Herbal Highlights - #Oregano

Often confused with its close relative Marjoram, oregano is a well loved popular herb.  

In the garden, oregano is a perennial that can grow between 18 and 30 inches tall. It has green hair leaves and white/pink flowers that often show in the fall. The plant enjoys full sun, minimal wind and well-drained soil. Cats like to pee in Oregano plants, at least one of mine tries to frequently.

In the kitchen, this herb flavors many Italian and Mediterranean dishes. We make a Greek salad twice a month and we not only sprinkle a fair amount of Oregano on our salad, but our homemade sauce has a lot of oregano in it.

In aromatherapy and herbal medicine, Oregano oil is used as an immune boost. It is strong however and should be used sparingly as some people find oregano oil overpowering. It also has strong antibacterial properties and is loaded with antioxidants.

Select fresh over dried oregano whenever possible if you want to take advantage of the antioxidants and antibacterial properties of the oil.

Possible Pinterest Plant Projects - Pppp

There are so many interesting things on Pinterest. If you are looking for a neat DIY project I have found a couple interesting garden based projects that you may like to try.

These upside down planters are gaining a lot of buzz this season.

This is a lovely hanging herb garden.
I absolutely love the everything about it.

Disclaimer: These are not my ideas. I found them on Pinterest. To see the original blog post, click on the pinned photo in Pinterest. You can get there by clicking either photo up above.

#Win 3 Products from @Bobs_Red_Mill

Over the last couple of months, I have featured a couple of recipes using a few different products from Bob's Red Mill. In a recipe post, I featured the Hemp Protein Powder and Low Carb Baking Mix in a Low Carb, High Protein Pizza and later on I blogged about some Chia Chocolate Cookies. I made the cookies with Chia Seeds and Low Carb Baking Mix.  I also had the privilege of trying 3 other products from Bob's Red Mill: Kamut Berries, Flaxseed Meal and their Pumpkin Seeds. You can read about them in an upcoming blog post on Review Organic the new home of MAM's review posts.

Bob's Red Mill has offered one of my readers my favorite 3 products out of the 6 products I sampled. So I present to you a prize bundle of Hemp Protein Powder, Low Carb Baking Mix and Flaxseed Meal. It was really difficult to pick my top 3 because all of the products are great and highly useful.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Disclaimer: I received 6 products from Bob's Red Mill for the purpose of my honest review. These reviews have been featured on Music and Mommies and Review Organic and feature my honest opinion. This opinion was based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ. I received no additional compensation for these posts.

Garden Times - The Plot Digger #2

By the time you begin reading this my garden will have been planted for 4 days. I schedule the majority of my posts in advance to accommodate a busy and at times demanding lifestyle.  

The first picture below was taken after a lovely little garden happy friend of mine offered her assistance with a rake on a lovely sunny afternoon that was filled with dirt bikes, barbecues and well... garden happy dirt diggers. We managed to dig out the rest of the garden and makes rows. The next day Mat and I immediately  fertilized and limed the garden. The lime should have been laid in the fall but at least it is in there. The soil is going to be nice and sweet and the plants will be very happy.

The second picture was taken after the garden was fertilized. Mat and I used a fast release 10-10-10 mix. We sifted all of the rows and removed as many rocks as we could. This time when I say "we", I am referring to another garden happy friend who managed to find me and offer her services. The end result is nice fluffy soil. I planted my rows, I still have room for some Broccoli and Chard which I hope to add this week.

US/CAN - #Win Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil @troptraditions

I received some Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions. I have been using it in virtually everything that I previously used Olive oil for like frying foods, baking. My son made pancakes over the weekend for the entire family and I helped him add the coconut oil. Coconut oil will solidify under temperatures of 79 degrees F/26 degrees C. It can be stored as a solid or as a liquid, safely. We heated the jar up under some hot water to melt the oil. Whenever I add the oil to a pan to fry something I just scoop a small amount of the solidified oil into the pan and let it melt on the stove top. I love adding a little bit of oil to potatoes or carrots as it adds such a nice coconut flavor.

