An Unfinished Life

It's a beautiful Monday morning in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I'm starting the week refreshed. Why? Because I took my Sabbath Experiment/Experience seriously again yesterday. For those of you who are new to the community, I should explain. A few years ago, I started something I called "The Sabbath Experiment." Every Monday, I wrote about it. Eventually, I realized it was no longer an experiment and changed the name to "The Sabbath Experience." You can read about it here.

Lately, I've drifted away from my commitment to rest on the Sabbath. I've had a lot of excuses, including many that could have applied yesterday. But I decided to throw the excuses aside and I relished my Sabbath.

The day started the way it usually does with Sunday School, worship, and lunch with the kids and grandkids. I love the current sermon series on blessing our neighbors being presented by our minister, Tom Fodi. It's challenging me to act, which is always a good thing. 

After we got home, my husband headed to the hospital to visit a dear friend who is in really shape. I napped. When he returned, Bill found me in front of the television watching a Hallmark movie. Of course, since Hallmark movies are his favorite, he joined me. Aside from making something to eat, we did little else other than watching TV, something we rarely do. At 9:00, I turned on a movie I'd never heard of called, AN UNFINISHED LIFE. 

Before I watched the movie, I sat and pondered the title -- an unfinished life. Wow. That's something that fits so many I've known who have died unexpectedly, leaving behind incomplete projects and unpaid bills, cluttered closets and unspoken apologies, unreached dreams and I'll-get-around-to-it-someday relationship repairs. Unfinished lives. It happens all the time.
 
Not only did I love the title (I mean, really -- isn't that a great title?), but I was drawn to the cast which included, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Camryn Manheim, and Becca Gardner. 

Let me tell you, I was not disappointed. I loved this movie. The chemistry between Redford and Freeman was fantastic and Lopez put in another amazing performance. With maybe one exception, I simply love Lopez as an actress. And my love of Redford goes back to the 70s. And then there's Freeman -- is he not an amazing actor? The movie scored 2 stars according to the description on Comcast. I couldn't help wondering who rated it. It received a solid 5 stars from me, and aside from some language I didn't appreciate, I found this movie to be exactly what I needed last night. It's a story of imperfect people struggling through this life of disappointments, bad choices, and grudges, catching a glimpse of grace and beauty and friendship along the way. In the end, it's a story of forgiveness and redemption. 

I went to bed last night feeling satisfied with my day . . . a Sabbath day intended for rest and renewal. But in the back of my mind, I was still pondering an unfinished life.

Monday -- bring it on. I'm ready for you.

A renewal of life

Grandchildren

are a renewal of life,

a little bit of us

going on into the future.

~Helene Schellenberg Barnhart

What's a kidney stone or two when you have ACV in your cupboard?

My ACV of choice

TGIVF!

For those of you who have been following my health saga, you know I had a kidney stone. Well, according to the latest round of x-rays, it's gone. Did I pass it? I don't think so, and from I hear, I'd know it if I had. So where is it?

When I first posted on Facebook that I had a kidney stone, Danielle, a friend, a community member, and a guest blogger here on GG, wrote and said her husband had stones twice and he dissolved them with apple cider vinegar. 

At the time, I was so sick from my kidney infection that I wasn't eating much of anything, so the thought of trying to take my daily dose of ACV did not appeal to me in the slightest. However, once I started feeling better, I resumed my tablespoon a day of organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I didn't increase the dose or take it more than once each day like Danielle's husband did, but it looks like it performed its magic anyway. No more kidney stone. It's gone. Vanished. Yippee. 

I must admit, I was dreading the movement and elimination of the stone and, thanks to good ol' vinegar, my fears were unnecessary (as most fear and worry is). 

So, that's my VF tip for today -- dealing with kidney stones? Break out the ACV. I can't guarantee it will work, but I'm guessing that's what did it for me. Of course, as I often say, I'm not a medical professional. Do not take my advice as well-researched fact. It's just my experience. When in doubt, consult your doctor or homeopathic professional.

Keeping it green and healthy with vinegar,

 

For more natural and eco-friendly tips, check out my book, VINEGAR FRIDAYS available here.

