Natural Super Green Food Supplement [review]

Super Green Food Supplement in Capsules is about the easiest way to internally take super green food. I have tried super green food powders in smoothies or super green food juices, but the super green food supplement in capsules is an easy and quick way to boost your nutrition levels. Supa Herbal Greens Original herbal green food supplement blend is made with organic ingredients, gluten-free and non-GMO ingredients, in a vegetable capsule.

Supa Herbal Greens Original       
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. I am not a medical professional. Please consult a physician before beginning any exercise program or taking a supplement. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease

The Good	The Not So Good
100% raw	Did not experience significant changes
Organic ingredients (other than veg capsule)
Non-GMO, Gluten-Free
Made in the USA

Supa Herbal Greens Original vegetable caps are made with GMO-free, gluten-free, and organic super green foods ingredients. The bottle contains 90 vegetarian capsules, which last 1 month. Recommended dosage is to take 3 capsules before or after meals. May be taken up to 3 times per day.

Supa Herbal Greens Original Ingredients:
Organic Super Green Foods (235mg):
  Alfalfa Grass (aerial)
  Barley Grass (aerial)
  Dandelion (aerial)
  Ginger (root)
  Ginseng (root)
  Parsley (aerial)
  Rose hips (fruit)
  Turmeric (root)
  Wheat grass (aerial)
  Garlic (bulb)

Organic Super Whole Complex (125mg):
  Celery (seed)
  Flax (seed)
  Pumpkin (seed)
  Sesame (seed)
  Sunflower (seed)

Organic Super Digestive Complex (80mg):
  Anise (seed)
  Caraway (seed)
  Fennel (seed)
  Ginger (root)

Organic Super Sea Greens (35mg):
  Kelp (aerial)
  Bladderwrack (aerial)
  Nova Scotia Dulce (leaf)

GMO Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Corn Free, Dairy Free, Filler Free, Magnesium Stearate Free, Additive Free, Preservative Free super green supplement.

Supa Herbal Greens is a very concentrated herbal supplement. As the above states, the ingredients are high quality, organic, non-irradiated, and are additive free. Basically, you get 100% herbs within the capsule. I usually have a hard time finding natural supplements that are additive-free, especially Magnesium Stearate-free supplements, so I was really excited to try this brand. One of my goals for this year was to add more super green foods to my diet. The Supa Herbal Greens supplement is a great addition and I feel great about taking the supplement because of the organic ingredients.

I also like the ingredients combination of not only super green foods, but also raw seeds and nuts, garlic, and sea greens. I took 2 capsules per day and noticed that my energy did not dip as much as usual throughout the day. Otherwise, I did not notice a significant improvement. I bet if I took 3 capsules up to 3 times a day, my energy would be really high. My goal for taking this supplement is for preventative health.

The vegetarian capsule is a standard smaller capsule and it easy to take.

If you are looking for an easy way to take super green foods on a daily basis, try the organic Supa Herbal Greens green super food supplement.

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5 Eco-Friendly Ideas for the Fall

The temperatures have cooled off. The leaves have started to turn orange and yellow colors. The garden is slowing down a bit. The warm Summer months have ended and we have entered a season of rest. Summer months are usually filled with lots of outside time, family travel, and just more activities in general. When the weather become cooler, we stay inside, we warm up together under a blanket and watch a movie, and we rest during the Winter. Here are some of the eco-friendly ideas we are implementing this Fall.

1. Upgraded Water Filter System

I finally decided to upgrade our old Brita water pitcher filter to a more robust and purifying system like the Berkey water filter system. I also purchased the fluoride and arsenic filters to help us to have the most pure water we can have in our home. I have been wanting this water purifying system for a long time and am so excited to finally have it setup and in use.

I chose the Big Berkey size, which is perfect for our family of 3. This provides enough water for at least one day. I can tell a subtle taste difference in the water between the old Brita water pitcher filter and the Big Berkey water filter system. I'm glad our family finally made this investment in more pure water.

2. Canning More

I have been canning homemade apple butter for a few years. I've canned some other vegetables, like peppers, in the past, but really have not gone outside this comfort zone. This year, after my parents brought me 4.5 boxes of homegrown, organic apples from their back yard, I had to venture out to try new recipes. In addition to the apple butter, I canned sliced apples and apple jam. It was not as hard as I imagined it would be.

As the Summer growing season wraps up and there is an abundance of harvest, I want to try my hand at canning vegetables like tomatoes, green beans, and salsas.

3. Using Our Food Storage Supply

Being prepared for an emergency situation, whether natural or man made, is something that is very important to me. I feel like there have been so many natural disasters this year. It is good to be prepared for those. I try to keep a short term food supply in the deep freezer, regular freezer, pantry and downstairs in the laundry room. Our laundry room has a huge storage closet. I purchased a few heavyweight plastic bins with locking lids to store dry goods. The plastic bins help to protect them from any critters or bugs.

