Mommy Is Green

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-12-13T08:35:00.004-05:00

Something I love about digital scrapbooking is being able to pick and choose what I actually want to print. There's no need to use paper most of the time. That's perfect for me because I enjoy creating pages or cards and emailing them to family. The program I use to do this is My Memories Suite v3 (coupon code below). With this software you can do more than just create scrapbook pages. You can make items such as calendars, cards, and photo albums. I even like to make digital wallpaper with this software.

I've always enjoyed scrapbooking, but now I have so much more at my fingertips. I can choose to get a whole kit or I can buy individual papers, lettering, and embellishments. I can also customize the size of my projects. And I really like the fact that I can rearrange my scrapbook pages easily if I change my mind since there's no glue involved. Not to mention the trees saved by keeping most of my projects in digital format, although you can certainly print projects as well.

My most recent project was a holiday card:

It was really fun to make because I was able to add music to it as well. There's also an option to record and add narration. Pretty cool, huh? There are lots of other possibilities too for any kind of project, like adding a web site link, saving as a DVD-video, or even sending to your iPod!

This digital scrapbooking software already comes with lots of papers, page elements, and templates. But you can also get additional items for free or for purchase at MyMemories.com. They even have a Friday Freebie on their Facebook page for download every week too. Personally, their Dollar Store section is a favorite of mine!

If you don't feel like creating a page yourself they have Quick Pages that are all set and ready to go. All you have to do is add your photo. And don't forget to visit the my Memories Suite Blog for video tutorials.

Here's an example of one of their Quick Pages:

I've had a blast using this scrapbooking software! It has lots of wonderful ways to create and I'm always finding something new to do. It's definitely worth using!

By using coupon code STMMMS12535 you can get $10 off My Memories Suite Version 3 Scrapbook Software and a $10 coupon code for the MyMemories.com Store.

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win
My Memories Suite v3
Digital Scrapbooking Software!

Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter. Only the first entry requires a blog comment. You may use your Name and Email for your entries on the form if you prefer (click below Facebook log in):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the products(s) mentioned above free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

The Glass Baby Bottle: Wildkin Nap Mat Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-11-09T10:40:00.006-05:00

If you follow anything baby or toddler online it's no doubt you've heard about the importance of avoiding parabens, phthalates, and PVC. I started to learn about these toxic chemicals while I was pregnant and now I avoid them for any purchases I make for my family. One place I find safer items is The Glass Baby Bottle. They have a lot of wonderful items such as organic mattresses, stainless steel bottles, organic baby wraps, lunch boxes, cloth diapers, trainers, kid's feeding gear, delivery gowns, organic skin care, and more.

I've recently had the chance to try out one of their Wildkin Safe Nap Mats for my son. It's a nice padded mat that has an attached blanket and removable pillow. It also folds up and has a carrying handle. We all want our children to have a safe non-toxic environment no matter where they are including daycare, school, or even grandma's house. To me, that includes sleeping on a mat that is free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, and lead. The Wildkin Nap Mat is made from cotton and polyester that is not treated with chemicals and is naturally flame resistant. It does not off-gas like toxic foam mats.

My son picked the Under Construction mat. It looks more yellow in the photos but is actually a yellow-orange to my liking. The inside of the attached blanket is a soft blue flannel. And the blanket is padded like the rest of the mat which makes it feel cozy in combination with the flannel. The nap mat is also a good size (20in. W x 50in. L) with room to grow for a 3 to 4 year old.

Another really great feature about this mat is that it's washable. That's a must of you ask me. Now, the washing instructions say to wash in a commercial front-loading machine. That's not possible for a lot of us unless we take it to the laundromat. That works out well if you normally wash your clothes there, but if you wash your clothes at home it can be inconvenient. Personally, I have an Energy Star top loading machine that senses what the water level should be based on the load as well as other energy saving features. My husband is not a fan of front loaders so this is what we have to work with.

I have no problems washing the Wildkin mat on gentle in my top loader (take caution if you try this in your own home washing machine as I can only speak for my own). It fits okay in my washer's tub (machine size: 4 cu. ft.) and it came out just fine. Then I laid it out on a clothes rack to dry in my kitchen.

My little guy is very pleased with his mat. I feel better knowing that he's not going to be breathing in toxic fumes while napping. It's convenient to take on the go and it's really cute too!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a

Wildkin Nap Mat

from The Glass Baby Bottle!

(Winner's choice of any In-Stock style)

Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter (only the first entry requires a blog comment):

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the product mentioned above free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from the author.

Maia's Mineral Galaxy: NEW Products!

2011-11-02T11:49:00.005-04:00

If you've visited my blog before you know that I've been using Maia's Mineral Galaxy makeup for the past year. I try to avoid nasty toxic chemicals as much as possible. And one way I do that is by choosing my makeup and skin care cautiously. I appreciate products that don't contain parabens, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals (too many to be named really). So I often turn to Maia's Mineral Galaxy.

Here are some of the NEW products out in their line:

Mineral Foundation with Organic Arrowroot Powder — If you're going the natural but non-GMO route this foundation is a good choice. Usually, I can't use powdered foundations because they react to my natural facial oil and either get too dark or turn orange. But that's not the case with this powder. I use the Egg Shell shade without a problem. It's a light coverage foundation when used dry. I feel that's all I personally need but if you like medium coverage you can use a wet application.

Lip n Cheek Stain — This is my favorite new product by far!!! I absolutely adore the shade Holy which is a very light pink. As a lip stain, I find it to be more opaque than a lip gloss and it seems to last longer too. As a blush, I definitely enjoy this more than a powdered blush because it's quicker and easier to use. Plus, I like that my lip and cheek shades match.

Aquamarine Eye Shadow — This is an absolutely gorgeous shade! Since it is a lighter shade I always put some kind of primer on my eyelid first to get the full effect. It's very lovely in combination with the Holy Lip n Cheek Stain.

Antique Jade Eye Shadow — I don't usually wear green eye shadow but this shade changed my mind. To me, it's a gold-like green and I think that's why I like it so much. Also, since it's a darker shade I don't always need a primer when I wear it.

Gentle Exfoliating Cleansing Cream — If foaming facial cleansers are too drying for your skin you'd really like this cleansing cream. It removes makeup and is very moisturizing at the same time. It does contain aloe leaf juice and witch hazel so I did confirm with Maia's Mineral Galaxy that neither of these ingredients contains parabens or phenoxyethanol.

Anti-Fatigue Foot Cream — It's good to have a foot cream that's moisturizing as well as contains soothing essential oils such as lavender and roman chamomile. I'm a big fan of shea butter and I always think that makes for an incredible moisturizer. The scent of this cream is very relaxing too.

Extreme Firming Eye Gel — I've started using eye gel a bit as a preventative measure. It's easy to spread a couple of drops of this gel around my eyes after cleansing my face. It contains moisturizing and anti-oxidant ingredients to reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and puffiness. A little does go a long way too.

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the product(s) mentioned above at no cost for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-10-26T09:44:00.001-04:00

What we put on our skin should be of super importance to each of us. After all, our skin readily absorbs whatever we put on it. When it comes to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, those are the last things I want absorbing into my skin. So naturally I always gravitate toward skin care products that use organic ingredients.

One skin care line that uses natural, organic, and wildcrafted ingredients is Annmarie Gianni Skin Care. After researching natural skin care products, Annmarie Gianni learned that most skin care products that were supposedly organic and "natural" had hidden preservatives and nasty additives. On the other end, she was also frustrated when many of the truly natural products weren't up to her standards of quality and effectiveness. So she started her own skin care line.

Annemarie Gianni Skin Care offers items such as cleansers, scrubs, mists, moisturizers, facial oils, facial masks, and products for anti-aging. I really adore that the products I received come in tinted glass containers. The fact that they are tinted is important because it protects the quality of the products.

Here are the three products I tried:

Aloe-Herb Facial Cleanser — This is a very gentle cleanser that won't leave your skin feeling dry. I know particularly in the colder months some people are not able to use their usual cleanser because it dries out their skin too much. This would be a great alternative. It has the most delightful citrus smell too! I love an uplifting and natural scent in a facial cleanser. It's truly refreshing!

Dead Sea Facial Scrub — Made with Dead Sea Clay, this is a natural alternative to microdermabrasion. A facial scrub is a must for me! I need it to slough off dead skin cells to treat or prevent blackheads. What I particularly like about this scrub is that it's gentler than sugar facial scrubs. And you can make it even gentler if you want by adding some of the Aloe-Herb Cleanser to it, but I use it alone. It can also be used as a remineralizing facial mask. So it's acts as a two-in-one product.

Herbal Facial Oil for Oily and Acne Prone Skin — This oil is a lightly astringent blend and acts as a light moisturizer. All you need to do is dab a little on and blend. As I often say when I talk about facial skin care, "Oil dissolves oil." This works as long as it's a natural oil and not petroleum-based of course. If you're still feeling hesitant, give it a try overnight to start.

If you're interested in Annmarie Gianni Skin Care and want to try out some sample products first, check out their 3 Skin Care Samples deal. It's $10 including shipping. You can mix and match to find out which products you like the best. It also comes with a coupon code so you can't go wrong.

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win an

Annmarie Gianni Travel Kit

for Normal Skin!

Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter (only the first entry requires a blog comment):

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the products(s) mentioned above free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Fair Trade Finder App Review & Fair Trade Gift Bag Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-10-18T07:57:00.001-04:00

October is Fair Trade Month! I always look forward to it because Twitter and Facebook start to buzz about all of the fair trade items that are available. If you're new to learning about fair trade it's about paying a fair price for goods, safe conditions for workers, sustainability, community, and social awareness. Purchasing certified fair trade items helps farmers and their families improve their quality of life. It also helps to keep children in those communities in school. So much can be done through buying fair trade items!

You'd be surprised by the places you can find fair trade items. Like some of your favorite places to eat or even the local pharmacy.Who would've thought that, right? To make finding fair trade items in your area easier, Fair Trade USA has launched a free new app to help consumers find out where they can purchase Fair Trade Certified products nearby. The Fair Trade Finder app is available for Facebook, Android, and iPhone.

The Fair Trade Finder app lets you find, add, tag and photograph Fair Trade certified products wherever you are. I've been using the app for iPhone and I've been having fun finding items. I really like how you can choose a specific category, such as coffee, or do a broader search for everything fair trade. I also like how you can enter a zip code if you don't want to use your current location. That way you can learn ahead of time where to find certain items if you're headed to a special place one day. Or you can wait until you reach your destination. But I think it's wonderful to have a choice.

The Fair Trade Finder app also lets us act as a community by adding where we find Fair Trade Certified items ourselves. It's a great way to help each other learn where to locate fair trade products locally. Hopefully, we can all chip in and add products to help further the function of the app. By helping each other find fair trade items we are also helping the farmers and workers in around 58 developing countries that provide us with items such as coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar, and more.

There's this nice little tea place in my area that sells a lot of fair trade certified teas. As soon as I get the chance I'm going to go take some photos to add to the Fair Trade Finder app. I'm very excited to share!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a

Gift Bag Full of Fair Trade

Certified Products!

Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter (only the first entry requires a blog comment):

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I am being provided with a Fair Trade Gift Bag free of charge for review of the Fair Trade Finder App. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Enjoying Some Organic Pumpkin Pie Tea While Contemplating Loose Tea Water Temperature

2011-10-12T11:33:00.024-04:00

I'm not a tea connoisseur by any means but I am learning more and more. Especially about loose tea. I didn't previously know that each kind of tea should steep at different water temperatures. All I ever knew before was how to boil water in a kettle and add a tea bag to it (fancy, I know...lol).

There's a local tea house in my area that serves a great variety of loose teas. As much as I should probably try a different tea every time I visit, I usually end up getting the Organic White Peach tea. I'm extremely fond of that one. But the last time I visited the tea house I noticed an Organic Pumpkin Pie tea on my way out. My mother graciously bought me a sample bag to try it out.

The Organic Pumpkin Pie Rooibos tea consists of rooibos, honeybush, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and natural flavor. If this sounds appealing to you there's a similar one online. The only differences are the addition of one ingredient, the water temperature required, and the steep time.

I wasn't disappointed in the tea at all. It's quite wonderful actually! It's also easier for me to heat the water for it versus my white tea because it can steep at a higher temperature (212 degrees F). I don't have any way of telling exactly how hot the water temp in my kettle is. So for white tea (around 175 degrees) I just wing it. I would really like to find a good way to make sure the water temperature isn't too high though so the white tea leaves don't burn and make the tea taste bitter.

I know there are electric kettles that heat the water to the exact temperature it should be for each tea. I haven't had a chance to research the materials they are made from yet though. And plastic inside anything I need to heat is not an option for me.

My mother has a glass kettle that lets you tell the temperature by the way the water looks as it heats and boils. She has a gas stove so it works well. But I have a fear of using glass on our electric coil stove top. Lets just say there was an unfortunate incident with a glass pie plate and one of our electric burners one time. That's a story for another day.

One thing my mother did suggest to me was to get a candy thermometer to test the water temperature. That's something that might work.

What is your favorite tea and how do you check the water temperature?

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from the author.

Book Review: Super Immunity by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

2011-10-04T15:26:00.022-04:00

If you had a way to prevent becoming sick you would take advantage of that, right? I know I would. Even having a cold sets me back by draining my energy and dampening my mood. But what if you could also decrease your chances of getting a disease like cancer? It would be even more difficult not to take advantage of that!

There's no doubt that we've become accustomed to eating highly processed foods with complicated chemical ingredients. They are cheap and convenient. Unfortunately, those foods only lead to obesity and health problems. They do not help our body to function as it is meant to function. As a result, we become more vulnerable to illnesses. That's why I decided to read a new book that encourages wellness through eating habits called Super Immunity: The Essential Nutrition Guide for Boosting Your Body's Defenses to Live Longer, Stronger, and Disease Free by Joel Fuhrman, M.D..

What we eat has everything to do with our health, and, unfortunately, too many of us are living with a severely depleted immune function. Our dietary choices are making us sicker, shortening our lives, and costing us billions of dollars in doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. But Dr. Fuhrman doesn’t believe more medical care is the answer. Rather, he explains the solution is to change the way we eat. The standard American diet is nutrient deficient. We are eating too many highly processed foods, foods with added sweeteners, and animal fats and protein. At the same time, we are not eating enough fruits, beans, seeds, and vegetables, which leaves us lacking in hundreds of the most important immune-building compounds. By changing our diets and combining foods that contain powerful immune-strengthening capabilities, we can prevent most common modern diseases.

