Green Mountain Coffee® & Fair Trade

  Great Coffee, Good Vibes 
Quality Products. Improving Lives. Protecting the Planet. 
Green Mountain Coffee 


  What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade goods are just that. Fair. From far-away farms to your shopping cart, products that bear that logo come from farmers and workers who are justly compensated. They help farmers in developing countries build sustainable businesses that positively influence their communities.They're a nonprofit, but they don't do charity. Instead, they teach disadvantaged communities how to use the free market to their advantage. With Fair Trade USA, the money you spend on day-to-day goods can improve an entire community’s day-to-day lives.Your rich cup of Fair Trade coffee can help farmers escape poverty. Most small-scale family farmers live in remote locations and lack access to credit, so they are vulnerable to middlemen who offer cash for their coffee at a fraction of its value. Fair Trade guaranteesfarmers a minimum price, and links farmers directly with importers, creating long-term sustainability. Through Fair Trade, farmers earn better incomes, allowing them to hold on to their land and invest in quality. They provide farmers in developing nations the tools to thrive as international business people. Instead of creating dependency on aid, they use a market-based approach that gives farmers fair prices, workers safe conditions, and entire communities resources for fair, healthy and sustainable lives. They seek to inspire the rise of the Conscious Consumer and eliminate exploitation. While best known for coffee, Fair Trade Certified has grown to encompass many products, from tea to chocolate to body care to wine. Choose Fair Trade products to vote with your dollars and make Every Purchase Matter. Each time you purchase a fair trade product you help support families and causes all over the world.
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Whoo hoo! BzzAgent has hit the nail on the head with this campaign! I have so many friends that love coffee and are testing out Green Mountain per my request! They're verdict? Two thumbs up! Out of the 15 people I told and passed out coupons to, 9 are making the switch! One of them is an elderly gentleman I know and he has been drinking Folgers coffee for 35 years.. Those days are gone thanks to me, BzzAgent, and Green Mountain! Since he takes his coffee black I knew I could count on him for an accurate review. So I took one of my little K-Cups over to his apartment and whipped him up a cup of coffee in his tiny 2 cup coffee pot. As soon as he got that first whiff he started asking questions like "Whats the name of that stuff?" and "Where'd you get it from again?" I told him "It's Green Mountain Coffee Ron, not only is it delicious but it's good for the environment when you buy it!" To be honest, he wasn't as pumped as I was about it being Fair Trade, he's 87 years old so saving the environment isn't a huge concern of his.. But he was however pumped about the smell! He was bzzing all over his tiny kitchen as the coffee slowly trickled out of the maker. Then he got to taste it.. He took a huge gulp, looked over at me and said "Where can I buy it and how much does it cost?" He LOVED it! So much so that he's made the switch for life! So I gave him a couple extra coupons :) We love our coffee in this house and I love that I was also able to share with the hubby and get his input! He is a coffee connoisseur, he's tried just about every brand out there. His verdict? Two thumbs up!! He's even considering making the switch! I'm neutral when it comes to coffee. I don't need it everyday but a good cup of joe sounds good every once in awhile..
I was very impressed with the quality and taste of this coffee! The flavor is bold and delicious, giving you that 'warm and fuzzy' feeling inside. It makes me wanna curl up on the love seat and read a good book..Even if the hubby doesn't make the permanent switch, I'll be using some of my coupons to try different flavors!

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GMC took acclaimed musicians Grace Potter and Michael Franti to Colombia and Sumatra to experience why Fair Trade means better coffee for you and a better life for farmers. Learn more about Fair Trade and watch exclusive videos from their travels here! 

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from BzzAgent. All opinions are my own.
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Julep teams up for Breast Cancer Awareness!

Breast Cancer Awareness by the Numbers

  

 From the beginning, Julep has been powered by girlfriends. To celebrate these unique roots and to continue to pay it forward, we are proud to donate to organizations that empower women. At Julep, our mission is to ignite the spirit of engagement in women everywhere, and our Powered by Girlfriends initiative is an important part of bringing this mission to life. To honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we at Julep have teamed up with The Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation. This October, not only are we happily contributing a donation to support their incredible foundation as a part of Powered By Girlfriends, but we also collaborated on this amazing infographic!


