Nov

4

Greenwashing 101: What Companies Will Do To Get Your Dollars

Filed Under Chemicals, Green Mama | 30 Comments

Pin It

    I was lying in bed last night watching Vampire Diaries (don’t judge me…  I like angst ridden teen television.) when a commercial for Pantene Nature Fusion Shampoo came on.  It was the typical Eva Mendez flipping her unnaturally shiny hair around and pouting her big lips at me trying to sell me shampoo to make my hair “stronger” and unbreakable like a super hero.  This is the kind of commerical I am used to. Basic marketing baloney to sell a product.

    But what got my attention was the marketing language for this new “Nature Fusion”  shampoo. “Want to make a healthy choice for your hair, and a healthy choice for the environment?”.  Hold on.  Back up a second.

    Pantene saw an opportunity, like every other large company, to take advantage of consumers wanting safer and more environmentally safe products.  So instead of cleaning up the products they already sell (like J&J did with their new “Natural” line of baby shampoo) they add a “natural” product line to their arsenal to draw you in.  To make it seem like they are really trying, Pantene claims their Nature Fusion shampoo is packaged in a 59%  plant based plastic bottle – but not the cap. Wow! All 59% of it? You really must love the planet, Pantene.

    This is an ingredients list for their new Nature Fusion shampoo:

    Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Xylene Sulfonate, Cocamide MEA, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract (Ginger), Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Citric Acid, Dimethiconol, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Citrate, Yellow 5, Orange 4

    • So we’ve got SLS : classified as a skin irritant and has 1,4-dioxane contamination concerns – which is a carcinogen
    • Cocamidopropyl Betaine: known human immunity system toxicant and Suspected to be an environmental toxin.  I’m not sure why they bothered with this ingredient when they have SLS in here.  Just wanted to be able to say there is coconuts in the shampoo perhaps.
    • Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride: I don’t even know what this is but it sure does sound like it was harvested from a tree in Brazil! It’s natural, can’t you tell?
    • Fragrance: PHTHALATES – hormone disruption, need I say more?
    • Methylchloroisothiazolinone AND Methylisothiazolinone:  You can never have too much preservatives classified as a “Human immune system toxicant” now can we?
    • There’s other chemicals in here but do I really need to go on?

    My point here is that if they really cared about the environment and saving the planet, they wouldn’t be selling products that contain harmful chemicals, which get washed down the drain and into our water systems, polluting our environment.  They toss in a minute amount of aloe and flower extracts and they can call it natural.  But it’s far from it.  Providing it in a partially plant based bottle? That’s just their way of pretending to be environmentally conscious so that your money goes into their wallets.

    Top it off with a gorgeous high paid actress and you’ve got yourself some classic Greenwashing.

    Sep

    13

    Green Halloween: Costume Swap!

    Filed Under Green Mama | Comments Off

    Pin It

      Like me, you might be hiding your head in the sand at the prospect of Halloween approaching.  Because it represents not only candy and cider but the start of the holiday season, which I am so not ready to accept.  But it will inevitably arrive. Luckily for me I have 2 boys and will be able to recycle a few costumes to my younger one for another few years but it eventually becomes an expense to re-costume a kid or two every year.

      National Costume Swap Day is October 8th! I think this is a really awesome idea and a perfect solution to the ever expanding list of expenses.  You probably know a group of kids from school or play groups in the same set of age ranges as your own kids. So setting up a costume swap is the perfect way to green your Halloween and save some money in the process.  Costumes don’t get to much action… I know I have several in my closet that were worn less than an hour or so and are in perfect condition. Why waste it?

      Whether you want to host a small costume swap or go all out and throw a big costume swapping bash – there is no hard and fast method of doing it.  Green Halloween has a list of tips on hosting your own costume swap and how to register it.  Registering your event allows others in your community to find out about it and participate.

      My biggest problem is always that my son picks the weirdest costumes.  I mean, what other kid will want to dress up as an Entomologist?? (My son literally told me this was what he wanted to be for Halloween this year).  But accessories can be swapped too. I’d rather not buy a bag of plastic bugs if I can help it.

