Celebrating Dad Event with Libre Tea Mug (6/1-6/10 US and Canada)

Brought to you by Amanda from Coping With Frugality and Alesha from Full Time Mama are excited to bring you this fun Father’s Day event called “Celebrating Dad”. This event will run from 12:01am EST Friday, June 1, 2012 through 11:59pm EST Sunday, June 10, 2012.

We all love Dad and know he works so hard for us, so let pamper Dad a little.  So often we allow ourselves to get run down and stressed.  Let's face it, there are tons of things that pull us in all directions and we have to learn to prioritize and relax.  One of my favorite ways to relax is with a nice cup of tea and a book.  Thanks to Libre Tea we are enjoying our tea on the go and reducing our Eco foot-printing. 

While I love all three looks that Libre Tea offers, I think my husband has enjoyed the Mug the most.  It has a comfortable handle that makes carrying super simple. This allows us to have loose leaf tea on the go!  There is no straining, or bags that are wasted when thrown away.  If at home I add my tea leaves in the compost and have no bags to worry about.  Another benefit of loose leaf tea, is that it is usually more economical, you get a reduced price in bulk tea purchases. You can see more on my Libre Tea Review. 

The Tea glass come with a tea infuser mesh and a lid to keep from spilling on the go.  I simply warm my water over the stove, add loose leaf or tea balls to the glass, then add water, tea infuser, lid and go! We have used the Mug at the store, tea shops, on errands, at the office, in the car, with so many possibilities yet to try.  The Mug is light weight and fits nicely in my purse and baby bag.  I love that when I have purchased tea I use my own container and have no cups to throw away. 

How easy is Libre Tea?  Watch this video on 2 ways to use your Glass or Mug.

The Libre Tea Mug can be purchased at Libre Tea website for $32.50.  

Find Libre Tea on Facebook and Twitter.
 

Disclosure:  I have not been paid for this review, it is mine and mine alone.  I received the item listed above for an honest opinion.  I am not making any sales in this post either.  I just love the product and the mission of this company~~Natural and Safe! 

Now (1) reader will win a Libre Tea Mug open to US and CANADA!!!!  Winner will be contacted by email used in rafflecopter and have 24 hours to reply with shipping information to be sent to sponsors.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now you can visit all the other wonderful Bloggers Celebrating Dad!

Fabulous Finds for Father's Day Event

Sometimes shopping for Dad is easy, but if you are looking for new ideas you have come to the right place!  The Collective Media Magic team, Closer To Lucy, Have Sippy Will Travel, Just Like June, 3 Princes and a Princess 2, and That's What She Said, have found awesome gifts for any dad. Whether he's high tech, healthy, or laid back, we've got a gift that's sure to please. Join us and our friends as we make dads feel like a king!  I personally am very excited about the Eat Smart Scale among many other great finds!  


One Grand Prize Winner will receive a prize pack of the following items valued at approximately $500:

A Linksy EA2700 wireless router Router  with unrivaled speed (value $109) -winner cannot have won a Linksy router in the last six months  

 

A copy of Microsoft 2010 (value $119)

  An Eat Smart Retro Food Scale (value $40)

A Cafe Press Gift Certificate (value $50)

A Pair of Shoes from Shoes For Crews - Winners Choice 
(no price limit on the pair of shoes! $100 value)

Plus Work Out Gear (winner's choice of item)  
and a 
Series of Books For Dads (value $30) 

 The Fabulous Finds For Father's Day  Event will begin at 12:01 AM May 31st and end at 11:59 June 14th. Contest Open to US only due to company shipping restrictions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Libre Tea Review

My whole family loves tea throughout the seasons.  There are many wonderful reasons to enjoy a cup of tea, but a few of my own are for energy, health, calming, cleansing, and pure enjoyment.  I was excited when Libre Tea sent me their Mug and had no idea my husband would love it so much.  We have enjoyed the beautiful design and have a competition every morning to see who gets to the Mug first for the day.  I know what I am getting him for Father's Day!
The wonderful thing about tea is that it is very versatile, hot, cold, with milk, honey, healing, calming, energizing, and the list goes on.  When my husband took the Mug to work it traveled well, easy to clean for the next cup, and used for coffee.  Although, now that it is summer we drink more tea than coffee and found this to be a great travel item.  One of the neat features I enjoyed most is that the glass inside keeps drinks hot while the outside shell is not hot to the touch.
We are going to be going to Scotland this Summer and very excited to be traveling with my ECO Libre Tea Mug.  This will make our adventure so much more calming and relaxing!  

"Loose leaf ‘on the go’ – The Libre tea glass is the perfect tea gift for your tea lovin’ friends and family – they will appreciate a relaxing tea moment anywhere, anytime."

A few great features of these Glasses and Mugs.

• Glass interior and durable poly exterior  - keeps tea hot and cool to touch.
• A removable stainless-steel filter that keeps tea leaves in the glass, out of your mouth and removable for easy cleaning.
• The glass ‘n poly Libre styles are all BPA-free experience for your tea.
• The Stainless steel filter keeps the tea leaves away from your mouth and is easy to remove for quick access and easy cleaning when adding or emptying loose leaf tea.
• Better for environment with loose leaf tea, no tea bags to waste and economical with bulk leaves. 

