Looking for a great gift idea for your coffee or tea loving valentine to go along with that Valentine card? Well, you're in luck, because we happen to have some great gift ideas that we're sure your love will thank you for.

Love Mug - $7.99 (price at the time of this post)

This one is kind of a no brainer. People who drink coffee or tea, love mugs! In fact, they are somewhat of mug connoisseurs. Instead of shamelessly plugging our amazing mugs, we are sharing this cute little mug from World Market. It's sweet and to the point. It's so cute, it's like you have to buy it! Definitely a must have for the collection.

Krispy's Café Latté - $10.50 (price at the time of this post)

Even non coffee lovers can appreciate this one. Krispys Café Latté by See's Candies is an all time favorite! Krispys are a delicious coffee flavored, wafer styled candy. They're crunchy and covered in milk chocolate. If you get this one, you may just want to buy a couple of boxes, because we don't think your valentine will want to share.

Live Love Laugh Coffee Tote - $12.95- $21 (price at the time of this post)

Lucky for you, our Live Love Laugh Coffee tees and totes just arrived! Your little coffee fiend can proudly wear their love for coffee in style.

Bath & Body Candle - $24.50 (price at the time of this post)

Sometimes just the smell of coffee is enough to make a coffee lovers day. Bath & Body Works carries the White Caramel Cold Brew candle.  This is the next best thing to having an actual cup of joe. It smells so much like the real thing, you'll swear you're sitting in a coffee shop in Vienna somewhere.

Coffee Beanery Gift basket - $24.95 (price at the time of this post)

This Breakfast in Bed coffee basket from the Coffee Beanery is like getting the best of both worlds.  Your valentine not only gets some delicious coffee, they might just get some breakfast in bed. On this side of town, we call that, winning! The Breakfast in Bed basket is a small sized basket, but if you look at the Coffee Beanery's collection of baskets, there are plenty to choose from.

DeLonghi Espresso machine - $121.99 (price at the time of this post)

If you want all the points, go for the DeLonghi Espresso machine. You can find it cheaper at Best Buy, than anywhere else. Your valentine will forever be in your good graces for this one. Now they can experience café quality coffee right at home! It's important to note; If they've never owned an espresso machine, make sure they read the directions on this baby before operating. That way, they get that perfect cup of goodness each and every time.

Us ladies, here at Cocoa Made, have been drinking kombucha for years now!  A couple of years ago, we stumbled upon the Health Ade brand and fell in love at first sip. Their wonderfully paired flavors made us swoon over our beloved kombucha all over again! We quickly learned that all kombucha is NOT created equally. Our tastebuds could tell right away that this was much more superior than what we had in the past. Just like that, it became the only brand of the bubbly beverage we drink in our household.

When we asked our Instagram family (the cocoa beans) about kombuca, we were shocked to learn that most of our followers didn't know what kombucha was, and they had questions about it. We thought, who better to answer their questions than the folks at Health Ade? We reached out to them and here's what they had to say:

Question #1: What is kombucha?

Question #2: Is it safe for pregnant moms?

Question #3: Doesn't it contain alcohol?

Question #4: Does it help with weight loss?

So there you have it! You heard it directly from the horse's mouth. If you have any other questions, we're sure the folks at Health Ade would be happy to assist, or you can always stop by their site, where they have tons of info about kombucha and about the brand itself.

Did you know the secret to glowing skin may be in your cup of tea? Green tea, to be exact! Its anti-inflammatory properties can reduce inflammation, stave off aging and help you to get the glowing skin you've always wanted. 

We have seen lots of cosmetic products containing green tea, like moisturizers, skin brightening creams, toners and more – that just goes to show the benefits of incorporating this superfood into your routine.

If green tea isn't already part of your regimen, here are three reasons why it should be:

1. It helps to reduce oil

If you struggle with acne or an oily t-zone, then girl, you may want to get in on this!
The tannins in green tea, which also give it its bitter taste, act as an astringent. This can help to reduce the visibility of pores and slow the production of sebum, thus giving your skin a healthy looking glow. We all love that!

2. It reduce inflammation

Catechins, pronounced kat-i-chins, are compounds that give green tea its antibacterial properties and ability to calm inflamed skin. Just one cup of it contains up to 200 mg of catechins, making it a powerful hitter to add to your skincare arsenal.

3. Gently exfoliates

Dried green tea leaves have a slightly abrasive texture. This means that you can use them as a homemade facial scrub to eliminate the dead, rough skin cells on your face, as well as any excess oil and pollutants.

Below is a homemade exfoliating recipe you may want to try:

What you'll need

• 1 TB dried green tea leaves 2-4 tea bags depending on size of tea bag
• 1 cup organic white sugar or brown sugar
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 TB honey

Instructions

1. In a medium-size bowl, combine all the ingredients. Store the exfoliator in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place.

So, as you can see, there are several reasons to start drinking a cup or two of green tea and making it part of your regular daily routine. It can be a little bitter, but you can always add a little lemon and honey.

Cheers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dalene Ekirapa is a fashion, travel and lifestyle blogger behind the blog Dalene Ekirapa - The
Quintessence of Life and Style. She is also a beauty and skincare consultant who loves all things that guarantee healthy skin. If she is not reading, find her writing; and if she is not singing, find her playing the guitar.

Edited by Cocoa Made

To order your coffee like a pro, you have to know the lingo! To make sure that you impress the pants off your next barista, we found this list of coffee terms (written by Oliver Stand for the New York Times) that would impress even the shrewdest of coffee connoisseurs.

