Tiny Drops of Honey...This Mommy's Sweet Life

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Sungood Raw Almonds Review

I was recently sent a bag of almonds to try. I love eating nuts in various foods, but also enjoy eating nuts as a simple snack. I was able to try Sungood Raw natural almonds. I found that they tasted as good as ones I might find in a Whole Foods or natural goods store. They were fresh and I liked how they were unsalted. (my preference for nuts is always unsalted, but I never complain if semisweet or dark chocolate happens to be on the nut) :)

These came in a resealable bag and the bottom of the bag tasted just as great as the top (that is the nuts, not the bag itself. ha!) Everything was fresh and delicious. For those interested, these are certified Kosher and they are sourced in the USA! This brand can be found on Amazon.

I munched on these at night when watching some movies on my laptop. I finished the bag in just a coupe days. I did not use these in cooking, however I often crush almonds and put them in Asian inspired stir fry chicken and rice meals for the family. I like to also use almonds in my daily blended smoothies.

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DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation for a product review and/or link to any products or services from this blog. I am always honest in my opinions and never promise a positive review. I only recommend products or services that I feel are beneficial to my family and my lovely readers. I enjoy testing out items and giving my readers an honest and descriptive account of how a product functions. My personal experience or view of an item may differ than yours.

Tiny Drops of Honey is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You pay the exact same price for any and all products you order through my links, but I receive a small commission. I am a stay at home mommy and any commissions I receive help support my little ones.

Home Odor Remover Bag by Moody Zook (Review)

Do you have a stinky home? Pets? An older home? Musty suitcase or damp smelling basement? Do you cloth diaper / have a diaper pail? Kitchen or bathroom odor? Whatever makes your home not smell its best, you need to try charcoal. I do not like the typical aerosol chemical based home fragrance sprays. They are strongly scented (and rarely smell nice) and full of chemicals. I like using charcoal to freshen naturally and absorb offending odors.

Moody Zook sent me a 200g bag of Activated Charcoal. This is food-grade activated charcoal that comes from coconut shells. It does not add fragrance to the room, but can help make your home smell fresh and clean! I do like to use candles (generally soy or beeswax) with a baked goods scent occasionally, but I also like to have charcoal bags in every room to freshen things a bit. I especially like using charcoal near our diaper pal, baby changing area, in the bathroom, laundry room, and in the kitchen. Our home is almost 100 years old and has a bit of "old home smell."

I would not say that using charcoal bags completely eliminates odor in our home, but I think it definitely helps. I also like having charcoal bags for the purpose of absorbing odors in vintage items or items I purchase second hand. I had a Petunia Pickle Bottom Cake bag that I purchased off eBay (but was listed as new without tags) and it had a strange odor. As funny and weird as it may sound, it smelled like a mixture of Mrs Dash seasoning (or something similar) or a dry soup mix. These Cake bags are a tapestry cut velvet / carpet bag with tweed and so they can absorb odors. I find that you can put items such as this in a plastic bag, drop in the charcoal bag, and keep things sealed for a week or so. I did not use this particular brand of charcoal for the Cake bag, but this one would have come in handy as it is larger than my other charcoal bags. These are very handy to have and so easy to use. These can be hidden in various corners of your home as well as in your car. If you have a child or teen in school that has a locker, this would work well if they store their gym shoes or sports uniform.

You can set it outside in the sun for a few hours to reactivate the charcoal. I have not tried this yet as I have only used this for one month.

I love using charcoal in other forms as well. I have charcoal powder (not from this company) that I make face mud masks out of for my face and body (draws out toxins and helps with blackheads) and also tooth powder (whitens teeth and freshens my mouth).

Activated Charcoal Benefits:

Natural air purifier and deodorizer
Place in the fridge to prevent mold and odors
Makes food last longer and stay fresh
Natural Dehumidifier
Prevents bacterial buildup
Stops airborne impurities
Place in shoes to prevent smells and reduce the risk of foot fungus
All-Natural, Chemical-Free
Treats burns and bug bites
Detoxifies skin
Used with a toothbrush for natural teeth whitening

I was sent one bag from Moody Zook, complimentary for evaluation. This bag works the same as others I have tried, however is larger. It has one reinforced hole to allow for attaching to a rope. I would have preferred this to have 2 holes to allow the bag to hang evenly. You can find this product on Amazon.

