Back to School With SIGG

Earlier this morning, I participated in a web chat with Michelle Conlin and several “green” bloggers to discuss her film project entitled No Impact Man.  I have an entire post dedicated to the project, but it definitely had me thinking about what MORE I can do to reduce my carbon footprint.

It seems simple enough… forgo BPA-laden plastic and opt for reusable bottles and food storage products. SIGG, the world leader in reusable, eco-friendly beverage bottles recently introduced their aluminum lunch boxes which are actually fashionable enough to be used for storing all kinds of things (think makeup, jewelry).

SIGG’s products are 100% recyclable and free from BPA or phthalates.  Their bottles are lined so that there is no lingering odor or taste.  The company offers a number of fun, vibrant kid’s designs for boys and girls.  My three year old is finally at a point where he understands the concept of drinking from bottles like this one.  I like the smaller 0.3 L size for tots since it holds about the amount of liquid he’s capable of drinking.

SIGG now offers customization.  You can visit their site to upload personal photos or create your own graphic with their image library to use on their products.

No compensation was received for this post. A product sample was provided by the company to facilitate this review.

How To Pack a Waste-Free Lunch *Giveaway*

A couple of weeks ago, I received a phone call from a little production called The Today Show!  They wanted to interview me for an online segment detailing my top three tips for health, fitness and being green.  What ensued was a conversation that unfolded about going green this school year.  I can’t honestly tell you what I said…I was nervous and humbled and in a bit of shock about the whole thing.  But what I hope came across was the fact that Americans, in general, need to create less waste and conserve more.

If you think about the typical lunch and what it entails…you realize that one lunch creates a lot of waste.  Paper napkins, plastic silverware, cardboard juice boxes, disposable sandwich bags…

Citizenpip is a company that believes in the power of small changes.  Created by a mom, the company offers muck-free reusable lunch gear in designs that are attractive to kids and easy for parents to use.

People today are much more informed about green issues and open to ideas on how to reduce their carbon footprint.  Switching from disposable to reusable is a simple change with great long-term impact.

Citizenpip offers a complete line of reusable lunch gear and kits that are free from lead, BPA, and phthalates.  Their lunch bags (which come in four designs) are lightweight, insulated, waterproof, and made from recycled materials.  I only wish they had a few more designs.  I adore the lightweight, stainless steel water bottles because despite the fact that they’re not insulated, per se, they manage to keep drinks colder longer.  The containers are surprisingly made from polypropylne, leakproof, and freezer-safe.

Citizenpip offers a starter kit (RV $42) which includes the following:

• 1 insulated lunch bag
• 1 stainless steel water bottle
• 4 airtight airtight food containers

The kit is actually made well but I would have liked for it to include one flatware set.

Right now, you’ll save 10% with the code “rockinmama10″

Win It! One of you will win a starter kit in the design of your choice.  Simply leave me a comment with one fact you learned on the site.  Comments will close on September 8, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow Citizen Pip on Twitter and/or Facebook

Visit Amanda and leave some comment love on her post.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.  Products  for review and giveaway were supplied by Citizenpip.

Eco-Friendly Relaxation *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Sharon.  Congrats!

I don’t get enough facials…or massages…or pedicures…or baths.  As a working mom, I tend to go, go, go in an effort to take care of everyone but myself.

About a week ago, I had the perfect excuse to take a nice long bath.  I received a lovely set of eco-friendly bath products from Castle Baths Spa Products.  The company hand makes natural, vegan bath products with Certified Organic, Wild Crafted ingredients.  The company’s unique and luxurious bath products include Dead Sea Salt Scrubs and Goats Milk Soaps.   Of all the products I received, my favorite was the Lavender Vanilla Dead Sea Salt Scrub.  In general, I like scrubs because they do a great job of exfoliating in a short amount of time.  Their Dead Sea Salt Scrubs, which contain Certified Organic shea butter, and Organic oils, cleanse, exfoliate, and detoxify skin.  They also moisturize, rather than dry your skin out and can even lighten age spots, fade stretch marks, and scars.  The scrub has a lovely scent and isn’t oily like some scrubs.

Castle Baths Spa Products is known for their Herbal Salt Bath Teas, designed to soften your skin and refresh your body.  Unfortunately, my son ripped it as we were taking it out of the box.  But it (and all of the other products I received) smelled incredible. I would actually love to try their bath teas because they can be used to restore energy and may help with stress, anxiety, and insomnia (something this mom knows a bit about!).

