An Indulgent Affair that is Great for the Mind, Body, Soul and Planet.

For centuries we have know that reading not only broadens the mind, but also takes you places. One glance at the Pharmacopia labels and we were instantly taken to an apothecary in the South of France that produces the best quality products from natural ingredients grown in their own backyard. The shopping experience was wonderful. The owners gave us every detail of how they labor with expertise and care for their products. They took their time, and gave us reasons as to why they chose certain ingredients….then the trip was cut short when the wine we were sipping ran out…..

Pharmacopoeia is literally, the art of the drug compounder. One look at the PHARMACOPIA product line, and you start not only day dreaming, but also getting the sense that someone really took the time to think what ingredients to put into the product for you. That is exactly how it started, and how it happens: After leaving her job as a graphic designer due to a muscle disorder, Lisa Levin began searching for a cure in nature. When she couldn’t find one readily available, she started mixing her own, and in doing so, she developed natural therapeutic products.

So, what is Pharmacopia? It is a complete line of natural and organic body care.
If we are constantly looking for ways to help the environment, eat healthier, exercise and care for our face with all types of creams and brands, so we should with our bodies.

Full of powerful herbs and botanical ingredients that address some of daily nuisances, like essential oils that combat stress/ tension, lavender that calms, or ginger that enhances the immune system; Pharmacopia prides itself in offering us products we can indulge our body and soul in.

These wonderful products are:

• Free of dangerous chemicals

• Made with certified organic products

• Paraben free

• Contains no sulfates, propylene glycol, disodium EDTA or phthalates.

• 100% natural, cruelty-free and vegan

• All around good for people AND the planet

There is a wide range of Pharmacopia body products to make your favorite. If you are interested in getting to know them quicker they offer a Body Basics’ started kit that takes you on a tour of their custom herbal blends

Our panel of moms sampled them, (Herbal Lip Elixir, Rosemary Bath Soak, Citrus Body Wash, and Lavender Body Lotion) and the consensus is that:
1. The smooth and comfortable results on the skin after applying Pharmacopia products are marvelous and immediate.
2. The fantastic textures of the products are reminiscent of a luxurious spa.
3. The fragrances give a one of a kind well-being sensation.

The absolute favorite of the group is the Herbal Lip Elixir. First the packaging is very original as to how to get the product out: you don’t do it from the bottom as you normally would, but near the top of the container, which was fun and different. Then the Chamomile-Tangerine fragrance clearly tells your senses something good is coming. As you apply it on, the product is smooth and you can start feeling the soothing effects almost instantaneously. Another great plus is that the container is see- through, so you always know how much of this wonderful elixir you can count on. Bottom line, it works very well on chapped lips and has a great feel on the lips.

Another great product we tested was the Citrus body wash, which just as it name tells the citrusy fragrance is just right to start the clean feel! It is very gentle, and the texture of the wash is like a silk glove. The best quality? Your skin is not only clean, it is also soft, smooth and feeling comfortable because as the Citrus body wash does not have cheap detergent ingredients, your skin will never be dry or taught on this products’ account!.

We also wanted to tell you about the Bath Soak better known as bath salts. Now this was my personal favorite. This therapeutic soak works two-fold:

-to “draw out impurities and leave skin moisturized:

-to relax sore muscles.

Oh my! it was, to me, rejuvenating, calming, and life-saving! What a wonderful way to re-group and take care of my body. The soak we tested had a rosemary fragrance that relaxed me, and transported me to what I envision would have been the perfect pamper session at a healthy spa. I even think I gained some mental clarity in the process, now that is value for your money :-)

Cool Moms Cool Tips agrees that Pharmacopia is the perfect combination of great natural and organic body care that continuously contributes to the well-being of people and the earth.
The company is committed not only to delivering its product promises to Consumers, but also to undertaking organic practices. An example of this is that they signed and comply with the Compact for Safe Cosmetics (a written commitment to making products that meet or exceed current European Union standards which are much stricter than those in the USA) where they are not to include chemicals that are known to cause—or strongly suspected of causing—cancer, mutations or birth defects.