We have taken the Mug with us everywhere.  It is light and easy to carry in my purse and I can easily see carrying in a backpack.  When I have gotten the Mug for the day, I carry it with my bag of loose leaf tea.  I find it very easy to get hot water wherever I go.  I am usually worried about dropping and breaking certain items, but the Mug is very durable, convenient, and light.  There is just something about a relaxing cup of tea.

One afternoon with my loses leaf Chai tea. 




I love flowering tea Balls!  Here is a tea ball that opens to look like a flower after adding hot water.

My Flower tea ball and tasting delicious!  I love these convenient Tea Mugs!

Libre Tea has three styles for you to chose from.
9 Ounce Glass, 14 ounce Glass, and a 10 ounce Mug.

There are two ways to use your Libre Tea Glass or Mug (see video below).

The Mug is Valued at $32.50 and you can order yours or dad's at Libre Tea Website. 

Find Libre Tea on Facebook and Twitter. 

Are you Looking to win one?

I am very excited to tell you Libre Tea will be giving one of my lucky readers a Libre Tea Mug, to celebrate the Dad in your life! Be sure to come back June 1st to enter to win.  There will be plenty of other bloggers (40) celebrating Dad with some of their Favorite items for you to win as well.  We will be having a great time "Celebrating Dad".

Disclosure:  I have not been paid for this review, it is mine and mine alone.  I received the item listed above for an honest opinion.  I am not making any sales in this post either.  I just love the product and the mission of this company~~Natural and Safe! 

Summer Adventure Days Week 1

Now that Summer is here I want to relax but keep the kids entertained.  One day every week we will have a different adventure day.  This week we went to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. 

We packed our lunches, snacks, plenty of water, and sunscreen!  It was actually a very pleasant and breezy day, but we always protect our skin.  The day was filled with laughter, nature trails, seeing lots of Arizona's wildlife, and making memories.

 We stopped at the Ancient Arizona section to do a little digging and finding out more about dinosaurs and the items used at dig sites.









We then headed into a Cave to learn about bats, gems, and more.

Throughout the park we observed Arizona wildlife.  Here is my friend the Bobcat!  Poor guy was being tormented by a pesky squirrel just out of reach.

At the end of the day the kids all finished their Tracking Animals book.  They received a certificate and card stating they were animal trackers.  They absolutely loved them!

Fun with Food Friday

I joined up this week for Fun with Food Friday! Check out my recipe below, and then go see what recipes Mama Chocolate is sharing!  Full Time Mama is cooking one of her own recipes this week. 

• Zucchini Oven Chips Recipe by Kelly Tanner                    
• 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup(1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon seas salt
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fat-free milk
• 2 1/2 cups(1/4-inch-thick) slices zucchini (about 2 small)
• Cooking spray (used coconut oil lightly on the pan and spritz over top of slices)
• 
  
•  Preheat oven to 425°.  Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Place milk in a shallow bowl. Dip zucchini slices in milk, and dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place coated slices on an ovenproof wire rack coated with cooking spray; place rack on a baking sheet. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until browned and crisp. Serve immediately.
•  
• The kids really enjoyed these.  They said they had a nice crunch like a chip and tasted great.  I found this to be a fun snack or and a side to a meal.  The chips where super easy to make and I will be making them again!   
• 
  

Wildwood Healing Balm Review

Wildwood Soapworks has become my favorite body care company.  The organic oils they use in the products make for a truly nourishing experience.

The healing balm has become a hot used item in my house.  With four kids you are bound to get a few scrapes, cuts, bruises, and more.  We started using the balm a month ago and found it universal in all our everyday injuries and beyond.

Veronica is so much like myself.  If anyone is going to find themselves in a cactus, it will be the two of us.  I am still not sure how she did it, but she got a few of the tiny barbs in her finger.  If you have ever gotten a cactus needle in your skin you know how much it itches and burns even after its been removed.  The waterworks where really flowing and I was ready to be in comforting mom mode for the next few hours.  I was surprised how quickly the healing balm soothed her hand.  Within a short time the redness was gone and she felt immediately soothed removing the itching and burning.  We go on lots of hiking trips and one thing I always carry is a fine toothed comb.  This way you can pull out cactus needles quickly.  Now, I need to make sure the healing balm is with the kit as well.  It worked great. 

Another situation I used the balm for was when Gabby got hit in the eye by a neighbors toy.  I guess toys where flying that day and one got her on the eye real good.  The cut was minor, but I worried about a black eye and swelling.  Because I started carrying the balm in my purse I was able to put the balm on right away and reduce the swelling.   She never got a black eye and the cut healed with no scaring.  Thank you Wildwood Soapworks! We have used the balm for cuts, burns, sore muscles, bug bites, scraped knees, and more.

