Garrick Goes Green

2011- Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:08:00 +0000

So I guess you have all noticed that I have been MIA the past couple of months. Sorry about that. A kitchen remodel that moved my computer to a difficult-to-use location, followed by Thanksgiving, G turning 2 and Christmas have all contributed.

My first resolution of 2011 is to return to my blog!

I hope you all have a safe and happy New Year's celebration!

Rockin' Green Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:44:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #51-

helenlam said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/helenlamby/status/26053408447

October 1, 2010 1:32 AM

Congrats! I'm emailing you now!

Rockin' Green Review and Giveaway!CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:44:00 +0000

As you all know by now, G wears only cloth diapers. And, because of this, we are always trying to find the best way to clean his dipes as well as our own clothes. I didn't want anything with yucky residue to be on my baby's bum. I searched around and heard lots of great stuff about Rockin' Green. What is Rockin' Green, you ask? This is directly from their site:

Rockin’ Green is made of safe, phosphate free ingredients which makes it good for the planet and gentler on your little ones. Everything is made with love, and put to the test every single day on my own families diapers and laundry. So you know that I expect only the best from everything that I send out the door.

Ingredients: sodium carbonate , sodium percarbonate, natural chelating agents, sodium sulfate, biodegradable surfactants, natural fragrance oils (if scented is chosen)

And those scents? Super yummy! I chose to review Lavender Mint Revival. It made by laundry room smell heavenly :) but does not leave anything but clean on your diapers and clothing. I love Rockin' Green! My clothes and G's diapers are clean and I don't have to worry about anything rubbing off on his skin. As a bonus, the Earth is not getting more junk rinsed into the waterways: it's a win-win!

Speaking of winning... who wants to win a full size bag of Rockin' Green? That's enough to do 45 loads in a regular machine/ 90 in a HE machine. Wow! Here's how to enter:

Mandatory Entry: Go to Rockin' Green and tell me which one you will pick if you win- tell me both the formula (Classic, Soft, or Hard Rock) and the scent!

Extra Entries:

~ Follow my blog
~ "Like" GGG on Facebook
~ "Like" Rockin' Green on Facebook
~ Follow me on Twitter @betsyssi
~ Follow Rockin" Green on Twitter @rockingreensoap
~ Subscribe to my blog
~ Grab my New Button!!! (tell me where to find it!) ~ 3 entries!~
~ Tweet about this giveaway! May be done 2x a day at least 4 hours apart, use @betsyssi, @rockingreensoap, and #clothdiapers in your tweets!

Giveaway ends October 5th, midnight EST. Winner will be contacted by email and has 48 hours to respond.

I was given free samples of Rockin' Green for this review but was not compensated in any other way. An honest review was given.

Scribble On Everything Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:51:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #30-

Katie said...

Tweeted:

http://twitter.com/Skaketgirl/status/22888417036

kt1969 at comcast dot net

September 3, 2010 9:50 AM

Contacting you now, Katie! Congratulations!

Produce Bags Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:17:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #9-

Angie said...: already following with gfc. angiewith3 at live dot com; August 29, 2010 6:36 PM; Angie, I'm contacting you now! Congrats!!

Skoy Cloth Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:19:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #61-

AmeliaB said...: I tweeted #1 http://twitter.com/BedeliasSpot/status/23264643492; September 7, 2010 3:31 PM

I'm sending you an email, Amelia! Congrats!

Bummas Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:27:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #123-

Chany said...

http://twitter.com/chany10/status/23143836408

September 6, 2010 9:56 AM

Congrats! Emailing you now!

Supergoop! Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 10:23:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #5-

Penny W said...: follow your blog; August 31, 2010 9:13 AM

I'm sending you an email, Penny! Congrats!

Scribble On Everything Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:41:00 +0000

I came across Scribble on Everything while looking for cute things with which to decorate G's nursery. They have super cute wall murals in many themes and styles. They also make chalkboard murals, prints, and posters that are quite unique.

I was sent the Flourish Chalkboard Decal to review. It arrived in a poster tube and I got right to work setting it up in G's room. The decal came with very complete (and humorous) instructions on how to get your design on the wall. It was very simple and within a few minutes, I had a great chalkboard mural. I gave G the chalk (included!) and showed him how to write on it. He was thrilled and now he writes on it every time he walks into the room :)
Scribble on Everything was generously agreed to give one of my lucky followers a $50 gift certificate towards the purchase of anything on their site! Wow! I know you want to win this one! Here's how:

Mandatory Entry: Head over to Scribble on Everything and tell me how you would spend the $50.

