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An Easy Post-Holiday Energy Cleanse

Posted on December 30, 2019 By Christine

Oh, the holiday hustle! We run run run towards Christmas like a fat kid chasing some french fries (oh wait…that’s me), and then we just…stop. There’s a meme that says something to the like of, “that week between Christmas and New Year’s where you have no…

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Beauty Health & Wellness Lifestyle

September 2019 Cruelty Free Favorites

Posted on October 16, 2019 By Christine

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love my cruelty free cosmetics. I’ve always been kind of obsessed with skincare, whether it’s making my own concoctions or following some of my favorite beauty bloggers from back in the day, like Tashina, who…

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Health & Wellness Lifestyle Reviews

Health Labs Vegan Maintenance Panel Review

Posted on September 25, 2019 By Christine

When I moved to a plant based lifestyle, I wanted to make sure I didn’t become a “pizza and french fries” vegan. Vegan options are so healthy, but sometimes making the switch to a plant based AND HEALTHY lifestyle can be challenging. I loved all of…

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Health & Wellness Reviews

Earthley Wellness Elderberry Kit Review

Posted on September 16, 2019 By Christine

With flu and cold season coming up, I’m going to be sharing a lot of my healthy immune boosting strategies here on the blog. We are a family who chooses NOT TO RECEIVE FLU SHOTS! Why? We don’t need it! Growing a healthy immune system is…

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Health & Wellness Lifestyle Momming

Back to School Routines & Rituals

Posted on August 28, 2019 By Christine

This year Leo will be attending nursery school twice a week for the morning. You all know I’m a teacher, and though I’m not completely sure what type of schooling we’ll end up doing with Leo–my school has a special program for littles. So, not only…

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Beauty Lifestyle

My Daily Skincare Routine

Posted on August 8, 2019 By Christine

Makeup has never really been my strong suit…but skincare has always been a passion of mine. Even when I would come home in my 20s blackout drunk I made sure to wash my face (even if it meant combatting the spins and falling asleep in my…

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Personal Life

Real Talk: I’m a Jerk to People I Love

Posted on July 24, 2019 By Christine

Lately, I’ve have to come to some startling (to me) realizations about myself. The last year I’ve been really rude and hurtful to people who tend to do the most for me. Mainly, my husband and my Mom. This is a vulnerable post for me to…

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Fashion Lifestyle Momming

Comfy Mama Style Staples

Posted on June 6, 2019 By Christine

My wardrobe has changed so much within the past five years. I grew up as a punky offbeat kid who always loved having statement pieces, to wearing literally nothing, to wearing just sweatpants and sweatshirts every day (even to work when I was in college–YUCK!) Now,…

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Personal Life

My Summer 2019 Goals

Posted on May 13, 2019 By Christine

I don’t do the whole new year thing these days. At the risk of sounding like a real spiritual douche, I used to gather books, affirmations, and have all of these ideas of what I thought I would do once the new year was rung in.…

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Health & Wellness Reviews

Essential Life Co Diffuser Necklace Review

Posted on May 6, 2019 By Christine

I am ALWAYS looking for new ways to use my oils and keep it simple. The other day The Essential Life Co asked me to review one of their amazing diffuser pieces. I haven’t quite found a diffuser necklace that I liked yet, so as the…

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Christine is a vegetarian mama, wife, and teacher who loves books, scarves, and all things fall. She’s been blogging since the early 2000s and now focuses on crunchy mama life, mindfulness, and all the cool things she can buy at Target. She loves her Golden Retriver, Myles, and binge watching Netflix while huffing essential oils and eating snacks.