   For those of you who haven't heard of Julep, it's a monthly subscription service costing around $20 but containing at least $40 worth of products. There are 5 different style profiles to choose from including American Beauty, Boho Glam, Bombshell, Classic with a Twist, and It Girl. Julep also has 'special' boxes known as Golden and Mystery boxes. Golden boxes are given out every month to select mavens and feature all the styles for that month! Mystery boxes are available (when available) to all mavens for the regular price of $20 and contain anywhere from $60-$200 in product! Don't have a maven account yet? Please use my referral link and promo code below to get your first box for practically nothing! Happy painting :)

- My referral link: http://julep.com/?r=20995161
- Use promo code MAVENINTRO to get your first box for a penny!


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MDSB Birthday Box Review

My Dream Sample Box 
Birthday Box and Handcrafted Mini!
 

Welp, she's done it again. Holly has managed to pack another incredible box! She's really outdone herself this time.. This has got to be my all time favorite box from MDSB! I've missed the last few months just because I needed to take a break but I decided to give in and treat myself to a birthday present since I had been so good. :) What I was after was the Pink-A-Licious Handcrafted Mighty once I got a look at the 'Sneak Peak' pictures on MDSB's Facebook page. There were some really cute and fun samples I hadn't got to try yet. Not to mention it was to help support Breast Cancer Awareness which is always an added bonus! But alas... they were sold out! A bittersweet tragedy indeed. So after scrolling through the different categories of boxes I decided to go with the birthday box considering I had just celebrated my 27th a few days prior. I thought at the time that I was settling on the box I picked when in fact I got the best box I've ever bought! It was great because there's no certain theme requirement so Holly got to pack in all different kinds of samples, handcrafted and masters. I had so much fun unboxing my birthday box and handcrafted mini! My favorite part was opening them with my son. He loves to help open packages, so when he saw that brightly colored birthday box and then all of the little presents inside it he got soooo excited! He kept saying "Mmmmm, smells goooood!" He had to smell each and every sample in the box, scented or not. He cracks me up lol :) Anyway, for those of you who have never heard of My Dream Sample Box, what it is is a sample box company. Sample boxes are... well basically, boxes filled with samples sent into the company by independent reps and home based business's. Samples include makeup, candles, jewelry, bath & beauty products, edibles, and sooooo much more! MDSB offers a monthly themed box. The box themes mostly coordinate to any approaching holiday. For example February's box usually relates to Valentines Day, April's box is Easter themed, and so on. The boxes are separated into 3 categories masters boxes, handcrafted boxes, and kiddo boxes. Masters meaning direct sales companies i.e. Gold Canyon, Thirty-One, Avon, Pampered Chef, Mary-Kay, etc. Handcrafted meaning home based business's. They also come in a variety of sizes. The masters comes in the regular size and a mini version. The handcrafted comes in mini, mighty, and mega sizes. The kiddo's box comes in a regular and mini size and includes a boy, girl, or combo version. The price's range anywhere from $10.50-$40.50 depending on the size you get and prices are consistent unlike some other companies I know.. I've been buying boxes from MDSB for about a year now. In that year I've purchased sample boxes from 4 other companies besides this one. So I think I know what I'm talking about when I say that MDSB really is elite in the sample box business.. You just can't buy the TLC Holly puts into her boxes. Believe me, I've tried. Epic failure. In fact, a few companies have lost me as a customer because of their lack of quality and professionalism. A lot of the credit goes to the sponsors over at MDSB. if it weren't for them there would be no MDSB so they deserve a HUGE shout out! SHOUT OUT! :D They really are some great people and I'm happy to say a few are friends. If you're in the market for a great gift or even looking to do a little self pampering, definitely look into a sample box. Opening one is like a little mini Christmas you won't wanna share with anyone else! :)

 *My Top 10 Picks!*

 


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Influenster Naturals VoxBox

Influenster Naturals VoxBox'12
 Featured Brands:

 

