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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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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Organic Solar Infused Oils [Review]

I love using natural oils for moisture, after sun burn relief, and proactive anti-aging remedies. I also love using oils infused with herbs to help protect and heal the skin. Over the winter, my son had red and scaly skin (probably eczema) from the harsh cold weather. Plus, my hands were so dry and red from constantly washing dishes with hot water. During our beach vacation, we needed an after sun burn relief lotion to soothe our red skin. Organic Solar Infused Oils are a great natural moisturizer and skin healer.

HippieCrap Infused Oils        

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% organic herbs	Shorter shelf life
No additives or synthetic preservatives
Comes in a dark amber bottle

Hippie Crap offers a wide selection of solar infused oils. These oils are not essential oils, but are oils infused with herbs. Some oils are infused with a single herb like Calendula. While other oils are infused with a mix of herbs. Each oil and herb combination is focused on providing specific remedies and benefits. For example, Calendula Oil soothes skin. Oregano Oil helps with skin infections because of its anti-bacterial properties.

Let's talk about solar infused oils. Each batch starts with organically grown herbs purchased from a grower. The herbs are placed in organic sunflower oils for 6 weeks of solar infusion. Solar infusion utilizes the sun to naturally infuse oils with the goodness of herbs. There are different methods to infuse oils with herbs. The traditional method involves placing the oils and herbs in the sun for a period of time. After the initial 6 week solar infusion, the herbs are strained out of the oil and new herbs are added for a second infusion. I really like the double infusion method to create a strong infused oil. The second fresh batch is infused for another 6 weeks in the sun and the herbs are strained again. A small amount of Vitamin E oil is added to preserve the infused oil. Each batch is stored in a cool, dark place to preserve the infused oils. When an individual bottle is ordered, it is poured fresh from the big batch.

I love that all ingredients are organic and Shelley uses traditional, natural methods to infuse the oils. the smell of the infused oils was strong, but not overwhelming.

The infused oils come in dark amber bottles. Oils should always be stored in dark colored containers to preserve the qualities of the oil and extend the shelf life. Oils that are not stored in dark bottles will oxidize, lose potency and become ineffective. Most oils are available in 2 oz and 4 oz sizes. I found that the 2 oz size lasted us for a long time.

Results: I have been using the infused oils for dry skin, any rashes like diaper rash and cold weather eczema, and after-sun burn care. The sunflower oil is a great carrier oil because it is light and absorbs fairly quickly. To get the oil out, I put my finger on the opening, tip the bottle up and bring it back down, which allows me to get just enough oil on my finger and apply where needed.

Here are the infused oils that I received and how we have been using them:

Calendula Oil - dry, itchy skin; diaper rashes; cold weather eczema, sun burn relief
Chamomile Oil - calming massage
Oregano Oil - homemade anti-bacterial spray (also moisturizes), chest run
Bourbon Vanilla Extract - baking!

Hippicrap uses traditional and natural methods for infusing oils. I love that the ingredients are as organic as can be and the oils are safe to use on babies and children.

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. All opinions are my own.

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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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100% Organic Ultra Hydrating Facial Moisturizer [Review]

I am always on the search for 100% organic and natural moisturizers and I love to share them with you! The longer I use face and skin moisturizers with natural ingredients, the more I am convinced that my skin does not need the synthetic emollients, the toxic fragrances, the preservatives, etc. Nouveau/Organica Ultra Hydrating Facial Moisturizer is made with 100% organic ingredients.

Nouveau/Organica Organic Facial Moisturizer        

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
100% USDA Organic ingredients	Comes in a plastic container
Soy-free, Vegan
Light and lasting moisturizing
Made in the USA

Nouveau/Organics 100% USDA Organic Facial Moisturizer contains natural oils, plant extracts, and essential oils. The moisturizing oils are most commonly found in natural skin moisturizers.  These oils have been used for people for a long time and compliment each other in this blend to absorb quickly and hydrate the skin.

Ingredients: Organic Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Organic Argania Spinosa Kernel (Argan) Oil, Organic Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Organic Rosa Mosqueta (Rosehip) Fruit Oil, Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Organic Salvia Sclarea (Clary Sage) Oil, Organic Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) Oil, Organic Boswellia carteri (Frankincense) Oil, Organic Pelargonium roseum asperum (Geranium) Oil

I love the 100% organic ingredient list and I love that there are no preservatives, though this means that the cream should be used within 6 months or kept refrigerated for longer shelf life. Using this moisturizer on a daily basis will last me at least 6 months!

