Soap for Goodness Sake -- Giveaway

I stumbled across this cute little online shop a few months ago, and just knew my readers would love this place. Soap for Goodness Sake is a one man show (well, lady actually).   Kathy Byrd, with the support of her husband John began making soaps and cosmetics back in 2001.  She studied toxins and their effects on people carefully and worked to keep harmful chemicals out of her products.

There are so many natural and organic products to chose from, and even organic baby products.  I was spoiled a while back, when I lived in Colorado.  These types of products were readily available at the corner Whole Foods (because their was practically a Whole Foods on every corner).  However in rural Maryland finding healthy, organic products is hard.  Next to impossible it seems with out traveling a long distance to find them.

What I love about Soap for Goodness Sake:

• It's a small family company, run by a wife with the support of her husband.
• There are so many products to choose from and her prices are very reasonable.
• Shipping is also reasonable, which makes shopping here worthwhile.
• She lists the ingredients of each product right on the website.  Are you a label reader? Me too. She provides it all so you can chose what product is best for you.
• She's easy to reach.  Have a question?  Ask her. She's fabulous at checking her email, and gets back fast.

Kathy sent me a lovely shampoo and conditioner to try out.  The Exactly Geranium and Ylang Ylang Organic Shampoo and matching conditioner. My daughter and I are both using it, and it leaves our hair so soft and easy to manage.  My daughter's hair is especially tough, she has tight curls that can be a bear to manage.  This conditioner makes her hair so easy to comb out.  It smells lovely too.  I love the light fragrance I can smell when I kiss the top of her head. I also love knowing that there are no harmful chemicals, so I feel safe knowing she is using it.

We're doing a quick giveaway this week!  One lucky winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to Soaps for Goodness Sake.  Fill out the rafflecopter entry form below for your chance to win. If it's taking a long time to load (which it does sometimes) click here for my back up post. It loads faster!

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Prosperity Candle Review and Giveaway

The Journey of a Candle

I'm so happy to introduce you to a very special candle company.  Prosperity Candle is not just a candle company, they are a social enterprise with a mission to empower women who have suffered the effects of war, and help them rebuild their lives through entrepreneurship. Prosperity Candle trains women in candle production, teaches them entrepreneurial skills to build and manage their business.  The company's focus is on creating real and sustainable market opportunities for women, as they believe that the key component to poverty alleviation is market-based solutions that complement traditional aid. I'd like to introduce you to one of the many women this company has helped.

Meet Moo Kho.  Born in Thailand, she was taken back to Burma when she was barely four years old by her grandmother, leaving behind her mother and father.  She was not reunited with her mother for another 15 years, at which time her father had tragically died. While in Burma, she experienced the horror of her village burned down, and people brutally killed in front of her.  She fled the country and settled in a refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border.

In 2008, Moo Koh, her husband and their young daughter arrived in the United States. It was part of a resettlement program in Springfield, Massachusetts coordinated by the Lutheran Family Services. Shortly after moving, she gave birth to twin daughters.  Today, Moo Kho proudly shares her accomplishments including having just been ordained as a minister in her Burmese church in Springfield.  When asked about her dreams, she quietly replies, "I am a servant of God.  Whatever God asks of me, that is what I will do."

Moo Koh works along side other women from Burma in their studio in West Springfield, Massachusetts. For many of these women, this is their first job and most of them have just started to learn English.  They produce a large number of candles, carefully pouring wax and trimming wicks.  Prosperity Candle is expanding, and has a pilot program in Haiti, and in Iraq.

I was sent a Peace, Prosperity, Opportunity Travel Tin to sample, straight from the studio in Springfield.  The fragrance of the candle was lovely.  Strong, but not overwhelming, I could even smell the fragrance when the candle wasn't lit.  This candle's fragrance filled my home, better than almost any candle I've tried.

Now you get a chance to win a sample, too!  The winner of this giveaway gets one recycled bottle candle pictured below. Enter the Rafflecopter form below to try this awesome candle.  Please know it's taking a bit to load, if you don't see it below and need to hurry click here for the faster loading post.

