The Winner of our EcoSMART Organic Lawn & Garden Value Pack Giveaway!

Thank you again to the great team at EcoSMART for partnering with us on this giveaway for an awesome Plant and Garden Value Pack of people- and pet-safe pest killers, made from organic essential oils.  Here are the results of our Random.org drawing:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2010-02-28 21:01:20 UTC

Congratulations to Baby Sweetness!  Your home and garden will be extra green, this spring :) (And I hope EcoSMART is the solution to your ant problem.)  Please check your e-mail, so we can make arrangements to get your prize pack out to you.

Thank you again to our entrants.  I hope everyone will keep their eyes open for this wonderful, safe alternative to conventional repellents and pest control, which is available in several major chain stores.  

Enjoy your Sunday, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics closing ceremonies tonight :)

Product Review: The Goodbyn Lunch Box

Our family is always looking for ways to be eco-friendly (we wouldn't be the Green Organic family, if we didn't) ;)  We successfully navigated babyhood, and reduced our landfill waste by choosing cloth diapers and training pants.  Mission accomplished!  But what's the next biggest source of trash, after diapers?  My guess would be school lunches.

Green Organic Girl attends all-day preschool, and at age three, she was already bringing a packed lunch and snacks, five days a week.  We love her preschool, and especially the healthy eating rules, like the avoidance of the four "C's": no cookies, no chocolate, no cake, no candy. We plan to continue that trend, when Green Organic Girl starts big-girl school in the fall.

Avoiding sugary treats in lunch boxes is actually quite easy.  In our weekly share of organic produce from our buying club, there are always some of my daughter's favorites: ripe, local Florida strawberries, juicy cherry tomatoes, crispy bell peppers, baby-cut carrots, crunchy cucumber, etc.).  These are all healthy, tasty, and easy-to-eat finger foods, that readily pack well into lunch boxes.  Accompanying her fruit and veggies are always a tube of Stonyfield Farm YoKids organic yogurt, and some cheese, for protein and calcium.  Add a small handful of organic crackers, and that's a delicious variety of snacks that my daughter really loves.  

After deciding what to bring, the next problem in packing lunches is the transporting.  Lunch bags all have a finite amount of space, and while we buy in bulk whenever we can, and try to avoid extra packaging (like, from individually wrapped single portions), we ultimately need something to store these snacks in.  We've tried to minimize our use of little plastic sandwich baggies, which ultimately get thrown away; creating landfill waste.  But reusable containers can quickly take up all the available space in a lunch box, and there's the issue of lids getting misplaced.  We've also tried reusable sandwich wraps, but they're not quite suited to small items, like teeny little duck-shaped cheese crackers, and they're not transparent.  We all know we eat with our eyes, as much as with our mouths.  If Green Organic Girl can't see what's inside, she may not open it.  We needed a better option for portable food storage.

In addition, we have a climate-related problem, living here in the very humid Florida Keys.  We've now gone through two fabric-lined lunch boxes, to try to avoid exposure to the lead that may leach from PVC-lined lunch bags.  Unfortunately, no amount of airing out, washing, and exposure to the sun prevented this big issue: mold.  We unfortunately, had to throw away two lunch bags already, due to mold growing on the fabric.  Avoiding PVC is one thing, but tossing out functioning lunch bags due to mold is not an eco-friendly solution.

Lucky for us, an amazing and totally adorable lunch solution awaited us: the Goodbyn.  We instantly fell in love with this innovative lunch box; USA-made with solid, molded, non-leaching plastic (and solid plastic for us means no mold growth).  This hard-case lunch box takes after the bento box design of Japanese lunch boxes.  Growing up in an Asian household, I had a few beloved bento boxes, and the compartments were just the coolest thing :)

The Goodbyn is so functional, yet simple to use.  The whole box is comprised of only two pieces; the base tray, and the lid.  All the little compartments are built in, and there are no little pieces to lose.  Everything seals in shut; safely tucked away in its own compartment, and separated from the rest of the food in the box.  Fruits stay moist and juicy, crackers stay dry, and your sandwich won't get squished, or come apart.  Just open the lid, and voila!  Your healthy lunchtime smorgasbord awaits.  My daughter loves sampling a little bit of everything on her plate when she sits down to eat (lucky for me), and her Goodbyn lets her do exactly that at lunchtime.  She can see everything in front of her, and easily move from one item to the next, without having to open extra packages and containers.

