natural

Beat The Winter Dryness with Maple Holistics Avocado Oil (+ Free Sample)

January 31, 2017 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Living in the desert during the winter can be brutal to my hair and skin. It’s cold and the humidity is under 10%, causing my hair to frizz and break apart, plus cause my skin to be incredibly dry. I’m always searching for a natural moisturizer that isn’t oily, but actually WORKS. Luckily, I’ve recently discovered Maple Holistics Avocado Oil!

Disclosure: I received a free bottle of avocado oil from Maple Holistics, in the hopes that I’d review it on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Maple Holistics, a beauty and skincare company based out of New Jersey, prides itself on being:

Made In The USA
All Natural
Cruelty Free
Sulfate Free
Safe for Color

They have products ranging from shampoo, to body wash, to skin serums. I was really excited to try the avocado oil for two reasons: hair/skin therapy + I love avocados! I know avocados contain healthy fats, so I imagined they would help my hair/skin too. What’s great is that this avocado contains nothing but avocado oil! It’s 100% pure avocado oil. It’s also cold-pressed and refined.

The suggested uses for this avocado oil are:

Lightly massage into skin, especially dry areas.
Apply directly to scalp as a hair conditioner, or add drops to shampoo before applying.

I really like using this avocado oil on my elbows (really dry areas) and as a conditioner once or twice a week. It’s made such a difference! Mind you, I color my hair, and the avocado oil doesn’t strip the color at all (check out this article about their purple shampoo, which is great for colored hair).

My boyfriend likes to use the oil for his beard, which is usually super scratchy and coarse (but not anymore!).

Photo Courtesy of the Maple Holistics Website

Want to get a FREE sample?!

Maple Holistics offers free samples on their website to people who are willing to post an honest review on their website! You’ll receive your complimentary sample. You can currently you can choose between: Botanical Dry Hair Shampoo, Sweet Almond Oil, or Cedarwood Shampoo. Sign up to get your free sample here!

Have you decided the avocado oil is perfect for you (it definitely is for me!)? Order on their site or on Amazon, and you can get free shipping for orders over $25, or free shipping and a gift for orders over $35.

For more info + updates about Maple Holistics, sign up for emails on their website or like them on Facebook!

Have you used avocado oil? Did you like it?
What do you look for in a moisturizer (skin or hair)?
Are you going to apply for the free sample?!

Thank you so much for reading!

[subscribe2]

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

ELLEDA: A Quality Facial Serum That Won’t Break The Bank

May 1, 2015 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

I’m getting old. Okay, maybe not old, but as of last month, I’m officially in my late 20s. Add in the terrible air quality and pollution in Los Angeles, and I’ve got myself some pretty bad skin.

It often feels like I can’t catch a break. With combination skin, my face gets super oily, causing acne, which in turn causes my skin to become dry. Plus the weather is ridiculously dry here (we’re in one of the worst droughts California has ever faced). I swear I’ve tried everything. Various store-bought anti-aging creams, oily lotions, oil-free lotions, etc. I started making my own facial moisturizer with coconut oil and essential oils in the hopes that it would be better for my skin. It has been, which is awesome, but my skin was still missing something. I needed a hyaluronic acid serum, and one that was less expensive than what most brands are asking.

While looking through a new-to-me blog and brand website, I stumbled upon a serum that was right up my alley. It was Elleda Vitamin C 20% Serum and the ingredients are almost all-natural (98%). I thought I’d give it a try for 30 days and see if facial serum was worth the hype. *I was offered a full-size bottle of Elleda serum in exchange for sharing my honest opinion. No monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. Reference ID pmc7558e9d1f956b016d1fdba7ea132378

First, let me share a bit of info about this amazing serum!

