Reviews & Giveaways

January 20, 2016 By Kelly 6 Comments

Eco Nuts Organic Laundry Detergent #Review & #Giveaway

Let’s start the new year off with a fabulous giveaway, shall we?! What goes in your skin goes on you skin. What goes on the clothes that hang on your skin matters too so you better pay attention to what you are washing your clothing and linens with!

Eco Nuts is a USDA organic cleaning products company that utilizes berries grown in the Himalayas that naturally contain soap. They asked me to review one of their most popular products, the berries themselves which are used for laundry as well as their “normal” USDA Organic liquid detergent. Non of their products are packaged with plastic, which I LOVE. The devastating statistics of how much of that plastic ends up in our beautiful oceans is horrendous.

These products are GMO Free, Certified USDA Organic, Certified Cruelty Free, Nut Allergy Safe, Free from Added Dyes, Free from Artificial Fragrances. They can be used in all machines (including HE) and are also great for baby clothes and cloth diapers.

Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical at first. These funky looking little balls are going to get our laundry clean?! Bear in mind that I have 2 rough and tumble, tree climbing, football playing, baseball playing, run-around-in-the-rain-and-get-muddy BOYS. I tried the Organic Laundry Detergent which are the soap berries themselves and their Organic Liquid Laundry Detergent which is made out of soapberry extract. Both products performed well. Out clothes and linens came out clean and fresh proving there is NO need to use toxic laundry detergent!

It’s not surprising that this inventive company was featured on Shark Tank! Not only does the detergent work but how fantastic is the packaging?! Earth friendly and because it’s concentrated it’s not housed in one of those enormous hard to lug around plastic jugs that takes up way too much real estate in your laundry room. It’s a small stainless steel pump!

Of course I checked the ingredients on the products I tested and they are safe, no greenwashing! They have many other great eco friendly products too. Check them out and be sure to enter to win your own set of soap berries which will give you 100 loads and a bottle of their Organic Liquid Laundry Detergent which does 30 regular loads or 60 High Efficiency loads!

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August 24, 2015 By Kelly 6 Comments

Spice-Topia ~ A Foodie’s Dream #Review & #Giveaway

If you happen to be visiting Southern California make a stop on quaint Main Street in Ventura and be sure to pop into Spice-Topia. No plans to be near the pacific coast? Check out their website and order something to enhance your cuisine.

One of my lucky readers will win a basket of some of their most popular items!

They have everything from spices to teas, mouth watering marinades, BBQ sauce, balsamic reductions, olive oils, one-of-a-kind products for kitchens and cooks and so much more. Everything is from organic and fair trade certified suppliers, including products from some of Ventura’s favorite local vendors! Great prices too.

Owner Ashley Pope is sweet and helpful, she’ll help you pick out just the right items for your needs. It’s no wonder they were 2013 Juni Award recipients of Merchant Of The Year and Best Customer Service. Ashley was recently named winner of the 2015 Young Entrepreneur Issue of the American Latino Magazine Cover contest!

They offer cooking classes with professional chefs so if you’re in the area sign up!

If you follow this blog you know I’m not a fan of cooking, I’d rather be collaging, crafting or on the tennis court than in the kitchen. That’s why I love the wonderful things they carry, it’s an easy way to make food taste like you’ve slaved in the kitchen while also allowing true cooks to create special dishes.

The delicious spicy red pepper and garlic flavor of the Grumpy Grandpa honey from Henry’s Humdingers made my stir fry taste like a true gourmet chef had been in my kitchen. The fabulous Blueberry Balsamic from enFuso is terrific on salads and makes a yummy marinade and the spices we tried made the flavor of our meals come alive!

Enter for your chance to win a basket of yummy foodie goodies & be sure to follow Spice-Topia on Facebook & Instagram @spicetopia

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February 26, 2015 By Kelly 1 Comment

Elizabeth Koh Fair Trade Handmade Scarves #Review & #Giveaway

Clear vision, a smart business plan & some good karma brought this philanthropic endeavor to life

I recently discovered a wonderful company that makes absolutely beautiful fair trade scarves and you have the chance to win one! These intricate handcrafted scarves are not just another pretty accessory, proceeds from Elizabeth Koh help provide shelter and life development resources to homeless and abandoned children in Thailand through our partnership with SOS Children’s Villages.

I was honored to have the chance to meet and chat with Elizabeth Koh‘s lovely founders, Janelle and Megan.

Savvy Suburban: Your scarves are absolutely beautiful! I love that they are handcrafted by women in Thailand. Tell us about Ampha and Tong, their team and how you chose to work with them.

