Mindful Momma

Win a 3 Month Subscription to Conscious Box!

I'm in the mood for a giveaway. How about you?

Conscious Box, one of my favorite monthly product subscription services, has just relauched their website, making it easy for users to rate and purchase the green & health focused products they find in their boxes. To celebrate, they are allowing me to do a giveaway of a 3 month Conscious Box subscription!

Conscious Box is different every month, but you can be sure it is filled with really high quality products. Here is one I received awhile back. I was thrilled to get a new glass straw and another handy PeopleTowel. The Dr. Singha's Mustard Bath packet was perfect when I was sick with the flu. Plus I got to try some new snacks and lotions!

It's Never Too Late For Chocolate (Win Some!)

Lookie what showed up in my mail box on the day after Valentine's Day! It may have been a day late but I'm not complaining - every day is a chocolate day in my book!

These chocolate bars from Chuao Chocolatier (pronounced chew-WOW) are made from Venezuelan chocolate and other natural ingredients. The chocolate is ethically sourced and fair trade prices are paid to farmers. (As there is no fair trade certification for chocolate in Venezuela yet, they are not officially Fair Trade certified.)

The good news for you is that the company is giving away a year's worth of chocolate plus other weekly chocolate prizes! Just head over to the Chuao Chocolatier Facebook Page to enter. The contest will be open through February 28th, 2013. Good Luck!

What's your favorite ethically sourced chocolate brand? 

Traditional Medicinals: More Than Just Herbal Tea

Winter is tea time for me. In the morning you'll definitely find me clutching a cup of coffee but come afternoon or evening, it's a cup of herbal tea that I crave. Tea warms me up on a cold, Minnesota day and is a flavorful drink between meals. But more and more often I reach for tea to help improve my health in some way, whether it's to stave off a cold, calm a cough or help me relax.

The Traditional Medicinals Difference

One thing I have often wondered about tea was whether or not there is a big difference between brands. I mean, I certainly have my favorites but I wondered, could the quality really be different between say two different brands of peppermint tea leaves?

Well it turns out there is a difference. In reading up on Traditional Medicinals, I learned that their teas are more than just good tasting, herbal blends. They are true herbal supplements, made with health and wellness in mind. Traditional Medicinals uses pharmacopoeial quality herbs which deliver much stronger health benefits than food grade herbs. This is a very high standard for the quality, purity, strength, identity and composition of the plants.

Ethical Diamonds & Fine Jewelry from Brilliant Earth

This post is sponsored by Brilliant Earth

When I got married 21 years ago, I was not much of a diamond girl. At that point it was more of a frugal thing but the more I learned about the terrible human cost of the diamond trade, I preferred to stay away from those deceptively pretty objects. But if I were to be married today, you would find me swooning over Brilliant Earth's gorgeous, ethically produced engagement ring designs for sure!

Conflict Free Diamonds

Brilliant Earth diamonds are guaranteed to be conflict free in the most widely used definition of the term, which means that they do not come from sources that finance rebel forces against recognized national governments. Better yet, Brilliant Earth goes beyond conflict free by guaranteeing diamonds are free of all types of violence, workers are paid fair wages, child labor is absent and diamonds are mined ethically and with respect to the environment.

prAna - Apparel with Purpose {Giveaway!}

 

Grand Portage pose created by The Om Collective in front of the new prAna store in the Twin Cities. (image credit Lisa Venticinque)

A New Store

If you are a fan of yoga and active lifestyle apparel, it is likely that you have run across the brand prAna before. One of my favorite shirts is a prAna design that I bought through Title Nine a couple of years ago. Well, a brand new prAna store just opened up in the Twin Cities area (50th & France in Edina for those of you who are locals) and I could not be more thrilled! To celebrate the opening, prAna held a Flash Flannel yoga event in front of the store last week. This was my first outdoor yoga event and although it was a little chilly, we kept warm doing yoga in our new prAna organic cotton flannel shirts!

Weleda: Body Care in Harmony

Feeling good about the products I purchase and use is a huge priority for me. But evaluating a product can be a complicated dance - a balance between many factors from ingredients to price to sustainability. Although the quality of the product itself is key, I also try to look beyond the physical product to the company history, policies and values.

Weleda is a company that meets my high standards for product efficacy (meaning it works well), safety (no nasty ingredients) and sustainability (low impact on the environment) but it also ranks high as a company that cares about people and the world at large.