One of the things I have not been as good at is using our short term food storage supply. Therefore, this is on my list for soups, stews, and crockpot meals as I use the beans, grains, and frozen meat.

4. Thrifting

I have been so surprised at the amount of nice and high quality items that I have been able to find at thrift stores. Initially, I got into thrifting because I was not able to find an older style of jeans at one of the popular jeans stores, but I found them at a local Goodwill. I knew the exact style and size that fit me so well. I found that style at thrift stores. Since I started thrifting, I have bought lots of adorable decor items for the home, stuff for the kitchen, and wooden toys for my son. Don't be afraid of the thrift store!

5. Drive Less, Walk More

Even though our neighborhood does not have sidewalks and we do not live in an area that has a lot of shopping and restaurants close to us, we still try to walk as much as possible. There is a little shopping center about one mile away. When I need something from one of the stores there, I will take my 3.5 year old in our BOB jogging stroller and either run or walk there. We also try to combine trips to store that are close so we are not driving from one place to another. Taking a toddler in and out of a car seat multiple times is hard enough! My son is at the age now where he can walk quite a bit and I take advantage of that.

These are 5 eco-friendly ideas that we are implementing for the Fall. Some of them we were doing already, but want to kick it up a notch.

What are some eco-friendly things your family is doing this Fall??
 

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3 Strategies to Become A Green Friendly Person? [ad]

Since I started this blog several years ago, I have seen more green friendly blogs and companies popping up. It is great to see this change is going strong. We are changing the future for ourselves and our children. Here are 3 strategies to lead a lifestyle that is focused on environmental health. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I post products/services that fit within the genre of this blog.

1. Try Meatless Mondays.

One of the best ways to help the environment is to decrease the amount of animal products you consume. In fact, limiting or eliminating consumption of animal products contributes to the clearing of forests, conserves energy and water, reduces pollution, and makes more grain available to people across the globe. Nevertheless, many people who have eaten animal products throughout their life find the idea of giving this food up difficult. You can get started by singling out one day of the week in which you eat no meat. This current practice is called "Meatless Mondays." On this day, prepare a wide range of delicious vegetarian or vegan meals, including but not limited to lasagna, pasta, pizza, and rice and beans. 

2. Use Green Pesticide Products.

At some point in life, many homeowners will have to grapple with a pest invasion. When it happens, it's important to make use of green friendly products that are easy on the environment and your health. Companies like EcoRaider USA are pleased to provide residential property owners with non-toxic, naturally occurring botanical compounds that offer maximum effectiveness with low risk to you and the environment. 

3. Utilize Natural Lighting.

Another wonderful strategy you can implement to be a more green friendly person is the use of natural lighting. Artificial lighting can be replaced with LED bulbs, and this strategy helps preserve the environment at the same time that it lowers your energy bills. Also note that you can use the sun's rays as a form of natural lighting to cut down on the use of synthetic lighting methods. 

Don't Delay: Go Green Today! 

You don't have to wait to start living a green friendly lifestyle. Strategies like the above, and others, can be implemented immediately. Start with a little and increase your commitment over time to avoid getting overwhelmed. 

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Green Tree Jewelry [Giveaway]

Green Tree Jewelry created the most adorable, modern, laser cut designs that will be perfect for anyone who likes a classic or quirky earring. Enter the giveaway below for a change to win a collection of wooden earrings. 

Deliciously Savvy is Hosting a Giveaway for 1 Lucky Winner to Receive all 6 pairs of These Fabulous... Made in the USA.... Green Tree Jewelry Wood Earrings! Total ARV $90! Enter Today & Good Luck! 1 Lucky Winner Will Win This Fabulous "Green" Line of Accessories That Anyone Would Love! It Is All About Feeling Beautiful and Living Stylishly with a "Green" Touch!

Sponsored By: Green Tree Jewelry

Hosted By: Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews // Happily Ever Rushed // My Silly Little Gang // IMHO Views, Reviews and Giveaways // Here We Go Again Ready // Heartbeats ~ Soul Stains // Michigan Savings & More // Box Roundup

PLUS a Big Thank You To All Of The Fabulous Bloggers Helping To Promote This Giveaway ~ You Truly Are The Best!

Check Out Their Website Today!

1 LUCKY WINNER will receive 6 Pairs of Unique Green Tree Jewelry Earrings! (Pictured Above) These items are proudly made in the USA and they are based in San Diego! They are the creators of modern, laser cut jewelry pieces and other accessories... very cool!

Giveaway Dates ~ 1/27 9PM EST until 02/18 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only.

Any questions, email mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 02/18/2016.

Good Luck! Enter Below

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

By Supporting Our Blogs Via Social Media You Are Helping Us To Provide Fabulous Prizes For Amazing Future Giveaways! Good Luck & Thank You!

