Circle of Friends Organics Eczema & Sensitive Skin Line Review and Giveaway

Circle of Friends® was founded by moms with the mission being to create a professional hair, bath, and body line for children, while introducing them to a world of styles and cultures.

At Circle of Friends®, they carefully craft each product, using only the highest quality ingredients, such as exotic botanical extracts, natural vitamins and proteins, and enchanting fragrances. Circle of Friends® products are never tested on animals.

Circle of Friends® bottles each depict a character-or friend-from a different part of the world and each bottle talks about the life of the character in his or her country, punctuated with fascinating facts about where he or she lives and what he or she does for fun. They even have a Web site: www.circle-of-friends.com where kids can see the characters from the bottle and learn more. My daughter loved checking out their website!

Circle of Friends offers a variety of products, shampoos, conditioners & detanglers, bubble bath & shower gel, sun protection, lotions, and even a Lice Defense System. I tried their Organics line for eczema and sensitive skin which is perfect for my son because he has dry skin and is prone to rashes.

We started with the double purpose Organics Shampoo and Body Wash. It was very gentle and did not dry his skin. It still produced some nice bubbles and had a great mild scent. I loved that it is tearless shampoo and that it contains vitamins A & E and soothing extracts of aloe vera, calendula, chamomile, evening primrose, lavender and Echinacea. I also loved that is free of synthetic fragrance, dyes and common allergens.

I followed up the bath with the Circle of Friends Organics Cooling Spray Lotion.
It was light and soaked right in. I tried it myself and I loved the cooling menthol that is in it. The menthol was mild but I could see how it would feel great on irritated itchy skin. I am going to add this into our night time ritual for my son.


My son and daughter slathered some of the Organics Calming Cream on my feet since they are always dry. I loved that it was very moisturizing and yet not greasy and it soaks in well. It also has vitamin A to help fortify the skin’s natural water-barrier properties and contains soothing extracts of aloe vera, calendula and chamomile and vitamin E. I liked the smell and feel.

The next morning when I tested out the Circle of Friends Organics Conditioning Detangler. My kids always wake up with very tangled hair so I was looking forward to trying this out. It did a great job a helping to minimize the complaints while I brushed their hair and I enjoyed the gentle scent of chamomile and lavender.

All of these extra-sensitive formulas are free of synthetic fragrance, dyes and common allergens and recommended for babies, children and adults with sensitive skin.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Cirlcle of Friends has generously agreed to award the winner with a complete set of their Organics Eczema & Sensitive Skin Line including one bottle of Shampoo and Body Wash, Cooling Spray Lotion, Calming Cream, and Conditioning Detangler (a $56 value).


Giveaway Dates March: March 6- April 2, 2010

How to Enter Giveaway:d
To enter this Moms Wear Your Tees/ Circle of Friends Giveaway, you need to 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.) Each person may get up to 8 entries, but only the #1 entry is required.

1. Required: Visit Circle of Friends® and post comment with what other product you would like to try.
2. Follow MWYT on Twitter
3. Tweet or Retweet about this giveaway:
Come enter to win Circle of Friends Organics Eczema & Sensitve Skin Line Giveaway at http://www.momswearyourtees.blogspot.com @MWYT @cofbath
4. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin w/ Google Friend Connect
5. Grab my blog button and leave web address where I can visit and see it
6. Fan the Moms Wear Your Tees Blog Facebook page in right margin
7. Fan the Circle of Friends Facebook Page
8. Blog about this giveaway and include a link, leave web address I can visit

Giveaway Rules
Open to US only, age 18+ to enter. GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED! Congratulations to Christy!

Circle of Friends did provide me with samples in exchange for my candid opinions. I did not receive monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks for entering and good luck!

Read more...

Vapour Organic Beauty: Make-up that's good for your skin?

I have never been one to wear much make-up but when I heard about Vapour Organic Beauty my curiosity was peaked. Vapor Organic Beauty strives to "impart the look of natural, glowing skin, while deeply nourishing the skin." Natural look that nourishes the skin? Sounds good to me!

Vapour Organic Beauty is made from food-grade Certified Organic ingredients that offer antioxidant potency, vitamins, and minerals to protect your skin. Our Skin is our largest organ and what we put on it is absorbed into our bodies so it makes since to put good stuff on it. Their whole product line is built with nourishing the skin in mind!

