Monday August 19th, 2019...Morning Thoughts

My Klean Kanteen water bottle. "More Ocean Less Plastic. The 5 Gyres Institute".

Things I’m thinking this morning in no special order....

I purchased this cute little frame 🖼️ in Ohio at Goodwill when I was out there visiting my husband's family. It is gold with small carved flowers. When I got home I realized that one of the pieces of art that I was looking for a frame for fit this perfectly and so I unstapled the back and placed the art in it. Then I used painters masking tape to hold the back to the frame. I did not want to staple the back to the art because that might have ruined it. I hung it up in my bedroom, but it fell apart off the wall yesterday. I am really glad it didn't break because it has a glass front. The back piece unfortunately only has a small sawtooth picture hanger on the back, but it didn't want to hold the weight of the whole frame. I think I need to find something that is more secure and maybe attached to the frame itself instead of the back. What do you use that works well and is secure for hanging your frames?

Yesterday I was very proud of myself. I finally remembered to use my reusable bottle at Dutch Bros for my Iced Apple Juice Chai I usually get. I wasn't sure they would fill it because it isn't one of their cups with a Dutch Bros logo on it, but they did. Unfortunately the drink I get is a 32 ounce usually and my reusable cup is a 27 ounce...so I was missing a little bit, but at least I am helping save the environment...maybe...you see, I watched them mix the drink and they used a plastic cup to do so, ugh! I might have to forgo going to Dutch Bros altogether. I could get the Oregon Chai and Apple juice at the store and mix it at home myself. I would miss the fun people working at Dutch Bros though and my husband loves going there. He probably won't ever stop getting his drink (a peppermint sprinkle freeze with whip) from Dutch Bros in a plastic cup with a plastic straw 🥤...unless Dutch Bros decides to change for the better. I wish corporations would be more environmentally conscience.

I also got some groceries yesterday at Winco and didn't use any bags 🛍️ because I had forgot the reusable ones out of the back of my car again. I was loading my groceries into my cart and the cashier asked me why I wasn't using any bags. I said I wanted to be eco-friendly, but forgot my reusable totes and I was just going to load the groceries into a foldable, collapsible crate I have in the trunk anyway. We, however; forgot a few groceries and so we came back and this time I was prepared. I brought the totes into the store with me. I am becoming more consciously aware of all the plastic and Styrofoam packaging around me. I had to buy toilet tissue 🧻 and the affordable stuff is all wrapped in plastic...wish it wasn't. I really don't know why it has to be.

Happy Monday beautiful people! I hope your Monday is wonderful!

Fluffy Layers Farm Queen Tote Review

Fluffy Layers is a wonderful company that was developed by Tara Grier. She and her team at Fluffy Layers are the creators of The Egg Collecting Apron®, The Egg Gathering Apron® & The Harvest Apron®. They also have some other cute, fashionable products for the farm lover in us all.

Fluffy Layers Farm Queen Tote.

I received The Farm Queen Tote from Fluffy Layers. It is a canvas type bag with handles that is great for holding groceries, farmers market goodies, or just about anything worth toting around. I love that this tote is eco-friendly and reusable. It has a fabulous design on the front of a rooster, a crown, and a partial circlet of flowers with the words "Fluffy Layers Farm Queen". I will love using this around the farm to hold my harvest from my garden to my home.

BUY IT
You can purchase Fluffy Layers Farm Queen Tote in their Fluffy Layers' online shop.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received these products for free to facilitate this review. As a Fluffy Layers Brand Ambassador I get occasional products to share with my readers for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Love Bottle Review

I received a Love Bottle free to facilitate this review.

The Love Bottle is a 500 ml, reusable glass water bottle that is both eco-friendly and better for you than plastic! Love Bottle's new American made bottle is different than most designs I have seen. The lids are made out of lead free ceramics, food grade silicone, and stainless steel wire which creates the swing-top mechanism. The bottles which are made of 40% recycled glass are sleek and tapered to fit in a standard cup holder well. They each have a raised heart on the neck of the bottle, a UR Loved logo on the bottle of the bottle, and a new dual color heart printed on the lid. These are 100% locally sourced and manufactured by Owens Illinois (O-I) in the USA.

These new Love Bottles are very aesthetically pleasing. These bottles are more than just a beautiful bottle for drinking water from. It is also all about the message of spreading love as well. The message is strengthened by designs on the bottles that inspire us to love our: community, planet, body, and voice. With every sip from the glass bottle you can peek at the bottom to see the special message of UR Loved fused into the glass.

There are 8 new printed designs that were brought about because of their recently funded Kickstarter Campaign, for bringing production to America, which are:

• Mountain Air (says 'Love Our Mountains' with orange valleys and brown & grey mountains)
• Wild & Free (says 'Love Our Forests' with green trees)
• Summer Breeze (says 'Love Our Waters' with blue waves and red fish)
• Honey (honey bees & honey comb)
• Love Seattle (Seattle Washington scene, Home Is Where The Heart Is design)
• Love Portland (Portland Oregon scene, Home Is Where The Heart Is design)
• Love New York (New York City scene, Home Is Where The Heart Is design)
• Big City Living (city within a heart scene)

Among the other USA made designs are:

• Believe (inspiring words, like believe and faith)
• Elegance (a white lacy heart with birds hearts and flowers inside)
• Ocean Blue (a blue whale and a sailboat)
• Quiet Pond (koi fish in golden yellow and lotus flower in red with green leaves)
• Shallow Stream (heron like bird and fish in green)

There are also two brand new designs for the holidays:

• Peace (says 'peace' with a globe and leafy branches above all in blue and a white dove on the other side)
• Family (fuzzy family of Polar Bears bundled with red winter scarves and the words 'family').