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Personalized Gifts for the Hard to Shop for Person [review]

Personalized gifts have become quite popular over the past several years. More companies and small businesses are offering customization options on just about anything. A personalized gift can be the perfect gift for that hard to shop for person. When I was shopping for my husband's Christmas gift - a personalized bourbon barrel head - I came across Joanna Tate Monograms on Etsy. Joanna offers personalized wooden products, including reclaimed wooden products.

Monogrammed Bourbon Barrel Head       

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a discount on shipping to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
Reclaimed wood
Professional designs
Custom made
Ready to hang

I ordered a bourbon barrel head with a simple monogram of our last name (similar to the design above) and the year we were established (married). We have one child for now, so I did not want to add his name in case we have more children. I also did want to just include our names because it is more than just us in our family. I wanted a heirloom gift that can be passed on to our son.

The personalized bourbon barrel top came as promised by Joanna. The box was quite large and had a Fragile sticker on it, which is good for shipping purposes. The barrel top was packaged well inside. It was protected well.

I was giving the monogrammed bourbon barrel top as a Christmas gift for my husband, so I wrapped it in the box that it arrived it. When my husband opened his gift, we were both impressed! The size of the barrel top was quite impressive and the design was very professional. The barrel top is stained and has a clear finish. The design and the look was just what I expected after browsing the selection that Joanna Tate Monograms offers.

 

A personalized bourbon barrel head is a great gift for a bourbon enthusiast! Joanna Tate Monograms reclaims bourbon barrel heads and turns them into beautiful artwork to display in your home!

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Stainless Steel Canteen [review]

An average person spends approximately $1,200 a year on purchasing single use plastic bottles. These single use plastic bottles are then thrown away, filling landfills, or floating around in the ocean. Many varieties of reusable bottles are available today. Stainless steel is our preferred material for reusable water bottles because my toddler will also drink out of them. Xtreme Canteen is a double walled, vacuum insulted, stainless steel canteen that will keep a liquid cold for up to 14 hours.

Xtreme Canteen      

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
Stainless steel cap and body	Doesn't fit in my car's cupholders
Generous size
Does not sweat or leak
Wide mouth opening

Xtreme Canteen is a 32 ounce stainless steel water bottle. The body is made from double-walled stainless steel, vacuum sealed, and painted with a coated with a special paint that ensures the canteen does not sweat. The paint has a little bit of a texture to it, but is not rough at all. The cap is made from stainless steel with a rubber gasket inside. Stainless steel is 18/8 food quality and is BPA free. The Xtreme Canteen is one of the few almost 100% stainless steel water bottles on the market. I love that I can feel comfortable that safe materials are used to produce this bottle.

The water canteen can be used for cold liquids and hot liquids. Cold liquids will stay cold for up to 14 hours (ice frozen up to 24 hours) and hot liquids will stay hot for up to 12 hours.

The wide mouth opening is one the features that I love the most. I had trouble cleaning my other water bottles because I cannot get the dish brush inside to the bottom. I do have a bottle brush, but it does not seem to work very well. The wide mouth opening of the Xtreme Canteen allows me to get the brush inside and clean the bottom of the canteen.

Usage: Fill with your preferred liquid, tighten lid. You can even use the canteen as a thermos for hot (or cold) soups. Basically, anything liquid could go inside!

Results: I have been using the canteen in my car. I fill it with water and it usually lasts me for 1-2 days. I am out and about every day with my toddler, so it's nice to have a generous sized bottle that we can both use. My 2.5 year old can drink from bottles and was even able to drink from the big mouth opening of the Xtreme Canteen. I like that the handle is made from stainless steel so it will not snap off over time (I've had that happen with a plastic Lifefactory top). So far, I have not had any leaking issues. I've had the bottle lying horizontal on the car seat and the seat stayed dry.



Though I love the generous size of the bottle, there are a couple of downsizes to it. The diameter is just a little bit for my car's cup holders. I probably wouldn't take this canteen in my purse when leaving the car because it is a bit heavy when filled with water.

I am using this bottle on a daily basis and love it! For less than $30, you can get a huge stainless steel water bottle that will keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot. Get an Xtreme Canteen to stay hydrated during your everyday adventures.

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Worm Factory 360 [Giveaway]

Are you looking for a perfect gift for your green friends? Have you always wanted to get into composting? A Worm Factory is a great option for composting outdoors or indoors year round! Enter below for a chance to win a composting worm bin system.

