Huge Holiday Gift Certificate Giveaway {Gift Hop}- CLOSED

The Giveaway: ONE Lucky winner will receive $140 in fabulous Gift Cards (just in time for Holiday Shopping), Including:

                $50 GC to Balance Bikes Canada

                $50 GC to Bumblebee Toys

                $20 GC to Mon Petit Shoo

                $20 GC to Raspberry Kids

Welcome to my Holiday Gift Giveaway Hop. This is the first hop I have participated in and I'm beyond excited. For those of you who have never taken part in a giveaway hop; its a group of blogs linked together for one huge giveaway event. Each giveaway is separate, but you can hop from giveaway to giveaway via the linky at the bottom of this post. This Giveaway Hop Theme is Gift Cards, so please enter below for your chance to win an amazing array of gift cards from some of my favorite online shops.

$50 - Balance Bikes Canada: Balance Bikes are one of the hottest toys this holiday season, and for good reason. These kid powered bikes are so much fun and allow kids as young as two to enjoy the freedom of the open trail. Balance bikes also teach valuable bike riding skills, build balance, and encourage physical activity. The best selection of Balance Bikes can be found at Balance Bikes Canada. This huge online balance bike store carries all of the best brands of metal and wooden balance bikes in one convenient location. Balance Bikes Canada also offers a bike comparison chart, a price match guarantee, and a Christmas delivery guarantee until December 10th.

Links: Shop, Facebook, and Twitter

$50 - Bumblebee Toys: This Canadian online toy shop has a unique and wonderful collection of eco-friendly,  creative, and magical toys for children of all ages. Bumblebee Toys has a beautiful selection of natural art supplies, wooden toys, games, educational toys, and Waldorf inspired playthings to nourish the senses and inspire your children's imagination. I especially love the beautiful play-silks, fun Green Toys, and delicious play food. Bumblebee Toys is a great place to find a unique gift that is sure to be cherished by any child on your list this year. Also check out their awesome Stocking Stuffer's Page. Discount: Bumblebee Toys is offering  my readers 5% off anything in the store by using the code 5OFF.
Links: Shop , Facebook, and Twitter.

$20 - Mon Petit Shoo: I love shopping on Etsy and buying handmade and one of my favorite Etsy shops is Mon Petit Shoo. This mom owned shop has a creative and beautiful selection of handmade hats and accessories for babies, children, and adults. Many pieces are made using natural materials, and everything is clearly made with love. My current favorites in her shop are the sweet and fun owl hats for toddlers, and the hip and pretty brimmed hats for women. Mon Petit shoo also offers custom hats that would make especially thoughtful gifts. Discount: Mon Petit Shoo is offering my readers a 25% discount off any Etsy purchase with the code NATMAMABLOG or $5 off any order placed on facebook.
Links: Shop, Blog, and Facebok.

$20 - Raspberry Kids: Raspberry Kids is a Canadian online boutique that carries an amazing collection of  hip, healthy, and fun products for babies, kids, and parents. Raspberry kids is always adding the latest, freshest products to their shelves- making it a shop I love to visit again and again. They also carry my favorite brands of natural, organic, and eco friendly products. Raspberry Kids selection of gifts is also fabulous! I'm especially loving their Hopscotch Kids Polish, the Organic Good Earth Fairy doll, and the beautiful selection of children's books. Discount: Raspberry Kids is offering my readers 15% everything in store (excluding electronic gift cards, sale items and bundled items) by entering the code naturalmama15.
Links: Shop, Facebook, and Twitter.

To Enter: Follow Natural Mama Reviews on Google Friend Connect (on the left) and comment below. (this first entry is mandatory before additional entries)


Extra Entries:
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on Facebook and comment
~Subscribe to my blog (on left) and comment below
~Follow me on Twitter and comment
~Visit ONE of the above sponsors and comment on how you might spend your GC.


Giveaway ends on December 5, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email and will have 48 hours to reply back before a new winner is selected. Giveaway open to US and CANADA only (one entry per household).