Seeds were planted five years ago today

October 17, 2008 was a momentous day. I labored through it with my daughter, Jessica, as she struggled through hours and hours until we heard that miraculous first cry -- my first grandchild was born. Let me tell you, I was exhausted! And sore. You see, every time my daughter pushed, I held on to her hand and right foot and I pushed along with her. I seriously think I did some internal damage that day! 


As a mother, I just wanted to take away some of the pain. I'm not sure what her husband was feeling as he coached her across the bed from me, but I imagine he wanted to take on some of the pain as well. 

I must admit, I didn't become an "instant grandmother" in my heart. Watching my daughter go through labor was one of the worst things I've experienced. I hurt for her and holding that newborn baby didn't take away the pain for me. 

I felt like a freak. Every other grandma I knew instantly bonded with their grandbabies; especially those who were present for their births. And then there was my husband who fell in love with this child the second he received her into his arms. 

Since my daughter had to return to work after six weeks to keep her benefits, I had the privilege of taking care of my granddaughter three to four days a week for the first year. During that time, the love grew between Laura and me that there is no longer any question of my ability to bond with her as a grandmother. She and I are tight.

So today, on her fifth birthday, I celebrate this precious child. She is a gift to our family and she is the reason Green Grandma exists. Five years ago today, the seeds were planted for this blog to sprout, blossom, and grow right alongside the lovely little Lady Laura, who is becoming more and more beautiful with each passing year.

Happy birthday, Laura! I love you more than the color orange.

 

Tomorrow is tax day... for those of us who procrastinate

Photo by Charles Rondeau

Well, it's Monday. And I have a huge task at hand, thanks to one of my defining faults -- procrastination. The extension I filed in April for my income tax return is looming. October 15th.

Here on the blog, I address issues related to common sense greener and healthier living. So why . . . gasp . . . am I writing about income tax returns? The answer is simple. It has to do with health. You see, when we procrastinate, we create unnecessary stress which often translates into issues with our health. 

Back in April, after I did a preliminary work up with my taxes and mailed in my checks to the federal and state governments, I packed away my receipts, worksheets, 1099s, etc. and forgot about it. As August flew by (don't all months seem to do that?), I started thinking about it again. I'll do it in September, I thought. By mid-September, I was sick in bed for over a week with a kidney infection that is still causing problems for me. I simply do not feel well.

The IRS does not care. The government may be shut down, but they're not about to give me a break. 

I had planned to dedicate last week to getting this done, but the opportunity for a large voice-over project which included working with my husband presented itself and I couldn't turn it down. It took up a lot of my time.

The weekend rolled around and I finally started tackling the dauntless task many of us, who are self-employed, dread. Yes, I could go to a CPA, but I'd still have to put together all my business expenses which, for me, is the most time-consuming and difficult of tasks. Maybe one of these years, I'll be more organized and hand the job over to someone else. Maybe. But that doesn't help me right now. 

I'm 75% done at this point, which is a good thing. I just have to work out the home office deduction and add up and enter all my business expenses (hotels, meals, supplies, equipment, etc.). It will be done and sent by tomorrow's due date, so I'm not really stressed at this point. I'm simply looking back over the last couple of months and thinking, Why didn't I do this before now? 

 You see, procrastination is something that eats away at your peace of mind. Whether it's about taxes, making appointments, school or work projects, paying bills, getting the house ready for company, meeting deadlines, etc., it has the same effect. And the effect is not healthy. 

So today I'm confessing this character flaw to you. For those of you who are not procrastinators, I applaud you, admire you, and envy you. I want to be you someday. But for now, I have to get back to the task at hand. 

Enjoy your Monday. Somehow, I'm going to try to enjoy mine.

Weekend Quote

The main dangers in this life 

are the people who want to change 

everything or nothing.

~Nancy Astor                        

     

My liver enzymes are up -- time to reach for the ACV

TGIVF!

