New Zealand’s Living Nature

I recently had the chance to ask Lorraine Downes, spokeswoman for Living Nature, a few questions to help my readers get an inside look at this natural skincare line. Hope you enjoy. This will be the first of many more company interviews to come!

  1. Please tell us a little about your journey and the founding of Living by Nature. Living Nature approached me to be their first ever spokesperson. It was perfect timing as at that time, I was seriously looking at my life and how I was going to approach my 40′s and the aging process. After making the decision that I was going to age naturally, and trialling the product for six months, I joined forces with Living Nature. Living Nature was founded in 1987 by Suzanne Hall who started using NZ native plants to make skincare products for her own skin as she wanted to use only natural ingredients. Today it is privately NZ owned.
  2. How does living in New Zealand impact the formulation of the line? NZ is known for its nature and its native plants which have been used medicinally by Maori (people of NZ) for centuries. So, the range is based on the unique native botanicals like Harakeke Flax, Totarol, Manuka Honey, Manuka Oil, Hallo Clay and Kelp found only here in NZ.
  3. What sets Living Nature apart from other natural beauty companies? Firstly, all the products are 100% natural and not many companies can say that. Living Nature’s products carry the BDIH Certified Natural Cosmetics Seal which is a world-leading independent auditor of natural skincare, and set some of the most rigorous standards worldwide for naturalness. The products are made here in NZ at the Living Nature’s own factory where all product development, formulation, filling and dispatching is done. Even the packaging has no nasties in it and is recyclable and 100% free from BPA and phthalates. The recyclable paper packaging uses vegetable dyes and inks and no chloride or dioxin.
  4. Could you choose one or two Living Nature products as your favorite(s)? I find this really hard to do as I love so many of the products equally! But I would say the Radiance Night Oil which my skin just loves because of the wonderful bouquet of naturally healing and restorative oils-calendula, jojoba, rose,rosehip oil, frankincense, the smell is blissful! Lovely to apply just before bed. The Extra Hydrating Gel is exceptional as it truly nourishes and balances the skin and restores the vitality to my skin which at my age is a must.
  5. What products would you recommend to someone trying Living Nature for the first time? Obviously, the products should be in harmony with a person’s skin and its needs ie dry/oily/normal/mature etc. But I think The Radiance Night Oil, Vitalising Cleanser which is a very gentle and effective cleanser, Eye Make Up Remover-again so gentle, no stinging or oiliness with this product and Firming Flax Cream- fantastic for softening fine lines.

 

Lorraine Downes, New Zealand’s only ever Miss Universe and former Dancing With The Stars champion, joined Living Nature in 2010 to encourage women around the world to turn to 100% natural skincare as the healthy, safe and effective alternative to synthetic beauty products. Lorraine’s love of New Zealand and the miracle properties of the ancient native botanicals is what propels her to help women discover what she has discovered — you can take the healing and rejuvenating properties of nature and apply them to yourself. As a professional image consultant, she has worked with women for 25 years.

  {Louise Henderson, Living Nature’s Global Marketing Manager

& Lorraine Downes, Living Nature’s Spokeswoman}

1 Comment
by on January 27, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Beauty, Natural Beauty Companies, Natural Favorites, Natural Product Reviews
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Posted by All Natural Annie on January 27, 2012

http://allnaturalannie.com/2012/01/new-zealands-living-nature/

Today’s Guest Blogger – Lauren of Crumb Bums

I’m so excited for Lauren of Crumb Bums to be my guest blogger today (especially since it’s been forever since I’ve had a guest blogger). And especially since it’s Lauren!

Lauren is the wife of one of my old co-workers who I became fast friends with (mainly virtually since they now live in St. Louis).  I’m happy to say that since she and Andrew moved away over a year ago, our blogs and common interests (including natural child birth, healthy eating/cooking, and many more) have kept us in regular contact.

If you read her blog, you will quickly see what an incredibly energetic, loving, fun, creative and thoughtful mom she is to her three ridiculously cute boys (see the little Crumb Bums below). Lauren, you truly make me look forward to being a mom one day. Thank you so much for sharing a piece of your life and bread with us this morning!