It’s known as Mother Nature’s skincare secret in a bottle
It offers clinical strength Vitamin C at 20% – the perfect percentage and maximum effective concentration designed to stimulate collagen production, resulting in firmer skin, reduced wrinkles and the diminished appearance of sun spots and acne scars.
It contains a powerful blend of natural ingredients in perfect proportion.
The ingredients are 72% organic and 98% natural ingredients specifically designed to leave skin feeling and looking healthy and vibrant.
In addition to 20% Vitamin C, this unique anti-aging serum contains an antioxidant-rich mix of vitamins and botanicals that combine to make you look and feel beautiful!

Ingredients:

—-> Vitamin C – Stimulates collagen production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
—-> Vitamin E – Nourishes your skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky.
—-> Hyaluronic Acid (11%) – Hydrates skin cells to freshen your complexion.
—-> Aloe Barbadensis Leaf – Protects and revives your skin with natural healing properties.
—-> Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) – Helps aid a variety of skin conditions, including acne and eczema.
—-> Jojoba Oil – Mimics your body’s natural oils and absorbs deeply and quickly to moisturize all skin types.

As you can see, there are endless amounts of benefits to using this serum!

What I Love About Elleda Serum:

It’s inexpensive! There are a few serums on Amazon for $20+, but many of the serums I’ve seen are well over $50. This Elleda serum is only $14.50 on Amazon (affiliate link)!
It’s high quality. It works extremely well!
Most the ingredients are natural and organic. I try my best not to put chemicals in my body or on my skin.
It comes in a glass bottle. I refuse to use plastic for anything. Glass is much cleaner and safer!
It dries quickly. I don’t have to wait forever to put my coconut oil moisturizer on.
It lasts a long time! I used this serum twice a day and it lasted almost a full 60 days. The bottle is 1 oz.

What I Don’t Necessarily Love About Elleda Serum:

It’s a dropper. It wasn’t impossible to use, but I’d prefer a pump. I felt like I wasted a lot of serum because it fell off my finger or I squeezed too much out.

Find Elleda 20% Vitamin C Serum on Amazon (affiliate link)!

Sign up for their emails on their website and receive a discount code. Follow Elleda on Facebook for updates, promotions, and discounts!

Have you noticed any changes in your skin/complexion as you’ve grown older?
Have you or do you use a serum?
What products work best for you?

Thank you so much for reading my blog!

If you’d like to receive new posts to your inbox, subscribe here:

[subscribe2]

Find me on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Ambassador Health Nutrition Reviews

Avoid Dehydration With The World’s First Alkaline Sports Drink, Phenoh

April 18, 2015 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

I suck at keeping hydrated.

Really, I do. I’m ALWAYS thirsty because of a medication I’m taking, I’m always walking/playing with the kids I babysit, it’s hot in LA, and then add in my yoga and stretching. You’d think I’d be better at it! Truthfully, no matter how much water I drink, I can’t seem to feel hydrated. It’s a never-ending battle and it’s severely hurting my health.

Disclosure: I received a 12 pack of pHenOH as part of my #SweatPink ambassadorship with Fit Approach. Monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

I heard about pHenOH through Fit Approach (I am a #SweatPink ambassador) and thought I’d give it a try! It’s the world’s first alkaline sports drink, which aids in staying balanced during times of stress and exercise! Below is an excerpt from the home page of their website, explaining who they are and what pHenOH is:

A superior, healthy, ALKALINE alternative to conventional sports drinks. Phenoh has redefined the concept of a “sports drink” to reflect the needs of athletes and active individuals alike. Phenoh 7.4, with just 7 naturally healthy ingredients and a pH of 7.4, is everything that your body needs to stay balanced during stress and exercise. This is not an ade, this is pHenOH.

After a yoga sesh; ignore my sweaty selfie & super weird smile! 😉

What attracted me to pHenOH is the pH level. PHenOH’s pH level is 7.4 (alkaline) and is the biggest part of what makes them stand out. If you’re having difficulty recalling anything from your high school chemistry class (ahem, me), pHenOH gives an easy lamens terms summary of pH (website):

The body is naturally alkaline [7.4 pH] and it must stay that way in order to function properly. Stress and exercise cause the production and buildup of acidic compounds in our blood, contributing to fatigue and negative health effects.

