From speesees: “speesees fabrics are treated with low-impact and herbal dyes, prints are made with pigments and pvc-free plastisols, and we skip the dioxin + formaldehyde altogether. our soft + durable cotton is long-staple (long fibers :: no prickles) and extra-comfy for kids…”

“…meanwhile, in a small village in india…surrounded by an organic garden, our factory’s limestone walls create an open, airy ambiance, and chai breaks twice a day make work days pretty sweet. our factory is certified  SA8000, a social accountability standard for decent working conditions (including workplace safety, renumeration, fair working hours, no discrimination, child labor, etc)…”

“…for every dollar that you spend at speesees, it is used for a variety of purposes within the indian village where we manufacture: from buying school supplies and a water pump for the zari pada school, to building a playground called *ananya playground* (named after our manufacturer’s daughter, ananya) at the local orphanage.”

I was drawn to their dress/bloomer combos.  The bloomers make the outfit wearable ANYWHERE, while the dress satisfies my daughter’s “dress-only” attitude.   Making a great first impression, the products ordered come in beautiful, eco-friendly packaging.  The clothing is so super soft but not see-through thin like a lot of organic apparel is.  I can tell that this is an outfit that will withstand many washings, and for kid’s clothing that’s a big plus.  With my skinny and long daughter, I was THRILLED that the bloomers ran a little small and actually fit her for once… so order accordingly.   After her countless swirls, twirls and eyelash battings, she resumed her day, playing fiercely, eating, and sleeping.  This outfit was comfy for her and kept up with her extremely active personality.  Never once was I adjusting her clothing, top or bottom, which is quite rare.  When nap time came she didn’t want to take it off, unlike some of her stiffer dresses.  And when she got up, the outfit was wrinkle-free and ready to go.  What more could one ask for from an outfit?  This is a company to remain loyal to.  Check out their other items ranging from feeding time necessities to bed time essentials.

Erin: I fell in love with the Speesees Kimono Dress in Robin’s Egg. It’s such a fun and refreshing color mixed with a classy and traditional style. The material is 100% interlock organic cotton and let me just tell you it’s thick and oh so very soft. It reminds me of baby blankets I had for my daughter when she was iddy biddy. I found myself telling her everyday that she couldn’t wear it because it was too nice. I have to remind myself that it’s ok to let her be a kid and get messy (even in my favorite dresses). Then…dun dun dun the dreaded blueberry/raspberry fruit smoothie spilled all over the entire dress as she took the lid off of her cup while in her car seat. I couldn’t even look at it until we got home. I sprayed the dress down, threw it in the wash and EVERYTHING came right out of the dress. I can’t even begin to tell you how impressed I am that not only is this beautiful, but it’s completely durable as well. So no more fears from this girl about her getting her dress dirty anymore. Two thumbs up from this mama…and her daughter who was crying because she thought she ruined her favorite dress. LOVE

Thank you to Speesees for providing samples for review!

When we teach our kids to surf, it is incredibly important that they respect the ocean, because the ocean can be a powerful and unpredictable place.  Before they put their toes to the nose, they need to stop and watch the ocean for at least 10 minutes.  Once the swells are assessed, and rip tides ruled out, it’s safe for the kiddos to attempt to catch a wave. Skateboarding can be just as dangerous if you do not take the right precautions.  Always, always wear a helmet and pads, no matter what anyone says.  Peer pressure can be tough for kids to handle!  These books are wonderful tools for parents, a bookshelf staple.

“We want kids to have fun, but most of all to be safe,” says auther, Diaz. “As a surfer and a parent, these are my biggest concerns.  I want my son to surf and to be safe.”

The books also teach our kids to protect our Earth by keeping our beaches, oceans, and parks litter free.  Proving their dedication, the books are printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

Portions of all proceeds  go to the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit, environmental organization that works to protect our oceans, waves, and beaches.

Purchase your own Olas Books here

Thanks to Olas Books for providing samples for review.

Product Numero One that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside is their All Purpose Cleaner. When I say All Purpose, I truly mean I use this baby on EVERYTHING. This is a natural, plant based cleaner suitable for windows, countertops, woodwork, bathrooms and kitchens too. Available in 4 calming and natural scents. I have the Fresh White Lilac and what’s amazing about this is I seriously carry ONLY this bottle around with me along with a rag. I clean the windows, my tables, bathroom sinks, mirrors and even my granite countertops. It’s awesome when you’re scrambling because you only need one product. Plus it leaves behind such a clean and refreshing smell, so no need for silly candle lighting anymore. I’m giddy, can you tell?

