Friday, August 31, 2012

A tasty Vinegar Friday -- how about a recipe for barbecue sauce?

Photo by Peter Kratochvil
 
It's Vinegar Friday! And a long weekend to boot! 
 
Are you planning on attending any picnics this weekend? If so, why not think about taking your own reusable plates, cloth napkins, cups and flatware so you can minimize at least some of the incredible amount of waste that will be generated this weekend in the States. It sickens me, actually. Of course, I get funny looks (or rolled eyes) when I do this, but it doesn't matter. I have my conscience to answer to, not all the people who think I'm a crazy tree hugger. 
Before I share a vinegar tip with you, I want to remind you that today is the final day to enter all the awesome giveaways for GG's 3rd blogiversary celebration. Below is a list of all the great prizes and sponsors. Make sure you check them out and enter, enter, enter. Remember that you can enter many of them more than once by sharing the giveaway on FB and Twitter. Winners will be chosen tomorrow. 

I would really appreciate it if you would visit the sponsors' FB pages and thank them for being part of the celebration.

Okay, on to vinegar. Since this is a weekend when the barbecue grills will be fired up, I thought I'd share my Balsamic Barbecue Sauce recipe with you, along with a tip on cleaning the grill.

First of all, you want to start with a clean grill. You can shine it up by spraying distilled white vinegar on a ball of aluminum foil and scrubbing away all the grime that has accumulated over the summer.

Then whip up this sauce (perfect for chicken or ribs, or even big slices of grilled onions):

1 1/2 cup ketchup
2/3    cup balsamic vinegar
2/3    cup light-colored corn syrup
1/2    cup finely diced onion
1/4    teaspoon sea salt

Bring all he ingredients to a boil in a non-aluminum saucepan.
Reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.

Brush sauce on food during the last 10 minutes of grilling time.
 
This grill-cleaning tip and recipe can be found in my book, Vinegar Fridays, available on Amazon.com and Lulu.com.

Have a fantastic, and safe, Labor Day weekend, my friends. And don't forget to enter to win!

Keeping it green and tasty with vinegar,

Hana


 
  • Medium box (100 loads) of Eco Nuts (value $12)
  • Bag of Lulu's in the Fluff and a $20 Gift Certificate to Happy Baby Company (value $33.95)
  • Starter kit from Eat Cleaner (value $20)
  • Can of Clean+Green® by SeaYu® Odor & Stain Remover (value $9.99)
  • 3 pk of HankyBooks (value $17.95)
  • Fall Mini Photo Session with big {happy} wall (Pittsburgh), including 2-4 images and $25 credit toward prints (value $200)
  • Custom-Designed Art/Photo Display Kit from Petite Paintbrush (value $10)
  • ECO-Effect book by Neale Godfrey (3 books for 3 winners) (value $16.99 each)
  • $25 Gift Certificate for glass straws from Glass Dharma (value $25)
  • Healthy Puppy Pack from Natural Products Network (value $60)
  • Nipple Cream and Diaper Rash & Thrush Cream from Motherlove (value $19.90)
  • 2 pk. Posh Pads Washable Bamboo Nursing Pads and 2 pk 7" Mini Washable It's A Girl Thing PERIOD Panty Liners (value $24.90)
  • Tots Bots Easyfit Diaper from Thanks Mama (value $23.95)
  • Handmade Plush Crocheted Giraffe from The Crunchy Farm Baby Shop (value $18.00)
  • Baltic Amber Teething Necklace from Green Baby Clothing Company (value $17.00)
  • Relax Package from Wildwood Soapworks, including Lavender Soap, Lavender Twist-up Solid Lotion, Golden Slumbers Sleep Balm and Lavender Lime Lip Balm (value $27.80)
  • 2 Tubes of Multi Healing Balm and a Snack Pack Cooler (value $25.90+)
  • $30 Gift Certificate from Leaf & Bud Naturals (value $30)
  • Deodorant for Men & Women by Earthly Remedies by Erin (value $9.50)
  • Mama's Herbal First Aid Bundle (value $49.95)

Thursday, August 30, 2012

big {happy} wall... photos for the family

I got to know one of the sponsors of my giveaway personally a couple of years ago. Adam, from Happy Baby Company (another sponsor), told me I should check out her blog. What he didn't tell me was that Jen was a fellow Pittsburgher. I didn't discover that until months later when I saw someone I knew post something on her Facebook page. 

