Stupendous Strawberries
By · CommentsGrowing up, I was never into fruit. Yup, I was one of those kids who chose junk food over fruit! When I got home from school, I went for the “Cheetos” and “Funyuns (that was a fave of mine.) Of course, due to my bad eating habits, I was overweight. I finally made the commitment to eating better and exercising when I reached adulthood. I started eating more fruit and vegetables and feeling better. What a concept! I even got creative with my fruit. I researched and found many smoothie and dessert recipes which were quite delicious and completely guilt-free! (Smoothie recipe and video coming soon!) One of my favorite fruits are strawberries. They make a great snack in the summer and all through the year. What versatility! Not only can you eat them, but you can use them on your face and for your teeth! Intrigued? Read on…
Mash ‘em on Your Face
When I was little, I liked to play with my food. I still do, I guess, because I love using food on my face. Strawberries contain healing antioxidants and phenols which protect your cells and prevent oxidation (a.k.a ANTI-AGING!) These little red gems are also chock full of phytonutrients. What the heck are phytonutrients? They help protect against cancer. They also help treat inflammation, sometimes better than aspirin and keep your peepers (eyes) healthy. Whew! So do you think strawberries should be your new best friend? I think so! Here’s an awesome strawberry face mask which brightens dull skin (from my favorite book, Babushka’s Beauty Secrets):
1/2 cup fresh strawberries
1 Tbsp. oatmeal
1/4 Tsp honey (you may want to increase, I found it to be too little)
Mix ingredients in a blender. It will look like a smoothie (yum.) Apply to face and leave for 15 minutes. You will feel it cooling and tightening as it dries. Wash off with warm water and apply moisturizer.
Your skin will show an immediate glow!
“Skrawberry” Delight
What else are strawberries good for besides eating and putting on your face? They’re fantastic natural teeth whiteners. Yes, I am not joking. The enzymes in strawberries whiten and cleanse teeth. Use once or twice a week for best results. You can do it in a few different ways:
- Crush a strawberry and rub the pulp on your teeth (I’ve tried this and it’s quite messy and the pulp slides right off.) This method gets an “F.”
- Just rub a cut strawberry all over your teeth (good method.)
- Crush a strawberry or two and mix with a bit of baking soda for extra whitening and cleansing. In this manner you are almost making a “paste.” Dip your toothbrush in the mixture and brush away! You can make enough for a few weeks and store it in a little container in the fridge. (I love those teeny Rubbermaid containers for this.)
Attention visual learners: watch the You Tube video below. It really explains how to do this process quite simply and correctly. Actually the video is a MUST WATCH if you’re going to try this out. So break out the “skrawberries” (that’s what the kids in my kindergarten class call them.)
and beautify your smile!
A Bad Hair Day Every Day?!
By · CommentsI’ve always had great hair….I’m sorry if that sounds conceited but I was blessed by the “hair fairy.” My best hair days was in my 20s. I had long, flowing sun kissed (well, highlighted) hair. It was shiny, healthy, and manageable. Whenever I went to my hair dresser for a touch up, she always complimented me on my lustrous hair. Flash forward to my 30s…when I started experiencing some hair difficulties. It was a bit more dry (and even oily at times) and more unruly. I have wavy hair and sometimes I get very lazy and don’t do a thing to it (and I was NOT blessed with hair styling ability.) Here’s my usual hair routine: Shampoo, condition, leave-in conditioner, comb. Done. On those special occasions, I blow-dry it straight and it looks good….but lately it hasn’t looked as good as it can and I was wondering why….
A Switcheroo
I usually stick to the same brand of shampoo and conditioner, but I was out of my usual stuff and I usually buy it online so I was stuck! What to do?? I was shopping at Ross (love it) when I came across the “Yes to Tomatoes” line. You’ve probably heard it…it’s made by the same company as the “Yes to Carrots” variety. I took a look at the ingredients (which is always a MUST) and they seemed pretty good! At $2.99 a bottle, they were also priced just right! I began using the shampoo and conditioner (I wash my hair every other day so as not to strip the natural oils) and started to see a change…for the worse!
