Fake Bake - Tanning Lotions

Review by Lisa VanWilliams

Do the Winter months have you feeling down? Are you getting a pasty color to your skin and you could use a little glow?  Fake Bake is a line of revolutionary self-tanning products that contain only organic tanning agents with no artificial preservatives or parabens. It works well with every skin tone and skin type. They offer rich looking tans without the harmful effects of the sun, and since it's not chemically based you won't turn orange like an Oompa Loompa. They are great to use before a party, to brighten up your legs to wear a nice dress, or for a night out on the town to get that sun kissed,  just returned from the tropics tan. Fake Bake is a favorite among celebrities like Rube Rose, Demi Lovato, Anne Heche, and Rumor Willis.

They offer a full line of products like the Airbrush Instant Self-Tan, Flawless Self-Tan Liquid, 5 Minute Mousse Instant Self-Tan, and The Face Anti-Aging Self-Tan Lotion just to name a few. They also offer Amplify Daily Tan which is a daily gradual tanner, and a great way to extend the life of a natural tan. Look healthier and younger, from head to toe.

We tried the 5 Minute Mousse and the Flawless Self-Tan Liquid. I preferred the color more on the Flawless Self-Tan Liquid. The products don't have the awful smell of chemically based lotions, these actually smell good/enjoyable. They give instant color and you can adjust it by adding a coat or wiping some off. It was fast drying and fast absorbing. Close to 300 Ulta reviewers gave the Flawless a 4.4 out of 5.0 stars. I liked the products and I will use them more in the Summertime.

To find out more about Fake Bake and the products they offer, or to order online, please go to:
http://us.fakebake.com/

They are sold at a few salons in Connecticut as well.

Drew's All-Natural and Organic Dressings/Marinades

Review by Lisa VanWilliams

Since 1995, Chef Drew Starkweather has been making salad dressings. He now has a production facility in Chester, Vermont and they are top ranked in the industry for making some of the best natural/organic salad dressings and salsas.

Products are USDA Certified Organic, non-GMO, no artificial colors/flavorings, and no preservatives are used in these small crafted batches. They offer a line of all natural as well as organic dressings. All of the salsas are organic. They have gluten-free options as well.

You can find Drew's at Super Stop & Shops,  ShopRite, and Big Y in Connecticut. To find a location near you, please go to:
http://www.chefdrew.com/where-to-buy

You can find out more about the company, and view their products here:
http://www.chefdrew.com/

Chef Drew has lots of recipes on the website as well if you need some yummy ideas. 

• Trying marinating some steak in the organic Aged Balsamic

• Kick up your chicken by tossing it in Chipotle Ranch with some red onions, bell peppers, celery and serve over salad

• Marinate a pork roast in the Sesame Orange Dressing

I could go for these Cobb Salad Lettuce Wraps with the Organic Peppercorn Ranch dressing:

Photo & recipe courtesy of Drew's

1 lb chicken breast
¼ cup Drew's Organic Peppercorn Ranch Dressing
3 ears corn, steamed and kernels stripped from the cob
1 sliced avocado
1½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
Bibb lettuce leaves
5 strips bacon crumbled
Fresh Ground Pepper

Java Fly & Faro Coffee

Review by Lisa VanWilliams

We checked out some Faro Coffee that was sent to us by Java Fly. Java Fly specializes in wholesale single serve portion packs for Keurig, Nespsresso, and other brewers to bring coffee drinkers the best variety of gourmet flavors at rock bottom prices. Faro coffee is out of Quebec and they have been oven roasting small-batches of coffee since 1982.

I prefer medium roasts, so I tried the Sumatra Mandhling and it had woody and earthy notes to it. 24 cups go for $15.99 My husband likes darker roasts, and he tried the Colombian Zelandia Corse which had spicy caramel and honey aromas and finished off with a peppery slightly bitter note. 24 cups go for $15.99.

You can find out more about Java Fly and order coffee here:
http://www.javafly.com/

You can find out more about Fario Roasting Houses here:
http://www.bruleriefaro.com/