      Check out the event partner Green Halloween for details on National Costume Swap Day on October 8th and see how you can jump start a greener Halloween in your community. Swap.com is also an event partner for Costume Swap day so please check them out too – it’s an awesome way to save some cash and eliminate unnecessary waste!

      Jul

      27

      Back to School Review & Giveaway from MightyNest

      Filed Under Food Safety, Green Mama, Product Reviews | 223 Comments

      Pin It

        I know, you’re thinking “Back to school already? It’s still JULY.” But, some of you can relate to me because my son starts Kindergarten on August 8th. Which is so bizarre to me having grown up in New York where school was a distant thought until Labor Day.  Anyway, so since many kids will be going back to the books in August I am happy to feature some great items that will make going back to school a little less toxic and of course, waste free.  One of my favorite non-toxic retailers is MightyNest.com.  So of course, shopping for lunch gear is made rather simple by stopping in their online shop.  They have a great selection of reusable lunch gear for kids and adults.  What I love most is their reluctance to sell items that are primarily plastic.  So I’d like to highlight a few favorite products and then give them away.  Sound good?

        Life Factory Glass Beverage Bottles – These cuties are almost a replica of their larger glass bottles, one of which I have sitting on my desk as I type this filled with water, ice and lemon slices.  They are a 9 ounce glass bottle that fits in a lunch bag and is adorned with a silicone sleeve to prevent breaking.  Though I’ve tried to smash a few Life Factory products in my time and have been pretty unsuccessful.  I love being able to use glass instead of plastic to hold liquids, especially for my kids.  This would be perfect for an older kid, tween or teenager – Hey, they need stuff too!  My 5 year old loves it because it’s just like mine, but the wider opening is cause for some spillage so I don’t know I’d trust him at school with it.  MightyNest does carry a sippy adapter for these though so they can be used for the young ones too. I’m a big fan of Life Factory’s products. Now if only they’d make a sport cap so I can take mine to the gym….

        SnackTAXI snack and sandwich bags – These have primarily replaced any need for plastic wrap in my kids lunch boxes. They are reusable fabric bags that are lined with coated nylon. They can be machine washed and dried or very simply wiped clean with a damp sponge or washcloth.  I just rinse them out and dry them overnight.  You can fit a regular sized sandwich, veggies, or a generous portion of dry snacks in one snackTAXI.  With the sandwich I like to wrap it with a snackTAXI and then encase it in a reusable sandwich box to prevent squashing.  When you carry a reusable bottle to school it can be heavy and smush your carefully crafted sandwich.  I love these for bringing snacks to preschool or to the playground too.  They have really cute designs too!

        LunchBots Uno Stainless Steel Food Containers – Ok I know I’ve gushed about LunchBots before but it bears repeating.  I love these little containers and so do the kids.  When I first started shopping for alternatives to plastic for lunch storage I had a hard time finding something that fit a regular sized sandwich. Anyone who uses whole wheat or whole grain bread knows that the slices are pretty big and hearty.  I can fit a regular sized or larger size sandwich in one of these no problem. Once in a while I might have to cut off a corner or two if it’s misshapen bread but mostly, it works great.  My son can open the container himself and it comes back from school empty. I also love these for carrying snacks and the LunchBots Duo is perfect for sending in fruit or dry snacks.  I am a fan of their Rounds containers too.  A little birdie told me they are coming out with an insulated round soon.

        Stop by MightyNest.com to find these and other great reusable lunch gear.  They’ve just added lunch boxes and back packs too.

        Win All Three!

        MightyNest has so generously offered to give one SAfeMama reader a set of the above items just in time for back to school!

        Here’s How To Enter (Required):

        Visit MightyNest and have a look around.  Tell me in the comments what back to school items you would love to have for your kids or for yourself!

        For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

        • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
        • Fan/Like  MightyNest on Facebook (first name, last initial)
        • Sign up for MightyNest’s Newsletter for inside tips on new products! (first name, last initial)
        • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
        • Follow @MightyNest on Twitter (Twitter name)
        • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
        • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
        • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN reusable lunch gear from @MightyNest on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 8/2 http://tinyurl.com/3k7cqfz

        One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until August 2, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!  Thank you MightyNest!

        Congratulations to Nathalee G. commenter #204!

