Marianna | Connecticut Mom Blog

Join Us for the National Wildlife Federation #RRtreehouse Twitter Party on June 5

2013-06-04T00:15:00.000-04:00

I was compensated for this post and my participation in the Twitter party. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The National Wildlife Federation has some great tools to help get kids involved with animals and nature. In the past we have had subscriptions to both their Wild Animal Baby and Ranger Rick Jr. children's magazines and the boys really enjoyed the. Being the tech addict that I am, I got excited when I learned that there is a new Ranger Rick's Tree House app for iPad. The app features interactive games, animal photos and facts and is both fun and education for kids ages 7 - 12.

Twitter Party Time!
Join us for the #RRtreehouse Twitter party with the National Wildlife Federation to spread the word about this exciting new app. We'll talk about the Ranger Rick's Tree House app, along with other fun ideas and helpful tips for building excitement about nature among kids and families!

When: Wednesday, June 5th at 1:00mp EST

Where: Follow the #RRtreehouse hashtag on Twitter to track the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this Twtvite: http://twtvite.com/RRtreehouse

Hashtag: #RRtreehouse

TweetGrid for the party: http://bit.ly/14DnrRi

Prizes: Five prizes will be awarded throughout the party to participants who respond correctly to trivia questions. Each prize will include a basket of goodies from Ranger Rick for your little explorer:

Ranger Rick Plush
Ranger Rick Nature Notebook
Ranger Rick Drawstring Backpack
Ranger Rick yellow binoculars
June/July issue of Ranger Rick print magazine

Be sure to follow all of the hosts and co-hosts on Twitter so you don;t miss any of the fun!

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Co-Hosts

Amber, Parent Palace - @ParentPalace

Angela, About a Mom - @aboutamom

Donna, Blog by Donna - @DonnaChaffins

Kasandria, Southern Bella's Ways To Save - @waystosave

Kate, The Guavalicious Life - @guavalicious

Kim, Two Kids and a Coupon - @2kidsandacoupon

Mariana, The Domestic Buzz - @ohMariana

Marianna, Marianna - @GreenMamasPad

Mickey, A Helicopter Mom - @ahelicoptermom

Shannon, The Mommy-Files - @themommyfiles

Green Giveaway Friday 5/31

2013-05-30T22:38:00.002-04:00

Please add both your green and non-green giveaways and contests into Mr. Linky below so we can do some giveaway hopping! Be sure to include the expiration date. Thanks!

You can also submit your green giveaways to me during the week for me to feature on Fridays.

Family Focus Blog
Contigo Water Bottle or Travel Mug 6/6
Teres Kids Organic Clothing $75 Gift Card 6/11
Juil Grounding Shoes 6/17

Leslie Loves Veggies
Painted Earth Cosmetics Gift Package 6/10

Oh My Veggies
Natural Vitality $50 Gift Card 5/31

Simpy Stacie
Suzie Sirloin Organic Beef 6/7

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for Crystal Mickey Now Available on Disney DVD

2013-05-30T22:09:00.001-04:00

I was sent a review copy of this DVD. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not many television shows can hold my children's interest for long, but Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is one of them.Since we only have basic cable at our home, being able to watch this show is a treat for them when they visit Grammy's house. I knew my boys would enjoy watching this, but I never anticipated how obsessed my three year old would become with it. We have had it for a couple of weeks now and he literally requests to watch it every. single. day. The little guy is a man of few words, but he sure can say "Crystal Mickey?" loud and clear.

Join Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and all their pals in the newest Clubhouse crusade. When the legendary Crystal Mickey goes missing, Mickey and friends go on an adventure to save the Clubhouse from losing its magic. Grab your hat, buckle your seatbelt, and get ready to embark on a thrilling adventure in “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: The Quest for the Crystal Mickey!”

There’s no time to lose after greedy Plunderin’ Pete snatches the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse. Without this sparkly statue’s magic, the Clubhouse will disappear forever! Can the world’s most extraordinary hero "Kansas City Mickey," get the magical statue back in time? Only with help from young viewers at home…and the right Mouseketools can Mickey journey across the Sandy Desert, brave the Rushing River and make his way through the Hidden Jungle. But watch out for Pete’s trickiest traps!

The first episode on this DVD is The Quest for Crystal Mickey which is a fun adventure which has an Indiana Jones aspect to it that both the kids and I enjoyed. And it happens to be their favorite one. There are four additional episodes (Donald of the Desert, Donald the Genie, Goofy’s Coconutty Monkey and Goofy’s Giant Adventure) which gives this DVD more than two hours of Mickey Mouse fun! I was thrilled that not only did it hold the attention of my toddler, but the six and eight year old boys as well. If your child enjoys Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, this is definitely a title that you want to add to your Disney DVD library.

