Affordable K-Cups [review]

Making coffee is one of the first things I do in the morning. Over the many years of drinking coffee, I realized that I prefer the darker roasts. I have tried the lighter roasts, like Medium, but they do not give me the same energy boost as the Dark and Extra Dark roasts. Coffee can get expensive, especially when you use machines like a Keurig. Java Fly is a coffee wholesaler that strives to make great coffee affordable. Their selection of single serve coffee options and brands is extensive.

Java Fly Coffee       

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
Affordable coffee
Great flavor

I received K-cups in two types: Faro Rose Noire and Faro Sumatra Mandheling. I sent these K-cups with my husband to work. The cups are compatible with Keurig K-cup brewing systems.

I am going to focus this review on the flavors. As I mentioned, I love darker roasts because I feel like they give more of a boost. My husband prefers the same.

Rose Noire (Black Rose) is a dark roast coffee. The flavor is smooth, pleasant, and lingers on the tongue. My husband used the 10 oz setting on the Keurig to brew the coffee. He recommends trying a lower volume of water to really feel the full strength of this dark roast. Rose Noire was easy to drink and my husband really liked it.

Sumatra Mandheling is a medium roast coffee. The taste was smooth. The flavor is characteristic of the flavor you would expect from a Sumatra. Again, my husband recommended trying a lower volume of water to really full the full strength of the flavor.

My husband really liked both coffees, though he said that Rose Noire was more of an afternoon coffee for him.

If you are looking for affordable k-cups, check out Java Fly coffee wholesaler!

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Luxury Maternity and Nursing Cover [review]

Once you become a mom, the stuff that you take with you when you leave the house seems to multiply! Though I have downsized over the months and years, I try hard to find products that are multipurpose. A maternity and nursing cover that can be worn at least 15 different ways is a must have nursing item for any pregnant woman or nursing mother.

Boho Mama Nursing Cover      

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. 

The Good	The Not So Good
Made from organic bamboo fabric	Snaps might need reinforcement
Soft and stretchy

The Boho Mama nursing cover is not just a nursing cover, but a must have accessory for every pregnant or nursing mom. The cover is made from organic bamboo with a little bit of spandex. This combination makes for very luxurious feeling fabric. I am a very touch oriented person and want soft items for my child.

The nursing cover is a combination of a true nursing cover and a nursing scarf. The size is a bit bigger than what I would usually wear as a scarf, but I could see myself wearing it during the colder winter months. It's nice that it can just be thrown on like a scarf or a cover for myself instead of stuffing yet another item in the diaper bag. If I do need to put it in the diaper bag, the cover takes up very little space.

Usage: There are many different ways to use the Boho Mama cover, here are some of them:

1. Wear it around your neck like a scarf.
2. Wrap around your shoulders like a shawl.
3. Wrap around the baby as a blanket or swaddle.
4. Use as a cardigan or wrap around yourself.
5. Wrap around baby while baby wearing for extra warmth.
6. Use as a car seat cover.
7. Use as a changing pad.

The beauty of investing in the Boho Mama cover is that it can be used during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, and beyond.

My Thoughts: I really like the Boho Mama cover. Although I am no longer breastfeeding, I still have a 2.5 year old toddler to take care of every day. One of my favorite things about the cover is that I can use it in so many different ways. I like having a blanket/cover type item with me when I leave the house, whether I need to wrap something around my shoulders to stay warm, or I need to change a diaper on the go. The cover is a good size and is similar to my pashmina scarf that I wear all the time. I am 5'4 and have a slim athletic build, so the larger size worked as a good shawl/torso cover.

The Boho Mama luxury nursing wrap is the perfect gift for a baby shower or a sprinkle shower. A classic nursing cover with a modern feel and function will make any mom feel special. Get rid of the big cotton tent around yourself and the baby and cover both of you with breathable, soft fabric.