Extra Entries: Do as many of these as you would like!

- Follow my blog
- Follow the Scribble on Everything blog
- "Like" GGG on Facebook
- "Like" Scribble on Everything on Facebook
- Follow me on Twitter @betsyssi
- Follow Scribble on Everything on Twitter @scribbleonwalls
- Tweet about this giveaway- use @betsyssi, @scribbleonwalls and #win in your tweets- may be done 2x daily at least 4 hours apart
- Recommend me to your friends! If they join my blog and say that you sent them, they get an extra entry and so do you! (unlimited)

Giveaway ends 9/13 at midnight EST. Winner will be notified by email.

Scribble on Everything provided the product at no charge but an honest review was given.

Oops!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:40:00 +0000

I know I said that today's giveaway would be for Selestial Soap but I did not quite have all the info I needed to run my post but it will run at the end of this week of giveaways!

Reusable Produce Bags Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:39:00 +0000

Now that I have gotten very good about bringing reusable grocery bags with me to the store (almost) every time, I started to be bothered by the plastic bags in the produce section. So I went to Etsy in search of an alternative. There I found Johnsonfamilyzoo. Lisa, the "zookeeper", makes super cute, reusable produce bags that come in a carry pouch. She uses great fabrics and color coordinated mesh to make being green fashionable and smart!

I took my produce bags down to the local farmer's market on Saturday and got a lot of pleasantly surprised looks from the vendors and other patrons. They liked the idea but hadn't seen it before! I then stopped at a local produce stand for a few items not found at the farmer's market and the store owner loved my bags! He said how much he hated handing out plastic bags all day long and wished there was an alternative. I told him that he should look into carrying these!

Did I mention how much these bags hold? A picture is worth a thousand words:
How many flimsy throw-away plastic bags would it take to hold that much produce?

I now keep my bundle of produce bags in the back of the car with my regular cloth grocery bags and I am quite pleased when I can do a week's worth of shopping and not bring home unnecessary plastic :)

Lisa at Johnsonfamilyzoo has generously agreed to give a set of reusable produce bags to one of my lucky followers! Here's how to win:

Mandatory Entry: Visit Johnsonfamilyzoo on Etsy and tell me which pattern is your favorite!

Extra Entries: Do as many of these as you want!

- Follow my blog

- "Like" GGG on Facebook

- Follow me on Twitter @betsyssi

- "Heart" Johnsonfamilyzoo on Etsy

- Tweet about this giveaway- make sure to use @betsyssi and #giveaway in your tweets. May be done 2X daily at least 4 hours apart.

- Recommend my blog to your friends! If they join GGG and tell me that you sent them, they get an extra entry and so do you!

- Enter any other current giveaway on GGG- tell me which one(s).

Johnsonfamilyzoo has also offered free shipping on U.S. orders over $14 and International orders over $25. Just mention this blog in the comments when you check out!

This giveaway ends 9/11 at midnight EST. Winner will be contacted by e-mail.

I received this products free of charge but an honest review has been given.

Skoy Cloth Review and Giveaway!CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:16:00 +0000

Now that we have changed to cloth diapers and cloth wipes, I felt the need to get rid of other wasteful paper use in our home. One of the big culprits is the paper towel. I searched around for an alternative. Of course dish towels are great for spills and wiping things down but I needed a multi-tasker. Something to replace the paper towels and the nasty kitchen sponge. Enter: The Skoy Cloth.

This ingenious little cloth is made of a blend of cotton and wood-pulp cellulose, can absorb 15 times it's own weight, is 100% biodegradable, and saves 15 rolls of paper towels each! Skoy cloths can even be cleaned in the dishwasher or washing machine. A quick option to disinfect it- throw it wet into the microwave for a minute or two. Awesome.

Skoy cloths can be used with cleaners but work great with just plain water. After use, just wring out and let dry until next time! These little cloths dry super fast and don't build up the stink that sponges do. I love Skoy cloth!

Skoy has generously agreed to give a 4 pack of their fabulous cloth to one lucky follower! Here's how to win:

Mandatory Entry: Visit Skoy online and tell me something you learned from the website

Extra Entries: Do as many of these as you like!

-Follow my blog

-Subscribe to my blog

-"Like" GGG on Facebook

- Follow me on Twitter @betsyssi

-Follow @skoycloth on Twitter

-"Like" Skoy on Facebook- comment on their wall that I sent you

-Tweet about this giveaway- use @betsyssi, @skoycloth, and #giveaway in your tweet. May be done 2x daily, at least 4 hours apart.

