Last day of my Earth Day Extravaganza!

Man oh Man have you all been so spoiled. I have posted almost $3000 worth of eco-friendly giveaways this month! You have the chance to win anything from Laura's Lean Beef Gift Certificates to a Sterling Silver ISSI Pendant from WaterLeaf Boutique. WaterLeaf Boutique and MyOBaby have sponsored daily giveaways for tote bags and Kleen Kanteens!!

My wonderful Earth Day Extravaganza sponsor Ruby Pinwheels also is giving away (2) $100 gift certificates!

Today is the last day of the month and also the last day that I will be posting Earth Day giveaways. Are you sad? Well, you shouldn't be because in May, in celebration of Mother's Day, I will be giving away a lot more awesome swag. You may even win a $100 Steamboy Mop, 3 handbags or a $100 gift certificate to Slim Perfect. I have some AMAZING things to giveaway so check back often in May because I not only will be announcing the Earth Day winners on Mother's Day but I will also be giving away a ton of prizes.

Thank you for reading my blog and for keeping me going with your comments and support. It is my pleasure to review products so you don't have to ;)

April 30th-Noli n Nali Organic Skin Care Giveaway

When I find organic skin care products that are good for me and for Dexter, I get really excited. Last month I saw an add in Baby Talk magazine for Noli n Nali. I visited their website and I fell in love with their ideas and products.

This is the message that I saw when I first came upon their website:

We are delighted to have you visit our site. At Noli n Nali we believe that healthy skin and a healthy planet are related. We strive to be a leader in the organic skin care and earth sustainability movement. This is our commitment and our passion. Our organic creations are 100% natural, minimally processed and free from harsh or synthetic ingredients. Enjoy the luxury of using self-care products that are both good for your body and good for the earth. We're sure you'll feel the difference.

Noli n Nali sent me a multitude of products to try. The first one I used was the Organic Baby Bum Balm.

The product worked well on Dexter's "bum" and I was able to successfully use it with his cloth diapers! That, to me, is important. It didn't leave a residue at all! I also use all of the products that I use on Dexter. I rubbed the Bum Balm on my hands and it soaked in very quickly and it wasn't at all greasy. My hands were soft and they had the faint smell of herbs. Experts say that smells are one way to take you back to a memory and this Bum Balm reminds me of my grandmother for some reason I cannot explain.




Next I was able to try the Soothing Baby Wash Bar.
Relax your baby while protecting their sensitive skin with our unscented Soothing Baby Wash Bar. Made with organic oatmeal, aloe and botanicals that soothe and gently cleanse. Our hand crafted, traditionally poured and cured processed soaps last nearly twice as long as most mass market bars. Our soaps are mixed in small batches and poured into wooden molds. The end result is an opaque premium bath and body bar that is mild enough for the most sensitive skin. Our soaps are free of preservatives, alcohols, detergents, artificial color and fragrances. Truly a soap you can trust! It is 95% Organic and 100% Natural.

I like washing up with bar soaps that are unscented because sometimes fragrances can irritate women. My midwife suggested, after that I had Dexter, that I buy lots of unscented bar soap so as not to irritate my skin......
This bar has the slight smell of rosemary. It is very faint and not at all overpowering. It smells very natural.



I am saving my favorite product for last, the Lavender Dust Baby Powder It has a very strong lavender smell and it is so calming. I did not use it on Dexter only because of the research out there about baby boys and lavender/tee tree oil.

I love lavender not only because it is calming but also because it reminds me of an English garden. It is so refreshing and it is able to put me to sleep almost instantly. I dust my body with it at bed time, heck who cares if new research shows that it increases breast size in women! I would drink it if I had to! LOL It made my sheets smell nice and like I said before, it helped see me off to dreamland!


Just in time for Mother's Day, Noli n Nali want to send you a nice set of many of their products for you to try out! They are good for both you and baby!!
All I would like you to do is head over to Noli n Nali and pick out your favorite item (not mentioned above) and come back here and tell me what it is that you like and why. DON'T FORGET your email address.