"How do you know Jen?" I asked.

"How do you know Jen?" she asked.

Small world. It turns out we had a slew of mutual friends. And Jen and I became mutual admirers. Not only did I enjoy reading her blog, but I discovered her artistic talent as well. Now, a mother of two, with a stay-at-home husband extraordinaire, she has launched a new business (in addition to her full-time job and many other ventures).


big {happy} wall is Jen's new passion (she's a woman of many). Along with her husband, Sean, she has ventured into the world of life behind the lens, in order to bring your life, and that of your family, into focus in a brand new way.

If you are from the area (20 miles from 15214), make sure you enter the Rafflecopter on last Wednesday's post to win this:



This is an awesome prize package. And that $25 credit goes for anything on the website, such as prints, canvases, metal prints, iPhone covers, tote bags, and mousepads, all adorned with the faces of those you love most.

Here are some examples of Jen's skill behind the camera, along with her professional retouching, which is part of the package you can win, or if you don't win, purchase directly from Jen. This is the time to get moving on your annual holiday pictures, so don't drag your feet for too long!




 


 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

RIW -- an activity to keep your preschoolers happy when the siblings are back in school

It's back to school time. For those of you who have school-aged children and preschoolers, this can be a difficult time of adjusting... for the little ones, at least. Their playmates are gone 5 days a week for hours on end. What's a preschooler to do? What's a mama to do?!


May I suggest getting crafty with your kiddo(s)? How about painting with some safe, non-toxic, natural paints from Earth Paint? Before I go into reasons why Earth Paint is the best way to go when it comes to painting with your children, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about my experience with it.

Leah Mebane contacted me several months ago and asked me if I would review an Earth Paint kit on the blog. Leah is an artist and new mom in Ashland, Oregon. Inspired by her son, she created a new line of Natural Earth Paints for Children and an eco-friendly oil paint kit for teens and adults. I agreed to try out the children's kit, but then never seemed to get around to doing so with my grandchildren... until we went to the beach for a week. We took the Earth Paint kit along with hopes of painting seashells. Alas, the ocean did not cooperate and only delivered tiny shells and fragments each morning. What a huge disappointment for me, who loves to walk the beach searching for treasures washed up on shore. Gifts from the sea, as Anne Morrow Lindbergh called them.

So, we had to compromise. We found some stones and we had paper, so we were set to go. Except we forgot to bring paintbrushes! More compromise! My daughter created a paint brush out of the grass that was growing on the sandbar, which worked for a little bit, but then we switched to some cotton swabs. 



We mixed the 6 lovely colors with varying amounts of water, creating some watercolor paints and some thicker ones. Then we let the kids have fun, knowing the paints were safe, even if ingested! Aren't the colors gorgeous?

Laura mixing the red paint



Lincoln unleashing his creativity!


Rock painting

Lincoln's masterpiece!

Bottom line for us is that we had fun. The paints were easy to mix, the colors were vibrant and appealing and the Earth Paint kit is definitely something I can wholeheartedly recommend. Older kids will be able to do so much more with the paints as they unleash their creativity.

The kit includes a booklet with directions on how to mix the paints and suggestions for nature-based activities.

But why bother going online and ordering a kit when you can just run down to the dollar store or Kmart and pick up a set of paints for a few bucks?

I'll let Leah explain in the following article she wrote. This is well worth the read:


What’s in your kids paints?

Petroleum derivatives? Fungicides? Bactericides? Unfortunately, just because a label is labeled nontoxic doesn’t mean it’s earth friendly or human friendly. When I was looking for toddler art supplies for my son, I wanted only the purest, most natural paints to touch his skin. At two years old, it was sometimes hard to prevent him from sticking the paint end of a brush directly in his mouth. This inspired me to create (or really re-introduce) this completely natural and toxin free paint that our ancestors have used to paint their bodies and art for over 100,000 years. Naturally colored clay- pure and simple. And what could be more natural than the earth itself?

After doing research, I was shocked to find that many commercial artist paints contain biocides that include formaldehyde and are used to extend the paints shelf life and preserve the ingredients. I also learned that conventional paints may contain hundreds of different chemicals, many of which contain carcinogens or neurotoxins. Even “Low VOC” or “nontoxic” paint may contain fungicides and bactericides that not only cause headaches and dizziness when inhaled but can contribute (little by little) to greenhouse gases.

