I’m all about beauty products that do double duty.  If you can do even more than two things, even better!  Serious Serum delivers.  Designed as an ingrown hair eliminator, it has been found to do much more than that.

It does take care of ingrown hairs and helps prevent them.  It is great in the summer months for your bikini area.  However, it also works as a great toner on your face.  I love using it before bed before I apply my moisturizer.  Its exfoliating properties allow my moisturizer to absorb more deeply and when I wake up in the morning my skin is super smooth and moisturized.

Its also great on your hands.  It removes all that dead skin and allow your soap and lotion to do its job better.  My cuticles are in better shape now too!

I love this for the little bumps that appear on the backs of my arms after I’ve been running or hiking.  This is an easy way to get rid of them without having to scrub for hours in the shower.  I love the ease of use and the fact that I can throw this bottle in my travel bag just as easily as it sits on my night table.

I recently went on a two weeks trip and this was on my “must have” list for the whole trip.  It was wonderful to use afte ra long day presenting or even after hours spent in the car.

According to their FAQs page, a bottle lasts a few months.  You can order Serious Serum and find out more about them here: http://www.seriousserum.com/index.php

We’ve gotten a lot of questions about making your own dog food.  I don’t personally do this, but a great friend of mine does and she was nice enough to share her process with us.

I know that we have been looking at various Mother’s Day presents or gifts for the graduate in your life.  You are going to want to add something from Love Pray Jewelry to your shopping list.  And you won’t stop at one.  With their diverse line of items, you will want to get more than just one!

Their headbands, necklaces, bracelets and malas are made by hand with care, affordable to purchase, and not only do they look amazing, they are fabulous to wear.

I was able to try out a convertible 108 bead mala.  It is a necklace and it’s made of stretchy material so I can wrap it around my list.  It looks great both ways and is just as comfortable in both locations.

Wearing it on a recent road trip I spent time with it around my neck and around my wrist.  I even hiked with it on. Two things stayed consistent: it was comfortable to wear, and I keep receiving compliments every time I have it on.

All the materials used in the making of Love Pray Jewelry’s items have meaning.  The items in my mall are as follows:

Sandalwood encompasses and enhances both the spiritual and physical well-being of men and women. It is thought that sandalwood guides away the distractions of the mind back to the sensual joy. Sandalwood has one of the highest vibrations of any oil that resonates with aspects of ourselves, attracting the highest spiritual vibrations, opening the highest spiritual centres and aligning the chakras to enhance spiritual awareness and allowing healing energies to flow.

Ganesh is the Lord of Success.

Take a look at all of their items on their website here: http://www.loveprayjewelry.com

I was recently sent some Picky Bars to review.  I have tried a lot of bars over time.  As a matter of fact, as soon as I see a new bar come out, I check the stores to see if its in stock.  I’m always looking for something new and tasty and healthy.  (Which as we all know is super hard to find.)

Anyway,Picky Bars are my dream come true.  They have improved over time and are an amazing whole foods option that is also great for your tastebuds.

Whole foods are the way to go as far as nutrition.  Avoiding all of the sugar and preservatives that are prevalent in energy bars is tough to do.Pick bars are wholesome and simple.  If you can actually recognize the ingredients in the bar.  I love taking a peek before I devour it.  (Especially looking for the WHOLE chocolate chips.)  There are no soy fillers, vitamin powders, or carb blends.  It is (shockingly) real stuff!

All of their bars are gluten and dairy free and some are even vegan.  So even those with food sensitivities or dietary guidelines can enjoy.

More importantly, I felt great after eating the bar.  It looked small but it enough to fuel a tough workout, or furl a tough work day.  My favorite flavor is Lauren’s Mega Nuts.  The bars are packed in small foil packages.  They stay contained and are easy to throw into a bag or purse.  I always have one in my running bag, in the center console of my car and in my purse.  These bars aren’t hard on your stomach like a lot of other bars.  These can be eaten right before run or other workout and you won’t have any digestive issues.

These bars aren’t going to break the bank either.  You can buy a box of ten for $22.99  at www.PickyBars.com.  I’ve already placed an order for more

Looking for a clutter free (and delicious) Father’s Day present?  The Cookie Girl has you covered! WIth her unique designs that actually taste great, you can give all the dads and granddads in your life a sweet treat this Father’s Day.  (And the rest of the family will love them too!)

Take a peek at some of the adorable designs she has….but special requests can be made!

To order:

www.TheCookieGirlStore.com
Orders@TheCookieGirlStore.com
832-360-8101

The last day to order cookies for Father’s Day delivery is June 5!

Looking for a heathy snack that you can grab on the go and your kids will like?  I was recently able to try some of their chickpea snacks; sea salt, cracked pepper, sweet cinnamon and smokey chili and lime.

The Good Bean’s snacks come in early to carry, light weight, sealed bags that are easy to throw into a bag, purse or car console.  Kids love the flavors and they are made with all natural ingredients.  I love that they are also gluten free!

The Good Bean’s snacks really satisfy your sweet or salty, crunchy cravings.  Instead of sitting down with a whole bag of chips, treat yourself to a bag of Good Bean snacks.

Their ingredients are clean, GMO free and Fair Trade.  So it is a snack that tastes great and you can feel good about.  Oh and their website offers free shipping on order of $25 or more.

