Articles in the organic Category

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Hi, y’all!

I’m thrilled you enjoyed my last post. Making that chocolate banana avocado pudding was super fun – but eating it was even better!

I actually made another recipe yesterday before I made the chocolate pudding. As you can tell from the title of this post, I made “Happy Hemp Honey Holes” and it was off the top of my head! LOL

I’ve been wanting to come up with a super fun recipe using….

the raw, wild, unprocessed honey Tropical Traditions sent me.

Raw honey is solid.

Add 1/4 cup of freshly ground flax.

Check out the organic coconut flour!

In goes two tablespoons of the coconut flour.

Melt a tablespoon of raw honey…

Add the melted raw honey.

A tablespoon of Tropical Traditions coconut cream concentrate…

a tablespoon of hemp protein powder

After the hemp powder, the dough was too dry, so I added a tablespoon of peanut butter (didn’t have any almond butter).

Lots better!

Mix it all up (I stirred it by hand) and form the dough into a ball.

It was a little too moist, so I sprinkled coconut flour on my hands and played with the dough a little – that worked!

Then, I pulled small sections off and made six balls (aka holes).

I love the “sheen” from the honey and coconut cream concentrate. They look too moist, but they weren’t. They were perfect!

Up close…

The nutty flavors of the flax and hemp were a nice touch. The peanut butter flavor was really good. I was a little worried when I was experimenting on this because I wasn’t sure it would turn out edible – but it was actually yumilicicous!

And… the recipe:

Happy Hemp Honey Holes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup freshly ground flax
• 2 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 1 tablespoon coconut cream concentrate
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon hemp powder

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix them (I just stirred with a spoon).
2. Pull small pieces of dough off.
3. Roll dough into little balls (aka holes).
4. Pop in the fridge, freezer, or even dehydrator if you like – I just popped one in my mouth right away!

Enjoy!

Delivery Love

I love to see the delivery truck pull up. Who doesn’t?!

Here’s the latest products for review – all from Tropical Traditions! (Thank you, www.tropicaltraditions.com!)

Coconut Water Vinegar

Coconut Cream Concentrate

Coconut Flour

As you can tell from today’s recipe, I got busy sampling these ingredients right away! And you can expect in-depth reviews of each of the Tropical Traditions products mentioned today – coming to a computer screen near you!

Have you tried any of the products I mentioned today? Have you tried making raw donut holes or balls? Do you enjoy being creative in the kitchen, or would you rather be doing something else? Chime in, fantabulous people, chime in!

OpenSky Alert!

I love freshly ground flax SO much, I’m selling whole flax seeds so you can grind your own. That’s right: You can buy organic flax seed in my OpenSky shop – for only $7.49 per pound!!!

Shipping info:

“We will ship orders anywhere within the United States and Canada. At this time, we do not ship to other locations. When your order ships, you will receive a shipment notification via email that will include your tracking number.” – OpenSky

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

I usually always mention that I’ve tossed freshly ground flax into my smoothies, oats, or whatever else I’m eating and I’ve been a HUGE fan of these amazing little seeds for years now. I thought I’d share with you WHY I adore them so much…

Check out the nutrition:

• omega-3 fatty acids
• manganese
• dietary fiber
• magnesium
• folate
• copper
• phosphorus
• Vitamin B6

(To my knowledge, there is no nutritional differences between the brown flax seeds or the gold – I just seem to prefer the brown.)

Fun Fact!

“Flaxseeds have a long and extensive history. Originating in Mesopotamia, the flax plant has been known since the Stone Ages. One of the first records of the culinary use of flaxseeds is from times of ancient Greece. In both that civilization and in ancient Rome, the health benefits of flaxseeds were widely praised.” – WH Foods

Health Benefits

Organic flax seeds are known to be fantabulous for our health.

Check out this amazing list…

Organic flax seeds:

• promote bone health
• have anti-inflammatory properties
• fight against cancer, diabetes and other disease,
• help prevent and regulate high blood pressure
• lowers cholesterol
• fights prostate cancer growth
• helps lubricate dry eyes

Attention menopausal women:

Flaxseed Reduces Hot Flashes Almost 60%!! (source)

I love mine freshly ground. Not only does grinding the flax bring out the nutty, delicious flavor, whole seeds simply pass through your system so it’s best to grind them.

I promote buying whole flax seeds because you don’t know how long the ground flax has been sitting on the shelf and this way, you’re the one who grinds your flax each time and you know when it was ground.

Note: I grind my whole flax seeds up in a coffee grinder. You can keep leftover freshly ground flax in the freezer but I’d only store a small amount as fresh is always best!

I add freshly ground flax to:

• smoothies
• oats
• stir-fry
• rice dishes
• salad
• veggie burgers
• and more!

This salad was made with: lettuce, carrots, celery, tomato, dates, corn, peas, spinach, pumpkin seeds and drizzled with coconut oil.

Why I Love Them

I love freshly ground flax seeds because they truly do add a rich, nutty flavor to whatever smoothie or food you add them to.

They’re yummy, filling, and I love getting fiber in this way.

They’ve been instrumental in my own battle with inflammation, from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia (more on that in a future post).

Come on, what’s not to love about the nutritious AND delicious combo freshly ground flax offers?!