        Jun

        2

        Summer Starter Kit from Lullaby Organics! (Giveaway)

        Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Skin Care | 254 Comments

        Pin It

          I released my 2011 Sunscreen Cheat Sheet recently and right on time for starting out the summer fun!  Being in the south, we’ve been beaching and swimming for a while so it’s not new to us but the rest of the northern states are gearing up for heading to the beach, lake, river, or wherever you spend your leisure summer days.  So while you’re packing up your big floppy hats, umbrellas and filling your coolers with snacks, you can add some other summer aides to your pile to make your summer fun and safe.

          Lullaby Organics, one of our sponsors and supporters is offering a Summer Starter Kit for some fun in the sun to one of my very lucky readers. In the kit you’ll receive some fabulous goodies from Lullaby Organics to get your summer off to a good start.  Better even, if you don’t win the kit, you can buy your own for yourself or as a gift! These are all GREAT products that I support and love.

          Green Toys Sand Play Set – I’m a big fan of Green Toys and for good reason.  Not only are their toys recycleable, but they are make of 100% recycled plastic, made in the USA and contain no BPA, PVC or Phthalates.  Plus, their toys are really fun to play with.  We’ve used their sand toy set here at the beach many many times.  Everyone fights over the Green Toys shovel because it’s the best one. Their toys are sturdy and well designed and will last far longer than the cheap plastic beach toys we have (that always end up breaking every year).  Green Toys stand the test of time. And they look cool! And then you can recycle them when you’re done with them (which will be never… they really are that sturdy)

          Purple Prairie SPF 30+ Sun Stuff - Purple Prairie got awarded  Best Overall Sunscreen in this years cheat sheet.  It feels “drier” than other natural sunscreens, protects great and stands up to swim, beach and rough play in the sun. When you can’t keep hats and sun clothes on the kids, a good sunscreen is good back up for long days in the sun.  Some sun exposure is very important to overall health, so don’t keep them slathered every second in the sun.  But if you’re out at a picnic for hours on end and the kids won’t get off the playground, a little Sun Stuff will keep them from getting burned. Non-greasy, minimal whiteness (seriously – it’s a non-issue) and good protection.  Hands down my summer favorite this year.

          BienElla Bug Spray – Sometimes it gets later in the day and those biting rascals come out to play too.  Here in Florida I battle the buggies every afternoon around dinner time. They are relentless.  So some natural bug repellent is key this time of year. Natural oils confuse bugs and keep them off your arms and legs.  It has a pleasant scent and isn’t heavy on your skin. The small bottle fits perfectly in a side pocket of your non woven tote bag.  BienElla specializes in all natural skin and body solutions and their bug spray is no exception.  No DEET, just natural bug repelling oils to keep them at bay.

          My Mama’s Love Burn Out Organic Burn Cream – If by chance you happen to get too much sun and there are pink backs and faces running around the house, perhaps a little soothing rescue is in order.  My Mama’s Love Burn Out Burn Cream is great because it is SUPER effective for sunburn and made with natural organic ingredients for a soothing, healing ointment for burns that provides fast relief.  My Mama’s Love products are specialized for problem skin issues like eczema, bug bites, scalp problems and itchies. Natural organic ingredients that exclude allergens is the key to it’s success!

          Stock Up: Get your Safe Summer Essentials Kit from Lullaby Organics!

          Here’s How To Enter (Required):

          Visit Lullaby Organics and let me know what items they carry would make your life greener. They carry some great stuff! (I love the organic cotton jammies myself..)

          For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

          • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
          • Fan/Like  Lullaby Organics on Facebook (first name, last initial)
          • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
          • Follow @lullabyorganics on Twitter (Twitter name)
          • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
          • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
          • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments): Enter to #WIN a Safe Summer Essentials kit from @LullabyOrganics on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 6/10 http://tinyurl.com/6fmko8f

          One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until June 10, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!  Thank you Lullaby Organics!

          Congratulations commenter #84  - Tara B!   Thank you to everyone who entered.  I wish I could give this prize to everyone!

          Apr

          7

          Have An Eco-Friendly Easter!

