Simply Earth - April Essential Oil Recipe Box

The April Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box is all about spring cleaning in a natural (chemical free) way. The April box has four essential oils that are handpicked for their abilities to help you clean your home and the things in it. Recipes are included for things like: foaming hand soap, natural laundry detergent, multi-surface cleaner, dishwasher detergent and more. Between this box and the bonus box (more on that below) you'll only need a few more basic "ingredients" to get your home naturally clean in no time.

For me I love that the recipe cards are easy to read, and the directions are easy to follow. They even tell you exactly what products aren't included in your boxes with a * beside them so you know ahead of time what you'll need to pick up. Some are even pretty basic things you might already have at home like distilled water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and Epsom salt. So don't think you'll have to run out and spend a bunch of money to make these awesome cleaning products.

And now to fill you in on the "Bonus Box".

Buy subscribing via the information below you'll get a bonus box that contains over $40 in carrier oils and bottles to help get you started on your path to natural cleaning and beyond.

Subscribe now and receive a $20 gift card with your initial subscription box as well as a bonus box filled with lots of great supplies (shown above). You can use the $20 gift card on any future purchase or your next box. Be sure to use this code to get these awesome bonus gifts: STREVIEWSFREE

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Ready for a flavor explosion?

If you're taste buds are ready for a flavor explosion then you're ready for the lineup featured here from BAO Cultured and Waterloo. They both have an awesome assortment of flavors to offer that is sure to fit everyone's individual taste buds.

BAO Cultured Sauce
Add a healthy, flavorful twist to your culinary creations! BAO Cultured Sauces add an extra flavor boost to your sauce, salad dressing, marinade and more. Packing a powerful dose of flavor and nutrition, the BAO Cultured Sauces 6 Pack includes Bao-B-Que, Sour K'Chup, Original Hot Sauce, Chipotle Hot Sauce, Mango Hot Sauce, and Jalapeno Hot Sauce. Fermented foods are usually rich in umami, the deep earthy flavor that makes you want to eat more. BAO is a blend of briny, tart, spicy, and umami...and a little goes a long way. 1-2 tablespoons is usually enough! Each bottle or jar of BAO is packed full of organic ingredients and vibrant probiotic bacteria. All BAO products are gluten-free, certified organic, vegan and fermented.

BAO Cultured Kombucha
Fresh, smooth, and delicious, each bottle of BAO Cultured Kombucha is packed full of organic ingredients and vibrant probiotic bacteria. BAO Cultured Kombucha drinks are naturally tart and full of flavor. They have been shown to strengthen your digestive and immune system, as well as support and build the natural ecosystem in your gut. BAO (which stands for 'Bad Ass Organics') has no GMOs, and is certified organic. All BAO products are vegan and fermented. The process of fermentation harnesses the best nature offers, using salt and naturally forming fermented acids to encourage the growth of beneficial micro organisms (probiotics). BAO Cultured Kombucha is available in 10 tasty and unique flavors, including Mango, Blueberry, Elderberry, Ginger, Grape, Hibiscus, Original, Cola, Mixed Root, and Super Green. Only 40 calories and 5 grams of sugar per 8 oz serving.

Waterloo Sparkling Water
With true-to-fruit flavor in a BPA-free can, this newest sparkling water is bursting with deliciousness, for all your refreshment needs! Waterloo Sparkling Water uses Non-GMO Project Verified natural flavors and vapor-distilled water (reverse osmosis) to craft the perfect beverage. Focusing on true-to-fruit flavor & aroma and delivering a much richer, more authentic taste, Waterloo comes in 8 flavors including NEW Mango, Original, Black Cherry, Watermelon, Coconut, Lemon, Lime & Grapefruit. Currently offered in traditional 12-ounce cans, Waterloo is sold in 12-can and 8-can fridge-pack cases. Certified Kosher, Gluten Free & Vegan. Available nationwide. Learn more at www.drinkwaterloo.com.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I received product to share my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brand.

Pain Relief from Sacred Mind & Body

As I'm sure you already know hemp oil products are becoming more and more popular, and more widely available. They are a way to help relieve problems such as pain in a more natural way. The fine folks over at Sacred Mind & Body sent me a nice assortment of their hemp oil infused products to try out and see for myself how they work. I was actually really excited about this as I have super bad PMS cramps and one of the samples they sent is their PMS Relief Lotion. I haven't had the opportunity to try that particular sample out yet (gotta wait for the right time if you know what I mean) but I have tried a couple of the other products they sent over. I really like their Therapeutic Relief Lotion and Balm. I've been having some troubles with my right knee getting stiff when I sleep at night and it hurting like heck to move to either bend or straighten out depending on what way it has been when the pain started. To try out the product I put it on my knee all the way around before bedtime. As a result I didn't have any problems with my knee getting stiff or having trouble bending or unbending it through out the night or in the morning. I felt like it really did help whatever the problem was inside of my knee. So for me I would say yes this stuff works. Of course the real test will be when I can finally try out their PMS Relief Lotion when I'm having a bad spell of cramps. But in the meantime I'm really enjoying their other products so far and will probably be looking at purchasing some more once my samples run out.