Elizabeth Koh: We were bringing 100 pounds of medical supplies to Rajavithi Home for girls, when we realized that we didn’t have a translator for the supplies! I asked some friends at work for advice, and my co-worker introduced me to their friend Eddie. Eddie is thai, and was going to be in Thailand visiting family while we were there. He offered to help us translate the supplies, and we met him in Bangkok. He ended up traveling with us for the next few weeks, and introduced us to his Uncle who lives in Thailand. His uncle introduced us to his aunt, then his cousin, who took us to the women in the village. So I like to say it was a little bit of good karma that took us to the women!

SS: What materials are the scarves made of?

EK: 100% Cotton. We may eventually delve into other materials, but we feel that the simplicity and comfort of cotton was the best starting point for our brand.

SS: The thing that struck me about your business is that you are not just selling scarves, you are doing a wonderful service by offering fair employment in a part of the world that needs it. What gave you the philanthropic idea to have them made this way?

EK: We wanted to create a company that benefited the communities where our products were made. That was the first idea we had, and from their we decided on scarves as they were an easy one size fits all item to start with. I personally have been traveling to Thailand since 2010, and saw people there that needed help. The Thai people are incredibly kind and friendly, and we wanted to do something that would benefit them while creating a company that we could be proud of. After visiting with many organizations, we chose SOS Children’s Villages to donate 10% of our profits too.

SS: Elizabeth Koh has donated a good amount of funds to the Thai charities, the children of Rajwithi Home For Girls and SOS Children’s Villages of Thailand. Why is this region of the world near & dear to your hearts? Why are these organizations important to you?

EK: This region is near and dear to our hearts because of the amazing people living in it. The thai people are incredibly kind, and can always manage a smile no matter what the circumstance. Their positivity is contagious, and seeing the stark differences between life in Thailand and life in the USA made us want to do something to help. The Rajavithi Home for Girls was one of the first organizations I met with, and they need a lot of help. It is hard to see so many people in need and not want to help them all! While we love the Rajavithi Home for girls, we chose SOS Children’s Villages as our official partner because of how well the children are taken care of there. SOS believies in the importance of raising children together as a family. In each village 10-12 children live together in one home, and become brothers and sisters. They have a mother in the home who lives their 24/7, and becomes their mother for life. This idea of creating a family environment for the children really struck my heart.

SS: Running a company with your best friend must be loads of fun! What is the best thing about it?

EK: The best thing about working with Megan is that we know each other so well, we have a short hand with each other and don’t have to spend much time “breaking things down” or over explaining where we’re coming from. There’s no ego here. Another great bonus is that we’ve been travel buddies for almost ten years as best friends. Now, through company we travel around the country quite a bit for sales meetings and conferences, as well as several trips to Thailand each year. Its just really special to be able to have a companion by my side who can be my savvy design and business partner, and then flip a switch and be my best friend in a second.

SS: Where would you like to see your company 5 years from now?

EK: In five years I would like to see us active in 3 different countries, providing fair employment and giving back to other regions of the world. As an avid traveler, I have visited many countries and know there is need all over the world. We are currently partnering with the Soroptomist Club to sponsor local scholarships for high school students, I would like to see us partnering with more charitable organizations in the USA as well. In 2015 we plan to launch 3 other types of accessories, so keep your eye on EK next year!

You can find their soft, gorgeous scarves and more information about this special company on their site and on Etsy. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest. Enter our giveaway for your chance to win a beautiful handcrafted Elizabeth Koh scarf!

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September 18, 2014 By Kelly 1 Comment

Review & Giveaway: Mainelement:love Aloe Conditioner

The main element in this line may be love but a prominent element is aromatherapy. It’s infused into the entire line to not only nourish the hair and scalp but also ‘awaken the senses.’ This aspect was highly important to creator, Tyrika Williams, a licensed massage therapist who knows about the benefits of aromatherapy.

Mainelement:Love Aloe Conditioner made my hair soft, silky and feeling healthy. It even gave it some shine. My hair is pretty healthy and soft, it’s not coarse or frizzy so I would only use this once or twice a week but it can be used everyday and as a leave-in conditioner. It nourishes the cuticles and hair shaft with panthenol and wheat protein. If your hair is dry, brittle, damaged, color treated then use it more often and it will help get it back in good shape.

I’m loving the aromatherapy aspect, it has a delicious vanilla mint scent. You know those yummy mints they give out at nice restaurants? That’s what the smell reminds me of!

Check out their whole botanical hair care line which includes herbal shampoo bars, conditioners, hair tea rinse, and herbal styling balms made with essential oils, natural butters and botanical herbs.