"Good for what ails you, we have infused certified organic extra virgin olive oil with our exclusive blend of herbs, all of which have soothing, healing qualities. If it hurts, burns, or itches, simply rubbing in this natural formula will help relieve what is bothering you. Our clients have successfully used this blend on cuts, scrapes, burns, cold sores, bug bites, and a myriad of other skin conditions. Small enough to carry anywhere, never leave home without it!

Ingredients: organic extra virgin olive oil*, natural beeswax, organic virgin hemp seed oil*, goldenseal powder, myrrh powder, echinacea powder, calendula, tea tree essential oil, high altitude Bulgarian lavender essential oil, natural vitamin E, and rosemary oleoresin extract.
 *certified organic"

A little bit of history.  Calendula, also known as Pot Marigold, has been used in healing arts since the ancient Egyptians started using it.  I was intrigued to find out that back in the US Civil War they use to make a tincture of Calendula to pack wounds, heal burns, and clean open wounds.  This herb has been long used in healing the skin.  The above Balm ingredients are a perfectly blended combination to sooth and heal.

Wildwood Soapworks Healing Balm is treasure.  The balm smells amazing, and kids will be comforted using it.  Just yesterday, I was washing the car and Michael came out to tell me "Gabby hurt her toe, but not to worry, I put the healing balm on it".  I laughed and said "where did you get it?"  He said "from your purse where you always have it."  I was so pleased to see that the kids on their own will reach for this as the first step in an injury.  I went to check on Gabby's toe and she had stubbed it against her bookshelf.  It looked fine, but she said the balm made it feel better.  Our house has a few injuries every now and then, it is expected with an outdoor lifestyle.  We play sports, always outside, and love nature.  Nature does not always love you back and I am happy to carry this on our adventure days.

As part of my Mother's Day gift to my Mom, she received the Healing and Golden Slumbers Sleep Balm .  She loves to use the Healing balm around her cuticles.  That it has been softening them and helping her nails get stronger.  I had no idea!  I have been  using on injuries, but she used it to strengthen her nails and soften hands.  She is now loves the soaps too! 

The Healing Balm is valued at $6.95.  You can find it on their website along with lip balms, soaps, bath teas, lotions, baby and pet products.
You can find Wildwoods on Facebook.  Where you never know when and you never know why, but they love to give out soap to fans.  Be sure to stop by.
Follow on twitter @Wildwoodsoap.  

For Wildwoods Facebook Fans you get a Special Deal of the day!  Items from 10-30% off.  Be sure to stop by! The Gardener soap bar is 30% off right now at $6.95 on
On all orders $10 and over you will receive FREE Shipping at the checkout!  No code required.  

Have I said I love this company??  

I have not been paid for this review, it is mine and mine alone.  I received my first bar of soap for just being a new follower on their Facebook page.  I am not making any sales in this post either.  I just love the product and the mission of this company~~Natural, Organic, and Safe!  The Company is so friendly, be sure to stop by Facebook or twitter and tell Sally that Kelley's Passion sent you!

Green Smoothie Day

Did you know Green Smoothies can pack a powerful punch in keeping you healthy?

• High in Antioxidants
• Fiber
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Chlorophyll
• Essential Fatty Acids
• Aid in digestion
• Low in calories

Green Smoothie for today                                                
Green Smoothie #1
1 banana
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 spinach greens

Smoothies are a fast nutritious meal.  It packs a lot of beneficial vitamins and minerals which keeps you healthy and boost your immune system.  I find I am satisfied and have more energy when I can take the 5 minutes to make a smoothie.  This is the perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner for the busy person who tends to skip or forget meals.  I am on the run today, again, with end of year parties and celebrations at the kids school.  This is my morning meal and I am off!  Have a wonderful day and don't forget to feed your body beneficial foods and skip the junk!

Father's Day Guift Guide

Welcome to the 2012 Father's Day Gift Guide hosted by Blog It Forward! If you are looking for great gift ideas for dad then you came to the right place! Men are so hard to buy for aren't they?! We want to help. We have gift ideas for all of the special men in your life! From hammocks to bathrobes to digital filing systems, we have ideas that will make your shopping easier!

Be sure to come back on June 1 because we will be giving away *every*single*gift* on the Father's Day Gift Guide!

1. NeatDesk :: For the digital dad. This year give him a sleek tech-tool that will help him manage and digitize important files at home, in the office, and on the road.
2. 3D Photo Crystal :: For the sentimental dad. 3D Laser Gifts can create etched crystals that show your love and appreciation for dad in a creative way.
3. Kentfield Men's Hiking Shoe :: For the active dad. The Kentfield by Ahnu is designed for the dad who wants the performance of a cross-trainer with the breathability and comfort of a water-sandal.
4. Xperience Days :: For the adventurous dad. With thousands of unique gift experiences nationwide, there is a perfect opportunity for dad in your area.
5. Organic Bamboo Bathrobe :: For the "green" dad. Any dad would love to receive such a luxurious and eco-friendly gift from The Ultimate Green Store!
6. EatSmart Precision GetFit Body Scale :: For the health conscious dad. This scale from EatSmart is perfect for dads who are serious about taking control of their health!
7. Hammock Bliss :: For the outdoorsy dad. Any dad who loves to spend time outdoors will love a new hammock from Hammock Bliss!
8. Galileo Weather Station :: For the weather buff dad. Dad will love to study the weather on the Galileo Weather Station from Wind & Weather!
9. King Louie Microfiber Windshirt :: For the All American dad. All USA Clothing offers many gift options that dad will love, all Made in the USA!
10. Journal 10 :: For the record keeper dad. Give dad his own personal time machine as he records precious memories and builds a memoir to treasure.
11. Sogno Coffee ::  For the coffee loving dad. Dad will enjoy premium Sogno Coffee made with only the finest Arabica beans.