Would you like extra entry opportunities?!
*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*If you have a blog, Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winners will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST

April 29th-Recycle Me Giveaway

Recycle Me! I love this saying, its so right-on. It is also the name of a pretty awesome eco-conscious tshirt company.

RECYCLE ME® t-shirts are high quality, environmentally friendly, ecologically sustainable, socially responsible shirts that you can feel good about! All of their shirts are even made in the USA! That, to me, is super important!

Recycle Me carries shirts for babies, men and women. From now, through the End of April, you can get 10% off your order by using code eday09

Thanks to the nice people over at Recycle Me, Dexter is now an Eco*Baby. Look how cute he is in his new shirt. Another thing I really like about this shirt is the fact that D has worn his shirt a lot recently and it not only hasn't shrunk in the wash but it also hasn't faded either!! All of their shirts are made with water-based dyes and inks--cool eh?!




This cute Eco Baby shirt is made of 100% organic cotton and is available in blue or pink. I know you would love to win one, wouldn't you? All I ask is that you kindly visit RECYCLE ME® and tell me which color Eco Baby shirt you would like to win AND which size. Also, tell me your favorite adult shirt that they carry. YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS or your entry won't count.

Would you like extra entry opportunities?!
*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*If you have a blog, Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winners will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST

Late July Review

Oh, I am thrilled to tell you all about Late July Organic Snacks and their new organic mini cookies! They are so delicious!! They are so generously donating 10% of the proceeds of these cookies to the Jane Goodall Institute.

I have to tell you, these cookies are so good. I don't typically like store-bought cookies but these tiny organic cookies are a real treat. They come in two flavors, milk chocolate and white chocolate. I liked the milk chocolate the best. They have vanilla cookies and milk chocolate centers! YUMMY

I had no reservations feeding Late July's cookies to Dexter not only because they have fun animals on each cookie (or cracker is what I told Dexter they were) but because they are a good Source of Whole Grains (8g per serving), good Source of Calcium (10% DV), they are organic and they have the "Good For All" Seal - Dr. Jane Goodall's seal for ethically produced products!

Next time you are looking for a fun treat for your little ones, don't hesitate to buy Late July, they will be glad you did!

Revolution Foods Review

I usually have the hardest time feeding Dexter these days. He is so independent and he would rather feed himself. That wouldn't bother me so much if it wasn't for the fact that feeding himself = LOTS more laundry for me!! He loves peanut butter but will only eat it by himself of off a spoon (why not sandwiches?!?!) Thanks to Revolution Foods, I found something that works!!

Their Jammy Sammy is a snack size twist on a lunchbox favorite. Each yummy bar is made with nourishing ingredients that help kids have more sustained energy throughout the day. And each one is individually wrapped and ready to go – perfect for when you’ve gotta jam.

Dexter got his Jammy Sammies and he loved them. He liked all the flavors equally (PB & Strawberry, PB & Grape, Apple Cinnamon & Oatmeal). I think he liked the PB & Strawberry the best though! I was happy to feed them to him because they are made with 100% whole grains, organic fruit spread and they DO NOT contain HFCS (high fructose corn syrup, transfat or artificial ingredients!!

If you are looking for a break from the mundane while feeding your children, look no further than Revolution Foods,.

April 28th-Greeno Bambino Giveaway

Greeno Bambino is your safe haven, providing conscientious parents with relief from a mass marketplace littered with unsafe, thoughtless choices. We present parents with a simple way to purchase only the best items, thoroughly researching each product category so overwhelmed consumers don't have to do so themselves. Our focus is on creating longstanding relationships with progressive manufacturers who evidence a commitment to discovering and working with innovative materials and methods of production.

From toxin-free sippy cups and all-natural shampoos to organic washcloths and zero-emissions toy blocks, Greeno Bambino offers a broad selection of merchandise accessible to every budget along with the information and advice necessary to make smarter choices for your little bambinos.

I was fortunate enough to speak with the Greeno Bambino himself, Tim Ettus. He is so thoughtful and polite. He was excited about his new store and you can tell he is passionate about being greeno!! Greeno Bambino carries a multitude of green products. I really like all of them but I thought I would share some favorites with you.

