how do you not giggle at "nutmilk bag"!?) 
24 canning jars (we reused some)

Juice One was nicknamed the ABC Juice:

1 green apple
1 beet (peeled)
3 carrots

By far the prettiest of the drinks, but my kitchen looks like a murder scene.

Juice Two we'll actually drink this one twice a day (giving us 6 juices a day):

1-2 pears
1/2 cucumber (if it's ginormous)
handful of kale
handful of spinach

This one took some experimenting once I discovered my cucumbers were larger than the recipe was probably expecting. So I would start with a 1/2 of cucumber, do the 1 pear, then do spinach and kale, and then if there was more room do another pear.

Juice Three I screwed up + did the wrong recipe (a little disappointed about that):

1 sweet potato
1-2 green apples (was suppose to be 1/4 of pineapple in the original recipe—I followed the wrong one on my pinterest page)
2-3 carrots (depends on the size to figure out if you need an extra one or not)
1 square inch of ginger 

Juice Four is a nice first thing in the morning drink:

1 grapefruit
2 carrots
1 square inch of ginger

I gave my juicer a break after the first three and made the last two juices the following day (the first day of the cleanse). I'm pretty impressed that my dad's juicer from the 80s (earlier?) is still holding strong.

Juice Five is your bedtime drink — the others can be drank in any order:

3/4 cup of unsalted cashew nuts (soaked the night before)
10 brazil nuts (soaked the night before)
water
1/4 t vanilla
pinch of salt
I added in one of the pineapples into this one

Soak the cashews and brazil nuts in the fridge overnight
Rinse them off and put them in your blender with 2 cups of water
Blend for 3 minutes until smooth
Add vanilla, cinnamon and salt (and pineapple) and blend for another minute or so
Strain the milk through a sieve lined with a nut milk bag or muslin cloth (based on experience, I would recommend investing in a nut milk bag!)
Refrigerate to chill

Here's how we did...

Day One

What a rough start to our day one—we both woke up around 3am—Jafe with heartburn and me with cramps. Tums solved Jafe's problem, but I was up til about 7am until I finally fell back asleep. Once I fell asleep, I dreamed of eating food the entire time. COME ON!

All I want to do is eat everything in the house. It doesn't help that Jafe agrees and is naming the things we could actually eat in the house. But then we buckled down and agreed to make it through day one without cheating. Jafe left with three juices for his day at the office, I sat down to drink Juice Three (because I didn't have Juice Four made yet). Luckily, I slept in pretty late, so part of my day of wanting to eat is already behind me, hooray!

Yoga was a great distraction from feeling hungry, but now that I've had two drinks and I'm back working at home (surrounded by food) I'm not feeling satisfied... little nervous about that. But going for my third drink—ABC juice. Jafe sent a text to check in, that was sweet. I needed it.

No headaches, sweats, tummy issues... I'm just hungry. I can't tell if it's real or if I think I'm hungry. I need to drink more water though. Luckily I got to spend the late afternoon with my dear friend and her adorable family. Between cute kiddos to make you giggle, a sweet dog to make you feel so very loved, and catching up with one of your favorite people in the world... you just can't go wrong! My friend and her hubby make cute babies, right?

OK, we're both home... on what would normally be a dinner out night out for us. Ugh! I'm starving, but Jafe claims to be fine. I asked what he thought of the juices, the green was his favorite, the orange was alright, and the beet was too strong for him. I was surprised the green was as good as it was (but still the worst on my list)... honestly, it's not food so I don't even care what it tastes like.

I am happy to report I don't want to fight with anyone (which I usually get really cranky when I'm hungry)... seriously, we borrowed a phrase from our friend with the same affliction. They (and now we) call it hangry. Like hulk hangry. Anni smash! There should be specialized section in the greeting card aisle for it.

Day Two

I guess this is actually still a part of day one, but discovered on day two... My number one tip for doing a juice cleanse (yes, I already know it). Make sure you're not allergic to any of the ingredients before you use them. Seems pretty obvious, right? Unless you've never had an allergy your entire life and tried a couple brazil nuts before hand to be sure (because of a weak gut instinct to test it... trust those intuitions!!!!).