Watch the video they produced about Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:

I love reading the labels on Tropical Tradition products. The process that creates Gold label Virgin Coconut oil is known as wet milling and it happens when oil is expressed from wet coconut meat by pressing. From their the extract the oil from the coconut water that has been expressed. This is done via boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes and also mechanical centrifuge. In fact, today I learned that Tropical Traditions is the only Coconut oil on the market that is not produce by machine.

Win 1 quart of Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil! Tropical Traditions is North America's source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil. Visit their website to check on current sales, to learn about the many uses of coconut oil, and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. Since the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil. 

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.

The Hub Times - May 24th

So last night I created that youtube/music site I spoke of in yesterdays post. It is called Music For Mules - Mule Tube and it is based off our primary You Tube channel. We currently have one post up right now. It is this weeks video poster for my the Lead Mule/The Stogies show going on at the Red Knight in Yarmouth, NS.  Feel free to watch/comment... I should probably mention that it is not for little ears.

Posts from this week:

Music For Mules - Mule Tube: 

• Video Poster - The Stogies w/ Lead Mule, May 25th

The Wave of Love:

• Backyard Berries - Raspberry Planting Tips
• Garden Times - The Plot Digger

Review Organic:

• Low Carb Bakery - Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

Explore the hub to your hearts content. I will continue to expand each of these sections. Be patient with me as everything gets moved to its proper home. Love to you all!

Chaotic Blog Times

I've bet you've noticed a bit of chaos around here. Some days, I question it. When I first started this blog it was  so I could enter contests. Many blogs offered multiple extra entries to re-blog their contests. I didn't realize the how motivated I would feel to write. Over time this blog has evolved to express various reflections of myself. So much so that it has been ever changing, just like me. I have at times found myself in a lulling silence where life and my various creative passions has consumed me temporarily, sometimes for months at a time. Yet, I still return to write. In an effort to give this site order, I tried to make it a product review site. I moved all of my herbal, aromatherapy, healing, gardening and philosophy posts to a blog I created called wave of love...

I worked a long time on the branding for it before I found a design that was simplistic enough but still expressed and captivated the essence of the blog. I tried to make it a product review blog, but all the while I was never quite satisfied with Music and Mommies as the name of a product review blog. Recently, I made the decision to start a new blog called Review Organic. I have decided that Music and Mommies will be the hub that connects all of these sites. The giveaways will still be listed here. The hub will connect to the following sites:

Review Organic - This will be where all of my product review posts will be contained. I am much more satisfied with the name. You will find links back to all of the other sites, as well as the normal categories like "Yummy Me", "Beautiful Me", "Healthy Me". I am slowly moving all of my posts over to the new site. You will still be able to find them on Music and Mommies however but all future review posts will be posted on Review Organic.

The Wave of Love - This site will contain various tips and tricks in regards to gardening; posts about different herbs/oils and their benefits, alternative healing, aromatherapy, yoga, spirituality in general and my reflective/thoughtful side.

Crab Apple Ink - This site contains all of my various book reviews. I am a busy lady so it isn't updated nearly as frequent as the other sites.

I will also be launching a portal for our various You Tube/music channels. This might even include a future VLog channel for Review Organic. I expect this to occur within the next month or less. It depends on how busy things get with shows/video production.

As for the giveaways:  
Currently, I offer extra entries for commenting on non-giveaway posts. Starting with all future giveaways launched, you will be able to earn one extra entry/per site/per day. So, if you comment on all 4 sites - you have earned yourself a snazzy 4 entries.

Is there anything that you would like to see on the site? Suggestions you may have to make this transition easier? I would love to hear your input! Leave a comment below.

#Kindermom - Mabel's Labels and My Kinder Moments

When I think of Kinder, I remember various holidays as a child and the wonderment involved with discovering what each egg contained. I loved the mix of white and dark chocolate almost as much as the discovery.

