Wordless Wednesday
October 28, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Wordless Wednesday
Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer: Diva Review
October 26, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Gift Guide, Reviews, Skin Care
Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer
With a Diva Total 14.7 of out of 15 points this product is: Divaliscious
Juice Beauty is a sophisticated high quality organic line of skin care products that performs up to expectation.
98% of the ingredients in Juice Beauty are organic. They are able to obtain this high organic content because they use a juice base instead of water. Juice Beauty has the following to say about their organic content:
Some brands would like you to believe that all of their ingredients are organic. Unfortunately, they only use a few organic ingredients in a water base that makes up most of the product – making the organic content less than 5%. Instead of the typical water base that cannot be “organic or pesticide free,” Juice Beauty created an antioxidant rich organic juice base which is much more nourishing for your skin.
Juice only purchases ingredients from USDA certified organic farms. Additionaly 80% of their products are produced with solar power.
CLICK HERE for review criteria:
8 Points Skin Deep Low Hazard Rating ~ 2
2 Points for being Organic
2 Points for effectiveness – The moisturizer left my skin hydrated. I also love the list of natural antioxidents like apple, lemon and grape juices. To read more about each ingredient and what makes it’s effective for your skin CLICK HERE. Read the product information guide on the Juice Site.
.8 Point for Texture – The first time I tried this moisturizer I used a little too much resulting in a slightly tight feeling when it dried on my skin (it relaxed in short order). For subsequent uses I used a little less than a dime sized amount and it was perfect. The texture is a little thinner than some heavier night creams, it almost has a gel like consistency.
1 Point for Fragrance – This product has a fruity smell, with hints of pineapple reminiscent of tropical punch, without being too sweet. You can actually smell the juice.
.5 Points for Packaging Appearance – This moisturizer is packaged in a glass tub with an aluminum tone plastic top. It stands up to any department store brand in aesthetics. It should it’s retailed in stores like Nordstrom and Sephora.
.4 Points for Packaging Sustainability – In addition to the glass tub, the moisturizer is packed in a box, which seems like an extra we could forgo. That said the packaging uses 100% recycled paper and cardboard.
Overall:
The Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer delivers a concentrated punch of moisturizing antioxidants. Remember, a little goes a long way.
Juice Beauty is a a great skincare line for the woman who wants an entire line she can trust be extremely low toxin, using high quality organic raw materials to deliver fabulous performance .
Green Apple Antioxidant Moisturizer retails for $45.
Are you ready to try Juice Beauty for yourself?
Winner – Jessie C! Congratulations check your email!
From Juice Beauty
HOW TO ENTER:
There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.
Mandatory:
Become a Verified Email Subscriber to PND, use the form in the sidebar.
– After subscribing you will receive an email – check your junk mail – you must verify your subscription using this email to win!
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Leave a comment letting me know you’re subscriber and have completed any one of the additional entries options.
Additional Entries
1. Go to www.juicebeauty.com – share your favorite Juice Beauty product or something about their corporate vision.
2. Stumble, Digg or Technorati Favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva (use the link on the sidebar) and @JuiceBeauty on twitter. Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva (link in sidebar) and Juice Beauty on Facebook and post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for fan… One entry for update.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “@PureNaturalDiva Diva Giveaway – Juice Beauty Mineral Light Moisturizer http://bit.ly/dqR9F”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the Juice Beauty website – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!
This giveaway will run through midnight on Nov 23, 2009 PDT, with winner being announced Nov 25, 2009. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.
Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.
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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….
Suggested Reading for Raising a Green Baby: Ask Diva
Dear Diva,
My sister is pregnant and I’d like to give her a book about raising the baby “green”.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Athene
Athene,
I checked with my Sister, Alania for her favorite. She owns Indigo Baby, an all natural Baby Store in Santa Fe, New Mexico and is up to date on all things Eco Baby!
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the post on Green Girls
Healthy Turkey Meatloaf: Recipe
By Tania Reuben
The inspiration for this recipe came from my friend Samantha. I have tried many recipe’s for turkey meatloaf that have failed for our family.
Samantha’s recipe super yummy, I modified it to give it a little extra nutritional boost with Whole Grain Bread Crumbs, Flax Meal and Paprika.
2 1/2 Cups Mixed Vegetable Mix
1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil (enough to saute vegetables)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/4 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of poultry seasoning
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 1/2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
6 tablespoons chicken stock
1 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup whole grain bread crumbs
2 tablespoons flax meal
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon ketchup
1/4 cup ketchup or 8 Slices of Nitrate Free Turkey Bacon.
