Articles in the Reviews Category
Disclaimer: The product in this review was provided as a free sample from Amazing Grass; however, I was not paid to write this review. All opinions, thoughts, and ideas in this post are my own.
Hi, y’all! I’ve been crazy busy on this Amish farm lately but I haven’t forgotten about ya – promise! I do have lots more reviews and giveaways coming in the near future but gardening has kept me on my toes – or shall I say knees?! 
Organic gardening isn’t the easiest, in my opinion. Some people may think it is. I don’t know. But without chemicals to kill the bugs, weeds, and grass, it keeps a gardener on their toes concocting natural recipes – plus all the grass- and weed-pulling. Phew!
The funniest thing happened today: I was literally taking out the trash and as I walked was thinking “gosh, I have a crazy craving for chocolate and peanut butter” – and the UPS man backed in to the driveway with a package (I kid you not!!!!) and I thought I’d pass out when I opened it! Inside was a couple of the chocolate-covered peanut butter protein bars and the new Lemon Lime Energy Drink Powder from Amazing Grass.
So… was this fate? Karma? Luck?
Whatever the reason that I had chocolate and peanut butter delivered to me, I am a happy girl! Thank you, Amazing Grass!!! 
Of course, you know I had to break right in to one of those bars immediately. It was meant to be! I only ate half, though. Why? Because it’s dense, delish, and filling!
YUM!
About the Company
I love sharing with y’all the real people who are behind the companies whose products I review. Without them, the products I love and review wouldn’t be here. I think it’s the people who make all the difference—whether it’s a big or small company. Why? Because they’re the ones who give the company character, value, and history.
So what’s the Amazing Grass story? And what’s so amazing anyway? Check this out…
From the site:
How we got started….
We started out of our garage (well it was really a dining room table) in August of 2002 in San Francisco, California. We were two guys with a desire to build a ‘grass’ roots business that aligned with our passion for the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle.We had each spent 7 years at large telecom companies and met 4 years ago at a start-up telecom company that was trying to break the bandwidth bottleneck, but ended up going broke instead. Working in a start up environment, we witnessed first hand the effect 17 hour work days, lack of exercise and poor eating habits had on many of our colleagues. Constantly hearing people say “I’m exhausted”, “I’m sick” and “I need to get in better shape” seemed to be directly related to stress and diet.
Todd noticed that Brandon seemed immune from the common cold and the contagious mid-afternoon yawn. Brandon’s thumb is the furthest shade from green, but luckily his uncle has continued to run the family dehydrating business that his Grandfather started over 50 years ago. Brandon swore the wheat grass he’d been taking gave him more energy, a stronger immune system and an overall healthier life. He gave some to Todd along with a great book by Ron Seibel called Cereal Grass, What’s in it for you. Within weeks, Todd was a big believer…he developed increased energy throughout the day and saw his need for sleep decrease. In fact, Todd has eluded everything including the common cold since taking wheat grass. Brandon had a long list of friends that were hooked on wheat grass and would often call or stop by when they ran out. His freezer was being raided on a daily basis. (We know this sounds like a scene from Cops, but we swear it was just wheat grass.)
With the help of a college marketing class at Cal Poly SLO, their wives, families and friends, Todd and Brandon started Amazing Grass.
It is our passion to educate the world about the benefits of cereal grass, green foods and the improved quality of life from eating healthy. It is our goal to always listen to our customers and constantly improve what we do. We pledge to produce the healthiest products that offer real benefits at prices everyone can afford. It’s an amazing adventure to grow this business to reflect our dreams, passions and beliefs.
Today, Amazing Grass offers the most potent green vegetables in a convenient way that aligns with our hectic lifestyles. We take great pleasure in hearing your stories about how Amazing Grass has changed your life and encourage our new friends to write us with their stories. One timeless phrase will sum up many of our responses…”You are what you eat.” Eat Grass…Get Healthy!!!
RAWsome! 
About the Bar
I could go on and on and on about how wonderful this bar is, but I’m sure you don’t want to hear that. How about all the juicy details you really want to know…
From the site:
Our Organic Green SuperFood Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar is a premium blend of organic peanuts and whey protein in a chocolate covered bar that will satisfy your hunger anytime of the day. One caddy contains 12 – 60 gram bars.
- 270 calories
- 14 grams of fat (healthy omegas)
- 12 grams of protein
- 19 grams of sugar
- 28 grams of carbohydrates
We’ve taken our alkalizing Green SuperFood, with antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables and combined them in a bar that will satisfy your hunger and deliver nutrients to your body the way Mother Nature intended…unprocessed, organic and delicious.
- Gluten Free
- Fair Trade
- Whey Protein
Ingredient List:
Organic Peanut Butter, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Dates, Whey Protein Concentrate, Organic Peanuts, Organic Rice Crisps, Amazing Grass Green SuperFood (Organic Wheat Grass, Organic Barley Grass, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Spirulina, Organic Spinach, Organic Chlorella, Organic Broccoli, Organic Acai, Organic Maca, Organic Carrot, Organic Beet, Raspberry, Organic Rose Hips, Pineapple, Green Tea, Organic Flax Lignans, L. Adidophilus, Alpha and Beta Amylase, Protease, Lipase, Lactase, Cellulase, Organic Peppermint), Natural Flavor, Peanut Extract, Organic Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt
Organic Dark Chocolate Coating: Cane Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Non-GMO Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor
Allergy Information: Contains Peanuts
Pros
I love that it’s jam-packed with greens, nutrition, superfoods, whole foods, antioxidants, probiotics and overall health benefits. The flavor is absolutely AMAZING. I’m serious, y’all. I DO taste the peanut butter. The chocolate is DIVINE. And I really only tasted the teeniest hint of greenness. I am not even joking. These bars ROCK!
Cons
If you’re allergic to peanuts, these bars are out for you. Other than that, I really can’t think of a con here. Well, you might consider them pricey. They do cost $35.99 a case (you get a dozen bars). But price goes down if you buy 3 or more cases. You can also join the Amazing Grass “Grass Heads Club” to save 15% on every order, get free stuff, free shipping, and receive monthly shipments. You can cancel at any time.
Verdict/Grade
This bar definitely gets an A+ from me!
Your Turn
1. Have you tried this bar? Or any of the Amazing Grass bars? Do you love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Would you give ‘em a shot?
2. Do you like the chocolate/peanut butter combo? Or do you totally not get some people’s obsession with it? I’ve always loved it myself. I ate quite a few Reese’s growing up!
Special Discount!
Use the code hwj (represents healing with juices! ) to get yourself a 15% discount on your Amazing Grass order! Woo hoo!!!
Disclaimer: The generous folks at the Aurorae Yoga company were kind enough to send me a beautiful, luxurious yoga mat from their collection to review. They also sent their Sport Sweat Towel and their Yoga Slip Free Rosin Bag. However, I was not paid to write this review – or even asked to write one.
Thank you, Aurorae!
And…. Hello, fantabulous friends!
How’s your week going so far? Did you have an awesome day yesterday? What about today? Have you had a smoothie? Were you brave enough to try my black smoothie?
And I’m tickled pink (hehe) that y’all are so excited about my garden-inspired Meatless Monday recipe: Raw Rainbow Wraps. Those are definitely friendly for a yogi lifestyle, don’t ya think?
Speaking of yogi lifestyle, do you use a slip-free rosin bag as a part of your yoga practice? If so, have you tried Aurorae’s? And if not, would you?
I was pretty excited when I received mine. Of course, I’ve found quite a few yogis seem to think that “extras” aren’t always necessary (like blocks, etc.) but hey, if they enhance your practice and/or motivate you to get yoga-ing, why not use ‘em?!
In this photo, you can see Aurorae’s Slip-Free Rosin Bag fits in the palm of your hand. It isn’t huge and doesn’t take much space. It’s the perfect size to toss in the pocket of your yoga bag – or even your purse! Well, for that matter, I suppose you could even put it in your pocket if you were in a rush or just prefer that method.
Before I get busy telling you all the juicy details about this magical little bag, let me refresh your memory…
Remember my in-depth review of the beautiful, inspiring, pink (my favorite color EVER!!!) yoga mat?
You can read it HERE, if you missed it.
And did you see my thoughts on Aurorae’s Yoga Sport Sweat Towel?
Read all about that HERE.
Now, on to my thoughts regarding the Slip-Free Rosin Bag….
About Aurorae’s Slip-Free Rosin Bag
If you’re a natural sweater and find yourself slipping on your yoga mat – whether or not you’re in a hot yoga class – you might be in need of Aurorae’s Slip-Free Rosin Bag.
Why?
Well, this little creation can indeed be the answer to no more slipping and sliding on your yoga mat. Who wants to be interrupted when you’re in that still, calm yoga moment?! Yoga poses are meant to be enjoyed, savored – not cut short by sweaty palms or feet!
And Aurorae knows just that:
Product Description (from the site):
Aurorae Yoga Rosin Bag has been developed to aid in the prevention of slipping on your Yoga mat. Similar to gymnasts, tennis players and baseball pitchers, perspiration creates slipping problems when a firm grip is necessary to maximize their performance. Our Aurorae Yoga Rosin Bag increases your gripping power and absorbs perspiration with the slight touch of the bag. The Rosin should be applied to both your hands and feet before your practice and added as needed during your practice. Please make sure to store your Yoga Rosin Bag in the Zip lock bag it comes with to increase its life. We at Aurorae are always looking for simple and cost effective ways to help you improve, as well as enjoy your practice. Remember "It’s Your Yoga". Relax, Enjoy and Namaste.
Ah….
I can relax and enjoy, can’t you?
Pros
As I mentioned above, this rosin bag helps create a dry, enjoyable experience for you and your yoga mat (well, your hands, feet, and mat anyway!)
Here’s a little more information…
Product Features (from the site):
- Innovative new technology to prevent slipping
- Increases Gripping Power
- Product exclusive to Aurorae
- Absorbs Perspiration
- No Odor, Non Sticky
- Made in the U.S.A.
Did you read that? You don’t have to be bothered with any type of smell – this rosin bag doesn’t have any type of odor.
And for just $6.95, what do you have to lose?
I had to squish it and smear it on my hands to get a feel for it…
Can you see it?
And it works! How cool is that?!
Cons
I genuinely try really hard to find something that some of you may consider a con – but I simply can’t think of anything here. I always try to consider low budgets when I write reviews (I’m a VERY frugal gal myself!) – but this bag merely costs a few dollars.
Verdict/Grade
Aurorae Yoga’s Slip-Free Rosin Bag gets an A+ from Raw Juice Girl!
Great job, Aurorae!
Have you ever tried a slip-free rosin bag? What did you think? Do you love it? Enjoy it? Look forward to using it?
And… the Surprise?!
How would you like to own an Aurorae Yoga set? That’s right! Look for the next post, because I’m launching an Aurorae Yoga Giveaway! Winner will get to choose whichever mat they want PLUS you’ll receive the same Aurorae Yoga Sport Sweat Towel and Slip-Free Rosin Bag that I’ve reviewed.
Ready?
Off to get that giveaway post ready. Woo hoo!!
Disclaimer: The generous folks at the Aurorae Yoga company were kind enough to send me a beautiful, luxurious yoga mat from their collection to review. They also sent their Sport Sweat Towel and their Yoga Slip Free Rosin Bag. However, I was not paid to write this review – or even asked to write one.