Green Toys Recycling Truck-Its never too early to teach your children about recycling!


Sprig Hollow Dune Bugs Sand Truck-
Dexter has this and loves changing out the parts and stacking other Sprig Hollow toys on top of it!


Adiri Bottles-BPA free and it mimics the look and feel of mom's breast! How cool is that?!


Naturepedic Organic Crib Mattress


Thank you to the Greeno Bambino (Tim) for offering (3) $25 Gift Certificates to Greeno Bambino!! All you have to do is head over to Greeno Bambino and tell me two thing that you would like to own that they carry. Please choose items that are different from those that I highlighted.

Would you like extra entry opportunities?

*Follow Greeno Bambino on Twitter
*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*If you have a blog, Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winners will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST

Seventh Generation Free and Clear Starter Kit Giveaway

"In our every deliberation, we must consider the
impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

From The Great Law of The Iroquois Confederacy

Ever since I became a mother, cleaning the house is more about making sure that natural products are used which help make surfaces cleaner than ever. Before I was a mom, cleaning meant making the whole house smell floral or sweet. Little did I know that all of those fumes were probably very bad for me and my household!!


I started on a quest for pure laundry detergent. I didn't like the idea of Dreft because it still contained perfumes and some of the others just seemed cheap to me. Thats when I found Seventh Generation! I had been using their paper towel and baby wipes but why not their laundry detergent was beyond me. Dexter's clothes are so clean and nice and I don't have to worry about his eczema flairing up because of dyes or perfumes. I wash all of Dexter's things in Seventh Generation Free and Clear with the exception of his Fuzzi Bunz!



I love the statements that Seventh Generation prints on their packages. They are so powerful. Could you imagine, 27,000 homes could be heated AND cooled for a whole year if every household changed their current petroleum-based detergent with one made my Seventh Generation (just once!!) That is insane!

I have used a multitude of Seventh Generation products and I have really liked each one. I like their paper towels a lot because they are not only made of recycled materials but they are extra absorbent. My husband would like me to point out that they aren't that soft though because he tried using them to blow his nose! LOL

How is this thought.....

Thank you to the amazingly generous people over at Seventh Generation, you, my lucky readers will have the opportunity to win a $50 Free and Clear Starter Kit! The kit contains the following items:

Free & Clear Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
Free & Clear Natural All Purpose Cleaner
Free & Clear Natural Dish Liquid
Free & Clear Natural Laundry Detergent, 50 oz
(2) Natural Paper Towels - 120 Count
Reusable Tote

All you have to do to win is head over to Seventh Generation and find one fun fact that I have not shared here! It can be anything but make it good! If I really like it, I will give you 2 entries!!

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST

April 27th-Dogswell Giveaway

DOGSWELL® was the first company to fortify chicken jerky for dogs by adding vitamins and supplements to create a guilt-free treat for your four-legged friends. Our six distinctive formulas are available in chicken breast, duck breast, beef liver and lamb & rice treats.

For the longest time now my mother has been feeding her dog Chicken jerky. Scarlett, her dog, goes nuts for these treats. She love love loves them!! Well, I was recently introduced to Dogswell and I was impressed when I saw that they carry chicken jerky. You know the first thing I did was call my mom to tell her to start buying Dogswell. Here are a few of their products that they sent me that I really felt good about feeding to the babies aka Daisy and Cooter.

Dogswell make their jerky in the following flavors: Happy Hips, Happy Heart, Breathies, Vitality and Mellow Mut. I like the idea of the Mellow Mut because Cooter is so rambunctious and crazy that he needs all the mellowing out he can get! The one that I will be using over and over again is the Happy Hips. My poor Daisy puppy, who is almost 3, has hip dysplasia real badly. She is always in so much pain. Seeing as though she is a bulldogge, you would never know just how much pain she is in. She is such a trooper.

Daisy and Cooter (heres another picture) love these treats a lot and I love that they are made with all natural ingredients. That is important to me because we Daisy happens to have bad skin allergies!


The super nice and fantastic people at Dogswell want to give one DSSM reader the chance to win a nice gift basket full of their treats and foods. How nice is that?! Here is a picture of the front of it!