We are proud that our Earth Paints are one of the safest paint products on the market. They are safe for you, your child, and the planet. They are handcrafted and even though they are children’s paints they are very archival and high quality. Just think how long the cave paintings have lasted.

Our natural earth paints are not made from petro-chemicals, they contain no toxins, and they do not off-gas as they dry. The six colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and brown) are vibrant yet earthy and have the creamy consistency of tempera paint. If you’d like a watercolor effect you can simply add more water. We also sell an Eco Oil Paint Kit for teens and adults that requires absolutely no toxins in the process (no turpentine or heavy metal pigments required). I’m learning that most high schools don’t allow oil painting in their art classes because of these toxins that are usually involved. Our Eco Oil Paint Kit solves that problem and provides radiant, high quality oil paint that is completely safe and provides an opportunity to teach students about the ancient history of earth painting from prehistoric peoples to the modern day.


If you have creative little ones or teens, Earth Paint is worth the investment. Don't you love knowing non-toxic truly means non-toxic?

Next week, I'll be posting another article by Leah, all about the ancient history of earth paints. It's fascinating info.

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

Disclaimer: The product mentioned here was sent to me free-of-charge. I was under no obligation to review it positively or otherwise. However, I chose to post this review reflecting my honest thoughts and feelings about the product. This is a non-sponsored review.


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Want to win a babycargo 300 series stroller?



Would you like to win a lightweight, full feature stroller? Here's a chance to win one! I've teamed up with several bloggers to bring you this great giveaway from Baby Cargo, an up and coming baby gear brand. 

The Baby Cargo 300 offers many features of a full size stroller in a compact package. A stylish ride that is comfortable for baby is just the icing on the cake. The wipe-clean fabric is easy to care for, it is suitable for babies from birth, and it will fit kids up to 50 pounds. With great maneuverability for all your travels, whether you're shopping, taking a stroll in the park, or jetting through the airport - the Baby Cargo 300 has all bases covered. Thoughtful details like the zippered back pocket and self-locking fold make travel a breeze! You can read the full review of the Baby Cargo 300 Stroller over at Eco-Babyz and see more photos. 

Favorite Features: 
  • Comes with cup holder and rain cover
  • Luxurious, soft, easy-clean fabric 
  • Adjustable footrest
  • Reclining seat, suitable from birth
  • Self-locks when folding
  • Weighs only 14.9 pounds
  • Holds kids up to 50 pounds
Purchase: You can buy the Baby Cargo 300 Stroller for $179.99. The Baby Cargo 200 is available for $149.99 and the 100 Series for $109.99. 

Or... Win One! Baby Cargo is blessing one of you with the Baby Cargo 300 Series stroller in your choice of Simply Taupe, Eclipse, or Blacktop. 


Special thanks to Eco-Babyz, Dear Crissy, and Our Kids Mom for hosting this giveaway. Giveaway ends September 15th at 12:01 am, open to US residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Thank you!

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this publication. Eco-Babyz, Dear Crissy, Our Kids Mom, and Baby Cargo 300 Stroller Giveaway Event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. 
 
This Giveaway will run from 12:01 am August 28th until 12:01 am September 15th! 

Monday, August 27, 2012

A return to church and a return to dominoes

It felt good to be back at church yesterday after missing the past two weeks while on vacation. It felt especially good when the minister announced my daughter's pregnancy. Yes, while I'm Green Grandma to all of you, I'm Grandma to a precious few. Two to be exact... with one more on the way. 

"I'm going to be a big sister!"



It only about six weeks along, it's early to find out, and even earlier to make an announcement, I suppose. But my daughter, Jess, has never been a very private person. And since she is bi-polar like her mother, she needs to know early on, so she can go off her meds for the well being of the baby. The announcement was made at church for good reason... to ask for prayer from our church family. You see, Jess lost a baby in January '10 and again in January '11. She's finally pregnant again, and we're pretty much begging God to help her to carry this one. If you feel inclined to join us in our fervent prayers for this precious little one, we'd gratefully appreciate it.

Yes, it was a good Sabbath day. 

After lunch, we came home for a couple of hours before trekking over to Murrysville for dinner and a competitive game of dominoes, thus resurrecting our dominoes-on-the-last-Sunday-of-the-month tradition. I truly regret the months upon months that have passed without our honoring this commitment. Click here to read more about the reasons for this standing date in Battling Cancer... Let's Play Dominoes

Yesterday was a day for celebrating life. And for being thankful for each precious day.

