Kiss Me Organics: Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder

The Claims
Kiss Me Organics is 100% organic, tested for purity, and contains up to 137x the antioxidants found in a cup of brewed tea. 

1. ALL DAY ENERGY & FOCUS: Lift your vitality and concentration with the slow release natural energy from Organic Matcha

2. CALORIE BURNING BOOSTER: Support your weight loss goals with an all-natural way to increase your body's metabolism

3. LATTES | SMOOTHIES | BAKING: Kiss Me Organics Matcha Green Tea Powder arrives in an easy-to-use airtight health grade packaging allowing for as much or as little use as you need for any occasion. Enjoy a relaxing latte in the morning, bake a dozen cupcakes or simply add a small boost to your morning smoothie

4.Up To 137x ANTIOXIDANTS OF BREWED GREEN TEA: USDA Organic Matcha Green Tea can only be used in a powdered form because, unlike brewed green tea, it contains the entire tea leaf which dramatically increases the nutritional content

5. LIFETIME GUARANTEE | We offer 110% MoneyBack guarantee if for some reason you are not satisfied with our Matcha.

History
Harvested from a family-run tea farm in operation since 1915. Our farm has been certified organic since 2000, synthetic chemical free since 1994, and reduced chemical usage since 1975. Now you can enjoy great quality Matcha from the place it all began - Japan.

It is important to us and our customers to fill our plates and our cupboards with as many organically produced products as we can. In a significant way, this is the only way to guarantee we are receiving the minerals and nutrients that nature intended.

Throughout history matcha had always been organically grown and harvested, bringing health and vitality to the Far East throughout history.


At Kiss Me Organics we have taken our sourcing a step further as tea plants will absorb toxic elements from its environment and pass those along to you in greater concentrations than if you were just drinking the brew. So the first step in choosing an appropriate Matcha for your day-to-day is to ensure that it has been certified organic.

This means that harmful fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides have not been dumped on the plants – and thus will not make it into your body.

Unfortunately, sometimes simply choosing an organic Matcha is not enough. Many farms are still exposed to industrial pollution because of their geographic location. Polluted rain water, toxic runoff in the soil, and noxious gasses from nearby plants are just a few of the ways that an organic tea farm could still be exposed to unsafe levels of toxins. The only way to ensure that you’re getting the safest product available is to choose a vendor who has lab-tested their leaves.
We tested tea samples from several organic farms to ensure that we’re bringing you the purest tea products available.

At KissMeOrganics.com we want to help our customers discovery the purity and the power of natural ingredients.

My First Impressions 
Thank you Jessica from Kiss Me Organics for selecting me to try this ah-ma-zing product. I received one 4-oz (113 grams) Bag of Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder and one Complimentary PDF Matcha Recipe Guide with 50+ Recipes. 

I was super stoked that this is a wholesome and organic product and there are no filler products in it. The matcha is quite affordable and it is sold on Amazon.ca at $29 CAD and with free shipping this arrives quickly at your door step within a couple of days. 

I made my favorite drink in the world - green tea latte. No more overpriced $5 green tea lattes for me at Starbucks which is loaded with processed sugars. This 113g package for $29 will last me at least 60 days.  

I dissolved the hot steamed skimmed milk in the powder and stirred furiously until all of it was dissolved then I poured extra hot skimmed milk into my cup to top off the frothy drink. The hot drink is DELICIOUS- bold, commanding but not overpowering. Near the bottom/end the drink was a bit chalky since everything settled. Nevertheless, it was a memorable drink! Within minutes of consuming the drink I had extra energy and sharp focus on my tasks. I felt I had a clear heart and mind. I can't wait to see the long term benefits of this product. 


I also can't wait to make facial masks from the matcha! :D I'm so excited about this product! I know I will definitely be a staple product in my home. Kiss Me Organics is focused on high quality products that cares about our physical and mental well-being. Thank YOU! 

Masker Aide: Facial Sheet Masks Review

I absolutely love natural ingredients in facial sheet masks - they are wonderful treats for my skin and soul. Thank YOU Tiffany from Masker Aide for sending me 3 super hydrating facial sheet masks to try out. I received Weather Warrior: Calm, Soothe & Heal, Beauty Rest’ore: Restore, Regenerate & Repair, and I Don’t Wanna Grow Up: Lift, Firm & Soften Fine Lines.

Masker Aide is a Canadian brand which means their masks are made in Canada. Wooot! There are 6 different kinds of hydrating facial masks in all.  

