I have been training for my first half marathon and running a few times a week.  Am very excited about my progress given that I have only started running this year (as part of my overall fitness workout).  It is very hard for me to plan my meals because I have a sensitive stomach and cannot eat too much before a workout but if I run on an empty stomach, I tend to have less endurance.  I discovered that eating organic nutritional snacks from Navitas is a great snack option for me.  I've tried the Cacao Goji power snack and the Citrus Chia power snack.  These bite size snacks provide the right amount of mixture of protein and carbohydrates.  It also satisfies my sweet cravings.  As always, Navitas snacks are 100% US certified organic and contain the most healthy antioxidant loaded ingredients available.  Just a few bites from the bag is satisfying and delicious.

For more product information, please visit www.navitasnaturals.com

I have written about my concern with the excess waste and environmental harm from using disposable sandwich wraps before and have featured product reviews on various recyclable lunch containers.  Despite the great benefits of using these recyclable lunch containers, they are sometimes a bit heavy (when you are lugging a laptop, gym clothes, kids' stuff, etc. every ounce counts!).  So, I was very excited to receive samples of the ecolunchgear sandwich wraps.  They are made from 100% organic cotton with velcro tabs.   These sandwich wraps are reasonably priced and can easily replace disposable plastic wraps.  However, you don't want to use it for tuna salads or sandwiches with a lot of mayo or dressing because it will ooze out of the wrap.  Instead, just label and leave a jar of your mayo or favorite dressing at your company's refrigerator (usually located in the employee lounge or pantry) and apply right before eating your sandwich.

In addition to the functional benefits of these reusable sandwich wraps, the design is modern and just brings a smile to my face when I use them for my sandwiches at work.  I have seen homemade wraps on etsy.com but none of these compared to the high quality and fun designs of ecolunchgear.com.  Most of the recyclable wraps you find on etsy.com have a zipper feature that makes it a bit more difficult to clean/wash compared to the velcro tabs of the ecolunchgear sandwich wraps.

For more information about their products, please visit www.ecolunchgear.com

Dirt and stains are a part of life, especially life with young children.  I've learned to accept that kids will get dirty throughout the day because that is just what kids do.  So I loved receiving samples of the madii & dyl luxe cleansing flannels.  These eco-friendly super soft cleansing wipes cleans kids' hands quickly and can be hand washed or machines washed for multiple uses.

These products are ideal for me because they are eco-friendly, reusable and makes it easy to keep my kids clean (appeals to the germ phobe in me).  They are also great for makeup removal as well.  Just wet it with water and you are good to go!

Please visit the following website for more information about their products, www.madiidylan.com

I love the summer.  Yes, there are those who complaint about the relentless sun and heat.  Despite those complaints, I love the extended days and list of outdoor activities to do.  I love bringing healthy snacks to local parks and trails for my kids and I to enjoy while we enjoy the outdoors.

We've tried Newman's Own Organic Alphabet cookies which comes in three different flavors.  We love the convenient packaging (only one layer of packaging so no need to struggle to open the package) and the lightly sweetened cookies.  My kids enjoy making words out of the cookies before eating them.  Newman's Own Organics also offer other great products as well. 

For more information about their products and where you can purchase them, please visit www.newmansownorganics.com 

Spring is here; I love the weather and I feel renewed energy with the longer days.  However, the heat tends to make my face breakout in blemishes so I need to be vigilant in keeping up with my skincare routine.  I have recently tried the citrus masque from Eve Organics Beauty.  This simple clear facial masque is made of natural ingredients and contains vitamins C & E.  Best of all, it is gentle enough so that you can use it twice a week.  I was not used to the light texture at first because I have used clay based masques in the past.  Surprisingly, the masque is effective in renewing my skin and reducing blemishes.  This product is not recommended for oily skin, Eve Organics offer diffskincare products that are specific for oily skin.  It is reasonably priced and can be purchased online at www.eveorganics.net.

For more information about their products, visit www.eveorganics.net.

I am a huge fan of small eco-friendly boutique shops because they are usually the most creative and offer innovative eco-friendly solutions.  I have received a tiesthatmatter eco-friendly clutch bag as a giveaway to a lucky reader.  In order to have a chance to win this giveaway, you need to signup for the free eco-friendly email newsletter.

www.tiesthatmatter.com makes pillows and fashionable bags out of used ties.  The proceeds are used to support women in need living in Atlanta.  The company supports a simple and real social cause that offers eco-friendly functional and fashionable solutions to our carryon needs.  I love the concept and business model: used ties repurposed to pillows and fashionable purses and carryon bags with proceeds going to women in need.  Support their efforts today!

To find more about their products, please visit www.tiesthatmatter.com.

Peter Rabbit Organics has added three new additions to their delicious all natural, squeezable puree products: Sweet Potato, Corn and Apple; Pea, Spinach and Apple; and, Carrot, Squash and Apple.  They sent me samples of these new products to try and my kids were delighted.  In the midst of the harsh winter and what seems to be never ending rounds of colds, having them eat healthy is high on my priority list.  These easy puree snacks are healthy and delicious.  My kids finished the pouches in a single setting.  I was a bit skeptical with the Pea, Spinach and Apple combination but they loved it, too.  

This is a great alternative to those cheesesaltine crackers that my kids devour afterschool.

For more information about the above products, please visit www.peterrabbitorganics.com or just purchase them at www.amazon.com.
 

It is the middle of winter and my skin has really taken a beating.  I have seasonal ezema (a term that I conveniently coined myself) in which my skin becomes irritable, chafe and dry during the cold winter months.  I usually lather up with tons of lotions and they work wonders but don't last long enough.  So I decided maybe I should exfoliate my skin first and then use lotions, etc.  I used the Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish from www.renskincare.com.  This body polish was a refreshing and invigorating experience!  My skin was smooth and soft (after I rinsed off the body polish).  Even my dried scaly hands looked and felt nice and smooth.  Besides the great smooth skin, I love the moroccan rose scent.  It is like a mini-spa experience you can have in your own bathroom.  It comes in a great gift set with a Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil (which is great for warm baths).  

The Ren Moroccan Rose Otto Sugar Body Polish does not contain any petrochemicals, sulfates, parabens, synthetic fragrance synthetic colors.  Great natural skincare treatment for your skin. For more information about the Ren Skincare products, please visit www.renskincare.com.  Visit the website today, because they are currently offering a 10% off your favorite product for life!

Whenever I bring my kids to their various activities, I always used to panic over whether I have packed what I needed.  To help me with my organizational skills, I have empowered my son to begin packing his stuff for himself.  He uses a blue ecogear bag for his gym and Y activities.  It easily fits his gym clothes, towel and have side pockets for his water bottle.  The bag is made from organically grown cotton and non-toxic dyes.  Since it has a drawstring top, I do not recommend it for school use (loose items such as pencils and school supplies can drop out).

For more information about their product, please visit www.ecogear-products.com.  They also make travel bags, laptop bags and sleeping bags as well.

Some additional organizational skills that are great time savers include the following:
- leave kids bags (and yours) pre-packed in your car so you don't have to worry about grabbing it from the doorway in the morning.

- have a need to repair or find a matching set bin in your laundry room so that you can set aside any items that need mending or a single sock in need of a match.  Sort through the pile once a week.
- have an extra set of snacks (and drinks) packed in your car so in case your kids are hungry on your way to activities, you can also have they have a snack in the car.

I've recently tried using the Seaweed Balancing Facial Cleanser, the astringent sensation from the tea tree oil is refreshing and cleansing.  It is great to use during the winter time because it does not lather at all so you can easily rinse it off.


For more information about their products, please visit www.lilyorganics.com.