It Takes a Village- AJ Apothecary

As I have touched on before, being a mom is hard. But, we all somehow manage to get through the day with our kids fed, clothed and alive, for the most part. And, sometimes even happy. We are really lucky in Lexington to have a wonderful group of moms that take it the extra mile and have started local businesses. I think it is really important to support these moms and their businesses because it really does take a village to raise our kids. And, as the holiday season is coming upon us, why not support some of our local moms and their awesome products?

Each month, I will focus on a local mom and her local business and some of the products they offer. This month, my feature business is AJ Apothecary, which is owned by Amanda Furby. Her website is here and her facebook page is located here. I was lucky enough to interview Amanda and get some great inside information about her and her business. AJ Apothecary is a remarkable business that has focused on natural, handcrafted botanical body care products since 2015. Amanda started the business after learning about all the harmful chemicals in commercial products. Her family has a strong history of cancer, and she wanted to use "nontoxic products as a way to rid my body of the harmful chemicals and lessen my own chances of cancer." Yet, she found that the products currently on the market did not seem to be very effective. So, she began making products for herself and after years of testing and research, decided to start a business selling her products to others that want a more natural, yet effective, option. Fantastically, she did this while caring for her then one year old daughter. Amanda puts a lot of work into choosing her products. She has "very high standards for my cosmetics and personal care products, so I make sure that the products I offer exceed those standards." You can really see the amount of work that goes into each item, from the ingredients to the packaging.

I couldn't do a review of her business without trying out some of her great products. Since winter is coming, and so are colds, I got the Deep Breath Balm for those stuffy nose nights. It is a great alternative to menthol containing products that may not be safe for kids. And, if you read my blog at all, you know that my son is prone to skinned knees, arms, and other common toddler ailments. So, I got the Mommy's Kiss Boo Boo Salve.

The first thing I loved about getting my products was the packaging. As a mom, I very rarely do nice things for myself. So, I really appreciated all the thought that Amanda puts into packaging her products. There was a hand-written note thanking me for my purchase and the products were wrapped and tied with ribbon. Amanda wants "all of the details in the packaging and products to help my customers feel special, confident, and beautiful." And, you really feel that when you receive one of her packages.

I haven't had a chance to use the Deep Breath Balm yet (fingers crossed), but know we will have many chances once cold season hits. I have been looking for something to keep my kiddo's nose clear at night so he can sleep but that is also safe, so I am really excited to try this. It has a nice minty smell that isn't too overwhelming and it isn't overly greasy, which is wonderful. Lastly, I love that it is in a twist-up container so you can apply it without getting it all over your own hands and wasting product. I have had the opportunity to use the Boo Boo Salve many times and I love it. Personally, my hands start cracking in the fall and are ridiculously dry all winter. I have used a million products and have the hardest time finding something that heals my hands but isn't super greasy. This product really does this. My hands feel so much better and heal up faster, but I don't leave a oil slick on my sheets at night. I also love using this on my son. It seems to calm him skin and help his boo-boos heal faster.

AJ Apothecary has many other products from charcoal face mask to natural tea baths, wonderful pregnancy and postpartum products including nipple cream and belly butter, body scrubs and body butters. But, her most popular product is her natural Moisturizing Deodorant Cream. " I tried dozens of different natural deodorants, and none of them worked for me and a handful of them left me with irritated underarms." She had had great success with her deodorant and the original testers continue to order again and again.

Overall, I love the products that I have tried and love the company that Amanda has created with AJ Apothecary. It is a fantastic business that produces high quality, non-toxic products that are effective and safe. And, that isn't always an easy thing to find. And, being a local company run by a local mom makes it even better. So, if you are looking for some great Christmas gifts, something to treat yourself, or something to open up your kiddos nose this season, please give her products a try!

As a special bonus, Amanda has a special coupon for my followers. If you apply coupon code MOTHERHOODBG to your order, you will receive 15% off your order! Can't get much better than that.