About:
Sacred was founded on the belief that everyone should have access to natural, high quality products when it comes to caring for your body. Our products, including Pain Balm and Pain Relief Lotion, are 100% pure with nothing unnatural ever added and no rich nutrients ever taken away. Each product is created with essential oils and hemp oil, both offering healing effects. We’ve invested years in developing our products that were created to make you feel like you can escape to the spa in your own home. Each and every one of our products not only promotes soft skin, but they also stimulate circulation, promote cellular regeneration, reduce inflammation, relax muscles and tease toxins out of your body. Those are just a few of the benefits our products offer. Since the beginning, Sacred has been built on our two core values: purity of product and customer experience. Our belief in the highest quality possible is what differentiates our hemp oil products from similar THC free products on the market. Our unique selection of ingredients creates natural products that you will love and are conveniently delivered right to your doorstep.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of the above mentioned brand. I may have received monetary compensation and/or product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. However, all thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

H2O at Home for your pets!

I will be the first to admit giving the dog a bath is a chore I don't not like to do. To be quite frank about it unless I absolutely have to do it myself (because she got into something nasty) I will pawn the task off onto my son to do when he gets home. I figure she's really his dog anyway so why not give him that responsibility. One of the parts I dread is that once she's washed it's time to dry her off, and being a big dog that's quite the task. I'm talking about going through at least two larger sized beach towels trying to get all the water out of her fur. And that doesn't include the water absorbed by my bathroom mats if the towel I throw down doesn't stay put. It's really quite an ordeal, but one that has to be done.

Here Doggy Doggy..I've got a treat for you!

After seeing so many pet food companies in the news lately it's made me really stop and think, and look at what we are feeding our pets. One might think a simple dog biscuit for example can't be bad for them right? Well, that's not always the case. Many times treats are filled with things dogs really don't need in their diets (sort of like candy for humans). Like many foods on the market for us humans, just because they are out there on the shelves doesn't mean they are good for us. That's what lead my daughter and I to start talking about making our dog homemade treats actually. So thus began the quest to finding a good source for not just a recipe, but also information about making homemade dog treats. I wanted to make sure we were doing it for the right reasons and that the treats we ended up making were actually good for our pup and not just an alternative to store bought treats.

Through our quest we happened upon information featured on the SimpleWag website. Not only did it give the recipe for homemade dog treats, it also gave lots of great information on the benefits of them too. Plus the recipe had all natural ingredients you might already have right in your kitchen already like corn meal, bananas, peanut butter (a doggy favorite) and eggs to name a few. I knew this was definitely the way to go.

This recipe for the Gourmet Doggy Biscuits we found was created by Chef Amanda Pallagi-Naim, the Executive Pastry Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, TX. WOW a dog treat created by a chef, how cool is that! I'm sure our pup felt like a celebrity when we gave her the first treat we made..well at least that's what I'm going with.

What about you? Do you make homemade treats for your pets?

Disclosure: I received compensation in the form of product in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions stated are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Goat Milk Stuff - All natural and ooh so good!

I'm sure just reading the title of this post had you tilting your head saying "goat milk stuff, what's that?". I know I sure was when I first came across their website. As you may know from previous posts we have goats, but they are pets not the kind you milk or anything like that. I've heard of people drinking goats milk but never using it to make things from it. So being a goat owner and having thought about getting a milking goat I was really curious to see what it was all about. I have to say I couldn't believe all of the stuff that can be made using goats milk (and some other ingredients of course). I love that they are all natural made right on the family farm where the goats are raised. I've always been one to support small businesses that are family run. And Goat Milk Stuff is definitely one that I'll be frequenting often now that I've tried their stuff for myself.

Honey Stinger - Pure, Natural Energy

I have a teenage son and he's one that likes to do what his friends are doing, and unfortunately that includes downing things like super sugary energy drinks. I've just never been a fan of them because I've seen how it can make kids all hyped-up and then once it wears off they crash. Plus all of the added sugar isn't something they need either getting them addicted. So as a mom I've always got my eyes open looking for an alternative way for him to get his energy pick-me-up. One that we've found, and I have to say my son is loving are these organic waffles from Honey Stinger. They come in a wide range of flavors, and they are sweetened naturally with honey instead of sugar. It was actually quite amusing to see him looking for more when the first box was gone. They're something he can grab on the go and toss in his backpack to enjoy in between classes when he needs that boost of energy part way through his day.