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Conscious Box Giveaway!

Here it is!  A few days ago, I received my own Conscious Box in the mail and wrote this review.  I was so happy with my box, I'm so glad Conscious Box wants me to give away a 3 month subscription to one of my lucky readers.

The giveaway goes live at midnight, March 21st. Use the rafflecopter form below to enter.  It may take a minute to show, so just be patient or click here to go to my other blog where it's loading faster.   Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking back to Hip Homeschool Moms

Conscious Box - A review

I've been patiently eagerly waiting for my Conscious Box to come in the mail, ever since Jameson Morris, president of Conscious Box contacted me to review his product.

I won't lie.  I grilled him.  He'll probably agree with that.  How does it work, what's your company like, etc etc.  He shined.  Most monthly box services are so expensive that I never really was interested enough to try them, or you had to sign up for like 5 years worth of boxes to make it worth your while.  However with Conscious Box, you can try it once, or you can sign up for a few months or a year.  Up to you, and it's super flexible.  You'll receive a box stuffed of samples of green products for you to try.  There are plenty of options too, you can get their traditional box, a vegan box, or a gluten free box.  I opted to try the gluten free.

Here's what was in my gluten free box:

• 4 oz. trial size of Jovial Brown Rice Pasta
• 3 oz. Wheatgrass Boost from Agro Labs
• 1 oz. Package of Teras Whey, organic whey protein powder
• A sample size of Zarbee's All-Natural Cough Syrup
• Two Degrees Apple Pecan snack bar
• Two tea bags of Stash Very Berry Organic Tea (drinking one right now!)
• One tea bag of Runa Mint Guayusa Tea
• A sample of Kelapo Organic Coconut Oil
• A sample of Babytime Cheeky Salve
• A sample of Emily skin soother
• Two bags of Nektar Honey Crystals (perfect to add in my Very Berry Tea)
• A Yummy Earth Organic Lollypop
• 2 samples of Smarty Pants gummy vitamins, one for adults one for kids.

What I love about Conscious Box:

• Like any monthly box delivery, you get new stuff every month.  How fun it is to open your box each month and see what goodies await you.
• Clear communication.  The ordering process is simple, and you get good communication as to when your box will ship, an email stating that it did ship along with tracking so you know exactly where your goodies are and when they'll be in your mailbox.
• The box delivers!  It was absolutely stuff full of goodies to try.  These experts packed it in such a way that I couldn't fit everything back in the box after I pulled it out.  Definitely over $20 worth of items in there to sample.
• There is no minimum to buy.  You can try it just once, or you can get a monthly subscription.  I'm kinda afraid of commitment, so I appreciate knowing I can try it out before I commit to a month or more.

Head on over to Conscious Box and check them out, and be sure to follow my Facebook page for discounts and sales.  Oh, and there will be a giveaway!  Thursday check back and enter to win a 3 month subscription to Conscious Box!

Beecology Giveaway!

Last week I had the pleasure of doing a review for Beecology and I'm thrilled to announce this giveaway!  I've coordinated with co-owner Amy Rzepka to bring you some awesome products to try out for yourself.

The winner of this giveaway will receive four awesome body products.

Relaxing Lavender Bar Soap

Relaxing Lavender, Hand and Body Cream

Lemon Lavender Lip Balm

Foaming Lavender Hand Soap

Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  **Please be aware that for some reason it is taking a minute or two to load.**  If you want to see it right now, please hop over to my food blog where it is loading faster.  Click here. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking back to Hip Homeschool Moms

Giveaway Winner!!

Congratulations to Stephanie P. our Live Good Giveaway winner!

An email has been sent to you about how to get your pillow, be sure to look for it.

Next giveaway begins Thursday with awesome body products from Beecology!  Be sure to check back. :)

Live Good Giveaway!

