Mineral Makeup 101: Whole Foods Mineral Fusion Kits

As a regular Whole Foods shopper, I often browse their Whole Body section, looking for more natural ways to replace some of the products I use on my face and body.  Earlier in the year I had seen their Mineral Fusion makeup kits and thought that it would be fun to try them.  Thanks to Mom Fuse, I just happened to get that opportunity!  I received the Innocent Peach Spring Blossom Color Kit to try out. The kit includes a blush, lip gloss, eye shadow, blotting paper, and a “Tips and Techniques” DVD.  What’s nice about the kit is that it contains the essentials…the basics.  I could easily wear these three staples on a normal day and look well put together.

Ecousable

My husband and I strive to make our home as healthy and eco-friendly as possible, particularly because we have a little boy and one on the way.  One of the things we do is avoid buying bottled water.  I can’t say that we’ve eliminated plastic water bottles completely, but for the most part, we use a PUR Water Pitcher when we’re at home.  We also try to use a reusable water bottle when we’re out so we don’t have to purchase bottled water.  What I’ve found is that when we’re out all day, we tend to buy bottled water when our reusable water bottles are empty (or hot).

Thanks to Ecousable, we received a 25 ounce Stainless Steel Ech20 Filtered Water Bottle.  Not only is this reusable, it has a filter so you can refill it on the go from any tap water source.  It’s truly brilliant!  Here is a little more information from the site:

Enjoy filtered tap water on the go instantly filtered as you drink through the ech2o Ionic-Adsorption Micro-Filtration System! This exclusive top removes up to 99.99% of pollutants for up to 100 gallons of great tasting filtered water.

I am most impressed with the convenience this bottle offers.  So many times I hear people talk about how expensive or time-consuming “going green” is.  Fresh, filtered water couldn’t be easier (or cheaper).  For $40 (yes, a bit pricey at first glance), you’ll get 100 gallons of filtered water (which replaces 757 half liters of bottled water).   And the water tastes great!  Now this is coming from a girl who was called a bottled water snob in the past.  Additional filters can be purchased for $25.  There are a lot of misconceptions about tap water.  In fact, much of the bottled water you purchase is no better than tap water.

One of the questions my husband asked me was where I could filter the water from.  The answer:  Any source and any type of water except salt water.  That is truly impressive.  If you think about it, in an emergent situation you could use this bottle for survival (hey, I live in Southern California where Emergency Preparedness is on the forefront of our minds).  The bottle is perfect for camping, hiking and other outdoor venues where clean water may not be readily available.

For more information, including the types of organisms the filter is capable of removing, please visit the site.

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity.

Thai Kitchen Giveaway!

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

My very first experience with Thai cuisine was with my husband.  It was our first date and he wanted to do something unique.  My husband is definitely more adventurous than I am when it comes to food.  We ate at this little Thai restaurant on Ventura Boulevard and both of us were surprise at how much we enjoyed the meal.  Five years later, my husband and I are still eating Thai food, but mostly at home these days.  Now, I should disclose that while he generally cooks this type of cuisine from scratch, he does have a little assistance from Thai Kitchen!

Thanks to Mom Fuse, we were offered an opportunity to make a couple of Thai dishes at home, using some products from Thai Kitchen.  I should start by saying that this isn’t our first experience with Thai cuisine or Thai Kitchen, however, it is the first time we’ve made the dishes in this way.  While I typically like my Thai food a bit spicy, I opted to go milder on this venture because of the pregnancy (and the heartburn I’d like to avoid!).  We received Red Curry Paste (which is what adds “spice” to the meal), Jasmine Rice, Fish Sauce (I promise you won’t taste it), and Coconut Milk courtesy of Thai Kitchen.  Here are the two recipes we made (from the Thai Kitchen Cookbook):

Red Curry Vegetables

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time:  6 minutes

1 to 2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste (depending on how spicy you like your food)

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, minced

4 cups assorted vegetables (broccoli florets, bell pepper strips, sliced mushrooms, sliced onions and snow peas)

1.  Mix curry paste and water in small bowl until well blended.  Set aside.

2.  Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat.  Add garlic; stir fry 15 seconds.  Add vegetables and curry paste mixture: stir fry 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp

Makes 4 servings.