The last product I received was some samples of their massage oils.  Since I don’t get to the spa nearly as often as I’d like to, hubby is the designated masseuse.  Usually it’s a quick 5 minute neck and shoulder massage while we’re relaxing on the couch.  What’s nice is that they can also be used to hydrate and soothe dry, irritated skin.

Our massage oils are great for the skin so feel free to rub-in a dab of soothing massage oil anywhere your skin needs hydrating – or mind needs a relaxing moment.  They smell lovely and don’t leave a oily, greasy residue.

If you’re looking to indulge in some eco-friendly bath and body products that are actually good for you, check out Castle Baths Spa Products..

Win It! One of you will win a Castle Baths Spa Products Gift Basket.  Simply leave a comment with the item you’d like most from the site.  Comments will close on August 14, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post. Products for review and giveaway were supplied by the company.

Eco-Friendly Modular Flooring

When my husband and I moved into our home, we had a lot of work to do.   It was a foreclosure and had not been occupied for a long time.  While it definitely could have been much worse, we did have to do a deep clean, paint it from top to bottom, and install new carpet on the second level.  I really liked the laminate flooring downstairs (which was still in great shape), so we kept it as is.  The only problem with laminate flooring is that it isn’t conducive to small children who are still unsteady and unaware of the dangers of falling on hard floors.

About a year ago, I reviewed a holiday-themed rug from FLOR.  I absolutely adore that rug, but I can only use it a couple of months out of the year.  The company recently released their latest styles for the season, including their “So Happy Together Rug Kit,” which is currently adding some color and character to our living room.

Home decorating is very personal.  FLOR uses an innovative system of carpet squares which lets you “create customized rugs, runners, and wall-to-wall designs for any style or space.”  The system uses FLORdots which can be removed to recreate the rug for a different season and look.

As an eco-minded mom, I strive to purchase products that are safe with minimal carbon footprint.  FLOR products are made with renewable and recycled materials, and “are designed to be among the lowest VOC emitting products in the residential flooring industry.”  If you’ve ever walked into a home or apartment with new carpet, there is a distinct smell (one that is actually quite pungent in my opinion).  What you are smelling is actually quite toxic and the result of things like formaldehyde.  This is just one of the many reasons why we should all reconsider wall-to=wall carpeting.

Once you’re ready to retire your FLOR rug, you can return the squares which will be recycled through the company’s Return & Recycle Program so that none of their products end up in a landfill.

Be sure to check out FLOR’s Martha Stewart Floor Designs to add a contemporary look and feel to your home.  They also have a great sale section which includes some adorable Disney Princess designs.

No compensation was received for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

The Science of Chemical-Free Cleaning

If you have children, than you know that the sheer abundance of messes created by them is endless.  Sometimes I scratch my head in bewilderment, perplexed at how my son can get berries on my daughter’s swing during breakfast or rub diaper cream all over his legs in the short amount of time it takes me to get his clothes ready for school. Over 90% of the cleaning products in our home are safe, natural, and eco-friendly.  And while they’re effective at what they’re designed to clean, I often feel like I need several different formulations, depending on what I want to clean or where I want to clean it.

Earlier this year, I was invited to the Natural Products Expo in Southern California.  The invite mentioned that Bill Nye the Science Guy would be in attendance, discussing the science behind an innovative new cleaning tool called the ionator HOM.  This hand held appliance uses ionizing technology to convert ordinary tap water into a cleaner and sanitizer.  This could very well be the only cleaning product you’ll ever need (apart from a heavy-duty cleaner for tough dirt and stains).

The ionator HOM is capable of cleaning mirrors, stainless steel, wood, whiteboards, granite, glass, carpet, clothing, tile and more.  What makes the product so distinct (and appealing to this germaphobe of a mom) is it’s ability to kill 99.9% of harmful bacteria including H1N1 influenza A virus, Salmonella, MRSA, and E. coli.  How it does this, I’m not entirely sure.  But you can check out the Activeion website to watch Bill Nye the Science Guy discuss the technology behind ionator HOM.

In essence, electrically charged ionized water attracts dirt like a magnet to help lift if from the surface, allowing it to be wiped away.  In six seconds, nearly any nonporous surface can be clean AND microbe-free.  The Activeion technology is irreversible and completely breaks down the walls of bacterial cells, pathogenic viruses, and other germs…hence it’s disinfecting power.