ORGANIC STINGER WAFFLES
Certified Organic • 0% Trans Fats • Nut Free • True Source™ Honey • Available in Gluten Free

A great alternative to conventional energy foods, Organic Stinger Waffles provide a tasty boost of sustainable energy on the go with two thin waffles infused with True Source honey. Open one up as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up or as a way to put some get-up-and-go in your exercise routine.

Flavors: Honey, Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, Lemon, Gingersnap, Caramel
Gluten Free Flavors: Cinnamon, Salted Caramel, Maple

Another great product line from Honey Stinger is their organic chews. Again they are great for kids because they aren't filled with sugar (or sugar alternatives). They get their sweet taste from the honey in them. My daughter was really into these because she's always been a big fan of fruit snacks. Only thing she didn't like was that they always stuck to her teeth. Lucky for her these don't do that! That was a big plus to me too because they have what I call "adult chews" that are naturally caffeinated. I love all of the great flavor combinations they have too. Not you're typical boring grape and cherry.

ORGANIC ENERGY CHEWS
USDA certified organic and gluten free, these delicious chews are made with naturally occurring fiber and protein derived from tapioca syrup and honey, providing a multiple carbohydrate punch to keep your workout going longer. Smaller and softer than other chews on the market, Organic Energy Chews won’t stick to your teeth.

Regular Flavors: Fruit Smoothie, Pomegranate Passion, Cherry Blossom, Orange Blossom, Pink Lemonade, Grapefruit. Caffeinated Flavors (Naturally caffeinated with 32mg of caffeine from white tea extract): Lime Ade*, Cherry Cola*
Kids Flavors: Mixed Berry, Sour Citrus

Honey Stinger's energy and protein bars, waffles, gels and chews are all-natural foods designed for athletes and great for anyone looking for a healthy snack. Honey Stinger is pure natural energy.

Connect with Honey Stinger: 
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Disclosure: I received the products featured in this post for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased thoughts. All thoughts and opinions state are my own and are in no way influenced by my partnership with mentioned brands.

Circle B Ranch - Enjoy pork the way it's supposed to be raised

As many of you probably already know (or if you don't you do now) we raise our own chickens and so we have fresh eggs daily. If you've never had a fresh egg then it may be a bit hard to understand what I mean when I say there's nothing that compares to fresh eggs. They look better from the moment they are cracked open to the time they are cooked up and served. The color is just so much brighter and more natural. The taste is the same way - I don't really know how to even describe it other than...fresh. Knowing this is actually what peeked my curiosity to check out other foods that are raised in a similar fashion. Recently I was able to check out a few products from Circle B Ranch. They raise their hogs outside being pasture fed vs. in a controlled environment being fed grain and other additives. And I have to say after trying their meatballs and sausages I have to agree there is definitely a difference in the appearance as well as the quality compared to your standard store bought pork products.

The meatballs I received were very generously portioned, so much so that I actually cut them into fourths when adding them to my spaghetti and meatballs dinner. These are the kind of meatballs that you use to make the perfect meatball sub with. Being fully cooked they are great for those nights you forget to pull out your meat for dinner too. I'm one that's guilty of that so having something like this as a staple in my freezer would be great.

I also received a package of their Hot Italian Sausages, not my cup of tea because I'm not into spicy foods but my husband devoured them in no time. He said he loved the flavor and that they were so juicy when he bit into them. I took his word for it because there was no way I was going to try them and burn my mouth..I'm what one might call a spice weenie when it comes to hot stuff. But I still buy it because I know he enjoys it so much.

Circle B Ranch also carries many other pork products as well as a nice line of sauces to accompany them. I love that on the individual sauce pages they even give you some ideas of how to use them just in case you aren't familiar with them. This is great for people like me that aren't always adventurous and need a little direction when it comes to using new sauces. I've actually been eye-balling a few of their sauces that sound like they would be really good in the crock-pot poured over a nice piece of pork loin.

About:
Circle B Ranch is a family-owned and operated farm specializing in naturally, sustainably and humanely raised pork with no added hormones or unnecessary antibiotics. Circle B Ranch raises their hogs the “old-fashioned” way, outside 100% on pasture where the hogs can run and exercise their instincts, the way nature intended. That is what makes Circle B Ranch meat redder and more succulent. If you’re looking for the best pork available on the market, look no further than Circle B Ranch.