 

Healthy Snacks for Kids

With 3 boys under the age of 5, we go through our share of snacks around here. And though we occasionally indulge in some not-so-healthy munchies, there are so many healthy options that are just as easy that we can feel good about giving our boys. Not only are we nourishing little growing bodies, we are also responsible for culturing a taste for healthy, nourishing foods for when our kids are adults.

This past weekend, be made a super-healthy banana bread with chia powder (if you’re not familiar with the health benefits of chia, check out Annie’s past post about it!) and whole wheat flour. It’s texture is dense and sweet, perfect for an afternoon snack!
My four-year-old Milo helped me with this one!


Banana Bread with Chia Powder (Adapted from Moosewood Restaurant New Classics, Flaxseed Banana Bread)

Ingredients:

1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1/2 cup plain yogurt (you can use any flavor- this time we used banana mango)
3 ripe bananas (if you like yours less dense, omit one banana)
1/2 cup rolled oats, ground into flour
1/4 cup chia seeds, ground into flour (we used chia powder, but you can also use ground flaxseeds)
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (bread flour works great too)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

How to:

  • Preheat oven to 350. Oil a 5×9-inch bread pan
  • In a mixing bowl, mash bananas.

  • Add oil and brown sugar. Add eggs and beat well.

  • Mix in yogurt.
  • Grind rolled oats and chia seeds (or flaxseeds, if using)

  • Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl, then stir with a whisk until combined.

  • Add dry mixture to banana mixture and stir until just combined.
  • Pour batter into bread pan and bake for about 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

If you don’t have an hour or more to spare, here are some good quick snacks to whip up in no time for the youngins!

Avocado on whole wheat toast with sea salt
Sesame tahini on a honey rice cake
“Ants on a log” (celery filled with natural peanut butter, with raisins)
Apple slices to dip into almond butter mixed with honey and wheat germ
A cheese plate with grapes and crackers
Veggie sticks and hummus

Enjoy your snacking! ~Lauren

13 Comments
by on January 23, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on January 23, 2012

http://allnaturalannie.com/2012/01/lauren-of-crumb-bums-todays-guest-blogger/

Simple Strawberry Smoothie

A friend and I were recently venting to each other how we just can’t seem to find a flavored yogurt with a more reasonable amount of sugar – almost all of the brands have 20-something grams of sugar or more per 6-8 oz serving. That is a lot of sugar for such a small amount of food. Of course, some of the sugar (about 11 grams) is naturally occurring and plain yogurt will have about that much, but we’re talking about another 10-20 grams per serving! (Yogurts with artificial sweeteners were not even considered in the convo since they’re definitely not on the healthy list.)

Our talk inspired me to make a yogurt smoothie with just the right amount of natural sweetness last night.

Ingredients (Serves 2):

  • 16 oz plain whole milk organic yogurt
  • 4-5 large ripe strawberries
  • 1 tbsp of honey (or less if you like)

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender
  2. Mix for about 30 seconds
  3. Enjoy!

This smoothie turned out tasting SO similar to strawberry ice cream. It was really delicious, but it was also light and refreshing (unlike ice cream). Simple yet really satisfying. I thought it was worth mentioning. Unfortunately, I totally forgot to take a picture of the finished product – I was too busy guzzling it down :)

7 Comments
by on January 19, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on January 19, 2012

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Gifts of Health & Beauty

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I’ve been caught up in some week-long birthday celebrating.

Here’s a glimpse of a few of my favorite gifts — my friends and family know me oh too well.

{Terra Essential’s Aroma Roll On in Pink Lotus}

{Coconut Shampoo by Desert Essence}

{Rich Shampoo with Hibiscus and Honey by LOVE & TOAST}

{birthday card made by my 8 year old nephew :)}

Happy weekend everyone!

7 Comments
by on January 13, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on January 13, 2012

http://allnaturalannie.com/2012/01/gifts-of-health-beauty/

Drink to Your Health

Whether you have your own juicer or you get your fresh juices prepared for you, you must try this delicious combination next time around:

CARROT + GRAPEFRUIT + GINGER

It is SO delicious! Even more delicious than I expected. And of course it’s super healthy — this combo is loaded with vitamin C and vitamin A. Perfect for the cold/flu season.