While many of you are thrilled that Friday is finally here, I must admit this week went by a bit too quickly for me. You see, back in April, I sent in an extension for my 2012 taxes. Guess what? October 15th is the new deadline and I haven't finished them yet. I was going to dedicate this entire week to doing taxes, but then a big voice-over project landed in my inbox and it sucked up most of my time. Now it's Friday and I still haven't pulled out the paperwork I started in April. Yikes. 

But the real problem arose when I became so darn sick about a month ago. Honestly, I was never so sick in my entire life. It was diagnosed as a kidney infection at the time, and I hope they were right. But it was an infection that was resistant to antibiotics, so I ended up on three different rounds of them -- 5 days, 7 days, and 14 days. And I HATE being on antibiotics! But I was too sick to resist. I just wanted to be well. 

While I no longer have the high fever, chills, shaking, headache, lack of appetite, and extreme fatigue, I must admit that I still feel pretty lousy, especially at night. I do pretty well throughout the day, but when 8:00 rolls around, I start going downhill pretty darned fast. I've come to dread nighttime. Sleeping isn't a respite from it, either, as I'm not sleeping well at all. I wake up three to four times each night to go to the bathroom.

So I was surprised yesterday when I went back to the urologist for a follow-up appointment and she told me my urine was clear of any infection. I thought for sure I was going to be treated to a fourth round of antibiotics. And the x-ray showed that the kidney stone I had three weeks ago is no longer there. Phew. It either dissolved or I passed it without any knowledge of it. 

But then, why do I still feel so lousy? She didn't have an answer for me. Instead, she referred me to a gastroenterologist. Great. More tests. More doctors. Her main concern was my elevated liver enzymes. I must admit, that has me concerned. So I went home and Googled all things related to liver problems. While some things were worthy of concern, I'm leaning more toward the conclusion that all that blasted medication raised my numbers and that I just need to cleanse my liver of all the toxins. Of course, I want a quick solution because I happen to love wine and alcohol is obviously a no-no right now. 

Maybe I'm still feeling lousy because the antibiotics simply did a number on my digestive system and it will take awhile for me to rebound. What do you think?

I'm going to skip seeing another specialist right now and I'm going to try something I should have tried before now. I'm going to try to cleanse my liver of toxins by taking more raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. You wouldn't believe how many sites recommend this. Here I am, having written a book about vinegar, and I didn't think to do this! 

Truth be told, I hate taking ACV. I hate the taste of it and I really have to force myself to do it. So I skip a day or two here and there. And then I skip three days. Or four. When my ulcer pain starts flaring, I go back to taking it again so I don't have to go back on Nexium. But when I was so sick and not eating, the last thing I wanted was yucky-tasting ACV, so I didn't take any for a couple of weeks. All that changes today. Now that I've read what I've read about how apple cider vinegar detoxifies the liver, I'd be a fool not to try it. 

Eventually, I'll go back to the doctor and have my blood work repeated. And then I'll let you know what my enzyme levels are. I'm counting on the ACV to bring them back to normal. And that, my friends, is what this particular Vinegar Friday is all about.

Here's to our health -- yours and mine,

 

We need a David to take down Goliath

What are your plans for this coming Saturday? Why not join millions of concerned people from around the world who will be marching against Monsanto and calling for the permanent boycott of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and other harmful agro-chemicals? There will be marches in at least six continents, in 52 countries, with events in over 400 cities! In the US, solidarity marches are planned in 47 states. 

Inspired to start the movement to protect her two daughters, Tami Monroe Canal founded March Against Monsanto (MAM). "Monsanto's predatory business and corporate agricultural practices threatens their generation's health, fertility and longevity," she explains. "MAM supports a sustainable food production system. We must act now to stop GMOs and harmful pesticides."

There were no long term, independent, peer reviewed studies conducted before GMOs were introduced for human or animal consumption and they are not adequately monitored to ensure public safety. In the US, the revolving door between Monsanto employees, government positions, and regulatory authorities has led to key Monsanto figures occupying positions of power at the FDA and EPA. The company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to obstruct all labeling attempts, including funding a campaign against I-522, the current initiative for labeling in Washington state. Monsanto suppresses any research containing results not in their favor. The scientifically established health risks include, but are in no way limited to: organ damage, sterility, infant mortality, birth defects, auto-immune conditions, allergies and increased cancer risks.

