Sunday, February 7, 2010

Beauty for Valentines Day- Everyday Minerals Makeup Review and Giveaway (TWO WINNERS)

Valentines Day came a little early for me this year thanks to a lovely gift of natural makeup from Everyday Minerals. Let me tell you this is so much better than a box of chocolates. New makeup is such a nice treat, and Everyday Minerals products are so pretty and fun. Read on to see how you can get some Everyday Minerals makeup for yourself.
Everyday Minerals is an amazing company that sells gorgeous vegan, organic, natural, and cruelty free mineral makeup. All of their make-up is made in the US without any nasty chemicals, plastics, or talc. All of the products I tried are so pretty, high quality, gentle on my skin, and also very reasonable priced. I also love that Everyday Minerals is a super ethical company that gives back to several domestic and international charities through the Everyday Forward initiative. I feel great supporting Everyday Minerals, and recommending it to everyone.
I tried two of the lovely blushed from Everyday Minerals. Come What May is a pink and shimmery shade perfect for a dewy daytime look. Wild Vines is more dramatic and great for nights out with friends or date night. I love them both! Everyday Mineral blushes came in wonderful cases too, with a sliding top for easy and mess free use. I've never been much of a blush wearer (I have naturally rosy cheeks) but I think Everyday Minerals has made me a believer.

I also tried the Icing on the Cake Vegan Lipstick. This pretty pink shade is very subtle, making it perfect for everyday use. Like all the Everyday Minerals glosses, its loaded with great ingredients such as pomegranate oil, tucuma butter, buriti oil (also known as the life tree) and passion fruit oil. It has been making my lips very soft and nourished and I completely recommend it to everyone. The price is amazing too- at only 4$!

I also had the opportunity to try a few Everyday Minerals eyes shadows. The All Spice shadow is luminous, shimmery, and looks great on its own or paired with a darker shade. The In The Garden Shadow is an antique bronze shade that really brings out my eyes. I use it sparingly for day, or use more for a smokey nighttime eye. I think my favorite shadow- and the one I am giving away- is the Lavender Collection eye shadow pallet. I love lavender eyeshadow, and this compact pallet has four lovely shades. The design of this shadow compact is genius too- each color has its own lid and a small brush hole perfect for easy application.
Everyday Minerals has one of the best sites around. I could go on and on about all the things I love about this site: fan clubs, great music, giveaways, cool graphics, and so many discounts. They also have a very helpful page on makeup directions, which I learned a lot from. I wear makeup all the time, but I still consider myself a little clue-less about application. The makeup itself is also so fun- with bright colors and names like Rock Anthem, Hipster Hippo, and Little Black Dress.
I love deals and freebies, and Everyday minerals has a ton of them for fanclub members. They have a more you buy, more you save Beauty Perks incentive where you can save up to 45%. Everyday Minerals has Super Specials page as well, where they offer free samples and free selected full sized products with orders. They have freebies too- you can try out a sample of your choice (a 5$ value) free with every order you place. What a great way to see what makeup works for you. Finally, Everyday Minerals has a ton of fun and fabulous giveaways. I especially love the A Kiss is Just a Kiss giveaway (win lipstick by commenting about the most memorable famous kiss).


The Giveaway: Everyday Minerals has generously provided TWO Lavender Collection eyeshadow palettes for my readers to win. So I get to choose two winners- yay.

To Enter: Just sign up for the Everyday Minerals Fan-club, then comment below. Its easy, just a first name and e-mail is needed. Added bonus, fan club members are eligible for tons more freebies, discounts, and giveaways at Everyday Minerals. *this first entry is mandatory before any additional entries.

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Visit Everyday Minerals and tell me a product you would like to try
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Everyday Minerals and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Natural Mama Reviews
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 28th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household, US and Canadian residents only.


The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Love, Love, Love....Organic Ergo Carrier Review and Giveaway

With Valentines Day just around the corner- I am so Happy to be able to review and give away something I truly LOVE: An Organic ERGO Baby Carrier. I fell in love with baby wearing when my youngest daughter was born. In-fact I credit baby wearing to saving my sanity. Especially during the first six months of my babies life. She had awful reflux, and cried non-stop if not held upright. Baby wearing allowed me to meet her needs while still having a bit of a life.

