Green Resolutions Sponsor Spotlight Post ~SnackTAXI~

The next Sponsor Spotlight Post is for SnackTAXI! :-)

From the SnackTAXI website:

"snackTAXIs are a great alternative to plastic bags and wraps, especially when just one reusable bag has the potential to eliminate an average of 1000 plastic bags over its lifetime!
snackTAXIs are lined with coated nylon, and can be machine washed and dried, or simply wiped clean with a damp sponge.

why should i switch to reusable bags for my snacks and sandwiches?

The US alone adds 20 million plastic baggies to landfills every single day.  Every reusable bag you use has the potential to eliminate 1000's of plastic bags over its life span.  The snack-sacks and sandwich-sacks that we've sent out into the world in the last 2 years alone have kept over 7 million plastic baggies out of the waste stream.  That's 430,000 pounds of plastic!

what materials are used to make snacktaxis?

The exterior of a snackTAXI is comprised of 100% cotton, and the interior is lined with polyurethane coated nylon.

All materials are lead, phthalate and BPA free!

Material sources: the cotton we use is manufactured in Korea, the nylon is manufactured in Taiwan, and all of our products are manufactured in our rural Massachusetts workshop.

We're currently looking for a recycled nylon, and would love to hear any sourcing suggestions folks might have. We will also be introducing some organic cotton selections this year, to round out our offerings!"

I received a Organic Hatch Marks Turquoise Sandwich bag in the mail to review for this event! :-) I must confess that I've used my share of plastic baggies. Quite a few of them actually. So this helped me rethink if I ACTUALLY need to use plastic baggies. Not only do these bags help cut down on the amount of baggies going into the waste stream, but they can also save you money! You won't need to buy very many (if any) baggies in the future! :D Plus they are stylish to boot! ;-) 

My Opinion: I love saving money! I think it's one of my hobbies! :-) So when I got to review this sandwich bag I got excited about the thought of how many bags I won't have to purchase now! :-) Especially bags that are needed for my husband's lunches! Even the Sandwich bag works nicely for snacks (depending on the snack)! I sent some chips in it one day for my husbands lunch and he said it held a nice amount! These bags work great for things like chips, sandwiches, and other dry foods. They just don't carry things that are wet to well. 

Buy it: Would you like to purchase some reusable bags? Visit SnackTAXI to see all the bags they have to offer! :-)

Win it: Want your chance to win a Organic Hatch Marks Orange Sandwich Bag? Stay tuned for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop coming up this Monday, January 16, 2012! :-) 

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. All opinions are 100% my own and may vary from yours.

Green Resolutions Sponsor Spotlight Post ~GladRags~

I'm pretty excited to bring you our next sponsor for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop: GladRags! :-)

From the GladRags website:

"Do GladRags cost more than disposables?
No, they're actually much cheaper. When compared to the amount of money spent on disposables, it only takes a couple of years to make up the cost of your GladRags. They are made to last 5+ years. Many women tell us they still use the same pads they bought when we started in 1993! Think of this: it would be tremendously expensive (not to mention wasteful!) to continuously re-stock our kitchens with disposable paper plates, so we buy plates that we can use indefinitely. We make an initial investment into something reusable that will last a long time. It's the same with GladRags.


I know using GladRags saves money in the long run but it's expensive to get started. What should I buy with a limited budget?
You could start with a Pad Sampler Kit. Another option is to supplement GladRags with your current products and add to your collection over time as your budget allows. Also, watch for specials that we offer on the website from time to time - we've got some great deals. To stay informed, be sure to sign up for our free email newsletter (you can save 15%, just by signing up!). And check natural food stores and pharmacies. Sometimes they sell lower than our suggested retail.

Are GladRags good for post-partum?
Yes - the night pads are especially great for post-partum. While many new moms find they need a large amount of GladRags or pads to carry them through post-partum, any amount of reusable pads would be helpful. They are softer and kinder than plastic on your skin. Some women place their inserts in the freezer after dipping them in witch hazel. The cool inserts soothe and help your tender parts heal.


How should I clean my GladRags?
It's simple: just pre-soak in cold water, then machine wash and dry.
Here are the specifics:  remove the inserts from the holder; soak or pre-rinse in cold water (change the water daily). Then machine wash with your dark clothes in cold or warm water.  Avoid using hot water to wash your GladRags. Machine dry completely. GladRags can also be safely hand-washed and dried, but it's not necessary to do so."