Thank you, Aurorae!
Hi, y’all! Gosh, gardening has been keeping me busy—that’s why I haven’t been blogging. (Read about it here and here.) Yikes! And things are really moving along. I have to post updated photos of how much everything is growing and how the garden has changed!
Oh, and I’m totally addicted to Rainbow Grass. Yum-O!!!
Also, I hope you had a special and very Happy Mother’s Day!
Okay, okay, on to the review….
Remember when I shared with you that Aurorae sent me this amazing yoga package?
And in pink—my favorite color!!!!!
If you haven’t yet, please CLICK HERE to read my Aurorae Yoga Mat Review and learn about the company—and the very inspiring man behind the company.
About the Sport Sweat Towel
I was pleasantly surprised at how soft this towel is—it’s really nice! And I mean, it’s super soft and comfy.
Here’s what Aurorae has to say about their latest product:
“This is the latest product from Aurorae to help our customers enjoy and maximize their yoga practice. Our new Yoga Sport Sweat Towel, with embroidery, will keep you dry and help prevent you from slipping on your mat. It is 100% Natural Cotton Terry, the best natural fiber to absorb perspiration and keep you dry during your practice. It is just the right dimensions -16"x23" – to keep you dry while practical enough to easily fold into your yoga bag. This towel works incredibly well with our Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag. Sold separately. Machine washable and hemmed on all sides for long lasting quality you expect from Aurorae.”
I had a friend take this photo…
in the same fashion as the one on Aurorae’s site—pretty neat, huh?!
Pros
Living on an Amish farm doesn’t allow for much luxury, so this soft towel is more than a piece of cloth to wipe sweat when I’m practicing yoga – it’s a special, luxurious treat! Yoga in itself is a treat – but it’s even better to practice with such inspiring, high-quality yoga equipment.
Product Features (from the site):
- Absorbs perspiration while you sweat and keeps you dry
- 100% Natural Cotton Soft Terry, machine washable
- Dimensions are 16”x23” and light-weight, easily folds into your yoga bag
- Works incredibly well with our Yoga Slip Free Rosin Bag to keep you from slipping on your mat
- Aurorae embroidery – Our symbol of great quality and service
And at just $8.95, the Aurorae Yoga Sweat towel is easy on your bank account, too! Woo hoo!
Cons
The honest-to-goodness ONLY con I can consider is that you haven’t bought one of these already – seriously!!
Verdict/Grade?
A+ all the way! I’m impressed with the company, the man behind it, the attention to detail and quality, and can absolutely feel confident in using – and recommending! – this fantabulous product. Plus, if you sweat – like we sometimes do during an hour of yoga! – you’ll love being able to reach for this soft and handy sweat towel. And it’s much better than wiping your face on your sleeve!
Do you use a yoga sport towel? Is it Aurorae? Have you considered using a sweat towel during your yoga sessions? And did you click through to read my Aurorae Yoga Mat Review? What did you think? What did you think about Dennis Ingui, the man who owns Aurorae? Pretty amazing, huh?! I’m in Yoga Heaven—I’m serious, y’all!!!!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of the Paderno World Cuisine Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer
Review of AuroraeSport Sweat Towel- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Disclaimer #2: The links to Amazon are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything once you click on them, I will earn a small commission. The other links take you to my Raw Shop. Thank you in advance for supporting Raw Juice Girl’s hard work!
Disclaimer: Easy Lunch Boxes provided me with a 4-container set and lunch bag (as shown in my photos below). However, I was not asked to write a favorable review in exchange for the free products. I wasn’t asked to write a review or mention them at all. The opinions in this post are my own.
Thank you, Kelly!!!
You don’t have to be in school to appreciate a lovely lunch box system. If you are passionate about the environment, chances are you’ve taken great measure to lessen your carbon footprint—including taking your meals and snacks to work with you, or while you’re traveling.
Finding the perfect, user-friendly containers isn’t always an easy task. One reader mentioned recently that she found two-part containers—but the Easy Lunch Box system has three! How convenient, huh?!
Today, you’ll learn about an eco-friendly company who is on a mission to make our meals healthier, easier to transport, and also bring awareness to our beautiful Earth, and preserving it.
Easy Lunch Box Tip:
“Instead of an ice block, place a frozen juice box or water bottle in the lunchbag. It’ll keep the food chilled and will be thawed by lunchtime.”
About the Company
Easy Lunch Boxes is an eco-friendly company that makes reusable lunch bags and containers so you can enjoy the ease of packing your children’s lunches every morning. No, Easy Lunch Boxes aren’t just for your children or teens – you can also use them to take your food to work with you, or even if you’re just traveling a short distance or want to have a picnic with friends or family.
This fantabulous, environmentally-aware company was created – and is owned – by Kelly Lester. A woman of many talents, she decided to improve her normal routine of packing lunches for her three daughters.
Unable to find a system that worked for her, she had a brainstorm and voila: Easy Lunch Boxes!
You know I love sharing who is behind the company so you can get a good idea of not just what the company is about, but the passion and heart of the people who make the company what it is. Easy Lunch Boxes is no different. I love finding out that the owner has heart and soul and just isn’t in it for money. And I’m happy to report that I definitely feel I’ve struck gold here.
See for yourself…
From Easy Lunch Boxes About Page
KELLY LESTER is the owner, creator, and mom behind Easylunchboxes.com. During the last two decades she has been an entrepreneur, wife, and mother of three. She is also an actress and singer.
A graduate of UCLA’s theatre department, Kelly has appeared in dozens of plays and musicals in the Los Angeles area. Kelly left show business for almost twelve years to found and run Art Plates, her own highly-successful gift manufacturing business and raise her three girls. Her handcrafted switchplates and soaps were sold in hundreds of museum stores across the country and direct to consumers via the Art Plates website.
After selling that business in 2006, Kelly defied the old adage that there are no second acts. In fact, sometimes there are actually many different acts. Since returning to performing, Kelly has appeared in a number of stage productions, films and TV shows. More about Kelly’s performing career HERE.
Easylunchboxes.com was born out of Kelly’s innate ability to do things efficiently while on a shoestring budget, and her desire to send her daughters to school with simple, healthy food, with little to no extra packaging or ingredients. Her past struggle with weight control inspires her to teach and model healthy eating habits for her children, and has fueled her dedication to always send them off to school with a great lunch.
Kelly combined her self taught business-savvy with her natural inclination to think “what would other parents want?” — to develop the perfect lunchbox system. She is thrilled and proud to share her Easy Lunch Boxes and lunch bags with other families who will benefit by their simple design, great price, and amazing functionality. Additionally, by promoting the waste-free lunch movement, EasyLunchboxes.com is helping the planet one lunch box at a time.
About Easy Lunch Boxes
These lunch bags and containers are so awesome! Not only are they green, they’re colorful, convenient—and frugal!
A 4-container set is just $13.95 and the lunch bags are only $7.95!
“We are proud to report that EasyLunchbox products have passed the strictest FDA testing and are COMPLETELY safe for use with food The testing was performed by SGS, the world’s largest control and inspection company, represented in more than 130 countries by 210 affiliated companies. SGS provides inspection, testing, certification & verification services to ensure that products, services & systems meet quality, safety & performance.” – Easy Lunch Boxes
Arrival Day!
“The lunch bags are 9 x 6.5 x 6.5” (the sides flex out a bit to hold the container securely and without wiggle room, ensuring that the container does not shake around in the bag, thereby keeping the food stabilized).” – Easy Lunch Boxes
The containers are 9.48 x 6.1 x 2. This is a really nice size!
Easy Lunch Box Ideas
I’m going to share a variety of my (easily transportable) recipes below, but first I just have to share the overnight oats I made in the Easy Lunch Box container.
Of course, I wasn’t going anywhere today (freelance, remember?) but I know a lot of you may want something (other than a juice, smoothie, or granola bar) that you can grab in the morning on your way out the door and eat once you get to work. If you aren’t driving, you could eat this on the way.
These overnight oats were so delicious! I enjoyed the chewy texture of the dried apricots, the juicy bursts of sweetness from the pineapple chunks, the crunch of the macadamia nuts and the volume of the 7 grain oat flakes themselves, with the creamy richness of the (honey) Greek yogurt. Oh my! What a fantabulous treat for breakfast on this rainy morning!
And this would be a super fun afternoon snack to help pull you through the rest of the work day as well!
7 Grain Overnight Oats Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Note: I think I’ll add 1/2 cup of oats next time, or eliminate the milk. I personally prefer my oats (including overnight) to be super-duper thick.
This Morning
NOTE: Just click any of the following recipe titles for some other healthy meals and snacks you could take to work or travel with you.
Raw Juice Girl’s:
Raw, Vegan Tuna Fish-less Salad
Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus + Veggies
And for dessert?
Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding
Inside-Out Coconut Peanut Butter Cups
Pros
Easy Lunch Boxes are easy and fun to use, affordable, convenient—and so much more. I can’t say enough good things about this eco-friendly lunch box system, or the company!
And I simply ADORE their passion for the environment and providing us, their valued customers, with safe, affordable, user-friendly products…
“Easy Lunch Boxes food containers are made of non toxic, food safe, polypropylene (PP or plastic #5). They are BPA, PVC, and phthalate free. Safe for refrigerator, freezer, microwave, & dishwasher.
Easy Lunch Boxes lunch bags are safe and lead-free. The test was for the following: Lead in accessible substrate materials, specifically for “children’s metal jewelry,” including fabric, zipper, liner, strap, insulation, grommet and rivet.”—Easy Lunch Boxes
Cons
The one thing I discovered that you may not like, is that the containers aren’t leakproof. Of course, if you take a little salad dressing or sauce, you can use a small, reusable container and pack it on top of your meal container. Not a real hassle, right? And how many times do you take something runny to work or school anyway?
“Although our Easy Lunch Box containers hold food securely, they are not designed to be leakproof, and we don’t recommend putting really wet food or liquid into any of the compartments. For a compartmentalized container to be completely leakproof, this would require carefully sealing all of the compartments, every time. We have found that most children are not able to do this consistently, and if you send such a container to school properly sealed, it may not come home that way; leftovers could be dripping out everywhere.”—Easy Lunch Boxes
Updated to add:
“Good news! I’ve just figured out how to portion out the yogurt directly into our EasyLunchbox containers and not have it leak!
I haven’t recommended runny foods (like yogurt) for use in the container. Until now. Here’s my little ’stop the leaks’ trick:
Cut a square of wax paper or plastic wrap to cover the compartment you want to put the runny food in. Then put the lid on (firmly), and the cut square you added will act as a leak barrier!
To make things even easier, I was shopping at my local Smart & Final warehouse and restaurant supply store and I came across pre-cut (dry)wax paper sheets. Like 1,000 in a box for something ridiculous like $6. These would last me a year!” – Easy Lunch Boxes Containers Can be Leak Free!
Verdict/Grade?
Eco-friendly? Check. Pretty? Check. User-friendly? Check. Affordable? Check. Practical? Check. Fun to use? Check. What’s not to love? I simply must give Easy Lunch Boxes an A+ for all their hard work to ensure that their products are all-of-the-above. Don’t you agree?!