I have had a wonderful relationship with baby wearing and recommend it for so many reasons. Baby wearing is an important component of attachment parenting. It allows you to hold baby closely for hours everyday, strengthening your bond and making your baby feel loved. Studies have shown that babies who are worn regularly cry less, learn more, develop faster, and are generally happier than babies who are not. Baby wearing also helps newborns adjust to life outside the womb in a safe secure way, and is especially important for special needs, sick, or premature babies. Additionally, I have found baby wearing to be so convenient.

I have several different types of baby carriers, but my ERGO is quickly becoming a new favorite. I love how comfortable it is, both for me and my little toddler. The attention to detail and total ingenuity of the ERGO is amazing. The ERGO designers have really thought of everything, and designed a very user friendly carrier. I am especially loving how comfortable the ERGO is for both me and baby. Additionally, I love how easy the straps are to adjust and how the excess length can be tucked out of the way. The ERGO carrier is also so pretty! I have the Organic Black Carrier with Embroidery and I get so many compliments on how gorgeous this carrier is.
I have been using my new ERGO everywhere. It is great for hikes, shopping, traveling, gardening, street fairs/markets and even just getting some housework done. As the name suggests the ERGO is amazingly ergonomic too. Even with my bad back, I can walk for hours with my toddler in the ERGO without any pain. The padded straps and wide waste belt- also add to the comfort of this carrier. My daughter can be a terror when shopping or walking near busy streets, so I have really been appreciating that the ERGO keeps her safe and happy on my back(or front).

Some more things I love about my ERGO:
-It is made of certified organic cotton, under fair working conditions.
-The organic cotton used is super strong, yet ultra soft to the touch.
-The infant hood is wonderful for keeping out sun and rain. It also acts as a little hammock for babies head when she falls asleep.
-It folds up small enough to stash in my purse
-It is machine washable
So is the ERGO right for you? I think the ERGO is great for all parents of babies and toddlers. It can be worn from birth (with the infant insert) all the way up to 40lbs. It is great for front carrying, side carrying, back carrying, and even for breastfeeding. It fits my smaller frame, but is just as comfortable on my husband who is 6'4. Like I've mentioned the ERGO is also very easy to use and convenient.

The ERGOBaby website is a total wealth of knowledge. I've learned so much about my ERGO carrier and baby wearing in general from surfing around. If your a visual learner like me, the ERGO site has very helpful instruction videos. They also have an Ask The Doctor column, where concerned parents can ask a pediatrician any questions you may have. I also appreciate how attachment parenting centered the ERGObaby site is.


Buy: You can buy your ERGO online from ERGOBaby, as well as from great retailers worldwide.

The Giveaway: ERGObaby has very generously offered to giveaway an Organic Carrier and matching Organic Backpack to one of my readers.

To Enter: Please visit ERGObaby and comment below telling me what sets your heart a-flutter, either a product you love or something you liked about the site.

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews and ERGObaby on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Become a facebook fan of ERGObaby and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Natural Mama Reviews
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 28th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household, US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Fresh Organics Winner...

Congratulations to SocialStudiesSoubrette (comment 47) you have won a prize pack of Fresh Organics Products. My family loves Fresh Organics, and we hope you do too. I will e-mail you later tonight.
Thanks so very much to Fresh Organics for sponsoring this giveaway.

Monday, February 1, 2010

The Ecapants Winner is........

Congratulations to FancyGrlNancy (comment #345) you have won a pair of EcaPants in your choice of pattern and size! We love our EcaPants, and know you will too.