And you can buy organic flax seed in my Raw Shop – for only $7.49 per pound!!!

Shipping info:

“We will ship orders anywhere within the United States and Canada. At this time, we do not ship to other locations. When your order ships, you will receive a shipment notification via email that will include your tracking number.”

Do you love freshly ground flax seeds? Did you realize what a powerful addition they were to our diet? Do you love their nutty flavor? If you’ve never tried them, will you give ‘em a chance now? Let’s talk!

Reference:

WH Foods: Flaxseeds

Photo: OpenSky

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Thank you to www.tropicaltraditions.com for sending samples!

Note: For my 100% raw purist readers, this product is not raw. The coconut is only dried, but the peanuts are roasted. In my opinion, it’s totally worth the splurge, though!

You might remember a Tropical Traditions review and contest in the past here at Healing with (Raw) Juices…. Well, the folks at Tropical Traditions are so very kind and generous, they’ve sent more products for me to review – and give to you!

First up….

Organic Coconut Peanut Butter

Ingredients: Organic Dried Coconut, Organic Roasted Valencia Peanuts

Health Benefits of Dried Coconut

So, we know that fresh, raw coconut (and its oil) is fantabulous for our health, boasting benefits like: colon health, skin health, battling candida, promotes skin elasticity, healthy for your heart, and so much more. Coconut oil is also nature’s richest source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)!

But what about the dried coconut that’s used in this coconut peanut butter? I thought you might be curious about dried coconut if you weren’t familiar, so I swiped the following information from an article on the Tropical Traditions site: The Truth about “Raw” Dried Coconut

Dried or "desiccated" coconut is an established industry in the Philippines, with the largest companies being established back in the 1920s to handle the booming candy bar industry in the US. The Philippines produces most of the world’s dried coconut products, and has had a reputation of producing a very high quality product for many years. The meat of the coconut is high in protein, and fresh coconuts have a very short shelf life, especially in the humid tropics.

In the conclusion of this article, they state:

Raw coconut is very healthy and is best consumed from fresh coconuts within 24-48 hours of harvest. For those of us living outside the tropics, dried coconut is the next best thing. However, be careful where you purchase your dried coconut and investigate thoroughly to be sure it was processed according to industry standards to avoid potential contamination.

So, from my understanding, while fresh, raw coconut is ideal for optimum health benefits, dried coconut (when correctly processed) is next in line. That makes a gal feel good about gobbling up her coconut peanut butter for sure!

From the Tropical Traditions FAQ page:

While whole coconut does contain coconut oil, you would have to eat more by weight to get the equivalent amount of pure coconut oil.

Whole coconut contains more than just oil. It would include things like fiber, protein and sugar (natural sugar).

Some people could be allergic to whole coconut, and not be allergic to coconut oil, for example, because coconut oil does not contain protein. If you are trying to restrict sugar from your diet, you do have to account for the natural sugar in whole coconut as well. As to fresh coconuts, most coconuts you find in U.S. grocery stores are transported many miles and are no longer fresh. A freshly harvested coconut does not have a long shelf life, especially if the outer husk is removed down to the brown shell. Hence, many coconuts in U.S. stores may already be moldy. This is especially true for “young” immature coconuts. The best place to eat fresh, raw coconuts is in tropical climates where they grow, and right after they are harvested. Those outside the tropics might be better off eating dried coconut.

From the site:

Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Peanut Butter is made from organic peanuts and organic coconut. Two ingredients: nothing else! No fillers, no binders, no sweeteners, and no preservatives.

The peanuts are 100% organic Valencia peanuts grown organically by family farmers in New Mexico and Texas. Grown in the dry climate of the southwestern United States, these peanuts are certified organic and free from aflatoxins.

The dried coconut is certified organic coconut meat from the Philippines from coconuts that are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides. This premium dried coconut contains no additives or preservatives, and is not sweetened.

Unlike most dried coconut on the market, our dried coconut products are not treated with sulfites to keep them white.

Together, these premium organic roasted peanuts and the premium organic dried coconut are ground together to make a delicious and nutritious spread!

Nutrition Information

Low, low carb, people!

Coconut Peanut Butter = Yummy to the Tummy!

I have seriously, wholeheartedly enjoyed every smidgen I’ve eaten of this yummy stuff. (I still have some left in the jar, but it’s a secret – don’t tell anyone!)

You might remember when I used coconut peanut butter as a fantabulous ingredient in my:

Coconut Peanut Butter Honey Overnight Oats

Or when I spruced up my banana soft serve with some coconut peanut butter and ended up with:

Coconut Peanut Butter Cream

You’ll notice that above in the overnight oats, the coconut peanut butter actually took on a creamy consistency, but in the coconut peanut butter cream (banana soft serve with cream of coconut added), when I drizzled the coconut peanut butter over it, it was “runny” (which is a good thing, in my opinion!) but then it hardened up. And boy, was it FUN to eat that way! LOVED it!

Here’s what Tropical Traditions has to say about the consistency situation:

Note: In warmer temperatures the oils will separate at the top of the jar. Simply mix them back in. If refrigerated, this product will become hard and difficult to spread. It is recommended to store this product out of the light in a cool place.