I love how these face masks are free of parabens, harsh dyes and pigments, mineral oils, artificial fragrances, and glycerins. These masks are vegan and suitable for all skin types! 

The sheet masks are designed to fit most face shapes. The masks are packed in highly concentrated vitamins and nutrients for hungry skin. The masks sat well on my face without shifting and moving around. It was very nice and cool like applying refrigerated aloe vera gel on my face. The different scents are very light and refreshing but not overpowering.  I let the mask sit on my face for about 30 minutes before I peeled off the moist face mask. Then I rubbed the excess serum of goodness into my face and neck. After I rinsed off the excess product and applied my moisturizer. The sheet mask was very easy to remove – the mask was still moist when I peeled it off. The mask didn’t dry up or harden like other sheet masks.  My face felt soft, supple, plum and hydrated, like I just visited a steam room. I’m very impressed with the Masker Aide’s sheet masks and super proud they are a Canadian company. I will treat my skin to more Masker Aide in the future. 

imPRESS Press-on Manicure - Increasing Staying Power

1. All you do is make sure your natural nails are clean that means washing your hands with soap and water, letting them dry completely, then using the prep pad and rubbing alcohol to thoroughly clean the surface of your natural nail.  Again let your natural dry completely of the rubbing alcohol.  
2. Match the nails to yours. When in doubt go with a smaller size because the smaller nail will look more natural. 
3. Gently pull off the clear plastic tab and press the nail down firmly onto your natural nail. 
4. Avoid prolonged stays in the (hot) tub or sitting steam room. I found that water as well as hot and humid environments loosens the glue and causes the nail to wiggle off. 

Good luck! Happy days!

imPress Manicure Press-On Nails - A Review

This is the package I received from Influenster with two beautiful set of nails. Thank YOU!

Application:
I enjoyed putting on imPRESS Press-on Manicure. I fitted the right nail size then I used the enclosed alcohol wipe to clean my nails of oils to preserve the lasting power of the nails. It took me a total of 15 minutes to find the right fit for each nail and apply them on.

I struggled a bit with pulling off some of the clear tabs. After the tabs were peeled one presses on the nail and volia! instant professional looking manicure. 

Likes:

• I like that there's no chemical smells and drying time. 
• Another bonus is that one doesn't get the polish everywhere or smudge the polish, and ruin the designs. Love it!

Dislikes:

• I dislike the rough and scratchy surface of the "crackle" nails/ Working Girl is the name of the design 
• Another dislike for me was that I found the crackle nails were a bit thick and rigid/stiff
• I was also a bit grossed out that the glue on the underside of the manicure was visible and attracted lint
• Some of the nails I noticed still had a tab (that is the nails weren't perfectly smooth) which is easily solved by filing the tabs down

Longevity:
I kept the nails on for a total of 5 days. After day 2 I had some nails that lifted off so I gently pulled the nail off and applied a fresh nail on. I think the manicure would have lasted for an extra day or two if I didn't garden, visit the sauna (three times) and soak in the hot tub (twice), haha.

The Aftermath:
After the nails had fallen off or when I removed them I felt my natural nails could finally breathe. HOWEVER, there was no residue from the glue left behind on my natural nails and my natural nails did not turn yellow. I'm quite imPRESSed, haha (pun intended). 

 A closeup picture of the back side of the nail. 

My prep work - I fitted the nails and they are ready to be applied on. 

Contents of the package!

Overall: I would purchase these nails. I have my eye on a few designs like Rock It, TGIF, Vexed & Vicious, and Night Fever. I would wear these nails on special occasions/ celebrations and occasional treats for myself. I would recommend people to check out this product if they love experimenting with manicures and love nail designs. 

Happy days!

Where's Has the Time Gone?

A sunflower plant taken in my backyard

Hello Readers,

I hope you are all happy and well. The months just flew by since my last entry! I am starting to think I am on "sabbatical", haha. 