Do you send your children’s lunch to school with them? Do you take food to work with you? Or maybe when you’re traveling a short distance and will be gone several hours? Are reusable containers something you’re interested in? What do you love most about the Easy Lunch Box system?
What’s that? You’d love to own an Easy Lunch Box system? Um, you know me! Yep, a giveaway is comin’ your way!!
Updated to Add:
The contest is now live and you can enter to win your very own Easy Lunch Box System! Click HERE to enter now!!!
Don’t forget to read my eco-friendly A Sense of Place Water Bottle Review if you missed it—and you can win your own in my giveaway!! It’s a $30 value!!!
Dislaimer #2: This post contains affiliate links. I signed up of my own free will – after I personally used (and LOVED!) the Easy Lunch box system. So, if you click on any of the links or graphics and end up purchasing something, I will receive a small commission. Thank you in advance for your understanding, and your support of my hard work and in-depth reviews of healthy, eco-friendly, user-friendly, Raw Juice Girl-approved products!
Disclaimer: A Sense of Place Photography provided the custom, steel water bottle (and interchangeable lids) for this review; however, I was not asked to write a favorable review in exchange for the free product(s). The following opinions are my own.
(Thank you, Katie!!)
I’m always elated when I find an email from a potential sponsor for a review. Not only does it mean I’ll get to try out something fun, new, and share it with you, it usually means an awesome giveaway for y’all, too! And it’s always, always a bonus when the product promotes eco-friendly living—something I’m very passionate about!
There are countless ways to live green, but a super easy habit to get in to is carrying a reusable bottle to drink out of. Whether it’s water, tea, a smoothie, juice—or even coffee—reusing the same container does not only give you green points, it’s not even a hassle.
So when I was contacted about this company and what they’re doing, I immediately responded, asking if I could review their eco-friendly, steel water bottle. When Katie answered with a yes, she told me I could choose any of her photos for my water bottle’s design. I browsed through her selection and ended up choosing this beautiful photo. Katie happily obliged. I’m overjoyed! I LOVE flowers and the Swiss Meadow scene—it’s beautiful!
“Welcome to our shop! We sell peaceful atmospheric prints from around the world. Our wish is that everyone might have a sense of place.”—A Sense of Place Photography
I could tell from corresponding with Katie that she’s a very warm, generous person, but I could never have dreamed just how much of herself she puts into her business! Before long, my package arrived and I saw for myself how much of Katie’s heart and soul is in everything she does….
Opening A Sense of Photography Package
LOVE the attention to detail!!!!!
Oooooohhhhhh, Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!! SO beautiful!!!!!
About the Company
A Sense of Place Photography is owned by Katrina (Katie) and her husband. She refers to him as “the King”.
It’s always nice to learn more about not only the company—but the people behind it. So let’s get to know them…
From A Sense of Place Photography Etsy Bio
We take pictures; we are in love.
See profile for more selection & information. Giclee prints available in sizes 8X10 and up.
Please try our gallery view blog: www.theyouandmeshow.com
our music while you browse: http://www.myspace.com/uswiththekingsLike Our Landscape Photography? View more at http://tiny.cc/landscapes15. We’d be happy to create a custom listing for you! Do visit our abstract http://www.thedadafactory.etsy.com & vintage http://www.goldenmustard.etsy.com photography shops
The Short Story
Welcome to A Sense Of Place Photography
by Katrina & the King!
http://asenseofplacephotography.blogspot.com
Katrina likes mountains.
Katrina is not a hurricane, or a 80′s pop rock band, though Katrina likes Paleo quite a lot.
Katrina loves her husband: theyouandmeshow.com
Katrina is an american indie photographer, poet & songwriter. in that order.
~If you are in Norfolk, you might like to have a look on our series at 208 East Plume Street, Suite 2, inside the Walls Fine Art Gallery.To read “The Long Story” click HERE. Or, to learn even more, click HERE.
Wait, you want to know more? Okay, okay…
Who is Katie?
Instead of writing this in my own words (like I always do!) I thought it would be way more fun – and entertaining – if I shared snippets of Katie’s About Page with you—in her words. To be even more specific, the following information is taken from The You & Me Show, by Katrina King ~ a journal on modern marriage & the mayhem of it
Q. who is me {katrina}?
A. i’m a freelance writer, photographer, actor, singer, world traveler, design-lover, napper, Christian, avid dog lover {yet only has cats}, avid NYC lover (but country bumpkin at heart) wife, and blogger. a housewife is really the last thing I ever thought I’d be and I’m still always trying to find ways to get out of it! I also do not have any obsession with cupcakes…at all. i am *always* looking for a job. i am *always* up for travel. i’ve recently been dreaming of designing clothes with photography. my dream jobs are 1. La Fuerza Bruta 2. The Ad Council 3. National Geographic 4. Writing a book*
*I actually just finished my first poetry book. You should buy it. Here [contact seller if sold out]
exhibitionist. idealist. loves mountains.
Q. if i was an animal: A. white flamingo
And the King?
Q. who is you {the king}?
A. old fashioned lover of sailboats, poetry, Judaism, history, language, coffee & chocolate. also by far the sexiest man I have ever seen. he has magic in his hands and in his lips. he is *always* up for ice cream. he is *never* one to whine. his dream jobs are 1. circumnavigating the globe 2. designing sailboats 3.owning a ranch 4. writing a book {and if truth be told, he can sing and act better than I ever could despite all my years of training….though he’d never admit it)
internal. cynic. loves the ocean.
Q. if he was an animal: A. dodo bird
we both have sunshine love
A Sense Of Place Photography takes dreams and puts them into tiny pixels, provides professional & unique artistic documentation for your event & creates fine art for galleries and interior decorating for your home and business. Run by husband & wife photographer team, Katie & Steven King.
-Analog & Digital, Stark & Vital, we knock your socks off. – www.asenseofplacephotography.com
Pretty awesome, huh?!
And they’re in favor of preserving our environment…
100% Recycled Packaging!!!!!
More detail!!!!
Personalized Note!!!!
Even MORE detail!!!!
Interchangeable Lids!!!
My favorite one!!!
(I love this one ‘cause I can just loop my finger through the hole and go.)
Another awesome lid!!!!
The whole kit and kaboodle!!!
A Sense of Photography Business Cards
(photo courtesy of their Etsy Shop)
Easy to Pack with Easy Lunch Boxes!
Pros
Of course the main pro of this water bottle is that by using it, you’re helping our beautiful environment, but there are other pros as well.
A few pros are that it’s:
- eco-friendly
- easy to grab and go
- easy to clean
- beautiful and cheerful
- fun to take with you
- holds a variety of drinks: water, tea, smoothies, juice, coffee
- and more!
Oh, and don’t forget it arrives in 100% recycled packaging!!
Here’s even more information from A Sense of Photography…
Description (from their Etsy Shop):
Be green and take your sense of place with you at the same time!
To work
To school
To play
and be hydrated with good old H20 on the way!
With buying this water-bottle, you pledge to
Say goodbye to plastic bottles that are harmful to our environment!
Our new bird on the wire water-bottle is dishwasher safe and comes with two screw-top options.
Explanation of the photos to the right:
1-Water bottle you will be receiving: Front
2-Sport’s top and back of water bottle
3-Trendy Screw Top
4-Tags, Business Cards, and sew on labels that come with your order.
5-A Sense Of Place Photography Logo
This thing is as tough as a brick, and looks great too! Be careful, soon it will want to go everywhere with you
Please visit: www.theyouandmeshow.com to learn more about how being in love helps us make our art.
Please visit http://www.asenseofplacephotography.com for our website, manifesto, and photo blog.
I love shipping overseas as well. Just quote me a price!
And the flowers make me HAPPY—they’re so cheerful!
It even has a built-in coaster!
Cons
As those of you who read all (or a lot) of my reviews, you know that two of the biggest cons I look out for are cost and taste. Well, taste doesn’t apply here, but cost might (in your opinion). This bottle costs $30 but even though that might make some of you cringe, it’s still hard for me to consider it a con (and y’all know how frugal I am!) because this is an investment that you’ll enjoy over and over again. If you think about it, you spend that much on 6 lattes—and they come in throwaway cups!
The only other “con” I can come up with (and y’all know I have to find SOMETHING because cons have to be listed in reviews due to FTC rules) is the fact that you’ll have to wash it. That’s no big deal (at all) to me. But to some of you who despise washing a dish—or even using the dishwasher—you might not enjoy washing a to-go bottle.
Verdict/Grade?
Overall, I must give this beautiful, eco-friendly, reusable bottle – and A Sense of Photography company – an A+ because not only do the folks behind the business put their heart and soul in to everything they touch, the bottle is something that won’t harm our precious environment any more than it already has been! And that’s a HUGE plus in my book!!
If you haven’t tried a reusable bottle, I urge you to start today! Get your own HERE!!! And not only do they offer a Steel Water Bottle with an Interchangeable Top, they offer a beautiful Eco-Tote-Woman’s Sailing Bag!!
Time for a GREEN drink!
After chugging a few (DELISH!) sips…
Ginormous Green Banana Juice Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Toss everything in to your blender and process until smooth and well blended. Pour and enjoy!
It was DELISH—and it held me over extremely well. I wasn’t even the least bit hungry until after 2 p.m. in the afternoon!
I’ve also enjoyed lots of yummy water in my eco-friendly bottle. And I plan on enjoying many more to-go juices and smoothies in this beauty.
Do you carry your juices, smoothies, water, tea, coffee, etc., in a reusable bottle? Or do you always buy bottled water or other drinks that come in paper or plastic cups? Does it bother you? What about just an occasional treat—like a latte or smoothie in a to-go cup? Is that okay with you? I’m not judging here—just curious as to how you all feel about needless paper and/or plastic products. Also, do you like your smoothies super-duper thick, or runny? This smoothie is runny and that’s why I thought the name was a fun one. Of course, it isn’t technically a juice because you don’t juice bananas.
Oh, and are you wishing YOU had one of these beauties? Awesome! ‘Cause guess what’s coming up next? Yeah, you know me—a GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!
Stay tuned…
Updated to Add
The contest is live!!! You can now enter to WIN your own A Sense of Place Water Bottle!!!
Disclaimer: iHerb sponsored a $50 shopping spree, allowing me to get a feel for how their online business works. However, I was not paid to write this review. I wasn’t required to mention them at all – especially in a positive light.
I was super excited when I was contacted by iHerb asking if I’d like to go on a $50 shopping spree with them and then host a giveaway so one of my readers could do the same. Um, seriously?! Absolutely, I wanted to go shopping and host a giveaway for iHerb! I love reviewing products and companies for you all – and I really love hosting giveaways so one of you can win an awesome prize.
It didn’t take long for me to get busy shopping at www.iHerb.com. After sending my response, I chose the products I wanted and went through the checkout process. I did have to create an account with iHerb so I could check out, but it’s super fast and easy and I haven’t had any problems with junk mail at all.
My shopping spree took a tad bit longer than expected, though, because iHerb has like a gazillion products, it seems. This is a good thing! At first, I thought this company only offered herbal products and natural remedies, etc., but that is SO not true – there’s a ginormous variety of health food, snacks, and all sorts of yummy stuff!
More about those details below. First, I’d like to share my goodies with you.
I previously mentioned I’d had the opportunity to go on a $50 shopping spree sponsored by iHerb. And I nabbed some…
Fantabulous Finds!
