Moms Wear Your Tees Blog: October 2010

SmartSeat Chair Protector Cover Giveaway

>> Sunday, October 31, 2010

Got Kids? Chances are you need the SmartSeat Chair Cover! You know what I am talking about. Kids can be so messy! The SmartSeat creator bought new dining room chairs and couldn’t find a simple, waterproof, and attractive protective cover for her chairs. She didn’t want sticky vinyl covers that flopped over the seat and squeaked when sat upon. That is why she created the SmartSeat, a simple, safe cover that protects your upholstery and looks great too.

The SmartSeat chair protector is a waterproof, stain resistant, and machine washable cover made from soft-to-the-touch, toxin-free fabric. The SmartSeat’s patent-pending design uses adjustable straps to securely fit chairs ranging from 18″ to 25″ wide. You can see it works well for a wide variety of chairs!

Testamonial:
“After my grandchildren came to visit last year, I had to have my chairs professionally cleaned. This year I was prepared. I bought a SmartSeat for all four of them and even the two year old didn’t complain about sitting on it. Now I can relax and enjoy my grandchildren instead of worrying about my furniture.”

This is a handy, easy to wash, solution to protecting chairs, whether at your house or when your kids are going to be dinner guests at someone else's house!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
One winner will receive two SmartSeat waterproof, stain resistant, and machine washable fabric chair protector covers in their choice of color. (total value $39.98)

Giveaway Dates: October 31- November 15, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit SmartSeat and leave me a comment with your desired seat cover color
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Like SmartSeat on Facebook
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @SmartSeatCover Chair Protectors #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT
6. Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here (no login required)

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner selected through random.org- #54, Louis H.

You can recycle even stuff you thought was trash- like drink pouches, and storage bags!

>> Saturday, October 30, 2010

Here is something totally cool I just found out about! TerraCycle is the world’s leader in the collection and reuse of non-recyclable post-consumer waste. TerraCycle works with over thirty major brands in the U.S. and in a growing number of other countries to collect used packaging and products (chip bags, candy wrappers, juice pouches, pens, toothbrushes, etc.) that would otherwise be destined for landfills. It repurposes that waste into new eco-friendly materials and products! The waste is collected through TerraCycle’s Brigade programs, which are free fundraisers that pay schools and non-profits for every piece of waste they collect and return. That is so cool!

Hopefully, you already reduce the amount of this waste that you consume but it is so great that Terracycle helps recycle this stuff that would otherwise end up in landfills!! You just send them your trash (they have a complete list of things they accept on their site and you can do it as a group or individually) and they pay your shipping and donate money per unit of waste and then make cool products out of it! Drink pouches become fencing material!

TerraCycle also runs free national collection programs that pay non-profits and schools TerraCycle has exclusive partnerships with major CPG companies such as Kraft Foods, Frito Lay (Pepsi), Stonyfield Farm, Mars Wrigley and many more. The partnerships create free collection programs that pay schools and non-profits nationwide to collect used packaging such as drink pouches, energy bar wrappers, yogurt cups, cookie wrappers, chip bags and more! The collected materials are upcycled into affordable, high quality products ranging from tote bags and purses to shower curtains and kites. In addition, TerraCycle works with these partners to find innovative uses for all of their waste streams and, by making products from these various waste streams, TerraCycle prevents 1000’s of tons of waste from going to landfills.

Go forth and recycle even more than you did before!! Be a real leader and go to your community schools and start collection bins in the cafeteria to recycle "trash" and earn money for the schools. Go ahead and make a huge difference and pat yourself on the back! Leave me a comment if do this already or feel inspired to do so now!

You may also like to read How to Go Green While Scrapbooking.

O'BON Eco-friendly Pencils and Notebooks Review and Giveaway

>> Friday, October 29, 2010

Now here is a great green company I just discovered- O'BON eco-friendly school and office supplies. O'BON, which means "Oh Good" in French, represents a better, greener and more responsible choice. There is no sacrifice to be green here either, wait till you see how beautiful O'BON products are! Not only do they make amazing eco-friendly products, they also contribute by planting a tree for for every purchase made on the O'BON website. How cool is that? Another thing I love about O'BON is that by designing their products around animal designs and environmental facts, O'BON helps nudge kids down the path of environmental responsibility and curiosity.

