Organic Cents

Zoya Nail Polish Exchange

2013-04-22T08:51:00.001-04:00

Today, in celebration of Earth Day 2013, you can head over to Zoya and exchange your current nail polish for Zoya's non-toxic nail polishes. for 2013. Clean out your nail polish wardrobe and get rid of old nail polish that may not be BIG5FREE (Free of Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toluene, DBP and Camphor) and exchange it for a greener alternative. Zoya polishes are super high quality and the colors are amazing so if you haven't tried a natural polish, this is the time! read the full details here.

Save 50% on Babo Botanicals

2013-04-20T15:45:00.001-04:00

Here is a great deal you will not want to miss. If you are familiar with Babo Botanicals then I am sure you are already a fan - so, head on over to Plum District and pick up a $40 voucher for $20! If you have not heard of Babo Botanicals, they are amazing. The company is run by a Mom and they make the highest quality products for babies and children. I am so happy to see them pop up on a deal site because I love their sunscreen and the summer months are approaching. This voucher is a no brainer.

Green Spring Cleaning Supplies

2013-04-09T08:43:00.000-04:00

Have you noticed how many mops, brooms, dust pans, and scrubbers have gone plastic? If you need to update your cleaning kitty purchase products made of natural materials. I think you will find that the old fashioned corn brooms and cotton mops (with wood handles) will do the job better and they will last a long time. I love the sponge cloths for the kitchen. For serious cleaning consider using old t-shirts or rags but if you feel you must use paper towels opt for natural recycled paper towels. In this set I featured Truce cleaning products. They are natural and amazing. You can of course make your own eco-friednly products but it just so happens that I am featuring Truce products in a giveaway. Head on over here to win a set!

Quickie Clean Results Corn Stiff Upright Broom
lowes.com

Lola Eco Clean Bamboo and Tampico Scrub Brush
amazon.com

Impact 4212 Black Metal Dust Pan, 12" Width x 14" Height
amazon.com

Amazon.com Seventh Generation Paper Towels, Natural, 2-Ply Sheets...
amazon.com

Behrens 12-Quart Steel Bucket
lowes.com

Casabella Sponge Cloths, 3-Pack
amazon.com

Quickie Clean Results Clean Results Wet Mop with Microban
maidinchicago.us

Scrub Scour
truceclean.com

Giveaway: Welcome Spring with Truce Natural Cleaning Products |...
organiccents.blogspot.com

PRITI NYC Non-Toxic Nail Polishes on FAB

2013-04-09T08:42:00.003-04:00

Does the thought of Spring make you want to paint your nails a bright color? If so, you will be happy to know that PRITI NYC non-toxic nail polish on FAB. PRITI NYC polishes are 5 Free & Vegan.

(5 Free means they do not contain toluene, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, and camphor - all known carcinogenic ingredients.)

These luxury polishes are fast drying, chip resistant, contain a UV inhibitor, and are extremely durable and glossy. They are also completely safe for use on children and moms-to-be. They have 38 of their shades available of FAB!

Great Apps Free Today Only

2013-04-05T09:43:00.001-04:00

Two of my favorite kid apps are free today only (April 5, 2013). They are Toca Tailor and Artkive. Both are normally $2.99. If you have kids I would highly recommend both. Toca Tailor is made by Toca Boca and my daughter loves all of their apps. This app lets you design and dress a character down to every little detail. You can even you use the camera feature to create your own fabric. ArtKive allows you to take a photo of your child's art work and create a coffee table book or share with family. It is a great app for clearing out clutter while still saving all the art work in a special way. Here is a list of 21 apps that are free today only. If you find one you like or already have one of these and want to share your opinion, please do. Leave a comment and fill us in.

Giveaway: Welcome Spring with Truce Natural Cleaning Products

2013-04-05T08:16:00.000-04:00

It is that time of year. Spring, ah - spring, and with it some Spring Cleaning. Is that something you look forward to or dread? I tinker back and forth between a slob and neat freak. I love everything to be neat, tidy, and smelling clean but I tend to let them get a bit out of control first. One thing that really gets me in the mood to tidy up and tackle a Spring cleaning session is great products. By great products I mean simple, without any harmful ingredients, smells nice, and great packaging is a bonus. I found all of that in a company called Truce.