Let me lead you through why I chose these products….
My mom has been intrigued by Bach for years and years. It’s fascinating that for pretty much every illness, anxiety, stress, or health issue, there is a flower essence (or combination of them) that can remedy it.
I’m a firm believer in natural remedies. After all, they helped me lose over 100 pounds, get off of all diabetic medication, and completely transform my life.
Life has been especially stressful lately. And I’m a natural-born worry wort. I’m working on handling stress better – including my recent love affair with yoga – but I’m needing something more. It’s not good when our worrying nature keeps us awake, because sleep is one of the top necessities for regaining or maintaining health, right?
Enter: Bach Rescue Sleep
I am loving this product!! It only takes a few drops on my tongue (you can put it in water if you’d like) and I feel myself relaxing and not long after, drift off to a peaceful night’s rest. Yay for success!
And during stressful times, it’s nice to have a calming remedy during the day, too – that won’t make me sleepy!
Enter: Bach Rescue Remedy
Again, I’m super pleased. I don’t take this every day, but on days that are really chaotic and I’m feeling majorly stressed out, I take a few drops. It doesn’t take long for the calming, soothing, relaxing benefits – and it doesn’t make me sleepy! Again, success!
And I got Navitas Naturals lucuma powder…
I’ve seen the lucuma powder across the blogosphere. Some of you add it to yogurt or ice cream or make really fancy desserts with it. I used it to make a decadent…
Chocolate-Covered (Tart) Cherry Smoothie
(See more photos and get the free recipe here.)
I also plan on using it in some fun recipes. More about lucuma in future posts!
I’m had to grab some hempseeds!
And some flax seed oil!
I love BOTH on my salads all the time!
Hope you enjoyed going on my iHerb shopping adventures with me!
Now, let’s learn about the company itself!
About iHerb
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the iHerb company has been around for 12 years. I’ve read on various blogs that many of you didn’t know about them – but I’m happy to report that they have a solid business and aren’t some random, brand-new shopping site.
And I love their mission statement as well:
Providing the best overall value for natural products through "e-simplicity". – iHerb
You’ll be happy to learn that iHerb carries far more than herbs or natural remedies (like the company’s name may lead you to believe).
iHerb explains the history of their name on their About page:
“Initially, our company promoted the benefits of St. John’s Wort. Hence the name: iHerb.It is now a world-class online store, supplying a vast selection of brand name natural products. We believe iHerb offers the best overall value, period! Our success and very existence are dependent on the repeat orders and word-of-mouth recommendations of loyal, satisfied customers.
You’ll find supplements and natural remedies, yes, but you’ll also find snack bars, chia seeds, and more! iHerb has “over 600 well-known, respected brands. Over 16,000 products.”
Wow.
And here’s a few more words from iHerb:
With the advanced e-commerce platform, plus our 48,000 sq. ft. Irwindale warehouse (almost 3X as big as before), you’ll find:
Features to make your online ordering safer, faster and more pleasant.
We are confident you’ll find iHerb to be your first choice for quality, price, reliability and convenience–on every effortless order. Try us! Read more.
View the Quality Assurances by some of the brands we carry QC Issues
If you are in the vicinity of Irwindale, California, feel free to stop by the iHerb retail store at 15710 Arrow Highway, Irwindale, Ca, 91706.
Pros
There’s a lot to love about this company. They:
-
are dedicated to pleasing their customers
-
offer a huge variety of products
-
have nice prices
-
carry numerous well-known brands you’re familiar with
-
and more!
Over 99% of orders placed by 1:00 pm PST are shipped out the same day!
UPS Ground — Now a flat $4.00, FREE SHIPPING for orders over $40.00, regardless of weight anywhere in the contiguous United States, where available. Super value for California, or nearby states.
What’s not to love?!
Cons
Cons are my least favorite part of reviews. It’s always so hard to think of anything bad to tell you, when I’ve had such a wonderful experience. I don’t have anything unfair or negative to say about my iHerb shopping experience. So far, I haven’t come across anyone in the blogosphere who has mentioned anything bad either.
Verdict/Grade
I give my experience with iHerb an A+ because the process went smoothly, the customer service was pleasant and efficient, there was TONS of awesome products to choose from, and I received my order promptly. Everything arrived intact, just as I had ordered. I couldn’t be happier, really!
Kudos to www.iHerb.com for doing such a fantabulous job. I wish them many more years and lots of success!
$5 Savings
If you love online shopping, I think you’ll love www.iHerb.com. You can use the following coupon code to save $5 on your order:
TUN499
How awesome is that?!
Have you ever shopped with iHerb? What was your experience? Would you like to go on your own $50 iHerb shopping spree? Well, you know what? Next post is the giveaway! Get ready for lots of fun ways to enter. Go tell your friends!
Enter to win a $50 iHerb Shopping Spree NOW
—-> Click HERE <—- Contest is LIVE!!!
Disclaimer: The generous folks at the Aurorae Yoga company were kind enough to send me a beautiful, luxurious yoga mat from their collection to review. They also sent their Sport Sweat Towel and their Yoga Slip Free Rosin Bag. However, I was not paid to write this review – or even asked to write one.
Thank you, Aurorae!
Y’all know I’m always excited when packages arrive and I get new products to review, but I was especially impressed with this package – the quality is fantabulous!
I immediately knew when I unwrapped my mat that I was going to enjoy practicing yoga on it – and I do!
When my fingertips met this mat, I felt nothing but plush thickness. The word that keeps coming to mind: luxury.
There’s nothing better than time on the mat. To me, it’s a chance to clear my mind, strengthen my body, mind, and soul, and also rejuvenate. It’s a great way to start the day, or even end it. And I know it will be even better with Aurorae’s Hope Yoga Mat.
And now on to the photos and in-depth review…
First, let’s start with opening the box. It was like Christmas morning! I think this would be the perfect gift for anyone who loves yoga, or is considering getting in to it.
Aurorae Delivery!
I requested the Hope Aurorae Yoga Mat, not only because it’s pink – and pink is my favorite color – but because its message emanates such peace and beauty.
Intuitive
Faithful
Visionary
Power of Positive Thought
Energetic
Healing
Wow. Pretty powerful stuff. And very inspiring!
All Three Items
Aurorae Yoga Mats
About the Company
It’s always nice to get a feel for the people behind the products. And that’s why I always try to share some background on the company, its history, and/or its owner. I love learning why the company was created and how it was born. And so far I haven’t been disappointed. This time is no different. I’m truly inspired by the founder of Aurorae Yoga – and I believe you will be, too.
Dennis Ingui is a fighter. He is passionate about life and health and he’s not just interested in a thriving business, he has a desire to share with the world quality products that will enhance our yoga practice and help us live healthier, happier, more enriched lives.
See for yourself.
From the site:
I started this company from the passion I developed for yoga over the past nine years. Being a cancer survivor since 2001, I needed an outlet in my life to help build my body as well as develop inner peace for my mind. Yoga has helped accomplish both these goals for me while also making many new friends and energizing me with a positive and balanced attitude toward life.
I’m not an instructor or a yogi, just a dedicated student that has enriched his life through yoga and understands what a regular everyday student needs in their yoga practice.
Your business is always appreciated and we at Aurorae look forward to servicing your yoga needs and hopefully making a few new friends along the way.
Thank you.
Dennis Ingui /President & CEO
Aurorae
Remember, "it’s your yoga" so don’t be intimidated or uncomfortable. Relax, Enjoy and Namaste
Need I say more about this man, or company? Congratulations to Dennis on being a cancer survivor and thank you for sharing your passion – and awesome yoga products – with the world!
Pros
This mat is soft, thick, luxurious, beautiful and inspiring. I love that each mat has a name and inspirational meanings. It’s wonderful to practice yoga on a mat that makes you feel so wonderful – and how fantabulous that my pink mat has such a beautiful message:
Intuitive
Faithful
Visionary
Power of Positive Thought
Energetic
Healing
Ah, healing… it’s a sign! This site, after all, is a tribute to my own healing journey.
I just had to list those inspiring words again. I love ‘em! And they seriously represent how I feel about my life and yoga.
And did I mention how soft and plush this mat is?
Cons
You may want to sleep on it! I’m not kidding. This is a fantabulous yoga mat!! How can I say something negative? I can’t find anything bad!
Verdict/Grade
I absolutely must give this mat an A+ because (as I mentioned above) it’s soft, thick, luxurious, inspiring, beautiful – and it’s only $30! I don’t think the price is bad at all – especially considering it’s such high quality, and a VERY worthy investment. After all, isn’t health and exercise important? Living a longer, fuller life is absolutely important.
I’m sure $30 isn’t even half the cost of what a lot of you would spend on shoes or clothes. Let’s make health a priority!
I can’t imagine that anyone wouldn’t be pleased with their purchase. Seriously! It’s that awesome.
Also, I saw some yoga mats at the store the other day (other brands around $20 – they were SO thin!).
And you can get your own fantabulous Aurorae mat here, in my Raw Shop!!
Are you a yoga lover? Do you have any Aurorae products? Do you have one of these mats? If so, which one do you have, and why did you choose it? The color? The message? Both? And if you don’t have one of these mats, which one would you choose? You can share why you’d choose that mat, too. Get a feel for Aurorae – I have a surprise for you!!!
Coming Soon
In no particular order…
- Review of Aurorae Sport Sweat Towel
- Review of Aurorae Slip Free Rosin Bag
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- Tart Cherry Concentrate Health Benefits – And Why I Drink It
- More recipes
- More reviews and giveaways – lots of surprises!
Contest Alerts
The Delightful Learning blog is giving away a GALLON of Tropical Traditions shredded coconut!!!
Bitt, from A Bitt of Raw, is giving away a Vivapura raw foods package!
Ashlei, The Vegster, is hosting a $50 shopping spree for Swanson!
And don’t forget about my Tropical Traditions giveaway for organic, raw, wild honey.
Disclaimer #2: The links to Amazon are affiliate links, so if you purchase anything once you click on them, I will earn a small commission. Thank you in advance for supporting Raw Juice Girl’s hard work!
Before getting in to this Kombucha Tea review, I just wanted to thank everyone for your kind and encouraging words regarding my Living With Rheumatoid Arthritis + Fibromyalgia post. Besides your comments on that post, I’ve received messages on various social media sites, as well as emails. I appreciate every message – your words mean a lot to me!
Now, let’s talk about Kombucha!
“We use the very same generation of Kombucha culture that GT Dave used when he first started bottling it from his mother’s kitchen. Now we have thousands of cultures that give birth to new "babies" everyday.” — www.synergydrinks.com
Kombucha Tea. Interesting, isn’t it? I’ve discovered quite a few folks have no idea what it even is, or why you’d drink it. I know I didn’t. I mean, fermented tea? Really? I wasn’t so sure about this stuff! This, coming from a gal who has sipped organic apple cider vinegar (with Mother!) water for years.
But I’m known to be naturally curious, so I had to see what all the excitement (aka hype in the blogospohere) was about.
Fun Fact!
“In his autobiography, Nobel Prize winner Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote that drinking Kombucha helped him survive the Siberian slave camps of the former Soviet Union.” — www.synergydrinks.com
You may remember my review of Passionberry Bliss. It was really good, but it was my first-ever Kombucha experience – so I almost spewed it out my mouth as soon as I tasted it.