Many common chemicals found in cosmetics pose health risks. Vapour does not use potentially hazardous lab-created FD&C dyes used in many cosmetics. Vapour’s colors come from natural ancient mineral pigments suspended in their moisturizing Organic base. Vapour’s pigments move and breathe with your skin, unlike powders that collect in pores & lines. Vapour also recognizes that scent enhances our experience of pleasure and they skip synthetic fragrances and use only certified Organic fruit extracts and essential oils, including Pomegranate and Pink Grapefruit.

I tried out Mesmerize Eye Color in Flash. "Mesmerize helps moisturize and nourish as it beautifies with natural color. It contains NONE of the harsh chemical adhesives found in most eye shadows. Chemical adhesives, by definition, help achieve longer wear time, but they can irritate and prematurely age the delicate eye area." Mesmerize eye color is infused with Collagen enhancing Chrysanthemum, Anti-inflammatory Eyebright, and Circulatory enhancing Horsetail herbs. How cool is that? I loved that it is in a stick form and it glides on smooth and even. Very nice feeling- light and easy. No application tools required. Another great thing, is that you don't have to worry about it breaking up into pieces like a lot of compressed eye shadows do. The color I tried was flash and it is very natural, just a tiny bit darker than my normal skin color. It is great for everyday wear and covering up my eye veins! I liked the natural look and feel of Mesmerize and I am now curious to try more products!

I also love that Vapour uses recyclable, sustainable materials and processes. Vapour is manufactured using wind power. All of Vapour packaging is either recyclable or made from recycled content and ingredients are biodegradable. So go ahead and experience Vapour glow and feel good about it!

Vapour did provide me with the mesmerize eye color in exchange for my candid opinions. I was not provided with any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

Read more...

Eden Foods- Organic Kamut Whole Grain Pasta (also good for those who have wheat intorlerance)

I try to include whole grains in my diet as much as possible because they are so beneficial to one's health. You probably know that whole grains are a good source of B vitamins, Vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber, and that whole grains have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. But did you know that shole grains have also been found to reduce the risks of many types of cancer? Yep. They may also help regulate blood glucose in people living with diabetes. Another cool fact about whole grains is that studies have shown that people who consume more whole grains consistently weigh less than those who consumed less whole grain products.

We do a great job with consuming whole grain breads and cereals but not so well with pasta. My husband is picky about his pasta and doesn't really like whole wheat pasta. So I just tried Eden Foods Kamut® Spirals, 100% Whole Grain, Organic Pasta for the first time. It looks similar to the typical whole wheat pasta but is made with the ancient wheat Khorasan (kamut®). Another cool thing about Kamut is that Khorasan wheat is often enjoyed by those intolerant to common, modern hybrid wheat.

The kids and I prepared the Eden Foods Kamut Spirals with a variation of the recipe that was on the back of the box for Spiral Salad with Broccoli and Peanuts. I substituted edamame beans and red peppers for the broccoli because that is what I had on hand. It was a winner with the whole family, even my chicken-wing loving husband! It had a really delicious flavor and a nice texture. It also felt good knowing that it was good for us- low fat, rich in fiber and made without salt. It is also packaged in a reclosable, recycled and recyclable box, with a tasty recipe from Eden's kitchen on the back. You can find more recipes at Eden Foods online too!

EDEN Organic Kamut Spirals are made of organic whole grain Khorasan grown on family farms in the high plains of Montana and North Dakota are small batch hand crafted at the Eden Organic Pasta Company, using traditional pasta making techniques and vintage Italian equipment. I recommend you give it a try some time and I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine did!


Eden Foods did provide me with a free package of Kamut to sample. I did not receive any monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own and those of my family.

Read more...

Kid Bean: Vegan, Organic Products for Babies and Kids Made Mostly in the USA

I was searching the web recently and I came across a company called Kid Bean. It caught my eye because it is an online boutique of earth-friendly, labor-friendly, vegan baby and children's products. I love that it was started by a mother. I think we all know how hard it is to have a dream and go for it so I love supporting companies that are the result of this kind of go-getter spirit! I also love that the founder is a passionate environmentalist who meticulously researches each and every company and product they sell. She asks questions like, "Were the workers who made this treated fairly? Which organic certification do they have (GOTS, CU, or..?)? What is the impact of their packaging? Are all the ingredients really safe?" The end result of this is that, "With your support, together we are reducing our country's trade deficit and unemployment rate, reducing fuel-related pollution from overseas transport, and working toward living wages for all of us." Pretty cool, right?