Truce makes home cleaning products, hand sanitizers, room sprays, and pet shampoo and crate spray. Everything is natural containing only these ingredients: vinegar, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, essential oils (pure peppermint, rosemary, orange, lemon, and lavender), hydrogen peroxide, castile soap, soap flakes, borax, olive oil, guar gum, salt, natural oxygen bleach, vegetable glycerin. That's it! These are all ingredients you could buy and make your own natural cleaners at home but with Truce you don't have to.

Truce is an honest company run by two women who care about the environment and are in the game to make a difference. I first learned about Truce when they sent me some product samples. I get product samples from different companies but I don't always choose to write about them. I only write a review if I really like the products myself and would go out and buy them at full price. That is the case here. I loved the products. They smell great - like essentials oils. The packaging is cool, which makes me want to carry it around and spray it. - and maybe most importantly, this is a company to get behind!

Would you like to give Truce a try? You are in luck. They have been so nice to offer my readers a sample package of their products. The only thing you have to do to be entered is "like" the Truce Facebook page through the widget below. You can earn extra entries in a few other ways like leaving a comment with a Spring Cleaning tip, "liking" Organic Cents, following me on Pinterest, or tweeting about this giveaway. Good Luck!

The giveaway will be open for a whole week so lots of time to enter. In the meantime, all of my readers can get 20% off all the Truce products using the promo code organiccents at checkout.

a Rafflecopter giveaway About Sweepstakes

SALE: Tegu Magnetic Blocks

2013-04-05T07:30:00.002-04:00

Tegu Magnetic Blocks are available on FAB right now. Whenever I see these blocks on sale I try to let you know because these are probably one of my favorite toy picks. The only downside is that Tegu Blocks can be pretty pricey. If you have never seen them in person I am sure that you would wonder why you would pay $29 for 8 wood blocks. Well, these blocks look like simple wood blocks but they have magnets placed inside in strategic places. Those magnets will allow your child (or you) to build things that would be impossible with plain wood blocks. They are very cool. I almost always include these in gift guides because I really feel that they are one of those toys that will be played with by the littlest ones up to the teenagers and nostalgically held onto for the next generation.

(If you have trouble finding this sale on FAB just type in Tegu in the search box.)

Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit on Clearance

2013-03-26T11:26:00.003-04:00

I just stumbled across a great deal on Eco-Eggs Coloring Kit on the William-Sonoma website. These kits are usually $19.95 but are on clearance for $4.99 plus free shipping. The all-natural dyes are made with red cabbage, purple sweet potatoes, annatto and turmeric. They included a color chart that illustrates how to blend the dyes to create your favorite hues. To customize your eggs with one-of-a-kind designs, use the playful carrot crayon. The kit includes:

3 packets of natural dye
1 carrot carrot crayon
2 wire egg dippers and a color chart.
Printed instructions provide helpful tips and decorating ideas.

An Irresistible and Unexpected Easter Cake

2013-03-25T08:10:00.000-04:00

This would make an amazing addition to any Easter celebration! Start a new tradition or at least a little conversation with this unusual combination - Beet & Chocolate Cake. It was filmed by Tiger in a Jar. Enjoy!

Thermal-Aid Giveaway

2013-03-21T09:35:00.002-04:00

Just in time to fill your little ones easter basket, I have a great giveaway to share with you. Scroll down just a little and take a look at the post, An Eco Easter Basket Kids Will Love. In my basket I included a the Thermal-Aid bunny, Baxter. I think he is adorable and - Thermal-Aid has been so nice to offer one of my readers their choice of any Thermal-Aid bear or zoo animal. So, you could choose Baxter or which ever animal you think your child will love.

If you are not familiar with Thermal-Aid, they make all natural heating and cooling packs. They can be heated in the microwave or cooled in the freezer, over and over again. The bears and zoo animals were made just for the kids to make it a little easier and more comforting when they need a little heat or cold therapy.