          Filed Under Green Mama | 3 Comments

          Pin It

            For those that do celebrate the Easter holiday and engage in the traditions of Easter Baskets and egg hunts I have compiled a few things I indulge in for my kids (and myself – I like treats too!) for the holiday.  Since this is a manageable holiday and doesn’t require a ton of planning, I can narrow down some of my old favorites I’ve come to instinctively order each year and some items are merely suggestions for those who need new ideas.  Here are my top picks for this year:

            Organic Hopp’n Dark Chocolate Easter Bunny

            What’s an Easter Basket without a chocolate bunny? Lame that’s what! (I’m kidding… kids really don’t care that much). But if you want to eat chocolate, and let’s all admit right now that we steal candy from our kids stash, why not get something organic?  These USDA Certified Organic Hopp’n Easter Bunnies are hand crafted and wrapped in compostable cellophane gift bags and secured with ribbon made from recycled bottles. It’s 5.5″ tall and solid chocolate, made here in the USA (Vermont).  This bunny also comes in a Milk Chocolate version too.  Compared to some organic chocolate I’ve found, this is not an arm and a leg either.  $12.00 per bunny.

            Surf Sweets Jelly Beans

            I order Surf Sweets Jelly Beans every year because I feel better knowing that the junk they’re eating isn’t full of artificial food coloring, and might even have some slight benefit in the form of vitamin C.  Each serving has 100% daily allowance of vitamin C, is made with organic fruit juice and sweeteners, are gluten and casein free, and are 97% organic and vegetarian.  So while the kids shovel jelly beans in their mouth I don’t cringe as much.  I only obsess about their teeth.

            Nyokki Egg Pet Plant

            I try to not load our Easter baskets with just junk… especially since kids get bored with it quick.  So I usually come up with a project or something to entertain them with.  This cute little Nyokki Pet Plant is the perfect gift for your little budding gardener.  Handmade in Japan from glazed ceramic and has felt legs so they can perch on a windowsill while you watch grass sprout from their head.  Your kids can water it, and watch it grow.  Then later they can cut or “style” the grass hair. Or it can just be a cute little planter you and your kids enjoy working on together.

            Gluten Free Aromatic Play Clay by Mama K’s

            Play dough or clay is always a hit at our house. So why not gift them with something creative and fun that will last beyond Easter morning? This gluten-free Aromatic Play Clay by Mama K’s is handmade with organic essential oils to make play time fun and creative (and soothing!).  Lavender, Sweet Orange, Bergamont and Lemongrass sounds much more pleasant than most dough smells I’ve come across… and what pretty (and Easter-y) colors! You can get a 7 pack of 4oz tubs for $30 or a mini kit for $9.00. Mini kits come with all 7 scents, make great gifts and are small enough for airplane traveling.

            Dandelion Organic Plush Duck

            It’s no secret I love all the organic plush toys that are made by Dandelion.  They are soft, cuddly and cute.  It doesn’t hurt that they are made with organic cotton and fillings so your sweetie pie is cuddling the safest softest materials available.  This little Dandelion Duckie is perfect for Easter and will become your child’s Easter buddy.  All their toys are soft but durable and stand up to standard kid abuse.  They have a variety of stuffed friends to choose from but I thought this little Duck would be the perfect Easter friend.

            Eco-USA Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Decorating Kit

            Gone are the days of day glow petrochemical egg dyes and in comes the era of vibrant and natural egg colors. The concentrated powders are made with plant, fruit and vegetable extracts instead of petrochemical food dyes. The Eco-Eggs kit comes in a cute little egg carton (of course)and all the supplies you need to create colorful eggs and Easter fun.  Included are 3 pots of natural dye powder, a color mixing instruction card, and egg creature cutouts so you and your kids can make fun little animals and bugs out of your eggs.  The company reformulated this year and the dyes are as vibrant as ever. You can see my recent review to see how pretty they turn out.

            What will be in your basket this year? :)

            Mar

            17

            Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Decorating Kit (& Giveaway)

            Filed Under Food Safety, Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Product Reviews | 214 Comments

            Pin It

              Easter is coming!  That means egg hunts, chocolate bunnies and egg coloring.  One thing I’ve been anxious to try this year with my kids is exploring more natural ways of coloring eggs.  I am just not comfortable using Red 40 and Blue Lake tablets that inevitably leak on to the egg inside and stain our hands and clothes. They’re pretty but I’d always wanted to try something less day glow and more natural.  I’ve known about Eco-Eggs for a year or so but never actually got around to trying it out until now.  Lullaby Organics sent us an Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit to review before the rush of Easter arrives.