Preheat oven to 400. Cook mixed vegetables in olive oil, salt, pepper and thyme until onions translucent. Add Worcestershire sauce, chicken stock and tomato paste. Mix well. Cool to room temperature.
Combine turkey, bread crumbs and egg. Add the sauteed mixed vegetables. I do this using the Kitchen Aid on low which keeps the hands clean.
Shape in log and place on cookie sheet, or place in loaf pan (which is what i did).
Spread ketchup on top OR wrap with bacon.
Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove Foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until 160 inside the meat.
Total Baking time is 1 hour.
Grounds for Change Coffee: Fair Trade Focus
By Tania Reuben
The day hasn’t really started until you’ve had a cup of coffee? Sound familiar? It does for me! It doesn’t even matter if it’s “leaded,” I just love the flavor and aroma as it wafts through the house.
Have you ever wondered about where your coffee is grown and the conditions of the workers that are growing them. In the early 2000 coffee prices dramatically dropped causing extreme hardship for growers. During the recovery a surprising industry shift began, fueled by a demand for organic and fair trade coffee.
Image Courtesy of Amy Hensen
Some coffee growers began to focus their efforts on growing higher quality beans for almost double the price regular beans garner, and better still farmers converting to organic can expect to earn 3-4 times what the low quality beans garner. Slowly these changes are beginning to have a real impact on the industry.
As the Fair Trade market grows, growers can offer more jobs, pay better wages and consider offering benefits like health insurance. Things previously not an option in the past. We can continue to support these changes by making Fair Trade choices.
Grounds for Change is one place you can support changes like these. They are a family run company based in the Pacific Northwest, doing their part to bring a great coffee to the marketplace.
They roast organically grown fair trade beans in small batches, creating top of the line coffee in the coffee meca of the US. They don’t stop there, they make every effort to run their business sustainably, through the purchase of carbon offsets, composting efforts and recycling – to name a few of their efforts.
They are Certified Organic, Carbon Free and Fair Trade.
They recently sent PND some of their coffees to sample, we tried:
Peru “Cafe Femenino”, a dark roast with chocolate aroma that was rich enough to keep dude happy. It’s also grown by women – ergo the name.
Nordic Blend, a dark roast with notes of black cherry and chocolate. Another rich roast to make dude smile.
Decaf Midnight Blend, this blend is the darkest of their decaf offerings with chocolaty notes.
Grounds for Change decaffeinates using a water process to preserve the coffee’s organic certification.
With the holidays coming up consider a fair trade gift for the coffee lover on your list, with the coffee of the month available in 3, 6 & 12 month options.
Try the 3 pack sampler, on sale for $18.95.
Congratulations to our Winner Carol D!
Better yet, Grounds for a Change will be giving one lucky reader a 3 Pack Sampler!
HOW TO ENTER:
There are a few ways you can enter, leave separate comments for each entry.
Mandatory:
Become an Email Subscriber to PND using the form in the sidebar.
– The subscription must be confirmed. You will receive and email that you must reply to for your entry to be valid.
– Already a confirmed Subscriber. Complete any one of the additional entries options – Leave a comment letting Diva know you’re subscriber name and the entry option you selected.
Additional Entries
1. Go to www.groundsforachange.com – Share your favorite blend or something new about GFC.
2. Stumble, Digg, or Technorati favorite this post. Leave a comment with your name and the link.
3. Follow @purenaturaldiva & @grounds4change on twitter (use link on the sidebar). Leave your twittername in a separate comment.
4. Become a Fan of Pure Natural Diva & Grounds For Change on Facebook. Post this giveaway as an update, leave your FB Name or Name with a copy of your update in a separate comment. One entry for each.
5. Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste “Diva Fair Trade Giveaway, 3 Pack Coffee Sampler – Grounds For a Change http://bit.ly/3DSpX7 @purenaturaldiva”. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
6. Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the Grounds For A Change Website – Good for two entries. Leave this comment twice so you get both entries!
This giveaway will run through midnight on November 11, 2009 PDT, with winner being announced by the morning of November 13, 2009. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen.
Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.
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target=”_blank”>Click here to see the entire Blog Hop List….
Pangea Organics Special Offers & Coupons
October 21, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Money Saving Offers
There are some great offers at available at Pange Organics Online. Pangea is a high quality natural skincare company.
Or use these great coupons to purchase at your local retailer:
Good through March 2010
Spraying for Bugs Could Increase Autoimmune Disease Risk
October 19, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Worth Sharing
I’m sure many people routinely spray pesticides, or have a company that sprays their yard or home. We did.
Dude has asked me to call the exterminator a few times since I became “toxin concerned” and have committed to reducing exposure for my family. I just haven’t been able to find a solution that I’m confident is 100% safe.