My daughter has Honey, the bear, and she loves him. She doesn't think of him as being anything but one of her dolls but we have been able to use Honey on her ankle when she fell on the playground and her head when she had the flu. I can't tell you how nice it was to have a cute way to comfort her. Thermal-Aid also makes products for adults with lots of different styles and shapes of pads to suit different body parts.

Thermal-Aid has Easter giveaways happening on their Facebook page right now. So, be sure to head over and "like" them for more chances to win Baxter.

You can enter this giveaway through the widget below. It is easy to enter. You can "like" Organic Cents on Facebook, follow me on Pinterest, leave a comment here about your favorite things to add to an Easter basket or favorite Easter tradition (if you don't celebrate Easter just tell me something you would love to see on Organic Cents), and you can tweet the giveaway. The winner will be announced here on Monday (3/25). Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Online Sweepstakes Google+

Birthday Parties for Charity

2013-03-21T08:46:00.000-04:00

If you are a parent, you have probably been to your share of Birthday Parties. Celebrating Birthdays is such a big deal when they are young, but it seems so difficult to find original ways to make the day special that don't create tons of waste. Bags, decorations, toys, disposable plates and utensils, goodie bags - these are the typical fare.

Have you ever wondered what you could do to make your child's party eco-friendly? There are several companies out there that focus on turning the party into a way to give back. One of my favorites is EchoAge. Founded by two Moms who saw all the waste with the typical kids party, they created an online service that allows you and your child to select a charity, send invitations, and track RSVPs. Guests make a donation through the EchoAge website rather than bringing a gift.

After the party is over, half the money donated goes to a big gift that the child has selected and the other half to the charity the child selected. It is such a great way to teach empathy and honestly one larger gift will probably be better for the child rather than 10 or 20 small toys. Wouldn't you love to go to a party like this? No last minute run to Target, wasted money on wrapping or gift bags..

Other ideas are to center the party around community service. You can use a site like GenerationOn as your inspiration or contact a local group that interests your child. A few ideas are: A Beach Clean Up Party, Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen Party, Collect Canned Goods for a Local Food Pantry, Make Homemade Dolls or Cards for Children in the Hospital. Anything that is close to your child's heart will make the start of a great theme. By hosting party like this, your child may start a trend in your community. Imagine all the good deeds that could come from that!

10 Natural Room Fresheners

2013-03-21T08:42:00.001-04:00

There are plenty of ways that you can scents your home naturally right in your pantry but if the DIY route is not your thing - here are ten products that are safe and eco-friendly to use around your house. I personally love J.R. Watkins products. They make a menthol spray that is amazing to spray in the bedroom when someone has a cold and the lemon scent smells clean and fresh.

Of course, there are many other brands than I could include here. This is what you need to look for. Candles should be made of either soy or beeswax scented with all-natural, plant-based essential oils. Other candles are petroleum based and some even have lead in the wicks to help them stand upright. This can leave toxins in the air. Not good.

Click on the photos in the slide show and you will betaken to a source to buy or get more information on the products. I will be posting about products like this if I find them at a great price so stick around for the best green deals.

An Eco Easter Basket Kids will Love

2013-03-13T09:31:00.000-04:00

Creating an eco-friendly easter basket can be a lot of fun but it does take a little planning. So, I thougth I would put this up a little early to give you time for shipping. Here are some great ideas and resources. The natural candy store has a lot of Easter Candy and as always, you can find almost anything on Amazon if you know what you're looking for. Etsy is my go to site for handmade products. I just show bunny crayons here but I saw bunny sidewalk chalk, soaps, felted chicks, felt peeps with catnip inside - tons of ideas.