Back to Basics
I am not saying the Yes to Tomatoes line is horrible….what may not work for someone else may work for you. I noticed my hair becoming more unmanageable and just not looking good. It was more dry than normal and even frizzier! Help!!! I started thinking about it….and realized that when I use my regular brand, my hair was always fabulous. I put two and two together and realized I needed to go back! Guess what my normal brand is? Aubrey Organics! I used the Rosa Mosqueta line religiously as it was extra moisturizing and especially for color treated hair. As a blogger I am always getting to try new product lines and I love finding great products. But it’s so reassuring to know I have my Aubrey Organics waiting in the wings, ready to rescue me and my hair! My hair loves Aubrey Organics and I am ready to admit it. If you’d like to read my review of Rosa Mosqueta Shampoo and Conditioner hop on over to my All About Aubrey Organics blog. You never know….you hair may love Aubrey Organics too!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!
The Buzz on Bubble and Bee
By · CommentsI get so excited when I discover a safe, organic skin care line. Yes, the thought of products with “no bad stuff” gets me going. I adore companies who put people over profits. I’ve found such a company in Bubble and Bee. The name alone is adorable as all get out and the products are pure and 100% USDA certified organic. Everything they put into their concoctions is simple and identifiable. Can you tell I am “buzzing” with excitement to tell you more about Bubble and Bee?
They Put the Lime in the Coconut
Yes, they actually did it! They make great lotion sticks full of nourishing, skin loving ingredients. I tried the Coconut Lime scent. It’s perfect for travel. You can easily stow it in your carry on bag. No clear bottles needed as it is a solid lotion stick. It’s also great just to carry all over the place in your purse for those dry skin emergencies. It absorbs instantly and smells so refreshing you feel as if you are lying on a Key West beach. I used it all over my body, paying special attention to my feet, hands, and elbows. Like other lotions, this one doesn’t wash off. It stays on your skin doing it’s job moisturizing like crazy. It contains no water so no chance for bacteria growth. Want to see the 100% organic ingredients? Come on, I know you do.
Ingredients: organic beeswax, organic cocoa butter, organic extra virgin coconut oil, organic sweet almond oil, organic lime essential oil, certified organic coconut scent. That’s it! No bad stuff.
If you aren’t in a coco-lime mood, the lotion stick is also available in these yummy scents: Rude Raspberry, Chai Guy, Lavender Orange, and Sunflower. It’s super affordable at $7.95 a stick!
Sometimes It’s Good to Be Rude
I was told I had sweet lips…but that wasn’t until I used Rude Raspberry Certified Organic Lip Balm! So this proves you can be rude and sweet at the same time…heehee. This lip balm is fabulous…my favorite I have ever tried! It tastes and smells great (like real raspberries) and leaves my lips super moisturized and shiny. I can even usually skip lip gloss when I have this beauty on. If you resist the urge for rudeness, you can go for Bubble and Bee’s other flavors: Peppermint Cocoa, Karma Apple, Orange, Coconut and Lime, Root Beer, Unscented, or even a 6 variety sample pack (you get to choose the flavors.) Treat your lips to soothing organic lip balm and keep some money in your wallet too….they’re only $3.99 each.
The Bottom Line
Bubble and Bee is a wonderful company who truly care about your health and provides products to enhance your beauty. This (and their products) is so refreshing. Not only are their products organic and safe, they are fun too! Their logo and packaging is adorable and brings a smile to your face. I love the design on the Rude Raspberry…..it has a picture of a raspberry giving a “raspberry!” I enjoyed my experience using Bubble and Bee and highly recommend you check them out too. Look for a future review of Bubble and Bee organic deodorant….that’s a story in the making!
Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

















