Because I Said So!!! Mom Knows Best!

Spring Cleaning is here! Yes, that is right, it is
HERE!! Oh, how I long for a life where I could just
hire someone to come in and do it for me but alas,
no lottery winnings have been in my Tarot Cards so
I am stuck cleaning myself. I am also knee deep into
Rowan care and everything that goes along with that
as well. Her little bootie cleaning doesn't just wait for
Spring, this needs constant cleaning. Then the house
needs tending too, dishes and windows and counters
oh, my. With all this cleaning I could fill a landfill with
paper products and the chemical run off in my sewers
alone would be enough to make our whole neighborhood
glow in the dark. It seems like I have a whole list of
problems here, for I need to find a dump truck full of
cleaning products AND Baby items and make them
powerful AND gentle AND they all have to be good for
the planet for with as much going on as I have I need
to take a little extra care, taking short cuts just makes
more waste and I do more then my share of contributing
to clutter as it is. The odds of finding everything I need
at one places are next to ZIL for who does all that and
makes it affordable? Who makes Laundry and Cleaning
items and the Baby and products I need and makes them
specifically in a fashion that doesn't knock a few forests
down and keeps to the guidelines of Green? Not only is
it a daunting task but I thought it would be next
to imposable. Then I found Seventh Generation. That is a
nation everyone can be proud to join!

Seventh Generation is a company that sees that the
common person has two parts to the world. The big
one around us and the one we surround ourselves in
on a daily basis. Both are important and both need
tending to and people are running around so fast now
a days they have a hard time keeping up with either so
they made it their mission to help us on our path. I was
looking through their product list and the impression I got
was one day a Mom sat down and said just what do I
need on a daily basis. She them compiled a check list
of household and personal hygiene products that her and
her family both use and sat back in amazement at how
much it really was. I can imagine this "Green" Mom
realizing just what an impact her "must have" list makes
on the planet everyday and this person decided to see
if there was a way to make these items without ruining
the big world around us. Now I don't know if my
Mom is real or not but when I looked at their product
list that was the vibe I got for what Seventh Generation makes
is just what I use on a daily basis. All of it. Every last
item in their arsenal is something I have to keep in my
home to make it run smoothly and clean and keep my
family comfortable. The fact it is also Earth Friendly was
a big plus for even though I care about our planet it
has always been super hard for me to find items that
are green and still do an effective job. Most of the
items I have tried that are for cleaning and green I ended
up going back to an old stand after wards to do the job
right. The Green ones just were not cutting it. Would
Seventh Generation be the same? I did a product review to
see and the items I tested focused on Rowans world
but they are products that effect us all.
Their Baby items would be the best gage for
me to get an idea of how effective they are for face
it, this is where we take the most care in our lives
to provide a clean and sanitary environment. Nobody cuts
corners with baby involved and this is also the part of
our lives where we accumulate the most waste products for
Baby creates a lot. If a baby wipe does not clean babies
bootie good enough a Mom could care less how bad
another brand is for the planet she will think nothing of
using it to assure her child is clean. If a diaper leaks
she is going to trash it and get a brand that keeps her
child dry even if it does knock down a small forest with
every change of the bootie! If that laundry detergent
sends back clothes that looks like my son beat them
on a rock instead of send through the wash I am going
to use the chemicals to make sure it never looks like
that again. It is a fact of life, we do what is best for
our baby first and worry about its impact later. That
doesn't make us bad people just good Mom's. Now
if I can find a product that covers both things Bravo!
