Maple Holistics Tea Tree Shampoo | Free Samples!

I’m an avid believer in eating clean and healthy every chance I can get. The same idea applies to the everyday skincare and body products I use. With so many mainstream items on the market, it’s easy for me to get caught up in frenzy, which is why I was very happy when Maple HolIstics reached out to me about their all-natural hair, skin, and body products.

With my sensitive and dry scalp. I opted for their tea tree shampoo. Tea tree is commonly found in skincare products for those with acne-prone skin, as it helps to minimize breakouts and calm irritated skin. Why not apply this concept and relieve the same skin troubles for your scalp, right? The shampoo is sulfate-free, which means it doesn’t lather up like most shampoos do but that doesn’t make it any less effective. After using the shampoo for over a month, though I have not seen major differences, it does make my hair feel super clean after each wash. For me personally, tea tree has a distinctive herbal-like scent, but it isn't overwhelming and I like the fact the scent doesn’t linger. The all-natural formula contains only seven ingredients, and it’s safe to be used on my colored hair. I’m pleased with the product, as it is gentle on my scalp and leaves my hair soft and clean. 

If you’re not a fan of tea tree products, there are other notable products on the site, such as the Argan Oil Conditioner. They also have a free samples program that includes a great selection of products for those who are not sure where to begin. Maple Holistics specializes in cruelty-free and premium products and it’s definitely worth giving it a try, as I strongly believe in their philosophy.

*All opinions are my own and I'm not being paid to write this review.

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Pupcakes for Cookie's first birthday! + VIDEOS

Over the weekend, I brought out the oven mitts and got down to business - I made pupcakes for Cookie's first birthday. He turns 1 year old today! I met Cookie for the first time when he was 8 weeks old and my heart completely melted. The fam and I brought him home last November and ever since then, he has made our lives a thousand times sweeter. He is just pure joy. It's crazy how quickly flies and this little cuddle-loving guy will be moving on to "adult things" (though I think the only change will be his diet). He will still go about his days stealing socks and not knowing how to share his toys. He will always be a pup to me.

As for the recipe, I was torn between two different versions: one healthy and the other not. Going for a happy medium, I used gluten-free flour and coconut oil while going for a cream cheese and peanut butter frosting. That should balance out the health scale, right? Read on for the complete deets.

 Note: Cookie, personally, had no stomach problems or general issues after digesting these pupcakes. He licked the entire frosting off a pupcake and I fed him about 1/2 of the actual cake. 

Note: I did a taste test and let's just say these pupcakes are catered to pups only. Cream cheese and peanut butter do not make a tasty combo for us humans.

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Makes 4 pupcakes

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup brown rice flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 egg

1/2 banana

2 tablespoons honey 

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

2/3 cream cheese 

5 tablespoons peanut butter 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, baking powder, egg, honey, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. 
3. Insert cupcake liners into a cupcake or muffin pan. Scoop mixture into the liners, filling each halfway. Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

4. Cool to room temperature before frosting. 
5. To make the frosting, in a mixing bowl, stir cream cheese until fluffy. In a separate bowl, stir peanut butter well.
5. Combine cheese cheese and peanut butter in a piping bag and frost pupcakes.

6. Top with dog biscuits or any other edible or non-edible decoration. I used these cute toppers and wrappers. 

Recipe adapted from Zoella and Cool Treats for Dogs

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Pieces of August | Monthly Round-up

SHE'S BACK.

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Pieces of July | Monthly Round-up

 if this is love, i don't want it

The next brand.

Vans, is that you?

Heart. Melted.