Red Curry Chicken

Prep Time:  10 minutes

Cook Time:  15 minutes

1 can (14 ounces) Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk, divided

2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen Red Curry Paste

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 pound cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast

1/4 cup chopped fresh Thai basil

2 tablespoons Thai Kitchen Premium Fish Sauce

1.  Bring 1/2 of the coconut milk to simmer in large skillet on medium heat.  Stir in curry paste until well blended.  Add remaining coconut milk and sugar; bring to boil.  Reduce heat to low; simmer 5 minutes.

2.  Stir in chicken.  Cook 3 to 5 minutes or until chicken is heated through.  Stir in basil and fish sauce.

3.  Serve with cooked Thai Kitchen Jasmine Rice.  Garnish with additional basil and red chile slices, if desired.

Makes 4 servings.

Our entire meal consisted of chicken, rice, and vegetables and all 3 dishes were ready in 30 minutes.  Because you’re not having to season the chicken and vegetables, prep time is minimal.  Cooking on the stove in a skillet is also much quicker than cooking in the oven so this type of meal is really something that can be done rather quickly.  If you utilize Thai Kitchen’s products, you can actually create a gourmet meal that is pretty affordable.  The pastes and sauces are around $4.00, the coconut milk retails for approximately $2.00, and the rice retails for $3.00.  You only use a little bit of the sauces and pastes so they’ll last you quite a bit of time (we actually had another bottle in our fridge that was still half-full and we eat Thai food about once a week).

Cooking on the BRAND NEW STOVE! Thanks Frigidaire!

Even he is excited about Thai Food!

The real question you may be wondering is, how does it taste?  Of all the Asian cuisines, Japanese and Thai are my favorites (although very different).  I like the balance of sweet and spicy flavors in the curry.  One of the things you may worry about is the fish sauce.  I can guarantee you that you won’t taste it but I feel like it is used to offset some of the sweetness of the coconut milk, giving the curry a bit of a savory flavor.  Still, the overall taste is more sweet and nutty with a hint of spicy. FYI…the company offers low sodium and lite versions of their fish sauce and coconut milk (respectively).

If you’re tired of the same meals and don’t want to spend the money on ordering out, I definitely recommend experimenting with some of the products from Thai Kitchen.  I purchase the products from Henry’s or Whole Foods but you can also purchase them online.

Win It! Two of you will win a Thai Kitchen Cookbook!  Simply head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with a recipe you’d like to create at home.  Comments will close on July 7, 2009 at 10 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.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

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

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

Be Hold…The Belly Band!

Apart from the fact that I feel like I’m on a ship all the time and I can’t get enough sleep, I don’t have a lot of other pregnancy discomforts (not to discount the ones I do have, which have pretty much rendered me less than effective!).  It’s too early to feel the baby move, and the five pounds I’ve gained (yes, despite the fact that I’ve been so sick!) make me look like I indulged in one too many chocolate chip cookies (which in fact may just be true, thank you Zofran).  Needless to say, it won’t be long before my belly soon resembles that of a giant watermelon. When I was pregnant with my son, many people asked me questions like, “Are you sure you’re not having twins?” and “WHEN ARE YOU DUE?”  Yes, people are so tactful.  The fact is, I’m not quite 5 feet tall and when I carry a baby, it shows.  Once I’m in the third trimester, it’s a full waddle.  One of the things I remember about my first pregnancy, is the constant need to support my belly with my hands.  Everything just felt so heavy (which is actually what I’ve heard from a lot of pregnant women in the third trimester).

I would have LOVED to have used a belly band from Amon Maternity.  I’ve read a little about maternity belts, but the straps and velcro pretty much turn me off.  I mean, who really wants the entire population to know you’re wearing a maternity belt? Amon Maternity offers super comfy nylon/spandex support bands for pregnant bellies!  Here is a little more information about the be hold band from the site:

A user-friendly alternative to a maternity belt, this pregnancy belly band provides extra belly and lower back support. It also creates a smooth look under clothing. A must-have body shaper support piece for all pregnant women.