Pharmacopia is offering a Cool Moms Cool Tips reader the opportunity to experiences their products.   Join in on the opportunity to win their Body Basics Gift set so you can experience all the products we did!  The set valued at $25 approx. contains:
-2oz Organic Citrus Body Wash for Skin and Scalp – gently foaming cleanser for body and hair which doubles as a wonderful bubble bath, with invigorating aromas of tangerine, grapefruit and neroli essential oils
• 2oz Organic Lavender Body Lotion – brimming with deeply hydrating nourishers like wheat germ and avocado oils, making it a super-hydrating after-sun treatment or relaxing massage lotion; contains soothing essential oils of lavender and roman chamomile .
• Organic Shea Butter Herbal Lip Elixir – twice the size of most balms and formulated with super-healers like hemp and pomegranate oil along with fair-trade shea butter; essential oils of tangerine and chamomile.
• 6 oz Rosemary Bath Salts – created with essential oils of rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus, this anti-inflammatory and decongesting soak helps relieve sore joints, muscle aches and arthritis.
Plus our box included a n eco- friendly bamboo scrubby puff!

To enter the giveaway, please go visit Pharmacopia and tell us what other products you would like to experience.

For bonus entries you can:
1- Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (5 entries)

2-Follow Pharmacopia on Twitter and tweet : RT @coolchillmom #win a #natural and #organic Body care Set enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/ata5Pb #green #ecochat (you get an entry for every tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).
3- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : RT @coolchillmom #win a #natural and #organic Body care Set enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/ata5Pb #green #ecochat (you get an entry for every tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).

4-Grab our button (3 entries)
5- Follow our blog publicly (3 entries)
6- Add us to your blog roll (2 entries)
7- Enter any of my other current giveaways- (2 entries per giveaway).
8- Add this blog to your text-based blog roll (3 extra entries).

*Open to US and Canada residents.
*Make sure we have a way to reach you, by either enabling your email through blogger, or leaving your email in the comment.
*Winners are chosen by random.org, so make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.
*Giveaway ends on March 5th, midnight EST.
*Winners will be announced on our Facebook fan page, join us there .
*Winners will be contacted via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be chosen.

Sweetness is in Kibi's Sweets Valentine's!

Valentine's Day is almost here, and Kibi's Sweets is ready for us.
We reviewed Kibi' Sweets last year, and we told you about Melissa Bonet, a highly trained and specialized pasty and dessert chef who owns Kibi’s Sweets.

This chef only uses the freshest and best ingredients to bring the taste of her family recipe which has been passed down for over 30 years from generation to generation, to you.

Her skills, knowledge, respect for tradition and family values translates into a cake or cupcakes of such exquisite flavor that all palates will rejoice and ask for "more please", including the most discriminating ones. We know, we have been fortunate enough to taste her out of this world cakes!

As with the cakes she produces for weddings, sweet 16, quinces, and other important events, the Valentine's cupcakes and cakes are made for more than one of your senses to experience:

Before you taste, your eyes will fall in love with the adorable love themed decorations, and then, the smell of sweet good wholesome cooking with make it irresistible and impossible for you not to finally succumb and taste this ooohhhh soooo yummy work of art.

For something beautifully presented, sense tantalizing, great tasting, and sweet to celebrate the Valentine or Valentines in your life, we suggest you consider what this Puerto Rican chef is preparing for the love fest.

You can choose from:

• 8" cakes
• a dozen cupcakes or more
• a Huge cupcake

You won't be disappointed if you choose any of their best selling flavors:
Vanilla / Brandy/ Chocolate or Red Velvet with cream filling

Don't be surprised if the recipient of this sweet treat will not want to share with you!

If you are local (the Florida Gold Coast) Miami-Dade or Broward county your order will be decorated with balloons and ribbons.

If you are not, you can still order since Kibi's Sweets ships all over the USA and Puerto Rico.

To get the latest on what Kibi's Sweets is offering you can fan them in Facebook.

Enter our giveaway and get ready for Valentine's Day! Kibi's Sweets is offering a $40.00 Gift Certificate to a lucky reader of Cool Moms Cool Tips.

To enter the giveaway, please visit Kibi’s Sweets website and to thanks them for being so generous. Them come back and tell us how you are planning on celebrating or what cake flavor will make your sweetheart’s day.

For additional entries you can:

1- Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (5 entries)


2-Leave a comment and tell us what you like and what you don't of our blog.

3- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : #win a $40 GC & sweeten your #Valentine's with Kibi's Sweets & @coolchillmom, enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/9PBkxc (you get an entry for every tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).

4-Grab our button (3 entries)

5- Follow our blog publicly (3 entries)

6- Add us to your blog roll (2 entries)

7- Enter any of my other current giveaways- (2 entries per giveaway).

8- Add this blog to your text-based blog roll (3 extra entries).


*Open to US and Canada residents.

*Make sure we have a way to reach you, by either enabling your email through blogger, or leaving your email in the comment.

*Winners are chosen by random.org, so make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

*Giveaway ends on February 11th, midnight EST.