-Recommend my blog to your friends! If they join and tell me that you sent them, they get an extra entry and so do you!

-Enter any other current giveaway on my blog- tell me which one(s) you entered.

This giveaway ends 9/10 at midnight EST. Winner will be emailed.

Skoy sent me their product at no cost but an honest review was given.

Bummas Cloth Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:47:00 +0000

I have been cloth diapering my DS since he was 6 months old (about 14 months now) but we were still using disposable wipes because I couldn't seem to find the right material for a cloth wipe. Baby washcloths are too thin, I bought some bamboo ones (yummy and soft) but they were too thick. I felt like Goldilocks. Then I found Bummas. These cloths are the right size, the right thickness, and two different textures so you can use the side that best fits your need at the time :)

The Bummas cloths are super cute too. I was sent the set they call The Wild Ones. The vibrant colors with contrasting edges fit perfectly, folded in half, into my existing diaper warmer. A little wipe solution and we are set! No more disposable wipes!

Bummas can be used as a cloth wipe, a dry towel for patting baby's bum dry before diapering and to block that unexpected squirt! They wash well and are ready to use over and over again. My only problem now is that I only have 10...........

Directly from the company website:

Product Information - Cloth Baby Wipe

Eliminates the use of talcum powder.
100% Cotton - Woven Velour Terry Cloth milled in the USA.
Variety of color combinations for nursery themes.
Handy 5” x 7” size. Won’t pill, shrink, or fade.
Durable. Just throw them in the wash and use again.
They will last until your little one is out of diapers and beyond!
Made in the USA

So I know you want to win these! Bummas has generously agreed to give one of my readers a set of cloth wipes of their choice! This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada. Here's how to enter-

Mandatory Entry- Head over to Bummas and tell me which color set you like best!

Extra Entries- Do as many of these as you like!

- Follow my blog

- "Like" GGG on Facebook

- Follow me on Twitter @betsyssi

- Follow @Bummas on Twitter

- Tweet about this giveaway~ please include @betsyssi and @bummas in your tweet. May be done 2x daily at least four hours apart

- Recommend me to your friends! If they join my blog and tell me that you sent them, they get an extra entry and so do you!

- Enter another current giveaway and tell me which one you entered

This giveaway ends 9/9 at midnight EST. Winner will be contacted by email.

Bummas sent me the product free of charge but an honest review was given.

Doctor T's Supergoop! Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:07:00 +0000

This summer I have had the hardest time finding sunscreens that I feel confident putting on G. There has been a lot of bad press on some of the chemicals found in most sunscreen products. I spent hours in the drugstore reading labels and being disappointed. I found Supergoop! online and was pleasantly surprised that they had addressed all of my concerns and had created a sunscreen that i could put on all of us and feel great about. Here's what the company has to say about the product:

About The Supergoop! Formula

Always innovating, Supergoop! SPF 30+ today stands fully committed to providing safe and advanced UV protection formulated in conjunction with the stringent standards for Healthy Child Healthy World while also also meeting the new European and Australian recommendations for High Protection Daily Suncare.

By avoiding possible carcinogens such as oxybenzone, proplyene glycol and octinoxate, and endocrine disruptors such as parabens still used in many leading sun protection products, we can ensure maximum skin compatibility and an environmentally-conscious line of products.

Each of our formulas have proven performance in independent clinical testing facilities and we have the paperwork to back the effectiveness, critical wavelength, broad spectrum protection and photostability in each ingredient deck.

Offering a whole new level in sun protection for 2010, Supergoop! PLUS with Parsol 1789 + Parsol SLX will be introduced providing a first-to-market combination of two sun filters plus a photo stabilizing booster against UVA and UVB rays.

Isn't that great! It has very little scent and went on smoothly. Nobody burned at our house this summer! I love that it also comes in a spray and in convenient wipes for sensitive areas and wiggly toddlers. Supergoop! will be a staple in my beach bag from now on.

Now for the fun stuff! Supergoop! has given me a 1.6 ounce tube of the Everyday SPF 30 Supergoop! for one of my lucky readers.

Mandatory Entry- Visit Supergoop! and tell me what product on their site you would like to try!

Extra Entries- Do any or all of these to gain extra entries!

- Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect

- Subscribe to my blog

- Follow me on Twitter @betsyssi

- Follow @supergoop on Twitter

- "Like" GGG on Facebook

- Recommend my blog to your friends! If they join my blog and say that you send them, they get an extra entry and so do you! Just mention their name in the comment box.