Hosted by: The Cheshire Cat's Looking Glass

Co-hosted by: Michigan Savings and More & Tales From A Southern Mom

Sponsored by: Earth Easy

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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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Fennel Essential Oil for Asthma [review]

Essential oils are a big part of my life, especially during the flu season. I mainly use essential oils for healing and boosting immunity. I also use essential oil to deodorize my home and for use in homemade cleaning products. When our Pediatrician told us that our has Respiratory Affective Disorder ("pre-asthma"), I started researching how I could use essential oils. We were already eating clean and organic, using homemade and natural cleaning products and body products. There was really nothing but whatever allergens were outside that were causing his respiratory issues. After a lot of research, I found out that there were many essential oils that were targeted at respiratory issues and asthma. Simply Earth Fennel Essential Oil is a high quality, unfiltered, undiluted essential oil with many beneficial uses.

Simply Earth Fennel Essential Oil            

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Pure and undiluted	Not certified organic
Comes in dark amber glass bottle
Euro dropper cap
Bottled in the US

Simply Earth is a small  family company that strives to provide eco-friendly products. They offer a number of natural products for the home, including a line of unfiltered and undiluted essential oils.

Fennel Essential Oil (foeniculum vulgare var. dulce) has an anise-like, peppery aroma. It is pressed from seeds and has a medium strength odor. The country of origin is Spain. The oil is bottled in the US. The bottle is 15ml and is made from dark amber glass. Storing essential oils in dark glass bottles is the best way to keep the high quality and protect them from going rancid.

The benefits of fennel essential oil include being supportive and restorative. Fennel essential oil has expectorant properties, which helps with respiratory disorders. Fennel essential oil helps with excessive mucus in the lungs, chronic coughs and cold, and asthma.

Usage: The main ways I have been using fennel essential oil is diffusing it on the first floor open living space. I add about 5 drops in water to the essential oil diffuser. I also plan on using fennel essential oil (diluted) as a chest rub.

Essential oils are very concentrated and it is recommended that it be diluted for any topical uses. If applied directly to the skin, essential oils must be diluted in an appropriate oil (Jojoba Oil and Grapeseed Oil make the best carrier oils, but can also use Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil).

Results: I have really enjoyed diffusing fennel essential oil. I was a bit skeptical at first because I"m used to fennel as a culinary spice and did not quite know what I would think about my house smelling like fennel, but I have liked it! The odor is medium strength and it lasts for a very long time. With some essential oils, the scent tapers off after a while, but the fennel scent is present until the diffuse uses all the water up. I really like that the scent is long lasting!

I love the generous 15 oz bottle and the long lasting scent of the Fennel Essential Oil. Everyone in our family has had a cold or outdoor related allergy coughing over the past 2 weeks. I have been diffusing this oil every day and feel like it has helped us to heal quicker. With the high quality and affordable prices from Simply Earth, I would recommend this company!

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and I am not a medical professional. Please consult your physician regarding using essential oils for any medical condition.

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Organic Coconut Oil Softgels [review]

Coconut oil is one of my favorite all purpose oils. I use coconut oil for cooking, moisturizing, healing red and irritated skin, and as a supplement. When I purchase coconut oil, I look for organic, extra virgin coconut oil to ensure that I am getting the highest quality with the highest amount of vitamins and nutrients. Eukonic Organic Coconut Oil supplement, in fast dissolving softgel pills, support a healthy heart and provide extra energy.

Eukonic Organic Coconut Oil Supplement       
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Organic Coconut Oil	Not USDA Organic Certified
Cold-pressed and unrefined	Did not experience significant changes
GMO free

Eukonic Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil softgels are created from unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil. Each bottle contains 120 fast dissolving softgels, which last 1-2 months depending on how many times they are taken per day. Recommended dosage is 1 softgel taken 1 to 2 times per day, preferably with a meal.

Eukonic Organic Coconut Oil Softgel Ingredients:
Coconut Oil (1000mg), Gelatin, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Vegetable Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Purified Water.

Eukonic proposes that the coconut oil supplements support a health heart, weight loss, and provide more energy. I feel like the coconut oil supplement is great for prevention. Although I have not noticed any weight loss (not currently trying to lose weight), I noticed a bit more energy during my recent race training. I felt like my body could push a little more during my runs. This only occurred when I was taking the softgels twice a day. Although I did not experience significant changes, I feel like taking an organic coconut oil supplement is a great approach to staying healthy.

The size of the softgels is a bit on the bigger size. My husband has difficulty taking "horse pills," so he turned his nose up at the size of these. However, I found that they are easy to swallow with a swig of water. Based on the size of the softgells and the additional ingredients, I would assume that 2 softgels provide about 1/2-3/4 of a teaspoon of coconut oil. I know this is quite under the recommended daily intake of coconut oil. However, if you are incorporating coconut oil in your diet in other ways, you would be ingesting much more.

If you are looking for an easy way to take coconut oil on a daily basis, try the fast dissolving coconut oil soft gels from Eukonic.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. I am not a medical professional. Please consult a physician before beginning any exercise program or taking a supplement. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.

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