Recently I found out about The Orange Owl, a lovely little skin care shop based in Vermont, and I was intrigued.  I am a self-labeled skin care junkie, and there is nothing that makes me happier than trying out quality skin care products and telling you all about them!  I am extremely pleased with what I have found at The Orange Owl!

The owner of The Orange Owl proudly describes her products as “… 100% chemical free – no parabens, dyes, silicones, phthalates, sulfates, fragrance oils or petroleum products here. The packaging is “Green”, and, except the lip balms, all our products are vegan–friendly.”   Another bonus of purchasing from The Orange Owl is that 5% of your purchase is donated to the Schooling Project, which helps less fortunate children in India stay in school.   Read about this great initiative here.

I received a soap and a lip balm, and from day one I was in love with the products.  I got the Cinnamon and Spice lip balm, and it keeps my lips soft and not waxy at all.  The soap, Masala Chai, is like taking a shower inside of a frothy cup of chai tea. The scents of cardamom, clove and ginger wake my senses in the morning and soothe them at night.  The soap lathers beautifully and leaves skin soft.

You can now order these delicious products online.Products come in scents such as Mint Soother, Rooty Grapefruit, and even Naked for those of you who prefer unscented!  Check out the website for details, and prepare for skin care like none other!!!

Disclosure: A Girl Must Shop received products to review from the retailer.  No compensation was provided and all opinions offered are those of the author.

The first week of June is National CPR Week.  Did you know that nearly 300,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually, and four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home? That means the life you save with CPR is most likely to be someone you love.

GoRedForWomen.org encourages awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, and also action to save more lives. The movement harnesses the energy, passion and power women have to band together and collectively wipe out heart disease. It challenges them to know their risk for heart disease and take action to reduce their personal risk. It also gives them the tools they need to lead a heart healthy life.

Make it your mission to fight heart disease! Learn CPR in this one minute instructional video.  Share this information on your Facebook page or tweet using #GoRed hashtag.  Help to save a life!

All information provided by the GoRedForWomen and American Hearth Association websites.

Doing a lot of shopping is fun, but it can be dangerous if you’re  not leery of all the scams out there!  In order to keep up with everything, I read Consumerist every day.  Consumerist “…empowers consumers by informing and entertaining them about the top consumer issues of the day.”  In short, Consumerist reports on scams, companies that offer ‘deals’ that aren’t really ‘deals’,  shady corporate practices, and bad customer service.  The articles are humorous and light, but very revealing at the same time.   Have you heard of an electronics ‘buy back’ program?  Well all is not as it seems according to the Consumerist reporters. Read about it here.   Are you constantly having issues with your cable provider? Read one consumers harrowing story here.

I really value all the information I get from Consumerist. They are doing all of us a service by sniffing out these scams.

Check it out and let me know what you think!!! Go to Consumerist, the site for Consumers Who Bite Back!!

I had never heard of Quirky until this week when I met the CEO and founder, Ben Kaufman, at a Consumer Reports media and marketing summit. Let me tell you, I now know all about Quirky, and I feel like it is my duty to share this awesome company with our readers!

Quirky is a company that creates new products based on people’s ideas and inventions.  That is right, you and I can submit our ideas to them, and the panel of board members votes weekly on which ideas could actually become a viable product to be sold in real life!  I think this concept is amazing. The collaboration between Quirky board members, employees and the online community is incredibly innovative, and it works!  Read about the Quirky Process here.

While at the meeting, Ben showed us the latest product to hit the shelves. Its called Pivot Power, and it is a power strip that is movable and bendable so you can actually plug everything in to just one power strip!  Check out the video here .

Quirky sells everything from pet products to wine racks. Everything has a new and unique spin to it, as evidenced by this Bobble Brush, a toothbrush holder that bobbles and always keeps your brush upright and clean! How cool is this?

If you are like me, there is someone in your life that has everything and seems to need nothing!  Check out Quirky’s array of unique and quirky gifts and you are sure to be the one who gives them the best gift.  This is one of my new go to sites and I cant wait for the holidays to roll around again. Happy Shopping everyone!

I was given the task of trying out a new skincare line from Made From Earth.  As luck would have it, I have been fruitlessly searching for a skincare routine for myself.  I have tried everything from high end products to big box retail brands, and I have not been satisfied with any of them.  I have been bombarded with information, selections, products, price points, advertising, and brands. There is just too much out there! Therefore, when this opportunity came up, it was a welcome relief, as if my choice was made for me and I finally had a skin regimen!

As it turns out, I am in love with Made From Earth products.  They are exactly what my skin needed.  Made from Earth makes organic face products from nothing but certified organic products and fruits. Their products contain no toxins or preservatives, and they enforce a strict no-animal testing policy.  Made from Earth also endorses and supports the Campaign For Safe Cosmetics.

My skin care regimen included a face wash, serum, glycolic scrub and aloe treatment.  I washed my face morning and evening with the Green Tea Toxin Cleanser which is left on the skin for 3 minutes and rinsed off with warm water.  I would follow that with the Rose Hip and Hibiscus Facial Serum, which is non greasy and has a fresh scent. Finally, I applied Aloe Vera Skin Treatment at night before bed.

Once or twice a week I used the Grapefruit Glycolic Scrub. This scrub truly smells like a fresh cut grapefruit, and it is gentle on your  skin! It has exfoliating beads that give you a deep cleanse.   From day one, my skin was softer and more even looking.  Chronic acne on my T-zone disappeared (for the most part).  My skin felt cleansed and refreshed. Being a healthy person on the inside,  I think my skin was reacting negatively to the harsh chemicals in other products.  My skin was thirsting for those natural ingredients. I cannot say enough about Made From Earth, just a huge Thank You for introducing me to a fantastic line of skin care!

