Bolder Headband Giveaway!

We just got our Bolder Band in the mail! Yay! Even better, the ladies over at Bolder Band gave me an extra one to share with our readers! We will be doing a band Giveaway later in the week, so stay tuned! Black band for me and the white with black polkadots will be given away to one select winner! Will I actually be able to see for a change while I'm working out, without my hair in my face, and annoying little wisps tickling my face? I will let you know!

If you don't win, we will give you the next best thing, a coupon code!
http://www.bbolder.com/

NuGo Nutrition Protein Bars

Product review by Lisa VanWilliams

We took 4 NuGo Fiber d'LISH bars out with us on a family hike, and none of them made it back to the car. Coconut Macaroon, Cinnamon Raisin, Peanut Chocolate Chip, and Chocolate Brownie are the bars we took with us and the Coconut and Cinnamon were my two fav's out of the bunch.

Nugo offers a full line of organic Non-GMO protein bars such as: Dark, Organic, Gluten Free, Slim, Stronger, Family, Fiber, & Smarte Carb in a variety of flavors.They also offer low-sugar bars for diabetics, vegan no soy bars, and even dialysis snack bars.

To find out more about NuGo, please go to:
http://www.nugonutrition.com/

To find a store near you that sells them, please go to:
http://www.nugonutrition.com/where-to-buy/?search=06461&geolocation=&radius=20&cat=location

They also donate a portion of proceeds to the Children's Alopecia Project (CAP), which is the only non-profit devoted specifically to all forms of alopecia. Their mission is to "help any child in need who is living with this life-altering disease to build self-esteem so children become stronger teens, more productive adults, and the advocates of tomorrow."
Thanks NuGo for the samples!

Raw Spirit Fragrances

Product review by Lisa VanWilliams

Want to smell fab with sustainably resourced natural ingredients and support a socially conscious business? Raw Spirit is the answer. Russell James started the brand with a vision that he could bridge together indigenous and marginalized communities throughout the world, and work together for a common good. James does this through a organization called Nomad Two Worlds. He does this by collaborating with them to bring us luxury consumer products, which in return, brings them economic benefit to their communities. It also helps to further the public's understanding and appreciation of the world's most threatened cultures.

For example, one of Raw Spirits hot fragrances right now is Winter Oak. The Winter Oak fragrance was "inspired by the Chumash Lands of California, where the Oak Trees figure prominently in the history and the culture of the Chumash people. Part proceeds of Winter Oak will be used to support the Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks,California." These scents are all about living in harmony and connecting with nature. The world is bigger than our backyards, and this company helps put that in perspective.

Winter Oak is smooth, creamy, warming scent, plus it's unisex. The scent was inspired by walking the oak-lined trails of the Chumash Lands of California on cool winter mornings, when crushed oak leaves and twigs release their fresh scent. Notes of ages American oak and layers of suede, saffron, premium Haitian vetiver and musk.

Wild Fire is also a hot scent this time of year with a dry, woody, sensual scent (also unisex). It was inspired by the intoxicating scent of the Western Australian outback in the intense heat of summer. The dry air tingles as wild fire threatens. Premium wild-harvested Australian sandalwood with creamy amber and floral notes of ylang ylang, jasmine petals, cedarwood, and musk. My daughter said I smelled good when I breezed by her with this on.

They also offer: Fire Tree, Desert Blush, Bijou Vert, Citadelle, & Summer Rain

If you aren't sure which of the 7 fragrances would suit you, you can always get the Raw Spirit Discovery set for $20 and try a sample vial of all of them.

We tried all of them and they are a high quality blend of scents that last all day. I have not decided which one I liked the best so far. Thanks Raw Spirit! Keep up the great work.

To find out more about the company, or order a fragrance, please go to:
https://rawspiritfragrances.com/

Scrubz Body - Natural Skincare Products

Product review by Lisa VanWilliams

Roberta Perry started Scrubz back in 2006 in her kitchen, where she concocted the perfect sugar scrub blend. Her sister Michelle jumped on board, and together, they make hand made batches with natural ingredients. The product line has expanded over the years and now also includes Handz, Facez, Shavez, Butterz, Oilz, Oilz+, Balmz, Bye Bye Bagz, Bye Bye Makeup, Lipz Service, and Lipz. They are located in Bethpage, NY (Hello from across Long Island Sound!), and they also have a store there if you ever happen to be in town.

