September 2012 - Brittleby's Corner

September 30, 2012

Sharp Women’s Health Conference in San Diego on October 6th ~ Tickets Still Available! #swhc12

Health…it is something some of us take for granted, while others fight for it. I am young and I haven’t had any real health scares in my life. I know that anything is possible, but in generations past, my family has been pretty healthy, both physically and mentally. That doesn’t mean that I should take my own health for granted. I am getting closer to my thirties and as I think about my future, my health plays a big part in that. That is why I am super excited to be attending the annual Sharp Women’s Health Conference in San Diego, CA on Saturday, October 6th.

This conference will feature keynote speakers and breakout sessions (workshops) – which range in topics including skin care, aging, personal finance, fitness (yoga, Zumba, etc.), nutrition, and health topics like heart care, cancer prevention, etc. You can also get free health screenings and you are able to have Ask-the-Doctor Q&A time. And you won’t want to miss the free giveaways and product samples from beauty and health sponsors, as well as fun activities like beauty make-overs and eyebrow threading.

Are you interested in attending? There are still some tickets left, but you have to act now before they sell out. Tickets are $45 and are well worth the days activities and the goodie bag you get to go home with! Moms, feel free to bring your daughters (and even your moms) and enjoy the day together.

If you would like more info about this event please visit the Sharp website. You can find out more about the agenda, breakout sessions, and speakers. You can connect with Sharp on and .

I am writing this post in exchange for a free ticket to the event. However, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 9:00 am 4 Comments

Filed Under: Announcement, Beauty, Health · Tagged With: conference, tickets

September 28, 2012

Buy Local – We’ll Help! $50 Cash {Giveaway} Ends 10/14

Buying local is very important to me! Small businesses, craft fairs, and farmers markets are all great examples of where you can buy and support local businesses/artisans.

Picking Raspberries at a Local Farm

I especially love buying local food when possible. It is fresher and tastier than anything you can buy at the grocery store. You can also create relationships with the growers and learn their practices and then buy food that is pesticide free and organic. You also know that your food was recently picked or harvested, and that it didn’t spend days on a truck getting to you! Also, at a farmer’s market, the only produce you can buy is what is in season, which is better for the environment.

One of my guilty pleasures is going to craft fairs! I love supporting people that love what they are doing. Plus, I would rather buy from the actual artist than pick something off the shelf at Target! However you choose to buy local, just do it…and we can help!

A big thanks goes to Denio’s Farmers Market & Swap Meet in Roseville, California for sponsoring this giveaway to promote buying from your local farmers markets! This giveaway was organized by The Reynolds Mom. Thank you to MaeGal, MontanaSolarCreations, Made In USA Challenge, Brittleby’s Corner, and Your Thriving Family for also participating in this giveaway and sharing why buying local is important to you!

Thanks to Denio’s Farmers Market, one lucky winner will receive $50 CASH to support their local farmers market!!! {Payable via PayPal} This giveaway is open to residents of the US only who are 18 or older. One entrant per household allowed. Entries will only be allowed via the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

Posted by Brittney Minor at 9:01 pm 32 Comments

Filed Under: Health · Tagged With: cash, local

September 25, 2012

Mikarose: Reinventing Modesty Dress {Review/Giveaway} Ends 10/10

As you know I recently took a trip to Paris, France. While planning this trip I decided that I needed to find some new dresses. While looking online I came across a dress site and knew that I could find something that would be prefect for my trip. Mikarose is an online clothing store committed to reinventing modesty! The have a great line of dresses as well as tops and skirts and accessories.

Mikarose is a clothing company that specializes in modest, elegant and fashionable dresses. Our company’s idea evolved when the owners realized how difficult it was to find modest dresses in today’s market. We are sure you have had similar experiences when looking for a modest dress. After many frustrating outings, we formed Mikarose. Our goal is to provide an extensive line of modest dresses, without having to sacrifice style. You will be able to wear our line to a broad range of functions: from everyday events to corporate parties. We hope to not only meet the needs of women looking for modest wear, but all those who are seeking elegant dresses.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Paisley Skirt Katherine, --Will NOT Ship Till Oct 15th -- Michelle -- Clearance -- Double Bell Sleeve Top

Ashley

They just came out with their Fall line last week! Go check out all their new dresses as well as their clearance section. I was sent the Ashley dress in Stone. I love the simplicity of the dress and the fact that you can dress it up by accessorizing. It was cooler in Paris when I wore the dress so I wore it with a black scarf, leggings and a sweater. I love the big necklace pictured on the right with the Ashley dress in pink. I also like the ruffle on the bottom of the dress…so simple and elegant! I also like that I don’t have to worry about cleavage (or bending over). The dress helps me dress modestly and I feel really comfortable in it.