Thanks so much to Ecaware for sponsoring this giveaway.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Revenge Is...a Hip Green Review and Giveaway

As the old saying goes, the best revenge is living well. Revenge Is, an amazing eco-friendly clothing designer, has taken this saying to heart. They make hip, soft, ethically messaged clothing from recycled water bottles and organic cotton. Their clothing has lovely graphics, and promotes messages of love, peace, and saving the earth. I am thrilled to be able to tell you about this amazing company, and also offer a super cool Global Warming hoodie to give to one of my readers.
Revenge Is, really is making activism fashionable. Their clothing is pretty, stylish, and made from eco friendly materials. Revenge Is clothing is made from a blend of organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles. How cool is that! Plastic bottles (which are really becoming a huge pollution problem for our planet) are recycled and melted down then spun into a fine yarn. This yarn is then blended with high quality organic cotton and made into the softest tees ever. Revenge Is also sells green re-usable mugs, shopping bags, and eco-spout water bottles.
Revenge Is doesn't only talk about being green, they also walk the walk. This great company makes environmental sustainability and giving back their goal. Everything is made in the US, using environmentally friendly and ethical production practices. They print all ad material with soy ink, use only recycled packaging, and use recycled and organic materials in production. Revenge Is also generously donates 10% of profits to charity. This is a great company in so many ways, and I feel great shopping at Revenge Is.
I had the chance to try out the Women's Earth Day Tee in eggplant, and I am in love. I am a T-shirt kind of girl, and this vintage inspired tee is my new fave. I love that it is so long, fitted, and has a flattering v-neck. Its also soft, silky, and oh so comfortable. It washes up beautifully and like all good tees is made to last. My favorite thing however, is the great green message. I care about the planet deeply, so I love being able to share my feelings with everyone I see.
I also received the Revenge Is Kids Think Green Tee for my little toddler. This tee has a message that embodies what I strive to teach my kids everyday - think green. It is also super cute with a picture of our earth surrounded by images of things we can do to be more green. Like the adults tee, the child's is very soft and made from a 50/50 blend of plastic bottles and organic cotton. I also love that the Kids Think Green Tee is made in the USA using non-toxic water based inks.

Shop: All of the great items mentioned here and a bunch more, can be purchased online at Revenge Is.

The Giveaway: Revenge Is has offered one of my readers the chance to win one of their super cool Global Warming Hoodies. This hoodie is great for a guy or gal and is made from a blend of recycled cotton and recycled pop bottles.

To enter: Visit Revenge Is and tell me what you love- either an item or just something you like about the site.

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews and Revenge Is on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Revenge Is and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Natural Mama Reviews- I finally made a page :)
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Subscribe to e-mails from Revenge Is (right of their site)
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 23th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry per household, US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Ilus Elu Skin Care Review and Giveaway

Ilus Elu is is a Canadian company that makes amazing quality natural and organic cosmetics and skincare. Everything from Ilus Elu is homemade in small batches in BC, with special care and attention to detail. Ilus Elu uses organics sourced from local BC farmers whenever possible, and always makes sure their ingredients are ethically grown and produced. I had a chance to try several skincare products from Ilus Elu, and my skin has never looked better.

Ilus Elu is Estonian for Beautiful Life- and what a great name for this company. Their skincare and cosmetics line are truly beautiful. They employ the latest research in natural skincare to create amazing facial care products, shower and bath products, balms, make-up, serums, and synergies; all designed to enhance your beauty naturally. They also encourage inner beauty and health with plant sourced, organic ingredients that nurture body and soul. Ilus Elu guarantees that their products are cruelty free and have never been tested on animals- which makes me smile :) I also appreciate that all products are guaranteed to be free of nasty toxins such as phthalates, parabens and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate.

Ilus Elu sent me a travel pack to review that included travel sizes of Pomegranate Moisturizer, Timeless Cleanser, Problem Solver Toner, and the Between Friends Serum. I have been using everything for over a week now, and the Ilus Elu skincare regime has been making my skin glow! It can be hard to find natural and organic skincare products that nurture your skin and leave it youthful looking, but Ilus Elu has really delivered. My travel kit also included a pretty silk travel case- which I love.
My favorite product by Ilus Elu is the Pomegranate Moisturizer. Formulated with pomegranate and cranberry oils, this luscious cream has been making my skin ultra moisturized and soft. It also contains natural sun protectors and skin helpers such as wild yam, guarana, grape-seed, and green tea to fight against free radicals. The Pomegranate moisturizer also contains wild mushroom and cucumber to tighten and firm the skin. I have noticed my skin is looking younger than ever, as well as being soft and smooth. I love that the pomegranate cream is also non-comedogenic, non-irritating, and contains 96.5% organic content- what more could a girl ask for?