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Facebook for updates to this blog, reviews, and giveaways. For updates on new posts, you can subscribe to me on bloglovin. I would love it if you would visit me (subscribing makes me so happy) on Instagram and Twitter.

DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation for a product review and/or link to any products or services from this blog. I am always honest in my opinions and never promise a positive review. I only recommend products or services that I feel are beneficial to my family and my lovely readers. I enjoy testing out items and giving my readers an honest and descriptive account of how a product functions. My personal experience or view of an item may differ than yours.

Tiny Drops of Honey is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. You pay the exact same price for any and all products you order through my links, but I receive a small commission. I am a stay at home mommy and any commissions I receive help support my little ones.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Tea Tree Essential Oil by New York Biology (Review)

I use tea tree oil (and other various essential oils) daily for a variety of uses. I cloth diaper my 2 youngest children and I make my own cloth wipe solution. I use bamboo cotton baby wash cloths and a Munchin wipes warmer. The solution is water, coconut oil (fractionated / liquid state) rose water, jojoba oil, calendula oil, argan oil, natural sulfate free baby shampoo, lavender and tea tree. I sometimes add in pure aloe vera when I have it on hand. Tea tree does not have the most pleasant scent in my opinion, but I always add it because it is wonderful for preventing bacteria and healing skin irritation. It keeps the water and wipes fresh and prevents molding to the cloth wipes.

I also like to use about 3 drops of tea tree on our wool dryer balls to freshen things in the laundry. We do not use the chemical laden, heavily fragranced dryer sheets as they are terrible for our skin and cause buildup on our dryer and clothing. Felted 100% wool dryer balls make our clothing static free and very soft. Some of our dryer balls have a heart shape on them (the wool was dyed brown and shaped into a heart before it was felted) and those are the ones I add tea tree oil for scent.

Tea tree is also a potent, yet gentle skin healer for infections and wounds. I often will mix some argan oil, sweet almond, or jojoba oil (or water carrier oil I decide to use) with tea tree and use this as a spot treatment if I have a blemish on my face. (Always dilute the tea tree with a career oil when using on skin). Tea tree is strong and could irritate skin if used alone. Tea tree can be added to shampoo to treat dandruff or itchy scalp. My husband likes to use tea tree in his hot foot bath. He adds tea tree, jojoba oil, lavender oil and some epson salts and soaks his tired and (smelly) feet after a long day of being rushing around on concrete floor in his work shoes (he works at a restaurant).

New York Biology sent me a sample bottle of their tea tree oil to evaluate. I have been using it the past month (daily) and still have about 2/3 bottle left. I find that it is comparable to other top quality tea tree oils I have used in the past. The scent is strong and it works well for our family's needs. It comes in an amber colored glass bottle with a dropper. This was sent complimentary but my opinion of this product would be the same if I purchased it. I recommend it if you are looking for a nice quality essential oil. The company has many other oils to choose from in their Amazon store and their website.

Feel free to visit them on Facebook.

Sunday, September 4, 2016

InstaNatural's Natural Deodorant (Review)

Have you made the switch to natural deodorant? As most of you know, I have been using natural ingredient products for the past several years and deodorant is certainly one of the changes / improvements I have made. My body sweats less, has very little to no odor, and I love that I am not harming my skin or body with chemicals. I also like how natural deodorant smells better. I now realize just how synthetic the typical "fragrances" of popular, chemical based deodorants. I used to love Secret and Lady Mitchum. Those were my "go to" deodorants and I always would select a brand that had a high percentage (20%) of the Aluminum Zirconium. Apparently the company has reformulated and now uses Aluminum Sesquichlorohydrate 25%, which I am sure is just another form of chemical. Secret contains between 19 and 20% (of the Aluminum Zirconium) depending on whether you get regular or clinical. Both brands contain fragrance and a list of chemical ingredients that I do not want in my body. Most deodorants contain toxic ingredients: Parabens, Propylene Glycol, Perfumes/Fragrances, Triclosan, Aluminum, and more. Years ago I would use the strongest women's deodorants I could find and I still would sometimes have odor and sweat more than I wanted.

Now, please know, that sweating is actually great and healthy. It is how the body breathes and releases toxins. But when bacteria is on the skin, odor occurs. I have found that the simplest of natural ingredients keeps me fresh and smelling sweet.

