Never has the word “no” been so welcome.  No dimethicone, no paraben, no mineral oil, no animal testing or products make the BWC Hand & Body Lotion worth trying.  Vitacost had sent me a bottle to review and this is The Frugal Diva’s very unscientific report.  After one week of usage, I like it for the following reasons – it did not upset my sensitive skin, it absorbed quickly, left no filmy residue and my skin felt softer immediately after application.

All these things would be immaterial to The Frugal Diva for a high priced bottle of lotion however at $8.19 for an 8.5 oz. bottle, this product went to the top of my list.  It shows that you can pass up all those expensively packaged bottles at departments stores, not have to pay the same amount as a week’s worth of groceries, and still get a natural product at a great price. It just takes a bit a research. After all didn’t they invent the Internet so we could find the best bargains?

Vita Cost, which has all manner of organic yummies, sent The Frugal Diva some breakfast cereal from TeeChia for review.

The time has come when every calorie has to be nutrient packed or things get out of balance very quickly. I was delighted with the heavy duty grains and slight sweetening without sugar. You can either have it with hot or cold water. My suggestion-only use hot water.  The texture does not work with cold water if you are eating it as cereal. Usually, I’m ready for a snack by about 10:30 however before I had a chance to notice it was lunch time and there had been no nagging need to raid the refrigerator.  This product works well with coconut milk, yogurt, or would be a great addition to a gluten free muffin mix.

•  Chia, Flax, Quinoa, Amaranth, Ramon & Pumpkin
•  Gluten Free
•  6 g Fiber
•  1100 mg ALA Omega-3 Fatty Acids
•  No Sugar Added
•  26 g Whole Grains
•  Antioxidant-Rich Seeds & Fruits

Other Ingredients: Gluten-free organic rolled oats, organic quinoa seeds, dates, organic zante currants (currants, sunflower oil), organic milled chia seeds, organic milled flax seeds (golden and brown), organic amaranth seeds, Oregon pumpkin seeds, dried blueberries (blueberries, apple juice infused), organic raw ramon seeds, natural blueberry flavor, freeze dried blueberries. Packaged in a facility that also handles tree nuts.

The Frugal Diva had never heard of ramon seeds and decided it was best to find out about them. The ramon tree is a member of the fig family, which also includes mulberry trees. At 130 feet tall, ramon trees are part of the forest canopy in Central American rainforests and frequently are cut down for lumber. Ramon seeds are actually the seed of the ramon fruit. They have zero fat, are very high in potassium, fiber and tryptophan, the amino acid that helps calm stress and anxiety plus they are gluten-free.  You have to love something that reduces stress and provides nutrients.

Picture a shopping cart piled high with organic foods. Does the wholesome goodness of fresh, chemical-free fare come to mind? Or do you wince, envisioning a pile of unpaid bills stacked beside a bowl of farm-fresh fruit?

Sadly, the high price tags on clean, unprocessed foods are preventing even the most health-minded, eco-conscious Americans from buying them. A 2011 Thomson Reuters-NPR health poll found that while 58 percent of U.S. adults preferred organic food, 54 percent said it was too expensive to buy.

But banning pesticides from your plate doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little effort, you can drastically cut the cost of organic foods, making mealtime healthier for your family and the earth a safer place for all of us.

Skip the supermarket
Don’t be afraid to get a little mud on your shoes! For fair-priced, fresh, organic produce, meat and eggs, head to a local farm. Besides being a fun Saturday morning excursion, you’ll get the freshest possible foods from farmers who believe, just as you do, that “naturally grown” is best.

Join a club
Cropping up all over the nation are groups of people who’ve figured out that, to save money on organic foods, there’s power in numbers. Organic buyers clubs, typically made up of several individuals or families, pool resources to buy in bulk from organic farms. You’ll get a variety of seasonal, fresh produce and other foods for a fraction of what you’d pay at a store.

Pass on prepackaged
Snack time can add up when you satisfy mid-day munchies with organic crackers, cookies, pretzels and chips. Not only are you paying for each certified-organic ingredient used to make them, you’re also doling out dollars for packaging and advertising. Instead, stock up on organic essentials—flour, oats, sugar, spices, nuts, seeds—and make your own healthy snacks.

Be a bargainista
The Sunday paper is loaded with coupons—but most are for popular, chemically concocted convenience foods. To find deals on natural and organic options, look online. Have a favorite brand? Check their website for printable coupons, promotions and samples. Or, buy from an online retailer like Vitacost.com, which offers up to 50 percent off organic grocery items.

Find your green thumb
There’s no better way to save money and to know, without a doubt, that your food is safe than to simply grow it yourself. Gardening is easy, relaxing and can help put healthy food on your table for years to come. Start by planting fruits and veggies known to have the most pesticide residue when grown conventionally, such as lettuce, spinach, bell peppers and strawberries.

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. They know that a healthy lifestyle is more than organic vitamins and natural supplements.  That’s why Vitacost.com offers essentials for your home, your baby, your pantry, your beauty routine – even your furry, four-legged friends! Since 1994, Vitacost.com has been taking the cost out of healthy living. Today, you can shop over 35,000 products such as Green Coffee Bean Extract or Chitosan from your computer, tablet or smartphone with just a click of a button.  Buy Vitacost vitamins today. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

By: +Rebecca Chopin writer for Vitacost.com

Clean Out Your Pantry, for Better Health and Savings!