              The kit comes in a cute little egg carton (of course)and all the supplies you need to create colorful eggs and Easter fun.  Included are 3 pots of natural dye powder, a color mixing instruction card, and egg creature cutouts so you and your kids can make fun little animals and bugs out of your eggs.   The concentrated powders made with plant, fruit and vegetable extracts instead of petrochemical food dyes.

              SafeMama's eco-eggs: The purple stripes were totally accidental - and look cool!The colors are pretty and earthy instead of “Is this egg radioactive?“.  The dyes work rather quickly and wash off your hands completely if an accident occurs.  I also liked the fact that you only needed 3 mugs of color to create 6 variations.  I thought it would be a drastic change from the neon Paaz colors but in fact, they were quick to color and looked just as pretty (actually, I thought the colors came out nicer).  The photo of my eggs depicts my impatience with waiting the recommended 10-15 minutes per egg and they still look colorful and bright. I’ve had a long tradition of using a yellow crayon to draw designs on our eggs prior to dyeing them and this method worked just as well. I have photos of our coloring session.. I’ll add those shortly. It was fun!

              Order yours in time for Easter: You can purchase the Eco-Eggs Easter Egg Coloring Kit by Eco-Kids from Lullaby Organics! (check out their new site design too!) They are on sale for $9.99! (Normally $16.99)  Check out their selection of Eco-USA art kits … we’ve had great experiences with their paints and colored pencils too.

              Win It (& More)

              Lullaby Organics is giving one lucky reader a cute Easter Basket that contains: An eco-eggs Egg Coloring Kit ($16.00) + a miYim Organic Plush Bunny ($24.99) +  a $10 gift certificate to Lullaby Organics!!! Total Value of giveaway: $50.99! Thank you Lullaby Organics for this great prize.

              Here’s How To Enter (Required):

              Visit Lullaby Organics and tell me what items appeal to you… they have a nice selection!  This step is required to enter the giveaway.

              For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

              • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
              • Fan/Like Lullaby Organics on Facebook (first name, last initial)
              • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
              • Follow @LullabyOrganics on Twitter (Twitter name)
              • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
              • Subscribe to Lullaby Organics Newsletter Mailing List and receive 1 entry as well as a 50% off coupon for an eco-eggs kit!
              • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
              • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  Enter to #WIN an Eco-Eggs Egg Coloring Kit from @LullabyOrganics on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 3/28 http://tinyurl.com/66aqwaz

              One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until March 28, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck!

              Congratulations commenter #56, Meggan!


              Jan

              21

              GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diaper System & Giveaway

              Filed Under Cloth Diapering, Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Product Safety | 296 Comments

              Pin It

                GroVia Hybrid Cloth DiapersI mentioned in our last cloth diaper giveaway that I wanted to feature some of the new cloth diaper brands coming out on to the market.  I sadly admit I never quite got hooked on cloth diapering but mainly because I never really found a style that worked for me.  So in an effort to help change that for some of you I am going to introduce some brands to you as I go along researching.  Coincidentally, The Glass Baby Bottle, which is a fabulous shop for your non-toxic shopping – and they are seriously cool people personally, offered to give away some GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diapers to our readers. So here we go!

                After reading the material and checking these out, I think this type of cloth diapering system would be great for super busy parents who need something a little less laundry intensive than other options.  I really believe ANY cloth diaper system is better than disposables but in this case, I know that it doesn’t come as easily to all of us.  And if you’re working full time or part time and you have multiple kids, or whatever the circumstance… less laundry just sounds easier to me.  Just sayin’.

                Anyhow, here’s how it works.  The shell of the GroVia Hybrid system allows you to use one shell through multiple diaper changes.  So when the  snap-in Soaker Pad gets wet,  you change only the Soaker Pad instead of the entire diaper. Much like a pre-fold system. You snap in another Soaker Pad and you’re done.  I imagine this might be an easy system to use when you are out and about a lot, or perhaps during travel. (Especially if you take advantage of their Biosoakers).  I bet these would work perfectly for babies in day care too. The Soaker Pads are made with organic cotton so nothing but nice lovely organic cotton on your babies delicate areas.