Thanks so much to the above sponsors and the wonderful bloggers who have organized this hop-  Simply Stacie, Little Yayas, My Wee View,  Review Retreat and Stockpiling Moms.

Once you've entered my giveaway- visit the other blogs taking part in the hop:

Giving Gifts Winner

Congrats Kirsten (comment 178)   you have won a $20 GC to Giving Gifts. This great gift shop has some really fun gift ideas. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks so much to Giving Gifts and to everyone who entered.

Imagination Box Paint-able Play Barn Review

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas...one without chemicals, plastics, or toys that clutter up our planet. Luckily, I've found the perfect Green Toys at the Imagination Box co. They have created imagination inspiring toys that are made in the US from 100% recyclable materials. Imagination Box has a great selection of fun and creative cardboard toys  including Barns, Castle Towers, Cozy Cottages, Fire houses, School houses, and a blank "create your own" building. They would make the perfect Christmas gift for the creative child or little artist on your list this year.

Everyone can relate to kids who love to play with cardboard boxes and my girls are no exception. We have had countless boxes become all kinds treasures in my house, just by adding a little paint and creativity. Imagination Box co has taken this idea a step further by making beautifully designed buildings that are easy to assemble and fun to paint. They are built strong enough to last (out of recycled materials), and can be recycled when their time has come. Each Paint-able cardboard toy also comes with a set of bright non-toxic watercolors to bring it to life.

My girls have been trying out the Paint-able Play Barn by Imagination Box and have been having lots of fun creating and spending quality time together. My two older girls decided they wanted to paint the barn and give it to their little sister as a Christmas gift and they have been working hard making it beautiful. They have spent hours sitting at the kitchen table painting the barn, adding their own touches, and assembling it. I love that it is a toy that can be enjoyed on many levels: in the creative process of making the barn and the hours of imaginative fun playing with the barn. A couple more things I love about this barn are the inside details (so little faces can peak inside and see a decorated room), the working barn doors, and the easy to read instructions that are included.

Imagination Box co not only makes great toys but they are also a fabulous business to support. I especially love that they have teamed up with a local non-profit group that provides employment for people with special needs. So each toy is assembles in their hometown of SandPoint Idaho by individuals with developmental disabilities- I love this kind of empowerment! As mentioned Imagination Box co also creates eco-friendly products in an eco-friendly way: with recycled materials, by local sourcing, and other green business practices including a website that is completely wind powered. The owners also live in a solar powered yurt and are living the natural life. This company is just amazing and I feel great supporting and recommending them.

Shop: Right now head over to Imagination Box and take advantage of their Holiday Gift Sale. All products are 20% off through the holidays!

Connect: Visit Imagination Box co on Facebook  and follow them on Twitter to learn about current giveaways, sales, and promotions.

Otterbottle {Review and Giveaway}

When the weather turns cold, I love to keep warm with a nice thermos of hot cocoa. So I am really loving the new Otterbottle insulated drink and food containers. These beautiful stainless steel thermoses keep your food and drinks hot and are good for the planet too. Most importantly, they are safe for you and your family since they are BPA free, aluminum free, contain no liners, and are made with high quality stainless steel.

I have been a fan of Otterbottle water bottles for some time. This proudly Canadian company offers an artistic and stylish line of planet friendly food and drink containers including; three sizes of Water Bottles, insulated Food Containers, insulated Thermoses, and Insulated Totes.  Otterbottle is also a company committed to the environment. Besides producing products that are alternatives to super-polluting plastic bottles, they also donate a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold to the David Suzuki Foundation.

I tried the unique and beautiful Fireworks Thermos from Otterbottle, and it is wonderful. I have been using it for hot cocoa, tea, and my morning coffee for weeks and I love it. I'm especially impressed by how well it is insulated. Even though the walls are thin, it keeps my drink hot for 4-5 hours! This multi-use bottle is great for cold drinks too, keeping my water cool without freezing my hands. It also has a very well designed top- that opens two ways (unscrew one top for a drink spout and the 2nd top for easy washing and filling).

