A Perfect Family Day

More than one year later, my husband and I are still trying to figure out how to balance family time and personal time. Today was a perfect day. We balanced family time and personal time very well. We even enjoyed a homemade meal on the breezeway patio!

Local Strawberry Picking
Family time (with extended family).

Plant Shopping
My personal time.

Homemade Grilled Pizzas
With homemade pizza crust and a dessert pizza using the freshly picked strawberries from this morning.

>> What does your (realistically) perfect day look like??
 

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Curcumin Extract [Review]

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

Turmeric is not just a spice that is widely used in Indian dishes or as a natural colorant. Curcumin, a compound in Turmeric, has been used since ancient times as both a topical and ingestible healing treatment. Turmeric has been shown to reduce inflammation and act as a powerful antioxidant. Pure Body Naturals Turmeric Curcumin Extract is an easy and convenient way to get a daily dose of 95% curcuminoids.




Turmeric Curcumin Extract    
   ($35.00, 120 capsules)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% pure and natural	Vegetable ingredient sources unknown
No aftertaste
No artificial additives or preservatives
Made in the USA

Pure Body Naturals Turmeric Curcumin Extract contains pure and natural ingredients with 900mg of Turmeric (Curcuma longa root) and 100mg of Turmeric Extract (Curcuma longa root). Other ingredients: gelatin, silica, vegetable magnesium stearate, vegetable stearic acid.

This ingredients list is typical for a supplement. I like that the additional ingredients are limited to just a few. I would like to know the source of the vegetable ingredients (organic, non-GMO, etc.)

I have been taking two (2) capsules daily with a meal, alternating among breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Turmeric Curcumin Extract supplements do not have a taste while the capsules are in the mouth and do not have an aftertaste. Turmeric, as a spice, can be pretty potent. Therefore, I like that the supplements do not have a taste or aftertaste. The capsules are of standard size and easy to swallow for me.

I cannot comment on any effect as I did not see any visible effects (positive or negative) from taking the supplement for a few weeks. I can see myself taking this supplement as a preventative measure and to reduce inflammation. I did not experience any side effects from taking the supplement. Turmeric can result in side effects, especially if more than the recommended dose is taken. Please do some research or speak to a physician before starting on a Turmeric Curcumin supplement.

Disclosure: I am not a medical professional. Information about the product was sourced from the company website. Please consult your physician before starting a new supplement.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. All opinions are my own.

Organic Argan Oil for Natural Beauty [Review]

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

A couple of years ago, I simplified my beauty routine and focused on natural and organic. When I look for green beauty care products, I look for a short ingredients list. Oils are a great addition to my green beauty care routine. 100% organic oils are easy to find, even in stores. Organic oils contain one ingredient - the oil - you cannot get any simpler than that. Argan Oil has been around for a long time and is used extensively in non-Western cultures to moisturize hair, face and skin. InstaNatural's organic Argan Oil is the best natural beauty treatment for your hair and skin.


Organic Argan Oil       ($24.00, 4oz)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% organic and pure
Comes in a dark blue glass bottle
Absorbs quickly
Immediately softens hands

InstaNatural's 100% organic Argan Oil is pure, cold pressed and unrefined oil. The Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa) is produced in the Kingdom of Morocco and is EcoCert certified. The oil comes in a dark blue glass bottle, which is perfect for preserving the qualities of the oil and extending the shelf life. Argan Oil storage is important because oils are sensitive to light and must be stored in dark amber bottles to prevent oxidation. Oils that are not stored in dark bottles will oxidize, lose potency and become ineffective.

One of my favorite parts about Argan Oil is that it can be used as part of just about any beauty care routine.

• Naturally softens and moisturizes skin
• Smooths hair naturally
• Repairs dry and frizzy hair
• Moisturizes and shines nails
• Helps to prevent pregnancy stretch marks

Some of the ways that I use Argan Oil:

1. Remove makeup on eyes and face
2. Moisturize the face and body
3. Moisturize nails and cuticles
4. Deep conditioner for hair

Argan Oil has become one of my favorite products. Winter left my hands red and dry. After the first application of Argan Oil, my hands felt silky and supple. Even coconut oil could not touch the dryness of my hands. I love that Argan Oil absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy feeling. After a few days, the skin on my hands felt young and supple. 

