Italissima Organic Fruit Spread

If you love toast, jam and all things organic (like I do) you'll want to check out my new review of:

 Italissima Organic Fruit Spread. 

This jam is a keeper and for so many reasons! 

Have a great weekend and week :-)

Ryza Rice Beverage

This is going to be a rather short review as there isn't much to say about Ryza Rice Beverage other than it's just plain BAD!

I haven't used dairy milk as a beverage for many, many years. That being the case, I'm always on the look-out for new non-dairy options, including rice, soy, coconut, almond types of "milk" beverages. It's a market that is growing by leaps and bounds these days, with more and more people looking for ways to kick all or at least part of their dairy habit.

I tried Ryza Rice Beverage with an open mind. The carton was attractive at least, that got it off the shelf and into the cart! Things rapidly went downhill from there. LOL

My only regret now is that I didn't take it back to the store for a refund instead of pouring it down the drain. Yes, it really is that bad. Hard to even describe the taste: watery, bland, bitter... I'll say it again.... just plain bad.

Having no added sugar and using whole grain rice is all well and good, but come on, a product still has to taste good or at least be palatable to make it an option as a food choice and/or dairy alternative. Perhaps it's workable in cooking and baking, I'm not sure. But for drinking "straight up" forget it!

Tasteless products like Ryza are in my opinion part of the reason why so many people end up being wary of  trying new beverages in this category even though they may have a sincere desire/ interest in cutting down on dairy products. That's unfortunate because there are good non-dairy beverage available right now and more to come I'm sure as consumer demand continues to grow.

If you have actually tried Ryza beverages and were not impressed, don't give up on dairy alternatives in general. Keep trying other brands and if one doesn't suit, return it to the store where you purchased it and explain why you are returning it. I have found that in most cases grocery stores are ok with returning the full purchase price of a product if it simply doesn't meet expectations. Live and learn. And a heads-up for the store too, what consumers think of a particular product.

I will  be reviewing other non-dairy beverages here at MRLR in the future; some good and some just ok. But to date thankfully, none of them have been as BAD as Ryza.

                              

Overall rating for this product: BAD. 0 out of 5.

Live Clean Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo

I have been searching for a good clarifying shampoo for a long time. One without a lot of questionable ingredients, cruelty- free, environmentally-friendly,reasonably priced... I recently found one of the best on the market at this time: Live Clean Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo.

Don't let the apple cider vinegar part of the name put you off. Yes, it does contain vinegar, Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar but there is no unpleasant smell with this shampoo. It isn't harsh either. And yes, I did manage to get a small amount in my eyes when washing my hair and that didn't sting either. What this shampoo does quite nicely is to thoroughly clean build-up from the hair, including gels and surface dirt. It leaves my hair feeling very clean but not stripped, I like that!

Recommended as a weekly use shampoo for normal/dry hair and can be used on a daily basis for those with oily hair. I go with the weekly use and it seems to work out fine. I have used some of their other shampoos too and plan to try the "matching" conditioner to this product the next time I'm buying hair products.

From the Live Clean site:

Good For You
The body's largest organ is skin, so it's no surprise that many people are concerned about what they applying to it. Many products have ingredients such as Phthalates and Parabens that have been linked to possible side effects. Cleansing and foaming agents (like SLS or Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate and DEA) used in many products can be irritating or harsh on your skin. Live Clean eliminates all of these ingredients and uses only non-irritating, gentle, natural, plant based ingredients.

Good For The Earth
Many people are realizing that they can do their part and "go green" to improve the world, for themselves and for future generations. Many so called "natural" products claim to be "green" but they are using petroleum based ingredients and petroleum is not a renewable resource. Live Clean has less environmental impact. Live Clean uses only plant sourced or non-petrochemical based ingredients which are renewable and sustainable so they don't deplete our natural resources. Live Clean respects the earth and does everything it can to make the lightest possible footprint.

                   

And some additional information from the Live Clean site re: product ingredients and company policies. This includes the pros and cons of all the ingredients used in their products, Ph levels, packaging,comparisons to similar products available.

