Time to Detox!

As of tomorrow, I am going to start my 10 day detox (I know that it says on the box 20 days, however I'm going to be kind to myself...  & not set unrealistic goals ~ But who knows?  I could get there & decide "I can go on!" ;-)  ).  Being an absolute foody & also carrying a bit of 'softness' from not exercising during my pregnancy (you know, the flesh that moves independently to my main frame...) I just need a reboot & revamp.  I'm not going to lie, I have lost all my baby weight but 'weight' is a whole other thing.  

SO!  I am doing the Brauer Slim & Detox, as pictured above.  Stated, it may aid or assist weight loss, assists detoxification & help maintain a healthy digestive system. It also helps relieve flatulence & assists in the relief of constipation.  I have done this detox before & has done wonderful things for me.  I have heard others do it & some weren't happy with it, so each to their own?  As with any detox plan you may go on, the Slim & Detox has its directions:

~ Take 10ml of the syrup morning & night.

~ Avoid processed foods/caffeine/sugars (except fruit).

~ Avoid large/rich meals that overload your body.

~ Gentle exercise to encourage muscle movement in the intestine to help with waste & assist weight loss..  

Foods that are allowed are:

~ Complex carbohydrates (brown rice, rye bread, oats)

~ Chicken & fish

~ Fresh fruits & vegetables/salads (I will be avoiding potato though)

~ Herbal teas

& at least 2L water a day (=

Wish me luck lovelies!  Especially for the coffee part...  I just LOVE coffee...! & if you have done this before, I would love to hear about your experience!

<3 <3 <3

Aubrey Organics Inc & TrueTouch (Neways) Review

Aubrey Organics Silken Earth Powder Blush (in Honey Bronze): I purchased this blush from iHerb.com, being 100% natural ingredients & talc free.  Honey Bronze is a soft brown/orange so when I use it, I only try & dip the blush brush as lightly as I can for just a soft colour to the cheeks, otherwise it is quite powerful.  With my porcelain skin, it REALLY pops, or is 'dramatic' if you like. I actually think if I had darker skin (hello again fake tan!), it may look better with the complexion.  But on a plus note, it holds to the skin so it's not messy & feels smooth on the face.  Overall I like the brand, the packaging & the powder but will try their different colours that would better suit my skin colour.

The Ingredients:

Silk powder, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax, tapioca starch*, lauroyl lysine, mica, iron oxide. May contain: Beta vulgaris (beet) powder, carmine, raphanus sativus (radish) powder, titanium dioxide, silica.  *Organic 

TrueTouch Hydrating Cream to Powder - Porcelain:  This pressed foundation from Neways is creamy & gives a medium coverage to your face.  It's quite silky however I did find I need my powder foundation softly brushed over the top to reduce the 'shine' or if I sweat.  It is one of the most expensive foundations I have purchased & although I do like the coverage & the feel of it, the amount in the compact didn't last long.  Before I bought my ecotool brushes, I used the sponge applicator that came with the compact (as you can see) briefly until I received the foundation brush.  I would purchase it again but would try other brand foundations first.

The Ingredients:

Isononyl isononanoate, C18-21 alkane, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, polyethylene, isocetyl alcohol, dimethicone, polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, methicone, retinyl palmitate, tocopheryl acetate, iron oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), titanium dioxide (CI 77891).  May contain: Mica (CI77019), bismuth oxychloride (CI 77163). 

Neways Toothpaste

When I was introduced to Neways, I thought this would be the great first step in to the 'safe, natural' lifestyle, so I purchased a few different products.  & I'm glad I did (=  Today, I'll be giving you my opinion on the Neways Ultrashine Radiance Toothpaste.  Before I start, my first thought on any natural toothpaste (before I would even try it), would be that it would be bland or taste icky.  Maybe not even smooth (don't ask me why haha... =S).  But when I tried this, I was quite amazed!  Just like normal toothpaste!  Maybe a bit lighter in the mouth & being a peppermint flavour, it isn't overpowering or stingy.  The thing that attracted me the most about this peppermint toothpaste is that it doesn't contain fluoride & it features casein, a naturally occurring protein in teeth.  You also only need to use a pea size so despite the small packaging (this one is 72g), it does go a fair way.  It doesn't froth up a lot like normal toothpaste does, so I'll take it down to the ingredients used.  But my teeth are still sparkly & pearly white (=.  I would definitely use this again.