I woke up at 3-4am coughing and with THE sorest throat I've ever had. I immediately panicked thinking I had strep and was just around three little kiddos yesterday (Bridget is gonna kill me). I've never had strep before (that I'm aware of, at least), so I searched the symptoms. I kept thinking... I don't feel sick though. No fever, no aches, no anything but this horribly painful throat. Then I went to go say something to one of the cats (they were probably excited I was awake so early to feed them, because they are of course wasting away and completely neglected). I couldn't speak. I had no voice. Hmm. I've never had laryngitis (I'm starting to feel pretty grateful for all the ailments I've avoided over the last 37 years), so I look it up. It made way more sense as a symptom of something that wasn't a sickness. Wait, it says allergies. I don't have allergies. <insert slow camera move from my perspective of the phone to the half-full mason jar of nut milk.> I should also mention that I probably had about 40-50% of my breathing capacity available too. OK, I'm waking up Jafe... first I'm going to need paper + a pen. He knows me well enough that if I panic I will stop breathing all together, so he calmly said, "This is obviously from the Brazil nuts... let's keep an eye on your breathing. Has it gotten worse since you woke up?" No. "Good good... does this mean I get to go to Devon + Mark's house (our rugby friends) and get their epi-pen?" In large letter, underlined 12 times... NO! He uses his sense of humor to calm himself down. Luckily it was making me  giggle this time too. I drank some tea + took one ibuprofen (which was all I could get down my tiny little throat) and eventually fell back to sleep. When I woke up... sore throat was gone, I could talk again, and could breathe a little better too. BIZARRE!

At this point I'm scared of all the juices, so I just continue drinking tea and thought a cup of pureed soup is like warmed up juice, right? So I have some of that. Jafe is continuing on with his juices. We start to talk about if this is really doing anything... Neither of us are feeling more alert (I can't imagine why I'm not bright-eyed and bushy tail after my night), I don't think my skin is glowing, and we're both not too impressed with our juices. They're gross. We do both like the grapefruit one and the sweet potato one is pretty good too. Jafe likes the cashew + Brazil nut milk, which is good because he gets the rest of it. I was surprised that it wasn't as good as it smells, and am disappointed I can't use the left over pulp to make vegan dairy replacement products. What a waste of cashews.

We grab a couple juices for the road and find a distraction... the mall. We're not mall people, but we had gift certificates to Old Navy (which moved to our mall) — so we're going shopping! It was a pretty good distraction. Next we go to the grocery store, because I've decided I just can't drink the green juice anymore... it's disgusting. I'm buying naked juice to get me through the rest of this.

Once home we end up talking through the afternoon and researching more about juice cleanses. Jafe—who has been strong for both of us, because I would have quit this morning if he let me is starting to think this is all bullshit. I have to remind him that each person is different and maybe get great results out of their cleanses. To which he says, "Those people are stupid." lol.

We ordered pizza.

Yep, we're not finishing this cleanse. Though I did lose 2.5 pounds over those 2 days (which they say isn't the point of a cleanse, but when you're 40 lbs over weight and not losing an ounce for no clear reason... it sure is appealing). It was all water weight from not needing it to digest food, and the second I eat a solid I will retain that water again. BUT day two we also weren't as hungry, and I liked resetting my perspective on when I'm actually hungry and when I'm eating out of habit. Jafe on the other hand went through a mini great depression and now wants to hoard all the food in the house... I ate one piece of pizza — Jafe ate half of his pizza. Should we have chosen something else to eat? Of course, I was thinking that the whole time... But we didn't, move on.

Day Three

We both had juice this morning. Mine was with a piece of toast. Jafe's was with toast, eggs, and coffee. We plan on drinking the rest of the juice, so we're not wasting food... but we're going to do it with other food.

Jafe didn't realize I was going to review this (so the whole world will know we're failures?! No, no—the whole world doesn't read my blog, but thank you for thinking that!), so I'm asking him for one last tidbit of goodness. He says, "I like the taste of food." Lol. He also adds he goes through waves of eating and not eating, and thought this was a lot of effort for little reward. He agrees the second day was definitely easier than the first, and if we liked our juices we probably would have finished the cleanse.