I love watching children experience that same sense of discovery. Kids also make cute faces when they are surprised and that can be pretty terrific. Every child is different, some ignore the chocolate altogether and go right for the toy. Other children are prefer the chocolate to the toy and I've even seen some so captivated by the chocolate that they forget all about the toy altogether. Toy? What Toy? Children are comical.

Kinder Canada has teamed up with Mabel's Labels. Mabel's Labels is the maker of various labels for children, babies, the home and even the office. Currently on Kinder Canada, every time you frame one of your tender Kinder Moments you are entered to win  1 of 25 Mabel's Labels Camp Kits. With summer almost here, the children will all be out of school and camp will be in session. This is the perfect kit to help you label all of your children's cloths before they attend camp this year. The Mabel's Label Camp Kit is valued at $35, so why not head on over to Kinder Canada's Facebook page and use the My Kinder Moments App to frame one or more of your favorite moments and share with your friends.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own 

Backyard Berries - #Raspberries Planting Tips

In my back yard Raspberries, Blueberries and Blackberries grow wild every year. In certain areas however, if you want to grow these berries you will need to plant them yourself. 

When selecting a location for your Raspberry garden it is important to keep in mind that your raspberries will remain in this plot for 7 - 10 years. Make sure to place them somewhere that will allow for ease of cultivation year after year and will also not interfere with the rest of your garden.  Raspberries do not like soil that is too acidic. They prefer soil that has a pH of around 6.0, so if your pH is lower than 6.0 you will need to add lime to your garden plot. 

If your winter months are not too severe you can plant your raspberries in the fall. They will begin to grow early in the spring before spring planting conditions are even favorable. I personally find that plants started in the fall are stronger and more resilient.

If you plan on planting in the spring and are ordering from a nursery, place your order in January or February. You can allow the nursery to decide when to ship them to you. They will arrive when it is seasonally appropriate to plant outside.

Disclaimer: Some of these tips came from a book called Country Wisdom and Know How: Everything you need to know to live off the land.

#Review - Caramel Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread

I received a package of Dixie Carb Counters Caramel - Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread Mix from the Low Carb Grocery. This product is low sugar, low carb and low sodium. The package had two bags inside marked Bag #1 and Bag #2. Bag #1 contains the dry ingredients and Bag #2 contained the cinnamon mixture. 

Once I mixed all of the dry ingredients with the extra ingredients that the mixture required (water, egg, egg white), I rolled up the dough into small spoon sized balls. The bag is supposed to make 39 balls and it didn't quite make that much. I might have made the balls a little two big, I ended up producing just under 30 balls. 

I mixed the contents of Bag #2 with the required sour cream, water and butter and then poured the cinnamon mixture over the balls and then put them in the oven. The resulting balls were pretty tasty, they were a tad dry for my taste but some people really like that. These would be good with a low carb glaze if your diet allows.

Disclaimer: I received a few products from the Low Carb Grocery in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and based upon my personal product experience. Your experience may vary. I received no additional compensation for my post. 

#Thoughts - Ear Tubes, Day Surgery, Food Journal

A couple weeks ago the hubby and I brought the youngest boy into day surgery to get tubes placed in his ears. It was his very first time ever being put to sleep, so naturally he was a little nervous. He had plenty of questions to ask the attending nurse, although, none of them were relative to the surgery. Instead he asked her questions like "What is your favorite color?" or "What is your favorite animal?". He brought one of his stuffed animals with him for moral support, the one that goes by the name of Butterscotch. The poor little guy was still pretty anxious. He made out like a champ though. After telling the nurse a few of his stuffed animals names she observed that he must really like food as all the names he relayed to her were also foods.

Now the whole reason he needed tubes is due to the fact that he has been suffering from frequent ear infections and often has a supply of fluid trapped behind his ear drum. In fact, it was his ear drum rupturing on account of pressure from all that fluid that prompted the tubes in the first place.