The trademark product of O'BON was initially a pencil made from used newspaper. By being made from used newspaper instead of wood, the production of the newspaper pencil didn't contribute to deforestation and damage the environment. They offer your standard pencils in beautiful designs, color pencils, and professional art graphite pencils, all made with 100% recycled newspaper. I got to try some of the O'BON recycled newspaper wildlife pencils and they sure are pretty. The backing came with facts about the animals and they suggested you reuse the packaging as a bookmark which I did with a few quick clips and it looks great! I was very curious about how it would be to sharpen these pencils and I have to tell you I was surprised at how easy it was, in fact, the pencil actually seems more firm than a wood pencil! You can see a piece of the pencil shaving in the photos. The L'Artiste Professional Art Set is amazing too! The set includes 10 high quality professional art pencils with a different grade of graphite hardness and each is clearly labeled for easy when sketching. The pencils have a beautiful brushed nickel finish and when make a beautiful gift for any artist or aspiring artist.

O'BON also makes notebooks with paper made from sugarcane pulp, a great alternative resource to wood, and binders made from recycled card stock and cardboard. These are really some stunningly beautiful notebooks and there are LOTS of choices! I got to try out the BONanza A5 Strawberry Sugarcane Journal Notebook. I actually selected this for my daughter but to tell you the truth, I am going to be keeping this beautiful pad for myself! (She'll never know.) Every journal comes with O’BON’s own environmentally-friendly sugarcane bagasse paper. With the cover made from 100% recycled cardstock, and the pages printed with non-toxic soy based inks, this makes it the perfect eco-friendly journal for your daily needs. Their journals also come in all different sizes so you can use them for all your different needs! I also have to tell you that quality of sugarcane paper is way different than your typical recycled paper. The paper in my sugarcane journal was amazing quality- bright white and smooth as could be.

I love my O'BON products because they are eco-friendly, great quality and just plain pretty! If you want to shop O'BON eco-friendly products, you can get an exclusive discount for my readers of 10% by using code "MWYT." (I do NOT get a kickback on any sales, just so you know! I am unbiased!)

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
Winner gets to choose two of their favorite O'BON products!

Giveaway Dates:
October 29- November 12, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit O'BON eco-friendly products and leave me a comment with your favorite items
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Like O'BON on Facebook and leave them a comment
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @OBON Eco-friendly Office and School Supplies #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT #green

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner selected through random.org- #125, Cal

O'BON did provide me with the pencils and notebook in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

Tera's Whey- Natural Nutritious Whey Protein

I just discovered Tera's Whey and I love that they make their whey protein in a green factory with only the best ingredients. This is a high quality product that I could feel good sharing with my kids. Whey is often used by body builders because it is the easiest type of protein to build muscle with. Whey is also a good source of protein for people who wish to decrease their meat consumption because of its cholesterol and fat content or vegetarians who wish to eliminate meat from their diet. Additionally, children, picky eaters or people who may not be getting adequate amounts of protein in their daily diet have a easy way to get protein with whey protein powder since it can easily be mixed into smoothies which tastes yummy!

Whey is valued for its high protein content, immune system strengthening properties, weight management properties and diabetes control properties, cardiovascular health effects and soothing effects on the gastrointestinal system or your gut. You can read more of the health benefits of whey protein here.

What makes Tera's Whey different?
"We start with raw whey from artisan cheesemakers and family farmers, carefully concentrate it in our own green plant, sweeten it with low-glycemic stevia and add the highest quality, most flavorful natural ingredients; things like Fair Trade Dark Chocolate and Bourbon Vanilla. All of our fruits are real fruit extracts not flavor derivatives. When we say “natural ingredients” on our label, it means things like real vanilla. No fillers. No additives. Just completely natural, healthy whey protein."

I was lucky enough to try Tera's Whey Starter Kit. I initially planned on just using it to make smoothies to help my kiddos get more protein since it can be hard to get them to eat that much! But now that I am pregnant, I am using it for extra protein for myself too! My Starter Kit came with a Bourbon Vanilla Whey 12 oz canister and 4 single serve pouches of Wolfberry, Yumberry, Acai, and Fair Trade Dark Chocolate. This is working out great great because if I am lazy I can just whip out a pouch and blend it with some milk and a little ice and it is yummy and easy. I like getting to try the flavors out too! The Yumberry is very aptly named, by the way! It is also really great having the large vanilla canister since it is good by itself or easily mixed with fresh fruit. I have also tried mixing it with pineapple juice and fresh spinach to try to increase my green intake. Not bad!

