"It Works!" Greens On The Go Drink Powder – Is It Worth The Money?

Disclosure: This product was given to me (actually, I asked for it) for reviewing purposes, however, the thoughts expressed in this post are my own. 

I am not a veggie eater, but still, I need those nutrients. With my husband being a health nut, I have tried some of those all-inclusive-miracle-veggie drinks. Most tasted like swill, although one or two were good. Unfortunately, the ones in my grocery store and Whole Foods are sweetened with bananas, which I've recently become allergic to. So when I saw Debbie Arrington's posts on Instagram about the "It Works!" Greens On The Go Drink Powder and found out it does NOT contain bananas, I asked to try it. 

Greens On The Go is a single serving packet of “38 herbs and nutrient-rich superfoods” which is supposed to energize you and keep your digestive system regular and the toxins flowing out. In other words, it helps you poop. The powder contains some neat stuff including: broccoli, dandelion leaf, kale (ICK), spinach, slippery elm bark, tumeric root, watercress, white willow bark, and okra. 

Now, I was nervous trying this stuff, especially when I poured the powder into my glass and it was green. Again, I am not a fan of green drinks. I poured water, mixed the concoction around, and got close to the sink in case I needed to spit it out....which I did not....because

THIS STUFF TASTES GREAT! 

I tried the berry flavor (it also comes in orange) and was amazed that not only is it delicious, but there's no funny aftertaste. And despite it containing plaintain leaf (I would assume, relative of my nemesis, the banana), I had no allergic reaction to Greens On The Go. Did it energize me? No. Coffee does that, but it certainly was not unpleasant and there were no unpleasant side-effects after drinking it.

So is "It Works!" Greens On The Go Drink Powder worth the money?

Well, online a 30 serving box retails for $59 not including shipping and handling (although lower-priced packages may be available from individual dealers), so figure it's about $2 per serving. If we assume the product literature is correct, and this mix contains “the nutrition of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables”, and if you're NOT a fruit and veggie eater, then it may be worth the money to you. For me, in combination with a daily multivitamin, I'm confident that drinking Greens On The Go Drink Powder is a step in the right direction health-wise. 

I'll be purchasing this product in the future.

For more information, please visit Debbie Arrington's website: www.debswrapparty.myitworks.com or email her at debsbaskets@email.com.

Thanks for reading!  

Are Organic Products Worth The Money? THESE Are!

Disclosure Statement:  This post wasn't supposed to be a promotional post. Yes, I was given a few products by a friend, but was not asked to blog about them specifically. That decision was my own. Similarly, all opinions here are mine and I do not feel in any way obligated to render favorable judgment on those products.

JJ's Wellness Products which she handed me today

I am not an “organic mom.” Kids who come over my house after school for snack get pretzels, chips, and probably a handful or two of grapes. “Where are all the organic foods?” a child may ask. “Back at YOUR house,” comes my cheerful reply. Still, if I can sooth a cough without over-the-counter drugs or take my make-up off with coconut oil, I will, more because those remedies are cost-efficient, rather than organic. 

My friend, JJ, IS an organic mom who goes out of her way to make sure her family is exposed to only the purest ingredients in all that she buys. The really cool thing about JJ however, is that she doesn't preach this stuff. She quietly lives it by example. Oh, she'll give you advice if you ask, but she isn't OBNOXIOUSLY organic. So when JJ quietly showed up at my car window during school pick-up today, handed me a bag containing a few products, and asked if I'd give her my opinion, not only did I say, “yes,” but I offered to blog about them for two reasons: 1) I was suffering from writer's block 2)  I like JJ and it would give her company some exposure. I only hoped, before I opened the products, that the exposure would be GOOD (oh yes, I have written quite a few honest, but unfavorable reviews, people, friendship notwithstanding!).

Calming Salve - clearly she knows my children

JJ's Wellness offers materials and seminars which, she says, enhance her client's health. The first product I tried was her Calming Salve; it's 100% non-toxic and boasts ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, Vitamin E, and lavender/tangerine/orange oil. I dipped my finger in and spread some of the salve on my lips. The consistency is of thin wax, meaning you could kiss someone after putting this on and not be worried about leaving a big mess on the recipient's cheek. It smelled like tea and my nose picked up the hints of citrus. Part of me wanted to dissolve it in water since it smelled like herbal tea.  Because the salve is so airy, it goes on nicely over your lip stain. This product is something I WANT to put on, as opposed to other lip balms I HAVE to put on after my lips get chapped and bleed. JJ said her price point for a one ounce sample of this product is $6; I like that because again, with the lightness of this balm, a container will last at least a season or two.

One of JJ's Lotion Bars - Calming (ahhhhh...)