They really walk the Green talk! In fact Kid Bean, has a whole green page devoted to letting you know all that they do to embrace being green. They suggest that, "perhaps they will inspire you to make changes in your own personal and/or business life" to be more earth-friendly. Check it out to see their list of the Four R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.

But let's get down to the great products they have! Kid Bean has lots of categories to choose from: Bath and Body Care, Bedding, Clothing (premie-size 16), Cloth Diapering, Footwear, Furniture, Gear, Maternity and Nursing and Toys.

I love their unique items like this Amenity Organic Cotton Baby Blanket.

I love these KidBean Organic Hemp Children's Sneakers! They are on clearance right now so go check our Kid Bean footwear to snag yourself a deal!

I have these super cute cloth training pants. I purchased them because they are soft cotton on the inside and out with the water proof part hidden so that they feel like real underwear. They are great for training. Both of my kids used these and they were also great for bedtime protection when she was still having accidents.

You can also follow Kid Bean on twitter. I do!

Congratulations Kid Bean for winning, "Winner of 2010 SAFBaby Ethical & Environmentally-Conscious Retailer Green Award."

Read more...

Sprout Baby Makes Green Choices Easy Plus a Cool Giveaway

Sprout Baby is the brainchild of parents who "wanted to bridge the gap between making healthy choices and making easy choices." I like that idea! SproutBaby.com provides eco-conscious and healthy shopping which is centered around making it easy to make mindful decisions about the products parents choose to put on, in and around their children and families.

Sprout Baby provides shopping categories such as food, feeding, diapering, baby care, home care, mom care, toys, gifts, books, and media. They do a great job at bringing you a bunch of great quality green options for a lot of categories. They carry items as diverse as the Himalayan Salt Inhaler (to alleviate respiratory ailments such as Asthma, Hayfever, Allergies, Sinus Conditions) and stainless steel to-go ware.

I tried their Episencial Foaming Wash- hydrating hair and body cleanser. My kids are prone to dry skin but this foaming wash was nice and gentle on their skin. It also had a very mild but pleasant scent. I loved that they use organic calendula, thyme oil(a great natural disinfectant) and fruit extracts.

Use code SB002966 to get 15% off your first purchase at Sprout Baby.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Sprout Baby is generously sponsoring a giveaway for one full size Episencial Playful Foaming Wash and Body Butter.

Episencial Playful Foaming Wash- Ultra pure hydrating hair & body cleanser
Features & Benefits
* Won't irritate eyes or sensitive places. Rinses off fast!
* Gentle and hydrating cleanser using thyme oil and plant-based surfactants. Sulfate free!
* Fragrance free. Organic orange extract is our mild and fresh scent.
* Organic ginko biloba and calendula extract to sooth the skin
* Organic aloe and soothing oat extract to moisturize naturally.
* Excellent for preventing cradle cap.

Episencial Better Body Butter A silky soft hydrating lotion.
* Organic olive oil, shea butter, and sunflower seed oil to restore natural skin lipids. Helps prevent cradle cap and scaly skin.
* Organic lavender and geranium oils to sooth and calm the skin, as well as preserve product freshness.
* Calming oat extract also boosts skin immunity.
* Organic jojoba and avocado oils to help replenish essential fatty acid levels for proper hydration.

Giveaway Dates:
February 4, 2010- March 1, 2010 Noon CST

Here is How to Enter:
To enter this Moms Wear Your Tees Sprout Baby Give Away, you need to do one or more of the following and post a comment below about each action you took and the web location (each comment will count as a separate entry so your chances of winning increase.) So each person may get up to 7 entries, but only #1 is required.

1. Required: Visit Sprout Baby and post comment with your favorite product.
2. Follow MWYT on Twitter
3. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog with Google Friend Connect
4. Become a Facebook fan of Moms Wear Your Tees Blog in right margin
5. Tweet or Retweet about this giveaway and include a link to blog page
6. Post a message on your facebook page about this giveaway with a link or leave a comment on Moms Wear Your Tees Facebook page
7. Blog about Moms Wear Your Tees and include a link to this giveaway

Giveaway Rules
Giveaway now closed. Congratulations to jennai!

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Read more...

