Archive for the ‘ Something to Feel Good About ’ Category

Why You Should Switch from Coffee to Tea

Why You Should Switch from Coffee to Tea

I have been making a HUGE effort to cut down on my caffeine intake (which has gotten out of control lately) so, recently I have been experimenting with herbal teas.

Why switch from coffee to tea?  Well, there are numerous health benefits to making a switch from coffee to tea (I made a whole list for you at the end of this post) which include everything from increasing energy to glowing skin and getting a better nights sleep.

I quickly learned on this tea journey that a grocery store tea bag just wasn’t gonna cut it- because I’m fancy like that..lol.  I need flavor.

Luckily I found the most flavor packed tea purveyor on the planet, Palais des Thés.

French brand Palais des Thés is known throughout the world for its incredible selection of single-estate teas, rare Grands Crus teas and unique signature flavored teas and infusions.

All of their ingredients are sourced directly from the countries of origin in order to ensure the highest quality. Not only do they care about quality and flavor they also care about our planet!  The environment, sustainable development and fair trade are priority issues for Palais des Thés.  They work closely with all of the plantations they buy from to ensure there is no child labor and no enforced labor, that respect for the environment through clean farming methods is being practiced including no deforestation.

They have a wide range of flavor packed teas including both caffeinated and herbal.

Palais Des Thes L'Herboriste No 119

Palais de Thes L’Herboriste collection of herbal infusions is a collection of delicious blends of healthful aromatic plants, fruits and spices which not only taste amazing but also create a feeling of well-being and calmness when sipped.

My favorite is L’Herboriste N°119.  This flavor packed tea is not only a treat for the taste-buds but also good for you!  The magical blend includes turmeric (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant), licorice (aids in digestion) and verbena (anti inflammatory, relives anxiety, reduces inflammation, reinforces the regenerating action) as well as apple, cinnamon, ginger, lemon balm, lemongrass, blackberry leaves, lemon myrtle, curcuma, pink peppercorns, chili and flower petals.

This tea has so much flavor there is really no reason to add any sweetener. The licorice gives the tea a warm spicy kick while the floral notes feel light and fresh.  Sheer perfection.

5 Reasons to Switch from Coffee to Tea

Try it for yourself.  Click HERE to shop Palais des Thes Teas. 

*I received this product complimentary from Palais des Thés. All opinions are 100% my own. #OctolyFamily #Gifted #HonestReview

Why you should switch from coffee to tea

Beverly to 5th

Well hello daylight savings time.

I think we can all agree we need a little extra caffeination this week!

I’d like to introduce you to an incredible company whose product will help to wake up your skin and is Something You Can Feel Good About, Beverly to 5th.

Beverly to 5th is an natural coffee based skincare brand that was founded on the principles of clean, effective, and responsible skincare.

Their AMAZING body scrubs that come in super-cute packaging are all natural, vegan, organic, cruelty free and contain NO parabens or any ingredients which have been tested  animals.

They go one step further then just being cruelty free.  Beverly to 5th has teamed up with PETA to be a part of the Beauty Without Bunnies program. Through the program, brands are promising to use accurate and ethical safety and product testing. Now that’s something we can all get behind!

Ok so the company’s  ethics are beyond amazing but what about the products?

As I mentioned earlier the scrubs are coffee based.  Why Coffee?  You may rely on it to perk up your mood in the morning, but now you can also rely on it to perk up your skin!   It not only constricts blood vessels to reduce redness (making it an ideal topical treatment for facial flushing and rosacea) but also reduces puffiness and can even reduce the appearance of cellulite. Plus, recent studies have shown caffeine to prevent and repair sun damage!

Beverly to 5th’s scrubs are designed to exfoliate, moisturize, help with stretch marks, anti aging, cellulite and tighten and smooth skin.

I am head-over-heels in love with this product for so many reasons (I tried the Peppermint one):

  • Ethical.  The company cares about what we put on our bodies and on the earth.
  • Performance.  The product actually performs- it performs as well as any high end scrub you could buy at a beauty counter.
  • The Ingredients. Simple, easy to identify- no need to decipher crazy scientific lingo:  Organic Coffea Arabica Seed Powder (Organic Coffee), Sea Salt, Brown Sugar, Theobroma Cacao Seed Powder (Cocoa), Cocos Nucifera Oil (Cold Pressed Coconut Oil), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Mentha Piperita Extract (Peppermint Extract)
  • Price-point! Just $16.95 for a 7oz bag.