So, there you go! We're gonna go to the gym now... and work off our pizza :)

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Mala Imports | Amythest Mala

COMPANY: Mala Imports

PRODUCT LINK: Amythest Mala

COST: This necklace is $65, others vary (currently) at $41.50 to $154 

DESCRIPTION: They named the vibrant Amethyst jewelry after the lovely lavender flower. Lavender has long been associated with providing a calming and soothing effect. Which is perfect, as the purple Amethyst stone is believed to bring one a true sense of peace. A match made in heaven.  

Happy Halloween! I am so very grateful for the current giveaway running—it ends today at 10pm CST if you want to enter (you should, it's an amazing package including one of these gorgeous + socially responsible malas). You wouldn't believe my surprise when Mala Imports said they'd send me a mala (see this link to understand what a mala is) of my very own to review. Thank you Ashley, at Mala Imports! 

I have to start with their story—serendipity at its finest: 

We had our dream jobs but weren’t feeling fulfilled. We were busy for the sake of being busy. And our work-life balance was way off. We could feel that something was missing. So we took a leap of faith — we packed our bags and travelled as far as possible with as little as possible. A few months later we ended up on the lush and serene island of Bali. Matt surfed, I did yoga, and we both practised Tai Chi. We also fell in love with a yoga studio — the Yoga Barn in Ubud — where we found the unique rudraksha bead jewelry. The texture was different. The gemstones were mouthwatering, and their healing qualities were so inspiring. 

During our stay we couldn’t stop picking up the pieces and turning them over in our hands. One purchase turned into another, and then another. (And yes, then another!) Mid-flight from Bali to Thailand, a tall woman with dark hair sat down next to us. Her name was Soma. She was drawn to our aura and simply wanted to chat, she said. After a few minutes, she noticed Matt’s bracelet — rudraksha beads and lava for strength and clarity. Soma happened to be the maker of the jewelry. (“We love it!” we said.) We listened as she shared her story — how she is on a journey to spread the love of rudraksha jewelry as the beads are believed to bring peace. 

Now, we’re feeling more fulfilled then ever, helping Soma on her journey, and creating our own in the process. We agree with Soma: The rudraksha beads are a symbol of compassion for humanity — a reminder of a higher consciousness within. We know you’ll love them as much as we do. 

Ashley & Matt, owners of Mala Imports

You love them already, right? And emailing back + forth with Ashley, she couldn't stop emphasizing the importance of the message the jewelry conveys. It shows just how much this business of theirs means to improving the world. And before I get into the actual jewelry, I'd be remissed if I didn't share with you how Mala Imports gives back:

We love making people feel great. And there’s nothing better than the feeling of helping others. It’s engrained in our every step — from the Malas being handmade in Bali, to you purchasing the rudraksha bead jewelry from your favourite store. The creation process in Bali provides numerous jobs for locals — from the planting of the rudraksha trees, to the harvesting stage. And the best part is that it’s all fair trade. Even better — all the employees are benefit from profit sharing of world wide sales! In addition, support is given to the high priests in Bali, Indonesia who often perform their ceremonies for free. 

We’re also very proud to donate a portion of our profits to a non-profit birthing and wellness center in Bali called Bemi Sehat. The center is run by Robin Lim — the recent winner of the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year award. 

Mala Imports is also conscious in donating to and attending events where we can give back. We donate to organizations like Karma Teachers, who offer free yoga to those on Vancouver’s Downtown East Side to promote the act of selfless giving, and the Big Brothers and Big Sisters organization, which offers mentoring to youth. 

We also love sharing sharing the goals of inspiring organizations like Girlvana – which is working to promote female empowerment and consciousness in young women through yoga, meditation and a healthy lifestyle. 

It makes us feel pretty great. And we think you should experience the love, too!