GMOs have been partially banned by Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Madeira, New Zealand, Peru, South America, Russia, France, Switzerland, and Costa Rico, and are currently labelled in 62 countries. Despite this, factory farm animals throughout the world are still fed GMOs. 

Roberta Gogos, organizer for the march in Athens, Greece, addressed the importance of the marches in austerity-impacted Europe. "Monsanto is working very hard to overturn EU [European Union] regulation on obligatory labeling where enforcement is already lax. Greece is in a precarious position right now, and Greece's farmers are positioned to follow the same perilous fate as farmers in countries such as Colombia and Mexico."

In Quito, Ecuiador, march organizer, Josh Castro states, "Ecuador is such a beautiful place, with the richest biodiversity in the world. We will not allow this Garden of Eden to be compormised by the destructive practices of multinational corporations like Monsanto. Biotechnology is not the solution to world hunger. Agroecology is. Monsanto's harmful practices are causing soil infertility, mono-cropping, loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, and contributing to beehive collapse. GMO crops cross pollinate with traditional crops, risking peasant farmers' livelihood."

The devastation can be seen in India, where more than 250,000 farmers have committed suicide after Monsanto's Bt cotton seeds did not perform as promised. Left in desperate poverty, these farmers opted to free their families of debt by drinking Monsanto pesticide. 

In other countries, many farmers are also stripped of their livelihood as a result of false promises, seed patenting and meticulous legal action on the part of Monsanto and other big-ag interests. In many parts of Africa, farmers and their communities are left to choose between starving or eating GMOs.

Over 800 scientists from 84 countries detailed concern regarding GMOs and asked for an immediate suspension of GMO crops in order to conduct "a comprehensive public enquiry of agriculture and food security for all," in an "Open Letter from World Scientist to All Governments Concerning Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)." Click here to read the letter and see the list of scientists who demanded action.

For more information, please visit the following sites:

The World According to Monsanto Video

Total Disinformation Awareness: Monsanto Suppresses Research on GMO Crops

Anniversary of a Whistleblowing Hero

GMO Scandal: The Long Term Effects of Genetically Modified Food on Humans

Data Pool of MAM

We need to stay informed and we need to get involved. We're fighting a giant, but I'm counting on there being a David amongst us who will be able to slay this Goliath.

Click here to visit the MAM Facebook page and find out where the marches will be taking place on Saturday, October 12, 2013. And if you're able, join in and take a stand. Our kids and grandkids are counting on us!

I-522 -- It's not just about Washington State

Voting season is upon us and in Washington State, voters have an opportunity to make a difference when it comes to GMO labeling. So I'm asking you to read this post and then share it with anyone you know who lives in Washington. It is essential we get the message out to VOTE YES ON I-522, the GMO labeling initiative!

Let's face it, the big name corporations out there do not want labeling and they are pouring millions of dollars into the campaign to shoot down I-522. It's all about their profit, folks, and they have to be stopped. We, as consumers, have the right to know what is in our food. Period. If GMOs are as safe as they claim, why are companies like Monsanto and DuPont spending so much money to defeat this initiative ($4.85 million and $3.4 respectively million as of September 18th)? I don't know about you, but this makes my blood boil! Think about how many hungry people in the world could be fed with that kind of money. Instead, it's being used to keep Americans in the dark as to what poisons they are putting into their bodies. Inexcusable!

If I-522 passes, Washington State will be the first state in the U.S. to require labeling of GMOs. Californians lost their own initiative last year by a mere 6% after the huge multinational chemical and junk food companies spent a fortune of misleading ads. Come on, Washington, don't let these same companies buy this election. It's time consumers stood up for themselves and let their voices be heard!

If you care about the right to know what is in your food, or you are concerned about the impacts of GMOs on people and the environment, I urge you to step up to the plate and help! Spread the word and to let people in Washington State know that I-522 is for their good. The big corporations have to be stopped and only the voters can make that happen.