The result is simple: super soft, smooth and sexy skin.  I’m OBSESSED!

Try Beverly to 5th for yourself- available at BeverlyTo5th.com 

Eu'Genia Shea Butter: The  Company That Empowers Women Globally

Today I have an exciting guest post for you from a fantastic company run by a mother daughter duo: Eu’Genia Shea Butter.

In Greek, the words Eu-Genia (you-geh-knee-ah”) mean the origin of goodness and this family-run social enterprise dedicated to all natural premium shea butter moisturizers not only produces AMZING products but also is dedicated to fair wages and opportunities for thier female workers in Ghana and donates 15% of their profits back to them in the form of an education fund.  Most definitely a product “you can feel good about”.

Handing over the fantastic folks at Eu’Genia Shea Butter now…

There isn’t a beauty company out there that doesn’t want to make a profit, but there are few which ensure that social responsibility and family values also take precedence in their brand.  Eu’Genia Shea is one such company that imports Ghanaian shea butter to America. The barely three-year-old business is a collaborative effort between a close mother and daughter with a very unique shea. While most beauty companies use less than 25% shea when making their butters, Eu’Genia Shea is proud to reveal that their products contain at least 95% shea content.

Naa-Sakle Akuete, a Harvard Business School graduate and former Wall Street analyst launched Eu’Genia Shea, so that she and her mother living in Ghana, could keep their bond tight and create and share a business over a longtime family staple.

Shea butter is known for its spectacular beauty benefits for skin and hair, and Ms. Akuete’s midwife grandmother had used shea butter for years to help pregnant women with their stretch marks. Shea butter is an amazing skin care product, as it possesses essential fatty acids, Vitamins A, E and F and a natural sunscreen of about SPF6. It’s a nourishing, creamy butter that is perfect from head to toe. It is non-occlusive and safe for blemished complexions. In essence, shea butter is a magical cream when produced properly.

Ms. Akuete and her mother were excited about the business launch, but challenges arose when it came to shea farmers and how to coordinate the Ghana to U.S. import, the packaging of the Eu’genia brand, finding suppliers who spoke English and so forth.

The Akuete family believes in giving back to their community and providing opportunities for others. Soon, Ms. Akuete established a wonderful plan that centered around a co-op of female pickers in northern Ghana. The women workers were provided sustainable wages and training. In addition, Eu’Genia Shea also founded an Education Fund. A portion of the profits from the company’s shea butter products go to scholarships and funds that help Eu’genia Shea women workers acquire an education.

Shea butter grows from the African nut tree and has been used for thousands of years to moisturize and nourish the skin in numerous ways. The shea butter that Eu’Genia Shea sells is one of the finest on the planet, coming from the very old family recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation through the Akuete family.

Eu’Genia Shea sells the line via e-commerce at www.eugeniashea.com. These luxurious butters are available in three strengths; Everyday Shea Butter, Pregnancy Strength Shea Butter and Dermatological Strength Shea Butter. These rich creams come packed in pretty colored tins, in sizes perfect for gift-giving, collecting and for convenient traveling.

Best of all, shea butter is so easy to use:
“Scoop out a small portion of Shea Butter and rub in your hands until the Shea is melted. Apply as needed.”

That’s it; just apply the luxurious butter, and watch your skin come alive.

  • This is a Sponsored Post.  Thoughts and Opinions are my own.

Green Goo by Sierra Sage

I have been scouring the web and polling friends in an effort to bring you the BEST products and companies for my new “Something to Feel Good About Section” and oh the amazing things I have in store for you over the next few months!

One of these recent discoveries is a fantastic organic company called Green Goo by Sierra Sage.

The company is a B-Corp certified women-owned and family operated business founded by a mother-daughters team.  B-Corps are a new type of company that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corp certification is to sustainable business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk.

This mother/daughters tri-powerhouse of healing has quite the background.  Jodi (the oldest daughter) has her master’s in Psychology and a background in western medicine. Jen (the youngest) is an herbalist, organic farmer, and midwife, and formulates Sierra Sage products. Kathy (their mom) is a biologist and teacher. The three of them combined their skills to create all natural products that absorb into skin to ensure the highest level of medicinal effectiveness possible.

Their commitment to producing quality, safe and environmentally-safe products that are also good for you while contributing to humanitarianism efforts, is beyond impressive.