I know! With that much good mojo in their efforts you know the mala is oozing in it too. So, let's talk about this mala I have hanging from my neck. I'm not sure if Ashley was intentional in choosing Amythest for me—but it sure does seem appropriate for my current state:

Gives one stability, strength, inspiration, and a true sense of peace. Enhances immune system and is a blood purifier—good for stomach and liver. Strengthens spiritual power. 

Presentation: A+
The mala comes in a little silk organza pull-string bag  with the logo printed on the front. Inside is your mala with a card explaining Rudraksha beads and which gemstone you have. Also included is a card describing the healing aspects of the gemstones.

The necklace itself is strung by cotton string (purple for mine, to match the amethyst)—which is strong, my other mala I'm always worried I'm going to break. Along with the Rudraksha beads and amythest stones is a tiny, tiny charm with the Om symbol on one side and Soma's signature on the other. Oddly enough, that little charm may be my favorite part.

What are Rudraksha beads?

Rudraksha. Say it with us: “Rud-ruck-sha” 

Often referred to as beads, rudrakshas are actually seeds that grow inside of what looks like a blueberry.
Ours beads are sustainably harvested, fairly traded, and ethically produced. 

The name rudraksha stems from Hindu mythology and means “the eyes of Shiva.” It’s believed that the god meditated on the welfare of mankind and that he emerged crying tears of compassion. The tears, upon hitting the Earth, crystallized to form the trees that grow rudrakshas. 

The beads vary in size, from 3 mm to 40 mm, with the smaller beads being the rarest. The beads have a very long life and are sometimes known to last up to eight generations. Each bead has a number of facets or serration’s on the face, which are called mukhis and or mukhas. The rudraksha bead we mainly use is five mukhis, which is the bead that represents lord Shiva, and is the most commonly sought after bead. 

Rudraksha beads contain carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. Medicinally, they are known to heal the mind and body ailments, reduce heart disease and lower blood pressure. They are also believed to increase clarity and general awareness, calm the central nervous system, help quiet the mind, and free negative thought. In addition, they are known to be cooling when worn against the skin, and increase energy and stamina while providing rejuvenating qualities. 

We believe that anyone can benefit from wearing them.

So... are you thinking, "Is that just a rosary?" Or is it ok for me to wear that even though I'm [insert religious belief here]?

The English word "rosary" may have come from the Sanskrit japa mala. When Roman explorers came into India and encountered the mala, they heard jap mala, and jap for the Romans meant "rose." Thus when the mala was carried back to the Roman Empire as rosarium, and into English as "rosary." [source]

To me, honestly, prayer beads are prayer beads—and as I continue to not identify my spirituality and question my own issues, I've found that praying to myself—encouraging, promising, questioning, seeking, loving, fearing—is where I find peace. I don't know what happens after I die, but I do know that my actions now mean something, and to honor myself so I can be the best person available to others is reason enough to chant a couple or hundred mantras to my soul.

OK, now off you go, enter that contest, you only have about nine hours left—and there are over 10 ways to enter! Thank you for walking through this review with me, if you have any questions for Mala Imports or me—don't hesitate to ask!

Namaste

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nicobella | vegan dark chocolate truffles

COMPANY: nicobella

PRODUCT LINK: Vegan Dark Chocolate Truffles

COST: $13.50 for a 6-pack of each flavor or an assortment of all flavors, or opt for 3 boxes at $36 

DESCRIPTION: Wrapped in an elegant box that hints at their decadence, you may find it hard to share this 6-piece sampler. Each 6-piece assortment box contains: Blueberry Almond, Ginger Green Tea, Pumpkin Chai, Pure Cocoa Bliss, Sunflower Banana Butter, and Walnut Flaxseed. Made with organic and fair trade organic 70% dark chocolate. Feel good by knowing a portion of this purchase will be donated to our favorite  animal organizations [nicobella]. 

It's a good day in bloggerland when I come home to find a nicobella truffle sample box in my mail. Through the wonderful world of Facebook I found nicobella, and immediately I emailed and asked if I could review their vegan chocolates. The graphic designer in me love love loves their identity/design campaign/marketing. The no-meat/no-dairy gal in me swoons to the fact that they're vegan. The yogi in me absolutely adores the decision I made to review products that fulfill the yoga lifestyle on and off the mat. And all of those ladies find that a bite of chocolate goes a long, long way on a stressful day (or a relaxing day or a mediocre day or Thursdays... you see where I'm going with this). 