I'm no expert on all the chemistry that goes into making a "greener" shampoo or conditioner but their claim of 98% plant based, eco-friendly ingredients is a lot better than most of what's available out there for any kind of commercial hair products.I guess there's always room for improvement if it's not 100% but as I said before, a lot better than most of the other options available.

Made in Canada so I wasn't able to supply an Amazon link to this product. I know that it's available locally at Shopper's Drug Mart for $6-8 (depending on weekly sale prices) for a 350 ml/ 12 U.S. fl. oz. bottle.

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

Auction Buddies

This is a review that I wrote some time ago, over at my cooking and craft blog: Veggies, Yarns & Tails.

I'm re-posting it here as it appears from the continued comments and visits to this post that Auction Buddies is still causing a lot of people, nothing but grief. They certainly added to my stress level at the time.

You be the judge! And if you've also had problems with this company, please leave a comment, thanks.

Overall rating for this company: BAD. 0 out of 5.

Erzulie Cosmetics: Eye Depuffer Balm

I am a big fan of all things Etsy the online marketplace that truly is different.

If you aren't a member of Etsy or have ever shopped there before, you are in for a treat. I've been on Etsy for quite a while as a member (it's free and very easy to sign-up to shop or set-up shop). I also recently started my own Etsy shop: Catgirl Creations where I sell handmade earrings and some other items too.

One of the best things about visiting Etsy are the sellers you meet and the amazing variety of unique (most handmade, lots of vintage too) products you can find.

If I can buy it on Etsy, I'm a happy shopper!

On a recent browse for natural lipsticks there, I came upon this shop and product: Erzulie Cosmetics Eye Depuffer Balm. 

I've spent a lot of moola over the years for eye gels, creams etc...so I wasn't really sure what to expect for the low, low price of $5. a tube. Well I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this all-natural Eye Depuffer Balm and the results (after only a few days) have already been as good or better than after using some of the commercial eye gel offerings like: Estee Lauder. Yes I admit it. One of my favs for too many years, at about $40. a pop for a tiny jar, as I remember!

Stop by Erzulie Cosmetics if you are looking for quality natural cosmetics with a difference. I've tried the lip gloss as well and it was good too. Not exactly what I was looking for in terms of coverage/texture but it is a gloss and it is color-true based on the photos at the shop. And a gloss, is a gloss right and not a lipstick which I still prefer.

As far as this Eye Depuffer though, I am very pleased.If you are bothered by puffiness or dark circles around your eyes, you might want to give this one a try. Pleasant to apply, nice mild scent, all natural ingredients and the next morning, voila! smoother skin under the eyes and noticeablely reduced puffiness.

So long "baggy" eyes! This product is a keeper!

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

Posting Update for My Real Life Reviews

Hello readers,

Thank you for your continued support and readership here at My Real Life Reviews. I have been very encouraged to date by the stats, feedback, emails and comments from readers all over the world! 


I have been focusing on posting/writing at my other new blog: Take A Happy Break in the past couple of weeks and have gotten behind with posts/reviews here. I will be back to MRLR soon. I have a LOT of product reviews in the works that I hope you will enjoy and find helpful.

In the meantime, I hope you will also stop in at Take A Happy Break where I am posting on a regular basis . Happy, inspiring posts to add some good energy and vibes to the day.


Stay tuned and BFN, Geraldine

Green Beaver Natural Toothpaste

Have you checked the ingredient list on a tube of toothpaste lately? 


The manufacturers don't seem to want to list them online  (I wonder why!!!) I checked several popular brands. I did find this interesting article with an overview  about commercial toothpastes that you might want to check out. I wasn't surprised by what this article had to say.

I've been trying/buying several of the more natural toothpastes available for several years ago. So far, the best by far has been from the Green Beaver Company, located in Ontario Canada. They also offer a wide range of other natural, personal care products for children and adults. Stop by their website it's a fun and very colorful browse! Informative too.