Ingredients (Serves 1):

  • 6 chopped carrots
  • 2 chopped grapefruits (peeled of course)
  • 1-2 inches fresh ginger (amount depends on how spicy you like it. I opt for 2 inches)

Photo Credit: Dylan T Price

9 Comments
by on January 5, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on January 5, 2012

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Happy 2012!

{via}

I wish everyone a very, very happy and healthy New Year!

5 Comments
by on December 30, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 30, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/happy-2012/

Stay Well

Hi! How has your week been so far? Relaxing I hope. We just got back from New York where we had a great time with friends and family. I have to say that NY felt a lot colder than DC. Speaking of cold, it seems as though I caught one at the end of our trip, but I’m happy to say that I’m getting better very quickly. I wanted to share some of my favorite tips that I like to utilize when I’m feeling run down. I very rarely get sick so hopefully these tips will help you like they help me!

1.  Avoid processed  sugar – I do this on a daily basis, but I REALLY do this when I feel a cold coming on since sugar weakens the immune system.

2.  Soak your feet – Another thing I pretty much do daily. It’s such a relaxing and detoxifying habit. I add some of my herb soak salts to very warm water and let my feet soak for about 10 minutes.

3.  Moisturize your feet – After a foot bath is the perfect time to put a therapeutic balm on your feet and some nice comfy socks.  Some of my favorite balms to use include Buddha Nose’s  I Booster Salve and Waxelene (“The Petroleum Jelly Alternative” with SO many uses). I notice I always sleep especially well when I do this before bed.

4.  Sleep well  – There’s nothing like high quality sleep to help you overcome a battle with a bug. I think the advise of 7-9 hours seems about right, but everyone is different.

5.  Consume lots of hot liquids – Green tea, plain hot water with fresh lemon juice and homemade chicken soup are my favorites.

6.  Eat garlic – I always love to eat garlic, but I definitely up the ante if I’m not feeling well. Garlic is nature’s antibiotic.

7.  Have some honey – Another superb natural germ fighter. Add a teaspoon to tea for a sore throat or a tablespoon to the juice of one lemon for a natural cough remedy (see previous post).

8.  Oil your nostrils – It sounds weird, but it’s an excellent way to keep germs out of your nose. To prevent your nasal passages from getting dry just put a little olive oil or sesame oil on a Q-tip/clean finger and coat the inside of your nostrils. This is an especially good practice before traveling on a plane.

9.  Keep the heat down – I am very big on not putting the heat too high during the winter because I hate how it makes my sinuses feel dry/stuffy.  I prefer putting on another layer of clothing before cranking the heat up to anything above the low 70s.

 I really hope these recommendations help you during cold season and throughout the year. Be well! :) ~Annie

 

3 Comments
by on December 29, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 29, 2011

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Gift Ideas from Pacifica

I love to use Pacifica products because of their high quality natural ingredients and incredible fragrances. I also love to give Pacifica products for these same reasons plus their colorful and eye-catching packaging just make them perfect for gifting.

These are some of my latest favorites from the line:

Island Vanilla Take Me There Set ($18.00 ($26.00 value)) – contains a 2.5 oz Body Butter, .33oz Perfume Roll-on & their new Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint. You can currently find this set at Sephora.

Crème de Menthe Soy Candle 3 OZ ($6.00) – tiny and cute, but it a packs a strong scent of chocolatey peppermint goodness. Burns cleans for up to 30 hours.

Satsuma Pillar 3 X 3 ($16.00)- a spicy citrus scent that is sure to lift your spirits. Burns up to 50 hours.

 

Free shipping on orders over $50 right now!