If you would like to try Tera's Whey for yourself, you can buy it at Whole Foods or shop Tera's Natural Whey Protein online. There is all kinds of great info on the site about the Whey Protein including fun recipes to try. Enjoy!

Kiki's Maternity Fashions Review and Giveaway

>> Thursday, October 28, 2010

I'm pregnant again and I need some maternity clothes! So I was peeking around the internet and I came across Kiki's Maternity Fashions. The thing that is really great about Kiki's is that they offer cute maternity dresses, trendy maternity skinny jeans, and modern maternity tops and all at very reasonable prices.

I really needed a some maternity pants and I wanted something that was stylish and comfortable. I was impressed with their large selection and with their great prices. I chose to try the Blue Embroided Boot Cut Maternity Jeans. I really liked the cute detailing on the pockets! I also love the comfortable stretchy waist that can stay hidden under my shirt and I look like I am wearing real jeans! They are made with stretch denim so they are super comfortable around the waist and knees. I am very pleased with the quality of Kiki's Maternity Fashions and believe me, there are many more styles I want to try!

Do you want some new maternity clothes to make you feel stylish too? You can shop online today and/ or enter to win.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: One winner will get to select any one item from Kiki's Maternity Fashions website!

Giveaway Dates: October 28- November 11, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Kiki's Maternity Fashions and tell me what your favorite item is
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Like Kiki's on Facebook (this also gives you a chance to win a $50 Gift Card!)
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win Kiki's #Maternity Fashion #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED Winner selected through random.org- #102, Melodic Mom

Kiki's did provide me with the jeans in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

organicKidz™ Stainless Steel Baby Bottles Review and Giveaway

>> Wednesday, October 27, 2010

I breastfed both of my children and I plan on breastfeeding my third but everyone needs some baby bottles in my opinion! Whether you need them for storing your pumped breast milk, delivering the milk when you can't be there, for formula, or just for water, it is always good to have a few on hand.

OrganicKidz caught my eye when I saw that they make a stainless steel baby bottle! I was immediately interested because not only can I be sure that it is BPA free, I also love that it is a green alternative. Stainless Steel is a 100% recyclable product and 50-60% of every Stainless Steel product is made from recycled materials. The most obvious advantage to stainless steel is its durability and longevity. Furthermore, it will not shatter when dropped, or scratch with normal use. The scratch resistance of Stainless Steel also means that food or bacteria cannot find a place to hide, even after washing. And that is the #1 reason I was interested in the stainless steel bottle- hygiene. I always despised how hard it is to get plastic bottles and sippy cups clean! Plastic always seems to absorb the smell of the contents. Stainless Steel is the first choice of hospitals, kitchens and food processing plants because of its easy cleaning ability and it is not prone to increased wear and tear from repeated washing. Yay stainless steel bottles! Oh, and one more thing, they convert to stainless steelsippy cups with a nipple switch and handle accessory- awesome!

Features of organicKidz™ Stainless Steel Baby Bottles:

* only the best quality 304 18/8 stainless steel
* 4 and 7oz Narrow Necked single hulled bottles for easy warming
* 9oz Narrow Necked vacuum insulated bottles so liquids keep cold for 5-6 hours
* 4oz and 9oz Wide Mouthed single hulled bottles available
* 2oz lid for easy measuring
* BPA, PVC and Phthalate free
* compatible with most narrow necked nipples
* light weight and dishwasher safe
* unbreakable and dent resistant
* packaged in environmentally friendly, recyclable cardboard

So now you know why I was excited about trying an organicKidz bottle for my baby that is on the way- greener, cleaner, and safer! I chose to try the 4oz wide mouthed stainless steel bottle. I chose the smaller size because I will just be using it for occasional extra fluids and for pumping and I never get very much milk expressed at one time! I picked the wide mouthed bottle because I think they are easier to clean. I also dig that is is compatible with the Avent Isis Manual Breast Pump which is what I used with my first two. I really like that it has a nice stainless steel cover for the nipple and both nipple and the bottle have measuring marks in case you need them. Here is my son and I giving it the once over to make sure it is up to par for our baby!

