CalNaturale Svelte Drink Review

Busy, active people need sustenance. It is that simple. Busy, active women like me want things simple, ready to go and fast. I tried the four flavors of CalNaturale's sustained energy/protein drink recently and fell in love.

Flavors like French Vanilla, Spiced Chai, Cappuccino and Chocolate are natural picks for many of us. The substantial size of the boxy cartons will surprise you. You can drink it cold or at room temperature. I found that I would drink half right out of the pantry and then store the remaining half carton in the refrigerator for later use. Cold or room temperature the flavor is the same, which I found on point for what each was supposed to taste like. There was no artificial sweetness to the Svelte drinks and the only thing I noticed was a slightly floral end note in each beverage. Each one tastes rich and creamy and indulgent, which is a nice departure from many of the grainy, downright gritty or watery protein drinks you can buy. The flavors are created using natural, organic ingredients like organic soy milk, organic cocoa and rice syrup. Loaded with about 16 grams of protein per drink and complex carbohydrates for added energy, Svelte drinks are a yummy drink selection for those of us watching our waist lines or needing a boost.

I felt full after each drink and it was a nice meal replacement or way to eat a big salad at lunch and get my protein from Svelte and not meat or even beans and/or nuts. I liked the departure. I would definitely drink it again and again! I highly recommend it. It tastes like a treat but doesn't treat your body like a playground.

The only drawback to Svelte is that it has been hard to find. No stores in my state sell it right now. It is available on Amazon in packs ($35.99 for 12) and online at the Svelte website.

MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this post. Products received are for review purposes only. Opinions are MPR's only.

Crispy Green Snacks

100% natural. 100% freeze-dried. In flavors like kiwi, strawberry and mango, Crispy Green Snacks ($1.59 for .36 bag, $7.99 for 6 bags) are a nice change of pace when it comes to snacking. I like how light they are for packing in lunches but also my purse, in the car and for air travel. It is the perfect way to get more fruit in your day because these snacks are so portable and lightweight. You can eat them whenever and not worry about juice staining and dripping all over the place, which I love. No napkins needed! It makes a great no mess snack for kids too. I also like that the bags, big or small, are resealable.

Using a cold (freezing) vacuum process Crispy Green removes all the water from the fruit to make it completely freeze-dried. Nothing else is added. The fun texture means that I have gotten my girls to eat a few other types of fruit they didn't want to try the conventional way, like kiwi. The flavors are not altered and everything tastes true. It tastes great when you mix them together too. Creating combinations like Asian Pear and Pineapple are fantastic.

Crispy Green snacks are available online and at Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Bloom, Ukrops and other health food and grocery stores nationwide.

MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this post. All products received are for review and test purposes only. Opinions are MPR's only.

*Image from chow.com

Nozin Allergy Master

Fun Find-I suffer from allergies almost year round. I didn't grow up this way but in the past few years it has gotten a lot worse. When Nozin asked me to test their Nozin Allergy Master I said, Yes! I have used their Nasal Sanitizer before and loved it.

NOZIN® Allergy Master™ nasal spray ($14.99) is natural with cooling mint and moisturizing aloe. It helps relieve congestion, sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose plus build protection. There are no side effects often associated with allergy medications. Read no medicine head. No sleepiness either. It can last up to 12 hours, is non-drowsy and soothes nasal dryness. That is something I have often and it really helped with that. Clinically proven Allergy Master™ with AntioxClear™ technology works to help you "master" your allergies in a homeopathic way. It sounds corny but Nozin knows what it is doing. There are no steroids in this product and I love that. It works so well and it has become a great ally in my allergy arsenal.

Nozin also offers satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Nozin can be purchased online and at drugstore.com.

Read what I said in the past about Nozin. Victoria Mason, Parent Bloggers Network

"NOZIN is part of my routine in the morning. It's like brushing your teeth!"

eos Hand Lotion

Fun Find-Evolution of Smooth has done it again with a pebble-shaped hand lotion that is great for every day use. Available in two types- unscented (blue) or cucumber (green) they are natural and fast absorbing.