Product Numero Dos are their Fragrance Sticks. They use natural reeds with essential oils packaged up in a gorgeous glass bottle. The reeds soak up the oil and then evaporates into the air leaving such a wonderful fragrance without burning candles. I kid you not, I’m buying two more of these to put around my house. I keep one in the laundry room (by the litter box) and as soon as you walk inside from the garage or even just walking by in the hallway you smell this wonderful scent. I have the Fresh White Lilac in this one as well. We had friends over this weekend and I put it in the guest bath and it left the entire bathroom (it consists of two rooms) smelling just so lovely! Without having to use a candle, I hate using candles with lots of kids around. They always want to touch them or blow them out. I’ve decided that I need a set of Fragrance Sticks permanently in that bathroom and another in our bedroom. This oil will last you for a LONG time and is worth every single penny. Available in Lavender, Fresh White Lilac (which I highly recommend) and Lemon Verbena.

Next is another multitasker, their Farmhouse Furniture Wax made with carnauba will leave the most beautiful protective sheen on your furniture. Wait for it……and it has the scent of lavender essential oils! I polished my wooden piano and it was beautifully polished and had simultaneously had such a beautiful calming scent to it. Who needs potpourri when you can just clean your furniture and have the best smelling house around.

Sweet Grass Farm carries more than just home products, they have a Farm Baby line for natural products for your little ones, candles and also natural body care for you! Another thing I love about them is their products don’t have a fake flowery smell to them. They truly smell like the real thing. Their Sweet Mint Body Wash and Body Lotion  is a natural blend of crushed fresh garden mint tinged with light sugar notes; a brisk and uplifting combination. It doesn’t smell too minty, which I love. In fact it smells like the fresh mint that I pull out of my herb garden. It’s so refreshing in the morning to use the body wash in the shower as I’m just waking up. The Body Wash is sugar based and all natural cleanser. It features extracts of Milk Thistle and Meadowsweet for their antioxidant properties, as well as Linden Flower for its cell renewal properties. You can use it in the shower or even just on your hands at the sink. Their Body Lotions are a rich combination of shea butter and and vitamins to protect your skin. I thought it might be a little thin, like other lotions that you pump, but it’s thick and completely hydrates my skin all day! The lotion contains both Milk Thistle and Meadowsweet extracts for their antioxidant capabilities and doesn’t leave your skin greasy like other lotions.

Sweet Grass Farm has truly changed my family’s life and their products are new staples in our home. Give them a try and I promise you, they will not disappoint. Head over to their site here and check out all of their wonderful products. You’ll be hearing about them from us again in the future as we purchase more items and add them to our must-have list.

Special thanks to Sweet Grass Farm for providing a samples for review.

Well lookie what this mom found: Ecotronic flashlights.  These flashlights require no batteries, they’re squeeze-powered.  Simply pump the side wing that pops out and the little guy will shine for hours on end.  I was so surprised at how long they actually stay lit up.  I turned them off before they quit, hours after the last pump!  And look how adorable they are, coming in a range of animals from farm to zoo.

My daughter is slightly afraid of the dark, but weren’t we all (and a little still)?  Her newest nighttime fear is the dragon.  I don’t have the heart to tell her yet that dragons don’t exist, so I figured out another plan. Her flashlight is dragon-proof !  Now she can sleep soundly again.  With a couple pumps of the flashlight, the dragon magically disappears… POOF! Even during the day she runs around with the flashlights, shining them on books, the walls, making games out of them. They come with little wrist straps, making it easy for them to tote them around.  Check out the Farm and Zoo editions.  Order your own awesome eco-friendly and monster-unfriendly flashlights here from International Playthings. This is the one “light up” toy that I don’t mind.

Erin: My daughter has gained courage and a new sense of adventure from her Ecotronic flashlight. She’s petrified of the dark, we have three nightlights in her room. Her latest thing is that “Randall” (from Monsters Inc.) hides in her closet and in the dark rooms of the house. So, she refuses to go anywhere unless we hit all the lights. With her flashlight she actually demanded that we turn off ALL the lights in the entire house and she roamed the house by herself watching the flashlight on the wall and to guide her around. If she has a bad dream, she’ll sneak over to our room in the middle of the night and this flashlight is perfect to help her find her way (and not trip over a cat). She was so cute, she wanted her bedtime story to be told to her using only her flashlight. You can see what a great amount of light it provides. Even the nose lights up so there are two light sources from the flashlight. LOVE!