We are very pleased with our Goodbyn.  I love that it has a simple, yet functional and sturdy design.  It's also USA-made from food-grade plastic, that is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates.  As the base is one single molded piece, there are no impossible-to-clean nooks and crannies, and the whole thing, even when decorated with the assortment of 275 stickers, can safely go in the dishwasher.  (However, if your dishwasher is anything like mine, a greasy film still remains on all plastic items, so we just hand-wash them instead.  The whole thing washes up very easily, and air-dries in the dish rack.)  The stickers are just too cool, and with 275 options, including everything from eyes and ears to tails, a multitude of upper- and lower-case letters, and other odds and ends, your child can truly make this lunch box their own custom creation.  Ours is a pink box, boasting green, square-shaped eyeglass frames, a big red clown nose, a mermaid tail, and assortment of food.  A true work of art ;)  I also love that at the end of its useful life, the Goodbyn can go straight into the recycle bin.  There's even a sticker of a recycle symbol ;)  I think it's wonderful that there was also so little outer packaging, when the product arrived.  Just a partial  cardboard sleeve, coming from an FSC-certified Washington-based printer; printed with vegetable-based inks, on recycled material.  I really like the extra thought put into the design of the closure of the cardboard sleeve; allowing the whole thing to seal itself, with no tape or glue!  Now that is smart, eco-friendly thinking :)

In researching for this purchase, I did come across some reviews from other parents, describing some minor issues with the Goodbyn.  The first was the opening and closing of the unit, and ensuring a tight fit with the lid. Thankfully, Goodbyn enclosed a little pamphlet with diagrams on how to best close the box.  The trick to opening the box is to start from the "ears".  Once the "head" is free, I use my fingers under the lid to gently pop the lid loose.  Very simple!  Closing it requires a few strategic presses, but what reusable plastic container doesn't?  The trick here is to start from the middle, and if your child is doing this, have them stand up, with the Goodbyn laying on a flat surface at waist level, for a little more leverage.  Two presses directly under the eyes, then under the nose, and then at the bottom.  Then press all around the outer perimeter, to make sure the outer edges have sealed.  It's actually quite quick and easy.  Even my four-and-a-half year old can do this :)

The second issue I came across in reviews, is with the accompanying drink bottle.  Many parents expressed frustration with the tab on the lid, that just will not stay closed.  Ours wouldn't close at all.  I sent a comment into Goodbyn via their website, inquiring about this lid issue, and within hours, I received a very kind reply.  Goodbyn is well aware of issues with opening/closing the unit, and the bottle top as well.  To address these issues, Goodbyn has worked with their manufacturer, and there will be a new line coming out in March 2010.  The Goodbyn rep was kind enough to offer to send me a replacement bottle from this new line, in a matching color for our lunch box.  It was refreshing, experiencing great customer service, backing a great product. 

My final concern with the Goodbyn had to do with food safety, and keeping cold food cold.  This is actually when the compartments come in very handy.  Green Organic Girl already has several small gel cold packs by Boo Boo Buddy, which are PVC-free, and filled with non-toxic gel.  They also come in the cutest shapes, like pets and other animals.  They stay soft and flexible, even when frozen.  They're meant for soothing bumps and bruises, but these are also just the right size to fit in the sandwich compartment, and top compartment, to keep sandwiches, yogurt containers, cheese, and beverages cold.  I stocked up on a few extra Boo Boo Buddies for this purpose.  However, in future versions of the Goodbyn, I would really like to see perhaps some type of double-walled construction, kind of like those found in some sippy cups.  That would help maintain the temperature within the compartment, as long as it stays closed.  Perhaps some type of form-fitted gel-filled removable insert for those larger compartments would work as well.  I'm sure the innovative team behind Goodbyn will come up with some great solutions.

All in all, we are extremely pleased with our Goodbyn.  For us, it was a smart and fun eco-friendly choice.  We're also glad to be supporting a domestic company, that truly stands by its product, and our planet.  The makers of Goodbyn proudly participate in 1% for the Planet, a program for businesses, committed to keeping the Earth healthy.  We look forward to enjoying lots of yummy, healthy lunches with our Goodbyn, and we're glad to see another option soon to be available for older kids, called the "Too Cool For Ears" option.  Hmm... I think I may have to pick up one of those for myself ;)

No promotional consideration was paid for this post.  This is a review of a personal purchase.
Images courtesy of Goodbyn.com.

Product Review: Tumaro's Gourmet Organic Flour Tortillas

Our family is always big on enjoying fresh flavors in our food. Thanks to the great people over at Tumaro's Gourmet Tortillas, we have a new way to enjoy all the wonderful organic produce that we pick up from our buying club each week. 