I was very intrigued by this book and kept wanting to read more. I felt the science was easy to understand and my eyes were definitely opened to some new ideas regarding diet. I can admit that although I have an organic diet I probably still don't eat well enough to boost my immune system to it's full potential. After reading this book I realized there's more to just eating healthy. That it's the combination of specific foods together that makes our bodies perform the way they should.

I really enjoyed the book as a whole but I did have some favorite parts. The first two involved the coffee question and the soy debate. These are two things I was very interested in learning about. There has been a lot of buzz, both positive and negative, about soy lately. So I found the information on soy extremely helpful.

My other favorite part explains how if you do get sick with the cold or flu, that you can get better faster with the right diet. I'm going to say that this book does challenge some of the things we've always believed to be true. Like how chicken soup will make a cold better. Instead, Dr. Fuhrman explains how vegetable soup is a better option because your body has to work harder to digest the chicken protein which can actually set you back while you're sick. I don't believe he's saying that vegetable soup will cure a cold, but that it is a better option when sick than chicken soup. As much as I'd love to hold on to old ideas and eating habits, I know change doesn't happen unless we embrace new knowledge. So I took the challenge to old beliefs in stride.

Super Immunity is all about making food work toward health. But it doesn't leave you hanging and wondering how to put the program to work. There are 85 immune-boosting recipes and a two-week eating plan included in the book. Some of the recipes are: Very Berry Smoothie, Spinach Salad with Strawberry Sesame Vinaigrette, and Acorn Squash Supreme. Those sounds pretty delicious in my opinion.

I found this book to be both educational and practical. I learned a lot from this book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle and be well. It's totally worth the read!

For more from Dr. Fuhrman, be sure to visit his web site, www.drfuhrman.com, and follow him on Facebook & Twitter!

You can also Text keyword "SUPERIMMUNITY"
to READIT (732348) for bonus content.

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with a copy of the book free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

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I Recycle My Toothbrushes Through the Mail

2011-09-26T15:34:00.008-04:00

I previously posted about Preserve and the Gimme 5 program which takes your #5 plastics and recycles them. It's a really cool program and I appreciate that Preserve makes recycled products that can be recycled again. If you live near a Whole Foods Market, they sometimes have a bin for the Gimme 5 program. If you don't live near a Whole Foods Market, there's still a way to make use of Preserve's Gimme 5 program through the mail.

Recently, I purchased a replacement Preserve Toothbrush that already came in a mailer. How convenient is that?! I just took my new toothbrush out and put my old toothbrush in it's place in the mailer. I added a piece of tape, then sent it out in the mail. I couldn't think of anything easier.

Old toothbrushes then become plastic lumber for things such as picnic tables and park benches. Don't worry, they don't recycle your old toothbrush into new toothbrushes. Lol! The new toothbrushes are actually made from recycled yogurt cups.

I did not receive any compensation for this post.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from the author.

I Won Something from the EcoScrapbook Blog

2011-09-15T09:45:00.012-04:00

I used to scrapbook a lot with my sister. We shared supplies with each other and chatted away while creating pages. Then my sister moved to another state and it didn't seem as much fun to scrapbook by myself. So I hadn't scrapbooked in quite a while.

Still though, I've kept my interest in scrapbooking. I've been following Danielle's blog, EcoScrapbook. She uses eco-friendly supplies to create not only scrapbook pages but cards and other crafty items like upcycled pencil holders. When Danielle held a giveaway for digital scrapbooking software I had to enter. I figured it would be a great way for me to get back into scrapbooking and have fun again while working on projects alone. Lucky for me I won!!! I was so excited. I downloaded my software right away and starting having a blast with it.

Here's the digital scrapbook page I made with My Memories Suite:

I've never been the artistic type so my pages aren't as fancy as other scrapbookers. But I think I make decent pages at least. No matter what, I still have fun. Plus, I really like the fact that I can email my pages to family. Instead of sending plain photos, I can dress them up on a page.

If you're interested in learning more about green scrapbooking both digitally and with eco-friendly paper/supplies, be sure to check out EcoScrapbook.

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Reusable Organic Cotton Balls/Rounds

2011-09-13T10:09:00.022-04:00

I'm all for anything I can find that's reusable to replace disposable items. One day I was thinking about the cotton balls I use for my daily facial toner. I had already starting using organic cotton balls but I wanted something I wouldn't run out of as well. It's definitely more convenient for me to wash reusable items rather than to trash disposable ones and possibly be stuck when I run out. Plus, I never like to be wasteful. That's why reusable always works for me.

I thought there had to be reusable organic cotton balls out there somewhere. Even though I didn't find actual cotton "balls" I did come across reusable cotton rounds, cotton squares, and crochet rounds. The ones I thought I would like the best were Better For Grownups Organic Cotton Face Rounds because they are two layers of organic, fair trade cotton velour. They are more absorbent than a cotton ball so I do have to use more toner per application. But I'm fine with that because the reusable factor outweighs using a little more toner.

One side of each round is a hand-dyed color and the other side is white. The rounds come in a few colors, and in different amounts of each color. So it's a total surprise what you get. There's no guarantee you will get the same colors you see on the site. I received cream, green, peach, and a bright orange. What I like about having different colors is that I use certain colors for certain things. For example, I use the green rounds for removing makeup. Since I use sweet almond oil for makeup removal I need to wash those rounds with a bit more care than I do for rounds I use with toner.

With the Better For Grownups brand, you get 30 rounds and a mesh organic cotton bag to wash your rounds in. The mesh cotton bag and velour material is what really swayed me to go with this brand. At first I didn't know if I wanted to spend $24.50. But I was able to get 10% off for being a first time customer of betterforbabies.com and I chose the least expensive shipping method. In the end, I will be saving money on cotton balls so it's worth it.

I did not receive any compensation for this post.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from author.

Nicki's Diapers: Planet Wise Mini Wet/Dry Bag Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-09-01T10:23:00.040-04:00

The first reusable item I ever purchased was cloth baby wipes. Then of course cloth diapers followed. It was only a matter of time before I needed something to keep those items in both away and at home. I've always relied on Planet Wise for all of my wet bag and diaper pail liner needs. So it's no surprise that when I needed something to store mama cloth in I looked toward Planet Wise again.

Thanks to Nicki's Diapers I was able to try the Planet Wise MINI Wet/Dry Bag. If you've ever visited Nicki's Diapers you know that they have everything for baby and mama. They are a one stop shop for items such as cloth diapers, car seats, feeding items, toys, nursing bras, breast pumps, feminine pads, and anything else a woman and her little one needs. They have a seriously impressive site. They even have a Made in the USA section in which Planet Wise products are also listed.

Since I have a small purse I needed a nice little waterproof pouch to contain cloth menstrual pads both before and after use while I'm out. The best thing about the Planet Wise Mini Wet/Dry Bag (5" x 10" in size) is that it's not just a wet bag. It has a convenient pouch area on the front to store my clean unused pads. The main part inside is a larger waterproof section that can hold a few pads once you've used them. The attached outer pouch is a smaller section that can hold about two or three pads depending on the thickness of the pads. My pads are pretty thin, so folded up I can fit three pads in there.

To prevent leaking and wicking, the bag has a PVC-free waterproof inner layer and a zipper that is lead-free and locking. And cleaning is a breeze because the Mini Wet/Dry Bag can be machine washed and dried. My Medium Planet Wise Wet/Dry bag for cloth diapers has help up well wash after wash. That's how I knew I could trust the mini bag in my purse.

Something that's also fantastic about Planet Wise products is their fun variety of prints, including a few in organic cotton. I chose one of their newest organic prints in Silver Scroll. The gray color goes perfectly with the color of my purse. After all, us ladies like to accessorize too, right?

If you have powder or liquid makeup, lotions and hand sanitizers, or any reusable items you want to keep separated you will like the Mini. I personally adore it for mama cloth! It's been a lifesaver to travel out with. I can feel good knowing that I'm not putting little plastic baggies in the landfill too. The seams are completely sealed and the zipper stays tightly in place once it's zipped. There are no worries about the rest of my purse. Once I get home I toss the bag in with my other laundry and I'm all set.

Nicki's Diapers offers FREE Shipping on any Planet Wise product shipped within the contiguous US! Whether you need a wet bag, a changing pad, or even some Best Bottom cloth diapers, you can't say no to items with free shipping! Definitely check out Nicki's Diapers if you're searching for anything baby or mama.

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
Planet Wise Mini Wet/Dry Bag
from Nicki's Diaper's.

To Enter:

1. Visit Nicki's Diapers then come back and tell me another product you'd like to try. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow the Nicki's Diaper blog publicly. (1 Entry)

4. Follow Nicki's Diapers @nickisdiapers & Planet Wise @planetwiseinc on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win a Planet Wise Mini Wet/Dry Bag! @nickisdiapers @planetwiseinc http://tinyurl.com/3em5owf #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Follow @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

6. Tweet @planetwiseinc and @nickisdiapers #clothdiapers (1 Entry)

7. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name when you post back here. (1 Entry)

8. Like Nicki's Diapers & Planet Wise on Facebook. Leave your Facebook name when you post back here. (1 Entry)

9. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

10. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

11. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

This giveaway will end on September 18, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #85...kmogilevski!

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Party In My Pants Cloth Pads Review

2011-08-30T08:27:00.038-04:00

I don't always warm up right away to every new eco-friendly idea I hear. Especially when the idea is much different than what I'm used to already. Sometimes I need a little time to process a new concept. When I first heard about reusable cloth menstrual pads I wasn't enthusiastic about the idea. I had used tampons as far back as I could remember and the thought of using any pads at all didn't sound appealing. Plus, like a lot of others, I thought reusing cloth pads would be messy and gross.

I didn't become interested in reusable cloth pads until after I started using a menstrual cup. I've always needed a pad for backup while using the cup because of residual leaking and other "just in case" scenarios. Using disposable back up pads made me extremely unhappy for several reasons beyond the fact that they are not very eco-friendly. I also find them unbreathable, chaffing, and most of all smelly. I heard that cloth pads were more comfortable and didn't have the odor problem (true by the way) so I started my search.There were three specific things I wished for when looking for cloth pads: organic cotton, a leak-proof layer, and a plain cotton vs. a fuzzy fleece cotton fabric option. I didn't exactly have an easy time finding those three things together in a pad I thought I would like. Then I came across Party In My Pants pads (PIMP for short). Their All-In-One pads are made with a leak-proof breathable nylon shield, nickel-free snaps, and your choice of regular or organic cotton. They come in amazingly fun patterns too! PIMP is a small business owned by two sisters, Luci & Lydia. And all of the pads are handmade in Ashland, Wisconsin. Very cool!

PIMP pads come in a variety of sizes which each include their own level of absorbency. I took the Pad Prescription quiz to help me choose the right pads based on underwear type and amount of flow. Of course, it's recommended that you try 2-3 pads in a couple of different sizes before building your stash. If you have a broad range of underwear you can always purchase a Wing Extender for the smaller sizes and an extra snap for larger sizes. That definitely allows customization for different panty styles.

Since I planned on using my pads with a menstrual cup as well as alone on light/moderate days, I tried the Mini Liner, the Small Pad, and the Medium Pad. For the Small Pad I chose the organic cotton flannel (Black), and for the other two I chose the original organic cotton — one in Harmony (green pattern) and one in Odessa (gray pattern). When the pads arrived they were nicely packaged and even included a piece of Equal Exchange fair trade organic chocolate. I thought that was such a lovely touch!

The first two days of my cycle are always heavy so I used my menstrual cup with the Mini Liner. I wouldn't trust a disposable panty liner as a back up but the PIMP Mini Liner is a gem. I'm telling you that actual cotton fabric with a sturdy nylon backing makes all the difference! For the rest of my cycle the Small and Medium pads alone worked well. One day I wore the Medium out and I kept checking it because it's so thin and barely noticeable. The pad wasn't sliding or leaking. It was just me having to get used to the fact that yes, a pad that doesn't feel like a diaper can work well.

As far as storing and washing used pads, it's a simple routine. I fold up and snap each pad after use and store them in a breathable cotton bag to dry. On wash day I spray each one with my usual stain remover (Biokleen Bac-Out diluted with distilled water) and let them sit a bit before running a quick pre-rinse on cold with my undies. Then I throw the in the rest of my dark clothes, run a regular wash cycle and dry on low heat. So far I haven't noticed any staining although most of PIMP's patterns are chosen to conceal stains well. Now if you're thinking you can't possibly wash your pads in with your clothes, ask yourself if you've ever washed a pair of underwear that you've leaked on? If you've thrown those underwear in the wash, washing your pads isn't much different.

I've liked the Party In My Pants pads so much I definitely want to try their large and overnight sizes. That way if I don't want to use my menstrual cup I don't have to. I have to admit there are mornings, even days, where I would prefer to just quickly change out a pad instead. PIMPs are thin, reusable, low-maintenance, and stylish. I'm very pleased!

If you're curious about cloth but still not sure about it, PIMP will send you a FREE Liner for only the cost of shipping which is $3.99 in most cases. They also have Name That PIMP contests and other giveaways they post on their Facebook page where you could win a pad. These are excellent ways to try cloth if you're not sure you want to take the plunge yet.

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alex+von: $25 e-Gift Card & Suki Skin Care Kit Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-08-24T10:07:00.039-04:00

Whenever possible I try to support small eco-friendly businesses here in the US. I believe some of the best green products come from smaller businesses that care about offering safer alternatives. I'm being honest when I say that most of the products I feel are safer to use I cannot always get in a local store. So I do appreciate when I find an online shop that offers natural, organic, and eco-friendly products.

I was introduced to alex+von by Mia Bell, alex+von Independent Consultant. alex+von is a great new company that offers women the chance to start a business from home selling products from natural and organic boutique brands. Women have the opportunity to sell one or more brands online and/or in person. Each individual representative is able to choose the brands they'd like to sell. I think having that choice is wonderful because it lets me know that the independent reps are choosing products they believe in. I appreciate that each one is sharing their own personal recommendations.