All you have to do to enter is head over to Dogswell and find your favorite item that they carry. Come back here and tell me what it is and who will be eating it. Double points if you will feed it to your children *JUST KIDDING*

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST

Invitation to all NYC Moms

Every Mom is a “Power Mom!”
You are cordially invited to:
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms

Book Launch Party
Friday, May 8
1:00pm
Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble, 1972 Broadway, New York City

Just in time for Mother’s Day, this book launch will honor stay-at-home moms, multi-tasking moms, Blackberry moms, mompreneurs, rock star moms, and every mom in between!
A very special “Power Moms” panel will be hosted by some of our story contributors…
* Liz Lange, Founder of Liz Lange Maternity
* Jane Green, bestselling author
* Victoria Colligan, Founder of Ladies Who Launch
* Amy Newmark, Publisher of Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC
* Wendy Walker, Editor of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms

The panel will be followed by Q&A and a book signing.
We hope you can join us for this event!

To RSVP, please contact Tolly Moseley:
tmoseley@phenixpublicity.com
512/478-2028 ext. 213
*Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 6*

Presented by:

Chicken Soup for the Soul

Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicity

I can't wait for Cinco de Mayo with my TwitterMoms!

So, about a week ago I started my diet back up. My goal is to lose 11 pounds by May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) and then I will allow myself the luxury of drinking MY Jose Cuervo Margaritas alongside my Twittermoms. If you would like to know more about it, check out their website HERE Also, something very important, remember to Retweet the party, because Jose Cuervo will donate $1 to RADD (formerly known as Recording Artists, Actors and Athletes Against Drunk Driving) for every RT up to $2500!

My mouth is watering just THINKING ABOUT my margaritas. I tend to drink them more like a Marg-a-tini though :) Who would LOVE my recipe? I know you are dying to know. Well, here goes!

PREP:
I take an entire bottle of Jose Cuervo Especial and I add to it a frozen bag of berries (strawberries, blueberries and raspberries work best). I let that sit at room temperature, in a bowl, for up to 2 weeks. I know, I know, that is a loooooong time to wait (but it is worth it!)

After the time is elapsed, I strain the tequila and I put it back into the original bottle. Next, I put ice in a shaker as well as in my glass. (I also add water to the glass to chill it while I shake up my Margatini!) To the shaker I add the following:

*3 ounces of Jose Cuervo Especial (that has been steeped with berries)
*The juice of two fresh limes
*1 ounce of simple syrup (see recipe below)

Empty out the ice/water from your margarita glass and fill with your Jose Cuervo Margatini. Garnish with a lime slice and a fresh berry or two! This drink is heavenly!


One other reminder.....if you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Jose Cuervo, Coronas or any other libation, please make sure you drink responsibly because drunk driving is STUPID!!

Oh, and I can't forget my favorite party song of all time!! Check it out!



SIMPLE SYRUP
2 parts sugar
1 part water
Preparation:

Bring the water to a boil.
Dissolve the sugar into the boiling water.
Once the sugar is dissolved completely, remove the pan from the heat.
Allow to cool completely and bottle.

April 26th-Green Toys Giveaway

Green Toys. No, not all of their toys are the color green but they are all made of recycled materials!! Yeah, how rad is that?!

All of their toys are safe for children and the environment. That is pretty impressive. Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.


They make lots of functional toys and I was lucky enough to review the Sand Play Kit.



Dexter is so cute when he gets his shovel and pail out and tries to load it with Cheerios because the beach is still a ways a way! At least the kid is getting use to using the toys he has so that they will be familiar when summer comes (I can't wait!).

Green Toys was generous enough to offer one DSSM reader the chance to win their very own Sand Play Kit. All you have to do is head over to Green Toys and pick out another toy that they make that you would like to own, other than the Sand Play Kit. Come back here and let me know and don't forget to include your email address.

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST

April 26th-Otter Blotters Giveaway

My really bestest friend (thats how much I love her), Debra recently introduced me to Otter Blotters. She told me that she has worked with the owner/creator Debby and that she was so nice! Well, Debra is hardly ever wrong. I looked up Otter Blotters and I not only found super cute cloth diapers but Debby also makes some kick butt shoes called Otter Trotters!