Regular sports drinks have an excessive amount of sugar and extremely acidic pH levels. Did you know anything below a pH of 5.5 can cause tooth decay? Super gross. So not only am I not hydrating enough, I’m also most likely consuming things with too high of a pH. In addition to the things I’m consuming, I also have very high stress levels (I rarely have me time). I realized it was time to try pHenOH and see if it helped!

In a nutshell, YEP! After incorporating pHenOH into my daily routine (2 a day for 6 days), I felt more hydrated and balanced. Dehydration causes fatigue, so it was definitely awesome not getting tired a couple hours after waking up. For only have 7 ingredients, I wasn’t sure how it would taste. However, it is delightful! I love the hint of aloe vera and agave nectar.

The Ingredients:

the finest organic aloe vera
naturally low glycemic organic agave nectar
potassium (no added sodium)
magnesium
vitamin C
only 30 calories per 8 ounce serving

Research shows that pHenOH 7.4 (source):

Increases VO2 Max (oxygen metabolism) by up to 10%.
Boosts your endurance.
Enhances your peak athletic performance.
Offsets the effects of altitude on performance.
Buffers your acidic metabolic waste during exercise and stress.

If you’re interested in a Q&A with the founder Alex Schmotter (an avid outdoorsman and dentist), I highly recommend fellow #SweatPink ambassador Kinetic Fix’s blog post!

My honest opinion of pHenOH 7.4 alkaline drink:

Also after my yoga sesh; hydrating with pHenOH of course!

I love it! I’m an advocate for consuming only natural and organic foods/drinks (except the occasional cake from Susie Cakes), avoiding chemicals as much as possible, and easier ways to get hydrated. I can only drink so much water without getting bored; having a tasty, healthy drink like pHenOH is exactly what I need! Oh, and my boyfriend totally loves it. He’s a soccer coach, health coach, swimmer, and exercise enthusiast (he walked 12 miles today if that’s any indication of his enthusiasm), and he’s been stealing my pHenOHs (I caught him red-handed!). He never likes anything I like; so pHenOH and friends, know that this is a HUGE victory! Haha 🙂

Share on social media what you love about pHenOH 7.4 by using the hashtags #GoAlkaline, #FindYourPhenoh, #StayBalanced, & #Sweatpink! You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

To purchase pHenOH for yourself (or friends!), order on Amazon here (affiliate link) or their website. You can also use the store locator (scroll to the bottom). One case (12 pack of 16.9 oz tetra packs) is $28 plus free shipping.

So tell me,

how well do you stay hydrated? Do you drink anything other than water?
When would you incorporate pHenOH into your daily life?
Do you remember learning about pH levels in high school chemistry?

Thank you SO much for reading! Connect with me:

Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

[subscribe2]

Lifestyle Nutrition SoCal

Giving Back Has Never Been So ‘Fresh and Easy’

November 9, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

When I first moved to Pasadena, California, Fresh and Easy (F&E) became my all-time favorite grocery store. Healthy foods at great prices; what more could someone ask for? Now that I live in West Los Angeles, it’s a bit more of a drive, but completely worth it!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received monetary compensation in exchange for promoting Fresh and Easy’s giving back bags. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

The F&E Express in West LA

Fresh and Easy prides themselves on having healthier options (all F&E foods are free of high-fructose corn syrup, added trans fats, artificial colors or flavors) for less cost. They’re able to offer their foods at low-cost because all their stores are designed to save money! All stores use LED lighting and energy-efficient refrigerator doors. Plus their checkouts are all self-checkout, which means they save money by only hiring a few workers to help customers. It’s perfect because the shopper gets great products at great prices, plus there are just enough associates to help the customers!

My favorite thing about F&E is their prepared meals. I’ll admit cooking is not one of my hobbies. Between measuring the ingredients and the amount of time it generally takes, I am all for meals that just need heated up in the oven or microwave! F&E offers tons of options in the prepared-meal department; from Asian, to American, to Mexican, they pretty much cover it all!