Honey design and Love Bottle

I love my two new Love Bottles! I picked out the Honey one from being a backer for their Kickstarter campaign and the Love Portland one for a review. The Honey one I love because I love sweet Honey Bees! They are my favorite pollinators besides hummingbirds. I love the Love Portland bottle because its design is so reminiscent of the local landmarks: The KOIN Tower, The US Bank Tower, The White Stag sign and building, and the OHSU Tram. I love Portland and I am glad I am so close to this wonderful city!

Love Portland design and Love Bottle

These new Love Bottles are easy to use and fill and they don't leak when the swing-top lid is shut correctly. They are great for bringing on trips and you can get bands for them so that they have more grip and protection. I also love that these are BPA free and dishwasher safe, although I would recommend hand-washing. The messages of the designs are so inspirational too.

Social Media:
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

BUY IT
Purchase these Love Bottles for $25 online. $1 from every bottle sold goes to a charity that needs your love. Love Bottles make great gifts for the holidays!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. 

Love Bottle on Kickstarter

Have you heard about the Love Bottle on Kickstarter? They need our help to bring production of their awesome bottles to America! They have a bunch of sweet pledge rewards that you don't want to miss!

Please raise your glass to this refreshing eco-friendly business founded by female entrepreneur, Minna Yoo of Portland, Oregon. Studying neuroscience and nutrition in college, Minna was seeking a way to find the best ways through preventative medicine to achieve and improve optimal health.  She says, “water became an obvious answer as water is one of our basic needs, but many Americans don't drink enough of it.”  Drinking out of her own glass bottle she had hand-written the word “love” on with tape, she realized her mission to create “love” as a forever message in a bottle.

The Love Bottle is a 500 ml, reusable glass water bottle that is both eco-friendly and better for you than plastic! Love Bottle's new bottle is different than most designs I have seen. The lids are made out of lead free ceramics, food grade silicone, and stainless steel wire which creates the swing-top mechanism. The bottles which are made of 40% recycled glass are sleek and tapered to fit in a standard cup holder well. The bottles each will have a raised heart on the neck of the bottle, a UR Loved logo on the bottle of the bottle, and a new dual color heart printed on the lid. The 8 new printed designs range from mountains, forests, water, honey bees, Seattle Washington, Portland Oregon, NYC, and a city within a heart scenes.



For every 100 bottles sold during Kickstarter, they will also send 10 Love Bottles to an officially certified Oregon Green School. Oregon Green Schools is dedicated to teaching students about the importance of sustainability. Help them teach the next generation about being the change they wish to see in the world.

They have already partnered up with Owens Illinois (O-I), the world's leading glass manufacturer, to start production here in the US, but they need the funding to be able to make this a reality. Please help them succeed! Thank you!

Social Media:
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I found out about this Kickstarter Campaign through an email from PR. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post; however, they have told me that samples of the Love Bottle might be available to me for review at a later date.

Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green! Book Review

I received the book, Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!, free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Go Green is the first in a series of books by Disney that motivates families to live sustainably and more eco-friendly. This book is filled with fun projects that families can do together while teaching about making good choices to help save the planet and live a healthy life. It often made us pause to connect with the outdoors, ourselves and others. Mickey & Friends educate kids about what they can do to make a difference one step at a time.

Nature Mandalas

This book is a wonderful wealth of information for younger children. It is also a great homeschool tool and a wonderful book for Earth Day! My girls who are 4 and 7 loved looking through the book and doing the activities with me. Their favorite activity from the book was on page 67, making mandalas. If you don't know, a mandala is a symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism representing the universe. The word comes from Sanskrit meaning "circle". Nature Mandalas are fun to make with found objects in nature. Teela and Zari loved finding and then arranging the flowers, pine cones, small rocks, seeds, sticks, walnut shells, acorns, leaves, etc. in a circular pattern on our sidewalk in front of our house. If you live near the ocean you could also do this after you combed the beach for treasures like: driftwood, sea glass, shells, seaweed, etc. This repurposes natural things to become a beautiful work of art. I loved that the book also talks about the three R's - reduce, reuse/repurpose, and recycle, planting a garden and composting too. I believe that the secret to good nutrition and other good habits is to start teaching children good things at a young age. The Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green! book is a great start to get your child thinking about how to make the world a better place.

Follow them on Social Media:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this review. This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Educents 10 Downloadable Earth Day Freebies

Picture provided by Educents.