We were treated with samples of the newest line of tortillas from Tumaro's; a Santa Monica, California-based company, that began a mission back in 1994 to create the healthiest options for tortillas, made from whole grains, and infused with natural flavors. This new line is all organic, and that is clearly evident in the first bite.  These organic wraps didn't have that dry, floury texture of some supermarket brands, and what surprised me, was that they didn't have that unpleasant tangy aftertaste, which must come from the preservatives in conventional wraps.  The Tumaro's organic tortillas tasted pure and wholesome.  They each had plenty of flavor on their own; not dry and bland like most other brands.

There were so many flavors to choose from, we didn't know where to start!  We got to try samples of each of these wonderful organic wraps:

• Organic Jalapeño & Cilantro
• Organic Honey Wheat
• Organic Garden Herb
• Organic Multi Grain
• Organic Premium White

Each came in handy resealable packages, and recipes on the back.  We enjoyed these both hot, and cold.  They made for a wonderful breakfast; encasing organic scrambled eggs, à la Julia Child, with a little smear of safflower mayonnaise, some crispy bacon, and slices of fresh organic tomato, and perfectly ripened organic Hass avocado.  My favorite wrap for this purpose was the Organic Jalapeño & Cilantro.  The flavors just came together incredibly well.  At first, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy this flavor, as I do like spicy foods, but not the bitter aftertaste that typically comes with jalapeños.  When I did finally try this variety, I was in for a pleasant surprise.  There was just enough hint of the jalapeño to add a little extra dimension to the flavors, without overpowering everything with heat.  Just the perfect balance, if you ask me, and probably my favorite of the whole line :)

My daughter enjoyed several ham-and-cheese, and turkey wraps, made from these organic tortillas.  She gobbled up each one, with a smile.  Tumaro's gets the kid-approved stamp ;)  I think these will make for very handy alternatives to bread, when we're packing lunches. We won't have to worry about soggy bread by the time lunch hour rolls around.

Tumaro's Gourmet Organic Tortillas are USDA organic, and proudly certified by the American Heart Association.  These make a great healthy alternative to bread, as they are low in fat, high in fiber, and contain no artificial flavors, cholesterol, trans fats, preservatives, or lactose.  They also contain no casein milk protein (great for me) :)

Tumaro's are available in several of the large chain stores, and I'm hoping to see this organic line available on Amazon.com soon, to join the other wonderful wraps, also made by Tumaro's.

Do pick up a pack of these at your local store, and enjoy the delicious, organic difference :)

No promotional consideration was paid for this post.  This is a review of free samples from the manufacturer.

Movie Review: Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution

It's grocery shopping day here.  Green Organic Girl and I will be heading out shortly, for our weekly run.  Isn't it amazing what modern day conveniences we have, that we can just walk into a store and enjoy a bounty of food?  Bins and aisles just full of almost anything you want to eat, and at almost any time of year.  But what if I told you that the farmers who grew some of that produce won't even eat it themselves?  Why?  Because they were the ones who doused the growing plants with repeated treatments of toxic pesticides.  That is the underlying theme of the documentary, Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution.

This is a very enjoyable and eye-opening film.  It starts out, following the school children of a small town in France, who partake in lunches served by the local municipal-run kitchen.  At the initiative of the town's mayor and council, the kitchen began sourcing their ingredients from locally grown organics.  The film follows the impact of this change, on the students, their families, their friends in surrounding communities, and the farmers themselves.  Everybody was seeing the positive impact of this change.

Unfortunately, the change had come too late for some.  There are some heart-wrenching moments in the film, tying the impact of the chemicals used in conventional farming to the rise in cancer.  The film cites studies, showing that 90% of certain cancers can be attributed to environmental factors.  The positive note to take away from all this, is that we have the power, as consumers and residents, to demand change (like what we've done, in joining a local organic produce buying club).  This is a must-see film, and it is available from Netflix and Amazon.com.

In tying into this theme, please don't forget to get your entries into our giveaway for a great value pack of all-natural, organic pest control from EcoSMART, running through 2/28/10.  We can all feel safer, knowing that there are safer alternatives to keep our lawn and gardens healthy and pest-free this spring, with products like EcoSMART. 

Have a great Sunday, everyone :)

No promotional consideration was paid for this post.  This is a review of a personal purchase/rental.