- Tweet about this giveaway! Use @betsyssi and @supergoop in your tweet. You may tweet 2x day at least 4 hours apart.

- Enter any of the other giveaways that I am running this week. Leave a comment here about which giveaway you entered.

This contest ends at midnight EST on 9/8.

Supergoop! provided the product to me for free but an honest review has been given.

Wild Week of Giveaways!!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:58:00 +0000

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday August 25th, Garrick Goes Green will be hosting a back-to-school giveaway bonanza! A new giveaway every day from now until the end of August. Tell your friends because if they enter my giveaways and mention that you sent them, they get an extra entry and so do you!

Here's the schedule:

8/25- Supergoop!
8/26- Bummas
8/27- Skoy Cloth
8/28- Reusable Produce Bags
8/29- Selestial Soap
8/30- Scribble On Everything
8/31- Rockin' Green

WooHoo! I'm excited and I hope you are too!

Chunky Monkey Diaper Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:37:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #6-

Katie said...: follow with GFC
ellisfan14 at gmail; August 7, 2010 10:23 PM

I sent you an email, Katie, enjoy your custom diaper!

Wordless Wednesday- First time in a Cloth Diaper! (6/09)

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:24:00 +0000

Chunky Monkey Custom Diaper Review and Giveaway!Closed

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:58:00 +0000

Have you ever wished that you could create the perfect custom diaper? The color, the fastener, the embroidery on the bum? Now you can! Christy at The Chunky Monkey will make you the diaper of your dreams. I contacted Christy about making one for my DS and it has quickly become a favorite in my stash!

What makes this pocket diaper so special, you ask? I designed it! Dark green outer, turtle print microchamois interior, snap fasteners and the cutest embroidery on the butt- Heal The Earth, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replenish, Restore with Mother Earth in the center. I loved it on sight!

So how did it work for us? Great! It does not come with an insert so I used my favorite super absorbent bamboo and hemp flappers from The Nappy Shoppe. Christy puts her pocket opening in the front of the dipe so, if you get a #2 blowout, you keep your fingers clean! The double row of snaps means a perfect fit with no "wing droop" and the super soft interior feels dry against G's skin but sprays clean in seconds with my diaper sprayer!

Chunky Monkey also makes personalized sippy cups, Bibs, Burp Cloths and Onesies, and so much more!

Now for the fun part! I love my Chunky Monkey and I know you will too. You can visit the Chunky Monkey online here and buy one today. You can also win a completely custom pocket diaper from CM and Garrick Goes Green! Here's how!-

Mandatory Entry!- Tell me what you would create as your perfect pocket diaper.

Bonus Entries!!-

Follow my blog publicly using Google Friend Connect
Follow me on Twitter- @betsyssi
Subscribe to my ramblings via Feedburner
Tweet about this giveaway- use #clothdiapers and @betsyssi in your tweets, one tweet per day
Help me get new followers!!!- recommend me to your friends, if they follow me from your suggestion, they get an extra entry and so do you (please tell me their name in your comment). This is unlimited. Send me as many friends as you want!

This contest ends August 21st at midnight EST.

Product was sent to me free of charge but an honest review was given.

Compost Jar Review and Discount Code

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:19:00 +0000

I recently started composting at home with a tumbler composter that we got at Home Depot. I searched all over for a compost jar that I wouldn't mind looking at all the time on my counter. They were all either plastic or metal and boring. I went to my favorite place for unique and beautiful items- Etsy. There I found Suzanne and the Little Grouse School Workshop.

Suzanne was kind enough to send me a fabulous handmade compost jar that is a work of art! It looks great sitting on my counter and I look forward to stuffing it at every meal. She included some bio-bags for lining it and a charcoal filter inside the lid to keep the stinkies at bay. The jar has a flexible rope handle for transporting outside to the tumbler. I love this jar!

There's more than just compost jars at the Little Grouse School Workshop. She also makes hummingbird feeders, cups, bowls, yarn holders, bean pots and more! Each item is one-of-a-kind and would make the best gifts this upcoming holiday season!

Want to buy a jar for your kitchen and start composting today? Suzanne has agreed to give my readers 5% off their orders by putting "Betsy sent me" in your order details. So stop by and check out her Etsy shop today!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:12:00 +0000

Bare Minerals Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 23:34:00 +0000

Random Number Generator chose #40

Angie said...

following you on twitter as @angiewith3
angiewith3 at live dot com

July 22, 2010 6:32 PM

Congrats!! I'll be in touch!

