Conscious Box

Always a fan of the convenience and novelty of the delivery subscription box services, I signed up to trial a month of Conscious Box after a co-worker recommended it. Anyone who makes suggestions for helping me discover healthier choices is instantly a friend of mine. And I figured it was worth the $20 to see if this company would stand up to it's promises of sorting through hundreds of natural goods like snacks, beauty, and cleaning products and picking the best ones. 

Initially, I signed up for a one month delivery to see if I liked it.  I had a positive reaction when the first box arrived.  As you can see from the pictures, everything is beautifully packaged (I'm a sucker for thoughtful details) and they provide a description card that allows you to quickly scan all of the products included and details on why you might enjoy it.

The following items were included in my first box:

• Manitoba Harvest Hemp Hearts Raw Shelled Hemp Seeds

• Two Degrees Bar

• Zarbee's All-Natural Cough Syrup 

• Slumberland Snacks Sleep Squares 

• Mighty Leaf Organic Teas

• BumBoosa Bamboo Baby Wipes

• Numi Organics Savory Tea

• Bee Rescued Propolis Toothpaste

• Nordic Naturals Vitamin D3 Gummies

• Flora Flor-Essence Supplement

• Quit Tea

• MRM CRAM

• Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet

• Naked Wines $100 Wine Voucher 

With everything from tea to toothpaste I give them an A+ for variety. Although, being a health conscious person, I was familiar with several of these brands (Numi, Nordic Naturals, Manitoba Harvest and Mighty Leaf -- all great companies) so the discovery part was lacking for me. But I like receiving validation that I'm on the right path in my choices, so seeing consistencies always makes me happy. Being a subscriber to other delivery box services such as Birchbox, GoBites, Nature Box and Stitch Fix, I was also surprised to see that Conscious Box felt more like a gift bag at a nice event versus providing full-sized samples as most subscription boxes do. 

I'll leave you by saying the Two Degrees Bars were my favorite find -- delicious! And I readily put that $100 wine voucher to use at Naked Wines. Dave and I have opened two of the six bottles we ordered and they were both great!

The Honest Company

Just over a year ago, I decided that I wanted to start taking steps toward making better consumer decisions and to understanding the products that I spend my hard earned money on. Having invested over ten years in the world of advertising, I know how overwhelming the crowded, cluttered shelves of many stores can be. Coupled with the lack of regulations that companies have to adhere to, it makes it virtually impossible to really know if the choices we are making are good ones.

Where things become even more troubling is when we do take the time to educate ourselves about choices we think are (were) smart and healthy, we may find we are being deceived by marketers, labels and claims. Today, I would like to introduce you to a company that I trust -- The Honest Company, founded by Jessica Alba and Christopher Gavigan. 

I encourage you to read about the Honest Company on their website to learn how they got their start and what promises they are making to their consumers. We have begun using many of their products in our home.

I think I've tried almost everything the company has to offer, including the baby products (you don't need a brand new bum to put a baby wipe to good use and their healing balm is wonderful for chapped skin). Everything is beautifully packaged and shipped directly to you, cutting out the middle man costs. If you sign up for the monthly bundle, it will save you money, and they automatically remind you when it's time to ship, giving you the option to update your product choices before it does.  

Here are a list of our favorites:

• Laundry Detergent 
• Multi-Surface Cleaner
• Fruit & Veggie Wash 
• Scrubber Sponge
• Hand Sanitizer 
• Body Oil 

A Healthy Welcome Home

Dave just returned from a five week stint in Thailand where he was putting the finishing touches on a documentary film that he and his company, Run Riot Films, have been pouring their hearts into for the past several months.

I've been spending my weekends captive to a yoga studio in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood, juicing and living a healthier lifestyle than even I thought possible. Dave has been lamenting the unhealthy way he has been living. He's complained of his back hurting, having not worked out while he's been away and lugging around heavy camera equipment. In addition to indulging in all of his favorite Thai foods. If I know Dave l like I think I do, he's also been drinking a lot of Leo, Chang and Singha while keeping his social skills in tact.

To celebrate his return, I welcomed him home with a little healthy motivation -- a basket filled with goodies. These items included a Men's Health Magazine, some fresh flowers, (to brighten the apartment and to remind him that spring is hopefully just around the corner), and lots of fun, healthy snacks (Dave loves snacks). 

Here's a list of healthy ideas to create your own homemade gift for that special guy in your life:

• Men's Health Magazine 
• Emmy's Organic Macaroons (Lemon Ginger & Coconut Vanilla are faves!)
• Theo Spicy Chili Dark Chocolate
• Health Warrior Chia Bars
• Apples, Bananas, Pears, Lemons, etc
• Mixed Berries (Strawberries, Blackberries, Blueberries)
• Harmless Harvest Coconut Water 
• Fresh Flowers or Succulent (trust me, guys like this stuff too!)
• Gift Certificate to Local Juice Shop (in NYC Liquiteria and Organic Avenue are faves) 
• New York Naturals Kale Chips

(Most items listed can be found in your local Whole Foods store)

Welcome to The Wren

wren | ren |

noun

1 A very small widely distributed bird that has a short erect tail and is noted for its song.  

2 Also happens to be a lovely combination of my name, with my last name being Woodruff and first name being Renee. 

I've carried many nicknames throughout my lifetime by various friends, friends and family members; with "Ren" being one of the more popular. And after taking over a year off from blogging, formerly as "Girl on the Go" for Shape.com, I've decided to give it another go. This time, autonomously.

The way I see it, we all have commonalities with a wren. In one shape or another, we are all songbirds, each singing our various songs. By creating "The Wren", I want to share my song with you. My hope is that in the stories that I share about my personal life,  you will find inspiration and motivation for your life.

I will use this blog to discuss topics that I'm most passionate about including: traveling, yoga, health and finding true happiness in the short lives that we've all been given. I'd love to hear from you if you discover something that you can relate to or that you enjoy on this blog. I encourage you to share the photos that I post and sample the recipes that I've discovered.

Thank you so much for reading,

Renee