I used the AI2 (All in Two) Otter Blotter on Dexter and it was super super cute and very easy to fasten. This is what they look like:


*Patent-pending Lock-it PocketTM ensures a snug hook and loop fit with no tummy or leg chafing and prevents babies from taking off their own diapers
*No exposed hook tape to snag in the wash
*Patent-pending leak-resistant seams mean dry clothes and bedding, even when the diaper is soaked
*Ultrasuede pull tabs are as easy as disposables to fasten leg gussets keep messes in polyurethane laminated (PUL) fabric means messes don't stick to the diaper
*Lightweight, trim, and comfortable fit
*Soft, beautiful minky "otter fur" that comes in bright colors and prints
*10-layer soaker pad with 4 layers microfiber terry, 2 layers birdseye cotton and 2 layers of ZorbTM in wet zone, backed with Killington flannel and lined with soft, no-pill, stay-dry microfleece or silky, non-synthetic bamboo velour
*Unique pad design promotes thorough cleaning and fast drying
*All-in-One (sewn-in pad) or All-in-Two (snap-in pad) design--so no folding, stuffing or removing inserts


I had minor leaking in the leg area overnight with my Otter Blotter but Debby assured me that she has revamped the pattern (to include deeper gussets) since I received my diaper over a month ago. The new one is one the way......

I must say that I was completely blown away by the shoes (Otter Trotters) that Debby sent. They are so cute and durable.


Otter TrottersTM are adjustable for different widths of feet! A patent-pending fastening system makes them easy to put on but hard for babies to take off.
Otter TrottersTM can get wet! Uppers of water-repellent washable PolarTec(R) WindPro or WindBloc fleece and a hidden layer of soft, flexible medical-grade polyurethane laminate keep little water-loving otter feet dry, even after a trot through the dewy grass.
Otter TrottersTM are machine washable! The hidden fastening system keeps the hook and loop tape clean and prevents snagging in the wash. Designed to last through multiple children, Otter TrottersTM feature a reinforced Ultrasuede(R) toe area and Toughtek(R) sole.
Otter TrottersTM are "otterly" soft and comfortable! Soles are lined with fluffy 91% cotton sherpa to keep little feet dry and healthy and seams are fleece-lined, with no raw edges to rub against tender toes.
And of course, Otter TrottersTM are cute as can be and come in lots of beautiful colors!

One thing I absolutely love about Dexter's Otter Trotters is the fact that he doesn't have to wear socks with them. They are so soft in the inside that socks aren't required. I have also had to wash mine because D puked on them and they held up really well in the washer (I let them air dry!)



Debby was kind enough to offer one DSSM reader the chance to win their very own Otter Blotter AI2 diaper! All you have to do is head over to Otter Blotters and pick out which fabric you would like your diaper to be and which size you will need! Thats it!

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST.

April 25th-Hearth Song Giveaway

HearthSong is a wonderful store that specializes in "toys you'll feel good giving" If the Kid's Gardening Tools and Wheelbarrow that they sent me are any indication of this statement, they are right. I would DEFINITELY give these as gifts to the special kids in my life.

Since its beginning in 1983, HearthSong has been committed to helping parents follow their instincts to provide their children with age-appropriate, wholesome, quality playthings. That's because at HearthSong, we believe childhood is a vital chapter in life-a special time when children can be occupied with the joy of being children. And, equally importantly, a time when children need to experience as much creative, imaginative play as possible because kids experience so many of life's first lessons through play.





These gardening tools that they sent me were made to be used. They have long wooden handles and nice metal heads that allow children to work in the garden, helping to take ownership of their fruits and veggies! Because Dexter is still a little young to use these tools (they recommend them for children 5 and up) I used them myself. The long-handled gardening tool set contains a leaf rake, shovel, garden rake, and a hoe. HearthSong was also kind enough to send me their wheelbarrow! The wheelbarrow is 33" x 17" x 15-3/4". Dexter's favorite part is crawling into it so that I will give him a ride around the yard. It isn't so easy seeing as though I am a tall adult and this is a children's wheelbarrow. That doesn't stop him from trying to put stuff in it and haul it around the yard! TOO CUTE!!