I used regular shapewear even up until I found out I was pregnant again.  I like how it holds everything in comfortably (ahem!).  I recently had an opportunity to try the be hold band and it’s super soft and comfy.  It doesn’t feel constricting, just supportive.  And it’s made of a light enough fabric that it will breathe.  This is important since I’ll be pregnant in the summer…in the desert Southern California!  I ordered a medium which corresponds to my pre-pregnancy size and there is plenty of room for my belly to grow (and it will!).  If you’ve ever been pregnant, than you may have experienced third trimester back pain.  I sincerely hope that the extra lift and support this band gives will help alleviate some of that pain. The band has a back support panel and an extra wide, expandable, under tummy support band.  The best part is, nobody really has to know you’re wearing the band since there are no straps or seems.

The be hold band retails for $25 and is available for purchase at Amon Maternity!  Be sure to check out the site for pregnancy and post natal support lingerie.

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

Bake and Learn With Zebra Mix Baking Mixes

I love to bake.  I grew up baking with my mom and an easy bake oven.  Children have this affinity for “grown-up” activities like cleaning, baking, and wearing mommy’s shoes!  My son is already showing interest in “helping” mommy out in the kitchen!  We all know that children like snacks!  As hard as I’ve tried to keep my son far away from cookies and cake…it’s been nearly impossible! So occasionally, I’ll buy healthy, organic versions of these treats.

Every experience is a learning opportunity for children.  The two parents behind Zebra Mix were looking for a way to allow their children to learn through exploration by tapping into their curiosity and providing experiences around their interests.  While baking from scratch is ideal, it’s often a messy, involved process.  The co founders behind Zebra Mix understood that and wanted to create healthy baking mixes that allowed children an opportunity to be autonomous without creating a mess for parents.  Here is a little more information about Zebra Mix from the site:

Zebra Mix is everything we want it to be, a brand that brings out the best in kids, addresses the core values of parents and is committed to the environment and making a superior product.

We received a Brownie Bites Kit, courtesy of Mom Fuse, to review.  Each mix comes with the dry ingredients and a fold-out Safari Baking Map.  One of the first things I look at when I purchase baking mixes is the list of ingredients.  Each of the four baking kits only contain natural ingredients you’ll find in your own kitchen.  What really sets these kid’s baking mixes apart from others we’re reviewed is the baking map that adds an additional learning component.  The map has two sides, one for children ages 4-9 (non-readers) and one for ages 9 and up (readers).  Some of the things you’ll find on the map include math challenges, solving mysteries, learning Spanish words, and more. I didn’t realize this but baking can actually be a way to teach children math, science, and reading and allows for critical thinking and creativity.  I think it’s neat when the instructions tell the child to stir the batter 22 times to the left and 28 times to the right.  Whether or not it needed a little more stirring that that is irrelevant because it teaches children how to count and their right from their left.  Overall, Zebra Mix baking mixes are fun, educational activities for children ages 4 and up.  Oh…and they taste good too! The brownies came out perfectly moist and soft!

You can purchase Zebra Mix baking mixes online or in stores near you for $5.99 each.  Amazon.com also has them in bulk where you’ll save a little money.

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

Keep Your Child Safe with The Watchdogz

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is McClure Family Space.  Congrats!

In one month, my son will be turn 2 and will be off to a little preschool down the street from our house.  I can’t believe the time has finally come to put him in school.  I’m obviously nervous, since I’ve never left him with anyone for more than an hour or so at our local church for Sunday School.  I know the school is safe and they won’t be leaving the premises, but the thought has crossed my mind about what I would do if he were to get lost.  The only other time I’ve thought about the possibility of him getting lost is our regular trips to Disneyland.  We park the stroller and walk hand and hand throughout Fantasyland, but he’s tried on numerous occasions to run off to the attractions he’s interested in.