A few of the prepared meals at F&E

This holiday season, Fresh and Easy is giving back through their Giving Back Bag program. Here are the details:

Purchase a Giving Back Bag at any F&E for $10
Every bag contains 13 essential, non-perishable food items, such as cereal bars, canned tuna and canned green beans.
You can either leave the bag at F&E for them to donate to a local food bank, or you can take it with you and donate the bag to a charity of your choice!
The program runs from 11/5-12/25 (2014).

In the F&E Express

It is that simple! Giving back has never been so easy. F&E does all the work for you, and you get to help people-in-need this holiday season!

In addition to my love for F&E, I love donating to people who need it. I’ve been donating my clothes to a community that’s less-fortunate for as long as I can remember. So of course I needed to head to my nearest F&E store and purchase a Giving Back Bag!

I went to the F&E Express in West LA. The express store has fewer items, but it still has everything I need! They even have organic dog treats and food, which is perfect for my puppy Archie. They had a great deal on coconut water (which is my favorite drink ever), but I settled for coconut flavored water because I wanted to try something new!

The Giving Back Bags were at the self-checkouts, and were already packed with goodies. F&E truly made it as easy as possible for people to donate. So we purchased our dinner (prepared fried chicken and garlic bread- SO good!), coconut flavored water, and a Giving Back Bag! All for under $25.

If you live near a F&E store, I definitely recommend getting some (if not all) of your groceries there, and purchase a Giving Back Bag (or two!) to donate to a local food bank! It truly is a fresh and easy way to give back. You can find store locations on their website here.

You can find Fresh and Easy on their website, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Share your photos of your Giving Back Bag on social media by tagging @freshandeasy!

So tell me,

Do you shop at Fresh and Easy? If so, what is your favorite F&E product?
Would you purchase a Giving Back Bag? Who would you donate it to?

Thank you for reading my blog! If you want to receive new posts by email, subscribe here:

[subscribe2]

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram

Nutrition Reviews

Juice That Looks Like Water + Is Sugar/Calorie-Free

September 17, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 4 Comments

Disclosure: I received two bottles of Koa in the hopes that I would mention it on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

One night, while watching Shark Tank, I stumbled upon an email from Well + Good. They have the best health and wellness articles, so I make sure to look through the emails no matter what. On this particular night, Well + Good had an article about juice that looks like water, plus has zero sugar and calories. Naturally, I was intrigued! So I read on.

The clear juice is called Koa Natural Olakino. It’s the first product of its kind, and it is absolutely amazing! Before I go into detail about it, here’s a picture so you have an idea of what it looks like:

I totally love the packaging, too! It’s really clean, chic, and simple.

**This juice isn’t to be confused with juice cleanses that you see everywhere. That’s not what Koa is. It’s not a meal replacement, a cleanse, or anything of that sort. It’s simply juice that you can add to your regular daily nutrition. It is complementary.

So, what is Koa?

“Purified by nature and squeezed from 12 fresh fruits and vegetables. Koa is unlike anything else, redefining our ideas about healthy living. Koa delivers only the healthy part of fruits and vegetables. Koa is a natural Olakino. Olakino is the healthiest parts squeezed from fruits & veggies. Olakino retains the natural goodness but skips the bad stuff. That means Koa can boast naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and anti-oxidants without any additives or calories” (source).

Image Source

What Does It Taste Like?

“Olakino is made from fresh-pressed pomegranates, bamboo, mint, lime, amla fruit, annatto, guava, holy basil, red sea lettuce, lemongrass, carrot, and lemons. But… during a centrifugal filtration process it turns clear, explains co-founder Adam Louras – and loses its sugar and calories on the way” (source).

The mint, cucumber, and citrus stands out the most in my opinion. I love detox water (mint, cucumber, lemon), so I really love Koa! If you don’t like mint, you might not like it. But if you do like mint, it’s definitely for you! Plus it’s very hydrating, healthy, and has been called uber coconut water. I LOVE coconut water, and Koa is something that, while similar, does not contain the sugar and calories coconut water does. It’s a win-win!