Beckons Organic Clothing and Your Reader Discount!

I recently discovered Beckons Organic while I was looking for organic cotton clothing. Beckons has beautiful, eco-conscious yoga-inspired clothing for women and men. It is all made for comfort with a great fit but also with attention to styling and details. Beckons uses vivid colors and the finest organic cotton to create comfy yoga pants, yoga tops, camis, dresses, and yoga skorts. They also have eco-friendly men's pants and shorts!




At Beckons Organic, they maintain that,"Our clothes are an expression of our beliefs and an extension of our practice into our everyday lives. We maintain a strong commitment to the triple bottom line, where profit is equally as important as our impact on the planet and it's people." Beckons proudly uses only organic cotton and sustainable fibers in their clothes. They are, "equally proud to partner with a domestic manufacturer in San Diego to create its clothing... sewers are paid fairly, receive vacation pay and work in a clean and safe environment."

In case you are wondering what is so great about organic cotton, let me tell you a few reasons why it lessens the impact on the environment and is better:
* Because they have not been tainted by chemicals, the fibers of organic cotton are longer, softer and less brittle, making them more comfortable to wear.
* Organic cotton requires less water to grow than conventional cotton.
* The elimination of polluting chemicals and nitrogen leaching protects water supplies.
* The primary focus of organic farming is to use practices that build healthy soils.
* Organic production reduces health risks. The EPA considers seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton as “possible,” “likely,” “probable,” or “known” human carcinogens. Organic agriculture helps prevent any more of these chemicals from getting into our air, earth and water.

I tried the "Strength Organic Cotton T Shirt" in "grape" from Beckons Organic. It came minimally packaged in a recyclable envelope with recycled tissue paper but well protected and nice touches like the cute stamp! The t shirt is really nice. It has a flattering scoop neckline without being too low and nice detailed double stitching around the neckline. It is fitted and has small cap sleeves. It is a lightweight organic cotton and this gives an almost stretchy feel. In fact, I had to check the tag to make sure it was 100% cotton- and of course it was! It also has a cute little flower (the Beckons symbol) sewed onto the sleeve. Another little detail they do on all their peices is a little tag at the bottom side of the tee that says "Wisdom" and "Strength" on it. They call this an "intention tag" and print words such as wisdom, courage, love, grace, integrity, and strength on them. I really love the t shirt and I would recommend it on the basis of both comfort and cuteness! One word of caution- they are fitted so keep this in mind when selecting your size.


Beckons Organic has generously agreed to give my readers a 20% discount! Just use discount code "MOMTS".

Beckons did provide the strength organic cotton t shirt in exchange for my honest opinions. The opinions I expressed are my own and no monetary compensations was provided.

Read more...

Organic Sleepy Wrap Baby Carrier Giveaway

Both my babies loved to be carried. Especially my daughter, always a happy girl until I tried to put her down. The Sleepy Wrap was designed by a mama who wanted to find just the right carrier for her son that distributed his weight across her shoulders and back and that was made of just the right stretchy but secure fabric. She designed it and her husband helped make the business happen. What a great pair and what a great idea.

The Sleepy Wrap baby carrier securely holds your little one close to you. It is specially designed for your baby's first year of life, yet you may comfortably carry your baby for as long as you both desire. The name Sleepy Wrap came because babies often get so comfy they fall asleep peacefully against your chest. I loved that special time with my babies!

Research indicates that carried babies:
* Cry Less! (43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours)
* Are Healthier! (gain weight faster, have better motor skills, coordination, increased muscle tone, and sense of balance)
* Get a better view of the world! (babies pushed in strollers or lugged around in car seats only get to see the adult world at knee-level)
* Become Independent Faster! (making them more confident and less clingy)
* Sleep Better! (they fall asleep quicker and sleep for longer periods of time)
* Learn More! (not overstimulated, but calm and alert, observing the world around them)

GIVEAWAY Details:
Now you have a chance to win one organic Sleepy Wrap of your choice provided by Sleep Wrap! More about the Organic Sleepy Wrap
* natural sleep solution for your baby
* one size fits all
* hands free walking, hiking, shopping
* secure comfortable fit
* from premature/newborn to toddler
* wrapping instructions enclosed
* Organic Sleepy Wrap is made from soft, organic cotton, produced in accordance with the requirements of the Organic Exchange 100 Standard
* a $59.95 retail value

Giveaway Dates:
January 28, 2010- February 23, 2010

How to enter this GIVEAWAY:
To enter this Moms Wear Your Tees Sleepy Wrap Giveaway, you need to 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.) Each person may get up to 7 entries.

