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Simply Natural Saturdays Hosts

 

Brittany at The Pistachio Project

Krystyna at Spring Mountain Living
Brittney at Brittleby’s Corner
Kassie at Going Green with the Grizls

 

Featured Post

My favorite post from last week was the Mildly Spicy Hummus Recipe from Re-Inventing Lolli.  I love spicy things and I love hummus so this sounds great to me!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Elmer’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

My children love to make crafts. They love to paint, draw, glue and so much more. I jumped at the chance to review Elmer’s Naturals, their new natural glue which is made from naturally occurring ingredients—specifically corn and soybeans. Elmer’s has created the first and only school glue made with naturally occurring ingredients and available in recycled packaging. Don’t worry, the Elmer’s Naturals is just as strong, safe, non-toxic and washable as Elmer’s traditional School Glue.

My kids come home from preschool with tons of paintings and crafts on a daily basis. You would think that they wouldn’t want to do any more crafts, but they do!

My kids tried out the Elmer’s Naturals Glue Sticks as well as the School Glue.  First we did a craft with simple cutting and gluing the shapes onto paper. The Glue Sticks worked really well and the papers stayed exactly as my children had placed them.

The School Glue was used to create butterflies. Using a clothespins, coffee filters, watercolors, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and glitter glue & markers, my kids were able to create beautiful butterflies. As I helped them, I realized that the glue worked just as well but had a different texture. I prefer the feel of the natural glue, because lets face it, when you glue with little people, glue gets everywhere! The School Glue isn’t as runny, it is more gel like, so it doesn’t come running out of the bottle. My kids weren’t used to that, so I think it will take them a little time to get more confident with their gluing skills.

I appreciate that Elmer’s is trying to appeal to more natural families. No matter how green you are, your kids still love to create crafts, which means you need glue! I also appreciate that their containers are recyclable. The glue itself is not 100% natural, but Elmer’s wanted to appeal to more parents and teachers that desire to use more natural products.

You can purchase Elmer’s Naturals at JoAnn Fabric & Michaels craft stores. School Glue Naturals will retail for $3.29 for both the 4 oz. pourable and 2-pack glue sticks.

Make sure you enter the Elmer’s “Pin to Win” Sweepstakes!

Connect with Elmer’s on Facebook.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Elmer’s. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Prize: Kiddy USA Cruiserfix Pro Booster Seat (Value $249.99)

Dates: June 17th – July 7th (3 Week Event)

FREE TWITTER WITH ANNOUNCEMENT POST (OR PAY $5 IF YOU DON’T POST ANNOUNCEMENT)

HTML HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13vPlLW47dJKCkBt9BZNIaw0Hp-V_3-yk7ht0t3qESxs/edit?usp=sharing

Co-Host $12 – ANY 4 links and a back-link to your page (No Host Pages Available at this time)

Extra Links $3- (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram ONLY)

Subscribe by email link or a Daily Vote Link $5
All payments need to be paid via Paypal as a GIFT to darcibean@gmail.com

Any Questions email me at everythingmommyhood@gmail.com

Promotion will be required 4 days a week for the entire event on all social media, if you do not plan on promoting, DO NOT sign up because you will be deleted. I’ve had numerous sign ups for events with no promoting at all, there will be no free rides on the entry form. Promoting helps ALL of us.

HTML will be emailed approximately 24-72 hours PRIOR to event, it is your responsibility to make sure you receive this, so PLEASE mark your calendars.

Most referrals will receive a daily comment to their blog on the entry form.

Please tell them Brittleby’s Corner sent you!

—————————SIGN UP HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—————————-

Prize: Keekaroo Height Right™ High Chair + Infant Insert + Tray + Tray Cover

$239.95 Value

Hosted by: Everything Mommyhood

Event Dates: July 1st – July 21st (3 Week Event)

FREE TWITTER WITH ANNOUNCEMENT POST (OR PAY $5 IF YOU DON’T POST ANNOUNCEMENT)

HTML HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M4khW_3tQgzQ6EHg3UmBkq8N0Fd2K1Onbnx_LrvDUvM/edit?usp=sharing

Co-Host $12 – ANY 4 links and a back-link to your page (No Host Pages Available at this time)

Extra Links $3- (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram ONLY)

Subscribe by email link or a Daily Vote Link $5

All payments need to be paid via Paypal as a GIFT to darcibean@gmail.com

Any Questions email me at everythingmommyhood@gmail.com

Promotion will be required 5 days a week for the entire event on all social media, if you do not plan on promoting, DO NOT sign up because you will be deleted. I’ve had numerous sign ups for events with no promoting at all, there will be no free rides on the entry form. Promoting helps ALL of us.

HTML will be emailed approximately 24-72 hours PRIOR to event, it is your responsibility to make sure you receive this, so PLEASE mark your calendars.

Most referrals will receive a daily comment link to their blog.

Please tell them Brittleby’s Corner sent you!

———–SIGN UP HERE!!!!!!————

In exchange for this post I will receive a set of Kidecals.

