Dear Mom Like Me

Dear mom who is run down, looks like a hot mess, feels like she can't remember who she is, is sure she is failing, feels guilty because she is secretly angry inside, is convinced her life is a hamster wheel, but somehow loves being with these amazing little people even more than she is frustrated by all of the "other" things that come along with them:

You know that you're enough, so I'm not going to tell you that. You know that this too shall pass, and you probably feel like you have no right to even tell anyone how you're feeling because you don't want someone to be confused and think that you aren't grateful for your children or that by feeling this way that you somehow take your children or your moments with them for granted.

I know you don't take the kids for granted. I know you don't take the moments for granted. I know you are grateful. But I also know that you miss yourself. I know that you struggle with being depressed and happy at the same time and man, it's so confusing. I know that you want to scream at doing 400 dishes a day, that Mt. Laundry might as well be called Mt. Never Ending Treadmill and that you just wish you could be a "normal" person (i.e. showering more than once a week) again.

Dear mama, this is what you need to know. This is what I need to know. And this is what we need to remember, and remind each other of daily:

• Your children think you're beautiful.
• No one else knows how messy your house is.
• Your kids don't care how messy your house is. (oh, the irony)
• If you're like me, you just can't accept the fact that your house is going to be messy while you have young children. Instead, work on accepting the fact that you're just going to feel crappy about how the house is while you have you have young children.
• You still have the same smile that your husband fell in love with.
• You can own your new "mom" identity. 
• You don't have to let go of who you used to be. Just because you haven't ran a marathon in 2 years, played piano in 6 months, aced a college exam in 10 years, or learned a new skill that didn't involve your offspring in...a long time..., doesn't mean that those things aren't still a part of who you are. There are seasons, and just because the corn isn't being harvested now, doesn't mean it isn't growing or that it won't be planted again. And if you decide to grow squash next time instead of corn, it's ok. Your entire life makes up you, not just the present.
• It's ok to rest. 
• It's ok to have a bad day.
• It's ok to love and hate what you're doing, where you're at, and to be frustrated by the fact that you can't change it.
• And it's ok to admit that none of these things mean that you don't love your kids more than all the other moms in the world. In fact, they have no effect on the fact that you are a rockstar mom or that your kids are going to grow up, call you blessed, and talk about the awesome memories they have of childhood--because they are going to have them. 

Maybe motherhood of young children is like childbirth; it's excruciatingly difficult at moments, but after it's done, you somehow become oblivious to the difficulties you went through and just remember the amazingness of it instead. Because let's face it, it is amazing hearing a person read for the first time. To see them discover their toes. To hear them say "I love you". The fact that we know what our baby needs by the way she cries. To be the one he needs in the middle of the night. That they want to tell us EVERYTHING. That is amazing.

And you, mama, are amazing, too. Keep your eyes above the waves. You're gonna make it, and you're gonna do great.

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How To Get Your House In Order In Only 5 Simple Steps (for REAL people)

Let's face it--we all want a clean house. Having a clutter filled home has actually been linked to depression for women, is scientifically bad for those with adrenal fatigue, and makes us all feel yucky. Inadequate. Overwhelemed. Irritated. You know, yucky. The bigger problem, is that while there are great ideas out there, like Fly Lady's system, and good intentions, like that superstar blogger mom who has 14 children and a Pinterest worthy house, these aren't helpful for real people. People who don't have time for a lengthy system and who don't have older kids to help with the younger ones. I need to know how to do this now, and by myself, because as much as I hate to admit it, I can't get my kids to do enough around the house that it's actually helpful to me. (there. I admitted it. I have a chore chart that no one follows. You're welcome.) I also have no mother's helper, I'm gonna lose my mind if I have to wait for my husband to get home for me to start cleaning, and I refuse to stay up until 3am to sweep my floors (I'm 30. Sleep is the new "fun".).

So here it is, folks. Here is how to get your house in order without shining your sinks, making it a "goal" to get dressed every day (seriously, just get dressed), and without any photos of my gorgeous home (that you know you'll never achieve) (actually, my home is achievable).

1) Have a bonfire. Burn everything that doesn't serve a purpose. (real deal: eliminate, eliminate, eliminate! If you don't believe me, bag up a bunch of stuff and see if anyone really needs it within the next three months. They won't. Donate, giveaway, or throw out. Sell only if you truly have the time, otherwise you know it's just going to continue to sit.)

2) Get a dog. Consider her a robot vacuum. (real deal: clean as you go. Sweep after meals, wipe the bathroom sink out with your washcloth after you wash your face, throw your dirty clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor, 

3) Mary Poppins. Study and become that woman! (real deal: make things easier on yourself. Get a steam mop, a washer and dryer, a mother's helper if you can afford one, paper towels (sometimes sanity outweighs the need to be Green, it's true), stop folding your underwear, and start using pretty bins for whatever toys and books you have left.)

4) Giveaway the dishwasher. Whatever enables you has to go. (real deal: whatever enables you has to go. Yup. That dishwasher that allows you to let dishes sit, both dirty, and clean? How much time do you spend rinsing, putting in, taking out, etc.? If you only have a sink and limited counter space, you'll get the dishes washed after almost every meal. This also means you won't need as many dishes. Which starts the cycle again of you making sure you get them clean. See how motivating this is? It applies to laundry, too--only have as many clothes as you need, and you'll be getting the laundry done a lot faster.)

5) Invite people over. Weekly in-law desert nights are on the agenda. (real deal: this works, and you know it!)

Tips for Stain Removal + Win your own Frigidaire Affinity Series!

The following is a guest post sent to me by the Frigidaire team. I must be honest--the only reason I opened the email is because new appliances by Frigidaire make me drool. I have a vision of having a beautiful laundry room some day, and I want a washer and dryer from them to be a part of it! Well, I started reading what they had sent me and I was impressed enough to share it with you as well. So without further ado, here are some great tips on getting cleaner clothes and how to get tough summer stains out (I'm thinking that we can all pretend we have the new Affinity series to do our laundry and then apply the principles below to the machines that we ACTUALLY have). Be sure to check out the last section of this post as it tells you how you can help get money donated to Save The Children, and also how to enter for a chance to REALLY own your own Affinity washer and dryer!