Other ways I enjoyed my coconut peanut butter:

• straight off the spoon
• drizzled over my salad like a dressing (it was sooooooooooooo good when it ran into the crevices of the kale!

This would also be fantabulous drizzled over raw cakes or cookies, or to make hardened candy. I’m sure it’d taste awesome in a smoothie, too!

 About Tropical Traditions – The Company

From the site:

Brian W. Shilhavy, BA, MA
Brian earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Bible/Greek from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and his Master of Arts degree in linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago. He is currently the CEO of Tropical Traditions, Inc.

Marianita Jader Shilhavy, BS, CND (Certified Nutritionist/Dietician in the Philippines) earned her bachelor of science degree in nutrition in Manila. Understanding the nutrition of Filipino foods, Marianita worked for over eight years as a hospital dietician and nutritional counselor in the Philippines.

In 1998 Brian  and Marianita returned to the Philippines with their three children and renovated Marianita’s old family farmhouse. By this time the coconut industry was severely depressed due to the negative U.S. campaigns against tropical oils in the 1980s and 1990s. Coconut farmers could no longer support their families on the income generated from harvesting coconuts.

The Tropical Traditions Line of Organic Foods and Healthy Products

Later, when our  family was forced to leave the Philippines, we had to adapt our eating and lifestyle from living in a rural agricultural area of the Philippines, where we had access to a local public market and fresh farm goods produced in our community and the areas surrounding it, to buying food on the shelves of stores where we had little or no knowledge of those who produced the food. As we settled back into life in the United States, I sought out healthy food sources that I felt we could trust to meet the nutritional and health needs of our family.

Finding good food sources and healthy products is an ongoing endeavor, and the products sold through Tropical Traditions are the products I have trusted to meet the needs of my own family. I won’t sell you products that I won’t use personally or give to my own children. With meats and dairy products, it is not enough to simply be "organic." We believe that animals raised on pasture are preferable to animals in feed lots eating organic grains and organic soy, and so we give preference to animals raised on grass and sunshine, and farmers practicing sustainable agriculture.

How are Products Chosen for Tropical Traditions?

We have a strong commitment to family farming and organic standards. But the organic label is not enough for us. We research and find out where the products are produced, and how they are produced. We find that some organic standards too loose for our trust, so we look beyond what is claimed on a label. We find out as much as possible about those who provide the products. And if a certain quality of product does not exist, we will work with others to produce that product and offer it to our consumers. We did that with Virgin Coconut Oil in the Philippines, and we are working on several other products both here in the US and outside the US that we plan to introduce to you soon.

We want you to feel safe when shopping in our online store, so we have a commitment to you to not sell anything that is harmful to the best of our knowledge. All of our foods are either certified organic or meet quality standards that are equal to or higher than organic certification. This is quite different from most health food stores, where you have to be "on your guard" as most of them offer conventional products right alongside organic products, because they want to offer a full selection of products to compete with regular grocery stores. We would rather offer fewer products, and stick to our high standards, so that you can feel safe when shopping here.

Tropical Traditions is constantly adding more products to offer its customers as we move forward and find people producing products that meet our high standards. We are already working with farmers to be able to drop ship products directly to your home from the farm. In time, we will also setup regional centers where you can pick up local food produced close to your community. In early 2006 we launched our Healthy Buyer’s Club that allows individuals and families to purchase bulk retail products for a significant savings. Join us today as we seek to restore traditional ways of producing healthy food and healthy products!

Pros

There are too many pros to mention, in my opinion!  I love the taste and that it’s so versatile. You can eat it so many different ways and it’s so fun to use as an ingredient!

Coconut is good for us and while peanut butter may not be everyone’s cup of tea, for those of you who love it like there’s no tomorrow, this is a great way to enjoy “peanut butter” while also sneaking in some added nutrition and fiber.

Cons

As always, the things I look out for on the “negative” aspect of my reviews are 1) price and 2) that it’s truly a Raw Juice Girl-worthy, healthy product.

As you can tell, I’m totally in favor of this product!

Warning: This stuff is highly addictive! It’s just soooooooooooo delicious – and knowing that it is actually good for you, makes you want to indulge even more!

Verdict/Grade

I think this product deserves an A+ because it’s delicious, fun, and is so cool that it is half coconut, half peanut butter! I also love the consistency and that it’s such a fun addition to desserts and other foods. Love, love, love it!!!

Want some for yourself?

Enter my Tropical Traditions contest: click HERE.

(for U.S. and Canada residents only – sorry international readers!)

If you can’t wait for the contest, you can nab a deal on this golden treat – it’s currently 50% off of its regular retail price of $14.99!

Referral Option

If you’d like to join the Tropical Traditions Healthy Buyer’s Club, visit www.healthybuyersclub.com/orderform.cfm

And enter Raw Juice Girl’s User ID number: 4845073

By following these steps, you will receive a complimentary copy of the book Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours! by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy.

Your sponsor (that’d be me! ) will receive a coupon for a complimentary gift to redeem on their next order.

You may view the current complimentary gift being offered here: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com//referral_program.htm

Further instructions can be found here.

Thanks again to www.tropicaltraditions.com!

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Disclaimer: The ShimmerOrganics Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask was sent to me to review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not paid to write this review.