What great information to learn from!! :-)

I received 1 Organic undyed cotton cloth Day pad to review for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop! :-) I never thought that I would ever want to try cloth pads... disgusting right? That's what I thought too. But then as I started trying more reusable things like diaper wipes and cloth diapers I started thinking that pads might not be as disgusting as I thought they would be. Really all you have to do is soak them in cold water till your cycle is over or your ready to wash them! Makes complete sense! I am now completely all for them! :-) And I LOVE them!

They are also super soft to wear! The first time I put mine on I completely forgot that it was there... weird huh? That's the way I like to wear a pad! I hate the feeling of walking around with something between my legs... *shudders*. 

Overall I found the Day pad to be: Soft, comfortable, easy to clean, and absorbent! 

(Note: I am currently expecting so this information is, in a way, limited.)

Buy it: Would you like to purchase some Cloth Pads of your own! Visit GladRags Website!

Win it: Would you like your chance to win a $30 GC to GladRags? Come back on Monday, January 16, 2012 and enter to win in my Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop!

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. All opinions are 100% my own and may vary from yours.

Green Resolutions Sponsor Spotlight post ~Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent~

Our Next Sponsor spotlight for the Green Resolutions Giveaway hop is Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent 

From the Rockin' Green Website:

"Rockin’ Green is an award-winning manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products designed to make cleaning easier and greener. Most well-known for their clean-rinsing laundry detergent formulated for use on all fabrics and especially useful on cloth diapers, Rockin’ Green produces detergents for hard, soft and normal water conditions (known as Hard, Soft and Classic Rock varieties).

Rockin’ Green also carries Funk Rock, a first-of-its kind natural ammonia bouncer, and Melody, an odor-neutralizer and air freshener home spray. With the exception of Funk Rock, all products come in seven natural scents, such as Mighty Mighty Marshmallow, Earth Wind & Orchids, Rage Against the Raspberry, and Bare Naked Babies (unscented).

Rockin’ Green was founded in 2009 by Kim Webb, an avid cloth diapering mom who desired a better way to clean cloth diapers and treat her kid’s sensitive skin. More information can be found at www.RockinGreenSoap.com."

I was sent some samples of the Rockin' Green Detergent to try out for this event! I love all the scents that the Rockin' Green detergent comes in! My two favorite smells are probably the Rage Against the Raspberries, and Lavender Mint Revival! Mmm! :-) They are light scents, yet perfect for getting your laundry smelling wonderful! :-)

My opinion: Rockin Green is perfect for washing your cloth diapers in! I sometimes have a tad bit of a ammonia problem (yucky). But Rockin' Green actually cleaned my diapers! :-) With no soap residue left on them! YAY! This detergent isn't only for Cloth diapers tho! It works great on everything! Making everything smell fresh and clean! :-) 

Buy it: Want to purchase some Rockin' Green of your own? Then visit the Rockin' Green Website!

Win it: Would like a chance to win a Bag of Detergent in your choice of formula and scent? Look for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Blog Hop that will be starting this Monday January 16, 2012! :-)

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. All opinions are 100% my own and may vary from yours.

Green Resolutions Sponsor Spotlight Post ~Skoy Cloth~

Another one of our sponsors for the Green Resolutions giveaway hop is Skoy Cloth!

From the Skoy Cloth Website: 

"The SKOY cloth is a fabulous, absorbent, biodegradable and natural multi-use cloth.  Our re-usable earth friendly cloth is perfect in your kitchen, bathroom, and on most surface areas in your home or office.  SKOY cloth can be used in place of your sponge, wash cloth or paper towels. 

It is a European made product and 100% biodegradable because it is made from a natural cotton and wood-based cellulose pulp.  SKOY cloth is a chlorine-free product using water-based colors and inks.  After an independent composting test, SKOY cloth broke down completely within 5 weeks.

The SKOY cloth is a durable product due to the reusability factor and can last months.  Using a SKOY cloth is equivalent to using 15 rolls of paper towels in an average home.  With the high cost of paper towels, as much as $2 per roll, SKOY cloth is the obvious choice for your wallet and the environment.