 

10 Steps to Cleaner Clothes for Frigidaire  

by Tara Aronson

1. Immediately rinse or blot away spills on your clothes with cool water to prevent stains from setting.
2. Read fabric care labels before you wash. Your clothes will last longer if you know how to treat them.
3. Sort laundry by color, wash cycle needed, and water temperature required. The Frigidaire Affinity’s Permanent Press cycle washes with warm water and less agitation, resulting in less wear and tear on your sturdy jeans, khakis, and sweaters; the Delicates cycle uses cold water and light agitation to gently clean swimsuits, workout clothes, and lingerie.
4. Before washing stained garments, pretreat or prewash the spot using the Affinity’s Rinse & Spin cycle. If at first you don’t succeed, wash, wash again.
5. To keep snags and lint to a minimum, zip zippers, button buttons, empty pockets, and brush away lint before tossing duds in the hamper.
6. If your clothing is heavily soiled, your load large, or the water cold, add extra laundry detergent. Use the Affinity’s Heavy Duty cycle for sturdy but really dirty items like jeans and towels; choose the Sanitize setting to use the hottest water available to get rid of germs and grime as thoroughly as possible.
7. Check wet garments for remaining stains, and re-treat as needed before drying. Heat will set stains.
8. Dry only full loads. Tumbling a handful of garments prolongs the drying time by reducing the tumbling.
9. Fold shirts and T-shirts to prevent wrinkling. If the shirt has buttons, button it at top, middle and bottom. Lay facedown. Fold both sides of the shirt so they meet in the back, with the sleeves aligned with the side folds. Fold the tail up to the cuffs, making a straight line at the bottom. Then fold in thirds crosswise. For T-shirts: a child’s T-shirt needs only one crosswise fold in half; an adult’s should be folded into thirds.
10. Fold shorts and pants by aligning the inseams and outer seams of the legs and fold so that a crease forms at the front center of the legs. Fold in half or in thirds, depending on the size of the garment.

5 Summer Stain Tips for Frigidaire

  by Tara Aronson

Smudges, drips, drops and smears – no matter what their source, the key to keeping them from ruining your favorite shorts or T-shirt is to take quick action – before it gets a chance to dry. For most fabrics, this means blotting up the excess or rinsing the discolored area with cold water (hot can set a stain.) 

Don’t rub: this spreads the spot and grinds it deeper into the fabric.


Summer spills are especially tough. Here’s how to remove the five most common:

1. Crayon.
Scrape off as much of the colorful surface as possible using a plastic picnic knife. Apply laundry detergent directly on the stained area. Gently rub the detergent into the fabric then let sit several minutes. Launder using the hottest water the fabric can handle - or the Sanitize setting of your Frigidaire Affinity washer. Dry as usual.

2. Iced coffee.
Sponge the stained area with cold water. Apply a pretreater to the blight. Wash as usual and air dry.

3. Grass.
Prewash the garment in warm water in your washing machine –the Rinse & Spin cycle on your Affinity washer – and a laundry detergent containing enzymes. Launder as usual (normal setting) with detergent and chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric. If the garment’s care label instructions advise against it, use oxygen (color safe) bleach instead. Dry as usual.

4. Juice.
Soak for a minute or so in cold water. Remove excess water, and then apply a pretreater directly on the stained area. Wash with detergent as usual. Air dry. Do not place in the dryer until the blight is completely gone – otherwise the stain is likely to set.

5. Chocolate (or chocolate ice cream).
Prewash the garment in warm water with a laundry detergent that contains enzymes using the Affinity’s Rinse & spin setting. Launder as usual, using the washing machine’s Normal setting. Dry as usual.

Make a Difference And WIN your own Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer!

When people visit http://Facebook.com/Frigidaire and share their personal Adventures in Clean, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children, as part of its $750,000 commitment to the cause. It’s simple to share your Adventures in Clean – just upload a photo and the online app turns it into your very own movie poster! Plus, to help spread the word, everyone who participates will be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Affinity® washer and dryer featuring Ready Steam™.

Disclosure: I was entered to win $50 or something (I can't actually remember, haha) by sharing this post with you. What I am really hoping to do though, is to enter the Facebook contest there and win a washer and dryer. ;-) Oh, and of course, the opinions mentioned are all mine. 

ecoSTORE USA Laundry Liquid and Wool Wash Review

 ecoSTORE USA contacted me quite a while ago to do a review for them. After checking out their website and seeing how dedicated they are to making cleaning products (home, pet, and person) that actually live up to their claim of being natural and "green," I obviously said yes--send me some stuff to try! Like all of other reviews you're reading on here, it's way overdue. The good news for you is that during your long waiting period, their prices have lowered and they are currently running a special where if you buy any two household products, you'll receive a Pure Oxygen Whitener for free. And then there's the free shipping for orders over $25.00 which is nice, too.


This company has taken the problem of household chemicals seriously. It's worth your time to read through the information they have available on their website. Here's just a snippet of what they report (backed by research):

• According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers accidental poisonings occur in the home every 30 seconds.
• The National Safety Council has reported that more children under four die of from accidental poisoning than are killed by guns.
• A report by the EPA to Congress determined household cleaners three times more likely to cause cancer than outdoor air pollution.
• Women who work from home and are more frequently exposed to household toxins and poor air quality are 50% more likely to develop cancer.
• Newborn infants have trace levels of toxic chemicals in their bodies, passed on by their mother’s exposure.

Makes you think...what's in your cupboard?

My favorite thing about ecoSTORE USA actually has nothing to do with their products, but with their origins. Check it out:

The original customer base of ecostore NZ was comprised of mostly ‘Greenies’ and organic gardeners. However, it was not long before testimonials from other parents (many of whom were unaware of the benefits of eco-friendly products) began to pour in with wonderful news of their children's allergies and eczema clearing up. Many noted that any respiratory issues were healing, and many lingering chronic conditions were disappearing.

WOW! Their products sound like an internal cleanse that starts on the outside! I love it. And I love that they are from New Zealand since I'm pretty sure that's where I was supposed to have been born and where I would love to visit or move to some day. :-) Enough background though. On to the review!

I chose my items based on the fact that I was almost out of laundry soap and didn't even own any wool wash to clean my ever growing stack of wool and delicate articles that were dirty. There are other products I'd love to try, too, though, like their Baby Nappy Balm, Baby Sleepy Bath, and their hair care line (I hate regular store bought hair products!).