1. Earth Day Sort – Help kids learn the difference between reducing, reusing, and recycling! 
2. Happy Earth Day Writing Activity – Kids of all ages can reflect on ways their family, school, and themselves can help keep the Earth healthy. Also encourages handwriting practice! 
3. Earth Day Coloring Pages – Creative kiddos can color the Earth with their colors of choice, or follow the color-by-code page to add critical thinking to art hour. 
4.  Earth Day Poof! Subtraction to 5 – This Earth Day themed game builds fluency with subtraction facts to 5. It can be played in a small group or as a partner game. It is a fun way to practice those facts! 
5. Earth Day Word Search Freebie – Enjoy this Earth Day themed word search puzzle with 21 eco-friendly terms like atmosphere, compost, and recycle. 
6. Earth Day Bookmarks – The perfect Earth Day treat for your students. Available in full-color and black-and-white. 
7. Earth Day Survey and Graph – A fun and different way to practice graphing in your classroom while encouraging collaboration between students. 
8. Spring Coloring Book – Let your little ones COLOR & SPELL Spring words. 
9. Love the Earth Mystery Picture Graph – Students will love discovering the mystery picture by coloring in the correct squares on the alphanumeric grid using the coordinates given. This is a great addition to an Earth Day or recycling unit! 
10. April 2015 Journal – A month of free journaling for learners age 8 to 100! Read about important historic, artistic, and current events that happened during the month of April – including J. Robert Oppenheimer’s birthday and Earth Day on April 22nd. Then develop vocabulary and critical thinking skills.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: This is an affiliate post. Affiliate links are in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog. Thanks to Educents for providing me this promotion information. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this.

Pierre the French Bulldog Recycles Book Review

I received the book, Pierre the French Bulldog Recycles, from Skyhorse Publishing free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Pierre the French Bulldog Recycles is an adorable hardcover book by Kate Louise and illustrated by Bethany Straker that helps us teach recycling to our children in a fun way. The story is about a French Bulldog named Pierre that loves to dig holes and bury his treasures in the yard. When he digs his old stuff up he places them in the trash and then realizes that two of the items could have been recycled, but the trash truck comes and takes the trash away to the dump. Pierre decides to chase after the truck to get the items back. But can he get to the landfill in time?

Our carload of recycling and the book, Pierre the French Bulldog Recycles.

As a parent I try to instill in my children good habits and one of them is to be less wasteful by recycling. Our family recycles as much as we can. Once we get a car load full we go and drop it off. Mixed paper, cardboard, glass, #1 & #2 plastics, tin & aluminum, and motor oil & antifreeze all get recycled at our local drop-off recycling site.

My girls and I love Pierre the French Bulldog Recycles. Its illustrations are colorful and fun. I made a game out of the pictures for them to find Pierre in each turn of the page. You can spot him in his black and white striped shirt. I also had them point to things in the dump that could have been recycled, reused, or repurposed. It was a great teaching tool. Teela also enjoyed reading it to Zari and showing her the pictures again. This is a wonderful book for Earth Day!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for sending me this book for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this review. This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting my blog!

Crystal Wash Review

I received this product free from Crystal Wash to facilitate this review.

Having to do laundry is one of those inevitable things for all of us. Most of us dread doing it because we believe it is a chore. At least we can say washing clothing and linens has gotten easier over the years. Instead of wash boards we have washing machines and most of us buy our laundry detergent or soap at the store instead of making it ourselves. Society has made things progressively easier for us. But what is the price we pay for the luxury of store bought laundry detergent?

There are a lot of laundry detergents on store shelves that claim this, that, and the other. Most of these have things in them that I wouldn't want touching my skin. My son is highly allergic to detergents with perfume and dye, so I end up getting the stuff that is for sensitive skin and says hypoallergenic on it. Lately, though, I have been looking into maybe making my own laundry soap at home with ingredients I am familiar with or seeing what other products are out there that might be better to use than the traditional detergents that you can find at just about any big box grocery store. I am not into harsh chemicals that might very well be toxic to my family and I...not to mention the Earth! I would rather use something that has ingredients that are safe, efficient, and effective.

I saw a laundry ball called Crystal Wash online and by the description these laundry balls seemed at first glance a great way to do laundry. Crystal Wash comes with two laundry balls that you use simultaneously in the wash together. I have never used laundry balls/washing balls in the past, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I love products that are natural, eco-friendly, and non-toxic and Crystal Wash said they were all of the above. This seemed valid enough, but Crystal Wash has other claims as well that seem to be not backed by actual science. Crystal Wash's claims are very intriguing and appealing, but I am not just sold by claims. I needed to try the product out for myself to see if they work.

If you look up Crystal Wash online you will find a lot of naysayers that say the product doesn't work, is a lot of hooey and quackery, and is backed by pseudoscience. Most of these people haven't tried this product for themselves and don't care to. I, however; like to give products that are supposedly better for you and/or the environment the benefit of the doubt, unless I know otherwise, and test them out for myself before I say they don't work at all.

This is what they say on their website: "These special Bio Ceramics were developed using various minerals with very effective antibacterial and anti-oxidant properties.

The pH level of laundry water impacts the wash greatly. If the water is overly acidic or alkaline it can damage delicate clothes and fabrics, cause colors to fade and cause clothing to still seem dirty even after washing. Most detergents on the market are a pH level of 6.5 – 9, but they use chemicals to achieve these levels."

Crystal Wash claims the bio ceramics in their product...

• produces far infrared rays that effectively reduce negative ions in the water of your laundry machine, which raises pH level to 8.5 or greater
• shrinks the water molecule clusters to a size that allows dirt and soil to be soaked free naturally
• create Hydrogen Peroxide (which yes, is a chemical...just one that you can put on your skin) which disinfects the clothes, kills bacteria and odor
• needs to be recharged in the sun for one afternoon every 30 days (or every 30 loads)

I am still very skeptical about their bio ceramics claims. I do not see actual science to back these things.