3 Comments
by on December 22, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 22, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/gift-ideas-from-pacifica/

Quick Apple Walnut Bran Mufins

Ingredients:

  • Bran Muffin Mix — I like Hodgson Mills – good quality ingredients and very cheap (around $1.35/box)
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 1/2 cup organic whole milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 small apple chopped
  • 15-20 walnuts chopped
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

How to:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Line or grease 6 muffin cups
  3. Combine muffin mix and oil
  4. Add milk and egg
  5. Add apple, walnuts and cinnamon
  6. Mix well until moist
  7. Let sit for 10 minutes
  8. Spoon batter into muffin cups
  9. Sprinkle more cinnamon on top each muffin
  10. Bake for 14 minutes
  11. Enjoy!

 

5 Comments
by on December 21, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 21, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/quick-apple-walnut-bran-mufins/

Cold Feet? Natural Remedy Failure

As the weather is getting chillier, I was excited to try this interesting and easy natural remedy — If your feet tend to be on the cold side, try sprinkling some cayenne pepper inside your socks. Supposedly this should help your feet warm up because it encourages increased blood flow.

So this morning I finally remembered to put a little cayenne pepper in my socks because of course, I had to see if it actually worked and how messy it was (it’s SO messy), etc before I recommended it to you. Well, I would definitely NOT recommend this. My feet are not even feeling a little bit warmer 1.5 hours after spicing up my socks, BUT the sole of my right foot is currently on fire.  And not in a warm, pleasant way. It feels like my foot just ate a way too spicy hot pepper.

{via}

Bottom line: I would keep the cayenne pepper out of your socks, but I would put it in your next stir fry or soup because it will help to get the circulation going and warm you up internally.

Ok, I gotta go, my right foot needs a glass of milk. This is bad news. Have a great weekend!

 

13 Comments
by on December 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 16, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/cold-feet-natural-remedy-failure/

20 Natural Pain Cures

I just came across this awesome list of 20 Pain Cures You Can Find in Your Kitchen and I just had to share it.

The list includes natural remedies like:

  1. Ginger for muscle pain
  2. Cloves for a toothache
  3. Apple cider vinegar for heartburn (such a great one!)
  4. Garlic for earaches
  5. Cherries for joint pain and headaches
  6. Fish for stomach troubles
  7. Yogurt for PMS
  8. Turmeric for chronic pain
  9. Tomato juice for leg cramps

I can attest to trying most of these natural remedies and they really do work!

5 Comments
by on December 13, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 13, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/20-natural-pain-cures/

Quick Tip – Label Reading

How carefully do you read labels? Hopefully pretty carefully. If not, it’s time to start!

Some ingredients that are 100% on the NOT GOOD FOR YOU AT ALL list include artificial preservatives (like BHT & BHA), artificial colors (FD&C Red No. 40 or anything that looks similar to that) and artificial sweeteners (like acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose). These are all considered foreign invaders by the body and the liver in particular gets taxed the most when any of these artificial ingredients are consumed. Since the liver is typically busy doing normal detoxification of your system, which includes processing hormones and fat and more, you really don’t want to be giving this key organ any distracting and unnecessary work.

If you don’t already avoid these artificial offenders then getting them out of your diet is a fast and extremely beneficial change you can make today!

 

9 Comments
by on December 7, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 7, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/quick-tip-label-reading/

Love Lavender?

If you’re a big fan of lavender then you will love this Lavender Aromatherapy Stick by Aura Cacia.  It is made with 100% pure lavender essential oil so it smells just like the real stuff.  I’ve been using it as my everyday perfume lately and I’m really loving it.

Some pluses (aside from the wonderful scent itself) — it’s under $10, it’s easy to carry with you, it promotes relaxation, and it never gives me headaches (like many conventional perfumes). The stick also comes in Tea Tree (great for bug bites & blemishes), Eucalyptus (helps with cold symptoms) and Peppermint (excellent for headache relief).

 

Hope everyone has a great start to the week!

 

 

7 Comments
by on December 5, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Beauty, Natural Beauty Companies, Natural Favorites, Natural Product Reviews, Naturally Uplifting
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Posted by All Natural Annie on December 5, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/12/love-lavender/

Best Natural Deodorant

It’s so easy to go natural when it comes to lotion, shampoo and many other beauty products, but I think deodorant is the hardest yet most worthwhile natural switch to make. Yes, it’s true that the natural brands don’t actually stop you from sweating like the commercial brands do, but they definitely can keep sweat under control with natural ingredients (like baking soda). Plus, sweating is a key part of detoxifying your system so it’s really not a bad thing, especially if you can find a natural deodorant that actually keeps you smelling pleasantly.