 

 

Laundry Liquid Ingredients:

• Palm and Coconut based non-ionic and anionic surfactants
• Fatty acid derivative
• Mineral hydroxide
• Certified organic Eucalyptus oil  

My thoughts: at first, I was taken back by the small bottle and Vicks-Vapoo-Rub smell. After using it, though, I was amazed how many loads I actually got out of the bottle. You really use only a very small amount of the soap to clean a load of laundry--and your clothes just come out smelling clean (not like a medicine cabinet). The soap passed all of my tests, including that it didn't cause any colors to run, rinsed completely out (thus not requiring any softener), and didn't cause a noticeable build up on my cloth diaper stash. It's a winner! The best news is that it does all of this with only having a small number of ingredients. Simplicity is a beautiful thing in my book.

Wool Wash Ingredients:

• Anionic and non-ionic surfactants (from glucose and coconut oil)
• Plant based alcohol and solvents
• Citric acid
• Water 

I actually enjoy the smell of this wool wash. While it still has a slightly medicinal smell to it (must be those plants that do the cleaning!), it also has a fruity note to it, making it more delicate and lovely. It's a great product, making wool diaper covers and clothing that was stiff when it went into the washer soft and snuggley when it came out.  Very easy to use, doesn't require a lot to get the job done, and has great packaging to boot with a very fun photograph on the front of the bottle. Once again, I love the short ingredients list!

Check out their website to find more information or to make a purchase at http://www.ecostoreusa.com!

Note: thanks, ecoSTORE USA for giving me the products for this review! No other compensation was received and though late, the opinions are all mine. :-)

My First Day As A SAHM

I’ve been home now for almost three weeks after being taken off of work early due to pre-labor symptoms. My midwife thought that if I didn’t have the stress of work, then my contractions, cramping, and trouble breathing would subside. I thought it would, too. Then, I met my toddler.
Let me preface this by saying that it has been my DREAM to be at home with my beautiful 18-month-old since I had to go back to work full time + when she was only 6-weeks-old. I never stopped crying, and though things got easier over the next year, having someone else take care of her has been the hardest and most depressing thing I’ve ever gone though. So really, even if I can’t work thanks to health reasons, I’m at home with my daughter now and that thrills the socks off of me!

So Day One came. Yes, I’m very pregnant. Yes, my house is a complete disaster because I’m never home long enough to clean it up other than the essentials. And yes, our kitchen is torn out and so all three of us are sleeping in our nursery as the rest of our rooms hold kitchen cabinets, dishes, and all of our bedroom contents. All of this was okay, though. We slept in (until 8am which was a big change from 6:15am!), ate our breakfast on the couch, and I even washed all of our dirty dishes in the bathroom sink and had them drying on a clean towel on the floor next to the bathtub which I had just scrubbed and sanitized (toys and shower walls included) the night before.

Things were going well and I wasn’t too exhausted yet, so I decided to attempt giving LoveBug a bath (not easy with this belly of mine). I managed with difficulty to wash her hair and had just finished rinsing it when I noticed something coming out of her bottom. You’ve got it, my daughter decided to poo in the bathtub. It was a lot (seriously a lot), and it began to spread. I grabbed her out and put her next to me while I tried to quickly scoop any solids I could get into a bucket and then into the toilet. In the meantime, I have a dripping wet toddler next to me who wants to get back in, and a towel thrown over the dishes in an attempt to protect them as I dripped water across them.

Then my daughter decides to pee all over my leg and the floor where she’s standing. How she managed to not just do this while she was otherwise relieving herself surrounded by floating ducks and boats, I don’t know. So there I am, huffing and puffing, pregnant belly, clean dishes on the floor, dripping wet toddler…all in front of a bathtub now ridden with bacteria, bath toys, and a sippy cup that I foolishly allowed my daughter to play with in the tub for the first time in her life. *sigh*

Somehow, I managed to only spend the next half hour to hour re-cleaning and sanitizing everything in the tub again. Thankfully, my daughter only had to pee once more during all of this and so my leg was left wet but not dripping by the time we could escape the bathroom. When it was all said and done, though, I got to sit on my couch with a naked toddler, smothered in little kisses and nose rubs, and met with the biggest and beautiful-est of smiles.

I wouldn’t trade this for the world.

I love you, LoveBug, and I’m glad to be your mama…even if I have to scoop out the bathtub water.

Seventh Generation Giveaway--no one has entered!

Did you enter the Seventh Generation Giveaway yet? No, you haven't, because as I write this...no one has entered! It ends on May 31st, so get to it and win yourself a great and green cleaning package!

Visit http://lifemoresimply.blogspot.com/2010/05/seventh-generation-mother-nature.html

Charlie's Soap Review & Giveaway

A big thanks to A Mother's Boutique for being a big sponsor of the Baby Mama Shower!

Charlie's Soap Review and Giveaway

My first experience with Charlie’s Soap was shortly after we started using cloth diapers. We tried using a Tide detergent for them and sure enough, pretty soon our diapers were leaking. After stripping them, we bought a jug of Charlie’s Liquid Soap and have never looked back. I had the awesome opportunity to not just try their liquid soap (of which my own jug had recently run out), but also to use their powdered soap and all purpose sprayer. After thoroughly testing each of these products, I can say without a doubt that I think this may be one of the best cleaning agents out there. The folks over at Charlie’s have figured out what they’re doing and it works!


Liquid and Powdered Laundry Soap

These are both very easy to use and very economical (as all of their products are). There is hardly any odor to begin with (you really have to take a big whiff of the liquid soap to smell anything, and this is coming from a pregnant lady), and none once your clothing has been rinsed. The best part is that the detergent really does rinse clean and doesn’t cause any build up on diapers in particular---so everything stays fresh and absorbent! It is also true that you don’t need to use any fabric softeners when using Charlie’s Soap on your laundry. Now, I’m probably going too far here, but I have even stopped putting stain remover on clothing unless it’s a particularly bad stain and haven’t had any problems with my clothes coming out clean. I love this soap because it 1) actually cleans all of my laundry so I don’t need three different detergent brands, 2) is affordable, and 3) takes up very little space because you’re using very little soap per load of wash. I think everyone should try Charlie’s Laundry Soap, especially if you’re sensitive to regular laundry detergents, have little ones, or use cloth diapers. Or if you just like plain old clean laundry.