                I think what makes these versatile is the options that are available using them.  You can also use, instead of the Soaker Pads their biodegradable Biosoakers for out and about use (and are also a nice way of trying out the system). You can also use the GroVia Shells with your favorite pre-folds, so you aren’t limited in how you use them.

                They have several cute designs and colors and fit most babies 8-35 pounds.  I was actually compelled to order some of my own for my son.

                Get Them: You can purchase the GroVia shells and Soaker Pads as well as a variety of other GroVia products like their custom detergent, reusable cloth wipes and the Organic Cotton Booster Pads from The Glass Baby Bottle!  I love supporting their shop… it’s a family owned and run business and they are great people.

                Win It

                The Glass Baby Bottle is so generously offering some GroVia Shells to one of our readers.  The winner will receive one GroVia Hybrid Hook and Loop in Kiwi and One GroVia Hybrid Snap in Vanilla so they can try out both versions. Update: The Glass Baby Bottle just also added your choice of either a 2 pack Organic Cotton Soaker Pads  OR a 50 Ct pack of Biosoakers! Yay!

                Here’s How To Enter (Required):

                Visit The Glass Baby Bottle and check out their selection. Leave a comment here telling me what products you’d love to have for your family or if there is a GroVia product that interests you, let me know here in the comments.  This step is required to enter the giveaway.

                For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count and you must have already completed the required entry method above):

                • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                • Fan/Like The Glass Baby Bottle on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
                • Follow @GlassBabyBottle on Twitter (Twitter name)
                • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
                • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  Enter to #WIN 2 GroVia Hybrid Cloth Diaper shells from @GlassBabyBottle on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 1/31/11 http://tinyurl.com/6fy5osy

                One US winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until January 31, 2011 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

                Congratulations Kari M commenter #237! Thanks to everyone who entered!

                Dec

                17

                Organic Clothes for Kids from Levana Naturals (Giveaway!)

                Filed Under Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Product Reviews | 127 Comments

                Pin It

                  Finding organic clothing for kids is not an easy task… in fact on a day to day routine of errands, I don’t come across them at all. I think once there was organic baby clothing at Target but down here in the south, there just isn’t an abundance of options, unfortunately.  So we have to take our shopping to the Internet.  I was recently introduced to Levana Naturals which is an online retailer/wholesaler carrying European organic and fairly traded apparel brands for babies and children.

                  They carry a wide array of items for babies right up to kids, including underwear and socks (which I haven’t seen much of but seems like a smart idea). They carry really cute tops, bottoms, accessories like hats and blankets to my favorite piece they sell: A red zip up cardigan made with heavy organic cotton. It’s soft and warm, but what I love most is that it can really be used as a jacket, or as a snuggly sweater for those cold wintery months. It has a nice weight to it and washes up beautifully.  As much as I love and support organic clothing for babies and kids, I find it tricky to find great clothes that are organic and aren’t all that natural cotton color.  I like that too, but sometimes you need some color and versatility and you want them to look great.  This covers all your bases! The double zipper feature allows you to zip from either end – a handy feature that looks sharp too.

                  But there is some real merit in those natural toned clothes and they too can look fabulous paired with the right pieces.  Levana Naturals also carries a line called Linea Jonathan. Their clothes are made from organic cotton that is color grown. Cotton grows naturally in various tones of sage and rich brown. Using these unique cotton fibers, Linea Jonathan’s apparel is colored without using any dyes at all. Which is fantastic, especially for kids with allergies or sensitive skin. They have a beautiful and soft velour baby cardigan that comes in green and a cinnamon brown – both colored just from the natural cotton itself.  No dyes! It’s totally adorable and soft.  I kind of want one for me.