Image courtesy of Amazon.com

Product Review & Giveaway: Natural Bug Killer from EcoSMART

Spring is around the corner!  At least, we hope so.  I'm sitting here, wearing a scarf and wool boots as I type this.  Did I mention I live in the Florida Keys, where concrete buildings with no insulation are standard, as is the lack of home heating?   We are definitely looking forward to some warm, sunny weather, and enjoying the outdoors again.

As we do reside in South Florida, bugs run rampant!  My dog knows it's time for her evening walk, when she sees/smells me spritzing myself with bug spray.  The cooler temperatures have been keeping the mosquitoes at bay, but the no-see-ums (gnats) are always ravenous.  For some reason, which I discovered may have genetic ties, I seem to be a favorite flavor amongst the biting insect community.  Insect repellent is a must.

As with all of the products our green, organic family uses, we try to steer clear of harmful chemicals; especially when it comes to insect repellents and household products, and we're always on the lookout for safer alternatives.  We were fortunate enough to receive a sample of all natural bug spray from EcoSMART.  This company specializes in all natural sprays, using special blends of organic essential oils.  These plant oils are harmless to people, animals, the ground water, and the air. We could really smell the blend of essential oils in our sample of organic insect repellent.  It smells very concentrated, and concentrated means a little will go a long way.  Definitely a green plus!  To help with applying just that right amount, the repellent comes in a very convenient, portable spray bottle.  It has a very nice, non-greasy feel.  No greasiness means this will be sunscreen-friendly come summertime, when we definitely need to wear both. 

EcoSMART carries safe alternatives to many conventional household chemical products, like weed killers, garden fungicide, and several varieties of the best home pest control, to deal with bugs both inside the house, and in your lawn and garden.  I'm very impressed that organic essential oils can do so much, and they're definitely the safe choice, versus conventional insecticides and herbicides.

But here is a chance for one lucky reader to win a special EcoSMART value pack!  One reader of this blog will be awarded with the EcoSMART Safe Plant and Garden Value Pack to enjoy in and around your garden this spring :)  

 

---

Thank you to everyone who entered! This giveaway has come to a close. Please click here to see the results of our Random.org drawing and to congratulate our winner!

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Please be sure to read the complete rules:

To enter this contest, first visit EcoSMART.com and check out their wonderful array of  products. Then, come back here and please leave a comment below, letting our readers know what EcoSMART product you'd like to try. Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so I may contact you if you're the lucky winner.

Want extra chances to win?

For additional entries, please first leave a comment about a product you'd like to try from EcoSMART, and then do any of the following, for a maximum of 7 (seven) total entries in this giveaway contest [please be sure to come back and leave a follow-up comment for each of these completed tasks, in order to be counted as an additional entry]:

• Read the "FAQ" on the EcoSMART website, and tell us one interesting fact about EcoSMART.
• Follow this blog with either our RSS feed, or with Google Friend Connect, by clicking the button on the right-hand column of this blog (or if you are already, leave a comment telling me so)
• Follow this blog on FaceBook with NetworkedBlogs by clicking the link, or on the button on the right-hand column of this blog (or if you are already, leave a comment telling me so)
• Follow me on Twitter @greenorganicmom (or if you are already, leave a comment telling me so)
• Display our Green Organic Mama badge on your blog
• Blog about this giveaway (and paste a direct link to your blog post in your comment) 
• Tweet this giveaway, by clicking on the birdie icon below, and leave a comment with your Twitter ID

By entering this contest, you have read and understand the rules and fine print of this contest:

1. Contest ends Sunday, February 28th, 2009 at 4:00PM EST
2. Contest open to U.S. residents (excluding AK, HI).
3. Giveaway prize pack consists of one (1) bottle of Weed and Grass killer, one (1) bottle of Garden Fungicide, one (1) bottle of Garden Insect Killer, and one (1) bottle of Insect Repellent; to be awarded to one (1) randomly selected winner.
4. One (1) winner shall be chosen from the pool of valid comment entries, using Random.org
5. Winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will provide a U.S. mailing address and telephone number, which will then be forwarded to EcoSMART, for the purpose of directly mailing one giveaway prize pack to the winner.
6. If Winner does not respond via e-mail within 48 hours of the prize drawing, another winner will be selected via Random.org, and new winner will be awarded the prize package.
7. Approximate retail value of the prize pack: $33.00 USD.
8. Giveaway sponsor reserves the right to modify the prize package and quantities. 
9. Winner will be announced here on this blog, and on Twitter, and on FaceBook.
10. No promotional consideration was paid for this post.

Good luck to everyone!! :)

Click here to be taken to the comments form to place your entry/entries.