To me, organicKidz is the best bottle I could find for sanitary reasons and I am so excited to be able to use it for my third! If you want to try organicKids stainless steel bottles for yourself, then you buy them online or check out their list of retailer that carry them near you. You also have a chance to win one right now!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: One winner will receive one 4oz Wide Mouthed organicKidz BPA, PVC and Phthalate free Baby Bottle. ($14.99 value)

Giveaway Dates:
October 27- November 10, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit organicKidz stainless steel bottles and tell me what your favorite item is
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Like organicKidz on Facebook
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @organicKidz stainless steel BPA free baby bottle #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT #green
6. Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here (no login required)
7. Grab my blog button, blog about this (+2), or enter it in a linky and leave a URL I can visit to see it

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Winner selected through random.org- #74, jenzen69.

OrganicKids did provide me with the bottle in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

Natural Baby Products Store For Your Bug-A-Boo Has a New Look and a Big Sale

>> Tuesday, October 26, 2010

For Your Bug-A-Boo Natural Baby Products Store just got a makeover! They have a whole new logo and website look and they are celebrating by with a sale on a bunch of great natural baby basics from their product line!

Baby Bum Balm is one of their natural diapering products that is on sale! This wonderful product is highly effective and can be used for diaper and any other type of skin rash. Shea butter and Olive Oil create a natural protective moisture barrier, while Rosehips, Calendula and Lavender offer natural antisceptic qualities and anti-inflammatory protection. This all makes for instant relief which makes baby very happy! Baby Bum Balm is free of detergents, sulphates, parabens, petro-chemicals, artificial fragrances, genetically modified ingredients and animal testing. Baby Bum balm is also 99% Organic and 100% Natural!

This super cute Organic Sherpa Baby Bunting is on sale too! These Under the Nile Sherpa Buntings are soft as cashmere and come in 3 beautiful color options. They are sure to keep your baby warm and cozy. They are made with the finest 100% organic Egyptian cotton and Fair Trade practices. For Your Bug-A-Boo also carries the side snap Sherpa footie if you prefer it to the bunting and it is on sale too!

Another deal is the Imse Vimse Organic Flannelette Contour Diapers, 4 Pack. I used the Imse Vimse training pants on my little ones and I loved them. They are really great quality and will still be in great shape for using on my third baby which is on the way! This one size diaper is made from 100% organic cotton with elastic through the legs. This diaper has also been approved for the Swedish Evironmental License as being quick drying and energy conserving! This is so great because some brands I tried were not and I never knew what to expect. The Imse Vimse contour diaper is made to be very streamline and not bulky at all.

Visit For Your Bug-A-Boo Natural Baby Products Sale page to see even more items that they have reduced to celebrate their new look. A couple things you might want to check out are Chamomile Willow Baby Shampoo, Organic Rattle Taggie Toys, and the Push Along Dog!

$150 Gift Card to Oh! Toys Giveaway- Wooden Toys, Cuboro Marble Run and More

>> Monday, October 25, 2010

Oh! Toys is the home of really special toys. Oh! Toys carries toys that are not widely carried so they are great for getting unique, hard to find gifts. All of the toys I have gotten from Oh! Toys have been really great for encouraging creativity and full engagement of my children's interest in activities such as constructing, playing, and pretending.

The owner of Oh! Toys, discovered the Swiss toy Cuboro in a gift store about 13 years ago and it actually changed his life! He says, "Originally bought as a buliding block and marble run toy gift for my young daughters, Cuboro wound up fascinating me as much as it did them -- for its wonderful design and it's developmental and educational qualities -- and its ability to totally absorb one's attention for extended periods of time! -- and I wound up starting Oh! Toys to help promote Cuboro in the U.S." He is still on his mission to spread the joy of Cuboro!