Product Number 2 is JJ's Handcrafted Lotion Bar. She gave me two samples of “Calming”, which are gluten and preservative free and made with, of course, only organic ingredients. The bars came on a lovely silver-looking tray and look more like white chocolate candy than lotion. The feel, as with the salve, is light. I rubbed a bar on my hand and, once more, a gentle tea-like fragrance wafted up my nose. Because the lotion is not greasy, it was easy to resume typing on my keyboard without making my computer slippery. JJ told me she designed these lotion bars for mothers who wanted to moisturize their babies without having to dip their fingers into jars of lotion or squeeze goo into their hands. Unlike other lotions which, after using them, have me frantically searching for the nearest piece of cloth to wipe my hands on, JJ's product makes moisturizing self-contained. I'm keeping one in my kitchen for use after washing dishes and on my bureau to use as part of my morning routine. 

JJ's price point for the lotions is $6 for the set which is good.  I can see one bar of the lotion lasting a month easily.  If you were to nab a pretty soap tray from the Dollar Store and combine it with her package of lotions, it would make a really nice teacher's or coach's gift for the holidays, as would the salve on it's own. These products would also be great, practical stocking stuffers.

For more information on JJ's products, visit jjswellness.com. I'm bookmarking her website because not only are her products great, but honestly, the site contains a lot of cool information from a woman who knows all about wellness but doesn't make you feel stupid or inadequate if you don't.



Again, for FTC Purposes,  Disclosure Statement:  This post wasn't supposed to be a promotional post. Yes, I was given a few products by a friend, but was not asked to blog about them specifically. That decision was my own. Similarly, all opinions here are mine and I do not feel in any way obligated to render favorable judgment on those products.

Thanks for reading!  Happy Thanksgiving!

5 Tips For Helping Your Child Accept Going To The Dentist

I've seen plenty of articles about getting your child to “love” the dentist. I hate using that word in that context. It's not like a kid is going to “love” getting a dental checkup the way they would “love” to go to Disneyworld.

 

It's always been my goal for my kids to “accept” going to the dentist as part of healthy living.

This hasn't been easy. I've had SO much work done on my teeth that I am petrified of all things dental. And my daughter, at 9 years old, has had 5 (count'em 5) root canals. Apparently, despite our best efforts, she just has very bad teeth. Her first memories of the dentist included being “papoosed” or, basically, encased in a straightjacket so that she wouldn't move around during the procedures. She cried, I sobbed (when she wasn't looking)  – it was a mess! 

Yet, now, amazingly enough, she doesn't mind going to the dentist. 

Why the flip-flop? While part of it is that she's maturing and understanding more, I did take some steps to help her.  Here's what I did:

This is my favorite book about teeth and going to the dentist!

1. Leaving my emotional luggage at the door – As hard as it has been, I have had to table my fears of the dentist anytime we head to her office. I have to constantly remind myself that going is healthy and prevents further problems. A positive attitude on my part translates to a positive attitude for my child. If I'm getting nervous, I just take a moment and step out of the room. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. I stay with her in the examination room – Some professionals don't like this, but after I stood my ground a few times, the staff gave in, as long as I wasn't intrusive. Every once in a while they'll give her an instruction she doesn't understand (as in today when they asked if she was “nauseous” during an extraction – I explained to her that the word meant “sick,” “dizzy.”). 
   
   
   
   

   

   Another warm book about dental visits and their importance.

   
   
   
   
3. Emphasizing the positives of going to the dentist – We've gone over why it's healthy, what teeth do, and why good dental hygiene is important. I encourage her to ask any questions when we're in the doctor's office. This means she's not afraid to discuss any discomfort she's having.
   
   
   
   
4. We've read books about going to the dentist – Some of our favorites are: The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss, The Berenstain Bears Visit The Dentist by Stan and Jan Berenstain, and Just Going To The Dentist by Mercer Mayer. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Not Talking Too Much About It – Just like errands, a trip to the dentist is something we need to do. Afterwards, if she's been really good and it's been a somewhat difficult session, we'll stop at the Dollar Store to get her a small stuffed animal or toy. I don't use it as a bribe or promise it beforehand. It's a spontaneous reward.
   
   
   
   

   

   Both kids thought this was the funniest book about going to the dentist.

   
   

She's described to her friends that going to the dentist is “relaxing” because of the big, comfy chair, the fact that they let her choose the flavor of toothpaste they use, and the goodies the staff gives her after every visit. Even today, after having two cavities filled and a tooth pulled, she's happy (well, not so much now as the Novocaine is wearing off). 

Does she “love” going? No, but Lily knows that whatever happens at the dentist is for her own good. Dental health is important. And that's a perfectly acceptable attitude.