But if not I am going for the chemicals and extra waste
for Rowan comes first. I also know if Seventh Generation can
make me happy in the baby department, an area where
every female is the most fickle, then every other cleaning
and paper product they make has to be just as good!
I was sent a complete set of items for Rowan, Diapers,
Wipes, Paper Towel and Detergent and more and I have
to say I was a little nervous. This is Rowan and this
isn't a toy I am testing these are items that will touch
her skin and as much as I love my dog I would much
rather shave her bald and slap a Diaper on her Bootie
then to experiment on the Baby so I read a bunch of
reviews myself before I even took the chance of using
any of their items on that little girl. Not a single bad
word could be found. Next I read some in depth details
of how their items were made. I NEED to be sure here,
other wise the Pups fur will grow back. What I found is
these guys, unlike some of the other brands I have
used, did not get rid of anything in their products
that are effective in cleaning they just made sure to
bring you all the natural forms and cut the fillers and
junk we don't need. We are back to the basics before
we started going all hap-hazard with our products and
tossing in a little of this and a lot of that, items we
don't really need. Things snowballed in the cleaning world
and one place would add something to their laundry
detergent and then realize UT, oh, that takes away from
this aspect so they needed to add something else to
fix that and so on and so forth. The end result was a
finished product that has 45 million ingredients we don't
really need. Seventh Generation went back to square one and
started fresh and only kept the good stuff we needed
in the first place. Let's not forget, when the first place
was first around all we had was natural items to work
with so that is what they used. Better for us, WAY better
for baby and better for the planet all around. So I
was now comfortable in the fact they made a product
people love and use ingredients that will not hurt my
little girl so I gave them a whirl for the real test is
will they work for me.
WORK" Hallelujah! I have never, ever, used any
product in my whole life that is Green anything that
worked better. In fact these guys blow away most of
the things I use that are not green. The Wipes, lets
start with the wipes. I hate gross and lets be real a
minute here, changing a baby's diaper is gross when,
well, you know. Rowan has some doozies too. I
can't stand to get my fingers in it and therefor go
through a lot of wipes and though I look for thicker ones
that work well I can't ever find them and 7th Generation
has wipes that are thick enough and just moist enough
to clear her up without me using a half of box each
time. I loved them and now I want to talk about the
Diapers themselves. When Andrew was a baby I
used cloth and I just don't have the time right now.
When I did use a disposable with him I really remember
Pampers and Huggies being top of the line and got
those for Rowan and have been having a fit. They leak,
they fill too fast and I have found cheap brands that
work way better. I was disgusted with them and when
these came I gave them a whirl and was so happy
the first night I did not have to wake that baby at
2 am and change her for they kept her dry all night
long. I was in super shock there! These are the best,
green or not, Diapers I have used since Rowan has
been home and I am doing a Jig every morning when
I don't have to change her sheets and everything she
slept with from a nasty leak once again. Now, dry
as can be. If I stopped the review right now I would
be in their debt for you have no idea how happy I am
with this fact alone! After that I did the Baby's
laundry detergent and this stuff is awesome too! I
even think it would work on my sons items and that
is saying something huge. I love the way it left all
of her items smelling fresh as well as being super
clean and no fading at all. I am really bad about
pre-treating stains and because of that a lot of my
items end up per-mi stained and I was in complete shock
when some stains I had long ago given up on disappeared.
Now that was a shocker! Baby stuff! WOW! I am
now a member of the Seventh Generation, send me my
membership card!