If you are a blogger, I urge you to blog about this. You don't need to be an expert (I'm  not), nor do you need to live in Washington. You simply need to care about what you eat and about people's health.

Here are the TOP 5 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD HAVE GMO LABELING:

1. Everyone has the right to know what is in the food they eat. American companies already label the GMO food they export to 64 other countries. We deserve to know, too.
2. Labeling GMOs is the necessary first step in the fight for control over our food system. Over 80% of processed food contains GMOs, and no GMO fish, apples and corn are coming to the market.
3. Farmers, ranchers, and businesses from Washington support I-522; 99% of the opposition is funded by out-of-state corporations.
4. Farming GMO crops uses more pesticides than conventional crops, contaminate our environment and people who live near agriculture.
5. Contrary to industry claims, labeling GMOs does not impact the price of food. This is used simply as a scare tactic.

So, what will the Label GMO initiative do?

• Give Washington shoppers information about what is in their food.
• Require labeling of genetically engineered foods and processed foods with genetically engineered ingredients. This would include GE Salmon and GMO apples if approved by the FDA, and other genetically engineered foods, including corn or soy, or foods with genetically engineered ingredients like chips, cold cereals, soft drinks, and candy. 
• Set a precedent for the rest of the country.

 Click here to find out more about this Vote Yes on I-522 blogging campaign?

I-522. Don't let money talk. It's time for the people to shout the loudest!

Keeping you informed,

House party success

Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Voices Boomers program and have been provided with a device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.

Chicago, where it all began

Back when I accepted the invitation to be part of the Verizon Voices Boomers, I agreed to host two house parties for Verizon. At first, I wasn't thrilled with the idea. But as I learned more about the parties, I really looked forward to them, mainly because, Verizon offered some really nice prizes and swag for attendees.

This past Saturday, my nearly-five-year-old granddaughter, Laura, and I hosted our first party at my late-mother's home in Manheim (Lancaster County), PA. I decided to host a party there, so I would have a different crowd than at the one I'll be hosting here in Pittsburgh next month. 

The presentation begins

While attendees may have worried about an Amway-type presentation, where I would promise the world if they'd just sign up, they quickly discovered they had nothing to worry about. The twelve attendees were treated to a nice spread of cheese dishes and wines, swag bags full of Verizon goodies, and a 30-minute presentation about various products Verizon offers, such as Home Phone Connect, Sure Response, Tagg Pet Tracker, fitbit One, 4G LTE Broadband Router with Voice, Belkin NETCAM, and Total Mobile Protection with Tech Coach support. 

Sure Response video

After answering questions, I was thrilled to be able to award prizes to seven attendees -- a Belkin NETCAM, Sure Response mobile emergency response system, 4G LTE Broadband Router with Voice, fitbit One, fitbit Wireless Wristband, a $100 Verizon gift card, and a $100 Visa gift card! We had some pretty happy party goers by the end of the evening. 

Happy winner of the Belkin NETCAM

Each guest filled out a pre-party and post-party survey, which, I'm happy to say, was completely anonymous. That means no one will be contacted by Verizon salespeople. This wasn't about my selling anything or gathering contact info for anyone else to sell anything. It was simply an informational evening. The products are great and sell themselves! 
 

Holding their attention

The lovely little Lady Laura was the best assistance ever, filling the gift bags, delivering them to each guest, drawing winning tickets, and simply being a delightful hostess. She's already looking forward to helping me out with the next gathering. 

Best helper!

An attendee receiving her swag bag from Laura

If you are in the Pittsburgh area and would like an invitation to the next party, email me and I'll add you to the list. With such great prizes and swag, it's a party worth attending! 

Healthy? Maybe not. Yummy? You bet!

Admittedly, I served some not-so-healthy/not-so-green snacks, including my often-requested beer dip. If you are a purist, don't even bother reading the following recipe. I wish I could be as disciplined as you. 

But if you're looking for a recipe that's always a hit with those of us who cheat on our healthy diets from time to time, here it is. It's my gift after enjoying a Saturday evening of partying, thanks to Verizon!