Whoo hoo! Another great box from Influenster! This is the Naturals Voxbox for 2012 and jeeeez is it awesome! I had only heard of one of the products featured and only because it was in a previous Influenster box I didn't receive. I'm not real sure about the reason why I didn't get the Parissa wax strips or the Desert Essence lotion, but I don know that it was a toss up between the SheaMoisture soap and the Country Life vitamins. People that got the box received one or the other. I was lucky enough to get the soap which is my absolute favorite product in the box! My son has eczema and this soap has helped sooooo much. Existing patches are fading and we've only had a few minor breakouts since the weather started changing. Another love of mine included in the box is the LypSyl lip balm. This product is a new permanent staple in my home. Tis the season for dry cracked lips and my family goes through chapstick like it grows on trees. With this stuff that won't be a problem anymore. Not only does it go on smooth and evenly, but it lasts for hours and hours! I could still feel it on my lips even after a few hours of shopping and a fast food meal! Granted there isn't much in the container, I'm willing to settle because it actually works. My last top 3 pick is the The Original dish mat. It's absorbent and durable, overall good quality. I liked the Cleanwell wipe but they're a bit over priced so I probably won't be repurchasing.. The Geodeo deodorant is just OK for me. I'm not all that impressed though I love the fact that it's made with all natural ingredients. The Nectresse was good but it's not life changing enough for me to switch from plain old sugar. No matter what the product is I can always taste the aspartame.  The E Boost... It was another just OK for me. I didn't really feel more energetic or see a big difference. I only had one packet though. I'm sure if you added this into your daily routine you'd see some kind of results after a week or so. I'm not a big fan of dietary supplements so while it was nice to try I won't be repurchasing. Overall I'm very satisfied with this box. It was lots of fun trying out all of the natural products. While some products were hits and others were misses, I appreciate all of the great products and can't wait for the next box!!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing and review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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CleanWell Natural Hand Sanitizer Wipes

CleanWell Natural Hand Sanitizer Wipes
 http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/

 

CleanWell products kill germs naturally by tapping into the immune system of some of the hardiest plants on the planet. We believe in eliminating germs safely. That's why we developed CleanWell, a patented formulation of natural thyme oil that kills germs yet contains no harsh chemicals. CleanWell truly is a better way to clean.


Benefits:                                           
  • Naturally Antibacterial
  • Alcohol-free
  • Gentle on sensitive skin
  • Readily Biodegradable
  • No harsh chemicals
  • Fresh pleasant scent
  • Never tested on animals
  • Won’t sting cuts
Other Products By Cleanwell:


While I really appreciated the sample I received in my Influenster box, I really wish I had received more then just one packet of the wipes. I just don't feel like I got the full effect by using just one. Regardless, I decided to use mine on my son after an afternoon at the park. After about an hour of swings, slides, and overall madness, we decided to go have some lunch. As I reached for his wipes to clean him up a bit I immediately noticed the lightness of the box and shortly thereafter discover the container was empty. But alas! I remembered I tossed that little packet of antibacterial goodness into my purse on a whim thinking just in case... Turns out it would be my hero of the day. I whipped that sucker out, tore open the packet, and gave my son the rubdown. I loved that I could use it on his face, arms, and hands, without having to worry about it stinging or causing an eczema breakout. They're alcohol free and gentle enough to use on everyone in the family. Overall these little lifesavers get an B+ from me. I took points for availability. I know plenty of people who will never purchase any of the products from this brand simply because they don't feel comfortable shopping online. I however am a fan for life. I frequently shop on Amazon and some of these products are already in my shopping cart! :)

Available at retailers including: 
-WHOLEFOODS®
-Amazon.com
-Diapers.com
-Cleanwelltoday.com 20% off with code “voxFB20” expires 10/12/12 

 

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

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Glade Expressions® Collection Campaign

 These true-to-life fragrance combinations are inspired by art and designed to open up note by note, filling your home and inviting life in. 

 
Just The Facts:
  • The first refillable fragrance mist from Glade® 
  • Squeeze-to-release a light mist of true-to-life fragrance that lasts 
  • Instantly enhances any room and eliminates odor 
  • With a removable label, the holder is artfully designed and chic enough to incorporate into any décor 
  • The best non-electric oil diffuser for living spaces, delivering 3x more fragrance
  • Refillable with your favorite Glade Expressions® scent
  • Trendy holder available in bamboo or white
  • The spill-free design fills living spaces with fragrance for 30 days
  • Fragrance satisfaction guaranteed or your money back 
  