I had bought Passionberry Bliss with my own money, but today’s review is sponsored by www.synergydrinks.com – the kind folks at Synergy sent me some coupons so I could sample a variety of their flavors!
So, what’s the big deal? What is Kombucha and why should you drink it?
From their FAQ page:
What’s in Kombucha and how do these ingredients support health?
Kombucha culture has a wide range of organic acids, probiotics, acids and enzymes that give it its extraordinary value. Here’s a brief look at the benefits of each:
Beneficial Probiotics - Due to the prolific presence of pesticides, antibiotics, and preservatives, the beneficial micro-organisms present in our bodies are being destroyed and killed off on a regular basis. These friendly microbes play a huge role in our digestive and immune systems. Therefore, it is crucial that they are replenished from natural sources like kefir, yogurt, and Kombucha. Our beverages contain Lactobacillus Bacterium and S. Boulardii, which can help support a healthy digestive and immune system.
Live Active Enzymes - Active Enzymes are generally only found in foods that have not been cooked, processed, or refined. They are like the “spark plugs” for the body’s cells because they put “life” back in our bodies. If you think about it, the body is a living thing; why would you feed it something that is dead?
Polyphenols - These are antioxidants that fight off the free-radicals that stress the body and compromise its youth and health.
Organic Acids
These nutrients can help promote tissue and blood alkalinity and help normalize the natural process of homeostasis throughout the body.Lactic acid helps maintain healthy digestive action (through the probiotic lactobacilli) and for energy production by the liver. Acetic acid is an antiseptic and inhibitor of pathogenic bacteria. Glucuronic acid, normally produced by a healthy liver, is a powerful detoxifier and can readily be converted into glucosamines, the foundation of our skeletal system. Usnic acid has selective antibiotic qualities which can partly deactivate viruses. Oxalic acid encourages the intercellular production of energy, and is a preservative. Malic acid also helps the liver to detoxify. Butyric acid protects human cellular membranes, and combined with Gluconic acid strengthens the walls of the gut in order to combat yeast infections such as Candida. Nucleic acids, like RNA and DNA, transmit information to the cells on how to perform correctly and regenerate.
The fermented tea comes in a variety of flavors and there’s pretty much something for everyone.
The flavors in the above photo are (starting at the top-left):
- Superfruits
- Trilogy
- Mystic Mango
- Raspberry Rush
- Passionberry Bliss
- Strawberry Serenity
- Cosmic Cranberry
- Guava Goddess
- Divine Grape
- Gingerberry
I, of course, am reviewing the Strawberry Serenity flavor today.
Strawberry Serenity
Pros
There are a LOT of pros with this tea. This stuff is pungent, in my opinion. I compare it to apple cider vinegar
- better digestion
- healthier hair, nails, and skin
- enhanced eyesight
- increased energy
- relief from arthritis pain
- help eliminating toxins
- speedier healing from cold and flu
- better circulation
- improved blood pressure levels
- relief from gout
- and much, much more!
Pretty amazing, huh?
And it fizzes and sort of tastes like soda to me!
Cons
Price. Not everyone can afford to pay $3 – $4 for a bottle of fermented tea. But there are two servings in each bottle, so you could drink half and save the other half for either the next day or another time – that would result in you paying only $1.50 – $2 per serving.
But sometimes you can catch a crazy good sale and stock up like Brittany, over at Eating Bird Food.
And if you only like to drink things that taste sweet or super great, you may have to convince your mind to drink Kombucha Tea. I’ll be honest, it isn’t for everyone’s taste buds. I have found, though, now that I’ve had a few different flavors (those reviews are coming soon) it is actually “growing on me” and I like it a lot! Kombucha Tea is addictive!
Verdict/Grade
I give Synergy’s Strawberry Serenity GT Kombucha Tea a B+ because the strawberry flavor shines through nicely and it’s yummy. And although it’s a little expensive for a super frugal gal like me, I’d actually buy this with my own money. It isn’t something I can buy often, I would definitely splurge for this once in a while.
And I love the company’s mission statement:
“To combine the wisdom of ancient medicinal foods with the resources of the modern day to create products that uplift and enlighten the health of all those who enjoy them.”
Are you a Kombucha drinker? Do you drink it occasionally or have to have it all the time? Do you make your own or stock up from the store, or online? Share your Kombucha experiences – and if you have a recipe, share!
Coming Next
- Agave: Why I Was Hesitant to Use It, And Won’t Be Using It Anymore
- Health Benefits of Blackstrap Molasses – And Why I Drink It
- More reviews and giveaways!
Contest Alerts
Averie, over at Love Veggies & Yoga, is having a raw food book giveaway.
I’m giving away a jar of Tropical Traditions raw honey.
Disclaimer: The kind folks at www.synergydrinks.com sent me coupons so I could sample a variety of their teas; however, I was not paid to write this review. I was not asked to feature their site, company information, or even mention them. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
Thank you, Synergy!
Also, the organic apple cider vinegar link to Amazon is an affiliate link. So, if you order anything once you’ve clicked that link, I’d make a small commission. Thanks in advance for supporting Raw Juice Girl’s blogging efforts!
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 already reviewed the coconut peanut butter. If you’d like to read that in-depth review, click here.
And now on to my thoughts on raw honey…
It’s Raw!
You know I have a soft spot for raw foods and their healing benefits. This honey would be RAWsome in a smoothie, y’all – especially if you’re wanting added sweetness to hide the taste of kale!
From the site:
Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey comes from the frontier areas of Canada, and is only harvested during a 6-week period in the summer. Tropical Traditions is the exclusive source of this premium organic honey in the U.S. Most commercial honeys available on the market today come from bee farms, where the bees are controlled within a certain area and get their pollen from usually only one kind of flower. Many of the plants that produce these flowers (clover, orange blossom, etc.) are grown with pesticides and fertilizers as well. In addition, almost all honeys on the market are pasteurized in high heat and filtered, removing many of the beneficial nutrients and enzymes.
Tropical Traditions Organic Raw Honey has not been subjected to the heat of processing, only warmed enough to flow (same temperatures the honey would see inside the hive). We select only premium honey that is pure, smooth and creamy, with the consistency of soft margarine at harvest. It contains live yeast and enzymes, because it has not been processed. It also contains pollen because it has not been filtered—merely screened.
Fine textured crystals are characteristic of totally pure, unheated, unprocessed, raw honey. Properly crystallized honey has a fine, smooth texture. Crystallized honey preserves natural goodness and doesn’t drip. The more rapidly honey crystallizes the finer the texture will be. It will also turn harder over time as it crystallizes. Truly raw honeys do not deteriorate with age, but like fine wines, continue to age and develop into more complex tastes.
Some of you wondered why Tropical Traditions raw honey is solid – and not liquid/runny like you see in stores. I hope the above information helps you understand.
Fun Fact!
“Honey has been used since ancient times both as a food and as a medicine. Apiculture, the practice of beekeeping to produce honey, dates back to at least 700 BC. For many centuries, honey was regarded as sacred due to its wonderfully sweet properties as well as its rarity. It was used mainly in religious ceremonies to pay tribute to the gods, as well as to embalm the deceased. Honey was also used for a variety of medicinal and cosmetic purposes. For a long time in history, its use in cooking was reserved only for the wealthy since it was so expensive that only they could afford it.”—WH Foods
It’s (Certified) Organic!
I know for most of you, consuming (certified) organic foods is a priority. It’s not always easy to find certified organic products but when we do, it’s a blessing!
From the site:
In order for honey to be certified organic, the beehives must be placed in isolated areas miles from the dense population, industry, traffic congestion, and farm fields treated with chemicals and landfills. Second, a bee’s flying range is determined by their natural instinct which tells them to stay within their natural four mile range from the hive location. Finding area which can be certified organic is extremely difficult, which is why there are so few certified organic honeys on the market. Tropical Traditions sources its honey from hives in the wild frontier areas of Canada.
These regions are a rich source of wild vegetation that produce some of the finest honey in the world. The USDA and Canadian Organic Certification implies a rigorous set of standards and conditions that must be adhered to by both the producer (beekeeper) and the packager. All aspects of the honey production including the source of the nectar, forage area of the bees, management of the bees, extracting process, transportation, “lot” management, processing temperature, integrity (no co-mingling with non-organic honey), screening, and, packaging materials, are taken into account in the certification process.
17.6 oz. glass jar
Retail: $17.50
15 lb. pail
Retail: $160.00
Health Benefits
Raw honey is anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial and has been known to help:
-
alleviate sore, raw throats
-
coughing
-
allergies
-
heal wounds
-
fight against free radicals
-
lower cholesterol
-
increase energy
-
improve athletic performance
-
boost the immune system
-
and more!
“Phytonutrients found both in honey and propolis have been shown to posssess cancer-preventing and anti-tumor properties. These substances include caffeic acid methyl caffeate, phenylethyl caffeate, and phenylethyl dimethylcaffeate. Researchers have discovered that these substances prevent colon cancer in animals by shutting down activity of two enzymes, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and lipoxygenase. When raw honey is extensively processed and heated, the benefits of these phytonutrients are largely eliminated.”—WH Foods
Raw honey is also a wonderful natural beauty treatment. Smear some on your face and let the raw goodness seep into your pores.
Diabetics don’t have to fear raw honey either:
“Honey may promote better blood sugar control. Proper fueling of the liver is central to optimal glucose metabolism during sleep and exercise. Honey is the ideal liver fuel because it contains a nearly 1:1 ratio of fructose to glucose. Fructose "unlocks" the enzyme from the liver cell’s nucleus that is necessary for the incorporation of glucose into glycogen (the form in which sugar is stored in the liver and muscle cells). An adequate glycogen store in the liver is essential to supply the brain with fuel when we are sleeping and during prolonged exercise. When glycogen stores are insufficient, the brain triggers the release of stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol – in order to convert muscle protein into glucose. Repeated metabolic stress from cortisol produced when less than optimal liver glycogen stores are available during sleep, leads over time, to impaired glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, diabetes, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease and obesity.”—WH Foods
Also, Whole Foods says: “Although our food ranking system did not qualify honey as a dense source of traditional nutrients, it did emerge as a source of vitamin B2, vitamin B6, iron and manganese.”
Pros
As you can see, Tropical Traditions honey is raw, certified organic, and is super high quality, so I know it’s not only chock-full of sweet deliciousness – every smidgen is bursting with health benefits and energy.
I personally love that the raw honey is solid. It’s fun to use and all you have to do to keep the raw enzymes intact and turn it into liquid, is simply put the amount you need in a small bowl and set that bowl in a bowl of warm water – or set that small (glass) bowl/cup near a low heat so it can liquefy.
Cons
It may be a little expensive, if you’re frugal or having to really watch your pennies. A 17.6 oz. glass jar retails for $17.50 so if you’re used to spending $3 – $5 for regular old honey at the grocery store, you might feel like the cost of this honey is a huge splurge for you; however, isn’t what we put into our bodies worth the extra cost?
And that is seriously the only con I can think of, folks!