Well after many, many years and many, many natural deodorants, I think I have finally found one that I’m going to stick with. It’s Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant.  I specifically like the Vanilla Lavender version of this silky deodorant, but there are a few other great scent options. I have to warn you about the price… it’s $18… I know, so expensive for a deodorant, but my thrifty self actually thinks it’s worth it. It smells so nice and the scent really lasts all day. In a way, you can consider it an $18 perfume — now that’s a good deal, right? Let me know if you give it a try!

5 Comments
by on November 29, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 29, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/best-natural-deodorant/

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a healthy, happy, delicious and blessed Thanksgiving! We’re off to Florida..I’m going to be SO thankful to see the sun and palm trees again ;)

3 Comments
by on November 23, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 23, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/happy-thanksgiving-2/

Dry Skin?

I hate to bring this to everyone’s attention, but we are now just a month and a few days away from the official start of winter! With that said, the colder weather has already been shocking a lot of us and that shock often comes in the form of dry skin – like really, really dry skin, which is not very pleasant or pretty.

If you’re someone who experiences dryness and is looking for a really rich yet natural facial moisturizer I would highly recommend Pomega5′s Healing Cream. It is ultra nourishing and reparative with key ingredients like pomegranate oil, shea butter, calendula oil and carrot oil.  It’s a tad pricey ($70), but a little goes a long way and the ingredients are sooo therapeutic. Let me know if you give it a try!

Have a great weekend :)

6 Comments
by on November 18, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 18, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/dry-skin-2/

Fall Face Mask

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp canned pureed pumpkin
  • 1/2 tsp honey
  • 1/4 tsp organic heavy whipping cream

How to:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl
  2. Cover entire face minus the area directly around your eyes
  3. Leave on for 10 – 15 minutes
  4. Rinse face with warm water

Photo Credit: Dylan Price

This mask is perfect for fall with a therapeutic mix of vitamin A to heal skin and reduce fine lines, cream to moisturize and reduce redness, and honey for an extra dose of moisture and antiseptic properties (great for breakouts). If you’re going to have these ingredients on hand, you might as well make my favorite dessert aka a delicious pumpkin pie too. If you haven’t tried using honey instead of sugar before, I would highly recommend it, but just make sure to decrease the amount of honey (use ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon honey in place of 1 cup sugar, and reduce the other liquid ingredients by 2 tablespoons).

Natural beauty is always about what we put into our bodies as well as what we put on them so don’t forget to eat lots of delicious fall produce and try out some new beauty treatments with them as well!

11 Comments
by on November 15, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 15, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/fall-face-mask/

Acure Organics

I recently found a new line and new product that I’m seriously impressed with.  The line is Acure Organics and the product is their brightening facial scrub sea kelp + chlorella growth factor($14.99).

This scrub thoroughly, but not harshly, exfoliates skin through two main ingredients — sea kelp and walnut. After using this scrub your face immediately feels super clean and refreshed, but not dry. The natural ingredients in this scrub actually accomplish 3 goals with 1 product –  the top layer of skin is exfoliated, pores are cleansed and new cell growth is stimulated. The scent? Mild, refreshing and minty. Oh and did I mention the color? Dark, dark green – like shockingly green – it’s quite fun.  This is a strong claim, but I really think it might be the best scrub I’ve used to date!

 

{via}

8 Comments
by on November 10, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 10, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/acure-organics/

More Uses for Epsom Salts

Epsom Salts are such a great inexpensive and therapeutic addition to a bath. But don’t stop there because they can also be used as:

  • a Body Scrub – add a spoonful of crushed Epsom salts to a palm full of body wash and exfoliate damp skin.