Mia sells suki, 100% Pure, and weeDECOR on her alex+von site, www.alexandvon.com/miabell. I was sent some really great suki skin care samples. I'll highlight my top 3 favorites:

Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser - I've been a fan of this facial cleanser for a while. I have the kind of skin where if I don't exfoliate I get blackheads. I rely on this to both purify and get rid of dead skin cells. My skin feels very smooth, clean, and refreshed after using this product. The lemongrass in it smells wonderful too.

Balancing Day Lotion - My first impression was that the scent was a little too strong. I've been used to milder scents over the past two years so it could just be me. As for the way this non-greasy lotion works, I was very pleased. The first day I used my suki products I only cleansed with the Exfoliating Foaming Cleanser and used this lotion. I had a few blemishes on my face and by the end of the day they were barely visible. The cleanser and the lotion definitely make a good pair.

Pure Facial Moisture - Balancing - This is a light oil that helps fight bacteria and balance oil production. After all, oil dissolves oil (only natural oils work like this, not petroleum-based oils). I like to put this on after cleansing before bed. I have combination skin so it's light enough to work for both my oily and dry spots. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this!

I didn't have any facial scrub or the proper toner for a few weeks before starting with my suki products. My facial skin was in need of some serious repair. Now I feel like I'm back on track and my skin is looking better. I even went ahead and took advantage of alex+von's suki August Special for a buy one, get one free complete care kit. I found the information under the alex+von Weekly Specials section. That's where you will find the latest deals.

I received some weeDECOR samples too. weeDECOR is a line of eco-friendly decorative wall decals. They are not vinyl like many other wall decals. Instead they are made from PVC-free fabric with an adhesive backing. They are removable, reusable, and biodegradable. I think they are an adorable way to decorate any children's room.

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
$25 alex+von e-Gift Card &
suki To Go Jumpstart Nourishing Kit.

To Enter:

1. Like the alex+von by Mia Facebook page, then come back here and comment that you did (leave first name and last initial). This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Leave the url of the product you'd like to try the most from Mia's site. (1 Entry)

4. Follow @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win an alex+von $25 e-Gift Card & Suki Skin Care Kit! @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/3gwh98e #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and www.alexandvon.com/miabell. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on September 8, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #2...Zoe Kyklos!

I received an alex+von e-gift card and several suki samples free of charge for review.
The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

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Eco Sprout Cloth Diaper Detergent Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-08-22T07:56:00.050-04:00

If you're a cloth diapering parent, chances are you've dealt with ammonia stink at least once. Probably even more than once. I know I have. I've been successful in the short term with ridding my diapers of ammonia with oxygen bleach or vinegar but I've never been able to make it last. I'd always end up having to strip my diapers again after a short while.

I had never before tried a cloth diaper detergent itself to clear the ammonia problem. So when I had the opportunity to try Eco Sprout detergent for my cloth trainers and overnight diapers, I decided to give it a go. Eco Sprout is an environmentally friendly detergent that is safe for cloth diapers and sensitive skin. It is free from dyes, brighteners, enzymes, and phosphates. It's also 100% biodegradable. To top off that awesome description, it was started by a work-at-home-dad. My husband is always the first one to complain about diaper stink. He doesn't mind using or washing cloth diapers at all, but he does mind the stinkies. Good thing another dad was on the case to battle ammonia!

Eco Sprout comes in several yummy scents and an unscented version called In The Buff. I always go with unscented for my laundry detergent so that's the one I chose. When you first use Eco Sprout it's recommended that you soak your cloth diapers in their detergent with HOT water first for at least 3-5 hours. Then you do two HOT/cold cycles without detergent (see complete washing instructions here). This helps to rid the diapers of previous detergents, minerals, etc. that could be left in the diapers.

I personally did an overnight soak when following these instructions. My cloth trainers and diapers came out beautifully without any ammonia stink. Woo hoo! I had a couple of very stubborn microfiber inserts that wouldn't clear themselves of stink no matter what I did. Now they are stink free. Yeah! I've continued to wash with Eco Sprout for my cloth trainers and overnight diapers with success. I've also used it for my clothes and I'm pleased with it for them as well.

I also want to mention that in Eco Sprout's washing instructions I noticed something different than what I've heard about washing cloth diapers before. It explains that for top loaders you only need enough water for the diapers to move around freely and rub against each other. You don't have to fill the washer up to the highest water level if you're doing a smaller load. That makes total sense to me. Especially if you're using a detergent that works.

I have an Energy Star top loading washer that senses the size of the load and only fills to where the water level needs to be and nothing more. The only way to get the washer to fill more is to stand there while it fills and open the lid again several times so the washer thinks I'm adding more to the load. I'm very glad I don't have to do that anymore. It saves water too which is half the purpose of having an energy efficient washer.

Eco Sprout's site has lots of fantastic information about washing cloth diapers and trying what will work best for you. Not to mention that their Facebook page is full of great washing conversations as well. Be sure to check out all they have to offer at www.ecosproutsoap.com regarding detergent, washing instructions, and their other products such as Breath...Again Pail Freshener, Bottom Balm+, and Bottom Spray!

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
24oz. Bag of Eco Sprout Detergent
in their scent of choice.

To Enter:

1. Visit Eco Sprout then come back and tell me which scent you would like to try the most. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win Eco Sprout Cloth Diaper Detergent! @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/3rrxe4z #clothdiapers #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like Eco Sprout on Facebook. Leave your first name and last initial in comment.
(1 Entry)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. Leave your first name and last initial in comment. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Eco Sprout. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on September 6, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #131... Holly Wilson!

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Organic Facial Care Products

2011-08-15T08:30:00.021-04:00

One of my Facebook followers asked me if I could recommend a good facial cleanser and lotion. So I thought I'd share my answer here along with some other organic facial care products I currently use or have tried. Please keep in mind that what works for me may not necessarily work for you as we all have different facial needs. My motto is, "Not everything will work for everyone, but something will always work for someone."

Facial Cleanser - There are two facial cleansers I'm currently using. They are Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Liquid Castile Soap and Grateful Body Hydrating Facial Cleanse. I use the peppermint castile to keep breakouts at bay (tea tree would also work well for this but I like the smell of peppermint better). When I need a more moisturizing cleanser I use Grateful Body.

Toner - For some reason in the spring I always break out. I choose Brittanie's Thyme Organic Blemish Toner during that time. I apply it all over my face with an organic cotton ball. It removes the dirt and oil from my face like nothing else I've used. I also like Grateful Body Toner. The mist is really refreshing for the summer. I ran out of cotton balls (I have reusable organic cotton rounds on the way) so I started spraying it directly on my face then spreading it around with my fingers. The mist is really refreshing for the summer.

Moisturizer - My favorite so far is Leap Organics Daily Face Lotion. It's most like the traditional moisturizers I used before I started using organic products, but without the nasty synthetic chemicals. It's not too oily and it rubs in nicely. I've also tried Miessence Balancing Moisturiser and Britannie's Thyme Organic Everyday Moisturizer. Miessence is nice too but the price is a little more than my budget allows. The Britannie's Thyme is too oily for my skin. I was able to use it but I always felt shiny.

Makeup Remover - Organic Sweet Almond Oil is all I need. It works like a charm before cleansing. Aura Cacia is the brand I usually buy.

Facial Scrub/Exfoliating Cleanser - I make a DIY Cleansing Facial Scrub I formulated myself that you can find on LovelySafeMama.com. There are ones that I've bought and liked too though. One of those is Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser. It's a bit expensive but works very well. I've also tried Leap Organics Exfoliating Face Wash. I can't use this as a wash by itself because it feels filmy on my face after rinsing. I use it first thing when I get in the shower and then rinse. At the very end of my shower I use my regular cleanser. That way I get the exfoliating benefits without the film. It works extremely well to smooth out my face as long as I give it some time to work before washing with another cleanser. I know it seems like a bit much to do but I didn't want to waste the bottle. Especially when I found a way to make it work.

As far as just a plain facial scrub without a cleanser, I still have yet to find one I like. I tried Brittanie's Thyme Organic Almond Oatmeal Facial Scrub but it didn't exfoliate well enough for me. Sometimes I mix a little sweet almond oil with some pure cane sugar to make a quick scrub. But since sugar scrubs should only be used on the face sparingly, like a couple of times per week, I'd like to find a facial scrub without sugar that I can use at least every other day.

For Bath & Body products please see my post,
Organic Bath & Body Products I'm Using.

UPDATE: I didn't realize that the honeysuckle flower CO2 ingredient in the Grateful Body products is in fact Japanese Honeysuckle Extract. I thought it was different. There is much debate about any type of japanese honeysuckle extract so it's best to read all of the information available before using a product with that ingredient. It's something you'll have to decide for yourself. Personally though, if it's that controversial, I do like to err on the side of caution.

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Washable Organic Cotton Purse

2011-08-08T08:41:00.017-04:00

I previously received an eReader Bag/Sleeve from Sage & Kai for review. I absolutely loved it! So when it came time to get a new purse I asked the owner of Sage & Kai if she could make me a custom purse. I'd been keeping my eye out for a machine washable purse for a while but was hard pressed to find anything with the specifics I wanted. When I found out Sage & Kai could make me not only a washable purse but also one made from organic cotton my search was complete.

I'd never ordered anything custom before but it was really easy. I knew I wanted a purse around the same size as my eReader bag with a flat/gusseted bottom. I asked for precisely that along with the color gray. The owner of Sage & Kai sent me a photo of the fabrics she had for both the inside and outside of the purse. I was able to choose from two shades of gray for the outside as well as multiple prints for the inside. I decided to go with a heavier canvas for the outside since it was the darker gray I wanted. I also chose a nice, solid blue for the inside. I chose this over actual prints because I loved the way the bright, tiffany-like blue contrasted with the dark gray.

I decided to request a long strap and one pocket (inside) for my cell phone. Personally, I like a longer strap on my purse because I like to hang it across my body so I can relax when I have other things to carry. I started appreciating using a longer strap even more when my son was born. Between a baby in a carrier and a diaper bag, it was much easier to have a purse to hang around my body. I still find it very convenient now that my son is a toddler.

My purse is made from certified organic cotton down to the batting and light blue ribbon pull. Sage & Kai also does screen prints using non-toxic, water-based inks but I wanted a simple gray purse this time around. I was thrilled to be able to order this as a custom item so I could get exactly what I was hoping for. My only problem is that I wish I could order more from this shop at the moment. Good thing there's always my birthday and Christmas!

I did not receive any compensation for this post.
This is an item I purchased myself and wanted to share about with others.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission from the author.

Naked Binder Review: Think Recycled for School Supplies

2011-08-03T08:35:00.018-04:00

That time of the year has come again when people are thinking about school supplies. When I personally think of school and office supplies, I always think of recycled materials. I definitely want to make the most eco-friendly choices in order to create the least amount of waste in the end. The materials used to create products greatly affects my decision of what to buy.

Naked Binder is a company that offers greener choices for school and/or office needs. Their binders are made from 100% recycled board (97% post-consumer waste) and are 100% recyclable. Also very important, their products do not contain any vinyl, phthalates, or acid. Not only can I reduce my carbon footprint by choosing to use Naked Binder products over the traditional brands, but I also don't have to worry about what I'm being exposed to regarding toxic materials. As an extra bonus, these binders are made to last for 10 years!

Here are some of the Naked Binder items I've been trying:

Naked Binder - This particular binder is made from 100% PCW and is completely bare. It is the most eco-friendly binder I've ever come across. I find it's natural appearance and texture to be very appealing. With the bareness of this binder you have the option of decorating it any way you like by labeling, drawing, carving, etc. I, myself, enjoy the way it looks alone. There's something very pure about it.

Project Binder - I like this as it's a bare board Naked Binder with a spine wrap made from 100% cotton book-binding cloth (library grade). The cloth is applied using a water-based glue. The wrap comes in 9 colors and adds a little bit of pizazz to the binder.

Classic Binder - If you prefer a more covered binder the Classic is covered in black, grained FSC certified Ecological Fibers paper. It also has a cotton spine wrap. The metal free European style finger pull is wonderful for easily getting it off the shelf. It also comes in 9 colors. I especially like this for an office or home desk area. If you have several binders stacked together, the finger pull is a definite help!

Naked Tabs - These acid free tabs help divide the contents of your binder. Each set has 5 tabs with one cover sheet. They are completely recyclable and come in three different styles: Eames, Naked, and Conservation Printable. No part of these tabs contain plastic or mylar, which cuts down on waste. Instead, they are debossed with roman numerals.

Naked Folders - If you're looking for a completely eco-friendly folder, here it is! These folders are made from 100% recycled material (97% post-consumer waste). They are also 100% recyclable. Plain and simple, you can't go wrong with these folders if you want the greenest option.

I use the binders for keeping track of our budget and other information I take care of as a mom. The folders and tabs have been great for separating my projects, making it easier to find what I need at the moment. Without some organization around here it would be a chore to find anything. It's too easy to throw papers to the side in a pile and forget about them. I've done that before and I've lost stuff. I'm happy to be a much more organized person.

I was showing my mother-in-law my Naked Binders because she is a teacher. She was especially impressed with the Classic Binder because of the finger pull. She said that's something she could really use in her classroom. She also really liked the Naked Tab Dividers and folder because of the natural look and texture. I'm with her there!

Whether it's school, the office, or home, we can all make a difference by choosing to use more eco-friendly supplies. I personally wouldn't have it any other way!

For the latest on Naked Binder, be sure to follow them
through their Blog and Twitter.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Translate a Blog, Make a Friend

2011-07-28T15:32:00.009-04:00

A little over a year ago I had someone new stopping by to enter my giveaways. After a while they also started commenting on my review and personal posts too. When someone stops by to comment on my blog I like to return the favor if they have a blog themselves. There was only one hiccup...this person's blog was in Spanish. I took French in high school so I couldn't even begin to translate.

Time and time again this lovely person would leave comments on my posts. I really did want to be able to comment on their posts as well. I figured there had to be some kind of way. There had to be some kind of site for translation. So I searched and low and behold there was Google Translate. I thought to myself, "This has been here the whole time?...Duh!"

I went ahead and translated the blog that is now called Naturalmente Mama. The Google translation from Spanish to English isn't always perfect, but it's good enough for me to get the gist of what the blogger, Maybelline, is saying. Luckily, she speaks English too so we're able to communicate all of the time.

Over the past year Maybelline and I have become good friends. We continue to comment on each other's blogs and support each other whenever we can. I couldn't imagine not knowing her! Next time someone stops by your blog to comment but their blog is in a different language, take the time to translate their site. You may just make a friend!