The production of Koa is through a private facility in California. The people at Koa call it the ‘black box.’ They run the facility and are the only ones who know how to use the equipment. It is not created in a lab, because it is 100% natural! With this process, the juice ends up being a clear color, with 74 minerals, 9 vitamins, 0 calories, and 0 sugar. Adam Louras was told a natural, sugar-free juice could not be done. But he and Wes Wells did it, and it is awesome!

Image Source

Another great thing about Koa is that it’s made with sustainably grown fruits and vegetables, cooperatively processed to minimize waste, and the bottle is 100% biodegradable and recyclable! It’s a great product not only for you, but for the environment, as well.

Speaking of, when Wes sent me the bottles to try, the letter I received was made of paper that could be PLANTED. You read that right, planted. There are seeds in the paper, and the paper is biodegradable, so you just put it in some soil and water it, and voila, plants! Seriously so awesome. I’ve never seen anything like it!

Where To Buy:

As of now, Koa can be found in a few locations on the East coast, Texas, and one location in Napa, California. You can find specific locations here. They have plans to be available on the West coast, but nothing is set in stone yet. Koa is currently not available for delivery, BUT it’s coming soon!! You’ll be able to order a case of 15 ($59.99) either as a one-time order, or a subscription. You can read more about that here.

Keep In Touch:

Koa can be found on these social media sites:

Because of my sugar addiction, I am always looking for a healthier drink option. Being able to get 74 minerals and 9 vitamins from a juice that contains zero sugar naturally is definitely a favorite in my book. I want to say THANK YOU to Wes and Adam from Koa for the opportunity to sample such an amazing drink! You guys are definitely doing it right.

So tell me,

Have you ever heard of or tried Koa? Is it something you’d be interested in trying?
What do you look for in your juices/drinks?

Thank you so much for reading my blog! Please keep in touch through Instagram + Twitter. 🙂

[subscribe2]

XO

Lyndsay

Ambassador Fitness Nutrition Reviews

Get More Energy With ENERGYbits + A Discount/Giveaway

August 23, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 6 Comments

Disclosure: I received two free samples of ENERGYbits in the hopes that I would review them on my blog. I did not receive any monetary compensation. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

I’ll admit, when I first heard of spirulina algae as a form of energy, I was not interested. I’m not a vegetarian or vegan, so plant-based isn’t necessarily important to me. But health and clean energy sources are. Especially as an athlete. And I found that with Boston based sports nutrition company, ENERGYbits!

Here’s a quick description of what ENERGYbits are, borrowed from their website:

“ENERGYbits® are tiny algae tabs so nutritionally dense, they eliminate fatigue and hunger instantly. Want a healthy, natural way to fuel your game or fire up your brain? ENERGYbits® are for you! NO caffeine, sugar, chemicals, gluten or soy, just pure, plant based nutrition, all for just ONE calorie per tab. ENERGYbits® have just ONE ingredient – organically grown NON GMO spirulina algae – a super food endorsed by the United Nations and NASA as the most nutritionally dense food in the world. Spirulina has been a favorite of gold medalists for decades. Now it’s your turn.”

They’re called bits because they are tiny tablets of spirulina algae. They’re not a supplement. They are a whole food source. One bit is 64% protein, contains 40 vitamins, antioxidants,, and nitric oxide. When you look at the percentage of protein in a bit, it’s higher than any other protein source. because of this, it’s great energy source! What’s awesome is that there is a no rush and no crash- just simple, smooth energy throughout your day (or workout).