The Ingredients:
Sorbitol, water (aqua), hydrated silica, sodium coco-sulfate, xylitol, peppermint oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, calcium glycerophosphate, cellulose gum, sodium chlorite (stabilised chlorine dioxide), hydrolysed casein, sucralose, chlorophyllin-copper complex.

Sorry! & updates... (=

Hello my fellow...  followers!  (=

I'm terribly sorry for being a bit slack of late...  Long story short, my little family & I have recently been on a much waited holiday & when we returned, we have moved house & I have been quite busy setting up to make us feel more comfortable.  I LOVE organising & redecorating.  Hubby has started a new job, & baby & I still hang out everyday hehe! <3  (Which I'll put in here quickly, he has started rolling over to his tummy but not quite, & he's just starting to say 'Ma'.  He has the 'Mmmm' in there, just got to get the 'Aaaa'. Very proud!)

You're all in for a treat today, I'm going to post my reviews of most of the products presented on my page for your taste.  Keep watching!  & again, sorry my lovelies!

God bless & keep smiling  =D
Vic xo

The Versatile Blogger Award =D

Now, a bit excited!  I have been honoured the Versatile Blogger Award from Dana of Organic Lassie =).  I have sussed it out a bit further as I had no idea what it is (as truth be told, I am new to blogging!) & think it's such a fantastic & motivating idea for us bloggers to keep doing what we are here for.  Not only that, but for everyone to get know each other better!  So I'll get on to it, the rules are as follow:

Rules of Honour ~
1. Thank the person that nominated you with a link back.
2. Tell 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this on to newly discovered blogs & let them know they received the award.

So, onto number 2.  7 things about myself... =)
1. (Funny how food was my number one thought...=P)  I hate instant mash in a sachet.  TOTALLY disgusting.  Mum & Dad used to make it when I was a wee lass & force us to eat it.  I cried over it.  But naturally, I still love them (& haven't eaten instant mash since I moved out!  Don't even mention KFC mash & gravy... *gag*)
2. I have a gorgeous 3 month old son (=  I'll tell you a bit about that actually haha ~ my husband & I met 3 months prior to conceiving him, got engaged 2 months after that then got married after 4 months of engagement!  I have now been happily married for 6 months.  Bless my boys!
3. I don't have a favourite colour.  Really, I just can't choose!  They're all pretty (=  Red, blue (ooo, especially royal blue, teal & baby blue/green?), green (olive, moss & light...  moss?), brown, orange...
4. Which leads on that I love to paint.  I don't have a particular genre though, just anything.  I love paintings that you can hang in a room & it is the centre point.  It makes it look goooood (=.
5. I have been thinking about studying Interior Design.  But I don't know if I should, because I have also been thinking about Naturopath or Nutrition.  But I also wouldn't mind doing Makeup (which I have actually had the chance to...  but being correspondence, & me being a procrastinator with no motivation, I paid for the course but didn't submit ONE assessment back...  Oh naughty!).  So we'll leave it as none of them for the moment because I just have NO IDEA what I really want to do.  =S
6. Back to food.  I'm a healthy eater 70ish% of the time, don't worry...!  But my weakness is peanut butter...  Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (especially because I know where to look to get them here in Australia ;-) ), Peanut Butter M&M's (another American lolly...) or just plain straight out of the jar with a spoon.  Totally not healthy, which is WHY I never really see them much in the house haha!
7. What else is there to know about me?  Well...  I have a hot husband ;-)  I think that pretty much sums it up hehe!

So as to the rules, I have forwarded the Baton of Blog Love to the following bloggers ~
1. PureRawLove
2. FreeToBeNatural
3. Figwittage
4. SugarPuffish
5. TheFlaxenOwl
6. Pure-Makeup
7. Mademoisellenature

Thank you to everyone who is currently following my blog!  I really appreciate it & I hope you are all enjoying it (=.  xo

iHerb Haul #1!