Using the ionator HOM is so easy, it’s hard to believe that it’s actually working.  You simply fill the device with tap water (not distilled or purified water).  It’s recommended that surfaces be pre-cleaned, particularly if they’re heavily soiled and you want to disinfect.  You simply spray at a distance of 3-4 inches for 6 seconds and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Use it on any room and any surface.

The ionator HOM doesn’t use chemicals, which means there are no residues, smells, or harmful ingredients.  Its healthy for you, your family, and the environment.  While I do find the price to be  steep at $179.99, it’s justifiable, considering that you’ll not likely have to invest in other cleaning products.  Here is a video I made demonstrating the ionator HOM:

For more information about ionator HOM, just visit their website!

No compensation was received for this post.  A product sample was provided via MomSelect to facilitate this review.

Eco-Friendly Photo Cards

Three years ago, my sweet brown-eyed, curly-haired boy was born and changed our lives forever. We had a small family celebration over the weekend and his “big” birthday party is coming up in a few weeks. I’ve been busy finalizing details, planning menus, and practicing my cake decorating skills. And I sent out the most adorable zoo-themed invites from Cardstore.com.

I typically use another company to order photo cards, but I’m always willing to try something new. Cardstore.com is an online printing company that offers “smart, stylish, and original” greeting cards, invites, thank you cards, and more. The company combines “beautiful artwork, personalized greetings, and professional printing to create tangible reminders of life’s events.” And…they use sustainable printing and recycled paper, a plus for this eco-mama.

The actual process of ordering is quick, although I spent some time perusing their gallery (there are over 7,000 designs from 70 artists on the site). The company has organized the site well, which makes it easy to search by card type, occasion, theme, etc. The site offers personalization tools which allow you the option of customizing greetings with photos and messages. When you’re done customizing your card, you can have the company print return and/or recipient addresses on the envelopes, add postage, and even have them mail them straight to recipients (additional charges will apply).

Here is the invite we created for my son’s upcoming party:

The invites were printed on quality cardstock and we received them in a few days. The only thing I would say is that I’d love for the company to offer higher quality printing (and a variety of textures including matte, glossy, etc.), even if it means paying a bit more.

Prices start at $0.79 a card and are never higher than $3.00 per card. Now through the end of the month, you’ll save 10 percent with the code FAMILYREVIEW10.

No compensation was received for this post. A Gift Certificate was provided by the company via Family Review Network to facilitate this review.

Modern Baby Product Guide: blabla kids

blabla means nothing and everything,

it’s a swirl of letters flying,

a small word for a big idea…

Sometimes I come across a site that’s so unique…so extraordinary…that I absolutely have to share it with anyone and everyone.  blabla kids is an eco-friendly children’s store featuring a collection of knitted clothing, dolls, rattles, backpacks, blankets and more…all crafted by Peruvian artists. Their collection is made from quality natural fibers from Peru. Their styles are modern but fanciful, appealing to both boys and girls.

blabla kids offers a variety of dolls, many of which are called Boogaloos.  Some resemble people or animals. Others, like Mr. X are left to a child’s imagination. Their dolls are incredibly soft and washable (fortunately).  And most importantly, my son adores his.

While I could easily purchase anything from the site, I find their children’s clothing to be the most unique.  They’ve just introduced little shepherd vests that I’d like to snuggle up with.  And I’d love to see my daughter in this pink flower hat.

Their prices are on par with what you’d find at a quaint boutique (and may in fact be lower).  I would highly recommend checking out their sale section.  I saw tees for $10.

No compensation was received for this post. A product sample was provided by the company to facilitate this review.

Eco-Laundry Challenge *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is Ellen B. Congrats!

With two children under 3 and a husband in the house, I do a lot of laundry.  I probably wash at least one load a day, which means at any given time, our daughter’s crib is a reservoir for clean laundry.  As you can imagine, all of that laundry consumes a lot of water, soap, and energy.

Seventh Generation recently approached me to participate in their Seventh Generation Project Laundry Line Challenge.  It’s simple…by washing in cold water with Seventh Generation’s non-toxic, biodegradable laundry detergent and line drying our clothes, they propose that my husband and I will save water, energy, and money.  We already use Seventh Generation’s Laundry Detergent and wash about 75% (ish) of our clothes in cold water.  The days I come home from the hospital, I do take those scrubs and wash them in hot water to kill all of the germs.  I also find that some of my children’s tougher stains come out more effectively when I wash in hot water.