Callie Brown, founder of  The Watchdogz temporary tattoos, also feared being separated from her children in crowded places.  She would place a piece of paper with contact information in her childrens’ pockets, but felt there had to be a more secure way of keeping that information with her children.  She soon developed a fun identification system using temporary tattoos.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Watchdogz are temporary tattoos that have a box within their design that provides a space in which to write an emergency contact number with the pen provided in the kit.  Unlike other generic tattoos, Watchdogz are unique characters. Kids love the dogz, love wearing them and showing them off to their friends.

The thought of ever losing my son terrifies me.  Unfortunately, even when he’s with us, nothing is guranteed.  It takes but one second to lose a child.  Watchdogz tattoos are brilliant.  Children may or may not be able to remember their parent’s phone number, particularly if they were to get lost or disoriented.  If you didn’t want your phone number readily visible, you could place the tattoo under the sleeve and instruct your child to tell someone that number if they ever got lost.  Children love tattoos and the characters are appealing enough for kids to want to wear them.

Watchdogz tattoos are non-toxic and FDA approved. Application is easy, simply stick it on your child’s skin, wet the back, and the tattoo is in place.   I left one on my son for a couple of days and it never rubbed off or smeared.  It did, however, come off relatively easy with a little baby oil.  When my child gets to an age where he’s going to field trips with his school, I’ll definitely be using these identification tattoos.  A pack of six retails for $8.99 and can be purchased directly from the site.  The company offers a girl and boy version of the tattoos.

Win It! One of you will win a pack of Watchdogz tattoos (either boy or girl).  Simply leave me a comment with which you prefer and how you’d use these (camp, field trips?).  Comments will close on June 8, 2009 at 10 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.

Add the “Spring In For Summer Fun” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure to visit the main party post for more details on extra entries)

Follow me on Twitter AND tweet about the contest. Be sure to use the hashtag #SummerEvent

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.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

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

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

Getting My Groove On With the slotRadio!

After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.

~Aldous Huxley, Music at Night and Other Essays

My husband and I are avid music lovers.  It’s just one of the many things that drew us together.  While we have a lot of commonality in our music tastes and interests, we also have our diverse likes and dislikes.  My husband has his own portable music player that he brings with him in the car, but it’s full of HIS music and it’s rare that I get a chance to take it with me anywhere.  His player requires downloading each song individually, which allows for a personalized play list, but takes a LOT of time and money.

I recently received a Sansa slotRadio to test out, thanks to Mom Fuse.  I was just as curious as you probably are about it so here is a little more information from the site:

The slotRadio player is a small, stylish, portable music device that comes bundled with a slotRadio card preloaded with 1,000 handpicked songs featuring artists from Billboard®’s charts, and professionally arranged into a variety of genre-themed playlists.

This stylish, affordable music player is compact and super easy to use!  I don’t have time to download music.  I don’t even know that I’d KNOW how to download music.  And…I don’t know that I could afford all of the music I’d like to download.  At $99 this is the perfect solution for moms on the go. And while the company offers 8 slotRadio cards in various genres, you don’t have to purchase them if you’re content with the music on the preloaded card.  In other words, there are no other hidden fees!

Once the player has charged, make sure your desired card is inserted, and you’re ready for endless music play.  The card that comes preloaded with the player is a variety of music from various genres.  I actually like this card because I can change the playlist for the mood or occasion (driving in the car v. working out).   I also received a “Rock” card and I was impressed with the seven playlists on the card.  “Rock” has been divided into 80′s, 90′s, Chillout, Classic, Hard, Modern, and Workout to fit your style or mood.  The cards retail for $39.99, and while that may seem a bit pricey, remember that there are 1000 songs on the card.  And I can’t imagine you’ll want a song that isn’t already on the card.  If you were to download 1000 songs from iTunes I guarantee it would be much more than $40.

In terms of functionality, it’s the slotRadio is very easy to use.  I like the OLED screen that displays artist and song information.  I also like the integration of an FM radio for those times where I want to listen to news or my favorite radio station.  The only thing I wish I had gotten (which I will most likely purchase) is the adapter for the car.  I’m not a huge fan of headphones unless I’m working out.  The car is the place where I listen to music the most so it would be nice to be able to listen in the car without headphones.  I should mention that when you’re working out, you can attach the slotRadio to your belt with the cip for hands-free listening.  And…the rubber cover that comes with it is perfect for moms like me that tend to be a bit clumsy!