Side note: The giveaways on Naturalmente Mama have both a Spanish and English version without even having to translate. So stop by and enter. :)

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Magnolia Organics Bedding Review

2011-07-25T13:14:00.024-04:00

When I started to make the switch to organic products I began with bath & body products. Then I found my way to organic foods. It took me a little longer to find my way to the option of organic fabrics for things such as clothes and bedding. I believe it's because I thought cotton fabric was an eco-friendly option already. What I didn't know was how extremely processed conventional cotton is and just how many pesticides are used in growing it. If I cared about using organic bath products and eating organic foods, then the next logical step was to continue to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals through the fabrics that touched my family's skin.

Magnolia Organics offers eco-friendly products made from sustainable materials that are an alternative to conventional cotton. While creating quality products the company also utilizes fair labor practices. They carry several bedding items including crib sheets, barrier mattress covers, and duvet sets. Their sheets come in a range of thread counts and colors that even include options for Twin XL and California King. Not to mention they also offer organic bags and accessories.

I've had the pleasure of trying the Magnolia Organics Estate Collection Sheets in Rich Khaki. They are a 550 thread count made from 100% organic cotton. I was so glad they offered this thread count because the other set of king sheets (non-organic) I already had was a 600 thread count. I figured the organic cotton in a similar thread count would be just as great. I wasn't disappointed! The Magnolia Organics set is a heavy, quality fabric with beautiful sewing. And the warm khaki color holds up nicely after washing.

All of Magnolia Organics' cotton products are GOTS certified. That means no heavy metal dyes, formaldehyde, or chlorine bleaching is allowed in the processing (just to name a few requirements). Even the tag on the sheets asks the consumer to use biodegradable laundry soap, and air or tumble dry low to keep with the most eco-friendly practices while laundering. All of this is something to appreciate along with the reusable organic cotton bag (below) the sheets come in!

Right from the start organic cotton fabrics such as flannel, jersey, fleece, terry, or sherpa are extremely soft. With woven organic cotton used for cloth napkins or sheets, they get their softest over time through washing. You have to remember that truly organic fabrics are not loaded with lots of toxic chemicals to soften them like conventional cotton fabrics. So don't dismiss woven organic fabrics if they're not as soft as you'd imagined after only one wash. I, myself, would rather soften my sheets through washing over time and using vinegar as a fabric softener than subject my family to harmful chemicals.

To naturally soften my sheets I use 1 cup of distilled white vinegar as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle. It really does help. And once your items are dried you won't smell the vinegar at all. I'm happy to report that after only two washes this way, my Magnolia Organics sheets felt heavenly.

The very first Saturday after I received the sheets my husband got up with my son and let me sleep in. Later that day I told him thank you for letting me sleep in! I was especially grateful that morning because I didn't want to leave the comfortable feel of the sheets. They fit perfectly on our mattress and felt wonderful!

I've also had the chance to feel and see the quality of their Organic Duvet Set (above). The set includes the duvet cover as well as two pillow shams. The 350 thread count fabric has a wonderful shine and a smooth feel. I especially like the stripe design that is woven into the fabric. I think it creates a very classy look. I can totally see how this duvet set is recommended to be paired with the elegant Estate Collection Sheets.

If you're thinking about getting new bedding for your children or for yourself that's organic cotton, you'll definitely want to visit MagnoliaOrganics.com. And to sweeten your shopping experience:

Magnolia Organics is offering a FREE Swaddle Blanket with any purchase!
Use coupon code: mommyisgreen.

For the latest on Magnolia Organics, be sure to follow them on their Blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Organic Bath & Body Products I'm Using

2011-07-19T09:20:00.029-04:00

Sometimes it takes a while to find the organic bath & body products that work best for you. I always say, "Not everything will work for everyone, but something will always work for someone."

I'm very specific about ingredients so it's taken me quite a bit of time to find what's right for me. I thought I'd share what I'm currently using. I know these products might not work for everyone, but here are some products that I like:

Lotion - I use either Earth Mama Angel Baby Lotion or Dr. Bronner's Orange Lavender Organic Lotion. Whichever one I can get my hands on locally at the time I need it is the one I get. Both are very good.

Hand & Shower Soap - Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Liquid Castile Soap is awesome! We also like to use the Peppermint sometimes too. The thing about Dr. Bronner's is that it never goes to waste. If you don't like it for one thing, you can use it for something else. It has many uses.

Shaving - Yoreganics Shaving Gel is my favorite so far. I find it very difficult to find shave gels or creams with good organic ingredients. This shaving gel does not make me feel dry or itchy, and I really like the ingredient list. My husband sometimes uses Dr. Bronner's Organic Lemongrass Lime Shaving Gel. I find it to be a little too thin for me but it works for him. Update: My husband informed me that the Dr. Bronner's tube wasn't shaken up enough and that's why it seemed thin to me. He said once he really, really shook it up it was a thicker gel.

Deodorant - Soapwalla is the best natural deodorant I've tried. It's wonderful for combating odor and also helps with wetness (no aluminum).

Sunscreen - I like Badger SPF 30 Unscented Sunscreen & Badger SPF 30+ Face Stick. Some people say it's too white on their skin but we don't seem to have that problem. Then again we are very pale people. We rub it in and it looks just fine on us.

Natural Toothpaste - Here's another difficult one for me because the one toothpaste I really like in which I'm pleased with the ingredients comes in an *aluminum tube. It's Weleda Salt Toothpaste. It's fantastic at cleaning teeth and my mouth has never felt fresher. I do wish it was packaged differently though.

*I do try to reduce my use of plastic but for some products, like toothpaste tubes, I'd prefer plastic made from recycled materials over aluminum. According to Weleda, their aluminum tubes are coated with a BPA-free epoxy resin. However, I've noticed the outside of the aluminum tube where it is not painted (and must not be lined) rubs off if you get toothpaste on it. It's something I'm very weary about.

I did not receive any compensation for this post. I'm simply sharing information. :)

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY without permission from the author.

Two Year Blogiversary

2011-07-13T08:45:00.011-04:00

Wow, it’s been two years already?! Time definitely flies when you’re blogging. My first post was about organic lip balm, and well…I’m still talking about organic lip balm (among other stuff of course). Lol!

I’ve felt so many emotions over the course of the last two years. But most of all I’ve felt gratitude! I’m thankful to everyone who follows, reads, comments, and enters giveaways on Mommy Is Green. I’m also very grateful for the wonderful companies that have provided eco-friendly products for review. It’s given me a chance to let you know about the greener options that exist out there and how they work.

My goal has never been to become the biggest blog out there. It’s been to create a source of information that people can trust. If I wouldn’t use it myself then you won’t find it here. I spend hours upon hours reading ingredient labels and researching. I do the same for everything I purchase that you don’t see on my blog, although I do try to share as much as possible with you.

Some think that I’m too extreme and others think that I don’t do enough. But I do stay true to my own personal goals and encourage others to do what they feel is right for themselves. After all, we live different lives and go through different situations. We are all going to have our own shade of green. What I aim to do is share my eco-friendly experiences and continue to make known any chemicals that are considered unsafe. And of course I like to recommend products I do consider safe or green myself.

If you blog, you know how important it is to have the support of others bloggers. I feel very blessed to have met such great people through blogging. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those bloggers who have supported me the most either through continuously reading and commenting, or through other ways:

Heidi from HiHoRosie’s Place

Xenia from Thanks, Mail Carrier

Maybelline from Naturalmente Mama

Johanna from Jo’s Health Corner

Kathy from SafeMama

Thank you, Thank you, Thank You Ladies!!!!

Thank you to everyone who comes and visits! I appreciate you all!

Grateful Body Skin Care Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-07-06T13:22:00.031-04:00

Nourishing our skin is essential. Especially when it comes to our facial skin. I think it’s safe to say that our facial skin appearance is of extreme importance to all of us. There are lots of facial care products on the market but most of them contain harsh, synthetic chemicals. I prefer something more organic. I want a system that will work with my skin, not against it. I’ve been using Grateful Body Skin Care products and I'm very impressed.Grateful Body is an all-natural and vegan skin care company. They use organic, biodynamically grown, and ethically wildcrafted ingredients. They don’t ever use synthetics and are a cruelty-free company. Grateful Body believes if you can’t eat it, then you shouldn’t put it on your skin. I love that motto! Their ingredients are sourced in a sustainable and environmentally safe way too. They seem to be the total package in my opinion.
The Hydrating Cleanse facial cleanser isn't a foaming wash but I really like it. You use a circular motion on wet skin to cleanse. It's very hydrating just like it's name states. When I step out of the shower my face isn’t immediately dry like with other cleansers. I’m not itching to get moisturizer on my face right away. It’s very gentle and light too. I noticed that their Deep Cleanse contains organic castile soap and removes makeup in contrast to the Hydrating Cleanse. So if you need something a little more, that one may be for you. As for me, it’s been such a nice change to have more hydrated skin than I usually do.

The Toner - Dry to Normal Skin is a favorite of mine! It’s in a spray bottle and I love to mist it on my face. It feels so refreshing and the incredibly light scent is something I look forward too. The toner contains witch hazel which I always look for in a toner. Toners with witch hazel do the best job of clearing my pores. I go back and forth between spraying it directly on my face and using a cotton ball. I like to spray the toner on an organic cotton ball (hopefully getting reusable organic cotton rounds soon) to see how much dirt I‘m getting off of my face. I don’t always have visible dirt/oil on my face but I like to see when I do. It lets me know that the toner is working. This toner does the job well!

I thought it was about time that I start using an eye cream. The Essential Eye Cream is a light fluid that glides on nicely. It’s great because it’s not heavy. I don’t want to put on something heavy or greasy everyday. Instead, I want to nourish and moisturize my eyes. I find it especially important for when I use a finishing powder. I started noticing if I don’t keep my eye area hydrated enough that powder doesn’t look so good on it. A small drop of this eye cream is all it takes and I’m set for the day. I’m very pleased that I started using it.

My skin hasn’t felt softer since using Grateful Body Skin Care products. I honestly feel totally pampered! I think it’s partially due to the very light natural scents too. There’s nothing heavily fragrant about them at all, unlike with synthetic products. I feel Grateful Body is an incredibly eco-friendly company from their ingredients to their packaging. I’m liking everything that I’ve experienced with them!

Get 15% off your Grateful Body Skin
purchase with coupon code: beautyblog15

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
Grateful Body Skin Care Set.
(includes Moisturizer, Cleanser and Toner for chosen skin type)

To Enter:

1. Visit Grateful Body then come back and tell me which product (other than the ones mentioned here) you'd like to try the most. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Sign up for the Grateful Body Newsletter. (1 Entry)

4. Follow both @gratefulbodysc and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win a Grateful Body Skin Care Set! @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/65w8d89 #vegan #organic #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

6. Like Grateful Body Skin Care on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

8. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

9. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Grateful Body. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on July 21, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #257...ZESTYWONDERLAND!

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the products mentioned above free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Eco-Friendly Tip: Pass on Your Children's Clothes

2011-07-05T08:24:00.010-04:00

It’s the little things that add up and make a difference. One easy thing we can do to be eco-friendly is pass on unwanted clothes. Since children grow so fast and go through so many clothes, it’s much better to donate their clothes than throw them away.

I’ve been holding on to all of my son’s clothes for the past two years. My family is the type that gets really excited over a new baby and buys a ton of clothes. No kid goes bare in my family and that’s for sure. The truth is that I’m running out of room in his closet to store everything. I’ve been planning on keeping his clothes for another baby but it’s not in my immediate plans right now. Besides, I could have a girl next time. Or the sizes and seasons won’t match up. So instead of hanging on to the clothes, I kept a few favorites just in case and decided to pass on the rest.

I was planning on donating his clothes when I found out my nephew needed some. He’s a year and a half younger than my son. I was sure that my nephew would be knee deep in clothes passed on to him from people at church and other cousins. That’s the way it was with his older sister. But then I saw on Facebook that my sister-in-law was shopping at yard sales and Good Will to get him some summer clothes. She was excited when I said I could send some of my son’s old clothes down.

Michelle from Everything’s Abuzz has been using clothes passed on to her daughter from family. In her post you’ll see how used clothes can still be so cute! If you don't have relatives to get used clothes from or trade with, there are sites such as Swapmamas and ThredUp that are great. Also, don't forget about your local women's shelters, day care centers, and the school nurse's office to donate to. Reuse is an easy way to start going green!

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

The Glass Baby Bottle: Sophie the Giraffe Teether/Toy Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-06-28T07:42:00.026-04:00

The Glass Baby Bottle has been one of Mommy Is Green’s continual supporters. I appreciate everything I get to review from their store. Their products are free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, lead and cadmium. It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed anything exclusively baby though because my son is now two. But The Glass Baby Bottle has been gracious enough to sponsor a giveaway here for a Sophie the Giraffe Teether/Toy. Yay for something baby to win!!! Even though I don’t have a baby right now, I didn’t want to forget about all of you out there with precious babes. They totally deserve the cutest and safest items!

Sophie the Giraffe is made from 100% natural rubber and food paints, and is free of BPA and phthalates. Isn't she adorable?! I feel like I really missed out on this awesome teether/toy recommended for 0-12 months when my son was an infant. He never had a Sophie. I know he would have especially loved her though because she also makes a sound when squeezed.

The Glass Baby Bottles carries lots of fantastic items for babies and kids. They have a wonderful category of items for Mothering & Maternity too. Plus, they even offer something my husband likes. He's a huge fan of their 22 oz. Lifefactory Glass Beverage Bottle in Midnight Blue. Their site is completely worth checking out!

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
Sophie the Giraffe Teether/Toy.

To Enter:

1. Visit The Glass Baby Bottle then come back and tell me another product you really like. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow both @glassbabybottle and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win a Sophie the Giraffe Teether/Toy from @GlassBabyBottle! @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/42u94c4 #baby (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like The Glass Baby Bottle on Facebook. (1 Entry)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and The Glass Baby Bottle. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on July 13, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #259...McKim!

The Glass Baby Bottle is one of our continuous ad sponsors that graciously offered a giveaway. I did not receive anything for this post but the reader giveaway. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

EOS Lip Balm Smooth Sphere Summer Pack Review

2011-06-23T10:25:00.012-04:00

I adore lip balms! They are something I use everyday and all year long. Lip balm is definitely something I don’t want to be without. One thing I stick to though is using USDA certified organic lip balms. I’ve actually had my eye on eos Lip Balm Smooth Spheres for a while. I finally had the chance to try them now that the eos NEW Lip Balm Smooth Sphere Summer Pack is available.