The presentation alone is amazing (I posted a picture immediately on my facebook page, I was so excited). I mean, if they put that much effort into their design... you know what they put into their product is even better. And I have to admit, it took me almost a week to sample these. It's that damn pretty in the box. Silly? Yes. But, welcome to the mind of Anni Poppen (and many graphic designers or marketing fans). But, alas, here I am today... finally biting into my nicobella vegan truffles (only half bites... so I have more for later). I know, you feel terrible for me, don't you. 

With all my gushing, you surely can tell that I love these treats, but I broke it down by each flavor for you, so you could possibly choose your own favorite to get... although I'd recommend an assortment box, because they're all melt-in-your-mouth-holy-spoiling-myself-this-is-fantastic amazing. Truth. 

Blueberry Almond: Perfect hint of blueberry with a sliver of almond on top for added crunch. I'm not a fan of blueberry (no matter how often I force blueberries on myself), but this mixture is quite perfect. 

Ginger Green Tea: I couldn't taste the green tea so much, but the ginger was refreshing (of the zesty-sweet variety, not so spicy) and not overpowering. Although I like ginger, so I may be bias. 

Pumpkin Chai: Starts with the pumpkin flavor (like a bite of pumpkin pie) and then halfway through evolves into the chai flavor. A good option for an (read: every) October day. 

Pure Cocoa Bliss: Simple and almost too plain after trying the others, but in no way does it taste bad. Still decadent and truffle-licious. 

Walnut Flaxseed Crunch: The walnut is buttery while the flaxseed may be the culprit bringing the salt into this truffle... I'm not sure, but salty sweet is always a win with me. I should add, I don't like when I can taste flaxseed (especially the last loaf of bread I had, bleck!)... no flaxseed overpowering the taste buds here.

Sunflower Banana Butter: Another salty sweet winner. I taste more sunflower seed than banana, but the banana does sneak in there to soften the sunflower. 

Favorite? Um.. er.... I, uh... Today, I'd say that Pumpkin Chai was a nice choice, but I may have to go with the Walnut Flaxseed for giving me sweet and savory in one little bite. 

Thank you SO much Nichole, for pampering me with the opportunity to review your chocolate. I will be requesting our local shops start carrying you as quickly as possible, but until then I know I have your website (nicobella). 

*namaste*

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Zion Health | Double Review

COMPANY: Zion Health

PRODUCT LINK: Ancient Clay Body Wash

COST: $14.99 online, I originally found the face wash at Common Ground Food Co-op, if you live in the Champaign-Urbana area. Although I haven't it seen it recently (nor at Strawberry Fields).  

DESCRIPTION: Kanwa clay combined with jojoba plant beads stimulates skin cells. A botanical infusion of sage, yarrow, balm mint, althea, while thyme, and chamomile rosemary releases a powerful therapeutic aroma to calm the mind and soothe the skin.

I've had acne since puberty through today (age 34). It's annoying. It wasn't til a combination of a few things that I saw a difference. And honestly, if I do only one or two of these things... the acne is back with a vengeance. 

• I get a facial every six weeks (at Angelica's European Holistic Spa—I consider her my Champaign mom, she's absolutely wonderful).  
• yoga obviously—stress is the biggest factor in my face exploding. so, you know, yoga calms me.
• lots and lots of water (rule of thumb, half your body weight in oz. Ex: I'm 170 lbs, I should be drinking 85 oz of water a day). 
• This face wash (which apparently I can use for my whole body, but I opt for just the face)

The beads add a gentle exfoliation, but I think why I like it most is it's smell. Which is exactly what the lady at the co-op said to me, "I just like the smell of it, you should try it out!" Which makes sense, I never read the website's description before. It's made to "release a powerful therapeutic aroma"—there is an instant release of scrunched shoulders and sleepy face each morning. I use it every morning, and when I'm behaving, at night (I'm a horrible night time face washer).