So excited about this event and the wonderful gifts they have put together just for Dad!  Some of my favorite memories with my Dad are hiking, camping, and being outside.  Please visit the links above which will take you to a full review of our fabulous sponsors. You will also find special offers and discounts. We hope you found some gift giving inspiration for your dad! Don't forget to come back to this blog on June 1. We are giving away over $1210 in prizes! 

Upcoming Event for Father's Day

I am excited to help you see and win some wonderful gifts for Dad!

Hosted by Amanda from Coping With Frugality and Alesha from Full Time Mama are excited to bring you this fun Father's Day event called "Celebrating Dad". This event will run from 12:01am EST Friday, June 1, 2012 through 11:59pm EST Sunday, June 10, 2012. Want to join in the celebration fun? It’s super easy!!

FOR BLOGGERS....We are going to have a great time celebrating dads! Join in the FUN- Sign up soon! Your spot on the Linky will be determined by the date you sign up, so sign up quick! Please, DON’T FORGET… Once you have your Celebrating Dad post up (or have sent your $3 gift via PayPal to apeek81@gmail.com), please fill out THIS FORM!  If you would like to sign up for this event please visit their website here, today is the last day to signup! 

For my Readers.....I have a special giveaway for this event for Dad!  Be sure to see my review coming up soon.  (It's a surprise). 

Copy-Kids DVD Giveaway and $25 whole foods Gift card

Copy-Kids has become a huge favorite in our home.  My children have enjoyed and laughed right along with these cute little food stars.  They ask for it just about every other day along with their snack time.  These cute little healthy eaters are such a delight to help parents encourage kids to eat healthy.  I am excited to say that Copy Kids is going to give one of my lucky readers a Copy-Kids DVD and.....a $25 Whole Foods Gift card.  This way you can make sure to have the fruits and veggies on hand when you watch the DVD scenes.  As your child watches the video, they will be asking for those foods.
 
I have loved this fun interactive way to help kids learn to eat healthier foods.  Parents are constantly struggling to get their kids to eat healthier, and Copy-Kids gives parents the tools to change that.  This is perfect for kids 6 months and as old as 6.

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Food featured in the DVD

• Bell peppers
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Carrots
• Strawberries
• Avocados
• Raspberries
• Tomatoes
• Apples
• Broccoli
• Cucumbers
• Blueberries

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn more about Copy-Kids and our wonderful experience at Copy-Kids Review.

If you would like to purchase Copy-Kids DVD at $19.95 you can visit them on their website.
See more Copy-Kids Review on their Press Board. 

As mentioned above one wonderful reader will win a Copy-Kids DVD and a $25 Whole foods Gift Card.  Just fill out rafflecopter below to enter.




I am not paid for my reviews.  These are my own thoughts towards companies and products that I enjoy.

Grab some Mangos!

One of our families favorite fruits and we are enjoying to the fullest.  Why you may ask?  June is the last month that mango's will be in season in the US.  While you can have Mango's imported from out of the country all year, we like to eat them when in season in US.  One of the major reasons I love to shop at Farmers markets is that you eat seasonal food from your area.  Mago's are rich in Antioxidants, Vitamin C, and A. 

You have no limit to enjoying this deliciously sweet fruit but enjoy before the end of June.  After you will be paying more for them and increasing pollution to transport these from afar.

Fun Facts

• One cup of mango's is just 100 calories.
• One serving gives you provides 100% of your daily vitamin C and 35% of your vitamin A.V
• Vitamin C promotes healthy immune function and collagen formation. 
• Vitamin A is important for vision and bone growth. 
• Mango provides 12% of your daily dietary fiber and diets low in fat and high in fiber can reduce illness and disease, such as cancer.
• Mango contain over 20 different vitamins and minerals.
• Each serving of mango is fat free, sodium free and cholesterol free.
• "Mango scored 93 out of 100 on the recently introduced NuVal scoring system for overall nutritional quality."

We use Mango raw, in salsa, salads, smoothies, frozen treats, sides, and juice.  Have fun and eat healthy with mango!

Flash Giveaway of 3 Smelly Jellies, today only.

Just because.......

Do you are really need a reason to just give something you like away?  

My friend Debbie at DeDa Studies is helping me spread some love to me readers, just because.  I love neat and original things.  You know the type of stuff that you can't get just any where, but you would drive an hour to hit the festival or craft fair you know that seller will be at.   That is DeDa!