I have even been using Argan Oil to moisturize my face and my legs. The best application so far has been to moisturize my dry hands after gardening or washing dishes by hand.

Argan Oil does have a bit of a nutty smell to it. The smell reminds me of Neem Oil. The smell disappears within a few minutes. 

I would highly recommend InstaNatural's 100% organic Argan Oil. Argan Oil is the best natural beauty treatment for skin, hair and nails.

Disclosure: 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. All opinions are my own.

Lumenx Mountable Bicycle Light [Review]

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

Whether I am running or biking outside in the early morning or late evening hours, or just taking a walk, safety is always my first priority. I want to make sure that cars can see me on the road. A bicycle headlight and a rear bicycle tail light are the perfect combination to ensure safety and protection. Lumenx offers a high quality mountable bike light to ensure that you can see the road and oncoming cars can see you.


Lumenx Mountable Bicycle Light       ($35.77)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Easy install and removal	Package does not include instructions
Shines up to 500 feet
Fits any bike

Lumenx is front mountable bicycle lights are one of the highest quality bicycle lights. Easy install/removal, waterproof LED light that shines up to 500 feet and durable military grade aluminum make Lumenx mountable bicycle lights a great investment for your safety. Lumenx LEDs are shockproof and have a higher light output and life span than incandescent bulbs. Advanced Focusing Lens design allows up to 500 feet visibility and 1x-2000x zoom and flash mode.

Lumenx is so confident in their ability to light up the path in front of you and increase your safety, that they offer a full refund if you are not satisfied. No hassle, 2 year money back guarantee!

I installed Lumenx mountable bicycle light on my adult bicycle. The installation was quick and easy. I removed the screw from the connector piece, placed around the handlebar, and screwed it on. The connector piece has a thick piece of rubber that provides cushioning and protection. I love that the bicycle light is easy to install and remove in case I would want to use it on a different bicycle. The light fits any bike, whether adults or child, street or mountain.

The zoom capability allows you to adjust how much of the road ahead you want to see or just use the flashlight to illuminate yourself to oncoming cars. The flashlight is made from durable military grade aluminum and seems like it would be able to withstand shocks and drops very well. The flashlight can be removed (while keeping the connector piece on the bike) and used a flashlight in an emergency situation.

Keep yourself and your family safe with Lumenx front mountable bicycle light. Easy installation and removal (no tools) and a bright light that shines up to 500 feet offer the protection and safety that you need. The bonus rear tail light is also easy to install and shines continuously or flashes so cars coming from behind can see you.

Disclosure: 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. All opinions are my own.

Organic Argan Oil [Giveaway]

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

Organic and Pure Oils are a great addition to a green beauty care routine. 100% organic oils are easy to find, even in stores. Organic oils contain one ingredient - the oil - you cannot get any simpler than that. Argan Oil has been around for a long time and is used extensively in non-Western cultures to moisturize hair, face and skin. Bebe Lush's 100% pure and organic Argan Oil is the best natural beauty treatment for your hair and skin.

Enter to win a 4oz bottle of Organic Argan Oil ($35 value) below.

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Open to the US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Bebe Lush Organic Argan Oil (4oz, $35 value)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: All Natural Katie is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations. 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.
  

Organic Argan Oil for Natural Beauty [Review]

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

A couple of years ago, I simplified my beauty routine and focused on natural and organic. When I look for green beauty care products, I look for a short ingredients list. Oils are a great addition to my green beauty care routine. 100% organic oils are easy to find, even in stores. Organic oils contain one ingredient - the oil - you cannot get any simpler than that. Argan Oil has been around for a long time and is used extensively in non-Western cultures to moisturize hair, face and skin. Bebe Lush's 100% pure and organic Argan Oil is the best natural beauty treatment for your hair and skin.