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Awesome people!! Are you guys ready for my new fav Awesome people!! Are you guys ready for my new favorite #holistic, #allnatural, and #crueltyfree family products? Sit right down and let me drop some knowledge on ya! @sprigslife is a family owned small business that focuses on making health and wellness easy and seamless for your entire family. The owners, Nancy and Jonathan Laudon created an amazing brand that values family, health, and education. They have a team of herbalists and the highest standards and materials that they use in their products. There are so many who claim to have a natural and holistic product, but the proof is truly in the ingredient list. Any product yoknu view on their website is chock full of beautiful herbs and plant-based ingredients that you can feel good about. ⁣
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I got to try their Deep Tissue Salve and their Daily Supergreens in the Tropical paradise flavor. The Supergreens are SO DANG GOOD!! The kiddo loves them and so do I. I usually mix it up with my #vegan vanilla protein while this product is already a super blend of superfoods, enzymes, probiotics, fiber, trace minerals, and tons of phytonutrients, I add some extra goodies so it can double as a meal replacement for me or Leo. We’re a big smoothie house here so we’re always looking for new items to add to our rotation. The Tropical Paradise flavor tastes delicious! It doesn’t have a synthetic taste and it blends well with other fruits, potions, and powders that I use on the daily. We love it!⁣
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The Deep Tissue Salve is my BFFL! I love using this after a workout and it came through like a true champion during our last snowstorm when I was outside shoveling with the mans. This salve is made with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Wintergreen Oil, Beeswax, Peppermint Oil, Menthol, Ginger , St. John's Wort , Habanero Pepper, Calendula , and Arnica all of which have healing and pain relieving properties. It’s a refreshing and warming blend that loosens up muscles and generally just feels really freaking awesome and doesn’t have that clinical smell of your Grandpas Bengay. ⁣
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We all know #selfcare is about taking care of yourself from the inside out. These two products make it easy and simple. ⁣
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#crunchymom #crunchy #crunchyf
Totally obsessing over this body butter from @mode Totally obsessing over this body butter from @modere_us! This winter, I’ve been looking for a new body butter that fits my cruelty free bill! I really needed something with a neutral scent that was gentle and didn’t conflict with some of my other fragrances. I started using this every morning and night and my skin is so happy about it. ⁣
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Their formula a luxurious blend of natural skin softeners: jojoba oil, avocado oil & cocoa butter and features a sweet fragrance with notes of caramel, cotton candy & sugary fig. So you’re basically going to smell and feel like a snack after you use this!! 🤪🤪⁣
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Modere’s restoring body butter passed my ultimate test. After shaving, it absorbed quickly. There’s no grease, no drama, and no struggling to slide myself into my fave skinny jeans. This body butter is the skincare product you never knew you needed!! ⁣
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#stackmodere #crunchymom #crunchy #crunchyfamily #momblogger #mamablogger #momlife #naturalparenting #holistichealth #ctblogger #ctmom #connecticut #bblogger #crueltyfree #crueltyfreemom #cfblogger ⁣
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Looks like @westiesnutrition has a new regular! We Looks like @westiesnutrition has a new regular! We’ve been meaning to pop in in an effort to support small businesses during these wild times we are living in. I got their cookies @ cream protein shake & Leo got vanilla. We also snagged a FREE Paw Patrol themed #aloejuice and green tea lemonade for later. Thanks guys for the great breakfast and the conversation. Leo loved chattin’ ya’ll up about three headed dogs and magical creatures. 🤣🤣🤣 #shoplocal #westiesnutrition #ctnutrition #smoothies #crunchyfamily #crunchyfam #holistichealth #omnom #shopct #ctbloggermoms #ctbloggerbabes #shopsmallct #localbusiness
January was a whirlwind of a homeschooling month! January was a whirlwind of a homeschooling month! Leo has been really interested in the Ocean, so for this month’s learning theme, I let him choose. Ocean studies are great because we can take advantage of the living classroom literally down our street. We also incorporated @rootedchildhood’s January pinecone craft to maintain our seasonal connection throughout the winter months. We found all of the pinecones and he chose the ribbons and sticks on a few nature walks and at the playground. Our highlights of the month included: ⁣
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🐠 Ocean Anatomy & Macmillan Encyclopedia studies⁣
🐧 Polar Kinetic Sand sensory bin (see my reel for this!)⁣
🐚 Ocean cards and wooden block game from @littleexplorers⁣
🌏 Beginning sounds - phonics⁣
🐳 Rhyming sounds - phonics⁣
🦀 Integration of the Charlotte Mason picture study⁣
🌊 Sorting ocean zones⁣
🧺 Sewing a rope basket⁣
📚 Reading and sequencing Rainbow Fish⁣
🌱 Nature journaling with seaweed — this was my personal favorite watching him paint from a picture. :D ⁣
❤️ Finding out we absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE dugongs. ⁣
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Next year, I’m looking forward to hopefully having a co-op trip to the beach to extend our ocean and nature studies further!⁣
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#homeschooling #homeschool #homeschoollife #education #homeschoolmom #montessori #homeeducation #learningthroughplay #montessoriathome #kids #parenting #learning #preschool #learningathome #unschooling #kidsactivities #momlife #homeschoolers #school #homeschoolfamily #teachersofinstagram #earlylearning #kindergarten #homeschooler #preschoolactivities #homeschoolingmom
Did you know Covergirl is #crueltyfree and clean?? Did you know Covergirl is #crueltyfree and clean?? Their new mascara and Perfect Point Plus liquid liner is 100% vegan, cruelty free, and free from paragons, talc, mineral oil, and sulfates. Swipe over for my look! :) Natural and simple!⁣
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You already know that my eyes are where I focus most of my look. I’m not me without my eyebrows and lashes, haha! The lash wand included in the clean Lash Blast #mascara is epically amazing! The bristles are wide, spread apart, and grab virtually every lash to create a peacock plume of volume. Fabulous! Mascara that clumps and falls off is a DRAG; this mascara is smooth, feels light on my eyes, and stays in place. No drama!⁣