Since his problem stems from his sinus region, I asked the doctor if he thought keeping a food diary would help. He said it might as problems regarding food intolerance can often be difficult to track. I found this great article with pointers on keeping a food diary for allergies, weight loss etc.. I would also suggest making an additional column for product ingredients, a very important section that seems to be overlooked. I knew it seems like a royal pain, but if I can pin the source of his constant congestion imagine what I could do to aid his quality of living. That is a huge motivator for me.

#Garden Times - The Plot Digger

Finally getting a good days work in on the large garden plot. I can't help but find it interesting to see the hibernating insects, some of which are slowly coming to life as the seasons change. I still don't like to touch them. I don't have a tiller. Instead I dig by hand with a shovel, pick ax and rake. It is a lot of work, but there is a certain solace and appreciation that comes from this practice. I often have a tendency not to wear gardening gloves when I'm digging in the dirt. I really enjoy the feeling of the dirt between my fingers. I enjoyed making mud pies as a child too. This is my progress so far:

A couple more days of intense digging and I should have a nice deep plot dug.

My body aches as it usually does at this stage of the gardening cycle  finish off a gardening session with some counter stretches, some deep breaths. Yoga and gardening go hand in hand. After this plot is finished, the hubby and I clean behind the garage and paint it. Since it is a South facing wall I am going to set up a few planter/beds with my youngest boy. He expressed interest in having his own garden patch and I have been longing to beautify that section of the yard with some practical function.

I'm starting to see some sprouts in the tiny house garden. Lots of radishes have surfaces as well as a couple of spinach sprouts. I did this with some onions I had around the house and I'm pleased to see that they are growing as well.

I'm excited to see how this turns out.
It is my first time planting an onion base.

Radish Sprouts!

The Ginger Mint came back this year quite strong.

US/CAN - #Win Handmade Felted Soap from Tangled Organics

I stumbled upon a very interesting shop on Etsy. Tangled Organics offers handmade soaps that are felted with hand-dyed silk/wool fibers. The colors of the fibers are so beautiful and every bar is different. These soaps are not only beautiful and artistic, but it is also completely functional. It can be used as a natural antibacterial exfoliating cleanser. I received a bar of Citrus Lavender soap from Tangled Organics. It is absolutely stunning. Made with saponified safflower, sunflower, palm and coconut oils this soap cleans without stripping the body of its natural oils. It was fun to use, I had flashbacks of being a child, playing in the bath tub with a bath mitt. It took a while to get a decent lather at first but that was rectified quickly. The texture of the wool against the soap and my skin is interesting. It isn't scratchy like I thought it would be. Instead, it is slightly similar to a wash cloth. I really enjoy the how the lavender and the citrus oils blend together. They are very complimentary. I showed this bar to a very dear friend and she also loved the smell of the bar and the whole idea behind felted soap a great deal. I thought she might, she is an avid knitter and hand spins her own yarn.

Tangled Organics has offered a bar of felted soap to one lucky Music and Mommies reader. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada.

Enter via Rafflecopter

Disclaimer: I received a bar of felted soap in exchange for my honest review of the product. I received no additional compensation. All opinions are my own and based upon my personal product experience. Your experience may differ from my experience.

US/CAN - #Win Two Bottles of Krill Oil @krill_oil

What is Krill? Antarctic Krill is a shrimp-like crustacean that lives deep in the ocean. This oil was tested by an independent laboratory and compared to fish oil. It was found that it contains 54 times more antioxidants then normal fish oil. In fact, in comparison to Fish oil, Krill Oil contains the richest supply of DHA and EPA in phospholipid form. Phospholipids are much more absorbable by the body. Everest Nutrition Krill Oil is harvested and collected in its natural environment, the pristine waters of Antarctica. They are virtually free of toxins and other impurities. While they are safe for almost everyone. If you are pregnant or have a shellfish allergy, you should speak with your doctor before taking Krill Oil.