I really do love my dress and I think that Mikarose has a great selection of fashionable dresses! I also think that they offer their dresses at great prices. The Ashley dress is valued at $44.99. They also have a store locator, so check to see if you can find a dress at a store near you!

Connect with Mikarose on and .

Ready for your chance to get a new dress? Enter below in the rafflecopter form to win a $50 GC to Mikarose. Giveaway is open to US only and ends 10/10. Good luck!

Posted by Brittney Minor at 9:01 pm 38 Comments

Filed Under: Beauty · Tagged With: dress, GC, modest

September 25, 2012

Go Raw Organic Healthy Snacks {Review}

goraw

I find that more and more often I ignore the snack aisle when I go shopping at most grocery stores. Popular snacks have so much junk in them that I don’t even want to tempt myself or my kids. At least there are healthy snacks at my local health food stores. Unfortunately the health food stores are not close enough for my daily/weekly visits, so I stock up on healthy snacks when I visit them.

One health food store carries Go Raw products! I was looking for a healthy cracker/nut to add to my salads to add a crunch. I came across Go Raw’sSpicy Flax Snax. I like that the ingredient list is simple and short: Sprouted Organic Flax Seeds, Sprouted Organic Sunflower Seeds, Sprouted Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Jalapeno, Organic Cilantro, Organic Lime Juice, Organic Spices, and Celtic Sea Salt. I broke up the crackers and added it to my Kale Salad. They are pretty tasty on their own as well.

Go Raw is dedicated to providing healthy snacks, both sweet and savory. Every snack is made with sprouted seeds and is considered to be “live” because, technically, if you planted it, something would grow! All Go Raw products are 100% ORGANIC Certification, Vegan, Sugar Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Nut Free (Nuts don’t sprout!), and Kosher. They have our own Raw- Vegan, gluten-free, wheat free, nut free and dairy free food manufacturing facility located in Mountain View, CA. They do not co-pack and their facility is strictly for Go Raw use only.

It starts with the seeds – finding the best, local when available – testing and inspecting – soaking in filtered water – rinsing and cleaning – then sprouting for up to four hours. The sprouts are then mixed with the highest quality raw, organic ingredients we can find. We hand spread the mixture onto trays and then load them into our custom built dehydrators where they’ll sit for up to two days at an average temperature of 98 degrees. The finished product is then packaged in house on our dedicated equipment then stored and shipped in our facility.

Go Raw has a variety of snacks including bars, flax snax, super chips/cookies, granola, sprouts and chocolate.

The bars are pretty tasty and come in a variety of flavors. The chocolate is also raw…and amazing! It is soft and the minty taste reminds me of a classic chocolate mint. The cookies are also tasty. My favorite is the lemon and I think my husband like the ginger snaps. Each product is made with minimal ingredients and you can see them all listed on their website. Lastly I was sent some granola and sprouted pumpkin seeds. Both make great snacks in-between meals.

Next time you visit your local health food store or grocery store, check to see if they have any Go Raw products! Give them a try and treat yourself to an organic healthy snack!

Connect with Go Raw on and .

Thank you to Go Raw for providing the products mentioned in this post for review. Although I received these products at no charge, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 4:53 pm 7 Comments

Filed Under: Food & Drink, Health · Tagged With: bars, Chocolate, cookies, granola, raw, snack

September 21, 2012

Fall Into Green {Giveaway Hop} #FallGreen Ends 9/30

Welcome to the Fall Into Green Giveaway Hop, hosted by Happy Mothering and Happy Green Mama through the Green Moms Network. Each participating blog is hosting a green or eco-friendly giveaway worth at least $25. You can find the list of participating blogs at the bottom of my post.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 9:01 pm 34 Comments

Filed Under: Giveaways, Past Giveaway ·

September 21, 2012

Oxylent Adult Multivitamin Supplement Drink {Review/Sponsor Spotlight} #FallGreen

It is really easy for me to remember to give my kids their vitamins, but it is a completely different story when it comes to me! I KNOW that I should be taking vitamins, I am just lazy when it comes to remembering!