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In the past, liquid liners never really worked well for me. I love the cat eye effect, but couldn’t quite master it. The Perfect Point Plus liquid liner dries so quickly! No fear of messing up my look or having to redo my eyes. It also doesn’t tug or drag when applying. I hate having to drag my eyelids to the side to get a solid line. No more flaking and no fade or fall-out and of course no nasty hidden ingredients. ⁣
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Clean beauty is not something that you have to worry about anymore. Covergirl is available virtually everywhere and is reasonably priced for all budgets. Love that bigger brands are working to make #animalfriendly beauty affordable and accessible. ⁣
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***Covergirl’s PARENT COMPANY is not cruelty free, though the Covergirl brand is. Use your own judgement based on this information if you live a strict #vegan lifestyle. ⁣
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This product was sent for consideration! #EasyBreezyEyes #complimentary @COVERGIRL @Influenster
Where my fellow snugglers at? ❤️ Where my fellow snugglers at? ❤️
I am so excited to share with you another amazing I am so excited to share with you another amazing #vegan and #crueltyfree product to help you shine on like the crazy diamond you are. ⁣
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If you have combo skin like me, you know that all year hydration is key. The new line of supplements by @raeforwellness (found at your local @target for under $25 is about to be your new BFF. This liquid supplement features the key ingredient Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate your skin at a cellular level, supporting both skin function and glow!⁣
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Rae makes wellness SIMPLE. One full dropper in your coffee, water, or tea is all you need. I personally took this straight up without anything other than my regular supplements. The ingredient list isn’t an epic poem (magnesium and hyaluronic acid) and your skin is softer and hydrated without fillers or chemicals. ⁣
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The taste is reminiscent of maple syrup, which makes the whole experience even more enjoyable. The sweetness doesn’t effect beverages and it’s not lingering. I can tell when I miss a day. Since adding Rae into my daily routine my skin feels hydrated and as soft as a silky new baby. I can’t wait to see what Rae designs next! ⁣
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#raewellnesspartner #shinefrominside @stackinfluence Mmmm
My December empties post is chock full of all the My December empties post is chock full of all the things I ran out of this month. With some of my favorite products being out of stock, I’ve been exploring some other brands and items. I have to admit I kind of miss taking about all of my favorite products sometimes. I’ve been so wrapped up with schooling the kiddo! But 2021 and 2020 are the years of #selfcare right? 💯✌🏻⁣
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What’s currently topping my #crunchy and #cruelty free list?? Without further ado, let’s discuss:⁣
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💫 @maryruthorganics Raspberry Liquid morning was really good!! We have been using their vitamins for a while now, but tried raspberry this month. I loved it! It was a little less sweet than our usual strawberry 🍓 flavor!⁣
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💫 @doterra Body Butter! This ish is amazing for my dry family. 🤪 It smells like grapefruit and douglas fir and is not greasy! ⁣
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💫 @sheamoisture Shampoo. I bought this on a whim. I only shampoo once a week, so this lasted forever. I loved how it smelled and  it was hydrating for my curls. It also doubles as a dope bubble bath 🧼 for the littles!⁣
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💫 @lushusa Handy Gurugu was sent to me as a sample but smelled like a patchouli princess pony patch. I ended up purchasing a full size! The hand cream is buttery and fluffy and helped my hands a ton! ⁣
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💫 @dermae and their Hydrating Line is straight fire. I have been using their entire hydration line for years. The gel cleanser is simple, clean, and effective. Hyaluronic Acid is KEY to keeping your skin deliciously moist (lol yeah I said it). ⁣
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💫 Finally, I was introduced to @rpmcbdcare this past month! I got to try their body and hand lotion and it was a fast favorite! Their line is organic and cruelty free, too! 💯💯 The lotion was light, smooth, and absorbed quickly. I’ll definitely purchase this again! ⁣
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How are you keeping yourself from looking like the crypt keeper this year?? 🤣
Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday seas Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is coming to a close, it’s time for a healthy new year! You already know my kid and I are elderberry fanatics. We love the syrup, the cough drops, and we love making the syrup into pops (more on that another day), but our new obsession is by far the @Sambucol Elderberry Gummies. ⁣
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What??? Sweet gummy deliciousness that actually helps support your immune system? Yeah, that’s a thing…google that ish. These dummies are super small and easy to take. Leo loves them and so do I. They are soft, easy to chew, and there is absolutely no icky aftertaste. Four year old approved!!!!⁣
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The #SambucolElderberry products are also are gluten free, low carb and high in antioxidants, some with added Zinc and Vitamin C. We all know those are powerhouses for a healthy and supported immune system. ⁣
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#Sambucol is based in science.  According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the highest concentration of anthocyanins are found in black elderberries – nearly double the amount found in any other fruit. So there’s no magic here; just the pure power of our beautiful mother nature. ⁣
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Check out all of their amazing #elderberry products here: https://glnk.io/4o0/blissandblessings and get some delicious tasting wellness anywhere you shop. Happy 2021, friends and fam! <3 Stay well!⁣
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#crunchymom #crunchyfamily #wellness #naturalliving #winterwellness⁣
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All Rights Reserved | Christine Gallo-Yatcko 2018