Thank you to Ecotronic and International Playthings for providing samples to review.

Episencial was created because the founder, Kim Walls– a skin care expert from the Epicuren family – couldn’t find products for her young sons that met her standards. So, she created the products she – and other green parents – wanted: 

• high quality skin care that is affordable
• for the most sensitive skin of young children ages 0 to five
• made exclusively with all natural ingredients; the majority of which are organic
• no unhealthy chemicals, ever
• manufactured under solar power
• beautifully packaged in recycled and sustainable materials featuring art that inspires
• smell terrific using juice extracts – not fragrances

The first thing that attracted me to this line of products was that the recycled packaging was adorned in Eric Carle artwork. Kade’s had a lifelong love affair with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Kellan seems to be following suit. The bright colors and friendly familiar images were such a plus when opening our package. The next thing that I loved as I began to read more about Episencials was that when using natural ingredients, it enhances immunity with doctor recommended, clinically effective formulas. With that research and how sensitive it promised to be, I just knew I had to try it.

Playful Foaming Wash/Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath: We popped open the body wash bottle and I loved the fresh, clean, light citrusy scent. I was so happy to realize that this was exactly the product I had been looking for. It foamed up and didn’t take FOREVER to wash out! Then as I used the bubble bath, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a half hour later when emptying the tub, the bubbles were still intact!  It had the calming lavander scent that I’ve always loved with a fruity twist, making my sweet boys smell sweet and fresh(I might have secretly day-dreamed into yester-year when Kade was a baby and I would just take in the sweet post-baby bath smells during our naptime routine:), but it wasn’t an overwhelming scent, which I loved!

Still bubbles! Even with my splashy splash boys:)

Fun Summer Skincare Value Kit: The Enviromental Working Group just released the 2010 Best Beach and Sport Sunscreen Guide and to my surprise, the sunscreens I was using for my boys were on the worst list! I was so happy to see that Episencial was one of the 39 best sunscreens! I received this in perfect timing right before the Fourth of July, as we spent the majority of the day outdoors. As we sat in the hot 100 degree sun for the parade, I slathered the boys up with the sunscreen and was excited to see that it was not greasy like EVERY other sunscreen I had used. Also, it didn’t have a gross sunscreen smell. Again, light and fresh. I figured, “Hey, it says ‘Ages 0-150′ on the bottle, I might as well use it on myself!” I am so bad about remembering to put sunscreen on myself and when I put this on, I was again, STOKED that is was so light, not greasy, not smelly, mositurizing, and protected my UBER fair and sensitive skin against the harsh sun. I also applied the Protective Face Balm to all of our faces to protect from the harsh sun and wind that seems to plague our region. When I think “balm” I think heavy and greasy and this was the opposite!

Giveaway: To enter to win the Foaming Wash, Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath, Nurturing Balm, Soothing Lotion, and Fun Summer Sun Care kit, leave us a comment telling us your little one’s favorite book!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete

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10. Follow Episencial on Twitter
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Contest ends July 21 , 2010  at Midnight PST.  Winners will be chosen by Random.org and emailed.  If they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Special thanks to Episencial for providing samples for reviewing purposes.

The Shower Hug is a piece of terry velour cloth with a velcro strip that is meant to be wrapped around your chest to protect you from ever having a painful shower again. It comes in sizes XS/S, S/M, M/L and Goddess; you want to be sure that the fit is rather snug in order to provide you with the support you need during the shower. So if you’re in-between sizes, I’d suggest going one size down. The material incredibly soft and it stretches to wrap around your body, even after the shower hits it. I was worried at first that the water might weigh it down a little and cause it to rub on my chest too much, but it stayed completely in place. What’s nice too is that the warm water hits the Shower Hug and it soothes your breasts as you shower. We’ve all heard from our lactation consultants that you shouldn’t wash your breasts or nipples with soap in the shower when you’re breastfeeding. The Shower Hug allows you to completely clean your breasts without the direct contact with soap.  You can even use it outside the shower with ice packs, heating packs or as you sleep to prevent nighttime leaks.

