EO Lotion: A Great Cruelty Free Full Body Lotion

While trying to use primarily vegan items (not tested on animals EVER or containing any animal ingredients), I found a brand on Amazon called EO (which I think means Everyday Organics, or Every One?, or is it Essential Oils???, but please let me know which one is accurate). Now, I know there are some things going on with Amazon that most people consider bad, but for those of us who live in the boondocks it's the most convenient and economical way to shop for items we cannot typically find without driving 100 miles to civilization (often with FREE SHIPPING!!). That being said, I first ordered EO's Everyday Body Lotion in Grapefruit & Mint. It is heavenly!!! It's my favorite lotion to this day. (Well, since I am unsure if Merry Hempsters still makes their unscented lotion which was great with a mild hempy scent...)

The EO lotion is so light and smooth that my skin feels hydrated immediately. It's sensitive (and natural) enough to use even on my face and other sensitive areas where I'd break out with most types of lotions, even those designed for sensitive skin. The scent is light and fruit yet enough to notice. It quickly absorbs into my skin without leaving a greasy or oily residue behind and my hands, and wherever else I apply the lotion, feel soft and moisturized. Ingredients include mostly organic jojoba, grapefruit and peppermint essential oils, chamomile, aloe vera, white tea, sesame oil, mango and rice protein and more. I like that the products are mostly natural and organic, yet the price is reasonable. I see no parabens or dyes listed in the ingredients.

I know the product is cruelty free, which is probably the best part! LeapingBunny.org (http://leapingbunny.org/skin.php) shows the product as: "EO Products, Web: www.eoproducts.com
We've been in business for nearly 12 years, exploring the possibilities of Mother Nature with the belief that beautiful body care products could be made with pure and organic ingredients. We wanted to prove that gentle is also immensely effective."

I have also tried the unscented, which is also fabulous, and the Rose Chamomile, which was good as far as being mild, hydrating, and producing great results from a lotion, but I didn't much care for the scent. However, if you prefer a strongly herbal scent it may appeal to you.

The lotions come in a convenient size of 8 ounces (240 mL), and sometimes larger sizes such as 32 ounces (with a convenient and hygienic pump for about $8 a bottle), and they last a good bit of time as a little goes a long way with this superior product.

EO manufactures lotions, obviously, but also other skincare products such as shower gels, hand soaps, and a full range of men's products and more -- all in many different scents. Check them out, you won't be disappointed!

Amy's Light & Lean Spaghetti Italiano

Okay, so I have the BEST boyfriend in the world. I am so grateful. He is so supportive and always thinking of me. He is vegetarian but eats lots of vegan meals with me. That being said, he picked up a few frozen meals for me to take to work on the days I might not have felt like packing a lunch or when I was running late. He's always so excited and proud to show me his offerings and makes sure he mentions how carefully he read the ingredients for me. : )

One of the frozen meals he bought was Amy's Light & Lean Spaghetti Italiano. I didn't have high hopes for this. I've had a few good fake meatballs but most are bland. And frozen spaghetti?? As I heated the meal on my lunch break I read the back of the box and saw the mock meatballs are made of "lentils, quinoa and tofu," which sounded like an interesting mix, but how would it taste?

Well, I was SO wrong to question the flavor. The meatballs were the best part -- phenomenal!! They were solid enough to hold shape yet delicate enough to split each one into a few bite size pieces with my fork. The frozen spaghetti actually was very good as well. The sauce has a good flavor. It actually tasted freshly prepared, if you can believe that! The box claims to have no preservatives or GMOs so those are definitely good things as well. I was very impressed and delighted!

I'm sure the price is a bit high (I don't know what it was since I didn't buy it, but Amy's products tend to carry a hefty price tag in my area anyway) but for an occasional treat I think it's worth splurging. It's very high in fiber, includes a great serving of protein and low in fat but does have high sodium (like most frozen meals). It is filling and very satisfying yet under 250 calories. It does contain broccoli, zucchini, and tomatoes, so there are some veggies packed inside this dish. Since it's vegan there is zero cholesterol or cruelty.

Amy's Light & Lean Spaghetti Italiano can be prepared in a conventional oven, a toaster oven, or the microwave, and is very easy to prepare. This product contains soy and wheat, so there are some allergens, but I'm not sensitive to these ingredients so I will be enjoying this product again sometime.