No promotional consideration was paid for this review.
One full-size sample of insect repellent was provided by EcoSMART, for the purpose of this review and giveaway.

Product Review: Ben & Jerry's Organic Lip Balms

What's one of my favorite things to do while traveling?  Why, shopping, of course!

Just before Christmas, I flew out to California to attend a family wedding.  While en route, one of my stops was in the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Terminal D.  And having flown through that terminal before, I knew of a mandatory pit stop: the Ben & Jerry's ice cream counter.  

Now, my regular readers already know that I appear to have developed a milk allergy, so why was I headed to an ice cream counter?  Why, for the coveted, totally adorable Ben & Jerry's lip balms.

The last time Green Organic Girl and I flew to visit my parents, we visited this very same counter, and were enamored with a teeny little version of a tub of Mint Chocolate Chip.  We're lip balm fanatics to begin with, and always on the hunt for great all-natural ones, free of petroleum, and other nasty stuff.  Ben & Jerry's lip balm certainly fit the bill.  We immediately loved the smooth, easy-to-apply, and long-lasting texture of the Ben & Jerry's lip balm.  As an added bonus, there are no unrecognizable ingredients in the list.  In fact, quite a few of the ingredients are also organic, including soybean oil, virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, calendula, comfrey, and St. John's Wort.  All this, and it really smelled like mint chocolate.  The container is also just as cute as can be, and also very functional.  The base actually turns, and twists the lip balm up, so you don't have to go digging all the way down to the bottom, as you use it up.

This most recent trip, I was the crazy woman who cleaned out the whole supply at the Terminal D counter.  Yes, I admit it.  It was me.  LOL!  But there were only half a dozen left, and they were all Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.  Just as equally delicious smelling as the Mint Chocolate Chip.

So, if you're fortunate enough to live near a Ben & Jerry's (unlike me... *sniff*), do yourself a favor and pick up one of these for yourself :)  And do it quick, because I might be visiting your town, and in line behind you, to scoop up the rest ;)

Image courtesy of flickr.com
No promotional consideration was paid for this post.  This is a review of personal purchases.

The Winner of our Dewberry Originals Giveaway from The Body Shop!

Thank you again to The Body Shop for providing another awesome line of products to review and give away!  I'm thoroughly enjoying these favorite classics from the 80's Originals line, and their revamped ingredients, including organic aloe vera, and sporting eco-friendly 100% recycled packaging!

A big thanks also to all of our entrants, for the chance to win a Dewberry lotion and body wash duo :)  Here are the results from our Random.org drawing:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2010-02-07 21:04:27 UTC

Our lucky winner is scoop!  Congratulations!  Please check your e-mail, so we can arrange to get your Dewberry lotion and body wash out to you, for you to enjoy :D

Thanks again to everyone!  Happy Super Bowl Sunday!

Another Great Green Giveaway From The Body Shop! Welcome Back to the Originals!

Ah, memories... What's old is new again!

I remember many weekends during my high school days, strolling through the local malls with my friends. One mandatory stop each trip was at The Body Shop.  We each had our favorite products, and I'm so happy that The Body Shop has brought back several of their "Originals"!

Eleven favorites are back, and better than ever!  Each one comes in a 100% recycled PET bottles, and contain The Body Shop's signature Community Trade ingredients, including organic aloe.  I'm glad to see more of The Body Shop's products sourcing organic ingredients, like the Nutriganics line that I reviewed.  These are the great classics of the Originals line:

• Banana Shampoo
• Banana Conditioner
• Dewberry Body Lotion
• Dewberry Bath and Shower Gel
• Fuzzy Peach Bath and Shower Gel
• Green Apple Bath and Shower Gel
• Carrot Moisture Cream
• Cucumber Freshening Water
• Cucumber Cleansing Milk
• Passion Fruit Facial Cleansing Gel
• Ice Blue Shampoo

These brought back so many memories, and they truly live up to the ones I remembered using years ago.  One sniff of the Fuzzy Peach shower gel was enough to take me back to another decade ;)  One major difference that I noticed, however, is that the shampoos and cleansers seem more concentrated, and easier to lather up.  A little bit really goes a long way, yet they are gentle and non-drying.  My daughter and I absolutely love the Banana Shampoo and Conditioner.  Green Organic Girl described the scent in one word: "Yum!"  My hair, especially, which I heat style, came out so amazingly soft and silky.  I was surprised just how little of each product I actually needed, for my long hair.