The SKOY cloth has an absorption factor of 15x its own weight.  As a result, producing the most superior cloth product available.  Imagine using 15 sheets of good-quality paper towels at once… This is how a wet SKOY cloth will feel in your hand. 

The SKOY cloth is long-lasting because of the wash ability feature.  It dries quickly, so it is not a breeding ground for bacteria.    Have you ever used your sponge, then smelled your hand and it reeked of horrible bacteria? That will never happen again if you microwave your SKOY cloth regularly. It is also dishwasher and washer/dryer safe. Cleaning your SKOY cloth will keep it healthy and germ-free.  Please see Use & Care for instructions.   

The cool and unique designs will make cleaning fun!"

My Opinion: I didn't use to many paper towels as it was because I was trying to learn to eliminate them. Some things tho it's just handy to have a paper towel OR how about a Skoy Cloth?! ;-) I found that I could do pretty much anything I wanted a paper towel for using a skoy cloth! I think that my favorite thing about them is being able to stick them in the dishwasher with the dishes to clean them! They come out smelling great! 

Buy it: Would you like to purchase some Skoy of your own? You can either visit Skoy Cloth's Website or you the next time you go to Whole Foods Market you can see if they have them... if they don't have them all you have to do is request them and they will start carrying them in your Whole Foods Market! :-)

Win a 4 pack of Skoy: Would you like your chance to win a 4 pack of Skoy? Come back on the 16th and look for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop! :-) 

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. All opinions are 100% my own and may vary from yours.

Bee All Natural Review and Giveaway

Bee All Natural is a USDA Organic Skin Care Company. Right now they have a bunch of wonderful Organic baby products, some Organic Hand and Foot Salves, and Organic Lip Balms! 

From the Bee All Natural Website:

"Working independently, I researched, tested and developed each of my products from start to completion.  The ingredients are certified organic and are all "food grade" quality.  I make each product from scratch and never use pre-made bases.  Packaging each batch myself, I even design and print my own labels and carry each order to the post office or retail location!"

Bee All Natural will be giving away some Baby Products and a Lip Balm here at Mama's Sew Sweet Baby Blog! But First would you like to see and hear about what I received?

I received the Natural Baby Body Butter and I love it! It makes my daughter's skin so soft! I really love the Natural Smell (no sent)! In my opinion it smells like Shea Butter! And I LOVE that smell! 

This body butter, may I just add, isn't just for babies! ;-) I find myself rubbing it on my arms and hands as well, I love it that much! :-) 

I think I may have found my new favorite Baby oil! :-) Again I find myself rubbing this on my own arms as well! This oil is perfect for locking in that moisture just after a bath! Or even using in your diaper wipes solution! ;-) Again I love the smell of this Lavender one! I just want to smell it for hours (maybe that's the reason I rub it on my own arms)! :-) 

I think that this powder is without doubt my absolute favorite baby powder ever! :-) I love the smell, the way it heals diaper rash, and the ingredients (I'm a big ingredient reader! ;-) )! Did you know that this Powder is even recommended by FuzziBunz on how to treat diaper rash?

From the FuzziBunz website:

"DIAPER RASHES

Q. My baby has diaper rash. What do you recommend since I can’t use a diaper rash ointment with my FuzziBunz®?

A. While babies using FuzziBunz® generally will not experience diaper rashes, they can occur on occasion due to allergies, illness, etc. Do not use any diaper rash ointment while using FuzziBunz®, this will void your warranty and cause them to repel. We recommend changing the diaper often and allowing the baby to air dry as much as possible. You can also use a combination of a zinc oxide powder / cornstarch powder on baby's bottom to aid in healing. Bee All Natural baby powder is a great choice. If you need a “paste,” mix the powder with a little bit of water and rub onto the rash to give it more staying power."

 I am constantly having chapped lips. So I was pleased to try out several different scents of Lip Balms from Bee All Natural! I got to try:

~The Natural one! Which is great for those times when you just need a bit of healing power, but you don't want any smell!