16 oz. Velveeta cheese, softened
16 oz. cream cheese, softened 
10-14 oz. of beer to taste (I used an amber beer. I do not recommend light beer of any kind.)

Cube cheeses for easier blending. Using an electric mixer, blend until smooth, slowly adding beer. Add more or less depending on the taste and texture.

Serve with pretzels.

Looking forward to House Party Number Two. And, yes, there will be wine, cheese, fantastic prizes, and beer dip.

 

Flashback VF -- A Vinegar Friday FAIL!

TGIVF!


I'm heading out of town and didn't have the time for a brand new VF post, so I thought I'd resurrect an old one from October of 2012. Enjoy!

  I don't often have a Vinegar Friday fail to share with you, but today is an exception. And it's a doozy! 

Recently, I've been a bit addicted to the Martha Washington mask that I talk about in Chapter 8 of my book, Vinegar Fridays. The mask is simple and is rumored to have caused such glowing skin on the former first lady, that it's somewhat responsible for the president being drawn to her in the first place.
In order to make the mask, you simply need 3 ingredients from your kitchen:  

• an egg
• 1 tsp. of honey
• 1/2 tsp. of apple cider vinegar

Mix it up and apply it to your face. Wait about 20 minutes and rinse off. Easy, right?

Well, after throwing away the mixture time and time again, I suddenly got the brilliant idea to use the leftover mask ingredients on my hair. 

Certain it would make my hair supple and shiny, I poured the egg mixture over my freshly washed (with baking soda) hair. I rubbed it in and then, standing in a steaming hot shower, rinsed it out.  Or so I thought.

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I grabbed my white bath towel and dried off my hair. As I was combing it, I started noticing white specks in my hair. 

That's weird, I thought. I never had fuzzies from my towel before. 

As I started picked the 'fuzzies' out of my hair, I discovered they had a spongy consistency and smooshed between my fingers. Puzzled, I examined my hair closer in the mirror, and then... started to laugh. Loudly. Heartily. I had scrambled eggs in my hair!! The heat from the shower must have cooked the egg as I was trying to rinse it out!

Grabbing my bottle of ACV, I hopped back in the shower for a very long, and thorough, vinegar rinse.

So, there you have it folks. A Vinegar Friday fail. From now on, I'm saving my mask concoction in the fridge for future masks and keeping it as far away from my hair as possible!

Scrambling it up with a bit of vinegar,

Air pollution -- who's responsible?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post.

Photo by Petr Kratochvil

 

Air pollution has been widely recognized as one of the world's most serious problems, causing numerous effects on individuals' health and the environment. The EPA has noted that air pollution has been getting worse. According to the Washington Post, air pollution is responsible for killing more people than high cholesterol. Some of the most dangerous effects of air pollution include its contribution to climate change, or global warming, and its affect on humans' lungs. Breathing in air pollution can lead to diseases like asthma and even lung cancer. There are numerous government and international agencies and special interest groups that strive to address the problem of air pollution. Just a few of these include the Environmental Protection Agency, State Department of Natural Resources, and Greenpeace.

Air pollution has both human and natural causes, but many people believe that humans' contribution to air pollution results in the most severe problems. One of the leading causes of air pollution is factory work. To produce goods, refine oil, and engage in mechanical fabrication, factories emit harmful gasses into the atmosphere, which cause air pollution. As more and more companies are becoming conscious of the effects of the pollution they create, they are trying many different ways to reduce or control air pollution. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources lists several air pollution control methods that manufacturers can utilize. These include bag houses or fabric filters, scrubbers or wet collectors, adsorbers, cyclones, vapor condensers, electrostatic preciptitators, flares, afterburners, and catalytic oxidizers. Another method of controlling air pollution is by using regenerative thermal oxidizers. Companies can use regenerative thermal oxidizers from OxidizerService.com to control a wide variety of emissions, including volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and odors. This method of emissions or air pollution control has become popular for two reasons. First, it can be used across multiple industries. Second, it is relatively inexpensive.

Air pollution is a serious problem and new environmental standards are requiring companies across industries to do their part to control their emissions. Luckily, new technology has resulted in a number of solutions that companies can utilize to curb how much they pollute the air.