Earlier this week I did a review on Live Good's eco-smart, luxurious pillows.  Now here's your chance to win one for yourself.  This child size pillow is a $100 dollar value.  The pillow is made from 100% organic materials.  No harsh chemicals for your precious one.  Good luck!!

PS.  Make sure you enter in the Rafflecopter entry form below.  For some reason it's taking a minute to load, hopefully that fixes itself soon!  If you don't see it, just wait a minute or click here!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking back to: Hip Homeschool Moms

Living good with Live Good Organic Cotton Bedding

How can you take great care of yourself while also acting responsibly towards the environment?  This is the question that drove the foundation of Live Good, an environmentally friendly,  organic line of pillows and linens.

"We founded Live Good to forge a path toward that dual achievement. We believe you don't need to compromise. You can live sustainably, supporting the long-term health of your neighbors and the planet, and also live well, in elegance and comfort. We want to help you find that state of harmony with nature, with your community, and with yourself.

So we've started a business that reflects this ethos: a Live Good line of home products that upholds each and every aspect of our mission.  Everything we make is local.  Everything is sustainable sourced and organic.  And everything is designed to increase your quality of life.  We haven't sacrificed luxury and beauty in our commitment to supporting practices that are ecologically and economically sound."


I was approached a few weeks ago by Live Good to review their organic pillows.  I'm very picky when approached by companies wishing for reviews, and gave them a thorough look over.  I am so impressed with what I saw and what they were doing.

Here's what I love:

• 100% organic cotton grown in Texas.
• Pillow inserts are made from the kapok tree, a renewable resource that makes a fabulous, soft, moisture resistant, odorless fiber which is perfect for you or baby.
• All manufacturing done in the United States, making this a locally grown product.
• All inks are water based and formaldehyde free. They are certified organic by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), which means there are no GMO's, toxic chemicals, and that workers are given a fair wage.  
• Beautiful stylish products that are lovely in your home.

We were given the center pleated pillow to sample, and it quickly became a favorite in our living room. When I opened the package my daughter noted immediately a fresh vinegary smell...not a yucky chemical smell that usually comes from manufactured goods.  The pillow is soft, comfortable and beautiful!  You can tell the pillow is well made, and the cute wooden button on the back is soft and unobtrusive.

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I'm so impressed with their pillow, I've decided to save up for new bedsheets.  Our budget is super tight, but if the pillow serves as an example they will be worth saving for.

Starting Friday, I will be hosting a giveaway on one of their children's pillows!  Their "Live Good Baby" pillow will be featured as a gift to the lucky winner.  A $100 dollar value!  Be sure to check back on Friday for giveaway rules.

Disclosure:  I was not paid to review this product, however I was given a sample for review.

Reviews and Giveaways

Just a quick peak at some upcoming reviews and giveaways!


Reviews:

Wabibito
Soap for Goodness Sake

Give Aways:

The Non Toxic Shop
Live Good

Green Garmento Winner!

Congratulations to Multi-talented Mama!  She won the Green Garmento Garment Bag!

An e-mail will be sent to you so be sure to check for it. :)

Have a great weekend everyone, and a Happy Valentine's Day!

Green Garmento Giveaway

I have to admit, I feel pretty lucky that I was approached by Green Garmento to do a review and giveaway. I love this bag and all of it's many uses. I rarely do dry cleaning, but I still managed to find many uses for this bag around the house. This bag can be a laundry bag, perfect for if your washer isn't on the same floor as your bedrooms (like my house is), or if you have to go to the laundry mat. It can be a clothes hamper, a duffel bag, and a garment bag. Perfect for traveling, and the dry cleaners.  These bags are only $9.99, but my readers have a chance to win one...free.

Green Garmento is giving away a bag to one of my readers in a color of their choice. Click here to take a look at which one you like, and then enter by leaving a comment for each entry below. Here's how to enter.