The Otterbottle Insulated Thermos is especially great for on the go. It fits perfectly in most vehicle drink holders, and doesn't easily tip or spill.  We are a pretty active family, and this bottle snaps on to my pack or stroller and allows me always have a cool or hot drink on every adventure. The Otterbottle thermos is the perfect addition to any eco-lunch kit or yoga bag too.

Shop: Otterbottles would make the perfect Christmas gift for the eco-chic person on your list and can be found online at Otterbottle.ca or in more than 100 stores across Canada. The thermos reviewed above comes in six fabulous styles and retails for $23.99 CAD.

The Giveaway: Otterbottle has generously offered to give one of my readers one of  their lovely new Insulated Lunch Totes (pictured above).

To Enter: Visit Otterbottle and comment below with another one of their great products that you would like to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Otterbottle on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Otterbotte on twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win an Otterbottle Insulated Tote http://bit.ly/g5R5Vm @mamareviews @otterbottle #giveaway" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~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 on December 10th 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.

Seedling Kit Winner

Congratulations Mommy Bug (comment #26) you have won your choice of Seedling Creativity Kits from Inspire Imports. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Inspire Imports for sponsoring this giveaway.

Sofia's Dream, by Land Wilson ~ Author Interview and Giveaway

Talking to children about pollution can be hard. I never know where to start, how to explain why making eco friendly choices is so important, or how to explain that small things do make a difference. The lovely new book Sofia's Dream by Land Wilson is a wonderful way to open a dialog about environmental caring from an early age. It is a sweet book, with a very special message: even the smallest child can make a difference and help heal our earth.

This Magically written book follows the story of a little girl name Sofia who befriends the moon and is guided on a journey one night to see the earth from afar. From the moons view, Sofia can see how carelessness and pollution is harming the earth . Sophia is sad to see our planet in despair, and asks what she can do to. I love the empowering message of the moon:  although the planet needs help even the smallest child can make a difference by caring for the planet everyday and inspiring others to do the same. Once she awakens from her dream, Sofia is also awakened to caring for the planet and pledges to do her part and share the moons message with us all.

I really love how Sophia's Dream reads like a poem making it a complete joy to read. It is very dreamy, with swirling stars and talk of sleep making it ideal for bedtime. The illustrations are also unique, beautiful, and whimsical. Sophia's Dream is eco-friendly too, printed in North America using recycled paper and soy inks. I completely recommend Sophia's Dream- its a great way to teach your children how to care for the planet and it would make the most beautiful Christmas gift.

I was lucky enough to get to interview Land Wilson (the author of Sofia's Dream) and I was completely inspired by his thoughtful answers. I hope you enjoy them too:

~How do you talk with your own children about environmental issues?

My daughter Georgia is 5 and my son Eli is 8. These are impressionable ages. My first priority is to get them to love nature and so this summer I took them on four camping trips to local beach areas. Some of my best bonding with my kids has occurred during these nature trips.

Next is our own vegetable garden. From day one, I have encouraged my kids to be active participants in all of the various stages. My daughter now takes great pride in watching the seeds that she plants grow into something that she can pick and eat. She has taken ownership of the garden and refers to it as “our garden”. Sometimes she disappears and I find her out on her own weeding, picking vegetables, or turning over soil. I won’t be surprised if some day she starts referring to it as “her garden”.

Many opportunities arise for meaningful conversations about protecting nature when you are playing on a beach littered with pieces of plastic and Styrofoam. I try to spend part of my visit filling at least one bag worth of garbage. My kids notice this and they copy me. I tell them that if they don’t pick it up, there is a good chance that nobody will. When the rains come, this garbage can work its way into the ocean. If every one picked up just one piece of plastic a day, this would add up to making a difference with things like the giant patches of plastic swirling around in all of our earth’s major oceans.

~What other ways does your family do its part?