The Summer Pack contains brand new limited edition flavors: Passion Fruit and Strawberry Sorbet. Both flavors are amazing. Eos lip balms use shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E to moisturize. They don’t contain any petrolatum or parabens. The lip balm slides on well and the round shape makes it easier to get into the corner of my lips.
I especially like that they are sphere shaped. It adds an element of fun to lip balm. Not to mention they are so much easier to find in your purse. Plus, they have a twist top which is a great feature. In my opinion, it’s better than a pull off cap. I don’t have to worry about taking a chunk off the top of my balm if I pull the cap off wrong.

I found out from eos that the lip balm spheres are BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free. They can be recycled under the #7 mixed plastic recycling code. It’s important to me to recycle and reuse as much as I can. So I was grateful to find out the lip balm spheres are recyclable.

I also want to mention that the majority of eos' lip balms are USDA certified organic. Not every eos lip balm is, but they have plenty of organic ones to choose from. So if you‘d like an organic lip balm please look for the USDA symbol on the packing or read the ingredient label. Of course, I always recommend reading ingredient labels. The eos limited edition Summer Pack is USDA certified organic and the symbol is clearly shown on the front of the box.

If you’re like me and you just have to have a lip balm for both home and for your purse, than the eos Lip Balm Smooth Sphere Summer Pack is great! You can find it for $5.99 at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target.com, or Evolutionof Smooth.com.

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the product mentioned above at no cost for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

The DivaCup Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-06-20T08:40:00.043-04:00

I first found out about The DivaCup around 6 months ago. Initially, I thought it wasn’t for me. But like a lot of other eco-friendly ideas I wasn't used to at first, I realized it could be great if I just gave it a chance. I figured if I could use toothpaste that doesn’t foam, switch to cloth diapers, and wash my laundry with soap nuts, I could certainly learn to use a menstrual cup as well. Sometimes we have to step out of our mental comfort zones to make progress in life. And I feel most things are worth giving a try to reach my eco-friendly goals.

I’ve mostly worn tampons throughout my life. They’ve always appealed to me more so than pads. When I started to become aware of the chemicals (chlorine and dioxin) that are in most traditional tampons I wanted to rethink my choice. Plus, I wanted to reduce the waste I was creating by throwing out tampons each month. It’s something I hadn’t really thought about much before finding The DivaCup.

Another advantage of using a menstrual cup is saving money. Think about how much you spend on tampons yearly. Then subtract the cost of The DivaCup which you can find for around $32.99. Also, you never run out. That’s another huge advantage of a menstrual cup. I’ve run out of tampons on occasion without any backup. No worries about that with The DivaCup. I can take a sigh of relief now.
The DivaCup is a reusable silicone cup that collects menstrual flow. It is inserted and worn internally and can be worn for 12 hours at a time. You don’t have to worry about flow absorbency since it’s non-absorbent. It covers both light to heavy flow. The only thing you need to choose is what size is for you, Model 1 or Model 2.

The first day I wore my DivaCup I was out and about all day. The stem started creating some irritation for me. It can be trimmed to remedy this issue but I wasn’t home to do so right away. I highly recommend staying home for a little while the first time you use the cup to see if you need to trim the stem. After I trimmed the stem it was much more comfortable. I still didn’t have the cup in right though so I did have leaking issues at first. It wasn't until my second cycle that I finally found my way. Part of that was by using a different fold to insert it with. I started out with the "U" fold but ended up liking the "Push Down" fold better. There are plenty of folds out there to choose from. If you’re having trouble at first, keep trying new folds until you find one you really like. Most of the time it requires more than one cycle to make the cup work best for an individual. So don’t give up if you don’t get it right on the first try.

I still like to wear a panty liner with the cup due to a very small amount of residual leaking sometimes right after removing the cup, washing, and reinserting. It’s not from the cup itself not performing. It’s from whatever escapes before reinserting. And it doesn‘t always happen. It’s mostly during heavier flow times like the first couple days of my cycle. Even though I’ve had success with using the cup I’m still fine tuning my way with it after only two cycles when it comes to that. Maybe it’s something I can remedy as I get even more familiar with my cup. In the meantime, I’m planning on getting some reusable cloth panty liners to use with my DivaCup.

The last thing I want to add is that the cup should be washed properly in between uses. It’s definitely important to have a clean cup and clean hands for for this. Besides always washing it thoroughly, I boil my DivaCup in between cycles for 5 minutes which is perfectly fine to do since it’s silicone. Using a menstrual cup is certainly worth it to keep going green and save money in the process. I'm definitely going to continue to use The DivaCup!

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win
The DivaCup in their model of choice.

To Enter:

1. Visit The DivaCup then come back and tell me something you've learned. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow both @DivaCup and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win The DivaCup! @DivaCup @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/5sbn3cf #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like The DivaCup on Facebook. (1 Entry)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and The DivaCup. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on July 7, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #144...Dealsfan32!

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with The DivaCup free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Strawesome Reusable Glass Drinking Straw Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-06-12T15:37:00.044-04:00

I've been replacing as many plastic items as I can with glass in my household. I don't have to worry about BPA, PVC, phthalates, or other toxins when it comes to glass. It's free of those chemicals and it's non-leaching to boot.

I've been using a decorative bent straw from Strawesome. It has a fun orange swirl and small blue dots that add a stylish touch to my beverages. It's made from very strong borosilicate glass — the same kind of glass Pyrex® is made from. I'm a huge fan of it as I also have a coffee mug made from borosilicate glass. That's part of the reason I was attracted to this straw. I already knew it would be able to handle hot as well as cold beverages. In addition, it's dishwasher safe because it's annealed.

I honestly hadn't used straws at home in quite some time. But now that I've found glass straws from Strawesome, I'm happy to be using straws again. I try to drink a healthy amount of water each day. I find that I drink more water when I use a straw. I'm not quite sure why that is, although it's completely true. Drinking straight from a glass, I tend to forget about drinking my water throughout the day. A straw is so much more fun and I remember. Especially when it's decorative!

Strawesome makes several different kinds of straws such as regular, bent, decorative, colored, smoothie, cocktail, bubble tea, and kid straws. I'm a big fan of the decorative straws because you can match colors to your dining decor and spice up any drink for get togethers. I also think they would make great party gifts for wedding showers or any kind of event.

And also, don't forget the best benefit of all to using glass straws — less waste! When we get a beverage while eating out somewhere we don't always think of the waste disposable straws create. It may seem like something very small to throw away a straw, but just like everything else disposable, it all adds up. That's why I like that Strawesome also offers carrying cases. You can take your reusable straws with you.

Strawesome straws are Made in the USA and carry a lifetime guarantee against breakage. If you break a straw, they will replace it. You can't beat that!

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win a
Decorative Artist's Choice Straw from Strawesome.

To Enter:

1. Visit Strawesome then come back and tell me which straw you like the best. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow both @BeStrawesome and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win a Strawesome Reusable Glass Drinking Straw! @BeStrawesome @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/3p4ggty #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like Strawesome on Facebook. (1 Entry)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Strawesome. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on June 28, 2011 at 11:59 pm ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #37...Sarah Hull!

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Living Well Blog Hop #2

2011-06-10T20:46:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the Living Well blog hop! We’d like to invite you to share a blog post about what you do to Live Well. It could be a healthy recipe, exercise tips, ideas for relaxing, getting organized, lifestyle improvements – anything that you feel makes your life better.

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Living Well Moms

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Victoria @ Mommy Is Green

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. If you don’t have a blog, please leave a comment to share what you’ve done to live well this week.

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

ReNew Life Organic Fiber Bars Review

2011-06-06T15:28:00.023-04:00

Health is important to all of us. How we feel physically effects our daily actions and moods. But it’s not often that we realize how important digestive health is to the rest of our well being. For myself, I know that if my digestive tract doesn’t feel right I also get headaches and nausea. Not to mention that I feel completely sluggish.

One person that supports the belief in digestive health is Certified Nutritional Consultant, Brenda Watson, CEO of ReNew Life. ReNew Life is a company that makes products for a healthier digestive system. They have a full line of intestinal support products including daily fiber supplements, digestive enzymes, Omega oils, probiotics, and more. Brenda had her own experience with poor health early on and was inspired to create a company based on natural healing methods. She’s now one of the nation’s leading experts on digestive health, detoxification, and internal cleansing.

I’ve been trying ReNew Life Organic Fiber Bars (shown at top) in Cranberry Craze. The first thing I want to say is that they are delicious! My husband and son also agree with me on this point. Since I don’t really like to swallow pills, and I’m not great at remembering to put powder in my drink every morning, the bars are perfect for me. They are convenient, filling, and tasty too. They contain organic fiber, fruit, and nuts to provide 14 grams of fiber in each bar. That's equal to 56% of the recommended daily allowance.

The bars contain NO preservatives, GMO’s, animal products, trans fats, cholesterol, or added sugar. The bars are:

USDA Certified Organic
Kosher
Vegan
Cold-pressed
Soy Free
Dairy Free
Raw

The ReNew Life Organic Fiber Bars come in four enticing flavors: Awesome Apple, Chocolate Dream, Cranberry Craze, Lemon Burst. They are an on-the-go snack I don’t have to feel guilty about. After a few days of having one bar a day, I started feeling better already. They certainly do keep me regular. And when I have good digestion I feel more energetic and get more accomplished. Best of all they are no-fuss. I’m very grateful these organic fiber bars are available!

If you have problems with fatigue, migraines, indigestion, brain fog, heartburn/reflux, irritable bowel, diarrhea, gas/bloating, or constipation, ReNew Life has natural products to help with those concerns. You can find Renew Life Products at Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, CVS, Walgreen’s, Rite Aid, Kroger, Publix, and online.

Brenda Watson also has a PBS special called The Road to Perfect Health. It reveals the secrets to better digestion, improving your health, overcoming chronic disease, and releasing untapped energy at any age. So be sure to check out your local PBS listings to watch her special.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Living Well Moms Blog Hop

2011-06-03T09:00:00.005-04:00

Your Living Well hosts for the week are:

Living Well Moms

Laurie @ Common Sense Homesteading

Jo @ Jo’s Health Corner

Tina @ Being Made New

Victoria @ Mommy Is Green

Living Well Blog Hop guidelines:

1. Please provide a link back to one of the Living Well host blogs in your post. Grab one of the buttons below if you like.

2. Please link to a specific post in your blog, not your blog’s home page.

3. If you link a recipe, please use real foods and avoid highly processed ingredients.

4. The hosts of the blog hop reserve the right to remove any posts that we deem inappropriate.

5. If you don’t have a blog, please leave a comment to share what you’ve done to live well this week.

Thanks for joining us in Living Well.

Loving My Glass Water Bottle

2011-05-31T16:08:00.016-04:00

I adore glass. It’s not only beautiful, it’s also non-leaching. When you think of a water bottle to take on the go, you’d probably think glass is not an option. But it is! I have a fantastic Lifefactory Glass Beverage Bottle from The Glass Baby Bottle.

The Lifefactory glass bottles are protected by a silicone sleeve. They have a twist on polypropylene (#5) plastic cap that is BPA, phthalate, and PVC free. Plus, none of the parts are made in China. The bottle is made in France and the sleeve is made in the USA.

I like how the cap has a handle on the top. That makes it really easy to carry. And there's a silicone ring on the inside of the cap to help prevent leaks. My bottle actually tipped upside down unintentionally for a while when it was in a cloth bag. There weren’t any leaks. Even with a carbonated beverage there weren’t any leaks. Not all water bottles are able to be used with carbonated beverages either. I like that I can use it for my sparking water and lime. Due to the wide mouth opening I can fit a lime wedge and ice cubes in it too.

The Lifefactory bottles can be washed in the dishwasher with or without the sleeve. The sleeve does take a little bit to get back on after washing. So I choose to take it off every so often and mostly wash it with the sleeve on.

I have the 16 oz. bottle and my husband has the 22 oz. bottle. The reason I chose the 16 oz. is because I can fit it into our car’s cup holder. My husband likes the 22 oz. because he drinks more water at a time than I do. Both are equally great!

The Glass Baby Bottle also carries Lifefactory baby bottles, sippy converter caps, 9 oz. bottle for kids, and silicone teethers. If you like the idea of glass be sure to check them out.

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the products mentioned above at no cost for review. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

SodaStream Crystal Soda Maker & Sparkling Naturals Review

2011-05-26T10:47:00.022-04:00

My husband likes to drink soda sometimes and occasionally I get a craving for it too. One of the main things I don’t like is that most soda is made with high fructose corn syrup. Also, the soda bottles tend to hang around until we get to recycling them at the store due to the 5 cent state deposit. Luckily, SodaStream is a wonderful option to help us with these problems. We’ve had the pleasure of trying their Crystal soda maker along with their Sparkling Naturals soda and MyWater flavor essences.

SodaStream soda makers do not use any electricity, batteries, or plumbing. They use a CO2 cylinder to carbonate the soda. There are no plugs to get in the way and the CO2 cylinder can be exchanged for another one at my local Bed, Bath & Beyond for around $15. The exchanged cylinders do not go to waste. They are cleaned, inspected, and refilled. The Crystal soda maker is the recipient of the 2011 Green GOOD DESIGN Award and the 2011 Housewares Design "Green House" Award. It uses a glass carafe which I love. The glass carafes can be used indefinitely as long as they don’t get any cracks in them. And in case you’re wondering, the glass carafe closure is made from ABS plastic and silicone.

Before I received my soda maker, I thought maybe the soda syrup went into the machine. But the machine carbonates the water and then you add the syrup to the carbonated water in the carafe afterward. There’s no messy clean up for the machine. I also like that you can use tap water to make the soda and that you can control how much or how little carbonation you want. I use filtered tap water for the best taste.

The Sparkling Naturals soda mixes do not contain any artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial sweeteners. They are sweetened with cane sugar and do not contain any preservatives. Each bottle of Sparkling Naturals concentrate makes 6 liters of soda. The available flavors are Apple Mango, Black Currant Pear, Cola, Ginger Ale, Green Tea, Lemon-Lime, Orange Pineapple, Pink Grapefruit, and Root Beer. The ones we think are the best are Black Currant Pear, Cola, Lemon-Lime, and Pink Grapefruit. The Lemon-Lime actually wowed us the most. As my husband said, “The Lemon-Lime is rockin’!” The only one we didn’t like that much was the Ginger Ale. It seemed like it needed more ginger. In fact, the Green Tea which we surprisingly liked tasted as if it had more of a ginger punch to it.