I also loved their other items and their paper
towels the most. I go through a lot and use them
for ever thing and these were super absorbent and
I only went through about half of what I normally
go through and that alone spoke volumes to me
and really made my day for the money I can save
right there will be enormous.Seventh Generation in general
just produces a great product all around and is just
what a Mom ordered for Spring cleaning and day to
day too. With kids or without, you are keeping your
home as clean as can be and leaving the least impact
on the world around you and saving it for your kids.
What could be better?

Seventh Generation has the same kit I received for
one of my readers as well. To enter just head over to
their site and take a look around and them come back
here and post either what item you would get the most
use out of or something you have learned. The contest
will start tonight and run to Midnight on April 28th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day, every day, and then posting that you did here
and other ways to enter are posted below.


Seventh Generation!




Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.


1. Become a follower of my blog or Twitter page
and post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times. You may only do this
one time! This is not a daily entry.


2. Tweet about my blog and post the link
here. 5 entries, please post five times. You
may do this once per day if you post a new
tweet. For Each Daily entry there must be a
tweet for that day!


3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times. You may only do this one time!
This is not a daily entry.


4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries. Please
post five times. You may do this once per
day per new blog post! For each Daily entry
there must be a blog post for that day!






Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Radius Toothbrush and isABelt Contests!

I used to sit at the edge of the bed and just
wait. Most likely the only time during the whole
day I was quiet. Just wait for my Grandpa to come in
and read me a bed time story. Sometimes he would get
caught up and it would take a while and sometimes I
felt like I was waiting forever but he always came.
We never talked about it, this was more of an unspoken
thing. A story before bed every night. I had my favorites
too. I am sure there were ones when I was really young
but the books I remember and will never ever forget and
have made sure to pass on to my own children were The Giving
Tree, Rikki Tikki Tavi and Where the Wild Things Are. I
could hear any of the three over and over again and though
I knew every single word by heart and could read it cover
to cover myself, I would wait for my Grandfather. Those are
things you remember from your childhood that make the world
worth living in. When Andrew was getting ready for Pre-school
I wanted to get him those stories as well. I can't get over how
hard it was to locate them for I had always considered them
classics. I found an old copy of "Where the Wild Things are"
and had to go as far as to order the Giving Tree and Rikki Tikki
Tavi ( if you have not read any of the three do it!) and for
Rikki Tikki I know I paid a small fortune. Well Thank goodness
they are back, Boy and How are they back. Eric Carle has
been every where with his Hungry and I did love that one too
but Where the Wild Things are has also made a come back and
I can't wait to see what else is on the Horizon. Mudpuppy
has recognized that need for good old fashioned wholesome fun
and had brought us some delightful items to commemorate those
classics in the form of Puzzles and Sticker Books and they
don't stop there either, Mudpuppy has items to keep any child
up to their very busy elbows entertained. Mudpuppy, Galison
is a shop that celebrates children and their creativity and
imaginations. Puzzles, Stickers, building sets, games, magnets
and so much more that are meant to keep little fingers entertained
in the most simple of ways with products that allow them
to explore their own sense of adventure. No batteries required
and children never run out of imagination.


We were sent a "Where the Wild things are" Puzzle set that
has clunky pieces for little hands and though Rowan is too young
to expect a certain book she loves the puzzle and I love that she
is playing with an item I can get excited about and stand behind.
It is fun to bring the picture into shape and for me to be able to
tell her all about what we are creating and she feeds off my excitement
for the puzzle as well. It is pretty easy to see I am nuts about it!
The Where the Wild Things Are puzzle we received is just one of
many items on the site that keep your kids busy and their energy's
focused. They have more award winners then you can shake a stick
at so it is pretty easy to see they are skilled in their field and
know what is takes to keep a child captivated and a parent happy.
Not only do your favorites come alive like in the puzzle we received
or the Goodnight Moon Floor Puzzle or the many others they also
have items with an educational touch that will have your kids sneaking
in a little bit of learning while they just think they are having
fun. The Solar System or Our World Floor puzzles are some great
examples or for those ruff and tumble types who love the Roaarrrrrr
of adventure check out the all about Dinosaurs learning wheel. I know
my son would have adored that and it might have saved me some printer
ink for the only thing he had was the Dinosaur page in my computers
encyclopedia that he printed about 500 times.
They still have old school favorites that I enjoyed such as
sticker books because when I was young my Lisa Frank Collection
was a huge part of my childhood and Dairy's and journals and
Stationary Galore. I had to go to the book store and order those
Favorites of mine for Andrew and Mudpuppy has them right on
the site. You really have to love the computer age for bringing
your kids the best from all worlds. I can't wait to Rowan is a
little older so we can play with the magnetic figures for they so
remind me of the paper dolls I had as a child but these are a
little tuffer and a lot more durable. I don't think it matters what
section of the site you look through Galison-Mudpuppy has more
then a little to make your kids get all excited and fuzzy. There
are so many things that would make the perfect Easter Basket
fillings I would not even know where to begin.
One thing I do know is a child will forget the candy bar when it
is gone but always remember the time you sat down on the floor with
them and helped with a puzzle. The Eggs will make their way into
the trash or a salad but your daughter will always treasure her
first diary. The Jelly beans, hey, send those to me, at least the
white and red ones, the rest are for you but the point is someone
will enjoy them but only for a moment but the memories you can
find at Mudpuppy will last a lifetime! Rowans puzzle is also
her first set of blocks and as we sit here and play with it and
piece it together time and time again ( Hey, she likes to knock
down as much as build) she is learning how to enjoy herself and
play and I am remembering how much fun it was when I took the time!
Truthfully I couldn't even tell you who's toy this is, I guess we
will have to share! My Final Review for Mudpuppy is they are just
a fantastic company with products that brings back memories, fuels
new adventures, allows you to construct some fun and keeps you thinking
no matter what way you go!
Mudpuppy has also thought of my readers and has offered a discount
code for you guys to save you some hard earned cash on their
products. When checking out just enter ZZZ2 to receive a 15%
discount on your purchase. Have fun and I hope you score some
great stuff for Easter!