My family has been fortunate enough to try out ourselves. It is really a great toy because it is fun for the whole family. You and the kids use individual wooden blocks to build a marble track. They have all kinds of shaped blocks where the marble can drop in and spin or run over or through the different blocks. Cuboro provides endless possibilities to build so every time you can create something completely new. I think it is really an educational toy because they have to think about and plan how the pieces can fit together. It is just as engaging for me and my husband and we often find ourselves competing for certain blocks and getting to place the next one we had in mind when we build together! It is also great in that as the kid grows older they can build more and more complex arrangements for all the pretty shiny marbles to run through. My daughter's first creation was quite simple and now they can get pretty big and sprawling!

Want to see Cuboro in action? Check these out:

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: One winner will receive one Oh! Toys $150 electronic Gift Card code.

Giveaway Dates: October 25- November 25, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase.

1. Share this giveaway on Facebook and leave a comment with the URL
2. Share this giveaway on Twitter and comment with the URL
Enter to #win a $150 Gift Card to Oh! Toys #Giveaway- Wooden Toys, Cuboro Marble Run and More http://t.co/6XjCnsF @ohtoys @MWYT
3. Share this giveaway in a linky and comment with the URL
4. Grab this giveaway button for your blog or website and comment with the URL

5. Blog about this giveaway with a link to Oh! Toys http://www.oh-toys.com
a link to this giveaway, and a jpg or video of Cuboro (this is worth three entries so leave three comments with the URL)

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!Winner selected through random.org- #169, mamawj.

Oh! Toys did provide me with a Cuboro in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions and the opinions expressed are my own.

Dolce Dreams Handmade Personalized Baby Quilt Giveaway

>> Sunday, October 24, 2010

I recently discovered an amazing Etsy Shop called Dolce Dreams. Approached by Woman's Day Magazine to do a story on one of her pieces, her shop is filled with hand made and hand embroidered custom baby loveys and quilts, in addition to lavender goods. This lady is full of talent and totally committed to creating luxury, quality items for you and your baby.

Here are few of her lavender eye pillows and lavender sachets:

I love the touch, the feel of luxury. I love the story that comes with "handmade". My passion and life are in each piece that I make, using the highest quality fabrics and threads to last lifetimes and create their own history. -Nathalie of Dolce Dreams

She also makes small and large sized baby loveys- which are little blankies your baby will love cuddling with. Here is her description of one of her loveys- "With gorgeous patchwork in the latest organic cottons by designer Monaluna, elegant hand embroidered initial, and satin and grosgrain circle knotties that babies love to finger and caress... The backing is a sumptuous white on white thick striped Versailles designer minky fabric (not the generic one!) This is exceptionally soft and comforting - every baby that has received one becomes attached immediately....Just take a look at the Feedback comments!"

The real masterpeice of Dolce Dreams is her Handcrafted and Hand Embroidered Heirloom Baby Quilts. Inspired by the highest quality designer cotton fabrics, each quilt is a unique piece that will be a classic heirloom. The squares are machine stitched for durability and then she takes the time to hand tie each square. All of her handmade quilts can be customized with embroidery however you like, with name, or name and date. The quilts are 28" by 36", perfect for tummy time, a lap blanket, or a wall hanging. A truly beautiful gift to be treasured that stands out in a crowd!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
One winner will receive one Dolce Dreams Hand Crafted and Hand Embroidered Heirloom Baby Quilt. ($125 Value)

Giveaway Dates: October 24- November 24, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Dolce Dreams and tell me what your favorite item is
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Follow Dolce Dreams Blog with GFC
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Follow Dolce Dreams on Twitter
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win Beautiful Dolce Dreams Handmade Baby Quilt #Giveaway $125 Value http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT @Dolcevitamamma

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! Winner selected through random.org- #262, jmajor4870.

Going Green Tips for an Urban Environment

>> Saturday, October 23, 2010

This is a guest post by Metro DC Mom. She is a mom of two boys, wife, runner, (temporarily retired) librarian, writer, and wannabe running coach. She does her best to lead a green lifestyle in the nation's capital, while still taking advantage of all the area has to offer."

With a blog titled “Metro DC Mom”, you might guess we live in a very urban area. You'd be right. While we do live in a neighborhood of single family homes, the lots are small and the neighborhood is surrounded by apartments, condos, and businesses. I once thought that such a scenario would make it more difficult to live a green life. While in some ways that is true, in other ways, living in an urban environment actually makes it easier to be green.