I’m happy to report that most of the ingredients are clean, no toxins that are of very high concern. It does, however, contain a few ingredients that rate 4 on the EWG cosmetic data base. On their scale of 0-10, 4 is considered moderate concern. I’d rather all of them be no higher than a 1 but fortunately the rest of the ingredients are clean.

It’s important to note that it doesn’t contain sulphates which are not only harmful but they severely dry hair out and strip the color.

One of my lucky readers will win a bottle of this fab conditioner and soon be sporting soft, healthy hair. Enter to win today! Good luck!

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June 24, 2014 By Kelly 1 Comment

Review & Giveaway: OraMD All-Natural Mouthwash

Good oral hygiene is crucial. Even the hottest people cannot be sexy without it. Let's face it, bad breath is one of THE biggest turn offs! No one wants to make out with someone who has chronic halitosis.

But you don't want to absorb the nasty chemicals of traditional mouth wash brands. Besides, the alcohol in those dries your mouth. OraMD by Trusted Health Products is an all-natural liquid toothpaste, mouthwash and breath freshener that contains no Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or fluoride and is comprised of 100% pure botanical oils of almond, spearmint and peppermint.

It works very well, my breath felt fresh and I like the fact that it also fights tartar, plaque and helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Personally, it didn't take any getting used to but the company warns that some may find the anti-inflammatory properties that kill bacteria a bit strong so you may need about a week to get used to it.

Enter for a chance to win a bottle! Your odds are good, they are giving away a bottle to not 1 but 3 of my lucky readers! Like their Facebook page and saves $5 on your first order.

Try it & lock lips with that foxy babe you've had your eye on 😉 Along with brushing & flossing this step will have your mouth ready for a marathon make out session.

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March 28, 2014 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Posh Polish For A Green Girl’s Perfect Mainicure

If you want your manicure to outlast the rest try Poshé top coat. I’ve used it for years. I gave myself a quick little manicure before heading out on the town last night and only had to wait 5 minutes before my nails were good to go. There are a lot of Seche Vite fans out there but I find Poshé works better.

Allure Magazine agrees, they’ve given it the best topcoat award 5 times. It gives great shine and it really is chip resistant. My pedicures can last 3 weeks without a chip. Obviously it doesn’t last that long on my hands since they’re constantly being used and washed but it lasts as well as the brands with toxic chemicals.

If I do my nails at night, after just 5 minutes I can get in bed and wake up the next morning without sheet prints on my nails. The best thing about this top coat is that it is free of the toxic chemicals dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Toluene and Formaldehyde that are found in most other nail polish brands. Try it & let me know what you think.

March 6, 2014 By Kelly 8 Comments

Review: Oh My DeVita Baby Shampoo & Body Wash

I’m a big fan of Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30 by DeVita so I was happy to check out their baby products. I’m always interested in products that are truly pure.

There’s a lot to like about Oh My Devita Baby Shampoo & Baby Wash: It’s vegan, tear free, gentle on sensitive skin, packaging is recyclable and most importantly, it is certified organic, paraben free and it does not contain artificial fragrance, sodium lauryl sulphate or nanoparticles. What are nanoparticles? Nanoparticles are very hazardous because they cross the cell barrier and drive into organs, including the brain. I’ll be talking about it in a future post. Suffice it to say, you want to stay away from any products made with nanotechnology.

The true test? Does my son like Oh My Devita Baby Shampoo & Baby Wash? Drum roll please… He loves it! He just turned 8 so this stuff isn’t just for babies, mamas! Jackson told me he loves the smell. And I love the way the he smells after bathing with the Calming Calendula. I even tried it and liked it! It’s not a typical ‘baby wash’ smell, just a nice fresh scent. It also comes fragrance free. There is nothing cuter than a little boy fresh out of the bath, cozy in his jammies! Good snuggle time.

The nice thing is, you can feel safe bathing your child with this because it doesn’t have toxic chemicals that are found in most baby products. Our children’s systems are quite delicate so, over time, harmful chemicals really affect them adversely. I am writing a series of posts that will include the ingredients you want to steer clear of so stay tuned.

The Oh My Devita Baby line includes, Hey Sunshine Solar Protection, Flutterby Baby Brulee Lotion, Bubbly Babies Shampoo & Body Wash, Powder Puff Baby Powder and Butter Cheeks Baby Balm. Be sure to follow Oh my DeVita Baby on Twitter and Facebook.

*Savvy Suburban received product to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

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September 27, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Review: Get Ready For The Weekend With Skinnygirl Cocktails

When I was approached by the Skinnygirl Cocktail Company (yes, the one Bethany Frankel famously sold for a killing) to do a review I was psyched! Cocktails on the job. Holla! I’m a bit apprehensive when doing reviews – what if I’m not fond of the product? I can’t lead my fabulous readers astray, I must speak the truth and the truth is… loved them! And so did our guests.