Mudpuppy!

Look for them to be on the Easter Gift Guide Posted soon!

I told you guys last week how I write all the time and
I am always going through pens and trying to find one
that does not kill my hand by the end of the day. Well,
not only do I go through pens like crazy I also go through
paper. Mass amounts for like I said before, I write everything
down. I have at least 4 large post it pads on my desk, a couple
of notebooks and some blank sheets too. In my purse I have
a smaller notebook and scattered through out the house
there are several more. I know it is a lot of paper and to
make things worse I forget what notebook I wrote a certain
list in and end up re-writing it and going through even more
paper with my never ending scribbling. I try to be Earth
friendly and toss everything I don't need in the recycling
bin, I am very careful about magazines making it there
for I have such a hard time throwing out notes and feel so
bad about my squandering of paper that I have deceived
myself into thinking if I recycle every single magazine I
can I am making up for all of that. I also grab all of Andy's spiral
notebooks at the end of the school year and use what paper
is left in those for other wise it will just end up ruined in his
room. Most likely with one of my favorite towels shoved in a
small damp gooey space. But my meager efforts do not change
the sheer volume or the amount of Junk Mail I get alone from
doing the blog and speaking to so many companies. This
year I made sure my Christmas items were from green companies
but I still needed something to help with my paper problem.
Somehow I think I will sleep a little better knowing I have not
personally destroyed a forest or two.