                  I encourage you to check out Levana Naturals selection… finding organic clothing for kids is tough, but if you look in the right places you can find some great pieces.  I like to buy organic clothes for my oldest child so that they can be passed down and used again and again. This is a great store to find pieces to do that with! At Levana Naturals, all their cottons and wools are 100% organicand don’t use any chemicals or flame retardants during processing (which some manufacturers do).With babies and kids developing skin next to it, you want only the cleanest and safest materials around while still maintaining a soft, cuddly feel for playing in.

                  Win It!

                  Levana Naturals has so graciously offered one of our readers an item from their store valued up to $40! Or you can use the $40 towards a larger purchase!  Thank you Levana Naturals!

                  Here’s How To Enter:

                  Visit Levana Naturals and tell me what item you would chose if you won!

                  For Extra Entries:(You must leave a comment for each extra entry for them to count):

                  • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                  • Fan/Like Levana Naturals on Facebook (first name, last initial)
                  • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter (Twitter name)
                  • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via feedburner email
                  • Follow me on Google Friend Connect!
                  • Post about this giveaway, SafeMama and Levana Naturals (using FB tags/mentions) on your profile (first name, last initial)
                  • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  Enter to #WIN organic kids clothing from Levana Naturals on @SafeMama! #giveaway ends 12/23 http://tinyurl.com/2d53kcg

                  One US or Canadian winner will be selected at random using Random.org.  Entries will be accepted until December 23, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :D

                  Congratulations commenter #42, Kara!

                  Oct

                  13

                  Non-Toxic Halloween: Luna Organics Face Paints

                  Filed Under Green Mama, product finds, Skin Care | 4 Comments

                  Pin It

                    Luna Organics Organic Face Paints

                    I’m sure you’ve been there… at a birthday party or a festival and the kids want their faces painted like a tiger or a butterfly.  They sit patiently for what seems like the first time ever, while you twist and writhe inside thinking about the awful ingredients being put all over their face.  That stuff can’t be good right? Who makes it? What’s IN it? Lead? Phthalates? Then Halloween rolls around and you need to paint whiskers on little Lisa and make Tony into a vampire.  Now what?

                    Luckily there is an option now.  I discovered Luna Organics through The Glass Baby Bottle a while ago and I’ve been meaning to point it out to my lovely readers.  Luna Organics is a com


                    Luna Organics Animal Medley Color Palette

                    pany started by a mother of two little girls who wanted safer play makeup for her daughters. Based in New Hampshire, they create a variety of kits that are perfect for face painting, costumes, play time or sporting events.  They are made with natural ingredients and contain not parabens or toxins, and use mineral micas for pigments that are not micronized.  Luna Organics is a signer of theCampaign for Safe Cosmetics as well.

                    Each kit is about $14-$20 but you get enough make up to last you several applications.  All the colors come in BPA Free containers for safe storage.  The costume kits come with a couple of colors, white face powder applicators and a storage tin. You can choose from several costume options like Clown, Bunny,  Animal Medley or choose their Rainbow Kit and get creative.

                    Get It! You can pick up Luna Organics Face Painting Kits from The Glass Baby Bottle and get them in time for Halloween!

                    Aug

                    27

                    Hopscotch Kids Safe Non-Toxic Nail Polish for Kids (Giveaway!)

                    Filed Under Chemicals, Giveaways Coupons, Green Mama, Product Reviews | 145 Comments

                    Pin It

                      I had a chance to learn about the Hopscotch Kids brand at the Green Soiree earlier this month.  As a girlie girl, I was so impressed with their story and their products that I was excited to share them with you.  I had but one problem.  I have two boys.  Neither of them were willing to sit for me to test the product out so I brought the cute little kit over to my friend April‘s house where she has not one, but two cute adorable girly girls who I had a feeling would be more than willing to sport green nail polish for a few days.  They were happy to oblige and she provided me with great feedback.  After testing the Eenie Meenie Miney Moe out on her sweet 2 year old daughter Tess, here is what she had to say:

                      Packaging: Adorable!  The polish, remover, and buffer came in a darling little box, stuffed with pink paper shreds and cotton.  The items were all the perfect size for little hands.