Welcome inside the lives of DeDa Studios .... designers of original Recycled Glass Art and Smelly Jellies! 

They are a Mother and Daughter Team!  

"We knew we wanted to work together doing what we loved so .... we decided that we would join together to start a business.   We are Debbie & Dawn.....De = Debbie    Da = Dawn   "DeDa Studios" was born!  I am De....the author of the blog!  Da is the face of Facebook...we both share the joys of Twitter & Etsy! 
Dawn makes "Smelly Jellies"...they are a GREEN way to scent your home.  I am the "Recycled Glass Art" artist.  I make glass items out of recycled glass & other items.
We live in very small communities in Wisconsin.  The southeast corner of the state  ....Twin Lakes and Camp Lake.  I live in Camp Lake....my community is so small we have no mail delivery ...we pick up our mail daily at the small local post office.  When you visit our community it is like you have stepped back in time!  
Dawn  spends her time being a MOM! and a good one at that!  I am married and retired from the healthcare industry...over 30 yrs.  In the 70's my only dream was to be a artist!  I am truly living a DREAM! and I love it!
We are dog lovers and both have labs...mine is King (Kingers) a Black Lab and Dawn's is Dozer a Chocolate Lab.
We pride ourselves on being a honest company....providing excellent quality products and great customer service."

4oz Smelly Jellie with Daisy Lid...Perfect for a Unique gift. My Smelly Jellies scent your room the "GREEN" way...you don't have to worry about lighting anything or plugging anything in...Simply remove the seal, put the lid back on, and place in your room of choice...when it starts drying out simply add water from your faucet..They last around 3-6 months..just depends on how dry your house is.

Smelly Jellies are made with a highest quality oil, so it does not need to be big & bulky in a room. Fits perfectly in a car cup holder or any room. I do not dye any of my products everything is natural in color. Scent your home in a way that no one knows where the scent is coming from. They look great in any setting.

Your home and car will smell great and no one will know how!  See more on their Etsy page.

Just because it is Monday, the kids last week of school, or Just Because.  I am doing a flash Giveaway today to give 3 readers a smelly jelly!  It will be the scent of the week!  A big surprise because I could not pick just any, they are all GREAT!

Just fill out the raffle below and winner will be announced tomorrow.  You will be emailed and need to respond within 24 hours, or another winner will be dawn. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kindle Fire Giveaway! NEW fundraising program for your school, church, or team!

Welcome to another #SuperEvent Giveaway hosted by Full Price? Never! and contributing bloggers CuzinLogic and MyCraftyLife! I'd like to introduce you all to Big Fundraising Ideas!

"Big Fundraising Ideas is a company that works with various groups such as schools, sports teams, churches, and non-profit organizations. We provide a turnkey fundraising program that is able to generate substantially more income for these groups than the typical fundraisers that are being used today. These events involve no selling and no buying. We are also hiring sales reps! This is the ultimate work at home opportunity and perfect for today's Moms"

Greening your Family App, Review

I am sure your body is of great importance to you.  It is the only one you're given and you want it to last, right?  We try make good choices in eating and working out, but are we hurting our bodies with our cleaning products?

The amount of chemicals in our everyday cleaning products is alarming. Very similar to food labels, marketing on beauty and cleaning products can be very misleading.  I wanted to take this time to introduce you to a knew App called "Greening your Family".  

Description

Practical shopper’s guide to Greening Your Family

The Greening Your Family App is a road map for making safe product choices for you and your family. Do you wonder if you should buy organic or conventionally grown apples? Want to know which fish varieties have the least environmental contaminants? What about the safest brands of children’s shampoo or toothpaste to buy? This app answers all of these questions and more.

The app is designed to make it easy for you to minimize you and your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals found in many of the products that line the grocery store shelves. It is based on the award-winning book titled Greening Your Family, by Lindsey Carmichael, MPH. The Greening Your Family app is a distilled version of the book with advice and brand recommendations for everything from dishwasher soap to deodorant.

Features:
•Extensive information covering three broad categories: food, personal care and cleaning products

•Recommendations for safer brands of products in each category

•Information about ingredients to avoid in conventional products     

•Ability to create a ‘favorites’ list for quick access at the store

•Updates ensuring current information about the quickly changing green products landscape

•30+ recipes and tips for making your own non-toxic cleaning products

•Safe Guide to Plastics for foods

•Guide to House Plants That Purify the Air in your home

•Labeling information

•Table of the top 15 ingredients to avoid in personal care products

I was happy to see that most of the products I am using were included is the "safe green companies".  Although, some of the smaller or new companies I stared to use where not listed there.  Most that were listed are major green companies and you can find online or in most stores. I found it very beneficial when shopping.  What I wished it had, was a list of toxic chemicals in cleaning products.  A listing of stay away from these section.  It was nice to open up the app and check if a product was safe or not. The app does go into explain about what to look for on reading labels.  Through out the app I found a weather of knowledge and products that I feel a little better about trying now.  I do like to keep things simple and as natural as possible, but if I try a new product I will refer to their lists.  Over all a wonderful app to have. 