Have you embraced gratitude lately, for the life of those around you? Today's a good day to do so.

Sharing my Sabbath with you,

Hana

P.S. Don't forget to visit last week's blog posts (Tuesday through Friday) for chances to win a variety of great prizes!




Friday, August 24, 2012

Fridays are for Personal Care -- Final day of the blogiversary celebration

Phew! It's been a busy week on GG! Have you enjoyed reading about the various products and companies? I hope my posts piqued your interest to try one or two items if you don't win them. 

Today, I have 5 more prize/prize packages to give away and they're all related to personal care, starting with a Relax Package from Wildwood SoapWorks. I reviewed some products from Wildwood SoapWorks back in June. What I really loved about the soap was the way it retained its scent throughout the weeks. Actually, it still had a strong invigorating fragrance until there was nothing left to it a few weeks ago. I love this soap!

The Relax Package includes
  • lavender soap
  • lavender twist-up solid lotion
  • Golden Slumbers sleep balm
  • lavender lime lip balm
You will love this package... I guarantee it!

Today's second prize package (don't you love that there are packages today?) is a 2pk of Multi Healing Balm with a snack pack cooler. I cannot begin to tell you how awesome this stuff is. I guess you'll have to read the review I did in November 2011 -- For boo boos, infections, ouchies, bruises and itchies! What is it?  
  
Here's part of the review:

[Multi Healing Balm] claims to be the answer for boo boos, infections, ouchies, bruises and itchies. The list of conditions it helps to heal includes:
  • muscle pain
  • swelling
  • arthritis
  • minor eczema
  • diaper rash
  • chicken pox
  • acne
  • dermatitis
  • stings
  • thrush
  • cold sores
  • inflammation
  • cracked heels
  • small cuts and grazes
  • dry hands
  • bruises
  • minor burns
  • psoriasis
  • rashes
  • mosquito bites
  • cradle cap
  • minor infection

This is my go-to ointment for so many things. I was attacked by mosquitoes at the beach last week. As a result, I have nearly 50 bites (that I can see). Every time they start itching, I grab the MHB and apply a little bit. It takes the itch away immediately. I also used it at the beach to combat razor burn in sensitive areas. My granddaughter had a rash -- we reached for MHB. Then she had a boo boo. MHB. Quite simply, it's the best. And I love the names of the ingredients -- manuka and kanuka -- so much, that I'm planning on naming my next two kitties after them!

 

The Faragallis of Leaf & Bud Naturals have been long-time supporters of Green Grandma. They have sent me products to review and have always responded with a 'yes' when I've asked them to donate something for a giveaway. This time, they were gracious enough to offer a $30 gift certificate to one lucky winner. Here's what I said about them during my first blogiversary giveaway: 

Leaf & Bud Naturals has a really cool website where you can learn a lot about why you should choose natural skin care products and avoid the toxins found in most commercial products. I love how they boldly state that you don't need to read the label... they've already done it for you!

 

 

Do you want to learn more about natural products? Just spend some time perusing their website. You'll be glad you did! 

Going natural is not always easy when it comes to personal care products. It seems there are toxins in nearly everything! That's why it's important to shop with retailers that you trust. Earthly Remedies by Erin is one such retailer. Erin will send some natural, safe deodorant to someone in the GG community. Here's what the website says about the Deodorant for Men and Women:

 

Works wonderfully, after hours of playing soccer and running around all day I was stink free. 

Apply in the morning when you wake up. Comes in a stick form.  This product is for both men and women. This deodorant is non-toxic can be used on kids.

Made with organic coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, vitamin E oil, beeawax, and a blend of essential oils.

This product is one of my best sellers!!!  You won't be disappointed.

It is really hard to find a deodorant that is safe to use, so if you win this one, you win big!

Finally, I can't begin to tell you how supportive the mamas at Earth Mama Angel Baby have been to me. They believe in Green Grandma's mission and support it in so many ways. They came alongside this newbie blogger back in 2009 and helped me on my path. Back in March of 2011, they even sent me a care package of teas when they learned I had the mumps. Yes, I really did. You can read about it here. 