Connect with Circle B Ranch:
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Reward yourself with a sweet treat!

We are big peanut butter fans in our house. My kids like to dip pretty much everything in it from pretzels, to celery, you name it. As a mom I love it because I know it's not a bad snack for them. And when they choose Justin's I know they are having an all natural treat too. I like Justin's because they have so many different flavors of peanut (and other) butters. It's like a sweet reward every time you dip some out to enjoy with your snack. I like to send the peanut butter cups with my husband as a surprise treat in his lunch box too.

Justin's comes in your standard sized peanut butter jar, individual single serve packets, paired with pretzels for on the go, and peanut butter cups. You can check out all the flavors here.

About:
Justin’s makes nut products that are organic and all natural. These delicious creations include nut butters, peanut butter cups, and squeeze packs for on the go snacking. Grab a squeeze pack to put in your child’s backpack for a quick and protein packed snack.

I have trouble eating regular ice cream due to the lactose in it so I have to find other treats to enjoy in place of it. Thankfully I've found that I can however enjoy gelato and sorbetto without any problems. Ciao Bella has actually become one of my sweet treat indulgences because I can get them in so many great flavors. The containers are small, but I only like a little at a time so I can enjoy them two (or sometimes three) different times. Of course that's if I can keep them hidden from my kids that long. Whenever they see a container of Ciao Bella in the freezer they immediately start begging to have some. They know just how good it is too. Sometimes I get them each their own container so they don't try to steal mine before I've had the chance to finish it.

About:
Ciao Bella is a premium sorbetto and gelato brand that creates unique flavors unlike any frozen treat you’ve tried before. Ciao Bella is perfect for a refreshing and indulgent after school snack. You can check out all the flavors here.

What do you think about enjoying Justin's and Ciao Bella for a sweet treat? What would you pair Justin's with for a sweet treat?

Naturally sweet and salty they way they were meant to be!

I'm one of probably many that has an intolerance to many artificial sweeteners. I have to really watch the labels to see what's in them because a few of them really give me a bad stomach ache if I use them. So that leaves me looking for more natural ways to sweeten things like my tea. Recently I had the opportunity to try out Dolcedì, an all-natural liquid sweetener made from 100% organic apples. What an interesting twist on using sugar! And it's one I can actually use without getting tummy troubles. You use Dolcedì the same as you would sugar or honey in beverages and foods. The really cool part is it comes in a convenient squeeze bottle so it's super easy to get just the amount you want out. I like to use it in my hot tea in the evenings. I've been trying to slowly eliminate using sugar to sweeten my beverages and this has really helped a lot.

Rigoni di Asiago – An awesome company out of Italy that makes super delicious spreads (honey, fruit spread, chocolate-hazelnut spread, etc) and their latest product is pretty awesome. Dolcedì (pronounced dohl-che-DEE) is an all-natural liquid sweetener made from 100% organic apples and a low-glycemic alternative to sugar. It has 25% fewer calories than sugar and can be used any way you would use traditional table sugar or honey. It’s great for sweetening both cold and hot drinks and can be enjoyed with pancakes, on yogurt, in fruit salad, and even in baking. It is also certified USDA organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and STAR-KOSHER.

Connect with Rigoni di Asiago:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Another great product that's an alternate to it's usual form is Himalayan Salt. I've used table salt and sea salt in a grinder, but this was my first experience with Sherpa Pink® Himalayan Salt. I have to say now that I've tried it I really do enjoy the flavor it has. We grilled some steaks for dinner recently and I did some baked potatoes to go along with it. I washed them really well, then sprinkled a scoop of Himalayan Salt on each of them, then wrapped them in foil to put on the grill. The result was amazing! They were even better than baked potatoes you get at a steak house. So good my kids even at the entire potato, skin and all. I'm not really sure how to describe it but Himalayan Salt has a little different taste than standard table salt. It really is very good.

Himalayan Salt is quite different from salt found anywhere else. For one thing, it’s uniquely beautiful: it has a pinkish or light reddish tint, and under a microscope, the crystals within the salt form gorgeously perfect geometric patterns. Himalayan Salt, when left raw and in its natural state, is rich in nutrients and minerals. Since many of these elements found within each grain of salt naturally occur within us and in the environment, they are easily absorbed and utilized on a cellular level. Pink Himalayan Salt re-mineralizes the body with minerals and trace elements essential to our health and well being.

Himalayan Salt is great for seasoning meats, grilled vegetables, a variety of salads (such as pasta, egg or potato salads), soups & stews and is also a flavorful salt to use for baking.