COMPANY: Zion Health

PRODUCT LINK: Clay Mask Magnetic Clay

COST: $13.99 online  

DESCRIPTION: This natural healing clay is a rare formulation of more than 70 minerals which contain magnetic charge pulling toxins and impurities out of the skin. The unique minerals help firm sagging tissues and restore nutrients to moisture deprived skin. These minerals are derived from bubbling desert mineral pools where nutrients are fully enriched. 

Because I couldn't replace the face wash at our local shops (go local!) when I ran out of it the first time, I went ahead and ordered it online. That is when I found the clay mask. When I go to see Angelica, she often uses a clay mask on my skin, and I just wanted something I could use on occasion at home. Or, honestly, dab onto the big zits to dry it out over night. So I went ahead and tried this stuff. It's not as aromatic as the face wash... it's clay. But it is a thick clay that actually dries up and feels like it's pulling 20 years of gloom and doom out of your pores. Ok, maybe less dramatic. But if you want to give yourself a little home spa treatment, I vote hanging your head over some steam and then putting this on. Then while it's drying, maybe picking out a fun color to paint your toes :) 

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ancient secrets | neti pot

COMPANY: Ancient Secrets

PRODUCT LINK: Nasal Cleansing Pot / Neti Pot

COST: online it looks to be $11, I found mine at the local organic/vitamin section at the grocery store years ago. 

DESCRIPTION: The Neti Pot™ naturally cleanses, refreshes, and protects the nasal passages, one of our body's first lines of defense against illness. Recommended today by doctors and pharmacists worldwide, the Neti Pot™ has been used for thousands of years in ayurvedic medicine to alleviate sinus and allergy problems. [review by Himalayan Institute]

I have to start off by saying, this isn't so much a product review as a practice review. Above there are two links to neti pots, because I don't have loyalty to mine (from Ancient Secrets). But after going on vacation for a week with out my neti pot and then returning home to being sick... I had to chat about this. Every morning I do a nasal cleansing, and I don't have allergies but people I know who do swear by this practice also (reducing their allergies enough to get off of medications... bonus!). 

Yeah, it's weird. You put some warm water and salt in the pot, stick in one nostril, tilt your head, and have the water run out the opposite nostril. But, again, being sick this week, it works! The crap that comes out of those nasal passage, ew! Definitely save this for when your partner isn't walking through the room, you know, to keep the romance alive in your relationship :) 

Also, maybe an obvious reason to discuss... being able to breathe. The cleaner and bigger the breath, the better the yoga practice, yeah? Yes. Pranayama is the practice of controlling your breath, which I'm still very new to, but find immediate benefits in reduced stress, building energy, and after one practice... aide in digestion. Impressive. 

The only downside to my pot, I don't feel comfortable packing it when I'm flying somewhere. Maybe I'll find the perfect travel neti pot (or do you have any suggestions?!), that I can review next. 

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Barefoot Yoga | Silk Eye Pillows

COMPANY: Barefoot Yoga

PRODUCT LINK: Silk Eye Pillows

COST: around $15 (when you're catching their sales)

DESCRIPTION: Escape from it all with our 100% silk aromatherapy eye pillows. Made in India from ceremonial sari designs and solid colors. Filled with flax seeds and dried lavendar, these soft and cooling eye pillows work as a mood tonic, antidepressant, headache remedy and detoxifier. The shape of the pillow contours to your face adding gentle pressure and blocking out light, relieving tension and calming active muscles around the eyes. Used for deepening relaxation during Savasana, meditation, and afternoon naps. The pillows are hand-washable, refillable, and adjustable (zippered opening). Just surrender... 

I have a habit of squinting my eyes shut when I try to close them, not so helpful when you're trying to relax in savasana. So I tried using one of the silk pillows the yoga class offered up back when I was taking classes at The Refinery. Heaven! It's cool on your face, smells fantastic (usually lavendar), and blocks out that light without me having to squint at all. 