If you are in need of sticky labels for your kids belongings, check out Kidecals. These custom labels are durable and waterproof and can be used on everything. Kids love stickers, so they will enjoy putting these on their belongings. The labels can be customized to display allergies, names and more. They will stick to pretty much anything!

Personalized Kids Name Labels:

Kidecals are an absolute must if you’ve got kids and hate losing their stuff. Label water bottles, clothing, books, toys, sports gear with their trendy and fun designs. Kidecals are durable…dishwasher, washing machine AND dryer safe, and they don’t damage surfaces. I have never heard of a sticker being safe for the washing machine, so this is awesome! I can label my kids jackets when they bring them to school and not have to worry about removing the sticker before it gets thrown in the wash.

Waterproof Labels:

The annoying thing about using a sharpie to label stuff is it eventually washes away. Kidecals waterproof name labels are durable and can stick to just about anything…from clothes to water bottles…and stay put through wash after wash after wash. They will even stay on pool toys!

Fun Mustache Stickers:

Not all stickers are the same, some can be for fun! You can use the variety of mustache stickers to decorate a party and label party foods!

Chalkboard Labels that you can write on:

Chalkboard labels are an easy way to get organized without having to create new printed labels from scratch. Kidecals chalkboard labels are super durable and can even go through the dishwasher!

Daycare & Camp Labels:

If you have kids in daycare or going away to camp, then you know how important it is to label EVERYTHING. Kidecals daycare labels are not just cute, they’re dishwasher, washing machine and dryer safe, and stay put on anything from clothing, to baby’s favorite lovey to sippy and snack cups. My daughter will be in preschool 5 days a week starting in the Fall, which means she will also be eating lunch and spending most of her day at school. I will need these tags to label all her stuff that she will take with her on a daily basis. My kids are not old enough for camp, but I remember going and I am pretty sure that I lost something every time, so labels would be nice!

Kidecals are so awesome, they were even featured on the Today Show! Check out the video below to learn more, especially if you aren’t convinced yet!

Kidecals was founded by a mother of two boys, because not only are Kidecals’ designs cute and cool for boys, they are also durable for all the stuff I need to label. Kidecals are dishwasher, washing machine AND dryer safe. They literally do not come off. Ever.  It is also important to point out that Kidecals always has FREE Shipping!

My readers can save 15% off Kidecals, the most durable waterproof labels on the market, by using promo code: “bestlabels” at Kidecals.

Prepare yourself…sometimes I don’t clean my dishes after I use them, so they sit in the sink! Sometimes they sit in my sink overnight! I know I am the only person that does this, so maybe you won’t need help cleaning your sink!

With dishes sitting in there for a long time, the sink gets dirty quickly. Here is how I cleaned it and I bet you have these ingredients in your pantry already.

I emptied the sink and rinsed out the food and particles. Then I put a kitchen towel down and poured vinegar on it. I let it soak for an hour. Then using the towel I wiped down the sink. I have a double sink, so I used the towel to wipe down the other side. The vinegar smells, so I lit a candle and my house didn’t stink.

After wiping down the sink, I poured baking soda in the sink and used the towel to scrub it in. Then I rinsed the sink down and I was left with a shiny, clean sink!

Do you try to clean your house naturally?

Prize: $75 Gift Card to Baby’s Own Room (Baby, Toddler, Kids, and Teen Bedding)

Dates: June 6th – June 27th (3 Week Event)

FREE TWITTER WITH ANNOUNCEMENT POST (OR PAY $5 IF YOU DON’T POST ANNOUNCEMENT)

Announcement HTML found HERE

Co-Host $10 – ANY 4 links and a back-link to your page (No Host Pages Available at this time)

Extra Links $2- (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram ONLY)

Subscribe by email link or a Daily Vote Link $4

All payments need to be paid via Paypal as a GIFT to darcibean@gmail.com

Any Questions email me at everythingmommyhood@gmail.com

Promotion will be required 5 days a week for the entire event on all social media, if you do not plan on promoting, DO NOT sign up because you will be deleted. I’ve had numerous sign ups for events with no promoting at all, there will be no free rides on the entry form. Promoting helps ALL of us.

HTML will be emailed approximately 24-72 hours PRIOR to event, it is your responsibility to make sure you receive this, so PLEASE mark your calendars.

MOST REFERRALS WILL RECEIVE A CODE WORD PAGE

Please tell them Brittleby’s Corner sent you!

——————-SIGN UP HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!———–

Welcome to the May 2013 Natural Living Blog Carnival: Taking Time for Mom.

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Natural Living Blog Carnival hosted by Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project through the Green Moms Network. Oftentimes, Moms are so busy taking care of their families that they forget to take care of themselves. This month our carnival participants have written posts about what they do just for themselves.

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As a mom, I don’t find much alone time for myself, let alone pampering time. As part of my New Year’s resolutions, I wanted to take more time for myself this year. This involved more baths and at home facials.  I found that I had masks and scrubs in my bathroom that I hadn’t taken much time to use. I was curious about how often I could pamper myself with a mask and scrub at home. One of my best friends is an Esthetician with Aveda, so I asked her some questions. Here is what she had to say.

