Medicine Mama's Sweet Bee Magic

I am really picky about what I put on my skin.  So when I was sent some samples of Medicine Mama's products to try for myself,  I was so excited.  It is really hard to find a moisturizer made from all natural ingredients that moisturizers without feeling too greasy.   All Medicine Mama’s  products are certified organic and are 100% pure and natural. They are free of all parabens, chemicals, preservatives, dyes, and fragrances. I especially love that I recognize and can pronounce all the ingredients used to make their products.

Sweet Bee Magic consists of a blend of six Organic and Natural ingredients:

purifying propolis
healing, antimicrobial honey
nourishing royal jelly
revitalizing bee pollen
moisturizing extra virgin olive oil
protective beeswax

The All in One Healing Skin Cream is good for:

Promoting radiant, supple skin

Providing overnight skin nutrition

Treating rashes, burns and scars

Protecting cuts, scrapes and bites from infection

Soothing dry or irritated skin

Relieving sunburns

Guarding against sport-related chafing

Keeping skin & healthy

The All in One Healing Cream was my favorite out of the products I tried.  A little goes a long way so eventhough the container seems small it will last for awhile.  I used it as a moisturizer so I can not attest to its healing properties, but it left my skin feeling so hydrated and smooth. 

The Bee Magic Wand consists of a blend of Organic and Natural ingredients:

purifying propolis & honey blend
protective beeswax
nourishing extra virgin avocado oil
moisturizing extra virgin olive oil

The Bee Magic Wand is perfect for:

Chapped Lip Remedy

Shaving Burn Care

Daily Moisturizer

Overnight Skin Nutrition

Cold Sore Relief

Cut Scrape & Bite Relief

After-sun Support

Rash, Burn & Scar Repair

I love the size of the Magic Wand.  It is compact enough to carry with you, but large enough to use on your face without a problem.  I keep it beside my bed to use before I go to sleep each night.  It keeps my lips moisturized until morning. 

Baby & Mama Magic consists of a blend of six Organic and Natural ingredients:

purifying propolis
healing, antimicrobial honey
nourishing royal jelly
revitalizing bee pollen
moisturizing extra virgin olive oil
protective beeswax

Baby & Mama Magic can be used by baby and mama just as the name implies:

For Baby:

Protects skin from irritating rashes caused by bacteria
Heals & Nourishes chafed skin and sensitive rashes
After-bath skin care for deep and lasting moisture

For Mama:

Protects against & reduces signs of stretch marks
Helps maintain skin’s elasticity during pregnancy, birth & postpartum.
Soothes sensitive skin from nursing.

Since my children are older and I am not pregnant, I was not able to try the lotion out for its intended purposes.  But I can tell you it is a great moisturizer.  I love the smell and feel of the lotion. 

If you would like to purchase any of these products, you can order them here.  Here is a list of retailers.

Juice Beauty Review and Giveaway

***THIS GIVEAWY IS NOW CLOSED***

One of my biggest challenges in my going green journey has been finding skincare products that are good for my body and the environment that actually work.  I have tried so many different products that left me very disappointed.  So when I was given the opportunity to review Juice Beauty's products, I was so excited. 

Juice Beauty products are made with a minimum of 85% and up to 98% USDA certified organic content. Instead of the typical water-base that most natural skincare brands use (which just dilutes all the active ingredients), Juice Beauty products have an organic fruit juice base that is naturally loaded with antioxidants, essential vitamins and phytonutrients.

Juice Beauty EcoChic Values

1. CLINICALLY VALIDATED RESULTS: efficacy achieved through cutting edge organic technology.

2. AUTHENTICALLY ORGANIC: target a standard for all Juice Beauty products to fall within

80 – 98% total organic content. Meet California Organic Products Act minimum of 70% total organic content (excluding water) by using a certified organic base & ingredients.