Here’s the thing that tends to throw people off: one serving of ENERGYbits is 30 tablets. Yes, 30. At first, I didn’t want to try something that I needed to take 30 of. I don’t mind taking pills/supplements, but even then, I don’t take more than a few a day. Here’s what they look like:

Images Courtesy of ENERGYbits Pinterest & Burpees for Breakfast

With that being said, I am actually a big fan of these little bits!! They’re algae, so I definitely recommend swallowing them (not chewing). I took 10 at a time, and had no issues. I took my first sample (30 bits) on the first day of BlogFest. I don’t usually wake up at 5:30am, and I definitely don’t stay awake for 20 hours, especially without crashing. I was in a conference all day long, and was really surprised I hadn’t fallen asleep by 5 pm. But then I remembered I took the bits, and I was really impressed! I used to take Adderall (prescription), so I was used to feeling a big rush of energy, and then an even bigger crash later on. I absolutely LOVE that I did not experience that with the bits! Taking the 30 bits (which by the way are VERY small) is totally worth it.

Image Courtesy of ENERGYbits Pinterest

Another thing that I was hesitant about was the pricing. ENERGYbits come in a bag of 1,000 bits for $115.00. Yes, one hundred & fifteen dollars. BUT, you’re getting 1,000 bits at a time (a little over 33 servings). So when you break it down, it’s actually very comparable to any other energy source. Per serving, it equates to about $3.50. If you look at the cost of energy drinks, ENERGYbits are similar, if not cheaper. Plus, bits are a clean energy and whole food source. In my book, ENERGYbits win by a landslide!

One bag of ENERGYbits One sample of bits

Discount Code + Giveaway!

Do you want to try ENERGYbits, & get a 25% discount off your purchase? Simply visit their website, and enter code TBB into the coupon box to receive your discount!

Also, I am offering one reader a free sample of ENERGYbits! Simply comment on this blog post about why you’d like to try ENERGYbits! One winner (US only) will be chosen & contacted by Tuesday, August 26, 2014. ENERGYbits are only available at ENERGYbits.com, and Jonathan (their Community Manager) has let me know that he’d be happy to share more info on their sample program – you can email him at jlevitt@energybits.com.

If you’re interested in the awesomeness of ENERGYbits like I am, you can participate in their health and fitness Twitter chat, held every Tuesday night at 8 pm (EST) using hashtag #PoweredByBits.

You can also follow ENERGYbits on their Pinterest and Facebook, and visit their website at www.energybits.com!

Don’t forget to follow me, too! I am most active on Instagram and Twitter.

I want to thank ENERGYbits for the samples and opportunity to review their amazing product!

XO, Lyndsay

Nutrition Reviews

#FindYourZen With CocoZen Coconut Water

August 9, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

I have a pretty serious obsession with coconut water. It’s my absolute favorite thing to drink, and I like to try every brand I find. I had the opportunity to try CocoZen™, and I am a huge fan!

What is coconut water?

Coconut water is the clear liquid obtained by opening a young, green coconut, the fruits of the coconut palm tree. Coconut water is fat and cholesterol-free and has a light, sweet taste. Its unique mixture of natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, cytokines, and phyto-hormones makes it the perfect refreshment solution (as found on the CocoZen website).

(Image Courtesy of CocoZen.com)

Why is it called CocoZen?

We want to help you find the calm within the chaos. Your Zen is here. Our mission is to create elements and communities that help you discover, experience, and vitalize the core of your true nature every day.We are dedicated to providing authentic and natural coconut products that help support your healthy and active lifestyle. From source to shelf, we’ve covered every angle to bring you the finest coconut water on the planet. CocoZen is 100% natural, filled with essential nutrients, packed and sealed at the source, and as fresh as nature intended (as found on the CocoZen website). Their motto is Find Your Zen. I love it!

CocoZen comes in a tetra pack, which helps to keep the coconut water fresh for several months. This way, it can be easily stacked on shelves, plus it’s recyclable! I like it because it has a screw cap, so you can drink a little bit at a time, and put it back in the fridge to finish later (within 24-48 hours).

Where can I buy it?

CocoZen can be found in select NYC stores, and also on Amazon. It will also be sold at fitness centers and yoga studios as time goes on. The package on Amazon comes with 12-11.1 ounce tetra packs for $29.45. It’s not the cheapest coconut water I’ve found, but it’s really good quality, and that definitely makes a difference!