*Winners will be announced on our Facebook fan page, join us there www.facebook.com/coolmomscooltips.

*Winners will be contacted via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be chosen.

A Small Investment that Will Save You From Replacing Lost Items: I.D. Me Labels

Labels on everything help us organize, identify quickly and prevent loosing items, sometimes over and over again. There is no shortage of things on which to stick a label on, and when you get your hands on I.D. Me Labels you will go label sticking happy!

When is comes to labels we keep some questions in mind:

• Will it really stick on every surface?

• Most labels don’t stand out, where can I get some that do?
• While labels are more and more cookie cutter out there, can mine have more personality?
• The items to label usually have a hard working life, which labels will be long lasting and resistant?
• Ordering a one size/ shape label types will not be the best for labeling all the items we need to tag.

• And the main doubt: Will the adhesive last?

Well, after trying I.D. Me Labels, we have nothing but praise for them.

First off, the speed with which we received the labels after choosing our colors, graphics, fonts and shapes was incredible! The company does pride themselves in a quick turnaround, and you should expect to get your labels anywhere from 24 to 48 hours after ordering.

These labels are thick, bright, are not shy, have vibrant colors and a glossy finish (they are laminated which makes them UVA resistant). Standing out is not a difficult feat for them. As far as getting creative and putting a little more of your personality into them, not only do they have a great selection of images, colors and shapes to choose from, and a nice font mix (10 fun ones to choose from) you can also use your digital photos. How much more personalization can there be? Having your child’s photo on the label is the most effective way for children to quickly and easily identify their belongings. A great help for pre-K students learning to spell their names. The ease with which you can build your labels is simple and refreshing.

In addition to the different shapes offered, I.D. Me Labels offers daycare labels, school labels, clothing labels, child safety labels, household labels and more, to help you decide on the best label for your use.  Look at the adorable binky labels

We tried being tricky and we ordered the hexagonal shape thinking that the points and edges would be very quick to un-stick, but we were proven the contrary. These labels do stick and stick well.

Microwave, and dishwasher safe and resistant, check that off the list too: we wanted to challenge the labels a little further, we had a mom from our panel hand wash (more like scrub) a bottle with a label a little more (O.K. more than a LITTLE more) than she normally would her baby’s bottle. The label still maintained its integrity after 3 weeks of the same harsh treatment. We say with confidence that I.D. Me Labels are not only extremely resistant to everyday inconsiderate handling, they are definitively durable.

Although we did not receive it, and thankfully do not need them, we specially liked the allergy labels which are fun, not to mention a clever and great way of letting others know about your child’s food sensitivities. Very cute.

Need different shapes and sizes? Not to worry, I.D. Me Labels offers a couple of combo packs that will cover your needs and help you save $$$.

For toys, bottles, school supplies, diaper bags, back packs, sippy cups, clothes, shoes, you name it, the list is endless! Keep in mind that you get free shipping when you order $50 or more.
There is nothing else we at Cool Moms Cool Tips want to mark our things with other than I.D. Me Labels, and it will be the same for you. So, we highly recommend you try them. I.D. Me Labels has kindly offered a Cool Moms Cool Tips reader a:
-Set of All Purpose Icon Labels (Dishwasher and Microwave Safe) plus
-2 Bag Tags
Valued at: $30.00

To enter the giveaway please visit the I.D. Me Labels website and let me know which label you would like to have. This is your first entry and it is mandatory.

For additional entries to this giveaway, you can:

1-Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post (5 entries)

2- Follow I.D. Me Labels on Twitter and tweet: #moms #win a set of personalized @IDMElabels with @coolchillmom, enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/52fdvE (you get an entry for every day you tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).

3- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : #moms #win a set of personalized @IDMElabels with @coolchillmom, enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/52fdvE (you get an entry for every day you tweet ; don’t forget to leave a link to your tweet).

4-Grab our button (3 entries)

5- Follow our blog publicly (3 entries)

6- Add us to your blog roll (2 entries)

7- Enter any of my other current giveaways- (2 entries per giveaway).

8- Add this blog to your text-based blog roll (3 extra entries).


*Open to US and Canada residents.

*Make sure I have a way to reach you, by either enabling your email through blogger, or leaving your email in the comment.

*Winners are chosen by random.org, so make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

*rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

*Giveaway ends on February 5th, midnight EST.

*Winners will be announced on our Facebook fan page, join us there www.facebook.com/coolmomscooltips.

*Winners will be contacted via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be chosen.