I was also sent a Ilus Elu Natural Lip gloss in Pink Magnolia, and have been using it all the time. I love lip-gloss, and this sweet pink shade is perfect for everyday use. It is made of natural oils and vitamin E that nurtures your lips, while leaving them soft, glossed, and fresh. With a smooth shine, and only a hint of color, it is great over lipstick or lip-stain as well. I also appreciate that this gloss is free on synthetic chemicals, petroleum, mineral oil, and cyclomethicone.

Ilus Elu is a business with a huge heart. They work with several nonprofit organizations, so when the crisis in Haiti occurred -Ilus Elu stepped in to help. From now until Feb 28th 100% of profits will be donated to helping the people of Haiti. All of their profits, from more than a month of sales will be given to Global Medic. This Zero-overhead charity will be working a medical clinic in Port Au-Prince and supplying water purification infrastructure. So generous!!! If you are looking for some great natural skin-care, buy now and help the people of Haiti with your purchase.

Buy: You can purchase any of the products mentioned above and so much more online at Ilus Elu.

The Giveaway: Ilus Elu is giving my readers the same travel pack that I tried, complete with lip-gloss and a pretty floral case.

To Enter: Visit Ilus Elu and tell me another product of theirs that you would like to try. This first entry is mandatory, and must be completed before additional entries count.

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews and Ilus Elu on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Ilus Elu and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Natural Mama Reviews- I finally made a page :)
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Subscribe to e-mails from Ilus Elu (left of their site)
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 19th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry per household, US and Canadian residents only.


The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

TinySoles WINNER

Wow- this has been my most popular giveaway yet. I guess I'm not alone in my love/obsession for baby shoes. Well the winner has been chosen (by random.org) and it is...... Paula (comment #390). Congratulations! I will e-mail you later tonight.


Thanks so much to TinySoles for sponsoring this giveaway.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Natural Urban Mamas: Review, Discount, and a Giveaway too

I am excited to tell you about a great online shop for moms that I recently discovered- Natural Urban Mamas. This Canadian shop sells unique, natural, earth friendly, and mom made items for moms and babies. They have a wonderful selection of baby carriers, cloth diapers, breastfeeding gear, diapers bags, natural body care, natural toys, and natural remedies for mamas. Read on to learn more and find out how you can win a gift certificate to this super cool shop.

Natural Urban Mamas is owned/operated by Canadian mom Natasha. She hand-picks everything offered on her site based on what she uses with her own kids. This ensures that everything on her site is well tested and loved. Most of the items are fair trade, natural, organic, eco-friendly, and made by small mom-owned businesses. She also carries a nice selection of herbal teas and herb baths for pregnant, nursing, and postpartum mamas. I completely recommend everyone stop by this lovely shop; Natasha is a complete doll and you are guaranteed to find something unique that you love.
Natural Urban Mamas is committed to carrying as many Canadian made products as possible- and I love buying Canadian! Buying from Canadian manufacturers helps boost our economy, ensures items are safe, ensures items are manufactured with good environmental standards, ensures employees are paid and treated fairly, and saves the planet by cutting down on transportation related greenhouse gasses. Some of the Canadian items from Natural Urban Mamas that I'm loving are; the Postpartum Herb bath, teeth-ease teething bangle, Mango Baby Mei-Tai's,and the amazing AMP cloth diapers.