I often make my own deodorants out of essential oils, coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, arrowroot, and magnesium powder. I skip the baking soda as it irritates my skin, but some other individuals may have no issues. Increasing the arrowroot, and adding magnesium powder makes my deodorant potent, yet still gentle.

There are occasions that I like a ready made product. My recipe above is generally a cream that I rub into my clean underarms, and to make it solid, I generally need to add beeswax which sometimes makes a slight yellow staining overtime on some shirts. I am not quite as skilled in making solid deodorant, and so often purchase natural ones from other companies when I am not wanting to try my hand at mixing. My favorite stick deodorant is LaVanila. I like the scents as they are infused with a hint of musky, sultry vanilla. The ingredients are botanical and there is no baking soda! It is difficult to find a natural, non baking soda deodorant.

I was happy to learn that InstaNatural, a company I have reviewed items for in the past, has a natural deodorant and it is baking soda free. Here is the tube, fully sealed in a plastic wrapping. This kept it safe from accidental leaks as it is still summer here.

As with a fair amount of natural deodorants, this one was a bit uneven and jagged when first opening. I like to warm it with my finger and smooth it out prior to first use. It applies more comfortably this way. I tested this for a week, then my husband used it the rest of the month. (yeah we are married, so it was okay, lol) This still has product in the tube, and is used daily.

Here are the ingredients. It does list Propylene Glycol and a few other ingredients that I am unsure about, but they list these ingredients as naturally derived.

Ingredients

Propanediol*, Propylene Glycol (Biobased)*, Water (Aqua), Sodium Stearate*, Saccharomyces Ferment (DeoPlex) (Organic), Sodium Caproyl/Lauroyl Lactylate*, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf Extract, Triethyl Citrate*, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Extract. *Naturally Derived

This naturally-derived deodorant was tested by my husband mainly as he was in need of a deodorant and his usual natural deodorant was not working as well as he liked. I did try it for a week and liked it. This contains "Organic DeoPlex (TM)", which contains enzymes to neutralize odors and offer all day protection. This did not irritate either of our skin. We both love the unisex, fresh, essential oil scent. The deodorant contains Lavender Extract, Sage Oil, Lime Extract, Orange Oil and Lemon Extract. The essential oils act as a natural deodorizer, and are antibacterial.

We are pleased with this product and I recommend you give it a try if you are looking for a new deodorant. Please note that if you are making a switch from traditional deodorant to natural, you may go through a detox period (you may become sweatier or stinkier for a month or two when switching). I went through that phase a few years ago, and it was in the middle of summer when we had some air conditioning issues in our nearly 100 year old home. It was not pleasant, but I made it though and and so satisfied with my new lifestyle of natural products.

This was sent to me complimentary for my honest opinion. It does have a few ingridients that I might prefer not to be included, however, it is still a fantastic product and better than traditional deodorants.

Learn more about InstaNatural on their website and Follow them on Facebook.

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Friday, September 2, 2016

Blue Honduran Coffee (Organic) by Hunt Brothers (Review)

Hunt Brothers sent me some organic whole bean Honduran coffee complimentary for review, all opinions are my own. Good coffee starts with top quality beans. This coffee is certified organic, which means it is guaranteed to have been produced in accordance with strict organic standards. These beans are responsively sourced, fair trade, and the farmers are treated with respect and given a fair wage for their hard work. These beans are grown in an area where it an is ideal climate for delicious and top quality coffee. Lush rain forests, tropical climates, and fertile volcanic soil provide excellent conditions for the 100% Arabica beans.

My husband and I enjoy coffee. I drink about 1 cup per day, but he probably consumes 3-4 cups. :) We liked this coffee and when we are not using K-cups, we always prefer grinding the beans on our own, as it seems to make the coffee come alive with freshness. Speaking of fresh coffee, this did taste fresh, however we do not like the bag as the seal is not secure after opening. I would recommend transferring the coffee to a mason jar or sealed container. You can also use a giant clip!

My vintage Mason jars are all in use with rice, oats, baking soda and other goodies, but I washed and sanitized a tomato sauce jar in my dishwasher and was happy to see it was a slim Mason jar in disguise!

The coffee has a rich aroma and seems to be of nice quality. I did not notice bitterness. I enjoyed my coffee with some whipped cream (ok, more than some). I happen to enjoy beige coffee.