For even more fun with Mickey and the Clubhouse gang, click on the image below to download and print out The Quest for Crystal mickey free activity sheets.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

Green Giveaway Friday 5/24

2013-05-23T22:25:00.000-04:00

Crunchy Beach Mama
$50 Amazon Giveaway Event 5/27
All Natural ips Snacks 5/28
SeaSnax Roasted Seaweed Snacks 5/29

Family Focus Blog
Contigo Water Bottle or Travel Mug 6/6
Teres Kids Organic Clothing $75 Gift Card 6/11
Juil Grounding Shoes 6/17

Leslie Loves Veggies
Keurig Vue V500 Brewer & Fair Trade Certified Nantucket Blend Iced Vue Pack Coffee 5/30
Painted Earth Cosmetics Gift Package 6/10

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Official Film Poster

2013-05-18T09:32:00.001-04:00

There are still six months left until the The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opens in theaters and it feels like that is an eternity away. I absolutely loved these books, which I read on my flights to and from San Fransisco last year. And I really enjoyed the first movie, which my sister in law continues to hold hostage from me. (I need my Blu-ray back girlie!) This past week, the first official film poster for Catching Fire was debuted, which got me even more excited for this movie. The Hunger Games: Catching Fires opens November 22, 2013 and I am already attempting to plan out my trip to a midnight showing. Who else can't wait?

Movie Synopsis
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.

Get Creative!
Now fans of The Hunger Games can design and illustrate the first chapter of Catching Fire for the chance to see their work featured on The Hunger Games Facebook page! You can use photos, drawings, GIFS and video to create a great experience inspired by the book. For details visit http://lions.gt/GlossiCF

Get Social
Official Facebook Page: facebook.com/thehungergamesmovie
Official Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/TheHungerGames
Official Google+ Page: https://plus.google.com/+TheHungerGamesM...
Official Pinterest Page:http://pinterest.com/hungergamesfilm/
Official Hunger Games Explorer Site: http://www.thehungergamesexplorer.com/us/
Capitol Couture Instagram: http://instagram.com/CapitolCouture#
The Hunger Games Instagram: http://instagram.com/thehungergames
#TheSpark
#CatchingFire

Happy 10 Year Anniversary

2013-05-17T00:02:00.000-04:00

To us! It is kind of amazing that ten years ago today I was marrying my husband. On one hand it feels like it was just yesterday, while on the other it feels like it was forever ago. I quickly scanned photobucket to see f I had and wedding photos I could share here and luckily I found a few.

It is somewhat depressing looking at my much thinner self before four kids utterly destroyed my body. One of these days I'll get back down to that weight... or at least pretty close.

Our wedding ceremony took place outside, overlooking a lake in Western Connecticut. The day started off with some overcast, but we were lucky it turned into a perfect, sunny day.

Cheers to our first 10 years together and here's to many more yet to come!

Green Giveaway Friday 5/17

2013-05-16T23:35:00.001-04:00

Crunchy Beach Mama
$5 to Starbucks ~ 2 Winners! 5/20
All Natural ips Snacks 5/28
SeaSnax Roasted Seaweed Snacks 5/29

Leslie Loves Veggies
Chi Bar Organic Energy Bars 5/19
Keurig Vue V500 Brewer & Fair Trade Certified Nantucket Blend Iced Vue Pack Coffee 5/30
Painted Earth Cosmetics Gift Package 6/10

Whole Foods Market Opens in Danbury On May 17

2013-05-16T00:11:00.001-04:00

Back in March 2011, I was thrilled to announce that a Whole Foods Market was coming to Danbury, CT. And for the past two years since then I have anxiously awaited for it to actually happen. Finally, the grand opening is almost here! This Friday, May 17, 2013 the brand new Danbury Whole Foods Market will be opening its doors.

The other day I had the privilege of attending a media preview tour of the store. I was honestly giddy with excitement about being able to get a sneak peak and actually being there I felt like a kid in a candy store. All around me I was surrounded by natural foods that are free of chemicals and artificial ingredients and it was just plain awesome. Since this was my fist time ever stepping foot inside of a Whole Foods, I wanted to share some of the areas that excited me the most.

When you first enter Danbury Whole Foods, you will be face to face with the produce department. Here you will find fruits and vegetables from local Connecticut farms as well as regionally local farms in New York and New Jersey. To the right of the produce is the bulk foods area which I cannot wait to dive into. This section is great if you are trying a new recipe and only need a little bit of an ingredient that you don't normally use. It also has the peanut grinder where you can grind your own peanut butter. I'm not sure what it says about me that something like grinding peanut butter makes me super excited, but I can't wait to give it a go.