I love the mamas at EMAB! They simply are the best. When I asked them to help me celebrate, they responded with, "Whatever you want." So I decided to go with something with the broadest appeal -- Mama's Herbal First Aid Bundle. The individual value of the items in this package (yes, I know... another package!) is $64.96 and here's what it contains:
  • Organic Milkmaid Tea for gas, bloating and heartburn, indigestion
  • Natural Nipple Butter to cover and protect scrapes and abrasions, chapped lips, cuticles, chapped cheeks and minor rashes
  • Angel Baby Bottom Balm for fungal rashes, itchy rashes, cuts, scrapes, new tattoos, piercing, chafing
  • New Mama Bottom Spray for sunburn, shaving rash and minor scrapes, facial toner
  • Happy Mama Spray for upset tummies, travel tummy, or pregnancy nausea
  • Mama-To-Be Tea Sampler with:
    • Organic Peaceful Mama Tea for teething, overtired and cranky toddlers (and adults!)
    • Organic Morning Wellness Tea for nausea from flu, medications, and travel tummy
    • Organic Third Trimester Tea for seasonal allergies, leg cramps, and diarrhea
    • Organic Heartburn Tea for heartburn of course, but also sore throat and scratchy cough
Let me tell you -- this is one package I wish I could win! This is ridiculously awesome, don't you think? And it all comes cuddled up in an organic cotton tote (what else would we expect from Mama?). 

That's it, folks. Twenty awesome prizes/prize packages for 23 lucky winners (Neale Godfrey is giving away 3 books, remember?). You can share on FB/tweet about these giveaways every day through August 31st, so come back often to increase your chances of winning.

All prizes will be sent directly from the sponsors. Initially, I indicated a 48-hour deadline for getting back to me if you win, but since the drawings will be held on a holiday weekend, I am extending the time through midnight Tuesday, September 4th. If I do not hear from a winner by then, I will have a new winner chosen by Rafflecopter. 

Now get busy entering the following 5 giveaways, and if you haven't done so yet, check out the previous days' contests. 

Good luck! And thank you for helping me celebrate 3 enlightening years!

 



a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway and is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. The opinions stated in the reviews are just that... opinions. Individuals may have different responses and results when using these products. Since Rafflecopter is a fair and nondiscriminatory winner-selection widget, friends and family members are eligible to win prizes. Entrants may also win more than one prize. Entries will be verified.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Thursdays are for Baby and Mama Care -- Day 4 of the blogiversary celebration!

Yea! Who doesn't love some baby and mama care? I'm really excited to share the 4th day's prizes with you! There are no reviews today, so this one will be pretty short and especially sweet! Just pick which ones you want and enter the Rafflecopters below.

Let's start out with a little bit of Motherlove... literally. Motherlove Herbal Company not only offers some great products, but over 5,000 moms use their resource pages every month as well! They are full of great new-mom info.

Motherlove's 1 oz. jar of organic Nipple Cream rates a zero out of 10 on EWG's Skin Deep Database! That's the kind of stuff you breastfeeding mamas want, right? It is made with 100% certified organic ingredients and is an all natural herbal salve that offers quick relief when your nipples are sore and cracked. Every single ingredient in Motherlove's Nipple Cream is safe for ingestion, so you don't even need to wash off before your baby latches on. It doesn't contain lanolin (which contains pesticides) or Vitamin E, which babies shouldn't ingest. Sweet.


 
The 1 oz. jar of Diaper Rash and Thrush cream is an all-natural herbal salve as well, with a zero toxin rating. It is made with 96% certified organic ingredients and can be used on persistent, inflamed diaper rash and on mama's nursing nipples. It's also compatible with all types of diapers.


Caring for your breasts while nursing requires a bit more than just some nipple cream, right? How about some super comfy washable bamboo nursing pads? My Posh Pads LLC is a company where beauty, function and the love for babies and the environment come together. They sell breastfeeding accessories and feminine products that are comfortable, healthy and stylish -- and they're all made in the USA.


In addition to a 2 pk of nursing pads, My Posh Pads LLC is also giving away a 2 pk of 7" mini washable It's A Girl Thing PERIOD panty liners. This way you're covered wherever you may be leaking!

The organic cloth panty liners and breast pads are such a good idea for a variety of reasons. First of all, they're reusable, which means you're reducing your contribution to the landfills and you're saving money. They're always available (unless you forgot to do the wash), which means no more gas-guzzling runs to the store for emergencies (or poor planning). They're softer, and safer, than disposables. Think about it -- no harmful bleaches and other chemicals that are found in disposables. And they seem to lessen your chance of getting thrush. They're simply more comfortable, and cause less miserable sweating that you find with disposables. 

