EcoMom Sampler Review/Giveaway & Discount Code!

This giveaway is now closed. The discount remains until June 30th. Thanks for participating!

I was recently introduced to this fabulous company called EcoMom. I'm currently obsessing over their website- it literally has everything I could ever want. I was generously given a sampler to try out on B & I was so excited. I'm always looking for healthy, fun, yummy choices for B for snacking & meals, & these products pretty much fit the bill.

I received a sampler that included 3 types of Revolution Foods Squeezable Fruit- Berry, Tropical, & Strawberry Banana' Peach & Strawberry Banana Mish Mash by Plum Organics, Apple Carrot Fiddlesticks by Plum, a Honey Graham & Strawberry Yogurt Grammy Sammy, & two Jammy Sammys- Strawberry Jam & Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly & Peanut Butter.  I was so excited for B to try all these foods & I can honestly say, it's been less than one week since we received them & they're almost all gone.

I first threw a couple snacks in my bag while Mike & I went to an eye doctor appointment.  In between exams, we broke out some snacks for B.  I was a little skeptical of how the squeezables would work (both brands are very similar products), but Mike just started squeezing it into B's mouth.  Instant success! He loved it! So I swiped it & tried a little... it was pretty tasty!  Later, B tried a Grammy Sammy & he loved it as well.  I, of course, stole a bite & thought that it was delicious!

I especially love how well the squeeze fruits travel.  We're bike riders & they are great to throw in the chariot, along with our snacks.  We took them along with us on all our bike rides last week & I am planning to order more today!

EcoMom offers a lot of other great products, as well as the food.  Check out their site for toys & books, countertop composters (I want one so bad!), & numerous other baby & family eco-friendly products.  They have just released a new program to help you save money as well, on all of these products.  Join EcoPass & you'll receive a 15% discount on every purchase, plus FREE SHIPPING!

Want to try a sampler? Go to EcoMom & use this code: SBBL330 to get 15% off your first order, through the 30th of June.  You can also win a Plum Organics Sampler &/or Revolution Foods Sampler worth $20.00 right here! Awesome, right?!

Here's how to enter:

mandatory entry: go to EcoMom & tell me about a product you want or something you learned from the site.

1. Subscribe via email to my blog. Be sure to confirm it; this will be verified (worth 2 entries- comment separately for each).

2. Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect.

3. Grab my button; let me know where it is.

4. Like EcoMom on Facebook.

5. Join EcoMom's Newsletter.

6. Follow @mandyw526 & @EcoMomCEO on twitter. Leave your twitter name on the comment. 

7.  Tweet this twice daily (minimum 4 hours apart)- Treat your kids with a Plum Organics/Revolution Food Sampler from @EcoMomCEO & @mandyw526: http://bit.ly/9LSz9G : Ends 6/23

8. Blog about this giveaway; let me know where the post is.

9. Make a purchase through EcoMom.  Let me know what you bought- worth 15 extra entries!

10. Sign up for Swagbucks, using this link. Swagbucks is a google powered search engine that rewards you for searching the internet! Easy Peasy! You can get giftcards and more.  Let me know that you signed up, with that link, and this is worth 8 extra entries! 

Giveaway ends June 23rd at 9pm CST. Winner will be drawn via random number generator & will be contacted via email/twitter/text.  Winner has 24 hours to a respond before I will draw another winner.  I received the Sampler free of charge, but the opinions expressed in this post are strictly mine & not influenced by the company in any way. Thanks for participating & Thanks to EcoMom for sponsoring!!!  

The Big Tease - Snookie Poof Style.

I have a few reviews I need to post, but I haven't been doing a good job of actually finishing them. I decided to post a little teaser & now I can blame all of you if I don't get them done!

Tasty fruit snacks- Who doesn't love fruit snacks?  Especially yummy organic ones?

Yoreganics laundry- um. Organic. Laundry. Complete with giveaway. Rock on! 

CSN stores- they carry practically anything you can imagine throughout their 200 plus online stores! Want a changing table? They've got it! Want to outfit your basement in bar furniture? They've got it! Want an eco-friendly Big Shrimpy Doodle dog toy?  Um, guess what? They've got it!

Melvin the Magnificent Molar - He's a molar & he's magnificent. Betcha everyone wants to read this now!

Aren't you excited? Now I know I'll get them done! 

green is the new black.

Earth Day was yesterday. What did you do? What do you do everyday to save our Earth? 

I started my buying celebration early & bought cloth wipes & numerous diapers throughout this week.  Today I took B to the park & we had a picnic.  I was disappointed in myself for not already having reusable lunch/snack bags, but I carried unpaper towels & reusable water bottles, so I'm trying not to be too hard on myself!  This brought me to the decision that, weather permitting, I'd like to get outside to eat lunch at least twice a week! 

I needed to run to Michaels for a Cookie Lee donation gift (see my CL blog for those details) & while there, I decided to pick up a canvas bag.  I have tons of bags. Seriously, tons. They're my guilty pleasure. And I always think about making a cute canvas tote, so yesterday, in honor of Earth Day, I did it! 