1. Leave a comment telling me how you'd use the bag, and which color you'd like.
2. Follow Green Momma on GFC (hit the follow button on your right).
3. Follow me on Facebook
4. Follow Green Garmento on Facebook
5. Follow Green Garmento on Twitter and tell us who you are in your comment below.
6. Follow Green Momma on Twitter and be sure to tell me who you are in your comment below.
7. For 5 entries, blog about this giveaway on your own blog. Be sure to put a link to your blog in your comment below.

Good luck everyone! These bags are so amazing, I know you'll love them. Be sure to make a comment for each entry. This giveaway ends February 11th, at 10:00pm EST. The winner will be announced shortly after. Have a great day!

ThermaCare Winner!!

Congratulations to Sohamolina! They are the winner of the ThermaCare winter comfort pack!!

You will have an e-mail sent to you shortly and will have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be picked.

Be sure to stick around for another giveaway.  Must be in the air or something, but I have something new lined up...again!!

Prefenz Winner!

Congratulations to Christina F.  She won the 8 oz. bottle of Prefenz Hand Sanitizer.  An e-mail will be sent to you, so be sure to check for it. :)

 Be sure to check out their website for more information on their products.

TGIF!!

ThermaCare Giveaway!

I have yet another giveaway for my readers. ThermCare HeatWraps brand new Facebook page is launching on today, January 11th, and they’re giving away 10,000 free samples.  Anyone can just visit www.Facebook.com/ThermaCare beginning on Tuesday for more details on how to receive one.


Now for the giveaway part! Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has offered my readers a soothing winter prize pack. The winner will recieve:

•  Microfleece blanket
• A decorative mug
• Delicious seasonal tea
• ThermaCare Heatwraps

There are many ways to enter, and please leave a comment for each separate entry so they are each counted.

1. Follow me on Google Friend Connect.  (hit the follow button on the right)

2. Follow me on Facebook 

3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Visit ThermaCare's new Facebook page and "like" them.
5. Post this giveaway on your blog, leave a link to it in your comment.

Giveaway ends Monday January 24th, at 10pm EST.

This giveaway is sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Dealing with the Colorado winter right now, I found their tips very helpful.  This is a snippet from their company:

To help combat these cold weather aches and pains, ThermaCare HeatWraps offer the following tips to keep you moving during the cold weather months.


1. Warm up before any outdoor activity – A quick 10 minute warm up can prevent hours of aches and pains. If you are going to be skiing/ice skating or even playing outside with your family, make sure to stretch and do simple conditioning like squats or lunges to get your body moving before going outside. 


2. Pace yourself while shoveling snow – We all know the aches and pains that come from shoveling snow. However, there are certain things you can do to protect your body from getting hurt. Try choosing a shovel with a plastic blade rather than a metal blade. Plastic blades are lighter and may do less harm on your back. Also try to take breaks and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated in the cold. While this may take a little longer to finish your driveway, your body will thank you for it later!


3. Dress warm and in layers –Minor aches and pains often feel worse in cold weather. If you are going to be outside for long periods of time, remember to wear a hat and scarf to ensure you are staying warm in the cold. 


4. Wear comfortable non-slip shoes – Icy patches on roads are sometimes unnoticeable, so it’s important to do everything you can to avoid slips or falls. When you are walking to and from your car while grocery shopping and doing other chores, make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes with good traction.


5. Try using ThermaCare® HeatWraps – Reach for ThermaCare® HeatWraps when you know you have a long day of winter activities ahead of you to help keep you moving and relieve aches and pains. They are available in custom sizes for a variety of aches and pains and are proven to be more effective for back pain than the maximum dose of acetaminophen (4,000 mg). * (* As measured after 8 hours.)


Now for the giveaway part! Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has offered my readers a soothing winter prize pack. The winner will recieve:

•  Microfleece blanket
• A decorative mug
• Delicious seasonal tea
• ThermaCare Heatwraps

There are many ways to enter, and please leave a comment for each separate entry so they are each counted.

1. Follow me on Google Friend Connect.  (hit the follow button on the right)

2. Follow me on Facebook 

3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Visit ThermaCare's new Facebook page and "like" them.
5. Post this giveaway on your blog, leave a link to it in your comment.