Remember that beautiful pink package from ShimmerOrganics? And the interview with Lisa Ann Turkel, owner of that RAWsome, organic  beauty company?

Wow. Have I been itching to share this review with y’all!

It’s pretty cold here in Missouri so the woodstove is already working overtime to keep the chill knocked out of this Amish house. Wood is a wonderful, warming, cozy heating source but it also dries out my skin -  big time.

Take a look for yourself.

(Note: I took the photos outside because the lighting in an Amish house isn’t the best. )

Before ShimmerOrganics Mask

Note the dark circles under my eyes (that’s from having a gazillion freelance projects going on at once AND living on an Amish farm without a finished kitchen or bathroom). And see the lines that have crept up (Ack! Tell me it isn’t so!!)

Tip: I don’t have those lines when I’m living a 100% raw food lifestyle, or close to it. I’ve let too many non-raw foods slip into my mouth. So I get reminded of that by age creeping up on my face. Blech.

I’m feelin’ really, really ugly in these pics, y’all. Just a wee bit embarrassed, I am! But I wanted authentic before and after photos so you could compare and see for yourself the genuine results of the ShimmerOrganics Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask.

As you can see, I’m needin’ some revitalizing! It’s okay if you agree. I’ll still love ya!

Of course, it wouldn’t be any fun if I didn’t show you the actual mask while it was on my tired face. Right? Right!

Deep breath…

ShimmerOrganics Mask at work

According to Lisa’s directions, I needed to wash my face, apply the mask, and: “Leave mask on for 15-20 minutes for Sensitive and Dry skin, 20-25 minutes for Normal skin, and 25-30 minutes for Oily skin.”

Key Ingredients
* Pure Clay Minerals
* Raw and Organic  Aloe Vera
* Raw and Organic Antioxidant Rich Oils
* Raw and Organic Honey
* Organic Blend of Essential Oils

When I put this mask on, something magical happened: I felt like I had pulled into “Rejuvenation Station!” I’m serious, folks.

I love how this mask made my face tingle and feel so fresh. I could tell the ingredients were hard at work, cleansing and revitalizing my skin!

But something more happened… I literally felt all tingly and refreshed all over, from head to toe. It’s like the ingredients entered my body through my skin and had a huge party while they were inside.

Before Digging In

After Digging In

(Notice the wagon wheel in the background – Amish living at its finest! )

After One Use

Before & After

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And I’m not the type of gal who splurges on “special treatments.” I’m not a tomboy. Don’t get me wrong… Believe me, I hate getting my hands dirty! But I’m not a woman who pampers herself with facials, spa treatments, or beauty products. This was such a treat for me!

My face feels softer, and I feel so refreshed. It’s a sense of renewal I’ve been missing since I haven’t been practicing yoga or doing anything else to make myself feel better.

ShimmerOrganics Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask is a “something for me” gift I’ve been missing out on!

After Second Use

(Just two uses, people – two uses!!!!)

Before, After 1st Use, After 2nd Use

Pros

This mask is raw and organic. It’s an eco-friendly solution to your skin health. Not only is it safe for our precious environment, it’s safe for you – and that’s priceless!

Also, something I not only noticed myself (but have been told more than once), is that the lines are less noticeable and that my skin looks more hydrated and healthy.

According to Lisa:

“Using a thin layer under and on the outer corners of your eyes reduces puffiness, dark circles and lines. It’s also great as an overnight spot treatment, or anytime spot treatment to heal blemishes.”

I’d say that’s a plus, wouldn’t you?!

Lisa takes special care to select her ingredients:

“I choose manufacturers who are Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade guarantees fair wages for farm workers and farmers, fair labor conditions, provides environmental stability and offers farmers and farm workers autonomy is choosing how they invest their money. Fair Trade ensures proper nutrition, suitable shelter, sufficient clothing and essential education. Fair Trade enables community development, protects the health of farmers and farm workers and protects our precious environment for future generations.

All ingredients are from manufacturers whom I have chosen for their commitment to protecting animals and our environment and who are dedicated to creating superior quality products. I have hand selected every ingredient for its healing and restorative properties. There are no synthetic chemicals, synthetic colors, or synthetic fragrances added.”

And who doesn’t love a business who cares deeply about their customers?

“We are all connected in this world. I feel that it’s very important to be there for others and to help others. I love to hear from customers who tell me how youthful, beautiful and healthy their skin looks and feels. It’s so great to hear from customers who tell me that using my organic clay mask has given them more confidence. To make a positive difference in someone’s life is such a wonderful feeling!

I love to make people happy. I enjoy wrapping and mailing your new product and picturing you opening up your package and smiling. Connecting with others is what I love most about creating my skin care products.

If you are giving my organic clay mask as a gift, I would be happy to personalize your gift by including a lovely card in your own words.”

Lisa’s passion for providing raw, vegan, organic beauty products to the world shines through so brightly, it’s blinding!

Cons

According to the Federal Trade Commission’s ruling, we bloggers must be specific with any pros and cons we can find to share with you, our readers.

I honestly can’t think of any cons with the ShimmerOrganics mask. A 2.5 ounce mask is $22.00 and a 4.5 ounce mask is $36.00 – but even at those prices, you are getting SO much value. If you consider those prices a con, you must take into consideration that you only use a teaspoon or so of the mask and will end up with many, many uses.

