march group giveaway

March 31, 2014 •


Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend! Today I am teaming up with some lovely ladies to bring you an amazing giveaway! There's a wide assortment of prizes up for grabs this time so make sure you enter before it is too late! You can enter below, and also make sure to visit all of the other ladies and show them some love! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!


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re•view: tea matcha

March 27, 2014 •

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.


If you didn't know, I'm a tea freak. I have an entire kitchen  cabinet dedicated to the stuff and I have a separate stash in my desk at work. This is serious, people.
Yeah. This pretty much sums me up.
In my online browsings, I came across the opportunity to try and review some green tea matcha. I'm all about some green tea, but will admit the word matcha was not in my vocabulary at that point. I was intrigued. After some quick googling of the stuff, I decided to give it a shot and received the bag a few days later.

 For those of you like me who know nothing about this matcha stuff, here's a quick benefits summary from Kiss Me Organics:


USED FOR:  LATTES | SMOOTHIES | BAKING

ALL DAY ENERGY WITH INCREASED FOCUS

Matcha provides 4 to 6 hours of mild steady energy as it acts as both a stimulant and a relaxant. This is ideal for focusing on whatever the day throws your way.

METABOLISM BOOST

Consuming matcha green tea can increase thermogenesis (the body's own rate of burning calories) from a normal 8%-10% of daily energy expenditure, to between 35% and 43% of daily energy expediture.

IMPROVED SKIN HEALTH

​Scientists have discovered that Matcha Green Tea helps protect the skin from harmful UVrays, while improving blood flow and oxygen levels lifting the overall quality of the skin.

137x THE ANTIOXIDANTS OF BREWED GREEN TEA

Basically, they grind up the tea leaves to a fine powder so you can mix it with anything and reap the green tea benefits. Sign me up!



While I didn't go nuts with the recipes, I did use the matcha in the place where it made the most sense for me to personally - in my morning protein shake!

It tastes much better than it looks, I promise!

Directions say to use 1/2-1 tsp. daily, so on day 1, I started with the 1/2 tsp. just to be on the safe side. I didn't notice a difference in the taste or how I felt, so the next day, I went for the full teaspoon - there was a light green tea taste (obviously if you like green tea this is a plus, if not, well...get creative!), and I did notice some benefits - not in the "OMG I can run a marathon right this second!" way, but in an "OMG I'm not falling asleep at my desk yet" way. Fine by me!

I actually haven't stopped using the matcha since receiving it and would definitely consider keeping it as a permanent pantry staple - the key with a product like this is to find where it works for you. For me, it's perfect in my protein shake. For someone else, you will still reap the benefits, but maybe you'll want to explore all of the many options they offer with the free recipe guide.
Antioxidants are essential as you age to boost your body's natural defenses against oxidation. Researchers have found that a high level of dietary antioxidants can prevent many age-related diseases.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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six degrees of separation in blog land

March 24, 2014 • ,

My little blog has certainly grown since I began last year, but I certainly feel like a small fish in a big pond at times. I know there are tons of bloggers bigger than I and tons more who I haven't even heard of.  I feel at times like I've settled into a blog "clique" (yikes, but I'm sure we all kind of have our favorite blog friends!)

via
That's where bloggy programs come in handy. Cara Box is of course a favorite of mine, but I also get to know new blogs via my own sponsorship giveaway and even sometimes a little networking. No better way to get to know a stranger than to force yourself!



Anyway, the most recent Cara Box matches were announced earlier this month. The program is now instagram based, and through the course of many posts, tags, and even blog comments, I've come to realize that maybe the pond ain't so big. Allow me to elaborate with some numbers:
  • This is my 7th Cara Box Exchange
  • The 1st person to send me a Cara Box was Britt, who designed the blog of my 3rd round partner, Aleshea.
  • Aleshea and I got along so well from that swap, that we have since collaborated on 2 blog projects - the #12dc linkup and the #bbswap!
  • It took me 5 rounds of Cara Box before I was assigned a partner I already knew - Chelsee!
  • I suggested the "green" Cara Box theme last April (my 2nd round) - so did Holly. While we have never been CB buddies, we have sponsored each other many times since!
  • This swap, I am sending a box to Heather. Heather previously sent a box to Aleshea who I mentioned previously.
  • Speaking of Heather, she is sending a box to Charlene who is on my sidebar for the 2nd time! I met her through my sponsorship giveaway!
  • My other partner this swap is Kristi - who previously received a box from Charlene!
  • And ...the very same Charlene is sending a box to Savanna this round who has also won my sponsorship giveaway!
  • I mentioned 8 bloggers above, and 3 of them currently have spots on my sidebar (mind you, I've been doing CB since last March!) - Chelsee, Aleshea, & Charlene!
Between the 8 bloggers above (myself not included):
  • Aleshea and I have 2 connections in common - same for Heather and I
  • Charlene and I have 3 connections in common
  • The rest of us have at least 1 in common in just this small group...that we know of.
What are the odds? Especially when you look at the Cara Box link ups and realize how many bloggers participate! Yet, here we are in this little intertwined bloggy web.