Verdict/Grade
Raw Juice Girl gives this honey an A. I feel it deserves an A because it’s truly raw, it’s wild, it’s natural, it’s (certified) organic and cruelty-free. I also believe it deserves an A because the company does everything it can to ensure it is the quality product they say it is. And I didn’t add the + (a lot of times I give products an A+) because I feel that the cost may be an issue for some of you. Although I absolutely feel it’s a worthy investment and you are only going to use a small amount so it would last you a while, $17.50 plus shipping is a lot for some folks to shell out – and I realize that.
If you can rearrange your budget or can afford this at all, I absolutely feel it’s worthy every single penny. You have my word!
And be sure to check out the recipes I created using Tropical Traditions raw honey:
Chocolate Banana Avocado Pudding
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here .)
Happy Hemp Honey Holes
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here.)
Coconut PB Honey Overnight Oats
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here.)
Inside-Out Coconut Peanut Butter Cups
(See full recipe with instructions and photos here .)
And my recipe was also published on the Tropical Traditions website!!! <— I’m really excited about that, and very proud.
Search for tons of awesome recipes by clicking the banner:
Win a FREE jar HERE!!!
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 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.
![VirginCoconutOilbookbyBrianandMarian[1]](file:///C:/Users/Jamaica/AppData/Local/Temp/WindowsLiveWriter-429641856/supfiles183DABC/VirginCoconutOilbookbyBrianandMarian.jpg "VirginCoconutOilbookbyBrianandMarian[1]")
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!
Have you tried Tropical Traditions raw honey? Did you love it? What did you think of the consistency? Was it sweeter or better than other honeys you’ve tried? Do you prefer the solid consistency or are you set in your ways when it comes to runny honey? Of course, I realize it isn’t vegan but to my vegan readers: Don’t you think this honey is a wonderful honey to use for those who are transitioning to veganism? Don’t you agree? Or, I know some vegans consume honey from time-to-time. If that’s you, would you give this raw honey a try? Chime in, folks! I LOVE reading your thoughts!
Oh, and just in case you didn’t hear the news: This site is in the midst of a redesign and things might get a little wonky for the next couple of days.
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.
References:
WH Foods: Honey
Dislcaimer: I received the Glass Dharma (eco-friendly, reusable) straws mentioned below, to review (thank you, Glass Dharma!). But I was not paid to write this review, and the links to Glass Dharma’s website are not affiliate links. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now, on to the fun stuff:
Drinking today’s lunch smoothie with a Glass Dharma straw!
But first… I know you love to see when the packages arrive!
Here’s what the Glass Dharma straws came in.
Each packaged separately… 
And I chose to use the 9” Beautiful Bend straw first.
Getting started on my lunch smoothie:
Which I’ve decided to name…
Blueberry-Blackstrap Bomb
Manitoba Hemp Pro 70 Powder
ice cubes
tablespoon of freshly ground flax seeds
2 tablespoons of hemp
a banana
Then I added about half a cup or so of blackstrap molasses water I keep in the fridge (more on this in a future post). But it would be 2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses in a cup of water for you.
After I blended that up, I decided to add a handful of frozen blueberries.
And a couple handfuls of baby spinach leaves…
Yum!
Look at the delicious, beautiful layers!!!
All blended together!
Got too excited, I guess – Oops!
Blueberry Blackstrap Bomb Smoothie Recipe
Ingredients:
Directions:
Toss everything in to the blender, blend until smoothly combined, pour, and enjoy this blast of energizing deliciousness!
Played with the camera…
Okay, okay. So, I’m not a photographer – but it was fun!
And I realize the ingredients may sound odd to you, but this was one seriously delicious smoothie – and I’ve drank a LOT of smoothies!!!
About Glass Dharma Straws
“These straws are made from borosilicate tubing and is the strongest glass commercially available,” says the company.
You’ll also find that these straws are made using a specific process that makes them the highest quality glass straw available.
Dharma Glass straws are versatile and can be enjoyed with either hot or cold drinks – and if you’re lucky enough to own a dishwasher, you can pop ‘em right in there for easy cleaning!
Here’s what Glass Dharma’s site has to say:
Plain and simple, here’s how and why they work:
- Glass straws don’t leach toxins into your food as you drink.
- Each time you use your glass straw equals one less plastic straw ending up in your landfill.
- One glass straw replaces thousands of plastic straws. (How many times will you use a straw the rest of your life?)
- Using your glass drinking straw adds a feeling of beauty to your day.
Now, that’s pretty awesome, don’t ya think?!
Glass Dharma straws are only $6-$8 each – and cost even less if you order a few at once. These would make fantabulous gifts or party favors, people!!!
About the Company
You always know it’s a fantabulous company if there’s an awesome person who owns it.
I love that David Leonhardt, the man behind Glass Dharma, is genuinely passionate about spreading the message of glass straws, NOT for the sole purpose of making money, but because he has a true heart for making a positive impact on the environment and it literally hurts his heart that so many plastic straws are destroying our beautiful earth.
Here’s what Mr. Leonhardt says about why he started the company:
I’ve been a lampworker (glassblower) for over 10 years. My wife, Gail & I recently moved from the Sacramento, CA area, to our dream of living on the Mendocino Coast.
I started doing some work for a local glass shop in town and noticed that the owner had glass drinking straws for sale. I had never heard of these before and I am always intrigued by something made out of glass that I hadn’t thought of. I was struck by the unique elegance in such a simple item.
I immediately recognized that here was a partial solution to our “plastics problem”. Now, granted, there are a lot more plastics in our world than just drinking straws, but bear with me a minute and let me put things in perspective … As of March 2008, McDonald’s serves an average of 52 million meals PER DAY! (Per their website) How many of those served do you think were given a plastic straw? I hope it is becoming obvious just how big of a problem these pesky little plastic straws can be. Remember, this is just from McDonalds!! Get the picture??
So …
I created the GlassDharma line of glass drinking straws and this website to contribute one solution to the misuse of plastics in our society.
Everyone that has seen these straws are filled with delight. Not just because they promote health and are environmentally friendly, but that they do these things with elegance and style.
Yes, I do get the picture! That is total craziness!!
Great job, Mr. Leonhardt!!
Pros
As you read above Glass Dharma straws don’t leach toxins into your drinks or smoothies. And another HUGE pro for me is that Glass Dharma straws help prevent more plastic straws being tossed into landfills, alleys, rivers, creeks, lakes, oceans, etc. Now, I realize that there are absolutely gazillions of plastic straws being tossed in the garbage daily and little ol’ me sipping from a glass straw won’t knock a dent in that – BUT if a whole bunch of us use glass straws, we WILL knock a dent in the plastic straw situation.
They even sell bamboo hard cases …
and hemp soft sleeves to store and/or transport your straws!
They also sell cleaning brushes if you want to be sure your straw is super duper clean inside.
Cons
Hmmm… Cons… Gosh, this one is difficult! I guess if you wanted to consider it a con that you have to wash your straw after you use it, then that’d be a con to you. I don’t personally see that as a con. It’s not that big of a deal for me.
I normally list price as a con if it’s more expensive than I feel the “average” person would be able to afford, but I feel these straws are within most anyone’s budget.
And there’s a lifetime guarantee, so you don’t even have to worry about it breaking!
Sorry, folks, can’t really think of a con on this one!
Verdict/Grade
Glass Dharma straws are not only eco-friendly, they’re beautiful, too. And I’m really enjoying my experience. Using them is fun, washing them is easy peasy, and I liked feeling “fancy schmancy” while I conveniently sipped slurped my smoothie today.
AND it feels good to know that I’m not promoting plastic straw waste that harms the environment. Oh, and these straws won’t break your bank – all that adds up to an A+ in my opinion!
Still not sure you want to invest in Glass Dharma straws? Well, they have a “Lifetime Guarantee Against Breakage” policy you might want to check out! (Read all about it here.)
But you can decide for yourself.
What about you? Have you tried Glass Dharma straws? Do you love them? Have you given ‘em as gifts? Would you like to win a gift certificate to Glass Dharma? Oh, yeah! Stay tuned… contest post coming next!
Updated to add:
Contest is posted! Click here to win a $30 Gift Certificate from Glass Dharma!!!
FTC Disclaimer: NuNaturals provided (free) samples for me to try; however, they did not pay me to write this review and they did not require me to write this review. The thoughts and opinions found here are my own, and are of my free will.
Remember when I got that fantabulous package from NuNaturals? Well, I’ve been experimenting with these sweet products and have lots of reviews coming up!
(A huge thank you to NuNaturals for sending some a LOT of sweetness my way!!)
I decided to try the NuStevia NoCarbs Blend in my tea.
From the site:
NuStevia White Stevia NoCarbs uses Erythritol, a natural filler that is produced from corn. Erythritol enhances the taste of Stevia. NuStevia White Stevia NoCarbs will have absolutely no effect on blood sugar levels and is safe for both Type I and II diabetics.
NuStevia NoCarbs Blend contains 60% more Stevia extract than most other brands on the market. The cost to get the same sweet taste of other brands can be up to 2 1/2 times more expensive compared to NuNaturals. NuNaturals NuStevia NoCarbs Blend will save you money.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease.
Free of Soy, Yeast, Gluten….
According to NuNaturals, NuStevia NoCarbs Blend contains no: soy, yeast, wheat, milk, synthetics, msg, artificial colors or flavors, preservatives, saccharin, aspartame, sucralose, or artificial sweeteners.
Regarding gluten, they say:
This product does not contain gluten. The Maltodextrin used in our White Stevia Powder products is derived from corn. The Erythritol used in our NoCarbs Blend products is derived from corn.
Woo hoo! How awesome is that?!
Personal Touch
What’s this? A cutting board I received from a precious friend as a Christmas gift. Ain’t it pretty?!
Sneak Peek Inside the Bottle
Ingredients (from the site):
NuStevia Extract, Erythritol, Natural Flavors
The natural flavors are natural plant extracts from herbs and berries. These natural flavors do not contain any MSG (monosodium glutamate) or any other “natural flavors” that are known to cause allergic reactions in the body. We do scrutinize the ingredients that we use very carefully and would not use an ingredient known to cause reactions.
Supplement Facts: Serving Size 1/8 tsp Calories 0 Fat Calories 0 % Daily Value* Total Carbohydrates 0g 0% Sugars 0g Sugar Alcohol .42g 0% Total Fat 0g 0% Sodium 0mg 0% Stevia Extract 40 mg* (Stevia rebaudiana) *Daily Value not extablished Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Bitter Buds?
Worried about the bitter aftertaste of Stevia? I didn’t get that with this brand. It sweetens my tea (or oats, etc.) nicely – without a nasty aftertaste. Delish!
Want to know why this brand of Stevia doesn’t have a lingering, bitter aftertaste?
Here’s what the company says…
From the site:
NuNaturals Stevia products are not only non-bitter, but will not leave an unpleasant lingering aftertaste in your mouth like other Stevia products will. This is achieved by both removing the bitter components of the Stevia extract and through the use of natural flavors that improve the taste of the Stevia extract.
Bravo, NuNaturals, bravo!
About the Company
It’s always nice to know a little something about the company behind a product you’re interested in, right?
NuNaturals shares this bit of information on their site:
Thank you for taking the time to get to know us better. We have over 18 years of experience providing nutritional supplements. NuNaturals uses only the highest quality herbs and nutrients to make our products. We belong to the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) and the TruLabel Program.
Wow. Close to 20 years of (sweet) experience… That’s a pretty good record, don’t you think?!