I personally stopped using disposables awhile back. Yes, I still needed them. Then, I didn't need them anymore -- yea!! Then, while on vacation last week, after 8 glorious months without, my period returned. Yikes! I couldn't wait to get home to my stash of cloth pads. There really is a remarkable difference. It's one, unfortunately, I can attest to. Okay, for those of you thinking TMI, I'll move on.

After reading my daughter's review a few weeks ago, I heard quite a few of you saying you wanted to try a TotsBots Easyfit diaper. Well, guess what? Now's you chance to try to win one! If you didn't read it already, check out Bethany's review, It's Cosmic, to find out why you really do want to win this diaper!


This prize is being donated by Thanksmama.com, a family owned and operated natural baby store. They offer a great selection of cloth diapering products, potty training pants, swim diapers, natural baby care products, baby carriers, bibs, toys, nursery furniture and bedding, strollers, and much more. They're always on the look out for innovative products that are good for the baby and the environment. And they never forget that most families are on a budget. That's why they offer the lowest prices, free shipping on orders over $60 within the USA, and 90 days easy returns. They have a Buy Safe Guarantee and Price Guarantee, and they ship worldwide.

They offer volume discounts on cloth diaper packages, and many come with complementary products that make shopping in bulk super easy! New to cloth diapering? Thanksmama.com has plenty of options available so you can try different types and brands and find the one that is right for you and your baby. Their knowledgeable customer service is available to help address your concerns. 

Once baby is comfy in his new diaper, it's time to give him something to hug and play with. But so many commercial toys out there are full of toxins that could hurt him. That's why giving him a hand-crocheted stuffed animal from a eco-conscious mama like you, is the perfect solution. 


Check out the adorable products on The Crunchy Farm Baby Shop on etsy. And it doesn't get any cuter than this irresistible little giraffe. I mean, look at that face! This little guy measures about 8" from head to foot -- a perfect size for tiny little hands to hold. He is hand-stitched with a soft 100% cotton yarn. The eyes are simple french knots, which eliminates any choking hazards. And this is extra cool... the giraffe is stuffed with recycled fabric scraps, which means there is no polyester fiberfill. Eco-friendly and hypoallergenic! Tres bien. (I don't know why the giraffe brings the French out in me... maybe it's those eyes!)


The final item in today's giveaway is another favorite of mine -- a Baltic amber teething necklace from Green Baby Clothing Company. This is a company who has supported and encouraged me from the very start and I can't say enough good about them. They are a shining star in my blogiverse.

When I first heard about amber teething necklaces, I thought they were something babies chewed on. What a surprise to find out they actually wore them. When worn right next to the skin, the amber warms up and releases the active ingredient -- succinic acid. According to researchers, succinic acid is good for the human body because it improves immunity and the balance of acids when absorbed into the bloodstream. This in turn helps relieve pain from a variety of conditions, including eczema, aches and pain, arthritis, and even depression. Amber's anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties are recognized by allopathic medicine as a natural analgesic. Naturally, Baltic amber aids in relieving the pain of teething.

So, those are the prizes. Which one do you want to win the most? They're all up for grabs.

Tomorrow is the final day of giveaways, although you have until midnight on 8/31 to enter. 

Please follow through with your entries, as entries will be verified prior to notifying winners.




a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway and is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. The opinions stated in the reviews are just that... opinions. Individuals may have different responses and results when using these products. Since Rafflecopter is a fair and nondiscriminatory winner-selection widget, friends and family members are eligible to win prizes. Entrants may also win more than one prize. Entries will be verified.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Wednesdays are for a Hodgepodge of Goodies -- Day 3 of the blogiversary celebration

Yesterday was all about cleaning up. Today, my sponsors offer a unique array of products with different purposes. Starting with glass straws, which GlassDharma sent to me in exchange for a review. I was thrilled. You see, I have a real problem with the whole issue of plastic straws, because they are not recyclable. While it may not seem like much to toss one plastic straw in the trash, if you're honest, you use a whole lot more than just one plastic straw in a year's time. So do the rest of the people in your family. If you could eliminate your family's contribution to the growing problem of plastics in the landfill by no longer using plastic straws, would you? In order to do this, you have two choices: 1) Ask for "No straw" with your drink orders and drink directly out of the cup, or 2) Ask for "No straw" with your drink orders and use your own personal glass straw. I do both.