My friends over at HearthSong want to give one DSSM reader the opportunity to win their own Long-Handled Wooden Gardening Tool Set for Kids. This retails for $28 plus shipping! All you need to do is visit HearthSong and pick out your favorite item that is not listed here in my review. Come back here and let me know what it is and don't forget to include your email address or your entry won't count!

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST.

April 24th-First Juice Giveaway

First Juice is the nation's first organic, low-sugar fruit and vegetable juice for toddlers. First Juice® Brand organic fruit and vegetable juice beverage is designed specifically for young, developing taste buds, with a blend that's naturally lower in sugar.* It's a new way for parents to get on a roll towards developing their toddlers taste preferences early on. Less sugar. More health. Better choices. New purple carrots are making a splash into two new flavor blends of First Juice®. Parents can continue to steer their children towards healthy colorful fruits and vegetables while putting the brakes on sugar and sweet.





Dexter was able to try the Apple Carrot and the Banana Carrot. He liked them both but he seemed to really prefer the Apple Carrot the most! Why Carrots you may be wondering, let me show you....


How would you like to try some First Juice?! I will send 2 coupons each good for a FREE BOTTLE of First Juice to 3 winners! How nice is that?! All you have to do is head over to First Juice and tell me which flavor your child will like most.

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST.

April 24th-YumYum Snacks Giveaway

How important is it to you that you feed your children healthy snacks? If you are anything like me it is VERY IMPORTANT! I have not allowed Dexter to eat anything that contains High Fructose Corn Syrup. In my quest to find the perfect healthy snacks, I came across Yum Yum Snacks.

Yum Yum Snacks was started by two sisters who were tired of baking healthy snacks because it is not only time consuming but it is labor intensive. They wanted to help people understand about nutrition and they also wanted to help them make good food choices. They have a nutrition part of their website that contains healthy recipes and tidbits from their resident registered dietician, Joelle!

I was (I should say Dexter was) lucky enough to receive a HUGE box chock full of healthy, organic snacks. Look at his goodies!




He has tried and really liked the Cheddar Bunnies from Annie's and he also really liked the Honey Graham Sticks. His favorite though, hands down, are the Extreme Fruit Bites!

This website not only has a lot of information to help you be the smartest parent on the block but they also sell some amazing snacks! (And at very reasonable prices!) Thank you to the lovely Yum Yum Sisters, one lucky DSSM reader will win their own Organic/Healthy Sample Packs!

Just head over to Yum Yum Snacks and tell me two of your favorite products not listed in this review. Come back here and let me know and don't forget to INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment.


Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST.

April 23rd-Soleo USA Giveaway

Let me introduce you to Soleo USA, your new ally in sun-fighting!

Vision
To help foster a healthier world as a result of using naturally sourced chemical free products.

Mission
To provide high quality, world class skin care using all-natural and organic ingredients, in order to offer health conscious consumers an effective alternative to chemical-based products.

Who We Are
The Skin Elements formulas are a unique combination of cutting edge science with all natural ingredients. Our highly skilled team of Naturopaths and Formulating Chemists has spent many years working with natural ingredients and testing formulas to delieve the final Skin Elements product range.

Key ingredients are specially selected based on scientific research and any recognized skin irritants are avoided. Skin Elements choose not to use any of the following: parabens or other synthetic preservatives, chemical UV-absorbers, petrochemicals, mineral oils, artificial fragrances or colors, synthetic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate, genetically modified ingredients or ingredients containing synthetic by-products.

Their sunscreen goes on nice and it stayed on even in water. I am really looking forward to using it when it gets REALLY hot outside. The kind people at Soleo USA would like to offer one DSSM reader the opportunity to win a tube of their sunscreen.

Please head over to Soleo USA and tell me another product that they make other than sunscreen. Don't forget to leave your email address in your comment or your entry won't count.

Would you like extra entry opportunities?
*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)
*Enter to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby (get one entry everyday that you comment and enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST.