  • to create Wavy Hair – mix a teaspoon of salts + a few drops of olive (or jojoba) oil + 1/4 cup H20 in a spritzer bottle and mist on damp hair.{via}
  • Winter Decor – put a candle and “snow” (Epsom salt) in a pretty glass jar like this one below. {Photo Credit: The Inspired Room}
11 Comments
by on November 7, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 7, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/more-uses-for-epsom-salts/

The Windy City

Here are a few shots from last weekend (can’t believe it’s Thursday already!). Chicago definitely made a great first impression on me between the architecture, the food, the people, the beautiful beach…it really is such a cool city!

Happy almost Friday!

11 Comments
by on November 3, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Visions
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 3, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/11/the-windy-city/

Cared for Feet

I love this tip from House of Steep…

Cared for feet will carry you far:
Soaking the feet in warm salt water draws out toxins that build up in your feet.  These toxins are present not only because of gravity, but also because every nerve that touches every organ and passes through the body ends in the feet.  7,200 nerves per foot, to be precise.  Add reflexology, herbs and aromatic essential oils and the result will heal not only the overused feet, but also the total mind and body.

If you’re looking for a good foot soak, you can try one of these from the House of Steep line: Herb Soak Salts (made by me!)

Photo Credit: House of Steep

9 Comments
by on November 1, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on November 1, 2011

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Happy Friday!

While Dylan (my  husband) was at the Botanic Garden the other day I asked him to take a picture for me and this what he sent me… Isn’t it so pretty? I just love it.

Photo Credit: Dylan T Price

I hope you had a great week and have an even better weekend. We’re getting ready to make a quick trip to Chicago (my first time visiting the windy city!).

7 Comments
by on October 28, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 28, 2011

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New Partnership & a New Line!

I have some news I’ve been meaning to share… I am now collaborating with House of Steep (soon to be a Tea House and Foot Sanctuary in the VA/DC area) to create part of their signature line of bath and beauty products! Currently, my foot and bath soaks and foot spray are available on House of Steep’s online store amongst a fabulous array of teas, candles and other goodies. I’ve made natural beauty products for years, but this is the first time I’ve done it professionally so I’m really excited to see this dream come true AND to launch my own beauty line as a result.

A couple of shots from creating the bath soaks…

(adding lavender to a batch of the Balanced & Carefree soak)

(some completed Grounded soaks)

The bath soaks are available in 3 varieties (notice each one has a type of tea included):

Balanced & Carefree – A stress-relieving combination of lavender and chamomile tea
Grounded – A stabilizing tonic of patchouli, cinnamon and ginger with oolong tea
Invigorating – A refreshing blend of peppermint and sweet orange with green tea

And the the Cleansing Calm Foot Spray is blend of black tea, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus and tea tree oils, which is ideal for reducing foot odor and refreshing tired feet.

 

I hope you might give one (or more) of these a try. If you do, I would love to hear what you think. Thank you in advance for the support!

15 Comments
by on October 25, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 25, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/10/new-partnership-a-new-line/

DIY Air Freshener

Everyone loves a nice smelling space, but unfortunately so many of those lovely smelling air refresheners truly aren’t so lovely at all. Most air fresheners actually contain hormone-disrupting chemicals (like VOCs) and since disrupting your hormones is definitely not on a healthy agenda, I highly suggest making a switch to natural fragrances. One really easy way to make a delicious smelling home fragrance involves just 2 ingredients: essential oil + water.

Combine in a spray bottle:

  • 40-45 drops total of your favorite essential oil(s)
  • 1 cup H2o

And that’s it! You now have your very own homemade, all natural air freshener to mist around your rooms, on your sheets, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some essential oil combinations I highly recommend (all essential oils mentioned are under $10 per 0.5 fl oz bottle and a little goes a really long way):

  • sweet orange + cinnamon
  • lavender + sage
  • peppermint + tangerine

Your home will smell lovely and your mood will be positively impacted by the aromatherapy benefits of the essential oils — definitely a win-win!

13 Comments
by on October 18, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 18, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/10/diy-air-freshener/

Clean Clothes & Beef Fat?