Eco Strengths

Weleda was founded over 90 years ago as a "personal approach to health care using natural ingredients that can holistically work with and support our own body's healing tendencies." The website is loaded with information about the company but here are just a few ways in which Weleda shows its harmonious relationship with the earth and all living things:

• Plants are grown in 135 acres of Biodynamic gardens which nurture the soil and give back to the earth.
• High percentage of raw materials produced organically (over 73% in 2011)
• Products meet a number of certification standards including NaTrue, Demeter and BDIH.
• Company partners with Fair Trade farms and cooperatives around the world, creating ethical economic activity.
• Many products packaged in glass bottles or metal tubes instead of plastic and all packaging is recyclable.
• Product formulations have a holistic effect - targeting the body, mind and soul.
• Strong company values that cultivate beauty in many ways.

Fav Products

My favorite product by a landslide is the Rosemary Hair Oil. God I wish I had discovered this a long time ago! Not only does it smell divine but just a few drops rubbed into my hands and onto my hair leave it frizz-free and with a beautiful shine.

A close second is the Gentle Cleansing Milk. It's the perfect combination of cleansing and moisturizing for my dry skin and I love the sexy & practical blue glass bottle (just right for gripping so it won't drop in the shower).

I have also been enjoying the Pomegranate Firming Facial Care line. Antioxidant-rich organic pomegranate juice and other nourishing ingredients moisturize and help prevent wrinkles. Even better - dermatological tests show positive anti-aging results!

The Citrus Deodorant has a wonderful scent but stings like crazy if I spray after shaving (I learned the hard way). Now I save it for non-shower days.

Second Thoughts?

You pay a premium for Weleda products but for me it's absolutely worth it. As I mentioned before, I want to feel good about the whole purchase - the product, the package and the company. Weleda gets a plus mark on all measures!

Important Note: If you are a fan of the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database, you will notice that Weleda does not score well there. That's because the database sees the word Fragrance on the label of Weleda products and does not seem to know that all their fragrances come from natural essential oils. Weleda products do not contain any synthetic ingredients! Granted, some essential oils are problematic for some people, but it is unfortunate that Weleda is misrepresented on the database.

Buy It!

Weleda products are available in retail stores throughout the United States including many Target stores and Whole Foods. Or order online and get free shipping with a $50 purchase.

Have you ever tried Weleda? What's your favorite product?

 

 

(Disclosure: I received free samples of Weleda products in exchange for my honest opinion.)

A Gift with a Conscience: Conscious Box {Giveaway!}

If you are looking for a gift with a little more meaning than a knick-knacks purchased at the mall and a little more excitement than a new set of dishtowels, may I suggest Conscious Box?

What is Conscious Box?

Conscious Box is basically a green goodie box, filled with natural and eco-friendly products! The mission of the company is to help people discover ethical, honest, eco-minded businesses and new products that may make their lives a little better.

• Products are handpicked from businesses who care about sustainability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
• Emphasis on smaller businesses vs. large corporations.
• Includes natural, organic, Fair Trade, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free etc...
• Most products are sample sized although some are pretty generous for samples.
• Packaging is 100% post consumer recycled cardboard.
• The company is mindful of the impact of shipping and uses as few resources as possible.

How do I buy it?

Each month, a brand new Conscious Box is created with a new assortment of goodies packed inside. Sign up for monthly delivery (you can cancel anytime) or get a 3 or 6 month subscription. The cost is $19 per month ($12 + $7 shipping) or $54 for 3 months and $106 for 6 months. Each box is valued at at least $30 if not more. I personally will be giving the 3-month subscription to at least one person on my list!

Can I have a peek inside?

Normally, you can't find out what is inside a Conscious Box - it ruins the surprise! But since I was sent a sample of the December box, I get to give you a sneak peek:

I already gobbled up the Daily Mocha Mantra bar (chocolate hemp!) and I'm very excited to try the Berryplus laundry detergent. There's a sample of Justin's almond butter, a couple of great-smelling soap samples and much more!

Win a Conscious Box!

One lucky Mindful Momma reader will win a Conscious Box of their very own! I am trying out Rafflecopter for the very first time. I've heard it makes entering a lot easier but let me know what you think of it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Punjammies: A Gift for Good

As we make our holiday shopping lists, we tend to be busy thinking happy thoughts and are not necessarily concerned about people who are not as well off as we are. Not to be a complete downer but for many people in this world, shopping is the furthest thing from their minds as they struggle just to exist. The good news is, it is possible to shop and do some good for people in need at the same time. A great example of this is Punjammies from the International Princess Project.

Punjammies pajamas are sewn by women who have escaped from a life of forced prostitution. The International Princess Project empowers these women to rebuild their lives by giving them a safe way to earn wages and to find dignity and self-worth. The photo below shows a group of women who have just completed their sewing training at one of the centers run by the International Princess Project. See how happy they look?!!