What Crystal Wash claims their laundry balls do and my families thoughts:

• Save You Money: Crystal Wash is supposed to last for up to 1000 loads of laundry. Crystal Wash is $50 per 1000 loads, verses around $300 per 1000 loads for store bought detergents. So, if you swapped Crystal Wash for store bought detergent you would indeed save money.
• Make Laundry Cleaner: It also says it will get your laundry cleaner. I am not sure about the science behind Crystal Wash's bio ceramics and its validity, but my husband who understands more chemistry and physics than me says that these claims are a bunch of big words thrown together to make it sound cool. He says these are nonsensical.
• Make Doing Laundry Easier: So, how does Crystal Wash make doing laundry easier? You don't have to go to the store to buy detergent or lug those heavy bottles or boxes of detergent home with you. You don't have to deal with messy detergents at all. No more spilling or having to measure out the correct, exact amount.
• Are More Natural and Better for the Environment: Crystal Wash's laundry balls do not use detergents, (toxic/harsh) chemicals, dyes, or perfumes. They are gentle on sensitive skin and fabric. By using Crystal Wash you are reducing contaminated waste water filtered back into the water supply, saving water by lowering required rinse cycles, and effectively reducing CO2 production by requiring less energy than a traditional detergent based wash. Although you would also be doing this by using just water to do your wash...or water with a bit of homemade soap.

What I do know that works for cleaner laundry and why:

• More agitation during the wash means your laundry is getting cleaner. The big dirty secret among detergent makers is that we don't actually "need" them to get our clothes clean. The agitation is what gets the laundry clean not the soap!
• Hot water gets most stains and dirt out better and kills germs. It says to use warm-hot water with these laundry balls. If you are not already using hot water you should know that along with killing germs it also gets most stains out more effectively...even without laundry balls like Crystal Wash.

My observations and tests...
I did a side by side comparison with a load with just my laundry detergent, a load with the Crystal Wash, and a load with just water. It was very hard to see a difference when washing with these verses with my hypoallergenic sans free detergent or just with water. I do not wash my laundry in perfumed detergent or detergent with dyes because my son is allergic, anyway, so there usually isn't anything to cover up odor and my front loading washing machine does just fine.

Crystal Wash Crowdfunding Campaign:
Crystal Wash has a crowdfunding campaign to fund their Crystal Wash 2.0. This lets you get connected with your laundry. Their new Crystal Wash 2.0 will give you recharge notices, real-time wash pH levels, wash complete alerts, wash cycle tracking stats (graphs, counters, social sharing), savings tracking, Crystal Wash (wash cycle counter – time to order new Crystal Wash), stain guide, and a label decoder all in one handy app that is integrated with the Crystal Wash ball for easier washing.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Crystal Wash for sending me this product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Zero Waste or Waste Free Living: My Challenge to You

Unfortunately humans contribute too much waste to landfills every day. If it is out of site it is out of mind. But really this shouldn't be how we think. Just take a look at your trash can and how much waste you throw away daily in your household and at your work place. It shouldn't be a lot, but I am fairly certain that if you haven't adopted a waste free or zero waste way of living you still have a fair amount of trash per day. Society has thrown us into the idea that if it is convenient it must be better. This is usually not the case. We need to remember the first R in the old adage Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Rarely do we think about reducing our waste because it is so easy to just throw the rubbish away. I am going to be doing different posts throughout the year of how I am trying to change my family's lifestyle to a more sustainable one and tips and tricks to help you do the same. I also have questions in this post for those of you that have already made these changes for the better.

I have been trying to find solutions to my family's huge amount of trash that we throw away every day. We recycle/reuse/repurpose what we can but I still find that we throw away an excessive amount of waste and I find that the majority of it is plastics and other things that cannot be recycled and packaging materials that are evil, i.m.o...like Styrofoam.

As a review blogger I get packages from all over the world. Some are packaged better than others. It is hard when you get packages with things packed in plastic, zip ties, Styrofoam, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts that are not biodegradable. I love seeing things wrapped in brown paper, cardboard, compostable containers, twine, reusable twist ties, fabric, yarn, and biodegradable packing peanuts, etc. I wonder if asking the people sending the items to send them more eco-friendly would help? Have you ever done this?

Going out to eat can not just be hard on the wallet (and sometimes stomach), but on the environment as well. Fast food and take out produces the worst amount of waste when it comes to restaurants. Plastic containers, lids and straws are a prevalent take away from these, as is Styrofoam. To eliminate this waste we need to bring our own containers with us to pack the food and drink into or make our food and beverages at home. I know many who bring a reusable cup with them for their coffee they get on the road. I wonder if it can be done for other things as well...like when you bring home leftovers from a restaurant or get take-out? Have you ever tried this?

Some of the lovelies in my pantry. A start to a waste-free life.

I know we have a choice for paper or plastic sacks or bags while checking out at the grocery. Choosing paper is a better choice than plastic and you can even bring your own reusable bags from home to use. Places around the country are also banning plastic bags from being used in grocery stores or offer a recycling option. But have you ever thought about the packaging on food and drink that you are bringing home? I know I used to not give it much thought, but now that I am also giving more thought to eating healthier with a nod to organic, non GMO, and raw foods I find myself being even more aware of other things I am bringing into my home too. There are ways to get around the packaging at the grocery store.