Verdict/Grade

I have absolutely no choice but to give this mask a 100% – with bonus points! Did you see this grade coming? My experience with Lisa (and her mask) has been nothing but phenomenal!

As you can see, Lisa is very beautiful and is a fantabulous reflection of what her mask accomplishes!

Be sure to check out Lisa’s ARTISAN BIO and find out more about her and her beauty business.

Want to try this mask yourself?

Lisa has been very generous and has offered to give away a 4.5 ounce mask to one (very) lucky winner (details coming soon)!

Have you tried the ShimmerOrganics Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask? Would you, now that you’ve read my review? Can you see the difference in my before and after photos? Aren’t you glad there’s such a caring, compassionate person like Lisa who works so hard to provide healthy, eco-friendly beauty products?!

Remember when I received a package from ShimmerOrganics? You know that one that was all wrapped up in pink (my favorite color)?!

Yeah, that one!

I have already tried this raw beauty mask, but first I wanted to introduce you to the lovely lady who owns ShimmerOrganics. She graciously agreed to an interview so we can learn more about not only the raw beauty masks she created, but about her.

And it’s my pleasure to introduce you to:

Lisa Ann Turkel

Raw Juice Girl: How was your company born?

Lisa:  I used to have problem skin with acne and I have tried many different products on the market, including prescription medicine from a dermatologist and over-the-counter products.  Nothing worked—and many of them irritated my already sensitive skin.  So, I decided to make my own skin care using only organic, raw, and pure ingredients.  I did a lot of research, purchased my ingredients and started formulating my mask.  And that’s how I created the Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask!  I decided to make my organic masks as Christmas gifts for my friends and family, and everyone loved the masks!   They all encouraged me to sell them, and that’s how ShimmerOrganics was born!  My skin is healthier and looks better than it has ever looked, and it is such a wonderful feeling helping others to have healthy, youthful and beautiful skin!

Raw Juice Girl: Why did you choose the name "ShimmerOrganics" (which I love, by the way!)?

Lisa: I’m so glad that you love the name ShimmerOrganics.  My boyfriend gave me the name Shimmer a while back, and I’m all about being organic.  So… I put the two together to represent my company!

Raw Juice Girl: What are your company goals?

Lisa: To have a simple, raw and organic beauty skin care line that is affordable, and to help people have healthy, youthful and beautiful skin. 

I care deeply about my customers and about creating high quality products.  Staying connected with my customers is very important to me.  I am passionate about using only the purest and highest quality ingredients.

Raw Juice Girl: Where do you see yourself and your company five years from now?

Lisa: I want to have raw and organic beauty skin care parties and have my products available in natural spas, salons, and other health and beauty businesses and institutes. I also want to have my own charities to help women, children and animals.

Raw Juice Girl: What makes your products different from others on the market?

Lisa:  I create my products with love and pure and raw ingredients.  I am very passionate about creating pure skin care products. There are many companies that say that their products are natural, organic and pure, but when you read the ingredients, you will find parabens and other synthetic and toxic chemicals.  These chemicals are very inexpensive. There are natural antioxidants and preservatives that are safe and work wonderfully, which are the type of antioxidants and preservatives that I use.  In my organic clay mask, I use organic essential oils that preserve naturally, and organic raw honey and oils that contain antioxidants and are natural preservatives.  What you put on your skin is absorbed into your body.  And just like eating healthy is so important, so is using healthy and pure products on your skin.  Natural, pure and raw is always best!

Thank you, Lisa, for taking the time to share your heart with us. It’s always nice to learn that a quality product is created by a caring person whose main goal is the happiness and health of their customers. Kudos to you for being such a kind, passionate business owner who truly cares about the environment – and people!

Lisa’s masks are raw, organic, AND vegan. You can purchase her Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask from her online store – and they’re listed as one of THE best holiday gifts for Going Green for the Holidays!

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Have you tried the ShimmerOrganics raw beauty masks yet? If you (still) aren’t sure if you’d like to try it, check out Lisa’s ARTISAN BIO on her Artisan Shop to learn more about her vision.  Be sure to read the testimonials at the bottom of that page! 

Upcoming Review + a Surprise

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to use Lisa’s mask and will be sharing my thorough review in an upcoming post – and there’s a surprise for y’all!!!

References:

Coate-Hermes, Angela Going Green for the Holidays (Raw People)

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out my review of E3Live and also my thoughts on BrainOn. And a huge thank you to the folks at www.E3Live.com for sponsoring the first contest where one LUCKY reader will be receiving a prize valued at over $200!

Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Mission

This post is in honor of Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Charity Page View Drive: Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness

Katie is doing a fantabulous job of spreading kindness. Let’s help her out!!

In honor of the chocolate theme (and y’all know how much I love chocolate!) I thought I’d share a few recipes. Only one is mine, but I think you’ll like the others I mention, too!

Chocolate-Covered Recipes

Katie has a long list of chocolate-covered recipes on her blog. You’ll want to browse through ‘em all! Not only will you come across delicious treats you can whip up for yourself and your family and/or friends, but you’ll be helping Katie raise money for charity while you’re looking!