Pros
I love that this Stevia is sweet, delicious, and doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste. I also love the low-carb aspect. And I honestly believe it’s affordable for most everyone. At $9.99 per bottle, it’s a super deal because you use such a teeny tiny amount, it will last like forever.
It’s also small and convenient. You can pop this little bottle in your purse and take it with you. If you’re slow and cautious, you can simply shake some right from the bottle into your drink – without having to use a spoon – so it’s nice to just carry with you and have on hand if you buy an unsweetened tea (or other beverage or food) while you’re out on the town.
And my experience with the company has been just stellar. I feel confidant yours would be, too.
Cons
Hmmm…. This one is difficult! I sometimes include cost as a con when I write my reviews because, let’s face it, not all of us can truly afford some of the healthier products – but I can’t use cost as a con on this product. I think it’s price is more than fair because you use such a minute amount, it’s really cost-effective in the long run.
Another thing I (personally) toss in to the “con pile” when I’m reviewing a product, is whether or not it is organic. This product is not. But there are a lot of NuNaturals products that are, so if you’re a stickler for organic/certified organic only, I still recommend you check out their site and see for yourself what awesome products they’re carrying.
If you don’t mind some non-organic products, then for sure try this out!
Sweet Tea
Let me walk you through combining NuStevia NoCarbs Blend + a glass of herbal tea to recreate sweet tea from my childhood, drank from a glass jar – just like grandma did!
Adding the Stevia Powder
Sweet Sipping Time!
The only thing missing was a slice of lemon!
I absolutely adore Stevia and use it in my tea, sometimes my oats, and recipes. I’ve loved it for years, and found it to be a life-saver during my 100+ pound weight loss. I was so happy to have a (healthy) sweetener for my old-fashioned tea.
Verdict/Grade
I give this product an A- because although it isn’t certified organic, it is delicious, free of a bitter aftertaste, very cost-friendly, and fun to use! That’s a winner, in my opinion!
What’s your go-to sweetener? White, processed sugar? Dates? Stevia? Honey? Agave*? Turbinado? Xylitol? And… are you (gasp!) using Splenda? (You may want to read this article if you’re using Splenda.) Would you try something else? Are you open-minded about sweeteners? Do you switch things up, or stick with one certain kind? Let me know!
Oh, and don’t forget about my latest contest! You might really, really want to take advantage of those extra entry options (like linking back on your blog) because there’s 200+ entries already and it doesn’t end until Friday, February 19th! Enter now!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links**. If you purchase anything once you click on the links, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!
*I didn’t link to agave like I did the other sweeteners because I’ve decided NOT to consume agave anymore – more about that in a future post.
**The link to NuNaturals is not an affiliate link; the links that take you to Amazon.com are affiliate links.
References:
NuNaturals.com
Rubin, Jordan. Issue 14: Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners
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
![organiccoconutpeanutbutterTropicalTr[6]](http://healingwithjuices.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/organiccoconutpeanutbutterTropicalTr2.jpg "organiccoconutpeanutbutterTropicalTr[6]")
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:
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.
I’m glad you enjoyed my review of Oh!Nuts (RAW) Macadamia Nuts – and that you’re having fun with all the numerous ways to get extra entries in on the contest to win your very own one-pound bag!
Now, on to those…
Big (RAW) Georgia pecans!
Just look at those beauties!
And like I’ve mentioned before: Don’t fear those healthy fats – our bodies need ‘em!
You’ll know your lacking in healthy fats when your hair is brittle and your skin is dry and your eyes are dried-out and giving you a fit all the time, etc.
Health Benefits of Raw Pecans
So, what’s a raw pecan good for – no, not baked, sugary pecan pie!
Well, besides being filled with healthy fats, pecans contain potassium, zinc, vitamin E, and vitamin A. Talk about promoting healthy skin and fighting infections!
Pecans may help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. They are heart-healthy, filling, delicious and so good for us!
Nutritional Information
If you’ve been looking for a yummy, low-carb snack or ingredient, you only have to count 3 carbs in each serving of raw pecans!
How did I enjoy these jumbo Georgia pecans, in the raw?
- by the handful
- on top of salad
What can I say? Sometimes I’m just boring.
Of course, I wasn’t selfish – I shared some, too. And I was a sad gal when I saw the bottom of the empty bag. Too bad it wasn’t a magical bag that could just replenish itself!
About Oh!Nuts – The Company
As legend has it, a number of the Klein’s friends who heard the idea said you could go nuts trying to name a store like that. In their excitement, the Klein’s thought their friends said "Oh Nuts" instead of "Go Nuts" and proceeded to throw caution to the wind—and themselves into designing a 15×15 retail space into a warmly cozy experience that would become their flagship store.
While their products were both dairy and non dairy, their first Oh Nuts hand a definite dairy dynamic if for no other reason than the fact they used milk crates as display shelves.
Though as these shelves were displaying absolute freshest selections of imported and domestic nuts, dried fruits and confections, they quickly realized that consumers liked their fresh approach to retailing.
And while the milk crates were eventually replaced by more conventional retail displays and shelving, and the flagship store welcomed an even more impressive sibling less than a year later, one thing that didn’t change then—and won’t ever change, is the Klein’s approach to retailing "Keep It Fresh," "Keep It Fun," "Keep It Phenomenal."
Today, the Oh Nuts brand is a nationally recognized one stop shop for everything in dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, candies, related confections (both finished products and raw ingredients,) custom and pre-configured gift baskets for any occasion, (real or imagined)—even hard to find items like sugar-free and organic products—become remarkably easy to find when you enter the world of Oh Nuts.
Pros
Some things I loved about this bag of raw Georgia pecans is that the nuts came in a resealable bag.
I love the giant size of the pecans, that they’re whole, and that they’re really delicious!
You could do a gazillion things with these raw nuts: make raw desserts, crusts, eat ‘em alone, add ‘em to veggie or fruit salad, etc.
If you have a Vita-Mix or other equipment, you could even make your own raw pecan nut butter. YUM-O!
These raw pecans are KOSHER – for those of you who find that important.
Honestly, what’s not to love about a giant raw pecans that are loaded with nutritious health benefits?
Cons
As I’ve mentioned before, one of the biggest cons I try to look out for when writing reviews (other than if it’s honestly a healthy/worthy product – and these are), is cost. I realize price is a huge factor for most of us, and is the biggest reason people tend to shy away from raw foods.
This one-pound bag costs $8.99 per pound (plus shipping) but if you buy in bulk, cost per pound goes down with each additional pound your order. (That’s a plus!)
And although these raw pecans are indeed RAW, they aren’t organic, in case you’re sensitive to that aspect.
That’s really the only “cons” I have to share. I genuinely loved the pecans and also the correspondence with the company itself.
Verdict/Grade
I’ve decided to give these raw pecans a B+ (same as the macadamia nuts) and here’s why: Although I love ‘em and they’re raw, they aren’t organic. They ARE Kosher Certified, though. And that’s a bonus for a lot of us.
The company seems to be doing a fantabulous job. If you want to see all the other fantabulous products they offer (and they DO offer organic products, they just aren’t all raw), visit: www.ohnuts.com .
What’s your fondest memory of eating pecans? Did you (or your grandparents) have a pecan tree in your yard when you were growing up? Do you have one now? Do you wish you did? Since I grew up in the South, I guess I have to admit my fondest memory of pecans are eating the pecan pie my grandma made from scratch. She also made coconut cream pie, but that’s a story for another day.
Want some raw pecans for yourself?
Click HERE to enter the Contest!
Another Contest
You can also enter my OTHER contest for a one-pound bag of raw macadamia nuts. Get those entries in!
Disclaimer: I received a one-pound bag of raw pecans from Oh!Nuts to review. They also agreed to sponsor this contest. They provided one-pound bag of raw pecans for you to enjoy. I am responsible for shipping costs on this contest.
Due to the Federal Trade Commission’s ruling, I must always make you aware of when I receive free samples. I have always done that in the past (see my Reviews page and read my full disclaimer there) and will continue to do so.
And, most importantly, I have NOT been paid to write this review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are from me and of my own free will.
First, I’d love to thank www.ohnuts.com for sending me samples to review, and for sponsoring a contest so y’all can try some, too!
Raw Juice Girl is excited to bring to you:
Raw Macadamia Nuts
If you’re afraid that macadamia nuts do nothing but make you gain weight, you may be misinformed.
Let me share with you what a powerful and healthy food these nuts are…
Macadamia Nuts Health Benefits
Macadamia nuts can be used in more ways than just white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, y’all. Tell me a rich cookie, cake, or pie wasn’t on your mind when you look at those macadamia nuts, eh?
These nuttylicious babies help promote heart health and fight cancer. You’ll find the following in macadamia nuts:
- Omega-3
- Vitamin A
- iron
- niacin
- riboflavin
- thiamine
- Vitamin E
Of course, you know vitamin E promotes healthy skin. Move over chemical beauty products – we’re eating healthy fats to make us PURDY (and handsome)!
Nutritional Information
Check that out! Do you see that carb watchers? With the three grams of fiber, each serving only has ONE carb! Woo hoo!
And don’t stress over the fats – those are healthy fats and our bodies need ‘em to thrive!
These raw macadamia nuts were SO delicious!
Let me tell you how I enjoyed these yumilicious babies:
- by the handful
- on top of raw veggie salad
- with Greek yogurt
I also shared some. I was so sad to see the bottom of this bag. Of course, when I stock up on macadamia nuts again, I’m going to use them for raw dessert recipes and get really creative.
About Oh!Nuts – The Company
As legend has it, a number of the Klein’s friends who heard the idea said you could go nuts trying to name a store like that. In their excitement, the Klein’s thought their friends said "Oh Nuts" instead of "Go Nuts" and proceeded to throw caution to the wind—and themselves into designing a 15×15 retail space into a warmly cozy experience that would become their flagship store.
While their products were both dairy and non dairy, their first Oh Nuts hand a definite dairy dynamic if for no other reason than the fact they used milk crates as display shelves.
Though as these shelves were displaying absolute freshest selections of imported and domestic nuts, dried fruits and confections, they quickly realized that consumers liked their fresh approach to retailing.
And while the milk crates were eventually replaced by more conventional retail displays and shelving, and the flagship store welcomed an even more impressive sibling less than a year later, one thing that didn’t change then—and won’t ever change, is the Klein’s approach to retailing "Keep It Fresh," "Keep It Fun," "Keep It Phenomenal."
Today, the Oh Nuts brand is a nationally recognized one stop shop for everything in dried fruits, nuts, chocolates, candies, related confections (both finished products and raw ingredients,) custom and pre-configured gift baskets for any occasion, (real or imagined)—even hard to find items like sugar-free and organic products—become remarkably easy to find when you enter the world of Oh Nuts.
Pros
I love that these macadamia nuts came in a resealable bag, making it easier for storage and future use.
I love that these are whole, good-sized macadamia nuts, and not small ones.
I love that there’s a TON of uses for these yummy nuts. Even if you wanted to roast ‘em, you could.
Want your own macadamia nut butter? Grind yourself some of these raw macadamia nuts and you’ll have raw macadamia nut butter, freshly made!
These raw macadamia nuts are KOSHER – for those of you who find that important.
Honestly, what’s not to love about a giant raw macadamia nut that’s loaded with nutritious health benefits?