Dahlia Feminine Cloth Pads in Afternoon Tea Floral by Buttons Diapers (Review)

I like being "Green" and using more natural products when I can. I like reusing products as it saves money, and is better for the environment. I cloth diaper my children because it is also healthier for their skin/body, cost effective, and adorable! :) I like using cloth menstrual pads for the same reasons (well as for adorable, the pads themselves are cute and fun). Disposable pads and tampons have many chemicals and fragrances, and the sticky tape is not comfortable. I often find that if I am in a hurry, I get the sticky wing stuck to the wrapper or to the pad itself. Often disposable pads shift ad are itchy and uncomfortable.

I was recently sent a set of 3 cloth menstrual pads from Buttons Diapers. I have reviewed their products in the past, and they now have a line of cloth pads for mommy. I was excited to try these and give you my opinion. I was sent the lovely Afternoon Tea print, which matches my wet bag that I reviewed previously.

Dahlia Cloth is made with the same quality fabrics that Button's Diapers uses for their products. The pads are beautiful and I love the Afternoon Tea print. The pads come in a pack of 3 of the same size, and are made with a layer of moisture-wicking, stain-resistant white microfleece on top, with microfiber layers hidden inside for absorbency. The backing is a waterproof polyester (PUL) which prevents leakage. I do think they should have made these in a set of 5 or 6 as the average flow seems to be this length instead of only 3 days. I do like how the packs are all in one size. Small (light/panty liner), Medium (regular/day), and Large (overnight/postpartum) are available. Often times when you purchase a set of cloth pads (at least through an etsy seller or similar) they have the light, medium and heavy all in one package and it may not be as useful if a person only has moderate to heavy flow or is only looking for a set of light flow pads. This makes it easy for the user to only buy the size that works best for them.

To use Dahlia pads: snap them around your underwear with the pul facing down. It is that easy. Change pad every 2-6 hours. Wash before first use. To wash your Dahlia pads: Rinse prior to washing in a sink or washer. Wash on warm, and machine dry low, or hang to dry. I like to wash mine with our cloth diapers sometimes. I have not had any issues with the warm to hot cycle in the washing machine. I generally remove these before putting the cloth diapers in the dryer, as I do not like to machine dry my pul. I did machine dry these 2 different times as I wanted to see how they held up. Tip: Use a small wet bag or a pail for storage of soiled pads. I have a hanging wet bag in my laundry room.

I selected the 13.5 inch overnight pads. The ends of my Dahlia pads had different widths for the top and bottom ends. Choose the width end you prefer for placement in your undies. One measured about 3 1/2 inches, while the other end measured 4 inches. This was the pul and not the fleece part. The fleece was the same (approx.) 3 1/2 width throughout the pad. The wings span was approximately 7 1/2 across when unsnapped and just under 3 1/2 inches when snapped. I generally like a 2.75 to 3 inch snapped width. I think the addition of a snap would make these suit more users. Many cloth pad makers put 2 different snap widths.

The topping of this pad was micro fleece which does well with preventing stains and keeping the user dry. I personally prefer a cotton or bamboo topped pad as I prefer natural fabrics. Cotton does seem to stain easier. I also prefer cotton fleece or bamboo fleece for my inner core as opposed to microfiber terry which is synthetic. Again, this is my personal preference and most pad makers seem to use microfiber as it is absorbent, but cotton fleece is pretty absorbent as well. This pad uses pul which makes it water proof. I have used wool backed pads and cotton fleece backed pads in the past which are somewhat water resistant when the core is absorbent. Wool is ultra breathable and holds an amazing percentage of its weight in liquid (up to 30%).

Despite my preference for a natural fabric pad, this is well made and looks nice. I would have preferred the topper to be the full span of the pad for more coverage. I also would have preferred there to be an additional snap as I prefer a tighter fit to my undies. I like how these can snap and fold to keep messes at a minimum.

The Dahlia pads washed up well and as seen in the pictures, look great even after multiple washings. The pul looks just as bright and new as it did out of the package. The stitching is precise and lovely. I recommend this pad if you are wanting to try cloth menstrual pads.

These pictures below are of the pad after several uses and machine washings. I dried them by machine on low to medium heat twice. I did not have any issues.