Even though I do get a craving for sweetened soda every now and then, I really like to drink club soda with fresh lime more often. And sometimes flavored water. That’s the beauty of this soda maker -- if you don’t want to add the soda syrup you can use the MyWater Flavor Essences or even fresh fruit as flavoring. You can have the carbonation without having to add any sugar. I tried the MyWater all-natural, unsweetened flavors in Lemon Lime, Orange, and Berry. Orange was my favorite. If you like seltzer you’ll want to add this to the carbonated water. It tastes exactly like the seltzer I’ve always been used to. I definitely prefer the flavoring this way as opposed to in water alone.

Now, my husband has his natural soda and I have my sparkling water. And all without high fructose corn syrup or several bottles hanging around. Plus, it saves money for my husband to take soda in a reusable bottle to work instead of buying an expensive soda at the store. We’ve been thrilled with our SodaStream!

For the latest from SodaStream, be sure to follow them on
their Ms. Fizz Blog, Twitter, and Facebook!

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images without permission.

Why Organic Cotton?

2011-05-25T07:55:00.016-04:00

Since people have become more aware of the dangers of pesticides and other hazardous chemicals, families have been making changes. Many concerned parents are feeding their children organic food. Many of them are also choosing to buy organic bath and body products. But what about the clothes we wear? Why should we buy organic clothing?

According to information on the Organic Trade Association's web site (www.ota.com), conventional grown cotton uses around 25 percent of the world's insecticides and around 10 percent of the world's pesticides. Not only do these toxic chemicals stay within the fabric made from the cotton, but they also leach into the ground causing contaminated water from run-off. In addition, these chemicals make their way into food products through contaminated water and products that contain cottonseed oil.

When conventional cotton is made into clothing, chemicals like flame retardants are added along with heavy-metal dyes. Manufacturing residues remain in the fabric and can absorb through the skin. Since growing bodies are much more susceptible to chemical exposures it's important to try to avoid toxic chemicals in children's clothing. This is even more essential for infants because their skin is extremely thin.

Organic cotton is such a naturally beautiful fabric. It's soft, durable, and comfortable. The reason I believe organic cotton is softer and even more beautiful than conventional cotton is because it's grown without artificial fertilizers, harmful pesticides, or other toxic chemicals. Organic cotton also lasts longer because the fibers are less processed. Not to mention that it gets even softer with washing.

One business that supports the use of organic cotton is MilliLee Designs. They make organic clothing for children such as skirts, dresses, and pajamas. They also offer cloth wipes and changing pads. Each item is handmade with quality in the USA.

My son has personally worn the Organic Fleece Pajamas from MilliLee.com. They were extra cozy for him in the winter. I especially liked how they were extremely soft and sewn with care. It gives me great confidence to know that MilliLee Designs is owned by a wife and mother of two that provides the same quality items for others that she does for her own family.

Remember that choosing to buy organic cotton is a vote for our children's future. When it comes to buying organic products, whatever the products may be, it's sending a message for change. So wrap your child in some soft organic cotton. It's something you can feel good about!

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with a MilliLee Designs product free of charge. The opinions expressed here are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

Maia's Mineral Galaxy Makeup Review & Giveaway! (8 Winners) CLOSED

2011-05-18T12:57:00.057-04:00

When it comes to makeup I expect safer ingredients as well as what is going to look the best. I’ve been wearing Maia’s Mineral Galaxy makeup for almost eight months now and that’s exactly what I’ve found. They offer mineral makeup in a great variety of colors without micronized particles, parabens, or phthalates. In addition, each item is handmade fresh when ordered. And I’m always greeted with friendly, honest answers to my questions.

Most recently, I’ve been able to try some of Maia’s Mineral Galaxy’s different Lipstick colors. I received a full size lipstick and some additional samples to wear. When I apply the lipstick it feels the same as traditional brands. There’s no adjustment period as with some natural products. It’s smooth and the color is rich. It also lasts a long time on my lips. What I like the best is the natural ingredients:

Mica, Zinc Oxide, Kaolinite, Organic Avocado Oil,
Organic Sweet Almond Oil,Sesame Seed Oil, Rosemary Oleoresin,
Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Candelilla Wax.

I understand all of the ingredients listed. There aren’t any confusing chemical names I have to look up. If I find that I have to look up some complicated ingredient, that’s when I usually pass on a product. In my eyes, this lipstick ingredient list is so much safer than what I can go to the store and buy. There’s no contest!

The colors I’ve been trying are Lusty Pink, Rose Quartz, Golden Poppy, Fiery Orange, Orchid, Soft Touch, and Ecstasy. With my very fair skin, pinks and extremely light golds look the best on me. I can go with light or dark pink depending on my eye shadow shade. My favorite lipstick colors are definitely Lusty Pink, Rose Quartz, and Orchid. I also really like Soft Touch which is almost a sheer gold. The golden glow is fantastic in combination with a darker eye shadow! Orange and deeper gold shades don’t work well with my complexion so Fiery Orange and Golden Poppy aren’t for me. But if orange and deeper gold shades look good on you, you’ll want to try these.

I definitely recommend ordering some samples because you never know what’s going to look good on you. Sometimes colors look pretty but may not go well with your skin tone once you have them on. Plus, computer monitors don’t always do justice to photos. The sample sizes may seem small but you’d truly be surprised how much you do actually get out of them. I find them totally worth it for all of their products.

Another item I’ve been using is the new Pure Silk Finishing Powder which is a translucent white. I’ve had problems with tinted powders reacting with the oils in my skin and turning them darker. That makes my face and neck two totally different shades. So I use Maia’s Mineral Galaxy’s Cream Foundation because the iron oxides are already wetted. But I still need a finishing powder to cut down on shine. I was previously using kaolin powder alone since it had no tint. It was okay but not great. I’ve been so much more impressed with the Pure Silk because it’s a lot smoother and keeps my skin matte longer. It works with any skin tone. And I find it especially helpful since I have fair skin.

If you use EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database as a guide in helping to make shopping decisions, you’ll find that Maia’s Mineral Galaxy products rate very well. I had coupled that information with reading ingredient labels and that’s when I decided to start using their makeup. Ever since I’ve been using Maia’s Mineral Galaxy’s products with great satisfaction!

WIN!!!

Eight lucky Mommy Is Green readers will win a
Gift Code from Maia's Mineral Galaxy.

Every two weeks through 7/14/11, two new winners will be picked for a Maia’s Mineral Galaxy Gift Code. On each winning date, the first winner picked will receive a $30 Gift Code, and the second winner picked will receive a $25 Gift Code. Winners will be chosen by Random.org on the follow dates:

Congratulations to the winners!

6/2/11 - #166 Suzy & #52 Maybelline
6/16/11 - #228 Karla & #196 Kittenish
6/30/11 - #78 Samantha & #185 Anne-Marie
7/14/11 - #297 ticklemetiffyyyy & #83 Dani

Once you post your entry comments they are valid through 7/14/11,
so you can win on any of the listed dates.

To Enter:

1. Visit Maia's Mineral Galaxy then come back and tell me the product you'd most like to try. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow both @Maias_Minerals and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily through 7/14/11. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win a Maia's Mineral Galaxy Gift Code (8 Winners)! @Maias_Minerals @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/6leej5n #makeup #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

6. Like Maia's Mineral Galaxy on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Maia's Mineral Galaxy. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on July 14, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Two winners will be drawn every two weeks via random.org. Once winners are drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only who are 18 years of age or older.

I did not receive any monetary compensation for this post. I was provided with the products mentioned about free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Please see Terms of Use for more information.

Sage & Kai: Eco-Friendly eReader Bag Review

2011-05-16T15:40:00.038-04:00

I’m so excited to tell you about a wonderful Etsy shop I’ve recently learned about called Sage & Kai! They offer eco-friendly products such as cosmetic bags, diaper bags, purses, iPad bags, cloth napkins, and more. Their goal for each product line is to make it with as many organic and sustainable materials as possible in addition to creating the smallest footprint. Every material is considered, including the screen print ink which is always water-based and non-toxic. And typically, everything but the thread and zippers in Sage & Kai’s line is biodegradable.

When I started searching for something to keep my eReader in, I not only wanted something eco-friendly, but I also wanted something washable. This made my search even more difficult. These two criteria would not easily be found in a store, or even on Amazon.com. When I found out about Sage & Kai I was thrilled to find they could make me exactly what I was looking for in an eReader Bag. The best surprise was that it could be stylish too!

My particular eReader Bag from Sage & Kai is Turquoise with a Branch screen print on the outside and a lovely floral print on the inside. All of the fabric is certified organic cotton made with low-impact, non-toxic dyes. It’s even padded with organic cotton batting! The outside canvas is sturdy, yet soft to the touch. And the wristlet strap makes it easy to take on the go. Did I forget to mention that the handmade quality is amazing?!

It fits any eReader up to 6.25" x 9.25". I have a Kindle 3 that’s 7.5" x 4.8". So I have a bit of extra room around my Kindle which I like. That way I have no problem taking it out of the bag. I don’t have to worry about the zipper scraping the screen and I feel like it gives the corners extra bump protection. The padding isn’t super thick but do keep in mind it is a washable bag made with organic cotton batting. For me, that far outweighs dense synthetic foams that release toxic fumes. Plus, the organic padding protects my Kindle just fine while carrying it around. The reason I wanted an eReader bag was so I didn’t have to carry my Kindle around in my purse or another bag where it might get dented or scratched. My Sage & Kai bag accomplishes just that thanks to the wrist strap.

Before I had my eReader bag I kept my Kindle wrapped up in a shirt at home to protect my screen and to keep off dust. Not exactly the best way to protect my Kindle. And while I was out I would have it wrapped up in a receiving blanket in a reusable shopping bag. That was bulky and inconvenient. I was always worried it would roll out of the receiving blanket, and my Kindle was never convenient to take out or put away. I love the convenience of the zippered eReader bag both at home and when I’m out. It fits my needs perfectly!

I also want to show you a photo of one of their awesome iPad Bags. I don't have an iPad but I think this would also make a fantastic purse too:

Sage & Kai is gradually offering new product lines that include table linens, kitchen towels, pillow covers, tooth fairy pillows and softies, pet blankets, and picnic blankets. They also take custom orders. So don’t hesitate to ask if you're looking for something special!

Sage & Kai will be at the
Seattle Green Festival on May 21-22

Don’t forget to check them out on Facebook too!

Disposing of Toxic Cleaners

2011-05-10T14:05:00.018-04:00

When I switched over to green cleaners, I couldn’t bring myself to finish using what was left of my toxic cleaners. I just didn’t want those chemicals in my environment. Some people say it’s bad for the environment not to use them up. Still it’s not something I could bring myself to do. So the cleaners sat in the same area untouched for quite a while until I could figure out what to do with them.

I knew I definitely couldn’t put them in the trash. That certainly would be harmful to the environment. Eventually, I found out about hazardous waste programs but I wasn’t sure where to find one in my area. So again my toxic cleaners sat stored away for a while. Then my county sent a flyer stating they were having a Hazardous Waste Collection Week. Bingo! After two years I was able to bring my box of dusty cleaners I didn’t want anymore to be disposed of properly. And it was more than cleaners they accepted. It was also things such as paint and fluorescent light bulbs.

Now, I also know of a site a site where you can find out about these programs in your area. It’s Earth911.com. Whether it is regular recycling, batteries, or auto parts you want to dispose of, this site will send you in the right direction for your area. I highly recommend it!

I know while doing spring cleaning it's tempting to pour cleaners down the drain or toss them in the trash to get rid of the clutter. But that only leads to water pollution. That's why I never went that route. I held on to my toxic items like carpet cleaners and spray air fresheners for a long time but it was well worth it. Now I feel good that they are disposed of properly (sigh of relief).

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images.

Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-05-09T10:43:00.016-04:00

Every morning I start out with a cup of organic coffee. I add my usual cream and sugar, but now I'm adding something else. It's Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate. It's USDA certified organic just like my coffee and my creamer. It's nice to add a little extra flavor without wondering how the flavor was made or where it came from.

The Coconut Cream Concentrate is certified organic whole coconut meat in concentrated form. There are no additives and no preservatives. It doesn't even contain water. It's just finely ground dried coconut meat from organic Philippine coconuts.

Besides making yummy coconut flavored coffee you can also make coconut milk with this product. I have always been interested in trying the coconut milks at the store, but the ingredient lists always stop me. Now I can make my own organic coconut milk without additives. It is grainy when you make it this way, so if you're interested in strained coconut milk, Tropical Traditions has a video on making coconut milk straight from dried coconut.

Also, don't forget you can cook and bake with the coconut cream concentrate as well. It's great on toast too! And you can find me eating a spoonful here and there by itself. My husband is known for doing that with the peanut butter but I dip into this.

It does take a bit to prepare the coconut cream concentrate for use. Some of the oil in the product separates on top during shipping and the bottom portion of the jar is more solid. If it's under 75 degrees, you will have to warm the coconut concentrate and mix it prior to use. It's a little bit of work but very worth the effort!

WIN IT!!!

One lucky Mommy Is Green reader will win
Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate.

To Enter:

1. Visit Tropical Traditions then come back and tell me another product you'd really like to try. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Subscribe to the Tropical Traditions Sales Newsletter. (2 Entries)

4. Follow both @Troptraditions and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

5. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Cream Concentrate from @Troptraditions & @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/6xoopqh #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

6. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

7. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

8. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post on Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

9. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Tropical Traditions. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on May 25, 2011 at 11:59 EST. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. & Canada only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winner, #68...Roshana!

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product. See Terms Of Use for more information.