I received four GlassDharma straws to review and there isn't a single one I don't love using. And let me tell you, beverages simply taste better when sipped through glass. You already know you need to beware of plastic -- every day it seems we learn more reasons why it is a threat to our own health and the health of our families. So glass straws address two concerns I know those of you in the GG community have -- health and environment.

Glass straws are an excellent choice to promote reusable vs. disposable mentality. In a perfect world, single use plastics will cease to exist. A straw is just one step that creates a spiraling thought process toward other re-usables. 

GlassDharma products are guaranteed to surpass your expectations in quality and durability. Cleaning is easy, too. You simply use one of two different sized brushes (available on their website) with a bit of dishwashing detergent and hot water or you can simply put them in the dishwasher. While a straw can chip or crack if dropped, this is unusual. If it does crack, it is important not to continue using it. Simply follow the instructions for returning the straw on the guarantee page of the website. How's that for a product you can feel secure about buying?

I took my assortment of straws to the beach when my family went on vacation last week and my daughter, Jess, took some nice shots.


12mm Smoothie

9.5mm Decorative Dots Ice Tea

9.5mm Beautiful Bend

7mm Decorative Dots sipper (perfect for my granddaughter, Laura)
Check out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to GlassDharma. 

 Since I just shared a picture of my adorable granddaughter, I might as well move right along into the photography part of today's giveaway. Valued at $175 (plus a $25 credit toward prints), the big {happy} wall fall mini session includes 
  • a 20-minute photo shoot  
  • professional retouching of 2-4 images
  • online proofing gallery to share with friends
  • low resolution, branded images for sharing online
Jen Meyercheck specializes in creating memories of a place and a time that can never be recreated, by capturing images that document real life. Here are just a couple of shots of two of Jen's favorite subjects.






Here's the catch -- in order to win this fantastic prize package, you must live (or be willing to travel) within 20 miles of zip code 15214.

As an added bonus to the local members of the GG community, Jen is offering a 20% sitting fee discount on a full session, plus a $25 online store discount to the first 5 GG readers to book and place a deposit on a session (to be completed before November 10, 2012). Book your holiday photo session now and before long you'll be looking at your own big {happy} wall. Maybe you'll even be lucky and win the Rafflecopter drawing below!


Art/Photo Display Kit by Petite Paintbrush
Another thing that makes the walls happy in the homes where there are little ones, is art... child-designed art. Petite Paintbrush is offering a custom-designed art/photo display kit so you can show off your kiddo's works of art or adorable photographs.

Of course, there's a Rafflecopter for this charming prize, too!


While we're on the subject of kids, I'm really happy to be able to offer Neale Godfrey's wonderful book, ECO-Effect to three lucky winners. I reviewed this book just a few months ago in a post called The greening of money. I think this is a book every family with children should read with their school-aged kids. Find out more by reading my review, and then enter to win one of three books.

Finally, we move from kids to pup dogs. Natural Products Network graciously donated a Harry Barker collar, leash and bowl. Harry Barker is committed to creating environmentally-friendly products for pets, including their leashes and collars made from 100% recycled plastic. 

Fun fact: every Harry Barker leash is made from 20 recycled plastic bottles. 

Their bowls are made from either bamboo fiber and rice husk or restaurant quality, high-fired porcelain which is lead and cadmium free, dishwasher and microwave safe and FDA approved.

You will find lots of environmentally-friendly products for your pets on the Natural Products Network website

Isn't Day 3 loads of fun? So many ways to go green! So visit websites, enter the Rafflecopters and share with your friends and family. Tomorrow, we'll be moving on to Baby and Mama Care.

And another reminder -- fill out the Rafflecopters accurately, including your FB, Twitter and Pinterest names and answering questions when asked. If you take the credit for posting comments or sharing the giveaway, please take the time to actually do so. All invalid entries will be removed. a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway






Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway and is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. The opinions stated in the reviews are just that... opinions. Individuals may have different responses and results when using these products. Since Rafflecopter is a fair and nondiscriminatory winner-selection widget, friends and family members are eligible to win prizes. Entrants may also win more than one prize. Entries will be verified.




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