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Professional Hair Removal at Home [review]

Hair removal is a task that I find cumbersome and never ending. For my wedding, I tried waxing for the first time in my life. And, it was the last time also. I have been looking for a way to reduce the amount of hair growth, especially on my legs. Shaving with a razor over and over again was becoming cumbersome and not doing anything to reduce hair growth. Waxing on a regular basis was not in the budget. The Pearl Pro offers easy, safe, and painless way to professionally remove hair at home.

Electrolysis & Thermogenic Hair Removal System      

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
Works!	Replacement parts a bit pricey
Customizable settings
Easy and quick to use

Viatek Products offers a couple hair removal systems. I received the Pearl Pro system, which is their high end home hair removal system. The Pearl Pro offers electrolysis and thermogenic hair removal. Electrolysis is the removal of hair roots on the skin by the application of heat. Thermogenic hair removal is where heat is sent down the hair to the root. This weakens the hair follicle and slows down growth. Over time, hair will come in finer, less, or none at all.

Usage: The box comes with explicit instructions on how to use the Pearl Pro. These instructions helps to achieve the best results. There are settings that can be customized to be of lower heat and of higher heat. Viatek recommends starting out on low for both settings and increasing from there. Hair should be around 1-3mm for best removal. I will focus on removing hair on my legs as that is where I started and seems like the easiest place.

Once the unit is turned on, the unit is kept at around 90 degrees to the skin, the display window facing toward me. I press the unit down a little on my skin and start moving it up and down my leg, keeping the 90 degree angle. There is a white guideline that comes on to let me know that I am using it properly. I go over the same area about 1-2 times, both up and back down, and then move on to the next area.

The Pearl Pro removes hair by heating the hair itself, thus crystalizing it. Then, the heat is applied to the roots of the hair, which discourages regrowth of hair. As the hair is crystalized, it will smell and might smoke a bit. Do not be afraid! This mean that the hair removal is working!

After using the Pearl Pro on my legs, I use the buffing pads to buff away the crystalized hair and moisturize afterward. The Pearl Pro comes with a moisturizer, but I have been using coconut oil as that is what I usually use on my legs. Don't skip this step!

Results: I started off with my right leg to compare regrowth. The first couple of times I used the Pearl Pro, I realized that my hair was longer than 3mm, so it wasn't working as effectively. I shaved my legs, waited about 3-5 days, and tried again. My hair was about 2mm and the hair removal was actually taking place. I also increased the heat settings and saw more results. I smell the burning smell (mild) and saw a little smoke. I could also tell that at the middle setting, my skin could feel the heat of the unit. I just used my personal judgment to avoid burning myself.

In the 2 photos below, you can see how I am using the Pearl Pro and the results. (excuse my hairy leg!) The unit isn't touching the skin, so the white guide light is not on. You can see that I have the settings on the middle for both and what the unit looks like when turned on. In the second photo, you can see some patches where the hair is gone after 2 times of going over the same area. The hair was a little longer than recommended, so the hair removal was not as effective as it could have been.

My Thoughts: I have used the Pearl Pro about 5-10 times in the past several weeks. The hair on my right leg has come in finer and has grown slower! I was amazed! Removing hair is one thing, but slower growth and finer hair is exactly what I was looking for. The Pearl Pro has worked for me! I will be working on my armpit hair next.

I will continue using the Pearl Pro on a regular basis. I was reading that you have to use it regularly for at least 6 weeks to see effective results. Though it is not a permanent hair removal system, it does slow down and discourage growth, which means less shaving! The Pearl Pro is an investment, but I believe it is a valuable investment. The replacement tips and buffer pads are a bit of a recurrent cost, so take care of them!



Pearl Pro is a great option for professional hair removal at home, done on my schedule and as often as I desire and need.

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Adrano Volcano Coffee [review]

Coffee is one of the highlights of my mornings, mid days, and afternoons! I drink coffee for both an energy boost and the flavor. I prefer a strong, bold cup of coffee. Black! Last year, my husband started roasting green coffee beans. This is a great way to obtain organic green coffee beans and roast them to our desired flavor. Heirloom Coffee sources Adrano coffee from small estates in the the Pocos de Caldas volcanic caldera (crater) in Brazil.