Organic Argan Oil       ($35.00, 4oz)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% organic and pure
Comes in an amber glass bottle
Absorbs quickly
Immediately softens hands

Bebe Lush's 100% organic Argan Oil is 100% pure, cold pressed and unrefined oil. The Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil) is produced in the Kingdom of Morocco and is EcoCert certified. The oil comes in a dark amber glass bottle, which is perfect for preserving the qualities of the oil and extending the shelf life. Argan Oil storage is important because oils are sensitive to light and must be stored in dark amber bottles to prevent oxidation. Oils that are not stored in dark bottles will oxidize, lose potency and become ineffective.

One of my favorite parts about Argan Oil is that it can be used as part of just about any beauty care routine.

• Naturally softens and moisturizes skin
• Smooths hair naturally
• Repairs dry and frizzy hair
• Moisturizes and shines nails
• Helps to prevent pregnancy stretch marks

Some of the ways that I use Argan Oil:

1. Remove makeup on eyes and face
2. Moisturize the face and body
3. Moisturize nails and cuticles
4. Deep conditioner for hair

Argan Oil has become one of my favorite products. Winter left my hands red and dry. After the first application of Argan Oil, my hands felt silky and supple. Even coconut oil could not touch the dryness of my hands. I love that Argan Oil absorbs quickly and does not leave a greasy feeling. After a few days, the skin on my hands felt young and supple. 

I have even been using Argan Oil to moisturize my face and my legs. The best application so far has been to moisturize my dry hands after gardening or washing dishes by hand.

Argan Oil does have a bit of a nutty smell to it. The smell reminds me of Neem Oil. The smell disappears within a few minutes. 

I would highly recommend Bebe Lush's 100% organic Argan Oil. Argan Oil is the best natural beauty treatment for skin, hair and nails.

Enter to win a 4 oz bottle in the Organic Argan Oil giveaway.

Follow Bebe Lush on Facebook.

Disclosure: 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. All opinions are my own.

Organic Stevia Liquid Drops [Review]

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

Stevia has been around in the natural world for quite some time. Stevia plants are even becoming more available in nurseries. Stevia is a great natural alternative for those who are seeking to reduce their sugar intake by switching to a no calorie substitute. Elite Gold Solutions (EGS) Organic Sweet Stevia Gold naturally satisfies your sweet tooth with zero calories.

Organic Stevia Liquid Drops       ($22.97, 2oz)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Certified Organic
No additives or dilutions	Alcohol source not specified

From all of the reading I have done about liquid Stevia, I know that the ingredients list is important. While many products include additives and flavorings, Elite Gold Solutions (EGS) Organic Sweet Stevia Gold is as pure as it can come.

Ingredients: De-ionized water, Certified Organic Stevia Extract (leaf), 11% alcohol.

The alcohol is used as a natural preservative. I would like to know the source of the alcohol since it does make up 11% of the product. Since I will mostly be using Stevia liquid drops for baking, I am not worried about alcohol being an ingredient. If you plan on using Stevia liquid drops straight out of the bottle, be sure to remember there is alcohol in this product.

I used the Stevia Liquid Drops to make my favorite date walnut muffins. I decreased the amount of sugar from 1 cup to 1/4 cup and added 1 tsp of Stevia extract. I was not quite sure how much Stevia liquid drops to add. After a bit of research, I decided to start with 1 tsp. This ended up being the right amount to substitute the 3/4 cup of sugar that I left out. The sweetness was there with no added calories.

Since this was my first time baking with Stevia liquid drops, I realized that substituting sugar for liquid Stevia might require trial and effort in some situations. In some recipe, sugar plays a bigger part than just being a sweetener.

Stevia liquid drops are a great way to add sweetness to anything from water to baked goods without adding calories or carbs. EGS's Organic Sweet Stevia has no additives, flavors or synthetic flavorings. Sweet Stevia Liquid Drops are a healthy, natural sweetener that is a good alternative to sugar.