Over in the meat and poultry department, I learned about the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating.

"All beef, chicken, pork and turkey in our fresh meat cases must come from producers who have achieved certification to Global Animal Partnership’s 5-Step™ Animal Welfare Rating."

Alright so I am a mom of four very picky little boys. So yes, when I saw that part of the grand opening sale was 12oz packages of chicken nuggets and tenders for just $3.49, I had to snap a picture. I foresee me dumping a bunch of these in my shopping cart this weekend. And I know other moms out there would be equally excited for this deal. Just don't elbow me for the last box please.

We took a quick peek into the grocery aisles and as you can see they are jam packed with yummy goodness. If you are shopping at Whole Foods Market, you are obviously conscious of what you are putting into your body and probably an avid label reader. Whole Foods is making that a little easier for us by labeling non-GMO products from their private label line.

Yes, another grinder caught my attention. This time it is the coffee grinder. I love the smell of freshly ground coffee... possibly more than I actually like the taste of coffee. I normally go for flavored coffees, and it is impossible to find any without artificial flavoring in conventional grocery stores. So I am anxious to shop Whole Food's selection of coffees and get to grinding.

Now I am not a huge beer drinker, but I thought that these shelves of every type of beer imaginable, many local, was pretty darn cool. And I may have drooled just a little bit. This is only a fraction of what was there, it actually wrapped around the corner. And you will notice that these are individual bottles of beer so that if you want to try something new, you only have to buy one bottle. I do enjoy trying local beers so I definitely see a sampling in my future.

The specialty area and counter was filled with some delicious looking cheeses. My husband is a big cheese and crackers snacker so we'll have to pick up some fresh cheese from here. I also thought it was cool that the wood that you see in the signs and those hooks on the wall behind the counter are all re-purposed. For Whole Foods Market, it is not only important that they provide customers with the best, natural food but they try to make their entire operation as sustainable as possible.

Those of you familiar with the Danbury area will know that this new Whole Foods Market is where the old Marcus Dairy and Dairy Bar Restaurant used to be. In honor of that, they added a "Burgers & Shakes Bar" where you can grab yourself a delicious, fresh burger after a day of shopping. And the prices are very affordable with a grass-fed beef burger or cheeseburger starting at only $4. I am already trying to make plans for when my sister-in-law and I can go their to shop and eat. And just down a little ways from here is the Coffee Bar. Sigh. I am going to have to add some extra time in at the gym for all the calories I am going to be consuming here.

The grand opening of the Whole Foods Market Danbury start at 9:00 AM on Friday, May 17, 2013. 5% of the day’s sales will be donated to the Danbury Museum and Historical Society. The first 350 customers will get one free pound of chicken and one free pound of shrimp. Now I am told that the turn out is expected to be pretty big, with customers lining up outside as early as 8:00 AM. So if you want to get it on these freebies, get there early. I will most likely be waiting till after the initial craze of the weekend so I can shop leisurely and enjoy a juicy burger and milk shake when I'm done.

To stay on top of special one day sales, be sure to follow @WFMDanbury on Twitter and Whole Foods Market Danbury on Facebook. To check out the current sale flyer, visit http://wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/danbury.

Shop, Play and Learn at Microsoft Stores - $100 Gift Card #Giveaway #GoMicrosoft

2013-05-12T23:56:00.000-04:00

This is a sponsored post by Microsoft and The Motherhood. All thoughts an opinions are my own.

So I happen to be a little bit of a technology / gadget junkie. I love playing with and learning about new tech items and I have a nice little collection which drives my husband crazy. Now while I have heard of the Microsoft Stores opening up, I never had the chance to walk into one until recently. And let me tell you that walking into that store last week was like walking into tech lovers heaven. Phones, tablets, video games... you name it and it was there at your fingertips ready for you to test out.

Microsoft Store at Danbury Fair Mall in Danbury, Connecticut

I recently had the opportunity to visit my local Microsoft Store in Danbury, Connecticut to get a feel for what the store is about. Right near the front of the store (just out of my camera view) is an Xbox 360 setup where you can play some of the popular video games. Not sure if that game that just came out is for you? Well this is the place where you can go to give it a test run before buying it. An employee is there to greet and assist you when you walk in. They can give you step by step help if you need it or in my case when I said I just wanted to browse and play, they gave me the space I prefer. (I am not a fan of hovering sales people, so that was very ince). And when I did have a question, they were easily accessible to help me out.

The store was bright with lots of room to move around for when it gets crowded. Being that I love mobile technology, I made a beeline for the Windows Phones and the Surface tablets. I had never had a chance to see either yet so I enjoyed being able to use those for a bit. I love that the Surface comes with that soft keyboard - very cool!