I met up with Vitalah at the NPA Marketplace in Las Vegas this past June. They produce Oxylent, a daily multivitamin supplement drink mix for children, adults and pregnant women. I was able to sample their drinks at the show and was impressed. I thought they tasted pretty good! I was given a couple samples to take home as well. I have tried vitamin drinks before and have found they are the easiest way for me to remember to take my vitamins!

I was sent a 3o day supply of the adult variety pack to try out, as well as a couple samples of their prenatal drink mix. Their multivatimin drink mix includes 3 different flavors: Berries, Mandarin, and Balckberry Pomegranate. This supplement oxygenates, hydrates, circulates, and rejuvenates.

OXYGENATES: The enzymes, SOD and catalase, work together to promote the conversion of toxins into beneficial oxygen and water, enhancing cellular oxygenation.

HYDRATES: Important electrolytes control the balance of fluid in the body. They are also important for muscle and nerve function, blood pressure, movement of nutrients into the cells, and the removal of waste
product from the cells.

CIRCULATES: The amino acid, L-Arginine, promotes healthy blood flow, which significantly improves circulation.

REJUVENATES: A full range of B vitamins support adrenal health and immune and nervous systems5. Powerful antioxidants, CoQ10, vitamin C, and bioflavonoids, are also included. 1000 I.U.s natural vitamin D3 supports bone and heart health.

The prenatal comes in Cranberry Raspberry. It is meant for pregnant women and new moms!It nourishes the body during pregnancy and provides vitamins C and D for immune and bone health. It also contains Magnesium which enhances cellular balance, and vitamin b6 which helps reduce nausea that is associated with pregnancy.

I love that their products are made with natural flavors and coloring, as well as organic cane sugar. I prefer to take my vitamins in a healthy drink rather than taking a pill, so these are great for me. My kids love their children’s oxlent (you can read my review HERE). With the colder months ahead of us, and the sick season around the corner, I think that it is important to take vitamins daily. I enjoy drinking my Oxylent everyday and I recommend it if you are looking for a tasty way to enjoy your vitamins!

You can buy any of the Oxylent supplements on their website. The 30 day Variety pack cost $35.95 and the 30 day Prenatal is $36.95.

Connect with Oxylent on and .

Come back on September 22 to enter to win a 3o Day Variety Box of Adult Multivitamin Supplement Drink from Oxylent (and a water bottle) in the Fall Into Green Giveaway. Interested in getting an extra entry? Visit Oxylent and tell me something you learned or another product you would like to try.

Thank you to Vitalah for providing the products mentioned in this post for review. Although I received these products at no charge, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 12:00 pm 13 Comments

Filed Under: Health, Made in the USA · Tagged With: drink, vitamin

September 20, 2012

NaturBox Monthly Subscription {Review/Sponsor Spotlight} #FallGreen

Isn’t it great that you can sign up to get things delivered to your door every month? I think all these subscription companies are amazing! NatureBox is a monthly subscription company that delivers natural snacks to your door every month. These snacks are made with wholesome ingredients and are minimally processed (if at all). Each box comes with 15-20 servings across 4-6 different snacks.

Every month you will get a brand new box filled with different nutritional snacks than the month before. Right now you cannot buy individual snacks, but I think that would be an amazing option, especially if you fell in love with one of their snacks! Each box costs $19.95 and ships free. If you order before the 5th of the month you will get that month’s box and you can pause or cancel at any time! Once you join you can expect a box to be delivered to your door at the beginning of each month. For every NatureBox sent out, they donate one meal to help feed the over 14 million children in America who are hungry.

