Beauty Bliss: Sukin Moisture Restoring Conditioner

I think I've found one of the best working and smelling conditioners ever created...plus it's all natural!!! It's called Moisture Restoring Conditioner by Sukin Australian Natural Skincare.


I found this product at one of my all-time favorite stores, TJ Maxx. It was in their skincare/hair care section along with other natural and non-natural products. I was pulled in when I saw on the description that it's for "dry/damaged hair" with a picture of avocados on it. I know avocados are a natural way to get a highly moisturizing formula. Other ingredients in this conditioner that add to its moisturizing action are aloe vera, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, wheat germ, and rosehip oil. I also know that my dry, naturally curly hair needs all the moisture it can get. 

In addition to its highly moisturizing ingredients, this product also contains other natural oils and extracts that give it an amazing smell. Some of these are: Tangerine Peel Oil, Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Lavendar Oil, and Vanilla Extract. Imagine: fresh citrus fruits, mixed with lavendar, mixed with vanilla, all in the same whiff! This is the best smelling hair product I've ever used!

And it gets better. When I read the label further, I was happy to find this product is Sulfate & Paraben free. This is great because I like to use conditioner on my whole head of hair and massage it into my scalp to get the product on my roots. This really helps control frizz, hydrates my curls, and makes my hair healthier from root-to-tip. So, being a chemically concious woman, I know massaging any product into my roots/scalp that contains toxins like Sulfates and Parabens is a big no-no. This is because these substances and their by products have been linked to skin/eye irritation, liver & kidney damage, and the big C--Cancer. And knowing that a portion of this product will enter my body through my skin pores, I don't want to take any risks. 

Other harmful agents NOT found in this product are: artificial colors, synthetic fragrances, petro-chemicals, animal derivatives, mineral oils, triethanolamine, and harsh detergents. This is a carbon neutral product and comes in a recyclable container. Plus, this is a cruelty-free product because it is not tested on animals.
 
On a personal note, I'll share that back in my sulfate/paraben product using days and when I used to eat non-natural foods containing harmful substances such as nitrates and nitrites, I would get headaches and migraines much more frequently--sometimes daily for weeks. Now I get headaches far less often and migraines very rarely--and when I do they appear to be linked to stress. Without entering myself into a scientific study, it's really hard to say why the frequency and intensity of my headaches & migraines decreased so much over the past 5 to 6 years as I slowly transformed into the Naturally Blissful Wife.

This product can be purchased on Amazon and other online stores; however, I found thatTJ Maxx and Marshalls sell it for the lowest price. The only downside to TJ Maxx & Marshalls is the frequent inventory and price changes, making it truly "hit or miss" style shopping, especially with all-natural items. Of course, that makes it even more exciting when you discover a great deal!

Click Here to watch my YouTube video about this product and my other favorite natural conditioner.

Hubby Review: Raw Milk from Wholesome Dairy Farm

The raw milk from Wholesome Dairy Farm in Yellow House, PA comes from grass-fed cows with no added hormones. The hubby likes it because it's a great source of raw, unheated proteins, vitamins, and minerals. This milk does not contain any synthetic chemicals or preservatives of any kind. The cows are millked in a particular way to decrease the amount of bacteria in the milk. Drinking one cup of this milk really rejuvenates the hubby physically and mentally. This milk is refreshing anytime of day, from early morning to before bed. Although this milk can be bought from various food stores and markets, Hubby recommends purchasing it direct from the farm. One bonus of buying direct is every tenth gallon you purchase is free with punch-out card. While you're there, you can even meet the cows!

Blissful Style: My First Pair of Riding Boots!

Autumn is here and it's one of my favorite times of the year! I love the cool crisp air and watching the leaves change color...and I also love that it's boot season! 

I've had winter/snow boots and black dressy boots with a heel many times in the past...but I've never had riding boots before and I've wanted them for such a long time! I'm so excited that I've finally found riding boots in the color/style I want, in my size, with a comfortable fit, and for a great deal!  

Behold: My new "Legend" Riding Boots by White Mountain!