For starters, you might enjoy perusing her Fudge Babies. Oh, yeah! If that isn’t enough to drive you chocolate bonkers, feast your eyes on All Things Oatmeal, Pancake Pandemonium, The Pudding Files, or the Most Popular. Of course, there are tons more. Enjoy!

Oh, and you might want to grab a napkin before you dig through her recipe archives – you just might drool!

Averie’s Chocolate Fudge Balls

The amazing Averie is always, always whipping up the most RAWsome Vegan desserts over at Love Veggies & Yoga. She creates the most decadent, sinful looking (yet healthy!!!) treats over there. She’s an incredible inspiration, from her years of yoga practice, to her ability to juggle day-to-day chaos with a toddler, she manages to be wife, momma, blogger, reviewer, keeps a spotless home, and even hosts contests for her readers! But back to those delicious desserts…  Her latest: 3-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Fudge Balls

I haven’t tried Averie’s chocolate ball recipes yet, but I will soon.

Jocelyn’s Brownie Batter Balls

Jocelyn blogs at Jocelyn Eats Fresh. I’m sooooooooooooo proud of her because although her blog posts are often upbeat and inspiring, she’s worked very, very hard at overcoming an eating disorder. She is finding a beautiful balance of healthy foods and also allows herself to splurge sometimes on the not-so-healthy stuff so she won’t find herself feeling the need to go back to those old, harmful habits. She has an “everything in moderation” mentality and it’s working wonders for her body, mind, and soul. She’s a beautiful person, inside and out, and is losing weight the slow, right way. You’re doing a great job, Jocelyn. Keep up the great work!!!

Anyway, I knew I had to try out Jocelyn’s cool creation when I happened upon her Raw Chocolate Brownie Batter Balls. I didn’t have the exact ingredients she used, so I switched it up a little. Or, well, a lot!

And Raw Juice Girl’s version…

Chocolate-Covered Raisin Hemp Balls

This recipe made 14 chocolate balls. It probably would have made 16 or 17. Um… Oops!! *giggles*

• 1 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 6 tablespoons Dark Chocolate Hemp Powder (www.manitobaharvest.com)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon agave (or so)

I had to add a dash more almond flour and a little water to try to get the right consistency. I should have used the food processor, I think. I used the blender instead. Hmmmm…. Or, I needed to start with more liquid.

No worries… they turned out YUMMY!!!

Manitoba Harvest Chocolate Hemp

Oh my goodness y’all… The dark chocolate hemp powder from www.manitobaharvest.com is DIVINE!!! So far, I’ve enjoyed it in a smoothie and these chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls. It’s fantabulous to get your hemp protein in via chocolate. YUM-O!!!!!

You can expect a full review on the product itself in an upcoming post.

Roll the dough into balls

Then wash your hands!

And enjoy! Yum!!!

Good, and Good For You!

And that’s it! If you love chocolate-covered raisins, you’ll LOVE these chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls. You’re getting a chocolate (and a snack) fix!

AND hemp is full of whole food nutrition:

“ALL Essential Amino Acids (Protein), Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), and both soluble and insoluble dietary fibre.”– www.manitobaharvest.com

You’ll also be gobbling up antioxidants, boron, calcium, vitamin C, iron… (from the raisins). And the almonds are giving you manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, tryptophan, copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), phosphorus…

My goodness, that little chocolate-covered raisin hemp ball packs a powerful punch. I could take a beating (or two!) from these yummy treats. Yep, I could!!!

Don’t forget about Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Charity Page View Drive: Operation Chocolate-Covered Kindness

Contest Alert!!!!

Katie (as in, Chocolate-Covered Katie I mentioned above) is having a Your-Choice Giveaway

Leslie (from Leslie Loves Veggies) is also having a contest: KALLARI Chocolate {Giveaway} 3 Winners

Win a mixed case of Chobani Greek yogurt over at The Actor’s Diet Blog.

And… don’t forget about the awesome giveaway I’m hosting. Prizes are valued at OVER $200!!!!

Latest Package for Review!

I have lots of awesome posts planned for these yummy products!!!

Visit www.NuNaturals.com to learn more about their line of sweeteners, extracts, and other health supplements.

Thank you, NuNaturals!!!

Resources:

WHFoods: Raisins

WHFoods: Almonds

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out my review of E3Live and also my thoughts on BrainOn. And a huge thank you to the folks at www.E3Live.com for sponsoring this contest!!! It’s the first contest where y’all will be receiving a prize over $200 in value!

It’s here! It’s here!!

It’s time to give away FIVE bottles of E3Live and a shaker cup with that super cool ice wand to keep your juice or smoothie cool as a cucumber!

Eeeekkk!!!!

Here’s what you’ll win (over a $200 value!!!!):

3 bottles of E3Live

2 bottles of BrainOn

E3Live Quick Shake Cooler Cup with ice wand

There are TWELVE ways to enter the E3Live contest:

Note: Please leave a comment for each thing you do (tweet, plurk, etc.) because each comment will be counted as a number when I enter the total number of comments at Random.org once the contest ends. (Don’t just say “thanks for the contest” or something like that–I do not publish those type of comments because they seem like spam and aren’t fair to the other contestants who leave a thoughtful, genuine answer.) Thanks!