Attention Mompreneurs, Great Freebies Geared to Your Success in 2010

The year started fast, and. as always, there is no time to loose.  The good thing is that as much as we prepared to tackle 2010 with all of our business resolutions, there is still time to get the tools to shape and attain the goals we set ourselves for this new year.
Mompreneurs, get inspiration, ideas, help and secrets from experts in several fields starting on January 10th through January 24th.  Cereus Women is hosting a monster giveaway that comprises excellent products from 12 leaders from different fields to help you this year.  Kim Reddington from Cereus Women tell us "The giveaway is geared towards mom entrepreneurs. Most of the products are for mom entrepreneurs or entrepreneur want-to-bes specifically, some are just geared for busy moms."

Go to http://www.cereuswomen.com/giveaway/2010G.html for over $700 in downloadable products like:

-Turning Your To-Do List Into Cash: The 5 Key Questions You Must Answer To Guarantee An Opportunity Will Pay Off For You!

-Transform Your Website into an Ideal Client Attracting Magnet package


-PR in Your Pajamas: Practical Publicity for Mom Entrepreneurs eBook

-11 Ways to Get More Referrals audio download
Keep in mind that these are real selling products, and not just a free ecourse or free report.

We couldn't resist sharing this wonderful opportunity, and hope it contributes to your life and business.
Good luck and many fantastic success stories to all of our readers!  Again, it is at http://www.cereuswomen.com/giveaway/2010G.html

Looking for a FREE Custom Blogspot Makeover?

Jessica  at So Stylilized is looking to build up her portfolio and is offering FREE Blogspot makeovers. 
You need to get in queue but they are moving quick, and the spaces are filling even faster, so if you are interested don't delay! 

I reserved my spot and have already received a couple of e-mails from Jessica.  Looks like customer service is up there, and this is not even a business! This is Jessica's hobby!
I am looking forward to an updated look so we can be even cooler and chill .
 
Go over to http://sostylilized.blogspot.com  and get in line (upper right hand corner) if you like what you read and see!
 
Thanks for this generous offer Jessica!

The Fillo Factory Organic Shell Make Kitchen Time a Breeze! GIVEAWAY CLOSED

As the countdown to Christmas is in full swing, eating, hosting, and taking something to a party is in the minds of many. Getting together around food is not hard, and as the “gourmet” culture expands, we have to think about recipes and ingredients that will still manage to make us happy. When we saw this, we mean we are looking to fulfill this list of requirements:


• Easy to use
• Not time-consuming
• Easy to make beautiful items with
• And of course, yummy!
It doesn’t hurt if we add that is should be organic and free of any trans-fats.

It seems that there is an American company that for years has been committed to giving us healthy, convenient, premium quality vegetarian, and vegan and kosher foods. We are talking about The Fillo Factory, and its wide range of great products.

In particular we experienced The Fillo Factory Mini Fillo Shells to not only have a check for every one of our required points above, but also our nice-to have ones.

The shells come in two sizes, so depending upon your needs you have options, which is always a good thing.

We love the mini ones because it makes for an adorable presentation, plus you measure better how much you are eating (in case you are watching what you eat).

It seems that the only limitation to use the Mini Fillo Shells is your creativity and originality. Fruits, cheeses, pates, cream cheese, every dessert filling, dip; we can probably make a never ending list of ingredients to load the shells with. The shells are pre-baked and ready to use, so you have additional flexibility. There are 15 mini shells to a box. These can be fantastic for snacks, appetizers, desserts, and breakfast. How about these ideas for breakfast:

• You can fill them with yogurt and top them with berries.
• How about some scrambled eggs topped with cheese? These you would have to bake.
• Cream cheese, salmon and a caper? Some have bagels this way for breakfast, so why not.

Our panel of mom testers ran wild with creating Hors D’oevres and desserts. We tried the company’s recommendation for the savory recipe:

Appetizer Blue cheese cups
Combine the following in a food processor:
8 oz. blue cheese,
8 oz. cream cheese,
1/2 cup heavy cream,
And 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Just before serving, garnish with apple slices and walnut pieces.

This recipe makes 45 mini shells.

Being in South Florida, a natural idea for our dessert was to load the shells with Key Lime pie filling and top them off with whipped cream. Too cute! Not to mention, delicious. The mini shells are the perfect bite size really.

It is your turn to The Fillo Factory Mini Shells! We are giving away 2 boxes of shells (your choice of mini’s or large ones) to a single winner.

Enter our giveaway by telling us what you would use the shells for, and if you have a recipe, do share!