I just love them! I love the gentle slouching and the strap across the ankle! The additional side buckles add an extra touch of style. The "Legend" boots have comfortable lining and a very small heel, giving feet a little more support than a pair of slippers or flats, and allowing them to be worn longer than a heeled boot. White Mountain calls this color boot "taupe," although the color is more of a light brown. I found my 'taupe" boots at TJ Maxx, but online they are only available in black and dark brown. I'm not sure if this is because the "taupe" version is temporarily out of stock or if this color has been discontinued. 

I scored these original price $89.00 boots at TJ Maxx for just $39.99! If you don't have a TJ Maxx near you, you can shop for these boots and other boot styles online at various websites. This exact style can be found online at White Mountain, Macy's, and Amazon for $89.00  at Ebay for $49.99, Overstock.com for $26.00. But again, online these boots are only available in black and dark brown. Also note: some sites call "dark brown" and others just say "brown."

Happy Boot Season!!!

Beauty Bliss: A'kin Leave-In Conditioner

My newest natural hair product is Lavender & Anthyllis 24-Hour Intensive Moisture Leave-In Conditioner by A'kin. This moisturizing product is recommended for normal, dry, and textured hair, and works great on my thick curls. The product nourishes hair with amino acids, antioxidants, herbal extracts, and vitamins to give hair a smoother look and feel. The product also contains Australian jojoba oil and certified organic avocado oils to give added moisture. But don't let the contents fool you, the consistency is not oily at all--it's actually a thick white creamy substance. The label's instructions state you can use the conditioner on wet or dry hair, but I find it works best on wet hair after a shower. For me, this product helps control frizz and define curls. An added benefit is that the conditioner contains no parabens, no sulfates, no silicones, and no artificial colors. And for all you animal lovers and activists, this product is formulated without any animal ingredients or animal testing. The product can be found in select stores or online stores. Currently on Amazon it's going for about $13...but I got it at TJ Maxx for...$5.99!

Hubby Review: Trader Joe's Sprouted Whole Wheat Bread

Hubby wants in! Here's the first review from my hubby:

Brand: Trader Joe's
Product: 100% Whole Wheat Sprouted Fiber Bread (Certified Organic)
Made with: organic sprouted whole wheat berries, dates, and raisins
Bonuses: Low Fat (0.5g total fat, 0g saturated fat, and 0g trans fat per slice), 16g whole grains per serving, and excellent source of Fiber (5g per serving)

What the Hubby Thinks: He likes the soft texture of the bread. He's glad the bread contains 5g of protein in every slice. The Hubby also appreciates the added nutritional value from the sprouted wheat berries. He's happy that the bread is free of harsh chemicals.

Note for those with diet restrictions:
This bread is a vegan product.
This bread contains gluten.

Blissful Home/Baby Bliss: Multiportion Freezer Trays

Here's a great item for the kitchen! Food Freezer Trays! These are not only great for storing leftovers in the fridge or freezer, but also great for storing homemade baby food! Two brands are Beaba Multiportion Freezer Tray and the OXO TOT Baby Block Freezer Storage Containers. Just put your leftovers or homemade baby food into the portion slots, snap on the tight-fitting lid, and stick it in the fridge/freezer until you're ready to use it! Another great thing about these trays is that they're far less messy than freezer bags, and the snap on lids prevent freezer burn better than regular ice cube trays. The Beaba trays are made of soft/flexible silicone which allows you to pop out the contents more easily. The OXO TOT trays are stackable, so if you have multiple they can fit nicely and securely into your fridge/freezer space. The OXO TOT also has the option of taking as little as 1 serving out of the fridge/freezer at a time. With the Beaba tray, on the other hand, you have to take out the entire tray even if you only want one portion. Both the Beaba and the OXO TOT are BPA free. A bonus use could possibly be using these trays to make some fun frozen treats!

BEABA MULTIPORTION FREEZER TRAYS

OXO TOT BABY BLOCKS FREEZER STORAGE CONTAINER

Blissful Style: Studded Flats by Kathy Van Zeeland

Check out my new stud embellished flats by Kathy Van Zeeland!

These are the Kathy Van Zeeland "Royce" flats in black with silver studs. A basic black flat with a bit of edge. I've been looking for both black flats and an edgy shoe for a while--then I found these! Perfect! Other colors available are olive with silver studs, Cocoa with gold studs, and pewter (a shiny silvery grey) with black studs. I like all the color options except the cocoa because I don't like the gold studs. If I were the shoe designer, I would put bronze studs on the cocoa flats.