If you work in a factory that is contributing to the air pollution problem, consider sharing this post with someone in the company who might be able to utilize one of the above recommendations.

After all, caring for the environment isn't someone else's responsibility. It's our responsibility.

 

Fiber Element Bamboo Sheet Set Giveaway -- 5 winners!

Welcome to the 

Fiber Element Bamboo Sheet Set Giveaway!

Is there anything better than snuggling in bed after a long day? I always loved climbing into bed at my mom's house. She had the old cotton sheets that just got softer with time. They were old and smelled of sunshine and breezes, since she line-dried her sheets, even in the dead of winter.

With many of us spending at least a third of our lives in bed, we should spoil ourselves a bit more at bed time. One of the best ways to make bedtime feel more luxurious is with high quality, silky sheets. While many of us may love the feel of such soft sheets, however, many of us cannot afford the price tag goes alongside high quality cotton sheets, leading to us spending more money in the long run on sheets that quickly fall apart or lose that softness after a few washings. 

Luckily, there is an option that is not only friendly for your wallet, but the environment as well - Fiber Elements Organic Bamboo Sheets! With Fiber Elements bamboo sheets, you are getting sheets that are not only environmentally friendly, but softer than even 1,000 thread count cotton sheets. Once you have laid your head on these sheets and felt their super soft texture, you will never buy cotton sheets again! While these sheets normally retail for $139.99 - $219.99, Fiber Elements is currently running a sale on their sheets, allowing you to buy a Full, Queen, King, or California king set for even less! Of course, the only thing better than purchasing a set of these sheets is winning a set of your own!

Five lucky readers will receive a Fiber Elements Organic Bamboo Sheet set of their choice!

Giveaway ends October 23rd at 11:59pm and is open to US and Canada, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Organized by Mom Powered Media. With special co-host My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life.

 

Disclosure: Green Grandma is not responsible 
for sponsor prize shipment.  

Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com 
with questions or to see your business or blog 
featured on the next big event!

Fiber Element F4

If you’re a fan of the following pages on Facebook, 

you’re entitled to the 10 free entries in the 

Fiber Element Giveaway. 

If not, you can become one here.

Click on each link in the Rafflecopter form below 

to see if you’re a fan or become a new one.

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Autumn AMP Cloth Diaper Giveaway!

Welcome to the Autumn AMP Giveaway hosted by The Parenting Patch and co-hosted by Hackanator, A Sensible Momma, Leettle Baby, Cloth Diaper Guru, My Cloth Diaper Stash, Conservamom, Cloth Diaper Addicts, and Thinking About Cloth Diapers. 

For anyone who has followed the blog for long, you know I'm passionate about cloth diapering. For me, it's not just about the environmental impact of disposables, which are estimated to take over 500 years to decompose (not so disposable, are they?), but it's also about the multiple health concerns associated with all of the chemicals in disposable diapers. Scary stuff. And then there's the economic factor, and if I can save money, I'm all for that!

In honor of the autumn season, The Parenting Patch is giving away an AMP cloth diapers prize pack to one lucky winner. The prize pack valued at $83.10 features three (3) AMP One-Size Duo Pocket Diaper in red, orange, and lemon (yellow); three (3) AMP microfiber inserts; two (2) two-layer AMP Boosters; and one (1) three-layer AMP Booster. 

The Autumn AMP Giveaway continues until October 15, 2013 and is open to legal residents of the United States of America and Canada. To enter to win the Autumn AMP Giveaway, simply use the following Rafflecoptor form. The first entry is free. All other entries are optional; however, the more entries you have, the better your chances of winning. Happy autumn! 

Yes, this is supposed to be yellow, but when I load it, it turns green!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
The Autumn AMP Giveaway is restricted to legal residents of the United States of America and Canada. The Autumn AMP Giveaway ends at midnight CST on October 15, 2013. One winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter. The winner will be sent an email and will have forty-eight hours to respond. If no response is received within forty-eight hours, another winner will be chosen. Participating blogs are not responsible for prize fulfillment.