Giveaway ends Monday January 24th, at 10pm EST. This giveaway is sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Good luck!

Prefenz Hand Sanitizers -- Giveaway!

I was approached by Stacy at Prefenz to try out their hand sanitizer.  I'm very picky on the types of products I review and host as a giveaway, and I asked why she felt her hand sanitizer was a green product.  Because this product contains no alcohol, and it's strong enough to only need to use it once a day it fit the bill.

Their product claims every day protection against bacteria, viruses, and fungi.   I'm no scientist, and I can't say the product does what it says it does.  I will say, I used it my entire vacation while traveling to Virginia.  Airplanes can be gross!  I used it on my kids and on myself while we were traveling and no one got sick.  I also have very sensitive and dry skin, and this product seemed less harsh on my skin the the conventional alternatives.  The active ingredient is amosilq silica complex.  Google it.

Here are some things you should know about prefenz.

1. Like I said before, there is no alcohol. Prefenz is made of all-natural ingredients and has absolutely NO alcohol in it.

2. Their technology protects you for 24 hours or 10 hand washings.

3. Prefenz is non-toxic and safe for kids!

4. Prefenz is silica based which means it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional alcohol sanitizers. It actually smoothes and softens your hands.

5. Prefenz protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more.

6. Because “one spray lasts all day” their 1.5 oz Prefenz Botanicals Hand Sanitizer offers 120 applications, costing only $.08 per day, compared to $1.20 per day with alcohol hand sanitizers.

Prefenz has generously offered to do a giveaway. Up for grabs is their 8 oz. bottle of hand sanitizer, yours to try free. Leave a comment for each separate entry. Here's a list of ways to enter:

1. Follow Green Momma using Google Friend Connect, just click the Follow button on the right.
2. Follow Green Momma on Facebook.
3. Follow Green Momma on Twitter @greenmomma
4. Follow Prefrenz on Facebook.
5. Follow Prefrenz on Twitter.

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only. Good luck everyone!! The winner will be picked January 14th at 10:00pm EST.

Canning Friday!

Yesterday I got some tomatoes from a farmer's market for super cheap. I'm going to be doing some canning today, so I wanted to link back to my tomato canning post from last year. I'll be posting pictures of these organic beauties and updating my canning process.

Off to the hot humid kitchen. If you haven't signed up for my giveaway, please do! You won't want to miss this one.

TGIF!

Sun and Earth -- The Official Giveaway!

As I mentioned on Tuesday, I found a company that I am really going to enjoy. I have gotten together with Sun and Earth on Open Sky, and now I"m offering my readers a giveaway. I'm so stoked.

Here is what you will recieve, compliments of Sun and Earth:

Dishwasher Packs

 Dishwashing liquid soap

Liquid Hand soap

 Laundry Detergent

 Fabric softener

 Dryer Sheets

All purpose cleaner

On the spot instant stain remover

Concentrated Floor Cleaner

I hope I haven't left anything out!!

There are tons of ways for you to enter.  Each entry must be a separate comment to this post to be counted as an entry.

1. Follow me through Google Friend Connect.

2. Follow my facebook page.
3. Follow my twitter @greenmommas
4. Follow Sun and Earth's twitter @sunandearth
5. Visit Sun and Earth's website.
6. Enter their photo contest.
7. Leave them a message on one of their facebook pages, either fan page, group page, or user account. I found them here.
8. Create a post on your blog about this giveaway!

Good luck with your entries friends.  This is a fantastic up and coming company that I'm sure we'll here more and more about.  What great stuff!!

Giveaway ends Monday, October 4th at 10:00 pm EDT.  Winner will be chosen by a random number generator. 

Sweet Potato Cakes

The first recipe we tried from Anni's Organically raised was the sweet potato cakes.  I let my children sit down with the cook book to pick what they wanted to try first.  As they ooh'd and aah'd over the very cute photos in the book, the two of them settled on the sweet potato cakes.