Belmama & Cherub also add that you can use the Shower Hug after C-section deliveries. Simply wrap the Shower Hug around your hips and lower abdomen and it will help support your tummy in and out of the shower as well as block you from those harsh shower sprays. Ouch. So many uses for one item that helps to make a very painful time, much more tolerable. Remember that the Shower Hug can help not only mom’s after labor/deliver, but they can be an essential item for any woman after a mastectomy, augmentation, reduction, reconstruction or even lifts.

Head over to their Hug Shop and check out their Original Shower Hug or their Earth Friendly Green Shower Hug.

Special Thanks to Belmama & Cherub for providing a sample for reviewing purposes.

Wow.  I’m not even sure how I originally came across this product called SodaStream.  But I sure am glad I found it!  The SodaStream makes carbonated water and soda in under 30 seconds, mess free.  A CO2 tank is easily attached (and refilled) and with 3 or so pushes on the top button, your filtered water is now carbonated.  Make sure to hear the loud ZAP noise 3 times (for average carbonation).  On the front is your reusable liter bottle that you fill with cold, filtered water.  Three zaps later, and it’ all fizz.  Then it is up to you what flavor you want.

Choose from a wide variety (30) of  concentrated soda mixes from regular to diet: familiar soda tap brand flavors, juices, even energy drinks.  I tried many flavors and found these homemade sodas to taste even better than the store bought.  I’d say my favorites so far are Diet Pink Grapefruit, Diet Lemon Lime, Ginger Ale, and Root Beer.  Enjoy the sodas, sparkling water, iced teas, etc alone or make a fantastic cocktail, and they do make a great cocktail! Your homemade sodas are typically healthier than the store bought kind, lower in calories, sugar, and sodium.  You can check out the nutrition facts here. Make sure to slowly pour in the syrups at a tilt as to not cause a fizzy overflow (especially with the Energy one!)  If you find the measured amount to make the soda too sweet (I didn’t), then simply reduce the amount of soda mix you add.

The best part about these bottles is that one flavor bottle can fill 12 liters of soda, or 33 cans!!  Think of the savings to your wallet and to the environment. Globally, 206 billion liters of bottled water were consumed in 2008 (Zenith International Global Bottled Water Report, 2008). The energy required to make water bottles in the US only, is equivalent to 17 million barrels of oil (Container Recycling Institute, 2002).  According to the US Recycling Institute, more than 80% of bottles in the US do not get recycled and end up in landfills. Also, an estimated 4.7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions were produced in the process of replacing the 134 billion bottles and cans not recycled in 2005.  Help do your part by using your own filtered tap water and make your own tonics, teas, and sodas.

BUY IT!

Buy your own SodaStream products from their website.

WIN IT!

We are offering a Fountain Jet Lover’s Start-up kit from SodaStream.  This package includes the color Fountain Jet you would like, CO2 tank, 2 reusable carbonating bottles, a sample pack of flavors, and 3 full sized flavors of your choice!

Simply leave a comment with the flavor you’d most like to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Please leave a comment for every extra entry you complete

1. Blog about this Giveaway
2. Subscribe to our Site (right sidebar)
3. Join us on Google Friend Connect (right sidebar)
4. Follow us on Twitter
5. Tweet this Giveaway
6. Join our Facebook Fan group
7. Link this Giveaway in Facebook
8. Post a link to this Giveaway in Cafemom
9. Vote for our blog in Top Baby Blogs  (right sidebar)
10. Follow SodaStream on Twitter
11. Join SodaStream’s Facebook Fan group

Contest ends July 17, 2010  at Midnight PST.  Winners will be chosen by Random.org and emailed.  If they do not respond within 48 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Special Thanks to SodaStream for providing samples for reviewing purposes.

WINNER: RYAN

Lulu Organics also makes a hair powder, which they’re famous for. What’s a hair powder you ask? It’s a powder that you use on the days that you skip hair washing. You sprinkle a dime size amount of powder on your hands and rub it through the roots of your hair. Not only does your hair suddenly have the look of hair that was just washed and blown dry again, but it smells as though it was too. The silky, talc-free formula soaks up oil and leaves hair smelling clean without weighing it down. It’s also really handy for adding a little extra texture for styling and to help pins stay in your fine hair. Not only should we not wash our hair everyday because it’s damaging, but as busy mom’s sometimes it’s just not possible. Whether you have a new baby and people are always popping over, or you’re chasing after a toddler and realized you have an early doctor’s appointment, this is your new solution.