All Purpose Sprayer

The first time we “tested” this product was on tile. My husband had just finished tiling a bathroom floor for some friends of ours and needed a way to remove the extra grout from the tiles themselves. I brought him the Charlie’s Soap spray bottle with a rag and whola! It cleaned the grout from the tiles with no problem whatsoever. My husband was really impressed since it’s a gentle and non-toxic product. Overall, it saved him a lot of time and effort—and kept him from having to breathe in scary chemicals!

I’ve also used the All Purpose Sprayer on carpet stains, to clean objects, and to scrub our bathroom. It smells…well, soapy. No fancy scents are added or anything, so you just get a soapy smell when using it. I like that both my toddler and I can breathe the fumes without worry, and that I don’t have to freak out if she gets it on her hands as she “helps” me clean something. I didn’t find that it worked any better than any other product for these purposes, but it does the job and creates bubbles which is always fun if you’ve got a little person who’s watching.

Overall, I think these are great products and I’m actually planning on switching all of my laundry to using the powdered soap just because it does such an awesome job, is affordable, and then I only have one soap to sit on my shelf instead of multiple ones. I just heard word that Charlie’s Soap is going to be changing their packaging very soon, too. Check it out:

From The Company...

Coming in just a month or so, our Charlie's Soap Laundry Powder gets a much needed facelift. The new jar will be air-tight to avoid any clumping, will ship, store, stack and show much better than the bag. But we'll keep our commitment to being friendly to the Earth. This new container will be recyclable and reusable. Shortly after its release, we will make available an easy-open 4 gallon container which is tailor-made for refilling stations! Customers can bring back their Charlie's Soap jar and get them refilled at your store. You can't get much Greener than that!

Buy It! Visit http://www.charliesoap.com/, Amazon.com, or your favorite “green” or natural parenting store.


Win It! Charlie’s is giving away to one of my readers the same soap pack that they sent to me (All Purpose 16 oz sprayer, 16 loads of Laundry Liquid, 80 loads of Laundry Powder)! You will love it and it’ll last you a while, for sure. To enter, please visit www.charliessoap.com , learn something interesting (it isn’t hard), and come back and tell me your fact. Be sure to leave your email address and a separate comment for each entry! Contest will end on or after June 15th at 1200 hours, EST.

Extra Entries:


*Blog about this contest or tell people about it through a parenting forum (2 entries)

*Subscribe to or follow me (each different way = 1 entry; Blogger, Google Reader, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

*Tweet about this contest with a link (1x/day)

*Fav me on Technorati or otherwise vote me up somewhere

*Grab my regular button (2 entries)

*Have another great idea to spread the word? Do it and tell me how you did!

This review is based on sample products provided by Charlie's Soap. No other compensation was received.

Seventh Generation Mother Nature Contest!

Win a green home makeover! Seventh Generation is giving away an awesome $5,000 green home makeover to one really lucky lady...The contest, which runs from now until May 31, asks you to nominate your “Mother Nature,” a person that has been inspirational to you by making their home, community and/or environment safer and healthier. The grand prize winner will be awarded a $5,000 green home makeover and both the nominated “Mother Nature” and the grand prize winner will receive a year's supply of Seventh Generation products. IN addition, a $2,500 donation will be made in our “Mother Nature's” name to an organization working to make the world a safer place. Six finalists will also receive a year's worth of Seventh Generation products to help them protect their planet home.

To kick off the contest, Seventh Generation is sharing the story of Ivette, "a trainer at Women's Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), a non-profit organization helping low-income women in the San Francisco Bay Area establish cleaning service cooperatives that use environmentally-safe methods to protect everyone's health." The contest's site shares her inspirational story as well as natural cleaning tips and ideas from Ivette. Here are her top five cleaning rules, just to give you an idea:

Rule 1: Go Top-to-Bottom.

Whether it's a room or a bookcase, clean from the top to the bottom and you won't have to go back and pick up any stray dirt or errant dust that falls as you go.

Rule 2: Go Back to Front.

Always clean from back to front for similar reasons. If it's a room, start in a rear corner and work toward the door. If it's a cabinet, begin in the back and clean out toward the edge.

Rule 3: Work Clockwise.

Pick a starting spot and work in a steady clockwise direction. Working systematically in this way will ensure that you don’t forget anything and won’t have to spend any time thinking about it!

Rule 4: Don't Use or Do More Than You Need To.

Always start with a small amount of cleaning product and use more as necessary for tough spots and other challenges. Using more than you need to start only creates more work when it's time to rinse everything off!

Rule 5: Look Before You Leap.

If you're cleaning something you've never cleaned before and/or using a product for the first time, you'll save a lot of aggravation by always testing things first to make sure you won't cause any damage.

Win It!
To get you inspired to use natural cleaners and nominate a Mother Nature (myself, anyone?), Seventh Generation will be giving away the following cleaning kit to one of my readers:
- Ivette’s top three cleaning tools (pocket scraper, microfiber rag and scouring pad)
- Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes
- Seventh Generation Natural all-purpose spray
- Seventh Generation Natural dish liquid
- Seventh Generation Recycled paper towels

They sent mme the same kit to check out and I've actually been using it everyday. With living in a house that's being remodeled, having a toddler, and fervently "nesting" thanks to my son-on-the-way, I have a never ending supply of things that need to be cleaned! The "cleaning tools" have been extremely helpful and I can't believe I didn't have a scraper in my arsenal before! I used it to finally get our wooden highchair clean last night (we've had it almost a year now--it was really gross). While I don't care for the smell of the disinfecting wipes, I am finding them very handy as well to wipe out the potty chair that my daughter has been faithfully using, and since the other cleaning products have no smell, they are being a tremendous help as I wash dishes in our bathtub and eat on our coffee table right now (remodeling, of course)! I hope you win this kit if you have any children or any house in disarray!

To win, go and enter their contest at http://www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature. Like I said, if you are having a problem thinking of someone to nominate, remember that I'm sitting right here drooling about the possibility of winning a green home makeover. ;-) After you enter, come back here and tell me who you nominated! Be sure to leave an email address and separate comment for each entry. This contest will end on May 31, 2010 at 11:59pm, EST.

Extra Entries:
The usual--spread the word about this contest and my blog with links and tell me what you did. One comment/entry per word-spreading. You can tweet and Facebook about this contest 1x/day!