How often should at home “facials” occur with scrubs and masks?

Scrubs and masks are typically recommended once to twice weekly. That said you need to consider the type of mask or scrub as well as skin type. Someone with dry skin might use a refining scrub once weekly but you don’t want to scrub to often because that can weaken the skins barrier function or natural defense against dehydration. But the same person could use a moisturizing mask with ingredients such as aloe or hyaluronic acid a few times a week. Listen to your skin. Start with once a week then play around with it, find the balance that works for your skin.

What is the benefit of using masks?

Masks are one of my favorite tools. For acne prone or oily skin, clay based masks work great to draw out impurities and oil while refining skins texture. Masks with oils or vitamins will be very nourishing and repairing for dyer or normal skin conditions. Aloe or gel masks with a drop of lavender essential oil are great for sunburned skin to reduce inflammation and heal.

Any tips about pampering your face and taking care of it?

Find a regimen of organic products that works good for your skin type. Keep it simple; cleanse, tone, and moisturizer where needed. Use a scrub and mask once weekly to increase cell turnover and hydrate. Most important stay consistent. Use tepid water to cleanse skin, hot water dehydrates and damages healthy cells. Don’t pick at your skin! Picking spreads bacteria creating more breakouts and leaves deeper scars. Instead keep your skin clean and use a spot treatment like tea tree or a natural salicylic acid treatment a few times a day until the pimple heals. Lastly wear a non chemical broad spectrum sunscreen and reapply it! It’s your biggest protection against premature aging.

How often should people get professional facials?

Facials are a great way to keep the skin looking healthy. Depending on your desired results getting facials every 4-12 weeks is recommended. Getting a facial around the changes of the seasons is a great way to get advise on how to take care of your skin during the next couple months and prep your skin the new shift in weather.

What are benefits to the skin for getting facials?

Facials have an array of benefits for the skin such as deeper exfoliation treatments to increase cell turnover, even out skin tone, and refine pore size. Facial massage brings oxygen to the facial tissue and strengthens muscle tone. Properly done extractions keep skin clearer and keeps pores from getting compacted and enlarged.

There are many different types of facials so it is important to have a proper consultation with your Esthetician for optimal results.

So treat your skin well and pamper yourself! We mamas deserve a little me time!

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Visit Happy Mothering and The Pistachio Project to learn more about participating in next month’s Natural Living Blog Carnival!

Please take some time to enjoy the posts our other carnival participants have contributed:

Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Product was given to me in order to post my honest opinion.  

I am serious about my lip balm! I always have some on me. While at Expo West, I met up Eco Lips who was promoting a part of their company called Mongo Kiss, Lip Balm with a Kiss of Bliss.

Mongo Kiss lip balms are made with certified organic ingredients and Fair Trade certified cocoa butter. They are made with non-GMO ingredients and are gluten free. What makes Mongo Kiss different is that they containmMongongo Oil, a nutrient-rich oil from Zambia, Africa. The Mongongo Oil is high in vitamin E and has been used for centuries by the !Kung bushmen of the Kalahari to cleanse and moisturize their skin. The Mongongo Oil is sourced from a small rural village, which supports a group of women, giving them the ability to work and a fair wage so they can sustain themselves and their families.

Mongo Kiss lip balm will leave your lips hydrated, nourished, and protected. It is available in four flavors: Peppermint, Pomegranate, Vanilla-Honey and Unflavored. Another great feature is that these lip balms are much larger than your typical lip balm. Also, the tube and cap are made with over 40% post-consumer recycled material. The manufacturing of this product is 100% offset with renewable energy credits.

I love my Mongo Kiss Lip Balms! My favorite is the Pomegranate. I also love how big they are! As you can see in the picture above, the lip balm is larger than most lip balms. You also twist up the balm through the top. These balms truly moisturize my lips and I keep one on me at all times. I mostly wear lip balm over other lip products and I am really impressed with Mongo Kiss lip balms.

You can buy Mongo Kiss at Whole Foods or online at the Eco Lips shop. Each Mongo Kiss lip balm is only $1.99! Isn’t that amazing!

Connect with Mongo Kiss & Eco Lips on  Facebook and Twitter.

Eco Lips will be giving one of my readers a chance to try out their new Mongo Kiss Lip Balms and a variety of Eco Lips Lip Balm. Enter on the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win. This giveaway is open to US only and will end on 5/27. Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hi Everyone!  

The voting ends for the Top 25 Eco-Friendly Mom Blogs at 4PM PST on Thursday May 16th (which is tomorrow).

THANK YOU to everyone that voted for me! I truly appreciate it!

I am currently #29, with some awesome green blogging mamas ahead of me.

The numbers are so close with the blogs in front of me, so

if you can vote one last time, I would appreciate it.

(Maybe I can sneak back in)

VOTE!

Thanks!!!! <3