My kids are very different.  My son is not a picky eater, and he is typically willing to try anything once.  My daughter on the other hand is a macaroni and cheese connoisseur since that's just about all she eats.  She was willing to try this recipe because she was involved with the process.  We went to whole foods together, and picked out the organic vegetable ingredients.  She felt so proud with her child size grocery cart.

In the end, she ate a few of these, and that says a lot for her.  If it's not macaroni and cheese, it's pretty much not worth her time.  Anni's recipes incorporate ingredients that simply taste good, good choices of cheeses and pan fried onions really took this simple recipe to the next level.  They were also delicious cold, which was perfect for in between meal snacks.

My son loved these so much he asked if I could make them on his birthday.  He says, "They are cakes afterall."  He ate most of these, stuffed himself silly like a growing boy should.  We're excited to try more recipes.  I keep trying to hide from my daughter that there is a macaroni and cheese recipe in here.  I'll make it for her soon. :)

Don't forget to enter into my giveaway for Anni's book, Organically Raised!

Organically Raised -- The official giveaway!

This is the official post for my latest giveaway, Organically Raised by Anni Daulter.

On Tuesday I did a review on Anni's book, Organically Raised.  I feel so fortunate to have a spare copy of this book that I can share with you.

Here are the rules:

Every entry must have it's own unique comment below.

1.  First entry is to leave a comment.

2. Second is to follow my blog. 

(this counts if you already are a follower!)

3. Third entry is to follow my blog on my facebook page.

4. Follow Anni on twitter here.

5. Follow Anni's facebook page here.

There is a max of five entries and each entry must have it's own comment below.

The winner will be picked on Monday August 2nd, at 10:00pm EST.

Best of luck to all!

.

Organically Raised -- A book review

A few weeks ago I was approached by author Anni Daulter to do a review about her new book, Organically Raised.  I'm always thrilled to meet mom's with a similar outlook on food and children as I do, and I knew by the title, she was just that person.

Let me take you back seven and a half years.  My son was born in the middle of winter, and I was a working mom.  I was a full time high school teacher who had just had the biggest life changing moment in my life: Motherhood.  I immediately wanted to give my son the healthiest start in life that I could.  Life is hard, and I knew with good eating habits his life would not be as hard as some.  Organic foods hadn't hit the typical grocery shelves, so I had to search off the beaten path at the tiny "Natural Foods Stores."  Most farmers in Northern Virginia at the time had not started to make the transition to a pesticide free way of farming, so even the farmer's market at times was a bust.  I learned as I went, hunting down things when I could.  Most people thought I was crazy.

Fast forward now to present day.  Less people think I'm crazy, and after family and friends did their own research,  I've received apologies.  We are a whole foods organic household, bottom line.  My kids know it, and are proud of it.  So what does this have to do with this book?

Anni's book is the epitome of this.  Why should you eat organic? Why antibiotic free meat?  Does your household diets change with the seasons?  Have you ever tasted conventional baby food?  It's nasty!

If your a new mother or a seasoned mom of many, you need this book.   There are baby food recipes, but there are many healthy homemade recipes for older kids too.  It's never too late to start healthy eating habits.

I spoke of my own experiences because I couldn't help but to think that I wish I had this book seven and a half years ago.  It answers the simple questions like, when to start introducing your child to solid foods, and offers suggestions as to what to try.  Her philosophy on making baby food that actually tastes good instead of the tasteless stuff sold at the store.  This book is filled with peaceful "mama mantras" to use while your cooking as well.  I know that our future hopefully holds at least one more baby, and I'm so glad to say that I have a spare copy of this book to share with you.

This Thursday, I'll be sharing some of my own cooking adventures with Anni's book, and I'll be hosting a giveaway so you get to see this beautiful book first hand.

For more information on Anni and her books check out her blog and her book website:


http://www.annidaulter.com/
http://www.organicallyraisedcookbook.com/