My husband and I spend almost a year in Europe before we had children, and we’ve lived without a dryer.  I don’t mind if my clothes are a bit stiff when they’ve been line-dried because they relax when I put them on.  My husband, on the other hand, does not like stiff clothes (particularly his work clothes).  Seventh Generation sent me their canola-based liquid Fabric Softener which actually made our clothes softer.

The one major issue I’ve come across is stain removal.  My kids, in particular, manage to get everything from raspberry sorbet and pureed carrots to paint all over their clothes.  Typically, in these situations, I would pre-treat with a stain remover (although I’m trying to move away from this practice).  For the challenge, I did not use any stain remover and found that while the stains were lighter in color, they were still there.  I posed my questions about cold water washing and stain removal to Seventh Generation’s ScienceMan and here is what he had to say:

All stains are not created equal. The majority, even those big scary stains, are treated effectively by the agitation process of washing machines and multiple rinse cycles. But some stains require extra attention. The most common way to pre-treat stains is with concentrated detergent. As soon as possible after the stain appears, apply the detergent directly to the affected area, rub gently, and leave to soak thoroughly prior to washing.  If it’s a particularly stubborn stain, wash in cold water and increase the amount of detergent used by 20-25 percent. Continue by using a longer wash cycle or “pre-soak” cycle if available on your machine. As a last resort, use a powder laundry booster such as Borax that increases the pH of the wash water and also provides oxygen bleach (not chlorine) to enhance stain removal.

I’m just starting to test out his recommendations, and I plan on posting more about how effective this is in a future post.

In all honesty, it’s not difficult to wash in cold with biodegradable, non-toxic laundry detergent.  Too often I’ve heard people tell me that “going green” is expensive and time-consuming.  Seventh Generation’s products are priced comparably to conventional products.  For example, their Natural 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquid (which is plant-derived) retails for $3.84 (32 ounces, 20 loads), $5.78 (50 ounces, 32 loads), and $10.27 (100 ounces, 64 loads).  Because their detergent is concentrated, you don’t need much for effective washing.

The most difficult part of the challenge was spending the time and effort to line-dry the clothes.  In all honesty, it doesn’t take much more time, but it takes longer than throwing the clothes in the dryer. But when you consider the following facts, it makes economic and ecologic sense to line-dry:

If Americans air dried their clothing for 10 months out of the year, we could avoid 12 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Approximately one quarter of Americans use an ENERGY STAR washer. There are no ENERGY STAR dryers on the market.

Stay tuned!  I have more information to share with you about our Eco-Laundry Challenge.

I want to challenge you to do the same…wash in cold water with a non-toxic, biodegradable laundry detergent and line dry.  To help you out, I have one laundry kit to give away.

Win It! One of you will win a Seventh Generation “Project Laundry Line” kit that includes:

·         Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid (good for 66 loads of laundry)

·         portable laundry line

·         clothes pins, laundry basket

Simple leave me a comment with an eco-friendly laundry tip!  Comments will close on July 1, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn. Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

No compensation was received for this post.  Seventh Generation provided the items for review and giveaway.

Seventh Generation Wants to Know Who Inspires You *Giveaway*

This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Valancia #112!

I’ve been deemed crunchy by many of my friends and family members. And I’m actually ok with that designation because, the reality is, we are learning more and more about the potential health hazards posed by many of the cleaning products we use in our homes. I switched to green cleaning products during my first pregnancy and have mostly eliminated those considered toxic from my home (I still have a few stragglers I’m trying to get rid of in my garage).

A large percentage of the cleaning products in our home are by Seventh Generation.  The company is committed to providing consumers with safe, environmentally-responsible products while maintaining social and environmental responsibility.  They are also one of the most transparent companies out there right now.  Every choice made to use a Seventh Generation product saves natural resources, reduces pollution, and keeps toxic chemicals out of the environment.  I’ve had the opportunity to work with the company on several occasions and even spent some time talking with the founder and CEO of the company earlier this year.

This year, Seventh Generation is asking you to nominate the person that has been inspirational to you by making their home, community and/or environment safer and healthier.  Now through May 31, enter Seventh Generation’s Search for Mother Nature contest to win a $5,000 green home makeover.  The winner  and his/her nominee will win a year’s supply of Seventh Generation products.  Seventh Generation will also donate $2,500 to an organization working to make the world a safer place.  The top six finalists will receive a year’s supply of Seventh Generation products. For more information, or to enter the contest, just visit their site.