Quote of the Day

This one hopefully will make you think....

"ONLY AFTER THE LAST TREE HAS BEEN CUT DOWN… the last river has been poisoned… the last fish caught, only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
Indian Cree Prophesy

Maggie's Organics Review

How could I not love Maggie's Organics? After all, I am a Maggie and I love being green! Maggie's Organics is located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and seeing as though I also live in Michigan, this is a relationship that was meant to be! Pure kismet. I am very passionate about helping to put Michigan back on the map. Michigan's economy is suffering and helping local businesses to flourish in turn helps our wonderful state!

Enough about that! Let me tell you a little about Maggie's Organics....Maggie's Organics was founded in 1992 on the premise that all workers could be treated ethically and that clothing could be functional, beautiful and affordable and also constructed of environmentally sustainable materials. Seventeen years later, we are proud to say that our proposition has proven true: Our line of organic and fair trade socks, scarves, tights, loungewear, legwarmers, tees, baby clothes, new stuffed animals and fashionable tops continues to fulfill and strengthen our founding principles:

• All of our products are constructed using Certified Organic Cotton or Certified Organic Wool as their main component. * We add in other fibers only when they improve the longevity, durability, and performance of our garments. All components used are fully disclosed on every product label, down to 1/10 of 1%.
• Conscious of energy consumed by transporting products across the globe, we develop supply chains as close to home as possible. * We use minimal packaging, knowing that our products' feel and quality speak for themselves.
• We work exclusively with business partners who guarantee livable working conditions and independence for their workers. Much of our manufacturing is done in countries with strong labor laws, like Costa Rica and the US. Alternately, when we produce in countries with poor labor and environmental laws, we either find or create worker-owned cooperatives to assure that workers have independence and control.

There are so many nice items at Maggie's that you can choose from. They carry items for babies and women. I was lucky enough to be able to review their lounge set. I chose the Live, Laugh, Love set.

CONTENTS: 100% Certified Organic Cotton

DESCRIPTION: MAGGIE'S OUTLET ITEM!
A beautiful Printed Bliss Camisole and Lounge Pants make the perfect "Lounge Set"! Choose different combinations of colors. Makes a great gift. (Size choices = same size camisole and pants. Please see the size chart above for reference.)

Made with 100% Certified Organic Cotton. These Lounge Sets are great for yoga, lounging around the house or running errands on the weekend! "Pull on" elastic waist pants. Made in Costa Rica or at the co-op in Nicaragua.

They are now on sale for $20!!!! You certainly can't beat that for 100% Organic PJs!

I am sitting in my new jammies now and I am very tempted to buy several more sets. They are soft and they have a nice relaxing fit. The colors are so vibrant and happy. Its hard not to love this set.

This would make the most perfect eco-friendly Mother's Day gift! Head over to Maggie's and order a set for yourself and your Mom today, she will think you spent WAAAY more than $20 on her this year!

Plant a Tree with Kiwi!!

Happy Earth Day from KIWI

We will plant a tree via www.mokugift.com. Mokugift trees are planted in Central America, Africa and Asia by local farmers that practice sustainable farming techniques that fight poverty and global warming.

You and your kids will love watching online representations of your trees grow on your tree-island page on www.mokugift.com, where you can also send trees to your friends and family for $1 per tree.

Fill out the form below to receive your free tree. To learn more about Mokugift and the United Nations Environment Programme's Billion Tree Campaign, visit www.mokugift.com.

Click here to plant a tree
http://www.kiwimagonline.com/specialoffers/EarthDay/

April 22nd Earth Day-GreenLeaf Boutique Giveaway

Does the name GreenLeaf Boutique mean anything to you?! It should! They are the generous sponsors of DSSM's Klean Kanteen-a-day giveaway listed here! You can enter each day to win a Klean Kanteen but the contest is only open to residents of the USA. (If you live in Canada, you can choose to pay the taxes/customs fee and accept your prize)

WaterLeaf is a truly unique shopping experience. They carry gifts and stationery for all occasions, and all of their items are chosen with great care. The array of products found at WaterLeaf is in many instances earth-friendly, handmade and/or produced by vendors that are fair trade certified. They often work with vendors that give a portion of their proceeds to charities or that provide opportunities to those in difficult circumstances.