• Refuse: Say no to products packaged in plastic or Styrofoam.
• Make your own at home. We are already growing an organic garden and orchard and have chickens who lay eggs. We are also planning on doing aquaponics: growing fish and a garden that in turn give each other nutrients to live and grow. Our neighbor also hunts and fishes and shares some of this with us. We are also going to be slowly transitioning to making our own cleaning supplies, personal care products, etc. too so we don't have to deal with that packaging as well.
• Buy local. Buy from local farms, farmer's markets and co-ops.
• Bring reusable bags and containers to the store with you for filling with the below items.
• Buy from the bulk section (the section of the store with bins filled with dry goods).
• Go to the Deli, Seafood, Dairy, and Bakery Counter more for your meats, cheeses, and baked goods and have them package them in paper or other recyclable material. 
• Purchase unpackaged produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables are wonderful and healthy. Buy organic to make sure you don't get toxic stuff with your food and watch the packaging.

There is even a packaging-free, zero-waste grocery store, called in.gredients in Austin, Texas. It is revolutionary and the first of its kind in the US. Hopefully we can get more grocery stores like this one to spring up all across the States.

The folks at these blogs are helping my family and I along our journey to live better and make the better choice of living waste/trash free. They know the ins and outs of living waste free and they want to helps us all to become waste free with them.

• Zero Waste Home
• My Zero Waste
• Trash Free Living
• My Plastic-Free Life
• Zero-Waste Chef
• Trash is for Tossers

I am going to challenge myself  and my family to get towards my goal of a waste free life and I am challenging you to do the same! What are you doing or are going to do to move towards this challenge? Have you thought about this topic much?

Zeenie Dollz Review and Giveaway

We received this product free from Zeenie Dollz to facilitate this review and an opportunity to host a giveaway.

The Zeenie Dollz are gorgeous dolls that teach children how to be more environmentally conscious and eco-friendly. There are a total of 6 dolls that represent a different cause and what they protect. These 12 inch dolls are made from recyclable, non-toxic materials: ABS and TPR plastics (not PVC like other dolls). They also have joints that feature 24 points of articulation for maximum poseability and playability. All the dolls come with a doll stand, brush, colorful bracelet and luggage tag. Because of the small parts these dolls are not recommended for ages under 6 years old.

Mother Earth

• Zennia is the doll that started the Zeenie Dollz. She symbolizes Mother Earth and is the protector of the whole planet. To help her on the quest of combating the evil anti-environment villains that threaten to destroy the world she enlisted the help of the Eco-Warriors, fashion forward girls that save the planet and look fabulous while doing it.

Eco-Warriors

• Lina protector of the rainforests, defender against deforestation. +ocelot friend Abby.
• Sini protector of farmland, defender of mistreated and abused animals. +pet dog Misty.
• Evee protector of the skies, defender against pollution. +pet parrot Lulu.
• Kazumi protector of the polar regions, defender against global warming. +polar bear friend Ella.
• Yana protector of the oceans, defender of marine conservation. +dolphin friend Serena.

Each doll character has its own online persona with information about its cause with games, downloads and activities on the website. There is even a free Zeenie App game for iPhone and iPad.

Saving the planet...that's our style!™ (Zeenie Dollz slogan)

Follow Them
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube

I received Zennia to review. She is a beautiful doll with bright blue eyes, green lips and blue hair that has streaks of pink and green in it. In her hair she has a blue headband with two blue & two green flowers and small sparkling jewels. Before we opened the packaging and got Zennia out, her headband had fallen apart, but Zeenie Dollz has great customer service and told me another headband is on the way to me along with a complimentary tote bag. Zennia has a neat tattoo on her chest that is of a vine that comes together in the middle as a heart and has a sun and moon above on either side. She also has a long flowing gown that has a bird, the Earth and a small heart on it. On her feet are some very Roman looking sandals. She has pretty leaf earrings too.

BUY IT
I love that these dolls have a wonderful message to teach kids. Also with your purchase, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to organizations working to preserve the environment and protect all animals and the places they call home. Right now they are having a spring sale! If you buy 2 or more dolls you get 50% off! The dolls are regularly $49.99.

These dolls are perfect for Earth Day and Spring. They are also great for Easter Baskets too!

WIN IT
Prize: Winner's choice of one of the Zeenie Dollz.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received products for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

People Towels are Perfect for Back To School and Eco-Lunchboxes Review and #Giveaway

This is a sponsored post, promotion, and giveaway.

People Towels are Perfect for Back-to-School and Eco-Lunchboxes!

Back to school is quickly approaching in my neck of the woods. Regardless of whether it is still approaching or already here for you, we as parents want our kids to be prepared. With all the school supplies one needs for school, sometimes there are things that are overlooked. I am glad to know there are Eco-friendly alternatives out there for Back to school items. I love to find things that will help in the classroom or at home if you homeschool and also are better for the environment as well.

People Towels are an on-the-go or at home alternative to paper towels. We use them here in my home and on-the-go because I homeschool. We end up using them a lot and we love to have them on hand to clean up small spills or wipe up messes. They are great for sticky fingers and messy faces and hold up better than a regular paper towel. They are also Earth friendly because they can be used over and over again.