I’ll leave you with Ivette Melendez’s (Seventh Generation’s Mother Nature inspiration) “Five Golden Rules of Cleaning”

Rule 1: Go Top-to-Bottom.
Whether it’s a room or a bookcase, clean from the top to the bottom and you won’t have to go back and pick up any stray dirt or errant dust that falls as you go.

Rule 2: Go Back to Front.
Always clean from back to front for similar reasons. If it’s a room, start in a rear corner and work toward the door. If it’s a cabinet, begin in the back and clean out toward the edge.

Rule 3: Work Clockwise.
Pick a starting spot and work in a steady clockwise direction. Working systematically in this way will ensure that you don’t forget anything and won’t have to spend any time thinking about it!

Rule 4: Don’t Use or Do More Than You Need To.
Always start with a small amount of cleaning product and use more as necessary for tough spots and other challenges. Using more than you need to start only creates more work when it’s time to rinse everything off!

Rule 5: Look Before You Leap.
If you’re cleaning something you’ve never cleaned before and/or using a product for the first time, you’ll save a lot of premature hair loss by always testing things first to make sure you won’t cause any damage.

Win It! One of you will win a Seventh Generation Cleaning Kit which will include the following:

-          Ivette’s top three cleaning tools (pocket scraper, microfiber rag and scouring pad)

-          Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes

-          Seventh Generation Natural all-purpose spray

-          Seventh Generation Natural dish liquid

-          Seventh Generation Recycled paper towels

Simply leave me a comment with something you learned on Seventh Generation’s website.  Comments will close on June 8, 2o10 at 11:59 PM PST.  One comment per person, please (unless you do the extra credit). US residents only. Duplicates and comments not including the above information will be disqualified. Comments are moderated. If you don’t see your comment in a reasonable amount of time, send me an email. Bloggers and non-bloggers may enter. If you don’t want to leave your email address, please be sure to check back for my announcement on the winner. Please note that winners must respond within 48 hours of being announced/contacted or another winner will be drawn.Want an extra entry? Do any or all of the following and receive an extra entry for each one.

Be sure to leave me a separate comment for each additional entry.

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest.

Subscribe to my feed via email or reader.

Blog about this giveaway. It doesn’t have to be a separate post. Just include a blurb about it when you blog about other giveaways.

Click on one of the very cute buttons below and digg, stumble, fav, etc. Just let me know what you did in the comments!

I did not receive compensation for this post.  Products for review and giveaway were supplied by Seventh Generation.

Babywearing 101

While I’m not overt about it, I definitely consider myself an attachment parent.  If you’re not certain what that means, I wrote a post about it this week over at Orange County Moms Blog.  One of the principles of attachment parenting is to use nurturing touch.  And one of the ways I do this is through babywearing.

Babywearing is easier than it sounds and provides many mutual benefits.  My daughter likes to be held.  My son likes to play and go places.  Wearing my daughter in a carrier makes both of them happy and leaves me relatively hands-free.  But beyond practicality, babywearing enables direct contact with me (which is calming to babies), gives my daughter motion stimulus (which mimics the womb and pacifies/calms), reduces crying, promotes bonding, and enables learning and development.

I’ve tried numerous carriers.  And I’ve found that those that are the easiest to put on work best for us.  Belle Baby Carriers are soft, ergonomic, eco-friendly, and user-friendly.  I was actually surprised at how little fabric was used to create the carrier.  The goal is to enable direct contact with your baby, a feature not characteristic of many carriers on the market.

Belle Baby Carriers recently released their Organic Earth Carrier, which has an outside layer made from 100% undyed Romanian hemp and an organic cotton/hemp blended inside liner.  I really like the soft, fuzzy inside liner because it’s cozy for babies.  The waistbelt, shoulder straps, and seat are lightly padded for an additional layer of comfort.

The carrier is relatively easy to use.  I can get my daughter in and out of it without assistance.  You simply secure the main strap around your waist, then click the two padded shoulder straps.  With all of the concern about the safety of baby carriers, it’s comforting to know that the buckles utilized on this carrier resemble those used on high-end outdoor backpacks and the waistbelt rings are made from stainless steel.

Belle Baby Carriers can be worn with infants and children 8-30 pounds.  You can simply detach the head support when your baby is fully supporting his/her head (I still like to use it as my daughter sleeps in the carrier).  The carrier tucks nicely into a diaper bag (as opposed to bulkier carriers) and can be machine washed.

The Organic Earth Carrier retails for $119.95 and is available on their site.  Their carriers are made by local artisans in Boulder and Denver Colorado.

No compensation was received for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

Next Page »