Adrano Brazil Volcano Coffee       
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Sustainably grown, direct traded	Not certified organic
Complex, yet smooth flavor and taste

Heirloom Coffee's Adrano coffee is a mix of Mundo Novo, Catuaí and Acaiá varieties of Arabica beans. The small estates in the volcanic crater grow a variety of unusual Arabica bean sub-types. These unusual beans, paired with the unique volcanic soil and microclimate, create beans that have a variety of flavors. Adrano coffee beans are processed with a dry-process. The beans are large, hard, and have a high sugar content due to full ripening in processing. Flavors include buttery aromas and deep, rich caramel. This coffee has won awards!

The Adrano coffee beans are sold green, meaning that they have not been roasted. Roasting at home is easy and doable! My husband has been using a hot air popper that he purchased on Amazon, but I have also seen these in thrift stores. The coffee beans come with instructions for roasting coffee at home. I would recommend looking at some YouTube videos to understand the process of roasting coffee at home. The green coffee beans can also be roasted in a pan as long as you constantly move them around for even roasting.

Usage: First, my husband roasted the coffee beans to the desired roast level. He over roasted just a bit, so they were past the French Roast level. The color of the beans and ground coffee looked almost black and we could taste a little bit of the burn in the coffee, but it was still drinkable. Next time, he will remove the beans from the hot air popper 1-2 minutes sooner. We used an Aeropress to press Adrano volcano coffee - about 2 spoonfuls of ground coffee per 1 cup of water. We like coffee strong! If you make the coffee and it's too strong, you can dilute by adding a little bit of hot water at a time until you reach your preferred strength.

Results: The coffee was strong, bold and smooth. I could taste the caramel notes in the coffee. Even though we made pretty strong coffee, it was not too acidic. I really like the low acidity, especially since I prefer my coffee stronger and stronger causes sometimes irritates my stomach.

If you are looking for unique coffee beans to try, I recommend Heirloom Coffee's volcano coffee. I The flavor profile of the Adrano volcano coffee will appeal to any palate.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

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Go Crazy Over Coffee Crazy's Organic French Roast

Coffee is one of the highlights of my mornings, mid days, and afternoons! I drink coffee for both an energy boost and the flavor. I prefer a strong, bold cup of coffee. Black! During a recent visit to my parents', I rediscovered the French Roast. While I wrote off French Roast coffee in the past, I realized it is exactly what I have needed lately - a darker roast with a great punch of caffeine and flavor. Coffee Crazy has debuted their first blend, Fair Trade and Organic French Roast coffee, a medium to full body blend with a low acidity.

Coffee Crazy French Roast       
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Fair Trade and USDA Certified Organic
Smooth and bold

Coffee Crazy's French Roast is made from organically grown Arabica specialty coffee beans that are sold at Fair Trade prices. The company is also part of the Rainforest Alliance. There is nothing complicated about these beans. They are organic, dark roasted and whole. The coffee comes in a 12 ounce for $13.95 on Amazon. This is about the average price for Organic and Fair Trade coffee beans.

The whole beans are dark in color. They grind up nicely in my coffee grinder.

Usage: I brewed Coffee Crazy Organic French Roast using my 3 cup glass Chemex. I usually brew 2 spoonfuls of ground coffee per 1 cup of water. I like coffee strong. If you make the coffee and it's too strong, you can dilute by adding a little bit of hot water at a time until you reach your preferred strength.

Results: I poured up a small cup of the coffee and took a sip. The coffee was strong, bold and smooth. I really like the low acidity, especially since I prefer my coffee stronger and stronger causes sometimes irritates my stomach. I am able to drink a couple of small cups of this coffee throughout the day with no stomach irritation, so I know this coffee has low acidity. The caffeine content was just where I like it. The coffee woke me up without giving me too much of a "caffeine buzz.".