They come in so many different designs that are printed with eco-friendly dyes. You can also create your own custom design. They also have convenient hang tags that let you attach them to loops or clips on your backpack, bag, belt buckle or purse. They are made of 100% certified organic Fair Trade cotton. The light-weight fabric is absorbent, yet dries quickly. They are machine washable and will last for years. They do fade slightly and soften after repeated washings.

People Towels are great for packing for car rides or trips and are especially nice to have with a packed lunch or picnic. If you send your kids to public school and pack lunches for them these are wonderful to use instead of a napkin or paper towel. These personal hand towels are reusable and save trees, reduce landfill waste, cut CO2 emissions and conserve water. 

 So make a sustainable lifestyle change and reduce your carbon footprint with PeopleTowels!

Follow them on Social Media:
Fan PeopleTowels on Facebook
Follow PeopleTowels on Twitter

BUY IT
Now through August 30, 2013 you can get a 25% discount on all PeopleTowels purchased online for Back-To-School. Use promo code: BTS13

WIN IT
Prize: One lucky winner will win a free 3-pack of PeopleTowels! Open to US and Canada.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I am a People4PeopleTowels Ambassador and since I spread the word about the promotion I am going to be sent a free 7-pack of PeopleTowels. I also have the opportunity to give a free 3-pack of PeopleTowels away to my readers. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting about this promotion and giveaway.

Conscious Box Giveaway

Conscious Box is offering a free month for this giveaway to one lucky reader. This post is also an affiliate post. Thank you for supporting my blog. I will also be given a month free to review later myself for posting about them.

Conscious Box is a subscription to a monthly delivery service that ships out natural, healthy, earth-friendly and sustainable products in a box to your front door so you can try them out and find new favorites. They carefully pick the products that go into the boxes and the businesses that make the products. These businesses are all trying to make the earth a better place to live on, have ethical practices and have pure and sustainable products. Each box is packed with 10-20 products from these companies. The products range from natural beauty to health food to non-toxic home goods. Monthly subscriptions cost $19.95 per box.

After subscribing and finding new favorites you can leave reviews and ratings so businesses can improve their product, packaging, and business as a whole. You will also be earning points along the way to apply savings to your favorite products.

WIN IT
Prize: 1 entrant will win a free month of Conscious Box.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Conscious Box is providing the giveaway prize free of charge for a lucky reader of this blog. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this giveaway. The links in this post are affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my blog!

BOBS from Skechers Review

I received BOBS from Skechers shoes for free to facilitate this review.

BOBS is a charitable footwear collection from Skechers that gives a new pair of shoes to a child in need with every BOBS purchase. To date, Skechers has donated 3 million pairs of shoes and counting to children in the U.S. and more than 25 countries around the world! 300 million children around the world go without shoes every day and Skechers wants to lower that number.

BOBS collection comes in a variety of different designs that cater to your individual style - from preppy to bohemian chic, glamorous to vibrant hues.

The selection of adorable BOBS shoes in girls sizes is great! I had a hard time picking for my daughter Teela. I picked out some for my daughter Teela and I was unsure what size she would be in these shoes since she had never tried them on in person before so I chose the Bobs World Pink/Pink Skechers in toddler size 8 because I was told they ran a bit big. She wears a size 9 now. When they arrived I had her try them on and they were tight on her feet.

I contacted Skechers and they sent me out a pair of toddler size 10 in Bobs World Sassy Sparklez Pink Skechers. These fit a whole lot better on her and she a has a bit of growing room too which is good! She loves her new shoes! Teela loves sparkly things and her two favorite colors are pink and purple.

The first pair I still got to keep even though Teela won't be wearing them much. Zari my youngest daughter will eventually grow into them and she will be able to wear them. They are sparkly and light pink in color. They are a slip on alpargata style casual flat that have a tucked toe pleat in the front. The second pair we received are more of a hot pink and purple sparkle. These shoes are a mary jane alpargata style casual flat that also have the tucked toe pleat in front. It has a Velcro closure on the side and strap. 

I also received some shoes for myself. They sent me two sizes (5 and 5.5) of the same shoe to try out because it is difficult to know for sure size for me without trying it on first. These turned out very true to size so I fit the fives better. I picked the Women's Bobs - Ballyhoo in Olive. They are a slip on alpargata style casual flat that have a tucked toe pleat in the front. I liked them because they were comfortable and practical. I like that they are a green outdoorsy color. I think they will be great to wear on hikes when I am foraging and they will be great to wear in my garden.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

NBC’s Share and Tell Blog App

I am getting a gift for posting this information. All information was provided by NBC and PartnersHub.

What is NBC’s Share and Tell?

Did you know that for every pound of new goods produced, 71 pounds of waste are generated during manufacturing? This Earth Week, NBC Universal is partnering with the sharing site yerdle to help you minimize your impact on the planet by sharing your stuff. One person’s stuff is another person’s story!

Here’s how it works.

1. Join or host a Share & Tell Party (click the “Join the Party” button in the app below). 
2. Post your stuff to share with friends. Discover other items that are up for grabs. 
3. Tell the story of your sharing experiences on your favorite social media site. #ShareandTell.

What is yerdle?

Yerdle is the new mission-driven California Benefit corporation that’s out to help people share with their friends rather than buying things new. On yerdle, friends post items they're willing to give away or loan, search for items they're looking to get, and nab the things they want. Simple.