Lulu originally created the recipe as a gift for her best friend when she realized that the talcum powder they had been dousing their hair with could be potentially carcinogenic. She read up on beauty product ingredients, and set up meetings with beauty companies and eventually came up with a fragrant combination of natural and organic ingredients. The talc-free powder is made with white clay, baking soda, USDA Organic corn starch, rice powder,  Oregon Tilth Certified Organic horsetail powder and essential oils. So it’s healthy and safe for us to use while helping us look our best.

Head over to Lulu Organics site here to purchase their lip balms or hair powders. Follow them on Twitter or Fan them on Facebook.  

Special thank you to Lulu Organics for providing samples for this review.

For years I have tried my best to minimize my footprint I leave on this beautiful planet.  Water has seemed like one of the easier fixes.  With my filtered taps at home and filter pitchers in the fridge, I thought I had figured it all out.  I can use my own tap water supply and filter it myself, pouring it constantly into reusable sports bottles.  Well sometimes you are out and you need water.  I live in the desert where it is now in the 100′s everyday, already reaching 110 in June.  So for us, water is an hourly essential that must be accessible at all times.  How many water bottles can one person carry?  So here and there, I’m forced to buy a plastic bottle of water to refuel myself or daughter.  My dehydration clouds my judgment… and then the guilt sets in.  But what other choice do I have?

Bobble has invented a ground-breaking, earth-shattering water bottle that will undoubtedly change the way we drink water.  The Bobble comes with its own filtration device built right inside the bottle.  So no matter where you are, if you have access to water, be it fountain or spigot, you can have fresh filtered water. Bobble is made from recycled plastic.  I carry this bottle around empty as my spare water bottle.  I know my huge KOR ONE hydration vessel will eventually run dry while out on daily errands and trips.  This is where Bobble comes in to play.  I immediately put the Bobble into action this weekend while out at the pool.  Instead of getting plastic cups filled with water, I simply asked for the water to be put straight into my Bobble.  The newly filtered water tasted pure as the driven snow.  The bottle was super easy to use, no leakage, and came with a clear cap to pop on top, keeping the spout clean.

Each Bobble replaces 300 plastic water bottles.  THREE HUNDRED PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES.  When the carbon filter runs out, you simply buy a replacement and you’re set for another 2 months (or 40 gallons).  You can switch up your filter color every time you buy a new one, at only $6.95 a filter. Order your Bobble today for only $9.95 a pop.

Poolside hydration… perfect.

Thank you to Bobble for providing samples for review purposes.

I had so many aches and pains while pregnant with my daughter. I never really knew what was safe for me to do while pregnant, other than popping in some pregnancy Pilate’s DVDs, and honestly, they bored me. G2 Lifestyles Maternity Trainermat is something I wish I had. It provides the cushioned surface for your body, but also breaks down stretches by Trimesters so that you know what’s safe and effective all while going at your own pace. If you aren’t familiar with the poses on the mat, you can head over to their site and watch instructional videos that explain all the poses.

G2 Lifestyles Pilate’s Trainermat offers illustrated three-step instructions for 10 moves, such as The Hundred, The Open Leg Rocker and The Swimmer, classic Pilate’s moves that allow you to work at your own pace versus trying to pay attention to an instructor. I love that suggestions for the number of repetitions are offered as well on the mats.

The cushioned mat is made of fully recyclable materials, is bacteria resistant, non-slip (great for those Downward Dogs) and washable. The moves are physician certified and again have instructional videos to help guide you through the moves if you aren’t as familiar with them. What’s great about these is that you can roll them up, put the strap around them and take them on trips. No more popping in DVDs or stressing your brain trying to think of different moves in order to get your stretches or workouts in. Simply open the mat and kill two birds with one stone. G2 Lifestyles makes stretching/exercising easy and fun.

Head over to G2 Lifestyles and see all of Trainermats and core balls. Hardest decision will be deciding which items are best for you. They’re currently working on the Children’s Yoga Mat, I know my daughter will be getting one of those!

Special thank you to G2 Lifestyles for providing samples for review.