If you are looking for an organic French Roast blend that is Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified, look to Coffee Crazy. I know you will go just as crazy over this coffee as I have!

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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The World's Strongest Coffee [Review]

Enjoying a cup of hot coffee is one of the highlights of my mornings. Not only do I drink coffee for the energy boost, but also for the flavor. I love a strong, bold cup of coffee. Black! With a curious toddler running around the house, I need coffee to keep up with him. Honestly, on some days, I need more than coffee! On those days, I pull out a bag of organic and Fair Trade Death Wish Coffee. Death Wish Coffee is the world's strongest coffee, having approximately twice the caffeine of typical store bought coffee blends.

Death Wish Coffee       
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Fair Trade and USDA Certified Organic	Slight headache/energy crash a few hours later
Comes in whole beans and ground
Smooth and bold
High caffeine content

Let's talk a little about the world's strongest coffee, Death Wish Coffee. The name had me and my husband intrigued. The company's goal was to develop an extremely strong coffee that was dark, highly caffeinated and very flavorful. Death Wish Coffee Company sources high grade beans to ensure that the blend is strong and delicious. The coffee comes in a 16 ounce bag and sells for $19.99. The price is a little higher than most high end coffees, but is justified because of the Fair Trade and USDA Organic certification, plus the higher caffeine content.

The whole beans are dark in color. They have quite a bit of oil on them, but ground up quite nicely. The oil on them is from the longer roasting process.

Usage: I brewed Death Wish Coffee using my 3 cup glass Chemex. I usually brew 2 spoonfuls of ground coffee per 1 cup of water. I like coffee strong. Death Wish Coffee recommends 2.5 spoonfuls of ground coffee per 1 cup of water. If you make the coffee and it's too strong, you can dilute by adding a little bit of hot water at a time until you reach your preferred strength. I started off with one small cup of coffee to see what kind of effect it would have on me. I can tolerate a moderate amount of caffeine. I prefer a smaller cup of stronger coffee.

Coincidentally, my husband also brewed Death Wish Coffee at work that day. I sent him with a small jar of grounds for "emergency purposes."

I have also been adding grass-fed butter to my coffee to reduce the spikes and drops in the way my body receives and processes the caffeine. I have definitely had less caffeine crashes.

Results: My first reaction was that the coffee had a really good, bold flavor. It tasted strong, but smooth. No bitterness at all. The caffeine kicked in immediately and I felt more alive after just getting up at 5:30 am with a toddler. I sipped on the coffee for a couple of hours. I was impressed with the results. The caffeine woke me up without giving me a "caffeine buzz," which is most of the time not preferred because it results in a huge caffeine crash.

In the early afternoon, a couple of hours after finishing my cup of Death Wish Coffee, I noticed that I had a headache. In general, I do not get headaches, especially from coffee. I also felt a little off. I had a small cup of coffee in the afternoon and it seemed to help. When I talked to my husband that evening, he had a similar reaction. We concluded that it could have been a caffeine crash after the high amount of caffeine in Death Wish Coffee. Aside from this potential caffeine crash, I did not experience any other side effects.

Note: Since this coffee has a higher caffeine content, please do a small sample taste before drinking a cup of coffee. If you have a low tolerance for coffee, cannot handle high amounts of caffeine, are pregnant or nursing, or have an underlying medical condition, it is recommended to avoid drinking Death Wish Coffee.

I decided that we are going to keep a bag of Death Wish Coffee in the pantry for "emergency purposes." The cost per pound of coffee is a little high for us to drink this coffee on a regular basis, but I do want to keep a bag just in case we are having one of those days where our regular coffee is just not doing it.

If you are looking for more caffeinated and stronger coffee, I recommend that you try a bag of Death Wish Coffee. You won't be disappointed (and they have a 60 day money back guarantee!).

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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