After my three year old and I spent some time at the Microsoft Store, we started making our way out to head home. Somehow I did not notice this before we entered the store, but across from the entrance to the store, in the walking area of the mall, is another Xbox 360 area for mall patrons to have a little fun. I thought that was a pretty brilliant idea. The next time I have to drag my husband and kids shopping with me, I am totally sending them here so I can shop in peace!

The Microsoft store is so much more than being able to test out and purchase the latest products from Microsoft. The stores also offer:

Answer Desk - Answer Techs provide ]technical support and protection and even performance tune-ups for your Microsoft product.
Personal training and workshops - Train with experts either one-on-one or in a group.
Community Events - Camps for kids and gaming events. Check local store for schedule.

Oh and the best part about those three items I listed above? They are all FREE! With school getting out in just a little over a month (gah!), I will need to find ways to keep the boys busy while keeping myself sane. I really love the idea of them taking techie classes at the Microsoft Store and I plan on signing them up soon. There are Tech Tots Camp for kids ages 2 to 5 and Youth Spark Summer Camp for kids ages 8 to 13. Find your local Microsoft Store to check out their camp schedule and then stop by to experience the fun of this store for yourself!

Twitter Party!
When: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 1:00 PM EST.
Hashtag: #GoMicrosoft
Prizes: Five winners who answer trivia questions during the party will receive $25 Microsoft retail store gift cards, and one grand prize winner will be chosen for a $500 Microsoft retail store gift card!
TweetGrid: http://bit.ly/11SJxNf

Connect with the Microsoft Store
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MicrosoftStore
Twitter: @microsoftstore
Pinterest: pinterest.com/microsoftstore/

Giveaway
One (1) person will win a $100 Microsoft Stores gift card. Giveaway is open to US residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keurig OfficePRO Single-Cup Commercial Coffee Brewer Review

2013-05-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

Coffee. A parent's best friend. When your kids keep you up all night or wake you up at 5:30 in the morning, it may be the only thing to help you keep your eyes open. Or just keep you somewhat sane. My husband and I are both coffee drinkers, but he likes his strong and I like mine flavored and often decaf. So since we both drink coffee completely different, brewing an entire post is just out of the questions. That's why Keurig Single-Cup coffee brewers are the perfect solution for us.

Staples has several commercial grade Keurig brewers including the OfficePRO Brewing System. This single-serve system is the perfect size for a small office, allowing everyone to brew their favorite kind of coffee or tea.

Features
• Brews 3 cup sizes (6 oz., 8 oz. and 10 oz.)
• Removable 48 oz. water reservoir
• Auto-off turns brewer off after 2 hours
• Heavy gauge materials for high volume use
• Travel mug friendly
• Removable Drip tray
• Drainable internal hot water tank

What I love the most about Keurig brewers, besides the fact that I can make one cup of coffee, is that they are so easy to use. Turn on, insert cup, brew. Yes, it is that easy. Since this is a commercial brewer, there are some differences from the personal use brewers. For starters, it is made more durable to withstand the high usage that comes with an office setting. Commercial brewers tend to brew up to 10 times more coffee than a home brewer, so it is important that it can handle it. You also have the ability to drain the internal water tank (not the reservoir) which is nice to be able to do if the office is going to be close for a long holiday weekend. I actually wish the home brewers had that feature too.

The Keurig OfficePRO has a dial that lets you easily choose which size cup of coffee you would like to brew and indicator lights to let you know when you need to add more water or when it is time to descale your brewer. The removable drip tray not only helps you easily keep the brewer clean, but it also allows extra room for you to fit your travel mug.

In addition to Keurig brewing systems, Staples also carries pretty much any K-Cup you can imagine. We have used a variety of K-Cups over the years so this time around I thought I would go with something different. Since we are entering the warmer months, I decided to try out some of the "brew over ice" K-Cup options. I've never used these before so I was curious how they would taste. My favorite I think was the Green Mountain French Vanilla Iced Coffee. I love iced coffee in the summertime so this is going to be a delicious way to start my days. And with 4 kids home from school for 2 months, believe me I will need it. My least favorite however was the Peach Snapple Iced Tea. I love Peach Snapple so I couldn't wait to give this a try. But as soon as I tasted it I knew something was off for me. A quick glance at the ingredients showed that it contains aspartame, which I find odd since this is not the diet version. So I was disappointed with that particular K-Cup, but very happy with everything else.