Refreshing with just the right amount of zing… went down smooth and built up to a nice relaxing feel good buzz. We tried Island Coconut and Cucumber vodka, they have 5 other flavors and a whole line of cocktails for your imbibement pleasure including vino! The flavors are subtle and unique. We drank it straight, lingering and enjoying every sip throughout the night but you could make a killer martini with this vodka or pound shots if that’s how you roll.

Since we liked these so much I bought their Margarita and it did not disappoint either. Can’t wait to try their Mojito. These drinks are lower in calorie which doesn’t hurt a bit but don’t let the name fool you, it’s rich and flavorful. It may be called Skinny but it’s not skinny on taste. Even though he’s a scotch man, my husband loved it too .

Our friend Chris’ drink of choice is vodka so I knew I had to get his opinion… “I’ve had my share of vodkas over the years (from high-end to the low-cheap stuff [from when a younger lad], and I’m happy to share that this smooth, light, relatively potent and ‘refreshing’ vodka is one that I’ve already acquired and added to my liquor chamber. The perfect blend of ingredients was enough to satisfy my palate, without overpowering the senses with dominant, heavy-sugar based and ‘syrupy’ flavors. Skinnygirl provided a savoring taste that felt pure, reminiscent of lounging peacefully in a day spa… and quite frankly, it was just delectable. Its intoxicating subtlety brought a calming and relaxing balance which proved to be a perfect complement for an evening with good friends.”

Only he could wax poetic about vodka but didn’t he set the scene nicely? You know you want to hit the nearest Bev Mo and stock up. He knows his vodka.

Want to bring out your inner Brian Flanagan at your next shin dig? Serve up these tasty recipes:

Endless Summer

Ingredients Preparation

1 ½ parts Skinnygirl™ Island Coconut Vodka Pour over fruit and ice, garnish with a mango and enjoy!
3 parts pineapple juice
4 parts sparkling water
1 cup sliced mango, frozen
Mango wedge for garnish

Sunset Strawberry Lemonade

Ingredients Preparation

2 parts Skinnygirl™ Bare Naked Vodka Pour over ice, top with club soda and enjoy!
2 large muddled strawberries
1 part powdered lemonade mix
Splash of club soda

Tropical Tea-se

Ingredients Preparation

1.5 parts Skinnygirl Cucumber Vodka Pour over ice, garnish with a pineapple wedge and enjoy!
6 parts green tea OR diet Green Tea
Ice
Pineapple wedge for garnish

August 4, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

BassBuds Free Prize Giveaway

Music lifts my mood, gives me energy and gets me going. I couldn’t live without it! My iPod is loaded with songs that make our parties more fun and my workouts, house cleaning and cooking more tolerable. My BassBoomz bluetooth speaker gets lots of use when we entertain and it’s small enough to throw in my beach bag so I can enjoy tunes at the pool and beach all summer.
I love my BassBuds earphones too so I’m excited to tell you about BassBuds big prize giveaway. Sign up here and become an EXCLUSIVE BassBuds VIP Inner Circle for your chance to win big in the FREE Prize giveaway in association with Choice FM.

March 4, 2013 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Review: Get Your Groove On With The BassBoomz Portable Speaker

I love my BassBuds earphones so I was very excited to review the BassBoomz high performance portable Bluetooth speaker. Music lights me up so the idea of playing it anywhere, anytime fills me with joy. This is a fantastic speaker. Designed with an innovative Bass Expansion System, BassBoomz gives you great sound quality with amazing bass.

It’s Small enough to fit just about anywhere (even in your pocket!) but gives huge sound amplification. BassBoomz are compatible with smartphones, laptops, tablets and MP3 players; they have a Li-ion battery that recharges fast giving you 5 – 6 hours of music. One speaker is loud but if you really want to blast your tunes and crank it up, hook 2 up with the dual connectivity option. It’s great looking and comes in a variety of cool colors. Mine is pretty pink which matches my fabulous BassBuds earphones!

Its easy portability is such a bonus because I love playing music while I’m making dinner, doing housework, etc, music makes life more fun. And I can’t tell you how nice it is to just put it anywhere and not have to bother with an electrical outlet. My iPod dock will not get much use now that I have BassBoomz! I’m excited to take it to the beach and pool this summer and it will be great to have when we host outdoor BBQs. Remember when we had to lug a big giant boom box everywhere? Wish I had the BassBoomz when I was in high school!

They have generously offered my readers $85 off the retail price so you can get them for only $46 for the entire month of March! Enter the voucher code: BBZUS026506 at check out. Grab one, get your groove on and let me know what you think, you know you want one!

Reviews & Giveaways

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