Why Host a Share and Tell?

Protect the planet, save money, give gifts to your friends and find things you want. Hosting a Share and Tell means inviting your Facebook friends to share things you want. Parties can either be hosted in-person or online, it’s up to you!

 

Blog App:

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

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the NBC’s Share and Tell blog app I am getting a Green is Universal Prize Pack free. Thanks to PartnersHub and NBC. for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this blog app and giveaway.

Green is Universal Prize Pack includes:
One Green is Universal canvas tote bag (made from recycled cotton)

 ... along with two of the items below (chosen at random)
- Planet Ocean DVD
 - Green is Universal T-shirt (made by Alternative Apparel)
 - Green is Universal colored pencil kits (made from recycled newspaper)
- Green is Universal Vapur water bottles (BPA-free)
 - Green is Universal hardboard cover spiral bound notebook (not pictured)
 - Green is Universal burlap FEED bag (not pictured)

Earth Day Freebies, Activites, and Events 2013

If you look around you can find all sorts of fun FREE Earth Day activities and events that are going on around where you live. Here are some I have found that most of my readers can participate in. 

© Day2Day Printing
1. You can get a FREE set of 4 Earth Day Cards at Day2Day Printing. These cards have seeds embedded into them and are biodegradable and earth friendly. If you plant them the seeds will grow.

2. Pottery Barn Kids has a free in store event on Saturday April 20 - Monday April 22. Go to your local store to get a FREE packet of seeds to plant (while supplies last). Plus the proceeds from of select lunch products will go to Trees for the Future. Find a nearby store to you to participate. There are other in store events there also throughout the year.

3. Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Stores has a free in store event on Sunday April 21 from 2-3pm at participating stores. You can make a FREE Make It-Take It Earth Day Planter.

© Target
4. At Target you can get a FREE reusable shopping bag (while supplies last) at participating stores the day before Earth Day on April 21st.

5. At the Disney Store you can get a FREE Brave or Cars 2 Reusable Bag when you come in and recycle 5 plastic shopping bags (while supplies last) on April 22.

6. At participating Michaels Stores on April 20 celebrate Earth Day and learn how you can upcycle your old T-shirts into trendy and fashionable accessories for FREE when you register at your local store.

7. At the Home Depot you can register online for their FREE in store event on April 20 from 10am-11:30am to Learn how to build and maintain a "Flower Tower".

© IKEA
8. IKEA Portland is having some fun Earth Day Events. If you don't live local to Portland, Oregon try your local store. On April 2 - June 23 you can donate $1 to plant a tree with American Forests while you are in the checkout line. On April 22 from 5am - 7pm IKEA Portland will be having a FREE Shred Day. Bring up to two boxes or bags of paper to be safely and securely shredded in their parking lot then recycled at no cost to you.

9. April 22 - April 26 is National Park Week and National Parks are FREE to experience during this time. You do not have to pay an entrance fee. So get outdoors!

10. Portland, Oregon is having some fun FREE local events for Earth Day for those of you that live nearby. Some are free on these lists... Red Tricycle, PDX Pipeline, Radio Disney Portland's Team Green, Around the Sun, NW Kids, PDX Kids Calendar

11. Cowlitz County in Washington is having a FREE event at the Cowlitz County Expo Center on April 20 from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm. Activities include steel drums, trout pond, whirly bird, gyroscope, rock wall, petting farm, reptile roadshow, wildlife rehab trailer, planetarium, OMSI, and historical society recycled crafts, to name a few.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post because I thought you might be interested in knowing this information and taking part of these fun activities. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for doing this post.

Purex Natural Elements Tropical Splash Detergent Review and Giveaway

I'm reporting to you as your friendly Purex® Insider. Purex® Natural Elements® Tropical Splash Detergent is a new fragrance to the Natural Elements® line. It has a wonderful scent of exotic fruits like pineapple and coconut combined with flowers to whisk your thoughts away to a tropical vacation. The Natural Elements® line of laundry detergent is made with naturally sourced ingredients and natural fragrance extracts. This detergent is also hypoallergenic and dye-free for sensitive skin. The formula is also biodegradable and so it is better for the environment and promotes green cleaning practices.

New to 2013 and now enhancing all the Purex® detergent line is their Dirt Lift Action™. This new special formula works deep into the fibers of your clothes to get them so bright, white, and clean for an average of half the price of the leading brand. The Dirt Lift Action™. helps to remove stains with its superior cleaning.  All detergents from Purex® work in both traditional and High Efficiency (HE) washers.

I received a 50 fl oz (33 load) bottle of the Purex® Natural Elements® Tropical Splash Detergent. I love, love, love this detergent!! The smell is amazing, in my opinion! I also love that I can use it for my kids who have skin sensitivities to most detergents with fragrance. It is awesome that it is hypoallergenic and dye-free! I am also a firm believer in products that are better for the environment and this is one of those. I will definitely be purchasing this product to have in my home again after this one runs out!

BUY IT
You can purchase this detergent in the liquid detergent aisle at your local Purex® retailers. Purex® detergent is an average of half the price of the leading brand which makes it a great value and very affordable.