Otherwise, boost my blog somewhere (Technorati, Digg It, etc.) or grab my button and earn more entries!

Of course, you're already following me on Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Google Friend Connect, and you're an email subscriber...right?...if not, get on it! Let me know which way you follow and your name for another extra entry (one entry per following way).

Good luck and be blessed!

Seventh Generation provided me with a sample kit for review. No other compensation was received for this post.

Rockin' Green Soap Review & Giveaway

A big thanks to A Mother's Boutique for being a big sponsor of the Baby Mama Shower!

Rockin' Green Soap Review & Giveaway

Rockin' Green Soap is a powdered laundry detergent used for cleaning cloth diapers (well, and other clothes, too). Newer on the market, a lot of cloth diaper users still haven't tried it and I must say that you are missing out on one of their key features: the scent. Who would have thought you could use a scented detergent for your diapers?!

The first thing I noticed about Rockin' Green is their advertising. Really, the graphics are great and it does make you want to try their product. This psychology major though, knows to not rely on the picture alone, so I was glad when they agreed to send me a sample to try.

When I opened the box the soap was in, I was a little dissapointed that their product packaging wasn't to the same caliber as their website's marketing. This could be because I was only sent a small packet to sample though, so I'm guessing their full sized products come in something other than a zip-loc type baggie. :-) Really, though, the smell of the package overcame any aesthetics. I've never used a scented detergent to clean my diapers in, so I was feeling very luxerious when I got to put something that smells GOOD into my washing machine! I was able to test the "fresh linen" scent and thought it was pretty awesome. The nice thing is that while your washing machine smells good when you use Rockin' Green, it really does rinse out of your clothing so you're left with nothing but the smell of clean clothes (or diapers) when everything's done. We all know how important a clean rinsing detergent is!

Some things I learned about the detergent is that it does clean your diapers and clothes well, but you do need to use the suggested amount. I didn't use enough when I first washed a load of diapers and so had to re-wash them with more Rockin' Green. The detergent doesn't bubble up like commercial ones that cmtain bubbling agents. Don't be misled by this--you don't need bubbles to get things clean!

What they say about Rockin' Green...

Dye free
Comes in 11 yummy scents (& an unscented version for sensitive skin)
No fillers
No enzymes or optical brighteners
100% Phosphate free
Vegan
Great for sensitive skin
Easy rinsing formula
Approved for military use
Works wonders on microfiber stink!
Perfect for cloth diapers
HE compatible
Reusable packaging
Great for all water types (in fact, they make three different formulas for different water types)
Economical at .13 cents a load!

Buy It! Rockin' Green is economical with a bag of 45/90 (meaning, it contains enough soap for either 45 regular loads or 90 HE loads) only costing $13.95 with shipping as low as $1.00. You can also sample scents and buy powdered pail freshener from them as well! Visit http://www.rockingreensoap.com/.

Win It! One lucky winner will receive a classic Rockin' Green 45/90 bag in the scent of your choice. To enter, you need to visit their website and tell me what scent you'd like to try. Be sure to leave an email address and SEPARATE comment for each entry. Contest will end on or after May 7th, 2010 at noon, EST.

Extra Entries:
*Blog about this contest or tell people about it through a parenting forum (2 entries)
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Rockin' Green provided me with the test samples and contest prize for this post. No other compensation was received.

Seventh Generation *New* Disinfectant Line Giveaway!

Thanks to A Mother's Boutique for being a big sponsor of the Baby-Mama Shower Event!

Seventh Generation Disinfectant Cleaning Kit Giveaway

One of the things that every expecting mother does before the birth of her child is clean. Some call this "nesting" while others just call it "necessary." Either way, cleaning is something that must be done in preparation of a birth and then forever more afterwards. One problem that pregnant women, mothers of small children, and just people in general come into though is of the synthetic chemicals involved in cleaning. No one should have to breathe in toxic fumes that many of these cleaners emit, nor should children or pregnant women be around them! We've gone to using only natural cleaners in my home at all times and while baking soda and vinegar still hold a place in my heart, the convenience of an already assembled spray bottle cleaner is what I use for most of the cleaning now.

Seventh Generation just released a new line of EPA registered disinfecting cleaners and wipes that kill over 99.99% of germs including the Influenza A Virus. This is the first time I've seen a "natural" disinfectant, and I'm guessing that people everywhere will be excited over this. The key ingredient is thymol, a component of the herb thyme. This can be used on any hard surface and as I said earlier, kills the nasties!

I was able to try their new multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, and disinfecting wipes. All of the products worked well and I really enjoyed the shape of the spray bottles and ease of use. I did not enjoy the scent of these products as I found them to be very medicinal and remind me of cough syrup. If you don't mind the scent though, or if you value a clean surface over a momentary smell, this would be a product to try. I love knowing that a container of wipes will clean something as well as bleach but that I can breathe it in without worry and also that it isn't going to irritate my hands!

On top of the cleaning products, Seventh Generation sent me some of their recycled paper towels, a recycled plastic cleaning caddy, and a copy of The Conscious Kitchen book. While the paper towels aren't the softest on the market, they hold up just as well as any other brand and I prefer to use them over any others simply because of the recycled fact and that they haven't been bleached! The caddy is the right size and shape to hold all of the cleaning products sent to me, is durable, attractive, and huge help for keeping things organized under my sink. :-)

What they say about the book...

Seventh Generation has partnered with eco-lifestyle consultant and author, Alexandra Zissu, whose new book, The Conscious Kitchen, discusses what’s good for your health, what’s good for the planet and what tastes great. Her book also includes great tips on maintaining a green and healthy kitchen, including:

Change is Good
Choosing cleaning products without indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, is a simple and effective way to reduce your indoor air pollution. If you’re not prepared to switch everything overnight, start by swapping out the one product you use the most, and moving forward from there.

Think before you spray
Residues from cleaning products can last on a surface for longer than we

we’d like to know and travel to areas that we sometimes don’t intend them to. Don’t contaminate your food by prepping it on a surface that may contain harsh chemical residues - rinse cleaning products from food preparation surfaces carefully or use botanical disinfecting cleaners that do not require a rinse step.

