Quaker Oatmeal Real Medleys

Have you tried the new Quaker Oat Real Medleys?

so. darn. good.

I have a HUGE sweet tooth, so I'm always looking for healthier sweet things to snack on/eat as a meal. I picked a couple of these up at Target, and they are DELICIOUS! The Cherry Pistachio Oatmeal flavor is better than a piece of cake - try it!

In college I would eat a Quaker Oats Express cup, but these new cups are healthier - they have better, cleaner ingredients. There is some added sugar, but that's okay. They also have 250+ calories each, so I eat these alone as a snack or with a serving of dairy as a meal. :)

Because they're individually-packaged, they do have extra waste, so I would only eat these as a special treat, if you have no time to make breakfast at home, or you're really craving something sweet.

You can get a coupon for 50 cents off here.

~ Susan

April 2012 Eco Emi Box

Eco Emi is a monthly green product sampler service. Each month, for $15 (or $30 for non-U.S. residents), members receive between five and ten samples of organic makeup, skincare, candles, food, and/or other items.

Love the color combo. However, there seems to be something on a couple of my products. Maybe one of the bronzers broke open at some point, because there is metallic brown stuff on some of my things. The actual bronzer if fine, but when I was going through the package I was like - why are my hands turning brown?! This happened in my last Eco Emi box too...

My April box contained:

• Natural Toothpaste by Dr. Collins
• Mate Factor Tea Yerba Mate Tropical Lime Tea
• Seaweed Bath Company Seaweed Body Wash in Eucalyptus and Peppermint
• Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey
• Burts Bees Lip Shimmer in Plum 
• Shea Radiance Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon Seed Oil
• Alabu Skin Care Baby Me Ultra Moisturizing Goat Milk Soap
• Lauren Brooke Cosmetiques Bronzer in Golden
• Catalyst Gourmet Enchanting Chai Line Gourmet Enhancers, Finishing Sugars, and Spiced Chocolates

The box also contained a pamphlet made out of...

ELEPHANT POOP!!! (or, pooh, as the creators call it)

Crazy. To learn more about elephants and their poop, check out www.meelliepooh.com.

~ Susan

April 2012 Green Grab Bag

I received my Green Grab Bag last week.

Green Grab Bag is a subscription service run by White Apricot, a website/newsletter about eco-friendly shopping. Each month, for $15, you get at least six samples of eco-friendly products. These usually include skin/hair care products, makeup, and fragrances. You can also buy a year's subscription for $145 (20% off).

•  Angelina Organic Skin Care Rose and Cardamom Foaming Face Wash - this goes with the other Angelina products beneath. It's for dry & mature skin, so I'm not sure if I'll try it out or not.
• Deep Steep Moisture Stick - this moisturizer melts when it comes into contact with the heat of your skin
• Prem Soaps Organic Olive Oil Soap - Prem Soaps are made with glycerin in small batches. Little soap samples like this one are great to throw in a gym bag or to take with when traveling.
• Aguacate & Co. Skin Care - a variety of products were included in bags; I received a hydrating facial creme.

• Angelina Youth in Bloom Phyto-Active Firming Night Cream - this contains hyalauronic acid, which I've heard is really moisturizing
• Angelina Organic Skin Care Coconut Bliss Exfoliating Cream Mask - this soothes and softens dull, dry skin

• AnnMarie Gianni Coconut Body Oil - I've been using body oil quite a bit recently, and I can't wait to try this one out
• Heaven's Alchemy Perfume - these perfumes are supposed to be quite sensual ;p

I think this month's Green Grab Bag contained a good amount of good-sized products, so I'm really happy with it. Not all of the products appeal to me (I don't have "dry & mature skin," but maybe my mom or mother-in-law would appreciate a new cleanser to try out.)

~ Susan

April 2012 Conscious Box

Conscious Box is a monthly subscription service that focuses on "sustainability, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility."

According to the Conscious Box Website each month subscribers:

• Get a variety of unique pure & natural products
• Sample organic food to vegan beauty products
• Discover ethical and purpose-driven businesses of all sizes
• Get content on daily living tips, exciting monthly themes, and creative ways to use the box

I have actually been getting this box for a while. I love how many samples they include! Because there are so many, I usually end up forgetting some of the stuff I got. When I rediscover it, it's like I got a whole new sample. :) A month-by-month subscription costs $12 plus $7 shipping. I paid $64 for six months plus $7 per month for shipping. This comes out to about $17.67 per box. This seems like a lot, but I think it's a good deal. I feel like I get substantially more than I do in my Eco Emi  boxes for just $2.67 extra per box.