The slotRadio is available for purchase online and will be available in Radio Shack stores nationwide.

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

The Food Loop Mini By Fusionbrands

I know I’m not the next Martha Stewart, but I do have to spend a bit of time in the kitchen, since my husband’s work schedule is a little hectic at times.  Because I despise love being in the kitchen so much, I’m always looking for gadgets that make food preparation and cooking easier.

There is a fabulous little company called Fusionbrands, specializing in products to make life in the kitchen just a little easier.  Here is a little more information from the site:

Everyday tasks can always be made easier, faster and more pleasurable. By blending material-science into simple machines, fusionbrands does just that.

Thanks to Mom Fuse, I received a set of The Food Loop Minis.  Have you ever tried to prepare something, only to have it fall apart?  Yes…I’m raising my hand high!  Thanks to these heat-resistant silicone food trussing tools, I can ditch string, toothpicks and other makeshift attempts to hold foods together.  The best part is that they can be used in the oven, in a pan on the stove, and in the microwave (which is where you really need them!).  I actually like it for keeping veggies together! And they don’t stick to the foods you’re trying to keep together! If you need them a bit longer, just link them together.  A set of 2 retails for $4.00 (what a bargain!).

Be sure to check out the entire collection of fun gadgets over at Fusionbrands.  I’m seriously considering getting the Food Loop Lace for Thanksgiving!

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

Plum Organics Tots

I’ve always strived to serve healthy meals and snacks in our household.  We regularly purchase organic foods to ensure that our entire family consumes foods in their purest and most natural form. When my son was a baby, I tried to make his baby food.  Realistically, I did not (and don’t) have the time for elaborate, homemade baby food so I opted for a brand that was as close to homemade as possible.  Most of my son’s early foods were by a company called Plum Organics.

Plum Organics was founded by a mom, just like you and I (except I’m not as savvy as she is!). Like myself, and maybe many of you, she wanted to make all of her son’s baby food so that he would consume the freshest and most nutritious baby food possible.  We all want our children to enjoy mealtime.  I get a little concerned if my son doesn’t want to eat because I truly want mealtimes to be a positive experience for him.  Food habits and preferences are shaped early on so diversity was just as important as the quality of the foods I offered him.  Here is a little more information about the company from the site:

Using baby-approved recipes and the finest organic ingredients, our products are cooked to perfection and then flash frozen to lock in freshness and nutrients. That’s why our foods retain more of their rich flavors, vibrant colors and textures.

Once my son passed the one year mark, he started losing interest in baby food (which is completely normal, by the way).  Then it became increasingly challenging to find healthy foods he would eat.  We tried some “toddler” meals available at Whole Foods, none of which appealed to him.  I am so excited to tell you about a new line from Plum Organics and I sincerely wish it was available months ago (it’s actually not even in stores yet!).  Plum Organics Tots is the “first and only complete line of organic snacks for toddlers.”  Toddlers are picky (as I’ve experienced first hand).  I almost think it’s easier to feed a baby than a toddler because at least babies are open to new foods.  The company will launch three new snacks:  Mish Mash, Fruity Fingerfuls, and Fiddlesticks.  All of the snacks are certified organic by the USDA and come in BPA-free packaging.

My son had an opportunity to try Banana Mish Mash, a fruit snack in a squeezable pouch.  We both loved the fact that he could feed this to himself without making a mess.  His desire for independence grows each day but he doesn’t always have the dexterity to completely feed himself so I like that the pouches are toddler-friendly.  Mish Mash is 100% organic fruit without added sugar, juice, colors, or flavors.  I tried a little while my son was playing with the package and it tastes like a pureed banana…plain and simple.  My son liked it too (I know this because he practically finished it).

Mish Mash along with the two other products from the Plum Organics Tots line will be available at Babies R Us stores in July and will retail between $1.39 and $3.49.  I hope they make their way to Whole Foods too!