-carpooling to school.
-doing errands by foot or bike when possible
-turning off lights that aren’t being used
-making use of second-hand clothes
-conserving water (using grey water, drought tolerant plants, low flow devices, drip irrigation & channeling water from our sump pump to our plants)
-growing our own vegetables
-composting
-picking up trash whenever possible
-always bringing hazardous household waste to drop-off locations.
-striving to be more responsible with plastics
-striving to become a “zero landfill” household

~ Could you share some ideas with my readers about how to incorporate lesson plans or family activities that parents can do as a follow up to Sofia's Dream?

I think it is vital that parents (and other family members) strive to teach children that they really do make a difference. On my website www.landwilson.com under the section “My Story”, I explain how I went through my younger years not believing that I made a difference. I think a lot of people feel like this. Kids (and adults) do make a difference and they need to learn this. Great achievements by groups of people happen by the collective efforts of individual people

One of my favorite blogs for information on ideas for reducing household waste is at http://www.zerowastehome.blogspot.com/. The founder, Bea Johnson says, “Refuse, refuse, refuse. Then reduce, reuse, recycle (and only in that order).
Everything I mentioned should give families a good start in helping conserve the planet for themselves and future generations.
 ________________________________________________

Shop: Sofia's Dream (as well as a lovely collection of Earth Minded books) can be found at Little Pickle Press and at these lovely shops. All of their books have also just been released on itunes.

Want to Win an iPod Shuffle too? To celebrate the launch of Little Pickle Books on iTunes, Little Pickle Press is Giving away an iPod Shuffle - EVERY WEEK. So after you've entered my giveaway below, head over to The Little Pickle Press Blog and enter weekly (by commenting on the latest iPod post).

The Giveaway: Little Pickle Press has offered to give one of my readers their own copy of Sofia's dream.

To Enter: Visit Little Pickle Press and comment below with another one of their books that you would like.(this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Enter to win the iPod Shuffle on the Little Pickle Press Blog (and tell them I sent you) then comment
~Follow the Little Pickle Press Blog and comment
~Like Little Pickle Press on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win the childrens book Sophia's Dream http://bit.ly/hyDL46 @mamareviews @lpp_media #giveaway #books #childrensbooks" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~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 on December 10th 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.

Cate and Levi Puppet Winner

Congratulations Rebbecca (comment 163) you have won a unique and adorable wool puppet from Hum Clothing. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Hum Clothing for sponsoring this giveaway.

Happy Thanksgiving & Vegetarian Cornish Pasty Recipe

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope my friends and family down south are having a day to be thankful for ~ with good food and time spent with loved ones.

I thought I would do something different and share my favorite new recipe. It would be a delicious side for Thanksgiving and is a perfect addition to make when a vegetarian is joining in the festivities.

 My older daughter and I have been dreaming of Pasties for months. Ever Since we went to a yummy pastie shop while on vacation. So I scoured the net, and tried to remember the ingredients in the pasties we tried and came up with this recipe. It turned out so amazingly good that I had to share.

Natural Mama's Vegetarian Cornish Pasties:

Filling Ingredients:
3TBS butter
3/4 of a large onion diced
4 yellow potatoes (peeled and cubed)
1/3 green cabbage (sliced thin or shredded)
1 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper

Preheat Over to 375

Preparation:

In a large frying pan; Saute the Onion and cabbage in butter for 5 minutes, then add yellow potatoes.  Saute covered, stirring occasionally,  until the potatoes are almost soft and the cabbage and onions are translucent, about 20 minutes (add water as needed up to 1/2 cup). Add frozen green peas and salt and pepper to taste then set aside covered.

The Pastry: Combine 3 c white flour, dash of salt,  and approx 3/4 cups cold butter and mix to a crumb (i used my fingers). Then add enough cold water to just form a firm ball. (do not over mix). Set aside in the fridge (covered) at least 5 minutes, or until the potato mixture has cooled to warm.  **a favorite whole wheat pastry recipe would work too.