This article from Newswire reconfirms my concerns:
Insecticide exposure may increase the risk of developing two well known autoimmune rheumatic diseases in post-menopausal women, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Philadelphia, Pa.
“Although suggestive, we need to start thinking about what chemicals or other factors related to insecticide use could explain these findings,” says Christine G. Parks, PhD; epidemiologist, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., and the lead investigator in the study. “Our results also provide support for the idea that environmental factors may increase susceptibility or trigger the development of autoimmune diseases in some individuals.”
CLICK HERE to read the study summary ~ Spraying for Bugs Could Increase Autoimmune Disease Risk.
To be clear, the evidence is not conclusive, the link is only suggested. Personally, I’ll err on the side of caution, keep my house clean and look for proven safe, natural remedies, like Catnip to deter cockroaches. I haven’t tried it myself, but hear it works!
If you have sprayed in the past, like me. We can’t feel guilty. All we can do is move forward, get more informed and make better choices for our future.
For now, our exterminator is off the payroll.
TweetBento Butterfly ~ Entice Kids to Try New Veggies
October 18, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Food & Nutrition
By 
Sheri
Think you can’t make a cute, appetizing, healthy bento for your young children or preschooler?
It’s easier than you think!
Butterfly Bento ~ How Cute is That!
- I put a variety of fresh fruits in the small section.
- Then line the larger section with a few lettuce leaves for decoration.
- On top of the lettuce I put some homemade vegetarian pad thai noodles. Many kids love noodles, and they are great bento fillers. You can also use whole wheat or whole grain spaghetti or shaped pasta. Do you have any leftover noodles that need to be used?This bento is nice as is, but if you add a little more decoration you might entice your child to eat a few more veggies.
For the butterfly body:
- Use a wooden skewer to poke through some sliced steamed carrots. I used purple carrots.
- For the wings, use some heart-shaped cutters to make two different sized hearts from different colored steamed sweet potatoes. Here I used garnet and satsumaimo (Japanese white-colored sweet potato).
- Place the wings next to the body, and decorate with sliced yellow carrot circles.
- Finally, use a steamed snap pea for the antenna.Suddenly you have a butterfly in your bento.
The veggies I used are suggestions – so when getting ready to make lunch or snack – take a look in your own crisper to see what kinds of produce you have to substitute — beets, broccoli, even tomatoes can brighten up a lunch to make it look more appealing. Select the ingredients you are going to use. Steam the items that need cooking. Then follow the above instructions for assembly
Believe it or not, adding a cute touch will only take a few more minutes of your time. Even my 2-year old daughter will agree to eat a few veggies artfully arranged in a fun bento.
Sheri is a bento artist and mom of 2 living in Northern California. Her goal is to help children discover that healthy and nutritious food can be delicious and fun to eat. She uses the bento box as a means of presenting a balanced meal in a beautiful way…and give the kids a smile at lunchtime. She blogs at Happy Little Bento.
Have an EEK-O-friendly Halloween
October 16, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Entertaining, Family & Parenting
I found this on a recent internet prowl. It’s from Focus Organic and has great ideas for Halloween. Now that the school year is in full gear… Halloween is just around the corner!
By Stephanie
I love Halloween, so it’s never too early to start getting ready to me! The following is an article by Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson, mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net
Halloween should be fun, but every year it gets scarier–for parents and the planet. From the discovery of lead in fake teeth and candy, to chemicals in costumes, to the garbage left in the holiday’s wake, it’s a wonder more of us haven’t given up the festivities and spent October 31 watching It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
The good news is, there are loads of child- and earth-friendly alternatives to the usual Halloween fare.
CLICK HERE TO READ ALL THE GREAT IDEAS.
TweetTake One More Step ~ Make One New Change
October 15, 2009 by Tania
Filed under Green Living, Worth Sharing
By Tania Reuben
Today is the day blogs around the world join together for Blog Action Day to give voice to a common cause, Climate Change.
This is in preparation for Global Action day on October 24 and my birthday (not too egocentric right?). Your participation would be the best present I could ask for!
Wherever you are in your “green” journey, let this be an opportunity to take another step forward.
A few ideas for inspiration:
Buy More Organic Foods.
Insulate your hot water tank.
Seal your windows.
Use paperless paper towels.
Use Cloth napkins for the dinner table.
Spend 15 minutes to reduce the amount of Junk Mail coming into your home.
Buy Organic Clothing.
Make one change in your life to better the planet.
Petitions you can sign in under a minute:
On December 7 world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to hammer out a global climate treaty. Take less than a minute to add your name to the largest mandate for action that the world has seen.
Visit www.tcktcktck.org and sign the pledge.
Tweet