3. POWERFUL ACTION WITHOUT: Stay on the cutting edge of purity by excluding Parabens, petroleum, butylene and propylene glycol, PEG, sodium lauryl sulfates, pesticides, phthalates, artificial dyes or synthetic fragrances. Continual preservative improvement.

4. QUALITY AROMAS: Achieved from organic & natural essential oils (not synthetic fragrance).

5. SUPPORT our USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC FARMERS: Stay close to our suppliers.

6. BUY LOCAL: Buy the majority of our ingredients locally from the West Coast.

7. SUSTAINABLE & RECYCLED: Use only sustainably sourced and/or recycled paper for all supplies, focus on recycled components & recycle again.

8. SOLAR POWER & GLUTEN FREE LABS: Manufacture the majority of our products using Solar Power and all manufacturing done in Gluten Free Labs.

9. NO ANIMAL TESTING: Conduct no animal testing.

10. GIVE BACK. Juice Beauty currently donates a percentage of all profits to the following charities: San Francisco Breast Cancer Fund; The Organic Center, Teens Turning Green; Conservation International and the documentary-Miss Representation.

I received the Green Apple Age Defying Kit.  I immediately loved all of the products.  My skin felt so soft and I could feel the skin around my eyes tightening after using the eye treatment.  I was so impressed that I ordered more of the eye treatment plus some other products to try. I want to try the tinted moisturizer with SPF next.  All of the products I have used smell wonderful too. 

So do you want a chance to win a kit to try?  To enter for a chance to win this kit all you have to do is sign up for Juice Beauty's newsletter, then leave a comment that you signed up.  For bonus entries follow them on facebook or twitter.  I will pick a winner April 4th.

Juice Beauty is also offering all of my readers a special offer.  You will receive a FREE Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask (a value of $32) plus FREE Shipping with any order of $35 when you enter the code NEWGREENMAMA at checkout. The promo will be good until 4.14. This product is perfect for all skin types to get skin back in shape after winter!

Mighty Nest-Lifefactory Glass Water Bottle

It is no secret that I have a slight obsession with reusable water bottles. We have a Klean Kanteen for every person in the family plus a couple of spares. We rarely leave home without them. So when Mighty Nest offered to send me a Lifefactory glass water bottle to review, I couldn't resist. I love drinking out of glass, so I was very intrigued.



I have been using the bottle for over a week now and love it. I enjoy drinking out of glass and it is really easy to drink from the wide mouth top. I found that I drank more water during the week too. I think it helped to be able to see how much water was left in the bottle. It is also dishwasher safe, which is a HUGE plus. The only drawback that I found was traveling in the car. I usually use a klean kanteen with a sip top, so all I have to do is drink. With the glass bottle you have to screw the top off, which isn't always the easiest while driving. Overall though I love the bottle. It will definitely be my go to water bottle.

You can find the water bottles here.

Mighty Nest is offering all my readers 10% of the Lifefactory Water Bottles-the 22oz, 16oz, and oz. Just enter coupon code NGM10 at checkout. The coupon is valid until Sept. 15, 2011.


Disclaimer: Mighty Nest did send me the water bottle to review, but I am not being compensated in any way by Mighty Nest.

The Magic School Bus Oceans iPad App

My kids love to play on the iPad. There are so many educational apps out there, but it is hard to find one that is education, entertaining, and fun. The Magic School Bus app is just that.

The app tells a story, but also includes videos to watch.

There are games to play.

And information at the touch of the screen.

My 7 year old daughter was captivated by the story and all the additional information. She really enjoyed the games and the videos. There is tons of information so it takes awhile to get through the whole story, which I liked because I felt like I was getting my money's worth. My 5 year old son was not as enthralled, so I would say that this appeals more to an older child.

If your kids are already familiar with the The Magic School Bus, they will love this app.

Click here to find it on itunes.