...it's a small world, after all.


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(PS-  I think it would totally be fun to bet on who within this list gets paired up next time!)

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re•cent awesomeness [aka 5 on friday]

March 21, 2014 • ,

We've already established that positivity is contagious. Unfortunately, I haven't been spreading much of anything with my poor time management skills as of late (silly grown-up work hours)!

So, I'll leave it to a link up to motivate me to spread some cheer again.


5. My job's HR department. They are too cute. They e-mail the company as a whole if there are cops issuing parking tickets, if a cupcake truck is sitting outside, if there is leftover food hanging out for people to nibble on, oh...and if they're giving us awesome perks like free 10 minute chair massages. I won't complain!

4. Adjusting to the city. I'm suburban through and through. I was convinced I hated the city. But when your office is in a quaint historic section of town on the water, I can't help but think of how much more I'm going to enjoy things in the summer. Even now, with tolerable temps, I'm enjoying lunchtime walks exploring the area.

3. Speaking of exploring - the city is a great place to be a vegetarian! Most places have options for me, and there's an exclusive vegetarian/vegan place just a few blocks away!

lentil soup, salad, vegan bread

greek wrap - this place was apparently on diners, drive-ins, and dives.

brie & walnut sandwich from a french bakery-cafe

2. And speaking of summer - we're not there yet. I so wish we were, but this is all about spreading the positivity, so yay for the more tolerable temps we're getting a hint of, even if they're threatening the 's' word again next week...

 1. Animal fun! Zoot has some guinea pig friends over this week - more fluff balls to cuddle!

he's not so sure about her. she couldn't care less.

Have a great weekend!

Baltimore, MD, USA
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psst...

March 20, 2014

Today is the last day to sign up to participate in the #bbswap! Be sure to sign up here to take part in the fun!


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re•view: amara organics

March 19, 2014 • ,

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Would you disagree with me if I told you vitamin C was good for you? Of course not! It's no secret that the stuff offers major health benefits. Even nasty processed food companies add to their products to lure you in.

But, did you know vitamin C is also beneficial to your skin when applied topically? I didn't realize this until 3-4 years ago! More and more skincare companies are wising up to this (my beloved Arbonne jam-packs the stuff into their best selling anti-aging line!) and including it in their products. Heck, since I received the product I'm reviewing, another company asked for a review for their own version of the same product! People are definitely taking note that vitamin C has an important role in skincare and I could not agree more!

After doing some research on the company and ingredients, I agreed to try Amara Organics' vitamin C serum (their first and currently only product)  and share my opinion.



First, a little serum 101 - people often ask me what the role of serum is and whether it is really necessary. Do you have to have it? No. But you will most certainly benefit from its use! The consistency of serums make them more potent as they can deliver benefits (like anti-aging) deeper into the skin. You would apply serum after cleansing and before moisturizing for optimal results.

Now, it's no secret that I'm an Arbonne junkie. I'm always willing to try another safe and natural products, but Arbonne tends to be the best in my experience - tough competition!

After working with Amara and trying the product, I will say these guys are on the right track. Take their formulation standards:
  • No Petrochemicals
  • No Parabens
  • No Artificial colors
  • No Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates
  • No DMDM Hydantoin/Diazonial Urea
  • No EDTA
  • No TEA, DEA, or MEA
  • No Phthalates
  • No Methylisothiazolineone
They also don't test on animals which is a big plus in my book. I love that they share ingredients both on their product website and their amazon.com listing. I didn't see their stance on animal-derived ingredients, so I contacted them via Facebook and they were quick to confirm that they do not use these in their products! Whew.

I didn't see any results after using the serum for two weeks in place of my own, but for me personally, that isn't a negative - I use very high-quality skincare, so the fact that my skin didn't get worse but rather stayed the same when changing a product is great news! If I just grabbed a product off a drugstore shelf, I could guarantee you my skin would look a lot worse!

The biggest plus for me about Amara is their awesome customer service. They didn't just want this review for awareness - they truly want to be the best they can be. This was evident from their initial communication (and thorough product instructions provided pre-shipment)  all the way through the review process. I have written several reviews, but Amara was the first company to directly ask me my opinion before I presented a review. I shared the above pros with them as well as these cons:

The serum currently comes in a bottle with a dropper. It is thinner than most serums I used which made it more difficult to apply appropriately. I do believe it is an effective product, but application is a nuisance (and I ran out of serum super fast because of this) because of the bottle and consistency.

When I mentioned these cons, they continued to talk to me and asked for suggestions to improve on these points! That has never happened to me before! Conversation was friendly and constructive - I was able to suggest a different bottle type and consistency. Most companies I know of would likely say "deal with it!" and move on. The whole experience gives me the impression that Amara intends to grow - but only with their clients in mind!