Badger Sunscreen Review

2011-05-04T16:32:00.025-04:00

Even though my family and I try to stay covered and shaded as much as possible for sun protection, we also need to use sunscreen sometimes too. Of course, you know I'm not just going to pick any old sunscreen. I want to make sure to have proper UVA/UVB protection and avoid toxic chemicals at the same time. I was very thrilled to hear that one of my favorite brands, Badger, offers a variety of excellent sunscreen options. What impressed me the most is their new standards:

SPF 30+ protection (UVA and UVB)
Uses uncoated, non-nano Zinc Oxide
Biodegradable
Water resistant for at least 40 minutes
Uses naturally derived Vitamin E as the preservative
UVA protection tested as Superior 4 stars/PA+++
Certified "Contains Natural Ingredients" by the NSF
Certified Natural by the Natural products association
Earned top ratings for sunscreen by the Environmental Working Group
Meets the strict guidelines of Europe, Australia, and Japan
BPA and Phthalate free packaging (#2 recycling code)

Badger Sunscreen uses uncoated, non-nano zinc oxide to protect. Uncoated and non-nano are standards of mine when it comes to any mineral powder like zinc. Badger also now has the same high SPF while using 10% less Zinc oxide. Customers asked for non-nano particles and Badger came through. Not every company takes customer concerns seriously. I find it very refreshing that Badger does!

The Badger Sunscreen line includes SPF 30+ Lightly Scented, SPF 30+ Unscented, SPF 30+ Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30+ Sunscreen and Anti-Bug Repellent, SPF 30+ Sunscreen All Season Face Stick, SPF 15 Lightly Scented, and SPF 15 Lip Balm Stick. They also have an After Sun Balm as well.

I've been trying both the SPF 30+ Sunscreen All Season Face Stick and the SPF 15 Lip Balm Stick. I wasn't sure how I'd like a stick but I have to say that I'm loving it! It's so convenient and easy to use. Last year I found it difficult to get sunscreen on a wiggly toddler's face. With this stick I can quickly put it on certain areas and then rub it in. It's especially helpful for ears since I usually get those a goopy mess without the stick. I also find it excellent for using right before I put on my makeup. It's fast and rubs in well.

I've always been a fan of Badger Lip Balm. So I definitely had to try the SPF 15 Lip Balm Stick. I did find that I had to rub it in a little more to make it look less white at first. Once I exfoliated my lips and then applied it, it looked much better. It still is not going to be completely sheer of course because it's meant to protect your lips from the sun. But it's not pasty looking and it does glide on smooth. Just make sure your lips are not very dry like mine were.

One of my favorite things about Badger sunscreen, besides the quality ingredients of course, is that it starts working on application. There's no waiting period! I've used other natural sunscreens that have a 20 - 30 minute waiting period. It's hard for me to remember to put sunscreen on ahead of time. I usually don't think about it until right before I go outside. So I'm thrilled that this works immediately!

Badger is very transparent when it comes to discussing their products. They have such wonderful information on their web site about their sunscreens. If you have any question your bound to find the answer there. There's so much information that I couldn't fit it all here. So be sure to stop by and visit their site!

For the latest from Badger, be sure to follow them on their Twitter & Facebook pages!

Earth Mama Angel Baby Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash Review

2011-05-03T07:30:00.005-04:00

I couldn't be more particular when it comes to safer bath and body products for my family. One company I've always turned to is Earth Mama Angel Baby. I've absolutely adored their Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash with the vanilla and sweet orange scent. So when I heard about the new Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash I really wanted to see what that was like as well.

The Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash is USDA Certified Made with Organic Ingredients. It has a lovely lavender and vanilla scent from organic essential oils. I'm not usually into lavender, but paired with the vanilla I really enjoy the aroma. This product also uses castile soap which I'm a big fan of when it comes to washing or cleaning. It does not contain any synthetic foaming agents or surfactants.

I've used this wash for my son's baths, my showers, and as hand soap. It comes in a foaming pump bottle and my two-year-old gets a kick out of that. He likes me to pump out some soap on his hands so he can wash up. As far as washing his hair goes, I have no problems with keeping it sudsy in his hair. I could not be more pleased with this product for my son!

One evening I was really exhausted from a long day. I put some of this wash in my bath puff to take a shower and I felt so relaxed. Lavender especially can have that kind of effect. It was just what I needed to relax and wind down. I was surprised at how calmed I felt. So this is definitely a good product for adults as well.

As a hand soap I can really appreciate Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash. I avoid tricolsan and other unnecessary/toxic ingredients in soap. The castile soap this product contains creates suds naturally on it own and that's all you need to fight germs. It's very gentle too.

One thing I'd like to add is that sometimes you will notice a little product separation at the bottom of the bottle. I've recently noticed this with both the Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash and the Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash. That's normal for natural products since they don't contain artificial emulsifiers. So there's no need to be put off by a little ingredient separation. All you need is a few shakes of the bottle and you're all set.

Earth Mama Angel Baby also has a Natural Non-Scents Hand to Toe Wash if you prefer an unscented soap. On top of that, they also have products for pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding and baby loss. And I highly recommend their Organic Monthly Comfort Tea (see review). It's done wonders for me!

Right now you can get %20 off
Earth Mama Angle Baby Soaps with coupon code: HandtoToe20

To keep up with the latest news and offers from Earth Mama Angel Baby, be sure to follow them onTwitter & Facebook.

We Canceled Cable

2011-04-28T07:43:00.018-04:00

Last month I took over the family budget. My husband was taking care of it but I decided I wanted to take a closer look. As I wrote out all of our bills including due dates and amounts, I was floored by our cable bill. It consisted of both Internet and cable but it was the cable part that made me uneasy.

Granted, we did have a couple of extras on our cable like DVR and Showtime. Since our favorite Showtime series were over by this time of year we were set on canceling that. But I truly had do decide about the rest of it which was $80 a month since we had a digital package.

What happened was that we had an introductory rate of $79 a month for Internet and Digital Cable together. To me that's a very good deal and I was fine with that. Of course, once the one year mark passed we were charged more. Much more.

Last year at some point we started using Netflix. I love the instant streaming capability. We use our Netflix a lot. So I started to think, "Why do we even need cable?" We watch TV series on Netflix all of the time so it seemed unnecessary to pay for so much for cable.

My husband went out and bought us a TV antenna (we already had a digital tuner in our TV). We hooked up the antenna and are now receiving about 30 digital channels for free. Some of them repeat themselves. Like the same news channel is on three different stations (e.g.: 10, 10.1, 10.2). It was time for the evening news last night when we first set up the antenna. So I have yet to see if different shows are on each of those channels when it's not a typical news time. Either way, a lot of the shows we watch are on the main channels that are picked up by the antenna. And they don't cost us anything.

I do have to admit though that I'm going to terribly miss my DVR! My husband and I have been discussing other options for that but right now I'm going to live without. What I won't miss is overpaying for cable. I read a lot more than anything now anyway. That's what made the decision of canceling cable easier. That and being able to put the savings in other places we need it in our budget.

©MommyIsGreen.net - Do not copy text or images.

Bambo Nature Eco-Friendly Disposable Diapers Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

2011-04-25T09:34:00.051-04:00

I'm a cloth diapering mom, but sometimes I do use disposables in certain situations. So it's important that I have a greener option when using disposables. Bambo Nature offers eco-friendly disposable diapers that account for the impact on the environment from the beginning of production to the end, and beyond that. Their diapers are the only ones to carry the Nordic Swan Eco-Label.

Their products are free of the following:

In addition, no optical brighteners, perfumes, lotions, or odor eliminators are used in producing their products. And their absorbent core uses less SAP as well.

Traditional disposable diapers contain chemicals I don't feel comfortable putting next to any child's skin. Not to mention that they aren't looking as closely at their energy consumption and creation of waste. These are things that Bambo Nature looks closely at and cares about. Their carrier bags reduce CO2 emissions by using recycled plastic and their diapers are 75% biodegradable. Bambo Nature provides lots of information regarding their quality management and environmental impact on their web site for consumers to view. That's something I can appreciate.

Since my son is now potty training were able to try both the Bambo Nature Diapers and the Training Pants. We use the diapers for naps and overnight, and the training pants for the rest of the time.

The first thing I liked about the Diapers is that they don't have a scent. Often times the smell of many traditional disposables overwhelm me with their fragrance. I think the fragrance is unnecessary and I avoid phthalates so no scent is better. The diapers are also extremely absorbent and I wasn't disappointed with them at all. In fact, I believe they absorb better than any other disposable I've tried. Plus, they seem more breathable as well. I couldn't be more pleased with these for nap and bed times.

The Training Pants are equally as absorbent. Since my son is in the beginning stages of potty training, he usually goes, then sits on the potty. He hasn't yet realized how to wait when he feels the need to go. We're working on that. So in the meantime the trainers enable him to learn how to pull them down like underwear even if he doesn't make it to the potty on time. And even if he pees in them more than once it's no problem. I also like the fact that you can tear the sides to take them off. That makes things a lot easier if there's a mess.

Coupon Code: Get 10% off when you enter mommyisgreen at checkout -

http://www.bambo-nature.com/

Or you can click on the image above that says SAVE 10% for automatic savings!

WIN IT!!!

Six Mommy Is Green readers will win!

Two will win the Grand Prize -
1 Case of Bambo Nature Diapers

Four will win the Runners Up Prize -
1 Bag of Bambo Nature Diapers

The Grand Prize winners will be chosen by the best answers
and the Runners Up will be chosen by Random.org.

To Enter:

1. Visit Bambo Nature then come back and tell me (minimum of 2 sentences) why you are interested in using their eco-friendly diapers. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow both @bambonature and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win Bambo Nature Eco-Friendly Disposable Diapers (6 Winners)! @bambonature @mommyisgreen http://tinyurl.com/43znddx #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like Bambo Nature on Facebook. (1 Entry)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

8. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

9. Comment on any non-giveaway blog post here at Mommy Is Green. (1 Entry)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Bambo Nature. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on May 11, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Grand Prize winners will be chosen via the best answers and the Runners Up will be chosen by Random.org. Once winners are chosen I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I choose new winners. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winners!

Grand Prizes:

#185 - Alisha L.
#224 - Michelle

Runners Up:

#41 - Amylynn
#312 -gnwg
#11 - HiHoRosie
#130 - Kimberly

Earth Day: Try Something New

2011-04-21T11:22:00.020-04:00

There are lots of great things to do for Earth Day. Some are easy going while others require you to come out of your comfort zone a little bit. Over the past three years I've encountered both scenarios several times by working on living a more eco-friendly life. I'd like to share some of the transitions I've made. These were all new to me as an adult. I didn't grow up living a green life. So each time I tried something new I felt I was taking a step forward. I hope you'll find something that inspires you this Earth Day!

Some eco-friendly things I've started doing over the last three years:

1. Using essential oils to freshen the air instead of candles or products that contain synthetic fragrances (phthalates).

2. Swapping traditional soaps that contain synthetic ingredients like triclosan for castile soap.

3. Giving up store-bought bottled water for filtered water in a reusable bottle.

4. Bringing reusable (washable too) bags shopping.

5. Cloth diapering for the majority.

6. Using soap nuts to wash my laundry.

7. Replacing paper towels with washable rags most of the time.

8. Switching my toxic cleaners for more natural ones (e.i., using oxygen bleach in place of chlorine bleach).

9. Consuming and buying less. If I don't really need it I don't take it home.

10. Buying stainless steel, glass, or wood instead of plastic whenever possible when a new item is needed.

Of course, I also recycle and buy organic food. My journey does span beyond this list but since this is an eco-friendly based blog, you know you'll hear more from me about going green.

Since I'm always working on making a green life, today I'd like to take a walk outside and soak in all that this beautiful earth has to offer. I'm going to breathe fresh air and take time to notice things I don't always slow down to see. Caring for the planet has many rewards. We can all enjoy these together now and in the future with some effort.

What are some of your favorite ways to go green?
Do you have anything planned for Earth Day?

Dear Hubby, Get Your Own Kindle

2011-04-18T09:09:00.014-04:00

My husband doesn't read much besides online articles. So at the point I bought my Kindle I didn't think he'd be interested in it at all. I started by putting books on my Kindle followed by some games like Scrabble. That's when my Kindle became intriguing to my husband.

The first time he asked if I was planning to use my Kindle one evening I said no, even though I was planning to use it. I thought it was nice he had an interest in something I liked a lot. So I let him use it and I found something else to do. The next time he asked I honestly wasn't planning on reading. I had no problem sharing the device with him and I handed it over with a smile.

Then came the asking when I actually was planning on reading or playing games. Of course, I eventually started saying, "Yes, I'm using the Kindle tonight." He gets very disappointed when I'm going to use it and he wants to. I always feel bad but I like to wind down and relax by reading. I keep telling him, "Get your own Kindle!" This is jokingly of course.

One day hubby came home to tell me that the Kindle price was going to be lowered because they were adding an edition with advertisements. I personally would find that annoying but I thought it would be nice if it enabled him to get one. Unfortunately, the ad version of the Kindle was only lowered to $114 from $139 (for the WiFi Only version). I was hoping it'd be more like $75 due to the ads. Otherwise, I'd rather spend an extra $25 not to be bothered. But $114 doesn't fit our budget (I saved gift money in order to buy mine) and I don't think hubby will be getting his own Kindle any time soon. Bummer!

Occasionally, he'll ask to use my Kindle on a Saturday or Sunday right before I step into the shower. If I'm going to shower and do my make up and hair he has plenty of time to play games. Otherwise, he's mostly out of luck. Lol! But I'm still hoping he'll be able to get his own Kindle at some point.

©MommyIsGreen.net - DO NOT COPY text or images.

NutsOnline Organic Easter Candy & Snacks Review

2011-04-14T08:33:00.042-04:00

Easter is coming! Like any other parent I'm putting together an Easter basket for my son. I always prefer organic candy and holidays are no exception. One place I've found a variety of organic candy and healthy treats is NutsOnline. They offer organic jelly beans, gummies, nuts, dried fruit, hard candies, and chocolate covered goodies! Whether you want organic, raw, vegan, or gluten-free, there seems to be something for everyone. Their products range from traditional candy to healthy snacks.

I always prefer candy that is free of artificial colors, flavors and dyes. I also look for candy to be pesticide-free and GMO-free too. So I can't just grab a pre-made Easter Basket from the grocery store. Instead, I opt to select individual organic items and put them in a reusable basket, bag, or container. It gives me a chance to be creative and feel good about every item.

I've been trying some tasty USDA certified organic treats from NutsOnline. These are all fantastic for Easter:

Organic Gummy Bears - These Yummy Earth Organic Gummy bears come in Pomegranate Pucker, Tangy Tangerine, and Sour Apple Tart. Kids love gummy bears because they are cute and chewy. Sometimes when I give my son a few gummy bears he lines them up one by one before he eats them. He has lots of fun with this treat!

Organic Lollipops - Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops are my son's favorite candy. It's hard to go wrong with these lollipops because they come in awesome flavors such as Googly Grape, Strawberry Smash, Tooberry Blueberry, Very Very Cherry, Sour Apple Tart, Pomegranate Pucker, Wet-Face Watermelon, and Mango Tango. Not only are they organic but they are certified Kosher. Lollipops are so convenient to put in my purse to go, so that's another reason my son is getting these for Easter.

Assorted Organic Drops - Since I absolutely adore my son's lollipops, I like to get these drops because they share a few of the same tasty flavors plus some different ones. The assorted mix contains flavors like Blood Orange Cocktail, Strawberry Smash, TooBerry Blueberry, Very Very Cherry, Sour Apple Tart, Pomegranate Pucker, Wet-Face Watermelon, and Mango Tango. I have to admit that Mango Tango is at the top of my list. And just like the lollipops these are easy to grab and take along anywhere. Older kids would enjoy these a lot.

Organic Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans - This is a favorite of mine and a total treat! I love both dark chocolate and espresso. What a perfect combination! I mean, us parents need some Easter goodies too right? I've had chocolate covered espresso beans before but never organic ones. To tell the truth, these taste even better. Once I start eating them it's hard to stop. The chocolate coupled with the crunch of the espresso been is so scrumptious!

Organic Simply Strawberries - There's something about freeze dried fruit that gives it an extra sweet taste. It is a crunchy snack but I prefer to let the strawberries melt in my mouth. My son grabs and eats them like they won't be there tomorrow. And they might not be! It's not long before he asks me for more. I'm happy to give them to him too. Freeze dried strawberries are great alone as a snack, or added to cereal or trail mix. As I do limit his candy intake I'd have no problem always saying yes to these strawberries.

My son doesn't get candy often at all, so I like to make sure holiday candy is a special treat for him. And adding some options like dried fruit or nuts to his Easter Basket is fantastic along with a nice wooden toy or two. That way it's not all candy, but other organic snacks and treats as well. I think a good mix of everything is what makes an Easter Basket fun.

I can't believe just how many choices there are at NutsOnline.com. Whether it's candy, nuts, seeds, energy squares, or baking powders you're looking for, chances are they have it. I'm so happy I can get so much in just one place without having to run around to several stores trying to locate what I want for Easter or any other time.

For the latest from NutsOnline, be sure to follow them on
their Blog, Twitter & Facebook!

Wordless Wednesday: To My Dear Sister... Lol!

2011-04-13T08:38:00.004-04:00

While shopping one day I came across this decorative piece. When I read what it said I couldn't help but take a picture and send it off to my sister. I know it's a terrible cell phone photo so I'll write out what it says:

I smile because you're my Sister.

I laugh because there is Nothing you can do about it.

My sister and I have always been very different from one another. So I found this very amusing and so did she!

Whole Foods Market - Podcasts for Earth Month

2011-04-07T15:57:00.040-04:00

To celebrate Earth Month, Whole Foods Market is hosting a three part podcast series on the environmental initiatives that set them apart. The podcasts will include information on their organic body care standards, greener packaging, and the carefully evaluated ingredient standards for their Premium Body Care® products.

Here's the schedule and information for each podcast:

Truly Organic Body Care - April 5

With its guidelines for organic personal care, Whole Foods Market is working toward ensuring that “organic” means organic in every aisle of its stores. Listen in as Joe Dickson, global quality standards coordinator with Whole Foods Market shares about the company’s efforts to protect the organic standard for shoppers, suppliers and planet.

Responsible Packaging in Whole Body - April 10

Did you know that nearly one-third of all municipal solid waste in the U.S. is packaging? Learn about the changes being made to Whole Body product packaging to help reduce environmental impact. Jim McConnell is store supplies and services specialist for the Rocky Mountain region and co-chair of the Whole Foods Market Responsible Packaging Task Force.

Premium Body Care® Quality Standards - April 15

Products carrying the Premium Body Care symbol are the most exceptional personal care products available. They meet the strictest standards for quality sourcing, environmental impact, results and safety. Enjoy this introductory video on how Premium Body Care allows shoppers to “be good to your whole body.”

You can find the Earth Month podcasts here at -
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/whole-body-podcast/

So far, the Truly Organic Body Care podcast has been posted and it's a very informative listen. The podcast talks about how Whole Foods Market is changing their standards for what can be labeled organic on their shelves. They are taking extra care that products are labeled properly for USDA certification, NSF certification, and "made with organic ingredients" standards. Starting June 1st, Whole Foods Market is raising the bar to make sure "organic" truly means organic throughout every aisle. That's something to look forward to!

For the latest from Whole Foods Market, be sure to follow them on their Blog, Twitter and Facebook.

I will be receiving a Whole Foods Market gift card for this post.
All opinions expressed are my own. Please see Terms of Use for more information.

Review: More on Maia's Mineral Galaxy Makeup

2011-04-06T09:22:00.058-04:00

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Maia's Mineral Galaxy. They have quality, non-toxic products that are handmade fresh per order. Plus, their items don't contain any micronized particles or synthetic dyes and fragrances. I like their makeup so much that almost every bit of makeup I use is their brand.

Since my last Maia's Mineral Galaxy review, some new items have been added to their site. So if you haven't visited them since my last post you'll want to check out their site again. Here are some of the latest items I've tried:

Twist Pen Lip Gloss -What can I say except I LOVE it! I chose the Pink Crystal color and it is everything I thought it would be. It's shiny, sparkly, and not sticky at all. Not to mention that Pink Crystal is the perfect shade when it comes to my light complexion. With the twist pen I can adjust to get the exact amount of lip gloss I need without feeling like I'm overdoing it. I wasn't using lip gloss for quite some time before. But now I'm back to it and the Twist Pen Lip Gloss goes everywhere with me!

Mineral Glow - Sometimes a girl needs a little highlight on her face. That's why I'm totally liking the Mineral Glow in Angelic. It is a very light pink with shimmer (my computer screen totally does not do it justice). One way that I use this is by adding it to the inner corner of my eyes (like shown here). This gives my eyes a perky awake look. The mineral glow is fantastic for this! I also use it to highlight my brow bone and cheeks. On days that I don't have much time to do my makeup I use this and lip gloss, then I'm out the door. If I don't have time for much, I certainly have time for a little pick-me-up glow!
Whether we choose to wear makeup or not, we still need to take care of our skin to keep it looking good, right? I cleanse, tone and moisturize, but now I've added an Herbal Facial Steam - Floral Pore Cleanser to my routine. This is for use twice a month to detox facial skin and fight the free radicals that cause aging. It is made with organic chamomile flowers, organic comfrey leaf, organic rose petals, organic calendula flowers, and organic sweet orange oil. It smells absolutely amazing! As soon as I opened the mail package from Maia's Mineral Galaxy I could smell the wonderful herbs and sweet orange oil. What I like is that I don't need any kind of special steamer for this. All I had to do was boil, steep, make a tent with a towel, and splash with warm then cold water. It's very refreshing!

To see my other reviews on Maia's Mineral Galaxy:
cream foundation, eye shadow, lipstick, lotion, plus more...click here.

Pentel Recycology Eco-Friendly Writing Instruments Review & Giveaway (4 Winners) CLOSED

2011-04-04T08:24:00.053-04:00

I am the kind of person that needs to see things written out on tangible paper. I keep a tangible calendar for such things as bills, appointments and blog post dates. I do have one rule for myself though: If I'm going to use tangible items (versus electronic only) to keep track of my daily life, they must be made from recycled materials. For a while I have been using recycled paper notebooks and calendars. Now I also have writing utensils that are made from recycled materials, and refillable as well, thanks to Pentel of America.

Pentel has a new line of products called Recycology. It includes writing instruments such as pens, pencils, highlighters, and markers. Each item in this line includes 50% to 100% recycled material. These items don't cost any more than their regular products. And as far as style goes, you won't be missing out on the cool looks of their regular products either.
There are so many great choices in this line so I'm going to go ahead and list my favorites:

Handy Line S Highlighter - Retractable and refillable highlighter made from 54% post consumer recycled plastic. I have to admit that I really like not having to deal with a cap.

Sign Pen - Fiber tip pen with water-based ink. Made from 80% recycled plastic. This has a very soft tip that's very smooth for writing.

Jolt Pencil - Click and shake lead advance. Refillable lead and eraser. Made from 59% recycled plastic. Shaking the pencil resulting in the lead coming out of the tip is cool!

Slicci - Extra fine tip (0.25mm) for journaling or drawing in fine detail. Made from 87% recycled plastic. This is my fun purple pen!

Pentel R.S.V.P. RT - Retractable style with latex-free grip. It has a stainless steel tip and is refillable. This is the pen I use for writing on my calendar or in my weekly planner. There's something very classic about it to me. It seems plain to look at it, but it's my favorite!

As you can see, most of my favorites are the refillable items. Pentel has a lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship. Quality means you can keep refilling, which leads to less waste!

The only product that didn't seem to work well for me was the Rolling Writer. It didn't keep a constant smooth line and didn't write well on paper that was directly on a hard surface. But I also has trouble getting the ink out at first, so it could have been that individual pen.

Earth Day is coming!!! If you know of an office or a school that is looking for a new way to go green, the Recycology line would be a great option to help reduce waste. Using recycled and refillable writing instruments is an easy way to make a difference for our planet. Every bit helps!

WIN IT!!!

FOUR lucky Mommy Is Green readers will win a
Pentel Recycology Prize Pack ($25 value).

To Enter:

1. Visit Pentel Recycology then come back and tell me your favorite product or which product you would like to try out. This is mandatory and must be done before the extra entries count.

Extra Entries (The mandatory entry must be completed first before any of these count. Please create a separate comment for each extra entry):

2. Follow me through Google Friend Connect. (1 Entry)

3. Follow both @PentelofAmerica and @mommyisgreen on Twitter. Leave your Twitter ID in comment. (1 Entry)

4. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter. You can do this once daily. Put a link to your tweet in a comment here (click the date/time on the bottom left of your tweet to get link). You can copy and paste: Win a Pentel Recycology Writing Utensils Prize Pack (4 Winners)! @mommyisgreen @PentelofAmerica http://tinyurl.com/3blc4uh #giveaway (1 Entry Per Day)

5. Like Pentel of America on Facebook. (1 Entry)

6. Like Mommy Is Green on Facebook. (1 Entry)

7. Let me know what you're doing to go green for Earth Day. (1 Entry)

8. Add the Mommy Is Green button to your sidebar. ( 2 Entries)

9. Subscribe to Mommy Is Green through email. (2 Entries)

10. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to Mommy Is Green and Pentel Recycology. Leave a comment with your web site address. (3 Entries)

This giveaway will end on April 20, 2011 at 11:59 ET. Winner will be drawn via random.org. Once a winner is drawn I will contact them and they will have 48 hours to reply before I draw a new winner. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only who are 18 years of age or older.

Congratulations to the winners!!!

#95 Ashley

#132 Maybelline - Naturalmente Mama

#23 moonsword

#143 California Monkey Momma

Mommy Is Green

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

The Glass Baby Bottle: Wildkin Nap Mat Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Maia's Mineral Galaxy: NEW Products!

Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Fair Trade Finder App Review & Fair Trade Gift Bag Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Enjoying Some Organic Pumpkin Pie Tea While Contemplating Loose Tea Water Temperature

Book Review: Super Immunity by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

I Recycle My Toothbrushes Through the Mail

I Won Something from the EcoScrapbook Blog

Reusable Organic Cotton Balls/Rounds

Nicki's Diapers: Planet Wise Mini Wet/Dry Bag Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Party In My Pants Cloth Pads Review

alex+von: $25 e-Gift Card & Suki Skin Care Kit Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Eco Sprout Cloth Diaper Detergent Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Organic Facial Care Products

Washable Organic Cotton Purse

Naked Binder Review: Think Recycled for School Supplies

Translate a Blog, Make a Friend

Magnolia Organics Bedding Review

Organic Bath & Body Products I'm Using

Two Year Blogiversary

Grateful Body Skin Care Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Eco-Friendly Tip: Pass on Your Children's Clothes

The Glass Baby Bottle: Sophie the Giraffe Teether/Toy Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

EOS Lip Balm Smooth Sphere Summer Pack Review

The DivaCup Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Strawesome Reusable Glass Drinking Straw Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Living Well Blog Hop #2

ReNew Life Organic Fiber Bars Review

Living Well Moms Blog Hop

Loving My Glass Water Bottle

SodaStream Crystal Soda Maker & Sparkling Naturals Review

Why Organic Cotton?

Maia's Mineral Galaxy Makeup Review & Giveaway! (8 Winners) ***CLOSED***

Sage & Kai: Eco-Friendly eReader Bag Review

Disposing of Toxic Cleaners

Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Badger Sunscreen Review

Earth Mama Angel Baby Calm & Clean Hand to Toe Wash Review

We Canceled Cable

Bambo Nature Eco-Friendly Disposable Diapers Review & Giveaway (***CLOSED***)

Earth Day: Try Something New

Dear Hubby, Get Your Own Kindle

NutsOnline Organic Easter Candy & Snacks Review

Wordless Wednesday: To My Dear Sister... Lol!

Whole Foods Market - Podcasts for Earth Month

Review: More on Maia's Mineral Galaxy Makeup

Pentel Recycology Eco-Friendly Writing Instruments Review & Giveaway (4 Winners) ***CLOSED***

My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

The Glass Baby Bottle: Wildkin Nap Mat Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Annmarie Gianni Skin Care Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Fair Trade Finder App Review & Fair Trade Gift Bag Giveaway (CLOSED)

Nicki's Diapers: Planet Wise Mini Wet/Dry Bag Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

alex+von: $25 e-Gift Card & Suki Skin Care Kit Giveaway (CLOSED)

Eco Sprout Cloth Diaper Detergent Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Grateful Body Skin Care Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

The Glass Baby Bottle: Sophie the Giraffe Teether/Toy Giveaway (CLOSED)

The DivaCup Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Strawesome Reusable Glass Drinking Straw Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Maia's Mineral Galaxy Makeup Review & Giveaway! (8 Winners) CLOSED

Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Bambo Nature Eco-Friendly Disposable Diapers Review & Giveaway (CLOSED)

Pentel Recycology Eco-Friendly Writing Instruments Review & Giveaway (4 Winners) CLOSED