1. Visit www.E3Live.com (by clicking on the above photo) and take a look around. Leave a comment sharing  any of their other products you’d like to try–and why, if you’d like to add a reason.
2. Do you use Twitter? Tweet about this contest and then leave a comment with your Twitter name. You can swipe this tweet: RT @RawJuiceGirl is giving away FIVE bottles of @E3Live products + a shaker cup! ( http://tinyurl.com/yjxdnl7 ) Win over a $200 value!!
3. Do you Plurk? Plurk about this contest and leave a comment with your Plurk URL.
4. Share this contest on your blog, linking back to this post. (The pingback will be counted as an extra entry.) If you don’t see your pingback, just email me at healingwithjuices at gmail.com and let me know. It may have gone to spam for some reason.
5. Add Healing with Juices to your favorites on Technoratori. Comment again to let me know, with a link to your technoratori profile to show you added me.
6. Follow @E3Live on Twitter.
7. Are you a Stumbler? Stumble and review any post you want to–just leave the link to your SU review in (its own) comment.
8. Do you have a Digg account? Digg one of my posts. Take your pick. Come back and leave a comment on this post with a link to your Digg post.
9. Leave a comment on my review of E3Live post. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know you did that.
10. Leave a comment on my review of BrainOn post. Come back and let me know you did.
11. If you have Facebook or some other social media account, I’ll accept that as an extra entry. Just share the link to this contest on that site and leave the link here in the comments to let me know you did.
12. Follow me or friend me on any of the social media sites for an extra entry. If you follow or friend me on more than one social media site, simply add an extra comment sharing that you did.

NOTE: Please leave a comment for each entry. Each comment equals an entry number.

ANYONE can enter this contest. You DO NOT have to be in the United States. Oh, and I’ll be using Random.org to choose the winner….

And did I mention the winner will be receiving a prize that’s valued at over $200???!!!

Contest ends Sunday, November 22nd, at 9 p.m. (Central Time). That gives you TWO weeks to get your entries in. Hurry and spread the word. The more entries you have, the higher your chances of winning!!!

Let the contest begin!!!!

If you’re just tuning in, be sure to check out my review of E3Live. And a huge thank you to the folks at www.E3Live.com for sponsoring this review (and upcoming contest)!!!

Note: E3Live sent me samples, but I have not been paid to write this review. The thoughts I share in this post are my honest opinions.

I decided to use E3Live on its own, without mixing things up with BrainOn. I wanted to listen to my body and be absolutely sure how I felt taking each product. So now that you’ve read my thoughts on E3Live, it’s time to learn about BrainOn….

From Klamath Lake

The blue-green algae found in BrainOn comes from a lake in Oregon.

“Upper Klamath Lake is free of adverse bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. The lake receives an average 300 days of sunlight per year which provides a perfect growing environment for the world’s richest strain of wild AFA blue-green algae, scientifically known as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. The alkaline lake water provides more than 60 times the nutrients needed for the algae to grow to its full potential each year. Under the right conditions, AFA algae can reproduce every 20 minutes, which provides a plentiful abundance of this organic, high life-force, miracle super food.”– www.E3Live.com

Brain Power

It’s kind of crazy to think you can actually absorb brain power from a serving of blue-green algae each day, isn’t it? But when you think about it, you’ll realize that for decades people have been stuffing their faces with overcooked, sodium and chemical-filled foods that are lacking nutrition. When our body lacks the nutrients it’s crying out for, our brains lack as well.

We have to remember that our brains need to be nourished in order to work like we want them to. Want to remember where you put your keys? Your anniversary? Answers to a test you studied days or weeks for? Do you desire to have the mental clarity and focus you used to have? Tired of feeling foggy and forgetful? Feed your brain!

Learn why you can nourish your brain cells with BrainOn…

From the site:

“E3Live BrainOn® contains the active ingredient in wild-harvested AFA that both promotes mood balance and enhances focus. In fact, no other product competes with BrainON® in terms of promoting joyfulness and brain clarity benefits with no side effects. BrainON® improves health. It’s good for you!

PEA was found to be significantly lower in subjects with Attention Deficit Disorder. People taking BrainON® with Phenalmin report better attention at school and at work. BrainON is for anyone who wishes to balance mood and to increase concentration. One of our most beloved products, E3Live BrainOn® helps you to enjoyably function at a higher level.”

Wow.

Pretty cool, huh?!

Depression

My shipment of E3Live samples actually arrived while I was out of town at my 28-year-old cousin’s funeral. She was like a little sister to me. She lost her life on impact in a car accident. Not only that, she was one of 3 cousins I lost in just a matter of a couple of months. One of the other cousins I wasn’t close to, but one of them I was. I went to school with him and always felt closer to him than other relatives.

Words can’t express what a difficult, trying, stressful, devastating time it was to know that 3 young people (ages 28, 32, and 36) were no longer here on this beautiful earth – or in my family. No more cards, letters, hugs, or smiles.

Those of you who follow this blog regularly know that I’m all about inspiring, motivating, uplifting, and happy thoughts. So my intentions of sharing this with you is not to make you feel depressed, but to prove a point: Both BrainOn and E3Live’s Original Formula helped me tremendously through these hard times I’m telling you about. I know that I was able to find energy, strength, and mental clarity that would have been much harder to drudge up without chugging a shot of E3Live or BrainOn each day.