Buy
Shop for Keurig commercial brewers and K-Cups at Staples.com

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. Staples.com provided me with these products for review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Green Giveaway Friday 4/26

2013-04-26T14:51:00.002-04:00

Current giveaways here at Marianna
$25 Whole Foods Gift Card 5/7
$100 Natural Vitality Gift Card 5/12

Crunchy Beach Mama
LUSH ~ Organic Bath Products 5/1
"Green" Prize Pack 5/2
Ettitude Organic Sheet Set 5/14

Family Focus Blog
Pura Stainless Steel Bottles 5/1

Leslie Loves Veggies
RawEssence: 180 Delicious Recipes For Raw Living Cookbook 4/27
Room 88 Soap Co. Natural Soap Prize Package 5/4

Oh My Veggies
BELLA NutriPro Juicer 4/30
Conscious Box 3-month Subscription 4/30
Pacific Foods Broth 4/30

What Earth Day Means to Me

2013-04-22T22:33:00.002-04:00

The Earth and the environment have been important to me since I was a child. In middle school, we had a guest speaker come in one day and talk about things like waste, recycling, conserving water and so on and I was just hooked from that point on. While I do my best to be as green as possible and teach my children to care about the Earth, sometimes day to day life tends to put important things on the back burner. So Earth Day is a reminder to me to make sure I am on track with where I want to be as far as a green lifestyle and evaluate if I am doing all I can do.

While I am obviously a believer in the "Earth Day, Every Day" motto, I do like to put a little extra emphasis into Earth Day as a family. Preferably with some sort of outdoor, nature related activity. For Earth Day 2012 last year, we planted two apple trees in our front yard. While it will still be several years since we will get edible fruit from the trees, I can't wait for the day where I can walk into my yard and pick an apple off my tree to eat.

What does Earth Day mean to you?

Cascadian Farm Earth Day Blog Carnival
Want to hear what other green bloggers have to say about Earth Day? Check them out below!

Celebrate Earth Month with Whole Foods - $25 Gift Card Giveaway!

2013-04-22T14:14:00.000-04:00

Happy Earth Day! I hope you are doing something special to commemorate this day. While last Earth Day we planted some apple trees, this year our day is filled with school and little league baseball. So I am hoping to make up for it over the weekend and come up with something really great to do as a family.

To celebrate Earth Month, Whole Foods Market is transforming into a hub for Earthlings so we can meet up, share ideas and celebrate the Earth both in store and at EarthlingMonth.com. Earthlings (that's you and I by the way!) are encouraged to celebrate the planet’s beauty and what it inspires by sharing images, tweets and videos. To join the fun, visit earthlingmonth.com/#/participate to upload a message, photo or video using Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Or, simply use the hashtag #WFMEarthling via Twitter or Instagram. Your photo or tweet will than instantly post to EarthlingMonth.com.

Whole Foods Market has also created The Earthling Guide with tips on how to maintain the planet’s beauty and minimize the human footprint. Plus don't forget to check out your local store to see what else is happening this Earth Month!

Giveaway
One (1) winner will receive a $25 Whole Foods Market gift card. Giveaway ends May 7, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST. Open to US residents only. Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

I will receive a gift card for hosting this giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beautiful Mom Giveaway - $100 Natural Vitality GC plus More!

2013-04-22T14:01:00.001-04:00

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Do you know what you’ll be asking for? How about winning an awesome prize package for yourself that will let your inner and outer beauty shine?

We’re giving away a fabulous prize package that will let you do just that! The winner of the Beautiful Mom Giveaway will receive 3 amazing prizes (total value of $170.95)! This event is sponsored by Natural Vitality and hosted by Happy Mothering and the Green Moms Network.

$100 Gift Certificate for the Natural Vitality Store

Natural Vitality makes high-quality, award-winning dietary supplements to assist your in achieving optimum health. They are probably best know for Natural Calm, a magnesium supplement that helps your muscles and nerves function properly, keeps your heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system and assists in keeping your bones strong.

But they also offer several other high-quality supplements:

Osteo Calm
Vitality B Complex
Vitality C Complex
Organic Life Vitamins
Plant-Sourced Minerals
Energy28
Natural Kids Calm Multi

All of Natural Vitality’s products are Non-GMO project verified and the ingredients in their supplements are organically grown!

Read Happy Mothering’s review of Natural Vitality supplements here.

100% Pure Red Wine Resveratrol Gift Set

The 100% Pure Red Wine Resveratrol Gift Set is designed to aggressively protect against signs of aging such as environmental damage, lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. These products don’t contain harsh detergents, synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances or any other toxins.

Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged

From celebrated dietitian Ashley Koff and fitness trainer to the stars Kathy Kaehler comes Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged, an exciting new way for moms to tap into their own natural and renewable sources of energy to overcome fatigue and achieve their personal health goals. Koff and Kaehler have put together a safe, sensible, flexible and, most importantly, effective program for moms of any age—whether their kids are in diapers or heading off to college.