Easter Basket
williams-sonoma.com

Splat the Cat Where's the Easter Bunny?
amazon.com

Thermal-Aid Zoo Baxter the Rabbit
amazon.com

Tegu Tints Pocket Pouch 8 Piece: Toys & Games
amazon.com

Natural Egg Coloring Kit: Toys & Games
amazon.com

YummyEarth Organic Lollipops, Assorted Flavors (15 Count), 3-Ounce...
amazon.com

Surf Sweets Organic Jelly Beans, 2.75-Ounce Bags
amazon.com

Handmade Easter Bunny Crayon Card with gift box
etsy.com

Educational Insights Smencils Colored Pencils 10-pack: Toys & Games
amazon.com

Good Wood Eggs, Six in a Recyclable Carton (childs play food)
amazon.com

Easter Basket Grass | Williams-Sonoma
williams-sonoma.com

Justin's Organic Peanut Butter Cups - Milk Chocolate by Justin's
naturalcandystore.com

Organic Milk Chocolate with Sea Salt & Almonds Bunny Bar by Lake...
naturalcandystore.com

pinterest-0ff53.html

Solecan: A Single Trash and Recycling Can Solution

2013-03-13T08:12:00.004-04:00

Some of you may remember Gary Gagnon and his recycled shoe company, ReKixx. He got his initial funding through site called Kickstarter. Kickstater is an amazing site that allows anyone to present their product and accept any size donation towards the cost to bring that product to market.

There is a clever recycling product called Solecan on Kickstarter right now. Check out this video. It is a simple but great idea worth supporting.
You can be a part of bringing this product to market by pledging as little as $1. If they reach their target investment (which is $75,000 by April 23, 2013) then you will be charged your pledge. For $17 and up you will get one of the trash cans. What do you think of these?

Loopy Mango Knitted Wool Blankets at 25 % Off

2013-03-13T07:56:00.002-04:00

Is it cold where you are? I am sure warm weather must be on the way but in the meantime, doesn't this blanket look amazing? It is made by a company from New York called Loopy Mango. It is made from merino wool and is available on HomeSav right now at about 25% off. They also have kits where you can make your own!

Organic Cocktail Hour: Brad and Angelina's Wine Venture

2013-03-08T13:07:00.000-05:00

When you think of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie many things may come to mind. Wine is probably not one of them, but that is about to change. Yesterday the famous pair released their own organic wine called Miraval Rose 2012. The wine was released yesterday for $139 a case and sold out within 5 hours.

Jolie and Pitt partnered with Marc Perrin, the owner of Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, to create the label “Bottled b Jolie-Pitt et Perrin” 2012 Rosé vintage. In a statement, Perrin called the wine “aromatic with a round mouthfeel that is full of freshness.” Thierry Desseauve, the first wine critic in the world to taste Miraval said,

This one was very fresh, very fruity, very exuberant on the aroma side, but also round, supple and fresh and energetic so for my standard of tasting wine, it was a very good wine. I gave it a 91 point out of a one hundred scale. . . It was also a good vineyard for years and maybe for more than one century so it was possible to do a good wine, to do a better wine than before because the owners before weren’t very focussed on wine producing.

Unfortunately for all of us who didn't get a bottle to try, they will not be repeating the Miraval Rose anytime soon. However, come summer, the wine-makers are expected to introduce a white wine. In light of this success, maybe they will make a few more bottles.

My Pinterest Boards have turned GREEN

2013-03-06T09:48:00.001-05:00

My Pinterest Boards have turned GREEN for St. Patrick's Day. Are you pinning? If not, you must join. It is too much fun to miss out on. If you are pinning, I would love to check out your boards. Leave me your pin name or a link in the comments!

Wear This, Not That: Circle Scarf

2013-03-05T12:22:00.002-05:00

With the cold weather hitting all the way down in Florida, the timing was perfect to share a quick post on scarves. I really like this new trend with circle scarves. You don't have to workry about how to tie them or having them come loose. They look really chic and cozy. The one here by KCA is a great choice. They use low impact dyes and organic cotton, are made in the USA and much less expensive than the alternative to boot! You can't beat that..

Tegu Magnetic Blocks up to 25% Off

2013-03-05T11:15:00.003-05:00

I am a big fan of Tegu Magnetic Blocks. They take the traditional wooden block to a whole new level by allowing them to defy gravity! If you were hoping to slip a few into an Easter basket or give to someone special for their Birthday, you will be glad to know that they are available at up to 25% off on Gilt. They are hiding in The Easter Shop sale.