                      Eenie Meenie Miney Moe (Photos courtesy of April of CoConut CirCle Photography)

                      Nail Polish: We tried “Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe” a rich Kelly Green color.  The consistency of the polish was nice and smooth.  The color was consistent with the bottle after only one coat and the polish dried very quickly… a real plus for childrens’ nail polish.  It’s important to note that this isn’t a long wearing nail polish and meant more for the fun of doing it than for formal polishing.  April said it flaked off in big sheets with the first tub.  Hopscotch Kids suggests painting nails before going to bed so that Hopscotch Kids Water Colors has time to truly bind to the nail.

                      Noel from Hopscotch Kids says “Thanks for such a great review! We’re so glad April and her girls enjoyed it.  You can get the same lasting results as traditional polish, you just have to prep a little differently. Be sure hands are totally clean and moms should do the buffing and painting. Buff each nail with the rough side of the buffer and rinse and dry well to remove buffing dust. Then apply 2 thin coats of polish and you’re done! Polish will be dry enough to play within 3 minutes. As with any nail enamel, keep those little hands out of water until the polish has cured.”

                      Adorable Tess in Eenie Meenie Miney Moe (Photos courtesy of April of CoConut CirCle Photography)

                      Polish Remover: This was my favorite item.  It smells nice, and it does the job!  I even removed residual traditional nail polish with it, but it was very gentle.  It did not sting in paper cuts or hangnails like regular remover either… also a plus for a childrens’ product.
                      Buffer/File: This was more of a buffer than a file.  It was very fine and gentle… no complaints.

                      Hopscotch Kids Non-Toxic Polishes (Photos courtesy of April of CoConut CirCle Photography)

                      Overall: I would rate this product a 4 out of 5, with my only negative comment being the way the polish wears.  My test subject was 2 yr old Tess, and she LOVED the whole thing!  She used the file herself and even painted a fingernail (and finger!) herself!  If your purpose is the journey and a fun experience with your little one, then this product is a great choice.  If you are looking for long wearing nail polish that stays nice for at least a few days or for an event or party, better go with the old fashioned, foul smelling, full of chemicals old stuff!

                      Traditional nail polish can contain formaldehyde, phthalates, toluene or other petrochemical solvents which are not what we want our little ones exposed to.  Especially considering that more times than not we find our kids with their hands/nails in their mouths. Another plus, Hopscotch Kids Nail Polishes rated a 1 in the EWG Skin Deep Database! Hopscotch Kids is a great alternative to mainstream polishes and would be a great gift for that special little girl in your life.  Only the best for our babes, right?

                      Win It!

                      I have a package (pictured above) with one bottle of Eenie Meenie Miney Moe, a Water Colors Polish Remover and a Nail Buffer that is begging to go home with someone else with a cute little girl.  Here is how:

                      To Enter to Win a Hopscotch Kids Nail Polish Gift Set: (REQUIRED to be elligible)

                      Visit Hopscotch Kids and tell me in the comments what color you’d love to have for your little princess!

                      For Extra Entries (Leave a comment for EACH ONE you do or they will not count)

                      • Fan/Like Hopscotch Kids on Facebook (first initial, last name on Facebook)
                      • Follow @HopscotchKids on Twitter (Leave Twitter name in the comment)
                      • Fan/Like  SafeMama on Facebook
                      • Follow @SafeMama on Twitter
                      • Subscribe to SafeMama.com via FeedBurner email (you’ll get notifications via email when we update the site)
                      • Tweet this giveaway (CAN BE RETWEETED ONCE A DAY – Just leave the link to the tweet itself each day in the comments):  I want to #win a Non-Toxic Nail Polish by @HopscotchKids from @SafeMama! #Giveaway ends 9/6 http://tinyurl.com/252seg3

                      Congratulations commenter #37 Melissa! Thank you to everyone who entered!

                      One winner will be selected at random using Random.org. Giveaway open to US residents only. Entries will be accepted until September 6, 2010 at midnight EST.  Good Luck! :)

                      Thank you to my good friend April of CoConut CirCle Photography for testing these out on her cutie pie Tess and for providing such great photos!

                      Next Page →

Latest CPSC Childrens Products and Toy Recalls

Car Seat Recalls

Latest FDA Recalls

Latest Recalls in Canada

Safer States Action Alerts





395256_125x125 Abes Market



Current-Special


  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • NetwrkBlog
  • Google+
  • Pinterest