Natural Urban Mamas is not only a great place to find unique, earth-friendly, and natural items for you and your baby, but they also have a lot of useful info for Edmonton area moms. Look on the sidebar to find links to local Douala's, La Leche League meetings, doctors/midwives, lactation consultants, diaper services, and area events.
I had a chance to try out the Hipster Diaper Bag from Natural Urban Mamas, and It has become my new go-to bag. It is made by Echoes in the Attic; a wonderful eco-friendly Canadian designer. Echoes in the attic makes hip and useful bags out of fabric remnants that they liberate from landfills. They literally rescue tons of landfill bound fabric remnants (500lbs every two weeks) discarded from great designers such as Ethan Allen. They then use these scraps to make one-of-a-kind beautiful bags, like the one I tried
I love my Hipster Diaper bag and have been using it everyday since it arrived. I use it as my purse/diaper bag combo. It is a perfect size to take everywhere- and it is so pretty. It easily holds a couple cloth diapers, my wet-bag, wipes,a change of clothes for baby, a sippy cup, snacks, and my wallet/sunglasses/lip-gloss/keys etc. It has several small pockets, and is made of super thick and durable fabric. The Hipster Diaper Bag also has an easily adjustable strap, which I love. Its great to wear on your shoulder or across the chest, and adjust to fit any stroller. I used to have a bit of a diaper bag aversion- but this bag is small enough to easily take everywhere, yet big enough to hold what I need for myself and my baby. It also looks so much cooler than tradition big plastic diaper bags.
Natural Urban Mamas also carries the Purse-ifier Diaper Bag- by Echos in the Attic. This bag is also super eco-friendly and stylish, but is bigger for the mom who needs a more space. The Purse-ifier Diaper Bag was actually recently a green recommendation by Todays Parent- so cool.

Buy: All the great products mentioned here, and so much more can be found online at Natural Urban Mamas.

Sale alert: Natural Urban Mama's has some very cool items on their sale page, that are almost being given away! I especially love the wool soakers that are more than 50% off.

Discount: I love offering discounts, so was thrilled when Natural Urban Mamas offered my readers a 10% discount. Just type in this code at checkout- NMR10


The Giveaway: Natural Urban Mamas is offering my readers a chance to win a $25.00 gift card to spend on whatever they want.

To Enter: Visit Natural Urban Mamas and comment below telling me something you love from this shop (This first entry is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries can be used)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow the Natural Urban Mamas Blog and comment
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews and Natural Urban Mamas on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Subscribe to e-mails from Natural Urban Mamas (left sidebar of their site)
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Natural Urban Mamas and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another Giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 16th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry per household, US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Baby on Board Decals: Two Winners to Announce

I have drawn the winners of the Baby on Board Decals: Congratulations to Tannie's Chatter (comment #81) and Anna (comment #40). I will be e-mailing you later tonight.
Thanks a bunch to Baby Cheeks for sponsoring this giveaway

Friday, January 22, 2010

Can I Get The Recipe? Review and a Cookbook Giveaway

I love cooking , but I often fall into ruts of cooking the same thing over and over, or making quick pre-made dinners that are pricey and unhealthy. Well that was before I discovered - Can I Get the Recipe?. This inspiring blog is full of great recipes, weekly meal plans, shopping lists, and clever cooking tips. It has not only been a time and sanity saver, but Can I Get the Recipe? has helped me to rediscover my love of cooking healthy meals for my family.

Can I Get the Recipe? serves up weekly helpings of tasty, easy, and healthy dinners perfect for busy moms like myself. Each week this time-saving blog features 5 creative dinner recipes, a sinfully good desert, and a healthy snack too. Can I get the Recipe? also offers readers a complete shopping list for the week, printable recipes, and simple instructions; which makes cooking these amazing recipes so easy. I also love the adventuresome, yet easy recipes that this blog features. I find I look froward to Fridays each week, so I can see what exciting recipes are featured.
I am actually a strict vegetarian, but I still use this blog all the time. Can I Get the Recipe? usually has one amazing vegetarian recipe per week, and most of the other recipes are easily adapted to a veggie meal. For example this week I will be making the easy-kid pleasing English Muffins Pizzas with veggie peperoni. I am also in love with the deserts Cari finds, and have made everyone since I discovered this blog. My favorite is the Banana Chocolate Chip Pound Cake, it is so delicious and moist. It is by far the yummiest banana bread I have ever made. I am even more excited about this weeks desert; Quick Cherry Banana Frozen Yogurt. It looks so good and I know it will be a huge hit with my kids.