Assembly: (have a bowl of cold water near by) make golf ball sized balls of dough and roll out on a floured surface until thin (like pie pastry) into a circle. Then heap approx 3-4TBS of potato mixture in the center of the pastry, and wet the bottom edge. Grab the top of the pastry and fold over to the wet side and pinch to form a pocket.

Place on cookie sheet and bake until golden, approx 30 minutes. Makes approx 9 large pasties

Let cool 10 minutes, then serve with catsup. mmmmm, my kids loved these!

ok my Pasties arnt as beautiful as the professional ones above, but they sure were tasty :)

Kigo Footwear Review

I am a  barefoot mama- I'm not sure if it's my hippy roots or my claustrophobic feet but I prefer to go barefoot as much as possible. Furthermore when I do wear shoes, I cant stand socks! So I am loving my new Kigo Shoes. These minimalist shoes are so comfortable they feel like I am wearing no shoes at all. Better yet, they are designed to be worn without socks, which makes my feet very happy indeed. Kigo Shoes are also eco-friendly and completely adorable.

I was sent a  pair of Kigo Curv shoes to review and my feet are in love. From the moment I slipped them on, I was amazed at their comfort and ease of wear. I have worn them on hikes with the family, jogging with my dog,  and running around town; and they are very comfortable and lightweight. The Kigo Curv also features a flexible mid-sole, high-grip soles, and breathable fabric. They are built tough and water proof too, making them suitable for any outdoor activity. Best of all- unlike a lot of flats, the Kigo Curvs don't rub on my heals or cause blisters.

The Kigo Curv are Mary Jane style shoes that look as good as they feel. They look sweet peaking out under my jeans, with shorts, or even paired with a dress. They come in 6 pretty earth toned colors and have a sleek and sporty cut. They are also fold-able and portable, making them great for tossing in your purse or taking on travels.

Kigo Footwear also shows a great commitment to the environment, which I admire. They strive to be eco-responsible by using eco-friendly materials and green business practices. The upper of their shoes are made using post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, they use eco-friendly linings, and shoes are assembled using water based cements. To further reduce their footprint, Kigo also uses minimalist recycled and compost able packaging.

Shop: The Kigo Curve reviewed above, as well as other great shoes for men and women, can be purchased online from KigoFootwear.com. The Kigo Curve retails for $69.99.

Connect with Kigo: To learn more about Kigo, stay up to date on giveaways and promotions, and learn about new products-  like Kigo on facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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

So Good Winner

Congratulations to Wanda (comment 134) you have won $50 worth of So Good products, I hope you enjoy them. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to all who entered and to So Good for sponsoring this giveaway.

Green Gift Guide {my favorite gifts for kids}

Welcome to my first Green Gift Guide. I hope you enjoy my list of some favorite eco-friendly gifts to give. I especially love giving gifts that encourage imaginative play, getting active, or are hand-made with love. So if you are looking for some gift ideas that are loved by kids and are completely green, here are my top picks:

1. Balance Bikes
Hands down my toddlers favorite toy is her balance bike. She loves riding her bike around the yard or house, and has been gaining lots of balance and bike riding skills. It gives her a great sense of accomplishment to ride a bike on her own, and I love how safe and well designed these bikes are. Balance bikes are also a nice departure from the plastic ride-on toys that line the shelves of most toy stores- we try and avoid plastic so I really appreciate that Balance Bikes are out of wood or metal.

A great Canadian Source for Balance Bikes is Balance Bikes Canada. They offer a fabulous selection of the best quality balance bikes all in one place- making comparison shopping fast and easy. Balance Bikes Canada also offers a price match guarantee- which I love. My favorite bikes from Balance Bikes Canada are the Canadian made wooden Runners Bike (which we own) and the lightweight, yet sturdy Strider. Both would make the 2-5 year old on your list very happy this holiday season.
SHOP: Check out Balance Bikes Canada for the best selection of Balance Bikes. The wooden Runners Bike retails for $139 CAD and the Strider Bike retails for $129 CAD.