A few fun facts:

Coconut water is 95% water and a fat and cholesterol-free drink. It also a rich source of electrolytes, B vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
It is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and kosher.
The fruit sugar is natural and derived from fruit such as pears and apples. These sugars are added to ensure every serving of CocoZen delivers the same sweetness level.
Coconut water is considered an isotonic drink because it contains the same concentration of essential salts and minerals as in your body cells and blood. This makes CocoZen the ideal rehydration drink to replace these precious substances lost from physical activity.
Electrolyte-rich CocoZen is perfect for keeping the body hydrated and supplied with essential nutrients during and after pregnancy.

(Image Courtesy of CocoZen.com)

If you want to give this delicious drink a try, you can buy CocoZen here! Have questions or comments? Follow CocoZen on Twitter. #FindYourZen

Have you tried coconut water? Do you like it?
Have you tried CocoZen specifically?

Disclosure: I did not receive any monetary compensation for this review. I received a free case of CocoZen coconut water to try and review on my blog. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you CocoZen for the opportunity!

Fitness Nutrition Reviews

Formulx; A Healthy, Non-GMO Protein Shake

July 1, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 5 Comments

I have been on a search for a good, healthy, non-GMO protein powder for a few months now. I was with a company for the past two years that was my protein shake of choice, however, it no longer fits my needs. I was looking for a good-tasting protein shake that was non-GMO, grass-fed whey, and had natural ingredients. While looking through Instagram one day, I stumbled across Formulx. I had found it!

Formulx Natural Recovery is a grass-fed whey protein isolate that is non-GMO, undenatured, and contains all-natural ingredients that are scientifically formulated to help people like me: a health conscious, high-intensity athlete trying to build muscle, burn fat, increase work capacity, and assist in quicker recovery. Perfect! I contacted Formulx on their Instagram and talked with one of their employees, Peter. As I’ve said in the past, one of the things that really stands out to me is good customer service. If a company is good to their consumers, and is passionate about what they do and the products they promote, it’s a big plus in my book! Peter is all of those things. I was really excited to receive a sample from Formulx to see if it was as great as it sounded.

I was sent a Formulx shaker cup, two vanilla shake packets, and two chocolate shake packets:

Guess what? IT WAS DELICIOUS! A lot of protein powders I’ve tried recently are really gross. Most of them I can’t even finish. But Formulx is so so good. The chocolate and vanilla both! As I’m writing this, I have an open packet next to me, and it smells so good, I want to lick the packet haha. Have you ever had a french vanilla cappuccino? That’s what the vanilla smells like. It tastes like it, too! So yummy.

A little bit about what’s in the Formulx vanilla mix:

22g grass-fed whey protein isolate
5.2g naturally occuring BCAA’s (branched-chain amino acids)
free of: gluten, soy, hormones, GMOs
130 calories; 25 calories from fat
2.5g fat
50mg sodium (this is the lowest I’ve found so far!)
3g carbs; 4g sugar alcohol
various vitamins and minerals
manufactured in a GMP facility
contains milk (sorry if you’re lactose-intolerant!)

Here’s the back of the packet if you want to take a look:

Formulx recommends mixing it with 6-10 ounces of water or almond milk immediately after your workout. I mixed mine with about 10 ounces of unsweetened almond milk. SO good! I use it for post-recovery, but I was also looking for a breakfast shake. While the vitamins and minerals aren’t as high as the last protein source I used, I feel better knowing Formulx doesn’t use GMOs. I’ve had a Formulx shake for breakfast for the past three days, and it has worked out great!

I will definitely be ordering more Fomulx ASAP. You can check it out for yourself at formulx.com! They have sample packs if you want to give it a try before ordering a bigger container (free shipping, too!). The big container is $54.95 for 26 servings, which is a lot cheaper (and for more servings) than what I’ve seen! Definitely cheaper than what I was using before.