For additional entries to this giveaway, you can:

1- Tell us what product you would like to see us review
2- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : PLS RT@coolchillmom  #win Fillo Factory shells to make your hosting a breeze! Enter #giveaway http://bit.ly/7JjT8r
3 -Grab our button (3 entries).
4- Follow our blog (3 entries).
5- Blog about this contest and leave us a comment telling us you did (5 entries).

Giveaway ends on January 15th, midnight EST.
Winner will be contacted via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply or new winner will be chosen.

Moms, Get Your Groove Back with The Groove Mamma's Secrets

A common “concern” of many of the moms we talk to is that, although we are past our clubbing days, we are still looking for nights out, or fun activities to share with our spouses and friends. “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet" is the answer to all of us trying to find our groove back.

In our crazy lives as women, moms, wives, bosses, employees, and everything in between, we get lost in the daily routine of juggling and multi-tasking. Nadine Hughes, the creator and owner of “The Cook’s Companion,” which offers kitchen consultations and menu planning services as well as a cooking and entertaining school in southern Ontario, and also the owner of www.themenucompanion.com is the author of “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet" a concise e-book on party planning that puts you in the path of parties your way.

This e-book has recently won the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in the Best Entertaining Cookbook category for Canada. “With over 26 000 cookbooks being published around the world every year, it’s an honor and a joy to have been selected amongst so many entries,” says Hughes.

With her book, the author reminds us that there is nothing wrong with some adult time (yes, no children tagging along).
In a budget tight world, where time is more than scarce, there is a way to start getting those parties on your agenda. Nadine points out that maybe the reason you are not going to any parties these days (besides the obvious, kids, lack of time, etc) is simply that there aren’t any to go to anymore. Yes, all your friends feel like you do: a party can put a dent in your $$ and time budget, and you honestly can’t deal with putting one together right now.

Well, do not worry about the effort, work and time required to host a party, “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet” shows us how to have an enjoy one.  Furthermore, she gives us a step-by-step and in detail guide on how to do just that.

As I read this easy and to the point e-book (which means that you go green by printing only what you really want) I felt I was reading a bride’s guide and to do list. All the hardship and mystery was taken away by simple and helpful recommendations that lead the way towards some fun grown-up time. Complete with shopping and to do lists for the days leading up that cocktail or dinner party, no single detail left untouched, Nadine shows how easy it would be to get your groove back!

Sharing her secrets to planning a stress-free party, hints, hosting tips, menus, shortcuts and timetables has you almost getting the phone to start inviting people over! Of course, I got all excited about the idea of a party, and as we are in the holiday spirit already, why not. Still a little hesitant, the party was co-hosted. We decided on a dinner party. We strictly followed page by page and word for word the recommendations in the “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet" e-book, we took care of:

• Guest lists and Invitations
• Seating arrangements
• The bar
• We took advantage of all the shortcuts offered by Nadine
• The atmosphere and setting the mood for success
• The menu, where we got help from Nadine’s www.themenucompanion.com although her book had suggested a menu.

In the end, we were ready, and fresh to enjoy our dinner partay!

We not only had a wonderful evening that went without a hitch, but started a trend as it seems that we will have something to attend  to for the next 6 months! Yay!....now what to wear????

Ready for your party? Ready to help someone out? The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet is perfect for any mom, new parent, overseas friend or as a hostess gift this holiday season. Get you own copy of “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet right here! Nadine has generously offered one e-book to TWO Cool Moms Cool Tips readers. You can “get my groove back” on your resolution list!!

To enter the giveaway, go to www.groovemamma.com and tell us what your favorite feature recipe is

For additional entries to this giveaway, you can:

1- Blog about this giveaway and tell us you did, don’t forget to include your post link. (5 entries).

2- Follow Nadine on Twitter and tweet: RT@coolchillmom, #mom get your groove back in 2010! Enter to #win one-stop-party-planning awesome resource & guide #giveaway http://bit.ly/6Hluks (you get an entry for every day you tweet).

3- Follow us on Twitter and tweet : RT@coolchillmom, #mom get your groove back in 2010! Enter to #win one-stop-party-planning awesome resource & guide #giveaway http://bit.ly/6Hluks (you get an entry for every day you tweet).

4-Grab our button (3 entries)

5- Follow our blog (3 entries)

6- Follow Nadine’s blog www.cookscompanionchats.blogspot.com

7-Become our Facebook fan


Giveaway ends on January 1, 2010, midnight EST. EXTENDED ends January 20th, 2010
Winners will be contacted via e-mail and will have 48 hours to reply or new winners will be chosen.

Happy Holidays and Good Luck your party animals!!! ;-)