1. Required: Visit theSleepy Wrap Website and post comment with which color you would like to win.
2. Become a Facebook fan of Sleepy Wrap
3. Become a Facebook fan of Moms Wear Your Tees Blog
4. Become a follower of SleepyWrap on Twitter
5. Become a follower of MWYT on Twitter
6. Follow Moms Wear Your Tees Blog through Google Friend Connect
7. Blog about Moms Wear Your Tees and include a link to this giveaway

Giveaway Rules
See Moms Wear Your Tees Giveaway Eligibility and Winner Selection Policies. GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED. Congratulations to perfect blue moon!

Read more...

What do you do with a curly haired boy? I got organic help from Curls!

I have straight brown hair and my son has curly blond hair! People are always asking me where he came from! I just love his curls and so does his father but since I don't have curls myself I really didn't know how to take care of it. His hair was getting to the point where I decided to have it cut short because the curls were so matted in the back when he woke up every morning. But his father said not to cut it so I decided to seek professional help.

I found CURLS in my online search for help. Curls products have rave reviews but what's more, they use natural ingredients that I love. Curls use organic oils and quality ingredients, such as aloe leaf juice, panthenol, mango, shea and murmur butter is what set them apart in my mind. Curls is a company created by a bi-racial woman searching for the solution for her hair care needs and Curls caters to the unique needs of today's multi-ethnic market. I love people that have a vision and go for it and I figured if it worked for her curls it would probably work for my little boy's curls.

Curls has an page their website that helps you determine your hair type and suggests products just for you! My son's hair type is "full bodied, climate dependent (humidity = frizz), and damage prone. Lack of proper care renders dull curls." This was very true. He has his bath at night to help calm him down and by the morning his curls were tangled in the back and straightened in the front- very dry and breaking. I was using a detangler but the results were just ok.

I received a sample kit from Curls that included a Curly Q's product instruction sheet, 2oz sample sizes of Curlie Cutie Cleansing Cream, Coconut Dream Conditioner, Moist Curls Moisturizer, and Curly B Gel-les-c all in a pretty silk organza bag. All of the Curls hair products we tried smell great- and all naturally from their quality ingredients! The kit looked good so I put it to the test.






First, I cleansed his hair (with their sulfate free cleanser) and conditioned it. I brushed it while the conditioner was in like as suggested by Curls. He came out with his ringlets and then I used the moisturizer spray. I finished up with the Gel-les-c and I have to say I was a little nervous about this last step because I don't like the way gel leaves hair all crunchy. It turns out though that Gel-les-c isn’t a gel. This botanically based, organic curl styler imparts brilliant sheen, banishes frizz, and holds those twirls in place without the crunch!

I absolutely loved these products! They really transformed my son's hair and help it meet it's potential- soft, shiny and silky ringlets! Another fabulous part to these products is that results last. I don't wash Leo's hair every night and I was pleased to see that the use of the 4 products already minimized tangles big time even with skipping the wash for a night or two. Now I can use the Moist Curls Moisturizer in the mornings to restore his curls from frizzy to cute. Formulated with certified organic ingredients, this daily curl moisturizer improves comb-ability and restores his curls. I am very pleased with the results and thankful that his hair is now manageable and I can let it grow a little more if I want! Here are before and after shots.


I am very pleased with the products I tried from Curls and I recommend them to anyone with curls. I will be a repeat customer as long as little Leo has curls! You can check out all the products including their adult, baby, and kids line at CURLS. Special READER DISCOUNT:
Coupon Code: curlycutie (all lowercase)
Good for: 15% off all Curly Q’s products
Expires: Friday, February 5th, 2010

The Curls kit I tried was provided for me by CURLS in exchange for my honest opinions. I did not receive any money compensation for this review.

Read more...

Organic Food Coupons- Great Site

I found a great site! It helps save money while bringing good food to the table for your family. Organic Food Coupons mission is "to help families be able to serve more organic food, by providing resources for free organic food coupons. And to provide families with the opportunity to try different organic foods by using money saving coupons."
Pretty great!
64WXSQ688U2H

Read more...