I don't have the space to grow a garden. I have one sunny corner of my yard and we manage to grow a few tomatoes and cucumbers each year, but that's about it. I don't compost any food items because of the proximity of my compost pile to the playset (which was literally built around a tree. My house is 60 years old and would require major renovations to stop the energy leaking through the walls (my bedroom closet acts as an extra beer fridge in the winter.) I'd love to hang clothes out to dry, but my backyard is nearly non existent and hanging clothes in the front just seems wrong.

But there are some ways we can be green precisely because we live in an urban city environment:
1. We mow our lawn with an electric lawnmower that we plug in. (Our neighbor actually mows his with one of the old reel lawn mowers!)
2. We can (and do) walk to the library, a grocery store, lots of shops, and plenty of restaurants. When we want to go farther than that, we can easily get to public transportation.
3. The miniscule size of my house makes me “reduce, reuse, and recycle”, even if I didn't want to be green. I have to think about every purchase I make as our house is FULL. Nothing comes in without a purpose any more and I try to donate things as soon as the boys outgrow them.
4. While a trip to a farm is a day's adventure, we have several close by farmer's markets. When time does not allow, we also have the option of two different companies that deliver organic vegetables and milk and a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture- has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer) drops off just down the street. When all else fails, we can walk to a Whole Foods.
5. Our county offers a wonderful curbside recycling program and we take full advantage of it.

I'm sure there are lots more ways I can go green in an urban environment. I'd love to hear from others about how and where they live affects what they can/can't do to live green.

You may also like to read Reducing Your Impact Through Promoting Local Farming.

Mareblu Naturals Healthy Snacks Review and Giveaway- 4 Prizes

>> Friday, October 22, 2010

I am pregnant and I need to snack often to avoid the morning sickness so I was looking for some new healthy snacks and I ran across Mareblu Naturals. They sounded great for me, yummy, and like something my kids could enjoy too so I decided to try them out.

Here is what makes Mareblu Naturals great Healthy Snacks:
Locally grown and packaged – This means they taste fresh and come from trusted growers.
Natural – No artificial colors and flavors in this snack. Dried fruits, nuts, evaporated cane juice and sea salt all combine for a delicious flavor you can feel good about eating.
Healthy – High protein, low sugar, low carbs, and health benefits of high quality ingredients.

Mareblu Snacks are:
o All Natural, GMO Free
o Kosher
o 100% Vegan
o Gluten-Free
o Low in Sodium
o Dairy-Free
o Peanut free
o Wheat free
o Preservative free
o Cholesterol free
o No Trans-Fats
o A good source of protein

We were able to try three varieties of the MareBlu Naturals Crunch Bags. The almond crunch was clusters of dry-roasted almonds lightly sweetened and held together with a blend of tapioca syrup and evaporated cane sugar. Very simple ingredients and really yummy. Let me tell you, I can put away these bags pretty quickly!

We were also able to try three varieties of the MareBlu Naturals Crunch Bars. These were my son's favorites and he didn't really want to share with me but I got a few bites anyway and they were delicious. The Pistachio Trail Mix Bar was particularly yummy. I love that these bars are just nuts, some with fruit and you can really see what you are eating.

Want to get some of they healthy snacks for your family? You can order them online or find them at Sam's or Costco. Mareblu has generously provided a 30% discount code for my readers: momswear-30. You also have a chance to win some!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: FOUR WINNERS TOTAL. One grand prize winner will receive a 8 bag variety pack of Mareblu Naturals Crunch Bags ($19.99 value). Runner-Up Prize: 3 winners will receive a $10 Gift Certificate to Mareblunaturals.com

Giveaway Dates: October 22- November 5, 2010 Midnight CST

To Enter This Giveaway:
Do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took. Each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Mareblu Naturals and tell me which variety sounds the best
2. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect or subscribe to RSS feed
3. Sign up for MareBlu Naturals Newsletter (& get 25% OFF your next online order)
4. Like the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in the top right margin
5. Tweet and leave URL: Enter to #win @Mbnaturals Healthy Snacks #Giveaway http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT Four Prizes
6. Vote for me at Top Mommy Blogs by clicking here

Giveaway Rules:
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED. Winner selected through random.org- #20, llinda29

Mareblu did provide me with the samples in the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.