This amazing package could be yours! To enter, simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Marianna was not compensated for this post and is not responsible for prize fulfillment.

Green Giveaway Friday 4/19

2013-04-19T08:16:00.000-04:00

Crunchy Beach Mama
Arttero ecoArt Kits 4/22
Coola Organic Skincare 4/23
LUSH ~ Organic Bath Products 5/1
Ettitude Organic Sheet Set 5/14

Family Focus Blog
Pura Stainless Steel Bottles 5/1

Leslie Loves Veggies
RawEssence: 180 Delicious Recipes For Raw Living Cookbook 4/27
Room 88 Soap Co. Natural Soap Prize Package 5/4

Oh My Veggies
BELLA NutriPro Juicer 4/30
Conscious Box 3-month Subscription 4/30
Pacific Foods Broth 4/30

Wee Share
Ranger Rick Jr. Appventures 4/23
Provella Probiotic Dietary Supplement 4/23

Go Green with NBC's Share and Tell App

2013-04-18T16:46:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't like shiny new stuff all the time? However nice new things may be, the reality is that brand new isn't always necessary. A gently used item can work just as well while saving you money and helping out the environment. Did you know that for every pound of new goods produced, 71 pounds of waste are generated during manufacturing? So instead of running out to buy that new something, why not ask around to your friends to see if maybe someone is looking to get rid of one?

In honor of Earth Week, NBC has created the Share and Tell app to help you minimize your impact on the planet by sharing your stuff. Here is why you will love this:

• How Are You Green? Eco Quiz - It’s not easy being green…(or is it?) We all want to take better care of our environment and go green, but the question is... How are YOU Green? Take the Eco quiz to find out!
• 7 Easy Ways to Start Sharing Now - Now, more than ever, sharing makes sense. Getting started sharing is simpler than you think! Read these 7 easy ways to start sharing now and create healthier, happier families and communities.
• Real Life Share and Tell Stories - Read real life stories of how sharing on yerdle has helped people just like you get the stuff they need - without buying a thing!
• Get Social - Tweet with the #ShareandTell hashtag to get your audience excited about NBC’s Share and Tell!

You can check out the Share and Tall Blog App right here on this page (below) or to learn more, check out NBC's Green is Universal Facebook Page. Happy Sharing!

Easy Tips To Help You Be Green Year Round

2013-04-18T09:30:00.002-04:00

Being green does not have to be an all or nothing lifestyle choice. Even if you can't live off the grid growing all your own organic food, there are lots of little day to day things that you can do that will make a difference. And yes, even the smallest things make an impact, especially if we all start doing them. So here are a few of my tips on how you can easily be a little more green all year round.

Recycle. Most municipalities and private garbage companies include recycling with their garbage removal. If yours doesn't, call around to find one that does. Recycling your plastics, metals and paper takes little to no effrot but has a great impact on the environment.

Turn off the lights. During the day, open up all of your blinds to use natural light instead of electricity. When you leave a room, make sure you turn the lights off. Make sure you teach your kids this since they can be the biggest culprits of leaving lights on all over the house.

Switch to CFL or LED lights. CFL light bulbs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to six times longer. LED light bulbs use up to 80% less energy than incandescents and can last up to 25 times longer. While these bulbs are more expensive to purchase up front, they will save energy and money over the long haul. CFL vs. LED

Unplug appliance and electronics. Even when not powered on, plugged in appliances like toasters and coffee pots use electricity. So when you are not using them, unplug them. For electronics like your TVs, DVD players, game consoles, etc., plug them all into a surge protector strip and at the end of the day, you just have to flip one switch to cut off power to them all.

Compost. Instead of placing green waste like vegetable and fruit scraps in a plastic trash bag where they will sit in a land fill for ages, compost them. Compost bins can be very expensive, but you can make your own compost bin fairly easy and cheap. After a little bit of time and work, you will be left with wonderful fertilizer for your garden. Personally, I'm lazy, so in the warmer months I collect my green kitchen scraps in a large fruit bowl and at the end of the day, dump into into our woods.

Eat organic. Eating organic food is better for your body and for the environment. Even though organic prices have come down slightly over the years, they are still more expensive. So do what you can. I feel that the items you consume the most of, like maybe milk, peanut butter, bread, etc., are the things that you should change first. Check out the Environment Working Group's Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists to see which produce items have the most and least amount of pesticides. This will help you choose which produce you want to make sure are organic.

Buy local. During the winter months, there are really no farmer's markets available here in our corner of Connecticut. But in the Spring/Summer/Fall we are part of a local organic CSA plus there is a great farmer's market down on our town green. Buying local produce helps your local economy and community and gives you a chance to talk with the farmer's personally to find out about their farming practices. To find CSAs and farmer's markets in your area, visit LocalHarvest.org.