This week I made two amazing dinners from Can I Get the Recipe?, and both were so easy and tasty. I made the creamy and comforting Mac n Cheese Dinner, and it was heavenly. My kids wanted seconds and thirds, and it was a breeze to prepare. I also made Vegetarian Chili and it is honestly the best Chili I have ever made (or eaten). The recipe calls for sweet potatoes, which i was sceptical about, but they added a contrasting sweetness that made this recipe unforgettably tasty. It was also really easy to prepare. I will definitely be putting both of these recipes into regular rotation. If you miss a week, or are you interested in trying a recipe mentioned here, you can easily find all of the past Can I Get the Recipes? dishes here.

Who's the amazing chef, writer, and recipe wrangler behind Can I Get the Recipe? Cari Snell is a a BC mom, who has a passion for cooking and recipes. She worked as a chef for years while traveling the world, took a detour into elementary school teaching, and now has returned to her first love- food. This passion for cooking and recipes, inspired her to create Can I Get the Recipe. She now spends her days experimenting with recipes, reading cookbooks, testing products and services, writing, and of course being a busy mom to her two young sons.

Cari finds the delicious recipes for Can I Get the Recipe? in a variety of ways. She features recipes from well known foodies, accomplished chefs, favorite restaurants, blog readers, and from a huge array of fabulous cookbooks. I had a chance to try one such cookbook - Venturesome Vegetarian, by J.M Hirsch and Michelle Hirsch. This vegetarian cookbook is full of tasty and unique recipes- accompanied by lovely and vivid pictures.

I have a big collection of vegetarian cookbooks, and Venturesome Vegetarian is fast becoming a well loved addition to my bookshelf. It features several of my families favorites such as Spanakopita, Pad Thai, Shepherds Pie, and Chocolate Fudge Pie- all made vegan and ultra-low fat. I love the simple, yet surprising twists that make the recipes in this book unforgettable. They are all easy to prepare, and most take less than an hour. Venturesome Vegetarian is also wonderful for non-vegetarians who are trying to eat less meat or cut calories (new years resolutions anyone).

Win here too: Can I get the Recipe? has great giveaways every month. To enter simply subscribe, then comment on any of January's (or current month) featured recipes. Your name will automatically be entered to win a great prize. This month's giveaway item is a set of My BAG reusable shopping bags- so cool!!
The Giveaway: Can I Get the Recipe has arranged for one of my readers to win the wonderful vegetarian cookbook mentioned above- Venturesome Vegetarian. This book is an amazing addition to any-one's cookbook stash- vegetarian or not.

To Enter: Visit Can I Get the Recipe? and subscribe by e-mail (top right of blog). Then comment below telling me that you have done so. (This first entry is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries can be used)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews and Can I Get the Recipe? on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on right and comment
~Grab the Can I Get the Recipe? Blog button from their sidebar and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Become a facebook fan of Can I Get the Recipe? and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another Giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 13th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Nova Nature Toy Winners

I have drawn the names of the two winners of the Nova Nature Toy Giveaway.
1. The winner of the lovely 3D Wooden Puzzle is PipiRose (comment #70)
2. The winner of the Natural Rubber Duck is MelD (comment # 152)
Congratulations to you both- I know you will love these prizes! I will e-mail you soon.


Thanks very much to Nova Nature for sponsoring this giveaway

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Seventh Generation Review and Giveaway

One of my New Years resolutions was to rid my house of all toxic cleaners and replace them with green and safe alternatives. I am happy to report that I am one step closer to making this resolution come true- and its only mid January. The transition has actually been really easy- thanks to Seventh Generation. This amazing company makes high quality, safe, environmentally responsible, and effective cleaning products. Read on to learn about some great products, and learn how you can win a huge box of cleaning products to help you "green-up" your home!

I seriously love everything that I tried from Seventh Generation. My husband has been hearing me go on and on about how well this stuff cleans, how great it all smells, and how nice it is to clean with (hes' actually starting to tease me a little). I never get excited about cleaning- but its so nice to finally find some natural cleaning products that work. I have actually been trying to switch to all green products for a couple of years now, but just haven't been able to find any that really get the house clean. I guess the reason why I am so excited about this review- Is I have finally found cleaners that work!!

I was sent a wonderful assortment of cleaning products by Seventh Generation. My package included:

Ruby Grapefruit Glass Cleaner- This sweet smelling, plant derived glass and surface cleaner works amazing. I've used in on windows and mirrors, and it leaves them sparkling clean and streak free. It works as good as any other glass cleaner I have used and smells good enough to eat.