Fragrances:
  • Cotton & Italian Mandarin - Open your home with the bright, breezy blend of cotton and sparkling citrus, honeydew and sandalwood 
  • Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice - A ripe, spicy blend of sweet pears and crisp apple with a dash of cinnamon and clove that warms and invigorates 
  • Lavender & Juniper Berry - Lush lavender blends with fresh juniper berry, eucalyptus and rose to relax the senses and open your home 
  • Pineapple & Mangosteen - Evoke a tropical paradise with the blend of freshly cut pineapples and hint of tangy mangosteen, creamy coconut and passionflower


A Boootiful Addition!
We have been trying to find exciting and creative ways to incorporate out Glade Expressions into our home. Considering the timing was perfect, we decided to add ours into our Halloween decorations! Here is a picture of what is affectionately known in our family as 'the pumpkin ghost' He stays lit all throughout the season in hopes of scaring away any witches or goblins :) This year I've decided to incorporate one of my diffusers into his display! He's a big hit with family and friends so when they walk over to check him out they get a nice big whiff of the awesome fuji apple and cardamom spice, which in my opinion fits the season exceptionally well! They ALWAYS ask "What is that smell!?" And I always reply "That's my Glade Expressions diffuser!" I am soooo loving both the diffuser and the mist! The diffuser because of the fragrance and the chic holder. It fill's the entire room with sweet smelling fragrance all by it's ity bity self so you can save the mist for other rooms :) I love that the diffuser comes in different colors. While the white would look great in a modern or contemporary home, the bamboo design looks great in my shabby-chic settings. The mist works flawlessly and is so easy to refill I can let my toddler do it. As well as spraying it in the air I also spray it on my curtains and bedspread as a fabric freshener. There's nothing better then snuggling up in bed and getting a whiff of Cotton & Italian Mandarin as you doze off... I haven't been able to try the Lavender & Juniper Berry yet (my store doesn't carry it for some weird reason) but of the 3 I have tried the Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice is definitely my favorite! Especially during this time of year. It gives you that warm and fuzzy kind of feel when you walk into the room.. It makes you wanna curl up on a loveseat by the fireplace with your kindle and a big mug of warm apple cider. I'm a huge fan of both the diffuser and the mist! I have and will continue to recommended these products to friends and family!

 

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from BuzzAgent. All opinions are my own.


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The Original™ Dish Drying Mat

The Original™ Dish Drying Mat

 

The Original™ line of products, created by Schroeder & Tremayne, Inc., provides innovative solutions to everyday dilemmas. Combining intelligent design with cutting edge technology leads to products that provide the ultimate in function and value. Their focus is to create products that exceed your expectations and help simplify your life! It’s a difference you’re sure to discover. The Original Dish Drying Mat is the new solution to the age old tradition of placing dish towels on the counter when hand washing pots, pans, dishes, and glassware. But we are more than Dish Mats, we have a line of cleaning, home and pet products!


 I absolutely love the drying mat I received in my Naturals Voxbox through Influenster! The days of using dish towels are gone! There's nothing I hate more then washing dishes. I simply despise it. But there's nothing worse then a sink full of dishes screaming at you every time you walk through the kitchen.. So if there's a product out there that can help make the process a little easier, I'm all about trying it! Since there never seems to be less then a sink full of dishes in my kitchen I still use my drying rack for plates, bowls, and silverware then I stack my glasses and mugs on my dish mat. It tends to get drenched when washing large amounts of dishes (especially when I let my toddler help!) so to avoid weird smells and molding I don't recommend letting it set on the counter overnight. Let your dishes air dry for about 20-25 minutes then hang your dish mat to dry. While it's thick and absorbent enough to suck up all that access water, it's still thin enough to stack your wineglasses and china on without having to worry about breaks and chips. Another thing I love about my mat is that it's machine washable!! I don't have to worry about refills, coupons to replace it, or any of that other stuff! I simply throw it in the wash after a couple good uses and 'presto' it's like new again! :) You can feel the durability in it and you can tell that it's a quality product that will last for months. Considering it's only $4.99 to replace, my mat could only last a few weeks and still would be worth it to me. It also comes in a bigger size and a variety of colors including a bright red and sage green (my 2 faves!) to help match the decor you've got in your kitchen! Overall this product gets a solid A- from me. I took points because of the fact that it's only available at Bed Bath & Beyond. Also because I'm lazy and I hate having to put my glasses and mugs away in order to hang dry the mat. At least I'm honest :)  

