Change Your Life and Health with Krill Oil [Review]

Viva Labs Krill Oil, found in the deep pure waters of Antarctic, is a new generation of Omega-3's that beats the pants off fish oil. According to independent laboratories, Krill oil was found to be 54x more powerful in antioxidant activity than fish oil. What does this mean to you? You can quickly get a high dose of Omega-3, EPA, and DHA. When tested head to head by an independent laboratory, Krill Oil supplement was found to be 54x more powerful in antioxidant activity than fish oil!

Krill Oil is the oil harvested from antarctic krill, a shrimp like crustacean that lives deep in the ocean. Scientists and doctors have discovered that ingesting this oil can have amazing affects on your body including a stronger heart, pain-free joints, a better mood, lower cholesterol, easier menstruation and overall better health.
(Source: http://krilloil.com/)

Krill Oil                                            $29.95 (1 month supply)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
No fishy after-taste	Price per month is high
High dose of Omega-3, EPA, DHA
90-day money back guarantee

My Review:
One of the first attributes I noticed about Viva Labs Krill Oil comes in the form of Capliques instead of softgels. The purpose of the Capliques is to help the supplements last longer and reduce the "fish burps" that are usually associated with consuming fish oil. I really liked that there was no fishy after-taste. The Capliques were easy to swallow.

After consuming the Krill Oil for one week, I did notice that I had more energy. I have been doing a lot of heavy cardio workouts lately and resumed running outside. I never once felt sluggish or tired when taking these supplements.

The price per month is $30. If you order in bulk, you can get the cost down to $20 per month. If you taking other supplements (as I am), then this will be a significant increase to the total cost of all supplements. However, if I see great improvement from consuming Krill Oil, then I would reevaluate my other supplements. I do like the 90-day money back guarantee if I do not see improvements from taking the supplements.

I also have to mention the sustainability aspect of Krill Oil. Krill is considered the largest biomass in the world, so there is no change krill would be come endangered. Despite this, Viva Lab's Krill Oil harvest is still regulated by CCAMLR, which is an organization dedicated to conserving the ocean's ecosystem. Only certain companies have been licensed to harvest krill.  

Overall Review: 
I did see an improvement in my energy after taking Viva Labs Krill Oil for one week. I am confident that I would see the many other benefits described if I took it for several months. I love the durability of Capliques. I recommend that you try Krill Oil for a few months and if you do not see an improvement, then take advantage of the 90-day money back guarantee.

Disclosure: I received the sample from the company in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my personal experiences. This review is objective and completely honest.

Spring Has Sprung Early

Even though Spring has officially began, the warm weather came a lot earlier this year. Right now, I am looking out the window at the green grass, the green leaves on the trees, and the flower bulbs about to burst open. Every day, I look outside at my plants and trees to see how much they have grown. More people are out running and enjoying this weather. A big sign of what is to come during the summer months. I love warm weather!

The question: when do I start planning the garden?

Supposedly, Spring came about one month early this year. Does that mean I start planning one month early? Maybe! What if there is another frost or cold weather? Does that matter? If the ground is warm, maybe not. Looks like I need to start planning the garden arrangement now!

I Purchased Green Baby Shower Gifts

Last time I purchased baby shower gifts, I did not purchase the gifts off the registry. Most of the gifts were already purchased and there was nothing left that was catching my eye. To be quite honest, I wanted to purchase a product that would be useful and was made from organic cotton. Being eco-friendly means that I take part in educating and introducing others to a more environmentally friendly way of living.

I am purchasing gifts for two occasions: upcoming baby shower and a recent birth of a friend. I am happy to say that I purchased one of the items off the registry. Kudos to the mama-to-be for adding the Aden and Anais product to her registry.

Baby Shower Gifts

Aden and Anais for Target Burpy Bib

 

Charlie Banana Reusable Organic Cotton Wipes

  

Birth Celebration Gift

Whole Foods Gift Card to help out with groceries. This is the second child, so the mom is reusing a lot of the same items, including cloth diapers!

>> How do you interweave registry gifts with your own eco-friendly ideas?
 

Wordless Wednesday - Good, Ugly, and Lonely

The Good

The Ugly

The Lonely

(Pictures taken last week)

Pack Smart with Organic Eco Lunch Gear [Review]

You know my addiction to reusable grocery bags? Yes? Well, I am starting to get addicted to reusable snack bags. I want to have one in every size and pattern. The adorable patterns make the snack bags fun to use. I lost a small snack bag with an owl print on my last vacation. I was devastated! Five months later, I found it all the way in the bottom of my travel purse. I was so EXCITED that I did the Happy Dance! Now that you see how much I love reusable snack bags, let me tell you about my newest discovery.

 

Eco Lunch Gear was started by Tina. All of the products are made in the USA (Northern Michigan). Tina was looking for a way to decrease trash and found very little options to support her goal of zero waste lunches. She developed a snack bag that opens up all the way for easy cleanup and machine washing. Tina is so passionate about having little waste, that she incorporated her practices into her Green Business. I am confident that you will fall in love with her Organic Cotton fabric!

Snack Bag                                                   $9.50

Cloth Napkin                                               $7.50

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Promotion: Take 15% of your next order with code FRIEND (one per person).

The Good	The Not So Good
High Quality Organic Cotton	Smaller than standard napkin size (16+ in)
Pre-shrunk fabric
Durable
PCV-free lining
Fun prints

Lunch Statistic for One Person
On average, 1 person will use 120 baggies every 3 months.
That number includes packing a sandwich and a snack 5 days a week.
If you pack a lunch with 2 snacks, you use up to 180 bags.

My Review: I received one Snack Bag and one Cloth Napkin. The Organic Cotton fabric was very high quality and I loved the feel of it.