Sierra Sage products use natural, organic ingredients including olive oil, Vitamin E oil, sunflower oil, jojoba oil, calendula flowers, yarrow, sage, myrrh, beeswax, lavender oil, rosemary, and more. The herbs are all sourced from organic farmers, consciously wild crafted, or organically grown in house. Using the herbs instead of pre-made extracts enhances the medicinal potency of the salves, maximizing their healing potential.   All products are petroleum free, paraben free, gluten free and contain no propylene, glycol, mineral oil or artificial ingredients.

If that doesn’t have you feeling good enough they also give back!  Working with organizations such as World Vision, Mercy in Action, Mandela Foundation, Snowball Express, Summit for Soldiers, the Pacific Crest Trail, and John Hopkins, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital they make a difference one tin at a time!

Now when it comes to their products, they are equally as awesome! I have been test driving Green Goo Skin Repair.  This one little product does a whole medicine cabinet of things including helps to reduce inflammation and pain due to over-exposure from the sun or other minor burns, a night eye cream to help relieve wrinkles, puffy eyes and dark circles, relives windburned skin, great on dry spots like elbows and hands, man I wish I could just dip my entire body in this stuff.  It absorbs quickly into the skin leaving it feeling and looking hydrated but not greasy at all and it really has no scent- so you won’t smell too “organic” LOL.

Green Goo has a ton of other amazing products you should check out as well like their First Aid Stick, All Natural Soaps. Lip-balms, Pet products, Sunblock, Deodorants and AMAZING Tattoo Care product (I just ordered like 3 of them for the hubs).

They are truly a Company to Feel Good About.

Click Below to SHOP:

GLOW for a Cause

I am finally getting back to reality.  The holidays were a whirlwind of fun but now it’s time to make 2017 the BEST YEAR EVER!

Thanks to your input (yes I have been listening) I will be launching  several new facets to the blog over the next year!  Keep leaving comments, messaging me and giving feedback I want to hear everything you have to say!

The first of the 2017 reveals is a new section of the blog called “Something to Feel Good About” which will highlight products and companies that Give Back either to their community or charities, are organic or sustainable and generally make you feel really good about your purchase!  We can all use something to feel good about right?!

Kicking it off is a fantastic company that is making the world a little more beautiful: Glow for a Cause.

GLOW for a Cause is a beauty company unlike any other. What started out as a quest to create the purest and highest quality body care products and soy candles has evolved into a glowing movement.  Founded by artist, teacher, and skincare productista, Johanna Querry Smith, GLOW for a cause is a passion project that makes both people and the world feel good.  Made from only the finest and purest ingredients available, every time you buy a GLOW for a cause product, you are not only pampering yourself, you are giving back 5% to one of their partner non-profit organizations including:

Cowgirls vs. Cancer which provides retreat scholarships for women with breast cancer to experience healing with horses and yoga in Montana.  http://cowgirlyoga.com

Boston Firefighter’s Burn Foundation which is comprised of Boston firefighters who volunteer their time to provide emotional and financial support to burn victims and their families.  http://bostonfirefightersburnfoundation.com

The Red Sox Foundation provides tutoring, mentoring, enrichment programs and college scholarships to academically talented but economically disadvantaged students through their Red Sox Scholars Program.  http://redsoxfoundation.org

MaxFund Animal Adoption Center is a true no kill animal shelter in Colorado, giving animals, including the injured, abandoned and abused, a second chance at life.  http://maxfund.org

The Gathering Place is Denver’s only drop-in center and community of hope for women, children and transgender individuals who are experiencing homelessness or poverty.  http://tgpdenver.org

Berni’s Journey is a cinematic quest that serves as a mirror for us to reflect on universal themes of happiness, hope, and living authentically.  Answer the call of adventure and become the hero of your own story.  http://www.bernisjourney.com

GLOW for a Cause offers a variety of high quality, natural bath & body products including perfume oils & solids, body butters, soaking salts, facial treatments, lip balm, and baby products and every purchase is one to feel good about.

I am in LOVE with their Wish Body Butter which Johanna describes as “A magical blend of sparkling light florals, white tea, and bergamot grounded by light musks”.

This super hydrating body butter is packed full of nature’s best moisturizing oils such as coconut, jojoba, sunflower and vitamin E, hydrates and protects the skin PLUS it’s Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, Cruelty Free,  Gluten Free and Made in the USA!