Also from their website about this product:

Quick Overview:
 - Available in 5 different Flavours Frosty mint, Green apple, Zesty orange, Cilantro mint, Star Anise

- Vegan, biodegradable, gluten free, nut free
- Star anis toothpaste is mint free thus homeopathic friendly
- Can be safely used by children
- Green apple and Zesty orange toothpastes are kids favourites

Ingredients:
Calcium carbonate, sorbitol, aqua, glycerin, sodium bicarbonate, aroma, illicium verum (anise) oil, xylitol, silica, citrus medica limonum (lemon) extract, calcium ascorbate, melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil, sclerotium gum, coco glucoside, xanthan gum.

 Many of the Green Beaver products are also available at Amazon, including their various flavours of toothpaste. 

And what a great toothpaste this is! The Star Anise flavour is absolutely yummy. Another plus I've noted with this toothpaste, it actually does improve the whiteness of your teeth, without harsh ingredients used in some of the whitening toothpastes on the market. 

If you are looking for a more natural choice when it comes to your toothpaste, Green Beaver brand is definitely one to try. I'm a big fan of the Star Anise flavour but the others are pleasant too. Happy Brushing!

Overall rating for this product: Very Good. 4 out of 5.

West Bend Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper

UPDATE RE: RATING as of Nov. 15:

After using this popper for a longer period of time, I am now downgrading my rating for a few reasons. 

It started scorching popcorn and left too many not popped. 

The stir-wand started to scratch the surface of the popper, when going around. 

And worst of all, it started to give off a WEIRD, chemical smell (LIKE RAID bug spray!!!) at times when it was heated up. Must be something in the plastic composition for this product. Not something I want in contact with food I'm going to eat. 

It is on it's way to the recycling center now. :-(

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I LOVE popcorn!

It's probably my favorite all-time snack, especially fresh and made at home.

 I've tried several types of popcorn poppers over the years. Sometimes, I've just reverted back to the basics: stove-top and a big pot. Just recently though, decided to give another commercial popper a try after receiving a Home Hardware gift card as a gift.

The West Bend Stir-Crazy Popcorn Popper came highly recommended.

It has a rather unique design (we think it looks like a small flying saucer!!) but still takes up a minimal amount of counter space.

It's fairly easy to use although I've made some slight modifications to avoid burning any corn kernels. By heating up the vegetable oil on the cooking surface for a minute BEFORE adding the popcorn kernels, I've been turning out lighter, fluffier popcorn. The instructions state that you should put the oil and popcorn on the cooking surface at the same time. I found that this resulted in soggy popcorn.

Also, when the popcorn is starting to slow down at the end of the popping process (which is very quick) I unplug the popper and allow the last few kernels to pop, without the unit being plugged in. There's enough heat to finish off the popping and this helps to avoid any burnt popcorn. Again, this was a problem with the first try.

One thing I think is poorly designed on this appliance is the butter-melt feature. The clear dome/serving bowl has holes around the top, some for steam to escape and some to place butter on to melt down into the popcorn as it finishes popping. These holes are flat, no slant inward and they tend to trap the butter or margarine along the top edge. I usually push the butter through with the end of a spoon but it's rather messy. Not the best in design ideas here.

The key with this unit is to have everything ready before you start: popcorn, oil,butter...and then place the oil on the cooking surface and plug in and heat up BRIEFLY just before adding the popcorn and the dome lid. It goes very quickly and as with any appliance, caution is required. I wouldn't recommend allowing small children to use this unit unattended,that goes without saying, doesn't it?

This is a much quieter popper than some of the poppers I've used previously and it is quick and relatively easy to operate. Reasonably priced too, especially over at Amazon. 


Updated rating (as of Nov. 15): Unsatisfactory. 1 out of 5.

Previous (initial) rating: 3 out of 5. 

Welcome to My New Review Blog!

I'm just getting started here and really looking forward to sharing my personal experiences using various products and services that I've used in MY REAL LIFE.

I've always appreciated reading reviews before making purchases of any kind. I hope you find my reviews helpful, entertaining and informative. Come back soon and often. I'll be starting out with some products I've already used and written reviews for. These will be posted within the next few days. Right now, I'm just getting accustomed to all things Blogger, a transition for me from my experiences with WordPress.

Hope to see you soon, Geraldine