~The Peppermint one which added not only a sent but also a feeling of healing. I could feel the peppermint on my lips! :-)  

~The Grapefruit one I LOVE LOVE LOVE the refreshing smell of the citrus grapefruit! This one was my favorite! I have a thing for Citrus! ;-)

And

~The Cinnamon one This one was without doubt great too! But I must say after trying the Grapefruit one first I found it to be just a 'tad' disappointing, but probably ONLY because I enjoy Citrus so much more! But if you love Cinnamon and don't care much for Citrus this would be the one for you! ;-)

My overall Opinion: I LOVE all of the Bee All Natural products I tried! They actually work, have amazing ingredients in them, and are certified organic! :-) You get to actually know what you are putting on your baby's (and yours) skin! Without doubt (and truly I am not just saying this) Bee All Natural is now my favorite baby products place! :-) If you don't believe me try the products for yourself!! I don't think you'll be disappointed AT all! ;-)

Buy it: If you are anxious and you want to buy some of these amazing products yourself visit the Bee All Natural website!

Win it: Would you like to win!? Bee All Natural will be giving away:

1 Baby Powder in winners Choice of Natural or Lavender

1 Baby Body Butter in winners Choice of Natural or Lavender

1 Baby Body Butter Stick in winners Choice of Natural or Lavender

and

1 Lip Balm in winners choice of sent: Natural, Peppermint, Chocolate, Grapefruit, or Cinnamon

One (1) Winner will be selected for each product! :-) Making a total of 4 winners! :-) 

Green Resolutions Sponsor Spotlight Post ~Sweet Bobbins~

Another one of our sponsors for the Green Resolutions giveaway hop is Sweet Bobbins! :-)

Sweet Bobbins is another darling etsy shop with wet bags, wipes, bibs and more! :-)

This is the wet bag I was sent to review for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop! :-) I just love how fresh it looks with those lemons on it! :-) 

I love the size of this wet bag. It's the 14x14 sized bag. It's big enough to hold 7-9 cloth diapers yet still small enough to fit in the diaper bag. Plus if you get to many diapers in it and it ends up not fitting into the diaper bag it has the handy snap strap. You can just hook it to the strap of your diaper bag and there you go! ;-)

My Opinion:

These wet bags are amazing! You can carry anything wet in them from dirty cloth diapers, to clothes that got yucky during the blow out, to wet beach cloths! They are also super easy to clean, I just throw it in the wash with my diapers and tada I'm done! I also really like how Sweet Bobbins does custom sizing and fabric! :-) If your looking for a baby shower gift idea these would be perfect. You can just choose/pick/customize the perfect one! ;-)

Buy it: If you would like to purchase your own lovely wet bag visit Sweet Bobbins to see what she has available or to customize your own!

Win it: If you would like your chance to win a wet bag of your own look for the Green Resolutions Giveaway hop starting January 16th where Sweet Bobbins will be giving away one (1) wet bag to one of Mama's Sew Sweet Baby readers! :-)

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. All opinions are 100% my own and may vary from yours.

Green Resolutions Sponsor Spotlight Post ~Green Toys~

Another one of our sponsors for the Green Resolutions Giveaway Hop is Green Toys!

Green Toys is a toy company that makes toys out of recycled milk jugs! They carry some fun looking sets of toys like a Tool Set, a Tea Set, a Sand Play Set, and much more!! 

From Green Toys Website (about their blocks):

"Green Toys™ Blocks are the world’s most environmentally friendly basic building set. All 18 boldly colored blocks are oversized and lightweight, making it super easy for tiny hands to stack and unstack. This unique block set includes a variety of shapes for building castles, towers, or any imaginative structure budding architects can dream up. Most importantly, Green Toys Blocks are safe. No BPA, PVC, phthalates or external coatings, but plenty of Good Green Fun™. These blocks are made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Packaged using only recycled and recyclable materials and printed with soy inks."

These blocks came just in time for Christmas! So I got to watch my daughter play with them on Christmas Eve. :-) She's not quite to the building age yet, but she still enjoyed playing with them! Especially when Dada helped her make a tower! ;-)

My Opinion: 

In my opinion there is no better toy then one that causes a child to use their brain and helps them learn something! I love blocks because the child learns to make things and learns to use their imagination! These blocks are especially nice for younger children (6 months+) because of the larger size and the lightweight makes them easier for the little one to grab hold of! 

Buy it: If you would like to purchase your own blocks visit Green Toys!

Win it: If you would like your chance to win a set of the blocks look for the Green Resolutions Giveaway hop starting January 16th where Green Toys will be giving away one (1) set of blocks to one of Mama's Sew Sweet Baby readers! :-)

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product. All opinions are 100% my own and may vary from yours.