San Francisco Salt Company – San Francisco Salt Company chooses only the best premium quality salts from around the world for their array of bath, spa, and shower salts and selection of gourmet food salts. One of its flagship products is Epsoak® Epsom Salts, proven to soothe muscle pain, provide Magnesium, cleanse pores, and detoxify the skin. Culinary salts range from French Grey Salt and Pure Sea Salt to Sherpa Pink® Himalayan Salt.

Connect with San Francisco Salt Company:
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Chomps - Grass Fed Beef Snack Sticks

I'm one of those that's guilty of picking up a beef stick while we are traveling and stop at a convenience store to stretch our legs. Sometimes I want just a little bit of something to give me a pick-me-up and keep me busy for a little bit. Plus I just like the taste of a good beef stick. At least I thought I was eating a "good beef stick". Until I was introduced to Chomps I had no idea just how bad some of the beef sticks on the market really were. I guess like many I just assumed since it said beef stick it would be filled with things like...well...beef. Not sugars and other things that were just fillers I didn't really need to be consuming. Unlike other brands of beef sticks Chomps actually contains organic ingredients and grass-fed beef. I was actually lucky enough to be able to try all three flavors of their snack sticks. I personally only tried the original beef stick and was very pleased with the over all blend of spices in it. It had some black and red pepper in it, but not too much that I couldn't eat it. I'm not one for spicy, but my husband is so he gladly tried out the other two flavors because they on the other hand were definitely going to be spicy. He tried the Hoppin' Jalapeno and Crankin' Cran sticks and according to him "The flavor was great, I would buy them". That coming from my husband means he enjoyed the spice. He's one of those with the motto "the hotter the better".

About:
By going back to basics, we cook up high quality jerky snacks than you can enjoy anytime, guilt-free. We start with only a few organic ingredients, such as 100% Grass-Fed Non-GMO New Zealand Beef and a handful of natural spices, then blend them together to create filling, tasty treats that feature the naturally enhanced flavor of authentic beef.

Each and every one of Chomps’ products are filled with 9g of protein, more than most typical jerky sticks. They’re also made with no added sugars and no gluten, making them perfect paleo snacks.

Our snack sticks have no MSG or nitrates, no fillers, no binders, and no added preservatives. Because we use celery juice to make our jerky stay fresh, you needn’t worry about synthetic preservation ingredients that could put your health at risk. Additionally, our jerky sticks have less salt than most of those made by other commercial manufacturers.

Connect with Chomps:
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For natural energy on the go choose Voke

Voke is a natural, portable energy tab with 77mg of caffeine, 2 calories and no artificial sugar or sweetener. It's a way to replace that expensive $3-4 coffee or energy drink easily and save lots in the process. Voke is totally portable because it comes in a convenient and easy to carry tin. Each tin holds seven tabs - one for each day of the week. Voke is perfect for those days that you feel like you're running on empty and need a quick pick-me-up. I gave my tin to my husband to carry in his lunch bag at work because some days he works 10-11 hours and if he's had a late night before it's tough on him. He's used the Voke tabs a few times now and was happy with the results. He said it gave him the boost he needed and was super convenient because he just popped the tab in his mouth and kept going. He didn't have to stop and open an energy drink and guzzle it down.

You can get Voke through a one time order, or through a subscription on the Voke website.

Justin’s: The all-natural way to snack after school

Before this opportunity we had never tried any of the Justin's products. And now that we have we are all wondering what took us so long to discover them. I actually have a jar of their almond butter sitting on my desk next to a container of pretzels. When I get snack hungry in the afternoons I just open the jar and dip a little out for my pretzels and it makes a great snack. I also picked up a few of the peanut butter cups and put one in my husband's lunchbox for a little afternoon pick me up and he was pretty excited when he found it.

My kids like to use the honey almond butter for the same thing when they get home from school and want a quick snack before dinner is ready. Justin's is something I can feel good about letting them snack on because it's all-natural. It's actually made from dry roasted almonds and that's the first ingredient on the jar label.

Justin's comes in your standard sized peanut butter jar, individual single serve packets, paired with pretzels for on the go, and peanut butter cups. You can check out all the flavors here.

About:
Justin’s makes nut products that are organic and all natural. These delicious creations include nut butters, peanut butter cups, and squeeze packs for on the go snacking. Grab a squeeze pack to put in your child’s backpack for a quick and protein packed snack.

Buy it: Check out the online store locator to find a location that sells Justin's products near you.

Connect with the brand: You can connect with Justin's on their blog for lots of great information.