All posts filed under: product review

Luna Sundara Palo Santo: the Holy Wood

Published by papaya_and_lime

Luna Sundara is a sustainably harvested brand of Palo Santo; a natural wood aromatic incense used for centuries by the Incas and indigenous people of the Andes as a remedy for purifying and cleansing. Traditionally it is used for relieving common cold and flu symptoms, asthma, allergies, headaches, anxiety, inflammation, sea sickness and arthritis… it is even said to have cancer fighting properties. In Spanish, Palo Santo translates as “Holy Wood” and it is so named after the mystical Palo Santo tree that grows on the coast of South America and is a relation of Frankincense and Myrrh. Appropriately named, the enriching aroma of a burning Palo Santo stick is heavenly, with hints of mint and citrus at work. “It all began with love.” This is the opening statement of Luna Sundara’s ‘About’ page on their website and really, how perfect is that? Inspired by their shared love of healing, tradition, aromatherapy and respect for nature, co-owners Thomas Konik and Sandra Manay founded Luna Sundara early this year (Luna is the Latin name for moon and Sundara means beautiful …

to soothe your mind: bali botanic

Published by chelsea

I was so excited to receive this essential oil from Lou’s company Bali Botanic. Not only is it just thrilling to see my friend embark on an exciting new journey as an entrepreneur, but to see the lengths and efforts that her and her partner Bar have undertaken to find the perfect ingredients has brought so much hope and confidence to me as a consumer. It’s so easy now for companies to just simply slap a sticker on their product marketing it as “organic” or “all natural”, because they know that not a soul will ever be able to trace it back to origin. Lately I’ve become very skeptical of some of my favorite companies which has prompted me to do more research before I continue to invest in them. With Bali Botanic, it will never be a concern. I first met Lou and Bar on my honeymoon in Bali, however Lou and I had been internet buddies for some time – sharing stories and comments on sea, field & tribe – and now she’s …

meet n greet: homegrown collective

Published by chelsea

My favorite mail order box yet! When I first discovered the Homegrown Collective, I knew I had found the perfect solution to homesteading in Puerto Rico. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to find all natural products, and in many cases I didn’t even know what I could make at home to substitute. Until I met Mitchell Rose of the Homegrown Collective! Mitchell reached out to me to sample and review one of their GREEN boxes, so I gladly shared my experiences with the DIY laundry kit (here, here and here) and now I’m thrilled to have them back and sponsoring the Three Year Blogiversary Giveaway! The Homegrown Collective gives back and supports environmental awareness by providing their members with products that foster self-sufficiency, environmental stewardship and sustainability. Their goal was to make green living more accessible and more fun! How can you not want to try these guys?? Some examples of their past boxes include: Home Remedies & Cure Alls | The Beauty of Coconuts | DIY Detox in a Box to name a …

hubalou bamboo head wrap

Published by chelsea

I don’t have enough space for all the good things I can say about Hubalou. Sustainable, beautiful, useful, made in the USA, giving back to local communities with their profits – hello! A product that I can feel good about using on my hair. Hubalou is a young company, just recently founded in 2012 by Sarah Masciana. She experimented with different materials, originally utilizing a cotton t-shirt to dry her hair to protect the natural curls. Then she stumbled upon the bamboo fiber and brought forth this luxurious bamboo head wrap. Perfect for all hair types! I was in the same position as this Austin, Texas based Hubalou founder… Prior to Hubalou, I used a bath towel Turbie Twist head wrap when I got out of the shower – I battle frizz and humidity problems here in Puerto Rico like no other. So I immediately apply jojoba oil or Moroccan oil to my hair to combat this, then wrap it up to keep the moisture inside to dry my hair while I pray for less …

tieks by gavrieli

Published by chelsea

Outfit: Cardi, Forever 21 | Tank, LOFT | Pants, LOFT | Shoes, Tieks | Anchor Ring, James Avery | Black gem ring, Lily Emme | Watch, Fossil My favorite shoes. Versatile, comfortable, well constructed and stylish. The best ballet flats ever invented, these are my go-to shoes for any occasion. Dress up, dress down – the perfect companion for traveling, working and going out. Hello Tieks by Gavrieli! I bought the Ballerina Pink Tieks because I wanted a subtle color that would match everything in my wardrobe – I’m usually always in navy, sage green, browns and purples. They are such a nice subtle shade of pink, that they even appear cream in some of my photos. This was exactly what I wanted – something soft and gentle, just like the real Italian leather used to create these beauties. (hey, you don’t want leather? No fear, there’s vegan options too!) I loved everything about my first experience with Tieks; from opening the cute blue box, to unwrapping the lovely creamy leather flats, to the first …