Organic Matcha - Green Tea Powder by Kiss Me Organics Review

If you haven't heard about Matcha then you need to get yourself up to speed and get yourself a bag of this green goodness. Matcha has been used in Japan for close to 1,000 years. It means "powdered tea" and the preparation of it is the focus of the Japanese tea ceremony. It's not only used for tea but can also be used to make lattes, smoothies, and in baking.

Kiss Me Organics Matcha

I wasn't sure what I wanted to make for my first experience using this organic matcha. It has an absolutely vibrant green color. The photo above shows how beautiful it is. It's a super fine powder.I wasn't really in the mood for just tea or a beverage today so I decided to bake with it!

You can't go wrong with cookies!

The end result! Yum!

I know they are probably not as healthy since I added white chocolate chips but I know I will be more focused and have more energy after eating these! They really are delicious. I wasn't sure what to expect. The green tea flavor is so nice. I plan to try making a matcha smoothie next. 

Kiss Me Organics was kind enough to send me a bag of this organic matcha green tea which you can find on Amazon. It is culinary grade green tea powder from Japan. I highly recommend you grab a bag for yourself and see what all the craze is about and reap the healthy benefits of matcha too!

*I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Valentia Even Glow Serum 20% Vitamin C Review

I have been using this Even Glow Vitamin C Serum from Valentia for about 2 weeks now. I put it on in the morning after washing my face. It is recommended for just once a day use and once dry you can apply your regular moisturizer. I've actually felt that I've not needed to use mine after applying this in the morning. I do still apply my regular night cream at bedtime though since this time of year makes my skin so dry.

Before applying you do need to shake the bottle a bit because the natural ingredients tend to separate. Only a small amount is needed. The scent is lovely. I notice it as soon as I twist off the top. It is a wonderful orange scent. Not overly strong but a light fresh citrus smell.

It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn't feel greasy or heavy at all. I've noticed my skin color does look a bit more even and brighter. As I said it does feel like it helps hydrating my skin so I haven't needed to put on moisturizer in the mornings after using this. I will continue to use it since it seems to be helping. I don't have too many wrinkles yet (knock on wood) except a few under my eyes. I'm just very pleased with what it has done for me so far. The scent is such a mood booster too. Very energizing just opening the bottle.

Here is the product description:

• EVENS SKIN TONE:
  Vanquish dark spots and skin discoloration, replacing uneven and ill-textured skin with smooth, wrinkle-free skin that leaves you looking flawless and ageless.
  
  INCREASES GLOW & RADIANCE:
  Revitalize your skin with essential fatty acids that leave skin smooth and visibly brighter. Smooth skin capable of reflecting light will give your skin a youthful glow and a brilliant shine for that well-rested and refreshed look.
  
  ABSORBS RAPIDLY:
  Moisturizes skin due to the capacity of the hyaluronic acid to absorb water, thereby increasing fluid between cells, giving your skin a smoother and younger appearance. This intense water absorption means no more dry, peeling or cracked skin, even in extreme weather.
  
  BOOSTS COLLAGEN PRODUCTION:
  The presence of Organic Rosehip Seed oil to support Vitamin C increases collagen production so your skin retains the elasticity responsible for a youthful appearance and prevents skin sagging associated with aging. Enjoy smooth and supple skin that takes years off your appearance.
  
  REDUCES WRINKLES & FINE LINES:
  Reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles with the help of our foundation 20 % Vitamin C. Special ingredients such us Hyaluronic Acid and Organic Sea Buckthorn oil work to plump up the skin, which reduces fine lines and wrinkles in the skin so it is smoother, clearer and younger.

You can find Valentia Even Glow Serum on Amazon.

* I was given this sample for free in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Taylor Bluetooth Body Fat Smart Scale Review

I've had this scale since about mid October. It was easy to set up. I think it took about 10-15 minutes from opening the box to setting up my profile on the app and weighing myself. This is my first scale that does more than just show me my weight so I am pretty happy with it. Not only does it show your weight but also it estimates your body fat, body water, and muscle mass. It also has a goal setting and tracking feature. I do find I have to have my phone nearby and open for it to get the info from the scale. I'm usually in a hurry when I weigh myself so I only sync it about once a month. The graphs on the app are easy to navigate and read.

I think this is a very stylish scale but I do worry about someone dropping something on it since it seems it might be easy to crack or break. I keep it behind my bedroom door leaned up against the wall. The carpet helps hold it in place. It does allow for memory for up to 8 people. I'm very happy with this scale and would recommend it for anyone wanting an upgrade from just a regular scale. I do like all the extras on it. If you'd like to  know more about this scale you can find it on Amazon.

* I was given this scale in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own.

Supermarket Healthy - Book Review

This cookbook has a great variety of recipes. There are lots I would like to try myself but I don't think my family would be as excited about them especially my husband. The photos are really nice but I wish there was one for each recipe. I like to see what the end result is supposed to look like. The book is very well laid out and easy to read. Also most of the recipes don't seem to require a lot of time.