Ingredients that cause some concern are Ylang Ylang Oil and Frankincense Oil. Even though they are both organic, there is some possibility of contamination during distillation and extraction. EWG rates Ylang Ylang Oil as 3 (moderate hazard) and Frankincense Oil as a 2 (low hazard).

The facial moisturizer comes in a dark plastic container. The dark color is important to preserve the qualities of the oil and extend the shelf life, though I wish the jar was made from glass or stainless steel since plastic can leach toxins into the moisturizer. I would like to see Nouveau/Organica move toward glass containers.

Usage: A little of the facial moisturizer goes a long way. I usually take just a bit on my finger and rub it on my face. For best absorption, apply right after getting out of the shower or right after washing the face.

The moisturizer has a slight smell, but not overpowering. I mostly smell the Shea Butter, which is the first ingredient. Even when essential oils are used, I still prefer less scent.

Results: I was a bit worried that the moisturizer would be on the heavier side because Shea Butter is the first ingredient. I usually don't use Shea Butter on my face because it is too "thick" for my face. However, the Shea Butter mixed with the other ingredients and essential oils creates a great balance of ultra hydration. I have also been using this moisturizer on dry elbows and dry knees.

I would recommend Nouveau/Organica 100% Organic Ultra Hydrating Facial Moisturizer because of one of the cleanest ingredients lists that is available in the natural beauty department. I would like to see the company either reduce or substitute the Ylang Ylang Oil and reduce the potential toxicity caused from contamination. I would also like to see the plastic container be switched to a glass container. In the mean time, I will be enjoying and loving this moisturizer!

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. All opinions are my own.

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Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap [Review]

One of my favorite all natural products to try are soaps. There are so many different brands of natural soaps available now, even soaps specifically made for men! Natural soaps offer superior quality and leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and moisturized. Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap is a classic combination of bay leaf and cinnamon spice with a hint of lime. The rich lather helps the razor glide across the skin. Bentonite clay and wheat germ oil protect the skin.

Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap      
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
All natural ingredients	Contains Fragrance Oil (potentially toxic)
Great lather
Doesn't leave skin feeling dry

Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap is specifically designed to be used for shaving. Although this soap is targeted at men, especially with the manly scents like bay leaf and cinnamon, I can see women using this soap for shaving their legs. The ingredients, especially Bentonite clay and wheat germ oil protect the skin and allow for a safe shave.

I have been using natural soap to shave for quite some time. I do like that the ingredients are selected specifically for protecting and moisturizing the skin for shaving. Let's look at the ingredients.

Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap Ingredients
Saponified Oils of Olive, Coconut, Castor, Shea Butter, Bentonite Clay, Glycerine, Wheat Germ Oil, Fragrance Oil, Essential Oils, Tocopherol T-50 (Vitamin E), Rosemary Oleoresin (a natural antioxidant).

I love the simple ingredient list that is made from mostly natural ingredients. I would like to see the Moose Bay Rum Soap be made with 100% organic ingredients, or at least use 100% essential oils instead of Fragrance Oil.

Fragrance is rated as Highly Hazard by EWG's Skin Deep Database. I recommend avoiding this ingredient in any product. I will reach out to the company to get more information about the actual ingredients in their Fragrance Oil. Since they are marketing the product as a natural soap, then it should not have one of the most toxic ingredients in it.

Castor Oil is rated as 2 (Low Hazard), so I would try to limit my use of products with Castor Oil.

I do like that the preservative is a natural one (Tocopherol/Vitamin E and Rosemary Oleoresin).

Usage: Wet the soap and rub directly on the skin or on your hands and then on your skin. Let air dry in a soap dish.

Results: The soap lathered well and stayed somewhat lathered on the skin while my husband shaved his face. The smell was pleasant and not overpowering. A little soap went a long way and rinsed cleanly. My husband had a pleasant experience with the soap. He does not usually use soap to shave, but said that his experience with it was better than expected.

For the price point of Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap, I would expect 100% natural, if not 100% organic ingredients. If Moose removes or substitutes Fragrance Oil, then I would recommend this shaving soap.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are honest.

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