Do you have any easy green tips? Share them with us in the comments!

Wordless Wednesday: Trapped in a Box

2013-04-17T00:49:00.000-04:00

So my three year old is a trouble maker. I found him in here the other night when he should have been in bed sleeping.

Renew Life Ultimate Flora Women's Care Probiotics Review

2013-04-16T10:03:00.001-04:00

For the past year I have been dealing with some chronic women's health issues. Any woman knows that urinary tract infections and yeast infections are no fun at all, so never mind having them over and over again. Two months ago my doctor told me to start taking a probiotic to see if that would help me. I have taken probiotics many times in the past, I just tend to forget about them over time. I decided to give the Renew Life Ultimate Flora Women's Care high potency probiotics a try since.

Ultimate Flora are natural high-potency probiotic supplements formulated to help replenish good bacteria in your digestive tract. When taken daily, Ultimate Flora probiotics can help promote a healthy digestive system, restore regularity, and promote immune health.

Ultimate Flora Women's Care probiotics are designed specifically for women which means it is exactly what I needed. It contains high amounts of Lactobacilli which help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and yeast while supporting optimal vaginal and urinary tract health. As with all of the Renew Life Ultimate Care probiotics, these are Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free as well as free of artificial ingredients.

I have been taking these daily for almost two months now and during that time I have not suffered from a single infection. Honestly, its the longest I have gone without an issue for quite some time. I'm also impressed with myself for not forgetting to take them, which is what normally happens with supplements for me. I store them in the fridge and grab them every morning when I'm making my breakfast. To say I am pleased with the results of my Ultimate Flora Women's Care trial is an understatement. I plan to continue using these, well for forever. My body is very happy and healthier because of them.

Renew Life's Ultimate Flor probiotics are available to purchase at Walgreens, Albertsons, CVS, Kroger, Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, Rite Aid, and Walmart. Full list: http://ultimateflora.com/index.php/where-to-buy

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

Potty Training: Learning with the Animals iOS App

2013-04-12T14:44:00.001-04:00

I was provided with compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Potty Training. An undertaking that parents both equally dread and look forward to. Dread because it can be downright awful. But look forward to because it is great to get one more kid out of diapers. Or in my case, the last kid. Our youngest son turned three this past December, and now that Spring is here and the weather is slowly warming up, we will be diving into potty training. Sure I have been down this road three times already, but each child is different and presents their own set of problems, so I will take all of the help that I can get.

The Potty Training: Learning with the Animals iOS app for kids is a great way to introduce toddlers into the idea of using the potty. My toddler happens t be a lot like his mama and loves tech gadgets and while I do not let him play with the iPad too often, he does use my iPhone daily. So I was able to put this app into his games folder and see what he could do.

This game is very simple and easy to use even if your little one hasn't used an app before. The child is presented with several farm animals that need to use the toilet. Their job is to help everyone get to the toilet and once everyone is done, they can start it all over again.

I love the bright colors in this app and how quickly my three year old was able to pick it up. Since he loves animals, he enjoyed being able to help each one of them get onto their potty. For future updates to this app, I would love to see them incorporate some more potty training concepts like washing hands.

This was definitely a great intro into the potty concept for him and we will continue to use it as we progress through the potty training steps. I'm hoping that in a few months I will have changed my last diaper!

The Potty Training: Learning with the Animals is available to purchase for $1.99 in the iTunes store. It is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 5.1 or later.

Green Giveaway Friday 4/12

2013-04-12T13:53:00.000-04:00

Crunchy Beach Mama
Arttero ecoArt Kits 4/22
Coola Organic Skincare 4/23

Kiddies Corner Deals
$50 Visa Gift Card 4/15

Leslie Loves Veggies
$25 Whole Foods Market Gift Card 4/14
RawEssence: 180 Delicious Recipes For Raw Living Cookbook 4/27

Oh My Veggies
BELLA NutriPro Juicer 4/30
Conscious Box 3-month Subscription 4/30
Pacific Foods Broth 4/30

Our First Bullying Experience: Help Us Put An End To Bullying

2013-04-09T23:11:00.001-04:00

Now that my boys are in school, one of the many things I worry about is bullying. Bullying just seems to have gotten out of control over the years. When I was child, I never witnessed the downright cruelty that is happening amongst American children these days.

Last year when my oldest was in first grade, we encountered our first bullying experience. My son (W) came home from school one afternoon and told us that a girl (S) from his class hit him in the face during lunch time in the cafeteria. I asked him if he told an adult and if they talked to S and while a lunch aide was told, nothing was done about the matter. Let me tell you, when your child tells you something like that, it is impossible not to get infuriated. Not only did another child put their hands on mine, but it appeared to be ignored.