Home is Where the Clean Is
Your standard cleaners are good for removing soils and dirt from kitchen surfaces, but to tackle germs you need a cleaner that is effective against microbes like bacteria and viruses. Many cleaners contain ingredients that have antimicrobial properties such as vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, but the germ killing power of these is not necessarily guaranteed. To be sure you are killing germs, use an EPA registered disinfectant. Seventh Generation tapped into the disinfecting power of the common garden herb thyme, to provide a disinfecting cleaner that kills germs* naturally.

Make the Old New Again
Think twice about the items that you’re using to clean and dry your kitchen equipment and dishes. Use rags (like old t-shirts and washcloths) instead of paper towels. If you aren’t prepared to kick your paper towel addiction just yet, use only recycled versions that are unbleached or haven’t been whitened with chemicals containing chlorine and see how long you can make a roll last.

The Writing is on the … Sponge
Be sure to read the fine print on sponges and only purchase those that do not contain antimicrobial pesticides. Remember to store sponges in a dry place and frequently clean them by popping plastic sponges wet in a microwave for two minutes or boiling sponges for three minutes in water.

Mom Was Right, Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands with soap and water before and after prepping food, and always before eating. So much of what can be potentially harmful in a kitchen can be reduced by this simple act that doesn’t require any harsh chemicals whatsoever.

Buy It!
Click on any of the links in this post to purchase through Amazon.com or visit your favorite retailer of Seventh Generation products. Go to their website and print a coupon for $1.00 off of a disinfecting spray or the wipes!  http://www.seventhgeneration.com/coupons

Win It!
One winner will receive a Seventh Generation “Disinfecting Cleaning Kit” that includes a disinfecting multi-surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, wipes , a copy of The Conscious Kitchen, a cleaning caddy made from recycled plastic, and two rolls of 100% recycled, unbleached paper towels. Value of around $35.00.

To enter, you must be a subscriber or follower of mine and tell me. That's it! Please leave an email address and comment below for EACH entry. Contest ends May 7th, 2010 at noon, EST. Good luck!

Extra Entries:
* Subscribe/follow/friend/etc. me any other ways (one entry per type of following; i.e., Blogger, Google Friend, Facebook, Twitter)
* Tell me your due date or if you're TTC
* Tweet about this contest with a link and @lifemoresimply (1 tweet/day)
* Blog about this contest (2 entries)
* Grab the Baby-Mama Shower button
* Grab my regular button
*Otherwise spread the word and tell me how! (Share on a message board, email some friends with me CC'd in, etc.)

Products for review and giveaway have been provided by MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation. No other compensation was received for this post and the opinions are all mine.

Mrs. Meyer's Review & Giveaway

I've fallen in love. I didn't think it'd ever happen with me and cleaning products, but alas, it has. I do NOT like chemical smells, dry skin, or scary ingredients. I DO like a clean house, aromatherapy, and natural ingredients. Combine these last three things and get ready to meet Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day!

The friendly folks over at Mrs. Meyer's sent me a whole bunch of awesome products to review and share with you after I stumbled upon them via the Internet. Since the day I received that package, I realized that my cleaning life had previously been missing something: great smells. The first thing you'll notice about Mrs. Meyer's products is that they smell fantastic and are scented by way of essential oils. In fact, they're so good that I have actually mixed up a batch of their all-purpose cleaning solution and left it to sit in my kitchen so that the aroma could fill my household! Their products span a variety of choices in fragrance including Baby Blossom (for their baby product line), Basil, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon Verbena (my favorite), Scent Free, and a seasonal scent of "Iowa Pine." The second thing you'll notice is their fun packaging. Simple characters and colors are used to send a down-to-earth personal message on each product.

Enough about how happy you'll be with these products, though. Let me tell you about the stuff that they sent to me, and then give you a chance to grab some of your own!

Countertop Spray $3.99

This is a great multi-purpose spray that actually combines their All Purpose Cleaner with a special Vegetable Protein Extract that provides a "naturally fresh way to remove odors." It works! I've used it in my bathroom, kitchen, and even on a coffee table. Each time, it's left my surfaces clean and with a fresh, pretty scent behind. It's a love.

Surface Scrub $4.99

Made with naturally safe ash and oxygen bleach, I've found you won't need a ton of this product to be effective. It creates enough scouring action to remove scummy build up in my bathtub, but not enough harshness to scratch anything. I've used it in both my shower/bath and the toilet, but it's recommended for tile, stainless steel, professional cookware, porcelain fixtures and more! The powdery scent is more potent to my nose than their liquid products and did make it itch a little.

All Purpose Cleaner $7.99

First, let me tell you that again, a little goes a long way. I just mixed a little bit in a bucket of warm water and was ready to rock and roll. My floors, counters, and surfaces have all been cleaned--and I didn't want to STOP finding things to clean because it smells so darn good and is very gentle on my hands! If I were to purchase just one thing, this would be it.

Shower Cleaner $4.99

Squirt this on your shower/tub surfaces after using, and prevent soap scum and mineral build ups! I'm not a huge fan of scrubbing the bathtub, so a product like this is very handy when you're trying to save time in your life. I love that it's easy and quick to use, and also that the scent is fresh and not overpowering in such a small space.

Dish Soap $3.99

Of course, another awesome smelling product from Mrs. Meyer's. Their dish soap suds well very quickly (a few times, I had to scoop bubbles out because there were too many). The suds don't stay forever though, but I didn't find that this affected the cleanliness of my dishes. I did find that with my bottles--and bottles only--I had to rinse extra well because a greasy sort of film would build up on the inside of them. I didn't have this problem with any of my other dishes, and think it's just a rinsing issue. The overall effectiveness is equivalent to any name brand dish soap, but the quality of ingredients is far better than the regular leading brands.

Surface Wipes $3.99

My mom always keeps a stack of anti-bacterial cleaning wipes under her sink. While I love the convenience of them, I do not love the harsh chemicals involved and so don't buy them. THESE surface wipes though... they thrill me! They're biodegradable (the wipe is cellulose plant derived), gentle on the skin, durable, smell fantastic, and do the job! I have moved them from house to purse to car and back to the house. I can't decide where to keep them because they are so handy to have and use! I wouldn't mind if I found a few packs of these in my stocking...

BUY IT! I do suggest that everyone run out and purchase something from Mrs. Meyer's--you won't be disappointed and the stress level involved in cleaning your home may diminish! Select full size products are now available at Target, and I've also seen a few at my local Wegmans. If you want to purchase from Mrs. Meyer's website, they have free shipping on all orders of $50.00 through 12/17, and are also offering 25% off their Iowa Pine holiday items.

