Bee Lovely Botanicals & Giveaway

 I love discovering products that are both handmade and natural, especially when it comes to bath & body.  I've so enjoyed getting to know Jodie from Bee Lovely Botanicals a little bit since she wrote and loved getting to review some of her products.  She sent me the sweetest box packed full with some of their products, all with a fresh lemon vibe. 

I think what makes their products a little unique and special, is that they use their own raw honey and beeswax.  Jodie and her family raise their bees naturally and their beeswax and honey are as pure as the bees can make them.  This is all so fascinating to me, particularly since it's a little dream of ours to raise honeybees one day.

I love receiving products that are packaged so nicely they would be perfectly presented as a gift just as they are.  Everything in the box sent to me was simple, natural and so pretty.  (As a side note, it's particularly fun getting to photograph a package as you're opening it - you really get to savor it!)

Well, I loved absolutely everything that Jodie sent me.  I've been using and enjoying every single product daily.  This natural beeswax body creme is particularly wonderful - thick and creamy without being greasy at all and again, I love that it's handmade and so natural.  The perfect barrier during the winter months.

Jodie also sent a few bars of soap, all of which our entire family enjoyed.  I can't help but think these would make perfect little stocking stuffers for the upcoming holidays.  They all have a great lather and I love reading the ingredient list.  The calendula bar is full of homegrown calendula petals and its fragrance is amazing... I felt like I was sitting in the garden surrounded by the plants!

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The Bee Hive Bar soap is like the perfect bar for the entire family - its fragrance is a little more subtle, but still so fresh and natural.  Jodie told me a little about this bar of soap, and I loved hearing about all that goes into it, so I thought I would share with you too.  It's an old fashioned cold process bar and it's the most intense soap they make.  They use their own honey, beeswax, and propolis, as well as adding buttermilk, egg yolks from their own chickens, oatmeal, lanolin, tussah silk fibers, and tea tree and lemongrass essential oils.  The honey brings B vitamins to the bar, beeswax adds hardness, propolis is antibacterial and antifungal, buttermilk and eggs make the bar soothing and bring vitamins A, D, and E, oatmeal gives just a hint of exfoliation and soothes skin, and tea tree and lemongrass oils are antiseptic.   So neat!

They also offer some great balms.  The lip balm is wonderful protection and has a lovely natural fragrance like everything else.  I'm a little picky when it comes to lip balms (everyone that knows me knows I can't live without it (smile)), but I really enjoyed using this balm and it felt great. 

Last, but certainly not least, was the adorable jar of raw honey included.  I always buy our honey local, but I have to say this is the most delicious honey I have ever tasted.  In fact, our supply is just about gone as we've used it just about every day!  You can read more about the benefits of raw honey on their website - it's fascinating and wonderful eating something that is so pure.  

I can't help but feel that the love they have for their bees shines through in their products.  It was a pleasure reviewing everything and know you would love everything just as much as I did.

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Bee Lovely Botanicals is graciously offering a reader a $35 gift certificate to use in their shop.  To be entered, all you need to do is simply leave a comment.  I'd love it if you'd visit their website and tell me which product you'd most like to try though in your comment.  (Click here or visit www.beelovelybotanicals.com)

(Giveaway is open to all readers, whether you have a blog or not, but please leave a way for me to contact you if you do not have a blog... thanks!)

Giveaway will be open until next Monday, November 4, 2013. 

***This giveaway has now closed.  The randomly selected winner is Cinnamon.  Thank you all for entering!***