If you wanted to try a small version of the app for FREE go to this link.

For the full version the amount is only .99 cents!  I thought the buck was worth it for the convenience of having this info on my phone.  I am still learning about being a green mom, and enjoyed the assistance the app gave me. 

A few reviews:

"I use this at this at the grocery store and have found it to be helpful in my quest to minimize my family's exposure to harmful chemicals. The app covers a wide range of categories, briefly identifies ingredients to avoid in conventional products, and lists non-toxic brand alternatives- most of which can be found at your local grocery store. User interface is simple and well-designed. Worth every penny."

" This app is well organized and comprehensive. Anyone seeking a healthier life will benefit significantly."

Getting ready for Father's Day?

Upcoming Fabulous Finds For Father's Event

Winner Take All Fab Fathers Giveaway Event 

This event will run from May 31 - June 14. Event Giveaway Post with Rafflecopter are must be posted no earlier than 12:01am May 31 and not later than 11:59pm on May 31 or your entry will be taken off the Rafflecopter. 

Prizes: A Linksy Router (value $109) A Microsoft 2010 (value $119) An Eat Smart Retro Scale (value $40) A Cafe Press Gift Certificate (value $50) And More Prizes to come!

Wanting to signup for this event?  You can visit Fabulous Finds.

This will be a fun Father's Day event, so be sure to mark your calenders to stop back May 31- June 14, to wins some great prizes for Dad.

   

Nutrition New: GMO's and Michigan Pig Farm

GMO's are really starting to burn my buttons!!!
I viewed a video yesterday that really put what GMO's are into an easy light.  You will see how GMO will slowly take over crops, even those of small farmers, and in a away are ability to have natural choices.  The GMO crops are not contained and are slowly but diligently crossing into surrounding crops.

90% of GMO takes place in America's!  That is an alarming amount.  One reason I view GMO's as dangerous, is the chemicals used in making them more resistant to Pest and Weeds.  Keep in mind that studies have shown that GMO crops are no more resistance than Farmers that are non GMO.  Nature is strong and adapts so chemicals, and that is why they have to be increased to keep the pest and weeds at bay.  These toxic chemicals are getting into our soil and water.  Live beneficial organism are in soil that help make plants nutrient quality.  These natural organism are being destroyed through the use of GMO's.

A large percentage of GMO crops go to feeding livestock for consumption.  One thing to keep in mind is that science does not know what affect the GMO's will have on human and livestock down the road.

GMO's are not just used as crops environmental resistance but also in medicine.  You can see more on this in Nutritional News, GM in Kansas.

 Michigan authorities force farmers to massacre baby pigs cold blood - RT America
An Organic Hormone Free Pig Farm was told if they did not shot their own pigs, they would shut the farm down.   The state of Michigan  accused this farm of having FERAL pigs.  The definition of a feral pig is a running free outside of fences- wild pigs.  These pigs have a organic diet, are allowed to run around in the sun and fresh air.  This to me is a better life before slaughter.  At the end of the video you will see what is allowed by government for the housing and treatment of pigs that are used for OUR consumption.  (Granted this shot was in cleaner facility than I have previously seen.) 

I could not post the article because it was too graphic.  ALL the pigs in this video were killed.  If you would like to read the article you can go to Natural News

Wordless Wednesday

 Can't tell but he was big, from my elbow to fingertips. 

Keep a healthy Home

Most of us are becoming more aware of the chemicals in the everyday products we use around the house and on our bodies.  There are wonderful companies that are making greener cleaner products but some you can make right out of the pantry.

In the Kitchen and Bathroom
White Vinegar is a natural cleaner and deodorizer, it absorbs smells instead of covering them up.  You can clean your produce, counter tops, bathrooms, and floors.  Mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle or jar.  I will also add some lemon juice for a nice citrus scent!  When the kids would miss the toilet in the bathroom, I used white vinegar removed the urine smell.  You can scrub white vinegar on the inside of the toilet to remove hard water and scum.
Use Baking soda and white vinegar together in sink to help unclog drains. 
I use salt on my cooking stoneware to clean the surface.  The abrasive works well with all stoneware getting into the pores. 

For the Laundry
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to your washing machine's rinse cycle to soften clothes.  I stopped using commercial softeners a few years ago when I saw they aggravated my sons eczema.  Using vinegar has been very helpful in softening without aggravating his sensitive skin. 
You can use 1 cup of Lemon juice in the wash to whiten clothes.  I love the natural fragrance of lemon! 

House, trash cans, and little box
Have you ever burnt dinner or forgot the cookies?  Yes we all have!  If there is a certain odor in the air you can deodorize the room by leaving 1 cup of white vinegar out.  You can sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of the trash can to keep smells down.  I like to wash out the trash can, dry and sprinkle baking soda at the bottom.  This keeps the odors down.  I also use baking soda in my cats litter box.  Every week, I wash out the box, dry and sprinkle baking soda on the bottom.  You can sprinkle some over top of litter as you change and add. 