Paraben free, containing moisturizing shea butter, oat extract, and vitamins C and E, eos hand lotion will leaves your skin soft and supple. It is 97% natural formula, lanolin, dye, and phthalate-free.

Available at Walgreens and Drugstore.com.

Kiss My Face for Kids

Always on the lookout for natural, chemical-free products for myself and the kids I was pleased when Kiss My Face sent me a box loaded with a few of their kids line products- A Whale of a Soap, Self Foaming Shampoo & Body Wash and Self Foaming Hand Wash.

The Kiss My Face Self Foaming Hand Wash ($7.95) is already a favorite in our house. I buy it for their bathroom as it is very easy to pump out the soap in a puff of foam.  This is great for little ones just learning to wash their hands during potty training as well as older kids.  The soap is light and airy but cleans thoroughly and the wide pump fits their hands.  Both my two year-old and five year-old love it.  The Berry Smart scent also entices and they have a tendency to do a little too much hand washing at times. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

A Whale of a Soap ($7.95, two bars) is comprised of vegetable glycerin and comes in a white scentless version or orange u smart whales.  Each box contains two whale bars of soap that are also chemical free.  This soap is fun and the kids want to use it all the time.  Even when they just see the box they get excited for a chance to use a new whale in the tub or shower to play and clean up.  I like how it doesn't dry their skin and has moisturizing properties from palm kernels. 

Self Foaming Shampoo & Body Wash ($8.95) comes in scentless, orange u smart and berry smart scents.  It is another fun product from Kiss My Face for Kids.  My girls have a blast squeezing the bottle to get the foaming soap out and love piling up the suds on their kneecaps, heads, shoulders and tub while they clean themselves at bath time.  I wish it didn't go so fast though because at $8.95 a bottle it doesn't take long for this shampoo (tear-free!) to disappear and I am not fond of the price. 

Kiss My Face is a great company.  I am a huge fan of their shave cream and many of their other products for the whole family.  We use their kids toothpaste as well.  They have a wide array of products from oral care, sun care,  hair care and more.  You can find them online at Kiss My Face, Drugstore.com and at many drug and grocery stores nationwide. 

MPR Rating:  Four Stars

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review and test purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only.


*Images from savingwithshellie.com and ecofabulous.com

Nature's Gate Glow Lotion

Nature’s Gate Glow Lotion for light and medium skin tones ($12.99, 16 oz) helps to nourish dry skin while providing a gradual, even and natural looking glow.  It's tanning without the damage to your skin.  This fair-skinned, skin cancer survivor loves that!  Using seven skin conditioning moisturizers and antioxidants it is great for daily use and it doesn't leave behind that stinky sunless tanner stench.

In the past I have had some problems with skin irritation from Nature's Gate products.  This time around no such allergy occurred and I was able to use the Glow Lotion all through the spring and this summer. I love it.  It comes in a generous sized pump bottle with no funky beige color to the lotion.  If I forget to wash my hands they don't become stained like other sunless tanners do. Don't get me wrong, you might have a darker pigment showing in between your fingers but Nature's Gate Glow Lotion won't leave you with orange palms.  I applied it (light skin version) daily for a week and noticed a very gradual tan.  After a few days it lessened and I applied more.  Over two weeks I was noticeably tanner and without a too dark or fake orange tinge to my skin.  Simply put you do glow.  I love this lotion! It works and it is not loaded with chemicals. Streaks are rare and it doesn't dry your skin like other sunless tanners. 

Nature's Gate products are cruelty-free, ph-balanced with a good mix of all-natural herbs and pH-balanced formulas.  The company is environmentally friendly and continues to improve its sustainability with each passing year. Products are available online at Drugstore.com and major grocery and discount retailers nationwide.  


MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  All items received are for review and testing purposes only.  Opinions are those of MPR alone.

EvoraPlus Mints- Freshen Breath and Whiten Teeth

Always on the lookout for a natural product that works I was really very skeptical of EvoraPlus mints.  I agreed to the review but didn't expect much along the lines of delivery.  I gave half the pack to my husband to test out and tentatively tested a few myself for two weeks.  Here's what we found.

After using EvoraPlus for just three days, twice a day, I noticed a fresher feeling in my mouth as did my husband.  This alone took me back a bit.  I wasn't expecting this product to actually work or to work this fast.  I kept diligently using it and found that it tastes a lot like a sugar-free mint.  It's mild in flavor and just a bit sweet.  It dissolves in under five minutes and then you are done.  I took it each morning and night after brushing my teeth and so did my spouse.  After a week we felt like our between brushing feeling was cleaner.  Two weeks later we both noticed our teeth did look just a bit whiter. It wasn't blinding, bleached-out white, but there was a subtle difference. I haven't used any tooth whiteners in the last six months and had noticed my coffee staining coming back.  EvoraPlus brightened my teeth enough in those two weeks to have me satisfied.  A month later they are still whiter than before.  I'm quite pleased with the results and so was my husband. 

So how do these little mints actually work?  Through Probiora3, a natural bacteria.  I'll let the company explain it even more- "When EvoraPlus™ melts on the tongue, the freeze-dried probiotics activate and attach themselves to the teeth and gum tissue, establishing colonies of live, active beneficial bacteria both on the surface of the teeth and deep beneath the gum line. These colonies compete for both nutrients and space with the harmful oral bacteria that disrupt gum and tooth health, as well as cause bad breath.



In the mouth, the harmful bacteria convert sugar and carbohydrates into lactic acid. Lactic acid is the bacterial by-product which is responsible for a decline in dental health. The Standard American Diet promotes the ongoing conversion to lactic acid by providing a constant source of simple carbohydrates for bacterial cell growth, thus creating a situation for even greater imbalance in oral micro flora."

EvoraPlus ($19.95) can be ordered through the website and it comes with a 100% money back guarantee.  You can't go wrong with that.  I did notice a difference while using it- a fresher, cleaner longer feeling in my mouth and whiter teeth was the result. 

MPR Rating:  Four Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  All products received were for review and testing purposes only. Opinions are those of MPR's alone. 

Earth Friendly Products Safeguard Your Home

Made from replenishable sources, never tested on animals, non-toxic, phosphate and paraben-free Earth Friendly Products offer a variety of items for household and personal use.  You know you have seen the orange and lemon circular logo.  But did you know that all the products in the Earth Friendly Product line are formulated using the Freedom Code?  That means that in addition to the products being free from the nasty items listed above, Earth Friendly Products are also petroleum, bleach, ammonia, formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane free. 

I tried a few of the products in the Earth Friendly Products family including the Parsley All-Purpose Kleener, Duo-Dish soap and the Fruit & Vegetable wash. 

The Parsley All-Purpose Kleener ($4.49, 22 oz*) is a plant based cleaner that uses the essential oils from parsley.  The first thing I noticed was the scent. It is a clean, fresh scent that is all parsley.  I liked how it wiped clean, leaving no residue and even eliminated dried yogurt, sauces and more from my kitchen table and counters.  The scent, while strong and striking, disipates quickly and leaves a bright, clean surface.  My  husband however, did not like the scent.  He thought it was too strong.  It's great for bathrooms because it is streak free but my favorite use for it is my microwave.  It not only cleans with ease, cutting through grease and it takes away any lingering odor from past nuked meals and dishes.  Fabulous! 

The DuoDish detergent was named the best 'New Vegetarian Product of 2010'.  You can use it in both the sink and the dishwasher which is impressive.  You can save yourself a bit of cash buying just this product instead of a detergent for the sink dishes and the ones that are cleaned in the dishwasher which is always nice.  This product (25 oz, price not available) actually put me off a bit at first as it looks cloudy in the bottle and seemed to move in a chunky, goopy sort of way through the bottle. However, once it is actually used it works.  It doesn't lather like traditional foamy dish soap but that is because it is chemical free. It still cleans and has very little scent. It cuts through grease and cleans well too.  In the dishwasher it does exactly the same thing and I was quite surprised.  It's an innovative, money-saving product that I really enjoyed using and the texture was fine when in use. 

Tasteless and that's a good thing. That's the Fruit & Vegetable Wash ($4.99, 22 oz) from Earth Friendly Products.  All you need to do is spray and wipe and your fruit and veggies come clean.  No strange taste is left behind and all the chemicals and pesticides are gone too.  I like to use this product per serving and over the sink to catch any additional spray.  It's not something I would normally buy but as a review it was interesting to try out.  Since you can't taste the bad stuff on your food it is hard to say how well this product works. 

In addition to these products Earth Friendly has an entire pet care line, paper products, laundry care and bathroom items.  I hope that soon I will be able to find EcoBreeze in my area as well.  I have been searching for a natural fabric refresher for quite some time and this might be worth trying.  Earth Friendly Products are available online at Amazon, Drugstore.com and in discount stores, grocery stores and many other stores nationwide. 

*Prices based on Drugstore.com

MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  Items received were for testing and review purposes only.  Opinions are solely MPR's own.

Radius Toothbrush- It's Money

I have reviewed toothbrushes in the past, mainly the electric variety.  All of them plastic, even if it's recycled.  Radius Source Toothbrush  are made from something entirely different.  Money.  Dollar bills y'all.  Made from recycled dollar bills, flax fiber or wood Radius Source toothbrushes last longer than your average toothbrush.  Here's the rundown directly from the source-


-93% Recycled Material - 47% Renewable Resource.



-Source handles are molded from recycled US Dollar bills/Recycled Flax and Recycled Wood all blended with recycled polypropylene resulting in a bio-plastic that is 100% renewable or recycled.


-Lightweight unbreakable replacement heads made from surgical-grade nylon.


-Dramatically increases softness and efficacy of brushing with 65% more bristle tufts than ordinary toothbrush.


-Reversible for both Right or Left handed brushing - Available in soft or medium bristles.


-Handle lasts forever - the head can be discarded as you would a razor blade!

I admit that for some bizarre reason I thought that this brush wouldn't be durable.  Instead of lasting longer I felt like it would disintegrate in my hands as soon as it got wet. I know, it's ridiculous.  The handle feels just like plastic and it's comfortable in my hand as well.  The actual head/brush threw me off as well.  It's shaped like an iron.  I have a small mouth and I didn't think it would work.  Turns out, I LOVE it! I actually feel like this shape head was designed for my mouth.  My teeth, gums and tongue feel cleaner than they have using the standard narrow head.  I'm super excited that my pack came with a replacement head as well. 

I love that this toothbrush is eco-friendly in packaging and product and it really works.  The Source Radius Toothbrush is fun (it's made from money!), works superbly and lasts a long time (9 months).  The replaceable heads (about $4 for 2) and price are affordable too ($5.21). I don't want to switch toothbrushes ever again.  I'm now a Radius convert.

Radius sells other versions of recycled toothbrushes and styles.  Check them out here.   Radius Toothbrushes can be found at Drugstore.com, Duane Reed, Whole Foods and online at the website.  They are also 25% off right now.

MPR Rating: Five Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post.  All products received were for review and testing purposes only.  Opinions in this review are solely my own.

Awakening Hands Sanitizer

Founded in 1994, Awakening skin care formulates unique, Dead Sea mineral-rich skin care products for active hands, feet and skin.  The company strives to make their products as natural and organic as possible and uses only natural minerals sourced from the Dead Sea. Mineral oils and animal ingredients are not used and they never test on animals.

I tried their new HANDS sanitizer (8.45 oz or 1 oz, $22 for combo), which has cinnamon in it. It's a mineral-rich spray that is Vegan and Paraben-free.  It claims to moisturize while sanitizing.  All you have to do is press the plunger and a cool mist sprays onto your hands. A little goes a long way too.  Coating your hands in healing minerals, antioxidants, essential oils and a light base of food-grade alcohol and vegetble glycerin, HANDS is a great way rid your hands of unhealthy germs while softening them as well.  The Dead Sea minerals heal and hydrate your skin while the natural cinnamon extract soothes irritated skin.

Awakening HANDS sanitizer is guranteed or your money back.  It works well and you can smell the cinnamon immediately as you spray it over your hands.  I find it is a nice alternative to so many of those high in alcohol hand sanitizers.  I don't mind using it on my kids and I don't have to worry about them putting their hands in their mouth afterwards and ingesting any chemicals. 

Awakening has many other products that work well on your skin.  I found the hand and foot lotions to be non-greasy, highly absorbent and incredibly moisturizing.  You can purchase all the Awakening products from their website. 

MPR Rating: Four Stars. 

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this posting. Products were received and kept for testing purposes. The opinions in this review are solely my own.

Jolly Llama Sorbets

Jolly Llama frozen treats arrived at our door not too long ago.  They have been a big hit ever since.  Here are the stats on this yummy squeezable whole fruit treat from the California-based company.


Four flavors: Strawberry, Blueberry, Mango, Acai Berry
Fun to eat in individually-packaged 3 oz. squeeze tubes
Dairy-free, gluten-free, allergen-free
Low in fat and calories
Fortified with Vitamin A & C, and fiber
Naturally sweetened, containing no genetically-modified corn sweeteners

As the mother of two little ones all these things are important to me.  I want my kids to enjoy cold, frozen treats, but I don't want all that sugar, fat and dye that is involved in so many of them.  Jolly Llama not only comes in some super cute packaging that is appealing to adults and kids, but they actually taste great too.  My daughter's favorite color is purple so she naturally gravitated to the Acai Berry's purple wrapping.  Of all the flavors I thought.  She won't like that one.  She ate it in seconds.  She wanted more.  I stand amazed.  The rest of the flavors are just as good and there is no odd aftertaste or overly sweet flavoring.  It just tastes like what it is -real fruit.

All of Jolly Llamas packaging is sustainable and made from recycled materials.   A portion of their proceeds are donated to organizations that help end world hunger as well.  Inspired by the peaceful nature of real llamas, Jolly Llamas sorbets are a nice frozen treat that everyone in your family will truly enjoy.

Jolly Llama products are available in California and Arizona or you can buy them online for home delivery here for about $12.50 a case.

MPR Rating:  Four Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this posting. Products were received and kept for testing purposes. The opinions in this review are solely my own.

Go Natural- Nail Polish and Remover

In my effort to ‘go green’ I’ve been on the lookout for not just household cleaning products but also personal ones. Being the product junkie that I am I was pretty excited to find Go Natural the non toxic polish and polish remover by Mad River Sciences. The nice people over at Mad River sent me a few samples of polish and one bottle of remover to try and I can safely report that this is a gem of a product and company.



First up, the remover. It has no odor. No fumes emanate from the bottle and nothing noxious hits your nostrils. Because it’s non-toxic I felt a bit better when I realized my daughter had gotten nail polish on her face. I used the Go Natural remover and it worked fast and easily like any typical remover yet without the harsh chemicals. There are two types of the remover, one for California residents who need a no VOC formula and the simply odorless one for all other states. The removers contain Aloe Vera and Vitamin E in them to help nails and is safe to use on sensitive nails or acrylic ones. It earns an A+ in my book. It works fast and again, I love the no fume thing.



I also tried three nail polishes by Go Natural. A pearly beige called Clam Shell, which is oh so in and much like the hot for fall Chanel version, a pearly purple called Sunset @ 7:52, and a red tone cream polish labeled Crimson Tide. Let’s not comment on how I hope a woman didn’t give a polish that name. I was pleasantly surprised by each color. They all went on extremely smooth. There were no stray brush hairs or even streaks in the polish which is thinner than the regular polishes but not too watery either. It lasted for over three weeks on my summer barefoot feet too! There are over 30 (4 ounces for $5.25) different colors to choose from which are odorless as well. Not only are these polishes fume-free they are also good for your nails and the environment. They contain no harsh chemicals, formaldehyde, toluene, or acetone! These polishes are really great if you have brittle nails or have a hard time with chemicals. I for one am a convert and think these will make a great stocking stuffers and gifts for my friends and family.


For ordering information, colors, and more on this fabulous and safe product click here.