Take a peek at all of their offerings here: http://www.thegoodbean.com/

Here are a few of my picks for beautiful and fun organizing products….just a few lessons that organization can be beautiful. CLick on the photo to purchase.

This little poodle can keep your jewelry safe and look adorable while doing it:

This bird coat rack adds a functional element while also adding whimsy:

Keep your files tucked away in style:

Want a little chevron in your life? This cork board will do the trick:

Coconut oil is one of the most versatile foods. From the kitchen to the bathroom, you can do just about anything with it.

Healthy little tip: In cool weather coconut oil hardens, in warm weather it is more of a liquid, this is normal. It does not need to be refrigerated. Buy raw, organic, and unrefined!

Kitchen

Coconut oil has a very high boiling point so the oils do not go rancid as easily as other oils when you cook with it. I use coconut oil for just about everything in the kitchen; sautéing,baking, a scoop in my green smoothie or added to hot soups or tea.

I keep a jar of organic & unrefined (but not raw) that I use when I am going to be heating the oil for a longer period of time (baking for instance). I’m not as picky about it being raw so that I can save a few dollars because after it’s cooked on high heat it is no longer raw. I do keep a raw oil for everything else, even hot soups & teas, I just add it after it’s cooled off a bit. The temperature needs to be above boiling to kill off the beneficial enzymes and no longer be considered raw, so as long as it’s not boiling, I will throw in the good (raw) stuff.

You can also use coconut oil to condition worn cutting boards!

Bathroom

Coconut oil is ideal for skin care. Your skin is an organ and needs nourishing from organic raw foods just as much as your inside organs do. Rub coconut oil on your body after a shower, use for cracked or rough heals, or as a base for a scrub. It appears that it would be too oily but your body soaks it up very quickly. You can use the oil straight from the store or I like to use Annmarie Gianni’s Coconut Oil.

When coconut oil is absorbed into your skin and connective tissues, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to keep your connective tissues strong and supple, and aids in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making your skin smoother.

Coconut oil is a great tool to keep your hair healthy, shiny and strong. The oil increases circulation in the scalp, supplying nutrients to the hair follicles. Apply the oil starting from the scalp and working it out through to the ends. Massage the head for a few minutes to work the oil well into the follicles, leave it for 1 hour, then shampoo well and condition.

Use it as a makeup remover, a mascara brush cleaner, lip moisturizer or as a shaving cream.

Baby & Pets

Coconut oil helps to soothe and heal diaper rash and cradle cap. It can be used with nursing mothers to increase milk flow and to soothe the skin.

Massage into dogs skin for dandruff control, relieve joints for arthritis, and add a scoop to their food for digestion & weight control.

Immense Benefits

While coconut oil can be used for just about anything on the outside, what it does to our insides is pretty miraculous. Coconut oil aids in digestion, boosts energy and stimulates metabolism. It has been shown to reduce headaches and to release tension in sore muscles. Coconut oil is a perfect healthy fat. It’s a powerful virus-destroyer and antibiotic to add into your diet when you are feeling sick.

Fast fact:  Coconut oil can be used as a substitute for any oil in the kitchen, used in smoothies, teas and soups. It can be used for your hair, skin, lips, shaving cream, as a makeup remover or to clean makeup brushes. It can be used for dogs, babies and nursing mothers. It boosts energy and metabolism, aids in digestion, reduces headaches and sore muscles and is a tool to fight back against colds as a natural antibiotic and virus killer.

Action: Start using coconut oil! If you already use it, pick one new use and try it out! The more coconut oil in your life, the better. Let me know how it goes for you below!

Brenna Ortner is the creator of Healthy Little Bit, a blog that educates & inspires women to live healthy, energetic & fulfilling lives. She is a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (AADP) and guides women to thrive in their bodies. Her coaching style is based on bio-individuality, pleasure eating, and that every little healthy bit counts. You can feel calm and confident, lower or eliminate sugar addictions and find the real energy you’ve been looking for. Together we’ll work to heal the root cause of your health challenges so you can start living a happy life with your body working for you, not against you. Brenna specializes in PMS, mood imbalances, infertility, low libido, low energy, inability to lose weight & menopause.

Website: http://healthylittlebit.com/
Twitter: @healthylilbit
FB page: http://www.facebook.com/HealthyLittleBit

Practical gifts are sometimes not the most fun to receive.  Tiny Print’s iPhone cases change all that.  Their phone cases protect your phone, and look adorable while doing it.  Many times, they elicit screams of joy when they are unwrapped.

I was given the chance to try out a phone case.  I picked my photo and the case came in the mail.  Even though I know what it was going to look like, when the package arrived and I opened it, I laughed with delight as to how adorable it is.

Their cases are made of shatter proof plastic and the printing on them is such that there is no peeling or fading over time.  This case will look great after being in your purse for months.  You can easily access your buttons and headset jack too.

They have cases for the iPhone 4, 4s and 5, so just make sure you know what model to order!  They do also have cases that you don’t have to upload a photo for and those are still adorable.

Every time someone sees my case they tell me how adorable it is.  I love being able to take my doggie with me anywhere I go.  And in a world full of iPhones I can always tell my phone apart.

These cases are a great gift for your mom, aunt or special someone who is celebrating a birthday this spring.  They are also awesome fro gads!  They even have special grad cases!

Take a look at all their offerings here: http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/1photo-2photo-3photo–iphone-cases.htm