I recently received some Krill Oil to review. One thing worth noting is that with certain varieties of fish oil, I found myself with a bit of indigestion. Often depending on the capsule and the strength of the formula I ended up tasting it for hours afterwards. Sometimes it can be quite unpleasant.

When I opened up the bottle, I immediately noticed the dark reddish color of the oil. The hubby examined the jar and was happy to note that it provided effective aide with PMS symptoms. Not like I need that... The recommended daily dose is two capsules a day with food, preferably in the morning with breakfast. I spent the first couple days weening myself on to help my body adjust to the additional nutrients. I have felt very good while taking these and I will continue to do so.

Everest Nutrition has offered two bottles of Krill Oil to one lucky Music and Mommies reader. The Giveaway is open to my US and Canadian readers.

Enter via Rafflecopter

Disclaimer: I received a couple bottles of Krill Oil in exchange for my honest review of the product. I received no additional compensation for this review or giveaway. This review is based upon my personal experience with the product. Your experience with this product may differ from my experience.

#Review - John Masters Organics Shampoo and Conditioner @Nubonau

I received various product samples from Nubonau: The Natural and Organic Skincare Boutique. Today, I am going to discuss three of the John Masters Organics products that were in my sample pack. 

Lavender Rosemary Shampoo for normal hair has a thick dark rich consistency  like a hot oil. It smelled divine. It didn't seem to have the greatest coverage but it did a remarkable job cleansing my hair despite that fact. Lavender Avocado Intensive Conditioner was a thick white creme that replenished moisture to my hair while removing all tangles. Did I mention it smelled fantastic. Between these two products my hair is soft, silky and hydrated. Even though I desperately need a hair cut, this shampoo and conditioner set help revitalize my hair and restore bounce that I didn't know still lived within these strands. Sometimes, I get build up/dry skin on my scalp. Not only did it clarify, but it balanced my oil production. Normally if I wash my hair in the evening, I produce too much oil at night and wake up with oily bangs and hair that is weighed down. I woke up this morning and it was as though I just washed my hair within the hour. It is full of life, I just can't get over it. I will certainly buy this product.




You can find these products on the Nubonau website. You can also connect with Nubonau on Twitter and Facebook.

Disclaimer: I received product samples from Nubonau: The Natural and Organic Skincare Boutique in exchange for my honest review. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions reflect my personal product experience. Your experience may differ.

Dawn of the Outdoor #Garden Times ♥

Last week I dug a small bed, crafted a pallet garden and planted a few cooler weather plants. I am excited to watch the new life grow. I'm a little late starting my big plot though, I'm digging away slowly by hand. This year I am only planting potatoes and peas in the my large backyard plot and perhaps a row of beans. They grow the best in our native soil and the animals seem to leave those 3 crops alone. I'm keeping the plants that I've noticed get eat more frequently closer to the house in hopes of deterring some of the animals.

I read a neat little trick in Organic Gardening Magazine about herding slugs away from your crops with tiny compost piles. I might give that a try this year.

US/CAN - #Win a Papaya Citrus Masque @EveOrganics

I was sent a Citrus masque from Eve Organics for the purpose of this review. I was quite pleased to find out that the very first ingredient listed was Aloe Vera Juice. The smell of the masque is very mild. The Aloe Vera Juice is the dominating scent and I really enjoy the way the various fruit essences and citrus oils pop through. It blends well and helps create a subtle tropical citrus experience. The day I used this masque I had a light sunburn on my cheeks and nose that I gained while digging in my garden. I was very grateful when using it that this masque was aloe based. After using the masque my skin felt rejuvenated, replenished and tighter.

It states on the package that it is completely normal to feel a slight tingling when utilizing this product. On the website it states that not only is it normal but it is expected to feel a tingling sensation on account of the naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acids. I didn't really notice any tingling but the product worked great!