WIN IT! Mrs. Meyer's is giving away two different gift packs to my readers! Two winners will be chosen, one for the Holiday Hand Kit, and one for the Clean Day Kit. To enter, please visit http://www.MrsMeyers.com and tell me something you learned or a product you're dying to try from them. Please leave a separate comment WITH an email address for each entry. Contest ends December 31 at 12:00pm, EST.

Mrs. Meyer's Holiday Hand Kit includes:

Iowa Pine Liquid Hand Soap, 8 oz

Iowa Pine Hand Lotion, 8 oz

Iowa Pine Scented Soy Candle, 7.2 oz $14.99

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Kit Includes:

Countertop Spray, 8oz

Liquid Dish Soap, 8oz

All Purpose Cleaner, 8oz

Window Spray, 8oz

$14.99 (on sale right now for $11.25!)

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Seventh Generation Free & Clear Starter Kit Giveaway & Review

Green Cleaning Giveaway #2

The Free & Clear line from Seventh Generation are biodegradable, non toxic cleaning products that are free from fragrences, dyes, and masking agents. I had the pleasure of testing many of their products from this line and can highly recommend them to you.

The first thing that I like about Seventh Generation is that they're proactive in trying to reform how the US in particular looks at the safety and environmental impact of cleaning and personal products. The second thing I appreciate is that they genuinely want to help people out. They continually offer contests and send out free samples of their products to people, as well as offer ongoing education through their website in the form of Q&A and pages dealing with ingredients and topics specific to the products. It's often difficult to get a straight answer from companies when you ask them tough questions, but Seventh Generation has been quick and thorough in answering any questions I have had for them!

I found the Free & Clear line to honestly not have a fragrance. The liquid laundry soap has a slight odor to it, but you can tell it's just naturally from the ingredients used to make it. Everything worked just as well as a commercial chemical cleaner, but it was much more pleasant to use because it isn't harsh on your skin and you don't have to worry about breathing it in or pouring it down the drain! You can view all of the ingredients for any of these products on the Seventh Generation website.

Seventh Generation has packaged together several products from this line into a Starter Kit. They have generously offered to allow me to choose one of my winners to receive one of these, so here are my comments on each of the products that you could win (see bottom of the page to enter):

2x Liquid Laundry (32 oz.) - This unique, non-irritating blend of plant-based surfactants and enzymes powers out the toughest stains. This works quite well. I don't have to use very much, the container is small, and it doesn't seem to create any build up, though I would still not use it for cloth diapers.

Hand Dish Soap - Tough on grease, gentle on your hands and the earth. No phosphates, safe for even the youngest dish-washing family members. This is definitely gentle and still creates decent suds (though that is NOT necessary to clean). I do kind of miss having a good scent while I'm washing dishes though. :-) The non-irritating qualities would make this excellent for anyone sensitive to traditional dish soap!

All-Purpose Cleaner - Cleans and degreases hard surfaces, indoors and out. Non toxic, it creates no harsh fumes. Safe for your family and the planet, great for wet mopping; not recommended on wood floors. I use this for everything from counters to floors. It doesn't particularly get hard scummy areas (like a bathtub) to clean up easier, so I'd recommend another product for that. This is an excellent product to just have around for quick cleaning.

Auto Dish Tabs (15-count tabs) - Concentrated automatic-dishwasher packs deliver phosphate- and chlorine-free detergent in convenient packets. Environmentally friendly, safe for your family. These did get our dishes clean, but when combined with our soft water, we found that some of our aluminum/stainless steel dishes didn't fair so well. :-( Be sure to not use on metal dishes and silverware like this! Otherwise, it was a great product and dissolved quickly in the water. It also seemed to rinse off well and not leave any residue.

Glass & Surface Cleaner - Effectively cleans glass, mirrors, chrome and other hard surfaces – without streaks, toxins, fumes or harsh chemicals. Works as well as other commercial cleaners but without the scary chemicals and smells. However, the old vinegar/water solution still cleans windows best. I particularly like to use the Glass & Surface Cleaner for wood/glass or plastic/glass areas.

Liquid Fabric Softener - Free & Clear 40oz.Canola-derived fabric softener makes your laundry naturally fluffy and static-free. Add to your final rinse cycle or use for hand-washing delicates. Truly free and clear of fragrances, dyes, and masking agents. I have never had such soft clothes until using this! I don't know if I'm using too much or if it just REALLY works, but it works! No static, and very soft clothing. Be careful to not let it build up on your washer if you have cloth diapers.

Some other products (not included in the Starter Kit) that I was also able to review are:

Natural Fabric Softener Sheets - I didn't find these to work as great as the liquid fabric softener, but they certainly do lead to static-free clothing and aren't nearly as greasy as regular softener sheets. If I was in the habit of buying softener sheets, I would definitely purchase these.

Rinse Aid - Never having used a rinse aid for my dishwasher before, I wasn't sure what to expect from this product. However, I found it to last a long time and it did help to minimize water spots on my dishes!

Chlorine Free Bleach- This product is made from hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine, so 1) it's safe for colors, and 2) it doesn't smell like chlorine. I stopped using bleach a long time ago because it is sooooooooo corrosive, stays in your body for a long time (even just from breathing it in), tends to ruin my clothing, and is just dangerous in general. I didn't realize the difference between chlorine bleach (which is what I grew up with) and NON-chlorine bleach until I used this product and asked Seventh Generation about it. If you like using bleach or would like a safer alternative, then this is definitely for you and worth the money! It works and isn't nearly as scary as chlorine bleach. :-)

Buy It! Through the Seventh Generation website or at many local retailers.

Win It! One winner will receive the Free & Clear Starter Kit with the six items listed above as well as a handy dandy tote bag to keep everything in. A value of $30.00. To enter, visit Seventh Generation's website and tell me one product you'd like to try (not listed here) or something you learned on their website. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry and include an email address each time! Contest ends December 23, 2009 at 12:00PM EST.

Extra Entries:

*Follow me publicly

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*Enter any of my other active contests

*Tweet about this contest with a link (1x/day)

*Send an email against toxicity (see the main/original "Green Cleaning" page)

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*Blog about this contest (2 entries)

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Good luck and be blessed!