2. Green Toys (Bumblebee Toys)

If your looking for the ultimate in eco-friendly ethical toys, Green Toys are the gift for you. Green Toys are wonderfully designed to be simply fun - no batteries are required, these toys powered by kids imaginations. They are made in the US using 100% recycled milk jugs, saving saving energy and reducing greenhouse gasses. They are very safe and non-toxic as well, containing no phthalates, BPA, or lead. I am especially loving the new Green Toys Fire Truck (complete with a rotating ladder and removable side ladders).  

A great place to find Green Toys in Canada is at Bumblebee Toys. This fabulous online shop carries  an unique collection of  eco friendly toys, craft supplies, and playthings that inspire imagination and nourish the senses. Bumblebee Toys also has some beautiful Waldorf inspired items and an ever expanding selection of educational toys. 

SHOP: Bumblebee Toys has a great selection of Green Toys (including tea sets, dishes, tug boats, and an assortment of trucks). The cool Fire Truck seen above retails for 27.95 CAD.

4. Cozy Hats (from Mon Petit Shoo)

When the weather turns cold, everyone on my list likes getting gift to keep them warm and cozy. Last Spring I teamed up with Amanda from Mon Petit Shoo, and I have been a huge fan of her hand-made hats ever since. She uses beautiful  natural wools and makes fun and creative hats. Her crocheted owl hat is just about the cutest winter hat I've ever seen. Mon Petit Shoo also makes really beautiful custom made brimmed hats- for adults, babies, and children. I love the idea of ordering a custom hat for that someone special on your list.

SHOP: A wonderful selection of unique and custom crocheted gifts can be found on Mon Petit Shoo (hats start at just 12.50) 

5. Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish (from Raspberry Kids)

Do you have little girls who love to play dress-up? If so I'm sure they would love to receive some pretty and safe Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish from Raspberry Kids. Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish is water based, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic: making it safe and gentle on little hands. It is also free of nasty fumes, eco-friendly, and completely biodegradable. My girls love this polish, it goes on beautifully and comes in 11 fun colors.

SHOP: Just in time for Christmas, Raspberry Kids if offering a Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish Customizable Two Pack with Remover and Buffer for just 34.99  and a  Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish Customizable Three Pack with Buffer for 36.99.  

6. Handmade Goodness

 I love making and buying handmade toys, they are unique, full of love, and have soul. My girls also love to receive gifts handmade by mum. I wont post what I'm making the older girls (because they read my blog) but I'm doing a little crocheting, sewing, and am in the process of making the wee one a re-purposed play kitchen (similar to this one) for Christmas. Etsy is also a wonderful place to find hand-made gifts. A couple of my current etsy loves are these wooden Waldorf toys, these re-purposed wool softies, some yummy felt food, and these sweet Waldorf babies.

Discounts:
Two of the lovely shops mentioned above have offered my readers discounts for the duration of the holiday shopping season. Raspberry Kids is offering my readers 15% everything in store (excluding electronic gift cards, sale items and bundled items) by entering the code naturalmama15.
Bumblebee Toys is offering  my readers 5% off anything in the store, using the code 5OFF.

Goats Milk Goods Review and Giveaway- CLOSED

As much as I love the holidays, I must admit they also causes me a lot of stress. My favorite way to unwind and melt away this stress is by treating myself to quality natural bath and beauty products. Well this year I have gotten an early start on my holiday self-pampering thanks to Goats Milk Goods. This fabulous company offers a great selection of natural goats milk products including soaps, bath bombs, lotions, and lip balms. Everything is handmade with natural wholesome ingredients, that are gentle and ultra moisturising. Keep reading to learn more about the products Goats Milk Goods offers and to find out how you can win a soap gift pack.