I went to the office supply store to purchase even
more paper and made a point to ask if they had any products
that were green or made out of recycled items. I got a sales
pitch for like most large places now they have their own
signature items and that was what I was being referred to.
No where in the guys pre-rehearsed spiel did I hear the
words earth friendly or recycled and I started to zone out
and go over my grocery list in my head while he pretty much
rambled on to himself. What seemed like a lifetime later I
was released with directions to the plastic covered farthest
thing from green section of their own goods. With a heavy
sigh I was about ready to leave when a man tapped me on
the shoulder. I almost did my Renee Russo Lethal Weapon
move on him ( guys, don't tap girls. If we don't know you we
might go Linda Blair on you!) but then realized I was close to
a foot taller them him and smiled instead.
"Psst, don't buy here. They are overpriced and don't
really have what you were asking that young man for!"
" I saw that. Thank you!"
"Go on-line. Site called rebinder. That's the ticket."
He grabbed a card out of his wallet and jotted down the
name. "You will like it."and "Poof", he was gone.
Okay, the guy didn't go "Poof" but I felt like I was just in
an episode of Mission Imposable and couldn't help but to
hold the card to my ear and see if it was ticking and going
to self destruct in 3 seconds. It didn't and I went home and
brought up the site. Now my first look didn't go to well. It
looked kinda boring. Remember me, fashion Diva? I saw
the little recycle symbol in the one corner and then looked
over and saw another box that says Greenhouse Gas Saved,
Pounds saved by our customers. Now that was a big number.
A really big number. I decided to give them a chance and
started scrolling through the pages. Let me tell you the
next two things I noticed right before I book marked the site
for it is a new gem for me now. Well the very first thing
I noticed is they have everything. I mean every thing!
Anything you would need in School or an office. Right
down to CD cases and Envelopes, business cards and labels.
Why they even have pens! I didn't even know you can recycle
a pen. You can, and when you are done with theirs you can
even send them back and they will do it again. How cool is
that? The next thing I noticed was the price. This has got
to be one of the most inexpensive places I have ever seen.
I had just left a huge office store and you think with the bulk
amounts they have to buy items in that it would reflect in the
price. It doesn't and Rebinder's prices put theirs to shame.
Do you know how much money I spend every August on Andrews
school supplies? We are talking close to a hundred bucks
every year and then like clock work he comes home
after the first day and tell me he still needs this and that
and a Gym Lock. ( I swear Gremlins take his old one every
summer) and then I spend 20 bucks more. I did some
figuring here and found out I can get all of Andrews stuff
for $40.00 and that includes extra items to spare.Even
better, instead of picking up this and picking up that
they have ready made kits for School supplies. Talk about
one stop shopping,. I can have one click shopping and never
have to leave the house. Did you know I would also be
Earth friendly? Almost forgot about that for a second the
prices mesmerized me. The only thing that I was concerned
about was the price. I had a theory that all things good for
you or the planet cost more. I mean think about it.
Organic Food, more.
Recycled Stationary, more.
Organic clothing, more.
These guy not only did not cost more a lot of the
items were even less expensive then the bad for the planet
junk. All I kept thinking was what was the catch? I shot them
an email and asked and they offered to send some for review
so I could make up my mind first hand. What they sent me was
the school supply kit and this box was packed with stuff. When
you read the list you do not picture how much it is, the numbers
for quantity mean little to you are looking right at them. I had to
act fast and grab some of the notebooks for I knew as soon as
Andrew walked in the door it was going to disappear and I must
say I was impressed. They paper is thick and not that thin
dollar store stuff I buy for around the house. You guys understand
what I am talking about, the paper that tears the minute you
put a pen to it. No way was this going to tear and I don't know
if it is the way they process it or what but it is soft. I know this
is a silly thing to bring up and not at all relevant but I don't think
it is possible to get a paper cut with this. I doubt even they
thought of this but you know my mind works on a different level
then a normal person and I couldn't stop fixating on how soft it
was. I even made Andy stand still still so I could try and see if
he would get a paper cut. He didn't, stand still I mean, but I
am pretty sure none the less. Okay, now that my Prozac has
kicked in I will tell you more about the paper products
them self. Not only was the Paper soft but everything that was
supposed to be rugged was very much so too! I was very impressed
with the binders for I don't even think beast boy could wreck these
like he does the ones I have bought in the past and I think
these puppies have a chance of making the whole school
year not just September. AND if they didn't they even send
replacement covers. Isn't that a neat idea? Even the pens
write great and that one shocked me too for if you buy them
in bulk like I plan too they break down to only 46 cents a pen.
Before these the pens I had been buying either cost a lot when
you broke it down or I would get the really cheap ones for like
4 bucks for 6 and (39 cents) that last about 2 minutes before
you are telling your children Mommy is sorry she knows she is
not supposed to say bad words! I have been writing with one
of these for three days ( real time for a normal person would
be like 3 months) and it is still working fine. The only other thing
that I thought I might have an issue with it the fact they are
plain brown. I had a sneaking suspicion Andrew might not
like them for there was nothing on the cover but then today
I noticed he had some stickers and drew some stuff on one and
asked him and he pretty much laughed at me and told me
he was over the whole theme stuff about 10 years ago
and if I really thought about it I was the one at the Store
every August going, "Look Andrew, Race cars!" and he would
just shrug and go cool. Who woulda thunk it,. all these years
and I have been buying what I thought was neat and he could
have cared less!
So lets go over this real fast:
1. They have everything
2. Super reasonable
3. Durable
4. Have kits to make your school shopping super fast so
you can go back to looking at shoes.
Now what was it I came here in the first place for? Oh, yeah!
5. They are Green and help save our Planet!
Now that is a great list! Even better Re-binder is going to
give one of these same kits to a reader. To enter just head
over to the site and take a look around them come back here
and tell me what item you would use the most! The contest
will start tonight and run to Midnight on February 27th.
USA and 18 and older can enter daily and the winner
will be contacted by email and have 72 hours to
contact me with their mailing information. As always
you can earn a bonus entry by entering the contest of
the day and other ways to enter are posted below.

Rebinder

Extra entries.
Extra entries only count after the initial entry
is completed.

1. Become a follower of my blog or
post that you are. 3 entries,
please post 3 times.

2. Enter any of my other contest. I entry
per contest, separate post for each entry.

3. Grab my button. 5 entries. Please post
5 times.

4. Blog about this contest somewhere else
and post the link here. 5 Entries Please
post five times.

Hey there, while you are here don't forget to enter
my Daisy Rock and Cir*Kis contests!