I am Crystal Confident For Sure

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when I was rambling on about my lean mean green hygiene? Well, I decided to take the plunge and try the Crystal deoderant stick. I was apprehensive at first, but have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised. It works much better than the Almay one I was using. I have even converted my husband. There is no residue, no scent, and it works. A note of warning- you will still sweat, which is normal. Everyone sweats, right? Maybe, it is easier for me to say since I am not especially sweaty.

Time magazine just had an article on deoderants. Like everything else, nothing is conclusive, but it makes you think. If I can use something that still works and does not contain harmful chemicals, why not?

Cuisinart's Green Gourmet Cookware

As I type this post, I can hear my husband's voice in my head saying, "It would be a lot greener to use what we have and not buy a bunch of new stuff." This is true, unless what you are currently using is unsafe.

Several months ago we stopped using our badly scratched teflon skillets. According to the Environment Working Group, non-sticks pans can contain PFCs, many of which breakdown into PFOA (also known as C8) in the environment and your body. Once in the body, PFOAs can circulate for years. PFOA is considered a carcinogen causing testicular, pancreatic, mammary, and liver tumors in rats. Evidence has shown that scratched teflon when heated has the potential to kill birds because of the chemicals released. Plus if the pan is scratched, you will inevitably ingest some of those teflon bits.

I know it seems like EVERYTHING causes cancer. My rational is why risk it? So I purchased a 12 " stainless steel skillet. You do have to use lots of oil and food still ends up sticking sometimes. I do not regret buying the skillet, but a non-stick skillet is really nice.

On my search to find a low flow showerhead, I stopped by Bed Bath & Beyond. When I walked through the door, the first thing I saw was a big display of Green Gourmet cookware. I had read about the new cookware somewhere and evidently you can only find it at Bed Bath & Beyond. After browsing the display for awhile, I continued my search for a new showerhead. They do not have a very good selection of showerheads so I gravitated back to the Green Gourmet display. I did have a 20% off coupon. Hmmm. Then I thought this would make a great Mother's Day gift to myself. We can justify just about anything, huh? I bought the Green Gourmet 10" skillet, since I already had the 12" stainless steel one. I really wanted to get the grill pan, but decided that I would try the skillet first to make sure I liked it.

Here are the specs on the skillet. If you want to read them from the packaging, just click on the picture above. The skillet is scratch resistant, the ceramic based coating makes it non-stick. It is petroleum free, PTFE (teflon) free, and PFOA-free.

I have not cooked with it extensively, but the few times I have I really liked it. The skillet is very heavy and the surface is very slick. There was no sticking. The verdict is in....I love my new Green Gourmet skillet. Now I just need to find an excuse to get the grill pan and maybe one more small skillet.

More Snack Reviews- Cereal, Crackers, and Bars

We have reduced the amount of packaged foods that we eat, but we do still have a few staples around our house. We have switched to organic brands and look for items that have no preservatives, artificial sweeteners or flavoring, and no trans fat. I thought I would share with you which ones we have found tasty.

Kashi TLC Country Cheddar Crackers

My husband likes to take this instead of chips in his lunch. I think they taste way better than cheezits or goldfish. Country Cheddar is our favorite. It definitely satisfies a salty craving.

Cascadian Farm Clifford Crunch

My daughter loves to eat cereal for breakfast and Clifford Crunch is usually her first choice. She might just like saying Clifford Crunch, but I don't feel guilty giving it to her. It only has 6 grams of sugar compared to 9 grams in Honey Nut Cheerios. In the book Superfoods Rx Diet the author recommends this cereal as a good choice for individuals who like cereal.

Clif Kid ZBar

This is by far my favorite snack. I will grab one for breakfast on the go or eat one as a midafternoon snack. The kids will only eat the Honey Graham flavor, but my favorite is Peanut Butter. Each bar contains between 120-140 calories depending on the flavor. They contain no hydrogenated oils, no high fructose corn syrup, no preservatives, and no artificial flavors or colors. They also are very filling.


If you have any products that you have found that are yummy, please share.