Rosemary Spearmint Essential Oil Soap -  I love handmade soap, and the Rosemary Spearmint Essential Oil Soap I tried from Goats Milk Goods is amazing. It is made with all natural high quality ingredients, and doesn't contain any preservatives, synthetic colors or chemicals. Just wholesome ingredients such as raw goats milk, coconut oil, and olive oil; which are  nourishing and incredibly moisturizing. It is also infused with essential oils of Rosemary and Spearmint, that smell wonderful and brighten up any shower. This soap is so pretty too- with swirls of green it looks (and smells) like cake. Its a great soap to enjoy for yourself, but it would also make a beautiful gift.

Goats Milk Bath Bombs - My favorite way to unwind after a long day is by soaking in the bath with a fizzy bath bomb. Goats Milk Goods has a yummy selection of bath bombs, that are full of fizzy goodness. Goats Milk Goods bath bombs contain moisturizing and nourishing goats milk and sweet almond oil, and have also been infused with witch hazel (known for its healing properties). I tried the Pumpkin Pie Bath Bomb and it made my bath smell so good and also left my skin feeling soft and moisturized.

Delicious Black Cherry Lip Balm- Goats Milk Goods Lip balms are great for dry winter lips. These hand-made balms contain Cocoa butter, Shea butter, and vitamin E to nourish dry lips and prevent chapping. I have been using the tasty Black Cherry flavor balm and it smells great, while also making my lips feel soft and healthy. At only $2.75 per tube - they are so reasonable too.

Honeysuckle Foaming Soap - I love the scent of honeysuckle, so I have been really enjoying this foaming liquid soap. It smells wonderful and is especially nice as a hand-soap. It leaves my hands clean, smelling great, and so soft. Like Goats Milk Goods other soaps, the foaming soap is also made with moisturizing and gentle raw goats milk. I have even been using it on my toddlers sensitive skin with no irritation. I love that it comes in a handy foaming pump, that dispenses a nice lather. (it is also available in Oatmeal Milk and Honey, which sounds wonderful).

Tea Tree Lotion Stick - Have you tried lotion sticks yet? They are solid sticks that melt into a moisturizing lotion when they come into contact with skin and I completely love them. These portable tubes are so handy for traveling or having in your purse. Goats Milk Goods offers three different kinds of lotion sticks (scented, unscented, and specialty). I choose to review one of the healing specialty sticks with tea tree oil. My family loves tea tree oil because of its natural antibacterial properties and always keep some on hand for bug bites, rashes, or scratches. The tea tree oil stick from Goats Milk Good goes on smooth, feels great, and is soothing to my rash prone skin.  It contains all natural ingredients and is gentle enough to use on small children.

I have been really happy with the quality and gentleness of every product me and my family tried and I completely recommend Goats Milk Goods. I also love to support family farms. The Jonas family, and their 8 children, all make the products by hand on their rural Indiana farm. They became soap makers five years ago, when  PJ decided she no longer wanted to use chemical based skin care products on her children. They also raise the goats themselves, ensuring that the raw goats milk they use is antibiotic and hormone free.

Shop: All of the products reviewed above, as well as so much more can be found at GoatsMilkGoods.com. The prices are very reasonable, and their shipping is fast and inexpensive too. They also have some lovely gift packs that would make great gifts this holiday season. 

The Giveaway: Goats Milk Goods has generously offered to give one of my readers a Goats Milk Soap Gift Pack (consisting of your choice of any 3 bars of soap).

To Enter: Visit Goats Milk Goods and comment below telling me what you would love to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)


Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Goats Milk Goods on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a 3 Pack of Handmade Natural Soap http://bit.ly/97Wp90 @mamareviews  #giveaway #giftideas" (daily tweet) leave a link
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This Giveaway ends on December 6th 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.

Little Soles Eco Squeaky Shoe Winner

Congratulations to Tirza (comment #210) you have won a pair of eco squeaky shoes from Little Soles. These shoes are so fun, adorable, and eco-friendly. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to the fabulous Little Soles Shoes for sponsoring this giveaway.