Another stand-out product I have to mention is the Carrot Moisture Cream.  I used this for several years, way back when, and this new version is even better than ever.  It's silkier, and easier to apply than what I remember using in high school.  I've been using it as a night cream on my combination skin, and I absolutely love it.  I've been using this in conjunction with the Passion Fruit Facial Cleansing Gel; another favorite blast from the past.  Like the shampoos and shower gels, this one also seems more concentrated, and easier to lather up.  It's gentle, yet removes all of my makeup at the end of the day, and leaves my skin soft, fresh, and clean.  No drying tightness, and no residues.  Just pure and clean.  I love this stuff!

Just in time, there is a special sale going on: enjoy any three of these products from TheBodyShop-USA.com for $20, and free shipping on orders over $60!  I think I may have to stock up on those four favorites of mine ;)

But here is a chance for one lucky reader to win two of these special Originals to enjoy!  One brand new set of the Dewberry Bath and Shower Gel, and Dewberry Body Lotion will be awarded to one reader of this blog :)  

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Thank you to everyone who entered! This giveaway has come to a close. Please click here to see the results of our Random.org drawing and to congratulate our winner!

---

Please be sure to read the complete rules:

To enter this contest, first visit TheBodyShop-USA.com and check out their wonderful array of  products. Then, come back here and please leave a comment below, letting our readers know what Originals product at The Body Shop is your favorite (or one that you would like to try). Please be sure to leave your e-mail address, so I may contact you if you're the lucky winner.

Want extra chances to win?

For additional entries, please first leave a comment about a product you'd like to try from The Body Shop, and then do any of the following, for a maximum of 7 (seven) total entries in this giveaway contest [please be sure to come back and leave a follow-up comment for each of these completed tasks, in order to be counted as an additional entry]:

• Read the "About Us" on The Body Shop's website, and tell us one way that The Body Shop gives back to our planet, and its people.
• Follow this blog with either our RSS feed, or with Google Friend Connect, by clicking the button on the right-hand column of this blog (or if you are already, leave a comment telling me so)
• Follow this blog on FaceBook with NetworkedBlogs by clicking the link, or on the button on the right-hand column of this blog (or if you are already, leave a comment telling me so)
• Follow me on Twitter @greenorganicmom (or if you are already, leave a comment telling me so)
• Display our Green Organic Mama badge on your blog
• Blog about this giveaway (and paste a direct link to your blog post in your comment) 

By entering this contest, you have read and understand the rules and fine print of this contest:

1. Contest ends Sunday, February 7th, 2009 at 4:00PM EST
2. Contest open to U.S. residents, and Canadian residents
3. Giveaway prize pack consists of one (1) bottle of Dewberry Bath & Shower Gel and one (1) bottle of Dewberry Body Lotion, to be awarded to one (1) randomly selected winner.
4. One (1) winner shall be chosen from the pool of valid comment entries, using Random.org
5. Winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will provide a U.S. or Canadian mailing address, for the purpose of directly mailing one giveaway prize pack to the winner.
6. If Winner does not respond via e-mail within 48 hours of the prize drawing, another winner will be selected via Random.org, and new winner will be awarded the prize package.
7. Approximate retail value of the prize pack: $18.00 USD.
8. Winner will be announced here on this blog, and on Twitter, and on FaceBook.
9. No promotional consideration was paid for this post.

Good luck to everyone!! :)

Click here to be taken to the comments form to place your entry/entries.

No promotional consideration was paid for this review.
Full-size bottles of all eleven Originals products were provided for free by The Body Shop USA, for the purpose of this review and giveaway.

Going Green With the iPod Touch - Great Mom-Friendly Paperless Apps!

Over the Christmas holidays, there were some really special deals to be had.  On a whim, I checked out the daily Gold Box deal on Amazon.com one day, and scored on a great price on the 8 GB second generation iPod Touch!

I'd been curious about the iPhone, since they first came out, but I was not ready to jump carriers from T-Mobile over to AT&T, and fork out the estimated $1600 over the course of a two-year contract, in order to have one.  I'm very happy with my current Motorola W490, and the $10 per month it costs to share a family plan with my husband.

Still, I missed the days when I carried a Palm phone, and the convenience of having all of my contacts and calendar with me.  So, when this special deal popped up on the iPod Touch, I jumped on it!  And I wish I had done it sooner ;)

One month later, my iPod Touch is my new best friend.  It follows me everywhere I go.  I love that it's so lightweight, slides into my purse easily, and I can go several days on a single charge.  With the help of the vast library of apps, and the super easy-to-use WiFi connectivity, I've got an army of resources at my fingertips.  Everything from managing three e-mail accounts, to checking my Netflix queue, to peeking at what my friends and family are up to on Facebook; everything is just a swipe and a tap away.