For now, I'll continue on my own skincare regimen, but I will be keeping an eye out for these guys because if my experience was any indication, Amara is going to be an awesome brand on the market if they continue on the path they have started. I am so excited to see what they will do next!


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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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be contagious!

March 12, 2014 • ,

As much as possible, I try to keep things positive on the blog. At the same time, there needs to be balance as I think there's value in keeping it real. So, for the most part, I try to post about good things or just present my sarcastic self in hopes that people can read sarcasm on a computer screen. Sure, things go wrong, and I'll share them, but nobody likes a constant downer.



While browsing online, I came across this NPR blog post called Foul Weather Begets Foul Moods Online. Obviously, I missed the "online" part, because my first thought was "no kidding - I'm the poster child for seasonal sadness!"

Your days are numbered, humidifier!

Then I read through and realized while they were talking about something totally different, if was still completely true: everything we say affects one another.

Basically, a mood study was conducted in relation to our social media use. Here's what they found:

 "...the researchers also found that each sad status posted on a rainy day gave rise to another negative post by a friend living in a city that was dry."

Bummer. I believe it. But then, the very next sentence:

"Positive moods seemed even more contagious — each happy post typically yielded two additional happy posts by others. The scientists detailed their findings in the current issue of the journal PLOS ONE."

That easy? I love being happy and I love sharing it online...I do tend to hold back sometimes as I don't want to come off as braggy, but if I can make someone's day a little brighter by sharing what made mine bright...well, why the heck not?

So, instead of pouting about the cold weather rumored for tomorrow, I just want to say that the last two days have been awesome! The temps were perfect for a walk in the city on my lunch break, and how lucky am I that my office offers waterfront dining, regardless of whether I go out or brown bag it?

Obviously I didn't brown bag it today. This wrap and lemonade were delicious!

What made you happy today? This week? Share in the comments but also share on your facebook - be contagious!


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Glass + Plastic = Glasstic? [re•view]

March 8, 2014 •

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.


Some of you may have seen me posting pics of this cute little water bottle on my instagram recently:


This was a gift from the folks over at Glasstic who say the following about their product:

.

I was a skeptic, but I couldn't say no to a cute pink bottle, so I figured I'd see if the bottle lived up to the hype. I planned on drinking out of the bottle a few times before putting it to the drop/throw test. (I drop things in the kitchen all the time, so I really didn't think this would work for me!)

Well, after a few days of taking this bottle to work instead of my normal reusable bottle, I was hooked! The bottle is convenient for me in so many ways - I love the cute color of course, but it's also easy to disassemble, reassemble, and clean. It is top-rack dishwasher safe, although it is a bit tall for my dishwasher - I wash it by hand easily enough!


It's slim enough to hold in one hand, but also the adjustable carrying handle is a convenient touch (really, I've dropped other bottles while carrying them. It's embarrassing how clumsy I can be when it comes to dropping things!) And speaking of clumsy, the lid has an awesome lock feature. Even when I don't lock it though, I've knocked over the bottle or tossed it in my purse and not had any leaks - another huge plus for the girl who has spilled water in her purse more than once.


I actually liked the Glasstic bottle enough to the point where I was dreading the "breakage" test that I had so been looking forward to. I was sure it was going to break, and I so didn't want that to happen (though good news, if it does break, it stays contained within the plastic for safe cleanup and you can buy a replacement glass insert!)

Well, finally, I went into the kitchen with the bottle in my hand, arms swinging, and "dropped" the bottle from about waist height (It was only fair since that's normally how I drop things). I heard a loud noise, and Sean quickly from the other room asking "are you OK?!" Yeah. It was loud, but I didn't hear a shatter. I picked up the bottle, and it was still intact. Yay! Sean still wasn't convinced so I went back into the kitchen and threw it on the floor from shoulder height. Still loud, still no shattering. Fine by me! I'm sure if you absolutely wanted to break this thing, you could make it happen, but if you're just clutzy, no worries!

On a side note - just this week, Rodale published an article about plastic safety (or lack thereof, including BPA free) - it confirms what many know - glass is the way to go! I thought the timing was great and glad that Glasstic is ahead of the game - you're not drinking out of the plastic shell, just protecting the glass with it.

The only dislike I can mention is the bottle's capacity - it only holds 16 oz. of water - so I'm constantly at the water cooler. I'd love to see them sell larger capacity versions. Until then, I will keep bringing my small one to work and refilling frequently because I love it!

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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giveaway: white house black market

March 3, 2014 •



The best giveaways are the ones that result from celebration. I'm so happy to celebrate the weight loss milestone of one of my favorite people in blog land, Holly! She's thrilled to be able to shop at a favorite place of hers again, White House Black Market, and instead of hoarding the gift card for herself as I think she should, she's giving one away! Enter for your chance to win below and be sure to congratulate her!

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