I think they're so great it's one of my go-to gifts for friends I haven't gotten one for already. My instructor tells me they're good for calming children down when they're upset too; the lavendar relaxes them almost instantly. I know I feel better when using one after I throw a tantrum (what? don't act like you stopped throwing tantrums!).

Anyway, I daydream of having Barefoot Yoga's eye pillows as one of my giveaways for you, but I wouldn't wait and check out their current sales. 

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Natural Fitness | Divine Mat

When I was up at the Yoga Journal Conference Midwest I happened across the vendor I bought my mat, block, strap, and bag from online... I introduced myself and was just seeing what other products they had, since I love what I have now. And then, duh, I realized we should connect over the world wide web!

Well, shortly after that first conversation Jane emailed me (hi Jane!) about coupons, give aways, and product reviews (oh my!). I'm happy to introduce my first product review because of it: the Natural Fitness yoga mat! My current mat is great, but a little thin (I double it up with a studio mat for thickness), but it's natural and has held up great for the past couple years since I started taking classes (and I average about 5 classes/week). Jane told me they just released the Divine Mat (sounds amazing, right?), and Natural Fitness was kind enough to supply me with a mat to try out and review, woot!

COMPANY: Natural Fitness
PRODUCT LINK: Divine Mat in Red Rock/Moss
COST: $80.00
DESCRIPTION: Green your practice with a Natural fitness Divine Natural Rubber Yoga Mat. Made from natural rubber, a sustainable and biodegradable material, these mats offer superb traction and a high-rebound dense cushion. The Divine Mat provides extra cushion for those who need it. Our mats are longer than traditional yoga mats and each has two colors. 5/16" x 24" x 75". Red Rock/Moss color.

DAY ONE: <cue choir of angels singing AHHHHHHHH> The name is quite accurate, as I rolled out my new mat today and stepped on it for the first time. It is firm yet squishy. It has the perfect amount of give to be kind to my knees, but solid enough to make balance poses more about the pose and less about the mat. And the space! We went to do our seated forward fold (Paschimottanasana) and my mat just kept going on and on in front of me, this will be great for savasana! So far, I'm in love. Stay tuned, I plan to check in after a month—and again as time goes on—to let you know how it handles five classes a week after some amount of time. Thank you Natural Fitness, for this wonderful experience!

DAY THREE: ok, it's only been two more days, but I wanted to add something that I noticed in class today.... this mat does not move. It sticks to me AND it sticks to the floor. I don't know how many of you practice on hardwood floors, or are as particular as I am... but I like my mat to line up with the lines. I'm a dork, whatever. But my old mat (the generic purple mat you see regularly, I would layer underneath my old Natural Fitness mat) would move around, and I was constantly adjusting it. Drove me crazy. Today, I rushed into class and set up in a hurry... when we finished our three Oms and started the asanas, I realized my mat was crooked. I went to go slide it with my foot... I almost fell over the damn thing was so stubborn. That's. Awesome.

SIX MONTHS: Why hello! Thought I forgot about this review, ey? I may have, until I looked at the two little worn out areas where my hands go (or feet go in tadasana). Indeed, the mat does break down a little bit, but these areas aren't falling apart or hindering practice in anyway... they're like little reminders that you've been practicing. And that, well, makes me feel good. So I'm not complaining about it. The important part of this review... it's still as squishy as day one and it still sticks to the floor with the strength of 400 hundred body builders (too dramatic? ok.). I find myself slipping a little bit more, depending if it's an on day or not—you know those days, when you hit every pose in asana with grace and what can only be the work of magic yoga elves. But regular (non-elf days), I have no issues. Needless to say, still very happy with my mat!

ONE YEAR LATER: I'm still using this mat, and love it. It's kept it's buoyancy all this time! The only concern is where my feet usually hit for downward facing dog, it's starting to crumble. I tried flipping the mat over, but that seemed to be worse than the side I normally use. All in all, still very happy with my yoga mat!

ONE + A HALF YEARS LATER: It's official, I'm retiring my mat. I loved it, but I've worn a hole into it that my toes keep getting stuck into. I wanted it to just be a sign character, but unfortunately it's getting in the way of my yoga.

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