The one thing that has really changed in my life is that I no longer rely on handwritten reminders to myself, scribbled on sticky notes and small scraps of paper, which ultimately get crumpled and forgotten about in my pockets, or at the bottom of my purse.  I'm sure all of you moms out there can relate: just out of the blue, you remember something that you have to do, or something you have to buy.  But of course, it hits you at the wrong time.  For me, it's always when I'm at work, and my grocery list is hanging on my fridge.  Or, I'll remember something five aisles away that I need to pick up, while I'm at the store, and end up forgetting by the time I make it over there.  No more!  Two of my favorite "paperless" apps are Awesome Note, and Grocery iQ.  While the iPod Touch does come with its own Notes app, it's pretty basic.  Awesome Note is definitely my favorite, as it is truly a digitized version of my beloved sticky notes.  They're actually quite cute!  I can easily create any number of virtual sticky notes (complete with their own different fonts and "paper" colors), and I can even organize them into my own custom categories.  Best of all, there is no paper to lose, and no paper to throw away.  Definitely a paperless, green plus for me!  There is a "lite" version that you can test out, but I went ahead and paid for the full version.  Definitely worth it :)

Grocery iQ is another indispensable tool.  No more middle-of-the-week runs to the grocery store, battling with the rush-hour crowds, for things we forgot to buy on our big weekly run.  No more showing up at the store, without my list.  Grocery iQ makes it nearly impossible to forget anything (as long as you remembered to put it on the list, and have your device with you) ;)  Now of course, there are several apps you could use to create your own grocery list, but you'd be retyping that same list, week after week.  Grocery iQ takes out the tedium.  My favorite part of this app is the "Favorites" section.  Tied into a huge database of grocery store products, as managed by Coupons.com, just start typing the name of a product you buy regularly, and the app finds it (and related products).  Then save that item to your Favorites, along with anything else you buy regularly.  Then, when it comes time to create your weekly list, tap those items needed from your list of favorites, and they appear on your shopping list.  Tada!  It's easy to add other items, and just as easy to delete them as well.  You can also e-mail your list, right from your device, to the kind soul taking on the chore of shopping for you that week ;)  As a bonus, there is another button for coupons!  This is an app from Coupons.com, after all.  As long as you've got WiFi access, the app will search for available coupons in your area.  You digitally "clip" the ones you want, and the ones that need to be printed, can be sent directly to your wireless printer, or e-mailed for later printing.  Those special items then appear on your grocery list, along with a reminder that you have a coupon for them!  How neat is that?  As you shop, you tap each item, and it moves to the "Cart" area of your list.  It's also easy to move an item back (just tap it again).  At the end of your trip, press the "Checkout" button, and any unpurchased items remain, forming the start of your shopping list for your next trip to the store.  This is an indispensable app.  Totally worth the $0.99 it costs in the iTunes store.   I haven't touched my paper grocery list pad since ;)

To round out my top three favorite "paperless" apps, number three is the Kindle app from Amazon.com.  I love to read, but it seems like I never have a book with me, when the moment is right (standing in line, sitting in a waiting room, etc).  My bookshelf is also packed two rows deep, and storage space is at a premium, here on this little tropical island in the Florida Keys, and let's face it... the books themselves can be expensive.  I also tend to buy books, and not read them more than once.  Sometimes I'll give them away, but mostly, they end up taking up space in my house.  Welcome to the next generation of eBooks.  I had tried eBooks a few years ago, on my cell phone and Palm devices, but the font was so grainy, and the scrolling jumpy and annoying.  But the technology has really come a long way since.  I'm really happy with the free Kindle app for my iPod Touch.  The font is very crisp, there's a choice of text sizes, and color schemes (white text on black, black text on white, or sepia (my favorite)).  I do also like that since I'm running the Kindle app on my iPod, it's back-lit, and I can read while in bed, which I like to do, before I fall asleep (the real Kindle device, on the other hand, is not back-lit).  Reading with the Kindle is very comfortable.  The text doesn't scroll, which I never really liked in an e-reader anyway, and instead, you have the option of swiping with your finger, or lightly tapping the margin, to turn pages.  It has a very natural feel to it.