These "Royce" flats are pretty comfortable for a night out. If I want to wear them all day, I definitely need to slip some Dr. Scholl's into them to give me a little more shock absorption. One thing nice about these flats is the back of the shoe doesn't dig into your heel--at least not for me. Another nice thing, is these flats have a limited amount of "toe curl." What I mean by this, is that many flats are made in a way that causes the toe of the shoe to curl back and upward, but these flats barely do that.

The best part: the deal I got of course!
On Endless.com & Amazon.com, the shoes go for different prices depending on the color, with black being the most expensive at $69.00.
But I got them at TJ Maxx for only............................$19.99!

Blissful Bites: Amy's Mac & Cheese

The best organic mac & cheese pre-made dinner I've tried is definitely Amy's Kitchen Macaroni & Cheese with organic pasta (original recipe).

These little frozen dinners aren't too pricey, and are great for a quick, easy meal when you don't have time to cook. When heated up in the toaster oven they come out as a warm and gooey comfort food at it's best. You can cook them in a conventional oven, but it uses more electricity. You can also cook them in a microwave, although I don't recommend this, as they come out better (and have intact nutrients) when cooked in the toaster oven.


Amy's also makes a gluten-free version with Rice Macaroni instead of traditional pasta. I've tried this and it's also very good. If you're trying to limit your sodium intake due to high blood pressure or another health issue, Amy's makes a Low Sodium Mac & Cheese as well. This one I haven't tried. Lastly, Amy's makes a Lactose-Free version with Soy Cheese instead of regular cheese. This one I've tried and I can really tell the difference between this and the original recipe. The soy cheese version is not as creamy, and has a different texture--and overall just tastes weird. I would not recommend the soy cheese version.

Also I want to point out this product has No GMOs (no bio-engineered ingredients), No Preservatives, 0g Trans Fat, No Added MSG, and all dairy ingredients come from rBST hormone-free milk with No animal enzymes or animal rennet.


Amy's Kitchen Macaroni & Cheese with Organic Pasta (Original Recipe) Ingredients: Organic macaroni (organic semolina flour, organic whole wheat flour, water), organic lowfat milk, Cheddar cheese (pasteurized milk, culture, salt, annatto, enzymes [without animal enzymes or rennet]), grade AA butter (cream, salt, annatto), organic sweet rice flour, sea salt, organic annatto. Contains wheat and milk.

Dining Bliss: Stonersville Hotel & Viva Bistro French Onion Soup

Last night was date night with the Hubby and we went out to eat at a locally owned, small business restaurant & tavern called Stonersville Hotel. We like to support small business restaurants whenever we can. But like most one-location eateries, this place is a bit pricey. So we usually only order drinks, appetizers, soups, or sandwiches. We haven't ever tried any of their regular dinner entrees.

The restaurant's French Onion Soup is definitely delish--and this is coming from a gal who never used to go anywhere near onions! In fact, I still don't eat any onions unless they're cooked or chopped finely in Spanish or Mexican cusine. 

I have to give credit to my Hubby--he was the one who got me into French Onion Soup--which is his all-time favorite soup. He ordered it in front of me many, many times, and encouraged me to order it too. He made me long for the cheese and buoyant croutons. Then he would give me bites of the cheese only. Next I tried a spoonful of the broth, which had such a soothing, comforting flavor--not the strong onion flavor I was expecting. Finally, I tried a full bite--onions and all--and I loved it!

Stonersville Hotel and Viva Bistro are 2 restaurants that have delicious French Onion Soup. Stonersville Hotel charges $6.00 per bowl, and Viva charges $4.99 for the same size bowl. Viva also has a cup of French Onion for $3.79. 

I also tried this soup at The Knight's Pub at Stokesay Castle, where a bowl also costs $6.00. But at The Knight's Pub they use their own "rich beef stock" instead of the traditional recipe. This makes the color of the broth much darker and in my opinion, ruins the whole soup. It tasted completely different except for the cheese and was very disappointing. The menu does say the soup is made with beef stock, but they still call the soup French Onion Soup and there's no notes about the flavor being totally different. 

Viva's French Onion Soup

Blissful Home: Kitchen Sinks so Beautiful...you might actually want to do the dishes!

Look at this built-in beauty: