Goddess Provisions Review: September 2016

Yesterday I was gifted this beautiful terrarium which definitely already has improved the vibes of my home. Coincidently, the September Goddess Provisions box is all about Positive Vibes. I definitely felt positive opening it, since it's my birthday month it feels extra special to me. Let's get into it:

The crystal was a surprise this month, you could've gotten either a Fluorite or Sodalite wand. So naturally first thing I did was open the bag. It was a Sodalite wand! I'm totally sensing a theme in my life, in my last post I talked about the Throat Chakra and Sodalite is perfect for that. This crystal is known for aiding with truth, communication, learning, and helping to retain information. It also helps with the Third Eye Chakra as well as with clairvoyance and psychic abilities. The wand is quite big, so I'll be doing some research on how best to use it.

The Blue Lotus Chai's instant Golden Chai was delicious. It's hands down the best instant tea I've ever had. It has a really robust taste and warming quality. After adding a bit of sugar and almond milk, it was perfection in a cup. This is the tea I'll be turning to in the winter months.

This month it's a bit crystal themed, we have a cute crystal shaped soap bar from Moon Souls. I agree with Goddess Provisions... it IS almost too cute to use! I want to put it on display but I think I'll have more fun washing my hands with this magical soap.

We received another pin, this time it's from Enemy to Fashion. I'll be gifting this one to a friend that could use some positive vibes. I really like how this box is full of tools that you can help yourself and others with!

This next product has an interesting concept. The body oil from Dancing Love Organics is meant to be part a ritual to help with meditation. The most inquisitive part to me is that it's paired with a Malachite crystal. I've used Malachite before and it brought up a lot of emotions for me. It is a very powerful crystal. I don't know if I could relax and mediate with a Malachite! However, I do know just the person who this set would benefit right now so it will make a lovely gift.

Unfortunately I don't smudge or clear my home as much as I should. This smudge spray from Momoko Therapeutics seems like it will rectify that. I'd like to charge it with the full moon's energy before using it.

Another negative energy cleanser was included, a blue sage smudge stick. This one has a very potent smell so I think I'll use the smudge spray after using it. Sage is amazing to clear yourself and your space.

Overall, a great box as usual. My favourite item was the Blue Lotus Chai and I look forward to using the Sodalite wand. I can't wait for October's box! I wonder if it will be fall themed.

What is your favourite thing to do to bring in positive vibes?

Etsy Focus: ThisThatAndThese

There have been stories of how amazing Etsy is for a while now but I had never found anything that spoke to me, until now.

On Instagram I found Chandra, who has an Etsy shop called thisthatandthese. She makes figurines and jewelry out of polymer clay and also sells a variety of other beautiful objects. She's most known for her Goddess figurines that are often adorned with crystals and other magical trinkets. 

The Throat Chakra is something I've been struggling with for some time. As a creative person who has a fear to speak up, it can be quite crippling. As soon as I saw the Throat Chakra Goddess Set on Chandra's website, I knew I had to have it. 

This Goddess is so beautiful and I love the varying shades of blue. She's holding a Lapis Lazuli Sphere (it looks like a mini Earth to me) and a magical blue crescent moon (I love the moon). Fittingly she has a light blue gem on her Throat Chakra. Her hair and body have a fine, silver shimmer throughout. I felt really drawn to her and she brings me much joy every time I look at her.

    
The Reiki candle is a really cool concept. My fiancé thinks it smells like a yoga studio and loves it. It feels calming to look at and hold. I definitely can't wait to burn it and do some healing work.

The last thing that came in this set was a Labradorite crystal. This particular crystal is very stunning. It was very difficult to photograph the shift in colours and this picture doesn't do it justice at all. This Labradorite was paired well with the Goddess. The energy of this entire set has such a calming, nature feel to it as if they were all found by a waterfall.

Overall, I am very happy with my first purchase on Etsy. The Throat Chakra Goddess feels so special and I really feel the love that went into making it. Thank you Chandra! I really appreciate the work that you do and can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Please check out Chandra's creations at thisthatandthese.

What Chakras do you need to work on? What sparks joy in your life?

Goddess Provisions Review: August 2016

Surprise! A back-to-back review of my favourite subscription box ever, Goddess Provisions. August's theme is "Meditate + Celebrate. Spoiler: It's a fantastic, mystical box!

We received a Rose Quartz sphere! I've been wanting a sphere crystal for quite some time now. The sense of humour of the Universe is beyond me... my best friend also gave me a Rose Quartz sphere in August too! Spheres are excellent to meditate with because of the way they emit energy. Place Rose Quartz spheres in areas you want to feel more loving, calming energy.

100 Percent Pure is my favourite all natural cosmetic brand. They make the purest products in the world from fruit and vegetables. They recently came out with a line of "Gemmed Lip Gloss" which contain a mix of crystal powders. I already have the colour "Moonstone" and love it. The sparkle is so pretty and it smells like green apple. It's a thicker consistency so I recommend not putting too much on. This month I received the colour "Citrine"... which leads me to believe that manifestation is real. I have a lot of Citrine coming into my life, thanks Universe! 

It's time for the scents of the month, first up is Barefoot Island from Gypsy Soul Organics. I wasn't very fond of it at all. Then I realized you really need to shake it before use. That helped a lot but I find the smell still a bit too woody for my taste. I use it as an air freshener to help clear the energy of the room.

The "Meditation Station" roll-on from Soulful Essence is also very woody, with Juniper and Frankincense. I can handle this one better than the Barefoot Island spray. I smell it whenever I want to quiet my thoughts and bring myself to the present moment.

Our edible of the month is from Karma Nuts. The wrapped cashews are dried with the skins on for optimal nutrition. The small package was a substantial snack for me. You definitely only need a little bit to feel satisfied!

Whenever we receive a candle, it will always have a place in my home. They're always unique and have some kind of meaning. This month it's from Ebb & Flow and is called "Midnight Moonlight." The scent is sandalwood and amber. I was burning it while writing this post. The aroma is gentle and is very calming.

The final item is a pin from Weird Empire. Based on the craziness of everyday life, I'm sure we can all relate to feeling like we're in retrograde more than when they occur. I placed this as a decoration in my spiritual space.

Overall, another creative box from Goddess Provisions. My favourite items were the Rose Quartz sphere and the candle. September's box is fast approaching, the spoilers look good. Since we're in the middle of the biggest Retrograde of the year, Goddess Provisions has also has come out with a limited edition box full of tools to help you survive it. You can find it here.

What do you do to Meditate and Celebrate yourself?

Goddess Provisions Review: July 2016

Today I'll be reviewing the July Goddess Provisions box. It's all about the Solar Plexus Chakra! Who wouldn't want to open a little box of warm, bright sunshine?

First thing that caught my eye was the Chakra RX "I CAN" Solar Plexus spray from Scentual Goddess. It's aroma therapy and has a description for a visualization technique to help strengthen your Solar Plexus Chakra. The smell is fresh and uplifting. I wish they said what the ingredients and fragrance oils were. Each of these sprays has small gemstones to make it even more powerful. Before work, I spray this on my Solar Plexus and breathe in. I have noticed I feel more at ease when I do this.

The next item is similar, a roll-on fragrance oil from Soulful Body. This one smells super fresh and invigorating. The essential oils used are certified organic. The beautiful blend includes: peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass, jojoba oil and is infused with a small golden quartz crystal. I'm really enjoyed all of these crystal infused gems.

I'm no stranger to Stash Tea, so I was pleased to see it in our box. Sadly the box remains unopened in my tea cupboard. It's overflowing with boxes and is in dire need of a spring cleaning in there! I look forward to trying this on a day off when I need to feel energized.

Next up is a hand painted card from Lexy Olivia. As you may know, Citrine is one of my favourite crystals. Since it, brings me joy I decided to put this card up as an art piece at my desk area.

Another piece that I've added to my desk area is the wooden crystal grid we received from Cave & Canyon. Making grids is such a helpful tool for many reasons. Got a problem? There's a crystal and grid for that! Haha :) I've never had a physical guided outline before, mostly I rely on intuition. I'm waiting for Cave & Canyon's site to go online so I can see their recommendations on how to best use their grid.

The crystal of the month is no other than Tiger's Eye. A more grounding stone that brings out your personal power. Sounds perfect for this month's box, no? I'm happy to add this one to my growing crystal collection.

Another bright pop of yellow is the Love Rope bracelet. They stamp customized messages onto the medallion. Our message was "Goddess." It's a fun, statement bracelet.

Lastly we received a free e-book from The Moon Sisterhood about the Solar Plexus Chakra. It's on my to-read list. I still have a large pile of things to go through, it's one of the joys of post-vacation life. Hence the tardiness of this post.

Overall I liked the light hearted theme of this month's box. Chakras are a topic that interests me deeply and I always learn new things from these tools. August's box is pretty epic, a review coming real soon on that.

What Chakra do you feel the need to work on? What empowers you?

Esthoria Box Review: July 2016

Sorry for the hiatus, I went on a long, much needed vacation and finally found the time to write again. It was nice to be in nature and with people I've missed for a very long time. This trip gave me a lot to reflect upon. Given how expensive the vacation was, I had to cancel my Esthoria Box subscription and this is my last box.

Esthoria Box is an amazing company that provides sustainable, clean, and green beauty. This Bi-Monthly beauty box features luxury, high quality items. Sometimes there's an option to pick between colours or types of products. 

June's theme is Tata Harper skin care. Everyone received the Allure winning Regenerating Cleanser, I chose the Replenishing Nutrient Complex, and I received the Corpa Flora Beauté Divine (all skin types cleanser).

The Regenerating Cleanser is my favourite product by far. It's a gentle exfoliating cleanser that's supposed to improve the glow and appearance of your skin. I have always washed my face with a traditional foaming cleanser and water. With this cleanser you apply to dry skin, massage in circular motions, then rinse off with water. My skin has improved so much. I have less oil production and my acne is going away. I love how there are no soaps, alcohols, and detergents but it still smells so good. My skin feels so soft and doesn't feel stripped after using the cleanser. I love this cleanser so much, i definitely recommend it!

The Replenishing Nutrient Complex is a multivitamin serum that moisturizes, repairs, and soothes your skin. For me it's a bit too oily so I use it by itself at night as a moisturizer. A little goes a long way! I didn't like it that much at first but after 2 weeks of using it, I adore it. I didn't realize what bad shape my skin was until I saw it getting better. During the trip, the hotel a/c and plane ride really dried and imbalanced my skin so this serum was perfect. 

I've gotten on the bandwagon on facial oil cleansers. I've tried a couple and they're a fast way to remove all the makeup and guck off of your face. The Corpa Flora Beauté Divine oil cleanser did not disappoint. It's a rich oil that glides over the skin effortlessly. Be sure to take the time to gently massage the oil all over the face and eyes to break down the makeup, sunscreen, etc... Once you rinse it becomes a gentle milk and I was so happy that my skin was soft, not greasy. A very good oil cleanser that really does remove everything. Try it if you haven't already!

When I started my green journey, the two companies I wanted to try the most were RMS Beauty and Tata Harper. Due to the hefty price tags, I wasn't able to try them out. Thanks to Esthoria Box, I was able to try them at a reasonable price. I've always had a pleasant experience dealing with Sandy and the rest of the Esthoria Box team. I wish them all the best and can't wait to see what they come up with. Keep up the green living revolution!

September's box will feature products from Vapour Beauty. I've heard many great things about this company and wish I could've tried them. Alas, sometimes your can't get everything you want in life.

What kinds of green beauty brands and products do you love?

Goddess Provisions Review: June 2016

It's the best time of the month, the Goddess Provisions box reveal! Sorry I'm late, I wanted to try everything before I reported back.

The theme of June's box is "Dream Time Ritual." That alone made me super excited to see what they'd come up with. Everything in the box was meant to help you with your night time ritual.

The first thing that I tried was Anima Mundi Herbals elixir and tea blend. It's kind of like sleepy time tea and that helps you recall your dreams. The elixir is very unique, I hadn't heard of using an elixir in tea until now. My boyfriend and I tried it together. We used David's tea bags to put the loose leaf tea in. We wanted it to be a positive and spiritual experience so we placed crystals around the tea and meditated before drinking it. He had a spiritually uplifting dream that night. I felt drowsy after drinking the tea and fell asleep almost right away, which never happens. I've had some interesting dreams since then but not sure how much of that is because of the tea. We are looking forward to trying it again.

I use the Eagle roll on (from May's box) to energize me during the day, so it's only fitting to use one to help you off to dream land. The Essence of Vali Sleep roll-on fragrance is very calming. I've been dabbing a bit on my wrists before bed. The moment I smell it, I start to relax. 

Bedrock and Bloom's Smart Ash is an all natural teeth detoxifier and whitener using the power of charcoal. When they say "use with caution" they mean it! It gets VERY messy. Thankfully I read their warning and was able to avoid what would've been a tremendous disaster in my sink. I've used it several times and it really does whiten and deep clean your teeth. This product is definitely on my recommendations list.

The crystal of this month is a Spirit Quartz from Africa. Everyone's looks a little different. The one I received has a calming, gentle energy. It's very difficult to look at a Spirit Quartz and not get swept away by its breathtaking sparkle. I keep it by my bedside table with a few other crystals.

Last, but not least, The Ritual Store's Moon Dust Mask. I finally used it last night and was surprised. The ingredients are not only very good for your skin, but also, contain the powers of selenite and moonstone dust. The smell is quite interesting, couldn't figure out why it smelt like a V8 until I saw that there's carrot powder in it! My face has been very oily lately, I think due to using more SPF these days. This mask sucked it all out and feels so soft and supple now. Another recommendation worthy product.

Overall, I really like this Dream Time Ritual box. A lot of cool, out of the box concepts. Who would've thought I would brush my teeth with charcoal and love it? I love expanding my mind and learning new things. I'm still waiting for the July box, which is all about the Solar Plexus Chakra.

What is essential in your night time routine? What helps you drift off to dream land?

Goddess Provisions Review: May 2016

Goddess Provisions is my favourite time of the month, every month. May's theme is High Vibe. All items are meant to uplift you in positive ways. Let's get into it!

The mala bracelet from High Chi Energy is what I was most excited for! You could have gotten either Rose Quartz or Amethyst. The universe has a great of humour, so of course I received Amethyst. I have quite the Amethyst collection and I feel like I need it most days. The mala has a variety of lovely beads: Pearls (vegan glass ones), Rudraksha, Turquoise, Jade, and Amethyst. I felt a cool, calming sensation the first time I put it on. I absolutely love this colourful and cheerful mala.

There were a couple of fragrant items included this month. The first is the Eagle roller ball from Rootfoot. It's a spirit animal inspired fragrance for perspective, spiritual awareness, and leadership. They call it Intentional Wear, the idea behind their products are interesting. This fragrance matches it's intention for sure! To me, this scent has more of a masculine feel to it. The sweet orange oil balances the scent perfectly so it's not too woody or spicy. It came at a good time because I've been put in leadership roles at work, which can be stressful.

Thank goodness Goddess Provisions has included a facial steam from Soapy Layne. I haven't opened it yet, but it looks divine. The dried ingredients are: organic flowers of red roses, calendula, chamomile, comfrey leaf, and rosemary leaf. I've never used a facial steam before. I'm looking forward to trying it next spa night. 

Energetically, I've been feeling so drained lately. I think these superfood green blends from Mottle Valley Naturals may just be the answer I was looking for. They're jam packed with protein and nutritional goodness. These are going to be great to add to my smoothies before I rush out the door. I hope these give me that much needed bounce back in my step.

Can you tell that I love Citrine? Haha, I have a lot of Citrine and was happy to receive one in this box. The big one is mine, the little guy in front came in this month's box. This is the crystal of joy and abundance. It makes me feel warm, energized, and creative. It's like golden, radiant sunshine for me. I have nothing bad to say about it! You could put this stone in the top left corner of your home, in your cash box, or where you keep money, to attract wealth.

Overall, this month's box left me in high spirits so mission accomplished. I love that Goddess Provisions exposes me to brands and concepts that I probably wouldn't have ever come across. As always, this box is my monthly reminder to do the inner work and strengthen my spiritual practice. Next month's theme will be Lucid Dreams. I am very ecstatic because I love the mystery and power of dreams. I hope there are some moon related items!

How do you raise your vibes?