Downloading new books is super easy, and the orders show up in your Amazon.com account history.  I also like the "try before you buy" feature; you can download the first chapter of any Kindle book for free.  There is a huge selection of Kindle-ready books, and the prices are very reasonable.  I had lent out my entire hardback collection of the Twilight series, and I'm not sure when I might get those back again... LOL!  But I was in the mood to read Eclipse one more time.  I ended up buying it through my Kindle app for about $4.00!  It was also instantly delivered to my iPod Touch.  No delivery trucks involved there!  Within minutes, I was reading Eclipse again ;)  Fast forward a few weeks later, and I've since been turned onto the Sookie Stackhouse series.  Lo and behold, the entire eight-volume "box set" was available for Kindle for about $24, also instantly delivered!  Now that was a bargain!  That was great, being able to carry the entire set of books with me, on a recent trip to California.  Not having to try to fit even one real book in my carry-on luggage was a blessing!  I'm looking forward to adding to my eBook library, and reducing my carbon footprint at the same time, by choosing digital over paper.

I'm really enjoying my iPod Touch, and experimenting with the cool apps out there.  The iPod really has come a long way, from being a portable music player.  Hubby recently bought himself the Google Nexus One Android phone.  It's pretty neat too, but I still like my iPod Touch.  Should the iPhone ever become available to use on T-Mobile, I may consider upgrading to one.  For now, I'm very happy with my current arrangement, and I hope those of you considering an iPod Touch will make the leap ;)

No promotional consideration was paid for this post.  This is a review of personal purchases/downloads of apps from the Apple iTunes store.  

iPod image courtesy of ottawa-gaming.com.

Book Review: The Gorgeously Green Diet by Sophie Uliano

Happy New Year, everyone! 

We're counting down to 2010, after what began as a rather whirlwind adventure through 2009.  I feel very blessed to have a healthy family, a great job that I love, and we're on the hunt to buy our first home, with plans to transform it into our own little green corner of the universe :)

Every day, we try to find new ways to live a little greener.  It's surprisingly easy to do, if you just put your mind to it.  Over the holidays, we reused boxes for wrapping gifts, gift bags that we received were passed along to others, and we made sure that whatever gift packaging and wrapping was left over was sent out for recycling, whenever possible.  Even envelopes from Christmas cards were recycled, and the cards we always keep (they make great custom gift tags next year).  All of that took very little extra effort, but made a big impact on our family's waste reduction, letting us end the year with a lighter holiday carbon footprint :)

As we look to the coming year, many of us choose new goals.  One of the big ones, of course, is dieting.  A big thank you to Penguin Group USA for sending me a copy of The Gorgeously Green Diet: How to Live Lean and Green by Sophie Uliano.  This is the second book for Uliano, whose first book is the New York Times bestseller Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life.  Uliano has appeared on Oprah, The View, and Good Morning America as an eco-expert.  She readily admits that it's impossible to be a "Green Girl" all the time, but we can empower ourselves, and make choices every day to keep ourselves and the planet healthy.  Unlike most diet books out there, Uliano advocates finding the right balance between our health, our pocketbooks, and our ideal weight.  Much like the message that I try to send to you, the Gorgeously Green Diet focuses on taking "small, everyday steps" that fit our schedules and budgets.  I certainly do not pay $9 for organic strawberries in the dead of winter, and Uliano doesn't believe in spending that kind of money, either.  This book is all about taking a practical approach, picking and choosing ideas that fit into your own lifestyle, so that we can all be healthy, gorgeous, and green.

While the title of the book may lead you to believe it's all about dieting, the book is actually very comprehensive, and includes great tips on how to live greener and healthier overall.  Combined with great, easy recipes, eating plans and menu ideas, are also very informative sidebars, covering everything from keeping your fridge coils clean to keep your fridge running efficiently, to saving money by using white vinegar as a rinse agent in your dishwasher (and a fully loaded automatic dishwasher does, in fact, clean more efficiently than washing dishes by hand).

This is a highly recommended guide to green living (not just for dieting), and I can already see myself giving away copies of this book to friends.  Uliano does a great job, packing this book full of practical, realistic ideas for eating healthier, and living greener, that even the busiest person could make use of.  I really do like that the author understands that we can't always pick the greenest options, and she guides readers through making the next best choices.

With the long weekend ahead, I'm looking forward to trying some of Uliano's do-it-yourself home skin care treatments.  The Bananarama Nourishing Face Mask, and the Banana and Coconut Hair and Scalp Treatment are on my list ;)  I think my four-year-old daughter would enjoy smearing herself in bananas, right alongside mommy, too!

Wishing everyone all the best in 2010!!  Let's all strive to do our part to live a little greener :)

No promotional consideration was paid for this review. One copy of this book was provided for free by Penguin Group USA for review.