SKOY Cloth Review & Giveaway

Cleaning Green: Giveaway #1

SKOY Cloth is...

• 100% biodegradable (testing has shown it will break down in 5 months from beginning composting)
• Absorbent (15x its own weight!)
• Re-usable (one will last for the equivalent of 15 ROLLS of paper towels)
• Clean (can microwave to sterilize or throw in the dishwasher or clothes washer!)
• and Fun… (comes in a variety of colors and prints--including for Christmas)

Made from 100% biodegradable natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp, SKOY cloth is a chlorine-free product using water-based colors and inks. They were first designed almost ten years ago by two stay at home moms who were sick of the 2.5 million tons of paper towels that fill up our landfills every year. Since their beginning, SKOY cloths have been featured on O, The Oprah Magazine, Reader's Digest, and numerous other publications and radio/TV shows!

The Basics: SKOY Cloth sent me a free sample pack of 4 cloths. When dry, they're stiff. When wet, they act like a chamois to clean up spills and scrub down messes. I haven't had any tears yet, and even though I've been using them for months, they are showing no signs of decay.

The Good: They save a ton of money and are easy to clean (I throw them in the washer and dryer)! Very absorbent, and I also love the fact that they're manufactured with humane and green practices and also made of fully biodegradable materials.

The Not-so-Good: SKOY Cloth suggests throwing a wet cloth into the microwave to kill bacteria. Frankly, the steaming and temperature of the cloth concern me because 1) I don't want to start a fire, 2) I don't really like using microwaves, and 3) I don't want it to be too hot to touch. So I recommend the dishwasher or clothes washer for cleaning. I did let one sit next to my sink wet for a while, and sure enough, little spots started to form (mildew? mold?). Microwaving left them looking about the same. I threw it in the wash after that, and though the spots are still visable, I don't worry about anything growing on them. :-) Just make sure you wash them regularly!

Buy Them: You can buy a 4-pack for $5.99 directly from http://www.skoycloth.com/ . They even have a regular shipping service that will send you 8 cloths for $11.98 every 3, 4, 5, or 6 months!

Win Them: SKOY cloth also provided me with a 4-pack to give to one of my lucky readers. To enter, please first click on one of the SKOY links in this website to support them. Then, let me know something interesting that you learned from their website! Please include a valid email address in every entry. Contest ends December 23, 2009 at 12:00pm, EST.

Extra Entries:

* Follow me publicly on Blogger
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*Tweet about this contest with a link (1x/day)
*Share your favorite cleaning tip
*Comment on another one of my posts (tell me which one)! (max of 5 entries)

Good luck and be blessed!

Green Cleaning Week Has Arrived!

It's finally here! Green Cleaning Week has arrived, filled with useful, frugal, and SAFE cleaning methods, tips, ideas, product reviews, and--yes--giveaways! The week may extend into next week as I'm waiting to hear back from a few companies that are involved, so keep checking in the upcoming days. :-)

Why Green Cleaning? In a nutshell, there are a lot of toxic chemicals in our household cleaning products. Short term effects of exposure to these can be skin and eye irritation, but many long term and lethal effects are also found. Did you know that asthma and serious reproductive problems have been linked to various cleaning chemicals, as well as obesity, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. Green cleaning, for me anyway, isn't about saving the environment so much as it is about saving my family. I don't need to worry about what my daughter may get into under my sink, nor do I need to worry about keeping her in another room so she doesn't breathe anything in while I'm cleaning the bathroom.

What is "green" cleaning? To me, "green" cleaning means that I'm using my time, money, and God's resources wisely to clean my home without the use of harmful chemicals. Please remember, though, that just because something's "natural" doesn't mean it's completely safe! For instance, who wants vinegar in their eye?

Find out more! http://www.greenlivingtips.com/ and http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ are great resources to find out about the dangers in many commercial cleaning products, as well as some wonderful and safe alternatives.

Get involved! Since 1976, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has required safety testing on only 200 of the more than 80,000 chemicals on the market. This is bad news and it's time for a change! Click here to email congress and take part in the legislative movement that would require testing and safety to be a priority for household chemicals. Let me know that you sent an email by commenting below, and gain an extra entry into every Green Cleaning contest!

Million Baby Crawl & Giveaway

Seventh Generation needs your help making our nation’s outdated chemical law tougher, in order to make the world safer for our children. Join us in spreading the word about the Million Baby Crawl (http://www.millionbabycrawl.com/) to help educate and empower parents to raise their voices for stronger standards on toxic chemicals.

Did you know that…

• In the 33 years since Congress passed that nation’s chemical regulatory law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TCSA), the Environmental Protection Agency has required testing on just 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds developed for products used in the home.
• Under the current law, the EPA does not have the authority to demand the information it needs to evaluate a chemical’s risk, and neither manufacturers nor the EPA are required to prove a chemical’s safety as a condition of use.
• 1.25 million kids younger than six are unintentionally poisoned in the home each year by things like cosmetics and personal care products, cleaning substances, pain relievers and cough and cold medicines (American Association of Poison Control Centers)
• Studies show that nearly 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants have been found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns (EWG).
  

How you can help… It’s easy, visit http://www.millionbabycrawl.com/ and create a crawler that represents why you want chemical reform! As an extra incentive (and thank you), Seventh Generation will be giving away a Living Home Starter Kit to one of my readers who creates a crawler! The Living Home Starter Kit is valued at $50.00 and includes:

Ruby Grapefruit & Herb Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
Green Mandarin & Leaf All-Purpose Cleaner
Emerald Cypress & Fir All-Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Natural Citrus Scent Shower Cleaner
Emerald Cypress & Fir Tub & Tile Cleaner
One Roll of Recycled Paper Towels
…and a Seventh Generation Tote to haul all your new stuff!

Once you've made your crawler, report back to me here and let me know these two things:

1) what the name of your crawler is and 2) one fact about this issue that you found to be compelling.

That's it! This contest will be open until Monday, November 16 at 0730 hours, EST. Please leave your email address and a separate comment for EACH entry into this contest.

Earn Extra Entries By...(after your initial entry)

*Tweeting about this contest (1x/day)
*Emailing 4 friends with "lifemoresimply-at-yahoo.com" CC'd in
*Following me
*Subscribing to me
*Grabbing my button (NOT onto a blog roll)
*Otherwise spreading the word!

Be blessed!