Herbolution

I have to say that my experience with Sasha and Veronika at Herbolution has been a delightful experience from start to finish. I was pleased to be able to review two of their many body care items. First I'll point out that they are all Organic, many are vegan, handcrafted in the US and made with recycled and sustainable packaging. In addition to their body care line of products, they make home, office and
fashion items with the same care and attention.

 

I reviewed Herbolutions Baby Floral Water and Baby Balm. As soon as I opened the box that came in the mail I was treated to an herbal experience. I have to admit that I have a weakness for lavender so when each baby product came wrapped in a biodegradable bag with lavender and herbs I was impressed. These whole dried botanicals are food grade and all natural so they are easy to add to a loose tea if you want to have the full experience. They also enclosed a sample of another wonderful sample, a return customer coupon, and other descriptions of their products all printed on sustainable banana paper.

 

 



This is the Baby Floral Water in a glass spray bottle with it's accompanying herbs. My two main uses for this product were bum cleaning, and hair taming. For diaper changing it's great to use on my cloth wipes when it's not too messy of a diaper just to freshen her up and clean any ammonia left on her skin. The lavender scent is wonderful and is paired with a chamomile that is a little too sweet for my taste but I have been known to be picky when it comes to scents. I am certified scent crazy by a receptionist with whom I once worked. I used to sneak into her office down the hall and turn her plug-in air fresheners off when she was away. Usually I could smell spiced apple or Tahitian vanilla for an hour after I left work. We weren't close, she and I.

 



 

Coral has a crazy hair do most days but I hardly notice since mine is usually just a crazy. Here's a picture of Coral's usual hair mess at the local bookstore. While she fits in with the intellectual crowd, she is looking much more dapper with a few spritzes of my Baby Floral Water. Other uses for the spray are as follows:  a light facial toner with soothing properties, hair reviver, linen spray, clothes freshener, air freshener, add 2 Tb to bath tub to enhance the relaxing experience

 

 



The Touch of Nature Baby Balm is so wonderful. It is a light paste that melts in your hands to a gentle and lightly scented moisturizer and protecter that quickly absorbs into your baby's skin. I used it on her bum when chapped and regularly on her legs and arms since it's so dry in our house this time of year. It's also a treat for me to use and my hands are lightly moisturized after using on the baby.

 

 

Sasha and Veronika are generously offering one Baby Balm and one Floral Water Spray to our readers. We will be picking two winners and giving the balm to the first, and the spray the the second!

 

Please check out our friends at Herbolution at any of the following places!

Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/herbolution

Artfire studio: www.artfire.com/users/Herbolution

Facebook : www.facebook.com/Herbolution

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Herbolution

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Moody Sisters

I posted a few months ago about my new found love for some organic skincare I found on etsy, from Moody Sisters. Since the writing of that post, I have acquired many more of their products and I can't get enough of them. Everything is such a great quality, lasts a surprisingly long time and works so incredibly well.

As the new "WAHM Contributing Writer", I (Terra) thought I would kick of my post schedule (which will typically be on Wednesdays!) with a quick update on the Moody Sisters.

Right now, there is a great giveaway on their blog for their Intense Moisturizing Cream - if you have "winter hands" then this is for you. It has worked so well for myself (and my husband when I can share it! ha!) ((The giveaway does end on Saturday night, so enter now!))

As we all know, Valentine's Day is coming up, and the Moody Sisters have a Love Potion set that is sure to send sparks flying! The set include a Love Potion (massage oil), Face & Body Whip and Bath & Shower Oil, all in a very sensuous, flirty floral vanilla scent!

You can also use the code "REFERRAL" for 20% off your first purchase from Moody Sisters!

Head on over, check out their fantastic product line, enter the giveaway and treat yourself to something special!

Disclaimer: I am a contributing writer for the Moody Sisters blog and have received some items free for review on their blog, however all opinions are my own and honest. You may have a difference experience. The giveaway mentioned is sponsored by the Moody Sisters.

Herbal First Aid Kit by EcoChic Boutique

Our family is slowing making changes in the items we use around the home so, I was thrilled to be able to review the brand new Herbal First Aid Kit from EcoChic Boutique. The kit comes in a small gauze bag with some band-aids and an instruction sheet:Inside the bag is a handful of very useful items that all work amazingly well!