WIN IT
Prize: 1 winner will win 2 coupons for a FREE bottle of Purex® Natural Elements® Tropical Splash Detergent.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Purex® for sending me product for free and promotion information to facilitate my review and free coupons for this giveaway. By posting I will be entered to win prizes. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

Mia and the Migoo Review and Giveaway

From GKIDS, the theatrical distributors of The Secret of Kells and A Cat in Paris, Mia and the Migoo is a heartwarming story about a young girl who sets off on a journey to find her father. Little does she know what she will also see, meet and find along her way. She is fearless, a little bossy at times, and very independent. In this fable-like quest she must also overcome her fears and help innocent, bumbling forest spirits called the Migoo save the ancient Tree of Life that is being threatened by money hungry developers.

I love this film! It has a beautiful eco-friendly message of hope, healing and change for the better. This film took 6 years to make. Created from an astonishing 500,000 hand-painted frames of animation, the gorgeous second feature from award winning French director Jacques-Rémy Girerd and animation studio Folimage is a work of art, breathtaking to behold. Its rich backgrounds and colors are reminiscent of famous paintings in watercolors and pastel. It has won best animated feature in the European Film Awards and the HSBC Environmental Film Award.

This English version features voices of Whoopi Goldberg, Matthew Modine, James Woods and Wallace Shawn. Bonus features include “Making of” Featurette & an Interview with the Director. Total movie run time is 91 minutes long. It is rated PG for thematic elements, some peril and brief mild language so you may want to screen it before having your children watch just in case.

My children, especially the youngest were entranced by this film and thought the Migoo were funny and strange. Zari, my very youngest loved it every time a jungle critter would appear. I thought the bus scene was great! My boys loved the meteorite shower scene because they love looking at the stars themselves and it reminded them of the meteorite showers we will have on August 11th and October 20th.

Here is the Meteorite Shower Scene:



BUY IT
Purchase Mia and the Migoo on Amazon for $14.99.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a copy of Mia and the Migoo DVD (3 winners!!).

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers! 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Entertainment One and GKIDS for sending me product for free to review and letting me giveaway 3 for free also. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler Review and Giveaway

The Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler attaches to the inside of a cabinet door to collect recyclables out of sight and keeps your counters clear. The bag is durable, machine washable, and made of recycled material. Collect your recyclables and then easily lift the bag from the lid and cabinet by the handle to take them out to your recycle bin.

• Hinged lid attaches easily to cabinet door with over the door hooks or screws
• Bag has wipe-able leak-proof liner and is machine washable for easy cleanup after possible spills inside
• Bag is soft-sided allowing for flexibility inside any cabinet
• Bag is made from 65% post-consumer resin, meaning it is recyclable too
• Packaging is made from recyclable material, making it very earth friendly
• Convenient handle for transport to larger receptacle for recycle pick-up
• 5 gallon bag holds 36 uncrushed 12-ounce cans and is large enough to fit 1 gallon milk jugs
• Great for single stream recyclers
• Great for apartment living

My Thoughts:
Last year I found out that our city does pick up recycling, but unfortunately here it isn't highly advertised about because the city doesn't want to pay more for it than they think necessary. We only get one day each month to put out recyclables for them to come and pick them up and so as you can imagine it piles up quickly, especially for my family of 6. A lot of people in my neighborhood don't know about this service my city provides or just don't do it because of the inconvenience. I do it every month now and I hope that the city changes so that it is picked up more often and so that more people know about it.

I received the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler from Rubbermaid to try out for free and review on my blog. I thought this was a great product to add to my Spring Gift Guide as it is very eco-friendly and it is for recyclables. It was fairly easy to put together and I tried it with the only cabinet that I thought would work with it, my kitchen sink cabinet since it is an open cabinet with no shelves in the way for the bag. I found, however; that when installing the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler with the over the door hooks and then shutting the cabinet door, the lid to the recycler hit the side of the bottom of my sink. So, for my cabinet it didn't really fit well inside, but my sink isn't original to the house and has a larger basin than the old one had, so I think that plays into it a little. I could still install it with the screws though and it would fit, however; I don't really like the idea of putting more holes in my cabinet door even though they are not the nicest cabinets and the place where the screws go in on the product is made of plastic and looks a bit like it might break if I did. With the screws I would still have to install the whole product a lot lower than it says to in the instructions and the screws are a little long so they would go through my thin cabinet doors also. If Rubbermaid made the hook's length to be adjustable that would make it a whole lot better in my opinion.

Otherwise the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler is a very good product and is great for recyclables. I placed mine on the outside of one of my cabinets because it wouldn't fit any where else...so not very hidden, but it is attractive so I don't mind looking at it. I also love the strap on the bottom of the back of the bag to help tip it over to dump out the stuff into the recycle bin outside. It is space-efficient if placed out of the way, compact, durable, washable, and easy to use.

Other uses you can use the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler for:

• In the kitchen to store dirty kitchen linens before they go to the wash.
• In the laundry room for your unmentionables or delicates and/or hand wash only items.
• In the kitchen to store plastic grocery or shopping bags in so they can be reused.

Link Up with Rubbermaid:
Follow them on Twitter @Rubbermaid. Visit their Adventures in Organization Blog. Fan/Like their FaceBook page.

BUY IT:
The Hidden Recycler is currently available for purchase online at Rubbermaid.com and in store at Meijer.

WIN IT:
Prize: Win a Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Rubbermaid for sending me product for free to review and one to give away for free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.