Wordless Wednesday- Blueberries

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:08:00 +0000

Fleece Soaker

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 00:29:00 +0000

DH inherited his grandmother's sewing machine a number of years ago and since he doesn't sew, it has been sitting in a closet. I used to sew. I have made a few things but it has been a long time. I decided to get in touch with my inner domestic goddess and get out the machine.

The sewing machine is a White and it is probably older than I am. But she was well cared for and is still in great shape. The manuals were even there so I familiarized myself with the parts and got started.

I wanted to make something practical. Something my DS could use. I decided on a soaker. I have 2 wool sweaters from the thrift store and a huge pile of fleece given to me by my brother. I started with the fleece. Seeing as I had several solid colors, I thought an applique on his bum would make it extra cute. So I traced the three arrows from the recycling box and made a paper pattern. Cut, sew and done. Not too bad! A little irregular looking but recognizable at least.

I searched online for a soaker pattern and found that everyone uses Katrina's Soaker

Pattern. Seemed easy enough so I printed it out, measured DS to decide what size (XL) and got started. A few pricked fingers and a few arguments with the machine and I had a soaker! I was so happy!

Off I went with DS to put him in it. It's kinda tight. I need a 2XL, I guess. She has that pattern too. I will do that for the upcycled sweater soakers that I'll try soon. What do you think?

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:13:00 +0000

Bare Minerals Review and Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Knight) — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:48:00 +0000

When I was younger, I used very little in the way of foundation in my makeup ritual. A little powder was all I really needed. As I got older, I started using liquid foundation but only if I was going out somewhere special, not every day. Then I moved to the "deep south".

Around the same time that I moved to southern Georgia, I developed Rosacea on my cheeks. The need for more coverage did not mesh with the 100 degrees in the shade weather that we have down here! One night, shortly after my move, I saw a late night infomercial that changed my face forever! It was for Bare Minerals by Bare Escentuals. A natural, mineral makeup that claimed great coverage in a lightweight and smudge resistant form. I had to try it. I ordered the starter kit and I have been a Bare Minerals girl ever since!

The BM foundation goes on as a light powder and gives full coverage better than any liquid ever did for me. It covered my Rosacea fabulously and even improved my skin by letting it breathe and not clogging it up with junk. This stuff is so good for your skin, you can sleep in it!

I have also purchased Bare Minerals from QVC. They get some exclusives from the company and the CEO, Leslie Blodgett, shows how to use the products and gives great tips!

Bare Minerals sent me their Summer Escentuals pack to review and I am so in love with it!

Included in the pack:

Warmth- an all-over face color that gives you that sun kissed healthy glow

Tinted Mineral Veil- the final touch for a soft air-brushed look

Pure Joy- a light neutral peachy eyeshadow with a hint of shimmer to brighten the eyes

This set is perfect for that light, healthy, fun summer look. I have also mixed and matched it with my other Bare Minerals makeup and created many different fabulous looks!

And now the good news- Bare Minerals want one of you to have the same Summer Escentuals kit! Here's how to enter:

Go to the Bare Minerals website and tell me something you learned- Mandatory Entry

Extra Entries:

Follow my blog
Subscribe by RSS feed
Follow me on Twitter
"Like" Bare Escentuals on Facebook
Follow Bare Escentuals on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway! Tweets can be daily and please include @bareescentuals and @betsyssi in your tweet!

Contest ends August 1st at midnight EST

Products were sent to me but this is an honest review.

Garrick Goes Green

2011- Resolutions

Rockin' Green Winner!

Rockin' Green Review and Giveaway!~~CLOSED~~

Scribble On Everything Winner!

Produce Bags Winner!

Skoy Cloth Winner!

Bummas Winner!

Supergoop! Winner!

Scribble On Everything Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

Oops!

Reusable Produce Bags Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

Skoy Cloth Review and Giveaway!~~CLOSED~~

Bummas Cloth Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

Product Information - Cloth Baby Wipe

Doctor T's Supergoop! Review and Giveaway!~CLOSED~

About The Supergoop! Formula

Wild Week of Giveaways!!

Chunky Monkey Diaper Winner!

Wordless Wednesday- First time in a Cloth Diaper! (6/09)

Chunky Monkey Custom Diaper Review and Giveaway!~~Closed~~

Compost Jar Review and Discount Code

Wordless Wednesday

Bare Minerals Winner!

Wordless Wednesday- Blueberries

Fleece Soaker

Wordless Wednesday

Bare Minerals Review and Giveaway!

Rockin' Green Review and Giveaway!CLOSED

Skoy Cloth Review and Giveaway!CLOSED

Chunky Monkey Custom Diaper Review and Giveaway!Closed