“I’ve had people who’ve been depressed for years and years, and literally, within a few days after receiving AFA their depression lifts.”

“A wonderful and unique blend for peak performance of body, mind, and spirit that should be included in any detoxification and rejuvenation program. I take it myself daily.” — Dr. Gabriel Cousens,Director of Tree of Life of Life Rejuvenation Center

I did suffer depression after such family tragedy. Yes, Raw Juice Girl was depressed. I couldn’t sleep, fell off the 100% raw food wagon, ate the wrong foods… I was a mess! But I was able to bounce back a lot quicker because of BrainOn.

I also took a short break from freelance assignments but was able to come back full force and write even more than before. I’m convinced it’s  mostly because of this company’s blue-green algae. Convinced.

What’s In BrainOn?

I know you’re wondering what exactly is in BrainOn to make it so fantabulous, right?

Nutritional information (from the site):

Supplement Facts: Protein <1g; Trans Fat 0g; Vitamin A 1890 IU 38% daily value; Vitamin K 34 mcg 43% daily value; Riboflavin 49 mcg 3% daily value; Vitamin B1 27 mcg 117% daily value.

Ingredients: Organic, fresh-frozen AFA (Aphanizomenon flos aquae) with BrainON®, a concentrated organic AFA extract of Phenylethylamine (PEA).

That’s some awesome nutrition for our brains!

Pros

I’d definitely agree with the brain enhancing, mood lifting powers of BrainOn. As I mentioned above, it helped me through some very troublesome times, and as you know, I’ve managed to continue writing with enthusiasm and mental clarity.

From the site:

• All the benefits of E3Live, plus:
• Increase focus and clarity
• Lift and brighten mood with the PEA, the “love molecule”
• Lower stress and enhance well-being
• Function at a higher level
• Shown to increase concentration

I do agree with this list provided on E3Live’s website because I felt the same benefits personally when I took the supplement.

Cons

As I mentioned in my E3Live review, the biggest two cons I can think of from purchasing BrainOn is cost and taste (for some of you). Those of you who follow me know that I can pretty much chug down anything without it phasing me because I’m used to drinking potent herbal tonics, strong herbal teas, and other natural remedies (like organic apple cider vinegar with Mother). But I realize not everyone is accustomed to the taste of green. I find E3Live and BrainOn actually taste mild, so you may not have a problem taking it straight up. If you do, simply add it to smoothies, juices, or other recipes to disguise the taste.

And about the cost… One of my readers mentioned finding a couple of friends to split the supplement and shipping cost with so you can enjoy this wonderful blue-green algae. I think that’s a great idea!

Other than those two issues, I honestly can’t imagine anything bad about enhancing your heath.

Tip: Preparing your daily dose for the upcoming week is quick and simple. I gave step-by-step instructions (with a photo) in my E3Live review.

Verdict/Grade

I know this is a costly supplement for a lot of people, but I can honestly tell you it is a worthwhile investment.  If there’s a way you can readjust your budget and put your health before other expenses, I’d definitely recommend spending your money on this product.

For the results I’ve personally experienced from using BrainOn, I absolutely give it an A+ because I definitely came through (and out of) depressing, trying times much better than I would have on my own, without E3Live and BrainOn.

Have you ever tried BrainOn? Do you wish you could? Well, you can! E3Live has generously offered to sponsor a contest, allowing one reader to win 3 bottles of E3Live and 2 bottles of BrainOn, + a shaker cup—over a $200.oo value!!!

Contest is launching tonight, Sunday, November 8th. Get ready!!

Visit www.E3Live.com to learn more about this super fantabulous blue-green algae.

And thank you again to the kind folks at E3Live for sponsoring this review and the upcoming contest!!

If you’re a first-time visitor, you may have missed my recent delivery of packages and upcoming reviews or the Sunday fun and news. You might also enjoy my last post: A Package and a Story – this one is dear to my heart…  Be sure to check ‘em out!

Would you believe I get to share another package with you?! Pretty crazy FUN, huh?

This one came from Lisa Ann Turkel. Lisa owns ShimmerOrganics. She makes homemade, raw, organic beauty products and has sent me her Mandarin and Honey Revitalizing Mask to review.

I’m really excited about this! Lisa has been a gem to communicate with. Her passion for pure, raw beauty products permeates through each and every word.

I love her personality and I love the way she ships her masks, too!

Check this out…

Pink Packaging!

A Cheerful Message!

Isn’t that awesomeness? It’s like a fortune cookie message. And this pink packaging and cheerful message brightened up my (rainy) day!!

Pure, Raw Beauty!

Lisa filled this container to the brim with quality ingredients. She’s put a lot of time, effort, and thought into her business. I can tell that already!

Organic Mask Information

Thank you, Lisa, for allowing me to enjoy your beauty mask. I’m honored to have the opportunity for sure.

I’ll be trying the mask more than once before I post the review (and a surprise for y’all!) and I might even grace the camera lens with my mask-covered face. Ya never know!

If you’re an impatient kind of person, and you don’t want to wait for my review, you can go ahead and order directly from Lisa here.

Thank you to Lisa, from ShimmerOrganics!