Cons
The biggest con I try to look out for when writing reviews (other than if it’s honestly a healthy/worthy product – and these are) is cost. I realize price is a huge factor for most of us, and is the biggest reason people tend to shy away from raw foods.
This 1 pound bag costs $1o.99 (plus shipping) but if you buy in bulk, cost per pound goes down with each additional pound your order. (That’s a plus!)
And although these raw macadamia nuts are indeed RAW, they aren’t organic, in case you’re sensitive to that aspect.
That’s really the only “cons” I can think of to share with you – I really enjoyed the macadamia nuts, and the correspondence with the company itself.
Verdict/Grade
I suppose I’ll give these raw macadamia nuts a B+ – and here’s why: Although I love ‘em and they’re raw, they aren’t organic. They ARE Kosher Certified, though. And that’s a bonus for a lot of us.
The company seems to be doing a fantabulous job. If you want to see all the other fantabulous products they offer (and they DO offer organic products, they just aren’t all raw), visit: www.ohnuts.com.
Do y’all love macadamia nuts as much as I do? Oh gosh, I fantasize about having an endless supply of macadamia nuts all. the. time!
Want Some Raw Macadamia Nuts?
Click HERE to enter the contest!
Another Contest
You can also enter my OTHER contest for a one-pound bag of raw Georgia pecans. Get those entries in!
Disclaimer: I received a 1 pound back of raw macadamia nuts from Oh!Nuts to review. They also agreed to sponsor this contest. They provided a 1 pound bag of raw macadamia nuts for you to enjoy. I am responsible for shipping costs on this contest.
Due to the Federal Trade Commission’s ruling, I must always make you aware of when I receive free samples. I have always done that in the past (see my Reviews page and read my full disclaimer there) and will continue to do so.
And, most importantly, I have NOT been paid to write this review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are from me and of my own free will.
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
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?!
Just stopping by? Have you tried my coconut peanut butter honey overnight oats yet? Or maybe you’d like to try your hand at my chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls or raw tuna fish-less salad. And you simply HAVE to try my latest, simple creation: Coconut Peanut Butter Cream. YUM!
A Day of Eats + Treats
This post is a record of my raw, Vegan eats and treats from the other day. I started the morning off in a fun, protein-filled way by making myself some of Averie’s Raw Vegan (Vanilla) Chia Seed Pudding. It’s filling, delicious, and held me over nicely until lunch. Lotsa protein, flavor, texture, plus that fantabulous superfood: chia — YAY and YUM!
Oh, and Averie even told her readers all about me making her recipe. She shared lots of readers’ photos and links to their blogs in her tribute post to readers who’ve made her RAWsome concoctions!
Lunch was…
leftover Tuna Fish-Less Salad
on top of raw veggie salad, with a few cranks of pink sea salt
And the Treats?
How about two simple ingredients and flavor that’ll rawk your world??!!
Enter:
A Date with Almond Butter
I had two more of these later that evening. SO good!!
Wow. Such a simple dessert – and it’s raw AND delicious! Woo hoo!!
For dinner
I had more raw veggie salad topped with the last of my Raw Tuna Fish-Less Salad.
This is what a day is like for me when I’m truly sticking to 100% raw/Vegan foods. Of course, there are times I’ll use something that isn’t 100% raw but I try to stay as raw as possible. I just feel better physically and mentally that way.
So what’s a day of your eats and treats like? Have you ever enjoyed a date filled with almond butter? If not, are you going to try it?
Just stopping by? Have you tried my coconut peanut butter honey overnight oats yet? Or maybe you’d like to try your hand at my chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls or raw tuna fish-less salad. And congrats to Cyn for winning my latest contest!!
This morning when I woke up, I enjoyed a delicious bowl of overnight oats. It was SO filling that noon came and went and I still wasn’t hungry for lunch!
I eventually wanted a little something and remembered I had some frozen bananas. My mindwheel started turning….
The result?
Coconut Peanut Butter Cream
Know the banana soft serve that’s swept across the blogosphere like a cyber hurricane?
Oh, yeah!
I tossed the bananas in the blender and I noticed there was some cream of coconut a family member hadn’t used up. So I threw 3 tablespoons in the blender. I’d say there was about 4 bananas in that bag.
What came out of the blender was this:
Beautiful, isn’t it?! And if that wasn’t delicious enough, I thought of the Coconut Peanut Butter that Tropical Traditions sent me!
Drizzle, Drizzle
Then… a MIRACLE
When Tropical Traditions Coconut Peanut Butter is drizzled over something cold (like banana soft serve), it hardens up!! Like the chocolate on a dip cone!!! Eeeeeekkk!!! What??!!! I was ecstatic!!!!
Dessert for Lunch
I must admit, this hemp-loving, salad-chompin’ Raw Juice Girl enjoyed every last creamy, smooth, decadent, sweet bite of her dessert for lunch. I know I’ll be having Coconut Peanut Butter Cream again soon!! YUM!!
Oh, and I only had a small portion. I shared the rest with family. Boy, were they SURPRISED at how good my banana ice cream tasted!!
For anyone wondering: The peanuts in the Coconut Peanut Butter are roasted so that isn’t raw. And the cream of coconut from that can had preservatives, so it isn’t raw either. Of course, the bananas are raw. Yippee for that!
Even though this dessert isn’t 100% raw, it SURE was yummy to the tummy!
Worried about the nutritional value of this dessert for lunch? Well, Coconut Peanut Butter Cream provides protein, fiber, potassium, and more!
What about you? Have you jumped on the raw banana soft serve bandwagon yet? What’s your favorite raw dessert? Are you going to try my Coconut Peanut Butter Cream? Tell me all about it!
Just stopping by? Have you entered my latest contest (over a $200 value)? Or maybe you’d like to try your hand at my chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls or raw tuna fish-less salad.
You might remember the Excalibur dehydrator I was sent to review. I’ve been experimenting with it – just hadn’t posted about my adventures. Why? I’ve had quite a few “Raw Flops" goin’ on around here. Yep.
Upon a reader’s request (thanks, Beth!) I’ll be sharing my (un)cooking disasters in the new category: Raw Flops. But don’t worry, I have some rawsome stuff comin’ up, too!
And… here’s a story written in third person. Why? I guess I just kinda felt like writing about myself that way as I reflected on this dehydrating disaster.
Raw Juice Girl’s Flax Flop
Once upon a time, in a raw fantasy world, lived a gal who dreamt of creating the bestest raw flax seed crackers ever. She put her flax seeds to soakin’ while thinking about all those health benefits: omegas, manganese, fiber, folate, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and Vitamin B6.
Those beautiful little seeds gettin’ their soak on just screamed healthy heart, blood pressure, bones, hair, skin, nails, colon, and so much more—like fighting cancer, diabetes, dry eyes, and hot flashes.
Oh my!
<insert dreamy (healthy) eyes here>
The Raw Food Revolution Diet
It felt like DAYS waiting the 8 hours for those seeds to soak. *looks around* Where’d Raw Juice Girl’s patience go? Someone stole it!
Cherie’s recipe called for 4 cups of chopped bell pepper (or tomato). Raw Juice Girl had neither so she used raw broccoli slaw instead. Oh, joy!
Next up, raw zucchini. Nope, none of that either! Enter: diced, raw apple.
Blend it all up, Cherie says.
Um, it looks like puke. That’s what she said.
Gotta have some seasoning! Yay for HimalaSalt samples (again, free – yummy – samples Raw Juice Girl was sent for review)…
Organic garlic salt
Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Stir it all up!
Smear it on the dehydrator tray (with a liner).
Close-up
Score the mixture to make separated cracker lines.
The house smelled sooooooooooooooooo good while these crackers were (un)cooking!
105* for 12 hours, Cherie says
Raw Juice Girl leaped out of bed the next morning, with bright eyes and pep to her step. She ran into the kitchen like a child on Christmas morning expecting shiny, new flax seed crackers ready for flippin’.
Imagine her surprise when she opened the Dehydrator door and found this:
Flax Crackers Stuck to Wax Paper!!!
Raw Juice Girl wanted to just cry…
And the saddest part? Raw Juice Girl managed to break off a teeny piece of cracker (without waxed paper attached!) and it tasted REALLY good.
*sigh*
The moral of this story, folks, is that Raw Juice Girl shoulda used parchment paper or waited ‘till she got some Excalibur non-stick, reusable sheets.
She was so blasted mad at that wax paper, she thought about eatin’ it but didn’t have an appetite after finding her ruined crackers! Humph!
See, Raw Juice Girl is real. She makes mistakes. She doesn’t have all the raw food stuff figured out. She’ll be your guinea pig, though. You can learn from her mistakes and get a few laughs along the way…
Stay tuned for more Raw Flops. This is a new category featuring Raw Juice Girl’s bloopers. You won’t want to miss a single post!
Resources:
WH Foods: Flax Seeds
First time visiting? Check out my latest contest (over a $200 value!) and my chocolate-covered raisin hemp balls. You may also enjoy Zeenat’s guest post about the healing benefits of onions.
Sounds crazy, huh? Well, before you think I’m crazy just hear me out, please.
Raw Reflections
I had the amazing opportunity to review the Raw for Thirty and Raw for Life DVDs a while back. I still remember how raw and real the DVDs were.
Here’s a snippet of my thoughts from that review:
Simply Raw gives you a peek into the journey of six Americans who are battling diabetes. Some of them are also battling obesity. While staying at The Tree of Life in Arizona, under the supervision of Dr. Gabriel Cousens, the six individuals (with various diabetes levels and insulin problems) were carefully monitored and cared for.Looking into the lives of these people and watching their struggles, their honest attempts, and then more struggles as they tried to make it through the 30-day program just broke my heart. I’ve been obese morbidly obese. I know the pain. I know how discouraging it can be to wake up every morning with a heavy person weighing your life down and feeling like life is hopeless and like you can never, ever achieve the healthier, slimmer body you so desire.
I also used to be on diabetic medication because my blood sugar was atrocious. I related so much to the stories these people shared in this DVD. It was almost as if I were living my own morbid obesity and blood sugar problems all over again!
So, I absolutely believe in the power of raw foods and know from personal experience and my own journey that blood sugar can stabilize. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and am now eating 100% raw food–no more diabetic medication for me!
Raw Reality
Living with diabetes is no fun. And that’s why I wanted to let you know that for a short time, you can get a 50% discount on this DVD set about reversing diabetes! That’s right! That’s a HUGE savings!! And with money being so tight these days, that 50% savings is such a blessing for you – especially if you’re sick and tired of living with diabetes as the ruler of your life!
Raw Hope
Do check this DVD set out – even if you aren’t diabetic. I don’t believe you’ll be the same once you watch the stories and hear the experts chime in with facts.
Everyone’s bodies are different, so you may not be diabetic-free within 30 days BUT if you follow the raw food lifestyle, it’s a given that your blood sugar and other health issues should improve by the end of the 30 days. It depends on your weight and/or how bad your blood sugar levels are.
There IS hope for a better, more beautiful tomorrow, people. It lies within you to resurrect it and make it happen. Take this RAWsome opportunity to change your life. Who needs to wait until the new year to make resolutions and lifestyle changes?! Start today, so you’ll have your own raw reflections and health transformations to share with others!!
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!!!
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