Eco Etsy: Handmade Organic Soap Sampler

2013-03-01T07:48:00.000-05:00

This organic soap sampler by Sweet Sallys Soaps looks delicious (like decadent little caramels). We recently made our own soap at home. It was great fun. I will share the process with you eventually but in the meantime - it sure is easier to head over and pick up these!! I would love to wake up to one of these is my shower....All of her handmade soaps, lotions, and sugar scrubs are organic and beautiful. She makes a black and white swirled bar that would look great in a masculine bathroom. Head on over and check them out.

ProBar Natural & Organic Bars for $1.92 each

2013-02-26T09:56:00.001-05:00

If you are a fan of ProBar, there is a pretty good deal over on The Clymb. They have several varieties of their bars for $22.98 for 12, making them $1.92 each. That is cheaper than Amazon or the ProBar website. They are made with all natural and organic ingredients. I haven't tried them myself but the reviews are pretty glowing. The Clymb is a deal site and like most of them, they offer credits for referring your friends. If you have a lot of Facebook friends or Twitter followers it is easy to share this sale with them and earn some credits to the site. If you are the outdoorsy type, this is the deal site for you. They carry all the big name sport and athletic brands.

Rest in Peace Jody Sherman, EcoMom Founder

2013-02-25T08:41:00.001-05:00

If you have been reading Organic Cents for a while you will have seen many posts about the amazing shop EcoMom that provided safe, healthy, eco-friendly products for Moms and families. They have been a great resource and inspiration for those going green at home and in their business. That vision came from the CEO Jody Sherman who was interviewed here as part of a series called Tuesday Talk.

I wanted to share with you the tragic news that Jody Sherman recently committed suicide and the doors to EcoMom have closed. Although I only knew of Jody what he shared in our interview I still find it heart breaking. I think too often we look at ourselves and expect too much. Especially people with large hearts who want to be care takers of the people around them and the world at large. Entrepreneurs are under extreme pressure to make it work, not just for themselves - but for their employees, customers, and for the charities that they support. This tragedy shows how important it is to share with those you love, admire, respect - how you feel about them. Even people we see from afar. It is so easy these days to communicate with people. We should make a point to tell people, you are amazing. What you are doing is amazing. What you have done is amazing. We all need to hear that.

When I first heard the news I went back to my interview with him and re-read it. I was struck by what he shared even more now. Here is Jody Sherman's favorite poem. It is titled "If" by Rudyard Kipling.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling, 1895

Plum Bunny by Kate Quinn up to 50% Off

2013-02-24T09:56:00.003-05:00

Plum Bunny by Kate Quinn is available on Zulily up to 50% off. The line is made with organic cotton in a soft color palette. Typical of Kate Quinn the styles are adorable. Sizes go up to 5Y. While you are there check out the sale on Clek booster seats. These are great quality and I haven't seen them on a deal site before. They have them at 30% off.

GIVEAWAY: Ecologica Rectangular Mosaic Mirror

2013-02-24T07:54:00.002-05:00

Ecologica Home is having a great Giveaway right now on their Facebook page. They are giving one fan their Large Rectangular Mosaic Mirror. All you have to do to enter is head over to their Facebook page and:

1. like the Giveaway photo
2. Share the photo with your friends
3. Leave a comment with your city

Pretty easy, and the prize is amazing! If you are not familiar with Ecologica, they sell furniture and accessories made from reclaimed wood. Each piece is unique. I blog for them on all sorts of green topics so check out their site. I would love your feedback! Sweepstakes

Big Sale on Eco-Brands for Women

2013-02-24T07:40:00.002-05:00

My Habit is having a pretty big sale on eco-friendly and vegan brands for women. They have vegan jackets, scarves, and shoes, as well as some big brands like Patagonia and Clary Sage Organics Yoga Wear. If you are new to My Habit, it is a deal site run by Amazon. That means that if you have any gift cards or credit s on Amazon you can also use them on My Habit.