Eve Organics has offered one lucky Music and Mommies reader a Citrus Masque just like the one I have reviewed. To enter you must be a resident of the United States or Canada.

Enter to Win via Rafflecopter

Disclaimer: I was sent this product to review in exchange for my honest review of the product. All opinions are based on my own personal product experience. I received no additional compensation. 

#Review - Vitasoy Organic Soy Beverage @VitasoyCa

The disadvantages of living in a small town is often reflected in limited product supplies at the local grocery store or market place. After some searching, I managed to find Vitasoy at my local Sobey's chapter.  After exchanging the product coupons that I received from Vitasoy for the purpose of this review, I came home with 3 different varieties of Soy Milk: Original, Lite - Original and Vanilla. Out of the three flavors of Vitasoy, the Vanilla was my favorite. It was very smooth and although I find that soy milk has a sweeter taste in general, the sweetness wasn't overbearing at all.

Because I consume soy in other products, I often change up my milk beverages to allow for more variety in my diet. I believe it is important to balance my diet. One thing I have always appreciated with a soy beverage is the consistency of the beverage. It is the most milk-like, non dairy product out of all of them in my experience. I do however appreciate the uniqueness of flavor among all of the different milk substitutes.

I am a heavy tea drinker and although I drink most teas plain, I usually add some kind of milk to a cup of black tea. I noticed that it would curdle slightly when I added it to a cup of tea or even coffee. Naturally, I googled this and as it turns out, it is quite common. It happens because of the temperature extremes between the two liquids. To rectify this many people suggest, warming up the milk you plan on adding to your tea... or adding the hot liquid to the cold and not the other way around. Or, you could forget about your tea like I do... add the milk to it when it is cold and heat them both up again. Plenty of methods to accommodate any mood.

Vitasoy only uses organic soy beans that contain NO genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The soy milk is fortified with calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12. It is high in protein, contains potassium and isoflavones that can help lower your cholesterol.


Canadian citizens can find Vitasoy Canada on Twitter and Facebook.
US citizens can find Vitasoy US on Twitter.

Disclaimer: I received product coupons for the purpose of this review from Vitasoy. No additional compensation was received. All opinions are honest and derive from my experience with the product. Your experience may vary. 

#Review - Van's Natural Foods - Gluten Free Waffles

As you know, I live in a small town and sometimes it can be difficult to find certain products. I was lucky to find two different flavors of Gluten Free Waffles from Van's Natural Foods, Blueberry and Original. They are Dairy and Egg Free.

They are a little more expensive then most waffles but the quality of ingredients is higher. This expense actually consciously works in my favor. Because I am aware of how costly they are, I have a tendency to to limit my waffle intake to 1 waffle and I am more likely to select healthy, plentiful toppings to allow for a more balanced breakfast. I found that with waffles that were made with refined, lesser quality ingredients; I was reluctant to seek for a topic aside from a cheap sugar syrup and I would often have multiple waffles to fill the void. This resulted in me consuming lots of empty calories.

The texture was certainly denser then other store bought varieties of waffles but no too dense to effect the taste.  My breakfast this morning consisted of a Van's Waffle, with a very light drizzling of ginger syrup, a tablespoon of plain yogurt and some granola with dried fruit. This was topped off with a light dusting of pumpkin and chia seeds. It was absolutely delightful.

You can find Van's Natural Foods on Facebook.

Disclaimer: I received free product coupons from Van's for the purpose of this review. All opinions are honest and relative to my personal experience. I received no additional compensation for this review. 

#Canada Only - #Win a selection of Crio Bru Products @CrioBru

Crio Bru is 100% Cocoa that brews like Coffee in either a coffee percolator or French Press. Although the cocoa beans are roasted, many of the benefits that are found in the raw bean like high antioxidants and minerals are still found in a cup of Crio Bru. Unlike many other hot beverages on the market, Crio Bru contains little or no caffeine. It does however contain a stimulate that is closely related to caffeine, called Theobromine. It increases energy slowly without the common jitters that occurs with caffeinated beverages. To learn more about the effects of Theobromine and the differences and similarities between it and its cousin caffeine, please refer to Crio Bru's FAQ page. 