First up:

CleanWashThis is a natural equivalent to hand sanitizer. You can apply it directly to abrasions or to your hands after exposure to pathogens.
The ingredients are distilled water, witch hazel, colloidal silver, and essential tea tree oil.
Because there isn't any alcohol in this, it takes a bit longer for it to 'evaporate' from your hands, but we chose to use this after all our doctors appointments as my kiddos fought and shared the crud over the past few weeks. Did it work better or just like hand sanitizer? I'm not sure, BUT I definitely felt a lot better using this over the typical hand sanitizer.

Next:
BooBoo StickThis can be applied to minor abrasions, scrapes, bumps and bruises.
It is made up of Apricot Seed Oil with Comfrey Root and Arnica, Bees Wax, Castor Oil and Essential Clove.
I have started using Arnica Gel on our bumps and bruises and it works wonderfully. The BooBoo Stick is a bit cleaner version (compared to a tube of gel) and works just as great in dulling the severity of bumps and bruises.
I had a couple of opportunities to try this out. First, my youngest is a biter (with two big brothers, you have to get attention SOME how, right?! sigh). Well, one morning, Benjamin (my middle son) kept taking toys away from Caedmon (my youngest) after repeated times of me asking him not to. I finally said, "Benjamin, he's going to hit you or bite you...you need to stop taking his toys..." Next thing I know, my 14 month old lunged at Benjamin and sure enough, bit him on the shoulder! ::facesmack::
The second time was when Benjamin bit his lip one evening (I think it happened as he was chewing his lip and sneezed... talented children I have!) but he kept asking me to put something on it. I honestly wasn't sure WHAT to put on it. It only bleed for a few moments, but you could tell it really bugged him. I finally emailed Nicole from EcoChic Boutique and she confirmed that I could most definitely use the BooBoo Stick on his lips (it should be noted this should not be ingested in large quantities - as in more than 1 tube of this!)
Within about 24 hours of application, both times, I started to see healing. Would there have been an infection without applying this? Who knows, but, at least I was able to put something safe on their battle wounds to help speed up the healing process.

After that we have:
KalmSkinThis can be used on rashes, bug bites and any venom bites.
Nicole informed me that in her area, this is highly regarded as a diaper rash cream and it is totally safe for cloth diapers!
The ingredients are: Plantain infused olive oil, bees wax, apricot seed oil, chamomile infused oil and castor oil.
This has worked wonders for us. I've been using it on all these nasty bug bites we have (we call them demon mosquitoes - these evil little critters), as well as my youngest sons eczema.
I honestly didn't even get a chance to try it as diaper cream. But I have it set aside for the first sign of a rash!

Finally:
Kalm TummyThis is a topical remedy only and 3-4 drops are to be applied to the abdominal area in a circular motion.
All herbs have been organically grown - Peppermint infused olive oil, plantain infused olive oil, chamomile infused grape seed oil and castor oil.
We have only had one opportunity to use this (thankfully!) and it worked fairly well as far as I can tell. My middle son was telling me that his tummy hurt one evening and I tried this out. There was no more complaining of a yucky tummy (but I'm not sure if he would have still complained or not).

I kept (oddly enough) hoping for opportunities to try the items (not counting the CleanWash - I about used that bottle up taking care of my sick crew!) on myself since with toddlers and pre-school aged children, it is sometimes difficult to tell if they are still hurting or not, or how well something is working. I was able to try the KalmSkin on my own bug bites and random rashes, and it worked great!

The Herbal First Aid Kit retails for $18 and can be found HERE.

You can find Nicole and EcoChic Boutique on Facebook, Etsy and Hyena Cart, where she also makes and sells a variety of baby carriers, children's items and cloth diapers.

Moody Sisters Organic Skin Care Review

I've been desiring to make the switch in all my body care products from those filled with a bunch of things that I cannot pronounce (and not to mention, who knows WHAT they do!) to products that are a bit more friendlier for myself, my family and the earth.

I started with a deodorant recommended by a friend. My next biggest concerns were my body wash and face scrub. I was so excited when I happened upon Moody Sisters Organic Skin Care on Facebook. I browsed their Etsy shop and quickly found two products I thought I could love.
First, their {Foaming} Face & Body Wash. Mine is Lift Me Up Lemon and has such a clean, fresh scent. The ingredient list rocks: Olive Oil. Castile Soap. Sunflower Oil. Aloe Vera. Tea Tree Oil. Vitamin E. Lemon. Herbal Extracts and Essential Oils.

That's it.

And this:
Is all you need. (maybe a little more, but a little bit goes such a long way). I can wash all of me with that little handful.