At WaterLeaf, they are devoted to preserving the environment and aiding those in need while providing distinctive products and excellent services.

This wonderful Boutique embodies all of the qualities that I think are especially important. I spoke with Ana Barron, owner of WaterLeaf Boutique, the other day and she was so nice and genuine. I love that she not only wants people to realize how important protecting our environment is but she also helps to support charities and organizations through the eco-friendly and fair trade items she carries.

If you live in New Jersey you can visit WaterLeaf Boutique in person at 2 East Main Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446

Thank you to Ana for sharing some shirts from WaterLeaf Boutique's newest Organic children's clothing line. She sent Dexter three long sleeve shirts that are nice, soft and a bit stretchy! I need stretchy because my son has a HUGE noggin and I have a hard time getting tshirts over his head! They are a little big on him otherwise I would have posted some pictures of him sporting his new shirts! Thanks Ana!

Well, here comes the moment I have been waiting for! THE GIVEAWAY! I am so very proud to tell you that Ana and WaterLeaf Boutique would like to give one Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy Reader the chance to win an ISSI Pendant.





ISSI (shorthand for I Support Something Important) was developed in 2008 by Phyllis Shenny to create jewelry and fashion that stand for environmental issues, and then to promote them in communities in a friendly and exciting way in an effort to get friends and families to change their habits in little ways that have a potentially huge impact.

The ISSI wear pendant is a graceful piece, abstractly stylized from a heart, an ear of corn, a leaf, a footprint. A symbol of our heritage, and our harvest, a symbol of American grown, American made. A symbol of renewable energy.

Made of the finest quality sterling silver with an extra long cable chain that hangs by a stylish knot, it is as comfortable on evening wear as it is on a t-shirt. The words "i support american renewable energy" are engraved in a script font that looks hand written, which adds a personal, and yet very classy look.

The ISSI pendant gives you the ability to communicate what is important to you in a cool, elegant, and unique way. And unlike other cause related jewelry, wearing an ISSI piece does not just say I support this cause in spirit, but it says I am actually doing something about it.

You will receive the ISSI pendant in no waste packaging that includes a card with eight very simple things you can do right now to lower your gas and electrical usage without really changing your lifestyle.

I am blown away by the thoughtfulness and ingenuity behind this amazing Pendant. How incredible to wear something that embodies so much of what I believe. I would be absolutely honored to be an ISSI Pendant wearer and spokesperson. What do you think? Do I have what it takes?

I have been taking to Phyllis, the creator of ISSI and she is so thoughtful and nice to work with. Now I know why WaterLeaf Boutique supports this wonderful company!!


How would you like the opportunity to sport this amazing pendant, worth $80?! Since this prize is so amazing, it is worth a little work on your part. I would like for you to visit WaterLeaf Boutique and pick out your favorite item that they carry. Come back here and let me know in your comment AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS or your entry won't count!

For an extra entry you can go any of the following:
*Visit ISSIWear and sign up for their mailing list (on the bottom of their page).

*Enter to win a Klean Kanteen each day (get one entry per day that you enter)

*Follow me on Blogger (become a new follower)
*Follow me on Twitter (become a new follower)
*Fave me on Technorati (leave your technorati name)
*Email 5 friends about this contest and include a link to my site and cc me at newmommyin08 {at} yahoo {dot} com

The winner will be drawn on May 10th at NOON EST. Good Luck and don't forget this awesome contest, along with the many many other Earth Day Extravaganza giveaways are open until May 10th at NOON EST. Don't forget to enter everyday to win a Tote Bag from MyOBaby

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the reason for the season (or wait, is that Christmas?!) Anyway, today is a day to celebrate Mother Earth. Today is a day to be conscious of our actions and maybe make recycling resolutions. If you see a piece of trash on the ground, please pick it up. This is the only planet that we are going to get so we need to take care of it and love it because our children, who are our future need a planet that is as beautiful and special as it can be!!!