Innocent Earth {a gift for everyone on your list} Review and Discount

Are you doing your Christmas shopping online this year? I know I am-  no line-ups, crowded malls, icy roads, and a way better selection. If this sounds good to you, head over to Innocent Earth. This wonderful Canadian boutique has a huge selection of stylish organic clothing, toys, bath and body products, and more for the whole family.

Here are some of my favorite gift ideas from Innocent Earth:

For the Kids: All three of my girls love receiving pajamas for Christmas. Innocent Earth carries one of my favorite natural pajama brands -Garden Kids Organic PJ's. We tried a pair of the cozy lime green striped Long John Pajamas and my youngest daughter completely loves them.  They are so soft and warm with a comfortable snug fit. In fact these PJ's are so cozy my daughter usually wants to wear them all day. Garden Kids PJ's are made with very nice quality 100% organic pima cotton that gets softer with each wash and is preshrunk. These Pajamas are very well made in the US, under fair working conditions. I also really love that Garden Kids Pj's are chemical free and not treated with any toxic flame retardants, making them kind to our planet and safe for your child's delicate skin.

For the Tween/Teen: The Good For you Girls Complete Skin Care Kit would make an amazing gift for any older girl on your list this year. The Good For You Girls kit contains cleanser, toner, and moisturizer - and is to be used together in a three step process. My 12 year old loves the kit we were sent. It makes her feel grown-up, encourages good skincare habits, and empowers her to naturally care for her skin. The kit also works beautifully, making her skin feel soft, healthy, and blemish free. Good For You Girl products contain soothing botanicals, healing extracts and nourishing organics that have bee specially chosen to be gentle and effective for teen and tween skin. As a mom, I really love that Good For You Girls Skincare is 100% natural and contains no parabens, petrochemicals, synthetics, dyes, or irritants. (Products in kit last 4-6 months)

For Dad: Combat Ready Balm is strong and manly, but contains natural and organic ingredients. I think it would make a great stocking stuffer for any natural man on your list. This concentrated balm relives dry, inflamed, or damages skin wonderfully. My husband tried some on a minor rash, and it worked amazingly well and completely soothed the itch. It also works great on winter dryness, shaving burn, bug bites, and wind burn. In fact Combat-ready Balm works so well that it has become a favorite with Canadian and US Armed Forces in the Middle East, where it sooths wind burn and eases the itch of bug bites.

For Mom: I am crazy about my Deep Steep Moisture Stick. It has a sweet honeydew/Spearmint smell that is so yummy, and makes me feel smooth and pampered.  It melts when it meets your skin and contains natural ingredients such as Dandelion, Echinacea, Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin E and Cocoa Butter to detox, rejuvenate, and soften. I found it works great at relieving dry hands, dry feet, dry elbows, and pregnant belly itch. Its designed perfectly  for tossing in the purse, and I love that it can keep you smelling pretty and moisturized on the go. Deep Steel Moisture stick is also safe and natural, and never contains parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate,  mineral oil/petroleum, or artificial fragrances. Deep Steep moisture Sticks are available in 5 amazing scents (Grapefruit Bergamot, Honeydew Spearmint, Lavender Chamomile, Rosemary Mint, Tangerine Melon)...mmmmmm.

I completely recommend Innocent Earth for all your natural and organic needs. The owners are so nice, they have a great selection, and shipping is fast. This family owned Canadian shop also gives back to our planet by supporting 1% for the planet, using green energy, and being members of the Organic Trade Association. Stop by Innocent Earth and have a look, your sure to find some great natural gifts for your loved ones.

Connect with Innocent Earth: to receive exclusive offers, promos, sales, events, and to hear about latest products Like Innocent Earth on Facebook,  follow Innocent Earth on twitter, and subscribe to their newsletter.

Shop: All of the fabulous products reviewed above and so much more can be found at InnocentEarth.ca. They offer free shipping on all orders over $150 and have generously offered my readers a 10% discount. Enter the the code CNDNMAMA10 at checkout for 10% off any order over $50 (offer expires:15-DEC-10).

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