The fragrance is incredible and it's great to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week to get rid of the dead skin. It reminds me of Yankee Candle smells, but you get to rub these all over yourself. The scrubs are vegan.  Roberta sent me the Wild Cherry Almond Scrubz Sugar Scrub and I want to eat it! She said that flavor is most popular this time of year along with Sweet Milk & Honey. They will also custom make a scent of your choice if you prefer (if you wanted to use your own favorite essential oils). They have an extensive fragrance list and here are some scents to pick from:

• Citrus Burst
• Citrus Zest
• Coco Lime
• Cool Classic
• Exotic Must
• Fall Harvest
• Ginger Teaze
• Jasmine Honeysuckle
• Lavender
• Project Heal
• Pumpkin Pie
• Sweet Lexiebean
• Sweet Milk & Honey
• Unscented
• Warm Vanilla
• Wild Cherry Almond

Scrubz come in 3 different sizes and the price ranges from $8.95-$28.95 depending on size.You can find Scrubz at Whole Foods locations throughout CT. To find out more about the company, or to order online, please go to:
https://scrubzbody.com/

They also have tons of cool gifts sets perfect for the Holidays. For example, they have this awesome set called Wow, you gotta try this Scrubzbody Sampler, that goes for $30.95 and it comes with 8 different products in your chosen group of scents. What a great way to try the whole product line and find out what you like best. Thanks Scrubz!

Kiss My Honey - Organic Lip Balms

Review by Lisa VanWilliams

Not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and here's one pucker that you are gonna wanna kiss and tell about. Kiss My Honey was started by Kellie Duran when she wanted a safe lip balm that wasn't filled with harmful chemicals. These organic balms are all natural, paraben free, petroleum free, chemical free & preservative free. It glides on smoothly and comes in two great flavors, mint or chocolate. Coconut and Strawberry are launching at the end of November! They are made right in Las Vegas, and Kellie is awesome and sent some samples for us to check out.

This would be a great stocking stuffer for any child, tween, or adult. It comes in a cute silk black bag and it's in a eye popping hot pink and black tube.

Mint ingredients: organic beeswax pellets, organic coconut oil, organic unrefined Shea butter, vitamin E, grapefruit seed extract, organic sweet almond oil, organic essential oil peppermint (for mint flavoring).

To find out more about the company or order some balms, please go to:
http://www.kissmyhoney.com/

VerMints

Review by Lisa VanWilliams

Fresh breath without all the toxins? Yes please! VerMints are organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, nut-free, vegan, and kosher mints & pastilles. The company had it's beginnings in Vermont back in 2000 where they started on a stovetop in a kitchen. Since then, they have gone national and they are now available at locations throughout the U.S. and beyond. They source their ingredients from partners that share the same high standards - healthy living, healthy planet, no testing on animals. They are available in six great all natural flavors:

• CinnaMint
• WinterMint
• PepperMint
• GingerMint
• Chai
• Café Express

To find out more about the company, please go to:

http://www.vermints.com/

To find a location near you that sells these, please go to:

http://www.vermints.com/find-a-store

What's in a healthy PepperMint? Organic crystalized cane sugar, organic tapioca syrup, natural peppermint oil, organic ground peppermint leaves, organic Vermont maple syrup, agar, & gum tragacanth. Each flavor has it's own blend and mix of special organic ingredients.

My favorite is the PepperMint and it's a way better alternative than chewing gum or ingesting a toxic brand. They are hard refreshing mints that dissolve slowly, and they are easy to take with you anywhere. 

Upfront Granola - Organic Anywhere Snacks

Product review by Lisa VanWilliams

Upfront Foods Granola is made from 7 simple ingredients from trusted suppliers, and non-GMO 100% whole grain certified organic oats. The oats are from a 5th generation family farm in North Dakota, and the 100% pure maple syrup is from a 7th generation family farm in Vermont. They are packaged in small handy packs that can easily fit into pockets, backpacks, and purses for that perfect "take me anywhere" healthy snack. The bars are also Certified Vegan. We took some out on the trail with us and it was perfect.

Gigi Twist is a mom and former teacher and she started Upfront Granola up when she was looking for quick and easy breakfast options that weren't filled with artificial ingredients and preservatives. She named it Upfront because they decided to put the ingredients right on the front of the package so you know easily what's in there.

They offer three different flavors of granola and a variety pack. The flavors are Original Crunch, Pecan Almond Crisp, and Cranberry Zest. A sustainability packaged 12 count goes for $17.99 and comes in a recycled box.

Upfront works with Chef Victoria Allman, so if straight up granola it not your thing, she has some incredible recipes to incorporate the granola into like this one for Pumpkin Cheesecake Tartlet With Upfront Granola Crust: 
http://upfrontfoods.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-tartlet-upfront-granola-crust/#more-3281
They have some other yummy recipes on their site as well, so make sure to check them out.

To find out more about the company or order online, please go to:
http://upfrontfoods.com/

Upfront Granola is currently sold at Whole Foods throughout Florida. It will be hitting the East Coast for distribution within the next two months. So keep an eye out for them in the cereal aisle!

Live every day in an upfront way.