I received the following products from Crio Bru to review. 

The Chocolate Covered Crio Beans are rich, crunchy and delicious. They taste mild and are not bitter like than a coffee bean. The outer chocolate layer is thick and the consistency reminds me slightly of a truffle. They make a wonderful little treat to satisfy that little chocolate craving without overindulging. 

What a lovely French Press!

Crio Bru also carries a line of French Presses. They sent me a 34 oz Bodum Brazil French Press. Having never used one before and was pleased with the simplicity of operation.  I placed a few scoops of Crio Bru at the bottom of the press. I then filled the container up with the desired amount of hot (not boiling) water. Afterwards it was steeped for 4 minutes and then pressed slowly, repeat as desired. 

As you can see the granules are very coarse.

Time to begin pressing the Cocoa

The taste of the both varieties of cocoa was very delicious. It was a nice and refreshing change to have a cup of cocoa in the morning with a light breakfast. I couldn't help but feel a little spoiled... like I was having dessert for breakfast. The cinnamon in the Cavella Dark Roast was a pleasing addition to the flavor of the brew. It blended well with the subtle hint of coconut.

My husband has taken a liking to both varieties. He is the larger coffee drinker out of the both of has and enjoys mixing a blend of coffee and Crio Bru. It is nice to see him cut down on his caffeine intake and replace parts of it with something so healthy and delicious. While the Vega Real and Cavella Dark Roast are both great on their own, I really enjoy it with a variety of different milk substitutes. They specify on the website that it tastes wonderful with cream as well.

Crio Bru has offered my readers a 12 oz package of Coca River, a 12 oz package of Vega Real, a 4 oz package of Crio Beans and a convenient Travel Press. 

#WorldWide - #Win 1 of 2 - $20 Gift Certificates @Moodysisters

Moody Sisters is an Organic Skincare Shop on Etsy. It is owned by sisters, Jess and Whitney. The sisters make handcrafted Organic products in their own kitchens using reliable ingredients, unlike those found in many mass produced skin care products. All of their products are preservative free, paraben free and 100% organic.

I received a couple products from Moody Sisters, a powder deodorant and a face & body whip. I have been looking for a deodorant for a long time that is made from natural ingredients that works. I have found myself opposed to the feel of a glycerin based deodorant so that narrows my choices a great deal when you can't stand how a product feels on your body. I must say, I was thrilled to find a nice natural deodorant that works as well as this one does. It smells nice and isn't overbearing. The downfall is that a powder deodorant is terribly messy. Be careful when you open the container so you don't spill it everywhere. It is very easy to do. I recommend washing your underarms first and applying in the nude. Make sure that the powder is absorbed into your skin before you put your clothes on so you don't get powder marks all over them. While you may have to apply a bit more often then you would a stick of store bought deodorant, it is so worth the extra effort rid myself of the harsh chemicals over such a thin, gland filled, sensitive area of my body.

The Face and Body Whip smells divine. I was alarmed by the consistency when I first opened up the jar. It looked a little bit like cookie dough or dry mashed potatoes. Thus moisturizer did not let me down at all. I've been using it after bath and I have had so many compliments about the beautiful citrus aroma while wearing it. It really hydrates my skin and doesn't leave any unpleasant residue. I even put a tiny dab on my finger tips and rub into my hair to give those dry/damaged ends a little moisture. 

Moody Sisters is currently offering a discount code on their Facebook Page. Pop on over and give them a like and maybe pick up something from their shop. The products really are quite wonderful.

I have gift certificates valued at $20 each to give to 2 lucky Music and Mommies readers. Enter via our convenient Rafflecopter form below.