I love that every month you get different snacks sent straight to your door! I was sent the September box to review. My box came with 5 different snacks including: Big island Pineapple, Apple Orchard Granola, Umami Roasted Nuts, Toasted Sesame Stix, and Pistachio Power Clusters. So what is my favorite? Hands down, the pineapple! It is thinly sliced and super sweet…I want to eat the whole bag at once, but I am trying to have some self control. I love how there is a variety among the snacks, so if you want something salty, you can grab the roasted nuts or sesame stix. If you want something sweet, you can grab the power clusters or the granola! At first glance the bags may appear small (one of my first thoughts when I was introduced to the company) but there is a lot packed into these bags! And the servings aren’t small either!

The box also comes with an info card about the month’s snacks and even share’s a recipe using one of the snacks! The card tells you more in depth what each snack is. For example, I learned that the Apple Orchards Granola is sweetened with agave, not sugar. The card also suggested dipping the sesame stix into hummus, which I wouldn’t have thought of doing! So when you get your NatureBox, check out your info card for more details about your snacks!

I love my NatureBox! If you are searching for healthy snacks, try them out!

Use the promo code APPLE25 for 25% off your first month of subscription (The 25% discount is only applicable to the month-to-month subscription. 6 month subscriptions receive 1 month free and 12 month subscriptions receive 3 months free).

Connect with NatureBox on and .

Come back on September 22 to enter to win next months NatureBox in the Fall Into Green Giveaway. Interested in getting an extra entry? Visit NatureBox and tell me something you learned or a snack you would like to see featured in a NatureBox.

Thank you to NatureBox for providing the products mentioned in this post for review. Although I received these products at no charge, all opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 8:40 pm 17 Comments

Filed Under: Food & Drink, Health, Made in the USA · Tagged With: monthly subscription, snacks

September 20, 2012

I’m Back…Did you know I was gone?

I just returned home from an overseas trip! I don’t like to advertise when I am going to be gone, and I had some things ready to post throughout the week, so did I fool you?

My husband decided earlier this summer that he needed to take a trip to Europe and Africa in order to do some research for this thesis in his Master’s program. It was decided early on that he was going to be gone for a couple of weeks. Well, it turned out that I was able to join him for a week. He started his trip in England, then we met in Paris and together traveled to Accra, Ghana. It is very interesting to pack for Paris and Africa in one carry on bag! I spent roughly three days in Paris, then one day of travel and roughly three more days in Accra. It was an amazing trip and I can’t believe that it is over already! There is so much I want to share with you, but I need to play a little catch up and upload all our photos first!

I have some awesome giveaways and blog hops coming up! So stay tuned to hear about my trip and enter some giveaways.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 7:56 pm 2 Comments

Filed Under: Announcement ·

September 20, 2012

Greener Living Soap Nuts Organic Laundry Detergent

I have heard great things about soap nuts and I was given the opportunity to try some recently from Greener Living. Soap Nuts have no synthetic chemicals, no fragrance chemicals, no foaming agents or other toxins. They contain no added chemicals, fragrances, dyes or fillers…just a nut from a tree!

Since they are so pure, they work especially well for people with skin allergies, eczema, or sensitivities to commercial detergents. They are safe and effective for cloth diapers and safe for all colors and types of fabrics. Soap nuts are hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin. They are 100% natural and biodegradable. This is the perfect laundry detergent for me since they are so environmentally friendly!

In India, Nepal, and other South Asian countries, a tree called sapindus mukorrosi grows small fruits surrounded by a firm outer shell. This tree is unique because it produces its own natural saponins, a soap-like product, that coats the shell of the fruit. When the fruits ripen and fall from the tree, local families harvest it, then remove the fruit from the seed. The soap nut shell is then dried out in the sun, using absolutely no chemical processing or manufacturing processes. The soap nut shell absorbs water and releases saponins which circulate as a natural surfactant in the wash water, reducing the surface tension of the water and freeing dirt, grime and oils from the clothing. They act just as commercial laundry detergents, but without the chemicals. When the clothes are rinsed, the soapnut saponins are washed downstream where they remain harmless to the environment.

Posted by Brittney Minor at 4:10 pm 2 Comments

Filed Under: Household Cleaners · Tagged With: organic detergent, soap nuts

September 19, 2012