I immediately put my dried mango in the Snack Bag to take to work the next day. The Velcro on the Snack Bag was very strong and I could see it lasting through many washes and uses. I felt comfortable tossing the Snack Bag into my work bag without worrying that the dried mango would spill out. I also love the fact that the Snack Bags opens up all the way so you can use it as a place mat. This also helps when cleaning the bag either by hand or in the washer.

The Cloth Napkin felt divine! I love the double-sided print and the size is perfect to take with me to work. I can wrap up my silverware in it. The napkin size is 12" x 12", which is smaller than the standard cloth napkin size of 16"+. However, I think the smaller size is perfect for on-the-go. I machine-washed and dried the napkin and it came out just as new with a little ironing. The fabric is pre-shrunk, so the products stays true to size.

Overall Review: I love that Eco Lunch Gear offers reusable lunch accessories in Organic Cotton. The fabric is very high quality and will last for a long time. Tina has tested the different fabric options so that your food stays fresh. I would love to see napkins in a bigger size so I can order some for the dinner table. In the meantime, you will find me browsing the adorable fabric selections on Eco Lunch Gear.

Disclosure: I received the sample from the company in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my personal experiences. This review is objective and completely honest.

Challenge Your Body with Spartan Race

This post brought to you by Spartan Race. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you stuck in the same old exercise routine? Are you looking for a challenging, but achievable exercise program to start?  Spartan Race is a new, revolutionary way to work out by pushing your body to the limits through world leading obstacle courses.  You can try several different styles of racing with races ranging from muddy 3+ mile events with 10 or more obstacles, to up to 40+ mile events.  Intimidated?  Don’t be, 99.9% of all people who try this event will finish it! The structured plans and daily tips will help you prepare for the Spartan Race.
Why should you try Spartan Race? Because Spartan Race is fun and it will give you results. Spartan Race is suited for the entirely family by offering a kids race and a women’s network called Spartan Chicked, which promotes family, community, and overcoming obstacles.
To help you reach your goals, Spartan Race provides its participants with a daily workout, a weekly newsletter, and inspiring blogs that will help you get from the couch to the finish line in 45 days.  In only 1 1/2 months, you can become a Spartan! If you follow the plan, you will finish the race with a life changing experience.
Are you interested in signing up for a Spartan Race? Check out the races at Spartan Race. Join the 300,000 others that will participate this year.
If you still have a few questions or would like to get more information, refer to the frequently asked questions and answers at http://www.spartanrace.com//spartan-race-obstacle-course-faq.html.

Tell the FDA to Just Label It

Whether it is salmon genetically engineered to grow at twice its natural rate or herbicide-resistant corn that encourages the use of more chemicals in our food supply, we have a right to know what's in our food.

Already, more than 40 countries – including China and Russia – require labels on genetically engineered food. As Americans, we deserve the same opportunity to make informed decisions about what we eat. As more Americans know about genetically engineered foods, more pressure will build on the FDA to label GMOs.

Everyone has the right to make informed decisions about the food they eat as well. Tell the FDA to label GMO (genetically engineered) foods. Be an informed consumer!

Wordless Wednesday - My New Friend Terrarium

Organic Fair Trade Clothing from Maggie's Organics [Review]

I have been exploring organic cotton clothing and sustainable clothing. Even though I try to buy natural fibers like cotton and wool, that does not mean that I am being environmentally friendly. Cotton is heavily sprayed with pesticides and can even be genetically modified. Add the manufacturing process and you have toxic chemicals touching your skin all day long.

I was very excited when I discovered Maggie's Organics in Whole Living Magazine. Let me tell you a little bit about Maggie's Organics. Maggie's Organics was founded in 1992 on the premise that workers should be treated ethically and that clothing should be durable, affordable, and constructed of environmentally sustainable materials. The apparel line, which includes Pants, Wraps, Hoodies, Dresses, Tanks, Camisoles and Scarves, was recently Fair Trade Certified™ under a new apparel pilot program developed by FairTradeUSA. (source: http://www.maggiesorganics.com)

Class Warm Tights: Solid Flat Knit Tights          $26.00

Leggings: Footless Tights - Ankle Length         $22.00

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Organic cotton	Tights band is a little tight (I went up one size)
Reasonably priced
Great neutral color selection
Warm and comfortable

My Review: I received the Solid Flat Knit Tights and Footless Tights, both in Black. I was eager to open up the packages and try on the tights to see how they fit. I went up one size (getting Medium instead of my usual Small) because I do not like the "muffin top" look. I must say that the Medium fit perfectly in the waist, the legs, and the length. Usually when I go up to a Medium in tights and leggings, they are longer, but not wider. I am very pleased that the Medium fit me very well.

Uses: 
The Solid Flat Knit Tights look very similar to cotton knit tights (looser knit), but still paired well with my business professional skirt and heels. I was even warm enough walking in windy downtown during 30 degree weather.

The Footless Tights were comfortable when lounging around the house, wearing with knee-high boots, and even working out. The Footless Tights have a tighter knit than the Solid Flat Knit Tights. 

Overall Review: I am so pleased with the products and the fact that Maggie's Organics products are made with Certified Organic cotton that I am going to order more of the tights. I would love to try the Lightweight Fashion Tights for wearing to work. I would highly recommend both sets of tights for comfort, warm, and cost. Just remember to potentially go up a size to avoid a muffin top. Happy shopping!

Disclosure: I received the sample from Maggie's Organics in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my personal experiences. This review is objective and completely honest.

Winner Announcement

The giveaway for the SnapSac Tote Bundle has concluded! Thank you to all those that entered! Winner is listed below and has confirmed.