To be honest, I haven't felt  inspired to blog or to review products over the past couples of months. Hopefully, I will be bitten by a magical writing bug and I will be cranking out weekly entries. In the mean time I will quickly share with y'all what I have been doing with my free time. During the the past few months I:

• Explored the nooks and crannies of Banff and gazed at stars  

• Soaked in Banff's relaxing outdoor Upper Hot Springs

• Wandered around the Delta Lodge and surrounding area in Kananaskis

• Checked out the Calgary Pride Parade 

• Attended Alberta Ballet's Great Masterpieces of the 20th Century 

• Watched Othello through Alberta Ballet

• Went to my first opera (!) - Otello through Calgary Opera 

• Visited the Glenbow Museum and saw the though-provoking exhibition Fairy Tales, Monsters and the Genetic Imagination

• Helped execute the perfect surprise birthday party 

• Had my Twitter account hacked into :(

 "Sceptical" lady bug (left) made by me and super duck with a cape (right) made by Kelvin at the Calgary Glenbow Museum 

 An aquarium at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis

                                                                                                                                           Treats in Banff

 Delish tea

• Been showered with gifts from Las Vegas 

                                          A huge box of nerds

A stuffie that turns inside out

Take care and stay warm! Wish me luck in finding the magical writing bug. ;) 

Lots of love,
Margaret
♥

I'm Alive and Well :)

Original photo taken in the Royal Tyrrell Museum 

Hello Readers,

I hope you are all well. I apologize for quietly disappearing, and not posting since November 2011! I will make a posting in a few days titled "24 Things I Learnt as a 24 Year Old."

So much has happened since I last updated! The past few months I:

• Completed my two practicum placements

• Graduated from university 

• Attended my convocation 

• Visited Elbow Falls

• Was a Poll Clerk at a hospital for the elections in April - a truly eye-opening day for me 

• Checked out the Glenbow Museum - Charile Russell and The First Calgary Stampede 

• Went on the Alberta Ballet's 24th Annual  House & Garden Tour 

• Explored the Royal Tyrrell Museum

• Was the Maid of Honor for my best friend's wedding

• Went canoeing (in a dress!)

• Went on a hike near O'Shaughnessy Falls

• Gazed at stars in Kananaskis

• Relaxed in a dry sauna

• Attended my convocation 

• Visited Elbow Falls

• Soaked in an outdoor hot tub while looking at stars 

• Camped in Lower Kananaskis Lake

• Roasted marshmallows over a camp fire 

• Nurtured 17 short sunflowers from seeds

• Consumed dark lavender chocolate

Whew! I think that's about all I've completed since I last posted, haha. More details will follow about my activities. :)

Lots of love,
Margaret
♥

ZOMG Magazine Galore!

I absolutely love magazines, and my current subscriptions. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to read them so they have been stacking up in a huge pile magazines, as well as books by my bed.  I look forward to the Christmas holidays, for many reasons, one of them is catching up my readings and shows. 

* I don't think I'm going to subscription to Harper Bazaar next go around. I don't find the articles relatable to my lifestyle.

*I'm definitely going to keep my subscription with Elle Canada and Maire Claire. 

* I think I will also stop my subscription with Architectural Digest and Ebony too.

* Town & Country is another magazine that doesn't really suit my lifestyle and interests.

* Haha, yes I read Cosmopolitan magazines. Don't judge me! I know the statistics are sketchy but I like their fashion pieces and articles....I find them super entertaining. 

♥

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 Review

Hello Readers!

I realized it's been sometime since I have reviewed a product. Oh, how time flies! I  bought the Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 for my dear brother because winter is upon us and his lips are cracked and bleeding. However, he said the balm was "yucky" and greasy. So he gave it to me to use.  Score one for me, right? 

The Claims about the balm:

" A Kiehl’s classic and #1 bestseller, soothing lips since 1969.

•Temporarily protects and helps relieve chapped or cracked lips.

•Helps protect lips from the drying effects of wind and cold weather.

•Formulated with soothing emollients Squalane, Lanolin and Sweet Almond Oil as well as Vitamins A and E"

What I liked about the balm:

• A rich, thick and consistent texture, which reminds me of Vaseline (i.e. petrolatum jelly)
• Clear/colorless
• Glides on easily, effortlessly and smoothly
• Brings instant relief to sore and dry lips without the heaviness or stickiness
• Unlike other products that sits on top of my lips this balm moisturizes and sinks into the skin
• Leaves lips smooth and soft
• Lips appear to be shiny and glossy 
• Does not irritate the skin
• A little bit of the balm goes a long way

*The applicator is blunt and uncomfortable to use...*sigh* I wish it was a slant applicator

 What I disliked about the balm:

• There is no applicator... I strongly dislike using my fingers to apply any lip products
• It's a bit pricey 15 ml for $12.XX
• Low on the SPF spectrum - it should be at least 15! 
• The product is mostly petrolatum jelly - I could have paid a lot less and gotten more product had I purchased a tub of Vaseline

*The balm melted into a "jelly" consistency on my skin

Bottom line: The balm is not mind blowing or awesome. It does it's job and nothing more.

Recommend? No

Repurchase? No

♥