The winter weather can be harsh on the skin, especially if you already suffer from dry skin, the struggle is a little too real! During the winter is a good time to pamper your skin a little more than usual.  A moisturizing mask is a great way to combat dryness and prevent old man winter from reeking havoc on your lovely epidermis.

Masks are great, but can be expensive, so I skip those overpriced treatments and head straight for my kitchen cabinets for ingredients to whip up my own. The one I'm going to share with you guys, uses all organic ingredients, with great benefits for the skin. Remember to do a patch test first, before putting this or any products, for that matter, on your face. You never know what might irritate your skin!

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 tsp honey 

Honey is a great humectant. It helps your skin to retain moisture.

- 1 tsp turmeric

Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can soothe the skin. It also helps to brighten it.

- 1 tbsp aloe vera

Aloe vera is rich in antioxidants, which help to protect your skin from free radicals.

- 1 tsp brown rice flour

Brown rice flour can help stall aging and is known to help treat acne.

HOW TO PREPARE:

Dump all the ingredients into a bowl and stir it up. Put it on your clean and damp face with your hands or a mask brush, avoiding the eye area. Allow it to sit on the skin until it completely dries. Rinse with warm water and pat your face dry. That's it!

The turmeric can stain clothing and counters, so be careful with it. I suggest you apply this mask in an old t-shirt you don't care about and use a towel that you don't mind staining when you dry your face. Other than that, it's all good!

If you try this one, stop back by and let me know in the comments how it went.  Also, if you care to share your homemade mask ingredients, I'm all eyes! Hit me in the comments!

Written by Vee Gilbert

Like most people, I enjoy high-end items, but I can’t say that my bank account shares the same enthusiasm. In fact, I know it doesn't, because each time I look at my account after a splurge, I envision my money shaking its head in disappointment of my poor life choices.

The guilt of overspending lead me to this cute little system of saving money, that I like to call "MJ Money".  Actually, it's just mason jar money, but MJ Money has a little more swag to it and sounds a lot cooler, don't you think?

Anywho, what I do is label my jars with things that I like to splurge on. Because I’m a visual person, this makes this type of saving much more easier and achievable. I don't know about you, but if something isn’t in front of my face it may as well not even exist.

Basically, I start my jars with a $5 contribution at the beginning of the month. I then contribute leftover coins from my daily purchases of all the necessities.  Also, if I decide to skip my cup of coffee (which is rare honey), I’ll put that money into one of the jars too. This really helps to keep me on budget by forcing me to choose my purchases wisely.  I sometimes even find myself cutting corners in other spending areas in order to be able to contribute to my various jars. Would ya look at that?!

By the end of the month (sometimes 2 months), I usually have enough to buy a couple of things that I’ve been salivating over and my budget remains in tact!  It’s a fun and helpful way to prevent impulse buying and over spending, while still allowing yourself to splurge  on an item or 2!

What do you think?  Will you be giving this try? Maybe you have your own method of saving. I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

Written by Alaysia Ross

Recently, the folks over at Equator Coffee & Teas sent us a bag of their Equator Blend coffee to taste test, and we're so glad they did!

A little about Equator; they're local, they receive their coffee from sustainable farmers, and they support projects around the world to help improve the lives of others. All of that goodness and we haven't even told you about the coffee yet!

We opted for the French press ground, because it retains the coffee oils better and produces a richer flavor. The Equator Blend that we tried had a slightly nutty flavor, with the notes of apricot and nutmeg rounding out the bottom. If you're looking for something that will grow some hair on your chest, this isn't it! This is a smooth, mellow, every day coffee that we think you'll enjoy as much as we did.

[Oakland, CA cafe; located inside a really cool recycled shipping container]

So, if you're in the mood for some coffee or tea, stop by one of their 8 locations (we happen to love the Oakland, CA location), or simply visit them online and perhaps find your new favorite coffee, and or tea!

With our hectic schedules, it's sometimes difficult to squeeze in time for working out. When you're in a pinch for time, you just have to be creative!  Dolvett Quince has some awesome tips on how to sneak in a mini workout while at your desk.

Herbal teas can be a wonderful alternative to prescription medication to help your body manage stress and anxiety. 

According to Dr. Anju Sood, a Bangalore-based Nutritionist, “Herbal teas are very relaxing for the mind as they contain essential oils that are known to cool down the nerve. 

Below are three of our favorite teas by Yogi, which is our favorite herbal tea brand. If you have time, you can purchase the actual herbs and steep them, but if you're short on time like we are, these options from Yogi will be much more convenient.

1. Kava Stress Relief

According to WebMD "Kava's calming effect may relieve anxiety, restlessness, sleeplessness, and stress-related symptoms such as muscle tension or spasm. Kava may also relieve pain."

Yogi's version of this tea is rich, spicy and slightly sweet. We like the flavor so much that we don't even need a sweetner with it . This is a great tea for morning or night.

2.  Honey Lavender Stress Relief

Lavender is known for it's abilities to reduce nervous exhaustion, headaches caused by stress, and anxiety. It also perfect for reducing indigestion problems.

This aroma alone of Honey Lavender is soothing. The lavender isn't overpowering, It's balanced nicely with the addition of chamomile, lemongrass and other herbs. Like Kava, it's slightly sweet, so you might want to forgo the honey so you can enjoy its full flavor.

3.  Comforting Chamomile

Chamomile has a very soothing effects with mildly sedative properties that help you switch off on a hectic day.

This tea has an herbaceous and earthy flavor that is very mild and smooth. We like to add a little honey with this one, but it's tastes nice without it also.

What are some of your favorite teas that help you relax? Let us know in the comments below!