After taking some time to calm myself down, I sat down and wrote an email to the teacher and principal. While my son isn't one to make up stories, I know that children can unintentionally exaggerate or leave out part of what happened, so I wanted to clarify what exactly took place. Here is just a snippet of my letter, in case it might help another parent out there who finds themself in a similar situation. I also recommend that if you find yourself in a situation like this, start the communication process via email that way you have a paper trail of the conversations.

W told us that while sitting at the lunch table his classmate S punched him in the eye. I asked him if maybe it was just an accident but he replied that "it was really on purpose." I also asked if he had done something to upset S, but he says he did not. Then I asked if he told a teacher or grownup and what they said and W replied that he told Mrs. K, but she didn't say anything to S.

I realize that you are not in the cafeteria during lunch and this is probably the first you have heard of this incident. I also realize that a child's perception of the events might not be accurate and he very well might be unintentionally leaving out part of the story. I'd like to find out more about what happened and why S hit W and I would also like to know what the school policy is for something like this. Of course this happens time to time with children, but I would have expected more action and follow up to have been taken. Was S spoken to about her behavior? Was the teacher of each student notified of what happened? And I have to say I am rather upset that a note was not sent home with W to let us know about this.

I would expect that any time a child puts his or her hands or body on another child that parents of all involved are notified. And in this instance, W said repeatedly that he was punched in the eye, which is far more extreme than just a playground tap. In a time where bullying is such a huge problem in this country, I just would like to see more action taken.

I am so glad that I didn't ignore the issue and blow it off as kids will be kids. My email got the assistant principal involved and both the kids were interviewed to find out what happened as well as other kids at the table. As it turns out, S didn't punch him but she did hit him. Apparently not intentionally as she was teasing him by putting her hand in front of his face and then she accidentally hit him. Regardless, her hand shouldn't have been near his face nor should she have been teasing him. We didn't have any issues after that and hopefully it prevented this child from doing it to anyone else. Perhaps even more importantly, I hope that the school administration will pay more attention to incidents like this and take even the most minor ones seriously.

I wanted to share that story with you because in this day and age, it is important that we stop ignoring bullying, no matter how small the incident may be. One small incident can snowball into more and more and leave a child tortured and miserable. If your child is being teased, pushed around or bullied in any way - get involved. And please, help us put a stop to bullying by taking this pledge.

For more information on what to do if your child is being bullied or on how to talk to your children about bullying, visit www.stopbullying.gov and www.antibullying.net.

This post has been brought to you by TakePart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Participant Media, TakePart’s parent company, produces socially relevant films with the idea that “a good story well-told can change the world.” Films such as An Inconvenient Truth, The Help, Lincoln, and Waiting for Superman have helped inspire action in a wide range of issues. TakePart aims to further those messages with quality content. In our education and social justice coverage, we're committed to exploring important topics that impact our children.

Green Giveaway Friday 3/29

2013-03-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

April Go Lightly
Reclaimed Leather Clutch 4/10

Crunchy Beach Mama
Peaceable Kingdom Green Board Game 4/3
$10 to Starbucks ~ 2 Winners! 4/8

Kiddies Corner Deals
Wallaby Organic Yogurt Free Coupons 4/5
$50 Visa Gift Card 4/15

Oh My Veggies
BELLA NutriPro Juicer 4/30
Conscious Box 3-month Subscription 4/30
Pacific Foods Broth 4/30

Green Giveaway Friday 3/22

2013-03-21T21:46:00.001-04:00

Crunchy Beach Mama
NatureBox monthly Snacks 3/25

Spring Into Spring: $150 Target Gift Card #Giveaway

2013-03-21T13:47:00.001-04:00

Spring is finally here, although you wouldn't know it if you live in New England like I do. It is still bitterly cold outside and we've even had a few flurries today. I anxiously await the warmer weather. To get both myself and my readers into a cheery Spring mood, I am excited to be participating in the "Spring Into Spring" giveaway event sponsored by Famous Free Samples, sister site of Tip Hero, featuring some fabulous blogs and a wonderful opportunity to be the winner of a great prize!

To celebrate the start of Spring, we are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a $150 Target gift card to use however they'd like! Whether you'd like to stock up on some spring apparel, decorate your home to match the season, or prepare your outdoor space for the warm weather , we are sure this great prize could come in handy!

Giveaway
This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada, 18+ and will run from March 21, 2013 to April 4, 2013 at 11:59pm US Eastern time. Please use the PromoSimple form AT THE VERY BOTTOM of this post to enter this giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the array of entries you can gain, and also, come back daily for even more chances to win. Good luck!
$150 Target Gift Card