Also available from The Original™ 
-The OriginalTM Dish Drying Mat XL 
-The OriginalTM Dish Drying Gloves
-The OriginalTM Microfiber Kitchen Towels
-The OriginalTM Reusable Microfiber Cloths
-The OriginalTM Flip-It CleanTM Mitt
-The OriginalTM Flip-It CleanTM Cloth
-The OriginalTM Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
-Wrinkle Release Dryer Towel 

All of "The OriginalTM" products are available Exclusively at

   

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

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LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer

 LypSyl Intense Protection LypMoisturizer

  

Long-lasting, deep-penetrating moisture helps keep your lips soft, supple, kissable. With ultra-rich, organic shea butter, pure vitamins A and E, coconut oil. Made with pure Swedish beeswax. Not tested on animals!


First of all, thank you Influenster and Lypsyl for choosing me to review the Naturals Voxbox '12! Because of you I've been able to test out some awesome products that I probably would have never bought on my own prior to receiving my box. One of the products in the box was the Intense Protection LypMoisturizer. It has been a true life saver, especially during the fall/winter season when my whole family seems to end up with runny noses and chapped lips. I love how smoothly it goes on, the texture is very light and soft. I also love the minty smell and taste and how it gives you that medicated feeling. I've never had a lip balm last as long as this one does. I could still feel it on my lips literally 2 hours later! The packaging is great although I do wish there were more balm in the tube. It says it's .10oz but I'm guessing only .2oz of that is balm. Regardless, the little bug scroll is sooo cute and considering it lasts for so long and costs only around $3.00, I suppose I can live with the fact that it's not filled to the brim with balm :) But the fact that it's totally organic is simply the frosting on the cake! In my opinion this is a high quality fair priced product and yet another permanent staple in my home introduced to me by Influenster! 

  

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

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SheaMoisture Baby Bar Soap

SheaMoisture Baby Bar Soap 
 
All-natural baby products with certified organic ingredients. No Mineral Oil. No Phtalates. No Parabens. No Sulfates. No Gluten. No Animal Ingredients. No Paraffin. No Propylene Glycol. No Synthetic Fragrance. No PABA. No DEA. No Animal Testing.

  

Mission: SheaMoisture Baby strives to make a positive impact beyond being committed to the health of the entire family with safe, chemical-free products. The company purchases ingredients directly from women cooperatives and indigenous farmers in Africa, paying above market prices to help improve the standard of living for those suppliers. They are working closely with local and international organizations, including ECOSERVE and AFRICARE, to protect the integrity of ingredients and improve production processes to ensure sustainable harvests. Partnering with organizations such as The Liberian Education Fund and Todee Mission, the company is working to build schools and provide access to education for impoverished girls in Africa, many of who are suppliers of Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and other natural ingredients.

 I consider myself EXTREMELY lucky to have received the organic Raw Shea Butter Baby Eczema Bar Soap in my Influenster Naturals Voxbox. My son has been tortured by eczema ever since he was born. Where we're from, the weather fluctuates rapidly causing him to break out frequently. I've tried everything from every different brand out there. I've managed to keep the eczema at bay but it never seems like it's completely gone. Well I'm pleased to say, I've been bathing my son with this soap for almost 2 weeks now and his patches are almost completely faded. Every. Single. One. And he's had no recent breakouts since I started using it on him. Now that the bar is almost gone, I'm faced with the task of buying more. When I find something that works, I stick with it. Thinking that I was going to have to make a purchase online and also believing these products were going to be on the expensive side; I was pleasantly surprised to read on their website that all of these awesome products are available at Walgreens stores, select Target, CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond, Buy Buy Baby, Christmas Tree Shops, Harmon Face Values, Duane Reade and Meijer stores! They are also available to purchase online at Target.com, CVS.com, Walgreens.com, and Harmondiscount.com. All of these products are also very affordable considering they are organic costing anywhere from $4.79 to $21.49. What I love about this product is simple. I love everything about this product. The scent, texture, lather, organic ingredients, effectiveness, cost, packaging, and most of all the simple fact that it actually works. I am a true believer in this product and will continue using this soap for as long as I keep seeing results!

  

I received this product complimentary for testing and review purposes from Influenster. All opinions are my own.

 
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