I boxes usually get sent out around the middle of each month. I received this one on the 19th. The theme of this month was"Earth Day." My box contained:

• Planet Dishwashing Soap - this eco-friendly dishwashing liquid is for hand-washing dishes
• Earth Friendly Products Parsley Plus All Surface Cleaner - this is free of ammonia, phosphates, and petrochemicals

•  Clandestino Banana Bar - this snack bar's only ingredient is: bananas
• Cloud 9 Raw Chocolate Fudge - made with 100% organic and vegan ingredients

•  The Original Himalayan Crystal Salt - this can be used as regular salt to season food - the difference lies in its mineral content and balanced ion form

•  Natural Joy Beauty (ColorFusion Lip Glaze) - Natural Joy Beauty is an eco-friendly online beauty and skin care store
• Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel - this is supposed to radically improve skin's texture
• Climb On! Intensive Skin Repair - this is an intensive moisturizer made with organic Shea butter, unrefined beeswax, and pure essential oils

•  Sparklehearts Conditioner - Sparklehearts is a company that makes natural beauty products
• Bare Body Soaps - this soap is vegan, certified organic, natural ingredients

•  Seedballz - these seed-loaded clay balls are made by people with developmental disabilities

•  generationMe Eco-safe Detergent
• Groovy Planet Worry Doll
• Glob Natural Paint - eco-friendly paint for use in arts and crafts

•  Oogie's Gourmet Popcorn - a "health-inspired" popcorn that is GMO-free

~ Susan

Food on the Go

Here are the snacks that I brought with me (times 10) on my trip.

• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabar
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Larabar
• Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte Larabar
• Craisins
• Applesauce

These are the same snacks I like to have with me in my bag at work in case I need something to tide me over until I get off. (I also bring apples, bananas, and baby carrots to work.)

~ Susan

Travel Supplies

This weekend I went away on a short trip to Niagra Falls.

Here are the skin care/beauty supplies that I brought with me.

• bareMinerals Naturally Luminous Duo - samples of cleanser and moisturizer for combination skin
• bareMinerals Renew & Hydrate Eye Cream
• The Planet Spa aromatic body lotion plus ginger and vanilla
• MineralFusion mineral body lotion
• LaVanila Healthy Baby Lotion

• natural soap (I can't remember the brand)
• Greenbody Greenplanet Shampoo and Conditioner
• razors

• Crystal Essence Mineral Deodorant Towelette
• Clean Well All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipe
• an expanding towel
• Crystal Body Deodorant Roll-On
• nail file
• tweezers
• compact mirror
• floss
• contact lens case
• tooth paste

• tarte blush in Adored
• bareMinerals Pretty Amazing LipColor in Confidence and Oomph
• Physicians Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara
• Everyday Minerals Finishing Dust
• Everyday Minerals Foundation in Fair Neutral, Fair, and Sandy Fair
• Everyday Minerals Concealer in Aussie Perk Me Up
• bareMinerals Blemish Therapy

See anything I forgot?

...I forgot to bring a brush and eyelash curler. I ended up skipping mascara because I find that it really doesn't look good without curled eyelashes. I applied foundation with my fingers - I dipped them into the mineral foundation and rubbed it in my skin. I actually liked the effect this gave! It felt a but smoother because I really pressed it into my skin. I didn't use the concealer or finishing dust.

Next time I go on vacation I'll have to remember to bring all my supplies!

~ Susan

Earth Day 2012

Happy Earth Day!

~ Susan

Healthy Dessert

One of my favorite things to eat as a snack/dessert is a baked apple.

I like Granny Smiths the best :)

I slice two small apples very thinly, then sprinkle on some stevia and spices. Bake in an oven at 400 degrees F for about 30 minutes.

So yummy and filling!

P.S. - apples have some of the highest levels of pesticides, so I make sure to buy organic. I buy bags of organic apples, and they actually end up being cheaper per pound than conventional apples.

~ Susan

Going Lean and Green

In addition to caring about what I put on my body, I also care about what I put in it. I consider the way I eat to be "green" - I eat minimally processed food and organic when I can - so I'm going to start posting about my diet on this blog. These past few weeks I've been less focused on makeup and skin care and more focused on exercise and healthy cooking. The summer season is coming, and I want to be in tip-top shape. :)

The way you eat is one of the ways you can make a huge impact on the environment. The top ways to go green with your eating:

• cut your beef and chicken consumption
• buy organic, seasonal, and locally produced food whenever possible
• cook at home when possible
• reduce food waste by sticking to an eating plan - buy what you're going to eat, and use it all
• recycle!

Also, the greener you eat, the better you'll feel!

~ Susan

April 2012 Julep Maven Box

I love all the bright colors!

The Julep Maven program is a monthly mail subscription of nail polish/nail polish related things. There are several different sets of boxes that are sent out each month. This is the American Beauty set/box. American Beauty was the style assigned to me when I took the style quiz when I initially signed up, and I have to say that they really got my style down! However, each month there's the option to switch to whichever style you prefer. You can also choose to forgo a month or sent your box to a friend.

My April American Beauty box contained:

• The Best Pedi Cream Ever! - this foot creme "exfoliates with alpha hydroxy acids, hydrates with shea butter and coconut oil, and nourishes with Vitamin E." Julep suggests that you apply it nightly
• Nail Vernis in "Eva" - a juicy raspberry creme
• Nail Vernis in "Renee" - a spring lilac creme
• Toe Separators
• Chocolate Eggs

If you'd like to receive monthly Julep Maven boxes, you can sign up here.

 ~ Susan