Here's the finished product!  Perfect for library books, quick trips if one of my other thousand bags is a mess, a few groceries, etc!

And here's a few from the park:

CooshytOOsh Potty Pads

I'll admit, when I had first thought about trying out Potty Pads, or family cloth as they're more commonly known, I was not overly excited.  While I may be green about quite a few things & I don't mind cloth diaper cleanup, I was still a little leery of using cloth for myself.  I was quite certain that my husband wouldn't want to use them, nor do I want to wash them after he does, so I actually never asked him his thoughts.  Instead, I put them in a drawer in our bathroom & hoped I'd get around to trying them out.

I received mine from CooshytOOsh, an Etsy shop (as a side note, Susie, the owner, grew up about 15 minutes from where I live & she is currently in Washington State, where I used to live! ).  Susie has been incredibly sweet & great to work with.  Here's what she says about the Potty Pads:

Description

BUY NOW AND RECEIVE A FREE LAUNDRY BAG FOR SUPER EASY LAUNDRYING!!

3" X 5" WIPERS 40 of super SOFT COTTON

MADE OF SUPERBLY RICH LUXURIOUSLY SOFT COTTON

7" x 8" laundry mesh bag with drawstring. Just pull shut and throw in the laundry!!

SAVE OVER $500 to $875 a year!!

PROMISE ONCE YOU USE THESE SPA ESSENTIALS YOU'LL NEVER WALK DOWN THAT TOILET PAPER ISLE AGAIN!!

So, back to me. I've ended up using the Potty Pads & I must say, I didn't mind them one bit! Now, I haven't used them for um... let's just say... everything ...yet, but I like them! I still need to work out my system for storage of the clean & the used wipes, but I think once I get it down, it'll be no big deal! And, even if I only use them for urine, they'll save me tremendously (because tp is one thing I don't buy cheap- on sale yes, but not cheap).  These are uber-soft & fluffy, even after washing.  In fact, I even tried them out on B, now that I've decided to make the switch to cloth wipes for him.  They worked wonderfully- they're just a bit smaller than my other wipes. 

Moral of the story- don't be scared of trying new things! Especially if you cloth diaper- what's the big deal?! And these are so soft, you may never want to go back! 

Check out CooshytOOSh for more unpaper products, as well as cloth diapers & accessories.  I hope to try out her Eco Baby Wipes next! 

Want to try your own Potty Pads? Susie has generously offered up a set, complete with laundry bag! 

Mandatory Entry: You must check out CooshytOOsh on Etsy & let me know what you love! Make sure to leave some contact info in the entry. If I can't contact you, you can't win. 

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each of these):

1.  Follow my blog!

2. Subscribe to my blog!

3. Follow me on twitter - @mandyw526

4. Tweet the following (tweet can be done twice a day, minimum of 4 hours apart): Feel clean & be green with CooshytOOsh Potty Pads from @mandyw526: http://bit.ly/bbAm4u Ends : 5/3

4.  Order anything from CooshytOOsh- Worth 10 extra entries (separate comments for each entry, please).

5. "Favorite" or "heart" your favorite product on CooshytOOsh - let me know what item you chose.

this giveaway ends May 3rd, 2010 at 9pm cst. winner will be chosen via random number generator & contacted by email, twitter, or text. winner has 24 hours to respond or I will redraw. thanks to CooshytOOsh for sponsoring (providing both Potty Pads for my family & for my winner) & thank you for participating! 

ETA: Extra Entry Opp!! Sign up for Swagbucks using this link & you can have 8 extra entries! 

It's a Hairy Situation

Or perhaps Greasy would be more correct.

As you all know, I'm working on switching to organic, vegan, etc, etc products.  So far, I've liked the things I've switched to ... except the shampoo.  I've bought Trader Joe's organic shampoo & conditioner & then I tried some organic shampoo from an Etsy shop.

So far, no luck.  As soon as I get out of the shower & comb my hair, it feels greasy.  Right after I blow dry it, it feels greasy.  The back especially. Ugh!

Any ideas? Any suggestions?

I've been thinking about going no 'poo or possibly conditioner only... but I'm leery because I am in a wedding on May 1st.  I also have two bridal showers & a bachelorette party before then ... I can't have yucky greasy hair.

What do I do?

Calling all Etsy-ers (and the like)!

As I'd mentioned in my New Years post, I'd really like to start using Etsy & other handmade products, rather than buying from commercialized companies.  I also think it's important to get some names out there, since I only really know of a few Etsy shops here & there.

Wanna help me?  Of course you do!

Let me know who you are, who you shop, what products are great, must-haves!

I'm currently working on a paperless blog event (you know, un-paper towels, un-plastic bags, cloth diapers of course! And hopefully many more!) & am looking for more sponsors.  Let me know if you'd like to be involved! I'd love to get your name/shop out there & let people know who you are & what you do.  If you're a frequent buyer of a shop you'd like to see featured, let me know & I'll contact them.  I'm trying to think 'outside the box', so help me get creative!

In the future, I'm looking forward to trying out skincare products, cleaning products, jewelry, clothing & many more, so keep me in mind if you sell/buy something else!

Thanks!