Disclosure: 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. All opinions are my own.

Winner Announcement

The giveaways for Organic Jojoba Oil and SOI Co. Soy Candle have concluded! Thank you to all those that entered! Winners are listed below and have confirmed.

Nordic Naturals Baby's DHA [Giveaway]

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

Fish oil can be an important and integral part of adults' and babies' diets. Fish Oil is a concentrated source of nutrients and vitamins that are an essential part of brain growth.

Made exclusively from Gold Standard Arctic Cod Liver Oil, Nordic Naturals Baby’s DHA is a safe and effective way to ensure that growing babies get the DHA they need for healthy development. Like all Nordic Naturals fish oils, Baby’s DHA is third-party tested and surpasses strict international standards for purity and freshness.

Enter to win a bottle of Nordic Naturals Baby's DHA ($16 value) below.

Please use the Rafflecopter entry form below. Open to the US only. All entries will be verified. Duplicate and invalid entries will be deleted. 

Giveaway

Nordic Naturals Baby's DHA (16 value)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  
Disclaimer: All Natural Katie is not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations. 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.
  

Organic Jojoba Oil Liquid Gold [Review]

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

A couple of years ago, I simplified my beauty routine and focused on natural and organic. When I look for green beauty care products, I look for a short ingredients list. Oils are a great addition to my green beauty care routine. 100% organic oils are easy to find, even in stores. Plus, organic oils usually contain one ingredient - the oil. Jojoba Oil has been on the market for a long time, as an ingredient in other products or as a carrier oil for essential oils. Leven Rose's 100% organic Jojoba Oil is pure liquid gold for your skin.


Organic Jojoba Oil       ($25.00, 4oz)

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% organic and pure
Comes in an amber glass bottle
Absorbs quickly
Immediately softens hands

Level Rose's 100% organic Jojoba Oil is 100% pure, cold pressed and unrefined oil. The Jojoba Oil is made in the USA. The oil comes in a dark amber glass bottle, which is perfect for preserving the qualities of the oil and extending the shelf life. Jojoba Oil storage is important because oils are sensitive to light and must be stored in dark amber bottles to prevent oxidation. Oils that are not stored in dark bottles will oxidize, lose potency and become ineffective.

One of my favorite parts about Jojoba Oil is that it can be used as part of just about any beauty care routine.

• Naturally softens and moisturizes skin
• Smooths hair naturally
• Repairs dry and frizzy hair
• Moisturizes and shines nails

Some of the ways that you can use Jojoba Oil:

1. Remove makeup on eyes and face
2. Moisturize the face and body
3. Use as a massage oil
4. Soften rough hands and feet
5. Moisturize dry scalp and frizzy hair
6. Protect hair from heat of styling
7. Moisturize cuticles and chapped lips
8. Help to prevent stretch marks

Jojoba Oil has become one of my favorite products. Winter left my hands red and dry. After the first application of Jojoba Oil, my hands felt silky and supple. Even coconut oil could not touch the dryness of my hands. The Jojoba Oil absorbed quickly and worked instantly. After a few days, the skin on my hands felt young and supple. 

I have even been using Jojoba Oil to moisturize my face and my legs. I love that the Jojoba Oil absorbs quickly and does leave a greasy feeling on my skin.

Jojoba Oil is a great carrier oil for essential oils. I mixed a small dark amber colored bottle of organic Jojoba Oil and organic lavender oil as a relaxing moisturizer to keep in the diaper bag. Since Jojoba Oil is organic and pure, I feel comfortable using it on my baby's skin to relieve redness from diapers or to moisturize dry patches.

I would highly recommend Leven Rose's 100% organic Jojoba Oil. Jojoba Oil is truly liquid gold for your skin. One little bottle will work magic all over your body (skin, hair and nails). Jojoba Oil is a great addition to your beauty care routine.

Disclosure: 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. All opinions are my own.