Profuse thanks to Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

Calypso Studios (Updated With Giveaway)

This giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for stopping by.  The winner is CandG~Jill W.  Congrats!

I started thinking about all the changes I’ve made over the last year or so to help make our home safer and preserve the environment my son is growing up in .  I’ve eliminated toxic cleaners from our home, started shopping for local, organically grown foods, ditched the water bottle habit, purchased Energy Star appliances for our home, started using a programmable thermostat, eliminated plastics with BPA, and started bringing a reusable bag to the grocery store.  Whenever I engage in discussion with people about “going green,” two issues usually arise.  Many people think that purchasing eco-friendly products is more expensive (which at times may be true) and that “going green” means giving up style, fashion, and beauty in exchange for a “crunchy” way of life.

*    Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide

*    According to the EPA, over 380 billion bags are used in the USA every year, which is more than 1200 per resident and it takes about 12 million barrels of oil to make this many bags.

*    Over 46,000 pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans worldwide

*    Each reusable bag you use has the potential to eliminate an average of 1000 bags over its lifetime.

I recently had an opportunity to review a S.H.O.P (Start Helping Our Planet) tote and a pair of earrings from Calypso Studios.  Once you take a look at their gorgeous array of totes and jewelry, you’ll WANT to go green!  Here is a little more information about the company:

Calypso Studios debuted in January 2007 with a line of jewelry and accessories created from the earth’s natural elements: clay, shell and glass. The new line was immediately embraced and praised for the unique designs and mediums. The designs are on-trend and span the ages in both technique and the persons choosing these distinctive and exclusive designs.

The S.H.O.P. totes come in sets of three with fun Island colors, prints, and themes, and the set retails for $20.00 The company collaborated with American artists, such as Lori Siebert, Emma Hand,  Robin Roderick, Tina Higgins, and Andrea Tachiera to provide beautiful art on the totes.

Each tote can carry 20 pounds, which was impressive since they’re so light!  Americans throw away 100 billion bags every year and they end up in our landfills and oceans.  Some companies (i.e. Whole Foods) have eliminated all plastic bags from their stores and give you a small compensation for bringing in your own reusable bag.  There are tons of reusable bags available, but I’ve yet to see one as cute and stylish as those offered at Calypso Studios.  They store compactly (2″ x 3″ to be exact) thanks to the carrying case.  The bags are made of polyester but that is the only information I have regarding the materials used in the making of the bags. I’d love to know how they’re dyed and whether they’re recyclable.

I also received a pair of stunning Black Vineyard Earrings and they retail for $6.00! They are one inch long and consist of glass and iridescent beads suspended on twisted wire. They’re very stylish and look to be hand-crafted (but made well).

If you’re looking for affordable, fashionable accessories, be sure to check out Calypso Studios. The company donates a percentage of sales towards environmental organizations that help with causes of keeping landfills and waterways free of plastic and paper bags.

*Update* I have been conversing with one of the representatives of the company and she was kind enough to provide more information about the company.  If you remember, one of my questions was whether or not the bags were recyclable and what materials the bags are made of.  Here is what she had to say:

We use a lot of recycled glass & lead free materials.

Our SHOP Totes are polyester.

They (the bags) are recyclable in the sense that you are not using paper and plastic bags.

The bags are not dyed.  Rather, an art plate is used to make the bags.

Overall, I’m content with the response I received from the company.  I know there are many companies who claim to be eco-friendly and I want to ensure that the companies I share with you have evidence to support those claims!

Win It! Calypso Studios has been kind enough to offer one of you a S.H.O.P. tote. Just head on over to the site and take a look around.  Come back here and leave me a comment with your favorite!  Comments will close on May 29, 2009 at 10 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.

Add the “Spring In For Summer Fun” banner to your sidebar and leave me a comment (be sure to visit the main party post for more details on extra entries)

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.

Place my button on your site. If you have difficulty, please let me know.

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

Profuse thanks to Calypso Studios and Mom Fuse for this review opportunity!

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