It’s important to follow the instructions, including the part about drying the curls completely before running your hands luxuriously through your hair.

It’s well worth trying if you are in the market for a less synthetic, effective hair curling cream.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis

An addictive and nutritious snack, Hemp Hearts, raw shelled hemp seeds from Manitoba Harvest Foods, impart a slight sweetness reminiscent of finely crushed, soft walnuts. But these little power seeds feature 10 grams of Omegas 3 & 6, plus 3 grams of fiber. For those of you interested there are only 170 calories and 3grams of carbohydrates. Taste and nutrition combine in a snack that is—tempting --- and filling. For more information go to: manitobaharvest.com.

Mediterranean diets have returned as the daily diet rage. A dining staple in southern Europe, olives and olive products anchor many Mediterranean dishes. An ancient fruit, many believe some of the finest olives come from Greece. Packed in brine, the Olives by Divanos are firm and bursting with flavor. Another item, Dalmatia Fig Spread exudes the sweet exoticism of figs and combines well with Cheese, in yogurt, on toast or as an added sweetener from cereal to cookie fillings. Divina Olive Bruschetta features a traditional mixing of olives, sweet peppers and capers. The spread works in pasta, on bruschetta, and as an added flavor to many other topping choices.

Another snack touting high health appeal are the Australian grown Chia Shots by The Chia Company. Each 8-gram serving is packed with 2.9 grams of Omega 3; 1.1 gram of omega 6; 66 calories; 0.07 carbohydrates; 5.6 grams fiber and 3 grams of proteins. Resembling light and dark colored sesame seeds, Chia Seeds can punch up a salad, yogurt, and cereal or just pop them in your mouth (although they are a bit dry) to cut hunger and jack up nutrition.

For those who haven’t heard, milk is being stalked by nondairy Coconut milk. The SO Delicious product is gluten free and touts the robust flavor of its chocolate coconut milk and protein rich Almond Plus Almondmilk.

Extending the line essential pantry products, One Degree Organic Foods announced a new product, Organic Flax Seeds. The well-known health benefits are compounded by this seed’s veganically grown pedigree—that is, the company knows the seed’s friends and family members. Scan the bar code and you trace the seed’s route back to its roots. (Couldn’t help it).

Although there was much more to taste and contemplate, Better oats released Steel Cut Oats with Flax plus and a touch of apples and cinnamon plus Barbara’s High Fiber Cranberry cereal.

Finished eating--top everything off with a bright cup of tea. Believe it or not, “Get Burning” herb tea for metabolism kicks up your energy and food burning skills with a tea bag that has organic green Rooibos, Ginger, Cinnamon, and Holy Basil. The Republic of Teas Be Active Teas features multi-talented tea choices.
EYE ON THE ARTS, NY -- Celia Ipiotis

Numi Tea announced some data that makes tea drinking even more appealing. Tea can benefit many health issues like cardiovascular disease, induce relaxation, and help boost the immune system. Studies are reporting these findings but they don’t have the same muscle as pharmaceutical companies so they get brushed to the side of documented medical advances.

Of course many have already heard of green tea’s antioxidant properties, but a new tea is knocking green and white tea off the top of the totem pole. Tea farmers are clearing their plots of other teas and planting Puerh tea to satisfy a growing demand. Why the interest? Because Puerh tea is proving helpful towards heart health, digestion, cancer prevention energy levels.

Puerh comes from a wild, old tree known as "broad leaf tea" found in the Yunan Mountains of Southwestern China. An earthy flavor permeates this wonder tea which will be released later this year by at least one company, Numi Organic Tea. Their promotional material states that they are harvesting Puerh tea leaves from 200 – 500 year old wild harvested tree varieties.

As for the other teas, don’t throw them out yet. Green tea has been deemed a strong scavenger of free radicals and improves memory. White tea seeks out disease producing bacteria, while black tea can impede colorectal cancer cells and lower risk of repeated heart attacks. Naturally, just drinking tea won’t do the trick if every other aspect of your daily life is unhealthy. But tea in combination with a balanced diet and exercise can improve your health odds—and do so in a tasty, calming manner.

Keep a lookout for the new category or Puerh tea. Numi will put out a black Puerh, one flavored with chocolate, vanilla beans, orange peel and spices; a magnolia scented green tea, a Black Puerh blend plus a green Puerh.

Certainly other brands will surface as well, but for more information on Numi Organic Tea go to www.numitea.com.

What attracted me to this line of pencil was the ease with which the pencil draws over the eyelid. There’s a fine selection of colors including rich grays and browns that apply with ease. It’s difficult to find eyeliners that both feel good in the hand and on the eyelids, particularly if you are prone to eye infections or irritations.

Simple but effective, PencilMeIn this particular pencil me in product works and could serve as a fine stocking stuffer gift.
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