You can follow Formulx on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and purchase Formulx on their website! If you try it for yourself, takea picture and tag @formulx and @thebalancedbrunette so we can check it out! And as always, let me know what you think. 🙂

Have you tried Formulx before? What did you think?
What do you look for in a protein powder?

XO,

Lyndsay

Disclosure: I received free samples of Formulx in the hopes that I would post about it on my blog. I only review products that are good for myself and my readers, therefore all opinions are 100% my own. Thank you Formulx for the opportunity!

Ambassador Fitness Nutrition

New Delta Labs Ambassador & A GIVEAWAY!!

April 21, 2014 By lyndsinreallife 7 Comments

I’ve got nothing but love for the company Delta Labs and their supplements!! I found Delta Labs through a fellow fit friend, and figured I would try it out. They currently have 8 different supplements- all for women, and all gluten-free! Some of them are vegan-friendly, as well!

I have every single supplement except the prenatal and postnatal! Love love love them all! I was so excited about the company and the products, that I became an ambassador for Delta Labs! It’s an amazing community dedicated to women’s health, and I am so grateful to be a part of it. As a welcome, Delta Labs sent me this amazing package of gifts:

I feel so incredibly special!! I get to represent this amazing brand with a backpack, a couple super cute tee shirts, etc! What’s even more awesome about this is that I have samples of the green tea+ that I get to GIVEAWAY to 5 people!!!!! This is my very first giveaway and I am so incredibly excited about it! The green tea+ is probably my favorite product of them all. It helps with weight loss, more energy, more control over emotional eating, and food cravings! It might sound too good to be true, but it has helped me SO much already! If you read my post from last Monday, you’ll know I have a sugar addiction that I am working to get over. The green tea+ definitely helps!!

Okay, so this giveaway is going to be pretty simple! There are 3 things you are required to do to be eligible to win 1 of the 5 sample packs:

Comment on this post about why you want to try the green tea+
Follow me on Instagram
Like my Facebook page

This is what you will win:

Let the games begin!! The giveaway ends on Monday, April 28, 2014!!

Good luck! 🙂

OH, and one more thing: if you’re excited to order any supplements now, go to deltalabsusa.com, and at checkout, enter code GETFITWITHLYNDS for $5 off your order!! They will also send you a prepaid label so you can send back your empty bottle for another $5 off your next order! I love that this company is all about decreasing our carbon footprint! 🙂

Disclosure: I received a free bottle of avocado oil from Maple Holistics, in the hopes that I’d review it on my blog. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

The suggested uses for this avocado oil are:

Photo Courtesy of the Maple Holistics Website

Want to get a FREE sample?!

Have you decided the avocado oil is perfect for you (it definitely is for me!)? Order on their site or on Amazon, and you can get free shipping for orders over $25, or free shipping and a gift for orders over $35.

Thank you so much for reading!

[subscribe2]

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

First, let me share a bit of info about this amazing serum!

Ingredients:

What I Love About Elleda Serum:

What I Don’t Necessarily Love About Elleda Serum:

Thank you so much for reading my blog!

Find me on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

The Ingredients:

Research shows that pHenOH 7.4 (source):

My honest opinion of pHenOH 7.4 alkaline drink:

This holiday season, Fresh and Easy is giving back through their Giving Back Bag program. Here are the details:

It is that simple! Giving back has never been so easy. F&E does all the work for you, and you get to help people-in-need this holiday season!

Share your photos of your Giving Back Bag on social media by tagging @freshandeasy!

So tell me,

Do you shop at Fresh and Easy? If so, what is your favorite F&E product?

Would you purchase a Giving Back Bag? Who would you donate it to?

XO

Lyndsay

Twitter | Instagram

So, what is Koa?

What Does It Taste Like?

Where To Buy:

Keep In Touch:

So tell me,

XO

Lyndsay

Do you want to try ENERGYbits, & get a 25% discount off your purchase? Simply visit their website, and enter code TBB into the coupon box to receive your discount!

XO,

Lyndsay