Now it is your chance to win ! All you have to do is one of the following:

FREE GIVEAWAY

• Enter to win a an Anti Aging  Serum from Made from Earth.
• To enter leave a comment below, sharing why you want to win it.
  • For more chances to win, complete the following (and leave a comment telling us you’ve done so):
    • + 1 Entry: Become a Fan of A Girl Must Shop on Facebook (or leave a comment on our page if you’re already a fan)
    • + 1 Entry: Follow A Girl Must Shop on Twitter
    • + 1 Entry: Tweet this: RT win Anti Aging Serum from @madefromearth @AGirlMustShop #giveaway http://bit.ly/dLHNqj
    • +5 Entries: Write a blog post about this contest (linking to this page)
• We will choose one reader at random to receive the Gift Certificate.
• The contest ends on May 1, 2011 at 11:59pm EST.

Good Luck Everyone!!!!!!!!!! And Happy early Earth Day!

Disclosure: A Girl Must Shop received a sample of Made From Earth products for review purposes.  No compensation was provided in exchange for this review. All opinions are those of the author.

I found this website recently on twitter. Ecofabulous is a fantastic little venture that sells organic and sustainable products.   They highlight designers who make everything from hair and makeup products to clothing to pet accessories!  I am in love with their style choices, check out this example of a sexy yet professional outfit.  Wide leg pants with a neutral tank top would be appropriate for the office with a little sweater, then add some bling for after hour drinks.  The dress is a flirty little number you could wear to a weekend farmers market or a brunch. I love these!

They also have a blog covering everything from ways to be ‘green’ and help the planet to current events and newsworthy items.   The Ecofabulous Guide to Yoga has links for yoga clothing to mats and blocks.  September is National Yoga Month, so why not give it a try?  Its fantastic for lengthening and strengthening your muscles, and also works on your mind and breathing as well.

Overall I love this site for its products and the fact that they are all globally conscious.  We can all do our part to be a little more green. Ecofabulous is a great way to start!

While I was reading a magazine at the gym today, I read about the Beads for Life Organization.
Beads for Life is a program that gives Ugandan women a chance to work and earn their own money. The women collect shea nuts and create products from them including soaps and lip balms. The women also gather recycled paper and make gorgeous, colorful jewelery. This is a great way to help impoverished women help themselves. I love this necklace and bracelet; they are so beautiful, and this season is all about color!  These gorgeous and globally conscious baubles can be purchased for reasonable prices too. Check them out at www.BeadForLife.org!

Did you know?

• Every 2 minutes someone in the United States is sexually assaulted?
• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually assaulted before they reach the age of 18?
• Approximately 73% of sexual assault victims know their assailants?
• 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police.
• Only 6% of rapists will ever spend a day in jail.

Rapists are no longer just the strangers lurking in the shadows – they are the people with whom we share meals, a pew at church, a bench at a local sporting event, and even a house or a blood line.

These are facts that I know, because I am a survivor of child sexual assault.

I have recently become a volunteer rape hotline counselor and medical advocate with Rape Crisis Services and work part-time helping out with administrative tasks, web administration, marketing and fundraising. I have also committed myself and (by extension) A Girl Must Shop to ending the cycle of sexual assault.

Like many publicly and non-publicly-funded organizations, Rape Crisis Services has seen a vast decrease in it’s public and private funding during this lengthy recession – and are facing a loss of its critical multilingual staff in June. I am doing everything I can to get the word out and to raise money for this vital cause.

What can you do?

There are many small and big things that you can do to help Rape Crisis Services.

1. Join our cause on Facebook
2. Follow us on Twitter
3. Friend us on MySpace
4. Search & Shop on GoodSearch to Benefit Rape Crisis Services
5. Volunteer your time (we need all kinds of help – from counselors and medical advocates to administrative, community outreach, education, marketing, fund-raising, development and board of director members)
6. Purchase a $5 bracelet from the A Girl Must Shop Etsy Shop (FREE Shipping). All proceeds go directly to Rape Crisis Services.
7. Donate any amount you can afford ($5, $10, $25, $100 or more)
8. Purchase a ticket to our Annual Fundraiser.
9. Donate an item for a silent auction to be held at our Annual Fundraiser. (And get a FREE 125×125 ad on A Girl Must Shop for a year!)
10. Become a sponsor of our Annual Fundraiser. (And get a FREE 120×600 ad on A Girl Must Shop for a year!)

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this important cause and I hope you’ll consider doing something small or big to help it out.

The one thing I don’t like about Yogurt? The sludge on the bottom that you mix into the “yogurt part” only it never really combines and you end up with a sludgy mess. You call that breakfast? I call that yuckfest!

The peeps at Yoplait have my number! They recently sent me a coupon for a free Thick & Creamy yogurt to try out and I was indeed pleased. No more sludgy mess – this was rich and creamy. The raspberry flavor that I tried was good, but I pledge my allegiance to Chocolate Mouse Style Yoplait Whips. The 100 Calorie Delights are too shabby, either.

And if that were’t enough, Yoplait has joined the fight against Breast Cancer by donating 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every pink kid sent in by December 31st, 2009, up to $1.5 million, with a guaranteed donation of $500,000.

Coupons!
Print a coupon for $1 off Delights
Print a coupon for $1 off YoPlus or YoPlus Light with Pink Lids