How could the 2 possibly relate? Well it turns out that most dryer sheets are made with animal fat, particularly beef fat! Kind of shocking, right? And in addition to the grossness factor, these animal fats can also dull the coloring of fabrics over time. Not cool.

So to avoid a faded, animal-fat-laden shirt or pillow case (that’s where it really hits home  for me) you can opt for plant derived softeners like the Squeaky Green Dryer Cloths ($5.49) by Method. They use water-based technology (yes, these sheets are actually on the moist side) to infuse the dryer cloths with renewable, plant-based softeners.  Result: Clothes are soft and static free minus the fat and heavy scents.

I would especially recommend this swap for anyone with sensitive skin. Also, if you haven’t already, opt for a detergent that is fragrance free or at the least, naturally scented. I’ve spoken to many people who can’t pinpoint the source of their skin ailments and these switches can often provide a lot of relief.  Easily irritated by strong odors? You’re another great candidate for making these switches. But of course, everyone can benefit from these more natural options!

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by on October 13, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Health, Natural Home
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 13, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/10/clean-clothes-beef-fat/

Wine + Apples

A glimpse at our Sunday in the Virginia countryside tasting wine and picking apples… love love love fall!


(that’s the winery right next to the orchard)

Photo Credits: Dylan T Price/AllNaturalAnnie.com

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by on October 12, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Visions
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 12, 2011

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Fall-Ready Skin Care

As the colder weather crawls in for many of us, there are definitely two things you’ll want to have on hand – lip balm and hand cream.  No one wants chapped lips or rough hands so here are two recommendations to keep them both smooth, bright and well-hydrated.

{Certified Organic Cocoa Powder with a hint of Essential Oil of Lavender & Organic Blueberry Flavor! .15 oz Tube  $3.49}

Eco Lips makes some of the best petroleum-free lip balm on the market with a line that includes both 100% organic options as well as a vegan balm. They have a flavor for everyone, especially since they teamed up with Honest Tea® and Dagoba® chocolate to bring us some seriously fun and unique flavors (like the one above).  AND they have tinted options as well!  For the quality, you can’t beat the prices – lip balms are all under $3.50 and the tinted are under $4.50.

This Exfoliage Natural Hand Cream by TonicCare is normally $24.99, but with the current online sale it’s now $12.99. It’s specifically designed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on hands (aka one of the places where aging often shows the most and the soonest). Some of the beneficial natural ingredients include Grape Seed Oil, Algae Extract, Chamomile Oil, Almond Oil and Papaya Fruit Extract.

More fall beauty recommendations to come! Have a great Monday. 

5 Comments
by on October 10, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Beauty, Natural Beauty Companies, Natural Product Reviews
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 10, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/10/fall-ready-skin-care/

Chia Seeds?

I’ve already gotten a few readers wondering what exactly are chia seeds? These tiny black seeds are actually the most potent plant-based source of Omega-3 (even more than flax seed or wild Alaskan salmon!) They’re also high in fiber and antioxidants and have been touted as ideal fuel for runners and other athletes.  I would suggest using chia seeds similarly to the way you would use flax seeds. Here are some more specific ideas: 40 Ways to use Chia Seeds

p.s. I recently tried GT’s new Cherry Chia flavor and I am in love! Has anyone else tried it yet?


9 Comments
by on October 6, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 6, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/10/chia-seeds/

Favorite New Smoothie

So simple: 1 banana + 1 cup frozen pineapple* + 14 fl oz coconut milk + 2 tbsp chia seeds and blend for a minute or two. So easy and sooo yummy! (Serves 1-2)


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*You could use fresh pineapple too, but I like using frozen for the texture and temperature effects

 

8 Comments
by on October 5, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Recipes
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 5, 2011

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Hello Rainbow

This is exactly what we woke up to this morning. I can’t think of the last time I saw a rainbow, let alone a full rainbow like this one! It was such an amazing day to start the day. I hope everyone has an equally great start to the week ahead!

Photo Credit: Dylan T Price

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8 Comments
by on October 2, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Natural Visions, Naturally Uplifting
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Posted by All Natural Annie on October 2, 2011

http://allnaturalannie.com/2011/10/hello-rainbow/

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