Green Mandarin All-Purpose Cleaner- This mild smelling, phosphate free, all purpose cleaner is designed for all hard surfaces in your home- leaving them clean and grease free. I have been using this cleaner for everything!! It is especially great for highchairs, floors, and walls.

Emerald Cyprus & Fir Toilet Bowl Cleaner- I have to admit that I was sceptical that a natural cleaner could be tough enough for cleaning the toilet- but I have seen the light. This safe, fume free cleaner left my toilet bowl sparking, and even got out some hard water stains that had been mucking up the bowl for months. Seventh Generation toilet bowl cleaner also has a easy squeeze nozzle, is dye free, and is safe for all septic systems.

Green Mandarin Shower Cleaner- This natural shower cleaner does a great job at keeping showers mildew and soap scum free. It has a mild scent, contains no glycol ethers, and is great at removing stains. I have found it also works great on shower curtain liners.

Emerald Cypress & Fir Tub/ Tile Cleaner- I have been using this cleaner for my whole bathroom and it has been doing an amazing job! It easily removes stains from tubs, sinks, toilets, and tile. I was also very impressed at how well it removed some hard water stains from my tub (these are stains that I couldn't remove even with harsh chemicals). I also love the fresh clean scent it leaves in my bathroom.

Wild Orange Kitchen Cleaner- This is probably my favorite smelling cleaner- which is great because it has been getting the most use. I have been using it for cleaning every inch of my kitchen, and it has been doing an amazing job. It also contains an active stain remover- so it works on even the biggest messes.

Natural Paper Towels- Seventh Generation paper towels work great, are super absorbent, and best of all are great for the earth. They are made from 100% recycled paper, are biodegradable, and dye free. They work especially well with the natural glass and kitchen cleaner that we tried.

A Re-usable Tote- The Seventh Generation re-usable tote is perfect for grocery shopping. It is actually another resolution of mine to ditch plastic bags, and this tote has been a great help. Its huge, sturdy, and strong- making it perfect for hauling groceries.

All of the cleaning products mentioned above are non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and biodegradable. They also do not contain harsh fumes- which i really appreciate because I am sensitive to nasty chemical smells. I also love that none of them are tested on animals, and they are Kosher-certified. You can read a full list of ingredients online before you purchase, which is so handy.
I have been so happy with the quality of each and every Seventh Generation product that I tried out. They all work as good, or better than "tradition" toxic chemicals- without sacrificing the health of the planet or my family. I will definitely continue to buy Seventh Generation products for all of my cleaning needs. If your trying to make your home a greener and safer place too- I really recommend you give Seventh Generation products a try, I'm sure you will love them as much as I do.

Where to Buy: All of the products reviewed above are available online and at stores across Canada and the US. Seventh Generation also sells wonderful chlorine free diapers- that I have tried and really like (as well as several other household cleaners, personal care, and baby care items).
Coupon Alert!! Visit the Special Offers and Coupon page at 7th Generation for printable 1$ off coupons.

The Giveaway: Seventh Generation has very generously offered one Natural Mama reader a Starter Kit featuring ALL of the great products that I reviewed (pictured above). So you will win FULL SIZED bottles of Grapefruit Glass Cleaner, Green Mandarin All-Purpose Cleaner, Emerald Cyprus & Fir Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Green Mandarin Shower Cleaner, Emerald Cypress & Fir Tub/ Tile Cleaner, Wild Orange Kitchen Cleaner, Natural Paper Towels, and a Reusable Tote.

To Enter: Visit Seventh Generation and comment below telling me what you'd like to try- besides the products mentioned above. (this first entry is mandatory before any additional entries can count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Join the Million Baby Crawl at 7th generation and comment
~Follow Natural Mama Reviews and 7th Generation on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on right and comment
~Subscribe to Seventh Generation here and comment.
~Visit the Seventh Generation Blog and comment telling me your favorite blog post
~Grab my button on the right and comment
~Become a facebook fan of 7th Generation and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another Giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends February, 11th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.