I can't tell you how excited I was when Ben said my parcel arrived!  I was quite impressed with how quick delivery was despite coming from the US ~ anyway, I have provided a photo of what I received (=  Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, it was hard to fit everything in...

 

Items are from left to right, back to front:  Aubrey Organics Silken Earth Powder Blush Honey Bronze, Giovanni Natural Mousse Air Turbo Charged Hair-Styling Foam, Giovanni D-tox System Purifying Body Wash Step 1, Giovanni D-tox System Purifying Facial Cleanser Step 1, Blum Naturals Daily Cleansing Makeup Remover Towelettes For Normal Skin 30 Towelettes, Giovanni D-tox System Purifying Facial Scrub Step 2, Eco Tools Bamboo 6-Piece Brush Set, Eco Tools Bamboo Foundation Brush

I can't wait to do my reviews on these products!  I have already used most of these straight away (=  At the time of the order, I also wanted to purchase the Giovanni D-tox System Replenishing Facial Moisturizer Step 3 but they were out of stock at the time ~ definitely will try & catch it in my next haul! 

Toxic Bathroom Guide

Are your personal care products toxic free?  Many personal care products contain ingredients that are toxic or less than safe for your health.  Of the 2,983 Chemicals analysed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, 884 of the ingredients were found to be toxic.  Of these:

*314 can cause biological mutation (change in cells)
*218 can cause reproductive complications
*778 can cause acute toxicity
*146 can cause tumours, and
*376 can cause skin & eye irritations
(Ref: 'Why are you poisoning your family' by Kare Possick, A Consumer Alert Publication 1994)

The following information I use for a guideline ~ For those who are curious what to look for when going natural, I have listed below the affects that are linked/caused by the chemicals that are put in the products you may use (& what you can avoid!).  Some of the ingredients are in more than one category:

Linked to CANCER in animals and/or humans:  Alcohol, Aluminium, BHA-Butylated Hydroxyansole, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Coal Tar Dyes, DEA (Diethanolamine), Fluoride, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Hydroxyanisole (Isopropyl Alcohol), Methylene Chloride, Mineral Oil, PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid), PEG, Phenol, Phenylenediamine, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium Pthalates, Saccharin, Talc, Toluene.
Often contaminated with carcinogens or readily forms carcinogenic nitrosmines when mixed with other ingredients:  Lanolin, Mea-Monoethanolamine, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Triclosan, TEA-(Triethanolamine).
Skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction:  Acetone, Alcohol, Alpha-Hydroxy Acids, Benzophenones, BHA-Butylated Hydroxyansole, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Collagen, Coal Tar Dyes, DEA (Diethanolamine), Dibenzoylmethanes, Ethylene Oxide, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Hydroxyanisole (Isopropyl Alcohol), Lanolin, Mea-Monoethanolamine, Methylene Chloride, Mineral Oil, PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid), PEG, Phenol, Phenylenediamine, Propylene Gycol, Quaternium Pthalates, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Toluene, Triclosan, TEA-(Triethanolamine).
Chemical Toxins accumulating in organs:  Aluminium, BHA-Butylated Hydroxyansole, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, DEA (Diethanolamine), Fluoride, Methylene Chloride, Propylene Gycol, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Triclosan.
Known to cause respiratory problems:  Aluminium, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Phenylenediamine, Toluene.
Neurotoxin - Damages the central nervous system, Teratogen - Affecting the embryo, Mutagen - Induces genetic mutation:  Acetone, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Dibenzoylmethanes, Ethylene Oxide, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Hydroxyanisole (Isopropyl Alcohol), Lanolin, Methylene Chloride, PEG, Phenol, Phenylenediamine, Propylene Glycol, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Toluene, Triclosan.

I hope this has helps you all just as much as it has for me!  I got this information from a couple brochures a friend gave me, but you can check out this information plus more at:

www.dig4truth.com
www.beinformed.com.au