I love to learn more ways to clean and deodorize the home.  If you have a recipe or use to share please comment below!  Sharing is caring!

Envirosax Giveaway

I am 14+ days into my May Challenge to Drop the Plastic bags!  You can read my original post at 

My Conserving project for May. 

With the help of ConservingNow, I have not taken one single plastic bag this month.  There have been times, that if I had not been carrying my Envirosax Bags, I would have been in a tight spot.  It was so handy to be at the register and say "Oh ya, I use reusable bags only please", then pop them right out of my purse.  The Envirosax bags wrap up so easily they take up hardly no room at all in my purse.

There were times when I had my bags out and ready and the cashier would still put them in a plastic.  :-)  I would then place them in my bag and ask them to use for the next person without bags.  They were always very nice and I found that at some store you receive a discount for needing no plastic bags.  I thought that was very cool. 

We spent the weekend in Prescott for my husbands "Whiskey Row Half-Marathon".  We always support each member of our house activities even when we have to get up at 4am to get to a race, a football game, gymnastic, and MORE.  So today was Daddy's race day.  This was a weekend you don't think about, "do I have my reusable bag", but with my easy to carry 5-1 Envirosax bags I was prepared.  The race was going to take at least 2 hours and I wanted to be prepared.  After seeing Dad off, we walked down to the grocery store and picked up yogurt, bagels, and fruit.  We then went back to the square to have a fun picnic breakfast and color.  You can see in the bottom of the coloring photo my Envirosax bag.  I love the convenience of these bags! 

I really put these bags to the test.

• I used them for produce basket pickup.  
• Regular grocery shopping.
• Carrying food and gifts for the teacher appreciation luncheon.                    
• The assembly of out School Spring fling basket.  Boy where those bags put to the test and came out on top!
• Tons of errands around town.  I was never wishing I had grabbed a bag before I left and the car was not junked up with a bag full of bags in the back.  (Huge plus right there)
• Summer shopping for the family for clothes, shoes, and other items.              
• I was pleasantly reminded every time I left my car to grab my bag with my FREE static cling.  If you have not signed up to get yours you can go here.
• I picked up meat for our family dinner and I had no problem throwing that bag in the washer to make sure it was clean after use. 

I carried a lot of crafting supplies for our craft basket.

 Find out how you can help in your community and teach your children with Conserving Now.

I am using the Envirosax After Dark 5-in-1 Pouch for $34.99.  You can order yours and see what other designs they have at ConservingNow 5-1 Pouch. 

You can also order the 3-1 Pouches for $20.99

WIN a Single Envirosax Bag of your choice! US entries Only please

One thing I loved, was everywhere I use my bags cashier, teachers, and friends where saying how lovely the designs where.  I love the pattern I picked out, After Dark, and I am happy to say one lucky reader will pick out one of there own single Envirosax bag (Value $7.99).   


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I am not paid for my reviews.  These are my thoughts and opinions that I share to help others know about companies and products I am Passionate about. 

Wrinkles and Deit

Diet has a lot to do with if we are showing early signs or aging.  There is a ton of products that promise to reverse the signs of aging, but I say tackle it at the roots of the problem: our diet. 

I talk more about this on my Contributor post with Happy Mothering.  See what you can omit and what to add to reverse the wrinkles of early aging!

Copy-Kids Review

I had the opportunity to try a great new tool for Parents!  Lets me honest, sometimes it is a struggle to get your kids to eat healthy and I think the trick is to start them early.

Copy Kids is a wonderful company that understands kids like to watch other kids having fun, child lead.  They took other children who enjoyed healthy foods and put them on the TV for kids to see.  Think about it, today we are bombarded with kids eating junk foods, sugary cereals, and unhealthy drinks.  Our little ones see them smiling enjoying the food and they think "I want that!"  So lets give them a better example and help them develop healthy eating habits.

The Copy Kids DVD features 9-10 boys and girls having a blast eating healthy food, 12 chapters that are 7 minutes long.  When I put the movie on my 4 year old, she was laughing and giggling.  It took just a few moments for her to ask for some carrots too.  Granted she has always been a healthy eater and I wanted to see how she handled her trouble foods, raw broccoli and peppers.  After enjoying the carrots and bananas we flipped to the broccoli.  She had fun eating her broccoli right along with the kids.  I was so excited to see her enjoying this vegetable raw, because she normally would only eat it steamed.  We then went to the peppers and I found that whole she did not care for them but really enjoyed them sliced.  I had a blast watching her laugh and giggle with these fun little food stars. 

Pediatrician Dr Jay Gordon, MD recommends kids as young as 6 months start and enjoy into the toddler years.  I think this a wonderful stress free tool parents.  I find parents always saying "my kid only eats chicken nuggets, hotdogs, and chips".    I think a lot has to do with that they see kids eating these mainstream foods on TV and movies all the time.  Here is a small clip of the Copy Kids Trailer.  