Just look at the beautiful pajamas they create! Punjammies are made using traditional Indian sari material in stunning combinations of colors and designs. I have a pair in the USHA design (far right photo) and I love them! Don't miss the matching pj tops and tanks too - made with Fair Trade, organic cotton!

Do you have a sister or a girlfriend who might like a pair of Punjammies? Get 25% off if you buy a pair on Cyber Monday (use code GIVEHOPE at checkout). And check the website and Facebook page for other deals throughout the holiday season.

(Full disclosure: I was sent a free pair of Punjammies in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Andalou Naturals: Affordable, Effective, Natural Skin Care

In case you haven't noticed, there are a lot of skin care companies out there. Many of them strive to be natural, organic or use the latest hot ingredients in order to attract attention in the sea of competition. I recently found a company that stands out among the crowd - at least to me:  Andalou Naturals.

Andalou Naturals is a relative newcomer in the skin care field. Products are made with a blend of natural, organic and Fair Trade ingredients and the company is committed to being transparent about ingredients and overall sustainability. Here's why I think Andalou Naturals stands out:

High quality ingredients

• Minimum 70% certified organic ingredients
• 100% naturally derived ingredients
• Increasing number of Fair Trade ingredients including shea butter, cocoa powder and hibiscus extract
• Meets standard for Whole Foods Premium Body Care label

Transparent labeling

• Full ingredient disclosure so that customers like you and me can make informed decisions
• NO sulfates, GMOs, phthalates, petrochemicals, artificial dyes, synthetic fragrances, or paraben preservatives
• Verified gluten-free, vegetarian, and cruelty free

Effective

• Products use Advanced Fruit Stem Cell science to help renew and repair healthy skin
• I tried the Avo Cocoa Skin Food Mask - and boy is it ever nice! It's similar to my homemade Chocolate Facial Mask but much more sophisticated. Advanced Fruit Stem Cells, organic avocado and Fair Trade cocoa help to slow cellular damage and stimulate healthy cell renewal. It goes on super smooth, smells good enough to eat and left my face feeling nourished and healthy!

Affordable

Best of all, Andalou Naturals is affordable!! I've fallen for some pretty expensive natural and organic skin care lines in the past and it's nice to find a line that I can buy without cringing at the price. (a 6-oz cleanser is $12.95 and a 1.75-oz facial cream is $24.95). You can find Andalou Naturals at Whole Foods Markets, other specialty stores and online. Check to see if there's a location near you!

Want to try Andalou Naturals? If you place an order online, you can take advantage of a special deal: Buy any cleanser and facial cream and receive a full sized toner for FREE!! Plus free shipping on orders over $49.

Have you tried Andalou Naturals?  Leave a comment and let me know your favorites!

(Full Disclosure: I received a free Skin Food Mask from Andalou Naturals in exchange for my honest opinion.)

Click for Fair Trade with the New Fair Trade Finder App {Giveaway!}

In honor of Fair Trade Month, Fair Trade USA has introduced a new crowd-sourced social media tool to help people like you and me find and share Fair Trade Certified™ products. It's called the Fair Trade Finder and it is available as a mobile app for iPhone and Android as well as on Facebook.

Apparently the ability to find Fair Trade products is a major barrier to purchase and a recent Omnibus survey found that  2/3 of consumers would buy more Fair Trade products if they could only find them. The Fair Trade Finder is attempting to bridge that gap but the crowd-sourced database means that they are counting on us to help put products on the map.

So if you are looking to find Fair Trade products in your area, just jump on the app, plug in your zip code and start searching. Then, add your favorite products to the app yourself - to make finding Fair Trade easier for others. I just added Green & Black's chocolate at my local co-op, The Wedge! You can even include a photo if you want (I did)!

Fair Trade month wouldn't be a celebration without a little giveaway, now would it? Fair Trade USA is offering this Fair Trade goodie bag to one lucky Mindful Momma reader.

 
Would you like to win? Just plug in your zip code on the Fair Trade Finder and let me know one Fair Trade product you found in your neighborhood (or what you would like to find, if nothing is listed yet)!

Additional entries for:

• Subscribing to Mindful Momma via RSS feed or email
• Liking my Mindful Momma Facebook Page
• Following @MindfulMomma on Twitter

That's 4 entries per person (please leave a separate comment for each thing you do). Winners must have a U.S. shipping address. The giveaway will be open through midnight CST on Thursday, October 20th.

For the Fair Trade Finder to be a success, they need all of us to add products. Will you help add Fair Trade Certified™ products to the Fair Trade Finder?

(Full Disclosure: I received a free Fair Trade goodie bag in exchange for my honest opinion.)

The winner is Alicia from Green Lifestyle Consulting. Congratulations Alicia - enjoy your Fair Trade treats! Thanks to everyone who entered!