This is a guest post from the folks at Vita Cost who help you get healthy and save money with a Pantry Makeover.

Toppled bottles, expired cans, scattered remnants of a bag of rice that fell on its side. We’ve all been there. After months of hurried meal making, rummaging kids and intentions to eat well falling by wayside—your pantry is a mess. You’ve got stuff you’ll never use, stuff that’s stale and stuff you may not even be able to identify.

Cleaning out food cabinets every once in awhile isn’t just necessary for sanity’s sake, or to keep bugs at bay. It’s also a great way to get back on track with healthy eating habits—and to shave a little off your family’s food bill. Staying organized helps prevent waste, which can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Roll up your sleeves, slide the trash can close to the door and follow these simple steps for a budget-friendly, healthy pantry makeover:

Clear the Way
First, remove everything from your pantry shelves. Glance at labels as you do, and toss anything that’s expired or has a funky smell. Divide what’s left into two piles: things you know you’ll use in the (near) future and things you’re pretty sure you won’t. Chances are if it’s been stacked in the back since last Thanksgiving, you should get rid of it. Donate these items to a food pantry or soup kitchen.

Make It Shine
Skip the harsh (and expensive!) cleaning solutions. Make your own wood-shelf cleaner by filling a spray bottle with ½ cup water, ½ cup vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Add six drops of essential oil for scent, if you’d like. Shake well, spray shelves and wipe with a soft cloth until clean.

Makeover Time!
Before you start lining up spice jars and arranging cereal boxes by height—stop. Take a good look at what your family is eating. Are smiling cartoon characters dancing on your cracker boxes? Do you have enough canned soup to survive a month-long power outage?

Start weeding out unhealthy staples and snacks, replacing them with whole, unprocessed foods that actually nourish rather than harm health. For example, trade white rice for brown; vegetable oil for olive or canola; processed peanut butter for natural. Avoid anything with “hydrogenated” on the label, and always buy fresh and frozen over canned.

While healthier foods can be more expensive, you’ll find great discounts at online health food retailers such as Vitacost.com. You can also buy in bulk, watch for sales, use coupons and sign up for emails from (or “like” the Facebook page of) your favorite natural food brands, which may offer exclusive deals for subscribers and fans.

Get Organized
Ever open a snack package, stick it back in the cabinet and forget it exists until it’s no longer edible? Of course you have. The best way to avoid food waste is to keep things well sealed, clearly labeled and easily accessible. Buy a variety of large glass jars or canisters and BPA-free plastic storage containers, and label them with permanent marker or decorative tags. When you buy something—say, a bag of whole wheat flour—dump it in, seal the container and place it with similar items on the shelf.

Once you’re used to labeling foods, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to start. Just like your entire pantry makeover—stop putting it off, you’ll feel fantastic when it’s done!

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Vitacost.com has been selling discount vitamins since 1994. Since then it’s grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for healthy living essentials-with vitamins and supplements being just one of their many helpful categories! Get the best price on vitamins, nutritional supplements, health foods and diet products. Want to read about chia seeds benefits or just want some green cleaning tips Vitacost is the place for you. Vitacost.com’s customers mean the world to them, and it’s their goal to provide you with the best nutritional supplements, natural foods and sports nutrition to help with your health and wellness. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog, and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

By: +Rebecca Chopin writer for Vitacost.com

A day at the spa is a nice treat, but it’s also an expensive one. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of homemade skincare recipes to help you stay pampered – without having to take out a second mortgage.

Cleansing facial mask

• 1/4 cup raw, organic honey
• 1 raw egg, beaten
• 1/8 tsp apple cider vinegar

Honey is well-known for its anti-bacterial properties, while apple cider vinegar can function as a toner to help tame oily skin. To make this simple mask, mix together ingredients in a small bowl – you may need to melt your honey in the microwave first to achieve a liquid consistency. Apply mixture to face and neck. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Coconut cuticle cream

• 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2-3 drops essential oil of your choice

Are dry, ragged cuticles driving you mad? Whip up this super-easy concoction to soften ‘em up. Simply mix coconut oil and olive oil in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Heat for a few seconds, then add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil. Soak hands in warm water for few minutes before massaging the mixture into your cuticles.

Refreshing foot soak

• 1 gallon water
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt
• 15 drops essential oil of your choice

After a long day, treat your feet to this relaxing foot soak. Boil the water, then add it to a basin (one you can comfortably rest your tootsies in) and let it cool a bit. Toss in the baking soda and epsom salt, let dissolve. Finally, add your favorite essential oil for a soothing scent. Next, add the final ingredient: your feet!

Satisfying body scrub

• 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
• 1 cup finely ground sea salt
• 10 drops essential oil of your choice

In a small bowl, mix together the oil and salt to form a creamy paste – if it’s too scratchy, add more oil. Apply all over and gently scrub in a circular motion to slough away dirt, oil and dead skin cells.  Rinse to reveal softer, more refreshed skin!

By: +Katie Kaleita, writer for Vitacost.com

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Vitacost.com has been selling discount vitamins since 1994. Since then it’s grown into one of the biggest online marketplaces for healthy living essentials-with vitamins and supplements being just one of their many helpful categories! Get the best price on vitamins such as vitamin b12 and vitamin D, nutritional supplements, whole foods and diet products. Vitacost.com’s customers mean the world to them, and it’s their goal to provide you with the best nutritional supplements, natural foods and sports nutrition to help with your health and wellness. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog, and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.