The DVD features

• bell peppers
• carrots
• raspberries
• broccoli
• bananas
• strawberries
• tomato
• cucumbers oranges
• avocado
• apples
• blueberries
• oranges

 Copy-Kids is a media company producing video that encourages positive habits in young children, by watching and copying other kids. Copy-Kids unique content — DVD, online and TV — helps parents get their children hooked on healthy and positive habits.

I know many parents wish that teaching their kids to eat healthy was easier.  Copy-Kids is helping you provide enriching entertainment to help you get more beneficial food in their hands.  Even my 6 years old was giggling and smiling along wanting food that was in each chapter.  This DVD is $19.95.  If you are wanting to order your own copy of this kid loving tool visit Copy Kids website. 
You can also visit Copy-Kids on Facebook and see the many other parents using this awesome DVD.

5 Things to keep in mind to de-stress

This last week has been extremely busy and challenging for me.  While next week is packed to the hilt with events and responsibilities I need to keep myself relaxed.  With this in mind I wanted to share a few I use when times get tough.

• Find a quite place.  I am a mom of four active and wonderful kids and things get load and chaotic.  I have a ton of end of year events that I need to help with at the school and family obligations.  I love doing all these things but even things we love can cause undue stress on us.  To keep myself in balance I like to find a few minutes in a nice quite place and just breath deep.  No thoughts, No schedule, No noise, No meals, just breathing and relaxing.
• Make time to exercise.  This may seem like one more thing to schedule in, but it is a must for de-stressing.  This week I have put my exercise on hold and I am feeling the effects of being sluggish, tired, and even a little tense.  Exercise helps us burn pent-up tensions and increases a healthy lifestyle.  This is something we need to always make sure we get in the daily activities.  
• Get your Yoga On!  Yoga is so much more that a workout.  You get the breathing exercise, concentration, and balance that comes with a great workout.  It helps detoxify the body and mind.
• Give yourself healthy challenges.  It is important to learn new things in a relaxing manor.  Go for a hike, a new bike ride, try something new in cooking, exercise, reading about a subject that you are interested, and more.  We need to stay out of the stagnant waters of routine and rise to a challenge of improvement and variety. 
• Be a great example to your family.  They look up to you to be a corner stone of strength.  When we lose the balance of life then they lose a footing to their day as well.  I have had days where the kids or hubby have said, "OK, Mom is losing it".  That is my que to relax, re-prioritize, and let few things go until tomorrow, maybe even next week. :-)

This weekend we have a half marathon to attend and then we will kick back and enjoy Cinco de Mayo fun!  For those in Tucson here are a couple events to look into!  Enjoy your weekend!

Up coming EVENTS Tucson AZ

What:Cinco de mayo Festival!LIVE Mariachi MUSIC  Free kids crafts and more in addition to our farmers and artisans. We have local, pesticide-free and organic fruit and vegetables, hand crafted furniture, quilts, jewelry, handmade soaps and lotions, baked goods and much more. info. HERE

Where:Rincon Valley Farmers & Artisans Market12500 E. Old Spanish Trail

When:8am-1pm

Cost:FREE

What:Weekend of Cinco de Mayo festivities presented by Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance and Park Place Mall with music, dancing and more.

When:1pm - 3pm: A Son Y Sol Engel Indo Mariachias by Macy's 3pm - 5pm: Street Minstrels - Frank Ross - Latin Folk by Sears

where:Park Place Mall

cost:FREE

Nutritional News, GM Rice in Kansas

I recently read that Science is now Engineering and Modifying rice to make a Pharmaceutical.   The problem is they are modifying the rice with "human liver genes". 

With approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ventria has taken one of the most widely cultivated grain crops in the world today, and essentially turned it into a catalyst for producing new drugs.   Read at Natural News and  The Washington Post.

This project started in 2006 in doors in Maryland.  When the Company, Ventria Bioscience, wanted to move the project outdoors was then refused from the state of Maryland.  Ventria then moved the project to Junction City, Kansas where it is now grown outside on 3200 aces and risking cross contamination with other crops.  While this crop of GM Rice was not grown or approved for human consumption, cross contamination is a concern for many.  Crop contamination is actually pretty common, GM Contamination Registry. 


People are calling this rice "Frankenstein Food".  There is no way to know for sure that this GM rice will not end up in your rice, unless you are buying "Organic" and "Non GMO TESTED" foods.  This is actually sad because think of those that travel or when you want to eat out in a restaurant?  Are they using organic non GMO?  How will you know?  It is upsetting that we have to be this concerned and aware of our food sources. Just another reason to support local Framers and Farmers Markets! 

"This is not a product that everyone would want to consume," said Jane Rissler from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to the Washington Post back in 2007. "It is unwise to produce drugs in plants outdoors." Natural News

While I understand this project was started to help a very real problem for children with sever diarrhea and digestive problems, it is something that needs to be contained.   I don't think the project was ever initially meant to be grown outside and risk the possibility of cross contamination.  Also, now I am reading this protein they are instrumenting might be added to yogurts and more.  If they stop killing the live cultures with additives and sugar, they would not need to add digestive proteins back in. 

What are your thoughts?  Are you concerned or alarmed?  Do you think that crops and food should be left as God and Nature intended?