Most recipes are for common things found at your regular grocery store but some things included do seem out of my family's budget. Mussels, clams, saffron threads, bison, and a few other things are not budget friendly in my mind. On the other hand it does offer good variety. Most recipes are for 4 servings. There is a fair amount for 6 servings. We are a family of 6 so I do prefer ones for bigger servings. I know I can just half the recipe again to make enough for us.

So I have mixed thoughts on this cookbook. I will try some of these according to the preferences of my family. I'm going to let my kids flip through it to see if anything jumps out at them. I do know they will like most of the desserts. They may surprise me and like more than I think.

I think this would be a great book for those that do like lots of different kinds of foods and flavors but might not be good for those with picky eaters like my hubby.

If you'd like more info about this book you can go here. 

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.

Kleenex Brand Tissues- Crowdtap Review

I was very happy to receive these Kleenex Brand Tissues to review for Crowdtap. This, of course, is the perfect time of year to have them in the house. I know we will end up going through several boxes over the course of the winter. Our sampling included Kleenex with Lotion and Kleenex Anti-Viral.

I opened up the Kleenex with Lotion right away because this cold weather has my nose running all the time. I hate getting the raw and red nose from blowing too much. These tissues with lotion are so nice because they are soft and gentle on my skin and I have no signs of redness since using them! I don't want to be confused with Rudolph this time of year!

Kleenex with Lotion

I had no idea that an anti-viral tissue even existed. These will be great for helping stop the spread of germs when someone in the house gets sick. Germs spread so fast in the house when you have six of us touching and sneezing all over. These anti-viral tissues feel strong so I can believe they will help keep those nasty germs in the tissue. 

Kleenex anti-viral

If you'd like to try either one of these tissues from Kleenex visit this link for a coupon. 

* I'm a member of Crowdtap and these tissues were sent to me for free from Kleenex Brand tissues and Crowdtap. Opinions are my own. 

MizzFit #MIZ05 Quarterly Box Review

I am a big fan of Bianca Jade aka MizzFit. I discovered her Quarterly boxes almost a year ago. I had missed out on her first one but signed up right away to be sure I could get on the list of subscribers so I wouldn't miss out ever again. I have now gotten 4 of her boxes. This latest one is #MIZ05.  Each box has a theme and this one is Endurance + Holiday Mastery. I was so glad this box came when it did. I got it right before Thanksgiving so it has been keeping me on the right track through all the holiday madness.

I don't know how she does it but each box contains so many great things and it's like she knows what I am needing to switch it up a bit. I love everything in this box but here are a few of my favorites.

These valslides are so fun! The are slippery smooth on the bottom so they slide very easy on the carpet. You can use them for your hands or feet. I've been having fun trying them out. Hard to keep away from my boys too. They think they are great to slide back and forth across the room.

I was super excited to get these Gym Girl Apparel Fitness Gloves. Especially because I got the camo design! My boys thought these were the greatest and that I am so cool I get to wear these when I do my strength training. They are all into camo and I think half of their closets consist of it. I just love these gloves. They fit so nice and are very well made. I feel pretty awesome when I wear them. :)

This Loopy Apple Veggie Spiral Slicer is another of my favorite things in this box. I have seen these before and thought it would be a nice little gadget to have in my kitchen. You can use it to make thin spirals out of zucchini, carrots, and other veggies. It's always fun when you can play with your food a bit.

This box also included a Bobble Sport Water Bottle, New Balance Elastic Laces, Eboost Coconut Water Energy Shot, and The Yoo2 Fitness Tracker. So many good things as always in MizzFit's Quarterly boxes.

These boxes are shipped every 3 months. The next one will be in February. Already looking forward to it! I have found so many great products to keep me healthy, active, and motivated in my journey of being a healthier & happier person. MizzFit knows her stuff!

If you'd like to know more about Bianca Jade she is on facebook, twitter, and on her own website.

*I pay for my own subscription for my MizzFit Quarterly boxes. Opinions are my own. I'm not compensated in any way for this review. I just LOVE her boxes.

A Kitchen in France - Book Review

I love all types of food but one that I am not so familiar with is French food. I thought getting the opportunity to review this book would be a good way for me to get a little taste of it. The book itself is big and heavy. The pages are of good quality and there are some nice photos in it. I enjoyed the author's little tidbits of info before each recipe. That is all I really liked about this book though.

I tried so hard to want to like this book but I just can't. I think French cuisine is just not for me though. I felt like the recipes are just not something I would whip up for my family. I don't know that they'd like a single thing from the book other than the garlic mashed potatoes. A lot of the ingredients would be too hard to find or too expensive for our family. I also felt like the photos and the food were so dark. I like a bit more color or vibrancy to my food. She does have recipes for each season but I felt like they were all winter type foods except for maybe the tomato type ones in summer.

I don't know that I would make anything from this book. Nothing really just begged for me to make it. I'm sure for those that are lovers of this type of food this may be an excellent book to have. It's very rare for me to not like a cookbook but this one just didn't do it for me.

If you are a lover of all things French and you'd like to find out more about this book you can visit here.

* I received this book from Blogging For Books for this review. Opinions are my own.