I never thought that my previous body wash left me feeling anything but clean, until I left this foaming soap at home on a trip, and I had to use that other body wash....

gross.

I felt so...covered...in gunk.

Moody Sisters washes off so well and leaves you feeling like you should...clean.

Amazing, huh? :)

I have also been using the foaming body wash in place of my shaving gel and it works so much better. Clean cuts and no irritation.

The second product I purchased and fell in love with: their Face & Lip Scrub. The ingredients, again, are awesome: Kaolin Clay. Ground Oats. Almond Meal. Arrowroot Powder. Peppermint. Pumice. Strawberry Seeds. Witch Hazel. Lemon Peel. Salt.
I've only used it once on my lips (you know when they get all peely and icky...please tell me that isn't just me!) It was like I had new lips or something :)

However, I've used it a bunch on my face and I can not fathom using anything else. Ever. Again.

I simply shake a little handful into my hand and add water or a small squirt of the foaming body wash and rub it on my face. Rinse and enjoy!

I have never used anything on my face that has left my face feeling so clean, so fresh and so 'bright'. It's great!

There was a third product I wanted to purchase, but the budget wouldn't allow. However, the Moody Sisters sent a sample with my order, and I'm still kicking myself for not ordering it - Whipped Body Lotion. The best way to describe this product is 'airy'. Think hair mousse without the greasy residue. I only had about one use in the sample container - just enough to tease me for not purchasing! - but it is amazing. It left my skin so soft, so smooth - I can't imagine if I could use it every single day! (I will. SOON!) :)

If you are looking to make the change to more organic skin care, or do use it and are looking for something different, be sure to check out Moody Sisters - they know what they are doing and do it great!

Be sure to fan them on Facebook to keep up with all the latest happenings!

***Please use code GIVEAWAY for 20% your purchase!!!!***

Disclaimer: I purchased the Foaming Body Wash and Lip & Face Scrub for my own personal use. All opinions are my own and you may have a different experience.

Everything Birth

Everything Birth is an incredible business. As their logo says, they do have everything "from birth supplies to cloth diapers." As a birth junkie and doula myself, I loved browsing their homebirth supply kits and the wide variety of items for Moms and Babies, everything from pregnancy tests and menstrual care to cloth diapers and organic toys - everything in between too! One thing I thought was neat was the Midwife Cause of the Month - places where you can give money or supplies to help support moms, babies and childbirth locally and around the world.

Crystal, the mom behind Everything Birth is incredibly sweet and a mom to three children, all born at home. She is preparing to run the Boston Marathon raising money for the American Liver Foundation!

I had the privilege of trying out Garden Dreams Baby Bum Butter. We normally battle minor rashes from time to time, but of course, we have not had a single diaper rash since we received this Bum Butter. However, I was still able to try it out in other ways! More on that in a moment.

This itty bitty tub has gone a long way! My first thought was, "We will totally use that up in a heartbeat!" We received the tub on May 20th, as of July 4, more than half of the container remains full. In other words, a little bit goes a long way! And it's perfect for stashing in your bag (purse or diaper bag!)

The Baby Bum Butter does have a very light scent, but it doesn't linger. It is very light on your fingers and doesn't leave a greasy feeling behind.
Love the ingredient list with Olive Oil being the main ingredient - I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to use it with our cloth diapers. Like I said, we haven't battled a rash in the past 5 or so weeks since we received it, but I have it waiting for the moment I discover one!
What I was able to use it for: Bug Bites! I was thrilled to see that the Baby Bum Balm has a handful of uses, also including helping with scratches and skin irritations.
We have the worst little bugs in our back yard - we call them Demon Mosquitoes. They are itty bitty, black and gray, scary looking little creatures and they leave horrible bites all over us. I hate using "popular" bug sprays but nothing works (We have started using Off! Clip Ons and they help a little bit). Needless to say, we are always covered in little bites.

(Note: I tried taking pictures of the bug bites all over my legs before and after, but it always looked like I hadn't shaved in months, so we are skipping the close up leg shots) ;) With that being said, we use this for bug bites ALL the time now! The itch goes away almost immediately and the redness and bumps are gone with in a day or so - definitely better than anything we have tried before!

The Baby Bum Butter comes in 3 sizes: travel, 2oz. and 4oz. and prices range from $4.95 to $13.95.

Disclaimer: I received one container of Garden Dreams Baby Bum Butter for review. All opinions are my own and you may have a different experience.